New Dawn

“Fingers, check. Toes, check. Functioning lungs...ow, but a check.” Jerrod slowly opened his eyes to see where he was. A white washed ceiling hung over his head with a single magic globe floating just off the ceiling, casting the room in a dim light. “Well that is just a little discouraging.” Gently he twisted his head to the left and traced a few tubes from his arm to an IV drip and a heart monitor then he rolled his head to the other side. Smiling he chuckled dryly to himself. “Well, at least a few still like me.”

Jerrod bit his lip and pushed his forearms against the bed, shifting himself back slightly. “Ow.” Taking a deep breath he clenched his teeth and shifted back a little at a time until his back was resting on the headboard of the small bed and he was in a seated position. “Alright, let’s see what those guys left me.” He stared at the small pile of gifts on the nightstand for a second before shaking his head. He reached out and grabbed a bright pink box. Gingerly he pulled the ribbon free and cracked the lid, only wincing slightly as the overpowering scent of sugar assaulted him like a freight train. “Yep, that’s Pinkie’s.”

With care usually reserved for explosives he placed it back on the nightstand. “Hmmm.” He cupped a flower from the vase in his hand with the smallest of smiles. “I bet these are yours, Luna.” A snort caused him to jump and scan the whole room. His shoulders slumped and he smirked. “That doesn’t look terribly comfortable, Luna.” Turning his attention away from the mare sleeping on a small cot at the foot of his bed he looked back to the night stand. He stared at a few of the boxes thoughtfully before he noticed one hidden behind the flowers from Luna.

Jerrod grabbed the box and stared at it for a bit. “What do we have here?” He turned it over in his hand and furrowed his brow. “This has Amadiel written all over it.” Jerrod traced the edges of the seamless box as he rolled it around so he could look at all the sides. “I hate these boxes.” Sighing he cupped it in both hands and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed and the box slowly began to glow gently before bursting into flames.

Jerrod opened his eyes and smiled. “The lake.” He looked around the glade his bed was resting in with a pained and sad smile. The moon hung just over the trees, its light reflecting off the mirror like surface of the lake. His bed rested on the beach of the lake and Jerrod could feel a gentle breeze ruffling his hair. Turning to look at the moon he watched as a silhouette slowly formed in the moon's core and began moving towards him.

Jerrod gently clasped his hands in his lap as the shadow grew larger and larger until it landed on the moon reflected in the lake. As the tip of a shadowy foot hit the lakes surface a sound like glass raining down on stone echoed out and the shadow vanished in a sparkling display of stars. The dragon folded her large cerulean wings to her sides and smiled at Jerrod. “Greetings.”

Jerrod shook his head. “Still love the flare I see.” The dragon frowned. “Don’t give me that Amadiel, there’s nothing between us anymore.”

Amadiel smiled and slid across the lakes surface with a gentle flap of her wings and came to a stop at the foot of Jerrod’s bed. “Don’t be that way. We both know that’s not true. If it was true that box never would have opened.”

Jerrod scoffed at her and shook a hand flippantly. “Whatever, we both know that’s not true. The only things I have for you are contempt and hatred.”

Folding her arms across her chest Amadiel took a seat on the edge of the bed and turned her face away from Jerrod and towards the sky. “Well fine be that way. It’s not like I took the time to come see you or anything.” Jerrod face palmed and she snickered. “I’d ask how things are but you hate stupid questions.” She smiled gently at Jerrod. “I’m glad you’re okay though.”

Jerrod smiled slightly. “I hate questions with obvious answers, technically there’s no such thing as a stupid question.” Jerrod stuck his tongue then chuckled. “So what brings you here, come to finish what Teyvin started?” He sneered a little but it didn’t reach his eyes which just looked sad and tired.

Amadiel hung her head. “You still think...”

“Are you going to tell me you’re not?” Jerrod glared at her and crossed his arms.

Amadiel turned to Jerrod, pulling up one leg onto the bed and resting the foot on her other knee. “I am, going to tell you that is.” Amadiel took a deep breath and held it for a second. “How long has it been, five years I think. Five years to think about what happened, what went wrong between us. Half a decade it’s taken me to see what I should have just known from the very beginning, it wasn’t your fault.” Jerrod frowned and lifted an eyebrow quizzically. “I know you blame yourself and I to blamed you at one point but well, I listened to my heart. I looked for the truth and I found it, you’re not to blame for what happened.”

Jerrod chuckled and growled a little. “Like hell I’m not. I don’t know who did it but I know why. Just another part of my past rearing its ugly head and destroying something else I cherish.” Jerrod almost spat the last part. “Everyone keeps telling me it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t cause the accident. I didn’t kill him or them, it wasn’t my fault. We all know that’s bullshit, it was my fault. I wasn’t strong enough, I was too complacent. Everything that happened could have been prevented if I had done something different so stop telling me it’s not my fault.”

Amadiel placed a hand on Jerrod’s leg and squeezed it lightly. “Don’t blame yourself for the actions of other. I know about the isle and I know how far the effects of it rippled. That wasn't your fault and neither was the actions of the ones who hunted you.” She shifted herself and little. “Please stop bearing the burden by yourself. I know what has happened to you and around you isn’t great but you can’t keep taking all the blame on yourself.”

Jerrod sighed and his shoulders sagged and he hung his head. “I know you’re right, I know you are but...” Jerrod shook his head and grasped Amadiel’s hand in his tightly. “How can I not blame myself for the sins I have committed. I know that my hand was forced or that I was broken but that doesn't excuse the things I have done.” Jerrod released Amadiel’s hand and looked her in the eye. “You took me in and your son took a shine to me. I was supposed to be your slave but instead I was his lab assistant. If only I had just accepted things I might never have tried the spell. I was captured by slavers and trained to kill and then I used what they taught me. My two greatest sins were my own even if the circumstances weren't so how do you not blame yourself for it.”

Amadiel pulled her other leg onto the bed and sat cross legged. “That’s the past, a past you have been trying to correct ever since it happened. After the Isle of Two Moons you used your skills to protect others, even at the expense of your own safety. What you learned while protecting others you used to try and help your own people return home.” Amadiel leaned forward and crawled up the bed and lay alongside Jerrod. “You blame yourself for what happened and focus on them and forget all the good things you have done. The past blinds you too what’s right in front of you until it’s too late and then you loose it.” She gently kissed Jerrod on the nose. “Then you run away from it even if you have a chance to fix it.”

Jerrod shook his head. “I never could defy you, well except when it came to your son. I was supposed to be yours but he got me first, though you did get me in the end didn’t you.” Amadiel poked him the stomach and stuck her tongue out. “But none of that matters anymore. No matter what feelings may exist between us there can be no action on them.”

Amadiel sat up and gave Jerrod her best pouty face. “Don’t be like that, I know how to share.”

Jerrod smiled wryly. “But she doesn’t, or if she does she’s not very good at it. Maybe she never graduated from preschool.”

Amadiel smirked. “Your girlfriend can’t be that bad.”

Jerrod looked at her with a flat expression. “We both know that ain’t true. Hell I know you once stole a boyfriend from her and then you two ended up having some very odd forgive and forget sex.”

Amadiel froze for a brief moment before screaming. “You’re dating Luna!”

Jerrod reached up and cupped Amadiel’s cheek. “Not yet but I was planning on it. Something about blue females with wings just,” He growled lustfully, “gets me.”

Amadiel looked down at Jerrod and gulped. “Your dating Luna and I am in the hospital with you. OHNONONONONONONONONO!” She jumped back and turned back towards the moon. “Not good not good not good not good.”

From Jerrod’s other side a voice purred out. “Relax Amadiel, everyone has a history, it’s not like I swore I would smite you if I ever saw you again.” A blue hoof snaked over Jerrod’s chest and the illusion around them shattered bringing the hospital room back and destroying the calm that had permeated the room with it.

Amadiel haltingly turned back around and gulped as Luna’s head popped up and rested on Jerrod’s chest. “Hi, Luna. It’s been awhile.” Luna smiled and waved with a wing. “I’d ask what brings you here but I think I left a volcano erupting.” With that she darted for the door only to bounce off a shimmering blue wall.

Luna smiled sweetly. “No stay, I want to know more about what Jerrod and you were about to do.” She licked her lips. “Thought I might join you.”

Jerrod shook his head. “Ladies, as flattered as I am, I am still recovering so how about instead you get along for a bit.”

Both turned to look at him and spoke in unison. “Get along...with her?”

Jerrod sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes. In exchange I will let you all in the secret of me and my life here on Equus.”

Both perked up and Amadiel jumped across the room towards the bed. Luna caught her and gently lowered her to Jerrod’s other side. “We’re listening.”

Jerrod shook his head. “First I think we should invite Celestia, Twilight, Swiftflight, and Sun Feather. Though Twilight’s friends might want to get involved too which I guess is okay.”

Luna pouted. “Fine, give me a second to send Tia a message.” Her horn lit up and her eyes closed.

Amadiel looked at her then at Jerrod. “Really, Luna?”

“What, she’s a sweet mare. Bit of a sad and long past but she’s trying and she’s a lot of fun.” Jerrod placed a hand gently on her neck. “Nor does she seem to mind my relationship with Swiftflight, if it can be called that.”

Amadiel rolled her eyes. “Forever the fool you are Jerrod.” She chuckled. “But it’s probably your best quality.” She snuggled against his chest gently. “I’m glad your happy again.”

Jerrod wrapped his free arm around her and squeezed her shoulders in a half hug. “I’m getting there.”

Luna’s horn stopped glowing and her eyes fluttered open. “Tia says she’ll gather the others and be on her way within the hour.” Luna snuggled against Jerrod. “Till then I vote we all snuggle, except you Amadiel. You should go drown yourself in the toilet.”

Jerrod flicked Luna’s ear. “Be nice. I know some of your history and I want you both to forget it because I ain’t giving either of you up.” Jerrod smiled and hugged them both. “Now I cast my vote for snuggling while we wait.” He wriggled himself down the bed until he was laying down and pulled the two women close. “And while I’m at it, I’m taking a nap. Both of you stay quiet and enjoy the snuggles while I nap.”

Luna looked over at Amadiel. “I...I will forgive you for him, but only because it’s him.” She rested her cheek on Jerrod’s chest. “And because I know he doesn’t know the meaning of monogamous.”

Amadiel rested her head on Jerrod’s shoulder. “Then we agree. A truce for Jerrod.” Luna nodded and smiled. Amadiel sighed. “He’s such a silly human, getting two ancient goddesses to forgive each other for snuggles and a story.” All three smiled contently and closed their eyes, ready for sleep to claim them while they waited for the other’s who would hear the story of Jerrod and what had happened to him.