Never before had Flash Sentry felt so proud to be a Royal Guard as he did in that room of the Crystal Palace, with Shooting Star’s forehoof slung around his shoulder as they belted out the last notes of Auld Lang Syne.

The two stallions rocked back and forth as they sang, wineglasses in their spare forehooves, the others joining them in the final lyric. Shining and Argon had their forehooves around each other’s shoulders as they dropped the note, laughing like schoolcolts who had just executed a perfectly timed prank. Every stallion in the room, pegasus or unicorn, filled the soundproofed chamber with joy.

His tenor trembling as he finished the song with Shooting Star, Flash held back the urge to whoop. The rapture in his veins was born of far more than his third glass of wine, although that had certainly helped.

“Whoa-oh! That wasn’t bad at all!” Shooting Star gave a belly laugh as he flung his forehoof off Flash’s shoulders. “Gentlecolts, why, with a bit more practice, we might put Canterlot’s finest choir to shame!”

“I wouldn’t go that far, Star,” Argon shot back with a toothy grin, unhooking himself from Shining and bringing his wineglass to his lips. “Maybe if we get enough buckets, you’ll be able to carry a tune!”

Shooting Star smacked Argon’s side with a wing. “Hah! Says the stallion who came in third verse early!”

Shining shook his head, chuckling as he caught his breath. “Let’s be honest, you two—neither of you are going to be rising stars anytime soon. Actually,” he added, turning to the rest of the group, “that goes for the rest of us, too. Let’s stick to soldiering, shall we?”

“Hear hear!” Strong Command tipped his glass back, then wiped his lips. “Although, Captain, I must say… This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

Murmurs of agreement followed Strong Command’s statement. Flash, now settled down himself, looked around the room to see wide smiles on every muzzle. To his surprise, he wore the same.

Looking down at his silver armor, which contrasted so perfectly against his blue saddle blanket, Flash felt not only pride, but… something else. Something that had eluded him these past few months in the Royal Guard, and, if he were honest with himself, far longer than he would like to admit.

Purpose.

Standing here, in a room full of stallions who felt the same way he did, whose stomachs churned with nausea at injustice, whose hearts grew cold with anger at the relentless permanence of it all, and whose hooves, wings, and horns were ready to take up arms against a system and a society much older than themselves…

Standing here made him feel, for the first time in a long time, as if what he was doing was for more than naught.

There would always be Princesses to guard, prisoners to monitor, borders to patrol.

If the Order of the Silver Guard had its way, there wouldn’t be an order to fight against. The greatest monsters would have already been vanquished.

As he looked around this room, Flash should have felt fear, apprehension. He should have had a thousand questions and a million doubts, all coupled and churned together with the opposing binds of duty and tradition that had been forced down his throat along with his mother’s milk.

He felt none of that.

Flash Sentry stood tall in a room full of would-be traitors, wore their colors himself, and felt at home.

He watched as Shooting Star and Argon continued to playfully quibble amongst themselves, as Strong Command and the other unicorns began casting light spells on the chandeliers, bathing the room in beautiful patterns of multicolored light, as Shining Armor stood by his side and watched it all with a genuine grin.

All the while, he thought, Home.

I’m home.

The feeling that stirred in his stomach and chest when he looked upon the snow, when he flew with Shooting Star above the Crystal Mountains, and when his hooves clacked against the ice on the streets all made sense now. All these little inklings of emotion had been desperately trying to tell him what he already knew and now fully understood, standing here in his silver armor.

I’m home.

“Flash?” Shining asked.

“Yes, my Captain?” Flash asked with a smile, feeling so genuine then, in every word, in every second.

Gone were the nerves, the hesitation, the doubt that had seemed to dominate his every waking moment these past few months. He stood beside the brother of the mare that had brought all this up from within him, and he felt no fear.

Until Shining Armor cast a soundproofing spell around them, engulfing them in a sphere of blue.

With his horn still lit, ensuring that the aura had surrounded them completely, Shining stepped closer to him.

“Flash, I know about Twilight.”

Those nerves and that hesitation flared up in Flash again, blossoming throughout his chest. He gripped the stem of his wineglass tight it almost shattered. While his contentment shifted rapidly to unease as he contemplated how to respond, Shining merely waited.

What should I say? Should I ask him what he means? Deny it? Or should I just—

Yes. I should—must tell him.

I cannot lie to my Captain. My true Captain.

Left alone and encased in silence as the others watched the unicorns' light show, Flash took his time before replying.

“I… I see, sir,” he replied at last.

I see, Flash replied, like it was merely a fact—not dangerous, not secret, not forbidden.

Just a fact.

For, while Flash’s heart raced in an obvious attempt to undermine all his momentary happiness, when he was honest with himself, that was what it was.

A fact.

Flash thought more of Twilight than any Royal Guard should a Princess. She stirred in him something that had long been extinguished—something that he, a pegasus whose heart had only stirred for unicorns, did not deem himself worthy of feeling, of knowing.

These feelings ran deeper than her beauty; they also ran after her kindness, her knowledge, and her heart, all of which he had only briefly glimpsed. Yet, he knew the feelings would only grow further with time.

Shining Armor eyed him closely as he stood there, struggling not to add a wineglass to the list of things he had broken in the past few weeks. A few drops of sweat rolled down Flash’s mane and coat, but they were nowhere near as many as they should have been.

Finally, Shining Spoke again in their soundproofed aura.

“I’m surprised that is all you have to say.”

Flash flinched. Unwilling to take his chances any longer, he set the wineglass down on the table. “Is… Is there something else I should say, Captain?”

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Shining said, his words more inquisitive than accusatory in Flash’s ears.

“Well…” Flash lowered his gaze to the floor, pleased to see that Shining’s magic had transformed his golden horseshoes to silver as well. He watched them dance with each other for a moment before he looked back up. “I… I guess I’m curious as to… how you know, sir. Because I’m… Well… I’m trying to, uh—”

“Keep it a secret?”

Flash nodded.

Shining chuckled, his magic pulsing in tempo with the rhythm of his laughter. “I’m sorry, Flash, but you’re horrible at that.”

Flash felt a heat, separate from the wine, flare on his cheeks. “Well, I… Er, that is, I know that I’m—”

“Granted, it may not only be because I’m her brother, and because I trained you,and because I have a few sources—”

Flash blinked. “Sources?”

“—that corroborate what I was inferring anyway. But also because I, too, was in your position once, Flash.”

Tempted to ask what he meant, Flash paused, remembering the early stages of Shining Armor’s relationship with Princess Cadence. Although he had had no particular reason to be privy to Shining’s relationship with the Princess, he remembered hearing rumors back when Shining Armor was still a First Lieutenant that he was vying to become Captain specifically so he could court the Princess. Interestingly enough, their wedding date seemed to have been set a short time after Shining’s official ascension to the rank of Captain.

In the silence that Shining allowed, Flash put two and two together.

“I… I see, sir,” Flash said again. “I… I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”

“Many don’t,” Shining said with a slight sigh. “Thus, when the time comes, my position on these matters may come as a surprise to some.

“Anyway, I am aware of your situation,” Shining continued, his voice near a whisper at this point despite his spell, “and I just wanted to comment on it, both as your Captain… and her brother.”

The wine mixed with the stone settling in Flash’s stomach, becoming sour. “O-oh,” he said, stammering for the first time in what seemed like hours. “Sir, I—”

Shining raised a forehoof. “Look, Flash, I’ll be honest. As a brother? Well, no brother wants to see their little sister in some stallion’s hooves. It’s in our nature as brothers. Do you know what I mean?”

Flash, an only foal, nodded.

“Good. That aside, I think you’re a good stallion. From my experience training and serving alongside you, I don’t think I have much to worry about when it comes to you interacting with Twilight. You have your flaws, yes—”

Despite the truth of his statement, Flash flushed a bit in shame.

“—but you aren’t one who might use her for her position, or… something else,” Shining added with a bit of a snarl, “like those two who you seem to be friends with.”

“Sir,” Flash said quickly, feeling a bit of something—was it indignation?—at the implication of Steel Wind and Sharp Spear, “I assure you, they talk a big game, but they… They really are respectful when it comes to mares. The worst they do is make cheesy propositions and buy drinks. They aren’t abusers, or even users. They’re vulgar, sure, but they aren’t actually the heartbreakers they joke themselves to be. I’ve known them since basic training, and they’ve never done anything like that. I wouldn’t be friends with them if they did.”

Flash’s eyes widened as he finished.

Wait…

Did I just defend them?

He had. Shining appeared as surprised as he did, his expression blank at Flash’s abrupt defense of the pair’s character.

Emboldened by the conversation at hoof, Flash found himself thinking aloud. “I mean… To be honest, we were more of friends up until this last year, and these last few months, especially, since…”

He met Shining’s eyes, finding the answer reflected back at him. Since Twilight.

I’ve been a different stallion since Twilight… For better and for worse.

Flash shifted from hoof to hoof as he continued to ponder aloud, Shining listening all the while. “Since then, since I’ve really begun questioning things, I guess I’ve just looked at those two in a different light… A negative one. Because they don’t really question things like I do. They just kind of… go along with things. And I guess… I guess that’s made me kind of short with them. Condescending, even. And that’s not how a friend should be. Especially since, for all I’ve saved their skin, they’ve saved mine as well. Recently.

“I guess I haven’t been a good friend.”

As he finished, Flash Sentry looked up at Shining again, and, realizing how informal and unprofessional his monologue had been, bowed his head. “F-forgive me, sir. I… I guess I just suddenly realized something important, sir.”

A heavy but gentle forehoof settled on Flash’s shoulder.

Shining shook his head. His magic, still going strong, seemed to shake in acceptance with him. “It’s alright. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting you to react like that, but it’s not a bad reaction. And thank you for assuring me that my suspicions were incorrect.”

Once Flash met his eyes, Shining removed his forehoof from his shoulder. “Although those two were your friends from what I’ve heard, you’ve always been different than them. At least, in my eyes. And seeing that it is a good difference—the way all of us in here are different—” Shining swept a forehoof across the room—”reassures me.

“But I digress. What I mean to say is, though, as a brother, under different skies, while I would be… okay with the idea of you and Twilight…

"As Captain of the Order of the Silver Guard, I cannot. For, if our venture is to be successful, Twilight must not appear to have a conflict of interest when approaching Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Cadence, although she has kept in line with the order in letter, will already appear to have a conflict of interest in spirit. Thus, we must have somepony from a high place who endorses this action, but does not benefit from it. At least, not in a way that is wholly obvious.

“Do you understand?”

Flash Sentry, feeling like a brother in the armor for perhaps the first time in his career, looked up to his true Captain, and, despite how it pained him to do so, nodded.

“Yes, sir, I understand.”

It has to be this way, he reiterated, his steely gaze and determined expression threatening to waver. It has to be this way…even on the very, very off chance she even remotely felt the same.

Shining Armor extinguished his spell at last. “I’m glad we had this conversation, Sir Flash Sentry. I’m glad that we have an understanding, and that you are here.”

This time, Flash’s smile had a bit of force behind it, if only for the acknowledgment and realization of things as they were, and are, and must be.

“I’m glad to be here, too, Captain.”

Shining gave him one last smile, then faced the room. Shooting Star and Strong Command were currently in a hoof-wrestling match, the rest of the guards divided nearly evenly as they cheered on their respective champions. Both stallions were red in the muzzle, dripping with sweat as they stood at a standstill.

Shining Armor stomped his forehooves, snapping everypony’s attention to him. Shooting Star utilized this moment to slam Strong Command’s hoof to the table, making the unicorn groan.

Strong Command sneered. “Hey! You cheated, Lieutenant!”

“Gentlecolts! We have less than thirty minutes before we will be leaving for the play! Please, everypony stand up and file out the door. I will take care of your armor as you leave. This meeting of the Order of the Silver Guard has been adjourned.”

While the others began to form a line near the door—Strong Command glaring at Shooting Star, who took his place in line with a smirk—Flash Sentry trotted over to the rear of the pack.

If I must not act upon my feelings for Twilight for the good of this cause, he realized with a heavy heart, then I must be prepared to sacrifice everything else I have for it, too.

Am I prepared?

Watching as Prince Shining Armor first used his magic on himself, then on the first stallion in line, to revert his armor back to its original shade of gold, Flash knew the answer.

Pushing away the doubt that had begun to creep its way into his mind, Flash mentally answered in the affirmative.

He was home now, and would give anything to wear the colors of his home once more.

He was among brothers, and would defend them.

No matter the cost!

No matter the cost.

... N-no matter the cost…

~

In his room, Flash Sentry was more than eager to shed his golden armor.

With the clock ticking, he rushed to prepare himself for accompanying Princess Twilight Sparkle to the play. Although he had not yet seen either of the Princesses since this morning, Shining Armor had stated that the mares would be ready to leave soon.

Flash removed his dress uniform from the closet. Whereas before he always dreaded putting this uniform on, this time, he looked upon the occasion with enthusiasm.

Flash pulled his forehooves and wings through the sleeves and slits of the noble blue uniform with more than a few grunts. Once the uniform cooperated, he straightened out every seam and thread he could. Next, he polished the brass buttons on his chest and cuffs. Finally, he took both forehooves and brush to his mane, smoothing it out with a bit of gel.

When he was finished, Flash Sentry looked at the stallion in the mirror, pride swelling in his chest.

I am Flash Sentry, of the Order of the Silver Guard.

I am home.

A hoof rapped at his door. “Flash?”

Flash’s ears pricked at the voice. “Twilight?”

Twilight knocked again. “Are you ready to go?”

Flash headed to the door, mentally scolding himself for being the one to be summoned this time. Don’t let this get to your head too much. You still have a duty, soldier!

“Sorry about that, Twilight,” Flash said as he opened the door, “I got caught up in—”

Oh—

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood before him, wearing her crown and golden horseshoes, her long mane brushed and straightened, her coat and eyes and teeth sparkling as she wore a sheepish grin.

—Damn.

Perhaps it was the wine still sloshing through his blood, his conversation with Shining Armor, his newfound feeling of belonging, or just the sheer beauty of the mare staring back at him, but something prevented Flash Sentry from catching himself this time.

Feathers and fur sliced through the air at an impressive speed as not one but two pairs of wings snapped to attention, flaring to full mast alongside their owners’ crimson muzzles and widened eyes.

The silence that followed couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds.

“I’m sor—”

“Err, I—”

“Uh—”

“Heh, um—”

SLAM!

Flash Sentry fell onto his rump. He stared up at the door in shock, lacking any recollection of actually shutting it.

Wait…

With a few grunts and slaps of his own wings, Flash fixed his faux pas, at least for now.

If memory served him, Twilight was dealing with the same issue… on the other side of the door.

"Um, T-Twilight? Are you okay?” The stammer in his voice was brought about not only by nerves, but by sheer astonishment.

Did she really just…

Somehow, that finished thought was even worse than the fact that he had most definitely lost control of himself.

The door slowly opened, revealing a very clearly distraught mare in the threshold. Only one of her wings had managed to cooperate; the other pointed high to the heavens in all its blasphemy. “Eh… Heh… H-h-hi, Flash.”

“Um… Hi?” Flash closed the door behind him. “Uh… Are you okay, Twilight?”

“Fine! Just fine!” Twilight exclaimed. “Everypony’s waiting down at the front gate for us, comeonlet’sgo!”

Twilight spun and galloped off, her mismatched wings throwing off her balance with each stride.

Flash took to his hooves after her, choosing not to press the matter further. Although his wings seemed willing to give into their master’s demands now after finally fully revealing their intentions, he made sure to keep his eyes straight ahead.

From the corner of his eye, Flash watched as Twilight used her magic to make her other wing join its sister, cursing under her breath.

Neither spoke.

Within minutes, the two were down the crystal staircases, winding their way to the main floor. Near the gates, the other Royals and guards waited. The group’s pleasant conversations were interrupted by the skidding of hooves on crystal floor.

“Oh! There you two are!” Princess Cadence said with a smile. “We’ve been waiting.”

“S-sorry, Princess,” Flash said with a bow, smoothing out his uniform as he stood. “It was—”

“My fault,” Twilight said, straightening her crown atop her head. “I, uh, lost track of time, and kept Flash waiting. I’m sorry, everypony.”

The Royal Guards bowed to her, murmuring polite dismissals of her apology. Shining Armor looked curiously from his sister, to Flash, and then to Cadence.

Cadence swept her gaze between them, her grin widening. “Not a problem at all, Twilight. But let us not delay any longer. I know Apt is looking forward to seeing us.”

Rubbing at her neck, Twilight nodded. “Yes, yes, of course! Apt… Let’s… Let’s go see him…”

With a nod, Cadence began to lead the group out of the Crystal Palace. Her magic held the doors open, closing them once the stragglers, Flash and Twilight, followed the rest into the cold night.

~

Through the streets of the Crystal Empire, Flash stayed close to Twilight’s side. She stayed mostly silent.

On their usual walks through the city to and from the library, Twilight always had a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She hadn’t quite given Flash an official tour of the Empire yet, but she would occasionally point out her favorite bookstore, an interesting type of gemstone, or a pony she recognized. He was happy to nod and listen, eager to learn more of this new place that had so welcomed him.

Tonight, however, Twilight kept her eyes to the snow and her brow furrowed. Neither she nor Flash mentioned their encounter earlier, their blushes long since stolen by the chill. He felt the urge to ask her what was wrong, but considering that the rest of their group was having a merry time, he decided against it.

Maybe later. There seems to be something on her mind… Something that isn’t me in my uniform.

Flash looked away for a second, gritting his teeth.

If I’m right on that… Keeping this promise might be more difficult than I thought.

The group came to a halt. Flash stopped in his tracks as Twilight did the same.

Before them was a large, elliptical building sculpted from a myriad of gemstones. The sides of the building were primarily constructed of gemstones arranged in the colors of the rainbow. Moonlight surged through the stones, making its illumination rival the parish lantern . A group of black crystals arranged above the doors of the building spelled out, “Quartz Center For The Performing Arts”.

“Here we are, everypony!” Cadence said, “Our escort should be her any mo—oh, there he is!”

“Princess!”

Flash looked to see Apt Drop running up to Princess Cadence. Bishe was barking happily as he ran beside his master. Behind him was a Crystal stallion with an aquamarine coat and brown mane, who seemed more reluctant to approach the group than his friend.

Cadence opened her forehooves to Apt. He jumped up and hugged her, grinning like a schoolcolt. “Oh, I’m so glad you could make it, Your Highness! You look wonderful this evening, Princess!”

Chuckling, Cadence returned his embrace. “Thank you, Apt. I’m glad to have made it too. We’re all very happy to be here.”

As she released Apt, she introduced him to the others. The Lieutenants and other Royal Guards greeted the stallion, refusing his bows and instead offering him forehooves. Shooting Star and Argon seemed particularly eager to meet him.

“And who is this?” Cadence looked at the aquamarine stallion who stood beside Apt, holding a panting Bishe in his forehooves.

It may have been the snow blurring his vision, but Flash swore he saw Apt blush a bit as Cadence acknowledged his companion.

“This is my friend, Quartz,” Apt said, smiling. “He will be the lead in the play tonight.”

Quartz managed to hold the squirming dog as he bowed low. “A pleasure to meet you all, Princess, Prince, Lieutenants, Corporal, knights.”

“And it is a pleasure to meet you,” Shining said, shaking Quartz’s forehoof as he rose. He chuckled as Bishe licked his forehoof. “I’m sure we will all have a lovely time tonight.”

Apt bowed again. “Well, of course, Your Highness! Only the finest for our Crystal Princess and her Prince. Now then, if you would all please follow us…”

While Apt and Quartz slipped past the maw of the building, leading the others through, Flash hung back again beside Twilight, who hadn’t said a word the entire time.

Her eyes were still at her forehooves, her wings drooping.

“Um… Twilight? Is something wrong?”

“Huh?”

Twilight brushed a small mound of snow that had formed on one of her shoulders, still refusing to meet his gaze. “Oh. Heh. S-sorry. I was just thinking.”

Although he was wary of the answer, Flash ventured to ask the question anyway. “About what?”

Another shake of her head. Whether it was in response to him, or to whatever was echoing in her mind, Flash wasn’t sure.

“It’s fine. Everything’s fine!” Twilight tone’s was far too chipper to be sincere.

“Are you—”

“Brrr, it’s getting cold! Let’s go in and get our seats, shall we?”

Despite the snow, tonight had been the warmest night since his arrival a week ago. Temperatures aside, pegasus and alicorn down was thick enough to keep a pony warm in this weather.

Although Flash knew both of these things, he simply nodded and escorted her inside.

~

Their seats were the best in the house. Apt and Quartz seated them in the very center of the auditorium, giving them the perfect view of the stage. The theater was packed tonight, ponies filing in once the exalted guests had been attended to.

Shining, Cadence, Twilight, and Flash sat in one row. Directly behind them sat Shooting Star, Argon, and Strong Command. The rest of the Royal Guards sat scattered near their superiors. All but Twilight appeared excited for the play, as well as the complimentary refreshments.

Although Cadence and Shining requested only beverages and an appetizer, the Royal Guards ordered everything on both menus in hearty quantities, to the chagrin of Shining, who merely snorted and shook his head.

While the others began engaging in a second feast, Flash, full of worry when he looked over to the silent alicorn beside him, ordered water. Twilight ordered nothing.

Flash ordered a second water when the attendant came back.

“Here,” Flash said, passing her the second glass of water.

Twilight barely looked at him as she took it with her magic. “Thank you.”

Flash held back a sigh. “You’re welcome…”

The lights in the auditorium dimmed as a unicorn mare trotted up on the stage. Above, a spotlight shone down on her as she stood quietly before the packed audience.

After waiting for the last murmurs to fade away, the mare clasped her forehooves together. “Welcome, fillies, gentlecolts, honored guests, to the Quartz Center For The Performing Arts’s production of A Stallion And His Mare. We ask that you please hold any photography until the end of the show, where our actors will be available to meet everypony for autographs and pictures!”

Pictures, huh?

“We would like to take a moment to give a special thanks to our beloved and honorable rulers, Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, for joining us here tonight. Thank you both for honoring our house with your presence!”

The spotlights moved to the Prince and Princess, who smiled and turned to wave at the applauding, whooping audience. The rest of their group cheered and applauded as well, Flash included.

Twilight appeared absolutely oblivious to it all, her muzzle blank and her hooves unmoving as she stared at the glass of water on tray.

Flash frowned, then looked up at the stage again.

Once the applause died down, the mare gestured to the purple, velvet curtains behind her. “Now, without further ado, let us begin, ’A Stallion And His Mare’!”

To the excited clapping and stomping of hooves, the mare exited, stage right.

Sipping at his water, Flash glanced sideways at Twilight, who finally seemed to join them back in Equestria. Forehooves folded across her chest, she watched as the spotlights turned to center stage and the curtains rose.

“Here we go,” Shooting Star whispered.

Flash nodded. Here we go, indeed.

~

A Stallion And His Mare was narrated by a particularly spunky Crystal stallion, one who wore a jester’s cap of many colors and spoke entirely in idioms, allusions, and puns. Although he went nameless, he was a main character in his own right. The audience laughed every time he appeared, Flash included.

After the appearance of the jester, the play truly began. The first character seen was played by Quartz—Obsidian, a simple, lonely Crystal stallion who sold flugelhorns. It was at this point that Flash realized the play was a musical, as Quartz’s arrival was heralded by a chorus of mares singing about how “plain and unlovable” he was.

Not much for musicals, but we’ll see how this goes.

Flash couldn’t help but snicker as Quartz made overdramatic sighs and sniffles in response to the choir’s lament over his presumed destiny as a permanent bachelor.

As the last note of the first song drew to a close, a customer approached Obsidian: a Crystal mare, her shades of green a striking contrast to Obsidian’s black mane and gray coat.

Flash raised an eyebrow. No, that must be a coincidence.

He looked over at Twilight, who, although still silent and expressionless, seemed to be paying the utmost attention to the introduction of this new character.

“O-oh! H-h-hello th-there,” Obsidian said, stumbling over both his words and his hooves as he acknowledged the mare. “C-can I in-interest you in any—oh, horseapples!”

Obsidian fell forward, grabbing onto the mare’s forehooves for leverage. The mortified stallion looked up at the wide-eyed mare, sweating and stammering even more profusely. The audience burst into laughter as he scrambled to pull himself up. He tripped over his own hooves and fell down again, pinning the mare into the cobblestone street.

The audience whooped as the mare, too, turned an unsightly shade of red and struggled to get up. She knocked Obsidian in the forehead with a loud thump. The stallion slumped over on the ground, his pupils spinning in a daze.

The choir began singing their second song, this time for the mare. Coral was also a lonely mare, yet hopelessly clumsy and awkward. The jester punctuated this song with tales involving Coral’s mishaps, one of which involved a tub of mayonnaise, a frog, and a pickaxe.

Flash found himself cackling now, both forehooves over his mouth in a vain attempt to muffle his laughter. The rest of the group was yukking it up, Shooting Star and Argon so loudly that it sounded pained. Even Cadence and Shining had lost their regal composure by now, hooves around each other and chests heaving.

Twilight managed a giggle or two, which made Flash smile behind his chuckles.

The awkward encounter continued onstage for almost an extra agonizing minute. The frantic Coral apologized enough for Discord himself while she helped Obsidian come to. Once he was conscious and standing, the poor stallion was so distraught that he backed into his stand, sending flugelhorns flying. One landed in a stallion’s soup, splashing it all over his tuxedo. Another knocked a mailmare square in the head, making her cross-eyed. Still others landed somewhere offstage, followed by cries of “My leg!” in the distance.

To Flash’s delight, Twilight finally cracked, stomping her hindhooves on the floor as she rolled with laughter, tears falling from her eyes. Her merry little giggles dissolved into schoolfilly squeaks, making Flash cackle, sending two streams of odd noises from the third row.

“Heeeeeheheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeheeee!”

“Kekekekekekekekeekekekekek!”

Onstage, poor Obsidian finally fled the scene, prompting Coral to hold up the last remaining instrument in his stand. “Wait! You forgot your flugelhorn!” she cried, only to fall down face-first into a strategically placed puddle.

“Bahahahaha, right up her nose! Right up her nose!” Shooting Star howled. If any recruit saw him now, slumped over onto Argon with tears streaming from his eyes, they would have no reason to fear him ever again.

As Flash struggled to breathe, he looked around the auditorium. Everypony, from the Prince and Princess, to his fellow Royal Guards, to Apt in the front row, to Precise Jot beside him, to the ponies in the worst seats in the house, was having the time of their life.

All of them, together.

Twilight was beside herself too, leaning against his shoulder for support as she struggled for breath.

Perhaps it was the lasting effects of the wine beforehoof, but for whatever reason, Flash didn’t flinch from her touch, and whispered to her between breaths, “Th-this is great, isn’t it?”

“Ye-yeah!” Twilight managed with a giggle. “Oh, wow, this is…”

When they began to settle down, the entire theater darkened as the spotlights dimmed again. The sounds of a ruckus could be heard from behind the curtain, signifying that the next scene was about to begin.

Twilight paused for another breath. “Great. Oh, wow, this is great, isn’t it?”

Flash grinned. “Yeah, it really is. I’m glad you’re—”

Argon shushed him. “Quiet, Flash!”

“Oh, s-sorry,” Flash replied with a sheepish smile, avoiding Argon’s gaze.

Twilight raised her head from his shoulder. “Heh, sorry.”

No, no, it’s okay. Please, do that again. All you like.

Despite his thoughts, Flash just smiled, waiting for the next scene to begin.

He could barely tell through the dark, but he swore he saw Twilight look him over before turning to face the stage once more.

~

The first act of the play proceeded much like the first scene. Obsidian and Coral met repeatedly through a series of events—whether they were fortunate or not was, Flash supposed, the audience’s decision.

The play seemed to toy with the idea of serendipity, of things falling into place, sometimes literally, through circumstances beyond both ponies’ control. While these circumstances were intended to be humorous, Flash felt there was an underlying meaning to them, as if the comedy was a mask for the moral.

The choir made several more appearances, once to introduce Obsidian’s plight to his friends, who then went through a montage of trying to fix this “fixer-upper” of a stallion. Almost all of their ideas were horribly cliche, to the smirks and giggles of the audience.

Meanwhile, Coral’s friends, predictably gave her a makeover upon learning that she was smitten with the flugelhorn merchant. Unfortunately, Coral resembled a circus clown more than a fashionista after they were through with her, as the choir was so fond of pointing out.

All throughout the first act, Flash was pleased to see Twilight finally cheer up. She was emotionally engrossed by the play, laughing, grinning, gasping, and sighing heavily along with the audience in general—and Flash.

The playwrights of A Stallion And His Mare seemed to know how to play their audience like a fine-tuned instrument, plucking the strings of all, mare and stallion, young and old alike.

During the ten-minute intermission, most of Flash and Twilight’s entourage left to stretch their hooves or get some fresh air. Flash seized this opportunity to ask Twilight the lingering question that had undercut his delight at seeing her happy again.

“Hey, Twilight?” Flash asked once the serving-pony had taken their orders and trotted off.

“Yes, Flash?” Twilight stretched, then looked over at him, a slight smile on her face.

“Uh… Was there something that happened earlier today? You seemed really—”

Depressed? Despondent? Lost? Confused? Afraid?

“—Er, off earlier. Until the play started, really,” Flash added, rubbing his neck with a forehoof. He broke her gaze for a moment as she visibly deflated. “I—I don’t mean to intrude—”

Twilight sighed. “No, it’s not that… It’s just… Can we talk about this later, please?”

Flash blinked. That implies you want to. “Yes, of course, Twilight. I…” He cleared his throat. “I would be happy to talk about it later.”

“Thank you, Flash.” Twilight turned around in her seat and busied herself with her glass of water, sipping it at a snail’s pace, leaving Flash to turn back around himself.

Strange… No “It’s none of your business,” or even “It’s nothing”. I wonder what it could be? And why would she want to talk about it? Unless… Oh Celestia, what if she wants to bring up what happened at the door??

Swallowing hard, Flash stared up at the stage, willing its curtain to rise again, and fast.

The powers that be must have granted him some small mercy, for the lights began to dim once more. Hooves hurried back into the auditorium, ponies pushing past each other in search of their seats, as the second act began.

~

... Wow.

Wow was the only coherent word that could pass through Flash’s mind.

While the first act of the play had been plodding, seemingly based more on awkward, cutesy moments between the protagonists and cheap comedy rather than any real depth, the second had blown him away with its complexity. The jester narrator was still present, as was the somewhat-insulting choir, but the storyline had completely opened up.

While Obsidian and Coral still attempted to get to know each other, neither of them seeming to have the courage to take a leap of faith in making the relationship official, their conversations and interactions deepened in purpose and emotion.

Obsidian spoke of his inability to find a marefriend after the loss of his mother, as well as his existential crises. Sure, he was a flugelhorn merchant, but what impact would that ultimately have in his life, or upon Equestria itself?

Coral was no simple mare either. Although she was intelligent, beautiful, and likable, she lacked confidence or finesse, and thus had no luck in the romance department herself. Her issues stemmed from living in the shadow of her older brother, along with the pressure of having parents so renowned in Equestria.

They were two kindred souls, really, as was palpable throughout their interactions. Over the course of the hour-long second act, both gained confidence, within and without each other, and began facing their fears and overcoming obstacles in other parts of their life. Friendships were strengthened, family members faced, and skeletons were straight-up dragged from their closets as Obsidian and Coral grew into the ponies they were meant to be.

The audience listened with rapt attention as the final scene began, nary the crunch of a cracker or gulp of a glass of wine was heard throughout the theater. On pins and needles they sat as the curtain rose for what the jester narrator termed the pair’s “last meeting”.

Wow, Flash thought again as he took in the scene.

Obsidian and Coral stood amongst a field of green and gold—Crystal Empire in the springtime, its rolling hills and sparkling wildflowers surrounding them in Earth’s embrace. The sets and backdrops for this play had been masterfully painted, breathing vibrancy into every scene—this one was no exception.

Obsidian wore his finest suit, fidgeting with a tie that matched his eyes. Coral, too, wore her best, a silk lavender dress clinging to her figure and accentuating her beauty.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me here, Obsidian,” Coral said.

Gone was the adorable, endearing stammer that had dominated every conversation she had had with the stallion for the past two hours. In its place was a sincere, golden tone, dripping with emotion from each word.

“Anything for you,” Obsidian replied.

Gone, too, was his stutter, though it threatened to escape his tongue in the most pivotal of moments. He was honest and true all the same, even when his words betrayed him, lost as he was in her beauty and grace.

Obsidian removed something from his pocket and passed it to her.

A single crystal rose.

Coral smiled as she accepted his gift and tucked it into her mane. “Thank you. It is beautiful.”

Obsidian smiled back. “Not as beautiful as you.”

Flash felt no less a stallion as he did now, his forehooves brought together, a grin stretching across his muzzle.

In the row in front of him, Shooting Star and Argon muttered, “Awwwww.”

So did Strong Command and a few of the other Royal Guards, albeit a little quieter. Flash heard them anyway, and grinned wider.

Beside him, Twilight watched, her forehooves together as well as she sat in starry-eyed rapture.

Onstage, Coral took a step back. Her smile fell as she split her gaze between Obsidian and the grass. “Do you really mean that, Obsidian?”

“Of course I do!” Obsidian blurted, blushing when he realized that he had made her jump. “I-I mean… Yes, of course I do. You will always be beautiful to me.”

Oooh, here it comes! Finally! After all this time! Flash held back the urge to pump his forehoof in the air. C’mon, buddy! Do it!

Obsidian approached the mare a step closer. “Coral, I have something I—”

“No, Obsidian, there’s something I need to tell you first. Please.”

There was an urgency in Coral’s voice that made both the audience and Obsidian pause.

Tilting his head, the stallion stayed silent for a few moments before replying, “O-oh. O-of course. Yes. Please, go ahead, C-Coral. You first.”

Flash pushed his forehooves tighter together, looking like a monk lost in prayer to the gods of theater as the anticipation practically strangled him. Alrighty! You go, Coral! Tell him! Tell him how you fe—

“Obsidian, I am not who you think I am,” Coral said, taking a step back from him.

Obsidian’s eyes widened. He raised a hoof, seeming to struggle with stepping after her or not. “Y-you’re not?”

“No,” Coral said, “I am not. This is not who I really am.”

There was a burst of light onstage. Separate from the spotlights, it surrounded the mare, engulfing her in a white aura and raising her off her hooves. Her eyes shone like beacons as the light embraced her, pulsing over her crystalline coat and mane, making her glow.

Obsidian and the audience—Flash, Twilight, and the others included—gasped. Obsidian brought a forehoof to his eyes, shielding himself from her light.

Feeling blinded, Flash did, too, and waited until the lighting in the theater returned to normal. When he did, he removed his forehoof from his eyes.

When he did, his jaw dropped.

There, standing in Coral’s place, was not a Crystal mare, but a unicorn—light-green in coat, dark-green in mane. Her eyes and cutiemark remained the same, as did her sheepish smile, as did the dress still clinging to her curves.

The only difference was her horn.

“I… I wanted you to kn-know the truth,” Coral began, tears shaking in her eyes with her words, “of who I r-really am. I c-came to the Crystal Empire to s-start a new l-life with Cr-Crystal ponies like you. And I was scared… Sc-scared that you a-all wouldn’t l-like a unicorn living here—”

Obsidian raised a forehoof. “C-Coral—”

“B-but then I f-fell. I fell for you. On you.” Coral forced a weak giggle. “I-I didn’t even know that I f-fell, that I was f-falling, until it was too l-late. And now… I know we c-can’t be together—”

Flash felt his stomach churn, tears forming in his eyes at the pain in Coral’s words. The burden of concealing oneself for so long, to so many, must have been overwhelming…

No. It was.

It was, and it was horrible.

“—But I… I w-wanted you to know who I r-really am. I’m a unicorn, and—”

Somepony gasped first. Whether it was somepony a part of their section or not, Flash wasn’t sure.

All he knew was that he joined them.

Obsidian, a determination in his eyes that had henceforth been unseen, embraced Coral and brought her close to him.

Then, he kissed her.

His forehooves tightened around her waist as he deepened the kiss, full of passionate need and acceptance. She closed her eyes and pushed back against him, her horn sparking with a hint of magic as she wrapped her forehooves around his neck and returned the caress, as eager to be his as he was to be hers.

From the corner of his eye, Flash saw Twilight’s eyes widen to twin suns, her forehooves covering her open mouth.

And from another corner of his eye, Flash saw Cadence looking back at them, a smile on her face.

She winked.

“I don’t care,” Obsidian said as he pulled away at last, looking down at the mare in his forehooves. “I don’t care, Coral. I don’t care whether you’re a Crystal pony or an Earth pony or a pegasus or a unicorn or an alicorn! Buck, I’d love you even if you were a timberwolf!”

Obsidian’s voice grew bolder, louder as he—Quartz—spoke from the bottom of his heart and the top of his lungs.

“I love you, and I’ll always love you, no matter what’s on your head or your back or your flank! I love you, and nopony, not even the bucking hooves of Galaxia herself, could stop me from loving you.

“You’re my mare, and I’m your stallion. I love you, Coral.”

As tears welled higher in his eyes, Flash took a deep breath, struggling not to cry. He was a stallion, and stallions do not cry. Not in public, at least.

Not over something like this, something so beautiful and terrible in its defiance and its truth that part of Flash wanted to grab his spear and run it through the order itself right then.

Not over something like this moment, as his superiors and equals struggled not to cry around him, as the Princess of Love wept openly in the front row, as her Prince held her close and shed a drop of liquid pride.

Not over something like this moment, where not a dry eye could be seen, or a clean nose heard, in this cascade of seconds that, Flash knew, would change Equestria forever.

Not over something like this moment, in which Twilight Sparkle, the mare of his dreams, sat beside him and, with something that sounded like a whimper, shed one silver tear.

Up there, in their field of gold and green, Coral and Obsidian embraced again, lip to lip, hoof to hoof, chest to chest, as a stallion and his mare.

When they parted, Coral brought a hoof to Obsidian’s cheek, and smiled.

“I love you too, Obsidian.”

They kissed again in the golden sunlight.

And then, the curtain fell.

So did the tear clinging to Flash’s eyelashes.

The spotlights dimmed.

Silence.

Silence.

And then…

Applause.

A thundering applause unlike anything Flash Sentry had ever heard.

Whoops, cheers, claps, stomps. Crystal roses hurled head-over-stem through the air onto the stage. Bottles of champagne opened, corks and bubbly sent flying. Confetti rained down from the rafters onto the stage and the audience.

With the raise of the curtain and a single spotlight, the cast and crew emerged, hoof-in-hoof, Crystal pony, Earth pony, pegasus, unicorn, mare, and stallion alike.

And they bowed.

And Flash, standing tall, whooped and shouted and cheered alongside his brothers, alongside his Prince and Princess, alongside the mare of his dreams, and alongside the citizens of his new home, for the standing ovation.

And he cheered until his voice grew hoarse.