What Hath Joined Together

Chapter 12

                                                        Silver Armor And Crystal Hearts — Part I

The first week of Princess Twilight Sparkle's research trip was an unfruitful one. Although she, with the help of Flash Sentry, had managed to get through several of the massive bookshelves in the Empire's library, none of the books she had read through so far contained the information she needed.

Not all of her efforts were in vain. A few of the books seemed to speak of Starswirl the Bearded as if he was still alive at the time of their writing. To Twilight, this indicated that the book she sought might be somewhere in the library.

For Flash Sentry, the first week was just as strange as the first day. Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor continued to treat him, a Royal Guard who held no officer rank, like a guest in their home. The Crystal Ponies, both recruits and civilians, were friendly towards him, albeit seemingly intrigued by his appearance. The citizens seemed very happy, even on days when the snow began to pile up to their porches and the wind whistled a mournful, chilly tune.

Every morning after breakfast, he assisted Lieutenant Shooting Star in training the recruits. Whether it was flying alongside his superior during runs and drills, leading calisthenics with him, or watching for distracted recruits during lectures on military history and ethics, Flash did all he was ordered to do. Unlike accepting orders from Captain Ironhoof, he did not mind serving under the Lieutenant; on the contrary, he found himself looking forward to it.

Although Shining Armor had brought Twilight out to the recruits' camp a few mornings and introduced her to Shooting Star, she didn't ask Flash about the training. He found this a bit odd, but perhaps she was too preoccupied with her research to be that interested.

Every morning after training, he went with Twilight to the library, where the two would spend the afternoon combing through books in search of the Tree of Harmony's secrets. Apt Drop and Bishe would visit them with lunch and tea—along with Apt's mother, Precise Jot, who appeared to have gotten over her illness—for which Flash was thankful.

Never before had he seen anypony who could study like Twilight. She curled up in a corner of the library with a mountain of books, not even taking a few minutes' break for a glass of water or to stretch. Their lunch break was a relief to him, who dared not leave her side, as he was commanded.

As the following Friday drew closer and closer, Flash Sentry pondered Shining Armor's words to him that first day.

What was this "meeting" both Shining and Shooting Star were so adamant on him attending, and what did it have to do with the incident? Would anypony else from the Royal Guard attend? Would Ironhoof? And then there was the play. What would it entail?

Despite those lingering anticipations, Flash Sentry found himself enjoying that first week as a stranger in a strange land. In the presence of the Princess who made his wings squirm and his words stammer, he found himself almost beginning to relax a little, as if his troubles were buried beneath the all-encompassing blanket of white...

~

Friday morning began as the others before it. Flash awoke from a peaceful sleep and prepared for the dawn of a new day. He knocked on Twilight's door to find her awake yet again, then escorted her down to the Royal Dining Hall. He said good morning to several of the castle's servants on the way, whom had now come to know him by name.

Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were at the table when they arrived. Flash took a seat when Shining prompted him to do so, then selected his dishes from a servant's tray. Light conversation between the Royals filled his ears again, which he respectfully tried to ignore in lieu of his breakfast.