- Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Heather Breckel
Sunburst is about to start on Flash Magnus's legend when Starlight Glimmer arrives from Ponyville, having planned a lunch date with Sunburst earlier. When he balks, she decides that she can read her Flash Magnus' story, so that they can both enjoy it.
Flash Magnus' tale as he has risen in rank in the Royal Legion. The Legion hears word of an accident at the weather factory, creating a freak storm at the border of Equestria that has crossed over into the Griffon lands, and they set off to try stop the storm. Near the border they encounter a squad of griffons, who think the ponies sent the storm purposely to harm the griffon lands, and ignore the Royal Legion's explanation. The griffons try to stop the storm themselves but are quickly overwhelmed, and fly off to recover. Flash Magnus sees that a griffon village across the border is unprepared and not ready to evacuate, and asks Captain Ironhead to save them, but Ironhead refuses, given that ponies have been at war with the griffons and that they cannot cross the border. Refusing to let the innocent griffons get hurt, he convinces the rest of the squad to help save the griffons, against Ironhead's orders. Once the griffons are safe, the ponies, led by Ironhead, then set off to disrupt the storm. Back at their headquarters, Ironhead praises Flash Magnus' actions despite going against orders, as it has help to set a positive direction for future pony/griffon relationship.
With the story done, Sunburst and Starlight decide to set off for dinner.
Tropes:
- An Aesop: Heroism isn't just about strength, speed, or skill; it's inspiring others to do the right thing.
- Fantastic Racism: Tensions between pegasi and griffons cause a lot of problems in this story; Blackbeak refuses to let the ponies onto griffon territory because he's suspicious of their intentions.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: With the exception of Captain Ironhead, the pegasi warriors have armor over their left forelimbs but not their right.
- Flat-Earth Atheist: After Sunburst finishes reading Magnus's story, Starlight debunks it as sounding too unrealistic — yes, Starlight Glimmer thinks it sounds too unrealistic.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: After being ordered not to assist the griffons in dealing with the storm for fear of provoking war, Flash Magnus goes off to rescue them and his compatriots follow suit.
- Ship Tease: The whole interaction between Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer. Starlight show up upset about his ignoring her messages and not spending time together then proceeds to park herself on his bed note . The story ends with the two going out to dinner together.
