Flash Sentry and the Secret of the Bloodmage

Chapters

Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III

Chapter I

Flash Sentry stood stock still. Keeping unwavering eye contact with the pony in front of him, he did his best to ignore the itch developing on his nose. Across a desk in front of Flash Sentry, Captain Storm Mouth fixed him with a smoldering glare.

The Captain leaned forward, placing his hooves the desk. “You’re walking a thin line, guardspony. Do you remember what I said to you after the incident with Discord and the two Princesses?”

Flash Sentry dipped his head in an almost imperceptible nod. “Perfectly, sir.” Like that was my fault, he thought. Besides, what could I have done about a giant death worm?

The Captain reached into a drawer with a hoof and retrieved scroll. He spread it out on the desk. “You want to be a Royal Inquisitor, don’t you guardspony?”

Flash Sentry’s heart shot into his throat. The Captain had his application spread out on the desk. Every blank was filled in, all the paperwork in order, even the signature of approval. He recognized the signature as Shining Armor’s. How long has Storm Mouth been sitting on this? he wondered, swallowing. “Yes sir, I do.”

“Inquisitors travel throughout Equestria for the Princesses, covering affairs both internal and external. They need to be able to operate independently. Between this latest screw up, and your history of negligence, I can’t even trust you with a princess protection detail.” He gestured at the application. “How can I trust you without oversight?”

“Captain Shining Armor trusted me,” Flash Sentry said. “And last I checked, he’s still the Captain of the Royal Guard.”

Storm Mouth rose out of his chair and slammed his hoof down on the desk. “Don’t get smart with me, guardspony! Since Shining Armor is too busy playing prince to live up to his title, I’m the one in charge here, and I don’t have any time for insubordination!”

Flash Sentry clenched his jaw, keeping his mouth shut.

For a few moments, Storm Mouth glared at him in silence. He settled back into the chair. “Right now, I don’t see why I shouldn’t send you over to the City Watch.”

“What?!” Flash Sentry said, his voice a bit too loud. “I haven’t done anything wrong, sir! The incident with Discord was well out of my control!” He pointed at the application. “Look at what it says there! My service record is excellent! I’d be wasted on the City Watch, sir!”

“You know what else it says? You’re ‘adaptable’. You aren’t afraid of grey areas.” The Captain eyed Flash Sentry. “You know what that means to me? You play fast and loose with the rules, like yesterday, when you let that hooligan within stabbing distance of Princess Cadance because you did not observe proper defensive diamond formation protocols!” He pointed a hoof at a report on the desk. “Because of your negligence, she was attacked with a pair of scissors!”

“Firstly, all he wanted was a lock of hair. Secondly, the Princess felt we were being threatening and she wanted to interact with the crowd on a more personal level, sir,” Flash Sentry said. “Frankly, sir, Cadance can handle herself. She was fine.”

“Is that it? You’d shit on the entire legacy of the Royal Guard?” Captain Storm Mouth glared at him. “What about Blunt Root, who took a spear of magic meant for Princess Celestia, and every other hero who’s given their lives for everything that we hold dear since?!” With that, he tore Flash Sentry’s application in half. “I’m sorry, but I can’t keep ponies like you around. With your attitude, you’ll drop the ball when it really matters.”

Flash Sentry watched, stunned, as Storm Mouth casually tossed the fragments of his application into a wastebasket. “I’ll expect you to have your armor turned in by the end of the day. Report to the City Watch in the morning. Dismissed.”

Flash Sentry’s heart thundered as he found his voice. “No, sir, when it really matters, and something happens, that’ll be on you, because ponies like me won’t be around to pick up your mess!” With perfect form, he turned and marched out Captain Storm Mouth’s door.

“Stop, guardspony,” Storm Mouth ordered.

Flash Sentry halted and glanced over his shoulder.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?!”

Flash Sentry grit his teeth. He was supposed salute a superior officer when dismissed. “No Sir, I don’t think so.” He stormed out of the office.

“I’ll take your rank for insubordination, Lancer!” Storm Mouth shouted after him.

Ears burning with anger, Flash Sentry moved swiftly down the corridor within the Guard’s Wing of Canterlot Castle. The guardsponies he passed eyed him. Most looked away when he glared back at them. He made his way straight to the armory.

Half in a daze, Flash Sentry undid the straps of his armor, letting the golden plates slide off and clatter to the ground. He gathered the plates and went to the equipment issue counter. The guardspony behind the counter raised a hoof in salute as Flash Sentry turned in the uniform. Returning the salute, Flash Sentry. “Goodbye, Sergeant Tough Nut.”

The Sergeant chuckled, drawing a smile from Flash Sentry. “I think I’ll be seeing you around, sir.” He lowered his tone to a conspiratorial whisper. “You’re going to fight this, aren’t you? Captain Shining Armor will be visiting in a few months, you could take this to him.”

Flash Sentry sighed, his hoof resting on his helmet. “I don’t know, Tough Nut.” He handed the helmet over. “I might not last that long.” He turned, waving over his shoulder as he left.

BRRRRIIIIIIINNNG!

Flash Sentry slammed his hoof down on his alarm clock, silencing the ringing bells. Groaning, he slumped back onto the pillow. He glanced at the clock, then at the window. 0500, he thought. It was still dark outside. It’s too early even for Celestia. With another groan, he rolled out of bed. Time for a miserable first day of City Watch briefings.

By the time the sun was up, Flash Sentry had exercised, showered, and eaten. He stepped out the front door of his narrow townhouse into a sleepy Canterlot street. A faint layer of mountain mist still hung in the air in the shadows between the buildings. He adjusted a scarf around his neck, spread his wings, and jumped into the air.

His initial powerstroke carried him a couple stories up. With a couple more heavy beats of his wings, he cleared the tops of the buildings. He shifted into a leisurely rhythm and circled until he spotted the City Watch gatehouse. Unlike the Royal Guard, the City Watch was not housed in Canterlot Castle proper, but instead had its headquarters built into the city’s outer wall.

Flash Sentry beelined toward the City Watch headquarters, falling into an easy glide down a steep Canterlot slope. He shivered in the chill air, numbness setting into the leading edges of his wings. After a few minutes of brisk flying, he circled the gatehouse once, then headed for one of the towers where he saw pegasi coming and going. They wore the uniform of the Canterlot City Watch, a purple and gold cape with golden chain mail.

Flash Sentry smiled wistfully as he touched down. At least it’ll be lighter than the Royal Guard plate, he thought. Almost as soon as he was hooves down, a Private, identified by the single hoof symbol on his cape, approached him.

“Uh, Dragoon Flash Sentry?” the Private said, his foreleg cocked nervously.

Flash Sentry sighed. “That’s me.” Wow, Storm Mouth worked fast. The captain had already stripped him down a rank.

The private snapped his cocked foreleg into a smart salute. “Good morning, sir!”

Flash Sentry flicked his hoof in a lazy salute. “Relax, I’m not even in uniform, and good morning.”

“The Sergeant told me to give you this, sir!” the watch pony said. He fumbled with a satchel at his side, and produced a scroll a few moments later. Dipping his head, he presented the scroll to Flash Sentry.

Quirking a brow, Flash Sentry took the scroll. He blinked. Pressed into the wax sealing the scroll was Celestia’s cutie mark. The chill of the air instantly faded. With the edge of his hoof, he tore the seal and pulled open the the scroll.

Dear Flash Sentry,

Please report directly to my secretary Raven Quill at your earliest convenience. Tell nopony else where you are going, or why. I have something very important to discuss with you.

Sincerely, Princess Celestia.

Flash Sentry stared at the scroll. Un-freaking-believable, he thought. His chest felt tight. She must have heard about what happened to Cadance. He re-rolled the scroll. Well, it’ll be the first time I’ve been chewed out by a princess. He sighed. Though, if she’s taking the time to talk just to me, I doubt all I’m getting is chewed out, he thought with a sinking feeling. Holding the scroll in a hoof, he touched it to his forehead. “Later, Private.” With that, he turned and took to the air once more.

Still shivering from the chill mountain morning, Flash Sentry arrived at Raven Quill’s office in Canterlot Castle. He paused in the open doorway. The black maned unicorn sitting at the desk inside the office didn’t look up. He raised a hoof to knock on the doorframe.

“Flash Sentry?” Raven Quill said before he could knock. She made a mark on some papers on her desk with a quill floating in her magic.

“Uh, yes ma’am,” Flash Sentry said.

Raven Quill floated a stack of papers over to him and stood up from her desk. “Follow me. Carry those.”

Flash Sentry awkwardly balanced the stack on a forehoof. Raven Quill swept past him, heading for the end of the corridor. Almost dropping the stack, Flash Sentry followed her on three hooves. Raven Quill came to a stop at double door at the end of the hall. It towered over the two ponies, the golden filigree reflecting light shafting in through the corridor’s windows.

Raven Quill knocked once on the door. It opened almost immediately. “Wait here,” she said, and slipped through the opening. It slid shut behind her.

For a moment, Flash Sentry stood there alone in the corridor, holding the stack of papers. He eyed them. Discharge form, he realized. He swallowed. I’m finished. It wasn’t fair. It’s not my fault I’m bad at politics. I didn’t do anything wrong! He took a deep breath.

The door opened, and Raven Quill stepped out. “Princess Celestia will see you now.” She smiled. “Good luck.” She walked past him, leaving the door ajar.

Suddenly feeling very small, Flash Sentry faced down the doors. He took another deep breath, using his belly instead of his chest, in through the nose and out through the mouth, but couldn’t quiet his frantic nerves. With his jaw set, he poked his head through the opening.

The room beyond was bright, and full of books. Above him, standing on a balcony that wrapped around the room’s second story, Princess Celestia stood backlit by morning light shafting in through the window. Her ethereal mane glowed with the sunlight shining through it, casting a rainbow pattern across the floor of the room. In one hoof, she held an open book.

“Come in,” Celestia said, her voice firm.

Flash Sentry stepped fully into the room. He dropped to one knee, bowing, struggling to hold the papers in his other hoof. With the tinkling sound of magic, the door shut behind him. He felt the stack shift, and he lifted his head, reflexively shifting to catch it. Before he could react, it floated away in a golden aura. He overbalanced, and barely caught himself before he plowed chin-first into a plush rug.

“Stand,” Celestia said.

Ears burning, Flash Sentry picked himself up. Celestia deposited the stack of papers atop a desk on the first floor. She gazed down at him. “So, what’s this I hear about my favorite niece being accosted by a crazed, scraggly madpony?”

It wasn’t the first time Flash Sentry had talked to a Princess. In fact, he’d dealt with Princess Cadance on a near daily basis for the past month. But, with Princess Celestia’s disapproving gaze on him, it was all he could do to keep his hind legs from trembling. He bent his knees slightly. You didn’t do anything wrong, he reminded himself. He met Princess Celestia’s gaze. “Princess Cadance was fine. More than fine, really. She scolded the Corporal who tackled the pony in question, gave the pony a lock of her hair, and sent him on his way. Frankly, Princess, I’m wondering what Captain Storm Mouth told you to get you to waste your time on a pony who was just doing his job.”

Princess Celestia flicked her book shut, her gaze burning. “So what you’re telling me is that Princess Cadance was not the least bit perturbed by your failure to constantly hover around her and disrupt her daily activities, but your protective detail was close enough to intervene if anything serious occurred?”

Flash Sentry blinked. “Um, yes?”

“I’m afraid I simply cannot stand aside when I see such performance in my Royal Guard,” Celestia said. “And to think that you’re not the least bit repentant! Clearly, the fact that you’re still a Royal Guard at all is a travesty.”

“Princess, if that’s what you think, then remove me from your service,” Flash Sentry said. “Given the situation on the ground, I did what I thought was best, and I will never be able to do anything less.”

Princess Celestia laughed. Quickly, she daintily hid her face behind a hoof. “You’re exceptional.” She chuckled again. “So stoic, after practically falling face-first onto my rug.” Smiling, she jumped over the balconies railing, spread her wings, and touched down lightly on the floor in front of him.

Flash Sentry stared up at her, feeling blood rushing to his face and ears. A scolding, he expected, but not to be made fun of. “At least I’m not cruel enough to make a pony carry his own discharge papers to you!” he said before he could bite back the retort.

Princess Celestia’s expression softened. “It’s that easy to believe that I would send you on your way without good reason?”

Flash Sentry furrowed his brows. “That’s why I’m here, isn’t it! Captain Storm Mouth must have twisted the story, and you heard about it!”

“Oh, I heard,” Celestia said. She closed the distance between them in a few strides, and towered over him. “And, in my outrage, I took the time out of my day to deal with a single Royal Guard personally? So I’m cruel and gullible.”

Flash Sentry swallowed, his ears flattening. “That’s not what I meant, Princess.”

“I’m not angry,” Princess Celestia said. “Ponies could learn a thing or two from you. I mean, I can’t be infallible right? Surely I am capable of making mistakes, and you weren’t afraid to call me out.” She eyed him. “Are you sure that was wise? Are you aware the power that ponies have vested in me? I could have you banished, or executed, with a word.”

Flash Sentry had to stop himself from taking a step backward. He shook his head. “You’re not like that.”

“How do you know?” Celestia said. “You called me cruel a moment ago. I could be like that, couldn’t I? I hold your life in my hoof, and you don’t even know me.”

Flash Sentry drew himself up. He still felt small in front of Celestia, but he squared his shoulders. “You’re not. I signed up because I knew you cared about everypony, and if I was good enough to be on your team, I wanted to be.”

“How do you know I care for everypony?”

“Because we wouldn’t be what we are without your leadership, Princess.” Flash Sentry said. “If you were cruel, if you were terrible, then Equestria would be a far worse place to live.”

“You’re right,” Celestia said. “And also wrong.” She sighed. “Do you know how difficult it actually would be to care for everypony?” She leaned in. “Do you want to know a secret, Flash Sentry?”

Before Flash Sentry could respond, she continued. “I really hate some ponies.” She took a step back, and turned away from Flash Sentry, walking over to her desk. “I hate ponies who kiss my hooves, hoping to get on my good side. I hate cowards. I hate ponies that are afraid of seeing things change. I hate ponies that use the words ‘breeding’ and ‘bloodlines’. Sometimes, I wish I could just take their money and throw them in the dungeon.”

She lifted up the first piece of paper on the stack Flash Sentry carried. “But you’re right, I’m not like that. Instead, I play a very long game, a game I can afford to play because I have a very long time to play it. The problem is, the ponies that this game actually affects have so much less time.” She readied a quill, dipping it in the inkwell on her desk.

Flash Sentry felt his mouth go dry. She’s actually going to sign it! “Wait!” he cried, raising a hoof. “You’re making a mistake!”

Celestia quirked a brow, eyeing him over the page. “Can I make mistakes?” She signed the document.

Flash Sentry dropped his hoof in defeat. He hung his head, closing his eyes tight. A wave of exhaustion, brought on by frayed emotions hit him. His eyes burned.

“On all official and public records, you are now a civilian,” she said. “However, on unofficial ones, or I suppose super-official ones, you are an Inquisitor with the rank of Knight.”

Flash Sentry lifted his head, his eyes widening.

“Arise, Knight Inquisitor, and repeat after me,” Celestia said.

Flash Sentry picked himself up, squared his shoulders, and stood at attention.

“I, your name, having been appointed as a Royal Inquisitor, will serve the Princesses of Equestria,” Celestia began.

“I, Flash Sentry, having been appointed as a Royal Inquisitor, will serve the Princesses of Equestria. I will be their hooves where they cannot walk, their eyes where they cannot see, and their sword where they cannot fight. Where there are shadows, I will banish them with the light. Where there are lies, I will hunt them with the truth. I will never blindly follow. I will always question. Above all else, I will stand for the weak, the innocent, and the broken. This is my oath, my words, and I accept the weight they carry for as long as I can bear it.”

Despite the words of the oath, Flash Sentry felt lighter having said them. The sun in the window seemed brighter. He smiled, then raised a hoof to wipe the moisture from his eyes.

“I’m sorry for playing with your emotions like that,” Princess Celestia said. “But, I find the truth of a pony comes out the most when they are strained. You are brave, but not foolish. Confident, but not arrogant. Most critically, you don’t believe I am infallible.” She paused, touching a hoof to her chin. “Well, perhaps you’re a little arrogant, but none of us are perfect.”

Flash Sentry smiled. “Thank you, Princess.”

Celestia sat behind her desk. “Don’t thank me yet. I’ve just gained a pawn is all.” She took the next paper on the stack and signed it, simultaneously sliding open a drawer in her desk and lifting out a token on a chain made from links twined with gold and silver. The token itself was a crescent moon twined around a blazing sun. She floated it over to Flash Sentry.

“This is an Inquisitor’s Mark. Any government official that sees it will comply with any orders or requests as if they came from me. Abuse my word, and I will not be kind,” Celestia said.

Flash Sentry nodded. “Understood, Princess.” Celestia slid the chain over his head. As it fell around his neck, it glowed with a faint blue light, then vanished completely. Flash Sentry blinked, staring down at his chest where it had been a moment ago. He could still feel the weight of the chain around his neck.

“It is keyed specifically to you, and will glow when you touch it. This property verifies its authenticity. It will vanish unless you concentrate on revealing it, in order to protect your identity,” Celestia said, moving through papers. “It has two major enhancements. The first will be familiar from Royal Guard armor. It makes you stronger, faster, and you will recover from injuries more quickly. The second, which you can thank my sister for, speeds your reflexes and will allow you to see and hear what others cannot.”

Flash Sentry focused, and the token appeared around his neck. He stared at it, chest swelling. “Thank you, Princess.”

“Normally, I would give these enchantments some time to take effect, but I’m afraid I must assign you to a mission immediately. You will make best possible speed to Ponyville.” She passed him a paper. “At this address, you will find a compartment beneath a floorboard under a rug in front of the fireplace. In the compartment you will find a deed to the property, and instructions on how to proceed.”

Flash Sentry allowed the Inquisitor’s Mark to vanish. “So, Princess, was this all set up?”

Princess Celestia sighed. “Unfortunately, no. Captain Storm Mouth can be a buffon, unfortunately Shining Armor couldn’t think of a better pony to cover his duties. I make the best of what I am given.”

“Ponyville,” Flash Sentry mused. “Why there? Isn’t that where Princess Twilight Sparkle lives?” He’d only encountered Twilight Sparkle a couple of times, but when he thought about her he found himself wishing he had the opportunity to spend more time near her.

Princess Celestia grinned. “Why? Are you hoping this mission has something to do with her?”

Flash Sentry’s ears burned. “No, I was just curious.”

Princess Celestia smiled knowingly. “Like I said, the details of your mission are at the safehouse. However, you were just dismissed from service in the Royal Guard for dereliction of duty. You are going to Ponyville to live in a house left to you by your uncle. You feel bitter, and betrayed. It is vital that you maintain this cover story.”

Flash Sentry nodded. “Understood, Princess.”

“Get moving, Inquisitor,” Princess Celestia said.

Flash Sentry saluted sharply, about faced, and exited Celestia’s office. He trotted down the corridor outside, feeling light on his feet. This is the best day ever.

Chapter II

When Flash Sentry arrived in the skies over Ponyville, his wings ached from the base to the tip. The town beneath him clustered along the banks of a small river. Spanning out from it, dirt trails led to vast fields dotted with farmhouses. To the south, the deep green of the everfree forest hugged the contours of the land. Near the edge of town, Princess Twilight’s castle looked out of place against the quaint houses and shops.

Four-Twenty-Five Sunset Lane, he thought. He angled his wings, turning into a slow, spiraling descent. He made for the circular plaza at the center of town. If he was going to get an idea of the streets, it was the best place to start. As he shed altitude and energy, he passed a small weather-team pushing a cloud. So far, they’d corralled a dense patch on the edge of town. A thick blanket of cloud cover spread outward.

The rooftops closed in, and he flared his wings, braking gently to control his speed. Even that small strain made his shoulders ache after hours of flying. I got too used to the Royal Guard armor, he thought. The Inquisitor's Mark would take at least a day to affect his body. Eventually, he made a running touchdown in the plaza. When he came to a stop, he stretched his wings with a satisfied groan before folding them.

All around the plaza, vendors in stalls hawked wares, such as tools, trinkets, and baked goods. Ponies moved to and fro at a relaxed pace, many with stuffed saddlebags from a morning of shopping. He turned, trying to find his bearings. Face it, he thought, you’re going to have to ask for directions.

He settled on a grey unicorn stallion with a light-blue mane chewing on a carrot near the edge of the plaza, leaning comfortably against a signpost. Dodging past other ponies, he approached the unicorn. As he neared, Flash Sentry realized how slight the stallion’s build was. The unicorn was thin as a rail, and Flash Sentry stood nearly a head taller.

“Excuse me,” Flash Sentry said. “Would you happen to know where Sunset Lane is?”

The unicorn shrugged and retrieved a pair of glasses from his saddlebag, placing them on his nose with his magic. He popped the head of his finished carrot into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “Well, there’s Hay Street,” he said, pointing and swallowing. “And there’s the town hall.”

Flash Sentry nodded.

“And um...” the unicorn frowned. “I haven’t the foggiest idea.” He grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, I’ve only been living here for a week,” he said. He raised a hoof. “I’m Fuller. Us new folks have to stick together.”

Flash Sentry smiled and shook the offered hoof. “Of course.” He dipped his head. “Flash Sentry.”

“Now, let’s see,” Fuller said. He pointed at an orange mare operating an apple fritter stall. “She seems like she’d know her way around.” He made for the stall, glancing sidelong at Flash Sentry. “Come on, let’s find Sunrise Lane.”

“Sunset,” Flash Sentry said, following.

“Humm?” Fuller said.

“It’s Sunset Lane.”

“Oh, right,” Fuller said. “Sunset street.”

Flash Sentry chuckled. “Now you’re just messing with me.”

Fuller grinned. “Yep.” Arriving at the stall, he leaned on the counter amicably. “Miss, could you tell us where Sunset Lane is?”

“Sure thing, sugarcube,” the mare said. She pointed to a street. “You see Sugar Street right over there?”

Flash Sentry nodded.

“Well, it’s real easy. Head that way, and when you get to the building that looks like a gingerbread house, you hang a left. After that, first right, then if you want to take a shortcut you hook through the alley with the family o’ rats that’ll come out looking for handouts. If you don’t want to take a shortcut you take the left fork onto Sunbeam Avenue, then you’ll come on Sunset Lane at the intersection after the Flower Shop.” She smiled. “Ya got it?”

“Um,” Fuller said. “I think so?”

“I got it,” Flash Sentry said. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Ma’am?” the mare said. “You’ll make a girl blush with those manners.” She tilted her head. “Are you two new here?”

Flash Sentry nodded. “Some newer than others.”

She slid a pair of fritters on wax paper down the counter. “Have a treat, on the house,” she said, winking. “I’m Applejack, of Sweet Apple Acres, and anytime you’re feelin’ hungry, you swing on by.”

Flash Sentry picked his fritter up off the counter. “Flash Sentry,” he said. “Thank you!”

Fuller took a bite out of his Fritter. Eyes watering, he said, “‘m Fuller.” He swallowed. “It’s so good!”

“World famous Apple Family secret recipe!” Applejack said.

Flash Sentry raised a brow. “How can it be both world famous and a secret?”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “The fritter is famous and the recipe is secret. You’re overthinking it, pretty boy. Shut up and enjoy the fritter.” She paused, eyeing him. “Wait, don’t I know you from somewhere.”

Applejack, Element of Honesty, Flash Sentry realized. “Um, probably not,” he said, turning away from the stall, fritter in hoof. Now he remembered her being with Princess Twilight Sparkle that day.

Quickly, he made his way toward the street Applejack had pointed out. “Hey, wait up,” Fuller said as he reached the street. Flash Sentry eased back on his long strides.

march,” Fuller said as he caught up, panting. He glanced over his shoulder. “She was cute.”

Flash Sentry shrugged. “Sure, she’s nice.”

“I think she liked you,” Fuller said. “Not your type?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “She was just being a salespony.”

“Counterpoint,” Fuller said, “she winked at you."

Flash Sentry rolled his eyes. “I bet she winks at least half her customers.”

Fuller nodded. “You’re probably right, I’m useless with mares.” He sighed.

“I’m not great either,” Flash Sentry said. Spotting the gingerbread house, he turned left, as instructed. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught a flash of pink, but when he looked, it was gone. He blinked, certain it was a trick of the light.

“No way,” Fuller said. “You stand so tall. Heck, it’s like you could be a Royal Guard or something.”

Flash Sentry chuckled nervously. “Maybe, but I always make some awkward flub, or set my sights on something I just can’t reach.”

“Hey, well, I live here, just five houses down that way,” Fuller said, pointing. “if you want to hang out or whatever. But, I should get home.”

Flash Sentry smiled and nodded. “Sure. I’ll see you around, Fuller.”

With a wave, Fuller turned down a side street. Flash Sentry slowed to a stop, and eyed the fritter he held. He was tired of trotting on three hooves, and it smelled delightful. He opened his mouth wide and shoved about half of it into his mouth. Flavor exploded across his tongue, sweet, warm cinnamon filling his mouth. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly outward through his nose. “Mmmmm.” He opened his mouth to take another bite.

“Applejack’s fritters are the best!” a bubbly voice cried directly behind him. Flash Sentry jumped, wings flaring. He scrambled for the fritter, but it spilled from his hooves, landing on the dirty cobblestone. He whirled.

A pink pony grinned at him. “Sorry, I forgot the first part. Suprise!”

Flash Sentry stared at her flatly. “You ruined it.”

She giggled. “I don’t usually mess up surprises, but when I do, it’s bound to be spectacular.” She held out a folded pink paper. “Here ya go!”

Flash Sentry took the paper and opened it. He raised a brow. “New Ponies Meet-And-Greet?”

“In ten days!” she said. She leaned forward until she was nearly eye to eye with him. “Sugarcube Corner. Be there!”

“Uh, Ooo-kay,” Flash Sentry said. Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter.

Pinkie Pie settled back. “I used to do it each time a new pony came to town, but that started happening more and more, so then I held a bi-monthly event, and now it’s just a monthly event because I’ve been getting too busy.” She frowned. “Do you think I’m not being welcoming enough with only one new-pony-party per month, vaguely-familiar-pony-with-the-overdone-manestyle?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “No, you’re very welcoming.” He glanced upward, catching a glimpse of his blue hair. “Overdone? Do you really think so?” He lifted a hoof and ran it through his mane. It had a lot of volume, and he wore it with a windswept look that was barely within regulations.

Pinkie Pie sat on her haunches and eyed him appraisingly. “How much hair-gel do you use a week?”

Flash Sentry glanced down at his hooves. “A lot.”

“Exactly!” she said.

Suddenly, a shrill, terrified scream rang out. Flash Sentry knew the sound of true fear. Without thought, he was in the air, zipping toward the source of the sound.

Flash Sentry slid to the stop in the dust of an alley. The amber mane of a prone pony peeked over a crate labeled ‘Nails’. “Are you okay?” Flash Sentry said, approaching. He rounded the crate and stopped short.

A mare lay crumpled against the crate. Her skin hung loosely from her bones, giving her a gaunt, emaciated look. “Miss?” Flash Sentry said. Her eyes were closed, and she remained perfectly still. He rushed forward and touched the sensitive pad at the base of his forehoof to her neck.

No pulse.

Fash Sentry hooked his forelimbs under her legs and positioned her on her back in the alley. As he repositioned her, he bellowed, “Help!” He looked over her body. There were no wounds or signs of injury. Standing over her, he centered both of his forehooves on the center of her chest and pushed down.

Hearing a gasp, he glanced over his shoulder, keeping up the rhythm of his compressions. Pinkie Pie stood there, hoof to her mouth, eyes wide and watering. “We need to get her to the hospital!” Flash Sentry shouted. “I need somepony who can help me move her!”

Pinkie Pie stood there, frozen. “Junebug?” she said, barely above a whisper.

“Go!” Flash Sentry roared, turning his focus back to the lifeless mare. Thirty to two, he thought, counting. A little voice in his head told him his efforts were probably wasted, and it was probably too late. You don’t even know if CPR will help in this situation. He squashed the voice and glanced over his shoulder to check on Pinkie Pie.

She was gone.

He repositioned and leaned in, covering her nostrils with a hoof and tilting her head back slightly so that her mouth fell open. Her lips felt cold against his, and strangely deflated. He exhaled into her lungs. A breath for them, a breath for you, he thought. He pulled away for a deep breath, his last one slowly leaking out of her mouth, and after inhaling and exhaling, pressed his mouth to hers again. As he gave her a breath, he heard hooves behind him.

“Flash, are you okay?” Fuller’s voice.

Flash Sentry pushed himself up and resumed compressions. “Woah, is she okay?” Fuller said.

She’ll need life support, Flash Sentry thought. Full respiration apparatus. He needed to move her. Can’t carry her solo, not fast enough.

“Stars above!” Fuller shouted. Flash Sentry glanced over his shoulder. Fuller pranced in a tight circle. “She’s not breathing, is she?! What do we do?!”

“We hope,” Flash Sentry said. Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two...

“What should I do?!” Fuller cried. “Should I get help?”

It should be on the way, Flash Sentry thought, not wanting to waste his breath speaking. He leaned down to give the mare another two breaths.

“Oh man, oh man, oh man,” Fuller said. “This is bad, isn’t it?! Just stay calm! Don’t panic! Should I go get help?!”

Flash Sentry reposition his hooves over her chest and pumped. “Get help,” Flash Sentry said, mostly to give Fuller a task. Seven, eight, nine... sixty seconds between the scream and the start of CPR... twelve, thirteen, fourteen... why aren’t her lips blue? He stared down at the mare’s face. She was disconcertingly pale. Her skin sagged around her cheekbones. Paralysis? Venom?

“I’ll get help!” Fuller shouted, his hoofsteps receding away from Flash Sentry.

How long from here to the hospital? Flash Sentry thought. Where is the hospital? He remembered spotting a building with a red cross as he descended into Ponyville, but he had no idea what direction it was in from the alley.

If I don’t get an emergency team from the hospital here inside of two minutes, I’m going to have to put her on my back and circle until I spot it, Flash Sentry thought as he leaned in to give breaths again. His pulse thundered in his ears as he exhaled. She’s already dead! You can’t move her fast enough on your own! He shook his head as he took the breath for himself. Does a Guardspony give up? He breathed for her. Does an Inquisitor?

One, two, three, Flash Sentry counted, firmly pumping her chest. He felt something shift beneath his hooves. Rib fracture, he thought. It happens. He remembered his instructor mentioning the possibility. He was pushing her chest hard enough to move blood through her body. Focus on the rhythm, he thought.

After another thirty compressions, he leaned in to give the mare a breath. As he sealed his lips with hers and filled her lungs, he heard a pair of near-simultaneous concussive pops behind him accompanied by a flash of light. He lifted his head, glancing over his shoulder while he took a breath for himself.

Behind him in the alley, Princess Twilight Sparkle stood next to Pinkie Pie, her wings spread. For a moment, Flash Sentry registered shock and surprise at seeing the princess, but his task consumed his attention.

Twilight’s mouth dropped open. “Pinkie! Why?! I didn’t need to—”

“She’s not breathing!” Pinkie cried.

Flash Sentry gave the mare another breath.

“Oh!” Twilight said. “Oh.”

A tingle passed over Flash Sentry as magic built in the air. Ignoring it, he shifted to resume chest compressions. As he pressed down, the mare, and the alley, vanished in a flash of light.

Flash Sentry dropped six inches onto clean white tile. Shock ran up his outstretched forelegs. Head spinning, he toppled sideways into a wooden crate. Disoriented, on his side on a cold floor, he blinked as he took in his surroundings.

Shouts of alarm filled the white hallway he found himself in. The mare lay a few hoofspans away in the middle of the corridor. Within a few seconds, a nurse was at her side. A pony with a red cross on his hat knelt down by Flash Sentry. He waved the nurse off. “I’m fine!” he said. “She’s not breathing!” he pointed at the prone mare. “I did CPR for almost two minutes!”

The nurse nodded. “She needs a respirator! Get a stretcher!”

A few minutes later, Flash Sentry sat in a chair staring at a sign on a door that read ‘Critical Care 4’ in red letters. Movement flitted in a small square window set into the door. He turned his head to look at where Princess Twilight sat a few chairs away. She had one wing around Pinkie Pie, who sniffled quietly with her face buried in Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight Sparkle met his eyes over Pinkie’s mane. “I...” Flash Sentry said. “I hope she makes it.” He looked away, trying to blink back the tears he could feel building.

“Do you know her?” the Princess said.

Flash Sentry shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.

“Her name is Junebug, and she’s lucky you were there,” Twilight Sparkle said.

Flash Sentry nodded. He took a shuddering breath. “I’ve never had to do that before. Not on a real pony, anyway.” He swallowed, focusing on his forehooves. “I broke her rib. It happens sometimes.”

“I’m sure you did your best,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Thank you for getting her here so fast, Princess,” Flash Sentry said.

Twilight Sparkle glanced down the hallway at the nail crate from the alley. “I probably didn’t need to bring the box of nails though,” she said with a strained laugh.

Flash Sentry laughed, a small portion of the tightness in his chest easing. “Probably not, Princess.” He looked over at her and she smiled softly.

“Call me Twilight.” She looked away. “Please.”

“Sure,” Flash Sentry said. “Twilight.”

The door burst open. A doctor stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him. Flash Sentry sat up straight, his ears perking in anticipation. His heart fell at the look on the doctor’s face.

“I’m sorry,” the Doctor said. “We couldn’t help her.”

“Why not?!” Flash Sentry demanded, standing.

The doctor glanced down at a clipboard she held in one of her hooves. “Well, um...” she flipped a page. “She had a rather, um, odd, case of extreme blood loss.”

Flash Sentry blinked. “What?” He hadn’t seen any wounds, or blood in the alley.

“She didn’t have any blood in her body,” the doctor said. “No wounds, skin a hundred percent in-tact.” She tossed the clipboard over her shoulder, showering papers. “Just poof! No blood!” Shaking her head, she set off down the hallway. “Completely, totally dead before she got here...”

Flash Sentry slumped back onto his haunches. It was useless, he thought. Everything you did was useless. “Something killed her.” He grit his teeth and picked himself back up. With a beat of his wings, he launched himself down the hallway.

“Wait!” Twilight shouted after him. He ignored her as he banked tight around a corridor, rolling to avoid clipping an orderly with an outstretched wing. Spotting an exit sign, he blazed toward it, threw the door open with his forehooves, and shot through into the outside air.

Chapter III

Flash Sentry scanned the alley. He could see disruptions in the dirt where he’d dragged Junebug’s body. Diffuse, white light filtered from the cloud cover overhead. A chill breeze rushed between the buildings, stirring his mane, and blowing a few specs of dirt onto the pristine square where the nail crate had sat.

There’s nothing here, Flash Sentry thought. He stamped the dirt with a hoof. How did this happen? How could something leave a bloodless corpse in broad daylight? He looked both ways to the ends of the alley. Somepony must have seen something.

Fuller rounded the corner. Panting, he leaned against a thick wooden post. He clutched his side with a forehoof. “Jeeze,” he said between breaths. “You fly fast.” He sucked air. “How did you get to the hospital and back so quick?”

“What do you mean?” Flash Sentry said.

“Well, uh,” Fuller said. “I came back to the alley with a couple pegasi, and you were gone.” He pushed himself off the post and took a step forward. “I figured you’d gone to the hospital and they flew off to help, so I started walking. Then, on the way there I see you blaze past overhead. Ran to catch you.”

“Princess Twilight teleported us... me and the body, to the hospital and I flew back to see if I could figure out what happened,” Flash Sentry said.

“What? The body?” Fuller gasped. “She didn’t make it?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “Dead before I got here.” He grit his teeth.

“Oh,” Fuller said. He rubbed one foreleg with the opposite hoof. “I uh... that sucks. What killed her?”

“Blood loss,” Flash Sentry said.

Fuller blinked, looking around the alley. “But where’s the blood, where’d it go?”

“Exactly,” Flash Sentry said.

With a hoof, Fuller pointed at the empty spot where the nail crate had been. “What’s that?”

Flash Sentry focused on the spot. Wedged into a crag where the wood of the building met the stone, a wisp of purple fluttered in the breeze. He took a couple steps closer. The tip of a feather stuck out of the crack. With a hoof, he gently pulled it free. Lavender, he thought. He’d never forget the shade. She was all the way across the alley when she teleported. In order for that feather to get behind the crate...

Fuller leaned in over Flash Sentry’s shoulder. “Who do you think that feather belongs to?”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Flash Sentry said.

“What?” Fuller said. “So, she left it here when she teleported you?”

Flash Sentry shook his head. “No. Not where it landed. For a gust to blow it over here, and it to get stuck... it’s too unlikely. She had to have been here before I got here.”

“But it must have blown there, right?” Fuller said. “Princess Twilight Sparkle couldn’t have had anything to do with this could she?”

Question everything, Flash Sentry thought. “You’re right, but there has to be an explanation.”

“Look, Flash, you’re getting pretty intense. Don’t you think you should have left that where you found it? I mean, I don’t think the proper authorities are going to want you messing around here before they get here,” Fuller said. “They’re probably going to want statements from us.”

You’re not Royal Guard anymore, Flash Sentry thought. “You’re right,” he said. “Look, if they show up, let them know I’ll be right back. I’ve got to check on something,” With that, he launched himself into the air, feather still in his hoof.

Four-Twenty-Five Sunset Lane was an old-style earth-pony house. Thatch eves hung out over solid wooden walls painted a tan-white. As long as the roof had been maintained, the house could have been here for a century. Flash Sentry raised a hoof and tested the oaken door. His hidden medallion thrummed against his chest as the latch yielded.

He stepped inside. The door swung shut behind him. An arcane tinkle accompanied the click of the latch. Magically secured, he thought. The furniture inside was both sparse and understated. The chairs in the joint kitchen were solid wood and lacked cushions, though beneath one of the dark-curtained windows was a padded seat.

Flash Sentry’s hooves clicked on the floorboards as he walked to a woven rug in front of the room’s brick fireplace. He pushed it aside. Sure enough, a trap door lay beneath it. A small metal handle folded flush into a slot in the wood. He lifted it out, gripped it in his teeth, and hauled the door open. A steep staircase descended.

Shrugging, Flash Sentry made his way down the steps. Each creaked beneath his hooves. At the edge of the light streaming down from above, a pull-cord dangled. He gave it a yank. Above him, a bulb sprang to life.

A full set of Royal Guard armor adorning a ponynequin gleamed in the light. Beside it, a red folder rested on a table, next to a sack. Flash Sentry approached the folder. With a hoof, he flipped it open, revealing a photo and a sheet of white paper. He quickly scanned the machine-typed letters.

Classified: Royal Intelligence-Eyes Only

0917-1004 #493
Notice From: Canterlot Intelligence Group
Notice For: Inquisitor Assigned to Ponyville

Prime Directive: INVESTIGATE LORD SANGUINE AND HIS ACTIVITIES IN PONYVILLE

Secondary Directive: PROTECT PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE

At 0334C on 23 Fading 1004, Lord Sanguine arrived in Ponyville under the guise of exploring the growing township for investment opportunities. Probable Address: 454 Horseshoe Boulevard.

Lord Sanguine’s Known Associations include: Free Dawn (separatist faction seeking to curb the power of Celestia), The Circle of the Great (Canterlot Noble’s group exclusively for old bloodlines. Publicly demands Princess Celestia and Princess Luna step down from power and restore it to “the true rulers”).

Princess Twilight Sparkle is the heir apparent. Targeting her may be a way to undermine the Princess’s government. It is unknown what Lord Sanguine is planning.

Suggested Course of Action: Use identity/cover to infiltrate Lord Sanguine’s local operation, determine adversary courses of action, develop response plan, and act. If possible, find evidence of treason that can be used in public trial.

P.S. Be careful. I highly doubt there is any threat of harm physical harm to Twilight. You, on the other hoof, well, let’s just say not everypony has stopped the apocalypse. -C

Classified: Royal Intelligence-Eyes Only

Flash Sentry narrowed his eyes, focusing the note at the bottom penned in flowing ink, signed “-C”. Pretty sure that isn’t procedure, he thought. He tucked the paper back into the folder and looked at the photo. It was a portrait of Lord Sanguine, taken with a bright flash as he walked down a purple carpet inside of Canterlot Castle. His blood-red mane fell about his shoulders, and the flash highlighted his blond coat.

Nothing about anything that could suck the blood out of a pony, Flash Sentry thought. At least I know what I’m supposed to be doing. He rubbed his temple with a hoof. Better go give the locals a report. Before he left the basement, he checked the sack. Bits filled it to the brim. He grinned, at least I’m well funded.

Almost as soon as Flash Sentry covered the trapdoor in front of the fireplace with the rug, a knock sounded at the front door. He furrowed his brows and went to the door. Squinting, he peered through an eye-level lensed peephole. On the far side, Princess Twilight waited expectantly. He caught a glimpse of cyan feathers and a pink coat on each side of her.

Flash Sentry pulled away from the peephole. Crap. He touched a hoof to his chest. Of course she’d get involved. His heart beat like he’d just finished an airborne sprint. Taking a deep breath, he ran his hoof through his mane then reached for the latch.

As soon as he had the door open, Flash Sentry slipped out and let it swing shut behind him. A soft chime accompanied the click of the latch falling into place. Twilight Sparkle smiled. Flash Sentry recognized Rainbow Dash to her right, and Pinkie Pie on her left. “Princess,” Flash Sentry said, dipping his head. “What can I do for you?”

“You left in a hurry,” Twilight said. “I was hoping you could tell me more about what happened to Junebug.”

Flash Sentry shook his head. Sighing, he leaned back against the door. “You know as much as I do, Princess. She was like that when I got there.”

Rainbow Dash shot forward in an eyeblink and prodded him in the chest with the sharp edge of her forehoof. “Really now?! You were the only one anywhere near her!”

“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted. “He tried to save her!”

“Well, I was there,” Pinkie said. She gasped. “Did I do it Dashy?”

Rainbow Dash took a step back. “Pinkie, just stop.”

Pinkie tilted her head. “Stop what?”

Rainbow whirled on Pinkie. “That! This isn’t funny!” she shouted. “I don’t know if you heard, but newsflash, Junebug is dead!”

Pinkie Pie fixed Rainbow with a flat stare. “I know, Rainbow. I saw the body.”

“Look,” Twilight said. “We don’t know what happened.” She sniffed. “We’re going to figure it out. There has to be a reason this happened.” She looked at Flash Sentry. “Can you help us?”

Flash Sentry ran a hoof through his mane. He left it hooked around the back of his neck. “Um,” he said. “I don’t know what I could do.”

“You’re a Royal Guard, right?” Twilight said.

“Uh.” Flash Sentry rubbed the back of his neck. Maintain your cover. He swallowed. “Former.”

Twilight raised her brows. “Former? Why?”

“Insubordination,” Flash Sentry said. He met Twilight's eyes. “Look, I wish I could help you, Princess, but I’m just another pony. Nothing more.”

Twilight’s expression fell. She glanced at the ground. “I see.” She turned away. “Thank you for your time, and thank you for trying to help Junebug.”

Rainbow Dash glared at Flash Sentry. “I’m watching you,” she said, before following after Twilight.

Pinkie Pie glanced at Twilight Sparkle, then at him. She raised a brow, shrugged, then trotted off after Twilight.

Flash Sentry clenched his jaw as they walked away. When they rounded the street corner, he turned and slammed his hoof into the doorframe. I could have told her! She’s a Princess! They’d keep it secret! He shook his head. Celestia told me to keep my cover. He took a deep breath. Would she be impressed? He reached for the lavender feather he’d tucked into a saddlebag he’d found in the house.

For a moment, he stared at it. How did you get where I found you? He watched it flex in the breeze. What were you doing in that alley before I got there, Twilight Sparkle?

Warm firelight streamed out of the windows of Four-Fifty-Four Horseshoe Boulevard. Flash Sentry touched down in the street outside the property’s open gate. A low brick wall backed by a high hedge encircled the structure. He folded his wings, settling them on his back. A sign by the gate marked the place as The Very Berry Inn.

Eyes on the windows, he trotted up a path of rounded stones that lead to the front door. As he neared, his ears caught voices and raucous laughter filtering out into the night air. He reached the door, and pushed it open. Inside, ponies lounged on couches before a raging fire and on stools at a bar. Eyes turned on him as he stepped forward. Almost as soon as he was inside, he spotted Lord Sanguine sitting at the bar. His rich red mane spilled down around his shoulders.

Lord Sanguine turned to glance at Flash Sentry. He grinned, showing white teeth. “Ah, you must be the former Royal Guard Crimson Fold recruited. Flash Sentry, right?”

Flash Sentry blinked, but quickly regained his composure. Of course they gave me a way in, he thought. “Right,” Flash Sentry said.

“Come here,” Lord Sanguine said, beckoning him with a hoof. “Let’s talk.”

Glancing warily at the ponies around him, Flash Sentry walked over to the bar. Is this entire inn in his pocket? he wondered. He took a seat on a stool next to Lord Sanguine. “About?” Flash Sentry said.

From a crystal glass, Lord Sanguine took a sip of wine. “First, when speaking to me, you will use a title appropriate to my heritage.”

“Of course, my Lord,” Flash Sentry said, doing his best to not spit the words through gritted teeth.

“So, tell me why an Officer in the Royal Guard would turn against the Tyrant?”

Flash Sentry frowned. “I didn’t turn on them, they turned on me, my Lord.” He tapped a hoof on the bar. “All that matters is a few ponies, and whether you’ve caught their eye or not. Just look at the current Captain of the Royal Guard.” He shook his head. “Nopony was meant to have as much power as they do.”

“And you’re willing to do what is necessary to save Equestria?” Lord Sanguine asked.

“Of course, my Lord,” Flash Sentry said. “We need to make the change we seek.”

Lord Sanguine grinned, then lifted a hoof to clap him on the shoulder. Flash Sentry let out a breath he hadn’t realize he’d been holding. “Tartarus, Crimson Fold knows how to pick ‘em!” Lord Sanguine chuckled and took a swig from his glass. “And, according to my sources, your previous occupation has the Princess already trusting you.”

Flash Sentry shrugged. “I do what I can, my Lord.”

Lord Sanguine swiveled on his stool. “Hey, Quill... Quill Scrape...” He rapped his hoof on the bar in frustration.

“Scratching Quill, my Lord,” an earth pony said from a chair beside the fireplace as she rose to her feet. “What can I do for you?”

“Right, Scratching Quill,” Lord Sanguine said. “Do you have the book, and that camera-thing?”

Scratching Quill nodded. She leaned over to an end-table beside her chair, nosed into a strap, then picked up a book bound in black fabric in her mouth. With the items, she trotted over to the bar. Lord Sanguine took the book in his levitation and held it out to Flash Sentry. “Get this into Princess Twilight’s palace, then use the, erm, thing, to capture the image. Open the book to the sixty-third page.”

“I’ll get it done,” Flash Sentry said. He dipped his head as Lord Sanguine floated the camera’s strap around his neck. When Lord Sanguine released it, it pressed the invisible amulet uncomfortably against Flash Sentry’s chest. “Might I ask why?”

“There’s only one pony in this world scarier than Celestia,” Lord Sanguine said. He paused, as if waiting for an answer, but before Flash Sentry could say a word, he said, “Twilight Sparkle. You’re going to help Equestria see that.” He patted Flash Sentry on the shoulder. “I expect great things from you.”

Flash Sentry touched down in an open field, breathing heavily. He could feel Celestia’s enchantment taking hold, and it worked to free his muscles from fatigue, but the marathon from Canterlot and a day sprinting around Ponyville was taking its toll. As he caught his breath, he sat down on the soft grass. Ahead, moonlight glinted off the spires of Twilight Sparkle’s crystal palace.

Flash Sentry eyed the windows. She probably doesn’t bother to lock them, he thought. He squinted, trying to tell if the were even shuttered, as he stretched his wings. Getting in will be easy. He folded his wings and reached into a satchel at his side. He’d transferred the book and the camera into it; it was considerably easier than having one in his mouth and the other swinging around his neck.

He set the book in front of him on the grass, then flipped the pages, counting sixty-three. He peered at writing, but he couldn’t make it out in the dark. Sighing, he looked up and scanned his surroundings. Behind him, towards the center of town, there were a few streetlights, but that would mean backtracking.

Oh right, he thought. He looked down and focused on the amulet around his neck. After concentrating for a few seconds, it faded into reality. He touched his hoof to it. A soft white glow emanated from it. With the light, he read the page.

BLOOD MAGIC

This Compendium discusses few magics more costly than Blood Magic. However, great power only comes with a great price. Blood Magic does not make a great spellweaver, but a great spellweaver wielding its power is a truly spectacular force. Beware, for once you venture down this road, there is no turning back.

He skimmed ahead.

A Blood Mage must drain at least one font every cycle of the moon to maintain themselves. If more fonts are drained, it will result in greater vibrancy for the Blood Mage and a larger pool to draw upon for the performance of Blood Magic.

He read the next couple of paragraphs, and grimaced. Quickly, it devolved into a technical web of magical principles well beyond his understanding. Only one more tidbit of information stood out.

Prolonged use of Blood Magic will cause its caster’s mane and tail to become blood red.

Flash Sentry flicked the book shut and rubbed his temple with a hoof. His amulet went dark as he moved the hoof away, then faded into invisibility. This is bad. He thought. They don’t need to prove Twilight Sparkle has a thing to do with the murder. All they need is to make ponies wonder, and fear will do the rest.

So, what now? he wondered. It was tempting to simply not do what Lord Sanguine asked. He could make an excuse. He could claim the camera wouldn’t work, or that his infiltration of the palace had failed. Lord Sanguine has nothing but red in his mane. I’m probably helping the murder right now. He thought. But do I know that? Sighing, he picked up the book and put it back in the satchel. The only way to know for sure would be to chase the rabbit down its hole.

Like Flash Sentry predicted, getting into the palace was easy. After swooping in through an open window, he stepped softly down an empty corridor. Eerie silence reigned over the entire structure, leaving the clip-clop of his hooves echoing in his ears like thunder. He listened to the rush of his own breath as he made his way forward, looking for a likely spot to find a book of black magic.

A beastial roar ripped down the corridor, and Flash Sentry froze. His ears twitched. The sound came again.

He stifled a chuckle. It was a pony snoring, loudly. He continued forward, stopping in an open doorway. Crystal shelves hewn into the walls of the room beyond held countless books. At a desk in the middle of the space, Twilight Sparkle rested her head on an open book. She inhaled, snoring, then shifted, her next breath a quiet murmur.

Flash Sentry moved forward delicately, careful to keep his hoof falls near silent on the hard floor. He stopped a couple feet from Twilight Sparkle. A stray hair from her mane dangled down in front of her lips and rose and fell with each breath. Drool from the corner of her open mouth dampened the page beneath her cheek. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Damn, she’s cute, he thought.

He shook his head, then reached back and retrieved the book. Spine in his mouth, he looked down at the desk, and froze. His eyes scanned the open page next to the one Twilight Sparkle was using as a pillow. It was the same book as the one in Flash Sentry’s mouth, open to the same page he had read.