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- >You are Octavia Melody
- >Personal maid of Empress Nightmare Moon
- >…
- >You are making your way to the Royal Chambers to deliver the Empress her usual evening cup of coffee.
- >A cold sweat finds it’s way onto your forehead as you think about what you are about to attempt.
- >As you arrive the at Empress’ chamber, the doors automatically open; inviting you in.
- >Quickly, you make your way to her sitting room, where you find the Empress reading one of her many ancient books.
- >Noticing your presence, she looks up from her book, and motions toward the small table beside her.
- >”You may place our drink there, and take your leave.”
- >You swallow, and do as instructed.
- >Placing the cup on the table, you retreat a few steps, and bow.
- >Your mind races as you reconsider your question.
- >Should you ask?
- >Will she punish you?
- >…
- “E-Empess?”
- >She looks at you again.
- >”Yes maid? Is there a problem?”
- >You shake your head.
- “N-No. There’s no problem…”
- >”Then you may leave, your duties are done.”
- >You swallow.
- “We- we would like to ask you a question…”
- ---------------
- >There is a pause in the air, before Nightmare Moon gently closes her book.
- >”What troubles you now maid?”
- >You notice just how dry your throat feels.
- >Her icy, deep eyes offer no trace of comfort.
- >Yet, you speak.
- “We… we could like to ask if- if we could see our daughter…”
- >As the words leave your mouth, you feel a crippling amount of dread come crashing onto your shoulders.
- >The last time you asked this question was thirteen months ago.
- >The last time you saw your foal was sixteen months months ago.
- “Please… it’s her fifth birthday tommorrow… I- I would just like to see her. That’s all. I won’t even talk if you don’t-
- >”You know that We’ve told you not to ask this question before…”
- >You panic, knowing the mistake you’ve just made.
- >Her tone isn’t particularly angry, or even very emotional.
- >It’s cold.
- >That’s what scares you the most.
- “I know Empress… I tried to wait but- but she’s my foal! I- I missing her grow up! I-“
- >You force your mouth shut, before you say something you’ll regret.
- >Instead, you take a moment to compose yourself.
- “I- I’ve been a good, loyal maid Empress. I know my place, and I’ve serve you and Sire Anonymous faithfully… please…”
- >”You’ve done your duty; nothing more. Do you think you should be rewarded for doing only what it asked of you?”
- “No! That’s not it at all! I-… I…”
- >You realize only now that you have nothing true argument.
- “I just miss my daughter… she means everything to me… please…”
- ---------------
- >You feel the Empress familiar mane brush your cheek.
- >”We suppose that, on the eve of her birth celebration, we shall permit you to see her…”
- >You feel an immense weight lift off of your whiters.
- “Thank you Empress! Thank you so much! You don’t understand how-“
- >Seemingly unconcerned with your excitement, she speaks.
- >”She will be returning from schooling soon. You may wait here for her arrival.”
- >You feel tears crest your eyes.
- >Sixteen months.
- >She’ll be five years old tomorrow.
- >…
- >She’ll be getting her cutie mark soon.
- >Your heart races at the idea.
- >What will her special talent be?
- >You wonder if she will-
- >”Auntie Moon!”
- >Instantly, you turn toward the voice.
- >”Auntie Moon! I’m back!”
- >Your daughter.
- >Midnight Melancholy.
- >…
- >She’s just as beautiful as you remember.
- >Her mane and coat are similar colors to yours, although slightly darker.
- >Her eyes are a beautiful, deep blue.
- >…
- >Before you can even react, the filly gallops past you, and toward the Empress.
- >In turn, Nightmare Moon smiles, and lifts the filly into her mane.
- >Melancholy breaks out into a fit of laughter.
- >”Put me down auntie! It tickles! haha! Stop!”
- >In a bizarrely playful tone, Nightmare Moon replies.
- >”We told you not to run little one! We must punish you severely!”
- >Melancholy’s giggling only increases, unable to resist Nightmare Moon’s mane.
- >”S-stop! haha! Stop I sorry! stop!!! haha!”
- >It’s a strange scene before you.
- >The all powerful Nightmare Moon, gently playing with a foal.
- >Had you not seen it with your own eyes, you wouldn’t have believed it.
- >A few moments pass, before Nightmare Moon stops her assault, and places the filly across her front legs.
- ---------------
- >”What did you do today in school little one?”
- >She smiles, her tone ever up-beat and cheerful.
- >”We did math! Mr. Theory even gave me a blue ribbon!”
- >Nightmare Moon smiles, and nuzzles the your foal.
- >”That’s my Melancholy. I knew you would pass those exams…”
- >Melancholy returns her embrace for a moment, before Nightmare Moon raises her head.
- >”Melancholy?”
- >Your foal looks up.
- >”Yes auntie?”
- >Nightmare Moon uses her mane to point toward you.
- >”Do you know who that is?”
- >Your heart races, and you can’t help but break into a smile.
- >Your foal turns to face you, with a confusion on her face.
- >Tears are now all too apparent in your eyes, as they escape your cheek.
- >Melancholy raises her eyebrow, clearly in thought.
- >”She looks familiar…”
- >Than, she gets it.
- >”It’s Ms. Octavia! Octavia Melody!”
- >You nod, and smile wide.
- “That’s right…”
- >While it hurts not to hear “mom” leave her mouth, you know now rare these encounters are.
- >Being able to see her at all is a gift.
- >”Why don’t you go say hello Melancholy, don’t be rude to Ms. Octavia.”
- >Nodding, the filly jumps from Nightmare Moon’s hooves, and come over toward you.
- >You both nuzzle each other for a moment.
- >It seems like all of eternity.
- ---------------
- >Then, it ends.
- >”Now why don’t you go get washed up for bedtime? We’ll come tuck you in when you’re done.”
- >Melancholy breaks the nuzzle.
- >”I’m sorry Ms. Octavia, but Auntie says I need to get ready for bed time…”
- >You nod, clears in your eyes.
- “It’s ok, you’re a- you’re a growing filly. You need your sleep.”
- >She nods.
- >”Goodnight Ms. Octavia!”
- >You open your mouth to reply, but before you can, she turns, and nuzzles Nightmare Moon.
- >”Goodnight Auntie!”
- >She turns the nuzzle.
- >’Goodnight little one, now hurry, and we might even read you a bedtime story…”
- >The filly’s ears perk up at the word “story,” and almost instantly, she gallops from the room, toward some other section of the apartments.
- >…
- >There is a moment of silence.
- >A cold, lonely feeling begins to sink in.
- >…
- >That might be the last time you see your foal for more than a year.
- >...
- >She… she might have her cutie mark next time you see her.
- >…
- >”Was that satisfactory Octavia?”
- >You nod, and wipe your eyes.
- >”Ye-yes Empress… thank you…”
- >She nods.
- >”In truth Octavia, we know this time is difficult for you.”
- >”We trust you understand that we are much more capable of providing for her than you ever could.”
- >You nod.
- “I… I know Empress… I- thank you… so much for doing this for her…”
- ---------------
- >The words pain you as the leave your mouth.
- >In some small part, because they are true.
- >Nightmare Moon as the resources of an entire Empire at her disposal.
- >The best tutors.
- >The best opportunities to explore her talent.
- >The best… everything.
- >She can provide Melancholy so much more than you ever could…
- >”She will be earning her mark soon. You know that, correct?”
- >You nod.
- ”I know…”
- >”We suppose that, as the time nears, we should allow the filly to know more about her lineage.”
- >Your ears stand up.
- “You mean-“
- >”Yes Octavia, we feel the time is nearing where she may learn you are her mother…”
- >The tears return.
- ”Thank you Empress… thank you so much… you don’t know what this means to me...”
- >She brushes your mane with her own.
- >”We are glad to see you are pleased…”
- >Just as quickly, her mane retracts.
- >”Although you would do well to remember that, if you displease us, we might be forced to reconsider.”
- >You nod heavily, her reminder being all to clear.
- ”I understand- I-I’ll do my best Empress; I promise.”
- >She looks at you, before nodding, and re-openig her book.
- >”Than you are dismissed. You may return to your chambers for the evening.”
- >You stand, and bow slightly, before turning to exist the room.
- >...
- >As the doors of the Royal Apartments close behind you, for some odd reason, you turn around.
- >You never got to say goodnight to her, did you?
- >You take a deep breathe, before speaking in an almost inaudible voice.
- “Good Night…”
- >”My Melancholy…”
- >Satisfied, you turn around, and make your way down the hall.
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