Chapters A vacation of consequence
It was later in the day, the spring air bustled around the library as Twilight sat quietly outside on the tree's balcony. A book resting in her magical grip as it floated in front of her. She gingerly took a sip of tea that was resting in a small cup on the table next to her. As she flipped the page of her book into the next section, her eyes grew a little wider as she happened upon a new spell that she had been looking for the previous day.
"YES!" She exclaimed happily as she did a little jig in her seat. "Finally found that stupid spell." She sighed as she quickly began to read over it. "Trans-dimensional travel for your vacation needs. Travel to a new world to see new and exciting places. Hmmm doesn't sound very promising." She shrugged before finally seeing a small section at the bottom of the page in bold red letters. "Please remember that each world is different and can easily be a threat if you are not prepared. Please read the spell requirements before traveling. Now that sounds far more interesting." She giggled as she began to read over the requirements on the following page.
"Hmmmmm, Transformation spells to blend in with the local population. A translation spell for lingual needs, in such a case as the local population you meet does not speak your given language, and finally, at least a weeks worth of food and supplies, including magical batteries to quickly recharge magic within a ponies body. Some known and unknown destinations have possibilities of robbing a pony of their magic, hence leaving them stranded until the spell ends. This can also be deadly in case the environment does not supply the same type of breathable air as ponies do. Please note to cast a shield spell that supplies air to breathe before making the jump. A possible invisibility spell may also be used, but is sometimes not required. Remember to take all the necessary precautions before jumping."
Twilight sighed as she mulled over all the possibilities in her head about traveling into an alternate reality. This was going to take some planning as well as a few bits to get going. Although she had a few bits stashed away, she wouldn't need them to purchase many items, as she could use her magic to synthesize many of the needed gear, place it into a magical portal, and then summon it once she arrived.
XXX
After taking the rest of the day to make the required gear for her trip, she quickly placed them, including several gem batteries into a summoning portal to wait there until she had arrived into her new destination. She pulled out a checklist to finalize what she was going to be taking with her.
"Books, check, gem stone batteries, check, magical map that will show one square mile of the local area, check, food stores, check, camping supplies, check, precious gems that could be used as currency, check, solid gold bits and a gold bar, check. Magical traps for emergency usage, check, magical one use spell scrolls for emergencies, check, and finally, a cancellation scroll to send me back home in case of an emergency." Twilight beamed at having been so organized and quickly closed the portal as she headed out of the library toward the local diner to get something to eat. The thought of traveling to another dimension for a small week long vacation sounded very appealing, and she wanted to have a full stomach before heading out.
As she arrived at the local diner however, she noticed her five friends all sitting at a table together as they chatted amongst themselves. She walked over, but before she could speak up, Applejack noticed her.
"Well hey sugarcube, come on over an join us." She smiled.
"What is everyone doing? Are you all planning something and didn't invite me?" Twilight asked giving an accusing stare.
"No darling, we all simply ran into one another while walking about. Pinkie was hungry so we all decided that it be best to come here to grab an early dinner." Rarity smiled as she patted the seat next to her. Twilight giving a smile back as she took a seat next to the ivory pony.
"So what are you doing running around Ponyville? Finally read all the books in the library?" Rainbow Dash smirked toward the purple unicorn only to get a glare in return.
"For your information, I found a spell that I have been looking for for a while now. It will allow me to take a short vacation into an alternate reality from our own. I could end up in a beautiful world, or someplace dangerous and exciting. Or it could be filled with countless wonders and sentient species. OH! Or maybe even......." Twilight was quickly cut off by Dash who gave a loud groan.
"Ugh! Twilight, that is so boring. Why would you want to leave this world to check out another one? It seems kinda silly to me."
"Well, you never know what could happen. I could end up in an alternate universe where there are ponies that could fly faster than you Rainbow Dash." Twilight grinned causing everypony at the table to giggle. Except Dash who only glared.
"No way is there any other pony that is faster than me!" She snapped back. "I want to see this alternate universe thingy to see it for myself." She said giving a loud snort.
"You want to come along?! That's great! Does anyone else want to come along? It's only for a week, and I have more than enough supplies." Twilight smiled to her friends, hopping to hear another one pipe up that they would want to join her and Dash.
"Well darling, I could take a week away from my shop to join you. Will we be staying at a local inn once we arrive?" Rarity asked giving a smile.
"Well, to be honest, when I cast the spell, it makes the intended caster and party randomly jump to a random world. So I can't guarantee that we will arrive in a world filled with ponies or other sentient species that wouldn't harm us on site. I'm doing this basically as a vacation slash experiment to gain knowledge of another world. We could end up having to camp the entire week. Do you think you could handle that?" Twilight smirked toward Rarity who only looked a little shocked.
"Well, camping out really isn't my style. I prefer luxury and a plush bed to sleep on. Sleeping on the ground seems a little, dirty." She sighed while speaking.
"Don't worry none Twi, I'll join ya'n'Dash on the trip. Sounds like a hoot of a time." AJ said as she looked to the other members of the party.
"I would love to join you, but I promised the Cakes that I would foal sit this week." Pinkie said while looking a little dejected.
"Um...... I'd rather not go...... If that's ok with you." Fluttershy said while hiding slightly behind her mane.
"Well, maybe next time then." Twilight smiled to her friends.
"So when are we going? I can't wait to see what that other worlds sky looks like." Dash beamed at the thought of being the first Pegasus to fly through another worlds sky.
"Well, everything is ready for travel. I organized it earlier and placed it into a summoning portal. The only thing left for me to do is tell Spike and we can go. So at the earliest, anytime after we get to the library."
"Sounds like ah plan sugarcube, jes lemme go teh the farm an tell mah family an pack a few things. Then we can head on out." AJ said as she got up from the table.
"I already have everything we need packed Applejack. You shouldn't need to bring anything." Twilight said as she stopped AJ momentarily.
"No offense sugarcube, but ah don't right trust magic if'n it means we'll be in another world away from home. Ah'd rather be prepared an packin mah items than teh use magic teh summon'em." She smiled before leaving the diner.
"Dash, do you want to do the same?" Twilight asked her as she gave a determined smirk.
"Nah, I know yer magic can take care of everything we need. Besides, AJ always overpacks for a camping trip. We should be ok."
After the group of friends dispersed, Twilight and Dash made their way to the library. Twilight advising Spike that she would be gone for a week with two of her friends and would not return until then. She had also written a scroll, giving it to Spike and advising him that if they did not return after seven days, to send that scroll to the princess and she would know what to do.
A few more minutes went by as they waited for Applejack to arrive. Dash making a quick run into the market and getting a small satchel of food for the trip in case she got bored and wanted a snack.
Twilight had decided to take one final precautionary measure and cast a beacon spell that would tether her and her friends to Equestria through a magical line so that if in some rare event they could not return after seven days. a rescue mission could be made in order to return them to there home world.
XXX
The three ponies had finally gather in the library as Spike sat idly by watching the event unfold. AJ and Dash both had a saddlebag each while Twilight just shook her head at them saying she had more than enough supplies in her summoning portal. Although they trusted their friend to no ends. It would be best to have them physically on their person to make them feel more at ease in case things didn't go as planned.
"Alright girls, are we ready?" Twilight smiled as her horn lit up with magic, ready to cast the spell to send them into another world.
"All set."
"Ready as ah can be sugarcube."
"Alright then. Remember what I said Spike." Twilight said while looking to the small purple dragon.
"Got it Twi." He saluted.
"Her we go!" Twilight spoke out as her face contorted into a look of pure concentration as she unleashed the spell. The three ponies vanishing in a bright flash of light leaving Spike temporarily blinded.
"Good luck girls." He sighed before throwing his little paws up in the air and shouting. "WOOHOO! WEEK LONG VACATION!"
XXX
The three ponies appeared in a bright flash of light and the crack of a whip within an open forest. It was rather cold and most of the leaves had fallen from the trees to the forest floor below as the light shown through the canopy above. The cold chill of the autumn air flowed by them causing them to give a slight shudder.
"Well then, this is pretty awesome." Dash spoke up while looking around at the thinned out forest surrounding them. She glanced up seeing a large opening in the canopy above and shot straight up and through it to look around. After a minute she flew back down to the forest floor landing next to her friends.
"I don't see any signs of any villages of towns nearby, so I guess we're ok." Dash smirked.
"Alright then let's set up camp then." Twilight smiled as she looked around, trotting over to a nice flat open area. "This looks like a good spot." She smiled as her horn began to light up, pulling open her summoning portal as she began to float the first item out but jumped back in shock as the portal snapped closed tearing the bag she was floating out of it in half.
"OH NO!" Twilight shouted in shock as she looked at the neatly cut in half bag that was spilling out all of its supplies.
"What's wrong?" Dash asked as she bolted over to the unicorn.
"The portal closed and destroyed some of the supplies." She said as her eyes began to well up slightly.
"Now don't fret none, ya can just open it again and pull the other stuff out a lil quicker." AJ smiled reassuring her unicorn friend.
Twilight gave a determined smile as her horn lit up once again. The portal opening quickly but closing before she could pull anything out. She gave a nervous expression as she did this several more time's until her horn would no longer light up.
"Uh..... Twi? Something wrong?" AJ piped up seeing her expression of utter horror.
"Um.......... I can't use my magic." She said sheepishly while looking to her friends.
"Wonderful, so I guess that means you won't be able to get all of those items you put inside your portal thingy then huh?" Dash sighed.
"Yea...." Twilight trailed off as she looked to the ground sadly.
"So what were you able to pull out afor it closed?" AJ asked, giving the half a pack a gentle nudge.
Twilight came over and press a hoof to the opening of the bag to see which one she had grabbed. As soon as she saw one of the battery gems giving an unusual glow her eyes went to pinpoints.
"RUN!" She shouted as a loud humming began to emanate from the bag. The three ponies bolting in every direction as fast as they could. Twilight looked back to see Applejack ducking behind a tree.
"NO! DON'T STOP! RUUUUUN!" *BOOOOOOOOOOM*
An ear shattering explosion erupted from the bag as a bright blue ball of light expanded outward taking out everything within twenty yards of it. Including trees and the ground as well. A small smoldering crater lay at the center of the explosion. Twilight had been flung backwards from the blast while Dash had made it safely away and was now at Twilight's side helping her up.
"Dang Twi, what was in that pack?" She asked while looking at the crater.
"It was a battery gem, and the explosion should have been much larger for that specific gem. Even if it was just half of it. It appears that this world has no form of magic at all and if it is introduced into the environment, it is immediately rendered useless." She sighed but stopped as she heard a soft groan coming from nearby.
"OH NO!" Dash spoke out as she flew over to AJ who was laying on the ground with a large gash on her side, blood slowly leaking from the wound and down her stomach onto the leaf covered ground below.
"We haven't even been here for two hours yet and we're already in trouble." Twilight danced in place as panic began to set it. Dash coming over to her and smacking her across the face just hard enough to get her to calm down.
"This is no time to panic Twilight. We need to patch up AJ and see if there are any villages nearby that we can go to for help."
Twilight looked at Dash as she rubbed her now sore cheek. "You're right. But we don't even have my map or anything else. Did either of you bring any medical supplies?"
"I just brought some food. Maybe AJ did." Dash said as she carefully removed the saddlebag from her injured friend and began to look through it. "She has some rope and a couple of covers, we could tear one of them up and us it as some gauze or something."
"Good. Let's get started." Twilight said as she began to tear small strips of cloth from the blanket.
XXX
It was getting later in the evening now as the three ponies huddle together under the spare blanket that Applejack had brought with her. Dash staying in the middle of the two and opening her wings over them to add warmth to the rapidly cooling day. Dash had flown around the area for at least a mile and still hadn't found any form of life. At one point she was starting to have a harder time flying and quickly made it back to the group before she made a soft crash landing. Her wings no longer held the magic needed to keep her aloft.
"I'm so sorry you guys, I wish I had at least left the supplies out of that portal, then we wouldn't be in this mess." She sighed as tears began to form in her eyes.
"It's awright sugarcube...." AJ trailed off taking in a pained breath. "Ya didn't know this'd happen. Let's just thank Celestia that we are all still alive and have at least mine'n'Dash's supplies. Otherwise we might go hungry er freeze." She gave a soft chuckle before wincing in pain.
"Save your strength AJ. We can go and scout in the morning if your up to it." Twilight piped up but stopped as she heard a light snore coming from Dash.
"Heh, guess she's done tuckered out." AJ smiled while pressing a little closer to Dash for warmth.
"Yea, Let's get some sleep." Twilight smiled softly as she lay her head down for the night.
A vacation of consequence
Morning arrived giving a soft chill to the three ponies. The dew from the morning air had caked onto the cover making it damp and causing the three to hang it up to dry. They shared a small breakfast from Dash's saddlebag. An apple each. Before slowly making their way down the side of the large hill they were on into the thicker brush below.
After about three hours of walking they stopped to have another apple to regain their strength. They picked up once again, traveling another three hours before finally stopping at a small stream. They all began to greedily drink the water up, sitting back for an hour to rest before picking up once again to make there trek through the forest.
*SNAP*
All three of them froze in place as the snap of a limb sounded off nearby. They all ducked behind some brush quickly to wait and see what the noise had come from. After about ten minutes of waiting they heard another snap and a small series of cursing. After another couple of minutes they watched, wide eyed, as a large bipedal creature was walking through the woods, a bright orange vest around his torso while the rest of him was camouflaged. A large thin object on his back. They waited for a moment until the creature was out of earshot before speaking.
"What was that?" As Dash as she looked to Twilight for the answer.
"No clue. But at least we know it can talk." She smirked giving a slight blush.
"Yea, if'n ya mean all them dirty words it jes said is talking that is." AJ smirked giving a soft chuckle.
"Well, we don't know if it's dangerous or not. But if it's walking through the woods, then it must live nearby. Maybe we should follow it just in case. But keep your distance." Twilight advised as they all nodded in confirmation.
They kept a good hundred yard distance from the strange creature as they continued following it. Ever so often they would see a small bright orange tag on a tree as they passed by it. The creature was marking its trailed so it wouldn't get lost. After a couple of hours the girls had tired out and it was starting to get later in the evening now. They all ducked into a large bush and pulled out what was left of the torn cover that had been used to make some bandages for AJ. They covered up and slowly began to fall asleep.
XXX
Morning arrived fairly quickly to them as they all awoke to the sounds of their stomachs growling for food. They sat quietly as they all three enjoyed an apple each until they could hear some footsteps crunching through the leaves. It wasn't like yesterday when they followed that strange creature. It was trying to make as little noise as possible as it traveled. Now it was just leisurely walking along like nothing was around to bother it. After waiting for it to get far enough away the girls placed the cover into the saddlebag and began to slowly make their way through the marked path that the creature was following. Four hours later they smelled some smoke from a fire and began to worry until they saw a small home in a clearing nearby. The creature they had followed before had led them directly to its home.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes taking in everything they could see before slowly walking around the treeline to see the rest of the area. They all stopped though when they noticed a greenhouse in the back of the house. It was around twice the size of the house in length along with a large fan that was slowly turning on the end of the building itself to circulate some air into it.
"Girls, this creature is civilized if it has a greenhouse to grow its own food. But why is it out here all alone?" Twilight asked as she could smell fresh vegetables inside the greenhouse from where she stood.
"Ah don't know, but them vegetables smell purty good, an fresh too." AJ smiled as she licked her lips.
"No, it would be wrong to steal from it. what if it is growing them for when it gets colder? You know, food stores for the winter." Twilight sighed.
"But we're hungry, and our food supply won't last more than another day." Dash groaned as she looked into her saddlebag. He stomach already growling from only having a few apples in a twenty-four hour period.
"Fine, but we will have to do it at nightfall when it's asleep. It may be civilized, but it may not take to kindly to seeing us begging for food, much less stealing it." Twilight sighed. "Let's at least eat something now so we can keep our strength up for tonight."
The three mares sat quietly on the edge of the woods next to this creatures home. slowly eating an apple each. Their food stores were now almost depleted and it looked to be in the middle of fall. So that would mean that most of the food, even wild food would be gone. But running across a creature that knew how to grow and harvest food, and have a greenhouse meant that their luck was looking a little better. As the day pressed on into night the girls sat and waited as the cold chill of the night air slowly began to set in causing them to shiver slightly.
"A-alright, AJ stay h-here while Dash and I go in and grab some food. Your still hurt so no complaining." Twilight spoke out in a shiver.
AJ gave a nod as she watched her two friends slowly make their way toward the greenhouse. Watching every step to avoid any sudden snapping branches or loud crushing of leaves they finally arrived at the door. Twilight slowly reach up with her mouth to grip the handle and slowly turned it. As she pulled it open though a loud alarm sounded of in an ear piercing squall, floodlights turned on all around the property to fully illuminate the area.
"RUN!" Twilight shouted as they both took off into the forest, AJ slowly making her way behind them. They stopped however as the alarm turned off and the creature came back out of the house in just a pair of boxer shorts and a thicker looking stick that it was holding in its hands and pressing part of it to its shoulder. It moved its hand once on part of the large black stick making a click click sound as it rounded the house to the greenhouse.
The girls watched as it looked at the door, gripping the handle before pulling its hand away and flicking it in disgust as Twilight's saliva remained on the handle.
"What the hell is this?" It shouted looking at the stringy liquid. It pulled its hand up to its face taking a sniff. "Apples? What the hell has apples for lunch out in the middle of the forest? I didn't even know there was an apple tree around here." It laughed as it pressed a button on the stick and placed it over its shoulder.
The creature suddenly turned around as one of the girls stepped on a twig letting a loud snap echo through the area. The creature turned around bringing the stick up to its shoulder pointing it directly into the darkness at the girls. He couldn't see them due to the blinding floodlights but shouted at them none the less.
"Whoever you are, if your hungry or hurt then you can come out. I'm not going to hurt you if your willing to show yourself. But if your just some little punk out in the woods to cause me problems." He pointed the stick into the air and pulled a small trigger.
*BLAM*
The girls fell to the ground holding their ears in pain as they rang from the sudden noise. After a few seconds they watched the creature pull its hand up to its ear and give a finger a little wiggle inside of it before speaking again.
"As I said, if your some punk that wants to cause me problems, then your dead." It spoke before going back into its home.
"Girls, I think we may have to forget about this and just go scavenging for food. It would be far less dangerous." Twilight sighed looking to the ground as her stomach growled.
"But it said if we're hurt or hungry to come out. It might feed us or help us if we do it." Dash sighed hearing her belly growl.
"Yea sugar cube, am not feeling to well either. This wounds a'festering something fierce. Ah feel a bit light headed to." AJ sighed giving her head a shake only to fall over from being so dizzy.
Twilight sat there looking at her friends, both cold, hungry, and one injured. She had to risk it, to help them. She gave a nervous swallow as she slowly walked out and into the light. She rounded the house and picked up a small rock in her hoof as she hid behind the front of the porch. After taking a few breaths she held one as she chucked the rock at the door letting it bang against it. She waited for a minute before doing it several more times until she heard the sound of footfalls within the house. The door slowly opened as the man stepped out with his weapon pointed toward the ground.
"Whose there?! Like I said before. If your hurt or hungry I don't mind helping. But if your some smart ass, your pushing your luck. Their ain't no cops around here and I will kill you unless you show yourself!" It shouted in a deep voice.
Twilight sat there giving a hard gulp as she spoke up. "Please, don't hurt us, I have an injured friend, and we're all hungry."
She peaked through the thickened banister surrounding the porch seeing the creatures vision fall to where she was.
"Young lady, If your friend is hurt then why are you hiding? And why is your friend not out in the open to prove this?" He asked as his expression softened a bit.
"We're, different from you. We're afraid that you'll harm us or worse if you see us." Twilight said feeling even more nervous.
"As long as you show me your hands while your coming out, I promise you that I will not harm you." He chuckled.
"Hands? Um...... That would be a problem, because I don't........ have hands." Twilight said, still looking through the hole at the creature. His face contorted to that on confusion.
"Ok, then what do you have then?" He laughed slightly.
"Hooves." She spoke out rather bluntly.
"Hooves............. BAAAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAAA. That's a good one. Alright then, show me your hooves and come on out." He continued to chuckle until he saw a pair of purple hooves slowly press out from the corner of the porch over the stairs.
"Am I still safe?" She asked feeling ready to almost pass out from being so nervous.
"Jesus, I've been out here to long." He laughed. "Yea, come on out." He said as he watched Twilight slowly place her fore hooves onto the stairs and make her way out, fully exposing herself.
"My friend is hurt, I think her wound is setting up a bad infection. Can you help her?" Twilight asked seeing him stare blankly at her before he sat down in a heap.
"Yep, I must have gone insane, because now there is a talking purple unicorn standing on my porch asking for help. Ah well, might as well enjoy my insanity." He laughed as he placed his shotgun onto his back. "Lead the way my dear."
Twilight smiled as she lead the way to the edge of the forest next to the mans home. "AJ, Dash, He said he would help us."
"You said your friend was hurt, you didn't say there was a third member to your group." The man snorted toward Twilight.
"Sorry, there are only the three of us. AJ is hurt." She shivered slightly as her breath flowed out in a soft white mist.
The headed toward the other two ponies, Dash standing defensively in front of AJ.
"Easy Dash, he's here to help." Twilight said as she pushed on Dash.
"I don't trust him, that loud stick he has hurt." She snorted.
"I have some idiots showing up sometimes that want to do stupid things while on my property. Your just lucky you showed yourself instead of me shooting you when I would have eventually caught you." He snapped back as he walked forward. "Now let me see your friend. This'n said she was hurt."
Dash stepped aside giving a loud snort as the man kneeled down to take a look at AJ.
"Howdy there, sorry fer tresspassing'n'all." AJ groaned as the man began to pull the bandage away to look at the wound.
"A southern gal huh, well don't choo worry none my dear, ah'll have ya right as rain in no time. Now brace yerself, these wounds are bad so ah'm gonna pick ya up an take ya inside to clean and redress this wound. I'm not sure if you can take any anti-biotics though since they were made for...........well............. humans." He said as he gently picked her up, she giving a pained groan as carried her like he would a human girl. He had to pull her farther up onto his chest though and lock his fingers together so that he would not brush against the wound. This brought her rather close to his face. He gave her a smile seeing her blush a little before looking away.
"Thank ya kindly fer this." She spoke out softly.
"Not a problem my dear. I'm not about to turn away an injured......" He trailed off as he looked down to her.
"Pony." Twilight spoke up from his side.
"I was thinking horse since ya'll look just like'm, but pony works too." He smirked as they arrive on the porch, he giving his door a quick boot as it opened from the impact.
As he entered, Twilight and Dash hesitated for a moment before coming in and closing the door. They watched, following close behind as the man took AJ into the bathroom and placed her onto a large table, using his arm to brush everything off of it and into the laundry bin that was next to it. He reached over flicking a switch, turning on all the lights in the room as he began to quickly examine the wound.
"Hmmmmm, looks like its set up with some slight infection. What got a hold of you girl?" He asked as he pulled away and began to gather a few items to treat and dress the wound.
"Well, one of our camping items was damaged and exploded the other day. She was caught in the blast." Twilight spoke up looking away. Saddened that she had caused her friend so much pain.
"So that explosion was from you three? How far from here was it?" He asked as he was setting up the items on the sink nearby.
"Around tens hours walking time." Dash spoke up as she watched him work.
"Dang, no wonder your worse for wear sugar." He spoke up giving her a cocked brow.
"Yea, ah'm a might sore. Think ya can help a'tall?" She sighed.
"Yes, but your not going to enjoy this." He sighed back as he pulled out a small piece of rope and held it out. "You might want to bite this. And you two might want to cover your ears."
"Why? What are you going to do to her?!" Dash shouted at him while scrapping a hoof on the floor.
"I am going to clean and dress her wound, but I also need to see if anything is embedded in it, which will require me to go into it. If I had a wait to knock her out without hurting her then I would do that so she wouldn't be in pain." He sighed while looking at her expression of horror.
"AJ right?" He asked while looking down at her with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
"Yea." She replied looking worried.
"My names Jake. I need you do a favor for me and keep very still while I do this. And please for the love of God don't kick me. I know ponies can kick pretty hard, and I'm not built to take punishment." He smiled softly to her. "If you think you can't keep yourself from bucking me sideways, I do have some rope and can restrain you if you want."
"No, ah'm a big pony, ah can handle some pain." She groaned before picking up and biting into the rope.
"Girls, I'm going to have to ask you to step outside please, I know she's yer friend, but I have a feeling your instincts are going to make you want to save her when you hear her yelling."
Twilight nodded as she pushed a reluctant Dash out the door. Jake closing it behind them as he walked back over to AJ who took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Ah'm ready when you are." She gulped.
"I'll try to be as quick and as gentle as I can be. Just remember not to kick me." He smiled down to her as he removed her hat, placing it to the side. Then giving her a comforting pet. She gave a nod as she bit into the rope again bracing herself.
A vacation of consequence
Twilight and Dash sat outside the door listening the the screams of their friend in the other room as the man did his work. It took almost ten minutes before silence fell over the room but the door never opened.
"Whats wrong? Why is it so quiet in there?" Dash yelled as she banged on the door, it slowly opening as she watched the man go back to AJ's side and continue working.
"She passed out, that means I've got at least ten minutes of easy work and I'm going to us every bit of it. If you two are squeamish when it comes to blood, then I would advise you to look away while I work." He said while quickly digging his fingers into the wound and begin feeling around.
"What are you doing now?" Dash asked as she watched his fingers dig into the wound.
"Looking for any fragments that caused this wound, AH HA! There you are." He exclaimed as he slowly pulled out a large glassy looking shard, placing it into a small cup to the side. He continued this for several more minutes until he was satisfied that there were none left in the wound. He quickly disinfected the area and began to stitch her up. After a few minutes he looked at the wound, satisfied that it had been thoroughly treated.
"Now we just need to wake her up and let her take a shower." He said while he pulled out a small white stick about two inches long. "How good is your sense of smell?" He asked while looking to Twilight.
"Pretty good, why do you ask?" She said while looking up to the stick curiously.
"This is a smelling salt. It'll wake her up, but its very potent for humans. I know an animals sense of smell exceeds humans senses so I was just wondering....." He stopped as Dash gave a loud snort.
"We're not animals Jake, we're ponies."
"Sorry....." He said as he broke the smelling salt and moved it back and forth in front of Applejack's nose.
AJ's eyes shot open as she let out a loud cough while pressing her fore hooves forward trying to get the smell away.
"Ugh! That's worse than a dead pollcat that's been sittin in the sun fer a week. SHEW!" She grabbed her hat and began to waft it in front of her.
Jake quickly tossed it into the toilet and flushed it. He turned back to seeing her looking at him curiously.
"Come on AJ, ya need a shower to get that dried blood offa ya. Come on ladies, lets give her some privacy." He said as he lowered her to the floor and showing her how to operate the shower before leaving the bath room. After a few minutes of hearing the water run AJ's voice spoke up from the bath.
"Ah hate teh ask, but ah do need some help washing this blood out." She spoke up.
"You want me to come in, or the girls?" Jake spoke up as he cracked the door open to let his voice linger in.
"Well, ah guess you kin do it. Not like I don't already walk'round nekkid n'all." She chuckled.
Jake blushed at those words but cleared his throat as he entered the bath, reaching into the linen closet and grabbing a few wash clothes as he sat down on the edge of the tube.
"You sure about this sugar?" Jake asked giving a sheepish smile.
"Yea, jes don't tell mah brother." She chuckled but flinched as she felt his had running through her fur around the wound, which was rather close to her flank. "Watch them hands, don't need teh be roaming." She smirked.
After a few minutes of washing the area with shampoo several times, it was clean and shining the bright orange that was its normal color. He smiled at it but looked to the rest of her as her coat was still rather dirty.
"Well, that spots clean, but the rest'o ya is still pretty bad." He chuckled. "I can get the rest pretty quick if you want, and don't worry, if you don't want me in a specific area just say so." He smiled.
"Well, ah don't see why not, just try teh stay away from the nether regions please." She blushed furiously.
"Will do." He smiled as he began to wash AJ thoroughly.
After a good twenty minutes the water began to get cold and AJ had just finished rinsing off. Jake pulled a couple towels from the linen closet and handed them to AJ.
"I take it you can dry yerself?" He smirked getting a nod and smile from AJ. "Awright then, ah'll go check on yer friends." He said before making an exit and heading into the living room to see the two ponies sitting there on the couch. He stopped however as he heard a loud growl coming from Dash's stomach.
"I take it your hungry?" He smiled to them only get a sheepish grin. "Salad or whole veggies?"
"Whole please." They spoke in unison.
"Come on, take yer pick. He nodded back to the kitchen, beckoning them to follow.
As they followed him into the kitchen he opened the back door to reveal his greenhouse which was a balmy warm and very humid. The girls stepped in and began to cry seeing the plethora of food that was growing in countless pots. They looked back to Jake, him giving a nod of approval as they quickly gathered a few items and brought them back inside. Dash carrying several items under her wings and in her mouth while Twilight was having trouble balancing some on her back. Jake stepped forward picking them up and giving her head a pat as she smiled up to him before trotting inside once again. Dash was already at the sink cleaning her items off and placing them into a bowl. Twilight stepping up next to do the same thing.
As Dash stepped into the living room once again, there was an audible gasp as AJ saw the food. Dash sat down with her as they both dug into the food. After about ten minutes of stuffing themselves they all sat back with a contented smile.
"That was some good grub." AJ smiled patting her belly.
All attention was suddenly cast on Dash as she let out a loud snore. Everyone gave a soft chuckle seeing her laying on the edge of the couch, her head laying over the side as she continued to snore.
"I guess it is time to get some sleep." Jake yawned causing the others to yawn as well. "Ah got a couple guest bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs. Yer all welcome to use them if you want." He said as he nodded to the hallway leading behind the staircase. "I'll carry Dash to the downstairs one." He chuckled as he went over to the cyan Pegasus and slowly pressed his hands under her and gently lifted her, his eyes going a little wide as to how light she was.
After placing Dash into the downstairs bedroom, he made his way upstairs, showing the others to their rooms before going to bed himself. It had been a long day, and he was sure that this was either a really weird dream, or that he was truly insane from living by himself for so long.
XXX
Morning arrived like usual for Jake as he pulled himself from bed and slowly made his way into the bathroom to start his morning ritual or taking a shower and getting ready for the day. The previous nights memories still fresh in his head as he mulled over them thinking it was a dream. He gave a soft chuckle to himself as he jumped from the shower and began to dry himself off.
"That was a weird dream. Still though, it was nice to actually be able to help another out and save them from starvation." He gave a saddened sigh as he pulled his clothes on. "Just wish it wasn't a dream though. Those girls were nice, even if they were ponies." He smirked. "Ponies, heh, talking ponies." He gave another louder chuckle as he stepped from the bathroom and headed downstairs only to stop halfway as he saw Twilight standing near a book case on the other side of the room. She pulled a book from the shelf with her mouth and turned back seeing him. She quickly placed the book onto her back and turned back to him giving him a smile.
"Good morning Jake, You slept a little late this morning so the girls and I thought we could get up early and make you some breakfast. We weren't sure what you would want so we made a small salad for you and some coffee. Its waiting for you in the kitchen." She smiled as she trotted into the kitchen.
Jake stood there for a minute feeling rather lucid upon seeing Twilight. Then it hit him, he wasn't dreaming and he wasn't insane. There was really three talking ponies in his home, and he had saved them. He made his way into the kitchen to see Applejack and Dash already sitting at the table, both reading books as well as having a small breakfast for themselves. Twilight was just finishing up making her salad when Jake had walked in.
"Morning Sugarcube. Yer breakfast is right here." AJ smiled as she nodded to the open seat beside of her.
"Thanks........ so I guess I wasn't dreaming then." He spoke out underneath his breath.
"Hey Jake, I was wondering, what are you doing all the way out in the middle of a forest by yourself?" Dash piped up while cocking her head to the side.
"To be honest, I don't like people." He laughed. "The people of this world are just always out to do one thing, and that's to make money and buy material objects to quench their thirst for having a happy life."
"Really? They jes want teh buy stuff teh have and use?" AJ asked while giving a disbelieving stare.
"Yea, sad I know." He sighed before taking a bite of his salad.
"That still doesn't explain why you chose to live in the woods." Dash smirked.
"Well, to be honest, every place I have gone to for the longest time has been full of idiots. People who don't care for nothing except themselves. and always out to get others. I just wanted to live in peace, away from all of that, so I saved up for the past 15 years of my life and built this small house out in the middle of a preserved forest. I use solar panels to charge up batteries and power my home, and my water system is run through a natural spring about thirty feet away from the house underground. I grow my own food and it lasts me all year'round. Not to mention that I go hunting ever so often to help with low food stores if it was a bad year to grow." He smirked but stopped as he noticed them staring at him in shock.
"S-so..... does that mean you eat meat?" Dash gulp slightly.
"Yea, humans are omnivorous, see?" He said while opening his mouth and running his tongue over one of his canines.
"Well ah'll be." AJ said under her breath.
"Does it bother you that I eat meat?" He ask.
"Not entirely, but it does come as somewhat of a shock seeing as we only eat plant life." Twilight smile sheepishly.
"Well then, I'll avoid eating meat in front of you three. But to be honest once again, I don't cook my meat. I usually turn it into jerky so it can be preserved for a long length of time. I do stay out here by myself, and I don't hunt very often. Maybe eight times a year if that. And most of those times are in the winter months."
"What's jerky?" Dash asked giving a look of confusion.
"It is basically just dehydrated meat that keeps for a very long time. It doesn't even look like meat truthfully. It looks like shriveled tree bark. I have some in the fridge if you want to see it. It's not bloody or anything." He laughed.
"Well, I don't like the fact that you eat meat, But I'm curious as to what jerky looks like." Dash hummed.
"How about you two?" He asked while looking to AJ and Twilight seeing them nod.
Jake made his way over to the fridge and pulled a couple of strips from a pocket in the door, bringing them over to the table and placing them on it. The girls looked at them curiously, Dash even going as far as taking a sniff of them.
"Smells like pepper and salt." Dash said as she scrunched up her nose.
"The texture is kind of rubbery." Twilight said as she pressed a hoof to one of them.
"Well, they do look and feel funny, but I have to admit I make the best jerky around. I sometimes even smoke the meat before turning it to jerky. Just been to lazy as of late though to do it. Smoking gives it a pleasant flavor."
"Well, since it ain't a fresh kill." AJ said giving a gulp, "Ah don't really mind ya eatin jerky in front'o me."
Jake looked to the others, both giving a nod as well. "Alright then." He smiled as he placed one of the beef jerky strips into his chest pocket in his shirt and then the other in his mouth as he began to gnaw on it gently. The girls giving him an od look as he wasn't actually eating it.
"Why are you just letting it sit there?" Twilight asked giving him a slightly disgusted look.
"I like the flavor, No point eating it if I can't enjoy all the hard work I put into putting the flavor in it right?" He smirked getting a nod from AJ.
"Sound like mah apple pies'n such. No point eating a pie if'n ya cain't enjoy the flavor." She chuckled.
"Damn straight." Jake laughed causing the girls to give a soft gasp. "What?"
"So ya'll cuss to?" AJ asked giving a slightly worried expression.
"I do, why? Is that bad?" He asked.
"Well, where we're from, most ponies don't curse unless they are really upset. Even then it usually doesn't happen." Dash said while rubbing her withers nervously.
"Sorry ladies, I didn't know." He smiled, giving an embarrassed chuckle.
"It's ok sugarcube." AJ spoke up giving him a smile.
"Never the less, I shall refrain from such language in the presence of ladies." He smirked while giving a bow, causing them to giggle. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to head out to gather a few items in the forest. I might be all day though so you three can do what you want. I have plenty of books to read and movies to watch if you want." He chuckled as he started for the living room.
"What's a movie?"Twilight asked causing him to stop.
"You don't have movies where you come from?"
"No, what is it?" Dash asked giving a cocked brow.
"Oh boy, you are going to love this." He laughed as he continued into the living room and powered up the TV, then turning to another shelf nearby to pull out a movie. "I'm guessing you three don't like violent movies huh." He asked as he looked back seeing them smirk.
Violence is ok as long as it isn't excessive. I have read a few violent books and just didn't like them." Twilight sighed.
"How about an action or love story? With little or no violence?" He asked as he pulled one of each from the shelf.
"Ah love story? Well, ah ain't right watched to many'o them. But since we're here, why not?" AJ chuckled, getting a giggle from her friends.
"Alright then. This is a tear jerker love story, If you three want to watch another movie while I'm out then please go ahead." He smiled as he taught them how to put a new movie into the DVD player and operate the controls. "I should be out for a while. Just don't burn down the house." He laughed as he headed out the door.
A vacation of consequence
After placing the movie into the DVD player and turning on the TV, Jake made his way outside and into the forest to gather some herbs, and walnut's from a couple of trees nearby. It had taken him the better part of the day to gather all the items he would need for future use but he had managed to gather enough for winter.
Upon returning home he came in through the greenhouse, gather a few items for lunch and placing the herbs onto a string to dry. The nuts were placed out in the open near a small heat source to dry the outter shell quicker so that they would not rot in time. As he came into the house he could hear some sniffling from the living room and quickly made his way to the source. The movie was coming to an end and the three ponies resting on the couch were all crying as they watched the final scene play out. Jake had decided to play Titanic for the girls and the scene they were about to witness was the one where the love intrest froze to death in the icy waters. When the scene ended the girls erupted into a loud wail, unable to hold it in any longer. Jake made his way over to the couch, sitting down next to them, which in a sense was a big mistake because they all piled onto him, hugging him hard, trying to find comfort from the saddest scene they had seen in their entire lives. Even Dash was blubbering like a foal, and that's rare.
"Girl's take it easy, its just a movie." Jake chuckled as he began to stroke their manes to try and comfort them.
"B-but, it's j-just so sad!" Twilight cried looking up to him.
"I know it's sad, but it's still a great story ain't it?" He smiled down to the tear stained face of Twilight Sparkle.
"It was a good story, but why did it have to end like that?" Dash exclaimed while rubbing her tear stained cheeks.
"Well, it's a true story is why it ended like that." Jake said only to highly regret it as the three mares looked at him in shock and began to wail even louder into him. He gave a sigh as he continued to pet on them to try and comfort them. After about twenty minutes of this, their sobbing had stopped and had been replaced by quiet breathing. He cocked a brow at the change and looked down to each of them seeing their eyes closed. He gave a silent chuckle seeing them all out cold from having cried themselves to sleep.
As he sat their with the three mares attached to him and sleeping, he began to move a little to try and place them gently to the side without waking them. However, they had other plans as the all latched onto him, nuzzling him in their sleep. He rolled his eyes at them in defeat.
"Guess I'll be sleeping on the couch tonight." He chuckled softly as he managed to maneuver a bit to get comfortable. After a minute or two he had finally found a good spot and closed his eyes, resting his head forward gently onto the top of AJ's head who had placed her head directly onto his chest. He took in a deep breath as his eyes closed, the smell of apples invading his senses as he nodded off into the land of dreams.
XXX
"What in the........." Jake trailed off as he opened his eyes to see a brightly colored landscape filled with ponies of all kinds and rows of apple trees in the distance. He began walking in no particular direction as he took in the sights before him. Ponies of different colors walking about in a small town, all seemingly oblivious to his presence as he trudged along. As he kept moving, a large tree came into view that looked like it was made into a home of some sort. As he walked closer to the giant tree house, the door on the front opened revealing a library on the inside of it. He quietly walked inside, looking around at the plethora of books lining the walls.
"So glad you could make it Jake." A regal voice said softly from the far side of the room.
Jake slowly made his way toward the voice, rounding a stack of books that was pile six feet high on the floor only to see Celestia sitting idly on a large pillow, smiling at him.
"Do come, we have much to discuss." She smiled to him causing him to stare for a moment before walking over and taking a seat across from the large pony.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" He asked only to get a soft giggle from Celestia.
"No, not yet anyway. My name is Celestia, Goddess of the sun of Equestria. Pardon my intrusion into your dreamworld, but I have a message for you to give to my little ponies that you are taking care of." She smiled warmly to him.
"Can I ask you something first?" He chuckled.
"By all means, this is your dream afterall." She smiled back to him.
"Why am I dreaming of a cartoon world filled with ponies?"
"To answer that is rather simple. This is the world from which the ponies that are sleeping next to you are from. Twilight Sparkle had cast a spell to send herself and her friends into an alternate world to take a vacation in as I am sure you are aware. There is a problem with your world however. The land and all living matter sucks up magic from magical beings from our world. Not only that, but time in your world passes by much quicker than in our world."
"Exactly how much quicker?" Jake asked as he cocked a brow.
"For every day here, three days pass in your world. So the week long spell that Twilight has cast will place her in your world for three weeks. I know that this will become a burden on yourself, but I beg of you to look after my little ponies until the spell she has cast comes to a close and returns them to our world. I cannot offer much in return, only my thanks." She smiled nervously as she watched Jake mull over everything.
"Alright, I don't mind looking after them. It's nice to have someone to talk to that isn't myself." He chuckled only to get a stare of confusion in return.
"I don't follow, what do you mean."
"Well, I live alone, in the middle of a forest, with noone but myself to talk to. When these three showed up I could have sworn I had gone insane from being out here for so many years. But when the second day rolled around and they were still here. I was just so happy to finally have someone, anyone to talk to that I didn't care if they were human or not. To be honest, if they will be staying here for several weeks. I honestly couldn't be happier. But when the time comes for them to go, I will tell you now, These three have brought a ray of sunshine into my bleak little existence, and letting that go will be very hard." He sighed while rubbing the back of his neck.
"I understand, if you wouldn't mind passing this information onto them, I would greatly appreciate it, and please take care of them. They are very special to me and I would hate to see anything bad happen to them." She sighed looking away.
"No worries my dear, but why didn't you just contact them instead of me?" He asked giving a confused expression.
"You see, since your world eats magic at an alarming rate, I cannot contact them as the magical flow of energy will be sapped up before it can reach them. By contacting you directly, the flow of magic is constant and can be read by your thoughts as you are a sentient species like ourselves. Had I tried to contact them, the flow would have gone into the nearest object to them."
"So in other words you tried to contact them but it went to me instead." Jake began to laugh loudly as Celestia blushed furiously at the comment. "No need to worry, I'll pass on the message and take care of them. If you wouldn't mind though, I would love to see more of your world if this is truly what it looks like. Considering you can keep doing this dream walking thing."
"Very well then, I can offer that in return for taking care of those three. But I must warn you, I am not aware of what continued magical exposure with do to you over time. Even though this is a small amount, it could very well be dangerous to yourself or your environment."
"Bah! I've lived long enough not to care about such things. I may only be thirty years old. But one thing I have come to understand is that life is short, and the experiences you have along it will in the end, be wasted once you pass on." He sighed.
"Please don't say such things. I have traveled to the afterlife many times to see my fallen friends that have been taken away in time. They have never forgotten what they have done and who they have befriended. Please don't think that your life is so trivial."
*rumble*
"What was that?" Jake asked as the entire area around him shook.
"It seems as if morning has arrived, and my little ponies are waking up." She smiled. "I shall release you from your dream now, please take care of them. I will return tonight when you fall asleep again. Farewell, Jake of Earth." She smiled as her horned glowed, causing blackness to envelope Jake's vision. He had the sense of falling and floating at the same time as his eyes slowly opened to the bright morning light. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment as he brought a hand up to rub them gently to wipe away the nights sleep that had made its home in the corners of his eyes.
"Uh......" Came a voice and a shuffle on his lap. He took in a deep breath once again only to smell apples. He opened his eyes to see that he had his left arm wrapped around AJ while a cover had been placed onto the two of them. Twilight and Dash were nowhere in sight. He pulled back a little to see AJ blushing a bright red.
"Well good morning." Jake smiled only to yawn widely and giving a shaky stretch as he pulled the cover from them.
"Uh.... mornin." AJ smiled sheepishly. "Did ah fall asleep here las'night?"
"You and the others, but I don't remember this cover." He said while glancing down to it.
AJ moved slowly from Jake's lap onto the floor of the living room as she looked up to him still blushing softly.
"Did ah really fall asleep on ya?" She asked again feeling a little embarrassed.
"Eeyup." He chuckled but stopped as AJ stared at him like he was crazy.
"Did ya'll just say eeyup?" She asked in shock.
"Yea, I guess I did. Why do you ask?"
"Mah brother always says that. But how could you........." She trailed of for a moment as Twilight spoke up.
"I can answer that, but you may not like the results."
"How so?" AJ asked, cocking a brow to her friend.
"Well, first of all, Jake, can I ask you a few questions?" Twilight smiled to him as he gave a nod. "Good, now can you tell me if you have any siblings?"
Jake gave a slightly shocked expression but gave the answer. "Yea, ah have two sisters. The oldest being twenty and the youngest being eight. I haven't seen them in about five years though since moving out here. Its hard to make trips into the local town since I don't have means of transport."
AJ sat there completely dazed at the answer.
"And what would be their names?" Twilight asked.
"The eldest is Jacklyn, and the youngest Andria Blane. But what does that have to do with this?" He asked feeling confused.
Twilight smiled to AJ who picked up on the names rather quickly. She then fully noticed Jake's full features. He was rather tall and built well. Red hair, green eyes, a southern drawl that wasn't as thick as hers. But the name was entirely different from her brothers.
"Is yer name really Jake?" AJ asked causing his eyes to go wide.
"N-no, I just use that name because my real name isn't something I like. My real name Barry Manx."
"Oh Celestia........." AJ trailed off as everything fell into place.
"HA! I knew it!" Twilight shouted with glee.
"Am I missing something here?" Jake spoke up getting more confused.
"Applejack has an older brother named Big Macintosh, and a younger sister named Applebloom. If you pull the first letter of there names and match it to yours and your sisters. That means that this is not only an alternate world we have come into, but an Alternate mirrored dimension of our own." Twilight giggled loudly while dancing in place.
Jake just gawked as the pieces fell into place. AJ coming over to him with tear filled eyes as she brought him into a loving hug.
"So ah guess that means yer mah brother from another world." She smiled.
"Wow, I was beginning to wonder why you spoke so much like my sister. But I would have never guessed that you were her duplicate from another world." He laughed while giving her a loving hug but stopped as realization set in. His eyes moving to Twilight as his face began to blush furiously.
"Uh...... Why are you looking at me like that?" Twilight asked as she began to blush herself.
"Twilight Sparkle, Teresa Smith.......... Oh my God. Your her made over into a pony as well." He spoke out while still hugging his illegitimate sister.
"I'm guessing that is someone you know?" Twilight giggled but stopped as he released AJ from the hug and came over to her, kneeling in the floor and placing his hands onto her cheeks gently, before looking into her eyes.
After a few seconds Twilight began to fidget slightly and pulled away still blushing. "You even have her eyes. Its just so uncanny." He smiled as his face began to return to its normal shade of color.
"Uh....... I'm guessing that your friend may be more than a friend." She giggled nervously but stopped as his vision fell to the floor as tears began to slowly stream from his face onto it.
"Teresa was......... was going to be my wife............. She was killed in an... an accident before I moved out here. I couldn't handle the loss and locked myself away from the world." He cried as he looked up to her again, his eyes getting a little puffy from crying. "But why now? How could you be her from another world if she is dead? Doesn't each world follow the same path in letting the living follow the dead from another world or dimension? Not that I want you to die because this is a miracle in the making. This is a blessing all in it's own." He began to laugh softly while sobbing. Twilight coming up to him and wrapping her hooves around his neck as she began to speak softly to him.
"It's alright, We will be here for a few more days. So we can make the most of that time." Twilight smiled hugging him a little harder.
"Well, about that......." He began as he caught all of their attentions. Twilight pulling away as she looked at him. "Celestia came to me in my dreams last night." He began again only to cause the three to gawk as he continued. "She said your world and mine do not run along the same timelines. One day there is three days here, so if you were going to stay for a week, that means you will be here for three weeks."
"You have got to be kidding me?!" Dash spoke out in shock. "I can't even fly properly because of the lack of magic here. How am I going to keep my wings in shape if I can't fly?"
"Well, you can still flap them can't you?" Jake laughed only to get a snort in response. "If you can flap then that means you can at least try to lift off the ground. Otherwise how will you even attempt to gain more strength if you give up hope." He chuckled as he separated from Twilight.
"Yea, I guess your right." She sighed.
"Anyway, you three are stuck here with me for at least another two weeks. I'm guessing in that time you can read all of my books and watch all of my movies. In that time sis." He looked to AJ "Your wound should have healed nicely and we can remove the stitches before you return home." He smiled to her as she gave a nod.
"Well, things are going to be boring as ever." Dash sighed as she flopped to the floor.
"I take it you need something fun to occupy your mind with." Jake laughed to Dash who only cocked a brow from the floor. "I think I may have something to help with that." He laughed.
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.
A vacation of consequence
As time seemed to creep by, a medical crew from the hospital along with Celestia herself worked feverishly to save the humans life. Twilight staying at his side the entire time, using her magic to hasten the healing process. Hours seemed like minutes as they worked miracles in attempting to save Jake from his seemingly inevitable fate.
After four hours of nonstop care, Jake had finally stabilized enough to be moved to the hospital. The pale white of his skin showing the severe loss of blood along with the many closed wounds that had been stitched shut. His arms tattered and torn to ribbons from the unruly teeth of the bear. His left leg snapped in half below the knee, and hundreds of stitches place in the countless cuts he had received fighting for his life.
Once he had arrived in the hospital, he was placed into intensive care. Twilight following him in there as she remained by his side. The steady blip of his heart monitor showing that he had not given up, His body and mind screaming to stay alive, even through his injuries. Twilight was resting her head on the side of his bed as she watched him intently, waiting for him to wake so she could hug him, embrace him. Anything she could do to make him more comfortable from the torture he was now enduring in his attempt to remain alive.
Hours seemed to pass by as she continued to stay at his side. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had gone home after staying with Twilight for hours on end. Trying to convince her to do the same, but she refused. This being, this human, this friend, had helped them all out in a dire time of need. He had saved them from hunger, given them a warm place to sleep, and offered pleasant company all by himself, and without asking for even one thing in return. He didn't know them, hell he thought they were a figment of his imagination from staying on his own for so many years. A figment of his imagination? Not a chance! But it did help him come to terms with the fact that there was real life talking ponies of myth that he had saved and befriended. So not all was bad right?
The steady heart monitor continued its beeping as day turned to night, then night into day as the sun crested over the horizon. The warm rays of the sun slowly creeping into the dark room and onto Jake's bed as he lay there in silence. As the rays of the sun began to move from the ceiling, down the wall, and onto his frame. the warmth began to make him feel a little uncomfortable causing him to stir a little. The movement having woke Twilight from her slumber at his side.
"Jake? Are you awake?" She asked softly as she looked up to his scarred face. The dried blood having been magically removed from his body to help in keeping his wounds clean.
"MMmmmmm." He gave a soft groan as his eyes squinted shut before slowly opening. "Teresa?" He spoke softly as he raised an arm to block out the sun that was blinding him.
"No Jake, it's me, Twilight." She said as her horn lit up, lowering the blinds over the window so that he could now see properly.
"Twi......... Twilight?!" He bolted upright in bed, immediately regretting that decision as he pulled a couple of stitches, making him yelp out in pain before laying back down.
"Rest now, your badly injured." Twilight said as she hoped her front hooves up onto the side of the bed. Pulling a cool wet washcloth from the sink and placing it onto his forehead.
"What happened? Where am I?" He asked as he slowly moved his hands up and down each arm and over his body to feel of the bandages that were on him.
"You were attacked by a bear the other day. As for where you are though............" She trailed off.
"Well......... I feel pain so that means I lived through the experience. I see a white tile ceiling and horrible fluorescent lights, so that at least means I'm in a hospital." He chuckled but stopped as he looked around. "Twilight? I'm in a hospital, and your here with me? Wait, where is Dash and Applejack?" He said as he began to panic.
"They're fine, don't worry. We're home now." She smiled softly to him.
"Home?" He lay there for a moment to let that sink in. "As in your home world?!" He began to panic again but stopped as Twilight's hooves pressed against the sides of his cheeks making him look her directly in the eye.
"Yes Jake, My home world. We managed to get just enough magic to cancel the spell that we cast and brought you with us. You were about to............... to..........." She trailed off as tears began to form in her eyes. She gave a soft gasp as Jake pulled her into a warm embrace, letting her cry into his shoulder.
"It's alright Twilight. I'm fine now, despite the numerous injuries and severe loss of blood. I think I'll pull through." He gave a soft chuckle before pulling back. "I guess this makes us even now, don't it?"
Twilight gave a soft crying giggle while wiping her eyes from from tears. "Well, once we get you back to your old self again, then get you home, we'll be even. As for now, we are still in your debt." She smiled softly.
Jake lay back into the comfortable bed giving a sigh. His vision falling onto Twilight as his hand lifted up, placing it onto her cheek, his thumb rubbing through the soft fur that covered her. She pressed into the hand while closing her eyes, relishing the tender touch.
"You know Twi, I've liked on my own for so long, without the aid of anyone else. I left everything I had behind in my world just to stay on my own and live away from the corruption of humanity. I had always wished to live somewhere that I could be of use and to help out where needed. When I was being attacked by that bear, I knew it was my time. That I wouldn't survive to see another day. As I looked into the sky and saw the first star of the night, I made a wish Twi. Do you know what I wished for?" He asked giving her a smile.
Twilight sat there giving a soft smile while shaking her head gently.
"I wished to have a second chance at life. In a place where I wasn't afraid of the people I was around. Away from the modern world that was destroying my planet. To start a new life where it would matter and I could make a difference. After all that you have told me about your world, as well as from what Celestia has told me in my dreams. I think you unintentionally granted my wish for me Twi. From dream walking through your town and many others I came to realize just how kind everyone is here. Although they may be afraid of someone new at first, they may warm up over time. This is a place that could let me have the option of starting over." He smiled giving a contented sigh.
"Jake, I don't even know if the princess would allow you to stay here or not. Plus if you get hurt again, we may not be able to save you again. This world is filled with many strange and powerful creatures. I don't know if this........." She trailed off as a knock came from the door. It slowly opening revealing a White Alicorn in all her glory.
"Twilight, There is no need to worry. If Jake wishes to remain here, then he is free to do so." She smiled as she looked to Jake. "Is that acceptable?"
Jake smiled back before roughing Twilight's mane up a little. "I think that would be perfect my Princess. My life ended on Earth. Let this be my afterlife." He smiled before pulling Twilight into a hug. "This............ is my new home.............. my new life."