The Everfree forest was dark and quiet as always. But tonight something was different. A feeling of a strong ancient magic was pulsing through the forest. As she was going closer to the castle, the feeling got stronger. She froze; something or someone was moving inside it. Slowly, walking like it was hurt, body leaning against the gate, it came out. An alicorn! Dark as the night itself, a mane stricken with the colors of the darkest ash. And the eyes pulsing with dark orange magic. There was something familiar about him but she couldn't put her hooves on it. It started to shake with the hatred it barred. It raised its head and let out a blood freezing scream of anger. “ARGHHHHHH...”
”AHHHHHHHHHHHH....”.
”Princess are you alright?!” A royal guard burst in towards her bedroom. ”Princess Celestia?”
”It's okay, it was just a nightmare.” She tiredly answered.
”But... didn't you hear that?”
”Hear what?”
”That angry blood freezing scream.”
She sat wide awake and stared at him.
”Uh... Princess? Are you okay?”
”I thought that scream was only in my dream. But if you heard it it must be real.”
”I think the whole of Equestria heard it.”
”...”
”Princess... do you know what it was?”
”Maybe...”
”Should we hope that you are wrong?”
”I.. I don't know.”
He looked at her and he saw something wrong, she was scared.
”A storm is coming” thought Twilight ”I'd better hurry back home.”
She was flying her balloon back home from Dodge City after investigating some strange activity there. Celestia had received a report of a shadow sneaking around the city. The princess wouldn't normally take it so seriously, but Celestia hasn't been herself since the night with that scream. A sudden thunderclap made Twilight jump.
”Don't be silly Twilight.” she thought.
”Thunder isn't scary.”
She looked down and saw the Everfree forest. Suddenly, another lightning bolt hit her balloon. She felt her hooves leaving the balloon floor and she tried desperately to flap her wings to get out in the air. But her wings got stuck in a the ropes and she fell headlong towards the ground with the balloon. A frightened scream slipped from her lips.
”Ahhhhhhhhhh......”. She hit the ground with a thud, turning everything black.
”My leg hurts.” Thought Twilight as she opened her eyes. Everything was blurred but she saw that someone had built a fire and had made a rain shield out of her balloon.
”The storm has come.” She whispered to herself.
Something moved. She turned to see a white creature lying next to the fire. It appeared to be sleeping. An instinct of escaping struck her. She tried to move, but a cutting pain went through her leg and caused her to let out a whimper. The creature opened its eyes at the sound and looked straight at her with its unnatural yellow gaze. It rose up on his legs and started walking towards her, staring at the princess without even so much as blinking. As it come closer Twilight started to panic. She looked everywhere for something that could save her before she saw a branch laying on the side of the fire. She picked it up with her magic and swung it as hard as she could in the side of the creature's head, causing it fall to the ground.
”WHAT THE HAY WAS THAT FOR!?” the creature yelled.
”Wait, you can talk?” said Twilight.
”Of course I can talk! What did you think that I was some kind of monster?”
She started to blush and didn't answer that question. He stood again, rubbing his head and groaning. Now she got a closer look at him and saw he was a white, male unicorn with a black mane and tail. She felt she needed to say something to break the awkward silence.
”My name is Twilight Sparkle, what's yours?” Twilight said then she thought: ”better not tell them I am princess, since I'm to vulnerable”
”Don't forget the Princess part.” he said, whilst was looking in one side of his saddlebag.
”W-wait... What?” Twilight stuttered.
”Are you taking me for an idiot?” He said, taking out some bandages.
”N-no.. but how?” She couldn't believe her ears.
”How do I know you are a princess?” He replied. She nodded.
”Simple, you are a alicorn, you've got a dress in royal standards and you got a crown with the sixth element of harmony in it.” He explained, hovering her crown of the ground and placing it next to her.
”So which leg is hurt?” he continued since she was still speechless.
Twilight then remembered that she was hurt and started felling pain again.
”The left back one...” she said holding back some tears of pain.
”Does this hurt?” he said, gently putting pressure on her leg.
Twilight bit down on her lip and whimpered ”Yes”.
”Okay, just hold still now.” He said as he placed a wooden plank onto her outstretched leg and started to wrap bandage around it. When he had it all covered in bandage, he cut it to size and strapped it down. He then stretched his neck a little looking over her showing a wondering facial expression.
”Can you roll over?” he said.
”Sure.” Twilight said. After she changed side she looked down on her wing and saw that it was turned the wrong way so she started to panic. Kicking with her front hooves.
”BUTTHATISIN'TPOSSIBLEWHYDOSEN'TITHURT?WHY.....” he put a hoof on her mouth.
”Ssshhh.... Just lay still” he said and she calmed down but still breathing heavily. He hovered the wing a bit from the ground and said ”bite your teeth together”. Before she could ask what he meant he pulled her wing straight and the pain was so intense that she fainted
Twilight felt dizzy, trying to focus her eyes. She saw that the sun was rising and felt that her wing was bandaged and a smell of burned cloth filled the air.
”Well, you woke on time.” The white unicorn said.
Twilight sat up and noticed that her dress was gone. She looked around but didn't see it anywhere. Then she glanced at the fire and saw some small burned textile parts.
”YOU BURNED MY DRESS!” She screamed and jumped on her hooves.
”Did you really want to walk through the Everfree forest with that?” He replied.
”N-no but...” she started.
”Didn't think so” he cut off.
”I have packed all your stuff into this bag.” He continued, hovering the bag in front of her.
”Thanks” she said in a low voice. She got up and started to put on the saddlebag. When she had put on her saddlebag she looked at the white unicorns direction, he had turn his back against her and then she saw he was blank flanked. Twilight was speechless. He turned around and she assaulted him with questions.
”Why don't you have a cutie mark? Is it some form of disease? Virus? Maybe some reversed cutie pox????...”
He just sighed and continued to pick up his items.
”Maybe it's some kind of disease? Or it might be... ” She became silent and looked at him for a while.
”Are you listening?” She asked.
”Should I?” He answered.
”Well... yes 'm trying to find a logical explanation.”
He turned around and walk against her while saying
”Don't you think i have thought about all the believable and unbelievable reasons why i don't got one? During my countless hours of exile?”
”Y-yes”.
”Then if it's good for the princess maybe we might get going before something comes and kills us?”
He said with irritation in hes voice and a angry look on hes face. Then he looked down in the ground and sighed deep and said
”I'm sorry... ”
He walked back and picked up the rest of his items.
”Are you ready to go?” he asked with kinder voice.
Twilight took a look around and said
”I think so”
”Where are we heading?”
”To Ponyville but i don't know which direction” she looked around.
The unicorn just smiled and said:
”Let's go” and he started to walk.
Twilight hurried as fast she could with her broken leg to get up by his side. They walked for about a long time. She felt the pain with every step she took. Suddenly she fell to the side and bumped into the white unicorn. While leaning against him she could feel that all his muscles got tense. She could also feel that he was well trained. The she looked up and noticed he was looking at her. Twilight quickly got back on her legs already blushing.
”Sorry” she whispered while looking down in the ground.
”Don't worry about it. You can't walk properly with a broken leg”
Twilight could see in his eyes that he was talking from experience.
”Are you ready to continue? It's not far now” the unicorn said. She nodded and they continued walking. After a few minutes they got out of the forest, Twilight did take a deep breath, she was relieved that they where finally out of it. They kept walking, now with Twilight in the led. She thought that it was best to get her wounds looked over by a real doctor. So they walked to the hospital. When she got there she turned around and saw that the unicorn was starting to walk back.
”Where are you going?” Twilight asked.
”I was just making sure you got here safe. So now i go back where i came from” he answered.
”Don't you want to stay around and she how i it will turn out?”
The unicorn smiled and said ”maybe i will” and continued walking. When she reached for the door handle she found herself thinking ”why did i say that?” Then she remembered something and shout after him ”Whats your name?”
On which he turned around and said ”The names Jack”. As he disappeared into the night.
Welcome to Ponyville, Jack
Jack waked up as always early in the morning. Not by himself like normally, but of some kicking noises about a mile away. He did go out from he's tent and did some stretching. The sound seemed to come from on of the apple trees he saw between the overgrown bushes and trees. After a quick pickup he walked out of the entrance of the Everfree forest. With a fast look at the sun he smiled and said with a low voice.
”Hello old friend”
He heard the sound again and started to walk against it.
”Applejack when can I buck the trees? I wanna help you and Big Mac!”
Applebloom stated as she collected the fallen apples that missed the barrel.
”You know you're too young to be doing anything like that.”
Applejack said as she bucked the tree again. Applebloom looked down onto the ground looking kinda sad. ”Come on there sugercube turn that grin upside down I got something to show you.”
Applebloom shined up. ”What is it? Are you going to let me buck my first tree?”
”Not really.”
Applebloom sighed deeply. ”I'm going to show you a record. Most apples on one tree. It's just at the edge of apple field”
They walked for a bit and came to the end of the field. There Applebloom saw the the tree, so many apples she could barley see the leaves. She just stood there with her mouth open.
”Quite a view right? And now I will try to break a personal record. Most apples bucked down at once.”
”The sound stopped” Jack thought. He was walking to a big field of apple trees. A movement in the corner of his eye that caught his attention. It was someone under a apple tree with the biggest number of apples in it that he has ever seen. He started to walk to the tree. As he came closer he could hear someone cheering, a younger voice. When he walked up to it's side he could hear that someone kicked it and then he got buried in apples.
”Wow Applejack that most be for sure the most apple bucked at once” said Applebloom.
”Sure is” answered Applejack. ”Let's go see if we can find a cart for all this apples”.
Suddenly something started to move under the apples. ”Another one of Discords silly tricks” Applejack though. She spun around and kicked at it as hard has she could. When she hit it Applebloom screamed so she turned around fast and saw a white male unicorn lying a few meters away.
”I-is he dead?” Applebloom asked.
”I'm not dead yet” the unicorn answered. ”That was a real horse kick” He said while sitting up.
Applejack run over to him and asked ”ya good there sugar cube?”
”nothing to worry about i have taken one or two hits in my life” He replied why Applejack was taking a look on his forehead. ”I'm sorry sugarcube thought you where someone else.” Applejack continued.
”Good to know that you don't hate me in particular. I'm Jack by the way.” The unicorn said.
”I'm Applejack and that over there is my l'l sis Applebloom.”
Applebloom just stood there and starred at Jack ”Nice to meet both of you but i got someone to see so i need to go.” Jack said while and walked away into town. Before Applejack could say anything Applebloom asked ”Can i go home sis 'I'm not felling well”.
”Sure sugarcube but wha....” Applejack didn't get any further before her sister ran of.
”Wonder what that was about?” She thought and walked to get a cart.
”Uhk! It's dirt all over the place.” Complained Rarity while trying her best to avoid the mud. She had been out to get some textile and the mud pools seems incresed in numbers under the short time she was out. When she was almost home she noticed that her entire walkway was soraunded with mud. ”Why in Celestias name does this dirt be all over the place?” She almost screamed.
”Let me help you.” Someone said while hovering a piece of cloth onto the mud so she could pass.
Rarity walked over and turned around to see a white unicorn picking up the cloth again and trying to get the worst mud of it. ”Thank you mister...?” Rarity started
”Jack” The unicorn filled in.
”Thank you mister Jack nothing rises a lady's mood more than finding a real gentlecolt.” She continued.
”Nothing to talk about, and please just say Jack” Jack said.
”It's indeed something to talk about, Jack. It's so rare to... ” She didn't got to finish before a voice yelled.
”WHATCH OUT!!!”
Jack quickly looked to the left and got hit by something ranibow colored. And they both rolled around in the dirt for a few meters. ”Oh my gosh are you guys alright?” Rarity asked while running over.
”I'm fine” Jack said while standing up. He then looked over to the pegasus on his back and said.
”Thats also a way to meet someone.”
The pegasus flew fast off from his back and said. ”Sorry about that it's a little windy today, and who are you?”
”I'm Jack” Jack answered. ”Who are you?”
”I'm Rainbow Dash the fastest pegasus in Ponyville”. Rainbow dash answered.
”And soon to be all of Eguestria.” A orange pegasus filly said.
She came up behind Rainbow dash with a white unicorn filly who looked like Rarity's sister.
”That's right kid now who want to see me break my lap record?”
The fillies didn't answer they just stared at Jack who was cleaning himself with a towel he got from Rarity. ”Um..guys? Are you ready to go?” Rainbow dash asked when she didn't get a answer.
The orange one said ”We have something to tell Applebloom” And they both ran off.
”Huh. Weird. I'll be going” Rainbow dash said and flew off. Jack looked after them with a raised eyebrown and then said. ”Well i guess i should continue too. Thanks for the towel” He said and gave it back.
”My pleasure.” Rarity answered.
Jack turned around and begun to walk deeper into the town.
Back at the library Fluttershy and Pinkie had come to Welcome Twilight home.
”We are so glad that you are home safe” Fluttershy said in her low voice.
”YEA! We thought you would be lost forever ” Pinkie Pie almost screamed while jumping around.
”Girls you know me. I won't leave you for anything.” Twilight Answered. ”And i also got some help”
”Of who?” Pinkie asked looking puzzled.. Before She could answer someone knocked on the door. When she opened it a familiar face meet her. ”Jack?” Twilight said.
”Twilight?” said Jack with an eyebrow raised.
”What are you doing here” she continued.
”Well i was just checking out the town before i would visit you in the hospital. Can i come in?”
”Oh yes please come in.” she said while moving out of the way, still a little shocked over that he showed up here.
”Looks like I don't have to go there after all” He said while cheking out the books.
”OH MY GOSH! You must be new here is really need to throw you a welcome to the town party!!” Pinke almost screamed and talked almost to fast for anyone to understand a word. Both Fluttershy and Pinkie noticed at the same time that he didn't have a cutie mark which left a akward silence.
”Um.. okay! Never been on a party before.”
Before Pinkie could continue Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity burst into the house.
”There he is girls” Rarity said.
Rainbow flew up to him and said.
”Who do you think you are?” With and angry voice.
”What?”
”My sweet little sister hasn't stopped crying since you showed up.” Rarity continued.
”Same with my sister and Scootalo.” Applejack filled in.
Jack was forced to back down since the three mares was yelling at him and advancing. He bumped against the wall and was trapped.
”What do you have to say?” They all yelled at him at the same time.
Jack sighed deeply and looked at the floor almost whispering.
”Why does it always turning out like this?”
He then looked at Twilight and said.
”Nice to meet you Twilight.”
The room lit up for a split second when Jack teleported away.
”What a rude stallion.” Rarity said after a while
”Ye like what does he think he is doing?” Rainbow dash continued.
And then they where all talking how bad he was to this city.
”Girls, GIRLS, GIRLS!!” Twilight had to scream to get there attention.
”What was that about?” she continued with an angry voice.
”Didn't you hear? He made Scootalo, Applebloom and Sweetie bell cry by showing of that blank flank of his.” Rainbow dash hissed back.
”Did you ever took a moment to think that maybe it wasn't intended?”
Before anyone could answer they heard a scream.
”Scootalo!, Applebloom!, Sweetie bell!” They all yelled at the same time and run out from the house.
They continued to run towards the Everfree forest where the screams came from. There on the other side of the river they saw the girls surrounded by four timber wolfs. It looked like the entire town was there but no one was fast enough to get there in time ,not even Rainbow dash. A wolf whistling was heard and everyone's attention turned to the source of the sound. There stood Jack in a torn cloak and a hat that looked like Applejack's but a far more torn.
”Why don't you mess with someone your own size?” He said while gritting his teeth.
The wolfs growled and started to surround him instead.
”Run.” Jack hissed and the wolfs attacked. He kicked back crushed the first wolfs jaw. Then he jump to the side, did a spin and hit the second wolf in the head which made it detach from the body. In a matter of seconds he had ended two of the four wolfs. Jack started to back away to get a better view of the last two but noticed that only one was following him. The other was running after the three fillies. So he quickly ended the third one with a magic blast from his horn and started to run towards the forth. On the other side of the river they saw the timber wolf getting closer to the fillies. They started to cheer for them to run faster. But i didn't help the fillies was to tired to run any faster. The timber wolf was getting closer for every second. A split second before he could snap his jaw around the fillies a white shadow collided with it's side and it flew to the ground and shattered.
”T-thank you.” The three exhausted fillies said.
”It's not over yet.” He replied.
And immediately the remains of the timber wolf searched out each other and formed a even bigger one. The fillies screamed and started to run again with the wolf charging after them. Jack placed himself between the wolf and the fillies. The wolf didn't show any indication that it would stop. With a yellow light Jack's horn lighted up. Everything looked to go in slow motion when the wolf did get all closer to him and then it blew in a sphere of yellow light where jack stood which surrounded both him and the wolf , it splintered to pieces by the force. When the dust finally settled jack stood there and shook his head for a second to get rid of the dizziness. He looked over to the fillies seeing them being hugged by there loved once and he smiled. His hat was lying a bit away from him so he hovered it onto his head and started to walk back to the everfree forest.
”Jack!” Someone shouted. He turned around with a raised eyebrow and saw the entire village standing there.
”Where are sorry, sugercube.” Applejack begun.
”We shouldn't have been so mad at you.” Rarity continued.
”Ye we should have thought a little before we acted.” Rainbow dash finished. ”Even thought you are weird since you don't have any cuti...”
”Rainbow dash!” Twilgiht cut off. ”What she is trying to say is that you are welcome to stay here as long as you pleases.” A big smile got visible on his face, first one Twilight has seen, and he said.
”Thank you.”
”LET'S HAVE A PARTY!!!” Pinkie pie screamed and threw confetti all over the place. And all the ponies started to stomp their hooves and scream of joy.
The party continued into the night when a pair of ear caught up the sound of singing ponies. He opened his eyes and gritted his teeth in anger as he hissed. ”found your civilization my pretty nieces.”
