Here we go with chapter eight! This shall determine if Twilight and Flash's love comes true, or if it ends in heartbreak. Like the last two chapters before it, this continues after "Three's a Crowd".

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Chapter 8: Now or Never

"What are you doing here, Comet Tail?" Twilight snapped angrily, "Can't you see Flash and I are busy?"

"You really thought I would sit idly by while that pathetic excuse of a guard took my chance of happiness?" Comet Tail asked.

"Your chance of happiness?" retorted Flash angrily, "You forced the truth out of me, didn't you?!"

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," Comet Tail sniffed, "but either way, there's only room for one stallion perfect for Twilight's heart – and that stallion… WILL BE ME!"

Comet Tail's yell echoed throughout the Everfree Forest.

"No it won't!" said a voice.

Everypony looked to see where the voice came from, and to their surprise, it was…

"Shining Armor?!" exclaimed Twilight. Flash gulped nervously, and hoped Shining Armor wouldn't spot him. Luckily, Shining didn't take any notice of him.

"Comet Tail," said Shining Armor sternly, "I am placing you under arrest for impersonating an officer of the Royal Guard." Standing next to him was the true Vanguard, an angry look on his face.

"I've got a score to settle with you," he scowled at Comet Tail.

"You got me, officer," said Comet Tail sarcastically, "but one other thing… what the hay is that?!"

Shining Armor and Vanguard turned around when a bright light flooded the area. As it faded away, two ponies were missing…

"Where's that varmint Comet Tail?" asked Applejack.

"And where's Twilight, more importantly?" cried Rainbow Dash.

"Blast!" cried Shining Armor, "Where's he gone? Because he's not getting away with it!"

"I think I saw where they're headed!" exclaimed Spike, and he hopped onto Flash's back, "C'mon, everypony! We got a princess to save!"

"Nopony's gonna hurt Twilight and get away with it," agreed Flash, and he flew off after Comet Tail and Twilight, the four mares, Shining Armor and Vanguard following.

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Comet Tail was using his speed to keep ahead of everypony else. On his back was Twilight bound in strong magic ropes, and her horn was covered with burlap and tied with the same rope.

"Let me go, Comet Tail!" Twilight demanded angrily.

"I tried to reason with you, Princess," Comet Tail sneered, "but you kept forcing me to take extreme measures!"

"What did Flash ever do to you?!"

"He was trying to steal you from me! I only wanted to marry you so I could become a prince!"

"I will never marry you, Comet Tail!" shouted Twilight, "Your selfish ways speak for themselves!"

"Big mistake, Princess," scowled Comet Tail, "if I can't have you, then nopony can!"

"That's what you think!" a voice shouted from behind.

Comet Tail turned and saw Flash and Spike catching up to them.

"Give Twilight back!" snapped Spike.

"Fat chance, you irritating lizard!" Comet Tail retorted in a rude way.

"Are you talking to me?"

"You shouldn't have said that!" said Twilight.

"Are you talking to ME?!"

"What's going on?" asked Flash.

"ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?!"

"What's he gonna do to me?" Comet Tail asked sarcastically.

"They call me… MIS-TER LIZARD!"

And without warning, Spike jumped off Flash onto Comet Tail's head, attacking him violently. This distraction gave Flash the opportunity to swoop Twilight off his foe's back.

"Oh, thank you, Flash!" Twilight smiled in relief.

"I don't think you should thank me yet," said Flash, a little worried. He had every reason to be concerned; Comet Tail had gotten Spike off his head, and now was now glaring furiously at the Pegasus guard.

"YOU!"

"Why should you deserve to be with Twilight?" Flash asked angrily, "You've been nothing but a selfish, lying jerk!"

The light yellow unicorn snarled in anger, and his horn began to glow blue.

"Now we're just going to have to do this the hard way, aren't we?!" he snapped, and with that, the blue light shot from his horn at the two ponies.

"Yikes!" cried Flash as he ducked out of the way.

The angry unicorn kept firing at them as they raced towards Ponyville, being pursued by Spike, Shining Armor, Vanguard, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

"What's Comet Tail tryin' to do?!" exclaimed Applejack.

"Maybe he's trying to get them out of the sky or-" Pinkie began.

"We've no time to lose!" interrupted Shining Armor, "If he harms so much as one hair on Twily, that boy's gonna be sorry he messed with me!"

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At Fluttershy's cottage, the pale yellow Pegasus was still looking after the sickly Discord.

"I hope you're beginning to feel better, Discord," Fluttershy said sympathetically.

The former spirit of chaos sniffled. "Oh, yes, Fluttershy," he said.

Suddenly, Comet Tail literally burst through the door, almost blowing it to splinters, and then he ran through the window, shattering it to pieces.

"You can fly, but you can't hide, Sentry!" he shouted.

"What was that?!" cried Fluttershy.

"Sorry we can't stop, Fluttershy," called Rarity, "but Comet Tail's lost it!"

"He's trying to hurt Twilight and Flash!" added Pinkie.

"Why would he do such a thing?" asked Fluttershy.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"That Comet Tail meanie!" Fluttershy said crossly, "How dare he hurt my friends!" After explaining everything to Discord, she joined the others in the pursuit.

"Don't worry about me!" Discord called, "I'll be- be- ATISHOO! …alright," he finished weakly.

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On the streets of Ponyville, ponyfolk were shocked to see their resident princess being carried in the sky by somepony they didn't know, even more when they saw somepony they knew firing at them.

"Keep still, will ya?!" Comet Tail shouted.

"You're never setting hoof on her as long as I'm around!" Flash shouted back.

"Comet Tail's really lost it this time," remarked Caramel.

"But who knew he'd go this far to win Twilight's heart?" asked Thunderlane.

"No matter, but we must stop him!" cried Time Turner, and he and the other two stallions joined Shining Armor, Spike, Vanguard, and the five mares in the enduring chase.

Up ahead was Big Macintosh with another cartload of apples.

"Watch out, Big Macintosh!" Twilight shouted, and the big red stallion saw them heading straight towards him!

"Ah! Not again!" he cried, and quickly got out of the way… just in time! Everypony (dragon, in Spike's case) sped past behind his cart, not an apple was spilled.

"Phew," remarked Big Macintosh, "that was a close one."

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The chase continued on all the way to the Ghastly Gorge, where Rainbow Dash once held a contest to see who would be her pet. Throughout all the enduring chaos, Twilight had managed to slip out of her ropes and remove the burlap covering her horn.

As they were nearing the edge, Flash began to fly himself and Twilight towards the other side. Comet Tail stopped just before he went over the edge.

This ends here right now, Sentry! he thought angrily, You'll pay for taking Twilight from me… the hard way!

Flash could see Comet Tail about to fire at both of them. Fearing for their lives, he knew what to do.

"Twilight!" he called, "I'm going to throw you above me, and I promise you'll be safe from Comet Tail!"

"Are you sure about this?!"

"Positive!"

Twilight smiled meekly, and then everything seemed to happen at once…

Comet Tail's pursuers stopped before they came to the edge, Comet Tail fired a blue orb at Flash and Twilight, and with all his strength, Flash threw Twilight as high as he could into the air.

Twilight had just managed to regain control of her air with her wings, when she saw the orb Comet Tail fired strike Flash at his wing!

"Aaagh!" he cried in pain. The injury to Flash's wing caused him to fall.

"Flash! No!" cried Twilight, flying after him.

There was a big splash, and Flash had fallen into the river! The river flowed very fast; Twilight's heart was racing as she flew to save Flash from possibly certain doom. Unfortunately, they were getting closer to a waterfall!

"I can't bear to watch!" cried Fluttershy, covering her eyes.

"Twilight!" cried Flash, gasping for breath, "Help me!"

"I'm coming!" the light purple alicorn shouted, and just as Flash was about to fall over the waterfall, Twilight grasped on tightly to his forehooves!

"I got you!"

With all her strength, Twilight carried Flash gently to safety. Everypony cheered for her bravery, except Comet Tail, who growled once again in anger.

"Twily! Thank goodness you're safe!"

Shining Armor was so overwhelmed with joy that his sister was safe he hugged Twilight tightly, crying. He couldn't bear the thought of losing his sister, nor had he been so terrified in his life.

"It's okay now," Twilight smiled with tears running down her face.

Suddenly, Princess Celestia descended from the skies. "What is going on here?" she demanded.

Twilight plucked up courage and explained everything to her former mentor.

"…and just before Flash was over the edge of the waterfall, I swooped in at the last possible moment and saved him from certain doom," she finished.

Princess Celestia was pleased with Twilight's brave actions, but she was very cross with Comet Tail's reckless actions.

"I shall have a word with you for your behavior," she said sternly. Comet Tail gulped nervously.

"Oooh, busted!" Rainbow Dash teased.

"Serves ya right for all the trouble ya caused," agreed Applejack.

Presently, Princess Cadance flew onto the scene with two Crystal Empire guards.

"Cadance!" exclaimed Twilight happily as she hugged her sister-in-law, "What are you doing here?"

"We were looking for you and Flash," Cadance explained, "and I'm happy to see you two are alright, and have found each other to love."

"Love?!" Shining Armor and Princess Celestia asked in surprise. Cadance realized what she said.

"Should we tell them?" she whispered to Twilight.

"I think now's the appropriate time," Twilight agreed. She turned to her B.B.B.F.F. and gathered courage.

"Flash Sentry and I are in love," she said bravely. She paused to let Shining Armor register the news.

"Did you know about this?" he asked Cadance.

"Yes, I did," his wife admitted sadly.

"Why didn't either of you tell me?" asked Shining Armor.

"Well, we were afraid you'd be angry," replied Twilight.

"Why would I be angry?" asked Shining Armor.

"Flash, why don't you answer?" asked Twilight.

"Well, you're my boss, right? And Twilight is your sister. And if I was caught dating my boss' sister, I'd lose my position," Flash explained, "and to be honest, for the last few hours, I didn't care much about my position as much as I did about Twilight, and I wouldn't be upset if you fired me…"

He bowed in front of Shining Armor, willing to accept whatever punishment he'd be given.

"Fire you?" Shining Armor looked at Flash in surprise. "I will do no such thing."

"Huh?"

"Yes, I do care very much for my little sister, and I'd get upset if anything bad were to happen to her, not to mention Comet Tail nearly done so. And to be fair, you did leave your post without my acknowledgement…"

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"But you helped in saving my sister from getting hurt, and you stood up for Twilight as well, so I'm letting it slide."

"Oh, thank you, sir."

"What mares want from a stallion," Princess Celestia said wisely, "is their honesty, bravery, kindness, and their will to put the needs of others ahead of their own. You, Comet Tail, only relied on your selfish ways to get what you wanted."

"Yeah, you should've known better," said Thunderlane in agreement.

"Even I know you shouldn't trick others to get what you want," added Pinkie. Comet Tail didn't reply; he just sulked.

"Let's hope he doesn't go crazy like Sunset Shimmer did," Twilight whispered to Flash.

"I hope you'll take it easy on both of them," Cadance told Shining Armor, "after all, you are their superior."

"Oh, we'll see about that," Shining Armor smirked, "just because he's with my sister doesn't mean I'll be less hard on him."

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YAY! Twilight and Flash now have an open relationship. Oh, and Comet Tail is SO busted. :P It's not over yet; there's still one more chapter to go!