Author's Note

You get exposition.

And you get exposition.

And you get exposition.

The First Covenant

Minutes later...

And after a prolonged rummaging through the most boring wardrobe in the history of fashion...

...Flash Sentry came sauntering out of his room—or his doppelganger's room—wearing a long-sleeved black sweatshirt over long black sweatpants. The ensemble was dull, baggy, and far from flattering—and yet even in that garish getup he felt tinier, prettier, and lighter than he'd ever felt before in his life. Flash felt an all-encompassing sensation that no matter what he wore or how he presented himself, there was something innately adorable about who he was and how he moved and how he so-much-as-breathed. He padded across the room, noting an inescapable sway to his girlish frame. Even as “plain” as his dimensional double evidently attempted to maintain himself, there was no denying that this Flash was then—and forever—a far more feminine specimen than the car mechanic from another world could ever possibly imagine.

And now he no longer had to imagine. He simply was.

He stepped delicately across the apartment. The tightness in his groin and the plug up his butt followed him. Flash felt in some ways like a helpless specimen, tagged and branded for some harvest he knew nothing about—except that it was undoubtedly sensual. Funny that—as far as he could gather—these very same tags were implemented to nullify some grand sensuality looming just beyond the horizon. Like a dark thundercloud, broiling with both excitement and dread. There was still so much that he didn't understand, but he hoped to alleviate that soon.

Flash was halfway towards the heart of the apartment when he stopped dead in his tracks, blinking.

Fannie sat on a couch, waiting. Gone was her cocktail dress. Instead, she snow wore a gothic looking number with multiple dark ruffles to the skirt and embroidered gray lace interwoven into a corset top.

“Don't mind me,” Fannie said, blushing slightly. “I felt like putting on something more comfortable.”

“... … ...” Flash blinked. “Okay,” he exhaled.

Fannie twirled a length of smokey hair, fidgeting where she sat with legs curled. “Sorry. I... uh... I tend to stress-dress.” A gulp. “Consider it a flitter quirk.”

“I... uh...” Flash girl-stepped up to a couch across from her and sat at a respectable distance away. “...I have no idea what that means.”

“No, you don't, do you?” Fannie repositioned herself so that she sat with legs crossed off the couch cushion. “First thing's first—feel better?”

“I... guess...?” Flash fiddled with his long sleeves. “Does... Did your Flash get cold a lot?”

“Heh... maybe.” Fannie shrugged with a wry smirk. “Either way, she dressed like a real ice queen.”

“Yeah. Guess so.” Flash gulped. “Even his briefs are black. I haven't worn black briefs since... since...” A slight shudder. “...well, let's just say that at my thinnest—I was never this thin.”

“I just...” Fannie twirled more with her hair, gazing off past the brightly-lit windows onto the circular horizon beyond. “...I just can't get over it. You're you... and yet you're not you...?”

Flash bit his lip. “I'm awfully sorry.”

Fannie looked directly at him. “For what?”

“This... this has got to be so very awful for you.” He looked towards the kitchenette—the first place he had spotted Cherish. His mind couldn't shake loose the image of those innocent blue eyes and that golden, cherubic hair. “For... all of you. Your friend is gone. Seemingly by choice. And what's he replaced with?” He curled up tighter on the couch. “This stupid moron...”

“Hey, now... don't say that.” Fannie smiled from across the space between. “Seriously, sweetie, don't—”

“Why...” Flash clenched his teeth. Tears squeezed out of his eyes. “Why can't I stop... cr-crying...?” He sniffled. “I-I'm not even s-sad! I'm just s-so... so...” He clenched his wet lids shut. “It keeps coming out! It keeps coming and... I-I don't know how to stop it...!”

“Oh gosh. You really aren't used to being a fae, are you?” Fannie stood up but stopped halfway through leaning over. “Uhm... do you mind... that is—would you be okay if—?”

Flash simply nod-nod-nodded.

Without wasting a breath, Fannie darted across the room with a flounce of her gothic skirt. She hopped onto the couch and leaned in, scooping Flash into a close hug.

Flash nestled his face against her shoulder and quietly sobbed, wincing the whole time his body-and-soul unavoidably wrung itself out in the femme's embrace.

“There there... don't let anything hold you back...” Fannie smiled, her own eyes watering as she nevertheless comforted him. “Not like a faerie to fight it.”

“Mmmm...” Flash sniffled. His puffy eyes squinted at her. “Isn't that...” He gulped. “...k-kinda demeaning?”

Fannie merely blinked. “What is?”

Flash was silent—save for the random hiccup or two.

Fannie took a long breath. She shifted until she was more comfortable and allowed him to lie down until his head was practically in her lap. Slowly, she stroked his head of silky blue hair and spoke calmly. “Let's... start from the top again.”

“Okay...” Flash breathed.

“In your universe... … ...there are no new sexes.”

“Right...” Flash breathed again.

“And you are... were—in fact—a man.”

“Right... ...”

“Not fae.”

“Right... … ...”

“And magic. What about it? Do wizards and sorceresses ever perform spells where you're from?” Fannie asked.

Flash stared off across the apartment. His mind went back to those adventurous days at CHS. He remembered his ex-girlfriend who once put on a crown that turned her into a raging she-demon who threatened to make zombies out of teenagers. He remembered a trio of sirens-turned-humans who used bewitching music to mind control an entire township. He thought of a camp counselor levitating across a lakeside clearing while turning the surrounding forest into a death trap. He recalled a cruise ship where the ocean turned into a raging tempest spurred on by a flickering pattern of stationary lightning in the sky.

And then—fatefully—he remembered a portal. The portal. It was where Sunset Shimmer came from. It was where Princess Twilight Sparkle—a passing flame in Flash Sentry's young life—also hailed from. It was the source of most magic that spawned across the world. What's more—from all that was evidenced—it was a gateway to a world where sapient horses lived in harmony alongside creatures of limitless shape and size.

All things considered, it was not too terribly beyond Flash's mental capacity to envision multiple realities where just about anything could happen... even the manifestation of “new sexes,” whatever the Hell that meant.

But for him to end up in such a parallel world where... the populace—albeit a minority, according to Sunny Flare—somehow mirrored that which he had nebulously fantasized about all these years...?

“Magic is...” Flash finally fumbled for an answer to Fannie's innocent inquiry. “... … ...it's not nearly as prevalent where I come from.” That was as simple and honest a truth as he could muster for the time-being.

“I see.” Fannie continued stroking his hair. “So—if I was to venture a guess—your world only has the old-sexes.”

Flash was silent.

Fannie re-worded: “Just men and women? Males and females?”

“Kinda sorta...?” Flash cleared his throat. “It's... a lot more complicated than that, but—”

“Nobody called 'fae' and 'valkyries.'”

“No. Nothing like that.”

Fannie nodded. “That's sorta what I figured Sunny Flare was describing. Can't say this is the first time I've imagined that idea.” She smirked at nothing in particular. “Y'know... for hundreds of years—thousands of years—people have been pondering over exactly what caused the 'Great Enchantment.' The fact is that nobody knows why valkyries and fae came into existence. Only that they did, they still do, and they likely will for as long as humans are alive. Or—Hell—maybe someday there will be new new sexes. Why not? The sky used to be the limit, but then we eventually pierced that as well.”

“Yeah, but... how...?” Flash grimaced. “How this? How you? How me? How everything?”

“Dear Goddess...” Fannie randomly stammered, running her hands deeply against Flash's scalp. “Cherish wasn't kidding! Your hair is silky as all get-out!”

“Rumble—” Flash growled, then immediately regretted it. “I-I mean Fannie...”

“... … ...” Fannie craned her neck. “You... know me in this world you're from, don't you?”

“Uhhhhhhhhhhh—”

“Forgive me. I can't help but be curious.” Fannie continued stroking Flash's hair, albeit slowly. “After all, I've been fully blossomed for over a decade and a half now. It's hard to imagine life not as a fae. But...” She looked down at the newcomer. “...in your world, there's still a 'Rumble', isn't there?”

“Maybe...?”

“'Maybe???'” She blanched. “You mean I'm dead?”

“No, what I mean is...” Flash stirred. Finally, he sat up.

Fannie slid over, politely giving him some space.

Flash sighed, sitting in a friendly parallel to the person he was talking to. “I-I never really interacted with you... him... that Rumble.” Flash shrugged, rubbing his eyes dry as he looked at her. “When I was in high school, I knew Rumble in passing—as a scampy little companion to some of my friends' siblings.”

“Like... who?” Fannie asked.

“Uhm...” It was Flash's turn to rub his own scalp—as he wracked his brain for names nearly forgotten. “Apple... Bloom. Sweetie Belle... Scootaloo...” A shuddering sigh—as he realized that he would never see any of these people again. Then he suffered an even deeper sigh—as he realized that it made little difference because the life he lived never afforded them in his day-to-day existence anyways. “Once upon a time, I was part of a small, tight social net. But... I-I haven't talked to any of those people in ages.” He swallowed a lump down his throat.

The image of a warm smile across Fannie's face alleviated that soreness within Flash.

“So... you knew the Crusaders...”

Flash blinked—surprised that he could remember that word, suddenly. “They were called 'Crusaders' in this world too?”

“Why wouldn't they be?” Fannie giggled slightly. “But none of them ever blossomed into valkyries in your world?”

“Uhhhhh... no?”

“All of them stayed women?”

“Figured that's kinda obvious.”

“Wow... that's so friggin' weirrrrd...” A gasp escaped Fannie's lips. “Oh—did any of them have children?”

“I... I really don't know.” Flash sniffled. “I'm sorry—!”

“Hey! Shhhhhh...” Fannie reached over and squeezed Flash's shoulder. “It's okay!”

“I... I d-didn't live that snazzy of a life, to be honest.” Flash looked sadly towards the floor. “I lost touch with everyone and—”

“Let's... let's not focus on that so much,” Fannie said. He cleared his throat. “I'm sorry for bringing it up.”

“No. It's okay. It's... important to touch base, I think.”

“Well, then, let's go over this world's history a bit. My history.” Fannie gestured. “So, in my universe, you knew me as a male. A little boy—once upon a time—I'm guessing.”

“Yes.”

“And I was named 'Rumble,' correct?”

“Yes...” Flash cleared his throat. “You had an older brother. Thunderlane. A real alpha male, that dude. Used to show off at track and field all the time.”

“Hah!” Fannie giggled melodically. “He's the same smug asshole in this world too!”

“He's still... uh... a 'he'?”

Fannie rolled her eyes. “Forever and always. Now...” She pivoted and sat butterfly-legged in her skirts before Flash, staring intently into his eyes. “...as for me... something happened to 'Rumble' at age fourteen. Something that is referred to as the 'Blossoming.'”

“The... Blossoming,” Flash repeated.

“Wow...” Fannie's lips pursed.

“What is it?”

“Just...” Fannie giggled lightly. “...kinda mind-blowing that I gotta explain all of this to someone older than me. This makes me feel like I'm back in blossoming counseling, only... way different.”

“Uhhhh...”

“I-I'm sorry. I'll stick to it.” She cleared her throat and gestured. “At a certain point in a person's life—at mid to late adolescence—there is a chance that they may randomly blossom into one of the two 'new sexes.' There's... uhm... no way of predicting this. No genetic predilection one way or the other. No true signs of the change before it happens. It just... happens...”

Flash blinked. “To everyone?”

“It can happen to everyone—or perhaps 'to anyone'—but in the end it's simply a small minority.” She held one finger up. “For people who are biologically born as girls, there's a five percent chance that they'll blossom into valkyries around age thirteen-to-sixteen. For boys, there's about a one percent chance that they'll blossom into fae at around age fourteen to eighteen.”

“And this...” Flash blinked. “...has always been a thing?”

“Not always. But—for a good chunk of recorded history.” Fannie nodded. “Remember Sunny Flare mentioning the 'Great Enchantment?'”

“Kinda sorta?”

“Well, that happened a long time ago. Around 3000 BC. The year 3196, to be accurate. There was no major event that aligned with it. People... just started blossoming out of nowhere. It caught everyone by surprise, and it wouldn't be until much-much later that the magical nature of this transformation would be fully tapped in order to progress humanity into unforeseen accomplishments of manatechnology.” Fannie blinked. “You still with me?”

“Uhhhhhh—”

“Anywho.” Fannie gestured as she continued. “The first to blossom—or the first that anyone cared to take notice of—were valks. Valkyries... people like Sunny Flare and her so-called lab partners. Whom... you've met before, right?”

“I mean... yeah.” Flash nodded. “I awoke to them.” He squinted as he hissed: “They're friggin' tall.”

“About eight feet on average.”

Flash blinked.

“... … ...is nobody that tall in your world?”

“If they are, they don't live long,” Flash droned. “But... Sunny Flare and her partners? They looked and sounded like they were... uhhhh... five and a half foot women enlarged to eight feet.”

“Sure. I can see how you'd interpret it that way.” Fannie nodded. “That's manaflux at work.”

“Manaflux?”

“All valkyries—and fae—blossomed since the Great Enchantment are in possession of a... a...” Fannie struggled to explain it, ultimately pointing at the center of her flat chest. “Of a core of magical energy.” She gulped. “It's the essence of new-sex being. We—valkyries and fae—depend on our manaflux to survive. It replaces natural metabolism. It allows us—some of us more than others—to perform magic spells and other forms of sorcery. If it wasn't for manaflux, we'd still be stuck on the rock that is Sol 3. Instead, we've learned ways of harnessing that energy throughout the years. After five millennia, we've cured almost all diseases, extended lifespans, settled among the stars... you name it.”

“That's... all very much different than what we've accomplished in my universe,” Flash stammered.

“Oh yeah? What have you accomplished there?”

“Not fucking much.”

Fannie snorted. “Ahem... anyways...” She carried on. “Valkyries came into being about five thousand years ago. From the perspective of the old sexes, it was pretty wild. Biologically-born women would—without warning—transform into eight foot tall versions of themselves.”

“With...” Flash gulped. “...a little bit extra.”

“More like a lot extra. But that's not even half of it.” Fannie stared evenly with Flash as she explained: “From the get-go, valkyries were just... waaaay more passionate than other men and women.”

“Passionate?”

“Horny as fuck.”

“Oh.”

“Also aggressive as fuck,” Fannie added. “Since it all began upon the cusp of prehistory, it's hard to know who fired the first shot. No doubt valkyries were ostracized for being so new and different. What we do know is that—for whatever reason, understandable or not—the first generations of valkyries took their frustrations out on the rest of the populace. Magically. Violently.” She gulped dryly, fanning herself. “Sexually.”

Flash didn't realize he was leaning forward. “Uh huh...?”

“Valkyries are... waaaaaaaaay stronger than members of the old sexes. It's integrally related to their manaflux.” Fannie clenched a fist. “Like... a single valk can lift four men up with just her biceps, and that's the lower end of the average spectrum. Soooooooo...” A wry smirk. “You can maybe imagine how back in ancient times they made for super strong warriors, and even a small minority of these super tall and super endowed women could lay waste to an entire battalion of non-valks.”

“I guess...?”

“Come on, Flashie. Use your mind's eye here. Imagine a bygone age—buxom eight foot tall women wearing useless metal bikini armor, marching away from burnt-out cities with the writhing trophies of victories under their armpits!”

“Do I have to...?”

“Okay okay okay...” Fannie held both pretty palms up. “I'm exaggerating... kinda.” She smoothed out her skirts, clearing her throat delicately. “In truth, class warfare is never a pretty thing, and soon enough—back in 3000 BC—the world was shaping up to be a really ugly place... what, with human civilization prepared to suffer a war of attrition with a small sub-sect of warrior goddesses. The majority were scared and indignant of this new magical manifestation among their gene pool. Valkyries were angry, horny, and feeling pressured to survive. If things kept on that road... it'd be bloodshed and rape forever...”

Flash was already grimacing. “What... changed?”

A sweet smile flicked between them. “We did.”

“Hmmm?”

“The Fae came into being,” Fannie explained. “In truth, they manifested at the same time as valkyries—only their changes were far subtler and there was a lot less of them. But, as the generations passed, society took notice. What's more—the Fae themselves stepped things up by approaching the Valkyries directly. And you know what they discovered?”

“What?”

“... … ...they were the only ones sexually compatible with valkyries.” Fannie's violet eyes widened slightly for emphasis. “Our ancient ancestors pacified them. Endless war was averted.”

“Wait... 'sexually compatible?'” Flash's eyes narrowed. “How? You mean... valkyries can impregnate fae?”

“No,” said a sweet voice behind them both. “But—due to the magic of the Allure—we're the only ones who can take what valkyries have to give.”

Flash and Fannie turned to see Cherish strolling slowly into the room. She was wearing a loose pink sleeping blouse with ruffled hem—but the wardrobe change wasn't having its desired effect. With a look of insomnia, she curled up on a couch perpendicular to where the other two sat. She had something tucked under her arm. Upon closer inspection, Flash determined that it was a plush Tinkerbell doll. He and Cherish were maybe two inches different in height, but everything about her outfit and posture somehow made her appear infinitely tinier.

“Meaning, we can take it up the butt,” Cherish blurted less delicately. Her otherwise bright blue eyes were dim and meandering. She squeezed the doll and sighed through a button nose. “Males and females simply are not physically compatible with valkyries, and full copulation with the stronger of the new sexes would absolutely eviscerate them. This isn't the case with fae. The Allure—combined with our mutual manafluxes—makes full intimacy possible.”

Fannie winked aside at Flash. “If Cherish sounds like an open book, that's because she's volunteered for blossom counseling all her fae life.”

“I think it's a nice thing that you're doing, Fannie. I hope you don't mind my stepping in.”

Fannie reached across the space and rubbed her dangling leg. “Not at all, sweetie. Did you get any rest?”

“Mmmmm... no...” Cherish sniffled, then her blue eyes looked sadly at Flash. “I... I-I want to apologize for rushing out earlier, the way I did. I...” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I-I have a hard time handling big news like th-this.” Another sniffle, but she maintained her composure. “Mom's always encouraging me to take baby steps, but... b-but just a moment ago I-I couldn't...”

“That's okay...” Flash smiled genuinely, feeling slightly more comfortable to see Cherish once again—and not bawling her eyes out. “I think it's understandable.”

“Doesn't make it right,” Cherish said, eyes glancing to the floor. “As big as this may be for me and the rest of the Fountain, I-I can't even pretend to imagine how difficult it must be for you.”

“From what I understand, Flash... this world's Flash... was your friend.”

“Even still...” Cherish looked at him. “...let's focus on you for the time being.” She balled her hand into a fist, rubbed her eyes dry, and sat up straight with the doll in her lap. “Fannie was talking about the First Covenant, right?”

“Well, we almost got there.” Fannie looked at Flash. “As I said, the first generations of fae learned that they could pacify valkyries. All of the aggression... anger... arousal... it was like this second new sex could just absorb it all. It gave valkyries an outlet for their frustrations. And because the manaflux within fae made them durable as it made the valkyries strong—the two could interact without anyone suffering lasting damage.”

“Sounds like...” Flash blinked. “...there was no longer any need for any conflict.”

“That's right.” Fannie nodded. “The fae showed up in the valkyries' lap and cleansed them of all their starving need. So...” A flicker of something in her smile—perhaps pride. “...the first pack leaders of the valkyries decided that they would change their entire attitude. Instead of warring against the majority of human civilization, they would utilize their skills of strength and magic to serve the greater good. What's more, they would use all of their power and might to protect the fae—since the fae basically saved them from a bleak eternity of death and violence and misery. In return, the fae would service the valkyries—tempering their passions and desires.” She nodded towards Cherish. “And this is what led to the First Covenant.”

“Ever since...” Cherish added. “...there have been multiple covenants, all designed to maintain the safety of fae and valkyries alike. Some covenants ensure social prosperity for fae. Others find ways of allowing valkyries to act out their aggression in competitive yet non-destructive ways. There are pacts designed to assist peers of fae as well as peers of valkyries. It's... something of a complex tradition and—no lie—it can take a lifetime to fully ascertain. But, without the covenants, we simply would not exist in a balanced state among the old sexes.”

“And...” Flash glanced between them both. “...this has worked out just peachy-keen for the last five thousand years?”

“Pretty much, yeah.” Fannie nodded with a smile. “You see—soon after the First Covenant was made, it was discovered that fae possessed far more potent manafluxes than valkyries.”

“Despite being physically weaker on the surface,” Cherish added.

Fannie pointed at her. “That's right.” She looked at Flash. “And as the centuries went by, the new sexes formed communes and guilds dedicated towards further understanding the magic within themselves—the same kind of magic that men and women lacked. This led to schools of wizardry and sorcery. Then there was the faerie dusting and the invention of manatech—”

“... … …and now here we are on a starship,” Flash Sentry murmured. “The GSS Equestria.”

“Thaaaaaaaat's right.” Fannie winked. “I mean, the dots don't connect that simply, but they might as well.”

“But... like...” Flash scratched his head. “One thing I don't understand is... how are fae and valkyries so compatible? I mean... I-I've glanced at those things dangling off of Sunny Flare and her associates. There's no way in Hell that those things would fit into anyone—much less people as small as us!”

“Well, not with that attitude,” Fannie mused.

Flash's eyebrows went straight. “Seriously. What's the explanation here?”

“The Allure,” Cherish said.

Flash glanced at her.

“It's what makes fae and valkyries compatible.” She delicately cleared her throat. “The Allure is why a... sq-square peg can fit into a tiny round hole.” A blushing smile, and her blue eyes glittered. “But it's much... much more than that. It's a force... an attraction... that automatically exists among fae and valkyries. The Allure draws us together. It enchants us... entraps us... arouses us.” She freed a hand from her doll to run through her pixie gold hair. “Some think that it's the subconscious manifestation of the Great Enchantment... that it's the driving force for why we've been made manifest in the first place. But—for all of its sometimes brain-numbing qualities, the Allure is why we experience prosperity. It gives us purpose. It gives us life.”

Flash Sentry thought on this—even before Cherish had finished speaking. He thought of all the days... weeks... months... years languished alone in his apartment. All those lonely evenings spent obsessing over some crazy sexual fantasy—a combination of factors that illustrated a lewd dream world in his beleaguered mind. He had to admit—it felt like a force possessing him... leeching him of all otherwise-rational thought. There were times when he tried to displace the blame for his constant self-absorption, as if something had been influencing him from beyond. He always thought he was crazy. But...

“And... uhm...” Clearing his throat, Flash slowly looked towards Fannie. “Women and... men don't ever feel the Allure?”

Fannie shook her head. “Not to say that there's no room for attraction between old sexes and new sexes.” A slight giggle. “We've all had five thousand years to acclimate, and the pond for new sexes isn't all that super huge. There are tons of men coupled with fae and women coupled with fae and valkyries coupled with men and women coupled with valkyries—”

“But...” Flash squinted. “...how?”

“They make it work. Such is love.” Fannie's eyes flickered emphatically. “The human spirit and the Allure don't always have to color between the same lines.”

“But some things are only physically possible thanks to the Allure,” Cherish explained. “It's from this function that valks and fae specifically become compatible.”

“And...” Flash fidgeted in his seat. “...valks and fae thereby... … … procreate?”

“Oh no.” Fannie shook her head. “No no no no no—it's not a matter of procreation.” She giggled slightly, flashing a look at Cherish. “It's kinda silly—trying to explain it to an outsider.”

Cherish managed an amused grin. “I know, right?”

“Uhm...” Fannie straightened her hair before continuing: “Only men and women can create children. But...” She gestured. “Fae and valkyries still manifest as they've always done—going back to how it all began in 3196 BC.”

“By just... 'blossoming' at a certain age.” Flash raised an eyebrow. “From young males and females at puberty.”

“Roundabouts,” Fannie said. “Even to this day—valkyries comprise five percent of the population and fae about one percent. So long as this trend continues—undaunted—the new sexes will continue to exist.”

“Has there... been any change?”

“Thank Goddess, no!” Fannie enjoyed a flighty little laugh. “The manatech of the world kinda sorta depends on our being around for the next few eons!”

“That's... that's pretty nifty...” Flash looked down at his petite self, sandwiched loosely in unflattering sweatclothes. “So... uh... me... I-I mean... this body...” He blinked. “...it can never father a child.”

“Oh sweetie...” Cherish suddenly winced, her eyes watering. “I... I'm so sorry. You were literally a man just days ago, weren't you?”

“Fucking Hell,” Fannie cursed, blinking into oblivion. “I didn't really think of it until now—but it's practically like Flash here just blossomed overnight.” A gulp. “That's gotta suck no matter which way you look at it.”

“It's...” Cherish put the doll down and scooted towards the edge of her seat, looking tenderly at Flash. “...while it's true that neither valkyries nor fae can impregnate a woman, there are... m-many unique and creative ways to leave a legacy!” She bore a crooked smile, her eyes remaining hopeful. “I mean—the sheer potency of fae magic alone can empower entire societies and—”

“Oh, don't fret.” Flash blinked at Cherish. “I-I wasn't really regretting it. In truth, I... uh...” He glanced down at his delicate hands. “...I wasn't planning on having kids back where I was.”

“Besides, who knows!” Fannie cleared her throat. “Maybe the valks at Cinchcorp can... uh... f-figure out a way to get you back to your universe if... if that's... uh...” She looked at Cherish.

Cherish shook her head.

With melancholic features, Fannie looked towards the floor.

“I can tell you're both trying to cheer me up,” Flash said. “But... it's all starting to weigh on me too.” He spoke with remarkable calmness. “There's likely no way of me going back to the life I was living.” He looked at Cherish. “Just as there's likely no way of your Flash ever coming back here.”

Cherish shuddered. She looked aside, rubbing fresh tears away from her eyes.

“I mean... who knows. Maybe Sunny Flare will come up with something. But... I-I gotta figure out what I'll have to do if... if I have to stay here...” His voice went dry, for even as he tried to drum up a solemn angle to approach this subject...

...there was no denying the intense fire that was slowly burning up within the center of his being. As far as he could tell, this was the very epitome of a dream come true. What's more, he only grasped the very fringes of it all. Every moment he contemplated learning more, his mind went back to those massive staves of Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare raising at the sight of his sissy tears back in that locker room.

There was a magical world. It existed. And suddenly—felicitously—it was all Flash's oyster.

And...

...he felt guilty. Guilty that there was no way out of this without feeling enraptured. The guilt was so palpable that it sent his mind reeling, and he once again implored the unseen gods as to whether or not this was a dream.

“Flashie...?” He heard Fannie voice with musical concern. “Are you okay, honey?”

“I... uh...” Flash rubbed his head, visibly sweating. “...I-I think I need to breathe.”

“Shhhhh-shhhh...” Cherish rushed over and grasped his hand. “Just relax. I... uh... I know a place where you can get some air.”

“Oh...?” Shivering slightly, Flash looked up at her. He blinked, his gaze nervously drifting towards the brightly-lit windows. “...how much 'air?'”

Cherish simply bore a tender smile.