//------------------------------// // Stewe Lind. // Story: The graduation of Flash Sentry // by the frank //------------------------------// "...No... No... Grey? Nope, to much uniform. Red? ...That's to satanic... Twilight would never approve. And green is to nice. I'll stick with the classic dark blue suit. If it worked for Luna, it will work for me." Sunset Shimmer, 36 years old and vice-principal of Canterlot High was standing in front of the hallway mirror trying on outfits. A heap of shirts, pants, skirts and ties lay next to her. She finally choose a dark red shirt to go with her dark blue suit-jacket and sharp pants. No tie, that made her just look stupid. After staring at her feet in silence, she wordlessly choose a pair of black high-heels. A pair of black thick glasses on her nose made the picture complete. She was now ready to strike fear into the poor students who had the audacity to perform suboptimal on their exams... "Ooh... who's this sexy little thing, and what have you done with my wife?" ...and apparently, that as well. Sunset felt two arms around her and a slight kiss on her cheek. In a combined state of annoyance and affection, she got out of his grip and turned around, finding herself looking down at her husband. "Ha ha, Flash. It was as funny as last year." Flash stretched himself and kissed her on the mouth this time. "Well, they say you shall hang on to gold material. Is exam period coming up?" "Yep. Twilight wanted us to have a 'pep' talk for the students. She will be doing the pep, and wanted me to... ...well, she sent me a picture of her outfit and wanted me to match it." Sunset produced her phone from her pocket and showed him the picture. Twilight was wearing a cream white knee long dress, with skin-coloured stockings and a purple scarf in the same nuance of her hair. Flash whistled low. "Playing the angel cards strong, I see." Sunset put the phone back in her pocket. "Yeah. She is even going to let her hair down and use contacts. And she wants me to put my hair in a bun. You know, scaaaary. A bit like Cinch." She paused. " I agreed to do ponytail." "Well, if you don’t mind, I'd love to see you wear that tonight. I think I've been a bad student... " Saying that he once more kissed his wife and lighty placed his hands on her butt. He could feel her frown, but she didn’t remove his hands. Instead she put her arms around him and squeezed his butt a little harder. And when they broke the kiss, she looked him over. Flash Sentry, 36, was pretty much the same a Flash Sentry, 18. Still thin as a stick, and still the only one who could make everything cheesy sounding genuine, heartfelt and even sexy. The only real age marker was a wrinkle over his eye, a slight grey stream in his hear and the small goatee he grew last year. It didn't really fit him, but she had decided that if that was all the mid-life crisis he'd get, then so be it. She leaned down to kiss him again when she heard an annoyed grumble behind her. Their sixteen year old son made his way to the kitchen in silence, but the look in his eyes meant "gross". That only made her roll her eyes and grope Flash even harder. Moments later, they broke the kiss, and Sunset rushed out the door. Flash usually stood in the door to watch her leave, but today, he went to the kitchen. He had seen the look in his sons eyes as well but he had also noticed something else. A slight pinch of sadness, perhaps even... jealousy? He walked out in to the kitchen, poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down. Rough Private had his father's blue hair with two broad streaks of yellow which gave him a unvolontary cheerful look which he tried to opress by turning goth. But no matter the amount of mascara, he still looked like "the" nice guy. Flash looked at him for a while. His son was probably the only one who could make a frown look like a positive thing. Out loud, he said "something on your mind, son?" Rough responded with a grunt. Flash put his cup down and spoke. "Rough, look. Mom and Rainbow can say what they want, but I'm not that dense. I see that something's on your mind. Better tell me now or wait and let mom drag it out tonight." Rough Private gave his father a long look of annoyance, but in the end, he got up, helped himself to a cup of coffee and sat down. Flash knew that it meant story time and waited. "How did you know?" "Know what?" "Well..um... When it was right between you and mum. When you knew it was the two of you. Like, forever?" Flash smiled. Ah, partner problems. Not Surprising. He was sort of prepared for this, he had his answer ready. But he wanted a little more context from his son first. "Well...Why do you ask?" "No, but come on dad! How did you know?" Flash sipped his coffee. "I'll tell you. It’s quite a story, actually. But first you tell me why you want to know." "Well... it's Pansy. He want's to 'take our relationship to the next level' he said." "Aha... and you’re not sure? Rough, if you're not ready, it’s okay to say no." Rough rolled his eyes. "I know that dad... I an ready, it’s just... you know when we kissed the first time? Behind an old Factory. " "And that was. .. bad?" "Yes! Or, well no, the kiss was great but... I mean, behind a Factory? What kind of guy takes his boyfriend out and kisses him behind an old abandoned Factory? I think I deserve a bit more style than that! I mean... what if if say "okay" And then he wants us to do it in the alley behind Don't Joe's?" Flash raised an eyebrow. "You know, a lot of stuff has happened in that alley." "Ok, first of all 'eew', and second, what ever you and mum did WHICH I DON’T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT , I doubt that you 'did it' for the first time there." Flash was quiet. This was not a time for teasing. "...but if that should happen... I want to know that he's the right guy, you know?" "Ah, I see. Let me tell you this. As I said, it’s quite a story. And a valuable lesson, as well." Flash got up, refilled his cup, and leaned back in his chair. He got a dreamy look in his eyes when he began to speak. "I was 19, and had been dating Sunset for a year or so. But one evening, I got a call. It was from our friend Rainbow. You know, Blaze's mom." Rough nodded. "Well, she told me to come over at once, it was urgent. Well, I jumped into my car and drove to her house as fast as I could. I rang the door, and she called for me to go in. She was apparently home alone. 'Come to my room' she called. I went there, and there on the bed... Don't cringe! This is important! There on the bed, she lay. Almost completely naked save for a pair of very lacy panties. She also wore make up, which was really rare for Dash. Well, anyway, she lay there, trying to look sexy. And then she said something like 'I've loved you for so long, Flash. Please, come and take me.' " Private stared at his father. "What did you do then?" Flash smiled. "I turned on the spot and went out to my car. And outside was Sunset and the rest of her friends. They were all applauding and cheering. And your mother stood there, crying and smiling. She said that it was just a test to see if I was so perfect as she thought. And by rejecting Rainbow I passed. It was all an act, by the way. Apparently Rarity had to give her 'the right look', and not without resistance. But anyway, I felt a bit annoyed, but mostly, I saw her. I saw her, son. Kind of like the first time. She looked so... her. No walls, no attitude. Just Sunset. Just naked, raw feelings. I'd never seen her so beatiful before. And in that moment, I knew." Rough sat with his face in his hands and a dreamy look in his eyes. "That’s soo romantic! And I get the lesson! Don't give in to temptations, but stick to what you know is real." Flash looked at his son with pride and a slight bit of mischief. "That’s a really good lesson, kid, but that’s not really the lesson to be learned." "Oh." Rough raised his eyebrows. "So...what was it, then?" Flash smiled, leaned closer and whispered: "Always keep your condoms in the car."