//------------------------------//
// Good 
// Story: Fixing Flashlight 
// by Neroson40 
//------------------------------//

I woke up the next morning with Twilight shuffling around my room.
“Hey,” She said when she noticed I was awake. “I wasn’t watching you sleep if that’s what you think is going on here.”
“I had the suspicion,” I said. “What were you doing?”
“I’ve been in your room before, you let me in. I was setting everything up as it was then.” I looked around and saw that she got everything right. From the posters to the armor decorations. She even had my own armor on a mannequin in the corner… where I usually put my armor when it came off.
“You did a really good job,” I commented. “But why did you do this for me?”
“Because Pinkie planned a party for you, and I wanted you to enjoy yourself, not worry about anything else.” The thought made me feel sick… I knew I had to tell her, but I didn’t want her feeling sorry for me when she could be happy that social progress was being made. I decided not to tell her. Spike came in and asked how I was doing.
“I know it’s hard with what you found-” I made a slashing motion across my throat telling him I didn’t want Twilight hearing it. She looked confused and wanted to hear more, but we refused to say any more on the Subject of last night. Twilight finally shrugged and left saying she was going to get ready for Pinkie’s party.

Pinkie’s parties may be a little kiddy but they’re always enjoyable. I was officially introduced to all of Twilight’s friends.
“Wow, Twi’,” Applejack said when we met. “Ya’ sure know how to pick ‘em.”
“I wouldn’t use those words specifically,” Rarity said. “But I do have to say he is rather dashing.” All this positive attention was making me blush.
“Okay girls,” Twilight said. “Remember he’s taken.”
“And you two make a great couple,” Pinkie said. Then something clicked in Applejack’s eyes, much like it did in Fluttershy’s but it was a different sort of Epiphany.
“Wait… you said your name was Flash Sentry?” she asked. I confirmed that. “My parents died in the same-mph mph!” for some reason I clamped my hoof over her mouth without thinking. But then I remembered what it was she was going to say. I grabbed her by the shoulder and took her to the side.
“Okay, I found out about it last night,” I whispered. “But I don’t want Twilight knowing about that.”
“Oh… gotcha’,” somehow I doubted that, but I just had to trust her. We went back to the others and made up some stupid excuse that I’m sure they didn’t buy, in fact I’m sure they were making it worse in their heads.
The party went long into the night, and then somepony said something to me.
“Flash?” I looked behind me and there was a colt, an earthling with a red coat and unkempt orange mane and tail… I recognized him!
“M-Mac!?”
“Eeyup,” He said simply. “Long time no see bud. Heard about your little… problem. Sorry to hear it.”
“Thanks,” I said. I remembered this guy. Big Macintosh was the older brother I never had. He had dreams of running the best Orchard in Equestria, while I dreamed of being the head of the Royal Guard someday. Then the Catastrophe Fire that was in the papers took both our parents and Granny Smith took me, my sister and Mac’s sisters in until I left to be recruited. I don’t know what my sister was doing… seeing this familiar face brought back so many good memories I almost cried.
“Try taking it in one memory at a time,” Mac said. “It helps Granny when she forgets a lot and suddenly remembers.”
“What happened to Starlight?” I asked.
“That’s something I don’t know.” We just hung out for a while, eating some of his cousin’s proudly made Apple Fritters talking about how we ended up where we were, him with arguably the best Orchard in Equestria, and me General of Twilight’s section of the guard. When he learned that I made an impossible jump in the Military ladder he looked impressed.  We talked for a little bit and eventually he had to go. One of his cousins wasn’t feeling the best.
That was the first good thing that I legitimately remembered, not just saw in my dreams. I wanted to see what else I could get, but that would’ve had to wait for another time. The fireworks (Why pinkie needed those I’ll never know) Ended the night with a bang, all manner of pun intended. 
But my dreams just started to resurface. In that night’s dream I was with Twilight, Shining and Cadence on the train to Canterlot. Shining was staring out the window and the nervous wreck I was, I just couldn’t sit still.
“Calm down, Flash,” Twilight said. “They’ll love you.”
“How can you be so sure,” I asked. “I mean Shining didn’t.”
“He was mad because I didn’t tell him about it; he thinks you’re a good colt, really.”
“I’m right here,” He said. “And yeah, you’re a nice guy, so just don’t be cold and you’ll be fine.”
I spent the rest of the ride in silence. We got off the train and found Shining and Twilight’s parents. I wanted to jump back on the train when I saw Twilight’s dad, but then Twilight grabbed me with her magic and dragged me to them. They shared their greetings and then the parents acknowledged me.
“Twilight? Who’s this?” her dad asked.
“This is Flash Sentry, my colt-friend.” I was worried about what he’d do or say, what guy wouldn’t be when meeting his girl’s parents
“N-nice to meet you sir.” I said, pretty sure my smile betrayed my fear. He raised his hoof and brought it down. I closed my eyes waiting for the blow. But he just clapped my shoulder.
“Good to see you came along son!” he said. I started to relax a little at this but still had some edge in case he was really mad at me for paternal protective reasons. “If Twilight says your good, you must be good.” I gotta say I wasn’t expecting this; he looked and acted genuinely nice. By the end of the dream I wasn’t afraid of him.