The school bell sounded.

Flash Sentry grumbled to himself as he trudged slowly down the main staircase, showing no interest in matching the enthusiasm of everypony rushing to get home. Flash dreaded the sound of final bell, sounding more like a siren as day went on.

As he walked across the pavement that lead to his house, the pit that had been slowly forming in his stomach began to churn, a malignant and insidious weed that violated him to his core.

He went to a local public school in Canterlot, and while he despised everything about the school itself, it was better than the alternative. After tuning out during yet another monotonous lecture, he was assigned homework that only ever acted as weight on his back.

The smell of sulfur and nicotine was an unpleasant smell, and only reminded Flash about how much he’d rather live anywhere other than Canterlot.

Now as long as the two that hounded him on a frequent basis didn’t show up, then his day wouldn’t completely resemble Tartarus.

“Hey, featherbrain! You forgot your book!”

Flash turned around as a thick workbook smacked him in the side of the head, causing him to stagger in place and nearly topple over.

Behind him, a pair of colts began cackling at Flash’s expense. Flash just stood there, the cancerous weed inside of him twitching as his blood ran cold.

“Well, aren’t you gonna pick it up?”

Flash heard the bully approaching him, slow, echoing hoofsteps in the hallway of his mind. Flash breathed deeply, then turned to face the pair of ponies determined to make his life miserable.

Swift Wing stood a head taller than Flash, towering over him with a cocky grin. His steel-gray coat blended in with gloomy environment around them. Flash wasn’t daunted by his prodigious size, he’d dealt with ponies worse than him.

Flash spoke in an even tone, “Swift Wing, leave me alone.”

There was a moment of silence, then Swift Wing howled with laughter and knocked Flash to the ground with a strong shove. Flash hit the concrete with a heavy thud, his face scraping against the pavement as the contents of his book bag scattered.

“Aw, I thought we were friends, Flashy,” Swift gave Flash a wicked smile. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“My name’s not Flashy, Swift,” Flash growled, rising to his feet and staring back at the face of his attacker.

“He can call you whatever he wants, what are you gonna do about it? Fight him?” Swift’s lackey taunted.

His voice was akin to that of a cicada, more of an annoying chirp than anything really worth listening to. Flash couldn’t even remember his name off the top of his head.

“I don’t want to do this today,” Flash snarled, feeling himself begin to tense up. Flash was beginning to worry he might do something he’d regret, or more likely, something Swift would regret. He was a rather scrawny young colt, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how to hit somepony.

“What are you going to do? Hit me?” Swift Wing poked Flash in the chest, his face contorted with a gnawing malice for his prey. “Come on, we both know you don’t have the pair. You’re just gonna run home crying again. How does your family even put up with you? Oh wait, they don’t!”

Swift began to laugh as a hoof connected with his jawline, knocking him to the ground. Before Swift’s friend had a chance to speak up, Flash whipped around and bucked the underside of his neck, eliciting a choked gasp of shock from the colt. His lower jaw had clacked against his top row of teeth, causing him to hold his muzzle as he moaned in pain.

Flash mounted Swift Wing and stared at him as his head wobbled from the sudden trauma Flash had inflicted upon him.

“Don’t talk about my fucking family!” Flash screamed as he sunk his hoof into Swift’s cheek, blind rage overriding any sense of pain he felt.

Horrifyingly enough, Flash felt a smile form across his face, which continued to only grow wider as he pummeled into Swift Wing.

If you fight violence with violence, you’ll only spread the seeds of hatred further.

Flash huffed as the sweat collecting on his face began to drip. He winced as he stood up on his injured feet, looking down at Swift’s nearly disfigured face.

Flash began to limp away as he saw Swift’s friend weakly hobble over to him. Flash didn’t want to stick around for anypony to complicate his life even further.

His dad probably wouldn’t even notice that he was coated in blood, or he’d just be too wasted to care. Those two wouldn’t bother him again for a long time, it was likely that nopony would talk to him for the rest of the year, and that was fine by him.

Ker-chink!

I jolted awake from the turbulence generated from the train.

It took me a minute to steady my breath as I looked around the passenger car, which was packed with ponies that were on commute between Canterlot and Ponyville. Despite Princess Celestia offering to arrange a carriage to Ponyville, I opted to take the train instead.

I had to wake up earlier than usual, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t want to waste the time of another guard when I could easily take the train, this new princess would just have to wait.

I sighed as I leaned back in my chair and adjusted the lance that was propped next to me. Despite being on-duty, my armor was packed away in the luggage car—sleep being rather difficult while wearing it

A mare sitting across from me eyed my lance and gave me a lascivious smirk, her seductive gaze trailing down my toned form.

She had a pristine alabaster coat with a rosy pink mane and tail, and called out to me in a saccharine voice, “Oh, we don’t have many guards in Ponyville, what brings you around?”

Should I even bother?

I resisted the urge to yawn as she as she leaned forward, batting her eyes at me, “Well, I definitely haven’t seen you in Ponyville. But if you ever want, I’d be willing to show you around.”

I looked over at her and gave her the standard stoic stare, “While I appreciate your offer, I already know where I need to go.” Despite my efforts to shoot her down, she came back in full force.

“I’m glad to see that Princess Celestia decided that we needed a big, strong stallion to keep us safe,” she cooed.

My patience was waning thin, and while I respected persistence, I had no interest in anything this mare had to offer. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“My goal is to protect Princess Twilight Sparkle, nothing else.”

What kind of princess didn’t have a castle of her own? Not to mention, if she’s as strong as Princess Celestia claimed, then why is she living in the middle of a hick town like Ponyville?

“Oh, so you’re here to guard the town librarian? Good choice, no pony’s ever cracked her cover before.”

My hoof tightened on my lance as my face formed into a scowl.

I’m a royal guard, not a librarian’s consort.

“Listen, horse,” I growled at her. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating, and unless you want me to make your life Tartarus, I’d suggest you stop talking.” She flinched at the change in my tone before her usual candid expression returned.

“Whatever you say, sir. Quite frankly, I think ‘royal tree-guard’ is a wonderful title for you.”

Ponyville was miles away and I already had a severe migraine. Despite having a choice in the matter, I already felt as if I had made the wrong decision.

“Why did I decide to take the train again?”

After autonomously thanking the train staff, I was welcomed by the fresh air of Ponyville, which was already an improvement over the constant smell of tobacco in Canterlot.

Though I have to admit, cow manure isn’t a very pleasant alternative.

The nobility of Canterlot had been replaced by rather decent-looking folk, except for the pink blur that was starting to speed toward me at a rather alarming rate. The migraine that I developed earlier was only going to get worse.

Oh Celestia, here we go.

“Hi there! Welcome to Ponyville!” The mare bounced in place directly in front of me, constantly airborne as if the ground in front of her was a trampoline. “My name’s Pinkie Pie, I saw you getting off the train and since I know everypony in Ponyville and I didn’t recognize you that must mean you’re new!” The ball of manic energy stopped for a moment to breathe, her head seeming to actually swell before my eyes. “That means I need to throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party!” She looked at me hopefully, her crystal blue eyes glistening over with a nauseous amount of enthusiasm.

“No.”

Like a deflating balloon, her mane lost most of its poofiness, her head slumping in a pitiful fashion. “Wh- why not?” She looked up at me, tears beginning to form at the corner of her eyes.

I don’t think so, Ms. Crocodile tears.

“Listen,” I said as I rubbed my temples in slight frustration, “I’m just trying to report to Princess Twilight, and unless you can direct me to her, then please don’t waste my time.”

Even though I had suspected that her reaction was an exaggeration, her composure had barely recovered, “Sh- she lives in the big treehouse near the center of Ponyville, you can’t miss it.” Pinkie motioned behind her with a hoof, refusing to meet my eyes as I strode past. “Thank you, Miss Pie.”

Celestia give me strength, already one too many fuckin’ weirdos in this town.

Finding the library proved to be quite easy, as the tree that housed it loomed over the rest of the town. Approaching the library, I pounded at the front door with enough force to rattle the frame, all etiquette long since abandoned.

Not even a second later, a small lizard opened the door and stared at me with a knowing look, before turning around and calling behind it, “Hey Twilight! That guard you were whining about is finally here!”

It can talk? Wait... is this the dragon that Prince Armor told me about? I guess new princesses only get the runts.

Spike leaned in as the sound of hoofsteps neared and whispered, “Word of advice, if you want to avoid the royal nagging session, you’ll show up on time from now on.”

Princess Twilight Sparkle approached the door next to her pet, presently not wearing any regalia and looking up at me with an annoyed expression.

“You were supposed to be here by carriage an hour ago.”

What kind of princess doesn’t wear any clothing or regalia? And why is she so small?

I smirked at her reaction, “Well, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

She huffed as she stepped aside, continuing to vent her frustrations as I entered, “I don’t understand why you couldn’t just follow Princess Celestia’s instructions like you were supposed to.”

She refers to her as ‘Princess Celestia’? Why?

The shit-eating grin I’d adopted hadn’t left my face, it was too easy to mess with her. “I didn’t want to waste the time of having somepony else escort me here, besides, it’s not like anything happened to you in the hour that I wasn’t here. You didn’t even bother to clean up before I arrived.”

I gestured to the mess of books, scrolls and quills scattered across the floor and various tables, causing her to scowl.

“It’s organized chaos! And are you always such a prude to ponies you’ve just met?! I only did this because Shining said I should, so don’t think I need you or anything.”

You’d think with all the books she’s read, she would have some common sense by now.

As she sat there fuming, I moved quickly and chucked a book at her face, causing her to yelp as she instinctively caught it with her magic. In a flash, I was on her, gripping her horn in my hoof and holding my lance several inches from her throat.

She gave a small squeak as a blush rose to her face and her hind legs quivered, looking down at the lance with wide eyes and dropping the book she’d caught.

I guess I scared her more than I thought. That must have been pretty embarrassing for her, to be caught by surprise that easily.

“Years of studying magic under Princess Celestia and you still can’t protect yourself from a pegasus with a sharpened stick, princess.”

She gave me a hard glare as she held her hoof up and gently pushed the lance away from her throat, sighing heavily before speaking, “Captain Flash Sentry, there is a spare room on the second floor. Unpack and call it a day, I have no need to speak with you further.”

And she calls herself a princess, why did I even agree to this?

A stoic expression returned to my face as I pulled my lance back to my chest and released my hoof from her horn, glancing over at the ‘dragon’ who had a troubled look on his face.

“Yes, your majesty.”

I trotted up the stairs to my quarters, not bothering to look down at the alicorn who would most likely have me sent back to Canterlot by tomorrow morning.

Author's Note

If you want to check out a skilled writer, who has heavily influenced the way this story is being written, check out Dreams of Ponies, my editor.

He's very talented, and this story wouldn't be the same without him.