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// Chapter 8: Some Answers, More Questions 
// Story: The Universal Traveler 
// by Jason Monroe 
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Jason's POV

I could tell that everyone in the room was pissed at me just from how I had acted. I did something similar when I first met the Queen of England and ended up becoming wanted for disrespecting the queen. As I swallowed I sat my plate down before clearing my throat.

“As fun as it is to mess with royalty I suppose that I should introduce myself to all of you.” I said before cracking my neck and straightening out my coat. “The name's Jason Monroe. I’m a universal traveller. What I am isn't important, mainly because I hate being judged based on what I am instead of who I am. I have more enemies than I can count and a majority of them are just because they don't like what I am. They're a bunch of speciesist assholes if you ask me.” I said with mild disgust in my voice.

Once I finished my introduction, Celestia was the first to push aside her anger at my casualness, though she was still very obviously annoyed by it. She stood up before walking up to me while I just smiled at her. When she got close to me she did something that I was not expecting. She pulled back her right hoof and punched me in the face, sending me flying back into a wall with my head caved in from the amount of strength that she put into the punch.

Celestia’s POV

I waited several minutes for the being that called itself Jason to get back up, only for its body to remain embedded in the wall. I turned around and sat back on my throne next to my younger sister.

“From what you told us from your interactions with the creature in its dreams, we expected it to take more of a beating.” I said while my sister nodded in agreement before a white portal appeared in the middle of the throne room causing everypony to stand on guard.

A creature that looked very similar to Jason walked out wearing almost identical clothing, with the exception of bandages covering its chest. I looked at its face and it did not look happy. I went to say something before the creature cut me off.

“What the fuck was that for?! All I do is introduce myself and you punch me hard enough to kill me! The fuck is wrong with you?!” The creature screamed in anger before breathing out and calming down.

“What do you mean? We have only just met.” I said as I gave the creature a questioning look before hearing it sigh as it pinched the area between its eyes.

“No, we have met before. Just not in this form. The name's Jasmine Monroe, the female version of Jason Monroe and my reincarnated form.” The creature said before pointing to where Jason's body had been, only to reveal that it had completely vanished. I looked at the creature with wide eyes. If it was telling the truth then that would mean it came back to life after I killed it.

“You lie! Tis impossible for that to happen without the use of dark magic!” A guard shouted before shutting up as Jasmine looked him in the eyes. I turned to my sister in a gesture to ask if Jasmine was telling the truth. Luna nodded with wide eyes before shaking her head and regaining her composure. I did the same before turning to look Jasmine in the face.

“We are sorry, but from what our sister told us you should’ve been strong enough to take that punch and live. Our sincerest apologies Jasmine.” I said while bowing my head. I heard a groan and looked up to see Jasmine leaning their head back while rolling their eyes.

“Please don't bow. I get that enough whenever I go to visit my dad and I hate it.” Jasmine said as they ran one of their limbs through their mane. “I can forgive you for that, though you only killed me because I wasn't prepared for you to punch me. I don't suggest trying it again unless you want several fractured bones.” Jasmine said before picking up the strange slice of cake that they had been eating before and taking another bite.

“What did you mean by universal traveller and what is your gender?” My sister asked Jasmine causing them to smile before taking off the black coat, revealing a very muscular body as well as parts of their breasts. Everypony in the room turned crimson with blush, including myself.

“As you can see, I am very much female or mare in your terms. The other form is a stallion.” Jasmine said before putting her coat back on. “To answer your other question, I meant that I travel between universes. There is more than one universe and one exists for every possibility. That is what's known as the multiverse. It’s more complicated than that, but all you need to know is that someone could destroy this universe if they aren't careful and end up making an unstable portal. I was taught how to do it safely and refuse to teach others, because it would be too dangerous.” Jasmine said before eating more of her cake.

I thought about what Jasmine said before nodding. I was about to suggest that she stay here in the castle when my sister decided to speak.

“What of your last words before the dream ended? You told us that we should check the frozen north, but you didn't say why.” Luna said while looking Jasmine directly in the eyes.

“Oh yeah. I found an empire up there. Pretty nice place made of crystals. The ruler is a crystal unicorn mare named Clara Amore. Real nice mare. Practically radiates an aura of positivity. You really should check it out.” Jasmine explained as she ate more of the cake until there wasn't any left aside from the pieces that had been set aside for everypony else in the room. Luna nodded with a slight frown before leaning close to my ear.

“She is not telling us the whole truth, though it seems that the only part that is a lie is her finding the empire.” Luna whispered to me. I simply nodded before another question popped into my head.

“Our sister says that you revealed yourself as the creature that took down Tirek. Is this true and if so would you mind showing it to us?” I asked with a much more serious look on my face.

“Yes that is very true and yes I do mind. There's a reason that I only use that form for combat.” Jasmine said while smiling at me before reaching into her pocket universe and pulling out a scroll that had several seals on it. “Take this and perform it if you ever need me. Just be careful, because I’m not the only one that can be summoned using that scroll and any others might not be friendly.” Jasmine explained before tossing it to me and disappearing.