//------------------------------//
// Dream 
// Story: How to Disappear Completely 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	"As Princess, it is my sworn duty to protect the denizens of Equestria," Luna said, pacing around the room, the Moon, and Flash.  "I have not always been... exceptional at this task, but I have nevertheless practiced it with full vigilance as of late."

"I'm guessing that's how you picked up on me," Flash Sentry said.  His ears twitched to a high-pitched noise coming from somewhere, and he looked towards the corners of the enlarged closet in confusion.

"Indeed," Luna stated, redirecting Flash's attention back to her.  The woman's eyes pulsed with every other word.  "Your consciousness rippled across the dreamscape like a shockwave."  She arched an eyebrow.  "At first, I simply... observed you from afar to see what vision your mind might conjure up.  However... your slumbering mind remained in a blank state, so I saw it fit to force this environment to manifest itself."

"Err... yeah..."  Flash rubbed the back of his neck.

"How curious," Luna remarked.  "Are your kind incapable of dreaming where you come from?"

"Oh... nah."  Flash gulped.  "Humans dream.  We totally do.  I've just..."  He sighed.  "I-I haven't had much to dream about lately."

Luna simply stared at him thoughtfully.

Again, Flash's ears tickled.  He ignored the sound beyond the closet walls.  "So... since you're a guardian and all that... and you've sensed my presence like a 'shockwave'... does that mean that I'm... y'know... dangerous to ponies n'stuff?"

The woman folded her arms, taking a contemplative breath.  At last, she said, "I am not sure.  Your heart is what I would call 'passive,' but your mind is a thick, tangled mess.  It is indeed quite possible that I simply do not understand what constitutes the mental make-up of your kind, but I am currently at a loss to properly 'read' you."

"Heh... trust me..."  Flash pointed at his dream-skull.  "There's not much up there."

"Melancholic."

Flash blinked.

"I sense much sadness in you," she said in an emotionless tone.  "And something else of a far darker shade... something that wears that sadness like a cloak.  However... already I sense that some holes are starting to form in such a jacket.  I suspect this has happened only recently."

"I... uh... I-I don't know about all that."

"Perhaps you don't.  But now I do know what brought you here," Princess Luna said with a contemplative nod.  "Maybe your kind isn't nearly as malevolent as I would have feared."

"But—you said it yourself:  I don't belong here."

"No.  You do not."  Luna's blue brow furrowed.  "But my concern is no longer for my own subjects."

"Mmmfff..."  Flash leaned back against a wall, rubbing his forehead.  "I guess I... erm... s-sorta left my home without much warning."  He bit his lip.  "Though I can't imagine anyone actually missing me," he added in a breathy tone.

"Is that what you truly believe?"

He frowned into the penumbra of the Moon's glow.  "Belief's got nothing to do with it."

Silence.

"The universe is vast," Luna declared.  "The multi-verse even more so."  She stepped towards him.  "And it is all predominantly comprised of emptiness.  Nevertheless..."  She stood before the teenager, eyes full of wisdom.  "The yearning in so few hearts vastly outweighs the desolation... with warmth that even the brightest, most burning stars can't hope to surpass.  I sense that you are a creature plagued by emptiness.  But all things lost are destined to be found.  This remains true, no matter the despair that might cloud your ability to ascertain such."

Flash fought a lump in his throat.  "Those are kind words, Vice Pr—... er... Princess Luna."  He bravely looked up at her.  "But let's face it.  I'm just a punk kid running away from his life like a coward."

"And everything you've done since arriving in my land—has it all been 'cowardly?'"

Flash's mouth opened, but he had nothing to say.

Again, he heard the noise.

He looked towards the walls, eyes searching even as he spoke:  "I guess... you'll be wanting to escort me back to that portal thingy in Twilight's castle basement now?  Send me back to the world from which I came?"

Luna looked at him, at the Moon, then back at the teenager again.  "No."

That ripped Flash's attention away from the strange noise that was still intensifying.  "No?"  He fidgeted.  "But... you said it yourself!  I don't belong here."

"I sense that you still have many things to accomplish here in this world," Luna said.  "Among my subjects.  So long as my royal intuition remains true, I cannot attempt sending you back... and neither should the other Princesses."

"Yeah..."  Flash's nostrils flared.  "And it's all a bunch of selfish shit, Your Highness.  Let's face it.  I'm pathetic."

Luna's head cocked to the side.  "Precisely who said you would be doing things simply for yourself?"

Flash blinked in confusion.

"Do you have a name, creature?"

"Uhm..."  Flash squirmed awkwardly.  "Flash.  Flash Sentry."

Luna took a few seconds to contemplate that.  "How fascinating," was her response, and it was spoken in an off-tone.  She took a breath.  "Well, Mr. Flash Sentry, I shall be watching intently.  I assure you."

"But Luna... your highness... what did you mean by—?"  Flash jolted, for the noise buzzing around the closet was positively deafening now.  He grimaced, looking all around.  "That... that sound."  He paled.  "It..."  He gaped at Luna.  "It sounds like someone screaming."

Luna nodded, stepping backwards into a shroud of darkness.  "Indeed."

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—"