Steelskin's Jumps · 2:09am Jan 29th, 2014
The sequel to Jump of the Iron Dragon will be started soon.
It will be Steelskin, having returned home (or at least a very close copy) and having his body reset yet again to the age he was when he first jumped with Tallic, telling others about some of his jumps.
Sadly, my muse has been running in nightmare directions and the story will need the 'dark' tag. Consider this fair warning.
I also plan to leave this incomplete and add to it whenever I have a decent story for him to tell.
For those of you who want a teaser, here is the rough draft of the opening of chapter 1:
Alex sat next to Steelskin at the bar. Both were nursing their drinks as Steelskin built up the nerve to remember.
Many indignant looks were shot their way as Steelskin spooned salt into his drink and stirred it meditatively. Berry Punch had forgotten that humans didn’t take salt and had automatically given Alex the bowl when he asked. She also didn’t see Steelskin add the salt, but after seeing him stirring his drink, seeing other patrons looking shocked and offended, and Alex drinking his ‘virgin human’, it finally clicked.
“What in Celestia’s name are you doing to that colt? He’s way too young to be taking salt!” She reached for the bowl as she continued her tirade. “Is this what you and Dash do with Scootaloo? Do you get her drunk and laugh as she stumbles around?”
Alex blocked her hoof with an outstretched hand as he interrupted her diatribe. “No, I don’t, and you should know me better than that.” He then put his hand over the salt bowl, pulling it close. "Berry, remember that one time before I got married, when I got blind stinking drunk and told you my story? You know, the one from before Ponyville?"
She pulled her hoof back. "Yeah, so?"
"Steelskin went through the same thing." Alex turned back to his own drink.
"You...." She stood, her jaw agape. Steel held her gaze. She shuddered as her eyes misted up, noticing the look of serious, soul scarring trauma behind those eyes. She had seen lesser looks in the eyes of hardened veterans as they tried to salt away their memories.
