Equestria Girls: Dimensional Romance

Chapters

Scared to Admit
Longing
Once Loved
Seeking Assistance
Finally Came Back
A Magical Night
Princess Talks
Going for Help
Shimmering Tears
Arrival
Couldn't Stay Away
Two Royals
The Truth
Little Talks
The Wedding (Finale)
Sneaky Plan
Lunar Suspicions

Scared to Admit

It was completely silent in the Magic Mirror room, save for the soft clip-clop of the cyan blue hooves of Rainbow Dash. The Mane Six (minus Twilight), along with the three princesses of Equestria, had been waiting countless hours for Princess Twilight Sparkle to recover her stolen crown from the parallel world and return to her home. It had all been a bit of a blur in Princess Celestia’s mind; her former student, Sunset Shimmer, stole Twilight’s crown, escaped through the portal, while Twilight tore after her. The brilliant alicorn had believed that her newest princess would return, but by now, the chance of Twilight coming back seemed slim.

Suddenly, the mirror portal began to waver and shimmer. Everypony held their breath in expectantly; with a loud sheeeeen, Twilight Sparkle stepped out of the portal. What caught everyone’s eyes was the fact that the purple alicorn was standing upright on her hindlegs, with her forelegs splayed out in front of her. For a moment Twilight wobbled to stay upright, until she realized she was a pony again and placed all four hooves on the floor. Atop her head sat her crown.

Timid Fluttershy was the first to react. “Twilight!” the light yellow pegasus squealed, a happy smile piercing her snout.

Rainbow Dash gave a joyous flap of her wings and embraced Twilight. “Ah, you’re back!” she cried happily.

Rarity gasped and pointed toward the pony’s head. “You’ve got your crown!” she said.

Applejack sniffed and wiped away the tears forming in her green eyes. “Oh, we were so worried,” the orange pony hiccupped.

Celestia stood up and made her way to Twilight. Placing a hoof on her shoulder, the Princess asked calmly, “Sunset Shimmer, is she alright?”

Twilight smiled at her mentor and glanced back at the portal behind her. “I think she’s going to be fine,” the mare replied, “I left her in good hands.”

Everypony looked at each other with perplexed looks at this statement.

“What are hands?” asked Rainbow Dash with a confused shrug of her shoulders.

Before anypony could ask more, the portal made way for Twilight’s companion: Spike the dragon. He landed with a PLOP next to the purple mare. The adorable dragon quickly searched himself, wiggling his tail for good measure before flashing a positive smile at Twilight. Twilight returned the smile.

~x~

Soon after her return, everypony was swarming Twilight with questions about her adventure in the other world.

“Where did you stay?” asked Fluttershy.

“What did they wear?” Rarity inquired.

“Did you have fun?” giggled Pinkie Pie.

“What’d you eat?” asked Applejack.

“Would you say she’s as awesome as me?” Rainbow Dash smugly stated with a confident flap of her wings.

Twilight wavered from her lack of sleep. “I want to tell you everything, I do,” she yawned, “but I’m so exhausted from all the dancing.”

This caught everypony’s attention. “Dancing!?” everypony exclaimed, including Princess Cadance.

Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but only a humongous yawn followed.

Cadance chuckled and placed her hoof on the sleepy mare’s shoulder. “I can tell you wouldn’t even make it back to Ponyville like this,” she said sweetly, “Why don’t you stay in the Crystal Empire for a while longer? Your friends can stay too.”

Twilight finished another yawn and sleepily looked into Cadance’s kind eyes. “Yeah…” she sighed, “I’d like that…”

~Later that night...~

Twilight opened her eyes; that was the fifth time tonight she’d attempted sleep and failed. “Honestly, Twilight,” she scolded herself, “You were so exhausted earlier, so you have to sleep now!” But there was something wrong; something was keeping her awake.

Twilight gently pushed away her duvet and softly hopped out of the bed, fluttering her wings a bit to ensure she didn’t wake anypony up. The purple alicorn quietly made her way to the nearby window and glanced up at the bright blue moon. She had no idea why, but there was a certain feeling inside Twilight that was keeping her awake.

“Twilight? What’re you doin’ up?”

Twilight flinched at the sudden voice and turned her head to see Spike, tiredly rubbing his eyes. “Why’re you still awake?” the dragon inquired sleepily, “I thought you said you were exhausted.”

The alicorn sighed, “Sorry, Spike. I don’t know why, but for some reason I can’t sleep.” She gently placed her hoof over her heart. “There seems to be a growing feeling inside me that’s keeping me awake,” she said.

Spike cocked his head. “What kinda feeling?” he asked, more interested in this more than sleep now.

Twilight sighed and looked back at the moon. “I don’t know, really,” she admitted, “It’s like a flame, no a spark…or a flash-.” Twilight suddenly gasped; Flash? A picture started to form in Twilight’s head; one of a blue-haired teenager with orange skin and an extremely warm smile.

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Flash?” he asked, scratching his head with one claw, “What do you mean a…?” The dragon’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait a minute,” he said, “Flash? You must be thinking about that Flash Sentry dude from the other world!”

Twilight whipped her head around to face her assistant. “What’s that supposed to mean!?” she growled. Spike put his hands out innocently, startled by Twilight’s swift actions. The mare herself’s eyes widened; what on earth was she thinking that Spike meant? Twilight’s cheeks flushed a candy pink with embarrassment. “Spike, just head back to bed,” she said, nudging the dragon, “I’ll go to bed in a moment.” Spike only shrugged as he made his way back to his bed.

Once she heard the faint snores of Spike, Twilight quietly spread her wings and took off through the window.

She landed atop a crystal building, just below the gleaming moon. The beautiful purple mare looked up again, not caring that the moon was making her violet eyes water.

“Flash Sentry?” Twilight called silently, “I know you probably can’t hear me, but there’s something I must get out.” She gulped before continuing, “I know we only met each other a day ago, but it feels like you are more than a friend to me. I never told you, because…well, I was scared. Scared to admit that I might…have feelings for you.” As she spoke, tears welled in Twilights eyes, and not just from staring at the moon.

Twilight said one last thing before flying back into the castle:

“I love you, Flash…”

Longing

"I love you, Flash..."

Flash Sentry's bright blue eyes flew open at the sound of the voice. He quickly sat up in his bed, startled. He recognized the voice.

"Twilight?" No response. Just Flash's empty room. The teenage boy sighed and ran a hand through his blue, spiky hair. "C'mon, Sentry," Flash vigorously told himself, "You were dreaming." He laid his head down to go back to sleep, but he couldn't; not after how much fun he had had with the girl who called herself 'Twilight Sparkle'.

Flash Sentry couldn't take it; why did she have to leave? Why did she have to go back to her own crazy dimension filled with...ponies? "C'mon Sentry, you know you couldn't have been with her," he thought, "She's a pony. A princess, for that matter. Forget about it." "But I can't forget about it!" Flash whispered to himself, tears beginning to sting his eyes, "Twilight seems like the only person I can actually love, now! I tried that with Sunset Shimmer, but it only ended horribly!" Flash finished his tearful rant and fell back onto the bed.

It wasn't long before a flashback began to form in Flash Sentry's mind...

~x~

He couldn't really think for himself; neither could the other students. All that danced around in their minds were Sunset Shimmer's commands. Suddenly, a blast of white filled Flash Sentry's eyes, clearing the hazy green mist, reverting his eyes back to their normal cornflower blue. Flash blinked for a moment before he noticed the other students going back to normal. "Uhh," said one student groggily, "What the heck happened?" Flash took a moment to wonder this as well before he finally saw her: Sunset Shimmer, bruised and battered, laying at the bottom of a huge crater, Twilight Sparkle and her friends standing at the crater's edge.

"You will never rule Equestria," Twilight seemed to be saying sternly to Sunset. It took Flash a moment before he noticed something different about the six girls.

"Wait a second..." he muttered, "Pony ears!? Wings!?" He couldn't really ponder much further, for Twilight was still speaking.

"Any power you may have had in this world is gone. Tonight, you've shown everyone who you really are." The purple-skinned girl motioned toward Flash Sentry and the other students, who had started to walk up to the crater. Twilight continued, "You've shown them what is in your heart." Sunset Shimmer lifted her head and...wait a minute. Was she...crying?

Sure enough, tears streamed down Sunset Shimmer's face as she looked sadly up at Twilight. "I...I'm sorry..." she sobbed, clearly ashamed of herself, "I'm so sorry! I...I didn't know there was another way!" Twilight merely shook her head at Sunset. Flash thought he noticed something in Twilight's violet eyes...was it sympathy?

"The magic of friendship doesn't just exist in Equestria," she stated, motioning toward her friends, "It's everywhere. You can seek it out, or forever be alone." Twilight's pony ears seemed to droop at her last statement, as if she would be sad for Sunset Shimmer.

Speaking of the fire-headed girl, Sunset managed to climb her way up to the edge of the crater, yet still crying in a pool of tears. "B-But...all I've ever done since I got here was...drive everyone apart!" Sunset cried, "I don't know the first thing about friendship!" Twilight bent down and gripped Sunset Shimmer's hand, pulling her out of the crater. With a kind smile, Twilight motioned towards the five girls behind her.

"Maybe they can teach you."

Spike, Twilight's purple dog, waggled his tail excitedly. "Yeah, those are my girls!" he cried happily, clapping his front paws.

One boy flinched near the puppy. "Did that dog just talk?" he wondered aloud, "Woah. Weird."

Spike's face tightened into a WTFluff face. He stared at the boy disbelievingly. "Seriously?" he said, "The talking dog is the weird thing about all this?"

Rarity, one of Twilight's friends, picked up Spike and held him like a baby. "I, for one, think you're adorable," she stated, tickling his chin. Spike seemed to melt at her touch. Flash Sentry couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

Before long, Principal Celestia came out of the crowd, holding Twilight's crown. "Oh, yeah," Flash thought sadly, "She's a princess." But as Twilight knelt down in front of the principal, Flash couldn't help but take in her beauty. He felt himself turn a shade of pink as he continued to stare at the wondrous princess. Suddenly, Flash felt someone push him and he looked to see his classmate, Ditzy "Derpy Hooves" Doo, giving him a thumbs up as well as her wall-eyed stare. Flash glared at the gray-skinned girl. "Derpy," he whispered, "What do you want!?" Derpy only motioned towards Twilight, who was just starting to stand up.

"What're you waiting for?" she whispered excitedly, "Now's your chance!"

It took a moment, but Flash finally comprehended and sighed as he walked up to Twilight. Clearing his throat, Flash held his hand out to the girl. "Erm," he said, blushing again, "Would now be an extremely awkward time to ask you for that dance?" Flash smiled sheepishly at the girl, who's cheeks were now a bright pink. Smiling awkwardly, Twilight took Flash's hand, and the official Fall Formal began.

~x~

At this moment, Flash Sentry was still beating himself up. "I should have told her sometime after that," he scolded, "Her crazy dancing is what distracted me! But still..." Flash winced as a tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, crawling back into his bed.

"Quit mocking me, Twilight. I love you too, but you're not coming back..."

Once Loved

Morning seemed to come earlier than Twilight anticipated as bright sunlight streamed through the window. The purple mare yawned as she leapt out of the duvet, stretching her wings. But Twilight could feel something clinging to her face; she rushed into a nearby bathroom to check herself out. But one peep into the mirror made Twilight wish she hadn't checked; tears from last night stained Twilight's cheeks in little streaks. Twilight sighed. "So much for forgetting," she thought sadly as she turned on the water with her magic to wash her face.

Once the streaks were gone, Twilight trudged back into her bedroom and yanked on the small blanket on the floor. "Spike," she moaned sleepily, "Get up."

A soft groan rose from the blanket. "No..." it grumbled, "Lemme sleep..." Due to her train of sadness last night, Twilight just about lost her temper. Using her magic, Twilight took the blanket with Spike still in it and tossed it across the room. Spike hit the wall with a loud SMACK.

Twilight gasped; why did she do that? She'd never tossed Spike like that in anger before!

The alicorn rushed to the now crumpled blanket and removed it, revealing Spike, who was rubbing a sore spot on his head. "Twilight!" he yelled confusedly, "Why'd you do that!?"

Twilight's face flushed pink with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Spike," she said sympathetically, "I don't know what came over me. Really, I don't."

Spike stood up and glared at his boss. "You'd best not do that now that we're heading back to Ponyville today!"

~x~

"All aboard to Ponyville!"

Applejack sighed as she adjusted her hat. "Man, ah always hate leavin' the Crystal Empire," she said, "but then again, ah always hate leavin' home."

Pinkie Pie bounced near the orange pony, a stupid grin on her face. "Yeah! I always despise leaving Ponyville!" she squealed, "Now we gotta get back to Sugarcube Corner to see Gummy and those two adorable baby cakes!"

Rarity looked back at the Crystal Castle with a longing frown. "Oh, I have to agree with you Applejack; it's simply dreadful leaving this wonderous place," she sighed, "Oh, but duty calls at Carousel Boutique. And dear Opalecence must be sick of waiting for me!"

Fluttershy smiled at Rainbow Dash. "We all need to get back," she said softly, "We've all got resposibilities back in Ponyville that can't be turned down."

Rainbow Dash flashed a cocky grin and fluttered her wings. "Yeah! Now that you mention it, I think Tank might be missing me," she admitted, "What about you, Twilight?"

"Hm?" came the response from the purple alicorn, who was drawing tiny circles in the dirt with a stick. Twilight glanced at her friends before saying, "Oh yeah, sure."

Fluttershy set her jaw and padded up to the mare. "Um, Twilight?" she asked, "Are you alright? You look a bit sad."

Twilight's eyes widened. "I'm not sad!" she stated, her violet eyes darting back and forth. Putting down her stick, Twilight stammered, "Um, you know what I just remembered, guys? I just remembered that I, um...forgot something, yeah, at the castle! Yeah! Be right back!" With that, Twilight took to the sky.

Spike shook his head. "There's something goin' on here..." he growled.

~x~

Twilight hadn't forgotten anything back at the castle; she wanted to say a goodbye.

The mare breathed in deep as she stared at the glossy mirror. "Hi, Flash," she sighed, "I just wanted to come and say goodbye. Now, this may seem a bit awkward, but...I just love you too much to not say goodbye." Twilight sniffed; here came the tears. Twilight raised one hoof and gently rubbed it across the glass.

"Flash...know that this is goodbye..."

Twilight peered into the glass and she couldn't believe what she saw: her and Flash Sentry, dancing the night away. Twilight couldn't believe how happy she looked, as well as Flash. He simply couldn't look happier. What happened next made Twilight's heart race even more: Flash held Twilight in his arms as their lips met. By now, tears were streaming down the pony's face; she had always read in her romance novels about how after two ponies (or people) kissed for the first time, their lips will be tingly for the rest of the day or night.

Before long, the image dissapeared and Twilight realized it was just an illusion. The purple mare rubbed her head against the mirror as more tears went down her face. Finally, Twilight simply pressed her lips against the cold mirror before rushing out a nearby window.

When Twilight returned to her friends, she still had tears streaming down her face. Everypony looked at her, obviously shocked. "Oh my goodness, Twilight," said Fluttershy.

Rarity tried to put her hoof on the sobbing mare's shoulder. "Twilight, darling," she soothed, "What ever is wrong?"

Twilight simply smacked her white hoof away and looked at her friends through the saddest and angriest eyes imaginable. "Leave me alone!" she sobbed, running onto the train, "I don't want to talk about it! EVER!"

Everypony piled onto the train, confused and scared for Twilight. The purple alicorn was now sobbing onto a seat, her hiccups stinging the ponies' ears. Applejack steered them all away from Twilight. "C'mon, y'all," she said, "We'd best give 'er some time alone." Twilight cried for the rest of the train ride.

But not before a brilliant idea popped into the mare's head.

Seeking Assistance

Twilight carefully shut the door to the Golden Oaks Library; good thing Spike didn't wake up, or her plan would have been ruined. "No," Twilight thought to herself, "'Plan' sounds evil. I'll call it a wish." She had memorized the spell she wanted in her book of Industrial Inducing Spells, but the alicorn figured it wouldn't be enough. She needed help.

Spreading her wings, Twilight took off towards a certain pony's cottage.

~x~

Twilight grazed her line of vision across Ponyville until she finally spotted it. The mare grinned as she descended. Landing right beside the cottage, Twilight took a moment to admire how brilliantly she'd progressed in her flying technique. But she quickly shook her purple head to clear those thoughts; that didn't matter now. Time to do her best in requesting help from the unexpected.

Slowly trotting in, Twilight glanced around the room and spotted him: the Chaos Draconequus, snoring away on Fluttershy's couch. He was originally responsible for destroying her town, but after he'd become reformed, Twilight couldn't help but consider herself this guy's friend. But she needed his help; after all, he had powerful magic, powerful enough to grant her wish.

Twilight bit her lip as she gently poked Discord's nose with her horn. "Psst...Discord..." she whispered, "Psst...it's Twilight..."

Discord's eyelids fluttered before they were fully open. The draconequus blinked at the purple alicorn in confusion. "Oh. Hello, Twilight," he whispered, "What are you doing here at this time of night?" He let his eyes wander up the staircase nearby and he grimaced. "Oh man, if Fluttershy wakes up..."

"No, Discord," whispered Twilight hurriedly, "I just need your help. Badly."

The draconequus shrugged and quietly hopped off the couch. "Okay," he said, "But can we discuss it outside?" Twilight nodded and the pair wandered out of the house to talk. Once Twilight was finished explaining it to him, Discord sighed through his teeth uncertainly.

"I'm not sure, Princess," he said, "This might get us into trouble."

Twilight placed a desperate hoof on Discord's arm. "Please, Discord," she pleaded, "This is so important to me!"

"How important?"

"If you were me, you would do it for Fluttershy, right?"

Discord's yellow-and-crimson eyes widened and a candy pink blush spread across his cheeks. Twilight smiled; with all the time he'd spent with Fluttershy, Twilight had guessed that Discord might have had a crush on the shy pegasus. Looks like she was right.

Discord let out a defeated sigh. "Fine..." he muttered, then smiled, "It's the least I can do for my friend."

Twilight fought the urge to let out an excited squeal and just hugged the draconequus. "Thanks so much, Discord," she whispered.

Discord merely chuckled. "Let's go to work then, shall we?"

~x~

Both Twilight and Discord hovered high above the ground, the moon in both their sights. Twilight glanced at her friend. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Discord looked at her and dipped his head. "Of course," he said raising his right hand towards the moon, "Let's try this."

Face contorting in concentration, Discord focused his magic and a beam of yellow light shot from his hand. With a dull BOOM, the beam coated the moon in yellow magic. His tongue in the corner of his mouth, Discord controlled the moon until it was level with the two stars below it. Twilight saw her chance and launched a magenta shot of magic from her horn. Once it came in contact with the moon, the lunar body froze in the spot. Letting out a sigh of relief, Discord cut off his own magic.

Twilight flew around in happy loops; it worked! It actually worked! She hugged Discord as happy tears flew from her eyes. "Thank you, Discord!" she cried, "I don't know how I can repay you!"

Discord smiled warmly. "You're welcome," he said, descending as the alicorn still clung to him, "And tell me how it goes with that boy of yours!"

~x~

After a quick farewell to Discord, Twilight flew faster than she'd ever flown before towards the Crystal Empire. The giddiness had literally brought her to do loopy-loops as she made her way towards the kingdom. Once it came into view, Twilight had to suppress a squeal of joy; she was just so happy!

Carefully, Twilight flew into the open window of the room with the Magic Mirror. Taking in a deep breath, Twilight whispered a simple sentence as she stepped into the dimensional portal:

"I'm coming for you, Flash Sentry..."

Finally Came Back

"Flash? Flash. Mister Flash Sentry?"

Flash Sentry looked up with an uncertain "Hm?" from the doodle he was drawing on his paper of a tiny unicorn. Miss Cadance was looking at him from the front of the class with a rather worried look on her face. "Er," Flash stumbled, "Yes, Miss Cadance?"

The pink-skinned teacher set her jaw in a kind frown. "I was checking to see if you were paying attention," she replied before turning back to her chalkboard.

Flash felt his cheeks erupt in red flames; it was always embarrassing when people got caught not paying attention, but this time he was the unfortunate victim. He briefly heard a mean giggle and turned his head to seek it, only to find that the giggler had set her icy-blue eyes back on her work. Flash narrowed his eyes; honestly, what was Sunset Shimmer's problem?

A few moments later, Flash felt the person next to him tap his shoulder. It was Vinyl Scratch of course, for they shared a desk.

"You alright, man?" Vinyl asked, her confused expression visible due to the fact that she wasn't supposed to wear her sunglasses during class hours, "You've started zoning out a lot, lately."

"I'm fine, Vinyl, really," Flash reassured her. Vinyl shrugged and turned her head back to her work, though the uncertainty in her pink eyes didn't fade. Flash silently winced as he looked down at his own paper; he hated lying, even when it was as simple and inconspicuous as this. But what really made him burn was that he was lying to Vinyl Scratch, who was one of his best friends.

Looking at his paper, Flash stared at the tiny doodle of a unicorn. He knew Twilight had had wings the night of the fall formal, but the thing was, he just couldn't believe that there were ponies in that world that had wings and a horn.

Trying to fight back the heavy feeling in his heart, Flash Sentry slowly erased the doodle.

Flash Sentry's downcast mood didn't clear up by lunch. Stepping away from the lunch table with all his food, though, Flash was a bit shocked. Everyone had moved their usual seats! Now, instead of them all sticking to their own kind, they were scattered about, sitting somewhere else. Flash grinned; man, Twilight must have really convinced them when Sunset Shimmer was out of power!

But his grin was only destined to fade away once Flash realized that he'd thought of her name. Trying to take his mind off of it, he walked around, looking for a seat.

"Hiya, Flashy!"

"AH!" Flash nearly jumped out of his skin at this sudden voice. He turned and saw none other than Ditzy Doo smiling at him, her lunch tray in her light gray hands. Flash sighed, "Phew. Hey, Ditzy-"

The blond girl giggled. "Aw, you don't have to be all formal for me!" she chuckled, "It's alright if you call me Derpy! Everyone else does, but I don't mind!" The entire time she was speaking, her straw-colored eyes never left from their truly 'derpy' position.

Flash sweatdropped. "Heh," he said, scratching his head, "Alright then, Derpy."

"Hey, can I sit with you?" asked Derpy suddenly, "I've got nowhere else to go." It took a moment to realize that Derpy never had any true friends, so she usually just sat wherever.

Flash smiled. "Sure. That's cool." Derpy smiled back.

Once they both sat down, Derpy struck Flash with a question he never thought was coming: "So, how was your dance with Twilight?"

Flash Sentry blushed and his eyes widened. "Er...." he muttered, "Fine."

Derpy continued to look at him. "Y'know, I could tell you had a thing for her," she stated, "As soon as I saw you ask her to dance outside the school, then crashed into the door, I knew you were all flustered over a pretty girl!"

Flash fiercely turned to the girl. "And what is THAT supposed to mean!?" he growled.

Derpy blinked and held her hands out in innocence. "S-Sorry..." she whimpered, "I just put two a-and two together, so..."

Flash briskly gasped; did he just make her cry? He didn't mean to! "What is wrong with me today?" Flash thought. He put his hand on Derpy's shoulder. "look, Derpy, I'm sorry I snapped at you," he said, "It's just that I miss Twilight."

Derpy blinked. "So I was right?"

"Yup."

The gray-skinned girl smiled and lightly hugged Flash. "By the way, I accept your apology," she said, her voice faltering a bit, "After all, I know how you feel."

Flash looked at her confusedly. "Are you still on that exchange student we had a few years ago who kept calling himself 'Doctor'?"

Derpy playfully punched Flash's shoulder. "You're not one to talk!" she giggled, "Mister 'I fell in love with a pony princess'!" Flash actually laughed at this and lightly cuffed Derpy on the shoulder. Well, it was at least something to take his mind off of his heartache.

Later that day, once school had ended, Flash had said goodbye to Derpy and was now headed back home. But there was one problem: without his derpy friend to cheer him up, Flash was once again heartbroken. His longing for Twilight Sparkle seemed to haunt him, and it never went away. Flash felt more tears fall from his face. He suddenly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and sat down right there right now; there was no one around to witness his pitiful self anyway.

Flash wondered how it must look to a passerby, a teenager with blue spiky hair and orange skin sitting there, weeping. Must look pretty ridiculous.

"Flash? Flash Sentry?"

Flash looked up from his weeping. "I'm so delirious, I'm hearing voices." he muttered. Then he heard it again:

"Fla-ash? Flash?"

Flash's eyes widened; he knew that voice. It seemed as though all his tears had dried then and there. He started running back towards Canterlot High. His voice cracked as he called out:

"T-Twilight!?"

"Flash! I'm here! I'm right here!"

Then he saw her. Purple skin, midnight colored hair with a purple and magenta stripe going down the middle, blue shirt and purple skirt with an image of a magenta star, and the most beautiful of violet eyes. It really was her. Twilight Sparkle.

Once he realized this, Flash felt tears streaming down his face again, but he didn't care. he had finally found her! Twilight looked like she was crying as well. They both started running faster until they both met in a loving embrace.

"Flash!" Twilight cried, burying her face in the boy's shirt, "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too!" Flash cried, stroking her hair, "How'd you get back? I thought the portal was closed."

Twilight smiled at him as she did the itsy-bitsy spider up Flash's arm. "Little something called magic, Sentry," she said as she rested her head on Flash's chest, "I just couldn't stay away from you."

Flash smiled lovingly. "Don't you fret, my darling. I'm here."

A Magical Night

Flash Sentry had no idea how long he'd been standing there hugging his girlfriend, but he really didn't care. He was finally with her again. Twilight Sparkle. The girl who stole his heart.

But before long, Twilight pulled away from him and stared into his blue eyes, concern in her own violet ones. "Flash," she said, "I actually can't believe I've done this. I forced the portal open to see you...at first it felt like a good idea, but now I feel...icky."

Flash looked at the girl confusedly. "Whaddya mean?"

Twilight shrugged. "I've just never done anything like this before," she admitted, "If Princess Celestia found out, she'd have my wings for sure!"

"Uhh..." said Flash, pointing to himself, "I don't understand pony speak yet." But before Twilight could complain again, Flash placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hey," he said, smiling, "Might as well make the most of this night, then. We'll make it magical, how's that?"

Twilight smiled back at him before giving him one more hug. "Of course, Flash," she said, "What should we do, though?"

As he and Twilight stepped away from the school, Flash put one finger on his chin, deep in thought. After his brief brainstorming, he replied with, "Well, there's a late-night screening of The Hunger Games later. You wanna watch it with me?"

But all the purple-skinned girl did was stare at him in confusion. "Er..." she said, "What?"

Flash chuckled. "Ah, you don't have movies in your world, do you?" he laughed, "Oh, boy. Well, you'll see when we get there."

~x~

As he and Twilight stepped out of the movie theater, Flash was beginning to regret taking her to the movie. One look at her, and Flash grimaced. Twilight's eyes were wide open in obvious shock, her hair a mess where she'd grabbed it and hid her face in it.

"So..." Flash sighed, "I'm guessing you hate me now, right?"

Twilight shook her head. "I must say, that was both good and bad at the same time," she said, "That bit with the girl and the wasp creatures was what really got me." Flash merely nodded; that was most definitely the most gruesome part of the movie hands down.

But as soon as Flash heard peppy music fill his ears, all gruesome thoughts in his head cleared as he grinned at Twilight.

The girl herself appeared to hear it as well. "What is that?" she asked.

Flash smiled again. "Why, we're near a club," he stated, "which apparently has it's doors open." He held his hand out to her. "May I have this dance?" Twilight blinked a few times before giggling and taking his hand.

~x~

As soon as the song ended, Twilight was having the time of her life. But that moment soon ended as she heard the church bell strike midnight. "Oh my gosh," she said, pulling away from Flash, "I completely forgot about the time! I gotta get back to Equestria!"

Flash chuckled. "Okay, then," he said, "Let's skedaddle." And with that, the two made their way back to Canterlot High.

A few moments later, the young couple stood outside the portal, both sighing. "Well," said Twilight, turning to Flash, "I guess this is goodbye, then."

Flash sighed and ran his hand through his blue hair. "Yeah..." he admitted. Twilight gave him a curt nod and began to head towards the portal when Flash suddenly exclaimed "Twilight, wait!" and grabbed the girl's arm.

Twilight stared at him confusedly. "What?"

Flash smiled as a full-face blush coated his cheeks. "Well..." he chuckled, pulling Twilight closer, "There was something I wanted to do before you went back..."

And then he kissed her.

Twilight's violet eyes grew wide; she knew this was the moment she'd been waiting for all night! To be kissed by Flash Sentry. Twilight threw her arms around Flash's neck as she kissed him back.

After a while, both Flash and Twilight came up for air and smiled at each other. Twilight felt her own cheeks turning red. After a quick hug, Twilight stepped again towards the portal.

"Hey," said the girl, "I love you."

"Love you, too," said Flash, "Tomorrow night?"

Twilight smiled as she disappeared in a blast of white. "It'll be our secret..."

Princess Talks

"TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!"

Twilight looked up in horrified shock; she'd just fallen asleep a second ago after returning from the Crystal Castle. Her lips were still tingling from Flash Sentry's kiss, but now her mind was cleared of all her thoughts on Flash. Running out of bed and outside, the purple alicorn looked up and saw a very angry Princess Celestia flying above her.

"Princess Twilight!" Celestia snarled, landing right in front of the scared mare.

"Princess Celestia," said Twilight, "Why are you all mad?"

The princess of Equestria simply jabbed her hoof into Twilight's chest harshly and growled, "You have quite a lot of explaining to do, you dirty filly..."

~x~

"This is your magic coating the moon, is it not?" questioned Celestia as she and the purple mare sat in the Canterlot Castle. As she spoke, she showed Twilight the image of the moon that Luna had conjured a few moments ago. Twilight stared slack-jawed at it, unable to say anything.

"Uhh..."

"Well, Twilight? Speak up, mare!"

"Yes," Twilight quietly said, a small tear creeping into her eye, "Yes, it is mine."

Celestia huffed as she put the image away. "I suspected that," she scoffed, giving Twilight the evil eye, "Can you tell me why exactly you corrupted the moon in order to open the Magic Mirror?"

At this, Twilight let out a slight gasp as she stared at the princess. "H-How'd you know about the portal?" she asked shakily. The white alicorn did not reply; she only raised an accusing eyebrow to make the feeble pony talk. Twilight gulped as she blurted out, "DiscordandIcombinedourmagictocorruptthemoonsoIcouldgobackandseeaboyIfellinlovewith!" And once it was out, a few tears fell from Twilight's eyes.

Princess Celestia's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in shock. "You opened it..." she repeated in an astonished voice, "...because you fell in love with somepony there?"

"Some boy, Celestia," Twilight sobbed, clearly ashamed of herself, "I acted out of love. I really did..."

At this point, Celestia had actually calmed down after hearing her student's explanation. She actually felt sorry for the silly filly. Setting her mouth in a frown, Celestia kneeled in front of the purple alicorn. "Twilight, I am very disappointed in you," she stated, "You acted without thinking of the consequences."

"I know..."

"If the moon were to stay in that same position for a longer amount of time, it would upset the very balance of Equestria! You made a very stupid mistake, and as a princess, you should know better," the brilliant white alicorn said.

Twilight rubbed her hoof along the carpet in her shame. "I...I just couldn't stay away from him, Princess..." she sobbed, "Flash Sentry was unlike any colt I had ever met in Equestria. Handsome, funny, a good heart..." She then sighed and looked at the ground. "You've never fallen in love, you wouldn't understand."

Celestia sighed as she stroked Twilight's mane, showing surprising sympathy. "I still have to punish you, Twilight, for your reckless behavior," she said, "As soon as I fix the moon where it should be, and after that, I'd like you and your friends to all move to the Crystal Castle for a month's time."

"What!?" exclaimed Twilight, her wings poofing open in her surprise, "But...why my friends?"

"To ensure that they don't try to do the same."

Twilight opened her mouth for a childish whine, but then realized it would be futile to do so. "Okay..."

~x~

"You did what!?" exclaimed Applejack at the train station. Celestia had placed the moon where it had belonged, and now the Mane Six (plus Spike) were awaiting their train to the Crystal Empire.

"You heard me right, AJ," Twilight growled, ears drooping, "I-"

"Corrupted the moon so that you could go back inside the magical portal to see the same guy in the other world because you fell in love with him and then Princess Celestia found out so now we all need to live in the Crystal Empire for a month because we're all part of your really big punishment!" said Pinkie Pie in a blur, "Right?"

Twilight sighed, "Yep. That pretty much covers it."

Rarity blinked once before placing her hoof on the mare's shoulder. "Darling," she said sympathetically, "You fell in love with a colt in the other world? Am I hearing that right?"

"Yes, Rarity," Twilight said sadly, "You heard Pinkie."

Fluttershy piped up, "I can't believe somepony like Twilight would do that."

Rainbow Dash looked at the shy Pegasus with a confused expression. "Which one?" she asked, "Twilight corrupting the moon, or falling in love?"

"The former."

"Oh."

Spike set his jaw and crossed his arms. "Is that why you were crying on the train the other night?" he asked, "You were missing the guy in the other world?"

"Mmhm..."

Applejack sighed as the ponies and dragon hopped onto the train. "Cheer up, sugarcube," she said, "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Twilight nodded, but in truth, she wasn't so sure.

Going for Help

Flash Sentry impatiently tapped his foot and looked at his watch; Twilight should have arrived an hour ago! He had been standing there, waiting for his girlfriend to make an appearance, but for some reason, she did not. Flash sighed. "Guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands," he muttered as he stepped towards the portal...

...and promptly crashed into it.

"Ow!" Flash yelped, falling back down. Cautiously, he then reached out to touch the portal's surface, willing himself to go into the pony world. He did not.

Flash started to hyperventilate as he realized what was going on; the portal was closed. There was no way to see Twilight now. "How did this happen?" he thought to himself, "Did she get caught!?" There was only one way to solve this; he needed to get help. But as he walked off, Flash knew in his heart that his choice would be very bad.

~x~

The very next morning, Flash scoured the hallways in search of the girl he was looking for. "Where on earth can she be!?" Flash mentally cursed, "How difficult is it to find-!?" Just like that, his questions were answered once he ran right into someone. He heard a familiar sounding "Hey!" and Flash stared right into the eyes of...

"Sunset Shimmer!" said Flash, breaking into a smile. He'd found her.

Sunset Shimmer's sky blue eyes darted to the floor in search of the books she'd just dropped. "Oh..." she muttered, bending down to pick them up, "Hey, Flash." Flash stared at his ex confusedly; she sounded very not happy to see him.

"Sunset?" said Flash, picking up one of the girl's books as well, "I really need to talk to you about something."

"Really?" said Sunset bitterly, snatching the book from Flash's hands, "You had plenty of time to do that a few weeks ago, and you want to talk about it now?"

Flash suddenly realized what she was getting at. Sunset Shimmer thought he wanted to start dating her again! "No, Sunset, this isn't about our relationship," Flash sighed as the girl started to walk away, "It's about Twilight."

At this, Sunset Shimmer's eyes shot open. "You want to talk about her right to my face?" she sneered, shooting a nasty look at Flash, "Well, sorry, but that ain't gonna happen!"

Flash rolled his eyes and followed Sunset. "Sunset, this is important," he said, trying to get her attention. At that, Sunset Shimmer suddenly stopped walking and stared at him.

"Well?" she said with a shrug, "I'm listening."

"Well," said Flash, "You see, Twilight kind of... opened the portal thingie by herself, and-"

"What!?" gasped Sunset, her eyes widening, "How did she do that!? When I get my hands on her I'm gonna-!"

"The point is," Flash interrupted, sighing in exasperation, "Twilight wanted to keep seeing me, and now the portal's closed for some reason, and now I need help to open it again. Got all that?" But Sunset Shimmer only gave her ex boyfriend a burning look.

"Sorry," she sneered, "You lost me at the 'I'm hanging out with my ex's enemy' part." Before Flash could even say anything, the fire-headed girl stalked off, leaving the boy very angry.

Burning with anger at her stubbornness, Flash rushed in front of Sunset. "Hey!" he said furiously, "I never said anything like that, okay!? All I'm saying is I need your help!"

"Go away..."

"No, I won't! Sunset, why can't you find it in your heart to let go of these petty grudges!?" At this statement, Flash finally threw his hands up in exasperation. "I should have known you'd be too stubborn to show some kindness. Can't believe I ever dated you in the first place." Sunset Shimmer said nothing.

As Flash turned to walk away, he spat one last thing, "You want to know the real reason why I broke up with you?"

"What?"

"Because I saw what you were becoming: a beast that couldn't be tamed." And with that, the bitter young man stalked off.

But the one thing that Flash didn't catch was the tear that fell from Sunset Shimmer's eye.

Shimmering Tears

Even as Flash Sentry stepped out of the school building once hours had ended, he still couldn't get his quarrel with Sunset Shimmer out of his head. He couldn't believe he'd even thought of going to her in the first place; he should have thought she'd be really rude.

But no sooner had Flash stepped nearer to the Canterlot Statue when he suddenly he heard, "Flash! Wait!"

He turned his head to see a yellow skinned, red-and-yellow haired girl running up to him. Sunset Shimmer of course.

Flash growled at his ex girlfriend as soon as she caught up. "Leave me alone."

"I-It's not about us," said Sunset in a surprisingly calm voice, "It's just... just me..."

Flash blinked in confusion; Sunset didn't seem hostile at all, unlike earlier. She actually sounded... sad. Flash, being both forgiving and interested, let Sunset Shimmer catch her breath as they both sat near the statue.

"Okay, we're sitting down," said Flash Sentry while Sunset stared at the ground and twiddled her thumbs, "What'd you want to talk about, Sunset?"

Sunset Shimmer sighed as she began twisting the edge of her jacket. "Well..." she mumbled, "It's just... I never told you what I saw..."

"Huh?"

"Back at the Fall Formal," she said, her voice close to a whisper, "When I put on the crown... I saw it all. When I put the crown on my head, all I saw was the pain and misery I'd put everyone through. The crown showed me exactly what you said I was: a beast that could not be tamed." Sunset Shimmer sniffed and looked at Flash Sentry with really sad sky blue eyes. "You were all right, Flash..." she said miserably, "I'm just a monster..."

Flash set his jaw in a frown and put his arm around his ex. "Hey, you're not a monster," he said, pulling Sunset in for a sympathetic hug, "You probably never realized you were hurting anyone."

"But I did know, Flash," Sunset whimpered, "I took out all my anger on the people I knew...it was my only method of getting it out..."

Flash merely chuckled and placed his hands on Sunset Shimmer's shoulders. "I know you how much you wanted to become a princess," he said, "But that's no reason you can't be forgiven. You need to let them all know why you did it. It was only out of grief."

Sunset took a moment to let this sink in, then she smiled at Flash Sentry and hugged him, letting tears fall from her eyes. "Thank you, Flash..." she silently cried, "I'm sorry about earlier... I understand how much you love Twilight. I shouldn't have said that. Please say we'll be friends..."

Flash smiled. "Of course."

Suddenly, the two teenagers heard a loud SHEEN, and they looked up to see the moon... moving? Flash and Sunset's jaws dropped. Both standing up, Flash walked up to the Canterlot portal and placed his hand on the surface. He almost fell over as his hand went right through. He heard Sunset squeak in happiness behind him; he turned around to see the girl looking so happy. Flash couldn't help but be confused.

"Flash!" Sunset cried, hugging him again, "The portal opened!"

Flash's heart stopped beating for a split second as he started smiling; he could see Twilight now! "Maybe mending my friendship with Sunset was what did it," he thought happily.

They stood there for a while, gawping at the portal until Sunset Shimmer suddenly pushed away from him with a confused look. "Well, what're you doing standing next to me, dude!?" she asked jokingly, pushing Flash forward, "Go see your princess!"

Flash Sentry laughed as he stepped towards the portal. "Okay! I will!"

But before Flash could step in, he suddenly heard Sunset Shimmer say, "Flash, wait!" He turned around to heard what she wanted to say. Sunset was smiling at him.

"Tell Twilight I wished you luck!"

Flash laughed, "See you, Sunset!" as he stepped through the portal, eager to go see his true love.

Then it all went black.

Arrival

Flash Sentry groggily opened his eyes with an uncomfortable "Ungg..." Looking down in front of himself, he found himself staring down at a dark blue floor, his own hands splayed out in front of him.

No, wait a minute...those weren't his hands. Instead, a pair of orange hooves replaced them. FLASH SENTRY WAS A PONY!

Flash silently yelped at his realization, causing himself to leap onto his two-er, four legs. He wobbled for a bit, trying to balance himself. Flash stared down at his hoof, mystified at the fact of being an equine. He tried to turn around and get a good look at himself through the mirror. From what he could see, he was an orange pony with his signature blue hair, a matching tail, and...wings? Flash raised an eyebrow as he flexed his new modes of flight. "That's pretty cool," he admitted, "But what's that mark on my butt?" It looked exactly like his shirt pennant back home: a gray and blue shield with a lightning bolt in the foreground. Flash reached behind to wipe it off his rear, but he was shocked to discover that it was not a stain, but part of his fur itself. It was this butt-mark that Flash Sentry found the most peculiar.

"You can worry about that later, Sentry," Flash told himself, "You gotta go find Twilight!" Taking a deep breath, he then began to experiment walking on all fours. To his surprise, it seemed relatively easy, even though he'd walked on his 'hind legs' his entire life. He guessed it was his determination to find his girlfriend.

"W-Who're you?"

Flash jumped as he looked behind himself into the hallway. Peeking through a door was a bright white unicorn stallion with blue-striped hair like Flash's, only not as spiky. As the stallion turned to face Flash, he noticed there was a mark on his rump as well. "Maybe these butt-mark-thingies are common in this world," Flash told himself.

The stallion took two steps forward, his face contorting with suspicion. "Well?" he growled, "Who are you, stranger? Answer me!"

Flash gulped. "Erm..." he mumbled, "I'm, uh... looking for, uh...Princess...Twilight Sparkle...yeah, that's it. I'm looking for Princess Twilight!"

Flash was expecting the unicorn to concede and show Flash to his girlfriend, but that didn't happen; instead, the stallion's eyes widened, yet still swimming in suspicions. "What do you want with my sister?" the unicorn asked menacingly.

"Wait, this dude's Twilight's brother?" Flash thought, "Twi never mentioned having a brother!" He couldn't ponder much further, because the unicorn guy was stepping forward, his huge hooves digging into the tile.

"Why do you want my sister?" the stallion growled, then he started to quicken his pace, "Have you been sent by somepony, or did you come on your own to do your dirty work!?"

Just like that, Flash's heart dropped in realization. Twilight's brother thought he was trying to kidnap, or kill, the princess herself!

"W-Wait a minute!" Flash pleaded, taking a few steps back, "I-It's not like tha-!"

"YOU'LL NEVER GET TO MY SISTER!" the stallion roared as he charged at Flash Sentry. Reacting on instinct, the orange Pegasus yelped and bolted off.

Flash panted, trying his best to evade Twilight's angry brother. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the white stallion's horn glow a deep magenta. Not wanting to experience what would happen next, Flash Sentry ran faster... right smack dab into a white pillar.

"Ow!" the Pegasus shouted, falling over from the impact. As he rubbed the sore spot on his head, he briefly forgot all about the angered pony chasing him. However, once the unicorn himself slammed right into Flash, he wished he hadn't forgotten.

"Tell me where you came from," the white pony snarled, keeping one hoof on Flash's throat, "and what you want to do with Twilight! Now!" Flash wrestled the white leg pushing on his neck, trying to make the big guy release his grip. As he began to lose air in his lungs, both Flash and the stallion heard a slow creeeeeak, and they both looked up. What they found was the pillar Flash slammed into, slowly descending upon them. While the white stallion was distracted, Flash managed to wriggle out of his grasp. But before he could chase after him again, Flash Sentry heard a sickening crunch and a squeal of pain from Twilight's brother. Expecting the worse, Flash gulped and turned his head; sure enough, the pillar had collapsed on the white stallion. Flash winced as he noticed blood trickling from his mouth.

"Did I...kill him!?"

His heart beating fast, Flash took off to the right, not wanting to find the answer to that question. Suddenly, SMACK! The orange colt ran right into another pony! Flash heard her grunt in pain, and opened his eyes to find a cyan-colored mare with rainbow hair standing in front of him, rubbing her head. She opened her eyes and stared at Flash. "Wha..." she stuttered, then she growled, "What did you do to Shining Armor!?"

"Please, I can explain-!"

The Pegasus mare reeled back her head and yelled at the top of her lungs, "PRINCESS CADANCE! MAD PONY ON THE LOOSE!"

~x~

Twilight Sparkle opened her sleepy eyes to the sound of a shriek. Pushing back her duvet, the purple alicorn mare leapt out of bed to open the door. Much to her surprise, the door opened by itself, revealing a panting Rainbow Dash.

"Dash!" Twilight exclaimed, running over to her spectra-maned friend, "What happened?" She then gasped at the bleeding cut just above Rainbow Dash's eye. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Twilight..." Rainbow grumbled, "A mad pony got in...orange fool...wait till I get him..."

"Wait...orange?"Twilight thought. She cleared her throat. "Rainbow, this mad pony...did he have blue spiky hair?"

Dash looked at the purple mare, raising an eyebrow. "How'd you know that?"

Twilight's heart skipped a beat, and she grinned in her happiness. "Flash?" she asked, her voice full of hope, "Is Flash really here?"

Rainbow Dash stared at her friend, before snarling and screaming in Twilight's face:

"HE TRIED TO KILL YOUR BROTHER!"

With that, Rainbow Dash took off through the door, leaving Twilight on her own, her heart dropping over what she'd just heard.

Couldn't Stay Away

"No..." Twilight whispered, taking a few disbelieving steps backwards, "No, no! Rainbow Dash! You're lying!" The purple alicorn tore after her spectra-maned friend, desperately telling herself that Flash Sentry would never try to harm anypony. But once she turned round one corner and saw the crowd of ponies around an unconscious white stallion, she couldn't help but doubt her thoughts.

Princess Cadence, along with the rest of the mane six and a few gaurds, were clustered around Shining Armor. All of them wore worried looks, but Cadence's wasn't exactly worried so-to-speak; she was more or less having an emotional breakdown. "Shining!" the pink pony cried, tears streaming down her face, "Shining, please wake up, for the love of Celestia! PLEASE!"

Fluttershy took a step towards the stallion and bent her head to briefly sniff him. After a moment, her turquoise eyes lit up in relief. "Cadence!" she squeaked, "He's breathing!"

"Only barely!" Rainbow Dash spat before Cadence could even show a reaction to Fluttershy's observation, "When I find that orange freak I'm gonna just-!" The Pegasus demonstrated by picking up a nearby shard of the pillar that had crushed Shining and ground it beneath her hooves.

Rarity lifted her head in determination. "You are right, Rainbow darling!" the white unicorn stated, "We must find that mad pony and make him pay!"

"Yeah!" squealed Pinkie Pie, "Shining Armor never wanted to be squished! Right, Twilight?" The pink pony listened for her friend's voice, but alas, she couldn't find it. The princess had broken into tears and ran right back into her room.

Twilight leapt onto her bed and buried her face into her pillows. "Princess Celestia, please don't let it be true!" she sobbed, her words muffled by the pillows, "There's no way Flash would-!" Suddenly, she heard a masculine gasp from behind her. Twilight looked up from her bed to see an orange Pegasus stallion with blue spiky hair standing in the doorway, a worried and confused look on his face. Twilight's immediate reaction was anger. With a scream, she flew from the bed right into Flash, pinning him to the floor.

"You...you...YOU STUPID CRAZY-COLT!!!"

Flash looked calmly into Twilight's violet eyes. "Twilight, I never meant for anything to happen to your brother," he whispered, "I never meant to panic anybody at all. It's just...I couldn't stay away from you." He placed his orange hoof on Twilight's tear-stained cheek in a form of affection. Twilight gasped as more tears fell from her eyes; Flash wasn't a crazy pony, or a crazy boy, for that matter. He was just the boy that she'd fallen in love with. Sobbing, Twilight buried her face into Flash's chest.

"Sshh," the orange colt coaxed the princess, sitting up while hugging her, "It's okay, Twilight. I'm here now." His girlfriend hiccupped as she wrapped her forelegs around Flash. It wasn't long before she heard a beautiful sound come from Flash's mouth:

Another day is like a new beginning...

I know today that it's a new start...

I know the bad times are disappearing...

and now I know that we'll never be apart.

You're the one that makes me feel so high,

like a diamond in the sky,

I never want to hear you say goodbye,

'cause you're my diamond in the sky...

Twilight looked up at the stallion in awe. "F-Flash..." she whispered, "I never knew you could sing..."

Flash chuckled as his ears turned bright red. "Well, I guess being in your own band kinda does that to ya."

After a few moments, the purple mare smiled as more tears came, but they were happy tears this time. Flash looked down at her as they let their lips connect. As they were kissing, Twilight realized just how carefree she felt whenever she was with him. Who cared if all her friends were after him? Who cared if he could potentially get killed later? Neither of them cared at that moment.

All they wanted was that moment with each other.

Two Royals

"Twilight? Are you in there?"

The young princess' eyes fluttered open at the sound of Princess Cadence's voice. She let out a soft "Hm?" just as Flash Sentry began to stir as well. Twilight had no idea that they'd been kissing so long; they both fell asleep!

Once she realized it was Cadence, her brother's wife, she began to panic. "Oh no..." she whispered to Flash, "It's Cadence. She's coming."

"Cadence?" the orange pony repeated, raising an eyebrow, "That sounds like my algebra teacher..."

Twilight ignored this. "Flash, you need to get out, now."

Flash merely chuckled as he pulled the mare into another hug. "Twilie," he said, completely unaware of the nickname he just called her, "I don't want to leave you just yet."

"Flash, you gotta go."

"I love you."

"I love you too, but that wonh-" She was cut off by Flash's remarkable kisses again.

In an instant, Twilight melted from her coltfriend's gentle touch. But this kissing session ended rather quickly as Twilight tapped Flash Sentry's shoulder in order to make him stop. He pulled away from the purple mare, his facial expression questioning.

Twilight sighed as she put her head on his chest again. "You have to understand," she pleaded, "I don't want anything to happen to you. If they find you, they'll likely try to kill you."

Flash sighed as well as he smiled. "Okay, if you really want to keep me safe," he stated. The colt slowly rose from his spot on the floor, stretched, and headed up to Twilight's open window.

Twilight raised a confused eyebrow as she stood up. "What're you doing?"

The Pegasus chuckled and flexed his wings. "Well, the only way out appears to fly out, doesn't it?"

Twilight gasped as she stood up. "Flash!" she said, "D-Do you even know how to fly!?"

Flash's cheeks turned pink as he ran a hoof through his hair. "Well, no," he admitted, "But Twilight, we really don't have much time. I'm gonna have to try, okay?" His blue eyes seemed to plead the purple alicorn to understand. Finally, Twilight sighed as she walked up to her coltfriend and rubbed her head against his orange furry cheek.

"Be careful, my love."

Flash briefly chuckled and gave Twilight a quick goodbye kiss before he spread his wings and took off through the window.

But just as Flash Sentry left, the door to Twilight's room flew open, revealing a concerned looking Princess Cadence.

Twilight flinched as her former foalsitter entered. "Cadence!"

The pink alicorn ignored the younger princess and immediately made her way towards the window. Twilight gasped just as Cadence's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Uh oh..."/i] Twilight mentally cursed. After a few moments, Cadence's ears flattened as she rounded on Twilight, her lips curling into a snarl.

"You let him get AWAY!?"

"Cadence, please," the mare pleaded, holding out a hoof to steady the angry alicorn, "I can explain..."

Cadence hissed, "What in Celestia's name is there to even explain!? All I can see is you let the mad pony get away! You let the one responsible for trying to murder my husband, your brother, out there! Do you not care enough for Shining Armor anymore!??" She drove her pink hoof into the ground in her rage.

"Flash Sentry is not a mad pony!" Twilight screamed, "I know that for sure! He'd never do anything to anypony! Especially not anypony who was so close to me! He loves me way too much to-!" The princess suddenly stopped speaking as she realized what she had just let slip. Twilight's purple hoof flew to her mouth just as comprehension dawned on Cadence's face, leaving her looking both bewildered and hurt still. As it began to sink in more, Cadence's hurt-filled snarl returned, only this time, there was a hint of betrayal in her blue gaze.

"Twilight...how could you do this to us!? To me!?" the pink princess spat, tears going down her face, "How could you let your self fall in love with somepony like THAT!?"

By now, Twilight had had just about enough of Cadence's wild accusations. "If you would just listen-!"

"As princess, you should know better, Twilight! A colt like him will only break your heart! He tried to kill my love!"

"Cadence!"

"I will not stand for this, Twilight! I'm going to stop this once and for-!"

"CADENCE!!!"

The crystal princess actually flinched at Twilight's loud scream; the purple alicorn was in so many tears, and she had fluttered upwards a few hooflengths in her fury. "Cadence, please just hear me out," Twilight sobbed in a much quieter voice as she landed, "When exactly did you fall in love with my brother?"

"Twilight, I will not-"

"I ASKED WHEN!"

"Okay!" Cadence snapped, trying her best to make sense of this sudden question, "I've been in love with him ever since I took up foalsitting."

"What made you fall in love with him?"

"I don't know, he was just...cute, and sweet, and the way he cared about you. I'd never seen somepony treat a sibling with that much affection before."

"Were you ever in love with anypony before Shining?"

"Why are you asking me these?" the princess interrupted, answering Twilight's question with, in fact, a question.

Twilight simply smiled as tears streamed down her face. "Cadence..." she softly said, taking a few steps towards the princess in question, "You're the Princess of Love. Only you truly know what I feel right now. When I first met Flash back in the other world, the only time I didn't think abut him was when I was fighting Sunset Shimmer. My affections were so strong for him, and he ended up feeling the same way. Like I said, he loved me, Cadence. He loved me so much that he couldn't stay in his own world. It was only by accident that Shining Armor got caught up in all of it. All Flash wanted was to see me, and nothing else. It's the whole truth." As these words began to sink in, a smile crept onto Cadence's lips and tears went down her face as well as Twilight's. Before long, the two mares hugged.

"I'm sorry I misjudged both you and your Flash," Cadence cried onto Twilight's purple shoulder, "I was just so shocked about what happened to Shining Armor, that's all."

Twilight chuckled, "S'all right." as they broke from their embrace.

"C'mon," said Princess Cadence as they got up, "Let's go cover for your coltfriend."

The Truth

As Flash Sentry flapped his orange wings, he amazed himself by how naturally he flew. It almost felt like he'd been doing it his entire life despite being merely a human boy a few hours ago. Flash merely shrugged it off as he flew farther and farther away from the sparkly castle.

Suddenly, he stopped as a thought sprang into his mind. "Twilight said Cadence," he thought while hovering, "What if the Miss Cadence in this world isn't as nice as the one back home?" Flash suddenly had a gruesome image of a ponified version of his algebra teacher beating his marefriend until she confessed where he was.

Whoa whoa, hold the phone...did he just say marefriend? "This crazy pony language is beginning to rub off on me!" Flash thought.

"Forget that!" Flash's protective boyfriend side told him, "How could I just leave her there!?" "What kind of boyfriend AM I?" the orange Pegasus colt cursed aloud as he turned tail and headed back to the castle. He knew he could risk getting caught by going back, but Flash knew in his gut that he'd never let anyone interrogate Twilight. Flash knew for sure that Twilight would never give him away, but he wasn't sure that those ponies who lived there were all that kind. He had to make sure she was safe!

~x~

"Twilight?" Flash called out as he flew back into Twilight's bedroom window. He glanced around, but he could find no one. No ponies anywhere. Flash groaned as he facehooved. "Twilight, I just want to make sure that you're safe," he whispered to himself as he rushed out of the bedroom into the hallway, "Please make this easy for m-"

"HI-YA!"

Suddenly, Flash heard a cry of fury. He turned his head just in time to see the rainbow-haired blue Pegasus he'd bumped into earlier heading right for him, her right hoof reeled back. Before he even had a chance to defend himself, BAM! The mare punched Flash right in the jaw, causing them both to roll into the wall.

"Ow!" Flash grunted, rubbing his sore jaw. He could taste blood in his mouth; that pony hit hard.

"Take this!" the Pegasus girl kept chanting as she kept punching and punching Flash Sentry over and over again, covering him in bruises and cuts. Flash cried out in agony as more blood seeped from his wounds. After a few more punches, the blue Pegasus let out a snarl as she kicked him into the wall. There was an unmistakable CRACK as Flash slammed straight into the wall and plopped onto the ground. Pain seared in his left wing.

"I think she broke it..." Flash thought in agony.

His eyes started to close from exhaustion just as the spectra-haired pony reeled back her hoof for another punch. "We've got you now, mad pony!" she laughed in a tomboyish voice, "This is what you get for breaking in to hurt one of my best friends!"

"RAINBOW DASH!!! STOP!!!" The voice was too familiar.

Flash opened one eye just as a flash of light purple flew past the blue mare and stood protectively in front of the young colt. Flash tried to chuckle in relief, but he only croaked; it was Twilight. His sweet Princess Twilight.

"Twilight?" said the blue Pegasus pony-Flash assumed her name was Rainbow Dash, just like his classmate-in utter confusion, "What's wrong with you!? Get out of the way so I can finish this!"

"NO!" Twilight's voice was shrill, and Flash could see tears spilling from her violet eyes, "Dash, you can't hurt him! I won't let you hurt him!"

Dash looked at the alicorn with an expression that all-too clearly said what!? "What's going on here, Twilight!?" she asked forcefully, jabbing her hoof into the air, "He tried to kill Shining Armor! Why are you taking his side?"

"Because I love him, Rainbow Dash!" Twilight's answer, smooth and plain, was enough to make the blue pony's jaw drop in bewilderment.

"You..." Dash repeated, "You love him?"

"You heard me right," Twilight snarled, still crying, "I'm in love with this colt, Flash Sentry."

Rainbow shook her head as if trying to make herself belief it wasn't the truth. "But, Twilight..." she said, "How...?"

"Twilight!"

Flash Sentry, who'd been listening intently, tried his best to lift his head to seek the new voice. Right behind Rainbow Dash, multiple ponies appeared, along with a small dragon. In fact, they all reminded him of people back at home; Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, it seemed as if everyone he knew had some kind of pony alternative in this world.

The purple dragon immediately made his way to Twilight and hugged her neck. "Twilight!" he said in a relieved voice, "We thought the mad pony...got...you..." Slowly but surely, the dragon began to notice Flash's beaten body lying there behind the purple mare, watching him. The young reptile screamed and hid himself in the Pinkie Pie pony's mane. "It's him!" Flash heard the muffled voice, "It's the mad pony!"

"That's no mad pony, Spike," said a familiar voice, and the group of ponies parted for a magnificent pink alicorn to pass.

"This must be Twilight's Cadence," Flash thought. She certainly looked as nice as the woman who assigned problem sets!

"This is Twilight's coltfriend," said Cadence, motioning toward the motionless orange colt, "Flash Sentry."

Almost at once, Spike's head popped out of Pinkie's mane just as everypony else said in unison, "Flash Sentry?"

Twilight blushed and began to explain exactly what had happened, from start to finish. When her explanation was over, everypony was nodding their heads in realization.

"Ah git it now," said Applejack once Twilight finished, "So you fell in love with this guy, Flash..."

"Like you told us on the train, " Fluttershy piped up.

"And once the portal was closed again," said Rarity, "Flash Sentry got worried and wanted to see you again."

"So then he managed to open up the portal again just so he could see you, and while he was looking for you, Flash Sentry found Shining Armor, who got crushed by the giant pillar," Pinkie Pie rushed out in one breath, "and then he finally found you, so you had a few kisses..." (Cue Twilight's cheeks blazing red) "...and when Flash tried to get away, Cadence found you and then you yelled but then became friends again, and before any of us knew it, Rainbow Dash started beating him up so you came and protected him. Then we all came here and listened to your story!" The pink earth pony took a massive oxygen intake. "Right?"

Flash Sentry silently smiled; this Pinkie was as crazy and fun as the one back in Canterlot High!

Princess Cadence smiled warmly. "Okay, everypony," she said, "We must get Flash patched up. Off you go."

As they all trudged away, Twilight glanced at Flash, who was being held up by Cadence, and bit her lip. She felt like she needed to talk to him about something...

Little Talks

Twilight paced back and forth in front of the door to Flash Sentry's temporary room. She was so nervous; but it wasn't about if her coltfriend would live or not. She knew for sure that he would live. But Twilight just really wanted to talk to Flash. She felt like she needed to apologize for bringing him into this mess. Heck, Rainbow Dash had beaten him because of her! If only she hadn't been so lonely without him...

"Twilight?" The younger alicorn snapped her attention to the now opening door, and Princess Cadence stepped out.

Twilight motioned with her hoof. "Can I..." she said, "...see him?"

Cadence chuckled, "Of course, Twilight. You can go talk with him." She pointed towards Twilight's open wings. "I can tell you've been anxious," the pink princess commented as she walked away, "Your wings have barely settled since earlier!"

Twilight sighed in relief as she shut her wings. It was true; her wings were beginning to ache from being constantly stretched open from being so nervous. She poked her head in, and spotted him. Flash was sitting on a couch, his broken wing in a cast, and white bandages covering his foreleg and back leg. He also had a bandage just above his right eyebrow. Once Flash noticed Twilight enter, his snout broke into a warm smile. "Twi," he greeted the mare, waving a hoof out of politeness, "Nice to see ya."

Twilight blushed as she shut the door behind her. "Heh," she mumbled while making her way towards the cute Pegasus, "Nice to see you too." The purple alicorn then sat down beside Flash, biting her lip. Trying to stall, Twilight gently laid one hoof on Flash's broken wing. "How is it?"

Flash winced and rubbed his bandaged arm. "Still sore," he admitted, yet smiling with optimism, "I think I'll be alright, though." He looked directly at his marefriend, his cornflower blue eyes twinkling. "Your friend, Rainbow Dash," he chuckled, "She can really pack a punch, can't she?"

Twilight couldn't take it. Almost instantly after the Pegasus colt stopped speaking, she looked straight at him and blurted, "Flash, I'm so sorry!"

Flash blinked in confusion. "Pardon?" he asked, "What's to be sorry for?"

Twilight groaned in her guilt. "I'm really sorry about all this, Flash, really," she sobbed, "You have absolutely no idea how sorry I am! If I had just kept my magic where it belonged and never messed with the moon in the first place, this wouldn't have happened! Your wing is broken, you're bleeding, and it's all my fault! I'm really sorry for bringing you into this whole, stupid thing..." As she spoke, tears began to fall from Twilight's violet eyes in constant streams.

Flash held his arms out in a sign of affection, his eyes shining with worry. Twilight was not the type to refuse a hug. She burst into tears even more as Flash held her close to his chest. He stroked her deep cerulean mane, muttering comforting words.

"Twilight," he chuckled, "You don't need to apologize. I'm happy you did it."

The sobbing alicorn suddenly stopped crying as these words hit her ears. She looked up at Flash, confusion sparking in her shiny eyes. "Huh?"

Flash laughed, "Twily, if you hadn't started all this, we would never have come as close together as this! I love you, Twilight, and that's really all I know! I'm grateful for everything that's happened; that night you opened the portal, tonight when I found you, everything. It all lead up to us. I want to keep it as just us. No one, or pony, could have stopped me from making sure all this happened."

Twilight's lips slowly curled into a smile as she buried her face in Flash's orange fur once more. She realized, this was why she loved him. He understood her better than anypony, including her own friends. Heck, he seemed to read her thoughts like a book, then quoted them in such a way that sounded as if he could make sense of anything.

Twilight sighed. "I love you so much, Flash," she admitted, "But you know you still have to go back home. To your world." At this statement, the Pegasus laughed.

"Twilight, I'm not going anywhere."

The mare's eyes widened as she stared at Flash. "Huh?"

Flash smiled. "I'm not going back, Twily." he chuckled, stroking Twilight's back, "I'm not gonna live without you. You can throw me through that portal yourself, but I won't leave your world. This is my home. With you. And if we're all colorful ponies, then so be it."

Twilight blushed as Flash deliberately entwined his hoof with hers. "I have no problem with that. Not at all."

Flash reflected the smile as they leaned in closer. "Cool."

As their lips met once more, neither of them cared as the sparks began to dance within their hearts.

The Wedding (Finale)

Flash Sentry smiled in the mirror as he straightened his red bowtie. He took in a breath; it was his wedding day, three months after he'd declared to his marefriend that he wouldn't leave her home.

As he looked as himself in the mirror-fancy getup and everything-Flash winced. "I always knew I would get married someday," he whispered, "but I didn't think it would happen this early. I know Twilight explained how we're all much older as ponies than we are back in my old world, but...it still doesn't quite feel right. Should I tell her-?" Suddenly, Flash flinched as the door slowly swung open, revealing a beautiful purple alicorn mare in a majestic pink dress, smiling and happy. Flash's heart fluttered at the sight of her; Twilight looked positively beautiful.

"Hey there, Flashy," Twilight said warmly as she made her way over to the groom. "You ready?"

Flash fiddled with his bowtie and mumbled absentmindedly, "Yeah, sure."

Twilight frowned at his half-hearted response. "Flash?" she piped up, standing beside him, "Something's bothering you."

Flash winced. "I knew you'd say that. Twilight," he said, turning to face her, "I'm not sure if I can do this."

The mare cocked her head in a confused manner. "Huh?"

The orange colt bit his lip anxiously. "It feels like we shouldn't get married," he admitted, "I mean, I'm really happy, but still...back in the other world, you and I are about seventeen years old. I know you explained to me how seventeen in human years is about twenty-four in pony years here, but I don't feel twenty-four. I still feel seventeen."

Twilight stared at him...and merely laughed. "Flash!" she chuckled, "It doesn't matter if we're seventeen or twenty! We'll still be together, no matter what." She let loose a purring sound as she pressed her head to his shoulder. "You know that."

Flash thought about this, then smiled. "Y'know, Twilight, you said we were ready just now," he chuckled, "So why're we just standing here talking about things nopony cares about?" At this, Twilight laughed.

"Besides," said the alicorn as they both left the room, "why would you consider postponing the wedding when you proposed to me?"

~x~

"I now pronounce you, mare, and colt."

As the princess of Equestria's voice rang out, Spike, Twilight's little dragon, handed the rings to the lucky couple. The entire crowd cheered as Twilight and Flash walked onto the balcony to wave at the ponies down below. They had done it.

"Twilight!" Both ponies glanced over their shoulders to find the mare in question's friends: Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, all looking extremely excited.

"Congrats, Twi!" said Rainbow Dash first, patting the alicorn's back. She turned her head to the groom. "You too, Flash." Flash Sentry chuckled; he knew the cyan Pegasus still felt bad about how she beat him up three months ago, even though he specifically said that he was all fine with it.

Fluttershy piped up. "You must feel really lucky, Twilight," she squeaked, "You and Flash Sentry are made for each other."

Rarity nodded in agreement. "We all have crushes, darling, some of us already have coltfriends," she stated, "But you two are so infatuated that you got married!"

Pinkie Pie whoo-hooed while Applejack just laughed, "Yup. Congratulations, Twilight. And of course, ya too, Flash Sentry."

Pinkie Pie leapt around all the ponies in her excitement. "Why're we just standing her, everypony!? LET'S PARTY!!!"

~x~

The reception was a blast; everypony danced happily, the newly weds in the center of the ballroom. Suddenly, as they were dancing, Twilight noticed something; out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone. Someone all too familiar. Once the music stopped, Twilight grabbed Flash Sentry's hoof and trotted towards the mare she'd recognized. Then the unicorn turned her head, and Twilight gasped.

"Sunset Shimmer!?" the purple alicorn yelled, "What're you doing here!?"

Sunset merely smiled as she met with the two. "Hey there, Twilight," she said, grinning, "I know you're kinda confused, but Flash insisted that I come for the wedding."

Once this was spoken, Twilight raised an eyebrow at Flash. "Explanation, dear?"

Flash chuckled nervously as he ran a hoof through his hair. "I kinda convinced Princess Celestia to open the portal once more so that she could attend." At the mention of the princess' name, Sunset Shimmer seemed to tense up. But she went calm again before anypony could question it.

"Er, Twilight," said Sunset, her ears drooping slightly, "I was hoping that attending your wedding would be a good apology for...y'know...trying to kill you..."

Twilight chuckled. "It's okay, Sunset," she said, "You've been forgiven." She motioned towards Princess Celestia, who was dancing with her sister. "Shall I go get the princess so you two can talk for a bit?"

Immediately, Sunset's eyes widened in a nervous fashion. "Uh, n-no thanks, Twilight!" she stuttered, "I, um...I gotta go now! Congratulations, you two!" With that, the fire-haired unicorn sped off.

Twilight blinked. "What was all that about?"

Flash shrugged. "I dunno." He then smiled and took Twilight's purple hoof within his own. "May I have this dance, madame?" Twilight giggled. Of course she wanted to dance some more; after all, she and Flash were completely inseparable.

Nothing could come between them.

The End

Sneaky Plan

Spike sighed as he and Twilight stepped back into the Golden Oaks Library. "Yeesh, finally back," he said in relief, "Right, Twilight?" The dragon turned to his boss, but his tail drooped as he noticed the mare's downcast face. He put one claw on Twilight's shoulder. "Sorry, Twilight," he whispered.

The alicorn sighed, "It's not your fault, Spike."

Spike set his jaw as he led her back into their home. "Oh, well. I can make you something to cheer you up. Sunflower stew?"

Twilight smiled thankfully as she sat down on her couch. "Thanks. I could use it."

~x~

After finishing her meal, Twilight fluttered up to her bed and turned to Spike. "Spike?" she said, "Can you hand me my copy of Industrial Inducing Spells?"

"Sure," the dragon replied, picking out the book from the shelf and holding it out. Twilight smiled a thanks as she took the book with her magic and set it beside her bed. No sooner had Twilight turned the first page when Spike asked,

"Why do you need it?"

Twilight's eyes made a cartoonish BOINK noise as they widened in surprise. "Erm..." she stuttered, "I-I-I...just wanted to check a few spells! Yeah! To see if they were safe!" The mare giggled nervously.

Spike shrugged, but was still a bit suspicious as he stepped out the door a second time to go for a walk.

Twilight listened for the sound of the closing door, then smiled mischeiviously as she looked for the spell she wanted.

Lunar Suspicions

Princess Luna opened one eye; once again, it was the night. Time for her to do her job of guarding it.

The deep blue alicorn stretched her legs before flying out of Canterlot Castle. She smiled; her moon definitely brought something beautiful. Alas, the ponies of Equestria had to rest in it, contrast to Luna's sister's daylight. But ever since her Nightmare Moon persona had been destroyed, the lunar princess came to be more optimistic about this fact.

But as Luna took to the skies, she noticed something rather odd: the moon was in the exact same position it had been just a few days ago, and it didn't seem to be moving. "Perhaps just an error in my magic," thought the princess, chuckling to herself. Her horn glowed blue as she attempted to move the moon, but her magic simply hit the moon with a small clink.

Princess Luna's mouth turned in a confused frown. There was something very wrong here.

~x~

"My sister," said Luna the next day as she stepped into Celestia's bedroom, "There is something I must inform you of."

Princess Celestia paused from her letter she was writing and looked at her sister. "Yes, Luna?" she asked, yet only listening with half an ear.

"There seems to be something wrong with the moon," said Luna, motioning out a window, "It is in the same position as it was only three nights ago."

This caught the Princess' attention. Celestia put down her writing quill and listened intently to her sister. "How do you suppose this happened?"

"I don't know for sure, but I managed to find out this:" With that, Luna used her magic to reveal an image to her sister. It was the moon, only it seemed to be a shade of magenta mixed with beige. "It appears that two magic auras are surrounding it. Two ponies must have cast a spell on the moon to make it stay in that spot!"

At this, Celestia's eyes widened. "Can you excuse me?" With that, the Princess of Equestria left the castle.

~x~

Rather annoyed, Celestia stepped into the Magic Mirror room in the Crystal Castle. Facing the mirror, the Princess placed her hoof on the surface. With a SHEEN, her white hoof passed through the mirror. With a startled gasp, Celestia realized just how accurate her suspicions had been. The Princess' lips curled into an angered snarl; somepony's head was gonna roll for this...