Flash: I woke up at about nine, not to birdsong, but a gasp sounding from the doorway. I woke Twilight up when I turned around sleepily to notice a small-looking dragon standing at the door. Twilight groggily got up, turned around, and clearly unaware of the dragon in the doorway, grabbed my face and kissed me.
Thankfully, the dragon didn’t make a sound, as the kiss lasted an entire minute before Twilight opened her eyes and saw him standing there. “S-Spike?! P-Please don’t tell me you saw, well… that!” she said, almost shouting.
He looked away before he said, “Well, I kind of saw… everything?” he said precautiously.
I was looking over at Twilight, who was clearly unhappy, startled, and… scared. I realized why. I would get the shit beaten out of me if anyone knew, especially Captain Strong Wind. Even worse, Celestia or Luna! I thought.
“Twilight? Who is, uhm, Spike?” I asked, unsure.
“Oh! He-he’s a friend of mine. He accompanied me here to help me out, but he’s been rather sick, so I let him rest,” she said, kind of calmly.
“Princess, I swear I won’t tell anypony what happened! It’s just between us!” he said, trying to make up for coming in unnoticed.
Twilight quickly forgave him and got out of bed. Spike looked at me quizzically, and I gave him the it’s-okay-don’t-even-worry kind of look that I gave to Twilight the previous night. Spike just nodded and went over to the stove.
“You know how to cook?” I asked, getting out of Twilight’s bed and rubbing my eye.
“Well, yeah. I can do a pretty damn good job, but I’m nowhere near the best,” he said, grabbing a pan out of a cabinet. Twilight scolded him for using that language, and I laughed slightly.
I never noticed this place back here before. It was just one of those small things I typically don’t notice unless I stare directly at it. I watched as he ran around, grabbing things for prepping for breakfast.
I also realized that if I’m caught walking back from Twilight’s room without my armor or even seen coming out of it, I’d be questioned thoroughly. Not something I need right now, I thought.
Soon I realized that the shower was also running. I really needed to pee, but Twilight was occupying the bathroom. I had to respect that, because she was, well, Royalty. That, and it would seem quite rude. I figured I should use the shower as well, considering that I still have the cut along my flank and probably smell worse than a pigsty. Thankfully, Twilight didn’t mind, probably because she wasn’t the best smelling I’ve smelt her.
Oh, crap, did I just think that? Thankfully I didn't say it! I quickly went back to my room to grab my armor. I trotted back over to Twilight’s room, thankfully passing nopony. I walked back in and saw Twilight walk out of the bathroom, in an elegant dress that made her shine.
“Oh, Flash! How are you?” she asked, walking up to me. “Eugh, you smell awful!”
“I know, I was just coming to use the shower here, if you don’t mind?” I asked. I really didn’t want to go down the Guard’s showers.
“Oh! Of course, feel free!” she said, merrily trotting over to Spike.
I headed in, the room steamy and the mirror fogged up. I quickly used the bathroom before hopping in the shower. It was nice and hot already, and I made it quick, just washed out my mane and feathers, and let the water wash over my injury from yesterday. It stung, but at least I knew it would be clean, and not look as bad.
When I walked out of the shower, Twilight poked her head. She looked away as soon as she realized I was coming out. “Oh, sorry! Breakfast is ready!”
"Aren't we usually de-clothed?" I called out, but she didn't hear me.
I stepped out, and the smell of waffles wafted over me. They were sitting on the table, steaming hot, with a bottle of syrup and a small plate of eggs. I quickly pulled up a chair and quickly poured syrup over my stack of waffles.
“Wow Spike, this is really good!” I said, between mouthfuls.
“Aw, Flash, it truly is nothing!” he chuckled in reply.
Twilight giggled, and both Spike and I looked at her. “Oh, you two! Being so modest and all, it really is charming!”
It was our turn to blush. Normally, I didn’t think Spike would be modest, and my compliment satisfied him enough, but clearly, there was more to say. When breakfast was over, I thanked Spike for the breakfast and donned my heavy golden armor. As I was leaving, Twilight walked up behind me. “I just wanted to thank you, Flash. You really are special to me,” she said, nuzzling me as I walked out.
It finally occurred to me to check in on Captain Strong Wind, and I mentally cursed myself for not remembering his injury. I ran over to the infirmary, and I bumped into my old friend, Steel Wing.
“Oh, Flash! I haven’t seen you in the longest while!” he said, pulling me in for a bro-hug.
“Well, I’ve been busy as a Guard. What brings you here?” I asked, slightly laughing.
He grinned back. “I became a doctor about a week ago, and was sent to work here. Great place, really, just kind of overwhelmed with the amount of ponies sent in to get checked on for even slight injuries. But, you can never be too sure.”
His smile faltered slightly as he said the last words. “What happened?” Panic arose in my throat as his expression turned sad.
“Just a couple days ago, we brought in a Guard who was scratched up, but, for whatever reason, he went crazy. We tried to stop him, but he jumped anyway. We couldn’t save him,” he said, clearly trying to forget what happened. “He said he couldn’t take another day of the Guard.”
I remember him. He was always a kind of depressed looking Guard, grey coat and black wings. He did his job fine, but he was always getting hurt. And after a year of protection that most ponies experience in three, he was still working in the same position.
I said goodbye to my friend and went inside the infirmary. I found Strong Wind resting on the bed. He suddenly started to look his forty-odd years of age. His body was looking brittle, he was obviously tired, and had more wrinkles in his face than I thought. When I walked up to his side, he opened his eyes. They no longer had that youthful sparkle to them.
“Flash Sentry. Is that you, my most devoted and my favorite Guard?” he asked, smiling the weakest smile I’ve seen from him years.
“Yes, Captain Strong Wind. Please tell me you’re fine?” I asked desperately.
“Oh, Flash. Do not worry, I have a good amount of time on my hooves before I leave you. And, at ease,” he ordered.
“Sir, how can I not worry? You have been a great Captain!” I exclaimed.
“Flash, I am nowhere close to being as good as my predecessors. I am simply following what they have done, and trying to improve on it,” he said, clearly trying to sell himself short.
“But, sir, if you improve on it, it surely means you are better than those in the past?” I asked, clearly to trip him, and it worked.
“Well, Flash, you are truly smart. I can see why Princess Twilight cared for you,” he said, now catching me harder than I did to him, and I blushed enough to give it away. “Oh, so you know? It’s quite obvious. And, personally, I’m okay with it.”
“Y-you are?” I asked nervously.
He just chuckled. “Yes. As long as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna aren’t aware, you’ll be fine. I just know that you can take good care of her, Flash, and I wouldn’t want anypony else guarding her right now,” he said, giving me an approving look. “And while we’re on this topic, I’d like you to consider you to be the next Captain of the Guard. You do seem very dedicated and enjoy your job, Flash.”
“W-Well, Sir, it’d be an honor!” I said, overjoyed.
“But, you must realize, it would mean less time guarding Princess Twilight. And we both know it is a sacrifice. Love is fragile if not made strong in the beginning, as I speak from experience,” he said, a longing tone hidden in his voice.
“I assume you had a crush before the Royal Guard, Captain?” I asked, intrigued by the suddenness of this.
“Well, I had a crush on this mare over in Manehatten, during one of my visits. I was looking at becoming the CEO of some business. While I was looking at all the different offers, I bumped into a pegasus at the corner of a street. She was quite beautiful, and as soon as we laid eyes on each other, it was like we were meant to be,” he said, recalling his encounter. “She and I met together again on the same street corner a while later, me with my Guard sign-up sheet after the Captain at the time found my stature perfect for the job. She invited me to dinner, and I broke it to her that I probably wouldn’t be around longer because I was going to become a Guard. She immediately stormed off and would not listen to my reasoning,” he said, a lone tear streaking the side of his face. “When I caught up with her, she was going through an alley, when two ponies in shadowed cloaks came up behind her. They were almost going to kill her when I knocked the one with the knife in the back of his head, cracking it, and killing him. The other quickly retrieved the knife, but I knocked him in the side. He then charged at me with the knife, but the mare took the hit for me. I was enraged, and I pulled the knife out of the mare’s side and jammed it right into his throat, then again and again until my face was spattered in his blood. I ran right over to the mare, who was clearly running out of time. I called the police and hunched over the mare. She said, she said… ohhhhhhh, she said she loved me with all her h-heart. A-and then s-she, she k-kissed me. And within minutes the police showed up. The next day she, she, she… oh, Celestia, it is truly painful! She died Flash! Because I was being too honest! But at least she knew she was doing what she wanted. It was as if she knew I’d make it this far, and I can only hope to join her up there when my life is over.”
When he finished, his cheeks were covered in tears, his heart torn far past two, and the doctors had stopped by to listen to his story. Some were crying, some were just feeling more than infinite sympathy, and some were just stone-cold shocked. Flash could only hang his head in fear and shame for making the poor stallion share his heart-wrenching story.
“Strong Wind, I… I didn’t know. I’m so sorry for making you share this,” I said, even aware of the crowd of ponies gathered around the famed Captain.
“Flash. Sentry. Do not apologize. I needed to tell you this anyways, just to make you realize that being made Captain comes with major consequences, even losing your closest family and your loved ones,” he finished. “I became a Guard in honor to everypony that was close to me killed by foalish actions.”
“I understand, Captain. But, I could make arrangements to still take care, er, guard Princess Twilight, right? I mean…” I trailed off, lost for words at how somepony so tragic could be so happy and cheerful all the time. And at such old age, nonetheless. Celestia Almighty, please accept this poor stallion into you domain when he passes.
“Flash, do you accept in leading the Royal Guard in a joint operation between you and I? I always need extra hooves,” asked Captain Strong Breeze.
“Sir, I accept, but I do enjoy the Guarding part more than the paperwork,” I said shyly.
He only chuckled heartily at my comment, his familiar spark in his eyes returning. “Oh, you know I could not guard unless absolutely necessary. Besides, I excel in that field.”
“Many thanks, sir!” I saluted him and ran off towards Twilight’s chambers.
When I opened the door, she looked up, startled, and I ran up and kissed her. She seemed almost surprised, but then gave in to it. They were soon laying down on the bed, wrapped up in each other’s emotions when Twilight pulled away and closed the door with her magic. “Well, Flash, what was that for?” she asked, blushing an awful lot.
“I got promoted to Captain of the Royal Guard! I’m working alongside Strong Wind until he retires!” I said, beaming with pride.
Twilight looked up at him with joy, and, without hesitation, kissed him passionately. He felt his muzzle flare up with heat as he returned the kiss. For the next ten minutes, we just enjoyed ourselves. However, Twilight pulled away, seeming to have lost the joyous spark in her eyes.
I began to worry until she said, “If only my day has been as good as yours, Flash. I don’t even know what I’m gonna do about the Royal Court! Celestia and Luna are counting on me to do well, and I’ve only got today and tomorrow to prepare!” she cried out as I wrapped her in his wings tightly.
“Twilight, don’t worry about it. You already know most of Equestrian law, you can keep your composure in Royal settings far better than anyone else, and hell, you’re great when it comes to speaking!” I proclaimed, letting Twilight cry into my now exposed chest. She had already taken off the armor just to cry into my chest.
I laid my head on top of hers, and for the third time in what seemed like forever, I had to comfort her, stroking her mane, letting her squeeze the air out of me as she hugged me, letting my chest soak, and, by Celestia, not letting anypony see. When she looked up, her eyes were wet from her tears, and she looked at me gratefully. “If anypony saw us like this, we’d be dead.”
“Well, you’re just lucky that I don’t seem to mind,” said Strong Wind.
He was just casually standing in the doorway with a sad and pleased smile. Twilight started as she looked around, “Oh, shit! Please, please don’t tell anypony what we-” she was cut off by Strong Wind’s hoof, which was raised in the air.
“Don’t even worry about it, Princess. Flash and I already went over this,” he said, looking between Twilight and me with delight.
He dropped a letter and promptly left. I got up, but Twilight held me back, for the second day in a row. She grabbed me by the back of my neck and pulled me under her, removing the rest of my armor. She laid down on top of me, sobbing quietly. “Now that you’re working with Strong Wind, do I not get to see you as often?”
“Well, I asked if I could work as a Guard, and just as a supervisor for Strong Wind, and he agreed. He said he’d work on the papers while I work as a Guard. Every guard will answer to him, I just act as his second-hoof-man,” I replied, kissing the top of Twilight’s head.
She just sighed in relief, and, for what seemed like the thousandth time today, kissed me, entirely on the lips with more passion than the entire kingdom of Equestria had of land. As I kissed back, I saw a figure emerge at the door. “What in the holy fucking hell are you two doing?!” screamed a pony I recognized as he charged at me, his horn glowing.
I slightly pushed Twilight off of me as she tried to stop him, but I wasn’t quick enough to escape his rough grasp. “What in your right mind are you and my sister doing? You know it isn’t allowed, you worthless, common Guard!!!” he screamed as he kicked me against a wall. I was dazed as Twilight forced her “brother” to stop harassing me. My forehead was bleeding and my whole body was sore.
“He’s okay, Shining! He wasn’t doing anything wrong to me! I am completely fine with it!” she scolded her brother, who I remembered was Shining Armor. He was moved away to the Crystal Empire to become Prince with his wife, Princess Cadence, who appeared in the doorway moments after Shining had calmed down. A little.
She noticed my bruised and beat up body being carried by Twilight over to a couch in a small corner. She was obviously crying and doing what she could to stop the blood flow, which wasn’t much, seeing as she had no medical experience. “Shining, what was that for? You didn’t have to attack him like that!” she cried hoarsely.
Cadence stood by Shining in complete horror at my now not-so-orange coat of fur, Twilight’s distress, and Shining’s outrage.
With all of them put into silence, I groaned in pain, only to attract the attention of everyone in the room. Cadence ran over to me and got a first-aid kit out of nowhere and started to fix me up while Twilight was tearily arguing with Shining, who looked like a stone wall with an emotionless face on it. And to think he was once the nice Captain of the Guard, I thought.
When I could hear again, and my head stopped throbbing, I called Twilight’s name. She spun around and flew at me, almost knocking the couch over, and hugged me harder than she had before. “F-Flash, you’re oh-okay, right?” she asked, clearly worried beyond my own imagination that wasn’t working too properly, being in a daze and all.
“Like I’ve said, I’ve suffered worse,” I replied half-heartedly, but Twilight took it as though it was the best response she could have gotten.
She kissed me, completely on the lips, in front of her brother and his wife, and while Cadence looked absolutely shocked and pleased that her sister-in-law had found love, Shining looked at me with a murderous glare. The only thing I could do was kiss her back. It lasted uncomfortably long before she let go, looking defiantly at Shining. “Now what in your right mind was all this for?” she asked, clearly in outrage, gesturing to the bloodstains across my body and multiple cuts and bruises.
“Look, Twilight, I’m just protective of you. You know that this isn’t your best choice-” the face she gave was beyond rage, “- and you need to consider the consequences.”
“He’s Captain now, Shining! Isn’t this how you and Cadence were?” she asked furiously, stepping on my leg. She got up and stood in front of him, almost challengingly.
"No! At least I was a Celestia damned unicorn, not a pegasus! That makes it worse!" he retorted, and Twilight huffed.
“Shining, it’s clear they both love each other. Can’t you let them be?” asked Cadence, trying to get Twilight off of me.
“And, Shining, I wasn’t the one who kissed first,” I said, and Twilight spun around, trying to get back to me. For what reason, I don’t know.
“T-Twilight? You fell for him first?” Both Shining and Cadence asked, suspicious.
“Well… yes and no,” Both Twilight and I replied, blushing.
At that, they went out to the hall was were clearly having an argument, or maybe just a conversation. Twilight ran over to me, tears streaming down her face, and hugged me tighter than ever. “T-Twilight… need… air,” I said, struggling.
She loosened her grip, but still hugged me as I planted a kiss on her head. “F-Flash, what eh-ever happens I… I’ll always l-love you,” she spoke softly, crying into my shoulder.
“And I as well, Twilight. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I started to cry as well. Because I could have just lost my Guard position, my forever love, and possibly everything I’ve ever worked for. When Twilight noticed, she looked and wiped away my tears. “Flash, w-why are you crying?”
“I-I… could l-lose you, e-everything that Ih-I’ve worked f-for,” I said, sobbing. She just kissed me and put her head under mine, right below my neck but not at my chest, nuzzling me.
She just sighed and relaxed against my body. I realized how goddamn lucky to have made it this far with Twilight. I haven’t been called out for relaxing on my Guard job, we’ve been meeting for two weeks, at least. Oh, Celestia, don’t let this be the end. This is more than just friendship, as we passed that border a long time ago.
We stayed like this while Cadence and Shining were arguing, their voice volumes fluctuating with their emotions. I just kept a hoof on Twilight’s mane. When she had awoken, she immediately kissed me. I just had to lay there, giving into it, because she was holding me down and the injuries I took were pretty severe. I couldn’t move my left leg without pain coursing through my body, my right wing was being crushed, and my leg did look awkwardly positioned. We stayed like this for twenty minutes before Cadence poked her head in. I didn’t notice - and neither did Twilight - until she cleared her throat.
“Shining’s about to come in, so if you two could, not you know… do that?” she asked, near begging.
“Of course, Cadence,” said Twilight, but she didn’t get off of me. Maybe she just felt protective of me? I had no clue. All I knew was I did not want another fight with her brother.
Twilight:
Flash looked at me quizzically, clearly because I was still on him. I just smiled down as Shining came in, his face looking rather furious when he saw the two of us. I only frowned at him, and he looked away when I did so.
“So, then have you made up your mind, brother?” I asked, not wanting to use his real name, as I had been put far past tolerance with his actions. He beat up Flash just for me kissing him. But, then again, it isn't necessarily the most legal thing in all of Equestria. He cares for me, that's all.
“Well, my wife and I have come to an agreement. You two will stay together without us interfering, as long as nopony else hears of this… incident,” he said, gesturing to the armor laying at my bedside.
I only laughed. “Oh, Shining, it wasn’t what you thought it was. I just find Flash’s armor rather uncomfortable to lay on,” I said, as Flash looked down sheepishly.
“Well, why the hell did you take it off?” he asked.
“Because I needed let my emotions free, such as crying into his chest, kissing him, and well, whatever else, because I needed him then and now. I needed him as much as now as I did when he first started to Guard me,” I said, trying to make everypony in the room uncomfortable by my proclamation of my love for him. Flash only kissed my cheek when I said this.
“And you, you Guard. I thought you’d know better! If I wasn’t aware, I’d think you’d be using my sister for unimaginable things! And an alicorn and a pegasus together? Could you not have chosen a worse pony to fall for, both of you?” I only could look away, crying, and Flash just gritted his teeth. Oh, they were perfect, straight, and shining white.
“Well, for your information, Prince Shining Armor, I am working as a Captain alongside Strong Wind, who is perfectly okay with this and knew from the start, and not because we told him. And, if I were using your sister, it would be pretty fucking obvious,” said Flash, trying not to provoke my brother without being too soft. “And, if I remember, you were Captain when you fell for Cadence?”
Flash probably just struck a sensitive cord, because Shining pulled me off of Flash and shoved him against a wall, hooves on both of his shoulders. His head hit the wall with a sickening crack, and he looked absolutely dazed. “You. Will. Not. Ever. Mention. That. Again. Shithead!” he said, slamming him into the wall every time he said a word. Flash simply fell, crumpled, spat blood, and curled up in pain, moaning, blood slowly trickling from the back of his head and in other places.
“Shining! You nearly killed him! Twice! Have you no heart?” asked Cadence in a shrill voice.
I only grabbed a bandage from the first aid kit and wrapped it quickly around Flash’s head. I forced him onto his back and hugged him tightly. There was blood all over his side, his head, and small spots everywhere else. He was on the edge of consciousness when I rolled him over, and all I could do was cry into his fur. “Twilight, we need to get him medical attention,” said Cadence, sending Shining out of the room.
“Y-yes. Call in a d-doctor. Have him b-bring the equipment here. He isn’t in-injured t-too badly,” I said, weeping over the exhausted Flash Sentry. His coat was dirty, his head was beat up, and his mane and feathers were ruffled in a not-so-good way.
It took a trio of ponies to carry everything to my room, who looked at me questionably, but when they saw Flash, they immediately rushed over and started to treat him. I silently cried as Cadence held me. “You know, the only reason I could save your relationship was that I told Shining Armor how strong your love was. He couldn’t argue with me, because I am the Princess of Love,” she said, draping a wing over me, trying to stop my crying.
One of the medical ponies came over. “Princess Twilight, we’re going to have to this Guard back to the infirmary to get a date on the amount of time he needs to rest, as well as an x-ray on him.”
I nodded as the other two ponies rushed out of the room pushing Flash on a stretcher. He groaned in pain, and my heart ached to hear him in pain. I almost followed him, but it would look a little suspicious. The remaining pony wished me a good day and left. Cadence dragged me over to the other couch, because the previous one was spotted with Flash’s blood. “So, how did you two meet?”
“Well, it started in the Crystal Empire when we visited you, and he and I bumped into each other, literally,” I said, trying to calm down.
“Oh. That long ago? Did you like him at first?” she asked, trying to get more out of me.
“Well, he was quite dashing, his orange coat and icy blue eyes, and his fiery blue hair. But I didn’t really think twice about him, until we kept bumping into each other in the halls. I kind of started to like him then, and when he started to Guard me, we became friends. He helped me get over my fears, got me back into shape, and was always there for me. He had walked in one day with my cheeks covered in dry tears and my makeup smeared over my face. He rushed to my side and hugged me. He had asked why I was crying, and before I could stop myself, told him I really liked him. I could only hug him, and he wrapped his wing around me and led me towards the balcony. He taught me how to fly, and when we got to the roof I challenged him to a race up to the clouds. When I left, my wings almost immediately faltered, and I almost fell to my death. He pulled me up to the clouds, settled onto a cloud, and asked me how the view was, and kissed me on the head. I hugged him, and he wrapped his wings around me. When he let go, he said I was beautiful, and flopped on his side. I went over, pulled him up, and kissed him on the lips, and he leaned into it, accepting it. And from then, you can see how it went,” I ranted, trying to speak as fast as I could without stumbling over my words.
Cadence looked at me with mild surprise, but mostly a soft happiness. “I’m glad you’ve found a lover, Twilight.”
She hugged her, but Twilight couldn’t keep her thoughts away. Maybe Shining is right. Maybe he is trying to use me. Maybe we’re not meant for each other. And, maybe, just maybe, I’ll find somepony else who can care for me as good as Flash, but who is also a unicorn.
I brushed that thought off immediately. I mean, Cadence confirmed that he’s the right stallion for me, and I’m the right mare for him. But what if our love dies? What if the blazing inferno is reduced to a spark yet again? What if it dies out as soon as we break apart? Cadence could feel my unsurety. “Is everything okay?”
“Well, you did bring up a good topic. What if our spark dies? What if we break apart? What if Flash is cheating on me, using me, or anything else?” I asked desperately.
“Well, Twilight, this is why I’m glad I came. I was looking forward to talking about this with you when you finally met somepony. You must ask Flash yourself, but I can tell that you two are the perfect couple,” she said, filling me with hope.
And at that, she walked out, leaving me to do whatever I want. I sat on my bed and read for a good hour before going to check on Flash. When I got there, I asked to go check in on him. They guided me toward his room, where he was asleep on the bed they had for him. I told the nurse it was okay if she left, and she did so, promptly. She prodded him awake.
“Ugh, Shining, again, we don’t need to go over the boundar- Twilight?!” he asked, groggily.
I just smiled down. “Yes, Flash, it’s me. And what about my brother?”
“Oh, uhm, he kind of came in a little earlier, just giving me some mild 'precautions' and definite death threats if I even harmed you, I’ll get the rough end of the scolding if you get hurt, you get the gist of it,” said Flash, clearly pissed off at Shining.
“Oh, Flash, he’s my brother. Of course he’s overprotective. Er, too overprotective,” I added, because just overprotective was too much of an understatement. One time a pony had hugged me, and Shining yelled at him for a good hour.
Flash laughed. “Yeah. You saw what he did to me.”
The top of his skull was wrapped, one of his legs was in a small cast, which hopefully wasn’t going to last long, but the bandages along his body were quite numerous. He was also bruised and ruffled, his coat of fur rather bloody. But still, he looked as handsome as ever. He cracked that endearing smile that I love seeing on his face. I couldn’t help it, I had to hug him. He grunted, clearly from pain, but let me hug him. “I’m just glad you didn’t pass out.”
“I’ve taken more than that before,” said Flash, now gently stroking my mane.
I buried my face in his shoulder, but for once, I didn’t cry. I just breathed in his scent, slightly coppery, somewhat salty, with a hint of lavender. Maybe that’s why some ponies find me attractive. That’s pretty damn strong if you can smell it under everything else he’s been through today.
“Twilight, we’ve got an audience,” said Flash, looking over at the doorway. I looked back, and saw Celestia standing there, rather puzzled. Oh shitfuck. I did it this time.
“Erm, Twilight, could we step outside for a minute?” she asked, glancing at Flash suspiciously.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m not leaving any time soon,” said Flash, laughing nervously as Celestia shot him a rather withering look.
When we walked out into the hall, she put up a soundproofing barrier. “Now, Twilight. I’d like to talk about two things. One would be the Royal Court holding tomorrow at three o’clock. You are ready, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Well, yes and no. I know what it’s about, it’s just I don’t know what to say,” I said, looking down at the ground.
“I’ve got a book you could borrow this evening, if you-” she was cut off abruptly by Twilight. “Oh, yesyesyesyesyes! Please, let me borrow it!”
She smiled warmly, but the look quickly turned icy. “And second, what were you and that Guard doing? I know that it isn’t normal for a Princess to hug any normal Guard, so don’t try to lie to me.”
How in the holy hell could Celestia be so rude? Then again, not all Guards were very exciting. Some barely had enough brains to put two and two together to make four, and some weren’t all that social. But Flash was different, and not because they loved each other. It was because he actually talked to me about my problems, was more than willing to help me out, not just with my studying, but emotionally as well.
“He’s… more than a Guard,” I started. “Not as you think! He’s actually nice compared to most of them. He’s been such a big help for me right now.”
She nodded in understanding. “That’s okay, Twilight. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything too serious.”
I nodded nervously, glad she didn’t question me any further. I walked back to my room and saw the book on my bed. It was rather slim, but it did have coachings for Royalty voices during a Court session. I was almost up until two when somepony knocked silently on my door. I opened it hesitantly, seeing a less injured, better looking Flash. He still had a cast on his left leg along with the wrap on his head, but he was looking better than ever. Probably because he had the doctors clean him up.
“Oh! Y-you’re up?” I asked, trotting over to him
He only nuzzled me. “Well, they said I could go. That, and why are you up so late? I thought we agreed to keep this under control,” he said, playfully sternly. I only pushed him back. "Don't worry about this cast. It's just a sprained ankle."
"More than sprained."
"Nothing I can't handle."
“Okay, Mr. Tough Pony, come at me!” And with that, he barrelled right into me, knocking me onto the bed. We both laughed, and soon after, he fell asleep on my bed. I got up closer to him, wrapped an arm around him, and drifted off to sleep.