We stand united 1x1 Maple Bat

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack looked at Maple with a scared look as he backed away little, his calmness that had returned before was fading away quickly, making place for a terrible feeling.

"Hey um, guys, I need to be alone for a while, see you all later." Jack said nervously as he ran into the woods.

Jack had run for around 15 minutes, as he eventually sat down against a tree panting heavily.

'I just cannot shake of this feeling...' he tought with worry

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Woody ran after Jack he got a ways and then stopped sighing. He gathered all his courage and walked over to his sister "M.. Maple there's something I need to tell you..."

"What is it bro?" She said worried "Ya know you've been acting really weird since we got out of that center. So tell me what's wrong!" She said angrily, she didn't know what was going on but she knew she needed to.

"Maple..." Woody hesitated really bad he was trying to say it but couldn't seem to spit it out "You're infected." Woody finally said "I'm sorry sister I should have told you as soon as I knew."

Maple heard that and gasped but she simply put her hoof on his shoulder. "It's ok. It was bound to happen to one of us at some point. I'm glad it was me. I'm going to go now alright. see if Zecora ever got that cure if she did I'll find you but if you find me..." She spread her wings "Don't hesitate." She said as she flew off

After she flew off Woody wanted to cry so he ran over to the forest jack was in. He knew it'd be ok to go cry there at least. He saw Jack "She's gone... Isn't she there's really nothing..."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I am sorry Woody..." Jack said.

"This isn't the first time I have experienced this, it is the second time, so I can at least say that I know what you are going through."

"Though I am not sure if it really makes you feel any better." Jack said with sadness.

After a moment of silence, Jack spoke again.

"Hey Woody, I know this is a bit of an absurd question, but could you ask Luna if she wants to come over here in a bit?"

"I am just not feeling well at the moment, talking is just a bit hard for me right now." he said.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"It does help Jack... I'll go get her for you." Woodland said walking off.

A few minutes later Luna walked over. "Jack? Are you alright? Woodland told me that you wanted to talk. I'm really sorry about Maple though you and her where so attached to each other..." She wasn't just sad because of their connection but Her own connection with Maple. "Just talk with me about what ever it was you wanted to talk about."

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"I am not really feeling alright after everything that happened, first this entire invasion, and now Maple is infected... When I arrived at Equestria, i thought i was dreaming, no more wars, more fighting, no more living in fear. But no matter where i go, i have constantly have to fight and fight, but i am growing tired... There are times when i am eager for battle, but right now? I am just so tired of fighting, and being afraid, because i know i am going to die soon as well, perhaps not in a direct way, but knowing what i will have to face in a while, i am just losing my desire to fight, because i never get the chance to atleast live a normal life, something that i had been wishing for before the entire mess started." Jack said with a sad tone, a jawn escaping his mouth

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"If everyone lost will to fight then there would be nothing left worth protecting." Luna said hearing someone approach but ignoring it until it got closer "I'm sure you didn't wish for this. I know it's hard being the one to lead when you have no experience. But it's quite alright just remember what you're fighting for. The universe sure but think about the rest of us. Me and my sister, Woody, Fluttershy and her friends there's a lot that needs saving. I believe you are the hero we all need to save us Jack."

Moonshadow ran up to the 2 "Princess Luna! One Treasured's minions came by the castle but he left and..." He pulled a large device out of his bag "This has been transmitting signals from enemy forces. It's how I knew to find you. Maple is she ok?!"

Luna shook her head "She's infected Moonshadow you are now head of the guard."

Moonshadow was shocked "O...Oh no... I'll leave this with you two while I rally the troops..." He wasn't sure how to respond to the situation other than that.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"You are right, you have always been right. You have been given me more wisdom than my father did before he died, I cannot thank you enough. I mean, after from all those i had lost, i always used to have some sort of parent figure, it was perhaps the thing that gave me hope and happiness, something i have forgotten it was still a thing after.... quite some time."

"Is it alright if i sleep with you tonight Luna? It might be a ridiculous thing to ask, but... i just rather not sleep alone, i always used to avoid sleep in order to not alert that creature back when i had that curse, and now its gone but... The uneasy feeling just still remains." Jack said as he looked down.

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Luna smiled "Of course Jack. You've got a lot left to do, you need a break for now though. I promise nothing too bad will happen for now." She said comforting him. "Let's go get the others and head to canterlot."

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Woody wasn't sure how to respond at this point to not have it be him lashing out He just sat down and cried silently. Wishing this all would have never happend

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack nodded with a smile as he followed her.

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"You want to talk about it?" Elorn said, walking up to him from a distance.

"I apologize for my sudden retreat back there, but I have to keep a certain moving pattern from time to time. But now it will probably be easier to talk as we are alone." He said

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"It's just my sister is the strongest pony I know. If anything ever proved to be stronger than her she'd train to best the challage. She knew when she was beat and went to only act like she was beaten." Woody said looking at the moon. "But she was more than just a soldier. She was one of the nicest but shy you could ever meet her forces followed her to the ends of the earth even fighting dragons if Maple needed them. Now she's gone... She gave everything to protect equestria but no one could save her from this..." He broke down entirely losing his ability to speak.

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Luna nodded and walked back to the others. "Everyone we are going back to canterlot to rest. Tomorrow we take back equestria!"

Celestia pointed to Woody. "Now may not be the best time to go so far... Perhaps a camp could be made?"

"Wonderful Idea." Luna said. "Woody should have some supplies for us to use. She levitated Woody's bags over to her and pulled out a bit of camping equipment she wondered how it all fit in such a small bag. She put her head into it and realized the bag was bigger on the inside. She realized this when the bag came down on top of her and Celestia had to pull her out of it. "Well not doing that again." she said.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"I understand how you must feel, it is never easy losing someone. But she was a soldier, and in times of war, a soldier is there to fight for its people and protect its homeland.

But sadly that does also includes the risk of death, or worse in this case. But she knew the risk the moment she decided to become a soldier."

"But there is one thing Woody, you are not alone in this situation, there are countless like you who have been in this situation before, and know what it means to lose anyone dear, and it is not just 3 or 4 people, but thousands, perhaps even millions, all who would sympathize with you should they be given the chance."

"To be honest, no one wished for all this death and destruction to happen, it might seem weird that is all just happening for you now, but should we have taken up arms, your people would have been targetted about 30 years ago. Which indicates that you are not alone in this, keep that in mind, because i do not speak as a survivor, but as a once veteran soldier, i know the line of duty all to well, so i know Maple's reasons." Elorn said

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Jack looked a bit surprized.

'That must be one big bag.' he thought

[Maple Bat 3,568]

He zoned out when Elorn mentioned wishing, Focusing on his thoughts, He thought about everything up to this point that jack had said trying to remind himself of anything important he then got something he realized Maple not losing her own Body not being an option but... "Elorn? Your people have the ability to Divide a soul from a body correct? Jack told me a lot about you people fusing 2 souls to one body. That means you can take one out right?" He said hope at least Maple not having to suffer through all of the pain of the change.

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Luna carefully set the bag down "His father must have enchanted it to make it larger."

Clestia laughed "How much was in there? A house?"

"There was nothing else in there it must have been that way to carry it all." Once Luna and Celestia had set up everything there where 2 tents. "Perhaps Celestia and Woody in one while me and Jack are in another?"

"Well either that or boys tent/girls tent but I think we are... Oh about a 1000 years to old for that so yea we can do that." Celestia said as she didn't stop laughing.

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Elorn looked a little surprised at the mention but nodded.

"Well, the Eldritch are capable of magic, but the Terrans don't really possess magic, hence why we rely a lot on technology and another kind of weapons.

But you are right, it did happen once in the past. And taking a soul out of one's body is possible, but it would require an another body to be transferred into. And while getting a real body is not easy, I perhaps know someone who could make a mechanical body for Maple. Because I am aware you want to save her soul, that thing around your neck is not something you could just find somewhere, it is hand crafted which means it is one of its kind." Elorn said.

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"Guys, I have been thinking, and wouldn't it be smart to invite Ember and her Dragon army as well? Perhaps even the Griffons? We need every advantage we can get." Jack asked.

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Luna nodded "I'll contact Ember and see if she can get the griffins with her" She laid on the ground and started dreamwalking in emebrs dream to speak with her.

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"A... Alright!" Woody said shocked at his response, His eyes lit up and they where full of hope. "If you did that for me I'd be eternally in your debt. I'd do anything to make up for it if you did that." He looked over "I'll see you around Elorn. I've got to catch up to my sister." He walked away from over to the other "Jack I need to speak with you it's important!"

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

Jack was in deep concentration, trying to focus his magic on something in his mind, he, however, jumped out of his thoughts when he heard Woody

Jack looked up Woody.

"What is it, Woody? You found out something?" Jack asked

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"I have to ask. A while back, When we first met, you told me your father was able to remove a soul from someones body. Well I really need to know can you do that? It's..." He held up the artifact that Jack had given to him a long time ago. "It's important if you can." He said hoping he caught on to what he was trying to tell him.

Celestia look at him concerned and confused. "I'm going to get some sleep now you 3 see you all in the morning."

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"Woody... I am not sure if I can do that, that vision spell was really hard but this? If it ends up wrong, I am going to be responsible for Maple's demise!" Jack said

"Though I really want to help you in this, I just cannot do it. The problem here is that I don't know how, and the second part would be that I just cannot focus enough to do something this massive. I think the only way to make this work if a powerful magic user could do the job."

Jack thought for a moment.

"Hold on a second.. I do perhaps know something, remember the documents we found in that temple? If we are lucky, there might be way for an Unicorn or Alicorn to use Eldritch magic, we just gotta hope its writtent somewhere." Jack said

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Alright lets see what we can do." He said grabbing a bunch of the documents examining each of them closely "If you knew how to do it Jack I wouldn't have cared. If she died then she was going to anyways but since any magic user can learn it..." He hesitated but then nodded confidently "I want to be the one to do it. So if something happens then it's my fault and no one else holds themselves accountable."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Woody, there is one problem, this method would be used for a Unicorn or Alicorn since those 2 were the only Equestrian magic users who were part of that brotherhood 400 years ago, there is no version for a draconeques  because there was not single of them part of it during that time, it is hard to explain but the magic output is just too different for this thing to work your magic.  Unicorns focus their magic straight from their horns, which they use as their magic output, and from what I can presume that this Eldritch conversion magic spell would make the magic come out of the Unicorn's horn. Even growing a horn from your body would not do, because it's not the same."

He put a hand on Woody's shoulder.

"I know you are confident in your abilities, and so am i, but Maple's fate is in the line here, and we cannot risk any mishaps, i just want to be certain that nothing goes wrong."

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Alright." Woody said disappointing "In that case I think Luna should do it. Maple would trust her the most. Oh! I found it" He said triumphant. He hugged Jack suddenly. He realized what he'd done just then "Err.. Sorry about that. But you do deserve it. You and Elorn are gonna bring her back!" He was so happy now almost as if this all had never happened.

Luna had woken from her dream walking and heard the whole thing "I'll help sure!" She said "Oh and Jack, Embers gonna check up with the griffins, and rally the dragons she also told me the changelings where with us too, Both groups. We've got a lot of power with us now. It's most of equestria's might now."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Indeed." he said with a tired but happy tone.

He then looked at Luna.

"We might now have a chance of winning, i am sure of it."

"Tough to be honest all this thinking is hurting my head, its just a bit to much for me to progress all the moment." Jack said as he tuckered out 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"To Sleep then to War." Woody said as he yawned. "One that we're gonna win!" He walked into the other tent that Celestia was in. and fell asleep quickly due to the emotional roller coaster having worn him out and his adrenaline wearing off.

Luna walked into the other one settling in she fell sleep after a bit leaving room for Jack to lay down next to her.

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"Damn, ever since i have been freed from that creature in my body, i feel alot more exhausted for some reason, i guess this is how it is supposed to feel? I am not sure." Jack said to himself as he stood up.

"I just hope it is going to turn out ok." he muttered to himself as he looked into the sky.

He then walked into the tent and laid down, he still felt the same coldness that he had before so he nestled himself under Luna's wing in order to get more warmth.

'I can only hope, but ever since i arrived here, i have gotten more hope then could have ever wished for, perhaps that is why Father turned out the way he was.' Jack tought as he eventually fell asleep

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Luna woke up really earliy and started studying the document to sperate a soul from a body, She never moved from her spot though since she didn't want to disturb Jack's sleep. After a while she had memorized the whole spell and then she fell asleep.

That morning the sisters got up and left their respective tents. When Celestia finished raising the moon she saw her halberd  stuck into the ground. "How'd this get here?" She said aloud. She walked over to it when she heard a odd sound she turned to it and saw Maple... But it wasn't Maple anymore she was now a monster. She screamed attracting Luna's attention waking Woody up.

Luna walked over and saw Maple. Oh no I... I just finished studing the spell... What do I do now... She thought to her self

When Woody saw he he mostly wondered why she came back. He saw a few bodies near her of infected enemies. "She proteced us while we slept..." He said quietly "Thanks sis."

[MickeyAdaptus 2,211]

"W-what..." Jack said sleepily as he woke up.

He woke up and walked out of the tent, but froze at what he saw.

Jack looked at Maple with a devastated look, his entire face going pale.

"No......" he said out weakly.