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// New Home// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 6 New Home
Jax sat in his corner of the train cart watching the silly antics of his unexpected new companions. Pinkie was munching on a gut-wrenching amount of sweets she had bought with what was suspected to be every last bit she had. Rainbow Dash and Twilight were talking about a new book that was coming out soon. The others were speaking too softly to be heard, but he could tell they were having a good time.
The quiet stallion was both surprised and grateful they were not trying to include him in their socializing this time and was instead enjoying his first moment alone since his arrival. In spite of this peace he was lucky enough to find for the time being, many questions still plagued his mind. “What will happen now? What will this place be like? I haven't had proper friends in a while; do I even remember how this works? But this is so different than any other time, have I ever been offered friends like this?” A quick and silent jab to his forehead with his good hoof reminded Jax of what was important. “What am I thinking? I don't need any new friends. I just need to save up enough to get out of here and head back to Ir...”
The screech of the train's brakes interrupted his thoughts as well as the sight of Pinkie, who had been standing on her seat at the time, falling over onto Rainbow Dash. After a short moment of laughter between the mares and little dragon, everypony grabbed their things and departed. The first step out of the train was breathtaking. Calm, spring air rushed by with a gentle breeze as if to welcome him.
The old fashion train station made of creaky sanded wood seemed almost out of place with the rest of the town. From the first glance it was clear there was no separation of districts, homes and shops were built side by side as if at random. Young fillies and foals ran around playing games without a care in the world. For a moment, Jax questioned if the town was real, this was proven so as the hyper pink mare speeds past him like a cannon ball.
“How fast is she?” He asks as he watches the pink blur dash past the ponies in the streets and disappear around the corner.
“Take it from me sugar cube, the last thing you want to do is question what goes on in that filly's head,” Applejack says waving a hoof at the green stallion.
Taking this advice for the moment the rest of the gang strolls through the town, all the while Jax takes in his new surrounding making notes of everything he sees crafting a map in his head. All the while he failed to look up and see the massive crystal castle at the edge of town. There was no question that this is where he would have the privilege of staying during his time in Ponyville. The base of the castle resembled a tree as if the whole structure had just shot out of the ground. This, however, seemed foolish to believe.
The inside of the castle was no less strange than the outside for no other reason than the fact that there was nothing to be seen. Hallways and corridors were nearly empty with maybe one or two pieces of artwork in them, but otherwise... nothing. The group finally came to what Twilight referred to as her guest room. Other than the clear difference in style and structure of the castle it was no different than the last room he stayed in back in Canterlot.
“Here we are. I hope you'll be comfortable, we haven't really used this room much.” Following Twilight to the bedside Jax sets down his saddle bag and looks around. The bed and side table look nice as well as the bathroom on the far side of the room. A small balcony was perched just to the left and led to a beautiful view of the landscape. Small shelves hung on each wall waiting for personal possessions.
What was most interesting to Jax was a large desk in the corner of the room. Instantly Jax thought of items he would need to replace from the shipwreck, and how he could make them. “So what do you think?” Twilight asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Jax then realized he was standing there completely silent for an awkward amount of time. Jax clears his throat and puts on a smile. “It's nice wilight, thank you.” His thoughts finally shift away from the possibilities of staying and go back to ones of concern with a hint of guilt. “But are you sure about taking me in like this, you don't owe me anything and hardly know me. Is this really okay?” His eyes wander around the room wondering what he did to deserve such treatment.
Twilight opens her mouth to speak but is cut off by her little dragon who excitingly speaks his mind. “Nonsense, you protected the ponies on the beach remember, that alone speaks volumes. Plus, I don't think anyone here could sleep at night knowing somepony was sleeping on the streets. Right, Twilight?”
A cheeky smile shared between the purple mare and her assistant told Jax how they shared this opinion. “Jax you're welcome to stay here as long as you like, and if you want we can help you find your own place. Once you save up some bits.”
“Speaking of money to be earned...” Applejack states cutting in, “don't you fret about getting to work anytime soon. Take your time with that leg of yours and you can start when you ready.”
Jax again is reminded of his wounded leg, broken in his fight with the Kraken just the other day. So used to being hurt and having to adjust himself to prevent further injury, he has almost forgotten about his current handicap more than once. “There's no need to rest. I'll be just fine to start work in the morning.”
The group of mares looked back and forth at each other as if expecting someone to explain this odd and rather reckless decision. “Are you sure about that? I reckon you can handle yourself mighty well, but...”
“Don't worry, this isn't the first time I've been hurt like this, I'll be just fine.” For a moment, Applejack was worried she had come across another cocky pony who thought too highly of their skill. However the look on the stallion's muzzle held no sigh of confidence or boldness like her rainbow maned friend, this was something else.
“Hey!” shouted the resident party pony as she popped through the door and began darting around with each question that she thought of. “So how do you like the town? Did you see anything you like? What do you think of Twilight's castle? Are you going to...” Again a well-placed hoof muffles the seemingly endless number of questions, something Jax was starting to get used to.
“Do you ever stop jumping around like that?” A smile bigger than should be physically possible told him everything he needed to know. “But yes, the town looks nice and I think I might like to here for a short time.”
“Great, then it’s party time!!!” The two words that always meant that good times were coming. Pinkie rounded up all her little friends in one big hug and speed off with them all in hoof. In a matter of seconds Jax found himself with his hoofs back on the ground in front of a colorful looking bakery a fair distance away from the castle.
“Huh, so that's how fast she is.” He thought to himself, looking around in search of the others Jax was treated to the sight of the mares stumbling around waiting for their heads to stop spinning.
Again Pinkie pops out of nowhere and nearly makes the light-green stallion jump. “Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner.” The puffy pink mare announced waving a hoof. “Where I live, eat and sleep.”
Jax took a double take looking at the bakery and then back at Pinkie. “You live in a bakery?”
“Yep.”
Jax looked on at the pony-sized bundle of sugar. “You eat here?”
“Hu-huh.”
“Sleep here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And live here?”
Pinkie nodded fast enough to give Jax a headache at the sight, a hoof to his head would calm him as he spoke his mind. “Yes, because who isn't going to put the most hyperactive pony in the world in a place with more sugar than a candy store.”
“I know right?!” Pinkie shouts in agreement.
All seemed well until Pinkie went to the door and Jax’s heart started racing, remembering that a crowd of ponies lied just beyond.