For His Future Sovereign

Flash pressed the makeshift bandage over the bleeding gash on his left front leg, before tightening the knot with his teeth. He rubbed a hoof over it and noticed that blood was already starting to seep through. He leaned back against a wall and took in a sharp breath, as pain from his many cuts and bruises. Pain made worse by the fact that he hadn't slept for two days.

The griffons had picked the perfect time for an attack. Cadence & Shining Armour were in Canterlot for a summit and they took full advantage. They came at dusk. Swooping in hard and fast. Hitting several locations across the city. Banks, jewellers, and the palace where Flash was stationed when it all started.

His unit was hit hardest and with ferocity. Forcing them back into the building itself as the beasts made their way inside. The fighting raged through the first night until dawn and the remaining guards were pushed ever back until they could go no further.

Flash surveyed the corridor to which he was somewhat intombed. It was a simple passageway between a guest room and the main stairwell. In the corridor with him were multiple bodies. Both pony and griffon. Thier blood mingling on the floor with their weapons and armour.

He was now the only guard left and there were still many griffons.

A large crash brought his weary attention to the far door. It lead to the stairwell and was shut tight with spears and blades jammed thoroughly into the door frame.

He sighed, bringing his good hoof over his shoulder and knocked three times on the door beside him, "Get ready, their coming."

"Ok," Came a reply from inside. Flash had no real idea who it was. During his retreat to this point, several ponies employed at the palace had run to them for safety. Flash had them barricade themselves into the guest room.

Another crash from the other door and one of the spear shafts started to crack.

"Can you get in?" Came another voice from the room. Flash looked at the door and weighed up the thought of getting inside but yet another crash from the far door put pay to that idea.

From inside the guestroom, the terrified cries of a young filly could clearly be heard. Princess Flurry Heart had been left in the care of a nanny during her parent's absence and was now the target of this griffon gang. Flash couldn't be certain why but he suspected that they were to hold her to ransom, if not as a hostage for control of the empire.

"There's no time," Flash finally answered, as yet another crash came from the far door. Breaking a spear and causing the other weapons to give a little. "Keep the door closed and don't open it for anything!"

Crash. The door frame itself was now giving way. One more solid hit and it break.

Flash Sentry rose to his hooves and picked up his spear. He rested his weary head against its wooden shaft and closed his eyes. Letting the one thought echo in his mind, Remember your training.

The far door then came crashing into the corridor. Breaking off its hinges and landing on the body of a griffon. It was followed by a black griffon who towered over even the tallest pony. He brandished a stupendously huge war hammer over his shoulder and the lone guard with bemusement.

Flash noted the white bandana tied around its neck and the red insignia on it. A griffon's paw ready to grasp a bleeding heart. The symbol of the Dire Claws. A notorious gang from the Griffon Kingdoms. He knew that he was to receive no quarter from them, so flash levelled his spear in a challenge.

The griffon's response to this was a chuckle, followed by him gesturing with his head for the ones behind him to step up. Four griffons armed with crossbows did so and took aim at lone guard.

Flash quickly held his spear from its shoe and swept it in an arc in front of him as the griffons fired. Swatting two bolts out of the sky. The third ricocheted off his armour but the fouth struck home. Impaling into his right wing.

He grunted and nearly dropped his spear from the shock and pain. Breathing heavily, Flash glanced at his wing before turning his attention back to the intruders.

Maintaining most of his composure, Flash shifted the spear in his hoof and hurled it at them. His aim was good but the throw lacked power and they were able to dodge it. They laughed at his efforts but this was short lived.

It was a faint. As soon as the spear was thrown, Flash charged down the corridor. Picking up a spear from a fallen comrade and thrust it into the back of the first crossbowman. Pulling it free, the griffon fell down dead.

Flash then swivelled and bucked at a second with both hooves, as the others tried to react. The griffon took it fully to the chin and flew hard into the wall head first. It slumped to the ground out cold.

The third crossbowman tried to swing its weapon down onto his head but the pegasus was too quick and stepped back as the crossbow smashed and broke against the floor. It looked up just in time to see a spear thrust into its throat. Blood sprayed everywhere when Flash pulled it out. The griffon let out a silent scream. Rolling onto its back holding trying to stop the bleeding.

The final one dropped its crossbow and recklessly lurched at Flash with its talons. He easily sidestepped. Bringing his spear around and stapping it through its spine. Killing it in an instance.

The brute, who had been slow to react, swung his war hammer at Flash. He was bearly able to bring his weapon up to block when it hit, snapping the spear in two. Catching him in the chest, the blow sent him back up the corridor with the remains of his weapon.

Now on the floor, Flash coughed loudly. Winded from the blow but the griffon did not relent in its attack. Picking flash up by the throat in one mighty paw and headbutted him with such force that it threw off Flash's helmet. He crashed back to the floor beside his broken weapon and shakily tried to get back on his hooves.

The brute brought his war hammer above his head for a killing blow. In that moment Flash saw an opening. Grasping the broken spearhead in his hoof, he lurched forward and drove it into the griffon's heart.

Dropping his weapon, the brute looked down at the little pony in shear disbelief. He swatted Flash onto his side, nearly clawing out an eye in the process.

It would be the brutes final action. His eyes rolled back and he fell on his side dead. His bulk causing the floor and everything on it to shake.

Flash looked down at him with his one good eye, running a hoof over his bad one. Well, First Base, I might be able to get to see you this summer, after all, little brother.

The sound of crossbows being drawn caused him to grimmest. You had to hope, didn't you. He turned to look at the broken door to see three more foes. All aiming at him.

From behind them stepped forth another griffon. She had a far more slender build than the others and judging by the array of jewellery and shiny trinkets that adorned her, she was clearly a higher up. As such, Flash raised up and pointed his broken spear shaft at her in a challenge.

She took in the scene of carnage in the corridor. Of the blood and death. Her fallen grunts and the bleeding brute. She eyed the guard with destine and contempt. As such, she had no hesitation in issuing her order to her remaining grunts' "Kill him."

The griffons opened fired. Flash once more tried to sweep the bolts out of the air but failed to catch any of them. Embedding themselves into his hoof and chest. The spear shaft immediately fell from his grasp and clattered on the floor. He staggered back, drawing in a deep breath with great difficulty. Looking up from his injuries. Flash glared at the leading griffon.

She was unmoved by his defiance and with a flick of a talon, signalled them to reload.

As they did, Flash Sentry couldn't help but ponder to himself. Of the events the last few days, of anything he could have done differently or just better, of the ponies that lay around him that he was soon to join, and of the crying princess now only protected by a barricaded door.

The grunts drew they crossbows back and took aim.

His last thoughts of Flash Sentry were of three ponies far away in Ponyville. His younger brother, First Base, and his aunt who looked after him. Then there was she, the one he wanted to be with more than any other.

Three more bolts struck his chest, one into his heart. Flash Sentry was dead before he hit the floor.