And Then There was Jason
Chapter 3: Lingering Grudges
Previous ChapterAuthor's Notes:
A crossover with Displacedwriters story https://www.fimfiction.net/story/376788/displaced-guardian-child
Before anyone asks, crossovers in this story will have far more impact, and be nowhere near as numerous.
Jason tossed the token up and down, eyeing it intently. It was a delicate situation, the world was just getting over the idea that Equestria existed. They knew it was going to be a rough road, and the subsequent riots and social upheaval occurring around the world didn’t surprise anyone. Introducing the concept of the Displaced was going to be insane. Hell, he hadn’t even told them about the rest of the realms yet.
“If you keep playing with that thing, I’m going to confiscate it.”
Jason glanced over, seeing Celestia giving him a bemused look. Sitting up, he set the token next to himself. “I’m trying to think, Sunbutt. We are in a delicate situation here.” He adjusted his position, putting his feet up on the arm of the couch. “‘Sides, aren’t you supposed to be back home?”
Taking a seat across from him, Celestia settled down. “Luna and I switched shifts. I thought it would do you good to bounce ideas around with the one with the most experience.”
Rolling his eyes, Jason nodded. “Right, right. Well, we’re only a week out from the announcement, and we’ve had one attempted attack.”
“Which your daughters thwarted,” Celestia pointed out. “They did well to restrain themselves.”
“Did you think they wouldn’t?” Jason questioned.
“No, I had complete faith in them, even if their method of subduing them made things complicated.” She gestured with a hoof. “Cocooning people didn’t do much to settle the population's minds.”
“Better than leaving them tied up.” Jason rose up from his seat, walking to the kitchen. Grabbing a beer from the fridge, he retook his seat. “This stuff barely does anything anymore...” He complained, pulling the cap off.
“And yet you drink it.” Celestia moved her wing, levitating some papers from under it. “I had Chrysalis speak to Mr.Parker. A rather popular ‘talk show’ wants to interview Twilight.”
Jason took the papers, looking them over. “I didn’t watch talk shows all that much, but, Twilight’s the most open of us. Might as well say yes.” He lifted the token up again, weighing it quietly. “An idea occurs to me...” He focused on it, sending out the summoning call.
A portal opened up above the two of them and a girl soon fell out.”Why do I always have to fall out of a portal?” she groaned out as she got up off the ground. She began dusting her clothes off, then turns around and spots Jason. “Oh hey, so are you the guy who summoned me?” Chara asked before pulling out a bar of chocolate from nowhere and starting to nibble on it.
Jason and Celestia shared a look. “Yeah that would be me. I’m Jason.” He stood up, holding his hand out.
“Wait, did you say Jason? As in Jason the half Frost Giant and wielder of the Omnitrix!?” she asked, shaking his hand and looking at him with awe.
“Uh... yes?” Jason frowned, looking down at her.
“Awesome, I finally get to meet one of my favorite Displaced, I mean I know that displaced are real and not just stories now, but I always loved reading the fanfics of you before I was Displaced!” she said as she looked up at him with a smile rivaling Pinkie Pie.
Jason’s eye twitched and he glared at a snickering Celestia. “Right... okay... and you are?”
“Oh, I'm Chara Dreemurr. It's an honor to meet you,” Chara said, a bit embarrassed that she forgot to introduce herself.
“A pleasure to meet you, Chara,” Celestia spoke, getting her attention. “I am Princess Celestia, though, you might already know that.”
“Oh... um... hey Sunbutt,” Chara said as she shifted awkwardly and tried to look everywhere but at her.
Jason rubbed his neck, not sure how to proceed with this. “So... you old enough to drink or...?”
“Well, I would physically be eighteen if I actually aged, I would be older if I had not gotten displaced in the first place, why do you ask?” Chara asks.
“Because I got beer.” Jason gestured to the kitchen. “And beer helps get shit off your chest.”
“Sure, give me a few please.” Chara says pulling a chair out of nowhere and sitting down in it.
“I protest giving a child alcohol,” Celestia spoke up, frowning after Jason. “Perhaps you can ‘age her up’?”
“Fuck off Sunburn I need this, you have no idea the kind of shit I've had to go through!” Chara said as she held up her hand, a blue energy string shooting out of it and into the kitchen, grabbing hold of a beer and pulling it back to her.
Jason pinched his nose, grabbing the beer with his free hand. “Look, I know how easy it is to be a jackass. I do it a lot myself, but when people are trying to be nice, it’s usually a good idea not to insult them.”
“Sorry, I had a fight with Discord a few days ago and he literally gave my conscience a physical body while giving me a shadow like Link’s and then after that, I had to face one of the only two beings in existence that I actually feared, so sorry if I'm a bit of a jackass.”
“It’s fine.” Jason looked down at her. “I do think you should consider the ‘age up’ bit. Not that I’m not cool with sharing, just the thought of being trapped as a kid bothers me.”
“If it bothers you just put a illusion over me, I'm not chancing my immortality for some beer.” Chara said as she finished off the beer before getting another one.
“I can alter reality, your immortality will be fine.” Jason rolled his eyes.
“And I said no,” Chara said just as she popped open another beer. “Besides this isn't the first time I've got shit-faced.”
Celestia put a little barrier around the beer. “That doesn’t mean you should.”
Chara surrounded her finger in pure black energy before she started melting the barrier around the beer. “Yeah, that's not going to work because of my little ability called the black soul energy!” Chara said in a overly happy voice as the barrier melted around her touch.
Jason dropped onto the couch, pinching his nose. “It’s like listening to a younger me,” he grumbled. “May I ask why you want to stay a child?”
“Probably because I don't want to have to deal with being a female adult, I can ignore it as a child but as an adult that would be downright impossible,” Chara said as she finally pulled the beer out of the barrier and started drinking it, despite Celestia's effort.
“So you’re afraid of responsibility?” Jason asked, leaning forward.
“Oh it's not that at all, I'm not afraid of responsibility, I just don't want to deal with being a ‘female’ adult,” Chara said as she finished the beer, using her soul strings to grab yet another.
Jason leaned back. “Honestly? I think you’re missing out.”
“So Jason I see you're back on Earth and Celestia's with you, what's up with that?” Chara said as she was starting to get drunk.
“We decided humanity had spent long enough living in ignorance,” Celestia spoke, doing her best to remain polite.
“Me, I don't trust Humanity, they're a corrupt species that if I had it my way I would wipe out,” Chara slurred out as she started drinking her fifth bottle, grumbling something under her breath that sounds like ‘ungrateful bitch’.
Jason sagged in his seat, putting his head in his hands. “Great. Just what we needed, another Ben.”
“Oh I'm nothing like that bastard, I have a reason for hating Humanity and I don't mind the Displaced as my token says I'll help any displaced whether they be good or evil,” Chara slurred out, tossing her empty beer bottle away before grabbing another.
Jason caught it. “No That was your last one.”
“Oh, but still I'll help any displaced because most of them are in a Equestria where they would need help,” Chara slurred.”Besides, when a mother can honestly say to her son that she hates him, all because he doesn't do everything she says without question, that's when I say a species is too damn corrupt and needs to die.” Tears started dripping down Chara’s face as she pulled out another chocolate bar to start munching on.
“No, it’s really not, that just means you had a shitty mom,” Jason replied, watching her closely.
“That's just an example off the top of my head, there’s also the family that abandoned him and the friends that either betrayed him, used him or abandoned him,” Chara said as she pulled her legs up to herself. “What did I ever do to them to deserve to be treated like that?” The last part was spoken barely above a whisper.
“Sometimes bad things happen. The whole shouldn’t be blamed for what the few do.” Jason got up, sitting down next to her. He opened his arm, offering her a hug.
Chara latched onto him and started crying into his shirt. “Why can't things ever be simple like in the first Equestria when it was all too easy, all I had to do was kill the slavers and topple the government, but now I have to deal with these weird feelings every time I'm near my new Equestria and Celestia. Why does she make me feel safe and warm whenever I'm near her and why do I feel like I never want to leave whenever she hugs me?” Chara slurred as she looked up at Jason.
Jason leaned down, looking into her eyes. “Because part of you wants what you never had.” He gestured to Celestia. “Celestia is kinda like Superman, always trying to do the right thing, make people happy. She comes off like a mom to a lot of people, she seems to be coming off like one to you.”
“But I've never had a parent that didn't either abandon me, die, or hate me!” Chara said, wiping her eyes.
“So? That doesn’t mean you don’t want someone to give you the love you didn’t get the first time.” He grabbed her gently, setting her on his lap. “Listen I can’t tell you what to do but I think you should grow up, not all at once but slowly. Have a better childhood. Maybe let Celestia be the mom you should have had before?”
“Ok,” Chara says softly. “Thanks, you're a lot better in person then reading your fanfiction.”
“Yeah, well, I had a lot of time to grow up.” Jason wiped a few tears away. “Now, hold still.” His eyes turned yellow and he touched her head. “There. You’ll stop aging around 23.”
“Nooooo, I don't want to age, I don't want to have to go through puberty again!” Chara whined.
“Eh it’s really not that bad.” Jason patted her head. “‘Sides, you might regret it later if you don’t.”
“But if I want to age I can always get my Celestia to do it, plus I don't want to have to deal with experiencing having my first period.” Chara shuddered violently.
“You’re exaggerating.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Being a woman is not that bad.”
“You don't get it, I was a man before I was displaced, I got fucking TGed by the merchant!” Chara said, looking at him with a glare.
“And I carried a child to term,” Jason shot back.
“But then you should know why I don't want to have to deal with it!” Chara said, her glare doubling in intensity.
“And I’m telling you, it’s not that bad. What? You think I’m gonna lie to you?”
“Just please undo it and I'll get my Celestia to age me up when she feels like it,” Chara said as her head dropped.
“Chara.” Jason lifted her her up, looking into her eyes. “You’re not going to get comfortable with your body like this. That's what puberty is good for. If it really bothers you that much, I can just make you male again.”
“But, I don't want to go through puberty again, either puberty, I have a hard enough time keeping a lid on my emotions as it is, I don't want to accidentally kill someone when I lose control,” Chara said, turning away from him.
“That’s also something I can help with.” Jason snapped his fingers, conjuring up a bracelet. When Chara looked closer, she noticed it had various runes carved on it. “This will help you keep a clear head. If you ever start getting overwhelmed, just take a breath and say ‘logn’.”
“Huh, these are some runes I've never seen before. Thanks for the bracelet,” Chara says as she looks it over.
“Do you still want me to take back the other thing?”
“Yeah, well, my Celestia is a literal goddess and she's had to watch the ponies she saw as her kids die over and over again,” Chara said, looking down.
“You’ll still be immortal, you know.”
“Oh I know I'm immortal, it's just... I don't know, I just can't think of a single thing that I could do as an adult that I can't do now,” Chara said as she pulled out another chocolate bar before trying to pull up the load button. “Damnit, I'm too drunk to actually reload.”
“Well there's being taken seriously,” Jason began. “Having kids, smoking, driving...”
“Why would I want any brats and I can already smoke, besides there's no motor vehicles in Equestria, so there are those out of the way,” Chara said as she kept trying to pull up the load button and failing miserably.
Celestia giggled a little. “While having children isn’t for everyone, it’s something to take pride in. To say, I helped create a life and helped them be a good person.”
“Yeah, but I would be the worst mother in existence. Besides, I've got the blood of millions on my hands,” Chara said before pulling up a screen that said [LV 60]
“I’ve killed a lot of people too,” Jason shrugged. “You should have some faith in yourself.”
“You don't get it, I caused genocide to an entire species, man, woman, and child destroyed, entire cities, I literally blew my universe’s Canterlot off of the fucking mountain out of spite,” Chara said, looking down in shame.
Jason sighed. “That doesn’t mean you can’t redeem yourself. You did bad things, now it’s time to forgive yourself and start doing good things. The time has come to say farewell to your blood stained past.”
“How can I just put it past me when I can feel all the power that I gained from all the lives I have taken?” Chara said, avoiding both of their gazes.
Jason didn’t miss a beat. “Give it up.”
“But I can't give it up, I don't know how, plus I don't think I'd want to, even if I could there are still tons of Zelda monsters that attack Link’s Ponyville on a daily basis.”
“Chara, I’m only going to give you this choice once. Do you want to start over, to cast off your bloody past, and start over? Or are you going to let what you have now consume you?”
“I would just gain more because monsters attack Ponyville I reside in every day and every time I kill something I gain [execution points], so what's the point of getting rid of it?”
“Then don’t kill anyone.”
“Then the ponies would get hurt or killed by all the monsters. Link is not always there, he is sent out on missions by Celestia.”
“Listen, I don’t know a lot about Undertale, I wasn’t here when the craze happened. What I do know is, there's always a way to solve your problems without killing anyone.”
“I'll think about it, but I most likely won't be the one to give Mercy-”
“No, Chara,” Jason interrupted. “This isn’t an ‘I’ll think about it’ moment. You need to make a choice, right here, right now. Are you going to be strong enough to throw away the bloodshed, or are you going to keep going down this path?”
“But I don't want to be weak again,” Chara said, her voice so low that they almost didn't hear it.
“No one does, Chara,” Jason agreed. He tightened his hug around her. “Giving this up means you’ll give up a lot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t replace it with better things.”
“I'm scared, what if I have to fight someone and if I gave up my LV, i’ll too weak to even hold them off, I barely held my own against Nightmare Moon at a LV of 40.”
“Then, you’ll just have to be a true pacifist. Honestly? That seems a lot harder to me. Knowing someone is trying to hurt you, but having the courage to refuse to hurt them back.”
“But what if I have to fight someone like Betty, someone who has the power to negate my save and load ability?” Chara asked, looking up into his eyes.
“Chara. I would rather die than yield. If I lost to someone stronger than me, I’d die knowing I fought my hardest and never gave up, that I died an honorable death.”
“Why do I have to choose though, it's not as if I go out of my way to kill Innocents like the real Chara does, usually they're just collateral and I've been going out of my way to try and save innocence now, so why do I have to choose!?” Chara said as a fresh set of tears started running down her face.
“Because it’s destroying you.” Jason leaned in close. “Look at you. The guilt is eating away at you. Deep down, I know you hate what you’ve become, but you're so used to it, you’re afraid of changing. Afraid of being anywhere but where you are now.”
“But Shadow is supposed to eat my guilt and pain, that's why I let her stay!” Chara slurred out.
“That’s running away from the problem and you know it.”
“Hey, it worked for the doctor, it can work for me!” Chara said.
“And he didn’t fix his problem either!” Jason glared at her. “Stop running, Chara. Face your fears.”
“Why should I have to face being mortal, weak, and dying when I don't have to, I can stay immortal, keep getting stronger and give the finger to death on a regular basis!” Chara snaps, glaring back at him, tears still in her eyes.
“Because you shouldn’t let fear control you.” Jason held her gaze. “Listen. I have more important things to do than waste my time on someone who doesn’t want to change. You want to stay where you are, fine. I’m not going to keep pushing.” Setting her on the ground, he stood up. “I think you should go home.”
“I don't let fear control me, I don't let anything control me!” Chara says loudly before whispering “Not anymore.”
Jason shook his head. “Look, I’m not a psychiatrist, nor do I have the time to be. You don’t want me to help, fine. It was nice meeting you.”
Chara sigh and looks down for a bit. “Look, I'm sorry if I'm being a bit of a brat, it's just I've worked so hard to get my power to where it is, doing countless things that I'm not proud of, literally killing millions and I don't want all of my efforts to be pointless.”
Jason shrugged. “That’s really your hang up. Like I said, I have more important things to worry about.”
“Like introducing the ponies to Earth, Anyways when are you going to introduce the Displaced to the humans?” Chara asks, finally getting her emotions back under control.
Jason fixed her with a hard look. “Not now.”
“Could you at least summon me when you do? It's always fun going to a new universe,” Chara says with a shrug.
“Yeah, when you get your shit together.”
“Hey I'm usually more in control of my emotions than this,” Chara says indignantly, putting her hands on her hips.
“I gave up caring five minutes ago.” Jason grabbed Chara’s token. “I’ve had a long week and I didn’t need this.”
“Well anyways thanks for the help, also could I take some beer back with me and could you take that thing off that will make me age?” Chara asks putting her chair back in her inventory.
“I’m not giving you any beer.” Jason crossed his arms. He looked increasingly annoyed, glaring down at her.
“What about in doing that thing that makes me age?” Chara said not really caring about the beer as it was more of an afterthought.
“Hodgepodge doesn’t want to.” Jason shrugged. “And if he doesn’t want to, you’re shit out of luck.”
“Hey do you still do that thing where you splice a summoned displaced with DNA from your Omnitrix?” Chara couldn't help but ask.
Jason sighed, pinching his nose. “Yes, I still have that. I suppose you want something?”
“Do you have Princess Celestia's DNA in there? Because if you do that's what I want?” Chara said excitedly.
Letting out a long sigh, Jason shook his head. “No Chara, I do not have Princess Celestia’s DNA in the Omnitrix.”
“Do you at least have...?” Chara said disappointed that can't get Celestia's DNA.
“At least have what?”
“Damn it I can't remember what all you had that wasn't from the show!” Chara exclaimed, angry at herself for forgetting crucial information.
“Just tell me what you want,” Jason snapped, “You’re trying my patience.”
“I want to be able to protect my mind because that is the only weakness I have,” Chara said remembering how she was defeated by both Nightmare Moon and Discord.
Celestia spoke up, looking between them. “There has to be something in your watch that could help her.” She gestured to the watch. “You do have a lot to choose from.”
“Actually I want to be able to fly, it will definitely make fighting the changelings easier!” Chara said excitedly.
Jason sighed. “Fine. Splice her ass with dragon DNA.” The watch chirped, slamming a blast of green energy into Chara.
When the green light died down, Chara was standing there looking mostly the same as before, except for the demon looking black wings with red undersides sticking out of her back. “So how do I look?” Chara said, looking at Jason with anticipation.
Jason couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Like a little hell raiser. Anyway, I think you should get going, Chara.”
“Okay, see you Jason, but if you ever need any help though always feel free to call me!” Chara said with a genuine smile.
Jason nodded. “Chara, our contract is complete.”
The portal opened up and they saw it was above the throne room looking straight down. Chara took one look and dove backwards into it before it closed behind her.
Celestia watched as Jason dropped back into his seat. She had been around him long enough to know to tread lightly when he was like this. “That was...”
“Pointless?” Jason asked, tossing the token across the room. “That accomplished nothing but pissing me off.” Letting out a long sigh, Jason stared up at the ceiling. “All I did was yell at a child and look like a hypocrite.”
Clucking her tongue, Celestia retrieved the token with her magic, placing it on the table. “I think you tried to help someone and your temper, mixed with the stress of our situation, got the best of you. Why did you summon her anyway?”
Jason thought for a moment before sitting up. He held his watch arm up, giving it a light shake. “Even with this thing on my wrist, even with Rita and Chill, and Zed, getting people to believe in the Displaced isn’t going to be all that easy. I figure, finding a Displaced that isn’t a mental case, who would help us out and go on TV, would be a good idea.”
Celestia hummed, giving the idea some thought. He did have a point, finding a friendly Displaced who didn’t mind being used as a mascot would help smooth out acceptance of the idea. “Why don’t we call on someone you know?”
Jason waved her off. “Who am I going to call? Gilgamesh is too damn goofy, Vash is... somewhere. I haven’t talked to Team Rocket in decades.” Standing up, Jason moved over to the window, placing his hand out. “I’ll just keep an eye out for tokens. See if I can find anyone who can fit the bill.”
Rising up, Celestia moved to join him. “I just want you to know, I think you’re a good man, Jason.” She placed a hoof on his arm. “You can’t make people change, Jason, you can only show them the way, and trust them to make their own path.”
Chuckling, Jason turned to look at her. “Thanks Sunbutt, that certainly works as a generic pick me up.”
Celestia scoffed, socking him in the arm. “Well, if you’re going to be like that, I’ll let you sulk.” She gave her head an exaggerated toss trotting into one of the bedrooms.
Finding himself staring out of the window, Jason watched the cars below. “Honestly, I can’t help but feel like we’ve kicked the hornet's nest.” Jason pulled himself away from the window, glancing at the beer cans littering the floor. “Right, let’s get that cleaned up.” He pushed the nagging feeling out of his mind, moving to clean up the slight mess.
The top floors of Norn tower were off limits to all but the highest members of the company. Said high rollers gathered around a glass covered table. Like some kind of tablet, the table displayed a variety of images, mostly centered around Jason.
“We knew this day would come,” a gruff, older man spoke. He sported a well kept beard and deep blue eyes. “When that failure of a hitman slept with his target. If he had done his job, we wouldn’t be here now.”
A blonde woman across from him spoke up. “None of us expected the boy to amount to anything. Don’t pretend like you did.”
“Enough bickering,” the man at the end of the table spoke, his voice having a musical quality. His eyes were an icy blue, and his hair a light blonde. His white suit was immaculate, a trademark, it seemed. An unnatural radiance clung to him, gifting him with otherworldly beauty. “Placing blame gets us nowhere. ‘Jason Hughes’ is nothing but an annoyance. A child that should have stayed in his little cartoon.” The others responded in agreement. “I doubt it’ll take us long to show him just how enormous his mistake was.”
The blonde woman from before took the floor. “And what if Hel decides to get involved?”
The man frowned at the mention of the death goddess’s name. “Then we’ll just have to make things personal.”