The Smiling Warrior

The girls had all gathered the next morning to talk about Jack. Even Tempest was their though she still felt off with how Jack had looked at her the day prior. "Ok girls we need to talk about the newest member of our world." Twilight said once everypony had sat down. "We know somethings about him but obviously there's more to learn. Any suggestions on how to get more information?" Looking around the room.

"Um... well maybe we shouldn't rush him since well... he you know just got here...that is if you want too." Fluttershy mumbled hiding once everypony looked to her.

"As much as I do love the bit of drama and gossip I have to agree with Fluttershy here. He woke up in a new world and without hesitation fought a manticore to save someone he didn't even know. I say we still ask questions and test him but don't push it." Rarity said nodding after Fluttershy finished.

Rainbow on the other hand was not so agreeable. "Are you two kidding the guys killed before whats to say he won't do the same to if given the chance. He's strong enough to take on a manticore by himself. It took all of us working together to beat the others that were near the main festival." Rainbow shot back glaring at the girls her fists clenching and unclenching.

Applejack looked to Twilight. "Ah'm real sorry Twi but I just can't help worry about what Jack can do. I mean look what he did to that beast, its head was cracked clean open." She said pointing to her head. "I know he ain't lied to us yet about the stuff we asked him and he didn't lie none about the killin' either." Applejack said shaking her head.

"Well what about you Pinkie you've been strangely quiet this whole time." Twilight asked turning to the normally vibrant girl.

Pinkie had a frown on her face and her hair was deflated which only happens when she's sad. "I can see Applejack and Rainbows side since it shows Jack is scary but I don't want to just believe he's a monster. I haven't even thrown him a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party." She replied sadly.

The girls turned to Tempest to hear her thoughts as she was the one who asked the question that caused all this. "He was a soldier and was ordered to kill. He also said he never enjoyed it and even Applejack said he hasn't lied to us yet. I know where he's coming from with past mistakes since you all remember where I came from and who I took orders from." Tempest stated turning away from their looks.

Before anyone could say anything else Spike walked in with a tray of drinks. Placing it on the center table he looked at the girls. "Why all the long faces?" He asked folding his arms in front of him. "Wait, let me guess this is about the whole killing thing with Jack isn't it?" He said rolling his eyes. The others averted their eyes from meeting his causing him only to sigh out loud and rub the bridge of his nose. "Come on girls you can't seriously be letting that ruin your image of him already. I mean how many bad guys have you all fought who you gave second or even third chances too."

"Like who?" Shot back Rainbow glaring at the dragon.

Spike held up a finger with each name. "How about Trixie, Starlight, Tempest, Discord etc. Like seriously girls Discord is the lord of chaos. You really think when he ruled no one died." Rainbows ears pinning back down after Spike said that causing her to rethink on Jack's position.

None could talk more as the man in question came down the stairs yawning stretching one arm above his head as the other covered his mouth. All the girls and dragon included stared as Jack had forgotten to put his baggy shirt back on making his muscles very visible for all to see that is till they started to notice the various scars on his body.

"Jack darling whats with all those marks on your body?" Rarity asked raising a manicured finger.

Stopping and looking over himself Jack shrugged. "Pick one and ask." He said a smile slipping easily onto his face as he strode between the group and standing there hands on his hips waiting for one to be pointed out.

"How about this one!" Pinkie shouted back to her happy self after Spike helped calm everypony's mind. She pointed to one on his left shoulder.

"That one was when I was 16 and was dared to climb a massive tree near the neighborhood to the top and back down. But about half way up the branch I was on broke and I fell stabbing my shoulder on a branch as I neared the bottom." Jack replied chuckling to himself. "I wasn't a bright child in fact most of these were when I was younger. Then some from adulthood like this one, and this one, and these." He said pointing to a variety across his front and back.

"How bout this burn looking one here?" Asked Applejack pointing to a burn scar with smaller cut like ones around it.

"That one if I remember correctly was when my family lived in a apartment. The place had caught fire and everyone was trying to evacuate, thing is I could hear a little boy calling for help in one of the rooms close to the ground floor. Me being the lovable idiot I am broke down the door and wrapped the boy in my shirt to keep him from harm. There was just a little itty bitty problem." Jack stated holding the girls attention. Even Rainbow was leaning forward to hear what came next. "You see the stairs were a mix of wood and metal and by the time I had the kid secured the stairs down had fallen away. This left me with two choices that weren't great either way. I could A. Jump down the area where the stairs used to be and probably snap my ankles or B. Jump out the window and hope there were nice comfy bushes down below." Jack said counting two digits on his hand.

"Which did you choose?" Fluttershy whispered, a hand to her mouth.

"Option B" Jack said " I ran at the window carrying the kid and using my body broke it and also using my body cushioned the fall so the boy wouldn't get hurt." Jack laughing at himself. "I was stuck in the hospital for about four months from the burn and broken shoulder."

"Wowie zowie, I don't think I could ever do something like that." Pinkie said bouncing around Jack looking at more of his marks.

"Also I got two questions for you two." Jack said pointing to Rarity and Applejack. "First one being could you help me get more clothes as I currently only have what I was wearing yesterday and second I couldn't happen to work at your farm to help make some money so I'm not just mooching off the Princesses kindness." He finished rubbing his arm while looking at the two.

"Of course darling I would love the chance to get you some clothes together. It would even give me the chance to try new designs I've been working on." Rarity replied with a smile on her face.

Applejack nodded her head. "Sure sugar, just come on down to the farm there's always work to be done." She said before adding, "Just give me a little to warn Mac bout you so he don't up and clean your clock."

Jack chuckled at that last statement. "Yes, we definitely wouldn't want him to hit me." He said think on the training he just went through with Lucky.

With that Jack went back up and putting the shirt the guard had given him on before going back down to meet again with the girls. Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs a scream could be heard outside causing everypony and human to rush out. What they saw were a bunch of diamond dogs causing trouble. "What are diamond dogs doing all the way out here!" Said Twilight.

"Girls let me handle this." Jack said taking steps forward before he was stopped by a magical force holding him back.

"Are you crazy Jack they'll wreck you." Rainbow said, "Besides even if you could fight them we don't need you killing them like you did that manticore!" She added getting into Jacks face.

Jack couldn't help but laugh at that statement. "Girls the reason I killed that beast was because it couldn't be reasoned with and talked down but these guys on the other hand look like they can be and if they decide not to leave peacefully I promise I'll only knock them out to be handled later." He said looking at the group some still with worry in their eyes. "Trust me" He asked looking to Twilight.

"Ok but only fight if necessary and don't go to far if you have to." Twilight said letting go of her hold on the smiling man.

"You have my word princess." Jack said with a salute before heading for the trouble makers. As he approached the dogs began turning to him and making insults, waving their weapons hoping to make the approaching man fear them but when all Jack did was keep walking towards them smiling some began to worry and even back away. " Hello!" Said Jack in a cheerful voice. "Can I ask what you all are doing here?" He said looking at the group while his mind began taking stock of the situation. "Seven bipedal dogs with crude armor and weapons. They have numbers but from what they were doing probably don't know how to use the weapons properly. Big guy over there might be the alpha wait no he looks more like muscle not really brains." Jack thought to himself as he scanned over the group till his eyes landed on a particularly confidant dog near the back. "Bingo, you get to go first." Jack finished still keeping his friendly smile on his face.

The one he guessed as the alpha stepped forward pointing a rusty and chipped sword at Jack. "You give shiny's now." It commanded taking a few more steps closer.

"Just a few more steps and we can get started big boy." Jack thought to himself and he responded. "What about this, I'll give you the shiny's I have and you all go away and stop causing problems here hmm how does that sound?" He said spreading his hands out in a sign of peace humming a tune of a song from home.

The dog merely laughed before coming closer to him. "You no tell us what do. You do what us say." He said taking the last step Jack needed.

"Oh such a shame and I was going to give you guys a nice shiny toy guess I'll have to give you a different kind of shiny." Jack stated before lunging forward snapping the dogs wrist causing it to shout and drop its sword. The other dogs were shocked but soon got over it converging on Jack. As The dogs got closer Jack kicked the alpha in the back of the knee before bending him backwards slamming his head into the ground knocking him out. Finally a dog got close enough to swing at Jack who merely turned out of the way before throwing a fist into the offending dogs jaw probably fracturing it. As the second collapsed the third and fourth tried to swing at him from two sides to which he ducked under both launching himself up catching one dogs throat lifting him into the air with Jack who pivoted throwing the one in his grip at the other still on the ground. "Woo two in one!" Jack shouted as he pumped his fist before remembering the last three dogs who were still charging him.

"You die now!" Shouted the closest remaining one as he swung an over sized axe missing by inches as the human slid out of the way. As he stumbled for balance to take another swing Jack quickly swept his legs from under him causing him to hit the ground. Jack stood over him giving a small wave and wink as Jack swung his foot connecting with his head knocking the fifth one out.

Jack turned to look at the last two but noticed only one coming at him till he heard Lucky shout in his head."Dodge!" Causing Jack to lean back as a fist passed his face from the side.

"Thanks Lucky." Jack thought as he took the arm and swung around sending the dog attached to it flying.

"Don't mention it." Lucky replied with a laugh as Jack went back to focusing on the fight. The final dog looked to the human before making the first smart choice the group had made so far and turned around to flee.

"Bad doggy, no running from your punishment!" Reprimanded Jack who quickly got next to the flee culprit with one leg stuck out, tripping the criminal. Jack took hold of one of the dogs legs as he fell and whipped him over his shoulder into the ground leaving a sizable dent taking out the last of the pack. With a wipe of his hands Jack strode back to the girls and with a smile said, "Is that gentle enough for you all." Before laughing and going back into the castle to get clean leaving the girls and dragon to stare with their mouths open as the guards arrived to arrest the unconscious criminals.