The Smiling Warrior

"So...cold." Jack thought, his eyes fluttering open to see nothing but an inky black void. He was leaned back, floating in nothing with no solid ground anywhere to be seen. "Where am I?" He tried to say but it was as if a muted layer had been placed over him as no sound came out. Off in the distance he heard the cries of small children to what he hoped wasn't a massive monster. He tried checking over his body but found he couldn't move. "Okay, let's stay calm. What is the last thing I can remember. Okay first was the show, then the monsters came, and then one...tried... to...HOLY SHIT CELESTIA!" He shouted in his head as he remembered finally what happened. The noises in the distance seemed almost to get louder and more agitated as his mood shifted.

"Hey mind not shouting in here mate." Came a voice behind him. Jack couldn't turn to see who it was so the voice spoke up again once it saw him struggling. "You have to think about turning not just try and physically move yourself dude." It said.

Jack paused for a moment and thought of moving. Eventually he began rotating to see behind him. The figure standing in front of him was shrouded in dim lighting that obscured their features. "Who are you?" Jack asked once he finally was centered.

The figure began laughing, the sound almost calming in a way with how happy it sounded. "Well," The figure started as their voice changed and warped into a man's. "You're a smart boy. Does this handsome face remind you of anyone?" He said as the light diminished enough to show his features.

Jack looked closely till his eye's widened in shock. "Scorch?"

Everyone was huddled around the operating room window, watching as the surgeons worked to save the life of a certain human.Guards were scattered around the area on the orders of finding the book and obliterating any and all targets who may use it. Fluttershy was busy counseling the solar princess who was deep in her mind. "There, there, everything will be alright." Fluttershy cooed trying to ease the sobbing ruler.

"It's all my fault! I didn't get there fast enough and then let myself be open to an attack." Celestia cried out pushing more into the gentle mare. Fluttershy was the tallest out of her friends but even she was struggling to not fall over from the giant princess on her shoulder.

The others were busy going over what happened and the plan going forward. "I'm all for a bit of chaos but even I know that when something dies it should stay dead." Discord remarked once they got to the point of the recap about the book of the dead.

The conversations continued till finally a doctor in blood drenched scrubs walked out of the room and stood in front of the group. Removing his mask he sighed "He'll live." He said making everyone's hearts rise. "But his right eye is completely gone from some kind of magical burn. Whatever did this to him was trying to kill and honestly if it was anypony else they'd be dead from the amount of blood loss. Something in that man won't die." He added making everyone present shrink back down but relaxed a bit knowing he would live.

As everyone left they found a small crowd outside of the hospital. Big Mac stepped forward out of it. "How's he doin'?" He asked his normally deep voice taking a softer edge.

Luna looked over the crowd. "They really do care about him." She thought. Taking a deep breath she stood in front and addressed the crowd. "Dear citizens of Ponyville. You need not worry about Jack, we have learned he will live but I imagine it will take some time before he is fully able to join you all. Have strength and know your favorite human will be okay." she said. This calmed the crowd down and most started to trickle away and back to their lives. A few lingered like Vinyl and Octavia who looked saddened at the situation but eventually they left as well.

After, the group walked back to the castle to wait and see what would become of the new hero of Ponyville.

Jack struggled in his spot when he realized who he was talking too. "How are you here, you died. I saw it when Celestia showed me her memory." He questioned, unable to move away. Not registering yet he could talk now.

"Calm down and let me explain okay." Scorch said raising his hands in a sign of peace. "Yes, I did die but not in the normal sense. See, when the corruption took over my body I tore out all the good that was left in me and fused it into Brave and Lucky." He explained. He began gliding closer when he saw Jack wasn't fighting his spot as much. He placed a hand on Jack's shoulder helping him stop hovering and said, "I then waited for the chance when a new hero would be chosen that would end up in Equeastria to help me finish what I started." He continued to explain.

"And what might that be?" Jack asked, still wary of the stallion.

"Well simply put. I need help killing myself." Scorch said, his eye's meeting Jack's

A week had passed since the attack and Jack still wasn't waking up. Twilight was looking down at his form, sadness written in her eyes. "Please wake up." She whispered. It was her turn to watch over him as the group took turns so he wouldn't be alone. "If he wakes up.." A voice in the back of her head teased maliciously. Gritting her teeth she spat back, "He will, I just have to believe." The voice just laughed as it faded back to its dark corner.

"I believe we can help put you at ease." Came a voice across the bed from her.

When she looked up she almost screamed from the sudden appearance of a lion and rabbit. "Wh...who are you?" She questioned readying a spell.

"Woo, woo, woo, calm down there. We've already met somewhat. The name's Lucky and this is Brave." The rabbit explained.

"We are the Omegas in Jack that provide him his power." Brave explained. It's also partially our fault he is this way. You see Jack can turn into different forms. One such form is Hero form, though it draws a lot of strength and can be damaging if the body isn't ready for it. He continued.

Twilight was confused beyond belief. "What does that have to do about Jack?" She asked.

Lucky rested a hand on Jack's forehead. It has everything to do with him because he pulled on that form when he wasn't ready to kill the brawler. How do we explain it. You know how when a unicorn uses too much magic they become exhausted and if they use too much they can slip into a coma or die?" Lucky asked.

Twilight thought for a moment when it clicked. "You mean Jack used that form and it took too much power. That's why he hasn't woken up?" She said. When the two strange beings nodded their head she asked her next question. "Will he wake up?"

Both looked to each other before turning back to her. "Yes, he will. But he has to be the one to drag himself out of it first." Brave said, gazing at the man.

Twilight turned to look at Jack, a frown stretching across her face.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" Jack asked, his eye's narrowing.

Scorched sighed. "Listen, when I removed this part of me the corruption had full control of my body. When Celestia 'killed' it." He said making quotation marks with his hands. "She really only put it down for a time. Now it's up and walking again and if that wasn't enough it has the book of the dead and the power to raise an undead army." He stated frowning at the end.

Jack stood there for a moment before replying. "Let's say I trust you enough on this. How am I supposed to fight you er- I mean him and how are you going to help me?" He asked.

Scorch smiled. "Well basically the only way is to give you a power boost and all my memories so you will know how I fight in the hopes you can defeat me and destroy my shuffling corpse." He answered with a laugh.

"You are talking about this so casually. What gives?" Jack inquired, folding his arm as if he had it crossed.

"Well I could ask you the same thing about your eye or rather lack of." Scorch shot back teasingly. "But to answer your question I've had YEARS to think on this so I'm all set. It has to be done."

The world around them started to crack and glow making the two look around. "How will I talk to you and train?" Jack said looking back to the fading stallion.

"Oh, that's easy. I'll be in your head mate." The weird stallion laughed while tapping the side of his head. "Can't wait to talk to my old pals, it's been so long." He reminisced as he finally disappeared and the inky floor under Jack gave away, letting him drop.

*Gasp* Came the sudden breath from Jack as he shot upright. "Holy shit I hate falling." He complained. Before he could talk anymore he was pulled into Twilight's chest by the small mare.

"Ohmygoshyou'reokay!" She shouted in a single breath, holding the man tightly till she felt him tap her shoulder.

"mhmhaf hesdt eer." He tried to say muffled.

"What was that?" Twilight asked pulling back slightly so she could see his eyes.

"I can't breath here." The slightly more clear response came from the human as he tried to pull away.

"Oh, I'm sorry it's just you've been out for so long we all were worried you wouldn't...well you know." She said her eye's glancing to his own.

He caught what she meant and chuckled which only made her pout. Before she could ask what was so funny about this he raised his hand. "Watch." He said. He focused on the area and started to work magic into it. Slowly a glowing version replaced the hole. Chuckling, he looked back "Eventually I should be able to replace it fully." He said putting on his best smile to ease her.

All the while Lucky and Brave were back in Jack's mind meeting Scorch again. "Long time no see ay' boys?" He said stretching out his arms. Lucky stepped toward him with a scowl and socked him across the jaw. "AH, okay yeah I deserve that one." He said then taking another strike from Brave. "That one as well." Lucky went for another one, "You're pushing your luck guys!" He shouted his eyes flaring as the three stared intensely at each other... before bursting into laughter and hugging.

"We missed you Scorch." Brave said letting go first.

"Yeah, where have you been? We knew that body wasn't yours." Lucky added.

Scorch smiled "Well have I got a story for you guys."

Jack was currently being crushed under the weight of multiple sexy bodies. "You know death isn't that bad if this is how I go." Jack thought to himself as Celestia and Spike kissed his cheeks. "Guys I'm fine okay. It's going to take more then that to put me down."

"Hush you, let me love you." Celestia ordered as everyone laughed. "I was so worried about you." She whined pulling him closer.

Jack chuckled before hearing a crash outside. Getting up and stepping out he saw more diamond dogs causing a mess. "Oh come on. Don't I get a break?" He complained already working on getting dressed. When the group started to voice their concern he replied "Don't worry, I'll be fine."as he closed the door behind him.