The Light of a Candle

by Scarheart


Ten.

The Burdens of a Father

Being at a loss was something Jakob had not been privy to for quite a long time. His anger at Cadence had gone up in smoke. She, in turn, had become apologetic, fussing over his bandages, thinking she had done something to worsen his injuries. Fortunately for her, the man was made of sterner stuff, since having an alicorn crawl into one’s lap was not exactly a knuckled fist of an irate minotaur to the ribs.

The pair cleaned up, as during the kerfuffle, plates had fallen to the floor and there was a crack in the table from Jakob pounding it the one time. It was never suggested Jakob’s one act was the cause, as the alicorn had jumped up on the table, even adding to the damage. Little was said, which was to say Jakob said nothing while the alicorn found different ways to vocalize her apologies.

The stoic man let her vent, withholding his thoughts on her spectacular mental collapse. Over the years, Jakob had seen ponies of all walks of life have similar meltdowns. Twilight Sparkle had a memorable one a few years before getting her wings. Having never seen it himself, Celestia had instead retold the incident once to Kaga and Jakob, much to the chagrin of the pony in question who had been present.

“Do Celestia and Luna know of this?” he asked, holding up the candle.

Startled by his voice, Cadence jumped. Her ears plastered themselves against the back of her skull. “No,” she mumbled, “they don’t.” Her horn lit up and the table was repaired. Her lower lip quivered. “I’m a bad pony.”

Jakob regarded her. “Your actions were bad. Your decisions were poor. I am sure you had good intentions,” he said, causing her to flinch, then hissed, “Good intentions killed my wife.”

Cadence whimpered, “I deserved that, Jakob. I’m sorry.” She inhaled, wiping her nose, “There’s something else you must know. It has to do with June.”

His face darkened. “What did you do to her?” he growled dangerously.

“Nothing!” she insisted quickly, “I swear! June surged, Jakob! She has magic!”

Terror and elation tore through the man’s heart. “Surged? When?” he demanded.

“Right after I lit the candle. I don’t know the extent of the magic. It was a small surge, but she is getting to that age,” Cadence told him with a hint of pride in her voice. “She will need to learn how to control it and the nature of it.”

“June surged? My daughter has magic?”  This was turning into a day of unexpected turns. Jakob had no idea how to deal with them, not at this moment. This was inevitable. She is her mother’s daughter.

“Yes, Jakob,” Cadence tried to smile. It withered and died under his glare. “Please forgive me.”

“I told my daughter alicorns could be trusted,” an exhale of frustration seeped through his teeth. “Did I tell my child a lie? I try to be a good father, Cadence. When a parent lies to their child, those lies build upon each other. In time, those lies become a beast no parent can slay, and the child comes to resent the parent when they discover the truth.” Jakob set the candle on the table. Rubbing his sore ribs, he bore the itch in his left arm with an irritated sigh. “The next time you light this candle, do it before your peers.” He went to the door, pausing for a moment, “I will be at my house. I will need a few things for the trip to Canterlot. June will need to pack, too.”

“All right.” The mare looked on the verge of bursting into another round of tears.

“Another thing,” he continued, his voice hollow, “you will stay away from June.”

Cadence fought to keep her tears from falling. “As you wish, Jakob,” she managed, her heart broken.


Jakob gathered his daughter and the pair began walking home. A pair of Royal Guard pegasi pulling a sky wagon noticed them and asked if they would like a ride. June told them where they were going. The cheerful ponies were more than happy to help. Within moments, father and daughter were riding in the wagon. The journey was shortened from an hour on foot to a quarter of the time by air. As they rode, Jakob was silent. June was pretty good at reading his moods and knew he did not want to talk. The man was never prone for windy explanations, preferring to be direct and to the point. Jakob was blunt and this was what June was used to. She did, however hug her father, something that needed no words to convey meaning. He returned it, though no smile appeared. Although she worried about his wounds, he viewed them no more than a temporary inconvenience and told her so.

Then again, Father rarely smiled.

The trip was short, and it was not long before the carriage looped around the hill with the great oak upon it. The pegasi pair pulling it soon found a suitable landing spot. Father and daughter hopped off and strode with purpose towards the front door.

“Pack enough clothes for three days,” Jakob told her as they entered.

“Father, this is all I have, remember?” June plucked at her mother’s shirt, which had been her clothing since yesterday. “We just ordered from Marely. Everything else is dirty.”

Jakob grunted. “She may be able to redirect the order. More complications,” rubbing his beard, he stared up at the ceiling. “You can wear more of your mother’s shirts. They were made for travel and are strong.”

“Can I pick them out?”

“You may.”

Excited, the girl followed her father into his room. It was tidy and spartan; a bed, a chair, and a dresser in a room with bare walls and a closet. Well, almost bare. Upon the wall over the dresser was a framed black and white photograph. It bore a younger Jakob standing next to a woman who barely came up to his chest, her slender form pressed playfully against his form. A beaming smile looked up to a clean-shaven face that gazed down in bemused wonder. Between them, in their entwined arms, was a proudly displayed bundle with a tiny face. Around the family were the alicorns, each one in the moment, expressing their joys. June had always found the old picture mesmerizing. She could not believe how small her Mother was compared to Father. The woman had darker skin, but lighter hair that hung to her waist. Her eyes seemed to also be lighter than Father’s own.

The man knelt and reached under his bed, “June.” Jakob found a canvas bag. It was set on top of the blankets.

Startled, the girl jumped with a yelp, spinning on her heels. “Yes, Father?”

“Did you tell Cadence I was lonely?” There was no anger in his tone, but curiosity. 

Biting her lip, the girl stared at her feet and nodded. “Yes.”

“Do you think I am lonely?”

June refused to answer.

Her father sighed and lifted her chin up with the gentle guidance of a finger. “June. Do you think I am lonely?” Jakob asked again, in a gentler tone.

A slow, reluctant nod was given.

“Why?”

“Well,” she began, remembering to speak up, “sometimes when you think I’m not looking, you have a sad face. It’s like you’re thinking of something and it makes you unhappy. You do it a lot, Father.”

He mussed her hair. “I do, eh?”

June nodded again, smiling.

“Fair enough,” Jakob grunted. “Until I say otherwise, I do not wish for you to be alone with Cadence. I do not want you to accept that candle from her.”

Confused, the girl asked, “Why not?”

“She betrayed our trust, little one. There are some things one does not do without first asking permission. The candle,” Jakob paused, gripping his daughter’s shoulder, “is made from magic I do not understand. It was made using the hair of your mother. Where I come from, that is an abomination against the dead. It touches on necromancy and she must answer for it. Do you understand?”

June, somewhat understanding, nodded. “So, she’s in trouble?”

“Yes. I do not want you associating with her until I say otherwise.”

“Yes, Father,” the girl said, sounding sad. Looking away as her mind churned, June then asked, “Is she still my godmother?”

Jakob regarded his child, not happy with himself for having to do this. “I do not know. Cadence needs to correct her mistake. I would like for her to remain as your godmother, but it depends on what she does. I have asked her to show the candle to Celestia and Luna. We will see then,” he told her, giving another squeeze of the shoulder. “I will ask you to be patient. Wait and see what happens.”

“One day at a time?” she asked.

“One day at a time,” Jakob affirmed. “There is something else, June. This is very important and concerns you.”

“Me? Did I do something wrong?” there was a hitch in June’s voice.

“No. Cadence told me you had a magic surge. Do you remember anything about having one?”

The girl blinked, “Magic?”

“More than likely inherited from your mother,” Jakob told her with a small, proud smile. “Her legacy appears to have carried on within you. I would like to see if this is true.”

“I have magic?” June wondered, her eyes lighting up.

Jakob tilted his chin down, “We will need to look into it. If this is true, then you will need instruction I cannot provide. I will speak with Celestia on this.”

Nodding with growing excitement, her enthusiasm was muted when she thought of her godmother. “Will everything be all right? Everything?” she pleaded.

“We shall see, June. We shall see.”


Once packed with enough clothes and essentials for a couple of days, Jakob put on clean clothes and his sandals. His shirt was a plain white button down short sleeved shirt. His brown cotton slacks were comfortable and relatively new. It took a bit of effort clothing himself with his sore ribs and bad arm, but he managed. June wore another of her mother’s shirts, this one was white with red trim with laced sleeves. It was adorable on her. More were packed neatly in her bag.

The two pegasi were waiting for them, patient and smiling. Father and daughter were given a ride back to camp. June was lost in her thoughts. Jakob found himself glancing at her, certain he was doing the right thing. What he was afraid of was June taking it upon herself to go behind his back and attempt to ask Cadence questions. If she was anything like her mother, it was not a matter of if, but when.

As they rode, Jakob thought of his daughter.

June was a tomboy and had been raised to ask questions and to find things out on her own. She often went on little adventures with her friends from Berryville. Mementos of her outings with her friends came in the form of frogs and snakes and other critters found in her grand expeditions. As a result, her clothing was rent and torn. Jakob taught her how to use a needle and thread,  a skill the girl’s nimble fingers quickly mastered. Then, again she would go forth to see what her world had to offer and Jakob was content to let her do so. Cassandra was always looking over the girl, be it personally or if one or two of her children stayed near but unseen.

As a result, June was a free spirit and saw everything with curious eyes and an inquisitive mind. She pestered her father about her mother, and he would offer snippets, only ending the conversation when she pressed with, ‘wait until you are a little older’.

There were the times Jakob would take June as she got older for survival hikes into the wilderness, where he would teach her how to forage off the land and fend for herself. He was certain she knew when to fight and when to run away. At her size, he emphasized running away from potential threats. Even with the changelings near, the father insisted the daughter know how to handle herself in certain situations. He hoped he had done enough and made it a point to practice hand-to-hand combat once a week with June.

The combat training had begun a month after Hearth’s Warming. June had a long way to go and Jakob was in no rush to push her too hard. First, June was still a child and second, Jakob did not want his daughter to resent her training. She could handle a staff well enough, but June was still a novice. It would be years before the girl would be skilled enough to be formidable.

Jakob was cautiously optimistic at his daughter’s progress, though he had only himself to measure her up against. This made him shift his thinking to how June could handle four legged opponents, winged opponents, and even worse, magical ones. As of now, the girl was still getting a handle on the basics. She had a mean haymaker for her age, but her kicks were better.

Like any concerned parent, Jakob hoped his daughter would never have to be forced to defend herself. But if she did, he hoped the lessons he had imparted would be enough to save her life.

The arm was mending, but still kept in the sling. Jakob flexed his fingers and made a fist with his left hand. There was soreness and the ceaseless itching beneath the skin. His side felt less tender. It was easier to breathe. Reaching out with his right hand, he rested his palm on June’s shoulder and gave her a pat. She looked up at him and offered a wan smile. Her own thoughts preoccupied her time during their flight.

The sky wagon landed. The pair disembarked and thanked their unexpected ride. Jakob shouldered his canvas bag over the right shoulder. June had a travel bag hanging from her left shoulder. The pegasi saluted and went about their duties of doing whatever it was they had been doing before offering their services.

Ponies had a habit of showing their best sides, it seemed. On a whole, they were friendly and helpful to a fault. Cadence was an example of a pony who allowed her destiny mark (ponies called it a ‘cutie mark’) to overwhelm rational thought. The marks could, as Jakob had read in a book on cutie mark theories, create an overwhelming pull on their owners to pursue the ‘magical calling’ behind the meaning of their marks. The crystal heart mark on Cadence’s flanks enabled the alicorn to spread love wherever she went. Jakob reasoned (and he would have to ask for clarification) the mare had become over stressed when her mark could not find love for him.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist was waiting for them. The unicorn with the broken horn stood at ease, her ears perked. Her opal eyes were sharp and piercing, but Jakob thought that was normal for the mare. She also appeared to have recovered from the fight with the minotaur, looking none the worse for wear.

“What did you do to Princess Cadence?” she demanded in an even voice.

“She violated my trust,” Jakob answered with words just as calm, “I did what was necessary.”

“The princess has not left her hotel room,” Fizzlepop pressed. 

“She has much to think about,” the man shrugged. 

The mare jutted her chin forward. “What did you say to her?” she growled.

“It is none of your concern,” Jakob replied. “June and I are ready. When do we depart for Canterlot?”

“I can’t talk to Cadence,” June piped up, drawing the attention of both adults to her. “Godmother has to talk to the other alicorns. She did something that hurt Father.”

“June! Enough!” Jakob barked.

“I’m sorry, Father,” the girl sighed. “Please, Fizzlepop, don’t be mad at Father. We need to wait and see what the other princesses do.”

“Daughter,” the father warned.

Frowning, June clamped her lips shut.

“Look,” Fizzlepop started, rolling her eyes and then glaring at Jakob, “it’s my job to ensure the safety of Princess Cadence. I take my duties seriously and right now, my duties demand answers. You are not going anywhere until you tell me why Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is a complete mess. She hasn’t stopped crying since you were last seen leaving the hotel. Ponies are upset because the princess is upset. Why is the princess upset?”

Jakob drew himself up to his full height and glared down at the mare. She refused to be cowed and was determined to get answers.

A small crowd was gathering. Armed and armored ponies were whispering among themselves, staring up at the human. More than a few faces were turning unfriendly. Making a princess cry was something not at all appreciated among most Equestrians. Even though Princess Cadence was not a ruler of Equestria, she was still highly thought of and was almost as beloved as the diarchs Celestia and Luna.

June drew closer to her father, bewildered and becoming frightened as the demeanor of the ponies morphed into uncomfortable scrutiny. She tried to put on a brave face.

Fizzlepop noticed this and cast a baleful glare at the crowd. “All right, nopony told you all to stop working! There is nothing for you to see here,” she commanded in a voice that suggested she was not in the mood to put up with any shenanigans. “Sergeants, take control of your troops. Do it now, if you please.”

It was like magic. Discipline descended upon the circle of ponies like a wrathful god in the form of irate non-commissioned officers wading in. Orders were barked and flanks were kicked as there was no bubblegum to be found.

Only two things moved on Fizzlepop; her ears and her eyes. Her lithe form was rigid and held a commanding stance. Once the immediate area was clear of bored ponies looking for something to do, she relaxed a little, fixing her attention on June for a moment. A small and apologetic smile drifted over her muzzle before fading. Her eyes went up and her head tilted to one side as she regarded Jakob.

“Easy as pie,” she told him. “Well?”

Considering the mare for a moment, Jakob relented. “I will tell you on the way to Canterlot,” he promised. “Will that be good enough?”

Fizzlepop considered, then gave a nod, “Just let me do my job. I have no interest in Shining Armor breathing down my neck. That stallion is very protective of his wife. Most of the time he’s pretty laid back, but he’ll be asking lots of questions and I need to know what to tell him.”

Jakob grunted in agreement.

The mare turned to his daughter, “I’m sorry about that, June. I hope you weren’t too frightened from that experience.”

“I’m okay,” the girl insisted. “Are you okay?”

Smirking, Fizzlepop said, “I’m in better shape than your father. A little headache right now, but that’ll go away soon. I won’t be using magic for a couple of days.” She flicked her tail, “Come on, you two. Your chariot awaits. You’re expected in Canterlot. Cadence did order me to go with you while I was trying to coax her out of her room.” A wry smile danced over her lips, “I guess I get to be your security from here to Canterlot.”

“With no magic?” Jakob pointed out with an arched eyebrow.

The mare flicked her ears, licking her lips. “Magic is not something I rely on all that much,” she admitted with indifference. “Having a broken horn limits my options. I got used to not relying on it to get the job done. I don’t mind because I like being physical.”

A smile and a nod came from the man, “I noticed. Come,” —the man shifted the bag on his shoulder— “we are wasting time. Canterlot awaits.”