Double Timeline: Count up Your Crimes

Flying a few pony lengths above the street level in Canterlot, Blue Jay looks for a clear space to land and made sure her mailbags were secured before touching down on the cement sidewalk. Flicking a few stray strands of her blue mane with black tips away from her blue eyes, she reached into her mailbags with an wing and pulled out today’s mail. Using her black wing tips, she flicked through the letters and magazines making sure she had all pieces that were addressed to the same pony before putting it into the correct mailbox and moving onto the next residence. The sun felt warm against Blue Jay’s white fur with a small breeze to keep things from getting too hot and she took a moment to enjoy the sunshine as ponies hurried by. “I love my job,” she whispered happily to herself as she touched the silver necklace with three small spheres separating two wings that she wore around her neck.

When her mailbags were empty, she flew back to Canterlot’s Post Office and switched them with another set that had her cutie mark embroidered on it - a single blue wing - before taking to the sky once more. Once the rest of the mail had been delivered, she flew towards the Wonderbolt compound at a leisurely pace opting to fly just above the buildings. Approaching the compound, she descended in a slow spiral ensuring she would be facing the guards when she touched the ground.

Walking towards the two unicorn stallions, she slowly unfolded her wings and held them out to the side. “Hiya, Blue, Aki,” she greeted them as she came to a stop.

“Hello, Blue Jay,” Blueberry greeted as he used his magic to scan Blue Jay. He was the color of a blueberry but because of untold reasons, he dropped -berry and had everypony call him Blue. At the same time, Akigawa, the red furred unicorn, scanned the mailbags as he walked around her.

“You’re clear to enter, Ms. Jay.” Aki announced as he went back to his post. Rapping on the frame, the gate opened up revealing a green unicorn mare. “I don’t think we need to tell Ms. Jay where to go, Zielony.”

“You know the drill, Blue Jay. Have a good day.” Blue smiled and tipped his head.

“You guys as well.” Blue Jay replied with a wave before following Zielony to one of the buildings. After entering what the Wonderbolts call their lounge area, Blue Jay headed straight for the counter. “Mail’s here, Lucky.”

“Good to know you’re like clockwork.” Lucky chuckled as Blue Jay reached the mail counter as she gave him the mail. “How are you today?”

“Quite well, beautiful weather out there.” Blue Jay admitted with a smile. “Perfect day to be a mail mare. How are you doing?”

“Oh, same old, same old.” Lucky replied as he started separating the mail. “I’m just glad to be here.”

The two spoke for a couple minutes and Blue Jay was about to leave when an idea popped into her head. “Say, Lucky, how do I get a day pass?” She remembered her siblings mentioning something should family members wished to visit, but couldn’t remember what all it said.

Lucky raised an eyebrow. “Why the sudden interest?” he asked, only because he was curious himself.

Before Blue Jay could reply, two hooves covered her eyes with a mare’s voice asking “Guess who?”

“Hey Moony, I found this stray outside when you sent me out for muffins.” Azzy - Azure Star- called out in a teasing manner as she headed for her squad mates after heading towards one of the gyms while carrying a bag of muffins under a wing.

“Azzy, I was in the lounge!” Blue Jay protested as she troted alongside Azzy as she tried to figure out where the muffins came from.

“Your point? I was still sent for muffins! Not my fault you followed me… Also your tail needs some shampoo.”

Blue Jay flicked her tail into Azzy’s face. “Excuse me for coming here right after work.” She drew out the first syllable as Azzy made a face. “Want to make another comment about my tail?”

“Yeah, it needs more color.” Azzy said as she quickly sidestepped away.

“I…” Blue Jay’s mind froze up, then she bolted after Azzy “Come back here you!”

“Come on, you know what happens when you wrestle with me!” Azzy had no trouble dodging Blue Jay, often waiting for the other mare to get close before ducking to let her sail over head. “You end up face first in a bed with me on your back,” Azzy then blew a few raspberries at Blue Jay while Sunshower sits on the mats to one side eating popcorn.

“Joke’s on you this time, Azzy, we aren’t anywhere near a bedroom this time!” Blue Jay grinned, thinking she would finally get the upper hand.

“Azzy… I must intercede on my dear Jay’s behalf. Her honor is clearly at stake!” Moonbow called out from her spot beside Sunshower and helping herself to some popcorn.

“We fought in a lounge, you STILL ended up face first in a bed.” Azzy spotted Bear Claw moving something towards them but kept Blue Jay distracted.

“That was luck!” Blue Jay almost yelled and thinking Azzy had gotten distracted, flew around and attempted to put her into a choke hold. Next thing Blue Jay knew, she was laying face down on a mattress while Azzy sitting on her.

“What did I tell you?” Azzy asked sitting on Blue Jay’s back as she calmly inspected and blew some dust off her hoof oblivious to the other mare’s muffled cursing.

“I think you can let her up now.” Moony brushed off her hooves as Blue Jay quieted down.

“But the bed’s so comfy.” Azzy fake pouted and tried to convince Moony with her eyes, but sighed as she got off Blue Jay.

Blue Jay rolled onto her back. “Faust, I just thought of a good comeback for that tail color comment.” She looked up to see Moony holding out a hoof and with her help, Blue Jay stood up.

“Now, now, Jay, you shouldn’t swear,” Sunny chided teasingly as he came up and hugged his younger sister. “How’s my favorite younger sister doing?”

“I’m your only younger sister, Sunny,” Blue Jay replied as she hugged him back.

“Exactly, which is why you’re my favorite.” Sunny looked over to Moony after the hug was finished, seeing her with a raised eyebrow. “Hey, you’re my twin, and I wouldn’t trade you for anypony else.”

“Good save,” Moony replied as Bear Claw joined them. “What brings you here?” she asked giving Blue Jay a hug as well.

“To get a noogie from Uncle BC!” Bear Claw laughed before capturing Blue Jay in a headlock and began rubbing her mane as she tried to fight him off.

When Bear Claw let go, Blue Jay rubbed her head to sooth the pain away, even though it didn’t hurt that much and to straighten her mane out. “I wanted to come visit you guys,” she replied as she hugged Moony and the two nuzzled the other’s shoulder.

“If you had given us some warning, I would have let you know when we were somewhat free.” Moony explained as the hug finished.

Blue Jay chuckled as she shrugged. “It was a spur of the moment thing. Besides, you know I enjoy getting a pre-show of what you’re working on.” As they made small talk, everypony but Blue Jay ate some of the muffins before Moony had her squad take to the air in order to practice the aerial techniques for a bit. For the remaining time, they spent dedicated to practicing their speed runs and turns, even letting Blue Jay control the stopwatch and allowed her to race them a couple of times. Though she was last, Blue Jay had fun flying around the gym with them and as the allotted time came to a close, Moony called for everypony to hit the showers. The mares heading for one locker room while the stallions headed for theirs.

“Did you have fun today, Jay?” Azzy asked Blue Jay as they showered, using her nickname for Blue Jay.

“Of course. Though honestly, had I not witness your guys’ fighting style, I wouldn’t believe such a style could exist.” Blue Jay replied as she let the hot water cascade down her back and sighed contently as it soothed her muscles. “Jay, heads up.” She heard Azzy call out and looked over in time to see a white bottle heading her way and though she fumbled the catch a couple times it was ultimately a successful catch. Turning it over, she saw that it was a bottle of shampoo before shaking her head with a small smile. “Ffffiiiiinnnnneeeeeee. I’ll use it.”

“Would you two hurry up?” Moony asked as she stood off to one side with a damp towel around her neck. “We have the evening patrol and I’d like to eat with Little Jay.” Though her voice sounded impatient, she really wasn’t but at the same time wanted to catch up with her little sister.

“Almost done, sis.” Blue Jay said washing her tail. “Azzy, I’m still puzzled as to why my tail needs more color. Both of us have a duotone tail.” Once she finished getting the shampoo out, she headed for the spare towel rack  in the locker room and started to dry off.

Azzy shook her head as she joined the other two half a second later. “Sorry, that’s where you’re wrong. Black is the absence of light and it’s just… eh, so no, we don’t have the same number of tail colors.

Blue Jay was about to reply when the door opened and Sunny stuck his head in. “You mares ready yet?” He called out, not expecting them to be in his line of sight and quickly received two towels to the face while the third hit the wall above his head before falling onto his head. “Right, we’ll just wait out here,” he reached up and pulled the towel off his head as he retreated.

“Sorry it’s not the greatest stuff on Equestria.” Moony apologized as the five of them sat at one of the empty tables in the mess hall. “If we had more time, I would have suggested Rusty’s”

Blue Jay set her tray on the table before sitting down beside her sister. “Don’t worry too much about it, we can go when I get back.”

“Wait? ‘Get back’? When are you leaving?” Sunny asked as he sat on the other side of Moony while Azzy and BC sat opposite of them.

“Work wants me to spend a couple weeks in Ontrotio,” Blue Jay sighed, not having meant to reveal that just yet. “The boss wants to try switching things up a little. He’s sending me and a few other pegasi there in exchange for the same number coming here.” At this, the mood became slightly somber. “Sorry, I didn’t mean kill the mood.”

“You didn’t kill the mood, we were just caught off guard.” BC replied as he reached over and patted Blue Jay’s head with a wing. “We’ll just have to have more fun when you get back.”

“Trash cans are over along that wall.” Azzy pointed to where several trash cans sat after she watched Blue Jay look around a few times. “Honestly, I’m half tempted to dump this as well.”

“It’s not that,” Blue Jay turned and face the table. “I was just hoping I could see a couple of pegasi.”

“Oh? Who exactly are you looking for?” Moony asked, her curiosity piqued, wondering who Blue Jay could be looking for.

“Misty Fly and Fire Streak.” Blue Jay answered looking at Moony.

“Unfortunately, they’re off at a show in Los Pegasus.” Moony saw Blue Jay’s ears drop a little. “Any particular reason for those two?”

“I got invited to dine with them one night when they were in Vanhoover and wanted to say hi again.” Blue Jay explained, though silently thankful that she didn’t have to face Misty Fly as she still didn’t have many great friends yet, and would have to keep holding onto the handkerchief. As she thought about it, she glanced down at the silver necklace around her neck before looking up at her siblings. “Sunny, Moony, how come you never told me Misty Fly was deaf? I could have used her as an idol growing up.” Truthfully, she wasn’t upset that they never told her, just curious.

“Surely we told-” Moony trailed off as she tried to recall telling Blue Jay but looked at her twin when he tapped her shoulder. “Are you sure we didn’t?”

“Positive, and don’t call her Shirley,” Sunny said to Moony with a straight face before looking at Blue Jay. “Sorry about that, honestly, we were so used to you hearing us that we never thought of that.”

Blue Jay nodded. “Fair enough.” The atmosphere lifted after a few minutes of catching up and they were nearly finished with dinner when squad two entered the mess hall.

“Captain Tightpants!” Moony called out to Silver Lining as he looked for a place to sit while Blaze and High Winds headed in a different direction from Wave Chill.

“What do you want, Captain Moonbow?” Silver deadpanned.

“There’s someone we want you to meet.” Moony motioned to Blue Jay, who had turned around in her seat.

Seeing Silver narrowing his eyes at her, Blue Jay felt her breath catch, clearly intimidated by the older stallion.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Silver asked after a couple seconds of looking down at Blue Jay.

“This is Blue Jay, she’s-”

“I’m their illegitimate daughter.” Blue Jay squeaked out interrupting Moony.

Sunny facehoofed as Moony rubbed Blue Jay’s back with a wing. “Now, now, Little Jay, that’s reserved for the press.” She gave her sister a hug and looked up at Silver. “She’s our little sister.”

Silver’s eye twitched as he listened to the response he got. “You mean there’s more of you?” He groaned knowing two were bad enough, but now there were three and who knew how many more. Just thinking about that caused him to rub his hoof against his nose.

“Though we’re so different that I wonder how we’re related,” Sunny chuckled, winking at Blue Jay.

“Is there anything else related to current events?” Silver asked.

“Nope!” Moony chirped happily. “Just wanted to introduce you to her,” she admitted honestly and once Silver was gone, she whipped her head to face Sunny with a maniacal glint in her eye. “Where’s Tide?”

Sunny thought for a moment. “She should be getting back with her squad from their patrol any minute now. Why?”

“Blue Jay, there’s one more pegasi that you need to tell that you’re our daughter to.” Moony grinned as she stood up.

Azzy laid flat along the rooftop to the auxiliary gym holding a pair of binoculars up as she watched for any sign of Squad Six. Once she found them, she kept her eye on them thankful that Riptide was predictable as they headed for the main building. Catching Blue Jay’s attention, she gave a double feather salute before ducking out of sight once more.

Inside the compound, Blue Jay turned her head away from the window in squad seven’s room before darting across the hallway to squad five’s room, a pair of flight goggles on her head and stuck her head in. “Begin operation: bedroom eyes.” She grinned at Moony and Sunny before dashing back over to squad seven’s room and closing the door softly.

As Riptide, Storm Dancer, Clear Sky, and Midnight approached their rooms, the door to squad five’s room opened as both Moony and Sunny tumbled out, not bothering to keep their sweet words to each other quietly and occasionally leaning in close for an almost kiss obvious to everything around then.

Suddenly squad seven’s door opened and Blue Jay stuck her head out. “Mom! Dad! Stop, you’re going to embarrass me in front of my new friends!” As she spoke, she really didn’t have to pretend to blush as her cheeks turned red watching the two disregarding the other’s personal space. There was a poof of a pegasus’ wings popping out just before the shutter of a camera was heard and everypony turned to look at BC, who was standing in front of squad eight’s door, as he took another picture.

“This is perfect.” BC commented as he looked from the surprised/embarrassed look of Moony and Sunny, to Clear Sky’s wings straight out, to Midnight holding her wings over her mouth hiding a shocked expression, to Blue Jay’s wide-eyed stare and blushing, to Storm Dancer staring at the ground and tapping his hoof against it awkwardly.

Riptide stood as she rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. “Captain Moonbow, do you honestly expect me to believe that you and your brother would choose now to become closer? Or that full grown mare could be your daughter?” She deadpanned killing the joke instantly.

“Damn, thought we had something going there.” Sunny pouted as Moony pushed him off her. “Well, it was a good attempt. Anyhow, this is our younger sister, Blue Jay.” He motioned to her with a hoof before turning his attention to Blue Jay. “Sis, this is Captain Riptide of squad six.”

Blue Jay nodded with a shy smile. Though she found Tide to be somewhat intimidating, she was nothing compared to Silver Lining. Blinking, she heard a shutter click and turned her head to see BC holding a camera.

“Nevermind, BC, she didn’t take it,” Moony explained as BC lowered the camera in confusion. Ignoring the pouting look, Moony shook her head. “If you excuse us, Captain Tide, my squad and I need to patrol the city.”

“That would be a good thing, Captain Moonbow. I believe you are behind schedule.” Tide replied as she and her squad mates went into their rooms while Blue Jay waved bye to the members of squad seven before following her older siblings out of the compound along with BC and Azzy.