Chapter 4 - Flashback

As Dusk walked down the street, he thought back to when Jet told him he had to leave. The time that his best friend, the only pony he ever trusted, tore him apart.

It was a Monday morning, and Dusk was sitting by himself in the school cafeteria; He hadn't seen Jet all day.

"Where are you, Jet?" Dusk wondered, as he ate his biscuit.

A red pegasus entered the cafeteria, and Dusk immediately recognised his friend, Jet.

"Hey, Jet!" Dusk called from across the cafeteria.

Jet looked particularly down today. In fact, Dusk had never seen Jet this sad, before. He was always smiling, laughing, joking, brightening up Dusk's day.

"Hey, Jet. What's wrong? You're never this down," Dusk inquired.

"H-hey, Dusk. I-I h-h-," Jet began.

"Hey, it's okay," Dusk reassured, placing a hoof on Jet's shoulder.

"I have to m-m-move to Las Pegasus," Jet said finally.

Jet stared into space for a second, the statement floating in the air before him. He then suddenly buried his face into Dusk's chest, and cried.

Dusk wrapped Jet into a tight hug, holding his friend close. He was angry, and he was sad, and he was confused. How could Jet be leaving? They had only just met. Given that it was one and a half years ago, it seemed like it was yesterday.

Dusk waited for Jet to calm down before asking, "You're leaving?"

"I wish... I didn't... have to." Jet replied, between sobs. "But the orphanage... it's filled to capacity, and the manager hates me."

"So... this is goodbye?" Dusk asked.

"I was given... a week's notice," Jet replied.

"Well, then we make this a week to remember," Dusk said. "You used to talk about this filly you met in Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash, was it? She was like your fillyfriend or something."

"She wasn't my fillyfriend, Dusk. I miss her, though," Jet replied.

"I think my dad knows a few pegasi from his old unit. I could ask if he could find someone to contact Dash," Dusk proposed.

"I'd like that, Dusk. I'd like that a lot," Jet replied, smiling.

They walked to their classes like any normal day. Dusk said goodbye to Jet, and began pondering how to make Jet's final week here a great one.

"Hey, dad," Dusk said.

Dusk's dad looked up from the book he was reading and said, "What is it, Dusk?"

"Do you know any pegasi who live in Cloudsdale?" Dusk asked.

"Yeah, I think I do. Why do you ask?" Dusk's father replied.

"My friend, Jet, is moving to Las Pegasus on Sunday and I wanted to get one his old friends down here," Dusk said. "I want his last week here to be memorable."

"Sure, what's the friend's name?" Dusk's father asked.

"Rainbow Dash, I think," Dusk replied.

"Rainbow Dash... I think one of the guys in my old unit had a daughter by that name. I'll send him a letter," Dusk's father said.

"Thanks, dad!" Dusk shouted, hugging his dad tightly.

"Anything for my little trooper," Dusk's dad said, patting Dusk on the head.

The following day, Dusk greeted Jet with a huge smile.

"What?" Jest asked. "What could you possibly be smiling about at a time like this?"

"Well, it's just that my dad said he could get Dash out here this week!" Dusk exclaimed.

"Oh..." Jet said, too stunned for words.

Dusk laughed as he watched Jet trying to comprehend what his friend had just done for him. This could possibly have been the biggest favour anypony had ever done for Jet. It was so shocking, the words escaped him.

"You don't have to say anything, Jet. I did it for you, and I expect nothing in return," Dusk said, placing a hoof on his friend's shoulder once again.

Jet closed his mouth, and his eyes began to water.

"Don't cry on me again, Jet," Dusk joked.

This made Jet smile, and he let a tear roll down his muzzle before wiping his eyes.

"This is probably the biggest favour anypony has ever done for me. I don't know how to thank you, Dusk," Jet said.

"You know I'd do anything for you, Jet. You're my friend. And friends don't leave friends behind," Dusk said, smiling warmly.

Dusk snapped out of his flashback, the words ringing in his ears. That's where he had heard the phrase before.

"But I broke that promise. I left him behind. I couldn't stop him from leaving," Dusk mumbled.

"You can be adopted, right, Jet?" Dusk asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Jet answered. "I'm not sure how long the paperwork takes though."

"There has to be somepony around here that wants to adopt you," Dusk said, optimistically.

"No, Dusk, there isn't. I've looked," Jet said, sadly.

"What about Dash's family? Surely she'd get her parents to adopt you," Dusk said.

"I was thrown out of Cloudsdale, Dusk. Even if Dash's parents adopted me, I wouldn't be able to live with them," Jet said, looking at the ground.

"Well, what about my parents?" Dusk said. "They'd adopt you."

"I couldn't ask you to do that, Dusk. Your dad can barely afford three ponies. I'd just send you into poverty," Jet said.

"But..." Dusk trailed off.

What Jet said was true, and no matter how optimistic Dusk could be, he knew that deep in his heart, his parents couldn't afford to adopt Jet.

"I don't know what to do," Dusk said. "That's all I can think of."

"You don't have to adopt me, Dusk. You don't have to find anypony to adopt me, either," Jet said. "What you've done for me over the last one and a half years has been more than anypony has ever done for me. If anypony here is in debt, it's me."

"If only my parents had more money, then you wouldn't have to leave me here," Dusk said, beginning to cry.

"I wish that too, Dusk. But sometimes, stuff just doesn't work out the way it should," Jet said.

It was now Jet's turn be comforting, as Dusk suddenly broke down and cried uncontrollably. How could Jet leave at a tie like this? How could he be sent away? Why did this have to happen? Dusk collapsed into Jet and cried into his coat like a little filly. Jet was the only person to ever have seen Dusk like this. Dusk had never cried in the short time Jet had known him.

"You can't leave!" Dusk shouted. "You just can't! We haven't even graduated yet!"

Jet just hugged his friend tighter. Dusk could fell him beginning to shake, and he could hear him sob. They were being torn apart by a flawed system.

They stood there, in each other's embrace, weeping. Luckily they were in a secluded place. If anyone saw them, they may question what they were doing, and possibly bully them. No onlooker could possibly hope to understand the depth of their friendship. They couldn't possibly understand what they meant to each other.

Dusk again awoke from his flashback, tears rolling down his muzzle as he remembered how he had felt on that day. Jet was the only pony that had ever been there for him. The only pony who accepted him for who he was. The only pony who didn't care about Dusk's history.

Dusk walked home by himself that afternoon. He didn't really know why he did. But he took the opportunity to look for a gift for Jet. He walked through the markets and looked at some of the various trinkets that were on display.

Something shiny caught Dusk's eye. Lying in a wooden box with a red velvet lining, was a small golden medallion.

"Excuse me, sir," Dusk asked the shopkeeper. "Am I allowed to pick this up?"

"Certainly, young sir," the shopkeeper said.

Dusk levitated the medallion out of the small box, and rotated it, looking it over. It was a smooth, polished medallion, with no markings on it whatsoever. Dusk spied a small button on the side of the medallion. Pushing it in with his magic, the medallion flipped open to reveal a compass. Engraved on the inside of the lid was a small phrase.

"Not all who wander, are lost," Dusk mumbled, reading the engraving. "How much is this, sir?"

"For you... 10 bits," the shopkeeper said.

"Really?" Dusk asked.

"Really," the shopkeeper said, smiling.

Dusk pulled 10 bits from his bit pouch, it was his entire month's allowance. He gave the money to the shopkeeper, who placed the compass in the wooden box, and gave it to Dusk.

"Thank you so much, sir!" Dusk exclaimed, before trotting home, happily.

Dusk burst through the front door, startling his mother.

"Don't do that, Dusk!" she scolded.

"Sorry, mum," Dusk said closing the door. "I got a present for Jet! Do you have any ribbons?"

"I think I do. Would you like me to put a bow on it?" Dusk's mother replied.

"Yeah!" Dusk said, enthusiastically.

"Alright then, Dusk. Wait here," Dusk's mother said, chuckling.

Dusk trotted to the table and placed the wooden box on the table. His mum came back into the room with three different colours of ribbons.

"Red, green, or blue?" Dusk's mother asked.

"Red. It's Jet's favourite colour!" Dusk replied.

Dusk's mother smiled as she used her magic to tie a ribbon around the box. When she was done, Dusk levitated the box into the air and scrutinized the bow.

"It's perfect!" Dusk said enthusiastically. "Thanks mum."

Dusk placed the box on the table again and hugged his mother. Then he started crying.

"What's wrong, sugarcube?" Dusk's mother asked.

"Jet's leaving at the end of the week!" Dusk wailed. "The orphanage kicked him out!"

"Oh, Dusk. I'm so sorry," Dusk's mother cooed, while stroking Dusk's mane.

"I don't want him to go!" Dusk said, his voice muffled in his mother's coat.

"I know, sweetie. I know," Dusk's mother cooed again.

Dusk cried and hugged his mother for a long time. He just it all out. He cried until he could cry no more, and kept his hooves wrapped around his mother long after.

It was later that night when Dusk had decided to ask his father about Rainbow Dash. He walked down the stairs into the living room and saw his father reading a book.

"Dad?" Dusk asked.

"What is it, son?" Dusk's father replied, looking up from his book.

"Is Rainbow Dash gonna be able to come?" Dusk asked.

"Yes she is, Dusk," his father replied, smiling. "Her father replied to my letter today. He says she'll be able to come out by tomorrow. She'll arrive with her mother, Rainbowshine, and they'll leave on Saturday."

"YES!" Dusk shouted. "Thanks, dad! Jet's gonna love this!"

Dusk quickly hugged his father and galloped up the stairs to his bedroom.

Dusk Fire knocked on Rainbow's motel room door and waited. Her mother answered.

"You must be Dusk Fire," Rainbowshine said with a smile. "Hold on a tic, I'll get Dash."

Rainbowshine walked back into the motel room and called for Rainbow Dash, who appeared from her room a few seconds later, looking rather tired. She walked to the door and yawned.

"Rainbow Dash, this Is Dusk Fire," Rainbowshine said.

"Hey, Dusk," Dash said.

Dusk stood there for a second, staring at Dash. She was an average looking pegasus with a cyan coat. Except for one thing. Her unkempt mane was all the colours of the rainbow. Dusk had never seen any pegasus quite like her.

"H-hello," Dusk said, extending a hoof, awkwardly.

Rainbow Dash shook it while rubbing her left eye. It was quite obvious that she had just woken up.

"Mrs. Dash, would it be okay if I talked to your daughter in private for a bit?" Dusk asked.

"Sure," Rainbowshine said, smiling.

"Thanks," Dusk replied.

Rainbow Dash yawned and walked out the door, her mother closing it behind her.

"So what did ya wanna talk about?" Dash asked.

"Well, my friend is leaving at the end of the week. His orphanage is kicking him out and I wanted to make his last day special. He always talked about you, so I wanted to see if you could come out here and make his day," Dusk replied.

"And who, exactly, is the friend of yours?" Dash asked flatly.

"Oh, right," Dusk said. "His name is Jet Stream."

All evidence of tiredness was suddenly gone from her eyes when Rainbow Dash heard 'Jet Stream'.

"Did you say Jet Stream?" Dash asked.

"Yeah, he's my best friend. He talked about you all the time when we first met. He really misses you," Dusk replied.

"Why didn't you say so? Oh my gosh!" Dash said, playfully punching Dusk in the shoulder. "I haven't seen him in, like, ages!"

"Well, I want you to come to school with me tomorrow. I'm gonna give him a gift, and then I'll call for you," Dusk explained. "You'll come out from around the corner of the building and say hi, I guess."

"I can't believe I'm gonna see him after all this time," Dash said, staring off into the distance. "I thought I'd never see him again."

"I'll pick you up from here at 6 tomorrow and I'll walk you to the school," Dusk said.

"Yup, yup," Dash said, not really listening. "6 AM, sure."

"So it's a plan?" Dusk asked.

"Yeah, sure. Gosh, Jet, I thought you were gone. You didn't even say goodbye..." Dash trailed off. "I'll see you tomorrow, Dusk."

"Great. Its Jet's last day tomorrow, I want it to be really special," Dusk said.

Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on Dusk's shoulder and said, "You have no idea how much I've missed him, Dusk. Thankyou for this."

Dusk smiled and Rainbow Dash took her hoof off of Dusk's shoulder, suddenly embarrassed at her show of intimacy. She uttered thanks once more and retreated into her motel room, leaving Dusk to prepare the next day's events.

It was Friday morning, one day before Jet had to leave, and Dusk had left him in their spot on the edge of the school playing fields. Jet stood there, wondering where Dusk could have gone to, when a small crack sounded next to him. Jet turned to see Dusk, who had materialised out of thin air. It seemed he had recently mastered his teleportation spell.

"Sorry I'm late, Jet. I had to go get your gift," Dusk said.

"A gift?" Jet asked.

"Yeah," Dusk replied.

Dusk levitated the small wooden box out from his saddle bag, and placed it in Jet's hooves. Jet untied the bow on the box, and opened it. He picked up the compass in his hooves and stared at it.

"What's this?" Jet asked.

"Press that button there," Dusk said.

Jet pressed the small button and the lid flipped open, revealing the compass and message inside.

"It's so you can find me again," Dusk said.

Jet looked up from the compass, tears in his eyes.

"Thanks, Dusk," Jet said. "I'll cherish this for the rest of my life."

"I know you will," Dusk said.

Jet looked at the compass again, the golden surface gleaming, almost glowing. It was the most thoughtful gift anypony had ever given Jet, and he would never let it go. A tear rolled down his muzzle and splashed onto the glass interior of the compass. Jet closed the lid and placed the compass back in the box.

"Now, that's not all," Dusk said.

"That's not all?" Jet asked.

"Remember when I asked my dad if he could get Rainbow Dash out here?" Dusk asked.

"Yeah," Jet said.

"Well, she's here!" Dusk shouted, signalling Rainbow Dash to come out from her hiding place.

Dash strode around the corner and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Jet. Dusk had said he'd be here, but she didn't really think he was telling the truth.

Jet saw Rainbow Dash and froze up. It had been one and a half years since he had last seen her. Dusk had said he'd get her out here, but it seemed impossible. Any trace of doubt was now gone from his mind.

Jet and Dash stood like statues, for a few minutes. They just stared at each other. Both were in disbelief. Both thought they had lost each other.

Then Dash broke her stare and ran full tilt into Jet, tackling him to the ground. She had gotten much stronger since they had last seen each other. She buried her muzzle into Jet's chest, and he could feel her wet tears dampen his coat.

Jet put his hooves around her and hugged her tight.

Dash looked up, her eyes glistening from her tears. She then kissed him on the cheek.

"This isn't the Rainbow Dash I knew in Cloudsdale," Jet remarked. "I thought you didn't like girly stuff like kisses."

"Shut up," Rainbow Dash snapped. "I was gonna kiss you if you won that race, but they took you away before I could. They didn't even let me say goodbye. I've been waiting one and a half years to do that."

Dusk looked upon the scene in awe. He had never seen such an act performed by ponies so young. Seeing them like this brought a tear to his eye. Jet was happy, and that was what Dusk had wanted. Jet deserved to be happy on his last day.

"Uh, Jet?" Dusk asked. "I didn't think this would happen. Should I go?"

Jet and Rainbow Dash said in unison, "It doesn't matter, so long as I'm with Je-sh."

The final word was a mash up of their names. It was almost a metaphor for their friendship.

Dusk left Rainbow Dash and Jet entwined and went to sit on a nearby bench. As he sat down, he suddenly realised that he was jealous of Jet. Dusk was too young to grasp the full concept of love, as was the same for many ponies his age, but he knew love when he saw it. Dusk had witnessed his parents express their love in much the same way, with oft kisses, tender hugs, and affectionate mumbles. Where many ponies Dusk's age would have been grossed out at this, Dusk was more or less curious. The concept of love was intriguing. It was like a new book, waiting for it's first pages to be turned. Dusk had tasted friendship, and seeing they way Rainbow Dash and Jet looked at each other, Dusk felt he wanted more. He was too young to understand these feelings though, and they only managed to confuse and frighten him. Dusk pushed these thoughts out of his head, and focused on the fact that he had accomplished his mission. Jet was happy.

Dusk left Jet and Rainbow Dash on their own for the rest of the day. Jet showed Dash around the school, and her unique mane and boyish attitude caught many curious looks from the ponies in the school.

Dusk caught up with Jet and Dash at the end of the day, both of them having enjoyed their time together, with Dusk growing ever more jealous.

"Jet, can I tell you something?" Dusk asked.

"Yeah. What is it?" Jet replied.

"Well, I did all of this for you, and seeing how happy Rainbow Dash makes you, made me jealous," Dusk said. "You have a very special friend in her, and I don't have anything close. I'm not saying that you're not a great friend, I'm just jealous of the relationship you have with Rainbow Dash. I feel really bad about it though, because I know I shouldn't be jealous of your happiness."

"It's alright, Dusk," Jet said. "I can see why you'd be jealous. I'm not offended."

"You aren't?" Dusk said, surprised.

"No. I'm not," Jet said.

"Thanks for understanding, Jet," Dusk said.

Jet just smiled and the two walked Dash back to her motel room together.

Dusk walked Jet back to the orphanage as the sun set in the distance, casting amber light on the path ahead of them. They said nothing, not wanting to prolong the hurting that accompanied their final stroll together. They walked in silence, the sun throwing the sky into a mosaic of ambers, reds, purples, and pinks.

They arrived at the orphanage as the street lights began to turn on.

"I guess this is goodbye, then," Jet said.

"Yeah," Dusk replied.

"Today has been the best day of my life, Dusk," Jet said. "All because of you. Thankyou so, so much."

Dusk smiled and said, "You would've done the same."

"You know it," Jet said.

Jet walked up to the orphanage doors and placed his hoof on the handle. He pause for a second.

"Dusk, I was broken after they threw me out of Cloudsdale," Jet began. "If it wasn't for your kindness and understanding, I don't think I would ever have gotten over it. You saved my life twice that day, one and a half years ago. You saved me from that bully. But you also saved me from myself. You have been the best friend an estranged pegasus like me could ask for, and for that, I am forever in your debt. I will never forget you, Dusk."

Dusk stood there for a few seconds, letting the words sink in before saying, "Arrivederci, Jet Stream."

"What was that?" Jet asked.

"It means, 'Until we meet again'," Dusk replied.

"Arrivederci, Dusk Fire," Jet said, and entered the orphanage, leaving Dusk by himself on the steps.

Author's Note

This chapter is a bit of a collab with one of my friends, Kruziiksilmiin, who is currently writing his own fic centered around Jet Stream. I'd like to thank him for his support and input, and he is a really great mate. Go read what he's got here: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/106413/the-life-of-jet-stream and give it a like! Show this guy support, he's really epic!