The Twilight Sentry

Princess Twilight Sparkle sat on the ground looking at the many stars and constellations. It had been a month since Lord Tirek's attack on Equestria and stealing ponies' powers of earth, flight and magic. Even going as far as stealing Alicorn magic. After fighting him off and thanks to her friends, they defeated Tirek and lock him away in Tartarous.

And she needed a well-deserved break.

After the rising of her new castle, everypony in Pony Ville and even high class ponies from Canterlot wanted to see the insides of it and congratulate the princess of friendship and her friends.

She liked the attention but at the end, it was just too much. So for the past week or so she had been coming to Sweet Apple Acres at night, with Apple Jack's permission of course, to just relax and look up at the stars. Something that she always liked to do whenever she wanted to be alone.

'Luna did a good job tonight rising the stars.' she thought. 'I wonder if that' how she deal with all the stress.'

The gentle wind flowed her mane; a refreshment given from nature.

"Princess Twilight?"

Did the wind just talked to her? Well, with all the weird stuff she had been facing, this wasn't something creepy.

"Wind? Is that you?"

"Um… you know the wind doesn't talk, right?"

The wind's voice seemed too 'macho'. It had to be something else.

"Could you turn around? I'm right here."

Twilight turned around. There in all his glory stood the Crystal Empire Royal Guard, Flash Sentry. He wore his usual golden armor and helmet. His eyes looked at hers.

"Flash? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in the Crystal Empire?"

"Yeah… But I asked permission to see you, to know how you were doing after everything that has recently happened." He started to walk towards her. "Besides, Princess Cadence assigned me to your palace."

"What!?" Twilight said nervously. "She- but I- palace- too- small! How-"

Flash chuckled and sat beside her. The princess had not noticed he carried a bag with him. He must recently arrived to Pony Ville. "You don't seem to get it, Princess." He smiled sweetly at her.

Twilight will never admit it, but she loved it when the guard called her 'princess'. Somehow the way he said it, was so sweet and different. It sounded with respect. But as well with a little touch of friendship and he treat her like any friend. Not as a royal guard.

"There are ponies out there that are no good. Ponyville might be Equestria's most peaceful town, but what if there are other ponies that come to the palace and steal or hurt you? Many ponies out there are filled with jealousy. Word is spreading about your castle and ponies from different places are coming to visit. And not all of them have good intentions. Speaking about jealousy, remember the incident with Sunset Shimmer?"

Of course she remember. She will never forget. Not only that she discovered that the magic of friendship is everywhere or that she turned human or when Sunset stole her former crown, but it was also the day she met Flash.

"I understand. But I can't put my hoof on it. Why will Candace send you of all ponies?"

"You don't like me here? Maybe I should leave, I was thinking on doing so anyway..." He smirked. The stallion was about to get up when he was interrupted by the princess.

"NO! NO! It's alright!" she chuckled nervously. "I didn't mean it like that…" she blushed.

Both ponies stayed silent. "So, your highness? Waiting for orders."

"What?"

"What do you want me to do? I'm your only guard available. For now."

"Um… nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing." She simply repeated. She resumed her view to the stars.

"Are you sure, princess?"

"Pretty much."

"So, I'll just stay here and watch over you."

Twilight looked at him. "You don't need to."

"But I want to. It's my job."

"You don't have to take your job so seriously. I'm just Twilight."

"You said it. You are Twilight. Princess Twilight. And it's my duty to protect you."

Twilight gave him a lite smile, but it fade quickly and looked away. "I just don't want that much attention. I don't like it…"

"It's because you're too humble for that."

Twilight looked at him. "What?"

"You are too humble." Flash repeated. "I know, I have live it. Even if I'm just a simple guard. But because of my high rank for such a young colt, you get to get too much of attention."

Twilight blushed. She liked to speak with Flash even if the opportunity was not that often. But now that he was appointed as her royal guard, this conversations will become a thing of everyday. "Luna made a good job." The princess tried to change the subject. "The stars are beautiful tonight."

"Yeah, beautiful…" Flash looked at her, lost in her beauty.

"What was that?" She said without looking at him.

"Nothing." Flash quickly said. "So, why coming to Sweet Apple Acorn?"

"It's actually Sweet Apple Acres. And I came here to have some time alone. You know, with the new palace and all the unfortunate… events…" she said as she remembered the past battle with Lord Tirek.

Flash gave her an assuring smile. "The good thing is that you and your friends defeated him and he will not make more damage to ponies ever again."

"Yeah… I hope so…"

A few silent and awkward moments passed, and Flash helmet was beginning to make him really uncomfortable. "Twilight? May I take my helmet off?"

Twilight looked at him.

"It's just that I had it since this morning and it's starting to bother me and-"

"Why would you ask permission for that? Of course you can!" she said happily. She later blushed at her recent exited outburst. She had never seen him without a helmet before. Well, as a pony that is. She watched as the stallion took off the royal guard helmet, revealing a handsome short blue mane. It bewitched the princess. She was quick to snap out of it though. She tried to look at the stars instead of the sight at her side.

"So, princess. Which will be my schedule?"

"Um?" she was trying so hard not to look at him.

"When do I start my work at morning? Did I mention I also have to stay in your palace?"

"What?" she was now shivering. But still did not looked at him.

"And that I have to follow you 24/7?"

"…"

"And that if you're about to eat a sweet or something I have to try it first to see if it is not poisoned?"

"…" Now the princess looked at him, wide-eyed.

"And that if you get a cold I must contact Princess Cadence immediately?"

"…"

"And that if you get hypothermia, I must hug you close enough to me so you can get warmer?"

"Ok! Enough! I now that royal guards must protect their princesses, but come on! You can be that serious!"

Flash looked at the shivering and obviously embarrassed princess. And he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Now the blushing princess was super confused.

"Relax, princess. I was just teasing you. I'm only asking for my schedule. I don't have to stay in the palace. My family owns a little apartment here in Ponyville. I don't have to follow you 24/7 or do any of those silly things I said." Flash looked at her. "But between you and me, princess, I think that blush looks great on you."

That only intensified her blush even more. She looked away, waiting for the blush to cool down. If only Flash hadn't said something else.

"But I do have to give you mouth to mouth if you drown." He said seriously.

Twilight bit her lip in frustration. "Is that another joke?" she asked as she turned around to face him. It did not seemed that the blush will go anytime soon, so why look away?

"It depends on how you take it." He smirked. "But in a real life situation I have to do it." He chuckled a little. "Sorry about all this. I guess it runs in my blood. My dad was a clown…"

"I see…" Twilight mumbled. "And you start at eight o'clock…"

Both ponies looked at the stars in silent. That gave time to the princess to think some things. Why will Cadence send Flash Sentry of all ponies to watch over-? Hold you horses! Reality hit Twilight. And really hard. Cadence was the princess of love for Celestia's sake! The minute she noticed Twilight likes the royal guard, she had been scheming on something. She should have known since her adventure with the dimension mirror, when her former crown was stolen. And now she had found the perfect opportunity to play her love chess game. Twilight will have to have a little chat with her sister-in-law very soon.

"Thinking why I was send here of all ponies?" he asked suddenly.

"How did you know?" she asked nervously.

"It's a gift. I was thought as a very young colt on how to read body language based on the situation the pony is in. And after how I made you blush, I just figured you were thinking that. It also helps me detect liars."

Twilight blushed again. She shivered a little thinking about Flash looking at her body. Not that she did not liked the idea… it was just uncomfortable. And if Shining Armor ever knew about Flash looking at her, he will have his helmet for a trophy. All together with his head. She smiled at the idea of her brother being over protective, but that was not the way to treat a stallion like Flash. A really handsome stallion.

"Well, I must go." Flash said while putting back his helmet and getting up. "Rest well, princess."

"Wait!"

Flash looked back at her.

"Would you mind staying for a few more minutes?"

Flash smiled. "Sure, your highness." And he sat down again. A sound of ruffling leaves was heard. "Did you heard that?" Flash said seriously, while looking at his surroundings.

"Don't worry. It must be one of Fluttershy's animals."

That seemed to calm the guard down.

OOO

From afar, hidden in a bush of strawberries, six heads looked from above it. They were out of earshot from the two lovebirds a few feet away from them, but it seemed that certain pony's bunny ran away back to his home, tired of watching two ponies in love.

"Angel! Come back!" a voice whispered.

"Let 'em be, sugar cube." It was Applejack speaking to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were hiding in the bush. Oh, and Discord as well. The mares had a massage from Princess Cadence to follow Flash Sentry. They were in it. They were playing match makers. They just included Discord who seemed eager to investigate as well.

"They look so cute together." Pinkie said.

"Now I see why Cadence send him." Rarity spoke.

"Aren't they the cutest couple?" Fluttershy asked to nopony in particular.

Discord looked at her. "Yeah… couple…" he mumbled. He still could not tell the yellow mare how he felt.

"Well, they seem ok I guess…" Rainbow Dash said, trying to sound as cool as possible. She smiled. "And those jokes he put on her, those were priceless."

"The jokes weren't priceless. Her face was priceless!" Discord said as he bumped hooves with Rainbow. They had finally come to friendly terms, but that didn't meant they had full confidence with each other.

"Do you think we should give them some private time?" Applejack said. "I mean, we can tease Twilight tomorrow about it…"

Discord grinned at her. "I love the way you think pony!"

"SHHH!"

Discord looked at the mares, shocked. "Sorry…" he said quieter.

The five mares and the draconequus made their way back towards Sweet Apple Acres' entrance. They giggled about what had recently happened and about Twilight's terrible blush. Rainbow flew away while Rarity and Pinkie Pie walked back to their respective houses. Fluttershy and Discord walked back to the mare's cottage. Applejack stood there thinking about Twilight and the royal guard. Where they really meant to be together like Cadence said in her letter?

"Mmm… I wonda'…" Whatever she was thinking, she shrugged it off and walked away to the barn to get a descent night's sleep.