Revenge of Jack

Chapter 8 - Party Pooper

"C'mon Jack, we cant help you if you will hide something from us. Tell us everything!" Twilight demanded as rest of her friends surrounded me.

After i came back from Canterlot, Twilight instantly get me into her 'promised conversation'. She wants me to tell her about what happend before i arrived here, what do i feel about it and all that stuff... of course i'm avoiding talking about that. Why? To make it harder for them. Yes, i know, i'm a dick, but it's also because i dont want to talk about this. I want just to keep it for my own, i dont see a sense in telling everyone about how i feel, and it also... kinda hurt to think about it.

"Alright Jack, in that case i will have to do it in a hard way." Hard way? I could see her horn glow. Lie detector? "Alright. So we know so far Discord bringed you to this land to help you have your revenge. From what you told me, something bad happend to your family, but you never mentioned what. What happend?" I didnt said anything. Lie detecting spell wont work if i wont say anything. I think she didnt expected that. Twilight was looking at me with a smirk for about a minute before her smile turned into a angry grimace.

"Aghhh, say something!" I smiled at that. After few more seconds she sighed as her horn stopped glowing. "How are you doing it?" She asked with rather defeated voice.

"Doing what?"

"How can you sense when i'm using spells on you?"

"What do you mean? Your horn glowes whenever you use magic." Her ears perked up at that and her eyes went straigt at me.

"My horn what? You can see unicorns using magic?"

"Yeah, i thought everyone can." She shook her head.

"Almost nobody can see or sense who's using magic. Only unicorns can sense who's using it, but they cant really see it." She looked really confused. "I wonder if we can test it somehow..."

"Oh, i do believe we can, darling." Rarity said as she came closer to us. She wishpered something to Twilight ear, and she nodded.

"Alright Jack, tell us which one of us is holding this book?" Twilight asked as she lifted with her magic a book. I can gues it was her, since only her horn was glowing, also from the fact book was glowing purple.

"Twilight." They nodded to themself and aura around book changed to white, Twilight horn stoped glowing and Rarity's does. "Now who?"

"Rarity." They nodded to themself once again. Book didnt changed color, but Twilight horn started glowing as well. "Now?"

"Rarity." They smiled at that.

"Alright, last test. Who is holding book... now?" Suddenly an amazingly bright light hit my eyes, which made me to instantly shut them and scream in pain. I fell on the ground, rubbing my eyes. What happend? It was like someone throwed a flashbang. I couldnt open my eyes for at least five minutes, and when i did, i saw Twilight and others looking at me with concern.

"Jack, are ya alright? Twilight, what did ya do to him?" Applejack asked, a confused look on her face.

"I didnt do anything, me and Rarity just holded this book with magic at the same time, i didnt expected that to happen!" Twilight cried as she helped me to stand up. I looked at her with lifeless eyes for about few minutes, without blinking, before i asked:

"Can you do something to my eyes to make them resistant to light?"

"Well, i can, but i have to warn that this might hurt"

"..."

Thankfully, after ten minutes of terror, everyone already forget about this whole conversation about helping me and blah blah blah... So i went outside, to catch a breath and look around Ponyville. Since i've throwed away my bits, i cant really buy anything, so after a while of wandering around, i came to Sweet Apple Acress. Whole place looked quite empty, so i went to Applejack house. When i was in front of it, i gently knocked on the door. After a while, Big Mac came.

"Hey Big Mac, anything to do today?"

"Nnnope."

"Ummm... Why?"

"Apple Bloom is sick, so me and Applejack have ta take care of her."

"Alright, i will see you later then."

"Yyyup."

After that i went to Sugar Cube Corner. If i good remember, Pinkie proposed me a job here once, i'll have to talk with her about it. When i entered it, Pinkie Pie instantly rushed towards me with a grin on her face.

"Heya Jack! What are you doing here? You came here for a job because Applejack and Big Mac have to take care of sick Apple Bloom so they dont have a work for you?"

"Hey Pin - Wait, how did you know that?"

"I guessed!" She happily said with even wider grin. I never payed closer attention to her, but she's sure fucking weird. Note to myself - Avoid contact with Pinke Pie even more. Well, not now, but later.

"So... What can i do?"

"Oh, dont worry about it! Just wait here for a second, i need to prepare some things!" And with that she trotted to what i guessed would be a kitchen. After a while and a lot of weird noises - I'm sure i heard a fucking chainsaw in her kitchen - she came back, looking rather exhausted. "Alrighty Jack, you can come!"

I have to say, from noises i saw i expected a mess here, but everything was perfectly clean. Floor was sparkling, dishes were sparkling, now that i look closer, even Pinkie Pie is sparkling. She was... cleaning? She smiled at my reaction and walked toward a cupboard.

"Okey Jack, i will show you how to bake cupcakes! I'll pay you ten bits for every plate of cupcakes you will bake, but that later."

And so we went. She showed me how to bake a cupcakes, then i made a few tests, she said it's looking fine - I'm not really a baker, but these wasnt that bad for my first try - and a few next hours went on, me making plates of cupcakes whenever someone ordered, and Pinkie working with other stuff around. At the end, she came to me with rather... strange kind of a smile, forced i would say. She had some kind of a black sack at her back.

"Alright Jack, i've counted twelve plates of cupcakes, which will be one hundred and twenty bits. Have a nice day!" She said as she gave me a sack of money she had somewhere behind that big black sack, and went to the kitchen.

I was about to leave, but then a sudden realization came to me. When i came to Big Mac, it was six in the morning. I was working with Pinkie Pie for a few hours, which would mean it's about ten-eleven in the morning. There's no way my work would end now. Is she hiding something from me? I decided to follow her. Apparently she went to the basement, since door leading to it was opened. Without thinking about how stupid idea is to walk around someone else house, i went in. Walking down the stairs, i could hear some strange noises, like fire cracking. At the end of the staircase i saw a wooden door. I slowly opened it, and saw something i totaly didnt expected.

"Pinkie! What are you doing?!"

"Jack! Ohmygosh you're back! I.... It's not what it looks like, i swear!"

"Dont even lie to me! I see what is that about, but dont worry. You wont see me again." I could see her colors suddenly fade to grey, her mane and tail get straight and her 'fake' smile dissapeared.

"I see... Ok, Jack. I'm sorry."  And with that, i left. I cant believe she burned all the cupcakes i baked! I know these arent perfect, but c'mon, it was my hard work! And she just burned them like some rubbish! And... Why do i care? I got money anyway.

After that accident i went back to library, to leave bits i get. I gues i will need to talk with Pinke about what happend... but that later. When i entered, i saw that Twilight is pretty worried about something.

"Hey Twilight, what's up?"

"Tell me Jack, have you been somewhere near Sugar Cube Corner lately?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Do you have any idea what happend to Pinke Pie? She's... different. Last time when she was like that she thought we dont want to be her friends anymore. I'm really worried." Oh uh. How does she know that? It's been ten minutes damn it!

"Well, you see, she kinda pissed me off, so i... uhh... yelled at her. But i dont think that would be a -"

"You did WHAT?!" I jumped at that. Ponies can be sure loud when they want to be.

"Oh c'mon Twilight, i will talk with her, i'm sure it will be over soon."

"You better wish so! We have to hurry before her magic of friendship ran out!"

"Hahaha, good one Twilight. Magic of friendship, haha." I said it as ironically as i could. When i first arrived, at the hospital, she told me about all this stuff about how friendship is powerfull in this land, but c'mon, Magic of friendship?

"Jack, this is serious! Pinke Pie is really - Oh... Right, you have no idea how magic of friendship works."

"...So that's a real thing?"

"Yes! Let me explain you. As i told you once, this land is fueled with friendship, and it contains a power like magic. For ponies, Magic of Friendship is really imporant. Imagine your health as a fire. When you're healthy, your fire is big. Ponies have two fires, one fire is their health, and second fire is their Magic of Friendship. While health fire grows bigger if you stay fit, exercise and eat healthy, your friendship fire is growing whenever you're talking with other ponies, care about them or even when you're seeing ponies you like. And just like health fire is getting smaller if you're ill, you dont care about your body or when you're wounded, a friendship fire gets smaller if a pony dont have a contact with somepony else. If your friendship fire is about to die, it starts to feed on your health fire, regenerating itself but slowly killing you instead. Mostly, having at least one friend prevents your friendship fire from dying, but it works differently for each pony. Some ponies dont need a friends at all, and their friendship fire will never die. Some ponies need to be with others all the time, or their fire will die out within few minutes, and Pinkie Pie is such a pony. She have a lot of friends, but anything wrong can reverse growing of her friendship fire, and her fire is dying really fast. So, if Pinkie Pie will ran out of Magic of Friendship, she will be getting worse and worse, untill..." Shen went silent at that point. Wow. Shit get complicated. Though one thing makes me wonder.

"...Magic of Friendship... is working only for ponies, right?" Please say yes please say yes please say yes!

"No, it's actualy working for every creature living in Equestria, except Diamond Dogs and Dragons. Somehow Diamond Dogs are immune to all kind of magic, just like Dragons."

"...And that would work for me as well?" Please say no please say no please say no!

"Well... actualy, i have no idea. We would need to check it, but right now we need to save Pinkie!" And with that she trotted outside and to Sugar Cube Corner, me following her.

When we entered it, i couldnt believe it's the same Sugar Cube Corner as i've been at least twenty minutes ago. Everything get darker shades, there was no customers, blinds on windows were obscured, overally everything seemed dark. Pinkie Pie was sitting behind a cashbox with bored look, not even blinking. She was still all gray, and her mane and tail straight instead of a fluffy. When she noticed me, her ears perked up and her gaze softened a little bit.

"...Jack? What are you doing here? I thought you said you will never again come here..."

"Pinke, i'm sorry. I didnt wanted to yell at you, i was just surprised."

"But... but i burned your cupcakes! You've been working hard on them, and i just burned them."

"C'mon Pinkie, it's just a cupcakes. I know i'm not the best baker in the world, so i fully understand you."

"It's not that you cant bake, Jack! It's just that... you forgot to use a sugar... in every plate..." I knew i was forgeting something!

"Then you had even a bigger reason to burn them! I just want to ask, what did you sold customers instead?"

"Oh, i just had prepared some plates already, in case like that..." She looked away at that point.

"Pinkie, look at me." She slowly moved her gaze to me, and when she was fully looking at me, i gave her a really tight hug. She was surprised at that, but she didnt resisted. "Pinkie, that was the right thing to do, and i would've never blame you for that if you would have told me in first place. A true friend will forgive everything, Pinkie. Everything. Remember that, and never let your smile dissapear, this is something everyone needs to see everyday, it gives them energy to face a new day." Her colors came back to pink, but her mane and tail didnt changed back yet, i could hear her crying actualy.

"I...I...T-thank you, Jack..." She backed away, showing her grin, a little bit ruined by tears running throu her checks. "I always want to make my friends smile!" At that point her mane and tail got poofy again. Well, that went easy.

"I'm glad you're fine Pinkie, i was really worried." Twilight sighed as she approached Pinkie and gave her a hug as well.

"Of course i'm fine, Twilight! Jack, how about you will help me with something else?" I raised an eyebrow, but after a second i nodded with a smile. I'm probably making a mistake, but whatever.

"That's great! Soon Twilight brother will have a birthday, so i planned for him a party!"

"Ah, you're right! Shinning's birthday will be in next week! But Pinkie, Shinning Armor is living in Canterlot, how do you plan to do it?"

"That's where Jack will help! When everything will be ready, you will call Shinning Armor that Jack will need his-*mumble*" At this point Twilight was holding a hoof in Pinke mouth, successfully shutting her up.

"Pinkie, we talked about this! Not a single word about... you know what!" She said as she looked at me with really bad innocent smile.

"What is all that about?" I slightly narrowed my eyes. I dont like when someone's hiding a secret from me.

"Oh, it's nothing Jack, just-" Twilight stoped as suddenly Pinkie throwed her hoof way.

"Twilight is supoused to call Shinning Armor if you will get mad and attack everypony and-" And yet again, a hoof on her mouth.

"...Oh, really? That is interesting. I'm really glad everone trust me."

"Please Jack, it's not like that! We trust you, it's just... an order."

"From who?" Twilight sighed deeply.

"From Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"Oh? I see. Anyway, Pinkie, so what about your plan?" I feel like if i would continue this conversation, someone would get hurt.

"So, Twilight will call Shinning Armor to come here and 'help put you down'. When he will arrive, you will let him notice you, and then when he will chase you up to Sugar Cube Corner, where a party will be already prepared!"\

"So... You want me to be a live bait?"

"Yup!" Twilight facehooved at that, and i looked at her with rather bemused gaze. "Oh c'mon Jack, i'm sure it will work!"

"Why dont you just call him without giving any reasons?"

"Nah, that wouldnt work silly! He's a guard captain! He cant leave a city he protects just like that!"

"I'm afraid she's right. As a guard captian, my brother can leave only when it's necessary." Twilight added.

"Alright... I gues i will help with your plan Pinkie, but on one condition."

"What is it?" She happily asked, a wide grin on her face already.

"If something will go wrong, you will go in and stop everything before things were got out of hand."

"Out of hand?" They both asked, looking confused.

"...Out of control."

"Ah, i see. Alright Jack, deal!"

"Cool. Twilight, are you in?" She sighed at that.

"Do i really have a choice?" Pinkie shook her head, her grin getting even wider.

"That's great! I will prepare everything for a party! I will tell you once everything is done Twilight so you can call your brother!" She happily said as she trotted somewhere upstairs. I slowly looked at Twilight.

"Am i fucked?"

"I wouldnt say it like that, but yes, it was rather bad decision." Fuck.

Next days were rather calm. Apple Bloom got better rather quickly, so i could work once again at the Sweet Apple Orchard. Free time i was spending at the library reading books i havent read yet, or walking outside. Anyway, i was most of times avoiding any kind of 'you need help' conversations, so in other way - I was avoiding meeting Twilight and rest of them in group, i was avoiding staying alone with one of them at the closed room, and there was even a situation when they were chasing me, thankfully i ran away. Anyway, finaly a party day came. I was already outside, on my way to Sugar Cube Corner. When i entered, everything was already prepared, and guests were slowly coming in. As soon as Pinkie noticed me, she trotted to me with a grin on her face.

"Alright, Jack! I've told Twilight already to call for Shinning Armor, so i think he should be there soon!"

"You know Pinkie, i wonder if we wont get in trouble for that."

"Of course not silly! What's the worst that could happen?" Ah, yes, the cursed sentence. Who knows that kind of bad stuff will it bring this time?

"...Anyway, where should i meet with him?"

"At the library, he will be there within twenty minutes! I think you should hurry!"

...Library? Like, Twilight library? Library that is about five hundred meters away from here? It shouldnt be a problem, but i dont really know how fast Shinning Armor is... Not even mentioning that nobody predicted the fact that he can just teleport himself to me or otherwise... Whatever, too late for it now. I thought for a second before i went to library, a little bit worried about what might happen. When i approached it, i saw something i didnt expected. There was at least fifty guards flying above Ponyville. Well, i'm fucked. As soon as i came into view, all of them charged right at me. At the next second i was already running away, without even caring where i am going. If i'm going to stay alive after this, i'm going to kill Pinkie. I think i've been running for at least ten minutes before i get into some kind of a forest. Soon after entering it, i couldnt hear anyone coming anymore. Panting, i looked behind and saw that nobody is chasing me anymore, i could see from somewhere away.

"Sir! Why we're not chasing him anymore?"

"He just suicided. I'm not letting any of my people to die on this mission, we're done here."

"Yes, sir!" And with that, i couldnt hear them anymore.

I slowly looked around myself. Trees. A lot of trees. I was in some kind of a dark forest, without any idea of where i am. At the moment i entered it, i had a feeling like something is watching me, even after guards stoped. Is that perhaps... an Everfree forest? Ponies were talking about it a lot, mostly about not going there not matter what. Well, going back into Ponyville for a while will be a suicide, so i gues i will have to stay here...

I've been walking around this forest for about an hour, still having this feel like something is ready to jump at me in any second. Farther i go into forest, everything get darker with each second. Man, soon i wont see anything. I think it's time to head back to Ponyville. I turned around and started walking. Everything was getting brighter... before everything suddenly get almost pure dark. I had a problem to see my hands in this dark, and i could hear some wishpers around me. Yep. I think i just peed myself. I think i could hear something approach me from all directions, panting deeply. I was sweating and shaking in fear, ready for anything that will happen. In the dark i could see already some kind of a glowing red eyes... yep, coming from everywhere. If i have to gues, it's about few meters away from me at this point. Well, i gues that's all about my life in Eque-

"JACK!" Suddenly a strange kind of white glowing orb flew over here, showing everything around me. There... there was nothing. Just some trees and nothing else. After a while Twilight came after this ball, her horn glowing. Well, i gues it's her.

"Oh my god, Jack, you're alive! Everyone were worried, how did you end up here? All i could see was an huge group of guards flying away from direction of Everfree forest! I've explained everything to Shinning Armor already, we had this party, but then suddenly one of guards came to Sugar Cube Corner and reported that you've dissapeared in the Everfree... You've been here for 3 hours?" 3 hours? It's been a little bit longer than i expected.

"I'm fine Twilight, but please let's get out of here, i'll ask your questions later." She nodded as we went, i think i was still shaking, but i didnt cared as long as i was about to leave this place.

When we left forest, we went straight to Sugar Cube Corner. Surpisingly, Pinkie Pie wasnt there, so we just decided to stay here and have fun before she will arrive. Shinning Armor was there, so i decided to have a little conversation with him. As it came out, his guards reported that i was already dead, so this party kinda died for a while, but then Twilight said she can sense my presence, which means i was still alive, so ponies get back in good mood. Wow, i had no idea that other ponies than Twilight and her friends actualy care about me. Party ended at the evening, and when i was about to leave, suddenly Pinkie Pie stoped me at the doorstep.

"Jack? Ohmygosh, i've been looking for you everywhere! When i saw that group of guards chasing you, i was totaly shocked! I tried to stop them, but they didnt listened to me! And then-"

"Pinkie, i'm fine."

"Sigh I'm sorry Jack, i shouldnt force you into that... And i broke my promise. I was supoused to stop that if something went wrong, and it went even worse... I'm sorry..." Her smile dissapeared as she turned her gaze away.

"Pinkie Pie, you're wrong. I wasnt forced into that, i did that because i wanted to help you. And second thing, you shouldnt blame yourself for the fact you couldnt stop a group of guards trying to put me down. Nobody could." She looked back at me.

"So... You're not mad?"

"I'm not mad. How would i be mad on one of my friends?" Her smile came back at that, as i gave my own little smile. Before i could do anything, she quickly hugged me.

"Thank you Jack for everything you did for me, i really appreciate your help!" She said while hugging me tightly.

"It's nothing, Pinkie. I do believe i will need to get back to library now." She backed away, wide grin on her face.

"Yup, i gues you should! See ya tommorow!"

"See you tommorow." And with that, she came back into Sugar Cube Corner as i went into direction of Twilight home.

When i entered it, Twilight perked out from kitchen. After she saw me, a smile appeard at her face. I know that smile of hers. She's planning something. I slowly went farther into room, trying to ignore Twilight and get straight to my room. I think she realized what i'm trying to do, since she spoke when i was in front of her already.

"So, Jack, i'm glad you're back! Tell me, do you happen to remember our little conversation about magic of friendship in creatures living in Equestria?" She smiled, still peerking out of kitchen.

"Uhmm... No." Bullshit, i just dont feel like doing anything for today anymore, i just want to have this day after me. She looked confused for a second, but her smile came back after a second.

"Well, i do remember! C'mon, stay here, i need to get something before we can start!" She happily said as she went back to kitchen. Now's the chance!" I havent even made two steps before she quickly came back, levitating 2 leaves - one red and one blue. What is it, Matrix?

"Alright, i need you to sit on the floor, i will take care of rest!" I heavily sighed, but did as she said. She put a red leaf by my left and a blue one by my right. She looked at it for a second, before she yelled.

"Spike! Can you please come here for a second? I need you for something!" After a few seconds, Spike came quickly downstairs, looking quite worried.

"Ummm... If you want to ask about this broken window that someone covered with a wallpaper, then i have no idea who would do that!" I rolled my eyes as Twilight facehooved. Have someone told him that he cant lie yet?

"We will talk about this later Spike, can you set these leaves on fire?"

He looked at the leaves by my sides for a second before she set them on fire, first the red one and second the blue one. Red leaf had obviously red flame, but somehow it was really big. I was actualy worried that this would actualy burn me. Blue leaf had... Green flame? It was rather small, not even covering whole leaf. Twilight looked rather confused at that as well.

"That's strange... If you had a magic of friendship in you, this flame would be blue... But green? I've never seen something like that before! That's amazing! I will need to search about what green flame means!" I think i could see a spark in her eyes.

"Twilight, can i go now?" She looked at me, looking a little bit ashamed.

"Ah... Of course, you can go... Spike, i will need your help in my researches, if that's not a problem of course!" He sighed, but after a second he nodded his head. "Thank you Spike, i really appreciate it." She smiled as they both went in the second room, leaving me alone in the hall. Alright, mister bed, i'm coming.

I was sitting at my throne, talking with Luna by my side when suddenly a guard came in, looking quite worried.

"Princess, i have a report about what happend in Ponyville." My sister looked rather interested at that.

"Speak then, please." I calmy said, expecting the worst. When i first heard about Jack getting out of control, i was really worried. I dont want anyone to be hurt, but if i will need to... put him down, i will do it. For Equestria.

"Apparently this call was false, from what ponies from Ponyville said. Captain Shinning Armor is avoiding talking about this, he only said that Jack is innocent and alive. Captain was missing for most of day, he came back an hour ago. Last time when we saw human was when he ran into Everfree forest, trying to escape. We dont have any information about what happend after that." I couldnt believe what i heard. This is rather complicated... Jack went into Everfree forest, but Shinning Armor said he's still alive. We got a call about him getting out of control and hurting other ponies, but yet again captain said he's innocent... I think i will need to talk with our captain about this.

"That's all? Nothing happend meanwhile what would stop captain?" Luna asked, looking rather confused.

"Well, that's all i'm informed about. From what i remember, there was a party organized by a pony named Pinkamena Diane Pie, but i dont think captain would stay here." Luna raised an eyebrow, but after a second she shook her head.

"Alright, thank you guard, you may leave now." He bowed and left our throne room. I looked at Luna, who was thinking deeply about something.

"Are you worried about something, dear sister?" I asked with calm voice. She looked at me, looking rather worried.

"Sister... I have been spying on Jack as you asked me, and from what i saw, it was all planned to make Shinning Armor came at his birthday party."

"Ah, that is right, our captain have a birthday today... I think i should get something for him in that ocasion." My sister looked at me, looking rather confused, but after a while shook her head and continued.

"But it's not the thing that is worrying me. Apparently Twilight Sparkle was testing Jack, to check if magic of friendship is in him... But instead of that magic, she found his corruption." I was rather shocked at that.

"She did the leaf test?" Luna nodded. "How big was the fire?"

"Rather small, and i can sense his corruption get smaller from the last time i checked." I smiled at that.

"I'm glad to know that his friends are helping him, without even knowing it." Luna nodded, giving her own smile.

"Well, i supouse thou should go to bed now, it's nearly midnight." I looked throu the window, and it was indeed late already. Now that she mentioned it, i felt really tired.

"I do believe you're right sister. Good luck."

"Farewell, Tia. Let the dreams never let you down." I nodded and went to my bedroom. I've put my head on a soft pillow, but i couldnt sleep for a longer while, i still had one thought in my head.

I think i will need to visit Ponyville soon.