On one day’s night, will she only, devour each and everypony, or will she spare their fragile lives, if she is presented with cakes and pies.

On the 31st of the 10th month, a knocking is heard on the door of the home of a two particular musical mares, of whom have a guest. The apparent earth pony stallion sits with them.

“I’ll get it” he says as he rises to his hooves, he trots towards the door and opens to find three fillies looking up at him with joyous expressions. They chanted something that was unrecognisable due to their squeaky little voices and because how loud they were, Kickback took notice of the three fillies and saw through their costumes. The cutie mark crusaders were before him, asking for sugar, he chuckled a bit.

“Hey, Octy, Vinyl, we got any candy?!” he called, turning his head back into the room where the two mares were, Octavia was happily drinking her coffee as Vinyl Scratch was gnawing into a vase filled to the brim with sweets. She stopped and stared at the stallion who wore an amused yet blank face, her mouth was wide open, ready to take in the hoof full that she had, she chuckled nervously.

“Uhh-umm, no” she said sheepishly. Kickback rolled his eyes and looked back at the CMC’s, he put a hoof into his pocket and presented a few bits for each pony, one by one his divided the sum into their bags and gave a calm smile.

“There ya go, go buy something” the three fillies had a shared confused look but was quickly replaced by an understanding and gleeful grin. Kickback nodded and watched them scamper off into town, he closed the door and returned to his friends. Vinyl was still chowing down on what he was supposed to give to the crusaders or any other foal that came by but that was obviously not an option anymore. The three sat there in companionship, Kickback had always wondered how these two incredibly different mares could live together but he had come to the conclusion that the two manage themselves in harmony. Kickback watched Vinyl get the end of the bowl as soon as she finished her little frenzy, she stopped and looked like she was about to burst into tears, she looked at Kickback with a blank face.

“I ran out…I need more…let’s go” she said with the most serious tone he ever heard form her, he stared at her for a moment before her gaze turned to Octavia. Without even looking, she answered.

“Okay, don’t let her over do it, Kickback” she said as she took another sip of the hot drink. Vinyl’s eyes lit up as her head rotated back to stare at the stallion with a anticipated look on her face caped with a excited grin on her muzzle. He sighed before he smirked at her as he nodded in agreement. Her face brightened, she wrapped the stallion in a hug for a moment…a few moments, a full thirty seconds passed before she broke it. Kickback just remained silent as returned the hug as much as he could, she zoomed off upstairs as he watched, he turned back with a chuckle. He noticed that the grey musician was looking at him with a blank look.

“What?”

“Hmmm”

“What thoughts are buzzing around behind those violet eyes?” he asked dramatically, her silence made him think “What you don’t reckon-…” was all he said before he cut himself off as he stared into the violet eyes he spoke of.

“Perhaps…” she said, answering his unfinished question. The two sat in silence for several awkward moments before the sound of hoof-steps could be heard. Kickback glance behind him to see Vinyl Scratch is what looked to be zombie costume, stiches covered her body and her coat looked rugged, dusty and greyer, she giggled as she noticed his eyes settling on her and the amused smile crossing his muzzle. He got up and threw his hood over his head, his dark green eyes were barely visible.

“Let’s go, then” he said, trotting over to her side, passing her and approaching the door. He opened it with his left hoof and waited for Vinyl, she looked back at Octavia who gave an approving nod, she turned back, walked up to Kickback and locked his eyes with her own as she proceeded out the door. Kickback took a final look at the cellist, she did something he would rarely see her do…she smiled warmly at him, he nodded with a smirk and proceeded through the door. He closed it, looked ahead to see Vinyl awaiting him.

“C’mon” she said before she began to lead the way into the decorated town, Kickback smirked and followed the unicorn. He eyes gazed all around, spotting familiar ponies in festive outfits, he saw Applejack’s brother: Big Mac trot about in a black cape and top hat that depicted a skeletal version of his own cutie mark. The mare called Carrot Top, dressed as a demon. The mail-mare, Derpy flew around with nothing but a paper brown bag atop her head, he chuckled at her antics. He looked up to see a dark cloud hanging over head, moving ever so slowly, a multi-hued tail stuck out it, he immediately knew who it was and what she was doing, it was called “Trick or treating” right? They give you a choice. Vinyl led him into the market place which was now decorated with jack-o-laterns and other festive décor that was themed around the holiday. She was like a foal in candy store, as soon as Kickback felt that she didn’t need right now, he let her loose on the town which in turn was probably a bad idea but it allowed him to explore a little on his own. He looked around as he walked, ponies of all kinds out and about in costumes were trotting around or taking part in some game that was set up or at still at their regular stands selling themed goods. In the centre of it all, he spotted Applejack covered in straw and rags, she was a scarecrow by the looks of it. He trotted over to her and tapped a hoof on her shoulder, she glanced down at it and noticed the form and colour, Kickback could sense the glad expression on her face as she looked away. She turned to see the stallion, emerald and jade green eyes locked as the two smiled at one another.

“Hey” she greeted.

“Hey” he replied calmly.

“So uhhh, what are you?”

“…Oh, ahhh I dunno, I suppose you’re a scarecrow”

“Eeyup”

“Hello, Applejack and Kickback” a familiar called out to them, it was muffled for some reason though, the two earth ponies looked to the side to find a dark purple figure in a mare’s form, the eyes were concealed by light blue lenses, she wore a lighter purple cape and fedora upon her head. Her expression was unreadable through the mask but that voice was too specific not to know who was behind it.

“Rarity?” they asked in synchronisation.

“Mhm, I simply love this attire, don’t you Applejack?” Rarity asked, AJ chuckled a bit.

“Yeah, gallopin’ in that thang was…interesting’” she said nervously, Kickback was puzzled.

“Uhhh, Rarity, what are you wearing?” he asked, both mares looked at him in confusion, they turned to each other. Soon their exprssions were replaced with a look of understanding, they probably remembered that he was not around during the crusade Mare-Do-Well.

“Long story that involves Rainbow and a plan to deflate her head a little” AJ explained, Kickback decided to leave it at that. Before anypony could add to the conversation, the dark clouds in the sky swirled around as thunderous booms rang capped with lightning striking through the black sky. A lone dark figure emerged in the darkness, everypony stared at what was to come. Kickback noticed the cloak that the figure wore, glowing white orbs could be seen in the darkness, the form of a pegasus came into view. Kickback felt comfort as his mind clicked, he knew what it was, what she was. The figure landed in the centre of Ponyville, her hood covering her face, her eyes glowed an ominous white, there was a smile on her muzzle. Kickback stared at her, the cloak, the horn protruding out from under it, the eyes, the wings they all pointed to one mare. The same mare that has visited his subconscious several times since his stay in Ponyville. With a flick of her head, her hood was removed, she wore a look that just screamed awesome, Kickback knew this mare personally, the princess of the night herself, Princess Luna was now in person with the stallion.

“CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!!…Hi” her greeting began with a shout that you’d think only dragons would perform before lowering to a familiar soft voice. Simultaneously ponies around began to bow their heads in respect of their princess, Kickback watched every mare, stallion, filly and colt lower their heads. Luna watched as well and was about to protest until she spotted one pony standing a ways away from her, Kickback looked ahead and saw the alicorn staring at him with a smile on her face. He returned the look despite being several metres away from one another, they knew what the other was thinking. Before they knew, everypony had shot up and cheered for the arrival of their princess. The night drug on festively, Kickback hung around, occasionally bumping into somepony he knew and starting up a short conversation, it was just like a regular party. Dash had been pranking everypony in her so called “Shadow Bolt” costume but was put in her place as Kickback did something he’d normally wouldn’t. On top a building, Dash waited patiently as she stalked her next victim, Kickback came up behind her and placed a hoof on her shoulder…but it wasn’t a hoof, Dash felt the firm grip of a hand on her, she glanced down to a pronged claw resting on her, she followed it up and saw the hooded stallion, he smiled maliciously and began to chuckle in a sinister matter. He saw Dash visibly cower at the sight of him, he felt scared and worried despite his look as he stared into her eyes. She let out a scream and pushed the stallion on his back, he was confused as to what this meant…thankfully it was a night for dressing up.

“Arghh, Don’t do that!” she shouted as she placed a hoof on her chest and began to breath heavily. Kickback felt safer, now knowing that she thought that it wasn’t as serious as it looked, he waited till she turned back, when she turned back, his normal dark red hoof was visible, he chuckled as he looked at her. An action that more than a little contagious for the mare, she giggled as the two looked at one another. He had eventually found Vinyl Scratch, she looked incredibly tired when he saw her.

“Hey there, sexy” she said in a exaggerated manner.

“Hey, Vinyl”

“Aww what? Am I un-attractive to you or something?” her tone was uneven, that phase somepony’s in when it’s late, their festive and had a little too much sugar.

“No…fine…Hey there, sexy” he said blankly, causing a slight blush to appear on her cheeks.

“Dawww thanks, come here” she said happily, Kickback reluctantly did so. “No, no, no come here, come here” with that he moved closer “That’s it” she said before wrapping her right leg around the stallion’s neck and bringing him closer. Kickback accepted the hug and gently patted her on the back to return it as best he could, she pulled back to stare into his dark red eyes for a moment as he looked into her own red rimmed ones. She moved in slowly and pawed off his hood with her other hoof before jolting forward, pressing her snout against his own, locking lips with him, still keeping her right leg around his neck. Kickback’s eyes shot open at the motion, in the back of his viral mind he prayed to Celestia that Applejack wasn’t somewhere around, he felt her tongue slip in and begin to explore as she parted the mouths with her own, her breath left traces of alcoholic cider in his mouth, he connected the dots to that’s why she’s acting like she is. After a few moments, she pulled back and looked back in his eyes with her own half lidded crimson ones. His expression caused her to giggle slightly as the two stared at one another. Kickback couldn’t believe what happened next she yawned before suddenly just falling asleep, he stared in astonishment but soon the all around adorable drunken sight of her caused his calm expression to return.

He hoisted the unicorn onto his back and began to trot towards her home, he opened the door ever so quietly but was without reason as he heard music coming from the lounge room, the sound of well talented musician playing the cello could be listened to throughout the house, he smiled as he walked upstairs, turned into the hallway and into Vinyl’s room. He laid her down on her bed gently as he sat by her side, he stared at the smile on her sleeping face and smirked in amusement. He stroked her head slightly, he turned his head and tried to get up but was stopped the mare gripping his hoof with her own hooves, he looked down at her, his confused expression turning a smile that just spoke “Dawwww”. He wriggled his limb out of her grip but as he succeeded, she frowned and squirmed, clawing around for his hoof. He stroked her mane which seemed to ease the mare, she let out a sigh as she relaxed further in her sleep. He got up and proceeded out the door, he looked back at Vinyl who was whispering in her sleep, thanks to his heightened senses, he was able to make out one word…his name. He closed the door behind him and nearly jumped out his virus infested coat at the sight of a grey mare standing in front of him with a blank look.

“Hey, Tavi, Vinyl fell asleep”

“Indeed”

“You ‘right?”

“Yes…but-…”

“Yeah?”

“She talks about you sometimes”

“Yeah?”

“She thinks very highly of you” Kickback didn’t have a good response to that so he just remained quiet and nodded.

“…Don’t give her a reason not to” she added, Kickback remained silent as he nodded in understanding before walking past her, dawning his hood once more and trotting out the door. Kickback had caught up with Luna and the others, the night dug on in the same sense. One by one, ponies returned to their home, from Lyra of whom was dressed as a vampire and seemed rather glad to see the stallion to AJ, to Rarity, Colgate said hello to the scarlet colt as well, she was dressed as her profession, a dentist. Soon the streets ponies trotted up and down on were closed to baron. At this moment Dash, Luna, Pinkie and the scarlet colt chatted idly with one another inside the bakery of which, Pinkie worked at. They talked and laughed as the night drew closer to it’s end.

“Hey, who’s up for a little scary story?” Dash asked around in a playful sinister voice, Kickback looked at her and thought a moment.

“I could go for that” he said.

“Okay, Dashie, you go first” Pinkie added. Kickback removed his hood as he glanced up at Luna who looked back at him with a smile as she nodded. Each equine listened intently to Dash’s story about some creature that looks like a pony but it’s head is featureless, no eyes, no nose, no mane, no coat just a pale white head. ‘Slendermane’ is what she called it, she told about what it does, what it’s done, the evidence behind it, everything. Kikcback felt uneasy and cringed back as she mentioned the black tendrils that emits from the creature.

“…you most certainly will die” she ended dramatically. Pinkie was cowering, shaking as she hid her head under her hooves. Luna was even a bit in fear at such a story. Kickback looked at the rainbow mare and smirked.

“Good story, Dashie” he complimented, he could’ve sworn he saw her blush slightly as she smiled back at him.

“You’re turn” she said, the stallion thought for a moment, wondering which one he should tell, the one about the Rake? No, too close to Dash’s story. Just then the idea lit up like a light bulb in his viral skull, he smiled devilishly as he remembered this horrifying story.

“Alright, gather around..” he spoke in a sinister voice, the three mares rummaged a bit, trying to get more comfortable, Dash laid on her belly with her ‘elbows’ resting on the ground as she laid her chin on her hooves, hoisting her head up to look at the stallion.

“…Excerpt from local news paper…”

After telling the (ponified) story of a small boy named Jeff and his rise to power. Each mare looked at him in shock and fear, Kickback felt bad after telling the story, despite everything, he couldn’t help but relate to Jeff in a way, the killing was an aspect shared.

“That’s messed up!” Dash exclaimed.

“I know” He said flatly.

“Where did you hear that story?” Luna asked.

“…Somewhere, I don’t remember when though?”

“That’s almost as freaky as Cupcakes” Pinkie said, each equine turned to her “…Oh, ummm, I mean that’s crazy” she said nervously, Kickback shrugged it, he could only imagine everypony else doing the same and just accepting Pinkie’s antics.

“Well, everypony, I’m gotta kick it, see ya” Dash said as she unfurled her wings and with that she was gone, out the door into the night sky.

“Yeah, me too, bye Pinkie, see ya, Luna” Kickback said as he got to his hooves and began to trot out the door as he dawned his hood back on. He walked down the dark road in the night, he got a few metres in before he was stopped. In the corner of his eye he spotted Luna by his side, he turned to face her.

“Kickback…I wanted to say, it was fun to see you in person tonight” she said in a friendly tone.

“Thanks, Princess and it really was” he said, removing his hood to speak to her. She nodded with a smile at him, a gesture he gladly returned and with that several bats swarmed from the distance and coated her, manifesting into her black cloak, she pulled her hood over her head and smiled at him. Kickback watched her as she took flight and disappeared into the night sky, he stood there, gazing upwards before swinging his hood over his head once more and trotting off. He walked through the dark streets of Ponyville, to everypony else it was near blind darkness but to him and his virus riddled eyes, it was clear as day. He walked to the edge of town, tonight he was planning on the barn again, some nights he’d stay up throughout the whole time but he decided against that option. He walked through the orchard, he got about half way in before he heard something, it caused him to stop in his tracks to take a better listen. The sound of howling could heard, rustling from between the trees, he felt eyes settle upon him as he stood in the orchard. He bowed his head and smiled.

“…Looks like we have some game tonight…” as he spoke tendrils ran down his body.

Next Chapter: ReBirth-Day Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 16 Minutes