The three instantly appeared somewhere completely dark. Solight was confused on where they were, while Spike was both flabbergasted and scared.
“Aaahhhh! Where are we?!” shouted Spike.
“Calm down, Spike. Let me just turn on my ‘Flame Lantern’ and we should be fine,” Jasper reassured.
After a few seconds, there was then a sound that came from right next to the two.
CLICK!!!
A bright, reddish-orangish glow came from the sheep’s lantern as a flame appeared inside of the lantern.
He smiled. “There we go. Now we can see in this darkness,” said Jasper.
The lantern's glow was bright enough that it illuminated a big part of the area that they were in, revealing that they were in some kind of windowless room with a stone floor, wooden walls, and a staircase.
The young dragon sighed, relieved. “Phew, that was so surprising. One minute we’re in the tower, and the next?” he said. “We end up surrounded by complete darkness. I was worried for a moment there.”
“Don’t worry, Spike. We’ve only ended up in the basement of some place that I visit in Ponyville,” reassured Jasper. “I even left the basement door unlocked some time before I came to Canterlot.”
Spike sighed. “That’s good to know. Right, Solight?” he said.
As for the alicorn, Solight was impressed as they tried to figure out how the three were teleported, but unfortunately, the alicorn couldn’t find anything as there was nothing there.
“That was such a quick teleportation, we didn't even notice we were gone until the moment we arrived here,” said Solight. They looked up at the sheep. “How did you transport us from my room without either of us noticing?”
Jasper smiled then directed the two to follow him towards the stairs. The sheep made the lantern float in the air by using his magic, surprising both the alicorn and the young dragon.
“It’s a two-way portal I created with one of my inventions. All you have to do is set up both in two separate locations, and with a bit of magic, you’ll be able to move to either location in an instant no matter how far the distance, like what I did,” explained the sheep. “This makes it easier than traveling by train. Though, you’d have to travel to the location itself to set up the other portal. Right now, I currently only have four set up in different locations. Two are set up somewhere else, one is in your tower, and the fourth one is…”
Jasper opened the basement door and moved on ahead. As soon as Solight and Spike were out of the basement, and looked around to see where they were, both became shocked. Well, the young dragon was relieved to be back in the light again, but was also impressed that they all had ended up in a library, while the alicorn themself was shocked as Solight was staring at the shelves of rows and rows of books.
“Look at all of those books! So many to read, so many to organize!” thought the alicorn. “Maybe I could ask the librarian if I could check out a lot of these books?”
He looked at Solight, and gave an annoyed sigh. “Great. They’re nerding out again just like last time,” thought Spike.
The last time the alicorn nerded out was back when they found out that Canterlot Library had gotten brand new books.
Meanwhile, the sheep turned off the lantern and put it back into his cloak. Jasper turned around to face the two. “Welcome to the Golden Oak Library. Right now, it doesn’t have a librarian, and I have no idea what happened to them as they probably quit their job,” he informed. “So if you’re interested in any books and want to read them, then we can talk to Mayor Mare about it, which we will do later after we save the world from Nightmare Moon.”
Solight gave off a disappointed groan as they really wanted to read the books, but hearing how there’s no librarian and that the alicorn had to read the books later, made them sad. As for the young dragon, he felt relieved.
“Now, come on. I want to introduce you two to my friends,” said Jasper. “When you’re in a new place, it’s always good to try and make some friends there.”
The alicorn nodded their head. “He is right. Making friends is important, and I can ask whoever this Mayor Mare is about the library books,” thought Solight.
Before the sheep was about to leave with the two, he had just remembered something. “Oh, yeah. Before I forget, in case you’re wondering since we never did introductions, my name’s Jasper, and I’m a Crystal Sheep,” introduced Jasper. “There’s no need to introduce yourselves as I know that both of your names are Solight and Spike since I heard you two give out your names back at the tower.”
Hearing about the tower had reminded the alicorn of something. Before Solight could ask, they were then interrupted by the sheep.
He knew exactly what the alicorn was about to say. “I know what you’re about to ask, Solight. To answer your question, back then I had combined a ‘Concealment Spell’ with a ‘Noise Canceling Spell’ and created the ‘Notice Me Not Spell’, which is what I used to sneak past the front door and Spike up the stairs without him noticing,” explained Jasper. The sheep walked away to the door. “In fact, the Fool’s Cream that I used was based on the spell itself.”
Spike was amazed. “Cool,” he said.
As for the alicorn, Solight was fascinated. “A non-unicorn like him combined two spells to create one that can conceal somepony’s own presence without being noticed? Only those who are gifted in magic like Starswirl the Bearded can do something like creating their own spell,” they thought. The alicorn stared at Jasper’s back. “Just who is he?”
The three of them left the library and were now walking/trotting about in the town.
The young dragon looked around, liking how peaceful the town was as the ponies were trotting about without a care in the world, while some were decorating the town. “Whoa. This town looks absolutely great,” said Spike.
“Mm-hmm,” hummed the sheep, agreeing.
There was something on his mind that was bothering Spike. “Jasper?” called out the young dragon.
“Yeah?” said Jasper.
“Why did you ask for a pony named Twilight Sparkle?” asked the young dragon, curious.
Solight almost tripped over their hooves as soon as they heard that, but the alicorn was able to stop themself and continue on.
He thought about it. “I might as well tell him, especially since I guess this universe is where Twilight Sparkle was never born,” thought the sheep. “Well, back then before I recruited Solight, I had heard that there was a mare named Twilight Sparkle who was Princess Celestia’s student. So, I decided to choose her to be a part of my plan to save Equus, but when I arrived at the tower, Twilight wasn’t there. I guess either I heard the name wrong and it was actually Solight, or there is a Twilight Sparkle, but she had eventually left Canterlot at some point while I was living in Equestria. Don’t know which one is correct.”
“Oh. Okay,” said Spike. That had satisfied his curiosity.
“I wonder what his plan was that it was so important that he either needed me or Twilight Sparkle for? Although, I have a feeling that if I ask what his plan is, he won’t tell me until later,” thought Solight. “I just really hope it’s a good enough plan that it helps Princess Celestia defeat Nightmare Moon and save Equestria.”
After walking a few more steps, Jasper stopped in place. “Hold on a sec,” said the sheep.
The alicorn and the young dragon stopped in place as well, confused. Suddenly, Jasper brought out his staff and pointed it in a certain direction in front of the group. The staff’s crystal glowed with magic as a random pony was levitated into the air from amongst the other ponies and was floating over to where they were by the sheep’s magic. It surprised the two, but not the townsponies around them since they’ve seen Jasper use magic before.
The pony who was being levitated was Pinkie Pie, who giggled from floating in the air, enjoying it. “Hi there, Jasper! Who are your friends?” greeted the party pony. She then gasped. “Are they new to Ponyville?!”
Jasper had a feeling this would happen the moment he brought the two to Ponyville. “Hey, Pinkie Pie. I’d like you to meet Solight and Spike, and yes they’re new to Ponyville,” answered the sheep. “They came here to check out the Summer Sun Celebration, and no, they don’t want a welcome party right now since they’re not moving in.” He also knew exactly what she was going to say. “There’s a certain important pony here in town that they don’t want to find out that they’re here. So please, no parties today.”
The party pony thought about it before nodding. “Okay!” said Pinkie Pie.
The sheep sighed in relief. “Phew. Thanks, Pinkie Pie,” he said. Jasper then had an idea, and it was something that she could help with. “Pinkie Pie, can you do something very important for me as a favor?”
Pinkie Pie nodded, excitedly. “Sure!” said the party pony.
“Can you…?” said the sheep. Then, Jasper levitated her closer before leaning in and whispered into the party pony’s ear. The sheep leaned away and levitated her back down onto the ground afterwards. “Think you can do that for me?”
The party pony nodded again, excited even more before saluting the sheep. “Can do!” confirmed Pinkie Pie.
She then dashed away, leaving behind a trail of dust, and a surprised Solight and Spike.
He blinked. “Who was that pony?” asked the young dragon, confused.
Jasper smiled. “That was Ponyville’s #1 Party Pony, Pinkie Pie. She works at a bakery called Sugarcube Corner,” he answered. “She loves making friends and throwing parties.”
“What did you whisper to her?” asked the alicorn.
The sheep shrugged.“I asked her to find Celestia and make sure to either distract her or get her to take another path whenever we’re nearby since none of us can predict where Celestia would go or where she is, but Pinkie Pie is great at finding ponies,” explained Jasper. “She should be able to easily find her and distract her for a few hours.”
“Ohhh,” said Solight and Spike, undersanding.
“Okay, we’re going to the closest location of where two of my friends are. The both of them should be still working at their jobs right now,” said the sheep. He smiled. “Let’s go and introduce you two to them. Shall we?”
They all then continued walking/trotting down the path, silently. The young dragon was now currently riding on the alicorn’s back while taking in the sighs of the town, gazing in awe.
Solight would’ve taken in the sights too, but they currently had another thing on their mind that was bothering the alicorn that needed answering. “I have a question for you, Jasper,” said Solight.
“I have the feeling that they’re probably going to ask me about my cloak,” thought Jasper. “Yeah?”
“How are you able to do those things with your cloak? Being able to take stuff out and put stuff in?” asked the alicorn, curious.
“I knew they were going to ask that. They’re one curious alicorn after all,” he thought. The sheep cleared his throat, while also making a mental note to stop at the smoothie store later for a drink. “You see, my cloak is imbued with Storage Magic, and it’s also enchanted from ripping and tearing as well.”
Solight was focused on Jasper’s explanation. “Interesting. Do you think you can make another one like it?” they asked. “It would be so much easier to carry all my books around.”
The sheep thought about it. It did sound like something fun for him to do in his spare time. “Well, I’ll see what I can do, and then once I’m finished I’ll bill you later,” answered Jasper.
That shocked the alicorn. “Bill?” they said.
The sheep looked back with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah. I make stuff in my spare time, but when someone asks me to build something, then I decide whether to bill them or not,” he explained. “Sometimes, I need money too to buy some of my supplies, you know?”
Solight silently nodded, agreeing.
“So, any more questions?” asked Jasper.
Few Minutes Later
“Hi, Melon. How’s business?” asked the sheep.
They were all currently at the market area of Ponyville, standing in front of Melon's watermelon stand. The melon pony was currently surrounded by delicious-looking watermelons that she had grown for the past three months. It seemed that Melon had been selling them ever since the melon pony first moved to Ponyville the same year that Jasper had first moved to the Everfree, but in the Spring.
She smiled. “Hey, Jasper. Business is going great,” answered Melon. “Lots of ponies have been buying up my watermelons today for the Summer Sun Celebration. I need to save up a lot more bits for the next few months until sometime next year. Once I have enough, I can then commission somepony to build my Inn, then I’ll use some of the bits to furnish the place and buy supplies. After that, it'll be ready to be opened.”
The sheep had learned from the melon pony that she’s been saving up some of her money from selling watermelons as it was Melon’s dream was to open up her very own Inn somewhere in Ponyville someday.
He smiled. “I hope you achieve your goal soon,” said Jasper.
The melon pony smiled right back. “Thanks, Jasper,” she said. Melon then noticed the alicorn and the young dragon.
The sheep noticed her noticing the two and decided to introduce them, even though Jasper knew what the end result was. “Melon, I’d like you to meet my new friends, Solight and Spike. I met these two today while I visited Canterlot,” he introduced. Jasper looked back at Spike and Solight. “Solight, Spike, I’d like you two to meet one of my friends, and the one who could grow the best watermelons in Equestria I’ve ever tasted, Melon Grumps.”
It’s true. The sheep has tried the melon pony’s watermelons before and they were absolutely delicious.
They smiled, and then extended a hoof at Melon. “Hi there, Melon. It’s nice to meet you,” greeted the alicorn. “I have to say, your watermelons look delicious.”
She frowned as the melon pony looked at Solight’s hoof before looking up at their smiling face. “Thanks,” said Melon.
Seeing as she wasn’t going to shake the alicorn’s hoof, Solight brought it back down to the ground. Jasper decided to quickly change the subject, so he reached into his cloak again and brought out a container that held some diced, space-themed looking fruit, and a jar of some similar-looking stuff as well and placed them onto the counter.
“My ‘Star Watermelons’ had finished growing a few days ago, and the rinds from the last batch from a few months ago were done pickling, so I decided to bring some to you today to try and see if you like them,” said the sheep.
Luckily, it worked as the melon pony’s attention was now diverted to the stuff. Melon examined it, looking at it all over.
She smiled. “Thanks. I’ll try them after I sell off a few of my watermelons,” said Melon. The melon pony grinned. “Now then, are you here to buy some melons or to hold up the line?” Melon then pointed a hoof behind the three.
All three followed her hoof to see that there were some ponies waiting behind them.
Jasper turned back to face the melon pony before grinning back. “What if I was here to hold up the line? What would you do then?” he asked, jokingly.
Melon pony laughed. “Don't make me pick you up and move you, fluffy boy,” she answered, playfully.
The sheep chuckled. “Okay, okay. We’ll leave before that happens,” said Jasper. “See you later at the celebration, Melon.”
“You too, Jasper,” said the melon pony.
The three of them left the stand and continued.
“Sorry about that, you two. It takes Melon a while before she becomes friends with someone,” he said. The sheep chuckled. “It took me a few days to become friends with her, but during that time I was able to learn some things about her. Things you’ll have to learn about yourselves.”
The alicorn smiled. “It’s okay, Jasper. We’ve met ponies who were like that, but we became friends with them in the end. All it takes is just a little patience and some determination,” they said. Solight looked back at the young dragon. “Isn’t that right, Spike?”
He smiled while giving a thumbs-up. “Yeah. We made some friends back in Canterlot that way, and the other times it was just us being us,” agreed Spike.
Jasper smiled. “Glad to see you two are positive about this,” said the sheep. “So, our next stop is my banana loving friend, Banana Pie.”
“Banana Pie?” repeated the young dragon. The last name sounded familiar to him.
Jasper had a feeling of what Spike was thinking about. “No, Spike. Him and Pinkie Pie are not related despite the two of them sharing the same last name,” he informed. “Pinkie Pie has told me that he is like a brother to her.”
That surprised Spike that the sheep knew what he was thinking about. “Aww. That’s nice of her,” said the young dragon, smiling.
They smiled. “It’s kind of like how me and Shining Armor think of Spike as our little brother and a member of the family despite him being a dragon,” thought the alicorn.
After traveling a few feet, they reached Banana Pie’s stand. The unicorn stallion only had one customer left, a pegasus mare, who had just left after paying him.
“Hey, Banana Pie. How’s it going?” greeted Jasper.
Banana Pie smiled. “Banan,” he greeted.
Hearing the unicorn stallion say that made Solight and Spike confused.
“Banan?” repeated the alicorn and the young dragon.
As for the sheep, he continued on like it was nothing. “It’s great to hear that you’ve been selling lots of bananas. Are you excited for tonight’s celebration?” asked Jasper.
Banana Pie nodded. “Banan!” he said, excited.
He smiled. “That’s great to hear. I just know that this year’s Summer Sun Celebration will be special,” said Jasper. The sheep then moved out of the way and directed a hoof at the two who were behind him. “Banana Pie, I’d like you to meet my new friends from Canterlot: Solight and Spike. They came here to attend Ponyville’s Summer Sun Celebration.”
The unicorn stallion waved at the two. “Banan!” greeted Banana Pie.
“He said ‘nice to meet you, new friends’,” said Jasper, translating.
That had surprised the two of them that he was able to understand Banana Pie.
Solight was the first to greet him. “It’s nice to meet you too, Banana Pie,” they said.
“Yeah. You seem like a nice pony,” agreed Spike.
Banana Pie smiled. Then, the unicorn stallion’s horn glowed as he levitated two bananas from the stand and over to the alicorn and the young dragon. “Banan,” said Banana Pie.
That made the two smile as they saw the gift, so they accepted the bananas.
“Wow. Thanks, Banana Pie,” said Spike. He then started peeling away at the banana.
The unicorn stallion was happy that they both liked it. “Banan!” he said.
“He said ‘you’re welcome’,” said the sheep, translating again.
Now the alicorn was curious about something again. “What language is Banana Pie speaking? Is it some sort of unique language?” they asked. “How is it that you can understand what he’s saying? Can you teach me how to understand him?”
He laughed. “It’s not a unique language. Banana Pie can talk like us, it’s just that he likes saying ‘Banan’ since it’s short for ‘Banana,” answered Jasper. “Also, I’m only guessing what he’s saying. I’ve been doing that for two days and I’ve only gotten some of my guesses right.”
Solight blinked before giving off an impressed look. “Well you’ve really guessed what he’s been saying correctly, Jasper. How do you do it?” asked the alicorn, slightly curious.
The sheep grinned. “It’s all about listening to your friends,” he said. Jasper then looked at Banana Pie. “Right, Banana Pie?”
He nodded. “Banan!” agreed the unicorn pony.
They smiled as Solight watched the sheep’s interaction with Banana Pie. “If he has unique friends like this, then I wonder what his other friends are like? I’m guessing they must be unique as well,” thought the alicorn. Seeing as how the unicorn pony gave both them and the young dragon bananas, then it’s better to eat the bananas now rather than later since Solight didn’t bring any of their saddlebags with them.
If only the alicorn knew how right they were about Jasper’s friends.