The Smiling Warrior

Damp darkness surrounded Jack as he looked around. A dim moon hanging above him, barely shining any light on the world. The sound of waves gently hitting the beach, reflecting the light from the moon back to the sky. He looked around spotting a cobblestone path following the beach line. His body moved to it on it's own while his muddied mind struggled to make heads or tails of what was going on. Moving down the path, the world seemed to dim with every step till he reached a cliff overlooking the sea. "Where am I?" He asked himself as his mind cleared.

"You're in limbo my boy." Came a voice in front of him making Jack jump in shock. The god that had sent Jack to Equestria materialized in front of him slowly from his head downwards. "Miss me?" The masked god asked, spreading his arms out like a showman.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Jack now even more confused. "And what did you mean limbo? I didn't die again did I?" He asked the god.

Giving a short chuckle the god shook his head. "No Mr.Teller you have not died. This is the only place I could talk to you and catch up." He explained, walking around the cliff edge. "See, I wanted to check up on you. Your story has become very popular among the other gods. Even a few of the downers are wondering what will happen next." He said with a laugh.

"Wait I thought only you read the worlds?" Jack asked, confused at the words his patron god of sorts said.

"Nah, nah, nah man. You got it all wrong. I help craft the worlds that the other gods can work on. Think of all the book worlds you saw as a library of sorts. I keep it organized for others to see easier and this world your in is a hot topic right now." The god replied with a chuckle.

Jack stood there for a moment before shrugging. "Ok then, also question what even is your name?" He asked the strange god.

"Not important." Waved the god as the world shifted and warped into a far more sinister one. "What is important is how you handle this new chapter of your life." He spoke, fading away as the moon turned crimson red and howls of beasts filled the air.

Turning around Jack could see a phantom of the wereboar he had killed standing in front of him. The beast let out a puff of nauseating breath before charging him. "Ah fuck me." He groaned as the monster slammed into him sending both flying off the edge of the cliff. As Jack fell his mind was racing. "Fuck, fuck,fuck, fuck, fuck! Okay got it!" He shouted to himself, twisting his body to be on top of the beast and using it to break the water that was quickly approaching first. Taking a deep breath he waited for impact but it never came. Opening his eyes showed he was falling in a hole, above him was the water that had widened into his new spot. A light began to grow below him until suddenly the monster turned to ash around him, stinging his eyes. Once he reached the light he was thrown through a hole that appeared out of a tree onto a grassy meadow. "What they hell is going on!" He shouted, slowly getting pissed off.

"Fresh meat." Came the familiar rasp of a diamond dog from somewhere to his right. Sitting up showed about five of them converging on his spot making him groan.

Standing quickly he dodged a swing on an axe that was aimed for his stomach, tearing his shirt. Ducking and weaving around the attacks he tried to fight back but every time his fists should have connected a hole would appear on the targets body making him miss. "Ah this is straight up bullshit!" He complained as nicks and cuts started to accumulate across his form. Eventually a massive hammer swung out of nowhere, launching him into a tree. Opening his eyes showed the meadow now on fire with the golems he had fought stomping towards him. "What is this a haunting of past kills?" He said to no one, getting up and running away from the now charging monster brothers, already learning he couldn't hurt these images.

Hoping to get away he ran for the forest, praying they wouldn't catch up to him. The monsters roar that felt like it was on his back made him run faster and good thing he did as an explosion of ground and dirt flew past him. Nearing the burning forest edge he ran as hard as his legs would let him till bursting through with embers and burning bits flying out with him he fell down a hill, rolling head over heels with a special word for every time he hit the ground. "Ah! Shit! Fuck! Piss! Ass! Cunt! Bitch!" Skidding to a halt he slid on his face, getting a mouth full of grass. A deep growl slowly filled the air as he got to his hands and knees. Giving a sigh he looked up already knowing what was next. "Hey little puddy cat." He teased already thoroughly annoyed beyond belief. Standing in front of him was the manticore he had killed his first day in Equestia. The monster had a vicious snarl, baring it's long fangs at him. It began to circle him slowly edging for his back so Jack had to keep rotating while trying to stand up. Jack tried to charge magic into a mask that covered his mouth with a speaker. "If I can't hurt you maybe I can blast you away?" He thought to himself as one of his favorite games before coming to Equestia popped into his mind.

As the beast lunged for him he took a deep breath and shouted. "FUS RO DAH!" The blast sent the monster flying into the burning forest giving Jack time to run further down the path, another portal opening in front of him. With nothing to lose he jumped through it.

Fluttershy had stayed up late to watch over her two injured friends before heading off to bed when they appeared stable. Waking up to the chirping of birds she jumped out of bed to get ready quickly. Once she finished letting the warm shower water wash the grim from yesterday off her fur she got dressed and headed back down to find Zecora awake and reading a book. "Oh, good morning Zecora. I'm glad your awake." Fluttershy said. Most other's wouldn't know it but she felt relaxed around Zecora more then the other's as they shared an interest in wildlife and plants.

"Wake early I do every day, so that even injured I'll still have time to play." The exotic mare rhymed in her usual way. She laid down the book onto her lap before pointing a bandaged hand at Jack. "Stranger then most he seems, Do tell me does he dream?" She asked making Fluttershy tilt her head in confusion.

"I would think so." She said as Jack began to toss and turn suddenly. "Has he been doing this since you woke up?" She asked, rushing over to check on him, finding he had a fever like nothing she'd seen. "Oh my, he's burning up." She stated, worried for him.

Zecora nodded her head while humming. "Blood of beast he did consume, nightmares filled his head will hold, Till the end there is nothing to do, pain and and hurt will be his doom." She spoke making Fluttershy jump in shock.

"Is there anything we can do?" She shouted, uncharacteristically loud even for her.

Zecora shook her head but put on a small smile of comfort as she spoke gently. "Though the blood makes one's fears turn real, strong wills can survive and maybe find it thrill." These words helped calm Fluttershy.

"So we just have to wait this out?" She asked and on seeing Zecora nod, sat down next to Jack and try to ease his body.

Jack now was floating above what he could only imagine was Tera, the earth of this world. "Huh, would think it would be colder." He muttered to himself. Looking around he could see the moon off to his right, the sun behind his left side. He tried moving around but found he couldn't really do much but tumble in place from the lack of gravity. "Well this is pretty shit." he grumbled, folding his arms. "But at least it's better then getting my ass handed to me from the ghosts of my past in this world." He added.

"I don't know I rather like the view." Came a voice behind him. When Jack didn't turn around it let out a click like a tongue. "Oops my bad. Forgot you can't move." The voice said, a figure floating into view. The figure was male if Jack had to guess from the voice. It looked like a suit of armor that was a mix of rabbit legs like Lucky's but broad shoulders and arms topped with pauldrons of lions. A fur neck piece added to the illusion of large chest topped with a helmet that looked like it had a mane of metal with rabbit ears and face with a smile on it. One of the glowing eyes he could see through the eye slots shined red while the other was white. The armor seemed worn as if it had taken more damage. "Hi short time no see!" the armor said excitedly.

Jack was even more confused then before. "Um, have we met before?" He asked with a scrutinizing gaze.

The armor smacked the top of it's head making a clanging sound. "That's right, you shifted into my form and blacked out. Whoopsie daisy, I'm you or rather I'm your hero form." The suit explained. "You are one more form closer to using me and not dying buuuuut you made the mistake of drinking some pretty nasty stuff so I have to step in to get it out of you." It explained, floating closer to Jack.

"Woo hold on how exactly are you going to do that?" He questioned, trying to lean away.

"Easy, I'm going to make you vomit a shit ton." The armor replied happily before socking Jack in the stomach. The world around them blew away as Jack awoke with a start.

"Jack!" Shouted Fluttershy about to rush over to him but on seeing how green he was turning grabbed a bucket first and held it out to him. As the human puked up the contents of his stomach she rubbed his back and spoke words of encouragement, ignoring the disgusting sounds coming from the man. After a few minutes of vomiting he quieted down. "Feeling better?" She asked softly.

"Remind me never to bite a wereboar or anything that has were in it's name again." Jack groaned, slumping back into his seat with the bucket still in his lap. He looked around noticing Zecora and Fluttershy staring at him. The shy mare's hair was done up in a bun with a few locks framing her face no longer hiding it. In his still slightly sick haze he couldn't help comment. "You look cute with your hair up like that." He muttered loud enough for both mares to hear him.

A blush burst onto Fluttershy's face as she tried to stutter out a reply but finding the words impossible to get out, settling to just turn away while her hands fiddled with her hair and face.

Zecora gave a small chuckle before standing up, catching Jack's attention. His eye's widened on seeing what she was wearing or rather lack of. A loin cloth wrapped around strong, thick hips and legs while a stretch of fabric was across her chest holding her large breasts in place. Her voice made him snap out of it and look to her face. "Though I enjoy the attention and wish I could continue to watch the show, my home is a wreck and there are new plants to grow." She stated turning away with a slight shake of her ass making both Fluttershy and Jack blush as she swayed out the door.

Jack after shaking his head clear tried to stand up but found his legs bandaged and not agreeing with the shift in weight. "Ah fuck here we go." He complained, falling to the ground. As it approached he suddenly stopped, seeing Fluttershy had grabbed a hold of him. Setting him back into the seat he sighed. "Thanks for catching me..." He trailed off on seeing her intense stare.

"You aren't going anywhere in your condition mister." She ordered, standing and walking to the kitchen. Placing a kettle on the stove she began to make tea while keeping an eye on Jack who couldn't help but laugh at the situation. "What's so funny?" She questioned after bringing a cup of tea to him, lifting it to his lips after blowing on it.

Once he took the sip he leaned back. "It's nothing just... any time me or my siblings got hurt my mom would help us get better even going so far as to help write our homework if we couldn't use our hands or arms." He replied with a sad laugh as a far away look entered his eyes. "You know, I don't regret coming here and taking the second chance at life but... There's no one left back where I'm from to help clean up the house or my families graves." He said, a deep sadness in his voice.

"If you had the chance to go back to your old world would you take it?" Fluttershy asked softly, looking away when he turned those saddened eyes on her. "That is if you want to tell me." She added quickly, wishing her hair was down to hide behind it.

"If I'm being honest maybe but then I'd have to leave what I have here and frankly I didn't have friends back then or the ones I did left or died. So yes it's sad I left them unkempt but I think they all are more happy that I made something bigger with my life then before." He spoke slowly, taking Fluttershy's hand and squeezing it. "Sometimes you have to take a risk to gain something better even if you regret the choices you made in the past you have to know they helped lead you to this point." He added, closing his eye's once more and drifting into a more gentle sleep.

Fluttershy looked to the hand he had held, opening and closing it a few times before resting it on her chest feeling her heart beating fast. "I think I know what you mean." She whispered, taking the tea cups to the sink to wash them then moving on to feed the animals around them.