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Comfort V̷ͩ̔ͧ̆͆̾͛a͝nͪ̏i̛͋͆̑̏́t̨̒͒ͤ̎ͨ̚y҉

The air in the dinner was filled with deep and loud growls. The lamps on the ceiling flickered, as if the light tried to flee from the sounds in terror. Mixed into the growls were long-stretched moans, coming from a table in the middle of the diner and being emanated by one lonely colt.

Curtain Call had his head placed on the table, his lips pointing downwards and his eyes radiating a piercing sadness. It was more than half an hour since he had seen Fast Bun, Corn Pops and Starlet Radiance the last time and the hunger almost drove Curtain Call nuts. His stomach hurt, yet there was nothing he could do about it, as the food he had left mysteriously vanished.

He moaned again and turned his head around, facing the other side of the diner. The open door came into the edges of his view, but Curtain Call had no energy to trot outside and search for his friends. Another painful growl came from his stomach. Whimpering, Curtain Call closed his eyes. As he opened them again a few seconds later, when the current wave of pain lessened, he found himself staring at something.

A reddish glow had attracted his attention and where it came from, on the counter, Curtain Call could see a large hayburger resting on a plate. Hayfries and a cup of soda stood right next to it. Curtain Call swallowed in anticipation and began to drool on the table. New strength forming in him, he lifted his head off the table, taking a closer look. The delicious meal that greeted his eyes sat right in the middle of the strange glow. The back of his mind wondered how it got there but the thought was suppressed by the active part of it, the one that craved the food to sate his enormous hunger.

The young colt slid off the chair, then he let this chubby legs carry him over to the counter. The smell coming from it made him drool more and his stomach responded to it with another growl. As he had arrived at the counter, Curtain Call reared up. He placed one forehoof right next to the plate and reached for the burger with the other one. He was close to touch the tasty treasure he had discovered as suddenly, he felt his hoof slapped away with full force.

“Hey, kiddaw!” a deep, angry voice to his right bellowed into his ears. “Whose food dor you touchin' hea?”

Scared, Curtain Call twitched and retracted his hoof. He looked into the direction the voice had come from. A brown stallion sat there, on one of the high, black stools, and he looked at him grimly. Too confused to say anything, Curtain Call just stared, his mouth opened wide. All of a sudden, he felt grabbed at the neck and pulled away from the counter.

“Oh, I'm sawry, mista, my little Suga' enjawys ar good hayburga ar bit too much!” a voice coming from behind increased Curtain's confusion tenfold. It sounded nervous and hectic and a little ashamed. “Now finally come, Curtain, you had youh meal ahready!” the voice continued as somepony kept dragging him away from the counter and out of the diner.

It was a voice Curtain knew well. He reached behind his neck and shoved the hooves that held him away. “I can wawlk alawne, mommy!”

Free, Curtain Call turned around and, indeed, there was his mom, Bubblegum Blossom. The mare with the blue and slightly curly mane glared down at him disapprovingly. She was wearing a small, yellow bow in her mane and a pink earring in her left ear. Both accessoires vibrated slightly as she shook her head.

“You can't just, like, go for oda ponies' food, Suga',” she said, a reprehensive tone in her voice. She looked down, sighing. “You ain't stil hungry, are you?” She reached out with a hoof and rubbed over his mane, gently.

Curtain Call did not respond. He just stood there, staring, while a ton of different impressions came down on him at once. The mall was full of life again. The hallway they stood in was brightly illuminated and ponies were rushing by left and right, the air filled with their chatter and the clopping of their hooves. Another impression got added as Curtain Call noticed the feeling in his stomach. Irritated, he reached down to it and stroke over it with a hoof. It was round and felt full and it was then that Curtain Call realized that he wasn't hungry anymore.

The colt looked around, letting his eyes fly over the various shops, all of which had opened, and the ponies who bustled in and out of them. As he looked back at his mom, only one question left his mouth.

“Why isn't it night anymawe?” He blinked at his mom, dumbfounded.

“Night? Oh, suga', it ain't nigh't anymawe for, like, ten hours!” Her face distorted into concern. “Are you ahrite, Curtain? Your look like you had ar bad dream, or somethin'.”

Curtain Call blinked again, then he shook his head. He did not understand what was going on but with his hunger gone and the mall suddenly not being a dark, scary place anymore, this explanation was as good as any for the little colt. Besides, he did feel very tired this morning. So his mom had to be right, he figured. He didn't get locked up in the mall with his friends, it had all just been a nightmare.

“You're right. I think I fell asleep at ta table, mommy.” Following a sudden impulse, he approached his mom and wrapped his hooves around her for a hug. Fluttering up a little, he snuggled his face against his mom's cheek.

“Aww, suga', dat must've been ar real nightmare,” Bubblegum Blossom said in a soothing voice. “But now it's awva, don't wawry.” She placed a hoof on Curtain's back and squeezed her son.

“Hmm.....” Curtain cooed, enjoying the moment of intimacy. Feeling better now, he let go of his mom a few seconds later and fluttered back down. He gave her a cute, thankful smile, heart full of relief that everything was alright again.

“Now come, Suga',” his mom waved him closer. “We sti'll gawt, like, some stuff to buy.” She laid a hoof on Curtain's back in a slight embrace and together, they began to move down the hallway.

While they trotted, Curtain Call suddenly realized that he had absolutely no memory on why they were here, or, how they had entered the mall today. The little colt taxed his brain to retain these memories, but nothing came to him. Once more confused, Curtain looked over to this mom.

“Mommy? What, uh, what else do we buy?” he asked carefully, feeling like he shouldn't make the situation even more strange.

“Oh, not much anymawe, Suga', just smawll stuff. We awlmawst gawt, like, everythin' for youh cousins' Hearth's Wawmin' presents!” She gave Curtain a smile.

“Huh?” Curtain Call stared at his mom. “Hearth's Wawmin' presents? But isn't Hearth's Wawmin' Eve still, like, two months away, mommy?”

Now it was Bubblegum Blossom who became confused. She stopped in her tracks and looked into her son's eyes. “Uh, no, Suga'. You know it's next week ahready.” A new expression of motherly concern built on her face. She removed her hoof from Curtain's back. “I hope you don't have, like, feva, Suga'.” She laid her hoof on Curtain's forehead, then moved it over his face, touching his chubby cheeks and then his neck. “Hmm.....” she murmured as she could not feel any increased temperature.

Curtain Call shook his head. “Um-um. No, I'm feelin' okay, mommy. I think I'm just tired.” He let out a demonstrative, semi-believable yawn.

“Aww, Suga', don't wawry! We're done hea, like, any minute, den we go hawme!” She stroke her son's face affectionately.

As they continued their way through the mall, his mom occasionally stopping at a shop to buy something, Curtain tried more to squeeze the memories he needed out of his brain. After a couple of fruitless attempts, his head began to feel cloudy so he stopped. Clueless what to do now, the colt decided to distract himself.

Curtain Call moved his eyes over the various shop windows he and his mom passed, looking at the various goods he saw. The window shopping did its job to get him away from thinking about how strange everything, especially his loss of memory, was. But it was ultimately the window of a toy shop that took Curtain's thoughts off the entire mystery.

Gasping, the little colt stopped, his eyes fixated in awe at a huge, red fire truck. Like hypnotized, he moved closer to the window and pressed his nose flat on it while he took in every detail of the massive toy. His eyes sparkled at this sight.

Ahead of him, Bubblegum Blossom noticed that her son was not at her side anymore. She turned around and looked at him. “Suga'?” she asked. “Come alawng, we still need ar few things.”

Hearing the voice of his mom, a thought began to form in Curtain's head. It quickly gained domination. Curtain Call removed his face and hooves from the window and whizzed into his mom's direction, wings buzzing.

“Can we get dis, mommy? Can we, pleeeeeeease?” He shoved himself into his mom's face, squeaking adorableness leaving his throat.

Bubblegum Blossom followed the direction her son had come from with her eyes, until they rested on the firetruck behind the window. She scrunched her face as she looked back at Curtain. “I don't know, Suga', mommy ahready bawght ar Hearth's Wawmin' present for you.....”

“Pleeeeeeeease!” the colt squeaked even louder. “If you buy it, I wont need ar present next yeah! Pleee–” his pleading stopped abruptly, as his mom her held a hoof at his mouth.

“Ahrite, ahrite.....” she said. “I suppose we can get awne mawe if we count it as next year's present.” She rolled her eyes, but smiled.

“Um-hm, um-hm!” Curtain's head bopped up and down, then he whizzed into the toy shop. His mom followed, sighing slightly.

A few minutes later, the mare and the colt came out of the shop again, Curtain clasping the package with his new toy truck tightly. A cute, satisfied smile was plastered on his face.

They trotted through the mall once more, silently, until his mom started to speak again. “How about you buy mommy ar snack, Suga'?”

Curtain Call removed his gaze from his new toy and looked up to his mom. Her hoof pointed at a sandwich in the vitrine of a small food stall and Curtain followed it with a confused look. Then his gaze went back to his mother, who was wearing a greedy and lusting expression. She licked her lips. “Now, Suga'?” A tiny, barely audible growl came from her stomach.

“Buyin' you ar sandwich?” Curtain Call asked. “Why?” He blinked.

“Oh, mommy has gotten ar little hungry, Suga'. Can you do dis for mommy, pleeease?”

“Well, yeah, but why do you wawnt me to buy it? Why do you naw't, like, buy it yawself?” Curtain Call scrunched his face.

“Oh, Suga', because mommy just bawght you an expensive toy, so why won't you buy mommy somethin' in return?” There was a slightly sarcastic tone in her voice and Curtain was not sure if his mom was teasing him or not.

“Well....” Curtain put down his toy truck and rubbed over the back of his head. “I'm naw't sure.....”

Bubblegum Blossom quickly bent down down to her son and pressed his face against his cheek. “O', pleaser, mommy jus' wants tor haver, liker, sometin' fraw' your for awncer, Suga'! Can your dor dis for mommy, please, please, pleeeeeeeease?” She pressed harder and nuzzled him.

Curtain Call scrunched his face more and answered the stares some ponies who trotted by gave them now. “Uh..... Okay. I-I think I can,” he said then. Pondering the request by his mom more, his unsure expression turned into a smile. Why not? She just bought him another Hearth's Warming present, the least he could do was paying her back with a little favor. He nuzzled his mom's face.

“Oh, thank you so much, Suga'!” Bubblegum Blossom squeaked. She put her hooves around her little colt's neck and squeezed him tightly.

Curtain Call turned around, opened his left saddlebag and pulled out a green wallet with the picture of a frog on it. He unzipped it and looked inside. Ten bits of his pocket money were still left, he observed. Curtain looked back to the sandwich in the vitrine, the price tag saying “10 Bits”. He sighed a little as he saw that buying the sandwich would use up all of the money he had left for this month but regardless, he took out the bits, placed the wallet back in his saddlebag and then cantered up to the food stall.

As he had finished the purchase, he quickly zipped back to his mom, carrying the sandwich in one hoof. Bubblegum Blossom took the sandwich with a grateful smile. She rubbed over Curtain's mane appreciatively, then took a bite from the sandwich. As Curtain had picked up his toy truck again, they continued their way.

It wasn't long after she had finished her snack, that Bubblegum Blossom looked down on her son again. She directed his attention to a shop window located to their left. They stopped in front of it and as Curtain followed the hoof of his mom again, his eyes landed on a watch. It was golden and tiny diamonds where embedded around the numbers on its face. They glistened seductively in the lights of the window.

“What do your think awf dat watch, Suga'? Wawnna buy dat for mommy?” She looked at him and grinned, her face forming another greedy expression.

“What?” Curtain Call did not understand. “How, mommy? I have, like, no pawcket money anymawe and your don't give me enough.” He pointed at the price tag, which said “2,000 Bits”. Huffing now, he put down his truck and placed it at the side of the window.

“Oh, I know, Suga'. But if we use awll youh pawcket money until you're grawn up, you can pay mommy da money back.” Her eyes took on a pleading expression.

“But.....” Curtain's ears flattened and he began to look sad. “But den I won't get pawcket money anymawe until I'm, like, eighteen year'!” he cried out, voice sounding whiny.

His mom's expression did not change. She leaned down and crushed her son with a hug. “Oh, now come on, Suga'!” she wailed, sounding disappointed. “Mommy has bawght you sor much awvapriced stuff, why can't you do da same just awnce?” If Curtain would have been able to look at her face, he would have seen how her lip quivered.

A few sobs rang into his ears and he lowered his eyes. The little colt wrapped his forehooves around his mom's body and sniffed. “O-Okay,” he said. “I do it for you, mommy, I don't want to make you sad.” His heart stung over the thought that he would never get pocket money again now, but he was determined to keep his promise.

Together, Curtain Call and his mom trotted into the jewelry store. His mom ordered and the stallion behind the counter brought the watch she wanted. Bubblegum Blossom emptied her wallet demonstratively, pulling out two one-thousand bit bills and hoofing it to the jeweller. The stallion nodded and gave her a receipt. Bubblegum Blossom put the watch around her right foreleg immediately, then she left the shop with her son.

Curtain let his head hang, still wearing the sad expression. The picture of the toy truck on its package coming into his view did nothing to change how he felt.

After a few minutes, he sighed and looked up to his mom. She was holding up her right foreleg and looking at the watch with a dreamy expression.

“Did I make you happy, mommy?” the colt asked, expectation in his voice.

“Oh, sure, Suga'. You made mommy very happy,” Bubblegum Blossom answered. She gave him a quick kiss on the head, then returned her attention to the watch.

“Okay.....” he whispered, looking on the floor again.

Curtain Call was trapped in his thoughts, pondering the events that had transpired just now, as his mom suddenly poked him in the side. “Curtain!” she said. “Look at dis beautiful purse in dat shawp awva dere!” She pointed excitedly across the hallway, to yet another shop window. “Mommy would really like to have dis awne!”

Curtain gave the black purse with the white patterns on it only a short look, then he eyes his mom. “But awll my pawcket money is ahready used up.....” His eyes looked slightly wet.

“Oh, yes, Suga'. And mommy doesn't have any money with heh anymawe now.” She bent down and brought her mouth close to his ear. “Dat's why mommy would like you to steal dis purse for heh.”

Curtain's eyes became wide and he gasped. “Stealin', mommy?! But I can't, stealin' isn't–” He felt a hoof shoved onto his mouth.

“Psst!” his mom said, lifting a hoof to her mouth. “Don't say it so loud, Suga'!” She looked around nervously, but none of the ponies who trotted by payed them any attention. She grabbed Curtain's neck and pulled him into a corridor that branched off to the left.

“Mommy will wait hea,” she said, bending down to him. “Your just go ova dere and steal da purse I showed you!” She pointed at the shop, which was now directly opposite of them.

Curtain's expression was full of concern as he looked into his mom's face. “No, mommy,” he said. “I love you, but we shouldn't steal somethin'. Your scolded me when I awlmawst took da hayburga of da mista in da dina.”

The argument rolled off his mom's shoulders, like he hadn't said anything. “Oh, Curtain, don't be such ar spoilspawt! Mommy awnly asks for dis awne last thin' in return!” She nudged him, playfully.

“But, mommy..... What if somepony sees me? I don't wawnna go to prison.....” There was fear in his eyes now.

“Oh, Suga', don't be silly! You're ar, like, five years old, you won't come into prison, da law doesn't work dat way.” She smiled at him, reassuringly, and petted his mane.

“But it's still nawt–”

“Pleeeeeeease, Suga'!” Pleading returned into her voice. She bounced up and down in excitement. It looked ridiculous for a grown mare like her.

“For awnce, mommy awlsaw wants to have ar few nice things! I prawmise it's da last time!” She kissed his cheek.

Curtain shuddered. “F-Fine..... I'll go. But is it really da last time you ask me for somethin'?”

“Suga', awf cawse! I sweah I wont ask for anythin else afta dis!” She crossed her heart.

“O-Okay.....” Curtain nodded and put down the package with his toy truck. “I will do it fast,” he said, determination mixed with fear visible in his face.

“Oh, ahrite, Suga'! Just grab it and come back. Mommy will be hea when you return with her purse!” She nudged him into the direction of the shop.

Curtain nodded again. He turned around and gulped, then started trotting across the hallway.

He entered the shop as casually as he could and looked around. The purse was hanging from a low rack right next to him, just two steps away. There were a few customers in the shop, but they were at the far end of it. Too far away to notice, he concluded. And the shop assistant was nowhere to be seen right now.

Curtain let his eyes glide over the entirety of the shop a second time, then he quickly trotted to the purse, pulled it down and marshed for the exit. Just as he passed it, a howling alarm rang out. Red lights flashed up around him and he twitched.

“Hey, young colt!” a voice came from behind. A second later, Curtain felt grabbed and turned around. He looked into the face of a young stallion, who frowned at him grimly.

“A foal your age is stealing something?!” he asked, shocked. “Where are your parents?”

Hemming and hawing, Curtain tried to think of an excuse while looking around nervously. Before he could find one, he heard the voice of his mother and her approaching hoofsteps from behind.

“Curtain Call!” her horrified voice pierced into his ears. He felt a sharp pain as his mother grabbed his ear and pulled him over to her with force. “What are you doin', little mista?!” her angry face shouted at him.

Bubblegum Blossom huffed, pressing the toy truck package against her body with her free hoof. “Has mommy nawt, like, tawght you dat stealin' ain't okay, nawt even if you really want to have somethin'?! Brin' dis purse back right now!”

A few tears showed up in Curtain's eyes. He obeyed and went back to the rack, his chubby, little legs trembling.

While he was on the way, Bubblegum Blossom gave the shop assistant an apologetic smile. “I'm sawry, I awnly left him out of my eyes for ar minute. I mentioned how much I like dis purse, he prawbably tried to get it for me as ar present.”

The shop assistant's stern expression cleared up only slightly. “Bring your son away from here, ma'am, or I will call the police!”

“Awf course,” Bubblegum Blossom said, meekly. She grabbed Curtain's ear once more as he had returned. “I'm very sawry,” she apologized again and bowed her head a little before turning back to Curtain. “And you come with me,” she said sternly and dragged him with her.

Curtain Call whimpered over the pain in his ear, but his mother did not acknowledge it. “Awnce we're at hawme, you're goin' right to bed and I'll have to think if you really deserve ar presen for Hearth's Wawmin' Eve dis yeah!” she shouted instead, loud enough for the shop assistant to hear.

Only as they were out of his hearing range, she stopped scolding her son and let go of him. Curtain rubbed over his now reddened ear, still flinching in pain. “Ooooow!” he wailed.

“Dat was ar real failure, Suga',” his mom said, her voice accusatory. “I should've expected you can' do it.....”

“But you tawld me to do it!” Curtain complained, still rubbing his aching ear.

The mare ignored the remark. Instead, she set herself into motion again and pulled him into a different direction. “Don't wawry, Suga', mommy knows how you can make dis up to heh!”

Curtain Call just frowned.

As his mother had finally stopped pulling at him, Curtain Call found himself inside a furniture store. Around him stood numerous beds in various shapes and sizes, all of them covered in clean, white bedding. Curtain was angry now, but the newly risen confusion over this sight pushed back the anger quickly.

“What are we doin' now?” he asked, some dread in his voice. He scrutinized one of the beds. “I can't steal an entire bed, mommy, it won't fit through the dooh!” he then added, quieter.

“Oh, Suga', no!” His mother laughed. “I'm nawt askin' you to steal ar bed,” she said as her laughing fit was over, her voice low. “Dis time, mommy wants somethin' else.....” The lusting, greedy expression was back in her face.

All of a sudden, Curtain Call felt very uncomfortable. He did a step back. “W-What is it?” he asked. There was caution in his voice.

His mother came closer, then she brought down her face in front of his. “Dis time, mommy want' you, Suga'!”

For the umpteenth time on this day, Curtain Call blinked at his mother in utter confusion. “Me? But, mommy..... You ahready have me. I'm hea.”

“No, nawt like dis, Suga'. Mommy wants to have ar kiss. Would you give mommy awne?”

Curtain's face cleared up. “Ooooooh! Sure, mommy, I've kissed you befawe!” He smiled. Leaning in, he gave his mother a kiss on the cheek.

“Awww, thanks, Suga'! But dat's nawt what I meant. Mommy wants to have ar kiss on da mouth dis time.”

This was weird. Curtain raised an eyebrow and cocked his head, simultaneously. He had kissed his mother a dozen times before, but she never asked him to kiss her mouth.

“Hmm.....” his forehead in wrinkles, Curtain pondered the request. He knew what his mother asked for was unusual and thinking of doing that felt somehow wrong. But at the same time, he could not come up with a reason why it was wrong, no matter how much he taxed his little brain. The mouth was really close to the cheek, so it wouldn't be a real difference, he figured.

Having come to that conclusion, he nodded. “Okay, mommy!” the colt said, smiling.

“My good, little boy.....” Bubblegum Blossom looked over the store. Unlike the one with the purse, this was one was crammed with customers. She placed a hoof over her son's neck and pulled him gently into a corner of the store. They stood behind a large bed with a white curtain at the sides now, shielded from the eyes of other ponies. She put down the toy truck there, freeing her hooves.

Curtain Call felt a sudden, inexplicable excitement rising in him. “How does ar kiss awn da mouth feel, mommy?”

“Aww, you will see now.” Bubblegum Blossom chuckled over the innocent question. “Mommy will show you.”

She didn't waste any more time and leaned in on her son's face, pressing her lips on his. A moan left her throat. As she felt how Curtain opened his lips, surprised by the new experience, she stretched out her tongue and let it glide into his mouth. Curtain Call's eyes shot open wildly as he felt the intruder.

A sultry look on her face, Bubblegum Blossom moaned again. She played with her son's tongue for a few seconds, before she released the kiss and retreated from the colt.

Curtain Call gasped for air as he was free. His heart was racing and he felt weird emotions rising in him, somewhere between curiosity and the desire to gag in disgust.

His mother looked down at him, wearing a satisfied expression. She licked her lips. “How did you like it, Suga'?” “It.....” Curtain Call tried to decide for a word to describe the experience. “It was slimy.” He spat out a little. “I'm sawry, mommy..... I-I didn't like it.” A shudder went down his spine.

“Awww, it's okay, Suga'! You will like mawe what mommy is goin' to do nex!” Bubblegum Blossom grinned at her little colt.

“Doin' next?” The uncomfortable feeling from earlier returned. Curtain Call stepped away from his mother. “I don't wawnna do anythin' next, mommy..... Can we go hawme now?” His eyes looked at her in sadness, once more fear mixed in them.

“Aww, Suga', no, nawt yet. Mommy needs just, like, awne last thin' first.” She turned to the bed and lifted up the curtain next to them, then placed it in the bed and pushed it back a little. There was now some free space, just enough for a little colt like Curtain to sit on. His mother turned back at him.

“Sit down dere, Suga', it wont take lawng,” she chirped.

Curtain did not follow the prompt. Instead, he did another step back. “W-What mommy?” he asked. “What do you want to do?” “Nothin' big, Suga'. Just anotha kiss.” The mare smiled widely.

“O-On da mouth again?” Curtain Call shrunk a little, eyeing his mother with a good portion of wariness now.

“No, Suga'. Now, mommy is goin' to kiss youh pee pee.”

A wave of heat flared up inside Curtain Call. “But, mommy, you tawl me dat nopony is allowed to touch me dere!” Curtain felt bewildered hearing his mother suggesting something she had always told him was wrong to do. Feeling his little world view getting shattered, the colt remained still in a state between surprise and confusion.

His mother refused to explain her sudden change of mind. “Mommy wants to kiss and lick it.,” she said, her eyes looking as dreamily as they had when she admired the watch earlier. “Awva and awva again.....”

Somehow, Curtain Call could feel that her eyes were directed between his hindlegs. A very faint blush was in the colt's face now. “B-But you can't, mommy! If you do dat, da oda ponies in da stawe will nawtice!”

He turned around and ran a few steps to the other side of the bed, to direct his mother's attention back to the many ponies in the store. But when he stepped out from behind the bed, nopony was here. Suddenly, Curtain Call noticed that it was completely still around him. All the sounds of chattering and bustling ponies that had found their way into the furniture store were gone. A second later, the lights suddenly turned off and it got instantly dark around the colt.

“M-Mommy?” he asked and winced. The mall was the same as before now, like he had seen it in his nightmare..... But his mother was still here, as her voice soon confirmed to him.

“Suga'! Come back hea, mommy just wants to have some fun!”

Curtain Call understood nothing anymore. But now that the darkness had returned, he was afraid, so he turned on his hooves and went back to his mother behind the bed. Her face greeted him with the same lusting and greedy expression still. Behind her, a word was written on the wall all of a sudden, the letters red and crooked.
“Mommy?” Curtain Call asked. “What's dis word?”

Bubblegum Blossom turned around, then back at her son. “I don't know what you mean, Suga'. Dere's just a wawll.

Curtain Call scrunched his face. He could clearly see the word. And, as much as he could tell with his underdeveloped ability to read, the word on the wall was “Aegis”. It made no sense to him, so Curtain Call turned to the next thing that surprised him.

He was not supposed to see his mother's face in this darkness, but then he noticed something that had slipped his attention earlier. There was a nightstand next to the bed and on it stood a small lamp. It glowed brightly, so his mother must have turned it on after the lights went out. The shine of the lamp fell on the bed, right on the spot his mother had freed there. And this was the spot his mother patted now.

“Come, Suga', sit down hea,” she spoke the same prompt again.

Curtain Call still felt unsure about the situation. He looked around in the mostly dark store, the shapes of the furniture looking creepy and scary in the darkness. He heard a rustling somewhere in the store and he could not tell if it was his mind playing tricks on him or if it was real. Curtain Call looked into his mother's eyes.

“D-Do you still want to do dis?” he stammered, fearfully.

“Suga', awf cawse mommy wants to! Now sit down, finally!” There was impatience in her voice now.

Curtain Call heard something dripping on the floor. As he followed the source of the sound, he saw a small puddle under his mother, right between her hindlegs. His youthful mind wondered if his mother was scared in this darkness, too, so much that she had peed herself.

“I-I'm scared, mommy.....” the colt whimpered. “C-Can we go hawme awnce you.....” He trailed off mid-sentence, unable to complete the weird sentence immediately. “Awnce you.... Awnce you kissed and licked my pee pee?”

“I prawmise, Suga'!” his mother reassured him. “Awnce mommy had heh fun, we leave dis dark place and go hawme tawgeda.”

“O-Okay.....” a small smile formed on his lips. Obediently now, he came closer to his mother and the small, lit-up corner. He sat down on the free space of the bed, then looked up to his mother expectantly. All of this still felt weird to the colt but in his fear, he was willing to do everything to leave the creepy, dark mall as fast as possible.

“What now, mommy?” he asked, sounding impatient himself now.

“Now, Suga', spread youh legs, like, really wide, so dat mommy's mouth can get to youh pee pee,” she instructed her son.

Curtain Call followed her words and spread his legs apart. Looking down, he saw that his pee pee was a little stiff all of a sudden, just like when he had to pee. But right now, he felt no urge for this.

Her mother looked down at the slightly stiff penis of her son, licking her lips once more, while a grin formed on her face. She kneeled down in front of him, admiring the sight more.

Curtain Call watched how his mother rested her sight on his pee pee. He desired to bring this behind him as fast as possible. But the longer his mother stared, the more uncomfortable the colt became. Beads of sweet began to trickle down his forehead and his face began to show more and more uncertainty.

As his mother finally brought her mouth closer to his pee pee, after minutes of lustful staring, the second thoughts Curtain had developed reached their peak. He squirmed, inching back a little.

“Mommy, no,” he suddenly said. “I-I don' want to do dis. Please, let's go hawme!”

His mother followed his movements, ignoring the pleading request. “Just ar little, Suga'! Mommy is just gettin' heh rewawd for always bein' so nice to you.”

Curtain Call started to grind his teeth. “Mommy..... Please stop.” Cold fear began to rise in him.

This time, the mare did not respond. She opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. After she brought it close to the stiff, little penis in front of her, she let it hover above it, increasing the tension for herself.

Curtain Call's tension increased, as well. He was shuddering all over his body now, in fearful anticipation what would happen soon. He tried to plead to his mother again, but only whimpers managed to escape his mouth. He shook his head, fast and repeatedly, while he starred in horror at the scene between his legs.

Finally, his mother did not want to wait any longer. Curtain Call watched her lowering her tongue and bringing it in front of his pee pee. When she let it leap forward and did the first, quick lick across the tip of it, Curtain started to protest again.

“NO!” he shouted loudly. He inched further back in sheer panic, almost getting tangled up in the curtain that hang down the bed. “MOMMY, STAWP IT NOW AND GO HAWME!” he pleaded.

As his mother didn't listen and came closer again, his left hindleg twitched beyond his control. With all the strength that was in his little body, it came down on his mother's face. The mare howled in pain and covered her face. As she removed her hooves, Curtain Call could see that her nose was drenched in blood. It looked flatter than before and new blood was steadily trickling out of the nostrils. Small, red dots appeared on the white sheets as it dripped down from her chin.

For a moment, the shock dominated but then Curtain saw what he had done. “No.....” he whimpered, tears now flowing down his face. “Mommy..... I'm sawry.” He inched a bit closer again, while covering his pee pee with one hoof, intended to give his mother a hug. But as her face became distorted in sudden anger, he flinched and moved away again.

His mother showed her teeth to him. “YOU!” she let out a scream of hatred. “MOMMY JUST WANTED TO GET AR REWARD FOR ALWAYS DOIN' EVERYTHIN' YOU WANT! AND DIS IS HOW YOU THANK MOMMY?!” She reached for his face. “COME HEA!”

Curtain Call jumped on all four hooves. In panic, he tried to escape through the curtain on the other side of the bed, ripping it down in the process. He fought and kicked to get rid of it and as he had managed, he jumped down the bed and began to run. Hearing the furious hoofsteps of his mother following him, Curtain Call ran through the store and right to the exit. Without stopping, he pushed the door open with his head and leaped outside.

The hallway outside was as dark as the store, but Curtain kept running, the fear letting him find the way somehow.

“STAWP AND TURN AROUND!” the hate-filled voice of his mother came down on him from behind. “DO WHAT YOUH MUDDA WANTS, YOU BEGGIN' FREAK! LET ME BE YOUH WHAWE, I DESERVE IT!”

Curtain Call's heart began to race faster and faster, both from the fear he felt and his increasing exhaustion. His mother was faster than him and he only could stay ahead of her because of the fear that controlled his legs. But now, his sides began to hurt and he felt how he got slower and slower. Knowing that he would have to stop running soon, Curtain did the only thing he could think of. He took a sharp turn to the left and ran into the corridor under the familiar, blue-glowing signs. Huffing, he reached the door of the nearest toilet and began to pull it open. But before he could slip inside, he felt the strong hoof of his mother coming down on his neck and pulling him back.

Bubblegum Blossom stared down at her son with her bloody face, unrestrained anger all over it. “You're nawt escapin',” she whispered. “Mommy will get what she WANTS!”

Curtain Call choked. “Mommy, no..... P-Please.....” His face was thick and red from crying and his usually happy expression replaced by deep fear and desperation.

“YES!” his mother shouted. She spat into his face. “Mommy will kiss and lick youh cawck and get you da first awgasm awf youh life, Suga'!” She let her tongue lap over her lips. “Den you are goin' to lick mommy and repay da favaw, da times where mommy did things for you without askin' for somethin' in return are AWVA, Curtain!”

She moved closer to the frightened, crying colt and pushed him down, exposing him once more. “And afta dat, you will use dis–” She stopped and poked against the, now limp, penis of her son. “– and FUCK mommy into heh CUNT as lawng as she wants you to!” A greedy cackle left her mouth.

Curtain Call tried to scream, but his throat felt like he was getting strangled. His mother had used new words, words he never heard before, and it increased his fear tenfold.

“Now, let's START!” his mother announced, licking her lips once more. She came close to his penis once more, tongue already sticking out now.

The fear in Curtain Call increased once more. Giving him new strength, it let him turn around and reach for the door again. “NOOOOOOO!” he screamed. His mother grabbed his flank and held him in position, too tight for him to escape. Curtain flailed his forehooves around, desperate to find something to hold on to. Suddenly, he heard something splinter, and sharp pain flashed through his forehooves, making him scream again.

As he looked up, he saw something to the left ot the toilet's door. A faint outline of something that hadn't been there before. He was unable to make out what it was, but in his panic, the colt reached for it. It was strong and sturdy and as soon as he had pulled it out and held it firm in his hooves, he swung it against his mother's head.

Immediately, the pulling at his flank stopped. He felt the hooves letting loose and used the time to get up on all fours, protectively holding the object in front of him. Regaining his breath, he waited for his mother to lunge for him again. But nothing happened. The corridor lay silent and dark in front of him. Hesitantly, he let the object sink. As he had done, he could suddenly hear voices. Busy chatting once more, as well as the sound of many hoofsteps. The lights went on around him and, just like that, the mall had its life back.

Ponies were bustling and hurrying around in the hallway outside of the corridor. And in front of him, in bright light, Curtain Call could see his mother. She stared at him, eyes wide open, and her mouth still showed the same, greedy expression. There was no sign of blood in her face, nor of a broken nose. Her face looked pristine. But on her head, on the right side of it, gaped a large hole. Blood came out of it in streams and dropped down on his mother's shoulder, then on the floor.

The little colt, still scared and now additionally shocked over this sight, removed one hoof from the object he clasped and held it as his mouth. “M-Mommy?” he whined. As he looked down by instinct at the object he was holding, he finally saw what it was. His left forehoof was bleeding from cuts and in it was a large, red fire axe. The darker blood of his mother was still discernable from its colored surface.

Then, a sharp scream pierced the air and Curtain looked up. A mare had stopped at the entrance of the corridor and pointed at the corpse that laid there. She was screaming and screaming. Other ponies stopped at her side to check up on her and their eyes had to see the same. Their glances wandered from the dead body to Curtain Call and the bloody axe in his hoof. The ponies gasped.

“D-Did you do this?!” a stallion asked in disbelief. Curtain Call noticed him, it was the shop assistant who had caught him stealing earlier.

“N-No.....” he stammered. “I-I mean, y-yes, b-but..... I..... I.....” He did not know how to finish the sentence and stopped. A stream of fresh tears began to run down his face. He dropped the axe in disgust.

More ponies came and soon, a crowd had gathered. All of the ponies reached the same conclusion. They pointed hooves at him and then, the crowd started to shout.

“He is ar murdara!” a mare shrieked.

“This colt killed his own mother! Wasn't stealing enough, you creepy, little bastard?!” the shop assistant shouted.

“Lock him up in Tartarus!” several ponies demanded.

The entire crowd agreed. Collectively, the gathered ponies started to shout the same word over and over again. “Tartarus! Tartarus! Tartarus! Tartarus!”

Shocked, confused and still scared, Curtain Call's hooves gave in and he collapsed to the floor. He covered his ears trying to drown out the word, without success.

“Mommy.....” he whimpered. “Please come back.....”
.

Author's Note

“Huh?” Curtain Call stared at his mom. “Hearth's Wawmin' presents? But isn't Hearth's Wawmin' Eve still, like, two months away, mommy?”

.

It's not too immersion-breaking to poke fun at weird release schedules, right?

Also, this is probably the closest I'll ever get to write Foalcon here.....