Chapters Dads are easy to deal with. They give you a couple of tests and if you pass them, they allow you to date their daughters. With big brothers, not so much. Heck, Shining Armor didn't even give me a chance. Twilight stayed with her parents for the weekend, so I visited her. Shining Armor also stayed. He came in Twilight's room to ask her a question, then saw me kissing her. Before I could even react, he zapped me with his horn and left a temporary burn on my left wing. He then charged at me and pinned me against the wall, and then demanded to know what I was doing. I was so scared by then I couldn't speak. That was one heck of a day.
***
Twilight's horn illuminated and using her magic, she pulled Shining Armor off me.
I breathed with relief as I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"What the hell is going on?!" Shining Armor screamed.
The voice was terrifying. I've heard Shining Armor yell before, but never in true anger. I covered my ears and crouched to the ground, knowing that this was stupid because this isn't what a royal guard is supposed to do.
Twilight put her right hoof on Shining Armor's chest and pushed him back to keep Shining Armor from approaching me. "Shining! Stop! " she screeched, "Let me explain!" But Shining Armor just pushed her away and continued to come towards me.
He didn't gallop towards me, but I think that would've been less terrifying. Him only walking towards me gave me plenty of time to think about all of the possible things he could punish me with.
I saw Twilight grew angry, and she then jumped onto her brother's back and pulled with all of her strength, using her magic and wings to help her. "Run! Fly!" she screamed.
I wasn't in the castle, so there would be no place to fly. I can't fly out the window, they were too small to fit through. Even if I could fit through the window, I wouldn't be able to fly from my hurt wing. My only option was to run past Twilight and Shining Armor. And so I did. I galloped out of the door, down the stairs, into the kitchen, and out of the house. I've never wished to fly so much in my life. I galloped and galloped, but my hoovesteps were loud; Shining Armor would know exactly where I was going. I heard another pair of hoovesteps from behind me, and I ran even faster. They couldn't be Twilight's; these were heavier, and I'm sure Twilight would fly as an alternative.
Then, I saw a pinkish light glow from behind me, and the sound of magic illuminating. Before I could even think, Shining Armor appeared in front of me with a pink flash. I screamed, and took for the sky but my pattern was unbalanced and I hit the hard Canterlot concrete ground. Shining Armor's face of disapproval was the only thing I could see when I looked back up.
"What do you think you're doing with my sister ?" He said, looking like he was about to rip off my head.
"Captain Shining Armor, I-" I began to explain, but he cut me off.
"So you think you can just come up and go out with her, just like that?! You didn't think you needed approval, as your captain ?" He yelled.
"Shining Armor!" I yelled back, and I got to my hooves, "She's a full grown mare! She can make her own choices!"
I knew it wasn't the smartest thing to back-talk your captain, but not allowing Twilight to make choices on her own just her own was ridiculous. She was a princess, for Celestia's sake!
"Did you just backtalk me?! " Shining Armor hissed, "I can put you in the Canterlot dungeon for that! I can demote you! I can kick you off the squad! You do not backtalk me!"
I didn't know whether to argue back or submit. Just then, Twilight came galloping into the fight.
"Shining Armor! " She screamed, getting into his face.
I didn't know whether to worry or be relieved. Twilight could get hurt, but I knew Shining Armor would never hurt her. But her interrupting might get her in a ton of trouble, too.
"Twilight! What do you think you're doing, dating him ?" Shining Armor screamed back.
I suddenly felt bad for the ponies nearby. It was about ten at night, and their yelling must of woken them up. I took the opportunity to run, but it wasn't long before Shining Armor caught up and gave me a good punch under my chin. I fell backwards onto the street. I heard Twilight scream.
I let out a yelp as my back and head collided with the ground, and my chin was throbbing. Shining Armor's horn illuminated, and he zapped me again. This time on my chest. I felt the sting go through all over my body, and I twitched and yelped again. He kicked my back right hoof.
I looked at him in fear and hatred. I never knew dating Twilight would bring this much pain.Twilight galloped and zapped her own brother, and he had a burn on his right front hoof. It amused me, but I couldn't bring myself to laugh. I'd probably get killed. Shining Armor's horn illuminated in reply, and he zapped Twilight, I screamed, fearing that she might get hurt. But she wasn't hurt.
I looked at Twilight in shock. What did her brother do?
Twilight then tried illuminating her horn but couldn't.
"Ohnononono!" she screamed.
He used a spell; the five-minute-no-magic spell. I remember Twilight telling me about it before we dated. She said although it was a short time without magic, it took the most advanced unicorns to cast it. This just made me fear of what Shining Armor was capable of doing even more than ever.
Now the only thing Twilight could do was charge at Shining Armor.
It wasn't the smartest idea, but I got back up onto my hooves and began to gallop more, despite my injuries. It didn't take that much effort for Shining Armor to zap my three other legs. I collapsed to the ground.
I saw Twilight trying to pull her brother away from me, but he was far too strong for her. He came up to me, and punched me back and forth from one side of my face. It hurt, it hurt so much, but I couldn't scream. I couldn't.
I lost conscious.
I awoke, groaning. Where was I? My whole body was sore by getting my flanked kicked by Shining Armor, and I couldn't move without letting out a yelp, although it was quiet like a half-dead dog. I looked at my surroundings. Gray, stone hard walls. Hard concrete walls. Dim light shining through a barred window. A barred entrance. I made a no-sound gasp.
I was in the Canterlot Castle Dungeon.
"Shining Armor, Flash Sentry didn't commit any crime. Putting him in a dungeon is a ridiculous solution." I heard a voice say. I recognized that voice. It wasn't Twilight's. Who's was it?
"Princess Luna, I-" Shining Armor began to speak.
Luna! That's who it is. I thought.
"Enough. Let the poor colt out. He does not deserve to be punished for giving your sister love." Luna said assertively.
I heard Shining Armor swear to himself, but he had no choice to obey the princess. I heard the jingling of keys, and then he came into view. A pang of fear went through my body. He looked super pissed. The door unlocked, and he didn't even look at me. I walked out, sore as ever. I knew if Princess Luna wasn't there, Shining Armor would shove me back into that cell and probably punish me by being tied to a whipping post and being whipped thirty-seven times.
As I walked by Princess Luna, I bowed, even though it hurt. The princess didn't say anything, but watched me leave. I trotted through the castle and when I was about to leave, I was blocked by my fellow guards.
"Halt!" the two said together.
"Let him go." Princess Luna said, suddenly from behind. I looked back in shock. When did she get here?
The guards folded their wings and let me through. The sun seemed to shine brightly on my face and I squinted, lifting up my sore hoof to shield my eyes. I have to find Twilight.
After a couple of minutes of painfully walking down the Canterlot roads, I finally found Twilight's house. I'm sure the door was locked, and I'm sure her mom or dad would've questioned what happened last night. Heck, what did happen? I really had no other option but to knock. And so I did.
To my luck, Twilight Velvet was already awake.
"Oh Flash Sentry!" she said, looking at my beat-up body. "What happened to you?"
"It was late at night, I was trying to find my way home, and I ended up falling down a hill, I couldn't see so I couldn't fly." I lied.
"Please, come in!" Twilight Velvet replied, leading me into the kitchen, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"No thank you. But where's Twilight? I need to talk to her." I replied.
"She's in her room. She's probably still asleep. It's nearly eight. Go wake her up, would you, dear?" she asked.
"Sure thing Mrs.Velvet." I said, and made my way up the stairs.
I was about to knock on Twilight's door when I heard sobbing. Quickly, I pushed it open and saw Twilight on a tear-soaked bed. Her eyes were dry and had bags under them. Had she been crying all night?
"Flash Sentry! " her face brightened up with joy, and jumped off her bed and kissed me, "Oh sweetie, are you okay? I was worried all night about what would've happened to you!" She hugged me and sobbed into my chest.
"Twilight, let's sit down." I slowly sat on her floor, because I didn't want to sit on the bed covered in tears. Twilight obeyed and we faced each other.
"Tell me- what happened after Shining Armor knocked me unconscious?" I asked.
"He levitated you with his magic, and I flew after him. He ignored me, but soon enough I got my magic back. I zapped him, but he galloped away with you still being dragged by him. He gave you to the pair of guards and told one of them to take you to the dungeon. I screamed but the guard was already gone. The door was locked. I demanded the other guard to open the door and he did. I began chasing after the guard telling him to stop but he galloped faster and ended locking you up. I was so upset by that point I couldn't think. Shining Armor caught up to me, and dragged me home. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night." Twilight replied, and sniffled, "But now you're here. How'd you get out?"
I told her the story.
"I can't believe it. Shining Armor is so overprotective of me he locked you up like a criminal so we couldn't see each other." She wrapped her hooves around my neck and hugged me.
For a tenth of a second, I felt bad for Shining Armor. He loved his little sister and wanted to protect her, and he would do anything to protect her, whether she liked it or not. He couldn't accept the fact that his cute little unicorn sister has become a beautiful alicorn princess and has found love.
I would probably do the same if I had a little sister like Twilight. Seeing her with a colt and seeing her grown up would be terrifying.
I need to talk with Shining Armor, and show him that I understand what he's going through. I just hope he doesn't beat me up. I need to show him I'm the right stallion for Twilight, and that I will always take care of her and be there for her whenever she needs me.
I heard the door open. Shining Armor was home. I gave a deep breath, and Twilight hugged me.
"You can do it." she softly whispered.
I trotted out of Twilight's room and stopped Shining Armor at the top of the stairs. Our eyes met, and I tried not to show fear. He seemed more pissed off than when he locked me up, but I doubt he'll attack me.
"Hey Captain Shining Armor," I said, "Can we talk?"
Shining Armor rolled his eyes. "Fine, come into my room. You should explain why you were smooching up to my sister."
Shining Armor had a queen bed, which made it easy for us both to sit on.
"The reason why I kissed your sister," I started, "Is because I love her. She's an amazing mare. I really love her, Shining Armor. She's like you. She's a great leader. She's everything I've ever wanted. I hate to tell you, Captain, but she's all grown up. Let her grow up."
Shining Armor looked angry, but then sad, "How?" he said, looking down, "How can I let her grow up?"
"Captain Shining Armor," I started, "She deserves love. Isn't it cruel to force her to be forever a filly? I know how you feel. I have a little brother. I can't imagine him growing up one day. But one day he will, and you have to consider all of the possibilities of what he can achieve. When he's an adult, he'll be mature. He should be able to make his own choices. I wouldn't want to get in his way. It's his life, not mine."
Shining Armor just looked at the bed, and we sat in silence for a couple minutes.
"You're right." He finally said, and looked at me, "I love Twilight so much, I want to protect her from the world. But she can protect herself. She's a strong mare. I should stop worrying."
"Thank you, Shining Armor." I said calmly, but on the inside I was exploding with joy.
I can love Twilight with nopony getting in our way!
"May I see her?" I asked.
"You don't need my permission." Shining Armor said, which contradicted what he said the previous night about me needing permission.
"Thank you, Captain." and I left to go see Twilight.
I walked into her room. "Well?" she asked.
I didn't respond, I just laughed and kissed her. When we finally pulled back, I said, "He won't try to get in our way."
She squealed with joy and hugged me, and we made our way downstairs to spend the day together. I saw Shining Armor's face. He was sad Twilight was grown up, but he was happy she was happy.
Everypony was happy.
