Sentinel of the Sun

Chapter Nine

Nighting Gale couldn’t believe what she was looking at, it took every bit of willpower not to fall down. No pegasi, or bat pony, would ever wish another to lose their wings, it was truly a fate worse than death for their kind! Yet, here was a pegasi with no wings… Who seemed like a rather kind pony, the ones that should never have such a horrific fate. “M-Mr. Flash… I-Is the pegasi, in this picture, you?” She asked, hoping to Luna that she assumed wrong. That those nub outlines are some crude joke.

The butler turned around, and looked at the picture she was talking about. “Ah, that old thing?” Silver Flash asked, walking over and taking the picture from Nighting Gale. “To save the trouble, and help prove a point. Yes, this confident, young, brave; whipper snapper is me.” Nighting Gale’s heart sank when her fears were confirmed, yet she became confused when the old stallion smiled. "Amethyst Star, Iron Bulwark, and myself; were the best Equestria had to offer, especially during those times. With my lord leading our little group, nothing could stop us… Oh, blazes, what did the press call us?” He started to think, the mare waiting with anticipation. “Ah, yes, the ‘Equestrian Avengers’.”

At that very second, Nighting Gale’s eyes went wide, as dinner plates! Everpony, when they were foals, pretended to be a member of the Equestrian Avengers. They’re adventures being so legendary, that there was a comic book series about them! Yet, no pony knew their names, only titles… Often times, Nighting Gale pretended to be the Equestrian Saber, when she was just a filly. Then, remembering what she saw in the picture, and what Silver Flash had just told her, something clicked in her mind. “Y-You’re the E-Equestrian S-Saber?” She asked, in pure awe.

Silver Flash chuckled a bit, nodding his head a bit, like his mind went off to a distant memory. “Haven’t been called that in, around, thirty years.” That caused Nighting Gale’s jaw to drop. Right there, standing in front of her, was the mare’s foalhood hero! The very pony who inspired her to be a guard pony in the first place!

“Mr. Flash! You were every pegasi, and bat pony’s, foalhood hero! The fastest pegasus in history, first to ever move so fast, you could disappear in the blink of an eye!” She started to fangirl, which was alright… Not every day a pony meets their foalhood hero. “You kicked so much flank. And your catch phrase, whenever you do the Blinding Saber Dance…” Nighting Gale started to make slashing sounds, like one would do as a foal, before making a final one. “Shiiiink! Saber Flash!”

Silver Flash gave a hearty laugh, nodding a few times. “Yes, those were the good old days. Filled with heroes and adventures.” He gave a content sigh, remembering his younger years.

Nighting Gale looked at him, a worried look on her face. “What happened, Mr. Flash? You were the best…” She asked him, moving closer and giving him a concerned look.

He eyed the mare for a moment, his eyes moving to the side. “I was…” Silver Flash motioned her over a pair of chairs, the mare following him and took a seat. The old butler took a few moments, as if he was recalling the events. “It was just another mission, like any other. Bust in, take down the bad guys, and be back by afternoon tea…”

-Gryphon Empire, Thirty Years Ago-

The fortress doors blew open! Smoke quickly filled the hallway, as a group of Gryphon Warriors prepared for battle. “It’s the EA! Quickly, hold them off, before-GURK!” Before their squad leader finished, a silver coated pegasus stallion cut him down with a gold crested pegasi saber.

“Ah, evening, gents! We do apologize for popping, unannounced!” Silver Flash shouted, taking a nonchalant position with his saber. “But your boss has something that we would like returned to Princess Celesita.”

“I-It’s the Equestrian Saber!” One of the Gryphon Warriors said, backing away.

Another snarled, glaring. “He’s just one pony! Don’t let him-what the!?” Three of the were lifted off the ground, by a pink aura. “What’s happening!?” With that, the three were slammed into one another and thrown to the walls.

Silver Flash smiled, as a unicorn mare walked up. “Ah, Ms. Spear… Thank you for shutting them up, love.”

“Anytime, Saber.” She noted scanning the area around them. “Reports say that Ebon is in the main hall, with the notes. If my calculations are correct, the bulk of his goons should almost be here.”

Just as she said that, a large group of Gryphons forced the doors open, and charged the two. “Got to say, love, you’re smart as a whip.” Silver Flash smirked, looking down at her. “Where is your coltfriend, by the way?”

Amethyst Star blushed, looking away. “One date, ok? Hardly makes him my coltfriend.” She retorted, as the pegasus continued to smirk. “And he should burst through, right about… Now.”

The stone below the charging Gryphons suddenly shook, before it broke up and a decently sized earth pony roared out! “Come on, ya varmits! Have a taste of Iron, why don’t ya!?” He bellowed out, with a thick country accent.

“My, Ms Spear, you sure do know how to pick them.” Silver Flash teased, as the shield bearing earth pony started to clobber the panicking Gryphons left and right.

Amethyst Star gave a titled ‘hmmph’ before she watched the former farm pony lay a classic country smack down on their opponents… Blushing. Though, when Sun Guard climbed out of the hole, her eyes narrowed. “There’s the High General! Let’s go, Saber!”

“Right!” With that, the two quickly joined their teammates, fighting through the Gryphon Warriors.

It was obvious which side was outmatched, the standard Gryphon Empire Drop Outs didn’t stand a chance against Equestria’s elite fighting force. The four plowed through their ranks, in two pony tag-teams. Amethyst Star was with Iron Bulwark, while Silver Flash fought alongside Sun Guard; both teams showing well practiced maneuvers and well timed attacks. It was almost like they knew what their partner was thinking, before they even moved!

Before long, they burst through the final obstacle, coming face to face with an onyx clad Gryphon, surrounded by elite Gryphon Warriors. “Well, well, if it isn’t the elite Equestrian Avengers and the Sun’s Wrath?” He cackled a bit, shaking his head. “Come to bring me to justice, have you?”

“Give up, and return Star Swirl the Bearded’s notes, Ebon! The Princess may show mercy, if you do!” Amethyst Star demanded.

“Ah, the Equestrian Spear, voice of reason within the EA… Your princess wouldn’t have sent her wrath, if she offered mercy.” Ebon retorted, before he pointed a talon at them. “Kill them!” The elite Gryphon Warriors lunged towards them, each letting out a screech.

The four took defensive positions around one another. “Alright, everypony. Standard procedure, distract the henchmen, while the High General takes out the big baddie.” Silver Flash instructed, the others nodding. “With any luck, we may be back for morning tea.” When Sun Guard charged forward, barreling past the Elite Warriors, the other three quickly followed him and all shouting. “For Equestria!”

While the three Captains clashed with the elites, Sun Guard kept barreling through until he was head to head with Ebon! The battle was tougher than the ones leading up to it… They weren’t facing off against dropouts of the Gryphon Army, but former Royal Guards. Their skill was much better, and were greater threats. However, they were the best within the Celestial Guard’s three branches, and all they had to worry about was watching each other’s back. Keeping the Gryphons away from their High General.

Though, when Sun Guard started to overpower Ebon, the villain started to panic. “Damnit… Ignore the Captains! Kill their High General, without him… They’ll break!” At his order, the elites broke away from the Captains. Their new aim was to overpower, and kill, the honor guard.

“High General!” The three Captains yelled, chasing after the elites.

Their call caught his attention, allowing him to spot one of the oncoming elites… Quickly cleaving them in half. When more started to surround him, Sun Guard was starting to get overwhelmed. The three Captains tried to fight their way through, but the elites were too strong for a frontal fight. Amethyst Star used her magic spear on one of the elites, and looked towards their High General with worry.

Her eyes went wide, seeing Ebon sneaking up on Sun Guard. “Saber! Quickly, get to the High General!” She shouted.

The pegasus looked towards their High General, and saw Ebon as well. “On it, love!” He replied, before shooting off, Silver Flash’s full focus being on stopping Ebon, his armored talons would dig through the joints of Sun Guard’s armor in seconds… Though, the pegasus stallion paid the price for his amateur decision, to allow himself to get tunnel vision.

One of the elites threw his talons up, and struck Silver Flash’s side! The sudden hit caused him to lose control, and go straight into a wild tail spin on his way towards Sun Guard. By the time he reached the two, Silver Flash was facing the wrong way, his back towards Ebon!

When the onyx gryphon swung, the pegasus felt the razor sharp talons dig into both wings. He let out a pain filled scream, as blood covered feathers flew every which way.

When he crashed against the chamber’s wall, Ebon grunted with frustration. “Pathetic pegasus… Should have stayed out of it.” He turned his attention back to the honor guard, only to come beak to armored muzzle of a furious Sun Guard. The helmet’s eyes were bright red, and blazing with golden magic, as the villain’s elites were being choked by the very same golden magic. “O-Oh… H-H-Hatchery.”

BANG!

-Present Day, Silver Flash’s Quarters-

“And, despite Princess Celestia wanting Ebon brought back alive, my lord killed him on the spot.” Silver Flash ended, Nighting Gale’s face filled with horror. “After that, they found Star Swirl’s notes, and I was teleported to a hospital… Nothing was the same after that.”

“What do you mean, Mr. Flash?” Nighting Gale asked, both ears folded back into her icy blue mane.

“I was a promising flyer, from a noble family. Without my wings, which the torn fragments having to be surgically removed, I was disowned. I was no longer fit for duty, so the Royal Guard’s Doctors medically discharged me from service.” He gave a pained sigh, shaking the dark thoughts away. “Though, one day, my lord came up to me, while I was preparing to leave. Apparently, he felt personally responsible for what had happened to me, that it was his fault I had been injured, disowned, and discharged. After convincing Princess Celestia, he made it to where I could personally serve him, and live within Canterlot Castle… To keep being what I was meant to be, while also being a butler.” The old stallion chuckled a bit. “One hell of a butler, I might add… He even taught me a whole new meaning to ‘taking out the trash’ too.”

That caused the mare to giggle. “I see… Guess it is my turn now?” She asked, Silver Flash nodding. “Well, it felt like I got most of it out, when Sun Guard took me back to my quarters that night.”

Silver Flash gave a nod, smirking. “Ah, yes. Believe it, or not, but he was very… Confused, after that night.” He gave a soft chuckle, Nighting Gale tilting her head a bit. “You have to remember, comforting is very alien to him. So, you can imagine how awkward he felt.”

She giggled, realizing how funny it must have been. “Well… When I think about it, more, my eyes start to tear up quite a bit.” Nighting Gale admitted, her eyes already showing said signs occurring. “I just felt so weak… Those three overpowered me, so quickly, and I didn’t have time to think… So I actually panicked.” The mare started to sniffle a bit, allowing it to flow now. “When I continued to think about it, I start to realize more and more what could have happened, if Sun Guard hadn’t shown up… The horror of what I would have had to deal with if I had lived through the events.”

Silver Flash nodded, before giving her a comforting smile. “But, do you want to know something?” He asked, the mare nodding. “Those things didn’t happen, Lady Gale. My lord arrived, just in time, and stopped it. Focus on that. Do not focus on what could have happened, and focus on what did happen.”

She nodded to him, again, wiping her eyes with a wing. “Guessing ‘do not ball it up’ applies, too?” Nighting Gale asked, with a giggle.

“You know it, my dear.” He laughed a bit, before smirking. This was the perfect opportunity to act on what he read in her file. “Now, about this ‘feeling weak’ ordeal-?” A rapid, and frantic, knock came at the door. “Oh bugger, who could that be?”

The old stallion got up from his seat, getting up from the seat and opening the door… Silver Flash was surprised to see a Lunar Guard Saberhorn Sergeant on the other side. “Mr. Flash, is the High General here? We were informed that she would be speaking with you.”

“Why, yes, she’s right over here.” Silver Flash moved out of the way, so the guard could enter. “Lady Gale, it is for you.”

Nighting Gale got up, and walked over. When the Saberhorn saluted her, she returned it. “What do you have to report, Sergeant?” She asked.

“High General, a threat has been issued to Canterlot. An emergency War Council has been called, and your presence has been requested, by Princess Celestia, at once.” The Sergeant reported.

Her eyes went wide, and then narrowed, at the report. “Understood, I will be there at once.” Nighting Gale looked towards Silver Flash. “I am sorry, Mr. Flash, but I will have to request a rain check.”

He gave a nod. “Of course, better get a move on, Lady Gale.” She smiled, before following the Lunar Guard Sergeant out. “Blast it all… Almost had a chance to inform her… My lord saved her twice.” Silver Flash thought, shaking his head with an aggravated sigh.