Strings of Fate

Chapter 9: Confession

That night, Tempest couldn't sleep. She kept twisting and turning in bed, and even though she was exhausted, her thoughts couldn't stop racing.

What was that all about? Tempest wondered, her mind wandering to the events of the previous afternoon, when she had overheard Twilight and her friends arguing about what she should do.

Which honestly doesn't make sense because Twilight already came to a decision, she scoffed, but her friends didn't know that. Tempest closed her eyes to try to fall asleep, but her thoughts never slowed. She sat up in her bed.

Ughhh, why can't I sleep? Tempest groaned internally as she laid her head in her hooves. She lifted her head to the ceiling.

Because you're worried about the princess, her conscience told her.

I should check on her, she told herself.

Wait, nevermind. That would come off as weird.

Tempest put a hoof to her forehead.

Get a hold of yourself, Fizzle! You care about her, so it wouldn't come off as weird.

She glanced at the clock on her bedstand.

Even though it is one o'clock in the morning.

Tempest got out of bed and quietly opened the door to the hallway and slowly clopped to Twilight's room. After some time, she passed an open door, and couldn't help but peek in. It looked open and spacious-- a little bit more roomy than Tempest's room, but she didn't mind. It had jewel decorations, and what appeared to be a little dog bed?

Probably Spike's room, then. Tempest inquired. He must be up.

A few moments later, she saw him heading to the same place.

"Spike?" Tempest whispered as low as she could. Spike turned around and walked to the other pony in the hallway.

"Hi, Tempest." Spike whispered, his voice low in volume, as well.

"What are you doing up this late?" Tempest asked as the two creatures continued to Twilight's room.

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Spike gestured to Tempest with a raised eyebrow.

"I couldn't sleep." Tempest admitted, "I....I'm worried about her." She flattened her ears.

"Me, too." Spike also admitted, "I've been checking with her throughout the night, and it's always the same 'I can't do that to her; but the citizens of Equestria' argument she's been having for over 5 straight hours now." He held up his hands and did quote symbols and tried to mimic Twilight's voice while he said it, but Tempest didn't laugh.

She's been like this for that long? Tempest worried.

"Part of this is my fault." Tempest lowered her head. "If I were still traveling, and not here, this wouldn't be happening."

"You didn't know that it was going to happen, Tempest." Spike said.

The dragon and mare stopped outside of the door to Twilight's room. It was cracked, and light was flooding out into the hallway from within. Tempest could hear the muffled, sorrowful cries of Twilight from inside the room as well. Her heart ached to see the Princess of Friendship like this.

"Well, as soon as Twilight told me that she was waiting longer to set the trial date, I feared that this would happen. And it did!" Tempest struggled to keep her voice low as it started to waver. "I shouldn't even be here. I'm the last pony she would even want to see right now."