//------------------------------// // Nine. // Story: The Light of a Candle // by Scarheart //------------------------------// A Little Heart to Stone Morning came with reluctance. Jakob had slept little, if at all. He could feel his injuries heal during the night and it caused discomfort. The last time the man had felt this sensation was after Tirek’s reign of terror had ended. The years had not diminished the memory of the pains caused by nerves reconnecting, bones knitting, and flesh mending. It was more of a dull ache that never subsided.  For most of his life, Jakob had been an emotional rock. His wife understood what lay beneath his iron exterior and could and did coax the gentle, wounded soul within out as they grew closer to each other. The birth of June had been the high point of his life. Her coming was to have been the beginning of a new chapter. Instead, Kaga died and the man’s heart withered. He could hear Fizzlepop snoring. The mare had a blanket draped over her slumbering form, rising and falling with her breathing. The machines beeped softly next to her cot. Study of her features revealed a serene face. At least someone was able to sleep during the night. Breathing was easier, but there was still a vast soreness in his left side. His left arm itched beneath the skin. As he tried to scratch at the unreachable itch, his thoughts went to the changeling queen. Cassandra was worried and not just for her little hive. Jakob found himself feeling worry for her and her brood. She wasn’t so bad and had always been loyal, even if she was provocative towards him. Fizzlepop, until she proved otherwise, could be trusted. His mind was already churning, thinking, understanding his position. Should there be a confrontation with Cadence, Jakob had nothing to stand upon. Cadence was beloved by all ponies as she was the Princess of Love. Tactically, logistically, and emotionally, the human was at a disadvantage. He and his daughter were being targeted by Cadence, but for what purpose? All night he had pondered, understanding his shortcomings, coming to believe his wife had something to do with all of this. The scroll from Princess Celestia had found its way onto the small stand next to his cot. Jacob picked it up and re-read it. What was going on? Was this some sort of test? An image of a candle filled his mind. It was the source of his outburst, something he had yet to see. Had Cadence been using it in front of June? What did it do? How did it work? As outraged as he was, Jakob could not help but think he should see it and what it did. Perhaps he was overreacting. Even so, he was upset at Cadence, and he felt justified in his feelings. Though he was a hero, Jakob was largely forgotten. This was by choice and in collusion with the elder alicorns, Celestia and Luna at the man’s request. His personal experience with the limelight involved bloodshed and death, before he had come to this world. Flashbacks to those darker chapters in his life had begun to rear their ugly heads during the night. His thoughts had become clouded and the old anger was stirring. It was the part of him he had hoped he had buried. Cassandra offered practical advice, he thought, tossing the scroll aside. A weary sigh escaped. Jakob stood, feeling the pain in his ribs. The sharp pains were gone, replaced by the pain of healing, which was still annoying. The nurses had helped to clean him when he had been brought in yesterday, despite his protests. A change of clothing was needed. A trim of the beard, a pair of sandals. His boots had been ruined during the fight with the minotaur. Canterlot awaited, and he absolutely did not want to meet Celestia and Luna in his torn pants and bandaged upper body. He understood decorum when it came to greeting the Sisters. Jakob respected them. They respected his desire to not want to be the center of attention. All of this and more swam through his head during the night. Jakob organized his thoughts, considering where he might find friends in Canterlot. His choice to remain isolated was coming back to haunt him.  There was no knowing what awaited him in the capitol of Equestria. Never in his wildest dreams did Jakob think he would ever consider Canterlot and the Palace becoming a hostile environment. With a short grunt, he padded on bare feet to the tent flap. With a passing glance at the slumbering mare, he pushed through the flap and greeted the rays of the morning sun with a hard squint. There was business to be conducted with a certain pink pony princess. It was cool outside and pleasant. There were rows of military tents covering an entire field. Pony soldiers were going about their business, preparing for their day and whatever assignments awaited. Pegasi flew in groups of two overhead, their armor gleaming in the sun. The sound of marching hooves could be heard. “Sir?” A pair of guards were outside the tent. One of them was addressing Jakob, a unicorn with a plumed helmet. Looking the man up and down, his eyes locked on the injuries. “You are recovering from your wounds, I would suggest you go back in there and lie down until a doctor has a look at you.” “What is your name?” asked the man. “Second Lieutenant Chaser Diamond,” the pony puffed up proudly, “Third Corps. Fifth Infantry, Fourth Magic, H Company.” There was an annoying nasal quality to his voice. Jakob gave a single nod. “Is Princess Cadence still at the hotel?” he asked. “I believe so.” With a curt nod, the man began to walk towards Berryville. His bandages were itching his skin. “Sir?” the lieutenant called after him. “Sir! You need a doctor’s permission to leave the medical tent!” “No, I do not,” came the reply. Jakob continued to walk. His pace was steady and determined. “If it is your duty to try and stop me, you may make your attempt.” The sun felt nice, as though the touch of its rays were encouraging him. The unicorn continued to call after him, but did nothing else. Jakob had already noted the fear in his eyes. Would the young stallion call upon others? Would he require a herd to gather his courage? He could hear orders being barked out. Curious looks were thrown at him, but Jakob had his course set and appeared ready to walk over any who stood in his way. He did not care. During the sleepless night, through his thoughts, he had come to a decision. Jaw set firmly, he came down the main road, the few ponies he came across giving way with frightened expressions. Mama Swayback was sitting outside her front door. She sat in a rocking chair and was enjoying the morning. No doubt taking a short break from her work. The old mare saw Jakob coming, noting his mood, but smiled anyway. “Your lookin’ mean there, Jaokob,” she told him. “Good morning, Mama,” he growled, not unkindly. “Did not sleep last night.” She nodded sagely, “That’ll do it. Flapjacks for breakfast. Help yourself.” “Is the princess up?” “Yep!” the old mare nodded with a toothy grin, “Eatin’ with June. They make a pair, let me tell you!” Jakob sighed, “There will be an argument. Cadence and I have a difference of opinion I intend to address. I do not wish to alarm you or your husband.” The old mare’s smile faded. “Family squabble?” she ventured. “Something like that.” “Fair enough. Mind your manners and don’t do nothin’ stupid.” “Yes, Mama.” Ducking his head, the man entered the hotel, his eyes already seeking out the dining tables. Cadence and June were having breakfast, both were wearing smiles. Where are the guards?  June was the first to notice. “Father!” she cried. Hopping from her chair, she dashed over to him. Jakob knelt and leaned into her tackling hug, her arms wrapping around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay! Cadence said you got into a fight and said you were fine, but I was so worried!” “I am fine,” he said as he returned her embrace. Jakob fixed his gaze on Cadence. Her expression was unreadable. “I would like to have a private talk with your godmother.” “You can’t have breakfast with us?” she pleaded, pulling back and staring with wide, innocent eyes. “You need to eat,” the princess told him at last. “If I’m not mistaken, eating helps speed up your healing. We can talk after we eat. Can we hold a truce until then?” Jakob grunted with a nod. “Go back to your seat,” he told his daughter. Approaching the table at a crouch, he pulled a chair aside and sat cross-legged in its place. “No guards?” the man threw the question at Cadence. “No need,” she said dismissively. “Eat something. We will be leaving for Canterlot soon.” Pappa Swayback appeared. He was a skinny old earth pony who hid his bald scalp beneath a bandana. His chin jutted out under a permanent smile. His pelt was a deep red. The old stallion normally confined himself in his kitchen, letting his wife run the hotel. Not much for conversation, he nodded at Jakob, who in turn returned the favor with one of his own. Both males had an understanding. A tall stack of pancakes slid in front of the man. Jakob was suddenly ravenous. “Thank you, Pappa.” “If you need more butter, lemme know,” rasped the old stallion to the table. He then shambled back into his lair, the door swinging shut behind him. They ate in silence for a while. Jakob made it a point to ignore Cadence, well aware she was staring at him. There were blueberries in his pancakes. This pleased him. There was no bacon to go with breakfast. This was less pleasing, but not unexpected. Jakob knew ignoring the princess was driving her mad, as she had been expecting him to start yelling, or something. June was oblivious, happily munching away, swinging her legs as she sat. “Father?” she asked, holding a forkful of food poised, “are you mad at Cadence? You’ve been ignoring her and she’s got this funny look on her face.” “Your godmother and I need to have a talk before we go to Canterlot. I have concerns,” he told her. “Are you finished?” “Yes, Father.” “Go outside. I will call for you when we are done.” He was still ignoring Cadence. June slid from her chair. Cadence nuzzled her as she went by and the girl smiled. Waving at her father, she went outside. Mama could be heard making a greeting. The alicorn lit her horn. It flared and a shimmering of magic rippled around the table. “You can speak your mind, Jakob. Nopony will hear us.” “Let me see it.” “What?” “The candle. Let me see it.” She gave him a suspicious stare. “Why?” “Because I asked.” “That’s not good enough, Jakob,” she sniffed, pushing her plate away. Her eyes did not blink as the pair locked into a staring match. “You created something I think is an abomination. I would like for you to prove my fears are wrong. Let me see the candle, Mi Amore Cadenza. If we are the family you believe, then there must be trust. Right now, my trust in you is questionable at best,” Jakob was tapping the table with a finger as he spoke.  The war of wills continued until the princess broke eye contact. Her ears flattened as she seemed to consider. Her brows scrunched, and she opened her mouth as if to speak. Nothing came out and a resigned sigh fell. There was a flash from her horn and in the middle of the table, a candle appeared. Jakob stared, his hand twitching towards this source of his ire. “Light it,” he commanded. “Jakob.” “Light the candle, Cadence, please.” “I’m sorry.” Not taking his eyes off the candle, the man growled, “No, you are not. You did this on purpose and I will find out why. You have been dishonest with me. What have you been planning for the past eight years? I wonder. Now light the candle.” The wick was lit and a little yellow flame flickered to life. It seemed to turn, a face forming at its top. The figure turned this way and that, as if getting its bearings. “That was unexpected,” the flame said. The fire seemed to freeze in place when Jakob came into view. It leaned towards him, little fiery hands on shapely hips. The head tilted to one side, then the other while the man’s face began to register a subtle flow of emotions. “You’re not June.” There was a pause and the flame seemed to smile, “Hello, Jakob. It’s been a while, love.” “She’s not your wife,” Cadence tried to explain. A trembling finger was jammed at her face. Whimpering, she sat back, slumping her shoulders. “What are you?” Jakob warily asked the flame. Twirling a hand in the air, the figure shifted, “I’m a collection of memories and recollections put together as a means to replicate the original Kaga as closely as possible. I am a means of providing answers and insights. The magic used to construct me is very old and very complicated. And no, as the princess stated, I am not your wife, but I do have a lot of her memories.” “Kaga is dead,” Jakob said in a flat voice. “You are an abomination.” “I am sorry,” the flame said, glancing at the alicorn, “somebody should have told you beforehand. I was supposed to help you find closure with the loss of your wife. Was that not the plan, Cadence?” Somehow, fire managed to blink. “I…,” stammered the princess, “I was angry with you, Jakob. The plan was to help you so you could move on with your life, but I couldn’t stop blaming you.” “I see.” Jakob lifted his brows as both elbows came to rest on the table. “The death of my wife?” A great sadness settled over him. Cadence shuddered as she observed the man. “I would imagine,” stated the flame, “if I had emotions, I would be put out with you, Cadence, as well as disappointed. As for you, Jakob,” it flickered and sputtered, “you need help. I can answer questions. It was what I was originally created to do, primarily for June. Your prioritization is secondary. I do not know the details of my spell matrix intimately, but it does emphasize truth and honesty. So far as I know, the Elements were incorporated into my creation. I am a tool to be used by you or your daughter, for closure and for knowledge.” Jakob knew little of magic. He had no aptitude for it. His own innate abilities were passive, and not considered magical by most Equestrian standards. June might have inherited her mother’s magic, but she was too young to show. Kaga had been powerful, her magic alien to this world. Jakob might have been the strength and the endurance, but she had been on a pedestal far beyond him. June was born on this world. Celestia had suggested the child might one day incorporate the magic of her parents as well as her adopted world. It remained to be seen if this was to be. The man rubbed his chin, thoughtful as the flame stared at him. It —she?— was mesmerizing to look at, a fiery little beauty radiating a bit of heat. The eyes within the candle’s light were looking at him, waiting. As he was thoughtful, there was also a profound disturbance within, for his very instincts screamed to destroy the candle, to snuff out the flame forever and be done with it. Rage was building up within, wanting to lash out at the alicorn who had dared to present this abominable thing to his daughter behind his back. The swelling of this anger was approaching the point where it could not be contained, and the man trembled. The Elements? Had they been used for this? They were supposedly good in their nature, representing the cores of values all ponies were supposed to strive for. Celestia and Luna had often spoken of them, long ago, when Jakob and Kaga were far younger and far more eager. Back then, this world seemed pristine and perfect. A restored Princess of the Night had spent many an evening with Jakob and the two had established a bond of sorts. Luna was unfamiliar with the world she had been restored to and Jakob was still embattled with his past. So as Kaga and Cadence became like sisters, so did the brooding man bond with a mare riddled with her own guilt. Both were quiet and both were loners. It was from Luna that Jakob learned how the Elements purified her, removing the curse of the Nightmare, making her whole. Rationalizing what the flame had said and weighing it against the possibility it was being false with hopes to mislead him, Jakob found himself torn. “Are you a creation of necromancy?” he asked the flickering light before him. The resident of the candle pondered this for a moment. Cadence held her breath. “The line of necromancy concerning my creation,” it said slowly, tapping its chin with a burning little finger, “I honestly cannot say. My matrix was created for the most part by Twilight Sparkle and most of what she did was experimental. I am sorry I can’t give you something more affirmative, love.” “Do not call me that,” growled Jakob. “I meant no disrespect, Jakob. I can say that I am finite. Once this candle is burnt out, I will cease to exist. I hope I will have served a useful purpose when my flame is snuffed out for the last time.” It seemed to smile at the man. The man regarded the alicorn, who was on the edge of her seat, her eyes wide and shifting between him and the candle. “What was I before I came to this world? What was my purpose in life and who saved me and why was I saved?” The flame seemed to inhale deeply. “Are you sure you want me to answer this? None know now save you and Luna.” “Know what?” Cadence asked. “What purpose?” “Kaga would have known,” grunted Jakob, sitting tall as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You were a slave,” answered the little wisp of fire. “Born to entertain the blood lusting masses, satiating those who were insatiable. Your purpose was to kill, or be killed. Kaga saved you because she had won you in a bet. You were saved because she thought it was a good idea at the time.” Jakob could only nod, his eyes having gone flat. “Here I am,” he said, sorrow in his words, “and she is not.” “Why didn’t you tell me you were a slave?” Cadence asked. “Why didn’t Kaga tell me this?” “Would it have mattered?” Jakob countered. “We spoke nothing of our world. It was a part of our past, and nothing more. Best forgotten and unremembered. This world was a fresh start. We had renewed hope. Kaga and I decided to never speak of our old lives ever again,” he sighed, feeling old and tired, “until now.” Cadence gave him a sorrowful look, her ears splayed out. “Do Celestia and Luna know of your existence?” came the next question. Cadence shot forward from her seat, her chair falling over. “Please! Don’t answer that question!” she cried, reaching a hoof towards the candle. She snatched it, the flame falling sideways, tiny arms flailing. “They thought the memories were going into a memory book!”  “Your fur’s on fire,” commented the flame. Cadence yelped, dropping the candle to the floor. The flame sputtered out and the candle rolled on the floor as the alicorn began brushing her chest wildly with her front hooves. Jakob made no move towards her, but he did show a glimpse of concern. Reaching towards the floor, he scooped up the candle and regarded it as the air had a hint of singed fur. “Why manipulate me?” he asked, shaking his head. His attention shifted to the mare recomposing herself. “Why do you show me this dark side of you? You are the Princess of Love. You bring love to others, but to me there is nothing but scorn. By your own words, we are family, but your actions are not those of a loving sister. Why, Cadence?” “Why?” she echoed, still brushing at her burnt fur. “Because I can’t place you!” “What?” Cadence huffed, “Since you asked, I’ve been trying to find you a match! But because you are you, my magic won’t work right! I had a conversation with June about your loneliness.” “What does this have to do with the candle?” Jakob asked, confused. “And why involve my daughter in my love life?” “Nothing!” she yelled. Cadence threw her hooves into the air, “Everything! And what love life? Kaga would have wanted you to be happy even after she passed, am I right? I have worked so hard to try and find that perfect mate for you, one that would compliment you as good as equinely possible, but nothing! I have never in all my life encountered such a grouchy, grumpy lump of you, ever! You have no idea what that is like for me to wake up to every day sensing your loneliness and being able to do diddlysquat about it!” Jakob floundered before her tirade. “What?” he asked intelligently. “I wanted to tap into Kaga’s personality and memories to find out what you liked! What kind of mare would make you salute! Whatever gets those love juices flowing. It’s hard to find love in a walking, talking rock like you! And it is my duty to find you some poor, unwitting mare to have and to hold, yada, yada, yada, until I get what I want!” The mare was standing on the table now, panting heavily as she leaned aggressively towards the man. “You are insane.” Jakob pointed out. “Maybe I am! Eight years doing my due diligence, going through the files of available mares out there and then Twilight had this idea. This idea to gather up Kaga’s memories. To put them into something. Of course, she wanted it to be in a book, but no! That something became a candle because it is romantic! Your wife was a hopeless romantic, but she still wound up loving you anyways, so that says something about her!” Now Jakob realized why Cassandra had taken her children and headed for the proverbial hills. The poor man was scooting on his backside away from the approaching alicorn. “And then!” Cadence went on, a manic gleam in her eye, “I get a chance to meet June. I ask her what she thinks of her father. What do you think she tells me?” “Uh,” guessed the man. “Wrong!” she sang as she cackled, hackles up, “‘Father is lonely’, she tells me. Right off the bat. And you know what, Jakob? I’m thinking to myself, ‘Hey! I’ve been thinking that for the past eight years! What a coincidence!’.” Her wings sprang out and flapped haphazardly. “Then I think there might be a spark between you and Fizzlepop. How do you respond? Like a pony in a self-induced coma, that’s what! I can’t sense anything from you when it comes to love!” Jakob pawed at the barrier, hoping it would give way. It did not. He didn’t want to hurt the alicorn. Any rage he might have had was gone, replaced by worry for her mental well-being. “So your daughter’s comment just sets me off. You know, how sometimes the littlest of things is just the thing to push you over the edge?” Cadence batted her eyes at him. “Well, I don’t know what came over me. I guess I decided right then and there to be upset with you. Maybe it was the pent-up frustrations coming to a head? I can’t rationalize it. How can I? My magic’s been fizzling out on you for pushing a decade now, and I think I’ve finally had enough of dealing with it!” The man was well aware her muzzle was now less than an inch from the tip of his nose. “And I apologize for treating you the way I did yesterday, Jakob.” The crazy mare became sorrowful in the blink of an eye. The tears flowed like wine as she became melancholy, “I don’t know what came over me, Jakob. Frustration, I guess, at being unable to use my magic to help you. I hate it and I hate you for making it not work. I don’t like being this way. I didn’t mean to upset you the way I did. What I said I know I can’t take back. I don’t like being hateful or spiteful. It’s not me! I’m a monster!” Then she was hugging Jakob, bawling into his shoulder. As the last of his strategy in dealing with the alicorn fell apart before his eyes, the bewildered man could only pat the sobbing mare awkwardly on her shoulders. The candle still in his grasp was, for the moment, forgotten.