//------------------------------// // Tenshi // Story: Time Has Passed. // by bronystrongwing //------------------------------// Never before has Twilight seen someone go through so many plates of food like Jason did. Abram just had one plate and then proceeded to start conversing with Hidden Gem. Axle Didn't eat much, maybe half a serving at most, and just sat silently. Eventually, J finally finished eating, and joined in Abram's and Gem's conversation. "You aren't very sociable, are you?" Twilight asked, curious as to why Axle was so silent. He looked at her and gave a grin. "Don't have much to talk about, besides, I don't really know anyone here." "What? Aren't Jason and Abram your friends?" She asked, now completely confused. "We never explained this, did we?" He says, letting loose a sigh. "We never met before today. Just woke up in the middle of the forest." "Really? Were you scared of suddenly waking in an unfamiliar place?" Twilight continues. Now Axle released a chuckle. "No, I was more worried about the two absolute strangers who were potentially my kidnappers. Took about an hour of me shouting and Abram laughing before we decided we were in the same boat." Twilight didn't really know why he'd act like that in the first place. "Why so paranoid? I mean, I can understand being worried, but immediately blaming the first people you see?" "It was mostly my paranoid tendencies kicking in. Well, that and where we come from," He says, passively pointing his hand at his fellow humans, who were now in a staring contest, with Gem trying her best not to laugh. "The world isn't very kind. A lot of people will do their best to try and screw over everyone around them, just to get a little scratch, or for a quick score." Twilight simply couldn't comprehend what she was hearing. 'How can a place like that exist? Even the worst ponies won't do anything to ruin their friendships.' As she thought to herself, Axle stood up. "Excuse me, your highness, I need some air." He says, turning toward the doors and walking away. He surprised Twilight by how easily he opened the noticeably heavy doors. After a few moments, Abram spoke up, blinking his eyes rapidly. "Hey, where'd Grumpy go?" He asks after losing aforementioned staring contest. "He said he needed some air." Twilight says. "You can follow if you want." "He seems like he's seen more than he likes to tell." Jason adds, rubbing his now burning, yet victorious, eyes. "I mean, he barely spoke on the way over here, and even less when we actually got here." The pain now gone, he looks at his company, eyes slightly bloodshot and tired. "Your eyes feeling alright? I mean, you kept them open for almost five minutes straight." Hidden Gem asks, still stifling a fit of laughter. "I'll be fine. Speaking of my sights welfare, who do I need to speak to for a new pair of glasses? I'm starting to get a headache." He asks, his concentration drifting from Abram to food to Twilight to food to Gem to food. "Well, there is an Optometrist office in Ponyville." Hidden Gem says. "We could arrange for a small group of guards to accompany you there." "That sounds like a great idea, Gem." Twilight says, surprised by how quickly she befriended two of the three visitors. "That's mighty kind of ya, but I don't really want to make a scene. Maybe just you head out with me, Gem?" J says, now idly chewing on an apple. "How are you still eating?" Abram says, totally flabbergasted by his companions appetite. "You're skinnier than a twig, yet you eat like a starving tiger!" "Don't rightly know. High metabolism, I guess." Jason replies, now finished with his apple and now reaching for a tomato. "Well then," Twilight says, trying to steer the conversation back to the topic of Jason's glasses. "Hidden Gem, would you go along with Jason's plan?" "Well, a group of guards would be safer, but he does make a good point. Seeing a bunch of armored ponies marching around town with what they would likely believe is an angel, would cause a bit of unrest. So, just acting like it's nothing special may keep things below 'full blown panic' mode." She says, deep in thought. "Dear lord, he's still eating!" Abram says, freely laughing. As he said, J has now managed to get his hands on a full blueberry pie. "Y'all want some?" He says, cutting himself a rather generously sized slice. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say you can have it." Hidden Gem says, Abram and Twilight nodding in unison. "Suit yerself. So, when we headed for the eye doc?" J says, already halfway finished with his slice. "Tomorrow, nights arriving in a few hours." Twilight says. "Alright then. I'll get Axle, he couldn't have gotten far." Abram says, excusing himself as he pursues his 'friend'. ------ In front of the castle sat Axle, deep in thought as he watched the sun set. He barely noticed Abram arrive and sit down next to him. "So, dinner finished?" Axle asks. "Yeah, but J's STILL eating. Oh, and tomorrow, Hidden Gem's going to take him to a nearby town so he can get some new glasses." Abram says, now watching the sun as well. "That's cool. Where we staying for tonight?" Axle asks. "Here, actually. They have many spare rooms. We are welcome to stay as long as necessary." Abram responds, now focusing on a nearby squirrel rushing back and forth between two trees. "Very friendly bunch, these ponies." "Yeah. I think I'll head in now." Axle says, standing up and walking inside. "Hey, Axle." Abram says. When Axle turned, he continued. "Loosen up a bit. We can't do much about our situation, so we might as well enjoy it." Axle stood there, his face expressionless save his eyes darting about before settling on Abram. "You think I'm rejecting all this, don't you?" "A bit, but I can tell part of you is excited like a child. You simply can't believe how we ended up in such a fantastical situation." Abram says, a warm smile on his face. "Yeah, can't deny that." He says, his expression softening. "Thanks man, I needed this." "Good, now let us go see what Jason's stuffing his face with now."