The End of an Era

The door to the library swung open and Twilight slowly guided a sweating and heavily panting Jack inside from the night air.

“Fuckin... ponies... act like... they've never seen blood...” He gasped out as Twilight guided him over toward the couch in the middle of the room. After the altercation in the hallway of the hospital with a nurse, Jack took his shredded clothes with him and with the help of Twilight, managed to get his pants on.

Twilight remained silent as she continued to support Jack's extra weight on her back and steady his balance with her magic. She nudged him over to the edge of the couch and helped him down onto the cushions.

“Man Sparky, you're a life saver.”

“I still think you should be in the hospital.”

“What, and miss out on you in a skimpy nurse outfit? Never!”

Twilight glared at him and then released her magical grip on him, causing him to collapse into the couch. He clenched his teeth as pain rocketed through his body.

“Shit woman...” He snapped, sucking air in through his teeth, causing a hissing sound.

Twilight turned away and called out. “Spike! Spiiiike!”

The purple draconic assistant came running down the stairs with an eager smile on his face.

“Twilight! You're home! How's Jack? Is he okay?”

She approached the dragon and sighed heavily. “Jack's alright. I need you to go get him and I some water and then I need your help in the lab.”

Spike nodded quickly and then trotted off to the kitchen to complete the first part of his task.

Jack adjusted himself on the couch, slowly moving into a position lying on his left side tenderly with his head propped up on the arm of the couch. Twilight moved over to her small writing desk and started to gather up scrolls and quills in her magic.

As Twilight crossed the room, Jack reclined himself into the couch. His eyes fell on the back of Twilight's mane, however when she ducked her head under the desk, his eyes wandered down to her rear. While she rummaged around for her supplies, she unconsciously swayed her hips and her tail back and forth, causing Jack to lick his lips and keep his eyes glued to the show he was receiving from her.

Oh yea bitch, shake that ass for me, come on girl, shake that ass for me, shake that ass for me

Wow, really?

You already slept with her, and if she's putting on a show, why not watch?

A loud belch came from the kitchen, along with a green flash, signaling a new letter from the Princess. Spoke soon made his way out of the kitchen with a tray containing two glasses of water and the scroll clutched in his tail. He approached Jack first and stopped beside him, holding up the tray.

“Here you go Jack” He said with a smile.

“Thanks little dude.” Jack replied, still not taking his eyes off of Twilight. He picked up the water with his right hand and placed it on the couch cushion in front of his chest, but keeping his hand on it to keep it steady.

Good to see you can be somewhat civil.

Shut the fuck up, I'm trying to enjoy the show.

Spike smiled and turned away from Jack, heading over towards Twilight.

“Twilight, here's the water and a letter from the Princess.” Spike stated as he approached her.

“Ah hah!” Twilight shouted, raising her head, the floating bottle of ink and her tail in victory.

Praise the sun... or would it be the moon?

Twilight then turned her head and recalled what Spike had told her. “Good, thank you Spike, now let's go to the lab.”

The lavender unicorn then turned away from the baby dragon and trotted off towards the basement door that was located in the wall under the stairs. Spike sighed and continued to follow her across the room and then into the doorway.

Jack's eyes followed the mare's flank from one side of the room to the other, and then as far as he could before she disappeared down the stairs to the basement. He took his first sip of water as the door closed and he continued to stare at it. After a few moments he realized that once again he was alone and he clenched his teeth.

Goddamn it, stupid bitch left me alone again, now what the fuck am I going to do?

Twilight's Lab

“Twilight, there's a letter from the princess for you” Spike stated as the two of them reached a desk covered in loose papers.

“Why didn't you say so Spike?!” Twilight shouted as she turned around to look at her loyal assistant. She then dropped the papers, quill and ink well onto the desk and snatched the scroll from the grip of Spike's tail. She then unfurled it and read it aloud, sitting down on her haunches.

“My faithful student Twilight,

It was good to see you again, if only briefly and under such circumstances. I must however, ask why you allowed Jack to leave the hospital. It is my belief that he could be better served by the ponies who's calling is to help, however I do trust in your judgment. I am also writing to ask if you have noticed any changes in Jack's behavior, or if this is normal for him. From your letters, he did not seem to be well. Please let me know if you find anything or if you require assistance.

Princess Celestia”

Twilight lowered the scroll from her face and looked at Spike, who was standing there still clutching the metal tray with a confused look on his face.

“So, Jack's sick?” he asked innocently.

Twilight sighed again and rolled the scroll back up.

“I don't know Spike, but he has been acting rather strangely. He also wont tell me why he ended up in the hospital. I'll need to look through my notes to see if I can come up with anything. That's why I need your help down here.”

Upstairs

Jack laid on the couch, still staring at the door that Spike and Twilight had disappeared into earlier, however his eyes were unfocused as he zoned out, staring at the door.

Tick... tock... tick... tock...

So, did you learn anything?

Tick... tock... tick... tock...

Fine, not like you had anything important to say anyway...

Tick... tock... tick... KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The sudden knocking at the front door caused Jack to refocus and turn his head into the direction of the obtrusive sound.

“IT'S OPEN!” He shouted at the mysterious visitor. After a few moments the door opened revealing a slightly perturbed Rarity. She entered into the main room and shut the door behind her.

Oh no...

“Rarity! I was just thinking about you!” Jack said, raising his right arm up and motioning for her to come over. “Forgive me for not standing, but I'm a tad out of sorts at the moment.”

Rarity looked around the main room once over, searching for any sign of Twilight. When she found none, she started her way towards the laying man.

“Darling, you are too kind. I was looking for you as well. Why are you not at the hospital?” Rarity asked, smiling sweetly as she approached the side of the couch.

“Because it's a hospital filled with ponies.” Jack stated flatly. “Anyway, you're here now and that's all that matters.” He replaced his right hand on top of his chest and looked the mare over.

“Quite right.” She flicked her head, causing her purple curled mane to bounce in acknowledgment. “After what you did for my little sister, Sweetie Belle, and her little friends, I wanted to thank you personally.”

Jack raised his eyebrow slightly and suppressed a smirk.

I know how you can thank me...

“So, after you get well, I wanted you to come by my shop and I'll make you an entire new wardrobe free of charge!” She stated happily, raising her head up and preparing herself for the inevitable praise.

“How about no.” Jack replied flatly, giving the alabaster unicorn a deadpan stare.

Rarity opened her eyes and stared off into space, blinking a few times as her mind processed his answer. She then turned her head down and looked at him. “No? Surely there must be something I can do?”

“Yea, there is...” He replied quietly, his light blue eyes focusing on her deep blues. He rolled over onto his back slowly and then patted his chest with his right hand. “Come up here and keep me company for a little while.”

She stopped for a moment and looked the situation over. After only the slightest of pauses she gingerly crept up onto the couch and started to align her body with his. Jack slowly moved his left arm out of the way of her so that she could lay down chest to chest with him.

“Just be careful of the shoulder.” He warned as Rarity laid down and pressed her weight into him, her legs on either side of his chest and hips. As she settled in, she unconsciously wiggled her hips into his. After she was finished moving Jack raised his arms and places his hands on her back and started gently stroking her fur.

“Mm... you smell wonderful, Rarity.” He whispered to her causing her to blush.

“Why, thank you dear, a lady must put her best hoof forward after all.”

“Of course, and I appreciate it. Sorry if I don't smell too great, I'm not even sure if I got cleaned up when they brought me to the hospital.”

“Well, I think I can bear the smell for a while, you did save my sister after all.” she said, looking down into his eyes.

Jack started to alternate running his hands up and down her spine slowly, stopping just before he got to her hips. “So how is your sister?”

Rarity sighed both from the comforting feeling of the back rub, and remembering the exhausting time she spent cleaning her sister. “Well, I'm still not sure. Physically she's fine, save for the dreadful orange stains she has in her coat from... well from your blood darling. When I saw that she was covered in filth and blood I couldn't tell you how scared I was for her.” Rarity rested her head next to his on the arm of the couch and nestled into his chest a little closer, enjoying the warmth from his body.

“After spending hours cleaning her up and trying to calm her down enough so that I could get the story from her, I knew I had to check on you.”

Jack smiled at her and ran his right hand down her back and along the side of her thigh, his fingertips tracing out her cutie marks. “Well thank you for your concern, but you know, it wasn't that big of a deal. Just went out for a walk and then ended up in the hospital.”

Rarity tittered softly and inched her face closer to his, staring at him with half lidded eyes. “That's not the way she told it. She said you appeared just in time to face a whole pack of dreadful timber-wolves in order to save her.”

She sighed and looked away, off towards the back of the room. “Oh I can just see it now, a strong and mysterious knight in shining armor coming to the rescue of defenseless mares and fillies everywhere.”

What a crock of shit.. you almost got your ass eaten by that huge fuck monster...

Almost is the key word there.

“Yea I'm pretty great huh?” He teased as he traced his fingers back up the side of her body to her shoulders. Rarity closed her eyes and smiled in acknowledgment, allowing her legs to fully relax so that the full weight of her hips was pressed into his. Upon feeling the extra weight, he smiled and ran both of his hands down her back towards her hips and rounded her flanks, his fingertips gripping the back of her thighs lightly. Rarity then inhaled sharply and quickly as she felt his hands grip her.

“So how are you doing?” Jack asked innocently as he kneaded her thighs and flanks gently, causing the ivory seamstress to moan softly.

“Oh.. my.. Well.. I must admit that this feels much better than the massages at the spa.” Rarity replied quietly.

“The magic of fingers, you want to know what else I can do with these?” He asked, moving his lips to her ear and whispering quietly, causing her ear to flick from the heat of his breath.

Rarity shuddered as thoughts raced through her mind, causing her tail to lift slowly. Jack took notice of this and moved his right hand up and gripped the base of her tail lightly and tugged on it, causing a jolt of pleasure to rocket up the mare's spine. She raised her head up slightly and bit her lower lip as she closed her eyes, trying her best to hide her excitement from him. Jack grinned even wider as his eyes were glued to her face, while his left hand slowly moved from gripping her thigh, to underneath her tail and tracing the outline of her marehood.

“Jack...” Was all Rarity managed to get out before he ran his fingertips across her clit, causing her body to go rigid with pleasure.

“Mhm?” He asked, his right hand tugging again on the base of her indigo curled tail, his left hand continuing to prod and tease at her nether lips. Just as Rarity opened her mouth to reply, he pressed his left middle finger inside of her all the way to the knuckle. She gasped quickly and used her forelegs to clench onto the sides of his chest. The added pressure of this grip caused Jack to grit his teeth as pain raced up his back again.

Rarity finally opened her eyes and looked down at the man, panting slightly and moving her lips just above his. Jack started to move his finger in and out of her slowly, but rubbing and curling inside of her, giving her sensations she's never felt before.

As the two of them were becoming lost in each other, the basement door swung open loudly and clacked against the wall it was attached to. This sudden noise caused Jack to freeze, where as Rarity jumped up and off of the couch, removing herself from his grip. Both of them watched as a notebook filled with loose papers floated out of the doorway surrounded by a glowing purple aura, followed closely by the grand inquisitor herself, Twilight Sparkle.

“Alright Jack, I have some questions for you.” Twilight said, her nose buried in the open floating notebook and not paying attention to anyone in the room.

“No problem Sparky...” He said, barely disguising his frustration about being interrupted.

“Sparky?!” Rarity asked, her face beginning to move from surprise to shock and disbelief.

At the addition of another voice in the room, Twilight lowered her notebook and found Rarity standing there staring at Jack. “Rarity? When did you get here?”

“Not too long ago.” Jack answered for her.

“Quite, and I was actually just leaving. Sorry I can't stay darling, but you know how it is.” Rarity replied, trying to compose herself from the recent events.

Twilight looked between Jack, who was looking at her, and Rarity, who was staring at Jack. Once again she had found one of her friends alone with him and they both looked as if something was wrong when she got there. Twilight scribbled a note down in her book and then looked over to Rarity.

“Alright Rarity, I'll walk you out.”

Twilight moved over to her friend and the two mares continued on to the front door. Jack smirked and raised his left hand up to his lips and licked his middle finger clean as he watched their hips sway as they walked away. Twilight opened the door and guided her friend out into the night. Once both of them were outside, she shut the door and then faced Rarity.

“Rarity, I have to tell you something.” Twilight said quietly, just loud enough for the other mare to hear her.

Rarity looked back at her and bit her lower lip in nervousness.

“Jack is acting very strangely, and I'm sure you've noticed it too. I'd like you to tell the other girls to give him some space, at least until I figure out what's wrong with him.”

She nodded and then looked off towards the town. After pausing a moment she turned back to Twilight and asked the question that had just entered her mind.

“He called you 'Sparky'. Darling, are you two an item?” Rarity asked hesitantly.

“No, of course not!” Twilight stammered out, allowing the darkness of the night to hide her blush.

“No I mean, he just started calling me that recently today after I met him in the hospital.”

Rarity breathed a sigh of relief and then nodded. “Alright dear, I'll be sure to let the other girls know. Have a good night Twilight.”

“Good night Rarity.”

The two unicorns hugged each other gently and then Rarity turned and walked away. As Rarity left, Twilight sat down on her haunches and looked up at the moon in the night sky, wondering what had happened to her newest friend that would not only put him in the hospital, but also change him so. After thinking for a few moments, Twilight got back on her hooves and went inside the library.

Upon returning inside she found Jack with his left hand up to his nose and his right hand resting behind the back of his head, propping it up as he stared at the ceiling. She shut the door and crossed the room, the notebook floating along side of her.

“Alright Jack, I think it's time we talk.”

“Your wish is my command Sparky.” He answered, dropping his left hand back down onto his chest gently and smirking over at her. “Did you find what you were looking for in your lab? You're not going to do a bunch of weird experiments on me are you?”

“If you don't tell me what I want to know, I might!” She said, sitting down in front of the couch and facing him.

He sighed and then closed his eyes. “Alright ask away.”

Twilight opened the notebook to a blank page and laid it down in front of her, picking up a quill and preparing to take notes.

“So what happened today that put you in the hospital?”

“I was out walking, then I heard a yell and ran to see what was up. There I found some wooden wolves attacking some little ponies so I killed the wolves. That's how I got this.” He said flatly, pointing at the bandage on his left shoulder that was still showing some flecks of blood from the bite marks.

Twilight started writing until he said he killed the timber wolves and she looked up at him with wide eyes.

“After that, there was this big fucking monster with a lion head and scorpion tail that was chasing after us so I grabbed the little ones and ran out of the forest. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough, got clipped,” he pointed his thumb over his other shoulder to signal the damage to his back, “then ended up in the hospital, probably thanks to Fluttershy, again.”

Gods I have to make sure I get that little yellow ass to squeal to say thanks.

Jesus Christ....

Twilight sat stunned with her mouth open for a few moments until she found the words. “Jack... wow... you saved those little fillies! That's amazing! Why didn't you say so in the first place?”

“I didn't feel like it.”

She stared in disbelief at him and then looked over his body slowly. She could see the blood creeping up the sides of his bandages and down into the couch.

“We need to get you cleaned up, and off the couch.”

“Alright, sexy nurse sponge bath time!”

Twilight shook her head and face-hoofed in exasperation. She rose to her hooves and then took a deep breath before igniting her horn and surrounding him in a light purple glow. She raised him from the couch and levitated him in front of her.

“Hey, put me down, I can walk you know.” He stated as he floated in the air and looked down at her.

“This is faster and safer for going up the stairs.” Twilight answered. She turned and carried him up the stairs slowly. Once they got upstairs, she was beginning to sweat and breath heavily. Jack clenched his jaw and remained silent as he watched her. Twilight then guided them down the hall to the closed bathroom door. “Can you get that?”

Jack said nothing as he reached out and opened the door, barely able to hide his growing anger at the situation. Once inside she set him down in a sitting position in the tub and released her magic with a heavy sigh of relief.

“I could have walked you know.” He quipped as he rested his elbows against the sides of the tub.

Twilight glared at him and then shook her head. “Alright, let's get you out of your clothes so I can clean you up.”

“I was just kidding, I don't need you to clean me up.” Jack said as he unbuttoned the front of his pants.

Twilight looked at him with a confused look but then shook her head as she started to remove his soiled bandages. After a few moments of silence and shuffling around in the tub she had his bandages off and he had his pants only about halfway down his hips.

Jack grit his teeth as he tried to push his pants down his body with just his right hand, since moving his left caused him constant bursts of pain, and his back was now on fire due to coming in contact with air.

Twilight watched as the man struggled, and she frowned slightly. She lit up her horn and surrounded his pants in her lavender aura. As soon as he saw the aura start to surround his pants he snapped at her.

“Hey, I fucking got this, back off!”

Twilight stopped immediately and looked at him. Once she dropped the aura he resumed his struggle with his pants. After a few more moments he took a deep breath and used his left hand as well as started to bend his back so that he could get his pants off.

“Jack, I can...” Twilight started but was quickly interrupted.

“Shut up! Shut the FUCK up! Just give me the sponge and get the FUCK out!” He growled at her as he sucked in air sharply due to the pain rocking his body.

Twilight bit her lower lip and fought back her growing concern. She levitated the large sponge over and placed it gently into the tub beside him. Jack finally kicked his pants off and then threw them out of the tub and onto the floor. He gripped the sides of the tub and slid himself forward so he could reach the knobs. Twilight moved over and pushed the plunger in the tub down so that the water would pool in it instead of draining out.

“Hey, Don't you fucking listen you stupid horse? I said get the FUCK OUT!” He turned to her and glared.

Twilight recoiled and started to back away from him, fighting the tears back. After a few steps she turned and ran out of the bathroom and slammed the door closed behind her.

“Good...” Jack said as he watched her run out and he turned back to the knobs on the tub. He turned the water on and it started spraying out of the shower head instead of the faucet and the sudden contact with water hit his back, causing a fresh wave of pain to wash over him. “FUCK!!”

You didn't have to be such an asshole

“Shut up you stupid bitch!” He said to himself as he flipped the switch so that the water came out of the faucet instead of the shower.

She was just trying to help.

“I didn't need her help!”

Well it wouldn't have hurt.

“Shut the fuck up...”

You're the reason that Marie never gave us a chance.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP! DON'T YOU FUCKING EVER SAY THAT NAME TO ME AGAIN!” He snapped and slammed his fist against the wall, causing it to splinter and cut into his right hand.

Twilight's Room

Twilight slammed the door to her room and teleported up to the loft where her bed was and threw herself onto the mattress, clutching her pillow to her chest with her hooves as she finally broke down and started crying into it.

The door to her room opened slowly and Spike slowly poked his head into the room to see what was wrong.

“Twilight...? Are you alright?” He asked quietly as he entered the room and shut the door behind him.

Upon hearing his voice she clenched the pillow tighter and rolled so she was facing away from him.

“Yes... Spike... I'm fine... I'm just tired.” She replied, unable to steady her voice.

Spike climbed the staircase to the loft and slowly made his way to his basket at the foot of her bed. “You don't sound fine Twilight, what happened?”

“It's Jack... He's not well and I don't know what's wrong with him.” She said after a few moments pause.

“Maybe, we should ask the Princess for help. She told us she'd help if we needed it.” Spike offered as he sat inside his basket.

Twilight dried her eyes with a hoof and then looked out the window towards the moon. She then nodded and climbed out of bed, and down the stairs to her desk where she began her next letter.

Bathroom

Jack pulled up the stopper out of the reddened water and squeezed out the sponge with his left hand, a scowl on his face as he stared at the drain, watching the bloodied water vacate the tub. The bathroom was silent save for the sound of the water draining. After the tub had emptied he kicked the switch back to “shower” mode and turned the cold water on in order to rinse the rest of the blood-water mixture off of himself. After a few more minutes of cleaning he turned the water off and squeezed the sponge out again.

The next task before him was climbing out of the tub, which would prove a challenge with a broken hand, shredded back and injured shoulder. It took a considerable amount of pain and determination, but after a few minutes of a struggle he was standing outside of the tub and breathing heavily. He searched around for a towel, and grumbled to himself.

“Fucking 'purple smart' forgot the goddamn towel.”

He shuffled across the floor, doing his best to keep steady with his left hand and his back straight. He opened the door to the bathroom and slowly made his way to where she kept the towels, dripping water on the floor along the way. He opened the door to the linen closet and pulled out a few towels, then slammed it shut.

He turned and shuffled down the hallway again to his room and pushed his way inside. As he dried himself he continued to look around the room. He brought nothing other than himself, his boots and his clothes to this world. He shook his head and made his way to the bed. Once he got to it, he threw the blankets open and collapsed onto his chest in order to not put any pressure on his back. He shuddered slightly from the cold, but found a way to work his legs underneath the covers.

From the struggle of the passed day, he suddenly found himself overcome by fatigue and he closed his eyes.

Well, here's hoping I don't wake up tomorrow...

And with that last thought he sighed and slipped into another night of sleep.