Court Jester

Chapter 4: Family Ties

And it was over just like that. The man stayed standing for about five seconds before falling to the ground. “Good kill.” The spotter had just a wonderful way with words.

“Yeah.” I could only agree, I was utterly speechless. He was in the kill zone and I had to it was orders nothing I could do. No matter how many times it played over in my head it didn’t stick. I had just killed someone. It was one of the many that would keep me awake for the next fifty years. It seemed almost like this wasn’t real this was just some dream and I would wake up any second. It was his fault he knew not to go into the kill zone he was an enemy. And, I couldn’t explain why, that was what cut the deepest.

“SPIKE!” Twilight really didn’t want to have to deal with her friends this early in the morning with her head feeling like it was going to explode. She was searching through the house for her tiny assistant and she wasn’t finding him. She had already been irritable but now she was just plain furious. “Spike where are you?”

She spent the next ten minutes searching the library not finding a single sign of the dragon. “Where did he go?” She wondered aloud angrily. She heard a small meep and flipped around to discover she had woken Fluttershy. “Good morning,” she practically growled at her friend.

Fluttershy only meeped again and tried to hide behind her hair. “Morning,” she eventually mumbled. She didn’t seem afraid of Twilight as something she seemed to be trying to remember. She looked around the room and seemed to be even more distressed as she realized it wasn’t a dream. “D-did anything weird happen to you last night?”

Twilight who was still searching for her prey only paid a little attention by saying, “I don’t remember anything from last night.” She was giving up on looking for the little dragon. She assumed he had left to go get some groceries. “Gimme a minute to think...” She thought about all she could remember from the night before. Her mind was so foggy the only thing she could remember was getting up this morning. “I need to let my head clear for a while.”

“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy hid behind her hair again.

Dash’s snoring was still echoing through the house and Twilight was about to fix that issue as she approached the sleeping pony. She aimed carefully and landed a kick perfectly into her ribs. Rainbow was awake instantly “Who the-! What the-! How the-!” She looked up to see Twilight and knew what she was going through. “Sorry Twi, I was snoring wasn’t I?”

“Now what’s all the fussin’ about?” Applejack added to the group of friends. Rarity followed behind and was headed straight to the bathroom.

“I need you all to leave... Now.” Twilight looked at each of the friends. She then herded them out of her home without another word simply with the look on her face. It was like she was shooting fire with her gaze. They seemed to tumble before her like dominoes against a steam roller. After the last of them was gone she used to magic to fix the door and lock it in the same movement.

“Well, that was interesting.” Twilight spun to see a purple and green pony sitting on a stool in her kitchen and drinking one of the cups of coffee.

“Who the hay are you and, what are you doing in my house?” Twilight was looking for things to throw at this earth pony with her magic. It seemed she had very many if she included her books that were around. She vaguely remembered studying the day before. Her head was too throbbing to continue thinking about it.

“Oh yes you wouldn’t remember a whole lot from last night would you? My name is Jes and we are going to become simply... great friends I think.” He gave her a crooked grin his voice was very Northern. Even though he had such a thick accent he spoke Equine very fluently. “Though I imagine this is a little weird so let me tell you all you learned last night because I believe it is a thick fog, yes?”

“Celestia only knows how right you are.” Twilight was about to ask him to leave as well when he continued. She put a hoof to her head to message her temple.

“I’ll see if my associate can fix that give me a minute.” He seemed to stare at a spot on the wall for about thirty seconds. After he blinked once or twice Twilight’s head seemed to clear it was like somepony had turned on a light.

“Thanks!” Twilight could immediately think back on to what she did and did not remember. She still, much to her anger, could not remember almost anything after arriving at the bar.

“Ya... I don’t think he can fix some things but your head should be a little clearer yes?” Twilight nodded. “Okay good let’s start back from the beginning: what do you remember?”

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“So... Anypony notice anything weird about Twi?” Applejack was the first to speak after they had gotten back to Sugar Cube Corner.

“Like how she pushed us all out of the house so early in the morning? Ya that would be normal for what I imagine she was doing last night.” Dash knew what she was going through right then. It got quite again for a long time everypony seemed to be trying to remember what had happened last night it seemed to be blurry. Though, they all had something different buried into their memory.

“U-uh does anypony remember what happened last night...? I’m having a little bit of a gap.” Fluttershy of all ponies finally broke the silence.

“Yah ain’t alone sugar cube.” Applejack agreed with her.

“Well, I have no clue just bits and pieces.” Dash seemed discouraged

“I can’t even remember and I usually remember a lot!” Pinkie finally spoke up.

“Well, that is quite odd, I’m sure we will all remember soon enough.” Even Rarity seemed to be confused as to what had happened. “Well who knows maybe we can get Twilight to help us. Though, after what just happened I don’t think we should go just yet.”

Just then they heard a knock on the door. Everypony looked up to see Twilight walk through the door. “Sorry about that this morning girls. But, I can help you clear some things up I’m going to cast the memory spell on all of you again.” She seemed to be in a rush which was weird considering she had just forced them out of her home at the risk of being set of fire. “Let's go! Hurry up!”

“Uh, are you okay Twilight?” Dash was the first to ask but, not the first to wonder.

“Yes, yes I’m fine I just need to go get Spike as well and then continue to talk with... a new friend.” She seemed to want to not really say the last part.

Rarity then had a large smile press the corner of her muzzle. “Yes,” she seemed to have some idea what was going on. Everypony looked to her to try and receive an explanation though she seemed to try to just move the group on. “Let's go girls Twilight obviously has some plans with her ‘new friend.’ What is the stallion’s name anyway?” She received a glare from Twilight but she didn’t protest when everypony started to move.

Each received the quick spell and each seemed as amazed as the last. The memory seemed to regrow out of nothing; though it was crystal clear now. How could they have possibly forgotten that much of a crazy night? They looked to Twilight for answers but, none came. “Sorry, girls but I have to go.” Rainbow jumped up to protest but Twilight was already out the door.

“What in the hay is going on here?” Rainbow dash kicked the edge of the counter.

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“Lemme buy you a drink.” The strange looking pony invited her into the bar. “I promise I don’t bite, and I’ll tell you some of the things you may want to know.” He gave her a grin; he knew it was killing her inside to learn what he knew. He held his hoof up offering her the way through the door.

“Fine.” Twilight was on edge ready to use her magic the moment she needed to. She didn’t trust this pony in anyway but she really didn’t have any choice. She entered through the door he held open for her he started to snicker. “What’s so funny?”

“Hehe, you, your attitude toward this whole thing anyway even your body language says you don’t want to be here. Name’s Jes by the way.” He laughed for another ten seconds then continued. “I am sorry I have to keep you in the dark about some things but, I would like to clear some OTHER things up. First of all I, or more like we, are not the bad guys no matter what you may think. I know it looks bad for ‘us’ but, I am not the enemy.” He gave her a warm smile and continued to walk till he was at the bar then sat down.

“Okay, how can I confirm that? And I thought you would tell me everything!” Twilight was confused but she continued to listen to the strange stallion.

“What can I get for you two?” Shot walked over to the two ponies. “Twilight? Well I never expected to see you in my bar good to see you! What can I get you?” He asked again.

“Um, I take a bottle of your best vodka.” He grinned at the bar tender. “And, by best I mean strongest.”

Shot looked at this strange pony for a few seconds. He then looked back to Twilight for confirmation who just shrugged. He then grabbed a bottle from the shelf behind him and gave it to him. “Here, for you Twilight?”

“Nothing for now thanks, Shot.” He nodded and left them alone. “So, what is this all about?”

“Well, to teach you something though I don’t know if your friends are quite as successful so far.” He said it like he was telling her that he had purple and green hair.

“You have my friends?!” Twilight screeched.

“Now Twilight calm down you don’t want to make a scene, calm down. I will explain that or you don’t I leave and you learn nothing.” He had her in a bad spot; she just nodded. “Good, your friends are all currently under illusions carefully and cleverly devised by my associate. They are all taking part of some sort of test I don’t know the details. They are all fine though I admit they may take a little longer to finish than I expected.”

“How do you know all this?” Twilight wanted to take him to her home then; torture him but, thought better of it. She was starting to get testy with this stallion that had lied to her.

“You know how that pony was talking to you in your head?” She nodded, “He can do the same to me except I don’t, nor can I, fight it. So, he keeps me more or less updated.”

He opened the bottle with his teeth and proceeded to pour the clear liquid into the glass Shot had left; though she hadn’t noticed it before. He obviously had a lot of practice with such techniques in how easily he had opened and poured. Twilight was trying to process what she had just heard from this strange pony and he was trying to pour his second glass. “So, your goal is to teach us something, yes?”

“Yes, more or less.” He gulped down the second glass before Twilight even had a chance to ask another question. “Though, I don’t know what that goal is or was. He tells me only what I need to know and ONLY what I need to know. And, yes he does make me as angry as he does you.”

“So what is your whole plan?”

“If I told you that would be no fun at all.” His grin spread, teeth showing, “you don’t want to ruin the surprise do you? I’ll just let you sit back and relax for now.”

“You said you would tell me EVERYTHING!” He took another drink, “don’t you think you have had enough for one night? I don’t even know how you are still able to even sit up right!”

“Enough? I haven’t even started. This whole ordeal is like... a match. Just a single match in the middle of the factory. This whole place will be up in flames and then a little more when I’m done with it.” His grin spread, “Figuratively speaking of course.”

She just glared, “I still think you were lying to me.”

“Think whatever you want I know it’s for the best and you would know it’s for the best.” They sat silently for a long time he had another few drinks and was starting to get a good buzz going. Twilight was looking down at the bar and was thinking very hard about all this. “You look like you could use a drink.” He poured her some of the clear liquid into another glass he had just grabbed.

She stared at the glass for a long time before finally picking it up and smelling the liquid. “It’s not tainted or poisoned.” He laughed aloud at how the unicorn was treating the unfamiliar drink. She finally levitate the drink to her mouth and started to pour back the liquid slowly. She immediately spit the harsh liquid back out and slammed the glass back down. Jes was laughing harder than she had ever seen he even fell out of his chair. He laughed for another minute or so before he sat back down. If his grin had been any bigger it would have went all the way around his head.

“Why would you let me do that knowing what would happen?”

“It was funny wasn’t it? When you have seen the things I have you would understand that.” Twilight didn’t know how to respond. “I can imagine that would give you a few questions though, no?”

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The green and purple colt had been accepted. He had just left the recruitment office he had made it. He had waited his entire life for this moment he was ready to be a soldier. He was not the strongest or the fastest of all the ponies there but he could actually hit the targets. He walked the streets of Stalliongrad looking over the city he had known for the last twenty years of his life. It was a very standard life not a large home but, he had food and a good life he considered.

He would be sent to boot camp soon and had to make sure he had everything sorted out. First his boss and friends though, he really didn’t have too many friends to tell. No pony would be too hurt when Jes went to war or so he hoped.

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Basic training was about as rough as he had expected it to be though he had gotten through it without too many problems. He looked down at the tags that were dangling around his neck and knew he would come back a changed stallion. He was one of the every few earth ponies to be accepted into a crossbow division. He did not expect to get sent to active duty so quickly but, there had been a shortage in recruits.

“Hey, kid how it going?” Spot approached him. He was a red pony with red-orange hair; it was cut short like everypony else.

“Fine, comrade, yourself?” He really didn’t care but it was common courtesy.

“Just chipper. You ready for this one? First to fight a dragon in the last hundred years, eh?” He was nervous and didn’t seem like he was from around here he was too... twitchy. Ponies weren’t like that around here death was just a step in the process.

“Great, so is the stuff ready?” Jes really didn’t like this spotter but, he got the job done. That was all that really mattered for the young stallion getting the job done. It was all he cared about was getting it done and it really didn’t matter how. It just needed to get done he didn’t even know it just did. The whole platoon was marching to the front that was not even established yet.

The dragons were a proud and dangerous race they stayed close to their mountain homes. The mountains were huge compared to the small settlement that was around them. It was a tiny village more like a camp really Ponyville or something. All the ponies there moved there to try and take advantage of the rich soil and the strange apples that grew there. They had passed by the sad little village of tents about an hour ago.

The village really had no future now that it was all going to be burned to the ground. Jes checked his crossbow that was slung around his chest one more time. They were new technology but, Jes was still good at using it. No matter how many times he looked at one they looked ode. It was long, bulky, and had a ring that was around butt and was just big enough for a hoof to fit inside. You were supposed to balance the thing on a front hoof and then pull with the second. Simple enough the issue was hitting the target he had worked on it for a long time before getting it right.

“Why the hay are we even going to try and fight them?” The pony who spoke was obviously an optimist as he continued. “All that’s out here is that back water ‘village.’ who cares they will all be dead soon anyway.”

“Cheerful,” Jes commented.

“Buck you man, buck you. I don’t want to die to protect some noponies.”

“Anypony ask you?” Jes retorted, “How about we leave your flank here for some of them to eat? That’s what you want to do to them anyway.”

“Hey, they made the choice to live this close to dragon territory.” He seemed unfazed at what he was saying.

“Ya, they did. But you also made the choice to join up before the drafting started.” Jes looked at the blue pony that was in front of him his mark was what appeared to be a cannon ball. “Plus if we don’t hold them here that means they get one step closer to your house.”

That succeeded in shutting the stallion up.

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They had marched another hour before they made camp for the night. “Alright, we are at least a mile into dragon territory. Am I the only pony who thinks it’s weird we haven’t seen one yet?”

“Maybe they’re not as organized as we though?” A young stallion suggested.

“Everypony just shut up and wait for the scouts to get back.” The sergeant had such a way with words.

Everypony sat quietly after that eating what was given to them which was not a lot but, it would be hard to get supplies up here. After an hour they were beginning to get worried. Ponies started to talk about sending a patrol to look for them. Shockingly, there were no volunteers. Jes finally stood up, “What the hay I’ll go.” Spot glared at him but, got to his feet as well.

“Guess that means I’m going to.” A few others got up and agreed to go but, they were all young and looked terrified beyond belief. There were five of them when the volunteers just stopped coming. “Really? No pony else?” They all headed off in search of the lost scouts. Everypony watched for any movement as they went over the rugged terrain. It all seemed so quite especially for dragon territory.

“What the hay!” One of the ponies finally did a whispered loud enough for all to hear. “We are at least six miles in this is horse apples. Where are these dragons?”

“Shh! You hear that?” Jes heard nothing but kept his eyes open. They walked a little farther before he finally heard it. Breathing very labored breathing. He rushed to see what the problem was. He found one of the scouts his back was at an ode angle and he seemed to be bleeding from every inch of his body.

“Go... back.... camp... attack.... I’m... goner.” With that he collapsed and died. One of the unicorns pushed past the others and crouched next to him. He felt for a pulse tried to cast a spell. It fizzed up and died with a sputter. He got back to his feet and shook his head.

“Double time it! We need to get back to camp.” Jes yelled and started to run back the way they had come. He didn’t even stop to see if the others were following him. They ran as fast as they could for a half an hour straight. They finally ran around the hill to reach the camp.

The entire thing was up in flames they could feel the heat from over a hundred yards away. Flames seemed to be trying to devour the moon. They all ran into the camp looking for any survivors. They found only a few charred corpses and ash. This would be the thing that would stick with Jes no matter what. Their faces as they begged him for help and he could do nothing.

After an hour of searching for any of their fallen comrades who would be able to be saved; they found one who could have almost have been saved if he hadn’t also had a massive bite wound on his flank. “W-we need to get this back to the commander.” The spotter spoke up he was obviously traumatized his voice seemed to shake at the mention of anything having to do with war.

“Let's move!” Jes had to keep them moving. He had to keep moving had to keep his mind off of this whole thing. They walked out of the camp to find something they had not expected to find. A massive corpse that wasn’t a pony. They had actually done it. They had killed at least one of them there was a cheer amongst the group. “There we go.” Jes thought.

The cheer was short lived as they were quitted by Spot who had seen something moving. “Just there,” he said, “Right under the tree, far right.” Jes leaped down crossbow already aiming that direction. He looked down the crude sight to see what his friend saw. A huge scaled wing he aimed a little right; where the heart would be and put hoof in the guard. He breathed in and slowly started to let it out.

He stopped as he saw a second pair of wings. His heart started to beat about a million times faster. He tried to get his breathing under control again as he started to move the bow from each heart back and forth slowly and steadily getting ready for a quick double. Spot getting ready to replace the bolt. He froze again a third and fourth pair appeared. It was going to be a long war.

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“It all went downhill from there.” Jes wasn’t smiling anymore he looked down at the drink in his hooves. “That's where I learned to drink that stuff. It may not taste good but, it’s better than reliving it over and over again. Spot died later in the war we were on a supply run when we were ambushed. I had told that crazy colt not to make any noise no matter what happened. He took the thing down but, it burnt him bad. He died in my hooves.

“He died defending me... we were in a pass and the thing was about to find me. He started shooting and yelling. It turned about five seconds from finding me Spot hit him right above the heart. The last thing it did was burn him right across the face. I had been motioning for him to stay put and stay quite. He never did like taking orders from me.

“The rest of those who were with us died I think. I know one of them died on the way back... another ambush. I didn’t keep track of the rest of them it was a bad part in my life. I made a few other friends in there but became distant after Spot I didn’t know who was going to survive. I stayed away from everypony became quite and was for quite awhile after the war. It was... tough... not a whole lot of fun. So I joined up with these guys in the circus because it was something to do and worked my way up from janitor.”

Twilight remained silent for a long time she looked down at the small glass in her hooves. “Fill it up.” She said it so quietly Jes almost didn’t hear her. He might not have been sure if she hadn’t lifted the glass up.

“Here,” He laughed again as he grabbed the bottle and started to pour the harsh substance slowly. “Don’t share my guilt Twilight and don’t share my grief. It isn’t good for you.” He gave her a big smile but, even Twilight could see it was hollow. He looked her right in the eye intently though as if he could read her mind.

“Ya, I know but, I... Just want a drink... I don’t know why.” Jes gave a real smile and chuckled a little to himself. Before she could argue with him.

“So what’s your story Sparkle?” He leaned back a little bit on the stool. He took another drink and eased himself in for a long tale.

“Um... Not a lot I just grew up in Canterlot with my parents. I applied to Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns at about ten. That's when I hatched Spike and became Celestia’s Protégé. After that I was having trouble getting along with anypony and then she sent me to Ponyville and now I’m here.” She smiled to Jes sheepishly. She looked down at her drink and was about to swallow it when Jes laughed.

“You’re a bad liar.” He now had a very crooked grin and showed his teeth a little. “What’s your story Sparkle?” He repeated it, again looking her in the eye.

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Twilight had always been very close to her grandmother. She had been the one to help Twilight cast her very first spell. She was too young to understand when her parents said she was going away forever. The only thing she really remembered was with her family and they were all dressed in black. Her family was all very supportive of her and Twilight was sad because she would never get to see her grandmother again.

They had all gathered in a big field filled with fresh and beautiful green grass. It was so peaceful and quite some ponies had flowers. She had only a few friends and the family wasn’t very big. So there were not very many ponies at the funeral to begin with and ever fewer speaking. Her parents received little in the will of her grandmother but, Twilight had received almost an entire library. Her parents never said anything about and simply moved all the books into her room.

She had read and reread everyone at least ten times before she even ever heard of the Canterlot Library. She spent a lot more time with her books even before she was supposed to be making friends. She never really improved at making them until she moved to Ponyville. Though no matter how much time she spent in the library she never truly got over her grandmother. She still couldn’t stand to even have a picture in the library.

She remembered all the times she and her Grandmother had spent together. She had always pushed her to do the best she could and then a little more. She was also a good teacher not the best Twilight would ever have but, good none the less. She was one of the most influential figures in Twilight’s life and, she was gone just like that. Took her a while to get over it but, she poured herself into learning as much as she could about magic.

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“Not as good as yours but, it’s what happened. I don’t remember a lot because I was so young but, that’s what I remember.” Twilight nodded her head in approval of the story.

“No, it was better than mine.” Jes was blunt about the whole thing. She couldn’t understand why he would even make such a claim. His story could actually entertain a crowd. She was just some nopony who had got lucky.

“No way, you could write a book about your life mine was just too boring.” Twilight blushed a little.

He chuckled again, “Why? You’re a student of the princess herself. I’m just some jar head that shouldn’t be alive. Only reason I’m sitting here in fact is pure bravery anyway.” Jes was somehow still smiling during this whole event. Twilight just stared at him with open mouth. He took another drink before noticing the silence and looked back at her and saw her staring at him. He burst out laughing for a full minute before slowing down to a chuckle long enough to talk again. “What’s the problem? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.”

“You sound like you kind of regret surviving.” Twilight was utterly shocked at what she had just heard.

He muttered something about survivor’s guilt before continuing. “It’s not that I don't like being alive Twilight, I have lived a long time Twilight and seen many things. I am not sad or happy to be alive I am content, is that not enough?” Jes smiled at her another warm smile. What Twilight was hearing was some of the strangest things she had ever heard.

“So you don’t want to be happy? Let me just get that straight.”

He sighed, “It’s not that I DON’T want to be happy it’s that I am just fine with not being happy. Is that really that hard to understand? Everypony is so concerned with being happy and they ignore what is important. Happiness is one of the most temporary things you can experience it so why chase it? It’s not that I’m lazy either I just don't see the whole point. Everypony tries to be a player in the game of life we live in; I just want to be an observer.”

Twilight calmly sat and thought about what she had just heard for a long time. “I guess I can see how somepony would think that way. It’s not for me though.”

“And THAT my dear is the best part of it if it’s not for you it doesn’t have to be.” Jes gave her another goofy grin and chuckled again. “It’s only one way of thinking if it’s not for you that is fine. I won’t force you into doing anything or thinking in one way.”

Twilight thought about it for a long time. “Okay, Jes whatever you want to do.”

“Whatever I want to do? Okay I’m going to go smoke a cigarette really quick.” Jes just shrugged it off.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” Twilight glared at him. “You drink a lot I can tell by how quickly you almost took out that bottle. And now I found out you're smoker as well?”

This time he tried to contain his laughter. He put a hoof over his mouth and was nearly choking he was trying so hard. His eyes were starting to water as he finally spoke again. “Yep, a death wish right here. How did you guess? Trying to kill myself that is truly funny Twilight thank you.”

Again she just stared at him as he walked out of the bar not looking back. He just calmly went out the door. He made sure he was out of sight of Twilight. And pulled out a pack of cigarettes and matches from seemingly nowhere. “Hehehe!” He placed a cigarette in his mouth he looked up at the sky. “Yep, here I am Luna it’s good to be back.” He lit the cigarette and took the first breath slowly. The taste was very sweet he always made sure they were the good kind. These were the kind of things he loved to preoccupying his time with thoughts like these that really had no point. They were all open ended never an answer to any of these. He held the match he had used to light it, it burned brightly and seemed to dance. He blew it out with a puff of smoke and laughed to himself.

He breathed through the small tube that hang from his mouth and looked out at the smoke coming from it. “Horse apples, this is getting harder the longer it takes. Doesn't help I have been drinking a whole lot.” The tube was shrinking quickly and it was almost gone by now. He dropped it and stomped it out with his hoof slowly. He then looked down at the last remaining embers as they burn out.

He then walked back into the bar to join Twilight. “Miss me?” He asked a little sarcastically. He then was a little surprised to see Twilight down a shot. She coughed after but, then laughed a little between cough spasms. “There ya go now you’re getting it.”

“Sort... of.” She coughed. She cleared her throat before continuing. “How strong is this stuff?”

“On a scale of one to ten an eight. You can only get ten where I come from.” He grinned to her. “I’m surprised to see you’re even able to stomach it considering it’s your first time drinking hard liquor.”

“Is it really that obvious?” She asked a little sheepishly. He laughed at her again it was starting to get on her nerves a little but, she shrugged it off.

“Ya, but, I don’t think anypony minds especially me.” He said looking around at the few other ponies in the bar.

“hmm.” Twilight dismissed the thought.

“Hey we have all been there we had to start somewhere.”

“So, I have been thinking.” Jes raised his eyebrows in question. “Since you got out of the military what have you been doing with yourself?”

“Ah, you want to know about my recent life? I am actually traveling with the circus right now they arrived late today. Well, my group did anyway. I don’t think I will be working there too much longer though.” He said it simply like he was reading it out of a book. It was said as though it was more memorized instead of being learned and enjoyed.

“Um... So what do you do there?”

“I’m the tightrope walker. It’s always fun when they let me go without a safety net. It’s rare but, it doesn’t have the same effect as with it.”

“You really are trying to kill yourself aren’t you?”

“I’ve been doing it a long time. Longer than anypony else at the circus in fact everypony else has left and I’m still there.”

“So, how old are you then? Because you only look like your late thirty’s or early forty’s. But, knowing that you have to be older than that especially because you were in the...” She noticed he was already starting to back out toward the door.

“Uh, I need to go smoke another cigarette, pardon me!” He avoided the question and ducked out before she could argue.

“That was close.” He said to himself when he was back outside. “I’m so close though I can’t give up now.”

He put another cigarette in his mouth and lit it like the one before it. He smoked this one slowly though. “What should I say?” He grumbled to himself before he suddenly stopped and smiled to himself. “Ahh, that’s good. Looks like our little test is right about over.” He let the smoke out in little smoke circles. He watched each one float up into space one after another. They floated up slowly and he saw how small he was in comparison to what all was out there. He chuckled to himself at the thought of this.

The cigarette finally was almost done and he stomped it out quickly and replaced it. He smoked this one even slower than the last and again watched little rings that seemed to be falling upward. He was quiet and at peace with the world. Suddenly he could have sworn he saw the outline of a dark blue and very large pony flying. He searched though the sky and was about to go investigate. “You're not supposed to be here yet!”

Twilight stumbled out into the street, “hehehe there you are!” She laughed.

The stallion nearly dropped his cigarette as he tried to hold back his laughter, “How many more did you have?”

“I don’t know like five or six?” It was more a question as if he would know.

“Um... I think we better get you home.” He no longer tried to contain his laughter. He stood back up only to be forced to sit back down. “Uh, oh.”

Twilight giggled, “Uh, oh!”

He snickered, “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting walk back. It’s about time to start heading home anyway, your friends will start to be worried.”

“Okay!” Twilight started to sway as she walked farther out of the bar. “I almost forgot about them.”

“Yep, definitely going to get much more fun.”

He held support the highly intoxicated Twilight as she tried to help support him. They slowly struggled up the road toward the library. It took them longer than he expected to get back to her house. He observed the broken in door and started to laugh a little. That was when he met her friends. “Hey there are your friends!” He grunted, and she laughed in response.

“Ah! There you are!” Twilight was still being supported and helping support Jes. “Hi girls!” Her speech was incredibly slurred and they could barley understand her.

“Who is this darling?” Rarity was very curious as to who Twilight was alone with in the dark.

The stallion with the green and purple hair gave a broad smile. “Name’s Jes I am not from here per say I am with the circus.” He had a thick northern accent from somewhere around Stalliongrad if not that itself. “I met this charming young mare here and invited her to have a drink. And it seems we may have had a little too much eh?” He laughed again.

“I see.” Rarity was confused Twilight usually didn’t do things like that.

“I don’t trust him.” Rainbow whispered in the tight group of friends.

“Yah but, I don’t think we got reason to keep ‘em here against his will.” Applejack agreed.

“Well ladies I think you can handle things from here?” Jes smiled at them looking each in the eye. He then turned to Twilight gave her a kiss on the cheek and left.

He walked back the way he had come though he took the scenic root and wandered the streets like he had lived there all his life. He looked at each of the houses. “A little different then what I remember. Though I suppose it did get burned to the ground; no idea why they would rebuild though.” He wandered through the streets another twenty minutes before he went back the bar.

He did not go back into the bar he simply sat outside. “Yes, I know, I know, I’ll just tell Twilight to cast the memory spell on them... Look I’m sorry your illusion doesn’t work well through your ‘beacon’ when it’s drunk... Well maybe you should learn to lighten up and have a little fun.”

He spun around as he heard a pony land behind him. He was staring at the one pony he completely forgotten about. The pony he was looking directly at was Princess Luna. His grin spread and became more crooked as he saw her. His teeth seemed to glow in her moonlight. “Hello... sister? Never thought you would see me again did you?”

Author’s Note: Well there is the first big surprise. I hope you guys liked the chapter and I only plan for this to get bigger. Welcome to the part of the story where you have learned so much and yet so little. The plot is starting to take shape and I will be sure to mold it perfectly so it is an awesome ride till the end. I hope you guys like it and any feedback I am grateful for. I want to know what you guys think and what you think I should do to improve it. I will let you all know that the plot is only just starting I hope you guys think at least the idea was a good one. I don’t own them I wish I did I love them all but they are Hasbro’s. Still the greatest company ever and I would request some fourth wall breaking technology immediately.