Flash woke up, having a headache and was sore. He barely opened his eyes, when he saw Twilight by his side. He smiled weakly. Flash was about to say something, when Twilight wrapped her forelegs around him. Flash didn't know what to do. Was he supposed to hug Twilight back, or not? Eventually he make up his mind. Flash wrapped his forelegs around her, and close his eyes. He sighed. The only thing that matter right now was this moment. Time passed of not saying anything, and Twilight broke the hug. Flash smiled, so did Twilight. But her smile turned into a frown seconds later.
"What were you thinking?" Twilight asked, in a angry tone.
Flash was confused by the question at first, but then realized what he was talking about. His answer was "I was thinking of helping you."
Twilight looked as angry, as every. "Well I can protect myself, I don't need my guard rescuing me." She shot back.
He was wondering why his princess was acting this way. "That is the reason I'm here." Flash replied. "To make sure you are safe at all times."
Twilight shook her head. "Then don't ever do that again, okay?"
Flash shook his head. "I have to protect and keep you safe, even if that puts myself in danger." He explained. "I can't have you hurt. First, it's my job to. Second I wouldn't be able to live with that guilt from something happened to the you, a princess, or something worst."
She thought for moment. "When you said something worst, do you mean?" Twilight asked, pointing to herself. Flash nodded, which made her gasped. "No."
"But I promise that will never happen to you." Flash said. "I will never let that happen to you." He tried to get off the couch, he was laying on, but couldn't. He was too sore.
"Don't get up." Twilight said. "Lay down, and get some rest."
Flash groaned in pain to lie down. "What happened?" He asked.
"You have a fraction in your wing, and have bruises and some scrapes on you." The princess explained.
"Ugh... that makes sense why I'm so sore." Flash said. He gave a small chuckle, and looked into the beautiful princesses eyes. Just the way Twilight looked at him, made him feel all warm inside.
Twilight let out a small, brief giggle. "I go get some ice and water for you." She said, before leaving the room.
Flash looked at his wing. It was wrapped up on a white bandage. He looked at his hooves, which had scrapes and bruises. That's when Flash realized that he didn't have his armor on. He wanted to look around for it, but Twilight told him not to. Finally he made up his mind, he got off the couch, and started walking around. At first he was a little wobbly, but then got the hang of it. Twilight came back in with some ice and water, and saw Flash walking around. He turned around and saw Twilight surprised.
"Flash, you know you should stay off your hooves right now." Twilight said.
He nodded. "Yes, Princess, but you need a guard with you at all times. " He explained. "The pain doesn't hurt that much, anyway I'm trained to endure injuries." Flash then got curious. "How did you take off my armor?"
"With my magic." She answered, her cheeks turning red a bit. "I just wanted to help you."
Flash looked to the ground, and started walking toward her. "You did, and I appreciate it." He said. "But if I may ask, why do you wanna help me?"
Twilight took a deep breath. "Well...because...umm... because..." Her sentence was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"TWILIGHT!?!?" Spike called. "A letter came in from...." He looked at both of them, with a confused look on his face. "Did I come at a bad time?"
Flash and Twilight looked at each other, then back at Spike. Twilight shook her head saying, "No, anyway..umm..who was the letter from?" She smiled innocently. Flash put on a fake smile, just to pretend that nothing was happening.
Spike held out the letter, and Twilight took it with her magic and opened it. She smiled at once. "It's from Cadence!" She squealed, and kept reading. While Twilight was reading the letter, Flash found his armor, and quickly put it on. Her smile slowly faded away while going over the letter. She took a deep breath. "We all have to go to the Crystal Empire."
"Excuse me, but what do you mean be "we"?" Spike asked.
"I mean you and all the elements of harmony." Twilight answered. "Also known as my friends. But how, the parade is in a few days." She started pacing. "I can't go, but at the same time I have too. How can I do this?" Twilight started to panic.
Flash and Spike looked at each other. Spike nudged Flash, and pointed to Twilight. Flash eyes opened widened, and shook his head. "I can't calm her down, why don't you?" He whispered.
"Or else I'll tell her, that you have a crush on her." Spike whispered.
Flash got a little embarrassed. "No I don't!" Flash said quietly.
"Yes, you do." Spike told him in a low voice, and gave him an evil grin. Flash literally had no choice here. He took a deep breath and tried to go up to her. Of course Twilight was so much in her panic attack, that she wasn't listening to anything else.
"Princess, it's going to be fine." Flash spoke. "Maybe you can get Mayor Mare to organize the parade while you’re gone."
Twilight paused, and smile. "Flash you're a genius." She laughed. "Why didn't I see that before? I'll just give the list of everything that needs to be done, and then tell my friends that we need to leave to the Crystal Empire." She started walking out the door saying, "Come on Flash."
Spike rolled his eyes, and followed Twilight, and Flash followed behind them. When they were out of the castle, Flash caught up with Spike. "Why did you say that I had a crush on the princess?" Flash asked quietly, to Spike.
"Because you clearly do." Spike responded back, in the same tone of voice. "Anyway you wouldn't have calmed Twilight down if you didn't."
Flash took a deep breath. "I guess you're right, but please don't tell her?" He begged quietly. "First, I don't even know if she likes me back. Second, if she does like me, I wouldn't know what to do. Third, what if I confess my feels, and she doesn't care about me. Then I could just ruin our friendship. Fourth, I am just getting ahead of myself, aren't I?"
Spike nodded. "Look just tell Twilight how you feel, and see how it goes." He answered silently. "Who knows, she might like you back."
Flash eyes lite up. "She does?"
"My lips are sealed." Spike smirked.
Flash looked at him and smiled. Then he asked. "What are you to Twilight? Like an adopted brother?"
"Well kinda, number one assistant/little brother."
"Oh, well that makes more sense." Flash then looked at Twilight, and took a deep breath. He started walking faster to catch up to her, but they were already at Town Hall, where Mayor Mare was. Twilight talk to her for some time, then thanked her for everything. Next they all made their way to Sugar Cube Corner. When Twilight opened the door, a pink pony was bouncing all around the place. The rest of the Elements of Harmony turned around, and judging by their faces, they were shocked. Twilight walked in, and sat down at the table were her friends were. Flash still watched her, but didn't sit at the same table. He tried to keep his distance, but Spike ended sitting with him.
"Aren't you sit with them?" Flash asked.
Spike shook his head. "I'm tired sitting with them, and if I sit with you we could talk about sports, music, and not fashion." He answered. "So what do you want to talk about, I for one want to talk about hoofball."
"But it isn't even the right season for hoofball."
"I don't care."
Flash and Spike kept talking and arguing about hoofball and other stuff, while Twilight gave her friends the news about the Crystal Empire.
"I got a letter from Princess Cadence, saying we all have to go to the Crystal Empire." Twilight explained. "But the parade will be soon, so I asked Mayor Mare if she could could do it, and she said yes."
"Why didn't you just get Spike to do it?" Rainbow asked.
"Because last time he tried to helped organize something, it didn't turn out so well." Twilight looked at all them. "It's a very long story, but that is not the point."
"When do we have to go to the Empire?" Asked Fluttershy.
"Well by tomorrow."Twilight answered.
"Isn't there a reason why we have to go, darling?" Rarity looked worried.
"Well no. It doesn't say, but we still have to go." Twilight reasoned.
"Do yah think it might be because of the foul, Twi?" Applejack asked.
Twilight thought for a moment, there was silence.
Pinkie jumped right in saying, "Well duh, it has to be because of the foul." She said. "Or just because they just miss us so much, that they want us to come back."
Everypony looked at her.
"I think we'll take the first reason, Pinkie." Rainbow said, everypony else agreed.
Twilight sighed. "Well I should get back to my castle, to pack and stuff."
"You said "pack and stuff"." Rainbow said. "What does the "stuff" mean."
Everypony looked at her. "Nothing." Twilight blurted out. "It means nothing."
"You still have that crush on your guard." Rarity said.
All of the color drained out of Twilight's face. "No I don't."
Rainbow started laughing. "Yes you do."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No."
"Yes."
"NO!"
"YES!"
"I have to go pack, okay?" Twilight said starting walking. "Flash, Spike, come on."
The two guys looked at Twilight, then started walking away. While walking Twilight thought about what her friends said about Flash. It was true that Twilight had a crush on Flash, but always denied it. One reason was because it wasn't the same Flash from the crazy alternate universe. The other reason was she didn't know if Flash felt the same way for for her. Until she knew how Flash felt for her, nothing would be spoken of it by Twilight. Not even one like about him.