The Explorer and The Princesses

After a few moments Jack and Twilight separated. He smiled down into her purple eyes and used his thumbs to wipe her tears away.

“I’m almost done here Twilight, then we can head back and get some lunch. How’s that?”

She sniffled and nodded, her smile slowly coming back.

Jack turned back to the armor rack and began unplugging the various lines that were left in the wall that routed power to the pieces. He then moved over to the drawer he got the toolbox from. He emptied the contents out and then removed the drawer from the wall, making it effectively a large metal crate.

Jack filled the crate with the chords and pieces of armor stand and the tool box, while Twilight stood up and brushed off her skirt. She wiped her face again, trying to regain her composure.

“Can I help with anything?” She asked, watching him walk out into the central corridor of the ship.

“Nope. Just stand there and look pretty.” Jack called over his shoulder.

Twilight blushed and looked around the room, seeing that Jack had left his helmet on the ground. She picked it up and looked around inside of it.

Jack dropped the box down as he entered the dining room of his ship, causing Twilight to jump from the sudden crash coming from across the hall.

Scrounging through the cabinets, Jack pulled out several small brown boxes and tossed them into the crate as well. Twilight slowly peeked her head into the room, holding his helmet close to her chest.

”Tell Twilight while I appreciate her picking up your helmet, I don’t like a view screen full breasts.”

“Take a picture!” Was Jack’s immediate response, receiving a heavy sigh in return.

Jack turned and walked towards the door, stopping just in time from walking directly into Twilight. “Excuse me…” He said, looking at her and scooting sideways back into the hallway.

His last trip was to the “workshop” area of the ship where he forced the door open. He was much closer to the front of the ship now and Twilight followed behind him. Seeing the light shine in from the cockpit, she stepped quietly down the hallway and into the open door.

She stood amazed at the large window that made up most of the room, a single chair in the center and several blackened screens all around. It was rather spacious all things considering and she glanced over various consoles before sitting down in the rotating chair. She smiled and swung side to side, looking around at the room before swinging to the front to inspect the consoles there.

Jack threw the rope and several small black boxes into the crate.

”She’s in the cockpit.”

Jack sighed and placed his hand on his face, walking down the hall to fetch the curious purple princess.

Twilight reached a hand out and gripped the flight stick, running her fingers gently over the various buttons.

Jack placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned forward next to one of her perked up ears. “I thought I said don’t touch anything.”

Twilight jumped as she felt him take hold of her, pulling her hand back from the stick and gripping the helmet again. “Sorry I just…”

“It’s ok, I know I’m boring. I have everything so we can go back now.” Jack said. He stared at one of her ears, resisting the almost overpowering urge to nibble on it to see what she’d do. He released his grip from her shoulders and headed back down the hallway towards the crate.

Twilight took one last look around and then hopped up, following him quickly.

Jack picked up the crate and turned to see Twilight following him, so he headed back out to the canyon wall with his supplies.

Back out into the sunlight he squinted and set the crate down. He tied the rope he retrieved from his workshop around the crate and attached the long free end to his belt. He then began the climb back up the side of the wall.

Twilight unfurled her wings and flapped them down hard, flying up and over the cliff face and landing, facing Jack as he took the long way up.

“Show off. Look at me, I’ve got wings.” Jack said quietly to himself as he finally crested the cliff face.

“I also have good ears.” Twilight said, smirking and placing a hand on her hip.

Jack turned around after biting his tongue. That’s not all you got that’s good. At least he was still safe in his own mind. Or was he? Could they read minds and just not tell him? He removed the rope from his waist and began pulling the crate up the cliff face.

After ensuring that everything was there, he put the excess rope on top of the rest of his junk and picked up the crate. He turned, along with Twilight and headed back to the cart.

Inside the cart however, the two Pegasus ponies had found something to occupy their time, each other. The female was grinding her hips against the male’s as they groped and kissed each other. Jack could see them forcing their muzzles together, every now and then they would separate just enough to breathe. However, their tongues never let go of each other and they quickly resumed their kiss. Jack saw that both of their wings were fully extended and eyes were closed.

Jack walked quietly over to the back of the cart, leaving a blushing Twilight to cover her face and peek through her fingers at the couple. Jack let the crate slam down beside the furiously kissing ponies, causing them to jump and look over at him, finally separating their mouths from one another.

“Sorry that took so long, but I’m sure you two didn’t mind.” Jack said, smiling. Inside he was chewing through his fake smile reserve. The sight of these two ponies reminded him that he was just a worthless orphan, not even worth dating, let alone make out material. What woman would have him? Even the women he managed to get on his ship left immediately after they found he didn’t have a credit to spare on them.

The two Pegasi ponies scrambled to their hooves, and jumped off the front of the cart, strapping themselves up and fixing their mussed manes and armor. Twilight slowly made her way to the back of the cart, still visibly flustered.

Jack stepped up onto the cart, then turned and held out his hand to Twilight. She took it and stepped up onto the cart. “Thank you Jack.”

“No problem” he said, his hand still held out and the smile still on his face. “Helmet please. And thank you for remembering it.”

Twilight nodded and handed his helmet over. Once back in his possession, Jack put his helmet back on and dropped the fake smile.

“Are you two ready to head back?” The male Pegasus asked. Twilight nodded while Jack wrapped some of the rope around his leg, making sure that his crate didn’t fly out of the cart on the way back.

The pair sat in silence for most of the way back. Jack watched as Twilight’s hair blew in the wind and she held tight to her satchel of papers. Deciding now was as good a time as any, he crossed his arms.

“Vicky, can I get those scan reports?”

A cascade of files came up on the inside of his helmet and Jack held his right hand up slightly, flicking his finger from side to side while reading the information.

Lighter bone density than the unicorn pony, hollowed bones similar to birds. Feathers on their wings and increased nerve and muscle clusters in the wings. Blood pressure and other internal workings were similar to the unicorn pony, only they didn’t have horns protruding from their skulls.

Jack swiped his finger again, closing the reports and continuing on to the files for the male Pegasus.

“WHAT?!” He shouted, causing Twilight to jump suddenly.

“what is it Jack?” Twilight asked, leaning forward a bit.

“N-nothing. I just thought there was something wrong with my helmet…”

Jack leaned back, swiping his fingers again and closing the files. He smoldered just under his helmet, his mind spiraling down the negative path he had to fight every day he was around human women. He was an orphan, and a delivery boy. Now, in this world of ponies, he was that AND physically inferior. According to the scan and the supposed percentage difference in ‘normal variation of length’, he was just better than half. Fifty percent as “satisfying”. Even he knew his sparkling personality wasn’t enough to seal the deal, and even if it was, the only smile he would be bringing to the party, would be the momentary laughter at his equipment. He continued to crush himself with his inadequacies the entire way back to Canterlot.

The carriage shook and landed in the back courtyard used as a loading platform for the Research facility. The cart came to a stop and Jack stood up without a word, unwrapping the line from his leg and picked up his crate. He hopped off and walked passed the two Pegasus ponies. “Thank you.” He said curtly, not waiting around for a response.

Twilight watched and followed him off of the cart, but spent a little more time with the Pegasus ponies. “Thank you very much you two. Have a nice day.”

“You too Princess Twilight.” The female said, nodding to her.

Twilight looked in the direction Jack walked off to, seeing he was walking quickly and hurried off to catch up.

Jack sets the crate down in his room, finally burying his feelings enough to pull his helmet off. He reached down into the crate and fished out a small brown box, reading the label and turning around to see Twilight standing in the doorway.

“Time for lunch?” Jack asked, walking over to her.

Twilight could see that something was bothering him, but she took a step back, letting him out into the hall and nodded.

“Yes. It will be just us two, since Princess Celestia has a meeting.”

Jack walked down the hall ahead of her, Twilight just a few steps behind him. There was definitely something bothering him. She had to do something to help him, but what?

Jack pushed the door open to the dining hall and sat down in his usual spot, Twilight however went to the kitchen to inform the cook. She spent a few extra moments, trying to think of something special to make for him. Maybe if she made him something tasty, he would feel better?

The chef pony brought over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to show Twilight and she nodded, then set about making a salad for him. He seemed to enjoy that when he had it. She still didn’t know exactly what he liked to eat, so she went off of whatever little knowledge she had of him. Once finished, Twilight took the sandwiches and Jack’s salad out to him.

“Here’s lunch Jack. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and a special salad for you.” She said with a smile, setting the food on the table.

Jack looked up at her and smiled softly. “Thanks Twilight.”

Twilight sat next to him while the chef pony brought out a pitcher and a few glasses of apple juice for them to wash their food down with. The two of them ate in silence, Twilight occasionally peeking over at his face to see if his mood had improved.

Jack quickly drank down a glass of apple juice and refilled his glass. He then pulled up the brown box he had and opened it, revealing a clear package filled with several reddish brown pieces of food in it.

Twilight looked curiously as Jack struggled to open the package with his hands, so he opened his mouth and bit it apart. It was only when he ripped the package open, she saw his rather large and sharp canines. She was then hit with a wave of horrid smelling something that was inside the package. She pinched her nostrils closed quickly and moved her chair away.

“What is that smell?!” She asked.

“Beef Jerky. Teriyaki flavor.” Jack pulled out a piece of jerky and bit into it, tearing it apart. Twilight suddenly realized that he was eating meat and her stomach lurched. The smell, combined with the sound of tearing flesh made her immediately sick.

Jack looked over at her and took a big bite of salad, enjoying the mixture of the greens and dried meat. “You ok Twilight?”

She placed her free hand over her muzzle and quickly left the table, her chair falling over backward as she left the room.

Great, add making ponies vomit to the list of your most endearing qualities…

Jack finished his food quickly, drinking down another glass of apple juice. He collected the plates, picked up Twilight’s knocked over chair and did his best to straighten things up. He picked up the dishes and carried them to the kitchen.

“Hey, where do you want the dirty dishes?” He asked to the group of ponies working in the kitchen. They all stopped what they were doing and stared at him. One in the back slowly raised her hand and motioned over.

“You can put them here sir…?” She said quietly.

Jack approached her and placed the dishes on the counter top next to her. “Here ya go. Thanks.”

He turned and walked out, leaving the rest of the ponies to look at each other and then back at the now closing door.

Jack returned to his room in silence, finding the bed made and everything in order. He sighed and rubbed his chin, he’d have to make sure to thank the maid staff after what happened this morning.

”What is wrong with you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You just wrote off the world after that touching moment with Twilight in the ship.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jack said, squatting down over the crate and pulling out his tools and the pieces of the armor rack.

”I’m not blind and neither is Twilight. Why are you acting like this?”

“Why am I acting like what? I’m just being normal old me.” Jack said, setting himself to work.

”Acting like a fucking prick that’s what. You just completely ignored Twilight during lunch, even when she knew there was something bothering you. She even made you a salad. Then, when she got sick, you just let her fuck right off!”

“So what am I supposed to do? Sacrifice everything I am just to develop feelings for someone only to be told that I’m not good enough? I’m not worth the air that I’m breathing? That I never had a chance? That I don’t deserve to be happy?!” Jack said, throwing the pieces of metal to the ground and walking to the window, looking out towards the horizon.

”Jack, you can’t think like that…”

“Why not Vicky!? You were there when those women just walked out. You read the reports. You know me better than anyone else. There’s no way that I’ll ever …”

” You’re right, I do know you better than anyone else. And you know what? You’re wrong. Yes those women walked out, but they were no good for you. You’re too good for them. Just look at what happened earlier today. You comforted Twilight. And last night, you did the same for Celestia. Not even a whole day here and you’ve already lightened the hearts of arguably the most stressed and pressurized people on this planet. So yes, when those harpies left you, it was for the best. You don’t deserve to be treated like a walking wallet, you deserve someone that will love you. Like you deserve to be loved.”

Jack turned and slid down the wall, sitting down and facing the closed door. “Vicky…”

”Daddy was right when he told me you were special. He saw greatness in you Jack, and I do too. It’s about time you start believing in yourself now.”

Jack smiled softly, placing his right hand on his chest.

”And besides, who gives a shit how big your dick is. You have me, and together we’ll make something that will have those pony women lined up for kilometers just to get a chance at seeing you.”

Jack laughed, feeling significantly better knowing that Vicky was still with him. What would he do without his sweet sister?

Jack’s stomach growls as he finishes tightening the last bolt on the armor stand. It had no power, and wasn’t secured to the wall yet, but it was together. He took a step back and wiped his forehead and smiled at his work.

”It should be time for dinner Jack. You have someone to apologize to.”

“You’re right. Well let’s go see how everyone else’s day went, shall we?”

Jack put his tools away quickly and picked up his helmet. This time he left any ‘extra’ food in the crate, so as not to further upset anyone.

Once again, night had crept up on him, the sun already down but the lights ever bright in the hallways and his room. He pushed the door open to the dining room, finding the three princesses already eating.

“Sorry I’m late ladies, got caught up on something.” Jack said, smiling and rubbing the back of his head.

“Ah, Mr. Jack, we were just wondering where you were.” Celestia said.

“Still kicking around, don’t worry Princess.” Jack sat down next to Twilight, who slid away slightly. “Sorry about earlier Twilight. I guess I should have given you a heads up.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “What happened earlier?”

Jack stuck a finger into his mouth and pulled his cheek out, revealing his teeth to the other two. He then pulled his finger away. “I kinda ate some meat in front of Twilight. I wasn’t thinking and she got a little sick. It was rather rude of me.”

Twilight crossed her arms and looked away from him. Jack frowned a bit and then perked up.

“So… how was everyone else’s day?”

“Restful.” Luna said, using her magic to cut a piece of vegetable lasagna and raise it to her mouth. Her hands held a glass of water and a parchment, possibly reviewing for Night Court.

“Another wonderful day serving my little ponies. The meetings with the parliament could have gone better however.” Celestia picked her glass up and sipped from it.

Jack leaned forward and cut himself some of the lasagna and a rather generous piece of the cake that was still sitting in the middle of the table. He poured himself some water and then leaned back in his chair.

“Everything else go alright for you Twilight?” Jack said before taking a bite out of his meal.

She didn’t respond but continued to eat in silence, her eyes cast down at her plate.

Jack looked around at the other two at the table, and again saw a look of disapproval come from Luna. He looked back over to Celestia and he could swear it wasn’t this hot a moment ago. Why was it so hot? A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and he picked up his glass of water for another drink.

“What did you do today Jack?” Celestia said. He could hear the slightest hint of something in her voice, but he couldn’t say what.

“It was alright. I spent a good bit of time with Twilight here and got some things done.” Jack wasn’t going to explain his lapse in mood earlier today. What these women didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, he figured. Besides, how is ‘oh I found out I have a tiny pecker’ polite conversation?

Dinner came and went without another word. Luna stood and set her papers down. “Well, I believe it is time for Night Court.” She said, brushing her hands down her dress, trying to straighten it.

“Until the morning Celestia, Twilight.” She said, receiving nods in return. She walked out of the room. As she reached the door, Jack called out to her.

“What? I don’t get a good night kiss?” Why did the room become so cold all of a sudden?

Luna looked over her shoulder, her steel blue eyes glaring daggers at him. “Until the morning, Mr. Jack.” She then exited the room and slammed the door behind her.

Celestia waited just a moment and then erupted in laughter, putting a hand to her chest and the other on the table. “Oh my stars! Jack!”

Twilight looked at Jack as well, horrified.

“What...? It was a joke?” Jack asked looking at Twilight, suddenly feeling like a mouse caught in a cage.

“That was amazing!” Celestia said, calming down a bit. “I never thought you had it in you! Most ponies are too afraid to even SPEAK to Luna, let alone tease her!”

“Oh…” Jack said. Twilight again returned to her now empty plate before standing up.

“Good night Princess Celestia.” She said quietly and politely. She pushed her chair back into the table and walked out the door.

Celestia, now calmed down, looked at Jack. He was already on his feet and headed for the door. She smiled to herself, again reassured that she picked the right pony for the job.

“Twilight, wait up!” Jack called out to her, jogging to catch up with her.

“What do you want?” Twilight asked, not turning to look at him. She just kept walking.

“I want to apologize if I upset you this afternoon. I also don’t think I properly thanked you for the salad.”

Twilight stopped in front of a pair of wooden double doors, finally turning to face him, her hands placed on her hips.

Jack stepped up in front of her and smiled softly.

“Well?” Twilight said, expecting him to start.

“Oh, right.” Jack said, reaching a hand back and rubbing his neck. “Twilight, I’m sorry for what happened this afternoon. It was wrong of me to ignore you, and also to not warn you.”

Twilight’s features softened a bit, shifting slowly from disappointment.

“I’ve just… well this whole place is new to me and I’ve never been in a situation like this before, so it’s hard. I don’t always think about what I do to other people and I guess I treated you poorly. No, I know I treated you poorly. You’ve been kind to me throughout this whole thing and I guess I took that for granted. I’m sorry, truly I am.”

Twilight quickly wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against his armor, putting her face in his neck once again. Jack returned the hug and placed his hands on her lower back, smiling as he enjoyed the smell of her hair.

They stood like that for a few moments before Twilight pulled away and placed a hand on the doors. “I forgive you Jack. Good night.”

“Good night princess.” Jack said as she opend the door. He peeked into what he figured was her room, spying a large purple bed in the center and not much else before she shut the door.

”No stalking and no peeping.

Jack walked down the hall, shaking his head. “You take all the fun out of it Vicky, you really do.”

He looked out a window and saw the night sky. He stood in place as he looked out at the stars and the large moon that hung overhead. Deciding this was a golden opportunity, Jack wandered around the castle until he could find a door out to the gardens.

Jack, now finally outside, crossed the large open area in the gardens and found a nice spot in the grass to lay down. He laid on his back and put his hands behind his head, gazing at the stars.

A few minutes, or maybe a few hours passed, he couldn’t be sure, and he heard someone walking through the grass approaching him. He leaned his head back a bit and saw the figure of an upside down Princess Luna approaching him. She still had a stern look on her face, so he looked back up to the sky, thinking of a good way to apologize for earlier. He was apologizing a lot, maybe he should stop being such an asshole. Maybe tomorrow.

“What are you doing out here?” Luna asked as she stood next to the lying man.

“Looking at the sky. What are you doing? Don’t you have princess things to do?”

Wow great, super smart to open with that. He thought to himself

“I’m checking on our visitor, and ensuring that castle security is acceptable!”

“So you just wanted to come see me. I get it.” Jack teased. Deeper and deeper

Luna growls and stands next to him. “Why are you looking at the sky?”

“Because it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like this before and it’s breathtaking. I just figured I would come out here and look at it for a while to unwind.”

Luna became silent as she looked down at the man, expecting this answer to be another filled with sarcasm and half truth. She however, found no such sign. Jack, seeing the slightest bit of emotion come to her face, decided that he was starting to get through to her.

“I grew up in a place that had no sky. Sure I lived among the stars, but there was no day or night. Just the lights of the station and a clock to tell you what time it was. This is the first time I’ve had a day and night cycle and I have to say, I will probably remember these nights for the rest of my life.”

“I’m… glad you like it. It’s been so long since anypony told me my nights were beautiful.” Luna said quietly, her gaze turning up to the sky as well.

Jack looked up and over to her. “Would you like to look at the stars with me Princess?”

She looked down at the man, her light blue eyes shining in the moonlight.

Jack smiled and patted the grass next to him. “There’s a pretty good spot right here.” He placed his hand back on his chest and then shifted his gaze back to the stars.

Luna stood still for a moment before moving next to him and laying down in the grass. She sighed quietly and smiled, relaxing for the first time in what seemed like ages.

The two of them lay quietly watching the moon slowly crawl across the sky, before Jack yawned somewhat loudly.

“Man... what a day. I’m going to turn in Princess. It was nice spending some time with you. We should do it again soon.”

Luna sat up and looked over to him, putting her hands in her lap and fiddling with her fingers.

Jack stood up and brushed whatever loose grass had stuck to him from laying in the ground so long. “G’night Princess.”

She watched as he walked off, back towards the castle. “Goodnight Jack…”

Returning to his room, Jack placed a hand on the back of his neck, trying to sort out the day’s events. There was so much that had happened in such a short amount of time. It was another emotional rollercoaster for him. He secretly enjoyed it though, as his other alternative was the mostly mind-numbing loneliness he felt warping from star to star. He began removing his armor, getting ready to take a shower and placing it on the table. His stand wasn’t powered, nor secured to anything so the weight of the armor would make it fall over in the night, causing a sudden jump of panic to wake him up.

Jack heard his door open and then quickly, without warning, someone and let herself in. He heard the click of hooves on the floor.

“Mr. Jack.” Celestia said, shutting the door behind her.

Jack turned around, his shirt off and with his hands gripping the waistband of his pants. “Princess Celestia.”

She quickly crossed the room and threw her arms around him, pulling his head firmly between her breasts and squeezing him tightly.

For half a moment he thought he had died as his face was buried in her soft full breasts covered only by the fabric of her dress.

“Oh Jack thank you so much!” Celestia said, not releasing him.

Jack managed to lift his head up just enough so that he could breathe through his nose, his mouth forced open against her right breast. “Err Elem?” (You’re welcome?)

She ran a hand through his hair on the back of his head. “I just got a letter from Twilight!”

Jack, unsure what to do with his hands, slowly raised them and put them around her back, careful not to place them anywhere inappropriate, although he desperately wanted to grab two handfuls of her rear.

“I haven’t gotten a letter from her since… well since her friends began passing. This is the first one in over a hundred years!” Celestia squeezed him again, leaning her head down on top of his and rocking him from side to side.

Jack patted the small of her back gently, trying to return the affection and his congratulations. She removed her arms from around him and then took a step back. Jack could see the broad smile on her face and the gleam of happiness in her eyes. He returned the smile and wiped the little bit of spit he had forced out of his mouth by her surprise hug.

“Glad I could help Princess.”

“Oh I am too! You’ve already made such progress in such little time. Where have you been all this time?”

Jack remembered she said ‘one hundred years’. “Not born yet…? Over one hundred years?”

Celestia chuckled a bit, her breasts bouncing along with her voice. “Oh yes, I don’t think anypony told you. Twilight is a little over 220 years old.”

Jack blinked, then looked over at the door, then back to her, unsure of what to say.

“Oooh and she’s the youngest of us. My sister and I are 3567, and 3568 respectively.”

“No… You can’t be. You don’t look a day over thirty…” Jack said, trying to wrap his mind around the news of the princesses’ supposed immortality.

Celestia took another step forward, running a finger up his chest and under his chin letting her eyelids fall slightly. “Oh Jack, flattery will get you everywhere. But honestly, we have all been alive for, quite some time, young man.”

Jack felt a rather warm sensation run up his body along with her finger. Celestia leaned down, her muzzle coming ever closer to his lips. She moved so close that he could feel her warm breath against his face. He exhaled slowly, unable to breathe back in. His mind, half panicked that she was sucking his very soul out of his mouth, the other half just enjoyed the sensation of his impending doom.

Just before their lips met she pulled away and opened her eyes fully. She tapped him on the nose with her finger. “Oh yes, that reminds me.”

Jack blinked, returning to reality and breathing in once more.

“The sweets at breakfast and dinner are for me. You may have some if you ask, but if you ever take them all again, well…” Celestia smiled and chuckled lightly as she leaned in close again. “We both know that won’t happen right?”

Jack nodded slowly, his eyes transfixed on her and his hands slowly rubbing together nervously.

“Have a good night Mr. Jack.”

She turned and walked away, the sway in her hips much more pronounced along with the swish of her tail. He also watched as her hand slowly moved up her thigh to her rear, then to her chest. He stood there, his brain trying to process the cascade of emotions and thoughts that just transpired between him and an immortal being that supposedly had the power to move an entire star. What a day…