Author's Note

I'll accept no slackers on this fanfic.

Where are those downvotes, maggots?

Keep them comin'!

Holoexposition

“So, it's true, then.” The hologram of Sunny Flare stood on the edge of the balcony. Beyond her (or through her) the cylindrical inner sprawl of the Equestria curved out in all directions. The valkyrie folded her forearms. “The little bastard took the money and ran.” She snorted at her own words. “And by 'money,' I mean your friggin' life.”

“Mmmmhmmm...” Flash Sentry sat on the edge of an over-sized lawnchair. He playfully dangled his feet as he gazed across the balcony at Cherish. The blonde fae was playing tricks with a holographic Tinkerbell and giggling up a storm. The joyous sight of the scene brought a calm smile to Flash's lips, and it didn't fade away easily. “Back home, I was a loser... a pushover... a slob... a pervert... and a failure. But... your Flash wanted it.” He took a warm breath. “All of it. Misery, destitution, hopelessness—the whole bag.” He turned towards a second arm computer—similar to Cherish's—that was placed casually atop a patio table near him. “Kinda makes you wonder how bad he had it here to covet it so badly.”

“'How bad he had it?!?'” Sunny Flare's translucent jaw drop. She paced around the arm-pooter that was remotely projecting her image. “For milk's sake! He had an executive experimentation position at Cinchcorp! Higher than any other fae in history! He had credentials! Credits! Countless amenities! More funds and resources than my mother—” Sunny Flare gnashed her teeth, facepalmed, and sighed. “...than my company could keep track of! We treated him like a princess—and if he never nullified himself I can guarantee you he damn well could have become one!”

“Yeah... about those 'amenities.'” Flash smiled sheepishly. “He bequeathed a bunch of them to the members of his Fountain.”

“Oh yeah? Which ones?”

“His accumulated... uhhhh... maintenance credits.”

Sunny Flare nodded. “He never used them. At least they're going somewhere. What else?”

“Some sort of... lifetime membership to the... Pixie Hollow Club?”

“Pffft!” Sunny Flare actually smirked. “If you call a VIP pass to that glam show a 'gift,' then sure. Whatever. That all?”

“And... uhm...” Flash touched his fingers together. “...he kinda sorta gave his super-duper advanced A.I. hologram program to Cherish Lynne.”

“Wait... you mean company programming?” Sunny Flare blanched. “To work at home with?! He gave that to someone? Are you milking me?!”

Sunny Flare's blue eyes were hard. “Is that going to be a problem?”

Sunny Flare blinked at the icy tone of his words. She looked across the balcony, no doubt processing her holo-projector's best approximation of Cherish huddling with an artificial Tinker Bell. After a prolonged breath, Sunny Flare ran a shaky hand through her short bangs.

“No,” she murmured. “No, I suppose it won't be.”

Flash nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

“As far as Cinchcorp is concerned, holographic programs are a dime a dozen. But sorceresses gifted in spatial displacement spells?!?” She clenched her teeth, pacing angrily. “That shit is pricess! Your doppelganger...” She pointed at him. “... … ...was priceless.”

“I'll...” Flash shrugged with a crooked smile. “...take that as a compliment?”

“You can take it with a space-time-folding engine up your flower! FUCK!” Sunny Flare kicked at something in her lab, and the arm-computer generated a rattling noise. He watched as the towering individual stomped her foot to the ground, fuming in place. “He's totally screwed me! Screwed us all! Y'know, if he saw an opportunity and seized it impulsively, I might be okay with it! But—according to you—this was alllll fuckin' premeditated and that just tears my balls out!” She clenched her jaw, red in the face. “Where does he think he get off backstabbing me like this?! Doesn't he know how helpless the entire fucking department is without his wizardy at the helm?!?”

Flash stirred where he sat. “He felt trapped. Imprisoned. Doomed to live out life in a body that wasn't his, with the rules of the universe all stacked up against him—”

Sunny Flare spun about, looming intimidatingly over Flash with a snarling expression. “And you think I'm not?!?”

He nearly fell out of the chair, blinking rapidly at her. His heart ran a million miles per minute, and he felt sweat forming along his fair features.

Sunny Flare instantly regretted the outburst. Her face paled twice over, and she rolled her eyes at herself. With a sad slump, she marched across the balcony space and sat down on a holographic office chair.

“... … ...” Flash slowly sat up, calming down as he observed her dark uniform and short haircut and even the plain, unremarkable way she clothed her flaccid member. A sad lump formed in his throat. “I... think I understand why his betrayal cuts so deeply with you.” He looked up at her with sad eyes. “You two were very much alike, weren't you?”

Her translucent shoulders slowly rose and fell. “The two of us... had an understanding. No matter what fate threw at us, we had unique skills... talents... intellectualisms. We were going to combine our strengths to make a better world... even if we didn't... care very much for that world.”

Flash blinked.

“I can't pretend to say I fully understand what Flash was going through, but I identified with him on many levels. I'm not... the absolute best at making friends. All of my valk companions—I've just never truly clicked with them. Things that they find innately 'alluring,' I've only ever seen through. Science, observation, and hard work are the only things that have ever worked for me. It was true with Flash Sentry as well. At least... I thought it was...”

A sigh. Sunny Flare sat up and kicked the holographic chair out of the projection's range.

“Fuck me. I never figured it got this bad with Flash... that his only way out was an absolute escape.” Flash sensed her gulp visibly as she turned around and paced back towards him. “There were worse alternatives, I suppose. But with him out of the picture... a person like me finds herself with even less distractions in the long run...”

Flash winced. “Miss Flare—”

“I'd rather not dwell on it. Now...” She placed her hands on her holographic hips. “You said that you had something to give me? Hmmm?” She arched an eyebrow. “A parting gift from Flash? A message of some sort?”

A blink. Flash jolted into action. He crawled like a lost kitten towards the edge of the patio chair, reaching for the holo-projector sync'd with his doppleganger's computer network. He stretched, licking his bottom lip.

“I... I-I'm not sure I'm doing this r-right...”

“Just bring your hand within proximity of the array,” Sunny Flare droned casually. “The smart device will do all the rest.”

“If you... s-say so...” Flash's fingers collected a “cluster” of holographic bits. “Ah... here we go. I think.” He watched as the projector broadcasted a miniature dashboard in front of him. Kneeling, he swiped his fingers in midair as if utilizing an invisible tablet. “This is so wild. I can't believe how out-of-this-world your technology is.”

“Well, it's your technology, now,” Sunny Flare said. “No doubt Flash intended this sort of a transfer. Since you both have the same genetic signature, it's a total steal.” She managed the slightest of smirks. “Likely a good step up from banging rocks together back in your universe.”

Flash's forehead furrowed as he fiddled with the lit interface. “We've got... t-technology, back home.”

“I'm sure you do.” Sunny Flare ran a hand through her holographic hair. “Without magic—though?” She shook her head. “It's a miracle your entire civilization didn't commit communal suicide through sheer boredom.”

“You ask me, we just... fought harder... and longer.”

“Doesn't sound like a very fun existence.”

Flash exhaled. “You make a good point.” His fingers pinched a holographic icon. “Here. I... I found the file marked for you.”

“Well, alright.” Sunny Flare motioned. “Let me have it.”

“... … ...how exactly do I do that?”

“Press your thumb against it for a few seconds until it flashes green, then toss it at me.”

“Like... actually toss it at you?”

“Yes. Like a ball.”

Flash exhaled heavily, doing as he was told. “Guess the MCU producers were prophesying something in my universe.”

“What's Disney got to do with anything?”

“Not sure I'm gonna get over that either.” Flash then tossed the holographic bit of data towards Sunny Flare. “Here you go—!”

As nimbly as could be imagined, Sunny Flare caught the module. “Nice throw, sparky.” Flash watched as she performed multiple hand-signals from her end of the broadcast. “Not used to fae doing it overhand.”

Flash blushed. “Guess I-I've got a lot to learn.”

“Don't...” Sunny Flare blinked at something. “We all...” Her jaw gradually dropped. She froze in place, her immense body suddenly slumped.

Flash's eyes narrowed at her. “What?” He scooted towards the edge of the chair and sat up straight. Curious. “What is it?”

“If...” Sunny Flare rubbed her hands together and rested them over her mouth. “Mrmmmffff...” She shook from head to tow, calmed, then murmured: “... … ...if I'm right... then this... th-this is all Flash Sentry's accumulated notes.”

Flash's eyebrow raised. “Notes?”

“Of all of his spatial displacement figures... cross-dimensional readings...” She stroked her fingers through the air, seemingly looking at multiple screens that weren't showing to Flash. “...even the metrics of the manaflux fields he generated.” She gulped. “The precise specifications required for reality jumping.”

“Is... is that good?” Flash put on a hopeful smile. “The way you're reacting—it's almost the same way Melody, Fannie, and Cherish reacted.” His feet danced against the balcony floor beneath him. “Maybe Flash was good at one thing at least.” A show of teeth. “Giving gifts?”

“Oh, he's still an asshole. Don't get me wrong.” Sunny Flare took several deep breaths, composing herself. “But this... this data...”

“What about it?”

“It's a lot to process. But... but he's never shown this to anyone before. And...” Sunny leaned back, arms folded. “...I think... I think... if only I had the right kind of raw magic at my disposal...” She wagged a finger at nothing and everything before making eye contact. “...I just might be able to recreate some of the experiments we did.”

“Recreate experiments?”

“Yeah...”

“You m-mean without him?”

“... … ...” Sunny Flare looked his way. “Now don't get your hopes up. I've no friggin' clue what universe you belong to, much less how I'd even get there.”

“Oh... I... uh...” Flash kneaded his delicate knees with tender fingers. His eyes fell to the left... then to the right. “I was... m-more happy for you...”

“... … ...” Sunny Flare cocked her head slightly. “You're no longer wanting to go back to where you came from.”

Flash bit his bottom lip.

“... … ...or perhaps you don't want to?”

Flash sniffled. He rubbed his shoulder with the opposite hand. “Do... d-do you think that's awful of me?”

Sunny's holographic ears narrowed. “What does the Fountain think?”

“I... I-I dunno...” Flash's eyes watered. He curled his knees to his chest and looked nervously at Cherish from a distance. “I've had Melody try to tell me to respect myself. Fannie's been really helpful and informative. Cherish—I think she really misses Flash, but...”

“According to you, he's making many bold claims,” Sunny Flare said. The valk's image walked closer and leaned down towards him. “The chiefest being that he thinks all of this is in your interests.”

“Mmmmhmmmm.”

Sunny Flare squinted. “Is he right?”

Flash sniffed. A tear ran down his cheek, and he shook before wiping it dry. “I... I-I feel horribly selfish and more than a little bit naive, but...”

“Well?”

Flash slowly... eventually nodded.

Sunny Flare said, “Do you like being selfish and naive? Does it... feel good?”

Flash's heart was beating hard. He clenched his teeth, but couldn't sake the truth rattling loose: “Kinda. Yeah.”

“I see.” Sunny Flare leaned back. “In so many ways, you are the total goddess-damned opposite of the Flash I knew.”

He wiped his cheek again, looking up at her with a meek expression. “What's that mean?”

“It means that Flash was right. At least about you.” Sunny Flare paced across the balcony once more. “Who knows. Even if he screwed the rest of us over... I think he really truly did save your life.” She ran her hand once more across the holo-files on her side of the broadcast. “Everything else here is just consolation. The credits he gave your fae friends. The hologram. These notes for me. But... you?” Her eyes narrowed. “He friggin' gave you everything, dude. That's the one true gift here. It'd be a shame to waste it.”

“But...” Flash wrung his hands together. “What about you?”

She snorted, smirking slightly “Well, ain't you a peach.” A shrug. “These notes. I... I can salvage something from this. It'll take a while to peruse it all, but... I just might be able to concoct something to pass the time until it becomes a new esperimental pursuit. It might not necessarily be over for me and my lab assistants.”

“What should I do in the meantime?”

“Frankly? I don't care. As for 'Flash Sentry,' I think it's time that he took an extended break from work. Goddess knows he's built up enough credit for some much-needed time off. Then—once I've gotten things leveled around here—we can get back together and work on an excuse for... mmmmm... permanently re-assigning you.”

“You... still want me 'working' for Cinchcorp?”

“I don't honestly know. I'm sure you wanna preserve the living quarters for your Fountain at all costs.” Her eyes glanced over. “Flash's fountain, that is.”

Flash looked again at Cherish's happy figure. “I-I would like that. Yes.”

“Then let's keep in touch. At a distance. I'm... going to be distracted for a bit.” Her mouth hung open as she settled on a particular file. “Huh...”

“What is it?”

“Something... addressed to me.” Sunny Flare gulped, swiping rapidly. “Whatever. I'll read it later. Now...” She glanced over. “Is that all that Flash had to provide? Nothing else?”

Flash held his breath.

“Last but not least—if you find yourself able and willing—I would like you to deliver a message to Sunset Shimmer.”

Hours ago, the hologram of Flash's doppelganger paced before him in the bedroom. The recorded projection's eyes were glazed over with a touch of melancholy.

“Unfortunately, this message cannot be transmitted over long distance. The program allows for localized access only... which means the bearer of the holofile has to get a digisignature from the recipient through photonic contact. That bearer is you and the program is attached to you and you alone.”

A lump formed in Flash's throat. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling numb.

The projection looked at him intently. “I know this... will likely mean some degree of inconvenience for you... should you happen to follow through with the delivery.” He cleared his throat. “Nevertheless, if you decide to give her the message, I believe that you shall find Sunset Shimmer quite easy to reach. Her door has always been open to me—as t'were. I suspect it will likely be open to you. If you need a place to start, I'd suggest you ask the Fountain. Melody has connections with Queen Sparkle's Court—where Sunset servers as an honorable valk defender. Cherish—as of late—may in fact be able to get you in contact with Sunset even faster.”

Flash watched as the hologram hugged himself, leaning against something at the time of recording.

“I... have a history with Sunset in this universe.” He swallowed. “In a lot of ways, it's similar to the connections you had with Sunset in yours. There are differences—of course. Several, in fact, but the empathy and the constitution of Sunset's character remains absolute and magnificent throughout almost all iterations of her that I have discovered in my various spatial displacements. If you should ever... ever feel the need to connect with someone... … ...Sunset no doubt will be there for you. As... she always offered to be there for me. I just simply couldn't... I-I mean there wasn't a chance that we... … ...”

Silence.

Flash blinked curiously at the non-spreaking hologram.

At last, the image of his doppelganger shifted with a sigh. He stood up straight and brushed his short bangs back.

“Anyways, I simply ask for you to deliver the message to her. I don't ask for anything else. And... with that...” His fists clenched. “...I go on to change both of our fates.”

Their eyes connected again.

“Maybe you'll hate me. Maybe you'll actually come to thank me. It doesn't particularly matter. I've made up my mind about my future. I can only hope that—one way or another—you resolve yourself to yours.”

His hands clasped together.

“Good bye, Flash Sentry.”

And with a flicker of light—

Sunny Flare waited patiently for an answer.

“... … ...” Flash took a deep breath. “I... uh...” He hugged himself, staring down at the floor of the balcony between them. “...I think that about covers it.”

Sunny Flare studied him for a moment with a contemplative expression. Eventually, she nodded. “I know it probably feels like you've been left out in the cold...” A blink, and the valkyrie shrugged. “Hell, between Flash Sentry and I, you pretty much have been.”

“You've been... really helpful though,” Flash said.

“Don't fuckin' lie to yourself. You're no better at it than most fae.”

Flash hung his head. “Sorry.”

“Don't friggin' apolo—!” Sunny Flare stamped a holographic foot. “Goddess! You are so unlike the Flash I know in every way! Look...” She leaned over. “Just... hang out with your Fountain, okay? They're all the touchy-feely sort. Flitters through and through. If you're as hardcore a fae as I suspect you're shaping up to be, you'll feel stronger in numbers.”

“Okay...”

“Think you can do that?” Sunny Flare leaned back. “Take care of yourself? Or at least... be around people who can help you take care of yourself?”

Flash rubbed his eyes dry and nodded shakily. “Okay... … ...”

“Just... try and do something to make yourself happy, for milk's sake. From what I can tell, you've got an insanely long bucket list to get started on. I'd say make the most of it—so long as your flower doesn't implode. You feel me?”

“I... guess...?”

“We'll be in touch. Flare out.” And with that, she was gone.

Flash let out a long exhale. He squatted on the edge of the patio chair, hugging his knees to his chest. Back home—he always felt so alone, forgotten, and putrid. Now—here in this strange world—he also felt alone and forgotten. But instead of disgusting, he felt... small. Delicate. Precious. Like a princess in a tower waiting to be found.

But why was he finding it so hard to embrace that? To take a step forward and fill the gaps in his beating chest?

Perhaps it's because he knew that he had done nothing to deserve this fate. It was all a freakish circumstance brought upon someone whom he had no responsibility for. Now he was living that person's life with that person's resources and that person's toys and that person's unfulfilled ambitions.

Flash in many ways felt like an impostor.

Was he simply doomed to feel depressed no matter what state of being he was in? Even if all his dreams came true? What was wrong with him...?

He thought about the final message he had to deliver. It frightened him to the core, but there was no denying that a huge portion of him would love to reunite with Sunset Shimmer—or anyone familiar, really.

Except... it wouldn't be the Sunset Shimmer that he once knew... that he once loved. Flash had dealt with this dilemma before... of being in love with someone only to have to live with an alternate universe doppelganger of her thereafter. It tore his heart into far too many pieces to ever reasonably put back together.

Now, he was having to deal with it again. Only it was an entire universe of familiar strangers, and he was the sole oddity.

The sole, adorable, girlish oddity.

It seemed like the making of a faerie tale come true, only he didn't know where to begin to feel joyful about it—

“Hey! Flashie!” A melodic giggle.

Flash turned to look.

Cherish stood tall—as tall as she could manage—with a bright smile aimed in Flash's direction. She winked and held her finger out. “Check this out!” She nodded at a tiny hologram flitting around him. “Now, Tinks!”

Tinkerbell gave a salute. Flash watched as the holographic pixie stepped onto Cherish's hand, marched to the edge of her outstretched finger like it was a plank, then dove off with nimble acrobatics. The Disney icon performed several twirls, flips, and somersaults before crashing into the ground with a splash of flowers. The hologram spread all across the balcony, carpeting the floor with a holographic bed of carnations, lavenders, rosebuds, and daffodils. There were even floating butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds added to the mix.

But as beautiful as all that was, nothing matched the sheer prettiness of Cherish's Peter Pan pose and musical: “Ta-daaaaaaaa!”

Flash couldn't help it. He broke loose into a giggle, his breath lilting in that feminine voice that he still couldn't believe belonged to him. He wiped a tear loose and applauded with two petite hands. “Way to go. Did you program that into her?”

“Naaaah...” Cherish whistled, and the bed of flowers shrunk into a pixie-shaped focus of light. Tinkerbell materialized and perched herself on Cherish's shoulder. “She's adaptable But she's got a whole lot of tricks up her sleeve! Well... she doesn't have sleeves, but you know what I mean.”

Tinkerbell “laughed” with a bell-ringing noise.

“Sooooooo...” Cherish pigeon-stepped over and hopped down onto the large patio chair, sitting cross-legged next to Flash with a happy smile. “Did your meeting go well with Miss Flare?” She cocked her head to the side. “Did she like what Flash had to give her.”

“I... think it went over well.” Flash swallowed. “She seems to be in a better place now that I've made the delivery than she was before.”

“I see.” Cherish nodded, running a hand through her pixie blonde threads. “And what about you? Are you off the hook?”

“Off... the hook?”

“Y'know... free from Cinchcorp to do whatever it is you wanna do?”

“I... uh...” Flash hunched over a bit. “I guess...”

“You guess?”

“Mmmmmyeah...”

Silence.

Cherish spontaneously flung her arms around Flash's shoulders.

Flash let out a high-pitched gasp. His world was awash with the scent of vanilla. He blinked widely at Cherish. “What's this for?”

“You really looked like you needed it.” Cherish hummed, rubbing his cheek against Flash's neck like a kitten. “The Flash I knew never ever emoted anything. But you... you're a different you, aren't you?”

Flash clasped a hand over one of Cherish's arms. He struggled not to cry. The warmth rolling over his center was a melting thing, and soon it spread to all his tingling extremities. Everything just smelled so wonderful and felt so soft and promised so much excitement.

He spoke without thinking: “Cherish?”

“Yes, Flashie?”

“What exactly... is 'Queen Sparkle's Court.'”

Cherish looked at him. “Why, it's one of the most influential valkyrie packs in all of Equestria. They flocked on board the ship from Sol 3.”

“So... is Sparkle a person?”

“Indeed she is. Queen Twilight Sparkle. One of the wisest and most powerful of valkyries in our time. She and her close friends all blossomed together—almost as if their metamorphosis was perfectly synchronized.” Cherish smiled with evident pride. “Together, they manage one of the most advanced science guilds in new sex society. It's responsible for the powering of the GSS Equestria.”

“They... sound very important.”

“Mmmm. Very sexy too.” Cherish blushed as Tinkerbell nodded. “Although... I-I'm a bit biased there...”

Flash chose not to comment on that. “Is... is th-there a Sunset Shimmer among them?”

Cherish blinked. “... … ...so you know Sunset?”

Flash looked at her.

“Oh. I'm sorry. Just...” Cherish squeezed Flash's shoulder and smiled gently. “...our Flashie and this universe's Sunset... erm... knew each other.” She gulped. “But it was a long time ago.”

Flash glanced aside. “I see.”

“I think it's... quite interesting to hear you refer to her by name. Was there... a connection between you two in your world?”

Flash gripped his knees tightly.

Tinkerbell sharply nudged Cherish's neck with a photonic arm. The fae cleared her throat. “But we d-don't have to talk about that—”

“Flash wants me to deliver a message to her.”

Cherish blinked. “He does?” She looked at Tinkerbell. The hologram nodded.

“I... didn't mention it to the rest of you earlier.” Flash kneaded his legs with his fingers. “Or t-to Sunny Flare.” He threw Cherish a delicate look. “Because... I-I'm not sure that I want to.” A hard gulp. “I'm not sure that I”m ready...”

“That's okay, sweetie...”

“Everything... is j-just what I've always wanted it t-to be...” Flash's face sadly grimaced. “...but it scares me. If... if I somehow was able to talk to Sunset again... … ...I-I don't know if I'd even deserve it...!”

“Ohhhhh honey...” Cherish hugged him again. “Don't be saying things like that. It's... it's all just so sudden for you. I mean, this has all been a lot for the whole Fountain to process, but it's perfectly understandable for you to get butterflies in your stomach.”

“I just... I-I don't know where to begin...” Flash fought the urge to hyperventilate. His glossy eyes filled with the circular horizon. “...where would I even dive in...?”

Cherish exchanged looks with Tinkerbell. She smiled brightly. “Tell you what...” She hopped up and gave Flash a light tug by the hand, lifting him up to stand face to face with her. “...let's do the best thing to get you distracted.”

“What's th-that...?”

“Fae's day out on the town!” Cherish flung a hand out nebulously towards the curved sprawl. “Show you the sights! The colors!” She did a little golden shimmy in place. “Shoppppppiiiiing!”

Flash couldn't help but giggle. “Wouldn't it be... I dunno... a little awkward with me tagging along?”

“Are you kidding?!” Cherish gasped childishly. She and the holographic pixie did identical pirouettes in place. “It'll be whole new levels of exciting with someone like you to explain it all to! Like experiencing the Felicity all over again!”

“Well... uh...” Flash rubbed the back of his neck. “I-I'd be glad to be of assistance!”

“I gotta go tell the others! First thing's first, we're letting you borrow something good to wear.” Cherish made a mad dash for the balcony door—but stopped in her tracks. A beat. She hopped back over, leaned in, and rubbed her button nose against Flash's.

Flash's eyelashes fluttered. He leaned back with a curious expression. “What was that for?”

“Couldn't help it...” Cherish stuck a tongue out, backing into the apartment. “You're just toooooo adorbs!” With a ballerina leap, she flounced into the living room. “Hey fae...~!”

Flash stood behind, cupping a hand over his nose. A rosiness came over his upper features, and he felt the doubt and self-loathing that followed him from his own dimension wash away. He scooped up the holo-projector and walked into the apartment after Cherish, following her trail of vanilla scent.