//------------------------------// // Sprite is a Sprite // Story: My Little Dashie: Jackson series // by Puking Coyote //------------------------------// Sprite is a Sprite By. Puking Coyote My name is Jackson Turner, Male age 28. It has been a year since the Great War in Everfree Forest which I still live in when I am not staying at the castle in Canterlot. Me and Luna have been happily married for a year now…wow, one year it seems hard to believe that I was about to throw it all away before the Everfree war when Celest threatened invasion if I did not turn myself in. Celest barely talks to me and is very hostile but since I am technically now royalty she does not argue about my being in the castle. As a new member of the royal family I have to find a way to serve the ponies of Equestria. Luna explained that every member of the royal family is provided with deep magic so they can make the world more stable and better for all the creatures in it. Celest rose the sun and Luna brought forth the night but I so far had no idea what I was meant to do this question confounded me to no end. Even discord knew what he was meant to do and brought chaos when a situation called for it I found that his chaos usually taught a hidden lesson to whoever he was doing it to. However Discord did not use his magic to warp the world except one week a year and in his home which was constantly changing places. I have been to his home a few times where we had good conversations which helped us to understand each other better. We only became friends though when Discord created The Chaotic Game which was a mixture of chess, cards, dice, and hopscotch that he taught me since that time we became good rivals in the game and were currently tied in wins. Discord had also taught me much on how to use my new abilities for they were very similar to his own with a few exceptions that is. He even let me help him in Discord week last month which was meet with mixed emotions from all the ponies I thought that it was great fun, Dash however did not agree. Dash and Brian still lived in Ponyville and Twilight moved back to Canterlot to continue her studies in magic with Celest. Twilight I had learned became part of the royal family when her brother Shining Armor the captain of the guards married Princess Cadance. Princess Cadance’s special ability was to spread love wherever she went while Twilights brother who like me was gifted with deep magic through marriage protected Equestria from evils of other dimensions with his shielding ability. His spell was very strong and protected the world from evil almost like a lamination coating on a card. I have meet Twilights brother and her new sister-n-law but that’s about it, we really don’t talk to each other. They however didn’t seem like bad ponies from what I can tell. It seemed that everybody knew what their purpose in this world was except me for even though I still maintained order in the now free Everfree Forest I did not know what my main function was to be. I still maintain a good connection with the creatures of the forest after the war and helped them whatever way I could for they sheltered me and were loyal even as Celest invaded their land. I had recently helped them set up a government system which I was voted to be the leader of which surprised me for I did not even put my name on the ballet. My win over Celest and the freeing of Everfree forest from her rule had made me a hero in their eyes and they begged me to take the position of their leader until I could not refuse without hurting the weak treaty they had made with Celest. I had managed to stabilize and even build the Forest’s communities and after I told the Forest creatures not to attack the ponies that came into their land peacefully the two countries were able to start coexisting. During this time I had gotten used to my stallion form and stayed in it most of the time when I was around the ponies but I did change back to my human form when I was in the Everfree forest. This was because the different creatures felt more at ease with either my stallion or human form. I however was fine with either one for my human form I could use my hands which were more practical for projects than hoofs and in my stallion form I could fly. I was currently in my stallions form flying back to Canterlot from Ponyville. Flying as Dash would say and I agree a hundred percent is totally awesome! I had many times flown with Dash and the other Wonderbolts, a perk of being a part of the royal family, and learned just about every trick in the book on how to maximize my speed and mobility in the air. I had even learned to use my energy to give me an extra boost in my wings which would glow bright white as I would outrace the other Wonderbolts. I could even bust through the sonic barrier and a firework display of little exploding embers would follow behind my wings a ability much like Dashe’s sonic rainboom. Even thought I could beat the other Wonderbolts when Dash and I would race breaking the sound barrier she always seemed to beat me however just barely. As Canterlot came into view I banked towards the castle where Celest was on duty watching for trouble in the land through a huge magical telescope. The telescope helped those who looked into it to see most evil auroras that were being given off from Equestria or the dimensions around it. I landed onto the platform and folded my wings “Good day Celest” I said trying my best to be polite. She mumbled something back under her breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite hear that” I replied knowing full well that she made a snide comment to me. “Nothing” she replied “leave me alone I’m working.” “Sure thing…sis” that last comment made her very mad and I could see her face start turning red as she tried to hold her tongue. I quickly went into the castle to avoid another confrontation for even though Luna told me that being nice to Celest would make her come around she was making it very difficult to do so. I was no longer afraid of Celest for in truth I think that I am now much more powerful than her but neither she nor I wanted to put that to the test. As I entered my room I was greeted by the two Timberwolves which I decided to keep as my guards instead of the normal pony soldiers for in truth after all the time that the two of them stuck by me I trusted them completely. I then plopped onto the bed and fell to sleep. It wasn’t long before I was woken up by a pounding on the door. “Jackson?” a pony called. “Yes?” “Mail is here.” “Great slip it under the door” he did. I stared at the door as I heard the hoof steps of the mailpony gallop away. I then diverted my attention to the white letter and saw that it was from Brian I quickly went over and read it. Dear Jackson Applejacks farm was recently destroyed by a creature called a Parasprite and I was wondering if you could use your magic to repair it otherwise Ponyville will be without much needed food this year. Your friend Brian I read the letter again I was going to get some sleep before seeing Luna tonight when she came back from her visit to a local village but this was more urgent. I wrote a note for Luna explaining where I went then took off from Canterlot. When I arrived in Ponyville I went straight to Applejacks farm it was completely ruined every leaf and apple on the trees were completely gone. I then started to work my magic and brought all the trees from the brink of death and crafted leaves onto them. As they had recovered I shot one last bit of magic to make the apples on the trees grow exceedingly fast to make up for the time that was already lost in the growing season. It took about an hour to fix all the trees for it was a big orchard and the trees were badly damaged but I finally finished. It was starting to get dark and since I was in no hurry I went to see Brian. “Jackson? Come in, come in” he stated when I came knocking on his door. “I hope I’m not intruding.” “Nonsense hey Dashie look who came to visit!’ I saw Dash come into the room from the kitchen “Hey Jackson, what’s up?!” “Oh no” I thought as I saw her covered in flour and other ingredients which meant only one thing Dash was trying to cook. “So I guess that you read my letter then” Brian commented “are you going to help?” “Actually I just finished” I replied. “Wow that was fast.” “You’re done? Then you can stay for dinner!” Dash replied excited. That was the last thing that I wanted to do if Dash was cooking “Actually I was going to meet up with Luna.” “Oh, I guess that is important” she replied disappointed “where is she?” I looked up and concentrated I could feel a powerful force somewhere around the area “Hmmm I think that she might actually be in Ponyville.” I then thanked my luck for getting out of eating whatever horror awaited in the kitchen. “I should meet her it’s been a few days since we last saw each other.” “Why is that?” Brian asked. She’s just got back from…” Just then a knock came at the door and my heart skipped a beat as a silent scream echoed through my mind. “Hold that thought Jackson” Brian stated then went and opened the door “Hi Luna.” I could hear them converse like background music as I walked slowly towards a hangman’s noose. I slowly turned to them as I heard her reply “We would love to stay for dinner.” I made a slight eeap sound as my mind seemed to crack apart like a thin piece of glass. I was so close from escaping the horror than I must now endure. Luna heard my gasp of fright and looked around Brian at me “Jackson, we thought that we might find thou here, I got thou’s letter.” She then came inside “Dash is making us dinner isn’t that nice of her?” She had never eaten Dashes cooking before and now she was trapped like me and didn’t even know it. “Yes it is” I replied through my clenched teeth all the while thinking “my poor Luna.” “Yes, I shall make a meal worthy of royalty then!” Dash cried excited she then grabbed more ingredients and disappeared into the kitchen again. “Oh no” I thought Brian then pulled out a chair at the table for Luna who sat down then he pulled one out for me. I sat down like a condemned man preparing to meet his maker. Luna and Brian talked about her trip as I listened to the pots clinking in the kitchen followed by an occasional “oww” from Dash. I had Dashes’ cooking only twice and both times I have barely made it through without puking. Actually the last time I was sick for a week with horrible stomach cramps. The last thing that I wanted to do was hurt Dashes feelings but I didn’t think that I could eat her cooking again. Luna must have noticed my silence “Jackson is thou well?” she asked. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be” I answered almost choking on my words when I heard a pot hit the floor and Dash curse. “Well your face just looks a little white is all” she replied clearly concerned. I was about to answer but then Dash came out of the kitchen and started to place dishes of stuff in front of us. I looked at my plate and saw a mixture of brownish green crunchy goo. Luna then understood as she stared at the food wide eyed then she looked up to me basically asking what it was. “I don’t know” I mouthed back to her very fearful of the thing that was place before me. “This is very…interesting food” Luna commented poking with her hoof a weird looking roll that instantly deflated. “Thank you” Dash replied sitting at the table she and Brian then started eating soon Dash looked up at me and Luna. “Aren’t you going to eat? It’s not too hot so you two don’t have to let it cool.” I looked at my plate and took a gulp, this was it my judgment day, I tried my best to steady my hand as I slid my spoon into the slimy stuff that looked like it could come alive at any moment I then brought it to my face and after a long starring match took a bite. “How do you like it?! I changed the recipes and added more spices since the last time you tried it after all the more spices the better!” I did my best not to gag as the food creped its way down my throat burning as it went down as if punishing me for daring to eat it. “Its…great…” I managed to say through my silent tears. It was in truth the worst thing that Dash had cooked yet. “Yes, you have certainly outdone yourself” Brian commented. I looked at Luna who also took a bite and could see the struggle on her face as she tried not to throw up right there and then. “Its…good…” she managed to comment in a soft wimpy voice, in it I could hear her suffering. I looked over and saw that Brian and Dash had already eaten their food and were now watching us. I knew from talking to Brian that he knew that Dashes food cooking was terrible but after so many years of eating it he had no problem gulping it down. He was actually the one that convinced me to tell Dash that the food was good even though it was not. I however did not know why Dash kept cooking and how she could eat what she made she had to know that it was bad. I even wondered at times if she used her cooking to torture people for fun, like a bad prank. Luna looked at me with her blue eyes pleading for help I answered back in kind then we both looked back down at the stuff on our plates. It took a while force down what was place in front of us and just when we thought that we were done Dash placed on the table a white burnt pie looking blob with whip cream on top. “Dessert!” she exclaimed with a smile of pride. Luna and I almost broke down crying right there as Dash placed a slice in front of all of us. The pies filling had black and red in it which made me think that it was at one time cherry filling that was until I saw the green mixed into it as well. “I better not I am watching my figure” Luna replied. “Oh, ok” Dash replied. I was amazed that Luna could get out of it that easily in fact I was jealous of it. Dash then put the slice in front of me “Jackson can eat it for you then.” Luna gave a small sorrowful cringe then gave an apologetic smile as I glared at her. I took a minute to psych myself up for the challenge then I started to eat the two pie slices, I don’t know how except for divine intervention but I managed to eat both pieces. After we were done eating we said our goodbyes to Dash and Brian then left the house, as soon as Brian shut the door we both dashed for the woods and began to vomit. We made it to my house in the woods where Luna fell onto the couch and I collapsed onto the Living room floor. “Dash is going to cook for us isn’t that nice of her” I stated. “We didn’t know” she moaned “thou could have warned us!” “We were trapped it’s that simple” just then my stomach started to gurgle and I began to drag myself across the floor to the bathroom. “How do they eat that stuff?” she asked. “I don’t know” I replied taking my head out of the toilet. Just then Luna came stumbling in and puked missing the bowl entirely hitting the wall she then fell to the ground as well “Should we call a doctor?” she moaned. “Probably” I replied but we both just laid on the floor not able to move. “I think that I see the light.” “That’s just the bathroom light Luna.” “Oh” I pressed my head against the toilets cool surface “At least you never had to eat her cider.” “Doesn’t thou mean drink?” “Not when it comes out in chunks.” She then gave a short laugh then passed out. I went to throw up in the toilet and missed by mere inches then I too lost consciousness. I woke up the next morning in my bed my stomach was killing me like someone coated it with acid. I tried to get up but I could not “Please master you and Luna are extremely ill and should stay in bed” Thing replied putting a cold cloth on my head. “Luna?” I then turned my head and saw her sleeping in a cold sweat obviously sick “What does Dash put in her food?” I then asked myself out loud. “Ah, Dashes cooking that would explain it then” Thing replied. “When I found you both in the bathroom covered in vomit I feared that you were poisoned.” “In a way we were.” I then looked at the ceiling “the more spices the better my foot. One of these days she’s going to accidently make mustard gas or cyanide. “ “I hope that you are not there that day master” thing replied. “You and me both.” It took Luna two days to get over the sickness of Dashes cooking but since I had those pieces of pie it took me three. However we both had occasional stomach pains for the rest of the week. Luna soon had to go back to Canterlot but I decided to stay in the Forest a little longer to relax. During this time I read my books and was just taking a break in my study from a story of the great dragon Jusper when I saw the pink flowery curtains over the window. Luna had put them up a month ago and I had still not found a way to get rid of them without hurting her feelings. I really didn’t care about any of the other decorations in the house but this was my study darn it. I was in the middle of entertaining the idea of telling Luna that the curtains spontaneously combusted when I realized what day it was. Today was fall and even thought I wasn’t doing anything I remembered that I had never lifted the magic on Applejacks orchard to make everything grow fast. If she was to harvest them the apples would rot away in just a few days. I quickly got up and after changing into my horses form I flew off to the orchard. When I arrived I was relieved that the harvest had not yet begun in fact when I looked around I saw that little to nothing had been done. I quickly lifted my spell and went to the nearest group of ponies to see what was going on. “What do you mean that the ponies have not painted the leaves yet?” The mayor asked Applejack very disturbed. “We can’t the weather still is not clear, if it rains before the paint sinks in then it will be last year all over again.” The mayor then looked at Dash “What are you ponies doing up there? We are way behind schedule and have only finished three sections.” “It’s not my fault” Dash replied “the cloud maker is on the frits again.” I stood there listening to the ponies they were so busy arguing that they did not even noticed me. “This is why I like Everfree Forest” I thought “its weather works on its own without anybody’s help.” I then saw Applejack and Dash butt heads in anger as they tried to stare each other down. “Excuse me, Madam Mayor?” I spoke up. They then all looked at me “Prince Jackson” they stated and gave a slight bow. “Please no need for formalities” I then looked around “I couldn’t help but overhear that you are behind schedule any particular reason?” “Well, Twilight Sparkle usually organized us during these events but since she went back to Canterlot…I have been trying my best” the mayor said apologetically. “Well let’s take a look” I then floated her clip board to me. The words were totally illiterate and half of the pages were scribbled out. What I could read however was so disorganized that I could not believe that the mayor of Ponyville had written it. I looked up from the pages and squinted my eyes making her give an embarrassed smile followed by a squeak. “Well the good news is that you will be able to make fall happen, the bad news is that it will take up to next summer to do it.” “What impossible!” she then took the clipboard and began to run over her notes. She then realized that while she had most of the crew creating fall that there was another crew tearing up the completed sections again. “Aughhh I can’t believe this even with magic falls going to be late, again!” “I dint think that you used magic for the changing of the seasons that you were the only town in Equestria to do things the traditional way?” “Your thinking of Spring, during the rest of the seasons we use magic” Dash replied. “Do you recon that you could help us here sugar cube?” Applejack asked “We could certainly use it.” I thought about it “Well…Discord did teach me how to manipulate the land, so I think I can.” I then spread out my wings and took to the skies I looked around at the mess that the ponies had made and shook my head. Letting my magic flow from my wings like shinny dust falling onto the land I began to change the land into a fall setting. I began to fly affecting all the areas under me it looked very much like I was unfolding a painting underneath. This was actually very easy like I was made for it and before I even realized I had done it I broke the sound barrier and was now racing across Equestria. It took a whole day but I had changed the whole land from summer to fall and was hovering over my work and saw that it was good. As I landed back in Ponyville I was greeted with applause and shouts of cheer “Hurray for Season!” many of them cried. “Season?” I asked Dash who was walking with me. “Yeah, because your prince of the seasons like duh” she replied with a slight smile. Just then I realized what my calling was to be in the royal family I would bring about the seasons. I smiled with this realization for of course it was after all my talent was creation the answer was so simple that I wondered why I didn’t see it before. “Hurray for Jackson the Prince of Seasons” The mayor called as we gathered into the square which Pinkypie clearly decorated. The other ponies answered in a great cheer at this then started to celebrate in my honor. That night we all partied for I had found out what I was to do for Equestria and the other ponies work load had just became tremendously lighter. It was funny that not even a year ago the ponies would have run from me and now they were celebrating me being there. I returned to my house after the party and only got a few hours of sleep when Dash came barging in. “Jackson? JACKSON?!” She called. “What?” I asked half asleep. “Jackson the Parasprites are back and are eating up the food in Ponyville, we need your help!” “Food…eating…that’s nice” I sleepily said without giving it any thought then went back to sleep. “Jackson! Wake up!!!” I opened my eyes and saw Dashes scolding face not even a few inches from my own. This sudden surprise woke me up and I stretched my wings as I got up “Ok, fine I’m up but couldn’t the ponies in Ponyville handle this?” “Usually we would use music to drive them back into the forest but for some reason it’s not working and as you know since they split every time they eat there are too many to try to catch.” This last bit of information caught my ear “What was that?” I asked hoping that I heard her wrong. “You don’t know about Parasprites? Well you see they are small puffball bugs that come in swarms and eat whatever food they can find. Once they eat they split into another Parasprite, they first arrive…” Dash did not even get the last words out of her mouth before I ran to the next room. “Thing?!” I called a little panicked. “Yes master?” “Get every creature you can find and tell them to come to me with all haste!” “Ok…where should they meet you?” “Ponyville” I then flew out my door as fast as I could going supersonic. “What’s the matter? What’s wrong I never seen you like this before, Jackson!” Dash called behind me struggling to keep up. I did not hear her for my mind was numb with fear “It can’t be not here not again” I thought over and over. As I neared Ponyville I could sense thousands of little magical creatures which were multiplying at an alarming rate a shiver went down my spine there was no doubt of what the Parasprites were. As I arrived in Ponyville hundreds of ponies were running in fright as small winged big eyed fuzz balls zipped around eating all the food and even things that were not food. When they split they gave a small pop of magic that I knew all too well for it haunted every one of my nightmares the unmistakable signature that only sprites gave out. I summoned the magic and energy in me and went to work vaporizing the Parasprites wherever I went. I had killed thousands of them in a short amount of time “Ha, I now have the power to defeat you accursed fiends!” I shouted as I ran through the overrun town. The parasprites began to fly away in all different directions when they saw me killing them and I was preparing to give chase when I heard Dashes fearful voice “Jackson please stop!” I looked around and saw a town of fear stricken ponies not just from the parasprites but also of me. I looked at Dashes pleading eyes “Sorry but I have to” I then flew after the Parasprites who had retreated into the Forest. On the way I saw many of the forest creatures coming towards ponyville I flew in front of them. “Prince Jackson, what’s going on?” a dragon asked. “No time do you know what a parasprite is?” The dragon thought about it “yes, we occasionally have them migrate to the forest why?” “There’s a swarm of them in the forest now and we need to deal with them.” “What do you suggest we do?” “Kill them, kill them all!” I replied to all of the creatures surprise however they were too frightened by the look in my eyes to disobey. That day the Everfree Forest was filled with dragon fire and death as the sprites were uncovered and eradicated the majority by me. The numbers of the parasprites found had throughout the day dropped from thousands to a few dozen every hour. I had just finished eradicating a parasprite that was hiding under a log when Luna came flying down in her chariot along with Celest. “Jackson what art thou doing?! We can see the dragon’s flames all the way from Ponyville” Luna shouted. Celest then touched down with her horn glowing and next to her was a frightened Dash. “Give me just one good reason that I should not take you down right now Jackson!” Celest screamed in rage. “You were asked to help Ponyville with the sprite infestation not to eradicate the whole species!” I snorted irritated with them stopping me from finding and killing the parasprites. However I could not answer my blood was boiling with hate and my mind was overwhelmed by it. “Thou are scaring us what’s going on?” Luna asked with a shaky voice. “Please Jackson stop this it’s not like you, don’t you remember that you hate killing even during the war you forbade it” Dash spoke up. I glared at her making her slink behind Celest “Not for them, never for them!” I answered harshly. “Call off your forces or me and Luna will have to stop you!” Celest called. Luna took a step closer to me “Please my love stop this.” “You don’t understand” I began “they are sprites!” “What?” Celest gasped then looked around “but they look nothing like the ones that you have described from your world.” I took a deep breath and tried to explain so I could get back to work. “But they are the same I can feel the parasprites magic when they divide and it is the same as the sprites!” “But you don’t know that for sure.” “Yes I do! I have lived in a world destroyed by their magic I have seen my friends die by those accursed beings don’t you dare tell me that I don’t know who they are! They may have innocent eyes but behind those are killers.” “You must stop you can’t kill off an entire species based on a hunch, even if these creatures are similar to your sprites. Besides they have almost all been destroyed and can no longer be a danger anyway.” “One easily becomes a million never underestimate a sprite!” “Sister what if what Jackson says is true and these are sprites?” Luna asked for she knew better than anybody from my stories what the sprites are capable of. “They are not we have had these creatures around ever since creation they can’t be the sprites” Celest replied. This information shocked me “Since the beginning of creation?” I thought. My anger towards the parasprites started to subside as I started to question my actions “but they have the same magic signature…” I replied. “They are not the same Jackson; now call off your forces” Celest stated sternly. “But…” I suddenly became weak and a little dizzy from fatigue “they are…” “Shhh, we shall get thou home” Luna softly whispered next to me while helping me balance. “Worry not sister we shall make sure the forest creatures stop.” “Good, you know I am very disappointed in you Jackson you should have known better. There are better ways to get rid of parasprites than killing them for example I…” Celest then got a weird look on her face “I have to go, make sure the killing stops Luna” she then jumped into her chariot and rode off to Canterlot clearly distraught. Luna soon helped me home and called off the forest creatures on my behalf “You know they looked afraid of you” Luna said while taking my temperature. “The creatures of the forest know death they will get over it” I replied bitter. I still knew that those bugs were sprites but could not continue the hunt without proof. “We actually meant the ponies in the village Fluttershy is particularly distraught.” “Luna?” I asked looking up at her “do you believe me?” “We can’t even imagine what thou have been through Jackson and sometimes when two similar things appear a pony can be tricked in their mind and relive a horror from the past.” “They are so similar though Luna.” She put a blanket over me then pressed her head against mine “I know.” She then went into the kitchen and started to prepare some soup “you know I was surprised to even see the parasprites after my sister banished the last swarm there must have been more living elsewhere in Equestria.” “u-huh” I replied not really listening. “Wait” I suddenly said coming back to the conversation “what do you mean banished?” “Oh Celestia banished a swarm of them a few years back from our world right before you appeared actually now that we think about it” she replied. I then stood up “How long before I came here?” Luna thought for a second “we remember it was right before the party so about week.” “A day in this world is a year in mine Luna! Celest banished the parasprites from this world just as the sprites appeared in mine!” “Thou does not actually think that my sister is responsible…wait Jackson!” She was too late for I had already flown through the door towards Canterlot to find out what I already knew. Celest figured it out that’s why she left, we both know that creatures banished to another dimension could easily become deformed into something else. As I arrived at the castle I went straight to Celest’s room where there were two guards that foolishly tried to bar my way. They were slammed into the rooms doors forcing them open, inside was Celest who had obviously been crying. “How long have you known Celest!” I demanded. “Not until today” she replied through her sobs “I just checked my diary to see where I sent them and it was indeed your world, I am so sorry!” “Sorry? SORRY?! Will sorry bring back my friends, family, my race? Do you even realize what you have done? Trillions Celest trillions died so you could save a few crops from a bug.” I went over to her and slammed her against a wall I was so full of rage that I didn’t know what to do. “My whole race Celest, all dead!” “I’m sorry” she cried. I then materialized a knife and floated it in front of her “I should kill you. They would if they were here for what you have done, I should.” I then placed the knife against her throat which bled a little where it was resting. “Do it! Go on, you are justified!” Celest softly stated tears streaming from her eyes. I coldly stared at her, there she was the destroyer of my race why shouldn’t I? She had killed trillions but…Luna. A mixture of emotions suddenly started to rise and weaken my anger. When I first arrived in this world I would have slit her throat, but now, now it was different I had changed. I then took the knife away “No, that’s not good enough you don’t even understand what you have done but I will show you.” “No, please don’t!” I then attacked her with magic which she resisted but after a long battle I overcame her it seemed that I was more powerful after all. I then started to bombard her with my memories of the war with the sprites, the fear, hatred, sorrow, the massacres, and of my friends long gone. When I was done she was curled into a ball on the floor broken from not just the memories but also from the knowledge that she was the cause. “I didn’t…I couldn’t, Make it stop! Pleaseeee make it stop I’m sorry.” She then started to shutter and mumble “Sorry” over and over. “Jackson?” I could hear Luna’s voice down the hall; I went out of the room and stared at her. “What is wrong, why art thou crying?” she asked. It was just then that I realized that I had tears streaming down my face I did not answer but spread my wings and flew away. I flew as fast as I could I didn’t know where I was going and didn’t care but I just needed to get away. I arrived at a secluded pond outside of; actually, I really didn’t know to be honest and sat there silently crying to myself. After a while I started to curse myself for showing such weakness “Come on what’s wrong with you” I said to myself. “You’re a soldier for goodness sakes start acting like one!” but no matter what I said to myself I could not shake off my feelings. I seemed that all the emotions that I had pushed away all these years had suddenly come all at once. I spent that night by the lakes edge looking at the faded moon in the water feeling truly alone. I knew that I was not the only one suffering for the night sky had a heavy feeling in it and I could feel Luna’s sorrow. I thought about going back but I could not, not like this and after I attacked her sister I just couldn’t so I remained in the clearing. I spent the next two weeks wondering around the rural parts of Equestria making sure to keep my distance from the other ponies as much as possible. However I did learn that Celest had just got over some sickness which I knew were the memories that I gave her. This news had mixed emotions for me a part of me wanted her to be able to overcome them and another wanted her to stay in a land of suffering. As I was walking trying to figure out what was wrong with me and why I was experiencing such crippling emotions I saw a rock with my name carved into it. “This is where I first came to this place” I stated “what would my comrades say if they saw me now?” “I think that they would be happy for you and not want you to ruin your life with sorrow” I heard Celest’s voice behind me. I turned around and saw Celest and Luna standing next to a tree “how did you find this place?” I asked not able to look them in the eyes. I felt horrible that l had forced such memories onto Celest and caused Luna much suffering because of it. I also felt tainted as I realized that I have witnessed horrors that nobody knew even existed until I showed her my memories. “Thou told me about this place when thou gave us the picture, remember?” Luna replied. “We have been waiting here for a week for thou to show up.” I looked up sorrowful “why?” “Because we finally understand” Celest stated. “Your memories showed us the horrors and I finally understand humans and how I was completely wrong before.” “What do you mean?” Clelest looked at the ground “I have to confess that I hated humans and through my research had concluded that they were evil in nature. Even though they do have a tendency to commit great sins you have taught me that they are also capable of great compassion greater than I thought possible. We felt your emotions as you laughed, played, lived with your comrades on the ship and your heart break as your world your dreams was wrested away. When your friend Daniel saved your life from the sprite I also felt a stronger bond of friendship and loyalty than in any race I ever felt before. To be able to live through such things and have compassion to spare my life even though I was the cause of your races destruction, it puts my actions to shame.” She then came up and bowed towards the ground “please Jackson forgive me. I know that I can never make it up to you or the memory of your race but I swear that I will try.” I saw that she was sincere and truly sorry for what she had done. Celest had changed for she had become humbled such as only a great travesty could bring about on a proud persons soul. I could feel my tears welding up but was able to keep them in check as I bent down and looked her in the eyes. I then decided to let go of my hatred “I can’t represent my race but as for myself I forgive you, Princess Celestia.” Her eyes widened “you called me…” “Yes, you have just shown your qualities to me sister and they are that of a ruler.” “Thank you…brother” she replied. Just then Luna flew towards us and put us both in a bear hug “Thou have become friends! How glorious!!! Now we can be a true family and go to parties together, have picnics, hol…” “Luna!” Celestia and I both squeaked out “we can’t breathe.” “Sorry!” she replied letting us go “I’m just so happy!” “I know” I then looked at her seriously “I have to ask you something.” Luna saw my mood change and also became serious “what is it?” “Celestia said that your memories have shown us the horrors that my people suffered, tell me did she share my memories with you?” Luna looked at the ground “Yes” she then looked back up pleadingly “please don’t be mad I told her too I needed to know what happened and why you acted like you did with the parasprites. It scared me but now I know you were trying to protect our world from suffering the same as yours. I never truly understood why you feared them until I saw it for myself, please don’t be mad.” I hugged her “I’m not mad, I’m just sorry that you had to see what no pony should have ever had see.” “Jackson…” I then let go and spread my wings now feeling better than I had for a long time. “Well, I think that we should all go home what do you think sister?” I asked Celestia. “I think that is a good idea.” “After all you need to clean up, you’re a mess” Luna commented realizing that I had not groomed myself these past two weeks of wondering around. “Then to Canterlot” I called as we all took to the skies disappearing through the soft white clouds. My name is Jackson. It has been five years since I had escaped the sprites invasion by coming to Equestria. During this time I struggled with who I was and who I was to become in this peaceful world inhabited by magical creatures. At first I was bitter at the hand that life dealt me but as I gained friends and was affected by this world’s kind nature that began to change. I soon found a reason for going on and someone to share that reason with. It was her that helped me as I was lost between two worlds and showed me that to live in one a person does not have to give up what they learned in the other. It was not long after that I learned from her sister the most important lesson of all, that peace the thing that I have been seeking this whole time lies in forgiveness. Now I feel like I can let go of the past and focus on the future. P.S. Life stories never truly end. Story continues in Dream Catcher