//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Nightmare Mom 🌙 // by Twilight Star //------------------------------// The Hearth’s Warming Eve was tomorrow and Nightmare Moon knew that she needed to buy a gift for her daughter. But she didn’t know what to give. She was in her room thinking about it.  “What could I give my daughter Twilight as a gift?” asked Nightmare Moon to herself. She wanted the gift for her daughter to be good. But she didn’t know what to give.  Nightmare Moon was thinking of asking Twilight, but she also wanted to surprise Twilight.  “Princess? It’s all right?” asked a voice behind Nightmare Moon.  Nightmare recognized that voice. She looked back and saw one of her lunar guards. The Lunar guard was gray and had a look of concern. She blew out a breath and her ears drooped as she looked down. “No. It isn’t alright.”  The Lunar guard got even closer to Nightmare Moon. “What happened, princess?”  Nightmare Moon looked at the guard. “You know what night tomorrow is, don’t you?”  “Yes. It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve. Why?” asked the Lunar guard.  “I don’t know what to give Twilight as a gift,” replied Nightmare Moon. “I’ve been here since this night. But I can’t decide what to give.”  “Why don’t you go to Ponyville to buy her something?” suggested the Lunar guard.  Nightmare Moon was concerned. “But if I go, Twilight will be alone here.”  “So, take her along to Ponyville to buy her a gift.”  “But I want her gift to be a surprise.”  “Why don’t you ask Twilight what she wants most, so you go to Ponyville and buy it?”  Nightmare Moon looked uncertain. “It’s a good idea. But I still think I’m the one who should choose the gift for her. ”  “Trust me, princess. If you ask Twilight what she wants, she’ll be happy,” said the Lunar guard with a smile.  “Do you really think?” asked Nightmare Moon with a hopeful smile.  “Yes, Princess.”  Suddenly, they heard footsteps. The two looked back and saw Twilight run towards them with a smile. “Mom! tomorrow is Hearth’s Warming Eve!”  Nightmare Moon smiled when he saw her daughter. When Twilight got really close, she stroked the mane. “Yes, daughter. What would you like to receive as a gift?”  Twilight Sparkle started to think. What could she get as a gift? Until she had an idea. Whenever she went to sleep, despite her loving her mother’s embrace, she feared that Nightmare would get out of bed. She wanted to have something to be with her when Nightmare couldn’t be with her. She looked at Nightmare Moon. “I already know! A plush from you!” Twilight started to jump for joy. When she stopped jumping, she looked at Nightmare Moon with a cute look and smile. “You’re going to buy it for me, aren’t you?”  Nightmare Moon was biting her lip as she smiled so cute she witnessed it. Why are you so cute, daughter?  Twilight realized that Nightmare Moon didn’t answer it. She was worried. “Mom? It’s all right?”  Nightmare Moon has recovered. “Yes, daughter. It’s just that you’re very cute. But I will buy the plush for you, yes.”  Twilight Sparkle was happy again and started jumping around Nightmare Moon while shouting, “Yes!”  “Daughter,” began Nightmare Moon.  Twilight Sparkle stopped jumping and looked at Nightmare Moon. “Would you like to go with me to buy your gift?” asked Nightmare Moon.  “Of course I would like to. That way we can spend more time together on this night, ” replied Twilight Sparkle with a smile.  Nightmare Moon couldn’t take the smile off her face. How could a filly like Twilight be so cute and adorable? She was very lucky that Twilight wasn’t afraid of her, because she knew that others would be afraid of her.  “Well, let’s go,” she had an idea. “Twilight, get on my back. We will fly to Ponyville.”  Twilight’s pupils increased. “Go flying? I’ve never flown before,” she smiled. “Yes!”  Nightmare took Twilight with her magic and put it on her back. “Twilight, hold on to my neck, please,” she feared Twilight would fall if it didn’t hold and result in it falling and crashing to the floor. Just imagining Twilight hurt, it made her sad.  “Sure, mom.” Twilight came very close to Nightmare’s neck and held on tight.  Nightmare Moon smiled. “Ready?”  Twilight Sparkle looked at Nightmare Moon with a smile. “Yes ,mom.”  Nightmare Moon spread her wings and flew away, but very slowly so Twilight wouldn’t fall off her back.  As they flew across the sky, Twilight looked down and saw Everfree Forest. She couldn’t help but deny that there were enough trees in this forest.  Nightmare Moon then landed on the floor. She looked at Twilight. “We’re here, Twilight,” she took Twilight with her magic and put it on the floor.  Twilight looked around and saw that he had many ponies awake. Some were working and others were hanging out with friends. She had come here a few times in this small town, but unfortunately she just stole food and then went back to the forest and didn’t talk to any pony.  Nightmare Moon nudged Twilight with a wing. “Come on, Twilight.”  Twilight looked at Nightmare Moon with a smile. “Yes, mom.”  Nightmare Moon smiled at what Twilight said to her, and started walking. Twilight followed her as she continued to smile.  As they walked, Nightmare decided to look around the city and couldn’t help but smile when she saw ponies awake during her eternal night. It made her so happy, knowing that the ponies were enjoying the eternal night.  Nightmare and Twilight, then stopped at a store and went inside. A bell rang, informing them of their arrival. The store they entered was a toy store. They couldn’t help but notice that it had a lot of toys.  “Your Majesty! Need something?”  Nightmare Moon heard the voice, looked where he saw the sound and saw a light brown mare and dark brown mane as she bowed. “Yes, subject. Do you have any of my plushies?”  “I’ll see right now,” replied the mare as she started to look around.  While the mare looked for the plush, Nightmare and Twilight looked at each other with smiles. Nightmare stroked the mane of Twilight with a hoof. Twilight closed her eyes while she smiled, she liked the affection.  “Princess here it is!” the mare went to Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle while she held the Nightmare Moon plush. The plush was small and the eyes were replaced by purple buttons.  “How much cost?” asked Nightmare Moon.  “Twelve bits, please,” she replied.  Nightmare Moon handed the mare twelve bits. The mare took the bits from the hooves and handed the plush to Nightmare and Nightmare handed the plush to Twilight with her magic. Twilight took the Nightmare Moon plush with her hooves while hugging her lovingly. Twilight remembered something and looked at her mother. “Thank you, mom.”  Nightmare Moon smiled. “You’re welcome, daughter. Now, are we going?”  “Yes. But first let me put my doll on my back,” Twilight tried to hold the doll with the magic to put on her back, but failed. Only sparks came out. She looked at Nightmare Moon. “Mom, help me?”  “Sure, daughter.” Nightmare Moon took the doll with her magic and placed it on Twilight Sparkle’s back.  Twilight smiled. She was very happy that she now had a company when Nightmare Moon couldn’t be with her. But just because Nightmare Moon had no real duties now, that didn’t mean that in the future Nightmare would start to get busy and out of time for her, so it was always a good idea to be on your guard. She looked at her mother. “Thank you mom.” Nightmare Moon smiled in return. “You’re welcome, daughter.”