I, the pony of apparitions, couldn’t get any shut-eye. After closing the shop, I went home to my hotel room. The two-star hotel room was a generous size, providing enough openness. My room contained a mattress with brown sheets and pillows, a light brown wood cabinet, a window with black curtains, a bathroom, and a small table for two. To sustain my living expenses here, I would have to establish my Haunted House as a functioning business.

As I leaned over to the other side of my bed, I was startled by the unexpected sensation of my cat’s furry rear end against my face. “Mrrrrr…”

“Vampy… this is my bed. I got you that super omega feline tree tower with a bed for a reason.”

Hiss!

“What’s that? I shouldn’t give up on my dreams?”

Hiss!

Vampy, my black cat, angrily slapped me in the face several times. She preferred the finer things in life, indulging in a life of luxury. Sorry, you had to have me as an owner.

Upon realizing I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I put back on my Haunted House uniform and jumped on my bed to declare. “You’re right, Vampy! I can’t give up on my dreams!”

Startled, I picked up a distinct knocking sound echoing from the floor above. My neighbor must’ve been trying to get my attention. “Shut the #### up Hollow Shack!”

“Sure thing!” With the sound of another knock reverberating in the room, I made my way out of the hotel and onto the darkened streets for my nightly stroll back to work.

The street my business, ‘Baltimare’s Haunted House of Apparitions’ lived on, was empty the last time I was there. The lane was a culinary haven, with an array of restaurants and stylish condos dotted along its length. But from there, my hotel building was around a half-hour walk.

While strolling through the vibrant streets of Baltimare, I couldn’t help but admire the young colts and fillies in their diverse array of costumes. One of them had an excellent Nightmare Moon outfit. The princess I looked up to the most. In the enchanting setting of my hometown – Hollow Shades – one day, I, a young colt, found myself face-to-face with her and Princess Celestia.

Surrounded by shady trees, I observed the majestic mane and tail of Princess Luna and the beautiful crescent of a moon with black splotches on her flank. I approached from behind. And then, I spoke my first words to her.

“Will I ever be able to send shivers down spines like Nightmare Moon does?” I asked.

She turned around and replied with a hint of astonishment. “Wh-what did you say?”

I could only look at her with my jaw wide open, then I heard a giggle come from close by. “I think you’ve got yourself a fan, little sister.” The voice came from Princess Celestia, standing even taller than Luna. Two alicorns, possessing traits from all three pony races.

My jaw still agape, we stood there in silence. Princess Celestia nudged Luna with her white wing. “Well, don’t just stand there Luna, answer him.”

“Uh… Sure! With determination and a focused mind, there's nothing you can't achieve!” Princess Luna proclaimed

“Really?” I asked. Luna nodded her head in a cold sweat.

“Woohoo! I’m going to be the scariest pony known across Equestria!” I exclaimed and ran circles around the two retired princesses. Luna then stopped me by telekinetically lifting me toward her.

“You’re an odd little one… What is thy name?”

With a gasp of excitement, I answered with no hesitation. “Hollow Shack!”

As her magic still kept me suspended in the air, I wasted no time in asking another question that had been burning my mind. “Princess Luna, why do you still wear a foal's bib?”

“Pfft~, Hahahaha! I-It-...It does look like a foal's bib!” Princess Celestia laughed, sprawled out on the lush greenery, dark green grass rustling underneath. Luna’s expression was stern, her jaw clenched as she refrained from speaking, and her eyebrows furrowed. “A bib! A bib, Luna did you hear?! Hahaha!”

“I’ve heard sister.”

“HA–”

Ahh… that was fourteen years ago. Before I found my cutie mark. But that was enough daydreaming (does that count as daydreaming?).

While walking back, I couldn’t avoid noticing the impressive skyscrapers of Baltimare. There was a great variety of shapes and colors among the buildings. Open stores and businesses were lit up with festive decorations. Candles and carved-out pumpkins laid out on porches and thick porch banisters. The air was filled with the sound of music as the ponies, dressed in their costumes, danced to the tunes played by a band. Then, at last, I found myself on the barren street where my haunted house loomed. You wouldn’t have expected it, but my business was in between two other unrelated establishments. One was a pub, while the other was a restaurant, a house, or both. I wasn’t sure.

Down the grey concrete sidewalk, I trotted and entered my house of scares, trying to come up with ideas. I needed something that would attract everypony. Sitting down behind the counter register, I found myself drawn to the view outside the window, tapping my chin deep in reflection.

“What’s up. Can I stay here for the night?”

“Sure,” I replied. Back to brainstorming… wait, who in the hay said that? I turned my head and saw a mare beside me, her transparent appearance taking me by surprise. “What in the wide lands of Equestria? Are you a ghost pony?!”

She responded like she didn't have a care in the world. “Yeah… always have been.” As she levitated and moved, her ectoplasm body shimmered and revealed everything behind her. She had a dull white coat contrasting with her pale grey tail. That goes for her mane too, which was styled in a butterfly cut.

“What are you doing here in my Haunted House?” Then I gasped, coming to an answer while standing atop the counter. “I know! You wanted to meet the great pony of apparitions! Does a ghost-like yourself want to be spooked by me that much?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, guy. I just needed a place to duck and hide from those pesky Smile agents.”

“Smile agents?” I tried to think what that meant, but I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

“They're an organization founded to ensure the safety of the land of Equestria, from threats posed by dangerous creatures and such. Guess I fit the bill, Bill.”

“Bill? No, that’s not my name!”

“Blah, blah, blah, blah… blah. Can I stay here, or not?” She crossed her hooves.

“Did you not read the sign? This is the Haunted House of Apparitions! You’re more than welcome!”

“Coolio, I’ll just sit on this comfy couch, then.” The ghost pony floated over to my couch and levitated above.

“You can do that?”

“Of course, it’d be annoying if I just fell straight to the world’s core.”

The curiosity piqued my interest, so I had to ask. “Are there... more of you?”

She shrugged her shoulders, letting the weight of the day slide off of her, and leaned back into the plush worn couch. “Don’t know… Don’t care…”

“Hey...” A light bulb flickered above me, (not figuratively) casting a glow on my face. “That’s it! If you agree to work for me, I’ll ensure your safety from those smile agents for as long as you want.”

Her ears perked up, and she floated off the couch to face me. “Is that a promise?”

“A promise of promises!” With a flap of my cape, I reached out my hoof. In a blur of movement, the ghost pony waved her ethereal hoof through mine, leaving me with a bone-chilling sensation. “WooOOoo… cold.”

“Sorry.”

I shook off the frosty sensation and asked a much-needed question. “What shall I call you, friend?”

“Hmm… Banafrit sounds nice.”

“Aw, I was going to call you ghostine, but Banafrit it is!” I leaped off the counter and my hooves dropped to the wooden floor, acting as the sealing of our partnership, concluding with a resounding clop. “Baltimare’s Haunted House of Apparitions is back in business! It’s showbiz time!”

Initially, I had no intention of revealing myself to anypony. Floating as fast and as far as I could from Manehattan, I stumbled into Baltimare, soon arriving in a building watching some egotistical freak boast about showbiz. It was clear from the twinkle in his eyes and the spring in his step that he was truly content, and I couldn't help but feel envious. I watched as he put together his stupid outfit, finishing it with a cape of dark purple. He soon galloped to the front door of the building, and I followed. I felt his enthusiasm radiating towards me, compelling me to phase through the wall and glimpse the delighted pony’s smiles waiting just beyond. To soon find out there was none.

No…

I was too late to stop him. The distinct sound of a door being opened echoed through the air, followed by the unexpected sight of a dressed-up unicorn sliding across the porch on his knees, ultimately stopping at the base of the staircase.

“Welcome! Welcome all to Baltimare's Haunted House of Apparitions!” His voice boomed into the vast expanse of the dark, empty sky.

No… don’t look…

He opened one of his eyes, glancing up toward the sky, soon after looking straight ahead of him down the staircase. His disappointment hit him hard as he surveyed the vacant, desolate street and the chilling atmosphere inside his house. Heading back inside, he turned off the lights, leaving the building bathed in shadows. He trudged away, the closed sign rattling against the door with a hollow, metallic sound echoing throughout the empty street. I wanted to follow, but a surge of uncertainty flooded my mind, making it impossible to proceed. I sought refuge in his haunted house, hoping to escape the outside world for the night.

Two hours had passed when he returned. No longer content with just levitating and watching, I craved a more involved approach. Hehe, Pony of Apparitions, eh?

The Pony of Apparitions – Hollow Shack – made me a deal. The weight of his words settled on my shoulders, a promise I knew he couldn’t honor, like a fleeting dream slipping through my hooves. In the grand scheme of things, he was an average unicorn, going about his daily life in Baltimare. He was no superhero. And yet, he remained adamant that he would guarantee my safety from those unnerving smile agents.

Why would he do that? Because he was desperate?

I watched his ridiculous purple cape billowing and twirling, adding a touch of whimsy to his excitement about his haunted house being back in business. No, you could see his caring nature in the way he interacted with his surroundings. So he’s not a superhero. But, Hollow Shack, from my perspective… you’re my hero. The one who accepted me, with no hesitation. You may have needed me now, for business, but I can tell. The way you smiled and greeted me shows just how thrilled you are to have me around.