Jack Sawyer was sitting on the couch in the living room of his room at the Alhambra inn he had been living in for the past several months. He looked out the window for several minutes in depression, hoping for Wolf to come back to him. Just to see a small sign of him would fill his heart with heart racing joy.
The clouds that covered the sky were a gloomy grey color, which didn't make anything better. He sighed in disappointment as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
His friend, Richard walked out of Jack's bedroom and saw his friend was depressed about something... but what? He approached him and placed his hand on Jack's shoulder, catching him by surprise. Jack turned around quickly and their eyes met for several seconds. Jack realized the tear was still on his face and wiped it away as quickly as possible before his friend noticed.
"What's wrong, Jack?" Richard asked.
"What-what do you mean?" He gave off a wan smile but Richard didn't buy it.
"For the past few days you've been looking out that window. Your looking for someone, aren't you?"
Jack wanted to tell him about the Territories so much... about the journey they both went on to save his mom's (and the queen's) life. But he made a promise to never remind his friend about the other world that they both once traveled through.
"I... I don't know what your talking about. I'm just looking out the window. What's wrong with that?"
"I know something's up. What is it?"
Jack let out an exasperated sigh and looked down. "Oh rational Richard... you don't understand. I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
Jack looked up and stared into Richard's eyes. "I just can't. Leave it be."
His friend took a few steps back. "Okay alright... I'll drop the subject."
Jack turned around again and continued looking out the window. He thought it was about time he should visit the Territories again and look around.
"I'm going for a walk." Jack said quickly. "If my mom comes up here from the tea shop, tell her I'm just walking around, okay?"
Richard nodded and Jack moved in to hug him. Richard hugged him back. "Just come back soon." He said.
Jack knew that his 'walk' would take a long time, so he remained silent.
Several minutes passed and he was outside, looking out at the ocean. He closed his eyes and started to think of the rotten bitter taste of the grapes that was probably just a foul alcohol that has friend Speedy had once given him; the drink that introduced Jack to The Territories.
He suddenly felt as if he was falling backward. It was working. He was entering The Territories.
The scent of car gasoline and pollution was replaced with something more fresh... more divine. He opened his eyes to see the same ocean he was staring out at a few moments ago. Turning around, he saw a small portion of the Pavilion. He moved closer toward it to see more. People walked around everywhere; guards stood at their posts to make sure nothing went wrong.
A familiar voice appeared behind him. "Well, we meet once more."
Jack turned around to see a man standing there with a scar underneath his eye in the shape of a lightning bolt. It was Captain Farren.
"You saved the queen. Good job kid. What brings you back here?"
"I'm looking for someone."
"Who?"
"His name is Wolf. I met him during my mission. But he died."
Farren looked at him for a while and rested his hand on the handle of his sword. "He's gone. He's not coming back."
"That's not what his brother told me. I was told he'll come back alive at some point. Things don't stay dead forever."
Farren paused. "Well, good luck in trying to find him. But there hasn't been many Wolfs around here ever since you defeated Morgan of Orris and Osmond."
"Then I'm going to where I met Wolf. This will take a long time but I must try."
"Good luck."
Jack felt determined to achieve his new goal, but what would his mother and his friend think? He already left his mother once. Doing it a second time would make them worry even more, considering he said that he'd be on a walk.
Nevertheless, he ventured down the road... he ventured west.
Around an hour later, he was still traveling down the road. Except he had a change of scenery. He walked down the forest and noticed there were still gray, deformed trees closer to the road then usual.
(OUR BOY? YESSS)
He carefully observed them as he walked forward. He felt them watching... waiting for him.
(YESSS)
As he continued walking, he heard their roots digging out of the ground and crawl toward him. He looked back instantly and saw that there was no way to dodge what was coming at him. One second later, he was being dragged down the ditch where the grey trees stood. He attempted to grasp onto anything to try and escape... but failed. He screamed for help but no one would hear him out here. The pavilion was too far away.
(ISSS THAT OUR BOYYY? YESSS)
The other tree's roots shot up and held him up in the air, tossing him around like a five year old child would do with a toy. Jack attempted to tear the roots off of him but had no luck. Several of the roots shot toward his neck and tightly wrapped around it, hoping for him to choke. He tried thinking of that horrible taste of the magic juice so he could get out of there before he died but the lack of air distracted him.
He put his hands to his neck and tore off the roots, one by one. Another root wrapped around his right arm, making it useless at the moment. There was only one root left. He grabbed it firmly and ripped it off of his neck. He quickly gasped for air and closed his eyes. As the roots started covering his entire body from the bottom, he imagined drinking the magic juice and tasting that horrible aftertaste. They reached for his neck again and then disappeared. Jack felt as if he was falling yet again.
He landed on the ground and expected to smell the horrid scent of pollution and car exhaust but none of that filled his nostrils. Things still smelled quite amazing. As he landed, he grunted and opened his eyes to see a blue sky with a few clouds floating by.
He sat up to see he was in the middle of an unfamiliar village. He sat up and brushed the dirt off his clothes (which were still in their Territory form). He rubbed his neck and felt the mark the trees had left as a souvenir.
Suddenly, he heard someone scream as if they were being murdered. He turned around to see who it was but only saw a few ponies standing around, watching him carefully.
"He's gonna kill us!!!" One of the ponies yelled.
They all started running in different directions and dispersed.
"Wait, what?"
He heard something running up from behind and went to turn around but only met a purple hoof to the face. Everything went black.
