Starcrossed

Chapter 7- Riding on a Crazy Train

The sky had taken on a steely grey colour as the winter rolled in, white flakes fell gently to the ground with little to no wind to impede their progress. On occasion the white flakes would mingle with black ones that spewed forth from the train, the journey had taken the train the long way around Mt. Equestria. Snaking it's way around towards the north side where Trottingham lay in wait.

"And then the wings just appeared?" Flash asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I know it's a lot to swallow," Twilight admitted sheepishly.

"Becoming a Princess just like that..." Flash shook his head and laughed "and here I am just hoping to to get promoted to Sargent before I retire."

Twilight giggled "You'll get there, speaking of which, tell me what you've been up to?"

"Well, I was redeployed to Fort Snowhawk as you know," Flash said, patting his blue cape "and that was really just two years of standing out in the freezing cold, it was really boring... Thanks for writing by the way, it was one of the few bright points when I was up there."

Twilight felt her cheeks burn, but she didn't know why. She glanced out the window at the bleach white landscape.

"Have you ever been to Trottingham?" Twilight asked "it has one of the most distinct local cultures in Equestria."

"Nah, I've only really been to Cloudsdale and Canterlot," Flash said "and Vanhoover, but that was just to get my equipment and head to Snowhawk."

Twilight hummed "and you grew up in Cloudsdale I assume?"

"No, I grew up in-" Canterlot, as a low life thief "Manehatten, with my parents."

"And your brother," Twilight added for him, Flash felt panic hit him like a hot poker, this was a subject that he was not prepared for.

"Yeah," Flash said, trying to think of a way to change the subject but Twilight was too quick for him.

"It's been bothering me since you got back to Canterlot, are you ready to talk about it?" Twilight asked.

"I... Uh... Well..." Flash stuttered, his mind scrambling for something to say. He remembered back in the day, doing jobs with his brother, when Flash had to fool somepony over they would scout them out, prepare the story, create the character. Flash was no good at improvising and he feared it would drag him under at any moment.

"It's just... We're friends," Twilight said, looking at Flash with those big purple eyes "and I feel like we shouldn't keep things from one another, especially if we're going to be spending the better part of two months together."

Think think think think think Flash, think of something, anything! Your brother was jealous of your uncle and you sided with the uncle! No that's dumb.... You stole money from your brother? That's almost as bad as the truth, what about your brother stole money from you? Not bad but it puts my brother in a bad light.... And me as well uhhhhhhhhhhhh, buck

"....I'd still rather not talk about it," Flash said weakly "but... How about I tell you when we get to Manehatten? I'll introduce you to my family there."

What the buck are you saying Flash? Stop.

"Okay," Twilight said cheerfully, her tone filled Flash with dread and regret. He had told bigger lies, of course, but as always he felt a stone of self disgust settle in his gut, but this time it seemed to be larger and heavier. It seemed the guilt would grow every time he looked at Twilight, and she looked at him with her beautiful lavender eyes...

Snap out of it Flash, He chastised himself, you have to figure out how in Equestria your going to introduce Twilight to a family that doesn't exist.

The train pulled around the mountain, covered in a even frosting of snow that matched the landscape. Down the slop nestled in the shadow of Mt. Equestria was Trottingham, a large collection of two-story and three-story buildings made out of the local dark mahogany wood, with the occasional stone estate mixed in. The settlement was surrounded in dense mahogany trees in which the livelyhood of Trottingham came from, the entire city created a dark smoky cloud of wood smoke that battled with the snow for what colour the sky was going to be, it was a stalemate.

The locomotive announced it's arrival with screeching wheels and a long whistle, it slowed and stopped perfectly placed in front of the platform. With a burst bursts of steam the doors magically opened, allowing the nobly inclined passengers to step off and haughtily head for the nearest high-class hotel to get put of the cold. Among them were two decisively more humble beings who headed down the main road, towards a large estate that was the homestead of The Lord of Trottingham.

Despite the amount of snowfall, it was only mildly chilly. At least by Flash's standards, the windless flurries held nothing in comparison to the arctic blizzards that Snowhawk was subject to. Twilight on the other hoof was shivering up a storm, trying to maneuver her new wings to warp around herself more snugly and conserve heat, Flash felt guilty with his snug cape. After some internal debate he unlatched his Snowhawk cape with his teeth, came closer to Twilight and threw it over her, she was startled at first but smiled her thanks, pulling the cape closer around herself.

They arrived at the lords house in a timely manner, it was wide, flat, and three storied. Two Royal Guards sporting Capes of Trottingham (the likeness of a large silver tree on a dark brown backround) they recognized Twilight and one of their own immediately and opened the gate for them.

"Lord Forest is awaiting your arrival your majesty," one of them said to Twilight, who seemed awkward at the title but thanked the stallion none the less.

They crossed the simple courtyard swiftly and entered into the warm manor, Twilight returning Flash's cape with a smile and a faint blush. The inside of the estate was grand, polished marble floors reflected the light from the golden chandeliers that hung from the mosaic ceiling that depicted images of several armed stallions chasing strange horned Ponies with long slender legs. A pair of winding steps lead up to a second floor alcove where the lord of the house would undoubtedly be waiting, with nopony there to tell them otherwise Flash and Twilight climbed the steps.

Up the stairs was a large flat room, with two long dining tables covered in platters and bowls, a twin pair of stained glassed widowed flanked the throne that had the Trottingham Silver Tree glowing with light from outdoors.

Lord Forest Green sat on a mahogany throne, flanked by two other stallions and with a smaller throne next to him, he was a dark green Earth Pony stallion with a brown mane that matched the dark wood that Trottigham was known for, his eyes were an icy blue. He wore a brown tunic that was trimmed with silver, with the insignia of Trottingham emblazoned upon it.

Twilight approached him "Lord Forest," she acknowledged, giving him a small nod, Flash doing the same.

Lord Forest frowned "is that anyway to greet a lord in his own house? A nice low bow I think," he said with a distinctive Trottingham accent.

Flash frowned in turn, Twilight was a Princess and easily outranked a lord, even one that controlled a prominent city like Trottingham. On the other hoof, this was Lord Forests House and any guest should respect him and his wishes.

Twilight apparently agreed with the latter and bent her front legs to swoop into a bow with Flash following her lead, this put a pleased smile on Lord Forests lips.

"You see? Simple," he said, as if rubbing it in "now, you must have come here for a good reason, what might that be, hm?"

Twilight was keeping a pleasant face on while Flash screamed inside at the disrespect being shown right now, he marvelled at how Twilight kept her calm. She was playing the game well.

"As you know, my ascension to Princess was only recent. Princess Celestia feels like a public relations tour through the major cities in Equestria would help the nation adjust to this new change, and we have decided to start with Trottingham," Twilight explained.

Lord Forest hummed "oh really?" He said "and what are your plans for Trottingham? Do tell."

Twilights ears drooped and Flash's heart dropped slightly, she had a plan right? She always had a plan, she would just trot into a Lord's House without ideas in her head?

Lord Forest put a charming smile on and came off his throne, he approached Twilight and snaked his leg in hers and began to lead her back towards his throne. Flash felt a stab of pure wrath hit his heart and he almost acted on it but was caught by his own sense and a death-stare one of Lord Forest's stallions, a large imposing male with a steel armoured vest and scars across his face.

"I had a thought," Lord Forest was saying "that you should do public appearances, let the people know you are here, say... A parade of sorts. A quick ride through the streets of Trottingham, and of course there are the schools that temper the young minds of the city, then there are the workers that harvest our signature Black Wood Trees."

"That's a great idea!" Twilight exclaimed, brightening up immediately "can you organize those?"

"Of course, of course," Forest assured, as he and Twilight reached the front of his throne "I am just glad to help you, since your so clearly unprepared and unskilled in this area" he said, giving Twilight the nastiest smile Flash had ever seen and his eyes searching for a reaction.

Outside of a flick of her ear, Twilight gave him none "thank you, Lord Forest, you are too kind."

"Yes, I am," Lord Forest said in satisfaction "I shall have you escorted to some guest quarters, you must be tired from your journey, I shall send somepony to you in the morn for breakfast and the beginning of your tour of Trottingham."

Lord Forest slipped away from Twilight and sat back down on his throne, he nodded to the scarred stallion that guarded him who then gestured for Twilight to follow him. Flash brought up the rear and had one last backwards glance at Lord Forest's smugly satisfied face before Flash descended the stairs.

The scarred stallion led them through a side door in the main foyer, into a long hall with multiple doors, they were led to the fourth one that oriented to reveal a large bedroom with a single plush bed. Twilight thanked the stallion for his help, who in turn nodded silently gave one last death glare to Flash and exited.

Flash turned to Twilight as the door clocked shut, meaning to voice his anger at Lord Forest's behaviour but stopped as he saw the tears beginning to well from her eyes.

Flash caught her in his arms, pulling off his helmet and holding her tight. Twilight sobbed into Flash's shoulder with ready tears, while he did his best to sooth her, despite not knowing what was causing the problem.

"What's wrong?" He finally asked.

"Lord Forest," Twilight sobbed "he was... He just... I.... Why?"

Flash frowned "he was pushing you Twilight, he wanted to break your confidence, humiliate you in public, he probably didn't like that someone as young as you became Princess, so he wants to discredit you."

"What am I suppose to do?" Twilight said, steadying her breathing but leaving her eyes damp.

"You can't back down, next time he speaks to you like that you have to confront him," Flash said.

"But..." Twilight began "this tour is about public relations, about building bonds between me and the ponies of Equestria, if I go and insult Lord Forest where will that get me?"

"You cannot just ignore his insults!" Flash exclaimed.

"I'll have to," Twilight said "...thank you for your help, Flash Sentry."

Flash extended one of his wings and wiped the tears from Twilights cheeks "only doing my job, your majesty," he said in joke.

Twilight blushed and pushed Flash away from her a bit abruptly, she turned away from him "well, yes, I think I'll head to sleep now and I'm sure you can find a bed in the town barracks or something, goodnight."

Flash blinked, why was she acting like this? Had he done something wrong? He had only tried to comfort her and give some honest advice...

"I-I'm sorry, your majesty," Flash said uncertainly "it was not my place, please forgive me, I shall assure you are safe here and then retire."

Twilight didn't respond, merely listened to the click of the door, she sighed.

What is the feeling in my chest? Twilight asked herself I don't understand.