What Hath Joined Together

Chapter 17

                                                                               What Lies Between

After Twilight and Flash returned to the Crystal Palace from Apt Drop's tour, the former was full of questions. Although Twilight nearly ached to go back to the library, Princess Cadence managed to convince her to continue taking the weekends off from her studies. Reluctantly, Twilight caved, and thus spent the rest of the weekend either "leisure reading" in her room or spending time with Cadence and Shining in the castle.

Despite his objections of duty and order, Flash was given an impromptu quasi-weekend-off by his Princess. He spent the remainder of that first weekend in the Crystal Empire flying through the Crystal Mountains, searching out the perfect vantage point upon which to view the upcoming Northern Lights. He also spent some time with his hosts, along with the other Royal Guards before they left for Canterlot. Between it all, Flash caught up on some leisure reading of his own, feeling truly relaxed as he indulged in some tales he had long forgotten.

Sometime late Sunday evening, Flash received a knock at his door, finding Precise Jot on the other side. The elderly mare, looking quite weary, presented him with the two copies of the photograph taken after the play that he had requested. He had thanked her profusely, so overjoyed that he would have hugged her if he could.

One of the photographs he carefully pressed into his journal. The other he tucked in between layers of cloth and then hid inside a book about Commander Hurricane. He couldn't decide what made him happier: the photograph itself, or how he imagined Greyhoof would react to receiving his copy.

Monday arrived. With it came the same sense of routine the prior week had already instilled in him.

Each morning, Flash would wake, dress, have breakfast with Twilight, then assist Shooting Star with the recruits. Despite Shining Armor's explicit permission to do so, Twilight had thus far failed to ask to see the recruits in action. Flash noted this but didn't push it.

After helping with the training, Flash would then escort Twilight to the library. The two would read through their respective allotment of books for the day—Twilight at least ten, Flash maybe two if the first was a short read. Apt would bring them daffodil and daisy sandwiches and tea at lunch.

Once night began to fall, the two would return to the palace for dinner, after which Twilight would "leisure read" for several hours in her room before her snores echoed through the hallway. Flash would enjoy a restful sleep. The cycle would begin the following morning.

This cycle repeated for three days. Throughout those days, Flash noted that Twilight had fallen silent more often than not. Her mind seemed constantly occupied, even when her nose was far from a book. Although he wished to try and engage her in conversation, what little attempt he made was disregarded; she would give him one-word answers or nothing.

I hope I didn't say or do anything to offend her. It's almost like she and I have started to switch roles. Then again, maybe she's just frustrated that she hasn't found any of the information she's looking for. Even though Apt brought her books on the crystals, she hasn't read them yet. We keep tearing through book after book, and have yet to find anything about Starswirl, the Tree of Harmony, or the Elements.

A part of Flash hoped that, when the weekend arrived once more, Twilight would open up to him again as she had before. Perhaps, then, he could truly know what she thought of things... and where he stood.

~

Thursday was a notably quiet day in the library. Normally, while there was the occasional patron or two who trotted in every hour, today, Flash hadn't seen a single soul aside from Apt or his mother. Not that he minded.