Guitar Lullabies

'Cadance tilted her head, a small smile on her muzzle. "Why, do you know him?"

She paused momentarily. "Not exactly."

Applejack chuckled. "Ooh, somepony's got a crush on the new guy!"

Twilight blushed, shaking her head. "No. No, I don't."

She didn't know this Flash Sentry, it was true. But she knew another one, and he, well, had given her a lot of confidence in herself. She knew she wouldn't forget him either. And if she ever went back, which she suspected she would, she'd get the chance to talk to him again. To be honest, she'd kind of like another dance, too. He was a good dancer.

Rarity gasped, her eyes widening. "She does! She absolutely does!"

She sighed, rolling her eyes at her friends' reactions. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't even know him. He just..." she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

That was when Pinkie cut in. "Totally reminds you of a guy you met in the other world who played guitar, was in a band, and helped prove you didn't destroy all the decorations for a big dance, so you could still run for princess of the big dance, and then asked you to dance at that dance?!" she exclaimed loudly. "Right?"

Twilight could only stare at Pinkie Pie in shock. "How did you know that?" she demanded.

"Just a hunch!" she squealed.'

. . . |★| . . .

Twilight sniffled, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand. She'd discussed it with Flash already, but it didn't make this any easier. Her and her friends sat in Sunset's living room, and she was preparing to go back home, taking her daughter with her. Beside her, Sunset reached over and passed her a tissue or two, which she tearfully accepted.

"Ya know, sugarcube," Applejack commented, "ya don't have ta do this."

She gritted her teeth. "Yes I do, Applejack. I have to - I'm a Princess of Equestria, regardless of the fact I'm also the Princess of Friendship. My people need me. My friends need me. My family needs me. I can't stay here - it's been months already, and the girls are probably wondering if I'm still alright. I have to."

"But... Twilight?" Fluttershy asked meekly. "What about your daughter? Do you want her to grow up without a father?"

And there it was. The question she'd been dreading. "I-I don't have a choice, Fluttershy. It's better for her to grow up without a father, and knowing where she stands, than to grow up without her mother, and have her mother's friends tell stories about what she was like. She looks so much like me, I find it impossible to think Flash would able to look at her without seeing me. And both of us know that."

"Wait a minute, darling. You've already spoken to Flash about this? What did he think?" Rarity quizzed.

She sighed. "...He accepted it, I suppose. He loves me, but he also loves me enough to let me go. It's the right decision."

Rainbow Dash smirked. "He's a smart guy, that Flash Sentry. He knows you better ya think, Twilight. Trust me when I say we'll keep an eye on him. Isn't that right, girls?"

She got a chorus of agreement in response. Twilight smiled weakly at their display of faith in her, and slowly opened the hand which clutched a father's final gift to his daughter. She stared at the tiny pendant in silence, noting each detail in the design as she thought about what it would mean to her daughter. Rising to her feet, she slipped the necklace over her head.

Sunset Shimmer stood as well, holding out her hand. "Want us to come with you, Twilight?"

"That'd be nice, thanks, Sunset. I kind of need the moral support."

"Moral support?" Rainbow chimed. "We got ya, girl!"

"Uh-huh," Pinkie chirped, bouncing to her feet. "That we do. Yep, yep, yep!"

"Okay, so who's driving us to the school?" Sunset asked, shaking her head at Pinkie's antics. "Rainbow?"

Rainbow smirked. "Maniac. That's me alright."

Twilight groaned. "Girls, please. I don't need you to argue. Fluttershy can drive - at least she won't go breaking the speed limit. Or the law."

"Who says I'd be breaking any laws?"

Sunset rolled her eyes. "I don't know, past experience, maybe? You tend to be reckless, after all."

"Hell yeah, I do!"

"And ya just proved Sunny's point, RD. Nothin' else needs sayin'," Applejack drawled.

Twilight smiled, scooping the keys for Sunset's vehicle, which the former unicorn had dubbed Phoenix, up and tossing them to Fluttershy. The other girl fumbled as she caught them, and nearly dropped them, but managed to prevent the mishap before it occurred.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"It's okay, 'shy." Applejack assured her. "We know ya didn't mean it, sugarcube."

All too soon, everyone piled into their respective cars. Rarity went with Pinkie; and Rainbow had arrived on her motorcycle, so she left on it. Everyone knew the rebellious young woman would beat them there, and nobody minded. Not even Sunset. As she buckled up, Twilight cradled her infant daughter to her chest. Thank Celestia she was still sleeping - they didn't need a ruckus at four in the morning.  Then again, they didn't really need to be sneaking into Canterlot High at four in the morning either. But they didn't have a choice.

They pulled up, and no-one wanted to make the first step into the school. There were hugs all round and heartfelt goodbyes, until Twilight at last stepped onto the path up to the portal. Pausing in front of it, she waved a final good-bye to her human friends (Sunset in particular), and stepped through. When she opened her eyes again, she stood in the bottom of her castle, her daughter at her hooves. Tiny lilac wings sprouted from the filly's back, and Twilight started to cry. A pegasus. A pegasus, like her father's pony counterpart.

The alicorn princess nuzzled her foal, trying to ignore the tears pouring down her muzzle. "Welcome home ... Melodia."