Mission Impossible: Saving Flash Sentry

[Darker 1,352]

Yes, yes it is. You can enter that into your favourite fanfiction or fanart site and that's precisely what you will get.

Oh, boy, that is wonderful. That is the weirdest ship name I've ever hear. So ridiculous.

[paradoxical 1,735]

So, while I'm not about to look for invitations in the mail, I liked Flash in the 3rd clip for Rainbow Rocks.

 

I think they're going to redirect those emotions to flashimmer.  No SunsetSentry.  No, no matter how I rephrase that it sounds bad.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

Is the OP secretly one of these "big wigs" or writers??  And fishing, desperately, for some way to salvage Flash Sentry's already reviled and mostly non-existent character lol?

 

I wouldn't do it.  I have integrity.  I could probably come up with something workable, but I'd feel far too dirty after.  And I'm a two-time clopfic author!! xD  I'd rather do something morally acceptable like rob a bank for the money.

 

Seriously, though...  I think "Mission: Unnecessary" is a better title.  The writers seem to have realized the error of their ways lol.  Let's all move on now - as a fandom.  *Gestures towards a door with a lit sign that says 'Move On.'*  Let's collectively find a more important character to despise already.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Is the OP secretly one of these "big wigs" or writers?? And fishing, desperately, for some way to salvage Flash Sentry's already reviled and mostly non-existent character lol?

.

Lol I wish I was a secret big wig. Then I would have this little thing called a decent income.

 

No I am actually interested if someone could do it, a devils advocate if you will.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

Lol I wish I was a secret big wig. Then I would have this little thing called a decent income.

 

No I am actually interested if someone could do it, a devils advocate if you will.

Hmmmm...  That's exactly what a secret big wig would say!!1! xD  I'm onto you lol.

 

I do kinda like some of the other posters' ideas where Flash dies before or immediately after the wedding.  Actually I prefer before the marriage is finalized.  It would just be too funny; I think even Flash haters could live with that result.  They'd still despise him right up until that moment, but they could weather that storm.

 

OR Flash marries her in a hallucination when, in reality, he has fallen into a hole and been mortally injured.  Just putting that out there.  It's not revealed that it's a hallucination until after the imaginary wedding, and his last words are, "Ughhgh, gahhaha, ughgugaahhh!" X_X  Or I guess that would result in mild pity rather than an increase in likeability...

Edited August 31, 2014 by PegaMister

[Live Forever 316]

So, while I'm not about to look for invitations in the mail, I liked Flash in the 3rd clip for Rainbow Rocks.

 

What?! He's in the fucking second movie?!

 

I give up on EQG!

[Princess Lona 382]

This started as a simple potential backstory and quickly turned into a mini fanfic. Read it if you want to.

 

Flash grew up in Canterlot and joined the Canterlot Royal Guard. He was a pretty ordinary pony, made Sergeant, and lived a quiet home life alone. Only high ranking members of the Royal Guard are assigned close bodyguard duty, and once Flash moved up a few Sergeant levels he started training for such an assignment. I'm not sure about Cadence's canon living situation before moving to the Crystal Empire, but I'm going to say she lived in Canterlot, but not in the Palace. However, her and Shining Armour's engagement party was a three day affair held at the palace during which time the bride and groom to be as well as their guests stayed there.

For Flash's first proper Royal Bodyguard assignment, he was stationed in front of the door to Cadence's room overnight. Shining Armour wasn't sharing a room with her during the engagement party because of an old tradition. Flash was very nervous and a bit shy about conversing directly with the Royalty he would be protecting, as bodyguards must do from time to time. Most new bodyguards feel this way, which is why their first assignment is always an overnight watch, to minimize awkward conversation. Of course, she was eloquent and friendly as he awkwardly wished her a good night and took up his post when she was ready for bed.

A few hours into the night Flash saw Cadence walk by at the end of the hall. It was impossible because her door had not opened all night. But then again she is an alicorn with powerful magic. He deduced that she must have been sneaking a visit to her fiancé in spite of the old tradition, which was really just a silly ritualistic thing that nopony took very seriously anymore anyway. Of course he did not want to intrude on the two, but neither did he want to shirk his duty on his first night as bodyguard, so he followed her at a discreet distance. Sure enough, she was heading for Shining Armour's room, but she walked right past it and quickened her pace. Flash followed her around a corner, but she was gone. He went around the next corner but she wasn't their either, and now there were two ways she could have gone. He blindly chose one but soon found that he had utterly lost her. Almost as if she wanted to shake him. With no other choice, he returned to her room.

As he approached it, he noticed the door was open. He cautiously peeked inside and saw the impossible: Two Princess Cadences! They were standing horn to horn and one of them said: "That little body guard Celestia gave you was too easy to get rid of, and here I thought I was usurping an important princess!" Then she blasted the other Cadence with a stream of magic that left her suspended in the air and bound her horn. The first Cadence laughed and began to change into her true form: Queen Chrysalis. "I'll deposit you somewhere where you will never be found." She said and kicked a bookcase aside revealing a secret door. She carried Cadence inside and just as the door was about to close Flash ducked in after them, unseen.

Chrysalis had taken Cadence into the Canterlot Caverns and as she descended deeper and deeper through the twisted maze with the helpless princess at her mercy and Flash following along sticking to the shadows, she did what villains do best. She revealed her plan to take Cadence's place and feed off of Shining Armour's love, ultimately taking over and destroying Canterlot. Eventually they got to the deepest, darkest section of the caves where there was nothing but a drop off of a subterranean cliff into inpierceable darkness. Chrysalis intended to throw Cadence over, wings and horn bound by magic. Up to this point, Flash had been too terrified to do anything but follow and watch. If Cadence -an alicorn- could be beaten by this Queen, how could he, a simple unicorn soldier expect to stand a chance? But now that he knew that not only the princess's life, but the fate of Canterlot and maybe even all of Equestria was hanging in the balance, he had to do something however hopeless it may seem. He called out "Stop!" And Chrysalis turned. She dropped Cadence and laughed when she saw who challenged her. Flash did his best, but the fight was short and Chrysalis threw him over the cliff. Then she chucked Cadence over as well and left to carry out her plan above.

Meanwhile, Flash had caught a bit of rock jutting out from the side of the cliff and was hanging on when Cadence went over. He caught her too and they hung there, trying to pull themselves up. Chrysalis's binding spell was still working on Cadence so her wings and horn were useless. The only way he could swing her back up would require he let go of his hoof hold (because McGuffin physics). She told him not to, but he couldn't hang on long enough to wait for the binding spell to wear off, so he swung Cadence up, letting go and falling to the bottom of the pit.

He survived, but was too broken to shout or move very quickly, so it took him until after the wedding to find his way out of the caves, exiting through a sewer grate in the Canterlot streets. When Cadence and Shining Armour returned from their honeymoon to find him alive, Cadence commended him for his bravery and sacrifice and said she would be honoured if he would take a position as her personal bodyguard once he was fully healed. He accepted and once Cadence became Princess of the Crystal Empire, Flash helped design the structure of the Royal Guard there. She wanted him to be captain, but he said he felt like he wasn't ready to lead yet and instead he heads up the Department of Investigative Operations.

All of this retcon can be introduced in an episode where Cadence and Shining Armour are celebrating their first anniversary with all of their friends at an informal dinner. Twilight and Flash are both guests of honour at this event, as they were key players in making sure the wedding went off without a hitch (as well as saving Equestria from certain doom). When introducing Flash, Cadence tells the story of their adventure in the caves.

 

That's how to give him backstory, character traits, flaws and development, and introduce him as a tertiary character on the show. As for getting Twilight and Flash married? I don't know, man, I just don't know.

[BitterBubblegum 75]

 

Yup, I can't think of any possible way to make him likeable...

[LZRD WZRD 1,929]

If Flash Sentry showed up in Rainbow Rocks and was like, "Yo, Twilot, I was such a [insert colorful comment here] last time we were together, but I'm cool now! 20% cooler actually."

[Conred 274]

Oh but Flash is already perfect

 

They even developed him by making him focused on Twilight and missing her every day. What else do you need?

[Buck Testa 5,505]

Oh but Flash is already perfect

 

They even developed him by making him focused on Twilight and missing her every day. What else do you need?

Perfect does not usually translate into likable. He also is pretty bland personality wize. Take Big Mac, he is the strong silent type and seems very wize and caring. Yet he has cute little quarks, a temper, and has hobbies that he likes to keep private. He has flaws and relatable characterization. Give Flash similar treatment and people will ease up a bit on the hate.

[Zekromic 1,054]

I dunno, maybe making him a butt monkey, you know, a guy who goes trough many misadventures and stuff 

[Feather Grass 312]

Make him die tragically. 'nuff said

[Cwanky 17,632]

The answer is surprisingly simple, but the solution? Not so much.

 

Take Hasbro outta the equation. You would have to essentially start from scratch and remake Flash without making him a Disney boy toy a la Zach Efron et al.

 

If you can do just that, you've already done 99% of the work. The rest is easy.

[Virgil 685]

It is purely a political marriage, they only appear together on special occasions, and Twi lives the happy life of being single ( assuming you don't count books as a relationship ). But just to be 100% safe..... Flash Sentry sings in his spare time and is a Castrato. Everyone satisfied?

[The Crimson Cross 7,532]

I don't think Flash Sentry is that bad of a character, nor do I see why so many people hate him so much.

Though honestly, now that he has such a bad reputation, it'd be very surprising for me to see people change their minds if at all.

[Conred 274]

I don't think Flash Sentry is that bad of a character, nor do I see why so many people hate him so much.

Though honestly, now that he has such a bad reputation, it'd be very surprising for me to see people change their minds if at all.

People don't hate him because of reputation. They hate him becasue he fail at every narative purpose. Every character should be a story of his own. Able to carry on as a main character in possible spin-offs. Flash is so bland, we could replace him with Donut Joe and had a better romance than this.

[Dattebayo 2,850]

I don't think Flash Sentry is that bad of a character, nor do I see why so many people hate him so much.

Though honestly, now that he has such a bad reputation, it'd be very surprising for me to see people change their minds if at all.

Let me just leave this here, as I've already said the same thing too many times x)

 

"I hate the sh*t out of Flash Sentry because he was a plot device, a poorly made one, at that. A romantic interest because the script called for it. He had zero bbackground, and was there for the sake of being THERE.

 

In terrible movie, he somehow the worst thing about it.

Not because Twilight is my "waifu". I'm indifferent about Twilight (sue me, Arty ;o ), but because he's a terribly bad thought-out charActer in a terribly thought-out movie."

Edited September 3, 2014 by Dattebayo

[Visual Spectrum 1,932]

Flash Sentry grew up with very little. he would often go without food for a long time because his parents could not afford any food. They tried everything, but they weren't able to get food on the table. When Flash became a stallion, his parents grew ill and died. He tried to do everything to help his two younger sisters. One day, while he was in Canterlot, he found out that the Royal Guards needed more members. After finding out that the Royal Guards had a good pay, he decided to try to be one. He told Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of his story. After he tried out, he feared that he would be rejected for his clumsiness. Luckily for him, he was given private lessons to deal with his clumsiness. Princess Celestia saw courage, determination, and selflessness, three traits that made him worthy to be a part of the Royal Guards. He still has to work on his clumsiness, but he continues to improve. Now his sisters are living a happy, healthy life. He gave his sisters a life he could not have. 

Edited September 3, 2014 by Visual Spectrum

[paradoxical 1,735]

"I hate the sh*t out of Flash Sentry because he was a plot device, a poorly made one, at that. A romantic interest .despite that the script really shouldn't have had called for it.

 

I think that you will agree that I fixed that one.

 

There was no need for a romantic interest and, like much of EQG, an element was thrown in for unknown reasons (filler?  A significant plot point which would have taken an hour but didn't get fully cut?  A bucket list?).

 

But, unlike other elements which were thrown in for reasons unclear to me, this one seemed to be especially poorly thought out.  (eww factor, why is Twily into him?  Where's the character?)

 

I get the feeling that RR will address some of these problems [even if it's just for we had him in the last movie reasons] and we'll like him better at the end.

 

 

though I get the feeling he's going to be paired up with Sunny Shimmy at the end

 

[Cwanky 17,632]

People don't hate him because of reputation. They hate him becasue he fail at every narative purpose. Every character should be a story of his own. Able to carry on as a main character in possible spin-offs. Flash is so bland, we could replace him with Donut Joe and had a better romance than this.

hey, leave Donut Joe and his delightful donuts outta this. He provides an invaluable service to dragons and overworked princesses.

Edited September 3, 2014 by Cwanky

[Zekromic 1,054]

I don't think Flash Sentry is that bad of a character, nor do I see why so many people hate him so much.

Though honestly, now that he has such a bad reputation, it'd be very surprising for me to see people change their minds if at all.

Well, there's a difference between him and other bland characters: The others didn't stole any waifus 

[Khaoios 1,970]

First off, Flash Sentry is not Tom Cruise......I can assure you of that, lol.   Second, he's a decent character, but his interaction with Twilight was one of those "What the Hell" moments. 

[Zekromic 1,054]

First off, Flash Sentry is not Tom Cruise......I can assure you of that, lol.   Second, he's a decent character, but his interaction with Twilight was one of those "What the Hell" moments. 

Can't argue with that, but is not because of the concept itself, it's because of how they handled it what sucked

[Leonard Smix 421]

I like Flash Sentry. I believe his character, even though most claimed ruined, can still be saved. But how? 

 

What is the best possible scenario that could save his character and his potential?