My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Friends from Unexpected Places

Chapter 5

Life Amongst Ponies

Young Derpy woke up to the sounds of life in the Everfree Forest. First time she saw the place in daytime. It’s not as scary when there’s light. She stretched and cracked her back as she got up. She also noticed that eTu`nes wasn’t there.

“now he couldn’t have healed that quickly. Could he?” Derpy wondered. She didn’t really get a good look at eTu`nes so she can’t really be sure what he was. She was lucky to have bandaged him the way she did.

She got up and started to take a look around. The place didn’t look as bad as Everypony made it out to be. It looked just like a normal forest elsewhere in Equestria.

She heard rustling in the bushes beside her and got afraid again.

eTu`nes backed up out of it, dragging a dead bird in it’s teeth. Derpy gagged and wondered why it ate meat. her question was answered when she took a good look at the creature.

Turns out eTu`nes is a Dragon, and a very dark and demonic looking one at that, but only a baby, which made Derpy wonder how he got so badly injured in the first place. He still had the bandages wrapped around him.

“un… should you be doing that?” a curious Derpy asked.

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Never better, actually.” eTu`nes said. “you hungry?” he asked.

“Un… no thanks. Poultry doesn’t really agree with me.” Derpy chuckled nervously.

eTu`nes just shrugged and dug right in. Derpy looked around and found some flowers for her to munch on. eTu`nes got curious. “so.. Why did you help me?” he asked.

That question caught Derps off guard but she should’ve expected that question. “well, I was raised to give help whenever someone is in trouble. And last night, you looked like you were in big trouble.”

“I was.” the Dragon responded. “thanks for saving me.”

“No prob.” Derpy said as she went on munching her flowers. “helping others is what I do best.” she smiled.

eTu`nes was perplexed by what Derpy did. What did she do with her mouth? Curious, he tried to smile as well, but ended giving a very stupid grin. Derpy tried to hold back the laughter. eTu`nes never heard this sound before but gave it a whirl.

20 Years Later…

Jax woke up just as the day began.

“Man. What a nightmare.” she grunted. “I thought I was stuck on some world inhabited by horses and I had to live with them.” she rolled out of bed. “I shouldn’t eat Bacon before bedtime. Always gives me weird dreams.” she scratched her bed head as she walked over and opened the door.

She entered the other room and what she saw scared the living daylights out of her. Coming out of the kitchen, sitting in the living room, and sitting on the couch were ponies. “Oh god. It wasn’t a dream.” Jax whined.

“Well, look who’s finally up.” Sparkler exclaimed.

“We were wondering when you were going to get up. It’s already 8:13.” Doc. Whooves said.

“it’s a bloomin’ waking nightmare.” Jax exclaimed, mouth wide open.

Carrot Top walked by and saw the gaping mouth. “would recommend closing that. Don’t want any Parasprites flying in.” she said as she walked over.

Jax shook her head in frustration. “Okay. Just keep it together, Jax. So you’re in hell right now, no biggy. Just have to grind though it before Orion gets repaired. No problem. Could be worse.” she told herself.

Jax slumped in her seat as everyone else at the table was chatting it up. Derpy and Dinky weren’t there for some reason. She grudgingly ate cereal from a bowl, and it was no easy task trying to find a bowl or a spoon in this town. Thankfully, some crazy pony named Lyra was able to let her barrow it for as long as they were here.

“you okay, Jex? You hardly said a word since when you woke up.” C.T. asked.

“It’s JAX. Jacqueline ‘Jax’ Yggdrasill. At least try to get it right.” Jax snapped as she put the straw in her mouth and took a sip of her O.J.

“un… ‘kay. Whatever you say.” Sparkler nervously said.

Jax rolled her eyes. She knew she was going to regret asking this. “So… what’s all of your relations to this Derpy character?”

“well, I-- Doctor Whooves, as people call me -- am Derpy’s distant brother from Canterlot and occasionally visit, although recently i moved here to help her out.”

“you told me that yesterday, Doc. But help her out with what?”

“Well… oh, how do we explain this, Derpy’s husband left her last week. We’ve been helping her move on but there’s only so much we can do. Not to mention Dinky. She‘s taking it with a strong heart but there‘s only so much one filly can take.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.” Jax somberly said. She’s acting like a jerk to someone who’s husband abandoned them. Even though they were horses, Jax felt like a jerk. “so, what about you 2?” she asked C.T. and Sparkler.

“Well, me and Derps have been roommates since college. She helped me though tough times and I thought I should return the favor when time comes. Although, her constant raiding of my fridge is starting to get annoying.” Carrot Top said.

“huh?”

“well, I hide all of OUR muffins inside and always try new ways to make sure Derps doesn’t get to them but she always finds a way. I even asked Twilight to enchant it but Derps just used rarity to countermand it. She’s smarter then she looks.”

“I can imagine.” Jax muttered, taking another sip. “and you, Sparks?” she asked Sparkler.

“if you must know, my real name is Amethyst Star.”

“didn’t really ask for that. Just asking what your relation with her is?”

“Well, my parents died 3 years ago due to a unknown disease and Derpy took me in. I’ve been her ‘daughter’ ever since.”

“Ah. Well, that explains that, I suppose.” Jax said as she took a bite out of her bread.

“I swear I’m in hell right now, Req.” Jax exclaimed, pacing back and forth in Twi’s library. Req was busy dusting some bookcases with Spike while Twi looked at some notes.

“oh, It can’t be that bad.” Requiem said.

“Oh, you have no idea what I’m going though. I thought I could handle it but it’s just too much.” Jax groaned.

“It’s only been a day. Give it some time. You’ll learn to like them.” Spike said.

“Pbbt. Yeah, right. I’m just waiting for Orion to get fixed then I’m out of here.” Jax exclaimed. She then noticed what Twi is doing. “what’s the Unicorn doing?”

“trying to find out what that monster is and if it has a weakness.” Twi explained herself. “so far. No luck. And you should be nicer to Derpy. She’s going though a tough time right now.”

“I heard.” Jax angrily said.

“What hard time?” Req asked.

“Apparently, Derpy’s husband left her and her daughter Dinky last week. Just up and disappeared.”

“ouch. Guess no matter what the species, there’s always someone like that.”

“Yep.”

“But again, I agree with Twilight. Go easy on Derpy.”

“oy, not you too.” Jax turned and headed for the exit. “hopefully Aura or Ash or someone can offer me better advice.” she angrily said as she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

“wow. She must really hate ponies.” Spike muttered.

“You have no idea.” Req replied. “I’m surprised she’s taking it this well.”

Twi and Spike looked at each other. “this well? What’s worse then this?” they both asked.

Satoshi grunted as he climbed out from the engine room. “well, the engine’s pretty much {bleep} up.” he groaned as he reached the rim. “gonna have to rebuild it from scratch.”

“well, that sounds bad.” Rainbow said as she flew down with a bucket of nails and a hammer.

“yep. Gonna add at least a few more weeks to our stay here.” Satoshi groaned as he wiped off any oil from his hands. “Jax is just going to be thrilled.” he said sarcastically.

“why does Jax hate us, anyways? We didn’t do anything to her.” R.D. asked as she sat down next to the mechanic.

“well, you know about the near-death experience she had. Normally, a person would cower in fear upon seeing what almost killed them. Jax, on the other hand…”

“Channels it into hatred?”

“yep. She is always a odd one.” Satoshi sat back. R.D. looked at that and assumed a stupid assumption.

“So, you like her?”

“Yeah. As a friend.” Satoshi looked towards Dash. That’s when he got the message. “oh. Oh, you mean like Boyfriend and Girlfriend? No no no. we’re not like that. I’m not attracted to her in anyway.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“Doy. I’m gay.” Satoshi said. Rainbow looked up him with a confused look. Satoshi rolled his eyes. “means I don’t like girls.” again, same confused look. “means I’m attracted to other guys?”

“What?” R.D. was still confused.

“oh, let’s see. What’s a good example…” he muttered. “un… like say, if, somehow, you were attracted to, I don’t know, Rarity the same way Spike is?”

“what, like a crush?”

“um… you could call it that.” Satoshi got up. “all right. We got to repair the outer hull, recast the metal bracings for the masts, replenish supplies; which is what we came here to do in the first place, and repair the engine.” he added up the time in his head. “it should take… 5 months. Give or take.”

“5 months?” R.D. exclaimed. “that’s a long time.”

“well, it’ll give us a good time to see how you ponies live on this world. Give us something to learn.”

“Well, you couldn’t have picked a better time. Tomorrow’s the Summer Sun celebration.” R.D. said as she flew up to a nearby scaffolding.

“The who-what now?” Satoshi asked.

“You’ll see.” she smiled. Satoshi just shrugged and jumped back down to the engine.

Aura, with his shirt wrapped around his waist, grunted as he hit a tree with his lance hard. Apples fell onto the ground to get caught in baskets placed by A.J. and Applebloom.

“not bad, Aura.” A.J. said, impressed by his brute strength.

“I aim to please.” he smirked. He swung his lance into another tree and the same result happened.

“I’m amazed you humans are that strong.” Applebloom said in amazement.

“Well, usually, we’re weaklings, but every once in a while, someone can train himself to be uber powerful.”

“Oh. What does uber mean?” A.B. asked.

“something you horses won’t ever understand.” Jax said as she walked up from a path.

“hey!” Applejack and Applebloom exclaimed.

“oh boy.” Aura said sarcastically. “What do we own this honor, cranky? Still peeved that you have to live with Ponies?”

Jax grabbed Aura’s hand and pulled him to the side. “I’m in hell right now.”

Aura looked towards the audience. “didn’t she already ask this with Req?” he pulled out the script. “I swear she did.” he muttered as he flipped though the pages and just happened to look on ahead. “WHOA! Big stuff is going to happen.”

Jax looked in the direction Aura was looking, rolled her eyes, took the script, and set in on fire. “Funny. Now can we have a real talk?”

“Sure. What about? Not happy with the fact we have to stay here?”

“damn straight. I can tolerate the fact that we’re stuck, but did we have to get stuck on a world inhabited by horses…”

“Ponies.”

“…whatever. And we have to be forced to help them out?”

“well, it is their world, and I think that Req would have suggested this regardless.”

“okay, you have a point there, but still…”

“Jax. Deal with it. Who knows? May make you change your mind on Ponies all together.” Aura said as he headed on back to A.J. and A.B.

“Yeah. The chances of that happening is little to none.” Jax muttered as she headed back to town. “hopefully Sis will agree with me.”

Ash stood on top of a podium, being used by Rarity as a living model for a dress she’s making. Fenrir and Cobalt were in a corner, laughing their fur and feathers off.

“This… is… embarrassing.” he groaned.

“shush now. Mannequins don’t talk.” Rarity said, looking over a design.

“I’m not a bloody mannequin. And why are you even doing this?”

“well, we don’t know how long you’re gonna be here and you can’t expect to be staying in those rundown travelers clothes, are you?”

“well… no.” Ash admitted. “but still…”

“so, I have to make sure all your clothing needs are taken care of before events for such things happen.”

Ash stood there with a dumbstruck face. “I have no clue what you just said. Besides, what events?”

“Well, there’s the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow, which is being held here in Ponyville for the 2nd year in a row, then there’s the Grand Galloping Gala a few months from now, then Nightmare Night, the Running of the Leaves, Hearth’s Warming Eve, Winter Wrap Up…”

“I get it. I get it. Just get it over with before any of my friends come in, please?” he pleaded. Rarity scoffed and went back to work. “by the way, you have some creative names for your holidays. I’m guessing Nightmare Night is your version of Halloween?” rarity gave Ash a confused look. “dress up in costumes, collect candy. That sort of thing?”

“Oh, right. Right. Well, if you say so, then I guess it is.” Rarity said. She used her magic to bring a tape measure to Ash. “by the way, I’m gonna need you to tell your friends to come here whenever possible so I can get their measurements.”

“And somehow, I knew you were gonna ask me that. Can we just get this over with?”

“sure sure. But one must never rush fashion, darling. Otherwise, you’ll end up being a laughing stock.”

“and if my friends see me like this, I will be a laughing stock, now please hurry.” Ash begged.

“okay okay. Not very patient, this one.” Rarity muttered.

“Just not fond of being used. Literally, in this case.” he said, looking down at himself.

The sun reached the Noon part of it’s trek across the sky.

Down at Sugar Cube Corner, Jax sat in a secluded corner as everyone else, both Pony and Human, chatted it up.

“so, how’s it like living with Fluttershy, un… Bahamut, was it?” Applejack asked.

“pretty good. She’s really nice to animals. Not something I thought I’d see in a Pony.” Bahamut said, eating a cupcake. “she’s also pretty cute.”

“Cute, huh?” A.J. insinuated.

Bahamut realized what he said and put a halt to her assumptions. “no no no. it’s not like that. I have a girlfriend back on Warfang.” he quickly said.

“Warfang?”

“Different world.”

A.J. started laughing. “you’re funny, B-boy. Always giving a good laugh.”

“What!?” Bahamut exclaimed.

A.J. laughed again as Satoshi picked up his Quiche and sat down next to Twi.

“So, what is this Summer Sun Celebration you all keep going on about?” Satoshi asked.

“well, it’s a celebration that, every year, Princess Celestia raises the sun signaling the end of Summer.” Twi explained. “originally, it was to celebrate Nightmare Moons banishment to the moon but since she came back, it’s fallen to ‘ending summer.’” she took a drink of her milkshake though a straw.

Sora spit up hers in surprise. “Who banished who to the moon?” she coughed.

“Nightmare Moon. Originally, she was Princess Luna, Celestia’s sister, before, for some reason, she went evil and tried to plunge the world into eternal darkness. To stop her, Celestia was forced to lock her in the moon. Then 1000 years later…”

“then 1000 years later, we came and knocked her back to reality.” Rainbow intervened, punching the air.

“Wow. Some story.” Req said, taking a drink of her shake though a straw. “and knowing this world, it’s probably true.”

“And that’s not even the craziest story. Oncetherewasameanoldgriffinwhocametotownandmadefluttershycrythentherewasameanoldminotaurandthen…” Pinkie Pie went into overload, chatting as fast as a chipmunk.

“is she always like this?” Bahamut asked.

“You have no idea.” Sora groaned, rubbing her head. “she’s like a living Energizer Bunny. She just keeps on going and going and going… anyone want to trade?” she pleaded. Everyone shook their heads ‘no.’

“andtheniwasfacefirstintoabowlofoatmeal. Can you believe that?” Pinkie finished.

“YES! I can believe it.” Sora said with a smile.

A timer dinged from the kitchen. “oh, those must be the muffins. Be right back.” she said as she bolted into the kitchen.

Everyone gave Sora a mean stare. “what? I’ll do anything to shut her up. Anyone happen to have any duct tape?” Everyone burst out laughing at Sora’s predicament. “it’s not funny.”

“it kind of is.” Spike laughed. “you’re living with a eternal party animal and you can’t take it.”

Sora thought about it and chuckled. “guess it kind of is.”

Jax scoffed at it and took a drink of her soda though a straw. Fluttershy noticed her sitting all alone and walked over to her. “why not join your friends? You’re missing a good time.” she said.

“no thanks. I can hear everything just fine here.” Jax grumbled as she took another drink.

“oh. Un… I see. Well, sorry to bother you.” F.S. meekly said.

Jax noticed this and rolled her eyes. “okay, fine. Just not really big with crowds. Particularly ones with horses involved.”

“oh. I see. Well, how’s life with Derpy?” Jax gave her a scolding look. “oh. I see.”

“Don’t mind her, Shy. She’s been like this all day.” Aura said, taking a bite out of his muffin.

“well, who wouldn’t be in the place I’m living at. The apartment is literally ripped out of Three’s Company.”

“three’s company?” Rarity asked A.J. she just shrugged.

“oh, can’t be that bad. Besides, I hear she’s going though a pretty tough time. Try to lighten up. Let loose.” Req said.

“I gave her the same advice not 3 hours ago.” Aura said.

“talk about stubborn.” Sora said.

“You are not helping with my predicament.” Jax exclaimed. “I am currently in my own version of hell right now, stuck in a tiny apartment with 5 other Horses…”

“Ponies!” everyone corrected.

“UGH!” Jax headed for the door. “AGH!” she slammed the door behind her, leaving behind a bewildered crowd.

“What just happened?” Twi asked in confusion.

“Jax had another one of her breakdowns. This was surprisingly light. Usually, there’d be a destroyed mountain or two.” Ash said as he turned around and took a drink of his Soda.

“how long do these ‘breakdowns’ usually last?” Rarity asked.

“it varies. The longest one was a week. I think it started when she found out when we were stuck on a planet filled with hor… ponies.” Sora said. “thankfully, this one seems to be the least destructive one. Just don’t do anything to send her over the deep end, or else you’ll pay for it later.”

“Noted.” the Ponies said in unison.

Just then, Rarity remembered something. “oh, that reminds me. We’ve got to get you all some fashionable clothes for tomorrow. You must look presentable for the Princesses, you know!” she said in a sing-songy matter.

“say what?” Bahamut exclaimed.

“hey, I suffered though it. You can do the same, Bahamut.” Ash exclaimed.

“what about Jax?” Twi asked.

“odds are, with her temper tantrum, she won’t show up tomorrow. And if she does, it’s her own fault she wasn’t prepared.” Satoshi coldly said.

Jax found herself on top of a hill overlooking Ponyville and just sat there.

“what a bunch of jackasses.” she muttered angrily, thinking about her friends. “not even knowing what I’m going though.”

She heard laughing behind her, emanating from the woods behind her. Curious, Jax decided to go take a look.

In the woods, the Cutie Mark Crusaders; Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, along with some other fillies from school, were playing volleyball. There was a net in the middle so it felt like a real game.

Jax walked up behind a tree and hid herself from view.

“all right. This next one is coming your way, Dinky.” Scootaloo said as she tossed the beach ball into the air and spiked it to her. Dinky dove to get it but fell short. The ball hit the ground before she could even get close.

“ha. Just like her dopey mother. Can’t do anything right.” Diamond Tiara told Silver Spoons. Both started laughing like a couple of jackasses.

Even Jax thought that comment was low. She may not be the biggest fan of horses but she knew that was mean.

“you leave my Mom out of this.” Dinky exclaimed. “she’s the greatest mother… no, the greatest Pony in the world.”

Tiara laughed a single laugh. “Ha. Yeah right. Did you not see the damage she did to the Town Hall during Applejacks farewell party to the Rodeo? She’s not only stupid, but a klutz as well, and a very destructive one. I‘m amazed you‘re still standing with a mother like that.”

That sent Dinky over the deep end. She attacked Tiara and the 2 began wrestling. Pretty soon, every Filly in the area were chanting ‘fight, fight, fight.’ all except the Crusaders.

Jax groaned and walked out from behind the tree. They were kids so she decided to go easy on them. “okay, break it up. Break it up.” she clapped. “now’s not the time to be fighting.”

“who’s that?” one of the Fillies asked.

“that’s Jax. One of them aliens from Space. As well as the one that hate’s ponies.” Applebloom told her.

“oh.”

Dinky and Tiara didn’t stop fighting. Against her better judgment towards this species, she reached into the cloud of dust and pulled them both out, still biting and slapping each other.

“Hey! Stop it.” Jax said forcefully.

“I don’t have to take this. Do you know who I am?” Tiara asked.

“Don’t know, don’t care. Now get out of here before I REALLY put you in a world of hurt. Okay, you little brat?” Jax threatened.

“Okay. Okay. Fine.” Tiara replied with anger. Jax put them both down. Tiara and the other Fillies left, everyone except Dinky and the Crusaders.

“why’d you help? I could’ve handled her.” Dinky said.

“not from what I saw. You’re pretty easy to anger whenever someone talks about Derpy.”

“well, that’s because she’s the bestest Mom in the world.”

“un-huh.” Jax said, not really convinced. “listen, I know bullies, and fighting them will just make them egg you on even more. No way around it.”

“Well, she keeps on making fun of my mom. What am I ‘apposed to do?”

“talk her down. Make her feel bad. Trust me, she’ll surrender faster then you can say ‘Derpy’s your mother.’”

“You think that’ll work?” Dinky asked.

“one way to find out. When she starts to bully you again, just follow my advice and talk her down.”

“if you say so. Just not sure it’s gonna work.” Dinky said as she headed for home.

Jax watched her walk off and shook her head in frustration. She turned to leave but the Crusaders blocked her path. “why’d you help her out? I thought you hated us Ponyfolk.” Applebloom retorted.

“well, I wasn’t going to stand by and let some bully walk all over her. I had some bullies when I was a kid so I know what it’s like. Besides, that kid, Tiara or whatever her name was, was acting like a pompous snob and she needs to learn a lesson.”

“You got that from just that meeting?” Belle asked.

“I have a knack for these things.” Jax smirked.

“So, if you’re willing to help us, maybe you’d be willing to help out everyone else. Like not be a snob yourself and try to pleasant?” A.B. asked.

Jax sighed in defeat. She didn’t really want to do it but had no choice. “Fine. I’ll at least try, okay? But I’m not making any promises.”

“Pinkie Swear?” Scoot asked.

“Pinkie Swear?” Jax replied in confusion.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” the trio performed at the same time.