Chapter Text
Flash Sentry was a handsome colt, among those born in Canterlot. His roots traced back, over a thousand years, to the Earth Ponies of the Crystal Empire through his father. Laughing off that old history, with a shake of his blue mane, because his family had been Canterlot ponies for a long time now. The old story involves his forebears having left the Empire before the reign of King Sombra, and that whole scary bedtime story, to come to Canterlot seeking a new life.
He was the only son to an orange pegasus mare, Blinding Speed, and a pale pink earth pony sire, Stone Hoof. Being a pegasi like his mother, with her mane and eyes and his father's coloring.
He had his sights set on being a member to the guard of Canterlot, like many young foals and occasional fillies. And that was where he met her.
Twilight Sparkle.
Her family had been Canterlot folk since as far back as the start of the family within the kingdom. Her mother, Twilight Velvet and father, Night Light, had high hopes for her. Coming from an influential family within the upper crust of Canterlot and all. Image was everything. Sure, Shining Armor could be a guard all he liked, marry into status and secure himself. That was what he wanted, that was fine, it was expected of him.
But their Twilight Sparkle? They coached her from a young age to study, to excel at everything, for there was no room for failure. Friends? Merely a distraction. Business associates were far better. And if Twilight could marry into one of those families they associated with? It would secure her future. And theirs. It was perfect.
She was in Queen Celestica's School For Gifted Unicorns, had top marks, was even the pupil to the Queen herself! Nothing could take her down the road of failure now! It looked like she was set for everything. They were set for everything.
And then? Crash came the Sentry.
Taking Twilight on dates. Distracting her from studies. Even with their disapproval and them getting Shining Armor to attempt to scare him off? Nothing was deterring him. And Twilight only seemed to want to be with him rather than in those fancy business dinners to set her up with sons of associates. It was all falling apart. Crumbling. Even the Queen herself seemed to support this. For shame! And her great-great-somehow related through the long deceased Princess Lunaria nephew seemed like he was ready to talk marriage!
Twilight herself found Flash Sentry charming. A bit awkward, but she wasn't one to put stock into that as she was as well at times when things didn't fit the mold she'd been trained to fit by her parents. She'd told Shining Armor off with each time a chase off was attempted. Stood her ground against her parents. Sure, Flash wasn't too bright in the areas her parents felt he had to be to even attempt to court her, but Twilight found him bright enough for her.
And that was where they stood. Twilight moved into her room in the Canterlot Castle. Out of their sphere of influence. And that wouldn't do. A daughter who wouldn't follow the script? As good as gone. To think! After all they did for her? This was the thanks they got! She'd be back, once she found her world was now limited without her parents and their money and influence. It would take time. They just had to wait it out.