Author's Note

Something to keep in mind for this fic...

Very unhealthy things get excused as "okay."

If you take any of it seriously, then there's a mallet somewhere waiting for you to apply to the forehead.

Talking Pixies Syndrome

“I doubt that you will be familiar with the level of technology that is making this message possible,” spoke the holographic double of Flash Sentry.

His image flickered calmly in the center of the dim bedroom. Meanwhile, his photonic eyes were facing the recording's recipient who was seated in the computer chair.

“So, a quick explanation is in order. I've recorded these words just two days prior to the procedure that will switch us between our respective dimensions. While it may look like this image of me is responding and reacting to you right now, it is merely a programmed conduit for the message I have inputted. You may find yourself able to ask this projection questions, but I'm afraid you will find its interactivity greatly lacing beyond the explanation I am currently giving. As I make this speech, I have very little time left before I have to rendezvous with Sunny Flare and the other agents of Cinchcorp in order to prepare for displacement.”

Flash Sentry's eyes narrowed on the image. The holographic figure's stance and posture was just as rigid as his words. And yet—if he stared long enough—he could see inescapable traces of subtle beauty hidden deep within the eyes, bangs, shoulders, and mouth movements of the individual. It was as if, no matter how hard the doppelganger tried, he could not one hundred percent eliminate the faintest trace of cuteness about him. There was even the slightest lilt of a voice that belied an innate musical charm, obscured as it was by a consistent deepening of vocal tone.

The figure continued: “Let's get straight to the heart of it, shall we? You're here—here in this universe—without having asked to be brought here. No doubt Sunny Flare has deduced it by now, but there is no way for you to return to the place you've called home all your life. At least—no possibility by my calculations. It took nearly a decade and a half of consistent experimentation at Cinchcorp with full utilization of my well-practiced sorcery to make even the first, simplest jump beyond the space-time barrier. No doubt this decision of mine will set Cinchcorp back by years. Also, I cannot pretend to guess how violated and betrayed you must feel for being displaced without any say in the matter. Perhaps you will be looking for an apology from me.”

The hologram's eyes narrowed.

“I have no apology to give.”

Flash Sentry blinked.

“There are two kinds of prisons in this multi-verse,” the other Flash broadcasted. “Those we make for ourselves, and those which we are born into. I believe that—on some level—you know what I'm talking about. In all of the Flash Sentries I've observed in our neighboring realities, each and every one of us has collectively possessed a philosophical spirit. In short—we think too much. And we act very little. This is why—I believe—you remained stuck the way you were for so long. And it's also why I've made the bold decision to move beyond the barriers that have always constrained me.

“It may come as a surprise that I have been observing you for a very long time, Mr. Sentry. Through astral projection combined with spatial displacement over the years, I discovered over fifty-two universes and I made very detailed notes about each and every one of them. These notes I shared with my chief associate, Sunny Flare. All but one. Your universe struck me as very peculiar—not so much because of the situations I observed unfolding in it. But specifically because of the unique situation of my counterpart. What you most likely consider an existence of depression and misery, I saw nothing but promise and opportunity.

“You see, the only reason I ever started out on a life of sorcery is because I wanted out of this world... out of this body... out of this life. And while I knew that the extenuating motivations were entirely selfish, I could not settle with plotting a course until I knew that there would be some sort of catharsis with the chosen destination. For the displacement to happen successfully, I would have to switch astral positioning with the universe's parallel reflection to my person. This just... did not seem permissible unless... unless I could find someone who could actually benefit from the exchange. Or perhaps even achieve some sort of fulfillment from it.

“Is this line of so-called reasoning completely subjective and short-sighted? Yes. Yes it is. And I anguished for months over making the move... until I observed some key details in your universe... in you, Mr. Sentry.”

Flash watched—glued to the edge of the seat—as the hologram strolled closer. While the photonic projection came within proximity, so did his words strike nearer and nearer to the heart.

“Astral projection has afforded me a chance to get close and intimate with the subjects of my study—far closer than even Sunny Flare and the rest at Cinchcorp have been afforded to know. When they assumed that I was just scaling further barriers of space-time for potential displacement, I was actually spending hours suspended in invisible flux.. observing and studying you.

“All your life, you've felt... consumed by what you've called an 'obsession'. Day in and day out, you wrestle with an erotic fantasy that plays out in your mind, in your sleep, in the journals that you keep. It's a battle that has been kept hidden from the world at large... but for you it is your world. It's driven you to tears... and almost to madness. Why couldn't you just shake it loose? Why couldn't you be normal? Why couldn't you simply give up this... 'pretend' world of phallic amazons and subservient ladyboys? You could so easily have had a normal life—spent with normal people. But none of it felt right. Only the fantasy did. And so... you allowed the obsession to live... just as you allowed your life to die.

“While I should have been mapping out other realities, I stayed exclusively in orbit around you. I studied you. And the more I saw these cravings and these thirstings played out... the less they resembled disorders to me. But instead—as I realized in an epiphany—they resembled symptoms. Symptoms of the Allure.”

The hologram waved a hand at the seated Flash as he continued.

“But you were male. You never blossomed into a fae. Nobody in your universe ever did or could. How could you possibly be experiencing the Allure? Be receptive to it? Be a conduit of it? Part of me thought I was mad—that I was looking for signs that weren't there, simply due to my own obsessions. And then... a moment of realization occurred to me... both genius and insane. There was a perfectly legitimate reason for why a male version of myself was experiencing the Allure despite their physical and sexual state in their respective parallel dimension. You must understand: spatial displacement is not bound by traditional laws of space and time. It is simultaneously a bridging of divides and a burrowing of walls. Laws of nature—even in scant quantities—are bound to break through. So long as the connections are made thinly without risk to universal metastability, it is quite possible to achieve monumental leaps in time displacement—as well as spatial.”

The hologram's eyes narrowed.

“In short, you were never just an obsessive pervert, Mr. Sentry. The true reason why you've experienced the Allure all your life is that at some point in your future—in both our futures—a successful astral switch in spatial displacement would be achieved, which would mean that the symptoms of the Allure manifested throughout your life prior to the exchange... as an echo of a future existence to be.”

A breathless Flash watched as the holographic figure began pacing around the room in mid-broadcast.

“Of course... this—for me—conjured pure enthusiasm. I had what I interpreted as definitive proof that not only would I target you for the spatial displacement, but the procedure would eventually work. You would end up in my universe, thus explaining the trans-echolocation of the Allure that has imprinted upon you beyond the barriers of space and time. It... might even explain why the Allure has almost never ever worked on me. As you had a higher calling in existence, so have I. We are both opposite heads of a coin resting on the nail of a celestial thumb, just waiting to be flipped. And when the time would come that I finally sent it spinning—it would be less an act of agency and more akin to prophetic fulfillment.”

The hologram swiveled to face Flash.

“And so, I went to work preparing the experiment. I have told nobody about it. Not even Sunny Flare. I...” The photonic figure shifted. Flash watched as his fists clenched at his sides. “...I regret the distress that it will cause her and the others. But it does not change how sincere I have been and continue to be about an act of conspiracy that will ultimately betray her trust in me, even after all these years. In doing this, I am also abandoning my Fountain: Fannie, Melody... Cherish. They have been completely supportive of me all these years. No doubt they will consider this an insufferable blow to the heart. Once more—this procedure goes to great lengths to function upon several bold assumptions concerning your own disposition, Mr. Sentry, and now you've been placed in a very awkward predicament. While I acknowledge the innate cruelty to everyone in this act of mine... I still maintain that it would be decidedly hollow to apologize for it.”

Flash watched as the projection clenched his teeth, looking in his reflection's direction with great earnest.

“In every conceivable way, I can only see this as a gift for you. I don't care how selfish that statement is. But—let's not pretend that you weren't in the deepest abyss conceivable over in your host universe. I read those journals as you wrote them. I heard the rambling words you murmured in and out of sleep, awash with tears. If... if I don't do what I'm about to do, odds are... … ...you won't even be alive for me to switch with, Mr. Sentry. I... don't think that's very melodramatic of me to say... or a base assumption, for that matter.”

Flash bit his lip. A lump formed in his throat.

The hologram went on. “After I do this... you will have a better life. A healthier life! A healthier life and a healthier body. This is no mere exaggeration. Fae—on average—live to about three hundred and fifty years in my reality. Valkyries aren't far behind. Males and females about half as long. You'll also have full amenities provided by the covenants. You won't even have to work what you consider a 'traditional' job—unless you want to, of course.

“In essence, Mr. Flash, the world is your oyster. A very... sexual oyster, where you can play out ever fantasy you've ever had—not as some rite of perversion, but as a standard of living. Are there catches to be had with these blessings? Well, yes—but I've no doubt that you'll find them trifle at best. Or else you can take the route that I have—be nullified and not have to deal with anything. Bottom line: even if you existed by the means of least resistance—as you did in your past life—you'll still be in every conceivable facet better off than you were before this procedure.

“What of your friends? Your acquaintances? Family members? Let's not kid ourselves, Mr. Flash. You weren't ever going to meet up with any of them again. Not at the pace that I was observing. And—hell—if you actually feel like reconnecting still, you can look up most of those individuals in this universe. You'll find that most of them still exist, and—for the most part—I left them on far better terms than you left your world's versions. This world's Flash Sentry was on a stable path to greatness In fact, I'd be tempted to call this entire scenario an 'intervention,' if it weren't for the fact that I am doing all of this purely for myself. Not you. Although... I've done all I can to somehow make it as beneficial for you as possible.

“Nevertheless, this is the only truth that I can attest to. I... want your life, Mr. Flash. I want your way of living—as unflattering as it all may be. I know that this means cutting my existence to possibly less than a third of what it could have been if it stayed here, but I don't care. I can make do with your life as it has been left. The squalor, the borderline destitution, the unhealthiness—I can work my way out of it. I can turn it into something amazing. Do you know why?

“Because I will have the strength and the vessel to do all that I've ever wanted. I will no longer be a... weak, frail facsimile of what I was truly born to be. I'll no longer have penis-wielding vultures towering around me with drooling expressions and carnivorous eyes. I'll no longer be gawked at in public or laughed at in board meetings or consistently patronized every hour of every day for some freakish mutation that happened to me post-puberty. I'll no longer be an object—I will be a subject, with the power and might to match my will to agency.

“Time and time again, I've had people—fountain fae and valkyrie co-workers and estranged friends—tell me that if I just put enough time and work and effort, I can achieve as much as any valkyrie or man or woman. But they're all just piling on useless fluff in some attempt to placate me. Nobody has worked as hard as I have to achieve what I achieved—and I know for a fact that sheer courage doesn't amount to shit in this universe. I'm a man like you, Mr. Flash. I was born a man. I was given the blueprints and the map of life at the very get-go but then the bullshit magic of this universe swerved in out of nowhere and slammed me with unwanted manaflux and I'm tired of it! I'm so... mmm... f-fucking tired of pretending like I'm okay with all of this! Like it's p-perfectly natural to suffer through a nonconsensual reformat of my b-body and emotions... and... and...”

By now, the projection was seething. Tears formed in his eyes, and he gnashed his teeth as he clutched at his face.

“Shit...”

His legs buckled, and Flash watched as the holographic figure slumped down onto something—no doubt seated on the same bed as in the real room.

“Dammit... Goddess fucking d-dammit!...”

The translucent figure choked, squeaking tiny sobs into the palms of his once-clenched hands.

Shaking, he brought his face up to look at the listener. Tears trickled down his tense, angry face.

“I friggin' hate this body... friggin' h-hate this... all-pervading weakness.” He sniffled. “I don't understand h-how anyone could possibly 'enjoy' this. I don't fucking understand how you... h-how you...”

Silence.

Flash held a hand over his chest. His heart beat heavily—sincerely sympathetic for this broadcasted soul. All things considered, he shouldn't have even given the holographic message the time of day. This phantom individual had stolen everything from Flash—had robbed and displaced him against his will. And yet...

...everything the projection said rang true in his heart. This wasn't just Flash being a sissy submissive conduit either. He couldn't help but agree with this individual with every faculty he had owned over the last three decades of his life.

Yes, this was all wrong. So very wrong.

And yet...

...Flash couldn't think of any other way out of the rut he was in.

A shuddering breath, and the projection finally composed himself.

“Well... I'm convinced...” He stood back up, wiping his face dry. “With your life... your body... your resources at the helm... I can have all my dreams come true. Just like... I hope for you, Mr. Flash. I hope you get as much as you can out of this. What your past self—and my current self—see as nothing but gross sexual nonsense... you'll find normal, accepted, and encouraged in this world. And that which I've always envied... I will do my best to achieve in the place you called home. I know my way around machines. I can handle the car repair just fine—long enough to find elsewhere to work. I'll get plenty of exercise; make that body healthy again. I'll return to school. Advance my degrees and find better opportunities so I can achieve higher pay. Basically all the things you yourself could always do, only I will wish to do them. I will give your past life a future, as you can enjoy the future I never wanted.”

He looked steadily at the body he had switched with.

“And from then on... I shall be a man. The man I was always meant to be. I will find love... give love... sustain and support. I want to be the bread winner for a woman... a woman I will treat with respect and provide for. I.. I wish to be a father. Even at my age... at our age. I want to leave more than just the shadow of a name, Mr. Flash. I want to procreate... to add to the circle of life... to bring something precious to this world—the sum of love and union. I want to experience existence for all of its challenges, and I'll grapple death with all my reserve strength when the time comes. Because all I've ever done here was shake my fist against it—as I did against life.”

The hologram held his hand out.

“I don't expect you to appreciate any of the things I have done. In fact, you are quite welcome to hate me. It... may even be a miracle that you have listened this far into the recording. Nevertheless—on top of all of the selfish things that I have done—I have one more supremely selfish thing to ask. A request. Not for my sake—if that makes any difference—but for Sunny Flare, the Fountain, the souls I have left behind... left for you in this universe...”

“In the end, he... uh...” Flash Sentry sat on a couch in dark clothes. His fingers tapped nervously on his knees while he balanced a computer pad in his lap. “...that is, after his big long speech and stuff... he linked me to a few files on the computer network thingy.” He looked up at the other three fae seated in the living room with him. “He had stuff he wanted me to give you three.” A gulp. “Along with Sunny Flare.”

Fannie, Melody, and Cherish sat quietly... still attempting to digest the account of the message Flash had received.

“So...” Fannie exhaled through delicate nostrils. “...he did it on purpose after all.”

“Of course the stick in a mud did it on purpose!” Melody snapped. “What, you think he just farted his doppelganger here by accident?”

“Melody, please...” Cherish murmured, sniffling slightly. She had done her best to compose herself throughout the whole message. By now, her eyes were consistently misty. “It doesn't help to be angry about it—”

“Why? Cuz it's unfaerielike?” Melody frowned. “I know Flash did a lot for us, but it's pretty damn stupid to pretend like this isn't a supremely shitty thing to do—”

“Not like there's much that can be done about it now,” Fannie said emphatically. Her eyes narrowed. “Hell, he could have just zoop'd off and not given us a message whatsoever. At least he provided us something to lean on.”

“And does any amount of excusing it make it all that better to swallow?” Melody folded her arms. “In case you haven't noticed, he totally wrecked a man's life to get what he wanted!”

“It wasn't much of a life,” Flash muttered.

All three looked at him.

“How can you say that?”

“Because it's true.” He looked up with soft eyes. “I... was shoulders-deep down a path of no return.” A gulp. “Melody, just last night you told me that the first and most important thing about being a fae is loving oneself.” He bore a bittersweet smile. “I... think I can finally do that now...”

Melody's lips pursed. “Why couldn't you do that earlier?”

“Doesn't matter.” Flash gulped. “The deed's done. At least...” His fingers clasped the edges of the computer pad in his lap. “...I know where your Flash stands when it comes to what to do with this life. This body.” His eyes blinked. “It's all mine now.”

“Considering what he's done to seize everything that belongs to you...” Fannie shrugged. “...seems like a fair exchange.”

Melody hugged herself tighter, glancing out the bright window. “Mmmmmmmmm...”

“Melody, I understand why you're upset,” Flash said. “If I had any self-respect, I'd be angry too.”

“Look, I'm not all froth and bubbles. Honestly,” Melody said. “I can already tell I'll like you a lot more than the other Flash...”

Fannie couldn't help but giggle.

“Just...” Melody sighed, loosening up slightly and reclining on the couch. “...feels a bit icky to think about how you got here, y'know?”

Cherish looked directly at Flash. “Do you think it's possible, though?” Her blue eyes blinked wide. “All your life... you've actually been experiencing the Allure?”

A soft sigh escape Flash's lips. He managed the tiniest of smiles. “Not gonna lie... it makes me feel... a lot better about things...”

“What a fuckin' prison that would have to be, though...” Fannie blanched. “To experience the Allure... in a world without fae or valkyries?”

“Like having a giant balloon inside you that you can't pop.” Melody brushed her bangs back and exhaled heavily. “Not a fun feeling.” Her eyes glazed with sympathy, aimed Flash's way. “I'm glad you don't have to deal with that, at least.”

“Almost makes what Flash did merciful,” Cherish said.

Melody droned: “I wouldn't go that far.”

“Why not?” Cherish hugged her knees to her chest. “If our Flash was right about the spatial displacement thing, he was simply acting out fate. Maybe... maybe this Flash was always meant to be sitting with us here today.”

“I wonder what Sunny Flare thinks about all of this,” Fannie said.

“I haven't messaged her yet,” Flash explained. He looked across the room at the fae. “I wanted to share this with you first.”

“You said something about stuff Flash had to give away,” Fannie remarked.

“Pffft. Oh, sure... Christmas in July!” Melody rolled her eyes.

“Shhhh... this is the last thing our Flash will ever convey to us!” Cherish sniffled slightly, then looked at Flash with a delicate smile. “Go ahead, sweetie.”

Flash took a deep breath. “To be honest, I don't... understand a lot of it. But... it kinda sorta looks like he accumulated stuff... uhhhhh... digitally? Over the years?”

“Uh huh...?” Melody's eyes narrowed.

“Anyways... uhm... without further ado.” Flash looked at Fannie. “Fannie.”

“Flash.”

“The other Flash wants you to have this. Uhm... whatever it is.” Flash tapped his finger on the computer pad and held the screen out for her to see. “It looks like something that he got... uhm... through Cinchcorp?”

Fannie leaned forward, squinting her pretty eyes at the screen. After a few seconds, the truth registered for her. “Oh.” She brightened slightly. “Oh, cool!” A melodic giggle. “How about that!”

“How about what?” Cherish asked.

Fannie gestured. “So—you know how the Allowance Covenance maintains that fae employment be compensated variably based on extent of manaflux usage?”

“Yeah...?” Cherish blinked.

“Looks like... Flash accumulated a fuckton of credits over the year.”

Cherish's jaw dropped. “And he never used them?”

“Used them on what?” Fannie snickered. “The dude barely spent money on haircuts!” Smiling bright, she pointed at the computer pad. “Says here he's got over ten years worth of fae maintenance credits! Now they're signed off to my name! 'Fannie Femmestar!'”

“Well, congratulations!” Flash smiled wide. A blink. “Uhm... is that good?”

“Well, technically, the credits are exclusive to what's considered 'essential maintenance' for fae lifestyle,” Fannie said. “Looks like Cinchcorp doesn't have an exclusionary clause for nullified workers. So—over the years—Flash built up spare credits that had a bonus increase because of his excessive practice in wizardry. Now he's bestowing the credits to me, which... is like a boon on top of the credits I myself have thanks to the Allowance Covenant. On the surface, it means greater access to cosmetics, flowering products—”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaand wardrobiiiiiiing!” Cherish sing-songed, smiling brightly.

“Heeheehee... yes ma'am!” Fannie did a little shimmy where she sat. “Dresses! Dresses! Dresses for light years!” A giggle, a sigh, then another giggle. “Yeahhhhhhh... I'd say that's a pretty nice parting gift, alright.”

“Lucky you!” Cherish exclaimed.

“Pffft. Oh honey, you know very well that I'm gonna share with everyone!” She stuck her tongue out, winking. “That's waaaaaaaaay too many wardrobe credits. Even for me.”

“Are you sure?”

Both Cherish and Fannie laughed.

Flash smiled, warming at the sound of their delight. He turned to Melody and cleared his throat. “Melody...” He plinked on the computer pad to bring up the other file. “...now for you...”

“Ugh... please...” Melody rolled her eyes. “Like anything Flash could give me would buy a blind eye to what he's done. The whole idea feels insulting.”

“Sooooo...” Flash squinted quizzically at the pad in his hand. “...I guess you don't want a 'lifetime membership pass to the Pixie Hollow Club?”

“... … ...” Melody blinked. “Fuck me, what?” she droned. “Fuck me with a giraffe dildo, what???”

“Holy shit...” Fannie remarked.

Flash looked confusedly at everyone. “What's that? Is that a good thing?”

“How...” Melody hopped across the space and flopped down in Flash's seat, bouncing them both. She snatched the pad from him and gawked at it. “...how in the Hell?!?”

“Cinchcorp's owner has huge stock shares in several organizations on board the Equestria,” Fannie said. “Kinda makes sense that there'd be a company-paid connection to the PHC.”

“But that funeral-dressed asshole was nullified!!!” Melody sputtered, wide eyes jittering across the computer pad. “Why'd they ever offer such a thing to him?”

“Well...” Fannie shrugged wide, smiling. “Just like the maintenance credits, he never used it!”

“Looks like it's your ticket now, Melody!” Cherish threw her hands up, beaming. “Welcome ot the Pixie Hollow Club!”

“Lucky-ass bitch!” Fannie laughed.

“... … …!” Melody fanned herself with a free hand. “Galloping Goddess In a Diaper!” She dropped the pad.

Flash grabbed it, gasping. “What...?! What's the Pixie Hollow Club...?”

“Only the most esteemed high-class hangout for valk elites,” Fannie explained. “Usually only top-of-the-line sorceresses and princesses go there, fae-wise...”

“And now I'm a lifetime member...” Melody whimpered, squeaked, and smiled wickedly through hot tears. “Fuck it! Fuck everything I ever said about Flash!” She jumped up and down, skirt flouncing. “He can rob a million men of their lives and run for the hills! Woohooo! Pixie Hollow, here I come!”

“Heeheehee!” Fannie got up, joined hands with Melody, and hopped with her. “Yaaaaaay!”

“Aaa-aa-aa!” Melody jumped, jumped, and danced in a circle. “I'm gonna get spitroasted by Queens in the first week! I milk you not! Let's bet on it! Bet your brand new dress budget!”

“Hahaha...” Fannie shook a finger. “Not on your life, betch!”

“Betch!””

“Hahahaha!”

“Heeheehe—Aaaaaaaah! Ha ha ha!”

As the happy hysterics continued, Flash quietly shuffled over to the far side of the couch... until he was seated perpendicular to where Cherish was.

“Ahem...” He leaned away from the noisy pair and smiled gently at her. “Cherish...”

“I... really hope he didn't expend much for my sake,” Cherish said. Her eyes were nevertheless glazed above a small smile. “I just want for him to be happy where he's at.”

“I... uh... I think he wants the same for you.” Flash looked over his shoulder at the others, then back to Cherish. “I sorta lied a bit earlier.”

“Oh?”

“The thing he's giving you appears to be... a bit more physical.” He tapped on the screen and switched it around. “Do you have any idea what this thing is?”

“... … …?” Cherished leaned in, squinting at the screen. After a few seconds, her ocean eyes registered what she was looking at. There was a sharp... sharp gasp, and she covered her mouth as tears instantly streaked down her rosy cheeks. “Oh... oh Goddess...!”

The sound of Cherish's gasp immediately shook the other two out of their reverie. They spun about, looking at her with instant concern.

“Chi-chi?”

“What is it, Cherish?”

“Oh gosh...!” With a whimpering smile, Cherish hopped out of the chair and ran a golden streak towards her bedroom. “Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh...!”

“... … …?” Flash looked at her departure, then at the computer pad in his hand. The image was that of a long glove—or else some sort of apparatus that would fit over a hand just like a glove. “Uhhhhh...” He showed the pad at the other two. “Do either of you know what this means?”

“Ohhhhhhhhh jeez,” Fannie exhaled through a soft smile.

“Who didn't see this coming?” Melody purred.

Around this time, Cherish came bouncing back. Flash saw her strapping a lightweight device to her left arm. It resembled a computer console—except it clung to her wrist. It took a few taps of her fingers, but she brought a brightly-lit screen to life.

“Okay... okay...” Cherish tried to compose herself, standing—and squirming—before Flash. “...he's... h-he's instructed you to place your thumbprint on something, hasn't he?”

“Uh.... yeah.” Flash blinked. “How do you know?”

“Do it!” Cherish did little hippity-hops in place, holding her arm-computer out. “Do it do it do it do it!” Her eyes positively sparkled above a teethy grin. “...please?”

Flash merely shrugged... then placed his thumbprint over a sensor. The pad in his grip stated: “Transferring to Account: Princess Cherish Lynne.” Flash watched as files faded from his pad forever...

...and evidently rematerialized on Cherish's device, as reflected in her bright eyes. She bit her bottom lip, waited for the data to transfer, then pressed a singular button on her device.

Everyone watched as a beam of light coalesced—projected from her arm-puter. The photonic energy compressed, then took on a tiny humanoid shape. Flash saw gossamer wings materialized, followed by a green leafy dress, trailing pixie dust, and blonde hair to match Cherish's.

“Welllll look who's back,” Melody said.

Cherish fought back tears as she squeaked: “Tinks?”

Twirling about, a very familiar faerie faced Cherish. After emitting a mute gasp, the pixie waved dramatically and flittered up to the femme's face, showering Cherish's cheek with tiny mouse-sized kisses.

Cherish giggled up a storm. Tears sprang forth from her eyes as she raised two hands up and cradled the tiny hologram, nuzzling it with a happy smile.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh Tinks...” She fell to her knees, all-but-hugging the hologram. “It's been so long! But now...” A choked sob. “...n-now we can spend as much time together as we like!”

The little translucent tinkerbell emitted little ringing noises. After a firm salute, it spun projected circles around Cherish, showering her with simulated dust.

Cherish wavered between giggles and sobs, happier than words could convey.

Flash felt a warmness in his heart—almost enough to wash over the confusion. He sensed Fannie settling down to his right.

“That Tinkerbell...” Fannie spoke quietly. “...is a super advanced computer A.I. program, designed by the finest architects at Cinchcorp.” She kept her eyes locked on Cherish as she leaned in to Flash. “Usually only valkyrie queens or fae princesses are lofty enough to afford photonic constructs of that quality.”

“Flash's dedication to his work was so respected that the company donated him such a program without any fees... which is a goddess-damned blessing,” Melody added, sitting suddenly to Flash's left. “Ninety-five percent of the time, he simply... used the holographic A.I. as a research partner, during which it materialized as a monolothic array of numbers and information that accompanied him.”

“Buttttttt...” Fannie smiled sweetly. “...the remaining five percent of the time, he let it turn into Tinkerbell... for Cherish.”

“Which was a dream come true,” Melody said. “Cherish and that A.I. got along like royal sisters in incestuous Frozen fanfiction. With a basic portable computer like Cherish's—an AI like that can follow her around anywhere and anytime.”

“And—from the looks of it—Flash has transferred the program to Cherish's account for life.” Fannie brushed her bangs back. “Y'know... I always figured Cherish was his favorite.”

Flash nodded. “I can see that.” He bit his lip. “But... won't Cinchcorp want their property back once they figure out—”

“Figure out what?” Melody smirked. “As far as anyone knows, Flash Sentry is still here.”

“And that A.I. stopped being their property once they contracted it to him... and now it's contractually given to Cherish.”

“Kinda underhanded, really,” Melody added. “But... all things considered... I can't hate Flash for this move.”

Fannie let out a dreamy sigh. “Me neither.”

The three watched as Tinkerbell conjured holographic fireworks across the room. Cherish clapped her hands and laughed.

Flash hugged the computer pad to his chest. His eyes locked on Cherish's golden features. His ears tickled to her songful laughter.

He smiled.

“So...” Fannie tapped his shoulder. “...is that all Flash had to give? Or are there more lucky recipients in this universe?”

“Yeah, I figured that Sunny Flare would be receiving something at least,” Melody said.

“Uhhhh... yeah...” Flash gulped. “Just one more thing—for Sunny Flare.”

“Heh... can't say Flash wasn't generous.”

“Got that right.”

Flash exhaled. When the other two weren't looking, he glanced down at his computer pad.

There were two more files left—not one. The first folder was addressed “For Sunny Flare.”

And the second...

“For Sunset Shimmer.”

Flash bit his bottom lip. He felt his heart pounding the longer he stared at that name. For the moment, he chose to hug the pad to his chest once more and fill his eyes with Cherish.