(COMPLETE) A Spoonful of Fear

>"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.”