//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Dreams in the Light // Story: One Guard, One Princess // by Ember Flare //------------------------------// It was just a normal day at guarding, and Flash was standing in front of Twilight’s quarters. He looked around, and heard a scream. It was coming from Princess Twilight’s room. He rushed in, and Twilight being captured by a dark figure. “Help me, Flash!” Twilight called out. Flash had no time to lose. He ran up to the dark figure, but before he could could get to Twilight the figure threatened him. “One step closer, and your beloved princess goes off the side of the balcony.” He said in a deep voice, then laughed evilly. Twilight shook her head. “Don’t listen to him, Flash!” He let out another evil laugh.“In other words, either way I was going to do it anyway.” The figure smiled. “Just for fun and a good laugh.” He let go of Twilight. Flash dashed forward and caught her. He saw that she was all tied up. She looked into his eyes, breathing heavily. “You saved my life.” Twilight said calmly. Flash placed her safely on the ground, and shook his head. “Not yet.” Twilight had a worried look on her face. “Flash, you have to be careful.” She insisted. “He’s like Tirek. He’ll take your powers and use them to his own benefit, like he did to me.” Flash thought for that moment. “That doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you are safe.” He darted up back to Twilight’s balcony. “Oh, so you came back to fight.” The dark figure said in his raspy voice. Flash growled. “Of course I did.” The figure laughed. “You’re only doing this to save your beloved princess aren’t you?” “I’m doing this to protect her.” Flash answered. The figure disappeared into a shadow, but Flash could still hear him trotting around. “Show yourself, coward!” Flash called out. It laughed. “Me a coward, no.” He reappeared Flash, knocking him over. “Face it, love has made you grow weak.” “I’m not in love with her, I just want her safe.” Flash said. The raspy voice laughed again. “That is coming from your head, isn’t it? Face it, you will never be her hero.” The figure disappeared into a shadow once more. “First, she is her own hero. Second, she already has a coltfriend.” Flash paused and held his breath. “No, she doesn’t.” “Then see for yourself.” The shadow insisted, while he pulled out a mystical mirror, putting in front of Flash’s face. Twilight was inside her room. There was a knock on the window. She went to go get it, and a stallion came in. He kissed her, and Twilight kissed him back. The magic faded away into a reflection of Flash. The figure was right behind him. “So in other words, there's nopony who loves you.” “There might not be, but I can still save her.” Flash punch him in the face, knocking him out. “Never had a chance to take my powers, huh?” Flash smiled. “And that’s enough tormenting for you, metapony.” Flash flew down toward Twilight. She looked up at him, and smiled. Flash landed beside her, when she told those words, “You’re my hero, Flash.” Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Flash in a hug, putting her forehead against his, looking into his eyes. Flash did the same, but something surprising then happened. Twilight closed her eyes and started giving him a kiss, like a real kiss. Not one that was on the cheek or forehead, one right on the lips. Flash first went wide eyed, then closed his eyes, relaxed, kissing her back. But a strange thing started happening. He started hearing his name being called out by the princess. “Flash... Flash…. Flash?” Flash found himself still in front on of Twilight’s quarters, snapping back into reality, and making out with the head of his spear. Twilight was in front of him, trying not to laugh. Flash instantly dropped his weapon on the ground, turning a bright red. “P-princess, w-what a sur-rprise t-to see you h-here.” Flash stuttered nervously, while rubbing the back of his neck. Twilight couldn’t help but let out a brief giggle at this time. “Well you are my guard, but if I may ask...” Twilight continued. “why were you making out with... umm…” Twilight pointed to Flash weapon. Flash’ eyes grew wide. “Umm… well…” Flash wasn’t able to finish his sentence, since the princess had started laughing. Twilight was laughing so hard, she was crying. Flash smiled, forgetting about what happened, and chuckled a bit. He was glad to see the Twilight laughing, even if she was laughing at him. Twilight eventually stopped laughing, looking at Flash. “Well… I should get going…” She smiled. Flash was unsure about one problem. “Princess, how did you know… well… to come out here?” Twilight smiled. “You were calling out “Princess”.” She chuckled. “And you’re the only one calls me that.” Twilight turned to go back in her chambers. She turned around, but before she could go back into her quarters, Flash called out her name. “Princess.” He called. Twilight turned to look at him. “Yes, Flash?” She asked. Flash began to feel nervousness come over him. To himself he was in a panic mode. What am I doing? I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I CAN’T DO THIS!!! Flash told himself. “Umm… do you want to hang out sometime?” Flash asked. “As in, can I show you around the empire?” Twilight smiled, while nodding her head. “I would love that.” Flash was shocked. “Umm… great, that’s great.” That was all he could say. “So, when shall the tour start?” “Give me ten minutes.” She started walking backwards to her room. When she got back in her chambers, Twilight was breathing heavily. Knowing she wasn’t being asked on a date or anything like that. She looked around, and saw Spike sitting down in the corner, reading a comic. He looked up in curiosity. “Is everything okay?” Spike asked. Twilight nodded. “Yeah, I just need to get ready for something.” Spike grinned. “For what?” He got up, and walked over to her. “Is it for a date with, oh I don’t know… Flash?” “No.” Twilight face was turning a bright red. “I am just hanging out with him…” She sat in front of a full length mirror, looking at herself. “In ten minutes.” Twilight sighed. Spike stood next to her. “What are you guys doing?” Twilight used her magic to levitate a brush from out of her drawer, and started brushing through her mane. “He’s showing me around the empire.” “But I thought you already knew all of the empire.” Spike said. “I do.” Twilight sighed. “It’s just, I didn't want to say no to him.” “Why?” Spike smirked. “Is it because you have a crush on him?” Twilight eyes grew wide, stopping what she was doing. “I do not have a crush on him, okay?” Her face started turning a bright red. “Are you sure about that?” Spike asked in a deleterious tone. Twilight sighed. “Spike are you going to keep asking me these questions?” He shrugged. “I don’t know.” “Why don’t you go read your comic book… umm… what was it about?” Twilight glanced at his and levitated his comic over to Spike. “Meh, really nothing’s happening.” Spike answered. “I thought of reading one of the comics that you bought but, it’s just really cheesy. What is this? Isn’t this the comic you got like, yesterday?” Twilight looked at it with shock. It was the book she got the day before. “Spike you’re just a baby. You shouldn’t fill your head with this.” She took the book with her magic, putting it in the dresser drawer. “Is that why it doesn’t make sense, I think it’s all like about hidden….” Then it clicked in Spike’s mind of what was happening. “This is about you and Flash, right?” Twilight glanced at the floor. “Maybe... but he doesn’t like me.” She smiled nervously. “It’s not possible. He probably already has a marefriend.” “What if I told you that, he did like you?” Spike asked with curiosity. Twilight answered with the following question. “What if I told you Rarity liked you?” Spike thought for moment. “Point taken.” Meanwhile…… Flash buckheaded himself. This is what happens when I daydream about the princess. It’s impossible for me to be her hero. For Celestia’s sake, she saves Equestria every single day. I mean Princess Twilight is the Element of Magic, and is the newest princess in here. He sighed. She’ll just never she me the way I see her. He reached down to pick up his spear, when he had a vision of his past. *FLASHBACK* The eight year old Flash Sentry was looking out the window. Watching Luna’s night sky, in his room, which was the the drafty attic. It was always either too hot or cold up there. “If only my parents didn’t leave me here.” Young Flash whimpered. “Why did I have to be an orphan?” Tears started running down his cheeks. “Why does nopony like or care me about me?” “Brat, is that you?!” A voice yelled from the other side of the door. Pounding on the door so hard, almost knocking it down. Flash looked over, across the dark room, at the door. He started walking, trembling with fear, toward the door, opening it. A dark, tall, stallion on the other side. The young colt didn’t dare look up at him. “HEY, YOU DIDN’T ANSWER ME, BRAT!!!!!” The stallion throttled him by the throat. “What are doing up so late, on a school night?” “I wasn’t tired.” Flash answered plainly. The tall stallion growled.”Get to bed! You have school and a job tomorrow!“ Flash looked over at his bed. All it was a cardboard box, laid flat on the ground, and a blanket, spread over top of it. He sighed. “Why do you treat me this way?” “Because we adopted you, now you pay us respect by doing things for us.” He answered. “And doing that is doing jobs for us.” “Why?” The stallion looked upon him angrily. “That’s it.” He grabbed something out of the room, and started beating him. “This is what you get for disrespecting me.” Tears welded up in his eyes. “Please stop!” He pleaded. The stallion let go of him. “Next time you’ll be smarter than talking back to me.” Young Flash looked up at him, with a bruised face and tears in his eyes. “Yes sir.” He trotted to his bed. “Now get to bed, brat.” The stallion turned around, slamming the door behind him. Flash ran out of his bed, trying to open the door, but couldn’t. It was locked from the outside. Walking to his window once more, into the night sky. “One day I’ll become a captain of the royal guard, and make it illegal for fillies and colts being treated this way.” The young colt said. “It’s not fare, for anypony.” He touched his face and grimaced. “Why? Why am I not loved?” Tears ran down Flash’ face. “I’ll never be loved, ever.” *END OF FLASHBACK* Flash found himself breathing heavily, dumbstruck about what happened. Finding the princess in front of him. “Are you okay, Flash?” She asked. He nodded, with a fake smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Flash answered. “Are you ready? For hanging out I mean?” Twilight nodded. “Yeah. Shall we?” Flash bowed. “After you, princess.” He smiled. The purple alicorn did the same. “Oh, whatever.” Flash and Twilight started to walk out of the Crystal Empire, but neither of them knew that five pairs of eyes were watch them walk and talking all the way down the hallway. The rest of the Elements of Harmony were giggling, for later teasing a friend. That friend was Twilight Sparkle.