“What?!” Sunny asked, as I was telling her and Auri what happened.

“I messed up, didn’t I?” I sighed.

“No, no, it’s great!”

“Huh? Yeah, Twilight’s great.” I rolled my eyes. “Stop trying to make me feel better.”

“Seriously, Flash? Think of it this way. A week ago, where were you? And now where are you? Don’t worry. It’s all gonna be good. Two negatives is a positive.” Auri reassured me.

“I guess.”

Okay. I’m going on a date with Twilight. I’m going on a date with Twilight. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. AAHHH.

I walked down the Crystal Empire’s Restaurant Row, where I saw Twilight standing outside one of the restaurants. Okay. Don’t do something stupid, Flash.
As I started approaching her, my mouth hung open. She looked beautiful. She was wearing a silver dress with purple highlights to compliment her colours and her mane was done in a neat bun, accented with silver stars. The moonlight shone on her with a gleaming silver; she looked as if she were glowing.

“Hi.” She said with a small smile.

“You’re… You-uh look very… wow.” I replied, suddenly forgetting how to form coherent sentences.

She just giggled, “Thank you. You look great too!” I felt embarrassed as I was wearing a suit that Thunder lent me. Very uncomfortable, by the way.

Twilight curled her hoof around mine, I froze, not knowing how to respond. I settled for staring at the door for a few long and suffering seconds. The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, dating Private Flash Sentry. That random guard she bumped into that one time. I pointed my hoof towards the door. She nodded and we sat down at a table at the back of the restaurant.

Okay. I’m hungry. UGH! Sometimes I hate you, brain!
I looked down at the menu. What exactly is this stuff? What the hay? Oh come on. Where’d the hayburgers go?

Ahem. I’m sitting next to a princess. Of course things are going to be all fancy. I shot a quick glance at Twilight, who was squinting at her menu. Say something, Flash. DO NOT MESS UP.

“You okay?” I stupidly asked her. Messed up already, Flash. Keep. It. Together.

“Um, yeah. I hate fine dining…” She sighed. Well, that makes two of us. Phew. “I’m just going to order a hayburger.” She said finally.

Say something normal, Flash. “Yeah, same.” I put down the menu.

The waiter walked swiftly to our table. “What would you like to have today, Princess Twilight?”

Twilight wrinkled her nose in a way that made me want to burst out laughing. Do not laugh. FLASH?! DO NOT LAUGH. “Um, just two hayburgers if that’s fine with you.” Twilight replied.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything else, princess?”

“I’m sure, thanks for asking.” The waiter left as fast as he came.

She sighed. “Okay, Flash. How about you tell me a bit about yourself. Ya know?”

A bit about myself? Hi. I’m Flash Sentry. I work in the royal guard. I never really had to tell someone about, well, me! What are you saying, Flash? Better be now than never.

“Um. I’m originally from Canterlot. I was transferred to the Crystal Empire as a Royal Guard…” I hesitated. “What exactly do you want to know?” I asked. Another stupid question.

“What do you think I should know?”

“Um… I should probably tell you that…” I sighed. Should I really tell her that both of my parents have died?

“Flash? Are you okay?” Twilight asked me as the waiter placed two hayburgers on the table.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. You should probably know that both of my parents aren’t here… ” I took a deep breath, and tried to keep tears in. Toughen up.

“Where are they?”

“They’re gone.” I said flatly, irritated.

“Oh… I’m…” She choked. “Sorry…”

“I-It’s fine. I don’t know. I guess you should know I have no siblings… um…” I just didn’t have the power to say any more. I took a bite of my hayburger. Well. I never imagined that this would be my first date.

“Maybe I should tell you a bit about myself.” She said after a while. I looked up at her and she bit her lip. “W-well, my best friends are Starlight Glimmer, who used to be my student before she graduated- I’m so proud!- Applejack, a member of the Apple family and proved to me that I can never be a farmer, Fluttershy, sweet and innocent and caring, loves animals, Pinkie Pie, um...the one who defies the laws of physics and ...somehow remembers everypony’s birthday...” she trailed off, ” Rainbow Dash-”

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah, Rainbow Dash. The Wonderbolt, it was her dream to become one . ‘Everything needs to be about 20% cooler’.” She said while doing a I’m-assuming-Rainbow-Dash impression. “Oh, and Rarity.” She added.

Wait, that name seems familiar. “Rarity? As in-”

“Yeah, the one. The fashion designer, she runs three boutiques! One in Ponyville, one in Canterlot and one in Manehatten! ‘Of all of the things that could have happened, this is the. Worst. Possible. Thing’!” She said in a high pitch voice and tried to mimic a posh accent. Emphasis on ‘tried’. She grinned and started giggling, taking a bite of her hayburger.

Wow. I didn’t know that seeing Twilight happy would make me happy.
‘Hey, doc. I think there’s something wrong with my heart. I have a feeling that I’ve given it to someone.’ Oh right, now I need a transplant.
“And then there's my B.B.B.F.F.” She started. B.B.B.F.F? What? I gave her a look. “Big brother best friend forever.”

“Um, okay.” Big brother best friend forever? Oh. My boss, duh.

“I used to live in Canterlot too. I’ve lived with my dragon, Spike, ever since I got my cutie mark.”

My eyes widened, “You’ve mentioned him before. Can’t say I’m surprised; everypony talks about Spike the Brave and Glorious here.”

She chuckled, “Yeah, but praise like that feeds his ego. He’s like a little brother to me- he’s always there when I need him. Most of the time because he’s my No.1 assistant, but other times for… moral support.”

“Moral support?”
“I tend to have some-ahem-’episodes’.”

“Sure.”

She smiled. “Well, this was interesting.”

“Indeed, it was.” I sighed. “So, you enjoyed today?”

“I guess I did.”

She sighed suddenly, “But…”

“But?”

“But I need to leave.”

“Leave?”

“For Ponyville...tomorrow morning.”

“Oh.” So...this is it?

“Yeah… I’m sorry.” She sighed again, “... For everything.”

“What do you me-”

“For all the trouble I caused you… I know what’s been going on, Flash. I… I don’t think… I don’t know if this will… work out. What am I saying? Ugh I-”

“You don’t think we’re right for each other?”

“... No… I’m sorry, I do like you but… I have to go…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s...it’s alright.” I gave her a weak smile.

She returned it… and disappeared before my eyes.

Author's Note

We're most likely going to rewrite this entire story in a few months.