Meeting of Two Beards · 3:00pm Jul 4th, 2019
MAJOR SPOILERS OF AJBS, SEASON EIGHT, EPISODE SIXTEEN! A SPECIFIC SCENE MANY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, AND WILL SEE ONCE THE SEASON IS EVENTUALLY, FULLY PUBLISHED, DO NOT READ IF YOU WISH TO SAVOUR THE MOMENT FOR WHEN TIME COMES!
ENJOY!
There we are. Violets with a dash of lavender, red roses and some whites too. And a few yellow to symbolize Twilight's favourite activity outside of magic.
Satisfied, I placed the new bouquet neatly down before her bedroom door, knowing the alicorn wasn't in there but would be pleasantly surprised to find them later. Wonder if she'll enjoy the new flowers added in considering the day she's had.
I'm confident she'll love them, Jack.
Yeah... Provided she doesn't get too hungry to even appreciate the appearance first. I smirked, casually strolling down the hallway to the kitchen, a little peckish myself. Today was quite eventful; Flim and Flam trying to rip off friendship lessons, Twilight exploding vocally, and now Spike promising to go investigate the bizarre presence at the school. The lavender mare was currently conversing with a visitor in the reading room, since I couldn't identify the newcomer's signature, but nothing close to the oily form I kept picking up at the school.
In any case, it was a long day, and I had been long depraved of food. Know what I'm thinking? Pasta and tuna! I love me some pasta and tuna.
A fine dish, my boy.
Okay, you've been complimenting me all day. What's up with you, teach? It sounds like you're trying to butter me up for something.
Perish the thought Jack, I am simply approving of your well-meaning actions on this fine day. You've been supportive of Twilight recently, moreso than ever, with flowers everyday, chocolates on the weekends, reading out-loud her favourite history books when she's in yearn of rest, handling her own tasks without prompt. I am just enthralled by your determination since your patch up during Hearth's Warming.
While that's true, I had been devoting every ounce of time at late to pleasing my alicorn Princess and making things right, I doubt it's all patched up again. One night of apologizing and admitting we're both morons that don't think in the long run scarcely could patch everything right back upwards.
Regardless, try you do. Everything you've been doing since uncovering your own feelings for the Princess has been devoted in making her happy, which you often achieve with flying colours through your own selfless, well-meaning decisions. A momentary pause. Not to mention, by the by, your preference of pleasing your friends and son in addition. I dare say you make it nigh impossible for any of them to resent you, my unorthodox boy. Now, you may argue it isn't in their nature to hate, but you would be surprised how, without difficulty, the sensation may come to us, similar to your own kind.
Hm... Good try, by the way, in dodging my earlier question, Starswirl.
...Well, it was worth an attempt. Followed by a weary, but faintly amused sigh from the invisible spirit, and I smirked in self-satisfaction at catching the oh-so wise being off-guard. You're more perceptive than you give yourself credit for.
Go on then, old pony, tell me why you've been making complimenting sandwiches all day. Is there something on the horizon I should be on the lookout for, or do you have some bad news you feel obligated to share, but want me to be of sound behaviour to endure it?
...
...
...
Starswirl...?
Eventually, after what sounded like some resolved acceptance, the essence replied with soberness. It's better you find out for yourself... Now that is.
Huh-?
The sound of shared laughter alerted my twitching horse ears, craning my head down the hall ocne passing around a corner, to the room Twilight and her guest occupied, the latter's laughter mixed with the former's sounding decidedly familiar. The presence itself, once getting closer, was purely warm, wise with a sense of purpose. But came with the faintest edged outlines of some minor regret. Curious.
An old friend of Twilight's? Granted it's none of my business, and I didn't want to interrupt their pleasant time but... Something about Starswirl's vague response prompted me to continue, raising a brow as I inched down the hall, closer to the doors into the reading room with a visible gap in-between, light pouring out. More quiet conversing, and then, more warm laughter.
Laughter, on closer inspection, which stiffened my whole form, was belonging of a voice I knew all too well. And who could blame me, having tolerated the sage's tone for years. Without real consideration, I plowed through the doors into the relatively lit room, noting the two ponies smiling and talking on the couches surrounding a table of postcards. A part of my mind scoffed by seeing all those cards in question.
The rest, focused upon the certain individual in a cape and wizard's hat with his back turned to me, my breathing becoming slightly more shallow by the moment. Twilight, while talking about one thing or another, finally spotting me from the corner of her peripheral vision, her wide grin vanishing in a heartbeat.
"Jack...?!" Evidently not expecting, perhaps hoping, my path with this living and breathing stallion would have never crossed. His signature radiating innocent curiosity, those stormy eyes behind a mighty beard and grey fur finally turned to face me.
And for the first time, present met the present.
This was real... This was seriously real...
And while my hazel eyes, wide and disbelieving, blinked to express my utter incredulity, the flesh and bone Starswirl the Bearded raised a polite brow, maintaining that innocent puzzlement. "Well, hello there, young stallion. Whom might you be?" I couldn't find words, at first, and that only invited more incentive to push. "Are you another friend of Twilight's here?"
'Twilight,' not 'Princess.' So unlike the formal address my Starswirl was typically more comfortable with, but this... Present self... Felt more lax, his heart simply reflecting his outwardly curiosity, with those eyes expressing a seek to know new things and amend from his mistakes.
Mistakes... Oh, they were more than that...
Twilight was quick to attempt remedying the situation, quickly coming between us in haste as my body grew more anxious from the old unicorn's REAL approach. "Um, Jack, this is... Well, no doubt you've heard of him." I couldn't even bring it in me to make a mental joke at the time. Twilight grinning abashedly before then introducing the old pony to me next. "Starswirl, meet Jack. He's my... Well, fiance."
"'Fian-'" Starswirl echoed with a sincere, laughable gasp while glancing between in some minor suspicion. "You... Never mentioned having one beforehand, Twilight?"
"Oh, we weren't engaged during the Stygian affair." Stygian... My teeth clenched, unnoticed by either, but Twilight did pick up the spike in my heart, pressing herself closer next to me in attempts of rectifying the tension. Adopting that rather squeaky, sheepish behaviour when something's amiss involving awkwardness. Doesn't even BEGIN. "But um... Jack's a good stallion. The best Warrior a Princess could ask for, right honey?"
"..."
"..."
"...I see." Starswirl coughed politely in his hoof, offering a wry smile while his heart still leaked suspicion of deceit and... Irritation now? He dares be... To HER? "Well then, I suppose congratulations are in order. When might I attend this eventful union?"
And now he invites himself-
"What excuse did you have...?"
Both heads whirled to me, Twilight bordering on anxious panic, but Starswirl blinked with a coy frown. "I beg your pardon, young stallion-"
"WHAT, excuse did you have you... You..." My heart was varied blend of emotions, raging to incredulity and pent up, negative emotions with few positives. Now being ready to release that this version of the pony whom brought me here, to this world to begin with, was here and now and... And... "You have the [BEEP]S to even show up here... After all you've done... All you will do...!" Practically hissing out that last bit.
"Jack..." A lavender hoof squeezed my gold own, but my features remained tense. I'm sorry love but... I can't... Couldn't... Will NEVER...!
"Well then... I clearly see I'm not wholly wanted here." Starswirl hummed as though deeming this a terrible inconvenience, further adding fuel to the fire. Those stormy, indifferent eyes glanced to my Princess. "Another time, perhaps, Princess. I must admit, I'm not overly impressed by your taste, almost as to how unimpressed I was by your inability to see the big pic-"
A rush of wind, one thrusted hoof extended to brush past the old coot's side, a couch flipping and soaring into the air, smashing with impact against the wall. The force of my righteous rage, flowing up my cape and his, prompting Starswirl's loud gasp by the golden wings then finally exposed, blinking in pure incomprehension. But I wasn't in the mood of indulging his thousand pointless questions.
"How?!"
My voice put Evil Sombra to shame. "How dare you judge my wife for what was your own fault to begin with!"
Starswirl - the one that's luckily dead and watching from above - I hope you have a nice little corner to hide in, to avoid watching me vocally tear your past self to shreds!
The old unicorn blinked, taking a few steps back and glancing hopelessly to Twilight, the Princess too stunned to even make a comment, wide-eyed regarding me and my pent up rage becoming released. This Starswirl swallowed. "Who... What are you...?"
Oh my favourite question. "Frankenstein's Monster." Grinning at the one-sided knowing irony, before resuming releasing my own emotions upon the stallion whom was arguably more a monster than even his own students. "But who are YOU, Starswirl the Failure, to even judge a Princess who is wiser, compassionate and strong of heart and will than you will EVER BE!"
A heavy frown. "Boy, if you would just calm down and explain yourself reasonably-"
"NO. I'm not like everyone else, I won't be 'heeding your valuable wisdom' or tolerate your sense of being a patronizing [BEEP]. Yeah, I know ALL about it; I know what you did, I know what you've BEEN doing. Pretty bold to lecture and condescend others after abandoning someone who could count as your own SON."
"Just calm yourself-"
"CALM?! I'm perfectly calm, thank you! So calm enough to even speak as opposed to the utter temptation of Team Rocket'ing you out of the castle ceiling after all the [BEEP] you've pulled."
"Clearly you have some misfortune with me. If you could kindly and reasonably-"
"Explain myself. You know what? I've done enough of that for a lifetime. How about YOU explain yourself for a change, Starswirl."
Pointing rudely, uncaring as my glare was enough to pierce through this deranged stallion's skull.
"How about, instead of expecting everyone to kiss your decrepit hoofs and tell you how great you are while everyone else is flawed, that YOU explain why your reputation as wise, eccentric but kind teacher is even well deserved after refusing to let a friend explain himself by a leap of logic, trying to banish him to limbo, take all the credit for him even assembling your little Avengers team knock-off, and expect not to be condemned by your own selfish, self-serving consequence-free motivations in pursuit of knowledge."
This time, Starswirl was getting more flabbergasted than calm, muzzle hysterically agape as his heart panged with open shame and wound from those fresh reminders, and the reality check. Sorry Twilight, you had your chance today in vocally slandering those whom wronged the people you loved.
It's my turn now.
"I see where Celestia gets it from; this activity of doing whatever you please, expecting everyone else to just deal with it! Hell, even I'm guilty of it, but at least I know do with OTHERS in mind than my own one-sided agenda! You and your friends made someone whom brought you together, someone who looked up to you, an outcast, and tried to get rid of him eternally when he just wanted to earn your approval and respect! You create the monsters you teach!"
Then, finally, pointing to the still shellshocked Twilight, whom blinked rapidly as my furious, golden blazing eyes never looked away from the silent Starswirl, who even had the audacity to look at the floor in utter, pure regret. Oh, think that'll make me stop? Think again!
"And don't even get me started on how you've treated my Prin- Actually, yes I WILL GET STARTED, BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE SOUL HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THE MARE I LOVE, FEEL LIKE DIRT. NOT MY FRIENDS, NOT MY SON, AND NOT TWILIGHT SPARKLE, THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO EQUESTRIA! This mare has done more for the world and every living thing than you or Celestia ever could; Twilight brought together species, established friendships where it wouldn't be considered possible. Saved and reformed wronged people time and time again. Hell, it was TWILIGHT who saved and redeemed Stygian, and her equally wonderful student!"
Blinking back tears of rage, I heaved loudly, feeling completely red in the face. But not quite finished just yes. This time, my cracked voice was lower, cooler but filled with the face, justifiably malice.
"Yes, Twilight made a grave error in acting without thinking. Yes, perhaps I'm overreacting... But for you to revel in your own arrogance. For you to continue smiling and expecting things of anyone - of her - after how you've treated her and our friends... Never ONCE apologizing or resolving to make things right, for my wife or Stygian, and expect everything to go as normal... I'm not like the rest of Equestria, Starswirl..."
Walking over to right beside the mare, and holding her close in my firm, gestured passion. Making it abundantly clear who my loyalty to was, then and eternal. Twilight couldn't even find any words, so I oh-so happily continued putting this old fool before us down in his place.
"I made the same mistakes you did, Starswirl, just a short while back... I likely will keep doing so... And to see those reminders again, after how I reacted to Twilight's past errors like that... I just wanted to throw myself into the Ghastly Gorge after realizing my OWN narcissistic, presumptuous tendencies."
Twilight gasped loudly, and I held my love much closer. Though I didn't pay much attention, more focused sorely on the ashamed stallion, the Princess held me in equal affection and devotion.
"But I would, unlike you... NEVER forget the people I grew closer to. I would never favour one friend over the other. I love everyone I've come to met in Ponyville and beyond, equally and forever. You are so blinded by your self-righteous years of studying and teaching that you fail to even see the obvious, the consequences of what your actions can cause..."
Just like me... Just always like me...
"If you ever expect to even come to Twilight and I's wedding, then I, in turn, expect your sole wedding present devoted to groveling at the feet of those you've wronged, begging profusely for forgiveness. I don't care how, but I'm not as empathetic and forgiving as my lovable Princess and our amazing friends or son."
With that, I permitted myself a momentary, amused smile, before it vanished to become sober, and release the last statement I uttered today at this old fool whom looked as though he aged a hundred years more just from heeding my words.
"And to give an example of how I can often be regarded as the most ruthless pony around, if you don't apologize for giving my beloved here the cold shoulder and harsh words back then in the next two minutes, then not only will I literally kick your old [BEEP] out of our home, but I will forcibly shave off that Gandalf-wannabe facial hair and present it as a rug to Rarity's cat. Clock's ticking, old timer."
That’s so satisfying reading this and imagining the riot act being said to the condescending, narrow minded old fool that is Starswhirl.
This soothed my troubled heart. The Stygian lover in me wanted to rip that asshats head clean off of his body for treating Stygian the way he did.