//------------------------------// // The Sentry Parents Make Their Decision // Story: Pony to Human in a Flash // by My90sPony //------------------------------// The next morning, everyone was back in the Crystal Empire. Flicker was preparing to leave to convince his parents to stay permanently. “Don’t worry, I’ll do whatever it takes to convince them.” Flicker reassured Twilight. “I know....” Twilight was still worried anyway. Flicker kissed her on the cheek and went through the mirror. He got used to being a pony so fast that being human again felt a little weird for him. He also missed his wings despite not having used them that much. He then saw that Sunset Shimmer and the others were there, probably wanting to greet him as he returned despite not knowing when he would specifically return. “Hi Flash.” Human Applejack said. “How did it go?” “Wonderful, she remembered me and we’re together again.” Flicker smiled. “In fact I’m going to convince my parents to let me move into Equestria permanently.” “You really do love her don’t you.” Human Rainbow Dash smiled, proud of Flicker’s devotion to Twilight. “I do...more than my own life.” Flicker smiled. Flicker then headed home and went to his parents. “You’re back a little sooner than we expected.” Mr. Sentry smiled. “That’s because...I want to move into Equestria permanently but knew that I had to ask you first.” Flicker said. His parents looked at him with surprise. “You really love this Twilight Sparkle that much?” Mr. Sentry said. “I do.” “You love her enough to give up your life here, to leave your friends and give up your dream of becoming a rock star?” Mrs. Sentry said. “She is my life, and I want to spend the rest of it with her.” Flicker admitted. “As for my friends...I will miss them but Twilight is my future. And I don’t have to give up my dream of becoming a rock star, I can become one in Equestria. But even if I couldn’t I wouldn’t mind giving it up just to be with her. She’s the only fan I really need anyway. I...I’m even willing to risk my life for her. Please let me do this, if I have to be away from her for another two and a half years let alone forever my heart will break. And I know it’ll break hers as well.” Mr. and Mrs. Sentry hesitated, but seeing the pleading and hopeful look in their son’s eyes - plus the pain that was starting to form - made up their minds for them. “Well...okay.” Mr. Sentry gave in. “We do just want you to be happy and you do sound very sincere about this.” “Besides, I kinda want to meet Twilight Sparkle anyway.” Mrs. Sentry smiled. “You mean you’re moving into Equestria with me?” Flicker smiled. “Even though you aren’t a minor anymore we do want to see you more often than every two and a half years.” Mr. Sentry smiled. “Besides, we would love to see your future.” “Including any grandchildren you two give us.” Mrs. Sentry grinned. “I don’t care whether they’re babies or foals as long as we get them.” Flicker blushed, but didn’t protest. Even though he wasn’t ready to be thinking about marriage and children yet he had to admit that he would love to marry Twilight and raise a family with her. However he was going to wait a long time before proposing. “Don’t waste time embarrassing the boy.” Mr. Sentry pretended to scold. “We need that time to get ready to move into the pony world.” “Oh very well.” Mrs. Sentry playfully stuck her tongue out at her husband. The Sentrys spent almost the rest of the day and well into the evening packing up and getting their affairs in order. Flicker also called his band friends to tell them what he had decided. They were going to miss him, but understood his decision. They then double-checked about becoming a band without him, which he didn’t mind at all. He basically told them that if they still want to become a famous band, with or without him, then they should. Afterward Flicker drove what he could to the portal. The rest that couldn’t fit in either his car or his parents’ car were driven to the portal thanks to the farm truck that belonged to the Apple family. Afterwards, since Flicker knew that cars wouldn’t be of any use in Equestria he gave his to Sunset Shimmer. “Really?” Sunset Shimmer was surprised. “Just something for you to remember me...I know you haven’t gotten a car yet anyway.” Flicker smiled. “Even though we had a rough ending to our relationship I want you to know that there are no hard feelings, at least not on my end.” “No hard feelings on my end either.” Sunset smiled. “And I could never forget you.” Finally everything was ready, the Sentrys even got all their money out of the bank. Flicker told them that objects change to fit whatever world they enter so they figured - or at least hoped - that their money would change into Equestrian currency as well. “So, how are we going to do this?” Mr. Sentry asked. “I think we’d best go in first to warn Twilight and her friends that our furniture is coming through the portal as well.” Flicker said. “Oh, also because of everyone having a pony counterpart I changed my first name to Flicker to avoid confusion." “Flicker is a nice name.” Mrs. Sentry nodded. “Um, Flicker?” Sunset said. “Can you tell Celestia and my parents that...I’m sorry? I would’ve asked you before but I knew that you would want to spend time with Twilight so....” “It’s okay, I understand.” Flicker smiled reassuringly. “And I will- Hold on, if your parents are back in Equestria then who’s been looking out for you here?” “I...well, truthfully after that whole incident with Twilight’s crown Principal Celestia caught on to the fact that Twilight was from another world. Her and the rest of the elements gaining pony ears and such confirmed it, and the magic from Twilight’s crown caused Principal Celestia to realize that Twilight was really a princess who owned the crown.” Sunset admitted. “She was mad at me for stealing the fake one to exchange with the real one, but decided to let it go since Twilight technically owns both crowns now.... And upon learning that I was also from Twilight’s world and that my entire family was back in that world she took pity on me and decided to take me in as a sort of surrogate daughter.” Sunset actually smiled. “Beforehand I used to just hide in the school and live there, so I was really glad to have a real home again. I kinda even think of her as a mom now, though I really miss my own parents. But...I’m not exactly ready to go back yet...I guess I’m scared that Princess Celestia and my parents are mad enough at me to disown me.” “I don’t think they are, but I’ll still talk to them. I’ll let you know how they feel in about two and a half years.” Flicker promised. “If they have forgiven you then what do you think you’ll do?” “Talk to Principal Celestia first. Then I’ll talk to Princess Celestia and my parents. I want to see what they all think first before making my decision.” “Sounds right to me.” Applejack nodded. “Okay, once my parents and I go through with what we can carry wait a few minutes and then gently toss in the rest of our stuff.” Flicker told everyone. “Be extra careful with the breakables.” Mrs. Sentry looked at Pinkie and Rainbow Dash especially. “We will.” Fluttershy promised. Flicker said goodbye to his band friends, who understood his leaving, and he and his parents went through the portal.... On the other side, Twilight and her friends, plus Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Shining, were waiting for Flicker to return. Twilight was very nervous, she was even lying on the ground looking pained. “He will come back, I promise.” Applejack said. “But what if he can’t stay?” Twilight said almost heartbrokenly. “You two are meant to be together, I feel it.” Rarity said. “I am certain that everything will work out.” “Don’t worry Twilight, I’ve sensed his love for you and I know he will do everything he can to return.” Cadance said reassuringly. Suddenly, Flicker and his parents appeared. Everyone beamed once they saw them and Twilight looked at Flicker with disbelief for a moment. She then grinned and hugged him with tears in her eyes. “I was starting to think-” She nearly sobbed. “Sorry it took so long, my parents and I had a lot of things to pack up.” Flicker rubbed her back comfortingly. “They decided to move here with me.” Mr and Mrs. Sentry smiled upon seeing Twilight’s love for their son. They knew they had made the right decision. “Well, I’ll admit that it’ll take me a long time to get used to walking on all fours and not wearing clothes all the time.” Mr. Sentry said. “But as long as our son is happy I can handle it.” “Princess Celestia? Do you know where Sunset Shimmer’s parents are?” Flicker asked. “Why yes...Sunset Shimmer has a message for them?” Celestia looked concerned. “And you too: she says she’s sorry.” Flicker smiled. Celestia smiled back. “In about two and a half years I’ll go see her and let her know that I have forgiven her.” She said. “I’d rather tell her in person than through a letter.” “Oh, we’d better head to the back of our room, our furniture will be coming through soon.” Flicker then said. They did, and sure enough furniture and other items came through the portal. Twilight, Shining, Rarity, Celestia, and Luna used their magic to carefully catch each one and set them down gently. After that they all helped Flicker and his parents move into Ponyville. The next day two new homes started to be built for them, and while construction went on they would live in the hotel.