Chapter fifteen

With the sun finally rising on the new day. Twilight and Flash get an early start on the day. Eating a quick breakfast and getting out the door, they head in to town to run a few errands that need to be taken care of before the local princess heads out to the Empire.

Reaching the library Twi meets up with Spike there who welcomes them in as he opens for the day as well. As her one time assistant, the young dragon listens as she explains what is going on for the next few days, “So while were at the empire, it would be a real help if you could watch over the place,” Twilight brings out a small check list, go figure, of thing he should check while doing his rounds. “This is what Flash covers in his duties… couldn’t hurt to follow the same?”

“Not a problem Twi… I watched over the pets quite a few times already, a house just requires less feeding,” he answers with a tinge of humor in his tone, gladly taking the list and looking over. Even the dragon which is used to his longtime friends antics is stumped, “gosh Twilight… what is all this? It’s like you’re expecting a break in or something.”

That’s when it hits Twilight. She never did tell her friend, or any of the girls for that matter, about the earlier encounter with the intruder. Nervously grinning over to Flash, he can tell what’s on her mind. Considering he hasn’t told anypony either, short of the solar Princess and that extended family.

“Oh it’s just to be safe, that’s all,” she tries to play dumb. ‘I’ll fill them in later after we get back from our little trip,’ she makes a mental note, “either way. Thank you Spike for helping out when you can, it really means a lot,” she gives him a light hug, holding him in close with a single wing.

“Hey, what are friends for?” he rhetorically asks her as he walks them to the door and wishes them a great day, and a safe trip.

After that is said and done with though, the two go down to the market to pick up a few snacks for the outing, in addition to restocking Twilight’s home. Passing by many of the booths and stands of various fresh produce and products. Everything from Cherry pies, to baskets. From saddle bags to watermelons. Flowers and as one may expect, apple bushels. After picking up what they need from around the food stands, they run in to a local friend of the Princesses.

Applejack stands behind her work stand selling off what remains of some of the harvest to those ponies that would love to have sweet, crisp apples there at hoof. Something that many are looking for considering she only has three left. Although the country gal doesn’t see them at first, and instead turns to their attention after being called by a particular alicorn.

“Well good morning, AJ,” Twilight says waltzing up to her friend.

Instantly Applejack knows who it is and starts to answer before even turning around, “Well howdy Twili-”

She stops when she catches eye of the other pony in their mists, dressed out in full armor and sword across his back. Having never met the guard before, as first impressions go for a mare who sees herself as a good judge of character, this is a good one. AJ quickly jumbles her head back in place before saying another word, “ahh… mornin’ Twi,” she pauses for a moment looking over the colt once more, “I think I’ll go out on a limb and say this is that guard that was comin' from Cadance’s?”

“You would be correct with that guess,” Twilight says to her friend, “Applejack, Flash Sentry. Flash, Applejack.”

The two shake hooves with one another as he makes his own greeting. “It’s a pleasure ma’am,” he nods at her.

All the while AJ is stumbling trying to find what to say next. She was expecting a strong young colt to come to their quiet little town, ‘but not one this good lookin. And now he is in Twilights home,’ she snickers at her friend through her teeth while her mind tries to put name and face to location, ‘though why can’t I help but think I seen him before,’ “You’ll have to pardon me for sayin', but I swear ay seen ya before?”

“Actually you have for a short time,” the Princess fills in as she explains where she first met Flash back in the Crystal Empire a few years ago. Getting another grin from AJ as the same realization that Rainbow Dash and Rarity had hits her country friend. The palsied look of ‘you like him’ covers her face while the three talk casually with one another. AJ asking how Flash is doing so far in town, and even asking how Twilight likes having a guard around.

“Well I hope to see you two again soon,” Applejack says to the pair.

“Oh trust me, you will. We actually have to go to the Crystal Empire tomorrow, so we were just knocking out a few things before that took place.”

“Really, Twilight?” Applejack questions, “what for?”

“You know the usual studious tasks that Celestia asks of me…” she says nonchalantly.

“Heh…” AJ giggles to herself, “the Princess must really be preparing you to run your own kingdom. I mean you have Flash hear already, that’s the start of an army so far,” that comment quickly shuts the alicorn up for a few moments as she purses her lips together, unable to believe that her friend just said that to her. Though her friend brings her back in with a simple question, “so how many of the gang have met here, Flash?”

“Ahh…” Twilight thinks back to his first day here as she answers for him, “You make four. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Spike met him while I was showing him around town when he arrived.”

“Well then when y’all both get back,” AJ points to the two ponies in front of her before making her proposal, “why don’t we all go out for the day? Invite the rest of the gang to get together so we can get to know this colt of yours.” she winks at Twilight.

Although the Princess is reluctant at first, knowing full well that she is going to never live it down after they realize who he is, she can’t really say no at this point. Besides… Flash doesn’t seem nervous about this at all, so why should she?

“Sounds like a great plan AJ,” Twi says to her with a half fake smile on her face, “that is… if he’s up for it?” she turns to look at Flash, just to make sure.

The guard shrugs his shoulders at the Princess, nothing seeming to bother him about it, “I’m up for anything, Princess. Besides by the looks of things I’m probably not going to get out of it during my stay here.” He starts to chuckle a bit.

“Ya got that right. Then it’s settled!” Applejack nearly bucks with joy at the fact that they are all going to get to spend some time together. With her Princess studies on Twi’s mind constantly, it’s a wonder they see her at all. So any chance like this is welcome, “We can work out the kinks later, but as for now… it’s on the books that were going to have the day together,” the young Princess shakes her head at the response. Soon the pair says their good byes to her and continue on their way down the street market.

“So it seems we have a date set up with the rest of my friends,” Twilight face hooves herself at the thought of having to hear all their input about Flash living under the same roof as her, “…it’s going to be a long day…” she mumbles under her breath so he can’t her.

“What was that last part?” he faintly picks up.

“Nothing… nothing at all…” she plays off, leaving him with a fumbled look about him as they continue.

“Your friends do seem nice though,” Flash states to try and ease some of the stress that he can see building up in her face, “after all they don’t seem to be all too worried about you now needing a guard about town now.”

He does have a point there, she has to admit. Twilight would have expected at least one of them, so far, to worry about why she may need one in the first place. Considering that nothing really happens here in Ponyville, short of the occasional ‘fate of Equestria hanging in the balance’ moments. Then though she remembers the changeling that was in her place. Although she could have probably handled it herself, with a few choice spells (or other skills that she’s picked up), it’s still nice having another pony there to watch over her.

Then again they may only be acting calm because so far they have remembered this guard from the past and that Twilight has a huge crush on him. So they know that if there really is any trouble, she’ll be in good hooves. As they walk though, Twilight nostrils pick up a familiar scent and she stops for a second to smell the roses… literally. Flash follows her off to the stand to find an earth pony mare standing there tending to a new pot of forsythias.

“Why good morning, Princess Twilight,” Sunflower welcomes her on this fine day. “How have you been today so far?”

“Oh I’m doing just great, Sunflower,” she answers taking another whiff of the wonderful aroma flowing off the gorgeous plants before her, “they smell just amazing.”

“Just my talent,” the young earth pony mare nods before she takes notice of the guard standing there with the Princess finally. “Well who is this?” Sunflower puts on a false smile, “if I may ask.”

“This, Sunflower, is my guard from the Crystal Empire, Flash Sentry,” she finishes off as the guard grins proudly.

Lightly nodding to the florist, Flash puts on a smile for her, “nice to meet you ma’am.”

Sunflower does the same to him as well as looking through some of her stock, “to you as well Mr. Sentry. Well it’s nice to know our resident Princess will have a helping hoof around her new home,” the sales pony picks out a lovely bouquet of the same roses that Twilight was smelling and passes it off to her, “consider it on the house, Twilight. Have a wonderful day.”

“Thank you, Sunflower,” the young Princess beams, “enjoy the rest of your day as well.”

With that Twilight and Flash head back down the road to the house. Never seeing the wicked smile across ‘Sunflower’s’ face. ‘So the Princess has a guard,’ she tells herself, ‘that might explain why the last one got kicked off the job…literally…’ Sunflower, or what she calls herself, puts another pot up for sale to keep the act going. All the while making a mental note to keep this information in the back of her mind.

After getting back to the house the two put away what they bought in the kitchen. Twilight takes a vase out and puts the roses on display in the middle of the kitchen table so that the same wonderful scent may fill the room. Going back out in to the living room for a moment to collect themselves. Twilight watches Flash take his helmet off and expose the well-kept blue mane of his as it spikes back up. Though this time the Princess manages to maintain her footing, resisting the urge to fall down to the floor that she so often gets while watching him do this.

Trying to think of anything to say to him though to get her mind off what she sees, she goes and makes a simple statement., “Tulips, seeing as you never have been there, is a rather formal place,” she starts off saying to him while they go out and sit in the living room, “I personally though only plan on wearing a simple summer dress… it’s the weather for it,” she nods off.

“I’m going to guess though that a suit of armor might not be that recommended for such a situation then?” he asks bluntly. Already sort of knowing the answers, “After all that may put some ponies on edge.”

“Perhaps… though I know you’re sure to have the sword with you,” Twilight answers him. Sentry pulls the blade off his back and straps it on his side under the wing to hide it as best as possible. It’s not perfect, but then again there is a simple explanation if the subject is brought up. “That will work,” she chuckles, “I knew you wouldn’t give that up, and I didn’t intend on having you do so anyway.”

“Well at heart I’m still your protector, Princess…” he reminds her, lightly patting the concealed blade. Trying now to think of the things he had brought with him from the Crystal Empire, “Thankfully though, as part of our uniform. The Royal guards also get a sort of dress uniform for special occasions like ceremonies or weddings… so for this it should do nicely.”

Twilight is even surprised at this for a moment, as her lips shape in to a speechless ‘oh’. She has never seen the dress uniforms that are given to them, only heard of them. Usually when the royal family is together, it’s a reason to have higher security, and there for more protection. Getting to see a guard in this outfit will be a treat. Considering the young Princess is to be escorted by her own personal guard, “Hmm… well then, I’ve never seen the uniform before, only the armor.”

“You will tonight then,” Flash smiles while they sit there still just taking a moment or two for themselves.

The fact that they are about to go out on the town with one another is reason enough to make Twilight or Flash nervous. Especially the latter, seeing as he knows what the young Princess really thinks of him at heart, even while he tip toes around the subject himself. ‘I wonder if Celestia talked to her too while they were studying?’ he thinks.

Recalling that the older Princess was the one who told him this all to begin with, and they did have a few hours in their by themselves. Little does he know though, the sun goddess did tell her what she saw in the guard, and even that in her honest opinion. Flash is falling head over hooves for the young alicorn, more than Twilight could have ever imagined, even if he may not be able to voice it. That though, is for Twi to know, if only she can bring herself to speak her own mind as well.

The two chat back and forth, mostly simple small talk. Eventually though it comes time that they decide to go in to their respective rooms and get ready for their night out. As soon as her door is closed, Twilight rushes in to the shower. Taking her crown off and golden slippers, she steps in to the running water and cleanses her coat with a simple rinse at first before reaching over for some soap. Feeling the shampoo getting her hair squeaky clean is a wonderful feeling, especially as she smells the lovely scent that comes off this particular brand. ‘Rarity does have good taste in this sort of this after all,’ she tells herself after opting for the recommended product.

Stepping out on to the tile floor, and using the drying spell to whisk away all the moisture from her skin better and faster than a towel ever could. The Princess was never one to really dress up, and although she is still in her home town. A good impression isn’t going to hurt when one considers who she is with at the moment.

Taking some light velvet lipstick and placing it gingerly on her pursed lips, it gives just enough change in her tone and contrast of colors for one to notice, similar eye liner is brought up in her magical aura and applied gingerly around the base of her eyes as she takes a moment to admire herself in the mirror and ensure everything is on point with the application. The voice of a certain fashionista mare nagging her in the back of her head at all the fashion tips in the past that she had to listen to.

“Well that is just cute,” she talks to herself at the simple change she made.

On top of this brushing her main back in to its usual self, and taking a swig of mouth wash. She spits it out before applying a few puffs of same perfume that she used before that seem to make his muzzle perk up at the scent. Satisfied with the result… Twilight puts on the last touch. A simple but elegant dress that she has stored just for a time like this.

A cosmic, dark blue, galactic, swirl that seems to twinkle in the light of her room of various constellations, as it trials down along her sides to the portion that covers her flank and legs to the trim at the base. While the edges are trimmed with a flat black fabric to change up the usual sparkle. All the while her back remains exposed to the outside and visible thanks to the open lace design that remains there to hold the dress on and tease a colt’s eyes to the lavender coat it attempts to hide.

‘Well I hope he likes it,’ she tells herself as the Princess dons her crown and makes her way out the door.

Meanwhile…

Flash got in to his room and did almost the same routine. Besides the obvious neglect of using make up. Wanting to spend more time to get the uniform together. Pulling it off the hanger, the jet black uniform forms a tight collar around his neck, while tailored on his suit a flap comes down the back and allows two open slits for wings of those guards that are gifted with flight to come through. Flash places the medals that he has earned just in the same way he would if he was getting ready for an inspection. Once that is done, he slides the top over his head and fore hooves, taking care not to cause any unwanted stains.

Stepping in front of the mirror once more, he checks himself over and brushes his mane back in to place as needed. Once he is satisfied though, Flash nods at himself in the reflection. ‘Well your superiors would be proud… let’s see what she thinks,’ he says inside of his head, making sure the blade is tucked underwing, and with that, he is out the door. Walking down to the main living room. Flash awaits her arrival at the bottom of the stairs.

Looking at the watch he put on just for the occasion to check that they have enough time, ‘Quarter after five… plenty of time…’ he tells himself.

Not even noticing the mare step out in to view above.

Twilight stands there for a few seconds as she composes herself. Mulling one hoof about on the ground, “So…” she says quietly looking off to one side to hide the blush about her face, “what do you think?”

This quickly gets Flashes attention as he snaps to, and nearly loses his ground when he sees the angel presented before him. The scent hits his nose and lights up part of his brain, the look almost makes his eyes to melt, and the sweet sound of the Princess’s voice is music to his ears. His blue eyes widen with every second that he takes the sight in. Although he’s not the only one who is going through this.

Twilight hasn’t seen Flash in anything but his armor, and to see him in what amounts to a military dress uniform, form fit around his torso and fore legs for a formal occasion. She certainly likes what she sees. Twilight fights to control her steps down as she descends to the ground floor. Every detail getting bigger in each of their outfits as they approach one another.

The sparkles on Twilight’s dress become more apparent as he sees the different constellations, while his medals start to shine at her and the differences in each is noticed. The swirls in her trails on the dress show off in detail as Flash takes note of the open back lace design. While Twi breaths in the distinct smell about him as it enters her nostrils.

Reaching the ground floor. The two pause, taking it all in. Before that is Flash makes the first move. Gently lifting a single hoof of the mare to his lips he kisses it sweetly, afterwards holding it for a second longer in his own.

“If it’s my place to say,” he says still unable to believe that he is the colt that has this mare’s heart.

“And you should know by now that it is,” she follows up without missing a beat.

“You look breathtaking, Ms. Sparkle,” a sincere smile graces his facial features while Flash remains unable to take his eyes off of her.

The redness in her face grows to almost a boiling point as she feels the temperature in her head sky rocket to probably what would be a dangerous level, or comparable to her mentors sun. Calming down just enough though to reply, “and you look very handsome yourself, Mr. Sentry…” she winks at him. With that last complement though, he extends out one wing as she hooks on to his with her own, and the two head out in to the night locking the door behind them.