Adventures of Doctor Sparkle: Honest Jack and The Harlot

Carousel Boutique stood before me, a foreboding fortress.

If The Harlot was in fact Rarity the woman that used to own the building, she knew it better than I, not a fact I was fond of. However this was my best chance at catching them and I had to take it. Though it was worth noting that if The Harlot wanted me dead I would already be, so she'd at least want to talk before trying to kill me, probably.

“I’m going in Spike,” I informed my assistant who moved to follow me before I halted him, “I’m going alone.”

“Why the hell can't I come,” he argued stomping the dirt in frustration, “what was the point of all that training?”

“We have no idea what we’re walking into,” I said crouching down to look him in the eye, “if it’s some kind of ambush I don’t want you getting caught in it. Your job will be to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior out here, and inform me if you see it, as well as being ready to back me up if you hear any fighting going on inside.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Spike conceded, still clearly not impressed with the plan, “if anything does go wrong, I’ll be in there in an instance.”

“Of course you will,” I chuckled and mussed up his hair.

Drawing a revolver I stepped into the building, the charred door crunching beneath my feet. Silence hung unnervingly in the air, as I kicked up obscuring clouds of dust. I made my way around the room making sure the area was safe, but refusing to venture deeper into the building.

“Hello,” I called down the empty halls once I had checked over the full floor room, “anyone home?”

“This way,” The Harlot’s voice sung sweetly, “I've been waiting.”

I moved slowly after the voice, keeping a safe pace, watching carefully for any traps. I reached the end of the hall, a single door waited for me. Pressing my back against the wall next to it, I reached for the handle. Turning the dusty brass slowly, I took a deep breath. Shoving open the door I leaped around the corner revolver at the ready.

The harlot stood in the center of the room, on top of a small modeling stage, unfazed by the barrel pointed at her skull. Behind her was half a writing desk, surrounded by dilapidated spools. Large shelves encroached on the room, making it feel claustrophobic.

“No need for that,” The Harlot said pointing at my weapon, “it won’t do you much good anyway, I’m a projection.”

She giggled as I cautiously walked to the center of the room and tapped her forehead with my gun’s barrel, causing the image to shimmer.

“You can see and hear me,” I started looking around the room, “so I know you’re around here. What’s stopping me from tearing this place apart looking for your right now?”

“You can try,” she shrugged, “but I’ll be gone long before you get anywhere near me.”

“Fine,” I put my revolver away, “what is it you wanted to discuss?”

“I need your help,” she said turning serious, “Jack is forcing me into this, I’m worried she’ll hurt me if I try to leave. But now you’re here, together we can stop her, as long as you promise to let me go free after.”

“And why should I do that?” I asked circling the projection, while taking subtle looks for where she could be hiding.

“Because I’m innocent, she forced me into this, I’m just as much of a victim as-”

“As the people you controlled, and stole from?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, but it wasn't my choice,” The Harlot’s head slumped solemnly, “and besides, if you don’t promise, I won’t help, and you’ll never catch Jack.”

“Well you certainly know how to make a deal Rarity, why not come out so we can shake on it?”

“So you know who I am,” Rarity didn't seem to shocked. “I had no other way, I lost everything in the fire. Now Jack won’t let me quit.”

“You still broke the law.”

“It was that or starve, Jack’s the really dangerous one, she tried to kill you.”

“I tried to kill her, she also chose to let me live. Just like you chose to steal that money.”

“It wasn’t fair!” She shouted, her voice echoing off the ashen walls, “please, I didn’t have a choice.”

Rarity fell to her knees, and turned away from me. I watched her body shake as the sound of weeping filled the room. I walked over and sat next to the projection, “Rarity,” I said in a comforting tone, “I’m going to help you.”

“Really,” she perked up almost too quick, “in that case, one hour from now, meet me at the Apple family farm, that’s where Jack is hiding out.”

I nodded then got up and left the room. Moving through the empty halls, then I hopped out the front door silently motioning Spike to follow me. We walked all the way back to the sheriff’s house without a word, then I halted in front of the door and looked around to make sure no one was nearby.

“We need to get ready as soon as possible Spike,” I told him firmly, “we’re heading to a farm to to catch our prey, and I have a sneaking suspicion we are being lied to.”

Opening the door to the sheriff’s house immediately released sounds of a loud argument. Wondering what was going on Spike and I followed the noises to their source, the living room. Standing with his arms crossed and looking extremely put out was Sherif Dust Storm, and his daughter Redheart was behind him looking furious. Two other people we had never seen before were in the room as well, a small white haired, elderly woman, she was the one yelling and behind her, a tall muscular man, much more akin to a carefully carved statue than a man, he brushed blond locks hair from his vision as he appeared to try and calm down the older woman.

“Granny, please,” he said placing a large tanned hand on the elderly woman’s shoulder, “he said he can’t help us. Let’s just go.”

“I ain’t leaving till that damn witch is in cuffs,” the grandmother shouted, growing even louder, and shaking her fist furiously at the sheriff, “she’s a criminal and worst of all she’s a danger to our family.”

“I keep telling you, I can’t arrest the poor girl, just because you don’t like here,” Sheriff Strom said firmly, it was clear he was at the end of his rope, “if you provided evidence of any criminal acts it would be different, but you haven’t.”

“She is a criminal!”

“Enough,” Dust Storm shouted, “Mrs. Apple you’re better than this, just because you don’t approve of your daughters alternative lifestyle, does not give you the right to harass an innocent women. Especially Rarity, I think it should be obvious she has been through enough!”

“You think I’m being a bigot-”

“Mrs. Apple, may I speak with you?” I interrupted, causing everyone in the room to notice my presence for the first time. “It has to do with Rarity, and would be more appropriate to discuss in private.”

The two members of the apple family looked baffled by my statement, but also curious about what I had to say. With no more words being expelled they followed where my hand pointed, right out back, where Spike and I had just entered.

“What are you doing,” Sheriff Storm asked, his face contorted with distrust.

“You’ve been more than kind to me and my companion from the moment we arrived, that women seemed to be bothering you, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to return the favor.” I lied almost effortlessly, if the sheriff were to suddenly get involved right at the end, it would only make things unpredictable.

“Well don’t let things get out of hand, out there,” he informed me, evidently buying the lie, “she may be old, but she’s tough and if you piss her off it may just be the last mistake you ever make.”

“I’ll try my best,” I said with a slight bow, “Spike, why don’t you join the two of them for tea and a chat, while I go outside?” I asked hoping he’d serve as a good distraction from whatever happened between the Apples and me.

Once Spike had waddled over to the couch and started talking about his progress in magical application I turned to the green back door. Pooking my head out I found the two Apples waiting for me, and looking impatient. I stepped out then made sure the door was shut tight, before starting the conversation.

“Hello,” I started, simple, easy, likeable, I reached a hand forward, the blond man shook it, but the older woman looked unimpressed, “I’m Doctor Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s first graduate since Starswirl, and the worlds leading authority on magical theory.”

The woman still looked unimpressed, her grandson however looked a blend of astonished and baffled. “I’m also a bounty hunter,” this again failed to really move Mrs. Apple, “and I’ve been hired to bring two criminals by the aliases Honest Jack, and The Harlot to justice. I already know the identity of The Harlot, and I believe Honest Jack to be someone on your farm.”

“My granddaughter,” Mrs.Apple said looking at the ground, “my granddaughter Applejack is Honest Jack, and the one you call The Harlot, Rarity, is living with us.”

“An unfortunate circumstance for your family,” I said coldly, “now I’m going ask you a few questions, that could help put this all behind us.”

“How, you gonna kill my AJ,” The elderly woman said all the fiery passion suddenly absent from her voice, she was still looking down but from how her body shook I could tell she was crying. Her grandson stepped forward and began rubbing her back, “I should have done something sooner, but I let her run off and make those awful decisions and now you’re going to kill her.”

“I currently have no plans to kill Honest Jack” I stated factually once again, “there are a few questions I need answered before I’d make that decision.”

“Really,” the woman sniffled, and looked up at me hopefully, I nodded firmly, and she wrapped her bony arms, as far around her muscular grandson as she could manage and began weeping into his shirt.

“Time is of the essence,” I said after a minute, grabbing Mrs. Apple’s attention, “so please, quickly tell me how all of this Harlot and Honest Jack business got started.”

“A few months ago, that witch’s business went up flames. It was tragedy then, but now I wish she went with it,” Mrs. Apple spit venom with that final statement, her previous vigor returning, “after that she started hanging around the local tavern, getting by anyway she could. My poor AJ saw her and took pity, she went into the bar, and bought her a drink, even rented her a room. They started talking, and that damn Rarity started working her magic. She manipulated her at every turn, first playing all sweet and innocent, a poor victim,” Mrs. Apple spit on the dirt and so did her grandson, “once she knew Applejack wouldn’t run away she revealed her plan to start committing heists.

“Aj refused at first,” Mrs. Apple’s eyes seemed to burn with pride at that statement, “but then Rarity started using us against her.”

“How did she manage that?” I asked, Mrs.Apple looked for a second, almost guilty.

“We were never a wealthy family,” she explained with a sad smile, “but when my son and his wife died we were barely able to make ends meet. The witch knew this and convinced AJ her plan would be the perfect way to help. So eventually my granddaughter gave in and they became criminals. At that point it was too late for me to do anything. Applejack doesn’t listen to us, she won’t stop, she is much to enchanted by that women, and thinks she is doing the right thing. And as you’ve seen I can’t go to the law, because if I turned in Rarity with evidence, AJ would go with her and I just can’t let that happen. I should have been there to keep my poor baby off this path, and I’m certainly not going to get her killed for it.”

“I’m not going to kill your granddaughter,” I assured, “I am however going to be heading over to your farm to speak with her. Is she at the farm?”

“”She is, and we’re going to go with you,” Mrs.Apple demanded

“No, you aren’t,” I said firmly, “it’ll be too dangerous.”

“We can talk to Applejack for you, keep her calm,” the blond man said, while his grandmother looked to angry for words, “besides, Applebloom is still at the house.”

“Who is that?”

“AJ’s and my, little sister.”

“Fine, you come with me, what’s your name?” I said pointing at the large man.”

“Mac, friends call me Big Mac,” he said.

“Mac it is, you’re coming with my assistant and me to your farm, you’ll take me inside, assure your sister I mean no harm, then get Applebloom and leave. Mrs. Apple, you’re staying here, no discussion.”

It unfortunately was a bit of a discussion. The elderly woman didn’t want anything to go wrong and fought tooth and nail to try and convince us to bring her. Mac and I held firm till eventually she gave up and promised to stay with Sheriff Dust Storm till we returned. Then we fetched Spike and all our necessary equipment.

The group of us travelled in the Apple families cart, Mac sat up front directing the horses, while Spike and I lay hidden in the back. There we discussed the plan. Mac would lead us inside, we’d be unarmed, then he’d make sure Jack had started talking to us before going to fetch Applebloom. Once they were safely away, more options of how to proceed opened up, if talking didn’t work we could use more forceful means, though we weren’t trying to kill her. Issues would arise when Rarity showed up, but there wasn’t much to be done about that. Once that was settled I passed around a vial for us all to drink from making sure Rarity couldn’t control any of us.

After that I settled in for the long wait, flexing my left hand in anticipation, the right was still stiff and bandaged. The ride took about half an hour, as I stared up at the cloudy afternoon sky. Only one thing informed me of the progress we made, that was the cart shaking as it jostled down the road. It only got worse as we got closer to the farm as the path was much less worn than ones for the the town.

“We’re here,” Mac announced as the cart rolled to a stop, I sat up immediately, while Spike was more groggy. Looking around I saw we sat at the foot of a large, though rickety farm house, next to it sat a large barn, and a chicken coop. Turning around the rest of what surrounded us was just fields of apple trees as far as the eye could see, except for one large pasture that cows were currently grazing. However what was most interesting was an even larger cart packed full of bags of what looked to be cash, sitting right next to our cart.

Leaping over the side of the cart I held my hands high above my head, then started following Mac towards the house, Spike did the same.

Mac opened the front door, the house had many tight wooden corridors that lead to different wider rooms, to our right was kitchen, and on our left was a living room. We heard crying coming from the left, and Mac entered while Spike and I waited at the entrance.

“Now, be a brave girl, for Granny,” I recognized Jack’s voice, she seemed to be barely holding herself together, “I’m leaving you guys enough money, and don’t let them get rid of it no matter what.”

“Y-yes, AJ,” a young girl responded sniffeling, I assumed her to be Applebloom “will you come back?”

“Maybe, in a while sugar,” Jack sounded like she had started crying as well, “I wish I didn’t have to go, I’m so sorry.”

“AJ,” Mac started, his voice level and full of authority, “I need to talk to you.”

“There’s nothing you can say Mac,” Jack shouted back, “I’m leaving and that’s finale, Rarity and I will be fine on our own. We don’t need you or Granny, besides it isn’t safe anymore.”

“I know that,” Mac took a deep breath, “that’s why I brought someone.”

Suddenly it was as though all time in the other room had stopped. No one made a sound, I peeked through the doorway, Mac was pointing to us. It was now or never, when I entered that room, I was going to get shot, or listened to, probably shot. I held my arms high above my head, and took a step forward, then another, and another, eventually I was far enough and saw Jack standing there in complete shock.

Jack was standing in a small dining room that attached to the living room, next to her was a crying little girl with long red hair. They stood in front of a large table with piles of cash and jewelry were stacked atop it. On there right was another door to the long hallway.

“You betrayed me,” AJ accused her brother, when she finally remember how speaking worked, “she’s trying to kill me, and you brought her here.”

“I’m not,” Jack’s hand flashed and she suddenly had a pistol pointed at me, “I am NOT here to kill you.”

“How could you,” she continued clearly ignoring my words, though still keeping her eyes directly on me, “I’m your sister.”

“Jack,” her thumb pulled back the hammer of the revolver, “only one person has betrayed you. But first, let Mac and Applebloom leave the house. If you do plan on shooting me, I doubt you want to do that in front of your sister.”

Jack’s anger washed away instantly, she turned to her forgotten sister, who now looked horrified. Honest Jack reached out to Applebloom who jumped back then rushed over to Mac. Jack slumped down into a chair at the table and dismissively waved her hand, directing her siblings out of the room.

“Rarity,” I said causing Jack to look up at me, “that’s who betrayed you. She doesn’t think you’re useful anymore. She wants me to stop you so she can have all the money for herself.”

“You’re lying,” Jack grumbled, pulling her stetson down on her head, covering her face from the world, “she’d never do that.”

“How did you meet her, Jack,” I asked moving slowly across the room, Spike tensed with every step I took, “was she a poor helpless girl at a bar? A pretty face that just needed someone to rescue her? Was the whole world against her, and you were the only on her side? Well guess what she tried the same thing on me, but this time you were the monster! A monster that threatened her life everyday, and I had to stop you to save her.”

“You’re lying!” Jack shouted, lifting the gun once more, and for a second I thought she might actually shoot me, “you’re lying.”

“You’re not a monster are you,” I soothed in a calm voice, gently placing my hand on the gun barrel, “you’re just a confused girl trying to help her family the only way she knows how. Rarity took advantage of that, now she’s trying to get rid of you.”

“Liar,” I heard a distinct high class voice shout, from the doorway.

Turning, I looked over to the voice just in time to catch a wooden chair with my face. I bounced across the room and slammed painfully into the wall. Spike called out to me, but as the world spun around me I couldn't form a reply. Laying on the ground I heard shoes tap on the wooden floor, as someone rushed to Jack.

“Jack darling are you alright?” I looked over and saw Rarity standing next to Jack, one hand rubbing her back, the other lightly laying on her hand. “I hope you have not been listening to any of that witch’s lies.”

“No I haven’t,” Jack said with a weak shake of her head, “I think it’s about time we leave sugar.”

“There is something else we need to do first,” Rarity’s hand slowly slid from the back of Jack’s hand to the gun barrel as she spoke, “please Jack.”

“No need to,” Jack said rising from her seat, “she won’t find us.”

“Jack, you can not be serious, she found us here, she’ll find us again,” Rarity insisted, stepping in front of Jack, while Spike moved carefully towards me, “besides think about your family, at best she’ll confiscate all the money you left, leaving them with nothing.”

“Rarity,” Jack stepped away from the Harlot, her eyes puffy and red, “she’s right, you are manipulating me.”

“Oh Jack,” Rarity said gently smiling, raising a glowing hand to Jack’s cheek, “shut up.”

Spike helped me to my feet as Jack’ body went completely stiff and her jaw slammed shut. I nervously stared at the gun hanging in Jack’s right hand while Rarity smirked at me over her shoulder.

“This all could have gone so much smoother, but I guess you just really want to die,” Rarity mocked, Spike breathed deeply, but I halted him before he could breath out, “Jack, kill them.”

My hand had only seconds to glow, as Jack turned to us drawing her revolver. Focusing on the dining table I swung my arm across me, as I was just starting see down the barrel. Jack fired while the table crashed into her and Rarity, knocking them both to the ground. I winced as the bullet grazed my shoulder.

Casting another spell the gun began floating from Jack’s hand towards me. Both Rarity and Jack recovered quickly, getting up as I grasped the gun. Making it appear weightless Jack grabbed the table by a leg and launched it towards us. Spike and I dove out of the way, and I could hear it turn to splinters behind us.

As I landed in the dive, I turned it into a roll, and once back on my feet I drew Jack’s revolver and aimed it for Rarity. Unfortunately more than one Rarity was now standing in the room, all with cocky grins.

“Spike,” I called as my assistant got to his feet, “take care of the copies.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said moving past me, to the center of the room. All the Harlots looked at him with confusion as he closed his eyes and began breathing deeply.

With a shrug all the copies hands began to glow and swirl through the air. Books, plates, pictures, even a small vase floated off from shelves in both the dining room and living room. I watched as they moved gently, then froze. For a brief moment they hung motionless in the, then suddenly the began raining down on us.

I tried my best to avoid getting hit but there was so many, moving so fast, I kept getting clipped. Looking over to Spike I grimaced, he didn’t even try to dodge, he just kept focusing on his spell as the objects slowly drew blood.

A cook book hit me in the chest winding me, and I doubled over to gasp for breath. While gasping I noticed things had stopped being smashed into me. The answer for why came in the form of a leather boot catching me full force in the stomach. The powerful kick lifted me of my feet, and when I landed, I vomited on a handmade rug.

Two feet planted themselves next to me, and then one lifted off the ground. Knowing that any second a foot would stomp my skull flat I reached forward, with a sparking hand. A large spark of electricity ran through Jack’s body, and she fell back unconscious, if not dead.

“Spike,” I practically begged as the still objects began floating again.

Breathing deeply, Spike’s eyes burned with determination as blood ran down his face. Letting out a roaring exhale, a blinding cone of fire erupted forward tearing through all the copies, and setting the wooden house alight. The last Rarity gave a cry of agony and fell backwards. With a soft grin my assistant collapsed to the ground.

I moved, then cried out in pain, my whole body screamed, and wanted to rest. Gritting my teeth I forced myself on to my knees, then feet, then I limped across the room, holding up the revolver.

Moving around the fire I heard a low whimping. In the back corner of the dining room is where I found Rarity. Her clothes were incinerated, and the skin revealed below was blackened. She wept, as everything around her burned away. I approached pointing the revolver forward.

“Please,” she begged, her deep blue eyes drenched.

I pulled the trigger.

Mac entered the room, stopping only for a moment to watch his burning home. Then with unflinching determination he helped me move Spike and Jack out of the house before it burnt to the ground. Once it was all safe I collapsed onto my knees next to Jack and Spike. After a few minutes both stirred back awake. Spike's face dropped with sadness and he muttered blame to himself as we watched the house burn down, Jack was much the same.

“This is all my fault,” Jack wept, “I’ve ruined my family. Miss I beg you, don’t get my family involved when you arrest me, they had nothing to do with it.”

“Tragedy isn’t it Spike,” I said ignoring Honest Jack, my assistant looked at me, confused.

“What do you mean Dr.Sparkle?”

“The fire,” I said looking past him and to the large wagon filled with cash, “not only did both The Harlot and Honest Jack die in it, but all of the money was destroyed as well.”

With that I stood and walked off, after a moment Spike followed, and Mac rushed over to his sister to ask if I had just said what he thought I said.

Once at a safe distance from the confused though happy family I spoke again.

“Spike you asked me what I did to that maniac last time I was out here, is that right?”

“Yeah,” he answered clearly still confused.

I smirked at him, “the right thing.”