//------------------------------// // ~III~ // Story: Twilight's Sentry // by GemstoneTheUnicorn //------------------------------// Sweet Celestia, she’s gorgeous… Princess Twilight Sparkle stood at the doorway, beckoning the pegasus inside. “You must be Flash Sentry,” she concluded. He stared blankly at Twilight. “Yeah…” Flash shook his head a few times. “I mean, yes, I’m Flash.” He entered the tree. Relax, Flash. You’re not even supposed to actually like her, he thought to himself. Just protect her. “Have I seen you somewhere before? You look awfully familiar,” Twilight questioned. The Empire. The Princess Summit, thought Flash. “Mmmm, were you at the party earlier?” “Yes, I was,” Twilight confirmed. “That makes sense,” Flash said. “So…I was thinking...if you’re okay with it…would you like to go to The Hayburger?” ********** “So, Flash, how do you know my friend Rarity?” Oh, ponyfeathers. “Um… well, I saw her in Cloudsdale…” You idiot, she’s a unicorn! he thought to himself. “Was it at the Best Young Flyer competition?” Twilight inquired. Thank Celestia, Flash silently noted. “Oh, yes!” Wait. How does a non-pegasus get into Cloudsdale, and then enter a flying competition? “We met when--” “Oh, hiya, Twilight. Hiya, Flash,” interrupted Pinkie Pie. “May I take your order?” “Oh, sure, Pinkie. I’ll have my usual,” Twilight picked. “I’ll have what she’s having,” Flash decided. That’s the pink mare from earlier… “Okie dokie lokie.” Pinkie hopped off. "Where was I…” Flash pondered aloud. “You were telling me how you met Rarity,” Twilight helped. Flash mentally facehoofed himself. Great. You had to ask for help. “Oh...yes. I was one of the ponies who…” Great, now you’re out of ideas. “Oh, now I remember! I think you were one of the ponies who helped Rarity after Rainbow Dash did her Sonic Rainboom! Right?” Twilight asked. “Yes! Yes, that was me. That’s how I met Rarity.” Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Celestia! “Here you go, guys.” Pinkie brought in Flash and Twilight’s food. “That was fast, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight commented. “Well, since you two are eating the same thing, I just used the copy/paste feature.” Pinkie bounded off. “What?” asked Flash, utterly confused. “Oh, that’s just Pinkie being Pinkie,” Twilight clarified. Her date still looked positively puzzled. “She does random stuff all the time, so don’t worry about it. Unless her tail’s twitching.” “O...kay,” Flash was still confused. He picked up his hayburger and began to eat. Dang, this is good. He set his food down. "So, Twilight, how'd you meet Rarity?" "It's quite a story, actually..." ********** "...And we saved Equestria from eternal night!" Twilight finished. "Wow. That is quite the story. It's no wonder you're a princess, Twilight," Flash stated. She blushed. "Hey, Flash? Let's get outta here," Twilight proposed after they finished their food. "Sure thing." They got up, Flash paid the bill and tip, and they left. "You're such a gentlecolt, Flash. You didn't have to do that," Twilight said. He smiled. "Yes, but I wanted to." Did I really just say that? They walked in silence for a while. "Hey, do you want to go fly for a bit?" "Um... I'm not that great of a flyer yet..." Twilight replied, embarrassed. "That's okay," Flash said. "Maybe I can teach you sometime." Nailed it. "If you don't mind." Flash, you idiot. "Oh, I'd like that," Twilight said happily. Yes! She likes- I mean, she'll be safe! Flash thought to himself. She'll definitely be safe. "So, would you like to go for a little trot in the park?" "I'd love to." ********** "So, you're from Cloudsdale, Flash?" He nodded. "I'm from Canterlot." Twilight said as they walked through the park. "Neat. A few years back, I actually moved to the Crystal Empire and joined the weather team," Flash said. "You're kidding! My brother, Shining Armor, lives there," Twilight exclaimed. "But you probably already knew that. He's kinda the prince." "Captain--" Crap, "...Hooves, the leader of the weather team," Flash mentally shrugged, "serves directly under Prince Armor." "Neat," Twilight said. She looked into the night. "I should probably get going. Walk me home?" Flash playfully bowed. "As you wish, m'lady." Twilight chuckled. ********** After returning to Thunderlane's, Flash made his way to bed. He found a disappointed pegasus sitting on the bed. Flash crawled into his sleeping bag on the floor. “What’s wrong?” “Dash beat me. Again,” Thunderlane confirmed. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’m sure Rainbow beats everypony,” Flash said. “You’re right. So, how’d your fake date go?” Thunderlane mischievously questioned. “It was...okay. Apparently, I helped save Rarity at the Best Young Flyer competition a few years back,” Flash shrugged. “That’s all? I’d bet you could have come up with something better than that.” “Oh, well,” Flash responded. “I’m gonna get some shut-eye. Good night, Thunderlane.” “G’night, Sentry.” ********** That was not at all what I had in mind, thought an ecstatic Twilight Sparkle. It was nice. She had just returned from her date with Flash Sentry, satisfied, to say the least. Twilight quietly bounded up the stairs, so as not to wake Spike. She reached her bedroom window just in time to see Flash take off, flying into the night. She sat on her bed for a few minutes, replaying the day’s events in her head. Twilight had eaten breakfast, gone to Quills and Sofas for her writing quills, then to Sugarcube Corner for the party. Afterwards, Rarity took her to the day spa to get ready for her date. Later, Flash took Twilight to The Hayburger for their date. Oh, he’s such a gentlecolt. Twilight got up and walked over to one of her many bookcases. She selected a book titled Astronomical Astronomer's Almanac to All Things Astronomy. Twilight trotted back to her bed and opened the book, beginning to read. ********** “Captain Armor! We’ve just received word from Ponyville!” a guard informed. “Yes? What is it?” Captain Shining Armor asked. The younger guard handed his captain a scroll. Captain Shining Armor: I am pleased to say that your plan is working. So far. I believe that the princess has taken a liking to me, leaving me with mixed emotions. She is also willing to let me teach her to fly, which will make for a good escape if she is attacked. I must continue to keep an eye on her, so I’ll keep this short. Flash Sentry, 1st Class Royal Guard “Good, good,” Armor muttered to himself. He trotted off to share the report with Cadence.