To say that a patrol route in the Crystal Empire is a long investment of time would be a severe understatement to any Guardspony. To think that one would take on a patrol eagerly, in the coldest time of the year, would seem like they were simply trying to squeeze enough of a paycheck for Hearth's Warming presents. But to assign themselves to a solo patrol route along the entire perimeter of the city on Hearth's Warming Day itself?
They'd have to be Flash Sentry.
The lone Guardspony took a deep breath, his foggy sigh stinging his eyes as he made his way down to the South end of the Crystal Empire. Step by step, the solemn clanking of his thick armored shoes against the iced over pavement was the only sound that accompanied him. Light danced from the festive decorations strung along the street, tinsel and thyme glittering and glimmering overhead. The shine of the crystal street bounced off of his polished armor, gleaming reflections into the windows he passed.
A few ponies poked their heads out to greet the Guard, waving and cheering the holiday greetings. He gave them a passing nod and kept vigilant. Some wondered if the pony was even paying attention to the calendar, and one soon called him out on it.
"Excuse me, sir!" a mare shouted from her home. "Do you know what day it is!?"
"Of course, ma'am," he responded. "The twenty fifth of December, why?"
"Well, why are you out in the streets?"
"Ma'am, I'm a Royal Guard," he answered, his tone lowering to carry more authority. "I have a duty to-"
"It's the holiday!" she interrupted. "Just knock off the clock and enjoy yourself with somepony you love!"
"I'm afraid I don't have the luxury of doing so today. Stay safe, ma'am."
With that, the mare shrugged and Flash Sentry returned to his route.
His gaze darted across the edge of the barrier, partially faded around the higher portion to allow a downfall of snow to blanket the city. Just enough to keep in with the holiday spirit, and little enough to not damage any property. However, he'd bet both his wings that something unsavory was eyeing that weakened barrier. The thought of an impenetrable city purposefully lowering its defenses for the sake of visuals alone was clearly a tactical error, one that even Prince Shining Armor had agreed upon. However, the debate ended when the Prince had shown him the power in the Crystal Heart and how it'd keep any intruders powerless under the sheer might of the holiday spirit that charged it.
Even still, Flash knew he had a duty to uphold, regardless of any conditions present before him, whether they be holiday related or not. With another step, he'd made his way to the very edge of the city's limit. Grass blanketed with a light coating of frost shone like a field of finely powdered diamonds. The flickering blue and pink at the far reach of the barrier gave a window to the intense snowstorm that was hovering over the Empire's territory, with the snow piling outside the barrier to twice Celestia’s height.
"Hello, there," a familiar voice greeted.
Flash Sentry closed his eyes and hummed as the stallion approached. Clad in a weathered brown cloak and a patchy, battered red scarf, the hidden figure's smile poked through their getup, flashing Flash a toothy grin.
"And to think I almost worried you'd be late for our annual meetup," the posh stallion said. "Still on time as always. Truly an ideal Guard, through and through."
Flash Sentry banked a hard left to avoid the stallion, and in a moment, the cloaked pony followed along the route.
"So, how goes the career? Last I checked in on you, you were, what, a Sergeant? Tell me, Flash Sentry, how well off are you now?"
"Lieutenant Flash Sentry," he replied through grit teeth. "Now quiet. I need to focus on my work."
"Oh yes! Of course! Such thrilling work today, what with so much snow trying to smuggle itself into the city! Honestly, the only crimes I see frequent this dreadful season are the horrible atrocities against style that are those sweaters so many seem keen on wearing." The cloaked stallion gagged. "Honestly, do they have to light up? I always see the ones that light up and think to myself, 'oh, what I'd give to watch it combust and reduce that worthless heap of wool and dye to ash!' Sadly, it's yet to happen, but maybe we'll see what locals call a 'Hearth's Warming Miracle'. What do you think?"
"Gonna have to make a note to the local cleaners that they missed two whole blocks of trash pickup," Flash muttered, jotting down notes with his wings. "Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean anypony should get to freely slack off."
"Oh, how dastardly!" the other stallion gawked, his horn poking out from his hood. "Would you care for me to-"
"Absolutely not. I'd have to bring you in for arson, and I don't think anypony here wants that."
The horn lost its glow as he pulled the hood further out to cover it.
"Hmpf, if you insist."
Onwards they kept along, marching through the ice and snow as the Lieutenant inspected every aspect of the city in sight. He recorded the barrier's integrity, the snowfall, the minute missteps in public services, anything and everything that was out of place found its place on his list. After two hours of nothing but snow crunching and ice cracking, the second stallion spoke up.
"Thank you."
Flash Sentry put away his notepad and sighed.
"Don't start that."
"Please, if I may be heartful once a year, let it be towards a pony that needs it."
Flash sighed and turned about.
"You have five minutes."
The stallion peered into Flash's eyes and nodded.
"I'm thankful that you gave me a chance to turn myself in when we first met," he muttered. "You had every chance, and every right in the world, to strike me down. But you didn't. I don't know why, but I'll never forget the only kindness that anypony's shown me since... let's not get sidetracked. The point I want to say is that I'm grateful for you and your diligence, and your honor. In another lifetime, you could have likely stopped me from going down that horrid path I took so long ago. But now, I suppose I should be even more thankful that you've set me about correcting what I can correct, and try to be a somewhat decent pony before my misdeeds well and truly caught up with me, again."
The hood pulled back and Sombra's weakened form looked up to the Royal Guard.
"They might never know why you do this to yourself, but I can promise you that you'll never go at it alone again."
Flash Sentry nodded and turned away.
"Alright. I'm glad that you're making a true turnaround in your life. Happy Hearth's Warming."
"Oh, just because I give a dramatic little speech, you think I'm going off on my own merry way? Perish the thought!" the former king waved him off. "We're sticking together until you can come back home and bake those accursed cookies you promised me last year."
Flash Sentry chuckled as the two set off once more.