Jump!

Story 3

Chapter 7: We Are Who We Are

By: FluttersIsAwesome

“So how come you don’t just try t’ contact th’ Princess, Jet?”

Judgin’ from his reaction, Ah assumed that he was waitin’ fer me t’ ask him that. His spoke with a hint of bitterness that was blatantly noticeable, seeing as how Ah had never heard him talk like that before. “Politics... is so bucking stupid. We’ve sent letters to both princesses.”

Ah patted his back gingerly. Somethin’ about th’ way he grit his teeth told me that this was a sore subject. “An’ what happened?”

“Every time, we got letters. They told us they couldn’t make arrests because we didn’t have evidence to prove that it won’t just street crime!” He sat on th’ only sturdy-lookin’ bench Ah had seen since my visit t’ th’ city.

Ah sat beside him after seein’ his hoof wavin’ between me n’ him. Settin’ a hoof on his shoulder, Ah took notice o’ his mane without his hat; Ah wasn’t sure which looked more natural. “Whaddya mean?”

He let out a sigh before continuin’, which, even though Ah hadn’t know him fer very long, told me he wasn’t lookin’ forward t’ tellin’ this story. “The Corporates employ thugs fo’ one main reason: you can’t tell a thug lookin’ fo’ money to kill fo’ from a thug gettin’ payed to kill. We’ve sent pictures with our letters, too. Hell, we even had video footage from an unlucky tourist’s video camera that we sent ‘em. Despite all of our efforts, no dice.”

Thinkin’ back t’ when Ah was almost robbed earlier in th’ week, he had a point. If those colts were gettin’ paid t’ do what they did, Ah’dda had no way o’ knowin’. “Why wouldn’t they come t’ help anyway? Shouldn’t your word be enough?”

Despite th’ serious atmosphere th’ conversation had created, Jet laughed. “You’ve never been in a position of power, have ya? Ya can’t just trust a pony you’ve never met, Applejack.”

Now Ah was startin’ t’ doubt him. Ah had met both Princesses face-t’-face at least once, n’ there had t’ be somethin’ he won’t tellin’ me. “Jet, Ah know both sisters. There’s no way they would just let this go-“

“They don’t just ‘let it go’, AJ.” He was raisin’ his voice, now. Ah wanted t’ just stop talkin’ about it at that, but he kept goin’. “I can understand their reasonin’, fo’ the most part. They can’t just stroll in the city an’ start arrestin’ ponies if they haven’t done anythin’ wrong; that’s exactly what it will look like if we can’t prove that they’re the ones puttin’ us down.”

Ah shot him a glare from my now raised position. “Okay, Ah understand th’ crime, but still, everypony in that side o’ Manehattan is poor n’ hungry! How could they let that go unanswered? Jet, Ah’m sorry, but it’s hard t’ believe that you’re tryin’ t’ get help, n’ the sisters are just ignorin’ ya!”

He was a might taller than me, even without his hat, granted it didn’t really add much height anyway. He was closer t’ me than he’d ever been before,  aside from the night Ah slapped him, but his voice was still harsh n’ loud.

“Applejack, what did I just tell you? The Corporates have us under their hooves. Both Celestia and Luna have tried to send help, but all it takes is a claim sayin’ ‘We are providing for them.’ an’ denial into Lower Manehattan to keep real aid from gettin’ to us. The guards can’t just ignore them ‘cuz that’s disobeying the law! They also can’t come in through the other side ‘cuz they’ve already been denied! Unless we find proof of guilt, getting us help will be either illegal or unjust!”

Ah finally understood what he was sayin’. Ah didn’t like it, n’ Ah made it obvious t’ him when my hoof made an audible thump against th’ ground. Gettin’ in his face may notta been th’ best idea, but Ah thought it worked. “Jet... just what are you tryin’ t’ do?”

He matched my new tone with a whisper of his own. There was still anger, but it was hushed n’ suppressed. “We can’t defeat the Corporates ourselves... they’re far too powerful. Despite that, we can at least find evidence to convict them. That’s our goal.”

Standin’ there in front o’ him as he spoke t’ me felt like bein’ scolded by my brother. His tone, th’ look in his eyes, n’ th’ way he glared down his muzzle at me all produced th’ mental image o’ Big Macintosh reprimandin’ me after Ah did somethin’ wrong that was easily avoidable. Ah think that’s what fueled my hoof as it became acquainted with Jet’s nose. “Don’t you talk down t’ me like that.... Ah’m sick n’ tired of it!” Ah really was. Havin’ Jet stand there n’ treat me like Ah didn’t know anythin’ began t’ bring back memories.

Without parents t’ guide me as a foal, all Ah had was Granny Smith as a mother figure n’ Big Macintosh t’ be th’ stallion o’ th’ family. Applebloom couldn’t even walk yet, so Ah had t’ mother her, too. Big Mac knew a lot from watchin’ mom n’ dad raise me, but he was actually really hard on me. He got on me fer everythin’ mom did that Ah didn’t do, n’ fer everythin’ Ah did that she didn’t.

“Wanna tell me which nerve I hit just now, brah?” His voice broke through mah thoughts as he stood, rubbin’ his muzzle tenderly.

Just lookin’ at him made me mad right now, n’ he could tell, ‘cuz Ah drew back when he walked back up t’ me. “Don’t come near me right now, Mac-“ Ah caught myself too late.

He raise an eyebrow at me. “Mac? That your coltfriend or somethin’?”

Were it not fer th’ fact that he won’t from Ponyville, Ahdda smacked him again. He’d just reminded meo’ my brother’s scolidn’, n’ now he brought back memories o’ a few times when Big Mac n’ Ah had been accused o’ incest just ‘cuz o’ our country background. “No, he’s my brother. You just... reminded me o’ him.”

By now Ah realized a raised brow was his tell fer confusion. “Wow... he must’ve been a real douche if he made ya wanna punch me....” Ah started t’ shake my head, then Ah felt a pressure on my shoulder. “Do ya wanna talk about it, then?”

Th’ long pause that followed felt like it would last forever. Ah rarely talked about my personal problems, even with my best friends. Seein’ Jet, a colt Ah’ve only known fer two days, askin’ me about somethin’ like this seemed unreal. “Sorry Jet... not now. Ah don’t know you well enough t’ even think about touchin’ that subject.”

Ah expected him t’ pry n’ push fer me t’ talk about it, but all he did was nod. “It’s a’ight, I understand. I’ve got things I wouldn’t even think about sayin’ to even my closest friends.”

Th’ pressure on my shoulder doubled as Ah flew forward. He was warm, n’ Ah felt strangely safe in his embrace. “Jet... how do ya do it?”

He knew what Ah meant. After slippin’ his cap back on, Ah was pulled down with him as he sat n’ nuzzled me fer a moment. “Because you, given only one brief side of our story, chose to do whatever it took to help us out of the kindness of yo’ heart. Iddn’t that enough fo’ me to trust ya?”

At this, Ah couldn’t help but return his embrace. He barely even knew me, n’ he still trusted me. Th’ warmness that his embrace brought slowly found its way inside me n’ made me want t’ stay there as long as possible. Ah was amazed; th’ anger we had vented at each other not three minutes ago had been evaporated by one simple hug. “Maybe Ah can trust you....”

A chuckle came from th’ large colt before his chin met my shoulder. “Tell ya what: if ya need t’ get this off yo’ shoulders, I’ll tell ya somethin’ about me, too.”

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The sweet filly sighed into my chest befo’ speakin’. “If it’s alright... you go first.”

I kinda had no choice since I was the one that asked. “Okay. Here goes.”

I closed my eyes an’ recounted everythin’ of significance in my life that I could remember. “We were always poor, but what we lacked in money, we made up fo’ in love. That is, until Sprint turned 4, an’ I 10. Both our parents were forced to work in factories in Upper Manehattan just to keep us alive. Hell, a lot of fucking good that did.”

She shot me a concerned look, but I shook my head. “They were made into slaves. They never came home, an’ we only got letters from ‘em once a month, an’ after a while even that stopped. I was left to take care of a fo’-year-old filly by myself.” As I spoke, the specific events I talked about rolled through my head. “I resorted to stealin’ anythin’ I could just to make sure Sprint had enough to eat. I hated havin’ to break the law, but I had no choice.” I took a moment to evaluate AJ’s feelings: there was no happiness, nor anger in her face. Lookin’ at ‘er brows, which were arched as if she was ‘bout to cry, made me reluctant to continue. However, the pause must’ve been long enough to make ‘er think I was done.

“Is that all? Guess it’s my turn no-“

All it took was a hoof on ‘er lips to let ‘er know. “It got to the point where I was fed up with life. Well, not really life, but the way I was livin' it. I was a common thief on the streets, an' at home I constantly felt pathetic 'cuz I couldn't do more fo' my sister..." I could feel myself on the verge of tears but did my best to hold 'em back; I hardly ever cried, an' doin' it a second time in front of AJ was unthinkable. "That's when I started fightin' back. I dodged 'donation' collecters, escaped employers, an' even messed up a few shipments to screw with their profits. At that point, I was startin' to get help from sympathizers, too. With help, I was able to do more, an started makin' a name fo' myself. Everypony in Lower Manehattan knew my name, an' all the big wigs in Upper Manehattan were startin' to learn it. Hell, I was even banned from crossin' the border."

I'd started to lose my breath, so her invention was more than welcome. "So... this whole mess started, 'cuz all o' these tycoons made y'all slaves?"

I grinned inwardly. "Ya hit the nail on the head. After my parents were taken, I was bound an determined not to let it happen again. Honestly, I think everypony preferred being prevented from crossin' over than bein' forced to work. Obviously that wasn't the end of our problems, but ya know the rest." Long silences never set well with me, an' havin' Applejack with me didn't make a difference.

"Ah guess Ah'm not th' only one with a bad family history."

'Twas pretty hard t' keep from just grabbin' Jet into a hug. His story tugged at my heart, but Ah didn't have time t' think about it; 'twas my turn t' tell my story. "Ah... Ah had no idea you were holdin' so much in. Ah'm sorry, Jet." We continued our walk through the deserted district, but Ah struggled to find the right words.

"This isn't somethin' ya talk about much, is it? Take yo' time, babe."

Ah may have taken his words a bit too literally. Not wantin' t' make him wait another hour, Ah took a deep breath n' began my story.

"If it wasn't obvious, Ah'm a home grown farm pony. Ah don't remember much about ma n' pa seein' as how neither of 'em lived very long past Applebloom's birth. However, Ah do remember my older brother, Big Macintosh, takin' over all the work at the farm, which left me t' take care o' Applebloom. Granny Smith helped as much as she could, but when you get old there ain't much your body will let you do. It may sound easy, but believe me when Ah say it wasn’t. Despite workin’ almost nonstop, Mac always found time t’ point out my mistakes with Applebloom. His heart was in the right place, but the way he went about made me think o' him as more o' a dictator than a brother. Ah don't know what he expected out of me but Ah know Ah never lived up to it...."

"He wanted ya to be more like yo' mom, didn' he?"

Jet didn't know it, but long sighs were my way o' sayin' "you're right" without havin' t' actually say it. "Yeah... every time Ah did somethin', he always stopped me n' corrected me by showin,' what mama did with me. 'Cuz o' that, Ah grew up thinkin' Ah'd never be good enough for Mac. That's why Ah work so hard on the farm, now. Ah may not have made a good mother as a teenager, but Ah will prove t' him that Ah can do just as good as him now as a worker."

Ah turned back when Ah realized Jet had stopped. "Uh, are you alright, Sugar?"

His flank hit the ground as if his tail was an anchor. There was no anger or contempt in his eye, but his gaze was stern as he spoke. "Applejack, come here."

All sadness fled from my mind as the warmth o' his tight embraced enveloped me. There was a feirceness in his voice, but no anger. He sounded almost as if he was gonna cry.

"Applejack, as an older brother myself, let me tell ya somethin'. Sprint tries to prove every day that she can handle big jobs, an I'm tellin' ya now; no descent brother will ask for anything more than 'is sister's best effort. Just you tryin' to be the best you can be is enough."

The smile on his face warmed my heart. "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course. Ya shouldn't have to try an' be like somepony yo' not just fo' yo' brother to see yo' worth. Sprint tries to be like me all the time, an' I know I'm not the only one that likes 'er more when she's 'erself."

Ah grinned inwardly. "That silver tongue o' yours is somthin'  t' be proud of."

As Ah sat there wrapped in his hug, Ah felt safer n’ more comforted than Ah had ever felt before. Ah wished it would never end.