The Good, the Bad, and the Sentry

by Tumbleweed

Epilogue

“Flash, you're awake!”

Thankfully, by the time Princess Twilight Sparkle stuck her head in the room, Carrot Top and I had concluded our dalliance. Since the hospital bed was too narrow for the both of us, Carrot Top had just pulled her chair in close enough for some hoof-holding. Which, to judge by the blush on the Princess' purple cheeks, was just as bad as if she'd caught us en flagrante delicto.

“Oh!” Princess Twilight said. “I'm not, uh ... interrupting anything, am I?” And, while she tried to hide it, there was just the faintest twinge of disappointment, of jealousy in her voice. I suppose she was somewhat justified in her heartbreak, to learn that the handsomest stallion in the land (and a Hero of Equestria, to boot), was spoken for. But there's something to be said for living and learning and moving on and all of that, which no doubt made Princess Twilight Sparkle a better pony in the long run, helping her become the benevolent ruler she is today. In fact, I'm halfway tempted to claim credit for subtly sculpting the Princess of Friendship's character, except that I'm sure if I did, somepony would use it as an excuse to send me somewhere horrible.

“It's alright, Princess.” Carrot Top said. “Flash hasn't been awake for long, but he's already recovering.”

“Right, right.” I said. “Just give me a glass of brandy and a sandwich, and I'll be right as rain.”

“I don't doubt that." The Princess shook her head, pushing past whatever embarrassment and/or heartbreak she no doubt felt. “But for now, I think you'd better rest. Especially since you seem to be really bad at it. I mean, I can't think of very many other ponies who go out on a routine survey mission, only to come back with a whole gang's worth of prisoners. If I didn't know any better, Flash, I'd say you were looking for trouble.”

“I can assure you that nothing is farther from the truth.” I said.

“I'm not quite sure if I believe you.” Princess Twilight Sparkle said with a wink. “But I'm glad you're awake, and even more glad you're feeling better. I, uh-- I won't take up too much of your time. I'd hate to impose.”

“You could never impose on us, Twilight.” Carrot Top just smiled a sunny smile, the very image of an innocent mare from Ponyville. Honestly, was as if the mare could just flip a switch between 'background pony' and 'deadly operative.'

“Thanks.” Princess Twilight smiled, and nodded. “But I'll still try to make this brief. We can worry about the ceremony once Flash's fully recovered.”

“Ceremony?” I said. To me, word didn't exactly have the most pleasant of connotations. It suggested business with cultists and chanting and the summoning of horrible monsters, or big fancy to-dos in which various Princesses would pin some medals onto my uniform (often for some kind of to-do involving aforementioned chanting cultists).

“Of course!” Princess Twilight beamed. “It's been a long time coming, honestly. Anypony can see just how much you've done for Equestria-- and it goes without saying you'll do something even bigger and more selfless in the future. But you still deserve recognition beyond just a silly medal, don't you think?”

“Beg pardon?”

“Of course, there will be added responsibilities that come with it-- but you've already proven yourself more than pony enough to handle them. Though in theory, you won't be out in the thick of it as much as you were before, but I'm sure you'll be leading from the front in no time--”

“Hold on.” Somehow, my voice didn't crack. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?”

“That's right.” Princess Twilight said, and drew herself up to some semblance of regal bearing. Her horn glowed, and an official-looking scroll snapped into glowy purple existence next to her head. “Normally, I'm not one for formality, but in this instance, it is my royal privilege to be the first to congratulate you on your promotion, Major Sentry.”

So ends the eighth volume of the Flash Sentry Papers.

Comments

[FanOfMostEverything]

Honestly, was as if the mare could just flip a switch between 'background pony' and 'deadly operative.'

PRetty sure half of Ponyville can pull of that trick.

And the ending certainly wasn't what I expected. On the one hand, fewer chances to get thrown into the meat grinder. On the other, greater responsibilities. We'll see how Flash handles it. In any case, thank you for another entry in one of my favorite series on the site.

[Spamotron]

Major Sentry huh.

Well, Clauswitz did consider a "clever and lazy soldier," to make the perfect officer and Flash is definitely both.

Edit: After a quick lookup the quote's origin is complicated and disputed.

One version attributed to Kurt Gebhard Adolf Philipp Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord is:

I divide my officers into four classes as follows: The clever, the industrious, the lazy, and the stupid. Each officer always possesses two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious I appoint to the General Staff. Use can under certain circumstances be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy qualifies for the highest leadership posts. He has the requisite nerves and the mental clarity for difficult decisions. But whoever is stupid and industrious must be got rid of, for he is too dangerous.

[Bookeater_otaku]

A promotion huh? I wonder how that will turn out for him. Probably Deadly with a side of danger.

What will happen next? Where will they travel? Who knows! (I vote for the Hypogriph kingdom via Kludge Town.)

[Bugsydor]

Oh no. How will Flash survive this promotion?

Flash Sentry vs. his greatest foe yet: Responsibility.

[ShadowLDrago]

n fact, I'm halfway tempted to claim credit for subtly sculpting the Princess of Friendship's character, except that I'm sure if I did, somepony would use it as an excuse to send me somewhere horrible.

Sounds about right.

“That's right.” Princess Twilight said, and drew herself up to some semblance of regal bearing. Her horn glowed, and an official-looking scroll snapped into glowy purple existence next to her head. “Normally, I'm not one for formality, but in this instance, it is my royal privilege to be the first to congratulate you on your promotion, Major Sentry.”

Ohoho! Interesting.

[Neece]

In fact, I'm halfway tempted to claim credit for subtly sculpting the Princess of Friendship's character, except that I'm sure if I did, somepony would use it as an excuse to send me somewhere horrible.

Flash, don't be fully. You'll be sent somewhere horrible either way!

I wonder how Twiggles feels about reading this, all this time after the fact. Probably bittersweet and facehooving in equal measures.

[Cerulean Blue]

A promotion will just mean more time trying to stay behind a desk and failing.

[JetstreamGW]

Discord is definitely involved.

[SIGAWESOME]

10169580

Deadly with a side of danger.

That sounds like an excellent title for volume 9

[Bookeater_otaku]

10171498
So it would be a story about a restaurant or involve a lunch of some sort?

[Ri2]

So how long until he becomes Supreme General of the Armed Forces?

[star1wars3]

Every one of these stories has been absolutely fantastic, thank you.
10171498
👈

[UrsaMajor]

10169554
What he said, basically. I love this series, so thank you.

[Ice Star]

These were a lot of fun. I read them during a camping trip when I wasn't, y'know, doing camping things. There's just so much comedic action happening in each chapter that they make for such easy reads. But now I'm sad because there aren't any more volumes.

And I can't get them in print.

[Malandy]

Applied more anesthetic.

Oof.

Lovely Lancet

That doesn't sound like a very pony name? Usually it's a whole adjective phrase, not adjective noun, IIRC? Like "Filthy Rich", but I like the name, so I might use it! Thanks!

----

Typos from a download:

t wo

two

standign

standing

[ponygrad]

Major Sentry - The stakes will be higher and the action even more improbable.