A Casual Get Together
The train from the Crystal Empire stopped at the Ponyville train station, where Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends were waiting for Princess Cadence. She had written to Twilight a few days earlier that she was going to visit Ponyville and have brunch with her and her friends at Sugar Cube Corner, just like what Princess Celestia did when she had brought her pet phoenix, Philomena. Twilight was so excited; it was the first time Cadence was going to visit Ponyville and she was eager to spend time with her again, the last time being her adventures into the human world; unfortunately, Shining Armour had to stay in the Crystal Empire because of some military duties with the Crystal Castle Guard. Nevertheless, the young Alicorn Princess was still in a cheerful mood. With her was Applejack and Rarity; Pinkie Pie was preparing the brunch at Sugar Cube Corner, Rainbow Dash was busy doing weather duty and Fluttershy was tending to her one of her sick animals again, promising that she would arrive at the brunch shortly.
"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" exclaimed Twilight eagerly, yet nervously. "I can't believe it! She's here! Do I look good? Is Pinkie done with the brunch preparations? Should we have prepared more decorations?!"
"Calm down, sugar cube." assured Applejack. "It's not like the summer's sun celebration. It's just a casual get together. I betcha' Cadence will like whatever preparations we made for her."
"Applejack is right, deary." added Rarity. "Besides, this is Cadence, your foal sitter. I do believe it wouldn't be that much of a problem if she arrives in Ponyville with a humble greeting."
"You're right, girls." Twilight sighed. "I shouldn't be worried. What could go wrong? It's just like another casual get together..."
The train car which carried the flag of the Crystal Empire had its door opened and Twilight excitedly ran toward it to greet Cadence, with Applejack and Rarity following close by. She reached the door and prepared to greet Cadence with the "Sunshine Ladybugs" dance. But instead of seeing her old foal sitter, she saw somepony else; an orange-furred Pegasus wearing Royal Guard Uniformed Armour. On his back were some bags, which belonged to Cadence.
"Your highness?" asked the Guard Pony to Cadence, who was still in the train car. "Where shall I put your bags?"
Before Cadence could reply, Twilight, who was blushing at the sight of the stallion, said,
"Flash... Sentry?"
Immediately, the pegasus looked at the young Alicorn and was surprised, his wings opening up.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle!" He exclaimed. "I didn't see you there."
Twilight stood there speechless for a while before Cadence finally came out of the train car to greet her.
"Twilight, hey!" she greeted.
Twilight shook her head and replied to Cadence's greeting.
"Cadence!"
The two then proceeded to do their traditional "Sunshine Ladybugs" dance.
Sunshine, sunshine
Ladybugs awake!
Clap your hooves
and...
Before they did the "do a little shake" part, Twilight noticed Flash Sentry, who was blushing at the sight of the two princesses dancing. She immediately stopped and stood up, blushing out of embarrassment. Cadence noticed this and smirked a bit. She then looked at Twilight and said,
"Why'd you stop?"
"Uhmm..." Hesitated Twilight. "It's just... a bit awkward to do this... in public...."
Cadence giggled, knowing of course why her sister-in-law was embarrassed. She decided to put that away and continued,
"Well then, shall we be off to brunch then?"
"Oh, uhmm... Of course!" Twilight replied. "Follow me!"
Cadence then looked at Flash Sentry and said,
"Flash, let's go. We mustn't be late for brunch."
"Yes, your highness." Replied Flash, following behind them.
As they made their way to Sugar Cube Corner, Rarity and Applejack looked intently at Twilight, who looked nervous. They knew, after her adventures in the human world, that she had a certain crush on this guard pony whom Princess Cadence brought along with her.
"What's the matter, Twi?" asked Applejack jokingly. "You were so excited to see Cadence just awhile ago."
"There's nothing wrong, Applejack." Twilight replied, still a bit hesitant. "Nothing at all."
"Really now?" added Rarity. "Could it be because of that smashing guard pony Cadence brought along?"
"No!" Twilight replied, a bit angrily. "What made you think about that?"
Cadence, who was a bit behind them overheard the conversation and giggled. In her mind, she thought,
"I've always wondered if little Twiley did have a liking to this Flash Sentry. Ever since she came back from that other world, she didn't stop talking about that guy she had met in the other world who happened to share the same name as this guard pony of mine. Let's see if Twilight will like this Flash Sentry as much as she liked the Flash Sentry of the other world."
Far behind, Flash was just following behind. He noticed the argument of Twilight and her friends but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. He himself did have a bit of a liking to Twilight, but due to his duty as a Guard Pony, and the fact that she was his boss' sister he tried to suppress this feeling.
They finally arrived at Sugar Cube Corner, where they were greeted by Pinkie with her Party Cannon, which shot confetti into the air as Twilight, Cadence, Applejack and Rairty entered the shop.
"Hello and Welcome!" greeted Pinkie.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake came over to Princess Cadence and greeted her with bows, saying,
"It is an honor to have you as our guest, your highness."
"The pleasure is mine." Replied Cadence with a humble smile. "Shall we have brunch now? To be honest, I am feeling a bit hungry, myself."
"Oh, why of course, deary!" replied Mrs. Cake.
Soon, everypony was at table in Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight was near the door, waiting for Fluttershy, who had promised to arrive shortly. She was still mixed with emotions of nervousness and excitement. Applejack and Rarity were seated with Cadence; Rarity was asking for some tips on how to crystallize her dresses while Applejack asked for some recipes that the Crystal ponies made. Pinkie Pie was taking care of entertainment for the guests. Flash Sentry stood outside, being a guard pony. He had to admit, he kind of wanted to join in the brunch, but his duty was to guard the princess, not to mingle with her affairs.
Coincidentally, Fluttershy arrived; she had just finished taking care of one of her sick animals and made it just in time for the brunch. Seeing her about the enter the shop, Flash extended his wing to block the door, saying,
"Halt! Who goes there?"
Fluttershy shuddered a little. Flash saw this and felt bad; he didn't really like doing that, but he had to since it was his duty. The yellow pegasus was about to leave when she glanced at the stallion intently.
"Ummmm, excuse me..." she said. "but, aren't you that colt whom Twilight sort of has a crush on?"
At this time, Twilight was walking by the doorway to see if Fluttershy had arrived. Hearing what she said, she immediately zoomed out and blocked the pegasus' mouth with her hoof before she could say anything else. Then looking at Flash Sentry, who was surprised at what she had said, she said with a embarrassing laugh,
"Heh heh... Oh, Fluttershy says the craziest things, doesn't she?"
Flash Sentry just stood there speechless, blushing a little. Twilight, embarrassed herself, proceeded to bring Fluttershy inside. She made a sigh and said to Fluttershy,
"Fluttershy, I can't believe you just said that!"
"Oh... I'm sorry." she apologized. "I didn't know that it was a secret."
"It's not a secret, Fluttershy!" Twilight replied. "It's just... I.... I don't.... really...."
"You don't really what?"
Twilight sighed.
"I'm not sure Fluttershy... I mean... he does remind of that guy from the other world, but it's just... I don't really know if... he's him..."
"I don't think I follow." replied Fluttershy, a bit confused.
"Never mind, Fluttershy." said Twilight. "Come on, let's go have brunch with Princess Cadence."
The two then joined Cadence and their friends at table. Twilight sat beside Cadence on her right, her ears flopping down and a frown on her face. The older Alicorn saw this and was worried. She did not want her little sister-in-law to feel sad during her visit. She leaned over to her and asked,
"Twilight, what's the matter?"
"Cadence," she replied. "I'm not sure if I should be excited or nervous. I mean, I was expecting that you'd come to Ponyville and we'd spend time together, but now, I feel... very awkward..."
"Is it because of Flash Sentry?" asked Cadence.
"W-what made you think that?" Twilight replied hesitantly.
Cadence gave Twilight a look which made her reply out honesty and humility,
"Yes..."
Cadence smiled at Twilight and stroke her mane with her right hoof.
"You look just like your brother when he first asked me out."
"Well, that's not helping." Twilight blushed.
"Twilight, I know that this Flash Sentry may or may not be like that Flash Sentry you met in the other world. But if you like somepony, it doesn't really matter if he is or is not like somepony else. If you like him, you shouldn't feel awkward about it."
Twilight paused for a while and looked at Cadence, who was smiling at her.
"Would you like to talk with him?" asked the older Alicorn.
The younger one replied with a shy nod, which Cadence replied,
"Well, go ahead. Nopony is stopping you."
"Yes, go ahead, sugar cube!" added Applejack, who, with Rarity was listening to their conversation.
"Yes, sweetie." Rarity added. "There's no harm in trying!"
Twilight took a deep breath and stood up from table, walking toward the door, where Flash Sentry was stationed. In her mind, she had a lot of things to say, but in her mouth, she could not put them into actual words. She began to breathe heavily, but calmed herself down by pacing her breaths. She finally reached the door and went out to see Flash. She found him standing there and noticed a little blush on his face at seeing her come out of the doorway.
"Uhmmm... Flash..." she asked, just as shyly as Fluttershy.
Flash turned his face toward her when she called his name.
"Y-yes, princess?"
"Uhmm... would you like to... join us for brunch?"
"Errr... I'm not sure..." Flash Sentry hesitated.
"It's okay." she replied. "I know... it's not really proper for guard ponies to accompany princesses in eating... but we can make an exception... for now..."
The two looked into each other's eyes for a while, both blushing in the awkward silence. The stallion then shook his head into sanity and replied, a bit surprised and awkward.
"Yes, Princess... I will join you for brunch!"
Twilight smiled and giggled a little at his awkward reply.
"Please, sir." she said. "Call me Twilight."
The two smiled at each other and entered Sugar Cube Corner to continue their brunch with Princess Cadence.