//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Tears of a princess // by lightningflare1 //------------------------------// Tears of a Princess A few days passed since the incident had occurred. Luna and Twilight went to Canterlot hospital. Twilight was treated for her minor injuries and was stated not to practice magic for a week. Allowing her body to recover from the extensive usage. Doctors placed cast around Luna’s wings and examined her midsection for any damages. To Twilight’s relief, they hadn’t found a single thing. They were both released and return to Canterlot since Twilight’s castle was under repair. "Oh, my... Luna, I didn’t know you were so happy to see me." Twilight cheerfully teased, as she entered their bedroom with the door closing behind her. A glare formed on the lunar princess’s face. She looked back at her extended wings, which was also a sign of arousle for Pegasus ponies. "Not funny! Why couldn’t they use magic to fix my wings?" Luna asked. "The unicorn doctor, who has the ability to perform such a spell is on vacation. And by the time, he returns your wings will be healed up. And I can’t use my magic for the time being." Twilight explained nuzzling gently her wife’s chest. "And Celestia.... well, she finds it amusing. And probably has no intentions on speeding up your healing process." "Why wouldn’t the doctor allow me to do it? I know the spell." Luna commented crossing her hooves. "Celestia said, you’re out of practice with that spell. You could make your injuries worst." Twilight replied with a chuckle, seeing how annoyed her wife is. Just like a foal would be, after its mother would say no. "Well.... this is very uncomfortable," Luna said glancing back at her wings once more. "The moment I am able to use my magic. I’ll make sure to heal your wings, alright?" Twilight said with a smile. "The moment! Doctors give you the all clear, let me know, love." Luna said before she gently taps Twilight’s nose. "Has... Celestia got anything from Crescent?" Twilight asked. Luna shook her head in response before she spoke, "Shining is giving him.... well, the ‘royal’ treatment. And he hasn’t said a single word. We won’t know who the mole is from Crescent. But Shining assured us most of Moneybags followers have been caught. Quill Golden and his friends, easily gave in and told us everything. Where their base was located and who was apart of this.... hate group. But they weren’t aware of who the mole was." "At least it’s over...." Twilight said sighing in relief. She could finally take a breath, knowing that the major threat was finally over. Moneybags was dead, Crescent imprison, and all their followers have been taken down. There was only one pony left. "Well find him, love," Luna spoke softly, wrapping Twilight into a comforting embrace. "We can finally focus on each other," Twilight replied nuzzling against Luna’s coat. "Even if you are ‘happy’ to see me" the purple mare teased, gently taping the Lunar princess upright wings. "Oh! You’re going to get it! For the wings and the moonbutt comment!" Luna playfully teased, pushing her wife to the ground. "Who’s the mole!" Shining shouted as he paced around the beaten stallion. Crescent chuckled softly. His body was bruised and cut, his face was swollen from being punched multiple times. His horn broken; an extreme punishment for unicorns’ criminals. "Who indeed," Crescent replied moving his chained hooves slightly. "You will never see the outdoor of a prison cell again! I recommend you speak up! And tell us who this mole is!" Shining shouted. "Why the ring? You’ve broken my horn already. I can’t use magic." Crescent causally asked with a grin on his face. "It’s a little bit.... excessive don't you think?" "We're taking every precaution. Now, answer me! How many moles are within the royal guards?" Shining asked once more. "As long as one of us stands. Those fillyfoolers will never be safe. Our group will be reborn because of him. I’m not telling you a single thing." Crescent replied before erupting into laughter. Shining growled and punched Crescent, knocking the stallion out cold. "Take him to his cell! Treat any wounds and wash him up! I don’t want him dying any time soon!" Shining ordered. He grabs a cloth with his magic and removed the blood from his hooves. "Yes, your highness," the guardpony said with a quick salute. Who is he?! Who is this mole... Shining thought to himself. He opened the door and glance back at Crescent being dragged away. I’ll find him... no matter what! I will not allow my sister to be harmed again. Twilight and Luna walked into Flash’s room. Both mares sigh seeing Flash was still in the same condition as before. The poor Pegasus stallion was still hooked up to machines and his coma state sleep. "What if.... he never wakes up," Twilight said glancing back at the lunar princess. "He stays like this.... forever?" "Don’t lose faith, love," Luna said placing a hoof on her shoulder. "I may not be able to enter his dreams, but you shouldn’t lose faith." "Can you.... try again? Enter his dreams and ask if he’s alright?" Twilight asked with her voice starting to well up. "Love, I’ve already tried before and nothing happened," Luna said sighing softly. "Please, Luna.... please... try again..." Twilight beg with tears starting to overflow. A soft sigh left the moon princess’ mouth. She gave a small nod of the head, "Alright love, one more time." Twilight sat down next to his bedside and gently held his hoof. She looks back at Luna, "Thank you, Luna" Luna closed her eyes with her horn surrounded in a white glow. The dream realm surrounded her as she opened her eyes. She looked around the empty realm with very few door’s present. It was the day, after all, not many ponies would be sleeping at this hour. She would usually encounter ponies, who worked at night. And ponies who were up all night, like Twilight does on occasions. "Flash Sentry...." Luna mutter to herself. She quickly scanned the doors, searching for any sign of Flash’s dreams. "Princess Twilight," a voice said. Twilight looked back and gave a small smile to Doctor Heart. The stallion gave a slight bow of his head, "Came to see Flash today?" "How is he?" Twilight asked "We are afraid Flash Sentry might be brain dead," Heart explained with a deep sight. He gently placed his clipboard down, "The machines are the only things keeping him alive." "What…. NO!" Twilight cried out quickly looking back at the orange Pegasus. "I thought Flash’s wounds weren’t serious?!" "The wounds were more serious than we originally thought," Heart explained as he stared at Flash as well. "Flash’s mother is considering turning the machines off." "But… how could…. How could she do that to her own son?! Flash might wake up!" Twilight shouted with tears overflowing. She didn’t want to lose him, she just couldn’t. "Flash barely started his life! He’s not even twenty-five! How could…. his mother just give up on him!" "I do apologise, princess. But Flash’s mother has the last say, and she believes her son will never wake up." Heart explained noticing Luna had returned from the Dream Realm. "I… I’m a princess of Equestria, a-and I order you not to turn those machines off!" Twilight shouted in desperation. Heart sighed once more. He understood why Twilight was making such crazy demands, but it wasn’t easy to handle none the less. "Your majesty, I can’t allow you to issue such an order." "Twilight," Luna said walking over to the heartbroken mare. She gently placed a hoof around her wife and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Losing a dear friend like Flash isn’t easy, especially at his young age. Celestia and I have lost many friends throughout the years. And losing a friend never gets easy. But…… Flash is gone. I couldn’t sense his mind or soul. What you see here…. is just an empty shell of what he used to be." "Luna…," Twilight spoke in surprise "I know, love, I know." Luna quickly responded as she tightens her hold around her wife. "This isn’t easy. You care about Flash, you love him in your own way. But keeping him like this. You know, this isn’t something he would have wanted. His mother has accepted her son’s fate, and you should too. Flash will always live on inside of you, love." Luna said as she gently placed her other hoof over Twilight’s heart, "His physical body might be gone, but he will live on through you." "Princess if I may? I’m certain Flash wouldn’t want you to remember him like this." Heart said. He gave a quick motion of his head towards Flash’s direction, "He would probably want you to remember him with a smile. The good times you two shared, not the sad times like today." "I…. don’t want to see Flash like this…." Twilight whispered as she gently strokes his hoof. Twilight closed her eyes, she was tired of seeing Flash’s broken body. "Than…. It's time to let him go," Heart said with a compassionate smile, "There is nothing else we can do." "Can…. we say our goodbyes?" Twilight asked "Of course, you can, princess." Heart said walking towards the door, "I will inform Princess Celestia about this." "Thank you," Luna said before the door closed. Luna turned back towards Twilight, she gave her a nuzzle. "Just let it out, love. Don’t hold anything back…. Flash will hear you wherever he is." Twilight sniffled and quickly whipped away some tears. She took a deep breath after she managed to compose herself. "Flash…. thank you so much for giving me your friendship. You’ve changed my life…. after what happened in that alternate world. You were so understanding…. You weren’t mad at me…… when I didn’t return your feelings. We became friends…. such close friends. I can’t thank you enough for being a part of my life…. I’m so sorry your life had to end this way. I…. I hope your happy where you are…." Luna rested her head against Twilight’s, as she held the crying mare. Luna rubbed her hoof along Twilight’s back, "Shh…. Just let it out, love." Luna said. She looked over at Flash and smiled at him, "Flash Sentry, you are an outstanding soldier and Equestria owes you much. You stopped a possible assassination attempt all on your own. And for that, Equestria than- No, I thank you for your service. I wouldn’t have Twilight if it weren’t for your bravery. I can’t thank you enough, Flash. You are truly a hero of Equestria and shall be honoured as such." Celestia stood in front of a crowd of ponies. Guardponies stood alongside an Equestrian flag-draped coffin of their fallen comrade, their heads hung low. Twilight along with her friends, Flash’s mother, and everyone who had known the Pegasus stallion. Softly wept. "I’ve failed you, Flash." Captain Silver whispered gently placing a hoof over the coffin, "Please forgive me." Silver backed away from the coffin. He adjusted his formal uniform and nodded at the guardponies. Each guardponies walked over to the coffin, paying their respects and their final goodbyes. They returned to their post and fired a 21 salute of thunder. "In honour of Flash Sentry," Celestia spoke standing next to her sister, "A commemorative statue of him will be erected. It will be placed in the hall of heroes inside of Canterlot Castle, along with one in the gardens. We owe much to Flash Sentry. He will never be forgotten from ponies’ hearts." "Farewell, Flash," Shining whispered. He took a deep breath and held back his tears. He turned to the guardponies and saluted them. A quick salute was returned as a trumpet sang its sad tune. Two unicorns walked over to the coffin, gently removing the Equestrian Flag. They stared at each other as they neatly folded the flag into a small triangle. Silver took the folded flag from the two stallions and walked over to Flash’s mother. "Mrs. Sentry," Silver said as he saluted her, "Your son was a hero. If you need any assistance in any form. Please let us know. Me or any of the princesses of Equestria." "Thank you," the light-yellow Pegasus said. She took the flag from Silver’s hooves and stared down with tears dripping over it. "Flash lost his father at such a young age…. he was a royal guard just like my son used to be. That’s why…. Flash became a guardpony…… and now…. they’re probably catching up…" the mare said before breaking into tears. She brought over the flag and covered her face with it. "I lost them….. I lost them both….." Twilight couldn’t bear it anymore. She walked over to the crying mare and embraced her, "Misty…. I’m so sorry. Flash…. He was a great stallion. Any mare would have been lucky to be with him…. he would have made any mare happy. He made me happy…. and I’m so thankful for having him in my life." Misty Sentry simply hugged Twilight in return and wept into her shoulder. "Lower it," Celestia said turning to the guardponies. Spearhead softly landed on the moist grass. He walked over the freshly buried grave, standing in front of the gravestone. He had to wait for the ceremony to be over, and for ponies to finally leave before he could make his move. "Flash Sentry…. Son, friend, and soldier. Honoured hero of Equestria. Will always live on in ponies’ hearts…." He read and gag slightly. "They couldn’t have been more creative? The entire cemetery has the exact same thing." Spearhead approached the gravestone, carelessly stepping on top of the soft dirt of the grave. He stared down at the headstone. He ran his hoof along the engrave cutie mark, text, and a small miniature statue of the fallen stallion. "You were so close, Flash." Spearhead said with a smile. He snicker and pushed over the flowers, that had been placed on top of the grave. He pulled out a dark rose from his saddle, and placed it on top of the headstone, "But not close enough."