No Sun-Queen Shall Rend Asunderby Plough and Stars PonyChapters"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Day Train"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train A"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train BCrystal PinnacleThe Twily Fly and the Flashie FlyA Load of D'AawwwwwA Dream of RuinHeresy!, Part OneHeresy! Part TwoA Longing LookA Stolen Kiss (Totally Not An Official First Kiss)Guess Who is Seen Together?Immortality BluesA Different Goodnight Two BraviA Different Goodnight Manifold ThreeA Sharp, Steel, and Flash Fragment"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Day TrainThe trumpets sounded, and Celestia surrendered to her sister Luna; and Luna spread her wings wide, and it was night. Sharp Spear and Steel Wind trotted out and out of the Royal Court; the promise of hot delicious food pulling their metal horseshoes down and down and down. It had been a long day at the Royal Court. Several ponies had come over planning permission, a family separation, a will settlement case, and a little harmless public concern over foreign relations with other countries. “That poor foal,” Sharp Spear began. “Her mother caught her father with another mare, and now she has forbidden her daughter from seeing her father at all!” They had both been there. The mother had scarcely comforted her precious little filly at all. The filly had wept unceasingly, shaking her mane in to snakes and staining the carpet with snot and tears. The father had tried to pull her in to a comforting wing-hug, but his wife, glaring with all the poison of a Borgia, had yelled at him. She had yelled for him not to touch her, “lest he infect her with the daemon of adultery.” Sharp Spear’s eyebrows were almost tilting his helmet back with incredulity. Steel shook his head, in pain, and in pity. Celestia had done her share of shouting. She had called the mother’s conduct opposed to a proper mother’s care and love. Celestia had ruled the daughter could see and stay with her father while the mother was burdened with therapy classes. “That foal will have nightmares of to-day,” Sharp Spear announced sagely. “Her mother put her through more pain than the mere discovery of the adultery.” Sharp sighed, and Steel acknowledged with an eye-brow raise of his own. “Iron Hoof shall be gloating of this when he hears; ‘the philandering and weak morals of pegasi’,” he finished, hairs on the back of his neck rising and fluffing in distaste. Sharp Spear’s wings half-unfurled, as if to strangle Iron Hoof in a bid of autonomous anger. “That pompous bastard goes around saying how great unicorns are. He is the pony who is disgracing the whole unicorn caste,” Sharp spat under his breath as he ended this tirade. “Sshh,” Steel cautioned. “You will get us thrown in to the dungeons with Orion and the other criminals with that talk.” Sharp grunted at his partner’s reprimand and reproof. Now it was Steel’s turn to sigh. He tried to put up with Sharp Spear’s rebellious and pointless spouts but it was so difficult sometimes, for example late in to the night after lights out; all he could do was listen to him or clamp the pillow over his ears and beg sleep to come. Being a Royal Guard in the Eleventh Century, Celestial Era meant knowing an unwritten truth universally acknowledged that nearly everypony in the Guard hated Captain Iron Hoof in some form or hue. And nearly every one of those ponies almost never admitted this dislike some way or another. Wait, what is that noise? Is that somepony humming? A faint melody wafted along the corridor, sculling under the crackle of the torches and braziers. “Steel?” Sharp asked curiously, but Steel ignored him. He twisted his head around to see who was humming. And he saw a distant Guard, with gold armour, and fur so light they seemed to blend together… Steel realised who it was, realised that he had come back, had come back out of the frozen north with Princess Twilight Sparkle. Before Sharp could follow his eye-line and the same jump, Steel was cantering down the corridor towards his old friend. Sharp watched Steel go, surprised. He scrutinised the Guard, who had turned round to see who was raising the cacophony. And only then did Sharp recognise him. By the time Sharp Spear reached the rejoicing pair, Steel was laughing and clapping Flash on his plated shoulder. Flash was grinning in pleasure and gripping Steel’s foreleg with his own. “How are you, Flash? “ Steel was asking delightedly. “It’s been boring without you these four weeks. Aah, it’s been ages.” “Hi, Steel. Hi Sharp,” grinning with glowing molars and incisors. “Yes, yes, I feel excellent, really…excellent.” His grin stayed fixed, but his eyes clouded over – and his wings definitely twitched. “It was a fascinating trip, seeing all the Empire, and the Crystal ponies, and the mountains…wonderful.” “Cool!” Sharp beamed. “It sounds like you enjoyed yourself to the full up there.” “Well, we did spend most of our time in the library, but Twilight and I –,” the traveller halted suddenly, white and sapphire eyes widening. A pause split and bridged one moment from the next, sharp and Steel followed in rapt surprise. Flash had committed another offence, if anypony counted him breaking the spear. He should not have spoken her name so casually, so intimately, to save the situation. Flash sucked in a quick breath. “But the Princess and I managed to explore the Empire and round-a-bouts,” he finished limply. Steel sighed out, susurrations warping the turgid air. And the stainless stallion chuckled. “First-name terms, eh? You must know her pretty well to call her that.” “It was her idea, she didn’t want me to repeat myself two hundred times a day,” Flash replied, besting a chuckle of his own. “And, yes, I do know her very well.” Sapphires clouded and tarnished, and the smile of the impeccable Knight stretched wistfully. You could almost say his wings were curling from embarrassment. Flash’s smile was not the only one to stretch. The stainless Guard was just beginning to copy him in honest humour, at his fellow’s predicament… Sharp Spear’s stomach growled and gurgled, eliciting a louder and deeper sound from its holder. “Oh, heehaw; we’d better get down to the Hall before there’s nothing left.” Steel agreed with gusto, rubbing and smacking his own belly. “Joining us, Flash?” he enquired. “No, no, I only want to go to my room and sleep. It’s been a too-long ride up here, and I ate a little on the train. I’m beat.” “Okay, Flash,” the stainless stallion settled. “See you to-morrow.” “Good night,” Flash called to his friends, as they stepped past him down and down and down towards the Hall. The two inseparable companions gave their answer, as his hoofsteps and armour faded in to the loving dusk. Minutes later, once they were seated at the table, plates of steaming mash before them, did Steel venture an observance: “He looks and sounds a lot better, don’t you think?” Sharp did agree, once he had shoved several spoons worth of hot mash in to an even hotter maw. And he knocked the statement with his head, as a hammer would a nail. “Maybe he’s asked a mare out at last!” His eyes shone, his empty mouth grinned and his ears perked up. Steel did not reply immediately to his bunk-mate’s hopes, whether to join him or shoot him down. Flash had given a tiny thing away, and he almost had his hoof on it. "N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train ASteel Wind cantered down the corridor after the rest of the Royal Guard. The few pegasi and many unicorns in charge of Canterlot’s weather had blessed the Avalon-lofted Capitol a mild cloudy day with spells of sunshine. The sunshine gleamed through the windows, against the opulent tapestries and the bland ugly stone. It had, he mused, been four weeks exactly since Flash had to go with Princess Twilight Sparkle up to the Crystal Empire for a research trip. Flash had been so lucky. Ordinary Royal Guards would never get that amount of free time racked up. Maybe being a personal bodyguard to one of Equestria’s Princesses granted privileges… Steel broke trot and skidded – horseshoes squealing and screeching on the rough flags. Steel blinked, certain he had missed something, a little obvious something. He cast back his mind: Flash…bodyguard…same grey stone, bright blue and gold blur bobbing past the corner of his eye --- yes! Steel swung his head to the right to a draperied colonnade, as the orange blur slipped behind a marble column. Past the other side, Steel saw the bright blue crop of mane, and the square muzzle and orange coat of one of his best friends, Flash Sentry. Hardly registering his wings snapping out from his sides in excitement and pleasure, Steel’s brain snapped on and in to overdrive. Steel, entirely for-going considering the consequences of the next action, sucked in a massive breath and blew it out in one: “FLASH!” Steel bellowed. The few Royal guards in the Hall flinched at the noise, and glared at him. Even the fires in the lanterns and torches and braziers shivered. Flash jumped and spun round in the air, his landing a loud clank. His eyes darted everywhere, ears flicked back: textbook fight-or-flight. Flash saw Steel waving, or rather, a stallion doing his hardest to lob his fore-hoof off. Flash meekly returned a wave of his own, a self-conscious grin on is muzzle as a side-dish. Steel looked round at the hostile glares of the surrounding Guards and mouthed “See you later at dinner” to Flash. Steel went on his way to his post, muttering obsequious apologies to other passing Guards. Flash trotted up the stairs and cross the gallery, chuckling: “Oh that Steel Wind, just like him to give me a welcome like that.” “Sir Flash Sentry,” a peremptory command barked in his ear. The said Royal Guard failed to hide his surprise as he turned to face the Captain of the Royal Guard, Iron Hoof. Iron Hoof still wore the purple armour with gold trim, polished always to a vanity-flattering luster. It, however, contrasted with is cold-grey coat and colder-grey unshorn hoofs and mane. Iron Hoof’s usual disapproving expression broke in a little and swiftly-murdered smirk. Flash recovered his composure, and straightened; before bowing deep to the floor, pushing his eyes to the floor. He had been humiliated, just for a moment, by his superior officer and his greatest enemy. “Flash,” the Captain repeated, pinning Flash with a quelling look. “I see that Princess Twilight Sparkle and you have returned from her research trip. I trust the Princess was able to find the answers to her questions?” Flash, throat vibrant with response, opened his mouth. “No matter,” Iron Hoof cut him off, curtly. “Report to my office to give a full account after dinner this evening.” He walked past Flash before remarking, “And who was making that Galaxia-dammed noise like a mud-pony mare in the height of heat?” Flash crushed a detesting shudder shimmering through him, before replying in the most level and respectful of tones, “I do not know, sir, I did not recognise him, sir.” Iron Hoof grunted dismissively, continuing to clop on his way. Flash picked up his route again. Oh Steel Wind is in for a Tartarus of a time if Iron Hoof ever finds out. "N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train BSteel Wind cantered down the corridor after the rest of the Royal Guard. The few pegasi and many unicorns in charge of Canterlot’s weather had blessed the Avalon-lofted Capitol a mild cloudy day with spells of sunshine. The sunshine gleamed through the windows, against the opulent tapestries and the bland ugly stone. It had, he mused, been four weeks exactly since Flash had to go with Princess Twilight Sparkle up to the Crystal Empire for a research trip. Flash had been so lucky. Ordinary Royal Guards would never get that amount of free time racked up. Maybe being a personal bodyguard to one of Equestria’s Princesses granted privileges… Steel broke trot and skidded – horseshoes squealing and screeching on the rough flags. Steel blinked; certain he had missed something, a little obvious something. He cast back his mind: Flash…bodyguard…same grey stone, brightened by blue banners and red carpets…strange - but familiar – orange and gold blur bobbing past the corner of his eye…yes! Steel swung his head to the right to a draperied colonnade, as the orange blur slipped behind a marble column. Out the other side, Steel saw the deep blue crop of mane, the golden gleam of armour, the deep yellow coat of his best friend, Sir Flash Sentry. Hardly registering his wings snapping out in excitement and pleasure, Steel’s brain flicked on with adrenaline. Steel lifted a hoof to attract his eyes, and mate his own wave. Then he heard something most odd. A soft melody, now reaching his ears, wafted from Flash’s own person. Steel gaped, Flash was actually humming. Was that a spring or a skip to his hoof’s trot? Was that an easy smile splitting the muzzle so often stricken by that inexplicable woe of the past months? Steel Wind was stunned. What had brought this about? Steel found himself at a loss. He couldn’t talk to Flash right now. He would have to wait to corner Flash at dinner and enquire. Until then, he was forced to marvel. Oh, and he had to seek out Sharp Spear and tell him. Crystal PinnacleSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.The Twily Fly and the Flashie FlySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A Load of D'AawwwwwSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A Dream of RuinSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Heresy!, Part OneSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Heresy! Part TwoSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A Longing LookSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A Stolen Kiss (Totally Not An Official First Kiss)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Guess Who is Seen Together?Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Immortality BluesSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.A Different Goodnight Two BraviA Goodnight, Manifold Two Bravi The two couples parted company in the Entrance Hall, eight pairs of hoofs clinking good night to wakefulness. Flash thought he saw Cadence flick a knowing smile in their direction out of the corner of his eye. At the doors to their rooms, Twilight sighed and turned to face him. “Thank you for taking me to the play, Flash,” she said, smiling warmly, a faint redness dusting her purple fur. A similar smile graced Flash’s muzzle, prompted by a force stronger than the moon tugging at the hidden tide between them. “It was a ple-, an honour, Twilight,” he replied. Careful, he cautioned himself. Twilight’s smile broadened. The dusk tint to her fur deepened. Silent seconds stretched. Flash yawned, hiding it well with his fore-hoof. He was about to pivot on his hoofs for his calling bed, when Twilight suddenly cocked her head to the side. Flash fixed his eyes on her, waiting and pondering. “I just thought,” she said “You still haven’t seen much of the Empire yet, have you?” she queried her escort. Flash, surprised, shook his head, long-sharpened and honed wariness flicking its ears to the wind. “Oh, well, um . . . would you fancy a tour of the Crystal Empire f-from me? Flash’s blush ran through his body, a cosy heat.. B-but that means hours and hours or a whole day, maybe , with her talking to me, and smiling, and laughing. A mental image came to him: The two of them sitting on a hill overlooking the Empire, wings tucked over each other, her head resting on his shoulder . . . Flash thrust the picture away like it was a bomb, clamping and taping his wings to his side, willing his syntax to be calm and measured. He felt his lips melt in a welcoming smile and his voice say: “Of course, I would like a tour, Twilight.” A second grateful grin, before it faltered. “Oh, this is going to put my studies back a bit, though,” Twilight murmured, before perking up. “But I could always spend a little longer here.” She beamed at Flash. “Thank you so much,” she cried ecstatically. “You’re quite the gentle-colt, aren’t you?” she teased. Flash’s smile broadened to an embarrassed grin, trailing a hoof along the floor, scorching heat swirling through his chest and cheeks. Did that just happen? Or have I fallen asleep again? Well, I know I am tired, but – “Aww, you look so cute like that,” twilight cooed, more to herself, but Flash heard it all the same. He froze, one hoof-tip on the corner of one crystal square, and the three squares surrounding it. I’m dreaming, he thought, Yes, I’m asleep, I was talking to her, and now I’m in bed, dreaming about her invitation . . .yes, that - A soft clinking drew his mind out of the squares, though not his eyes. It was a clinking drawing nearer and nearer. An out-of-focus purple hoof glided in to his gaze. Flash felt it under his chin, lifting his eyes from the colours of the gem-inlaid floor. Twilight Sparkle looked at him, warm black pools of immeasurable kindness almost reflecting the poor, cursed stallion staring helplessly in to them. A blush adorned her muzzle as before. And her lips were parted just a little. Flash’s brain sputtered and choked up. She’s so close gleamed bright and clear through his mind. Then he noticed, of all terrible and divined circumstances, she held his chin with that hoof; the hoof he had dishonoured and sullied with his hopeless affection. Twilight slowly lowered the hoof, rubbing the fur of his neck, and resting it on the star insignia of the Royal Guard, of magic, and her cutie mark. Flash bit down an involuntary groan as she grazed him. “Don’t look so sad, Flash,” Twilight murmured. “You really are sort of cute; smart, loyal, compassionate, polite…” she giggled. Flash could not think, his heart throbbing so painfully from her confession. He was lost in her words, melting his wit to a syrup-thick quagmire. He saw Twilight flick her eyes over his face concentrating. Her horn glowed purple. A purple aura flushed around his helmet, and Flash felt the metal lighten and lift. A gurgle of sound rose in his throat: “Twilight?” he began curiously. “Sshh,” she whispered, the zephyr brushing and tickling his muzzle. Twilight inclined her head towards him, her eyes closing and her lips puckered and dewy. Flash’s breath stiffened in his throat but his heart continued to beat painful pulses. He felt the silk-like touch of her lips on his cheek, soft and warm. Although it was silent, it cracked and boomed and howled with all the thunders of Heaven and the shattering of long-ossified custom. She, a princess, had defied the Order and scorned the highest of Celestia’s teachings. It was a political act. Flash realised his eyes were closed too. Upon opening them, he saw her muzzle only inches from his, as if thinking, but really pausing. The mere sight of her so close sparked a hopelessly dreamed-of urge within him; first after kissing her hoof, the second on the train. When he had almost given in. Twilight noticed him looking, and giggled. A bright rosy blush glowed under her fur. Then she was cantering across the floor and vanishing in to the cave-dimness of her room. Flash stared after her, hoof raised to touch the blessed spot. A wide and true toothy grin, his first for months; and he weighed as light as golden air. Treading slowly through his room, detaching his armour, the redeemed stallion could think about the kiss. “Oh, what did I do? What did I do?” Twilight murmured distractedly pacing her room. All euphoria was gone to be replaced by anxiety. She liked Flash, true she did. But did she like him in the way which merited her pecking him on the cheek? Would it sabotage her friendship with a genuinely nice stallion? And then there was the Order… This would be the first time in her small circumscribed life she had flouted the Order. What would Celestia say, on a small act of affection given to her Guard? As she reached up to rumple her mane, the room swam about her and she gave vent to a huge yawn. “I’m too tired for this just now,” she conceded as she crawled in to bed. Twilight instantly fell asleep. Flash woke up, the feeble light of dawn creeping through the window. For a moment he could place the reason for his elation. Then he remembered the warm kiss. Rubbing his muzzle in to the pillow he allowed himself a grin of glee. His lungs soughed with sighs of ecstasy. Does this mean she likes me too? The answer seemed to be tantalizingly obvious. Flash needed a moment, just a moment in the glorious early morning sun. But he could not lie in. He must fulfill the duty of escort. Flash rose, gathered together and clicked on his armour. It was a bashful Twilight Sparkle which gave good tidings outside her bedroom door several minutes later. “Flash,” the alicorn began, as they kicked up a trot for the Dining Hall. “What I … what I …why I did that thing last night … because I like you, I like you a lot – but I need to figure how that will change things between us … you are still my Guard,” she said. Flash nodded, every nod heavy and understanding. "But you are still my Princess," the orange one countered in his brain. The two entered the Dining Hall, where cadence and Shining armour were already ensconced. Why, Flash wondered, is she smiling such a subtle crafty grin? A Different Goodnight Manifold ThreeA Different Goodnight, Manifold Three Twilight stepped closer; eyes closing, lips puckered and dewy. Flash’s breath stiffened in his throat. It had all jumped forward with wit-quick suddenness. A chorus of exultation lit chamber after chamber in his mind. They had been talking, she offering an invitation, he accepting, and her pleased and flattered smile . . . Cool vacant darkness. A pause, the pulses of a delighted heart now-awakened to bright possibilities measuring and counting the beats, first clamouring instants, and . . . throbbing slower to seconds and to epochs and to a standstill. “Come on,” Flash’s errant and impatient brain flickered. Hesitant, he peeled open a lid. Twilight hung back, purple muzzle screwed with indecision. Her eyes for the first time dripped distress. “Twili-,” Flash started, pebbles of sound chuckling down limp tongue. A hoof was raised, wanting to wrap itself over her shoulders and pin her to his chest. “I – I’m sorry, Flash, so so sorry - but I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” Twilight squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head, and turning away. No His body cramped with a cold, clammy molass, dragging down the two traitors once unruly, and now splayed in the revel. The river of blood now thick and clotted; limbs ready to sag to the floor and fossilise thereupon the crystal, ugly grey on the cheerful colours. Flash viewed her departure, her head low and tail limp; as if out of a glass pony-shaped shell, and only void within. A void warming up with smoulders of disappointment and anger. It had meant to be a special moment, and she had refused him it. Unintentionally, he gritted his teeth and the husk quaked with the harpy of silent fury. A harpy lashing at the very superstructure - foundation, facade and summit - of all his forbidden longing for the kind, soft-voiced and most beautiful of Princesses. And where she to topple it, he would begin to resent her, and end it with hating her. It left him suddenly, and the orange husk bloated and sang with greater emptiness. Flash hung his head, and trailed to his chamber and to his bed, where he would weep at what should have been. Yes … yes, it had been the right thing to do; despite Cadence allowing mixed couples to break the Order behind closed doors, it still felt far too new for her to show such affection to Flash. A pony stallion: kind, reserved, polite, clever and cute; but still her Guard. It would have been my first kiss, Twilight thought, and a thrill jumped and tingled in every cell and nerve. B-but with him? True, I li-like him, but not in that way Unknown to her, a pair of furtive tears spoke to the moonlight and showed the lock on her heart. Twilight broke the counterpane of the bed with her magic, and climbed in, fluffing the pillows. “It was the right decision,” she boldly announced to the darkness; a darkness where lies could lie and be silent. But her mind could not cover up her emotions. If had been the right thing to do, then why did she feel miserable, and above all, cheated? For the first time since coming to the strange land, the stranger had bad dreams. He dreamed the dream that always made him weep and his heart sing and beg. What is more, he saw with his mind's eye what could have been... This time Twilight took the step forward, and demurely looked him in the eyes. Locking her sight on to his, she tilted her head, pressing her violet lips to his own. Every atom in his body blew up in hot glorious supernovae. And it was so, for beyond the rest of Time. And when Flash woke up the next day, he found his wings heavy and clammy with the night's sweat. The fur under his eyes was dark with new, but familiar tears. Groaning, he turned over before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Flash took a moment to force the ghost of the dream from his mind. Flash looked outside. Celestia had not raised the sun yet, but the time was close. The few clouds in the sky were gently lined underneath by golden luminescence and the pink of primulas flushed the sky. Despite this, Flash could only think: "How could she, how could she?" The hot torrents of the shower washed away the sweat, the tears and the sadness. But it could not wash away the grime of disappointment and exasperation. Flash walked back to his room, cocking an ear to hear if the Princess was awake and up out of bed. It did not sound like it. She needed to explain what had happened last night. Flash was just clicking the breast-plate on and sliding his hoofs in to the slippers, when he heard a door open and sharp clinks scatter across the floor to his room. "Flash?" came the voice of the mare, it still made his heart pulse a little harder and his mind run with small thoughts of anger and petty revenge. Flash shook his head; he should not and would not fall to so low a depth. He had a duty as a Royal Guard to a Princess, and a duty to Twilight as her friend. Even as he resolved to hold himself up, his heart swelled to thoughts of forgiveness. "Wait a minute," he called as he tightened the slippers round his hind-hoofs. Next he checked the straps and the shine of the armour. Finding himself gleaming and immaculate as always, he walked briskly to the door, opening it to see a sad Twilight on the other side, her eyes melded to the porcelain floor. Her wings rustled, uncomfortable in the abject sad slump of her body and his sudden gaze. Princess Twilight glanced up at the stallion she had suddenly jilted, and winced from the interview now to take place. "Good morning, Your Highness, " Flash said, promptly, coldly and correctly. Twilight flinched at the words. She glanced at his face again, before looking away. "Flash," she said, holding up a placating hoof, "I want to say, before Shining's guests go down and see us here, how very, very sorry I am for ... what happened last night. Truly sorry. I did not know what I was doing, and why I was doing it. I see you as a friend, and after the play, and everything Cadence dropped on me yesterday, i - it - it ... was too much for me. I couldn't do it." Flash listened with a stern face but an ear that did not turn deaf. "Despite that, I want to put that behind us. I still want you to be my friend." Twilight finished her speech, and looked him in the eye, hoping for forgiveness. Flash waited as the speech dissolved in his ears, and the blood bore the letters to his brain and heart. What she said was true, for in his heart he still wanted to talk to her, make her laugh, and a myriad other things. A smile wandered to his mouth, and both he and she knew it was a real smile. A rich forgiving smile. A Sharp, Steel, and Flash FragmentA Sharp, Steel, Flash Fragment Steel Wind choked and breathed in deep. He stared at Flash. “You were in love?” he cried incredulously, eyes wide. Flash bowed his head, not out of shame, but out of dread for the next question, and the three terrible words it would haul up in to the glare of Celestia’s sun. “We were worried about you, Flash,” Sharp Spear put in. “All those months looking miserable and aloof, refusing our help every time we tried to help you.” He touched Flash on the shoulder. “We thought you were ill, or worse. And now you tell us you were in love?” Flash, gaze still smelted to the flags, replied: “It’s somepony I shouldn’t, but I cannot help but love her.” Here it comes, he thought, Solaris and Galaxia help me. “Who is it, Flash?” the duo asked tentatively, breaking a bond as hard and thick as stone. Flash lifted his eyes to them, four eyes waiting wide and two maws tensely half-opened. Once he spoke the three words, Ironhoof’s realm of iron and stone would rust, crumble and sink beneath spreading flowers of future joys. “Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The second he said it, he was sure somewhere hour-glasses tilted over and time for the Order pattered out, sprinkle by sprinkle. The weight of the words almost toppled Sharp and Steel on to the floor, armour clattering an awful cacophony. No crash and cracked armour, but the delicate silence of Sharp and Steel’s drawn out gawping. Flash waited, wondering which one would crack first; with sympathy or gobsmacked trepidation. There were no stereotypical gasps, only squeaks. “Pr-pr-Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Steel said. He turned his head to stare at Sharp Spear, hoofs pushing him on to haunches so he could raise both to his mouth. “Oooooh,” Steel breathed. A pause, and he set his hoofs to the floor. “I - I … I see. Oh, Flash,” he sighed.
"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Day TrainThe trumpets sounded, and Celestia surrendered to her sister Luna; and Luna spread her wings wide, and it was night. Sharp Spear and Steel Wind trotted out and out of the Royal Court; the promise of hot delicious food pulling their metal horseshoes down and down and down. It had been a long day at the Royal Court. Several ponies had come over planning permission, a family separation, a will settlement case, and a little harmless public concern over foreign relations with other countries. “That poor foal,” Sharp Spear began. “Her mother caught her father with another mare, and now she has forbidden her daughter from seeing her father at all!” They had both been there. The mother had scarcely comforted her precious little filly at all. The filly had wept unceasingly, shaking her mane in to snakes and staining the carpet with snot and tears. The father had tried to pull her in to a comforting wing-hug, but his wife, glaring with all the poison of a Borgia, had yelled at him. She had yelled for him not to touch her, “lest he infect her with the daemon of adultery.” Sharp Spear’s eyebrows were almost tilting his helmet back with incredulity. Steel shook his head, in pain, and in pity. Celestia had done her share of shouting. She had called the mother’s conduct opposed to a proper mother’s care and love. Celestia had ruled the daughter could see and stay with her father while the mother was burdened with therapy classes. “That foal will have nightmares of to-day,” Sharp Spear announced sagely. “Her mother put her through more pain than the mere discovery of the adultery.” Sharp sighed, and Steel acknowledged with an eye-brow raise of his own. “Iron Hoof shall be gloating of this when he hears; ‘the philandering and weak morals of pegasi’,” he finished, hairs on the back of his neck rising and fluffing in distaste. Sharp Spear’s wings half-unfurled, as if to strangle Iron Hoof in a bid of autonomous anger. “That pompous bastard goes around saying how great unicorns are. He is the pony who is disgracing the whole unicorn caste,” Sharp spat under his breath as he ended this tirade. “Sshh,” Steel cautioned. “You will get us thrown in to the dungeons with Orion and the other criminals with that talk.” Sharp grunted at his partner’s reprimand and reproof. Now it was Steel’s turn to sigh. He tried to put up with Sharp Spear’s rebellious and pointless spouts but it was so difficult sometimes, for example late in to the night after lights out; all he could do was listen to him or clamp the pillow over his ears and beg sleep to come. Being a Royal Guard in the Eleventh Century, Celestial Era meant knowing an unwritten truth universally acknowledged that nearly everypony in the Guard hated Captain Iron Hoof in some form or hue. And nearly every one of those ponies almost never admitted this dislike some way or another. Wait, what is that noise? Is that somepony humming? A faint melody wafted along the corridor, sculling under the crackle of the torches and braziers. “Steel?” Sharp asked curiously, but Steel ignored him. He twisted his head around to see who was humming. And he saw a distant Guard, with gold armour, and fur so light they seemed to blend together… Steel realised who it was, realised that he had come back, had come back out of the frozen north with Princess Twilight Sparkle. Before Sharp could follow his eye-line and the same jump, Steel was cantering down the corridor towards his old friend. Sharp watched Steel go, surprised. He scrutinised the Guard, who had turned round to see who was raising the cacophony. And only then did Sharp recognise him. By the time Sharp Spear reached the rejoicing pair, Steel was laughing and clapping Flash on his plated shoulder. Flash was grinning in pleasure and gripping Steel’s foreleg with his own. “How are you, Flash? “ Steel was asking delightedly. “It’s been boring without you these four weeks. Aah, it’s been ages.” “Hi, Steel. Hi Sharp,” grinning with glowing molars and incisors. “Yes, yes, I feel excellent, really…excellent.” His grin stayed fixed, but his eyes clouded over – and his wings definitely twitched. “It was a fascinating trip, seeing all the Empire, and the Crystal ponies, and the mountains…wonderful.” “Cool!” Sharp beamed. “It sounds like you enjoyed yourself to the full up there.” “Well, we did spend most of our time in the library, but Twilight and I –,” the traveller halted suddenly, white and sapphire eyes widening. A pause split and bridged one moment from the next, sharp and Steel followed in rapt surprise. Flash had committed another offence, if anypony counted him breaking the spear. He should not have spoken her name so casually, so intimately, to save the situation. Flash sucked in a quick breath. “But the Princess and I managed to explore the Empire and round-a-bouts,” he finished limply. Steel sighed out, susurrations warping the turgid air. And the stainless stallion chuckled. “First-name terms, eh? You must know her pretty well to call her that.” “It was her idea, she didn’t want me to repeat myself two hundred times a day,” Flash replied, besting a chuckle of his own. “And, yes, I do know her very well.” Sapphires clouded and tarnished, and the smile of the impeccable Knight stretched wistfully. You could almost say his wings were curling from embarrassment. Flash’s smile was not the only one to stretch. The stainless Guard was just beginning to copy him in honest humour, at his fellow’s predicament… Sharp Spear’s stomach growled and gurgled, eliciting a louder and deeper sound from its holder. “Oh, heehaw; we’d better get down to the Hall before there’s nothing left.” Steel agreed with gusto, rubbing and smacking his own belly. “Joining us, Flash?” he enquired. “No, no, I only want to go to my room and sleep. It’s been a too-long ride up here, and I ate a little on the train. I’m beat.” “Okay, Flash,” the stainless stallion settled. “See you to-morrow.” “Good night,” Flash called to his friends, as they stepped past him down and down and down towards the Hall. The two inseparable companions gave their answer, as his hoofsteps and armour faded in to the loving dusk. Minutes later, once they were seated at the table, plates of steaming mash before them, did Steel venture an observance: “He looks and sounds a lot better, don’t you think?” Sharp did agree, once he had shoved several spoons worth of hot mash in to an even hotter maw. And he knocked the statement with his head, as a hammer would a nail. “Maybe he’s asked a mare out at last!” His eyes shone, his empty mouth grinned and his ears perked up. Steel did not reply immediately to his bunk-mate’s hopes, whether to join him or shoot him down. Flash had given a tiny thing away, and he almost had his hoof on it.
"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train ASteel Wind cantered down the corridor after the rest of the Royal Guard. The few pegasi and many unicorns in charge of Canterlot’s weather had blessed the Avalon-lofted Capitol a mild cloudy day with spells of sunshine. The sunshine gleamed through the windows, against the opulent tapestries and the bland ugly stone. It had, he mused, been four weeks exactly since Flash had to go with Princess Twilight Sparkle up to the Crystal Empire for a research trip. Flash had been so lucky. Ordinary Royal Guards would never get that amount of free time racked up. Maybe being a personal bodyguard to one of Equestria’s Princesses granted privileges… Steel broke trot and skidded – horseshoes squealing and screeching on the rough flags. Steel blinked, certain he had missed something, a little obvious something. He cast back his mind: Flash…bodyguard…same grey stone, bright blue and gold blur bobbing past the corner of his eye --- yes! Steel swung his head to the right to a draperied colonnade, as the orange blur slipped behind a marble column. Past the other side, Steel saw the bright blue crop of mane, and the square muzzle and orange coat of one of his best friends, Flash Sentry. Hardly registering his wings snapping out from his sides in excitement and pleasure, Steel’s brain snapped on and in to overdrive. Steel, entirely for-going considering the consequences of the next action, sucked in a massive breath and blew it out in one: “FLASH!” Steel bellowed. The few Royal guards in the Hall flinched at the noise, and glared at him. Even the fires in the lanterns and torches and braziers shivered. Flash jumped and spun round in the air, his landing a loud clank. His eyes darted everywhere, ears flicked back: textbook fight-or-flight. Flash saw Steel waving, or rather, a stallion doing his hardest to lob his fore-hoof off. Flash meekly returned a wave of his own, a self-conscious grin on is muzzle as a side-dish. Steel looked round at the hostile glares of the surrounding Guards and mouthed “See you later at dinner” to Flash. Steel went on his way to his post, muttering obsequious apologies to other passing Guards. Flash trotted up the stairs and cross the gallery, chuckling: “Oh that Steel Wind, just like him to give me a welcome like that.” “Sir Flash Sentry,” a peremptory command barked in his ear. The said Royal Guard failed to hide his surprise as he turned to face the Captain of the Royal Guard, Iron Hoof. Iron Hoof still wore the purple armour with gold trim, polished always to a vanity-flattering luster. It, however, contrasted with is cold-grey coat and colder-grey unshorn hoofs and mane. Iron Hoof’s usual disapproving expression broke in a little and swiftly-murdered smirk. Flash recovered his composure, and straightened; before bowing deep to the floor, pushing his eyes to the floor. He had been humiliated, just for a moment, by his superior officer and his greatest enemy. “Flash,” the Captain repeated, pinning Flash with a quelling look. “I see that Princess Twilight Sparkle and you have returned from her research trip. I trust the Princess was able to find the answers to her questions?” Flash, throat vibrant with response, opened his mouth. “No matter,” Iron Hoof cut him off, curtly. “Report to my office to give a full account after dinner this evening.” He walked past Flash before remarking, “And who was making that Galaxia-dammed noise like a mud-pony mare in the height of heat?” Flash crushed a detesting shudder shimmering through him, before replying in the most level and respectful of tones, “I do not know, sir, I did not recognise him, sir.” Iron Hoof grunted dismissively, continuing to clop on his way. Flash picked up his route again. Oh Steel Wind is in for a Tartarus of a time if Iron Hoof ever finds out.
"N.S.Q.S.R.A." Chapter One Night Train BSteel Wind cantered down the corridor after the rest of the Royal Guard. The few pegasi and many unicorns in charge of Canterlot’s weather had blessed the Avalon-lofted Capitol a mild cloudy day with spells of sunshine. The sunshine gleamed through the windows, against the opulent tapestries and the bland ugly stone. It had, he mused, been four weeks exactly since Flash had to go with Princess Twilight Sparkle up to the Crystal Empire for a research trip. Flash had been so lucky. Ordinary Royal Guards would never get that amount of free time racked up. Maybe being a personal bodyguard to one of Equestria’s Princesses granted privileges… Steel broke trot and skidded – horseshoes squealing and screeching on the rough flags. Steel blinked; certain he had missed something, a little obvious something. He cast back his mind: Flash…bodyguard…same grey stone, brightened by blue banners and red carpets…strange - but familiar – orange and gold blur bobbing past the corner of his eye…yes! Steel swung his head to the right to a draperied colonnade, as the orange blur slipped behind a marble column. Out the other side, Steel saw the deep blue crop of mane, the golden gleam of armour, the deep yellow coat of his best friend, Sir Flash Sentry. Hardly registering his wings snapping out in excitement and pleasure, Steel’s brain flicked on with adrenaline. Steel lifted a hoof to attract his eyes, and mate his own wave. Then he heard something most odd. A soft melody, now reaching his ears, wafted from Flash’s own person. Steel gaped, Flash was actually humming. Was that a spring or a skip to his hoof’s trot? Was that an easy smile splitting the muzzle so often stricken by that inexplicable woe of the past months? Steel Wind was stunned. What had brought this about? Steel found himself at a loss. He couldn’t talk to Flash right now. He would have to wait to corner Flash at dinner and enquire. Until then, he was forced to marvel. Oh, and he had to seek out Sharp Spear and tell him.
The Twily Fly and the Flashie FlySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
A Stolen Kiss (Totally Not An Official First Kiss)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Guess Who is Seen Together?Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
A Different Goodnight Two BraviA Goodnight, Manifold Two Bravi The two couples parted company in the Entrance Hall, eight pairs of hoofs clinking good night to wakefulness. Flash thought he saw Cadence flick a knowing smile in their direction out of the corner of his eye. At the doors to their rooms, Twilight sighed and turned to face him. “Thank you for taking me to the play, Flash,” she said, smiling warmly, a faint redness dusting her purple fur. A similar smile graced Flash’s muzzle, prompted by a force stronger than the moon tugging at the hidden tide between them. “It was a ple-, an honour, Twilight,” he replied. Careful, he cautioned himself. Twilight’s smile broadened. The dusk tint to her fur deepened. Silent seconds stretched. Flash yawned, hiding it well with his fore-hoof. He was about to pivot on his hoofs for his calling bed, when Twilight suddenly cocked her head to the side. Flash fixed his eyes on her, waiting and pondering. “I just thought,” she said “You still haven’t seen much of the Empire yet, have you?” she queried her escort. Flash, surprised, shook his head, long-sharpened and honed wariness flicking its ears to the wind. “Oh, well, um . . . would you fancy a tour of the Crystal Empire f-from me? Flash’s blush ran through his body, a cosy heat.. B-but that means hours and hours or a whole day, maybe , with her talking to me, and smiling, and laughing. A mental image came to him: The two of them sitting on a hill overlooking the Empire, wings tucked over each other, her head resting on his shoulder . . . Flash thrust the picture away like it was a bomb, clamping and taping his wings to his side, willing his syntax to be calm and measured. He felt his lips melt in a welcoming smile and his voice say: “Of course, I would like a tour, Twilight.” A second grateful grin, before it faltered. “Oh, this is going to put my studies back a bit, though,” Twilight murmured, before perking up. “But I could always spend a little longer here.” She beamed at Flash. “Thank you so much,” she cried ecstatically. “You’re quite the gentle-colt, aren’t you?” she teased. Flash’s smile broadened to an embarrassed grin, trailing a hoof along the floor, scorching heat swirling through his chest and cheeks. Did that just happen? Or have I fallen asleep again? Well, I know I am tired, but – “Aww, you look so cute like that,” twilight cooed, more to herself, but Flash heard it all the same. He froze, one hoof-tip on the corner of one crystal square, and the three squares surrounding it. I’m dreaming, he thought, Yes, I’m asleep, I was talking to her, and now I’m in bed, dreaming about her invitation . . .yes, that - A soft clinking drew his mind out of the squares, though not his eyes. It was a clinking drawing nearer and nearer. An out-of-focus purple hoof glided in to his gaze. Flash felt it under his chin, lifting his eyes from the colours of the gem-inlaid floor. Twilight Sparkle looked at him, warm black pools of immeasurable kindness almost reflecting the poor, cursed stallion staring helplessly in to them. A blush adorned her muzzle as before. And her lips were parted just a little. Flash’s brain sputtered and choked up. She’s so close gleamed bright and clear through his mind. Then he noticed, of all terrible and divined circumstances, she held his chin with that hoof; the hoof he had dishonoured and sullied with his hopeless affection. Twilight slowly lowered the hoof, rubbing the fur of his neck, and resting it on the star insignia of the Royal Guard, of magic, and her cutie mark. Flash bit down an involuntary groan as she grazed him. “Don’t look so sad, Flash,” Twilight murmured. “You really are sort of cute; smart, loyal, compassionate, polite…” she giggled. Flash could not think, his heart throbbing so painfully from her confession. He was lost in her words, melting his wit to a syrup-thick quagmire. He saw Twilight flick her eyes over his face concentrating. Her horn glowed purple. A purple aura flushed around his helmet, and Flash felt the metal lighten and lift. A gurgle of sound rose in his throat: “Twilight?” he began curiously. “Sshh,” she whispered, the zephyr brushing and tickling his muzzle. Twilight inclined her head towards him, her eyes closing and her lips puckered and dewy. Flash’s breath stiffened in his throat but his heart continued to beat painful pulses. He felt the silk-like touch of her lips on his cheek, soft and warm. Although it was silent, it cracked and boomed and howled with all the thunders of Heaven and the shattering of long-ossified custom. She, a princess, had defied the Order and scorned the highest of Celestia’s teachings. It was a political act. Flash realised his eyes were closed too. Upon opening them, he saw her muzzle only inches from his, as if thinking, but really pausing. The mere sight of her so close sparked a hopelessly dreamed-of urge within him; first after kissing her hoof, the second on the train. When he had almost given in. Twilight noticed him looking, and giggled. A bright rosy blush glowed under her fur. Then she was cantering across the floor and vanishing in to the cave-dimness of her room. Flash stared after her, hoof raised to touch the blessed spot. A wide and true toothy grin, his first for months; and he weighed as light as golden air. Treading slowly through his room, detaching his armour, the redeemed stallion could think about the kiss. “Oh, what did I do? What did I do?” Twilight murmured distractedly pacing her room. All euphoria was gone to be replaced by anxiety. She liked Flash, true she did. But did she like him in the way which merited her pecking him on the cheek? Would it sabotage her friendship with a genuinely nice stallion? And then there was the Order… This would be the first time in her small circumscribed life she had flouted the Order. What would Celestia say, on a small act of affection given to her Guard? As she reached up to rumple her mane, the room swam about her and she gave vent to a huge yawn. “I’m too tired for this just now,” she conceded as she crawled in to bed. Twilight instantly fell asleep. Flash woke up, the feeble light of dawn creeping through the window. For a moment he could place the reason for his elation. Then he remembered the warm kiss. Rubbing his muzzle in to the pillow he allowed himself a grin of glee. His lungs soughed with sighs of ecstasy. Does this mean she likes me too? The answer seemed to be tantalizingly obvious. Flash needed a moment, just a moment in the glorious early morning sun. But he could not lie in. He must fulfill the duty of escort. Flash rose, gathered together and clicked on his armour. It was a bashful Twilight Sparkle which gave good tidings outside her bedroom door several minutes later. “Flash,” the alicorn began, as they kicked up a trot for the Dining Hall. “What I … what I …why I did that thing last night … because I like you, I like you a lot – but I need to figure how that will change things between us … you are still my Guard,” she said. Flash nodded, every nod heavy and understanding. "But you are still my Princess," the orange one countered in his brain. The two entered the Dining Hall, where cadence and Shining armour were already ensconced. Why, Flash wondered, is she smiling such a subtle crafty grin?
A Different Goodnight Manifold ThreeA Different Goodnight, Manifold Three Twilight stepped closer; eyes closing, lips puckered and dewy. Flash’s breath stiffened in his throat. It had all jumped forward with wit-quick suddenness. A chorus of exultation lit chamber after chamber in his mind. They had been talking, she offering an invitation, he accepting, and her pleased and flattered smile . . . Cool vacant darkness. A pause, the pulses of a delighted heart now-awakened to bright possibilities measuring and counting the beats, first clamouring instants, and . . . throbbing slower to seconds and to epochs and to a standstill. “Come on,” Flash’s errant and impatient brain flickered. Hesitant, he peeled open a lid. Twilight hung back, purple muzzle screwed with indecision. Her eyes for the first time dripped distress. “Twili-,” Flash started, pebbles of sound chuckling down limp tongue. A hoof was raised, wanting to wrap itself over her shoulders and pin her to his chest. “I – I’m sorry, Flash, so so sorry - but I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” Twilight squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head, and turning away. No His body cramped with a cold, clammy molass, dragging down the two traitors once unruly, and now splayed in the revel. The river of blood now thick and clotted; limbs ready to sag to the floor and fossilise thereupon the crystal, ugly grey on the cheerful colours. Flash viewed her departure, her head low and tail limp; as if out of a glass pony-shaped shell, and only void within. A void warming up with smoulders of disappointment and anger. It had meant to be a special moment, and she had refused him it. Unintentionally, he gritted his teeth and the husk quaked with the harpy of silent fury. A harpy lashing at the very superstructure - foundation, facade and summit - of all his forbidden longing for the kind, soft-voiced and most beautiful of Princesses. And where she to topple it, he would begin to resent her, and end it with hating her. It left him suddenly, and the orange husk bloated and sang with greater emptiness. Flash hung his head, and trailed to his chamber and to his bed, where he would weep at what should have been. Yes … yes, it had been the right thing to do; despite Cadence allowing mixed couples to break the Order behind closed doors, it still felt far too new for her to show such affection to Flash. A pony stallion: kind, reserved, polite, clever and cute; but still her Guard. It would have been my first kiss, Twilight thought, and a thrill jumped and tingled in every cell and nerve. B-but with him? True, I li-like him, but not in that way Unknown to her, a pair of furtive tears spoke to the moonlight and showed the lock on her heart. Twilight broke the counterpane of the bed with her magic, and climbed in, fluffing the pillows. “It was the right decision,” she boldly announced to the darkness; a darkness where lies could lie and be silent. But her mind could not cover up her emotions. If had been the right thing to do, then why did she feel miserable, and above all, cheated? For the first time since coming to the strange land, the stranger had bad dreams. He dreamed the dream that always made him weep and his heart sing and beg. What is more, he saw with his mind's eye what could have been... This time Twilight took the step forward, and demurely looked him in the eyes. Locking her sight on to his, she tilted her head, pressing her violet lips to his own. Every atom in his body blew up in hot glorious supernovae. And it was so, for beyond the rest of Time. And when Flash woke up the next day, he found his wings heavy and clammy with the night's sweat. The fur under his eyes was dark with new, but familiar tears. Groaning, he turned over before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Flash took a moment to force the ghost of the dream from his mind. Flash looked outside. Celestia had not raised the sun yet, but the time was close. The few clouds in the sky were gently lined underneath by golden luminescence and the pink of primulas flushed the sky. Despite this, Flash could only think: "How could she, how could she?" The hot torrents of the shower washed away the sweat, the tears and the sadness. But it could not wash away the grime of disappointment and exasperation. Flash walked back to his room, cocking an ear to hear if the Princess was awake and up out of bed. It did not sound like it. She needed to explain what had happened last night. Flash was just clicking the breast-plate on and sliding his hoofs in to the slippers, when he heard a door open and sharp clinks scatter across the floor to his room. "Flash?" came the voice of the mare, it still made his heart pulse a little harder and his mind run with small thoughts of anger and petty revenge. Flash shook his head; he should not and would not fall to so low a depth. He had a duty as a Royal Guard to a Princess, and a duty to Twilight as her friend. Even as he resolved to hold himself up, his heart swelled to thoughts of forgiveness. "Wait a minute," he called as he tightened the slippers round his hind-hoofs. Next he checked the straps and the shine of the armour. Finding himself gleaming and immaculate as always, he walked briskly to the door, opening it to see a sad Twilight on the other side, her eyes melded to the porcelain floor. Her wings rustled, uncomfortable in the abject sad slump of her body and his sudden gaze. Princess Twilight glanced up at the stallion she had suddenly jilted, and winced from the interview now to take place. "Good morning, Your Highness, " Flash said, promptly, coldly and correctly. Twilight flinched at the words. She glanced at his face again, before looking away. "Flash," she said, holding up a placating hoof, "I want to say, before Shining's guests go down and see us here, how very, very sorry I am for ... what happened last night. Truly sorry. I did not know what I was doing, and why I was doing it. I see you as a friend, and after the play, and everything Cadence dropped on me yesterday, i - it - it ... was too much for me. I couldn't do it." Flash listened with a stern face but an ear that did not turn deaf. "Despite that, I want to put that behind us. I still want you to be my friend." Twilight finished her speech, and looked him in the eye, hoping for forgiveness. Flash waited as the speech dissolved in his ears, and the blood bore the letters to his brain and heart. What she said was true, for in his heart he still wanted to talk to her, make her laugh, and a myriad other things. A smile wandered to his mouth, and both he and she knew it was a real smile. A rich forgiving smile.
A Sharp, Steel, and Flash FragmentA Sharp, Steel, Flash Fragment Steel Wind choked and breathed in deep. He stared at Flash. “You were in love?” he cried incredulously, eyes wide. Flash bowed his head, not out of shame, but out of dread for the next question, and the three terrible words it would haul up in to the glare of Celestia’s sun. “We were worried about you, Flash,” Sharp Spear put in. “All those months looking miserable and aloof, refusing our help every time we tried to help you.” He touched Flash on the shoulder. “We thought you were ill, or worse. And now you tell us you were in love?” Flash, gaze still smelted to the flags, replied: “It’s somepony I shouldn’t, but I cannot help but love her.” Here it comes, he thought, Solaris and Galaxia help me. “Who is it, Flash?” the duo asked tentatively, breaking a bond as hard and thick as stone. Flash lifted his eyes to them, four eyes waiting wide and two maws tensely half-opened. Once he spoke the three words, Ironhoof’s realm of iron and stone would rust, crumble and sink beneath spreading flowers of future joys. “Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The second he said it, he was sure somewhere hour-glasses tilted over and time for the Order pattered out, sprinkle by sprinkle. The weight of the words almost toppled Sharp and Steel on to the floor, armour clattering an awful cacophony. No crash and cracked armour, but the delicate silence of Sharp and Steel’s drawn out gawping. Flash waited, wondering which one would crack first; with sympathy or gobsmacked trepidation. There were no stereotypical gasps, only squeaks. “Pr-pr-Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Steel said. He turned his head to stare at Sharp Spear, hoofs pushing him on to haunches so he could raise both to his mouth. “Oooooh,” Steel breathed. A pause, and he set his hoofs to the floor. “I - I … I see. Oh, Flash,” he sighed.
