//------------------------------// // Marked // Story: Kiwe's Journey // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// A loud thump and clambering hooves on carpet barely entered the subconscious of the zony unicorn as he lay in his futon, warmed by blankets and with a soft pillow holding his head at a perfect angle. “Kiwe!” Jade almost tackled his friend off the bed. “It’s been two weeks, you said you’d show me how to make a potion, c’mon!” Kiwe merely groaned as Jade untangled him from the sheets and blankets. “Two more minutes,” he managed and lit his horn, pulling the covers over his head and hiding the glow from his magic. “Nope! It’s saturday, you’re supposed to be awake and hanging out with me,” Jade hopped gently around the grumpy colt. “C’mon, you’re late. I woke up an hour ago and you’re supposed to be nice to your guests so let’s go.” A grumble was the first reply. “You’re like family now, I don’t gotta be nice anymore.” Jade laughed triumphantly. “If I’m family then I’m the older brother and you have to do what I say and I say get up!” “I’m nine in the spring, you’re nine in the early summer. Leave me alone.” “Crystal pony, remember?” There was a flash of yellow and the bed was unmade as much as it could be. “Fine, shiny boy, I’m up, now. Happy?” “Make your bed, then I’ll think about it,” Jade snickered and laughed as he hopped to the floor and galloped out of the room, Kiwe’s pillow hitting his tail as he ran. A few minutes later Kiwe was in the living room with Jade explaining a simple recipe for mouthwash with his mother’s watchful eye. “Is that right, mother?” “Almost, my son. When you add the herb you wish to taste do not use that much or it will all go to waste. Use a sprig when you add it in, stir it twice and test it thrice.” “Okay, so then it should be done, right, mother?” “You will only know when you finish,” she nodded to them from her position lying on the floor. “Okay, c’mon, let’s get cooking!” “Jade, we mustn’t rush. Many things can go wrong, so we must work step by step.” They colts went to the kitchen and prepared the cauldron, talking and moving through the recipe one step at a time. knock knock knock … The door closed behind the guest and Nangila led her inside to the living room where they took a seat and spoke for several minutes. The mare excused herself and somberly left the apartment, the colts none the wiser she’d even been there. She watched from around the corner as Kiwe’s magic held the book open and read with Jade the next steps, then sighed. “My son, Kiwe, we must speak as this has been an unfortunate week.” “Okay? Jade, I’ll return in a moment, yes?” “Yeah, that’s cool,” he replied while squinting his eyes and focusing on the page. Kiwe followed his mother to the far end of the living room and sat beside each other. “What’s up, mother?” “Your father has vanished but may not be dead, keep his memory in your head.” Several seconds of silence passed. “Mother, I don’t understand.” She hugged him and rested her chin on his head, behind his horn and inhaled his scent. “Your father, he has vanished from everyone he worked with. He took nothing with him, not even his bits, yet there has been no death to be seen. Do you know what this could mean?” He blinked. “No?” “I have heard tales of zebra vanishing in the night. Many times it caused quite the fright. The zebra would return with quite the story to tell, of creatures and a journey but they were always well.” Kiwe pulled back and looked up and his mother. “F-father, is gone?” She looked sad, but not enough to cry or pout. She nodded in agreement and Kiwe’s heart fell. He stood and took a step back, moving a hind leg as the news sank in. “H-he’s left, as a zebra father might, without a word, letter, or hug goodbye?” She nodded again and Kiwe whimpered, turned around in a fluid motion and galloped to his room, slamming his door. Jade quickly turned the corner and chased after Kiwe, only to be swept up in Nangila’s foreleg. “Hey, what’s going on, he needs me.” “Jade, I feel he needs time alone-” “No, I lost a lot of family and friends, too,” he squirmed, “he needs me, I know how to help him!” Nangila hesitated and then let the colt go. “Kiwe! I’m coming,” he shouted as he slid to a stop at the door and reared up to open it, slid in, then closed the door behind him. “Go away, I don’t wanna-” “My father died, too, Kiwe.” He turned his head from the pillow and looked at Jade. “What?” “My real dada, his name was Chip. I was two when he was conscripted,” Jade sat on the futon’s edge, “I never saw him again, and don’t remember him, really, but… yeah.” Kiwe snorted. “So, what, you have problems bigger than mine? Yes? That’s not very kind.” Jade sagged his shoulders and patted the blanket with his hooves. “No, your problem is bigger than mine was,” he looked back into the teary eyes of his friend then turned his body to face him. “My father, I knew even as a little foal that he was going to go away forever. Your father,” he lay next to Kiwe, “is just gone.” Kiwe sniffled and lay his head on the pillow again, fighting back sobs as Jade went on. “Kiwe, your father might be alive, he’s just missing. No body, no blood, no stuff. Was he a slumber trotter?” Kiwe shook his head slightly as tears wet his pillow. “And I never saw him go crazy and run around rambling about the end of something, so he probably didn’t run away like that, right?” Kiwe whimpered, but nodded. “And he loves you and your mother, right? Enough to give everything, even his hooves if he had to, to keep you both safe?” Kiwe was at the brink of losing his emotional control until that moment, when he reached over and pulled Jade into a hug and bawled, burying his face in his friends neck and mane as he let loose. Seconds turned to minutes, bawling turned to an attempt to keep crying, but eventually his body had had enough. Kiwe let Jade go, moved back, taking a towel with his magic, then placed it at the base of Jade’s neck. “Thank you, Jade. I appreciate you being here for me, but may I have some time alone?” Jade moved to his hooves and leant down, nuzzling his friend. With a slight blush he rubbed his left foreleg with his right. “Yeah, I’ll be in the other room, for when you need me, okay?” A few seconds later Kiwe was alone, lying on his blankets, sadly looking at the sky through the open window. “Father,” he said softly, “please be alright. What am I to do without you until you return, you’re coming back, right?” he asked a cloud drifting by. “Yes, you are. No matter what happens, you love mother and me too much, right?” He lay still for a few moments, then got up, went to his dresser and opened the bottom drawer. He pulled out a long cloak colored slightly darker than his cloak and used his magic to drape it over himself, setting the tail slot first and clasping it closed around his neck, it covered nearly all of him while leaving enough space to not drag on the ground when he walked normally. “Mother,” he said as he left his room, “Jade, may I have a hug?” he asked and was quickly embraced by both. “My son, you are going to be fine. He will return in time with a tale to tell,” she paused and blinked, “as I said before.” “Why’re you wearing a cloak?” Jade asked, the first to back away. “It was, is my father’s gift to me for when he was my age and size. I will return with both this, and him.” Both the others gasped quietly and his mother held him tighter. “What are you saying my son, you will be gone to look for him with no one?” “But, Kiwe, you’re still in school… we’re still in school. I’m not letting you go alone, but we can’t just leave without a word to anypony.” “I’ve told my mother and you, both of you can tell them of what’s happened. I cannot return and be made fun of or be consoled at school, I will leave soon and I will return with him, yes. I will.” “My son, I…” she hugged him tighter and then let him go, smiling wearily, “will not stop you from going to find him. It is within your rights, but I can stop your friend as best I am able,” she looked at Jade, “I insist you return home and tell them of your plans. Kiwe, it is still early in the day so it is a good time to begin traveling,” she stood and made her way to her room, stopping to look at photos in the hallway as she went. “Jade, you shouldn’t come with me. He’s my father, not yours to worry about.” “Kiwe, when my dada went to the mines for Sombra, I didn’t know him. When I turned seven I was returned and freed from his oppression and swore I’d at least find what happened to him, and now I’m nine, with a chance to travel with a friend to help him find out what happened to his father,”  his brow furrowed, “and I’m not going to leave him to wander the road alone!” Jade stomped his hoof and a flash of light filled the room for a second, both colts looked back to his flank and saw his mark, still shimmering lightly. “Jade! You got your mprgh-” He grinned around the hoof that covered his mouth at the colt, into determined eyes. “I won’t leave you, cool colt.” Both colts smiled and embraced in a hug. “Oh my, what a day. You get your mark as my son goes away,” Nangila’s voice cut into their moment. “Mother, I’m gonna- Mother?!” he shouted, looking at her and the bags strapped to her body, covered in a dark cloak with hood, and bag of bits in her teeth. Tears ran down her face, matting her coat and beginning to drip onto the floor as she moved to him. She dropped the bag of bits at his hooves. “These are for you, I will walk with you to the edge of town. Both you and your friend,” she sniffled. “These bags are filled with anything you’d need while you travel to any one point in the land of Equestria, as long as you don’t dawdle,” she nuzzled his cheek and he felt her trembling, “when we reach the end of the our trek you will both be on your own,” her voice broke, “but know that you are always welcome back.” She moved past him before he could ask or say anything and looked down at Jade. “You will keep him safe,” she stated as she passed and moved to the door. “Just a moment, mother, I want to grab some things myself.” “Place them outside your room and I’ll place them in my bags before we go,” she said stoically. Kiwe rushed to his room and gathered several books and sifted through them, picking out his magic practice book and then grabbed three small toys at random from his toy pile, finally ending with a dash across the room to grab a towel, he placed on the floor and began to place the items he’d grabbed onto it when his recipe book landed with a thud at the periphery of his vision. “We should take this, it might be important.” Kiwe nodded and added it to the bundle, moved the bundle outside his door and moved to the kitchen. “We need some food to get us by for when we need it,” he said as he passed his mother. A short moment of rummaging and he’d gathered some non-perishable cans of vegetables, fruit, and a bottle of cooking oil. He piled it together and pointed at Jade. “Your saddlebags, yes.” With another hop, he ran to the bathroom to gather her toothbrush and brush set, dropping them beside his mother, who was now stuffing the various items into her bags. Lastly, he stopped by a photo album and placed his hoof on its cover. A few seconds later he opened it and began flipping pages, looking through memories he’d barely known. His mother’s presence was known to him, but he didn’t pay her much mind until she flipped to book to nearly the back. “Take these,” she tore the whole page from the album and hoofed it to him kindly, “photos of us all to keep your heart on the journey and keep you from bended knee. Keep them safe and they will keep you strong, remember where you always belong.” He hugged her and inhaled her scent, remembering it before he let her go and they finished packing and left the apartment. The walk down the city streets was somber between the trio. Many eyes were attracted to them but they ignored the attention, preferring the sounds of their own hooves on the streets and sidewalks they walked on. “Mother, will you be alright while I am gone?” She turned back and smiled at him. “I’ve been fine before, and knowing you will return with your father will be enough to keep me going until the moment you return. I have one final gift for you, when we reach the end of the city it will be a gift for you, from me.” Kiwe moved faster and rubbed his shoulder against his mother’s. “I’ll keep it safe until the moment I return home and show it to you, yes?” She chuckled. “Yes, it will warm my heart to see you wearing it when you return,” she slowed and nudged Jade closer to Kiwe, “when all three of you return. I will tell Jade’s parents of his choice. As I know, ponies don’t mind it when their older foals starting their journey into the world, and once they know of your mark, Jadeite, I’m certain they’ll understand.” The colts sighed and looked ahead, around the many adults, buildings, and objects to the horizon, nervously. However, their resolve was certain and they didn’t waver in their belief in  themselves and each other to fulfill their quest. “It won’t be a problem, Miss Nangila, we’ll be back within the month, right, Kiwe?” The striped colt smiled and nodded, but stayed silent until he remembered one last thing he had to do. … They reached the edge of the city, tummies full of ice cream and knowledge that at least Violet would know that they’re safe and on an adventure. “My son and friend, my part of travel with you has come to an end. I have several things I wished to say before you went away,” she sniffled and pulled her hood back from her face, unshadowing herself and the streams of dried tears from her eyes. Kiwe hugged his mother. “I’m coming home, I promise on every star in the sky and photon from the sun.” Jade smirked and rolled his eyes. “Eggheads.” “Here, Azikiwe; my cloak and bags are yours today, bring them back if you’re able. I pray they will keep your journey stable.” “Mother,” he snickered, “that was a bad rhyme.” “I cannot rhyme perfect all the time, and my heart is full of sorrow that I will not wake to see you tomorrow.” “Mother, we’ll be fine and return in no time. With my father in tow I’ll have had an adventure for a lifetime, I know.” She shimmied out the saddlebags and wiped her cheek with a fetlock before taking off the cloak. “This will keep you safe at night, perhaps even give a foe a fright or aid in an escape that Daring Do would imitate. Lastly I give you a necklace made of my mane, under the worse of events it will keep you sane. The magic imbued within will help you sleep and awake rested in even the most dangerous of nights, good dreams will... you keep,” she embraced him again tightly and released him, taking a step back. “I’ll watch over him, too, Miss Nangila.” “I know you will, I have a gift for you but you shall not tell,” she walked to him and whispered in his ear, then stepped back. “Say not a word unless you need help most dire, like to prevent a funeral pyre.” He scrunched his muzzle but nodded, looking to Kiwe then back at her. “That’s a weird thing to say, but okay.” She patted his mane. “You may rhyme a little here and there, someday maybe it will become as natural as fur on a pear.” “Uhm, pears don’t have fur, Miss Nangila.” “Exactly, child.” She bowed her head and without another word left the cloak and saddlebags in a small pile as she walked, then trotted, then galloped away. Kiwe resisted the desire to chase after her and turned his focus to the items she’d left. “I-it’s, t-too hot to wear black right now, so,” he sniffled, “s-so… Jade, am I doing the right thing?” Jade exuded compassion and placed a foreleg around Kiwe’s withers. “It’s only right as long as you believe it, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. Let’s see what’s in the bags!” He moved past and moved the cloak away, laying the bags flat and opening the first pouch, he stuffed his head inside and spend a minute rifling through it, then moving his head out he shrugged. “Basic stuff; dried food, a couple books, pictures, and the bag of bits. Wanna check the other?” “Sure,” he said standing again and moving over sluggishly. He unsnapped the clasp and moved his head inside and gasped. Then pushed his neck, and made it to his shoulders before he chose to back out. “Celestia’s plot, Jade, it’s enchanted!” “Wow, what’s it like in there?” “Dark, but I didn’t feel the bottom.” “So, it’s like a magic everything bag, where we need something and it comes out when we reach in?!” “I dunno, lemme see… I need a knife,” he reached in and grabbed around. His face lit up and he pulled out… a silver butter knife. “Uhm, lemme try again. I need a way to defend myself,” he reached in, felt something, and pulled out a small bag. “Now we’re talking,” he opened it and rolled his eyes, tipping it over and spilling out pencils, a pen, and a notebook. He looked at the bag and noticed another book and slid it out with his magic. “A dictionary,” Jade looked at the title, “‘Celestian to Other’, it’s one of those that changes to whatever language you’re translating to. Says here you just have them talk to the book and it’ll translate, but you have to still make the sentences.” “Ugh, school away from school,” Kiwe packed the items back in and closed the bag. “One last try, there’s a bear attacking me, help!” He opened the satchel and reached in, pulling out a sausage and whistle tied to the end. He looked at the meat and dropped it. “Ew! That’s real meat! Gross, I’m not carrying that in my bag.” “Wait! It’s cured, so it’s not dangerous and bears like meat so this would distract it from eating us until we got away. Same for most predators, and we can eat it, too, if we need to.” Kiwe frowned. “I know, but only under the worst circumstances would I eat meat.” “I’ve eaten meat before, it’s not too bad, if you don’t think about it, it’s like tofu or something.” “Well, I like tofu, but we’ll see. Hopefully not,” he shoved it back into the bag and closed it. “So, we can get stuff we need, but not stuff we need. Oh! Ask it for bits, maybe we have unlimited bits and can buy a bunch of stuff like knives. Real ones.” Kiwe rolled his eyes. “I need bits,” he said to the pack and reached in, pulling out a bag of bits. “Sweet! It worked. Put it with the other one,” he said and passed the bag to Jade, who placed the bag in the other pouch. They repeated the request several times and danced in place. “How much do we have, Jade? Maybe we can just buy a ticket on an airship!” Jade snickered and shook his head with a sigh, removing a bag of bits. “One bag of bits, the same bag your mother gave us. The pack isn’t that awesome, I guess.” “Well,” Kiwe closed both pouches after stuffing his mother’s cloak in the non-enchanted side, “how many bits do we have?” “About twelve single coins, eight tens, and one one-hundred. So one-hundred eighty, plus twelve is…” “One hundred ninety two. That’s enough for a family trip to Canterlot for the day. Let’s not spend it all at once and we should make it to Vanhoover easy enough. Ready?” Kiwe’s magic faltered but managed to pick up the bags and set the on his body, tightening the straps firmly. “Yeah, I only have my sleeping stuff from last night in my bags.” “Cool, we can sleep together and keep warm if it gets cold.” Jade blushed but nodded. “Y-yeah, if we have to.” “I need a compass,” Kiwe said, reaching back into the enchanted bag with his foreleg and frowned as he didn’t feel anything. “Not everything we need is in here, let’s hope we’re going the right way.” “Easy, the sun is there and rose there, so north is that way and Vanhoover is that way,” Jade pointed, “almost due west of my home, a bit to the south,” he looked smugly aside at Kiwe, “I know how to navigate. Something all Crystal Ponies can do, we feel the magic from the heart anywhere and can use it to guide us home.” “Well, you’re guiding me then. Us, to my father.” “I’ll lead the way, like a Sure Clock novel. ‘Elementary, dearest Watt’s.’” “No way, this’ more like a Daring Do book, she’d handle this without a problem.” “Daring Do is so ‘Daring Done’. Old school, this’ like ‘Sure Clock and the Hiding Bandit Tribe’! There he was, Detective Jadeite, traveling through the woods when he was attacked by killer lightning bugs and only had his wits and trusty sidekick,” he bumped into Kiwe, “Azikiwe; the coolest colt.” “Yeah, on their journey that will change the world by solving the greatest mysteries and stopping all the evil villians from gobbling all the candy without sharing and making it rain brussel sprouts!” They shared a laugh and continued their joking as their journey began.