Flash Sentry

Flash Sentry is a male Pegasus pony who first appears with his human counterpart in My Little Pony Equestria Girls. He is a royal guard in Equestria, while his human counterpart attends Canterlot High School and is Sunset Shimmer's ex-boyfriend. Following his appearance in Equestria Girls, he has since appeared in series episodes, other films, animated shorts, film novelizations and chapter books, and several IDW comics.

Development
In late April 2013, an image of human Twilight Sparkle and human Flash Sentry as they appear in the film, with Flash carrying a guitar case, was posted anonymously online bearing the file name "ts_fs.png" and accompanied by the text "MMM HMM."

On May 16, 2013, Meghan McCarthy wrote on Twitter, "So funny people are calling blue haired guy in #EquestriaGirls 'Brad.' His name is obviously 'Dreamy Cutebottom' #notreally."

On June 16, 2013, Meghan McCarthy wrote on Twitter that Flash Sentry would not be a character in the fourth season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. He did, however, make a non-speaking cameo in Three's A Crowd as well as a speaking cameo in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1; Jim Miller explained on Twitter in May 2014, "He was never in the scripts. He was added later by request." He also does not appear in the script for the IDW comics' My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Holiday Special.

According to M.A. Larson, Flash Sentry was originally going to appear in Slice of Life, where he would ask Cranky Doodle Donkey why no one likes him.

Depiction in the series
In Three's A Crowd, Flash Sentry makes a non-speaking cameo as one of Princess Cadance's royal guard escorts and smiles before getting back on the Crystal Empire train.

Flash Sentry reappears in Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1, where he has a speaking role introducing the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls
In My Little Pony Equestria Girls, Flash Sentry first appears as a Pegasus royal guard in the Crystal Empire. He wears an additional back cloth and saddle plate normally worn by unicorn guards. Twilight Sparkle accidentally bumps into him when entering the throne room. He formally announces her arrival to the other princesses.

Flash Sentry's human counterpart first appears in Canterlot High School when Twilight runs into him in the corridor. He helps her up and asks, "Whoa. You okay?" Later, Twilight accidentally spills a beverage on him at the Sweet Shoppe, and he jokes they need to stop bumping into each other. Rarity reveals to Twilight that he is Sunset Shimmer's ex-boyfriend.

When Sunset Shimmer frames Twilight for ruining the Fall Formal decorations, Flash Sentry proves that the pictures are fake and Vice Principal Luna allows Twilight Sparkle to stay in the competition. Twilight is so thrilled that she hugs Flash Sentry. He asks Twilight out to the Formal, but mistakes her blubbering "no's" as her answer when she was really freaking out over the Formal being postponed. When the Formal reconvenes as originally scheduled, Twilight clears up the confusion with Flash Sentry and agrees to have one dance with him. The Formal is disrupted when Sunset Shimmer rises to power and summons an army of hypnotized students, including Flash Sentry. Twilight and her friends defeat Sunset Shimmer, turning everyone back to normal. Flash Sentry finally asks Twilight for their dance. On the dance floor, he imitates Twilight's odd dancing style, previously seen in Sweet and Elite.

When Twilight returns to the Crystal Castle at the end of the film, she again bumps into Flash Sentry's pony counterpart. He helps her up and states that they need to stop meeting like that. When Twilight's friends say that she must have a crush on him, Twilight denies it, but blushes. Pinkie Pie accurately guesses that he must have reminded Twilight of a rock guitarist whom she met and liked in the human world.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks
In the second film, Flash Sentry compliments the Rainbooms on their playing and asks them if Twilight will return for the school's musical showcase. Soon after, Sunset Shimmer reveals to her friends that she only dated Flash for popularity purposes and never really liked him. He is later seen in the cafeteria during the Dazzlings' song. At one point, Sonata Dusk strums the strings of his guitar.

Like most of the Canterlot High School student body, Flash and his band fall victim to the Dazzlings' spell and becomes overly competitive. During the Battle of the Bands, he and his band, which is specified in the first film's screenplay novelization Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror to be named Flash Drive, is seen facing off with the eco-kids. He also shows hostility toward Twilight, causing her to cry.

When the Dazzlings' spell is broken, Flash congratulates Twilight and hugs her, but Trixie interrupts their affectionate moment.

Perfect Day for Fun
In the My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks animated short Perfect Day for Fun, Flash Sentry appears at the Canterlot High carnival and watches the Rainbooms' concert.

Friendship Through the Ages
In the musical short Friendship Through the Ages, Flash partially appears during Rainbow Dash's verse.

Life is a Runway
In the musical short Life is a Runway, Flash appears as a silhouette during the fashion runway sequence.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
Flash Sentry appears again in the third film as one of twelve students selected to represent Canterlot High School in the Friendship Games. He is shown to be bitter towards their losing streak against Crystal Prep Academy when he heckles Principal Celestia's pep rally about it.

Flash Sentry encounters human Twilight Sparkle twice in the movie. When she first arrives at CHS, she drops her glasses after bumping into him and he returns them, mistaking her for the Twilight he knows. He later congratulates her after she wins the Academic Decathlon for Crystal Prep. Both times, she blows him off to study her magical readings, much to his disappointment and confusion.

He is partnered with Sweetie Drops for a baking competition during the games' first event, but they are eliminated when they mistakenly bake a loaf of bread instead of a cake.

Flash is later seen witnessing Twilight and Sunset's magic duel. He also appears in several photographs during the film's ending credits.

A Banner Day
Flash and his friends Micro Chips and Sandalwood are are tasked with making a banner to welcome Crystal Prep Academy to the Friendship Games. Flash's ideas for the banner conflict with those of his friends, but the final product is met with approval from Vice Principal Luna.

IDW comics
In the story The Day Shift, pony Flash Sentry appears on page 5, having been startled by an opossum.

In, pony Flash Sentry appears on pages 2—as an Alicorn—and 21.

In My Little Pony: Equestria Girls Holiday Special, human Flash Sentry is shown in a MyStable picture on page 15 and is mentioned in Anon-a-Miss' MyStable post "I saw Flash Sentry at the..." on page 30; he is "at his grandma's for the holidays" according to artist Tony Fleecs.

Of, pony Flash Sentry appears on cover RI.

In, pony Flash Sentry appears on page 10.

Chapter books
In the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror screenplay novelization of the first film, pony and human Flash Sentry each appear.

In the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks screenplay novelization of the first eight animated shorts, human Flash Sentry is mentioned in the narration and pony Flash Sentry appears in chapter 1, "The Ponies in the Band!," and pony Flash Sentry is mentioned in the narration of chapter 17, "Dancing Room Only!"

In the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks: The Mane Event screenplay novelization of the second film, human Flash Sentry appears.

In My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine, human Flash Sentry appears. In chapter 2, "Storm on the Horizon," he overhears Sunset Shimmer and her friends talking about Twilight Sparkle, and in chapter 14, "With Flying Colors," Sunset helps him with a math problem.

Software
Flash Sentry is in Hasbro's Equestria Girls app.

Flash Sentry appears in online games.

Mobile game description
''Flash Sentry is a high-ranking Pegasus pony in the Crystal Empire Royal Guard. He is kind, gentle and caring, and always offers help when needed.''

Merchandise
A mini-figure pony toy of Flash Sentry has been displayed at the 2014 American International Toy Fair. The toy was released as part of the eleventh wave of mystery pack toys and collector cards. The toy is the first time that his cutie mark is visible on the pony version of him. The collector card states, "FLASH SENTRY helps his friends whenever they need him!"

Pony Flash Sentry is shown on Acidfree's first art print.

An Equestria Girls doll of Flash Sentry was shown at the 2015 New York Toy Fair. He was released in a singles pack as well as a two-pack doll set with human Twilight Sparkle.

Personality
As both a human and a pony, Flash Sentry is shown to be kind and gentlemanly, as evidenced by his helping Twilight when she falls over on two occasions. He returns Twilight's feelings of affection towards him as a human. In both films, he also shows signs of social awkwardness and clumsiness, such as walking into a door while escorting Twilight to the Fall Formal dance and backing into a wall while exiting the band room.

While under the effect of the Dazzlings' magic, Flash becomes arrogant, cold, and spiteful. He lashes out at Twilight when she takes part in the Battle of the Bands, believing that she is trying to take victory away from him and he publicly ridicules Sunset Shimmer, calling her "the bad girl we all love to hate."

Quotes
"Her highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

- Pony version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls

"Whoa! You okay?"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls

"What was I gonna do? Not prove your innocence? Wouldn't be much of a Canterlot Wondercolt, would I?"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls

"We've got to stop bumping into each other like this."

- Both versions, My Little Pony Equestria Girls

"The Duke and Duchess of Maretonia."

- Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1

"Uh, I don't suppose any of our friends from, uh... out of town might come? It being a special charity event and all."

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

"Yeah, and then you decide to come back here just so you can beat me in the Battle of the Bands. I want this, Twilight, and you're trying to take it from me! Some friend."

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

"You really think you're gonna help them?! Ha! I bet you have no idea what you're even doing!"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

"Now that's the bad girl we love to hate!"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

"Rainbooms rule! That was amazing!"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

"You mean other than us losing?!"

- Human version, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games

"It did!"

- Pony version, Micro-Series Issue #10 page 5


 * Flash Sentry: Thanks, Canterlot High!
 * Flash Sentry: We're Flash Drive! Come see us play at the Sweet Shoppe next weekend.
 * — Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror


 * Flash Sentry: Excuse me, Princess.
 * Flash Sentry: I couldn't help but notice your singing. You're good enough to have your own band!
 * — Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks


 * Flash Sentry: Twilight Sparkle?
 * Flash Sentry: Is she coming back to Canterlot High?
 * — Equestria Girls: Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine

"Pinkie Pie's usually right."

- Equestria Girls: Sunset Shimmer's Time to Shine

"Go Wondercolts! Hey! Hey! Go Wondercolts!"

- Human version, Dash for the Crown

"Have a rockin’ birthday, all you awesome January people!"

- My Little Pony Facebook post

"Totally, brah."

- Script by M.A. Larson from April Fools' Day 2014