Mother Moon, Joys of Parenthood

by ShadowStar_IMHP


Nightshade Eclipsed

Hate wasn’t a word big enough for what Nightshade was feeling. Despise? Rage? Right above her head was a ball of purple fluff. She reached up trying to swat the annoying fake breezie antenna. Her hoof barely even touches the antenna.

Buttercream smiles “See Luna I told you she would love that Breezie costume.” Luna and Buttercream dressed as timber wolf was pushing the baby stroller down the castle hallway. Luna looks over the shade cover to see Nightshade try again to swat the antenna. Unlike her friend, she sees the frustrated look of Nightshade’s face.

“Why is it a tradition to put foals into these strange outfits. I know that Nightmare Night a holiday, but what the point?” Luna asks as they head to the Pegasus chariot hanger.

Buttercream sighed “Well way back when the holiday started it was a freighting time. The idea of disguising the foals to protect them from Nightmare Moon came about. Nowadays it’s just fun to let foals dress up, their costume contests, and it just fun to watch them play pretend dressed as their heroes.”

“Bpfff” Nightshade ~ as I would fall for any silly costumes.~

“And this is fun for the foals?” Luna asks as they came into the hanger seeing the blue and silver of her own personal chariot. It was made by order from her sister. Personally, Luna thinks it looks too much like something Nightmare Moon would choose.

“Oh yes, they take pride in winning the costume contests. There the joy of winning the best homemade outfits, the prettiest, the funniest, and scariest.”

The two got on the chariot and Luna nods to the two Night pony guards. “Silverwing, Cumulus, We are ready”

Silverwing looks back “Yes your Majesty. Next stop Ponyville.”

“I heard they have a fun hay maze during Nightmare Night. Planning on checking it out myself.” Cumulus says as the two start running flapping their bat-like wings and taking off pulling the Night Chariot with them.

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Bored with the attempt of trying to swat the antenna Nightshade looks to Creampuff who was snoozing snuggling her Mr. Hops toy. The toy even had a pirate outfit on.

~All this for a night for me?~ Nightshade was to awake to take a nap so she stood up in the stroller and look around. The fake insect wings loosely held onto her own feather wings flapped as the town of Ponyville came closer.

As the chariot landed she saw all the decorations. Bouncing up and down in the stroller she saw the group of ponies gather.

The chariot lands and the group saw the gathered ponies. Bowing before her the arrival of the chariot was kind of spectacular. Yes, a holiday all for her! These ponies are submitting themselves to her greatness!

“It’s Nightmare Moon coming to gobble us up!” A pink pony dressed as a chicken yells out and the group of foals around her scream. In the stroller beside her Cream Puff woke up crying having been frightened by the yell of the chicken pony.

“HOW DARE YOU!” Nightshade blinks and looks behind her. The resulting gasp of the ponies around them was the reply. The timber wolf dressed Buttercream marched her way to the group. “I recognize you. Your Pinkie Pie the element of Laughter, well Look! Does she look happy to you?” Buttercream points her hoof at Luna.

Nightshade then turns to focus on her mother. The drawn face ears down against her skull her tail low. Luna was sad and frightened? Emotions warred in the former Nightmare Moon. Sure she wanted praise and worship but...

Jumping from the stroller Nightshade ran to Luna and tackled her front leg hugging it with all her might.

“See even her own foal knows that the Nightmare Moon is gone. We came here to have a good time and you had to remind her of the worst time of her life. Some elements of Harmony.” Buttercream huffs and marches over to her own stroller. “Come on Luna we can celebrate Nightmare Night back in Canterlot.”

Nightshade looks around and narrows her eyes. These Ponies were afraid of her mother... they hurt her mother. They hurt her MOTHER!

Leaving Luna she marched her way foreword her eyes start glowing white. Then her horn lights up and blasts a bowl of fake spiders. Soon the toys started crawling out of the bowl. Another blast of magical lighting and fake bats decorations lift-off and flying around. Deep inside the little filly, a laugh erupted.

The ponies scream and start running around in fear as the decorations of Nightmare Night came to life.

“Nightshade! Stop!” Luna picks up the surging filly. “it’s alright Nightshade. They don’t deserve this.”

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As if a switch was flipped Nightshade stopped and look up at Luna’s face. She hugged her daughter. “Come on let's see what Canterlot has to offer on this night.” Her horn lighting up and returning the magically animated decorations back to their normal form and location.

“Um, Princess Luna?” Luna turns to see Twilight Sparkle approaching.

“Ah, Starswirl the Bearded. You even got the bells right.” Luna comments.

“Finally someone gets it! Oh... what I mean is please give us another chance.”

“Why should she? That Pinkie Pie basically crushed Luna’s spirit.” Buttercream marched up to Twilight Sparkle her own foal Cream Puff sniffling in her hooves having calmed down from crying herself.

“But I didn’t mean to. It was like the best time to yell something like that with the creepy chariot, the clouds, and that hood and cloak. It couldn’t be better to frighten everypony. It was fun!” Pinkie Pie says her head hung low.

“Wait? it’s fun to be frightened?” Luna tries to figure out what the pink pony was talking about.

“Well duh, this is Nightmare Night. The night when fillies and colts face their fears and get candy for a reward. SEE!” She points to groups of costumed ponies the foals holding candy bags.

“They know they are safe but at the same time have the chance to know that being scared isn’t a bad thing either. The rush and joy at just a little bit of fear.”

Buttercream looks to Twilight Sparkle “You have some crazy ponies in this town.”

Twilight sighs “Trust me you don’t know the half of it.” Then to Luna “please don’t leave yet. There all kinds of games and the costume contest.”

“And candy!” Pinkie Pie calls out.

“Yes and candy.”

Luna looks to her daughter mirroring the confused expression they both have. Then to her friend Buttercream. “What do you think Buttercream? It was a misunderstanding.”

Buttercream snorted “The more I know of these bearers of Elements the more I come to believe it was just luck they saved you. Alright, let us see what Ponyville Nightmare Night festival has to offer.”

“Great! I go get my friend Applejack she can show you all the games.” Twilight says not spotting Buttercream’s eyes rolling hearing that name.

Pinkie Pie went back to the foals as the other five headed for the festival when Nightshade spotted something that caught her attention. She leaped out of the stroller and charged at top speed to the Pumpkin catapult. Jumping onto the catapult mistakingly triggering the firing mechanism. “AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

“NIGHTSHADE!” Luna horn lights up catching the filly in the mid arch. “Be more careful.” Sighing she draws the purple alicorn filly back to her. “I hate for you to end up like that pumpkin.”

Buttercream smirks "Soon she be sticking toys up her nose." This got a look from Luna then they both chuckle.

Applejack walks overseeing that the pumpkin hit the bullseye. “She got a perfect shot thought. Ya got good reflexes as well as Princess.”

The night was spent playing games and even some trick or treating with Pinkie Pie. Soon it was late and the group head to the statue of Nightmare Moon. “Why is there a statue of Nightmare Moon in the woods? In Canterlot it normally a paper mache figure. Often made by the art class in school.” Buttercream says as the see the statue.

Twilight stopped walking and blinked “I... really don’t know.”

Shaking her head Luna pushed the stroller forward looking up at the statue. Luna sighed again as the zebra Zacora did her act with the green smoke.

Nightshade tilted her head ~Eat foals? What kind of lies did they make up?~

Her eyes widen seeing how much candy was given as tribute to Nightmare Moon. To her! That was her candy. Nightshade once again jumped out of the stroller and charge headfirst into the candy. “MINE!”

Luna face hoofed “Of course her first word would be mine.” She went over and picked up Nightshade who somehow got a lollypop unwrapped and in her mouth. “Nightshade it’s not all for you.”

“Mine.” Nightshade waved the lollypop like a scepter.

“You can’t even eat all that. If I remember right most of that candy gets donated to the hospitals for all the foals who couldn’t trick or treat. So no my little Nightshade it not yours.”

Nightshade pouts putting the lollipop back in her mouth and crossing her hooves over her barrel.
With the night over the group got back on the Chariot. “thank you Twilight I was glad you talked us into staying. Perhaps a friendship letter about giving someone or something a second chance, first impressions aren’t always correct.”

“That I know very well Princess. I thought all the ponies here were crazy when I first arrived.”

The sound of lighting strike and laughter of Rainbow Dash was heard. “I’m not sure yet if I was right or wrong. But I wouldn’t change it.”