Ocellus took a small black crystal from the chest at the foot of her bed. It was late in the evening but it was the day she always talked to her family. If she was closer to hive she wouldn’t have needed a hive mind amplifier, but it was the most effective way of keeping in contact. She placed the amplifier on her desk and forced her magic into the crystal. After a moment she could feel the hive mind, yet it felt more distanced than the other times she had used the amplifier.

Normally the feeling of distance would pass quickly once she started to hear others, but today their voices seemed muted. Even her mother, father, and siblings were difficult to find. It could have been she was tired or her mind was wandering to thoughts of the Nightmare Night. The first voices she could hear were those of her siblings, then her mother’s and father’s.

So how was your week? Ocellus asked her parents.

Well, other than a bit of confusion over how this Nightmare Night works, it’s been normal. We are still unsure how to get the spiders to stay on the webs. Good news is Prince Pharynx finished his gauntlet of fright. So how are your studies going?

Ocellus laughed a bit. She really needed to look over the instructions that Princess Twilight sent them on the holidays, but then again the misunderstandings did lead to them finding their own traditions, something her hive needed. They are going well as always.

That’s great! Oh, how are those friends of yours? I bet you’re all looking forward to Nightmare Night? her father asked.

For a moment Ocellus couldn’t feel the hive mind, but it could have just been her imagination as she had a long day.

They’re doing well, and most have made up their minds on what they’re going to be. Silverstream has come up with one of the strangest costumes of our group. The changeling was still unsure what her friend was to supposed to be.

Sounds like it would be fun to see, her mother answered. Maybe next year we will all be able to celebrate together. I know your siblings would love that.

Ocellus liked the sound of that, but knew that she would have to take a break from classes for that to happen. It’ll take some planning, but I should be able to.

The talk went on for some time with more questions, about how she was doing and things about the hive. A few times her brother and sister started to speak over the hive mind, going on till finally the changeling had to wish her family goodnight and headed to bed.

The next day she was busy going about town, getting last minute things she needed. She had forgotten to get a wizard's hat and hoped she would be able to find one. She was still unsure how she had overlooked the hat, although she might have been too focused on her studies or the holiday itself.

Ponyville was fully decorated, and every one of the townhouses had cobwebs hanging from the windows. Spiders, ghosts, and all manner of monsters were around the town hall, with booths with games, food and drinks filled the town square. It made the town feel full of life as pony tented to last-minute shopping and reparations. Ocellus looked forward to playing a few of the games and trying some of the seasonal food.

She reached one of the shops that dealt in hats of all kinds and went in. There were a few older ponies talking over all the kinds of hats, and how each style felt for different faces and body types. Along the back wall, she found a few hats that would work for a wizard. She opted not to pick the blue one with stars, or the red one with golden leaves, but instead picked a simple grey hat, as her robe was a similar colour. She planned to use the cloak Caecus had given her to added colour to her costume. Also, the cloak was warm and soft, so that was a benefit as well in the cool night air. After the hat was paid for Ocellus started back toward the school.

As day started to give way to night Ocellus had dressed in her costume and waited for her friends to met her at the door to the school. Sandbar was the first to arrive in a great zombie costume but seemed a bit distant. Next, were Smolder painted as an undead dragon and Yona as Mug the Mighty last Silverstream in her black cape with red trim, her face was partly hidden with her beak showing with a set of vampire's teeth. Gallus had dressed as a ghoul.

Before she could say anything the changeling was shaken as she spotted Caecus coming toward them. He was clad in chainmail, with his family coat of arms on a red surcoat. “I hope you don’t mind me joining you at the last moment,” the prince said with a nervous smile.

“Of course not!” Silverstream exclaimed.

Caecus looked at the group, “Hm, interesting. Monster slayers and monsters. This holiday has the queerest costume ideas.” The prince smile at Ocellus. “Hm, not the first wizard to wear those colours, yet certainly one of the fairest.“

No, he’s just being nice. Ocellus knew that it was doubtless he was just being courtly, but that didn’t help with the light blush that came to her face. “Tha… Thank you,” the Changeling replied.

“So what changed your mind?” Sandbar asked.

“I… may have been too quick to make up my mind, and I do ask forgiveness if I came across a bit cross.” The prince bowed a bit.

“It’s fine.” Sandbar looked closer at Caecus’s costume. “Is that real armor?”

“Aye, t’was the best I do on short notice,” Caecus replied. “So what’s the plan for the night?”

Gallus was the one who spoke up. “Well, there’s the Apple Family corn maze, followed by games and fun in the Town Square.”

Caecus nodded in understanding, and the group was off.

As they walked along the road they told a few scary stories. “The headless Pony,” “The Pony of Shadows”.

“Hey Caecus, you know any scary stories?” Smolder asked.

The prince looked in thought for a moment. “Aye, I do know a few.”

“Well, any you’d like to tell us?” Gallus asked.

Caecus seemed unsure at first, but eventually decided on a tale.

“Once around the time King Virtus, there was a member of my family that become known as the Forsaken Eagle. His real name is lost to time, but his deeds are not. It is said that he took joy in the skinning of enemies alive, and plucking the feathers of winged creatures.” The prince thought for a moment before he started again.

“Now, the Forsaken Eagle had many enemies, including his own brothers. However, the Forsaken had built a momentous fortress on what became known as the Midnight Isle, so named because the Forsaken had cast a spell over that made the sunlight never shone, nor the moon over the isle. It is said that the Midnight Fortress had walls one hundred feet high and nearly as thick, with iron spikes dotted with the skulls of his enemies, and a few pelts.

“His brothers gathered their armies and formed a mighty fleet, but when they reached where the isle should have been they found only open water cast in shadows. Some sailors claim to have seen it over the centuries, which is seen as an ill omen. They say that one most never dock on the isle, for the Forsaken still delights in deeds most foul.”

The sun had set by the time they reached the corn maze, and the moon was hidden behind clouds, making the night seem darker. Granny Smith sat at the entrance of the maze, slowly raking back and forth, dressed in a ghostly gown. A few foals ran out of the maze in a mix of screams and laughter.

“Beware the pony of shadows,” the old mare warned as they entered the corn maze.

The maze was long and lit only by the dim moonlight. Ocellus nearly jumped as something brushed by her legs. The first good scare was when Applejack burst out of the corn in a ghoul costume. Silverstream jumped a bit, as did Sandbar, being right next to where Applejack had jumped out at them. Yona was a bit frightened, as was Gallus. If Smolder was startled, she hid it well. Ocellus, despite being farther back, found she acted much as Sandbar and Silverstream.

Once the group had moved on, Applejack went back into the corn to wait for the next group. As they walked the path they passed under cobwebs with spiders hanging from them, and by fake heads on poles. Every now and then they would feel things move by their hooves or hear the corn move along their sides. Once or twice the sound of ghostly wails echoed through the maze.

The wind started to blow through the maze, and bolts of lightning streaked across the sky as a dark figure flew overhead. Then came the massive stallion charging down the side path, clothed all in black and eyes shining in the moonlight, bits of torn cloth flowing behind him. Sandbar, Gallus, and Silverstream ran down the main path in fright.

Caecus had moved into a defensive position in front of Ocellus.

“Right, all fake,” he said under his breath, letting his guard down.

Once the stallion reached them he reared up and gave a maniacal laugh. Caecus seemed unimpressed, while Smolder smiled. “Almost had me, Big Mac, but that laugh doesn’t really sound evil enough. Maybe a roar instead?” the dragoness suggested.

The stallion laughed a bit. “I reckon I could give it a go for the next group.” Big Mac smiled. “Now you all have a good Nightmare Night.” He returned to the side path to wait for the next group of ponies.

Smolder, Ocellus, and Caecus started down the path to find where the rest of their friends had gone. They were nearly out of the maze when they heard the rest of friends laughing. Once they were back together they started for the town square.

As they went along Ocellus could tell something was on Caecus’s mind. Part of her wanted to ask what it was, but she knew it would be best to ask later away from everypony else. That and the prince had a brooding nature to him, so it was likely he wouldn’t tell her anyway.

The prince looked over the game. It seemed a simple matter to get a ring around the pole in one throw. However, he was starting to believe that the wooden pole had some black magic around it. He had tried to get a ring around it well over twenty times.

Maybe it’s fixed so the ring can’t go over the pole, he thought as another ring bounced off the wooden pole. He could feel his eye twitch as it did so.

“Will that be another try, good sir?” one of the ponies running the game asked. Caecus glared at the two ponies, clearly brothers. One was busy counting his coins while the other tried to get him to spend more.

A simple foal’s game, I said. You just need to toss the rings better, I said, Caecus recalled telling Sandbar and Gallus, who had left around the tenth try. Smolder and Yona had gone to the pumpkin catapult game while Silverstream left to toss spiders. Ocellus was the only that remained to watch and see if he would be able to get a ring around the pole.

Caecus placed another coin on the table and was given another ring. The prince took hold of it in his magic and tossed. The ring-spun around the pole a few times.Come on! Caecus thought as he watched. Once the ring spun off to the side of the pole, the prince could only rub his temples.For the love of Lux! I can hit moving targets and cast spells that pierce armor, but I can’t win this damn ring game.

“Caecus, we can try another game,” Ocellus suggested, glancing around.

The prince was about to agree and count this as a loss when one of the ponies running the game piped up. “Oh, come now. Surely one more try will net you a win, sir.”

Fine. One last try, then on to another of those games. At this rate, I’ll need to send word for more coin. Caecus placed one last coin on the table. “Last try.” The pony running the game smiled as he placed the ring in front of Caecus. He took hold of the ring and tossed, knowing full well that it was doubtless going to bounce or spin off the pole.

“And we have a winner! Pick your prize, sir.” The pony running the game waved a hoove toward the wall of items. Most of them were brightly colored wooden toys, and a few dolls all which Caecus had no interest in.

Maybe Ocellus sees something she likes in those prizes. He turned to the changeling. “Go on, pick one.”

A light blush came to Ocellus’s face and the best she could do was a point to one of the dolls, which the pony running the game gave her. After that, they went to find their friends at the other games.

Sorry for taking so long between posting chapters.