How to Disappear Completely

by shortskirtsandexplosions

Success

A hot air balloon rose swiftly, then slowed until it hovered parallel to the Midnight Oil's port side.

Captain Typhoon signaled to his crew. With a clatter of hooves, various uniformed stallions extended a plank to the balloon's basket. One by one, Filthy Rich, Fancy Pants, and Prince Blueblood walked across and came on board.

Typhoon calmly studied each stallion's face as they trotted onto the deck. At last, he came face to face with a smugly smiling Fancy Pants. "I take it... things went well?"

"Not at first, but in the end..." Fancy Pants' teeth glistened. "...we have made a most fortuitous agreement!"

The Captain merely nodded, humming. "Hmmmm... a successful meeting, then?"

"Oh, come now, ol' chap..." Fancy Pants poked Typhoon's chest, winking. "You never had faith in this endeavor. Must you stifle your surprise so?"

Typhoon sighed, readjusting his collar. "I simply desire to know about our next engagement."

"Ready the cargo bay!" Prince Blueblood delcared bombastically into the night air. "Thanks to the Hawkeye Pack, the diamond dogs have already agreed to give us a meager shipment of crystalline jewels to bring to the Imperialists as a sign of good faith!"

"Ah. I see." Typhoon nodded. "Then our next course—"

"Will be due north!" Blueblood jubilantly stated, trotting across the deck. "First thing tomorrow morning after the canines have supplied us!" He struck a proud pose. "I can't wait to see the look on my distant cousin's face as we tell her that we've acquired the keys to pulling the Empire into the Equestrian Union!"

"Uncle! Uncle!" Tiny scampering hooves announced Canterloy's presence. The young prince galloped across the deck, leapt, and clung to the older monarch's hoof. "You did it! I just knew you would own these mangy beast peasants!"

"Euuuuuuuuhhhh..." Blueblood winced, trying to shake Canterloy off. "Don't hug that forelimb, my little cherub! Tr-trust me!"

All of this—Flash Sentry observed from where he hovered parallel to the Midnight Oil's port side. Stifling a yawn, he touched down—perching on the airship's railing. "Well... guess that's all she wrote on that, huh?"

"Got a mite bit rocky for a moment there," Filthy Rich replied, trotting into view. "But we made a good turn of things, Brad, my boy." A grin and a wink. "Now for phase two."

"Phase... Two...?" Flash Sentry blinked. "I... I-I thought that we were—y'know—returning to Equestria now that the diplomacy's done."

"Oh, we are returning to Equestria," Filthy Rich said. "Future Equestria... that is..."

Flash Sentry was fighting a long day of drowsiness at this point. He smacked himself in the skull—causing Vinyl Scratch's headphones to rattle. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

"Once the Diamond Dogs give us a small sampling of crystalline jewels, we'll be taking it to the third party of this benevolent exchange."

Flash Sentry's ears twitched. "... ... ...Jill Stein?"

Filthy left out a brief, bold guffaw before shaking his head. "The Crystal Empire, my boy! We're heading to the Crystal Empire!"

"Crystal... Empire...?" Flash Sentry murmured. He felt his tail flick behind him with unknown excitement at the name. "Sounds... flashy."

"And it's about to get a whole lot flashier!" Fancy Pants trotted up. "Thanks to you, Brad." He smiled aside. "And also thanks to some level-headed businessponies who were kind enough to salvage the negotiations whe the time came."

"Don't sell yourself so short, Mr. Pants."

"Ironically, that's precisely what I'm doing!" Fancy Pants sighed briefly. "With... the axing of Galloping Greens. Ahem..." He straightened his collar and regained a proud smirk. "But—I am purely convinced—it is completely worth it to make sure the Crystal Imperialists receive their long overdue reward!"

"These..." Flash Sentry twisted his muzzle to produce the redundant words: "....crystalline jewels are really gonna help them prosper and such?"

"Most indubitably! Prince Blueblood already promised that we would provide the two stewards with a sample of the resources they would be gaining from this venture!" Fancy Pants grinned. "And—in return—they and the denizens of the Crystal Empire would throw a celebration to announce their pledge to join the rest of the Nation of Equestria!"

"Wowsers..." Flash smiled dumbly. "It's like the Klingons joining the Federation!"

"Ehh... erhm..." Fancy Pants blinked. "What?"

"Ohhhhhhhh Brad..." Filthy Rich merely chuckled, slapping Fancy's shoulders.

Fancy grasped his monocle before it could fall to the wooden deckplates. "Yes, well, colorful analogies aside..." He smiled again. "This is the start of a new golden age of Equestrian prosperity!"

"Not to mention interspecies cultural integration!" Filthy Rich declared.

"Indeed. It's a shame that... I nearly ruined it at the very end," Fancy Pants murmured aside. "With my petty attachments... most unsportsponylike of me..."

"Hey..." Flash shrugged. "You had to give up golf—and in the end, you did!" He smirked. "If more world leaders did the same, we'd be in a much better place."

"Ah... I take it you overheard the entire exchange, Brad."

"Mmmmhmmm. I was hanging out with the Wonderbolts the entire time."

"Alas, it pains me that you had to witness my utter failing when the moment of truth came," Fancy Pants said, stifling a sigh. "A stallion with my reputation should... have better self-control."

Flash brushed his own bangs back. "Well... in the end, you made the right decision... and now everything's all coolie-crispies!"

"Heh... a most smashing turn of phrase, my young fellow!"

Flash avoided his gaze slightly. "I... only wish we all had the ability to fix things straight sooner than later..."

"Life is mighty long and complex," Filthy stated. "Plenty of opportunities to repair the worst mistakes and then some!"

"... ... ..." Flash looked up with a tender expression. "You really think so...?"

"Filthy! Mr. Pants!" Prince Blueblood trotted briskly into the scene, breathing heavily. "There you two are! What are you waiting for?!" He motioned below deck. "Come with me into the cargo hold so we can find the perfect spot to place the jewels!"

"Mmmmm... very well..." Fancy Pants fought a yawn. "And—right afterwards—a healthy helping of shuteye."

"You said it, partner!" Filthy Rich followed the other two stallions across the deck of the Midnight Oil. "We need to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for receiving the supply in the morning!"

"Oh! That reminds me!" Fancy Pants declared. "I'll be needing to send a telegram to the manager of Galloping Greens right away! So I can give the Hawkeye Pack proper assurance in the morning."

"A darn good plan, Fancy."

"You suppose Spitfire will be willing to spare one of her wingponies for the task? Technically it is an emergency situation—for the sake of Equestrian unity and all..."

"Hmmmm... I'll ask Captain Typhoon while we meet in the cargo hold. Maybe he can pull some strings with Spitfire."

"A thousand thanks, Prince. Bully! We are on the golden road to the future!"

"Hahahaha... huzzah!"

Flash Sentry listened to their cheerful voices as they sauntered below deck. After another yawn, he bore a bittersweet smile... then stared up to share the quiet moment with the remaining stars.

Comments

[MythrilMoth]

This is generally when it all turns to shit.

[Booster Spice]

So far, so good, So Brad the Messanger Pidgeon?

[IceKitsune]

This is going pretty well.

[Mix-up]

8759094
I've been waiting to what will happen there sense they mentioned the Crystal Empire can't wait ti see what Shining Armor and Cadence will if they think their Flash just appear with the expedition like that.

[lazyreader19]

Hmmmm, it's going to be interesting to see if Brad runs into a certain guardspony on this diplomatic adventure...

Also jeez, even in hairy moments it seems poor Flash has no reason to want to return to Humanland. Can't blame him too much at this point. Though it'd be interesting to see if anyone there has noticed him missing yet.

[Bookeater_otaku]

A nice closing of the arc. I must say I alsost wish for Flash to not meet is Equestrian counter part yet, so he could have more adventure aroud the world.

Humm, How do you think this Flash would fair in Klugetown? Or the hyper capitalist Griphon Empire? Heck, I even want him to go to the Dragon lands and beyond! Flash the Adventurer, making good deeds wherever he goes. To Abyssia and beyond!

[Alexander Crestfallen]

I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm super happy that you're continue this series. I love it. Thanksies!

[Poptard]

I am so glad you’re continuing this. We always need more Flash done well.

[djthomp]

Time to fly north, Flash.

[pahnazd]

I have been very pleasantly surprised to see this update. And what a nice ride it still is! Things are looking up!

[FanOfMostEverything]

Well, that's that taken care of... for now. Flash is probably going to find himself tasked with something uncomfortably critical in the morning.

[Eldrimur]

please keep updating this. I do not like the eq Flash but I love Your Flash!