“Hey, Flash!” Sunset runs up to the blue haired boy as school let out. “What happened? We made plans for Spring break, but you just vanished,” she glares. “And not once did you return my calls.”
Sweat starts dripping down Flash’s head. “Sorry, Sunset,” the boy closes his locker. “I was kinda shipped off to a bootcamp unwillingly and they don’t really have cell service up there.”
The former unicorn glares before sighing and crossing her arms. “I guess I can understand that. I just wished you’d call or something to let me know before you left.”
“And I would have. But I didn’t know about the bootcamp until I got there myself,” they started walking down the hall.
“That’s harsh. You’d think someone would have told you?”
Flash unconsciously glanced at his right hand, “Not sure I would’ve believed it if someone did,” Or more specifically, what’s wrapped around his middle finger. The two made it out of the building.
The flame haired girl noticed Flash’s gaze and looked at his hand herself. “That’s an interesting ring.” Around Flash’s middle finger is an unusual green ring with an image resembling a lantern on it. the article of jewelry seemingly had a glow to it. “Get it from bootcamp?”
“Uh, yeah!” the boy moves his hand to where the ring wouldn’t easily be visible. “It’s just a badge you get for joining them.”
“Really?” Sunset raises a brow. “If it’s just a badge, then why is it beeping?”
The ring is indeed letting out a beeping sound as the ring starts blinking. “Uh, you know? So many things got to have useless gimmicks these days,” Flash starts walking backwards. “Hey! remember those pens that light up? What was the point of that? Any! Gotta go! Bye!” he then runs off to hide himself behind the CHS statue.
Sunset considered just letting her guitarist be, but curiosity got the best of her, and she sneaks up to the statue. The Rainboom remained just around the corner. Out of sight, but close enough to hear.
A gruff voice can be heard. “Green Lantern, Kilowog, calling Green Lantern Flash Sentry.”
“Green Lantern, Flash Sentry, here,” the blue teen answers. “What’s going on, Kilowog?”
“Me and some scouts were tracking a few Manhunters. We got most of them, but we lost sight of one. We’re still searching. However, I feel the need to inform you that it was near your sector.”
“Thanks, Kilowog. I’ll, I’ll keep an eye out.”
The gruff voice then sighs, “I know that sound. I hear it with all the new recruits. Especially the young ones. The Drill Sergeant gloves are off. What’s the matter, kid?”
“I just don’t know how to explain the whole Green Lantern thing to anyone. My friends. My family. This stuff isn’t easy, and I don’t know about telling anyone about it. But I also don’t want to lie. Especially to Sunset.”
The voice laughs. “That the pretty girl you keep talking about?”
“No! I mean yes. Oh,” Flash stumbles over his words and Sunset had to cover her mouth to stifle her own laughter.
“Not gonna lie, Kid. This job is hard. You thought I was tough on ya, you ain’t seen nothing yet. But that Ring chose you for a reason. And a Ring rarely chooses wrong. That doesn’t mean you have to choose it, though.”
“Huh?”
“You’re not the first poozer to doubt being a Lantern, Flash. But I’ve seen you in action. You’re one of the best cadets I’ve ever trained. You have the Will of a Green Lantern. And the heart.”
“Thanks, Kilowog.”
“Now, before I sign off. What’s the most important rule about being a Lantern.”
“Keep your Ring charged,” Flash sighs. “I know, I know.”
“Then why do my readings show that your Ring is almost out of juice?”
“I, I was about to charge it before you called.”
“Uh-huh,” the voice didn’t sound convinced. “Well, better get going, Flash. To the Core!”
“To the Core,” the boy repeats.
Sunset took this as her chance to peek around the corner. The flame haired girl sees Flash taking something out of his bag. It resembled a lantern.
Flash holds the lantern out in front of him and points his ring in front of it before speaking. “In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night, No Evil Shall Escape My Sight! Let Those Who Worship Evil’s Might! Beware My Power! Green Lantern’s Light!” Energy pours out of the lantern and into the Ring. Soon, there’s a flash of light and the guitarists’ outfit changed.
The boy now stands there wearing a green and black suit with the same symbol on the chest as the ring. His blue hair has a tint of green to it and his eyes are green when Sunset knows for a fact that they should be blue.
Flash looks at his Ring and smirks as he lets energy leave it. Before Sunset knew it, the boy was holding a guitar and shreds a few notes. “Man, I never get tired of that,” he dismisses the guitar and then glances at his Ring. “I wonder…” and a domino mask soon appears on his face. “That’s better,” he says to himself as his feet leave the ground.
Sunset watches in awe as she watches him take flight and disappear into a streak of green light. “Exactly what kind of bootcamp did he go to?” the yellow girl asks herself not expecting an answer.”
“I don’t know,” Pinkie says, startling her fellow Rainboom. “But I would like one of those rings.”
“Ah! Pinkie!? Where’d you come from?”
“Huh? I thought for sure you’d be too old for this talk,” the party girl started thinking before clearing her throat. “You see, Sunset. When a mommy and daddy love each other very much—” yellow hands then covers Pinkie’s mouth.
“Not that!” Sunset halts the talk. “I mean, how much of that did you see?”
“Oh! You should have made that clear, Silly,” the pink teen giggles. “I started eavesdropping on your boyfriend shortly before the light show. Just image the parties I could throw with one of those.”
“Flash isn’t my boyfriend,” Sunset deadpans.
Pinkie wraps an arm around Sunset while giving a knowing smirk. “Suurrre, he isn’t.” That comment for some reason caused the yellow girl’s checks to tint red.
Just then, a loud thump landed near them. Standing not far from Pinkie and Sunset is a red robot with a silver face holding a staff in one hand.
“Green Lantern energy signature detected,” the robot approaches them. “Humans! You will tell me the location of the Green Lantern of Sector two, eight, one, four.”
“Sprinkle Bomb!” Pinkie shouts as she throws a hand full of sprinkles into the machine’s face that bursts into colors. It had no effect on it.
“Human of the Planet Earth. You are to be captured and detained for the assault of a Manhunter.”
“Run!” Sunset grabs Pinkie by the wrist and drags her along.
The robot though, took off using its thrusters on its feet and lands in front of the two girls. Stopping them in their tracks.
“No one escapes the Manhunters,” the robot raises its staff that extends as one end sparks with electricity. It goes to bring the staff down onto the two humans. Only, it gets blocked by a green barrier.
A familiar voice shouts. “Hey! Looking for me?” Flash descends between the two girls and the Manhunter. “Don’t worry, ladies. You’re safe now.”
Pinkie shouts. “Thanks, Flash Lantern!” causing Sunset to cover her ears.
“Actually, it’s Green Lan—Wait!” he turns to them. “You know!?”
Sunset shrugs. “Behind the school’s statue is not exactly the best place for a private conversation. Nor a lightshow. And did you really think we wouldn’t tell just because you covered your cheek bones?”
Hearing that, the Lantern slumps as he lets his mask fade. “Well, it worked in the comics.”
That causes the yellow girl to smirk. “Real life is not the same.”
“Am I interrupting something?” the Manhunter asks.
“Oh, right!” Flash constructs a sword as he addresses the girls. “You two better get out of here. Manhunters are not to be taken light—” whatever the boy was about to say is cut off as the Manhunter’s staff is slammed into him, forcing the Lantern into the side of a nearby building. “Ow!”
The Manhunter approaches Flash with its staff raised. “No one escapes the—”
“Sprinkle Bomb!”
Another blast hits the robot, still not phasing it. The machine turns to face the two girls. “That did nothing the first time. What made you think it would work any differently?”
Sunset examines her nails while boasting, “I’d say it worked perfectly.”
Pinkie giggled. “It’s called a distraction!”
And before the Manhunter knew it, a drill was pierced through its back and out of its chest. The machine then collapsed to the ground.
The drill disappears into Flash’s Ring before he starts speaking into it. “This is Green Lantern, Flash Sentry. The Manhunter Robot has been dismantled.”
“Really?” the gruff voice is heard from the Ring. “Not bad for a poozer.”
“Yeah, well,” the boy looks over at the two girls. “I had help.” They smile at him.
“I look forward to hearing more in your report.”
“Will do, Kilowog. To the Core!”
“To the Core!”
Sunset walks up to him. “Bootcamp, huh?”
Flash rubs the back of his head. “Technically, that wasn’t a lie. I just didn’t tell you where the bootcamp was. And my phone plan does not carry over to the other end of the universe.”
“Well, you can explain more, later,” the yellow teen crosses her arms while wearing a smirk.
“I will,” Flash smiles. “I promise. We can go to the park after school like we used to. I’ll do it there.”
“Aww,” Pinkie coos. “I was wondering when you two would start dating again.”
The comment caused both Sunset and Flash to blush. But neither denying it.
End