A Electri-frighting Encounter [En & Stardust] [Dead]

[Stardust]

Raijin had asked her if she had wanted to pick something. Standing up again, she surveyed the events around her. There was still Apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, things like that. She was sure they were very fun, but she just didn't feel like they were right at the moment. Turning in a circle, she saw pony trying out the spider toss, and others were throwing balls at a red and yellow target, where above sat a frightened looking unicorn. With the same, piercing ding, the board underneath her fell and she went tail first into the chilly water. Looking back over at Raijin, she saw he was still damp and she smiled, feeling bad for the mare. A tent caught her eye off to the left, a little ways away. It had a deep purple coloring with golden stars littering the fabric. A wooden sign clanged around on squeaky hinges that she could hear from here, and one of her ears twitched with the unpleasant sound. Squinting her eyes, she could make out the words fortune telling and hoof reading painted in white, chipping letters on the board. Her sapphire eyes twinkled.

"How about fortune telling?" She asked, turning to face the Pegasus. "I think it is new this year, I haven't seen it before." Hoping beyond hope that she wasn't making a fool of herself walking towards the tent without waiting for Raijin to answer. With a slight pause, she heard his hoof falls after her own. Speaking quickly and quietly behind her, she said, "I would love to enjoy the scenery, after this though." Making her way between a crowd of young fillies dressed as various things, she re-situated her sheet that she had forgotten was even on her back. It was damp still from her unexpected shower, and a shiver passed through her. Arriving in front of the tent, she waited for a moment. Was it open? The flaps were closed...

Suddenly, a mare walked out from under the flaps, and the flaps of the tent seemed to open by themselves, there wasn't even a hint of the sparkle from unicorn magic. Candle light flooded out from inside the tent, casting an eerie orange glow on both Stardust and Raijin, whom was now standing next to her. A voice came from deep inside the folds of the tent, saying, "Cooome iiinn." The letters were drawn out and the voice was raspy, like a pony that hadn't drunk anything in days. Stardust swallowed a lump in her throat. Was this a bad idea? She looked up at Raijin, asking the same question with her eyes. She wanted to crawl back in her shell, because now she was scared of her own suggestion. She wouldn't let Raijin see it though, so she willed her heartbeat to slow and controlled her breathing.

[EN]

"How about fortune telling?" Raijin heard Stardust suggest an idea. "Fortune Telling? Sure-, wait what? I don't think I've heard of something like that there in Ponyville before." Fortune telling? Isn't that where you go into this dim lighted place and this suppose-to-be mystic pony comes out and tell one their fortune, not to mention Hoof readings, tarot cards, and even seeing the future? It sounded a little...weird, but her suggestion did spark a hint of curiosity deep within this pegasus. He never went to get his fortune read before so this is bound to get interesting. The stallion and the mare made themselves over to the tent, now standing outside. Squeak. Squeak. His attention immediately went up towards the signs swinging back and forth from the occasional breeze. He could see the rust on what little metal was supporting the wooden sign. 'Should really get that replaced...' That was what he thought, but he will admit it did bring a little eeriness into effect. Not everything was suppose to be spick and span, especially if it's Nightmare Night.

"I don't think anypony's there, maybe we should hea-" The pegasus was about to suggest they go elsewhere, until something moved. The tend flaps may have been closed, but something or somepony was definitely in there. Raijin caught the flaps move and thought maybe it was the work of a unicorn pony. There was a hint of magic surrounding the flaps after all. Next came a spooky welcome than literally sent chills down the back of this pony. 'Come in? I rather not..' He thought to himself, yet his actions said otherwise as he and Stardust made themselves into the tent. One second the flaps was welcomingly inviting them in and the next, it just suddenly dropped, lifeless. It made Raijin turn his head back towards the entrance of whence they came, but now it was all pitch black, with the exception of the orange glow that was emitting off a candle. The only source of light. 'Maybe this was a bad idea..' The pegasus found himself matching eyes with the blue pelted mare and knew that they were probably thinking of the same thing. "H-hello?" He was the first to speak. He face was full of uncertainly and the smile he held earlier seems to have disappeared as he waited for what's to come next.

[Stardust]

The flaps closed suddenly, causing a small gust of wind that ruffled her tail and mane. She pulled her sheet around her, feeling safer under it. The candle seemed to be floating in front of them, casting just enough light to make their shadows seem quite large on the cloth walls. It was then that she saw the table, and what more, a small, black things leaned over it. Raijin called out a shaky hello, not seeing any-pony in the tent. Stardust took a step forward, looking for the source of the rusty voice that had beckoned them in.
"Siiit, sit" the voice came again, and Stardust watched as a black cloak fell off of a mare's head. The pony had a frizzy yellow mane and a deep purple coat that matched the tent outside. Her eyes were an icy silver, however, and Stardust felt compelled to walk towards two small, purple cushions and sit her rump down. Soon after, she found Raijin sitting next to her. She gave him a look she hoped said sorry I got you into this before turning her attention to the mare.

"Watch, waaatch, and you will see, the spirits are pleased by your arrival." She said, standing and walking in a circle around them and the table, waving her hooves around. Raijin seemed to roll his eyes.

Suddenly, Stardust gasped quietly as their shadows grew on the wall and started galloping around the walls. Hers stopped next to her, and gave a smile. She held a shriek. What kind of magic did this unicorn- that's when she realized something. This mare didn't posses a horn on her head. How could she perform this magic when she didn't have a horn?! Their shadows fell back into place, and suddenly, the raspy voice was replaced by a cold, smooth one.

"What brings the two unknown to my tent on such a find Nightmare Night? If I am correct, you have just met, yes? Interesting..." She placed a hoof on the table. "Whom is getting their fortune told first on such a night, hmmm? The spirits like to be active on a night of which the purpose it to scare, after all."

[EN]

He was glad he finally saw the pony behind that creepy voice, even if there was a cloak over her head. That mysterious aura surrounding the cloaked figure soon dissipated, not completely, when the pony decided to reveal herself. The mare's mane was yellow and frizzy, and her coat was purple. Raijin was very hesitant to walk forward and take a sit on the cushions he saw laying before them, but yet he and Stardust found themselves sitting down. There was that look again from Stardust and again he could think of a few things on what they mean. "Watch, waaatch, and you will see, the spirits are pleased by your arrival." The fortuneteller decided to circle them. 'Spirits are pleased by our arrival? This must be something you say to everypony who walks in here.' He couldn't felt but roll his eyes. He must repeat he's never been into this sort of thing before, but it doesn't take much to grasp things that this mare might say to start it off.

The pegasus just stared at the mare who continued to circle them wandering when this would end, but after hearing Stardust gasp, he couldn't help but turn his head over to her. He was about to ask her what was wrong until he saw something move. Was it just him or is their shadows growing bigger? Yeah, they were getting bigger alright, and that would explain why the sudden gasp from Stardust. He watched as the shadows galloped around the walls of the tent, Stardust's shadow coming to a stop before giving her a smile, which also seems to freak her out a little. He wasn't going to lie, but this was kind of...boring. He was expecting something more, intense. As for his own shadow, it also stopped before him, but apparently its head was turned facing the other way. Raijin held that unamused expression and continued to stare at his shadow, but he was caught unsuspectedly by the sudden turn of his shadow's head. It had big round eyes and a freakishly large smile.

Now that there scared him and almost made him jump out of the cushion he was sitting on. His neck jerked back suddenly and luckily his wings was out in the open, otherwise his Flash costume would rip. Yeah his wings erected, almost hitting Stardust. If this was a cartoon scene, his heart would be beating, shooting, in and out of his chest. "I-I'm just stretching my wings!" He had to force himself to fold his ridged wings. He was struggling, but succeeded in the end. Before this all ends Stardust might have to help him out since his body was so tense. The mare's shadow trick got him, but that was probably thanks to her...horn? Huh? What?! She didn't possess a horn!? H-how was she doing that just now?! Another thing he couldn't take was the unexplainable and the only way that he was able to keep himself level headed was the constant reminding to himself that there must be ponies outside of the tent making those effects.

"...you have just met, yes? Interesting..." That was all he heard when he forced himself to listen to the fortuneteller's voice. He was so glad she spoke. He would rather listen to her voice then trying to figure out the shadows. "Y-yeah we just met... Wait, how did-..." He decided to drop it. How did this mare know they just met?? Instead of pondering on the subject, he shook it away. His eyes tried their best to remain on the mare, but he couldn't help but look to see if his shadow was still there and luckily they went away. "Whom is getting their fortune told first on such a night, hmmm?" That was all he choose to hear. Raijin swallowed hard and answer first, trying to put up a brave front in front of Stardust, "I guess I'll...go first." He finished off with much uncertainty. "You are in grave danger..." "You must do this and that, otherwise you'll face certain trouble.." "Your future will be something to look forward to." The pegasus was expecting the mare to say something close along those lines. This was yet another analyzed scenario created by the pegasus himself.

[Stardust]

After folding his wings tightly on his back once more, oStardust was surprised to hear him speak with uncertainty as he volunteered to have his fortune read first. Settling his wildly thumping heart, she told herself that this whole thing was probably a scam for Nightmare Night. Her breathing returned to normal, but she watched her shadow warily out of the corner of her eye. The mare in front of them settled herself on another cushion, and reached her front hooves across the table.

"Your hoof, please." She said her voice filled with a chill that made Stardust shiver. She looked into her silvery-gray eyes, and when they accidentally made eye contact, the mare winked at her. Stardust looked away sheepishly, before focussing on Raijin's outstretched hoof. He seemed reluctant, but at the same time determined to find out that this whole fortune telling business was fake. The fortune teller took his hoof in hand and yanked, pulling it closer to her eyes. The yellow Pegasus went right along with his appendage, his chest hitting the edge if the table with a thwump. Tracing the edge of his hoof with hers, the mare squinted and muttered low enough so that they couldn't hear. Suddenly, her eyes turned milky white and her hoof seemed magnetically attached to Raijin's. Stardust's eyes were quite wide indeed as she watched the fortune teller's mouth move as if she were screaming, but no sound came out. With a burst of light from the joined hooves, Stardust looked away, closing her eyes. She leaned just enough on the Pegasus to know that he was still there and not being transported to some other dimension, but not enough for him to really take notice of her.

Feeling the light die down, she turned back and opened her deep blue eyes, absorbing the scene in front of her. The mare gasped in air and spoke in her old, raspy voice again, only it seemed to be in a different language. After a moment of quiet, their hooves detached and her eyes returned to their beautiful silver. She smiled a smile that was more a smirk at Stardust, saying, "That was fun, wasn't it now. There is nothing to Nightmare Night without a little mind exchange."

Stardust was puzzled. "Mind exchange? Whatever do you mean by that?" She asked, scrutinizing the mare's ruffled mane. She laughed a cool laugh.

"My hoof reading is unlike any others. Instead of reading the hoof lines, I read the mind by connecting through the hoof. Quite a powerful way to get through, as I'm sure your friend here could agree. If he is your friend?" She asked, raising her eyebrows quizzically at Raijin, whom Stardust had forgotten was sitting there. She looked up at him, waiting for a reaction to all of this. Her heart was now running a marathon once more, and there was a slight adrenaline rush inside her head. She held her tongue, however, and waited for more things to be said.

[EN]

He should had decline coming here with Stardust. It was really a bad idea, yet why did the pegasus agree? He almost had a scare good enough to drain the color of his pelt, not literally, not to mention what was to come was completely out of his analysis. The fortuneteller asked for his hoof and at first he just stared at hers, trying to wonder if he should back out while he still can. He had a feeling something strange was going to happen once again if he stretch his hoof across the table. What could happen? She didn't have a horn, so she was probably going to do a hoof reading. It was normal and he had expected it, however he soon found out it became something much more. Raijin felt his entire body being dragged forward, the only thing stopping him from going all the way across was the table. The fortuneteller tug his hoof unexpectedly and with enough force to make his chest hit the edge of the table.

Now he tried to pull away, but his efforts were useless. It was like there was some sort of magical lock keeping their hooves connected. The fortuneteller's eyes were turning white. Should he be worried? Yes, he should, but more worried about his own well-being. He wanted to say something, anything, but no words escape the insides of his mouth. 'What's going on?! Come on, let go!' He thought desperately and kept of tugging his hoof hoping some miracle would happen and separate the two ponies. He was panicking and his face was clearly showing it. Raijin was about flap his wings to see if that would help, but seeing a bright flash of light that consumed the tent made him froze. He knew it was too late for him so he shut his eyes, waiting for what ever fate is to come.

When the light disappear, there sat the yellow pegasus, his other free foreleg over his face. He couldn't find himself to move so there he at, holding onto his posture even after the mare's hoof disconnected. It took him a few moments before realizing everything was over and only then did he felt safe enough to put his hoof down and open his eyes. The first thing he check was his body and his face by touching with his hooves. 'Whew... Nothing's wrong. Least not that I can see!' The pony look over to Stardust and was about to ask the mare if anything was wrong with him until he heard something alarming, very alarming. "Mind Exchange!?" He exclaimed. "What did you do??!" Raijin move his hooves around his head. Nothing was feeling out of place, but what did she mean by that?! "My hoof reading is unlike any others. Instead of reading the hoof lines, I read the mind by connecting through the hoof. Quite a powerful way to get through, as I'm sure your friend here could agree. If he is your friend?" The pegasus open his mouth for more questions, but the word friend kept him quite and made him turn his head, only to find Stardust looking up at him. What was he suppose to say? "Of course she's my friend!" Least that's what he wanted to say, but he shouldn't get his hopes up. He's only just met this mare. What were the chances of obtaining a friend in a day..? After all he's isn't quite the easy pony to get along with..

He has try before, but all of them turn for the worst. Let's not forget his personality is a huge hurdle for him and other ponies to get close to him. Tonight was the first time he's really enjoy himself and spending it with another pony at that, not to mention he was actually able to make conversation with the mare. The question went back to: What should he say? "I... Yea-, I mean," He paused and rubbed the back of his head with a hoof, "We've only just met! I think it's a bit early to say that." Great. Now's he's done it. "We're pretty much strangers to one another." Hush up mouth! Hush up! His words were spoken nonchalantly and he was quick to turn his head to avoid Stardust's gaze. Oh why did his tsun-tsun mode have to activate right now, when everything was going so well?!

[Stardust]

Raijin fumbled for an answer to the fortune teller's question. His final answer, however, made her heart stop within a millisecond. We're pretty much strangers. Strangers? She felt a little hurt, but suddenly wanted to smack herself across that face. They were just strangers, was the thing. How could she expect someone like Raijin to magically want to become friends with someone like herself? Then again- her thoughts raced around to the point where she got lost in staring at the turned gaze of the Pegasus. Thinking she was making it awkward, she turned her head and looked at the mare before them. She seemed to be amused, her head in her hooves resting on the table with the kind of grin a mother gives to a child when they are proud of them.

"It is but great fun for me when I get two uncertain minds in the same room with my abilities." She said, puzzling Stardust. She locked eyes with her. "Are you ready, my dear, for your mind exchange? You can ask your-" she stopped, exchanging a glance at Raijin, "comrade. It does not hurt." She ran through the events of what Raijin had gone through without him knowing what was going to happen. She wished she could be that brave, but she held back. What was it like? Taking a shaky breath, she pushed the recent events out of mind and placed her hoof on the table.

"I'm ready." She said quietly.
"Excellent." She replied, linking her hoof to hers in the magnetic pull. She was yanked forward, and her hair was caught in her eyes. Trying to push it away, the flash of light was there once more and she let her hoof stay covering her eyes. All of the recently pushed away thoughts returned, but it was like someone was sorting through them, putting them into files and storing them away in her brain. Just as quickly as it had started, the link broke and she fell back away from the edge of the table. The silvery eyes returned in front of her. What had happened?

The fortune teller gave her a pitying look. "You are confused, dear. About many things, yes, but soon it will all be as clear as the water in the brook."

As quick as a flash, the pony waved her hoof over the little dwindling flame, and the tent was shrouded in complete and utter darkness. One minute is was calm, quiet, the next Stardust shrieked. A sudden cold hoof was on her shoulder. It was the fortune teller, right? She scooted to the left, but bumped into whom she thought was Raijin.

"Raijin? This was a bad idea, it's all my fault. I'm sorry. Where are you?"

[EN]

"It is but great fun for me..." That's all Raijin heard coming from the mare. 'Fun? How is this fun..?' This was all strange to him, but then again, this is what this mare choose to do so her definition of fun differs from his. His mind was elsewhere and he wasn't paying much attention when the fortuneteller ask if Stardust was ready. "Hm? Oh yeah it, doesn't hurt.." His voice trailed off. Mind definitely deep in thought and with regret of what he answered earlier, he waited for the flash of light that never came. The fortuneteller pull Stardust in like she did to him, but after that, nothing. Did something go wrong? The teller pony didn't have that expression on her face from when she read his hoof. "You are confused, dear. About many things, yes, but soon it will all be as clear as the water in the brook." Stardust was confused and what did she meant by "it will all be clear"? There goes something else to wonder about, and the fact the mare still did not answer any of his previous questions.

The pegasus guessed that everything was over after a wave from the fortuneteller's hoof caused the only source of light to diminish. Everything became black and it was hard to see. Raijin slowly stood up and tried his best to look for the exit. All they did was walk in a straight line before sitting down right, so the exit must be behind them. He turned around and was about to head out until he heard a shriek. At first he was feeling a bit down, but that all seems to have wash away and replaced. The pony was worried and turned his head left and right trying to see anything that would at least look like Stardust. "...!" Something almost made him jump and his heart skip a beat. 'Who just touched me??!' It wasn't until he heard a very familiar mare's voice that made him calm. It was her that bumped into him. "Well, I'm here. You did bump into me just now. Let's find the exit.." His hoof slowly waved around in the air towards the direction of where he thought Stardust was and managed to grab her hoof, least he hoped it was her hoof. Head turning around he try to find the exit and after peering around he finally saw a tiny hint of light located towards the ground. It was probably the tent flaps that they went through earlier.

Raijin guided Stardust towards the exit slowly so that they don't bump or trip on anything. Finally! They were under the moon once again, basking in its lunar rays. He let go of the mare's hoof and took a few steps forward before stopping. "Yeah it was a bad idea." He agreed with the mare, not looking back at her. "However, it wasn't that bad I suppose...so don't blame yourself. I had, fun, in a way." The pegasus dare to glance at the mare and this time he held a light smile, though his eyes told something different. He was still dwelling on what had just happened in the tent. Why did he say that? He should probably apologize, but how would he begin without messing up again? He was a bit worried if his words had hurt her in any way. "Listen Stardust, I-. No, nevermind. You said something about enjoying scenery earlier, so do you have a place in mind?" He was about to speak about what had just occurred in the tent, but something caused him to stop and caused him to say something completely different.

[Stardust]

Stardust relished the sounds and lights of Nightmare Night once again. After being guided sheepishly out of the tent, she didn't meet Raijin's eyes when he started talking about how he had fun in a way. Only then did she look up at him, and only then did her give her a light smile. Stardust bit her lip and looked down for a moment, before saying to the ground,
"I suppose it was... interesting." she said and gave a half hearted laugh. Raijin started speaking, and seemed like he was going to say something, but stopped short and said, "No never mind. You said something about scenery earlier, so do you have a place in mind?"

Stardust thought for a moment, itching her back. That was when she noticed that she no longer held a sheet on her back. It must have fallen off inside the- she eyed to tent flaps warily. She could live without that particular sheet, she supposed.
"Well, sometimes, I go up to this hill sort of by my lithe cottage. It gives a marvelous overview of Town Square. Would you like to go there?" she said, diverting her attention on the pegasus. Started to walk forward through the square, she noticed that the number of young fillies still out was diminishing. She wondered how late it was, but judging by the older mares and stallions still out and about, it couldn't be too late. Leading Raijin away from the hustle and bustle of the Nightmare games, she walked in the same direction she had came from earlier. Seeing her small, thatched roofed cottage, she made an abrupt turn to the left, squeezing between two carts from the marketplace that some pony had parked there. Coming to the gravel path, she walked uphill for a moment before curving to the left again. There, splayed out in front of her, was a cliff, and walking closer, the gazed on the many lights of the Town Square.

"I've never come up here at night, yet alone Nightmare Night. It's quite the view, if I do say so myself." she walked as close as she dared to the edge and sat down, letting tonight's events run wild in her head. She found this a good spot to think. For some reason, the words Raijin had said earlier in the tent seemed to keep coming back around and replaying in her head. We're pretty much just strangers to one another. And the part that kept stinging her was, it was a true statement. And here she had thought that she could make a friend within one night when she hasn't been able to for quite some time. She shook her head, hot embarrassment coming to her cheeks. She dared not make eye contact with Raijin now, because he might ask if something was wrong, and then what would she say. "Oh, ya, I'm just thinking about the fact that I'm hanging around with a stranger for the whole night. That's all, how about you?" she said the words sarcastically in her head, letting them sting her like a munch of bees. Why did she even have to come out on Nightmare Night in the first place? All it did last year was the same thing; make her sad.

[EN]

Things were quiet along the way, very quiet. Oh, where were the two ponies going? Raijin was following Stardust to the location where she said had the grand scenery of the Town Square. Was it really a good idea to follow her? To be truthful he was rather hesitant. He wasn't sure whether if he should leave or continue along and because of this he was dragging behind the blue mare, mostly looking down at the road. "Oh, sorry! Excuse me.. My apologizes ma'am!" The was obvious he wasn't paying attention since he was constantly unaware of his surroundings, bumping into ponies every now and then. Why was he feeling so down? He hasn't felt this way since...let's just say a while. "We're pretty much strangers to one another." Those words constantly bounced back and forth in his mind and made his felt uneasy. He would occasionally look up at Stardust to make sure he could still see him, but he did try not to follow up to close. It seems weird, but it was be even worse if he was standing next to her. Let's not mention it was clear that something was off just by looking at his face.

A cottage. They had arrived, well almost. The pegasus continued to follow the mare as she made a few turns and followed her to a cliff. Stardust was first to sit down near the edge, but for him, he stopped. He was reluctant to proceed at first, but his body moved and he sat next to her, looking down at Ponyville's Town Square. She was right, it was quite the view. Raijin could see the beautiful lights from above and added with this starry night, everything could be deem perfect. This truly was one of, if not, the best Nightmare Night he's ever had. It would had been, if he hadn't mess up and say all those words earlier. He felt stupid. Why did he have to be a pony who has a hard time expressing himself? Neither of the ponies spoke for a good few minutes. For Raijin, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what caused this problem. His mouth. 'Come on, just tell her! No, I don't think that's a good idea.. Seriously, at least try! Oh, I'm not sure about that... This of it this way, at this rate you're never going to make a friend, and eventually you're going to be sitting alone in your life talking to yourself just like now!' He could hoofpalm himself right now for debating with himself. This keeps up and he just might develop a second persona and go crazy.

One thing was for sure, he didn't want to let this opportunity escape his grasp. 'Just tell her what happened back there. Well? Go on!' Every time his mouth opened and tried to say something, he would shut it, that was until he couldn't bear it anymore. "Gah!" He suddenly yelled and turned his head to look at her. He started speaking once again, but this time his voice was softer, "Listen Stardust, back there in the tent... I'd said some things I shouldn't have and I'm.. I-I apologize!" Now here comes the next part. He was going to try to explain his reasons. "Don't expect me to repeat myself you got that?!" Yeah, that was not what he wanted to say. Don't rush the pony! "I don't know, maybe I'm the problem or maybe it's their problem, but the point is..." He paused. 'Point is...? Dude just say it! Stop dragging this longer than it needs to be!' It was as if a second persona was inside his mind. "Point is... Point is I have problems talking with others and making friends. I'm not sure what to say or do around others, but tonight was really fun...with you." He let out a big sigh in the end and that tugging feeling lessened. He felt...a little better. "There, now you know! You can laugh if you want!" Laugh? Yeah, the other few times he let out his emotions he was called a weirdo and made fun of. Now he avoided eye contact and stared down into the lighted town, trying to ease up as a gentle breeze swept pass the two. He always liked the wind. It helps him calm down, not to mention it felt good. He would be shivering, but thankful his costume dried.

[Stardust]

Stardust was having an inward battle in the silence now. One half of her wanted to say something, anything, to break the air that was thick with the sounds of nothing. The other half of her wanted to lock up inside her shell and stay there until the night was over. These to sides went to war inside her, clashing around and banging into one another until the quite pegasus beside her burst an interjection, making her jump. He looked her in the eyes as words started pouring from his mouth about earlier in the tent, and he did something she didn't think he would. He apologized. She opened her mouth to say it was ok but he quickly went on to say that he wasn't expected to repeat himself. Stardust clamped her mouth shut and let the stallion talk, long and hard, about the night. And her eyes widened with each word, and her gaze never faltered from the pony's moving mouth and staring eyes. And when Raijin said that he had problems talking to others, and making friends, Stardust felt something click. Something invisible, like someone snapping a button together. And she smiled, when he said he had fun that night with her. She saw some invisible weight lifted off of his shoulders, but nevertheless, the Raijin she knew said, "There, now you know! You can laugh if you want!" And she stood, unexpectedly. She didn't mean for her legs to suddenly snap up and make here stand at attention, but they did.

"I would never laugh." She said firmly, and, letting the side of her that wanted her to talk win, she was now the one letting words fall like water from her mouth.
"You didn't do anything wrong. We had just met, but I'm so glad we did. You see, I have trouble making friends because everyone just laughs at me. And then- them I get mad and..." She trailed, started to pace back and forth in front of the Pegasus. "I scare other ponies off then, for yelling. I'm too shy to approach other ponies, so I don't even give an effort. I'm hopeless really, and if i hadn't met you tonight, however unexpected- " she let Raijin's attempt to scare her play in her mind. "I would have been tormented by other ponies and tripped in my costume- " now her tumble played through her mental playback machine. "I- I would have had a horrible time and gone home early, feeling awful." She made herself stop walking and sat down with a huff back next to the stallion. She didn't meet his eyes, but felt like she didn't need to. "You've been so nice, and I've never felt that before. Thanks." She said. And for some reason unknown to her, she didn't feel like she said too much. She finally felt like she had said just enough. "You don't have to be my friend, if you don't want to, but I had much more fun tonight with you than I would have on my own."

And finally feeling like something heavy had been lifted off get back, she breathed deeply, smelling the oaky trees behind them and the fragrant grass beneath them. She trained her eyes over the town square below, looking at the dressed up ponies bobbing for apples and tossing spiders. She smiled to herself, wondering if Raijin would respond to her long inner-self exposure. She almost laughed at the thought of how silly she must have looked, pacing around in front of him. She felt so light now, so ready to make news friends and feel this happy all the time that she tucked her hooves underneath her and lay down in the soft-prickly grass. Tossing her head and flipping the hair out of her face, Stardust looked around for the fortune teller tent over the cliff. Looking in the direct place it used to be, she saw only an empty square of cobblestone. Strange. It was as if the tent had just- disappeared. But that was ridiculous; things can't simply disappear. However, she could help but feel like it had, and so, she stared down at the blank square long and hard.

[EN]

When the mare stood up, he felt himself shrink back. He was honestly expecting the mare to let out a giggle or something before calling him weird, but those actions never came. Maybe she was building up the suspense? If she was, it was working, because as of this moment his heart went from being peaceful to thumping hard. What was she going to say? He wanted to tell her to say something and when she did open her mouth he braced himself. "I would never laugh." He knew it! Wait what? What did she say just now? The pegasus was very surprised to say the least. Raijin give his uttermost attention to the blue mare. He was listening hard and didn't even bother to blink, not wanting to miss anything. It was hard for him to think Stardust would have a hard time making friends after remembering how much fun he had with her tonight. Sure they didn't participate in all of the games Nightmare night had to offer, but tonight was the best time he's had in a long time, if he hadn't said so already.

He watched the earth pony pace back an forth before speaking again. Stardust spoke of how she was shy, how she scare other ponies, and how hopeless she is. He knew she wasn't any of that. What was really amazing was how they were somewhat similar. She could relate to him as he could to her, even though they did share some differences. Raijin couldn't count all the times her words shocked him. He was nice? He couldn't remember when he was being nice, not to mention he usually coats his words in spice and not the sweet kind. This was something new he's never heard from other ponies he encountered. When Stardust finally settle down, the pegasus just look at her and before he could say something, she thanked him. Thank him? He should be the pony that's thankful, thankful of her! "You don't have to be my friend, if you don't want to, but I had much more fun tonight with you than I would have on my own." Raijin felt something odd in his chest, but he didn't know what it was. He did notice something... He shouldn't let this chance slip pass him.

"I suppose it wouldn't be bad having you as a friend, I mean, if you want to." He actually manage to bring those words out, but unfortunately some sides of him would never change, "You don't have to be my friend, it's not like I need them or anything.." The last part he spoke very softly, but hearable. He was hoping the mare would say yes to make him feel a little bit more at ease, but even if she refuse it would still be alright...he thought. Raijin followed her gaze down towards the Town Square wondering why she was staring to intently. He couldn't see what she was trying to look for, but something was a little odd in this entire scenery. Something was out of place... 'Wait a minute...' His peer down at a certain empty location. "What in the..??" Where was the fortuneteller's tent? Wasn't it just there or was he looking at the wrong location?? That couldn't be, could it? They were just there! He couldn't help but look at Stardust once again, confusingly. "Hey Stardust, did you happen to remember the location of the fortuneteller? You know, where she had her tent and stuff." He finished asking her before a thought erupted into his mind. 'Were they actually there in the first place...?' His eyes became the size of pin needles and his body shook a little. Yep, he just freaked himself out a little. Raijin didn't even bother analyzing deeper into the subject, like he would normally do. "Okay, we shall never speak of this! Agreed?" At first he held a serious expression and he wasn't sure why, but he found himself smirking before letting out some laughs.

[Stardust]

Stardust's attention was back on Raijin as he said it wouldn't be bad having her as a friends. Apparently, she had been holding in a breath because now, it came out in quite an obvious sigh of relief. To be honest, she thought he was going to say something like, "Of course I wouldn't ever want to be your friend. Don't be stupid." Or something else snide like that. But he didn't, and for that she was grateful. Although, the last part she didn't let slip by her. "It's not like I need them or anything." She bit back a smile. She had known him for a night and yet she could expect a quick comment like that after everything he said. Stardust quickly gathered together some words as if shuffling papers before letting them actually come out. She thought she could poke at him just a little to see how he would react.

"Well, I mean, I did really want to-" she let herself trail off for just a second or two before quickly saying afterwards, "of course I'll be your friend Raijin. Just teasing you." She poked her hoof at his shoulder, smiling. Returning her gaze to town square sprawled out below them, she made absolute certain that that was where the tent used to be. There was the dunk tank, after all, just a little ways away in the same direction. And soon, Raijin caught onto her stare. He asked her if she did remember the exact location, and she nodded.

"Right there, you see the dunk tank? We just walked straightforward from there and..." And there was the empty patch. It needed no more explaining. She traced her path in the air with a hoof, before lowering it slowly. In the amount of time it took them to leave there and walk up here wasn't nearly enough for some pony to take down a whole tent. It didn't add up. She let thoughts mingle in her head until she accidentally let one slip out of her mouth. "What if there never was a tent?" She realized it sounded silly, and quickly said, "I mean, that's impossible but-" but what if? Then how could she have lost her sheet? Or the things that they experienced, that had to have been real. She shook her head, looking at the ground as she slowly worked herself up into a freaked-out mess. Just as soon, Raijin said, "We shall never speak of this again, agreed?" She looked over at him, and for a moment, she nodded, both being completely serious. That didn't last long, however, and Stardust started to giggle. But her giggle soon turned into a full fledged laugh, and there she was on her side just thinking about the events of the night and how awkward they had been. Although it had been the most fun night of her life so far, and she would repeat that as many times as necessary for it to stick to her brain.

[EN]

Was there even a fortune teller? How was a earth pony doing all those, tricks? I repeat, an earth pony, no horn, creating their shadows and that bright flash of light. Where and how in Luna's name did it disappear just like that? Unless it was someone with knowledge of magic, then there's no way they could had created all those effects and disappear so quick. There were so many unanswered questions and he was glad Stardust agreed with him never to speak of this again. He really really dislikes paranormal stuff and does his best to avoid them. The two ponies eventually laugh the entire event with the fortuneteller off and wow, when was the last time he laughed like this? Ok maybe last week when he was reading this very funny comic, but he's never shared a laugh with anyone without the "haha" being directed on himself. This was new and he like it, very much.

Friend, Raijin roll the word around with his tongue. His first friend... If he was one of those emotional ponies, he would be leaking tears right about now. If this was a dream, please don't wake him up. The pegasus stared down towards the Town Square once more realizing he never got to do any of his other plans, "I'm surprised of the time. I mean, it should be pretty late right?" He could see some of the ponies started to pack up for the night. Funny how time flies when you're having fun, so what were they going to do now? The night was still beautiful, but eventually they would have to part ways for the night. "Before you were saying about how unicorns misuse their powers on you and animals," He paused and held a stern expression, "More like abusing their powers if you ask me, but anyways, does that mean you're good with animals?" On one hoof he felt the urge of wanting to pay those unicorns a visit and give them a good whack to the face, but on another hoof he rather not cause anymore trouble on himself and especially Stardust. Pushing the feelings aside, he was showing signs of interest in her, his first friend. The pony thought it would be good to get to know the mare better, after all they were friends. Every time the pegasus hears or mentions the word he gets all warm and fluttery on the inside, like there were butterflies in his stomach. Stardust didn't know this and he surely didn't want to act all emotional and sappy in front of the mare.

[Stardust]

Stardust enjoyed the pain in her belly from laughing so much. She probably hadn't laughed that much in the past year or more at that. Sitting back up, she pondered the tent's existence. It just wasn't logical, although, many things weren't exactly 'logical'. The earth pony, someone just like her, could do that? Surely there were special effects involved, but the amount of work that would have been had to be expensive and back breaking to say the least. As far as she knew, she possessed zero magical ability. Zilch, nada, none. And so to comprehend that someone like her could so something like that was unfathomable. She decided, however, to let it go and just like that, the thought was gone from her mind. Instead, she focused on the pony next to her whom she had just made acquaintance with. She liked the word; friend. How it rolled off her tongue, how it made her feel all wishy-washy inside. A good wishy-washy, not the bad kind like when you want to slap a certain unicorn across the face. But that was besides the point. She now had someone that she could talk to, and maybe even hang out with on other occasions. Maybe she wouldn't have to go to holiday gatherings alone now. Maybe every party could go a little like this. She stopped herself. Was she perhaps over thinking? Of course she was, Raijin wouldn't want to spend his entire life hanging out with just her. He probably had dozens of other friends that he already hung out with. For some reason, this felt this was untrue but still, Stardust settled her gaze on the stands packing up for the night below her. The spider web was being folded into a neat little square, then packed in a box for next year. She sighed, hearing Raijin's voice pipe up and make a remark about the time.

"I do suppose it is getting late. How long have we even been out? I didn't bother to look at the time when I left..." she looked up at the large, white moon that was high in the sky, directly overhead. The beautiful breeze rustles the leaves around behind them, and the autumn air enveloped her in a warm embrace. Her hair was tousled around, but it always was, and so she left it as it was. Suddenly, Raijin brought up the topic about her and her animals being mistreated. She sighed, but put on a light smile.
"Oh, well you see, I take in hurt and sick stray animals that were in the forest right by my house-" she glanced behind her and down the slopping trail. She could just barley see the thatched roof that was her house. "And I take care of them. Once they are back to 110%, i put them up for adoption in my cart that i sometimes set up in the Marketplace. Nothing special really, just a soft spot for em'. Espicially these little guys." She stretched around and pointed to her cutie mark. Three bright yellow fireflies in a triangle marked her flank. She turned back around, placing her hoof down. "All the ponies do is make fun of me for being so, so-" she stopped. So what? "So socially awkward I guess. And they kind of make fun of the way I so called 'hoard animals'." she huffed indignantly. "They obviously don't care about the creatures as much as I do." and with that, she bit back her tongue to let Raijin speak if he wanted to. She now found herself with the opposite problem; talking to much instead of not enough. And added to it, she was starting to speak so openly about things, that she decided that the next question she was asked she would only say up to three sentences in return. That should keep her from spilling to much of her innermost self.