Flash Sentry steals your Waifu!

As Sovereign of Equestria, you have withstood threats that would seek to destroy you and all those in your charge. The forces of evil have been kept at bay and peace has reigned for over one thousand years. But now, you sense that a new threat has emerged; one in which you know neither what it is nor how to defend against. You believe you can take comfort in the fact that you are no longer alone. Luna, Cadance, Twilight and her friends have proven they can fight by your side or, if need be, challenge this corruption on their own. But what if this malevolence were to turn them AGAINST you?

You prepare to lower the Sun, knowing your sister will be along shortly to relieve you. The past few years have been the happiest you can recall since well before you were forced to banish her to the moon a millennia ago. You have technically relinquished much power so others may rule beside you, but you are also glad to be rid of the responsibility. You wonder if you might even have the freedom to take up a lover.

As Luna enters, you begin to lower the Sun.

"Greetings, my sister," you acknowledge as she joins you on the balcony of the castle.

"Fine," she responds, clearly not paying attention and guessing the correct reply. She walks to the edge and raises the moon as quickly as safety would permit. She then joins you in walking back into the castle, still lost in her own thoughts. Curious, you question the reason behind her lack of interest.

"Why, whatever is the matter Luna?" you ask as you halt your progress. Luna, however, resumes her pace, unaware of your query.

"LUNA!"

She finally halts and turns to face you.

"Sorry, I just...never mind!" she closes her eyes as she turns to continue her route back. You sense this has something to do with her return to Equestria as she has seemed lonely and depressed these past few moons.

"Is this about companionship?" you ask, knowing full well it is. She stops immediately as she pretends it's not.

"NO! WHAT?! OF COURSE NOT! How dare you even..." she looks at you only to see your stern face telling her to drop the act. "Very well, FINE! It is! So what! We are Royalty! We cannot become involved with our subjects lest we mourn their inevitable deaths!"

"I know what it means to love and lose. Not being able to have them can be just as painful as losing them. But if you mourn losing them, that means you at least had some memorable time with them; and that is better in the end, I think," you reassure her with a millennia of acquired wisdom. "Why? Is there somepony that interests you?" you smirk, subtly teasing your younger sister.

"NO!" she quickly defends herself, "at least...not yet". She takes a couple of seconds for your words to sink in before she realizes: "wait, does that mean I have your blessing?!"

You nod your head in agreement. She quickly hugs you at a speed that surprises you before you return the favor. After the moment of jubilation, Luna looks down as something else appears to bother her.

"What is it now?" you kindly ask.

"Well," she starts, "I have been on the moon for one thousand years and returned as Nightmare Moon. Since then, ponies still fear me, even if they know I am no longer the villain I once was. How will I find companionship when few ponies choose to tolerate my presence?"

"I cannot answer that," being the thousand year old beloved Matriarch of Equestria does not give you the insight to solve this problem. "But I think if you just search and not take their reactions to heart, you will be on the right path." You yawn as you feel slumber approaching. "That is all I can offer, I shall retire to my quarters until tomorrow. Good night Luna!"

"Good night, my sister. And...thank you!" you head off to your quarters as Luna heads back out to the balcony to observe the night and contemplate on her next move.

Luna came back out onto the balcony overlooking Canterlot. Looking down, she could see ponies walking in tandem and enjoying the night air. There was a sweet old couple sitting on a bench, two parents enjoying a night out without the foals, and a younger couple, perhaps being a little more publically amorous than they should be. One night, maybe she could find that special somepony with whom she could share a romantic evening. She slipped into thoughts and desires of what her dream stallion would be.

"He must be loyal," she started talking to herself, "and brave! Must be brave! I do not care if he is a large stallion -I would be bigger after all- but it would still be nice if he were closer to my size. He should be noble, kind, intelligent, and caring; with maybe a tight, hot flank to boot!" she giggled quietly at herself. Sighing, she lied prone as she lost herself in flights of fancy.

"Everything all right, Ma'am?" a guard flew onto the balcony to check on the Princess while saluting.

"Huh?" it took Luna a moment to realize she was no longer alone. "Oh...Yes! Thank you, that will be all!" she was eager to return to her thoughts in anticipation of things to come.

"If you say so Ma'am, I'll be around if you need me!" the guard commenced flying away to give the Alicorn princess her privacy.

"Wait!" Luna called out. The guard returned to land in front of his princess with a salute. She hesitated as she lacked the confidence to ask her Royal Guard his opinions. "Do you...still fear me?" She looked away, fearing his response.

"Of course!" he replied, not mincing his words. Luna felt dejected at this harsh response. "You can send me to the moon, banish me to Tartarus, destroy me with a single thought, or just fire me because you feel like it. But fear is part of the job and I chose to do this, Ma'am."

"Yes, an Alicorn Princess can do that, but do you fear ME, as a former villain and as a pony?" she asked, desiring a more clear answer.

"My answer remains the same, Ma'am!" he did not change his stern, dutiful expression,  "I serve the Royal Princesses, but my greatest fear is to fail, or worse, disappoint you. I live to serve, and my ultimate reward comes from seeing the satisfaction and happiness on your glorious face, Ma'am!"

Luna's heart leaped as she heard the honesty and reverence in this guard's words. Suddenly, she got to thinking, why do I have to go look for a stallion when I already have the best right here? But what would my sister say? What would everypony else say? She smirked at the taboo of a Princess dating her royal guard. Scandalous! Still, it worked out for Cadance. Why not? She decided she would at least ask the guard if he would be interested.

"Guard!" she called out, "would thou be interested in accompanying thy Princess for a late evening repast?" Her nerves got the best of her as she slipped back into a more traditional speech, but at least she knew enough not to yell.

The guard hesitated, unsure as to what the princess had intended. Still, it was his duty to accompany her in whatever she desired.

"As you wish, m'Lady!"

The two took to the crisp night air as they went in search for an establishment that would give them enough privacy to enjoy their meal. For the first time in a while, Luna felt hopeful. Hopeful that she will find a faithful companion to share a pleasant portion of her life with, however small it may be.

And he is not bad to look at either!

When you returned to your room, you instantly fell into your bed and went to sleep. Your dreams provided no refuge for your thoughts as you felt the evil presence torment you in your dreams. What demon force was this and why wasn't Luna there to offer assistance? You toss and turn constantly before the fear finally wakes you in a cold sweat.

You leave your room to find your sister. You search her room, where she should be watching over those that slumber, only to find she is not there. You search the rest of the castle and find no such luck. Though a bad dream is not really an emergency and is little that should concern your sister, you still would like it if she would be easier to find. You finally head up to the balcony only to see her fly off with a Royal Guard.

Oh well, it's her choice, you think to yourself, I just wish she would not try first with a guard nor the first stallion she- "WAIT A MINUTE!" you audibly tell yourself noticing the guard, "that orange pegasus, I feel that evil presence emanating from...HIM!" He is turned away from you so you cannot identify him, but you are certain: this is the malevolence you have been feeling lately, and it's all from HIM!

"Luna!" you call out. She cannot hear you so you enhance your voice with magic "LUNA!!!" The castle grounds shake with the vibrations from your sound waves. Ponies on the streets below clench their ears at this startling and terrifying wail, yet Luna still seems oblivious as she flies away with that blue-haired guard. You call out for your own guards, but once they get on the scene -fast as they may be- Luna is already gone, accompanied by her captor.

In a panic, you rush to send a note out to Twilight. After what seems like an eternity, you realize that she is not sending a response. You send out another, only to have Spike send an instant reply:

Dear Princess Celestia,

I apologize, but I don't know where Twilight is! She was supposed to be back hours ago! Worse yet, it seems most of my friends are gone too! I should have written sooner, but I was miserably depressed that Flash Sentry stole my date with Rarity, and now I can't find HER as well! Applejack seems to be the only friend still here! Please! You have to help!

-Spike

So, the culprit has a name. Worse yet, you know Flash is a personal guard for Cadance! You quickly send her a correspondence as well, fearing for her safety.

I'm sorry, Flash has been on leave. I haven't seen him lately, Cadance writes back.

Whew! At least she is fine. Maybe it is because the Princess of Love would see through his ruse, or maybe he was afraid of confronting Shining Armor. Whatever the case, at least they are now warned, though it would take a while for them to travel and offer assistance. For now, you ponder on Flash Sentry's motives and what possible strategies you could use to combat him.

It's clear that Flash is keeping all these mares hidden, but you do not know if they are being forced or manipulated. Twilight and most her friends cannot help, they might even fight AGAINST you. You can't use your guards as Flash might have friends working as his agent. A contingent of heavily armed stallions could tip him off and cause a panic anyway. Maybe Applejack would be able to reason with her friends, unless they are being manipulated. If Luna was any indication, this should have something to do with love.

You contemplate over your options and realize they are few indeed. For now, it appears there may only be one pony that can help you, if you can live with it. You don't want to put ANY pony in that position, but Flash has forced your hoof; it MUST be done!

You take to the skies and race to Sweet Apple Acres as fast as your wings can carry you.