((many of these scenes happen days apart.))
((27th Slate of the year 161.))
Amor had a restless night after learning late that Jaxler nearly lost his life to a Badger-ponies’ blade during a duel with Flux’s apprentice. If it were not for learning of the Stallion’s stable heath, the mare would have visited him in the hospital sooner. Amber’s apartment was adjacent to Amor’s and the two met before trotting off to work but this morning was abnormal. The curly mane Little Pony gave her tools to her apprentice. “Amber, can you start on the mandates without me for an hour?”
The peach mane mare tilted her head from the statement. “Wait, I thought you already convene with the Count… Duchess” The Unicorn stumbled over the most recent change in Virtue’s title before continuing. “Like thirteen days ago. You have another appointment?” The two begin walking out of the tenements.
The legendary mason pony looks towards Amber and enlightens the younger mare. “I am not seeing Lady Virtue today; a friend of mine has been in the hospital from yesterday afternoon and only now I’m getting the chance to see him.” Amor huffs at the thought of finding out as late as she did. Her comment left Amber a little confused as to why her Master had so many friends of the opposite gender, mostly from Amor’s near-absence of friends altogether. The two Unicorns start to go their separate ways for now, and the copper mane pony walks up to the Hospital and is unsure of herself. After a moment, she opens the door and proceeds in but stopped by a sleepy-eyed slate grey coated and scarlet mane Pegasus mare. The two Little Ponies exchanged dialog and Amor makes her way to Jaxler.
One doctor is not enough here… and Jaxler might be in here for two months or more. Amor gets to Jaxler’s ‘room’ divided with folding highwood partitions; only to find the Stallion unconscious. She sits down in front the dark colored stallion and is unsure of how to wake him, so she sits there in silence for a few minutes until Jaxler wakes up.
Jaxler woke up. He had an unfamiliar lack of pain in his forehead but he still didn’t remember much of last night. All the stallion knew was that he had his chest carved up by a doctor in emergency surgery, and after that his memory got fuzzy. The pegasus scanned the room around him and saw a familiar mare. “umm… Oh, hay Amor.”
Amor beamed the Pegasus a smile before talking with her voice lower as not to disturb Panacea. “Good morning, Jaxler.” She looks at the cloth sashes holding freshly changed dressing on the Little Pony’s chest and worries come to the surface of her mind but she brushed them away. “How are you feeling?”
Jaxler shrugged, which hurt a lot more than he expected “Well, I’ve been worse.” Jaxler was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by Amor when he woke up. He honestly didn’t like the idea of ponies worrying about him but knowing that somepony would actually care about his wellbeing was a pleasant thought. “So… how long have you been waiting there?”
Watching Jaxler shrug, the mare had to keep herself from cringing in sympathy pains. At the stallion’s question she places her hoof before her snout in thought and places it back after a moment. “Thirteen minutes by my count, so not that long.”
“Well, I’d hate to keep you waiting.” Jaxler was starting to get annoyed by the wound in his chest. The pain from that shrug actually was still lingering, but it wasn’t more than Jaxler could handle. “So, what exactly were you told about me ending up in here?”
The Pegasus’s pain was perceived by the mason-pony and she contemplates methods to remedy the cause of discomfort as he talked.
Maybe hash oil mixed with honey, no. Poppy or willow tree bark infusion? …I am no doctor and Panacea may have already gave him something for pain. “The wait was of no consequence and I believe my apprentice would enjoy my temporary absent. Best not to hold their hooves and let them become accustomed to living under their ‘Old Master’s’ shadow along all their lives.” A small hint of displeasure is laced in the Unicorn’s voice but she changes her tone to a better one and pretends not to know who Granite is in answering Jaxler‘s question. “You were dueling Obsidian… Slade or was it Granite? Also is this stallion your apprentice; that of your smithy friend, Flux or both? And where does the badger-pony comes in at, was it all anecdotic, made to save grace from being beaten up by a younger Pony or that none could believe… Granite could do this?” She motions to the stallion’s chest wound
Jaxler really didn’t like the mention of him being beaten by Granite, but figured he could explain what happened. “Well, flux is training Granite to be a furnace operator and I’m training Granite how to fight. Yes Granite beat me in a sparring match once, but I underestimated the little pony. I was having a rematch with Granite yesterday. I won the sparring match with a knockout when a badger pony jumped out a bush and stuck a knife in my chest, hitting my lung. I put a bolt in the thief’s leg when Granite phased back into consciousness and killed the thing. Granite dragged me over here to the hospital. Panacea had to do emergency surgery without any anesthesia.”
Hearing out the Pegasus, Amor senses a trace of irritation in his voice. She was not happy with hearing about the death but as long as it was in self-defense, her qualms ended there. “Panacea is quite the healer and I’m relieved that Granite and you are still alive. Also Flux and you are very lucky to have an apprentice such as him.”
Jaxler shrugged again, even though it hurt horribly to do so. “Yeah, Granite’s a pretty good apprentice. Though, I’ve always kinda been a mentor for the foa… young stallion. After the day I saved him from a snatcher he’s seemed to looked up to me.” Jaxler then looks over to his crossbow. “It seems like whenever he has a problem I’m the one he talks to.”
This time Amor must flinch slightly at the sight of Jaxler shrugging through the pain but recovers as she voices nonchalantly. “Yes, I am happy that you found a student such as him. Amber and I have a similar relationship but…” Her tone becomes more worried at the end.
Jaxler tilted his head a bit in confusion. “But what?”
Biting her lower lip she continues. “Amber is extremely different from me and we scarcely have any relationship outside of work and helping her adjust to life without magic… that may be normal but she makes it difficult. Amber does not like to open up, does the first thing that comes to her mind and likes to do things only by her terms.” She huffs and moves to another topic. “Jaxler, sorry I am here for you, not the other way around.” The mare starts to clicks her tongue on the palate of her mouth.
Jaxler looks concerningly at Amor. Jaxler really didn’t know much about having or being an apprentice but figured he could at least try to help. “It’s fine, it’s not like I haven’t been in the hospital before. I’d say that you might want to try to spend some time with her aside from work or helping her with her lack of magic. Maybe try to have a dinner as friends or something. though I really wouldn’t know much about being an apprentice on account that I never was one.”
“I have had lunch with her before and at times dinner if Indigo’s time does not align with mine but the mare prefers to be alone much more after that. Mostly, I am worried that she still blames herself for the pier falling.” Amor said sorrowfully.
“That’s horrible.” Jaxler really didn’t know what to say or how to fix the situation. “If that’s the case then I really don’t know what you should do aside from being supportive.” The stallion really wished he could help.
Amor sighs and reflects for a moment. “Thank you Jaxler, for your worry and I’m trying to be accommodating for Amber but I might not be enough.” She contemplated her next move before speaking. “I believe in the last batch of migrants we received was a frontier psychologist but I would like to speak with such a pony before referencing them.”
Jaxler knew who she was talking about. He had the pleasure of sharing a conversation with the pony a while back. “Are you talking about Silver Tongue? Last i checked he was a counselor not a psychologist.”
The mare pauses, shuffling on her hooves a bit pondering about Silver Tongue, only pony she known of ahead of time was Judge Jury.
Even if this counselor did not learn his mind-craft from a college, he might still be useful. “Tell me about Silver Tongue, if you have any more information on him?”
Jaxler put his hoof up to his chin and pondered for a moment. “He’s a nice guy. From what I know he’s going to try to get an office built for him. Though I haven’t really the slightest clue how good he is at his job”
Huffing the mare gets up from off her docks and stretches. “I will make an appointment with him and find out more myself. Thank you, Jaxler” Amor said before sitting down once more and now wondered how Jaxler was so skilled without learning his craft from somepony. “So where did you pick up your skills if not from another pony?”
“Well um…” Jaxler took some time to think of a way to explain how he learned his skills without giving away much about his past “Well, I learned how to fight after being taken in by my Grandfather. We lived in the slums and I was a sickly foal. I constantly got beat up and mugged. I eventually learned to copy the attacks of those who would hurt me. I ended up winning my first fight by slamming a lead pipe into a mugger’s kidney. I learned how to be a markspony by trial and error and I learned how to be a woodcrafter by whittling bolts for myself.”
Usually the two ponies spoke only of their days living in Dawnpick and the rare remark of Amor’s past. The metallic colored Unicorn paid extra attention to Jaxler’s past as he tells; she sympathizes from experience his life in the slums and holds interest in the Stallion’s grandfather who raised him. “I lived about five years of my youth in the slums so I can imagine your experience. Now how about your grandfather, he must have been a good sort to nurture such a good pony as yourself.”
“My Grandfather was by all means the pure embodiment of pity. The sad stallion lost his wings and his ability to use his hind legs in the alicorn-pegasus wars. He raised me after my family got whipped out by the white plague. The only reason the pony didn’t kill himself was because he honestly didn’t want to leave me alone in this world. Of course nopony would hire an old crippled pony so I had to support us. The city had laws against foal labor so I was forced into a line of ‘less than legal work’ but that was better than being sent off to the death camp we call an orphanage. The man always felt horrible that he couldn’t support me and that I had to do what I had to to survive... Though, regardless of all the downsides of living with the guy, it was worth it. He always managed to help me with my problems. He laid the groundwork that created my opinions and ideals. All the good things about me are in some part thanks to him.”
Amor sets there contently and held to every word the Pegasus uttered but a small amount of regret rose up in her. Because of her Old Master, the mare known of the white plague, the victims had their nervous system wrecked by a parasite. The namesake of the plague came from seizures; white light was all they saw during the convulsions. “I’m happy that you had such an influential pony in your life and dismayed that you had such a hard life but… maybe it was all for the best. I understand it that you would not have became the pony you are today without all you have been subjected too.” She smiles at Jaxler with the hopes that her comment is taken as she meant it. “And that ‘less than legal work’ is all in the past, we all done regrettable things and bound to make more mistakes in the future.” The copper coat mare keeps from looking away in shame and keeps her focus on Jaxler.
Jaxler gazed back over to his crossbow. “I really doubt that being the pony I am today is a good thing.” Jaxler honestly felt like he was being distrustful to Amor. The pony really hadn’t seen much of his dark side. He thought that if Amor had even the slightest glimpse of Jaxler’s belligerent self she’d probably avoid the pony altogether.
The stallion struck a nerve in the mason-pony and her ears draw back. Her voice raised barely under room level as she talked but her words became more stressed as she continued. “You are a good pony, Jaxler. You saved Granite; you were in the guard, now in the service of the reserves and most of all my friend. Same as Indigo who spends much of his waking hours laboring at any job he is needed at and cares enough to contemplates ways to make Dawnpick more efficient. Jaxler you are a good pony.” She stands up ready to leave with watery eyes and whispers. “Your past is all you need for punishment and lessons; you’re present to make the right actions and your future to move past all the wrong.” She attempts to leave in a near trot doing very well in keeping the tears back.
Jaxler hated it when others worried about them, and Amor was doing just that. Even worse she was about to cry because of something he said. Jaxler knew that for one reason or another he probably wasn’t going to see himself turn 90 and he didn’t want to see others be hurt because of him. “Amor, I don’t like it when ponies worry about me.”
The stallion was not helping his case with the mare and at the foot the injured pony’s bed she turns to face him. “What are friends for if not to worry about each other; Jaxler you can not decide how others feel. Only they can…” Amor was lost; the two were akin to foals arguing about things they had no need to argue about.
Why does he show such belligerence when others worry for him. Thinking as she sits back down and sighing before beginning again. “Jaxler, if you want to stop worrying ponies then cease talking like that. You have done nothing for me to claim that you as a bad pony.” The Unicorn looks to the ground for a moment before returning her gaze to Jaxler. “So why do you insist in doubting yourself.”
I pale in comparison to how good everypony here is.Jaxler was speechless for a moment. The pony really hated that question. “Why do I doubt myself? WELL I’m used to seeing things that I care about catch fire around me and being one hundred percent incapable of doing a thing about it. I don’t bucking doubt myself because I know I’m going to fail. I mean, I probably don’t even have another ten years on this earth and I’m a bucking drunken mess that’s freakin’ unstable to keep a bucking job. My only real value to this town was being a meat shield for any dumb sod who ended up in danger and turns out that apparently too bucked up to do that.”
The reality of the matter dawned on her that this was not the time or place to be arguing and she calms down. “Sorry, Jaxler but you are still here and so is Dawnpick; you are here still and long to care. Wise mares never sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their wrongs. Nothing is lost until you give up, Jaxler. If you doubt the fate you choose for yourself then you either chose wrong or looking blindly.” She said looking towards the dark colored stallion with her head half tilt.
Jaxler diverted his eyes from Amor to his crossbow. The pony’s words were more like razors then assistance. “How many ponies do you think regret the moment they saved their own life?” The tone in Jaxler’s voice was somber.
Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro, in all the raging impotence of woe. She thinks to herself as she answers the Little Ponies question. “Likely as many that have regretted getting their own life saved by another… and in my case in regretting that another had to die to save mine. You are the one that told me the greatest gift was to die for another…” The mare ponders quickly in a notable pause. “and that means that saving a life is a gift good as any. You are being disrespectful to your own culture Jaxler, in renouncing your own gift.” She slams her hooves into the floorboards as she finishes her statement.
Amor’s mention of his culture made Jaxler even more somber. “My culture is dead.” Jaxler then redirected his eyes back to Amor.
One thing that the mare hated was hearing another in what she considered a lie. “Jaxler that is a lie; you are a product of your culture, as long as you draw breath, that culture lives on. Once you told me what you believe in, then turn around now and say it was dead…” She stopped before labeling him a hypocrite when it clicks in her mind that the Pegasus said not what he believed in but what his home culture believed in. She cased him from her sight and preferred staring at the floor, with her habit of tongue clicking near audible from her closed mouth.
How could somepony say Jaxler was a liar? Jaxler hadn’t told a lie in years and now to have somepony accuse him of being a liar. “My culture, Is dead. I abandoned or forgot most of my culture over the last three decades years. I don’t know my first language any more, I don’t practice our religion and the only tradition I still follow is treating my weapon like a companion. I’ve forgotten our holidays and you know what? That’s what happens when you haven’t seen or heard from another member of your culture in over 25 years.”
The curly mane mare understood or simply could imagine comprehending but even then she was confused. Worse still is that she once more forgot her place and it was coming back to her. The metallic Unicorn returned to Jaxler’s bedside. “Sorry Jaxler… where did we get off on the wrong hoof?” She said looking away still not able to face him.
Amor seemed remorseful now. Jaxler hadn’t intended on being harsh to the mare. “I’m sorry for not shutting my yap.” He then looked away from Amor before continuing. “I’m sorry for being a jerk.” The pony then let out a little sigh.
Hearing the apology she turns to lock eyes but was crestfallen to find him looking away and she huffs. “Jaxler, we were both in the wrong and this is neither the time nor place for such discussions. I forgive you for being a jerk if I’m forgiven too.” The mare realizes she had overstayed and before leaving she says her goodbyes. “I plan to see you again but desire you healthy Jaxler, so I don’t have to visit you in here.” She slowly begins to walk away, wearing a emotional fatigue.
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Jaxler woke up. He was in a hospital bed and was rather irritated about the lack of booze. He knew that Flux would probably come later in the day with some booze, but Jaxler still had his doubts, but right now that was the least of his worries. Last he remembered today was supposed to be the day he met up with Kit. Jaxler really didn’t want to see another pony dislike him. Jaxler was about groaned at the thought, but was cut short when he noticed a pony walking into the hospital.
Kit walked into the hospital with worried looks on her face. Looking around quickly until she finds the black-coated Pony, she trots a little over to him “Jaxler! I heard what happened.. are you okay? well.. I mean, besides being in the hospital I mean..” she asked worryingly.
Jaxler sighed “I’m fine and I’d also like to say I’m sorry I couldn’t show up our date...”
“Oh, about that? It’s okay. We can move it to another time when you’re all well and healthy again.” Kit said with a smile
Jaxler smiled back “Great... So, what exactly did you hear about me?”
“Well.. that you’re in the hospital. Again.” Kit answered worringly “what happened?”
“I training with Granite. Now Granite got knocked out when I heard some an insidious Rustling coming from a nearby bush. I walked over and inspected the shrubbery when suddenly a badger pony jumped out and stuck a dagger in my chest, piercing my lung. I shot my crossbow at the badger pony in hopes of protecting Granite, but I was so shocked by the blade slicing my chest that I missed and only hit the guys leg. Granite got up and killed the badger and rushed me over here. Panacea had to do emergency surgery without any anesthesia...”
Kit eeps and flops her ears a little from that “does it.. Hurts a lot? to get stabbed?”
“I think it does. I’m not a very good at judging things like pain.”
“Well, Atleast you’re still alive and haven’t died yet.”
“Yeah, I guess, But i probably should have blocked that knife with my wing.”
“But getting hit on the wing hurts the most!”
“yes it does, but one can live without their wing and I don’t really care much about pain. Also if I had been hit in the wing all I would have needed was a few stitches, not emergency surgery ”
“well.. you could’ve passed out from the pain you get on the wings... And when you pass out, you’d get killed easily..”
Jaxler thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to explain his position to Kit. “I have a really, high pain tolerance, and I also don’t feel as much pain as other ponies, so I doubt I would pass out.”
“Oh.. well.. That’s.. um, good? right?” Kit asked, unsure if it’s a good or a bad thing to have high pain tolerance.
“It usually is.”
Kit nods as she sits down next to his bed. smiling “Well I’m glad you’re okay then.”
“Me too. ya know, it’s kinda nice to have somepony show up today.”
“Well of course! you’re wounded, why wouldn’t somepony show up?”
“Meh, I guess somepony are jerks”
Kit frown slightly at that. “well.. have.. um, other ponies showed up yet?”
Jaxler smiled a little bit “well, yeah. Flux showed up earlier.”
Kit smiles at that “Oh? hehe. He’s such a kind stallion isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s probably the nicest guy I know, he actually paid to have my crossbow repaired.”
“Aww... That’s sweet of him! and it must be really expensive..”
“Yep, he even made the Adamantine studs.”
“hehe, He really must be something isn’t he?” Kit said with a smile, a little sigh escapes her.
“Yeah, ever since saved him from a flock of cave swallows and a cave ogre he’s been nothing but kind to me.”
“I don’t think he’s ever been anything but kind to everypony..”
“I spose’ he has.”
Kit beams Jaxler another smile as she stands up again. “Well, I hope you recover quickly Jaxler. Is there anything I can do for you while you’re still here?”
“I’m fine, Thank you.”
“Okay then. Be seeing you!” Kit chirped again with a wave before leaving Jaxler there once again..
“Good bye Kit”
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Jaxler was dying of boredom. The pain in his chest was annoying, the lack of booze was horrendous. All jaxler wanted to do was walk out of the hospital and get smashed. Jaxler sat up in the bed as best he could, looking for something entertaining when he saw two stallions walk in.
“Hey Jaxler,” Partisan spoke first. He hadn't really talked to him since his arrest, and he still had yet to thank him for jumping in when the Cyclops came.
“Glad to see that you have gotten better. And sorry for taking so long to come by. I have been. . .” His words trailed off as his eyes seemed to look past the physical world, “busy.”
Midnight ran a hoof against his hood, bringing the cloth back to show his face, and a soft smile. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner, how are you doing?”
Jaxler cringed a little bit when Partisan talked. “Yeah...” He then diverted his attention to Midnight. “I’ve been worse.”
“Well, I hope you get better, quick.” Midnight says, before he starts looking around for a spot to sit.
“Have you gotten anything to drink yet?” Partisan asked as he snapped back into the now.
Jaxler snapped his head over to partisan. Jaxler still had a grudge with Partisan, but he wouldn’t let that stop him from getting any booze. “I haven’t had any booze in a while”
“Good. I was hoping for a different situation to give you this, but this will have to do.” Partisan placed a small jug next to Jaxler and stood back. He was never really good with hospital visits, mostly because he rarely had to make them.
“I came here for more personal that official reasons, but, it can wait until later. Do you think you will be back on your feet soon?”
Jaxler started to drink the jug before replying. “It could be six weeks before I get out of here, given I don’t get any complications and if i do get complications from my injury who knows. I might not walk out of here at all.”
Midnight holds back a gulp as he hears Jaxler speak, he keeps from showing any sign of worry he might have. “You seem to be healing up well so far, so I doubt you’ll need to worry too much on the chance for something like that to happen.” He says with a reassuring smile.
Partisan’s reply was simple. “Midnight’s right.”
Jaxler sighed. “It’s fine. Fear is something that really doesn’t bother me much anymore.” Jaxler then downed the jug of booze.
“Just because you don't fear it, doesn’t mean it's something you're not worried about.” He said, slightly mentioning another issue that he could not fully due to present company.
“Or that it isn’t the concern of others. Which reminds me. I am going to have to take that jug when you are done. I can’t afford Jury getting a whiff of what I have done for you, for more reasons than one.”
“Please, don’t worry about me, and also for the love of god, please don’t remind me of that annoying sod, Jury. That prideful jerk just rubs me the wrong way.”
Midnight simply nods as he listens, taking a mental note about talking about Jury, and who not to do it in front of.
Partisan just shifts uncomfortably. “Please do not refer to her like that. I admit she can be very difficult at times, but she does have some redeeming qualities.”
Jaxler gave partisan a disapproving look “Oh really? please enlighten me. What are these redeeming qualities?”
Midnight watches the two as worry starts to fill his mind. He raises a hoof as he considers stopping the two, though he decides to see if they can talk it out. Midnight setting his hoof down as he continues to listen.
Partisan opened his mouth to say the first thing that came to mind, but closed it quickly. Embarrassed at what it was, his hoof kicks up a bit of dust as he rubs the ground roughly.
“Just know that she has them. I am not in the position to say what they are, but they are there.” Coughing nervously, Partisan tried to change the subject to something a little more tame.
“How was the training with Indigo’s squad going? Show off your strength yet?”
“Well, Indigo is annoying and up tight but it isn’t all bad. He’s starting having the other members of the unit spar with me as a way to toughen em’ up.”
Midnight holds back a relieved sigh as he sees them changing subjects. Though otherwise he doesn’t make any responses.
Partisan laughed at the mental image it gave him. “Full on contact like we use to do?”
Jaxler sighed “Yeah, but it would be a lot more enjoyable if I didn’t have to hold back when I’m fighting the recruits. If i actually didn’t hold back when I spar with them I’d probably end up killing one of them.”
“I don’t think that would be possible with sparring, unless you use real weapons that is.”
“Jaxler nearly broke my snout when he bucked me. And I know he was really holding back on that one.” Partisan replied.
“Oh? Impressive, and dangerous for sparring. Do be careful not to kill any recruits. Or maim them.”
“I can smash a pony’s head in with a single punch if I’m pissed off enough.”
“That’s... Interesting, um. I’ll make sure not to make you angry.” He says with a hint of nervousness.
Partisan laughed again. “Thats not that hard, actually. Just give him his space when he needs it and treat him with a measure of respect.” As he finished his sentence his eyes became as big as saucers.
“Oh crap. I needed to finish moving in the rest of the furniture.”
“Hmm? If you would like, I could try and help you with the moving.”
“Errr. . . . Midnight, I don't think that would be necessary.” he said in a calm panic that only trained military and noble ponies would pick up on. “I will take my leave, but, Jaxler. . . “ He left the sentence to float in the air, half finished. “I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come back to the Guard, but it seems you are needed more where you are.” With that, he took the empty jug and left.
Jaxler paused for a moment speechless. He honestly would love nothing more than to drop the reserve and rejoin the guard. He had no regrets in leaving the guard but actually knowing that he was wanted back was a surprised. The stallion needed to think about this.
Midnight smiled a little. “Wow, they wanted you back. That’s wonderful, do you think you can get the position? Or are you happy with the reserves?”
“I don’t know.”
Midnight nods. “I guess it is a big choice, certainly a surprise at the least. I should have guessed that you would need time to think on it. I can give you some peace, if you need it.”
Jaxler sighed “I think I do.”
Midnight gives another nod, before pulling his hood over his head. “I understand, it’s been a pleasure seeing you again, Jaxler. Get well soon, and. good luck if you join the guard. Otherwise I’ll hope not too many recruits are sent back here.” Midnight says, and with the same soft smile he came in with. he waves goodbye, and heads off.
Author
Topic: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress) (Read 236439 times)