//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven: Seeking Justice // Story: The Truth: An alternate-world 'Truth or Dare' tale // by SFC Ponycron //------------------------------// The Truth Chapter Eleven “How is he doing?” Fancy Pants gave Rarity a small smile as he lifted the teacup to his lips and sipped gingerly. “His recovery is slow-going, but I’m sure you know that that’s Red Zircon’s style.” Rarity returned his smile with a weak one of her own. “Indeed.” She took a sip of her own tea and stared into the cup as it was slowly lowered to the tabletop with her magic. “Rarity,” Fancy Pants spoke. She lifted her head up to meet his gaze. “You know as well as I do that it’s best that he spends his recovery time in Canterlot rather than here in Ponyville.” Rarity nodded hastily. “I know...I know, Fancy Pants. Believe me, I’ve heard your reasons and his, and the six of us agree with the both of you. It’s just...” She sniffled. “It’s only been a few months, but it seems like it’s been years.” “Here, darling,” Fleur-de-Lis cut in gently, floating the napkin beside her teacup to Rarity. “Th...thank you, Fleur,” Rarity said, fighting to keep from breaking down. She blew her nose and folded the napkin in half, setting it on top of her unused napkin. “I’ll admit that I don’t know Red Zircon as...personally...as you and your friends, Rarity,” Fleur continued, “but knowing him as long as I have, it’s probably for the best that he’s in recovering in Canterlot.” The slender unicorn mare reached out and gently laid her hoof on Rarity’s. “Rest assured that Cinnamon is doing an amazing job of helping him recover and setting all his affairs straight.” Rarity nodded silently, her gaze once again moving to the center of her teacup. “Thank you both.” Fancy Pants was about to speak when the door opened. “Mama? I’m home,” Jasper called out. “I’m in the kitchen, dear,” she called out. “Where’s Aunt Sweetie...” He trotted into the kitchen and met the gazes of the other two unicorns in the room. “Oh.” He bowed politely. “Mister Fancy Pants, Miss Fleur-de-Lis.” Fancy Pants nodded in return. “Welcome home, Jasper. How was school?” Jasper shrugged. “It was okay. Ruby Dawn got another A-plus on yesterday’s math test.” “And what did you get?” Jasper shrank back a little. “Only a B-plus,” he replied. “But Ruby Dawn and Aunt Twilight said I’m getting better,” he cut in quickly. “When I told Ruby Dawn what I got, she got excited and said that all that studying paid off! Really!” “Jasper, darling, no one’s judging you,” Rarity replied. “It’s only natural that Ruby Dawn passed that math test and it’s good to see that you’re improving.” Fleur chuckled. “Your father would be proud, dear. I remember he told me that he was abysmal in school.” Jasper’s eyes lit up suddenly. “Really? You think so?” Fancy Pants gave the deep red colt a warm smile. “I’m sure he would be. In fact, I’ll let him know when we return to Canterlot.” The smile fell from Jasper’s face and a look of worry clouded his features. “Mister Fancy Pants, can I ask you a question?” “Ask away, my dear boy.” “Dad loves me and my brothers and sisters, right?” “Of course! Why would you ask such a thing?” Jasper fixed the unicorn stallion with a hard stare. “Then why isn’t he back yet?” Fancy Pants recoiled slightly from the abruptness of the question. “Oh, well...” He cleared his throat. He glanced at Rarity. “May I be blunt, Rarity?” Rarity looked at him with confusion but nodded. “Jasper, my boy...” He paused, thinking of the right words. He took a deep breath after a moment and met the young colt’s gaze. “Have you ever been so mad that you wanted to hurt somepony because they said or did something mean to you?” “Like when Jonagold got so mad after Diamond Tiara made Ruby Dawn cry?” Jasper asked. “Diamond Tiara called Dawn a foal of a...” His voice trailed off after seeing his mother shake her head. “Well, he called her that and said that Dad didn’t love her, and that’s why he went away.” Fancy Pants’ jaw dropped at the colt’s answer. After a full minute of staring at the young unicorn in complete shock, he shook his head and cleared his throat. “Dare I ask how mad your brother was, exactly?” Jasper glanced at his mother. “I promised Mama I wouldn’t repeat some of the words I learned from Jonagold,” he answered, “but when I helped him do some chores around the orchard after we finished our homework, he started swearing and bucking at some trees.” He winced. “He actually managed to clear a full tree by himself in five kicks.” “Er...I suppose as mad as that, yes,” Fancy Pants replied. “Then yeah...I mean, yes,” Jasper answered. “Mama had to stop me from finding Diamond Tiara after we found out about Dad. Jonagold’s still mad that his mom, Aunt Apple Bloom and Uncle Mac have him working with them after he finishes his homework.” Fancy Pants nodded, quickly regaining his composure. “Well, Jasper, your father is still very much feeling that way.” He looked at Rarity with a question in his eyes, and Rarity responded with a simple nod. “He’s afraid of what he’ll do should he return home. I can’t say that I blame him.” *-----*-----*-----*-----* You shoot bolt upright, a cold sweat on your face and your heart hammering in your chest. Quickly, you remember that you’re in a bed and not covered in moon dust. “Just...just a dream,” you say to yourself. A soft knock distracts you from your thoughts and the door opens a tiny bit without your acknowledgement. “Master Zircon?” You recognize the voice as one of Fancy Pants’ maids. “Are you all right, sir? I heard you scream. Shall I send for Miss Cinnamon?” “No!” you exclaim quickly. “No...no, I’ll be fine. It was just...” You take a deep breath. “...It was just another nightmare.” “I understand, sir,” she replies. There was a brief silence before she continued. “Master Fancy Pants has requested an audience with you at your earliest convenience.” Confused, you look at the clock. It’s five-thirty in the morning. “I take it he’s still asleep?” “Yes, sir,” she replies. “He asked to be up for breakfast at six o’clock sharp.” “Tell him once he wakes that I’ll meet him for breakfast, then,” you say. “I’ll just shower.” “As you wish, Master Zircon.” The door closes slowly, punctuated by a soft ‘click’. You stare at the door, contemplating returning to sleep but banishing the thought as quickly as it had come. You slide out of bed and drag your sore, sleep-addled body into the bathroom. A quick use of your magic flicks the lights on, and your vision is momentarily seared as everything is suddenly illuminated. Your skin slowly starts to crawl underneath your coat… ...The sun is here… ...Have to hide, have to hide… You shake your head violently, fighting the instinctual urge to run away from the light and dive underneath the bed. Stop! You clench your jaw tight, the soreness from the action helping you regain your thoughts and focus. You’re no longer on the moon, you think. You’re back in Equestria. You’re in Canterlot. The light’s not the sun. The light won’t harm you. You’re no longer on the moon. You’re back in Equestria. You’re in Canterlot. The light’s not the sun. The light won’t harm you… Your heavy breathing slowly softens and, the words still repeating in your mind, you open your eyes. A large mirror, a marble countertop, a sink, a decorative plant, a toilet, and a small circular pool rather than a tub. A golden faucet and a matching shower head in its holster are beside a small set of steps leading down into the pool. You let out one more sigh, your heart slowing from its frenzied pace just moments ago. “Slowly but surely,” you try to reassure yourself, though a dark mood passes over you. “Just something I’ll have to live with…” *-----*-----*-----*-----* “Master Zircon, sir.” The butler bows as you step out onto the back patio. Fancy Pants and Fleur are seated in one of the still-shaded tables, breakfast spread out before them. “Come, Zircon,” he beckons, waving you over with a hoof. With a nod, you approach and take the seat across and between them. “Are you all right?” Fleur asks you. “You look exhausted.” You manage a wan smile as you bring a danish onto your plate and use your magic to pour yourself a cup of tea rather than coffee. “Nightmares,” you reply, “and I almost had a bit of a problem this morning.” “You’re all right, I hope?” Fancy asks, his eyes showing concern. You nod. “Yes. Cinnamon’s techniques have been a great help.” You look around. “Where is she, anyway?” “She’s in town today, helping some of the servants with the shopping,” Fancy replied. “Ahh,” you say, taking a sip of your tea. As you set the cup down, you notice a look pass between the two of them. “What is it? What’s wrong?” “Zircon, ahh…” Fleur starts. “There’s a bit of troubling news that’s come to our attention,” Fancy cut in. “We visited Rarity yesterday, and Jasper happened to tell us of a rather unsettling incident involving Ruby Dawn and a teenager named Diamond Tiara.” You feel the hairs on the back of your mane start to rise. “What happened?” “Diamond Tiara has been calling your daughter, and presumably one of your sons, something I’d rather not repeat,” Fancy Pants replied. “Considering my stance on relationships, by all rights, I myself am rightfully offended.” “We talked to Twilight Sparkle after visiting Rarity,” Fleur continued. “Apparently, that incident involving Diamond Tiara was what prompted Twilight to tell your children about their father and the debacle that led to, well…” “My banishment,” you finish. “I’m a grown stallion, Fleur. It may not be easy to bring up, but it’s something I have to deal with. You don’t have to beat around the bush with me.” “Twilight told us who Diamond Tiara’s parents are,” Fancy Pants said. “Rather, who her father is.” Your vision goes hazy for a few seconds and you have to fight to suppress the rage that immediately boils up within you. “It isn’t…” “It is,” he says, a spark of concern in his eyes as he noticed you fight to hold in your anger. Your breathing goes heavy and red starts to creep at the edge of your vision. “Zircon,” Fancy’s voice cuts through the red haze. “Zircon!” You take a breath and shake away the creeping rage. “Sorry, Fancy Pants.” As the anger ebbs, you suddenly feel drained and hang your head in embarrassment. He gets up from his seat and walks up to you and puts a foreleg on your shoulder. “No apologies necessary, my dear boy.” He pats your shoulder twice. “No one should have to endure what you have.” You let out a tired breath. “I just...I feel that I should have gone back to Ponyville a long time ago, and yet here I am about to nearly lose my mind just because…” Fleur comes around to your other side as Fancy Pants pulls his foreleg away. She wraps your arms around your neck and kisses you on the cheek. “It’s okay, Zircon, it’s okay.” She gives you a reassuring smile as she releases you from her friendly hug. You look over at her and nod. “Thank you.” Your gaze passes over the table. “I’m sorry, but I suddenly don’t feel hungry anymore.” You get up to leave, but Fancy Pants puts his hoof back on your shoulder, setting you back down. “I’m having none of it,” he says curtly, though the look in his eyes is soft. A smile lifts his lips but the emotion in his eyes is uncharacteristically sinister. “Sit, eat. Ever since we got back to Canterlot last night, I’ve been thinking…” You give him a blank stare. “What…” Realization kicks in suddenly as you suddenly piece two and two together. “No! No, no, no! Fancy Pants, you can’t…” He calmly raises a hoof. “Red Zircon,” he says abruptly, “There are a number of reasons that I am pursuing exactly what you’re thinking. Firstly, you were, and still are, an exceptional jewelcrafter. There is a reason why I recommended many of the Elite to you. Your work is nothing short of spectacular. “Secondly, the night you were returned, I had the liberty of meeting six individuals, and much to my surprise, their children, that simply wanted an irreplaceable part of their lives back. Children should never have to live without a father, and there is nopony that deserves to live without somepony that is as special to them as you. “Lastly,” he continues, his voice going soft but with an underlying edge to it, “I lost a friend, one that never hesitated to question my decisions even when things looked like they were on the up-and-up. You were my ‘maybe’ stallion, Red Zircon, and your opinion was something I respected and missed. “You also knew of the nature of my relationship with Fleur and Cinnamon, and were one with whom I could speak freely about the life I share with them.” His eyes narrow. “You found out about us and kept our secret. You even voluntarily went along to social functions to let Cinnamon be your ‘plus one’ for us.” His voice grows deathly cold. “So many ponies have lost so much since your banishment, Red Zircon. I have seen six important mares and six bright young children lose an important figure in their lives. To be selfish, I lost a confidant and friend, and by Celestia herself, I will not sit idly by and watch someone walk away scot-free while someone close to me and those he loves are traumatized by them!” “Fancy Pants…” “I do not use my influence in matters like these, Red Zircon, but this is the one and only exception,” Fancy Pants says after a moment. “From what I’ve been told by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, the remarks made towards you are also made towards me, as one who lives a similar life as you do. Also, from what I have seen, your children and their mothers very much want to see you again. “That said, I have one small commission planned out for you as a last project for me before you return home.” He smiles, though this time it’s warm. “Whatever materials and services you need, I will pay for, and I will still pay you triple however much you feel is necessary.” You stare at him in shock. “Fancy Pants…” He shakes his head. “I will not take ‘no’ for an answer, Red Zircon. Consider this a welcome home gift from me, as well as a small measure of justice for the wrong that was committed against you.”