Twilight and Sunset walked back to the statue when they heard a voice call out, "Twilight!" Both looked at each other, not quite knowing who was calling out. Then the person called out again and there was no mistaking who it was - FLASH!

Twilight took off running toward him. Her heart filled with joy as all she could think of was holding him in her arms. She knew she had been warned against it by Princess Celestia. She knew it was a bad idea and it could never work; but she didn't care. Her heart over ruled her head and she ran.

The two almost collided; slowing down just enough not to knock the other one over. They reached out and began to kiss; on the lips, the cheeks, the neck. In between one would pause just long enough to say "I love you" or "I missed you". Sunset just looked at them, crossed her arms and smiled. After a time they were able to stop and just hold each other.

"I think I'll leave you two alone," Sunset said with a smirk as she walked past. She alone remembered the night her and Flash crossed over to Equestria and Princess Luna allowed him and Twilight to meet in the Nexus. She had promised not to tell either one. Now that they were together again, she was happy for both of them. She cared for both and wanted them to be happy.

Eventually they pulled themselves apart and looked into each others eyes, holding hands.

"It's, it's been rough since I last saw you," Flash said. There was so much he wanted to say to her, too much. The words seemed to jam in his brain and not want to come out. Only the most basic of small talk was able to come out.

"I know. I've thought about returning; several times. My life has sort of been all peaks and valleys. I'm either overwhelmed with important things and dire situations; or I'm completely bored. One or the other, no in-between." Twilight, likewise, felt overwhelmed. How could she say what she wanted to say? How could she say good-bye? And if she was going to be spending time here, how could she not be around him?

"For awhile, about a month actually; I would sit by the statue and wait to see if you came back." Once again, it was only a small sliver of what he wanted to say; but in a way, those little words said everything.

"I never closed the portal because I always wanted to have a way back here. I, I was . . . advised not to come back, but just knowing I could, made it better."

They looked at each other a little more before Flash spoke again. "Twilight, I don't know why, but I, I don't know, care for you, need you, want you, I can't explain it, not to you or myself even. I just know that since the first time I saw you and helped you off the floor, I've felt something for you that I never have before. It doesn't make sense, I know. We've, what, spent a grand total of four or five days together? Half of which were separated by six months. Now it's been another five months; but I can't help it. I can't explain, I can't help it, I'm confused and lonely and I don't feel like doing anything anymore, I get angry easily and, I don't know, but I miss you."

Twilight could feel her heart breaking inside her for what he was going through. "As I said, it's been up and down with me. During the times I'm saving the world or solving friendship problems, I'm good. I have a task, usually a very serious task, and it takes all my energy and focus. But in the quiet moments, those times when nothing's going on, the loneliness is crushing. Do you know how many times I've re-organized my library? Of course not, you weren't there; stupid question," she tried to laugh while wiping a tear away from her eye.

"No it's not and I would have loved to been there," he replied with a smile. "For all of it. Saving the world and reorganizing your library."

Twilight laughed again. "I wish you would have been. It would have made everything a lot easier." She then got quiet and looked mornfully at him. "What am we going to do? This can't work out. I have responsibilities I can't leave. As much as I would love to stay here, I can't. And I can't ask you to come over to my world. You wouldn't just be leaving everyone and thing you ever knew, but you'd have no way to ever see them again. Not much at least. Not to mention that where ever we go, there'll be at least one double of us."

Flash just looked at Twilight. Her words hit him like a hammer, crushing his heart. He knew she spoke true, but didn't want to hear it. Nor could he even believe it. They've met too many times for this to be pure chance. Something bigger had to be behind it.

"I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "But at this point, I almost don't care. I miss you so much. I feel so empty when you're gone; I shouldn't, but I do, that nothing seems to matter anymore."

Twilight thought back to what Celestia said about Justinius. How over a thousand years later she still missed him. Was she doomed to that fate? Would she be telling another princess a thousand or more years later how she could still feel Flash's arms around her? How could she live like that? Why should she live like that? If Princess Cadence could have a husband and even bear a child, why not her? What had she done to deserve such a punishment? Had she not taken all her responsibilities seriously? Done everything she was asked to do? Whatever it was that Celestia had tried to tell her, the meaning she actually took was, if you don't follow your heart, it will haunt you forever.

"Flash, I have something here I need to do. Something big, something important. Possibly the most important thing I've ever done in my life. So I'm going to be here for a while. I have a mission, but I won't be, I can't work on it all the time. In the times I am free, however few and far between, I want to spend that time with you."

"And I want to help as well. I don't know what you're facing, but whatever it is, I want to help. I always want to help you and I'll always have your back."

The two kissed again and held each other tight; making a vow within their own hearts never to leave the other again.

******************************************************************************

"Whatchya doing?"

Sparkle nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Sunset's voice behind her. She had been so focused on watching her other self and Flash; she never noticed Sunset come up behind her.

"Oh, um, heh-heh, I was, um, just watching, ah, myself?- over there," she replied awkwardly.

Sunset laughed. She didn't want to, but couldn't help herself. "It's ok," she said and put an arm around Sparkle. "It must be weird. I haven't my double yet, but if or when I do, I don't know how I'll react either."

Sparkle looked back at Twilight and Flash. "She's like me, but so different. She kisses people. I never wanted to do that. And she looks so strong and confident."

"Sometimes she is, "Sunset said. "But she has her self doubts like all of us do. And as for the kissing thing, eh, if that's something you want, fine. If not; that's fine too."

"It's not about want or not wanting. It's just I've never considered it period." She turned back to Sunset. "It's just strange."

"Well, it's going to get stranger." Sunset tilted her head in the direction of the others. "C'mon. We'll go back and wait for those two. There's something important we need to talk to everyone about."

Sparkle nodded, Sunset took her hand, and they walked back together.

Author's Notes:

I refer to Earth Twilight as Sparkle to avoid confusion with Equestria Twilight.