In the Princess's Grip

Guilty Pleasures

The afternoon had settled with a gentle breeze coming through the dining room windows. They had finally left that grimy library after spending the entire day there.

Twilight and Sombra were seated at a table laden with a variety of snacks: fresh fruits, exquisite breads, and cheeses. The atmosphere was strange, charged with a palpable tension that both were trying to ignore, but for very different reasons.

Despite being surrounded by delicious food, Sombra looked at the snacks with an expression of apprehension. Every bite he attempted seemed to be a battle, as if the food refused to go down his throat. He was embarrassed by what had happened that morning; he had called Twilight “angel,” and although he didn’t regret it, the situation made him uncomfortable. Twilight was, in a way, an angel to him, helping him despite his initial fears.

On her part, Twilight couldn’t swallow anything. She felt guilty for having hidden the book, and the tension between them only heightened her discomfort. Noticing Sombra’s unease, she watched him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“Don’t you like the food?” Twilight asked with a kind smile, trying to break the ice, even though she herself could barely eat.

Sombra forced a smile and shook his head, realizing that he was worrying the alicorn.

“It’s not that. It’s just…” he said, taking another snack and chewing with difficulty. “I’m not used to eating. I really don’t need to eat, you know…” he added with a smile to ease the tension. “But today it seems like I’m learning to enjoy the little things.”

Twilight looked at him in surprise; the idea that he didn’t need to eat was new to her. However, his attempt to relax and enjoy the moment made her smile.

“Maybe you’d like to try something different,” she said, getting up and heading to a tray of desserts. “This is a ‘brownie.’ You’ve never tried it, have you?”

Sombra raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the novelty. Twilight served him a small piece of brownie and placed it in front of him. From his perspective, the brownie looked like a small chocolate brick. He eyed the dessert with skepticism, wondering why the alicorn was offering him something that seemed so… solid and unappetizing.

“Is this… a brownie?” he asked, with a mix of curiosity and doubt as he turned the piece on his plate. “Why would you give me a brick to eat?”

Twilight let out a soft laugh, trying not to be offended.

“It’s not a brick,” she said with a smile. “It’s a very popular sweet here. I promise it’s delicious.”

Sombra took the small piece cautiously, examining the dessert as if it were an exotic creature. He brought it to his mouth and took a first bite. His eyes widened in amazement as he tasted it, as if he had just discovered a new universe of sweetness.

“This is… incredible!” he exclaimed, with a look of wonder. “Why didn’t you tell me this existed before? No, no—why is this the first time I’m trying this?”

Twilight laughed, relieved to see Sombra’s positive reaction.

“Are there no desserts in your world, or what? I’m starting to think that where you come from is the worst place to live,” she said with a playful tone, though underlying her words was a hint of concern.

Sombra looked at her, intrigued by the joke, and responded with a smile.

“Oh, there are desserts. It’s just that, in Auralis, food tends to taste a bit bland when you eat it without really enjoying it. I’d never given myself the chance to try something like this.”

Twilight looked at him in surprise, realizing there was more to Sombra’s comment than he had let on. She stayed silent for a moment, hesitating whether to express what she was thinking, but eventually decided to.

“So… you could… come by every now and then to eat desserts,” she said in a nearly timid whisper. The suggestion surprised Sombra, who blushed slightly. Did it not sound like a date?

However, he quickly regained his composure and asked seriously:

“Is it even possible? Once I return, will I be able to come back?”

Twilight was taken aback by the question. She didn’t know if, once he returned to his world, there would be a way to see him again. She forced a smile, trying to keep the mood up.

“I don’t know,” she said with a somewhat forced smile. “But while you’re here, you’ll have to eat as many sweets as you can!”

Sombra looked at her with a mix of surprise and expectation. It seemed like he was hoping for a different answer, as if the fact that she didn’t know if they could see each other again was not entirely satisfying to him.

“Yes…” he responded reluctantly, then forcing a playful smile. “But I suppose I’ll get fat if I keep eating these desserts.”

Twilight laughed, relieved to see that Sombra was taking the situation with humor. The tension eased a bit more, and they both continued to enjoy the desserts while sharing laughter and conversation; the brownie had never tasted so delicious.