//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: The Party Girl // by Godslittleprincess //------------------------------// Two years later, Flash Sentry was walking out of the Royal Police Academy’s dormitories with a knapsack slung over his shoulder. Snow was falling, and the skies were gray, but nevertheless, he had the warmest, brightest smile on his face. “Enjoy the holiday,” he heard one of his fellow trainees call from behind him. “Thank you. I will,” Flash called back. Then, he made his way to the stables where a certain rose gold reindeer with a glittering, red nose was waiting for him. “Hello, Groat,” Flash greeted the reindeer. “You ready to go home for the holiday season?” Groat snorted in reply, which Flash interpreted as a yes. “Okay, okay,” Flash continued with a laugh. “We just need to pick up Twilight from the Teacher’s Academy. Then, we can go.” Flash opened the gate to Groat’s stall and mounted him. As soon as he did, Groat reared up on his hind legs and bolted forward as Flash hung on to him. In what felt like enough time to blink twice, the two of them were at the front steps of the Teacher’s Academy where Twilight stood waiting for them carrying a small bag of her belongings. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” Flash said to her as he helped her onto Groat’s back. “Not at all,” Twilight replied, smiling back at him. “Let’s just head home.” When the two of them reached the ferry station to Griepsburg, they were greeted by a young woman their age with rainbow-colored hair wearing a sailor’s hat. “Ahoy, the name’s Rainbow Dash,” she introduced herself to them. “I’m the new ferrywoman. I take it you two need a ride to Griepsburg.” “That we do,” Flash affirmed. “I take it that Cranky decided to retire.” “And his wife couldn’t be happier about it,” Rainbow replied with a laugh. “By the way, the ride over is going to cost you and the lady two silver pieces each.” Flash paid the fee as he, Twilight, and Groat boarded the ferry. Flash noted that Rainbow Dash drove the ferry a bit faster than Cranky did. “Sorry that we’re going so slow,” Rainbow Dash apologized. “This engine is kinda ancient, and the old ferryman told me not to stress it out too much. I’ll probably replace it with a newer model once I save up enough.” “Don’t worry about it. You’re doing great,” Twilight assured her while sharing a knowing smirk with Flash. She was honestly glad that the ferry wasn’t going as fast as Rainbow Dash would have liked. The relatively slow pace gave her and Flash a chance to just talk with each other before arriving home. “So, how does it feel, coming home after being away for a while?” Twilight asked him. “When I first decided I wanted to go to the Police Academy, I was worried that leaving home would make me forget what it was like to have one since I had to do without one for so long,” Flash admitted, “but I haven’t forgotten at all, and I can’t wait to see everyone.” “Just think, another three and a half years of training, and we’ll be able to come home for good.” “Yeah, for good,” Flash repeated as he nervously reached into his pocket. Inside was a small box. He looked from Twilight to the smudge on the horizon and back again as he fidgeted with the box. Then, suddenly, he furrowed his brow and pressed his lips into a resolute line. To Twilight’s complete utter shock, he knelt before her, pulled out the box, and opened it to reveal a ring. “I know this is all really sudden,” Flash explained, “but I’ve been thinking a lot about our future and our dreams, and I’ve realized that I want to be part of yours and that I want you to be part of mine. I wanted to wait until we reached home to ask, but I just had to know if you wanted that, too.” “I, I,” Twilight stuttered as she began to hyperventilate. She forced herself to hold her breath and then slowly let it out. Once she was calm enough, she continued, “Flash, I, I don’t know what to say, but I have been thinking about our futures too, and you know what? I do want to be in your future, and I want you in mine, so I believe my answer is yes.” “Wait. What?” Flash uttered, his jaw dropping. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” Twilight threw her arms around Flash’s neck and kissed him on the lips. Despite the pleasant yet numbing shock Flash felt, he had enough presence of mind to deepen the kiss and hold it for a few seconds before pulling away from her. “Boy, are our families going to be surprised when we get there,” Flash pointed out with a laugh as he slipped the ring onto Twilight’s finger. “I think you and your brother have been part of my family since the two of you chose to stay at Griepsburg, maybe even earlier than that,” Twilight refuted. “This is just our way of making it official.”