BridgeWorld

[Equestria: 994AB Day 295]
"Dmitri," she sobbed as her hand reached out to touch the window at the sight of an image where a griffon stood among several of the equine creatures.

"Mommy, why is that diamond dog crying?" a child's voice loudly inquired, shocking her out of her fugue state, causing her to whip her head about to spot the equines staring at her. In an instant, Jackie was gone.

[994AB Day 296]
Sobbing in pain, Kaylee held her aching head in her hands.

Eventually, the crushing headache abated enough for her to try to look about and get her bearings in the bright daylight.

First thing she noted was her hands were huge, powerful, clawed paws of some creature. Quickly looking over herself, she saw that she wasn't human anymore.

"What the hell am I?" she roared. Instantly, the crushing sensation in her head returned, and she had to hold her skull together again, trying to keep it from exploding from the pressure.

Right, she thought to herself. Don't try to think about that! she recalled.

In time, the agony eased again, and she sighed in relief.

But something else tugged at her memories.

"Equestria?" she ventured with a whisper, dreading the result. There was no pain this time, and she sighed again, this time in contemplation.

"Luna?" she tried again. Still no pain.

So, nothing about where I am or the creatures in Equestria, she thought, but something about what I—

The sudden spike of agony blasting through her skull put a stop to that.

"Yeah—let's not go there, anymore," she sighed after the pain finally ended.

This time, she looked about her.

Gone was the thick jungle-like growth that she had wandered through since leaving the volcanic caldera. It was still a wilderness, just not as heavily forested as before, more like an intermediate transition from forest to more open grasslands. There were also numerous tall narrow mountains all over the place as far as she could see between the gaps in the trees.

Not having any clue as to where to go, she just picked a direction at random and began walking in a four-legged gait that felt natural to her new body, with her wings not involved, it felt as though she simply had a new pair of arms to swing back and forth while she walked. It wasn't long before she came across a meandering stream, and Kaylee realized she was thirsty.

Seeing her reflection in the water reignited the ache behind her eyes and she had to close them and shake her head to dislodge the building thought to wonder where she had seen the like before. Finally, the pain faded once more, and she dipped her head to lower her mouth into the water.

After sating her thirst, she raised her head up and resumed her four-legged walk across the landscape, refusing to look back at the image of the creature that had stared up at her from the water's surface.

Shining Armor stared at the map of the region between Manehattan and Fillydelphia, trying to guess where Jackie Valentine would go next.

Based on the patterns that he and Princess Celestia had worked out, he had several stacks of notes for where the teams should be deployed, each a list of the most probable towns, depending on which community she would be in next. Of late, however, she had been hugging the large river that had been keeping her from escaping into the rest of Equestria. If she held to looking for a way across, he felt confident he could try a little modification to the tactic he had discussed with the Princess before.

"Are you sure we can find her, sir?" the griffon named Gandon asked.

Four ponies and five griffons either stood or sat around Shining Armor's office, consisting of the members of the band from the Griffon's Way Restaurant, in addition to Gandon and a unicorn named Fireplate, who were another couple of additional friends of Jackie's who volunteered to help.

"We hope so," Shining Armor replied. "But it's mostly a hit-or-miss guessing game, with how she's able to move so quickly. We believe she's running simply because she's afraid."

"Afraid of what, exactly!?" Fireplate exclaimed.

"That, we don't know," the unicorn captain said, sighing. "Although, it may have something to do with the agony she must have suffered when Princess Celestia removed that Dark Magic curse from her, it may also have something else going on. So far, whenever anypony so much as catches sight of her, she bolts."

"We've brought the recording crystals of the songs we performed from her music, as you requested," Gus said, handing over the jewels. "We hope they'll help."

"Princess Celestia suspects they may be the only things that will," Shining Armor said. "As I explained earlier, when the Princess pulled that shard of Dark Magic out of her, we think it damaged her mind and may have wiped her memories of you. But she clearly knew those songs long before coming to Equestria. Even if she can't remember who you are, she should at least pay attention to them."

"How else can we help, Captain?" Gus asked. "If we can, we'd like to come with you when searching for her, if we wouldn't be in the way."

"That's indeed what we'd like to ask of you," Shining Armor answered. "So far, she's not been violent in anyways that we've seen. She just—runs! And is gone before anypony can say anything to her. Her pattern, such as it is, seems to be to hide out during the day somewhere in or near one of the towns out there, and she doesn't come out until sunset or shortly after to search for food. But if there's a chance of getting her to pause for a moment, we're hoping your presence and her music will do it. However, since there are so many options for her to run to, we need to spread out pretty thin. It also means we have to split all of you up with the various teams. We're hoping that with you accompanying our teams, you can get her to slow down long enough to listen, to hear that she doesn't need to keep running, to let her know that nopony is going to hurt her."

There was a knock at the door.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Shining Armor inquired.

"Captain, sir," Lieutenant Sideline spoke up, "there's been another sighting of her last night, in Hoofsville."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," he replied, then the captain looked over his assortment of stacked notes. "Hoofsville… Hoofsville… Ah, there it is," Shining Armor said, focusing his magic to retrieve the pile he was looking for. Then he sent individual sheets to each of the visitors. "Please report to these teams and join up with them as they go out searching for her. I'll be accompanying one of the teams with you, too. Good luck, everypony and griff."

"I think this is the better one to play with me being here, sir," Gandon said to Shining Armor, selecting one file to be ready to play. "I can't sing for squit, but this one's primary role is just narration, which I can do. Griz told me that all the singing roles are already stored in the file."

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Gandon," the captain said, nodding to him as he looked about the community of Trotten.

The town was just on this side of one of the major bridges that led across the river and an important one for traffic going into Fillydelphia. There was no sign of the fugitive bipedal cheetah, not that he was really expecting to see her at that point. His team, consisting of eight pegasi and three unicorns, was deployed about and between all the town's outer perimeter of houses well beyond the inner homes surrounding the Square, while he and the young griffon prepared one of several portable stereo boxes that had be requisitioned and borrowed from DJ Pon3's nightclub for this task.

Officially called the Town Square, it was anything but. Roughly oblong, approximately 3 chains plus 20% long by 3 chains minus 20% wide, with its longest dimension running in a mostly southwest to northeast direction. The town center was simply a wide, open space surrounding a well and four adjacent chimneys, along with a few other posts that had been constructed not too far from the area's center for commemorating festivals, but otherwise consisted of just simply a very wide zone where no structures or buildings were allowed. To the north of the well was a large prominent windmill. Two prominent homes straddled the northern upper sides while three smaller houses formed a misshapen arc enclosing the southwestern end of the Square.

On their way here, the young griffon had explained the selection he intended to play was a rather long program called "War of the Worlds" which had become a very popular piece at the Griffon's Way. Supposedly, a sample of human music that could cause griffons to riot in approval? Shining Armor wondered, remembering the report that had been forwarded from the EG unit in Manehattan. I'm almost afraid of what that must even sound like! he considered, having heard quite a few griffon ballads and songs in his career and thus had an inkling of what sort of music they liked. But with luck, this should draw her out to investigate. From that point, Shining Armor could only speculate about what would happen.

About thirty-seven-and-a-half minutes into the play, Gandon was speaking the line, "'I looked up enviously at those safely on board, straight into the eyes of my beloved'—" He broke off at that instant when he suddenly locked eyes with Jackie, herself, who was watching them from around the corner of a house just to the south of them!

"Jackie!" he hoarsely finished in shock. Shining Armor, who was developing quite an appreciation for what he had heard so far, quickly looked about at the griffon's sudden change in performance and got a view of the cat-creature, too.

"Easy, Gandon," Shining Armor quickly whispered, raising a hoof to gently touch one of the griffon's flaring wings. "We don't want to spook her."

He carefully pulled his hoof back to his ear and activated the communications device. "All units, remain where you are for now and standby," he quietly sent. "Somepony, please send to the Princess, 'she's here'." Then he slowly set his hoof down. By now, the music on the stereo system, which continued without Gandon contributing any further narration, had shifted to the leadup for the Battle of the Thunderchild. Annoyed by the otherwise good music that, through no fault of its own, had suddenly become just merely noise now interfering with their mission, Shining Armor used his magic to slowly turn down the volume while keeping his eyes on her. When it was low enough for it to not be distracting to his thoughts, he called out.

"Jackie Valentine!" he shouted. "Nopony here is going to harm you! You don't have to run anymore! We only want to help you! Can you understand me?"

She didn't respond other than flick an ear at his shouts to her, but she hadn't yet run off, so that was a good sign so far.

"Jackie Valentine, my name is Shining Armor!" he continued. "I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard contingent sent here to help you. If you are injured or in any sort of pain, we have medics on hoof who are trained to assist. This griffon beside me is Gandon. Do you remember him? He was one of the griffons you met at a restaurant in Manehattan where you used to work! You used to be friends with him!"

She muttered something, but Shining Armor wasn't able to fully make it out. It sounded like "demi tree" or perhaps just "dim tree". Then she was gone.

"Damn!" Shining Armor hissed in frustration, closing his eyes in defeat.

"Sir, she's back," Gandon suddenly whispered. His eyes snapped open again. Sure enough, she was back where she had been.

She's never done that before! Shining Armor nervously thought. Hopefully, we're getting through to her.

"Jackie Valentine, please! Let us help you," he called out to her. "You're not in any trouble. You've committed no crime that we know of. Indeed, from what we know, you even saved one family from being robbed and murdered!" Her ears flicking at his voice was still her only evident response, but while she glanced at him when he spoke, she was keeping most of her attention on Gandon.

"She seems very interested in you," Shining Armor whispered to the griffon, who nodded in agreement. "Try speaking to her." Gandon sharply glanced at the unicorn before looking back to her, and the griffon nervously gulped.

"J-Jackie! D-do you remember me?" Gandon hesitantly called out, and she quickly lifted up to a two-legged stance to stare intensely at him. "You came by Big Joe's restaurant about a month ago, where you met Fireplate and me, and Gus and the other members of the band playing there. You gave us this music as well as several other songs," he said, pointing over to the stereo sitting on the edge of the covered well. She glanced at the device before returning her glare on him. "Don't you remember us?"

"Try not to push her," Shining Armor whispered. "She might not remember. When Princess Celestia pulled the Dark Magic from her, it may have wiped those memories."

"I'm sorry, Jackie," Gandon tried again. "You might not remember us, but we remember you. We know you to be a very kind and honorable creature, with lots of knowledge about a race of mythical humans. That's where you told us you got this music from." She cocked her head at his words, and Shining Armor was encouraged by the progress.

She's listening! he thought triumphantly, bringing his hoof up to his ear to activate his communications link.

"All units, make your way slowly to the south side of the windmill and muster there. But whatever you do, avoid—repeat—avoid the two houses on the south side of the town center, especially the house to our south-east! All units acknowledge."

Shining Armor listened as the Royal Guard repeated and acknowledged his orders while he also kept track of how Gandon and Jackie Valentine interacted. She perked up and tensed at seeing the pegasi and unicorns in his team come into view and gathered at the structure behind him and Gandon. When the entire team had mustered, she visibly relaxed, only for her to suddenly shift back down into a crouch when a shadow passed overhead. Shining Armor angrily glanced up, only to belatedly realize it was Princess Celestia leisurely coming in for a landing.

"Please be at ease, Jackie Valentine," Princess Celestia called down. "Nopony is going to try to chase you or harm you. I give you my word, as Princess and ruler of Equestria, you have nothing to fear from us."

The fugitive kept her glare on the princess, but made no attempt to run, at least for now. Princess Celestia likewise, kept her focus on Jackie Valentine as she glided around the windmill and made it clear she was going to land by the well, where Gandon and he stood. In a few seconds, the princess had joined them.

Shining Armor could tell the creature was calculating her chances with all the ponies and the Princess being here, as she constantly shifted her view from Gandon, to Shining, to Princess Celestia, to the Royal Guard, and back, repeatedly.

"Jackie Valentine, I know we got off on the wrong hoof," Princess Celestia called out. "I can't imagine how painful it must have been for you, but please understand. At the time, you had been suffering from an evil curse that had infected you and I was endeavoring to remove it from you. It was already causing you tremendous pain, and I was only trying to help. Please, accept my deepest and most sincere apologies for the pain you suffered. You ran off before I could have a chance to explain." She waited for Jackie Valentine to respond, but all that the creature did was keep shifting her focus on everypony there.

"Did you know you're very, very fast?" Princess Celestia inquired, trying a different tact. "I have to say, I've never encountered anycreature so fast as you—well, with one or two exceptions—" she added, smiling to her. Then the princess looked to him. "Did you bring the chains I had requested?" she asked, clearly loud enough for her voice to carry to Jackie Valentine's hearing.

"Yes, of course, Your Highness," Shining Armor replied, still rather puzzled by her earlier instructions to him that all the teams bring such and have them on hoof. She never explained why when he had asked about it.

"Then use them on me," she ordered as she walked over to stand beside one of four stone chimneys that had been built about the town's well. "Tie me down."

"WHAT!?" he exclamation got all the Royal Guard and Gandon to snap their gazes onto the princess.

"I'm the only creature here who can possibly keep up with Jackie!" Princess Celestia sternly said. "We need her to understand, she has nothing to fear from us. She's only running because she's afraid of us! Afraid of me! So, if I can't chase her, then she'll feel just that much more safer, and she'll stay and listen to us! And I can't chase her if I'm tied down! Now, do it!"

Shining Armor glanced over at Jackie Valentine, who was still there, watching the spectacle unfold, then he nodded. He turned his attention to his team. "You heard her. Bring the chains," he ordered. There was considerable grumbling and hesitancy among the Guardponies, understandably so, given this wasn't the sort of thing one just does to the Princess! But they also knew it was their duty to obey all lawful orders.

"Be sure to make a good show to demonstrate how strong those chains are," Princess Celestia loudly commanded before he could remind them of their duty to obey all such lawful orders promptly. She turned her head to look directly at Jackie. "I want Jackie to know she is safe here!"

Shining Armor nodded to his team, and they obeyed, bringing the lengths of chain over to lay out before their princess. As instructed, a pair of pegasi took up either end of each length, one at a time, and gave a good strong tug, enough for the stronger of the two to pull the other a few hands before they brought the length over and began tying down Princess Celestia's wings to her barrel, hobbled her legs together, and finally bound her body to the chimney itself. Throughout it all, Jackie Valentine attentively watched. When it was finished, the Guardponies returned to the base of the windmill.

"Jackie," Princess Celestia said, deeply bowing her head, as much as the chains allowed her to move. "Again, please accept my deepest and sincerest apologies. I never meant to cause you any pain, but I knew that removing that sliver of Dark Magic from you was going to be a horrific torture for you. But you were already screaming in such agony from whatever the curse had done to you. If I hadn't acted, I fear that your mind, and even your soul, would have been lost."

For her part, Jackie Valentine had remained crouched since Princess Celestia had appeared, but now she slowly stood up once more. They all stood and stared at each other for what seemed to be several minutes.

"Gandon," Shining Armor whispered to get the griffon's attention, "don't rush her or do anything startling, but take a step toward her."

"Jackie, please," Gandon called out, reaching out a talon to her, getting her focus on him once more. He took a tentative step forward, then sat back down, and reached out again. "Come back home with us. Let us help you. Please."

"Dmitri?" she inquired, and that caught Princess Celestia's attention.

Who is she asking for? she wondered.

"I—I don't know what that is, Jackie," Gandon stammered. "What is a 'Demitree'?"

"Dmitri is a human name," Celestia spoke up, getting Jackie Valentine's attention again. "Someone who was named for Princess Demeter, one of the Ánthropos rulers from ancient times."

"I don't know what you were doing to me, but it hurt like all kinds of hell," Jackie finally spoke to Princess Celestia, taking a few steps slowly toward them.

"I really sorry, Jackie. I do wish I could have made it less so," the princess replied.

"I do remember," Jackie said. "But it wasn't the worst I've ever endured." The statement clearly puzzled Princess Celestia, but Jackie had gone back to focusing on Gandon as she cautiously approached. In a short while, she was standing just 15 links from Gandon, staring intently at the young griffon.

"You look so much like him," she whispered. "Or at least, what I remember he looked like. But you're clearly not the same color as he was."

"A griffon?" Gandon asked astonished. "Named 'Demitree'!? Is that who you're searching for? A friend you have lost?"

"A lover," she replied.

"Then, as a griffon, it would be my honor to help you find him," Gandon vowed. "To help reunite you with your mate!"

"He's—he's here!?" Jackie Valentine suddenly asked, evidently surprised by something in the discussion. Shining Armor felt odd about where this was going.

"Dmitri's here—?" she repeated, then a look of horror crept into her features. "Ohmygod, NO! The EXPLOSION!"

"You felt that explosion out here?" Princess Celestia asked. "Of course, you did. The mushroom joke devastated a large chunk of Manehattan. Fortunately, the Griffon's Way restaurant was well outside the blast—"

"No! No! No! Nonononono!" Jackie Valentine exclaimed, clearly panicked by something. "If I'm here, then they're here, too! The explosion! Oh, dear God, NO!! THOSE THINGS ARE HERE, ALSO!"

"Jackie? What's wrong? You were nowhere near Manehattan when the explosion ha—" Princess Celestia said, trying to calm her down.

"IT WASN'T AN EXPLOSION!" Jackie suddenly rushed up to grab Princess Celestia's peytral, screaming, "IT WAS A PORTAL!!" And they were all startled as the bipedal feline was pissing and defecating in front of them. Then she was gone….