Time Ticks on

by Golden Script


20. Piece of the Past: Love Story of the Millennium

Minuette was a normal mare. She wasn’t a muscle junkie and she wasn’t the most powerful unicorn around; which is what confused her when Celestia chose her to be the one to fight Discord’s champion.

“Why am I doing this, again?” She asked her good friend Twinkleshine.

“Firstly, because Celestia asked you to; secondly, because it’ll help with your physique; and thirdly, because, while we’re there, we’ll literally be surrounded by stallions.” She whipped her curly pink mane around while she said this. Her off-white coat was washed and brushed like crazy this morning, which is what woke Minuette up so early. Minuette hated waking up early. It was the bane of her existence.

“Is all you ever think of stallions?” she asked her well groomed companion.

“No, I often wonder what the moon is made of. Why do you ask?” her tone was innocent, but the words held a hint of sarcasm.

“Not what I meant, and you know it.” The mint blue mare deadpanned.

“Oh, stop being a Debbie Downer! That’s Debbie’s job!” The laughter that followed was an equivalent of claws on a chalkboard to Minuette, and she was seconds away from shoving her hoof into Twinkle’s mouth just to shut her up, when they wandered upon a gate. Looking past said gate they saw what looked like a budding military base. From where they stood, they could see several facilities, scattered among them would presumably be the barracks, an armory, and a large field that a few dozen ponies were currently using to spar.

“Halt! State your name, intention, and affiliation!” Barked a guard that was standing by the entrance.

“Minuette, to train for an upcoming battle, and I’m the apprentice of Starswirl the Bearded, current student under Celestia.” There was a strange urge to salute at that moment, but the mare resisted.

“Twinkleshine, to watch my friend here sweat her flank off, and I’m one of the top astrologists in our nation.” There was more than a touch of pride, but that was ignored by both the guard and the mare’s friend.

“Right this way, please.” He said before he nodded to his companion and walked into the base.

There was a moment of silence as Minuette and Twinkle followed him. This moment was, sadly, broken by the more perverse mare.

“He’s kinda cute.”

“Twinkle!” Minuette whisper-shouted.

“What? You know I’m right.” Twinkleshine’s eyebrows moved up and down in rapid succession.

“That is not something you need to think about, especially not here!” The whisper-shouting continued, though a little more aggressive than surprised, this time.

“Oh, come on, Minnie! Live a little!” She then trotted up next to the guard and struck up a conversation. “Hello, there. What’s your name, soldier?”

“My name is Covered Breach.” He stated, obviously not interested in her blatant advances.

“Well, Mr. Breach, how would you like to go to dinner with me, this afternoon?” she asked, rubbing against his side.

“This afternoon I’m going to be visiting my wife and two fillies for the first time in three months; so thank you for the invitation, miss, but I am busy.” He stated flatly, still walking at a constant pace while Twinkleshine fell back next to Minuette.

“You were saying?” asked the latter mare.

“There are still plenty of single stallions here, I’m sure that we could find some cute twins, or something.” She stated confidently.

“Whatever you say.”

Not long after this conversation the two mares found themselves outside an office, the plaque on the wall saying it belonged to a “General Fabian Strategy”. Covered Breach walked in, holding the door for the mares, before saluting to a stallion that was sitting at a desk in the back of the room.

“At ease.” The anonymous stallion stated.

“Mr. Strategy-” Minuette was cut off.

“Please, call me Fabian. Mr. Strategy was my father.” The stallion’s voice was kind and soft, his face conveyed these same attributes, and the way he leaned on the desk showed interest in what the mare was about to say.

“Fabian…” Minuette started again, “my name is Minuette; you may have heard from Celestia that I would be arriving for combat training.”

“Yes, Celestia told me all about you; how you’re a city filly, how you’re the apprentice to the renowned Starswirl the Bearded, how you have the ability to ‘stop time’.” He finished with air quotes. “I’m looking forward to observing this unnatural speed you supposedly have.”

“Thank you, sir. But I would like you to treat me like any other trainee. I’m nothing special, so I wish to be treated as such.” She stated quickly.

“And humble, too. She didn’t say anything about that.” An eyebrow raised itself from its previous position.

“Thank you, again. But I’m serious.” Her face hadn’t changed from its stoic form since she walked in, though it did soften a little when the General was complimenting her.

“Then I’ll leave you in the care of Noquarter Given.” He said, motioning for Covered to take them to the Drill Sargent. “He’ll have you trained within a week.” Fabian finished with a kind smile that accentuated the wrinkles in his fur, showing his true age.

He saluted before opening the door for the mares once more. They left the room and paused to wait for their guide to exit.

“Right this way.” He said as he began his short journey to wherever Noquarter Given was.

“So, what do you think that this Noquarter guy’s going to be like? He’s probably got huge muscles and a handsome face like no other.” Twinkle said dreamily as she walked beside Minuette.

“I’m sure he does.” Though her words agreed with the pale mare, her tone displayed disinterest.

There was chuckling from in front of them.

“What are you laughing at?” Asked Twinkleshine. She was truly curious, thinking there’s been some form of joke in her and Minuette’s short dialogue.

The laughter was stifled as soon as she spoke up, though. “Oh, nothing, Ms. Twinkleshine.” he said as he held a door open that lead to the field in front of the building.

“If you insist.” She said, walking out the door with curiosity still painted across her face.

He lead the two towards a group of stallions sparring and one looking over them quietly, showing them different ways to counter attack from the front, sides and even from behind.

Minuette thought that this was Mr. Given and walked out in front of Covered to meet him.

“Mr. Given? Mr. Noquarter Given?” she asked as she approached the stallion, stopping a few feet from him.

“No, I’m Overwatch. Noquarter is over there.” he motioned to a stallion that was standing over a younger stallion, yelling in his ear to do more pushups and things about his mother.

“Oh my.” Stated Minuette simply.

“Yeah, he’s the best of the best, but he’s kinda harsh. Did the General tell you that he’d train you?” Minuette nodded, still staring at Noquarter, who was now standing on the other stallion’s back, shouting about his genital size. “Well, I could probably ask Fabian to transfer you to my regime.”

“You’d do that?” she asked, whipping her head around to stare, slack jawed, at the stallion.

“Sure, but I’ve got my hooves full with my troops, so I’ll not be able to baby you.” he said with a stern tone. “Do you think you can keep up?”

“Yes, sir.” She said with a determined nod.

-----
THAT DAY

“I can't do it!” Screamed Minuette as she nearly collapsed on her stomach. “It’s too much!” Her limbs were about to give out when a hoof came out and caught her, holding her up effortlessly.

“You’ve done twenty pushups.” Said Overwatch as he helped her into a sitting position.

“That’s my personal record!” She slumped down, tired from the small exercise.

“My weakest colt can do fifty.” He deadpanned.

“Well, I’m now your weakest colt, so you should lower that number a bit.” She said as she caught her second wind.

“Fine. I’ll pair you two up, since you’re so alike. Both smartflanks that’ll get kicked out if they keep it up.” He said before calling out “Private Sentry, get over here!”

“Sir!” an orange stallion Pegasus with a blue mane barked as he saluted to Overwatch.

“From this day forward, you are to help Ms. Minuette in her training. If she falls behind in our morning jog, you will help her move on, even if it involves carrying her to the end. Are we clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” the salute didn’t falter.

“Good. I expect this to help, not only her, but you, too. It’ll teach you the importance of teamwork and the motto ‘nopony left behind’.” He walked off to continue instructing the rest of the group on counter attacks from behind.

“Oh, good; he’s gone.” Minuette sighed as she finally fell onto her face in front of the stallion and mare.

“You’ll never get anything done on the ground.” When she looked up the stallion’s hoof was held out to her, prompting her to take it.

“I’ll accomplish rest.” She said as her face once again impacted the dirt.

“Come on, there’s time to rest when you’re dead!” Twinkleshine laughed as she pushed her friend up, accidentally throwing her onto the stallion that was previously holding his hoof out.

“Twinkle!” Minuette shouted from her new position atop the stallion. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Sentry, Twinkleshine can be a bit… eccentric at times.” She said before looking down at him.

He was lying on his back, legs splayed apart, and face as red as a cherry.

“It’s fine, just, um… can I… get up?” he asked hesitantly. It was at this point that Minuette realized exactly where she was sitting and she blushed just as much, if not more.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Sentry.” She yelped as she jumped off of the stallion, careful not to hit any… sensitive parts.

“It’s ok, though I don’t think I’ll ever live it down.” He looked over to the other soldiers who were trying to hold back their laughter.

“Well, um… as awkward as this is, let’s just forget about it and start again. Hi, my name is Minuette; I’m from Manehattan, the apprentice of Starswirl the Bearded, and the appointed Champion of the Celestial Sisters in the upcoming battle against Discord.” She thrust her hoof out towards the stallion with a happy smile.

“I’m Flash Sentry; I’m the weakest in my squadron and have nothing to distinguish myself from the other guards.” He said jokingly, shaking her hoof with a similar smile.

“I think we’ll get along great.”

-----
LATER THAT DAY

“Now, when I come at you, you need to do this.” Flash showed Minuette where to put her hooves and how to take him down when he rushed her.

“Ok, I’m ready.” She said a little unsteadily.

He ran at her and she did exactly as instructed. The product of these two facts was Flash on the ground and Minuette standing on top of him.

“Good.” He wheezed out.

“I did it!” She yelped excitedly.

“Yes you did.” He began regaining his breath.

“Did you see that? You were running at me like ‘aaaarg!’ and I was all like ‘NOPE!’ and now you’re on the ground and- and- and… are you ok?” She asked; only now noticing his pained expression.

“Perfectly fine.” Though his voice betrayed his words.

“Are you sure?” She stood over the stallion, snout to snout with him.

“Yep. Can I get up now?” He had a red tinge on his cheeks, which went unnoticed by the mare.

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.” The mare’s smirk said ‘I’ll get it one way or another.’

There was a moment of silence, in which Flash Sentry considered his options, Minuette wondered what was wrong, and Twinkleshine held back a laughing fit that would put Pinkie to shame.

“You’re… um… well…” He glanced down towards their stomachs, which seemed to be enough for the azure mare.

“Oh my Celestia.” She proceeded to scramble off of him as fast as she could, which caused her to trip and fall on top of him once more. There were several laughs, which then incited more laughs from those that were previously unaware of the shenanigans.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” There was still a raging blush across her face and her voice was as shameful as ever.

“It’s fine… I’m going to hit the showers.” He began walking to a building that would soon be identified as the barracks.

-----
EVEN LATER THAT DAY

“Um, is this Flash Sentry’s room?” Minuette asked a stallion that was passing by.

“I think so.” He looked inside, seeing the orange Pegasus sitting on a top bunk facing away from the door. “Yeah, he’s in there.” the stallion, having previously answered the mare’s question, walked away, going back to the task he was previously doing.

Once Flash had gone into the stallion’s locker room, he didn’t come out for an hour. When he did, he went straight to his bunk. Minuette continued her training, seeing as the battle was rapidly approaching and she had no time to waste. But once Overwatch had let her leave, the first place she went was to the formerly mentioned locker room. When the stallions leaving said that he wasn’t in fact in there, she went on a search for his room.

And now, here she was, standing outside his room, just… waiting… for something to push her past the door.

“Are you just gonna stand there, or do you want me to go in there and flirt with him?” Asked Twinkleshine, as she was standing next to Minuette, waiting for her to make a move.

“Your version of flirting would probably be bedding him… forcefully.” Minuette joked back.

“Yeah, it probably would…. So, are you gonna go in there, or will I?” Twinkle began creeping towards the door.

“Just move.” Twinkleshine was pushed out of the way with a playful yelp.

As the door closed behind Minuette, Flash glanced over his shoulder, expecting one of his bunkmates.

“Hi.” She said awkwardly.

“Oh… hey.” He said back.

Awkward silence.

“So… about earlier…” she began.

“Don’t worry about it! It was just a big accident.” He assured her, though he didn’t seem all that sure, himself.

Awkward silence.

“I was just wondering, since I embarrassed you in front of your peers, maybe I could…” She began inching towards the bed.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I know that it was a bit awkward, and I know that I’ll be teased for it for the rest of my time in The Guard, but you don’t need to do that! I mean, if we were to do that then we really shouldn’t do it here. I mean, we shouldn’t do it at all! The guard has a rule about ‘no infatuation between guards’ and stuff, and we’d totally be kicked out! Or, at least, I would. Not so sure about you, seeing as Celestia sent you here. And even then, you don’t have to!” He finished his rant.

“… Buy you dinner…” She finished.

“What?”

“I was offering to buy you dinner. What did you think I was offering?”

“Nothing!” He made a very bad lying face.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“Yes!” The face only got worse.

“Do you want me to pin you until you tell me the truth… again?” She asked, moving forward threateningly.

“No!” He fell off his bunk, landing on his face. “Ow.”

“Ready to talk?” She asked.

“Let’s go get dinner.” He popped up, back on his hooves.

“So we can talk there?” She persisted, which earned her a groan.

-----
EVEN LATER THAT DAY

We walked in silence. You’d think that would be weird, but think about it. We were put through awkward situations all day long. I don’t know anyone that would be comfortable with somepony after something like that. But, hey, that’s just me.

Anyway, we were almost to the restaurant when it started raining. I’m not even kidding; we were walking along, bright and sunny, when, all of a sudden, boom. It just started pouring.

We looked up and saw some Pegasus stallions pushing clouds over the city. It wasn’t a prank, or anything; we just didn’t know that it was going to rain today.

Or, at least, I didn’t.

Yeah, I’d prefer not to think about that right now.

Besides, we were almost there. Just a few more blocks, aaaand…

“Hey, my apartment is around here; I could treat you to dinner, instead.”

Sonofadonkey.

“Oh, that’s really okay, the place is just around the corner-” I tried to tell him.

“We’re literally right here.” he motioned to the building we were currently standing next to.

There was a moment of silence, which was contained with me weighing my options.

On one hoof, I could just say “hey, it’s right there!” and run off, forcing him to follow me; and on the other, I could take him up on his offer, possibly leading to more awkward situations.

Of course, we would be alone, so there would be nopony to-

I cut off that line of thought before it could mature and infest my mind with little dirty worms that would crawl through my head and whisper in my ears all night.

My next thought was ‘Oh, buck it!’ as I finally responded with “thanks, you’re so nice.” As I walked past the doors and into the lobby, I swear I saw him hoof pump in the reflection of a window.

Minutes later we were up in a fairly nice room, on a guard’s pay, anyway. He was cooking something that smelled devine in the kitchen.

“Are you sure I can’t help?” I asked, though I only wanted to get a taste of that delicious lasagna.

“Please, you’re my guest; having you help would make me a bad host!” He gave a short chuckle, but I was silently cursing the food gods for putting me through this torture. “Dinner is served.” He said as he came up behind me and placed the dish on the table.

“Oh, it smells great!” I said, ripping the lid off of the plate. “You didn’t tell me you were a cook!” I hastily scooped a generous portion onto a plate and began chewing the morsel.

“You really think so? My parents always told me that I had to get better if I were going to get into the culinary arts. Guess they were right.” There was a hint of sadness that kind of killed the mood.

“You… tried to be a chef?” I asked hesitantly.

“Well, yeah. My parents were two of the top chefs in the country. They always said that once the princesses took the kingdom they’d sign up to be her royal cooks. They were killed in an accident not long ago, but it’s ok. I try not to dwell on that stuff.” He waved a hoof like it wasn’t important.

“Flash… I’m so sorry.” A short silence later I continued, trying to retrieve the happiness that was once there. “So how’d you get to cooking stuff like this heavenly dish?”

“My parents signed me up for the top school in all of Equestria, and I studied hard! They always said how they were so proud, and that only motivated me even more. It got to the point I was closing myself in my room to learn about the different types of basil.”

“But isn’t there only one type of basil?” I regretted asking that question.

“Christmas Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Dark Opal Basil, Holy Basil, Lemon and Lime Basil-”

“Ok, I get it.” I cut him off.

“Anyway, when they died, it motivated me even more. I became top in my class, and eventually, top in the city. My dream was to be the chef that my parents would have been.”

“So why aren’t you there now? Cooking for Celestia and Luna?” He chuckled at this, which confused me greatly.

“I would have made it… if I hadn’t run out of sugar.”

-----
FLASHBACK
(You see what I did there?)

Flash Sentry. He was a good stallion, and a better cook.

*needle scratch*

Wait, you mean to tell me you know how he’s a cook? And you know that his parents died in an accident? And you know how he was going to be Equestrias next top chef?

Ok, then, know-it-all; you tell the story!

That’s what I thought. Now shut up and listen.

As I was saying, he was a good stallion and a better cook. He would always try to find improvements to his recipes, so he was constantly in the kitchen. One day, he decided he’d make a new kind of cake; one that had much more sugar than a normal cake.

This cake was made, and the recipe was misplaced, only to be found a thousand-or-so years later by a mare named Pinkamena Diane Pie. Said cake recipe gave her the infamous “Pinkie Sense”, among other mysterious powers, that nopony can understand…

But that’s another story entirely; back to Flash.

“Hey, Flash!” came the sound of one of Flash’s best friends, Graceful Garnish.

“Hey, Grace, what’s up?” Flash asked, turning away from his creation.

“I got this letter in the mail. It has your name all over it, but it ended up in my box, for some reason.” She hooved over said document.

“You sure you’re not just stealing my mail to see if I have a mare in my life?” he teased her. Grace seemed to constantly be around Flash, and while it was, in fact, always a coincidence.

“I’m not stealing your mail! Look, do you want it, or not?” She held it out to him.

“Fine.” he “begrudgingly” took the scroll from the mare and unfurled it.

He read aloud “Dear, Flash Sentry, you are hereby selected to participate in a test to see if you will be the Royal Sisters next new chef. Please report to their majesties in a week’s time to receive additional information. Thank you for your consideration. Yours, Lukewarm Lassi.”

When he looked back up to Grace she looked like she was about to scream with excitement.

Which she proceeded to do.

Much to the stallion’s discomfort.

“You’re gonna be the next Royal Chef!” she squeed while jumping around the stunned Flash.

“Now, now; it didn’t say that I was accepted, it just said to report to Celestia and Luna for more information.” He tried to calm her, which would never work.

“But you’re so good that they have to let you in!” Her excitement seemed like it would rip the roof off of the building they were in and toss it to the other side of the nation.

“That has yet to be decided. Now, what do you think of this?” He cut a piece of his cake out and set it before her.

“What is it?” She asked as she levitated a forkful to her lips.

“A new sugar cake I’m planning on unveiling later this week.” He replied smugly.

She took one, very small, bite from off of her fork and passed out. Her comatose body slumped to the table and fell to the floor.

“Grace?!” He rushed to her side, checking her vitals.

That day ended with a trip to the emergency room and an apology meal. Graceful Garnish never ate another cake again.

-----
PRESENT

“And that’s how I lost my first marefriend.” He had a look on his face that said “thought” as he looked off into the distance.

It was weird.

“That’s… sad. But I still don’t know why you weren’t accepted into the Kitchens for Royalty.” I pointed out.

“Oh! That’s what I was talking about? Hmm… ok, then; let me start again.”

-----
ANOTHER FLASHBACK
(Eh? Eh? Ok, I’ll stop)

When Flash arrived at the Princesses Residence, he found himself being escorted to the Royal Kitchens, which were what they were actually called… I’m not making this-

You know what? I’m done. You people don’t appreciate us narrators, and I’m not even getting paid for this! In fact, why am I here? The writer just pulled me off the street and- is that a gun?

Flashwasdroppedoffatthekitchensand-

What do you mean nobody understood that?

What do you mean you could do better?

What do you mean say “what do you mean” one more time?

What do you- that’s a gun- someone help! This bi-

*BANG*

Back to the story! Yes, I’m not the normal Narrator, but you’re just gonna have to deal with it.

Anyhow, Flash was dropped at the doors and told to wait until Lukewarm arrived.

He didn’t have to wait very long.

“Hello, I presume you are Flash Sentry?” asked a blue mare as she rounded a corner, flipping her sunset purple mane out of her dark green eyes.

“And you’re Lukewarm Lassi. Thank you for the letter; this has always been my dream… even since my parents…” that sentence did not need to be finished.

“I know. They talked highly of you before they left us, and afterwards I watched your grades skyrocket.” She put her hoof around his withers, guiding him through the doors before them. “Now, it’s lead you here.” She gestured to the room they were still standing in, which was the Royal Kitchen…

Yes, the other narrator wasn’t lying; it really is called the Royal Kitchen.

“Whoa!” yelled Flash as he roamed the room aimlessly. “Is that an automatic thermal generator? And a Bifrostial coil strongbox! Oh, my, Celestia; A Blender!!”

The squee was audible in Las Pegasus.

-----
PRESENT

“That was the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen.” Now Flash was looking off into the distance with a dreamy look, like if he’d seen a pretty mare.

“You still have yet to answer my question. Why were you still rejected from the Royal Eatery?”

“I was getting to that!” he shushed her, to which she harrumphed and listened.

-----
GUESS WHAT! THERE’S ONE MORE FLASHBACK BEFORE THE END!!
(You know when I said I’d stop? Well, I lied.)

“Flash Sentry, you have been tasked to make a dish for the princesses. What that dish will be is up to you, but know that their judgment will decide your future in the culinary arts.” Lukewarm suddenly became stern when she said this. “Good luck.” And the friendliness returned.

“Thank you.” Flash Sentry returned to his room that night thinking about the many dishes he could make for the princesses to impress them. He stayed up late into the night thinking upon this subject.

Completely forgetting to get the groceries.

-----

The next day Flash woke with a start.

“Oh, it was only a dream. Good.” He’d dreamt that Lukewarm was in a latex corset and… I believe that the specifics can be left out. *stashes description in bag for later… activities*

“Another day, another buffet.” He joked as he got out of bed, glancing at the clock.

It read 11:37 and, after a moment of staring, Flash realized what that meant.

“It’s almost noon.” Well, no duh; but what else?

After a moment more of thinking Flash came to the conclusion that he needed breakfast as the narrator facepalmed.

He walked downstairs with something tickling at the back of his mind, but he didn’t know what it was…

Something about… a white… powder?

He wasn’t sure, and decided it was his tired mind screwing with him. He came to a stop in his kitchen, looking around for the bowls and the cereal. As he poured Derpy-O’s into his cup and his coffee into a bowl, he realized that his test was today.

“Horseapples!” he yelled as he dropped the milk carton he was currently holding upside down over his newspaper.

He rushed into his kitchen once more and began cooking.

-----
LATER THAT DAY

Flash Sentry threw the cake—carefully—into a cake box and rushed out the door. He flew at a fast but steady pace, making sure the cake came first in all situations. When he did finally make it to the Princesses’ residence he was panting.

“Mr. Flash Sentry. Right this way.” Said a guard as he led him towards the dining room.

Minutes later they arrived; Flash had set the box down and made sure that the cake was fine, and backed away. He bowed when the Celestial Sisters walked into the door and waited with bated breath as they both took a slice.

The next few minutes were a blur in Flash’s mind, though he does remember a distinct choking sound coming from the royalty.

He awoke in a cell, with a rope binding his wings and chains to restrict his movement.

“Hello?” he called out to the room.

“Hello.” Came a gruff male voice from the corner of the cell.

“Um… hi… I’m Flash Sentry and I’m supposed to be one of the royal chefs. Who are you?” He asked, expecting a name, but getting nothing of the sort.

“You can call me Master.” Said the stallion perversely.

Flashes screams would be heard throughout the jail for the rest of the night.

-----
PRESENT

“Turns out I’d used salt instead of sugar when making the cakes and when the princesses tried it they nearly vomited. The guards took this as an attempt on their lives and that I was the culprit. They knocked me out and threw me in the dungeons. From there I decided the only way to truly serve Celestia and Luna left was to be part of the guard, and I’d be damned if I didn’t repay them for accidentally salting them.” Flash finished his story.

“Wow. That’s… interesting.” Minuette responded, trying to hide her furious blush, but failing miserably; though Flash didn’t seem to notice.

“So, what about you? What did you do to make Celestia send you to boot camp?” he asked in a joking fashion.

“I invented a way to stop time.” She said simply.

Flash took a double take…

Then a triple take…

Then he looked at her skeptically…

“Show me.” Was all he had to say.

Author's Note:
Sorry for all of the terrible comedy in this chapter. I wrote the last fourth of it when I was high (or the equivalence of such a state for me, which is just staying up so late that I don't remember what I wrote).