Flash Magnus

Flash Magnus is a male Pegasus pony and figure of Equestrianlegend. He makes his first appearance in My Little Pony: Legends of Magic Issue #4 and his first in-show appearance in the season seven episode Campfire Tales.

Depiction in the series
In Campfire Tales, Flash Magnus is the subject of a campfire story told by Rainbow Dash, and he is Rainbow's favorite legend. In the story, Flash is a cadet in the Royal Legion of Cloudsdale during a time before the founding of the Wonderbolts. While flying over the Dragon Lands one day, Flash's squadron is intercepted and attacked by dragons, and several of Flash's comrades are captured during their retreat. Flash tries to convince his commanding officer Ironhead to rescue them, but Ironhead refuses, saying a direct attack on the dragons' lair is impossible.

Reasoning that he can outmaneuver the dragons in the air, Flash volunteers to be a decoy to lure the dragons away from their lair so the rest of the squadron can save their captured teammates. Ironhead acknowledges Flash's bravery and entrusts him with the fireproof shield, Netitus, to aid in his mission. As Flash distracts the dragons and shields himself from their fire breath, Ironhead and the others rescue the trapped Legionnaires and create a massive storm cloud. Flash leads the dragons into the cloud, causing them to get struck by lightning, and they fly off. With the whole squadron safe, Flash is commended for his courage, and Ironhead allows him to keep Netitus.

In the season seven finale Shadow Play, Flash Magnus is revealed to be one of the six "Pillars of Old Equestria" with Rockhoof, Mistmane, Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook, and Star Swirl the Bearded, representing the Element of Bravery. Long ago, he and the other Pillars were brought together by the unicorn Stygian to battle a great evil. When Stygian later turned into the Pony of Shadows, Flash and the others sacrificed themselves to imprison him in limbo.

In present day, Rainbow Dash retrieves Flash's shield from the Dragon Lands for a ritual to free the Pillars from limbo. When the Pony of Shadows is freed along with them, Flash and the other Pillars team up with the Mane Six to separate Stygian from the darkness and banish it to limbo once again.

In School Daze - Part 1 and Non-Compete Clause, a bust of Flash appears in the School of Friendship. In A Rockhoof and a Hard Place, Flash Magnus appears as a new drill sergeant for Princess Celestia's guard.

In The Ending of the End - Part 1, Flash Magnus and his fellow Pillars face off against Lord Tirek, but they are easily overpowered and drained of their magic due to Tirek being empowered by the Bewitching Bell. In Part 2, he and the Pillars keep Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow busy while Twilight's friends escape. He is later present during the final battle against the villains and helps the Mane Six and Young Six defeat them. In The Last Problem, Flash Magnus attends Twilight Sparkle's coronation ceremony. He also briefly appears in Rainbow Dash's group shot during The Magic of Friendship Grows.

Trivia

 * Flash Magnus is often confused with Flash Sentry due to their appearances and their names.
 * He is the fourth pony, and the third male, that has "Flash" somewhere in his name, following Tracy Flash, Flash Sentry and General Flash. He is also the last pony to date.
 * He is the only pony to have "Magnus" somewhere in his name.
 * He is the only pony whose voice actor is Giles Panton. He is also one of three members of the Pillars of Equestria that is the only pony who has one voice actor, the others being Star Swirl and Somnambula.
 * He is the only member of the Pillars of Equestria who was never mentioned before his first in-show appearance.
 * He is usually shipped with Somnambula by fans despite not being canon on the show.