Chapter 5: A Pinch of Hope
Echo flew Jubilant back to Ponyville, the little filly standing on her back hanging on with just her hind legs as the pair flew through the forest and back into the still sleeping earth pony town. With a few directions from Jubilant, Echo soon had her back at Pinkie’s home. “How’re you gonna explain your eyes to your mom?”
Jubilant shrugged her aunt’s element of kindness looped around a foreleg. “I’ll tell her the truth. She might get a little upset but she ALWAYS finds out when I lie and it’ll get even worse.”
With a smile Echo looked over her shoulder to the house. “You want me to come in with you?”
“No it’ll be ok. Besides my uncle’s visiting, and Miss Rarity and Mister Fancy too. So she won’t yell too much.”
“Alright. Well maybe we’ll talk again Jubilant. Tonight was fun.”
Jubilant returned the night pony’s grin. “It was! I love making new friends. AND we’re necklace buddies!” She tapped her own heart stone, the mirror of Echo’s.
Echo gently laid a hoof over her own pendant. “…yeah we’re necklace buddies. I’ll catch ya later Jubilant Surprise.”
The filly watched Echo disappear into the night. With a little bit of focus she blinked to the other side of the front door, upstairs, and finally into her room. Where of course her mother was waiting for her. “…h-hi mom.”
Pinkamina Pie was renowned for being abnormally cheerful for an earth pony. Members of the unfortunate tribe generally had little to smile about but she managed to find a way. There were very few ponies who’d seen her angry. Jubilant was one of the unlucky few.
“Where were you Jubilant Surprise?”
Instantly the filly in question’s ears flattened against her skull. A dozen excuses flashed through her head before she sighed. “The Everfree.”
“At night? ALONE? You didn’t even take your uncle with you?”
“I wanted to surprise him! And look!” She thrust the leg bearing the element of kindness at her mother. “I got to Aunt Fluttershy’s and back no problem!”
Pinkie’s eyes narrowed as she took in the scratches along her filly’s coat. “NO problem?”
Instantly Jubilant’s jubilance vanished. “W-well…there were a couple um…timberwolves. But Echo saved me!”
Now her mother looked surprised. “Echo? You met her? Did she…say anything?”
Jubilant shrugged. “Well yeah we talked some. Didja know she has the same necklace as me? And she’s a NIGHT pony! I didn’t know there WERE night ponies! Oh but she was really nice.”
Pinkie frowned again staring at Jubilant’s face. “What happened to your eyes?”
“Oh! Well um…Aunt Fluttershy had this little star in a jar. Echo opened the jar and the star kinda…jumped at me! At my horn…I felt all warm and tingly and then uh…I guess my eyes turned the same color?”
Gently Pinkie took the element from her daughter. “Jubilant Surprise you know that forest is dangerous during the day time. And the ONLY reason I’m not going to tell Rarity that you need to be punished is she might not bring you back home. Do you understand? If she finds out you might not be able to come to Ponyville ever again.”
Now Jubilant’s eyes widened in horror. “Wh-what are we gonna tell her about my eyes then?”
With a sigh Pinkie fidgeted with the necklace in her hooves. “Well blame it on your uncle. It’s worked before right?” Now she was smiling a little again.
This brought a smile to Jubilant too. “It always does! Poor Uncle D.” The two shared a giggle before Pinkie scooped the filly up and settled her on the bed, joining her up there herself.
“I think it’s time YOU got to sleep silly filly.”
It was certainly passed Jubilant’s bed time and now that she was in her bed she was already nodding off. “Mkay mom. M’sorry about the forest.”
Tucking her filly against her chest Pinkie settled down to sleep. “I know Surprise. It’s ok just…think before you act alright? I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you too.”
Jubilant mumbled another soft apology before allowing herself to sleep.
***
Rarity stood outside Jubilant’s door observing mother and daughter silently before making her way downstairs. Her husband was already awake and cooking some eggs. “Good morning Rarity. Sleep well I hope?”
She eyed him quietly before using her magic to set the table. “Well enough. Where did you sneak off to so late last night? I woke up to use the rest room and you weren’t in bed.”
Fancy stiffened only slightly but it was a gesture Rarity didn’t miss. “Oh! Last night well D and I went out for a little walk and talk, stallion stuff. Nothing you’d be interested in I’m sure.”
Suspicions aroused now Rarity moved to her husband’s side. “Oh? Hoofball and the like I suppose?”
“Quite right. We talked about the Canterlot Gemstones a bit. D has a rather interesting business venture out west. I thought I may take a trip to Appleloosa with him. See if it’s worth investing in.”
Now the mare’s ears perked. “Appleloosa? Fancy, Ponyville is one thing but Appleloosa is an entire day away by train. And the ponies out there are so...so…uncouth!”
Turning to his wife Fancy wore his warmest smile. “Rarity dearest they’re ponies just like you or I. D thinks he has a real money making opportunity, and more bits mean more we can do for needy ponies in the world. I should only be gone a few days. You’ll see me again within a week I’ve no doubt.”
Slowly Rarity was calming down, if not warming to the idea. “When exactly are you taking this trip out west?”
“Well I thought when you go back to Canterlot tomorrow evening we would take the train to Appleloosa. Get it out of the way quickly then we’ll all be back home.”
The stallion could feel the temperature drop several degrees in the room. “When you say ‘we’ you of COURSE mean you and D, nopony else.” That wasn’t a question.
Shakily clearing his throat Fancy Pants turned his attention back to the breakfast-to-be. “We thought Jubilant might enjoy the trip. She does love seeing new places.”
“Absolutely not! Fancy Pants it’s one thing if YOU want to go out to that dust ball of a town but she’s just a filly! You know the stories of the western towns. It’s all lawlessness and violent out there! I absolutely forbid it!”
Casting a furtive glance upstairs, sure that the mare and filly were awake after his wife’s high pitched shrieking Fancy sighed. “Rarity…I know this is a lot to ask but well, I wish to spend some time with her as well. You’ve had her all to yourself the past few weeks while I’ve been away working on something or another. This will give us a good chance to bond. Besides you heard both she and Pinkie Pie. She routinely went into the Everfree alone. Appleloosa certainly can’t be half as dangerous.”
“Everything ok down here? I heard shouting.” A gently frowning Pinkie Pie had come downstairs.
Rarity looked from her husband to the other mare in the room. “I do apologize Pinkie, Fancy and I were having a disagreement. He wants to drag Jubilant out to Appleloosa on some new money making scheme D has cooked up.”
“Oh is that all? Appleloosa’s a GREAT town. You guys’ll have A LOT of fun! And she’s always wanted to go y’know? Plus Applejack’s out that way and she was a good friend to Surprise.”
All three adults felt the tell-tale tingle in the air that heralded Jubilant Surprise’s teleporting. “Miss Applejack?! When do we leave?” She was beaming ear to ear as she appeared.
Rarity was about to rebuke the filly for eavesdropping (hard NOT to do at the volume she’d been carrying on), when she noticed Jubilant’s eyes. “What in the world happened to your eyes?”
This drew Fancy’s attention as well. The stallion leaned in closer, monocle drifting in to give him a better view. “I say it’s certainly a striking color.”
With a quick look over her shoulder at her mom Jubilant swallowed. She didn’t like lying especially not to any of the ponies in the room, but the truth would probly get her in a lot of trouble. She received a momentary reprieve as her uncle cantered in the front door.
“Morning everypony! You’re certainly a dower looking bunch.” Without waiting for any of the others he helped himself to some eggs and juice plopping at the table happy as can be.
“Uncle D did a spell that turned my eyes a different color, it’s his fault.” Jubilant delivered in a very deadpan manner.
Rarity whirled on the filly’s eccentric uncle; just in time to catch his spit take of orange juice right in the face. “I did what now?!” Seeing the look he was getting from both Pinkie Pie AND Jubilant Surprise he calmly offered Rarity a napkin. “Er, that is yes. I Did it. Of course. I’m quite the…cad?”
With a snort of irritation Rarity snatched the offered napkin in her magic dabbing at her face. “Why pray tell did you feel the need to turn Jubilant’s eyes gold?”
Discord stared across the table at his niece, a faintly thoughtful look on his face. “Oh you know, for fun? It’s a good color though hm?”
Jubilant wilted a little at the stern look in her usually always flippant uncle’s eye. She suspected she’d get a talking to from him later, but she was more relieved Rarity bought their story…and that her ire was focused on Uncle D now. Quietly she ate her own breakfast.
“Well I hope it’s temporary, it clashes with her mane.” With a sniff Rarity set the napkin on the counter. “I’m going to shower.” She left without waiting for any response.
Pinkie flicked an ear toward the stairs once she heard the water running. She looked from Discord to Fancy Pants, and at a nod from the disguised draconequus she trotted upstairs retrieving the element of kindness. “Your niece wanted to surprise you with this.”
“And surprise me she did! Excellent work Jubilant!” With a flourish he summoned the case containing the three elements they already had, allowing the filly to place the fourth in.
Fancy watched it all quietly. “And so we travel to Appleloosa for the last two? Applejack’s sounds simple enough but I suspect Rainbow Dash’s will be harder to acquire.”
Snapping the case shut Discord banished it. “Not to worry! I’ve got a few reliable ponies working on that very problem. I’m assured two of them are masters of disguise and infiltration.”
“D, what really happened to Surprise’s eyes? Why are they gold? What exactly was in Fluttershy’s jar?”
Discord glanced down at the happily eating filly. “Surprise…feel like a game?”
She looked up food forgotten. “Always!”
With a nod her uncle’s horn shimmered with its swirling colorful aura bringing up an image of Sweet Apple Acres. “At the far end of the west field, I buried a secret treasure. If you can find it before lunch time you get to keep it.”
Eyes wide she vanished with a magical swirl of lights, blinking herself away. Chuckling softly Discord looked to the other two ponies. “Right then. I suppose the full explanation is in order, you deserve that much. The both of you.”
Fancy assured them both Rarity was fond of overly long showers. After shutting the curtains and making sure the front door was locked Discord seated the pair and began. “As you know when the queen came to power someone very dear to all of us was lost. My intention is to return her to life.”
Fancy’s eyebrows nearly shot off his head. “But that’s impossible; the dead well…are gone. I’d like nothing more than to see her again but not even the princess’ could do such a magical feat.”
Pinkie just looked concerned. “How exactly do you plan on doing this?”
Discord smiled. “Why, with magic of course. This is going to need a bit more oomph to get done then turning me to stone or breaking our night time princess free of her shell of evil. But the elements are an important component.” Saying this, an image of the six elements of harmony appeared.
“They’re not enough for this. We need just a hefty dose of chaos magic of course.” The next picture to appear was the swirling amulet that contained half of Discord’s energy, it merged with the silhouette of a unicorn filly and settled within her horn bringing about a swirl of color.
“A healthy dose of love…” Next was the heart stone pendant, glowing brightly with the first two images.
“Of course we need some powerful magic that she left her unique signature all over.” An image of a runed sword appeared.
“And last but most certainly not least…” The little gold star flickered into existence, then vanished replaced by a pair of cheerful golden eyes. “A little pinch of hope. Mix all of these together…”
Fancy Pants and Pinkie Pie leaned in, breath held as the images all swirled together coalescing into the form of a familiar and departed friend. It vanished just as quickly as it appeared.
Pinkie was the first to speak. “So…you’re going to just…bring her back? Out of nowhere?”
Discord shrugged. “Well not nowhere of course. Her spirit has to go somewhere, that’s where Jubilant Surprise comes in. It’s what we made her for after all.”
Now Pinkie’s expression shifted from concern to anger. “Now hold on just one minute! Are you telling me she’s going to come back and…and take Jubilant’s place? She would NEVER want that and you know it!”
Fancy added his voice to Pinkie’s. “Much as it pains me to agree I find I have to. She’d find the idea of…well of killing a filly for her own benefit abhorrent. She’d never forgive us.”
Discord quickly raised his hooves. “No, no of course not. I guess I need to clarify a few things. Remember the night I came, a couple weeks after her funeral?”
Pinkie’s angry scowl was easing into a less angry frown. “Of course.”
“Well I had just visited our friend up where she’s been…waiting. I borrowed something from her, and used that as the foundation for Jubilant Surprise. The filly is just an extension of the girl. Jubilant is…her…one hundred percent, just in filly form. She’s a part of her spirit, and when we call the rest of her back they’ll merge into one again. No one’s getting erased or written over, Jubilant and our friend will combine to a whole.”
Fancy was looking vaguely annoyed. “Why do you keep dancing around her name?”
Discord eyed him. “The same reason I go by ‘D’. Names have power and the queen is always listening for a few specific ones. Mine, hers, the princesses. If we so much as mention them aloud she’ll hear and likely come running.”
Now Pinkie Pie was looking intrigued. “So you won’t hurt Surprise?”
Frowning Discord shook his head. “Of course not. I know I was capable of some nasty stuff back in my glory days but I never REALLY hurt anypony. Admittedly I made them pretty miserable but hurting isn’t very funny. And I care about the filly too you know? I’ve been with you raising her all this time.”
Even Fancy Pants was looking interested by this point. “I believe Jubilant should be told before the time comes. It’s only fair.”
Now Discord smiled faintly. “Don’t worry about that, she’s been talking to Jubilant for a while now. I’m sure they’ll have a proper heart to heart sooner or later.”
Pinkie poked at her food a little. “How do you plan to use the elements? You said the queen was watching me and my friends all the time, there’s no way she’d let us all come together.”
“Very true. That’s why we need Fancy Pants here, and a few other ponies she became close with. Echo, Dinky and Lyra to start. The last is going to be a bit trickier but I’m working on it.”
Fancy interjected once again. “I’m sorry, are you proposing that we, her friends use the elements of harmony? Is that even possible? I thought they belonged to Rarity and the others.”
“Just like they belonged to the princesses and their friends years and years ago. The elements are born from the force of harmony that holds out whole world together, not from any specific pony. As long as their wielders strongly embody one of the elements of harmony, they can use it.”
“And which may I ask do you expect ME to be using?”
“Well generosity of course. You can’t deny it fits you to a tee.”
Fancy Pants opened his mouth to do just that but he paused and considered the bulk of his activities before AND after the change. Even when Galaxia rose to power he still donated a good amount of his proceeds to aiding the underprivileged of Equestria. “…I suppose you’ve a point. And the rest?”
“Jubilant will be getting her mother’s element of laughter. She’s certainly cheerful enough and brings smiles to plenty of faces to qualify. Echo will get honesty I think, she’s a better liar than Applejack is but it eats her up inside to do it. The others I’m figuring out, I’m fairly sure Lyra will get loyalty and Dinky kindness but we’ll see how it shakes out.”
Pinkie pushed her mostly full plate away. “What about magic? That’s the hardest one to use right?”
“It is.” Discord had cleared his own plate. “But the last member of our little troupe has used it before; she’ll be able to use it again.”
Both ponies were about to ask who he meant, but stopped as Rarity returned. “Well that’s certainly better…where’s Jubilant?”
“A treasure hunt of course. She should be back soon. I didn’t bury it too deep this time.” Discord began clearing the table, ignoring Rarity’s protests.
***
Jubilant returned triumphant, a box of cupcakes, (only VERY slightly dirt coated) clutched proudly in her mouth. “Fnd it!” Her ears immediately flattened seeing the four less than happy adults in the room.
Rarity was on her in a flash. “You’re positively filthy Jubilant! Dirt all over your coat and leaves in your mane! Tsk! You need a bath.”
She looked to her mother and uncle for support, both of whom unhelpfully looked away as Rarity seized the poor filly in her magic hoisting her into the air toward the bathroom.
With an apologetic shrug to the others Fancy followed his wife, remaining silent while she started Jubilant’s bath. Finally he spoke. “About Appleloosa…”
The filly’s ears perked instantly but her enthusiasm was doused quite literally by Rarity dropping a glob of water over her head. “You can take her…but there are conditions.”
Smiling Fancy Pants took a seat on the opposite side of the tub. “Of course.”
“First, she is not to leave your sight. Not once! Not if her uncle wants to take her somewhere and if she has to use the rest room you’d best be standing right outside that door.”
“A bit extreme but I suppose it’s fair.”
“Second, I expect to be contacted every day and I want to hear from the BOTH of you.”
Fancy’s ears splayed at this. “Well I can certainly do my best…” At his wife’s withering glare he gulped. “To make sure we send the messaging spell at the time of your greatest convenience of course.”
Somewhat mollified Rarity nodded gently as she quietly scrubbed Jubilant’s fur. “Alright then. And I expect YOU to behave young lady. You won’t make me regret this will you?”
Recognizing the very serious tone Rarity was using from when her actual mother was having her rare ‘serious’ moments Jubilant only nodded. “Yes ma’am. I-I mean I’ll be good.”
Her look eased into the warm smile Jubilant much preferred. “Good girl, I know you will.” Rarity playfully dunked the filly beneath the water eliciting a shocked squeal of delight from her. This of course meant retaliation was in order and with strength belying her tiny size Jubilant seized Rarity by the foreleg and tugged her forward, yanking her into the tub with a shriek of disbelief.
Fancy Pants took in the scene of the wildly giggling Jubilant and his mock angry wife with a warm smile. Her memory may have been scrambled by the horrid Queen Galaxia but Rarity’s inner warmth and beauty shone through it all. When all this was over he would most certainly have to see how Rarity felt about continuing their relationship. Neither pony in the tub noticed him slip back downstairs.
He found Discord and Pinkie cleaning up after breakfast. “I have to say I don’t see much of…her in Jubilant.”
The other stallion looked up from the dishes he was cleaning. “Oh? Nothing at all?”
“I’m afraid not. She was somewhat withdrawn, quiet, contemplative even. She seemed to hesitate before speaking what was on her mind. Jubilant in contrast is entirely the opposite.”
Now Discord looked to Pinkie. “What about you?”
Pinkie Pie sat on her haunches thoughtfully. “I see little things. Her art of course, but that’s pretty obvious. They both loved to draw; she could just never find the time it seemed. You are wrong about her not thinking though; she’s a brilliant filly she just…likes to talk. She always thinks about what she’s saying but she usually does it a second before she says it. And she loves to explore of course. They certainly have that in common. I couldn’t keep either of them out of the Everfree.”
With a little nod the former chaos god finished putting up the dishes. “It’s nature versus nurture. Recall she didn’t have a very happy childhood. Her parents weren’t cruel or abusive, just inattentive and disinterested. Pinkie in contrast couldn’t be more warm and loving. How different would she have been if she’d grown up here her whole life? I have a feeling she and Jubilant would be mirror matches for each other.”
The noble stallion looked back up toward the bathroom, hearing the peals of laughter still ringing from within. “…I suppose that may very well be true. I wonder what she’ll be like, how she’ll have changed for having the years of care under you Pinkie.”
Pinkie Pie smiled grandly. “Only for the better I’m sure.”
***
Rarity was showering Jubilant in tight hugs and kisses as the conductor announced last call for the train to Canterlot. “Now stay close to Fancy Pants the entire time.”
“Yes Miss Rarity.”
“Don’t eat anything he doesn’t give you! And no sweets before bed time!”
“Yes Miss Rarity.”
“And…and promise me you’ll be careful Jubilant Surprise.”
“I promise Miss Rarity.”
Rarity’s worried expression softened. “And have fun hm? Fancy’s right he should spend some time with you too.”
Now Jubilant grinned. “I will Miss Rarity. Have a fun week too!” She hugged the mare tightly, and Rarity only reluctantly ended the embrace when the conductor loudly cleared his throat behind her.
“Alright goodbye Jubilant! I’ll see you in just a few days!”
Fancy watched the goings on with Pinkie Pie, smiling faintly. “She didn’t even give me so much as a second glance.”
Pinkie giggled softly and nudged his flank. “Jealous of my filly?”
He polished his monocle on his suit coat. “Not at all. All this has her talking about a foal of her own. When this mess with the queen is sorted I hope she’ll feel the same about me as she does now.”
Smiling knowingly Pinkie collected her filly from the train platform. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. She had a crush on you forever.”
This seemed to please the stallion a good deal and he held his head high as they trotted back to the Pie house. “When’s our train come Mister Fancy?”
“Eleven o’clock Jubilant. We have a little more than an hour before we have to go and your mother has something to give you.”
Eyes shining the filly gripped her mother’s mane tighter, drawing a wince from her. “A present?!”
“Yup. From somepony very special to me. And special to you soon too I hope.”
Fancy remained outside to chat with Discord while the two went up to Pinkie’s bedroom. Jubilant at first was bouncing along merrily but her mother seemed weirdly somber so she calmed and settled on the floor. Pinkie Pie nudged open her closet and slid a panel off the back wall revealing a tiny cubby, and drawing a gasp of surprise from her daughter.
The mare set an object before the filly wrapped in light canvas. Taking one edge in her teeth she tugged it away revealing a gleaming shield. Jubilant’s eyes widened in wonder as she crept closer prodding it with her hoof and smiling at the metallic tink. She stared wonderingly at the embossed image of a horn, hoof, and wing along the face. “What is it?”
“It belonged to…your older sister. It was her shield. She was a brave knight.”
Now the filly looked up at her mother wide eyed. “I have a big sister? How come I never met her?!”
Pinkie’s melancholy seemed to grow. “She…well she died Jubilant.”
Jubilant’s ears flattened against her head. “Like…like Granny Smith did?”
“That’s right. She died saving all her friends from somepony very wicked.”
Looking at the shield in a new light Jubilant ran her hoof along the surface gently. “…was she nice?”
“The nicest! And guess what?”
She blinked up at her mom. “What?”
“She liked to draw too.”
“Really!?”
“Yup. All the time.” Pinkie stuck her head back in the cubby coming out with a bunch of old sketchbooks that Jubilant wasted no time flipping through.
“Wow she was really good!”
“She sure was. She liked to explore the Everfree forest too.”
Jubilant was staring at some of the sketches. “That’s Miss Rarity! And there’s Mister Fancy with Echo and…somepony I don’t know.”
Pinkie peered over her shoulder. “Her name is Lyra. They were all good friends of hers. Dinky Doo too.”
The filly wrinkled her nose at the mention of the mare in charge of the home. “I don’t like her.”
“Now Surprise, Dinky’s a very nice pony. She was just doing her job. She doesn’t like taking ponies from their family I promise. And I’m sure she feels very bad about what happened to you.”
“Hmph.” Jubilant sat back from the books. “…I wish I could’ve met her. What was her name?”
Pinkie hesitated; she knew Galaxia was listening for the name. “I called her Jenny-bean.”
“That’s a silly name.”
Pinkie giggled a little. “She was a silly pony sometimes. But really nice and really cared about her friend sand well, everypony. She was going to be a brave knight protecting all of Equestria!” The mare’s cheer dimmed somewhat. “It wasn’t fair what happened to her.”
Jubilant tugged the shield a little closer to herself. “This is mine now?”
“It is. Keep it in your bag and keep it safe. It’s very special ok? Pinkie promise.”
Nodding somberly Jubilant went through the motions and swore the oath. “I’ll take good care of it mom. It was my big sister’s after all.”
“It sure was kiddo. Now c’mon let’s get you packed up, you have a train to catch.”
***
Fancy Pants got more than a little enjoyment watching Discord try to keep Jubilant Surprise under control on the train to Appleloosa. While she saw he, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie as authority figures not to be trifled with, Discord by contrast was looked at as little more than a big playmate.
The purple suited stallion cantered back to the car, Jubilant firmly in his teeth by the scruff of her neck. His horn glowed fiercely counteracting all her attempts to blink away and she had her forelegs crossed in a spectacular pout. “Finally caught her hm?”
Spitting the filly out onto her seat Discord glowered at the other stallion. “You could have helped you know?”
Casually the noble sipped his tea as he flipped a page of the newspaper. “And deprive you of some much needed uncle-niece bonding time? I’d never dare.”
“Very funny. Who’d have thought all this being responsible nonsense would be so hard?”
“Mmm. Yes you would think being responsible for another living being would be the very picture of simplicity itself.”
Jubilant looked from uncle to foster father quietly as they went back and forth. Her uncle sagged into his seat with a stretch. “I miss the days of snapping my fingers and poof, anything I wanted happened.”
“What’s fingers?”
Both stallions looked at the filly. Fancy raised an eyebrow inviting Discord to field this one. “Fingers are…none of your business is what they are. Draw something.” He tugged a sketchbook from Jubilant’s knapsack thrusting it at the once more pouting filly.
Shooting both obviously conspiring adults a little glare she took her sketchbook to the opposite corner of their private car, pulling out her pencils sullenly.
Fingers go on the end of a hand, sort of like a griffon or dragons talons only no claws.
Ears perked Jubilant whispered back. “How come I never heard of them?”
I don’t think anypony but the queen has them. Have you seen pictures of her?
Jubilant had. She looked like a big furless ape like she’d seen in Miss Cheerilee’s history books. “Uh huh.”
She has arms instead of forelegs, those things on the ends are hands and the wiggly bits on her hands are fingers.
Slowly Jubilant began to sketch. “She’s not a normal pony is she?”
No, in fact she’s not a pony at all. She’s a human.
The little filly’s tail twitched at the word and her sketching picked up speed. “Are they all mean like her?”
No. No the other humans in Equestria are very nice. They were in charge before Galaxia came and imprisoned them in the sun and moon.
“…will you tell me who you are? Please?”
I’m…you have to promise not to tell anypony, PINKIE promise.
Two in one day? This was stretching Jubilant’s nerves but she did as asked…the mystery was too big for her to ignore.
My name’s Jennifer, Jenny-bean? Your um, big sister.
“What?! Mom said you died!”
Fancy Pants and Discord both heard THAT and stood up. “Jubilant who in Equestria are you talking to over there?”
Ears splayed as she looked back at the adults. “Uh…nopony! Myself! I’m…writing a play!”
Both stallions shared a disbelieving look but she was behaving so they weren’t eager to provoke her into running amok on the train again.
Very smooth, they totally bought it.
“Thanks! So um…are you a…ghost?”
Sorta I guess.
“What…what’s it like? Did you see Granny Smith?”
Hey I did! She passed by here…jeez it musta been forever ago. It was nice to see her again; we had a nice long talk. Played some cards before she moved on too.
“How come you didn’t move on?” Jubilant waited for several moments with no answer. Sighing she looked down at her sketch, presenting it proudly to her uncle and foster father. “Finished!”
Both stallions had to stifle a gasp at the image. Discord took the book gingerly and held it closer to Fancy Pants. The sketch is a picture perfect image of the departed Jennifer, in her armor and all. “Believe me now?”