Night had fallen and the world was cast in a blanket of black. Lights shone from Ponyville and the moon and stars decorated the sky in their brilliant majesty. Sandbar knew he should be in bed resting for the day to come, but he always found it hard to sleep the day before a holiday. Once he had stayed awake for two days for Heartwarming.

How his mother tried to get him to sleep, warm milk and herbal teas, but she was unable to, so let it be. He had eaten so many cookies those two days that he could still imagine the taste of them. However, the thing that he still could not understand was how time seemed to move slower when you're waiting for something. After the day had come and gone, Sandbar had slept most the next day.

The night was crisp but he didn’t mind as he gazed up at the night sky. I wonder if they all have names? Sandbar wondered as looked for the constellations he knew. The mare, Orion, Dragon King, and the Alicorn were the ones he could spot and name. The only sound he could hear was that of the crickets and the rustling of leaves in the cool night air. After some time had passed Sandbar got to his hooves and started for the school.

The path to the school was lit only by the light of the moon, but the peaceful night made it an enjoyable walk for Sandbar. He had never been afraid of the dark. Even as a colt he would sneak out at night to watch the sea and how the moon would reflect off the water. Despite this, as he looked into the darkness he started to feel a sense of unease as if he was being watched. He stopped a few times and stared into the darkness, but spotted nothing.

“Is somepony there?” he asked, with no reply. It could have been some colt or filly having a bit of fun before Nightmare Night, but something felt off about it.

Sandbar picked up his pace as the school’s lights came into sight. Once in the light of school the earth pony turned and looked into the dark once more. This time he spotted a shape moving in the darkness, carefully staying out of the light. He thought about telling one of his friends or one of the professors, but with Nightmare Night so close it was more than likely somepony trying to scare him.

There were only a few ponies up this late and nearly all of them were focused on their studies or spending time with friends before Nightmare Night. Ocellus was part of the former, while ponies like Clover and Rose Heart were in the latter. He went to see if his changeling friend was indeed still awake or if maybe she had turned in early.

Unsurprisingly, Ocellus was nose deep in a book in the library, called Tales of Tor.

“Evening Ocellus,” Sandbar said, walking up to his friend.

The changeling glanced up from her book and smiled.

“And a good evening to you as well Sandbar.” Ocellus studied him for a moment, before asking, “Is something wrong? You seem a bit off.”

“No, just had somepony trying to scare me on the path toward the school.”

“Well, it is that time of year. That’s normal, right?” Ocellus asked.

“True, though most wait until Nightmare Night itself before scaring others.” He sat next to his friend. “So what are you reading anyway?”

“Oh, just some stories from Aquinas. A few of them would make great Nightmare Night stories.” Ocellus glanced at her book and turned a few pages. “Like this one. It’s about a stallion who was walking home one winter's day when he came upon a mare weeping dressed all in black and pale as a ghost. When the stallion asked what was wrong, the mare turned. At first, she was lovely and fair but as she stood, the stallion was gripped with fear as the mare towered over in him and had become a hag. He ran once she opened her mouth and let out an ear piercing scream. It ends with the stallion running all the home and hiding in his pantry until sometime the next day.”

“That’s interesting. Does this monster have a name?”

“It would be called the banshee. From my understanding, it’s seen as an ill omen.” Ocellus glanced back at the book and turned a few pages, then showed an image of the monster to Sandbar.

“Planning on going to as one for Nightmare Night?” Sandbar asked.

“No, going to be a wizard.”

Sandbar knew his friend could be anything she wanted with her changeling magic, but she had made up her mind to dress up in a costume like everypony else. “Just a wizard, or some famous one?”

“Just an everyday wizard,” Ocellus replied.

A wizard, zombie, undead dragon, a famous yak warrior whose name he couldn’t recall, a pirate, and of course Silverstream’s vampire ninja, Sandbar thought as he imagined what their group would look like.

“Who do you think is going to get the most treats?” the earth pony asked.

Ocellus thought it over for a moment. “Well, if we make a competition of it then I would have to go with Smolder.”

“I don’t know, Yona could give her a run for her bits.”

The pair talked for an hour or two before Sandbar departed to his room for a night of rest. The next morning come with the sound of ponies chatting in the courtyard. Outside his room come the sounds of yawning and hooves walking down the halls. Once the earth pony was out of bed he started for the great hall to break his fast. Once in the hall, he had a bowl of warm oatmeal and honeyed milk.

After he was done with his meal Sandbar went to have a walk along the path where he had felt uneasy the night before. Once he reached the spot where he started to feel watched and left the path. Some of the grass had been bent by something far too large to be a colt or filly, and under one of the trees along the path, the leaves had been moved to one side. Under one of the trees, the earth pony took note of how the leaves seemed to have been freshly laid.

Sandbar slowly pushed the leaves to one side and found the dirt had been recently disturbed. He glanced around, unsure if he should check to see if something was hidden there. Curiosity got the better of him and he started to dig, and after a few moments, he found a bag. He opened it and found a journal, pen and ink, and a dagger made of some strange metal.

He placed the bag to one side and opened the journal, and was greeted by an unknown language. Sandbar place the bag and its contents back where he had found them and forget all about it. As he feared who or whatever hid it would come seeking later, and he was unsure what would come of it if the owner did.

I really need to think of a cover art for this story

Also seeking an editor so if intrusted let me know.