//------------------------------// // Episode 18: A Sweet Nightmare // Story: EoH Evolution: Season 5 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// "Looks like another night of restful sleep for our kingdom's subjects." Nightmare Moon said as she floated through the dreamscape. It was a sight she was used to beholding every time she went to sleep, but that didn't make it any less breathtaking. Especially since people had different dreams all the time. However, Nightmare Moon paused in her flight through the dreamscape when she felt a concentration of sadness. And it was coming from a child. "Well, that won't do at all." Nightmare Moon said as she spread her wings and took of towards the source. "Now who will I be paying a visit to tonight?" When Nightmare Moon arrived, she found that the child in question was not at all who she had expected. "Diamond Tiara?" Nightmare Moon was puzzled. From what the Talent Crest Crusaders had told her, Diamond Tiara was quite the mean girl and bully. Any chance she got, the spoiled brat set out to ruin the TCC's day. One would think that being the daughter of the richest person in Unityville that Diamond Tiara would have everything a girl could want. So if she had everything, if her life was so perfect, then why was the bully-in-question crying her eyes out? 'The answer's simple.' Nightmare Moon thought with a sympathetic look in her eyes as she descended towards Diamond Tiara's dreamscape. 'Those who make others unhappy are usually unhappy themselves. So, Diamond Tiara, what's the source of your sorrows?' As Nightmare Moon entered Diamond Tiara's dreams, she received her answer almost immediately. In it, she saw Diamond Tiara's mother scolding the child for failing to win the election for Student Council President. An action that Nightmare Moon immediately frowned at. The Princess of Dreams already had a fair amount of dislike for Spoiled Rich ever since the woman marched up to Burst Stream's house in the middle of the night and demanded that Nightmare Moon be kicked out of town simply for even being there. And right now, Nightmare Moon's dislike for the woman was exponentially increasing. Especially when she saw Spoiled Rich berating her own daughter for staring at something out the window. Curious as to what had caught the 'bully's' attention, Nightmare Moon ventured closer "Are you looking at those girls again?!" Spoiled Rich scoffed as she went over to the window, and drew the curtains. "Don't bother with them. You're of a better standing than they are. They are beneath you. Next time, I expect you to perform like one of us is supposed to." She aimed a displeased glare at her daughter. "Is that clear, Diamond Tiara?" ". . . Yes, mother." Diamond Tiara said as she tried to make herself as small as possible. Looking at the floor in resignation. A nod from her mother later, and Diamond Tiara sighed sadly as she walked towards the window and pulled back the curtain to once more glimpse what had caught her attention. It was the TCC just playing around, goofing off, typical kid stuff. "If I'm 'better', why aren't I happier than they are?" Diamond Tiara said sadly as she turned her back to the window and slid down. Her knees tucked in towards her stomach as she threw away the tiara she constantly wore and her eyes began to water. "It feels like I'm always in a nightmare. I wish this was all just a bad dream!" "Your wish is granted, Diamond Tiara." Nightmare Moon said kindly as she made herself known. The setting of Diamond Tiara's home vanishing with a flap of her wings. "But I'm afraid that while I can banish what troubles your sleep, it won't fix your problems in the waking world." "N-Nightmare Moon?" Diamond Tiara stuttered as she looked up at the princess of dreams. "A-Are you here to give me nightmares because of what my mom tried to do to you?" "No. Her actions aren't your own." Nightmare Moon shook her head with a reassuring smile as she knelt down to Diamond's level. "It's her alone that I harbor any dislike towards. Though, after seeing the dreams she's inflicting on you, that dislike's starting to rapidly increase." "You said that you couldn't fix my problems when I wake up, right?" Diamond Tiara asked as she inched closer to the Princess of Dreams. "How do I fix things when I wake up? Who do I go to?" "The person you need is already there." Nightmare Moon said with a comforting smile. "She's in every mirror that you look in. You're a smart girl, Diamond Tiara. I'm pretty sure you know who I'm talking about." "Me?" Diamond Tiara asked. "But what can I do?" "You can tell your father about this." Nightmare Moon answered. "I don't know how busy your mother says he is, but it doesn't matter. Your father loves you, Diamond Tiara. And he'd be more than willing to spare a few minutes for his little princess." "M-Mother says-" Diamond Tiara began. But Nightmare Moon cut her off. "What she says doesn't matter, and it's wrong." Nightmare Moon said firmly as she got on her knees and scooted up to the troubled girl. "Especially if she's making you so unhappy." Nightmare Moon conjured up an image of the TCC. "And something tells me, they'd be more than willing to help cheer you up. They can help, but it's all up to you. All you need to do is take the first step in the right direction." "But what do I do from there?" Diamond Tiara asked. "The rest will come to you. And it'll still be up to you to figure out how to navigate it." Nightmare Moon said with a smile as she rose to her feet and dusted herself off. She was about to leave, but was halted by Diamond Tiara hugging her arm. The girl was about to say thanks, but Nightmare Moon wrapped one of her wings around her in response. "You're welcome, kid. Sweet dreams." And with that, she left Diamond Tiara's dreams. Leaving a few stray, black feathers in her wake. The next morning, Nightmare Moon flew down to Unityville. The school here was one of the visits she'd scheduled during her day of taking over Celestia's duties. She was quite pleased to see Diamond Tiara chatting with the TCC and providing funds for the facilities Pipsqueak had promised the class. Nightmare Moon then made herself known. "Accepting defeat with grace. Now that's a real winner." Nightmare Moon said with an approving smile. "You know, I heard you were a real nuisance around here, Diamond Tiara. Why the sudden change of heart?" "O-Oh! It was nothing really!" Diamond Tiara said sheepishly. "I just, had a really bad dream." "Yeah." Nightmare Moon chuckled. "You had a real nightmare, kiddo."