[Nightmare Night] Day 2 - Nightmare Moon's Monument

[MyLittlePonyTales]

The statute standing just at the edge of the Everfree Forest is a traditional stop for all Nightmare Night goers. The foals of the town frequently leave candy offerings, and there is already a significant pile gathered. There is a rumor that, should anypony dare to take a piece from the foot of the statue, it will come to life, and consume the offending pony. More often than not, however, one of the locals will just jump out and scare whoever was trying to sneak a piece. But every since Princess Luna's return, someponies could swear there were more mysterious workings surrounding the monument.

Engraved in the front of the statue:

You dare to seek out Nightmare Moon? Then prepare to meet your doom!

For foals she finds a special treat- unless you leave her something sweet!

[SteelEagle]

Valen trotted towards the monument, enjoying the fresh air to some degree. It was good to be able to see again. Good to not walk directly into glass and get another head injury. He was shocked he remembered anything anymore. So he decided to clear his head with the one and only thing that he could possibly do: Go to an outside event. Those were limited, so Valen found himself wandering about towards the Nightmare Moon monument. What was the worst that could happen?

[lordbrony]

Lightwind floated lazily overhead. The trip to the Everfree palace had left him unfufilled. Not only was he candy-less, he had that spare piece that he had stashed in his costume pocket taken from him by some bull like creature. Worst of which was that bull creature was practically radiating toughness. Genuine toughness. Not the false bravado he was weakly putting on and he suspected, more real than the majority of his team combined.

Well maybe he learnt something out of it.

Sailing overhead he spotted a orange earth pony wandering along below him. Maybe this was his Celestia given chance to prove himself.

Quickly gathering a few clouds as cover, he snuck up behind the pony, looming ominously behind him, waiting for that moment to...to...well he'll figure it out when the time comes, he hoped.

[Lerian]

Moonlight filtered through the clouds as the colt stood waiting, casting strange patterns of light and shadow amongst the trees and bushes. A short distance away he could see another group of young ponies drop candy at the foot of the Nightmare moon statue and he moved back into concealment. With his yellow mane and grey-blue coat he was entirely the wrong colour for this 'hiding in the night' game, so he once again considered putting on the costume before the others got here. If they got here at all. That decided it. Time and pranks wait for no pony, he could always rearrange things later.

He waited until this latest group left, giggling and planning their visit to somepony called Cheerilee, and began to drape the dark cloth over his body. Then he stopped and drew a scroll from his saddlebag, muttering about 'doing it properly'.

Working down the list, the list for one pony...

Fix the back part on first, align the cutie marks and fix it to your saddlebags to stop it moving.

Rest the wing struts on a non pegasus back, with the wing bases resting on the saddlebags.

Place the fore piece over your head, forelegs in and smooth the rest over the wing struts, making sure they are free to move.

A breaking twig alerted Curiosity to somepony approaching and he clumsily dodged behind a bush at the same time hoping it was one of his co-conspirators. It was not, instead a pretty looking yellow pony dressed as a pirate was showing a younger pony in a cardboard diving helmet some fireflies that hovered near the path to the statue. Cardboard fish seemed to peer over the little ones shoulder from where they were mounted on their back with sticks.

Curiosity hunkered down as best he could, freezing when the wing struts rustled through some leaves. The yellow pony glanced his way but quickly returned her attention to the young ones questions about how fireflies glow before they both trotted away to the statue, cardboard fish bouncing merrily in time with the young ones movements.

A few moments to drop off the candy and they left, with a possible backward glance from the yellow pony.

Returning to the list;

Voicebox on so it stays under the costume but don't charge it yet.

Affix the wings to the wing struts and double check they can be moved. That went well although the light blue glow from his magic might give things away.

Head on and fixed, making sure you can see. End of list because there was no jewellery and nopony to make the mane look more magical.

The unicorn briefly considered using his magic on the mane while allowing the wings to be static then changed his mind. The wings were just too good and made the right impression when rearing up.

A quick charge on the voicebox and he was ready to scare!

He didn't have too long to wait before a group of three came along, a bee, a rabbit and a wolf. The wolf was making growling noises and joking about eating the rabbit up...Too perfect!

Leaping from the bushes and rearing onto his hind legs, Curiosity's horn glowed blue as dark feathered wings spread around him. Moonlight shone reflected from the Royal Cutie mark buried in the pitch blackness of an Alicorns coat!

'WE WISH TO GOBBLE LITTLE PONIES! LEAVE THOU CANDIES BEFORE WE FEAST ON THY...THEE!'

'AAAAUUUuuuugggh!'

Candy scattered as bags and buckets were dropped, three little ponies galloping down the path back to town, calling for their friends or family. Oh, how he remembered that! He picked up the scattered candies but could not resist having a chocolate before depositing it at the base of the statue. As he walked away he glanced guiltily over his shoulder. Why did it feel as if a statue were watching him...

No time for such thoughts though! Was this somepony else approaching?

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Nightmare Moon has returned! But as her shadowy form steps from the shadows, you see that it's actually just Princess Luna. Phew! The Princess of the Night has embraced this holiday with all of her heart, and wishes to reward those who, on the night dedicated to herself, show their courage greatly. Finding her results in gaining her respect—but more importantly, two pieces of candy!

[SteelEagle]

The monument stood before Valen, a symbol of foalish fear defined. Everypony knew the story of Nightmare Moon, which due to recent events, made this statue even creepier. If a pony as powerful as Luna could fall prey to simple jealousy and became a creature of such wrath, then who was he to think he could resist temptation and powerful emotion? Nopony! Still, that rather pointless and driftless thought had little place on this night, rather it was an interesting observation that ina time of personal crisis he could lean on as a cornerstone of some new development.

He was finally pushed out of a personal moment of revelation by the arrival of Princess Luna, who gifted him with two candies. Much better than owing one to Chyrsalis, he figured. Valen bounded up and down with glee, momentarily not caring about anything- nor noticing the cloud behind him waiting to strike!