The Olden World

by Czar_Yoshi

Playing Risky

Starlight sat, keeping her hooves to herself, trying neither to stare at Jamjars nor look like she was deliberately avoiding the filly and attract attention that way. Her mind drifted back to a long walk through the sun they had taken together, when things in Ironridge had seemed stable enough for her to worry about other ponies in addition to simply staying alive. There might have been the potential for them to become something like friends... but then Jamjars had pushed her luck, made Starlight chase her into the power tunnels, and after the drama at the Water District and skyport, Starlight's nerves were frayed enough that another episode like that could make her snap very hard.

"I've heard of you," Jamjars casually remarked.

Valey raised an eyebrow, laying on her side in the shadow of an empty supply crate at the edge of the pegasus landing dock. "That's cool. I've heard of myself, too."

Really? Starlight stopped herself from looking up in curiosity. Jamjars was going to bother Valey instead of her? That could be interesting if she pushed her luck too far. Did she even know who Valey was?

"I have," Jamjars insisted, keeping her tone nonchalant. "After I ditched that stallion, I went around through some bars to look for Starlight. Gossiping ponies are way too easy to eavesdrop on. They kept talking about politics and the Defense Force and you."

"Did they, now?" Valey tongued the inside of her mouth, settling her chin on her hooves and preparing for a nap. "I've got a bit of a reputation. Did you pick up any insults that would make your mom's coat curl?"

"Oh, they insulted you a lot," Jamjars informed her, wearing that dangerously smug expression that told Starlight she was steering the conversation exactly where she wanted it. If Valey noticed, she didn't care. "They called you all sorts of names. Talked about how weird you looked with your wings and slitted eyes."

Valey stared back at her, looking perfectly bored. "Mmh. Probably just jealous."

"Oh, they definitely were," Jamjars announced, starting to pace importantly back and forth. "I've heard my siblings insult things like that all the time. It's the way a pony sounds when there's something they really like and they're trying to convince you they hate it. I bet every last one of them had a crush on you."

"You sure about that?" Valey gave her an questioning gaze, otherwise ready to fall asleep.

Jamjars ignored her, grinning like a shark. "The way everyone was going on, I figured you'd be ridiculously hot." She then humphed and looked away. "It's kind of disappointing. You're fatter than I expected."

Valey gave Starlight a dazed look, shaking her head. "She knows who she's talking to, right?"

"Please leave me out of this..." Starlight quietly requested, watching Jamjars listen.

"Hmmph!" With a haughty twirl, Jamjars bounced her mane. "Looks like you have a better temperament than they were giving you credit for. Good job. It looks like you can hang out with me and Starlight after all."

"Starlight, who is this?" Valey gave Jamjars a concerned glance. "She has the survival skills of boiled cabbage. And some really unhealthy ideas about a healthy body weight. What does she want, my ribs to be showing?"

"She's Jamjars," Starlight sighed. "And she's from the family we're looking for. Jamjars, if you make Valey mad, I'm not telling her to leave you alone."

Valey licked her lips. "Jamjars, huh? Jamjars... mmm... okay. Nice to meet you, Jellyjugs."

Jamjars blanched. "What did you call me?"

"Jellyjugs." Stretching, Valey got to her hooves, stepping closer until Jamjars' back was to the open sky. "So you want to mess with me?"

"Well..." Jamjars looked over her shoulder.

"Lesson number one!" Valey seized her by the shoulders, dangling her out over the precipice, the tower's courtyard looming far below. "Don't mess with ponies who can turn you into actual jam. I don't know if you grew up in a hole in the ground where absolutely no one could hurt you, or what, but taunting ponies with reputations for being dangerous is suicidally stupid. Fortunately for you, I go easy on foals as a matter of personal policy, otherwise your horn would be rammed in the underside of this platform right now. Also, I'm in a ridiculously good mood this morning because nothing has been thrown at my head all day, I just had a nice snack, and am finally getting out of this dump of a city. Lesson two-"

She stopped, blinking. Rather than quaking in fear, Jamjars' eyes were wide and shining with admiration. Valey tilted her head. "What's your problem?"

"You're dangling me over a cliff," Jamjars whispered. "You actually have the guts to do that."

"What the...?" Valey pulled her back and set her down, freeing a hoof to scratch at her head. "Okay, my head hurts. You make no sense at all."

Jamjars huffed. "My family is the lamest of lame. I never get to see ponies who actually do cool stuff, or get to do it myself." She glanced up. "You said you're leaving Ironridge? Take me with you."

"You know what?" Valey shook her head, walking away. "This is weirding me out, and I'm way too fried from the other night to deal with it in a way I'm not gonna regret later. Toodles."

Starlight watched as the tower door slid shut, leaving Valey, Ginger and Hestia visible on the other side of a pane of glass. Now she was stuck alone with Jamjars.

"Hmmph!" Jamjars straightened her coat, then tossed her mane. "I can't tell if I like her or not. What do you think, Starlight?"

Starlight raised an eyebrow. "You're really bad at figuring out which ponies are good ones to annoy, aren't you?"

"What?" Jamjars shrugged. "She didn't do anything to me, did she? I say I'm good at it."

When Starlight looked away, Jamjars pressed on. "So what kind of adventures took you so long before you came to find me, huh? I heard there was a battle on the dam. Did you hear any of the Spirit talking about that?"

"Maybe," Starlight grunted.

"Ohhh, look at you," Jamjars cooed. "Did you do something you don't want to talk about?" Her face split in a grin. "You were involved, weren't you!? That griffon with you had a sword, and you were all talking like you knew something about what was going on! Come on, you can tell me..."

"Do you know how to find wherever they took your family?" Starlight asked, interrupting with a seriousness that actually got Jamjars' attention.

"I guess?" Jamjars pulled a strip of paper out of her mane. "This is the routing number they gave to the pony who was supposed to escort me when I slipped away from that guy at the Copsewood gates. Beats me what it does."

Starlight nodded, quickly memorizing the short code on the strip. "Yes, I was up there, at the dam and the skyport. Maple is injured. We're going to go back home, but I wanted to check on White Chocolate for her before we leave. I was thinking..."

Jamjars smirked. "So you are leaving? Good. Take me with you and I'll help you find my family."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Starlight raised an eyebrow. "You nearly got us into big trouble in the power tunnels."

"Nearly is different from it actually happening," Jamjars taunted. "Just like how Valey gave up and did nothing to me. And besides, it was worth it, remember? I got this." She reached into her mane and pulled out a familiar, rolled-up poster stolen from the Spirit headquarters.

Starlight's brow furrowed. "You still have that?"

"Of course." Jamjars smoothed her coat, stowing it back away. "It's a quality poster. So will you stop me from coming?"

"I..." Starlight blinked, making sure she parsed that right. "I was..." She swallowed. "I heard Maple say earlier she was planning to take everyone with us, back to her home. Your whole family."

Jamjars' ears folded. "Seriously? Why!? Ugh. That really rains on things..."

"You can stay here if you want," Starlight offered.

"Pfft. No." Jamjars shook her mane. "How about this? I'll help you move everyone... but you have to tell me what happened during the battle!"

"Maybe." Starlight shrugged, pacing towards the tower door. "I memorized that number, though. I guess I can find them on my own."

"Hey!" Jamjars scampered after her. "Fine. I didn't want to know anyway. I can always go back to trying to find out who you like, if you'd rather...!"

Comments

[RoboRed]

[alamais]

Jamjars ples

[sploopy slooder]

"Jellyjugs" i ....do not like that nickname.