It was another bright and sunny day in Ponyville. Fillies and colts were outside playing, laughing and cheering and talking as they took advantage of the last week of summer break. Their parents, along with many other mares and stallions, were outside also, running errands, working at their small outdoor shops, or just enjoying the warm weather and chatting. Everypony had a smile on their face as they went on with their day without a care in the world.
Except for a certain purple princess. Twilight Sparkle was still in bed, her eyes squeezed shut in hope to get some much-needed seep. She had been up all night thinking and worrying about what tasks she would have to do the next day.
As the sun shone through her window, she groaned. The alicorn grabbed her pillow and covered her face with it for a few seconds before sighing deeply and getting out of bed, reaching to pull the string to shut out the light from her window. Before she did so, she looked out. She looked upon the happy ponies roaming and playing outside with benign envy.
She wanted to run outside and play, to be able to run about with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, to fly with Rainbow Dash, to visit and have a spa day with Fluttershy and Rarity. She just wanted to be able to do what she had done before being a princess. She sighed and pulled the string by the window, the blinds falling from the top of the window and shutting out the sunlight and her memories along with the rest of the world. She trudged out of her bedroom, nudging Spike's bed with her hoof to wake him up also. He stretched and opened one eye, walking as Twilight walked past.
"Morning, Twilight!" he said cheerily. Twilight responded with a very unattractive grunt as she continued walking along, not caring about how loud her hooves were on the wooden floors or how rude she was at the moment. She continued on her little path to the kitchen where she immediately went to the coffee pot. She didn't drink it often but on certain mornings it was a necessity. After the coffee had brewed, she picked it up with her magic and sat down at the table. The purple cloud of magic set the mug down in front of her and she grabbed the coffee mug with both hooves, taking a sip. She made a face at the unusual taste of the coffee but kept drinking it since it was what she needed.
Spike walked into the kitchen a few minutes after her, looking happy and well-rested as he popped a piece of bread into the toaster. Twilight, however, looked like she hadn't slept in days. She had bags under her eyes, which were a few shades darker than her normal coat color. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot and her mane was a tangled and knotted mess. She truly hadn't been able to sleep ever since her coronation. After that day she had been on the go with royal business and work.
"Hey Twilight-"
"WHAT, Spike?"
She slammed her coffee cup down on the table, her head pounding. The extra slam of the mug against the polished wood made her wince as she felt another sharp pain. She clenched her teeth before looking at Spike. He stared back at her, slightly hurt and frightened.
"...Never mind then..." he said quietly, simply pushing a plate of toast towards her and sitting down in his chair with his own plate. Twilight sighed.
"I'm sorry, Spike, I'm just not myself today. I'm tired and have a headache and need a nap," she said, frowning as she took a long drink of her coffee, followed by another expression of disgust as she pushed it away with her hoof. Spike nodded in understanding.
"It's alright..." He continued to eat, not looking at her. She ate the toast he gave her so her stomach wouldn't ache from the unfamiliar liquids in her belly. She felt a bit guilty for getting upset at him when he did nothing and sat there in awkward silence trying to think of what to say. She quietly sighed again and got up instead, going to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and cringed when seeing her reflection. She quickly grabbed a brush and did the best to make herself look better.
A few magic spells and one more cup of coffee later, Twilight was as awake and happy looking as she could be. She had to go to the Crystal Kingdom to speak with Princess Cadence. She hadn't been told why the day before, so she had been up all night thinking of what she might have to do, what trouble might be there, or what royal duties she had to do. She said goodbye to Spike before walking out of the library. The bright light made her squint and made her head pound even more. Not caring to walk to the train station and socialize, she simply took off right there, grateful for her new wings.
She flew all the way to the Crystal Empire without stopping, which resulted in making her more tired. She mentally slapped herself and shook her head before walking into the kingdom.
