Sitting at her desk, Twilight cannot help but stare blankly at the letters on the scroll in front of her. It's arrival, just a few short hours ago, had come as both a shock and an inevitable conclusion at the same time. A shock, because no matter how many times she saw Equestria's negotiations with other nations break down over some thing or another, declarations of war would never be something she would ever become used to.



Inevitable, because this time negotiations had broken down with the Griffins. War was always looming it's dark shadow from that Empire, it's people as warlike and violent as their culture was rich and ancient.



And yet, for all of that, the worst part was not simply the fact that Equestria was going to war. No, no that was part of politics, part of the way the world worked beyond the preaceful and warm boarders of Equestria. The worst part was that Celestia and Luna had put out a general call to arms, bringing every and all reserves and non-active military and guard personnel into service. A call that would mean....



"Twilight, dear, we... we need to talk," a voice comes from the entrance to her study, shaking the alicorn from her thoughts. She had not even heard the door open, and right now she wished she had locked it.



"I know, Flash," Twilight's reply is soft, a quiet wavering whisper. "Celestia sent a letter."



"Then you know I'm being called to the front," Flash Sentry, Twilight's husband, states in an equally soft tone. "I'm being advanced in rank to Lieutenant Commander, and will be taking command of..." he gets no father as suddenly Twilight is upon him, forelegs wrapped around his neck, face buried in his shoulder.



"Y-you don't have to go," Twilight offers as she holds him close, as if to let him go would mean losing him forever. "I'm a Princess, I could... I could exempt you from service!" She levitates parchment, quill, and ink from her desk. "I can write to Celestia... tell her that... that you're ill... or..."



"No, Twilight," Flash's stern tone causes Twilight's magic to falter for a second, the items dropping to the floor of her study with a crash. "No. I need to do this." He leans back, gently placing a hoof under Twilight's muzzle to bring her eyes up to his. "Equestria needs me, and the ponies they're putting me in command of need me." He smiles softly, his eyes full of all the love and compassion he feels each time he looks at her. "They're all fresh out of the academy, some of them have never held a weapon in their entire lives, and they're going to be afraid. Griffins aren't the kind of creatures ponies can fight easily, but we have to try, and I have to set an example for my soldiers."



"But what about me?" Twilight retorts, her eyes filling with tears. "I need you here. M-more than your troops do."



"I know, dear," Flash whispers, leaning down to gently nuzzle the top of her head. "Leaving you is going to be harder than any foe I will ever face." Stopping, he pulls her in close again and holds onto her, his muzzle resting next to one ear. "I wouldn't be strong enough to do it, but I have one thing that is keeping me strong, one thought that above all else that I am clinging to that gives me hope."



Eyes filling with tears, Twilight looks up at her husband, her mouth moving before she can think. "What is it?"



"You," Flash states simply, and she can feel his own tears starting to land on her shoulder. "You, my dear beautiful heart." He runs a hoof over her back, between her wings, as he takes a deep breath through his nose. "The image of your beautiful smile each time I come home, the glowing fire in your eyes when you find a problem that needs to be solved. The unending joy you show when get a new book or cast a new spell."



As he lists off these things, Twilight's eyes continue to fill with tears which she blinks away in a desperate fight to hold back the heart wrenching sobs she can feel in her chest. She wants to say something, anything, to return Flash's words, but in her mind she fears that if she speaks and interrupts him, he'll decide that he has to leave. And so she says nothing, simply taking in his scent, the feel and color of his fur, ever single detail she can see or sense as if to commit those details to memory will forestall his departure.



But, all too soon, she feels his grip on her grow lax, and he starts to pull back.



As if he had been holding her together, Twilight starts to sob as his grip loosens, tears flooding her vision as she clings desperately to him as if he were the only thing keeping her from drowning in her grief.



"Flash, don't go!" Twilight sobs, her voice choked with her grief. "Please, don't leave me!"



"I'm sorry, Twilight," Flash whispers as he pulls back. "Goodbye, light of my life."



And then he releases her, and turns to leave. In the brief second his face is visible to her, she can see his own tears staining his face. With each step he takes away from her towards the door, Twilight's strength is sapped, and by the time he reaches it she is on the floor sobbing uncontrollably. He stops at the door, held held high, and speaks for the last time.



"Goodbye, Twilight..."