How to Disappear Completely

by shortskirtsandexplosions

Tuning

Leaning forward in his chair, Flash Sentry casually plucked away at an acoustic guitar with the tips of his wingfeathers. While he could pick up the instrument's tabulature without much issue, it was still an awkward affair, and the teenager knew that he wasn't performing at his best. Nevertheless, the tunes he improvised were bearable, and the group of ardent listeners gathered around him hardly seemed fazed.

"I always say..." Lyra teetered playfully in her seat, smiling foalishly. "A little bit of lyre-plucking is tremendously therapeutic." A slight squirm. "I... don't know if that translates over into guitar, but..."

"Oh, it translates alright," Flash murmured, staring intently at the job his wingtips were accomplishing—or trying to. "I just... don't particularly know what to play for you guys."

"Play anything," Soarin said. "Or nothing." A shrug. "We're just here to chill."

Flash exhaled, his eyes narrowing. "Here to chill..." A slight curl to his lips. "Y'know, I was always into doing metal guitar."

"Oh yeah?"

"But somehow... rockin' out doesn't exactly seem like me anymore," Flash slurred. "Nowadays... feels like all I wanna do is silly indie alternative emo nonsense."

"Uhhhhhh..." Soarin's brow furrowed. "What does that sound like?"

"Death Cab for Cutie."

"What???"

Flash stifled a chuckle. "Exactly."

"Did you perform for lots of pon—er... humans back in your world, Mr. Flash?" Carrot Cake asked, listening intently.

"Oh. Not a lot." Flash shrugged, careful not to loose his awkward equine grip of the guitar. "We were just a garage band, really. Going nowhere. Dreaming big—but without the tiaras."

"'We?'" Octavia tilted her head aside. "So you were part of an ensemble?"

Flash breathed thoughtfully. His mind drifted to Kyle. Chris. Hank. A flying fist. Blood in his mouth. "Yeah. Long ago. Or... it feels like long ago, now." Flash's ears twitched. "Guess I won't be performing with them ever again." After that... his ears drooped slightly. "Then again, I won't be performing for anybody ever again."

"Awwwwwwww..." Cup Cake bore a motherly smile. "Well, dear, you could most certainly perform for everypony here!"

"Heh..." Flash looked up from his strumming with a dull smile. "I'm not really what you'd call a 'prodigy.'"

Vinyl Scratch shrugged.

"So?" Octavia translated.

"It was just a hobby to pass the time. I'm not stage material," Flash said. "And the only reason I've been able to wow anypony is because of the library of stuff that I know... the library from back home." He gulped. "I can't write songs to save my own skin... er... fuzz."

"Well, that seems like as good as any place to start!" Fancy Pants declared. "You could travel Equestria—my boy! Spreading your esteem knowledge of otherworldly music far and wide!"

Flash's brow furrowed. "You're talking about some sort of 'Earth Music Showcase Tour?'"

"Most assuredly!" Fancy Pants served up a cheeky smile. "Sounds absolutely smashing! Wouldn't you agree?"

"Fancy..." Filthy leaned in. "Don't pressure the boy into public appearances too soon. He's still trying to adjust to Equestria."

"Smashed tea cups to that!" Fancy Pants adjusted his collar. "I'd say seize the day! You're quite obviously in your element when charging straight on, Mr. Sentry, good sir!" A confident smile. "And I'm certain that many wealthy delegates of Equestria would like to have the 'Unifier of the Crystal Empire' as their guest!"

"Heehee!" Derpy Hooves pumped a hoof into the air. "Sky trip!"

"Sounds snazzy to me," Soarin said with a smile.

"If... if that's something you'd be seriously considering... uhm..." Bon Bon squirmed where she sat. "...I don't suppose you'd like your very own private distributor of concessions?"

"Oh Bon Bon." Lyra rolled her eyes. "Give him time to think about it!"

"Sorry. Was just trying to seize the moment myself..."

"Yeah. No doiiii."

Ponies chuckled.

Flash breathed in and out, strumming lazily to produce a tranquil harmony. "I... certainly wouldn't mind seeing all that this world has to offer."

"Gotta give Fancy Pants credit," Filthy Rich added with a smile. "It would definitely be mind-expanding."

"Probably would be benefitting me more than any of the poor chucklefudges I'd be performing for," Flash droned.

"Well, have you ever performed before an audience before?" Octavia asked.

"Uhhhhhhh... kinda?" Flash bit his bottom lip. "There was the Battle of the Bands. Then that one time at the Fall Fair. Oh... uhm... also my friend's girlfriend's sister's birthday party..." He glanced aside. "Former friend's ex-gilfriend's sister-in-law's birthday party..."

"Well, the first step, I suspect, is to get some practice in," Octavia said. "But be warned—not all ponies are warmly receptive as this bunch."

"Oh, no doubt."

"And while you've shown to have great knowledge in music, it would help to narrow it down..."

"I need to have a set."

"Precisely." Octavia nodded. "I'd say start with music you're exceptionally good at playing."

"Right..."

"I'd say play stuff that makes you feel happy!" Lyra smiled, cheeks rosy. "It always works with me!"

"... ... ..." Flash paused a bit, resting his wingtips. "...I don't know about happy music. But... uhm..." He took a solemn breath. "There has this one particular tune that's been weighing on my head over the last week or so."

"Now this I gotta here," Soarin stated.

"I... don't know if it can be accomplished via acoustic guitar."

"No time like the present to try it out."

"I'm serious, dude." Flash looked over at Soarin. "This could be a complete disaster."

"So was coming over here," Soarin said. "And look at how this turned out."

"It all starts with being willing to try, dear," Cup Cake said.

"Uh huh! Uh huh!" Derpy nodded to the walls of the place. "Even if you're going fall down a lot, it's worth it just to take off in the end!" She winked—one eye after the other—above a knowing smile. "Trust me! I know!"

Flash thought about it... then thought about it some more.

At last, he simply stopped thinking, and that's when he found the courage to try out the first few notes of the song.

"Okay, here goes." He repositioned himself in the chair, gripping the guitar tighter in his pegasus limbs. "But—be warned... I'm not good at falsetto."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bon Bon asked.

"Maybe you'll find out really soon," Flash said. "Or maybe not."

Comments

[Porfiry Petrovitch]

"But—be warned... I'm not good at falsetto."

Is this going to be a Queen song? A Rhapsody, perhaps?

[lazyreader19]

Chucklefudges, I like that

[Chadbane]

8887475 Yes, please be queen!

[Booster Spice]

Falsetto is usually BeeGees. But, you want to go for exhaustive melodramatic life history rock opera?

Queen:Bohemian Rhapsody.

It took 30 years in the UK and the death of The Peoples Princess to knock it off the Number One favourite public tune. Two DJs in the UK have lost their jobs, because they dared to speak over the ending bars.

or it might be.

The Show Must Go On. ?

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Only one thing left to do...

Flash. Play...

Master Exploder.

And when song magic kicks in, and the mic actually bursts into flames, you'll be in your element.

[KetchupAndRice]

8887749
Well its because Freddie Mercury has Theater powered uber godly vocals which nobody can match....welp! Good Luck Flash

[Spade_McTrowel]

There's always Bowie...
I mean...
For the Diamond Dogs.
--Spade

[EnderHooves]

8887775
Oh god! That is just too good! Someone needs to animate that!

I love the direction this is going, I hope we get a great performance next chapter.

[Bones_]

Redbone?

[IceKitsune]

This can only go amazingly.

[MythrilMoth]

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

[Vutava]

8888172 Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.

[Galaxy of Equestria]

Something with love and upbeat!

[Midknight Defender]

8887960

Flash? Ah-ahh?

He'll save everypone of us?

[Fusion Blaster]

8888217
Open your eyes,
Look up to the skies and see,

[djthomp]

Flash's brow furrowed. "You're talking about some sort of 'Earth Music Showcase Tour? '"

I like this idea.

Play Stairway!

[harts fire]

i am hopping that what ever Flash does he is happy. he needs his life to change for the good.

[Leftover of Saikano]

I'm a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie world.

[FanOfMostEverything]

Falsetto, eh?

I'm so happy! Aha! Happy-go-lucky me!

[duithy]

It’s got to be free bird

[PinkiePieFox]

[khatre]

Lola by The Kinks! It works on multiple levels :)

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

8888707

Wrapped in plastic... Life's fantastic.