The End of an Era

"Wonder what she tastes like?"

What is wrong with me...?

Fluttershy turned around and landed back on her front hooves. "Oh good Jack you're awake!"

Yea...

"Feels like I got hit by a fucking tank..."

Fluttershy looked up at him with her head cocked slightly in confusion. Jack however, stared at her in half disguised surprise.

I didn't mean to say that...

I did...

"Are you feeling alright Jack?" Fluttershy asked as she slowly approached the side of the bed.

Oh no...

Oh yes... Jack thought to himself as he smiled at the approaching pegasus.

"Of course, Shy... Especially now that you're here..." As she reached his bedside, Jack raised his right hand up and placed it gently on her cheek, rubbing his thumb gently against her fur. Fluttershy blushed lightly and smiled, nuzzling into his hand slightly.

"I-I'm just glad you're alright..."

Jack pulled his hand away and patted his chest gently. "Come on up."

The yellow and pink mare bit her lip gently and looked at the man resting in the hospital bed. The thin blankets that had been placed over his body did little more than shield his body and bandages from the light in the room. Fluttershy could see the top of his chest wrapped up in bandages and his left shoulder, with little flecks of blood staining slightly through the otherwise fresh bandage.

"Are you sure it's alright? I don't want to hurt you more..."

Jack patted the space on the bed next to his right side and then chuckled slightly. "Yes now get up here."

Fluttershy nodded then spread her wings, taking flight just above his bed. She then gingerly placed her hind legs on the spot where Jack just patted next to his side while his arm raised up in order to make room for her. After her rear legs were firmly planted on the bed she gently lowered her front half down and against his chest, folding her front legs under her so that she could lay against him. Jack flinched slightly at the pain caused by the added weight of the mare laying on top of him. Once settled, she tucked her wings back against her sides and smiled up at him as Jack rested his hand down on the back of her neck.

"Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked as she glanced at Jack's slightly grimacing face. "Oh I know I shouldn't have come up here."

"Shh.. I'm fine now..." Jack said as he moved his left hand from his side to her cheek. "Besides, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here."

Fluttershy smiled softly and then nodded, looking away slightly.

"Also, we have to stop meeting like this... If I have to come to the hospital every time I want to see you then we're going to have some problems."  This caused both of them to laugh softly.

"You know Shy, you're a very beautiful mare..." Jack said as he slowly ran his fingers down the back of her neck and through her mane. Fluttershy blushed and tried to hide her face slightly from him, her big teal eyes focusing on his light blue ones. Jack then moved his hand down her neck slowly until his finger tips touched he leading edge of her wing. She gasped slightly and her wings began to open involuntarily. Jack never took his eyes away from hers as he continued to run his fingertips along her extending wing. Upon reaching the tip he retraced his path back down to the shoulder joint and squeezed softly with his fingertips, sending a wave of pleasure racing through the yellow pegasus. Jack smirked at the gasp and continued his path down the side of her body, his fingers working in circles against her fur.

"I don't think I ever thanked you for saving my life... now for the third time." He whispered as his left hand guided her face closer to his. Fluttershy closed her eyes slowly as her blush deepened.

Jack continued his caressing down her side and stopped at her cutie mark, taking a handful of her fur and squeezing firmly, causing her pink tail to lift up slightly.

That's enough!

Shut up! Just sit back and watch, maybe you'll learn something, and you'll definitely thank me later.

Just as Jack was closing the last remaining inches between his face and Fluttershy's the hospital room door swung open, revealing a slightly panicked and out of breath purple visitor.

"Fluttershy! I came as soon as... I..." Twilight's voice trailed off as she took in the sight of her normally timid friend on top of the injured man. The two caught in the act looked over at their mutual friend. Fluttershy was the first to respond, quickly jumping up and off of the bed, facing Twilight, her wings still extended and her tail raised, giving Jack the perfect view of what he had just missed out on.

"Oh! Um, Twilight... Thank goodness you're here, I was just leaving. Bye!" And with that, Fluttershy quickly trotted past her, through the door and down the hallway.

Twilight's head followed her friend from the bed to the floor and then ultimately out into the hall and around the corner. She stood in silence for a few moments, then glanced back at a smirking Jack with his arms crossed, sitting up in his hospital bed.

3... 2... 1...

"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?!"

What she said!

Jack laughed and placed a hand over the wound on his shoulder. "Nice to see you too Sparky."

"What did you call me?!" Twilight shouted, approaching the side of the bed. She kicked the door shut as she entered the room and with each step she took she became more and more infuriated with the situation.

"Would you prefer Sparkle Butt?" Jack said, never losing his smug grin, even with his impending doom looming ever closer.

"Why you!" The furious purple unicorn shouted as she ignited her horn.

"Whoa now babe, I'm injured you know!" He said as he held up his hands in mock protest. "What would your princess say if she knew you blasted me while I was laid up in the hospital?"

Twilight growled and held her spell for a few moments, then released it with a sigh of defeat. As soon as the spell faded a brilliant white light engulfed the room and a thunderous cracking was heard. Jack raised a hand to shield his eyes as he turned his head just as the light snapped into existence, and then just as soon as it appeared it was gone. As his vision returned, he lowered his hand, revealing none other than Celestia standing at the foot of his bed. She had the same soft smile resting on her lips as always, yet her eyes seemed filled with concern.

"Speak of the devil herself..." Jack said as he crossed his arms again.

Twilight bowed her head and spoke softly. " Princess Celestia. It's good to see you again." Jack waved his right hand in the direction of the alicorn princess half in acknowledgment and half in dismissal.

"It is good to see you as well my faithful student." Celesita said, returning with a slight nod of her head to Twilight. "It is good to see that you're already awake as well Jack." Celestia said, lowering her head slightly to inspect him closer.

Better not screw this up, who know's what she'll do if she finds out you're in control.

Would you relax, jeez you're such a worrisome little bitch you know?

Jack reached his right hand out and rubbed the top of Celestia's head as she moved closer to him. His touch caused her to rocket back and away from him, her eyes locked with his.

"You know your mane is super soft and tingly." Jack said, smirking.

"JACK! Are you crazy!?" Twilight shouted, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"Maybe a little, I am in a world of talking ponies after all."

Celestia chuckled and then smiled at her student. "It's alright Twilight, I was just slightly startled."

"Oh ho! I startled a golden god! Let's see if you like chin scritches and belly rubs too!" Jack said, extending his hand out to her and closing and opening his fingers in a grabbing motion.

"Jack no!" Twilight said, illuminating her horn and causing a purple aura to surround his extending hand, holding it in place.

"Aww, well sorry Tia, looks like Sparky's jealous so no chin scritches for the princess." Jack said smugly, looking at the purple unicorn.

"Sparky? You have a pet names for each other?" Celestia teased.

Twilight blushed and stamped one of her hooves defensively. "No! Of course not!"

"Oh don't mind her Princess, she's not ready for our relationship to be public yet. Just give her some time, she'll open up to you." Jack said laughing. Twilight reddened and then her aura around his hand closed tighter, causing Jack's laugher to stop and him to clench his teeth.

"Alright alright, shit, let go Twilight."

As she released his right hand, he pulled it back to his chest and began to rub it and his fingers with his left hand. Celestia, meanwhile, chuckled softly at the spectacle before her. After a few moments she looked at the hospitalized man and her eyes became filled with concern once again.

"So Jack, what happened to cause you to be hospitalized yet again?" The alabaster princess asked.

"Oh you know, I was out walking around and I tripped. Nothing too exciting." Jack said with a slight shrug, which caused a spike of pain to surge through his injured shoulder. "Son of a bitch..." Celestia raised an eyebrow at both his answer and his pained outburst.

"You just tripped? You expect us to believe that?!" Twilight asked, raising up and putting her front hooves on the side of the bed, her face moving closer to Jack's.

He turned to look her in the eyes and smiled. "Yep, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it Sparky."

Twilight rolled her eyes and then looked back at her mentor. Jack however took this opportunity to speak first.

"So do either of you know any healing spells or do I have to take somepony hostage again to get out of here?"

Twilight looked back at the man and then frowned, shaking her head. "No, those are highly advanced spells and I'm afraid I don't know any, let alone what they would do to you."

Jack looked up at Celestia with his eyebrow raised. "What about you?"

Celestia shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry Jack, but I cannot heal you. If word got out that I healed you, then everypony would want to be healed, and I simply do not have the time or the energy to do so."

"Mmmhmm.. well alright then." Jack said, grabbing the top of the sheets with his right hand and throwing them down to his waist. Twilight backed up from the side of the bed and set her front hooves back down on the floor as she watched him. She noticed how there was slight flecks of blood showing through the bandage on his left shoulder. With another fling of the covers, Jack revealed his unclothed lower body to the two mares in the room. Celestia looked down at the man's bandaged chest and then down to his waist with her stoic smile unwavering on her face, while Twilight's eyes quickly focused on the man's hips and his semi erect member. Jack however grabbed his legs and pushed them off the side of the bed, and pulled himself up so that he was in a sitting position facing Twilight.

Celestia moved to the other side of the bed behind Jack to inspect his bandages a little more closely, and found that they were soaked with fresh blood. The bed where he was laying also had been stained slightly with streaks of blood from his wounds. Jack looked around the room and, finding nothing he shook his head and looked at Twilight. He took notice of her staring and smirked.

"Hey, my eyes are up here sweet cheeks." Jack said, snapping his fingers, getting both Twilight and Celestia's attention. "Come here."

"Jack you need to be resting! You're hurt!" Twilight said, closing the distance and gently pressing the side of her head against his chest.

Jack however planted his feet and then pulled himself up into a standing position next to Twilight. "I'm getting out of this hospital one way or another, best to just let me walk out the front door."

Celestia stood there silently as she watched the man struggle to remain standing as he crossed the room to the door. Twilight looked to her teacher and then back to the man, quickly taking her place by his right side and pressing her body up against his for support.

"Good that you finally see reason. Now let's blow this joint and get you into a hot nurse's outfit so you can take care of me." Jack smacked Twilight's rear lightly and then placed his hand on her back for support. Twilight glared up at him and then continued to guide him out into the hallway.

As the two made their way out into the hall, Celestia remained standing behind the bed watching them leave the room. As soon as the door shut behind them, Celestia dropped her smile. She stared at the drying blood on the mattress and tried to piece together the answers she had in her mind. Even as soon as she entered the room she could tell something was off, but she couldn't place the cause. Why was Jack acting so strangely? Was it the blood loss or was this how he really acted? This man seemed so different from the one she had seen previously, however she couldn't be sure. And what about her student? Surely Twilight would have put up more of a fight to keep him in the hospital. Why did she aid him in this foolish venture?

As she thought, the sound of a metal tray falling and a mare screaming could be heard down the hallway. Celestia remained unfazed as she heard Jack shouting back at the mare. She would have to make it a point to visit Jack again and soon.