//------------------------------// // 09 The Dance pt 1 // Story: Homecoming of a Jumper // by tosety //------------------------------// Whump! It took less than two seconds before a certain orange missile launched herself from her chair and slammed face first into Steelskin. Even though altitude was difficult for her, speed was never a problem. Steelskin found himself on the floor, gripped in a fierce hug. After two more seconds, the next wave hit in a blur of yellow, red, white and purple. They were all talking at once, so all he could tell was that they were worried about him. El had made a quiet exit during the ruckus. “Hey, don’t you think you should let him breathe?” Rocky said as he, Rumble, Snips, and Snails dragged the fillies away. After untangling the ponypile, they trotted back to the booth where Fei and Spect waited. Unsurprisingly, Scootaloo and Sapphire flanked him on the way. In typical Pinkie Pie fashion, she had Steelskin’s chocolate tulip smoothie already waiting for him at the table. “Hey, Steel,” Snips said from across the table. “I heard you freaked out yesterday-Ow!” Apple Bloom had clocked him upside the head. “That’s mean!” “I was just gonna ask if that place he remembered had any good ideas for Nightmare Night. I mean it must’ve been a pretty horrible world to scare somepony as tough as Steel,” Snips whined as he rubbed his temple. “Yeah, I can’t think of anything that could scare Steelskin,” Snails added, a hint of fear poking out behind his admiration. Rumble looked down in embarrassment. “I don’t think I want to hear about anything that would scare Steelskin,” Everypony displayed some form of agreement; Fei nodded sagely, Spect cocked her head in interest, Rocky pressed his lips together, and the rest nodded fearfully. Even Snips and Snails looked like they were thinking better of it. Steelskin shook his head. “The really scary things aren’t monsters or disasters...” He realized who his audience was and shut his mouth. Noticing a look she had seen in her father’s eyes, Scootaloo put a hoof on Steelskin’s shoulder. As he looked down at her hoof, the weird spikes over his eye caught her attention. “Think you could tell us about those badflank spikes you wear?” Scootaloo cocked her head and smiled winningly. Steelskin gave a shudder and, after a moment replied with a “No.” “Could we copy them? We could be some sort of badlands thugs,” Apple Bloom suggested. “Mean, nasty ponies that push around travellers.” Steelskin, still remembering the pain of getting the spikes, had an epiphany. “Wargs.” Everypony looked at him in confusion. “Wargs. They’re the third... ah, tribe, of the Griffin Lands. They’re kinda like wolves, but only like how we’re related to sheep. They usually don’t leave because they think we’re weak because we’re not as violent as them.” Steelskin took a moment to calm himself. “With their teeth and eyes, it’s hard not to get scared. Supposedly, they loved eating ponies way back in the pre-classical era. I think I believe it with how my body wanted me to freeze up even when I was with friendly ones.” They shook the ‘Twilight lecture’ stare from their eyes as Steelskin finished. He didn’t know whether to be insulted or embarrassed that his friends found him as boring as Twilight. Everypony jumped when Fei gave a long, realistic howl. The fillies scowled at her even as the colts snickered along with her. After a little discussion, they decided on a pack of wargs as a group costume and spent the remaining daylight sketching out ideas on how to make the costumes. Getting up from the table, Steelskin was followed by all of them. Outside, he turned to the group. “You planning to follow me home?” Responding to his annoyed tone, Scootaloo hoofed him in the shoulder with a fair amount of force. “You don’t have to do everything alone, plothead,” She whispered. Steelskin gave a nod of acceptance and did his best to act happy on the walk home. Internally, he was fighting a losing battle against feeling like he was being treated like a baby. ...Or worse, some coward that would spook and run at a little lightning. Thankfully, they reached his house and said their goodbyes. As they moved off, Scootaloo stayed behind. In an uncharacteristically timid voice, she asked “You heard about the dance coming up?” No, she wouldn’t. Her annoyance at his silence fueled her courage and she said in a much more confident tone. “Would you take me to it?” Yikes, how can I answer her? Steelskin stared at Scootaloo with a touch of panic. Scootaloo deflated in front of him. “I’m sorry, I should’ve known you wouldn’t want to.” He hated hurting her like this. She deserved a stallion that could take care of her and not cry himself to sleep like a baby. “No, I do want to! I... it’s complicated.” Steelskin fought to come up with a response. “You know they consider me an adult.” “I told you, it’s not a date, it’s just a dance. My dad’s already said yes.” Scootaloo looked at him pleadingly. “Okay.” Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief as Steelskin quickly added “But I need to talk to your dad first to make sure he’s really and truly okay with it.” “Awesome!” Scootaloo grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek. “It’ll be the best night ever!” As she walked off, her happy smile turned into a smirk. Steelskin’s thoughts drifted as he entered his house. You know, I miss the realities where the Crusaders were part of actual military resistance. I feel bad feeling that way, but they did manage to keep their zest for life even on the battlefield. Steelskin thought to himself. ...And some of those inventions... He sat for a moment in the door to his kitchen, feeling guilty. It was so hard to keep himself guarded to keep from scaring them, but didn’t want them to suffer the pain and violence that would free him to open up more. #PR-02# @A+48hr@ Cutie Mark Crusaders cupcake launchers! Yay!” The gleam in their eyes whenever they shouted their new plan was disconcerting. I watched as they wheeled out a strange... contraption. It was impossible to tell from looking at it what it could possibly do. There wasn’t even a front or back that could be discerned. The mystery was solved when Apple Bloom pushed a button, causing a seat to unfold and the muzzle of some sort of gun to stick out. “Set ‘em up!” Sweetie Belle called out to Snips and Snails as she took her place in the seat. As the two unicorn colts set up various targets in the field, Scootaloo took her place at a handle sticking out the side and rotated the gun to face the leftmost target. Apple Bloom stood on the other side at a crank lever. “Two degrees left.” Sweetie Belle’s statement was followed by a slight nudge by Scootaloo. “Fire!” This time, Apple Bloom responded by cranking the lever as fast as she could. Cupcakes flew at dangerous speeds from the muzzle and exploded on the first target, knocking it over. “Eleven degrees right.” Again, Scoots moved the turret. “Whoops, now two degrees left.” This time, Sweetie Belle cranked her own lever, bringing the barrell up a few inches before calling out “Fire!” Another round of cupcakes exploded on the target. After a few more targets got hit, I plucked up the courage to ask why the cupcakes made them smolder. “Oh, that’s Pinkie’s special recipe. Concentrated rainbow and a hot sauce that was too much even for her,” Apple Bloom said. “I think she called them ‘gross peppers’ or something.” That weekend, Steelskin made his way over to Scootaloo’s house. “Oh!, Steelskin, how are you doing? I’ll call Scoots down.” Alex started to turn around when Steelskin interrupted him. “Actually, I’d like to talk to you, Alex.” Alex stopped for a brief second before smiling. “Then come on in. Would you like some tea or something?” “Yes, thank you. I need something to calm my nerves.” Steelskin’s voice changed to a whisper. “This is worse than galloping into battle.” “You look like you need to get something out before your courage leaves you. I promise not to bite.” Alex smiled, trying to set him at ease. “Yeah...” Steelskin hesitated for a second. “Scootaloo said you gave her permission to ask me to the dance.” “And you wanted to confirm it?” Alex’s smile reassured him a little. “That and I wanted to know why... I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.” Alex took a meditative breath. "I do, in fact, confirm this. As to why? Well, one day Scootaloo will be a young woman, and at this stage she's fallen for you. I could grump and bellow, but that would only make her want to be with you more. Forbidden fruit and all that." “Yeah, but I thought I made it clear I was going to respect your wishes completely. You know how much older I am despite this body.” “Remember how old I am?” Alex responded with a raised eyebrow. “...Oh. I keep forgetting... about a hundred, right?” Steelskin answered. "Yep, but doesn't matter. Point is, I've gotten to know you a little and I'm not worried you'll do anything improper." Alex slapped his shoulder. Steelskin smiled and shook his head. “I really think the safest thing for her would be for you to tell her I’m off limits for at least a few more years.” So she can find out how damaged I am. "You're a good person and you have a bright future. That, and my dear wife thought you should have a chance. So, curfew is nine." "Thank-" "I said ten. Now if-" Steelskin held back a chuckle. “Loo’s right, you are a goof.” "Eleven. That's my final word on the subject." “I’d better leave before you tell me to let her spend the night at my place.” Steelskin had a smirk halfway between annoyance and amusement. “Yeah.” Alex’s smile didn’t change, but his voice took on a little bit of an ‘angry dad’ feel. Steelskin gave him a slight nod to say that that was the response he was looking for. After sitting down and drinking the tea for a bit, Steelskin looked up with a frown. “Please tell me you wouldn’t be this easy going with colts her age.” Alex chuckled and slapped Steelskin on the shoulder. "Nope. But I can give you full treatment. Never got the chance to do it for real." Steelskin smirked again, "I’ve seen Tartarus. Do your worst." Alex left for a moment, then came back with a large stone from his garden. He pulled the blade from its scabbard with practised ease. He started slowly, lovingly, running the stone over the edge of the blade of his knife, a disturbing grin growing and he started chuckling. He didn’t look up from his task. Minute after minute passed by. Steel had to admit to himself that it was unnerving. He’d felt worse, but this was a primal fear. Something similar to staring a warg in the eye. This was a predator sharpening its claws and his body wanted him to run. It took physical effort to keep himself relaxed. Alex finally spoke in a gravely voice. "So, you're the one taking my daughter to the dance, huh?" Steelskin smirked, amused by both the act that he knew was being done as well as how his subconscious was reacting exactly how Alex planned. "Yes, sir." "That's nice." Still, his eyes never left the blade. The scraping sound was starting to get on Steel's nerves. It was getting harder to keep the fear from influencing him. Suddenly, it stopped, and Alex made eye contact with Steel. "Son, I don't mind going back to jail. Especially for my little girl." Without another word he returned to sharpening his knife. “Yes. Thank you, Alex. That’s what your daughter deserves.” Steelskin looked him full in the eyes. ”I don’t think many veterans of the guard would’ve left without a puddle to clean up.” Alex chuckled, "I would say the same threat applies to you, but you're honourable enough that I don't even have to. I think you would do worse to yourself than I could ever do. On that note, lunch is one me." “That does apply to me. I hope that if I did take advantage of her you’d carry out that threat.” The intensity of Steelskin’s expression made it clear that he found nothing even remotely humorous in what he just said. He took a drink of his tea and savored it for a moment before his frown softened. “Lunch sounds good.” #PR-02# @A+60hr@ We were awoken in the middle of the night to the portal siren and everypony fit enough to fight jumped out of bed and took up our various weapons. Snazzy Suit was in the town center making sure the weak made it into the town hall and sending those of us who could fight to the field next to the Everfree. “Hey, Steel, hop on!” The voice was Sweetie Belle, riding on top of that cupcake gun they had built, horn glowing. “Alex gave us a cool idea! now we can fire a whole lot faster and it can move on its own-well sorta.” As I hopped up, Apple Bloom started telling me all about the wonders of springs and gears as she cranked away on the lever that she had been using during the demonstration. I hated the fact that the Crusaders were going into battle, but we were low on troops and their ingenuity was impressive. “So, what are these monsters?” I was relatively new to this reality and they had fought this threat a couple times before I jumped in. “Dad calls them orcs,” Loo said. “They’re his same shape, but green and taller.” “Not ta mention uglier,” Apple Bloom chimed in. “Orcs, huh?” Alex was staring at Steelskin. Steelskin took the excuse of taking another bite of his pasta dish before nodding. “Where was the other me?” Steelskin briefly smiled, being glad of something good to tell. “That Alex ran ahead to help Matt and Princess Sparkle organize our troops as they arrived. “Ah, another one where she ascended?” Steelskin gave a smile “Yeah, though this one still had the other three princesses.” “Well, that’s a plus.” Alex gave a sad smile. “How did the battle go?" “Not good. We started off well enough. Twilight had hit their front lines with a sustained blast that wiped out most of the first wave, Matt was picking off the big ones, we had plenty of pegasi with crossbows, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders found their cupcake artillery to be highly effective.” Steelskin’s head drooped as he spoke. “A little too effective.” #PR-02# @A+60hr@ Their Alex was right beside me at the start, shouting encouragement even as he attacked. He was literally our courage and I’ve never yet seen ponies fight as bravely as in that battle. The cupcake launcher was firing round after round of Pinkie’s ‘Burning Rainbows of Delicious Pain’ and they were doing more than most of the other attacks. The orcs were ignoring crossbow bolts sticking out of them and only Twilight’s magic blasts were doing more than knocking them back. The cupcakes, on the other hoof, were dealing literal ‘splash damage’. Not only were the ones that were hit going down and frantically trying to get the frosting off of their skin, but the ones nearby stopped to wipe off any frosting that splattered on them before it could start burning them. Soon they focused on the crusaders and it became all I could do to keep them back. I used the breath attack Tallic taught me and... well... It’s one of my main nightmares at night. I didn’t kill any outright, at least not that I know of, but that attack flayed their skin with tiny bits of metal. The worst part is they got up anyway and kept on coming. One jabbed at me with his spear and it caught in the crack of my breastplate, giving me time to buck him in the head. As I was turning around, I saw one running back to the portal with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Another was following behind with Sweetie Belle, trying to keep the sparks from her horn from hitting him. All around them, other orcs were carrying ponies into the portal. A tear dripped onto Steelskin’s plate. “I fought my way towards the portal, but it closed before I could get there.” He looked at Alex with a silent plea for forgiveness. “I know it’s not my fault and I know that even if I had managed to get through, there wasn’t much hope I’d have been able to rescue her... I also know I was being selfish only caring about her when there were several that were taken even if I was planning to rescue all of them.” Alex reached over and put his hand on his hoof. Steelskin smiled in appreciation. “You led the rescue mission. Well, the other you. I felt so useless and weak.” Steelskin slammed his hoof on the table. “Everywhere I go, I’m always being rescued by everypony else and can’t even protect the ones I care about!” “That’s completely wrong.” Alex stood up and threw some bits on the table. “You know that, right?” “Oh?” Steelskin’s lidded eyes challenged him to defend that statement. “Are you telling me you did less than the pegasus guards?” Alex was daring him to deny it. “Fine, I did as much as cannon fodder,” Steelskin snarled. “Come on, Steel, you’re a colt. Your only training was what a bunch of self trained brawlers taught you. You didn’t get any proper training, you’re half the size of royal guards, but you did at least as much as they did. From the looks of you, I bet you did almost as much as the heavy hitters.” Alex held his gaze. “You look at me and see someone to look up to, but was that me able to keep her from getting captured?” Alex stared at him until he dropped his head and mumbled “No.” “Did he love her any less than I love her?” “...No.” He placed his hand on Steelskin’s shoulder and his voice softened. “We don’t see how much we actually do. We always blame ourselves for what we couldn’t do.” Alex stopped walking for a second. “What we need to do is believe our friends when they tell us how awesome we are.” Steelskin looked up at Alex with a thin lipped smile. “You feel this way too, don’t you?” “All the time, but I know it’s not true. I see how you look at me and I know that I’m someone special, even if I don’t feel it myself... also, I heard about your incident earlier this week...” He reached over and put a hand on Steelskin’s shoulder. “You’re not alone. This right here,” He gestured to his entire body “is just an act. The real me is cowering in a corner.” #PR-02# @A+3days@ That night was the first time I took salt. I tried to calm myself, but it was even worse than just after my parents died. I spent the first two hours pushing myself to complete exhaustion, but even when I was so tired I could barely move, I still couldn’t shake the sight of Loo being carried off. Finally I gave up and made my way to The Grain Bucket. As I sat down at the bar, Berry Punch scowled at me. “No way am I giving a colt salt,” She said with undisguised anger. “I can’t deal. It’s time to find out what getting salted into oblivion feels like.” “I said no.” She looked like she was weighing her options on how to get me dragged out. “Scootaloo’s been taken. I can’t bear to think what they’re doing to her.” I glared daggers at her. “I’m not leaving until you either let me get wasted till I pass out or you beat me up and drag me out.” She cringed at this, but she was obviously not going to back down. My first clue that Alex had come in was his hands grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder. He seemed to know exactly how to keep me from being able to hit him. I was tempted to grow spines and spike him, but I couldn’t injure Alex that way. “We’re going to my place to talk and drink,” He said as he carried me off. I gave up and let him carry me into his house. Down in the basement, he set me down and got out two cups and set out a keg and salt bowl. As he sat across from me, he asked “So, what’s the deal with a colt demanding salt?” “I just can’t take it anymore. I can’t stop thinking about all the things I couldn’t stop her from suffering and wondering what Tartarus she’s facing with those orcs.” I was almost crying as I sat there, remembering several Scootaloos that I had seen injured... and worse. “You know, this usually doesn’t make ponies happy,” Alex warned as he poured me a glass and spooned salt into it. “You’ll probably end up feeling pretty lousy.” I took the glass from him and almost spit it out. The harshness of the salt killed the taste of the mead. He laughed at the face I made as he took a drink of his own. “As long as it lets me forget how useless I am,” I replied, downing the rest of the glass quickly and staring at the empty cup in my hooves. A couple more glasses that he wouldn’t let me chug had me feeling a bit fuzzy. I think I zoned out for a little bit. I also think I was babbling like an idiot and crying into the empty glass. "Steel? Steel! Listen to me. You did what you could and helped when you could. That's all we can ask of ourselves. Hell, around here unless I get in a lucky shot, I'm a 5th wheel.” I scoffed at him. "You want to know about yourself? You're the one who rallies everypony together! None of the realities where you're good were in terrible shape. It didn't matter if one or both of the princesses were evil or even if we had the elements of harmony, you got everyone banded together to protect us all. You even sacrificed yourself a few times and saved us all.” My words were heavily slurred, but I’m pretty sure he could understand me. I took the refilled glass he offered, noting that I tasted much less salt than the previous one. “That’s not even counting what I’ve seen you do in this reality.” Alex was speechless. "How can I have done any of this. I'm just one middle-aged guy. I'm not strong or all that bright." He sat quietly, then started chucking, "I guess I’ve got better writers." I took another long pull from my drink, not looking in his eyes since I couldn’t focus them anyway. "You know, I've heard you say that so many times, and you never explained it. I just don't get it." Alex ruffled my mane. "It just means that, with the right writer, you can make a real difference too." “Yep, sounds about right. The more I think about it, the more I’m sure I’m in somebody’s story,” Alex commented. Steelskin stopped to stare at Alex. “So that’s what you mean.” Steelskin shook his head. “You’re crazy. We’re not the creation of some cosmic storyteller. We’re merely being seen by somepony like Pinkie and having the highlights of our lives written for some other reality. If we were really just creations of somepony’s imagination, wouldn’t Equestria look exactly like that show you say your home reality has?” Steelskin got up from the table. “Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway. You’d be stupid to change your actions for either belief.” Alex dropped a bunch of bits on top of the bill and chuckled in agreement. #PR-02# @A+4days@ I succeeded in passing out after a couple hours of drinking with him and woke up the next morning with a nasty hangover. I had been moved onto the couch and there was a bucket near my head. I vaguely remembered using it during the night. My stomach was churning and my head felt like Tallic was grinding it under his claw. “Oh! Good, you’re awake.” Fluttershy’s whisper was only barely tolerable and I was tempted to promise myself I’d never take salt again. I groaned in response and carefully got to my hooves and wobbled over to the kitchen. “I made you some breakfast and I’ve got Pinkie’s hangover cure.” Fluttershy set a glass of some sort of pink and blue swirled liquid, hay pucks, and apple juice in front of me. Did she know? Despite the fact that I never actually liked the taste of hay pucks, the memories they brought back of my first meal next to Tallic made me savor them every time I had the opportunity. “Drink her hangover cure slowly and it’ll work better,” Fluttershy whispered as I reached for the strange liquid. Halfway through my meal, a thought brought me up short. “Why are you in Mister Roberts’ house and where is he?” “Oh!” Fluttershy got more nervous than normal. “Well, you see, Twilight found a way to reopen the portal and he’s leading a rescue team with Dash and a few others.” I hung my head in shame. I knew I probably didn’t have much of a chance with my young body, but it was obvious that if that didn’t ruin my chances, my getting salted last night did. “So they asked you to take care of my salted stupor.” Fluttershy gave an embarrassed nod. “Yep,” Alex said with a chuckle. “That’s me alright. I probably knew you’d insist on coming but would be too emotional to be safe for the mission. That sort of jerk move of getting you passed out is exactly what I’d have done.” Steelskin winced, finding the statement painfully true. “I’d have also wanted you back in town in case there was an attack while we were gone. From what you’ve described, you probably kept enough of them busy that we saved a dozen more ponies from getting captured in that attack.” Alex slapped his shoulder affectionately. “Can’t leave the town without any heavy hitters. #PR-02# @A+4days@ They got back late in the afternoon. Most of them collapsed in the field once they got through the portal and we quickly got some stretchers. Scootaloo tried to walk, insisting she didn’t need to be carried, but between her parents and me, she gave up the fight. She was dirty, her fur was matted, there were chafe marks from some sort of harness, she had angry red welts all over her back, and her face was a mass of bruises. “I saw you fighting, Steel. You’re seriously bad flank,” She said through swollen lips as I helped her onto the stretcher. She lifted up a foreleg for a hoofbump. I put up my hoof to complete it despite how little I felt I deserved her praise and then picked up one side of the stretcher. They arrived at Steelskin’s house. “You okay for the night?” Alex’s expression made it clear he wasn’t going to accept a generic ‘yeah’. “Good enough,” Steelskin replied. “Kinda want to get salted, but I’ve got a meeting with Twilight tomorrow, so I won’t be able to take enough to be worth it.” “You seeing Miss Introspective?” Steelskin gave a mirthless laugh. “I scare her just with my appearance. She was stuttering and jumping at shadows by the end of our first and only visit.” He looked at Alex and gave a genuine smile. “Don’t worry, she’s sent for a specialist from the Griffin Kingdom. Something about a warg being better suited to my needs.”