Lost deep in her thoughts, Twilight observed the amazing landscapes of the beautiful country that was Equestria scrolling throught the window of the colourful pink train where she was sitting in. She wasn't caring much of the story that Rarity was telling, and for sure didn't wanted to listen about the multiple feats of Rainbow Dash, who didn't lost one minute to relate how she was awesome to everypony who passed by. She didn't react neither when Angel, Fluttershy's bunny, tried to bite her hoof (thanks to the yellow pegasus, it didn't happened), and Celestia know how it annoy her.
The truth was that the purple alicorn was disturbed. By what? By all this sudden action. The goddess of the sun just asked her to come immediately to Canterlot Castle. Why? She didn't have any friggin' idea, and she hated that. The last thing Twily wanted was to fight another monster, but she brought the element, just in case. What happened this time? Discord was reformed, Tirek was in Tartarus, Nightmare Moon didn't exist anymore, just like Sombra, and Chrysalis and her Changelings didn't show any signs of life in the last 2 years. Also, the Smooze was no where to be seen. The princess guessed that Discord must have taked care of it.
So, what's the problem? Why did Celestia specified to come immediately if everything was okay?
The alicorn looked at her reflection in the mirror. She saw herself: a purple mare with dark blue, violet and brilliant pink mane. She saw on her head her magnificient crown: a golden tiara with decorated with tiny pink gems, that she wore since the day she gave back to the tree of harmony her old one. The crown of Magic. The one that was stole by Sunset Shimmer. The one responsible of the discovery of Canterlot High, and also the one that permitted her to met Flash Sentry, one year ago.
Flash Sentry... This handsome boy she met in the other world. He charmed her with his smile, his kindness... And boom. She bumped into his pony form yesterday, just like as always. She didn't thought she would meet him in Equestria. However, it was logical, because everypony except her and Sunset Shimmer had an human couterpart, but at first, she didn't considered it. But, even as surprised as she was, she couldn't say that she didn't want to see him.
The purple Princess would love to forget the young man/pony and to convince herself he was now part of the past. But she couldn't. It was impossible. He was now only a beautiful memory. Something she felt the first time they met. Something that made her heart melt and brought little butterflies in her tummy, just like Fluttershy's. Love.
And then, recently, she went back to Canterlot High, to help her friends defeat the sirens. These three monsters were now under the control of Principal Celestia. Everything was now under control. Seeing Flash Sentry again had been a real surprise, even if she knew deep in her mind that it would happen again.
And now, she missed him even more.
Applejack, who noticed her purple friend's despair, approached the alicorn and putted a hoof on her shoulder. As she felt the cowgirl's paw, the lunatic mare turned her head to see the orange earth pony behind her, with a reassuring smile on her face.
- S"ugarcube, ya' seem unsettled. Can ya' tell us what's wrong?" her friend asked, curiosity devouring her. And she wasn't the only: Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike and even Pinkie Pie, who was really occupied playing with a baloon, stared at her, awaiting an answer. The purple alicorn sighed, before telling her friends the worries that disturbed the start of the trip. Each of them listened to her closely, without interrupting their royal friend. This helped Twilight a lot, since all these thought were perturbing her a lot. Talking to these fantastic mares was really of use.
When she finished to relate her worries, silent was felt in the wagon. Minutes passed before Rarity spoke.
"Darling, I don't know what the Sun Princess wrote in this letter of yours, but I am sure everything will be absolutely fine."
"You know Rarity, the last time I said this, all your cutie marks were switched and I got these wings and this title. So it just brought me problems."
"What da ya' mean, Twi?" Applejack replied, "You think it's a wrong thing to be a princess?"
"Yes... No... Oh, you know what I mean, AJ."
"You know what, Twilight? Rarity is right! There is no problem! I'm sure the princess just asked you to come so you can eat cake with her!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully.
"Pinkie is right." Rainbow said when stepping in the conversation. Everypony looked at her strangely with looked at her with round eyes. "Well, except for the cake."
"Hey!"
The purple alicorn thought about what her friends said, and smiled, comforted by her besties. "You know what? You're all right. I don't need to worry."
- "I actually didn't said anything" Fluttershy said in a whisper, hiding under her mane.
But no one heard her, as her friends started to talk again.
***
"Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?" Twilight said when she entered the throne room, with all her friends following her. The two princesses looked up to the new arrival, with a bright smile on their face.
"I am so happy to see you Twilight!" Celestia said, walking near her beloved student.
"Me too!" The younger of the 3 alicorns replied, as she hugged her . Then, she saw the dark mare approaching, and bowed to her. "Your highness"
"No need to be so formal, Twilight Sparkle", Luna answered with a bright smile, "But we like to see you so polite"
Then, Twilight broke the hug.
-"Princess, why did you wanted to see me immediately? Is there another villain we need to fight?
Because I brought my friends and the elements just in case. Did Discord betrayed us again? Is it the Sirens or another creature of this kind? Are we starting a war? Ooh, is it Chrysalis? Cuz' I can contact Cadence and Shining Armor...
Princess Celestia let out a little laugh.
"Oh no, Twilight, everything is fine."
"And even if it was't, you wouldn't need to call me!" Said another well-known alicorn. Twilight turned her head to see the princess of love.
Recognizing her old foal sister, the purple mare started to walk in direction of the doors, but soon, her walk switched in a trot, then a gallop.
"Cadance!" She screamed happily.
"Twily!"
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" The two royal ponies sang along before erupting into laughter.
"Is Shining Armor here?"
"Yes, he's in our chambers. You will be able to see him later. We've got good news!"
"Hem-hem" Someone coughed behind the duo. The 5 colourful ponies who had followed Twilight had been almost forgotten by the purple mare. The joy of seeing her step-sister again just got all her attention.
" With all my respect, your highnesses, there is something we should discuss." Said Rarity.
"Oh, right!" Celestia remembered. "Your guards."
"Wait... What?"
***
Twilight was prepared for any type of answers: warnings, help needed, even surprise tests! But she certainly didn't saw this coming. And she wasn't the only one: Pinkie Pie fell on the floor.
"Hem... Pinkie" The cowgirl asked."What in tarnation are ya' doing?"
"What? I just wanted my jaw to drop on the floor!" The pink pony answered, with all her seriousness.
"Forget it, AJ." Rainbow said, "She's just being Pinkie Pie."
"So awesome!" the cyan pegasus said, now talking about another subject more important than the pink pony's weird habits."You've got a sweet awesome castle, and now new slaves that comes with!"
She just earned to be then the cible of the disapproving stare of Applejack."What?"
"Oh my gosh!" I can't believe it! Guards, Twilight, GUARDS! Rarity shouted, happy for her friend.
"Woo-hoo!" silently shouted Fluttershy, causing Cadance to chuckle.
This purple friend, however, didn't think the same way. Not at all.
"But... Princess Celestia..." Twilight asked, totally desempared. "I don't understand. Why do I need guards?!"
"My dear Twilight", Luna answered for her sister. "Every princess needs her personnal protection. A lot of people would like to be in your place, and some are even ready to hurt you. Believe me, it already happened in the past." The night alicorn looked at the princess of love with a sad look. "Tia, Cadence and us thinks it's important to you to be protected too."
"I even chose your Captain, Twily!" Princess Cadance said, a little bit too excited. "You will be meeting him tomorrow!"
"I am not sure about if I need to be happy or scared about that..." the Friendship princess thought, uncertain...
***
The guards were exhaused. They were running for like, one hour. And that exercise was sure difficult. A bunch of soldiers had passed out just ten minutes ago. But Captain Armor didn't even move to help them. He probably wanted to keep the other guards focused on their training.
Finally, the white tall unicorn blowed his whistle, causing all the stallions to stop.
- "Soldiers, in position! Take a partner and do your usual exercises. You all need to improve your attack techniques!"
The guards obeyed immediately. Everypony formed groups of two and started practicing. Everypony, except one.
" What an airhead..." the captain thought, watching the orange stallion which, compared to his partners, did not move a muscle. The whimsical boy was looking at the Canterlot Castle. The white stallion walked toward the pegasus, to scream in his ears.
- "FLASH SENTRY, WHAT IN EQUESTRIA ARE YOU DOING?!"
The poor stallion jumped from fear, looked behind him and saw his angry captain.
"Go join the others".
"Yes sir! As you wish, sir!" The pegasus answered, to then flew away as fast as Rainbow Dash could have done.
"Kids these days..." He let out a sigh. "Can't believe it will be him..."
***
When the training finally finished, Flash Sentry and his partners went to the showers. After a good cleaning session, the orange pegasus started to put is armor on, only to be interrupted by no one else that Shining Armor.
"He sure want to talk about my comportment at the beginning of the training" Flash thought. But Twilight's brother didn't seem to want to chat about that.
- "Sentry, come here. I need to talk to you..."
***
GUARDS!!! Twilight needs GUARDS!! She couldn't believe it.
And Cadance is supposed to show her the stallions that will protect her. The princess of Love said she already chose a captain. And with the smile she gave her, the purple mare didn't know how to feel about it.
Twilight was half upset, half nervous. And maybe a little bit happy. But she didn't know her step-sister made the decision that will change her life.
***TO BE CONTINUED***
