A vacation of consequence

"This has got to be the most awesome thing I have ever done." Dash exclaimed happily as her wings flared out, a look of determination spread across her face as her hooves moved back and forth on a small joy stick and buttons. She glared at the tv in front of her as her character was punching and kicking another character.

"I'm surprised you've never played a video game before Dash." Jake laughed.

"Are you kidding?! Our word doesn't have this type of technology. I'm an athlete, All I do is exercise and do stunts while flying."

"That sounds fun, but do you do anything else to occupy your time away from training?"

"No, I've been training for my entire life just to have a chance at becoming a Wonderbolt. YES!" Dash got up and danced in place as her character K.O.'d the other in the game she was playing.

"What's a Wonderbolt?" Jake asked as he looked to Dash rather confused.

"They are just the only most awesome and talented fliers in all of Equestria. Only the most Elite fliers get chosen to become part of their team." Dash smirked.

"Heh, sound's kind of like the Blue Angels here on my world." Jake chuckled only to catch Dash's attention fully.

"You have a flight team here?! That is just so awesome!" She squealed out. "You've got to tell me about them." She smiled widely as she left the game running, her full attention now on Jake.

"I can do better than that." He laughed as he picked up a remote and pointed it at the TV switching the channel over to reveal a computers desktop. He then pulled out a a wireless keyboard and mouse from under the tv unit and pulled up youtube. Once on there he pulled up a few Blue Angels clips, showing Dash what they could do. After a few minutes, Dash gave a slightly disapproving look.

"They aren't very nimble, and their turning radius is a total joke." She scoffed.

"Hey, these are some highly skilled pilots. I bet if they had wings just like you do that could fly circles around the Wonderbolts." Jake laughed.

"Yea right, What's that contraptions top speed?" Dash smirked.

"Top speed is around mach two I think, maybe more. I'm not expert in planes." He chuckled.

"Mach two huh, I guess that isn't to bad." Dash grinned causing Jake to cock a brow in slight confusion.

"Not bad? There is no way that anything living could fly anywhere near that fast." He smirked back.

"I beg teh differ." Applejack interjected giving a smile. "RD here has pulled off a sonic Rainboom on more than one occasion. Once when she saved mah friend Rarity and the Wonderbolts from crashing inteh the ground."

"A what?" Jake asked, clearly confused.

"A Sonic Rainboom. It's when Dash breaks the sound barrier and leaves behind a rainbow in her wake. She is the only pony known to have pulled it off." Twilight piped up giving a smile.

"Yer pulling mah leg. There ain't no way anything living could pulled that off. The physics involved would literally tear you apart from the friction against the wind." Jake smirked, thinking he had them caught in a lie.

"Alright then, if I can ever get my magic back and you come to Equestria, I'll show you just that." Dash grinned, but it soon faded along with her wings drooping slightly. "I miss home." She sighed taking a seat on the floor.

"It's ok RD, We only got a couple more weeks teh go and we'll be home lickity split." AJ smiled softly to her friend, pulling her into a sideways hug.

"Yea Rainbow, There's no need to worry. Once the three weeks are up the spell will end, thereby sending us home in the blink of an eye." Twilight smiled giving Dash a gentle nudge.

"Wanting to go home so quick huh? Am I running you girls off?" Jake smirked to them, but only causing Twilight to sputter.

"W-what? NO! Nonononooooo, it's not that at all. I'm sorry if it seems like we don't want....." She was stopped as Jake pressed a finger to her lips, giving a soft chuckle himself.

"I was kidding Twilight." He smiled shaking his head. "You really are just like Teresa." He gave a disheartened smile as he moved his hand to the side of her face, rubbing his thumb against her cheek only to make her blush and look away. After a second he stopped, his eyes going a little wide as he realized what he was doing and pulled his hand away while clearing his throat.

"AHEM! Sorry......" He trailed off while getting up and heading toward the door. "I guess I had better go out and gather a some other items before it starts snowing." He said as he stopped at the door, looking back to Twilight and giving a weak smile before heading outside.

Twilight sat there for a moment, her face burning a soft crimson as she pulled a hoof up and rubbed her cheek that Jake had just placed his hand on. After a few seconds she shook herself back to her senses before going over to the book case and picking up a book to read. They had only been there for a total of about five days now, and she had already read around a quarter of the books on the first shelf.

"Twi, ya'll right sugarcube?" AJ spoke up seeing her friend looking at the books on the shelf but not actually looking at them per say. She was just staring off into space, her vision simply resting on the books before her.

"Hm? Yes I'm fine. It's just that........" She trailed off for a moment as she tried to gather her thoughts. "It's just that I feel like I'm getting Jake's hopes up for nothing. I feel like I'm just a reminder of what he once had. And it's troubling. I know we'll be gone in a couple more weeks, so I don't want to make him feel as if I'll stay. He is a gentlecolt, and has basically saved our lives. But even if I offered to do anything for him, I know it would just make things harder when we leave for home." Twilight sighed as she looked to the floor, the feeling of guilt and suffering present in her demeanor.

"Hey Twi, Don't you think that by not doing anything for him, you're making it worse for him?" Dash spoke up as she was watching other videos on youtube.

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking to Dash.

"Well, Imagine having loved somepony, then loosing them, only to have them return as a different species, but still being identical to what they once were, only for them to shy away or try to avoid any type of contact with you. Wouldn't you feel sad and lonely? Having the pony you loved die, then come back as another species, only for them to not acknowledge you?" Dash piped up while turning around in her chair.

"That's purty deep for somepony like you RD." AJ chuckled only to get an annoyed snort from Dash in return.

"Hey! I can be insightful and deep just as much as the next pony. I'm not all muscle ya know." She smirked back.

"Well then............ What should I do?" Twilight asked giving a hopeful expression to her friends.

"Not real sure sugarcube. Ah'd say teh spend more time with'im an such, but don't get to close ya know?" AJ said while rubbing her chin in thought.

"Yea, just don't get carried away and go rutting with him." Dash spoke up while looking at a video on the monitor but stopped as silence followed.

"RAINBOW! What in Equestria?!" Twilight squeaked out as her face was now a full on crimson.

Dash looked back seeing her friend so flustered that she couldn't help but to laughed loud and hard, falling out of her chair in the process. After a few minutes of a giggle fit she finally caught her breath enough to answer back.

"Geez Twilight, Had I know you had such stron feelings for him I wouldn't have said anything." Dash cackled, getting a snort out of Twilight.

Twilight snorted loudly as her horn lit up for a few seconds as she cast a levitation spell onto Dash, lifting her into the air and shaking her.

"WHA HA HAAT THEEE HAAAA HAAA HAAAAY!" Dash yelled as Twilight shook her in her magical grasp for about ten seconds before the grip left her, dropping her onto the couch.

"What was that for?!" Dash yelled but stopped as AJ was gawking at Twilight.

"Twi!? Ya just used magic!" AJ spoke up in glee.

"I did? I mean I did!" Twilight spoke up happily.

"But, how?!" Dash asked while shaking off the jarring experience. "I thought this world eats up magic."

"Well, maybe it only eats up active magic. Like when I cast a spell." She beamed.

"That is awesome." Dash beamed. "Does that mean you can open your portal and get some of your stuff out?" Dash asked feeling a tinge of hope.

"I don't know, let me try." Twilight said as a look of determination spread across her face. Her horn lit up for a second as her portal came open. She switched to her levitation spell and hurriedly pulled a large bag through, the portal closing and cutting a small segment of the large bag off around the edge of it.

"YES! Now which bag did I get?" Twilight said as the three quickly emptied the bag out and onto the floor. Upon seeing the contents of the bag they gave a shout of glee. It was the emergency bag that contained many of the supplies needed in case of injuries. Along with some magically dehydrated food stores. The best peices out of the bag however were the three large gemstone batteries that were still glowing brightly, signalling that they had a full charge of magic.

"Does this mean we can go home?" Dash asked, looking ever hopeful.

"It sure does." Twilight beamed as they all began to laugh and cry together. "I had better go ahead and absorb one of the charges though just in case." Twilight said as she picked up one of the gems and pressing it to her chest.

Twilight stood there for a moment as the gemstone grew brighter before the glow transferred into her. Then faded to a normal gem color. She took in a deep breath as she could feel the magic coursing through her body.

"It feels good to have my magic again." Twilight giggled softly.

"Well, what are ya waiting fer? Let's get back home." AJ smiled widely to her unicorn friend.

"I think we should wait for Jake to get back, to at least tell him thank you and goodbye." Twilight said as she sat down feeling a tinge of guilt.

"Yea, we wouldn't be very good friends if we just up and left him hanging like that." Dash spoke up.

AJ sat there for a moment giving a sigh. "I guess yer right. Ah know mah brother'd be a might upset if ah jes up'n'left without tellin'im."

The three ponies sat there, idly chatting back and forth for the next few hours as they waited on Jake to return home. It was getting later on in the evening and he had still not returned. After the sun was beginning to set the three ponies heard a series of loud bangs coming from nearby, along with some noises they had never heard before mixed with screaming. After a few more bangs the noises quit. They had rushed to the porch upon hearing the noises and determine the direction in which they had come from. AJ picked up a flashlight in her mouth and turned it on, as well as Dash who took the lead into the woods. The continued galloping through the woods as fast as they could, finally coming to a stop as they began to look for the source of the noises.

"JAAAAAAAKE! Where are you!?" Twilight shouted. The three ponies stopping in their tracks to listen to a reply if there was one.

After a few tense moments they heard a groan and quickly headed into the direction of the sound. After a few tense moments they found Jake in very bad shape, laying on him was a large bear that had several gunshot wounds. one being right through its skull, causing blood to ooze out and all over Jake.

"JAKE! OH MY GOSH!" Dash spoke out as she rushed over, with the help of AJ, they bucked the dead bear off of him and to his side. He lay back against the tree he was already resting against and gave a pained chuckle.

"Heh heh........ This bugger surprised me............" He trailed off as he took in a pained breath. "Thought all bears went into hibernation during winter. Guess this'ns a late bloomer." He laughed only to cough several times as a trickle of blood left his torn lip.

"Jake, Oh Celestia, are you alright?" Twilight asked as she began to look him over, many cuts being present on his body along with many bite marks.

"Sorry to say Twilight, No." He took in a shuddering breath. "Shoulda brought the shotgun instead of the rifle. Then I might have lived through this." He winced in pain for a moment as tears began to form in his eyes. The realization of death all to present for him now. "Girl's, I'm pretty bad off. I'm loosing blood and I'm in to much pain to move." He trailed off as he tried to relax while looking up to the sky through the baron tree canopy above them. "I've got a broken leg from that thing biting me as well. I can't even crawl back home because of the gashes on my arms." He gave a soft chuckle. "This is it." He sighed as he fell over onto the leaves laying around him. He let out a soft groan as he turned flat looking up into the sky. Its pale blue turning into black in the distance one way while turning into a rust color along the sunset. He continued watching up in silence until a small star finally revealed itself in the evening sky. He gave a smile as he looked at and began to speak softly.

"Starlight, starbright, first star I.....see tonight.......... I wish I may.......... I wish......... I might.......... have this.........wish...... I wish........ toniiiiiight............" His eyes closed as the smile never left his face.

Jake hadn't realized it, but he was being quickly taken back to his home while being levitated above the ground. The girls made it back and brought Jake into the house just as Twilight's magic was teetering on edge of going out. The smile had left Jakes face as labored breathing took its place.

"Twi, we need teh save'im, Do ya know any healing spells?" AJ spoke up as she began to tear the cloths from Jake and place them to the side.

"I do, but it uses a lot of magic, and we only have two gem batteries left. I'll have to pull out my survival equipment from my portal to further treat him. But If I do, we won't be able to go home." Twilight was conflicted. She wanted to go home so bad but she wanted to save her new friend as well.

"Twi..........." Jake spoke up softly catching their attentions. Twilight coming to his side as he took in several labored breathes. "I'm to far gone now. Even if you healed me I would die anyway from the loss of blood. If you can get home now, go ahead." He smiled softly to her as his hand lifted slowly and pressing it gently against her cheek, his thumb brushing against her soft fur along that cheek. "Go home Twi............. go........... home............" He trailed off as his hand slowly fell to the floor in a lifeless heap.

Twilight stood there in shock as tears filled her eyes, slowly running down her cheeks as she watched the soft smile slowly fade from Jake's face. His breathing beginning to slow as death's cold hand began to slowly rip his soul away from his body.

"No..........." Twilight said quietly as she lifted both of the batteries to her and began to absorb them both quickly.

"Twi! Ya can't absorb that much magic! You'll kill yerself from magic poisoning!" AJ shouted as she tried to pull one of them away from her grasp.

"I won't let him die! Not like this!" Twilight shouted as a beam of light erupted from her horn, hitting Jake and then reconnecting to her and the other mares. With her horn still lit she opened her portal and pulled out everything she had packed in an instant. Using her levitation spell she sorted through the contents quickly, finding the cancellation scroll she had made. "Girls! Hang on!" Twilight shouted causing RD and AJ hold onto her as she wrapped her hooves around Jake's neck.

Twilight pulled open the scroll and placed her hoof onto it. In a bright flash of light, then darkness they blinked a few times to see where they were.

"We're home............." AJ spoke up softly but stopped as a cough broke her train of thought. They looked down to see Jake laying on the floor of the library in which they stood.

"Dash! Go to the hospital and get a medical team, tell them we have a dieing creature that needs help." Twilight shouted to Dash who quickly flew out the front door. "SPIKE!" She shouted again to hear claws scraping across the slick floor of the library. Spike coming into the next room only to gawk for a moment.

"Take a letter." She shouted as she and AJ began to move Jake into an open area of floor in the library.

Spike pulled out a scroll as Twilight began to speak.

"Celestia, We are in need of your immediate assistance. A life is hanging in the balance and we need you to save him. Please teleport to the library now." She spoke while nodding to Spike. "Send it."

Spike took a deep breath and sent the scroll into a green cloud of magic that quickly wafted out of the window and toward its intended target.

After a few minutes Dash arrived back at the library carrying Nurse Redheart before unceremoniously dumping her next to Jake. She gave out a loud gasp seeing him in such bad condition before gawking at him because she had never seen such a creature before.

*SNAP*FLASH*

In a burst of light and the crack of a whip, Celestia arrived in the library with haste. She looked to see the bloody mess of Jake laying on the floor and quickly rushed to his side while speaking to Twilight.

"I am not sure how you returned, or why this human so badly injured. But I take it you want me to try and heal him, correct?" Celestia spoke as her horn began to light up.

"Please princess, If you can save him, please do it." She spoke as tears began to well up in her eyes.

Minutes passed by in silence as the rest of the medical crew arrived with their equipment. Celestia using her healing magic to heal his wounds as the nurse disinfected them.

Time would only tell what would happen to him as it ticked by.