"Oh, no way!" Flash Magnus's dinner companion, a white pegasus stallion by the name of Winter Winds, burst out mid-conversation.
The two of them were sitting in Fritter's, a pub near Canterlot Castle that many of the royal guards frequented. Fritter's offered good food, strong drinks, and reasonable prices. Best of all, it wasn't one of those hoity-toity places that ponies like, well, Hoity Toity tended to frequent. In short, it was the perfect place for dinner and a mug of cider after a shift.
Usually.
"What is it?" Flash asked.
"Look who just came in." Winter Winds could see the door, but Flash had to turn almost completely around to see what—or rather, who—had caught his friend's attention.
Three pegasi had just entered Fritter's. One was a tall, leggy mare with a dusky gray coat and a white, curly mane. Next to her was a short and stocky red stallion with a swept-back yellow mane. Leading the group was a turquoise mare with a yellow-orange mane, a cocky smirk, and a swagger that he'd seen all too often on new recruits who thought they were Faust's own gift to the royal guard.
After giving the newcomers a quick once-over, Flash turned back to Winter. "Do you know them?"
"Do you not?"
"Should I?" Flash asked. Truth be told, he was more interested in getting his cider refilled than in whoever these three were supposed to be.
Winter Winds facehoofed, then pointed to something on the wall just over Flash's shoulder.
Flash turned his head slightly and saw a very aggressive flier pinned to the wall. There was a rather abstract picture of three pegasi in black and green flightsuits, and spiky yellow letters underneath reading "The Washouts: The Wonderbolts Couldn't Handle Us! Can You?"
"Oh," Flash grunted, "so those three are the Washouts? Yeah, I've heard of them."
"Yes!" Winter Winds exclaimed. "Can you believe they're here? I didn't even know they were coming to Canterlot."
Flash Magnus snorted. "What's the big deal about three failed Wonderbolt cadets?"
"They're better than the Wonderbolts," Winter insisted. "They do stunts the Wonderbolts won't even try!"
"More like stunts they know better than to try," Flash retorted. He drained the last few drops of cider from his mug and looked toward the bar, only to find that it was swarmed with ponies trying to get the newcomers' attention. Apparently Winter Winds wasn't the only Washouts fan here.
So much for getting a refill.
Winter, meanwhile, looked like he was about ready to jump out of his seat and join the throng.
"Don't bother," Flash advised him, "you'll never get close enough to talk to them."
"Yeah, I know," Winter sighed, "I'll wait until things settle down. I just hope I can get Lightning Dust's autograph before they leave."
Flash shook his head and went back to picking at his fries. Winter Winds was a sergeant in the Royal Guard, just like him; a seasoned and competent soldier. Yet here he was, acting like a foal meeting his favorite gladiator.
"Hey, wait a sec," Winter exclaimed as if he'd just thought of it, "you're famous! You could get their attention!"
Magnus huffed. "Not interested. And you know I hate it when ponies try to use me for clout."
"Oh, come on, please?" For Faust's sake, Winter Winds was actually begging. "How many times are we gonna be in a bar with the Washouts?"
Flash sighed, but couldn't quite hide a chuckle. He'd never known Winter to... what was the phrase they used nowadays? Geek out?
"I'll tell you what," he offered, "I need a refill anyway. If I happen to catch Lightning Dust's eye while I'm up, I'll let her know." He took his mug and stood up.
"You're the best!" Winter called at his retreating flank.
Even out of uniform, Flash Magnus's presence was enough to get most ponies out of his way with a simple, "excuse me." In short order he was through the crowd and standing at the bar, close enough to Lightning Dust that a careless elbow would have hit her.
"Well, well," the mint-green pegasus announced to nopony in particular, "if it isn't Flash Magnus!" She didn't sound impressed.
Magnus arched an eyebrow. "Most ponies don't recognize me without my helmet," he noted.
Lightning Dust snorted. "Yeah, well, most ponies are idiots." The comment drew a mixture of laughter and grumbling from the other patrons.
"One of those idiots would really like your autograph," Flash told her. He nodded toward Winter Winds. "He's a big fan."
Lightning shrugged. "Tell him to join the club."
"Nah, really, we 'ave a fan club," the dusky-black pegasus chimed in with a thick Horstralian accent.
"Oh well," Flash replied. He plunked his tankard on the bar. "All I told him was that I'd ask." A few seconds later he picked up the now-full cup and put down a couple of bits in its place. "Enjoy your evening."
"What, that's it?" Lightning Dust snapped.
"Excuse me?"
"The Flash Magnus just happens to be in the same bar that we walk into. He parts the bucking clouds to get to me, just so he can say, 'Hey, my friend wanted an autograph, but oh well, see ya later?!'"
Flash rolled his eyes. "Look, I just came here for a refill. He's the fan, not me. Sorry if your ego can't handle that."
"Not a fan, huh?" Lightning's face relaxed into the smirk that Flash was starting to think was her default expression. "Let's see if we can't change that. HEY!" she yelled toward the third member of their party, "gimme a quill!"
"PULL IT OUTTA YOUR WINGS!" the short pegasus stallion screamed back, before going back to the crowd's eager attentions.
Lightning Dust looked like she was about to pounce, and Flash was starting to wonder whether he'd have to cite them all for disturbing the peace, when a soft cough from the bartender somehow cut through all the noise.
"Use mine, Miss," he offered, holding out a quill with the tip already dipped in ink.
Lightning spared one last growl for her shorter companion before taking the quill in her mouth. She pulled over a paper bar coaster and scribbled something on it. When she was finished, she hoofed it over to Flash.
"What's this?"
"A backstage pass to our show tomorrow for you and a guest. Plus it's got my signature on it, so there's your friend's autograph right there."
"Well, thank you. I'm sure he'll love the show."
"Oh, no," Lightning held up a hoof, "free entry for Flash Magnus and a guest. He's not getting in without you!"
"Why?"
"Because," she answered with a canny smirk, "I can't wait for the Pillar of Bravery to start telling everypony that we're better than the Wonderbolts."
Magnus snorted. "Well, you're in the running for Pillar of Audacity for sure." He picked up the coaster and tucked it into his belt pouch, if only so she'd leave him alone. "Now, for the second time: Have a good evening." He turned and swept his gaze over the crowd, which once again parted for him like clouds pushed aside by a Legion phalanx.
"See you tomorrow!" Lightning Dust shouted after him.
Flash winced—there was no way Winter hadn't heard that. He'd want to know what Lightning Dust had meant, and Flash wasn't going to lie to his friend. Unfortunately, he didn't have a good excuse to miss the show, either; somehow, he thought "I don't want to" wouldn't quite cut it with Winter Winds.
In this little skirmish, the last Legionnaire had been completely outmaneuvered.