Stories of True Love
The Princess and Her Knight
Part Three
"Oh, no!" Starling exclaimed. "Was Uncle Shining Armor angry that Mom and Dad were keeping secrets from him?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, he wasn't angry. Just disappointed that his only sister was hiding something like this from him. Personally, I'm glad he didn't say anything while your Aunt Cadence was trying to find out the truth."
"Knowing Uncle Shining, he would most likely blow his top and say something wrong if he got involved." Midnight said.
"You said, little bro." Fire Spark agreed.
"However, it didn't make the situation any easier." Celestia said.
Twilight felt her entire body freeze. She felt like she couldn't move or even breathe. She caught Flash's eye for a second to see that he was shocked as well, his eyes widened in horror.
When she felt like she could move her head, she looked around the room. Shining Armor was standing to the side, looking at her with disappointment. Cadence was watching her, seeing if she could figure out an answer without Twilight telling her.
But what really ticked off Twilight and got her frozen blood boiling was the smug look on Prince Blueblood's face. He was watching her with a supposed charming smile, obviously showing that he was responsible for this.
Twilight glared at him before turning to her sister-in-law with a determined and fearless look. "Yes." She answered simply yet sternly.
Everypony's eyes widened with different amounts of surprise, except for Flash, who was looking at the Princess of Friendship with a touched expression and a smile. Twilight looked over at him and returned the smile fondly.
Blueblood seemed to not like the loving gesture the two of them were sharing. He went over and grabbed Twilight's left hoof roughly, forcing her to tear her eyes away from the pegasus guard.
"Why would a beautiful princess like you be courting a lowly, pathetic guard like Flash Sentry?" He asked, giving her another supposed charming grin that made Twilight sick to her stomach. "You should be with a pony of nobility. Like me."
Twilight pulled her hoof away and glared at Blueblood. "You only see me as a trophy! A ticket to get close to the throne!" She yelled angrily.
"I deserve that crown!" Blueblood shouted back, grabbing Twilight's hoof again. "It should be mine!" That harsh grab made Twilight cry out in pain.
Flash gritted his teeth. He wanted to go over there and push that snobby, selfish prince away from her, but he forced himself to stay where he was because Shining Armor beat him to it.
"Keep away from my sister." He commanded from his spot by the throne. "Now!"
Blueblood eventually released Twilight, who in turn out of anger and defense, slapped him across the face.
"You were spying on us!" She shouted. "You must have saw me sneaking out earlier!"
Blueblood rubbed the cheek where Twilight had smacked him. "And earlier, I saw Sir Flash Sentry head out of the castle a few minutes before you did."
Twilight practically had steam fuming out of her nostrils. "Let me make one thing very clear." She hissed. "I will never be yours! I would rather die than marry you!"
With that, Twilight started running out of the throne room, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Twilight!" Cadence called out after her. But Twilight didn't stop running as she burst open the doors and headed outside.
"Twilight!" Flash shouted, running over to the open doors to see Twilight's fading figure head out of the castle grounds and into the hills. But before he would start after her, he felt magic tightly restricting his wings and he was pulled back towards the throne.
The one who was using magic was Blueblood, and he looked furious. "How dare you address Princess Twilight like that?" He bellowed. "You are worth nothing compared to me! She will be my bride, whether she likes it or not!"
Flash managed to gain control over one hoof and punched Blueblood square in the jaw. The force made the blonde unicorn stallion lose his magic hold on the orange pegasus.
"You're not gonna lay another hoof on her again!" Flash threatened. "She deserves somepony who will love her as a normal pony, somepony who will treasure her forever. And I know that that isn't you."
"And what about you, soldier?" Blueblood asked.
Flash only answered him with a stern glare.
"Blueblood." Shining Armor said. "You are not to come near my sister again. Pack your belongings and leave."
"B-But, Your-" Blueblood stammered.
"Now!" Shining barked.
Nervously, the snobby unicorn stallion left the throne room, leaving Flash alone with Shining Armor and Cadence.
Twilight just kept on running and running until she was out of breath. She looked around her and saw that she was on the outskirts of the Empire, near the snowy border of the Frozen North region of Equestria.
She collapsed on her haunches and started to sob uncontrollably. This was probably not the first time that she wished that she wasn't a princess. Everypony expects her to follow protocol and stick to what they consider is tradition. Except she wasn't like a normal royal. She wasn't born royal. She was appointed one by her mentor Princess Celestia to spread and teach Friendship to all of Equestria and beyond.
But now, she wished that she could just have the courage to toss away the book for once. She knew what love is, and who she found it in. And who she will forever be with, no matter what.
The lavender alicorn looked up at the velvet purple sky and saw Luna's moon high up and shining bright, surrounded by all of its countless stars. A sad look came on her face as she recalled the many times that she and Flash would lay out on the grass, stargazing. Now she would never do that again. Softly, she began to sing sorrowfully.
Twilight: In a perfect world,
One we've never known.
We would never need
To face the world alone.
As she sang, she saw animals in the distance, all of them in pairs. Then she looked back up at the starry sky.
They can have the world.
We'll create our own.
I may not be brave or strong or smart,
But somewhere in my secret heart,
I know love will find a way.
Anywhere I go,
I'm home if you are there beside me.
Like dark turning into day,
Somehow we'll come through
Now that I found you,
Love will find a way.
While Twilight was singing, she didn't notice that a few yards away, Flash was watching her. A sad look then came on his face as he realized what her musical lament was about. Softly, he too started to sing.
Flash: I was so afraid,
Now I realize
Love is never wrong
And so, it never dies.
Upon that, a loving smile came on his face as he started over towards the depressed princess. He then started to sing a little louder to make himself known.
There's a perfect world
Shining in your eyes.
Twilight heard the singing voice and perked up once she thought that the voice sounded very familiar. She turned around and saw Flash coming towards her. She brightened up and a loving smile came on her face. Then, the two of them started to sing together.
Both: And if only they could feel it too,
The happiness I feel with you.
Twilight then began to dash over to Flash, and he met her halfway. Immediately, she was nuzzling his neck, and he returned the gesture by burying his face in her indigo, pink and purple mane.
They'd know love will find a way.
Anywhere we go, we're home
If we are there together.
After their loving nuzzle and embrace, the two of them spread their wings and took off into the air, holding each other's hooves as they both flew around in a spiral. Soon, they landed on a cloud and just relax in the other's company.
Like dark turning into day,
Somehow we'll come through,
Now that I found you,
Love will find a way.
I know love will find a way.
After one more nuzzle, Flash stared into Twilight's eyes, getting lost in her amethyst purple eyes. She also was lost in his sapphire blue irises. Slowly, the two of them shared a passionate kiss, holding tight to each other, not wanting to let go.
Eventually, they had to break away for air. Twilight placed her head on Flash's shoulder, loving the warmth she would feel when she was in his embrace.
Flash held onto her for a few more seconds before lifting her up so that she can look at him. "Come on, Twilight. Let's head back."
Twilight shook her head. "I'm not going back there." She said. "Not with that pompous future pincushion there."
"Shining Armor sent Blueblood away." Flash said. "He won't bother you again. But, he and Cadence still want to talk to us."
Twilight winced. "Are they still mad at us? I don't want you to get discharged."
Flash smiled faintly. "No, I don't think either of us were in trouble in the first place." He said. "But still, they want to see us."
Twilight sighed heavily, ultimately giving him her consent.
Eventually, the couple arrived back at the palace and entered the throne room again. Twilight was looking down at the floor as she walked up.
"Twilight, it's okay." Cadence assured her. "Please look up." Slowly, the younger princess raised up her head to stare up at her sister-in-law and her brother.
"I'm, I'm sorry about the way I acted." Twilight apologized. "And for not telling you that Flash and I were seeing each other."
"We're not mad at you, Twilight." Shining Armor said. "All we wanted to know is why."
"It's because, well, I didn't want Flash to get in trouble because he is my personal guard and I'm a princess." Twilight began to explain. "Also, I wasn't sure on how to tell you about this, since I wasn't sure how your own courtship happened in the first place. So Flash and I decided to keep it a secret until we got the courage to tell you and when Blueblood was out of my mane."
Cadence looked at the younger princess, processing what Twilight had said. "How do you truly feel about Sir Flash Sentry?" She asked her.
Twilight glanced back at Flash, who smiled assuredly at her. Seeing his smile made Twilight feel a bit stronger, and then she turned back to the Princess of Love.
"I'm in love with him, Cadence." She answered surely. "Ever since we first met, I have felt a connection with him, and during our time together, that feeling had only grown. I love him for who he truly is. He is smart, caring and fearless. He would never hurt or mistreat me in any way. In any way, he is like a prince to me."
Flash was slightly surprised by Twilight's declaration, but beamed at her with love. Shining Armor then turned to him. "And what about you, Flash?" He asked. "What are your intentions towards my sister?"
Flash shared a quick glance with Twilight before turning to his captain. "Sir, I love your sister, Princess Twilight. I too felt a connection with her from the very beginning, and I love her every bit as she does for me. I only wish that I can be the stallion I know she deserves."
Twilight gave him a smile and came over to him, nuzzling the side of his neck lovingly. "I know you are." She said. "And you will be the only one for me." Flash returned the nuzzle.
Cadence felt like she could literally see the love radiating from the younger couple standing before her. Their love is as real as it could be. She glanced over at her husband, and he seemed to be beaming with pride.
"Twily, I'm happy for you." He said, making his sister look at him with surprise. "I know that Flash is a great guy, and I trust him completely."
Twilight felt tears of joy springing into her eyes, and she shared a happy glance with the stallion she loved. She then hugged her brother and sister-in-law before she went back to Flash and wrapped her hooves around him, tackling him to the ground. Everypony laughed as the younger couple hugged each other tightly.
"Aww!" Starling gushed. "That was so romantic!"
Midnight only stuck out his tongue slightly in disgust at his sister's mushiness before smiling up at his brother, who had some liquid stuck in his eye.
Celestia giggled. "Yes, it definitely was quite a story." She said. "And your uncle made sure that my wayward nephew would never lay a hoof on your mother again."
"Now he would never get close to the throne now." Fire Spark said. "Mom and Dad got married soon afterward and then, they had us." He gestured to himself and his siblings.
Celestia smiled. "And I know that the three of you will become just as great as your parents." She then glanced over at the grandfather clock next to the wall. "Oh, my. It is almost sunset now. Your parents will back from the Crystal Empire in about an hour."
The three siblings' eyes widened. "We'll never get back to Ponyville before they do." Midnight began to fret.
Celestia smirked. "I can help with that." She said. "Tell your mother I said, 'hello'."
Before either of the royal siblings could speak, Celestia lit up her long white horn with sunny yellow magic. In a flash of sparkles, they next found themselves back in Midnight's room.
"Okay, she needs to teach me that." Midnight said, impressed.
"Me too." Starling agreed.
"Come on, guys." Fire said. "Let's go wait for Mom and Dad at the train station."
"Couldn't Princess Celestia teleported us there in the first place?" Midnight whined. His older siblings just laughed as they all left the room. But before they did, they stopped to look at a framed photo of them with their parents.