Aftermath of A Fallen Star
By Rated Ponystar
Edited by The Unnamed Pawn and CommanderX5
Till Death Do Us Part (Flash Sentry’s POV)
***
You know, when I joined the Royal Guard it was only to protect my country. I was the first in my family to do so, and they were proud to see me in a uniform. I joined just around the time the Crystal Empire was restored and was assigned there soon after. The army was still a mess so Prince Shining Armor requested some of the guard from Equestria to keep things in order while he trained the new military force.
That was when I first met her: Princess Twilight Sparkle.
I had known who she was, everypony in Equestria did. She was literally the biggest hero of our nation and our newest princess. I had nothing but respect for her, and when I met her in person, I was... mesmerized. The papers didn’t do justice to just how beautiful she was. And surprisingly, she was quite a klutz. We always kept bumping into each other whenever we met, making it really awkward when others noticed and giggled.
While I did admire her, I didn’t feel comfortable getting to know her. She was a princess and I was a guard. My duty was to protect her and the other princesses, that was all. That’s why I was so taken by surprise when she requested that I meet her personally one day for lunch. At first, I thought it was because of something I had done wrong, but when we actually spoke I learned something very few ponies knew. There is another world out there. A world of two legged creatures called humans, a race that I only could recall as myths. Princess Twilight told me that she had been to that world on an adventure where she met the human version of me.
I almost didn’t believe her at first, but she assured me she was telling the truth. She spoke of traits of the human Flash Sentry that we both happened to have shared. We both loved rock music and he was part of a band, similar to the one I had in high school. I always made sure everypony was treated fairly, and couldn’t stand to see injustice. And I can’t believe that my other self said this to her, but he told her that he—we—were afraid of eggs.
Anyway, then she said that she had gotten to know the other me very well and wanted to know the me of this world as well. So we became friends; a guard and his princess. The two of us shared a lot of good times together. I was always there to be somepony she could talk to when she was stressed out, and I got to have a smart and lovely pony like Twilight as a true friend. Words couldn’t describe just how wonderful of a pony Twilight was. She was smart, kind, gentle, fair, and every other virtuous quality you could think off.
Was it any surprise that I fell in love with her? It was more of a surprise when she fell in love with me.
We started off slow, just a nuzzle or hug here and there. A few picnics out under the stars in secret. It was awkward at times and I wondered how we even managed to keep it a secret from everypony. Twilight had been adamant about it because the nobility would never accept our love, and she wasn’t as popular as the other princesses. The only reason her brother and foal sitter managed to get away with it was because by the time they came out with their engagement, Shining Armor was already Captain of the Guard. Nopony was going to tell him no.
I was still low in the ranks; a nobody, but Twilight didn’t care. She loved me for who I was.
I’ll never forget our first kiss. It was a during a star shower and we both leaned in and felt a spark shiver down our spines as our lips touched. I knew then that Twilight was the one pony in the world I was willing to give my heart and soul to. But even as our love grew, life got harder for Twilight.
Blueblood, who I refuse to ever call a prince again, had been harassing Twilight ever since she started her efforts to modernize Equestria. There were many others who were calling for Twilight to step down, some of which I had to keep at bay as they spewed hateful words at her while she was holding court. On the streets, some of her opponents threw rotten fruit and even rocks at her, but I was always there to stop them. Twilight could defend herself easily, but I was still her personal guard. I still had my duty. I wanted to kick them in the face so bad. They kept saying how Twilight’s efforts to change Equestria was going to bring in chaos and break the stability that we’ve had for over a thousand years. That we would grow weak as a nation by allowing the predator races a chance to be treated equally after the many years of bad blood between our kinds.
Twilight, with a strong and determined face, would tell them each time they try debated that all the changes were going to help Equestria. She proclaimed it was time to put aside old fears and hatred,and time to spread the magic of friendship to everyone so that we could live together in peace. By combining the efforts and skills of the predator races and others we could evolve our society into a new age of enlightenment. There would be many missteps along the way, but a society had to change or else it would only stagnate.
Yet while she kept this shining and strong attitude in public, in secret she would cry at night. Naturally, I was there to comfort her when her friends couldn’t. I held her in my forelegs, soothed her tears, and always watched over her. Some nights it only lasted for awhile. Other nights she couldn’t get any sleep. Despite being an alicorn she was still a pony. Her innocent and good heart wasn’t capable of handling so much hatred without being hurt in the process..
But I made sure to catch her whenever she fell, and she often told me how she couldn't have lasted this long without her mentor and other princesses for support, without her friends that always stayed by her side in times of hardship... and without our secret love that healed her heart. I told her one night that no matter what happened, she had to stay true to her course. I believed in her, all of us who cared about her did. She was going to improve so many lives, and all of us would benefit from it. And I told her that nopony, whoever it was, would ever harm her as long as I drew breath.
That was the first time we ever made love.
Months passed by until the fateful day. I remember, I saw Twilight looking sad, but this time it wasn’t because of a noble who hated her or some extremist who thought she was going to destroy all of Equestria. She’d had an argument with her best friend Rainbow Dash about her not joining the Wonderbolts. I tried to help her, but she wanted to be left alone, even from me, and gave me the night off.
I sometimes wonder if I had pushed harder... that I would have been there...
I went home and promised myself I would make it up to her. And I had the perfect way to do so. It took me some time, but I found the ring I had bought a few weeks ago. It had been a year at least. A year of hiding our love from the public eye, even from our closest loved ones. But the days I had with Twilight were the ones I wanted to spend the rest of my life living over and over again.
But I never asked her the question. The next day... my love died.
She died and I wasn’t there.
When I heard the news, not even a legion of guards could prevent me from flying to the castle, trying to find my beloved Twilight. I demanded to Princess Celestia, of all ponies, to allow me to see her. Princess Luna tried to stop me with her magic as if I was some mad guard that broke under pressure, but her sister allowed me to enter, much to Luna's confusion. From the look in her eyes, I suspected the elder alicorn knew about us being together.
When I saw the white sheet that covered my love I couldn’t find the strength to take it off. I was too scared to look at her face and see none of the joy and love she held in her eyes. Something in me snapped and the tears flowed on their own, my heart shattered. I sat there, crying by her side for maybe an hour until Twilight’s friends and family arrived. I left to give them space, but I my eyes never stopped watering. Even when the tears from my eyes were all dried up my heart continued to weep.
Then came rage. Utter hatred and rage. I wanted blood. I wanted to kill. Somepony murdered my beloved and I wanted vengeance so badly that not even the song of a phoenix could ease my wraith. When the order went out to investigate and find the murderers, I was one of the first to don my armor and spear for the hunt. I was emotionally driven, yes, but I didn’t care. All I could imagine was the suffering Twilight had to go through until death’s embrace ended it.
For three sleepless days and nights we searched until finally we were tipped off on who did it. Blueblood and his conspirators. We captured them all, and beat them into confessing their sins. I took great pleasure in watching him, broken and defeated, cry like a little fillie when Princess Celestia turned her wrath against him.
When Shining Armor asked me, the day before his execution, if I wanted to join a few other guards and deliver some well deserved justice to Blueblood. I said yes instantly. I held nothing back. Sorrow and anger fueled me into breaking his bones, shattering his teeth, and spitting on him like the scum that he was. I screamed and yelled at him, calling him worthless, pathetic, and, above all, a monster.
A monster who killed the kindest and sweetest mare I had ever known. The mare that I loved more than anything else. The mare I would never ask to have her hoof in marriage. But even as I broke him in both body and spirit, even when I saw him burn to death on that stake...
... I felt nothing when it was all over.
After justice had been done, I was left empty as an endless void. I had lost my purpose in life. I had lost my heart and soul. The only thing I had left was saying goodbye.
I stood vigil over Twilight before and after her funeral. I requested it, my last act to her as her guard and friend. She was so beautiful. Like an angel sleeping away with only peaceful dreams to guide her. It was like those fairy tales you always heard about, when the princess is in an endless sleep and only the kiss of her one true love could awaken her. Yet I could not kiss her. A single layer of glass separated me from the love of my life. Her eyes remained shut and her heart still unbeating, her lips untouched. And all that was between us was a layer of glass
When they had placed her at her resting place, I told my commanding officer I was resigning from the guard. I had nothing left and no purpose.
I have... no reason to live.
That is why I am writing this note, so that you who find me know why I did it. My family will be sad, my friends will be sad, but please don’t be. I will be reunited with the one mare who I loved more than anything else in this world. She’s waiting for me, and while she may hate me at first for what I have done, it will be worth it just to see her again.
I only ask that I am buried with the ring that I will hold in my hooves during my last final moments. That way I can finally ask Twilight the one question I’ve wanted to ask her for so long:
Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?
***
As he laid in his casket, at peace and dressed well
All eyes focused on the object held between his hooves
It was a ring, a ring of gold and diamonds with an inscription
“TS x FS Till Death Do Us Part”
Huh?
4348330
Goddamit! Why does it always do this!
4348330
Fixed, I apologize. Every time I update, something seems to get cut off. I need to look into this.
This chapter will be both hated and loved by many a brony
4348369
Eh, I'll live
Admittedly still not a big Flash fan but I did like your take for this chapter, it was a bit surprising to see Flash have a chapter but I liked how Twilight did have someone who was close to her and standing by her through her attempts at change.
I love this story... and it is for that reason i skipped this chapter, so I could continue loving it
Wass not expecting Flash, but I don't mind and neither do I care. I loved it and I admit to tearing up a little.
Discord, you could, you know, violate the laws of reality and go back in time and stop it from happening.
So sad that I'm smarter than a god.
4348430
I'll be going into why they can't go back in time and fix this in a later chapter
I have to hand it to you, you've given Flash Sentry more characterization and depth in this short chapter than a whole movie did. Nicely played and now he will forever be with his one true love, however sad the circumstances may be.
And OHHHH, Changelings next chapter, and politics to boot! Whoop, whoop, whoop! Say, uh, I don't know if you've ever watched West Wing, but this clip is definitely something I'd recommend for them, in terms of a country that is going through transition and reformation, especially if, as mentioned in Cheerilee's chapter that Queen Chrysalis is no more, the changelings want a strong presidential leader or even want to retain the monarchy and point out that Equestria still has one:
I hope you like it and best of luck.
4348442
Hey, many of us are Whovians. Just slap a "Fixed Point" on it.
Also, hurgh. Flash Sentry. My hatred for Flash Sentry knows no bounds. Not in the "Hey Flash, you deserve to die" vein of hatred but more in the "Holy crap it's every Gary Stu OC ever." No matter how well-written he is I just can't get over my revulsion for seeing him.
Will a OC ch eventually be made?
4348491
Yup eventually
4348469
Or simply say that Discord doesn't have the ability to travel in time/change the past. Sure he's chaos personified, but that doesn't mean he can travel in time.
I have been waiting to see this chapter. Granted I thought it would be Spike but this is just as good if not better than what I expected.
Goddamit.
Please tell me that the next chapter will be happier.
I'm not sure if I can take three sad onces in row.
Ooo well, good job with the chapter.
4348469 But it's DISCORD!!
What does the god of chaos care for those namby-pamby Time Lords and their 'fixed point' blatherings?
A good-old fashioned paradox is just what the draconequus 'ordered'! (see what I did there?)
I hope those nobles are happy now, they not only had a young princess murdered simply because they refused to change, but they also drove a poor young guard to suicide.
resumes how I feel with this chapter.
None of the other Bearers?
4348814
In the future we will see them
Always good to see well-written TwiFlash :D
So sad...
This chapter have hit me the hardest because I used to be in similar secret relationship with my still current girlfriend. I am at that stage where I feel that I would gladly lay down my life (to save her) so she could live on and be happy, truly.
So for this chapter, I salute Flash Sentry- despite the selfish choice.
However, I think that Twilight would wanted Flash Sentry to live on; to be strong and move on then maybe find somepony else to be happier but never forgetting her.
Thanks alot for this chapter, asshole heh.
-Morfonious
4348628
If Discord had the ability to alter history, do you really think he'd have let himself get beaten twice? Once I could believe, because it's him, but twice?
i feel really sad for Flash I'm glad he helped b eat the crap out of Blueblood
4348469 Do you even know what a "Gary Stu" is? I read about the subject... and it included being OP, too perfect and being too unrealistic. Such as Cadance. She is a real Mary Sue, even going as far as being princess, cause being a princess just makes things better, right? Flash Sentry? On a side note, he's not even n OC. He's a character from the show that wasn't characterized enough to flesh him out properly.
Of course, the "original" meaning was a word to describe a "too perfect self-insert" by the author. And I get the feeling Flash is not "too perfect". Another thing a Mary Sue/Gary Stu has is lacking a back story OR a tragic one, rather unnecessary for the sake of the story (where Flash Sentry is used as a potential love interest for Twilight), has "amazing" name that sounds out of place, and is generally upstaging everyone(pony) else.
There, lesson done, I-forgive-you-for-being-ignorant and all that crap. However, on a serious note, I am sorry if you feel offended. Being called ignorant does not mean being called stupid or an idiot or what-have-you.
4348469
I was going to use the word 'hitsuzen' myself. After all, she's more powerful now than she was alive. Before, she was just a mare but a martyr killed for her beliefs? Blueblood's last thoughts should have been how he killed the Equestria he loved......
4349043 I did note that he wasn't that bright.
4349193 Flash is not Gary Stu.
He's B.R.A.D.
Brominated Ribonucleaic Acid Derivative!
Wait... I think I got my acronyms crossed.
I...actually like Flash Sentry. Really enjoyed this chapter.
4348600
you heard what he said a while ago, not all chapters will be happy
4349509 My point WAS that he ISN'T a Gary Stu. Mercy to all, was I that unclear?! And I have no idea what those words mean. Acid is obvious, but the rest is completely out of my league.
If however you wanted to say that to the OTHER person, then congratulations. You missed.
Don't mistake this comment as "angry" or "annoyed". That's what I don't like about the internet: unless it's voice-chat, then emotions may not appear as we want them to. I'm just... writing without thinking too much about what my words may sound like. Bad habit of mine, I've discovered.
I get the point across, but with the wrong "voice", if you know what I mean...
4348410
Oi, Flash is a better option than any OC. Who else do you want? Shining Armor? Big Mac? Soarin? None of them will fit in the setting of this chapter at all. BM is a farmer pony, and thus does not spend the most of his days around politics. In fact, he's probably too busy on the farm. Shining Armor is her brother. Soarin is someone from Cloudsdale with little to no interaction with Twilight Sparkle. Yet I find it extremely ironic that these are all popular ships.
4349824 *Alondro rage-attacks! Your nation is nuked into glass!*
*Clearly, he misinterpreted your intent.*
4350820 See what I mean? Even with the emoticon I almost mistook it as actual frustration, but reading it again made me see the sarcasm.
4349193
Yes, I'm quite well aware of what a Mary Sue/Gary Stu is. And you can put your little dictionary away, because it doesn't cover fandom-based mutations of the term usage. Also, yes. Shining Armor and Cadence do fall into the category. Maybe you weren't around back then, since you smack of newness, but most of us were insane with fury over Twilight SUDDENLY having a brother and SUDDENLY a third alicorn princess and no one saw fit to mention either beforehand. Didn't even get a retcon. Then they were suddenly the Big Damn Heroes.
Over time we mellowed out and accepted that they're there to stay. This site is littered with different stories explaining peoples' views of their introduction, or explanations as to Cadence inexplicably being an alicorn when it was canonically stated there were just the two. Those were harsh days!
But Flash? Flash reeks of "Bad author OC". Sure, he's got a little cult following, especially from people who seem to think anyone who doesn't like a male pony doesn't like any of them and needs to burn in hell as I've been told to my face. But, if you want to sit here and defend him? I challenge you to go reading through the less popular stories, camp the "new stories submission" list for a week or so, find the stories where people are ganging up on the author and harshly criticizing them. Then LOOK at the inevitable Gary Stu-like OC present in their work and compare it to Flash Sentry. The taste is similar enough that just hearing about him reminds me of all the horrid little crappy OC bastards who get pasted into a story just to please the writer's self-insert ship. Unlike Twilight, who wears her Main Character status in plain view and earned it (invariably someone always tells me Twilight is a Mary Sue and I have to facepalm), he doesn't have an excuse. Plus, the fact he once again appeared in the main show when we were -TOLD- that nothing from Equestria Girls would survive to migrate to canon, pissed off the fandom for quite some time. Many of us are still riding that hate-wave. I didn't even hate EQG, but I don't want aspects of it in my main-show-ponies.
If you don't like that, you're free to. Just the same as I'm completely free to continue disliking Flash Sentry for the memories of bad characters he brings to mind for me. And there's not a blessed thing any of you can say to change that.
Also, being called ignorant is still offensive because you just explained common knowledge whereupon you were incorrect in attempting to correct me due to your own misunderstanding, and then told me it was my fault and I somehow must maintain a lesser repertoire of knowledge than you do. So, yes. In that sense, calling someone ignorant is just a nicer way of saying "Compared to me, you're stupid." Next time, think before you post. Especially when you know you're going to try and pay someone a backhanded insult. Not even a cleverly-cloaked one, at that.
4349425
Quite true. Aside from the passing joke I made, I have a feeling that her death will spark something that comes to fruition at some point down the road of years. Something necessary, be it for ill or good.
4351587 Okay, I fucked up, happy? I've been watching since season 1 finale first aired, but I' not too enthusiastic about the actual show - I enjoy the brony community much more. EQG was just a fuck up - unnecessary, really. "Let's make a grand movie that 'isn't' canon to the series but take 'small' elements from it and make them canon." As for my opinion on Flash Sentry, the way he was introduced was what made him so out of place, otherwise I feel he works out... somewhat.
About reading stories from new authors... I know that too well. Did the same thing in about the dozen first stories I wrote (not MLP related stuff). I can see the angle here - Flash shares many of these flaws. At least Shining Armor has a "proper" back story that isn't super special. Although being Captian of the Guard was what made him overshoot his welcome(for me at least). Flash "works" but I can see what you mean now that you've enlightened me. Still don't feel like a Gary Stu for me though.
And how come calling someone "ignorant" can be translated to that? I'm ignorant because I don't care for soccer, and therefore don't know much of the rules. By this fact we can see that "ignorant" means not knowing something for some reasonable reason. Maybe one was born and raised in a different country, or maybe one isn't interested, or maybe it just never came up during one's life. I'm ignorant because I assumed you were unaware of what a Gary Stu was, being your complaint seemed completely pointless to me.
On a side note, I fucked up twice because "to assume makes an Ass out of You and Me."
Then again, writing on the internet almost NEVER works out properly, because no one can hear how someone is "saying" a sentence. Sarcasm in particular is hard to catch, unless it's plainly stated that it is sarcasm.
With that out of the way (I hope?), I am sorry for coming across as a bitch. I try, but as we can clearly tell, I fuck it up. The mistake I often make (many do as far as I can tell) is not thinking properly about what I'm actually posting online. There was never any intended "backhanded insult", because that kind of shit is only worth saying face to face, or at least in a voice-chat(at least I think so).
Finally, thank you (seriously) for taking the time to write a proper and explaining reply. I may have (again) come of as a bit rude (or worse, idk), but if I do, it was not intended.
4351746
There's a difference in BEING ignorant of something, and CALLING someone ignorant. I can't think of something I don't know much about at the moment, but I'm sure whatever it is, I'm mostly ignorant of it. In fact, I'm ignorant of being ignorant! Astounding, paradox right there. However, if you just say/insinuate that I am generically ignorant, you are placing yourself above me rather than speaking with me on an equal platform of person to person (creating a situation of 'Assumed Prideful Intelligence vs. Insinuated Dullard'). Left open-ended, "ignorant" applies to whatever you want it to. Some words are offensive not because of their direct meaning but because of their societal connotations and how they are abused.
Considering I use this tactic myself when dealing with noxious pseudo-intellectual trolls, I'd prefer explaining the mistake to you so that you understand rather than attacking you for what was clearly a misconception in intent.
As for the rest, no worries. I don't hate you, and you seem to understand the point I was making with my personal opinion. Crisis averted.
(To clarify, I don't mind Flash Sentry in this chapter. The writer does write well, and I appreciate that. I just dislike the character for my own reasons. Much like how I dislike Spike because I am inevitably attacked horrendously each time I mention he's not my favorite character, by his blood-froth rabid cultists threatening physical harm.)
4351592
Good point on the potential down-side. Reforms do have victims. In any event, if SA and the rest think they were 'creative', history will be even crueler to Blueblood and those like him.
4351885
Good! Historians should be pleased.
Just wanna point this little tidbit out. Y'all are arguing about the writing merits and the status of a characters mary or gary stuness for a childrens show. Like I get the whole outrage thing, the omg thats so horrible thing but this awesome show that spawned this awesome community is in fact aimed at children. IT's not a show made for adults or made to be like the best thing ever, its a kids show. Kids don't know what a mary su is they don't understand why there suddenly being another alicorn is so weird. THe brother thing btw is easy to explain. When you move away from family you don;t forget them but you don't go lamenting about them. We can assume Twilight was pretty young when she started her tutoring under celestia so she has been away from family for awhile. She probably keeps in contact with her brother and even her parents but they prolly just never came up around her friends, I mean really how often do you talk about yer family to yer friends. I ain't saying don;t be mad and such but think about this seriously. It's a kids show. Now if say y'all were to go ape shit at an author writing an MLP series and they suddenly dropped a new thing into the story that was out of left field then sure go nuts on him, he's not writing fer kids. At the end of the day though, when everyone is screaming about EQG and things like Cadence and Shining its kinda annoying cause this is a kids show, its not for us so things like that are gonna happen. On a side note we don't know if EQG is non cannon, just cause its not mentioned doesn't mean it's non canon. Any way....
Love the new chapter Rated, like the way you use Flash. I love how you are approaching everything and I hope you keep up the good work and I look forward to the next chapter. I also hope I didn't offend anyone to seriously, or you to seriously with anything I said.
At first I was all like
oi61.tinypic.com/2vxomtc.jpg
But then I got to the end and I was all
oi60.tinypic.com/166y63d.jpg
You took Flash from a nobody to a wholly lovable character. Awesome job! Can't wait for more!
Flame war started...
4348469 Yeah, a "Dr. Whooves" chapter where the Doctor talks about this as Derpy begs him to change it would be nice.
Oh, Flash...
Loved the chapter. It makes the whole thing much more tragic.
I sort of like FlashLight. Not as much as TwiJack, but it has it's charms. Even if he was flat in the movie, that's what fanfics are for.