At the sound of the Royal Canterlot band greeting Celestia’s raised sun with a cacophony of trumpets, Flash Sentry’s eyes snapped open.

At that moment, a set of old, frail hooves knocked on his door. Then, as if on cue, a feeble, trembling voice called out past the oak.

“Good morning, Sir Flash Sentry. May I come in?”

With a groan, the pegasus rolled over in his bed and stared at a mirror on the opposite side of the room, ignoring his visitor.

His mane was disheveled, tufts of wild blue hair sticking out every which way. Dark circles hung under his eyes. The fur on his cheeks was matted from the remnants of shameful tears, hours past their drying. He weakly lifted his wings, which were in need of preening, and sighed.

A third knock caught his attention. “Sir Flash Sentry?”

Rising reluctantly off his haunches, Flash steadied himself on the bed and called back gruffly, “Come in, Greyhoof.”

The door creaked on its hinges as it opened. The old Earth pony trotted in, a kind smile on his withered muzzle. Cloaked in the traditional black and white of a butler, Flash Sentry’s personal servant bowed before his master’s hooves as he closed the door behind him. “Good morning, sire.”

Moving down to the floor, Flash stretched his neck and wings, sighing as the joints all along his back popped in release. “For the last time, Greyhoof,” he said as he ran his forehooves over his face and mane, “just call me Flash.”

Greyhoof chuckled. “Aye, but sire, you and I both know how well that would go over.” A small grin curled across his muzzle before he trotted over to the wardrobe and opened it. “Now, why don’t you sit back down and I’ll get everything ready for you, sire?”

Messing the matted fur on his cheeks so that the treacherous trails of dried tears were no longer visible, Flash nodded. No matter how many times he told Greyhoof that he needed no assistance in maintaining or donning his armor, he wouldn’t listen. Greyhoof would only shoot him a smile and a chuckle while carrying on, to Flash’s chagrin. He’d long since abandoned trying to deny him any further.

While Greyhoof inspected his armor and began to polish it, Flash preened his wings and twiddled with his forehooves. It was another day in Canterlot Castle. Another day in the Royal Guard.

Another day, in this world in which he did not belong.

“Ah, here we are.” Holding up the golden chestplate, which shone in the embrace of Celestia’s rays, Greyhoof gestured for his master to bow his head. Reluctantly, Flash got back down on the floor and did so, allowing the servant to slip his sacred armor onto him.

After the chestplate came the shoulder guards, flank guards, and backplate. Last but not least was the blue saddle blanket, which Greyhoof draped over his backplate. Unlike most pegasi Royal Guards, Flash Sentry was of a high enough rank to wear the noble-blue saddle. Its deep, rich hue symbolized his eternal loyalty to his Princesses.

Finally, Greyhoof slipped the knight into his iron horseshoes. Flash admired himself in the mirror, or tried to. Brilliant golden armor blended in nicely with his tangerine coat. His superiors would praise the way his servant cared for his armor.

When Greyhoof picked up the manebrush in his teeth for the next task, Flash Sentry could bite his tongue no more.

“C’mon, Greyhoof.” Flash snorted and swiped the brush away from him. “I can take care of my mane myself.”

His eyes widening for a second, Greyhoof paused before sighing and sitting down. “Now, sire, you know that—"

“Yes, yes, I know,” Flash snapped. He began taming the wild blue of his mane. Glancing at himself in the mirror of his wardrobe as he brushed, he realized just how prominent the dark circles under his eyes were. Lacking the time to dwell on them, or even to conceal them, he merely sighed.

A few more quick strokes were all that he justified before he set the brush down on the nightstand. There was nothing special going on today. No superior to impress. No mare to woo.

There was just today, another day ending in “y,” much the same as all the others.

Donning his helmet, Flash Sentry ran a forehoof through its thick, matching blue bristles and gave the old stallion a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that, Greyhoof.”

Shrugging it off, Greyhoof stood up again and smiled back. “No problem, Sir Flash Sentry. Is there anything else I can do for you this morning?”

Flash shook his muzzle. “No, but thank you as always, Greyhoof.”

“Anytime, sire.”

As he began trotting away, Greyhoof paused inches from the door. Looking over at the young guard with his tired eyes, a wry grin spread across his muzzle as he asked, “Have you told her yet… Flash?”

Flash laughed. It was a hollow, mirthless laugh, eliciting no light in his piercing blue eyes or curling of his stern countenance.

“The day I tell her, Greyhoof, is the day I lose this armor.”

They shared a moment of sympathetic silence before Greyhoof nodded slowly, his cheeky smile falling to the floor. Greyhoof turned the knob and gave him one last glance.

“Have a good day, sire.”

He waited until the steady beat of Greyhoof’s old tempo left his earshot.

Ready for another day, or at least, pretending to be, Flash Sentry slipped out of his room.

As he trotted down the hallway towards the lower levels of Canterlot Castle and breakfast, Flash Sentry heard Princess Twilight Sparkle's voice.

The Princess of Magic was trotting up the hallway in the opposite direction of Flash. As always, she wore a dazzling grin, each molar shined to a pristine glow. Not one single lavender feather was out of place. She preened far better than he ever could hope to do.

For a moment, Flash Sentry’s mind teased the thought of preening his Princess, but he shook that delusion away. A stone of nausea settled in his stomach. Hearing her voice was always the hardest.

As she passed the other Royal Guards who, like he, were making due haste towards the stairs in a futile attempt to calm their rumbling stomachs, she greeted each of them pleasantly with a chipper, "Good morning! So good to see you!"

And, to each greeting, each Royal Guard would nod and bow his head, saying perfectly, "Good morning to you as well, Princess."

At the mere sight of her approaching him, Flash Sentry tensed.

It never got any easier.

Closer and closer he trotted, his eyes fixed on the stairwell. Willing himself to focus, he took a deep breath, trying to seem unfazed by his Princess approaching. Flash Sentry suppressed a gulp and stared straight ahead, remembering his training.

He was a Royal Guard, a defender of Equestria, a knighted servant. Nothing and nopony would faze him. Nothing and nopony would usurp his training, or steer him off the straight and narrow path that had been outlined for him since the day of his birth.

His father had been a Royal Guard, and his father before him, and his father before him, and—

"Good morning! So good to see you!"

She was standing mere feet away from him.

Flash Sentry bowed his head and dropped to his hooves, cursing the lightness of his coat. He could already feel the heat on his cheeks, and knew that Princess Twilight could see it, too. He hoped he'd bowed in time.

"G-good to see you as well, Princess," he stumbled, sounding like a schoolcolt rather than a distinguished Royal Guard.

She chuckled merrily and said as she always did, "Thank you. You can stand up, Flash."

Flash. The word was bitter ambrosia rolling off her tongue—an antidote to his overdose. Salvation and damnation in one syllable. He hated and loved it with all his heart.

Rising up, Flash Sentry secured his wings at his side, silently cursing them. They had a mind of their own, wanting to spring to the ceiling and declare their rejection of all things righteous. "T-thank you, Princess," he said, composing himself the best that he could.

Twilight beamed at him. He swore upon all he held holy that the faintest tinge of crimson spread across her muzzle when her eyes met his.

He dismissed this thought for the umpteenth time. He was simply being foalish. She was a Princess—the most noblest of nobles, second only to Mother Galaxia, the Unseen. She was a goddess made flesh, untouchable by mere admirers such as he.

The mare he saw before him was his greater in ways immeasurable, him naught but an inept jester dancing for her amusement before her eyes.

With a flick of her mane and a rustle of her wings, Princess Twilight gave him one last smile and walked past him. These agonizing seconds were over, to his great relief. He held back a sigh and started towards the stairs again.

Her destination was the end of the hallway, where Captain Ironhoof lived. After Captain Shining Armor married Princess Cadence and moved to the Crystal Empire to rule, he'd appointed the notorious Ironhoof in his stead. Flash grimaced at the mere thought of the terrible stallion's name. It suited him.

His foalish heart was gracious enough to leave him be for the moment. Flash Sentry reached the stairs and began to descend, letting thoughts of oatmeal, cinnamon, and sugar rule his mind and block out ponderings of what could never be.

~

The quickest way to a stallion's heart is through his stomach. Or, so the story goes. Flash Sentry always thought the chest would be a better route, but what did he know? He was certainly no sage.

Occupying himself with his meal, the stallion swirled his bowl of oatmeal, letting the milk drip lazily off his spoon. Occasionally, he took a bite or looked up from his bowl. In the dining hall of Canterlot Castle, scores of Royal Guards munched happily on their breakfast. Most were unicorns, and all were stallions.

Flash Sentry, an outlier in a multitude of ways, occupied a seat near the rear of the hall. He knew he wouldn't be alone for too long. After a few minutes of playing with his food, two white Royal Guard pegasi arrived, bowls of their own in hoof.

"Good morning, Flash Sentry," said one.

"Good morning, Sharp Spear," Flash replied, taking a bite of his oatmeal.

Sharp Spear grinned. "You look a little ragged this morning, Flash. Night on the town, eh?"

"Meet any hot mares?" the other Guard cheekily asked, slurping down a huge bite of his food.

Flash Sentry shook his head and met the jokester's eyes. "Nope, Steel Wind. I did not."

Steel Wind and Sharp Spear exchanged a knowing look, their smiles fading. Leaning across the table, Sharp Spear asked, "You… you alright, Flash?"

Flash took another bite of his oatmeal. "I’m fine. Just tired."

Sharp Spear opened his mouth to object, but Steel Wind nudged him in the chest. With a slow, sorrowful shake of his head, Steel Wind said it all. Sharp Spear nodded. The two other pegasi buried themselves in their bowls, wolfing down the sweet delight of oats, sugar, and cinnamon as if it were their last meal.

Meanwhile, Flash Sentry counted his bites, trying to discern any change of taste. Three. Four. Five. By the seventeenth bite, the bowl was empty. He ran his tongue across his gums.

Somepony once told him that unrequited love ruined the taste of sweet oats. He was certain that he'd been lied to.

"So," said Steel Wind, "what's your assignment today, Flash?"

"Princess Celestia would like me to stand guard at Royal Court today," Flash said monotonously.

"Beats mine!" Sharp Spear exclaimed. "Ol' Ironhoof wants me to guard some tea party in Ponyville. Sure, Princess Cadence is coming, but still, it's a tea party!"

Steel Wind slapped his friend on the back. "And you'll still manage to buck that up, Spear!"

The two began to bicker amongst themselves about who was the worse screw-up, leaving Flash Sentry alone in a sea of armored muzzles. Playing with the spoon in his bowl, he waited for the storm of spears and steel to pass. They always play-fought like this. If Flash didn't know better, he'd swear they were lovers.

A small smile curled at the corner of Flash's muzzle. The thought of somepony else being happy could only temporarily lift his spirits, however. Soon, there came the call of another set of trumpeters. Breakfast was over.

His day truly would begin now.

~

Still as stone and statue, Flash Sentry stood near the door to the Royal Courtroom, spear in forehoof. Today, Princess Celestia had yet to entertain a single civilian. Most days, there were at least a few visitors. The sound of light chatter served as a pleasant distraction.

When his Princess was making small talk with the civilians about tariffs or trade routes, borders or blood feuds, he didn't have to think. The drone of powers and principalities were enough to lull him into a petrified trance. Focusing on their voices and the subtleties within was more than enough.

But today, he had yet to find his distraction.

Tightening the grip on his spear, Flash Sentry let his mind wander, as it was oft to do, his consciousness dangerous and moving...

~

"You see, my son, this is the order."

A ten-year-old Flash Sentry sat at his father's forehooves, looking out the window of their modest home in Canterlot town center. He leaned against the thickly muscled stallion. His father was a veteran of the Royal Guard, now retired, and appeared to be carved from solid granite. His voice boomed and ebbed as he spoke, akin to the tides of the mighty sea.

Flash Sentry squinted past the glass and ruffled his tiny wings. "What do you mean, dad?"

The stallion pointed a hoof towards town center. There, crowds of noble-ponies milled about. Clad in fine threads, all of them were unicorns, levitating bags of newly purchased treasures in their magic. "What do you see, Flash?"

"I see a bunch of... fancy ponies?" he guessed.

The stallion nodded. "Correct. What do you notice about them?"

He flicked his wings in thought. "Um..."

"What do they have that we don't?"

"Nice clothes?"

He chuckled heartily. "Besides that."

"Oh! Horns?"

"Right, Flash," he said, resting a forehoof gently on his son's shoulder. "They are unicorns. They are spellcasters. And they are nobles. Not all unicorns are nobles, but if they are not nobles, they are of the warrior class."

"Like you, Dad?"

He nodded, a proud smile snaking across his muzzle. "That's right, my son." He ruffled Flash's scraggly mane. "Unicorns are, for the most part, Royal Guards or nobles."

"What about pegasi?" Flash asked.

"Pegasi are a mixed bag. Most of us are weather workers or Royal Guards."

"Oh. And Earth ponies?"

"While they lack wings or horns, they are full of magic as well, my son. They perform almost all manual and agricultural tasks. They build roads, bridges, and homes. They sell wares, they till the land, and they harvest the crops."

"Are they Royal Guards, too?"

"Not really," answered the stallion. "It is difficult to gain an upper edge in combat against enemies like Changelings or Diamond Dogs without magic or flight. Earth ponies are not enlisted into the Royal Guard, except under extreme circumstances, such as war."

"Oh." Flash Sentry looked at his hooves, studying them intently. "Why aren't there any pegasi or Earth pony nobles?" he asked, glancing up to meet his father's eyes.

His father smiled. "Such is the order, my son."

Flash blinked. What could that possibly mean?

The stallion continued, "You will learn in time, Flash Sentry, that there are some things some ponies are suited to doing more than others."

"But everypony can talk and write!" Flash objected. "Isn't that all nobles do? Talk and write to each other? Make trades and deals?"

"It is not that simple, Flash."

"But—"

"By birth and by blood, nobles are made, son." His father's voice turned stern. He removed his forehoof from his son's shoulder. "Nobles are of royal blood. They are all connected to the Princesses in some way. They are not made. They are born. Such is the order."

"So... so they are special, just because of how they were born?" Flash asked, a twinge of irritated confusion rising in his words.

The stallion whipped his son around and looked him straight in the eyes. "You stop that kind of talk right now."

"But—"

"Now!" he barked, flattening his ears. The colt flinched, scooting back a bit. His father grabbed his muzzle and forced him to stare once more into his eyes.

"The way we are meant to be is the way we are born. What we are born into. You were born a pegasus, and not just any pegasus. A Royal Guard pegasus. I was in the Guard, and so was your grandfather, and your great-grandfather, and—"

"Okay, okay!" Flash whined, worming his way out of his father's grip. "I'm sorry!"

The stallion sighed. "I'm only telling you this for your own good, Flash. You must understand the order. You must understand the way things are. That way, when you are of age, and you begin to notice mares, you will—"

Flash Sentry stuck out his tongue and blew a raspberry. "Mares? Ew!"

His father laughed, pulling him into a tight hug. "It'll be sooner than you think, my son.”

"Sooner than you think..."

~

The sound of alicorn magic opening the great, heavy doors to the Royal Courtroom snapped Flash Sentry back into his reality. Slamming the end of his spear down on the checkered, stone floor, he stood immediately at attention, watching with narrowed eyes as Princess Celestia opened the door for her first subject of the day.

In the threshold appeared a meek Earth pony, who cowered as the doors swung around her. Two pegasi guards escorted her in. The mare seemed reluctant to even lift a hoof, her eyes wide and her muzzle trembling.

Flash Sentry stayed stoic and watched the mare’s every move.

“Good morning,” said Celestia as she closed the doors with another flick of her mighty horn. She did not move from her throne as her subject approached, sitting tall on her haunches. Her ethereal mane flowing in constant, unseen rhythm behind her, she smiled when the lowly mare bowed prone before her on the red carpet.

“Th-th-thank you for letting me c-come, Your Highness,” the mare said shakily, keeping herself low. The two other guards bowed as Celestia acknowledged them, as well as Flash Sentry.

“You’re welcome, my faithful subject.” With a smile and a flick of her mane, Celestia prompted the mare to rise. She complied, wobbling up to her hooves, which knocked and clattered against each other.

After clearing her throat, Princess Celestia lit her horn and selected a scroll from a towering mountain of them beside her throne. “Now, then, Miss—"

“Cl-Clover, Your Highness.”

Both pegasi guards flanking Clover shot her a glare at her interruption. Flash Sentry narrowed his eyes and tightened the grip on his spear. Celestia paid no heed to her error, simply nodding as she said, “Ah, yes, Miss Clover. I believe you are here regarding a… request, yes?”

“Y-yes, Your Highness.” Swallowing, Clover fidgeted and stared at her hooves.

“I see.” Levitating Clover’s letter, Celestia read it over once more, then chuckled. “Ah, I see.”

Clover tilted her head and looked up slightly. “Y-Your Highness?”

“It appears that you have found a coltfriend you are very happy with,” Celestia mused, the kind smile on her muzzle only growing wider. “You are very lucky, Clover. Love is not something one should take lightly.”

Flash Sentry’s expression softened, his ears rising up from their flattened position against his skull as he listened to the mare’s nervous titter. The other guards, however, looked just as stern at this revelation.

“Th-thank you, Your Highness.” Clover pawed at the floor. “I… I love him very much.”

“Indeed you do.” Celestia smiled again, then returned to the parchment. A few seconds ticked by as she read the letter over again. Silence permeated the throne room, nothing but the clack of Clover’s nervous hooves against the tiles peppering it.

Then, just as quickly as she had smiled upon reading of her faithful subject’s newfound love, Celestia’s countenance fell into a tight frown. “Ah, but he is a unicorn.”

Clover looked up. “Yes, Your Hi-Highness. Orion is the son of a no—"

“Such a shame,” Celestia said quietly, rolling up the scroll with her magic and placing it on a separate pile beside her throne. She brought a hoof to her chest and sighed. “I’m sorry, Clover, but I cannot help you.”

“But…” Clover coughed, her meek voice slowly rising in volume. “But… but he… he and I… we love each other very much, Your Highness. It’s just, our families—"

Raising a forehoof, Celestia said firmly, “I’m sorry, Clover, but there is nothing I can do. You know our laws.” She kept her forehoof to her chest as she continued, “The old ways have been with us since the dawn of Equestria, and as their enforcer, I have no intention of changing them. I am sorry.”

“But…” Clover opened and closed her mouth a few times, her lower lip trembling. “But… but… but, I—"

“I’m sorry, Clover,” Princess Celestia said again, the empathy in her tone beginning to drain. Straightening her posture as she sat on the throne, she explained, “I cannot make any exception to the law, no matter how compelling the reason may be. While I admire the love that you have for Orion, and his for you, I simply cannot allow such an important tradition as marriage to be broken and bent for the sake of…”

Seeming to almost flinch, Celestia took a breath before she sighed and said flatly, “Emotion.”

The guard beside the great doors tightened his grip on his weapon, but not on account of the distraught mare cowering before Celestia’s hooves. Feeling his lips draw back and his jaws clench in an involuntary snarl, Flash Sentry could only watch in silence as an old, sick anger began to flow through him.

While tears began to dot the carpet below Clover’s hooves, Flash grasped the spear tighter, as if he could steady himself and channel his disgust through it and to the floor.

“Puh… please…” murmured Clover, her tears blurring her vision, “please, Your Highness… I… I love him! I love him so much!”

“I know you do,” Celestia said, her gentle mask emerging for a second as she glanced down her snout towards the mare. “I know you do, Clover. You are not the first to have made this mistake. You are confused, young mare.”

Rising from her hooves, Princess Celestia trotted gracefully over to the sobbing mare and lifted her chin with a forehoof. “You are just confused, young Clover. What you think is love is not meant to be. It is not of nature, of order. As much as I celebrate love, I cannot condone what you believe it to be.”

Clover sniffled. “But… but—"

“I’m sorry,” Celestia said for the final time. “Please, go and find a stallion of your stature, and pursue him. You will find yourself much happier when you go with what the ancients intended for us.”

Clover found no comfort in Celestia’s smile and continued to stammer in protest. She hadn’t pushed naught but a few syllables out before Celestia flicked her mane towards the door. At the signal, the two guards who had escorted her in wrapped their forehooves around her shoulders and began to drag her away.

With tears streaming down her face, Clover’s eyes widened. She began to thrash, flailing her hooves uselessly in the grip of the strong stallions. “No! Please! Your Highness! Please! No! Wait!”

The Princess stomped a hoof on the floor, the thud echoing off the walls and ceiling. “Clover, calm yourself! This is for the best for everypony!”

“No! Please! Your Highness! I… I LOVE HIM!” Clover wailed, hiccupping between mighty sobs, kicking her hooves and clawing towards the floor. The pegasi guards simply hovered into the air and pulled her through the open door.

As she passed through the mighty doors, Clover’s eyes locked with Flash Sentry’s. For an instant, he saw somepony else reflected in her shimmering pupils, and a cold wave of recognition passed through him.

Securing the doors once more, Princess Celestia sighed and shook her muzzle. Looking up to her remaining guard, she asked, “What else could she have expected from me, Flash Sentry?”

Bowing as he was acknowledged, Flash Sentry replied, “I am not sure, Your Highness. You are very wise, and…” He paused, swallowing. “You did the right thing, Princess.”

With another sigh, Princess Celestia spun on her hooves and headed back towards her throne. “While I sympathize with the plight of forbidden love…”

Trailing off, she glanced at a stained-glass mural of Discord being defeated by herself and Princess Luna, in a time when Equestria and the order was new.

“Rules are not made to be broken,” she finished, sitting firmly on the throne once more.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Flash Sentry said, and only rose when she flicked her mane once more from the corner of his eye.

The rest of Royal Court that day was uneventful.

The entire time, Flash Sentry couldn’t get Clover’s sobs out of his mind.

~

When the Royal Canterlot band announced the rising of Luna’s moon with a gentle serenade of flutes and clarinets, Flash Sentry was excused from his duties.

He stopped first at his room and locked up his spear, although he did not remove his armor yet. His stomach rumbled once more, sending thoughts of hearty vegetable stew and crisp salad galloping through his mind. Glad to have reached the end of another day, Flash Sentry turned to leave his room when a knock at the door halted him.

He would always recognize that timid rapping.

“Come in, Greyhoof,” he said with a sigh.

Greyhoof strode in, a kind smile on his muzzle. “Good evening, Sir Flash Sentry. I hope you had a pleasant day.”

His wings folding back against his sides as he sighed, Flash Sentry tapped a forehoof on the ground absentmindedly and said, “Just another day in paradise, Greyhoof.”

Adjusting the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, Greyhoof nodded slowly and gave his own little sigh. “Ah, yes, sire. I can certainly relate. Have you had dinner yet, perchance? If not, I could go and fetch something for you—“

“No, it’s fine.” Flash held up a hoof. “Besides, if I keep skipping dinner, Steel and Spear will get even more suspicious.”

With a light, merry laugh, Greyhoof shook his head and said, “Ah, yes, sire. Those two are certainly… observant.”

Flash winced, remembering how his pseudo-friends had treated the kind servant standing before him in the past. It had taken more than one instance of the cold shoulder to get Steel Wind and Sharp Spear to treat Greyhoof like a pony.

Sighing again, Flash chose to steer the conversation away from anything more about those two hooligans. “So, Greyhoof, what brings you here?”

Greyhoof coughed and reached inside his suit, pulling out a small piece of parchment. “I have a message for you from Captain Ironhoof, my lord.”

His nostrils flaring at the mere mention of that name, Flash spat, “What does he want?”

Almost tasting the venom dripping off his words, the old stallion took a back-step towards the door and read the message in his hoof. “The Captain requests your presence at once in his office.” He then set the message down on Flash’s nightstand.

Flash Sentry's muzzle nearly fell to the floor. “But… why?”

Coughing into a forehoof, Greyhoof shook his head. “I am not sure, Sir Flash Sentry.” He took another step towards the door and sighed. “Please excuse me. It is late, and I am afraid I must have my own meal soon.”

Flash frowned, his eyes glued to the floor beneath his hooves. “Ah… All… Alright, then.”

Greyhoof bowed and opened the door to leave.

“Greyhoof?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Yes, sire?”

“I…” Flash paused, swallowing hard as he looked at the little piece of parchment resting from the corner of his eye. He then cleared his throat and looked straight up into his eyes.

“I… I really appreciate what you do for me, Greyhoof.”

A faint smile curling across his muzzle, the old stallion bowed his head and chuckled. “Ah, it is nothing, sire."

He paused, then added, “Just the order of things.”

Before his knight could object, Greyhoof slipped out of the door.

“Good luck, Flash.”

~

The thousand-mile journey down the hall to Captain Ironhoof’s office from his room began not with a single step, but with a shaky breath. Flash Sentry steadied his wings, which dared to rise in his fearful irritation, as he made that journey. Not one single fellow Royal Guard roamed these halls during this time, making his rhythmic hoof-steps echo off the ancient stone.

When Flash finally reached the door, the deep bass of the Captain’s laugh invaded his ears from behind the oak. Biting his lip, he knocked loudly on the door, enough to drown out and muffle Ironhoof’s laughter for a few precious seconds.

Then, the same deep voice called out, “Get the door, Serving Bell!”

A young Earth pony opened the door for the Captain. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the pegasus looming over him. “Er, g-good even—“

“Ah! There you are!” Ironhoof said with a laugh, rising up from his desk and trotting over. The thickly muscled, silver unicorn stallion beamed brightly at Flash Sentry, who gave his all to return it with even a slight grin.

Ironhoof looped a forehoof around his servant’s neck and yanked him away with a bitter glare. “That’s no way to greet our guest, Serving Bell!”

“Y-yes, sire!” Serving Bell squeaked as he was pulled away, then began bowing fervently. “I-I-I’m sorry!”

“Bah! Go to the kitchens and fetch us some wine, Serving Bell!” A fierce smirk on his face, Ironhoof pushed the servant out the door and gestured for Flash Sentry to come inside.

Flash complied, exercising every ounce of his restraint to hide the glare and frown that brewed beneath his mask and keep his strong wings tucked in submission. He stepped aside for the servant rushing past him and sent the smile meant for him to Captain Ironhoof.

“Good to see you, Flash,” Ironhoof said as he led him to a chair opposite his desk. “Please, sit down.”

“Thank you sir,” Flash said, taking his seat. He settled into the chair and rested his forehooves on his lap. “Good to see you as well.”

Ironhoof chuckled. “Indeed. It has been a fine day serving our lovely Princesses, hasn’t it?” He took his seat and gestured towards a serving-tray on the desk. “Please, eat. Help yourself.”

Flash Sentry glanced cautiously at the serving-tray. Upon it were various delicacies: figs and dates; hummus and pita; cashews and macadamias; a salad of dark greens and mandarin oranges; and, to top it all off, a dish of chocolate pudding sprinkled with coconut flakes.

“Only the finest for the Captain of the Royal Guard,” Ironhoof declared with a smirk, noting the hunger in Flash Sentry's eyes. “But tonight, you may partake with me, Flash Sentry. Eat.”

Raising an eyebrow, Flash met his Captain’s eyes. “Sir? Why... why have you—“

“I’ve been watching you.” Selecting one of the figs with his magic and levitating it towards his mouth, Ironhoof chuckled again before chewing it. “Mmm. Yes, I have heard good things about you from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

Flash bowed his head, looking at the plush, noble-blue carpet beneath his hooves. “Thank you, Captain.”

“No, thank you,” Ironhoof said, grabbing himself a few cashews this time. “Not many knights are assigned to stand guard at both Princess Celestia’s and Princess Luna’s Royal Court. And certainly many do not keep their composure as well as you.”

“I heard there was some incident with some…” Ironhoof cleared his throat and smirked. “Earth pony mare today.” Popping a cashew into his mouth, he grinned smugly and munched. “Some harlot going after one of the finest eligible unicorn stallions in Canterlot… can you believe it?”

“No, sir,” Flash deadpanned, steadying his hindhooves against the carpet.

“Some fools think they can break our sacred traditions and law for love…” Ironhoof shook his head. He pointed at the tray again. “What are you waiting for? Eat.”

“Yes, sir.” Flash grabbed one of the forks and speared some of the greens on it, along with a slice of orange. It was bitter. He kept chewing.

Ironhoof leaned back in his chair and propped one of his hooves on the table. “That wench of a mare screamed her fool head off, but you stayed calm. Princess Celestia was pleased with the two who escorted her out as well, but you, Flash…” Ironhoof pointed at him as he crunched a cashew. “She mentioned you specifically.”

Flash swallowed his bite and bowed his head. “Thank you, Captain.”

“At ease, soldier.” Ironhoof waved him off. He sparked his magic and dipped a piece of pita bread into the dish of hummus. “You know,” he mused, swirling the bread in the dip, “I like you, Flash Sentry.”

Catching his eye contact, Flash nodded, using the forkful of spinach and kale in his mouth as an excuse not to reply.

“It’s a shame you aren’t a unicorn…” Ironhoof smirked and chewed his bread. “If you were, I wouldn’t mind seeing you in my horseshoes in a few years, just as I am in Shining’s now.”

Though he knew he should feel some sense of pride surging at the Captain’s words, Flash Sentry only felt a hollow resonance as Ironhoof’s praise echoed emptily in his mind. He simply nodded and took another bite.

If Ironhoof cared about the missed gratitude, he didn’t make it known. As he moved onto the dessert and scooped up a heaping spoonful of it, a sly grin spread across his face. Wiggling his eyebrows, he said with that toothy grin, “And who knows? It won’t be too long before I’ll become the second Captain of the Royal Guard to wed a Princess.”

Flash nearly choked on his fork.

“Mmm, yes…” Licking his lips as he swallowed his pudding, Ironhoof cackled and smirked. “Princess Twilight Sparkle… so intelligent… so powerful… so… beautiful…”

The tines scratched against his tongue and teeth as he bit down on the fork, hard. Flash Sentry gnawed on the metal while his blood boiled. Meanwhile, Ironhoof seemed to forget that he existed at all and began waxing poetic about the newly crowned Princess of Magic.

“Much more beautiful than Cadence, yes… Sweet and demure, but with a bit of a bite to her as well. Just perfect.” Ironhoof sighed heavily. “The Grand Galloping Gala shall be coming up soon once more… and, as Captain of the Royal Guard, I will escort and accompany her accordingly.”

“It shall be a grand evening,” he said at last, turning back to his underling.

Flash pulled the fork out of his mouth, ignoring the copper taste of his own blood. His smile almost cracked his muzzle as he forced it across his face. “Yes, sir. It shall be.”

Ironhoof set his spoon down with his magic and leaned across the desk. “Now, back to why I called you here: you will be working a new post. You have been assigned to stand guard at Princess Twilight Sparkle’s Royal Court, starting with her opening day tomorrow.”

His eyes widening, Flash Sentry struggled to hold his wings down and conceal the blush beginning to spark and ember upon his tangerine cheeks. “T-tomorrow, sir?”

“Yes, tomorrow,” Captain Ironhoof said coolly, “and I expect nothing but your best, Flash. You may be no unicorn, but you’re the best pegasus guard we have. And I wanted somepony trustworthy to look over the new Princess’s Court.” He grinned and rubbed a forehoof on his chest. “Poor little mare is nervous…”

How would you know, you old, arrogant, haughty son of—

“Sire! Sire!” Serving Bell burst through the door, a serving-tray with two wine glasses and a half-empty bottle balanced on it. “I’m so sorry, Sir Ironhoof! Th-the kitchen was sh-short on hooves and some of th—“

“You delayed attending to my needs to take care of some of those other filthy underlings?” Ironhoof snarled and snatched the tray and wine away from the servant with a burst of bluish-gray magic. “How dare you!”

“I’m s-sorry, Cap—“

“Out with you!” Ironhoof barked, flinging the doors open with a quick spell. Serving Bell bowed low and scurried away, sweat pouring down his mane and neck, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“Ha, forget him,” the Captain muttered, levitating over one of the wine glasses to Flash Sentry. “Earth ponies. Bah. A shame you will never know the glory of unicorn magic…”

“Yes, sir,” Flash said quietly, grabbing the glass with his hoof, “a shame…”

“Pegasi are a nice middle ground,” Ironhoof said, taking a sip of his wine. “Perhaps you will find yourself a nice weather pegasus at the Gala. Maybe even one of the Wonderbolts!”

“Heh, yes, sir…”

Flash Sentry kept his Captain company for the rest of the meal, listening to him boast of his accomplishments and praise the beauty of Twilight Sparkle. The pegasus barely touched his food and only tasted his wine.

By the time he was dismissed, his anger had dissipated, replaced with the hollow echo of his hooves smashing the silence against Canterlot Castle’s cold stone. There was no longer any tightness in his chest or color in his cheeks. There was no fire in his muscles or ice in his piercing blue eyes.

There was only the haunting anticipation of what would come tomorrow.

~

The dream did not come to him that night. Flash was grateful. When he lifted his head from his pillow that morning and glanced at the mirror, there was no matted fur on his cheeks in need of concealing. Greyhoof's knock soon followed this revelation, and the morning monotony began once more.

While Greyhoof tightened his armor, Flash Sentry, who'd only responded to his servant's repertoire with grunts and nods, finally spoke.

"I'm starting a new post today, Greyhoof."

Greyhoof paused, looking up as he secured his chestplate. "Oh? And where would that be, sire?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle's Royal Court."

Though he knew he should've smiled at his fortune, Flash Sentry stayed expressionless, looking down into the old stallion's empathetic eyes.

"I see..." Finished with the chestplate, Greyhoof moved next to the knight's shoulder-guards, buying himself a few seconds of silence. "Well, I am certain you will do a great job, sire," he said quietly, a kind, reassuring smile on his muzzle.

"That's not what I'm worried about, Greyhoof." Flash dug his hooves into the floor and sighed. "It'll be so much harder when she's... when she's right there."

"Well..." After snapping the shoulder-guards into place, Greyhoof took a step back and looked up, frowning. "You are a very disciplined Royal Guard, Sir Flash Sentry. Stallions of lesser stature would not be able to do what it is you do."

"But what do I do?" Flash asked rhetorically, his wings unfurling and spreading in his irritation. He snorted. "Hide my feelings? Act like all of this is okay? Live a lie?

"I mean..." He sighed and trotted away, staring out the window. "How can you do this, Greyhoof? Thousands of years since the old laws were put in place... and nopony challenges them. And ponies like you and I get the brunt of it all. Why?"

Sighing to himself, Greyhoof walked over and placed a forehoof on Flash's shoulder. "Sire, this is the way things have always been, for you and for me and for everypony in Equestria. It is just how things are."

Flash spun around. "Well... it's... it's not fair!"

Greyhoof coughed and lowered his forehoof, staring down at the floor. Flash stared with him, angered at himself for acting so foalish. It's just the way things are... just the way things are meant to be. It was for our own good... for everypony's own good.

The three tribes may have united and formed Equestria, but they each had their own ways, and it was best to keep them... separate, but...

Kindness shining in his old eyes, Greyhoof looked up again and patted Flash Sentry's shoulder. "It isn't, dear boy. It isn't fair. But it is the way things are, and we cannot change that. We can only do our best to cope and fit into this world, though we dream of a better one."

A small smile forming on his muzzle, Flash Sentry placed a forehoof on Greyhoof's shoulder and steadied him. "You would have been a great Royal Guard, Greyhoof. A noble, even."

Greyhoof laughed and shook his head, bowing. "A servant I was born, and a servant I shall remain. Though..."

"I am proud to be your servant, Flash."

For a moment, the silence was not unwelcome; it was the silence of old friends in an old world, both wishing it to be new.

Greyhoof finished assisting Flash Sentry with his morning routine, then bowed and wished him well.

Flash ignored the rumbling of his stomach, taking this time to prepare himself for the first in a long line of difficult days.

~

Having skipped breakfast, Flash Sentry’s stomach was empty, but it dwarfed the raging void within him.

As he made his way through the hallways, clad in perfect armor and with a sharpened spear in his hoof, he was grateful nopony paid any attention to him. Sharp Spear and Steel Wind must have been busying themselves with breakfast and banter still. Perhaps whoever was watching from up there owed him a few favors after all.

Flash sighed in relief as the doors to the Royal Courtroom came into view. While Celestia and Luna usually took opposite turns holding Royal Court—especially since Princess Luna was only up and about during the evenings—Twilight Sparkle taking up the crown meant that the two other Princesses could get a little break themselves.

Good for them, he thought bitterly.

When he rounded the final corner, there she was.

Princess Twilight Sparkle, standing there in all her glory before the doors while she waited for her knight to come and escort her.

Flash gulped and dragged his hooves across the floor. His treacherous heart began to thunder once more and the pair of usurpers on his back yearned to rise. Taking a breath, Flash willed himself professional as he walked to her.

“Oh! There you are, Flash,” Twilight said with a smile.

As soon as he reached her, Flash tightened his grip on his spear and bowed low. “Good morning, P-Princess.” There was that little tremble in his voice again. Flash gritted his teeth and lowered his eyes further.

“Good morning to you as well. Please, stand up.”

He did so. She giggled lightly in response.

His returning laugh had no force behind it.

“So… you just as nervous for today as I am?” she asked, lighting her horn.

“I am sure t-today will be good, Princess,” he managed, clearing his throat of its pathetic shaking.

“Good?” Twilight giggled again as she pulled the heavy doors open wide. “I’m hoping it’ll be great,” she said with a wave of her forehoof.

“Oh! Y-yes. Of course, Your Highness,” Flash said, bowing his head again.

Another mirthful laugh. Flash Sentry looked up, unable to hide the toothy smile churning across his face. The Princess either did not notice, or chose not to mention it. She smiled back at him and entered the Royal Courtroom, holding the doors open for him as he followed.

"Thank you, Your Highness," he said, nodding. Twilight shut the doors carefully and made her way up to the throne. Flash Sentry stood beside the doors and maintained a tight grip on his spear, forcing himself to stare at the doors instead.

She's right there... walking right up there... Nopony's around and I could... I could just...

No. Flash sucked in a gulp of air between his gritted teeth. No. She's much more special than that.

Not a moment later, the doors flew open again, and not on account of Twilight's magic. She spun around while Flash Sentry hopped to the side immediately, spear in forehoof and ears flattened.

"Ah, Twilight, you're here early!" Princess Celestia's smile rang out above her merry words. She strode in, Captain Ironhoof by her side. The Captain was cloaked in his pristine, shining purple armor, and accompanied Princess Celestia perfectly, not one step out of rhythm.

Upon seeing them, Flash skittered back over to his post, praying neither his Captain nor his Princesses had seen him jump.

Twilight turned around on the steps and beamed. "Princess! Good morning!"

Celestia chuckled. "Oh, Twilight, you may call me Celestia now, you know." She trotted up the stairs to embrace her former student in an encouraging hug.

Captain Ironhoof, meanwhile, stopped in the middle of the room and turned around, shooting Flash with a wry grin. "Flash Sentry! I see that you're prepared and early."

Flash bowed and tried to relax his clenching jaws. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Ironhoof chuckled and said, "At ease, soldier. Just wanted to make sure everything was set for the new Princess's first day in Royal Court..." He spun around, tearing his eyes from his now-risen soldier to the nervous Princess across the room.

"Thank you so much... Celestia," Twilight said as she reluctantly broke their embrace. Smiling up at her mentor, she added, "I really hope today goes great!"

"I'm sure it will, Twilight," Celestia said, returning the smile.

Ironhoof walked up to them and bowed. "If there's anything you need, Princess Twilight Sparkle..."

Looking up into her eyes, the Captain grabbed her forehoof and kissed it softly. "Just let me know, and I'll make sure it's taken care of immediately."

Flash Sentry never gripped his spear so hard in his life. He swore he could feel the steel begin to melt beneath his grip, the white-hot intensity of his adrenaline surging through him, it, and the floor. His wings had a mind of their own, wanting to rise and spread in challenge to the stallion across the room, who was eying the beautiful mare with nothing but hidden intention.

Biting his tongue, Flash Sentry stared at the door again. His silent curses would've made any sailor blush.

With a giggle, Twilight withdrew her hoof and smiled at Ironhoof. "Thank you, Captain. I think Flash and I will be just fine."

At this, Flash glanced over for a moment. She was staring straight at him.

Flash looked back to the doors.

"I see. Well, in that case, just keep it in mind, Your Highness." Ironhoof winked and turned to Princess Celestia, who nodded.

Embracing Twilight in one last sideways-hug with a wing, Celestia said, "Just remember what I have taught you, Twilight. You are very well-versed in Equestrian law and tradition. I have no doubts about this. And if you need anything, I will always be here for you."

Twilight nuzzled the wing and said with a slight trembling in her voice, "Th-thank you... Celestia. This means a lot to me."

Flash Sentry made the mistake of tearing his eyes from the doors once more. The last second of the Princesses' reassuring gesture caught his gaze. In that moment, his wings twitched, wanting to caress the nervous alicorn with every primary.

Snapping back to the door, Flash took a deep, slow breath.

Just today. You just have to get through today.

After some parting exchanges, the doors were swung open once more by the powerful embrace of Celestia's magic. A mighty alicorn and a stern unicorn exited, closing the doors behind them.

Flash Sentry and Twilight were alone.

Just today. Just today.

~

For the first hour, Flash Sentry utilized every fibre of his being, calling upon every single smidgen of discipline he had to just stare at the doors and not look at her. Twilight Sparkle had no visitors yet—nopony to break the foreboding, aching silence between them. She coughed nervously and intermittently for the first thirty minutes. After that, she seemed to relax.

Neither of them spoke. He glued his eyes to the doors, and hers to a scroll, which both studied as if they held the secrets to existence within their depths. If only either could read the lines between.

Just as he'd finally started to relax somewhat, the knocking of hooves on the great doors snapped both the Princess and the knight to attention.

With a gasp, Twilight shook out of her reading and sparked her horn, slowly pulling the doors open. Tightening his grip on his weapon, Flash Sentry mustered up his stoic, stern glare and watched as the first visitor of Princess Twilight Sparkle's Royal Court appeared in the threshold.

Clothed in fine swaths of silk and velvet, a unicorn stallion waited patiently, accompanied by two white pegasi Royal Guards. Silver cuff-links and a necklace with a diamond dangling from it completed his noble look.

Flash Sentry did not recognize these two guards, to his great relief. The unicorn was unrecognizable as well, although he looked across the room at the Princess with a strange sort of familiarity.

"G-good morning," Twilight called out from her throne. She paused to swallow and then said, "Please, c-come in."

Guided by the two guards, the unicorn stallion made his steps slow and careful. Each contact of hoof with checkered floor echoed in the quiet room. He kept his muzzle high, paying no attention to any of the three Royal Guards. He simply looked at the Princess through his tunnel vision.

Flash narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

Once the visitor reached the center of the Royal Courtroom, both pegasi guards came to a halt. The unicorn stopped as well and bowed, his eyes still on the Princess. "Thank you, Your Highness," he said, each word crisp and clean, not one hint of an accent or hesitation behind them.

"You're welcome, um, Mister—"

"Orion, Princess," said the stallion, rising up to full height.

Without his knowledge, Flash Sentry had swallowed a stone. It settled in his stomach at the name. His grip around his weapon relaxed slightly, and his flattened ears perked up in recognition.

"Orion. Nice to meet you," Twilight said pleasantly, a genuine smile on her face. "Um..." She began rifling through a stack of letters beside the throne with her magic. "S-sorry... Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and I share this courtroom now, so I might not have your letter right at hoof..."

Orion held up a forehoof and smiled. "It's quite alright, Your Highness. I... actually did not write a letter."

Twilight halted her spell, a few papers falling to the floor. "You... you didn't?"

He shook his head. "No, Your Highness. No... I've come here regarding a matter that was addressed by Princess Celestia yesterday, with Clover."

Both guards flanking the unicorn exchanged quizzical glances. Flash felt the grip on his weapon slipping, his heart skipping a breathless beat.

"Clover?" Twilight frowned and lit her horn again. "Hmm, I'm afraid I'm not—"

"Clover is my fiancee," Orion said.

The stone in his stomach turned to ice, rising up his chest and squeezing its tendrils around his heart.

Silence befell the room at these words, both confused pegasi now glaring disapprovingly at the unicorn, wings flared and eyes narrowed.

"... O-oh." Her magic dissipating, Twilight sighed and lowered her wings to her sides. "I... I remember hearing about that now. I'm very sorry, Orion."

"I'm sorry too. Sorry that our benevolent rulers are so prejudiced," Orion spat, leaning forward on his hindhooves and flaring his nostrils. The two guards beside him stood a little closer, their lips drawn back in a snarl.

"I... I'm so sorry, Orion, but—"

Flash Sentry tightened his grip on his weapon again—this time, for support. He stared at Orion, his muzzle blank as the ice around his heart squeezed him into near-arrhythmia while the stallion continued his tirade.

Stomping a hoof against the floor, Orion shouted, "How dare you! How dare you... you... you backwoods bigots!"

"Hey!" one of the guards shouted back, drawing closer to him. "That is no way to speak to our Princess!"

Twilight raised a forehoof. "No, it's fine. Let him speak."

Letting out a chuckle as the enraged guard backed away at her words, Orion rounded back on Twilight and stomped the floor again. Each word shook with anger and despair as he spoke.

"Do you know long Clover and I have known each other? Since we were foals! Since we were bouncing foals playing with blocks in our cribs! We've been friends since then, and been together almost half our lives! Are you telling me you won't repeal some thousand-year-old law, even in the face of love?"

Flash Sentry gripped the spear for dear life, his heart threatening cardiac in its broken arrhythmia, as the stone sank and the ice spread further through him.

Sighing, Twilight unfurled her wings, then brought them back to her sides again. "I'm... I'm so sorry, Orion," she said quietly, her countenance falling as she looked at him with sincerity shining in her eyes. "I... I... I really wish I could do something. It sounds like Clover and you really love each other."

"We do," Orion said with a growl, sitting down on his haunches.

"But..." Twilight Sparkle bit her lip and looked away, then looked at the doors, at Flash Sentry.

He almost keeled over then and there, leaning on his weapon with both forehooves.

She looked back at her visitor and sighed again. "It is... it is not our way. Equestria has a long history of conflict and dissension between the three tribes, and this was prescribed as the best medicine to remedy that. I'm sorry, but... I cannot break the law, or the order. I can't marry you two.

"I'm sorry, Orion."

For a moment, Flash Sentry was certain that something had broke within the rebellious stallion. He didn't move a muscle, staring vapidly back at the Princess while his body forced him to breathe. The two guards beside him made eye contact and snickered with each other.

Equestria had spoken, and she had said, for the second time, no.

In a split-second, whatever broke Orion rose up and screamed within him. Before any of the three Royal Guards in the room could react, the unicorn had lit his horn and shot a powerful burst of magic at the guard who'd scolded him.

The howl of his fellow knight, who skidded across the floor and screeched in pain, brought Flash Sentry back to reality. Shaking himself composed in a few seconds, he grabbed his spear and pulled his buried hooves from the undercurrent of the checkerboard.

Orion had taken another shot and sent the other guard flying, his deep-gray magic screaming as it was cast. He laughed and laughed, finally broken in two. Snapping his head back to Twilight Sparkle, he bellowed, "You monsters! You monsters! I love her! I LOVE HER!"

Twilight Sparkle, her eyes wide, hesitated for a moment, her wings flaring in fear as she saw the stallion's horn light up again.

Hurling himself across the room, Flash Sentry knocked Orion in the barrel and tumbled with him head-over-hooves across the floor. He maintained a steady grip on his spear, using it to push against unicorn's chin and keep his horn away. Eyes wide open in fury, Orion glared at Flash Sentry and sparked his horn again.

Throwing a quick punch, Flash Sentry stunned the unicorn, smacking him straight across the muzzle. Orion groaned, then knocked his skull upwards into the knight's.

"Oof!" In a split-second, Flash Sentry closed his eyes, a dull pain throbbing above his forehead. Orion flipped his attacker while he was stunned and grabbed the spear, levitating it in his magic and drawing it back.

Orion screamed as he was thrown like a rag doll. Twilight Sparkle, her eyes aflame, kept her magic steady, a powerful purple haze trapping the stallion against the wall.

Groaning again, Flash Sentry opened his eyes and looked up, grinning when he saw that the Princess had her would-be usurper pinned. He scrambled to his hooves and grabbed his spear. The other two guards were coming to as well, rubbing their aching skulls and frazzled manes.

"Monster! Monster! This is madness! THIS IS MADNESS!" Orion thrashed in Twilight's magic, futilely attempting to cast a spell on his own.

Flash Sentry rushed over, brandishing his spear and glaring pure hatred at the stallion. "No, what you're doing is madness! Do you know how long you're going to be in the dungeons for this, you bastard?!"

The sound of hooves thundering against the floor snapped everypony to the great doors. Princess Celestia and Captain Ironhoof rushed in, breathing hard.

"What's going on in here?!" Celestia shouted, rushing up to Twilight's side.

"Flash Sentry! What happened?" Ironhoof demanded, joining the three of them.

"MONS—"

Twilight tightened her grip on Orion and silenced him, shooting daggers his way.

Flash pointed at the stallion, panting as he said, "He attacked the other two guards, then the Princess!"

Spreading her wings, Celestia sparked her horn, enveloping Orion in a burst of white light. Twilight Sparkle's spell was broken, Celestia overpowering her and seizing control of the criminal. All but Celestia shielded their eyes from the brilliance of this magic.

When the white light disappeared, Flash Sentry turned to see Orion on the floor, his forehooves hoof-cuffed behind his back and a limiter placed snugly on his horn. He screamed and bucked in response, only to be silenced by another flick of Celestia's horn, which muzzled his snout and mouth.

"Take him away to the dungeons!" Celestia barked, thrusting a forehoof towards the two other guards. "We'll deal with him later!"

The two pegasi rose, bowed, and grabbed the prisoner in a flash. They took to the air once they secured him, zipping out of the Royal Courtroom with Orion struggling between them.

Twilight looked over to her mentor with tears welling in her eyes. "Princess, I—"

"It's alright, Twilight," Princess Celestia said, opening her wings and forehooves to her. Twilight rushed into her embrace immediately, a few tears running down her cheeks while Celestia soothed her.

Captain Ironhoof turned to Flash Sentry. "We heard the commotion and rushed over as soon as we could. Gotta say… for a pegasus taking on a unicorn, you did fairly well," he said, no smile in his words or on his muzzle.

Flash bowed his aching head. "Thank you, sir."

Ironhoof nodded and turned around, meeting Twilight Sparkle's eyes as she pulled away from Celestia's embrace. "Are you alright, Your Highness?"

Twilight nodded. "Y-yeah. I'll be fine. Just a little shaken up."

She paused, looked over to Flash Sentry, and smiled. "I... I'll be alright."

Celestia placed a forehoof on her shoulder and nodded, then turned to the pegasus. "Thank you, Flash Sentry. There is a reason I recommended you to guard Twilight's first day," she said with a wink.

Three of them laughed; one of them forced a chuckle.

"Do you feel alright to continue for the rest of the day, Twilight?" Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes, I do." Twilight took a step towards the throne, then added confidently, "Now that we've got the worst out of the way, everything should be fine."

"Indeed, Your Highness." Ironhoof grinned and winked at her while bowing. "If there's anything else you need, please let me know."

Flash Sentry bowed as the Captain and Princess Celestia took their leave. He wasn't sure if the gallop in his chest was due to a lingering effect of the fight, or to seeing that same smug smile on Ironhoof's face...

Both the Princess and the knight returned to their places, though the few steps between them felt like miles. When he finally settled by the doors once more, Flash sighed and began the same mantra within his mind.

Just get through today.

Just get through today.

Just get—

"Flash?"

He turned around. "Yes, Princess?"

"Thank you," she said. She smiled.

"You're welcome, Princess," he said. He smiled back and bowed.

He swore he saw her blush.

~

The rest of the day was uneventful. A few ponies held an audience with Princess Twilight Sparkle in her Royal Court, but none raised hoof or voice towards her.

Flash Sentry was finally dismissed with the gentle serenade that announced the beginning of Luna's night. Captain Ironhoof was waiting on the other side of the doors—not for him, but for the Princess.

"Good evening, Flash," Ironhoof said, nodding as he passed through the doors.

Flash Sentry stopped and looked over his shoulder, spear in forehoof. He turned fully around and bowed. "Good evening, Captain. May I be dismissed?"

Ironhoof chuckled and motioned for him to rise. Flash did. "You did an excellent job today, soldier. You may be excused to your quarters this evening."

"Thank you, sir."

"Report to Royal Court at oh-eight-hundred tomorrow morning," Ironhoof ordered, his tone firm. "You have proved yourself to be worthy of this post, and I will not be assigning anypony else to it if I can help it."

Flash Sentry blinked. "P-permanently, sir?"

Ironhoof waved a forehoof. "Well, you'll have your leave, of course, but permanently, yes. Now—"

"Good evening, Captain."

Both Ironhoof and Flash whirled around. Twilight trotted up to them, a pleasant but tired smile on her muzzle.

Both stallions bowed. "Good evening, Princess," Captain Ironhoof said.

Taking this as his cue, Flash sighed silently and rose once Twilight nodded in acknowledgement. He turned to take a step towards his meager room.

"Wait, Flash."

He turned back around. "Y-yes, Your Highness?"

Twilight Sparkle was looking straight at him with a wide, genuine smile and beautiful, gentle eyes. She took a step closer to him and placed a forehoof on his shoulder. "Thank you... thank you again for today."

A twinge of crimson dotted his tangerine cheeks. Flash Sentry nodded dumbly and stammered back as he lowered his head, "Y-you're welcome, Y-Your Highness."

"Please, stand up," Twilight said, almost in a whisper.

Flash did, looking cautiously into her eyes.

Ironhoof stood behind her, staring at them.

"You really... you really were great, Flash," Twilight said. "You... you saved me. If I hadn't... well..."

He took a breath and said after she trailed off, "It... it was nothing, Princess."

Flash Sentry bowed despite her wishes, then gently picked up one of her forehooves.

In the eyes of the stallion who would one day wed her, Flash Sentry kissed Twilight Sparkle's forehoof, not caring in that moment about courtesy or tradition or order, not caring if Ironhoof would reprimand him for this, not caring if he would join Orion in the dungeons for doing so.

Not caring that he was a pegasus and she was a Princess.

He kissed her hoof tenderly, unable to hide his blush.

When he let go, Flash Sentry looked over to Captain Ironhoof. Ironhoof stood stoic and silent, staring straight back at his underling with an intense, steely gaze.

When he returned to Princess Twilight Sparkle, what he saw strengthened and broke his heart in the same moment.

She was smiling and blushing at him, perfect and true.

Before he could throw his life away, Flash Sentry said, "Good night, Your Highness."

He didn't wait for her reply, rushing in slow, steady, silent trot towards his room.

~

She had been blushing.

And smiling.

Flash Sentry kicked his door open and slammed it behind him with a hindhoof. He locked it, tumbler and deadbolt and door-chain, wanting nothing and nopony.

Flash Sentry shed his armor, unbuckling and removing and tossing it aside, letting it lay in careless waste on the floor. Pieces of useless, weighty gold shone in the moonlight, along with a scratchy blanket and foalish ideals.

Flash Sentry slung his spear against the wardrobe, caring not for the clang and clatter and chip, allowing the weapon to rest on the floor, where it could harm nopony and, subsequently, he could not.

Flash Sentry drew his shades and curtains, blocking out Princess Luna in the night, and Princess Celestia in the day, and the starlight of his forefathers in the in-between twilight.

Flash Sentry threw himself on the bed, feather and fur and muscle and sinew, and buried his head in his pillow, kicking the blankets and sheets off until the bare mattress remained.

She had been blushing.

And smiling.

It was his dream come true and his worst nightmare.

Worst of all, he was awake.

He remedied that, soon falling asleep through his tears.

~

In his dreams, there was no division. No boundaries.

In his dreams, he saw her, and she saw him, as equal. They were two souls searching in the same world, under the same sun, for the same happiness—not two beings who might as well have been from another planet, so forbidden was their contact.

There were no class divides—no ancient prejudices. There was no blood requirement to become a noble, or a Royal Guard, or a Captain, or the husband of a Princess. There was no unwritten template for one's life, no fates sealed in stone. There were no fake pleasantries or swift punishments for disobeying them.

There was just love.

There was just love in that technicolor world of his dreams, where he and Twilight Sparkle bumped awkwardly into each other and bonded over tales of adventure. There was just love in that world, and shared laughs and nights of talking well into the dawn about much of nothing. There was just love and hope there, hope and possibility and beauty and chance and choice.

There was no suffering servant in that dream world, nor mournful would-be lovers, nor conniving Captain.

There was just him and Twilight Sparkle, sharing more than a forbidden moment that, however fleeting, he would cling to for the rest of his life.

~

When the trumpets blared that morning, Flash Sentry opened his eyes and looked across the room at his mirror.

His cheeks were matted with tears again.

Knock, knock.

He ignored Greyhoof, if only for a moment.

He needed a moment today.

He closed his eyes and escaped to that other world, where there was just love.