//------------------------------// // Chapter 12-The Flight To Elsewhere // Story: Not On Earth Anymore // by Jack Jester //------------------------------// The sun was up in the sky, taunting me. It was away. Away from these ponies. It did what it wanted. It answered to no one. Wait...never mind. I forgot that even the sun answered to Celestia here. I just wished I could have flown out there. As if reading my thoughts again, a pegasus couple flew right by me. Rage boiled inside me. Why should they get all the fun to themselves?! "You know what?" I yelled at my inner self. "I'm practically immortal!" I walked the several yards back to the castle doors and stared right at the sun. I crouched down like a cougar waiting for its prey. "You're mine." My steely gaze matched the sun's glow. I started off, albeit a little wobbly at first but soon the force of the wind on my sides kept me straight up. My feet were invisible as they pounded on the ground. The distance between myself and the edge of the castle balcony was quickly being eaten up. 100 yards, 90 yards, 70 yards, 40 yards, 5 yards! Time slowed down as I pushed off the ground. One foot pushed off the balcony fence just to be sure. I looked to the birds. I looked to the clouds and the unreachable sky. I was so close now I could almost taste it. "WOW! WOW!" My arms flailed wildly as I steadied myself. Soon I balanced out. The cool air turned colder and colder as it swept by me. I heard nothing. The wind smashed against my eardrums. Normally it would be annoying but here? I felt. complete. Being in the air was...something. It was the best feeling ever. "Is this what it feels like?" I whispered. My flight lasted about a minute before I lowered. "Well, I guess I do need to get down now." I told myself as if I had control. "Wow...wow thats a little too fast. Hey! HEY! SLOW DOWN!" I dropped like a stone. The air betrayed me, seemingly pushing me down rather than lifting me as it had before. "NOT SO FAST! YOU'RE GOING TO--" Crash. I broke a human-shaped hole in the roof of some poor rich pony. A stone roof. My body tore through each floor of the mansion until it hit the "ground" with a thud and a sickening crunch. "Ow..." I healed...but pain was pain. The burning swept over me. My arms and legs were literally pretzels as if someone had pulled the bones out and tied them in knots. Bones...where were my bones? Surely not on my person. Soon though, I felt a strange sensation in my legs. They began to feel fuller. I felt them untie themselves as something inside pushed along, undoing the knots. Hard structures formed where jelly was. My breathing steadied when the sound of escaping air ceased sounding from my chest. I slowly pushed myself up while my arms undid their own damage. The tiny stones and splintered in my face popped out silently where new skin and muscle grew. Lastly and with a great snap, I put my neck back in place. Good as new. "Alright so more jumping with style but I can work with it." I told myself as I wiped the dust off my hospital gown. It was in more shreds than I can count on two sets of hands and feet. I believed a new set of clothes would be in order. These ponies may be fine with walking around all naked, bit I, a refined human being would participate in no such affairs. There was a rustling around me. I took myself out of my own little world and looked around. A tall white pony with a blue mane and the coolest mustache I ever thought I would see on a pony stood there. His manacle swung below his chin. A even taller and skinnier mare with flowing pink hair draped herself over him with a look of shock. "Oh um...sorry about that." I rubbed the back of my head. He didnt move. "Um...hello?" Still nothing. I looked at the tuxedo jacket he was wearing. It was nice. "Well if you're just going to stand there..." I removed my gown and ripped it up until there was a small section of it that had no other tears. I tied that around my waist and turned to the stallion. After removing the mare from his back, I began to unbutton his jacket and slip it off. On me, it was a tad loose, but it was better than nothing. "Thanks buddy." I waved to him as I walked out. He still didnt move. The streets were happy and cheery. A few ponies crossed and some carriages rode by. I decided to stick with the nice, safe, carriage-free sidewalk. Nothing wanted to run me over there. "Hey mister!" I heard a childish voice yell from behind me. I turned and saw a tiny little filly. Her mane was messy and brown. On her dark blue eyes contrasted with her blood red coat. I looked to her flank--dont get any ideas there--. It was bare. She was a talentless little bundle of curiosity. "Yeah?" I asked. "My mommy said not to talk to strangers..." She kicked dirt up with her hoof nervously. "But..." "But?" I crossed my arms. Something about the little filly told me I knew her. "But I wanted to thank you. A couple days ago I was playing soccer with my friends and the ball went out in the street and I went to get it without looking both ways even though my mommy told me not too because I wanted to finish the game fast and a carriage came up and I didnt know what to do but then this monkey thing pushed me out of the way and he was real hurt but I was OK and you look like him even though you have a shirt and I wanted to say thanks." Her face had a hint of blue at this point. "You're...um...welcome." I knew this filly looked familiar. "I also wanted to ask" here we go. "If you could help me find my mommy. I heard this big crash and went to see it but it was you and my mommy wasnt where she was when I left so I--" I put my finger to her mouth. Silence, my sweet mistress. I'm sorry I never appreciated you before. I promise I'll never forget you again. Except probably tomorrow and forever on. Yeah, sorry, Silence. "Where did you see your mommy last?" I asked. I removed my finger from her lips. "We were in the shops looking for ice cream. I heard a boom though so I left and I think shes looking for me. My mommy always told me to stay in one place when someone is looking for you. I dont like that though. What if you're in a place nopony knows where you are? You should wait back where you were and wait for people THERE." She said with a triumphant smile, proud of her brilliant ideas. I sighed. "Alright. Lets go" I gave in. She cheered and galloped towards the shops. I followed en suite and asked her her name. "Mommy said never tell strangers your name." She smiled. "Haven't you broken ever rule your mommy ever told you?" I prodded. "Nuh uh, I dont steal from he cookie jar." She continued on. We arrived at the market place. It was just a bunch of stands full of doo-dads and doo-hickies like in Ponyville but everything was more expensive. Very expensive. Of course she wanted some of everything though. Her eyes almost glowed when they met the ice cream man...pony. "Oh! Oh! Can I get this one mister?" She pointed. "Well I dont know..." I said as I dug into the pockets in my new tuxedo jacket. Money. "Huh. Alright, yeah, I guess." We spent the remainder of the day sitting at the same table talking about everything under the sun. By the time that yellow orb in the sky had finished staining the land hues of red and purple, whats-her-face's mom finally showed up. "Shine Bright, there you are!" a larger green pony called. Her curly mane waved in the wind as she ran to us. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" They hugged. "Hi mommy! I--" "Who is this?!" The older mare asked and hugged her daughter tighter, giving me the nastiest look. "Mommy its OK! This is Mister Carriage Man! He pushed me out of the street! Remember?" 'Shine Bright' pleaded. The disgusted look on her mom's face turned into a gleeful smile! "Oh YOU'RE the monkey that saved my little Shine! Thank you! How can I repay you?" She asked. I felt my pockets. Their golden rivers had ceased flowing long ago. "Just keep better track of your daughter, alright?" I said. "Wouldn't want her finding herself in the street again, would we?" The mom hugged me. "Shine, what do we say?" "Thank you" she squeaked. She seemed much more shy around her mom than she had before. "No problem." I said as I began walking away. "Wait! Whats your name?" She asked. I turned to her and tapped my nose. "Sorry, my mommy told me not to tell strangers my name." I continued walking. I felt the frown grow from being me. "Its Jadec. I dont listen to my mommy either." I told her and waved. In front of me there was a flash of light. I looked down and saw a little cookie with a note. "ok so i doo tak cuokies sumtymes" it read.