//------------------------------// // Prize // Story: How to Disappear Completely // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// "Mrmmmfff...!" Spitfire lowered the mug of ale from her muzzle and wiped it clean. "You found cooks, musicians, and decorators?! Already?!" She blinked across the Crystal Empire tavern. "That must be some kind of world record!" "It's not all that crazy, really," Flash Sentry said. His wings and limbs ached from flying all across Equestria, but the thrill of the evening left an undeniable buzz vibrating through his youthful extremities. "I already knew where to look. As soon as you got the okay from the stewards, I knew exactly where to go and who to talk to!" "Sooooo..." Spitfire smirked. "You had this all planned from the start, did you?" "Yes and no. But mostly no." Flash's eyes twitched. "And yet... at the same time... mostly yes." "How in Tartarus are you even going to pull this off?" "Just grip the bottlecap really tight and twist!" Flash exclaimed. His tail flicked. "Wait... are you talking about the analogy of opening a bottle or actually getting the festivities at the Crystal Empire to blow off without a hitch?" "All this time, I figured that you were either crazy or stupid, kid. But now that I think about it..." Spitfire took another sip and smiled. "You've got a lot of guts. Not to mention some snazzy ambition." Her eyes looked past him. "A pony could learn a thing or two from this punk." Her smile faded as she raised a curious eyebrow. "Heeeeeeee..." Soarin leaned against a fetlock that was propped against the bar counter. His smile was the masterpiece of stupidity. "It's like she sings when she talks..." "What the heck is his problem?" Spitfire asked. "We flew too fast across Equestria," Flash droned. "Somewhere along the way, he got bit by a love bug." "Hah! Soarin?! Love?!" Spitfire downed the rest of her mug and belched. "Urp! That silken saddle sissy couldn't romance a donkey in heat!" "Wow... that sounded really cartoonishly offensive." Flash beamed. "Do you know any more?" "And you, kiddo..." Spitfire cocked her head to the side. "When was the last time you got some sleep?" "Pffft. You trying to sabotage our main mission here?" "Look. I'm not the bad guy here," Spitfire said. "I put my neck out on the line for you and Romeoats. I don't want you two failing super hard and making me look back before the stewards of the Crystal Empire." She shoved her fetlock into Flash's chest. "You'd better get some rest so you can help your Ponyville buddies get this show on the road. Don't make me kick your butt." "But... I can't sleep yet." Flash gulped. "The trains with our friends will be arriving before sunrise. We gotta point them in the right direction so that they'll be working with their respective departments here in the Crystal Empire." He shook his head. "There's no time to waste! The Unification Celebration will be in nearly two days!" "I'm pretty sure you knew what you were getting into when you took this thing on." "I've never known what I'm getting into," Flash Sentry said. He smiled. "And I hope to God I never will." "... ... ..." Spitfire rubbed her chin. After a breath, she leaned back with a tired smile. "You're in search for something, kid." "Am I?" "Yeah." She nodded. "I think you are. And even a pessimist like me hopes you have the good friggin' luck of finding it." Flash winked. "I can with help." "You've got help," she said, pointing at Soarin. "Only..." She scooted out of her barstool and dropped a bit on the counter. "...better clear the butterflies out of your help's stomach or it'll turn into a ball-and-chain pretty soon." With a flick of her tail, she left the establishment. Flash took a deep breath. "I wonder if she likes tulips?" Soarin murmured, smiling just as dumbly as before. "It really does match her eyes." Flash swiveled to face him. "Come on, dude. Listen to what Spitfire said. Don't go all hopeless on me!" Soarin blinked at him. "Spitfire was here?" Flash shook his shoulders. "Stick! With! The! Program!" "Gaaaaah—what is this, a turbulence test?!" Soarin only had to flap his wings once and he effectively knocked Flash back. "Dude, lay off!" "Hah!" Flash beamed. "There's my bro!" "Look. We fetched the help that we needed, didn't we?" Soarin brushed his wings off and slicked his mane back. "And they're all headed here via train to make the party happen. Haven't we saved the day?" "We won't live to see that day get saved if we don't keep our head in the game!" Flash's voice cracked. "And—hate to say it, buddy—but yours just took a permanent vacation to the Valentine's Day section of the Hallmark Store!" Soarin's eyes narrowed. "Valentine's... Day...?" "Yeah. Y'know... a holiday for sharing heart-shaped candies and sappy love letters with significant others." "Oh. Must be a human thing. Here in Equestria, we have Hearts and Hooves Day." Soarin blinked, and then he gasped with joy. "Oooh! Do you think she'd like a basket full of candies?" "Actually Derpy Hooves likes muffins." "Even better—!" "Dammit, bro!" "Sorry!" Soarin grimaced, slapping himself a few times. "I'm sorry, Flash! I'm sorry just..." His wings drooped as he sighed. "I've... never seen a mare that adorable and enchantingly beautiful before. Has she always lived in Ponyville?" "How the Hell should I know?" Soarin winced. After a calming breath, he stood up tall. "Here you are trying to do Equestria and the Crystal Empire a huge favor... and suddenly I'm slacking in the awesome department." He shook his head. "Forgive me, bro. I... I just don't know what came over me. You've got my full support. I promise." "You sure you're cool?" Flash arched an eyebrow. "We're gonna be working closely with these Ponyvilleans over the next few days, setting things up. That means you're going to be running into her. A lot." "Heeeeeeee... you really think so." Flash face-hoofed. "Bro." "Sorry! SORRY! I'm cool." Soarin took a deep breath and waved his forelimbs to assist his lungs. "I'm cool. I'm cool. I'm cool. I'm cool." "Just don't... don't..." Flash's ears drooped as he looked aside. "...don't set yourself for a huge friggin' fall, man." "Huh?" "What I mean is... I think you're really awesome, Soarin." Flash rubbed one forelimb with another, avoiding the older stallion's gaze. "You're the most chill dude I've met since I showed up here. What I wouldn't give to have someone like you on the other side, y'know? And it would really suck... it would really burn me to see you get burned..." Flash swallowed a lump down his throat. "I know what it's like to have all of my feelings misplaced. Perhaps you're older and smarter than me—but I don't want the same thing to happen to you. Cuz it sucks, man. It sucks way more than I could ever explain—" "Aren't we freaking out a bit too much?" "I just—" "Flash... relax..." Soarin rested a hoof on Flash's shoulder, smiling. "I'm a different stallion... and this is a different place. And do you honestly... truly think Miss Hooves is anything like your Girl Number One? Or Two?" Flash sighed. His smile was a weak one. "You're right. I'm just projecting. I've been..." He winced, gazing aside. "...I-I've been doing that ever since I got here." "And for your sake, I hope it's helped. A lot. Your whole trip through Equestria must mean a lot to you. But you must understand that not all things happen the same to everyone." Flash's nostrils flared. "The portal's called a 'mirror' for a reason—" "You gotta stop being so paranoid. Besides... even if I did set myself up to be burned..." Soarin winked. "I've been through my fair share of crashes before. That's why the skull's so thick. I'll survive." "It's... not enough that we just 'survive,'" Flash muttered in a sad tone. "Bro. Do I have to hug you through this or something?" Soarin spread his wings. "Come on! We've got a party to set in motion! Now let's keep our eyes on the prize and head on over to the train station, huh?" He led the younger stallion towards the door. "They'll be here soon, won't they?" Flash squinted suspiciously at him. "Just which 'prize' will you be eyeing?" "Shhhhh. I won't say anything if you won't." Flash rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless." "Takes one to know one, dude." "Heheheh..."