//------------------------------// // There and Back Again // Story: Family 101 // by Kail //------------------------------// Gene looked over the Mareskow cityscape, trying to get the lay of the land before turning his attention back to the map in his paws and the gem that slowly slid across it. He’d watched the locator gem’s movements over the last couple of days while resting from his journey and he’d noticed a pattern in it’s movements. The mare he was looking for tended to stay in the west end of town near the entertainment district. Rolling the map up and pocketing the gem Gene turned to the stairs of the observation deck he was on and started heading down. Jazzy jumped off the railing she’d been perched on and scurried up Gene’s shoulder, chittering and throwing a look back to the city. Gene nodded. “Yeah, we’re going to look for her today. By the time we get there she should be close to some place called the Hyperion Resort.” He patted the pocket that the locator gem was in. “And once we get close enough I can just take this out and use it like a divining rod.” Jazzy trilled while flicking one of her legs against another and Gene sighed. “I hope she’ll cooperate and not just A, run me off, or B run off herself.” Gene paused before slapping a paw to his face and groaning. “And now that I’ve said that she’ll probably do one of those.” Continuing down the stairs Gene shook his head. “I can just feel that something’s gonna go bonkers when I find this mare.” ============================================================ Taking a crosstown bus and walking several more blocks, Gene found himself outside the Hyperion and just lie he’d hoped the locator gem was staying put over the map marker for the resort. Storing the map in his coat and taking the gem in a paw Gene made his way into the building. Once inside he could see that not only was this a resort hotel but also a casino, and one of the higher end one’s at that. The whole lobby was marble and gold and silver and even sported a large crystal fountain at it’s center. Moving forward to the main hall through a veritable mob of ponies, gryphons, and donkeys Gene tilted his head upwards and nearly went slack jawed at the many other levels of the building he could see in the large open area. Regaining his composure gene turned to one of the casinos staff and smiled. “Excuse me but do you have a directory for this place?” The stallion in the suit gave Gene a bored look and pointed back to the front desk. “There’re maps offered to guests when they check in. Just ask the attendant." Gene went back to the front desk and retrieved a map. Moving to a less crowded area of the main floor he unfolded the map and set the gem on it, watching as it climbed the levels untill settling on one of the executive suite floors. Knowing he’d need a key to even get to that level Gene went back to the front desk and payed for a room before taking the key he’d been given and heading for the elevators. Sliding the key through the reader Gene sighed. “Four large rubies. I just gave away four large rubies for a roomkey that I’ll probably only use once.” Jazzy chittered while making a motion that was her equivalent of an eyeroll. “Oh lay off Jazzy, I might not be as greedy as some of my kind but I’m still a diamond dog and I like my gems. A lot.” Giving another eyeroll Jazzy lept from Gene’s shoulder to the elevator's wall and pressed the button for the level the locator gem had stopped on. As the doors closed Gene watched as the numbers clicked by on the dial. “Let’s hope we catch her in a good mood.” ============================================================ Gene walked the hall of the suite’s floor while holding the gem to each door, waiting for the glow to intensify. After several minutes the gem began to glow brighter as Gene came to two large double doors at the end of the hall. Putting the gem back in his pocket Gene lifted a paw to knock when he heard a thump come from inside. Gene’s head tilted in confusion. “Hello? Is everything al..” Gene was interrupted as more noises came from inside the room, growing lowder and joined by the occasional muffled yell. Deciding to act first and ask questions later Gene backed up before ramming the doos as hard as he could. The door splintered and gave way letting Gene see exactly what was going on. A cloaked gryphon was wrestling with a pegasus mare and looked to be trying to slash her with it’s talons. Not wanting to take the time to clear the distance and risk the pegasus getting hurt Gene grabbed Jazzy and cocked his arm back. “Sorry about this.” Jazzy screeched as she sailed through the air and impacted the gryphon’s head. When she hit, Jazzy latched on tightly with her legs causing the gryphon to yell in surprise and begin rolling on the floor to dislodge the spider. The pegasus mare stood and shook herself before looking over to Gene. “Thanks, now help me get him restrained.” Gene stepped forward. “But I wanted to..” Gene was interrupted by Jazzy hitting mim in the chest, knocking him to the ground. While trying to catch his breath he heard glass shatter followed by a muttered curse. Getting up he saw the mare standing next to a smashed floor to ceiling window. Laying a stunned Jazzy on a nearby otomen, Gene went to stand next to the pegasus and looked out the window. In the distance he could make out the form of the gryphon flying between buildings before disappearing into the city. The mare next to him sighed and sat down heavily. “Well there goes the best lead I’ve had in days.” She turned to look at Gene, her eyes narrowing. “What exactly is a diamond dog doing here and why were you coming to my room?” Gene turned to the mare finally getting a good look at her. Her coat was a dark orange that could have been taken for brown and her mane was a deep navy color. “Well I wanted to ask you a few questions.” The pegasus stood and backed a few steps away. “Questions about what?” Gene held up his paws. “Hey don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not gonna try and jump you I just wanted to know if you had a filly in Ponyville.” The mare’s eyes widened before she scowled and leapt forward, tackling Gene to the floor. Gene groaned as his head impacted the floor. “I think I’m beginning to see a trend in how the rest of this day’s gonna go.” Gene then felt a hoof lightly press into his windpipe drawing his attention to the suddenly agitated mare standing over him. “Tell me how you know about that filly right now or I’ll make your day really bad, really quick.” Gene coughed and nodded hastily. “Ok, ok just calm down! I’m a friend of hers. Well her parents actually. They sent me to find you. That is if the filly you’re talking about and the one I’m talking about are the same one.” The mare’s scowl lessened and she stepped off of Gene, letting him sit up she spoke. “Is the filly’s name Scootaloo?” Gene nodded. “Yeah. Little orange filly with a purple mane.” “You said her parents sent you after me?” “Yeah. They wanted me to find out about your strain of SWA so they can treat Scootaloo.” The mare’s ears folded against her head and she looked away. “So it’s started to show in her huh? Well for all the good it’ll do my strain is MX237-B5.” Gene arched a brow. “That was oddly specific and readily given.” The mare shrugged. “You hear the same thing from doctors for enough years and you never forget it. Plus if there's a chance it'll help her then why not tell you. And if you’re wondering my name’s Cloud Jumper.” “I’m Gene and…” Gene found himself unable to talk when Jazzy chose that moment to latch herself onto his face, giving him the best glare a spider could. The diamond dog chuckled nervously and pulled Jazzy off his face. “And this is my good friend Jazzy, who wouldn’t hold it against her best friend for using her as a projectile when it was to help out someone who needed it.” Jazzy growled before hopping out of Gene’s paws and scurrying up a wall. Gene sighed and shook his head. “I’m gonna pay for throwing her later.” Cloud Jumper cocked her head and looked between Gene and Jazzy before shaking her head. “Was that all you needed? Because if it was I need to get going and see if I can find the guy that just flew out of here.” “You don't want to ask anything about your daughter? How she's doing, who her parents are, anything?” Cloud Jumper sighed. “Look, it’s better if I don’t know about her and she doesn’t know about me. Guy’s like the one that was just here come after me all the time and I’d only put her in danger." Her shoulders slumped. "She’s got parents now and a home, that’s all I need to know.” “Well….Ok I guess. Come on Jazzy.” Before Gene could get to the door Cloud Jumper ran in front of him. “Wait a minute, how’d you find me?” Gene reached into his pocket and took out the locator gem. “I used this, why?” Cloud Jumper eyed the gem. “Can you leave that with me, or get rid of it? I don’t want anyone else to be able to find me.” Gene nodded and offered the gem to Jazy who promptly ate it. “Anything else?” Cloud Jumper opened and closed her mouth a few times before sighing. “Just….Is Scootaloo… Is she happy?” Gene was silent for a few moments before nodding. “As far as I can tell. She’s really happy, has a family and some pretty good friends from what ponies have said about her.” Cloud Jumper nodded and stood aside. “That’s good then. Can you give her parents a message for me?” Gene nodded. “Thank them for taking care of her.” Nodding again Gene turned and made his way out of the hotel. Once back in the city, Gene headed for the outskirts of Mareskow where he hitched a ride on a trading caravan to the nearest town with a train and bought a ticket for Ponyville. While he and Jazzy sat in their seats waiting for the train to leave Gene shook his head. “I was kind of hoping she’d want to meet Scootaloo or at least come to Ponyville but I guess she had a point about it being dangerous for her and Scootaloo to meet.” Jazzy chittered and curled her legs under her where she sat. “I know there’s no use thinking about it but…” Jazzy made a trilling sound and moved to sit in Gene’s lap causing the dog to crack a smile and pet her. “Thanks. It just brought up some memories. Anyway lets just get home and tell the others what we found out.” After a few more minutes the whistle blew and the train began the journey home. ========================================================== Several days after Gene had returned to Ponyville and Told Lightning and Quicksilver what he’d found out he was in a cafe talking to Fluttershy. “And I’ve heard her treatment’s going very well. The information you gave them was just what they needed to help Scootaloo.” Gene smiled. “That’s good to here. I…” “Excuse me Gene do you have a second?” Turning to the new voice Gene was about to answer whan he got a look at who had just spoke. Before he could say anything the mare turned to Fluttershy and smiled apologetically. “Sorry to interrupt but Gene here promised that he’d show me around. I’m new here.” Fluttershy shook her head and stood to leave. “Oh it’s not problem I’ll just catch up with him later. Enjoy your stay in town.” When Fluttershy was gone the mare sat down in the empty seat and Gene finally found his voice. “Cloud Jumper?” Cloud Jumper grinned. “The one and only. Now before you start asking questions I have a favor to ask.” Gene’s mouth snapped shut and he gestured for her to go on. “Could you show me where Scootaloo lives?” Gene nodded and got up. “It’s this way, follow me.” The two left the cafe afte gene paid his tab and made their way through Ponyville. After walking for a bit Gene turned to Cloud Jumper. “What changed your mind?” Cloud Jumper grunted before answering. “I couldn’t get the idea of coming here out of my head. Besides, you went a long way to find me so I think the least I could do is come here and...see where she lives.” A few minutes later the two were standing outside Scootaloo’s house, Cloud Jumper eyeing the door with a worried look on her face. After standing there for a few seconds Gene turned to the mare. “Are you gonna knock?” Cloud Jumper shuffled back and forth on her hooves while biting her lower lip. “I want to but I don’t know if I should. Do I even have a right to? Is this even a good idea?” Gene shrugged and gave Cloud Jumper a sympathetic look. “I don’t know what to tell you. There’s only two choices here, either you knock and see what happens or you walk away and leave it at that.” Gene turned and began walking away. “It’s your choice Cloud, you’re the one that needs to decide what to do. As Gene left, Cloud Jumper’s head dropped and she sighed before focusing on the door again. Taking a deep breath she lifted a hoof and knocked on the door.