We stand united 1x1 Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I am ready." Jack said with a nod.

As they where going, Jack suddenly started talking,

"You know, I miss Ember and Festus, they are still with us but they are barely around. Back when we where escaping, the 3 of us had become a lot closer than before, i can remember me, Ember and Festus fighting trough that slave building, the moment where I helped Festus get that bullet out of his body, or the moment where he used to talk about wanting his wings to grow, and at one moment they had managed to grow. Or the moment when I taught Ember how to use a firearm, it was just amazing to see how much effort she put into learning it, and after a couple of tries was already capable of using them, it took me a few weeks to really get the hang of how to use a firearm back in the days." Jack said.

"But now they just seem... so distant.."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn looked confused at the names for a second before remembering "Those other dragons that were with you? Ember has been training Festus a lot recently they both barely have any free time with such a tight schedule of practice. Once we start to move to that center maybe then They'll have more time?"

"Yea... The training's been rough on Festus too but he's happy that he's getting it. From what I've seen he's gotten a lot better with Firearms and a whole slew of other weapons too!" Maple told Jack while the trio was looking around. "He'll still be the same personality but in a fight, he'll be much stronger than last you saw him."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"That is good to hear, I wish i could just fight more alongside them. Come to think of it, I should go training with Kiran some time to, he can teach me alot of things that I haven't mastered yet, one of the things that I am excited to learn is how to walk through a horde of infected unscathed and unnoticed, a method that is unique to him compared to most who would try to fight their way through it or avoid it altogether." Jack noted.

"I have been thinking... I am thinking about bringing Kiran back to life, he told me that there is someone who is capable of recreating real living bodies, though not in such a casual manner, it is the same as re-engineering machines, only this time with real bodies, granted that in the end are some sides effects that most would find rather alarming, but apparently Kiran is not really troubled by it. What do you guys think, this sounds like a good idea?" He asked them

Edited October 30, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple's robotic body was made well. It could be used to show emotion well and she looked pretty shocked "W... Well... You'll need to tell me more about this later... I mean not feeling pain and stuff is great an all but... A real body myself would be nice... Of... Of course, I mean Don't want to mess anything up involving this 'Kiran' However if you really think they wouldn't mind then perhaps we should do it... However, Your sister should take priority for now." Maple added "We should be heading to her in a few more hours... If not I'm going alone because I just can't take much more waiting..."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Well, I don't know how it will work in general, all I know that it is not something like Caerson did with building a body for you, it is something a bit more... disturbing if you look at it from a realistic viewpoint. But I do admit, chances are they *could*, get you a living body again, but chances are almost non-existent that you would have the body of a pony, I mean, our race only recently learned of Equestria in general, pony biology is not known among us, if you would really want a living body again, it would end up being either a Raukan or a Terran in this case, or at least that is what I presume, since there are so many deaths among these 2 races that they would never have a short supply of bodies in general, let alone the necessary organs." Jack admitted.

"I guess the real question is if you would like to become one of us if it means getting a living body again," Jack said.

"We still got hours left, after we are done with this patrol, we could head over there." Jack suggested.

"I really want to get my own thing first settled before we go to attack that conversion center, instead of only my sister to return, I want the both of them to return today, only then will i be satisfied."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Well, we can handle the new body thing right after... We need to help these people for now." Maple does spot a few people who needed help and flew down to help only the conflict was one between two citizens ant one of them threw a rock while she was going down... "Well... That's a friendship problem... I was never too good at those..." She chucked silently.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"How dare you!" Yelled the female

"How dare I? You want to let OUR CHILD fight on the frontlines! You are insane!" Yelled the male, they both seemed to be Terrans.

"Is your method any better? Letting him sit around all day in a house, being spoiled as some puffed up noble? How is he going to survive once this city has fallen? You are a FOOL if you believe that those monsters are going to ignore us, they are coming for all us, infinite in number while we only have so much, it is time to open your eyes, we could face a situation where whe would have to KILL our own child once he is infected, do you want to have that on your conscience? Killing your only son because you were too ignorant of the dangers at hand?" The woman shouted with anger.

"Is letting him be a fodder to our enemies a better solution? He is going to DIE  in that very thing. Unlike you I don't want to condemn our son to barbarity and caveman behaviour like the madman that some of us have become, you want him to start eating the flesh of those infected in order to feet himself? Or drink their very blood? Because that is what some a forced to do ones they choose this path, many have already sacrificed so much, is it really worth throwing away our only son just to set an example?" The man retorted.

"Better to not be a spineless coward then to pretend like there is no danger ahead, that is what you are trying to do, cuddling him to a point where he is blind to the very things that want us dead, i am going to tell you the very truth, the very lifestyle you want to give him is GONE, you are so nostalgic about the days before the outbreak that you are becoming desperate of making sure our son does not find out." The woman said, her anger rising further.

 

Edited October 30, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple flew back down to the two again and landed near the male Terran. "Actually he's right... The infection is no joke here it spreads quickly... I lost my own body to it... now I'm just this... machine... I can't feel much of anything except for emotions... Most of those I feel are suffering and sorrow for all that's happened." She couldn't even express her feelings by crying now "Is this what you want for him... For him to lose his own body to that infestation and die by YOUR hand because that's ALL that will happen."

"Maple?" Evelyn said landing by the female Terran "We need all the fighters we can get here... Why are you saying he shouldn't help us? I mean times are getting desperate meaning we have to take things logically... and we can't let our emotions cloud our judgment. This is War! Not some violent party after all..."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack was in a bit of an impass, both of them made valid points

"Both of you make valid points, but let hear me out here." Jack said to all 4 of them.

"Maple makes a good point with the infection, the virus claims the lives of others, they don't just die, they return as mindless beast, which is a fate worse than death, I can remember back in my older survivor group where I had to shoot someone because she had been infected, begging me to put her out of her misery. An action that many of us have been forced to perform in order to let our loved ones not to turn, but on the other hand.."

"Evelyn makes a very strong point here, as it is, our enemies outnumber us countless of times over, and what Evelyn says are the very same words that Karthspire would say, who happened to be one of the best tacticians among most of the races. Because if there is one thing that can be a problem among us, it is emotion, emotion can drive us to do reckless things, it can make us falter at moments where many are depending on us. And let me be honest here Maple... Back in Equestria when I first arrived there, I tried to warn all of you from the dangers of the virus, and how some things should be done because I was the ONLY person that time who had the proper knowledge on how there could have prevented a massive spreading of the virus on Equestria, but sometimes, my warnings where blatantly ignored, some of you thinking you knew better and decided on your own terms, something that has caused countless of ponies to be either infected or killed. You are now saying the virus is such a big threat, but before your infection, you where thinking it was a joke, like it was something insignificant that you could all best with your own methods, only when you lost your body was the moment you realised how big this problem was, not because of my words." Jack said.

"I am sorry if that offended you Maple, but it needed to be said for a long time. While your words are correct, Evelyn's play more important, because we cannot always hide in a, save haven, it is by Karthspire's leadership and all these warriors in this very city that devote their lives fighting to protect others, that we are still standing." Jack said.

'Good job kid, if there is one thing you excel at, it is trying to act as a voice of reason between debates, that is something you should keep in mind.' Kiran said in Jack's thoughts.

Edited October 30, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Well, you know what... We had every reason not to believe you... We barely knew that space held anything out beyond our atmosphere! But my brother believed you... My brother was the one ready for it to happen to Equestria and he made it so that way I was able to survive as long as I did..." Maple's sorrowful expression changed to an angrier one And what the hay would you know about the horror of the reality... Especially since I was told as I was changing so... I didn't get to say sorry... I didn't get to say goodbye... I would've died forgotten..." Maple's wings opened with a *clang* "Like it matters to you anyways..."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I don't know the horror of reality? You already know what I had endured, so there is no point in answering that. But look... I am sorry about what I said, but it bothered me because everyone seemed to not believe in many situations, you do want to know something Maple? You say that it doesn't matter to me, but you are saying that to the very person who saved your life, made sure you would not remain in that infected body, and at the very final part, I attempted to make sure Equestria would not share the same fate that we do. Does that mean nothing you? Did all those things you said about me happen to be lies? And if that doesn't make you think about what you said, i was the one who tried to persuade Luna to NOT send you on that mission to try and attack that warlord, i was worried about your safety so much that i was yelling to your very superior that you shouldn't send out to something so dangerous, because if you hadn't gone there, you wouldn't have gotten infected. Call me a hypocrite, but i sacrificed everything in order so that others could give a chance, i even condemned my own mentor's soul at one point in order to SAVE YOU, that very soul was someone i held dear to me with all my heart, and instead i choose to save you and condemn him, i even cried and screamed out my lungs when we presumed you where gone for good. Do all these things mean nothing to you?" Jack said with a frown.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"It does... But all those things you did... I just... I wish you wouldn't have done them..." Maple replied not disappointed in Jack but herself "I'm too reckless and inexperienced to be any help at this point... Those things coming here are too strong for us... Why... WHY DID YOU DO THOSE THINGS FOR ME! A complete stranger who could've had no regard for your safety. I..." Maple looked depressed "Just take my soul and send it to the after whatever. I'm not helpful anymore... You're father's still with me you know... He doesn't talk with me but I can feel him inside this machine... So just get rid of me and take his back. I don't deserve ANY OF YOUR GRACE." Maple crashed to the ground her head down she didn't want to say anything else.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack heart almost stopped for a very split second when she mentioned his father. 'F-father....' he thought with awe.

His gaze then softened.

"Because it is what my father would have done, and the last thing he would do is release your soul, instead he would encourage you to continue but take a different approach. You are very experienced in the art of combat, even if you are a bit reckless when it comes to battle plans, I am guilty of that as well when it comes to wanting to go alone against impossible odds at times. Follow Luna's guidance and let her command you like in your earlier day's, you will then start to notice what you are good at, you are a very strong warrior, but do you also consider yourself a leader type? If i am being honest, you are far better off fighting in which you excel, instead of pushing yourself to lead so many others, i notice it in your style, you often attack things alone without reinforcements despite being the Nightguard Captain. And if it is about glory, forget about glory, forget about boasting, it is *you* who makes the difference, will you follow my advice this very last time?" Jack asked her with a smile.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple spoke but never met Jacks gaze. In fact she never even looked up, she only stared at the gray stone road that she was kneeling on. "It's not about glory... It's not about being the Hero... None of that... It's about not forcing others to put themselves into that situation... Which is exactly why I do it SO MUCH around you. I hated it every time you had to strike an enemy I hated it when I was stuck inside that stone until the body was made... I hated seeing you get hurt... Most Importantly I hated it when you were right, I should've listened to you from the beginning. I'm not a hero... I don't even deserve my title... I'm just a brat who has selfish motives behind good intentions..." Maple felt a tug at her soul and had an Idea she wasn't sure if it would work but from what she could assume Maple and Jack's father's souls were a sort of yin-yang type thing. She finally met Jack's gaze "Jack... Would you like to speak with him... I think I can allow him to control the body for a while... He'll say stuff way better than I can."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack wanted to tell Maple she was not a brat, but when she mentioned speaking to his father, he suddenly went into a panic, something seemed to click in his mind.

"No, don't.. They are going to usurp him, demolish him, don't.... Don't...." Jack said, starting to act hysterical

"N-no, that c-can't be true, father is gone, he is up in the afterlife, he was killed, murdered, they forgot him, everyone did, Amonrion, we praise thee.... We venerate......." He was muttering very silently to himself in a bit of a disturbing way.

'Saimn...' Was muttered in his head, in a mystic tone.

"That kid has mental problems...." The Terran male said as he slowly backed away, creeped out by what was going on.

"Why.. Why!! NO!! Th-they can't! THEY CAN'T!!!!" Jack started shouting to no one in particular, he felt a very dread, Maple's sudden breakdown, the mention of his father, and at last, the hidden word, had been spoken

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple stood up finally regaining control of her systems. "Jack!" She ran over ro him but Evelyn knocked her away

Evelyn looked pissed off "Don't you dare touch him! You caused this!"

"But... I want to fix it. Please let me try to help out." Maple said desperately

"I think you've done quite enough damage Maple... I thought I liked you... Leave." Evelyn said calmly as she listened to Jacks mind not really able to comprehend what was happening.

"No. Evelyn. I'm just as high in position if not higher than you. I think I know how to help as well. Jack's father was never forgotten... After all... He spoke of him so much it couldn't have happened. I can keep the soul repressed however if he needs me to." Maple explained 

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Why... Why..." Jack said, it sounded like he was talking to thin air, even his eyes were not looking at anything specific.

But one thing was clear, he was suffering from some form of hysteria, only this was triggered by something, all he wanted to do was get away from all these bystanders, yet all his nonsensical talk seemed to be almost going beyond his own knowing as his conscious was rather stuck in his mind while his body seemed to be acting out of its own, like the instincts where taking over while the mind was withdrawing in itself.

'What is going?! What is... Why can't I move my legs or my hands!!' Jack thought and went in a wide panic when he realised he couldn't move any parts of his body.

'Evelyn! Are you there?! Please bring me to Luna, anyone, just please hurry, i can't move move or feel anything!' Jack tought to her as his panic was growing, he was still on the saddle, but the situation seemed almost unnatural, as he was still mutturing those strange things from his lips while he appeared normal in his own mind.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn took off like a bullet followed instantly by Maple it took a very short time to get to Luna.

Luna was with Celestia, Karthspire, and a few other important figures when Evelyn literally barged in. "Whoa! Where's the fire!" Luna said getting up quickly

"Jack's unresponsive... Maple did something and I don't know what to do... He told me to bring him here through the mind link... Can you help us, Princess?" Evelyn pleaded.

"I... I don't know... I've never seen this before..." Luna said picking him up and hugging him not sure what else to do. She was convinced this was Maple's fault... at least on purpose.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Karthspire looked at the situation with a mix of confusion and surprise.

"I can't say I know what is going on with him, or at least not entirely, there is the constant muttering, and from what I heard he is capable of thinking separately... I have one theory but its too early to draw a conclusion as of yet." Karthspire said

"Evelyn, what happened out there? I rather hear it from you personally before anyone is going to voice their theories or opinions on the matter, you have been with him more than any of us in the first place." He asked her.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Evelyn smiled "Well two people were arguing over whether their child should go to war, After a minute they both agreed but Maple went over to them started yelling at them, 'Don't send your kid to war! We don't need any extra soldiers'." Evelyn's body language was very mocking towards Maple and it also seemed to have anger in it as well "Then I flew down and explained the situation as it was, Maple had the audacity to get mad at me for telling the truth... Then She started to talk about before she was a robot, acting like HER life was hard... ugh... The last thing that happened was the mention of Jack's father's soul and Jack started to act like he was possessed. That's all I can say."

Maple wanted to interrupt several times but didn't despite most of that being false.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Karthspire looked at Evelyn with an inspecting gaze, despite only looking with his right eye as the left one was covered by a bandage.

"Alright, it looks like Maple was acting rather harsh and unfair to Evelyn and to the couple, but... I would like to hear Maple's side of the story now, and please don't interrupt." Karthspire said.

However, Karthspire did not specifically mean those things he said about Maple, it was more of a trick, in order to make sure that both Maple and Evelyn would not quickly change their story, he was keeping a rather unreadable expression on his face, no one except Celestia could figure this out in the room, especially since she was rather fond of herself doing these things, with her famous Pokerface in front of nobles.

He was aware Evelyn was making some things up, her body movements and her expressions gave that away.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple looked down "Well... Most of that is true but there are some things... The couple was arguing if they should send their kid to war. I didn't shout at them I only added my opinion to the conversation which happened to disagree with Evelyns opinion.  I wasn't mad at Evelyn I was upset that she'd want to put someone with no combat training or experience into a battle. Lastly, I didn't act like my life was hard... I simply stated what I had lost. When I did I explained to Jack I should've listened to him. Once again he was right... he always..." Maple broke down again "I'm sorry... I didn't want all of this I just spoke my thoughts."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I see, you both have rights and wrongs in your stories if I compare them." Karthspire said.

"Evelyn, you have the right to be angry, but you where adding a bit more things towards your story in order to make it look even more accusing, I would appreciate if you don't lie to me, I am quite capable of seeing through such lies pretty fast, your tail and wings where making short but fast movements, an sign that you where nervous for something." Karthspire said to her as he looked into her eyes.

"However, I think there is a reason for why you did that, I think you are angry about something more than just Maple's opinion." Karthspire said to her. It was obvious that Karthspire was not angry or disappointed at her, but rather he understood why she did it.

"Maple, You were correct to voice your own opinion, as everyone, and while it did turn into a bit a debate between you and Evelyn, it was still a normal debate from what I can presume. And you then started stating what you had lost, which is something alot do at this point, however... When you explained it, Jack, did you went a bit too far? Where you pushing him to this point because you where getting overwhelmed by your emotions? Be truthful with me here, because I can notice when you lie here. I think this is the other reason why Evelyn is mad at you, this breakdown against him might not have started his strange behaviour *completely, but I think it did trigger a start of it, where something else drove it further afterwards. I won't blame you if you  did, did you do it?" Karthspire asked he asked in a mix between a soft and a serious tone.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Everything seemed alright but..." Maple stopped not really wanting to say it. She looked at Evelyn for a bit of help

Evylen sighed feeling a bit remorseful to the pony "Then she mentions Jack's father and how she feels his soul intertwined with hers... Then Jack just... Starts panicking ... as if He's staring death right in the face. But... Sir, I head something spoken is his mind and I didn't understand it's meaning... I heard someone say 'Saimn' right before he broke down... Does that have to do with any of it."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

 "Hmmm, I think I am starting to figure out what is going on, that word you mentioned could have triggered something, perhaps it could be his chronicle name? It is known that Eldritch are born with a real and a chronicle name, which is like a password in them in order to trigger something specific, something that is part of them, granted that these names can't just be used with saying it, it requires additional means, which makes this whole chronicle thing all the more mysterious." Karthspire said with intrigue.

"Tough sadly I do not know what *Saimn* means, I think its a word from the ancient language but I don't really know how to speak that, however... It does explain a bit of why he is acting like this, when his brain heard the chronicle name, it must have separated Jack's mind from the control of his body and keep it guarded inside himself, leaving his instincts to take control instead, can't say I know why this happens, never understood much of Eldritch reasons." Karthspire noted.

"But if we combine it with the fact of his earlier brain fries, Maple's breakdown, the reveal of his father's presence, and at the very last the chronicle name, you get this result. I don't know for sure how long he will be like this but I think within about an hour he should be able to regain control."

"But there is one thing I have to mention, and here I am going to be quite clear, these *breakdowns* seem to happen quite often, specifically when he was around Maple, WindPhaser and Woody, because of different opinions and ended up in a rather bad way, leaving him brain fried, because hadn't Evelyn intervened to save his life in those moments, he would be either dead or mentally unstable."

"So it would kindly ask Maple, Woody and WindPhaser to stay away from Jack for a while because words and apologies are not going to ensure his survival like that, no, I am doing this because this has been going on long enough, next time he has one of these moments, he is going to die for sure, remember that he has been a prisoner of the demon realm for quite some time, imagine just what they did to him, torture, brainwashing, forced fights in slave pits. The last thing we need is someone again getting their emotions the better of them and lash out at him because that is exactly what happened in these moments, you may voice your concerns or opinions, but this will be FINAL. And so you would all agree if you really want him to keep on living." Karthspire said, his voice getting a stern tone to it.

"I know it is harsh but it is the only way, many have sacrificed their lives in order to make sure he would keep on living, many people respected his father, and they see Jack as a second hope during these dark times, because if there was one thing that Amonrion excelled at, it was his ability to see glimpses of the future, visions as you may call them, something that saved many lives thanks to his foresight, many believe Jack has this very ability as well and will be able to develop it when he grows up, and after all, he is still a kid, he may be 13 years old, but if you keep in account that you don't age in the demon realm, he would, in reality, be still 10 years old." He said, his tone softening.

"I trust you understand the reason for this? You are his mother and his safety should go above all else." Karthspire said to Luna, giving her a quick glance.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Mickey Adaptus