Chapter 5: A Long Road
Jennifer stumbled away from the advancing royal guard hands raised in a gesture of surrender. “I didn’t do anything!”
The guard took in the scene in the throne room keeping the girl cornered. A pair of unicorns wearing the robes of the royal magi swept the room, rearing in alarm at the toy pony replicas. “These are our princesses…and three of the element bearers. Great chaos magic is laid upon them…only Discord could so easily wield such power. The creature must be a creation of his!”
A collective gasp went up from the assembled guard and crowd of waiting dignitaries at the startling proclamation. The guards roughly tackled the panicked teen to the ground around the time Twilight and the others shook off the residual disorientation of the chaos magic.
“Stop! Stop that this instant!” Twilight gave a bright flash of magical light from her horn drawing the eyes of everypony (and human) in the room. “Get off of her immediately! Discord did enspell us but Jennifer had nothing to do with it!”
Any other pony and they might have questioned her order, but Celestia’s prize student was well known to just about everypony in Canterlot and certainly the guard were familiar with her. Gradually they relented letting Jen get back to her feet with a grunt. The cultured unicorn stallion from the waiting room trotted forward and cleared his throat.
“Miss Sparkle, you can confirm without doubt that Discord is once again free and has reduced our beloved Princesses to…” He waved a hoof toward the small toy replicas, which Twilight was in the process of gripping with her magic and gently moving them to rest in the throne of the sun. “To those child’s playthings?”
At a sad nod from the purple unicorn and the room sprang into action. The guard immediately prepared to mobilize and hunt the draconequus down. The assembled noble ponies looked more ready to panic than add anything constructive to the situation. Only the unicorn stallion and the mare hanging off him seemed to be collected.
“Well I say this IS a sticky situation isn’t it? Is there anything we can do to assist? I assume you have a plan in motion already but well…this IS an emergency and all.” Even in the face of such dire straits he maintained his cool air of sophistication.
Twilight on the other hand did not seem to be handling the situation well at all. Hairs out of place on her mane, eyes wide and sides heaving as she sucked in deep gasps of air. “Plan? No we don’t have a plan! The princesses are helpless! And without Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy we can’t use the elements of harmony to seal him again! We’re doomed!”
Even the eternally optimistic Pinkie Pie couldn’t seem to come up with anything to bring some cheer back to the room. Rainbow Dash was zipping about the guards’ heads looking ready to charge off with them. Before Twilight could pass out from hyperventilation Jen cleared her throat.
“Um…I challenged him to a race. We have to get to the old pony homeland before he does and get some stuff from each of the pony tribe’s homes…then uh…he’ll undo everything and leave equestrian alone forever…” She finished lamely looking down at her shoes.
There was a sudden silence in the room before with a steak of color Rainbow was flapping right in Jen’s face. “Well why didn’tcha say so before?! What’re we doin standin around for we gotta race ta win!”
Pinkie seemed to bounce back just as quickly, hopping circles around the pair. “Woo hoo way to go Jenny-bean! We’ll beat that old sour puss in a race easy peasy!”
The good cheer vanished as quickly as it arrived when Twilight next spoke. “This is hardly good news! First of all no one knows precisely where the ancient homelands are! Second who’s to say Discord is going to keep his word? He’s the embodiment of chaos!”
Everyone shuffled from hoof to hoof…or foot to foot…digesting this bit of unfortunate news. Jen spoke first. “Well…” She relayed the conversation…the rules for the challenge, and the shimmering necklace containing his power he gave her to keep.
Rainbow was the next to chime in when the story was finished. “We’re wastin time here! C’mon ponies we gotta race to win! We can’t just stand around doin nothing!”
Twilight still didn’t seem to be convinced. “Even if all this is true, we have no idea where the old homelands are…perhaps some research in the Canterlot library?”
This brought an exasperated sigh from the pink party pony, who trotted over and with a hop skip and a jump she leapt eye level with Jen and tapped her on the horn (causing the poor girl to go cross eyed a moment). “We don’t need a map! Remember what Princess Celestia said? Jenny-beans magic is about findin stuff she wants to find! So if she wants to find the place well…?” She shrugged.
Twilight’s eyes widened and she facehoof’d. “Of course! Jennifer can lead us with her magic! Let’s get moving girls! We’ll stop by Ponyville first and get our supplies together. I need to tell Spike what’s happening too…” She frowned at the miniature figurines. “Oh but what about them?”
Finally the unicorn gentlestallion cleared his throat. “If you don’t object Miss Sparkle I would be honored to take them into my care while you and your friends set out on this urgent quest. I’ll have a message sent to Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor informing them of the situation as well. With our own Princesses out of commission it will fall to her to see to the sun and the moon in the interim yes?”
Giving him a relieved and very grateful smile Twilight nodded. “Yes thank you very much Fancy Pants. I know you’ll take exceptional care of them.” She turned to the other two ponies and waiting human. “Alright girls…Rainbow can pull the chariot home. I know it’ll be a lot of strain for you but we have to go as quick as can be.”
This just brought a grin to the face of the cyan Pegasus. “Ha! You want speed? You’re gonna get speed!”
Hurrying from the throne room the girls could hear Fancy Pants working to get the situation under control. There was chaotic activity everywhere they turned as the guard hurried to mobilize. Some to begin the hunt for Discord, others to return to their normal duties as best they can. They met no resistance from the disorganized pegasi working in the (stables?) housing the chariots as they settled the harness around Rainbow Dash. Once the non-fliers were aboard Rainbow broke into a gallop…a few powerful flaps of her wings and they were airborne, albeit unsteadily.
Pinkie didn’t seem to mind the turbulence at all, but the other two looked a little less sure. Despite her daredevil actions earlier Jen seemed a bit less interested in diving from the chariot with Dash so occupied.
“Are you sure you can handle this Rainbow?” Twilight had to shout to be heard over the rushing wind.
It was clear even the short amount of time they’d been in the air was taking a toll on the young flyer, but she gritted her teeth against the strain. “Of course I’m sure! Who’re you talkin to?”
The trio settled into the chariot again trusting in Dash to see them to their destination safely. Pinkie seemed bursting with excitement while Jen was staring cross eyed at her horn, seeming to be focusing. Twilight frowned. “Remember what the princess said Jennifer? The more you use your magic the faster you’ll change into a native equestrian. I think it best if we used your locating trick sparingly. We only need it now and again to make sure we’re headed in the right direction after all.”
Jen blinked, eyes losing the far off look they’d acquired and focusing on the concerned unicorn. “Oh jeez that’s a good point…I didn’t even think of that.” She rubbed at her forehead again, fingers dancing along the still unfamiliar horn.
This brought a giggle from the pink earth pony. “Aww it wouldn’t be so bad! I betcha’d be a great pony Jenny-bean!”
Jen could only smile faintly at the intended compliment…but she couldn’t keep from looking at the dwindling Canterlot. Thoughts stuck on the friends left behind. Her hand went to her necklace she now wore, fingers playing upon the surface of the roiling gem.
Just one use would be enough to wish Discord out of reality…then the power would be mine.
She blinked and jerked her hand down with a scowl. ‘Where had THAT come from?’ Neither Pinkie nor Twilight seemed to notice her sudden discomfort and she felt no reason to draw attention to the errand thought. She brushed it aside and stood looking out at the ground rushing beneath them again.
The actions of the evening seemed to have dimmed even Pinkie’s spirits, and the group was quiet until Ponyville came into sight. Rainbow brought the chariot to a (mostly) smooth landing, and everyone climbed out. Jen helped unhitch Rainbow who immediately stretched her wings and gave a great yawn.
That seemed to set off a chain reaction as everyone realized just how late it was. Twilight cleared her throat. “Alright girls…I know we’re all eager to get going but I think we should take tonight to get some rest then leave first thing in the morning. After all Discord and his group will need to rest as well.”
Rainbow Dash seemed to want to protest but she shut her mouth as all that escaped was another yawn. “Ugh…fine…we’ll meet back here and leave first thing in the morning!” She flew off toward her home.
Twilight nodded to Jen and Pinkie. “I think it best if Jennifer stays in the library with me and Spike. I don’t want to answer all the questions everypony would have about her right now if she was seen wandering the streets.”
Pinkie seemed a little disappointed…no doubt she’d planned to be up all night enjoying the impromptu slumber party with her recently reunited friend…the other reason Twilight wanted the human in her library. “Alright girls! I’ll make sure we have plenty to eat and see ya both bright and early!” She turned springing back toward Sugarcube.
This left Jen and Twilight to head into the library. Spike was curled up on the couch with Isabelle, the dog gave a little wag of her tail at the sight of her master’s return…but soon enough she was sleeping again. Twilight lead Jen upstairs to her own room, speaking once the door was closed. The room was soon lit from the purple light of her horn. “I know it’s a little cramped for you but you can use the spare bed there.”
The teen glanced at the bed…which her legs would surely be hanging over with only a faint sight. “It’s alright. I didn’t realize how tired I was, I think I could sleep on anything right now.” She gave a faint chuckle, tugging off her shoes and socks and collapsing into the bed. “…I’m really sorry about the princesses…and the others…”
Twilight only gave a slight nod as she climbed into her own bed. “Well it sounds like it’s a good thing you were here anyhow. I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t there to reason with Discord.” She looked to her guest as her horn began to dim. “It really IS good to see you again. I’m sorry if I gave any other impressions…the girls tell me I get a little high strung.”
Clearly remembering how stressed Twilight as Tina could get over any little thing this didn’t come as a surprise to Jennifer. “It’s alright; it was kinda a weird situation for everyone.” She settled her head on the little pillow and curled her legs up over the bed.
Letting the magic from her horn fade, the room was soon bathed only in the light of the moon shining through the window. “Good night Jennifer.”
Rolling on her side she closed her eyes, trying to ignore her racing mind and find sleep. “G’night Twilight.”
“Goood morning girls!”
Spike’s cheerful morning wakeup call was greeted with two nearly identical groans. The little dragon huffed and grabbed a comforter in each claw, yanking them from the sleepers. “Up and at em! Rainbow Dash is already downstairs and waiting. She filled me in on what happened last night!”
This seemed to bring them to the waking world a little quicker and both were soon up and giving great yawns. Spike couldn’t hide a snicker at the near identical bedhead the girls were sporting.
Jen seemed to be waking quicker however and was on her feet chewing her lip. “Hey uh…bathroom?”
Spike blinked and chuckled again. “Right down the hall, can’t miss it!”
She zipped from the room and frowned at the way too low toilet…but made do as best she could. She instinctively went to the sink to wash her hands, then stopped at her reflection. It was the first time she’d actually seen herself since coming here. She knew there were changes…she could tell just from what she could see of herself without the mirror. The girl looking back was clearly still her…just…different.
Her eyes were the biggest change. They were the same dark green color they’d always been…only now her facial structure more closely resembled the natives. Huge eyes, smaller nose and mouth. She spent a little while just making face in the mirror. If she really tried she could stretch her lips open pretty far…but snapped them shut at the sight of the familiar braces. “Happy magical world…and still got braces.” Her eyes of course were drawn to the horn peeking from her hairline. She turned left and right getting a good look at it. “…huh…doesn’t look so bad I guess…kinda neat even…”
There was a crash as the front door burst open and Pinkie’s unmistakable voice drifted upstairs. “Time’s a wastin! Get that bacon shakin and let’s get goin!”
She couldn’t hide a smile as she tore her gaze from her own reflection and grabbed her footwear from beside the bed. Making her way downstairs she saw Pinkie and Rainbow, a pair of saddle bags across their backs. Spike was busy packing a still sleepy looking Twilights…the poor unicorn having stumbled over her still sleeping dog which brought a little smirk to the girls face.
Pinkie bounded to her side as she leaned on the table to tug on socks and shoes. “How was your very first night sleeping in Equestria Jenny-bean? Great I hope!”
She offered her friend a smile and a nod. “Yeah I slept surprisingly well all things considered…” She knelt to retie her laces. Rainbow cantered over as Pinkie bound into the kitchen to ‘help’ Spike with some last minute preparations.
“Y’know I love Pinkie Pie and all…but I gotta wonder if maybe y’know…Applejack or even Rarity mighta been a better choice? I mean I get me and Twilight but Pinkie’s kinda…” She waved a hoof searching for the right word.
“Frivolous? Hyper? Silly? Maybe she is but…” Jen looked over her shoulder watching Pinkie’s antics. She was teasing a smile from the downcast and sleepy Twilight…which caused her to smile a little as well. “I know Applejack is probably stronger and tougher…and Rarity has her magic but Penelope was my first REAL Friend. I couldn’t just leave her like…that. I know it’s selfish.”
She earned a hoof punch to the shoulder from the Pegasus. “I understand. And that makes alotta sense now that I think about it. You guys were always really close…you used to follow her everywhere like a puppy hehe.”
Jen gave a huff and straightened back up. She got her canteen from her pack and refilled it with fresh water before slinging the large backpack over her shoulder and heading into the kitchen with the others. “Any uh…non-pony food around?” She wrinkled her nose at the sight of Twilight wolfing down a daisy sandwich for breakfast.
Pinkie of course offered a small platter of cupcakes…but the idea of having so much sugar first thing in the morning made Jen’s stomach turn a little. Spike, seeing the look grabbed a couple pieces of bread searing them with his fire. A little apple jam and he handed the toast to a grateful Jennifer.
“Thanks Spike…I like cupcakes as much as the next person but…not first thing in the morning.” She crunched into her breakfast as the little dragon nodded sympathetically.
“Tell me about it sister. Try growing up with nothing but pony food to eat. Hay fries are alright but the grass and flowers…no thank you.” He shivered. “I’ll take a nice big ruby or emerald any day.”
This merely caused Jen to raise an eyebrow. She idly wondered if Twilight was some kind of genius billionaire to be feeding her assistant priceless gemstones…but was more concerned with eating and getting on the road then pony financial statuses. She paused to give her still sleeping dog a fond pat on the side before stepping outside with the others.
It was still early and the town was only just beginning to stir to wakefulness which Twilight seemed to approve of. “Let’s get moving girls, the fewer ponies who see Jennifer the better. We can introduce you around town when we’re not on a mission to save it.”
This suited Jen just fine. As happy as she was to be reunited with old friends she still wasn’t terribly fond of the whole ‘meeting new people’ thing. The others seemed to be watching her expectantly and it took a moment for it to click. “Oh! Oh right I’m the uh…compass huh?” She chuckled nervously and frowned up at her horn. “Ok I can do this…uh...we want to find where the ponies came from?”
There was a noticeable tingle this time running through her body. It worked its way up from her feet to settle and focus around her horn. A pale green aura suffused it…then it suddenly felt like her head was being pulled in every direction. She snapped off the effort with a yelp, rubbing her head gingerly.
Twilight tsk tsk’d in a manner reminiscent of one of her teachers. “Magic needs more focus than that Jennifer. It likely tried to lead you to…to any mare that’s had a foal or any city we migrated from. Try being more specific. We’re looking for the land we migrated from before coming to Equestria.”
The girl frowned and closed her eyes. Narrowing her thoughts on the one specific place. She felt the tingles rising again, spreading from toe to horn and focusing once more. This time there was a very faint, but insistent tug angling her to the north and west. “…it’s faint but it’s that way. I think it must be really far…when I was lead to you guys the pull was a lot stronger.”
A nod from the purple unicorn, as if she expected this. “The story says they had to travel a great distance to reach what is now known as Equestria.” She had her ‘talking to the class’ voice going again.
Rainbow was already zipping in the direction indicated. “Well we’re not gonna beat Discord and his team of jerks by standin here talkin about it! Let’s get a move on!”
The others hurried to catch up, settling into a brisk but comfortable pace. The ponies at an easy canter, one which Jen with her longer legs could match without difficulty. The group made it out of the sleepy town without incident…the only ones usually awake so early were the farmers on the outskirts of town and they were too busy to do more than offer a curious stare at the spectacle Jennifer created.
Pinkie paused in her bouncing to look over at Twilight, a slight frown on her face. “Y’know what’s been buggin me? Trixie and Lightning Dust I get. They’re meanies and all…but why would Cranky work with Discord? He’s our friend after all!”
“Well remember how Jennifer described him?” Twilight began. “A donkey clearly wearing a bad BLACK toupee…black Pinkie. You ruined his black one and got him the lovely blonde one from Rarity. I believe it likely that the Cranky Discord recruited is from the past BEFORE you became friends. Also remember what he said about ‘getting what they were promised’? Well I suspect Discord promised to reunite him with Matilda just like you did.”
This caused Pinkie’s ears to splay with a touch of sadness. “So that Cranky still hasn’t found Matilda? That’s so sad! No wonder he’s so cranky!”
The other three rolled their eyes as they continued their trek. It wasn’t long before the outlying farms of Ponyville were behind them. Jen felt it building up again. The thrill of the unknown. Here she was in a whole new world, setting out on a quest…a QUEST quest like in an old book or something, to defeat the bad guy and save the kingdom. It definitely wasn’t the kind of adventure she could find back home. Not to mention the company.
She wasn’t even aware she was smiling until the bounding Pinkie Pie caught sight of it. “Well at least SOMEone’s got the right spirit! You two need to cheer up. We’ll beat Discord and save the day just like we always do!” It was hard to have a negative attitude when she was around, there was no denying that.
“Hmph! Of course we’ll beat him Pinkie. We did it before and we’ll do it again!” Dash had fallen back to keep pace with her frustratingly slower friends.
Twilight was the only one who seemed unconvinced. “I know we have a good track record so far, but we don’t have the elements now. What if Discord doesn’t keep his word? Not to mention the more we rely on Jennifer’s magic the closer she comes to being trapped in Equestria.”
The group once more settled into an uncomfortable quiet as they walked along. Every now and again Jen’s horn would glimmer as she checked the ‘directions’…still unerringly leading them to the northwest.
The sun was well on its way beyond the horizon before Twilight called for everyone to stop. The weary troupe collapsed where they stood having walked all day. Jen certainly seemed the worst off. The strain of exercising her new magical muscle and a full day of walking took a toll. Certainly the others were tired as well…but they seemed to have a good deal more stamina then she, particularly Pinkie. Everyone dug into their bags for something to eat, as Twilight levitated some fallen wood into a pile sparking a fire with her horn. While the other three ate she unrolled a map from her saddlebag and set to studying it.
Rainbow eventually hopped up and dropped next to Twilight running her eyes over the map as well. “There’s gotta be a better way than just walking all the way. I mean I’d be fine but you guys look ready to drop.” The boastful Pegasus really didn’t look much better than her companions.
Twilight surprised her with a nod. “Yes I agree. At first I was concerned about the destination. We have such an unreliable method of navigation.” This earned an indignant ‘hey!’ from said source of navigation. “But it seems we’re heading steadily northwest. The land between here and the Crystal Mountains is well documented so I doubt our goal is anywhere before them. We’re very near the train tracks, and the map shows a small town only a few miles from here. We should be able to make it tomorrow morning. We can catch a train to take us a good deal closer to the mountains, and a lot quicker than if we walked.”
She rolled up the map when she finished speaking, tucking it back away. “That said I think we should all settle in for some sleep. Since we had any sunlight today it’s safe to say Fancy Pants,” (the mention of his name got a snerk from Jen and a reproving throat clear from Twilight) “Got in contact with Princess Cadence and she’s successfully taken over Celestia and Luna’s duties. So that’s ONE thing we don’t have to worry about.”
Everyone lay about the little campsite preparing to sleep. Shivering a little in the cold night air Jen found herself thinking it wouldn’t be so bad if she suddenly sprouted the coat of fur that seemed to keep her companions from feeling the chill. Pinkie must have noticed the shiver going through her as she trotted over and plopped on the ground, thudding her side against Jen’s chest and causing the girl to grunt a bit.
“You looked chilly Jenny-bean, thought I’d come warm you up!” She somehow managed to imply her normal cheery shout while simultaneously whispering to not disturb the other two.
Jen just smiled and did her best to get comfortable with her pack as a pillow. She was used to camping out but generally with a tent and sleeping bag. It hadn’t occurred to her that the ponies wouldn’t be bothered by lacking such things. “Thanks Pinkie.”
The pair were quiet for a few moments, before the little pony peeked up to see Jen was still awake, eyes cast up at the night sky. “I forgot how much you loved night time Jenny…I think you and Princess Luna are gonna be good friends.”
Jen only nodded faintly, distracted by a night sky completely clear of artificial light, pollution, and clouds. She’d never seen so many stars. Her mind flipped through all the constellations known to her and it wasn’t long before she realized she could find none of them. It was a little scary…realizing just how very foreign and alien a world she was on. Funny how something like the stars seemed to be freakier then the talking Technicolor ponies she was surrounded by. But at the same time…it was a whole new sky to learn about. Just another mystery waiting for her to unlock it.
Despite the unpleasantness of the situation…she was soon drifting to a deeper, more content sleep than she had known in a long time.