The youth of Jack Sparks

Chapters

Chapter 1 A Happy Birthday
Chapter 2 Danger Arrives
Chapter 4 An Unexpected Friend
Chapter 5 A Sorrowful Night
Chapter 3 A New Life

Chapter 1 A Happy Birthday

"Are you alright, honey?" James Spark asked, concerned about his wife. He was a tall unicorn with a blue coat and red mane, with a blue spade as a cutie mark. He was very muscular for a unicorn.

"Yes, I'm fine, just a little out of breath," Jessica Spark replied, sitting down in the grass. "This must be what every pregnant mare must deal with." She was due to give birth any day, or that is what the doctors say. She was a yellow coated pegasus with a pink mane and tail, a stripe of red shone in it.

The two of them lived in a quiet village in the southeast region of Equestria. Living together in peace and happiness, the two loved each other more day by day.

"Well, what do you want to do today?" James Spark asked with a happy look on his muzzle. He had to stay home, away from work. He had become bored, sitting around the house for what seemed, to him, months. James had gained wait to where he had a slightly big belly.

"Oh, you don't need to stay here and watch me all day. You can go to work, you know." Jessica was getting tired of the stallion always being around her.

"What would you do if the foal would want out while I'm not here?" James said, nervously. He had not been out of ear range of Jessica for three weeks. "Sorry but, no, I'm not leaving your side until-"

"Ah!" Jessica gasped in pain, shocking James. "I think it's here." she said quietly.

"What was that, honey?"

"I said I think the foal's coming!" Jessica yelled, surprising Jack Spark immensely. He jumped so high that you'd think he was a pegasus. He came down and raced Jessica out the door, off to the hospital.

It took the two ponies about ten minutes to get to the local hospital. By then, the mare was breathing heavily. The doctors hurried Jessica into the operation room and asked James to wait out in the waiting room. Frustrated, he took a seat in the waiting room. When he heard a shriek scream, he tried to block out the noise anyway he could. In what felt like an eternity, the screaming died down.

James waited until the door opened, then galloped up to the doctor. "Is she okay? How is our foal? What happ-" The doctor silenced him with his hoof to James' muzzle.

The doctor was a grey coated, earth pony. "It's all alright, don't worry. Do you want to see them?" He asked with a smile.

"Yes, please," James happily replied. He followed the doctor into the hall beyond the doorway. Taking two rights, they came to a room that the doctor said was Jessica's recovery room.

James entered the room slowly to find his wife in the bed, with a bundle in her grasp. He took a step closer and Jessica Spark looked up, smiling. "H-hey honey, how..." He gasped at what was in the bundle of cloth.

Inside the cloth, sleeping soundly, was a little foal with a yellow coat and a mane and tail of red and a stripe of pink running through. A little nub was visible on top of his head.

"Isn't he adorable?" Jessica cooed. "He has your eyes. Even though he has my colors, just switched."

"He's... I don't know what to say... He's. My Son!" James exclaimed, laughing. "What should we name him?"

"How about... Jack Sparks?" Jessica Spark looked up with hopeful eyes.

"Hm. Jack Sparks it is, then!" James Spark boomed out.

"Happy birthday, Jack Sparks. My little, precious foal" Jessica Spark said, kissing the head of the sleeping foal

Chapter 2 Danger Arrives

Two years have passed by in no time. The family of ponies grew happier and happier everyday that went by. James Spark went back to his job of gardening around the village. He lost the weight that he put on over the weeks, watching Jessica, almost immediately. Jessica Spark had to stay home, with Jack Sparks. She got out whenever she put Jack down for his nap, or when James was off for the day. Her wings had gotten stiff from not flying for awhile. So when she was finally able to fly again, she had some trouble starting off. When she was finally able to fly, she was cheering loudly. So loud, that she got some attention that nopony wanted. On the ground, under the shade of some trees, two shadows looked upon her with evil grins.

Jessica Spark landed just outside of her home. She had a smile on her muzzle, due to the pleasant flight she just had. Jessica opened the door to find her husband playing with Jack, on the floor.

Jack Sparks was growing slowly and he still could not talk yet His horn has grown a little, and you could start to see a little patch of red on his legs.

"Oh honey, back already from your flight?" James asked. He was rolling a ball around for Jack to watch. Even levitating it to make the baby giggle with delight.

"Yes, I had a lot of fun today. I might have been a little to loud, though..." Jessica Spark admitted, blushing. She looked from the foal to her husband, and back. "It looks like you two had fun today, in my absence." Jessica said, with a smile.

"Oh, this?" James looked around, sheepishly. "Jack just woke up a little while after you left, So, I decided to entertain him." Jack looked up to his mother with a wide grin.

As the family laughed and talked about the daily deals that had happened to them, outside the window in the late afternoon air, two creatures looked on at the happiness with evil grins. "When should we take it," asked one of the shadows in a hush, cold, female voice.

"No, we must wait," the other creature spoke with a commanding, male voice. "Keep watching. Until we can get in, we will not act. Understood?"

The other shadow nodded, afraid of what might happen if it denied.

The next day came, and James went to work, promising to come home early for dinner. Jessica Spark just put Jack Sparks down for a nap when someone knocked on the door, downstairs. She trotted to the door, wondering who could be knocking at this time of the day. When she opened the door, she fainted immediately. What entered the house was a shadow of a pony. It shifted it's form to look like Jessica.

She truanted up the stairs slowly, savoring every step she took in her new form. When Jessica entered the room of the sleeping infant, she looked at the foal, then raised him with a dark aura surrounding Jack, They vanished a few seconds later.

When James Sparks came home to find Jessica on the ground unconscious, there was red coming from his horn. After making sure Jessica was not harmed and on the couch, he galloped upstairs and froze when he went into Jack Sparks' room. There was no sign that Jack was ever in the cradle.

A call went out. All of the village was in panic. After the police and pegasi looked all around for the young foal, the whole village considered it a massive loss. Jack Sparks was said to never exist. Only James and Jessica Spark remembered him, and prayed to Celestia that he would be returned.

Chapter 4 An Unexpected Friend

Jack awoke in a messy room. It had been three years since his horn had started growing in a new way. Growing upwards instead of like usual unicorns, straight out. His mother, Aura Cali, had told him that that was how he was born. So, Jack Sparks believed it to be somewhat of a birthmark.

"Hum" Jack groaned, another boring day, better get busy before... Jack thought. A yelling could be heard from downstairs. The young colt stretched, looking to the ceiling with a frown. Might as well go down before father comes up and hurts me thinking slowly was his morning thing. As Jack made his way downstairs, he heard his father, Clad Stone, laughing. Uh oh. If father is laughing, it can't be good Jack thought with a shiver through his spine. He slowly made his way into the kitchen. Clad Stone was sitting at the table, with a newspaper held in a blackish-blue aura. Jack looked at the front page of the paper and saw a picture of a school building.

"Bout time you got up." Clad said with a scowl. "You'll have to learn to get up early, from now on. Since we decided to enroll you in the newly made school here in town."

"Oh, be nice to Jack, honey. After all you only go to school once in your life." Aura said, smiling. Between both of Jack's parents, his mom was more caring than his dad ever was. 'Do you want some pancakes? How about something really special for your first day of school?"

Jack nodded happily. Out of all breakfast meals, pancakes was his favorite. "Wait, I gotta go ta school? What's that?" Jack asked. looking curiously.

"It's where all young ponies go to learn and were you learn what you do with your lives," Aura said with a smile.

"Or they fatten you up to chop you on Graduation Day," Clad said, sneering. A look from his wife made him retort. "What? Oh fine, they don't do that." Clad smiled behind the newspaper.

"Anyways," Aura Cali reasoned, "I know without a doubt, you'll make some friends."

'What's friends?" Jack Sparks asked. The whole time jack Sparks had lived in the village of Clotstown he had never made a single friend. He was not able to go outside a lot, his father said that Jack might be coltnapped or killed, so Jack Sparks had lived mostly indoors, away from the outside world.

"Fiends are ponies who will like you for who you are," Aura Cali reassured Jack with a smile. "No matter what, they will never leave you crying."

"Enough talking, your food is getting cold," Clad Stone said, looking over his paper.

"Okay dad," Jack said happily. He quickly ate his fill of pancakes and hurried to the door, where his mother was waiting patently. Jack Sparks always thought that his mom looked pretty in a darkish kind of way. Her mane was a greenish blue and her coat, a brownish red. She gave off a rustic vibe just by looking at her.

"Ready to go?" Aura Cali asked, "Since this is your first day and don't know where the schoolhouse is, I'll walk you to the building and get you all set up." She walked next to Jack slowly. "Oh, wait a second, I got to talk to your father." She went back inside the house and shut the door. "Not a word." Aura's calm voice turned harsh. "I am not trying to be nice. I gotta put on this facade, around the colt."

"I know," Clad's raspy voice quieted Aura immediately. "Get going, before I beat you up." Aura nodded and left the house with a happy Jack Sparks trotting behind her.

"Okay class, quiet down. We have a new pony in our room today." A grey earth pony with a scroll on his flank, said in the front of the room full with young foals talking to each other. "I said QUIET!" The whole room became quiet. Nopony said a word. "Now that I have your attention, I'd like to introduce your new classmate." A gold pegasus looked on in interest. "Can you come here, lad?" Jack S[arks slowly walked up to stand next to the older pony. "This is Jack Sparks. His mother has informed me that he has no friends. So let's welcome Jack into the school."

Jack Sparks looked upon the room full of ponies. There were five earth ponies, two unicorns and three pegasi. The one who stood out the most was a young colt pegasus that had a golden coat, green mane and tail. His eyes were sharp like a hawks. Looking at him, Jack felt a little nerved.

"You can call me Mr. Dlob," The grey stallion said. "Now, you can take a seat. Pick any that is open."

Jack walked around the room, looking for a desk he could sit at. There was only one vacant seat, next to the gold pegasus. Jack Sparks slowly took the seat, not looking at the pony

"I'm not going to bite," a raspy, shy voice came from beside Jack. Jack looked to his side, and noticed that the pegasus's eyes were not sharp, instead red and emotional. They still had that sharp look, but looked more caring, than stern. "Um, hi. M-my name is Zach Ray, my father tells me that I should be friendly with more ponies my own age. I have to admit, your horn looks strange."

"Oh, thanks. My horn is a birth thing, according to my mom," Jack said. "I gotta admit, your eyes look cool, also. Here I thought that you were stern, and your really nice." Jack smiled happily. He could not remember when was the last time he was smiling like this. Zach was easy to be around, sort of like the pegasus knew where he came from. "You seem nice. Say, do you want to be friends?

"Really?!" Zach Ray blurted out. Mr, Dlob looked at him with a scowl on his face. "Oops, sorry." Zach looked back at Jack, whispering, "Really? I never had a friend who looks as cool as you. Actually, you'd be my first friend. Everypony here doesn't like me. My dad is not a likeable pony. He is the sheriff of a far off town. Let's just say, after hours aren't pretty."

After school, Jack and Zach both walked home with a smile on their faces, and a new bond of friendship that made both ponies happy.

Chapter 5 A Sorrowful Night

Jack Sparks galloped home; happy knowing that he finally had somepony, besides his mom and dad, to talk to. The young colt was not paying attention to where he was walking. He ran right into a tree near his house. Jack blinked in a daze, trying to see clearly. When he could see well enough, he trotted upstairs with a big smile on his muzzle. Jack did not hear Aura calling from downstairs or when his father, Clad Stone, yelled angrily around the house.

When it was suppertime, Jack Sparks made his way downstairs, hearing strange sounds coming from his parent's room.Huh, best to not get involved as long as father is home Jack thought to himself. Jack had discovered that it's better not to get involved around one of his parent's fights. Last time he had gotten involved, he had come out of it with tears in his eyes and a bruised eye. Aura had calmly told Jack Sparks to not show up if Clad Stone was yelling, as she healed the black and blue eye of the saddened unicorn.

When Jack entered the kitchen, he noticed that Clad Stone was not at his spot at the table.There's some good news, at least I do not have to listen to him Jack thought with a small smile. I'll have to go check on mom soon. But not until I get a bite to eat. After a salad and juice, Jack slowly made his way to his parents bedroom. Sweating slightly, he knocked on the door. For the first few minutes, he heard muffling and sighing. When the door opened, he felt his heart beat into his throat. What he saw was a crippled and worn out Aura Cali sitting on the end of the bed.

"M-mom? Wh-what happened?" Jack quickly ran in and comforted the mare with all of his heart.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, did you hear all that?" Aura Cali asked with a weak grin. She was a mess. Her usual rustic color mane and tail were a sickly brown color, and her coat was pale, instead of green.

"No, I did what you told me, a-and ignored it...." Jack Sparks was nearly in tears, blinking fast to keep them dry. The young pony knew a big fight had just gone down. But after awhile, he figured out that Clad Stone just needs some time to himself. In two hours, the stalion would be back, apologizing. "I just finished with dinner. You should get something soon, too."

"Oh, right," Aura slowly got to her hooves and made her way out the door. "You can go to your room, I can get my own food."

"Okay, good night mom." Jack said as he trotted up to his room.

The morning air was cool and damp. A slight breeze ran through the streets of Clotstown. When Jack Sparks awoke the next morning, he felt ready to tell his mother about his friend. The colt slowly got out of his bed, still half asleep. He yawned loudly, stretched, and walked to his parent's room, after a trip to the bathroom.

Jack knocked on the door, cautiously not to wake his father. It was quiet on the other side of the door. Slowly, he opened the door, not knowing what he might find. He let out a breath of relief when he saw that Clad Stone was in the bed, beside Aura Cali his mother. The colt went downstairs, unknown to him his father was watching him.

"So you're up early," Clad said, scaring Jack. "Good timing, too. Your mother and I were talking last night about what a discusting friend you made yesterday."

Jack looked up in surprise, "Y-you were watching me?!"

"Of coarse. On first days, parents are allowed to watch." Clad said with a slight smile. "That 'friend' of yours is the colt of a really unusual sheriff. The creep is hardly ever seen alone. His family has never been seen during new moon cycles. When the next day comes, after the new moon, they are back. I have a theory, that those ponies are vampire ponies."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Jack asked with a raised brow.

"I'm not saying to ditch him, I mean just be careful," Clad said with a frown, "You might just be that colt's next meal."

"So, does mom know about Zach Roy?"

Jack Sparks was thrown to the floor. "Don't ever say that name!" Clad Stone yelled. Jack Sparks was shaking, in fear.

"I-I do not care!" Jack yelled back. He had been thinking about this since he had gotten out of school. Zach and him were friends, no matter what anypony said. "He is a good pony. I can't describe how I know, but I do. When I looked at him yesterday, he looked like me. Somepony who is unique, special."

"V-very well..." Clad turned around to walk out of the kitchen. "I am sorry about pushing you... I'll try to be more patient." Clad then, walked out of the room.

"Nopony can change my mind," Jack said under his breath before eating his breakfast.

Chapter 3 A New Life

When the young Jack Sparks awoke to the sound of laughter he looked up, just to start crying. Above him were two ponies that he did not know. The female looked a little like his mother, but had her right leg twisted around in a way that would rip off of the body otherwise. She wore a dark pendant with a crest in it.

The other figure looked like a demented version of his father. He had a wicked grin, full of fangs. "Looks like he is awake. You know what to do."

The female nodded and hit Jack in his face, knocking him out cold. The figures moved the infant into a dark room with a seal that looked like a half circle on the floor. In the middle of the floor, where if the circle were whole, stood a cage. It was black as night, and was open with a small cylinder, where if a unicorn was in the cage, would contain it's horn.

The female put the unconscious foal in the cage. Immediately the cylinder latched on his horn, making Jack yell in agony, still unconscious. The door of the cage shut loudly, containing Jack Sparks' body.

"Now, we shall make him forget everything about his old, miserable parents. Do you remember the names," the male asked. The female nodded quietly. "Care to say them? After all, you are in this also."

"The foal's name is Jack Sparks. My name is Aura Cali, and your name is Clad Stone, did I get it right." Aura Cali asked. Clad Stone nodded.

"Very good. Now let's get started." Clad looked over to the cage with greedy eyes. Clad Stone stepped to the side and motioned for Aura Cali to stand opposite of him. She did so with a nod. When they both stood in place, a blinding light appeared inside of the cage. A merciless scream of pain was heard. Both of the shadow-turned-ponies laughed in glee. They loved the sounds of agony.

Inside the cage, Jack Sparks was bleeding from his head. If he could notice pain, he would feel his horn moving in his skull, shifting. Meanwhile, Aura and Clad were focusing so hard that Aura did not see a straw cat run under her hooves, knocking her off balance. Because Aura Cali lost her focus, Jack Sparks kept some of his memories, but they were locked away by Clad Stone. He hoped it would hold, with a growl. When he turned to Aura Cali, he saw the cat. Clad rushed over to the cat and, with a dark aura, skinned the cat still alive, killing it in a blood bath.

Clad Stone laughed evilly. "Now this brat belongs to us! We must ensure he stays here. And I think," Clad opened the cage, grabbing a hold of the tiny horn, "this will get us started." He yanked upward on Jack's horn, causing it to bend upward. "Now he has a new life!" When Clad Stone was done, Jack Sparks had blood all over his body, tears staining his coat, a bent horn, and a broken heart.