The Princess and the Private

A coat the color of the desert sands housed powerful muscles propelling the pegasus stallion through his hoof-race with an earth pony.

"Is that the best you've got?" the pegasus taunted his opponent. He was neck and neck with the other stallion, though it was extremely obvious the pegasus was holding back. The earth pony, however, was sprinting with everything that he had to come out victorious against his senior.

Huffing and sputtering, the earth pony bit back at the cocky colt, "Shut it, Flash! I haven't even begun to race yet!"

Despite the big talk, the earth pony was sure a heart attack was in his immediate  future if he even tried to pick up the pace. The sapphire eyes of Flash Sentry's glistened with confidence as he smirked, increasing his own speed gently to draw out the inevitable.

"Whatever you say, friend!"

Flash jetted forward into a dead sprint. The difference in speed between the two was staggering as they both tore through the circular track. Enjoying the light wind whipping through his mane and tail, Flash zoomed past a crowd of onlookers (cheering one or the other on).

He spotted a few of the adoring female fans he accumulated over time. Being the captain's son and one of the strongest, most handsome stallions in the Guard does that for someponies. Swooning at his mischievous wink, Flash added to the show by unfurling his wings to full mast as if he were a strutting peacock. Unashamedly asserting his dominance and alpha status was in his nature.

"He's so dreamy!" a unicorn mare bellowed like a filly to an untalented, undeserving of their fame pop idol, promptly fainting into the forelegs of another pegasus in full armor. Chortling at her friend's antics, she casually mused to herself.

"Definitely not bad to look at, I'll give you that much."

Flash, to the surprise of no one, crossed the finish line first. He took immense joy in trouncing his friends, enemies, and everypony stupid enough to challenge him at anything. Even with his typical intense and earnest demeanor, facing contests he deemed worthy of his skill head on with solid determination, he afforded himself these little moments of glory where he got his kicks  destroying the weak.

The earth pony came up, sweating, panting, and thoroughly embarrassed, just as Flash liked to see in his defeated rival's eyes. He glared smugly at the stallion, who looked ready to demand a rematch.

"I could have beaten you if I had done those extra-reps in the gym today, Flash!"

Flash muttered to himself, "Keep telling yourself that, earth pony..."

"Yeah, sure, you were this close," Flash put his front hooves together, "... to a hospital bed, that is."

There were two things Flash Sentry was to other ponies, a sadist and intellectual bully.

Not being one to let his pride take quips like that lying down, the earth pony continued to boast, "I was just... letting you win! Yeah! Didn't want to make you look like a pansy in front of your cheerleaders!"

The hairs on the back of Flash's neck bristled. With a threatening growl at a volume only the two combatants could hear, he addressed the earth pony, "You want me to make a fool of you again in front of all your little vermin? Bring it on, I'm waiting."

The earth pony wasn't one to let a good fight go to waste, but Flash's gaze quickly dispelled any further incentive. Once irked, every guard, both recruit and veteran, knew it was unwise to further mess with the captain's son. He cringed away only a little, trying not to look any more pathetic under the assault.

Luckily, one of the groupies, the one who almost fainted, and started gushing/ cooing to her gorgeous knight.

"Wow, you were incredible out there! I didn't think you'd win!"

Flash eased up a fraction on his race victim, but still had that cold stare about him, sending the message to tread lightly. Although her friend had advised her not to do so, the unicorn mare ended up grabbing his neck into a tight embrace. Sterling visibly tensed as she snuggled her face into the soft fur of his granite-like shoulder.

"Please marry me!"

The armored mare face-hoofed, expecting a restraining order would be in her friend's future.

Flash said not a word to the mare, still fuming at his opponent for belittling him. He shrugged her advances off like a wet towel, turning and storming off to a nearby rest area. Now this would thwart off any mare, but...

"He's so stoic, so brooding!" the mare fawned continuing her thought with the flames of desire in her eyes and a hoof to her face with conviction, "With my love, I'll melt his icy heart and make him so happy!"

Her friend couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Yeah, yeah, he's cute but he's not that cute."

Away from the field, and the renewed vigor in the stands for the next race that was starting, Flash Sentry dunked his face and mane into a vat of cold water. The chilly liquid abated his anger, helping him think clearly again, not to mention giving him a fabulous feeling after that brisk run. Even a Pegasi as large as him got sweaty after some activity, even if it was wasn't much.

He sighed in contentment as he let the rivulets drip down his body. After a brief moment of relaxing silence, he turned back around to return to the training fields, but halfway through he almost took an involuntary leap. Right next to him, Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle had somehow materialized out of thin air when he wasn't aware.

"Oh, I am so sorry, Flash Sentry, I didn't mean to alarm you." Princess Twilight tried to assure him when she noticed his distress.

"It is no trouble at all, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Flash appropriately bowed to the stunning mare in front of him.

Twilight took a moment, now that they were face to face, as Celestia had shown him to her from afar not but a few minutes ago, to take in his form. Celestia did not exaggerate  when she had said he was very fetching. His fur looked blissfully soft and even, clinging to his well-built frame from the dip he had just took. His mane flowed down his face majestically, similarly wet, and mysteriously half-hid those lustrous blue irises, steely and serious. Refraining from the desire to roam with her eyes, easily able to be lost in, she took stock in his large, powerful wings, folded to his sides. For purely informational purposes, mind you, Twilight peeked at his cutie mark.

"Is there something the matter, Princess?"

As Twilight found herself at a small loss for what to say exactly, Celestia, behind the purple alicorn for moral support, nudged her gently, indicating she start up the conversation.

She took a few tentative steps toward the stallion and spoke up again, albeit awkwardly, "I was wondering if you would have a few moments to discuss some things with me."

Flash didn't get caught off guard often and females were a dime a dozen, but a princess's personal attention wasn't received everyday and not to be dropped lightly. He found himself doing the most detesting thing in his existence, rubbing the back of his head talking to a mare. Disgusted with himself, he kept most of his attention on the princess and with mechanical respect issued his question.

"... What would you like to know?..."