Flash’s POV
I didn’t get to see Twilight again until the Equestria Games. I know I make it sound like a long time but now that she’s my girlfriend this entire situation feels different. It carries a certain amount of weight now because this has become more real than it was before. I haven’t really dated for three years and out of the blue I was led to somepony who is so amazing and beyond anything I could have imagined.
A week now without her seems so much longer. Or maybe it’s just that I knew it would only be a week and I just couldn’t wait. Not that I never stress about when we’ll see each other again. Our letters are half catching up and half planning our visits.
Anyway, we were planning to meet up after my shift so we could grab dinner. When I walked away from my post at the Games to take a break, I heard something flutter behind me. Now at first, I thought it was Twilight but the sound wasn’t right. By the time I reached the end of the hallway, I turned around.
“Awe, I was so close.”
“Ruby!” I caught her in my limbs and hugged her.
“Surprise Son.” Whoa.
“Mom! Dad!” No way.
They came up to us all smiles and we had a big family hug. Dad sqeezed me just enough it didn’t actually feel painful. You know how folks say they don’t know their own strength, well sometimes I wonder if my dad does or doesn’t. He’s a dark tanned pony with a black mane that he rarely let’s grow more than an inch and a half.
Mom said, “Please tell us you’re on your break.” Mom has a coral coat and an off white, kind of pink mane. She’s a gentle soul who is kind of scattered brained. She loves us and just wants to keep the family together even if we move all over the country.
“Just started. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“We wanted to surprise you.” Mom responded.
“And Cardinal?”
“She’s in the stands. You know she’s the one who spotted you.” Dad said.
“Of course.” She’s always had those eagle eyes. Gosh I miss this.
“So how about some grub?” Dad asked.
“And then you can watch an event with us.” Ruby hugged me before she whispered, “We need to talk.”
“Hm?”
“Now which way do we go?” Mom wondered. Perfect.
I pointed down the hall. “Down there. I’m assuming Ruby gave you her preferences.”
“Yup.” Dad said.
“Great, I’ll have the same please. If you don’t mind, I need to stretch my wings and Ruby should practice. We’ll meet back here, or we’ll find you. Whichever comes first.” I smiled already turning to leave.
“Well-” Nope, gotta go.
“Thanks Mom and Dad.”
Not my smoothest getaway but it’ll have to do. I’m so out of practice.
Outside, I set Ruby down.
“Not bad for winging it.” Ruby said.
“Thanks. What’s going on?”
“You and Princess Twilight. The news has reach Canterlot.” Crap.
“Mom and Dad know?”
She shook her head. “No, I snatched the page in the newspaper before Dad could read it. No pony else has mentioned it so far. But you’ve got to tell them.”
Well, there goes most of my plan to tell them. And now I might have to cancel on Twilight. This can’t be happening. Okay Okay. I took a deep breath. I gotta talk to Twilight. “Ruby, I need you to cover for me. I gotta find Twilight.”
She gave me a salute. “Yes Sir.”
“Let’s go.”
I dropped her off near Mom and Dad and made my way towards where I hoped Twilight would be. I was hoping to have this talk more in private but we have extenuating circumstances. I turned the corner and peeked towards her seat beside the other princesses. No luck. Darn it. I don’t have time to look for her. Okay. I gotta get back. If it comes up, it comes up. If it comes up, I’ll tell them… no matter how awkward it’ll be.
I made it back to the concessions to find my folks struggling to carry everything. Ruby was on my dad’s back holding her snacks.
I sighed. Some things never change. “Here let me take some of that.” They both protested. I ignored them. This time they put up less of a fight which I think might just be their anxiousness to get back to their seats.
“So we’re in town for a week. When do you think you’ll be free?” Mom asked.
“Weeeeell, I kinda have other plans.” I said. Technically, I don’t have to mention my relationship here.
“As popular as usual.” Dad laughed.
“Something like that.” I said. It’s not exactly a lie.
“What do you mean?” Mom asked. “You told us you made some friends.”
“Weeell I uh-”
“This way Dear.” Mom pointed down an aisle. They lead me to their seats. Cardinal was there waiting.
“Hey great, they found you.”
“I missed you too.”
It still amazes me how much she and Ruby look alike. According to Mom, Cardinal’s coat is just slightly lighter and her mane is more of a coral.
We sat down and ate. I watched the Games with my family but I wasn’t really paying attention. I’ve at least gotta talk to Twilight tonight. I can make it to dinner with my family tomorrow but I’d have to cancel on Twilight and our friends. They’d be disappointed but my folks need to know. I can’t let them find out through somepony else. Right now, all anypony will be talking about are the Games so this is my only window. I don’t know how the rest of the week will be with all this going on but we’ll make it through. We’ll be okay. No problem.
“So Flash,” Mom started.
“Hmm.” I looked at Mom.
“Will you be joining us for your break tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“So long as we don’t intrude.”
“Awe Mom, you could never intrude. Let me just take tonight to move things around. I’ll let you know about the rest of your visit.”
“You don’t have to do that Dear.”
“I want to Mom.” I gave her a side hug. “I miss you guys so much.” She hugged me back.
“Ugh, I wish you were assigned to Canterlot.” She looked at me. “But I’m glad you’ve settled in.”
Not long after that, I got back on my shift. My nerves subsided until that late afternoon. Okay, Talk to Twilight. Talk to Twilight. This talk is going to be uncomfortable. I knew I wouldn’t ask her to meet my parents. Too soon. Knowing her, she more or less has a timeline on how’d she want that visit to go down. We both agreed to meet our parents on the same visit to Canterlot. You know, get it all over with in one fell swoop. It’ll be awkward. It always is. At least, now when we visit my folks it’ll just be the four of them in the household instead of seven. Well, three since she’d met Ruby already and she absolutely adores Twilight. So, one critic already approves.
The real trick now is telling them I’m dating a Princess of Equestria. Now, bringing somepony home to meet the family has always been a big deal. This is a pony we’re thinking of bringing into the family, a pony with us for the rest of our lives. It might work out, it might not. We’ve all gone through enough of these to know pretty much what to expect. We go in, be polite and observe this best behavior kind of dynamic.
Ah, I spotted Twilight at our meeting place.
“Twilight.” I called out to her.
She turned to look at me. She smiled when she spotted me. That lump in my throat and that kind of heaviness in my chest has gotten a lot smaller over our visits. It’s still pretty much there but now I guess it depends on how long it’s been since I’ve seen her. I took a deep breath and we walked towards each other. I took my helmet off and hugged her. “Oh Flash.” She said and squeezed me as hard she could.
I kissed her cheek. “I’ve missed you too.”
Huh, who is…NO… Crap!
Suddenly that lump and heaviness is back. This time, for a whole other reason but uh… think, think-think.
“Mother, Father…” Why? I wanted to punch myself. Mother, Father seriously. Come on, I can do this. I have done this.
“You forgot us Genius.” Cardinal exclaimed. Somehow, that’s what she’s hung up on. I looked at her and then at Ruby.
“Cardinal, shush. Oh bow, bow everypony.” Dad said.
“Oh please you don’t-okay.” Twilight tried to talk them out of bowing.
She looked at me screaming Help! With her eyes. I nodded forward, placed my helmet back on my head and we walked closer to them.
“Please your Highness, forgive us. You must imagine we’re rather… shocked.” Dad said trying to stay calm.
“Please rise.” Twilight said. They rose. “I might be just as shocked you are. I didn’t realize you came to visit Flash.”
“Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that. They surprised me.” I told her. I cleared my throat. “Listen, Mom, Dad… Ruby and Cardinal, this is Princess Twilight Sparkle, my girlfriend.”
“How are you dating a Princess?”
“Cardinal.” Mom said. Mom gently scolded. Odd how parents can do that.
“It’s a legit question.”
“Yes, but…” Mom looked at me. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
I wanted to cry. I don’t know why but every time she cries, I cry. I don’t know. “I-You- You’ve been so worried that I haven’t dated in a while, I didn’t want you to worry. I’m sorry. I-” I felt a hoof on mine. I looked over at Twilight. I saw her bring up her hoof to her chest and take a deep breath and waved her hoof out. Right, Princess Cadence’s trick.
“All right Flash, your Highness, this is all overwhelming. How about we meet for dinner tomorrow night? Our treat.”
I was afraid of that. “Can you give us a sec Dad?”
“Take the night. I’ll make the reservation. No matter what we’ll have a table.”
I nodded. “All right Dad.”
He nodded. “Good luck.” He patted my shoulder.
He started to lead my family away.
“Wait-are we really-” Cardinal tried to start again.
“Tomorrow. Tomorrow.” Mom repeated. I hope she’ll be okay. I know she’s not mad. In a way, she’s kind of sad… weird.
I looked over at Twilight. She was taking deep breaths trying to process what just happened. I did a few with her. We both needed sometime to process this mess.
“I’m sorry Twilight. We don’t have to go to dinner if you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I need time to prepare. Although, I have been preparing for this day for months. The Crystal Empire is still very much neutral for both parties. Further, I only have to meet three new ponies. I can definitely pull an all nighter if I have the proper materials which-”
“Whoa, whoa Twilight slow down! Listen, let’s grab some take out-”
“And spend the night at your place! Perfect, you have the photos, the keepsakes and a corkboard. We’ll have to buy some flash cards while we’re out, but this could work.”
“Wait, you want to spend the night with me?”
“Of course, it’s perfect. Our homes are an extension of ourselves and we are an extension of our families, therefore, your place is the perfect setting to study Lucky for us, we’ve been prepping for this for a while. We just need to organize it to ensure this dinner goes well.”
She started to walk towards the castle. “Come on, I need to pack a small bag.”
Twilight pulled my foreleg. What just happened?