Far Away

CHAPTER IV

Jack woke up with a start. He saw a white roof and hear the conversation of two mares on the opposite side of the room. He tried to sit up on his bed, but failed. There was not enough strength left in him to sit up. All he could do was to grunt to get the attention of anypony. The conversation ceased and a white mare walked over to him, her hooves clopping on the floor.

“Hello sir,” said the doctor.

“Morning,” grumbled Jack softly.

“Seems like you nearly died of dehydration from what sources of information I could get my hands on,” said the doctor, “You will be feeble for the next few days. We are closely monitoring you, so you have nothing to worry about. Get some rest.”

The doctor trotted away and another pony walked up to you, yet this time her fur was a tan colour.

“Hey I remember you!” spluttered Jack.

“Yeah…” said the tan pony.

“What’s your name?” asked Jack.

“Daring Do,” she said.

“Really?” asked Jack, not sure how to respond. Daring was the most famous adventurer in Equestria! Why would she, of all people, care about you? Didn’t she have more important things to tend to? And she even existed? Jack tried to control his emotions and his thoughts and stopped himself from blurting out something stupid.

“My name is Jackson. Jackson Wanderer.”

Daring’s eyes seemed to flicker with recognition, “I’ve heard of your name before.”

Jack spluttered, “Wait… What? How have you heard of me? I’m merely a cartographer.”

Daring pulled out her copy of the Orbis Terrarum and showed the top right corner to Jack.

“You drew this map didn’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

“I knew it!” exclaimed Daring.

“It’s nothing,” said Jack feeling warm in the face. He hoped that Daring didn’t notice.

Jack was the trusted Canterlot cartographer. He drew maps, and travelled the world but boy, he didn’t know that he would end up meeting Equestria’s most famous adventurer. And, he didn’t know that said adventurer would end up saving his ass in the direst of situations.

“Gee, I hope I didn’t leave a negative impact on you Jack,” snickered Daring, “You look like you have just seen a ghost.”

Jack’s face turned red again, embarrassed. He finally mustered enough energy to sit up. With a grunt, Jack pushed his back onto the head of the bed. He could finally examine the room he was in. It was nothing special. The room was all white and had a sink, bathroom and a window, looking down onto the town of Oteron. Large spires in the form of office buildings twisted and turned up, reaching the sky. The bustling streets below was a flood of white and black, as zebras make their way to work. Jack finally turned around and saw Daring. She was scribbling something in her tiny, ordinary notepad.

“Hey, what are you doing?” said Jack.

“Nothing,” muttered Daring as she quickly put away her tiny notepad.

Jack found himself looking into the crimson eyes of the mare. It was like a trance. Jack brought his eyes to the window and shook his head vigorously, putting a hoof to his temple.

“What’s wrong?” asked Daring.

“Headache,” muttered Jack.

“Should I get a doctor?”

“No.”

Jack tried to make his way out of bed after a few minutes of looking out of the window. He immediately felt nauseas and plonked back onto the bed. ‘How could I have been so careless and not bring enough water?’ Jack questioned himself. Whatever Jack was thinking melted away when he saw the tan coloured pegasus watch him anxiously. Jack rolled over to his other side on his hospital bed now facing the mare directly.

“What’s wrong?” Daring queried.

“Oh… Nothing.” Mumbled Jack

“You know… You can tell me. I promise I won’t let anypony else know,” said Daring hopefully.

‘Should I trust her?’ Jack asked himself, ‘She is famous but can I trust her?’ Jack made up his mind. He made up his mind. He is going to trust her.

“Well, ok.”

Daring’s eyes lit up as Jack accepted her offer.

“You better not tell anyone otherwise word will get out about it.”

‘Am I making the correct decision? Can I really trust her? Well, the score has already been settled, might as well tell her, right?’ Jack thought.

“Ok.”

“I’m worried.” Jack started.

“About what?”

“About Kasha. He and his men are too powerful and numerous. In a sea of zebras, we don’t know who’s friendly or who’s not.”

Daring just laid her hoof on Jack’s shoulder.

“I think we have the same problem,” said Daring in a low tone.

Jack was drinking the glass of water on his bed stand to soothe his burning throat but all of it came out the wrong side. Water dribbled down from his nose.

“Sorry? Did I her that wrong or are you being chased by Kasha too?”

“Yes,” Daring said, trying to stifle a giggle unsuccessfully, “Gosh, diverse reactions really were a side effect to your medication.”

Jack gaped and the water still held in his mouth made its way onto the bedsheets like a flood. Daring burst out in laughter as she saw him in such a stricken state.

“Whatcha laughing at?” exclaimed Jack, “Now I’m all wet!”

“No shit Sherlock,” was all Daring could say before bursting into another round of laughter.

Jack just sat on his wet sheets with a bored look on his face which made Daring laugh more hysterically. Jack buried his head in his hooves before saying, “Your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth.”

“That’s very dramatic sir!” Daring said before another wave of laughter wracked through her body.

“This is serious!” said Jack.

“Quoth who?” Daring replied matching Jacks language, “Sie sollten sehen lhr Gesicht haben!”

“That’s it,” said Jack, trying to pull a straight face.

“Sie sind ein pissen Kopf,” Jack said sarcastically.

Daring was taken aback by the comment, “Mien gott.”

“What is your objective, Daring?” Jack asked.

“Well, my life is always so serious so it’s healthy for me to indulge in some light-heartedness from time to time,” she insisted, “Salty?” she asked

“What?” asked Jack, “Salty?”