Revenge of Jack

Chapter 4 - Cutie Mark Disaster

It's been three days since i've came back to Ponyville. Nothing big happend, i've been mostly working at Applejack orchard, and my free time i was spending at library or walking around Ponyville. Ponies are slowly getting used to me, though i still get a lot of stares whenever i go. I was just on my way sugar cube corner, apparently Twilight needed something from here, and i was supoused to  deliver it. She said it's some kind of a birthday cake for Spike, and she want it to be a surprise. As i entered sugar cube corner, Pinkie immedatiely approached to me with a wide smile.

"Hey Jack! It's been a while since you've been here! How i can help you?" She happily said.

"Hey Pinkie, i came here for some kind of a cake Twilight ordered."

"*Gasp* But it's not ready yet! I've send Sweetie belle a long time ago to bring me some gems to this cake, but she havent come back yet!" Ok...

"...Why would someone need gems to his cake?"

"Oh silly! Dragons eat gems! That's obvious!" Well, now that she mention it... Dragons in legends always had a caves with money, gems and all that kind of treasures. But if they eat only gems, then what about rest? Eh, whatever.

"Uh huh. And who is this Sweetie Belle?"

"She's Rarity younger sister! She wanted to go because she wanted to exercise her gem finding spell!" Uh huh. A spell that searches for gems. Right. Is there something that magic isnt doing? But wait...

"You want to tell me you send a young filly into a mine?"

"Of course not, Jack! Dont be silly! That would be dangerous! She said she's going to look for gems near diamond dog tunnels!" ...Diamond dogs?

"Whatever, can you show me where it is?" If she's in dangerous, maybe i'll be able to save her... should i tell rest about it?

"Not really, i'm quite busy here, but you should ask Rarity! She knows where it is!"

"Alright, thanks Pinkie."

"No problem! You're always welcome here!" And i left. I went straight to Rarity shop, hoping that she will be in here.

Thankfully, she was. I think she was working at another set of my clothes, but as i entered, the bell rang and she immediately stoped to look who came.

"Oh, Jack! How can i help you?" She said. So she probably have no idea where her sister is, or at least consider she's doing something safe.

"Hey Rarity, can you show me where are diamond dog tunnels?" She looked nervous at that.

"And why would you ever want to go there? This place is dangerous! This is a hunting zone of diamond dogs! They are catching ponies and using them as their slaves to pull a carts of gems and do other horrible tasks! I know all that because they have catched me once! Thankfully, my friends helped me to get away." I knew this place is dangerous! Now comes the hard part...

"Well Rarity, try to stay calm... Pinkie Pie send your sister here to search for a gems and-"

"SHE DID WHAT?!" Oh god, here we go...

"Calm down Rarity! This is why i'm going there! I need to make sure she is safe, and to help her if there's such a need." I think it didnt calmed her down.

"Alright, i'm going to show you where it is, let's hurry! I cant believe Pinkie Pie told Sweetie Belle to go there!"

"Well, it wasnt exacly in that way. Pinkie wanted someone to get some gems, and she volunteered."

"What?! What was she thinking about?! Oh dear Celestia, i hope she will be fine!" We were already outside, heading into a direction of the nearest hills. It... actualy looked more like bared rocks, but i'm not to judge. In our way i asked her about few things.

"So, what are these diamond dogs anyway?"

"Oh, these ruffians are like huge dogs, addicted of gems. They are carving tunnels and searching for gems almost their whole life, but if they can, they're getting slaves to do the hard work for them. Diamond dogs are mostly aggresive for other races, but they try to stay out of possible fights, and sometimes they trade their gems for food and tools they need." Interesting...

"You said you were once one of their slaves. How many ponies you've seen there?" If there's others in these tunnels, we might need to save them as well.

"Actualy, when i was there, i was the only slave they had. I dont supouse other ponies would come near here after that accident." Well, that makes sense.

We were already next to these hills. Whole place was full of holes in it, probably made by diamond dogs. We've been looking for Sweetie Belle for about twenty minutes, calling here and all that stuff, but she was nowhere to find. When we was about to surrender, we've heard a scream behind us. When we looked behind, we both were stunned. A pony that i consider was a Sweetie Belle was running away from at least 10 armored diamond dogs. She had a small bag at her back, probably with gems. Rarity recovered first, and began to focus magic around her horn. When diamond dogs were almost in front of us, she send a wave of magic that hit all diamond dogs and made them go to sleep. Sadly, Sweetie Belle was catched by this spell as well, so i had to carry her back to Carousel Boutique. As we entered the shop, Sweetie Belle woke up.

"Uhhh... Where am i? And where... Diamond dogs! They... they are gone... Rarity? And..." Her gaze went to me, still holding her in my arms. She was looking terrified. "...Cursed Jack?" She mumbled. When did i get a new nickname?

I slowly put her at the ground. She was looking at me like i was about to eat her. She was all white just like her sister, had a green eyes and a half pink, half purple mane and tail, slightly twisted at the edges. When she looked up at me, i could feel her gaze locked at mine. I couldnt help but smile, which made her make a 'Squee' noise. I have no idea how did she do that, but that was freaking adorable. She slowly backed away, only to bump into an angry looking Rarity.

"Sweetie Belle, what were you thinking?!" She asked.

"I'm sorry, Rarity. I wanted to discover my cutie mark! Girls told me it would be a good ocasion to get a cutie mark from geologist!" Ah, right, their whole 'cutie mark' thing. Apparently, when a pony discovers what he's good at, he get a cutie mark that simbolizes it. So if someone dont have a cutie mark, he or she is simply 'talentless'. Now that i look at her, Sweetie Belle dont have her cutie mark.

"Ah, Sweetie Belle, you already tried that, remember?"

"Yeah, i know, i realized that when i was running away from these diamond dogs. But hey! I did found some gems!" She said as she slid off her back a bag full of gems of all kinds. Total value of these gems should reach at least five hundred thousand dolars.

"Ehhh... Alright, let's bring that bag to Pinkie Pie, but we're not done yet Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said as she picked up this bag with magic and put it on her back.

Me, Rarity and Sweetie Belle left shop after a while and headed to sugar cube corner. When we entered, Pinkie was apparently busy with a mass of clients, so we had to wait. After about half an hour, she came to us.

"Hey Rarity, hey Jack, hey Sweetie Be- *Gasp* Sweetie Belle! Do you have these gems!?"

"Yes Pinkie!" She said as she nodded at the bag Rarity had at her back. Pinkie quickly picked it with her teeth - Disgusting - and quickly went to the kitchen, saying thanks throu clenched teeth. Rarity left sugar cube corner, and so i wanted, but suddenly i could feel Sweetie Belle poke me at my leg.

"Ummm... execuse me, mister Jack... i wanted to thank you... for your help." Seems legit.

"No problem, Sweetie. So, you're trying to get your cutie mark?" I think i just digged my own grave. She looked at me a lot more excited at that.

"Yes! Me and my two friends, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Well, if i good remember, Apple Bloom is Applejack sister. I've seen her a few times, but i think she's avoiding me. By the fact that somehow i have a nickname 'Cursed Jack', i can gues that i'm quite disliked by kids from Ponyville. That gives me an idea. If i'll help them, she and her friends will tell others about it, and i will be able to get rid off that stupid nickname. Why do i even care? Eh, fuck it', it's better than walking around Ponyville for the rest of the day.

"And how about i will help you?" I cant believe i'm actualy doing it.

"Really? That would be great! Wait here Jack, i'll bring my friends here so we can start!" She happily said and trotted away. I couldnt help but sigh. What am i getting myself into?

After a while, she came back with two other ponies. One was Apple Bloom, second was some kind of a pegazus, which i gues is Scootaloo. Applebloom is all yellow with bright red mane and tail. She have a pink bow in her mane. Scootaloo is an orange pegazus with light purple mane and tail. It looks like she was riding at some kind of a scooter. When they approached, i could see Applebloom and Scootale looking quite worried.

"Here we are Jack! Cutie mark Crusaders! This is Scootaloo and Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Happily said.

"Hey there. I want to help you get your cutie marks, are you interested?" I think it made these two a little bit more reliefed.

"Of course! What do you have planned?" Asked Scootaloo. Oh dear. Planned?

"Well, yeah... I think... how about painters?"

"We already tried that one." Said Apple Bloom. Damn it, that might be a problem.

"Well... " I was about to say something probably really stupid, but Sweetie Belle saved me.

"How about Archery? We would become a famous archers!" ...How are they supoused to use a bow?

"Yeah, that's a good idea!" Scootaloo said. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ARCHERY, YAY!" They all screamed at once, making me jump in surprise.

"How are you supoused to use a bow?" They looked at me like i just said something really retarded.

"What do you mean? You cant use a bow?" I couldnt help but facepalm, making crusaders chuckle.

"C'mon girls, let's show Jack how to use a bow!"

They all nodded and trotted in the direction of Applejack farm. I had to actualy quickened my step to catch up them. They were going somewhere deep into orchard, in the parts i wasnt in before. Oh boy, i only hope my phobia wont kick in. Finally we managed to get to some kind of a tree house. Applebloom went somewhere behind it and bringed a simply made bow. It looks like this bow had one edge of it longer than the other one. She dug the longer part in ground. Oh, i see now. they dont hold it.

"Alright Jack, you need to pick up an arrow, put in here," she showed with her hoof. ",then pull and hold string, take aim and let string go. Here, let me show you!" I could see Scootaloo pulling out a target about twenty meters away from where Applebloom was standing. I've been watching her do it, and a thought came to my mind. Unicorns are using magic to hold things, pegazus are using their wings, and earth ponies have to hold things in their mouth. Interesting.

"But you know girls that i know how to shoot?" I asked as i picked up a bow, took an arrow, aimed and shot. It was near the bulleye, girls looked quite shocked at that.

"*Whistle* Nice Jack, it looks like yer quite good!"

"Well, it was just luck. Anyway, can we start?" Faster we will start, sooner we will end.

"Sure!" All of them said at once.

It was quite fun, i have to admit. Last time when i was shooting with a bow was when i was still a child. It looks like they were having fun as well. Scootaloo was doing the best from them, and Sweetie Belle had some problems with aiming, but overall nothing bad happend.

Untill i got shot.

"Oh my god! Jack, are you alright?!" Scootaloo asked, clearly worried. I have an arrow in my knee - hahaha, totally funny - in my good leg. It was bleeding pretty badly, and last thing i needed now is to lost another leg!

"Sweetie Belle, ah told ya to leave this old bow! It's been cracked!" Applebloom said angrily.

"It's not my fault that Scootaloo was all the time using the new one!"

"Girls! Calm down! Applebloom, go tell Applejack to come here, and to bring a first aid kit." She nodded and trotted away. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were at my sides, looking worried.

"Hey Jack, you will be fine, right?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"I hope so, i'm not really a doctor. It sure hurts a lot though." Wrong thing to say. Now they were looking even more worried than before. Luckily, Applebloom came soon with Applejack at her side.

"Dear Celestia, Jack! Are ya alright?" Applejack asked, as Applebloom joined me at my side, a first aid kit at her back.

"Ehh, i'm fine, but it sure hurts. Can we get this quickly?" I asked with a hope in my voice.

"Dont worry, ah will be as gently as ah can." She didnt really anserwed my question.

Next ten minutes were probably most painfull ones in my life. If not the fact that i was given a part of some fabric to bite in, i would probably bit off my tounge  Applejack poured some alcochol to disinfect wound. Tell me, had you ever poured an alcohol at wound? It hurt like a fucking bitch. I could barely stand that pain, twisting around and cursing in mind. Applejack and girls had to hold me so i woulndnt hurt myself even more. Then, the worst part. She had to pull away an arrow. Thankfully, it wasnt an arrow with a kind of tip that was used to hurt more while pulling away, this one is quite smooth. But it doesnt really changed the fact that it fucking hurt. Applejack was slowly pulling away an arrow while crusaders were holding me still. Of course, things wouldnt go so easily, and in one moment i've jerked my body too hard and broke an arrow, leaving a tip inside. I was already slowly passing out, and honestly i was hoping i would do so right now. Applejack had to pull it away from inside of wound. Next minute was a living hell. I dont even know how she did it, but she slowly pulled it away, making me clench teeth to blood, even throu a fabric. After that, she quickly bandaged it. Thanks god it's over now.

"Alright sugarcube, lie here, help will come soon." At the same moment as she ended this sentence, i could see an approaching two stalions in hospital coats. They carefully picked me up with magic and started trotting away towards hospital. Within ten minutes i was already lying at the hospital bed, with a doctor next to me.

"Alright mister Jack, we will need to make a radiograph of your leg, to check if bone isnt damaged. Doctor Husgrad will come here soon to do it." And with that he left, leaving me in room with Applejack next to me.

"Are ya sure yer fine, Jack?" She was still looking pretty worried.

"Yeah, i'm fine. What about girls?"

"Still shocked, but they're getting better. What happend?"

"We were practicing archery. One of the bows were cracked, and it broke during aiming, sending arrow in random direction, which seemed to be in my direction." I smiled at that, which made AJ to give a small smile as well. "Thanks for help though, i really appreciate it." Even if it hurt like hell.

"It's really nothing, Jack. So, when they will release ya?"

"If i heard good, in about week or so, if bone isnt damaged."

After a while, a light blue unicorn in white coat entered room. He had a glasses, short brown mane and tail, and a cutie mark of needle. He was looking at some kind of a card, but soon after he entered, he looked at me. I think he was quite shocked at first, but he quickly recovered.

"Ah, so you must be this famous Jack? I'm doctor Husgard, i'm here to make your radiograph. Dont worry, it wont take too long." I hope so. He pulled from a pocket of his coat some kind of a cream and buttered my leg with it, then i could see a weak amount of light around it. After a while, i could see the magic fade away as suddenly a nurse came here with a radiograph photo. Doctor took it and looked at it for a while, then turned to me with a smile.

"It looks like your bone is fine, you will be able to leave soon." And he left.

"Thanks Celestia, ah was worried they will make ya to stay here." She was clearly relieved at this point.

"Yes, thankfully. Are there maybe crusaders somewhere in hospital?"

"Yeah, they are outside of room. I think they are ashamed of what they did, and are afraid to come. Should ah tell them to come?"

"It would be nice, yes." Applejack went outside for a few seconds before she came back with crusaders. Scootaloo was actualy the only one who were looking at me, rest of them were looking at the floor.

"C'mon girls, come closer." They did, still looking away, this time even Scootaloo was avoiding looking at me. "There's no need to feel bad, girls, you havent done anything wrong." Sweetie Belle looked at me now, tears in her eyes.

"What are you talking about? I've shot you! I should go to jail for that..." Oh god, she was now crying. I reached out her and scratched her behind her ear. I have no idea why, but it feels like a right thing to do right now. Fuck my brain.

"Dont cry Sweetie, it was an accident. Nobody blame you for that, it was unexpected, and it would happen to anyone." She hugged me and cried in my chest, as i keept scratching behind her ear. After a while, she stoped crying and looked at me. "Are you going to be ok?"

"I'm definitely going to be ok, dont worry about this." At this point to our room walked suddenly nurse Redheart.

"Oh, there you are Jack! I've been looking for you! I want to show you something amazing!" She happily said. Amazing, eh?

"What is that?" I asked

"Do you remember your leg prosthesis?"

"Yeah, i do. What about that?"

"Try to take it off!" She looked at least excited now. I tried to remove it, and... nothing happend. I was keep trying, untill i realized something... it's a normal leg now. It grew back somehow.

"H-How?"

"Well, i have to admit i was shocked as well. Your prosthesis was filled with regenerative magic to prevent it from destroying or damaging a part of your real leg. When you first arrived in our hospital, i've took your blood sample for testing. As it came out, your body seems to react to all kinds of magic about fifty times more intensively. So when regenerative magic started working in prosthesis, it slowly made your leg grow back! You couldnt feel it, since your prosthesis had artificial nervous system, but it looks like it was slowly dissapearing as your leg were growing! Isn that great?"

"Yes, it is! Thanks god i have all my legs back."

"What do ya mean, ya all legs?" Applebloom asked. Shit, i havent told them. I thought everyone know that already.

"Well, you see Applebloom, when i first arrived there, i was missing one leg." I tried to make it sound like it was nothing, they're already pretty worried, there's no need to worry them more.

"Really? That's terrible!" Said Sweetie Belle. Defeat.

"Well, at least you have it back! I couldnt imagine if i would be missing one of my hoofs!" Said Scootaloo.

"Well, thanks nurse for information." I said. She nodded at me.

"Sadly, i will need to ask you to leave Jack now, he need to rest." Redheart said, getting mean looks from crusaders.

After a few seconds everyone left, leaving me alone in room. I could see throu the window that night is coming anyway, so i tried to get some sleep. After what felt like hal an hour, i could hear some strange noises outside of room. After a while, someone unexpected entered the room.

"Celestia? What are you doing here?" I asked. She was looking really serious, but when she saw my leg, her gaze softened.

"Jack, what happend?"

"Eh, a small accident, nothing big. Dont worry about it."

"Well, if you say so..." Her face hardener now. "...We received an important information from guards in canterlot, and i think it might do something with Discord." Now it was my turn to get more serious.

"What is happening?" She closed her eyes for a few seconds, deep in thought. After a while, she opened her eyes again, her gaze meeting mine.

"Animals from the nearest forests and hills are bieseging Canterlot."