Twists, Turns, Scars, and Steel

A week later

Giovanni and Jet Lag walked through the streets of the town, looking for a place to eat. Their pay had just arrived, and they had wanted to get something nicer to eat than rations. Finally, they spotted a few tables outside a place with a muffin shaped sign above it. As they watched, an incredibly pale tan-colored stallion left the building, a pale purplish unicorn mare waving goodbye to him. As they got closer, the mare said, "Oh, you must be the soldiers that Starlight talked to."

"Yes. Good morning, Miss...?", Giovanni replied.

"Sugar Belle", she said. "I run the bakery." Her eyes then flicked to Jet Lag's flank, or rather, what was on it: A cutie mark of several lightning bolts forming the Pryhan Numeral 'three'.

"Is something wrong?", Jet Lag asked, noticing her glaring at his flank.

"Oh, oh no. It's just... well, we don't see many ponies with cutie marks around here", she said. "Now, can I bring you anything? We have muffins?"

The two of them waited for a second, before looking at one another. Giovanni asked, "Is that it?"

"Yeah. Just muffins", Sugar Belle said.

"Then, one each please", Jet Lag said.

Sugar Belle trotted off and the two of them sat down at one of the tables. Jet Lag said, "Is it just me, or is this town incredibly creepy?" As he said that, he looked around the single street, watching as the townsponies fixed them with wide grins.

"Like I said, I agree with you. But, unless something illegal is going on here, then we can't do anything", Giovanni answered. "In the meantime, we just hold our position and wait for the materials to arrive to make a proper outpost. So, let's discuss something that would be in more... polite conversation."

"Ok", Jet Lag said, putting his hoof to his chin. "What'd you think of the last game?"

"Which game? The Skyball one in Eagles Peak?", Giovanni asked.

"Exactly."

Giovanni snorted. "I still feel like the Maelstroms cheated. No way they could get all those goals; especially through all of those defenses the Rocs set up."

Jet Lag said, "You're just salty because the Rocs are your home town team."

Giovanni muttered something under his breath as Sugar Belle came out with their muffins. "And how about what happened when your towns team lost 100 to nothing?", he asked, grabbing and taking a big bite of his muffin.

A second later, he spat it out, before doing it several more times. "What the Hell!? Did you use white pepper instead of Sugar!?"

"I'm sorry you don't like it", Sugar Belle said. "Consider them on the house."

Giovanni sighed, sitting back down. "I'm very sorry. It just, tastes terrible. Like, worst than grade C rations."

"It's ok. I know I'm not that good of a baker. Well, not as good as anyone else", Sugar Belle said. "But, can I ask you something?"

"Sure", Giovanni said.

Jet Lag, "I don't see why not."

"Well, I noticed you two were seemingly fighting, and, well...", She said, her face seemingly full of concern.

"We weren't fighting", Jet Lag said. "We were just having a conversation on a topic we disagree with."

"But, you aren't bitter about it?", she asked.

Giovanni said, "Why would we? It is a difference of opinion. Nothing more."

Sugar Belle nodded and said, "Sorry. It's just, so different. While, not exactly the same, Starlight taught us a little jingle of sorts. 'Different talents lead to different opinions which lead to bitterness and misery'. But, neither of you are bitter, so, it's odd, to say the least."

Giovanni was taken aback. He sputtered a bit, before saying, "We are not bitter about different opinions because it is natural! It is UNnatural for every single creature to think the exact same thing. And such an ideology that does that is tyrannical!"

Sugar Belle said, "Well, we all agreed to this. We're happy to be equal."

Giovanni fixed her with a look of concern, just like she had done to him and Jet Lag earlier. "Miss Belle. I want you to listen to me."

"Ok", she said.

"I want you to do something for me. If there is anything illegal going on; if you have been forced to do anything, attacked at any point, or anything you think is wrong. Tell me. If anything like that is happening or has happened, I can help you. Ok?", he said.

She laughed nervously, looking around nervously. She said, "O-ok. Well, again. The muffins are on the house. I hope you have a nice day, and enjoy our little village." She then went inside, eyes darting back and forth rapidly.

"Well, that was weird", Jet Lag said. "Captain, I never knew you were so philosophical."

"Heh", he grunted. "My family lived in the old Republican Library. Hell, my sister, Gabriella, is the current Librarian in the restored Republican Library. I read a bunch while I was bored. Most of it was really old and faded, but most of what was left was old philosophy texts."

"Neat. So, what do you think about what's going on here?", Jet Lag asked.

"It's stupidity", he grumbled. "Applying their collective skills to the lowest common denominator. Unnatural too, like I said. It's like a Grover-damned cult."

The two of them were interrupted by a throat being cleared behind them. "Excuse me, sirs."

They turned to see a griffon in a white shirt and black pants, a small pin in the shape of a pair of grey lines on the collar. Jet Lag asked, "Can we help you?"

"Yes. My name is Gertrude, a representative of the Northern Griffonian Rail Company", she said. "I was wondering about a bit of, a. Well..."

"Well, spit it out", Jet Lag said.

Giovanni said, "Calm yourself, Jet Lag. Now, Miss Gertrude. What do you need?"

"I know it's not all that necessary, but I need a few escorts and additional overseers on this stretch of track." She laid down a flyer on the table, and they craned their next to read it:

HELP WANTED

The Northern Griffonian Rail Company is in need of additional workers for this section of the track in the International Rail System. The stretch of train tracks is between fourteen miles from this town to fourteen miles beyond this town: an estimated timeline of one and a half months. Anyone who volunteers will be provided with transport to the worksite every day and two hot meals a day. 50 Griffonian bits a day for a full day of work. Excelling in work will result in potential signing on to the company. Please specify if you possess any special skills (EX: Mathematics or engineering experience, metalworking, etc.)

If you wish to help, please take one of the cards below. Thank you!

"You just need a few extra troops to help make sure that all of the work is proceeding smoothly and to protect your workers?", Giovanni said.

"Well, yes", Gertrude said. "I just want to make sure that everything is in order."

"Lieutenant Jet Lag can oversee that", Giovanni said. "Lieutenant, take, say, fifteen Warhawks tomorrow. Help out the company."

"Don't we have to work out the paperwork and all that jazz?", Jet Lag asked.

"We already have an arrangement with the NGRC", Giovanni said. "We're already supplying troops to guard the workers. As the closest unit, it's a part of the governmental contract with them."

"Alright", Jet Lag said. "I'll get a few troopers tomorrow morning."

++++~++++

The next day, Jet Lag and five of his soldiers waited on the outskirts of town. A small crowd of about fifteen ponies from the town was also there, gripping various lunch sacks and the little pieces of paper they had gotten off of the posters. Jet Lag checked his watch; it was about the time the NGRC representatives would arrive.

Sure enough, a small cloud of steam appeared over the horizon, growing closer at a rapid pace. As it got closer, he began to make out the carriage-like structure of a Pryhan-made Land-skiff. The vehicle pulled up in front of the crowd, a griffon from the cabin climbing out and coming to the front.

"Alright!", he yelled. "We can take two in the cabin of the land-skiff, and fit ten in the back. If you're a pegasus and we run out of room, you're stuck flying. Alright, pile in!"

As the ponies came forward, Jet Lag saw Starlight, Double Diamond, and a pair of other townsponies came up towards them. The other three still wore their massive smiles, but Starlight wore a look of contempt. She exclaimed, "What is going on!?"

The griffon who had just spoke said, "I'm here to pick up the volunteers. And, you are?"

"Starlight Glimmer, and I am sorry, but there will be no volunteers", she said.

Jet Lag raised an eyebrow under his helmet and asked her, "And why is that?"

"Oh, don't get me started!", she exclaimed, shoving one of the posters in Jet Lag's face. "Do you have any idea what's on this thing!?"

"Yes, I am. I was there when Captain Giovanni approved signing on extra guards. What part of it are you concerned about?", Jet Lag asked.

"The part about 'Special skills'", she explained matter-of-factly.

The griffon grew annoyed, and asked, "What about that is wrong? Everyone has a certain thing they're good at or at the very least enjoy doing."

She said, "That's the thing. You want to encourage them to give up their equality in order to help you make a few bits."

The griffon fluffed up in irritation, saying, "Look, you crazy lady. I'm just doing my job. They want to volunteer, they can. Now, like I said! Anyone want it, get in the land-skiff!"

However, unlike before, none of them came forward. They all looked in between themselves, talking and working things about between them. Finally, one of them came forward and said, "If we have to give up our equality to do it, then no."

The griffon, the soldiers and Jet Lag all looked stunned. The griffon was the first to snap out of it, scowling and saying, "Well, fine! A waste of our fucking time and money."

He climbed back into the land-skiff, slamming the door shut and saying something to the other before the vehicle drove off in a cloud of white smoke. As it left, Starlight addressed the crowd in a much nicer, almost motherly tone: "Alright everypony! Head home! We can work out something better if anypony still wants to still work with them!" The crowd dispersed, and then Starlight turned to Jet Lag. "Can I talk to you?"

"About what?", he asked.

"About how you are acting as a divisive figure in our little village", she said, smiling.

"Ok", he muttered. "Corporal! You and your team are dismissed." As the flew off, he followed her and Double Diamond back to her house. He noticed a pair of teacups on the table, while Starlight Glimmer walked over to the other side of the table and sat down. She lifted up and took a sip from her tea, before asking, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

"Not entirely", he said.

Double Diamond said, "Your cutie mark is dividing us. It's disrupting and threatening our entire philosophy."

"Thank you, sweetie", Starlight said. "The way you and Captain Giovanni are acting is undermining us. You're threatening to destroy everything that we have striven to accomplish."

"I'm just doing my job", Jet Lag said. "I'm sorry if I upset you somehow, but that is how things work."

She gave him a look of what he recognized as that resembling a nurturing mother. She said, "Why are you like this?"

"Beg pardon?"

"Why are you so uncaring?", she asked. "You seem like an intelligent stallion, so why don't you see the logic in it? It makes everypony happy, and-"

"May I make a point?", he asked.

"Sure", she said.

"I do see the logic in equality. But, in this case, I have to disagree", he said. "We have it under the law, so that everyone has a chance to do what they want to do. This? This is fucking stupid. How do you plan to do anything if you default to the lowest rung? Besides, I'm not hurting any of them, so why do you care?"

"I care because you're trying to undo all we have worked to do", she said.

Jet Lag took a sip of tea. "Not all things you make are worth building. I know from experience."

"Really? Tell me about it", she said, putting down her cup and resting her head on her forelegs.

"I'm an Equestrian by birth. I became a Griffonian citizen and joined the army during the Changeling crisis, but that's beside the point. Anyway, during high school, I spent a long time working on a project. I don't r-really remember wh-what, but it was on... something. I spent an hour o-on it. F-found out I did i-it on a w-wrong premises. I-Oh, Celestia, I'm tired."

Jet Lag's vision faded to black, the last thing he saw being a wide grin from Starlight Glimmer.