The Broken One

Summer Sun was an enjoyable event that was made even better by the appearance of my aunt to lower the moon. The feast was amazing and all the food was absolutely decadent. Unlike the year before the celebration was held in Canterlot. I spotted Blueblood for the briefest second before he noticed me and vanished. I felt my mother’s worry the entire evening. The music was provided by Vinyl and Octavia and yet again I found myself blasted through an open window by their massive speakers.

The following month passed peacefully enough and before we knew it the Grand Galloping Gala was upon us. Umbra had opted to stay home in order to avoid confusion or possible panic. Shadow and I agreed it would be a good idea, as did Cindra.

“Jackson, why did we have to fly again”, Cindra asked as her wings buzzed beside me.

“Because somepony forgot to commission a carriage for royal purposes”, I replied with a pointed stare at the changeling.

“Oh yeah”, she muttered sheepishly.

“Come on, it isn’t much farther to the train station”, Shadow laughed. “Have you seriously gotten that lazy Cindra?”

“I’ll show you lazy when we get home”, the changeling grinned.

We landed outside of the train station and I rushed to the ticket window. I opened my coin purse but the stallion at the ticket booth refused to accept the twenty bits. I left it on the counter and shrugged before I walked away and met up with my two mares on a nearby bench.

“It always amazes me how fast the train ride is”, Cindra smiled. “Before I met you guys I never would have been able to ride the train.”

“There’s a serious racism problem in this country”, I sighed.

“Wait, are you racist or something”, Cindra cocked her head to the side.

“Seriously”, I deadpanned. “I’m married to a vampony, engaged to a changeling and I’m not even a pony.”

“So”, she shrugged.

“Cindra, think about everything I just said”, I sighed.

“And?”

“I’m not racist”, I grinned. “I’ll torture anypony equally.”

“About that”, she shivered.

At that moment a gaggle of giggling girls approached from behind and a shrill voice drew my eyes around. The Mane Six as ponies had begun calling them were dressed in travelling clothes but their manes and tails were styled beautifully. Their manes flowed gracefully and I had a difficult time tearing my eyes from Dash and Twilight.

“You ladies look amazing”, I smiled as I stood and offered them a light bow.

“His manners certainly have improved”, Rarity giggled.

The newly assembled mares turned their eyes to my garment bag draped over my arm with expectation. I groaned and disappeared to the restroom to change returning moments later wearing my formal attire.

The silky yet strong fabric flowed over my body like the deepest shadows of night accented with burnt gold piping that lined the shoulders, chest and sleeves of my shirt. The flowing pants had a single burnt gold stripe down the outside of the legs. My ceremonial blade hung at my waist and the bundle of braids cascaded down my back.

“Damn”, Shadow, Dash and Twilight said at the same time, the latter two blushing lightly.

I laughed as the train pulled into the station and we boarded. I waited for Twilight and the girls but they pointed to their apple shaped carriage. I shrugged and headed into the train. I followed the girls to a private cabin which, as it turns out, was reserved for royalty. I settled comfortably in the middle of the couch and waited for the pile on that actually never came.

“What’d I do this time”, I wondered as I scratched my head.

“Nothing, why”, Shadow asked in confusion.

“Normally you two are glued to my side every chance you get”, I laughed.

“Oh, we just didn’t want to wrinkle our outfits”, my wife smiled.

“Makes sense”, I shrugged.

“You know”, Cindra purred as she eased toward me, “We could always take them off.”

“We could”, I murmured as I lightly kissed her lips before sitting back, “But the train ride to Canterlot isn’t long enough.”

I leaned my head back as Cindra pouted and Shadow laughed in that beautiful voice I could never get tired of. The changeling flopped her front half over my lap and pouted some more as we laughed. Before too long we arrived in Canterlot and left the train.

We were ushered to the gates of the castle by Shining Armor himself where we were greeted by my mother and aunt. I walked up to my mother and held my arms out to her. She hesitated for half a moment before closing her eyes happily and hugging me tightly. I kissed her cheek before turning to my aunt and hugging her as well.

“It’s good to get out of the forest and not be killing something”, I smiled quietly.

“There will be no need for that sword tonight”, my mother advised with a stern glare.

“Do you know how hard it is to wash the blood out of this handle”, I laughed. “No, I would use magic.”

With that I walked away with a stunned vampony and changeling trailing behind me. Once we were out of earshot my wife did her matrimonial duties and began to nag, nag, nag. I smiled and told her I would apologize later which mollified her somewhat. We made our way into the main event and I waved to Vinyl and Octavia in passing. I pulled two chairs out at a side table but a servant arrived to lead us to our assigned table in the midst of the area.

I looked to the next table over and saw my mother and aunt’s names on placards at two of the three seats. I shrugged and pulled out the chairs for Shadow and Cindra before taking my own seat.

“Such a gentlecolt”, some prissy looking fancy pony named Fleur de Lis simpered.

“I may be young”, I replied as I stood with a bow of my head, “But my mother did instill manners in me. I thank you for the compliment, madam.”

“Very nicely done”, my aunt whispered in my ear as Fleur tittered and flounced away.

“Thank you”, I replied as we took our seats. “As you can see, I can behave like a civilized mindless pony.”

“I agree with you about mindless”, my aunt admitted quietly. “Most of the issues that come before my sister are trivial at best. Just today she had to settle a dispute over whose fault it was a tree in the middle of a property line fell over!”

“Geez, I’m glad my only sentient subject is a weird little zebra hermit”, I scoffed.

“And what of Ponyville”, she asked in shock.

“What about it”, I shrugged. “Mayor Mare handles the problems in town. Well, either her or the Mane Six.”

“That actually is rather catchy”, the lunar ruler begrudgingly admitted.

“So yeah, I have plenty of time to slip into madness”, I joked with a fake giggle.

“Madness”, she asked with a deep stare. “The things you have done are not madness. They are dark and hateful things. They are chaotic things spawned by the chaos in you.”

“Wow, way to kill the mood”, I scoffed.

“Make no mistake of this, Jackson”, she said darkly as she got close to me. “If you turn out to be anything like Discord I will give the order myself to turn you to stone.”

“Can your powers reach the Spirit Realm”, I asked as I inspected my nails. “I really don’t want to fight, Aunt Luna. I want our family to get along.”

“Perhaps we could if you would just accept a hoof offered in help”, she retorted. “Jackson, I know what the call of Chaos is like. Let me help you.”

“Why, so you can rape me again”, I hissed quietly.

“Jackson”, Shadow gasped.

“It’s alright, Princess Shadow”, my aunt sighed. “Your husband has no reason to trust me. I regret my actions, but I understand if forgiveness is a long time in the coming.”

At that moment a herd of wild animals burst in the door followed by a disheveled Fluttershy.

“You’re. GOING TO. LOVE ME”, she shouted with furiously splayed wings.

“Well, fuck.”