Outside the security barracks in the heart of the Crystal Empire...
...night had fallen. The glossy streets of the kingdom were filled to the brim with ponies from all trots of life. Locals and visitors mingled merrily in alleyways and courtyards. Meanwhile, fireworks occasionally boomed overhead, their flaring colors reflecting off the buildings and streets of the shiny maretropolis. Between the colored lights streetside, the aura twinkling high in the sky, and the sparklers being carried by giddy children, the place positively rippled with otherworldly enchantment.
This was the sort of scene that Flash Sentry greeted as he emerged from the lower reaches of the facility. He scuffled to a stop, hanging behind Princess Cadance for a moment as he gaped at all of the sights and colors. His heart fluttered—if only briefly—as part of him acknowledged that he himself was partially responsible for this beauty.
Or perhaps wholely responsible...
"Flash Sentry..." Cadance gently chided.
Flash winced. He scampered forward, joining her side. The royal steward was facing a quartet of guards stationed just outside the entrance to the barracks. Flash's heart sank as he recognized one of them.
"Lieutenant..." Cadance addressed him.
The stallion in question blinked. He shuffled forward, his helmeted eyes locked on Flash the entire time.
"Lieutenant," Cadance repeated.
"Ahem." The winged stallion stood tall and saluted the princess. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
"The Royal Sisters and Princess Twilight are currently commiserating inside the throneroom of the Crystal Palace."
"Indeed they are." The lieutenant's eyes wandered over towards Flash yet again. "I take it that... this pony is to be escorted to the throneroom so that they can speak to him?"
"Affirmative. Please bring him there. You and your fellow soldiers. Make sure that he goes nowhere else." She turned to give Flash Sentry a knowing glance. "Not that there'll be any trouble. He... won't be flying off to any random destination, now, will he?"
Flash gulped. He nodded nervously, encumbered by this forced intervention.
Princess Cadance smiled. When she heard nothing but silence beneath the festivities, she turned towards the guard in front of her. "Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"
"Well..." He fidgeted in his armor. "Your Majesty..." He winced slightly. "Permission to speak openly?"
"Of course, Flash." She giggled. "I am not your Captain."
He exhaled heavily. "Perhaps... it would be more appropriate for another contingent of guards to escort... e-escort this stallion?" He looked nervously at Flash. "After all... he's... that is to say I—"
"Just don't put your helmet on him and I suspect everything will be golden." Cadance winked. "Is that understood?"
The lieutenant took a deep breath, standing tall once more. "Yes, Your Majesty. I shall escort him as ordered, Your Majesty."
She reached out and ruffled his mane coming out the back of his headpiece. "I knew I could count on you. Please keep him in your sights at all time. As for me, I must go and check on the banquet hall. Poor King Thorax looked quite frazzled earlier. A gentle soul like that needs someone to vent with."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Princess Cadance began trotting off, accompanied by a second group of guards. At one point, she stopped. "Oh... and by the way..." She smiled back. "...take your time. There's no hurry. This would be a good opportunity for the two of you to get to know each other."
Two yellow-orange stallions bit their lips in perfect synchronization.
"So long!" And with a flick of her pretty tail, Cadance made a graceful exit.