Sandbar looked over his score on his report. While not as good as some, he did get a passing grade on it. Ocellus and Silverstream were the ones who had gotten the highest scores, while Caecus had managed to somehow get the same grade as Sandbar, something the earth pony had a hard time understanding as the unicorn had studied with Ocellus and was even from the Kingdom of Aquinas.

Sandbar strolled down the streets of Ponyville, wrapped in a cloak. The weather had grown a bit colder, but it was still a month away from the first scheduled snows of winter. That had not stopped the students from donning their winter cloaks.

The earth pony was still unsure of what to think of Prince Caecus Amor Highever. At times he seemed cold, distant, and unwilling change his mind, other times he seemed unsure, with fears and worries like any other pony. He could see some of what Ocellus no doubt did. While the prince could use more lessons on kindness, he was not without a kind of caring. He had started training with Smolder in the combat arts. Sometimes he lost, others he won, but either way, the two seemed to get along. Silverstream, Yona, and Gallus had yet to make up their minds on Caecus.

A few of the shops had put up their Nightmare Night decorations, and a few—like the Cakes—had set up haunted houses. Others just put covered pumpkins on their doorsteps with a few fake spiders on webs. Sandbar knew his family would have already set up fake bones, tombstones, and put out ragged old cloth made to look like a ghost. Part of him wanted to be home helping with the holiday and taking his younger siblings trick or treating.

He stepped inside a shop that sold all manner of costumes. There he found Silverstream pacing back and forth looking at all them. The hippogriff had yet to make up her mind on what to dress as. So far she had thought mummy, siren, ghost, zombie, and countless others. Doubtless, if there was a way for her to go as them all, she would.

“Um, still can’t make up your mind?” Sandbar asked.

Silverstream smiled as she glanced over to him. “Nope, but I’ve decided against going as a mummy siren pirate,” she replied. “I’m liking the sound of a vampire ninja.”

Sandbar did his best to imagine what those costumes would look like but failed horribly. “Well, I’m sure you’ll make up your mind sooner or later. Oh, seen any good masks?”

Silverstream nodded and pointed toward the back of the shop. “There are a few good ones over there.”

Sandbar went to where his friend had pointed. A few of masks were made to look as if they had a missing eye and bit of the jaw missing. Each one had a uniqueness to it, but the earth pony settled on one with more of a rotting flesh look. As he turned to head back to Silverstream in hopes of helping his friend make up her mind, he ran into a stallion with a short mane and tail, with a silver owl pinned to his cloak. “Excuse me, I should have been watching where I was going,” Sandbar said.

“Nay, no need. I was admiring those fine masks and costumes,” the stallion replied. “A shame some races wear masks that put these to shame.”

“Yes, changelings do have an edge when it comes to costumes,” Sandbar replied, finding himself becoming more uneasy as the stallion seemed to study him. Sandbar looked over to Silverstream. “Excuse me, but my friend is waiting for me to return.” He started to back away from the stallion.

Once Sandbar reached Silverstream he glanced back to where the stallion had been and found he had seemingly disappeared.

“Something wrong, Sandbar?” the hippogriff asked.

“No, just was talking to a strange stallion.” Sandbar glanced over his shoulder.

“How so?” Silverstream replied.

“I don’t know, just something was off about him.” Sandbar turned back to face his friend.

“Well, I’m sure he was harmless.” Silverstream thought for a moment. “But I do have something I would like your help with.”

“Sure, but if it’s helping you pick a costume, I’m not sure if I’ll be much help.” Sandbar rubbed the back of his head.

“No, but come on, do you know how hard it is to pick just one!” Silverstream replied. “But the thing I was hoping you could help me with is getting Caecus to join us on Nightmare Night, and maybe see how he feels about Ocellus.”

“Um, why me?” Sandbar asked. “And if you haven’t noticed, Caecus is a huge stick in the mud, so it won’t be easy.”

“I know you’ll think of something.”

The day seemed to fly by as Sandbar went about his day, but he was finally back at the school. The hall was still, as most of the students were still out in Ponyville or studying. He would have looked for his friends but he knew that they were tending to other things. Smolder was hanging out with Spike, and Silverstream was still trying to find the right costume. Yona and Gallus were busy with homework, and Ocellus was helping Professor Rarity. That left only Caecus, who was more of an acquaintance, as Sandbar was not sure if they were friends.

As Sandbar passed by Caecus’s room he could hear a strange tone. The door to the room was open do his curiosity got the better of him. Inside the prince sat at his desk, writing something on parchment, while at his side was a blue music box. The song it played was sweet, yet had a sorrow to it. Caecus hummed along to the wordless tune as he listened.

Working up his nerve, Sandbar knocked at the door.

“Enter.” Once Sandbar was in the room Caecus turned to face him. “So, what brings you to my door?”

“Nothing, I just heard music and was wondering what it was.” Sandbar looked at the music box.

After a long moment, Caecus sighed. “It’s called the Song of Highever, but I doubt that music brought you here.”

Sandbar thought back to earlier, and how Silverstream had asked him to help. “Well, I was hoping you would join us for Nightmare Night. I know you said you didn’t want to join in the festivities but it is a fun night, and I doubt you have any other plans.“

Caecus stared at Sandbar. “I have nay reason to partake in Nightmare Night. It has nay meaning to me and could be argued that it is honouring a nightmare. My time will be better spent reading.”

“I know, but will you at least think about it?” Sandbar tried to think of a reason for him to join. “I’m sure Ocellus and the others would love if you joined us. After all, you are our friend.”

The prince leaned on his hoof and didn’t speak for some time. Only the music box made any sound. After the tune was done, did Caecus reply. “Fine, I’ll consider it, but I’ll hear nay more about it.”

Well, it’s a start. Now with luck Caecus may well join us for Nightmare Night. “Thank you,” Sandbar said, taking his leave of Caecus’s room.

Next Chapter: chapter nine Estimated time remaining: 35 Minutes