//------------------------------// // Forcing An Issue // Story: One Bolt, Moving Forward // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// Flash Sentry flew along in Ponyville, surveying the town for anything out of the ordinary. He had just checked with all of Twilight's best friends to ensure their safety, and was, thus far, having a good day. Twilight was happy, the town was doing well, and nothing strange seemed to be happening. He let out a satisfied sigh, knowing all was well. That is, until the strangest thing he had ever seen happened right in front of him. The trumpeting of an elephant sounded directly behind him, prompting him to tense up and immediately dart out of the way. There flew the pakiderm in question, completely out of place in the sky. It looked relatively normal, save for the tiny wings protruding from its back. It trumpeted again, flying past at breakneck speed as the guard looked on, slack-jawed. “Well, now I’ve seen just about everything…” he said, starting back into his steady pace. “You know, I was really hoping you’d say something more original.” came a playful voice that permeated the area around him. “Something like… ‘Oh, I do wish I’d have known he’d be here! I’d have brought peanuts!’” Flash tensed up once more, backing up into a fighting stance. “Who’s there?! Show yourself!” “What, you mean you don’t already recognize me?” it asked, sounding nothing short of offended. “Oh, Flash, you positively wound me! Haven’t you heard about me from the Princess you’re so smitten with?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” he spat, looking around fiercely. “Now, come out and face me!” “Oh, fine…” the voice huffed. A bright flash formed in front of the Pegasus, revealing Discord floating there in a relaxed position. “I’m sure you’ve heard of me, at least.” “Discord…” he confirmed, narrowing his eyes. “What do you want?” Discord brought his face close to the guard’s, a mischievous smirk lining his fanged muzzle. “I just wanted to finally meet everypony’s second favorite member of the Royal Guard!” He playfully caressed the stallion’s muzzle with his eagle talon, lingering a claw on his chin, eliciting a firm scowl that made the Draconequus’ smile widen further. “What’s wrong? Annoyed with the truth? Well, you’re certainly no Shining Armor, after all.” “Since when does a monster like you ever tell the truth?” Flash growled, turning and continuing his flight back to the castle. Discord brought his lion paw over his heart, raising his eagle talon above his head and throwing his head back in mock agony. “Oh! My, you really have a knack for offending poor, defenseless chaos spirits!” He disappeared, reappearing in front of the stallion again. “I’ll have you know I’ve become a paragon of truth since my reforming!” He raised his paw like a scout. “I only ever lie when it’s fun and in no way inconveniences any of my friends! Any other time, I’m as honest as Applejack!” Flash weaved around the snakelike creature, bumping his haunch deliberately into him. “Whatever… Just tell me why you’re here and then go away.” Discord gasped, snaking his way beside him. “You want me to say it out here? Where everypony can hear me? Why don’t we go somewhere a little…” He snapped his claws, creating a flash that transported the two of them into the guard’s room in the castle. “... quieter?” He looked around the room. Save for the standard bed that adorned every bedroom in the castle and some basic furnishings, the room was barren. His face looked like he had eaten soda pop, potato chip, and earthworm cupcakes as he took in the complete lack of decor. “Ugh… How positively boring! Here, let me spice things up in here!” He waved his talon as the room filled with two comfy chairs, a couch, and a coffee table, all the same color as Twilight’s coat. Additionally, the walls became strewn with a number of photos and portraits of the Princess in question, some of them being candid shots she wasn’t aware of, with others being Discord’s own artwork. “There! Much better!” Flash shot into the air, looking at each addition to the room with a face of shock. “What is all this?!” “What? I just filled the room with your favorite thing!” The chaos spirit replied with a smirk. “Do you not like it?” “If anypony saw my room like this they would think I’m some crazy stalker who worships Twilight!” He explained, taking down as many of the pictures as he could. “Change it back! Now!” “Fine, shoot yourself…” Discord said with a relenting sigh. “Don’t you mean ‘suit yourself'?” Flash corrected. “Oh, yes. That works, too, I guess. I was just kidding, anyway.” Discord snapped his claws again, the room appearing back to normal. “But it’s not like my choice of decorations was inaccurate… Even if they were a bit weird... I mean, she is the reason you’re here!” “I know that better than anypony.” He affirmed, heading to the window. “She needs protection. I just wish everypony wouldn’t make it so difficult for me.” “And why have they been making it so difficult?” the Draconequus wondered, popping his head out from above the window. “It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the way you’ve been treating their friend, is it?” He patted Flash on the head, snaking his way back into the room. “I can’t say I blame you, though. I mean, he only crashed into the picture out of nowhere, stole away the mare you liked, married her, put a baby in her, and now that baby has put her in such a weakened state that she needs a guard with her at all times. And the worst part of it all is how plain and common he is! I don’t blame you for having a case of green eyes.” He waved his paw in front of Flash’s face, causing his eyes to glow a bright green for a moment. Flash’s head sank. He turned back towards the door, where the sound of galloping echoed through. There was a loud knocking at the door. “Flash…! Come… quick!” a baritone voice called. The guard stallion opened the door, panic-stricken, to see the pony Discord referred to with a wide smile on his face as he hyperventilated. “Twilight… baby… KICKING! Come on!” “What? Kicking?” Flash repeated, going from panic to puzzled. “What are you talking about?” Boltsinger’s breaths spaced out, growing more calm. “The baby is kicking, and I thought you would want to come feel!” He looked around the room, spotting his not-so-orderly friend. “Hi, Discord! You come, too!” He grabbed Flash’s hoof with his tail as he turned around, speeding off towards the library. “Oh! The baby is kicking!” Discord cooed, putting his forelimbs together beside his head. He made another snap of his claws, appearing above the running ponies. “Are we going to have a baby shower?” he tauntingly inquired, pulling a string that hung out of nowhere down, images of foals crying and falling around them. “Ooh! Are we going to sing a song? It’s been awhile since I’ve been part of a charming musical number!” “Why are you even bringing me along for this?” Flash asked as they came to the foyer entrance to the library. “I’m just the guard! We’re not friends.” “But you’re Twilight’s friend. I’m not about to leave you out.” he retorted, opening the door. “Unless… you don’t want to feel the baby kicking?” “I never said that!” snapped the Sentry, turning into the library. Inside, Twilight sat on the couch with her hoof on her belly, giggling at regular intervals. Flash stepped up in front of the Princess, smiling. “I’ve been told the baby is kicking. Do you mind if I…?” “Feel free.” Twilight told him, moving her hoof away. “It’s quite the little drummer in there.” Flash sat on the floor, bringing his hoof forward. He stopped for a moment, looking uncertain, but tentatively placed it on the mare’s larger-than-normal belly. “I don’t feel anyth--” Before he could finish, a sudden ‘thud’ came to the forefront. His eyes widened, looking up at the Princess’ smiling muzzle. “Wow... “ “I know, right?!” Boltsinger exclaimed, cantering over. “There’s a little pony in there!” He sat next to Flash and eagerly placed his hoof on the rhythmic tummy. “Our little pony…” Flash looked between the smiling orange and purple ponies, his smile quickly turning upside down. He retreated his hoof, backing away. “It’s an honor to be included in this… moment… Princess. Now… I feel I must…” he looked around the room, trying to find something. His eyes fell upon some books sitting on the floor. “Put away these books! Don’t want loose books falling on your head!” He rose into the air, getting to his work. Twilight looked over at the Draconequus in the doorway. “Come on, Discord, you can have a turn, too.” Discord pointed a claw at himself. “Really? You don’t mind?” “As long as there’s no mischief, go ahead.” Boltsinger stated, waving him over. “Mischief?” Discord teased. “Who? Me?” He teleported his way over to them, appearing behind the couch with his paw raised over Twilight. “What kind of beast do you think I am? Mischief…” He placed his paw on her belly, feeling the same kind of thud that Flash had experienced. “Oh, my… This is new…” He looked at the fur beneath his forelimb, feeling a distinct spark coming from within that sent his entire body shaking. He retreated his paw as quickly as possible. “And that is something I’m familiar with! I’d rather not get dragged all across Equestria for two straight days again!” “What do you mean?” Twilight wondered, looking up at him. “Did you feel the lightning inside him?” “It’s not important.” he retorted, brushing off his arm. “Thank you for trusting me with this, but now…” He smirked, snapping his claw to vanish and appear in front of Flash. “You and I still have so much to catch up on!” Flash reeled back in the air, dropping the book in his hooves. “What are you talking about?! I barely know you!” Twilight cast a scowl at the amalgamation creature, her glare piercing his very being. “Discord, leave him alone! He doesn’t need you bullying him.” Discord made a sound of mock offense, looking down at the ponies and putting his talon over his heart. “Why, I’ll have you know I’ve been nothing but nice to your little bodyguard, here! No bullying whatsoever!” He turned to Flash, putting his arm around him. “Isn’t that right, Flashdance?” He squeezed tightly, Flash struggling to free himself. “I’m sure you’ve been as model of a citizen as you can be.” Boltsinger affirmed. “But he looks as freaked out with you as I was when I first met you. Only… Not as frozen.” “Oh, fine…” Discord responded, releasing the stallion from his grip. Flash sped away from Discord, slamming into the wall and falling to the floor along with several books. He brought his head out of the pile, grimacing and pulling himself out the rest of the way. “I don’t need this... “ he grumbled. “Hey, you okay?” Boltsinger inquired, reaching his hoof towards the guard. “That looked painful. You need some help after that?” Flash shot a fierce glare at the orange stallion. “I don’t need help from anypony! Least of all, you!” He shouted, storming out. “Oh, my! Did someone happen to push his buttons, today?” Discord teasingly queried, tapping his chin with his paw. Twilight and Boltsinger each cast a sour look at the floating creature. “What?! It can’t possibly be my fault! All I did was have a conversation with him!” “Your conversations tend to push ponies’ buttons.” Boltsinger stated. “And this time, it’s only making things worse!” Twilight added. She got up from the couch, moving over to a table. “I’m gonna take care of this before it gets out of hoof.” “How so, honey?” the stallion wondered. “I know you asked me not to, but I think it’s best of we request a different pony to take over Flash’s duties.” She clarified, floating a quill and inkwell over. “I’m happy that you’re moving past your discomfort, but, clearly, he hasn’t been. Everypony sees it.” “And every Draconequus, too!” Discord chimed, raising a poignant paw. Twilight nodded, noting the chaos spirit’s addition. “Exactly. The way he treats you has even gotten on Fluttershy’s nerves!” Boltsinger gave a wide-eyed blink, knowing full well what it would mean. “Wow.” He walked up to Twilight, putting his hoof on the parchment. “Listen, I appreciate that you’re willing to do this kind of thing for me, but… He’s your friend. And he came here with a genuine desire to protect you. That’s something I can’t possibly find fault with. His problem is with me, so I’ll talk to him.” He put his hoof on Twilight’s cheek with a smile. “We already have some common ground. He sees how amazing you are, just like I do. That alone is a good place to start.” Twilight put her hoof on his. “Okay. You’ve convinced me. But if he keeps being a jerk to you, I’m going to take care of it myself.” Boltsinger stepped back and took a regal bow. “Of course, Your Highness!” He went in for a hug, giving his wife a good squeeze and her belly a good pat before turning to Discord. “And you, sir, will be coming with me.” “Why me?” Discord asked, landing next to him. “Certainly you can resolve this whole thing on your own, can't you?” “Because you forced the issue.” the Pegasus deadpanned. “And, like with that whole thing with Fluttershy last year, you’re going to be a good friend and see this through. Okay?” He shot an uncharacteristically fierce look at the creature. Discord winced at the mention of his favorite pony. “All right, fine! I’ll keep proving how good a friend I truly am!” Boltsinger smirked, strutting into the hallway. “Thank you.” Flash Sentry marched across the front steps of the Castle of Friendship, his face blank and his movements rigid. Stopping on a bit, spinning in place, and marching forward. He repeated the process ad nauseum, letting his mind spin with each rotation of his march. Discord was right, and he knew it. And that bothered him to no end. He kept marching, the pace of his hooves matching the wingbeats that sounded above him. “Attention, soldier!” came a voice that irked his ear. He instinctively tensed up, saluting with his foreleg. The voice chuckled as the same orange pony he was trying to avoid along with the very monster that had been pestering him all day. “What do you want?” he grumbled, easing up. “Honestly, I want to talk.” Boltsinger answered, landing beside him. “I know you’ve got issues with me.” “Oh? And what gave you that idea?” the guard asked with an extreme measure of sarcasm. “Could it have anything to do with you just showing up out of nowhere and stealing away the mare I liked even though you’re so… so… plain! Not to mention, look at the state she’s in!” He stepped up to the slightly smaller stallion, aggressively pointing his hoof at him. “You put her in that state! You screwed up her magic! And you still lean on her for almost everything!” He turned around, trying not to lash out physically at him. “It’s not fair…” “Not fair?” Discord repeated. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we?” He twirled his beard for a moment, his face finally brightening up. He snapped his claws, and the scene around the three of them turned into a bright festival with ponies all running around, a grand time had by all. “There! Much better! This is much more ‘fair', don't you think?” The stallions each cast a look at the Draconequus. Boltsinger’s was slightly amused, but Flash’s was a pure scowl. Discord offered up a cheeky smile that quickly devolved to a pout as he saw the guard’s disposition. “Oh, poo…” he lamented, returning them to their previous location. Boltsinger nodded at his disharmonious companion, taking a deep breath and turning to Flash. “Would you believe me if I told you that I agree with you?” “No, I wouldn’t.” he spat, facing him again. “What kind of pony would complain about being in your position? What could possibly make you not happy with your life?” “Now, wait a second. I never said I was unhappy with my life.” the performer corrected, holding up a single feather on his wing. “I said I agreed with you.” He stepped closer, pointing his hoof at Flash. “Nopony ever expected somepony like me to… well… marry a Princess. And I’m no exception. Heck, when I first learned about your history with Twilight, I thought she had made a mistake in choosing to be with me! But she reminded me of some things, and I decided to push my own lack of comfort aside.” He stood beside the dismayed defender, holding out his balled-up wing. “Here’s a list of things I never expected to have in my life, especially before I met Twilight.” He unfurled a single feather. “Friendship.” He brought out a second. “Love.” A third. “Self-worth.” A fourth feather revealed itself. “Self-confidence.” Finally, a fifth feather came to the forefront. “And last, but not least…” He waved his wing at the castle before them. “A home.” He faced Flash again. “All of these things… And I mean all of them… are things Twilight and our friends gave me. Loving that beautiful purple Princess was a no-brainer.” A smile snuck it's way onto  Flash’s muzzle, looking up at the gargantuan crystal structure. “She does have a way with spreading friendship around, huh?” “Eeyup.” Boltsinger said with a definite nod. “And I appreciate that you see every wonderful thing about her that I do. But you’ve been too stiff.” Flash cocked an eyebrow. “Stiff? I’m a guard, I have to be stiff.” “You’re guarding the Princess of Friendship.” He continued. “So there’s nothing wrong with making friends while you guard! Loosen up! Explore Ponyville! Besides, if you keep being a rigid jerk, Twilight is gonna send you away.” “It’s that bad, huh?” he wondered. “Then why hasn’t she?” “I suggested that you get a second chance.” Boltsinger informed him. “And Twilight agreed. You are friends, after all. I don’t want to change that. I just think you need to make some more.” The guard turned to look out at the town, finding himself intimidated by the sheer number of ponies going about their lives. “Who would you suggest, then?” “That’s entirely up to you.” Boltsinger replied. “But if Twilight’s example holds true, then I have a couple of suggestions on where to start.” He extended his wing out to the other stallion. “What do you say?” “Seriously? After the way I’ve treated you, you wanna be friends?" Boltsinger kept his wing extended, his smile widening. “If I can reconcile with my brother, then forgiving you and becoming friends is a cakewalk.” Flash took a closer look at the purple-eyed pony in front of him. From what he could tell, he was being completely genuine. He extended his own wing, the orange feathers grasping his yellow ones. “Twilight definitely rubbed off on you in a good way, didn’t she?” “We teach each other. That’s how friendship works.” He stated, retracting his wing. Flash nodded, returning his gaze to the town. “I see. Well, I hope I can learn a lot.” He turned to Discord, offering his hoof. “From both of you.” Discord grasped the hoof gently, shaking the guard’s entire body. “A new friend? How wonderful! I dare say this is the second best result I could have asked for today!” “And what’s the best result?” Flash asked, tilting his head inquisitively. Discord gave his companions a malicious grin, tapping his fingers together with a dark chortle. He spread his arms, the three of them appearing in a large, domed cage surrounded by stands. Filling the seats were several more of the reality-bending creature in their company, all cheering madly and demanding a fight. “A cage match!” Boltsinger sent a glare at Discord. “And why would you want something like this?” “Oh, Bolt, it’s nothing bad!” the Draconequus teased. “There was already a sense of disharmony between the two of you. I just wanted to play with it, is all! I knew you two would tough it out and be friends in the end. That’s how these stories always work! And before you start getting worried, anything that happens here, stays here. Injuries included.” The Pegasi looked around at what looked like the masses, then looked back at the main beast next to them. “A fight, huh?” Boltsinger guessed. Discord nodded emphatically, causing the ponies to immediately bust a gut and fall to the floor. Boltsinger finally stood up, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “I don’t think there was ever any intention of fighting from either of us. Sorry, Discord.” He walked towards the edge of the cage, closing his eyes confidently and shrugging. He looked back at Flash with a cocky grin. “Besides, I’d totally kick your butt.” Flash Sentry stood up as quickly as his name suggested, giving his own smirk. “Excuse me? Your jousting ability says otherwise.” A loud laugh erupted from the orange stallion’s mouth as he turned to face his would-be opponent. “First of all, jousting isn’t a fight. It has rules. Second, I was in heavy armor and using a lance that I had no idea what to do with.” Flash took a stance on the other end of the cage. “Care to put your money where your muzzle is?” “You sure?” Boltsinger asked, planting his hooves. “I don’t want any hard feelings, no matter the result. Got that?” Flash smirked, lowering his stance. “Bring it!” The Discords cheered even louder, the main one raising his lion paw to appear in a referee’s shirt. “All right, boys, I want a nice, clean bout, here! No rules, but no getting too crazy, okay? Don’t want the ladies to think badly of us when we get back!” The stallions nodded, turning their faces as playfully fierce as possible. “Okay, boys…” Discord took a step back, melting through the cage as he lowered his paw. “Go!” With that, both stallions flared their wings and jumped towards each other.