Shining Armor held Twilight for a long time, sobbing over her. He barely heard Celestia explain to her friends what had happened shortly after her birth as they watched with teary eyes behind him.
"Shortly after Twilight was born, Maleficent cursed her to die after everypony she cared about abandoned her and she pricked her hoof on a spinning wheel spindle. Thankfully, I managed to weaken the curse so she would only be trapped in sleep. ”
"Wh-Why would she curse Twilight?" Rarity stammered.
"She probably knew that Twilight would get the Element of Magic, and become a threat to her evil plans." Celestia sighed.
When the princess finished explaining, all of Twilight’s friends collapsed in misery just as Twilight had done.
"I can’t bear the thought of it!" Pinkie Pie wept, her mane and tail going straight with her sadness. "If Twilight sleeps forever... we'll... never do anything fun together again!"
They thought of the wonderful times they'd had with Twilight. Spending time at the spa relaxing, sharing cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner, or battling Nightmare Moon. Now... it looked as though they might never have the chance to do those things again if Twilight sleeps forever. It would be almost the same as though she were dead, except for a heartbeat which Shining Armor heard as he continued to hold Twilight. That was his only source of hope now, knowing that she was still alive.
"Oh, what have we done!" Rarity cried.
Applejack shook her head. "I shouldn't have told y'all to go check on the Princess. I should have comforted Twilight first!"
"I of all ponies should have stayed with her!" Rainbow yelled. "I'm the Element of Loyalty. Ponyfeathers, I leave her once and this happens!"
"I feel so cruel." Fluttershy looked down to the ground. "We only wanted to teach her a lesson. But we've only hurt her."
There was silence as they all felt the guilt of what they'd done as tears filled the eyes of the Mane 5. Then Celestia took a deep breath.
"Do not despair girls. There is a way for Twilight to be awakened." the princess said.
This caused the Mane 5 to feel a spark of hope.
"How? Whatever it is, we'll do it!" Applejack said, the rest of the Mane 5 nodding in agreement.
Celestia sighed. "I'm afraid you can't do anything. There is only one way to break the curse. True love’s kiss."
Shining Armor shook his head. “Its impossible. She doesn’t have a true love. No husband or fiancé like I do.”
“But… she does have a coltfriend.” Spike said.
“What?” Shining Armor asked, surprised.
“There’s this Pegasus she’s been seeing for a while. Flash Sentry… they started seeing each other after her birthday and I saw them… kissing a few days ago when he came to Ponyville.”
“Flash Sentry?” Shining Armor repeated.
The name sounded familiar, then Shining Armor remembered. A light orange pegusaus with a blue mane that had just joined the training program. “He’s a new recruit that’s begun training to be a member of the guard! We got to find him!”
“You think it could work?” Applejack asked. “I mean… they’ve only been seeing each other a couple months now. “
“It’s our only chance, her only chance!” Shining Armor said looking down at Twilight.
He put his sister’s limp form on his back. He hadn’t carried her like this since she was a small filly. The weight caused him to strain as she was much heavier now. But he managed, they began to climb down the stairs of the tower.
Applejack and Spike stood behind Shining Armor to make sure Twilight didn’t fall off his back. They didn’t want her to get hurt anymore.
“I hope she’s alright,” Applejack said. “I mean… its only sleep right?”
“Hopefully she’s not having Nightmares,” Rarity said. “At least she looks-
Before she could finish the word peaceful, Twilight suddenly inhaled deeply. The small sign of life caused everypony to suddenly hope she was somehow able to break the curse on her own.
“Twily?” Shining Armor asked hopefully.
Twilight spoke but didn’t open her eyes. “No Shining Armor please! Don’t send me away!”
“What?” Shining Armor asked now confused.
“Princess Celestia please, don’t banish me from Equestria. I’m sorry for what I said to Cadence! Forgive me!” Twilight screamed beginning to thrash on his back.
Celestia’s mouth fell open.
“Twilight I’d never do that to you!”
“Appjejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash… please.” Twilight begged.
“She must be having a nightmare of being banished by all of us!” Applejack said as she put her hooves on Twilight.
“Oh, I had to open my big mouth!” Rarity cursed.
Twilight continued to thrash and mutter. She would have fallen off Shining Armor’s back and slid down the stairs if not for Applejack and Spike holding her. Finally they reach the bottom of the stairs. Shining Armor went into the nearest bedroom of the castle and put Twilight on the bed as she continued to mutter.
“No…. I don’t want to live in the Everfree forest!”
“Twily! Twily, can you hear me!” Shining Armor shouted putting his hooves on her shoulders.
She stopped muttering. Shining Armor took a breath in remorse as he thought back to the horrible things he’d said to his sister.
“I’m sorry Twily,” he choked out as fresh tears filled his eyes. “What kind of brother am I? Kicking you out of my wedding over a simple misunderstanding? I swore I’d prevent this curse from happening but I’ve failed. I’m the worst Big Brother Best Friend Forever, I don’t have the right to be called that anymore by you.”
“We’re sorry too, Twilight!” Applejack said as she and the others came around the bed as well. “I thought I was doing the honest thing going to check on the princess but turning my back on a sad friend is the most dishonest thing there is. I should be the one kicked out of the wedding.”
“All of us should,” Rarity added. “We love you darling and we all feel so ugly for doing this to you!”
All the others nodded silently as they looked at their sleeping friend with teary eyes. At least she didn’t appear to be suffering anymore.
Shining pressed his head against hers. “If we ever wake you up. I swear I’ll let you be my Best Mare again! I love you.”
He sighed and rose, looking at the others.
“Come on, we have to find Flash Sentry. He’s our only chance.”
Flash Sentry:
The young recruit Flash Sentry stood in the castle grounds practicing his spear excercises. Thrusting and performing maneuvers with his wings to imiate dodging an enemies attack. All the other recruits had turned in to rest after their training session was over. Flash was sweating under the sunset but he still persisted. He had to work hard if he was going to become a member of the guard. It would be dangerous work but if he succeeded and survived he could do well for himself. Become someone worthy, be able to support himself and a certain beautiful mare if he got lucky.
He sighed deeply as he thought back to the first time he’d seen Twilight Sparkle. She’d been in a simple dress but he felt it suited her. The sight of her filled his head and caused him to smile, that silly dance she’d done at her birthday which had freaked out the upper class man that night of her birthday when Flash first saw her.
He’d managed to introduce himself to her and make an acquintance. Than he’d gone and visited her in Ponyville several times when his weekend breaks would come. He’d finally worked up the nerve to kiss her on his last visit and she was now his marefriend! Flash felt so lucky to have her, and he hoped that one day he’d be lucky to have her for a wife just like
Captain Shining Armor was lucky enough to soon have Princess Cadence for his.
“Isn’t it past training time?” A voice asked.
Flash jumped. To his surprise he saw Princess Cadance making her way to him.
“Your highness!” he bowed. “I was not expecting you to be here! Having a walk before your wedding tomorrow?”
“Yes indeed,” Cadence said. “I just needed to take care of something.”
She suddenly grinned an evil grin and Flash was surrounded by green fire. He sank into the ground in horror as Cadence turned around.
“With him out of the way, nothing can possibly interfere with my mistress’s plan,” Cadance said.