A Letter for Friendship
By Foregrip Butterfly
It had been exactly eight months since Jason Revere’s life had changed. It had been eight months since the twenty-four years he had built his life into just suddenly vanished in the blink of an eye. No longer was he the Jason of Earth, but now due to unfortunate events, the Jason of Equestria. Born into a world full of magic and adventure, the creatures alike all magnificent and unseen. He was the first of his kind to witness a new and strange world, to behold the sights that had long since been considered fantasy. And with that, he was the only of his kind. He is the only human in Equestria.
Taking another sip from a bottle Jason scarfed down the remainder of its contents. There was something soothing in the bitter taste and burn of his throat as he drank. Appleloosa Sarsaparilla, it read; it’ the one drink to have when you’re having more than one. Jason grunted and swished the backwash around before tossing the bottle into a corner of the kitchen. That was the twelfth bottle to hit the floor that night.
Jason pulled out the cellphone from his pocket and flicked it on. It had long since he had been able to use the device, namely coming to a world where towers were non-existent, let alone the device he held in his hand. Twilight Sparkle, a friend of his since his arrival had been gracious enough to create a device where he could charge it. Then again the unicorn’s curiosity had gotten the better of her and made it un-coincidentally.
The screen radiated a bright light in the dimly lit room. He shuffled a couple of apps and put the phone to his ear. He got a dial tone in response.
“Fuck.” He grunted, his voice rasp and harsh. He flicked through a few more screens and brought the phone to his ear once more. Again his response was another electronic response. “Fuck!” He slammed his fist against the table and shifted in his seat.
He attempted the process once more, but wasn’t awarded any hopeful fruition. Instead there was only a cold and lifeless noise that irradiated from the phone and mocked him.
“Goddammit!” He jumped up from his position throwing the table across the room. He took the small device and targeted a trajectory through his kitchen window which had expertly paved its way through the glass. His chest was quickly rising and falling. There was no semblance of peace for him. The room spun a couple of times before he managed to gain his bearing. All the blood rushed back to his head.
He stumbled over the chair he knocked over as he exited the kitchen and made his way through the dark living room. Attempting to maintain his balance he grabbed onto anything his hands could find in the blanket of darkness. The man ungraciously made his way to the front door and managed to open it after fumbling with it for a moment. And without so much as closing the door behind him, he made his way into the night and anger being his guide.
Twilight was sure that she would be alone the rest of the night. She had settled in by the fire that warmly lit her home and was wrapped in a blanket with a book open beneath her. Spike was fast asleep along with the rest of Ponyville so there was nothing that came to mind as to why someone was banging against her door.
“Just a minute.” She called. She tossed the blanket onto the arm of a nearby chair and gently marked her page before getting up from her spot. There was louder banging that followed and she could make of a faint voice from behind her door. “I’m coming!” Since when did people need to be so intrusive and, she glanced at the clock, at two in the morning? The purple unicorn let out a sigh, making her way toward the door and flicked on the light. As she moved opened the chamber she beheld a sight that, quite frankly, was the last she had expected.
“Jason? What are you doing here? It’s very late.” She looked the figure up and down. His hair was ragged and his face was a flush of red that matched his bloodshot eyes. His clothes had stains and looked like they hadn’t been washed in a while. The human had propped himself against the doorframe with one arm as he steadied himself. The man’s expression was far from pleasant as his eyes narrowed upon seeing the pony before him. A scowl twisted on his face.
“You.” He growled, his voice filled with such malice that twilight could practically see it dripping. “This is all your fault.” He slurred his words as he edged his way into her place, still clinging onto the frame. Twilight was confused, what was he saying? Why does he look like this, act like this? Did she do something wrong? She could faintly make out in the brisk air from outside the smell of alcohol and other unpleasant scents.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Did something happen?” Twilight responded trying to make light of the situation.
“Yeah, you happened. You did this.” Jason spat at Twilight causing her to reel back. She traced a hoof backwards as he slowly advanced. She was quickly starting to worry how far the conversation would escalate. She had been in spats with her friends before and knew how quickly things could get out of hoof.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about Jason. You’re not making any sense.” She tried to reason. If she was being honest this is never how Jason acted. Something was very wrong, maybe he was possessed or that this was a changeling? Maybe he’s hurt? This was a complete one-eighty from the loving human that she has known. He keeps trying to grab onto things and he’s slouching. “Jason, are you drunk?” The man’s eyes focused again and he seemed to straighten a bit more, taking his hand off the makeshift crutch.
“What the fuck do you care?” He growled and Twilight Grimaced.
“Because you’re starting to worry me, Jason. This isn’t like you.” Twilight was pleading for him to calm down. If he were to just relax and maybe sit down, she-
“Like hell! You brought me here not worrying what it would do to me.” He hiccupped and pointed a finger at the pony. “Your little ‘escapades’ with Nightlight Glimmer caused me to be pulled from my world to yours.” He emphasized his points with hand gestures that Twilight has been trying to pick up on for a couple of months now.
“It’s Starlight Glimmer she’s our friend now. And what happened was an accident, some of the magic from another timeline had pulled you through Starswirl's spell. There’s no way I would’ve known this would happen.” Twilight was trying to keep herself together. She had been feeling great remorse because of this and had taken the blame upon herself. She was able to save Equestria, but only on unfortunate circumstances. She had tried to make it up to him by looking up spells for months, but nothing turned up. Discord, the Royal sisters and even Starlight herself attempted to help but it was to no avail. She even tried the portal to her counterpart world, but that wasn’t where Jason had come from. The spell Starswirl had created was destroyed and with it any chance of him getting home.
It especially wasn’t easy to tell him. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was coming in shaky.
“That doesn’t change the fact that you still caused this.” He was furious. “I tried calling my brother today, my friends, my parents and I remembered that I can’t. I can’t because they are gone from my life and I will never be able to get them back. You took them from me!” Twilight swear she could see tears starting to form. He drew his hand to his waist and pulled out a small silver and metal object. He flicked a piece on the device and a cylinder compartment fell out. He reached into his pocket, obviously struggling and managed to spill a couple small metal objects to the floor but managed to put one in the cylinder and replaced it back in the object.
“Fine Twilight, you like playing games with my life? Like its nothing? Then here’s a game that I know you’ll enjoy.” He grabbed the cylinder and spun it, watching as it made clicks until it finally came to a stop. Twilight remembered what this was. Jason had explained what the device was used for shortly after coming to her world. He had been a guard for some business and was in charge of its safety. She had seen first-hand what damage it could do when he demonstrated it one day. She had never seen steel deform like such before. She had thought that he used up all of what he called ‘bullets’. Apparently she was wrong.
Click.
Oh Celestia.
He hand placed the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger and watched as the cylinder rotated. She was caught completely off guard by this. What was he doing! Is he trying to kill himself? This isn’t good.
“Jason, stop! What are you doing!” She screamed. She was genuinely terrified for his life. He could’ve just died right in front of her. Why is he doing this!? She moved for him.
“Don’t you get off to this? To watching me suffer? The torture slowing edging and eating at others. I’m all alone. You are getting what you wanted Twilight.” Any semblance of rationale was gone from the man; Twilight knew that now. She has to act quick or one of her friends are going to die.
Click. Another rotation of the cylinder is frighteningly loud.
“Jason, stop! You don’t have to does this!” She rushes him and tries to take the sidearm from his hand using magic. He’s going to kill himself if she doesn’t get that device from him. A rush of pain shoots through Twilight light lightning. It courses through her body as she is stunned. Jason had hit her horn causing her magic to falter and knocking her off balance. Jason repositions the gun, the chamber spinning half of a chamber. Twilight pulls her weight from the floor, ignoring any pain she that was burning and she lunged at the man.
“No!” She screamed as she collided with the human.
There was a ringing in her ears as it echoed and vibrated against her skull. Everything felt numb and she could make out other muffled voices. She felt herself being moved by something over and over and the room began to spin. This was probably the worst experience of her life. And just as quickly as everything started, it was over.
“I said are you alright?” Jason shook himself from his daze. He looked up at the pony talking to him. Twilight wore a wide smile on her face and he offered her one in return. He internally grimaced once he looked at the depression in her horn. The one that he had caused a long time ago. He felt the sickening regret return to his stomach. He had tried to kill himself that day and only ended up hurting a friend. In time they had managed to mend their relationship and became inseparable. Twilight took him in as a sort of ‘student’ and made sure that he had full well learned what friendship was. She also made sure that he knew he wasn’t alone.
He had been so foolish then, so pent up and full of anger. But that was then. And since then he had managed to find a place in the town and in the hearts the ponies.
Twilight coughed to clear her voice. “As I was saying, she’s growing up fast.” Twilight looked over to his daughter, a small earth pony of white and gold. She was running around with the other colts and fillies who were giggling and playing about. “You know, she has grown fond of her mother, as I have seen.”
“That she does.” Jason responded with content, happy to see his kid having a good time.
“But she has this tenacity that I can only find in you.” Twilight stated, looking at the man. “You’ve been a big influence in her life.” She wore a genuine smile that expressed the proud feeling swelling in her chest. “You’ve been a big influence in all of our lives.” The human choked internally. He never loved these ponies so much like he has these past few years. Things really turned around for him when he married an earth pony named Calm Heart and later adopted a foal who he cherishes with as much heart as he can.
A sign overcame Jason as he put a hand on unicorn’s shoulder. “Thank you Twilight. Really, thank you for being there for me.” He smiled, as bittersweet as the moment was.
“No problem, Jason. What are friends for?” She laughed halfheartedly. He was so grateful that Twilight and her friends had been there for him, to bring him back from his worst point in his life. They were there every step of the way and he made it a regular occurrence to let them know just how much he appreciated their efforts.
“Oh hey!” The man perked up, reaching into his pocket to pull out a folded up piece of paper.
“What's up?” Twilight questioned, looking toward the paper.
“I have one last friendship report.” He said handing the letter to Twilight.
“I thought I said you didn’t have to write anymore when you married Calm Heart?” Twilight gave Jason a puzzling look.
“I know, but I think this one does it justice. Kind of like my last report and all you know? I just needed to get this out.” He handed the letter to Twilight to which she gratefully accepted. “Just make sure you read it when you get home, okay?” He asked.
“I will.” The unicorn put a reassuring hoof on Jason’s leg.
“Daa-ad!” The young filly whined and out of breath. This caught the attention of two watching as the little pony waved her other parent over; beckoning to join her mother. Jason looked back Twilight and gave a content sigh.
“Looks like that’s my cue.” The man chuckled and got up and ruffled the mare’s mane a bit. Twilight knocking his hand away playfully, she smiled up at him.
“See ya, Twilight.” The man’s eyes glistened as orange light cast itself upon his shoulders. His smile was genuine and sincere, something that brought joy to Twilight’s heart.
“See ya, Jason.” She replied, her eyes reflecting a faint gloss that resembled the humans.
She watched the man walk off toward his family, a filly who was jumping around his slender legs aching for attention and a wife who stood by his side and would continue to do so for many years. He looked happy and Twilight relished in that, there was nothing she loved more than bringing joy to her friends. It was the thing she devoted her life to. And she was at peace, so she watched the world go on.
Dear Twilight,
I don’t know exactly how to start this, but I felt I needed to write one last report; not just for you, but for myself. The first few years I was here were tough. I had lost my family, my friends, my home. I had lost all I had worked for and it seemed as if I was in a nightmare with no way out. I was so foolish back then. I hadn’t realized that everything was right in front of me. It wasn’t the end of my life, but the start of a new one. And it’s become one that is so beautiful.
I married a wonderful pony named Calm Heart. She took me in and accepted me for who I was and for who I wanted to be. She became everything to me and she showed me what it was to love again. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any better I was blessed with a child. Abandoned at an orphanage, she looked so hopeless. And it reminded me of who I used to be. We adopted her then and there. My life had changed for the better and I was going to make sure that was possible for this filly.
I never imagined things would turn out this way, especially thinking back on it. I was ready to end it all not knowing how much these ponies would affect me and how much I could affect them. And I want to thank you for that personally. You saved me. You saved everything I wouldn’t have become had I been alone. You and your friends didn’t cast me out even when you had every right to. Instead you decided to give me a new hope, something I had been without for a while. You all cared for me when I needed it.
I used to not understand what you meant when you talked about the Magic of Friendship. But now I know. And I’m so lucky to have experienced it with you.
Sincerely,
Your faithful student,
Jason Revere
