We stand united 1x1 Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Yeah, though I did punch her in the face from sheer anger, I could imagine though how she must feel, being forced to marry with that maniac. And now that I think about it... She was rather peculiar, if it wasn't for the fact that she punched Fluttershy, I would sympathize with her. The moment she said *Things are alot worse than they seem*, I never thought I would hear that from someone who has not been involved with the earlier years of the war." Jack admitted.

"And also... You always wanted to be able to fly right? If you really want it, there might be a chance I could help you with that. It does not involve any sort of injections, weird rituals, none of that. I actually know of a more natural method, because being the son of a father who happened to teach and train lots of pupils has been a pretty good advantage for me." Jack offered.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"You'd do that?" Festus said excited but the excitement, quickly faded from his face "I'd love for you to help but... They're still not grown in enough..." He pointed Ember her wings had 3 spines in them holding the wings firm. Meanwhile, Festus didn't have any spines in his wings and they were much smaller. "Thank you though. When I can fly I'll be sure to ask you to help."

Fluttershy started to look like she didn't feel well,  She had felt bad for a little while but hadn't said or even looked like it but now it seemed to be too bad for her to hide. She moved back behind the others so they wouldn't see her like that.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Hmm, I see, well, if it would make you feel better, could I at least still help with it? Truth is that this method does not literally make them instantly grow but it just speeds up the process a bit faster, it involves just mixtures from lots of different plants and some potions, it's actually rather similar to the things that Zecora tends to perform."

"In fact... Once we have time, I could show you some examples, I have detailed sketches of a species that looks very similar to yours, once we are in Equestria I could actually help you with the process, how does that sound?" Jack said with a smile, for the first time not bothering with hiding his enthusiasm.

He did, however, did not notice Fluttershy walking back behind the group, he was to caught up in his enthusiasm, wich was rare for him to have in the first place.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Festus smiled "Actually that'd be a great idea. I did mean to ask however how exactly did you intend on us getting back anyways? Teleporter? Spaceship? We can't just fly there from here." 

Star quickly looked back "If he didn't have a plan why would be out here. I'm hoping for the best if you say that you have no idea then why are we listening to you?" She said before looking forwards again and huffing, knowing he had no real plan.

Fluttershy was now 1 steps away from the others she tried to start running to catch up but fell down about 5 away creating a very light thud. She got back up slowly and continued her hurried pace before dropping again not recovering immediately.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack rolled his eyes at star's response.

He then looked back at Festus.

"That is actually an interesting question. In these scenario's there is no a real way to know ahead until you know for sure if something like this will available, and where you need to go off course. If we find a spaceship, we use that spaceship, if we find a teleporter, we use that teleporter. In these times you may never know, the best strategy in these situations is to have an idea what could be ahead and hope that it will end up like that." Jack explained.

He then looked and saw Fluttershy's slow and painful movement.

"Festus, could you please help out Fluttershy? She is having real trouble catching up, while you do that,  I am going to see if there is something ahead, I am just having this weird suspicion in my head that something is ahead of us." Jack asked him as he started running a bit ahead.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Festus went over and helped fluttershy, Having her put one of her hooves around him since they were the same height "What's the matter?" He asked her.

"I... I don't know. Just can't seem to find any strength. I don't feel hungry just weak..." Fluttershy responded, Festus could tell she was sick for some reason but couldn't point out why "Can you get jack over here?"

Festus nodded and walked back over to him after making sure she'd be fine for a bit. "She wants to talk with you apparently." He said calmly.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack gave him a nod.

"Festus could you do me a quick favor and keep an eye out for us ahead? It's kinda the reason why I went and ran ahead a bit." Jack asked him.

He then walked over to Fluttershy.

"You feeling alright, you have been trailing behind a bit. But what did you want to talk about?" he asked her.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Festus nodded "I got it for you." He said before he walked away

Fluttershy looked at him a small glimmer of hope in her eyes "You're the only one I trust to know this..." she said lifting her wing with her hoof, There was a hole similar to that of the one on Festus' shoulder but this one was really close to her ribs it had gone in and hit one of her ribs, not breaking it but it had reflected off of the rib and nearly hit a vital. She had had it for a while now, the hours the group had slept included meaning she'd have lost a lot of blood. "What do I do?"

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Dear God..."  Jack muttered, he had a disturbed look on his face.

"This does not look good, it went really deep, and what worse.. there is no hole on the other side, which means it still somewhere in there.." He said with a shock.

'Just why... Just why does this keep happening...' Jack thought with despair.

He then snapped himself out of his thoughts.

"Don't worry, i am getting that bullet out of there, but i must warn you that it is going to hurt.." Jack said with a trembling voice, his confidence faltered faster than you could say *Yamcha* as he was a little comfortable when he did it to Festus since he was already used to such a fair amount of pain, and having the benefit of scales. But knowing how scared Fluttershy could be, Jack almost fainted from this prospect, having to hurt her to this extend to remove a bullet from a wound.

He puked on the ground from despair as he was overwhelmed by the situation.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Gah!" Fluttershy screamed folding her wing. "I'm sorry!"

Celestia ran over confused "What happened? Jack? Are you ok? Fluttershy what happened" She asked since she couldn't see anything wrong with Fluttershy

She looked at the sand below her "I don't know Celestia. I'll make sure he's alright you tell Ember and the others that we need to stop for a while. Alright." Celestia didn't move she just stood there for a second "Now!" She yelled when Fluttershy yelled Celestia flinched and hurried off. "This wound is why I was scared earlier... of you in particular. But now... I trust you. I know you can do something to help whatever it is you want to do. Do it, even if it means I'll die." She sounded weak, but very confident, an odd change in heart but a welcome one.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Fluttershy.. Do you even realise what you are asking of me? Festus his wound was on his shoulder and was not as deep, which I still was able to do, but even that took alot off of me."

"But this... You are asking me to cut you open your body all the way to the rib cage in order to do this! Before i told you all about how i felt."

"I know you trust me, but this is going too far, you want to know the reason? I wanted to get away from a lifetime of... all this fighting, and having to suffer, but you are now asking me to return all of it. I am not a medic Fluttershy, just... just how could you ask this of me?! Not only that, but i would also have to end up deciding your fate..."

"Do you know where this level of infliction usually goes? Torture, the same thing that I had to endure, and now I have to relive it all over again in a form of doing it to one of my friends... You know how broken I am, mentally and physically, so why of all people would you ask me? Do I really have to suffer another nightmare of these feelings and memories for months?"

"You are starting to scare me with this.. Just stop, ask someone else to do it but don't involve in these things. We all have our limits, but this wen't far past mine..." Jack said as he was almost sobbing at this point.

He walked away as he was clutching his head, his brain not functioning properly from the impact that the moment had delivered.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Then that's your choice Jack if you can't handle this then don't, I'll make it to someone who can and they'll help me.," Fluttershy said as she walked ahead of the group not saying a word to them but she was confident in her choice to let Jack decide

Celestia, Ember, and Festus all had the same reaction, Pure confusion Ember was the first to break the silence "What... Exactly just happened?" She said out loud as Fluttershy walked away from the group, Well she was more limping at this point.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"She asked me to remove a bullet from her body that has ended up near her rib cage, but that would mean I would have to cut her open and hope I wouldn't exactly kill her by hitting one of her vitals by accident..." Jack said as he sat down.

"Just why would she ask something like this of me? Does she want me to get traumatized all over again? And then having to keep quiet about it, just so it will bottle up in me once more? I am not putting up with that. I am not going to keep quiet about something like this, because all the problems are being shoved to me again, did she lie about all those words she told me before? If she still remembers then she wouldn't ask this of me. It feels like i am being taken advantage of just because i know some things, people tell me to keep faith, but how i am going to keep faith if the very person who told me is asking this of me? How many more times do i have to say this to everyone?" Jack said as he looked down.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"What the hell is wrong with her." Ember roared angered that she put jack through such pain again. "After all you've been through..." Now Ember wanted to punch her in the chest feeling bad attacking star earlier.

"Something doesn't seem right... Well... She looks perfectly fine. Even I'd go as far as she's handling it well at this point." Celestia said calmly "But why ask you... not me I can use magic here after all..." She was talking to herself at this point "Was she targeting those feelings deliberately? I know it's Fluttershy but..."

Festus hadn't know Fluttershy for long but he knew something odd was going on. Still, he felt as though asking for help didn't deserve such a response "S... So? I understand that she did ask that of you but I mean at least there was a choice... It really could have been worse... her life could've-"

"Shut it!" Ember snapped "You don't seem to realize just how much that affects his psyche. A choice still hurts a friend even if you pick the one that helps you out and just look at her, She's smiling

Star finally decided to make a comment, "She's smiling because she's happy with the choice Jack made if he feels it's a bad choice he should have made a different one. Forgive me for taking her side on things but if she's happy with his choice then he should be happy he doesn't have to hurt her." She and Ember locked glares both of them watching each other close

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"And you think that me trying to remove that bullet from her is going to help? I only know for some part how to even get a bullet out of a more simple area, but do you know where that bullet in her body is? Her rib cage! I would have to open her up almost completely from the top in order to find that bullet, and then hope she either won't bleed out from blood loss or that I might accidentally hurt on of her vitals! Do you know what would happen? I would end up killing her, which means I have the death of an another friend on my head, I have been through this before, and I can assure you that you would be traumatized for the rest of your life! What would you do if your son would end up like this? We both know you wouldn't want him to suffer either during all the pain that will be caused to an eventual death. Here are some words for you, open your eyes to the reality!" Jack shouted to Star.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Star punched Jack in the chest but it is more like an extremely rough poke as she had decided to show mercy and not knock him out "Don't... Bring... Him... Into this. You're lucky I don't knock you down for saying that. I know how it is when you're NOT given a choice and trust me I would have MUCH rather died than married that psychopath we escaped from. Now tell me, *little prince*, what's it like at least being able to stand up against these things because until today I haven't been able to. War may be rough but at least you still have a future!" She shouted this so loudly that even Ember was intimidated there was a serious flame in her eyes she may have been rude before but now she was at her limit.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"You could still have a future, but you will have to create that one, you in fact still have that chance the moment we actually freed you from him."

"But all you have been doing is bashing against others, not even showing the slightest sign of gratitude what we did for you. We have even decided to let you come with us, instead of leaving you to vent on your own, a person may voice his opinion, but there are bounds and morals, you say how difficult you have it, but you are forgetting one important thing. You are still able to set your future right, but instead, YOU are creating this doom by being so mean and cold hearted towards others, you may not be aware of it, but your son would not be happy to see his mother lash out against those who saved her from a lifetime of suffering like this." Jack said with a scowl, as he recovered from the hit.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

When he mentioned her son again Star growled "You know what. FINE!" She said as she started to walk the same way Fluttershy was going "Ya know Jack... Maybe you really should learn to take your own advice! We've all heard it you've been through a lot but that's not going to change, not until every monster in this universe is gone including Valtrek and all his supporters, You'll be a lot happier with everything when you realize that's how it is now are you going to sit on the ground and cry about what's happened or are you going to fix it!" She said before storming off.

"What an idiot," Ember said "Whatever... Let's just let them die out here in this desert..." Ember said heading a new way. "Let's go you guys."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack buried his face in hands.

"I don't get it anymore, what am I doing wrong? Everyone in Equestria has been telling me to not throw my life away in things, but here i am being confronted for the opposite, is it becoming to a point where i am not even allowed to feel sad? Where i am forced to cast everything i feel aside and throw it all away again? I don't want to be confronted by these dangers constantly get hurt, yet to most i am some sort of hero that is expected to step up and do something, while most of my enemies think i am some sort of tool that can be exploited, I just don't know what to think anymore, anything i try to do has a extreme badside it seems." He said with a deep sigh.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Celestia stared a Jack for a few seconds. "Jack... Have you ever considered not exactly throwing your life away in battle rather doing what Woodland does for example? He's strong and all but will retreat if he is weakened. Comparable to a card game, You have to know when to fold your hand in and death isn't the only option of doing that."

"Sometimes it is princess." Ember said, "Sometimes it really is."

 

Ways off Star caught up with Fluttershy "I feel bad for you Ya know."

"Why? What did I do?" Fluttershy asked confused since she had left during the argument.

"They all hate you now because you asked for help." Star said stomping "Here you are literally bleeding out as we probably speak and they all want nothing to do with you because You needed help." She growled and thrust a hoof into the sand. "You shouldn't have given him a choice you're going to die now but I guess it won't be by his hand~." She mocked.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I don't really know if i ever have to be honest Celestia, at least not intentionally, i perhaps only did it once by accident in the past, though I did tend to advice to others. But for some reason, my instincts see this reasoning as *wrong* when it comes to myself. I don't know why, but when i do think about doing it, it is like my body and mind are working againts me, like my insticts are telling me not to attempt something like this, but even if i could, i don't think i particually know how to retreat myself, running is just something that doesn't work very well these days anymore i started notice after somethime." He admitted

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"That's odd... Retreating is a basic battle tactic... Well, It's fine Maple didn't have a concept of it either. We can't teach that to you either... Well, Jack, she is right, You may not fight without getting into risks but you can help in other ways, for now, we do need to find those 2 they'll die out here if they're going the wrong way..."

"So..." Ember said "The pony who can't say thanks, and the pony I thought to be the kindest. Let them go out make them regret their betrayal."

 

Fluttershy flinched "I... I didn't mean for such an argument to happen. Oh no, I need to go apologize!" She started to head back to the 4 who hadn't left yet.

"Don't bother, if they'd rather you be de-" Star was interrupted.

"I know they don't want me dead Jack just couldn't bring himself to harm a friend that of which I understand ." She said angrily before adrenaline kicked in and she ran back to the other 4.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"To be honest Fluttershy deserves to come with us tough, even tough what she did ask of me was a bit to far, i still don't think its fair if we leave her behind. But then again it.." Jack just did know how to finish that sentence, while he had still hope Fluttershy did not mean it, he was still heavily disturbed by the factor of it being asked in the first place.

"But for Star... I don't know guys, i could see pure anger in her eyes. I just rather not go near her, who knows next time she will attempt to kill me in a fit of rage.." Jack said with worry, since he did not know Star enough at all to understand her true motives.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Ember sighed "Whatever... If she does something like that again then we ditch her."

Celestia's voice boomed "Enough. She's our friend despite that. I bet it was a misunderstanding and she didn't mean to..." That's when Fluttershy ran by

"J...Jack. I'm sorry... I didn't realize how upset I had made you, I... Won't do it again... I'm really sorry I thought it was something simple I was asking but I realized how much greater of a task it actually was..." She looked him in the eyes but didn't move her head "You don't have to forgive me for it if you don't want to I really messed up your mind..."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack looked a bit surprised by Celestia's sudden reaction, but he then looked at Fluttershy

 "I.. It is alright, I forgive you. I admit it might not have been your best call but.. you did not know. If we want to get that bullet out of there we need to find a place where they have a proper medic and the right tools, it is not a good idea to perform these tasks in this environment in the first place." Jack said as he looked down.

He then looked at Star who was still at her earlier position.

"But i do not forgive our *friend*, I am not so easily swayed for the likes of her, and i know with her case it would go further then petty grudges eventually." Jack said with a sigh, his words talking about Star