The Curse of the Boops

by Nomine Anagram

Rating: everyone
Tags: Random, Slice of Life, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy
Length: 6202

A little foal named Starling has a most interesting day due to a curse placed upon his nose

Starling is a little toddler who leads a happy life. His Mommy and Daddy love him, he has lots of toys to play with, and he is so smart for his age! At least, that's what Mommy and Daddy always say.

But one night, he receives a visit from a frightful presence in his dreams, one that lays a devastating penalty upon him for his transgressions the day before! A curse upon his nose! And the following day turns very interesting for the little pony, as a normal day with Mommy becomes abnormal to the extreme!

This story was written (a long time ago) as a present for my friend Kurikia, who also drew the cover art you see and owns the main character. You can find his gallery on FA, as I am not sure if linking it is the best idea.

Glam Rock is owned by ThunderChaser23

Cautionary Tags: Diapers and their Usage and Changing, A mention of spanking, and multiple boops to a nose

Published 2020-01-26 20:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-01-26 20:20:01 UTC

In Which a Little Starling has a Most Odd Experience

Starling sniffled and hiccupped as he lay on the changing table, Mommy's magic holding his legs high in the air as her hooves stroked a wet wipe over his sore bottom. She still wasn't happy, he could tell. She wasn't laughing or smiling at him as she wiped him clean, just doing it fast and without any tickles or toys or anything nice. All she was doing was cleaning his bottom to get him ready for beddy-bye time.

It wasn't fair! Just because he had tracked mud in the house, she had made him wash his hoofies and then told him not to do it! So then he stayed inside and played with his hoof-paints, but Mommy didn't like the picture he drew of her to make her happy, she just said he wasn't allowed to draw on the walls! And then, worst of all, after he had helped clean the paint off the walls and played nice all afternoon, Mommy tried to feed him some yucky foal food instead of a proper baba at dinner. When he had shoved the bowl away and spilled it all over the floor, Mommy had gone all scary-quiet that meant he was in big trouble. Then she told him he was gonna get a spanking after dinner! It wasn't FAIR!!!

Mommy had been true to her word, too. When he would normally get dessert, she had instead taken him into her room, pulled him over her knee, and…and…he whimpered just thinking about it. Even though she had hugged and kissed him after until he stopped crying, all while telling him why she had spanked him. Something about mess-making and ignoring her warnings. It didn’t matter. The spanking still was horrible and was NOT FAIR!

The crinkle of a new diaper and the scent of his favorite lavender powder brought Starling back to the real world as Mommy lowered his bottom onto the fresh padding, carefully taping it up around his flanks after making sure they were dusted properly. He was scooped up into her loving arms, snuggling in as she carried him to his nursery, where his crib awaited. At least he could hear his favorite story tonight! Mommy had promised it was story-night!

With the story in mind, Starling stayed very still as Mommy dressed him in his orange pajammies, not even wiggling at all. Okay, maybe a little, the cloth tickled his tummy! But he stayed very still until Mommy put him into his crib and then put Sir Piggybottom in next to him. Grabbing for his stuffed Tepig Star looked over at his toy chest, pointing to the stuffed Kangaroo laying on top of it. “Huntew Mommy.” He said, trying to make it sound like he was asking and not telling. But he WAS telling. Hunter was his friend, and he deserved to sleep in a crib, not some dark toy chest. What if the monster-in-the-dark got him?!

But Mommy was already walking over to the toy chest next to the door, going to get Hunter for him. Wait, why was she turning on the nightlight? She hadn’t read the story or got Hunter! Now she was turning off the light, where was she going?! “MOMMY!” he cried out, as loud as he could, only for her to turn and shake her head sadly at him before turning out the big light, magically setting his mobile to spinning, and shutting the door.

He had cried and cried and cried, but Mommy didn’t come. She never came when he cried at night now, not even if he needed a diaper change. She and Daddy called it Sleep Training, whatever that meant. He knew trains were big things that went Choo Choo, but what did that have to do with bedtime and sleeping?

But now Hunter was going to have to sleep in the dark toy box with the mean monsters. He was gonna be so scared! Wait, Sir Piggybottom could help! He was a knight, that’s why he was called Sir! Standing up, Starling threw Sir Piggybottom as hard as he could towards the toy chest, then smiled and put his head down on the pillow. Even though he had no one to snuggle now, at least Hunter wouldn’t be hit by the mean old monster. And the night-light would keep him safe! With that comforting thought in mind, the little unicorn drifted off into slumberland, his eyes drifting shut.

All too soon, however, the little foal felt something hard underneath his head instead of his soft comfy pillow. For that matter, he was lying on something hard and decidedly NOT his comfy crib. Opening his eyes, the little foal found himself laying down on his belly, staring at a flat plain of dirt and rocks, one that stretched as far as the eye could see. Even his head was laying on one of those rocks as some weird scary monster watched him where he was lay-…MONSTER!

Immediately Star scrambled up, his thick nighttime diaper hampering his movements slightly as he backed away, little hoofies scrambling to pull him far away from that weird monster. Only…he couldn’t move! The ground was carrying him back! She was running after him! “Heeeeeelpppp!” he screamed, only for the monster to stop and giggle like a filly.

“Look, I’m not going to hurt you.” It said, shaking its head. Now that it had stopped moving, so had Starling…and the ground. “I’m only going to talk to you right now, I promise.”

Well, Mommy had always told him promises weren’t allowed to be broken. So maybe this monster wasn’t all that bad? Starling had seen a TV show where the monster under the bed was really just as scared of the baby as he was of the monster, but this monster didn’t seem scared of him.

“Now”, she continued, coming further into the light, revealing herself to be a pony-like figure. That is, if a pony had ever had eyes like white lanterns, a strange black body with weird angles all over, and birdlike claws instead of hooves. “Now then…you’ve probably figured out by now that I…am the Bogeymare.” She told him, causing the small foal to yelp.

“NO! No no! Leave me alone! I don’t want a bogeymare! I’ve been good! I’ve been a good boy!” he said, backing away again before his thickly padded bottom was sat down with an audible squish on the bare dirt, Star feeling his diaper grow even warmer as she approached him.

“You haven’t, not really. And yes, I can understand you. I speak quite fluent baby, actually.” She said, stepping closer with a grin, milky eyes gleaming with a predatory light as they stared down at him. Suddenly, however, her nose twitched, sniffing the air and causing her eyes to narrow before she stepped over and lifted the back of his diaper, making a face.

"Oh come on! Really? I swear, half the foals who see me come and nuzzle me, the other half wind up needing their diapers changed...I ought to start charging babysitting fees." She grumbled, while Starling found himself scooped up with a yipe, held in the air as a multitude of hooves rose out of the ground and began changing him.

In contrast to her words, though, the hooves were very gentle as they stripped him of his messy diaper. In the meantime, she had continued talking. “Now then, as I was saying before your little outburst. I am the Bogeymare, punisher of naughty foals and bringer of bad dreams to those who misbehave.” She said, summoning up a little black book. “And yep, here you are. Starling, age two and a half, made a big mess three times today after being told not to by Mommy.”

“But I was just painting…” he started to say, only for her to cut him off.

“Tut tut tut, no excuses, young colty. You misbehaved, and you have to face the consequences of your behaviors.” She scolded him as the phantom hooves began dry-wiping him before dusting his bottom with unscented powder. “That said, my book says you got five spanks, AND your Mommy forgot to read you a bedtime story, AND you didn’t get dessert, AND you didn’t get your other stuffy animal…and oh my, how noble! You even threw your little piggy away to protect your kangaroo from me.”

Starling nodded as the hooves finished his change by wrapping another thick nighttime diaper around his flanks. Businesslike change, but it was very efficient, far faster than Mommy did it, unless she was mad. The hooves dropped him to the ground as he looked up into the Bogeymare’s eyes. She didn’t seem mad…

“I…I did. I thought you’d scare Hunter and Sir Piggybottom could help!” he said, causing her to smile.

“Well, in light of that, I don’t think I need to give you a super-scary dream. You’ve been punished fairly well, and you did something good.” She said, putting a hoof on her chin and nodding. “But, I hope you understand, I still have a job to do…I can’t just let you off the hook.” She continued, causing him to start trying to scramble away, but the hooves came back and held him there.

“Oh do calm down.” She said as he struggled. “I’m not going to spank you. I’m just going to curse you.”

Stepping away, the mare gathered what appeared to be shadows or ink around herself, twining it into her hooves as she slowly approached, one hoof reaching out for his nose.

“Since you enjoy making messes

from the floor up to the roof

upon your nose I now bestow

The Curse of the Boops”

With that, she booped his nose, causing him to cover it as the shadows plunged in. Rubbing it…those shadows tickled!...he looked up at her, reproach in his eyes.

“Oh don’t worry. It just means that for all the next day, everypony who sees you is going to want to boop your nose. It’ll wear off after you go to sleep.” She said, patting him on the head. “Now, it’s almost morning, so I think it’s time for you to wake…”

“Good morning to you, Good morning to you! Good morning, my Starling, good morning to you!” came Mommy’s singsong voice through the door, causing Starling to open his eyes and gasp. Not only was Sir Piggybottom back in his crib, but somepony had even gotten Hunter out, diapered him like he loved to be diapered, and put him in the crib too!

His attention was diverted from this miracle, however, when his door opened and Mommy sauntered in, smiling as she always did. Yay! She was happy again! She wasn’t mad at him anymore! She bounced over and leaned in, giving him the usual good morning kiss and nuzzle, and he responded as he always did…by standing up and hugging Mommy’s muzzle so she could lift him out and place him on the changing table.

Once he was laid down, Mommy did a swift diaper check, only to put a hoof to her chest in shock. “Starling! You made it the whole night without going potty!” she said. She was smiling, so she was definitely still happy. “Maybe soon you’ll be ready for potty training like a big colt!”

Ugh, there was that weird sentence again. What did potty have to do with going Choo Choo on a track? Potty was a weird thing that made loud noises in the same room where Mommy gave him baths.

Either way, Mommy was smiling down at him now. Then, suddenly, she reached a hoof down and booped his nose, causing him to gasp and cover it up. Was…was the curse the Bogeymare put on him coming true? “No does dats, Mommy!” he said, causing her to giggle.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. But you really are just that cute.” She said, scooping him up off the table without changing him, setting him down on the floor as she bustled about his room, picking up a few stray toys he had left out yesterday while he was playing.

Normally, he would have immediately run to start the day’s playtime, but now he just sat there. Mommy’s boop had made him think. Maybe, just maybe, it only worked once per pony. Then, if he stayed inside and home all day with Mommy, the only other pony who would boop him was Daddy when he came home!

“We ‘tay home today, Mommy” he asked her, his padding crinkling as he waddled over and tugged on her leg. Her next sentence, however put his well-laid and thought-out plan to bed.

“No, sweetie. Mommy has to go plan an event, and you’re going to have to come with her, so I expect you to be on your best behavior, understand? If you’re a good baby, we’ll get a treat afterward. I promise.” She said. Oh, how he hated hearing those three words. “Your best behavior”… he was always behaved! It was just that big ponies didn’t understand why he did the things he did!

But right as he was going to make a face, he heard that wonderful pair of words. “Treat” and “Promise”…Mommy had promised him a treat if he was good! That meant a trip to the playground, or a new toy, or...his mouth watered to think about it…ICE CREAM!

While his mind wandered with thoughts of joyful happy things, Mommy was bustling about, packing a bag with new diapers, a few of his toys, including Hunter and his favorite ball, and all sorts of other things. Mommy only packed up that bag when they were going to be gone for a really long time. To make sure she didn’t forget it, he ran over and grabbed his storybook, holding it to her, only for her to shake her head.

“Mommy won’t have time to read to you today, sweetie.” She tried to say, only for him to frown and insistently shake it. With a sigh, Mommy picked up the book and dropped it into the diaper bag. Scooping him up in her tingly magic, Mommy carried him out of the room into the kitchen, where she sat his crinkley bottom down into his high chair, going over to the friggyrater and pulling out a baba, making him squirm a little in anticipation. Mommy’s babas were the bestest!

Sure enough, in just a couple of minutes she had finished warming it up and he was happily drinking away. Both Mommy and Daddy had tried to say he was too old for his bottle, but he ignored them. Mommy and Daddy were smarter than anypony he knew, but if babas were so good, then why not drink from them? If things were good you did them. That’s why Mommy always told him to be Good.

After he had finished, letting loose a big burp that made him giggle and Mommy make a face, Starling found himself once again with a bowl of mashed food in front of him Making his own face, he opened his mouth. He didn’t want another spanking, after all.

Once he had eaten all the mashed fruits and (ugh) veggies Mommy had made for his breakfast, Mommy wiped his face clean with a wet cloth, ignoring his squirms. Checking his diaper again, Mommy nodded. “You’re only a little wet. I think you can manage until we get to the theater.” She said as she scooped him up and placed him onto her back. Pulling the diaper-bag onto one side of her barrel, her work-bag onto another, Mommy opened the front door and stepped out into the bright sunshine.

What was usually a nice, pleasant walk in the sunshine to the theater where Mommy usually planned her events had turned into a harrowing half-hour for the little foal. Anytime Mommy stopped to say hello to somepony or another, they absolutely insisted on cooing at Starling and then booping his nose! Once was weird. Twice was annoying. After three times, he just curled up with his head and nose covered by his hoofies, prompting all the various ponies to instead awww and comment about how he must be having a bad, rainy, grumpy day. Stupid grown-ups, they never understood. He was only grumpy because everypony kept bothering him!

Never before had he been happier to see the doors of Mommy's workplace. Once they were inside, he would be safe from the boops! Or so he thought.

Beyond the doors, Starling’s jaw dropped as he picked his head up. The whole place had changed! Where once had been a flat space for ponies to stand and watch plays, or dance, or dance as they watched ponies play soft music, there were now raised shelves. Like the shelves mommy put his toys in timeout on, but much much bigger! And they all faced the stage!

Another pony was coming towards them now….Starling covered his nose...this one all white with a lightly purple mane. She looked like a grown-up, but she wasn’t as grown-up as Mommy. Maybe only a little bit grown-up.

“Mrs. £₩¥€¥?” she said, causing Starling to shake his head as the bigger white pony who wasn't a grown-up but looked like a grown-up called Mommy something. What was it with big ponies and calling Mommy weird names like Mrs something? Mommy was Mommy, that was her name. Just like Daddy was Daddy, not Professor.

But Mommy was talking to this new pony. “Yes, that’s me. Are you Ms. Glam Rock? I hope the preparations are proceeding to your liking?” she asked, getting a nod in the affirmative to both questions before the younger pony noticed the even younger pony shaking his head.

With a squee, her eyes lit up. “Ohhh, he’s so cuuute!” she cried, one hoof going to her mouth. “What’s his name?”

“Starling.” Mommy replied, turning her head back to nuzzle him a little. “Wave hello to Miss Rock, sweetie.” she ordered, with the slight change in her voice that meant she wasn’t asking.

Obediently, he uncovered his nose and waved nervously at her, worried that she was going to take advantage of his dropped guard and attack. Fortunately, nothing of that nature was forthcoming. The mare in question still seemed quite enamored of his supposed cuteness.

Starling chanced a look up at Mommy, who had a sneaky smile on her face. “You know, Miss Rock.” she said, nodding to the younger pony, “Your presence really isn’t needed until the final signing of the paperwork. After all, I don’t think playing bass guitar during legal talks is quite appropriate.” she continued, eliciting a giggle from her. “Since you would be bored, and I know Starling will inevitably get into trouble, would you like to play with him while I hammer out the details with your team and agent?”

While Starling was gasping indignantly…he would NOT get into trouble, or do that inevvybal thing…Miss Rock was squealing with happiness. “I’d love to! I’ll be happy to watch him and play with him for you, Mrs. £₩¥€¥!” she said, dancing a little on the spot before sitting back and holding out her hooves.

With a tingle of Mommy’s magic, Star found himself shifted over into the somewhat gentle hug of this new pony. At least she…ack!...kinda knew how to snuggle without choking him. Thankfully, he was set down before she could squeeze the life out of him. As Mommy set down his diaper bag, she nodded. “He loves to play Hide and Go Seek, and to roll his ball back and forth. If he gets tired, his plush kangaroo is in there, just let him sleep curled up next to you. There should be plenty of spare diapers and wipes and powder. Oh! And don’t let him eat anything…he’s at that stage.” She said to his new babysitter, like she always did. Mommy really was too busy and worried. He could look after himself! He was a BIG colt, after all. Daddy always called him his Big Colty.

Either way, Starling now waved Bye-Bye to Mommy as she walked off, after having given him one last kiss on the cheek because she was a good Mommy. Looking up at Miss Rock, he smiled, showing off his teeth as she cooed a little at him. She seemed really, really nice. This was going to be so much fun!

This had been so much fun, Starling thought to himself as he lay on the floor next to his new friend. Miss Rock was an amazing babysitter! She knew all the games, she told great stories, she was wonderful to snuggle against, and best of all, she was a really nice mare! Not like his last babysitter...telling him Hunter didn’t need diapers. Of course he did!

She had started after Mommy walked away by setting him down and going through the diaper bag, pulling out his favorite ball. With a smile, she had rolled it to him, and he had caught it and rolled it back to her, fascinated by the tiny moving sparkles inside of it. Mommy had put magic inside this ball, he just knew she had. She had even been smart enough to pick up the ball and give it a shake, so he could see the colors swirling inside as he clapped his hooves together.

After he had gotten bored rolling the ball, she had smiled and suggested they play hide and go seek! His favorite game! She told him to hide while she counted, but little did she know how good of a hider he was. He had wedged himself under a chair, making sure nothing stuck out. Well, maybe his diaper did a little, but that was okay. If he couldn't see her, she couldn't see him, and that was what counted. So he had covered his eyes to make absolutely sure she couldn't see him.

He had heard her come in after she finished counting. Heard her sing-song voice, chanting and asking where he was. He had then made the one mistake...he giggled.

Immediately she had pounced on him, tickling his sides and tummy as she pulled him out by the diaper, nuzzling his cheek and giving him all the snuggles she could.

Then it had been his turn to seek her out! And she had proven to be really sneaky. He tried to count to ten. She had suggested asking a big pony for help but he WAS a big pony! So he had counted. He forgot what came after seven, but he could try again, and he did. Finally, after reaching ten, he had looked around. Not seeing her, he had trotted all about the theater, until finally he heard a giggle behind him.

Whirling around he had pounced on her and given her a great big kissy! And she had given him one right back before nuzzling his tummy.

He had yawned hugely then...it was getting close to naptime, after all. Seeing his mouth open so hugely, Miss Rock had scooped him up in one of her legs, trotting over to an out of the way corner and laying him down next to her.

That was where he was, looking up at her with a smile. Really, the only horrible thing about all of this had been the constant interruptions. Miss Rock had lots of friends, it seemed, and every time one of them came over, they would coo at him. Then that stupid curse would hit them and they would reach out and boop his nose, no matter how he tried to cover it. One stallion even tickled him a little to make him giggle. Then, when he uncovered his nose...boop!

But now Miss Rock was shooing away all those mean booping hooves as she held his storybook in front of him so he could see the pretty pictures as she read to him about a brave dragon saving Princess Celestia from an evil Knight when she was just a little filly.

As he smiled, listening to the story, he laid his head against her side, because she was nice and warm. And he felt his eyelids begin to drop as she shut the book and began to sing. It was a song he didn’t know, but it was so pretty, and soft, and sweet, and she sang it so beautifully...was Miss Rock a singer?

Starling dropped off to sleep, hearing her shoo away one pony, whispering to them that the baby was sleeping. Miss Rock had a baby? No wonder she was such a good babysitter….

He awoke suddenly, being jostled about. With a small cry to show his displeasure at the rude awakening, he found himself nuzzled by Miss Rock as she carried him into what looked like a bathroom. That was when he felt the familiar and uncomfortable feeling around his bottom, the displeasure making him sniffle, which only earned him another nuzzle.

“Shh, shh…don’t cry. I’ve got you, and you’ll be all nice and clean really soon.” She said, her voice still soft and a little sing-song as he nodded a little. He still hated being messy. It was so squishy, and not in the fun squishy way like a plushie or a squish-ball. It was decidedly NOT fun, though…yep, there it was. Miss Rock laid him onto one of the soft blankets Mommy laid out when she changed him outside the house.

Messes weren’t fun at all. But changes were! Especially when Miss Rock was giving them. She did everything so nicely. She nuzzled him, sang a little song, made silly faces…all while she was carefully and quickly cleaning up his nasty bottom. Once she was done, she switched over to the new wipes Mommy had gotten to keep the mean rashes away by drying off his tushie. While she was wiping him dry, he relaxed, only for her to reach over and boop his nose with a little giggle! No! Not her too!

Covering his nose, he glared at her. “No! No touchies nose!” he said, with as stern a voice as he could muster, causing Miss Rock to giggle even more as she went back to powdering his bottom before taping it up into a crinkly new diaper. That finished, he was scooped up into her hold again while she threw the old things away.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” She said, nuzzling him to make up for the boop. “But you’re just that cute.”

He groaned in his head. He was NOT that cute. But now was not the time for hysterics, there was Mommy!

“Oh, there you two are. You changed his diaper? Thank you!” Mommy said to his new friend, smiling and nodding. “I was just coming to get him. The planning is all done, and your intro concert to Canterlot should go off without any major problems. Remember, if anything comes up, I’m only a call away.” She told her, holding out her hoof.

“Oh, really, you don’t have to go to such trouble…” Miss Rock told her, shaking hooves as Starling clambered up onto Mommy’s back where he belonged, snuggling his face into her sweet-smelling mane.

“Nonsense. You watched Starling for an hour and a half while I dealt with the legal teams. It’s the least I can do. I hope he was no trouble, aside from the diaper?” Mommy said, shooting Starling a ‘look’. Fortunately for his bottom, Miss Rock was quick to assure her that he was a Good Boy.

Starling squeed at those words. He liked to be a good boy! But Mommy’s next sentence made him squeal even harder in pleasure.

“Then I guess my baby and I are off to go get some ice cream.”

Starling stared at all the yummy flavors sitting on the shelf behind the glass. Green and Blue and Yellow and Red and other colors he didn’t yet know the names of but they looked so yummy! And then he saw it. The best of them all! A pretty color with bits of yummy cupcake mixed into it. His favoritest flavor of all! Pointing at it, he chirped to Mommy, who smiled and nodded to the pony behind the counter.

Things were going so swimmingly. On the walk to the ice cream parlor, he had kept his face in Mommy’s mane, so everypony thought he was shy and didn’t talk to him. Mommy was really happy he had been a good boy for Miss Rock, so she was letting him have TWO scoops. And two was more than one!

Then it happened. They had gotten their ice cream and sat down when an older pony, a sweet little granny who lived near them, walked right up and smiled at him, then booped his nose right as he was about to take a lick of his cone. Gasping and whimpering, he looked up at her and made a face, only for her to pat him on the head and move on as Mommy shook her head.

“Mommy? We go homes?” he asked her as he took a lick. He didn’t want any more boops coming his way.

Unfortunately, Mommy shook her head. “Not until you finish, sweetie. I know what Miss Cider Apple did, but we can’t just leave.” She said, causing him to make a grumpy face.

And that was how it happened for ten minutes. He would get in a few licks, and another neighbor would come and coo at him a little, then boop his nose. He would make a face, take another few licks…Boop! This was seriously getting to be really upsetting. He was going to have some things to say to that bogeymare when he saw her next! Maybe she needed a spanking from Mommy. AND a Timeout. AND to have her toys put in timeout too!

Finally, though, he managed to finish his icy sweet treat, looking up at Mommy. Mommy, in turn, made a face and levitated one of his diaper-wipes out of her bag, wiping his face clean with it as he giggled and squirmed. “Messy little foal.” She gently teased him. “Let’s go home for the evening. It’s been a long day.” She said, hoisting him up and onto her back as she trotted out the door. He took one look at all the ponies outside and buried his face into her

Keeping stock still, Starling lay on the changing table, watching as Mommy lifted his legs and wiped him again. He really wasn’t dirty this time, but it was bedtime and Mommy always changed him into a really thick diaper before he went beddy-bye for the night.

This time, though, Mommy was playing and being nice. But he couldn’t enjoy it, even when she got all tickly on his tummy. Oh, he giggled and laughed, just like he had when Daddy had come home and played Dinosaurs with him forever until Mommy had called them to dinner. The afternoon had been wonderful…even though Daddy had booped his nose too. Ice Cream, Dinosaurs, Bathtime with all his favorite toy boats and duckies, A yummy bottle for DinDin, and Mommy even made sure to give him the one type of foal-food he actually liked! Though Daddy did say maybe it was time to make him eat real food…and Daddy was smart. Maybe he should try grown-up food now?

Mommy’s lips buzzing on his tummy brought him back to the immediate present as he squirmed and burst into a gigglefit, flailing his little hoofies until he ran out of breath. Smiling up at Mommy, he brought his hooves up to his mouth and blew her a kiss just like Nana had taught him.

That was when it happened. The worst thing of all. Mommy caught the kiss and put it on her cheek. And then…she reached down and her hoof booped his nose. No! Not Mommy too! Not again! Was he doomed to always have his nose booped! Mommy already did it this morning!

It was too much for him. Opening his mouth, he shut his eyes and began to wail and cry, just letting the stress from all the boops out with his tears. Immediately he found himself lifted, even off the new diaper, as Mommy cuddled him close to her chest. Slowly she rocked him back and forth, levitating the new diaper up and taping it around his waist after filling it with powder. He listened as she rocked him, the familiar sound of Mommy’s heart beating in her chest filling his ears. Finally, he managed to stop sobbing, uttering only the occasional sniffle and hiccup as she held him close.

“What’s wrong, Starling?” she asked him, her voice very soft and concerned. “Are you hurt? Did I boop you too hard?” she said, looking down at him so he could see the worry in her eyes.

Shaking his head, he looked up at Mommy. “Monstew was night said she Boogeymawe an puts cuwse of boop on nose.” He sniffed and whined, rubbing his nose again. “An evvypony been boop nose aww day! It no faiw!” he grumped, crossing his hooves in front of his chest.

But Mommy just smiled and laughed a little. “Oh sweetie, the Bogeymare isn’t real. And neither are curses. You probably just had a bad dream. Here, let’s go to the kitchen. Mommy will fix you a special warm bedtime bottle, and then I’ll read you two stories. I forgot last night…I’m sorry. That’s probably why you had that nightmare.” She said, making good on her word as she carried him into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of milk, warming it in her magic.

“Den why evvypony boop nose?!” he asked, still grumpy, though not grumpy enough to not accept his special bedtime bottle.

“I’m sorry, sweetie…but I’m afraid you’re just that cute.” Mommy replied, watching him drink his treat down.

An hour later found Starling curled up in his crib, cuddled close to Hunter and Sir Piggybottom. What an evening it had been. Mommy had not only let him drink a bottle at bedtime, she had tucked him in and even diapered Hunter for him when he told her that Hunter needed a change! And she had made good on her word, reading him two stories, one of which was his favorite bedtime story, about a wizard called Starswirl who had figured out how to unlock the powers of friendship and banish the evil spirits away forever!

And then after the story, mommy had folded his blankets around him, kissed him goodnight twice, and given Sir Piggybottom and Hunter each a goodnight kiss as well. Setting his pretty mobile spinning as she dimmed the lights, leaving his nightlight on to paint the stars on his ceiling, Mommy had begun to sing. He even heard Daddy joining in just outside as he slowly closed his eyes.

Mommy slowly walked out of the room as he smiled, utterly relaxed and happy. It had been a really long day, but it had been a really good one. He had gotten ice cream and stories and had a great time with a new friend. And best of all, Mommy said the bogeymare wasn’t real. So with that comforting thought in mind, the little foal drifted off to sleep.

All too soon, again, he opened his eyes, finding his padded bottom on that self-same flat plain, head on a soft rock. This time, though, Hunter and Sir Piggybottom were there next to him, looking very angry at the monster-mare standing there. The bogeymare waved at them. “Oh, do stand down. I mean him neither punishment nor nightmare. I’m only here to talk.” She said.

Both his plushies backed up a little, but they stayed well in sight as she walked closer to Starling. “So, did you enjoy your day with my curse?” she asked him, smiling her fang-filled smile as she stared down at the little tyke.

Now filled with bravery from Mommy’s wise words, Starling stared right back into those milky eyes, opening his mouth. “My Mommy says you aren’t real! And neither are curses! She says you’re just a bad dream I had last night! So there, go away!” he ordered, pointing to the side with a hoof.

Instead, the mare just laughed. “Mommy is very smart, it’s true. But…if I weren’t real, how could you be dreaming about me two times in a row? Why would you have a bad dream after a good day?” she asked him, smirking.

Starling deflated almost instantly, sitting back onto his thick padding with a loud crinkle, making her nod approvingly…at least she didn’t have to change him again tonight.

“But…your Mommy is right.” The mare said, chuckling to herself as she stepped closer still. “There is no such thing as the curse of the boops. I was only being silly and playing around with you.” She told him, making him gasp.

“Then why everypony boop me?!” he asked indignantly, stomping his hooves on the ground as he stood back up.

“Because, my dear little naughty foal…” she answered, reaching towards him with a claw “you’re just that cute.”

BOOP!