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// The Royal Pain 
// Story: Rockabye Dragon 
// by L Drkheart 
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Celestia sipped at some tea as she waited for the coming announcement. She wasn’t one to downplay her achievements or her responsibilities as the Princess of Equestria but she had recently found a role that she felt much more personal pride in. That joy that caused her heart to swell with pride and love which she had not felt since… well a long time, returned when the announcer pony cleared his voice and stood proudly while making his voice boom in the throne room. 
“Presenting Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Prince Noctis Noir Blueblood, and…” The pony checked outside the door just in case and after ensuring that no other ponies were there he continued. “Honorable Prince Spike Dracon Solaris!” Celestia knew that two of the three hated their official names and titles but Blueblood insisted on it as they were traditional and he simply enjoyed being declared like that. Cadence and Blueblood walked in with a small bundle of blankets wrapped up on Cadence’s back. 
“Good afternoon Auntie.”
“Pleasant afternoon Princess.” Celestia smiled gently at the two, Cadence’s more common background showing in how normal she was with the princess while Blueblood was always told by his family that he should treat her with respect in public, even if she told him so many times that it wasn’t necessary. 
“Good afternoon you two, where is Spike?” The question made the two glance at each other in a nervous fashion before Cadence motioned to the bundle on her back. Celestia nearly giggled at the childish glare that the two shared before Cadence stuck her tongue at him and turned back to her.
“Oh, Spike? He umm got a cold and so we wrapped him up to make him feel better. I’m sure the little guy is too tired to talk, you know how he gets!” Celestia raised an eyebrow while giving her an unbelieving stare. If she was going to be princess material and rule over her own kingdom someday, Celestia would have to teach her niece how to lie. She turned her gaze to Blueblood who to his credit had a better poker face than Cadence but it shattered just as fast.
“Y-yeah the poor drake worked all night on his studies that he must have overdone it some…” Celestia blinked as every pony in the room knew that Spike would do whatever it takes to get out of his lessons. Using her magic to bring the bundle to her, she watched as it came undone and a small doll with button eyes and blue and white pants appeared falling out. She looked back at the two who immediately turned on each other. “Now auntie, I know how this looks but… the doll was Cadence’s idea.”
“What?! Like you had a better plan? You thought that we should have just pretended we didn’t know who Spike was!”
“More believable than a dragon getting a cold! His room is like a sauna!” Celestia giggled a bit to herself, watching the two fight like old siblings even though Cadence had only been part of their family for around three years and Blueblood only started staying at the castle around one year back. They were both enormous helps as the princess was as busy as ever and Spike had just turned five not too long ago and needed to be watched over. 
“I must teach you two to lie better but the matter at hoof is where’s Spike?” The two played with their hooves not wanting to look the princess in the eyes. Celestia sighed shaking her head as she put two and two together. “You two lost him again? How is it that hard to keep one dragon under control?” 
“W-well princess I must say that I’m a-amazed at how quickly dragons mature! The little tyke already figured out how to unlock his door and how to trick us making sheets look like he is still in bed.”
“I actually agree with Blueblood, even Twilight isn’t as bad as he is when I’m foalsitting her. Spike is just too much sometimes. I don’t know how you handled him the years we weren’t around.”
“Easy, I gave him all the love I could in every spare moment I had while continuing my duty to the ponies of Equestria. Oh, come on you two that’s just nonsense my little sunshine is the sweetest dragon in the entire world! You just have to listen to what he wants sometimes.”
“Princess… we all know what he wants but you told us why we can’t give that to him. It’s just not safe and he is a sweetheart but also a bit… mischievous.”
“How so?”
“He was asked to write an essay on how balloon travel worked and made a mini hot air balloon out of paper instead.”
“That’s just being creative.”
“He was training in proper etiquette but failed the exercise on purpose over and over to keep getting more gems put in front of him.”
“He must have been hungry, a growing dragon needs his food after all.”
“He put itching powder in my powder dispenser!” Blueblood stated remembering how uncomfortable that day was.
“Actually Bluey, he only did that after he was dared by some guards as they were questioning why you even had foal powder and wondered where you wore it,” Cadence remembered overhearing the guards laughing about it when the word got around the castle.
“You know I hate that name Amora~. Why everywhere, of course, it makes your skin much softer and easy on the eyes.”
“Ugh that sounds worse than Bluey. Wait, that doesn’t make sense we have fur.”
“True but you never know when a mare may want to touch all of this greatness, I’m always prepared.” Cadence rolled her eyes and made a gagging motion as Blueblood used his magic to look at himself in the reflection of a mirror. “Besides you see how perfectly white my coat is? We aren’t all blessed as the princess, some of us have to work on our fur to keep it this amazing.” Cadence gave Celestia a look which she returned in full before giggling and shaking her head at her charges.
“Yes… well, where is my little sunshine if he isn’t with you two?”
“I sent the guard out to find him again and I have full trust they’ll do it!” Cadence proudly stated making Blueblood smirk at her.
“Hmm, more like you have trust in one guard, in particular,~” Cadence blushed and stomped over to him, pointing her horn at him threateningly.
“I will end you Bluey.”
“Enough you two, let’s go find Spike and Cadence’s prince charming.” Celestia giggled again at the blush growing on Cadence’s face as the three left the throne room. “Those two always seem to find trouble no matter where they go.”
.   .   .
“Shiny hurry up!” Shining Armor sighed as they traveled deeper down into the castle’s basement levels. He had found the small drake trying to unlock the door to the basement but was unable without height or magic. Shining was going to take him right back to Cadence but the little dragon had been getting lessons from Blueblood on the art of negations and had one trump card over the stallion. Shining would like to say he was the bigger man when it came to a deal with a five-year-old but he was leading him into the dungeon. 
“I’m coming I’m coming! You know we’re not allowed down here! I’m still just a regular private! If we get caught-”
“I will say that your prince ordered you down here against your will.”
“I can’t let you do that besides I was given an order to bring you back, why do you even want to see this place?”
“It’s one of the few in the castle I haven’t seen. I’ve been everywhere in this place, I want new sights!”
“You aren’t allowed to leave the castle you know that my Prince,” Spike grumbled and pointed at Shining. 
“Don’t start acting like everyone else Shining, you know I’d rather be called by my normal name. I know I’m not allowed to leave… I just want to see the Moon Room.” 
“Which is forbidden by your mother who is the ruler of the land! She’ll have my head for this!”
“Oh please, she hasn’t executed a pony in like a thousand years or something. You’d be banished to the moon or turned to stone or something.”
“And how is any of that much better? Why did I agree to help you again?”
“Because you have a thing for my sister and you wanted me to do her work and get Blueblood out of the way next Tuesday so you two can go see the Wonderbolts show in town. I wish mom would let me do something like that...” Shining Armor put a hoof on the young dragon’s shoulder. 
“You know she does everything for a reason, she only wants to keep you safe.”
“I know but I can’t be kept locked up here forever… I just wish she would let me go out once to prove that I can be trusted.” Shining sighed and smiled gently at his charge before they went on their way deeper into the depths of the castle. Cadence told him of Spike’s wants and how much he longed to see the outside world but danger would be waiting the moment he took that first step and Celestia had become too attached to the young dragon. If something were to happen to him, Shining shivered at the thought.
“So what do you know about the Moon Room?”
“Nothing! I’ve questioned the guards and looked through every book in the library I thought would help but nothing mentioned such a place. I asked mom once but she just said that the past was locked behind it.” They reached the darkest part of the castle where even the rats dared not venture. An icy draft hit the two and made them shiver as ahead stood a door with no knob or lock, just a blue door marked with a giant gold crescent moon with eyes marked above the doorway. Power seemed to seep from the door as the two stared and felt fear deep in their hearts for the unknown ahead. Spike took a step forward with Shining following until the eyes above the door glowed a light blue and glared at the two. 
“Spike move!” Shining pushed back Spike as he powered up his shield and the two were tormented by a pained scream as a black shadow erupted from the eyes and took the form of a shadowy pony with the eyes being the only thing that had any form or definition. 
“You… CELESTIA!!” The shadow lunged at Shining who kicked Spike back before pulling out his blade and sliced the shadow in two but it just laughed a cruel and humorless cackle before attacking him again but the unicorn sliced and blocked any from getting close until the shadow had become ten shadows and all surrounded him. “Do you not see?! What you did to me?! The fault lays with you and you alone! You and your need for the throne! Do you regret the pain that you caused me?! You stole my life!” Shining didn’t know what the shadows meant as they shouted at him and attacked at once, with each strike he blocked with his sword and shield another would connect with his face or leg but he would not buckle as he bucked two away and threw his shield up before striking it with magic so it reflected the spell and knocked away several other shadows. 
“I don’t know what you are but you will never hurt the Princess or Spike!” He fought the two still standing with Spike hiding behind the doorway and crying at seeing how he had gotten Shining Armor into a fight and was getting him hurt.
“S-Shining… Mommy…” He turned to run for his mom but was scared that Shining wouldn’t last that long, turning back he steeled his courage and saw one shadow reaching for Shining’s leg but it was destroyed as Spike blasted fire at it. “No! I will not run away!”The remaining shadows got up and faced Spike as he trembled and tried to look tough. 
“No! Spike run!!” Spike froze under the shadow’s stares and closed his eyes as they jumped at him but light flooded the room and the shadows died with a scream as they fused back into one and retreated back into the eyes. Shining huffed as he turned and bowed his head, Spike being confused for a moment before he turned to see Celestia standing with her horn glowed and looking down at them with a disapproving stare. “P-Princess… I’m sorry. I escorted the young prince down here and I take full resp-” Spike cut him off and shook his head while looking down.
“No! Mom I made him take me down here because I wanted to see the moon door because it was the one part of the castle I haven’t seen. I didn’t know that it was so dangerous… I was being dumb and could have gotten Shiny hurt… I’m so sorry…” Spike was sobbing when he finished and covered his eyes before he felt a hoof pull him and he was met with the soft coat of his mother as she shushed him and held him against her barrel, having to sit down to do so. 
“I’m disappointed in you both, you know that this door is restricted and you mister dragged Shining into this also. You are lucky that he is such a promising trainee or he could be seriously hurt.” Spike cried more into her coat before she made him look up and she nuzzled her face with his. “But right now I’m just glad that you are safe my little sunshine, I never want to see your cute face so fearful. It breaks my heart seeing you like that.” She rubbed his back and looked up to see Cadence checking Shining for wounds while chastising him for his actions and Blueblood helping him keep his balance and making some jokes at his expense. “Blueblood, Cadence take Shining Armor to the nurse’s room and get him fixed up while I talk to Spike alone.” The little dragon sniffled and looked at his siblings as they gave him a sad look but obeyed and left, but Spike stopped them before that.
“I-I’m so sorry Shiny…”
“I know you are Spike, but don’t worry I’m okay and I should thank you. I may have gotten more hurt if you didn’t hit that shadow with your fire. I’ll see you soon okay?”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Spike smiled and hugged the guard before looking at Cadence and Blueblood. 
“I’m sorry to you two too… I shouldn’t have run away…” Spike found himself in a hug as Cadence smiled and held him close, just happy that her two guys were okay.
“Just don’t do something that dumb again, you aren’t like these two Spike.” The two stallions complained to the young princess as she and Spike laughed and he hugged her. He looked at Blueblood and held his arms out to the prince who only scoffed before looking again and saw the puppy eyes Spike was giving him.
“Okay, I forgive you and you two do make this place a lot more interesting than the other times I visited.” They pulled him into their hug as he tried to escape. Celestia smiled before she took Spike and escorted the group out of the dungeon and took her son to her room. He was holding his tail against his chest and sucked on his thumb as he had a tendency to do when he was scared.
“Spike, I know it’s hard for you to be locked away in this castle for all your life and I’m sorry that I can’t always be the mother you deserve. I know that there are times where I seem unfair to you but know that I truly care and love you and I don’t want you hurt.”
“Mommy you rule over all of Equestria and Nurse Sweetheart told me that that’s a lot! You can’t always be worrying about me… I’m sorry I keep making you… I know you love me and are just trying your best. I’ll do better to listen more next time so you don’t have to.” She hugged him again and held him to her chest as she laid back on her bed and sighed. 
“I’d never stop worrying about you Spike, a real mom is always scared for her baby. I know that you want to go see the world but you aren’t ready… I’ll tell you what, in a few months is the Summer Sun Festival here in Canterlot. If you are good then maybe I’ll let you go see it.”
“Really!? Oh, thank you thank you thank you!!” She giggled and covered his mouth for a moment.
“Buuut you have to prove that you are mature enough for something like that so try to focus more on your studies okay? I know how boring they can be but they are meant to teach you how to be the best drake you can be. I know that you’ll be the best prince you can be.” Spike nodded and hugged his mom, happy everything turned out okay. “Tomorrow, however, you will be grounded and no desserts for a week.”
“Awww but mooooommy.”
“Don’t make it two weeks mister.” Celestia boop her nose against the dragon’s making his twitch and he let out a tiny sneeze and a small flame. She giggled and checked the time before putting him down and going to a window to lower the sun and raise the moon. Spike watched her and yawned as night fell but he saw Celestia staring at the moon longer than needed. 
“Mommy, is the moon scary? Are there shadows there like there was in the door downstairs?” Celestia turned to her son as his eyes held curiosity and innocence, something that reminded the princess of a forgotten time. She smiled and laid down with him. 
“No, the moon is a beautiful and majestic thing that's light shines among the stars of the sky instead of drowning them out as my sun does. The moon is powerful and ever-changing but somehow you can always count on it to be there. The shadows you saw were ones born from the greed, anger, and despair of a single pony I once ignored and I failed to save. I wish I could ensure that you would never have to face such things but I know that you have a bright destiny and one day you will be forced to fight. I only wish that you will have the strength to win.”
“I won’t let any shadow hurt you mommy… you, Cadence, Shiny, Blueblood… I’ll protect you all… I promise.” Spike nuzzled against her as he fell asleep and Celestia kissed his forehead before looking back at the moon.
“Dearest sister… I wish that I could go back… that I could have you here by my side as well… in a few years time, the stars will free you and Equestria will face eternal night but I feel the harmony has been reborn somewhere in this world. I will not fail you again and I will not fail him. He is so much like you… he became my second chance, one that I stole.” Celestia teared up a bit as she held her son and whispered a sweet lullaby in his ears.