Chivalry Reborn

Author’s note: For the record, I would like to state right off the bat, that yes, Winston is aware of internet memes, but not to the point he’s an anon or brony himself. He is simply a guy who is going through college when this started. Now, onto the story.

Chapter 1:

A Twist from the Ordinary: Meet Winston Flash

“So basically, Uncle Jimmy finally kicked the bucket, and he's sent me a memento to remember him?” I muttered solumnly, rubbing my eyes. I have had this deal so many times before. Many more times than I would like to think. The nurse on the other line had just found my phone number, even though Uncle Jimmy died nearly a week ago. It’s friggin’ Friday and he died Sunday, for God’s sake, focus!

The nurse seemed to be a little nervous over the phone, but still said what she had been trained to say in these situations.“Yes. We are so very sorry for your loss. He was a great m-“

“I know. I’ve known him for quite some time. Thank you for informing me. Goodbye.” I broke the nurse’s almost memorized apology, before pressing the disconnect key on my phone. I tossed my cell phone to the side, leaning back in my chair.

I sighed. I had just gotten off my call with my latest client before my cell phone rang again to answer a call from a nurse that’s probably just an intern to tell me that my weirdo Uncle Jimmy has passed away from sort of sickness in his heart that has been deemed rare.

Oh crap, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Winston Flash. As corny as that name is, it’s the one I was born with, so I’ll be sticking to it ‘til I’m dead.  I’m a 19 –year-old college sophomore at the Wilberforce University, and have a side-job as computer tech support. Though it tends to be a tad difficult to be doing this kind of thing without a degree, most of clients tend to know that my father was a master of electronics, so they usually believe I can help them with their problem as his son. I’d normally get pissed about being judged to be so and so, just because I come from a certain race or be X and N's relative, but I respected my father. He’s actually one of the few people I really do care about, so I don’t mind. I can’t complain about how snooty my clients tend to be, either; seeing that I enjoy working with electronics and it keeps me inside my house (I actually lived in this house all my life, but I had to move into a dorm for my freshman year. I didn't like it, to put it nicely, and moved back to my home.)

But enough about me, let’s get back to the story at hand. I kind of expected this call to come around sooner, because on Tuesday, I received a package in the mail from Uncle Jimmy.

I blinked remembering about it, and turned slightly towards the package that was sitting in the far right corner of my desk, next to my mouse. It was wrapped in a light orange wooden box, that had a symbol of what looked to be a planet carved into it. I have no idea what that planet is, or if it’s even a planet for that matter. I just looked past it and opened the box.  Inside, there was a huge pile of cotton, with a card from Jimmy at the top. It said:

Dear my little Winston,

I am near the end of my journey, but I know your story is just about to begin. The pendant inside belonged to your mother, it is her most prized possession. She told me to give it to you when I thought you were ready to face the truth. Keep it with you at all times, and no matter what, never let it leave your presence. Good luck Winston. Make me, your mother, and your father proud.

Your loving Uncle,

Jimmy Flare

I blinked again, pushing my glasses against the bridge of my nose. I never really understood why my Uncle was the only family member aside from my mom that had the last name Flare. It confused me to end, and I always wondered about it ever since I was little kid. I closed the card and looked at what was left in the area where the card laid.

There laid a silver pendant that had the same strange planet that the cover of the box had. In front of it, stood a horse. It had wings and a horn, with its forelegs reigned back, in a classic pose showing off its majesty.

I stared at it for a good while. I remembered my mom wearing this all the time. She would always smile tenderly, grasping the pendant in her hands whispering something under her breath. I suddenly remembered when she just suddenly died from a untreated burn when I was only 6. My father always said he had no idea where it came from, but I could always tell he knew something. I blinked sighing once more, and then I smiled slightly. I loved my mom, and I was kind of glad to have something to really remember her by besides photos of her with my old man.

I quickly fastened the new piece of jewelry around my neck, where it hung from my neck at the same length as my dog tags that my father gave me for my 10th birthday dangled. They clattered against each other softy, greeting one another.

About 20 minutes later, just siting at my computer, maintaining its CPU capacity, I rolled my neck groaning slightly. I was getting bored. I had nothing else to work on, and I was NOT going straight into my studies. For the love of God, I’ve been working all week. Studying to get a major in computer engineering, working at the college newspaper, AND being a tech guy? I deserved some damned high-class wine for all the crap I've done!

I grabbed my deep dark jacket to go over my normal attire: A white dress shirt, the right arm sleeve rolled up to my elbow, with a crimson tie and a deep dark vest. Yes, I know, I dress like a classy jerkass. I like the look, bite me.

I picked up my small throwing knife that my father gave me before he passed, and slipped it into a waist holster that I normally put on my belts, that most folk couldn’t see without me moving my vest. It doesn't hurt to have some protection.

And before you ask, no, I don't normally put knives on me when I go to school. With all the shootings and violence in schools in the past decade, I could understand why schools don't want students carrying weapons. This is simply for when I go for walks or trips around the town.

I clipped the keys to my house onto the harness on my waist, before opening the front door and walking out of my house, into the real world for the last time for quite some time.