On Watch

by Turtlezgomoo

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Princess Luna, Tragedy, Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, Flash Sentry, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 2445

A murderer is loose in Canterlot, and Flash Sentry is in charge of protecting twilight sparkle.

A threat, known as the Ghost Murderer is loose in Canterlot. Princess Twilight Sparkle only wants to go star gazing, but her Brother is busy with Cadence and can't take her. She puts it upon herself to ask a new guard to protect her travels to the castle garden. With a twist of events, this new pegasus is put in charge of the lavender alicorn.

What happens when a threat is made directly to Twilight?

Will the direct communication between the princess and the guard be interrupted?

What extent will he go to, to protect her?

Is she worth his life?

Published 2014-12-19 06:30:05 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-04 07:10:30 UTC

Chapter 3

"Umm... Princess. Excuse my questioning, but... Why are we on the roof?" Flash asks, hovering over her with ease, his wings flapping lightly.

"You don't have to call me Princess," Twilight reminds him for the millionth time it seemed over the week it's been since he was ordered to protect her, "And because I like it up here. It's quiet." She smiles, Flash had never seen her so calm.

She is normally strung tight, frantic, angry, or paranoid. Never... like this. Her face was... Serene. It made her look different. Like that first night, when they went star gazing. She was beautiful. Especially in the setting sunlight. She didn't have her royal jewelry on, she was just herself. And, quite Frankly, she was beautiful. And her lips when she spoke... wait...

"Flash, are you even listening?" She tilted her head.

"Uh... Yes?" he said, a goofy, embarrassed smile on his face.

"I was saying, it is disappointing we can't have the Galla, with the murderer on the loose and all." She said, true sadness in her eyes, though, still beautiful.

"Personally, I'd rather you be safe than go to the Galla..." He said, then immediately regretted it. Her beautiful face washed into udder insulted, "But... if it makes a difference, we can have a mini-Gala. Just the two of us?" he suggested.

Twilight's face lit up, "Sure!" She said, a child-like tone in her voice, but that changed, "I mean... It'll give me a chance wear my new dress, Rarity made it special, being my first Gala being a princess." She acted all cool, hiding her true joy.

Flash helped her on her hooves, as she was previously on her back, and they went to her quarters in the castle.

Flash felt weird being IN her room, as he usually would stay posted outside. It was grand. Huge windows, adorned with violet silk curtains, the walls were a nice creme colour, lined with silver accents; Her closet was bigger than his house back in cloudsdale, and overly organized in his opinion; She had various pieces of science equipment, he had no idea how any of it worked; And, set into the walls, she had a glorious bed. It had to be big enough to fit 10 ponies on it, deep purple sheets lined the mattress.

"Flash?" Twilight interrupted his scanning of the room to show off her gorgeous dress. The lining of the neck was black beading, lining the sparkling violet, long sleeved top, which then was joined to the flowy lavender silk skirt--volumized by a lacy petticoat--by a silver star. "Do you like it?"

"It's..." Flash was at a loss for words, "Beautiful." They both blushed hard, then flash got a sudden gain of confidence, and bowed, "May I have this dance M'Lady?" He offered a hoof.

"Of course." Twilight smiled gently and they got close, dancing to the imaginary music for hours on end, eventually Flash had to take his post outside to allow Twilight to sleep.

Chapter 4

Flash yawned as he awoke, then shot up, buck, He'd fallen asleep on the job. He picked up his helmet, and as he put it on, a note fell out. "Huh?" He picked it up and read it in his head,

She's so cute when she sleeps.... So are you!

It was only signed with a hoof mark, and as he realized what the note meant, and at that moment, he heard her scream. He rushed into the door he was guarding, "Twilight!" He exclaimed as he did so.

"Flash?" Twilight was teary-eyed, and Flash went to the end of the bed open from the wall,

"You're okay." The said in unison, to both of their surprise, "You first." Twilight said,

"I was just... Checking in." He lied, but she seemed convinced, "You?"

"I had a nightmare..." She said, that sense of a child-like nature showing.

Flash crawled into the bed with her, staying above the blankets covering Twilight. He gently wrapped her in a hug, stroking her mane. She cuddled into his chest, his coat soft and comforting. "Want to tell me about it?"

Twilight sighed, "We were in a dark room, just you and me and... somepony else. I don't know who they were, but they had me tied up and you laid weak on the ground. I knew you were dying... like you weren't hurt but you were dying. And I couldn't help.... My magic didn't work..." She was tearing up, and he tightened his grip on her.

"Shh... I'm fine Twilight, and your Magic still works." He chuckled slightly at that last part.

She eventually pulled herself together, "How did you know how to handle this? I'm sure it's not part of basic training." Twilight asked.

"I have a younger sister, she used to have nightmares a lot as a filly." He explained, leaning back on the headboard, "And my dad was in the military, and my mom often worked nights, I had to take care of her."

Twilight smiled, remembering times like this with her own brother, but it was different.... Twilight couldn't compare FLASH to her BROTHER. She felt close to them both, but in different ways. It was hard to explain, but she felt... right with flash.

"Well... I better get back to my post," Flash sighed, realizing that if Shining Armour came in, it wouldn't be pretty.

"Yeah, uhh... Night Flash." She nodded, getting the same thought.

Flash slid out and went to his post, not daring to sleep. He couldn't let anyone hurt her. Not just as her guard, but he felt like naturally, he should be taking care of her.

<~><~><~><~><~>

Twilight finished her lessons with Celestia, and was about to leave.

"Umm... Princess Celestia... May I go into the town today?" She asked, hopeful.

"No Twilight, not until the murder is caught. There have been more and more sightings of them." Celestia shot down her hopes of going to see ponies in town.

"Okay..." She sighed, "Uhh... Princess?"

"Twilight?" She replied

"Do you know anything on dreams?" Twilight asked

"You know that's not my right to mess with dreams. Ask Luna." She replied, sending the mare on her way.

"I was afraid you'd say that..." Twilight sighed and made her way to Luna's Quarters, Flash close behind her.

Chapter 5

"Will you come in with me?" Twilight pouted to Flash.

Flash replied hesitantly, "I guess..." and knocked on the door,

"ENTER." Luna said in a proud voice.

Twilight and Flash slowly went inside.

"What is it you require Twilight Sparkle and Friend?" Luna asked, facing to two younger equine.

"I--" "Twilight had a fairly... Interesting Nightmare." Flash spoke on Twilight's behalf, "And we were wondering if you had any information on what it means."

"I have no records of such dream." Luna replied, brushing them off and went back to what she was doing, "You may leave."

"But she had a dream and--"

"I HAVE NO RECORDS." Luna blew up, and cleared her throat, "Please leave." She demanded.

Flash sighed and gave Twilight an apologetic look, and escorted her to the hall, "Maybe there's answers somewhere else?" Flash suggested, "like a--"

"Book!" Twilight smiled, "There's probably a book on dreams in the library!" She beamed and made a canter to the castle library, followed by the orange stallion.

"Illusions and Optics... Mind Tricks.... No Dreams here Ba-- Twilight." Flash informed her

"I found SOMETHING, but the author isn't the most reliable." She sighs and puts it down, sighing.

Flash came behind her, wrapping a wing around her, "Hey, We'll figure it out, Don't worry." He said, comforting her.

"Thanks Flash, you're a good friend." She smiled, and leaned against him.

Flash smiled, nuzzling her cheek, the word friend repeated in his head. Was that all he was?

Suddenly, a purple orb appeared before him, "All guard, report to the throne room. All guard, report to the throne room." A purple shining armour ordered.

"Must be serious." They said in unison, and ran to the throne room.

Author's Note

Thank You everyone for all the support! Your comments are amazing, and all the favorites are AWESOME!

Sorry this one is so short, the next one will be a longer chapter to make up.

Chapter 1

"Twilight Sparkle. For the Last time NO." Celestia said, the late hour and constant disobedience from her pupil causing her voice to be full of annoyance, "You cannot be out alone, and your brother is keeping Cadence safe. And he, of course, trusts no one else with your life."
"Its not like the Ghost Killer would go so close to the castle, its just the gardens. Especially at this hour." Twilight said, trying to convince her elder to allow her to go star gazing.

"Tell that to your brother." Celestia groans and turns away to return to her quarters.
Twilight huffs and trots off to Cadence's room. A certain somepony's helmet outside the door, typically meaning the lovebirds were... Busy. With a Sigh, Twilight got an idea, she turned the corner to find the nearest guard. Unlike the normal guards, this one was orange, as opposed to white, grey, or brown. "He'll have to work." She mumbled and approached the stallion. "Shining Armor has ordered you to escort me to the garden. Mister.... Umm.."
"Flash Sentry, Your Majesty." He bowed slightly. "And it'd be an honor."
Twilight nods, "Lead the way, Flash." She says, self pride overwhelming her as her plan works. She stays close to her protector.
The last few weeks have been fence however, with 4 mysterious murders in Equestria. No doubt they'd try and get to any form of royalty. Especially if it be a changeling.

They soon reach their destination and Twilight lays in the grass. "Join me if you wish." She smiles.
Flash simply shakes his head and takes post. "Sorry Princess, but I must keep watch. Not stargaze." he states.
"Okay." Twilight shrugs and looks at the twinkling lights. "Do you know any stars?" She asks curiously

"No Princess." He says,

"Twilights fine." She giggles and looks up, "Well that one is Urnas Major. And there's Minor." She points out.

Flash looks up as well, "Those right next to each other?" He asks

"Yeah." She nods with a smile

Flash removes his helmet to reveal his short cut mane and sets it on the ground. "What about that one?' He points to a constellation.

"That's... Draco." She says, then looking at him. She must admit, the Stallion was quite young for the royal guard. Around her age. He was handsome at that.
He flushes a bit, "Sorry Princess, it gets a little uncomfortable after a while..." he shuffles slightly, talking about his helmet.

"No its fine! You just look... Different, without it." She smiles, then looks up, and that one is..." Her voice trailed off as a breeze rolled in, and a shiver overcame her.

"Cold Princess?" He asked, kneeling next to her and wrapping a wing around her.

She blushed. "Thank You Flash..." She smiled, nestling into his wing.

“Just doing my job Princess.” He smiles

Twilight relaxed into the stallion’s wings, looking up at the sky. “And that one is Cepheus.” She continued her small lesson.

“You really know a lot about this stuff.” Flash chuckled.

“Yeah… Me and my brother used to do this a lot… up until the wedding of course.” Twilight sighed, resting her weight onto his side.

Flash nodded, an awkward silence coming between the horses.

“But… I do come out here by myself often. Celestia Caught me though, I hardly have time to do anything unattended anymore.” Twilight broke the silence.

“Well… I could become your personal guard.” Flash Suggested, “I won’t tell you ‘No’.”

“You’re new… My brother doesn't trust too many ponies to care for me. Especially With the Ghost killer on the loose.” Twilight sighed, putting her head in the grass, “But it’s worth a shot.” She yawns.

“Tired?” He asks, nudging her.

“What are you doing with my sister?” Shining armor’s voice questions, sternly the Stallion, “Why did you leave your post?”

“I uhh, She said…” Flash Stammered, stumbling up.

“I should have known better than to trust a Pegasus.” He glares.

“I asked him to bring me stargazing. And my orders overrule yours big brother.” Twilight steps between them carefully, authority in her voice.

“Twilly… You can’t use your princess hood to use my guards like this.” The older Stallion scolded lightly.

“You were… Busy.” Twilight blushed awkwardly, causing red to paint both stallions’ faces.

Shining armor walked away slowly and Twilight couldn't let herself turn to Flash, who soon enough walked by her and looked back at her, “You coming?” He gave a small smile.

She grinned and trotted next to him. “Sorry, You’re probably going to get in trouble later…” She apologized

"It's worth it." He chuckled cryptically before taking off to land on a balcony of the castle and going in to resume his post.

Author's Note

Here is the first of hopefully many chapters of On Watch

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, Twilight was summoned to console with Shining Armour, Flash Sentry and Celestia.

She opened the throne room door cautiously, "You called?" She asked quietly, unsure of the tone of this meeting.

"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia addressed, "Come in please." She directed and motioned toward a chair across from her and the stallions. "It has come to my attention that your brother is... incapable of taking care of you and his wife." She began, "And you are in need of a personal guard. I agree. And it seems you took interest in this particular stallion."

"Yes." Twilight nodded, unsure of where this was going exactly.

"I think Flash has shown enough progress to take care of you." Shining Armour got straight to the point, "And I am personally assigning him as your guard." He then mentioned.

Twilight's face lit up, and Flash grinned, "Really? Than--" Twilight was interrupted by her brother,

"But. if ANYTHING happens to my sister..." Shining Armour growls, poking Flash in the chest with every syllable.

"I swear, I will protect her with my life." Flash promised, eyes landing on Twilight, "And I mean that, I'd die for you."

"He has been trained well, as we can see." Celestia points out, "And I have full confidence that--"

"Bye!" Twilight left, followed by Flash.

"Why did we just--"

"If we would have stayed, there would probably be a long speech, and... it would just get boring." Twilight explained.

"Okay...?" Flash said, not completely accepting the disobedience toward the Princess, but followed Twilight anyway.