A world travailing pony has come to live in Equestria and must keep his true self hidden from his new friends lest they learn who he really is.
"I've traveled the world, seen many things and found my way out of everything. But how can I keep from getting close to ponies who care so much, and for no real reason. Yeah i saved a life or two but why is that so special to them, oh well. But i can't just let them in, i can't let anyone in...." A pony with something to hide has come to Equestria, and by mere chance has befriended the royals of this new and strange land. What will become of a pony who wanted to be alone in a new world of friendship?
Inspired by the MLP Analyst group, this fan fiction fetters many of them such as mad munchkin, silver quill, doctor wolf and others.If any of you from the MLP Analyst group happen to be reading, i hope you enjoy with everyone else.
I'd sit tight everyone, the chapters may seem short at times but this story is going to be a long one, have fun.
//------------------------------// // A new pony// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------// //Edited by Echowing// Chapter 1 A new pony
The sun beats down with gentle warmth on her pure white coat, and the smell of the sea was heavy in the air as the sound of waves crashing could be heard for miles. To most the sound of young foals and fillies shouting on the beach would be a nuisance, but to the ears of royalty, it was as if being assured of her good work. A single relaxing breath is taken as the serenity of it all is taken in.
“Your majesty...” called a stern voice from a stallion dressed in gold-plated armor. “A letter from Princess Twilight...” the stallion declares as he hoofed over the letter.
A light yellow aura forms around the letter lifting it from the guard to be read.
“Dear Princess Celestia,
I do hope your time away from the palace has given you the relaxation you were looking for. Seeing as how Princess Luna has not called on me for anything, I can assume all has gone well during your absence. Can't wait to see you tomorrow when you return.
Sincerely, Princess Twilight.”
Celestia smiled at the letter as it was rolled back into a scroll and placed in a saddle bag she had with her. In one pocket went the note and from another came a quill and blank piece of rolled parchment.
The quill scribbled Celestia's reply assuring Twilight all was well and there was no surprise that Luna performed wonderfully in her absence. With the final stroke of the letter, Celestia rolled up the parchment and handed it to the guard to be sent right away. So rare was it that the Princess of the Day could enjoy a moment where she was not concerned with the day-to-day worries that came with her title, let alone a full two days.
Another breath of fresh sea air is taken to deepen her relaxation and for a moment all seemed right with the world. This moment passed as the worrying screams of ponies could be heard like the sound of thunder. Celestia looks to see her subjects running from the water as a ship crashed ashore and fell apart at the seams. Sailors took to land and fled the deck of the ship, running in as much a panic as the ponies who were peacefully playing in the sand just a moment ago.
The question why was answered as pitch black tentacles came from the sea slowly taking the ship in its clutches. A Kraken had set its sights on the ship, hell-bent on crushing it and dragging it to the bottom of the ocean. The ship seemed to not be enough as the Kraken reached out across the beach for the sailors as well. Celestia would not allow this. Horn glowing, she was ready to unleash a mighty blast to send the beast back from whence it came until a purple cloak caught her eye.
A single pony from the ship ran off the deck, jumping onto the beach and taking off faster than anypony else. However, at the sound of the sailors screaming for help as they were taken by the beast, he stopped in his tracks and ran back to aid the others. Leaping into action the lone pony kicked at the tentacles with such force they could not hold the sailors. Enraged, the Kraken crushed the ship in its grasp and sent large pieces flying over the beach. In the midst of the chaos, the loan pony spotted the mast falling. Mere feet from hitting the sand the mast was kicked by the loan pony with such incredible force that the mast was shot into the Kraken piercing it between the eyes.
The tentacles became lifeless as its blood changed the color of the sea. The remnants of the ship once held together by the beast now fell to the shore. The loan pony ran through the falling wreckage but made a wrong turn that ended with him taking quite a blow to the head.
Finally, Celestia took action, commanding the guards to help anypony hurt by the incident that had just occurred as well as make plans to clear the beach. The princess herself takes to the air and lands before the pony who took down the Kraken single-hoofed. She questioned what kind of pony could show such strength and fortitude. Celestia expected an old war stallion coming home from his travels, she was caught off guard when she pulled back the hood of his cloak to find a stallion no older than her faithful student.
His light green coat was made red down his neck from the blow taken by falling debris, splinters of wood were still tangled in his long and rather unkempt dark green mane with a dirty brown at the tips. Silver bands around his ankles shimmered in the light engraved with a foreign language. The purple cloak was pulled away to reveal the strange pony's cutie mark, a sky blue feather crossed over a sword. Celestia carried the young stallion in her magic as she was approached by her royal guards.
“What should we do with him, your Majesty?” one guard asked as he motioned for two others to take the stranger for the princess.
“Tend to his wounds and take him to the palace, this pony is to be commended for his bravery today.” Celestia released the stranger to the guards who took him off to see to his injury. Celestia stayed back a moment to look over the wreckage, still impressed that such a beast was taken down by a single pony.
//------------------------------// // My Name is Jax// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 2 My Name is Jax
The sweet smell of flowers and incense filled the air, an unfamiliar softness delighted the senses upon awakening. Drowsy eyes twitched as the young stallion forced himself back to the waking world. Confusion struck at the sight of the soft bed he was lying in, the room warm and comforting full of fine art and elegant furniture. The stallion rose from the bed and was met with a splitting pain in his head. A hoof to his forehead in an attempt to soothe the pain revealed bandages that were used to treat his injury. Further inspection of himself was met with the discovery of his left hoof wrapped in a sling, thinking back to the beach the young stallion tried to think of how this happened, no explanation came to mind.
With what legs were still functional the stallion got out of bed and found his things on a chair near the door. Donning his cloak and silver bands the stallion made his way out the door to head off. Walking through the halls he heard voices coming from the other side of a rather large door.
“Are you sure you’re o.k.?”
“Twilight I assure you I'm just fine.”
“Yes darling, I'm sure Princess Celestia would have taken care of that awful creature herself if that brave stallion was not there.”
“I'm sure there was a reason it was after the ship...”
The conversation went on as the stallion pushed the door open with his shoulder. Inside he found a huddle of mares, two of them alicorns to his surprise. His presence was noticed by the tall white one as soon as he walked in.
“Well, there he is now,” Celestia announced and all turned to the door, everypony rushed up to the stranger and nearly made him jump from shock. Each of the mares asked him questions; who is he, where is he from, how did he kill the Kraken. It was Celestia who calmed the six mares surrounding him asking them to give him space.
She walked with the grace of a true princess as she approaches the stranger, “I am Princess Celestia, you were injured and knocked unconscious during your fight with the Kraken. I brought you here to the royal palace to have your wounds treated in thanks for protecting my subjects on the beach.” Celestia rose her hoof and pointed to the other mares as she introduced them. “This is Princess Twilight and her friends Pinkie Pie, Rarity Rare, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy.”
The stranger bowed his head in respect “Thank you for your aid and care, I'm very grateful.”
Celestia smiled “As I said, you are the one who is to be thanked for defending everypony on the beach, might we know your name so we may thank you properly.”
The stranger paused for a long moment as if hesitant to tell them his name, however with all smiling and waiting for his next words, the stranger saw no reason to be. He opened his mouth to speak when the other door flew open and a small and rather messy dragon walked in.
“Oh man, nothing like Joe's Donuts, you just can't get stuff like that in Ponyville.” The little dragon was busy licking his claws clean of frosting when he noticed everypony looking at him slightly annoyed “Was it something I said?”
Twilight put a hoof to her muzzle as she introduced the little dragon as her assistant, Spike extended his hand to greet the new pony. Instead of shaking hooves the stranger simply spoke, “I'm Jax,” was all he said.
Everyone looked back and forth at each other until Applejack spoke up asking in her thick southern accent, “Is there a last name there?”
“Not really...”
The clearly country mare scratched at her mane pondering how this new stallion did not have a last name.
“Princess Celestia tells us you were on the ship that ran ashore. What happened?” Twilight asked in an attempt to break the awkward silence.
“The ship wasn't too far from the shore and was heading for the nearest dock, the Kraken just attacked all of a sudden, I don't know why. Now with all due respect, I really should be going, thank you again for the help, it's been an honor to meet the royals of this land.” Jax bows his head and turns to leave.
Just as Jax spots the front door a very worried Fluttershy places a hoof on his side, “You can't just go wandering around in your condition, you could get hurt again or make your leg even worse.”
Jax wore a look of confusion as if questioning why this yellow mare cared, he goes to speak, but just as Fluttershy did, a hyper pink mare pops out in front of him with quite a lot to say and had crazy little antics to match.
“Fluttershy's right, you could get hit by a cart full of watermelons that get sent flying and fall on your head, or you could fall down a hole and wind up in the darkest, scariest place you've ever seen, or...” The pink fluffy maned mare was cut off.
“Pinkie Pie must you always be so eccentric?” the classy white mare said as she covered Pinkie's muzzle with her hoof. The question was met with an innocent shrug.
Jax watching the whole thing was starting to feel uncomfortable, “I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine, it's not the first time I've been hurt like this. Besides, my bag was still on the ship when I jumped off, I need to see if I can find it.” Jax went to take a step but was met with another mare blocking his way.
“Well, why didn't you say so, we'd be happy to help you get your things.” Jax looked at the orange mare like she was crazy as she stood there proud of her statement.
“There's no need for that either, I just need to know where to go.”
“All right, beach day!” Declared Rainbow Dash as she pulled out a pair of shades and leaned back while she hovered in the air lightly flapping her wings.
Jax continued his protest, explaining how he did not need any help, his words fell on deaf ears as the six mares started for the door explaining to Rainbow Dash that this was in fact not a beach trip. Seeing no point in complaining Jax took a breath and started for the door and his new company. Watching from the previous room Celestia bids everyone so long, telling them to come back to Canterlot when they were done.
Hours later, Jax searched through the wreckage of the transport ship looking for his saddle bag. Each of the girls did the same looking under ship fragments and digging around in the sand finding several objects, but no saddle bag. Jax patience is tested as Pinkie Pie pops up here and there asking if the random objects she finds belong to Jax. After a while Jax stopped looking at whatever she brought him simple to make her run off and dig somewhere else.
In the distance near the remains of the kitchen Jax spotted his belongings underneath pocking out just enough to be seen. Jax inspects the mangled portion of the ship and finds his bag is trapped tight under the wreckage. For the average pony, it would take some tools and a few days to move such a massive portion of the ship, at least ten stallions would be needed to lift it long enough to grab the bag and no longer. Jax, however was not this patient, he took a firm position facing the opposite direction, with both hind legs Jax delivered a mighty blow to the wreckage and sent it flying a good five feet in the air and ten away.
Jax reached down and recovered his belongings, taking a moment to look through and see what was still left. A few things broken and lost, but most were just fine. Moving his cloak aside for a moment Jax put his saddle bag on and went to join the others, he was met with looks that told him these mares were not used to seeing a stallion that was so strong.
“Found my things, we should get going.” Jax said calmly pulling his hood over his face, hoping no questions would be asked. However the questions came just as expected, everyone asking for an explanation of such strength. Jax found a way to sidestep the questions as he pointed out that they were going to be late for the next train. To this everypony sped off to the station grabbing Jax and pulling him along.
//------------------------------// // Stay for Dinner// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 3
The train ride was short back to Canterlot, and after departing everypony headed back to the palace via Celestia’s request. It was during the walk back that Jax took the time to appreciate the visual appeal of the city. The road leading to the palace was riddled with shops of all kinds from bakeries to jewelry stores, and the diversity was fairly impressive. In spite of this, the diversity of ponies did not in any way match the city.
As far as Jax could see the city was full of the type of high-class ponies he could not stand. Noses held high and buying whatever seemed to be the most expensive item available, Jax was all too familiar with these types. The smooth stone roadway reminded Jax that not everything is as it seems, everywhere he had been there was always a more lower class, and this city would be no different.
One thing Jax did not expect was the spectacular sight of the palace. Leaving, Jax could only think of retrieving his things. Free of this distraction Jax marveled at the beautiful sight of the sun shimmering off the gold arch that lined the drawbridge that allowed all to pass over not a moat but the naturally formed river that seemed to come from the mountain top. Pure white walls enclosed the castle with each watchtower a mere stroll away from the last, all flying the royal flag. Jax watched the flag as if hypnotized by the way it flapped in the wind, he saw the two alicorns circling the sun and the moon and amused it was Celestia and Twilight, with the sun and moon symbolizing some form of balance.
The inside of the palace was just as mesmerizing as the outside. Inside the walls Jax was treated to the sight of the towering castle decorated with an array of silver and gold. Works of art lined every hall, armor displayed in honor of war heroes of the past, curtains made of only the finest material. As Jax follows the girls up the stairs, each of them talking about this and that, it hits Jax that he spent the night in a castle, something he had not done in a very long time.
This thought is whipped from Jax mind as they enter a hall full of stained glass windows. It was clear the windows told a story of some sort. Walking along one thing stuck out, though Jax did not full understand why, he could clearly see that the six mares he was with were depicted in these works of art. He thought to question why and what did they do, but he held his tongue feeling that after a quick goodbye, he would most likely never see them again.
Entering the throne room everypony greets Celestia with a bow, except for Jax and Twilight who bow only their heads in respect. A noticeable cough comes from one of the guards who motions for Jax to bow on his knee. Just as noticeable is a twitch of Jax's eye as he uncomfortably does as requested and takes to his front knee for a proper bow. Celestia suppresses a giggle noticing Jax’s response to the guard.
“How did your search go?” she asked as she descended the few steps from her throne.
“It went great! We found the wrecked ship and it was everywhere! Then we looked around and found clothes and pillows and big cargo boxes! And Rarity found this huge pair of...” Again the hyper pink pony was hushed, this time by Applejack, who answered the question in a more appropriate fashion.
“We found Jax’s things and came right back, but you should have seen what he did there.”
“Oh, what was it?” Celestia asked curious.
Applejack opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Jax. “I spotted my bag under some wreckage, it was nothing special.”
“Yeah, and then kicked away a piece of the ship the size of a barn to get it!” Applejack exclaimed not picking up on Jax’s wishes to not disclose that particular moment. Applejack was then met with a rather disapproving scowl from Jax and gave back a nervous smile.
Celestia looked over the young stallion wondering how such a feat could be possible with an injured hoof, so perplexed by the mystery she was compelled to ask. “Pardon my forwardness but, how could you perform such a feat, with a broken hoof, no less?”
Everypony waited wide eyes and ears open as Jax tried to think of a believable reason why he could kick away the ship fragment so easily, thinking of nothing and no harm in the truth he sighs. “I'm just very strong...” Simple and short, everypony looked back and forth waiting for more, Jax sees this in their eyes and decides this little encounter should come to an end. “Thank you again for all your help, but I think it's time I get going.” Jax takes another bow and turns to leave.
Jax could feel the girls walking behind him as he headed for the door, there he turns once more and says goodbye again hoping they follow him no further. With a gentle push Jax opens the door to reveal the sun ready to set on the horizon. The sight of day's end gave Twilight an idea. “Jax, you know it's getting late,” Jax looks back to hear her out. “We were all going to stay the night here in the castle, why don't you join us, would that be O.K.?” Twilight asks looking back at Celestia who gives an approving nod.
“Well...” Jax says under his breath, attempting to think, his thoughts where, however interrupted yet again by a hyper pink pony.
“Oh come on, we can make it another slumber party with cake, and balloons, and games, and scary stories!”
“Yeah, we always have fun doing stuff like this,” comments Rainbow Dash as she joins Pinkie.
Jax looks out again to the setting sun as he ponders the request, looking back at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Jax is met with two big ear to ear smiles. “Well, I guess it beats staying in a hotel...” Jax says with a small smile becoming clear.
The two mares shout excitedly in unison, grabbing Jax before speeding off back inside. “Well, that went well.” says Rarity as she prances back inside, followed by the others closing the door.
The next few hours are spent with the girls talking about this and that, each question that was asked of Jax was met with another question about the previous part of the conversation. Jax was in no way subtle that he was avoiding questions at this point, however, he was so calm about it one would think he had a genuine curiosity about the others. Time seemed to be flying by and Jax found himself enjoying the company as he watched Pinkie Pie play out the bizarre antics of a friend of theirs, apparently one who likes chocolate milk.
A knock at the door and everypony pauses for a moment, allowing the guard to announce that dinner is about to be served. The gang all head for the dining hall as they continue their conversations. The dining hall was filled with just as much decor as the rest of the castle with the addition of gold chandeliers all with lit candles. The room's center was a classic long table with Celestia already waiting at the head awaiting her company.
Each of them take their seats by one another. Jax wanted to take a seat on the opposite end of the table away from everypony, but felt he would be called over anyway. His suspicions were confirmed as he saw Pinkie Pie eagerly waving and pointing at the seat next to her. Reluctantly and rather uncomfortably Jax sat with Pinkie, successfully keeping his calm composer. Jax, however, became more unsettled as he observed the spread of delectable looking food prepared for their dinner.
Most everything looked more like a work of art than a meal. The scent of each plate seemed to be only distinguishable by looking right at it, and each one so breath taking Jax had to fight to hold back a cough from the intoxicating aroma. Looking over his host and company Jax could only assume that they ate like this on a daily basis as none of them seemed to be eyeing the meal as anything special. Surely this could not be the case; perhaps with the Princesses and Rarity, but not all.
Each of the girls filled their plates while Jax took a humble helping of the meal. “Surely that's not all you'll be having?” Celestia questions, “You slept most of the day and have not eaten at all. Please have as much as you like, there's no need to be shy.”
“Yeah, that's Flutters’ job, it's even in her name!” Pinkie announces popping up by Fluttershy and then back in her seat smiling at Jax.
Hearing his stomach growl everypony looks at Jax awaiting his response, he timidly takes another scoop of some delicious looking casserole to appease their watchful eyes, to his relief everyone goes back to their conversations. One bite and Jax was introduced to an explosion of flavor he had never experienced, just as before Jax tried to keep his calm and cool composure, but it was still clear that he was immensely enjoying the meal. In a matter of minutes Jax was half way through clearing his plate and nervously snuck another helping hoping no one would see.
The creak of the door was enough to make Jax twitch as the food hit his plate, his eyes drifted to the others who to his relief were not looking at him but the door. Doing the same Jax witnesses a dark blue alicorn mare walk in just as graceful as Celestia but with a much stronger presence. “Luna, so nice of you to join us. What took you?” With this comment Jax thought back to the two alicorns on the flag and realized that this was the second princess depicted on the flag with Celestia.
“I was inevitably withheld by my duties, I hope this was no trouble sister.” The dark blue mare spoke with authority and held herself as the representing the definition of confidence. Her steps held the grace one would expect, but also a sense of power. The difference between the two sisters was all too clear.
As Luna went to take her seat next to Celestia her eyes wandered to Jax, “Luna, This is the pony who fought the Kraken on the beach.” Luna nodded her head in greeting him and introducing herself as she takes her seat, a moment later Celestia addresses Jax with a question. “Come to think of it, you took that ship from another country, where were you coming from?”
The air became heavy as Jax paused at his next bit thinking of how to answer the question, clearing his throat Jax speaks. “I was just coming from another country, it's nothing special.” Everyone had already become familiar with Jax's signal of avoiding questions.
“Well, what brings you to Equestria?” asked Twilight trying to keep the conversation going.
Again Jax felt the air thicken, “Just traveling around...”
“Is there anywhere in particular you planned to visit?” asked Rarity.
“No, not really...”
“So you came here with no plan on where you want to go?” Fluttershy questions with a hint or worry in her voice.
Everyone looked at Jax with concern as they waited for an answer. “Well, it's just what I do, I travel around, get work where I can, and when I've saved up enough I head to the next place...”
“Do you have any ideas on where you would like to start looking?” asked Celestia again.
Jax could feel his comfort Zone becoming smaller and smaller with each question. “I'll most likely look around for a small town, in my experience it’s easier to find odd jobs and later on steady work the smaller the town.”
A sudden gasp from pinkie almost made Jax jump out of his seat in shock as she had an idea. “Jax should come to Ponyville!” shouted the fluffy pink mare.
“Well, it's a good a town as any.” Apple Jack remarked agreeing, “And shoot, if you're looking for work, Big Mac and I could use another helping hoof for this year’s harvest season. We planted a few too many trees not too long ago and we're going to have are hooves full this time around. Seeing how easily you bucked that broken ship, I reckon you'd have no trouble bucking apples.”
“I think that's a wonderful idea, and I'm sure twilight wouldn't mind accommodating you until you can find a place to stay.” Celestia adds as she turns to Twilight suggestively.
Twilight gives an agreeing nod to the comment made a request. Again Jax had everyone looking at him waiting for a response. Jax thought hard about the offer just made, he had hoped to not get any more involved with this group of mares than was needed, however, he couldn't simply pass up such an offer of both work and housing. “Well... if it’s not too much trouble... how can I say no?” Jax forces a smile as everyone gives a light cheer to their new friend, while Jax questioned what he was getting himself into.
//------------------------------// // A moment with Celestia// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 4 A Moment with Celestia
Jax paced back and forth in his room pondering his situation. “Great, now what do I do?” he asked himself. “I'm not supposed to get close to anypony, and there's already too many for that matter. Maybe I should just head back...” His eyes were drawn to his saddle bag, “No, I don't have the money for another trip, and I shudder at the beating I’d get going back without that bag or the money to replace it.”
Jax felt as if the walls were closing in on him, his eye twitched trying to think of another option. Many ideas came to mind, but none that were guaranteed to work. He huffed to himself as he took a seat in defeat. “It could be worse, at least they seem like they mean well.” Jax looked over to the bed plush and welcoming, soft to the touch. “Well... I get to sleep in a decent bed so... I guess it's not all bad...”
A yawn reminds just how long of a day it was, to call any of it unexpected would be an understatement. Jax moves a hoof to take off his cloak and call it a night until he heard steps coming to his door. Quiet as a mouse he runs to the side of his door where he would be hidden should someone come in. To his surprise, the hoof steps pass his door without missing a beat. Opening the door ever so slightly revealed Celestia stepping out onto the nearby balcony.
A sigh of relief escapes Jax as he calms down, reminding himself that he has never been to this place, so he has no reason to fear others yet. Walking back to the bed, he stops in his tracks thinking, “What could a Princess be doing at this hour anyway... I really should let this go, I don't want to get wrapped up in something crazy... again...” Jax shakes his head and go's the rest of the way to the bed, a hoof on the bed reminds him how well he can sleep tonight. However, he cringes as his curiosity gets the better of him and he goes out into the hall.
The sound of his hooves was nonexistent as he snuck his way to the balcony door. Peering around the corner Jax sees Celestia just sitting there on a pillow as if waiting for something. In the distance was a tower from the other side of the palace. On the balcony of said tower stood Princess Luna, who waved to her sister from afar. She waved back as Jax continued to watch wondering what was going on.
A gentle glow could be seen from Luna's horn, even from where he stood. She lowered her head and began to raise it slowly. As she rose, the moon began to peek over the mountains moving with her. Jax marveled at the sight questioning how she could move so perfectly with the moon, or better yet, why? “What is she doing?”Jax asked finally coming out of hiding.
Celestia turned to him, surprised by both his questing and his presence, “What do you mean? She's raising the moon.” She answered. Jax looked on into the sky as he notices a similar dark blue glow around the moon, perfectly matching the glow of Luna's horn. By all logic, she was truly controlling the moon.
Celestia saw the look in Jax's eyes, he truly had no idea what she and her sister were capable of. “You've really never been to Equestria have you?” A shake of his head confirms the question. “Well, many years ago, my sister and I took command of the sun and the moon. Luna commands the moon while I command the sun.” Suddenly the castle flag made sense to Jax as he took a seat next to Celestia.
The two looked out into the sky as Jax watched the moon inch closer to its rightful place in the sky. A brief glimpse at him and Celestia could see the true wonder in Jax’s bright red eyes proving once and for all he had never seen such a sight before. Only after the moon stopped moving and the glow faded did he blink, but Celestia couldn't resist adding to the moment. “Wait for it...” she whispered as Luna bowed her head once more only to raise it much faster this time. With her head held up high the dark sky lights up with an ocean of stars. The site brings a tear to Jax's eyes as if he had never seen the night sky. Celestia notices this, “Jax... are you okay?”
“What? Oh yes,” he says trying to reclaim his calm composure. “Just... something in my eye... it's not every night you see something like that.”
Celestia looked out to see Luna waving good-bye. “I am blessed to watch such a sight every night.”
Jax looks to her and notices the look in her eyes. “It's a rare thing to see...”
Celestia suppresses a laugh. “I suppose in other places it is.”
“Not the sky... it's a rare thing to see such love between siblings.” She turns to Jax surprised by the statement. “I've traveled quite a bit and one thing I've learned is how to tell what ponies are feeling. One good way is their eyes, and yours show nothing but the deepest love for your sister. It's a refreshing sight.”
“I do love her, more than anything...” Celestia lets out a sigh as her head lowers.
“Is something wrong your majesty?” Jax asks, sensing the sadness in her sigh.
“Nothing at all...” She says, realizing how transparent she was at the moment.
Jax raises an eyebrow and smiles, knowing something was on her mind, “If you say so.” He stands and bows his head, leaving. Just before he turns into the hallway Jax turns back to speak. “You know Princess, I have been known to lend an ear to a royal or two during my travels. I've come to learn that those in power often find it hard to talk to the one's they love about their worries. If you would like to talk, just let me know.” As the last word is spoken Jax realizes what he just did, making the opening for friendship he was trying to avoid. He turns the corner, walking fast hoping nothing more happens.
“Jax wait!” Just as expected Celestia called out, Jax's eye twitched as he felt the need to smash his head into the wall. The thought of making an excuse crossed his mind, but it was no good. He turned back to the door restoring his calm demeanor and went to reap what he had sown. To Jax’s surprise, his mind was set at ease as he met Celestia's lavender eyes. Eyes full of hope and love, but underneath was a deep sadness he could not explain.
Celestia seemed too nervous to ask Jax to sit with her again, so he took his seat himself. He kept his eyes on the horizon not wanting to further unease the princess with his gaze. Even from the corner of his eye Jax could see her struggling to find her voice. “It's difficult...” she forces herself to say, “I've always been the image of authority for the kingdom... even with Luna... I rarely express my inner thoughts.” She looks to Jax expecting a curious gaze but just as before his eyes were fixed forward. “But you're not from here... so I hope... I can speak freely with you, without you thinking less of me.”
Jax smiled and looked again to Celestias, “Royalty doesn't make you invincible, in some ways I know that better then you do believe it or not. Everyone needs to express themselves no matter what the outcome is. Besides, how can I think less of you? I barely know you.” Looking back out to the mountains Jax waits for Celestia’s next words.
A smile sneaks across Celestia’s muzzle, feeling a strange relief wash over her. “You said the love I felt for my sister was a refreshing view...”
“It is, not many can love someone so much, and I can only assume she feels the same for you.”
“She does... but... she hasn't always...” Jax turns to her surprised. “I love my sister more than anything, and I have never forgotten to think of how she feels... and that makes it even harder to understand the shadow I once cast over her as the princess of the sun.” The sadness hidden in her eyes grow more and more apparent with each word spoken. “When we were still young, Luna didn't get the recognition she deserved as the princess of the night. She felt shunned and hated by our subjects as they slept through her beautiful nights, but worked and played during my day. One day she couldn't take it anymore... and rebelled against me...”
Tears welled in Celestia's eyes as the memories ran through her mind. Jax could feel the pain of her past as if a force attempting to crush him. “A good sister would have let her younger sibling have their way for a short time. A good ruler would have struck down the clear threat to the kingdom. What did you do?”
Her eyes shot wide as the moment played in her head. “I could never hurt my sister, but I had to fulfill my duty as a princess. I used our most powerful magic... to banish her to the moon...” Tears fell from her eyes as if reliving the worst moment of her life. Jax knew this and kept his eyes forward so she would not feel shame from being seen. “For one thousand years she was banished. With help from Princess Twilight and her friends, Luna was cleansed of her anger and came back to us. But I still can't look at her without being reminded of what I did. Every night I think to myself, was there another way?”
“You could have killed her.” The words echoed in her ears like that of a demon. “For the greater good, that's what I would have done... good thing you're not me.” As her eyes raise to meet Jax, she sees him smiling still facing out to the horizon. “Your duty is to the ponies of this land, you can never forget that, but you have a duty to your sister as well. To save both, I don't think there was anything you could have done, at least not something that would give the same results.”
“During those thousand moons, I never once forgot about her.” she said as Celestia rose her head to gaze at the moon. “I often thought of how lonely she was up there. Every night I would sing to her and pray she could hear me so her time would be more bearable, even if only a little more.”
“Does Luna know how you feel?”
Celestia lowered her head again, “No, it's been three years since she came back, and we have never spoken of her time in the moon. I just don't have the courage to speak to her about it.”
“Ignoring these feelings is like not telling somepony they are walking into a trap you set by mistake. It sounds like a lack of communication is what caused the initial problem, to ignore these feelings further will only serve to repeat history.” Jax and Celestia’s eyes meet. “But you already know that and are afraid to act on it in fear of how Luna will react.”
Celestia turns away, ashamed of herself, “If she hated me, I wouldn't blame her for one second.”
“But she doesn't... talk to her... it’s better than crying in front of a pony you just met, wouldn't you say?” Celestia laughed a little and turned to Jax once more only to find him walking away. “I said it once and I’ll say it again, it's rare for even siblings to have such love for each other. Don't hide that love fearing she may think less of you. Now you've heard it from someone else, so take your own advice and talk to your sister.” With that said Jax disappeared into the hall, leaving Celestia to shed the rest of her tears and dry her eyes in peace.
On his way back Jax could only feel surprised from his little moment with Celestia. He had never seen a royal so willing to open up to a complete stranger. It all held meaning to him in two ways. The first being how much everyone looks up to the princess of the sun. The second, that this ruler knew, as he did, that royals are just ponies with nice titles. “Maybe this place won't be so bad after all.”
//------------------------------// // The Pre-Welcome// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 5
The view was breathtaking from the balcony of Jax’s room. The sun was just peeking over the mountains in the distance. A gentle breeze washed over the land as if waking all with the promise of a new day of adventure and new experiences. But the look of the landscape was not Jax’s concern this morning. Instead, it was how high a climb it would be from his guest room to the ground.
“It's not that high,” He thought to himself, “Just four stories, nothing I haven't seen before. Could be on the ground in no time, to the train station just as fast. I'd be out of town before they even knew I was gone.” This, as well as other plans to sneak away, had pledged Jax mind most of the morning. One plan after another, he even thought of a way to just walk out the door. Not much of a plan seeing as no one would stop him.
“Ancients damn it...” escaped his lips as he dropped his head on the stone railing, his mind coming to the same conclusion as before. These ponies had been good to him, true kindness, and above all, have yet to ask him for anything in return. Instead, they offered him a place to stay and work. “Maybe I'm over thinking all this... maybe they really are just genuinely good ponies.” A smile appeared across the young stallion's muzzle at the thought. “Yeah, because I'm just that lucky... I come to a brand new land I've never seen before and just happen to come across ponies that just want to help. Yeah, right.”
The idea, however, was just as haunting as the thought of sneaking away. Other than a personal question or two, no pony has tried to get anything out of him. “If I leave now, I could find work... somewhere... I could survive on the streets, after all I've done it... before...” Jax pauses on his last word as the memories bring an uneasy and sharp pain in his stomach. A hoof attempts to comfort his belly but is held in place, reminding Jax of his injury. He looks at his leg, cared for without question by a princess of a land he had never been to. “Why did they help me... why do they care?” This question above all echoed in his head threatening to drive Jax mad.
One last look to the horizon would help ease his troubled mind, and a calming breath would steady him to walk back inside. “Regardless of what I may feel, I should give them the benefit of the doubt... I owe them that much for all they've done for me.” Donning his cloak and saddlebag Jax pulls himself together and prepares for the day. “Besides, this isn't permanent...” he thinks as he walks out of the room and down the hall. “I'll stay long enough to make some money to get back...” With each step Jax became more sure of himself. “They are just being helpful to somepony they think needs it, it's not like I'm anything special to them. I'll head to the station with them and eat on the train. Get no closer than I have to just like always...” Jax came to the dining room where he expected everypony would be finishing their breakfast. “After all, what's the worst that could happen?”
The door lights up with the glow of unicorn magic just before it swings wide open. Paired with this unexpected movement was the sudden bang of confetti poppers and shouting from everypony. Laughter followed soon after, also followed by silence as the mares notice that Jax had vanished. Pinkie, knowing where he went, hops over to the door to find Jax breathing heavily, eyes open wide and teeth clutched, trying to hold it together after what he almost took as an attack.
“Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm...” Jax repeated to himself in his mind.
“Morning!” Pinkie shouted, making the already panicking stallion jump back a good two feet. “Were you surprised? I hope you were surprised, after all it's a surprise party! Well, it's a surprise pre-party. Your Pre-Welcome To Ponyville Breakfast Party! So were you surprised? Were you? Were you? Were you?”
Jax shoved a hoof in the crazy, chattering mare's mouth in a desperate attempt to silence her. “Yes, Pinkie... yes, I was surprised.” He forced himself to say through his heavy breaths, trying to keep himself calm and reclaim his composure. By now the others were looking from the doorway, Rarity whispering how she knew the poppers were a bad idea. A few more deep breaths and Jax could talk again. “Now what is all this?” He questioned the hyper mare who, for some reason, was hopping up and down in front of him.
“I told you, it's a Pre-Welcome to Ponyville Breakfast Party!” Pinkie repeated.
“We thought a party would make you feel more at home,” Applejack started, joining Pinkie in the hall.
“Then we thought, why not two?!” said Rainbow Dash who followed soon after.
“Two?” was all Jax could say in regards to the situation at hand.
Twilight could see their new friend was not very comfortable about the plan, instead he looked worried and uneasy as if being backed into a corner. Despite the clear difference in reaction, the memories of Twilight’s first day in Ponyville came to mind, and she knew what to say. “I know this may seem strange, but this is what the girls did for me my first day in Ponyville too. Pinkie planned the party before she even knew my name. It's just our way of welcoming you.”
Twilight's words did little to calm Jax, instead he forced a smile, hoping to look excepting of Pinkie’s little plan. She must have taken the approving look, as she then pulled Jax to the table where a pancake breakfast was prepared. Pinkie rushed Jax to his seat and sat by him again, grinning like a little filly that just made a new friend. The others joined them each taking roughly the same seat as the night before. Jax was still uneasy as he looked around realizing this breakfast party is only a precursor to the real party to be held in Ponyville. The sight of his wondering eyes made Luna giggle watching him as if he had never had a party thrown for him. She suppresses the action as his eyes turn to her, she smiles at him, causing his light green coat to match his ruby red eyes ever so slightly. “This was not what I had planned,” was all Jax could think to himself.
His sudden shyness was brief and vanished at the sight of six pancakes stacked on the plate before him. The smell was no less intoxicating as the meal from last night, but this time instead of a work of art, it looked as if a foal and filly just threw on any topping that popped into their head.
“You like it? I made them myself.” Pinkie declared.
“That makes sense.” Jax thought to himself as he eyes the stack while Pinkie went on about the crazy processes of deciding what topping to give him. In the end she decided to give him everything. All the while Jax just stared at the stack with its mess of toppings.
Everyone looked on as Pinkie finished talking, Applejack noticed the unmistakable look Jax had. No pony couldn't tell how he was feeling. “Jax, if you don't like pancakes, it's okay, we can whip something else up.”
A loud gasp came from Pinkie as she had the idea of making it a Pre-Welcome cooking party. She leapt into the air to speed off to the kitchen, but was pulled back to her seat by Jax. “It's not that I don't like pancake's, it's just... I haven't had them since... well... a very long time.” A smile appeared across Jax muzzle, the first genuine smile any of the girls had seen from him. He lowered his head to take the first bite, the look of sheer bliss was more than apparent as Jax ate. After clearing his mouth of food he turned to pinkie, “These are really good, thank you Pinkie.”
The complement was simple, but it made Pinkies eyes light up as she hugged Jax, “Your welcome!” she said before releasing him and digging into her own pile of pancakes, almost literally.
Friendly banter began as the girls talked and all the while Jax sat in his chair enjoying his pancakes. A sense of deja vu came over Jax as he realized that this moment was not so different from last night. The meal was clearly at a much lower class then before, delicious none the less, but still lower in class. Yet the behavior of his host and company had not changed, if anything some were still drowsy from their morning. This led Jax to believe they didn't initially care about class, at the very least, not so much so that it could disturb their pleasure of each other’s company.
All of a sudden Pinkie pulled out a notepad and started asking Jax questions, for the second party he suspected.
“What's your favorite flavor?”
“I don't really have one, I like too many.” Jax answered, still wearing the smile from before.
Pinkie was almost shocked by the statement seeing as how Jax did not seem like the type to say such a thing. She asked another, “Favorite color?”
“Blue.”
“Favorite music?”
“I don't really have one, traveling around you hear a lot of different kinds of music, but not as often as you would expect.”
Again Pinkie scribbled down her notes like a student in school, “What about...”
“Pinkie,” Jax spoke cutting Pinkie off as politely as possible. “One thing to know about me is I'm not very picky, and I can see one thing about you is you like parties.” The statement brought back the bright glow in Pinkies eyes from before as if giving confirmation. “I'm not really the party kind of pony, but it's clear you really want to do this, so why not just throw what you think is best.” Jax grew a tad bit worried as he saw the bright glow turn into a raging inferno of joy and excitement. Pinkie Pie hugged him again before returning to her notes, the pen moved so fast Jax feared the paper would catch fire before she finished.
“Oh, I wouldn't have said that if I were you.” Applejack stated in a teasing manner
“Why not?”
“Pinkie is our resident party-pony, when you give her free rein over a party, she really tends to overdo it. In the best of ways, of course, but overdone none the less.”
Jax shrugs as if the say, oh well, and goes back to his pancakes.
It would be another hour before everypony was done eating, after which the maid ponies would clear the table. Not too long after all, would be outside the castle being seen off by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Just as Jax was ready to leave Celestia called out to him, “Jax... I wanted to thank you for your advice, I'll definitely think about it.” Jax bows to the princesses, this time without the tension he had before. With the final goodbyes everypony walks off the train station.
“Hey, what was Celestia talking about back there?” Twilight asked Jax as they walked.
“Sorry, it's private. She just needed the opinion of someone who didn't know her.”
“Yeah, but on what?” Twilight asked, her curiosity growing.
“Sorry Twilight, but I think it's something that you should hear from her.”
Twilight reluctantly accepts Jax’s answer, already familiar with how tight lipped he is, but she was clearly not happy with it.
//------------------------------// // 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.
//------------------------------// // Little party part 1// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 7
As the others start to regain their sense of direction Pinkie goes for the door. Jax then remembers what Applejack said at breakfast. From what she made it sound like, this was going to be a big party. Taking a step back, the thought of running off popped in his mind again. Crowds, ponies, small spaces, they all brought back the wrong memories, memories better left locked away where no pony could see them. But he came this far, the least he could do is see what was in store. “Okay... if it's too much, just stay calm and decline politely, if it's small, just grin and bear it. Remember these mares have been kind to you, you're in no position to be rude.”
Jax clenched his teeth as the door swung open to the sound of ponies welcoming him to the town, and yet, it was so few voices. Inside the bakery stood only a hoof-full of ponies, two donkeys, and to his surprise, a zebra. As pleasant as the small party was, Jax was confused and looked over to the others for some kind of explanation only to find the same questioning expression.
Pinkie, on the other hand, wore a sly smile as if reveling in a victory. “Now I know what you're all thinking, and yes, I had this big party planned with cake and fireworks and everypony in town...” Pinkie went on to list the many ideas she had for what sounded like the party of the century. Each little detail made Jax cringe at the thought of so many ponies. Just as he started to feel sick, she stopped. “But then I remembered how you acted back in Cantorlot and thought you would like a small party more than a big one.”
If Jax had turned around he would have been greeted by the amusing sight of all the others with blank looks and gaping mouths. Instead, he was reminded of why he chose to stay despite everything. The mere thought of interacting with anyone still made Jax want to turn around and leave, but the party did seem welcoming, even with the grumpy donkey looking off to the side. One look back at the fluffy pink pony and he knew he had to at least try and enjoy himself, lest he dim the light in those beaming blue eyes.
Pinkie Pie looked for any sign from her new friend that would say he was excepting of her celebration. Just as she felt what little of a party she put together was still too much, Jax swallowed hard and cracked a nervous smile. Unable to resist, she squeezed her green friend with a hug and pulled him inside where the others followed still baffled by the size of the party.
Pinkie wasted no time with introductions, speeding right up to the two donkeys. “This is Cranky, and this is Matilda,” she says, pointing at each of them.
Matilda waved hello while Cranky just griped under his breath. “Oh come on Doodle, be polite.” The old donkey perked his head up at the sound of this other name, to the request he forced a smile. Matilda rolled her eyes at Cranky's awkward attempt at being nice. “Do excuse my husband, he's not one to socialize either.”
Jax smiles and nods his head in greeting just before Pinkie brought another pony over to meet. This one much larger than most with muscle the close to twice the size of a pony's head. His blank expression suggested this massive stallion may not be all there. “And this is Bulk Biceps, he works at the spa,” said the pink bundle of sugar peeking over the white stallion's shoulder.
“Yeah!!!” shouted the new stallion, much like a hoof-ball player, this was followed by a small wave much like a foal would do. Further supporting that this stallion may not all there in the head.
“So you work at the spa?” Jax forced himself to ask, attempting to make friendly conversation with the only other stallion he has met thus far. Again Bulk shouted the same word with even more enthusiasm than before. “Is that your favorite word?” Predicting what would come next, Jax joined Bulk in his sports like cheer causing the muscular pony to blush as the room filled with a short moment of laughter.
In the midst of the moment a purple mare strolls up and introduces herself. “Well, you certainly have a better sense of humor than Pinkie suggested. I'm Cheeilee, the local school teacher.”
Without a moment to speak Pinkie pulls over yet another friend, the zebra thins time. “And this is Zecora.”
The striped mare shook her head, bringing herself back from whiplash after being pulled across the room by Pinkie. “It is nice to make your acquaintance, I hope we can be friends through time and patience.”
“Well, that's a surprise, a zebra from Steer.” Zecora's eyes widened at the sound of her homeland. “Sorry, if that was a bit of a shock. I've traveled far and wide and know why your kind speaks in rhyme.”
Zecora chuckled unable to hide her delight. “A pony who knows why I rhyme, you my friend are simply divine.”
A mix of confusion and relief fills the room as Jax seemingly takes meeting everyone well, unaware of the conflict inside. “You're okay Jax, they are just being friendly, no reason to tense up.” He told himself in his mind, hoping no one could see the sweat on his brow. Pinkie pulls him over to the last two ponies in the room. Just as she opens her mouth a loud crash of pots and pans comes from the back room.
Set off by the commotion Jax leaps over the store counter and bolts into the kitchen. Ready to take on a burglar of some sort he stands ready to face a would-be foe. However, his light green coat soon becomes tinted with a light red as he lays his eyes on three little fillies covered in some kind of goo.
“What in tarnation is going on in here?” Apple Jack questions seeing her sister and friends, making a mess of the kitchen, pots and pans everywhere.
“Cutie Mark Crusader cake makers!” The three little fillies shouted in unison holding a nearly empty cake tin. The trio wore big smiles while the others joined them in the kitchen witnessing what is not realized to be cake batter covering almost every inch of the place in a big blotchy mess.
The batter covered fillies then realized themselves what their little experiment had brought. “I... guess we got a little carried away,” the middle red head said shyly looking up at Applejack.
Grabbing the small tin the orange and purple maned filly ran up to Rainbow Dash. “But look, we made a cake!”
“That's nice filly but you really should have asked before using the Cakes kitchen.” Rainbow Dash said nervously, not wanting to discourage the young ones, but feeling she had to at least look like an adult, for the moment.
“We did, Pinkie Pie said we could.” A little white hoof pointed at the fluffy pink pony who shrugged nervously.
“You let them use the oven unsupervised!?” Rarity yelled in shock.
“Of course not.” She waved off and sped over to the little ponies. “It's cheesecake, no heat needed. Just pop it in the fridge and wait.”
A sigh of relief escapes everypony at the news. “And you tried to use a fire extinguisher to cool it faster?” Jax asked, raising his eyebrow.
The three looked back and forth at each other surprised. “How did you know that?” asked the one as she tried to brush some batter out of her purple mane. He said nothing and pointed a hoof at a clearly used fire extinguisher covered in as much batter as the fillies.
Three nerves little smiles confirm his suspicions. “This place really is interesting.”
//------------------------------// // little party part 2// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 8
A short clean up with magic was more than in order after the little incident with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, after which Jax was introduced to the little trouble makers. What was most interesting was that Scootaloo, the little orange filly, was actually staying with Rainbow Dash while her parents were away, so she would not have to leave her friends. Rarity and Applejack tried to apologize about the interruption, but he had no problem with it.
“So... wanna meet the Cakes now?” Pinkie asked, wanting to finish the introductions. A shrug from Jax was all that was needed and he was whisked back to the party room where the happy couple was looking after their little ones. “Here they are, Mister and Missus Cake.”
The married ponies said hello and went straight to introducing their little ones, Pound and Pumpkin Cake. The little filly and colt crawled over to the new pony they had never met before and looked on with curious eyes. Jax knelt down to see them when Pound Cake pulled a plushy out from behind him and hit him right between the eyes. The Cakes started to apologize for their little foal only to be graced with laughter from the light green stallion. “Well, he's a rowdy one isn't he? Don't worry, I know how kids can be.”
The little ones were taking a liking to Jax, and started climbing on his hooves and head like a new friend made jungle gym. Again, this reaction took our small group of mares by surprise now knowing that the closed off stallion was capable of such interaction with others.
With the flip of a switch, Pinkie declared that the party had finally begun. Everypony broke out into dance and enjoyed an array of treats. Fluttershy played silly games with Bulk and the little Crusaders while Cheerilee watched with Rarity, both gossiping and being sure no funny business happens.
Later in the party Pinkie decided to run off and round up everyponies pets for... there was no reason to be found. Rarity and Applejack both had fairly common pets, an overly excited dog and a scornful cat that looks like you would get a face full of claws if you touched her. Most likely from being over pampered. Twilight's owl and Fluttershy's rabbit were a little more interesting, the white bundle of fur being kept out of trouble by the ever watchful bird.
What was most confusing were Pinkie Pie's and Rainbow Dash's pets. Jax had never seen a turtle with a set of helicopter blades strapped to his back - or was it a tortoise? The sluggish little thing flew around bumping into various objects while his colorful owner did her best to keep her cool composure, but still flinching with a clear touch of concern with every bump she heard.
Even more strange was Pinkie’s little alligator who stood just a foot or so away from Jax, staring with a look that suggested Bulk may have more in his head compared to this little one. Still as stone the baby reptile gaped his mouth showing his lack of teeth, after a moment his hind legs rose slowly and he softly plopped on his chin closing his mouth. Jax couldn't help but smile at the simple creature wondering what really goes on in the head of something that seems so mindless.
A sip of punch and Jax finds himself actually enjoying himself. Seems he can stay calm and at ease sitting in the corner by the many treats that line the party table. “So are you having fun?” asked Twilight as Winona ran up and snatched Gummy to play.
“Surprisingly, yes.”
“Thank goodness, I was worried you would be uncomfortable.”
“To be honest I am,” Jax tells Twilight holding a semi-smile. “Please don't misunderstand, it's not that I have anything against you all, in the past two days alone I've come to owe you a lot. But it's like Pinkie said, I'm not one for interacting with others.”
Twilight cocked her head in confusion seeing as his actions did not match his words. “But you seem just fine. You even played a joke on Bulk and played with the Cake's kids. Is making friends really that hard for you?”
“Well to refuse a party like this would be rude, what kind of pony would that make me? And it's not as if I've never made friends before, just not in this way.”
Questions began to fill Twilight's head in the blink of an eye. “But what other way is there to make friends? I've spent years learning about it and even became the princess of friendship.”
Finishing another sip of punch Jax hears the rustling of little hooves on a table cloth. The Cake babies were pulling on it, causing the punch bowl to inch ever closer to the edge of the table. Jax turns to face Twilight as the bowl begins to tip. “Trust me Twilight, the way I made friends...” he paused, raising his hind leg to catch the punch bowl and move it back to the table not spilling a drop and hoping no pony would notice. “You don't want to try it.”
“Wait, how did you do that?” She asked abruptly
“Do what?”
“That, just now, you weren't even looking at the babies.”
“Oh look cake,” Jax says, taking a mouth full of sweets and offering Twilight a plate. Again she is given reason to question more about Jax.
The rest of the party goes on without a hitch and the day comes to an end. Just as Celestia's sun is setting Jax and Twilight approach the castle with a sleeping dragon on the princess’s back. It was at this time Jax took the moment to appreciate the splendid sight of the light glimmering off the castle walls. As out of place as the massive structure was, it was still a sight to behold.
Just as before Jax questioned himself more than he thought he should. It was not much of a stretch to admit he enjoyed himself today, and uncomfortable as he was most of the time. It was not a time he would like to take part in again, but pleasant none the less. The light green stallion was more exhausted from keeping his calm demeanor up than actually partying. The question now was, what would tomorrow hold, and how would he handle it?
//------------------------------// // Late Night// Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 9 late night
“Jax, we need to go, now!” A voice pleaded from the darkness. “Get up they need you!” Ice cold air became a fearsome flame that burned his throat with each breath.
“We need more in the front, where are the others!?”
“Forget the front, get the civilians out of here!”
The cries of ponies could be heard in the distance. “I'm here!” Jax called to deaf ears, “I'm over here!” Again and again he shouted to the void praying someone would hear him. Before his eyes, the darkness became a raging inferno filled with the cries of ponies being burned alive.
“NO!” The frightened stallion shot up from his bed eyes wide with heavy breaths. “A dream...” He whispered to himself. “A memo... no... it was just a dream... it's past... it’s over.” Jax could feel his hooves still shaking from the vision of flaming death he saw not moments ago. Clasping them together he tries to steady himself, even as his quivering dims, the image of fire and ash would not leave his mind. “Guess I won't be sleeping tonight.”
Leaping from his bed, Jax decides to explore the castle having only seen enough to know where his and the others’ rooms are. Most everything was the same as if the castle had only recently been made, or that Twilight had not been there for very long. Most every room was empty with a layer of dust suggesting it had never been used. One door, however, was slightly opened a short distance from the throne room.
Upon entry Jax discovered Twilight's massive library, shelves towered over him close to the ceiling fifteen feet high. Unlike the rest of the castle, the library was full of books with many scattered across the tables and desks in small piles. Wondering amongst the aisles eyeing each title, one book stands out to the restless green stallion. “The history of Equestria”, with its neighbors being more historical pieces of literature. Jax shrugs and takes the book in his mouth before heading to the nearest table. “Well, I was going to read up on this place anyway, no time like the present.”
Elsewhere in a dim candle light, purple wings twitched in excitement as Twilight's eyes darted back and forth across her newest Daring Do book that had arrived while she and the others were at Jax’s welcome party. She hung on every word reading impatiently through the suspense of the current chapter. Biting her lower lip as the next intense moment crept closer and closer, she leaned in as though watching the scene play out right before her eyes. Suddenly, black.
A grunt escapes the frustrated princess as she attempts to relight her candle to no avail. As her eyes adjust to the night Twilight sees that her candle had completely burned down to the end of the wick. For a moment she sat there questioning how a new candle could have burned away in an hour, then a realization of the current time hits her. Once again Twilight had hidden away in her library reading all night and possibly close to morning. Reluctantly Twilight stacks away the mess of books surrounding her cursing both the need for sleep as well as the passage of time itself. The Daring Do book floats along with Twilight in a glow of purple magic as she heads off to bed.
Approaching the hall a gentle glow of another candle catches her eye just around to corner. “Spike couldn't be up reading his comic books, could he?” Sneaking in the shadows so not to alert anypony to her presence, Twilight crept to the aisle where the light was coming from. Slowly sticking her head around the corner, the young princess finds not her faithful assistant, but her new house guest. Twilight could tell the green stallion had been reading most of the night by the amount of books stacked around him, having found herself in similar piles most nights. His crimson red eyes slowly scanned the page with the calmest expression twilight had seen yet. Weary eyes spoke volumes of Jax’s exhaustion, more so with his head drooping every now and then warding off sleep the best he could.
“So Twilight...” His voice breaking the silence of the night causing his host to jump behind the bookcase as if a young filly being caught making mischief. “Is there a reason you're sneaking around your own library in the middle of the night?”
Timidly Twilight steps out into the open. “Oh well... I was just... Well umm...”
“Twilight,” Jax calls softly, ceasing her babbling, “I was just teasing.” A smile as gentle as the glow of the candle could be seen clear across his muzzle. This was a side of her guest that Twilight was still not used to seeing.
A single breath to calm her nerves and Twilight could finally speak clearly. “Sorry, I didn't want to disturb you.” Again Twilight looks over the small pile of book surrounding her green friend. “Jax, have you been here all night?”
A glimpse at his candle was all it took for Jax to realize that he had been there for hours, as it was half melted already. “Yeah, I guess I have. I had trouble sleeping so I started looking around.”
Still looking over the few books around Jax, Twilight spots a real blast from the past, the very same “Predictions and Prophecies” book she had read just before going to Ponyville for the first time. “What exactly have you been reading?” she asks moving closer.
“Oh nothing much, mostly history and such, I like to learn about the countries and lands I visit. When I saw the history of Ponyville book I couldn't help myself.”
“You've traveled a lot haven't you?”
“You could say that.”
“Where else have you been?” A twitch of his bright red eyes was all she needed to see, he wouldn't say. “Ok... Where are you really from?” His gentle smile faded to a look of worry. “How long have you been traveling?” Jax turns his head back to the book unable to look Twilight in the eye. Twilight could only guess as to why he was so reluctant to talk about himself, but the look he wear at that moment, full of sadness as if not wanting to disappoint anypony. What could she do but let it go... for the time being. “If you like learning about other cultures, you should read about Griffinstone, it's a really good read.”
Slowly his eyes raised to the shelves and spots the book in question dimly lit by the light of his candle. He turns back to Twilight with the same smile as before. “Thank you, I will.”
Twilight turns to leave Jax to his reading, but just before, she feels her mind must be spoken. “You know Jax... before I came to Ponyville I didn't really understand what it meant to have friends, I had them but I never really knew what they meant to me. I don't know why you don't want to talk about yourself but, if you give us all a chance, I'm sure you'll come to like Ponyville. But even if you don't, we are still here to help you until you can get home, where ever that many be.”
For a long moment there was silence, Twilight was starting to second guess her little speech just now until Jax spoke two simple words. “Thank you.” He said the same thing not moments ago, but somehow it felt as though it held more weight this time. Leaving Twilight looked back one last time and thought she saw light glinting on Jax’s eyes as if a tear had formed.
Jax stared at the pages in the book and but the words to be read were not on his mind. Her words played through his head like a broken record, Jax shook his head banishing the thoughts from his mind. “I’m sorry Twilight, but a peaceful life in a small town is not for me.” He says to himself in his solitude. Jax stands and puts away the books taking the one he was reading as well as the book on Griffinstone and places them on a nearby table, intending to read them later. The candle had reached the end of its wick and the flame was fading away. “Besides, I'm the last pony you want as a friend.”
//------------------------------// // Twilight's worries // Story: Adventures of Jax, Wandering soul// by Nero_Nova//------------------------------//
Chapter 10 Twilight's Worries
“Almost done,” she said to herself as the smell of pancakes filled the kitchen and ran into the hall. “Where are those two?”
A gentle yawn paired with the sound of little footsteps answered Twilight's question as a sleepy purple dragon came around the corner holding a tattered blanket and rubbing his eyes. “Morning Twilight...” The baby dragon said sluggishly.
“Spike, good morning, have you seen Jax yet?” Her little assistant slowly shook his head no. “Can you go wake him up? Breakfast is almost ready.” At her request Spike spins around and heads back into the hall.
After heading up the stairs and down the hall he comes to their guest’s room, three knocks are greeted with nothing but silence. “Jax?” Another three were given, “Jax, wake up, it's time for breakfast.” Again three knocks from the growing impatient and hungry dragon. Still met with silence, Spike takes hold of the door knob and enters the room. “Jax come on, you’re going to be...” The little dragon stops mid-sentence confused. Could he have gone to the wrong door in his drowsy state? No, he was certain he knew his way around the castle after living there for a year. And yet the bed was made seemingly untouched, the curtains closed, and the room spotless. The only indication that Jax was there at all was his saddle bag still sitting on the desk in the corner.
Scratching his head, Spike returns to the kitchen where Twilight was finishing setting up the table. Seeing him walk in alone she was compelled to ask the obvious, “Where's Jax?”
Hoping up to his seat spike shrugs his shoulders, “I don't know, his stuff is still in his room, but he's not.” With that said Spike picks up his fork and starts digging in.
“That's strange, could he have left for the Apple farm?”
“Dose he even know where it is?” The little dragon asked after roughly swallowing his mouthful before speaking.
“I'm sure Applejack told him last night at the party, but I didn't take him for an early riser.” Another shrug from her little friend before he continues eating, pouring maple syrup over his stack, not waiting for it to cover his pancakes before taking the next few bites. “Spike?” Twilight forced herself to say, suddenly looking concerned. “Do you find anything strange about Jax?”
The sudden question did not faze Spike at all. “No, why do you ask?” he asks still eating and talking with his mouth full.
“Well, it seems as if he's purposely keeping himself distant from everyone. I know he was nice at the party and everything, but he still didn't talk much.”
“I bet he's just nervous about being in a new place, not to mention staying in a castle, I'm sure he'll come around.”
Twilight takes a moment to think over Spike's words despite how halfhearted they were about her concerns. In the end she concluded that he might be right, “Yeah I suppose that could be part of it, I'll ask him about it later.” Gripping a fork in her magic Twilight sits ready to eat until she finds that her hungry little dragon had finished his plate and had started eating her pancakes. “Hey!” A glare at Spike was all it took for him to stop and give an Innocent little smile. Luckily Twilight had intended Jax to be joining them and had extra. She gives an exhausted grunt and passes Spike her already half-finished plate as she digs into Jax’s would have been breakfast.
Jax had been standing in front of the apple farm for some time now, questioning himself again if what he was doing was okay. “Come on, I already thought all this through,” he thought to himself having come up with no new reason to leave and not look back. After shaking his head free of any negative thoughts, the green stallion finally forces himself beyond the threshold onto the apple farm.
The walk to the barn in the distance was short but pleasant, and with each step Jax took in the sight of the apple orchard stretching far as the eye could see. Leaves rustled in the gentle breeze and sounded like a symphony to the young stallion, the sound of nature was all it took to put him at ease. Finally at the barn Jax could see his new boss talking with a big red stallion as they moved small wooden tubs onto a cart.
Just as Jax was halfway between the trees and the barn Applejack spotted him and started eagerly waving to him. The sudden hello from so far away made him a little uncomfortable seeing as with his wrapped up leg he could not wave back without stopping and sitting down. When he finally comes face to face with his employer and who he assumes is his co-worker, he finally gives a proper greeting. “Hey there Applejack. I'm not late, am I?”
“Not at all sugar cube, right on time,” the orange mare said as if Jax had just walked into another party. “To be honest, I didn't expect you so early.” Seeing her new friend tilt his head in response made the moment a little unsettling, Applejack feeling she may have offended him somehow and attempted to break the silence. “Oh, this here's my older brother Big McIntosh, he works here on the farm too.”
Jax looks at the large red stallion again and notices what he recognizes as a yoke around his neck. Paired with the short mane and tail, it was clear Big McIntosh was a hard worker. Jax nodded his head with a smile and turned back to Applejack, “So where do we start?”
Again Applejack feels a hint of tension but was slowly seeing it was not as bad as she thought. “Well, we are going to be bucking apples of course. Since you can't really carry the apple tubs with your leg wrapped up like that, Big Mac here will be picking them up and hauling them back here to the barn while you and I buck the trees.”
Jax looks out to the trees and tries to estimate how much they can get done in an afternoon. “Seems simple enough, mind if I ask how long we will be working for the day?”
“We normally call it a day around three or four in the afternoon.” Seeing Jax’s confidence finally helped Applejack calm down, but was still compelled to ask the obvious question. “Now I know you said you'd be fine to work... but are you sure you're ready to buck apple trees with your leg still healing? I know you’re strong and all, but you did just break it a few days ago, and even Big Mac and I know to take it easy when we get hurt.”
The concern in Applejack's voice was foreign but refreshing to Jax. He thought briefly, trying to remember the last time anyone was worried about his safety. And why over something so small he thought, it was just one leg, no big deal. After a moment, he realized he had withheld his answer for too long and brought back the awkward tension. “Thanks for the concern Applejack,” he said quickly trying not to sound rude or big headed. “But I promise I'll be fine.”
The two siblings eyed one another for a moment questioning the statement. Big Mac, who was not as willing as his sister to let an injured stallion work on his family's farm, motioned for Applejack to press on the matter. Applejack stood there and shrugged her shoulders having full knowledge that Jax was capable of completing the task in spite of his damaged leg. Not convinced, the red stallion speaks up. “I can understand you're confident in your strength, and I can respect that, one stallion t’ another. But I'm sure you can understand when I say, I'd rather not see a new friend get hurt on his first day on the farm. If you're sure you can do the work I won't stop you, but I just want to make sure you're ready for it. Like Applejack said, even we don't work when we get hurt. And with all due respect...” Big Mac pauses as he looks over the average sized stallion standing in front of him about only an inch or two higher than his sister. “You don't exactly look as strong as Applejack said you are.”
“Big McIntosh!”
The sound of his sister's disapproving, and fairly loud tone made him jump. “Well, I'm just being honest.”
Applejack was ready to tear her brother's ear off for being so rude but was cut off by Jax. “It's no problem, Applejack. He's right, for my size, you wouldn't expect me to be as strong as I am. I've heard the same thing in my travels more times than I can count.” In the corner of his eye hanging in the barn, Jax spotted a large red bag swaying side to side. “Is that a practice bag by chance?” He asked sitting down and pointing into the barn.
The two farm hands turn to the open door, “Oh yeah, I use it to stay in shape when there's not as many apples to buck.”
“May I?” Jax asks politely as he stood up.
“Umm, sure...” The blond mare said unsure if she should say no either for the safety of her friend, or the safety or her bucking bag.
Big Mac rolls his eyes knowing full well what was about to happen as the cloaked pony walks into the barn. Jax takes a moment to look over the beaten old bag covered in tape from being broken. Each mark and scuff a testament to Applejack's strength and dedication to her work. He leaps up on his hind legs and bunts the bag for a moment making it sway slightly more than before. He turns back to his employer to see them looking at each other in confusion, until Big Mac, who expected more, asked, “Is that...” Just before the last word was uttered Jax's raises one hind leg and kicks the bag sending it whipping back and hitting a support beam with a significant thud. Any other pony would have moved out of the way when the bag came swinging back down, Jax however just stood still and stopped it with his still stretched out leg, bringing it to an abrupt halt.
Big Mac knew a strong pony when he saw one, having been known for his own slightly abnormal strength for most his life, but now he found himself with a gaping mouth baffled. It was not so much how strong Jax was, after all, hitting the bag so hard was the reason Applejack never let him use it. What was shocking was how such a small pony could have such strength. The confused stallion stood there for several seconds trying to comprehend what he had just seen, all the while Applejack was looking at him with a look that said, “I told you so.”
“I think we can take that as a yes Big Mac,” she said patting her brother on the shoulder and moving over to Jax. “But even still, Big Mac is right about us not wanting you to get hurt. So feel free to take it easy if you think you need a break.”
Nodding his head in agreement the three head out to get to work. Apple Jack walks Jax through the orchard pointing out small markers that will help him stay in the area of the orchard he will be working in. The markers were small ribbons wrapped around certain trees to make the boundary between trees that were ready to harvest, and trees that would not be until another part of the year, signified by a color coding and date. All the while Big Mac was setting up the apple tubs around the trees for Jax and would help do the same for his sister later. His new boss bucks a tree to show him what apples are bad and should be left alone, it took a few tries seeing as bad apples were rare on the Apple Farm. Just before she was done, Jax was told to help himself to some of the apples if he got hungry.
Confident Jax understood the rules and the work Applejack and Big Mac went off to tend to their own duties. The day passed smoothly without a hitch, both Applejack and Jax breezed through their work while Big Mac picked up a cart of full apple tubs from one and dropped them off at the barn before picking up another load from the other. Each time he stopped by to pick up a load from their new farm hand he watched him kick amazed at the trees as if his broken leg had never been needed. Despite how clear it was that Jax was working hard, made perfectly clear by the amount of sweat he had on him, each kick was just as firm as the last one. After a few hours and a headache, he let it go with the conclusion that he just didn't know as much about strength as he thought.
With the sun high over the sky Applejack realized she had come to the last tree she had to buck for the day. She decided to head to the barn and grab the second cart to help her brother gather up the rest of the apple tubs. However, she first wanted to check on the new addition to the farm. Cutting through the orchard, enjoying the cool shade and feel of the fertile soil, Apple Jack was full of a familiar feeling she could only get after a hard day's work. Crossing the marker into Jax’s section of the orchard, she presently discoverers several of tubs full of apples.
Looking down the row of trees she finds him sitting under one of the trees relaxing, a moment after spotting him he looks over.
“Oh hey, I was just waiting for Big Mac to bring the next batch of tubs.” getting up and walking over to greet her.
“Seems like you did a good job,” she say complementing her new friend, looking around at the literal fruit of his labor. “Looks like we're both done for the day. Big Mac and I will take care of the apple tubs seeing as how you can't really lift them. Why don't you head on home?”
Jax looks at his leg as if he forgot it was broke, shrugging his shoulders he nods his head in agreement and heads off waving goodbye to Big Mac as he passes him coming down the row of trees. “I still don't get how such a thin pony could be so strong.” He says walking up to his sister and removing the cart harness.
“I hear you big brother, but then there're a few things we still don't know about that pony. I reckon he'll tell us when he's ready.”
Big Mac was not convinced but let it go and got back to work.
Later in the day, after a meal and shower, the rested farm mare heads off to the park with her faithful canine friend Winona for their weekly “critter play date” as she calls it. Each week was something different with the girls, Spike and all their pets. Today they would all have a relaxing day of play in the park. Winona unable to wait jumped around her owner until she got the picture of what her little friend wanted. Slowly Applejack picked up the pace until the two of them were in full sprint, just as the dog wanted.
Running so fast, the two got there in no time to find the rest of the gang already laying about and playing with their pets. Rainbow Dash laid around in the tree everypony was sitting under while Tank flew around her. Just to the side of her on another limb of the tree was the little purple dragon with his pet phoenix as they took turns blowing little bursts of fire. “Applejack, what took you?” Twilight asked moving her attention from her book while Owlowicious sat lazily on her back. Pinkie also took time away from hopping circles around her motionless baby alligator to wave hello. Angel Bunny's ears perked up at the sound of Winona barking, without even a quick look he turned over on his side and went back to his nap pulling his owner’s wing outward to be used as a blanket. Fluttershy, awoken by the sudden movement of her wing, turned her eyes to her approaching friend.
“Hey y'all, what I...” Apple Jack paused mid-sentence as she noticed Rarity on her fainting couch making her cat try on small articles of clothing she had made for her. “Not much I see.” The blond mare said rolling her eyes at the sight of the clearly annoyed little feline. “And nothing really, I just took a nap before heading over,” she said answering Twilight's question.
All of a sudden everypony was looking back and forth at each other confused. “You did what?” Twilight asked almost shocked.
“Well with Jax help we all got done early today, added I didn't get much sleep last night on account of the party, so I was a might tired.” In spite of the logic of her words, not one pony could believe Applejack of all ponies actually took a nap during the day. The still semi-shocked looks on everypony’s faces slowly became irritating. “Oh come on now, a hard-working pony can't take a nap before seeing her friends?”
The statement snapped everyone back to reality rather fast, “Nothing of the sort darling,” replied the pale- oated mare as she used her magic to change Opal into another sweater. “It's just so rare to see you doing anything other than work hard. Did you really have that much time to spare?”
Applejack then realized that she may have exaggerated the circumstances that lead to her free time. “Well we didn't have too much to get done today, I reckon Big Mac and I could have finished just as fast. And I didn't sleep too long either, maybe an hour or so.” The slight correction to her story seemed to satisfy everypony as that seemed to relax more though it was clear no pony was even aware of any tension.
Applejack finally took a seat with Twilight, just under Rainbow Dash as Winona ran over to play with Opal on Rarity's couch. “Hey, so how did Jax do anyway, with his bum leg and all?” asked the little dragon petting his phoenix as he looked down from the tree. His words went unheard at the moment as the blond mare watched as her fashion-obsessed friend started dressing her dog in a blue scarf and gray hat. To her surprise, she couldn't help but agree that it looked good on Winona. “Applejack?”
“Huh?” She uttered as her attention turned to Spike. “Oh, well he did great, why he got them tree's bucked fast enough to keep up with me.”
“Really? On his first day?” replied Fluttershy.
“Oh don't look so surprised darling,” Rarity remarked while placing yet another article of clothing on her cat. “After all, don't you remember how easily he moved that wrecked ship.”
“Moved? More like sent flying!” shouted Dash.
“Darn tootin’,” Apple Jack replied in agreement, “But you gotta wonder, what exactly does a pony have to do to be that strong?” she questioned. “Took me a lifetime of bucking apples to be as strong as I am, can't help but wonder what Jax did before coming to Equestria.”
“Oh oh oh, I bet I know!” Pinkie said as she jumped up and down. “Maybe he was a heavyweight wrestling champion or maybe he's secretly a superhero. Oh, he could be some crazy monster disguised as a pony to get close to us all before devouring the townsponies one by one, or maybe he was part of a science experiment to create super-ponies, and he got scared and escaped vowing to never speak of it again!”
For a moment everypony was quietly looking back and forth at each other again, this time questioning what goes on in Pinkie’s head. “Well I for one am glad you'll have more help around the farm for the time being,” exclaimed the quiet yellow pegasus, to which everyone nodded in agreement.
“But still,” Twilight said with concern in her voice, “Don't you think we should be questioning just what Jax used to do, or where he's from? I mean, we don't really know anything about him.”
“Oh that's ridiculous,” declared Rarity, “We know he's.....” not a single thought would form as she tried to think of something she knew about Jax.
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash added. “He's.....” But again nothing.
“Well,” The pink mare said taking a deep breath, “He's really quiet, doesn't like to talk about himself, likes to travel around and is somehow strong enough to take on a Kraken and kick the broken piece of a ship like it was a rock.”
“See what I mean?” Twilight said more worried than before, “I know he looks like a good guy, but shouldn't we be just the least bit concerned about this?”
“Ah, fiddle sticks,” Replied Apple Jack before anypony could even consider the question. “I understand what you're saying Twilight, but if we questioned every strange pony we came across, why we would never make any new friends.” The simplicity of those words held more weight than expected as Twilight recalled just how bizarre her own friends seemed to her when she first met them just under three years ago. “Don't forget he risked his own hide to save all those ponies on the beach the second he got here.” Another fact that Twilight just didn't think enough on before-hoof. “Now I'm not saying I'd trust him to run the farm, but he's yet to give us a reason to question if he should be around. It's just like I told Big Mac, we just need to give him some time to settle in around town, I'm sure he'll lighten up.”
Twilight then recalls Spike saying something along those lines this morning. Upon looking up at said purple dragon, she finds his giving her a look that just screams, “I told you so.” Twilight fumbles the thought in her head a little more before nodding her head in agreement, “Yeah I guess you're right.” That was all that was needed to be said before the mood finally lightened and the play date began.
However, in spite of Applejack's words, Twilight found herself bothered with the same question later that night. “Who was this pony? Where is he from? Why doesn't he like to talk about himself? And why does he look sad when we ask him about his past?” Twilight couldn't let it go, she had always been able to solve any problem that was in her way, answer any question. But now she faced the total enigma that was Jax, the green pony that came from Celestia knows.... No not even Celestia knows where he came from. Her mind too cluttered trying to make connections and come up with possibilities, the exhausted princess decided not to read her Daring Do book tonight, thinking she would not be able to enjoy it with all these thoughts in her head. Yet she took the hallway to her room that passed the library anyway out of pure habit, and from the door, slightly cracked open, she saw the glow of a candle light. Peering inside she saw Jax at one of the tables reading, even from such a distance, Twilight could tell by the red rim of the book he was reading about Griffinstone.
The smile across Jax’s face told her everything she needed, he was enjoying the book as much as she did when she first read it. It could have been the glow of the light or just her eye's dropping from a need to sleep, but Twilight could swear she had yet to see Jax look so happy, as if all the other times were fake or forced. For some explainable reason, the young princes took solace in that smile, the buzz of questions in her head had stopped and she felt a weight be lifted from her. Though she did not realize it, she had decided to do her best, to wait for Jax to talk about himself. With a single calming breath, Twilight took her leave and went off to bed.
“Cold,” was all that came to mind as Jax right hoof touched the ground for the first time in a week. The feel of blood waking the stiff ridged muscles for the first time since he first came to Equestria. Swaying from side to side Jax could tell he was not fully healed just yet but was now capable of walking normally. A few taps of his hoof for one final test and he could feel the tender spot, most would have gone back to bed knowing their boss does not expect them to work while recovering. Jax instead decided to hold his leg up while bucking apples today to not to re-brake his leg.
The sound of early birds could be heard beyond the door to the balcony, covered by thick velvet curtains, darkening the room as if still night. The stallion could feel his healing leg pulse with every step as he strolled over. Pulling the curtains aside, his crimson eyes were greeted by the warm colors of the sun just peeking over the harmonize. Only one thought came to mind, “Time for work”.
Dawning his purple cloak that bared his cutie mark of a blue feather and sword crossed over one another, the green stallion stepped out into the hall. The familiar feeling of seclusion fell over him as his hoof steps echoed in the halls. Even after a week, the reality of his current place of residence was baffling, all he did was fight a monster, nothing special just helped a few ponies. Yet here he was antedated with the royals of a new land, living with one of them in a castle, working with her close friend. Jax was no stranger to royals having met plenty in his travels, but living with one was a definite first.
Approaching the main hall he passed the kitchen, for the past few days Twilight had been insisting that he wait to eat with her and Spike in the morning. Stepping in he asked the same question he always did, “Why do they care so much? I've done nothing to earn it.” looking around Jax decided to change that, grabing some barriers and mix from around the kitchen he prepared some pancake batter he had learned to make in Prance a few years back. With everything ready, he left a note for Twilight simply saying “Enjoy”.
Outside in the town, the green stallion was bid good morning by many who had come to recognize him as Apple Jacks new farm hand, few knew his name, but that didn't seem to matter to them. As grateful as he was for this local acceptance from the town, the fact was just as alien as living in the castle. It had been so long since Jax had seen so many friendly face's so ready to interact, he felt like a celebratory. This, of course, was clearly not the case, though to the mind of a stallion so use to being part of the background, it seemed more possible then everypony simply being that nice.
All of a sudden Jax ears twitched and a jolt ran down his spine, seconds after the sound of a panicking mare came from behind. “OH NO, LOOK OUT!” a quick, but short leap to the side was all it took to narrowly avoid the Pony Post mare falling out of the sky and crashing into the nearby set of barrels outside sugar cube corner..... again. The poor gray mare laid there among the barrels in a daze with her wings spread out on the ground and her eyes swirling from the disorienting collision.
“Gust of wind catch you again Derpy?”
Shaking her head helped to bring back her sense of direction before responding with a giggle coupled with her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. “Actually I passed by Rainbow Dash this time.” She responded in her smooth, gentle voice.
Jax rolls his eyes as the dizzy pegasus fumbles to the hooves, “I swear, you're going to get hurt one of these days.”
“Na, I got a hard head.” she quipped back knocking the crown of her head with her hoof.
“Even steel can break Derpy.”
“Careful Jax, keep talking like that and somepony might think you care about something,” She says bouncing her brow up and down teasing the green stallion. The comment more then caught him off guard, all to often Derpy's clumsiness made him forget how clever the-the tricky little mare was. Coupled with years of teasing, do to her wonky eyes that were often looking in two different directions, she had developed a gift of reading others.
“Don't you have deliveries to get done?” he replied just as sly and cheeky. The truth of his words made the gray mare gasp and speed off, only to double back to hug Jax good-bye and then fly off. To say that he jumped at the sudden embrace would be an understatement, had his leg not still been healing, little Derpy would have gone flying again. Seeing her vanish in the distance, Jax could finally relax as he continued down the dirt streets to the apple farm.
The bridge at the edge of town could be seen not to far away, it stood as somewhat of a halfway marker between the town and the farm. But another distraction popped up as the sweet smell of lemon filled the air, just off to the side the source was found. Bonbon was setting out to cool a fresh batch of lemon tarts. Jax had become antiquated with the cream colored mare through Pinkie Pie, who insisted not too long ago, on bringing him to meet all the bakers in town. Her reasoning was so he would know all the places to satisfy his sweet tooth.
The smell of the freshly made sweets were intoxicating, it didn't help that the pink and blue maned mare was fanning them to cool them quicker. “Stay out of trouble today Jax and I might make you my special tart's later today.” his crimson eye's shot open at the sound of a familiar mare teasing him, he looked around for the source of the voice but found nothing, not a soul was on the street with him. The aroma of the lemon had whisked, for just a moment, into the past. His breath was short as if in a panic but was calmed with a single breath, he looked once more over to Bon-bon and found her waving hello. A wave back and Jax was on his way, now reminded why he stays clear of Bon-bon's shop.
Jax had taken long enough getting to work, and finally he could see the front of the apple farm coming in the view. To his surprise, he found little Apple bloom re-painting the fence, being to short to reach the top, she stood on the top beam instead of on the ground, holding the paintbrush in her mouth.
Popping her head up to check her work the red headed filly spots the newest addition to the farm. “Hey, Jax!” A loud greeting from the hyper little filly as she dropped the brush and bounced a little on the fence. Jax had come to learn that if Apple Bloom and any of her little friends were involved in something, it was most likely that something was going to go wrong in the most innocent of ways. And as expected, Apple Bloom slipped on the wet paint and new she was about to fall right into the open can of paint on the ground.
She waited for the splash, but instead felt something around her waist. Jax had ran aver and caught her mid-air almost right after she fell. “Do you ever stay out of trouble?” He asked the little filly as she smiled, a touch of red creeping into her cheeks. Setting her down the two parted ways and it was back to work.
Up at the barn Big Mac and Apple Jack were waiting for him, as always they would see him coming and wave before continuing their talk of the days work. It was hard to admit, but he was enjoying this new job as a farm hand more than expected. No lazing about, no room for thoughtless mistakes or needless interaction, just good hard work with plenty of quiet time. The silence was the best part, time to get lost in thought with n worry of anyone interrupting.
“Well, you're looking mighty well today,” Complemented the blond mare pointing out Jax healing leg. “Guess we can stop fussing over you taking a break.” The green stallion rolled his eye's having told them numerous times such things were unnecessary from the start. “Well it's business as usual, you'll be working the area next to the one from yesterday. Since you got your leg back to, you'll be taking care of your apple tubs from now on, sound good?”
Spotting the newly built cart in the barn, he nodded his head and all three went to work. Starting from the back of his tree line Jax got to work, being sure to keep his right leg off the ground so not to add any unwanted stress. One after another the trees were cleared of apples with two or three kicks, half way through the day he had noticed some bark on the trees bending outward, he had been hitting the trees to hard. Lighter hits would take longer to get the work done, but it was better then breaking the tree.
The last hour of work had begun and so had the last hoof full of tree's, just when all seems to go smoothly, Apple Jack strolls over. “Hey there Jax, almost done?”
“Yeah, just a few more tree's,” So much for silence.
“Well let me give you a hoof there, not too many apples where I was so got done a bit early.” For a few moments, nothing could be heard but the sound of hooves, until Apple Jack asked a question. “So I've been wondering,” four words Jax did not want to hear, “You're awfully strong for a stallion your size...”
“I thought we already talked about that?” Jax questioned in his mind.
“What exactly did you do to get so strong? I mean, Big Mac and I are some of the toughest in town from working on the farm for so long, so I gotta say I'm more then curious as to how you did it?”
Thinking back to his first day in Equestria, Jax remembered how insistent Apple Jack was about helping him out and hoped she would not pursue this question in the same manner. “There's really not much to tell,” he stated hoping she would not ask again.
“Oh come on now,” Apple Jack playfully insisted, “no pony wakes up as strong as you or me.”
“Ancients damn it!” Was the only thought in his head as The orange mare looked at him with beaming eyes much like her sister's, a look Jax could never say no to. “Well...” he muttered hesitantly, Apple Jack was suddenly on the tips of her hooves thinking she would be the first to hear anything new about Jax. “I've been travailing around for a while, some places in the world are quiet and easy going like Ponyvill, other though, just making it through to the next day can feel like a matter of life or death.” His words sent chills down Apple Jacks spine. “To survive in places like that, one must learn to adapt and think on their hooves. The end result is normally coming out stronger and smarter than you were before.”
Not even close to what the farm raised pony was looking for answer wise, but still plenty more then Jax had given them all week. “So, you really did just wake up one morning and found out you were strong?”
“In a nutshell, yes.”
The concept was baffling, if such a statement had come from anypony else, she would have dismissed it as something taken from a fantasy novel. However, the deadpan look on his face, his bright red eyes calm and clear of all movement as he spoke, he was telling the cold, honest, truth. “Well, I don't know what you've been through to get this strong, but I'm glad you found your way to ponyvill.” Again Jax felt his guard drop at the farm mares statement, but it was no matter. He nodded his head and the two got back to work.
A short time passes and the work comes to a end with granny smith calling the family in for supper. Waving goodbye the green stallion leaves before any more questions could be asked.
On his way back to town, he discovers the local pond that Rainbow Dash had told him about a few days ago. Taking a moment to rest Jax walks over a sits by the water, giving him a moment to relax and gather his thoughts. He thought back to the items he lost on the ship when he first came to Equestria, several of them irreplaceable. Mental notes were being formed of what he would need to replace before he left, having received his first payment from work, he was ready to start planning. Leather was first on the list, it would be the easiest to use but hard to find anything worth using for his...
Jax thoughts were interrupted by a sudden fit of hushed giggles coming from the bushes behind him. He shut his eyes to listen and found the sound unmistakable, it was Pinkie Pie desperately trying not to burst out in a fit of laughter. Coupled with said fit of giggles were the sounds of flapping wings and a second voice making shushing sounds. Even with his eyes closed Jax could see the lighting change as the second vice hovered over him. “You have got to be kidding me....” he gave a sigh, “three, two, one.” Before anyone could react the green stallion steped out of the way in a blur just as the first drop of rain fell from the cloud Rainbow Dash had moved over him to play a rain prank.
Pinkie Pie could no longer contain her laughter and fell out of the bushes and onto her side. Rainbow Dash was not as pleased seeing the dry that her plan had failed. “Hey, how did you know we were here?”
Might want to work on your stealth Rainbow Dash.” With that said Jax took his leave.
The two tricksters follow soon after, Pinkie hopping along beside him and Dash flying just overhead. “So whatcha doing?” Asks the fluffy pink pony.
“Heading over to the carousel boutique, I had a question for Rarity.”
“About what fashion? Because that kinda all she does.” Said the overhead blue are.
“Actually I was going to ask here where I can get some good leather.”
“What for?”
“Just something I'm working on.”
The trio of ponies heads to Rarity's only to learn that she does not work with leather but suggests ordering some from Appaloosa. Jax declines the offer and states that he would rather go in person to see the town and more of Equestria. Shortly after leaving Dahs and Pinkie depart to continue their prancing of ponyvill. A short walk back to the castle and the stallion was ready to sit down with one of Twilight's books and call it a day. He rose a hoof to the modest front door of the castle only a foot or so larger than the average. All was well until his hoof touched the door...
A flash of a memory overtook him and threaten to pull him from reality, he shook his head violently trying to erase the image from his mind. Though he could see clearly again, the thought was unmistakable, a massive pair of red oak double doors, a memory better left in the past. Again Jax felt his hooves shaking, but this was not the place, he closed his eye's and pressed forward inside. He would then head to his guest room and not be seen until morning.
“Almighty y'all, we ready to get this show fashion show on the road,” asked the country mare as she placed her saddle bag in the pile near the door.
“Just a moment,” Twilight responded as she checked the last few things on a long list she was focused on. “OK, now we're ready.” Apple Jack rolled her eyes feeling the list was unnecessary but was not about to tell that to her brainy purple friend.
“Finally, can we go now?!” Dash groaned as she lands onto ground having been flying in circles to kill the boredom. Not the most fun with the narrow ceiling of Twilight's castle
“Yeah it's not everyday we get to go to Manehattan.” Pinkie added also passing the time by playing with the tip of her mane.
“I'm just glad we can go without any worry's this time.” Flutter Shy stated as she picked up her bag.
“I know just what you mean darling,” agreed the pure white mare relaxing on her couch, “No magic box or evil magic, not even the castle map to worry about. All we need to worry about it enjoying ourselves with just a hint of work on my part.”
“Then what are we waiting for?!” Dash questioned as she flew by, garbing her saddle bag and landing in front of the castle door. “Let's get going, we just need to make one stop to pick up the...”
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER MANEHATTAN TRIP!” No sooner then opening the door was the rainbow mare trampled by her little charge and her friends little sisters. The fillies were blissfully unaware of their deed as then jumped around in excitement leaving the poor blue pegasus dazed and confused on the doorstep.
Twilight, realizing the kids were under the impression they were tagging along, gave a confused look to Apple Jack who returned an uneasy smile while Dash stumbled to her feet. “Oh dear, Apple Jack did you forget to tell everypony?” Rarity asked sending her couch away.
“Well, this was kinda last minute Rare,” Dash added calling Rarity by her nickname.
Turning to Twilight Apple Jack enplanes, “Well when I told Apple bloom she got all excited about how she can visit Babs. Not too long later I hear Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell are doing the same and well, we couldn't say no.
The three fillies put on their biggest smiles that they only use when asking for something. Twilight got the feeling they thought she would say no, “well I don't know, it's going to be a long trip,” she quips teasing the little ones. Before she can say another word they cling to her legs begging to go believing that it was actually her choice wether they got to go or not. “Oh come on girl's of cores you can go.”
Again the little fillies start cheering and shouting excited for the trip, hearing the commotion, Jax and Spike join the crowd at the door. “let me guess, Pinkie found another party to through?” Asked the green stallion.
“JAX!”,The Crusaders shouted in unison before running up to him.
“Are you coming to Manehattan with us?” Sweetie Bell asked
Jax looked at the beaming smiles of the little ones and wondered when they became so comfortable around him after only two weeks of him being in town. “Manehattan?” He questioned, this being the first he had heard of the place.
“Guess I forgot something to,” Twilight said as she joined the fillies by Jax, “Rarity is going to be fettering her newest line in a fashion show in Manehattan, one of Equestrias major cities. We're all going to see the show and the girls here are coming along to see Apple Jack and Apple Blooms cousin Babs Seed.”
“Is that what you all were so busy with...” Spike asked also being left out of the circle. Twilight grind awkwardly embarrassed by the fact that she forgot to tell both her assistant and house guest, a rare thing for the Princess of Friendship. “Meh, I'll pass,” Spike said shrugging it off and heading to his room for a nap. The purple mare took a sigh of relief having thought he would be mad. She then turned her eyes to Jax waiting for his response.
Jax was eager to see the rest of Equestria and had planned to travel around when he had saved enough, but for now, he was enjoying the first relaxing home he had the pleasure of staying in, in a very long time. He also couldn't help but enjoy the town as well, which he explored on his down time, going to various stores and making a list of things he would buy before heading off on his travels again. It was at this moment that Jax had remembered he was going to leave Equestria the moment he had the money to, which he had acquired from working on the apple farm yesterday. Now he was questioning why he was still there.
“Jax?” hearing his name from the royal mare brought the stallion back from his train of thought. “Oh umm... I think I'll stay here with Spike and get some more reading done. I just found the book of the two sisters.”
Twilight's eyes lit up at the mention of the book, “Oh, you mean the one on Celestia and Luna, I love that book!”
“I can see why, it's more than just a tragic, captivating story, it's your lands history.”
“And the story is told so well, just wait till you get to the part where...”
“wow wow no spoiling your Majesty,” Jax said cutting Twilight off before she could ruin a part of the story.
A not so subtle cough from Rainbow Dash reminds Twilight that the nine of them have a train to catch. A quick good-bye and the girls were all off to and soon on the train to Mainhattan, Along the way everypony makes plans on what they want to do in the city before heading home. Dash and Twilight agree it would be fun to see the wonder-bolt museum, while Apple Jack and Flutter Shy decide to visit Tree Huger at the local animal reserve run by her research group, Pinkie somehow convinces rarity to go with her to get party supplies that she could not get in Ponyvill, all the while the CMC would be with Babs.
Passing Hollow Shades and half way to the city Flutter Shy looks over the sheet covering the six dresses Rarity had made for the fashion show. “Rarity, I was wondering, well if you don't mind sharing, what's so different about your new dresses?”
The pure white ponies eyes lite up as she rushed over to her clothes rack, “oh I'm so glad you asked, I was going to wait until the show but, oh I can't help myself.” she squealed with excitement as she unzipped the covering around the first dress, and from it emerged and slim red dress light enough to flutter in the wind, just the kind of loose fabric a mare would want in the hot summer so not to sweat and ruin the dress. As the girls marveled at the crimson masterpiece Sweetie Bell couldn't help but point out the best part not speaking a word so not to take the spotlight from her sister. Her aid was appreciated by her older sister but hardly needed as the folds of the dress were designed to lead the eye to a crystal broach of a feline head. Even in the dim light of the train car, the jewel still sparkled as if focusing the light on its seductive eyes that hypnotized the mares to lean a little closer. “I know right, that's just what I thought when I first saw this little beauty...” Rarity said in response to her friends priceless excretion. “I found these at a little jewelry shop last time we were in Cantorlot and I just couldn't resist. It's one of six, one for each dress. I only have a few right now, but I plan to hire someone to craft more after the show.”
“Rarity these are amazing! You sure to be the best in the show.” Twilight's complement served to make the already confident designer even more eager for the event.
“Well I just hope I can find a crafts-pony that can make jewels like these ones, I tried asking the clerk at the store where he got them but he had no idea who made them.” Just as Rarity went to take her seat, a pony, dressed in a large trench coat with a hood covering his face, passed in front of her almost bumping the white mare back, without a word the pony kept forward to leave the train car. “humph, well that was rude.”
“Where do you reckon that ponies going? Ain't nothing back there but the cargo car.” Apple Jack questioned as the pony passed through the door. Just as the door was closing she saw what looked like a lion tail drop from inside the trench coat.
“Maybe he just needed to check on something of his.” flutter shy suggested, the country mare shrugged it off thinking the light was messing with her eyes.
Some time passes and everyone enjoys some quiet time, or their equivalent of it with pinkie and the little Crusaders singing songs on the other side of the car. Flutter shy decided it would be a good time to try and nap. Leaning up against the window here ear was pressed to the glass, as she began to relax further she could hear what sounded like the flapping of wings, at first she assumed it was Rainbow Dash stretching her wings, but it started to get louder and was coming from outside the train car. Opening her eyes and looking out the window she saw a creature she had never seen before, there was no doubt in her mind it was a lion, but she had never seen a lion with wings before. For a moment she just stared at the creature as it glided close to the train car, it turned to her and stared for a moment. Flutter Shy lifted her hoof to wave, just as it poked into view of the beast it roared loud enough to be heard all too clearly over the sound of the train.
Wither it was Flutter Shy's scream of terror or the sound of the roar, the others were now alerted to the many ten flying creatures now surrounding their train car. Before anypony could question what was happening, the beasts began crashing through the windows, boarding the train. Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack didn't hesitate to defend themselves as the beasts lunged at them baring their teeth and claws. Twilight caught on the situation quickly and started blasting the creatures with strong magic. Normally Pinkie Pie would have grabbed the little fillies and get them to safety, having to where to go she instead pushed the little ones into the corner of the train and merciless kicked away any creature that tried to come near them.
Even Rarity broke from here lady-like character when she saw one of these “things” to close to her dresses. She rushed over and took a rod from the clothing rack in her magic and started hitting the beast over the head. Feeling this had gone too far, Twilight kick starts her alicorn magic, her eyes glow as she forces all the winged lions out of the train car with one blast. Everypony healed their breath as they waited, listening for the sound of wings flapping or claws scraping on the roof of the train car. In the silence, Flutter Shy woke to find the seats were torn and the floor covered in deep claw marks. The three little fillies cowered behind a very angry pink pony who was more then ready for another round if it meant guarding the CMC.
Twilight gave a sigh, “OK, I think they are gone,” everyone relaxed and took a death breath, Sweetie Bell, and Apple Bloom ran to their sisters still shaking, Scootaloo did the same with Rainbow Dash.
“What in tarnation were those things?!” Apple Jack asked far past angry holding her still shaking little sister close.
“Who cares what they were! What were they doing coming at us like that.” Rainbow Shouted waving a hoof in the air and holding her charge under her other arm.
“I think they were sphinxes,” Twilight's statement did little to enlighten anypony. “Their lion's with wings from an eastern country.”
“OK, but why were they attacking us?!” Dash asked again
Twilight took a moment to think, but nothing came to mind, “I don't now, I've never even heard of a sphinx visiting Equestria, they normally stay in their own country.”
“Well, I'm just glad we are all just fine,” rarity states before looking down at her little sister who is still watching the windows as she clung to her leg. “Well, a little shaken up, but still just fine,” She says rapping her fore hoof around Sweetie Bell helping her to calm down.
This was one truth they were all thankful for. At the station in Manehatten Twilight rushed to the security ponies and informed them of what happen telling them to alert the local authority and to send word to Celestia. Having never seen a sphinx in Equestria, she was taking no chances.
Leaving the station, the little fillies cried in excitement when they saw Babs Seed waiting with their aunt Orange. Babs was a small light brown pony with a burgundy red mane that fell to one side. On her flank was a pair of scissors showing how she was destined to be a hair, stylist.The four jumped around in one big group hug while Apple Jack greeted her aunt. “Nice to see you, auntie, Orange, you sure you don't mind taking the girl's for the night.”
“Oh come now Apple Jack, I'm the one who offered remember?” The city mare said as she adjusted her bright orange mane style up in a classy manner that would not look out of place in Cantorlot. Her aunts style had not changed since the day Apple Jack meet her, still the same gold necklaces worn tight on her neck with green and orange gems embedded in it as well as hanging from the edge. The coat was so light one would mistake it for being white when it was more of a sandy color. Her cutie mark, much like her country niece, was a trio of orange slices that showed her devotion to her orchard.
After a little more convincing Apple Jack and the others bid good night to the four fillies. Seeing them walk off with aunt Orange Rarity notices the setting sun and realizes how late it was getting, she only had an hour or so left to check in for the fashion show. Pinkie seeing the look on her pure white friend caught on to the situation and hopped over to the edge of the sidewalk, she then proceeded to call for a taxi with a massive megaphone she had pulled from her mane. Within seconds, two stallions pulling carriages pulled up to the curb and awaited their costumes.
Thanks to the quick and steady pace of the taxi ponies, Rarity was able to get to the fashion studio just in time to be the last t check in. “Next time we should think of coming two days earlier instead,” she stated as she adjusted her mane.
“Yeah let all the crazy stuff happen, then focus on having fun.” Dash agreed hovering just overhead, “We were talking to the police so much we were almost late.”
“And I sure do feel bad for the ponies that have to clean up that mess in the train car.”Apple Jack added “I still wonder what that was all about, not like they went after any other train car, just ours.”
Pinkie gave quick gasp as an idea popped into her head, “Oh-oh-oh, I know! maybe they...”
she was quickly hushed with a white hoof over her mouth. “Please, darling we don't need another long list of bizarre theory. I think we should get some lunch and head to the hotel for a good nights rest.”
“Rarity?! Apple Jack?!” The two mares ears perked up to so sound of a soft spoken mare who called out to them. Looking just over their shoulders everypony was delighted to see their old friend Coco Pommel. She trotted over and wearing her signature purple collier with red ribbons hanging much like a tie, along with her matching flower hair clip in her light blue mane. In the growing dark of the setting sun her off white coat stood out almost as much as Rarity.
“Coco!” Everypony said in unison, all pleased to see a friendly face.
“It's so good to see you, darling, are you going to be in the fashion show as well?” Questioned the Rarity
Coco looked at the brightly colored banner over the building they all stood in front of to see the show advertised for tomorrow evening. “Oh no, I was just passing by on my way back from the fabric store. I'm making costumes for a upcoming play and way out of materials.”
“Well we were all just about to go out for some lunch, why don't you join us?” The look in Coco's eyes was not much different from her that of a filly's who had just been offered a treat. A simple nod and they group of mares strolled off to the first nice looking restraint they could find, this took longer then expected with a serration fashionista's high standers of food serves, but eventually they settled on a quiet, classy bar and restraint called the Blue Tavern.
The meal was pleasant with everyone finding something that suited their taste, from Apple Jacks Love of large meals and apples to Rarity's fancy, small portioned meals. Even Pinkie Pie found something that could not possibly have anymore sugar and frosting unless she took it back to Sugar Cube Corner and add it herself, a fact she stated by explaining in detail just how it would be done. Coco and Flutter Shy were content with simple salads and would have made Twilight feel out of place with her hay burgers, if Rainbow Dash was not stuffing her face with a fruit bowl like she had not eaten all day.
After paying the bill, and apologizing for the mess on the table left by the sloppy eating of a blue pegasuses and pink earth pony, everypony was ready to get ready for bed. This would have to wait as Rarity insisted n checking on her dresses one last time before the days end, little protest was given when Coco asked to see the new dresses. Back at the fashion studio the white mare lead her friends to the back room where her creations awaited giddy to give a sneak peek to another pony.
“Here we are,” The fashionista practically sung as she throw the door open and used her magic to flick on the light. She looked to her friends expecting all but Coco to have a tired expression, instead the look of shock and worry was clear across everypony's face. “What's wrong?” She turn's her eye's to the dressing room to find the gang of sphinxes from earlier that day with an equally shocked expression mixed with frustration.
“AMBUSH!” shouted Dash as she and Apple Jack leapt into action before anything else could happen soon joined by Twilight and Pinkie. Coco hid with Flutter Shy behind the door while Rarity dashed to her dresses, again beating away any who came too close. Backing the intruders a corner the ponies took the advantage and surrounded them.
“Now tell us what's going on,” Twilight demanded with more than annoyance in her voice, “why are you following us? What do you want? What are you doing in Equestria?” Her questions would never be answered as the sphinxes looked at one another before nodding as if coming to a agreement. Each one took a breath and let out a mighty roar that shock powerful enough the shake the walls and crack the mirrors in the room. Wincing and covering their ear's In pain, no one noticed the beasts rush out the door dispersing into the night.
“DAGNABBIT, WHERE DID THEY GO NOW!?” Apple Jack shouted in anger and partly unable to hear herself properly.
“I DON'T KNOW, WHY WERE THEY IN HERE ANYWAY, HOW DID THEY KNOW WE WERE CHECKING ON THE DRESSES!” Dash shouted in response to what sounded like her country friends whispered question.
“WHAT IF THEY WANTED THE DRESSES!” Flutter Shy responded from the door was to which Rarity cocked her head to the strange possibility.
“THATS REDICULASE DARLING,” Pinkie Pie lepta up behind her ready to say something but was again hushed with a hoof in her mouth, “WHY WOULD THEY WANT DRESSES, THEY WERE ALL MALE ANYWAY!”
“THERE MUST BE A REASON THEY ARE FOLLOWING US, MAYBE WE JUMPED THEM A LITTLE TO SOON, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE TRIED TALKING TO THEM FIRST!” Twilight suggested poking at her ear.
“WHAT AND GIVE THEM AN OPENING!?” Dash shouted with a questioning look on her face.
“WELL I FOR ONE WILL NOT BE LEAVING MY DRESSES HERE, IF TEN OF THOSE THNGS COULD GET IN HERE WHO KNOWS WHO ELSE CAN!” Not one other felt such a thing was necessary, but with their Rarity's insistence, no pony could say no. After seeing Coco Pommel off in her taxi, the girl's made their way to the hotel and called it a night. Dash wanting to take no chances set a wire trap on the door so that if anyone tried to open it at night a glass cup would brake and wake everypony to the possible danger. With all that had happened in that last few hours, there was no objection to this extra precaution.
Elsewhere by the light of a candle Jax had just finished the tale of the two sister royals. His little talk with Princess Celestia and felt honored that she would share her sorrows with him, It was also impressive that she did not completely break down confessing her feelings in such a way. What was even more interesting was the smile he got from Princess Luna, for such an event to have transpired with her at the center, receiving the punishment, and yet she could still smile at something as simple as a timed stallion feeling out of place, remarkable.
“JAX!” Spike cried out as he ran into the library in a panic.
“Spike, is something wrong?” Spike knelt over on his knees out of breath holding a letter in his stretched out hand. “You're in a panic over mail?”
“Read... you... have... to... read... it...” her said struggled to speak gasping for air between words.
“Spike I don't think Twilight would want me to read her mail.” The little dragon throws the letter at Jax emphasizing the importance. Reluctantly he took to the request and read the letter, in seconds the green stallion understood why Spike was so insistent. Each word only served to add to a growing fire in his chest. Without finishing the letter Jax know what he had to do, garbing spike he took off running out of the library and soon the castle.
“Jax, where are we going?!”
“Where do you think Spike!? We need to catch the next train to Manehattan and get to the girls before those sphinxes do!”
Gray, the first color Twilight saw every morning as she eased into the waking world, a small crack of light laid just to the left of her eyes telling her she had just a few more moments to blissfully relax until she had to drag herself out of bed. At this moment she remembered the trip to Manehatten and everything that had happened, she was still curious as to what it was all about and she would most likely be on edge all day about it, but for now it was just her and the pillow sharing a cozy embrace.... for the next five seconds.
“UP AND AT 'EM EVERYPONY!” The sliver of light on her cheek became a blinding flash as if Celestia herself was there to surprise her. Sadly, as her vision returned, she saw the culprit was her fashionista friend grinning from ear to ear. All right girl's lets get moving,” she announced as everypony returned t the waking world, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash looking as if they just got in a fight, Flutter Shy woke up as graceful as every with a yawn only her pet bunny could hear, Pinkie Pie was the only one who jumped right up as if she was up the whole time. “We have quite the day ahead of us ladies so let's get an early start, no need to wait for me to get ready this time I got up a little early so no pony would have to wait.” She displayed this fact by flipping her mane in the sunlight. “I've also ordered breakfast for us all from room serves so it should be here by the time you are all ready, come now chop-chop girls.”
Apple Jack just smiled and shook her head, if you had told her five years ago that there was a pure white mare that could get her up early in the morning for a fashion show with no complaints she would have laughed so hard her brother would have to carry her home before she stopped. And yet she and four other ponies were all getting up and ready for the same thing. One by one the girls took their turns in the bathroom getting ready for the day, and as promised, breakfast arrived just as everypony was done.
Bellies full and all ready for the day the girls checked out of the hotel and waved over two cab ponies for the six of them as well as Rarity's dresses. The plan was to get to the fashion show early and get the models ready and use to walking in the dresses to make the best impression on the crowd from the back of the ponies with backstage passes to the photographers at the end of the catwalk. No need to pick up the Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell or Scootaloo, Aunt orange and Babs Seed be bringing them to the show later on. All at once it seemed the day was going to go just fine, even Twilight took a breath of fresh air enjoying the cab ride forgetting about her thoughts from this morning.
Twilight suddenly felt a tingle in the back of her neck and down her spine, a familiar feeling she could recall from her brothers wedding or the fight with Terek, it was never good. Not a second after the world slowed and not even the sound of the cab ponies hooves on the asphalt could be heard, the silence was broken by the sound of cracking wood. The world came back to full motion all at once as she realized just what had happened, somepony just smashed the left cab wheel.
With the wheel destroyed the Cab pony could not keep control of his carriage and struggled to stay straight to slow down. Tripping over his hooves the cab pony fell to his side causing the carriage to roll and send his passengers flying. It was only after Twilight hit the ground that she realized she should have gotten Rarity, Pinkie and herself out of out of their before hand. The world was still spinning as she struggled to her feet to find a white and pink blur doing the same with the dresses just behind them.
"يكفي نريد المجوهرات ، الآن"
The sound of a foreign language, one she had never heard spoken, but there was no need to guess who smashed the wheel or who the foreigners were, the sphinxes had attacked again. Twilight looked at the sphinx who had spoken, his claws scraped at the pavement impatiently, his eyes bloodshot with rage, wings fully open ready to take off at any moment, But why, what did they want?
"أنا متعود نسأل مرة أخرى ، تسليمهم أو أننا سوف نفعل ما يجب علينا"
Again he shouted, this time baring his fangs as he pointed an accusing claw. Twilight knew many things from her book, but language was never her strong suit, however, no translation was needed, that claw showed them exactly what sphinx were after the whole time, and it was aimed right at her. “Oh no, you don't!” A streak of rainbows flies's by sending the accusing sphinx into a near by building. “You want Twilight you go through me!” It was at this point Twilight realized her friends had surrounded her would be kidnappers and were ready for the third, and maybe even the final round.
تفعل ما يجب عليك ولكن تذكر لا القتل"
The girl's couldn't understand a word from the sphinx, but they were no longer talking to them. Twilight could only assume is was a command for attack as the winged beasts took flight and attacked. Ten on six hardly seemed fair, but they had fought them and won twice before and were confident, too confident. For being half lion, covered in thick heavy muscle, the beasts were fast on their feet and in the air. Twilight looked for an opening to use the spell she had before on the train, but with three of the attackers going at her at once, dodging was all she could do to stay alive. Small glimpses in the corner of her eyes showed her that her friends were having that same luck, Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack could barely get in a blow or two before they were caught off guard and thrown around like rag dolls.
مجرد البقاء هناك صفراء واحدة ، كل ما نريده هو المجوهرات”
The sound came from her right where two of these beasts had Flutter Shy cowering in a corner away from the battle, the distraction gave the assailants the opening they needed. Twilight's vision blurred once more as a massive paw delivered a precise impact to the back of her head. That was the last straw, Her horn and eyes glowed with alicorn magic as she braced herself from falling, the purple mare glowed brighter than the sun as her rage began to come to the surface. No plans, no thinking, only an image playing out in her head, to send all these winged bastards to Tartarus with a single blast of her horn. Charge, The sphinx noticed and faced her, aim, they take positions, ready, her friends got out of the way knowing what was coming, fire......green fire?
The street was suddenly covered in a green inferno that surrounded the enemy seeming to consume them, just as Twilight powered down her magic, a result from the sudden shock of the fire, her little assistant came falling from the sky into her arms. “Spike?! What are you doing her?!”
“Letter! Train! Fashion show! Spy's! Danger! Jax!” The little dragon was burted each word in a panic just before passing out after seemingly overwhelmed, Now of it made any sense.
“Did he say something about Jax?” Rarity asked pulling herself off the ground where she had been knocked down herself.
For a moment, Twilight held her little friend confused until she looked in the dying green inferno. Indeed amongst the fading flames was her houseguest taking all the beasts at once and knocking them back one after anther as easy as they had been doing to the girls not moments ago. He stepped past each strike as if he could read their minds, passing them with less than an inch between him and a fatal blow from razor sharp claws. By the time everypony understood what was happening, Jax had rounded the sphinx gang all in one spot in the middle of the street.
"هذا يكفي ، هل لديك أي فكرة عما تفعل ، هل يو تريد أن تبدأ حربا لك الحمقى"
Just as sudden as this whole event, Twilight found herself as confused as ever as she heard the foreign language again, but this time, from Jax. This came as a surprise to the sphinx as well as they looked at one another as if such the act was impossible.
"كيف لك ... فما باللك ، هذه الأفراس على شيء سرق من هم الوطن ، ونحن هنا لإعادته ."
An even greater surprise, the sphinxes actually responded.
"أنا أدرك جيدا ، وستحصل عليها مرة أخرى ، إذا كنت التنحي . ولكن إذا كنت تجرؤ رفع مخلب لهذه "الأفراس مرة أخرى ، وأنا جعل التدريب ماضيك تبدو وكأنها عطلة بليسينت .
Jax spoke to them snapping with his words, whatever he said, it made the enemy flinch.
"كيف لنا أن نعرف ثقتكم تستحق"
Twilight could only guess, but is sounded like the sphinx were asking a question, Jax raised one hoof in response displaying his silver ankle bands. Before Twilight could even question why, the sphinxes had already backed down lowering their wings and retracting their claws. “what just happen?” was all Twilight could think as Jax turned o them and walked right to Rarity and Twilight.
“Rarity,” Still shaken from the conflict the white mare jumped at the sound of her name, “you have cat jewels don't you, six of them to be exact, is that right?”
It took a moment for Rarity to find her voice, “um yes, I used them in my new summer line.”
“Who cares about that?!” Remarked Rainbow Dash, “What just happen, how did you do that?!”
“I see,” The stallion responded ignoring Dash completely, “I'm sorry Rarity, but you're going to need to give them to these foreigners.”
“What?! Why in Celestia's name would I ever give such beautiful gems to such roughens?!”
“Because they belong to their kingdom.”
“WHAT!!!” They all shouted at once.
“Those gems belong to the royal family of the Spinx Kingdom in the east, they were recently stolen and sold on the black market. This group here has been tracking them and somehow learned that you had them.”
“Well shot, why didn't they say so?! and why did they attack us like that!? Someone could have been killed.” Apple Jack shouted loud enough to make the sphinx jump.
“Trust me if they wanted you dead you would be, these are trained soldiers, they could give the royal guard a run for their bits. As for why they attack, their country isn't exactly the most traveled, it's rare to meet a sphinx that knows anther language, if they couldn't negotiate, they would have no choice but to take what they need.”
Flutter Shy tilted her head still shaken and confused, “you got all that from such a short conversation?”
“Not really, I know how these things work, but we need to give those gems back, these don't belong here.”
Rarity took out one of her dresses from its protective cover and looked over the beautiful feline jewel, reluctantly she took a pair of scissors from her saddle bag and severed the first gem from the dress. One by one the trinkets were removed and placed in a velvet bag the fashion pony had on hoof. Her head held low feeling ashamed for having stolen goods, Rarity returned the crystal felines with a sincere apology that Jax was kind enough to translate. The sphinxes bowed their heads apologizing for their actions and forgiving everypony for the misunderstanding. With all said and done the sphinx took flight and bid everypony fair well, one stood behind however and spoke to Jax one last time.
"يغفر لي ولكن ، هي تلك من هذا القط القديم"
نعم ، لديه ... حسنا أراني عدد قليل من الأشياء ، قبل بضع سنوات"
أرى ، وأود أن تسمح له معرفة به بشكل جيد . وقال انه لا يزال يعيش في هذا البيت الصغير على حافة المدينة."
التي من شأنها أن يكون لطيفا ... ايم متأكد من أن القط القديم يتساءل كيف أنا ... شكرا لك..."
With the last word spoken the foreigners depart. Midday follows and the fashion show go's on as planned with Rarity's line being a big hit even without their centerpieces. The sound of clapping hooves fills the room with each model that reaches and turns at the end of the catwalk, with all the new excitement the event from that morning seemed like nothing but a bad dream with a strange twist only a mad pony would have thought of, just to make someone face hoof. In the midst of it all Twilight looked to her little assistant and felt compelled to ask some questions. “Spike!” she shouted over the sound of the crowd, “how did you make all that fire on the streets earlier today!”
The little dragon shrugged his shoulders, “I don't know, Jax and I were in a ponies cab when we saw you, he jabbed me in the stomach and throw me at you guys and I spit out all that fire out of nowhere!”
Twilight scratched her head growing more and more confused, “But how did you even know to come?! How did you know what was happening!?” Spike pulls out a letter from Celestia, the same one he showed Jax hours ago. The letter was to Twilight informing her that someone from another country was looking from stolen jewels in Rarity's possession, something she recalled her buying during their last visit to Cantorlot. The letter ended with a request to bring the Jewels to her so they will be returned.
The letter seemed straight forward enough but gave no details as to what the jewels were or where they were from, and yet Jax clearly knew all those details and more. Twilight put aside her questions for now so not to ruined the show for anypony, but again her questions about her house guest filled her mind, and would not rest.
“Come on Twilight do we really have to do the rest, we're almost done anyway, let's take a break and head to Sugar Cube Corner.”
“No Spike, you have to clean your room,” The purple mare told the little dragon more like a mother than a friend. “Honestly, there's not a spot in the kitchen after you make your special cookies, but you can't even put away your comic books when you're done reading them.” Spike grunts as he goes's to address said problem while Twilight arranges his toys on the shelves. Just as the last piece took its place, a loud knocking sound filled the halls just outside the door. Even after so long of living in her new home, Twilight still had trouble believe that a knock at the door could be heard throughout the whole castle. Rapping her little assistant in magic, she teleported him and herself to the front door to greet their visitors.
Twilight's heart soared as she saw her brother and sister in law standing at her front door, without even a proper hello Cadence and Twilight start their ladybug dance just like they always do just before sharing a big hug filling the air with the sound of laughter. With a clear view over the pink alicorns shoulder, Twilight see's her mentor with her younger sister. Now overwhelmed with joy, the purple mare looked between her friends and family not knowing who to hug next. “What are you all doing her?” She asked completely unaware of the ear to ear smile she had clear across her face.
Celestia steps forward and embraces her faithful student, “It has been a while since we spent time together and Luna and I were wondering how our green friend was doing.”
“Then Princess Celestia was kind enough to invite us, and how could we say no to seeing our favorite sister.” Shining Armor mentioned taking the next hug from Twilight.
“So, where is Jax?” Celestia asked
“Oh, he's not here actually...” Twilight say walking over to hug Princess Luna who awkwardly hugs back, “He had a day off from working with Apple Jack and decided to take a trip to Appaloosa, something about getting leather and other supplies for when he go's travailing again.”
“What does he need leather for?” Shining Armor asks to which Spike shrugs his shoulders.
“Well, we may not get to meet this Jax character, but at least we get to spend some time together.” Marked Cadence rapping a forehoof around her sister in law again.
“Well... he may not be here now, but he will be back later tonight...” All of a sudden an idea came to Twilight that got her even more excited if such a thing were possible at this moment. “We could have a sleepover, you can all stay the night!”
For a moment everypony just looks at one another surprised by the sudden offer, royal duty's began to come to mind, some that required attention as early as that same night. One by one each prepared to give a reason why they could only stay for the afternoon until they saw Twilight with the eyes of a filly and her hooves clasped together awaiting their replies. Each of them had seen this look many times over the years, and each time, the mere thought of denying those eyes of even one request, just did not excise. “Well... I suppose we can all use a full day off from royal duty's.” Celestia said after seeing the everyponys reluctance to decline the offer.
Twilight squealed in joy, a rare sight to see even for her brother, the excited purple mare began listing off all the things they could do as she motioned everypony inside. Memory's of her as a filly kept playing back in the minds of her family and mentor, All of a sudden Twilight found herself being smothered in hugs from Celestia, Cadence, and Shining Armor. “Ummm, guys?” was all she could utter as she saw Luna holding back her laughter.
The day passes by and Twilight decides to head to Sugar Cube Corner to get some sweets for the night. “Hey, Twilight!” One hoof in the door and Pinkie Pie pops right out of nowhere and go's right up to Twilight, “Whatcha you doing?”
“Hey pinkie,” after years of Pinkie surprising her like this, Twilight was numb to the shock most others would feel. “I was just getting so cupcakes. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came over to see how Jax was doing, and they brought Cadence and my brother along with them. With everypony here and Jax out of town until tonight, we decided to have a sleepover.” With each word more and more of Twilight's excitement slipped out.
Pinkie gasped as she runs behind the counter of the bakery and waited for Twilight to choose some sweets. “That's great, it's like one big party!” The pink mare says as she prepares a box.
“Actually, it kind of isn't it?” The thought was even better than that of a sleepover, “we could bring everypony, Princess Luna hasn't gotten to see the girls new cutie marks, I'm sure she would love that.”
“Oh and it's been a while since Cadence got to see Fluffle Puff and Chrysalis!”
“Then it's decided, I'll tell the princesses and my brother know, you go and let everypony know to come by when they're ready.” With that said Twilight picked out her cupcakes and was off, just as she expected, the idea of a party was more than exciting to everypony and in no time Pinkie had arrived with all their best friends, as well as the Changeling Queen and her fluffy little roommate.
“So you and Shining actually did it huh? How far along are you” The green eyed Queen asked dryly as if asking just to for something to do.
“Three month's, but Shining Armor and I are already getting everything ready,” Cadence replied, “Miss. Cake says the eleven months fly's by if you're not too careful.” Chrysalis took a sip of punch clearly bored with the conversation, “So, it's been a while since I last paid you a visit, how have you and Fluffle Puff been?”
Chrysalis looked into the pink princesses eye's with the most deadpan emotionless look one could ever see, something she was very well known for. “That little bundle of pink fluff you stuck me with for rehabilitation is still the biggest nuisance I have ever seen.” She looks off to the other side of the room to see the fluffy pink mare in question with Scootaloo on her back portending to fly as Fluffle Puff ran around making a buzzing sound. “But..... I guess it's been.... nice...” She forces herself to say trying to hide the tinge of red that was coming into her cheeks. She soon realized how unsuccessful she was with the sight of Cadence smiling and bobbing her eyebrows suggestively. “oh, you can just go straight to Tartarus.”
Not to far from them Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell were showing Princess Lune their new cutie marks describing in detail everything that happen, from Pip Squeak, asking from help to the end of their party. Luna Watch the little fillies and hung on each word as if they were telling a magnificent tale of adventure and discovery. After watching and guiding the three fillies in their dreams, it brought a tear to Luna's eye to see them finally get their cutie marks and how they were forever bound to each other with them.
Celestia and Twilight were busy going over the book's she had read talking in detail the best parts of each. Celestia again enjoyed the filly like look her faithful student had in her eyes with each book that came up. On the other side of the room, Rarity was struggling to keep Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack still as she put them through some beauty treatments. Apple Jack reluctantly kept her cool while the rainbow mare was held down with the fashionista sitting on her tail.
The day passed and night fell with Luna's charge coming over the horizon. Hours have passed and it was getting late, Jax would be back soon and Shining Armor thought it time to learn a little about his sisters house guest. “So Twilight, what's this Jax guy like?”
“well...” Twilight said bringing her hoof to her chin thinking, “he's a good guy, quiet and keeps to himself, but he has his moments where you can see he cares more than he likes to show anypony.”
“not to mention he's one hard worker,” Apple Jack added as Rarity added bobby pins to her hair completing a classy style for her mane. “fearless to I reckon, the way he got to us in Manehatten not too long ago.”
“Fearless huh? What did he do before coming to Ponyvill?” The girl's were silent after Shining Armor's question. “How about where he's from?” Again nothing, “do you know anything about him, from before he came to Ponyvill?”
“well...” Twilight paused for a moment knowing her brother would not approve of her answer. “He really doesn't like talking about himself, and it's not like he's done anything wrong, so we decided to just let him tell us something about himself when he's ready.” All she could do is nervously grin at Shining Armors disapproving look.
“Twilight, you're telling me that my little sister is letting a stranger live in her home with not so much as a last name from him?” the fact was always clear but had never been stated as such until just now bringing a sudden realization on the situation. For another moment, all were silent with nothing to be heard but a deflating balloon. Looking to the side of the room everypony found Pinkie Pie had done so purposefully for dramatic effect. The many disapproving looks made the party mare grin nervously and put away her balloon.
“Surly he must have said something about himself,” Cadence insisted looking for the smallest detail.
“Not really...” Flutter Shy replied, “it's not that we haven't asked, he just doesn't seem to want to talk about it, sometimes, it even looks like he's afraid to.”
“Darling what are you talking about?” Rarity questioned confused by the statement.
“haven't you seen it? The look in his eyes?”
“I think I have, once in the library...” Twilight brought up, “It was as if he wanted to talk, but something was holding him back.”
“alright now that's enough,” Apple Jack proclaim, “I said it once and I'll say it again, we don't now much about Jax, but think about what we do know about him. He's a hard worker and a loyal friend, why, he went from Ponyvill to Manehatten just to help us with those crazy sphinxes. And it's not like he's trying to take advantage of us, we have had to convince him to stay here and work with me on the far, and he's never asked for anything. We all have our secrets, and if the price of his friendship is not knowing where he came from, well I for one am just fine with that. For Celestia's sake, it's not like he's some kind of criminal.”
For a moment, silence fell again as everyone thought about the farm mares words until Rainbow broke the silence. “Well you never know, maybe he robbed a bank or something.”
“Well that doesn't make any sense,” marked Apple Bloom, “If that was the case he would be rich, but he came here with hardly a bit to his name.”
“Well, of course, he was broke, he spent it all on cider, that's what I would do.” It took a moment, but soon everypony was laughing at the ridiculous statements.
“Or perhaps he worked in fashion, that would explain his cloak,” Rarity added to the joke making everyone think of Jax as a fashion designer.
“Maybe he was a baker, those pancakes he's made for us were good.” Spike added bringing the thought of Jax in an apron making cake.
Fluffle Puff added her own idea with a series of sounds describing something that brought a shade of red to everyones face. “Get your mind out of the gutter you ball of fluff!” Chrysalis said snapping at her roommate making the fuzz ball put on a sad face for a moment. Just as the changeling queen started to feel a little bad the fluffy pink mare licked Chrysalis's face and went back to her normal smile. “I hate you,” she lied to her roommate hoping no one would notice the blush in her cheeks this time.
Suddenly the mood changed in the room as Shining Armor stood to speak, “regardless of what he use to do, it's still strange. If he really has nothing to hide he should have not reason to keep his past from us.” Each of them looked back and forth finding no flaw it this statement, if Jax had nothing to hide, then why not tell them.
“Maybe he's from some distant land he saved from monsters and left to get away from all the fighting!” Pinkie stated, bringing back the laughter as the image of Jax standing on a mountain of dizzy beaten monster came to mind.
“Gone for one day and you're already celebrating huh?” Everypony turns to see Jax walk in with a large bag on his back.
“Jax, welcome back, did you get what you were looking for?” Twilight asked greeting him home.
“Yeah I did, Brayburn was a big help in finding everything I needed.”
“Cupcake?” Pinkie asked holding a plate out for Jax.
“Not just yet, I'm going to put this all away first, be right back.” The green stallion turned into the hall to place his things in his guest room, doing his best to keep his composer as casual as possible. He had bee standing outside the door when Shining Armor asked about him, and Jax knew there was more to come. A full month had passed since he had come to the Equestria, anytime he visited a new land, there were always a few steps he had learned over to follow when travailing, but all that was thrown out the window when he woke up in a castle on the first day. At first Jax wanted to leave as soon as possible having felt he would become too close to these new ponies if he had stayed, however, it was becoming clear that the calm and good company maybe the reason he had stayed this long. But if experience has taught this stallion anything, that feeling he got back in the room was never good for him, and it may just be time to go.
This did little to worry him as he opens the door to his guest room to placing his things on the table inside. He had saved enough money and got some supplies he would need, there was no real reason to stay, and yet he found himself wanting to. Jax looked around him, the dim light of the moon through the open curtains illuminating his surroundings. A soft bed, sturdy walls, warm and safe, a place to work, a place to rest, a place this pony had only been blessed with once for a short time in his life, may years ago. In the end one thing was clear, Jax enjoyed his time with the girls and the pony he had met in Ponyvill though he would never admit it without being asked. If it was time to go, then he would leave with a smile and a laugh, it's the least he could do for his new friends, and no matter how much he tried to deny it, that's what they were, friends.
Meanwhile, Shining Armor was still standing quickly compiling a mental list of all the things he would ask. Just from hello Jax did not seem to bad, but as the captain of the guard, Shining knew all manners of deception and was not about to trust somepony to stay in his sister's home without some idea as to who he really is. The air was thick and all waited quietly for Jax return, there was no changing Shining Armors mind, the only question on everyponies mind was... what will they learn about Jax.
All eyes were on the green stallion as he returned and took a seat close but apart from the group. He was pleased to see Princess Luna and Celestia again, he would have the chance to thank them for their kindness in person if it were really his time to go. Fluffle Puff waved vigorously from the back sitting by her changeling roommate. Jax turned his eyes to the two new faces, to his surprise, one was an alicorn princess, wearing the same curious look every other pony was. Sitting right next to her was he only pony in the room that was not nerves, a white stallion with a shield on his flank. Jax was ready for whatever was to come and smiled.
Shining Armor had fixed his eyes on Jax from the moment he walked in and knew it was time. Somehow it felt as those this stranger was mocking him as if knowing ahead of time what was on his mind. How could he, though, the smile on his muzzle showed nothing but a relaxed pony joining a few friends for a party. Yet, he could see it in his crimson eyes, somehow, Jax already knew Shining was looking for answers.
Eyes darted back and forth between the two stallions waiting for either to speak as if waiting for somepony to make the first move to a game of cheese. Weeks of dodging questions, time after time of refusing to answer a single one about his past, now Jax was faced with a pony who had every reason to pry the answers out of him, or even force him to leave.
“You must be Jax...” Shining said breaking the silence like a stone to a mirror leaving a pause after stating Jax name, expecting him to finish with his last name.
“Yes, I am... I don't believe we've met...” no last name, just a smile and a stretched out hoof.
“Shining Armor, I'm Twilight's older brother.” taking the greeting and shaking hooves
“Oh yeah, the caption of the guard right, she's told me a little about you, some wedding you had...” The green stallion quipped looking over at Chrysalis.
“Yes well, the honeymoon was better...” The white stallion said looking over to his wife who had a light blush only he could spot in her pink coat. “I'm afraid I haven't heard much about you, though, other than how you work on the Apple farm and-and traveled from place to place...” Shining paused expecting Jax to continue the conversation, but looking back to him from Cadence he found Jax eating a cupcake Pinkie Pie had handed him. “So where have you traveled to?”
“All over really, I don't really plan it, just hop from place to place.”
“I see, so where were you before coming to Equestria?”
“Nowhere special really...”
Shining could tell he was avoiding the real answers and looked at his little sister with a raised eyebrow, to which she just smiled nervously and shrugged her shoulders. “So why all the travailing?”
“Just wanted to see the world...”
“What about the country you were born in, what one was it?” It was slight, but Shining saw it, a reaction, the smallest twitch under the green stallions eye. Thus far Jax had been calm and still as some of his best soldiers, but that one flinch was all he needed to know that this pony was hiding something, maybe more than a secret or two. The question know, what would he say?
“Somewhere far away, I left years ago...”
A simple enough answer, to simple for the caption of the guard, “Whats it called, maybe I've heard of it.”
“Unlikely, it's not a well-known place, doesn't matter, though, it's like they say, the past is the past.”
All eye's were on Shining Armor, a statement true as any other and not one that could be tip-toed around without hinting to his true intention. What would he say? What would he do?....
“Fair enough, after all we just met, can't expect you to tell me everything about you right off the bat.” Everypony let out a breath they didn't know they were holding, it was like watching an interrogation or some climactic battle, luckily the end was peaceful. Until, “But you see, you living with my sister and have yet to tell anypony so much as your last name, as the captain of the guard, I can't help be feel a little worried about this. Just earlier we were all speculating on what you use to do before coming to Equestria because so little is known about you.”
“Dash thought you were a bank robber that spent all your money on cider,” Apple Bloom stated.
“And Rarity thought you were some fashion designer because of your cloak,” Sweetie Bell added.
“And Spike thought you were a baker,” Scootaloo added and went on, “Ho. And Fluffle Puff thought you were...”
“Let's not talk about that one,” Apple Bloom said stopping Scootaloo with a hoof in her mouth.
“See, don't you think.... huh.” upon looking back at Jax after hearing the little fillies tell hit their ideas, Shining was offended to find the green stallion on the verge of laughter, and about to cross it.
He brakes out in a small burst of laughter just before speaking, “I'm sorry.... I really am, but that was just funny, and I kind of want to know, what did Fluffle Puff say.
“Oh no you don't, the kids are still here,” Chrysalis states covering her roommates mouth.
“Jax this isn't funny,” Shining said becoming increasingly annoyed.
“Oh come on, it's a little funny, me as a baker, that's just weird.”
“Well, why don't you share your profession with use then.”
“I'm a traveler, I don't really have one.”
“Well, what about your cutie mark?”
“My what now?”
“you know you're....” Shining Armor looked into Jax eye's expecting to see a sarcastic joke to come, but there was no sign of such a thing, this stallion had no idea what was on his flank. “The mark on your flank...”
“Oh, is that what ponies call it here, I've always just called it a mark.”
“you... don't know what a cutie mark is,” suddenly Shining felt as if he was talking to a foul just learning about life.
“Well I know what it is and how it works, I just never knew what ponies called it here. You miss a thing here and there while traveling as much as I have.” Jax could see it in his eyes, Shining Armor was not going to take just anything as an answer, he wanted the truth, the truth Jax just couldn't bring himself to share. “I understand you want to know more, but...”
“NO, no but's, your living with my sister, working with her friend, you came out of nowhere and the only reason you're still here is because of the kindness of everypony in this room, and you're telling me you won't tell us anything about yourself?!” A rare sight to see the caption of the guard lose his temper, but not unjust. Silence fell for the last time as all eyes were on Jax, his smile gone and he had put down what was left of the cupcake. The next words spoken would have to be chosen carefully, or it would mean the end of Jax in Ponyvill.
“I see... well I'm sorry I'm not so quick to share my nightmare's with you all...” Again the shattering of glass was all the could describe the feeling in the room. No words came to anyponys lips as Jax's voice replayed in their heads. “You must have heard it from time to time Twilight, sound travels oddly well in this castle.”
For a moment, Twilight looked at him clueless until she remembered a new sound that would come up every so often at night.... for the past month. “That... That screaming... at night...... That was you?” Ears dropped on everyponies head as they turn back slowly to Jax dreading his response.
“I didn't have the best upbringing, the reason I stay up so late reading is because I hate sleeping. You would too if all you see is the ghost's of your past...” Not a word was spoken, all of at once, everypony started to feel their heart sink at the recollection of the smallest time they asked Jax about his past. “I;m not surprised you have questions, I would question your sanity if you didn't.”
“But then why not just tell us...” Shining asked
“Sorry to say, but that's like asking me to relive it... We all have scars from our past, but I'd rather forget about mine.” Jax hung his head and hugged himself with one arm as if trying to push himself back. All of a sudden, a pony all have come to know as strong and fearless looked as helpless and depressing as a frightened foul. “If you'd like me to leave, I will...” those words cut deep into their hearts, “I don't expect you to understand... or except how hard it is for me to talk about my past, but of the things I've been through... and the thing's I had to do... just to... and.......... I'm sorry.... but even with all you have done for me, the reasons to stay silent, outweigh the reasons to speak.” He turns away as if ashamed, his mane hiding his eyes as his grip on himself tightens. All at once, everypony felt compelled to dig deeper, what happen to this stallion, what made him so distant, and what kind of scares is he hiding. So many questions, and yet..... not one of them could find the voice to ask a single question. “I meant what I said, your right to feel uncomfortable with knowing so little about me, and if even one of you thinks it best, I will take my things and leave right now.”
Jax forced himself to look Shining Armor in the eye, and the sight was more striking than before. Eyes once full of sorrow and fear, now full of bravery and resolve. One thing was clear, he was telling the truth, he was ready to leave if asked. Before anypony could utter a word the green stallion turned to leave, his head hung low again as his mind played back memories he wishes he had forgotten, memories no one would ever hear.
“Wait...” Shining spoke, forcing the word from his mouth, Jax turned back. “Please understand, this is my sisters home we are talking about, she means the world to me and I would do anything to protect her. So please, just tell me this...” Jax turned fully to face the white stallion ready for what may come.“Do you plan to, or would you ever harm my sister or her friends in any way, physical or otherwise?”
Jax took a seat by the door and closed his eyes for a moment to take a breath, when they opened again, it was more than the red that gave the look of fire in his eye's. “My words could not possibly hold as much weight as my actions, but this I can promise. I am the last pony you have to worry about laying a hoof on anypony in this town, I would sooner die protecting them.”
All he wanted was a yes or no, instead Shining Armor got a statement bold enough to get this stallion in the royal guard. The look in his eyes, power, pain, fear, all in one, a look only seen in the eyes of ponies coming... or going to war. “Then stay, for as long as you need...” he told Jax as he took a few steps forward, “But remember, I'm going to hold you to your word.”
Jax expected a lot of things, to be thrown out, to be rejected, to be given some guilt trip, all things that would have been completely understandable. Yet here was the Princes of the Crystal Empire extending his hoof in friendship, excepting him for who he is. Jax did the only thing he could, he shook hooves with Shining Armor. He smiled as the tension faded away like water flowing out of a stream until there was not a drop left. Everypony finally relaxed for the last time of the night and took a breath of fresh air that tasted sweet as candy. In the stillness, all that could be heard was Pinkie purposefully deflating another balloon.
This time Pinkie smiled ear to ear, Celestia started to giggle followed by Jax and soon Apple Jack, in no time everypony was laughing together as if nothing had ever happened. The party commenced once more and not another word was brought up about Jax past. Instead everypony played their games and talked, and for some reason watch Cadence beat Chrysalis at a staring contest while Jax and Shining shared a drink. It was a good night, and not over just yet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Well... that went... OK... I guess....” A cool breeze fell over that green stallion as he stood looking out into the horizon from one of the many balconies of the castle. “Still feels like my hooves are shaking...” he thought to himself, “Haven't opened up that much in years... thank the ancients that crazy mares not here, I could see it now... her flying just above me saying, (see, I told you it wouldn't be a bad thing to open up, a little more and you might start acting like you have a personality.) Haha, I swear if we weren't trapped in that cavern I would have never told my story too...” Jax thought were interrupted by the sound of the balcony door opening. Turning fast as if ready to pounce he found himself looking into Princess Luna's amber eyes. “You're majesty?”
“Jax? My apologies, I was under the impression everypony had gone to bed... why are you still up?” Luna questions
“Just enjoying the night...” Jax notices the princess stand on edge for a moment, her eyes a little wider as if eager for him to finish, “I thought some fresh air would do me some good.” She suddenly relaxes as if disappointed.
“Oh... yes... I suppose that was a rather... difficult... moment for you... with Shining Armor.”
“Yeah.... been a while since I told that much to anypony... so... why are you still up?”
Luna raises an eyebrow confused, “I am the Princess of the Night, it is my royal duty to watch over my subjects as they slumber as well as offer them counsel and guidance in their dreams.”
“I see, makes sense”
“If you'd like, I can enter your dream tonight...” Luna offered, thinking back to when Jax disclosed his trouble sleeping, “Perhaps I could...” she began to say as she took a seat.
“Trust me, your majesty...” Jax says cutting luna mid-sentence, “My dreams are the last place you want to be...”
“Everyone has nightmares, Jax, I see them all the time, and have even been the cause of a few myself... even I have my nightmares from time to time.”
“About your banishment?” Luna looks at him shocked, “sorry, I ready about it and assumed, you don't have to tell me.”
“No, it's just...” Luna looked away for a moment, the strength and confidence she carried seemed less all of a sudden as she spoke in a slightly softer tone. “No one has asked me about that since my return,” now Jax was the one wearing the confused look with the raised eyebrow, “It's not as though I don't want to talk about it... but the few times the topic of my banishment has been brought up... ponies suddenly fall silent... as if it has been declared taboo.”
“If you'd like to talk about it, I'd be happy to listen.”
“No, I would not want to burden you.” Jax chuckled a little, “Is something funny to you?”
Jax looked back at the princess with a gentle smile he held as he spoke, “It's not like I'm asking you to give me your grief or something, I'm just offering an ear to listen if you want to talk.” Luna looked at her hooves as if contemplating the offer, Jax saw this and could feel she wanted to talk but was reluctant, so he thought of a bribe. “Tell you what Princess, you say what you want about it, and I'll tell you a secret of mine.”
More surprised than before Luna looked into Jax crimson eyes as questions filled her head, wondering if the secret would have anything to do with this strange ponies past. “But why? You've gone to such lengths to keep your past secret, why would you tell me something just to hear me talk about my banishment.”
“It's easy to tell when someone has something to say but won't...” She looked at the green stallion as if he were crazy, “Hey I'm basically offering you something for nothing right, so what do you say.”
From Luna's perspective, he was right, a clue to a mystery for little more than getting a few thoughts off her chest, what did she have to lose. She closed her eyes and took a breath, “I use to force myself to dream about it with a magical creature I created... but even after its destruction, I still have those dreams from time to time. Sometimes I can't really think what would be worse, going back to the moon, or seeing that look in my sister's eyes... disappointment... sadness... I can only imagine how betrayed she must have felt.” Jax could see the resemblances between the two sisters as tears welled in Luna's eyes. “When she offered me her love and friendship again, even after all I had done... there are no words for how that made me feel,” she tried to hide it by turning her head away, but Jax could see a smile across her face as the memory played back in her head.
“What about your time in the moon? What was it like?”
Luna's ear's twitched at the question, “To be honest, I'm not quite sure how to answer that. I know I was gone for one thousand years, but to me, it was only a few days.” Jax tilted his head again confused, “It was as if I was floating in a sea of stares for a few days, it was only after I came back that I realized I how long was I was gone.”
“Well, I suppose that's one thing t be grateful for.” Luna's look of confusion returned with the addition of shock and disbelief, “well think about it, your sister had to be without you, regretting everything that had happened, for one thousand years. But you got lucky, you know how long you were really gone, but to you it was only a few days of solitude.”
“I... I never thought of that...” Luna looked out into the sky, “I often fear it... going back and missing more time... away from my subjects... away from my sister...”
“I doubt you every have to fear going back.”
“But what if I lose control again? envy my sister and rebel again? What if I can't contain the nightmare?” Jax looked again into Luna's eyes, so much fear, so much sadness, so... familiar.
“Well, if that did happen, you're sister would be heart broken...” Luna had been holding back her tears the best she could, but hearing those words was enough to let one escape and slide down her check. “I asked her about it once, on my first night in Equestria... I have a feeling if she had to banish you again... her heart could not bare it.” Luna kept her eyes on Jax as if hearing the secrets of magic, it was clear she needed to hear this. “I know the feeling you're having Princess, I've seen it many times in my travels. The fear that you could go too far to relapse on old habits or mistakes, but in my experience, it is the lack of such fears that lead to repeating one's past.”
Luna's eyes shot wide at this idea, “I... but that's... I...” She looked away again her eyes darting back in forth in deep thought, all her actions since her return were to prevent her from ever turning into nightmare moon every again. Not once did she even consider that her will to remain as she is could be enough.
“Have a good night your majesty,” Jax said as he stood and walked off inside, feeling as if there was nothing left to say.
“wait!” Luna called, “ What about your secret, that was the agreement...” He stopped in at the door and looked back to the Princess who looked like a filly who was almost cheated out of a treat.
“Right, that was the deal...” Jax paused for a moment as if trying to think, “first tell me, when you were in the moon, did you ever hear anything?”
Again Luna looked confused, this look was becoming a constant at this point. “No, there was no sound when I was in the moon, all I could hear was my own voice.”
“I see, well then, here's my secret...” Luna walked over and leaned in, “Celestia would sing a lullaby for you every night when you were in the moon, to try and make the banishment easier for you. She told me when we were talking before, she hasn't talked to you abut it because she thinks you might be mad at her for it.” Jax smiled and walked away before Luna could say anything if she could.
Luna stood there dumbstruck by what she had heard, she wanted to be mad that Jax didn't tell her anything personal, she wanted to demand something else, or at least she would have. She stared into space as the words echoed in her head, Celestia would sing to her when they were small, but she never thought her dear sister would go so far as to sing to her every night for one thousand moons, just to ease her loneliness. The princess of the night wanted to ask more, she wanted to know everything about what Jax talked about with his sister, but the poor mare was frozen as the tears she held back all night finally found their way out. Quiet and soft as a mouse she whispered, “thank you,” just before Jax was out of ear shot.
“Are you OK. Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked her purple winged friend as their little group watched her fidget in place waiting for the train to come.
“OK.? I m more than OK. We're finally going to one of the most amazing kingdoms on earth! I can't wait to see the library, the castle, try the scones, it's going to be amazing!”
Pinkie's ears popped up at the mention of the library, “Yeah.... about that.... we may have exaggeration a teeny weeny bit about the library.”
“Who cares, I just can't wait to get there!” The purple mare stated with a little jump of excitement, “Now if Spike can just get back here soon then we can all get going as soon as... There they are!” Coming just around the corner Spike and Jax walk up to join the group, “What took you two so long?” she asked the little dragon.
Spike points behind him to the half asleep stallion, crimson eyes still drooping wanting to sleep. A snap of the baby dragons fingers brings him close enough to the waking world to ask a question that had been pledging him all morning. “As much as I like to be rushed out of bed by a little dragon promising adventure.... is there a reason for it?” He asked just before yawning.
The six mares then looked back and forth at each other realizing they had forgotten to tell Twilight's house guest what they had planned for the next two days. “Well,” spook Rarity, “yesterday we were all chatting about the little trips Twilight's map sent us on to help other ponies with friendship and we thought of a good friend of ours that we have all been dying to go visit.”
“So we all decided that there's no time like the present and got ready to leave at first light.” Apple Jack added.
“I see, and why do you want me to go along to visit an old friend?” Jax asked.
“Well we know how you like to travel, and this place is rather special in Equestria.” Answered Flutter Shy.
“Maybe this will give you a hint...” Twilight said pulling out a book from her saddlebag.
Still tired it took Jax a moment to focus enough to read the cover, “Wait, really? We're going to Griffonstone?” The princess started shaking her head yes in excitement fast enough to give her whiplash. “Wait a minute...” he thought for a moment, “you're telling me that you just decided to put aside everything and take a trip to a place just outside the border of your country?” Jax watches as everypony shrugs and nods. “Huh, royal duties sure are different here....”
“I completely agree.” Jax jumped at the new voice coming from behind him, but after looking all around, no pony could be found. “I still wonder how they can still throw all of Pinkie Pie's parties day in and day out, and manage to not only keep up with work but also not go bankrupt.” The voice sounded so close he could feel someponies breath in his ear, yet there was no face to match the voice.
“Now Discord, it's not nice to tease friends, especially ones you haven't properly met yet.” Flutter Shy stated in her firm but friendly tone.
“Oh alright...” it was at this moment Jax noticed something sitting on his shoulder, a dragon-like creatures no bigger than his hoof. Each section of the little things body seemed to have come from a different animal as if stitched together by some mad pony. In the blink of an eye, it was gone in a small spark of light and then reappeared standing nine feet tall, its goat face curled in a smile like Opal, Rarity's cat, when she finds a mouse to play with. “Charmed to meet you, Jax, Flutter Shy has told me all about you... well at least what little is known about you, which is nothing.” The now very tall creature shot his arms out in false excitement as he pointed out the saver lack of information anyone had on Jax. This in no way amused the green stallion who just stood their nearly half asleep again. “I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos...” He said taking a bow and staring into the stallion's eyes at his level.
Discord stood there eyes half closed waiting for the usual questions he had come to expect from new ponies who had never seen a draconequus before. “Nice to meet you...” That was it, Discord stood back up confused and set off by the dull and somewhat exhausted reaction that reminded him a lot of Pinkie's sister.
“So... What bring you here Discord?” The country mare asked wanting to break the seemingly awkward confusion Discord was feeling.
“Oh, well I was just looking for Flutter Shy.” Another spark of light and He was now floating around the yellow pegasus holding two train tickets. “The Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures is having a small convention in Manehattan, and Flutter Shy and I will be attending.”
The timed mare made a small gasp, “oh my, is that today?” Discords look of confusion returned, “we were all going to visit Dash's old friend Gilda today. It been a long time since Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were last there and we wanted to see how she was doing.”
Discord let out a laugh and sparked away appearing where he previously stood. “Oh come now Flutter Shy, would you really proffer to go so far from home when you can go to Manehattan with me?” He asked waving the tickets I front of her wearing a cheeky smile.
“Well...” His ears shot up to what he knew was going to be a yes to his question, “The convention is going to be all week long, and we will only be in Griffionstone for two or three days. We can still have plenty of time there when I get back, after all, the main events aren't until the last two days anyway.”
The mix-mash of animal parts replaced his confident smile with a disappointed frown for just a moment, having been excited to go. Just as fast he stuck his nose high trying to appear uncaring to the situation. “Vary well, we only planned this all weeks ago, but if you don't want to go, we don't have to,” he turned his back to everypony and facing Jax and Spike.
“Is he always like this?” The stallion whispered to the little dragon who shook his head yes.
“Oh Discord, you know I'd love to spend time with you at the convention, but we have all week to go, and none of us have seen Gilda in a long time.” Flutter Shy said in a soft tone, trying to get Discord to understand, all he did was huff to himself. Flutter shy took to the air to fly at his head level, “I can come back tomorrow instead so we can leave sooner...” Discord huffed again turning away. Flutter Shy thought for a moment and came up with an idea, “You could come with us, then we can head straight to the convention when we leave Griffonstone.”
Flutter Shy could tell the idea was appealing to her mischievous friend as his ears perked up and he brought his lion paw up to stroke his short goat beard. “well...... It has been ages since I last saw Griffonstone... oh what the heck...” another flash and Discord was sporting a fur hat and two suitcases covered in travailing stickers. “If you can beat them, join them.”
A hug from Flutter Shy and the decision was final, seconds later the sound of metal brakes fills the air as the train arrived. “Yes! It's here!” Twilight said jumping in place again, “But wait...” She said stopping for a moment and looking over at the cargo carts of the train. “Rainbow Dash, are you sure Griffionstons library will need all these book's... or even have room for them?” She asked the blue pegasus as she pointed to the thirty loads of books being wheeled on to the train by castle guards. “I mean, I'm happy to donate these old books, but will there be enough room?”
“Trust me Twilight, there will be room to spare...” Dash said wearing a big smile with Pinkie pie, both trying to hide the truth about the Griffionstone library for as long as they could.
Twilight shrugged her shoulders and imagined the new books she could find as she boarded the train. Each of them followed one by one with Jax at the end thinking only of going back to sleep during the train ride. Not looking and drowsy, the green stallion bumped into a gray mare as she stepped off the train causing her to nearly drop what looked like a cello case she had on her back. After stumbling around for a moment to regain her balance the gray mare opened her mouth to give Jax a Piece of her mind. Just before she could utter a word, another mare, a white one with electric blue hair and violet sunglasses stepped in, “Wow there Octy, simmer down, we just got here and you promised not to be all uptight when we moved.”
The gray mare cleared hear throat and adjusted some out of place strands of hair in her mane. “Excuse you...” she said in a soft British accent just before walking off with her snout held high.
The blue haired mare stood there shaking her head though Jax couldn't tell if she was doing so in reaction to her friends comment or just following her swaying hips as she walked off. “Sorry about her, she's just nerves moving to a small town, we've both lived in the city all our...” The mare went deadpanned and silent as she looked Jax in the eye, for a moment, he felt uncomfortable until she smiled and lifted her glasses. “WOW, you're eyes are red too?!”
Just as the mare had implied her eyes were indeed the same crimson red as his own, “Wow, I've never met any other pony with red eyes before.”
“Me either! This is so cool! Wait, could we be related?” The blue-maned mare asked.
“Haha I don't think so miss, I'm not even from this country.”
“Really? Where are you from?” Jax paused trying to think of what to say to the red-eyed mare staring at him, smiling from ear to ear. Just before anything more is said the mares ears twitch, “actually I should get going before miss posh and perfect gets impatient, but we should meet up sometime, see you around town.” With that said the white mare runs off and Jax boarding the train.
minutes later everypony finds their seats and waits for the train to head for the border of Equestria, nearly asleep on his feet Jax takes a seat in the back of the train car eager to get back to sleep. To his surprise, the others did not pester him to go sit with them, most likely due to being distracted by Discord as he danced on the ceiling going off a joke he clearly missed while talking to the white mare outside. Curling up under his purple cloak, the green stallion laid his head on the wooden seat and went back to sleep.
A moment later the stallions eyes opened again to a dark old room with rotting wooden floors and rough, stone walls covered in moss, cracks and holes in the ceiling let in dim lighting cast by the full moon just overhead. Jax looked around feeling strangely weak and had trouble moving, “Jax? Are you up here?” Called a mare from under a trap door on the floor. “You better not be sleeping up here again, you're mom is going to kill you if you come home covered in dust again.” The mare continued in a light-hearted tone coming closer mixed with the sound of hooves climbing up stairs. “Jax?...Jax?...” The call of his name persisted until he felt a nudge on his shoulder.
Before he knew what was going on, the stallion found himself standing on a wooden seat on a train with his face inches away from a purple mare. “Twilight?” He said as he recalled this morning's trip.
“Sorry to wake you but...” she said taking a step back, “We are almost to the border, we will have to walk from there.”
“Walk?” He questioned for a moment before remembering what he had read about, “Oh, that's right, Griffonstone is high in the mountains, no train or road has been built to get there any other way.” Looking out the window, Jax notices the position of the sun indicating that at least five hours have passed since boarding the train.
“That's right,” Twilight replied, “We will get to hike the whole way and take in the beautiful snow covered mountains.” Rummaging around in her bag Twilight retrieves her Griffonstone book and opens it to a page illustrating the mountain trails. Jax, however, continued to look out the window seemingly distant. “So... you were starting a bit in your sleep, what were you dreaming about?”
The question snaps him back to reality, “oh... it was nothing really...”
“So... what do you think it will be like?” Twilight asked taking the seat across from her green friend.
“Well if it's anything like the rest of Griffon Firfdoms, we should be in for quite a treat.”
“You've bee to Griffon Firfdom before?” Twilight asked surprised that he would even hint to where he had traveled.
“Yeah, a while back, it was rather different from other places.”
“Wow, is there anywhere you haven't been?”
“Not sure, like I've said, it's not like I plan my trips, I just hop on a boat and go,” He said returning his attention to the window. Twilight's curiosity kicked in and she was compelled to ask more about his travels. Where had he been? What did he do? How long was he there? When did he..... Before the first word escaped her lips, a signal phrase played in the back of Twilight's mind, sharing nightmares. That was how Jax described talking about his past, since that night between him and Shining Armor, Jax seems to be quieter at night and is sleeping through the night instead of staying up in the library. The look of disrepair Jax hid behind his mane that night as he turned away from them was framed in her mind and forced her silence. Instead, she just looked out the window with him and waited for the train to come to a stop.
An hour passes and the train comes to a stop at the end of the tracks at the furthest end of the crystal empire. Stepping off the train everypony dawns their winter hats and scarves and prepared themselves for the long hike up the mountains. Twilight gazed upon the snowy hilltops full of excitement, so much so she could not feel the icy snow freezing her hooves. Spike noticed and waved his hand in front of her trying to get her attention, seeing the futility of this he instead lifted each of her hooves one by one to put on her snow boots. Only after throwing her scarf over her eyes did the princess come out of her trance startled by her lack of vision. She epped and waved her head around to get the scarf off, only to find herself blushing from reacting in such a way in front of her friends.
With everyone dressed Twilight was ready to get started until she saw Jax standing in the back still wearing only his cloak, but now with the hood pulled over his head. “Ummm... Jax... Aren't you cold?”
“No, why?” He asked genuinely puzzled by the question.
For a moment she thought he was just being tough, but that didn't make sense. Looking closer she realized, even in the icy wind sitting in the snow, Jax seemed to be calm and still as ever, as if the cold could not touch him.
“Are you sure sugar cube? Looks a might chilly up there?” Asked the country mare sporting a brown jacket with her scarf and boots.
“That's putting in mildly,” Added Rainbow Dash.
Pinkie Pie hopped over to Jax and pressed her hoof against his cheek, “Oooooh, your really warm!” She exclaimed feeling a soft radiating heat come off her green friend under his hood. bringing her hoof down, she felt it nearly ice over before she could put her boot back on.
Onward and upward the group started their hike through the snow. Twilight kept her nose in her book while Pinkie and Dash lead the way having been there before. Rarity and Apple Jack talked the whole way while Discord scooped up snowballs every so often and turned them into snow cones for Flutter Shy and himself. They talked idly while looking through the brochure Discord had for the convention they were missing. Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped and ran up ahead and around the turn on the path, Twilight followed after thinking they had arrived at Griffonstone, only to find Pinkie finishing a snow pony and then speeding off a few more feet to start another one. No doubt her intention was to line the path with snow ponies. All the while Jax stood in the back of the group just behind Discord and Flutter Shy as images played back in his head.
The memory of a cold wasteland came to mind, in the distance, miles away stood a small town like a beacon of hope glowing in a vast empty field. The blistering cold cut deep as he tugged through the deep snow, drenching his legs. A mare held tight under his arm, shivering uncontrollably desperately trying to stay warm. Her teeth chattered, her black and gray mane slowly became covered in ice and snow, “C-come on yo-you j-jerk.... can't we walk any f-faster, haha.” The pony joked knowing they were too tired and hungry to be attempting this walk in a blizzard in the first place, it was suicide.
“Hello, anyone there?” Jax was snapped back to reality once more by Discord, “Well?” He asked hovering in front of him.
“Oh um? What was the question again?”
“I was just asking what you're getting out of all this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come now don't be coy,” Discord marked snaking his way in the air to hover just over Jax's head in an arch so to talk quietly into his ear. “You just happen to meet the princesses and five other mares out of nowhere and started living with one of them and working with another. To spite being so close to them all, you have yet to tell them a single real detail about yourself. You act like a friend but do nothing to actually show it, so I ask again.” The mischievous spirit pulls his head up and snaps his fingers, making a pint-size version of himself appear on Jax nose, “What are you getting out of all this?” Asked discords little copy sounding like a playback on a tape recorder.
“I suppose that's as good a question as any other,” Jax replied kicking his head back launching the little copy into discords hands. “But the question is simple, I have good work, I roof over my head, a kind host, and best of all, no pony asks me questions.”
Discords shoulders suddenly became covered in snow from small clouds that appeared just over them. “Yes Flutter shy did say you were not one to talk about yourself, she also said you still have nightmares about your past. Is that right?” He asked flying alongside the green pony once more.
“That did come up before, yes.”
“How convenient, that you just happen to have the kind of background no pony would ever ask you to relive, seeing how it gives you nightmares and all.” Discord said sly as a fox, “Perhaps I could simply, oh I don't know, pop inside your head.” He said taking off the top of his head like a hat and tossing his little copy inside. “Then we can learn all about you without you ever saying a word.” Discord went to place his lion hand on Jax's head but was stopped.
Discord's eyes were locked with the crimson red gaze of the green stallions eyes for what felt like an eternity, something the immortal spirit of chaos knows all too well. Those blood red eyes full of rage stared him down like that of some kind of beast that would not hesitate to strike a lethal blow if he inched even the slightest bit closer. Jax turned away for just a moment, lifted his hoof, and removed his hood. To Discords surprise, Jax was wearing a gentle, friendly smile. “Actually Discord, I'd rather you not go looking around my head.” All traces of anger were gone as if imagined, the stallion even closed his eyes when he spoke as if to hide his rage that might have still shown through his eyes. Among the many who desire to know just what lies in the past of the green stallion, Discord was now one of them.
“Really Rainbow Dash?!” Twilight gasped in excitement waiting from a response on the tips of her hooves.
“Hey, girls!” Called Pinkie Pie from around the turn just up ahead, jumping into view seconds after, “We made it, Griffonstone is right around the corner, literally!”
Twilight squeaks in anticipation and takes off running over to Pinkie, but is cut off by a worried blue mare who fly's in front of her. “Now Twilight, I just want to remind you we really did exaggerate Griffonstone before.... and it may have been more than... a little...” Dash puts on a big smile as if trying to apologize ahead of time.
“Oh come on Rainbow Dash, it's Griffonstone, one of the most amazing kingdoms in the world, even if you did exaggerate it can't be that bad.” The purple mare steps around her flying friend and runs off past Pinkie Pie shouting her words as she goes, “I'm sure it's just like in the book, a peaceful, amazing, wealthy..........DUMP?!”
The others stop in their tracks after hearing Twilight, “Umm, Rainbow... exactly what part did you exaggerate?”
“Other then finding the idle and what happen with Gilda........ all of it.”
Surely enough Griffionstone was a dump, strands of hay litter the side streets and walkways, houses falling apart at the seams. Water in the gutters ran down the side of the mountain with a thick gray color to it. Twilight could only think of what her mentor would say if Cantorlot ever became so seemingly unclean. The only positive aspect the Princess could come up with is that the town seemed oddly warmer than the snow covered path up the mountain. “Just a little huh?” She asked sarcastically glaring at her pink and blue friends, who shrug in response smiling nervously “Well, it's really not that bad.”
“Wait... it's not,” Dash agreed in a confused tone, “this place looked much worse last time we were here.”
“Hey, you're right Dashie,” Pinkie confirmed as she noticed the lack of trash as well as how the large piles of hay were now just small clumps here and there.
Just as observant and confused Apple Jack stepped up to Dash, “While I'm sure we all have questions, I would first like to ask.... where is everypony?” She asked pointing out that there was not a soul in sight. As the group walked through the streets of the messy town it became more and more evident that no pony had been there for a while. Homes and stores seemed to be abandon for several days, cleared of all furniture and full of dust. The further in town they went, the clearer the streets seemed to get.
Just as everypony began to get nerves in what seemed to be a ghost town, Pinkie shouted, “Wait!” Everypony jumped at the sudden burst from the pink pony, even Flutter Shy found herself shaking in Discords arms. Pinkie began to sniff around like a bloodhound, her nose to the ground seeming to wonder around aimlessly going in and out of houses, up walls, under Apple Jack and somehow jumping out of Rarity's hair. For a few seconds the curious mare disappointed only to pop out of a covered sewer entrance, “THAT WAY!” The strange mare announced and continued to sniff her way down the street.
For a few minutes, everypony followed Pinkie Pie until Rarity finally questioned what was going on. “Pinkie Pie, as much as we all enjoy your little bits of randomness, what prey tell are you doing?”
Just as she finished Pinkies head popped up from the ground, “Griffon Scones! It's Gilda!” She pointed excitedly at the pastry cart Gilda used to sell her scones, the small oven in the back spouting smoke. Pinkie zipped over to the cart and around the other side hugging the griffon tightly until Dash sped over as well followed by the others.
“Ummmm... who are you?” Pinkie looked up and asked the same question realizing that the griffon she was hugging was much too thin and timid to even be compared to their cool laid back friend. “Wait a minute, this is Gilda's pastry cart, what are you doing with it?” The blue mare asks getting in the strange griffons face.
“I.. I...” The griffon stutters for a moment, “I just run the cart when she's away, I work for her...”
The griffon backs away from the cart and Dash until Twilight steps between the two. “Hold on, you work for Gilda?” She asked raising an eyebrow. The shy Griffon shakes his head yes slowly shrugging his shoulders as if trying to retreat but unable to move. “So umm... where is Gilda, and all the griffons for that matter?”
“Yeah we haven't seen anypony since we got here, you're the first.” Flutter Shy said softly Discord nodding his head behind her.
“Oh their all at the construction sight, just a few blocks down, I was on my way there now.” The griffon walks to the front of the pastry cart fastening a harness to his waist. “I can take you there if you'd like.”
For a few minutes more everypony follows the new griffon through the streets enjoying some of the scones, all the while Twilight was raving about every detail of the foreign treat. Finally, they came to a small clearing where some houses had been torn down, just before any questions could be asked some griffons are seen flying overhead with large planks of wood, another close behind caring buckets that sounded like they were full of metal. As they looked around they began to notice that the houses were not just torn down but deconstructed. Another block away, the griffons were putting those supplies to good use building new houses in a small spot that had been cleared of all other structures. The sound of hammers filled the air as several of them worked together building the frames for houses, in the middle of all of it, directing the construction, was Gilda.
“Gilda!” Pinkie cried out once again speeding over and gripping Gilda in a backbreaking embrace, knocking her to the ground. “Gilda! We came to visit! And we came out the mountain and i made snow ponies everywhere! Then we got to the front archway, but there was no pony in town! And then we found some pony else with your scone cart! And it looked like some of the houses were torn down! And then we had you're new strawberry griffon scones and they were really good, can I have the recipe?” Pinkie, now quiet sat on Gilda's stomac smiling.
“Ummm... sure,” the griffon said awkwardly. Lifting her head and looking behind the crazy pink mare, Gilda see's the rest of the little group heading over accompanied by her sales griffon. “What are you all doing here?” she asked in a sarcastic but joyful manner as she lifted the pink pony off her before standing up herself.
“Like Pinkie said, we all came to visit,” Dash repeated as she put an arm around her old friend.
“Not many of us got to know you that last time you were in Ponyvill, well other then at Pinkies party.” Apple Jack said making the griffon cringe at the memory. “So we all wanted to come along and see how y'all have been doing these days.”
Gilda looked around at her pony friends and how they were all happy to be there smiling warmly, especially twilight. “Well I must say this is quite the quaint little... town... you have here.” Discord quipped floating upside down just to the side of Gilda's head. “Seems like a lot of new buildings going up.”
“Yeah,” Gilda uttered watching the strange creature floating next to her. For a moment she just looked up and down at him, “OK I give, what the flying feather are you?”
“Oh that's discord, he's a friend of ours,” Flutter Shy said, “He and I had plans I overlooked when we decided to come, so he came along with us instead.”
In another flash Discord was standing next to his yellow friend shaking claws with Gilda, “ Discord, Spirit of Chaos, nice to meet you Gilda, I have heard so much about you, like how you made my good friend Flutter Shy here cry after she bumped into you while she was, what was it again... oh yes, leading some ducks across the street.” Discord smiled as he glared down at the poor griffon who now felt a chill go down her spine as the strange mix mash of animals looked like he was getting bigger, his sly smile promising to be an unwelcome visitor in a nightmare to come.
“Hey now, you behave yourself,” Flutter Shy demanded grabbing Discords attention, “That was a long time ago and Gilda is different now, so you watch yourself, mister.” Gilda's jaw dropped at the sight of a pony she once made cry, demand good behavior of all things from a creature that looks like he was pulled out of a some mad ponies experiment gone monstrously wrong.
“Oh.............. alright...” Discord shrank back to his normal size scowling as if having his new toy was taken away, all the while Flutter Shy smiled, happy she was authoritative. Gilda looked over at Dash, silently asking for an explanation but was insted met with a look of exostion paired with the slow shaking of her head as if to say "don't ask".
“So do tell darling, what on earth is going on here?” Rarity asked drectecting everyponies attention to the new homes being built.
“Well...” Gilda cleared her throat and puffed out her chest ready to boast, “after I started spreading friendship around Griffonstone I noticed a lot of us were more open to helping each other, a few months back some griffon needed some bits to fix up his house, so I lent him some and realized just how much I had saved up. After asking around, I realized I wasn't the only one that had more bits than one griffon could use.” Everypony looked between each other confused as to how this could be a surprise.
“So you decided to pull all the money together and fix up the town?” Spike asked
“You got it,” Gilda confirmed, “we started with just using supplies from the local stores to reinforce weak structures, but a lot of these houses are old enough to have been built when the town was founded. Not a lot of wood around these part so we started pulling our bits together and having supplies shipped here from city's further out like Holloy and Rivendell, surprisingly enough they were more than happy to help”
“And that's when they sent me to overlook the reconstruction of the town.” The deep and oddly smooth voice came from another griffon who popped out of nowhere much like Pinkie.
“And you are...?” Asked the country mare.
“Silver Quill at your serves, I've been sent here to ensure that all shipments arrive on time and nothing gets overlooked.” Twilight takes a closer look at the new griffon and finds he has a horse's flank instead of a lion's body. Just as she tries to question this strange fact she finds a claw on her lips, “I know that look dear princess, and the answer is no, I am not a griffon, I am a hippogryph. I'm part pony!” He said with a strange and somewhat creepy twinkle in his eye.
Twilight takes a step back from the strange bird-like creature as he smiles with his mouth gaped open. Standing with her friends everypony looks to Gilda for an explanation. “Hey don't look at me, I don't know anything about... whatever he is. Truth be told we still don't even know if he's a real contractor, or even knows how to use any tools.”
“What, how dare you, I have never been so offended, if I didn't know any better I'd say you want to leave.”
Gilda scowls, “I do, we all do, when your not doing your job your just one big pain in my tail.”
“Alright, you talked me out of it, I'll stay, but only because you all need me.” Gilda face-claws in frustration as Silver Quill completely ignores what she had just said. “And for your information, I am a licensed contractor, I'm even planning on building my own castle, as soon as I find a location,” He stated with his head high.
At this point Gilda noticed the light green stallion scratching the back of his ear, standing behind everypony. “Who's the new guy?”
“Oh, I'd be delighted to introduce him,” Discord hummed as he flashed over to the pony in question. “This is Jax... what was your last name again?...” Discord asked with a mischievous smile.
The stallion rolled his eyes and strolled over to Gilda, “Nice to meet you, Gilda, it's great what you're doing with the town. I haven't seen something like this in a while.”
“Yes, I'm sure you've seen a lot in your travels. You see Gilda, Jax is from... oh my the name seems to have slipped my mind, where was it again.” The draconequus asked bobbing his eyebrows at Jax.
“I get you're trying to pry but do you really need to do it like that? I've met monkey's that are more subtle.”
Gilda scratched her head in confusion, “we met Jax a few months ago," The blue mare said, "he's a bit privet but he's a good friend when it comes down to it.”
“Well he can't be any stranger than the rest of you ponies,” Gilda said jokingly, earning a friendly elbow to the side from Rainbow Dash.
“Ummm Gilda?” Silver asked rejoining the conversation, “should anyone be using anything flammable or I don't know, explosive?”
“No, why?”
“Because one of the houses is catching fire.” Silver points to one of the structures being built, just as he said smoke was coming from the back end.
“Oh, feathers not again!” Gilda ran off to join a flock of griffons with hoses spraying down the small fire that crept up the back wall, Dash followed close behind as well as the other ponies. The fire was small scorching the base and half way up the wall causing very little damage.
As the crowd disperses and gets back to work Twilight takes a closer look, finding the stem of a used match, and the smell of lighter fluid. “Gilda!” she called out stopping her, “look at this, I don't think this was an accepted!” She started lifting the match-stem.
Everyponies head turns to Twilight in slight shock, but without even seeing the match, Gilda lowers her head in disappointment, “I know it wasn't, every griffon here knows it wasn't.” Now every ponies eye's turn to Gilda, even more, confused and worried.
“What are you talking about, who would want to set fire to what will be someponies new home?” Apple Jack asked waving her hoof at the slightly damaged house to be.
Gilda turns to everypony looking sadder than Dash had seen her in a long time. “I told you some of the Griffons wanted to help, well some don't. When more and more griffons started pulling their money together some griffons started to get more greedy. They started to think that the more we spend on fixing the town the less money there will be to go around, or to be frank, less money for them.”
“But that doesn't make sense,” Twilight said, “If you fix up the town then more griffons can come a visit, it will improve the local economy.”
“I know we tried to tell them that, even pointed out how we can turn the old castle into a tourist attraction, but they didn't care, thought there would be too many griffons flying around to make a difference.”
“So what? they're just setting fire to your all your hard work?” Apple Jack asked as if offended by the thought.
“Fire, broken tools, graffiti, everything they can do to try and stop our work. We've been trying to rebuild for months, a lot of old houses were repaired but it takes three days to build a new one and we can't even get the framework to last the night.” Gilda looks around at the other griffons getting back to work, each of them looking tired and discouraged. “To be honest, these last few days have felt like we're fighting a pointless battle. I'm starting to think we should just leave, go to one of the other city's, not like there's any shortage of them.”
“Wow, deja vu,” Jax said as he turned to walked over to a nearby table that looked to have the blueprints for the houses.
“What do you mean?” Asked Apple Jack.
“These are the houses your building around town?” The stallion asked Gilda who nodded in response, “And these take you three days to make?” he asked as if Gilda had made a mistake.
“Well yeah,” Silver Quill said flying over, “these houses are hard to make, and it's not like we have many carpenters and electrocutions. We're building in four places in town at once, the goal is to work on four structures a day and finish each in three.”
“Well, there's your problem, instead of trying to do so much just do what you can, get everyone in one place and focus on one house at a time.”
“What?”
“They don't touch the finished houses, right? So finish the house in one day.” The hippogryphs jaw dropped in response to the absurd suggestion.
“You're joking, right? You did hear that it takes three days to finish one house, and that's with seven griffons working on it at a time.” Gilda quoted.
“Yeah, so how fast would you get it done with fourteen?” Gilda went to respond but paused at the thought. “A few years back I was travailing around China and came across a small village that was just starting out. They lived in small huts made of twigs and straw, but tried every day to build real houses.” Gilda rolled her eyes expecting another friendship speech. “I stayed there a few days to try and help, but every night some of the local dragons would come a destroy what we built, demanding that the ponies moved on and leave China.” The mention of building a house and dragons caught the grumpy griffons attention, as well as others around her. “I went to one of the nearby towns to see if anypony or dragon would help, lucky for use they did, those who came to help told use to focus on building one house at a time with as many ponies that can work on it at once, and any others to work on another house with the same idea, if there were too few ponies to work on one house, then they would help by keeping track of supplies.”
“So what happen?” Silver asked
“The village ponies would normal try and work on about seven houses at a time over the course of five days. With the new plan, we finished three houses in just one.” The griffons looked back and forth at each other in silent disbelief.
“OK, let's say that works and we get houses done, what's to stop them from burning it down anyway?” Gilda questioned.
“These griffons don't want you spending money right?” Jax said raising his voice as if wanting every griffon around to hear. “It would COST at lot most to replace a newly built house then starting one over! Losing a new building, means losing, even more, money!” Jax looked at the crowd of griffons and saw one sneak away. He smiled knowing the message was heard.
“OK maybe that would work, but it would still take too long to fix up the whole town if we just do a few buildings at a time.”
“I spent less than a year in China, but by they time I left, that village with only a few huts of twigs and straw became a small town with new ponies and even some dragons moving in every day.” Gilda was speechless not knowing what to say, as was Silver Quill. “It was a slow process, but is it really much slower then how things are going right now?” Again the crowd exchanged looks with each other looking for an answer. “And don't forget, you have your pony friends here now, I bet with every griffon and pony here, we can get at least one of these houses done by the end of the day.”
“oh come on, we have like five hours left in the day, you actually think we can finish a house in that time.” The griffon asked still unconvinced.
“No, I think we can do it in three,” Jax replied smiling at Gilda.
He held out a hoof to Guild who for a moment just stood there mulling over everything in her head, in the end, she reluctantly shocks the stallion's hoof, excepting the challenge as well as the help from the ponies. With that, every pony and griffon got to work all on one house, with Silver Quill, Gilda and Apple Jack directing the construction. Walls went up faster than could have ever been expected, Many found themselves triple checking their work, having a hard time believing they were actually done. Just as promised, in three hours time, Gild found herself asking Silver Quill what was next only to be told they were done. She took a long moment and just stared at the fruit of their labor, she went inside and wandered around the rooms and jumped on the stairs testing them. After months of trying, working tirelessly, a single house was finally finished. From the top on the stairs, Gilda saw other griffons stroll in curiously with, what she suspected, was the same look of disbelief she had. It wasn't much, a small step in a full-length race, but for today, it was more than any griffon could have asked for.
“See, what did I tell you?” Jax asked from halfway up the stairs.
“Yeah yeah you were right, what do you want a metal?” The Griffon said both upset and overjoyed for listening to this stallion she just met.
After admiring their work and checking everything one last time, a family who's home was ready to collapse on top of them at any moment was chosen to move in that same night. After two more hours of helping with the quick move and house warming, the group decided to stay with Gilda for the night having no inn nearby. With the sun setting the griffon felt enthusiastic about tomorrow knowing they would get another house done for sure, maybe even two.
“So Gilda,” Twilight spoke up knocking the griffon from her thought of tomorrow and quickly bringing her attention to the princess. “I know it's late and all but I didn't get a chance to tell you that we actually brought some books for the town library.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, it was Rainbow's idea, I've got a lot of books just waiting at the station, there's a spell set up to pop them right up here whenever you're ready. So I was just wondering if, I don't know, we could see the library before we call it a day?” Twilight smiled from ear to ear like a filly asking for a new toy even going as far as to put her hooves together as if asking permission.
Gilda looked over to her best friend with a look of exhaustion, “What exactly did you tell her about the library?” Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders embarrassed wearing a nervous smile. The griffon fought the urge to face claw again and instead thought of a fun prank to play on the book-loving princess. “Sure Twilight, we can see the library first, but you have to wear a blindfold so you don't see anything until your right at the door.” The overly excited mare shook her head in agreement seeing nothing wrong with the condition, meanwhile, Rarity and Apple Jack stared down Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash sensing something was amiss.
Guild lead everypony to the library and Discord had to hold back his laughter as he thought of Twilight's reaction to coming. The other mares covered their ears and nodded giving Gilda the OK to remove Twilight's blindfold. Everypony anticipated blood-curdling scream of shock and horror that would otherwise define them for the rest of the night. But instead, Twilight stood there, her joyful expression unchanged as she looked at the broken down and nearly flatten building surrounded by books that were covered in dirt littering the outside and what would have been the inside of the building. upon further investigation, via a confused Rainbow Dash waving a hoof in front of Twilight's face, the princess was found to be still as stone in some form of shock with not even a twitch to let them know she was still conscious.
“Ummm guys.... I think we broke her,” Rainbow said
Spike crept up and tapped her on the side causing the stunned mare to fall to her side fainting. Gilda, Pinkie Pie, and Discord all broke out into laughter with Rainbow Dash trying to hold back her part of it. Discord was kind enough to carry Twilight to Gilda's were everypony soon joined her in sleep for the night.
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” a scream of sheer terror shocks everypony out of dreamland and back to the waking would. “Th-the...” Twilight's wings began to flap hard as she tried to talk through her heavy breathing, “The building! The walls! The books! THE BOOKS!!!” With each word, she rose higher and higher until she hit the ceiling with a loud thud. The blow stunned her and sent her back to the ground confused and looking around the room only to find everypony looking at her as if she should be embarrassed, Pinkie, Dash and Discord trying to hide their laughter behind quivering smirks, Apple back face hoofs while Rarity and Flutter Shy act like she didn't see anything. The sudden realization of her actions and reasons behind them turn twilight a bright red with a small nervous laugh to boot.
“So you asked me to donate all those books because you knew their library was destroyed along with most of their books?”
“Well....” feeling Twilight's intense gaze on her as they walked with everypony, Dash knew there was no point on lying. “Yeah, yeah I did....” Dash held her head a little low awaiting a lecture about lying or trust.
“Hmmm... I don't know if I'm annoyed that you lied,” said Twilight earning a roll of the eyes from Dash, “Or impresses that you actually thought of it in the first place.” The purple mare added bumping her hip playfully against her friend.
“Umm-well...” Dash stuttering for just a moment as her blue fur developed a new ting of red, “I can't believe your surprised, after all, I am the definition of awesome!” Twilight giggled and poked at the cocky mares wings with her own. Just as Dash was feeling good about herself she noticed Twilight stop abruptly and look off down a street, and at the broken down library. She huffed and flew over to her, “come on you...” Twilight whined as she was pushed down the street to join the others.
At the construction site everypony is amazed at how many griffons are there to help. At least 200 hundred in total if not more. Jax and Apple Jack look to Gilda who, judging by the expression on her face, did not know there were so many. “Well, look who decided to join us, everyone!” The ponies heard somepony say through a megaphone, “Yes you with the purple hood between the grumpy griffon and.... whatever that guy on your left is, let's call him Mr. snakie.... or Nightmare fuel, either will do!” Off in the distance Silver Quill is spotted on a makeshift stage of wooden planks, “Well, you all just going to stand there or come up and address the crowd?”
The ponies, Discord, and Gilda make their way over to Silver where Gilda is pulled up on stage and handed the megaphone. “Well... umm...” She looks over to the kooky hippogriff only to receives two claws up and a creepy but genuine smile. “I have to say I didn't realize how many there were of us here, kinda makes me think back to when we would all walk the streets and not so much as look at each other..... now we're all here.” Gilda paused and looked around waiting for every griffon to get to work, but they all just waited.
Seeing her nervous Twilight went up to join her, “When enough ponies... or in this case, griffons, come together, amazing things can happen. My friends and I have done more than I could have ever imagined, and that was with only six of us,” Spike coughs, “oh haha, I mean seven. But now you have a chance to do he same.” She smiles, but every griffon still stands there as if waiting for something. “What are they waiting for?” Twilight asked Gilda who shrugged.
Shaking his head in slight disbelief Jax joins them and speaks loudly without the megaphone, “You're all waiting for somepony or griffon to say something that will get you motivated when you should just get to work. I've seen times like this all over the place, homes designated by everything from poverty to war... and there are no words to describe the feeling of rebuilding after the storm has passed. Now it's your turn, so pick up a tool and get to work, this place won't fix itself.”
Jax steps down and points to a few griffon, motioning them to follow him to get started on the first structure. “well you heard the awkward griffon, weird princess and..... that guy, let's get started.” silver says before each griffon pairs up and starts building.
In a matter of minute Griffons already had the foundations ready to build on. “Remember to do everything you can,” Apple Jack calls out directing workflow, “if you see a job that needs to be done don't wait for some other griffon to do it, just get it done.” Sooner than could have been expected, the walls were already going up on several houses, some at the same time being held in place via twilight's magic as several griffons hammered them in place. Everything was going so fast, some work had to stop for a moment so supplies could be retrieved from a storehouse not too far away. When they returned, the first stone had been thrown, on the finished back wall of the house with the least amount of griffons on it, was graffiti that read, “Get lost!!!”
Soon after, more problems began to arise, small fires, supplies missing, walls coming down even after being fastened into place. sabatashing and vandalism, one after another, griffons started to slow their work feeling as though it was all for nothing, thinking that even if they finished, the problem would still be just next door. Apple Jack and Gilda do their best to keep mural up, but it was all too clear that every griffon was losing faith.
“What do we do?” Gilda asked her pony friends, “If this keeps up, we might end up being the only ones building, and once you all go back to ponyville, it will be just me!”
“Now calm down sugar cube, I don't think every griffon will leave.” Apple Jack said seeing a tinge of panic in the griffon's eyes, “But you do have a point, these are mostly volunteers, not workers.”
“I know,” silver said as he popped up with a bottle of Apple Jack Danial's, “we have a drinking game, every time you hear someone hit their claw with a hammer, take a shot!” Just as he finishes the last work the sound of a griffon hitting himself can be heard, “And we're off!” Silver announces as he pours himself a shot, the rest of them just look at him with the most deadpan expression he had ever seen. “....What?” Every pony turned away ignoring him.
“I say we go get those jerks and show them they won't get away with this!”
“Oh come now Rainbow dash, violence never solved anything,” Rarity replied to the hot-headed mare.
“Oh I don't know, perhaps a little... forceful persuasion is in order.” Discord added only to gets a strict glare from both Flutter Shy and Twilight.
For a moment everypony thought quietly until they realized... it was quiet, the sound of construction has ceased. Instead, all the griffons were waiting, watching them, eagerly hoping to hear an answer but instead got the same awkward quiet gaze returned to them. “If they want to leave then that's fine...” all eyes turned to Jax carrying several planks of wood twice the length of his body. “If this were easy then it wouldn't be worth doing... so long as there is, at least, one griffon working to make this a better place to live, for others or just themselves, then that's enough to keep going.” The stallion walks up to Gilda, “And you don't have to worry about doing this alone Gilda, the girl may have to go back to ponyville at some point, but I don't. If you really need the help, you, at least, got me.”
The griffon was speechless, “Wait, you barely know me, and you've only been her for two days. You would actually leave ponyville to help me here?”
“Apple Jack never needed my help on the orchard, she was just nice enough to give me the work. I'm not the kind of stallion that would walk away from those in need, so if you need me, you got me.” All eyes were on the stallion as he made his way to the house he was helping with. “And as for you...” Jax forcefully adjusted the lumber he carried on his shoulder, hitting a black feathered griffon out of the air and onto the ground. Before any could question the clear assault, a can of spray paint rolled away from the dark colored griffon. “I won't portend to understand what is going through your head, or the heads of those who think that this town is OK the way it is, but so long as Gilda or any other griffon asks for my help, the work will keep going, and you'll just be wasting your time.” The griffon sneered at him ready to retaliate only to watch the stallion move on to the houses. “Well?” he asked the griffons, still watching him, “You all going to go home or get back to work, because if you're just going to stand there then you're in the way.”
That was all they needed to hear, not even an hour later, the first house was done, and the next soon after, and the day was only half done. More problems arose, but nothing more than before, until Jax found several tools broken. Only minutes later a fire was set inside one of the structure that already had its walls up. After it was put out before any real damage was done, one of the griffons inside revealed himself as one of those who did not want the work done, by yelling and flying into the wall, leaving a gaping hole as he flew away.
The wall was fixed in no time, but things were getting out of hand, so Jax called for Discord and Twilight. “These griffon's are getting desperate, I have a feeling this is going to escalate even more.”
“I told you we should have done something about them, just say the word and-”
“No Discord,” Twilight said denying any play he could come up with, “we can't solve this by causing more trouble, there must be another way.”
“We can figure that out another time, all that matters is that no pony or griffon gets hurt. The moment we start fighting back is the moment things go from bad to worse. We need to make sure we all keep leveled head, stay focused and vigilant. If we can get the work done for today, it will help to stop problems in the future.” Jax looked out at the Griffons, tired and wary, but still working hard, “It's not easy building up a town, but it's even harder to rebuild a home.”
Twilight looked into Jax's eyes as he watched the griffons, and saw the same distant look he gave when avoiding questions about himself. “You... really know a lot about this kind of thing...”
“Yeah... like I said... I've helped others build up their homes like this before... this is far from the first time...”
The day went on and more attempts at slowing construction were made, but Twilight and Discord were watchful and were aggressively deterring any nasty griffons they could catch in the act. Soon after Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack joined the watch quietly keeping the griffons safe while still keeping productive. However, one very unfriendly Griffon slipped past them and into one house that was close to being done. He poured out three cans of liter fluid all over the wall and took out a match intending to leave the place in an inferno. To his disappointment, the match did not light and broke after three attempts. The Griffon wanted to scream in frustration but held his tongue in fear of being seen. Looking around his eyes locked on a rope attached to a pulley, used to lift things up to the roof for easier access, cutting the rope would mean one would have to fly down and get what they needed. Upon further investigation, it was found the pulley was holding up a large amount of roof tiles, that if broken would ensure that at least one house would not be finished that day. With a single claw the griffon cute the rope sending the roof tiles falling, right on top of an unsuspecting yellow pegasus carrying a bucket of nails.
Flutter Shy heard the snap of the rope and saw the shadow over her get smaller, looking up time seemed to stand still as she was frozen with fear at what seemed to be head inevitable death. No scream, no twitch, all she could do was try and cover her head. Just as she was about to fall to her knees, she saw him appear in a blur, eyes blazing red.
“FLUTTER SHY!!!!” Pinkie cried as the crash of the tiles echoed through the surrounding area. She ran to the pile of ceramic rubble faster than any had seen her move before. “You OK Flutters, you're going to but just fine, don't you worry, Pinkies here.” Pinkie rambled on trying to clear the rubble, Discord and Twilight joined her, using their magic to lift away the tiles and wooden platform they rested on. The wood was crushed and splintered under the weight of the tiles and had to be removed in large pieces, and under the rubble........ was a flattened bucket of nails.
Off to the side Jax was setting Flutter Shy back on her feet, still shaking, tears running down her face having just seen her life flash before her eyes. Pinkie and Discord rush over to comfort the quivering mare with the others following in seconds. Twilight stayed behind for just a moment, more than long enough to see that the rope had been cut. “This wasn't an accident?” she thought to herself, “someone did this?” her hair began to glow red, “someone nearly killed Flutter Shy?!” Twilight's mane became a bright red as her rage began to fill her to the breaking point. She turned to the griffons with the severed rope still held in her magic, ready to give them a piece of her mind. But Jax beat her to it.
“Is this really worth it?!” the green stallion shouted leaving Flutter Shy in the care of her friends who held her close still shaking, whimpering, speechless. “You can destroy these houses all you want, they can always be rebuilt, but you would really go so far as to endanger others lives?!” At first, it seemed as if Jax was looking at the whole crowd until he turned to the house Flutter Shy was under. “Are you going to stay in there like a coward or are you going to get out her?!” The griffon poked his head out the window shaking almost as much as Flutter Shy, “Scared are you? GO!” the griffon retreated again. “look at you all, you think you're so sneaky, you actually think no one saw you snooping about, I can point out every one of you bastards that were destroying our work! I let you stay because I thought you would see what was happening here, how you're lives can change for the better if this work gets done, But this is too far!” Each griffon Jax laid his crimson gaze on flinched as if fearing for their lives. “even if you don't want this to happen, it will take years for a town this size to be reconstructed. No pony or griffon said you had to help, you can stay in your little homes and wallow in your greed, but you have no right to make others do the same!” Twilight watched, amazed that the green stallion, so quiet and withdrawn from everypony around him, spoke with the authority and confidence she has only ever seen from her mentor and older brother. “Look over there!” Jax pointed to Twilight and then to Discord, “A Princess from Equestria, and the Spirit of Chaos himself are here helping you sorry souls rebuild your home, what does that tell you!” He looked on as some heads started to lower revealing some of the trouble makers. “you're all going to leave now,” he said speaking calmly but load enough to be heard by all, “And you won't come back, you'll never mess with the town's construction again, and by the ancients, if I ever see any of you try to, you will answer to me!”
Jax looked over to others and smiled as if trying to user them he would keep his word. Meanwhile in the crowd, several of the griffons walked and flew away surrendering the-the change to come. Some looked back questioning their retreat, only to be met with a piercing crimson gaze that will haunt their nightmares that night. The rest of the day went smoothly, Flutter Shy and Discord sat on the sidelines with pinkie pie checking on them frequently, allowing the poor mare to calm down with her two best friends. Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash kept an eye out for any who would try and disturb the construction again, but there was no griffon to be found that would dare. Close to days, end the ponies decided it was time to go so they could get back home before they were missed.
“Are you sure you don't want me to stay Gilda?”
“Na, I think we got this.” she told Jax pointing out the nine houses built and ready for owners and three more that would be done soon enough.
“If you need anything just send us a letter,” Twilight told her feathered friend, “We would be happy to send anything we can to help, and be sure to let me know when that library is built to.” Gilda rolled her eyes.
“Well, I reckon we better get a move on, else we're going to be going down a snowy road in the dark.” Apple Jack donned her snow gear with the others and waved goodbye to every griffon.
Dash stayed behind for one last goodbye hug, something Gilda didn't like everypony seeing often. And don't forget, anything else go's wrong, ill be her faster then you can say sonic rain boom!”
“Haha yeah, I'll keep in touch loser,” Gilda said lightly punching the blue mare's shoulder, “speaking of speed, why didn't you tell me Jax was so fast?
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he's the one who pulled Flutter Shy out of the way right?” Dash nodded her head, “Well last I saw him, he was on the roof two houses down.”
“Wait what? You sure it was him?”
“Positive, there aren't many green griffons around here, and none of then wear a purple cloak like that. Where did you say he was from again?”
“Well.... we don't know, he's not very open about that....”
“Well dash, where ever he's from, ponies there must be fast, I didn't even see him grab her...”
Dash watched as Jax pulled his hood over his head, following the others out of town, now wondering what other secrets he may hold.
Chapter 17 Summer Sun Celebration “Well, well what’s this, little Jax stealing from my kitchen again?” spoke a dirty yellow stallion with a short gray beard, “That’s the fourth time this week, getting a little daring are we?” He said standing over the green stallion. “You wait right there…” the old stallion walked just around the corner and returned with a saddle back, dropping it in front of Jax. “There, that should help.”
The old stallion could see the confusion in Jax eye’s, “well you couldn’t carry everything last time could you? There was still some left on the table before, this should do the trick.” The old stallion walked away picking up pots and pans that had been knocked over. “Be more careful next time little one, you don’t want to be found like that again. Good thing you were caught by an old stallion that has a tendency to forget things almost right after they happen, but I I hope you don’t when you wake up….”
Jax eyes shot wide open and sat up in bed as if launched up, something had set off his senses, and it was coming down the hall fast, too fast for him to do nothing more than stand firm and be ready. The door swung open slamming against and even cracking the crystal wall, and in came…. Pinkie Pie?
“JAX!!!!” The pink mare shouted, “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!....” she continued to should bouncing in every direction and of every surface imaginable in the room.
For a moment the stallion just sat there watching the crazy pink bouncy ball of a mare jump around, questioning how she can bounce off every part of her body in such a way. “Pinkie…” Jax said calmly sticking out a hoof to stop her from jumping on his bed.
“Yeeeeeesss?” Pinkie asked smiling, somehow suspended I mid are only an inch away from her friend ds hoof.
“I’m awake.”
“Oh, good!” Pinkie then lands on her feet and zips over to the small desk on the other side of the room grabbing Jax cloak and saddle bag only to return and throw it on him. “OK, let’s go!” grabbing his hoof Pinkie Pie speeds out leaving nothing but a blur of the two ponies fur color.
Meanwhile, at the train station Twilight is once again on the tips of her hooves unable to stand still looking back and forth at the train station. “Come on where are they, we’re late as it is.”
“Calm down darling, has Pinkie Pie ever let us down before?” Rarity said trying to calm her twitchy friend.
“Might have helped if we actually let Jax know what we were doing this time around.” Apple Jack added.
“Or if we had gotten up on time, Twilight”
“Oh don’t you give me that Rainbow Dash, I’ve but up the past two days with the final preparations for Princess Celestia, excuse me if I overslept for once.” Twilight said almost stumbling from weak knees and lack of sleep. “And you’re one to talk about sleeping too much; you can’t go one day without a three-hour nap.”
“True,” The blue mare agreed, “But I’m fast enough that I can sleep all day and still get where I need to be on time,” Rainbow stated proudly boasting about her speed once again. “And for the record, my style of flying takes way more out of you then reading does. Let’s see you pull a sonic rain boom and stay away the rest of the day.”
“I thought you said you would stop calling me that,” Twilight rubbed her temples feeling a head ace coming, “I swear Dash sometimes I wonder why I-”
Twilight stops mid-sentence, shocked by the pink streak that rushes past her, “We’re here!” cried Pinkie Pie standing with a very confused Jax in the train. Just as everypony takes a sigh of relief the train doors slam shut almost on Pinkies nose.
The light panic of her friends is drowned out by the sound of the train coming to life and making its way down the tracks. In seconds, the train has fully left the station.
“So they’re just going to meet us or-”
“Wait for it,” Pinkie said cutting off Jax.
In a bright flash of purple light Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Flutter Shy, Rarity, Apple Jack, and spike all appeared falling everywhere in the train car. Groaning and disoriented they mares try to get back on their feet.
“She’s never done that into a moving train before has she?” Jax asked to which pinkie shook her head no. “Right, so who wants to tell me why I had a crazy Pinkie mare that defies physics drag me out of bed this week.”
“Sorry about that sugar cube…” Apple Jack said as she struggled to her feet eyes looking in two different directions until she shook her head. “We’ve all been so use to having it just being the seven of us we forgot to tell you what we had planned this week for the Summer Sun Celebration.”
“The what?”
“Oh umm, looks like we also forget you’re a foreigner.”
“You remember don’t you…” Twilight said pulling the Book of the Two Sisters from her saddle bag, “When Nightmare Moon was banished.” Jax thinks for a moment and remembers a passage of the book, “Oh that’s right, the day Celestia had to banish luna.”
“And the day she returned, and we helped her go back to being Princess Luna.” Flutter Shy said hanging upside down from the overhead baggage area with her tail tangled in the bars.
“So it’s more a day of remembrance then one of victory?” Jax asked.
“Yeah I guess it is,” twilight conformed.
“Then one question, Pinkie,” The pink mare looked at him as he raised his cloak, “Why did you grab my saddle bag?” Pinkie shrugged not really knowing why.
“Wait, that’s really your cutie mark?” Rainbow Dahs asked looking at the blue feather crossed over a sword on Jax flank.
“Yes…” Jax said confused again, now with everypony staring, “… what?”
“Sorry darling but I don’t think any of us have actually seen your cutie mark,” Rarity said, “What does it mean? The sword and feather?”
“I ah…” Jax let his cloak down covering himself, “I don’t know…” he said looking away.
“Oh yeah,” Twilight said, “you didn’t even know what a cutie make was called before you came to Equestria.”
“You didn’t know what a cutie mark was called?” spike asked.
“Not really,” Jax said watching the many confused looks around him, “this is going to be a long day…” he thought to himself.
Hours pass and Jax finds himself where he began, in Canterlot walking through the halls to the throne room with the same six mares he met two months ago. The artwork that lined the walls was no less breathtaking than before, the smell of incents and lavender as strong as ever. The towering doors creaked open to the massive purl white thrown room where the Princesses of night, day and love were waiting. Without a word Cadence and Twilight ran to each other in a warm embrace only to part and perform the oddest dance Jax had ever seen about sunshine and lady bugs.
“Jax,” Luna call’s walking up to the stallion, “It’s nice to see you again,” She said smiling.
Jax bows his head, “You two Princess Luan.”
Celestia welcomed her former student and walked with her and Cadence to join the others. “It’s good to see you all again, and Jax, I’m glad you’ll be participating in the event today.”
“My pleasure your majesty,” Jax said playing around, acting like he was a peasant, “Just look for me in the back row with the guards.”
Celestia and Luna then looked at each other and then back at Jax, “Won’t you be joining us on stage when Celestia raises the sun?” Luna asks.
“Why would I-”
“Actually…” Twilight said cutting of Jax, “We were talking via letter the other day about how you helped on the beach when you first got here.”
“And how you stopped those spy’s in Manhatten,” Luna added.
“And stopping violence in Griffonstone last week,” Celestia added
“So we were thinking that you could say a few words to everypony when Celestia raises the sun.” Twilight smiles awkwardly as Luna and Celestia realize Twilight forgot to tell him.
“Umm… No,” Jax said.
“Oh come on, I know you don’t like crowds but it would mean a lot, and you’ve done so much and-”
“No”
“But you can meet the wander-bolts and foreign dignitaries and-”
“Foreign dignitaries?” Jax asked, “I’m sorry Twilight but no, I just don’t feel comfortable with this, it’s not like I did anything special, I mean anyone of you could have done any of that.”
“But we didn’t, you did,” Cadence said, “No matter how little you think you did, you helped Equestrian royalty and the kingdom of Griffonstone, And for that you deserve something.”
Jax looked over the Princesses each smiling, Twilight clasping her hooves together. The idea of being on stage was almost frightening to him, but with all the kindness Jax had been shown, he sighed and said, “Fine.”
Twilight hugged him and then turned to her friends, “Alright everypony, we’ve got the whole day to get ready, so let’s get to work.”
With that said the girls all spread out tending to tasks befitting their talents, calling on Jax to lend a hoof whenever needed. Rarity called him to carry a crate of decorations for the ballroom where a small formal gathering would be held tomorrow night. Guard’s mouths were gaped as he walks by easily carrying the crate twice his size, all the while Rarity was not in the least surprised. Later Jax was called to help Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie in prospering what ingredients would be needed for both the morning and night’s meal. Rainbow Dash and Flutter Shy asked for help setting up the course the Wanderbolts would be performing on. Near the end of the day, Jax helped Cadence carry Twilight to bed who had spent the day looking over the final preparations and was then found sleeping in the hall, using her checklist as a pillow. “Dose she always mumbles equations when she sleeps?” Jax asked
“No, normal she recites passages from Star Swirled the Bearded books,” Cadence responded while she used her magic to tuck in her sister in law.
The two left the room closing the door slowly to not cause anymore than a whisper when it latched shut. The two walked down the hall as the night came alive with Luna’s starry night and crescent moon.
“It’s great that you will be joining us on stage in the celebration, from what I’ve heard you’ve earned it.”
“I have to say I don’t really feel the same,” Jax told the princess, “I mean it’s like I said before, anypony could have done what I did, I’m sure if I hadn’t said anything Twilight or Apple Jack would have come up with a similar idea, and I shudder to think what Rainbow Dash and Discord would have done after what happen to Flutter Shy.”
“That may be true, but you were the first who saw what almost happen to Flutter Shy, and apparently saw the trouble makers the whole time. And what about in Manehatten, can you really say that everything would have been alright without you?”
“Those sphinx weren’t going to hurt the girl, the just wanted those gem’s, they would have taken them and left.”
“Maybe, but then we could have had an international problem on our hooves, but then you show up, fight them off and explain the situation, and in another language no less.”
“Ha, the way you say it I sound like a big deal…”
“Where did you learn to speak Arabic anyway?”
“Just something I picked up…” Jax turned away from Cadence as they walked.
“Why do you do that?” she asked with slight concern?
“Do what?”
“Act so distant, so closed off, you know we’re all friends here, even Shining Armor is OK with you living with his little sister.” Cadence stopped and put a hoof on Jax's shoulder, “If you’d like to talk about it, you can with me, I won’t tell anyone.”
Jax looked it to mares eyes and saw nothing but true compassion emphasized only by her gentle smile. “I…. it’s just….”
“Does it have to do with your nightmares? The ones you talked about before?” Cadence saw she was close to the mark as the stallion's eyes narrowed and he retreated his hoof closest to her. “You know, Luna can enter dreams, maybe she can go into yours and-”
“NO!”
Jax retreated further back now out of Cadence’s reach, his head lowered slightly as if cowering before her. What nearly broke the mare’s heart was the look in his eyes. Twilight spoke before about the deadly crimson gaze that made the griffons shiver in fear. Those same eyes were now overflowing with a fear she had not seen since her dear sister-in-law was a filly afraid of the dark. “OK, OK, We don’t have to do that, just forget I said anything.”
“I…I’m sorry, I just…” Jax shook his head trying to clear his mind and regain his composer. Even with his thick fur, the princess could tell he was starting to sweat. “I’m sorry I overreacted…” He looked at Cadence looking more concerned than ever, “I… I just don’t like to talk about my past, and to have someone see it-”
“No, it’s OK, forget I said anything…” Cadence took a step forward and placed her hoof on his shoulder again. Jax looked at her hoof and then her as if confused. “But my offer still stands,” she said removing her hoof, “If you ever want to talk, just write me a letter, and I’m sure Shining Armor would tell you the same.
“I sure would,” Said the stallion in question as he walked around the corner, “What would I tell him?” he asked revealing he did not hear much of anything.
“Nothing honey, I’ll tell you later,” Cadence said strolling up and kissing her beloved on the check. “So are you all set for tomorrow.
“Of course, I am,” the white stallion said bringing a hoof to his chest, “even got done early, I’m heading to the front gate to greet some of the guests right now, would you like to join us, Jax?”
“No thanks, I should really be getting some sleep.”
“Then I guess we will see you in the morning, sleep tight.”
The three parted ways for the night with Jax heading to bed, while Cadence walked with her husband to the front gates. “Well, did you tell him?” Shining Armor asked his wife in a whispered voice.
“Yes,” she responded
“What did he say?”
“He said no but…”
“Cadence…?” Shining Armor saw Cadence make a look as if guilty of something, “What happen…?”
She looked him in the eye, “It’s not what he said, Shining…” She paused for a moment, “when I told him what Luna could do, he wasn’t just hesitant… he was terrified…”
Shining Armor jerked his head around to see the green stallion turn the corner on the other end of the hall, “I don’t understand, what happen to that guy?”
“I can’t believe I did that,” Jax said to himself as he sat in his guest room in front of the wall, lightly tapping his head on the wall repeatedly. “Of all the times I almost messed up, this was the worst.” He sat there for some time in his self-loathing until his mind tracked back to what Cadence said about Princess Luna. “Enter dreams huh? That’s a new one… I’ll have to watch out for that.” Jax rested his head on the wall and looked at his hoof, “To have to tell somepony about it all would be bad enough, but for them to see it… It’s hard to say it… but I’m really enjoying living here… I don’t want them to know.”
Jax let his body go limp and fell to the ground lying on the cold floor as if planning to sleep there. For a moment he could feel a stillness fall over him, not a sound could be heard except his own heart that began to slow as his breath became slow, steady, and relaxed. Sleep began to take hold and the castle came alive as more sounds became a symphony, lulling the stallion closer to dreamland. Muffled voices could be heard coming from the room just under his, the wind made the doors to the balcony click every so often, the sound of clanking metal and hoof steps from guards passing in the hall. Years of travel had given Jax more than he could ever tell in one sitting. The things he learned, the places he’d been, but in the entire world, he had never found anything as relaxing or as enjoyable, as laying down, and enjoying whatever silence he could find.
Another set of hooves’ pass by the door, these ones light and quick, “most likely a maid,” Jax thought until he heard them double back and pass his door again. Once more the sound of hooves passed his door from the same pony, this time, closer to his door, and again, this time, stopping for a moment at the door before pacing again.
Jax leapt to his hooves and ran to his saddle back reaching inside never taking his eyes off the door. “No I shouldn’t” he heard mumbled from the other side of the door, “But I might forget in the morning.” A mare’s voice, timid and worried by the sound of it, perhaps Flutter Shy needing some help with a last minute task?
Jax looked at his hoof in his saddle bag and pulled it out face-hoofing himself, “Why in Ancients name would I have reached for that? It’s broken.” He pulls himself together and walks to the door just as the suspected mare stopped in front of it again. Pulling the door open Jax expects to find the yellow mare with her wings shaking scared to ask for help on what will most likely be a simple task for him. But instead, he found a dark blue mare frozen in place looking Jax in the eye like a deer in headlights. “Princess Luna?”
“Oh, um, Jax, I was just, uh, seeing if the room was to your liking…” The princess returned to her usual composer, displaying power and authority.
“Oh… thanks,” Jax uttered as he noticed her eye twitch, “Yeah it's fine, Just as I left it when your sister first brought me here.” Lunas composer fell away again as her eyes widened and her ears dropped down, “oh…” was all she could think to say.
Jax fought back the urge to laugh, “Good night your majesty, see you in the morning,”
“Wait!” said Luna just before the door shut. Jax looked back and saw the princess extending her hoof holding a small pink gemstone. “This is for you…” The green stallion tilted his head a little confused. “The metal on your cloak bares the chines symbol of fire, and your ankle bands have some form of middle-eastern language on them.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I assumed you collected them in your travels, so I thought you would want something special from Equestria,” Jax finally realized the princess was trying to give him a gift, he looked over the smooth surface of the stone and noticed how the light pink was practically glowing. “Oh you must be wondering what's so special about a gemstone,” Luna said feeling that Jax was uninterested or did not like his gift.
She moved her hoof and the stone out of the light from the door and into the shadows. Jax watched in awe as the light pink stone began to glow a deep blue bright enough to illuminate the wall. “Celestia and I call it the Sisters stone; we came across one many years's ago. We don’t really know why but it changes color like this in the light and shadows. I figured it would be a nice souvenir, to remind you of your time here if you ever choose to go traveling again.”
“I just got an idea,”
Luna looked at Jax smiling as he looked at the stone. He reached up and took Luna’s hoof in his own moving her so the Gem was half in the light and half in the shadows making the pink and blue split evenly down the middle. “Yes, it can change in portions too.” Luna said doing her best not to smile too much and keep her composer.
“Wait for it…” Jax used the tip of his hoof to twirl the stone around until it was spinning like a top in Luna’s hoof. The Gem changed color rapidly until it was moving faster than it could change. Shades of blue could be seen in the light as well as pink in the dark. Luna was now awe struck as well as the whole stone began to emanate a brilliant lavender purple glowing brighter than before.
“I’ve never seen it do that,” Luna said as she watched the stone come to a slow and return to a light pink and deep blue.
“I didn’t think it would actually work,” Jax placed his hoof on the stone as it came to a full stop, “But why give me a gift? This isn’t for anything that happen in Griffonstone or Maneehatten is it.”
“No”
“Did Cadence tell you to do this?”
“What? No, I just…” Luna looked away, “I talked with my sister, about when I was banished.” Jax's ears perked up and he leaned in, Luna had his full attention. “She was almost crying as soon as I brought it up, most of the conversation was just her saying how sorry she was, and the other half was me saying how it was not her fault. Then when we finally calmed down, she sang me her lullaby…”
“That’s wonderful Luna,” looking back Luna found herself looking at crimson eyes that offered nothing but comfort and understanding, a look she had only ever seen from her sister. She pushed the stone into Jax hoof hinting for him to take it, never once taking her eyes of his.
“Well… good night…” She said as Jax took the gem and she turned to leave keeping her gaze locked with his for as long as she could. Jax was the first to break the connection when he went back into his guest room and shut the door. Luna then stopped in her tracks and shook her head, “what was that?”
“Well that was nice, glad she and her sister had that talk,” Jax looked up from the stone and saw his saddle bag knocked over with a strange object lying on the floor. “What? Oh, when I reached in, damn she could have seen that.” He placed the gem in a small pocket on the side of his saddle bag and looked over the item that fell out. A metal device as long as his four legs with leather straps, he reached over and hit a small switch on the side. There was a click and the device jumped for a moment sounding as if something was jammed inside. “Really going to have to fix this one of these days, can’t wait until I go back after all.”
The next day Jax found himself standing with Twilight on stage before a mass of ponies, Celestia saw early on how worried Jax was about being on stage and was kind enough to skip the part where he would speak. The stallion practically lept off the stage moved behind it disappearing from view. He took a breath to slow the pace of his wrapped heartbeat, bringing it to a slower, calmer rhythm. “OK, that’s over, just need to get through tonight’s party and we can all go home,” He told himself hoping he could get through the day unnoticed. Jax stayed tucked away in his room most of the day when he finally snuck away, all the while everypony wondered where he was.
“So no one has seen him since this morning?” Flutter Shy asked her friends.
“No sign of him anywhere.” Rainbow Dash said in response.
“Must have gone back to his room or something, maybe even back to ponyville.” Apple Jack suggested.
“You don’t think he would miss the party do you?” Pinkie asked
“I doubt he would go that far Apple Jack, and I’m sure he will be there,” Twilight said, “but I still can’t believe he was such a mess on stage.”
“Why I could never get up on stage like that,” Flutter Shy said shuttering at the thought.
“I’m with Twilight on this one,” Apple Jax added, “the stallion walked right up to just as many griffons and told then what’s what like it was nothing, but he couldn’t even say a few words on stage to ponies who actually wanted to hear what he had to say?”
“It does seem strange,” Rarity said in agreement, “in Griffonstone he seemed so confident, but this morning he looked like Flutter Shy at one of Pinkies parties, oh no offence darling.”
“None taken”
The day went on and night fell as the party began, Jax crept his way into the ballroom trying to go unnoticed, it worked at first.
“Hey Jax,” Rainbow Dash snuck up behind him, “What took you so long?” Rainbow asked but did not give him a chance to answer, “Oh, come on you got to meet these guys,” she said pulling him. “Check it out; this is Spit Fire and Soarin, two of the best Wonderbolts.”
“Hi,” said Jax.
“This is the guy I was telling you about, just popped up out of nowhere one day and started living with Twilight.”
“That’s not how it happen Rainbow…”
“Nice to meet you, Jax,” Spit Fire said as they shook hooves, “Rainbow here tells me you’re pretty fast on your hooves.”
“No more than any other pony really.”
“Sure, well too bad you’re not a pegasus, speed like that is how Dash her got in our reserves so easily.” Dash smiled at Spit Fires praise.
“Thanks but I’m really not that fast, but I am kind of hungry so, I’ll see you guys later.” Jax turned away and left.
“You sure that’s the right guy Rainbow?”
“Trust me Soarin, he’s fast, just doesn’t like crowds is all.”
Jax moved through the crowd of ponies keeping his head low hoping no pony sees him. The space began to close around him and the air became thin, his cloak started to feel heavier with every step he took. Through the mass of ponies he spotted a door leading outside to the garden, at that moment, nothing seemed so amazing.
“Jax,” the stallion flinched as he heard his name called again, this time by his purple host, “are you enjoying yourself?”
The turned forcing convincing smile, “It’s a nice party,” he forced himself to say.
“Can’t go wrong when Pinkie Pie helps,” for a moment the green stallion felt more relaxed, Twilight being there made it easier to ignore the rest of the ponies. In his mind, it was just him and a friend.
“Oh you should come meet these ponies,” Twilight said reminding him that they were in fact at the party, “They’re from Scotland.”
“Scotland?” Jax said as his heart started to beat faster.
“Yes, it’s the recently appointed king actually,” She said as she tried to find the pony in question again in the crowd.
“The king?” he responded trying to hide the slight panic in his voice.
“Yeah, Celestia invited him as a show of good faith between our two countries, she also wanted him to know that Equestria is willing to lend a hand if needed since they just finished a civil….Jax?” looking back Jax was nowhere to be found.
Outside on in the garden Jax struggled to catch his breath, his heart beating so fast it felt more like a constant presser in his chest rather than an erythematic beat. “Son of a…, why would he be? What if she is too? Crap did she see me at all? No, if she did I would have taken a blow to the head more than once by now.” Hidden behind the bushes, Jax sat slowing his heartbeat once again when calmed he peered through the leaves back at the party. “Haven’t been to a gathering like this in a while, would have been nice to try something to eat in there, no way o can go back now.” He looked away and down at his cloak, “Really need to get a new one of these for times like this… no, it would take more than a new cloak to stop anypony from spotting me. Maybe Zecora has a spell I can use?”
“Jax?” The sudden call of his name sent Jax flying upward in panic, disappearing into the trees. “Is… everything alright?” A moment later Jax realized he knew this voice, soft but with authority, looking down he found the lunar princess looking up at his with her head tilted. “Oh, Princess Luna?” He jumped down landing, without making a sound, by the princess. “Sorry about that, you umm, spooked me.”
“Spooked you? I haven’t seen anypony jump like that since I first saw Flutter Shy on Nightmare Night.”
Yeah well…” the stallion scratched the back of his head embraced, “the crowds have me on edge.”
“Yes I just heard from Twilight Sparkle, she said you disappeared moments ago when she tried to introduce you to somepony.”
“Yeah… when she mentioned meeting someone I felt like I needed some air.”
Luna looked Jax over and saw the sweat starting to form on his brow, and how he was trying to keep his breath controlled so not to look panicked. “My, you must hate crowds more than Flutter Shy.”
“Yeah I guess so…”
“So…” There was a long moment of silence as Jax calmed himself and Luna tried to think of anything to say. “Are you going to rejoin the party?” As soon as the words left her mouth the princess face-hoofed herself internally.
“No, I think I’ll just stay out here and admire your work.” The stallion said as he walked over to a nearby bench and took a seat.
“Right, I’m sure you would find it more enjoyable to… wait what?” Luna’s head jerked around to find Jax sitting and looking up at the stars just as he said. At this moment she remembered her talk with him before, and how he would always stay up and watch the night sky.
Even after her return, Luna never saw anypony watch the night sky other than astronomers, to see a pony do so right in front of her made her feel exposed in a way as if he was looking at her instead of the sky.
“Luan, you OK?” Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Jax turn to her until she heard his voice. Her eyes were now locked with his, frozen for what seemed like forever, the light of the moon through the trees gave the illusion of fire dancing in his eyes and captivated her to no end. The trance was finally broken when he blinked.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine…” she lied as her cheeks became a light pink, “Just a little… lost in thought…” She smiled hoping she still looked, at least, half as regal as usual. Jax smiled and returned his attention to the stars, causing Luna to feel watched again.
“Jax?” she called getting his attention, returning those blazing eyes to her, “I would… like to join you…” She forced herself to say.
“Oh, well sure, no reason you shouldn’t.”
Those words were all she needed; joining the green stallion on the bench, Luna felt lighter for some reason though she could not understand why. Among the garden the rest of the world seemed to disappear, the sound from the ballroom faded away, the cold of the marble bench did not exist, and even the wind that rustled the trees could not touch her at that moment as she looked into the sky.
As far as Luna could tell anymore, she and Jax were to only two ponies for miles. She could not explain the feeling, or describe it, but as she flicked her tail around and felt it land on Jax tail by mistake, she knew whatever this feeling was, she was enjoying it.
“I’m telling you, her next book just has to be in Trottingham,” Twilight said pointing out a small circle spot on her fold-up map. “She got the sword, in the temple in Shanghai, had the metal tested by her friend in Europe, there’s nothing left to do but bring the sword to the Trottingham museum for safe keeping.”
“You actually carry this around with you?” Jax asked looking at the large world map his alicorn friend was levitating, which showed, in detail, the route Daring Do was taking during her latest adventure to find an ancient sword. “None the less, I think you’re wrong Twilight. If I know Daring Do, Trottingham is the last place she will go.” He said lying back in his seat and turning toward the window, watching the scenery flash by.
“What?!” Twilight questioned annoyed, “Ever since we boarded the train, we’ve been going back and forth about this and that regarding my favorite book series! You’ve told me I’m wrong on more than half my theories and now you’re telling me I’m wrong again when all the evidence points to my suspected conclusion!?” Twilight's eye began to twitch a little as she caught her breath from her short rant.
“….Yes” the stallion said hesitantly fearing the chance of seeing his purple friend catch fire.
“How!!!” She shouted dropping the map from her magic and throwing her arms in the air.
“Not by shouting I’ll tell you that much,” Twilight glared at him unamused, “let’s just say I might know a thing or two about Daring Do, and traveling. Trust me, her next stop is Japan.”
“Why would she go to Japan?!”
“I could tell you but… then it would ruin the next book for you.” Jax said laughing on the inside as Twilight’s eye twitched more as if she were going to blow a fuse, just before she face hoofed.
“Well, we will just have to wait and see,” Twilight said levitating her map, folding it up and tucking it back into her settle bag. “But I’ve got a good feeling about my theory, and don’t forget I’m the one who showed you Daring Do in the first place.”
Jax shrugged his shoulders and looked back out the window for a few seconds before the train car door flew open and a pink pony was pushed through by a very angry shelf pony, who slammed the door behind him. Jax and Twilight looked at their pink friend who swallowed hard what could only be a mouth full food that was once covered in frosting, most of which was now covering her lips. “What? So I have one to many cupcakes and the chef got mad.” The two raised an eyebrow, “Or, you know, twelve too many.” she added, “But can you blame me? I’m so excited I can’t stand still!” Pinkie emphasized as she hopped around in a circle before taking her seat with Twilight.
“So you eat sugar based pastries to keep calm?” Jax asked.
“You bet ya!”
“Good thing I learned to stop asking questions.” He said as Pinkie Pie licked her lips clean.
“Thanks again for inviting us to go visit Maud with you Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said as the train entered the city limits. “I can’t wait for a tour she promised us. Fillydelphia University has the second most high-end educational facilities in all of Equestria, Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns being the first.”
“I’m sure it will be everything you hope it to be Twilight,” Jax said as the three ponies disembarked the train after it had come to a full halt at the station. “Meanwhile, I’ll just be wandering around the art streets, from what Rarity says, this is the place for all kinds of artists.”
“Wonderful, then I’m sure you won’t mind if I tag along,” Said an odd but familiar voice from just overhead. Discord floated just above the three eating what looked to be a large hot dog and finished an equally large drink.
“Discord?” The three questioned in unison.
“Surprised are we?” he said flashing away and then appearing to hug Twilight and Pinkie Pie. “I was just at the Apple’s when I heard about the three of you all heading to Fillydelphia for a day with Maud.”
“O.K.… but then why are you here,” Twilight asked. “You still don’t like Maud for that joke she made at the last Galloping Gala.”
“Water under the bridge,” Discord stated dropping the two mares, “But since you asked, I was just thinking the other day, that the anniversary of my incredible reformation is coming up, and I thought, what better way to thank Flutter Shy for showing me what it’s like to have friends, then to get her a gift. So while the two of you are spending quality time with Maud,” He said pointing at the two mares before vanishing and appearing over Jax, placing his claws on his head, “The two of us can wonder around and see what we can find.”
Twilight and Pinkie looking at each other questionably, wondering what to think of the situation. Jax brushed Discords Claws away and stepped to the side, “Oh please, you just want to interrogate me about where I’m from.”
“What? Me, I would never,” discord stated sarcastically before vanishing and appearing on the opposite side of Jax in a small chair with popcorn. “But if you’re willing to share a story or two then please go on.” He said before digging into his treat, after which Jax face hoofs.
Twilight cringed at the thought of leaving Jax with discord, knowing that it really would be nothing but a day of interrogation. However, she was even more fearful of what a reality warping creature like Discord would do to the second greatest university in Equestria. “Oh look, there’s Maud over on the other side of the station,” Twilight said as she wrapped a hoof around Pinkie.
“Where?!” The pink mare was able to question just before Twilight rushed away pulling Pinkie Pie along.
“Did she really just do that?” Jax questioned as Discord floated closer smiling, “Oh don’t you give me that look.” He said to the smiling draconequus.
“I believe the art district is this way,” Discord said as he floated away before vanishing again, “at least that’s what this travel brochure says.” He added appearing on the other side of Jax hoping to spook him, only to find Jax was already facing the same direction. “How did you?”
“There’s a split second delay in your magic and you’re more predictable than you think.” He said just before walking off.
“Well, this should be an interesting day.” The trouble maker said seemingly to no one.
“MAUD! I MISSED YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!” Pinkie shouted as she held her sister in a hug so tight twilight was sure is would have broken any other ponies back.
“It’s nice to see you to Pinkie,” Maud said in her monotone voice, seemingly void of any enthusiasm. “You to Twilight, how have you been?”
“Oh you know, this and that,” Twilight responded waving a hoof, “I actually just got done with a lot of studying Princess Celestia gave me, so today will be a nice break. What about you?”
“More or less the same,” The Gray mare said rubbing her eyes, “I’ve been up a few nights in a row here and there studying. My professors suggested I take a day or two off before the semester finals, that’s when I got the idea to spend the day with Pinkie.”
“And then she offered to give me a tour of the school she goes to” Pinkie added, “and I thought; who would love a tour of a school with my amazing sister more than me, Twilight!”
“And I can’t thank you two enough; this is going to be great!” The three started to head for the exit when Maud stopped in her tracks and started looking around. “….umm, Maud, everything OK?”
“Pinkie said you were going to have another friend with you, did he get lost?” She asked
“Oh umm, no he’s just…” Twilight stuttered
“Heading to the artsy part of town with Discord to find a present for Flutter Shy,” Pinkie stated cutting Twilight off.
“Discord?” Maud questioned, “You mean that guy who tried to do stand-up comedy at the Galloping Gala?”
“Yeaaaaah,” Twilight said, suddenly feeling guilty, “We thought it would be best not to bring the reality warping spirit of chaos to the second most advanced university in Equestria.”
“Good call,” Maud said, earning a slight surprise from pinkie and a sigh of relief from Twilight. “I was looking forward to meeting your friend after reading what Pinkie has told me about him, but we have some very important research material at the university right now, and it would be best if we didn’t have some pony there that can defy the laws of physics just for his own amusement. Too bad we won’t get to hear any of Discord’s jokes, though; his show was going pretty good until he did that thing with the watermelon.”
“Riiiiight…” Twilight said wondering how anyone could have enjoyed such a poor attempt at comedy.
“So what would you like to do first?” Maud asked
“Well, I know you must not be eager to head back to the university but…” Twilight eyes beamed like that of a fillies smiling from ear to ear.
“She wants to see the library,” Pinkie said finishing for Twilight smiling with her eyes half closed. Maud responded with a small hint of a smile.
“I was thinking of getting her a new rug, maybe something Persian, that old one in her living room is really starting to wear and tear.” Discord said listing another idea on what to get for Flutter Shy. “Or maybe a new wind chime, she always loves the sound of those things.”
“I’m sure she’d love one,” Jax responded as he thought to himself, “What in ancients name could I have done to be stuck with Discord all day. Really hope I’m wrong about him.”
Jax spirits were quickly lifted as he spotted a string of ponies working at canvases’ of every size lined up on the sidewalk. From the classical style of acrylic paint to modern day spray painters; it was clear that all styles were welcome. Jax coughed at the thick smell of chemicals that filled the air but marveled at the skill and diversity of the artists, each creating their work without a single care as to what was going on around them. The rumble of carriages, the loud and obnoxious sound of the city, all faded away as they worked their craft. Walking along, with Discord floating close behind, Jax takes in the view of each artist he passes. Some gestor him over to buy their wears, others stop and look around or fiddle with their hooves’ and manes before popping into an excited expression as if struck with inspiration. The majority made a show of their craft, using bizarre and visually entertaining ways to create their art, captivating the small crowds of ponies, while only a few simply sat hard at work, uninterested, or even unaware of their surroundings.
One such artist caught Jax eye in a way that he could not ignore, a small green unicorn with a yellow mane that hung flat to her shoulders. In a glow of green magic, she gently waved a brush, carefully applying paint to her canvas, creating an open green field with two mountains overlapping each other in the distance. The lighting of the painting was dark and murky with a thick overcast of cloud, dark, depressing, and dull.
“So…?” Jax heard a young foal voice ask in the back of his mind, “What do you think is out there? You know, past the two mountains there.” The child added as the stallion fell back into his memories.
“I don’t know…” Jax answered in a whisper, “But someday, we’ll find out...” For a moment, Jax saw himself standing at the top of a tall tower, looking out a broken wall at two overlapping mountains overlooking a valley. The smell of the sea was thick in the air and was carried by the cold winds across a dull gray sky. The thick overcast of clouds let through such little light, not even a shadow could be cast. But Jax looked on, toward those two mountains, as if waiting for a sunrise that would never come. “If only we did…” he sighed ready to turn away. Just then, a glimmer of light began to peek over the mountains, glowing with bright, vibrant colors, warm and inviting, looking just like….. Discord?!
Suddenly Jax is snapped back to reality by the sight of Discord at another one of his random antics. This time, he had invaded the two-dimensional space of the canvas and took the form of a sun, leaving only his face in the bright circle to establish his handy work. “Discord! What are you doing?!” The stallion asked in a stern voice, clenching his teeth so not to raise his voice.
“What? Me?” The mischievous creator asked innocently stretching his paw out of the circle to point at himself, “I’m just trying to give this pony a little inspiration.” He answered bating his eye’s.
“Get out of there,”Jax demanded with a sinister scowl.
“Oh fine,” Discord said with a huff as he vanished from the artwork and appeared next to the stallion with his arms crossed.
The stallion gave the draconequus one last glare before turning to the artist, “I’m sorry about him, he’s not good with boundaries.”
“Oh, don’t be dear,” The unicorn said, “your friend is right, this piece would look much better with a bright vibrant sunrise.”
“Yeah…. It would…” Jax thought to himself as he walked away, his head a little lower than before.
Discord noticed the slight change and scratched at his chin, but his thoughts quickly went astray as he spotted a store filled with odds and ends, the perfect place to start looking for a gift for his dear friend Flutter Shy. Discord wasted no time and appeared at Jax side only to vanish once more with him and into the store
Twilight beamed as she walked into the Fillydelphia University Library, a three-story building with wall to wall books in the center of the college campus. As if by reflex, Twilight took hold of a directory of the library with her magic looking over it like a young filly on her first field trip to a museum in the big city. “Oh my Celestia…” she said quietly with a gasp as she looked over the listed sections of the library. “I’ve never seen so many different kinds of science in one place, Geography, anthropology, biology, cartography…” Twilight continued listing off names of scientific fields, each with their own section in the library, all the while heading for the first section that caught her interest.
Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie and Maud stood at the door watching her walk away, “I’m hungry,” Pinkie Pie told her sister.
“There’s an indoor café over there,” Maud replied in her monotone voice pointing to the left of the building.
Some time passes as Twilight walked among the book shelves, marveling at the many kinds of books she had never seen at her own school, often running up to Maud asking about a field of science she had not heard of yet. All the while Pinkie Pie enjoyed lengthy conversations with her sister, reminiscing about their foul hood, swapping stories that they had of their friends, enjoying a few treats they bought from the café.
“Maud, what about this one?” Twilight asked popping up out of nowhere with another book.
“That’s synthetic science,” Maud stated recognizing the book from a friend's class, “mending living tissue with magic is tricky and the few unicorn doctors that can do it right only use it as a last resort. So, earth ponies started their own kind of medical field that would allow them the artificially make living tissue that can regrow or even replace damaged tissue.”
“That is incredible,” Twilight said, once again in a hushed squeal of excitement, keeping in mind that they were in a library. “I have got to write this one down.” She added levitating what seemed to be a growing list of book titles of a long piece of parchment.
“Wow Twilight, I didn’t think there was a book in all of Equestria that you haven’t read,” Pinkie stated throwing her hooves up in emphases.
Twilight gave a bashful chuckle at her friend’s words, “Well…” She said nervously “Celestia taught me a lot about magic, but I had to research science on my own. She would often ask me what I was looking into and ask for a report on it just so I had a reason to talk to her about all my interests, other than magic that is.” Pinkie Pie gave a slight awe to the story before Twilight went back to the bookshelves.
“I’m really glad you found such good friends pinkie,” Maud told her little sister, “I have to admit, I was always a little worried you would cling to the rock farm like Lime Stone. I love our home, but I always knew it wasn’t for you, even before your first party.”
“I love home to,” Pinkie said a little too loud, instantly reserving a hush from a nearby student studying. “The rock farm will always be home, but I also love my home in ponyvill, and all my friends, not to mention the friends I made all over equestria. You wouldn’t believe how much we have to travel, and all the ponies, and even griffons we meet. All, though…” Pinkie said, pausing for a moment, her ears drooping so slightly that only her sister would notice the change. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the farm. I remember when Dad explained why we farm rock in the first place, how moving them around makes gems and crystals form faster, and how important they are to some ponies.”
Maud smiled at how fondly Pinkie spoke about the farm, watching her make little hoof gestures with each memory she brought up. “You know Pinkie, the farm is still your home, I’m sure mom and dad would love it if you wanted to visit for a few days.”
“Yeah I thought of that…” Pinkie replied, her ears drooping just a tad more, “But they always write about how proud of me they are, that I left the farm and went out on my own, not to mention everything I’ve done with Twilight and the girls. I feel like if I went back like that, they would think I wasn’t doing so well.”
No pony else but Pinkie could tell, but what looked like a slight twitch, was actually Maud’s eyebrows rising in shock to her little sister's word. “What are you talking about Pinkie; we all know how hard you work in ponyvill on your parties, it’s what you love and what your good at. We’re all proud of you and everything you’ve done, but that doesn’t mean we don’t miss you. Marble still tears up whenever she hears about how you saved Equestria, or just helped some pony because she wants you to come home to celebrate.” Maud watched her little sisters ears fall with every word as she slowly took the one expression she never liked seeing on Pinkie, sadness. “We all agreed to never tell you how much we missed you because we didn’t want you to come home on our account. The pie family has run that farm for generations and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so whenever you want to visit, or even move back, no pony would ever think less of you, if anything, I bet mom and dad would throw a party.” The gray mare gave a smile to her sister who was now tearing up as a smile crept its way across her face.
Pinkie was a blur as she rushed over to Maud, wrapping her arms around her in another back breaking hug. “I’ve got a few days off coming up…” the pink mare sniffled, “I think I’ll pay the farm a visit,” she said as Maud hugged back running a hoof through her sister's mane.
The two sisters held each other for a moment, until Twilight passed by again, muttering to herself about the books she found the most fascinating. “She really doses love books doesn’t she?” Maud asked as they watched were wonder off again, Pinkie merely nodded her head in response. “How long do you think she’ll be at this?”
“If we let her? All day,” Pinkie said releasing Maud and bouncing back into her seat feeling better than ever after her moment with her big sister.
“That’s too bad,” Maud said taking a sip of some coffee she had almost forgotten was there. “There’s some new research material in the labs that I thought she would like.”
“Research material?!” Twilight asked enthusiastically with a big grin on her face after she popped seemingly out of nowhere.
“Well, what do you think of this then?” Discord asked holding up an inch high figure of a turtle dressed as a mailpony.
“She’d love it…” Jax from the front counter of the store, “But it’s a little too small, one of the animals might try and play with it,”Discord scratched his chin and went back to roaming around the store looking at all the exotic odds and ends. “Sorry about him…” The stallion said to the sale’s mare, “Please continue.”
“Don’t worry about it hun, we get tourists like him all the time… thought not many can do that.” She said pointing at discord as he materialized a glass and pink cloud that filled the glass with chocolate milk. “But hey, that’s Filly for you, never know what you’re going to see. Anyway, if you’re looking for some heavy duty stuff, you came to the right mare. You can get the needles and cord at the store three doors down, and five more down for the padding.”
“Oh, Jax, what about this?” Discord said wearing a fur coat; Jax gave him a heavy look of disgust. “Oh you’re no fun,” Discord moped putting the coat away having not gotten the reaction he wanted.
“ Anyway…” She continued, “The tools are a little pricey, but the only stallion I know that will sell you those will be at the end of the strip here. He can’t sell you the metal plating you want, but judging by the tools you’re looking for, I don’t think that’s a problem for you.”
“No, that won’t be a problem, thank you,” Jax said
“Oh, and one more thing,” The mare added, “You can just leave that little ditty here, come back in a few hours and I’ll have it capped and ready in no time.”
“Really? Thank you,” Jax reached back into his saddlebag, pulling out a small red box. He handed it to the mare and was given a receipt just as Discord popped up again.
“Well, I’ve looked at every inch of this place, and have found nothing suitable for Flutter Shy, On to the next store I guess.” Discord said as he floated to the door, Jax waved goodbye to the mare and left soon after. “Five stores so far and not one of them had anything for Flutter Shy; honestly, I thought this place would have more to offer.”
Outside Discord continued his complaining, causing Jax to roll his eyes as he thought back on the many absurd items discord brought forth and considered possible gifts. “Well she likes knitting, why don’t we go in there?” He said pointing three doors down at a store called String Emporium. Discord scratched his chin thinking for a moment as the stallion started heading for the store stopping at the door waiting for the draconequus. After a moment Discord joined him and the two went inside.
Aisle and aisle of string filled the dimly lit store; in the back at the end of the first aisle at the door was an old light blue and gray-haired mare waving hello as she finished speaking to another guest. “I don’t know Jax, do you really think this would work?” Discord asked looking at small sewing kits at the front of the store.
“Doesn’t matter what I think Discord, just look around and find her a nice yellow or purple bundle of string.” Discord shrugged his shoulders and floated off while Jax went to the far end of the store passing through racks full of all kinds of string arranged by type and sorted by color. Each aisle was like looking at a color scale, until the last one. The last aisle had no racks of string or yarn; instead, it was full of large spools of leather cord of various thicknesses. “Now let’s see…”Jax thought as he examined each different type. After a moment he settled on a mildly thick spool of cord that seemed to be new on the shelf and likely to last much longer than others, shortly after he grabbed to thick sowing needles to go with them. Throwing three spools and the needles into and nearby shopping basket, he headed to the chaser only to be stopped.
“Well hello there,” A tall gray stallion said waving his hoof almost in Jax's face, “welcome to String Emporium, finding everything alright there?”
“Oh, umm yeah got everything I need,” Jax said showing the stallion his little selection.
“Hmmm, got yourself a big project do yeah, don’t use cord like that for anything small, otherwise you’re just wasting money.” The stallion said with a slight laugh at the end.
“Well I wouldn’t say big, but it’s definitely something I want to make sturdy,” Jax said as he slipped past the stallion and to the front counter. The sales mare was pleasantly silent with a warm smile, ringing in Jax purchase and exchanging the supplies for payment quick and simple. Just as the supplies were slipped into his saddle bag, Discord appeared again with a look of disappointment on his face.
“Didn’t find anything?” Jax asked
“Oh there was plenty,” Discord answered, “and then I realized how easily it would be for one of her little friends to chew through anything she makes. Shall we move on then?” He added as he floated for the door.
For the second time that day, Twilight got that old familiar feeling all young fillies felt when their parents brought them to a new toy store. The research lab was just like her own back home in the castle, times as many desks and computers the university would fit into one building. Again she scampered off, looking over each and every piece of equipment, writing down the labels of any that she did not recognize. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie took the time to act out what she thought was a classic movie scene, standing behind the larger beakers and making herself look funny thought them.
Maud watched as her sister acted like a child, playing and laughing all through the lab every way she could without actually touching anything. She only stopped when she saw a bright flash of light from what seemed to be a magic blast. “Hey, what’s going on in there?” Pinkie asked her sister pointing to a large display window.
“That’s where they're testing some of the new research material,” Maud said which summoned Twilight to her side peering through the glass and down into a small testing room, completely empty aside from three unicorn, a glass box, and a large black stone that resembled coal being levitated in the middle of the room. The three mares watched as one unicorn charged up magic into his horn and shot a magical blast at the stone causing a flash of blinding light for a moment. When the light died, the stone remained unscathed, still floating in the middle of the room.
“Wow,” Pinkie said, “that’s one tough rock!”
“What is it?” Twilight asked turning to Maud.
“We still don’t know much about it, so we just call it the earth stone,” The gray mare responded as she turned and moved toward a small monitor. Hitting a button on the device a video started up with another three ponies in the same room, firing much more powerful magic at the large rock, again it having no effect. “The stone was found in Germany, it somehow contains magic properties that prevent it from being broken by powerful magic.” Twilight watched in awe, knowing that the spells being used in the video could level a house if used right, and yet could not so much as scratch the stone. “If you think that’s impressive, watch this,” Maud fast-forwarded the video to another test on the stone, this one closer up with a green unicorn levitating a feather. Twilight's brow raised, confused as to why anyone would use a feather in a scientific test such as this, where the goal was clearly to see how much force it would take to break the rock.
The father was slowly brought to the stone, so slowly that it was hard to tell if it was actually moving. “So what is this going to…” Twilight stopped mid-sentence as the feather made brushed against the rock, causing a large chunk of it to break off and fall to the ground. The sight of such a bizarre reaction to the touch of a feather left Twilight speechless looking back and forth between Maud and the monitor.
“Right?” was all Maud had to say before explaining. “We still don’t know how or why by these naturally formed rocks somehow reverse what we would consider normal. This stone, for example, becomes harder and more durable as kinetic energy is applied.”
“So the harder you hit it,” Twilight said, “The stronger it becomes?” she asked to which Muad nodded yes. “Wait, but you said rocks, plural, there’s more?”
Muad showed a hint of a smile as she pressed another button, switching to another video test, “this one isn’t really a stone,” she said as the monitor showed another glass box, this one full of water, “but we consider it to fit into the same category.” Magical orbs formed and floated around the glass box, giving off a genital glow, Twilight recognized it as fire magic. As the glow grow brighter, the water slowly started to frost over. Twilight knew this spell, the more the orbs glowed, the hotter it got, and yet, the water was defying all logic and began to freeze to solid ice. “But this one is my favorite…” Maud said switching the video once again, this time showing a bright yellow stone in another container. The stone was levitated out of its glass box by a red unicorn that seemed to be frightened of something. The other stones were like any typical rock, but this yellow one was pointed at each end like a gem. The unicorn slowly lowered the stone down on a table in the center of the room stopping just a hairs with from making contact. The unicorn released his magical hold and ran out of the room as if fearing for his life, the question why was fleeting as the three mares watched the most bizarre display of recorded science they had ever seen. The stone had merely tapped the table, not even hard enough to hear, but somehow it bounced, and then again, and again, and again, bouncing and falling all over like a hoof ball. With each bounce, it seemed to get higher and higher with more force applied every time. Moments later the stone was ricocheting off the table, walls, and ceiling. The walls began to crack under the tremendous force the stone produced with each impact until the sound of ponies panicking could be heard, demanding they stop the test. Soon the stone was moving so fast, that only its moments of impact could be seen, to the naked eye, it would vanish and appeared in a different place. Finally, a loud bang could be heard as a shock wave toppled the camera, ending the video.
“Did that this just hit mock one?” Twilight asked recognizing the sound of a sonic boom from Rainbow Dash’s sonic rain-boom.
“It’s called the lightning stone,” Maud said to Twilight while her sister restarted the video, her mouth still gaping from what she had just say. “It has the ability to absorb kinetic energy, multiply it, and redirect it over and over again. The more kinetic energy it absorbs, the faster it go’s until it eventually hits mock one. We actually had two of these, but when the first one hit mock one it shot through the roof and went celestia knows where. Since then, we’ve kept the other stone in its container.” Twilight watched the video over and over again with Pinkie, still in disbelief that anything could move that fast, all the while Maud just watched the mares enjoying their excretions for a moment. “So, who’s hungry?” she asked, to which Pinkie raised her hoof while keeping her still shocked expression glued to the monitor.
“Honestly, I just can’t imagen what you need all that padding for.” Discord said poking his paw at the brown sack on his green friends back.
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned with what you’re going to get Flutter shy,” The stallion responded as they walked down the artists street passing one performer after another. “Honestly,” Jax said mocking Discords use of the word, “you’ve dragged me from one store to another and you can’t pick out one simple gift for the pony that would love almost anything she got from you.”
“Well it’s not that simple,” The draconequus replied, “Flutter Shy took the risk of a lifetime inviting me into her home, to dinner with her friends, and putting up with my patented brand of madness, all so she could hopefully show me that having friends is better than aimlessly doing whatever you want for eternity. I have to get her something special, something that will remind her of what she did for the world by turning me from my old ways.” Discord then realized that Jax had stopped walking, looking a little over his shoulder he saw the green stallion looking at him with an eyebrow raised as if questioning something. “What?” Jax said nothing and sighed before turning into the shop he had stopped in front of, the hanging wooden sign told Discord that it was a mass collection of antics from around the world.
Inside Jax was waiting, just as the sign said, the store was filled to the brim with trinkets and decor from around the world. Clocks from Switzerland and Germany covered the walls next to tapestries and scrolls from the eastern dragon countries. Robs from Greece and Africa were displayed on manikins next to shelves that held all manners on figures and other strange items, each with a small card explaining meaning and providence. Without a word Discord grow a big smile on his face and went right to work looking around. “This place is perfect,” he called back to Jax as he wandered the store, “Flutter Shy has always loved old stuff like this, oh, what about this,” Discord asked holding up a African mask that resembled a wolf’s face, “The card says it means something about safeguarding and protection.”
“It’s the guardian wolf mask, it’s a type of African spirit ward,” The stallion said placing his bag at the front of the store and joining discord.” If you wanted something like that I’m sure Zecora world gladly make you one herself. However, I hear Flutter Shy was not very pleased with the ones our zebra friend already has.”
Discord looked over the large mask thinking it looked spectacular, but saw his friends point, this mask would no doubt send the poor yellow pegues into shock compared to the ones Zecora had. He put the mask back and wondered around for another few seconds as Jax headed deeper into the store, his eyes fixated on something in the back corner. “What about this?” Discord asked bringing up a Russian doll, “I think she would love a little pony thing like this.”
“That’s a Russian doll,” the stallion replied, somehow knowing what Discord was holding without looking or stopping. “They are interesting, to say the least, but being made of wood I think the animals would have a little too much fun with them. Plus, I learned to make those years ago, if you really want, I could show you.” Jax stopped and sat in front of a display case as Discord flow off again.
“Oh, now this is just perfect,” Discord brought over a small stone figure of a fat mare standing on her hind legs, with subtle carvings on her belly to show her front legs wrapped around it. “The card said that it’s a thousand-year-old artifact from Europe, let’s see those little miscreants try and take a bite out of this. Plus just look at it, it looks ridiculously wonderful.” For a moment Discord held his head up in triumph, but then looked down to see Jax covering his face, holding back from laughing. “Well, what do you think?” He asked
“That’s… that’s and fertility statute…” Jax said trying to hide the amusement in his voice as Discord flinched nearly dropping the small figure. After putting the small stone invitation back, Discord rejoined the stallion, who was looking around smiling. “Well,” Discord nearly hissed at him, “Since you know so much about this stuff, what would you get her,” Jax said nothing and just pointed a hoof at the display case behind him. Looking closer, Discord noticed a dull and chipped teapot with a set of odd cups that didn’t even have handles on them. The set was a dull and sickening mix of green and brown stocks that looked a lot like the color of dying moss on old bricks. Small tools came with the set, as well as one cup that was much bigger than the others. “You must be joking, of all the junk in this store, you want me to give my best friend in the whole world a strange tea set that looks like it came out of the garbage?”
“No, I’m suggesting you get her a one-hundred-year-old tea set made by.” Discord's eyes widened, “I learned about these kinds of tea sets in china, from another traveler I met on the road. Tea sets like these were made to be used in a short ceremony, in which you make the tea from scratch. The tea is, at some point, pored over the pot itself, cleaning the pot and giving it a new shine. In its time, a dull looking pot like this was a sign that its owner wasn’t very social since the ceremony was used to celebrate the presence of a guest.” Discord started to look at the pot in a new light as he imagined the dull colors of the pot shining brightly. “The most interesting thing about it is you never actually clean the pot with soup, you use lemon and vinegar.”
“What on earth would you do that?” Discord asked not thinking of the pot growing mold.
“The lemon and vinegar kill off any bacteria that could grow and be harmful while leaving traces of the tea behind. Because of this, you’ll always have a small hint of your last batch of tea mixed with the new one.”
Discord’s jaw dropped, this crummy old pot really was the perfect gift, something he knew for a fact that the animals would never lay a paw on. Just as well, it involved a small activity the two could do together that would celebrate their friendship. The draconequus was speechless as Jax started walking back to the front of the store to retrieve his things. After a moment Discords paw popped off his body and started waving itself in his face when this proved fruitless, a firm slap was delivered his check, snapping the spirit of chaos back to the real world. As his head jiggled around and settled, he saw that there were more tea sets just like the one Jax had pointed out, each with a unique design and color, seconds later Discord noticed that Jax was about to head out the door. “Where are you going?” He asked as the door cracked open.
“You said you wanted the perfect gift right,” the stallion asked causing the draconequus to fold his arms waiting for a response. “Well, each little set there is made the way it is for a reason. The color, the shape, the cups, you’ll have to read through the cards to know what one is just right.”
“Well, can’t you just tell me what they all mean?” Discord asked gesturing his arms to the displayed tea sets.
“I’ve been to a lot of places Discord, but never Japan, I don’t know even half of the meanings behind those little details.” The smile on Jax's face was more than a sign that he had planned this. Somehow, some way, Jax got the idea that Discord would actually stand there and read through each card until he picked the perfect one, the one that best suited Flutter Shy in every way. Coupled with the sly look of his crimson eyes, half shut; the stallion knew he was right and very pleased with himself while Discord gave him a look of both question and disgust. “Oh come on Discord, I’ve just got one more place I want to stop by before we head back, I figure I can do that while you’re picking out one of these.”
Discord didn’t know what was worse, that he was being ditched, or that this sneaky little pony’s plan was more obvious than his love of chocolate milk, and it was working. “Fine,’ he said trying to sound calm about the situation, “but you best believe I’ll be right behind you once I pick something out.” He finished folding his arms irritated.
“I’m sure you will,” Jax said as he walked out rolling his eyes as soon as he was out of view.
“That was incredible!” Twilight exclaimed almost too loud, “I mean, I’ve seen my fair share of blinding speed from Rainbow Dash and Pinkie here, but that stone was actually moving faster than the eye can see. I even slowed down the video and still couldn’t follow the moments between impacts.”
“We’ve used are most advanced magic and recording devices to try the same thing, but still have trouble getting a clear image of its movements,” Maud said in response, “not that we can risk repeating that particular test.”
The three mares now sat at a patio table outside a restraint a few blocks away from the university. Twilight and Maud sipped some tea while Pinkie Pie gulped down her third milkshake while watching a street performer a few feet away.
“I don’t suppose I could I could get in the lab and…” Twilight paused for a moment, “I don’t know, run a few tests of my own.” She clasped her hooves together and gave a wide nerves grin.
“We’ll you are the Princess of Friendship and Celestia’s personal student,” Maud replied, “I’m sure if we asked the dean, he would be more than happy to let you run any number of tests.” For the third time, that day the purple alicorn beamed like a young filly, “That is if we still had access to them.” Twilight cocked her head confused, meanwhile, Pinkie waved over a waiter “Today is the last day the university will have the elemental stones, I’m sure they’ll be loaded onto the trucks to be said back to the loaners by the time we get back.” Twilight gave a very un-princess-like groan of disappointment that Pinkie stifled a giggle too, just before taking a sip of her fourth milkshake, which finally gave her a long overdue brain freeze.
“So, any idea when you’re friends are going to join us?” Maud asked as pinkie fell to the floor twitching at the odd numbing sensation in her head.
“Oh!” Twilight said, almost completely forgetting that Jax and Discord had run off to the art district. “I almost forgot about those two, knowing Discord, Jax is probably getting pulled into every store with a big enough sign to catch his attention.”
“Speaking of Jax, what’s he like?” Maud asked as her sister continued to twitch on the floor. “Pinkie makes him sound like a character out of a mystery novel, always hiding things and working around questions. She even told me how he got around answering your brother's questions.”
“Right…” Twilight said drawing out the word as if not knowing what to say, “Well… he certainly is secretive, we really don’t know all that much about him. We know he used to travel a lot, and a few places he’s been, but we really don’t know anything else.” The alicorn said shrugging her shoulders.
“Really, Pinkie also made him sound like a really nice guy.” Maud said, “Works at Apple Jacks farm, go’s to Pinkie’s parties even though he hates being in crowds, even helps pick up Rarity’s and Apple Jack’s sisters from school. I would think that somepony so willing to be nice would be much more open about themselves.”
“I know right!” Pinkie somewhat shouted in response having finished her brain freeze. “I mean, you would think he would at least open up to Twilight.” She exclaimed gesturing to her purple friend, “anytime he’s not working with Apple Jack, or buying supplies for when he goes off traveling again, he’s sitting in Twilights library reading one book after another.”
“Gathering supplies?” The gray mare asked confused, “So he still intends to go back to traveling?” Twilight shrugged in response. “Any idea where he’s going to go?” Pinkie shrugged, “But he’ll write letters and visit won’t he?”
“I don’t think so,” Twilight said, “In the few months he’s been at the castle; I’ve never seen him write a single letter. You would think he would have at least a few friends in china that he would want to talk to, he did help build a town there after all.”
“He helped build a dragon town?” Maud asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.
“Oh no no no…, he helped build a pony town,” Twilight corrected.
“A pony town?” Twilight nodded her head to Maud, “I took a class on Chinese cutler a while back, and there are no pony towns in china except…” Maud eyes shot wide as she paused for a long moment, frozen in thought.
“Maud,” Pinkie said trying to call her sister out of a trace. “What is it…?”
Maud took a breath before looking down at her tea and then back at the others. “Ten years ago, Celestia sent a request to set up a small settlement for ponies in China, to promote better relations between our two countries. The request was approved a few years ago and a bunch of ponies went to go start the small town off in the countryside, not too far from a major city. A lot of the local dragons didn’t like the idea of ponies living so close by, and would cause trouble there.” With that said, Twilight and Pinkie realized it, Jax didn’t just help a town start, he had helped start the first pony town in China. They imagined the green stallion directing construction and fending off dragons just like in Griffon Stone, but less like a friend, and more like a leader. But Maud was not done speaking, so the two let go of their imaginations for a moment wanting to hear more so they could ask their friend about it later. “Eventually, with some help from local dragons who didn’t mind the idea of ponies in their country, the town was finished in only a few months. They had started a farm, built a lot of houses, and even a few stores. Every was going well until…” Again Maud paused, this time looking off in a dais as she remembered what she read.
“Until what?” Twilight asked, her smile beginning to turn to a look of worry.
“When the main construction projects were finished,” Maud continued, “the appointed mayor wanted to award a few select ponies and dragons for their contributions, writing their names down in the town hall as ponies that made it all happen, becoming a permanent part of the town’s history. From what Pinkie told me about how Jax helped in Griffon Stone, I bet his name would be among the others… if the town was still there.”
“What do you mean?” Pinkie asked as her ears began to drop down.
“A ceremony was held to honor those who would become part of the town’s history,” The gray mare said, “everypony and even some dragons gathered in the town square for it. It would be the first town gathering… and the last. According to the textbooks, moments after the ceremony started… the town was attacked.”
Twilight's ears dropped and shot back up, “But what about the dragon guard, there must have been some there? And Jax knows how to fight? Surely they wouldn’t shut down the whole town just because a few dragons… attacked.”
“No pony shut down the town…” Maud said which helped Pinkie and Twilight release a deep breath they didn’t know they were holding, “the town was destroyed… with everypony, and dragon's that attended the ceremony.” The two mares went pale at those words, looking at Maud as if she just said someone important to them died. “No pony knows exactly what happen, but by the time the dragon guard got there the town had been burned to the ground along with everypony and dragon in attendance to the ceremony. As far as anypony knows, there were no survivors.”
“Twilight…”Pinkie said with a shaking voice, “do you think Jax knows? should we really ask him about… this?” she asked, emphasizing the last word, not daring to say allowed anything that would describe what she had just learned.
“No Pinkie…” Twilight said turning to her pink friend, her eyes filled with horror, “I don’t think he just knows, I think he…” she paused as a chill ran up her spine, “I think he was there…”
Pinkie’s eyes went wide, “But… But that’s not possible, Maud said there were no… that everypony…” She dared not finish here sentence.
“I don’t know how but I think he did survive it somehow, it would explain a lot,” Twilight said as she analyzed the past few months in her head. “How quiet he is, why he's so used to hard work, how he know so much and why he travels around all the time. But more than anything, it could explain his nightmares. Pinkie… I think Jax is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.”
“Post-traumatic what?” Pinkie asked, praying she had heard wrong and it did not mean what she thought.
“Post-Traumatic stress syndrome,” Muad said, “It’s a psychological condition, in which a victim of a traumatic event experiences intense emotional and mental distress. Constant nightmares are one of the symptoms, as well as anxiety and horrific flashbacks to the event in question.” She continued, confirming her sister’s fears. “It’s a common condition for ponies who have been victims of a violent crime or even soldiers coming back from war. Whenever something triggers the memory of what happen, the victim can recall the event in such vivid detail; it’s almost like their reliving it. Some describe the whole this as reliving the same even, over and over again.”
Pinkie fell back in her seat with a look of confusion and worry. She had only known Jax for a few months, but for as long as she'd known him, he always seemed like a strong pony, and not just in body. With his strength, he could have sent those griffons packing in Griffon Stone, but he never raised a hoof to them, not once. To see him angry or worried was so rare; she had to think hard to remember what it looked like. For the most part, all she could think of was that gentle smile he always had, so kind that even his red eyes couldn’t make him look scary if he tried. The pink mare looked through her memory for anything, a single moment that would confirm Twilights suspicions.
“I'm sorry I'm not so quick to share my nightmare's” Pinkie’s head shot up as those words echoed in the back of her head, she turned to twilight, who, by the look on her face, was thinking the same thing. It was true, even with what little the two mares knew, all the evidence pointed to one thing. Jax must have been at that town in china, he witnessed the massacre of both ponies and dragons and was reliving it every night since then.
Jax stood outside a two-story building at the end of the street, a few blocks down from the last performing artists where the art district ended and a string of restaurants began just across the way. The building was much like a warehouse with large windows that were placed more for ventilation rather than appeal or lighting. There were no signs on the structure, and if he had not been told that it was open, Jax would assume it was a closed down old building. However, a few ponies walking in and out, carrying small bits of artwork and supplies crafted out of metal, told him that it was not only open but wildly successful, seeing as all these ponies knew where to go with little more than the buildings address just above the door, to tell them they were in the right place.
Jax walked up to the door just as it flew open with a mare on her way out, he stepped aside like a gentle colt and held the door for her, to which she smiled and thanked him. Inside looked more or less like a standard office with a waiting room and a desk covered in papers. Posters were plastered all over the walls of ponies wearing black goggles and pounding away at red hot pieces of metal with hammers that varied in size. Some were crafting what looked like plants and ponies out of the metal, others were forging medieval weapons, and some looked like bizarre pieces of abstract art that Jax could only hope to comprehend. Just behind the desk was a framed calendar that showed various times and dates over the course of the month, each one labeled with one event after another, gallery showing, crafting lessons, even a time, and date that the facility would be open for public use.
The office, however, was far from all there was to see; to the left of the desk was a doorway that was left wide open bearing a sign that read, “Crafts ponies at work”. Oddly enough, there were no other ponies to be found. Taking a breath Jax walked to the doorway and entered the back room, a table sat just to the side of the doorway with another small sign, “no belongings on the floor please,” Obliging by the written request, the stallion shrugged off his bags and cloak placing them on the table. He shook himself a little to loosen his normally covered green coat and took a step onto, “the floor” as the sign called it. The floor was a large open space with serval anvils scattered across it, each one with a set of pliers, clamps, hammers, a bucket of water, and other tools that were used to work metal, all of them encompassing one of five massive steel cubes that acted as the forge to heat the metal that would be used in a ponies craft.
Walking up to one of the codes, Jax placed a hoof on the side wanting to see how hot they were, to his surprise, it was cold to the touch. Opening one of the little hatches that cover all for sides of the forage, a blast of hot air came out, and he quickly closed the small compartment as he realized the strange forge was magically insulated. “Is this really how they craft their metal in this country?” The stallion questioned out loud. Hearing nothing but the subtle roar of the forge's in response, Jax suddenly became aware that he was the only pony in the building. Moments ago, one pony after another walked in and out of this place, but now there was no pony to be found inside. “Maybe they're closed for the day?” he thought to himself as he looked around a little more.
Just as he thought of leaving, Jax saw something in the back of the facility that practically called to him, a classic forge that looked hoof built out of stone with a large chimney that reached up and out of the building. The tools that surrounded its base were scattered and messy, as well as much larger and more worn than any others he had seen so far. The closer Jax got to the forge, the hotter the air became, from only ten feet away, any pony would wince at the heat and step back. Not Jax, the warm air called to him, inviting him to come closer, with every step the sound of an open roaring flame became clearer, as did the view of the red hot coals. Five feet away would normally bring a hot sting to other ponies, but for Jax, it was the most relaxing feeling he had ever known, the tension of his body began to melt away and his eyes closed as he took a breath, breathing in the hot air that burned his lungs in a familiar and delightful way only he could enjoy. From just two feet away, Jax could feel the hot draft that could only come from an open forge like this one, his head swayed slightly with the breeze, enjoying what other ponies would describe as an unbearable feeling. Eyes still shut as he walked, the stallion did not know how close he stood to the forge, but he knew it was much closer than any pony would dare, do to the heat or the fear of getting burned. His ear twitched to another familiar sound, sizzling fibers. It was his mane and coat; he was hanging his head mere inches away from the blazing red coals, so close that the tips of his mane and fur were burning slightly, but not enough for any real harm.
Jax wore a look of absolute bliss as he reviled in the heat of the forge, tilting his head gently, wanting to feel as much of the heat as he could on every inch of his face. After a long moment, the stallion finally began to feel the light sting of his skin burning and reluctantly pull away from the forge taking two steps back so that he could still bask in the warmth.
“Well, now that was something…” a unicorn stallion said as he walked out of another side room Jax had not noticed before. “Never seen a stallion get that close to the forge before, let alone enjoy it so much.” The stallion was a rusted red color with no mane standing a foot taller than Jax. Everything about this pony echoed strength with each step he took, Jax could not see his cutie mark, as it was hidden under a protective robe so to avoid burns, but he suspected it was something to do with smithing. He also suspected that this hoof build forge was the stallions personal work space, a space that he had completely invaded without permission.
His suspicions were proven accurate as the unicorn took hold of a set of iron clamps in a glow of purple magic. “I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to intrude…” Jax stuttered, feeling as if he had offended the smith.
“Wow, calm down friend, no harm done,” The unicorn said as he guided the clamps into the forge digging it into the hot coals. “Normally I don’t let anypony near my forge,” he added as he pulled out a steel rod that had been covered by the coal, “But somepony of your caliber, I think I can make an exception.” The stallion continued placing the rod in a nearby tub of water, causing Jax ears to twitch again to the familiar sound of red hot steel hitting ice cold water, a twitch that did not go unnoticed by the smith pony.
Jaz shocks his head slightly so to tare his mind from the wonderful sound of cooling metal and the delightful warmth of the forge. “What do you mean by “a pony of my… caliber”?” Jax questioned pausing before the last word.
The unicorn raised an eye brow in disbelief as he dipped the clamps back in the forge pulling out another steel rod. “You’re kidding right, everything about you right now says it,” Jax tilted his head in confusion, “Don’t play dumb kid, you’re a blacksmith, aren’t you?” The stallion said as much of a statement as it was a question.
“What?!” Jax questioned, “No, I was just… umm…” Jax looked back and forth, desperately trying to think of a reason a normal pony would stand so close such intense heat with no fear of catching fire. Before Jax could say anything, the unicorn smithy smiled as he slowly dipped the second steel rod into the tube of water, prolonging the sound of sizzling water for as long as he could. Jax eyes closed as his ears twitched again at the sound, all the while, his once worried expression turned to one of delight. Only after the sound had stopped did he realize the trick he just fell for, and the look of the still smiling unicorn was more than enough to tell him how well it had worked. “So… that obvious huh?” Jax asked with a sheepish grin and his ears drooping down, looking as if he had just lost a children’s game.
“Gramps always told said,” The stallion started reaching for another steel rod, “You can tell the skill of a blacksmith by how comfortable he is around the forge.” If there’s any truth to those words, then you must make me look like an amateur and my family has been nothing but smithies for eight generations.”
Jax smiled bashfully at the compliment. “I’m really nothing special, I know my way around a forge, but I haven’t had the chance to craft anything in a long time.”
“Modest to? Now that’s a rarity,” the stallion responded, “how long has it been?” He asked.
Jax hesitated to answer, but saw no harm in it, “I’d say around seven years by now.”
“Say what!” the stallion said shocked and nearly dropping his clamps in the forge, “That’s way too long, no wonder you’re all twitchy with just the sound of cooling rods.” The unicorn took hold of a large iron hammer in his magic and levitated it over to Jax with such ease; one would think it was light as a feather. “Here you go kid, grab some scraps and forge something for yourself, on the house.”
Jax looked over the large hammer, thinking for a moment how he could use the old tool. “This would be good for forcing curves in the steel,” Jax muttered under his breath, “If done right, there would…” He shook his head banishing his instinctive thought of smithing. “Thank you, really, but…” Jax said, having to force the next few words, “I’ll have to pass…”
“You sure kid?”
“Yeah,” Jax said, “It would take all night for me to make anything worth the effort, and I’ve got some friends that are waiting for me.
“And here I was hoping you were looking for a job,” the smith pony said with a hardy huff, “So then, what can I do for yeah?” Jax looked around at the mass quantities of tools and variety of tools and gave a smile.
“So you’re sure this is the one you want?” the sales pony asked Discord for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Oh yes, I’m quite sure this time,” The draconequus said with a very content smile.
“You’re not going to change your mind again at the last second?” The pony said with the thick sarcasm he had developed over the last hour and a half while Discord went back and forth with one tea set after another.
“Shut up and take my money,” Discord said dropping a bag of bits on the counter.
The pony shrugged and started counting bits from the bag while Discord impatiently drummed his fingers. Moments later Jax came walking back through the front of the store, “You’re still picking out a tea set?” The stallion asked in disbelief.
“For your information, I just finished picking out the perfect set for me and flutter shy to use during our weekly get together.” Discord said rather proud of himself, “And besides, I told you I wanted your opinion, but you wanted to go off and do… whatever it was you were doing.” Jax looked past Discord and saw he had selected the exact same tea set he had shown the crazy spirit in the first place.
“You purchase sir?” the sales pony said after packing the set in a box full of bubble wrap for safe keeping.
“Thank you my good stallion,” Discord said in a gentle colt manner before heading for the door to join Jax. “Well it took all day, but I finally got Flutter Shy the perfect gift,” the mischievous creators boasted marveling at his purchase. “And… I suppose a thank you is in order,” Discord said lazily glancing at Jax.
“Oh? For what exactly?” The stallion asked eyeing the stores as they headed back down the artists street.
“As much as I Hate to admit it you were… helpful,” the draconequus said reluctantly, “If you weren’t here, I would have gotten Flutter Shy that little mail turtle that you just know that little fur ball would have chewed up the second he got the chance.” Discord added shaking his fist at the thought.
Jax raised his eyebrow at his friend’s statement, “Not a fan of rabbits?” he asked.
“Just the one,” Discord replied, “If I had my way about it, I would have done away with that furry miscreant a long time ago.” he continued creating a small copy of Angle bunny and throwing it into a nearby trash can. “Honestly, I know Flutter Shy is the Element of Kindness, but why she puts up with such an ungrateful brat I’ll never understand.”
“Well he does seem to have some control issues,” the green stallion said, somewhat agreeing with Discord. “By the way, speaking of Flutter Shy’s element, what are the Elements of Harmony?” Jax asked grabbing Discords full attention, “I mean, I’ve read about them from Twilight’s books, but I haven’t actually seen them.”
Discord thought for a moment, “Well I suppose I am an expert on the subject, seeing as I was trapped in stone because of them for a few thousand years.” He paused for another moment to think, “I suppose you could think of them as something to supercharge magic, and not just unicorn magic, earth pony and pegasuses to.”
“Yeah I got that much from the book’s” The stallion replied, “but where did they come from? I mean, it’s not like crystalized forms of super magic grows on trees.”
“Well…” Discord said in response.
“You’re kidding me…” Jax said
“It’s called the tree of harmony,” the draconequus continued, “No one knows very much about it, not even me, what we do know is that it’s where Princess Luna and Celestia got the elements when they first came to defeat me. Other than that and how it spit out a strange box with even more magic, there’s not much to it.”
“Next, you’re going to tell me it made somepony an alicorn,” Jax replied.
“No, nothing like that,” Discord said, “but the element of magic was part of her crown when she first ascended.” Jax gave an unexpected laugh to that, quick and short, it reminded him of another ponies laugh, a creation Pinkie unicorn. She would make such a laugh at what at first would seem like the most awkward of times after somepony said something usually, and in memory served, that pony would tend to be wrong about… whatever it is they were talking about. It was a laugh that said, “I know something you don’t”, and Discord hated being out of the loop. “Say, why the sudden interest in the Elements of Harmony anyway?” He asked.
“No reason really…” Jax said looking down the street with a smile, “it's part of the country’s history, so I was curious.”
Jax stopped walking and looked to Discord, still smiling, “No Discord, I’m an ancient ruler of a thousand-year-old kingdom that has returned from my banishment to concur Equestria.”
Discord frowned, “That’s Luna’s story…”
“Ok, ok, you got me,” Jax replied motioning for Discord to calm down with his hooves. “I’m a Tartarus escapee; I was hoping to recruit you in helping me steal everponies magic so I can take over.” He finished, the stallions smile becoming slyer.
“That’s Tirek,” the draconequus said more sternly narrowing his eyes.
The stallion sighed, “Well looks like your too smart from me Discord, you really want to know the truth?” Discord tapped his claws on his arm impatiently wait for the answer. Jax looked back and forth and then motioned for his bizarre friend to lean in. Discord obliged and moved close enough for Jax to whisper in his ear. “I’m actually an ancient spirit,” he whispered, “I got out of my stone prison and am planning to turn Equestria upside down.”
Discord shot up with steam coming out of his ears, “Why you… that’s me!” He shouted, annoyed with Jax games. He watched as the stallion held back his laughter, covering his mouth with his hoof as Discord loomed over him groaning.
“Oh come, that was funny,” Jax urged while Discord stood over him, his claw and paw resting on what he assumed must be the draconequus’s hips. “Ok, ok…” he took a breath and spoke calmly, “I’ll tell you the truth…” The look in Jax's eyes, how his poster changed to be standing upright, everything about the stallion had gone from humorous to serious in a single moment. Discord leaned over again not as close, but close enough to hear if his pony friend decided to whisper again. Jax took one more breath, and spoke, “I’m a changeling spy, I’m trying to figure out when the next royal wedding is so my queen can impersonate the bride and take over Canterlot from the inside.” Jax gave a devilish smile that Discord had only ever seen in the mirror.
The draconequus fumed with anger and annoyance as he watched the pony that got under his skin walk off down the street. He wanted to twist the green little annoyance into a pretzel until he confessed everything about himself but withheld himself. Partly because Flutter Shy would disapprove, and party because he thought it might not work. Frustrated and slowly getting a headache, Discord excepted defeat and just floated by Jax as he walked. It was an unfamiliar feeling, being out whited in the same way he was known to use on others when he did not resort to magical pranks. Deep in thought, Discord looked for a way to outsmart the pony; after all, he was just that, a pony, nothing special, nothing new, what could possibly make him any different than any other pony he had met up till now. The most interesting pony he had ever met would have to be Celestia herself, while she would never admit it, his sense of humor and hers were more like than one would expect. Discord could get under anyponies skin, even Cadence, the quiet, patient; Princess of Love was all too easy to get frustrated once the right boutons were pushed. Discord thought and he thought hard, and then he remembered, the one thing every pony hated, was when you messed with their friends.
As this dawned of the draconequus, Jax stepped into another store, it took Discord a moment but he recognized it as the store he tried of the fur coat in. He joined the green stallion and found him at the counter talking to the store mare. “You know, I was just thinking,” he said floating up to Jax as the store mare went to the back. “Rainbow Dash should really stop trying for the Wonder Bolts, I mean, if she was really that great, why isn’t she the one who saved Flutter Shy back in Griffon Stone.” Discord smiled waiting for a response as Jax sat in front of the counter looking at all the odds and ends.
“I don’t, why didn’t you Mr. I can bend reality,” was all Jax had to say, his mood remaining calm and collected.
Discord frowned realizing how he had just walked into that remark, “Fair enough,” He said with a sour taste in his mouth from the words, “Well… at least her flying is better than Rarity’s fashion sense.” The mischiefs spirit added quickly.
“Are you implying no pony has their own opinion?” Jax said as he stretched his neck.
“Beg pardon?” Was all discord could say in his confused response.
“You’re foulishly trying to get under my skin by making fun of my friends…” Jax stated plainly calling out the draconequus who was dumbstruck by his forwardness. “It’s the oldest trick in the book that normally only works fouls… well, that or meat heads who barely know left from right. Everypony has their own opinion Discord, when you except that, little tricks like that are nothing more than a waste of breath. Plus it works even less when you know somepony is doing it to annoy you.” Discord’s jaw dropped as he realized that this was not just any other pony, something, somehow made this stallion different. Discord mild over everything he could think of in his head, trying to think of another way to annoy the stallion. Asking about his past, he would just pull more jokes, poking fun at him or some pony else didn’t care. He couldn’t do anything physical either with the risk that Flutter Shy would not approve. Suddenly Discord remembered why he use to hate ponies.
The store mare came back with a small red box and passed it to Jax, who took in graciously and placed it in his saddle bag, “What’s that?” Discord asked still in a foul mood.
“Just something I left here before,” Jax said as he turned to leave. As he approached the door he noticed a stand that was not there before. “I didn’t know that was out yet,” he said looking back to the store mare.
The store mare looked over her shoulder and saw what he was talking about, “oh yeah, I just set that up, started selling books not too long ago and well, I’m a fan of the series. There was a shipping error and I wound up getting those a week ahead of time.”
“How much?” Jax asked picking up one of the books.
A few minutes later Jax and Discord walked out of the store and started heading to the university. Jax bags were heavy, weighed down with all the supplies he had bought that day, plus two small items he did not expect to get at all. Discord was still moping, floating as if sitting in a chair pouting in the corner. “Really not used to losing like that are you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” The draconequus said turning away from the stallion.
Jax sighed, suddenly feeling bad for teasing Discord, “Look, I know you more than any pony won’t care but… I have a reason for keeping to myself.” This caught his attention as Discord turned to face the stallion. “I know I don’t talk much Discord, normally by now, everyone gets sick of how quiet I am and just… stops trying…” Discord caught a word that he rarely heard ponies say, “Everyone” not everypony, meaning that Jax had been around other species for much longer than a passing glance, he was around others long enough to build a friendship. “But here, in Equestria…” he continued, “Why is everyone so nice… so understanding that... I just don’t want to talk? Whatever the reason, I think it’s honestly the only reason why I’ve stayed so long in one place. Normally I would be on the other side of the country by now.”
“Well technically you’re on the other side of the country tight now,” Discord replied, “you just intend to go back to ponyvill anyway,” Jax smiled and for a brief moment, Discord could see it, no jokes no tricks or cryptic wording. For once, Jax was being completely upfront about himself, and Discord just had to take advantage of it. “Fine, I’ll do my best to resist prying into whoever you use to be, but can you at least tell me this. What in the name of chaos itself,” Discord said placing his hand on his chest “could possibly have happened that would make a pony like you little more than a recluse, hiding away from everypony that tries to get close to you?”
Jax stopped in his tracks, his eyes darting back and forth in deep thought. Images flashed in his head voices from the past, including his own, reminding his of places he’d been and the creators he’s met. Then he looked up, Discord was just floating there, waiting, the Spirit of Chaos itself, the best friend to the kindest mare in Equestria, was just there, waiting. “Could I trust him?” Jax thought to himself, “Would he tell anyone… or… when the time comes… could he even help? Would he know how?” “Come back Jax!” Again, so cries of a stallion on the horizon echoed through his mind, the voice striking with sorrow. Jax's chest grow tight at the memory as it threatened to invade the front of his mind, forcing him to relive a moment he never wanted to experience again. Bit by bit it crept out as the smell of the sea began to fill the air.
Just as Jax was ready to submit to the memory, a snapping sound pulled him out of his trance bringing him back to the real world with a shock. “Well?” a voice asked, “Are you going to say something or not?”
“Who are…” Jax whispered before biting his tongue as he remembered the answer to his question. “That’s right… I’m in Equestria…” Jax thought to himself, “this is Discord… we’re in Manehattan with… our… friends…” He looked around to see the area, the street still full of artists and performers not too far from the last store he and Discord were in. Meanwhile, the draconequus was still there waiting for an answer. “I’m… sorry…” Jax forced himself to say, the words coming with heavy breaths, “Maybe… maybe another time…”
“Oh come on,” Discord whined, “You clearly have something to get off your chest, just spit it out.”
“I know,” the stallion said feeling a hint of shame for reasons he could not understand, “it’s just… i…” for a moment he looked up at Discord, pleading In his eyes, but then that passed as it was replaced with a look of confusion. “Is that Twilight?” Jax said cocking his head.
“Now don’t try to change the subject,” Discord said taking a trick from Flutter Shy and pointing a claw like a stern parent.
“No really!” Jax replied reaching up and turning Discords head to look the other way, and surely enough it was Twilight, who for some reason was clinging to the top of a truck for dear life screaming at the top of her lungs. The truck passed and two blurs followed close behind it, one gray and one pink. “This can’t be good…” Jax said as he watched the truck speed away.
“No kidding, what do you suppose happened,” Discord asked looking down at his pony friend, who, somehow was gone, all his bags left behind. “Jax?”
Maud, Pinkie, and Twilight were quiet as they walked back to Tall Tail University, each needlessly thinking about the strange possibility that Jax may have actually witnessed the musicor of a small town he helped build in China. Twilight levitated a scroll she had taken notes on trying to look focused as she struggled to think of a way to bring up the subject to Jax in a way that he wouldn't sidestep the question like he always did. Pinkie hung her head a little lower than normally walking close to her sister, practically touching shoulders, thinking how lucky she was to have such good friends and family, and how Jax may have lost his friends that fateful day in china. Meanwhile, Maud way trying to think of a reason why a survivor would be left out of the reports of the tragedy. Thinking back to her studies, the reports had been extremity detailed, giving horrifying descriptions of the sickening mutilations of the attentions. More research uncovered comments from local dragons that had planned on attending the ceremony but were unable. She even found images of what was left of the town, most of it still burning while dragon guards loomed over the sight. For a moment Maud thought why the culprits were never caught, seeing as dragons can identify each other with claw mark much like ponies can with hoof marks. Thinking back to the pictures of ponies slashed to ribbons and burned to a crisp, it must have been impossible to get a good look at the claw marks. The tragedy was so horrific, that Celestia kept most of the facts about it out of the public news, fearing the impression it would give of dragons to ponies that did not know better. If there was a survivor, then that pony would have bee seen as a beacon of hope in such a dark tragedy, and the construction of the town may have started up again, yet, no survivors were reported.
The feeling of Pinkie accidentally grazing her shoulder snapped the gray mare out of her thoughts and drew her attention to the pinkie mare that hung her head low. Maud bumped her sister's shoulder to get her attention and offered a reassuring smile, the same smile she always gave her sister's when they were feeling down. Pinkie, still feeling concerned, smiled back meekly as she raised her head in response to her older sister. The Two earth ponies stopped at a crosswalk outside of the university as a yellow light started to flash on one of metal posts. Twilight, who was still deep in thought, kept walking, having not noticed her two friends waiting on the sidewalk. Suddenly Pinkie Pie felt an odd twitch in her tail accompanied by tightness in her shoulders and a strange desire to pop her neck.
Realizing what these sensations meant, Pinkie playfully hopped into the street ahead of twilight, only to push her back to the sidewalk. "What? pinkie?" The alicorn said in slight protest to her odd friend slide her backward. The two mares stood with Maud again as if nothing had happened, seemingly just waiting. "What are we-"
"Wait for it," Maud said cutting off the alicorns question. seconds later a large gray truck came speeding down the street coming straight from the university.
"You're welcome," Pinkie said as Twilight stood there dumbfounded realizing that if she had kept walking she would have been dead center of the trucks path. Looking past the purple mare, Pinkie noticed Maud staring at the speeding truck with a hoof to her chin, "Something wrong Maud?"
"That truck is from the university," The gray mare said stating the obvious, "It's used to transport items from the lab."
"Really?" Pinkie asked, "Isn't it going a little fast for stuff that belongs it a lab?"
Twilight Ran a list of items through her head going over them at a mind-boggling speed, each one a piece of equipment that she would use in her own lab and some that she remembered from the university lab. "Yeah," She said agreeing with Pinkie, "I don't even let spike run when he carries my lab equipment across the room, something's bound to break if somepony is driving like that."
Maud nods in agreement having gone over her own mental list of possible equipment that could be in the truck, all of it breakable when paired with reckless driving. "I'll see if I can talk to somepony about the drive-"
"Stop that truck!" called out a stallion sprinting toward the girls at a breakneck pace, skidding to a stop at the end of the street. "Did you see where it went?" The stallion asked looking back and forth down the street, "The truck was stolen!" The stallion added before any of the mares could respond, each of them now wide-eyed.
"What was in the truck?" Twilight asked concerned.
"It was the foreign search material, you know those big rocks," The stallion replied.
Pinkie gasped and looked over to her sister, "That's not good," Muad said, "A lot of the labs research material comes from around the world, and no pony was even sure if we were going ti get to see any of those rocks let alone so many of them. Losing them could destroy the university!" Maud added a hint of alarm in her voice.
Pinkie gasped again, "Twilight! We have to......." Pinkie stared for a second at the open space where she thought the purple mare would be standing. "Twilight?" she questioned aloud looking around.
"STOP YOU THIEVES!!!" The pie sisters heard the purple mare cry out. Pinkie sighed in response before speeding off in the direction of the truck, Maud waved good-bye to the stallion and followed soon after.
Twilight flew just overhead of the speeding truck mentally going over what she knew about motor vehicles. Concluding that taking out the tires would be the best corse of action, she charged her magic and took aim. Her mind flashed back to the conversation she ad with Pinkie and Maud about how fragile lab equipment could be, and quickly dispelled her magic, worried that a sudden jerk of the truck could damage anything inside. Instead, she thought the best way to slow the truck, was to get in the drivers seat. The young alicorn flapped her wings as hard as she could, flashes of her rainbow maned friend yelling at her to go faster flooding her mind. Twilight nearly flinched when she touched down on the truck, surprising herself that she actually caught up with it. The purple mare quickly realized that her landing had not gone unnoticed as the truck started to go faster, nearly blowing Twilight off the roof of the truck. Now holding on for dear life, Twilight screamed in slight panic clinging to the slick metal with her hooves.
Twilight Quickly regretted her landing on the truck and let go, opening her wings to take flight as she did so. Back in the air with the truck slowly speeding away, The mare could think of nothing to do but follow the vehicle and hope she can get back the research material when it stops. "Twilight!" She heard a stallion call, the voice fixed with the wind. Looking to her left she spotted him, a light green stallion running on rooftops, keeping pace with her.
"Jax?" The mare questioned just before flying closer to the stallion in question, keeping her pace and an eye on the truck.
"By the Ancient Twilight," Jax said, his voice full of concern, disbelief, and oddly frustration. "What is that thing, why is it moving o fast, and why are you chasing it?!"
"You've never seen a truck before?" She questioned.
"Somehow I have a feeling that's not what we should worry about right now." Jax said in response, "So come on catch me up."
"Right," Twilight said, "That's a truck, in summary, it's like a carriage that run's on a type of fuel instead of ponies. The drivers stole it and the research material inside from Tall Tail University. If the university loses the research material, it will ruin them."
"What?" Jax asked, "you're chasing down a contraption that goes's almost as fast as Rainbow Dash for a schools reputation?"
Twilight grimaced at the question, "One, Dash is may times faster than a truck," Twilight said in a defensive tone, "Two, that research material is priceless, rare and possibly one of a kind, if the university loses it, they will have to relievers the owners!"
"Point's taken," Jax said looking down at the speeding hunk of metal, "So what do we do?"
"We need to stop it, or at least slow it down," Twilight said looking over the vehicle again.
"Just use your magic," Jax said
"I can't, if the truck shakes around too much, it could damage the material," Twilight responded.
"Then don't shake it," Twilight nearly slowed down at the strange response Jax gave, "Ugh, levitation is your best spell Twilight, so grab on to it somehow and pull!"
Twilight Face hoofed, momentarily frustrated that she did not think of such a simple idea. the purple mare flew low as close to the truck as she could trying to think of the best way to grab hold of it. She considered grabbing the whole truck, but the smaller she could make her magically grip, the more she could pull back on it. The schematics of the vehicle formed in her mind as she mentally went over each piece in her reach faster than any of her computers could have done shown her. Her ears twitched as she set her sights on, what she remembered as, the rear axle of the truck. Pulling there would not only give her a good grip but also give her a chance to slow down the back wheels of the truck, if not rip them off completely.
Jax could barely see the glow of magic from under the hunk of metal, but he could tell by the sudden tension in Twilight's flying that she had taken hold of something with her magic. With seemingly no magic of his own, Jax saw no safe way to help and could only follow from the rooftops, or so he thought until he looked further down the street. The truck had been speeding down the art district where he and Discord were hopping from store to store, with so many performers and shops to see, ponies must have preferred to walk there since there was a saver lack of taxi carriages and the street was mostly clear. However, they were reaching the end of the street, where the hustle of one carriage after another filled the streets, requiring crosswalks so ponies could cross the street safely.
Jax sighed to himself, "Why can't I go to a country and not get involved with the crazy one's that get into trouble," he picked up his pace, a slight shimmer coming from the metal bands around his ankles. "Every time, everywhere I go, someone does something stupid and I just can't hold myself back, I just have to jump in." The stallion leapt from roof top to roof top with long strides quickly moving ahead of the truck, "I swear, days like this I wish i had some of Lin's cheap scotch so I could just ignore everything, Jax leapt from the buildings and landed in the path of the truck, the impact cracking the asphalt under his hooves, "Oh yeah, I tried that once," Jax raised his hooves standing on only his hind legs, "Didn't work." Twilight had managed to slow the truck down considerably, but the force of the truck was still enough to push Jax back as his hooves hit the hunk of metal. His hooves dug into the front of the truck and the asphalt as it forced him backward further and further. Taking a peek over his shoulder, the stallion noticed that not only were ponies crossing the street at that moment, but they had yet to notice the truck. Are you kidding me? I was less oblivious with Deedee in Russa! Seeing that the truck would not stop in time Jax protective instinct kicked in. he took one hoof from the truck and moved it under the front bumper, with one mighty pull, he lifted the underside of the truck, forcefully tipping it onto its side. Jax now forced his side against the truck pushing with all four hooves into the ground. The sound of scraping metal filled the air as the surrounding ponies became aware of the dire situation and quickly got out of the way. Local police filled the streets as the truck came to a screeching halt in the middle of the intersection. "Know what, When I leave, I'm spending the rest of my time at the bar." Jax popped his neck as he took his weight off the truck and Twilight joined him in front of the vehicle, Pinkie and Maud finally catching up with the pinkie mare somehow out of breath.
armored carriages arrived with more officers shortly as ponies swarmed Jax and Twilight, praising them for stopping the truck. Twilight defaulted to her classic smile and wave she had come accustom to since assenting to the title of princess, all the while ponies surrounded her taking pictures and asking for autographs. Jax on the other hand desperately tried to hide behind the purple mare, staying away from as many ponies as possible. The portion of the crowd surrounding him mostly consisted of the ponies that has first seen him in front of the truck as it came to a halt, and assumed he had stopped it himself. The green stallion did his best to keep calm, wanting to be respectful to the ponies who were only trying to thank him. Lucky for him Pinkie noticed his ears twitching with anxiety and his left rear hoof starting to tap. He was getting very uncombable, so she pulled a random piece of rubber from her mane and started to blow into a nub on its side. The piece of rubber quickly took shape into a pony-sized ball that she jumped atop and began to balance on.
"Hey, everypony, ok over here!" she called to the crowd as she danced around on the ball acting as silly as possible making every strange sound her voice could muster. The crowds did not watch for long, finding the current heroes of the day more interesting than a silly pony on top of a ball, but it was more than long enough for Jax to slip away behind the tipped over truck.
Twilight joined him soon after and the two looked and quietly laugh at how relaxed the two of them became away from the crowds. "Wow Jax," Twilight said, "I knew you were fast, but I had no idea you could outrun a car. How did you do that?"
"You didn't see?" Jax asked slowly to which Twilight shook her head, her smile never wavering. The stallion sighed in relief, "Well you did slow down the truck a lot, and we were really pushing the pace."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Twilight said with a slight chuckle in her voice as she became aware of a soreness in her wings.
Maud approached the back of the truck with the intent of looking inside but was stopped by an officer pony. "This truck was stolen from Tall Tail University," she said before the officer pony could say anything. "I'm a student that was studying the research material that is currently inside it. If any of it is missing or damaged, the university could be in big trouble, so I would like to check on it before it's moved,"
The officer scratched his chin for a moment, "I'd like to see some I'd first," Maud complied with the request and pulled out a lanyard the had her student ID attached to it. content with her identity the officer waved her by to check inside the truck.
Muad reached up and undid the latch of the truck and stepped back to let it fall open, but as it did so, she heard something snap and as the door fell open she saw one of the glass containers fall and open. "Oh no, not that one," she thought to herself as her eyes shot wide and she jumped to the side. The glass container, stronger than it seemed, did not break, but the bright yellow get that sat inside it fell out and on to the street with twice as much force as one would expect. It began to bounce around, ricoshaying of the street, into the walls of the buildings and even in the stores after breaking through the windows.
The sound of breaking glass is what caught Jax and Twilights attention and they finally saw what was going on, "What is that thing?!" Jax questioned as the yellow gem jolted around.
"It's the lightning stone!" Twilight answered as she narrowly avoided being impaled by the sharp point of the flying stone. "It's one of the research materials, it's just going to keep getting faster as it jumps around, we need to stop it."
Jax watched as Pinkie jumped around trying to catch the stone out of the air as it quickly became a blur. Looking around he tried to think of a way to slow it down and his eyes landed on a fire hydrant. Pinkie somehow kept track of the flying gem and stood in front of the truck where she knew it would fly, intending to catch it. Luckily her sister knew better and pushed her out of the way, just as pinkie asked why, she saw the yellow blur rip through the underside of the truck and out the other side, leaving both mares speechless. The sound of clanking metal filled the air as the fire hydrant was ripped from the concrete with one kick from Jax causing water to rush out like a geyser. "Twilight the water!" Jax called to his alicorn friend. Twilight looked on in confusion for a moment before having to dodge the yellow blur again, causing Jax to grunt in frustration. "Gather the water in a big ball," he called to her, "we need at least ten feet of it!"
Twilight caught on to Jax plan and rushed over dodging the flying gem once more. she wrapped as much water in her magic as she could gathering it all into a ten-foot tall floating orb, content with the outcome Jax ran back to the truck and sat in the middle of the street covering himself with his cloak. The lightning stone had already exhilarated faster than the eye could see, so Jax closed his eyes and used his own tactic. He formed the world around him is his mind, stripping it of all detail leaving a world of white planes and surfaces in a void of black. He could hear the stone bouncing off the crumbling walls and street and tracked its movements in his mind, which took shape as a bright yellow light flashing back and forth. He focused more and soon the light went faster than the stone, tracking every possible movement until Jax noticed one that landed close to him. The stallion's eye's shot open and the world moved in slow motion, his bands shimmered faintly once again as the Lightning stone flow just to his left after bouncing off the street. He raised his hooves to meet the stone, slamming his left foreleg into the side of the flying stone and reinforcing the blow with his right. He could feel the stone absorb the force of his blow and redirect it back at him, causing a loud cracking sound as it bounced off him, its course redirected to fly right into Twilights levitated water.
Everypony let out a held breath of relief as the lightning stone came to an almost imitate halt in the center of the water ball and floated motionless for all to see. What few ponies that did not run in fear of the destructive gem cheered and stomped their hooves in applause, praising the green stallion and the princess for seemingly saving the day once again. Maud carried over the glass container for the stone to Twilight who gently returned the stone to its rightful place, additionally filling the container with water to reduce the chance of another accident, to which Maud gave a smile of approval. Jax limped over to the two mares, pinkie joining soon after as the crowd surrounded them again.
Pinkie, again knowing that her green friend would not be at ease around so many ponies pulled Jax leg to hide him behind her, in doing to, she felt foreleg how the foreleg of the stallion had quickly swollen and taken on a light red tint. "Jax! You're leg!" Pinkie said in alarm taking the leg in a gentle grasp with both hooves.
Jax Head turned toward the worried mare, "What? oh..." he said seeing his numb and once again broken leg, "Well that's going to hurt later today..." was all he had to say as Maud and Twilight turned their attention away from the crowd.
"Jax! Are you OK?!" Twilight asked almost as alarmed as Pinkie.
"Can I take a look?" Maud asked, taking a step toward Jax, she closed her eyes and tenderly felt around Jax foreleg for a moment, being sure not to add any more presser then needed. "I don't think it's broken, I took a medical course this semester and learned how to tell the severity of an injury, to put it simply, I think it's just a little cracked, you should be fine in a few days."
"Thank," Jax said, "Umm... who are you?" he added tilting his head at the strange gray mare.
"Maud pie," she answered in a seemingly emotionless voice.
"My big sister!" Pinkie added, grasping the gray mare in a hug.
For a moment Jax looked back and forth between the two mares while Twilight stood behind them nodding her head, confirming the relation between the two mares. "Well... you two have got to be the third weirdest pair I've ever seen," Jax said, the words leaving his mouth before he knew it. He covered his mouth with a hoof, worried he had just offended the two mares.
"Huh," all three mares said in unison.
Just as Jax raised a roof to respond a flash of light appeared on his left and with it an annoyed Discord levitating the stallions bags and holding his tea set under his lion arm. The draconequus opened his mouth to say something but then caught look at the building behind the stallion, it's wall's crumbling with several holes punched through it. Looking around he finds that most of the surrounding buildings are damaged in the same way, as well as a tipped truck with several holes of its own. "Did I miss something?"
"Are you sure you're ok?" Twilight asked looking at Jax leg, once again wrapped in a sling.
"I'm fine Twilight," The stallion assured her, "Besides, had to be done, right?" He added as the two sat in a carriage heading back to the university lab. Maud had made a call to the Dean of Tall Tail University and requested the elemental stones be stored away in the lab for an extra day, for safe keeping while a new truck was required for their transportation, a suggestion the Dean was happy to take. Jax, Twilight, Pinkie and Discord all tagged along to ensure the items in question were safely returned to the lab without any further miss haps. The Cab ponies, as well as the Team of police ponies following them, pulled into the lab parking lot where other students and campus security were waiting to take the stones back to the safety of the locked down testing rooms. "What I want to know," Jax said as he exited the carriage, "Is where in Tartarus you found Alchemic Celtic stones.
"Celtic... Stones?" Twilight questioned.
"Yeah," Jax responded, "Oh by the way," Jax added reaching into his saddle bag and pulling out a yellow book and handing it to the purple mare, not seeing the red box that fell out. "New book," was all he said as he approached the glass containers that were being unloaded from another carriage.
"What do you mean?" The alicorn asked, not looking at the book and following her friend, "None of these are from that part of the world. China, Germany, Africa..." Twilight said pointing at each store as she listed its origin, "Each somehow formed naturally in its own environment."
"That's not right..." The stallion said as he walked over and opened the container that held the earth stone. "These stone's are made with an ancient magic that is only found in the temples ruins in Scotland and Irland, no other civilization ever developed this kind of magic before."
"Huh?" was all Twilight could say as she tilted her head in confusion, "Ok Jax, I know you've been all over the world and seen things that even I haven't read about yet, but these stones have been through a lot of tests and labs, studied by young and old minds alike. you can't honestly expect me to believe you know, off hoof, something that dozens of other ponies couldn't figure out. That's a little much even for-" Twilight held her tongue, her mouth agape as Jax blow on the earth stone, causing it to crumble into dust at the gentle breeze, a quality of the stone no pony had told him.
"I would never assume to know more than a well-educated pony twilight," Jax said digging his hoof into the dust as if looking for something, "Unless I know for a fact that I'm right." He pulled his hoof from the dust and presented a smooth white stone, clearly engraved with what a set of overlapping black lines, a Celtic Ruin. "I don't know much about these stones, but what I don't know is that these stones are not made by nature. Somepony made these, all of them."
Maud and Pinkie, who had overheard the conversation now stood with Twilight, their mouths wide open in both contemplation and astonishment. Twilight was cataloging every scrap of magic she knew, trying to find anything in her vast mental collection of knowledge that could even be comparable to this bizarre possibility. Maud through back to the many tests she had done on the stones and the tests she had overseen. She could not think of a single time that a pony actually reduced the earth stone to dust, let alone dug around in it. Pinkie was simply blank minded as she had no idea what to think. Instead, she simply hoofed back the small red box that she saw fall out of Jax bag.
"Oh, thank you Pinkie," Jax said dropping the stone back into the dust and taking the box. On contact the dust came to life and swirled around the white stone, reforming into a solid stone.
"B-but...how... where?" Twilight shuddered
"I met someone with a personal library when I was in Scotland," Was all Jax said, Discord meanwhile snuck up behind him eyeing the little box in Jax hoof. While Jax was still watching Twilights face twist into strange expressions, still trying to think of anything she had come across even remotely similar to this new kind of magic, Discord flicked the small box. The box opened and accidently fall out of the stallion's hoof, "Discord?!" Jax said looking upset at the mischievous creator who just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
As the box hit the ground, it contents fell out and tumbled over to Maud's hooves. The item was a smooth pink oval shaped gemstone, rimmed with silver and attached to a thick silver chain. She picked it up and hung it in front of herself which drew the attention of both her sister and Twilight. "The sister's stone?" She said looking over the gem.
"I didn't know you liked Jewelry," Pinkie said
"I don't," Jax responded as maud returned the neckless to its case and then it to Jax, "It was a gift from Luna."
"Really?" Twilight questioned, raising an eyebrow, "What for?"
"Don't know," Jax said with a shrug.
"Oh a gift from the moon princess," Discord cooed playfully, "Perhaps it's her attempt to confession her-" He was silenced with a green hoof to his lips.
"I'm going to stop you right there Discord," The stallion said, "The chances of anymare falling for me is about as likely as Celestia forgetting to raise the sun for a full day."
"Actually..." Twilight whispered nervously rolling her eyes, "She did do that... once... it was shortly after she took the thrown"
Jax wide-eyed expression showed nothing but surprise, "Even still, there's no way" He said, "she was just being nice thinking I would want something to have to remember my time here."
"Right," Discord said sarcastically, "And your instant denial of the suggestion is so not because you considered that idea," Jax frowned as a light pink came across his face.
"Really, you're going there," Jax responded, his crimson eyes like daggers pointed at the Spirit of Chaos. He sighed, "I don't know about you guys but I'm tired and would like to get home." Twilight and the others looked at the sky and noticed the sun beginning to set over the mountain range. With all the excitement of the day, no pony had noticed how fast the time had gone. "Maud it was nice meeting you," Jax said as he put away the small box and went to wait for the girls in one of the taxi carriages.
Pinkie and Twilight said their goodbyes to Maud, and Pinkie again promised her sister that she would visit home more often, to let them know how she is and remind them what they mean to her. Discord decided to head back to ponyvill with his magic, offering to take Jax things with him, dropping them off at Twilight castle so he didn;t have to carry them oh a bad leg. Jax gracefully accepted the help, but not before making the mischievous creature promise to leave the bags with spike and not to look inside them. Like a child who just had his toy taken away, Discord promised and was gone in a flash. Less than an hour later the three ponies were on the train home, Jax and Pinkie fast asleep on the seat across from Twilight. As the alicorn rummaged through her saddle bag for the list of books she had made, she spotted a thick yellow book, the one Jax had given her at the university. to distracted by Jax claim of knowing the origin of the elemental stones, she had unconsciously slid the book into her bag without looking at it. Taking it out, she examined the back of the book and then turned it over, wondering why Jax would get her a book. He question was answered when she saw the cover. Twilight didn't need to read the title to understand, for the cover of the book was an image of Daring Doo with a katana sword strapped to her back, she stood in an open field with a mountain in the background. Upon further inspection, she recognized the mountain, it was Mount Fuji, in Japan.
Twilight looked over to the sleeping stallion, thinking of everything that had happened that day. The town in china, chasing the truck, the elemental stones, and Daring Doo's newest book, a week before it's release date no less. "Jax, who are you?"
