Sentry at the Charge

by Tumbleweed

Some Notes on the Text

The Times of Twilight, as I have noted before, were a time of great unrest in Equestria and the lands beyond. And yet, despite the ... complex history that played out between Equestria and her satellite states, many history textbooks reduce the conflicts of the era to simple morality plays.

On the one hoof, I must admit that friendship is indeed magic, and the efforts of Princess Twilight and her cohorts are well worth commending. On the other, after an in depth study of history, it's sadly apparent that some problems simply cannot be solved through hugs and declarations of loyalty. Indeed, there are certain schools of scholarship that conclude the 'friendships' between Princess Twilight Sparkle and entities such as Nightmare Moon or Discord are, in fact, thinly veiled allegories for the oaths of fealty Princess Twilight forced from her conquered foes.

Personally, I find both perspectives overly simplistic. History is a complicated thing. It is far too easy to lapse into idealism or cynicism, depending on one's sources. Which, in turn, makes first-hand accounts such as the Flash Sentry Papers even more valuable. Despite our sometimes idealized history, there has always been a need for certain ponies to get their hooves dirty in service to crown and country. For all his cynicism (and self professed cowardice), Flash Sentry provides an honest perspective on certain historical events that is simply unmatched by any other first hand sources.

(It goes without saying that Princess Twilight Sparkle has not yet replied to my inquires as to corroborate Sentry's accounts. Not that I would let such a lapse in scholarship count against a monarch who's so famed for her patronage of academia. I'm a better pony than that. Really).

With this in mind, I humbly present the third volume of the Flash Sentry Papers, detailing the events and aftermath of the second Battle of Canterlot.

-George MacIntosh Fresian.

Comments

[ShadowLDrago]

Indeed, there are certain schools of scholarship that conclude the 'friendships' between Princess Twilight Sparkle and entities such as Nightmare Moon or Discord are, in fact, thinly veiled allegories for the oaths of fealty Princess Twilight forced from her conquered foes.

Not quite. If anything, Discord's more loyal to Fluttershy than Twilight.

[ponygrad]

Indeed, there are certain schools of scholarship that conclude the 'friendships' between Princess Twilight Sparkle and entities such as Nightmare Moon or Discord are, in fact, thinly veiled allegories for the oaths of fealty Princess Twilight forced from her conquered foes.

This makes too much god damned sense.

[Aziraphael]

8310933
I know, right? It's almost like this was written by a historian that wasn't there when any of it happened or something.

[Spamotron]

You know in some ways this version of Flash Sentry fits in with the show and the Mane 6 gang quite well. Think about it.

Twilight Sparkle is a neurotic OCD mess who has almost doomed Ponyville with an ill thought panic driven spell, twice.

Rainbow Dash is a complete egomaniac who once selfishly destroyed a weather factory just so she wouldn't be separated from her pet for a few months.

Rarity is vain and greedy. She once lied to and about her friends to gain social status.

Pinkie Pie has bouts of manic, careless obliviousness where she's harmed friends and strangers emotionally and still seems to not have completely understood what she did wrong those times.

Fluttershy has a nasty habit of acting without thinking through the full ramifications when animals are involved. Like the time she stole Princess Celestia's pet phoenix or the time she brought an unknown species outside of the Everfree Forest with no precautions resulting in Ponyville being devoured.

Applejack is proud and stubborn and once gave half the town food poisoning because of it.

This version of Flash Sentry is a lecherous coward who avoids real work and responsibility whenever possible. He exploited a misunderstanding to gain fame and accolades he didn't deserve.

While their flaws are diverse what all 7 have in common is that when things get bad and somepony needs to do the right thing to fix it they go and do it despite the risk and cost to themselves.

[AlexTFish]

For all his cynicism (and self professed cowardice), Flash Sentry provides an honest perspective on certain historical events that is simply unmatched by any other first hand sources.

Sorry to nitpick, but "first hand" definitely isn't right for anything pony-side. Rainbow Dash in the first Equestria Girls movie even says "Uh, what are 'hands'?" "First-hoof" is a fairly silly alternative but probably the best available unless you want to rephrase to "eyewitness" or similar.

[Seraphem]

On the other, after an in depth study of history, it's sadly apparent that some problems simply cannot be solved through hugs and declarations of loyalty

True. That's what the Orbital Friendship Cannon is for.