• Published 12th Dec 2016
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How to Disappear Completely - shortskirtsandexplosions



Flash Sentry's world sucks. Maybe it's high time he left it.

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Celestial

Flash Sentry entered the throne room. As he did so, the lieutenant vanished from his sight, and the transcendant glory of two alicorns filled the void.

Luna and Celestia turned to face him—as if they magically knew precisely when to end their conversation and turn to greet the teenager. Luna was deadpan as always, but Princess Celestia bore the gentlest of smiles, calm and graceful.

"Flash Sentry," the older of the two sisters spoke eloquently, fully awake and alert. Flash wondered if either of them were even capable of sleep. "What is it that brings you here this morning?"

"I..." Flash bit his lip. Nevertheless, he pressed humbly forward. "I was wondering if I could speak with you, Princess Celestia, y-your Highness."

"By all means." Celestia looked at her sister. "Luna."

Luna bowed halfway. She took her leave, trotting out of the room. In so doing, she passed Flash... but hesitated momentarily by his side. Her lofty eyes peered down at him, and a voice as dark and nebulous as her mane rippled between them.

"Nightmares only ever come from within, child," she said. "I trust you've learned to reach deeper than that."

Flash Sentry blinked.

With graceful stride, Luna passed on through the nearest door. Flash watched her as she left, suddenly numb.

Princess Celestia's voice gently pierced the silence.

"We are alone now, Mr. Sentry. Anything you wish to say to me, please, do speak your peace."

"I..." Flash chewed on his bottom lip. His eyes remained glued to the door... to the trailing shades of Luna in his mind... to the calm blue eyes of his doppelganger and the bittersweet smile hanging off the muzzle of Soarin, his new best friend.

All these colors, vibrant and precious, yet here and gone in the blink of an eye.

He had just remember what it meant to feel... only to feel it all slip away.

"I... c-came here to tell you..." Flash turned to face the ruler of Equestria. "...that I've come to a decision."

"Oh?" Celestia crossed the distance between them. She gazed down at the young stallion with a blank yet patient expression. "And what decision is that, my little pony?"

Something about those words. The musical quality to the voice. The innocence, the respect, and the sincerity and compassion...

It broke him all over again. His face crumbled under the mounting pressure, and he hung his head to hide the tears—an act of futility. He cursed underneath his breath, but that only freed his lungs for a bursting sob... then another. Flash Sentry covered his face with a shaking fetlock, and all he could produce at this point was: "I'm sorry..." He sniffled, shaking his head with clenched eyes. "Here I am taking up your precious time. I... I don't want to trouble you. But... b-but I j-just can't bring myself to say it outright... as much as I want to... as m-much as I need to..." He sucked his breath in, only to sob once more. "I'm just so... so sorry..."

Hoofsteps.

A warm presence sat before him, and a gold-laced hoof tilted his tear-stained chin up.

She smiled placily into his blurred vision. "So am I, friend."

He clenched his teeth, staring bravely at her.

"When you first arrived, I perceived you as a mere child, and it was for this reason that I attempted to convince you to return to your home... and to your family. However, after talking to my beloved sister Luna and observing more of your situation first-hoof, I realized I was only half correct. You arrived here a child, but—thanks to your experience in Equestria—you have become a veritable stallion." She arched an eyebrow. "Relatively speaking, of course."

He managed a slight smile at that.

"And I promise you that you are not a trouble to me," Princess Celestia said, remaining calm and pleasant despite the teenager's breakdown. She leaned back with a knowing glance. "Do you want to know about troubles? Equestria has seen its fair share of them throughout the centuries. I myself have seen many of them first-hoof..." Her eyes drifted aside with the first sign of sadness since he saw her. "...some of which I have even caused."

He calmed slightly, wiping his muzzle clean.

The Princess continued: "You don't get to be over a thousand years old and somehow remain pure." She looked at him. "But you can most certainly improve." Her wings flared a bit. "Like a society does. Like my subjects have." Her smile came back, if only a small one. "My sister has told me a lot about your world—at least the details that she has gathered from your mind... hyperbolic as many of them tend to be."

Flash winced slightly.

"And even with the mortal failures that you yourself have come to regret," Celestia said, "It's not all that different from the history that Equestria has been forced to own... that we must take responsibility for on a day to day basis... with moral tenacity and retribution in the face of alluring, blissful ignorance." She stood up tall before him. "There is always hope for everyone, my little pony. If you are so certain about this decision you've made... I hope it's a decision you are making to help your fellow creatures..." She shook her head. "...not to change them. For even in transcendence, Mr. Sentry, we do not become perfect beings. Far from it. We simply become more complicated versions of our past selves, and yet more affirmative. And if we allow these positive changes to happen, then it is with the self-sustained knowledge that there will always... always be room for improvement."

Flash took a moment to digest that. He had calmed well enough to provide a quiet reply. "I certainly feel more complicated than improved." He swallowed. "But... I am convinced that... th-that I can do good for the world that's waiting for me back home... n-now that I've done so much good for myself."

"And it is not my place to tell you otherwise, Mr. Sentry," Celestia said. "But do know that if you ever need advice or support from me or any of my subjects, my kingdom is always open for you to revisit at any time." She smiled. "I'm certain it can only lead to further prosperity."

He smiled up at her, an added tear tickling his face. "I shall never forget your kindness."

She leaned in and nuzzled the stallion close. "And I shall never forget your goodness."

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