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Trick or Treat

By twilightgamenight
Created: 2021-07-16 21:31:33
Updated: 2021-01-31 22:01:47
Expiry: Never
safe/spg/completeone-shotcomfy

  1. 1.
    >Little boy saves up his allowance.
  2. 2.
    >Does extra chores.
  3. 3.
    >Collects cans.
  4. 4.
    >Everything he can for months.
  5. 5.
    >Practically a whole year.
  6. 6.
    >Parents keep asking what he's saving for.
  7. 7.
    >He won't tell them.
  8. 8.
    >Okay, it's amusing. He's doing extra work and being extra good, so they let it slide.
  9. 9.
    >Don't say a word about all those costumes they find half-made in his closet.
  10. 10.
    >All painted cardboard and scraps of cloth.
  11. 11.
    >One week to Halloween, finally lets it slip.
  12. 12.
    >Pony Rental place wouldn't rent to a kid.
  13. 13.
    >Asks his parents to rent him a dozen foals for Halloween.
  14. 14.
    >Dumps his piggy bank out.
  15. 15.
    >Won't even cover half the cost.
  16. 16.
    >Mom asks why.
  17. 17.
    >"Because I have bags and costumes and everything and I'll get way more candy this way!"
  18. 18.
    >Mom rolls he eyes.
  19. 19.
    >Dad doesn't say anything to the kid. Just makes the call and pulls out his credit card.
  20. 20.
    >Ponies show up around noon.
  21. 21.
    >Dropped off by surly jackass driver.
  22. 22.
    >Dad signs the paperwork.
  23. 23.
    >Winces at the cost, but signs it.
  24. 24.
    >Driver reminds dad he'll be back at midnight for the ponies.
  25. 25.
    >Foals mill around.
  26. 26.
    >Some scared.
  27. 27.
    >Some trying to act brave by scaring the others.
  28. 28.
    >Telling stories about what they've heard goes on.
  29. 29.
    >Why people rent this many foals at once.
  30. 30.
    >Mom bops those ones on the nose with a rolled up magazine.
  31. 31.
    >Shushes them and drives them inside.
  32. 32.
    >Boy starts pulling out the costumes he's worked on for weeks.
  33. 33.
    >Some don't fit.
  34. 34.
    >Some are perfect.
  35. 35.
    >Fillies and colts giggle as they put on their outfits.
  36. 36.
    >They're literally made of trash.
  37. 37.
    >Empty cereal boxes painted bright silver turn ponies into robots.
  38. 38.
    >Worn out bedsheets combine with others to become ghosts.
  39. 39.
    >One is a pirate, wearing the boy's outfit from last year. Modified, of course.
  40. 40.
    >Ponies stop laughing as the boy stomps out of his room carrying a whip and pith helmet.
  41. 41.
    >They're just toys.
  42. 42.
    >Doesn't matter.
  43. 43.
    >Not all of the ponies have unblemished hides.
  44. 44.
    >He attaches it to one filly's belt.
  45. 45.
    >"You're Daring Do!" he shouts happily, settling the helmet on her head.
  46. 46.
    >Filly giggles softly.
  47. 47.
    >The rest follow.
  48. 48.
    >He disappears again.
  49. 49.
    >Mom and dad adjust some of the costumes while he dresses.
  50. 50.
    >Little boys have grand ideas, but no idea how big ponies actually are, or how to make things that fit.
  51. 51.
    >Doesn't take long.
  52. 52.
    >Most are simple fixes.
  53. 53.
    >There's some silver spray paint in the garage and cereal comes in a bag.
  54. 54.
    >They didn't really need those boxes anyway.
  55. 55.
    >Fixes are all done by the time the boy emerges.
  56. 56.
    >Simple costume.
  57. 57.
    >Black shirt. Black pants. Black pillowcase wrapped around his head.
  58. 58.
    >He's a ninja!
  59. 59.
    >Mom tells him to go back and -
  60. 60.
    >He's got a bag full of flashlights.
  61. 61.
    >A safe ninja!
  62. 62.
    >Dad asks where he's got them, but boy just shrugs.
  63. 63.
    >"Found 'em."
  64. 64.
    >Makes sure every pony has a flashlight and one for himself.
  65. 65.
    >A little fiddling later and every flashlight is attached to a costume.
  66. 66.
    >Tucked into a belt, tied to a leg with a sock, and in one case taped to an overly large shoulder pad.
  67. 67.
    >Dad laughs and says son should have gone with glow sticks.
  68. 68.
    >Boy tried, but they all went out a few months ago.
  69. 69.
    >Starting to get dark.
  70. 70.
    >Mom has been at the door handing out candy to all the 'little babies' for a while.
  71. 71.
    >Handing out some to the foals too.
  72. 72.
    >Sun goes down.
  73. 73.
    >It's dark.
  74. 74.
    >Time for the big kids to go trick-or-treating!
  75. 75.
    >Boy is only 7.
  76. 76.
    >Still insists he's a big boy.
  77. 77.
    >Doesn't need anyone to go with him!
  78. 78.
    >Parents laugh.
  79. 79.
    >Fine, but only to the end of the street and back.
  80. 80.
    >If he goes any further, he has to come get them.
  81. 81.
    >And he has to be back by 9.
  82. 82.
    >Halloween or not, it's a school night.
  83. 83.
    >He agrees. Reluctantly.
  84. 84.
    >It's easy to watch him from the front yard.
  85. 85.
    >Parents take the candy bowl outside. Sit on the porch.
  86. 86.
    >Watch this bobbing blob of thirteen lights wobble away down the sidewalk.
  87. 87.
    >Share a few candies themselves between trick-or-treaters.
  88. 88.
    >Have a fair share of ponies come by while they wait.
  89. 89.
    >There's one little girl dressed as a cowgirl riding one.
  90. 90.
    >Filly doesn't look much older than the ponies the son ran off with, but she's carrying the girl easily.
  91. 91.
    >Almost easily.
  92. 92.
    >She walks into the fence.
  93. 93.
    >"OWWWWWWWW!"
  94. 94.
    >"Hey! Go around it!"
  95. 95.
    >"You know I can't see without my glasses!"
  96. 96.
    >"The Lone Ranger's horse doesn't have glasses!"
  97. 97.
    >"Yeah, yeah."
  98. 98.
    >She's not hurt, though.
  99. 99.
    >Earth ponies are tough.
  100. 100.
    >But parents give her some candy too.
  101. 101.
    >Neighbor three houses down has one for a nanny.
  102. 102.
    >She's walking the kids for them.
  103. 103.
    >Implies walking them like pets, and that's almost the truth.
  104. 104.
    >One is too young to know better than to run into the street. She's on a leash.
  105. 105.
    >Another is riding on the pony's back.
  106. 106.
    >The littlest one.
  107. 107.
    >Really should have been out earlier, the child is half-asleep, but the teen was fusing with her costume for *hours*.
  108. 108.
    >"I was not!"
  109. 109.
    >The adults share an embarassed smile.
  110. 110.
    >Parents aren't looking forward to dealing with that age.
  111. 111.
    >Offer the nanny some candy too, but she refuses.
  112. 112.
    >Offer her a beer.
  113. 113.
    >She... hesitates before refusing.
  114. 114.
    >Share another smile.
  115. 115.
    >A knowing one.
  116. 116.
    >Maybe on the way back.
  117. 117.
    >It goes unsaid, but the understanding is there.
  118. 118.
    >She has little ones to care for.
  119. 119.
    >Minutes tick past.
  120. 120.
    >The street isn't long, but it's packed.
  121. 121.
    >Newish development.
  122. 122.
    >Houses barely have space to walk between them.
  123. 123.
    >Lots of families with young children.
  124. 124.
    >Almost every light is on.
  125. 125.
    >Not the Hendersons, of course, but they never participate in anything.
  126. 126.
    >First hour passes.
  127. 127.
    >Parents aren't worried.
  128. 128.
    >They can see the blob of lights bobbing along towards them on the other side of the street.
  129. 129.
    >Plenty of children moving in groups, but none as large as their son's.
  130. 130.
    >He crosses as he comes even with the house.
  131. 131.
    >"Need more bags!"
  132. 132.
    >Yep, they're full.
  133. 133.
    >Every single one.
  134. 134.
    >Ponies giggle and play as he runs inside to get more.
  135. 135.
    >"They can leave those here, right?" he asks, coming back out with shopping bags and anything else that will work.
  136. 136.
    >"Yeah, sure."
  137. 137.
    >Ponies open their mouths and drop their bags on the porch.
  138. 138.
    >Some a little reluctantly.
  139. 139.
    >"Don't worry, Dad and Mom will take care of them!"
  140. 140.
    >Yes, he says 'Dad' and 'Mom' with capitals.
  141. 141.
    >He's still at that age.
  142. 142.
    >"Of course."
  143. 143.
    >Dad nods in agreement.
  144. 144.
    >He's got plenty of candy left in the bowl to hand out - and snack on.
  145. 145.
    >Asks if anyone is giving him any trouble.
  146. 146.
    >Boy is confused until parent nods towards the foals.
  147. 147.
    >"Oh."
  148. 148.
    >He shrugs.
  149. 149.
    >"Some."
  150. 150.
    >He shrugs again.
  151. 151.
    >Rushes off with his ponies to hit up the rest of the street.
  152. 152.
    >Kids start to come by that the adults don't recognize as their neighbors.
  153. 153.
    >Ones from outside the neighborhood.
  154. 154.
    >A few older ones.
  155. 155.
    >A few that are a little *too* old.
  156. 156.
    >Some that aren't even wearing costumes.
  157. 157.
    >"About time to wrap it up?" one parent asks the other, already knowing the answer.
  158. 158.
    >"Not yet. He's almost back."
  159. 159.
    >It's not even 8:30.
  160. 160.
    >Boy hasn't made it to the other end of the street, but he's coming back.
  161. 161.
    >"I bet he wants to enjoy some of that candy before he has to go to bed."
  162. 162.
    >"Probably."
  163. 163.
    >He does.
  164. 164.
    >And to play with his new friends.
  165. 165.
    >Parents stay outside for a bit, fending off another wave of trick-or-treaters.
  166. 166.
    >Most are in costume.
  167. 167.
    >Most.
  168. 168.
    >Some are neighbors making the return trip, just swinging by to say hello or who saved this house for last.
  169. 169.
    >Laugh quietly at the little child slumbering away on her nanny's back, tiny fists clutching the pony's mane.
  170. 170.
    >She nods towards the parents.
  171. 171.
    >Can't quite hide her smile.
  172. 172.
    >They wave her over.
  173. 173.
    >The teen groans and - after a brief talk with the pony - walks home alone.
  174. 174.
    >Inside the house, laughter and merriment as ponies play with the boy.
  175. 175.
    >Outside, quite talking between adults, trying not to wake the child snoozing away while the other digs into the candy dish.
  176. 176.
    >"Ready for that beer now?"
  177. 177.
    >Some time during the night, the dad had slipped inside to get one for himself.
  178. 178.
    >It's Halloween.
  179. 179.
    >No one will care.
  180. 180.
    >She smiles again, but shakes her head.
  181. 181.
    >Gently, so as not to dislodge the child.
  182. 182.
    >"Thanks, but I should be getting back. Maybe next time."
  183. 183.
    >"I'll hold you to that."
  184. 184.
    >She's not a bad sort.
  185. 185.
    >Better neighbor than her owners.
  186. 186.
    >Only reason they get invited over to the cookouts is because of her. And, well, because they're neighbors.
  187. 187.
    >Street is nearly empty.
  188. 188.
    >Jack-o-lanterns being snuffed out.
  189. 189.
    >Porch lights being turned off.
  190. 190.
    >A few beams of light bounce along the sidewalks as children scurry home - or on to the next street in the hopes that there is any loot left to be looted.
  191. 191.
    >Thirteen bags of candy lean against the wall.
  192. 192.
    >Dad calls his son outside.
  193. 193.
    >Tells him to take those in while he starts cleaning up.
  194. 194.
    >Waves his hand towards the decorations.
  195. 195.
    >Mother laughs.
  196. 196.
    >"You just want to finish my beer."
  197. 197.
    >Father laughs.
  198. 198.
    >"I just want to finish my beer."
  199. 199.
    >Son shakes his head.
  200. 200.
    >"I told the ponies they could take that back with them."
  201. 201.
    >"But isn't that why you rented them for the night?"
  202. 202.
    >"I don't want any of it," he answers with a shrug.
  203. 203.
    >Father sighs and sets down his beer.
  204. 204.
    >"You know, with the money you'd saved up, you could have just bought yourself a bunch of candy. Or toys."
  205. 205.
    >"I know," the son responds, smiling as laughter swells up from inside the house. "This was more fun."
  206. 206.
    >He looks back over his shoulder.
  207. 207.
    >"I hope I can save up enough to do this next year too."

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