The Broken Compass

Jude shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The auditorium of the town hall was boisterously noisy and a little on the warm side, even though it was mid-fall. He glanced around the crowded auditorium at all the people there. Shortly after the incident with the shifters, Jase had felt suddenly, inexplicably exhausted, though he only mentioned to Jude what happened with the blackout and how it had made him feel strange. From there, Big Macintosh insisted on alerting the mayor to the situation, who had then called a hasty town meeting. Needless to say, the people who hadn’t witnessed the event themselves were anxious to know why they had been summoned at such short notice.

Upon closer examination, the crowd was rather diverse. For one thing, they all possessed many different, and even unnaturally colored eyes and hair. The stranger thing, though, was the differences in their races. Some were angels like Fluttershy, some looked like simple humans, with the exception of a slight height and size difference, and some had that peculiar light frame and tapered ears much similar to his own body. The latter group fascinated him, given that according to what his recent acquaintances had said, they were able to control magical energy and channel it into direct power. Jude couldn’t help but be curious if he had the same power, latent within his mind. Could he really manipulate the very fibers of reality itself?

As Jude looked around the auditorium, he caught some of the people in question looking at him. They wore a mixture of different expressions, most looking curious, no doubt puzzled given how much he must be sticking out as a new comer in such a small town. Some glared in suspicion, their eyes narrowing in silent judgment. Others just flashed a welcoming smile at him. Jude wondered what was giving him away so much that he stuck out like a sore thumb.

He decided to abandon watching the crowd and turned to the young woman that he had met, Applejack, who was sitting next to him.

“So… Exactly how bad of a situation is this, on a scale of one to ten?”

She seemed very nervous, but not necessarily scared as she turned towards Jude. “I’d have to say a fifteen. These shifters aren’t the nicest of varmints.”

Jude tried his best not to comment on here using the term varmints. “I thought all they are is bullies? Doesn’t that mean they’re mostly talk and don’t have a whole lot of fight in them?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “How many bullies do you know that won’t eat up a defenseless kid?”

Before Jude could answer, the mayor took the stage, sweating bullets. She seemed to be an absolute wreck with uneasiness. She put on a rather weak smile before tapping the microphone twice and clearing her throat. “Attention, everybody. I have some… unsettling news. It would seem the shifters have become very angry with us, and are no longer satisfied with our peace offerings. I’m afraid they are coming to raze the town.”

There was a chorus of gasps, followed by mumbles from the crowd as the last words reached their ears. “Why are they angry?” someone called out from the crowd above and to the left of Jude. The mayor suddenly seemed even more nervous, if that was even possible. Her smile collapsed into a scared look.

“Well, there was an incident in which… Fang was killed…” Suddenly all of the side conversations and mumbling was sucked out of the room, leaving everyone in utter silence. For a moment, that was all that inhabited the room, creating tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Finally, another person spoke what everyone but Jude and the apples were thinking in the auditorium.

“Who in the name of Celestia is crazy and stupid enough to do that?” someone called from the balcony level of seating. This question carried a much more angry tone than usual, giving Jude the inclination to slip farther in his chair.

“Well…” the mayor trailed off, unsure of how to answer that. “… It was truthfully an accident. You see, at Sweet Apple Acres-”

“So it was you apples’ fault!” Shouted a girl with long blue hair in Jude’s direction, interrupting the mayor once more. A chorus of angry comments rained down in Applejack and Big Mac’s direction. Applejack seemed frustrated by this reaction.

Jude’s fear momentarily subsided, having had enough of the Apples being blamed for a mess that he caused. “Hey, calm down! She didn’t do anything. I did. I accidentally killed Fang.” Suddenly, as the crowd turned their attention toward Jude, his self-consciousness returned at what he had just admitted.

“And who exactly are you? The Great and Powerful Trixie demands to know!” inquired the same blue haired girl. Jude suddenly lost any confidence he had just acquired. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he thought, Come on, Jude. What would Jase do right now?

“My name is Jude Foster,” He stammered, “I mean, I’m not… but I am… Well…”

Before he could clarify, the abnormally rude girl cut him off again. “And what exactly are you going to be able to do, Jude Foster, to help this situation?”

“Get the hell out of Jude’s face and we might be able to come up with something,” He heard himself rebut without consciously saying it. Jude was stunned a moment. Jase? He said mentally to his other half. I thought you were asleep.

I was, Jase responded. Now, scoot over and let me bail you out. Jude gave up control of their mutual body to Jase, glad to be out of the hot seat. Jase on the other hand started staring daggers at anyone who gave him a look, which seemed to be effective since most shied away shortly afterwards. “Now, yes, I did shoot and kill Fang, and from the look of it you should be glad. That bastard was bad news.”

Before the argument could go much further, the mayor butted back in, speaking a little louder into the microphone now. “Back to the problem at hand, everyone, the shifters have been spotted moving here in a relatively large number. They’ll be here by morning tomorrow.”

There was a chorus of surprised gasps from the audience. “There’s no way a detachment of the royal guard will be able to arrive in that time,” Big Mac muttered to himself, unaware that Applejack and Jase next to him overheard.

“I’m afraid…” continued the mayor, “We have no choice. We have to surrender, or they will tear everything to pieces. Please, go to your homes and hide what you must.” The mayor’s tone grew much shakier towards the end as people began to sullenly get up and leave. Others remained in a panicked state, loudly shouting about the fact that they would all surely die.

Jase looked around the room, guilt welling up in his chest. He could lie to them all he wanted about how he had helped them by killing Fang and could put on his best poker face, but he could not lie to himself: He had singlehandedly destroyed these people’s livelihood. Though he stayed resolute in his outward appearance, he felt like his gut had been punched and hollowed out, especially at the thought of letting down all these people.

But that was when fortune had a funny way of changing. Jude, from the backseat of the body he shared, saw something that caught his eye on the wall of the assembly hall. It was a picture, a map of this town. He couldn’t picture this town while walking around, but now that he could see it from an aerial, top down view, an idea struck him.

I know how we can defend it! Jude told Jase. Jase inwardly shot a sidelong glance at his other half. What are you talking about, Jase responded

Jase, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think I actually know a way to beat the dogs. If you look at the town, I remember a strategy I read about that could apply here. Jase sat for a second and thought about it. Jude was certainly good with organization and thinking about a situation from a precise, strategic point of view.

He furrowed his brow. Are you absolutely certain this plan has potential, Jude?

Jase, Jude responded, you know that I wouldn’t bother bringing it up if I didn’t know this could work. Please trust me on this one.

Jase rubbed his temple and sighed. Alright, Jude. Give it to me. What’s your plan? Jude began telling Jase his plan, and the more Jase heard, the more he became confident that it could actually work. After all, one of Jude’s biggest hobbies had always been military history, regardless of his inclination to pacifism.

Ok, Jase said after the extent of the plan was laid out before him. Tell the rest of these people.

Are you crazy, Jude responded. I am not a good speaker. You tell them, you have that ability to rally people. Look, I told you the plan, so now you translate that to them. Add in whatever you need to, but they need to know that they can win.

Jase nodded and stood up. He walked by Big Mac and up to the stage before Big Mac could stop him. “Mrs. Mayor!” He called out. She slowly turned from the microphone, in disbelief at the stranger getting up onto the stage. People in the auditorium slowly shifted their attention over to the stage. “Excuse me, but I have a better plan. I know a way we can actually defend the town from capture.”

Some of the crowd started to heckle Jase from the auditorium floor and many more looked surprised that this stranger had the nerve to offer a way for them to dig themselves out of a problem he had ultimately created. One of them, the girl who called herself Trixie, spoke up what many of them were thinking.

“And why exactly should we trust you?”

Jase did something rather out of character at the subconscious behest of Jude; he remained perfectly quiet and thought for a couple moments before saying what he was thinking, which equated essentially to “Screw you, that’s why.” Instead, he took a deep breath and paused for about five seconds before continuing.

“Well, you can’t. You can’t trust me a bit. I barely know any of you. I have come here, and the only thing I’ve done is messed up what you had going here. Hell, I’m just some guy. I’ve never fought someone, or been in an army. Hell, closest I’ve ever been is in football. I don’t even know why I’m here.

“But listen up, because here is something I do know. I know you’re afraid right now. I can see the fear you all have: fear of your life being taken from you, fear that everything you love will be taken from you, even fear that all hope is utterly lost. But I’m about to tell you something that those shifters don’t want you to know.

“Fear is not real. It is a product of thought you create. Do not misunderstand me: danger is very real, but fear is a choice. Fear is only something that exists so long as you sustain and feed it, and is only going to subdue and kill you in the end. However, just as fear itself is a choice, so is courage. Courage is the acknowledgement that danger exists and that it can be overcome, and where courage thrives, fear is absent.

“So now I’m giving you an important choice. Will you let your fear consume you, give in to the power it has over you, and seal your own fates, or will you stand with me, free yourselves, and prove to these dogs that even if they can take everything from you, you will never relent your freedom from fear?”

The reaction from the auditorium was an odd mixture of enthusiasm and confidence. Jase was surprised that actually worked, rallying these people so effectively with nothing more than speech. Great speech, but you do realize you stole that bit about fear from After Earth, Jude corrected.

They obviously don’t know that, Jase retorted.

…

Jase sat up on the bed and looked out the window as small edges of the suns corona were barely visible, framed by the encroaching dusk. Jude had gone to sleep a short time ago, keeping Jase alone with his thoughts.

The Apples, thankful for his assistance with the shifters earlier, had offered him supper and a room for the night. Living in Georgia, Jase had grown up to love homestyle southern cooking, and the meal they had shared was certainly some of the best food he had tasted in a while. After a long, discussion filled dinner about the Apple family and farming and such, they had all come to the consensus it was time to hit the hay. The friendly farmers had also agreed that it would be the least they could do to give him the guest room to sleep in.

As the sun sank lower and lower, now that the excitement of the day’s events was all through, he had time to really think about his situation. He was worlds away- literally- from home and all he knew. He saw his mom panicking in his mind’s eye, his father frantically calling the police with no idea where Jase had gone, let alone the fact that the gun was missing too. What if they thought that he had run away from home and blamed themselves, rather than knowing the truth, that he was condemned to a different dimension? Jase got to thinking about all the great things he would no doubt be missing in this new world. Video Games, Football, Coca-Cola, Music.

That’s when he suddenly remembered that he did have music with him. His phone was still in his pocket from the initial fall into this world. He slipped his hand into his pocket. The small plastic device met his fingertips as he pulled it out and unlocked the screen. The battery indicator flashed the words, “Warning: less than 20% battery.”

Jase ignored the warning as he fiddled with the tiny machine, pulling up the music player app. He shuffled through the list of music he had and decided to stop on a rather fitting song for this particular moment.

Youtube Video

The gentle melody continued to play as Jase thought about the events that would follow tomorrow. The somber, haunting beauty of the notes expressed all the calm he found paradoxical within himself. These people had put a lot of trust in him to come up with a plan that would either save or destroy their entire livelihoods. How could he measure up? He was no hero, no savior, and though he would never admit it to anyone, especially Jude, he hardly had a clue what he was doing. He was just some kid who had fallen into another world as alien to him as night from day. He was both literally and figuratively lost without any compass to guide him.

He began singing the lyrics to himself, keeping his eyes fixed on the still present horizon, his thoughts drifting to his grandfather. The old man had always had certain wisdom to him. It was like he knew everything about a problem and how to fix it before Jase even talked about it to him. That degree of confidence and intelligence Jase’s grandfather could show surpassed even what bravado Jase showed and the man was a great leader.

“That’s interesting music you’re playing.” Jase stopped singing and turned a little startled. He saw Applejack in the doorway, her signature hat off for the first time. She wore a simple nightgown, and her hair was straight rather than the ponytail she wore before.

“Umm, thanks,” Jase said, his thoughts swinging back to reality. “It’s a classic where I come from.” She walked through the doorway and stood opposite the side of the window Jase was sitting by, leaning against the wall.

“It’s got a bit of a gloomy vibe to it though,” she said, looking out the window. Jase hadn’t noticed before how normal she seemed, relative to the other people he had met in this place. She seemed perfectly human: natural blonde hair, tan skin, even pristine eyes that were both otherworldly and familiar at the same time. She was one of the few things here that reminded him of home, especially with her gentle southern accent.

“It does have that undertone to it. Jude told me once that it was written about the time when a defender would keep watch in the old days to spot the invaders, the calm before the storm.” He shrugged, realizing he was probably coming off as too bookish. “But, I don’t know. That’s just what he said.”

She turned her eyes from the window back to Jase. “Jude seems like a smart sort. I’d imagine he was the one to come up with the strategy?”

“Yeah…” Jase admitted, a bit embarrassed that it was so obvious that he didn’t come up with something sooner or better. “I’m just the mouthpiece that said it.”

Applejack, realizing she might have stepped on a sore subject, changed the conversation. “Why do you have them funny pictures on your jacket?” she asked, motioning to the patches.

Jase had all but forgotten in his reverie of how much she felt like home that she was actually from a different world. He pulled off the jacket and said, “It’s simple, really.” As the jacket came off, he laid it in his lap and gestured to each symbol. “This,” He said pointing out the American flag patch on the back, “Is the banner of my country. It’s a place called America.”

Applejack looked over it curiously as Jase continued to explain. “These thirteen stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that came together to found it. And these stars- fifty in total- represent the fifty states, similar to the colonies, which are no part of it.”

“What about those two?” she queried, pointing out the airborne insignia above the emblem of the staff sergeant rank.

“Oh… Those… Well, they were my grandfather’s. He was in the military a very long time ago. He gave these patches to me.” Jase said, running his fingers along the small canvas strips on the shoulder of the field jacket.

“It sounds like he’s a good man.” Applejack said, smiling with reassurance. Jase’s smile drooped a little though as Applejack’s grew.

“Well, he was… He passed away from a heart attack about a year ago…” Applejack suddenly felt awful about bringing up the point.

“I’m real sorry, sugarcube. I didn’t mean to remind you,” she began, but Jase shook his head at her, his face slightly less somber.

“Its fine, Applejack. I just miss him a lot. He was more than just a grandfather to me. He was like my mentor, at everything. He taught me literally just about all that I know. It was like having a best friend, second father, teacher, and commander all rolled up into one. When he was gone, it just left a big hole.”

Applejack lowered her chin a bit sullenly. “I know what you mean. Both my parents died when I was very young, and then not too long ago we lost my grandmother. The same way you described your grandfather is exactly how I feel about her. She always used to tell me, ‘Applejack, you are just the sweet little apple of my eye.’” She grinned from the happy memory as a tear slipped down her face, but after not so much as a second, the frown returned. “The shifters had taxed us too heavily to afford the medication she needed and she passed away from the disease a few weeks later.”

“I’m so sorry, Applejack.” It may have been a weak thing to say, but it was all Jase could think of. Surprisingly enough, though, Applejack turned to him and smiled.

“I’d almost given up on everything. On things getting better, or even staying as good as they were, but you changed that. Jase, you may think you’re just a mouthpiece, but let me give you the honest truth. I see an amazing leader in you. I see someone who we desperately need. I see you giving us something we haven’t had in a while.”

Jase, taken aback by the farmer’s brutal honesty, looked at her, noting how distracting her green eyes could be when they hooked you. “What on earth could I give any of you that is any good whatsoever?” She leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Hope.”

Just then a loud “Ahem” was heard from the doorway. As they both turned they saw a rather stern faced Big Mac in the doorway. “Applejack,” He bellowed, “you should probably go to bed. It’s an early morning tomorrow.” Applejack rose to her feet and nodded before shuffling down the hall, leaving Big Mac and Jase alone.

Big Mac turned to face Jase, his expression very clear and severe. “Now listen, Jase, I appreciate all you’ve done and all you’re doing, but I really want you to stay away from AJ, you understand? She has lost so many people she cares about that it would kill her to get attached to someone else just for him to go also. I want you to do that for me, you got it?”

There was nothing angry, mean, or frightening in Big Mac’s tone, but the sheer size of the farmer intimidated Jase to give a small nod. “Alright. You get some good sleep, now,” he stated before walking down the hall.

Jase turned the lamp on the drawer off before lying down under the sheets. Thousands of thoughts swirled around in his head before the gentle fingers of night silenced them all.