A full day passed by, but to Jasper, he did not truly know how much time had passed him by.  To him, the days melded into each other.  There were some fleeting instances when he would regain his internal clocks placement, remembering his birthday was one of those times.  After that his mind and drive had faded back into darkness, though the guards noticed no visible change, deep down Jasper was indeed changed.  Many times he had contemplated becoming the monster that the ponies perceive him to be.  No…that would allow them further victory.  Instead he would merely remain where he now lay, upon the cold stone ground wrapped in his blankets.  His eyes stared at the stone before him, every crack and hole a familiar sight to the man who refused to move.

“Dude, come on, at least get up.”

Jasper didn’t meet the voices owner but responded with mild annoyance, “Why bother.”

“Because if you don’t, you’ll get fat from being inactive.”

“Heh, true,” Jasper gave a small smile but it vanished, “You do know that talking to me in this state is insane right?”

“I know.”

Jasper rolled over and stared at Tony who leaned against the bars inside his cell, “Then why do you bother?”

Tony smiled, “Because no one should be alone.”

Jasper’s eyes flicked to the side and noted the sound of approaching hooves.  When he looked back, Tony was gone.

Jasper sighed and rolled back over.  The hoof steps had faint metallic tings to them, familiar ones that he knew all too well.  They stopped at the entrance to his cell, the sound of breathing caused Jasper to narrow his eyes.

“Your highnesses,” he spoke with a lack luster tone, “If I had known you were going to grace me with your presences I would have tucked in my shirt.”

Celestia shook her head at a fuming Luna, “Jasper, I wish to speak-“

“How’s the wing?”

Luna grit her teeth, “You insolent worm!”

Celestia raised her wing in question to silence her sister, “It’s healed, thank you for asking.”

Jasper chuckled, “Damn, and here I thought that you would be a cripple.”

Celestia sighed, “Sorry to disappoint.  But there is still a lot of kick left in this mare.”

“Did you come to bore me with banter,” Jasper responded dryly, “or is there an actual reason?”

Celestia glanced to the side and bit her lip for a moment.  How could she announce her intentions to a man such as this?  A man that could pick apart her every word and lay bare her reasoning?  She sighed; she would have to play it close to the vest for the time being.

“Jasper, I realize that….the circumstances are not ideal for something as casual as a conversation,” Celestia stated calmly.

“That’s an understatement,” the human responded warily.

Celestia approached the bars, “Listen…this is of great importance, something that you have to know.”

Jasper rolled over, still wrapped in his blankets like a cocoon of mild warmth, “And what exactly should I be hearing?  I know all about what has happened,” he then gave a mild sneer, “Or do you want ME to do your gardening for you?”

Luna growled and approached the bars, practically sticking her head into the cell, “Listen here you vile ape!  Talk in such a manner to us again and I swear-“

Jasper stood in a flash and approached the alicorn who scampered away from the man.  Luna stared at him as if expecting something to pierce her hide.

Jasper stared evenly at her and then turned to return to his sleeping pile.

Celestia inhaled and quickly proclaimed, “There seems to be another human in Equestria!”

Jasper froze.

“You’re lying,” He stated coldly.

Luna stood straight and regained herself, “My sister speaks the truth.”

Jasper stared at him, his stormy eyes boring holes into them, “And how do you know this?”

Celestia stood tall, “As you are most likely aware, all races in Equestria possess a certain form of inert magic, an Aura-“

“Spare me the history lesson Sun Butt,” Jasper stated in annoyance, “get to the point.”

Celestia shook her head, “The point is.  You humans, I have noticed, possess an Aura with a distinct texture.  When we received word that the sister of the Griffon that YOU had slain was murdered during a court hearing,” she gestured to Luna, “We departed to examine what was left.  When we arrived, I picked up the traces of the magic signature.  It was human.”

Jasper stared at her with indifference, “And why are you telling me this?”

Celestia’s face was an unreadable mask for a few moments before she answered.

“The reason I am asking is simply this,” she leaned toward the bars, “Did you, when you wielded the Gem of Ages, summon a conspirator to work alongside you?”

Jasper threw back his head and laughed.  The laugh had been heard many a times before, even now, it still sent a chill through the spines of many who heard it.  Jasper however, when his laughter died down, started to think.  Indeed the Gem had granted him much power, but that cursed stone also made his mind lapse….could he have summoned a human during these blackouts?

Jasper looked up at the royal sisters, “No.  And even if I did, to what end would I tell you,” a small smile crept onto his face, “and how did this little theory of yours come to pass?  Might I ask?”

Luna snorted but spoke in a level voice, “Lately there has been….killings,” she pointed an accusing hoof at him, “all of the victims being enemies of YOURS!  Or, ones who seek your head!”

Jasper raised an eyebrow but scratched his chin, “Interesting….”

“Luna and I are unsure as to what we might be dealing with,” Celestia stated, “but we are here for a purpose, something more than telling you of this news.”

Jasper was silent.

Celestia steadied her nerves, “We…..wish to ask for your help.”

Jasper stared at her incredulously.

Celestia nodded, “You heard me right.  I wish to call on you for aid,” Luna looked away, “Granted this wouldn’t be my first choice, but you of all…beings know how a human thinks, acts, and operates.  With you, we might be able to avert a catastrophe.”

Jasper tilted his head, “Oh really?  I sense an underlying motive Sun Butt, perhaps you think if I assist in Equestria’s salvation that perhaps I might acquire some form of….absolution?”

Celestia looked to the side in shame, “I realize that there isn’t anything I can offer you or any kind of apology I could give.  But understand this….,” Celestia steadied her nerves, “If you serve Equestria, not as a foe, but as an ally.  I am willing to absolve you of your crimes and allow you to live as you see fit in anonymity.”

Jasper narrowed his eyes, “And what’s stopping me from strangling the two of you the second I get out of this cage?”

Celestia stared evenly at him, “I think the question you need to ask yourself is if you would be able to.”

Jasper smirked, “Ah, is this the coldness of the sun goddess I see?”

Celestia ignored the comment, “Jasper.   All I want is an answer.  What is it?”

Jasper thought for a moment, his eyes lingered to the note that he still had.  Lying on the floor where Twilight had deposited it.

He stared them dead in the eye, “Very well…”

Celestia nodded, “Alright.  Now, Princess Twilight has been informed of my…plan, she’s ready to receive you at her castle.  There you will stay, under her constant watch.”

Luna stared evenly at him, “Your duties are as such, you will act under OUR terms, you will assist in whatever task Twilight lays out for you in the assistance of the capture of this human.  Failure to comply,” Luna smiled with dark glee, “and I will personally take your head.”

Jasper glanced sideways and snorted.  To his left, out of the corner of his eye, Tony stared at him.  He shook his head and he was gone once more.  

“When can I leave this godforsaken cell?”

*

Down in Ponyville, Twilight sat patiently in her library, her friends with her.  They all had been simply told to meet with her on a very important matter involving the mission that Princess Celestia had selected them to assist in.  Though as for the details, Celestia informed her of who would be giving them, she….omitted that part to her friends.

“Ugh!”  Rainbow grumbled, “How long are you going to keep us in the dark Twilight?”

Rarity nodded, “Indeed, frankly if we are going to undertake this mission, we should at least know who this…specialist is.”

Twilight felt the tingle of approaching mana, “Well…here’s the thing.  You all know him…somewhat,” she nervously bit her lip, “Just….promise you won’t freak out?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “Sugarcube, we’ve face dangerous creatures on a regular basis, it takes a LOT to freak us out.”

Pinkie’s mane suddenly started to tremble, “Hm…that’s weird.  I’ve never felt this before.”

Fluttershy looked at the earth pony, “A new pinkie sense?”

“Yeah, but it’s not ‘oooh cool’ weird, it’s kind of…dark weird,” she waved her front hooves, “like spooky weird.”

At that moment, a massive surge of white and yellow enveloped the room.  The girls coughed and stared as the smoke cleared.  Standing before them…was a being they wished never to see again in their lives.  Clad in prison rags.  Stubble on his face with dirt and dried blood in his skin, this being would at first seem like a nightmare.  But those eyes, those eyes and hair, that’s what tipped them off.

Jasper stared at the utterly shell shocked mares, “Hello.”

Applejack closed the distance immediately and tackled the human to the ground, her eyes a blaze with fury never before seen.

“YOU DIRTY ROTTEN SON OF A BITCH,” she placed her hooves firmly on his neck and started to press down.

Jasper started to gag.  His hands bound in shackles.  Twilight panicked as the girls slowly regained themselves.  The next thing she knew, she hit Applejack with a stun spell and knocked the fuming farmpony on her side.

Jasper coughed and looked over at Applejack who shakily stood.

“Twilight!  What the hay?!”

“Applejack, just calm down for a second will you,” Twilight stated, “don’t hurt him!”

“What?!”

Applejack stared dumbfounded at her friend, “This maniac killed innocent ponies and now he’s standing here clear as….,” a light went off in her head, “you knew.”

The girl’s eyes were all on her.

“I…I was going to tell you, but,” Twilight’s stammer died in her throat when she saw it.

Jasper was upon Applejack in a flash.  The chains of his shackles wrapped around her wind pipe as he grabbed her in his arms, Applejack gagged loudly as Jasper’s eyes burned with fury.

Twilight could only stare on, frozen in place.