Murdered... Inside

"Wh- What?" Flash asked. "I said, you have personally been chosen by Princess Celestia to protect her! Your shift starts today." Cole responded.

Flash blinked.

"Is there a problem soldier?" Cole asked, a bit of anger in his tone. "Uh... with all do respect sir, isn't there another stallion that could be her personal?"

"Flash! You are the best soldier I have! Your reflexes are spot on, you have advanced weapons training. Your hoof to hoof combat is unmatched, and your flight skills rival that of Rainbow Dash!" Cole shouted.

Being her personal... protecting her? Flash thought in his head.

Captain Cole started banging his hoof against his desk. "Flash! Pay attention!" He shouted. "Sorry sir... I am just... shocked I guess. I never knew I was acceptable to guard Princess Twilight."

"Well... I know. It's a tough role... but it is a necessary one, and I can't think of anypony else than you to fill it." Cole finished, and Flash blushed a bit at the compliment. Guess i'm not getting out of this... maybe I could even get to know her better this way- wait! No you need to protect her! No flirting! But... I am going to be watching over her for a while... Okay. I will set boundaries. I will get to know her as a FRIEND, not anything more. But maybe if I... no! Ugh! Flash stepped out of his thoughts, and saw Cole just sitting in his chair with his hooves crossed, staring at him. "Uh... I spaced out again didn't I..." Flash said, holding the back of his neck with his hoof. "I understand, you are probably just nervous. Just give me a few minutes to do some paperwork, and I will be back with you to escort you to her quarters." Cole finished, and Flash saluted to him as he went into his back office. When Flash knew it was all clear,

"Hmph, you can come out now Faze." Flash said, and a shadowy figure of a pony started to protrude from one of the room's shadows. When he had stepped out into full view, he had taken form. He was a black furred stallion with a loose green mane and blue eyes.

"Heh, Flash your abilities never seize to amaze me."

"Oh please, that was just instinct. You follow me around a lot through shadows."

"Just one of the benefits of being a Shadow Walker." Faze said, and started to walk up the room wall and onto the ceiling. He then started to hang from his hind legs, and crossed his arms. "So, you nervous?"

"You have no idea..."

"You know, you should tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"That you like her, smart one." Faze winked at him.

"What? I could never do that, she won't feel the same."

"Flash, come on, you won't know unless you try." Flash grunted.

"Flash, come on! Don't waste a chance like this." Flash thought for a moment. Maybe it's worth a shot... I have all the time in the world!

"Fine Faze, you win. I will tell her, but I am gonna give it some time." Faze just smirked at him, and dropped from the ceiling on all fours. Not making a sound.

"Well good. Love is a great thing, so you shouldn't waste it on an opportunity like this."

"Hey, maybe I could even introduce her to you. You are my best friend."

"Well... I don't know. She may react to me like I'm a changeling or something."

"Come on Faze, you won't know unless we try." Flash smirked at him, and Faze playfully punched him. Then, they heard footsteps coming from Cole's office. "Well, I am gonna split, seeya later." Faze waved a hoof from his forehead, and dissipated into the shadows. Cole's door had opened, and he trotted out. "Okay Flash, I will escort you now. Be on your absolute BEST behavior." He ordered.

Let's just hope I can even contain a stutter... He thought, as he followed his captain out the door.

When they started making their way toward Twilight's room, they passed by many other guards. Some congratulating Flash on his new position, some others just turned away from him whispering to other guards "I should have gotten that spot." One of them even downright insulted him out of jealousy for his new position. You have it easy... buddy. He thought in his head.

When they had arrived at Twilight's quarters, Flash was amazed by the size of the doors. They were at least 30 feet high, and there were even some diamonds engraved in them. He looked at them in awe, but Cole got his attention. "Alright Flash, this is her room. I am going to take my leave now. Feel free to introduce yourself to her. But you will mostly be spending time out here guarding her door, and following her in case she goes out. Just do an occasional check up on her once in a while." Cole looked at his watch. "Well, I need to get to a meeting, good luck, and take care of her." He said, and Flash saluted him. "I will sir! Thank you sir!" He said, and Cole was off. When he was out of sight, Flash dropped the act, and started pacing thinking of how he should enter.

Okay, just go in there, and introduce yourself. Nothing special, just introduce yourself. He took a deep breath, and knocked 3 times.

"Yes?" He heard faintly from inside. "Um, hello? Princess? This is Flash Sentry. I was assigned your personal." He said. "Oh, come in." He heard. He took another deep breath, and started to open the door. He had to apply a bit of extra force to it in order for it to open, considering it's size. When it was open, he saw her, sitting on her bed, just reading a book. Next to it was a huge pile of them. He could make out multiple titles, like "Ancient Battle Strategies" and "Starswirl's Ancient Medalions". Twilight had noticed his entrance, Flash swore he saw her hidng a blush. "So... Flash Sentry! Captain Cole told me you were assigned my personal." She said, smiling at him. "Uh, yes, umm... I..." Stop studdering!

Twilight giggled. "It's alright Flash, there is no need to be nervous. Why don't you join me, I have some tea!" She said joyfully, and clapped her hooves. "Join you?" Flash just blankly looked at her. "Well, you are going to be my personal! I would like to know about you! I don't want a complete stranger guarding me." She said, getting up and heading toward the tea pot on her night stand.

"Oh, um, I would be glad to... But I need to get back to my post soon..." Flash said. "It's alright. Just a few minutes, I could use the company. She said, and they had both trotted over to a table. They both sat down, and Twilight started the conversation. "Sooo... How long have you been in the royal guard?" She asked. "Well... about a year." He said, and Twilight was shocked. "Only one year? I mean, no offense, but how did you..."

"Get assigned? I know, I have only been here for a year, but I have had plenty of training before joining the guard." Flash said, while sipping a bit of his tea. "Oh. So I take it you are a professional then?"

"You could say that. I received training from-" Flash instantly covered his mouth with both his hooves. "Wait, from who Flash?"

Flash released a deep breath. "Red Fang..." He said, just looking down. Twilight had gasped, almost falling out of her seat. "R- Red Fang?" She tried to regain composure. Twilight had read about the group. The Red Fang was a rogue organization that was formed for bounty hunters. It turned ponies into extreme fighters. But, it was criticized for it's extremely harsh training methods. Flash just remained silent. "But... the cruel training, you endured all that?" Flash started to look up at her, smiled and closed his eyes. "Let me just say, the training was a living hell... Red Fang was rightfully controversial." Flash held up his right arm, the bottom was littered with scars. "But... if you manage to make it through, it pays off." Flash said. Twilight just stared at him blankly. "So... you're... you're a... bounty hunter... But why?" She asked. "Well... I was aborted as a child.

I was abused, starving, and lonely. So... I took interest in the Red Fang. The bounty business pays, and they provided me with shelter and food."

"So... you... killed ponies for money?" Twilight just looked at him with a depressing look. "What? No Twilight it isn't like that! I have never killed a pony in my life. I bring ponies in ALIVE. I am not too fond of... that." Flash finished, and Twilight just looked at him. She didn't know what to think. "I'm... sorry if it freaks you out. You probably think I'm a creep..."

"No! No! Flash it's okay... I am really sorry you had it so rough..." She said, and gave him a reassuring smile. He smiled back at her. "But, enough about me. Tell me about you." He said. Alright Flash! Pat on the back for you! Stepping it up.

"Well... I was born and raised in Canterlot, but I eventually moved to Ponyville because Celestia wanted me to learn about friendship. I made a whole bunch of new friends there. I used to be a total bookworm and didn't care about the whole thing." Flash just looked at her. "Used to?" He looked toward the huge stack of books by her bed, and she blushed. "Uh... heh! Maybe I still do read a lot. But before I was sent to Ponyville, I was always to focused on my studies to make friends. But when I moved there, I found out how amazing friendship really was. I met Fluttershy, who is the kindest pony ever.  Applejack, a farm's pony. Pinkie Pie, who defies the laws of physics, my brain hurts whenever I think about what she does." They both shared a laugh. "Rariety, a stylist, and Rainbowdash, a-" Flash immediately choked on his tea. "Rainbowdash?"

"Uh... yes?"

"Blue fur, rainbow mane?"

"Wait, you know her?"

"Oh, we were great friends. She was one of the few ponies that understood me. I even beat her in a race." Flash said, and Twilight choked. Flash just stared blankly at her. "WHAT? YOU BEAT HER IN A RACE???" She yelled. "Oh... heh, sorry." She started to blush, and Flash chuckled. "You reacted the same way I told my other friend." He said, but then Twilight realized what Flash said again. "You beat her in a race... But... how??? She is unbeatable in the air!" She argued, and Flash just smirked. "Well... in a drag race, she is unbeatable. BUT, we were doing an obstacle race through a canyon. I was slightly more agile than her, barely won." He said, and Twilight gave him the biggest smile he had ever seen. "Wow... that is amazing! Now I can get back at her for calling me an egghead all the time!" She shouted. "Um... Anyways Princess, back to what you were saying..."

"Oh right... Well... after everything I went through in Ponyville, and what I learned about friendship, Celestia made me a princess. Now... I live here."

"Do you still see your friends?"

"Only on weekends, but I enjoy it."

"Maybe you could introduce me sometime?" Flash suggested. Then he realized what he just said. "Oh, I'm sorry! I barely know you yet and I just suggested..."

"No no it's fine. Since you're my guard now I would be happy to introduce you to them." She said. "Wait, Flash do you have any friends?" Flash was caught off guard by the question. "Um, honestly princess, I really only have one friend. Anytime I try to make one they always turn me down because of my past."

"Oh... I'm sorry. But who is this one friend?" Flash chuckled. "Oh, you will meet him eventually..." Then Flash looked at his watch. "Well, I need to get back on duty Twilight."

"Oh, okay. I guess I will see you later then..." Flash finished his tea. "I guess so too." Then, Flash heard something and his ears twitched. It was a faint buzzing noise. There was a fly in the room, and Twilight noticed it. "Ugh! Why can't these things just leave me alone?" She complained. Then, Flash got an idea. He picked his tea cup back up, listened for the noise again. He heard it to his right. Eight O' Clock... He swung the cup, and caught the fly behind him. Then, he put it face down on the table. Twilight saw this, and but an ear up to the cup. She gasped, and looked back at Flash, who was making his exit. "Guess I'll... see you later then." He said, and exited her room. Twilight just looked at the door... dumbfounded. Then she blushed.

Showoff... She thought, and smirked.

Did she... blush when I did that? No it was only my imagination... But... I thought I saw her...