Humani Victoria

Chapter 17- No Rest for the Wicked

"Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it."

                                                                   -Hans Selye

Goldenoaks Library, Ponyville, Equestria, Monday 20th of September, 7:30 am, 2205 AC

The past three months had been mercifully uneventful, Jason had been discharged from the hospital with the worst of his injuries mended. The Human had moved back with Twilight Sparkle much to the thankfulness of the Unicorn, Jason had not been seen often outside of the library since. He was only really left the building in the early hours of the morning when Jason insisted on maintaining a regular exercise regime to keep himself in shape.

He stepped through the Library door now, panting slightly from his jog around town and the concessive push-ups. Jason bound up the stairs as silently as he could as to not wake up the slumbering Unicorn and Dragon that shared his home.

Jason slipped into the washroom and stripped off his grey t-shirt. At his polite request Rarity had graciously made a series of simple t-shirts to replace the dirtied and soiled green one that Jason had brought been wearing since his arrival. His pants as well were made of the Unicorns skill, being lightweight and close-fitting for rigorous exercise. Removing them and his undershorts Jason slipped into the shower, he pulled down the wooden latch and jerked it to the left, the magical plumbing shuttered for a moment before sprinkling warm water down on the Human.

Jason ran his fingers through his hair, catching the loose strands and removing them. He noticed that his hair had gained a considerable length from its usual military-cropped style, deciding he would let it grow out a little bit Jason grabbed the soap bar and set to cleansing himself.

After Jason had washed he simply leaned against the shower wall and enjoyed the soothing feeling of the warm water on his sore back. The cuts and lashes that marred Jason's back had healed well in months prior however the steadily lowering temperatures irritated the sore's but came as a comfort to Jason's northern blood, warm water helped with the sores.

Closing his eyes Jason came to a small realization: He had called the Library home. On a base level this wasn't very surprising, he had been living in the library for about three months now and even in the short eventful time the library had gained a strange familiarity and cosiness that outdid the cold and hard environment of his old home.

His train of thought brung him to think of his old home. His father who for better of for worse was probably wondering where he had gone, and image popped into his head of his father and Uncle Haydn arguing as to Jason's possible location. His father cold and stubborn and his uncle gruff and even more stubborn, the metal image brought a small smirk to Jason's lips.

His reminiscing was interrupted by a series of knocking on the door, Jason poked his head out from the curtains.

"Yeah?" He asked, his voice a bit hoarse for some reason.

"Jason?" Twilight's voice called "Just wanted to tell you that breakfast is ready, I made your favourite." Jason smiled slightly.

"Thanks, Twi." He said "I'll be right out."

"Okay." Twilights hoofbeats echoed away and Jason switched the water off, stepping out of the shower and towelling himself off he grabbed the fresh set of cloths that he had laid in the washroom before he had set out in the morning. A blue shirt and grey pants.

Jason gathered up his dirtied cloths and exited the washroom, throwing them in a wooden basket designated for his cloths before heading downstairs and into the kitchen. There Twilight levitated several fluffy pancakes onto a plate and poured a generous amount of honey on top of them. Spike was busy digging into his own stack with gusto, Twilight noticed Jason just as she was placing the stack of Northern Delights in the Humans usual sitting spot.

"Good morning, did you have a nice run?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah it was good, almost as good as these pancakes look."

Twilight smiled "I've been practicing that recipe you gave me, I think this is my best batch yet!"

Jason raised a critical eyebrow "I shall be the judge of that." He said in mock seriousness with elicited a giggle from the Unicorn. Jason smiled and sat down before his breakfast, grabbing the knife and fork that were placed there and cutting into the fluffy cakes.

Twilight watched anxiously, wanting nothing more than her pancakes to be perfect. Jason chewed purposefully slow as to build the tension and swallowed loudly, smacking and licking his lips with a pondering look on his face. Eventually he looked at Twilight who was biting her lower lip in anticipation of Jason's judgement, he smiled and said.

"Absolutely perfect." Jason said, bringing a big smile to Twilights face.

"Really?" She said.

"Yeah, your practice has paid off." Jason cut into his pancakes and ate another forkful, this time with must more enthusiasm. "Although" he said after swallowing "Honey isn't really what you would put on these usually."

Twilight's ears perked up "Really? What would you put on them?"

"Maple Syrup." Jason said in a slightly longing voice, Twilight tilted her head in confusion.

"Maple... Syrup?" She inquired.

"Yeah, it's like a... Sauce, made from Maple Tree Sap and lots of sugar."

"Do you know how to make it?"

Jason thought for a moment "I know the basic idea but I would need equipment that we don't have and, well, a Maple Tree and I haven't seen any around her so far."

Twilight shook her head "They're rare in Equestria, from what I've read you can only really find Maple Tree's in the Gryphon Kingdom."

Jason blinked "The Gryphons have a kingdom?" He had heard of the existence of Gryphon's before, among other fantastical creatures that inhabited the planet nowadays but he wasn't aware that any of them had a government or a functional kingdom.

"Of course, it's to the north spread over two islands with the larger one holding the majority of the land."

Island kingdom to the north... "The Gryphon's live in Britain." Jason said to himself.

"What?"

"Mm? Oh uh... Nothing, anyway uh.. What's the plans for today anyway?" Jason said, shoving thoughts about the father to his country and the Queen out of his mind.

"Well I have some research to do, but I head that Applejack's doing the summer harvest today. You could help collect apples if you wanted so something to do."

Jason shrugged "Well I have nothing better to do, so I might as well."

Quest Started: Apples, Apples everywhere

-Offer Applejack your help with the Summer Harvest

"Okay then, I'll see you later then." Twilight said with a nod before collecting the empty plates, setting them on the counter and trotting into her library.

Jason looked at the resident fire-breathing baby death-lizard and asked: "What are you going to do today Spike?" The Child of Akatosh looked at the pile of dirty dishes that had been created from Twilight's cooking and sighed.

"Chores." Spike said tiredly, Jason patted him on his scaly head.

"Hang in there dude." And with that the highly evolved apex predator left the inter-dimensional-reptilian-fire-beast to his fate.

As soon as Twilight heard Jason's signature boot's stomp out of the library and the door close, she activated her magic and levitated a thick ancient tome that had been hidden under one of the loose floorboards that Twilight kept around for just such a purpose.

She wiped away the light layer of dust to reveal the title:

On the subject of Human's and Humanity by Starswirl the Bearded

Inside her Twilight felt a bit guilty for even possessing the book, the tome was on the list of books banned by the Royal Academic Institute of Equestria and most copies had been destroyed. Luckily the previous owner of the library had been a passionate book collector and had possessed a number of banned books that ,upon discovery, Twilight had to unfortunately dispose of.

She had come across this one a month ago and had been awaiting a chance to study it's contents without the prying eyes of a certain Human. Twilight's intention was to learn the location of at least one Human settlement that may still exist as the Princess had eluded to but had been hard pressed to find any books on the subject of Human's, only a mention here or a footnote there. The most she had found was a chapter on them in her bestiary of possibly mythical creatures.

Twilight had been ecstatic when she came across not only a large works detected to Human's but one written by one of the most influential mind of the last era and so she had awaited her moment.

Convincing herself that this was all for a friend, that Jason would be brought out of his gloomy state if he was introduced back into his people. Twilight opened the book to its first page and read:

Human's, Humani, Humanity, Homo Sapiens, The First, Them who came before, The Forerunners, Golden Folk, The Old God's, Universal Master's, The Children of the Earth.

Many names they had, many stories to tell about them. Of the way they shaped the world for those who would come after and inherit their lands and prosper by their influence, this is the story of all the knowledge I have gathered regarding the subject of Human's and Humanity. Knowledge that has either been lost to the ages or destroyed by those who wish to forget.

Let's start at the beginning, the Dawn. Naturally, this story dawns in fire...

                                                                        ~~*~~

Ponyville, Equestria, Monday 20th of July, 7:43 am, 2205 AC

Jason strolled through Ponyville, waving hello to the few Ponies that were out and about at this hour as he made his way to the edge of town where the farms took over the landscape. Passing by some of the smaller fields that sported everything from carrots to cabbages before climbing a hill and looking over the vast orchard of Apple Tree's, each tree adorned with scores of ripe red bulbs ready to be picked.

Jason headed down the the hill and onto one of the many paths that lead through the orchard, apple tree's towered above the Human as he walked casually towards where he knew the farmhouse to be. Absentmindedly Jason picked an apple off a low-hanging branch and examined it. Perfectly ripe and an appetizing red, The fruit was free from any bruises or tell-tale holes of worms or insect. Jason wondered how the Apple family managed to keep their crop so healthy without any sort of pesticide. Shrugging Jason twisted off the stem and bit into the apple, the crisp tart taste folding his taste buds. He finished the apple within a minute.

Jason walked out of the orchard and into the clear where the farmhouse and barn were located. Outside Big Macintosh lounged on a chair, serenely chewing away on a stem of grain, with bandages wrapped around his midsection.

" 'Ello Mac." Jason greeted "How's the harvest going?"

Big Mac shrugged "Dunno, Applejack's taking care of the entire harvest this year since I went and hurt myself." Mac gestured to his bandages.

Jason nodded "I see, how'd 'ya do that anyway?"

"Pulled a muscle." Mac drawled.

"Fair." Jason replied, he liked talking to Big Macintosh. It was strangely relaxing and the guy was so chill, Jason often thought that the simple farm Pony was hiding a brilliant philosopher under his mellow exterior "Where's Applejack then?"

Mac gestured to the East crop "She's harvesting right now."

Jason nodded "I'll go find her then, stay cool Mac." Macintosh nodded and Jason took his leave, strolling down the path that would bring him to Applejack. It wasn't long down the path before the sound of trees being hit and their fruit falling from the branches came to Jason's ears, he turned a corner and saw Applejack watching her namesake fall perfectly into several wooden baskets.

Applejack wiped the beads of sweat off of her forehead and turned to a fresh tree, she spotted Jason as she turned and only spared him a cursory glance before turning back to the Apple Tree.

"Howdy there Jason." Applejack greeted curtly.

"Hello." Jason said in a warmer greeting, trying as he always did to thaw the cold between him and the farmer "Harvest going well?"

"Well enough." Applejack said, taking aim with her rear legs and kicking the living bark out of the Apple Tree. It shook and vibrated before releasing its fruit into the wooden baskets.

"Big Mac told me how your planning on taking care if the harvest by yourself."

"Tha's right."

Jason looked over the rolling hills that were coated in hundreds of Apple Tree's all waiting to be picked clean "Well you have your work cut out for you, eh?"

Applejack shrugged "I can handle it."

Jason turned towards her with slight concern "So you don't want help?"

The Farm Pony raised an eyebrow "Are you offering?"

"Only if you want me to help."

AJ shook her head "I have it covered." She said dismissively.

"Your sure?"

"Yep."

"Well okay then." Jason spun on his heel and started casually walking away.

Completed: Apples, Apples everywhere

Objective Complete: Offer Applejack your help with the Summer Harvest

"Wait..." Applejack called, stopping Jason comically mid step with his leg held in the air "You aren't going going to insist or tell me I can't handle it?"

Jason shrugged, still not turning around and keeping his leg poised "Only you know your limits, if you think you can do the harvest by yourself who am I to challenge you? My offer still stands though if you change your mind." With that Jason strolled away.

Applejack watched him go, he was nice for offering his help but she knew Jason doubted her. He thought she couldn't do it but she would prove him wrong. Applejack turned back to her tree's and began to buck them rapidly with a vengeance.

As Jason strolled back into town he was soon joined by a bouncing pink ball of both joy and barely suppressed destructive desire.

"So how long do you think until she cracks?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Jason looked up at the sky, watching several Pegasi position clouds sporadically to provide shade for passerby.

"I'd say she'll give just after lunch."

                                                                   ~~*~~

Jason was close.

Applejack cracked at about eleven-forty.

Jason had returned to the library after visiting the farm, Pinkie Pie bouncing away to do God-knows-what before he reached the door. Walking in like he owned the place Jason found Twilight intimately reading a large old-looking book with a frown of concentration on her face, occasionally she would jot down something via magical quill onto a piece of parchment.

Twilight didn't notice Jason enter until he cleared his throat, when she did Twilight jumped with a gasp of surprise then quick as a flash slammed her book closed and covered it's title with a nearby pillow.

Jason raised an eyebrow at the odd behaviour "What'cha reading?" He asked slowly.

"Nothing." Twilight said quickly. Jason glanced subtly at the parchment that Twilight had been writing on, noticing the long sentences that almost reached the end of the page, he turned back to Twilight.

"Okay then." Jason said, not really willing to pry at that moment.

Twilight visibly relaxed but tried to cover it by talking "Your back sooner than I thought, did you help Applejack with the harvest?"

Jason shrugged "I asked but she said she could handle it on her own."

"Well her and Big Macintosh have handled it in the past, I'm sure they'll do the same this year."

"Yes well, the thing is Big Mac pulled a muscle and can't work so Applejack decided she would do the whole thing by herself, kinda dumb if you ask me."

Twilight's eyes widened slightly "She's doing the harvest by herself? But she can't! She'll work herself into the ground!"

"That's what I said but Applejack's convinced she can handle it without anyone's help."

"Well somepony needs to talk some sense into her!" Twilight rose from her lying down position and activated her magic, levitating her book over to a nearby desk and placing it facedown, rolling up her parchment and levitated it over to join the book a moment later.

"I'll see you later Jason." Twilight said before trotting out of the library.

Jason watched her go before turning to where she had placed the old book, he stared at it for a moment before he turned away. It was Twilight's business and despite his curiosity it would be both rude and selfish to look through her notes, instead he walked into the kitchen to grab a snack.

Jason emerged from the library an hour or two later munching contently on an apple. Deciding a walk would be nice he set off, apple in one hand and his other stuffed into his pocket- an addition to his pants that had taken Rarity a ridiculous amount of time to understand and replicate -he made his way down the street, with both bustling Ponies on an errand and more relaxed strollers passing him as he went.

Jason turned a corner an came across a peculiar sight, it appeared to be a large seesaw that had been built in one of Ponyville's many squares that were used for a multitude of purposes. Even stranger was the sight of Applejack standing on one end of the seesaw yelling something that sounding like 'your welcome.' At a quickly shrinking rainbow-coloured dot that was Rainbow Dash.

Jason walked over to Applejack and studied her appearance, her mane was disheveled and dirty, large bags hanged from under her eyes and she had that crazed look of the sleep-deprived.

Applejack turned sharply at the sound of boots and put on a clearly strained smile.

"Hello Jason." Applejack said between breaths, Jason listened closely to her breathing and discovered that her breaths were short and sporadic. Jason knit his eyebrows together in concern.

"Applejack..." Jason said, crossing his arms "Your exhausted."

The Farm Ponies eye twitched "I ain't exhausted! I'm just... A little tired."

Jason shook his head "You need to stop this, it's not just unhealthy it's downright dangerous."

"Ah told you once and I'll tell you again, I can handle it! Why can't anypony understand that!"

"What everybody understands is that your pushing yourself too hard, when you said you could handle it I trusted you to know your own limits. Apparently I was wrong to do so."

Applejack grit her teeth and glared angrily at Jason "What do you know?! Your an outsider! You don't know me and you don't know how things work around here! You with your strange accent and words nopony understands! Things were just fine before you came here!" Applejack's eyes had squeezed shut as she ranted and released her frustration, to her credit it took her only a second to realize what she had said. When she did her eyes snapped open and widened in realization before she looked up to meet Jason's gaze.

He hadn't moved from his position, nor had his facial expression changed at all rather it was the unmistakable look of hurt that was poorly buried by Jason's efforts. When he spoke he spoke with clipped words that made it obvious he was attempting to hide both his emotion and his usually distinctive accent.

"Well, if that is the case then I apologize for bothering you Miss Applejack, I shall leave now."

Jason turned on his heel and marched away, not looking back.

Applejack's rump hit the ground as she tried to process what she had just done.

You told the truth. A small voice said to her.

Applejack looked up and opened her mouth to call Jason's name but he was long gone, standing up on her wobbly legs she moved as fast as she could. She felt the sting of tears forming but held them back, she had to apologize, had to, even though her words might be beyond forgiveness. As she went, she stepped on and squashed the half-eaten apple that Jason had left forgotten in the dust.

Applejack made it to Twilight's Library and burst through the door, calling Jason's name and then Twilight's. She was met with silence with only made her guilt build and make her more distraught, she ran out of the library with reviewed yet panicked energy and raced towards her farm.

Applejack bounded through the hills and into the orchard proper, she turned a corner and stopped at the sight she saw. Jason, Spike, and the rest of her friends all were harvest the apples and at a rapid pace too. Clearing several tree's each in the minute and a half she stood there gawking.

Fluttershy was the first to notice Applejack. "Oh dear, Applejack you look terrible." Fluttershy glided over and placed her hoof on the Farmer's forehead "Jason was right to get us involved, you could of seriously hurt yourself."

"Jason.." Applejack mumbled before stumbling, quick as a flash Rainbow Dash was there supporting her as she nearly collapsed. Soon all of her friends were there supporting her weight and comforting her but Applejack only had eyes for Jason.

He walked over now, boots throwing up small clouds of dust. He stopped just in front of their little group and crossed his arm's, a neutral look on his face but his posture radiating confidence as it always did. Applejack took this moment to appreciate just how dominating and powerful the Human could appear at times, at this moment with the lowering sun at his back and his tall figure it made Applejack fear the reprocess ions of her earlier words.

"Jason.." She began but the Human cut her off.

"Hush." He said "You are in no condition to be yacking, what you need is a nice long rest. Get her to her bed." Applejack complied to the guidance of her friends and soon found herself in her bed, she slept for several hours without end.

Applejack awoke about five hours later, still feeling tired but in more peaceful and less stressed way. She made her way out of the farmhouse, outside the orchard was bathed in the orange light of sunset and Applejack immediately noticed the lack of apples adorning her trees. Her friends were sitting on the porch, sipping on lemonade and chatting. She approached them.

"Where's Jason?" Was the first question on her lips.

Twilight answered "North Crop, he said he was checking to see if we missed any apples."

Applejack took a berth before her next question "When he cam to see y'all about me did he seem... Upset?" Since Twilight was drinking her lemonade she could only spare a confused look as Rarity answered.

"Upset? Darling, why would he be upset? Concerned is more like it, he was worried you would seriously injure yourself and so asked us all to take the work off your hooves."

"Why? Did something happen?" Fluttershy asked.

Applejack bit her lip as her guilt stormed in her gut "I... Said something I shouldn't have and I think it may of hurt him." Twilight placed down her glass and looked at Applejack with a serious gleam in her eye.

"What did you say?" She demanded.

Applejack's ears drooped as she quietly recited her previous rant with mixed results. Fluttershy's own ears drooped and she covered her mouth in shock, Rarity shook her head slowly in disappointment, Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped in both astonishment and slight disgust, even Pinkie Pie wasn't smiling rather she stared at the table. Twilight was downright furious.

"You.." She'd began "Do you have any idea how had feels? DO YOU?!" Applejack took a step back, she had never seen Twilight this mad.

"HE WAS DRAGGED FROM HIS HOME WITHOUT A CHOICE! EVERYPO-EVERYONE! HE EVER KNEW OR LOVED IS GONE AND HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE REMAINDER OF HIS PEOPLE IS! EVERYDAY HE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS ALONE IN A STRANGE LAND AND THEN HE HAS TO DEAL WITH PONIES LIKE YOU SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT!" Twilight breathed heavily, her cheeks red and a small amount of steam coming out of her nostrils with every breath, she pointed towards to the North Crop.

"Go and apologize." She commanded, not sparing a look at Applejack. The Farm Pony hurried away, not sure if she was rushing to apologize to running away from the disappointment, disgust, and rage she had elicited from her friends.

She found Jason not by an Apple Tree, but by a Maple Tree. In the back of her mind she wondered when a Maple Tree had time to grow but pushed that thought out of her mind and trotted up to Jason. He stood at the base of the tree, twirling one of it's many red leafs in his hand.

"Jason." She said, getting his attention.

"Hello, Applejack." Jason said back, not turning.

"I wanted to say, I'm really-"

"Did you know." Jason said, cutting her off "That my home country, Canada, had the largest population of Maple Tree's in the world? And that the red Maple Leaf is the national symbol of our country, government, and people?"

Applejack shook her head "No Jason, I didn't know that."

"Well, now you do." Jason turned around, finally facing the Farm Pony.

"I didn't mean what I said." Applejack stated "I was just so tired, I'm so sorry."

"I know." Jason said with a small smile "I've heard worse, I forgive you." Stepping towards her and kneeling down. The Farmer's signature Stetson was gone, left in her room. Leaving only the mare's golden-blond hair behind. Gently Jason laced the Maple Leaf into Applejack's hair, just behind her ear with she simply stared at him a bit dumbfounded that he forgave her so readily.

"What was your home like?" Applejack asked.

Jason didn't hesitate "Cold, hard, wet, and uninviting. The people there were friendly but stubborn but I guess that's what keeps them all alive, in the winter is a constant battle and in the summer it's repairs to the roads and other things to prepare for the next winter."

Applejack internally flinched but put on a smile.

"It's sounds nice." She lied.