Once Upon a Time
Flash Sentry walked into Celestia's throne room up to Captain Prince Shining Armor. They saluted each other.
"Yes sir?" asked Flash Sentry.
"The princesses are gathering at the Crystal Empire's capital castle. Cadence has reported that one of the royal crystal guards has gotten the flu. You're being sent to fill in for him."
Flash Sentry was fully prepared for this. He has craved for a little excitement for a while now. He didn't want something like Chrysalis's assault to happen, but that was the only thing time in year, it seemed, that he had anything to do as a guard and he was tied up for the entire time.
To be needed enough to be called upon by Princess Cadence, speaks for itself how much of a critical assignment this is. Even if there wasn't much to do, the occasion would… it would…
"Sir?" Flash Sentry asked.
"Yes?"
"What's the occasion? Why are all of the princesses in the Crystal Empire castle anyways?"
Shining Armor opened his mouth, but he hesitated. He rolled his eyes upward trying to think. After a minute, he opened up his saddlebag, pulling out a parchment. He read it over a few times before putting it away.
"Umm… I really have no idea. Well, alright then. The train to the Crystal Empire leaves at 3 o' clock. Don't forget your guard pass."
**********
The Six Elements entered the glimmering throne room of Princess Cadence. The guards blew their bugles as the six walked down the elegant carpet towards the crystal throne. Flash Sentry stood absolutely still trying to draw attention away from the fact that he was the odd-mare-out.
Princess Twilight Sparkle was apparently daydreaming as she was walking off her linear path all the way to the side. Flash Sentry looked to the guard across from himself with a look of confusion for some sort of subtle advise or signal and was only responded with a shrug of shoulders. He only thought to just stand still not wanting to be the one to break formation on the first few seconds of something actually happening, let alone in front of pretty much all of the royals. Nevertheless, she walked into him.
Time froze. Flash Sentry looked down at the princess. She hesitated, looking at him with a deep, blank stare. Flash Sentry was afraid imagining what this alicorn was thinking. He couldn't just keep standing there. He needed to do something.
"Her highness," he announced. "Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
"Twilight!" a princess called very cheerily.
Flash Sentry took a deep breath, congratulating himself on the smooth move. The princesses talked for only less than two minutes before the Six Elements walked off.
The guard captain stepped forward.
"All right. The day shift is over."
"Wait, we're done?!" he asked the captain.
"Yes."
"Wow." Flash Sentry thought. "I was actually transferred just to stand here for a couple of seconds."
The crystal guard captain gathered the royal guards into a single line as he got out a clipboard.
"Okay, now." he said. "The night guards will be… Astral Sky who will cover the west wing, Lightning Speed will cover the entrance wing, and… "
He looked for one more guard to fill in the last position and automatically, his eyes fell upon the only guard that wasn't a crystal pony.
"…And you will cover the east wing." the captain finished, pointing at Flash Sentry .
Flash Sentry had only done something for only, maybe less than two minutes and already he got the worst guard job ever. In training, he was frequently told how critical to the safety of Equestria night watch is, but every pony that's done it says you're just standing around the whole night while nothing happened. Every time it was assigned in Canterlot, he'd eat the oldest leftovers he had to avoid it. Now, he had to do a watch for the first time and without any help at all.
********
It was night at the Crystal Empire. The world was hushed quiet and cool breezes blew. Luna's moon gently glowed a soothing, silver light. The serenity of the night was slowly lulling Flash Sentry into the tempting embrace of sleep. As time dragged on, he found himself shaking or slapping himself awake more and more often. He resolved to get a coffee shop opened in the Crystal Empire.
This job was gradually proving to be tedious. Sombra is gone. Nopony's going to go through the freezing wasteland to get here. The only ways to get in are the front door and the door leading to Sombra's crazy, never-ending staircase which are both locked and guarded.
Leaning up against the wall and resting couldn't hurt. Even if he fell asleep, he'd just wake up first. If he slept it wasn't going to be the end of the world so he did.
*************
"Stop! Thief!"
Flash Sentry opened his eyes to see Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends chasing somepony in a cloak who was carrying Twilight's crown. He followed them having a rough time doing so being groggy having just woken up.
When he did catch up, the princess and her friends stood confused in an empty room being questioned by the total guard captain who sent them to their rooms with the doors locked while he alerted Celestia. She arrived a short while later with the night guards assembled.
"An old enemy of Equestria has entered the castle through this mirror and has stolen the Element of Magic. The other five Elements of Harmony won’t be able to work for now, but they will be retrieved in no longer than three days."
...And automatically, eyes fell on the guard that wasn't a crystal pony.
"I will have to raise the sun early this morning. I'll get Luna to lower the moon. Bring Twilight and her friends here."
Flash Sentry was sweating under his bronze helmet. He messed up. It was big, but everything was going to be okay. He's been a guard for a while, racked up a few favors, but most importantly the situation was under control and that's what was important. There was plenty that was alright with this. At the very least this means his shift's over, he thought.
***********
The wall exploded in a burst of smoke, flames, and shattered bricks. As the effects of the explosion faded, Dr. Atmosphere turned to see Daring Do standing where a wall used to be.
"We have got to stop bumping into each other like this. " he said. "I don't think my insurance can take this."
*********
Flash Sentry laughed putting down the book.
"I gotta remember that." he thought as he began to walk around the castle.
It was the last day before Princess Twilight Sparkle returns and Flash Sentry was ready to get on the next train back to Canterlot.
For three whole days, there was nothing to do as the only real threat to Equestria was in an another reality and is being taken care of. In those hours, Flash Sentry couldn't figure out why the princesses were all together at the Crystal Empire. They would never say. It was growing more and more probable that Princess Cadence wanted a sleepover. During this - whatever it was - Flash Sentry had to get his excitement by catching up on "Daring Do" finishing two books.
To his surprise, Flash Sentry was easily forgiven for sleeping on night watch. He was still working as a guard normally. After a long time of being oppressed by King Sombra, the crystal ponies were somewhat desensitized to big trouble. It helped a lot too that the other guards easily forget his name.
On the way to see Cadence about getting a coffee shop opened in the Crystal Empire, Flash Sentry bumped into Twilight Sparkle. He almost laughed at how great this opportunity was.
"We have got to stop bumping into each other like this." he said referencing the book he was reading.
For some strange reason, the princess took a second to look at him. It was a soulful and intimate look that came along with her blushing. Flash Sentry cringed with profound unease at her sudden infatuation. Seeing her with her crown on at least meant he could leave and he was already on his way to do so. He could just send a letter to the princess after all. He was done with the kingdom.
As he walked away, he looked back at her.
"Does the princess really fall in love with any stallion she bumps into twice?" Flash Sentry thought. "Is that all it really takes?"