Author's Note

Enjoy the chapter, but first off; a heads-up. There will be a flashback in here to better expand upon the development of Jamir's backstory, as well as Rin's, The Fairies and Junko's but not all in this chapter. While over the course of a few more chapters, that'll answer any questions you may have. And also, I received a comment from a user that he did not completely connect/feel Jamir's pain and for those who feels the same, it was intended to be somewhat vague in the sense of not understanding the why and how of his pain, Junko's motivations and The Fairies's creation. I did that to not info dump in the prologue, but if not in any part of the story, then this will answer the bulk of your questions for the time being.

Exploration

Exploring the unknown requires tolerating uncertainty.

-Brian Greene.

The peaceful quiet was accented by the gentle cross breeze as me and Rin ventured through the Avernus Jungle with Daring's crew.

We proceeded forward at a steady pace, ducking and slipping past trees that either too low or tall for our frames. The ground sunk beneath my black sneakers easily, smushing saplings and insects alike. Daring led the charge in a line as Blank followed close on her hooves, Grass Song behind her, Echo behind her and Rin in front of me. I sighed, feeling constricted at my hoodie, so I took it off and tied it around my waist, showing my plain white tee shirt. The sun bore down on me with the least intensity as everyone else seemed to be sweltering as I was content with the heat. Sweat poured down their foreheads as they panted like rapid dogs looking for a drink. How can they be like this when it's only been 10 minutes since we set out?

Maybe I was just too stubborn for the heat to affect me. Or because of the fact I was thrown into a 120 degree boiler room for a week.

''Man!~'' Grass Song complained, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. ''Why is it so hot?!~'' Grass then craned her head back to me. ''Jamir, how come you're not hot?''

''I just don't really get affected by the heat; it could be since I'm African or some thing or other,'' I answered nonchalantly, making Grass Song scrunch her nose up in confusion at me.

''E-Eh. . .what? What's an African?'' Grass Song asked.

''It's a term to define where Jamir's ancestors came from a place back on our world called Africa and the color of his skin tone, which probably is why he's not affected by the heat as much as us,'' Rin explained, furthering making Grass confused.

''But why is it called that?'' Grass tilted her head.

''I guess you can call it a case of mistaken identity,'' I said, chiming in. ''While what I know about the history of it is limited, Africa was named after a man named Scipio Africanus. I can't remember much after that, but he was a General and he gave Africa its name.''

''Oh! Well, that sounds fun.'' Grass hummed a sweet tune, wiping sweat from her forehead.

''Trust me; it was anything but for my people,'' I frowned.

''And why is that?'' Blank asked.

''Because. . .'' I mumbled under my breath. ''My people. . .were slaves.'' I bluntly said, gaining shocked looks from everyone but Rin.

''Oh, my. . .goodness.'' Echo said, gasping. ''T-That's-''

''Immoral, unthinkable, cruel and embarrassing to every one of my people who know the truth about us. We were beaten, hung, shot, poisoned, betrayed and a whole lot more because we were. . .just being ourselves and that 'they' saw us as animals; incapable of thought and reason, whose only purpose is to holler, live up to stereotypes, and inevitably kill ourselves in senseless violence while putting money in our oppressor's pocket by picking cotton and living in fear,'' I growled, staring down the ground with a fierce passion. ''We were, in their eyes, the lowest of the low, rather going so far to demean us by thinking a wild hog has more human nature and sanity than us!'' I yelled, spit flying out of my mouth as I shook violently. ''T-They j-just wanted to live their lives out in peace, but nooooo!~ We couldn't even be left alone! At all!'' Everyone stopped and looked at me.

''Always abandoned, always striving to do our best in her eyes, but no matter what, she wouldn't accept it or love us for it! We try and understand her, but she always fucking shooed. . .me. . .AWAY!!!" I roared, launching my fist into a nearby tree with enough force to put a dent in the wood as I struck it. Then again. And a third time. And a fourth. By the fifth time, my left fist was bloody and stinging, possibly a knuckle broken from ignoring the pain. I went to strike it one last time, ready to delve all my anger into a strike I hoped would snap that tree in half and give me some relief of the situation. I roared at the top of my lungs, my voice cracking and sending frightened birds flying.

Yet, nothing came.

My fist was inches away from the tree, my veins pulsing and hand shaking. Rin's hand firmly held mine in a death grip, her eyes obstructed by her hair.

''Rin,'' I said, my voice taking on the deepest baritone. ''Let. Me. Go.'' I commanded. When I tried to pull back, my fist wouldn't budge an inch. Trying it again, the same result. Oh, she doesn't want to listen, eh? Fine.

Cocking my free hand back, I prepared to launch it forward in the hopes that-

''Do not hit me!'' Rin brought her face up to mine, her red eyes brimming with energy. Her eyes bored a hole into my very soul. A commanding aura made every part of my body shudder.

And it scared me.

''Aaah!'' I yelped, Rin's grip increasing as she wormed her arm around my back and forced me up against the tree, my forehead hitting the bark. ''Let me-''

''No!'' Rin bellowed, twisting my arm even tighter, everyone looked in shock. ''How many times do we have to go through this, Jamir? I told you that you need to get your emotions in check! How dare you be a hypocrite and tell me not to get angry, but it's okay for you? No, it's not okay. If you're angry about what Junko did to you, then talk to me! You know that you can talk to me about anything, and yet you never do! You're playing into Junko's trap again, and she's not even here! And what's even worse is that you know how s-sad it makes me when you do this to yourself, so please. . .confide in me. . .I'm your best friend,'' Rin cried, her tears running down my shirt. No longer trying to break free, Rin released her grip on me as I held my head against the tree, breathing heavily.

I sighed, cursing myself at my own stubbornness.

''Uh, guys?'' Grass Song looked stricken with sadness. ''I'm sorry that I asked. It was rude of me.''

''No, Grass Song; It's okay. I'm. . .sorry for losing control like that for a moment. It's just something I remembered. . .back where me and Rin came from, I'm fine.'' I cleaned myself up, staring down at the ground as I hear Rin sniffle.

''You sure you don't need a minute? Daring asked, helping Rin off the ground. ''It must be something deep for you to kinda change course all of a sudden. I'm sorry if we asked the wrong question, but maybe you need to get this off your chest,'' Daring offered.

''I'm fine, guys, really.'' I waved off Daring's offer. Then I saw Rin's face laden with tears as she huffed and puffed like The Big Bad Wolf, shaking and I remembered what she said a minute ago. I. . .didn't want to make my friend angry at me, at least not any more than she already was. I would be going against my own morals of not listening to a friend's advice when I know I need it.

My arms trembled as my head pounded like a drum from overthinking. I was torn between saying no and moving on, or saying yes and giving Rin and myself a piece of mind when I confront why this is eating me up inside.

''Okay. I guess if we're going to work together. . .then there are some things that you should know me and Rin. . .or at least me if we're going to putting out trust in one another.''

''How about this, then? You can tell us on the way to the temple. It's about an hour and a half walk to get there, so we should have enough time to hear your story,'' Daring looked at a map, nodding when she had an eyeful. ''We can kinda share back and forth if you want. It's better to know the bare basics about somepony than to talk to a complete stranger.''

''Alright, then. I guess I should start from a neutral point where you could all understand.'' I said. This would the part that I've found hard to tell my Fairies. For years, I've kept this bottled inside of me, never to let it out for the possibility that it could be used against me. But, with time, I've realized that friends are as Superman's weakness is to him; hard to be rid of and always lurking no matter where you look. After a minute of collecting my thoughts, I spoke.

''I guess,-'' I said as we moved past vines and fell trees. ''-what I can tell you that kinda started this whole thing between my sister and me had to be when I was 5 and Junko was 6 years old. It was summer and I can say with certainty, that summer was probably the start of why things are so complicated with my sister. Even though it was so long ago, I can remember it so vividly like it was just yesterday. . .'' I began to remember, the sunlight beaming down on everyone else as they tried their own methods to keep cool.

This was it.

Flashback, 11 years ago, Detroit.

The air held a longing silence that cascaded over the calm aura the city of Detroit always seemed to maintain. In its early stages of technological influx and support from wealthy men and women, significant strides have not been made with failure or compromise. The journey forward for engineers, scientists, lawmakers, mathematicians and the like was met with force equal to that of their determination, bearing down with a fierce passion. As another day drew to a close, the sights and sounds of birds taking flight, Hovercars and Mag-Lev buses filled the air upon an apartment balcony. The sun was slowly setting, providing all those who would look upon it with a glorious sight.

''Whoa!~" a young girl's voice gushed with mirth. ''We're really high up!'' the joy in the girl's voice bursted out of her.

''Careful, sis,'' a boy's voice scolded. ''You don't want to fall off the bed, so stop jumping up and down.''

The atmosphere in the air suddenly grew cold as ice.

''What do you want?'' the girl asked harshly, making the male wince. ''Why are you here?''

''E-Eh?'' the boy asked, stuttering. ''Whaddya mean? We live here, and I'm your brother,'' the male argued, feeling shock that his own sister would put up a farce, and a good one at that. He would commend her for that one. Such a good joke.

''Brother?'' the girl asked, confused. Her vision faltered for a moment due to the medical patch on her left eye, leaving her with a loss of depth perception and to her other eye blurring. It was thanks to her knuckle-headed brother for not being quick enough to save both of them from getting them lost in a forest away from their parents at the time which led to her getting cuts on her legs from falling, a slight burn from the fire her brother started and temporarily causing her to lose sight in her left eye from accidentally pushing her into a particularly thick tree branch. In all, it was a horrid trip to the woods. ''I have no brother.'' the girl said from her place on her bed, hugging her purple plush bunny.

''Come on, Junko; it was funny at first, but now you're starting to creep me out. . .'' the boy chuckled nervously, but stopped when Junko's cold, calculating gaze hit him.

''You're not my brother. . .anymore!'' Junko yelled, pouting. ''Jamir? Who's that? I have no brother, I'm an only child!~'' Junko said, drowning out her non-existent brother by humming, singing out loud, or just plain ignoring him.

''C-Come on, sis!'' Jamir argued. ''I'm really sorry that I hurt you, but you can't keep shutting me out like this. We're supposed to be siblings! We never really talk and you don't really care about me, so-''

''I'm doing all of this because you wanted-Ouch!-wanted me to!'' Junko pointed a finger at Jamir, wincing when she stood up. She then hopped off the bed and walked towards her brother angrily. As she drew closer, Junko socked her brother in the face, knocking him to the floor. Tears streamed down her face as Jamir looked on in confusion, his jaw aching. Oof, she must have knocked a tooth loose.

''I'm only doing this to make you happy! That's what you wanted, isn't it? For things to change, for our life to go back to the way it used to be? For me to back off of you and give you your space, that's what you wanted, right?! You wanted big sister to make the world a better place for you, then that's what big sister'll do! I did say I would do anything for you, because that's what we promised each other! So big sister will make everything bad go away!''

Jamir sat there shell-shocked. He certainly didn't expect this reaction. But then again, it was a trend that Junko followed. Every so often she would treat her brother like a plastic bag in a landfill, not even acknowledging that his presence was real. And other times, she would cling to him like the single most important thing in life, intent on never letting go, going so far as to apologize about acting such the way she did without explaining why. It always happened, around the same time; every day of every week; without fail. Junko would do things, very mean things like trip Jamir, put rocks in his shoes, spit in his cereal, offer to play fight him when she would really put him in a sleeper hold and knock him out, pants him, talk about him to their parents, the works. Then on good days, she would wait hand and foot on him, ask about his day, praise and idolize him.

It was all so confusing. Down one road, his big sister could be an Angel, waiting to guide her younger brother, or at other times. . .a Demon, waiting to exploit and crush what little hope of humanity the maggot somehow related to her had.

''Junko, it's me; Jamir! Your games are funny, but this is a little too much. . .you've never said I wasn't your brother before. . .so what's wrong?'' Jamir walked toward his sister in an attempt to make her understand. ''I know Mom and Dad taught us about tough love, but-''

WHAM!

''I don't,-'' Junko kicked her brother in the face, giving him a nose bleed. ''-love you,'' Junko walked over to the balcony, dragging her plush bunny with her. ''. . .And you're not. . .my brother. . .''

''Man,'' Blank said, frowning and folding her ears. ''I've heard some bad words be thrown back and forth between ponies, but saying that you're not somepony's brother or that you never loved them; that's. . .something else. I get that you may have caused her injuries by accident, but just turning on you more than a spinning wheel is a bit harsh, especially when its family.''

''Y-Yea,'' I said, clutching my nose in reminder of when Junko kicked me there, a phantom feeling beginning to form. ''It certainly was. . .a scary experience. I really thought she had no idea that I was her brother. . .and I hoped I never did find out the answer. It would have scared me too much,'' I shuddered.

''Jamir. . .'' Rin said, holding her hands in from of her mouth. ''I never knew. . .''

''Because I didn't want you to know. . .I. . .was ashamed of telling you, which is why I made up that lie about the time I came into school with a bloody nose. How do you think you would take knowing that kind of information right off the bat? Who would believe my story that my 6-year old sister somehow gained the mindset of a grown woman and was able to make rational decisions, while at the same time being known to change in a instant and inflict all of her pain on her brother with nobody to for him to trust? That kinda mental pressure could have been my downfall, which is why I kept it in for as long as I could, which is why I despise Junko as much as I love her; I can't hold one feeling more over the other. . .''

''But, can't you just let it go?'' Grass Song asked, everyone around us taking a seat, determined to hear my answer. ''Can't you forget what happened?''

''I. . .uh. . .'' my breath hitched in my throat, causing me to go silent. I felt ganged up on, and it wasn't a comforting feeling. They all act like it's so easy to forget the easiest of things, but letting something heavy and personal go is. . .it's. . .

''I've wondered about that, too,'' Rin said. ''In all of the missions we've pulled off to try and stop Junko from taking over Detroit, you've always played both sides of the game with her. You oppose, but support her. You disapprove, but see the light in her ideals, and when you have her right where you want her, you just. . .let her go.'' Rin looked confused. ''It can't be because; 'She's my sister, and I love her.', so what is it really chipping away at you? You've told me you want to stop Junko and take back our home, but it's more to it than that, so wha-''

''I just,-'' I interrupted, casting my hand to the sky under the sun, closing it into a fist as if claiming the fiery giant as my own. ''-want to see that justice is delivered. You can all call me messed up in the head for still wanting to side with my sister after all she's done, and that little recollection was just from one summer; Junko's done even worse things and the same cycle of apologizing and not meaning it to groveling and begging for 'mercy' still happens. I just cannot bring myself to hate or love my sister without doing both, at least not until I gain the clarity and swift and harsh deliverance of justice that my sister deserves. Until that day,'' I smiled, but in a bittersweet fashion. ''I will do my best to support Junko in what she does, even though I know its wrong, but when the chips are down and she succumbs to her own devices, I will be right there to stop her myself and even. . .do what I must, should the need arise.''

''. . .But how long. . will you be able to hold on to that i-ideal, Jamir?'' Rin asked, tilting her head as tears slowly streamed down her face. ''That you can stop your sister on your own? It's not that simple. We've both seen first-hand, the type of stuff she is capable of doing and it is not pretty. But if a giant fight breaks out between the two of you, I worry for who'll lose and fall. . .permanently.''

''Hopefully, it wont have to come to that,'' Blank said, frowning. ''We may not really know you guys like that yet, but when you're me, you pick up on when someone has the wrath of a God's influence inside of them and is willing to do what others won't to see their goal through. . .even when it means killing. So, hopefully when we find the Alicorn Amulet, get it back to Starswirl's niece, and we can find a solid way to get you back home, I'll. . .help you in any way I can so that maybe you won't have to lose your sister.'' Blank patted my back. ''Or your own life.''

''Same here, it's not a good thing to have to go against your family, so I'll help too!'' Grass Song agreed, clapping her hooves together. ''Besides, I wanna get to know more about you, plus I can't let a friend fight a fight by themselves.''

''S-Same here.'' Echo said, looking away from us. ''It's not r-right, or fair. . .''

What, what are they talking about? They. . .want to help me? Me? Of all people?

''Welp, I guess since my crew's in agreement, I may as well be too.'' Daring smirked, flying in front of me.

''Wait, why?'' I asked, exhausted from recollection. ''Why help when you barely know anything about us? Or me, for that matter? We haven't been here less than a day, and you already want to help. Why?''

Daring smirked.

''Because, there's a certain saying me and my crew have that we've established ever since our first big mission together,'' Daring said.

''We are a family, and family helps out no matter what. We always protect and hold each other dear in bad times. But, most importantly; family never breaks their promises to each other and we never leave one of our behind, no matter what.''

''And like it or not, you and Rin and your Fairy friends are a part of our family, and that creed sticks to you now.''

''Does this little 'family' of ours have a name?'' Rin asked, as I beckoned her to come to me, wiping her tears as she embraced me in a tight hug, though she was careful not to snap me in half, whispering 'I'm sorry' in my ear.

''Well, yes and no,'' Grass replied, thinking. ''We've went through so many names, that none of them really stick, but maybe with you guys here, maybe we can settle on a permanent name, but until then, I guess we're The Nameless Crew.''

''Ok, then; when you put that way. . .how can we say no?'' Rin asked rhetorically. ''What are your thoughts, Jamir?''

Breaking the hug for a moment, I gathered my thoughts and spoke.

''Let's get our treasure hunt underway.''