One night at a poker game
Out in the land of Equestria there is a secret place were only a select few know about it. In much the same way the wheels of fate aligned to bring together the bearers of the Elements of Harmony together in one town so too did the wheels of fate turn bring together other ponies from unlikely places.
The Tavern called the Hallow Hoof is one such place as the place is run by a respatable mare… yet it is not the mare, the place, or even the building itself that is important… but the one room held in the back that marks this as a special place.
Flash Sentry sighed as he sat at the poker game as Braeburn dealt the cards out. Soarin pass out the chips as Thunderlane poured the drinks.
“What happened to you?” Braeburn asked out loud “Did something happen in the Crystal Kingdom?”
Flash sighed “Apparently some ponies were angry at me. I thought it was about the fact I was a Pegasus in the Crystal empire or how they might have seen me as an attempt at Celestia trying to control the Crystal Empire…”
Flash still couldn’t believe it “Yet they were angry at me… because Twilight might like me. I mean I think she’s cute… but I didn’t think ponies would get so angry about it.”
Thunderlane nodded “Well maybe it’s because she’s a princess. If you are one of the top ponies in their royal guard…”
Flash shrugged “Maybe it’s because I thought she was cutie. I mean… maybe it’s because she helped save Equestria and that she is one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony… or whatever it’s called now. I doubt any pony would seem good enough for them.”
Soarin shook his head “Really? I keep getting asked questions if I’m dating Rainbow Dash… and most of them seem supportive of the idea. What about you Braeburn?”
Braeburn chuckled nervously “It’s different for me. I’m in a frontier town so everypony likes to gossip as they seemed to have paired me up with just about everypony. I mean just because Applejack is my cousin…”
Flash glanced at Thunderland “What about you?”
Thunderland had a guilty grin “Fifty-Fifty, but Big Mac is the most popular. Come to think of it I’m not even sure if he’s dating Cheerilee… or if he’s still single. Still most of the mares like to think fondly about him. A few even talked about the possibility of me being a couple with Rarity or Rainbow Dash.”
Flash groaned as these were obviously the wrong ponies to be talking to… the door opened up as The Doctor came in… the doctor of what? Honestly none of them know, but he was a rather odd yet smart pony so the name stuck.
“Sorry I’m late.” The earth pony replied “I just got a little tied up.”
Flash smiled happy to have a single friend who was just as bad as dating as he is “How would others think of you if you tried dating one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?”
He paused and rubbed his hoof across his chin “I’m not exactly sure… I mean Pinkie Pie is fun to hang out with… Rarity was rather friendly when she helped me with my suit and Twilight has been asking me a couple of questions about my age…”
The smile on Flash Senetry’s face soon became strained as his teeth begain to grit together.
The Doctor blinked “Why did any of them ask about me?”
Thunderlane chuckled “No Flash just got some Flack about having a crush on Twilight so naturally he thinks there isn’t any ponies that would be well received if they started dating one of them.”
The Doctor nodded “Maybe it’s because they haven’t gotten to know you.”
Flash shook his head and chuckled a little “Know me? I’m one of guards personally responsible for Princess Cadance and graduated with top marks at the academy!”
He tugged on his hair “One group was practically foaming at the mouth and tried to attack me as they called me a Waifu stealer! What is a Waifu!”
A few of the others chuckled as the Doctor stepped in “Yes… but besides your position…”
Flash nearly glared at the Doctor “What about it? I worked very hard to get it.”
Thunderlane spoke the words no pony else was willing to say “Soarin in a member of the Wonder Bolts and is roughly near Rainbow Dash’s age… and she’s enthusiastic about them.” This earned a grin from Soarin “Breaburn is sheriff and helped stopped an incident with the buffalo and is a generally good guy… though I heard some complaints about you falling asleep after watching the CMC.”
Breaburn groaned “After putting out the fire, stopping their attempt at being scorpion catchers, and dealing with their antics all day long by myself… have any of you tried looking after them for an entire day much less when they want to find a way to do something their not supposed to do and with a busted leg?”
Everypony except Flash whistled as they tried not to make eye contract as all of them having previously experienced their level of mayhem, but thankfully in small doses. None of them wanted to accidently volunteer for watching them for an entire day after the… chimera tamers incident.
Thunderlane continued “Big Mac… well he must be doing something right as a few thought he and Luna would make a good couple.”
Flash planted his head onto the table “Luna? How is it that the pony who tried to bring about the Eternal Night has a better reputation than me?”
Breaburn rubbed his chin "Which part? The fact Big Mac as a shot at a Princess... or...."
Flash Sentry couldn't take it as he muttered "A pony who ussualy says two words gets a shot. If I tried thinking about asking Princess Celestia out on a date... I'd be in front of a firing squad."
The Doctor shrugged “Well maybe it has to do with the fact there’s a magical mirror linking to another world where a similar version of you just happens to fill a lot of “perfect guy” bit and annoyed a bunch of people. You know the type as he can do anything, bit is a goof ball, but still successful, but doesn't really do anything... or even have a personality for that matter.”
Everypony stared at him as if he was crazy.
The Doctor shrugged “I just some rumor I heard about Twilight being able to get into contact with Celestia’s previous student.”
Flash tried not to think about it… first of all because it would mean Twilight didn’t even like him… but some freaky alternate universe version of him. The second part was from how crazy it sounded. Alternate realty jumping just to talking to a previous student of Princess Celestia? That sounds like a bad joke Discord would come up with... before he became "reformed" by Fluttershy.
“Besides…” The Doctor chuckled nervously “Pinkie just claimed it’s because you really don’t seem to have much of a personality. I mean besides your job and having top ranks… there really hasn’t been a war or a time when the Royal guard has been able to... well help or defend anypony from any disasters lately"
Thunder Lane held a hoof up "What about Shinning Armor? Didn't he help during the Changeling Invasion and the Sombra incident?"
The Doctor continued "Also Celestia kind of… sent you to the Crystal Kingdom as soon as she could after your incident with Luna.”
Flash banged his head against the table “Please don’t tell me she’s still anger. I mean it was a simple mistake.”
Thunderlane rubbed his chin “Really? From what I heard half of Canterlot could hear Princess Luna’s reaction. Besides… maybe you just need to show yourself a little bit more and get some of the ponies used to you… find something that helps set you aside from the rest. Maybe their just nervous that your trying to date Celestia's personal student and that she's a princess?”
Thunderlane chuckled “Heck I have a few parings just because most ponies think my little brother and Scotts would make a cutie couple.”
Flash tried to look cheerful “You think I should try to learn how to play the guitar?”
The Doctor coughed as he quickly shook his head “Don’t… just trust me on it.”
Flash took a deep breath as he tried to relax… maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. Maybe ponies could finally see him for himself and possible wish him luck. Who knows… maybe he’ll even end up being like Shinning Armor and finally get the girl? If Twilight didn't like him then maybe he could try asking Flutteryshy out on a date or...
A ten ton Anvil crashed through the ceiling and landed on Flash Sentry as his entire body ached in pain. Derpy stood over the hole looking down at them as she was very sorry about the accident.
“Sorry. I kind of dropped it when a group of angry ponies bumped into me.” Derpy apologized “They were shouting about hanging the Waifu Stealer…”
Flash groaned as they managed to push the anvil off his body “It’s official. The universe officially hates me.”
