After she returns from disappearing for several weeks, Princess Twilight Sparkle seems odd. After agreeing to a marriage with a colt she barely knows, Flash Sentry is going to figure out why she is acting so different with the help of new friends.
Twilight Sparkle went missing, and ever since then, a certain stallion has been scrounging Equestria for her. But when Flash Sentry finds Twilight, she seems different, as though she isn't even herself. When he raises these concerns, they are brushed off. So he is left with one option: he has to figure out why she is acting so strange. With the help of a pony named Silver and a griffon named Storm, he is going to have to figure it out. Only problem is, he has to hurry because Princess Twilight has agreed to a marriage with a stallion she barely knows, and he knows that the real Twilight would never do that. Something is up, and he is going to find her.
"Twilight, I'm not so sure about you going by yourself. Surely you can wait until morning," Princess Cadance smiled as she walked beside her sister-in-law. "Or we can send on of the Royal Guard with you. Maybe one of your friends can arrive by morning."
"Cadance, I'll be fine," Twilight Sparkle laughed.
"You're a princess now, Twilight," Cadance sighed. "You ought to be more careful now. Shining Armor told me that there have been threats against Luna and Celestia. Those making the threats may try to go after you to get to one of them."
"Cadance, I'll be careful. And that is why we have the Royal Guard, to protect Celestia and Luna," Twilight shrugged as she levitated a bag and started packing and organizing her belongings. After staying with her brother and Cadance in the Crystal Empire, she decided that she should go back to Ponyville. After all, her friends would be missing her, especially after being gone for a whole week.
"I don't like it," her sister-in-law frowned. "Can't you wait until morning at least?"
"It is only dusk. If I fly, I'll make it there at least by midnight," she reasoned as she fluttered her wings and continued to pack.
"But-"
"Cadance, I'll be fine. I have magic and my wings. I'll be safer than a Minotaur battling a butterfly," she joked. Cadance's frown pulled deeper at the end of her lips. She shook her head vigorously, making her mane slightly messy.
"I won't be the one to let you go at evening," the older princess pursed her lips. Twilight playfully rolled her eyes before closing the bag and placing it on around her neck.
"Come on, I'll send you a letter as soon as I get home," she promised. Cadance sighed, dropping her head slightly.
"I can't stop you, can I?" She murmured.
"Nope. If it makes you feel better, I'll take a Royal Guard with me," she smiled. Cadance smiled in return and pulled Twilight into a hug. Twilight hugged back before pulling away. "Sunshine, sunshine?"
"Lady bugs await," Cadance grinned.
"Clap you hooves and do a little shake," the two said together as they clapped their hooves together and shaked their tails. They giggled as they finished.
"I'll write you," Twilight said again before trotting down the hall.
"Be careful! And take a guard!" Cadance reminded as the younger pony trotted away. Twilight nodded as she continued her little jog to the outside of the castle. Even though the sun was starting to set, several ponies were still out. Fillies and colts were running around while older ponies chatted and laughed with each other.
"Twilly!" A voice shouted. She grinned as she saw her brother trotting towards her.
"BBBFF," she recited as she trotted towards him. "I'm heading home."
"Cadance is going to be sad until you come back," he grinned. "And I'll miss you too."
"I'll write," she shrugged before giving him a hug. "See you later!"
"Bye," he waved as she flapped her wings and flew away.
"I'm worried," a familiar voice came to his ears. He turned and saw Cadance watching Twilight disappear into the distance.
"Why?" He questioned as he went to her side.
"The threat. What if something happens to her?" His wife sighed as she looked to him.
"Twilly will be fine," he grinned before kissing her cheek. "What do you say about getting some hay and apples?" Cadance smiled and nodded. But something in the back of her mind told her that something was going on.
"Before we do that, where is Flash Sentry?" She asked. "I have a request for him."
Applejack sighed as she wiped her brow. Nearly every pony in Equestria was looking for the missing princess. She herself had scrounged all over Ponyville and then went all the to Zecora in one day. She was exhausted after doing that on top of harvesting the apple trees.
"Applejack, what are you doing?" Rainbow Dash questioned as she flew down to the orange pony.
"Taking a break," the pony responded as she rubbed her eyes. "I keep on wondering what happened to her. She isn't anywhere in Ponyville or near Zecora. Zecora has been searching the Everfree Forest too. She said she isn't there."
"Well, even Celestia hasn't gotten any remark from what happened to her," Dash murmured as she landed and walked over to the tree that Applejack was sitting under. "I don't see why anyone would hurt Twilight."
"Hopefully, no one has hurt that filly. Her brother is going crazy over this," she replied. "If anypony put a hoof on her, he would probably destroy that pony. Poor Cadance and Shining Armor."
"Hey," another voice came. The two fillies turned to see the retest of their friends coming towards them. Pinkie Pie wasn't bouncing like normal; in fact, she seemed a bit deflated after the news of Twilight disappearing. Rarity didn't look like her usual self either. Her hair wasn't perfect, but instead, a little frizzy and her fur was slightly dirty. Fluttershy looked worried, more worried than normal.
"Hey," Rainbow Dash and Applejack greeted their friends.
"Any news?" Applejack questioned.
"The only news I have is that no pony has seen Twilight for eight days now," Rarity sighed. "On the other hoof, I heard that Cadance has sent a member of the Royal Guard to Ponyville. You know, that one colt?"
"Oh, the one she liked?" Pinkie laughed slowly, seemingly testing it. "That'll be interesting."
"Fillies, I think we should get back to searching. We'll find her faster if we work together," Applejack suggested. "Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, fly overhead. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and me will search on the ground. When that colt gets here, he can help you two." The two pegasi nodded and flew into the sky. The others started trotting through the forest, their eyes scanning for the violet alicorn.
"Are you Princess Twilight Sparkle's friends?" A voice came. Rarity shrieked as the three spun around. Behind them stood the yellow-orange colt. His wings were folded by his sides as he peered at them. "Sorry to scare you."
"Oh, it's fine," Pinkie Pie smiled. "Who are you?"
"I'm Flash Sentry. Princess Cadance sent me to help you search for Princess Twilight," he explained.
"Oooooohh," Pinkie Pie drawled.
"Well, could you help them two from up there?" Applejack pointed to the flying ponies.
"Hey, I think I saw something!" Rainbow Dash suddenly shouted before zooming off down into the forrest.
"Follow that Pegasus!" Rarity shouted before galloping after her friend. The other ponies did the same. Flash Sentry flew after the rainbow colored pony, the yellow pony flying ahead of him. He had no idea how he was involved in what happened. After not receiving a letter, according to the castle's maids, Princess Cadance freaked out and started sending Royal Guard ponies out after the Princess Twilight. He was recruited, though he wasn't exactly fighting that part. In truthfulness, he did like the violet alicorn when he first saw her. When she bumped into him for the first time, he felt something. For some unexplained reason, he felt a spark of energy fly through him from where their fur touched. Maybe it was because she was a princess, he had thought. But it felt slightly wrong to say that when he saw her again. Her purple eyes had soe,thing that he had never seen in another pony.
It also made him fear for his sanity. Although his Captain, Shining Armor, and the Pricness, Cadance, had married, he knew there was not a chance he would even be allowed the chance to even get to romantically know Twilight. He knew he liked her as a crush, but he knew it would never be returned. She was a princess while he was just a member of the Royal Guard. He didn't even do enough to to be rewarded.
"Twilight!" A voice snapped him out of thinking. Below, he saw the fillies gathered around a familiar violet filly. He grinned happily as he lowered himself down to the ground until he noticed that her eyes were closed.
"Can you carry her, Dash?" The Orange filly questioned the rainbow Pegasus.
"It'll be tough," the Pegasus murmured.
"I can do it," Flash volunteered. The fillies turned to him, as though just then remembering he was with them.
"We've got to get her help," the earth pony stratched her forehead. "You sure you can do it?" He nodded before the filly nodded as well. Within a second, he pulled the princess into his arms and flew off, the two pegasi following him. Something didn't feel right when holding the princess. There was no spark of energy this time. Perhaps because she is asleep, he thought. He waved the thought off with the mention of the remaining fact: she was a princess while he was just a Royal Guard pony.
"What's going on?" A voice came. His eyes dropped to the filly in his arms. Her eyes were open now, but instead of being purple, they flashed green for a moment. He almost dropped her as he saw that. It was so strange.
"You are safe, Princess Twilight," he assured. It must have been a spark of her magic, he told himself. It had to be. "You've been missing for eight days. Do you remember what happened?"
"No," the alicorn murmured before closing her eyes again. "I have no idea."
"Thank you, Flash Sentry," Captain Shining Armor thanked him. "We are indebted to you."
"I wasn't the only one that found her," he smiled bashfully.
"Still, thank you," he bowed his head. "Twilly wants to speak with you."
"Of course, sir," he nodded before walking into the hospital room. Princess Cadance was asleep in one of the chairs, her usually curly hair a mess under her crown. Princess Twilight looked cautiously at him, her purple eyes examining him. They looked normal now.
"Hello, Flash Sentry," she smiled at him. He bowed his head. "No need for that. I'd like to thank you for carrying me here."
"It was no problem, Princess," he murmured.
"Just call me Twilight," she laughed. "I hope my brother has raised your status?"
"I have, Twilly," Shining Armor grinned as he walked in. "I was about to get to that. Flash Sentry, I hope you will accept being moved to an officer as reward for my gratitude."
"Thank you, sir," he beamed.
"That is all," Twilight smiled at him. "Thank you again." As he caught her eyes with his own, once again they flashed a green color. How strange. He turned to leave and closed the door behind him. But as if fate spoke directly to him, the door slightly cracked open. Not enough to be noticeable, but enough for a pony to eavesdrop unintentionally.
"I must accept his offer," Twlight's voice came quietly.
"Twilly, you don't even know him," her brother huffed. Flash turned his ear closer to the door. Who were they talking about?
"It will bring peace throughout the land of Equestria," Twilight argued. "I must marry him!"
Flash gasped as he heard those words. Twilight Sparkle was getting married?
"He is the least adequate stallion for you, Twilight," the captain growled. "You don't even love him!"
His brow furrowed. Princess Twilight was not only getting married, but to a stallion she hardly knew or loved? That wasn't like the Twlight he had heard Cadance and Shining Armor talking about.
"Something's not right with Twilight," a different voice came. He tore away from hearing the conversation to see the five ponies coming toward him. They weren't perse looking at him, but instead, chatting amongst themselves.
"Hey, that rhymed!" The pink pony squealed. Flash hurrily took off down the hall, away from the group.
"I agree. Maybe she is just a little shaken from what happened," a different voice came. It sounded like it came from the white pony.
"Well, try not to mention it when we talk to her," a different voice came. "Hey, Twilight!"
The voice disappeared, leading him to believe they went into the room. He sighed as he thought what they were saying. Still, his mind focused on those little words. She was getting married, and to a pony she didn't even know. This definitely wasn't the pony he had a crush on. It had something to do with those green eyes, and he knew it.
Flash Sentry sighed softly as he looked at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep, not with knowing that Twilight was not the Twilight. Without a second of thinking, he threw back his blankets and trotted over to a candle. He lighted it and watched the flame melt the pale yellow wax. He held it up with his hoof and carried it over to his nightstand. Even after being moved up in status, he choose to remain in his dorm. It was enough for just the pegasus.
Better than nothing, he thought as he set the candle down. Under the lighting, he could see the large book that rested on the desk. With another sign, he turned the cover and let his eyes scan over several names. The names were all familiar, his friends and family. One name stuck out; Silver, his old crush.
Before he became a member of the Royal Guard, he remembered sitting in the school, waiting for his friends who had gotten detention. Being just a colt, he doodled a cloud on a piece of paper.
"What are you doing?" A small voice came. He turned around to see a smaller blue filly. Her wings were tucked to her sides, her blue gray mane dropping in her eyes.
"Waiting," he replied curtly, turning back to his paper.
"For a sign?" The filly questioned as she stepped closer to him.
"No," he retorted with a huff. "Why would you want to know?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "How old are you?"
"Twelve," he answered. "You?"
"Eleven," she smiled as she sat down beside him. "What are you drawing?"
"Nothing," he sighed. "Who are you?"
"I'm Silverdrop," she grinned. "Who are you?"
"Silverdrop? I've heard that name before," he murmured.
"Um, yeah," she laughed nervously. A crimson blush covered her cheeks as she pushed back a strand of her hair. "I kind of won the Equestria Science Fair last month."
"Really?" Flash chuckled. "So you're that kind of pony."
"What?" Silverdrop asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"You know, the crazily smart pony who acts like she is better than everypony else," he shrugged. His eyes flickered back to the filly. Her mouth was opened in shocked, her eyes were wide, and even he had to admit that what he said was kind of awful.
"Is that really what everypony thinks of me?" Silverdrop choked out. He shrugged.
"Lots of ponies do probably," he replied.
"If I am so high and mighty in my saddle, then you must be riding above the rest," she huffed before standing.
"You know why everypony thinks like that?" Flash started to say. "Because you don't talk to very many ponies."
"No pony wants to talk to me or be my friend," she hissed. "They just want answers on their homework and tests. Nice meeting you, Flash Sentry." With that, she unfolded her wings and started to fly away. He watched her, feeling bad about what he had said. But what she said was true, much more true than what he said.
"Hey, hold up," Flash shouted as he flew after her. The blue filly stopped in midair and spun around to face him.
"What would a pony like you want with a pony like me?" Silverdrop growled as she quickly wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry about what I said," he murmured, his eyes dropping to see the towns on the ground.
"Have you ever been on the ground before?" Her small voice came. He shook his head no. Before he could react, she grabbed his hoof and dove towards the ground, pinning her wings to her side.
"Ahhh!" Flash screamed as they plummeted. Suddenly, she spread out her wings just feet above the ground. The wind swept them upwards as she began to start flapping her wings.
"What a rush," she squealed happily as they flew above the heads of some earth ponies. "Hi!" She waved her hoof at a filly and a mare. The earth ponies waved back with a smile. "The earth ponies don't really just want answers from me. Plus, they have more animals and trees." She pointed to a small brown creature that scurried up the trunk of a tree. "Ain't it wonderful?"
"Wow," he managed. "So this is the ground."
"Yep," she grinned as she landed on a tree branch. "I think we got off on a bad start. I'm Silverdrop, but just call me Silver."
"Flash Sentry," he laughed. "Call me Flash."
"So Flash, do you like to play games?" Silver beamed.
"Not really my thing," he shrugged.
"Mine though," she said as she pointed to the cutie mark on her flank. It was a dark blue gaming controller. He knew ponies that had games and stuff, but he had never met one who had a talent like that.
"That's cool," he blushed as his small tail covered his blank flank.
"So what do you want to be when you grow up?" Silver questioned as she took a strand of her tail a don started to braid it. "I want to be a scientist. But I think if I mixed science with gaming, I could make something new."
"A scientific gamer," he laughed. Her cheeks turned red for a moment before he continued. "Part of the Royal Guard."
"So you want to guard the princesses?" Her eyes grew wide. "Woah."
"Yeah," he murmured.
"Hold on, the best part is coming!" She suddenly squealed as she pushed back branches. "Look at this." He peered through the branches that she held back. In the distance, the sun glowed several colors.
"That's the princess," he gasped as he saw Princess Celestia lower the sun.
"Yep, and here comes the best part," she laughed. As soon as the sun set, the moon appeared, rising slowly in the sky. "She does it all by herself now. Her sister, Princess Luna, used to rise and lower the moon."
"What happened to her?" Flash questioned. Silver started to explain and soon, they sat through the night until morning, talking. It was the start of their friendship.
He picked up his quill and wrote the name Silver. He hoped she would help. She had always been smarter than him, even if he wouldn't admit it aloud. He quickly wrote a letter summarizing what he thought and quickly tucked it into an envelope. He knew just who to write the next letter to: one of his friends from flying camp, Storm. He quickly wrote the next letter and put it into an envelope as well. He needed to mail them right away because it would only take so long for Twilight and the mysterious stallion to be married.
Even the words felt bad on his tongue. He sighed as he thought of seeing the youngest princess be married. No, he had to do something, and it needed to be done quickly.
He had flown towards the next cloud circle. Just as he was about to dive through it, another Pegasus crashed into him. A screamed escaped his lips as he felt pain in his wing. His wing fell to his side, screaming in agony as he lost control of his wings. He plummeted to the ground, through a bright cloud.
"Hold on!" A voice came. In front of the sun, a black figure appeared before diving towards him. Flash screamed in terror. Suddenly, he felt claws wrap around him, slightly digging into his fur.
"Griffin!" He cried as they fell.
"Shut up for a moment, will ya?" The creature huffed as he spread his wings. "Now, you can thank me when we get back up there." The griffin carried him up back towards the clouds. "What happened, dude?"
"Somepony hit me," he muttered as they reached a cloud. "That was fast."
"Griffins can usually fly faster," the griffin shrugged as he let go of Flash. "I'm Storm Breeze, a griffin at your service." Storm Breeze laughed as he did a fake bow.
"Flash Sentry," he smiled as he held up his hoof.
"How's your wing?" Storm Breeze questioned as he shook his hoof. His own eyes dropped to the wing. It was slightly swollen and the more he looked at it, the more it hurt.
"Could be better," he managed.
"Well then, let's go," the griffin grinned as he helped Flash over to an adult Pegasus.
After that, the two were like a horse shoe to a hoof. They stuck together for the rest of the summer camp. When they left, they kept in contact for four years until Storm Breeze moved with his family to a different part of Equestria. That was just six months before he joined the Royal Guard and when he met Twilight.
Suddenly, a knock came at his door. Flash jumped awake, startled that he was no longer flying with the black griffin among the clouds. He rubbed his eyes, tired, before standing and walking to the door. As he opened it, a sense of malice seemed to cover him.
"Princess?" He questioned as he stared at the purple pony in front of him.
"May I come in?" She asked politely as she gazed at him. He nodded and opened the door for her to step in.
"Princess, what is it that you need?" His voice came out shakily as he watched her sit down in a chair.
"Nopony is giving me any clue as to which path I should choose," she murmured. "Before I left the crystal empire, I got a letter. A prince from some kingdom, he threatened to take over Equestria unless I convinced Princess Celestia or Pricness Luna to marry him." Her purple eyes found his. This time, they didn't flash green. "I wrote him back, asking if I could take their place. And he said yes. I can't let Equestria be destroyed by a tyrant without trying to stop him. I know you overheard."
He gasped as he looked at her. "Princess, I didn't mean to."
"No, it's not like all of Equestria will never know," she shrugged. "But you do understand?" He slowly nodded. "Thank you. Now, I do believe that I am suppose to be with my friends. I had to see you though. My brother didn't understand so it's okay if you don't too."
"I understand," he murmured, though he did feel an ache in his chest as he said it. "Is that all, princess?"
"Yes," she smiled. "Thank you for understanding, Flash Sentry." She stood to leave. "Would you like me to mail those? I'm passing the Royal Guard mailbox as I leave. It will save you the trip."
"Thank you for the offer, princess," he bowed his head. "But I must refuse."
"Very well," she laughed. "Have a good day, Flash."
"You too," he nodded curtly as he followed her to the door and held it open as she walked out. As he closed it, he knew why he refused. He was onto her, though she seemed perfectly normal. He couldn't have her knowing that. He trotted over to his desk and grabbed the letters. The sooner he mailed them, the sooner he could get to the bottom of it. If it was into that easy.
Green eyes. They bared into him. They glowed as they slowly moved away from him for a split second before returning to him.
"Get away from her," a distorted voice cried from his right. He turned slowly to see Twilight running towards him. "Flash, get away from her."
Suddenly, light spread over them in a fiery green beam. Twilight reached his side, her wings covering her violet eyes. They found his own in a quick fashion.
"Princess," he coughed. His voice was hoarse as he spoke. "What are you doing?"
Before he could react, she tackled him to ground. His eyes were wide as she kissed him, almost desperately. Her eyes flashed open. The usual violet irises were a sickly green. She screamed as her hooves covered her eyes.
"Princess," he shouted as he stood. Suddenly, her purple fur darkened into a black color. Holes crossed through her legs. Her mane and tail turned a disgusting green as did her eyes. "You're a.... a-"
"Flash, help me," she screamed.
He jumped awake, his wings darting up. What had just happened? He rubbed his eyes with his hooves to wake up fully. He sighed before getting out of bed. Suddenly, the fluttering of papers caught his ears. He jumped, still rushing with adrenaline. Two small letters rested right beside his door. It must be their answering, he thought. He grabbed them and quickly tore one open.
Dear Flash Sentry,
I can not believe you. After ignoring me for so many years, you think you can just write me a letter and have me at your hoof... And you would be right. I'm coming down from Cloudsdale this week so I can stop by. See you soon!
Sincerely, Silverdrop
He grinned. Of course, she would be dramatic and jocose. Thankfully, she was at his side. She was always interested in an adventure. He placed it down and tore open the second letter.
Dear Flash Sentry,
You know me too well. I'm in for an adventure!
Awesomely, Storm Breeze
He rolled his eyes at the simple letter. His two best friends were coming. And his dream made him have a hunch.
