Author's Note

Welp, here is the rewrite and reedit of this chapter, it took me awhile but it is now done. I actually forgot about this chapter and caught it when I reviewed the whole thing. But, it is done and now we have eight chapters of nothing but new. They will be going up soon and then I will be moving on to the next story.

Tempest makes her Report

Tempest Shadow approached Princess Twilight Sparkle. The Princess, as usual, was in her library reorganizing, Spike assisting as best he could, as she threw books to him. Tempest cleared her throat politely. Startled, the Princess missed the growing pile Spike was carrying. Spike in trying to catch the errant book, slipped, his feet shooting out from under him, he hit the ground, as a pile of books followed him down.

"Fizzlepop, is everything okay?" The Princess asked, ignoring the Drake as he wobbly got to his feet.

"Your Highness I am afraid I'm here as your Captain, Not as your friend."

Princess Twilight pursed her lips, but then nodded. "Take a break Spike we'll continue later." A thumbs up was Spike's only answer as he regained his senses.

Princess Twilight led her Captain into the office, Tempest standing at attention, till Princess Twilight settled into her chair.

"Very Well, Captain Shadow, what have you to report?"

Tempest took a breath, this was not a briefing that she wanted to give. Nevertheless, it was her duty to do so.

As you know I have been investigating the kidnapping of Alla Rounds and the brutal Attack on her family. I was following a lead earlier today, when I received a Royal Guard Distress signal from the apartment she shared with her special somepony, one Jack Trades. When I arrived there I found the Royal guard squad shattered and broken. Three of the four are completely crippled for life, the fourth was unharmed physically. However on closer examination it was clear the the fourth had suffered a complete removal of her old personality and the insertion of a new one. She answers only to the name Toy now."

Seeing Princess Sparkle's eyes widen, Tempest held up her hand.

"Please Hold any questions till the end, your highness. This is going to be bad enough to get through the first time, let alone if I pause to answer all your questions.

Twilight paled, the Princess had looked into some of the things her Captain had been through, if Tempest was finding this disturbing, then Twilight could honor Tempest request.

Taking a pause to straighten her thoughts, Tempest continued. "After surveying the area, I noticed several things were wrong. One, why were the Royal Guards even on the scene and interfering with my investigation. Ponyville is your jurisdiction and by extension I am the one in charge of security and the coordination of all peacekeeping efforts. Neither you nor I were notified of any such OP being run in town. Two, the distress signal was being given off by a Red gem, not any of the guard. Three, the brutality of the Guards wounds was severe. The squad Unicorn, Swift shield, lost both his horn and left leg, both wounds caused by the same improvised weapon. A shovel that Jack Trades had been modifying and repairing for the Apples. Stiff Wind suffered both her wings being torn off and her spine was crushed. Argent Dagger no longer exists as an individual and is now only Toy, which is what the perpetrator used her as. The leader of the Squad, one Back Alley Trades, had a gem, similar to the one that was giving off the Distress call, lodged between his vertebrae. He is a complete paraplegic and the Gem cannot be removed as it appears to be the only thing allowing the involuntary functions of his body to continue. Sargeant Trades was also force fed the wings of Stiff Wind, all while his assailant talked of "missing the taste of chicken" and "how if he had been given notice he had some marinades he was sure all of them would have loved."

Captain Tempest Shadow then paused in her briefing, turning her head, she pretended not to see Princess Twilight Sparkle empty her stomach into a garbage can. Tempest then also did not see the Alicorn breath into a paper bag in order to get herself under control. Captain Shadow waited until Twilight was doing all the thing that Tempest most assuredly did not see and then continued the briefing.

"In addition, I was able to determine, that Jack Trades was the perpetrator of these acts. I was also able to determine that he was a powerful Hybrid. One that we had not been notified of. Sergeant Trades had gathered his squad together after getting an anonymous tip that Jack had been responsible for the disappearance of Alla Rounds. This is preposterous, I myself cleared Jack Trades after talking to both Applejack and Pinkie, both of whom confirmed that he had been doing work for them the entirety of that day. It seems Sargent Trades was a cousin of Jacks, and not one that Jack had ever gotten along with. So acting on the tip, he went to, in his own words, put the rabid thing down."

Tempest's eyes became very cold, even Twilight pulled back as the sheer rage caused the Unicorn to snarl out her next statement.

"It was an assassination attempt, made against a unreported Hybrid. One that is a cousin to both the Apple's and the Pies. It was done with little to no evidence of planning. Right under the nose of Princess Celestia."

Tempest's eyes softened. Fizzlepop looked at the Mare that had saved her, gave her a job, a home, gave all of her suffering a purpose. But Tempest had a duty, unfortunately it was one Fizzlepop Berrytwist could not be a part of. Tempest's eyes once again hardened as she continued, her tone flat and emotionless.

"In addition I found out that prior to you becoming Celestia's student, Celestia herself had warped Jack Trades cutie mark. She did so because Jack gained his Cutie Mark after defending his best friend from a rather nasty bully. Jack sent the bully to the emergency room. Princess Celestia further reinforced this warping with Alchemical potions and post hypnotic conditioning to further hold the bindings in place. That friend he defended was your brother Shining Armor. For a while Jack and Shining were inseparable, at least until High School. Which is when Prince Armor met Princess Cadence. Jack and Cadence did not get along. Because of Jack's precious experiences he saw Princess Cadence's love spell as just another form of Mind control and an abuse of the elite. Princess Cadence saw an angry individual, seemingly incapable of love. It was shortly before their High School Graduation that the three had a major falling out. Jack had a rather explosive break up with his own Girlfriend, a unicorn by the name of Heart Breaker, and accused Cadence of using her Love spell to blind him to what Heart Breaker was really like. Shining made the mistake of defending Princess Cadence. A Mistake that put your Brother in a full body cast."

A knocking on the door caused both mares to glance at the door. Twilight looked to Tempest and then lit her horn. The door swung open to reveal a Grey Coated, Yellow Maned, cross eyed mailmare, she bore a clipboard and a two thick envelopes.

"Certified Mail for Princess Twilight Sparkle and Captain Tempest Shadow." She said. Pulling a pen out of her breast pocket, she brandished both to the two mares before her.

"Sign here please." She said.

Twilight looked confused for a moment, then took the pen in her magic signed for her envelope. Tempest soon did the same.

The bubbly mailmare smiled and said, "Thank you, have a good day!" and then was gone before either Tempest or Twilight could ask her any questions.

Both mares examined the envelopes and were suprise to see Princess Celestia's stamp on both. Placing both envelopes unto Twilight's desk they withdrew two thick identical files. They were simply labeled "The Curious case of Jack O' Trades." It had Celestia's official seal and was registered to the Canterlot archives. They Glanced at each other, completely confused.

Both mares turned to the first page of the file, Tempest beginning to narrate.

"Jack O'Malley Trades, Mother Artistic Trades, Father Backroom Trades. Only Child. Mr. Trades is descended from ponies that worshiped and entered into mutual beneficial agreements with Discord on his mother's side and the lone child of Sombra on his father's. Furthermore he has familial ties to both the Pie's and the Apple's, neither family really knows how. His cutie mark manifested after a schoolyard brawl sent his opponent to the emergency room. See attached pictures"

Both Mares had to pause as they saw the damage Jack did to the other foal. Twilight having to have another round with the bucket. Tempest looked further and found a written description of Jack's original Cutie mark. Rather suspiciously there was no picture. It was described to consist of eight arrows, one green, one blue, one red, one black, one white, one green, one purple, and one Yellow. The radiated outward equidistant from a central point and were constrained by a grey circle. At the center was a single grey dot.

"Due to Jack awakening to his Hybrid nature Princess Celestia was called to the scene. After an examination of all involved it was determined the best solution was to rededicate the Cutie Mark. Further treatment will include suppression and mood stabilization potions, as well as post hypnotic failsafes to be continued for the rest of Jack's life."

Twilight's eyes narrowed. Anger shook through her voice as she took control of the narration.

"Jack's home life is unstable. His father, a Royal guard of some distinction, is overly stern with Jack and often has high expectations of his wife, Artistic Trades. Inclosed are records of the punishments Jack has underwent at the hands of Sargent Backroom Trades. Also enclosed are the consequences of Artistic Trades not living up to Backroom's high expectations."

Twilight began to smolder as she read over the records. Nothing was outright stated nor proven, but her next project was going to be introducing Backroom to her special room for 'incurables.' Tempest then took up the narration.

"Artistic divorced Back Room, several years after Jack's incident, when Backroom found a Mare that lived up to his expectations. She retook her maiden name License. During this time, Jack's was released from Princess Celestia's care. His care was taken up by a Doctor Whooves. He was taken off the suppression and mood stabilization potions and switched to Clarity potions. It was at this point that the Post-hypnotic treatments were halted as well. He has been enrolled in Canterlot High and is a well rounded student with a rather interesting sense of humor. Once rigging a self firing Arbalest, loaded with his own mixture of stink juice, to get back at another student. Jack has acquired a Girlfriend, one Heart Breaker, although it is the opinion of his doctor that the relationship is in no way healthy. Dr. Whooves has even lodged a suspicion that Princess Cadence has misused her Love Spell to encourage the relationship to continue. There is no evidence to support this conclusion, it is recommended that Dr. Whooves be removed from giving care to Jack and that Jack be reassigned to someone more responsible and objective."

"Cadence, how could you?" Twilight uttered, the idea of the second of her idols to have abused Jack breaking her heart.

Twilight then took up narrating the next section.

"Jack's care has been taken over by Dr. Missy Lord. Shortly thereafter, Jack made public accusations that Princess Cadance had indeed done what Dr. Whooves had accused her of. This public disagreement turned violent when Shining Armor stepped up to defend Princess Cadance against these baseless accusations. Jack's responded with an uncalled for level of brutality and it is hoped that Shining Armor will make a total and complete recovery.
Of Jack's former Marefriend, Heart Breaker, there has been no sign as she suspiciously left town after her and Jack publicly broke up. Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence have decided to mercifully not press charges.
On a follow up it has been revealed by Ms License that Jack has disappeared after arguing with her about the incident. She did not report him missing because he left of his own accord and has long been able to earn his own keep and she has complete faith in his ability to look after himself. He has gone of by himself before this but has always returned once he gets his head straight."

Tempest snorted as she took up the next section.

"Reports of Jack have filtered around, he refers to himself as Savage Grimm and, if rumor is to be true is a founding member of a group of Hybrids calling themselves 'Those The Sun Does Not Touch', or the Sunless for short. Jack and the Sunless have been tied to a number of mysterious happenings, no wrongdoing has been documented but all four are Ponies of interest in multiple cases of Kidnapping, Assault, Murder, and Theft. However, the Group seems to be falling apart and will soon dissolve itself. Returning home Jack once more took up his treatment, willingly taking the Clarity Potions as prescribed by both Dr Whooves and Dr Lord. He has also began another short relationship with one Starlight Glimmer although both parted amicably. He has since took up a position of stage hand to one Trixie Lulamoon, a dropout from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, their relationship is casual and neither will confirm or deny any reports of intimacy."

"Wait, Jack was stupping both Starlight and Trixie?" Twilight stammered. Tempest smiled at the jealousy she heard in the Princesses voice, but continued reading the file.

"Mr. Trades has disappeared once again, his mother upon being questioned why she never reported him missing stated, 'I am under no circumstances my son's Jailer, warden, or probation officer. If he wants to go out on his own for a bit, I will not stop him. It is his right as an individual and if or when he wants to come home I will welcome him with a well cooked meal, a hug, and a lecture on being an idiot. He makes his own choices, I will always be proud of him for that."

Tempest and Twilight both smiled, they would have liked to have met Artistic, she sounded like an interesting mare. Twilight then took up the narration, this time shock in her voice.

"Jack has reappeared as the Janitor at the Golden Oaks Library. Spike Sparkle hired him to perform night time cleaning and sorting in order to alleviate the overall load during the day. Jack has once again started his treatment and is joined in Ponyville by his mother. Artistic has found work as a consulting seamstress connected to the Carousel Boutique. The proprietor, a Miss Rarity Belle sends clients of an unusual nature to Artistic for alterations when Ms Belle is either has to much of a work load or does not know the anatomy involved. She has also utilized Jack as a babysitter for her little sister Sweetie Belle and as an over all handyman. Neither she nor Jack seem interested in each other, keeping things strictly professional"

"Alright, when the buck did this happen and How was I not aware of a Stallion performing these duties where I was living?" Twilight asked exasperated. Smiling, Tempest once again took over.

"After the Insane Centaur Lord Tirek destroyed the Old Library and the subsequent rise of the Crystal Castle of Friendship, Jack decided not to return to work. Afterwards, he had an ever changing list of jobs, both on and off the books. During this time he was connected to a number of questionable events. He worked for the notorious con men, The Flim Flam Brothers, helping to build some of their more elaborate mechanical devices. He also assisted his former employer, Trixie Lulamoon, in repairing her image and worked for a time as her head roady. He was employed by Sugar Cube Corner on occasion to clean up one or more of Ms. Pie's more explosive mistakes. Ms Pie herself has employed Jack to help with many of her parties. Jack was also connected to a certain Cheese Sandwich, being employed to both problem solve Mr. Sandwich's more technical problems and to clean up messes that required specialized knowledge."

"How is he exactly where he's supposed to be to help others?" Tempest wondered.

Twilight's eyes lit up. "Do we have a picture of his false Cutie Mark?"

Tempest flipped through the file a moment, then replied, "We have a description. Eight Bisecting circles, the same colors as his original, orbiting a a lynchpin, constrained by a grey chain."

Twilight smiled, "Whatever his talent was before, it changed to Serendipity."

Tempest quirked an Eyebrow, "Seren-what-ity"

"It's always being exactly where you're supposed to be exactly when you're supposed to be there. It's a very rare talent and one that encourages a wide variety of skill sets. Which is utterly terrifying, because if that's what you get when you seal his talent, I'm not really sure that I want to know what his actual talent is." Twilight shuddered at the implications, but took up her turn as narrator.

"Since Dr. Whooves is the only doctor within Ponyville that has any experience with anyone like Jack, Jack has once more been given over to his care. Dr. Whooves has reported to the crown of several events that have happened within the last several years.

1. He met a mare named Alla Round, Dr. Whooves reports that the relationship is an amazingly healthy one.

2. It was discovered that his mother had developed cancer, she was dead within two years.

3. Jack discovered that his long absent father is still alive and retired, on a guards pension. Backroom has reconnected with a previous wife and is living happily in Manehatten.

Dr. Whooves has also reported that under the urging of Alla, Jack has stopped all treatment. As Jack is of legal age he is well in his right to do so. Dr. Whooves last report consisted of one sentence. "The poor Stallion is Happy you over stuffed Git, leave the boy alone, he's making his own life at last." This Administrator admits to his doubts but has no legal recourse. So, Jack's file will be closed and all within sealed."

Setting the file down, Twilight shook her head. Jack had never done anything to deserve what he got, and then to have all he had taken away. Tempest took up again her briefing, filling in any information the overview didn't mention.

"Jack has the ability to create Red Amaranths that can absorb and redirect all magical energy. These Red Amaranths can also be used to change the structure of any living thing he infects with them. To top it all off he is a Tactile Telepath, capable of reading and affecting the mind of whomever he touches." Tempest sighed, this was going to be the part that was the hard sell.

"All three of my Agents recommended stepping aside. That Jack isn't evil or even a Pony so much as an oncoming cataclysm, a natural disaster, something you don't oppose, just get out of its way. He is going to get that which is his, once that happens he will stop. We should let this one go. What he did to those guards was a warning, "Stand in my way and be Broken in Body or Mind and he gets to choose which. Hell, I'm more than prepared to call it self defense. None of those guards was innocent, they abandoned their duty to follow their Sergeant on a personal vendetta. They paid the penalty for that. My recommendation as your Captain is to let Jack go and get Alla, only stepping in if he endangers anyone not involved. Which, I might add, he has not done. "

Tempest sighed, then continued. "Add on top of all that, he is connected to both the Pie's and the Apples, not to mention being a former employee of yours. I also have a sneaking suspicion who Heart Breaker actually was. Every Alicorn besides you this guy has met has abused him in some way, hell even you were guilty of not remembering him. Then we have the assassination attempt. If all of that gets out, the Apples and the Pies may decide to not do business with the court of day and love anymore, restricting their business to the courts of friendship and night. Doing so would destabilize the balance of power. Not to mention making a lot of nobles angry as they lose their biggest suppliers. It wouldn't be long before someone did something stupid. Let Jack take care of his own business. He steps out of line, then we handle it. Let's just not go looking for trouble."

Princess Twilight Sparkle stared at the Captain of her Guard. Looking down at the files before her, she considered her options. Soon she had made her decision, scooping up the file she went to make her preparations, her ever loyal Captain by her side.