//------------------------------//
// Princess Woes 
// Story: All Hail, Midnight Sparkle! 
// by MisterEdd 
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Twilight rubbed at one eye and smacked her lips in a post-nap yawn, thankful to have experienced at least a brief instance of uninterrupted sleep. The nightmares that had been plaguing the young princess over the last few months prevented her from getting a complete good night's sleep and despite Spike's protestations, refused to ask either Princess Celestia or Luna for help. Lifting her head up, she pushed away from her desk and strode out of her new bedroom, her hooves clinking against the crystalline floors. Following the battle with Lord Tirek, Golden Oaks Library had been reduced to a burnt-out husk of wood and torn papers, a sad fate for what had become Twilight’s home. Thanks to the Tree of Harmony, however, a new castle had appeared to replace the library and everypony was ecstatic for the new headquarters, informally dubbed "the Castle of Friendship." 

Everpony, that is, except for Twilight. 

It wasn't that she didn't feel any sort of appreciation for the new castle, the glittering crystalline structure a gift from the Tree of Harmony for saving Equestria once again. The issue was that the castle just lacked the coziness that the library gave her, giving her a sense of home and belonging in its wooden walls and stacks of books. On the other hoof, the castle was too clean and sterile, emitting a feeling of impersonal coldness that made her skin crawl. Like the other issues occurring in her life, Twilight was resigned to just grin and bear it. After all, it was her duty as a princess to do what was needed of her, regardless of personal discomfort. 

Twilight slid past the double doors and entered a large room where six chairs surrounded a circular table with a holographic map of Equestria in the center, hence the unimaginative title of  "the map room." Spike was seated atop a throne bearing Twilight's cutie mark, his nose deep in a comic book. At the moment, the others all off attending to errands and other personal tasks, thus leaving only the two of them as its only occupants. Spike glanced up from his comic book and upon spotting Twilight, hopped down from the throne and hastily dusted it off.   

"I was, uh, just keeping it warm for you!" 

Twilight rolled her eyes and took a seat. "What's on the agenda for today?" She asked somewhat testily.

Spike winced at her harsh tone and retrieved a small notebook with a shaking claw.      

"Well...there's the interview with the reporter from the Canterlot Gazette, your allotted 'Twilight Time' with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the meeting with Mayor Mare to go over Winter Wrap-Up preparations..." 

Rubbing her temples, Twilight let out a groan and slumped back into her throne. For reasons beyond her, royal duties had become tedious and even loathsome, becoming akin to pushing a boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down just as it reached the peak. Paperwork was one thing, an activity that Twilight enjoyed immensely but the constant demands for her time and attention were starting to grate on her. Things were much simpler when she was just Celestia's student, back when the only issues she had to consider were her studies. Now she was a celebrity, somepony that the masses watched constantly for her next success or failure and lapping it up like milk. 

It's difficult, isn't it? Giving all the time when everypony else just takes? Funny how they didn't give you this kind of attention until AFTER you became a princess.

There it was again. Ever since her first official date with Sombra, Twilight had heard the occasional input from a voice that sounded much like her own, only more snide and superior-sounding. It was sometimes unwelcome and intrusive but helped to bring Twilight's inner turmoils to the surface. The alicorn told nopony about the voice, believing it to be a coping mechanism for stress and even if she wanted to, she felt there was no need to. No, it was more than that. She was compelled to secrecy, as if she was unable to speak her mind about the subject.  

"Um, Twilight?" 

Twilight jerked her head to stare down at Spike. "Sorry, I was deep in thought. You were saying?" 

"I was saying that you have to check back with Princess Celestia on the Summer Sun Celebration-..." 

"Oh to Tartarus with the Summer Sun Celebration!" Twilight snapped abruptly, the sudden outburst sending Spike sprawling with his back on the floor. She leapt down from her throne and began to pace around Spike, her violet eyes blazing with hatred. 

"First she claims all the glory and demonizes the night, portraying herself as some faultless goddess. Then she has the gall to add Luna to the celebration as some sort of a consolation prize! What about me?! That-that arrogant, back-stabbing, high-and-mighty..."  

The purple mare froze, her gaze slowly drifting over to peer at her number one assistant. The drake's eyes were saucer-wide and full of confusion as well as...fear. His chest heaved in slow but hard breaths, one claw held up instinctively as his employer and guardian towered over him. Twilight felt her heart sink at the sight, her unfurled wings falling limp at her sides, the horror of what she'd done crushing her heart in a tight grip. What was happening to her?

"Spike, I...I'm so sorry," she choked and hung her head sorrowfully, tears beading her cheeks and soaking her coat. "I don't know what got into me."

A short moment later, she felt a small but strong claw grip her shoulder and peered up through blurry eyes to find Spike flashing her a reassuring smile.                

"It's okay, Twi. I know things have been tough lately." His expression then became serious. "You should talk to Princess Celestia about this. You can't keep living like this." 

"N-no," Twilight replied with a sniffle, scrubbing at her eyes. "I'm fine. It's just the stress getting to me."

"But Twilight-..."

"Promise me you won't tell anypony."

Spike sighed and nodded, pulling Twilight into a one-armed hug. "I promise."

Unbeknownst to Twilight, and much to his own shame, Spike had his fingers crossed. 


~*~


From her room in the upper levels of the castle, Princess Celestia stared down contemplatively at the streets below, beholding her subjects going about their daily routines, unaware of the internal strife of their co-monarch. It was only a few months ago that she found herself lying beaten and weak in the street, her former lover and most ardent foe holding her at sword-point. What she'd told Sombra that day was true; she indeed felt remorse for everything that'd transpired as a result of her own carelessness. Facing her possible demise bestowed the solar princess with a certain level of clarity, bringing to light her various wrongdoings over the course of her thousand-plus years of life. Celestia exhaled, bringing the wine glass to her lips and allowing the sour-sweet liquid to flow down her throat.    

"Sister? Are you well?"

She'd not heard Princess Luna enter her room and turned to face the mare.

"I'm alright, Luna."

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

Celestia had to grin at this. Even after so many centuries apart, it was startling how well her little sister could still read her. Placing her wine glass aside, she nodded.  

"I created him. One of the worst threats to Equestria and it was because of me. If I hadn't been so selfish-..."

"You made a mistake, Tia. It takes a lot of introspection to be able to admit it. Now the question is, what are you going to do about it?"  

In truth, Celestia had no idea. Sombra was a fugitive from the law but he did attack her and numerous guards, openly practiced dark magic and was responsible for property damage and causing a public panic. In all fairness, he deserved to be a criminal but only because Celestia forced a kiss on him. The thought of such a deplorable action filled her with much self-loathing. If she'd been able to control herself, if she hadn't tried pursuing Sombra in the vain hope of stoking the embers of their dying romance, then maybe he would still be in custody as opposed to Faust-knows-where. The last anypony had heard of Sombra was that he'd left Equestria altogether. 

"I don't know," Celestia finally answered. "But I swear, one day I will make it up to him."

A rolled-up parchment dropped from the ceiling, landing right in front of Celestia. Cracking open the seal, she unfolded the parchment and read through it, eyes widening as she made it to the last word. 

"It's from Spike. Apparently, Twilight has become very irritable and quick to anger. What's more is that she's been having reoccurring nightmares for the past few months, ones strong enough to scare her awake."

Luna's brow furrowed in confusion. "That's not possible. If Twilight has been having nightmares, then I would've been able to detect them whilst in the Dream Realm."   

"I know, this is very troubling news. Do you think it's possible anypony could shield Twilight's dreams?"

"It'd have to be somepony very powerful. Sombra perhaps?"

Celestia shook her head. "As strong as a spell caster as he is, not even he has the power to affect the dream world in such a way. Plus, Sombra never acts without some greater goal in mind. What benefit could possibly come from torturing the mare that he loves?"

"Fair enough. I shall visit Twilight's dreams tonight and see if anything is amiss," Luna vowed and turned to leave. "I will let you know what I find. If I find anything at all."

The door latched shut behind her as Celestia turned to once more face the window. She didn't know what was happening but couldn't shake the feeling that this was merely a prelude to something much, much more nefarious.