The magnificent City of Baltimare. Life here was constantly on the move. In this place, ponies never experience boredom, always finding new adventures to embark on. When nighttime fell, Baltimare transformed into a mesmerizing cityscape of twinkling lights. Nopony would EVER want to leave. Me included.

I’m a twenty-four-year-old unicorn stallion specializing in the spooky. You know, the WooOOOoooOOoooOOooos. The scary! The horrific! The frightening, bone-chilling fear lurking in your heart!

Upon entering the first floor, visitors were greeted by a counter with a register, ready to accept their bits. The room was filled with creepy artifacts, scattered haphazardly. Odd-shaped pony skulls, tapestries of nightmare moon, charms with unknown languages written on them, witch bottles with odd patterns and things inside, cursed voodoo dolls from my village, odd jewelry, and a closet of numerous masks.

I leaped into my showbiz chair and looked at the spooky pony in the mirror, embellished with many miniature light bulbs. Me! That stallion’s coat, as dark and enchanting as a night sky, painted in a deep navy blue shade. On the left side of my mouth, a sharp white tooth peeks out while my irises shimmer in mint green. The top of my storm grey mane, decorated with a top hat matched the color of my coat. There was no hole for my horn, so I just wore it on my head, the horn quite free. The purple band around the top hat added a touch of eccentricity to the overall look. Last but not least, I just needed to add the last missing piece.

I stood up and opened my closet, full of masks. This is an occasion to use my favorite one! The white-half mask. From its original state as a whole white mask, now lies broken in two, each half telling a different story. I placed it on my face and glanced back into the glowing mirror. “Hmm… something isn’t right.”

Dear Luna, how did I forget my lucky dark purple cape of dismay? The swoosh of my cape filled the air as I fastened it onto my back. “Now it’s showbiz time!”

With Princess Twilight Sparkle’s magic, the sun sank below the horizon, casting a golden farewell before the moon took its place. Tonight was Nightmare Night! Dashing to the front door, I flung it open, bracing for what awaited outside. “Welcome! Welcome all to my Baltimare Haunted House of Apparitions!”

I invested a great deal of time in designing advertising posters and spreading them around. I expected the lively cheers of Baltimare’s residents and tourists to overwhelm my senses. On my knees, with my front legs splayed out as if I’m waiting to be embraced by all. But no sounds reached my ears. That can’t be right, though… I peeped up at the sky, pitch black, most certainly nighttime. I tilted my head downwards, my gaze fixated on the space beneath my staircase, before sweeping my eyes across the entire expanse of the street.

The street itself was devoid of any signs of activity or vitality. Other than my labored breath, not a single sound or hoofstep could be heard, as the place remained devoid of ponies.

I was born and raised in a small town called Hollow Shades. The moment I saw my cutie mark, I knew it was meant to be – a symbol of a jack-in-the-box ghost pony charging out of a haunted house window. After the death of my mother, my father's expression turned sour with disgust at the sight of my flank.

—”It’s simply the most ridiculous mark I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’m astounded by the sheer ridiculousness of it.”

So, without his support, I moved to Baltimare, intending to spread the wonders of the eerie. I’m a pony of all that is creepy.

—”You long to support yourself through the means of this unconventional garbage? Then vanish from my sight this instant!”

I am...

—”Your ‘dreams’ are so outlandish, it's almost comical! But you’re a hollow–”

–Shack.

—”–Joke!”

Hollow Shack. Pony of Apparitions. And what scared me the most was the realization that my grand opening was a complete and utter failure. And he was right.

Feeling a heavy sadness under the pitch-black sky, I retreated back inside and switched off the lights, one by one. Hearing a loud familiar thud of a shut door, there was nothing left to do, but to close up shop.

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.

Unfortunately, I found myself stuck with my friend Jade Rain out here, regretting the decision. Tonight was Nightmare Night! Everypony dressed up like scary creatures, their costumes were so convincing that I had to remind myself they were just ponies in disguise. They are right? Ponies in disguise? They’re not going to eat me, right?!

As we navigated the lively street, the smell of hay mixed with the sounds of happy ponies and the sight of charming homes. From both directions, costumed ponies trotted along. With bags and buckets in the mouth of themselves or an older pony (or saddlebags), fillies and colts were delighted in the abundance of candy they had collected. But for some reason, my friend wanted to indulge in activities other than collecting sweet treats.

“Come on, stop quivering like a frightened mouse, Shining Ember.”

“J-Jade Rain, you k-kn-know I’m not fond of Nightmare Night…” I stuttered.

“So?”

“I’m scaaaared!” I earned worried looks, pedestrians glancing at me with concern.

“What are you all looking at?!” Jade Rain hollered. Everypony continued going on about their night, walking from house to house.

“You’re a red pony with even brighter red hair. You stand out, Shining Ember. Learn to get toughen up, will you?”

“I-I-I can’t be a brave filly like you, Jade Rain…”

“That knight in shining armor costume you got on isn’t fitting for a colt like you, Ember.”

“You’re the one who wa-wanted us to dress up as a knight guarding a p-princess.”

“I know. I’m having second thoughts about it.”

“We’re still friends though, r-r-right?”

“Best friends, now let’s find something spooky to indulge in.”

“We’re only ten years old. Where is your older brother?”

“He acknowledges my ability to take care of us both.” I sank down to the grey sidewalk, covering my face with my hooves. “Okay, seriously Ember, next year I’m getting you a turtle costume.”

Out of nowhere, a grown mare with a white blanket covering her appeared, her presence adding an air of mystery to the scene. She was dressed up as a creepy ghost, and her costume emitted an unsettling, ghostly moan as she moved. “OOOoooOOooo…”

“Celestia, save us!” I cried out. Jade Rain brought a hoof up to her forehead, and I clamped back into hiding.

“You two looking for some entertainment?”

“We are!” Jade Rain answered with excitement.

I vividly remember my mother's warning to stay away from strangers who uttered such phrases. B-but if she tried anything, J-jade would put a stop to her.

“Aw, that’s adorable. I overheard you say each other’s names. Jade Rain is the blue filly and Shining Ember is the red colt, do I have that right?”

“You do. Now bring us to a place of entertainment blanket face!” Please don’t do this Jade! I want to go home!

The blanket-covered pony brought me and Shining Ember to an unoccupied shady street. I backed up with concern. “Hey… you’re not a weirdo, are you?”

As the ghost turned around, its eyes, marked with a black marker, pierced through us. “No, but the pony running this joint is.”

“Oh, okay!” I replied with no further concern.

“You’re missing the part where she said Haunted House Jade! And if she says somepony else is the weirdo, then what kind of f-f-fr-freak is awaiting us?!”

“It’ll be fun. Calm down.”

Traversing down the dark empty street, we arrived at a building I didn’t expect to be a haunted house. The blanket-covered mare opened the door and brought us inside, charging me at the register right by the entrance. “Twenty-five bits to enter.”

“Twenty-five bits?! Are you all con artists?!” Seriously? That much for entry?

“We’re running a business here, kid. Twenty-five bits. Or, if the both of you can hold in your screams, it’s free.” That would have been a deal if this easily frightened turtle named Shining Ember wasn’t with me, so I just paid the con artist front and center. As I paid, the register emitted a cheerful chime.

Ding!

“We have two customers, Hollow Shack!”

Another freak showed up. He was a unicorn stallion dressed up in a top hat, a cape, and a white half-mask. “Welcome to Baltimare’s Haunted House of Apparitions!”

Was this a circus in disguise, too? “So… this ghost right here is one of those ‘apparitions’?”

The joker in the midnight navy blue top hat replied with a whisper. “Shh… This isn’t a time for questions.”

The entrance was quite unsettling. It resembled a room where a witch had perished. Like stumbling upon an uncharted tomb from centuries ago. It was the bizarrely shaped bottles, filled with a liquid of strange hues and curious floating objects, that did the trick. Almost made me throw up my lunch.

Now that Banafrit was wearing her ironic Nightmare Night costume, it was showtime. I pointed to a staircase leading to the floor above. The blue filly followed my directions with ease, but she had to drag the red colt by his tail. Confirming they made it to the next floor, I gave the signal to Banafrit, and she seamlessly passed through the white blanket, disappearing into the ceiling.

How would I get up there, you ask? Something every showpony worth their bits needs. Camouflaged amidst the surroundings, there was a secret entrance, concealed from plain sight... Nah, I’m just kidding. I used teleportation magic. I am a unicorn, after all.

From my vantage point behind the wall, I observed our young customers. A blue filly and a red colt. They appeared to be around ten years old, and the colt trembled at the slightest of noises. It would be easy to scar him for the rest of his life, but the filly might prove to be more of a challenge.

Why scare children? Because nopony believes them. Simple as that. If they told their parents they saw a ghost, Mom and Dad would brush it off with a casual remark, saying “That’s interesting, sweetie,” without showing much concern. I’ll go easy on them though. We want them to come back.

They were standing in a narrow hallway, and there were many doors leading to who knows where. The blue filly, Jade Rain, opened the nearest wooden door to the left. It was a dreary bedroom, with tattered curtains ominously fluttering with a slight breeze. Not only were the curtains tattered, but the room itself was in a state of complete disarray. Were they always like this, or did Hollow Shack…

“Pfft, is that all you got?” Jade Rain said. Is that all you got, Hollow Shack? A room with an eerie atmosphere just won't be enough. Wait… what’s that? Something was descending a string. I don’t know how Hollow Shack is doing it, but if Jade Rain has a fear of this critter, this might work.

The spider delicately landed on the red mane of Shining Ember. Jade Rain turned around and noticed it. “Ember, don’t freak out.”

“What? W-w-why?” Reacting, Shining Ember flattened himself against the wooden floor, trying to remain unseen. He put his front hooves to his face, caressing the tip of his red mane – causing the spider to move down to his muzzle. “AHHHHHHHHHH!” The screaming colt ran off into the hallway, entering another room. It was a real spider… not a prop. That wasn't part of the haunted house attraction. I believe Hollow Shack didn't plan that.

Jade Rain pressed her hoof against her forehead in exasperation. Tell me about it. They’re both idiots. But they’re our idiots.

The brave filly ventured through the hallway once more, then opened the nearest door from the right side. There was no sign of Shining Ember in there. Regardless, she continued on inside. In the spacious room, a tall bookshelf stood, its shelves covered in cobwebs and neglected books strewn across the floor. “Is this Haunted House just some old home you bought and neglected to clean?!” I wondered that myself, and… now I’m believing it is. Maybe Hollow Shack had no idea how to run a haunted house.

In a sudden moment, the bookshelf collapsed, sending dust flying and enveloping the room in a cloud. Coughing, Jade Rain attempted to shield her mouth from the swirling debris. Next, a shadow moved through the screen of debris. Dressed as a sinister werewolf, Hollow Shack stood tall, his presence looming over the frightened filly. As the dust cloud dissipated, his powerful roar reverberated, announcing his presence. “RAWR!”

“That… was... so cool! How do you roar like that?! And I can’t believe you used a cloud of dust to sneak around, it was like you appeared out of thin air!” Jade Rain jumped around in admiration.

“Oh, well you see– wait, no– where’s your friend?” Hollow Shack said, shattering the unsettling atmosphere. The mismatch between his natural ecstatic voice and the ugly werewolf mask was jarring.

“I don’t know, your spider scared him off to another room,” Jade Rain replied with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Spider? ...Hey, little filly, how about we make a deal?” Another one?

“I’m listening.”

Hollow Shack proposed his idea. “If I startle him enough to make his coat lose its color, will you pay double?”

With a squint of her small eyelids, she replied. “You’re so on.”

“Your time has come, Banafrit,” Hollow Shack proclaimed.

“Who’re you talking to?” Jade Rain wondered, her small head turning in every direction.

The wolf sassily moved his elbows and placed his paws on his hips. “Why, it’s my trusty assistant.”

I entered from the ceiling, looking down at the quivering red colt known as Shining Ember. He was hiding in a linear closet. The reason for it being this high was… questionable, but whatever. In the cramped space under the hanging clothes, he stuttered to himself, his voice shaky. “T-there’s n-n-n-no way for anything to scare me from here unless they open the d-d-d… door.”

True, but something tells me he would have been startled either way. But I was a ghost pony. Opening the door was an option, but I found the idea of phasing through it much more enjoyable. Shifting through the ceiling once more, I took a few hoofsteps to the side before descending back down to the floor below. While staring at the closet door, I phased through it with care, revealing a pony trembling and with his hair standing on end. I could have altered my physique into something nefarious and vile. But as I looked at this poor fellow, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Being myself and seeing me slip through solid material should prove enough.

I signaled for somepony to knock on a wall, and the thud resonated to here. With his curiosity piqued, Shining Ember darted his eye up to meet mine. “Hey.”

“Eep.” He fainted, the intense red of his fur coat and bright red mane and tail dulled out.

We stood in the eerie hallway of my haunted house, our gazes drawn to the open closet. Inside, a blacked-out colt had lost all the color in his fur. Cha-ching.

“That was awesome! Are you a real apparition?!” Jade Rain's eyes widened in interest.

“That I am, kid,” Banafrit answered.

“I can’t believe this is an actual house of apparitions! I thought it was just a false advertisement!” The filly exclaimed and gasped as she looked toward me. “That means you’re a real pony of apparitions! Not some bum in a cape!”

“Well, he might be both,” Banafrit murmured.

“Bingo! I’m Hollow Shack! Pony of Apparitions! The Spooky! The Bone-chilling! The bearer of all things unnatural as a terrifying force that instills fear in all who witness his presence!” I can say with confidence that my grand opening was a success. Ponies may not have been waiting at my doorstep, but this is what I wished for. To have a pony recognize my name and purpose. I will forever remember these two as my first fans. My fans of the eerie, Jade Rain and Shining Ember. Welcome to the family. “Your friend isn’t dead… is he?” There were certain purposes for which I had to ask.

“Nah… this always happens.”

On the staircase that doubled as the entrance and exit to my haunted house, we lingered, exchanging goodbyes with our first customers. I flipped my cape, making sure it flapped in the wind. “Thanks for the bits!”

“Since I got to see and become friends with a real apparition, I’m the one who ripped you off, old man!”

“The great Pony of Apparitions is only twenty-four years old! And keep telling yourself that!”

“Will you visit often, Jade?” Banafrit asked.

“You pulling my tail? You got yourself permanent visitors!” Jade Rain jumped and responded with the blacked-out red colt perched on her small back. “I’m going to tell everypony in school, and then some! But I’ll be sure to leave out certain details.” She winked at Banafrit and me before fading into the quiet solitude of the dark and deserted street.

“Splendid! I’d say that went great!”

I stood there watching my fans of the eerie walk around a corner leading to the next street. Banafrit then broke the silence with a swift and concise statement. “…This won’t be enough to pay your rent–”

“–Yeah, I know.”

Beyond the confines of that stuffy werewolf costume, I was still dressed in my favorite, comfortable attire. My face completely exposed, I proudly displayed my sharp tooth, which was peeking out of my mouth, as I donned a purple cape and a deep navy blue top hat with a purple band. From the roof of my haunted house, I laid sprawled out on my back atop said cape, my mint-green irises fixated on the vast expanse of the dark night sky – and my half-white mask lying beside me. Here and there, a few stars shimmered like distant diamonds, tempting me to count a thorough tally. There was a serene silence up here, broken only by the occasional clops in the distance and the constant chirping of crickets. “Haah…” I sighed a breath of relief.

Beside me, my newfound partner and friend floated gently about three inches off the ceiling. An actual apparition. A ghost pony. Like me, she too looked up at the black night sky. And just in case, we had the white blanket ghost costume at the ready. “Hey, Hollow Shack. There’s something I’ve been wondering.”

Banafrit shot me a question, and I would always be open to answer. “Ask away.”

“With no prior knowledge of spirits and such, what’s the reason behind your self-proclaimed title, the 'Pony of Apparitions'? Even the building…”

“It… just sounded right.”

“Anything closely related to a pony’s purpose to get their cutie mark gives off a distinct feeling, right?”

“I’m not sure, maybe. The memory of the day my cutie mark was bestowed upon me by scaring my mother is a pleasure I will never forget. That spirit would always linger when I thought about doing it to another pony, and the next, and the next… Even planning how to was enough.”

“So then... do you think apparitions are a part of that?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

I tore my eyes away from the black sky, with its occasional passing cloud, and shifted my head horizontally towards Banafrit. Following her dull-colored eyes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness (Not because she was a transparent ghost). I shifted my gaze in the opposite direction, released a soft breath through my nose, and muttered a reply. “What are you saying, Banafrit? I’m Hollow Shack, the Pony of Apparitions. I think we both know the answer to that.”

Soon after, we both heard voices in the distance. “Look! A haunted house is over here.”

“You want to check it out, babe?”

“Yeah!”

“I’ll just knock on the door and see if they answer.”

Sounded like a grown mare and stallion. A couple at that. With a burst of excitement, I grabbed my white half-mask and propelled myself into the air, my cape swirling in harmony. “Look’s like my cat will starve tonight.”

“…What?” Banafrit said with a blank expression.

“It’s Nightmare Night! We couldn't possibly close up shop when we have chance encounters like this. Since they’re adults, I’ll handle this on my own. However, if things go downhill, I’m depending on you to give our customers the scare of a lifetime.” I galloped down the roof and jumped into the nearest window, leaving Banafrit behind. No need to worry about how she gets inside. She was a ghost, after all. She would just phase through with no problems. “Once again, it’s showbiz time!”

I watched Hollow Shack leap through a window, his hoofsteps echoing loudly as he sprinted to the front of his store with urgency. “I’m just going to leave this ghost costume behind.”

Phasing through the roof to the ceiling of the first floor, I had a rush of excitement as Hollow Shack swung open the door, waved his cape, and welcomed the new customers. “The name’s Hollowwwww Shack! I’d like to welcome you to Baltimare’s Haunted House of Pony Apparitions!”

As the mare clopped her hooves together in interest, a sense of joy washed over me. I couldn’t help but smile.