After almost 500 years of bad memories Jack Trades finally finds a place where he can call home.
Jack Trades is a reality jumper. After almost five hundred years of jumping into danger, sorrow or suffering, and at times a devastating combination of all three, he finally finds himself in Ponyville. Will he finally be able to move on from the nightmare he calls his past or will he be too far gone for redemption?
This is a alternate universe from the story "The Memoirs Of A Reality Jumper" by Techogre.
Edited by the one, the only, Techogre!
Original picture by Zaiker42.
New picture I found on the interwebs somewhere... If you find it send it to me and I will give the creator props.
Once again I found myself running through some woods being followed by a mob of people with weapons. Only thankfully this time they were not trying to kill me with said weapons. Actually I was in some book of sorts I can't quite remember the name of.
Right now me and the mob here were chasing down a murder. The money on his head was near one million in any form of payment. Apparently he had killed a family in cold blood, a mother, a father and two children.
All this and I had still probably had more blood on my hands than the man I was currently hunting. But I don't think the people that currently held an assortment of improvised weapons would appreciate that type of hypocrisy. Of course I no longer cared, a deeper look into human nature assured me that being a hypocrite was if anything but universally natural.
Now then, you're probably wondering why I'm writing this, I have to say most likely because I need something to make me feel like I'm not alone. In all my travels I've had only one thing that stayed the same.
Pain.
Pain was always there sitting in the back just watching, waiting to make an appearance. But I learned to ignore the pain pretty quickly. But I still enjoy the fact that he is always by my side through thick and thin... always there taunting me with the memories of a life that seemed to be from another person yet they were all too familiar.
My life hasn't been rainbows and butterflies.
I've done things I think the trolls would be disgusted by. And they boiled people alive so they could be fed to their pack. How can I live with myself? Simple, I don't, I ignore my emotions and my ability to care that the things I do are evil and bad has died with my innocence.
You're thinking something like "What kind of person are you?" Truth be told, I don't think I'm even human anymore. I guess the only thing you can call me is a reality jumper.
"What's that?"
I'm a sentient being that fell through a temporal distortion in time-space. In short, I randomly teleport to alternate realities. And due to being disassembled on a molecular level, transported through afore mentioned time-space, then being reassembled almost instantaneously, I have a higher senses and strength than most humans.
And I'm durable, hard bastard to kill due to my cells adapting to being broken down and giving me a higher regeneration rate.
I've been in the game a long time.
To long for the things I saw.
For the things I did.
I don't feel sorry for anything I've done in the past.
Like I said that died, pretty fast too...
So hopefully that explains why I'm running through these woods with a mob. I think I should get back into the story.
I started to wear down, most of the towns people returned a couple of days ago leaving me and the kings men to hunt for the murderer. They had bloodhounds for every other guard, six total.
I had caught a glimpse of the so called "Murderer" earlier. He hadn't seemed exactly like he was the type of person to murder in cold blood or even at all.
He probably hadn't actually killed anyone. But whatever happened some powerful people wanted this man dead. And he was willing to do so for the huge payout. The currency might be worth something in the next reality.
I readjusted the enchanted bag on my back as I saw the men to start and move out.. I felt around for my dagger Zandacor.
I had the dagger built for me by a bunch of elves about 50 years ago. It stayed eternally sharp and grew or shrank to fit the users needs. Pretty damn handy if you ask me.
I followed closely behind the guard captain. The bloodhound came to a stop and sniffed a tree. Soon it left in search of the murderer's trail. I went to the tree and I could tell the man had been here, the sent of fear and sweat was still slightly fresh.
I turned and saw that the captain and his guards had already turned and left. I looked around and found what I was looking for, the man had cut through the brush on the left of the tree only a light footprint marking his way. I didn't care that the guards left, that just meant that I would get the reward for myself.
I followed the trail for a hour, keeping a brisk run, until I came to a clearing.
I saw the man an the other side.
I yelled at him,"You there! Stop!"
Of course I didn't think that he would actually stop. I just needed him to be confused enough so I could cover the distance and pull out Zandacor.
I tackled the man right after he realized that I was the one to yell out at him. I had pinned him to the ground when he looked into my eyes with fear and started screaming,
"No! Please I didn't hurt anybody! I'm innocent, please believe me I don't want to die!"
"I don't care. I just want the money on your head." I said, deadpanned
"You're a monster! You would kill an innocent man just for some money?" I unintentionally flinched at the word monster.
"Yeah, pretty much."
I raised my hand to bring down the dagger on the man's heart, when I noticed something I hadn't during all the commotion.
I felt slightly sick to my stomach and felt like something was tugging me from my body. I knew what this meant it had happened to me many times in my life.
I looked down at the man who was sobbing underneath me and said, "The god's are on your side for now, but you still have to worry about the guards."
I was only able to see the man's confusion for a second before my vision turned white.
Quickly I rolled off the man and ran blindly into the open field. Then I couldn't run for I had no legs. I tried to think about that but I couldn't without a brain. I tried to ponder this but that sent me into a paradox that could have lasted a minute or a millennium, my sense of time was distorted whenever I jumped.
And then as quickly as it happened I could feel again. I felt grass under my hands. But I was still blinded by the white, that was okay though, for it usually lasted about a minute before I could see anything again.
Then I heard a shuffle on the grass, something was near me.
I hid Zandacor behind my back and stuck my left arm straight out, while switching to a low crouch. Something was wrong, my vision was completely white still.
I strained my senses to their enhanced max, struggling to hear another sound. And then I heard it, another shuffle and a low gasp as whatever it was saw me. I shifted towards the sound and waited as I guessed the new person watched me.
I was the first to break the silence,"Stay back, just give me a moment, if you try to attack me I won't think twice about defending myself."
"Alright then, just stay calm ain't no reason things gotta get ugly."
I was surprised to say the least, the voice sounded like it had a country accent. But I couldn't think straight, the white in my vision started to go black. Right before I passed out I said the only thing that I could think about,
A black infinity... voices... wonder... who... speaking...
"Appeared... nowhere... Alex... human?"
Who was Alex...
Where am I?
More voices... listen...
"He... confused... scared... threaten."
"No excuse... Alex... gentlecolt."
No seriously who the fuck is Alex?
Then out of the darkness came a light and it started to consume everything.
The first thing I did after waking up was instinct, I didn't think about what I did. After some years I learned that waking up unconscious with voices talking about you is almost never good. So upon opening my eyes I grabbed Zandacor and grabbed the yellow mass right next to me. I lifted the dagger towards what I thought to be its throat. And I nearly dropped the damn thing. The mass turned out to be a pony with wings.
What. The. Fuck.
After a brief moment of confusion I looked around to take in the scene in front of me, still holding the yellow winged pony thing. There were two more ponies in front of me, one white with a horn, I assumed it was a unicorn, and another that was orange with a cowboy hat.
Again. What. The. Fuck.
"Y'all better let go of her!"
The orange one just spoke...
I realized I still had the yellow one in my arms, and it appeared to have fainted when I woke up suddenly. I thought about killing the pony but that just seemed to ruthless. So I laid her on the ground softly so I wouldn't hurt her. I actually saw no harm in letting her go either. For they didn't appear all that dangerous, but just to be on the safe side I better not let my guard down. I thought about defense, Zandacor obeyed and shifted into a long slender sword with a large guard. I backed up and took a defensive positions as one of the two other ponies, the one with the horn, checked on the yellow pony as the other moved to block my path from me to its friends. It didn't seem to fear me for some reason even though I held a sword in my hands. And also the slightly more muscled pony in front of me seemed mighty pissed off. I did the only thing that seemed logical,
"Where am I?" I said.
The orange one seemed to be caught off guard if only for a second. I guess I seemed more like a barbarian than a person willing to talk things out.
"Why'd you threaten ma friend?" Blowing off questions like a pro.
"I'm sorry, I have a rough past and usually waking up surrounded by peo- ponies doesn't mean I just won the lottery." Which was unsurprisingly true.
Strangely enough, the pony seemed to accept that answer as if she had heard it before. While this little exchange went on I couldn't help but notice that she had a tattoo of three apples on her flank.The unicorn had a tattoo in a similar place, of what I could only make out as a trio of diamonds. The pegasus's was of butterflies.
Why would these things need tattoos?
In my travels tattoos usually only meant enslavement or some sort of self empowerment that gave people the feeling that they had control of their bodies. But almost always they meant exclusion. Why would these ponies have tattoos?
"What's yer name stranger and could you please put away that there... uh... thing away?
I considered what to do, Like I said my past didn't allow much trust in my life, finally I put away Zandacor after switching it back to a dagger, and said,
"My name is Jack, Jack trades." Her expression softened but was still notably pissed.
"Howdy Jack Trades, I'm Applejack."
I don't know why but it was that time that my brain decided to take in my surroundings. I was standing in an apple orchard which I could only guess belonged to this Applejack. And I also had a strong feeling that I'm not the most expected thing to be found in the orchard.
What is this, like my 324th count of trespassing?
Not exactly something I should be bragging about, but still the number was impressive.
"Alright Miss Applejack, I'm just gonna leave, if you could just point me to the closest human civilization." I said.
"I don't know exactly where yer from mister but there ain't no other humans... 'cept one." She replied.
By the way she said this I could tell she had some sort of close relationship with the only other human in this world. And how close I didn't really care to know.
You've seen way weirder things than a human and an intelligent equine together.
I grimaced at how too true those words were, though I didn't know if this human was an actual passionate person, or just another weird kinky fetish type.
That reminds me of a furry universe. Alot of weird people there, I remember this one guy had got a-
Don't, it was bad enough being there I don't need to remember it too.
I still had questions about this fellow human so I might as well ask them.
"What's this other humans name." I asked.
"Alex Roberts." An Earth name... what the hell? In all my 500 years of jumping not many humans had Earth names. And the only one on this planet too.Then I noticed that even the way she said his name was caring and protective.
Well I guess there is only one way to 'safely' determine the character of Mr. Roberts...
"I hope this Alex Roberts isn't some sort of freak or-"
Even with enhanced reflexes I was still caught off guard as she charged me and shoved both back hooves into my face. And for a pony that only reached to my chest, she was surprisingly strong.
I felt like I took a cannon shell to my head.
Again I found myself muttering the last words on my mind before I lost consciousness,"Fucking talking ponies..."
When I woke up I found myself in a barn. I tried to stand, but I found out my legs were tied together in an unpleasant way. Namely I fell face first into the dirt. I also knew that my hands were tied then, because all but the dumbest people in the universe don't tie up someones hands if they tied up their feet. I thought about my predicament for a few minutes before I gave a sigh and shifted into a more comfortable position. Whatever they were going to do to me, it wasn't going to be pleasant. I rubbed my wrists together, testing my bindings.
Rope. Really strong rope. And whoever tied the knots knew what they were doing.
I let out a silent groan and looked out the window on the other side of the barn. It was pretty dark, but I couldn't see the moon so I didn't know an exact time. I felt pretty bad that my bag was confiscated along with Zandacor. Given my circumstances I did the only thing I could, I rolled over and went to sleep.
I wasn't comfortable but I had survived in a cave for a year or five. If anything, the hay was I laying on was particularly pleasant. When I woke up the next morning, my shoulders were cramped from having my hands being held behind my back for so long. Like I said uncomfortable but not unbearable.
I looked back out the window and saw that the sun was rising. If I was in a barn then this is a farm or mill of sorts. Whoever owned this place would rise with the sun. And I was sure that they would come and see me. After all, not many peo- ponies tie people up and then forget about them.
Except for the time that one guy tied you up and forgot you in a cavern.
Oh yeah, that sucked.
I was sitting there for about an hour before the door opened and the yellow pegasus entered. Now that my brain wasn't dull and shadowed I saw that she had a pink mane and HUGE blue eyes. She had what appeared to be a muffin in her mouth. She walked up to me and dropped the muffin in front of me. The whole time she was doing this my thoughts raced as I tried to find a way to escape.
When she gets close attack her! Force her to let us go!
But... I can't...
DO IT! WE NEED TO ESCAPE!
No! We would seem like monsters! She looks so innocent! And I can deal with being tied up for a little while.
We are not monsters... we just want freedom.
Yeah, I know.
The whole time during this little conflict took place she just seemed to study me. I felt slightly uncomfortable. I waited for a while thinking if this was some sort of psychological torture. Finally I broke the silence that seemed to last an eternity.
"Hello."
She flinched at the sound of my voice and backed up a few feet. She looked like she was trying to hide behind her hair.
"H-hello." She seemed shy and there was something familiar about her eyes... so familiar. Yet strange as if there was a filter of grey over my memories.
"I'm really sorry for making you faint." And I really was, which was strange and new for me.
"O-oh... that's OK... I get scared easily." I guess she doesn't remember that I held a knife to her throat and thought about killing her.
This conversation was getting awkward. I guess a murderous psycho and a shy pony really don't have much for conversation material. I looked down to the muffin in front of me.
"Was this for me?" She nodded.
"Thank you." She nodded.
...
...
...
"So how come no one else came?" I questioned.
She looked down at the ground and mumbled something.
"Excuse me?"
"They didn't..."
"Pardon me, my hearing isn't that great. Say again?" Damn that was one helluva bald faced lie.
"They didn't think that you deserved anything after yesterday..." She seemed scared, like her words would cause her physical harm.
"I'm sorry." Why was she sorry?
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't know... sorry." Again why was she sorry?
"Don't worry about it, so why did you think I deserve anything?" This pony seemed so fragile, so... kind. The word was awkward and sounded rusty. Yeah, I hadn't used it in a while.
"O-oh, um, well I don't think anything should go without a meal. And I know that you were just scared because you couldn't see well." What the hell? That was almost exactly what I felt yesterday.
"Oh, well thanks miss..."
"My name is Fluttershy."
dafuq?
"Well thanks for the muffin Miss Fluttershy."
She smiled and nodded. After a while she moved towards the door and left.
I was alone... again. And I forgot to ask her to untie me so I could eat the muffin.
Damn.
After awhile my stomach started to growl.
Screw dignity I'm hungry.
I leaned forward and fell on my stomach slowly I caterpillar crawled forward until I was right next to it. Then I took a bite.
Oh lawd!
That muffin was undoubtedly the best thing I had eaten. I had enjoyed it until I got to the paper wrapping at the bottom half. That paper wrapping was the bane of my existence. I glared at it angrily as it kept me from my tasty treat. I decided it was worth it as I ate the rest, paper and all.
Trying to forget when I no longer cared about killing.
When I no longer cared about dying.
And when He crept into my mind.
What you don't enjoy my company?
No.
Ha! How can you not after all deep down I am just you?
No.
Is that all you want to say to me?
Yes.
Funny man are you? Well maybe if we go back to when I first came to you.
Don't.
Ha! What are you afraid of yourself! No! Your'e afraid of what I might make you do! Aren't you?
I hate to say it but I'm glad Applejack came in at that moment with an apple pie.
Distracted me from Him.
From myself.
She carried the pie over to me and laid it in front of me.
"I thought I didn't deserve anything?" I said with a smile.
"Who told you that?" I had a feeling she didn't like me all to much. Nah, I'm probably just imagining it.
"Well seeing as I didn't get a visit this mornin'." Threw this up with my best southern accent which sounded pretty good.
"Yeah well I guess I was still a lil' upset" Did I just see a faint smile?
"Guess you had yer self a good reason. I wasn't exactly the most welcoming person around."
"Why'd you do it?" Any trace of a smile left my face.
"In my life, if I ever fall unconscious it means pain and real bad luck. I would like to keep all of that away from my life."
"I'm real sorry."
"Nah, Ain't yer fault it's just Russian roulette and I filled the revolver full of bullets." I chuckled at my joke though she didn't. Either she does't know what Russian roulette is or doesn't think it's funny. Probably both.
One awkward silence later...
"How well do you know this Alex guy?" The question seemed to through her off.
She thought about what I said for a while before replying, "He's like family to me."
"Uncle? Father? Brother?" I said throwing up my best poker face.
"Like a brother."
"You got any other siblings?"
"Yeah, a big brother and a lil' sister."
"Parent's?" I could see the pain in her eyes after I said it.
...
...
...
"No." Blunt, simple, easy to read.
"Sorry."
"Nah, Ain't yer fault it's just Russian roulette and I filled the revolver full of bullets." That earned a grin from both of us.
"I gotta go, I rise and sleep with the sun." I nodded my head, I understood.
"I'll bring yer breakfast tomorrow mornin'."
"Hey Applejack!"
"Ya?"
"G'night!"
"G'night, Jack Trades."
She slipped out and the pleasant conversation left an imprint of a grin on my face.
In the last day I got knocked out and tied up after being placed in a strange world, and I felt happier than I had in years.
And just to lift my spirits higher I had a delicious pie to eat.
Now just have to pick it up...
Damn.
This is going to get messy.
The next two days went by without fault. Of course I wondered why they still had me tied up. But I didn't care those two days were still nice, the peace and quiet was bliss.
But on the morning of my fourth day Applejack told me why I was still there...
Alex, the only other human, was coming back from a business trip this afternoon...
And they wanted him here before they do anything to me.
Hey there reader! Thanks for reading my story. But that's not why I'm typing this. After all the characters are introduced(In this chapter and the next maybe) The chapters are going to get longer. Sadly also the time needed to create the chapters will be extended. So I might need a week or so before I can get in another chapter. I can also get it done in one day but that means cutting off social interaction and less sleep. But I don't want to do that mainly for the fact that it isn't exactly healthy.. Anyways in this chapter we get the volatile reaction of adding mentally fractured Jack Trades to caring and friendly Alex Roberts!
Enjoy!
I knew that there were peo- ponies coming, they weren't trying to be quiet and there were a lot of them. How many I couldn't tell. Seeing as ponies have multiple hooves it sounded like 14 were trotting my way. I watched as the door opened and I saw that my guess was wrong. Instead, in walked 6 ponies and a man. Of the the 6 I knew Fluttershy and Applejack, the other four varied widely in their description.
One was pink and she called herself Pinkie Pie. She was a rather odd one, and never seemed to sit still. She also had a grin that almost looked like it had gotten stuck. She had a very bubbly attitude and just looking at her made me grin my own smile. Apparently there was a town nearby the farm called Ponyville. Seeing as how I was in a reality of a world ruled by ponies not much relating to them is all that surprising. Pinkie Pie worked as the best party thrower or something.
Another one called herself Rarity. At first I didn't like her, she spoke too posh, but soon I realized that, that was just the way the way she spoke and she was quite nice actually. She ran the dressmaker shop in Ponyville.
A purple one that I had never seen before said her name was Twilight Sparkle.She was the town's librarian.
And finally a blue pegasus with a multicolored mane. Name was Rainbow Dash. Apparently pegasi control the weather in this place called Equestria. But she seemed to be hiding something I could tell it was something important...
The only one to not introduce himself was the man , no doubt Alex after all AJ said there was only one other human. Suddenly he turned to all the ponies and nodded at them, whatever he was going to do all the others knew about it. They turned and left the building, Fluttershy was the last one out and I saw her pause and steal one last glance at me.
The man/Alex turned towards me and reached behind his back. From there he pulled out a small knife, slightly smaller than Zandacor. I knew what this was. Now I know why he had everyone step outside.
Kill him! It's just like when you first needed me! Now kill this man, and escape!
No!
Do it! Or I will!
I watched as Alex walked behind me I closed my eyes and waited for the pain.
But it never came instead I felt the rope that had chafed my wrists fall away. Then I felt the ones one my ankles also come off. Confused I could only look at my now freed hands. I looked at the man confusion written on my face. He then walked in front of me and said,
"How did you get here?" I'm so confused at this point I can only just answer his questions as they came.
"Would take too long to explain." He nodded, like as if some suspicion was cleared by my answer.
"What's your name?" My name? Oh, it's a test, thankfully I knew the answer.
"Applejack already told you everything and your testing me so I don't slip on the story and turn out I had lied."
He nodded his head again, which was really starting to piss me off.
"Now it's my turn, are you like me?" He feigned confusion. Probably would have worked on a regular human but I'm anything but regular.
"What do you mean?"
I was starting to get angry, but I calmed my self. I may look 20 on the outside but mentally I'm 520, time has taught me many lessons, but her techniques were cruel all the same.
"You know exactly what I mean, your'e the only human known on this planet and those ponies compared me to you. Are you a reality jumper?"
"Yes."
"From Earth?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been jumping?"
"60 years, how about you?"
"500." I state flatly.
I was pleased to see a genuine look of shock fly across his face. Probably because he looked to be in his late thirties or early forties.
"Hey can you tell me about this place?" I asked.
He nodded "Yeah sure."
We then spent the rest of the afternoon talking about this world..
The Author worked into the night. Occasionally he would stare out at the moon. He had done this just to see the object that he shared the night with. After awhile he went back to the computer and keyboard. And just stared at it, wondering what to write. He had a bad case of writer's block. Usually he could just think about what his characters would do from the last chapter, and continue from there. But tonight he had thought of something that would probably either make his story that much better or it could destroy it irrecoverably. A small smile appeared on the Authors face.
What the hell, I might as well!
But maybe in a later chapter.
Make it a surprise!
With the plan in mind, the Author typed away into the night waiting for the perfect time in the story to spring the trap.
Alex sat across from me on a hay bail, absent mindedly chewing on a piece of straw. “Son,” ‘God I hate it when he calls me that, but he’s the man in charge. For now.’ “So, now that I gave you the nickel tour, I just cannot emphasize how different this place is. In a nutshell, our instincts are to ‘fight it’, ‘fuck it’, ‘eat it’, or ‘run away from it’. Theirs is ‘can I make it my friend’. Compared to humans, they’re as innocent as children. But, don’t confuse that with stupid or gullible. If you’re a threat, they will mess you up.”
Yeah, I had experienced the ‘getting messed up’ part only a few days earlier. But the rest of what he had said still confused me. Happiness? Friendship? Could I actually find a place to be at peace?
No, men like me don't deserve happiness.
Why not? We only killed a few thousand men.
You're sick, you know that?
Being a hypocrite is human nature after all.
Go screw yourself!
“So, how long have you been here? The locals seem to like you, especially that orange blond pony, what’s her name? Applejack?” He nods and I rub my cheek and wince a little when I press on the bruise a little too much. “She kicks like a mule.”
He looks down and laughs, “I’ve meet a mule, she kicks a lot harder. But, the fact is you still have your head attached. What she gave you was only a love tap.” He looked up with a smirk, “Ponies are a hell of a lot stronger and tougher than us. Even a kid will have more raw power than us.”
We sat quietly for a few minutes. ‘I fucking hate silence!’ “So, how long have you been here?”
Alex slowly rolled his left shoulder, grimacing a little. ‘Vulnerable point. I’ll have to keep that in mind.’ “I’ve been here about eight months. Turns out the aluminium coins they use in the Illithid Empire are worth a fortune here. Did you ever have to deal with those bastards?” I nod slowly, my hand touching the scars on my scalp where I almost got eaten. Thankfully they were hidden by my hair. “Ya, I spent three years hiding, not drawing attention to myself. Anyway, you’re the important one here, not me. Lets see how I can help you.”
I looked at Alex and said "So if there isn't war or crime here what can I do to get some currency?"
He in turn looked at me in confusion and said, "What type of job do you usually do?"
"Merc, sword for hire, bodyguard, soldier of fortune, bounty hunter, you know stuff like that."
"Y-you killed people for money?" The expression on his face was one of shock mixed with a little fear. It was almost laughable.
I wonder if he had actually killed anybody before. But I could see that he didn't have what it takes to be able to inflict death upon others. To revel in the fact that they felt the pain that you had, even if it was only a fraction of it.
"Ya, it was pretty easy, and people are always ready to pay just to make someone else 'disappear'." I knew my expression was cool, collected, my tone matter of fact. I knew I was stronger than him.
Alex's expression changed. I guess he couldn't look at me the same. What he saw in me now was a murderer, Hell I knew what I was, it had kept me alive for a long time, so why did I suddenly feel a twinge of shame?
I looked him in the eye, and said to him in a dead serious tone, "The weak forget the scars of their past and move forward, we strong are forced to carry ours on our backs and can only look back. For me and you these words are quite literal."
He nodded but I could see he was deep in thought. Soon he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. I looked out at the far window and started to wonder how long we had been here for the sky was getting darker. I knew tonight would be my last night here. So I had to get the truth from Alex.
"You don't trust me do you?" He seemed taken aback like I could read thoughts or something.
"What do you mean?" I was getting tired of this game I just wanted to go to sleep.
"You know exactly what I mean! I'm a murder Alex! You don't trust me around your friends and you know it! In fact I don't trust myself! I hear voices Alex, I'm afraid of who you are talking to right now! I don't know if it's me or... Him." I let out an exasperated sigh.
Breaking down are we?
Shut the fuck up! Get out of my head!.
You need me and you know it. Eventually you will come for me and I in turn will help, if only for my own pleasure.
Alex looked at me and said, "No, I don't trust you... not right now. But I know a lot of what you did was because you were forced to do anything you could to survive in impossible situations."
"So will I get my dagger back?" It was a stupid question, but that dagger had a lot of sentimental value to me.
Alex just continued to stare at me and slowly shake his head.
"Alright so what now then?"
His expression changed in an instant, a broad, kindly smile, "Now we go get something to eat. Got to break bread with new friends." For the first time since meeting him, this was a genuine smile. He started chuckling, “And, whatever you do, don’t share bread with a pony unless you want to have sex with them.”
"Um, okay? Anyway, not anything sweet right, because I have been eating pie and pastries for the past few days and I'm afraid anything more and I could get diabetes."
Alex chuckled at that and said, "No, I got more human appealing food at my house." He turned, his knife in it’s sheath in an awkward angle for him, but easy for me to grab. ‘Is he testing me?’
As we walked outside I was confused because I thought the other ponies were still there. Alex caught this look and shook his head, "I told them to leave if it got too late."
I nodded. It seemed to make sense seeing as we were going to be heading straight to his house.
It didn't take us long to get within sight of the house. We were quite a distance away and I could tell the place was small, but in a cozy kind of way.
Hrmm. Cozy. Another word that will probably get more use in this world.
Alex saw me staring the house and nodded, "Yeah, It's not much but I did my best to make it more comfortable.” He chuckled, “I was never much of a handyman. Just watch out for the basement door to accommodate humans, and it's home."
I shook my head, "Nah man, It's perfect." For the first time in a very long time, I smiled and I meant it. No lies, no bullshit, just an honest smile for someone honestly trying to help me, despite his obvious misgivings.
Whenever I traveled, I always stayed in an inn or some place along those lines, and I always just thought of them as a place to sleep not an actual home. I understood what it meant to Alex. This wasn't just a house, it was his house, something he could finally call home.
“One more thing Jack. It’s not a big deal right now and we’ll get you fixed up as soon as we can, but humans and the type of magic here don’t get along so well. I’ll let Twilight explain to technical details, but, in a nutshell, you’re aging four to six times faster and the more you exert yourself the more you’ll age. The stop gap is to make sure you’re around ponies all the time, basicaly two or three meters.”
My expression must have betrayed my thoughts, “About ten feet or less. The girls will be here in the morning and we’ll figure out who’s staying with you. Anyway, I already talked to Twilight and she’s started to process of making one of these.” he pulled out a simple amulet and blue feather from under his shirt and showed them to me. He looked at the feather lovingly, “Both my lifelines, but you’ll just need the medallion. The medallion should be forged sometime in the next two or three weeks.”
By the time we reached the house, me and Alex were beat. I had a rough day and Alex looked like he had just been told he was dying. We forgot completely about food and instead focused on sleep. Alex offered me his bed, but I told him I would take the couch downstairs. He gave me a blanket and we exchanged our good nights and turned in for the night.
The next morning was awkward at best. We were making small talk when someon- somepony knocked at the door. I don't know why but my heart jumped as I thought it was Fluttershy.
Why would you get so excited over her?
It's something about her eyes.
Her eyes where can I remember those eyes from?
My reverie was interrupted as Alex turned and yelled, "It's open!"
In rushed a rainbow colored blur, "Hey Alex I brought you- Oh it's him." Damn I don't think she could have stopped faster if she hit a brick wall.
I felt slightly like I was intruding something but I ignored it as the smell of muffins wafted from a bag she held in her mouth. After eating nothing but sugary sweets for the last few days, I almost gagged at the smell. Alex seemed to snap out of wherever he was, when he heard me.
"Hey Jack, you remember Rainbow Dash from yesterday right?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah, I 'member, Yo whaddup Dash?" I completed the facade with an idiotic lopsided grin.
Her expression didn't change much but I could see a shadow of a smile on her face.
Without taking her eyes off me, she gave Alex a peck on the cheek, “Okay, I’ve got weather patrol this morning. You okay with him?”
“Yes, perfectly fine. You have a great day.”
Before she could leave, "Hey Alex, you got a shower?"
He nodded and pointed towards the staircase "First door on the left, hard to miss. There’s lots of soap, shampoo, take whatever you need. There are also extra toothbrushes in the cabinet above the toilet."
I grinned and said, "Thanks, sleeping in a barn doesn't exactly help someones hygiene."
When I turned I swore I heard a giggle. I knew that whatever she came over to tell Alex I didn't need to hear it. I wasn't going to let any bad thoughts ruin the first shower I had in days.
Despite myself I heard a few snippets of their whispered conversation. Alex started, “... girls willing ... sinks ...”.
Rainbow Dash answered, her tone conspiratorial, “... really interested. She … work ...“
Alex answers, “Good idea. A little ... clear ... mine ... for the kid.”
Her voice was a little weary, “... Fluttershy” At the mention of her name, my heart fluttered. ‘Why am I so excited about her. She was just a damn meat shield.’ “… also … Twilight ... too.” There was a bark that sounded like a laugh, “Great, I … turn ... it did … still crashing ... dumped … why he did ... nicer ... my sister.”
The Author looked at the chapter in front of him. He always felt strange when writing a chapter. It was more like he was just typing something that had actually happened, instead of being made up by the Author. He also dismissed the thought and set the chapter to be sent to the Editor.
I sat under the spray of cold water for what seemed to be an hour, but I knew it was only a few minutes. My mind drifted and I thought of what had happened in the last few days. I had been knocked unconscious by an orange cowpony, tied and left in a barn, met a strange Pegasus who brought back memories of someone that I couldn't quite remember clearly,and to top it all off, I find out that I wasn't the only reality jumper in existence. And I was happy.
But in that small amount of joy there was bitter resentment. I was angry that I was here. Angry about the fact that I had to go through all the shit in my past to get here. My life was just some sick fun for fate. Keeping me alive just for its own amusement. This was another screwed up joke, a place I could finally be happy in, and it was slowly killing me.
After a few more minutes I turned the water off and got out. I started to dry myself off, when I caught my reflection in the mirror. I looked at the scars that traced a pattern from my torso to my back. I turned slightly to look at the mark on the left side of my ribcage. I traced the letters it made with my index finger.
I was so lost in thought that I jumped when I heard someone knock on the bathroom door.
Upon hearing Alex I felt the slightest pang of disappointment, "Hey I need to talk to you about what we are going to do today after you get out of the shower."
I replied,"Yeah, alright wait a few and I'll be right there." A couple seconds later I heard his footsteps retreat down the stairs.
I quickly dressed and went into the kitchen. When I entered I smelled the wonderful aromas of fried eggs and, to my surprise, bacon. I noticed that Rainbow Dash wasn't here anymore. But the rumbling that emanated from my stomach forced me to ignore that fact. Alex grinned at me and pointed to a plate that already heaped with food.
I returned the grin and grabbed it while saying "Thanks, man I am starving." I ate my breakfast while he slowly munched on a muffin with a cup of coffee.
Once I finished I got up and washed my plate. While I did this I asked, "Alright, what's on the agenda for today?"
Alex swallowed the bit of muffin in his mouth and replied, "Well, we have to find you a job, a house, and we also have to find out which one of the girls are going to be by your side.” He pulled out a small cloth bag, “Here’s a couple hundred bits to get you going. Places are hard to find around here, but the apartment above the joke shop might still be available. Don’t worry, I’ll cover your first couple months rent. Oh, and a buddy of mine is an awesome tailor." He chuckled, “He’s the world’s leading expert on male human cloths. Don’t get me wrong, Rarity is amazing, but she’s a dressmaker. So, dealer’s choice, what do you want to get done first.”
I thought about it for awhile and finally replied, "Let's go see the girls, I don't see any harm in trying to keep me from dying any faster."
We made our way to town and I saw an assortment of different ponies. The arrangement of colors were so bright and unrealistically colorful. And while I was watching the ponies they were doing the same. I already knew that there weren't any other humans but I guess now that there are two of us they think we were multiplying. After a few minutes we stopped at a tree in the middle of the town.
I looked around confused, "I thought we were going to meet Twilight"
Alex grinned and pointed to the tree and said, "We are."
After a few moments I realised exactly what he was pointing at. It was an actual door and not simply a door shaped part of the tree. Alex promptly knocked on it, and called out, “It’s me Spike. Gear up, my fine friend.” After only a few moments I could hear small feet walking up to the door. When it opened I was extremely confused. Standing in front of me was a small bipedal lizard with a rebreather on his face.
My confusion only grew when it spoke, "Hey Alex, I'll get Twi."
At this point what I assumed was a he seemed to notice me. I couldn't see his mouth so I could only guess what his expression was.
I raised my hand and said, "What up?"
He just stared at me and said "You're a human too?"
I replied with the wittiest retort ever, "No, I'm a potato."
He started to make a strange snort/gargle sound. At first I thought he was choking or something but then I realized that he was laughing through the rebreather. The sound of the little guy laughing was enough to make me burst into a fit myself. We sat there laughing for a good minute before Twilight came out and saw us laughing like lunatics.
She opened her mouth to question exactly why we were guffawing until Alex cut her off with a short shake of his head. After awhile the laughter died down and we were able to catch our breaths.
Even though I had not laughed this hard in I don’t know how long, I was able to speak first, "I'm... I gasped between chortles, “Jack."
He gasped in enough air between snickers and replied, "Spike."
After another couple of minutes we went inside of the tree house, thing. I first noticed that the tree was still alive, even though it was hollow in the middle. I questioned Twilight about this but she just replied with, "Magic." I wanted to pursue the matter further but my sanity was already strained. I noticed Alex sighed a little and smirked at Twilight.
We went inside and Alex and I took the couch. Twilight sat in a chair, across a table, on the other side of us. Spike went into the kitchen and brought out a teapot and four cups. I politely declined the offer with a quite proper, "Nah, brah I'm cool."
After a few awkward silences later, Alex finally spoke, "Hey, Twi were you able to duplicate the medallion?"
Twilight nodded and floated a medallion, that looked just like Alex's, from a shelf nearby. I wondered how she was able to create and destroy matter.
"How do you create matter from nothing?" My question seemed perfectly acceptable.
"Magic." I almost leaped the distance between us when Alex said the other reasons for our visit.
"Jack also needs at least two companions and a job." So very blunt isn't he? “Twilight, I know he’s younger, and he’s not in as bad a situation as I was, physically, but there’s no point in causing any more damage than necessary. Anyway, having two ponies with him twenty four seven for a few weeks might help him learn the culture a little faster.” Alex sat back into the couch, running his hand over his head, “Jack, as far as the job goes, I’ll be happy to float you for a few months.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Alex. I appreciate it, and I won’t lie, it feels good, but I need to stand on my own two feet. I don’t want to owe anyone.”
Alex nodded, “I can respect that. Still, I’ll help you any way I can.”
Twilight thought about it for a few seconds before responding, "I am still studying for a cure to your problem, so unless Jack would like to stay here for hours on end, I don't think I am the ideal participant."
I nodded, I'm not really an egg head so she would probably get boring pretty quickly.
"As for the job I don't think I have anything available, right Spike?"
The purple lizard shook his head.'I'm going to have to ask Alex about him.'
Alex nodded and replied, "Alright, thanks Twilight, you've been a great friend for me during this whole experience."
She then promptly blushed and nodded her head. Alex nodded towards me and we got up to leave.
As we stepped out into the sun, I noticed that it was higher than when we went in. I wondered how long the days were.
Alex had told me about the Princess of the Sun and her sister. And I accepted his explanation of their ability to raise the sun and moon.
If jumping realities has taught me anything then it's the fact that shit just happens.
I lowered my gaze and studied the townsfolk. They all seemed to know each other and look alike. If it wasn't for their colors and 'cutie marks', I would never be able to tell them apart.
While making my observation I noticed that a few were staring at something behind me. My instincts told me to dodge left, and they weren't wrong often.
I was just barely able to move out of the way when a grey object promptly hit the ground where I was standing.
My first thought was that it was an attack and I looked for whatever had decided to end its life early trying to kill me.
But that promptly subsided to confusion when the dust cleared and from a small crater popped out a chipper grey pegasus.
The first thing I noticed was that she seemed just fine after playing chicken with the ground, obviously it was a tie, and she was also very happy and bubbly.
She looked at me with one eye while the other decided that the sky looked nice today. She caught me staring and said, "So sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
I gave her a warm smile and shook my head, "No harm done my good mare. I am quite fine, my concern is for you though, you hit the ground quite hard." I got up and walked towards her. When I was within distance I raised my hand to help her up.
She gave me another smile, "Oh no, I'm alright! It happens to me a lot anyways."
At this she turned to fly off, but by this time Alex had also gotten off the ground, she promptly ran as straight as possible towards him and said, "Hello Alex!"
I was wondering how many peo- ponies Alex knew when he gave her a smile and replied, "Hello Derpy, how are things with Caramel?"
Her smile brightened considerably, "Oh its absitively posolutely wonderful!"
I bitterly smiled at the thought of Alex being able to fit in a universe where ponies and magic was common. My mind wandered and brought back the doubts of this morning. The excitement from only a few minutes ago was just another distraction from a plain and simple truth.
I can never be happy.
I was never meant to be happy.
Only to have what I wanted so dearly to be burned to ashes in front of me.
I learned to cope with that even before I had started jumping.
She had taught me that.
Alex broke me out of my depression by waving his hand in front of my face. I flinched and stepped back slightly.
Alex then said, "Hey, you in there?" He followed this with another hand wave, "C'mon we have to go."
I nodded my head, "Oh sorry, Nemo Malus Felix and all that."
Alex looked at me slightly confused. I just gave him my best smile and waited for him to continue our adventure.
Eventually he let out a sigh and we continued on our way.
We stopped in front of Carousel Boutique. I was finally glad to get here. Alex held the door open and gestured for me to walk through.
As I stepped through the door, it felt like I had stepped through a portal. All around me were clothes and mannequins. I have to admit that my fashion sense was along the lines of, if it's durable and comfortable it is acceptable in any situation. Walking past that door I now felt like a peasant in front of royalty. They might have been dresses, but they were... elegant none the less.
As I was busy studying the design of a particular dress, Alex began talking to Rarity. I hadn't bothered to check the room, for an emerald embedded in the dress in front of me captured my full attention. I remembered that someone I knew liked emeralds, but I couldn't grasp their name.
Soon I heard Alex calling my name, I let out an audible sigh and turned, "Yes, Alex what-"
I finally noticed that it wasn't just three of us in the room. The fact that Fluttershy was naturally... well shy, she hadn't said anything to be noticed without me seeing her. She was standing on the side wearing a dress that looked half finished.
Alex completely oblivious to the fact that I hadn't noticed her, turned back towards Rarity and said, "He needs a job and someone to accompany him."
She continued to work on the dress that Fluttershy was wearing and replied, "I'm sorry darling, but I need to work on this dress for one of my pegasus clients and not to be rude but Jack doesn't seem to have much... fashion sense."
Of course I would have been offended if I was listening, but for some reason or another my shoes had suddenly become the most interesting pair of shoes I had ever seen.
I was studying their design when I noticed that everybody was looking at me expectantly.
I said the first thing to come to mind, "Oh yeah, sure that sounds great!"
Alex nodded his head, "Alright then it's settled, Jack is going to help Fluttershy with her animals and accompany him."
Oh alright, I'm going to work with Fluttershy and...
Wait...
What?
"Wait... what?"
"I said you're going to work with Fluttershy, right?" He looked back over to the yellow pegasus.
"Oh yes... I need a lot of help... um... because one of my animals is giving birth and... uh... I need someone to help with my other animals... I mean if you want... if you don't... I'm sure I'll be fine by myself." Holy shit, if I said no, my heart might explode from over exposure to cuteness.
I nodded my head and returned my gaze back to the ground.
I don't think Alex had planned this but I still thought about killing him.
Meanwhile Alex continued his conversation with the fashion pony.
Fluttershy and I stood on the sidelines. I was simply not all that interested, something about a wedding. I turned to start a conversation with Fluttershy when I realised I knew next to nothing about the pegasus.
"So Fluttershy, are you the local vet around here or something?"
She seemed startled that I had wanted to talk to her, "O-oh... I-I guess you could s-say that... I help t-that animals that get injured... a-and I take care of the o-others too..." She hid behind her hair and after every word she tried to disappear.
I guessed that she was scared of meeting new people. And I probably seem more intimidating when not tied up.
I was about to continue the conversation when Alex stood up, "Alright let's let these fine ladies get back to work. Now we have to find you a place to stay."
I nodded my head and turned towards the door, when Fluttershy spoke up.
"He could stay with me." Her tone was a lot more... confident than before.
Alex and I simultaneously turned and said, "What?"
Her voice was louder than before, it was still only slightly above a whisper, "I have an extra room and it would be a lot more convenient for him."
Alex thought this over and finally asked, "Is that fine Jack?"
I threw him a grin, "Splendid!"
"Okay then, why don't I show you around the rest of town and we can get lunch back at my place."
I gave him a nod and waved a goodbye towards the two mares.
We walked out back into the sunlight. As we walked back to Alex's house he pointed out various buildings and named them. I listened and made a mental map of the town. Alex walked freely and loosely, out of force of habit I walked along taking in every sound, sight, and smell assessing the chance of being attacked.
We made it to his house at around noon. He went to the kitchen and grabbed out bread and some cheese. He looked up at me, "Grilled cheese sandwich sound fine?"
"Yup, sounds great."
I watched Alex prepare the food, as I sat there I noticed differences between me and him. He always seemed sociable and at peace. I wondered how he does it. Didn't he carry the burdens of his past? Am I just unable to move on?
"Hey Al, I got a question for you."
He turned his head slightly, "Yeah?"
I thought about what exactly I was going to say, "How can you be so peaceful?"
He turned his head back down to the food, "I don't understand what you mean."
I shook my head, even though he couldn't see it, "I've seen shit man, I know you did too. How can you act like it never happened?"
The food was done and he handed me mine. He studied me closely. Finally Alex turned and left the room, I stood up from my chair to follow, but he came back holding a small rectangle in his hand.
I watched as he unfolded the rectangle in a series of well practiced motions. It soon was the size of a laptop, I realised that it was in fact a laptop as he unfolded the top and powered it on.
I remained quiet as he did a few things that I couldn't see. After awhile he motioned for me to move closer to him. As I came into view of the screen, I saw that he was on Skype.
I wondered what the hell was going on when the face of a woman appeared on the screen. Her smile promptly faded on seeing me, instead it twisted into one of confusion. Her vision shifted from me back to Alex.
"Alex, what's going on?" Her voice reminded me quite a bit of Applejack.
"Hey Ann, this is Jack." I gave a nod and a smile to her.
She studied me for a bit before looking back at Alex, "I'm confused, how did he get there?"
Alex sighed, "Jack is in the same position as me."
She looked back at me now with understanding, "So you mean..."
I gave her a short nod.
Ann's face showed something new now, something I hadn't seen in a while, "Does that mean you can find a way back home?"
Alex turned and looked out the window, "Maybe..."
I looked out the window and saw what he was watching, in the distance there was a rainbow trail flying in the sky, it twisted and turned in spectacular and interesting ways.
I turned and walked out of the kitchen, I headed towards the front door.
Alex watched me and looked back at the computer screen.
I opened the front door and sat under a tree not far from the house. I watched a lone cloud lazily chug its way across the sky.
Alex had his family that gave him hope, that let him know the difference of right and wrong.
What did I have?
What do I have to survive for?
What do I have that gives me hope to keep on living?
Why do I stay alive and hurt innocent people?
Why?
I watched the lone cloud, and I wondered, 'What does he live for?'
I continued to watch it until I noticed that there was someone running towards the house.
I got up and made my way there. As soon as I was within hearing distance, the distinct sound of yelling reached me.
"Halp! Halp! Alex!" I knew the voice belonged to Applejack.
When I got to the door, it opened to reveal Alex and a very worried Applejack.
Before I could say anything Alex turned towards me, "Jack we need your help."
Applejack looked at me and seemed to decide whether or not that was true, finally she nodded her head.
I looked back at Alex, "What is it?"
Before Alex opened his mouth Applejack cut in, "Applebloom, was playing with her friends in the orchard, but when I went looking for them they weren't there. Ah think they went into the forest!"
Alex had told me about the animals in the Everfree. I knew what kind of danger they were in.
I turned to run out when Alex grabbed my hand and turned me towards him.
"Look, kid, I'm top notch when it comes to business and being able to trick myself or others long enough to get the job do enough to get the job done, but a fight like this...” He looked away, almost in shame. “Look, I pride myself on being a good judge of a man or pony. Just...” Alex looked away, worried, for a moment, then with a small nod as if to himself his expression became absolutely sure, “Take this.” I felt something press into my palm, “Get those kids back safe." He looked me in the eye, his expression begging, pleading, "Get my little girl back safe."
I looked down and realised that he had given me Zandacor. She had been the only one I had trusted for so long. This blade, so much a part of me, yet I was so willing to entrust her to these strangers. These ponies and this person, who knew next to nothing about me, who knew I was a monster, far more profoundly than any wild animal I might encounter in the forest, trusted me. Me. I would be damned to hell again before I betrayed their trust.
I looked up and nodded, "Alright, Applejack lead me to where you last saw them."
Did I expect just rush into the fray, save a pony, and be claimed Hero?
What did I get from this?
While parts of me argued with my actions, I ignored them. Alex is trusting me, I can't fail now.
I was slightly out of breath when we reached Sweet Apple Acres, ponies ran quite a bit faster than humans. As I followed Applejack I smelled three faint scents. One was fairly recognizable and smelled of apples, the others were new to me. I guessed that they were the missing children.
I stopped and tried to figure the direction they had gone. Applejack had noticed and stopped beside me, "What's wrong?"
I didn't reply and instead focused on the scents, blocking everything else out. They had been here for awhile before heading into a thick of trees not far from were I was. I looked over at Applejack and pointed at the tree line.
"Consarnit' I told them to stay here, do you know how long they left?"
Again I refocused my attempts, the scents weren't in the air, instead they were focused mainly on the apple trees around us.
"An hour and a half, give or take. Follow me." At this I started dashing towards the woods. I continued following the scent as best as I could, there were many strange and unfamiliar smells in the forest.
But one stood out the most, hunger.
The girls were being hunted.
I started to lose the scent in areas only to find it again further away. This was as far as I would be able to go. With smell no longer to aid me, I closed my eyes and listened.My heart pounded in my ears, small hooves running, slow deliberate movement of hunters, tired breathing. I turned towards the noise and started running again, Applejack right behind me.
I heard rustling in the brush to my left, I dropped and rolled to face the threat. I waited as the rustling grew louder and nearer. From the brush popped out two tired looking fillys. One had a bright red bow in her head while the other was stark white and had a horn.
Applejack was the first to move, she scooped the small one with the bow in her forelegs and squeezed, "Oh Applebloom your all right!" She promptly dropped the filly and adopted a scolding tone, "I told you to not leave the orchard!"
Applebloom dropped her gaze, sniffling quietly, "I'm sorry sis, you were right. We just got chased by a bunch of timber wolves."
The other filly suddenly shot up,"Where's Scootaloo?"
Applebloom looked around, "I thought she was behind you!"
I didn't bother to listen to the rest. I ran in the direction that the girls came from yelling over my shoulder, "Applejack get the girls back home, I'll find Scootaloo!"
She nodded and flipped the fillys onto her back. Their protest was cut short as she galloped back the way we came.
It wasn't hard to find where she had fallen. I entered a small clearing, in the middle there were six dark brown forms surrounding something. I was able to make out bright orange and purple colors in between the shifting forms.
Without thinking twice I sprinted and vaulted the closest form, I was now in the middle of the circle with what appeared to be an unconscious pegasus filly.
My relief at seeing her alive was cut short when the forms growled at me. I looked up and saw a pack of wolves, but of course no creature could be so simple. These wolves stood as high as my shoulders, and their skin seemed leathery and thicker than a regular wolf. Alex had described the beasts before me.
Timber wolves.
They were infused with tree DNA as far as I could tell.
And wood is a lot easier to break than bones.
I took a defensive position above the tiny pegasus, and waited for the pack to make their move. To them I was something new, neither prey nor predator until my motives for protecting their meal was clear, either I was here to fight them for the right to eat her or I was protecting her from harm.
I was in between them and food.
I didn't have to wait long as I herd the sound of rustling grass behind me, I pivoted on my heels and brutally smashed my fist into the offending wolves head. It gave out a yelp of pain, rolling back onto its feet and retreating back to his pack.
I pulled out my dagger in hopes of intimidating them into leaving. There was no such luck, these beasts had gotten used to being dominant than most creatures and they were more than willing to fight me.
I kept the knife small, I would need it to be fast, the numbers were stacked against me. But now it had a serrated edge, great for cutting wood.
For now me and the wolves were at a stand still, their pack mate had served as an example, to get to her you are going to have to go through me.
One wolf growled and went straight for me, of course I wouldn't fall for it. I turned just in time to see another wolf lunge at me. I ducked to the side in time for him to sail past. It didn't turn and attack again, instead choosing to run back to the safety of his pack.
I would need to keep on my toes to stay alive, but I can't leave my position or they would grab the filly and run.
This time two wolves came at me, thinking that the two would keep my attention. Again I turned but only to see the one wolf double back as soon as I had finished my turn.
I screamed in pain as I felt two pairs of wooden teeth bite into my flesh. One had me just below the knee on my left leg, the other was on my back and had it's teeth sunk deep into the base of my neck and shoulder.
My first instinct was to kick out with my leg, as soon as I had, the wolf growled and shook his head. There was a resounding snap as I let out another scream.
I tried to throw off the one on my back but I was blinded in a haze of pain. I couldn't keep my balance very well and any attempts to move brought more pain from my leg.
Finally I had a grip on the wolves neck, it let out a yelp of surprise and I used the moment to fling it over my shoulder and into the ground in front of me. Before it could get up I pinned it to the ground using my knife, he howled and tried to bite the metal piercing it's paw and keeping it immobile.
I relinquished my balance and let gravity take hold as I fell forward onto the wolf. I wrapped my arm around its neck and lashed out with my good leg at his partner still holding onto my broken leg.
With a satisfying crunch, the offending creature released my leg and backed away.
I still had the other one in my arm, and it was trying desperately to escape. I twisted my shoulder and it promptly stopped struggling
By now I was bloody, broken, and battered. I sat on the ground staring at the pack, too tired to move.
Scootaloo was still unconscious not to far away from.
The only sound was my heavy panting.
Slowly I struggled onto my one good leg and watched for the packs next move.
A low whine emanated from the closest wolf. The tone was soon adopted by the rest of them.
I was bleeding profusely from my shoulder and I was starting to get light headed.
The pack continued to whine, and then retreated back into the forest.
Confused I turned to look at the only timber wolf I had managed to kill. When I noticed that he had scars over most of his body, I fell backwards and studied the sky.
I had managed to kill the Alpha.
I watched the lone cloud continue his journey.
Everything was getting darker around the edges.
I could here a voice, it felt like it was near but it sounded so far away.
Finally satisfied I had done something right, I closed my eyes.
As the sterile clean smell of chemicals affronted my senses, I rolled over quickly and tried to vomit. Instead I retched and gagged as my stomach trying to loose contents that weren't there. I leaned over and slid off the bed that I was in.
My legs were shaky and carrying my own weight felt unfamiliar. I walked a few steps forward and then threw myself at the nearest wall, relieving my unsteady legs of the strain.
My body felt numb and sluggish.
I started to hyperventilate, I needed to escape. I needed to get away from this place.
I looked around and found the door, without giving a second thought I charged at it with whatever power I had left. It crashed open and I fell over onto the floor.
I was now in a hallway with several ponies, they all saw my little display and wore expressions of shock. Ignoring them and tried to stand up, their muffled voices were white noise to me now.
Once again I collapsed onto the floor. Recovering I studied the pattern of tiles on the floor.
I felt a shadow pass over me. Looking up I saw a doctor watching me. He moved his mouth but his dull sounded rumbling was drowned out by the steady thumping in my head.
I pulled myself back onto my feet with the walls support and shoved the doctor out of my way. There was a quiet yelp as he crashed to the ground, thrown off balance.
Now back on my feet, I slid across the wall heading further down the corridor. I didn't know where I was going but it didn't matter as long as I could escape everything that threatened to overwhelm me.
I started to move faster but my body still didn't feel right, it felt too strange to be mine.
I came to a pair of double doors and shoved my way through them.
I was in a room.
A white room.
There were more ponies here.
Too many faces.
Too many eyes staring at me.
It was too much and yet I couldn't look away.
My gaze passed everyone there.
I saw seven faces of shock.
Seven faces that I knew.
I studied each of them.
My gaze landed on one pair of eyes.
I found myself looking at the sky through two blue orbs.
And then everything shifted.
Into darkness once again.
The pounding of my head and silent whispering brought me back to the waking world. I felt the scratchy roughness of hospital blankets. The bed itself felt strange by the fact as it wasn’t built for human comfort. I couldn’t feel any intravenous lines on my body.
I sat laid there without opening my eyes and swallowed the groan that was slowly building itself in my throat. The whispering stopped and I heard somebody open a door and leave.
Silence...
"Somebody say something!" I didn't have to open my eyes to know that whoever else was in the room jumped in the air from surprise.
"O-oh... you're awake." Fluttershy.
"But Nurse Redheart said that the anesthetic would keep you asleep for the rest of the day!" Twilight.
"Yay! Now we can have a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party and a 'Glad you woke up early' party too." Pinkie.
"Darling, I don't think Jack is in the best of conditions to be gallivanting about." Rarity.
"He took an Apple family buck to the head, Ah’m sure a nibble from a dog ain’t gonna hurt him none." Applejack
"You knocked him unconscious AJ." Rainbow Dash.
"He lost a lot of blood from the ‘nibble’ that ‘dog’ gave him." Alex.
Again there was an awkward silence.
"So what happened to Scootaloo?" I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I was back where I had woken up the first time.
Although now my mind was less fuzzy and there were pillows on one side near the door. My... friends... sat on these pillows, Alex looked slightly uncomfortable though.
He was the one who replied to my question, "Scoots is doing fine, a few scrapes and bruises but nothing too bad."
I grunted in acknowledgment, "Right, what about my leg though?"
Twilight answered, "Well we don't know much about human bone structure.”
Alex piped in, “And all I know is that, being older, my bone is less dense.”
Twilight continued, “And seeing as we would need a third human to be able to properly assess what was correct and what wasn't, we erred on the side of caution. Instead of using unicorn magic to heal the damage, we had to use a potion. Although the side effect of the potion is also to increase bone density."
I kept my face void of any emotion as I turned to look at the lavender mare.
She promptly gave me a sheepish smile, "Uh, what I mean is, your leg is healed and now harder to break while you're also a few pounds heavier. Unfortunately, it also shifted your center of mass a little."
I thought about this, “How did you get me to swallow the potion? I don’t see an IV or anything. And I’m really hoping you guys didn’t use suppositories.”
Twilight spoke up again, “Although we could have found a vein from Alex, it would have been too late as your body was going into hypovolemic shock. Saying that we didn’t use magic was slightly untrue, we magically dissolved the potion, medication, and saline solutions into your blood. This caused complications though, because we still had to worry about metabolic acidosis. We were able to find a way around this using...”
Twilight stopped and looked at everyone's expression of incomprehension, “I did it again didn’t I?”
We all slowly nodded. Twilight let out a defeated sigh.
I let out a sigh of my own, “Yeah well, if earlier was any example I need to learn how to walk correctly again.”
Rainbow Dash spoke up, "What was all that about any ways?"
The question brought back the memories that I had long ago buried.
I turned to her with a pained expression and felt my blood run cold. I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't get any words past the lump in my throat.
Everyone noticed the sudden change and looked away. Rainbow stared down at the ground, "I'm sorry."
Alex knelt beside me and put his hand on my shoulder. As much as I hated physical contact, I felt a sudden need to be comforted.
I turned my head to look at him and saw a sad little smile, “You saved my daughter. You’re a good man, and we,” he waved expansively, “are your friends. But, if you don’t want to, we can accept that too. It’s up to you. Explanations are a gift not a right.”
I looked at them and shook my head, "No... it's alright... I can tell you..." my voice was strained and hurt to talk.
Could I tell them my story?
I should.
It's not a story if it's never been told.
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat,
"It's a long tale... and not an all too happy one either.
I grew up in a place Chicago. In a small community called the suburbs.
My family consisted of my mom, my dad, my sister, and me. We were the perfect family. Everyday was a happy day as long as we had each other.
My mom and dad had met during their senior year in college. They fell in love instantly. He proposed on their graduation dinner.
My dad was a hard working and proud man. He always made time for me and my sister, for him family came first. He managed a small business that brought in enough to provide for us.
My mom was kind and always there for us when we needed her. She was a stay at home type mom. Always helping us with a comforting word or a supportive hug.
My sister adopted who she was from both of them. She looked exactly like my mother, always trying to take care of everyone. And so carefree she could brighten anyone's day. Don’t get me wrong though, she could be serious when she needs to be."
I looked at all of their faces in turn. Many held curious smiles at the thought of learning more about my past. Some held simple smiles. All were caring.
I slowly, raggedly, sucked in more air and tried to keep my voice steady,
"Nothing that shines so bright, with so much love, can shine forever, so one day, my mother got sick. Out of nowhere she collapsed. I immediately called for help. They had paramedics there within the next ten minutes. We were so scared we had no idea what had happened.
We waited in the hospital for hours waiting for any news. My dad and sister went to get food while I stayed. While they were gone a doctor came to me and explained what was wrong.
It was a blood disease, extremely rare and nobody knew enough about it to do much. He tried to assure me that she would be fine. I could see that he was lying though, he probably knew just as much as I did about the disease. But of course I ignored it and believed him. The doctor said that my mom would stay there until she got better.
We visited her every week, for a year. And all the time she might have been sick but she was still our mother. She still gave us advice and support. Even though now our pillar was unsteady she was still there for us.
Everyday we saw her, she seemed to get better. Eventually they said she was healthy enough to go home.
We were so excited for her. I had been saving any money I could. My sister and I set up a party for the day she would come back. We were setting up the banner when the phone rang. I was the closest, so I answered it.
It was the hospital.
My mother, my pillar, the person who had given me life, had died.
She collapsed in the lobby, her heart had given out, they weren't able to revive her.
We were all devastated by the news. My dad took it the worst of us though. We were all depressed so my sister and I couldn’t see just how badly it had affected him. A week later we found out just how bad.
One morning... he just... he just didn’t get up.
I just couldn’t understand why my life had turned out like this. Why me?
It was up to me to plan their funeral. I had them buried together.
I was now alone and taking care of my sister. I got a job to provide for us. We kept the house we grew up in and I took up the mantle of being the pillar of support. I did everything I could for her. I never really had a dream in life, never really had a goal. So instead, I lived my life for her. To help her achieve the goals that had hid themselves from me.
For a few weeks we were happy again, the past was just that, the past. And I thought that everything would be fine.
But of course fate decided to continued to toy with my life like a sick and twisted game.
Turns out the blood disease that took my mother, was hereditary in females.
The doctors said that it was triggered earlier due to stress.
I received a call at work that she had collapsed during class.
I made it to the hospital only minutes after ambulance already brought her into EC.
Again, I was alone in a hospital. Waiting for news on some one I loved.
Scared didn't even amount to half of what I was feeling.
I sold our house and moved into the city, closer to the hospital where she stayed.
Unfortunately my day job didn’t pay enough to cover the cost.
So I occasionally dabbled in the less than legal side to help make up the difference.
I was a messenger of sorts for the local criminal organization.
I transported drugs, cash, and information.
The middle man, inside the ring but never close enough to be suspected by law enforcement.
Everything was at least manageable for a year or so.
I looked down at the check in my hands. It was petty, but it would cover the medical bills.
I was going to need to call my contact soon.
I sighed and kept a steady pace towards the building that stood watch over the street.
I walked through the automatic doors when they opened. The nurse at the front desk looked up from her computer as I entered.
I smiled and waved at her, “Hey Debbie, is she awake?”
She smiled warmly in return, “Hello Jack, she's been up for an hour or so.”
I just shrugged and said, “Problems at work.”
I handed her the check, “This should cover us for awhile. Could you send it up to Dr. Nielsen for me?”
She took the check in her hands and looked it over. Once again her smile grew warm as she assured me, “Sure thing sweetie, now hurry along, Lissa has already been waiting long enough.
I nodded and headed for the stairs. It was always faster for me to use the stair instead of the elevator.
I stopped at the third floor and pushed past the stairwell door. As I walked towards my destination I smiled and nodded at the nurses and doctors that walked past. I was well known to most of them so the majority would respond with a smile in turn.
I finally stopped in front of a familiar door, Room 318.
I looked at the figure on the bed inside and knocked on the open door, “Hey sis, watcha up to?”
She turned toward me and I saw a grin light up her face, “Hey Jacky!”
I chuckled slightly and sat down on the bed right beside her.“So, how are we feeling today?”
Her grin grew wider as she replied, “Oh I feel fantastic! I was watching this show that had a bunch of colorful ponies!"
I chuckled once again, “Oh yeah? What was this show called.”
I looked into her eyes and saw the sky greet my gaze.
No doubt she was waiting to explain it to me, “It was called My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic!”
I laughed and shook my head, out of the corner of my eye I saw someone standing in the doorway. “Hey listen I’m gonna go talk to Dr. Nielsen, and when I get back you can tell me all about that show, alright?”
Her grin lowered slightly but it was no less as bright. She nodded her head energetically, "Alright, when you get back I'll tell you about the show alright?"
I stuck out my hand and playfully patted her on the head, "All right, it's a deal!"
I stood up and turned towards the door, any trace of a smile gone.
I closed the door behind me as I turned toward the other man, “What’s up Doc?”
Dr. Nielsen looked at the chart in his hand and promptly sighed, “Jack... I’m not going to lie... Lissa might be looking better but she needs an operation.”
I cursed under my breath as I knew what was coming, “What kind of operation?”
He looked down at the chart once again, “It's costly but it might help her.”
My face fell as I spoke, “When can you operate and when is the latest I can pay?”
Dr. Nielsen’s reply was my worst nightmare, “Tomorrow and the latest is by the end of the week.”
As I entered the room once again I kept my expression upbeat and peppy.
Lissa immediately knew something was wrong. Before I could even get to the matter she spoke first, "Tell me what's wrong."
The question was so blunt and straightforward that my smile faltered, but only for a second. I chuckled and replied, “Nothing at all!”
She stared into my eyes and I could feel any resolve I had fade. I held her gaze and tried to keep myself from giving in.
After a few moments I sighed, “You need an operation.”
Lisa knew what this meant, “Jack you can’t afford that, and don’t say you can just skip a few meals and miss a couple of luxuries. You live in a rat hole and you're so malnourished that you should be in the bed right next door!”
I felt myself get angry, "I'll be fine dammit! Please for once, let me be able to help someone I love!"
She turned her head from me and muttered, "What happened to Mom and Dad wasn't your fault."
"You think I don't tell myself that? Everyday I think 'Maybe if I had helped them' and what if I did? We could be back at home, a family for one more time."
I couldn't see her face but I could hear a sniffle and a muffled sob. I took this as my cue to leave.
I stood up and headed for the door.
I reached out for the handle.
"Live your life Jack... for me."
I didn't turn around, instead I stared at the door handle, "I'll get the money, everything will be fine."
With my parting word I opened the door and left.
I ran and I didn’t stop to look back.
My heart pounded in my chest as I went over the events that lead to my mad dash.
The hand-off had gone smoothly. The only part they hadn't figured was their runner to ditch them with the cash in tow.
I turned a corner and kept running through the rain.
I heard shouts behind me but they were soon drowned out by the noise of city traffic and the downpour. I turned right once again and continued down an alleyway.
I soon realised that it was a dead end, I could hear the shouts again but they were still incoherent.
Moving as quickly as I could, I moved a dumpster under a fire escape and started to climb.
Upon reaching the third floor the shouts soon became recognisable as words.
“Hey! Get back here!"
"You fucking rat bastard!"
"When we find you, your sorry ass is dead! You hear me... DEAD!”
I couldn’t stop to listen to anymore. I continued my insane run across the rooftops. I made sure of my footing for every step. With the rain one wrong move could lead to a very bad ending.
Soon I started to recognize my surroundings, quickly I crossed over to the nearest fire escape and climbed down
My running hadn’t been completely random.
I found myself once again in front of the hospital.
I ran past the doors and waited for the nurse to lower her magazine, “Hi! Is Dr. Nielsen in?”
The nurse was obviously surprised but still replied, “Yes, but Jack I need to tell you that-”
I had heard what I needed to and ran towards the stairwell. I took each step two or three at a time.
I burst through his door with the bag.
I threw it on his desk triumphantly, “There you go Doc. That should cover the procedure.” He picked it up and stared at it. But instead of opening it to check, he simply handed it back.
I took it, clearly dumbfounded, “But, what about...”
The doctor simply stared at me with what I prayed to not be sorrow.
After awhile he started to speak, “I’m sorry Jack, Lissa passed away shortly after you left yesterday.”
I stared at him, my brain either denying what he had said or unable to register the words.
"No."
With that I turned and ran from the room and headed back for the stairs.
“Jack! Come back!” Each word landed on deaf ears, for now my entire mind revolved around on that one word.
I continued my sprint down the stairs until I found myself on the floor where I knew she would be.
As I ran I kept my eyes on the numbers.
Finally I came to the door, Room 318.
I opened the door...
Only to find an empty white room.
I stared at the room while my mind couldn't deny the truth anymore.
She was gone.
Her.
She who was my life...
Dead.
What did that make me?
I could feel someone putting a hand on my shoulder.
I pushed it off and walked away from the room...
From the hospital...
From the memories...
I didn't have a destination in mind but my body apparently did.
I walked into a liquor store and grabbed a bottle.
Without looking at the price I threw a handful of twenty dollar bills at the cashier.
I twisted off the cap and took a large swallow of the drink.
I coughed as the drink burned my throat.
I stumbled into an alleyway as the alcohol hit my brain.
I sat against a wall and took another swig.
I felt tears form in my eyes.
They weren't from the strong drink.
The realization of what my life had become finally hit me.
I looked up at the raining sky.
It was crying.
Not for me.
No.
I don't deserve it.
I sat in the alleyway and let my tears mingle with the rain.
I started to sob.
All I could do was cry and wish it would all go away.
Five hundred years and it still hurt just as bad as it did that day.
I turned my head and gauged the expressions of everyone in the room.
Alex stared at the floor with an expression of frustration.
Twilight had tears in her eyes and and sniffled every few seconds.
Fluttershy and Rarity had dissolved to full blown sobs while holding each other.
Pinkie was oddly quiet and her mane was now straight and a grayish pink, Twilight busied herself by studying her sudden change.
Applejack had her hat covering most of her face but she let out a shake every now and then.
Finally, Rainbow seemed... outraged?
Dash waved her hoof at me, "Wait, wait, wait. You mean you have to pay for basic medical care? I mean, a private room, or a tail extension, or an ear job, sure. But, stuff that keeps you alive? That's crazy." She turns to Alex, "I thought you said humans had health care like we have here."
Alex looked up, "I guess I should have said where I come from. I lived in a country called Canada. We had socialized medicine, like you have here. You lived in the States, right?" I nodded and he continued, "Sorry Dash, different country, different system. I never understood it, really, but it is what it is.”
“But why? Wasn’t there anybody who would help you?”
“No.” My answer may have been blunt but it was true, “Most humans won’t do anything unless it directly benefits them.”
Her rage turned to confusion, “But Alex-”
“Alex is better than most men. Whatever good he has done was because that’s what he is, a good person. Everyone else is anything but selfless. Humans are greedy and violent by nature” Each of those words felt like poison dripping from my tongue, I knew that I was at least hinting about my own persona.
Rainbow may have been stubborn but even she knew when an argument was at a close. Slowly her mood became somber and she instead chose to hold onto Alex.
As we sat in the uncomfortable silence, the thick, fetid air hung in the room. Both sides were thoughtful, but our thoughts were focused on different paths of the same subject. They were thinking about my past and I kept trying to bury it.
As I finally decided to say something, I was interrupted by the door to the room being opened. In walked a pony who wore a nurses cap on top of her light pink mane. Her coat was a clean white, not unlike the walls.
The words died in my throat as she spoke, “Okay everypony, I just checked Jack’s chart and when he wakes up you can take him home.”
She watched their faces expecting a display of joy. Instead she received a wall of blank faces staring at her intently.
Before she could question their strange reaction, Twilight did the most sensible course of action.
She raised her hoof and pointed to the very much awake me.
The nurse slowly turned around, I gave her a little wave and a smile.
We continued to stare at eachother for an unbearably long period of time.
Finally deciding that we could be stuck here all day, I was the first to speak, “So I can go, right?”
That seemed to have broken her from the daze she had been in, “Oh, uh, Yes that is correct. You are in condition to travel but do take care for the stitches we put in could pop easily.”
I chuckled and shook my head, “Don’t worry if they do pop, I know how to stitch myself. Also if it’s too much to ask could I get a small medkit?”
She nodded her head but her expression changed to one of confusion, “Sure, but how are you going to use it, you aren’t a unicorn.”
I laughed and wiggled my fingers in the air, “The magic of opposable thumbs should do fine.”
She nodded her head and headed towards the door muttering something along the lines of ‘damned evolution’.
I ignored it and turned to face my friends once more, “Alright, you heard the nurse, I’m a free man.”
Rainbow was the first to respond “Great! I need a na- I mean, I need to get started on my routine.”
The only sign that she had ever been in the room was a rainbow colored trail. Alex chuckled knowingly as she left with a gust of wind and burst of colour.
Everyone stood up and headed for the door, before all of them could leave I cleared my throat, “Hey remember me, the guy who can’t walk. Al, I’mma need some help here.”
Alex nodded and made his way to the bed. I slid my feet over the side and wrapped my arm over his shoulder.
He supported my weight and I finally got a good look at the clothing I currently found myself in.
I was wearing a hospital gown, but this one seemed to have been cut down in many places. It was also uncomfortably short. Looking over my shoulder I saw multiple ‘sleeves’ dangling from my back.
Alex saw me looking over my questionable attire, “Your shirt got ruined in the fight, I brought you one of mine and we still got your pants.”
I nodded my head before I realised what he had said, if someone had taken off my shirt then surely they would have seen...
I shot a questioning glance at Alex who in turn just looked away, confirming my suspicions. I knew he wouldn’t ask me about it unless I wanted to talk about it, and I doubt he would tell the others. All in all, he was the perfect person who I would trust to keep quiet about it.
I found the set of clothes magically floating in front of me. I reached out and grabbed ahold of them. Alex lowered me back onto the bed, and headed towards the door were Twilight stood. Before he left, he looked over his shoulder and studied me.
I avoided his gaze and turned to look out the window, “We all carry scars, mine are just a little bit more visible.”
Soon there was a click as the door shut. Wasting no time I took off the gown and pulled on my pants and the shirt. I was still barefoot but that didn’t bother me anymore.
“Alright I’m done.”
Alex walked back in and helped me back up again.
There was something that had been bothering me for awhile. I turned towards Rarity, who had regained her composure exceedingly well besides a few smudges of make up.
“Did ponies create denim yet?”
She seemed thrown off by my question, “Why yes dear, but most fashion designers don’t have much of a use for it. May I ask, for whatever reason do you need such a material?”
“Jeans, lots and lots of jeans.” The idea of being able to have my favorite piece of clothing definitely lightened my mood, although Rarity was still confused by my seemingly spontaneous question.
It took us only a few more minutes to reach the waiting room, where Rainbow and Applejack had been. By the time we made it to the front door, the effects of my hospitalization were already making themselves apparent. I felt winded and my head pounded with exertion, I wasn’t even carrying my full weight either.
Alex could see that I was struggling and tried to support more of my weight. I shook my head and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the long journey across town.
Alex in turn looked over at Twilight, who was watching intently the entire time. He nodded his head while Twilight did the same. I only had a few moments to wonder what they were going to do when there was a bright flash, I closed my eyes and flinched. When I opened them I found myself in front of a cottage in the woods.
There was an assortment of animals that wandered across the premises, they acted as if they belonged there but from what I heard so far, they probably did. I stared on in fascination at the serenity that the humble abode seemed to emanate.
After awhile my face started to hurt, I realized I had been staring with a wide grin for about five minutes. I looked around at the company I currently found myself with. Rarity, Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie were missing and I was left with Alex, Twi, and Flutters.
“Do you guys make plans about me, without involving me, all the time?”
Twi gave me a sheepish glance and turned her head, “Oh, sorry we just thought that...”
I chuckled at her apprehension, “Don’t worry about it, I’m just giving you a hard time. I appreciate everything you've done for me, all of you.”
Alex started for the building, “Here, let’s get you in bed.”
I had to admit, that a nap sounded good at the moment.
Fluttershy opened the door for us to enter, Alex stopped in just inside of the house, “Where do I put him?”
I could already feel the day catching up to me, my eyelids felt so heavy.
“...room... upstairs... couch... for now...”
I felt myself being laid down on a comfortable surface. I fell asleep almost instantly.
-----
A young, squeaky voice, came to the edge of my hearing, “I think he’s asleep.”
Another voice, like a young Rainbow Dash, answered, “Nu uh, my dad said that he would be awake.”
A third voice that reminded me a lot of Applejack’s answered the first two, “Ah’m pretty sure he’s sleepin’ Scoots.”
The squeaky voice exclaimed, “Wait, girls look he’s moving!”
And as one, they yelled, "Hey, Jack," dragging me from the remains of sleep.
Grudgingly I opened my eyes and looked at the three fillies. I wasn’t very happy and I was about to voice it when I saw their expressions.
They were staring at me with unnaturally large grins attached to their faces.
I sat up on the couch, “Can I help you?”
Apple Bloom shook her head, “Nope!”
Sweetie Belle spoke up next, “But we want to help you!”
And finally Scootaloo, “For helping us!”
Apple Bloom, a natural leader if I ever saw one, started, “Because we’re...”
And they finished together, “THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADER NURSING SQUAD! YAY!”
I was surprised by the level of noise that these small fillies produced, as the ringing in my ears died down I thought about what they had said, “So you three are my personal nurses?”
Apple Bloom nodded her head, “Yup!”
Sweetie Belle pulled a glass of water from seemingly nowhere, “Here you go!”
I slowly reached for the glass.
Why was I so apprehensive about these three?
What’s the worst these fillies could do?
My hand connected with the glass as I took it from Sweetie Belle...
