//------------------------------// // 11 The Dance pt 2 // Story: Homecoming of a Jumper // by tosety //------------------------------// Alex opened the door to find Steelskin standing on his front step. The colt had a suit and tie that hid most of the armor he was unwilling to take off. The quality of the work and subtle elegance of the cut would be considered Elusive’s calling card, but Alex already knew that, since he was one of the ‘anonymous’ contributors that paid for it. The older human smiled kindly. “Come on in. Scootaloo will be down in a minute.” Alex stepped aside enough to let him through, but stayed close enough to say ‘Remember that’s my daughter’. “Thank you,” Steelskin replied as he walked in. He had a few minutes to make idle chat with Alex before an absolutely radiant Scootaloo walked down the stairs. She brought a smile to his lips, but a tear to his eye as she came down in a Rarity Original. “Now that’s worth waiting for,” he whispered quietly to himself. Alex spoke as softly, “She most certainly is.” He smiled at Steelskin sadly. “First time I've seen her excited about looking pretty.” He crouched down and slapped Steelskin on the shoulder. “I’m glad to know you’ll be watching out for her.” Scootaloo’s nervous smile became a look of happiness as she caught sight of Steelskin and her wings shot out. Her feathers were perfectly preened with some gold highlights hidden on the tips of her primary feathers. Steelskin wondered thoughtfully just how long it must have taken her to work on them, remembering the time his mom spent on hers. It made him appreciate all the effort she gone through for him all the more. Steelskin thought back with sadness to the last time he had seen her wings like that. #PR-14# @A+2 days@ I trotted along with nervous but controlled energy, still uncomfortable with all the humans walking around. Twilight had assured me that the portal between Alex’s home reality and Equestria was fully controlled from this side and could be shut down at any time, but I had seen too much to be sure they wouldn't find a way to open their own portal. I pushed my worries out of my head and focused on how wonderful this place was. Even Discord was good and there was talk about possibly turning everypony into alicorns. The Bearers were trying to keep it quiet, but it was such a big deal that rumors were all over the place. The internet was always a dumping ground for any kind of information like that. Luckily, it was as unreliable here as anywhere. I was hoping against hope that this one would stay unspoiled. Knock, Knock, Knock I sat down to wait at Alex’s door, forgetting that humans are worried about leaving visitors on their doorstep for too long. “Hey, Steelskin, I forgot you were coming over. Ann and the kids came for a visit and Scoots is down in the playroom with Dan and Lilly.” Alex gave me his typical ‘I’m gonna charm the shoes off you’ smile and stood aside for me to come in. As I walked across the living room towards the door to the playroom, I noticed Dash and a human staring at each other. Dash looked uncomfortable and the human looked a little angry. “Steelskin, this is Ann, my...” He looked uncomfortable as he tried to think of a title for his human wife. “Hello, Ann. Nice to meet you,” I replied. She offered a similar sentiment, but she was obviously trying really hard to look and sound pleasant. The emotional mood of the room was stressing me out, so I excused myself and hurried downstairs. “What are these things? These are delicious!” It was Scootaloo’s voice, but it was slurred almost like she had been... No. That can’t be it. As I got to the bottom of the stairs, I saw her with a half eaten banana in her hooves and a bunch of strangely wrapped things on the table. The biggest (and emptiest) said ‘Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips’. The two human children were looking uncomfortable and I don’t think my looks did much to ease their fears with my armor and piercings. She bellowed like a mad mare, Shteelshkin!” Her wings shot straight out, stiffer and straighter than I had ever seen and her tail rose straight into the air, twitching in ways I had only heard about in locker room talk. Steelskin and Scootaloo were dancing up a storm. They weren't as bad as some, but were more concerned with enjoying themselves than showing off. Next to them, Sapphire and Rocky were flailing away in an attempt to match the beat of Sapphire Shores’ newest hit and drawing any attention that might’ve been directed their way. Both of them are almost as bad as Twilight when she’s sober, Steelskin thought to himself with a grin. He hadn't bothered learning the name of the song, but the music was certainly good for dancing. The song ended and a slow song started up. Steelskin wanted more than anything to keep dancing with Loo, but felt it would be encouraging her too much. I’m just too old and broken. He realized what he was doing and set his jaw. No. I’m healing and I have plenty of time... I think I need to talk to Dash... Buck, she’s gonna ask me to stay on the dance floor. I’m gonna buck Alex in the teeth for this. “Let’s get some punch,” Steelskin said, trying to preempt the request that was already in her eyes. Aww... Bells and Button are so cute, Sapphire projected. They all looked over to see Sweetie Belle resting her head on Button’s shoulder as they danced to the romantic melody. Steelskin blinked back tears. #PR-14# @A+2 days@ “You should try this!” Scootaloo was shoving the half eaten banana at me. I took it and went over to the table, picking up the ‘Potato Chip’ bag and dropping it in. Scootaloo was all over me, nuzzling my neck and licking at my ear. I felt my body responding and had to fight my own desire to stop and let her continue. No, she’s salted off her plot. Alex would kill me if I took advantage of her. ...and I’d deserve it. I added to myself as I tried to keep my mind focused. I gave a tentative lick at the inside of the bag and was knocked on my own plot by the taste. Salt and Vinegar is right, these things are potent. I looked over at the humans. “Could you-” I felt a nibble on my ear and completely lost my train of thought. I looked down at the table again, feeling very hot in the cheeks. I closed my eyes, pushed her away, and tried again to focus. “Could you gather up anything she’s eaten and bring it up-” I had to push Scootaloo away again. “Upstairs.” I had to push her away a third time. “Please.” I galloped for the stairs, every emotion I ever experienced fighting inside me. “Alex! We've got a problem!” I yelled. I reached the top of the stairs and went straight for the kitchen. I heard a thump behind me and looked back to see that Scoots had faceplanted. Her wings fluttered briefly as she tried to get to her hooves. I ran straight into Alex’s legs and he only just kept his balance. “What’s wrong? you look like you've seen-” Dash had gotten up and was coming to see what was wrong. “What is that!? Salt and...” Her voice went from fiery to ice cold with nothing in between. I held the bag out to Alex, ears pinned back, but Dash took it from my hoof. I didn't know whether my labored breathing was due to my sprint up the stairs or the atmosphere in the room. “...There is a banana in here...” Her voice sent shivers down my spine and I had to keep myself from bolting from the house. The basement door slammed open, “Shteelshkin, I was scared to say it before, but I love you.” Scootaloo was wavering in the doorway, looking at me with puppy eyes. The two human kids standing behind her, looking positively terrified. Alex walked over and picked Scootaloo up in one arm. The taller of the human children held out a couple more wrappers. “She also ate these.” “Give me my daughter.” Dash was glaring at Alex as Scootaloo halfheartedly tried to get out of his grip. “I don’t understand.” Ann was sitting there looking confused and concerned. Alex sighed as he gave his wife their daughter. “I’ll settle things here and you make sure Scoots is okay.” Alex turned away as Dash grabbed her and flew out the door, giving one last death glare at Ann. “What happened?” The two human kids were looking at me with worry. I looked back at Alex, feeling completely over my head, but he was busy. “Well, salt...” I looked back one more time, trying to collect my thoughts. Dash suddenly flew back into the kitchen, holding a passed out Scootaloo. “I’m taking her to the hospital and telling them what you let her give my daughter,” Dash said, pointing an accusatory hoof at Ann as she glared eternal hate at Alex. “Don’t you dare claim this is my fault,” Ann replied, turning her glare back and forth between Alex and Dash. Damage control time. “We’re going to Sugarcube Corner,” I announced, loud enough for Alex to look over. Once he nodded, I took off, struggling to keep my speed down to where the human kids could keep up. Dash flew past me, getting to the door first and giving a strangled scream at something Ann said. “Thanks, Ann. Thank you so very much. I mentioned the meaning of all the stuff you sent with the kids tonight. We laughed at the intoxicating effects of salt. You even joked about salt and vinegar chips, Ann.” His voice carried through the front door even after I closed it. “And then there was bananas. I told you how surprising it was that something as simple as a banana would have such a powerful chemical effect on ponies. It’s like Viagra and Red Bull all rolled into one. Not to mention how Dash almost passed out when I told her I used to eat a whole bunch in one night." I could hear Ann spluttering with rage "Oh no you don't! Don't blame me for not remembering every minutiae of this, this, crazy pony world...” I quickened my pace so that their kids didn't have to listen. Sadly, my dragonish hearing picked up more of their yelling. "I waited 60 years! 60. Years. How long did you wait? 6 months after Dash and I jumped? Until I got here, I busted my hump for no one but you. To get back to you. I fought for you. I debased myself for you. I spilled blood for you. And how do you repay me? You hand me off as soon as you can. Not even interested in building a family. Me, you, Dash, Dan, Lily... Scoots. Now this. You give a 12 year old girl a 40 ouncer and a hand full of Viagra. And then you have the audacity to get mad at her mother, after I...” Thankfully, the rest was lost as I got too far away to hear. “Did you bring it?” A hushed whisper caught Steelskin’s ear. “Yeah, got it right here. Dad forgot to lock the salt safe two days ago.” That sounded like Silver Spoon. “So, what are we gonna do with it?” “Well, we could drop it in the punch bowl. All you need to do is get Spect to cause a distraction and I’ll drop it in the bowl.” Steelskin rounded the corner to find Diamond Tiara grinning at an uncomfortable Silver Spoon. Scootaloo, Rocky, and Sapphire followed him. Steelskin gave the two of them a stare that said it all. “Are you really that stupid?” He dragged a hoof across his face. Past experience told him that yes, they were. Pretty much every reality had them doing something stupidly mean to the Crusaders. “There’s a reason why kids like us shouldn't take salt, and it’s not just inexperience. Throw that stupid thing out.” “What, are you scared to try some salt?” Tiara smirked at him, doing the typical scaredy cat ploy. “No. I've had experience with it. Some good, some really bad.” He gave a long suffering sigh. “But you should be. Rule one that any intelligent adult keeps in mind when taking the stuff is: Salt. Makes. You. Stupid.” His annoyance got the better of him. “And you are already pretty stupid as it is.” Diamond Tiara stood there in mute fury while Silver Spoon looked back and forth between the two. “I should drag you over to Cheerilee right now and tell her about this.” Steelskin threatened, taking the cube from her hoof. He sat there just long enough to make her start to squirm before softening his frown briefly. “But I won’t. Not this time.” He dropped the cube to the ground and crushed it under hoof before kicking the little pile to scatter it. He briefly frowned with a different kind of sadness. That cube would've given him four evenings of salted forgetfulness in a body his size. No. That road is much too tempting and I can’t be sure I’d be able to stop, he thought, pushing the yearning out of his mind before turning back to the stupid bully. “But, if I ever see you do anything even close to this ever again... well I’ll leave it up to your imagination on how I’ll deal with it.” The smile on Steelskin’s face reminded Scootaloo of Dino when her cat was ready to pounce on a poor, unsuspecting rabbit. Diamond Tiara’s eyes were wide with fear even before they were drawn to the four teeth that were way too pointy to be in a pony’s mouth. Steelskin closed his lips, turned away, and started walking. His friends fell in beside him. “Wow, how can you stand up to bullies like that?” Rocky asked. Steelskin’s head drooped and he veered off towards the seats. “Bullies are just foals. They can beat you up and make you feel like flop, but they’re not monsters.” Steelskin trembled as he took a breath. “Once you've faced a real monster, you realize just how weak bullies are. After that, bullies just aren't scary anymore.” And I hope you stay afraid of bullies for a long time to come, he thought to himself sadly. He looked up and noticed the nervous smiles on his friends’ faces and realized what he’d done. Looking back, he saw Diamond Tiara staring at him in fear. “Tiara.” She flinched at the sound of his voice. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have threatened you like that. It’s just that what you were trying to do was that dangerous.” Steelskin’s conciliatory smile didn't do much to reassure her. Diamond Tiara sneered, failing to hide her fear. She also failed to hide the puddle beneath her, but Steelskin studiously avoided letting on that he saw it. “I mean it. I’m sorry.” He thought for a minute and turned to Silver Spoon. “Do us all a favor. You know Blitzen? Let her tell you and Tiara about her experience with salt.” Steelskin turned away with a sigh. “Then you two should be able to understand why I got so angry.” Spect had seen what had happened from across the room and a towel appeared in a silvery glow, mopping up the puddle and disappearing as quietly as it came. “Why don’t adults do anything about bullies like her?” Rocky asked as he and Steelskin walked away. “They’re always just saying either don’t let it bother you or tell a teacher, but those never work.” “I’m pretty sure they've just forgotten how painful words can be to young kids.” Steelskin frowned at the floor. “When you start facing real problems, you start seeing how weak and cowardly bullies are and how foalish it is to worry about what they think about you.” Everyone was quietly thinking about that as they walked towards some seats. “...Soon you forget how hard it used to be to ignore that stuff.” #PR-14# @A+2 days@ I sat with Alex’s kids as we drank milkshakes. Pinkie had not only given us the drinks on the house, but had given us each a ‘frownie face remover’ cupcake. Daniel looked at me, a lot of fear was still in his eyes. “So, what was wrong with Scootaloo?” I didn't need any time to answer since I had been thinking about what to tell them the entire trip over. “In your world, humans get drunk on alcohol, right?” Both of them nodded their heads. “Well, ponies get drunk on salt. We like the taste of alcoholic drinks, but it doesn't do anything to us. We even let kids like me drink stuff with alcohol because it does almost nothing to us.” They raised their eyebrows in surprise at this. “Salt, on the other hoof, does,” I continued. “If you go into a bar in Equestria, you get a bowl of salt that you spoon into your drink.” Lilly’s eyes went wide as she realized what I was saying. “The chips... we gave her chips covered in...” Both of them looked horrified. “We...” I jumped in quickly. “There’s no way you would've known. You didn't do anything wrong. I assume from how your dad yelled at her, that he had told your mom about it and that she should’ve known. I’d even blame Dash because she would know about the differences between our worlds and should’ve checked the snacks you brought.” I realized I was criticizing them pretty badly and tried to backtrack. “Everypony should have double checked because it’s easy to forget stuff like that.” They looked a little relieved at this and I was thanking Luna that they didn't ask about the- “So why did Rainbow Dash get upset about the banana?” I am proud to say I didn't facehoof at Daniel’s question. I merely took a deep breath. “That’s kinda embarrassing... Let’s just say that only adults eat bananas and only when they’re with their special somepony.” Daniel’s jaw hit the table as he put two and two together. Lilly looked between us in confusion and I desperately tried to think of a conversation changer. Steelskin and Scootaloo walked out of the dance and sat on a bench. As they sat, staring at Luna’s sky. Steelskin chuckled. Scootaloo turned to him with a light smile and a raised eyebrow. “What’s so funny?” Steelskin sobered up a little. Scootaloo hadn't gotten seriously hurt in that reality, but things were a bit rough for everyone because of it. “I was just remembering something because of what happened earlier...” His smile came back as he remembered happier times. “Almost every reality your dad was in, he got quite a lot of gossip due to a certain fruit he likes that affects ponies but not humans.” Scootaloo snorted in amusement. “Yeah. One day mom and I came home to find him with an entire bunch (I think that’s what he called it) on the table. Mom pushed me out of the room while yelling at him for having ‘nature’s heat’ where I could see it.” She had to stop her story for a second to get her giggles under control. “Mom froze when she saw three empty peels in front of him.” “Three?” Despite knowing that bananas didn't affect humans, Steelskin was still horrified. He’d never tried one himself for obvious reasons, but had still heard lots of rumors from older colts and had most of them confirmed. Steelskin’s horror turned to mirth as he stood up, helping Scootaloo to her hooves and starting the walk to her house. The walk was silent, but comfortable, both feeling happy about how the night went overall. As they walked up the steps, Scootaloo started getting nervous. “Well, I guess this is-” Steelskin was interrupted by Scootalo darting forward and kissing him on the lips. Steelskin’s eyes went wide and he stopped breathing for a second as the same turmoil he remembered from that other reality hit him again. Suddenly, all his desire, embarrassment, fear, and every other emotion flooded his senses. After a moment that felt like forever to both of them, panic won out. Pushing her away, he galloped away, silently damning himself for... he didn’t know what, he just felt that everything he had done was wrong. Scootaloo, having even less of an idea of what happened, felt herself getting ready to burst into tears. Holding it barely at bay, she opened the door and pulled herself inside. "Oh, sweetie, what's wrong?" Alex asked, sitting on the couch, obviously waiting for her return. "He hates me. I'm ugly and childish an-and..." The floodgates broke and she ran into her dad’s arms, sniffling and hiccuping as tears streamed down her face. "That's not true, you're a beautiful young-" "What the buck do you know, dad? You can't tell!" Scootaloo virtually screamed. Dash came out of the kitchen. "Hey now, your dad means well. Alex, this is girl talk. Shoo." "But... I..." "Shoo." Dash pulled Scootaloo out of his arms. Alex smiled sadly, looking at the two ponies he cared for more than life itself. "I'm going to have a little talk with Steelskin. He may look like a kid, but he can be an adult." Steelskin heard a knock on his door and looked up from petting Ginsu. “Come in.” The door opened slowly to reveal Alex, smiling gently. "Are you here to buck me up?" Steelskin asked, gently pushing Ginsu away. "What? No. Why would I do that? No, I just wanted to find out what happened, that's all. You up for a cup of coffee?" “Please?” Steelskin asked, half jokingly. “Only if you defend yourself,” Alex replied with a grin, brushing his hand against his knife. After a moment of watching Steelskin’s reaction, he pulled his hand away and sat next to the colt. “So, what happened?” Steelskin closed his eyes and sagged forward. ”She kissed me and I freaked... She okay?” Alex smiled and reached a hand over to scratch Steelskin’s ear. “Yeah. She is, however, on the cusp of marehood, and that means hormones are all over the place. Still, I don't think I would trust any other colt... You okay?" Steelskin let out a short bark of laughter. “I haven’t been okay for a long time...” He let out a heavy sigh. “...I have been getting a little better, though... I-I just... Can we fight? Fighting’s one of the few things I can usually do right.” The two smiled at each other and headed into the back yard, both giving a quick thanks to Luna for the full moon shining brightly.