Title: (COMPLETE) A Spoonful of Fear Author: Mendicant Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/EzEipWxP First Edit: Wednesday 31st of August 2016 02:54:58 AM CDT Last Edit: Last edit on: Wednesday 31st of August 2016 02:55:31 AM CDT >"Swiftly Brute! Your assistance is needed!” >You are Anonymous. >’Champion of the Equestrian Empire,’ or whatever styled title you’ve been granted you today. >… >You around the corner, and see Nightmare Moon seated upon her usual dark cloud; a small table beside her. “Yes Nightmare? Is something wrong?” >Hopefully, the answer is no. >You just got out of the baths, and were planning on checking in with Octavia before dinner. >Unfortunately, it’s clear Nightmare has different plans. >Even in your apparent disinterest however, you must admit the tone in her voice was mildly concerning. >It’s not everyday that a practical demigod calls your name in concern. >As you approach, she lifts her wing and gestures toward the pillow beside her. >”Sit, we request assistance in a most… delicate matter.” >Assistance? >Knowing better than to fight Nightmare’s idiosyncrasies, you quietly walk toward the large pillow on her right and take a seat. >As you lower yourself onto the cushion, you take a moment to observe the mare beside you and try to derive any clues about what is going on. >While the room itself looks relatively normal, Nightmare Moon /herself/ looks… off. >Her left wing is making small, nearly undetectable twitches in the still air, and her entire body looks tense. >Her cheeks looks slightly puffed, almost like she’s holding her breath. >A feeling of genuine concern begins to creep into your mind. >She normally isn’t like this… ”Is something wrong Nightmare? What’s up?” >”Silence Brute! We have yet to seal our chambers!” >Your eyebrows shift in confusion, before you feel a sense of silence and calm seemingly settle over the room. >Unfortunately, it only serves to heighten your senses. >Yeah, something is /definitely/ wrong. ---------------   >You shift on pillow slightly, and lean toward Nightmare Moon in concern, placing a hand gently on her back. ”Nightmare, tell me what’s going on here…” >She twitches her wing, prompting you to remove your hand. >”We… require your counsel in a matter of grave importance…” >Instantly, your mind begins to race, pouring through everything important you’ve done in the last few days. >The recent reports of rebel activities in the southwest… >The arrival of the Griffon delegation next week… >… >Maybe it was something Octavia had done? >Nightmare Moon’s relationship with her has always been… complicated. “Is this about Octavia or something? Unless you tell me what you need my help with, I can’t —“ >You stop talking as your attention shifts to the small table Nightmare Moon is moving in front of you. >The soft clatter of wood against marble fills the air as she sets it gently onto the ground. >You look in confusion as your eyes focus on the two small cups resting atop the table. >… >Is that… >Yogurt? >… >”Our most loyal hoof maid mentioned this new delicacies that became commonplace during our banishment.” >”She claims that it is some sort of dairy product, created by some process hidden from our knowledge.” >In raw confusion, you look toward Nightmare Moon. >She’s got to be joking. >/Please/ say this is some sort of joke. >And yet, as you look into her eyes, which are locked upon the small cups before you, you instantly realize this is no joke. >Nightmare Moon is… scared. ---------------   >”We’ve called for you company, so that you may provide support as we attempt this new… concoction.” >You’re so caught in disbelief you can’t help but chuckle. ”Nightmare, it’s just food! I’m sure you’ve tried new things before, right?” >Instantly, you regret your words as she recoils at your laughter. >She looks… hurt. >”Nothing like this Brute… she claimed that the common pony consumes it outside of a meal, as part of… “snack.” >You /force/ yourself to maintain your composure, and again re-settle your hand onto her back. “I’m sorry about laughing Nightmare, but this really isn’t a big deal.” >”Were it part of a proper /meal/ we would have no difficulty introducing it to our pallet, but for it to be consumed by itself?…” >She lifts the small spoon, which is of course covered in yogurt. >"This is closer to cement or mortar than it is to a food Brute…" >She lifts a berry with the spoon. >”Our maid even placed fruits and berries onto it’s surface, perhaps to lure our tongue, and make it presentable.” >She carefully lowers the spoon back into the yogurt. >”This meal— snack,  is most confusing Brute, and we wish not to consume it without your company, lest something severe happen to us…” >How the fuck did Octavia explain yogurt to her? >Sitting here, it’s like Nightmare Moon fully expects it to be laced with some sort of fucking super-poison! >And even /that/ wouldn’t be a big deal. >She’s immune to damn near everything harmful! Yogurt /certainly/ won’t do anything to her! >... >Trying your best to be the supportive “stallion” she’d like you to be, you gently pat her back. “It’s fine Nightmare, everyone eats Yogurt, it’s good for you.” >Her reply is quick and kurt. >”Not /us/ Brute, /we/ do not consume this most perplexing mixture of berries and milk.”  ---------------   ”So then why did you call me here? If you aren’t going to eat it, why bring two bowls?” >She snorts and turns her head away slightly, taking a moment before replying. >”When we asked our maid who partook in this meal, she mentioned that you consume it on occasion.” >Great — Thanks Octavia. >”Indeed that is how we stumbled upon it’s existence. We requested her assistance as she was carrying your requested “snack.” She straightens herself, perhaps gaining some confidence. >”We’ve summoned you here so that /together/ we might confront this challenge.” >”You seem familiar with it’s characteristics and tendencies, so we would hope that you could offer… support in our efforts.” >You raise an eyebrow. “So… you want to do this… together?” >She nods. >”Indeed that is our intention Brute.” >”We’ve taken the liberty of ordering two servings of your preferred yogurt, as we have faith your taste shall not lead us astray.” >The weakness and fear in her voice is readily apparent. >You honestly didn’t think this would get to her so much, yet here you are. >It makes you pause, think try to think what’s the source of her apprehension. >Did she misunderstand Octavia /this bad?/ >Does she not understand the /concept/ of Yogurt? >… >Nothing comes to mind; and unfortunately, there isn’t time to think about it. >Her expression of nervousness seems to grow stronger with each passing moment. “Ok Nightmare, I guess we can do this together if you like.” >You reach toward the untouched bowl of yogurt, only for it to be pulled away with her magic. >You look toward Nightmare Moon in confusion. >”Together Brute… we wish for your counsel…” >You open your mouth to speak, but feel something flick your leg. >Looking down, you recognize what it is. >Her hoof. >… >She wants you to hold her hoof. --------------- >Holding in the sigh, you gently grab her hoof in your left hand, and rub her frog with your fingers. >As you looks at you, you can see a small smile creep onto her face, and a hint of true confidence appear in her posture. >Looking back toward the yogurt, she cautiously grabs a small spoonful from each cup, and levitates one before you, allowing you to grasp it for yourself. >You can feel her leg shift slightly in your hand. >You give a small, supportive squeeze. >”Are you ready Champion?” >You nod. ”Of course.” >She nods in return, before looking directly at the spoon, and slowly moves toward her. >Closing her eyes and opening her mouth, she cautiously guides it forward. >You feel her leg coil slightly, pulling your hand closer. >Her mouth closes around the spoon, and is still for a moment, before she slowly extracts the silverware from her mouth. >Realizing that you haven’t eaten yours, you quickly lift your spoonful, and jam it into your mouth, before removing it. >… >It taste like yogurt. >… >Slowly, she opens her eyes, and looks forward at the spoon in thought. >You can see her mouth shift slightly as her tongue moves, before swallowing the food in question. >Everything is silent for a moment, before you speak. ”So… how was it?” >She looks at you, with a neutral expression on her face. >... >And then a smile. >”It was… cool…” >… >”It was good.”