We stand united 1x1 Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Hey no problem, though I panicked myself back there, didn't realise it during the heat of the moment to my dismay. I know you can handle it, but I guess there is the question if you would still be able to fight or move correctly after your entire front has been hit from such an explosion? I mean, that was point blank range, robot or not, its the same as shoving a cooking grenade in someone's face and letting it explode. But i guess i should not be worrying so much as well." Jack said

He then realised something.

"I guess we should quit the simulation now, i have had enough pain for today, and i rather not faint again, it would cause you guys to be stuck here all over again." Jack said, realising what has been transpiring when he was not awake the entire time."

He focused his mind and then let the simulation end.

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It was then that Jack woke up, but he was not near the artefact or his friends, he was instead on the ground, in the middle of the street.

He looked around him with surprise.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

When Jack ended it Woody was thrown a distance above Jack. That's where he entered from so that's where he was ejected out. The dragonequus stood up brushing himself off, "Wait. Why are you out here? I thought you were meditating with the others?"

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Maple and Evelyn both woke up and saw Jack was missing. They both panicked Maple looked at Celestia. "Where's Jack?!" She practically shouted

Celestia jumped at the sudden increase of volume in the room. "Oh, Someone was controlling his body. He told me he'd be safe so I didn't worry."

"And if he was lying?" Evelyn added "I mean it's pretty easy to say one thing and do something completely different."

"I..." Celestia said before the two ran out the door.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I, i don't know honestly, i was meditating near the others when we entered, but now i suddenly ended up in on the street when i woke up. That is strange, i perhaps may have sleep wandered?" Jack said.

"Tough my head does hurt quite a bit, guess that could be the after effects of what happened."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Woody looked at him for a second "Well maybe you're dehydrated." He pulled his blue horn off his head similar to what Discord would do he waved his paw over the horn, The blue color of the horn turned into water. He handed the water to Jack. "There, and don't worry about it, It's magic so it filters itself it's as pure as water that fell from the sky." He smiled at him not thinking about how what he did looked to anyone who wasn't him.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Hey, thanks." Jack said as he drank it up.

He then looked a bit around, wondering in which part of the city they were.

"I don't really know in which part of the city we are neither. I also wonder where Maple and Evelyn are, as i don't really know how long i have been lying on this ground-"

He suddenly looked up as he saw Maple and Evelyn bolting through the sky.

"Wow, they sure are going fast, I wonder why they are in such a hurry." Jack muttered.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

After Jack finished Woody spun his horn in his paw and put it back on his head when he did the blue color of it refilled similar to the way a glass of water would refill. "I don't know" he said. "Maybe they spent too long in there and are late for something?"

Teh two landed in front of them but they had slowed down drastically. "Oh good. You're ok." Maple said "Celestia said someone else as controlling your body but it seems like it's you."

Evelyn nodded "I gotta say for your leader she's got terrible oversight... At least she's working on it from what I saw."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack went a bit pale at hearing this news.

'But how... I felt nothing posses me in the first place, I would have at least felt an aftermath if something had possessed me.' Jack thought with worry

'You are an overthinker like usual.' A voice in his head joked.

'...' Jack did not know what to think.

 

It was then that some of the citizens saw what Woody was doing and some of them screamed in horror.

"He is taking off body parts like its nothing... He is part of the Blood Cult!" One of them screamed

Some children were looking at Woody with an ernoumes amount of horror on their faces.

"We need to get out here, fast!!" Screamed someone else.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Woody flinched when someone screamed, He quickly turned to the "W.. Wait no It..." He realized it was too late to actually communicate with any of them "Sorry... I forgot I was supposed to avoid that..." He said to the other 3 when he looked at Evelyn she was about to attack him but had stopped. "What were you doing."

"Sorry instincts kicked in. You aren't part of the blood cult I know, I know." Evelyn said standing down "Jack you look pale... something wrong?"

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

It took him a moment to answer.

"N-no, everything is alright, I am just a bit winded by the situation." Jack quickly said.

He then looked at Maple.

"Hey Maple, could you do me a favour, or rather do Woody and favour and take him to Karthspire? We would want to avoid the guards of this city getting the wrong idea about the false assumptions of those citizens, and they might be able to calm the situation." Jack said to her.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Yea sure I'll take him... though where would..." Maple said but was interrupted

"The same building you and your brother came in on," Evelyn said pointing to it. "That's it just there."

"Alright thanks," Woody said flying over there followed by Maple.

Evelyn looked at Jack "Shall we prepare for the assault? It's soon after all."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Good idea, I think the others who join this assault should be at the city square,  wonder who is there at the moment." Jack said.

As they were heading there, there was a squad of soldiers preparing, as they were loading up their weapons.

There were also others there, but Jack had not been able to see them yet.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple landed on the balcony where she met Evelyn "Karthspire!" She shouted to get his attention. "I need help!" She had no idea where he was so she started running down halls to look for him.

------------------------------

Jack ran into Windphaser, litteraly "Oh, Pardon me." He said walking away then stopping and facing him. "You... I know you..." Windphaser norrowed his eyes "I just don't remember from where... My father was looking for you wasn't he."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I am over here, just looking through some battle plans. What do you need from me?" He called out to Maple as he was standing over a bunch of documents and studying them.

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Yeah, but also for someone else i know at the same time, i guess he wasn't satisfied until every member of the old group is out of the picture. But i guess beyond my time in Equestria and as Luna's adopted son, that you probably have heard those rumours about my escape months ago, i guess almost anyone seems to know me by that fact." Jack said a bit surprised.

"You must be Windphaser right?" He asked.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple walked in followed by Woody. "I know it's probably not the most important of things but Woody was seen earlier using his magical abilites and these said abilities were mistaken as Blood Cultist magic." Maple explained quickly so she could get out of his way "I wasn't sure what to do so I brought him here."

----------------------------------------

"Yes, I am." The samurai armor wearing, unicorn replied "You have no doubt hear that I will be dueling my father. If I may ask you to kindly leave me to it despite him hunting you down most of your life I would appreciate it but if you wish to I would allow you to assist me given he's made you as angry at him as I am." He slightly drew his blad examining the edge quickly and nodding at it.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack nodded. "I appreciate that." he answered.

'Good, I have been waiting for his death for so many years.' The voice said.

'I can imagine you want to see him dead, given he was the reason you got captured in the first place.' Jack thought

'Death? I more than that, I want him to suffer from an inch of his life, a slow and agonizing death is what he is going to get.' The voice said in a cold tone.

'Wow.. That is pretty extreme, I want him dead, but is it really right to do something like that? Even someone at his level, it's still extreme.' Jack thought back

'It is necessary, you know what he is responsible for? The whole slave thing is only a minuscule part, he is responsible for mass murder of civilians, and back then he was still a soldier, that was even before the virus existed. You may know the recent things about him Jack, but he has been performing mass executions, tortures and the worst things you could think of in a span of a good 200 years ago, the only way to justify that is to BREAK him. And this is not justifiable, this is personal.' The voice said in a now eager tone.

'I guess... But the method you talk about now do worry me a bit, does it really have to be a slow death? You would be getting close to his level of violence.' Jack thought with concern.

'He needs to get a taste of his own medicine in order to make this victory a reality. You have been growing a bit soft Jack, back when I first met you I only saw grief but most all fury in your eyes, but ever since you have escaped that seemed to have dimmed down alot, you need to watch out. You let this go much further and you won't be able to handle yourself in these environments. It is sapping your internal fury that makes us so strong in battle.' The voice warned him.

'Look, I used to be more determinant and show barely any emotions in battle but... I have been starting a new life, I even have a new mother now, who does genuinely care for me. After all these years I am finally showing signs of settling down.' Jack admitted.

'I would wish nothing more for you Jack, but there is a difference between having a good time and battling, and settling down completely. You are starting to throw away everything that you have been striving for, you wanted to stand up and make a difference right? But if you take yourself out of the fight completely soon, you will be crushing your own hopes as well, do you really want that? You wanted to live a normal life, but you have to realise this, that normal life we all have been wishing for is gone, it was never there, it was just a false hope that one day we could do something beyond fighting, but you know that we never had peace, not even once. Do you really think all of this is going to have  a happy ending? Let me tell you, it won't.' The voice said to him.

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Karthspire sighed.

"I guess its logical this would have happened, i was not aware your brother had such unique type of magic, i only witnessed him opening that portal to my office but i have known more beings who were capable of doing that. Do not worry though, i am going to inform the guard about this, and i will put a large emphasis on the fact that they need to calm the citizen down and tell them it was a mistunderstanding. Tough i can't promise all the rumours will die down, you know how some can be." Karthspire said as he walked away, starting on his now assigned task.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Luna had been listening to the argument between that voice and Jack. She knew because Evelyn had told her about it. "So... The cause of the nightmares... It was inside you as a voice..." Luna said to Jack staring him dead in the eyes "And now let me tell both you and whatever that voice is..." She spoke in the royal canterlot voice "THERE WILL BE A NORMAL LIFE FOR HIM EVEN IF I HAVE TO DRAG HIM INTO IT!"

Windphaser stood right next to the royal voice and didn't even flinch "Luna? Well, It's a pleasure to see you too..."

-----------------------------------

"Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't inform you before now I figured he'd avoid doing that but I guess not." Maple said bowing to him as he walked away.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack looked at Luna with wide shock as he reeled back.

'That is quite the determination, but you really think that is going to end well? You are relying on something that is going to falter before your eyes in a matter of time. I have been trying to make sure he is capable of fending on his own should that tragedy strike soon. What is going to happen once all of you are dead huh? They will be breaking him until he is no more. It is time to open those eyes of yours and realise that we are all sorely outmatched and are only clinging to life by luck and some advantages. But I would not expect you to understand in the slightest, your sister at least admitted she had made some mistakes, and I can respect that, but now it is time you start realising the reality, you can all be wiped out in a matter of weeks should the enemy focus all of their attention on your cause, but that reason is being delayed because of even bigger battles being fought on the edge of this galaxy, warriors who have been showing courage, but I can hardly say the same from you... Because you are not even able to realise what they are trying to do.' The voice said to Luna with a sneer.

'Kiran that is enough!' Yelled Jack in his thoughts.'

'No Jack, she needs to be told.' The voice said with arrogance.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Says the one who's dead..." Luna said with venom in her tone "I have been alive much longer than you. I may not know everything about our enemies but I know that Equestrians have an unbreakable unity... Something that no other race I've seen thus far has come close to. I'm tired of us being told we can't do it. Meanwhile, 5 of us are going far out of our way to help others. Maple lost her body..."

Windphaser silenced her. "Calm down Luna. I know what he's saying and I know we are stronger than others give credit for but they may be listening so you best no explain in depth. Excuse me for a minute I must finalize something with Karthspire. You two behave..." He finished saying as he walked away

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

'Oh yes, i died alright, and with a good reason at that, because that allowed Jack to escape in the end. But you want to know why some are telling you can't do it? Because the approach you have been taking has far to many errors in it to be effective against our enemy. You talk about how Maple lost her body, yet you don't realise you are partly to blame for her getting into that conversion centre in the first place. Granted that Maple wants to do some things herself, it was YOU who allowed that and even encouraged her to eliminate that leader, but instead of taking a strong army with her to command and accompany, you send only one individual, even though her brother is strong, its this mistake that you seem to repeat way to often. You have soldiers! Yet you tend to keep most of them at bay like a bunch of pawns! What you want to do with them, slack off so they become inexperienced from not experiencing real battles? And to put even further into detail, you send her without any information or detail about what she could be facing ahead, you send no scouts, did not take into consideration that she would be vastly outnumbered. I have been in the military and i know plenty of methods on how this could have gone better, it's the shame that i, vastly younger than such an old being as yourself, is forced to point out these mistakes. You are her leader and military commander, tell her to stand down if it seems to dangerous for one person to handle, not send her on her merry way and think she can handle everything, she also has her limits and feelings, do you think she is some sort of tool to you? I encourage Jack to keep fighting because he needs to be able to defend himself properly should things go very bad, but even i HOLD him back from specific task because i KNOW he can't handle specific task, do I have to point out that Jack and Maple have a similar thing for sacrificing themselves and jumping into the thick of battle? If i can tell him to stand down, why won't you do the same to Maple? You don't care about her safety at all? So much for this unity thing..' The voice said.

'Kiran, you are wrong, Luna has done good-' Jack thought back but was interrupted.

'If she is going to nag me about not wanting to be told they can't do it, she needs to ACT like she can do it, which involves not throwing away her high ranking captains into solo missions while her soldiers are being left behind, if this *Unity* is really present, then she needs to step up her game, she is pointing out how we have no unity yet she falters in it herself.' The voice said.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"There are no centers left on Equestria." Luan said coldly "There were hundreds of them but I realized what I had done and decided to protect my lands. Maple took out 2 by herself and our armies took out the rest of them. Is that proof enough. Look at Jacks memories since you can and you will know how many there where and now there isn't even a single infected on our planet anymore." Luna said as she turned to walk away. "And stop trying to turn my son into a weapon he's much better than that."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

'That is going to prove fatal if you presume all the infected are wiped off the planet, you are *assuming* they are all gone but are you keeping in mind how big a planet is? That is not going to cut it, your planet is full of vegetation and animals, but that virus is not limited to just sentient beings. There is a reason why many planets tend to have lack of vegetation because its spreads trough living organisms, plants and trough animals. What are you going to do about that? Burn down all tree's and murder all animals? You know you are now in a tight spot but you will be looking for an excuse to avoid those accusations being placed on you. Do you want to know what will happen? Your planet will NEVER be free of all infected, you can deal with the enemies who invade your planet, but the infected will become the stock of your current wildlife because they are rather animals at this point.'

'But let me get straight to this point, if you want to truly help your people, you are going to have and accept the consequences that are going to follow, the way of living you all have been so used to is GONE, the moment Jack landed on your planet it was already starting to change, what is broken cannot be fixed. I am going to help Jack and there is nothing you can do to change that.' The voice said.

Jack just stared at the ground with a sour expression.

"What is even the point..." he muttered.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Windphaser heard what that voice said, he focused on the 'I am going to help and nothing is going to change that' part. He was unbelievably angered by it, it even made his Ruakan blood boil. He walked up behind Jack and drew his blade, it glew the demonic green it was sometimes he swung it clean through Jack. *It didn't hurt Jack* but rather it hurt the DNA that was trying to take control of him "MY FATHER SAID THAT AND HE TRIED TO MAKE ME KILL EVERYONE HERE!" He swung his blade again "NEVER." He swung again "EVER SAY THAT." He delivered a strong downward slice that cracked the pavement bellow Jack, and finally sheathed his blade "You are not fixing him. You're making him like our enemies. Cold and Feelingless and that's no way to live. I didn't want to do that because I recognized you but I see you were just as despicable as when my father killed you." He leaned next to Jack making sure that Jacks mentor "You never deserved a second chance if this was your plan." He walked away angrily but stopped to explain. "Jack... your 'mentor' said things before he died... Things I will never forget... He's no martyr he's a villain dressed like a hero." He walked away ignoring whatever else happened after that.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack stared at the ground as he was letting Windphasers words sink into his head.

Fear

Lies

Delusion

Anger

Those words were echoing in his head constantly as he was starting to no longer take notice of his surroundings.

First came hyperventilation, but then ended in an almost collapse as all logical of what he had was in turmoil by all the words that have been said.

After only a few moments he faceplanted to the ground as out cold from the malfunction that his brain had received, he could not think further for there was nothing left of him to rely on.

The entire situation was very tense as Jack seemed to be suffering from some sort of heart attack, only this was not caused by the heart itself, but rather the brain that could not keep its control.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn saw him collapse and ran over to him. "Jack! Did he..." She saw no cut marks on his body "What did he do." She said pressing him against her chest with her wings trying to get him to relax.

Wondphaser saw him collapse "And with that. The boy opens his eyes to that beyond the realm. Looking into the harsh realities that exist for many. I wish I had your luxury of being imprisoned as a captive in the demon realm. But I was merely born and raised..." He looked at his sword. "As a weapon... At least you had good times with your father."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack was trembling badly

It was 9 minutes that it started to subside a bit, leaving him crying in her chest.

"No more.. No more..." Jack kept saying these a worrisome tone.

After that, he did not say anything else as he was in her comforting embrace.