private A vacation in Paris!

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack finally got up and started running to the hotel. He ran up the stairs but slipped on the last step and his chin fell on the floor. He didn't feel the pain. He got back up and went to Charcoal's room. He turned the knob but the door was locked. Jack instantly broke down crying. He fell on the floor in front of the door to Charcoals room "P-p-please... don't leave me..." Jack quietly wailed. "My parents did it... My friends did... the whole town abandoned me." Jack said, his voice and his crying grew louder. "Oh my Celestia... I have abandonment issues." Jack winced as tears covered his face.

Charcoal could hear a wailing coming from outside. She walked as quietly as she could to the door and peaked outside. She saw Jack wailing in front of her room. It tore her heart to shreds to see him like this. But the fear of her parents won out and she went back inside, shutting the door much harder than she anticipated.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal could hear a wailing coming from outside. She walked as quietly as she could to the door and peaked outside. She saw Jack wailing in front of her room. It tore her heart to shreds to see him like this. But the fear of her parents won out and she went back inside, shutting the door much harder than she anticipated.

Jack heard a door slam. He turned his head. The sound of the slamming door came from his room. How did someone get in there if I don't even have a key. The only one who does is... Clever mare. Jack stood up and trotted to the door. He wiped the tears off his face and took a deep breath. He knocked on the door. "Charcoal. I know you're in there. Tell me what's up."

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack heard a door slam. He turned his head. The sound of the slamming door came from his room. How did someone get in there if I don't even have a key. The only one who does is... Clever mare. Jack stood up and trotted to the door. He wiped the tears off his face and took a deep breath. He knocked on the door. "Charcoal. I know you're in there. Tell me what's up."

Charcoal wanted so badly to go to him and just cry into his shoulder. She wanted it, but she was letting fear control her. She took a pencil from her bag and found a piece of paper. She wrote: This is housekeeping, we are currently cleaning this room. Come back later. She slides it under the door for Jack to see. She just hopes he doesn't reconize her mouthwriting.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal wanted so badly to go to him and just cry into his shoulder. She wanted it, but she was letting fear control her. She took a pencil from her bag and found a piece of paper. She wrote: This is housekeeping, we are currently cleaning this room. Come back later. She slides it under the door for Jack to see. She just hopes he doesn't reconize her mouthwriting.

Jack saw a note on the floor. He picked it up and read it. "Housekeeping?" Jack looked at the door Could be. Could be. "Well then. I want to go in my room. I have to go to the bathroom." Jack said trying to sound sincere. Jack turned the doorknob "I'm coming in. Since you're housekeeping, you shouldn't mind. You are cleaning."

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack saw a note on the floor. He picked it up and read it. "Housekeeping?" Jack looked at the door Could be. Could be. "Well then. I want to go in my room. I have to go to the bathroom." Jack said trying to sound sincere. Jack turned the doorknob "I'm coming in. Since you're housekeeping, you shouldn't mind. You are cleaning."

Charcoal began to panic. She looked around furiously for a place to hide. With so little time she ran under the bed, though with her size not being that of a filly it was a little slow and she could just barely fit under there. Only her tail was able to move and it began twitching back and forth occasionally swinging out from under the bed.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal began to panic. She looked around furiously for a place to hide. With so little time she ran under the bed, though with her size not being that of a filly it was a little slow and she could just barely fit under there. Only her tail was able to move and it began twitching back and forth occasionally swinging out from under the bed.

Jack opened the door. "Oh wow. I thought she'd lock the door." he closed the door behind him and looked around making sure to be close to the only way out. "I'm not crazy. There's someone in here, I know it." Jack saw something move in the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw a small part of a tail flicking out from under the bed. Jack placed himself between the hotel door and the bed so Charcoal would have to go through him to leave. "You're under the bed. I know it. Come out. We need to talk."

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack opened the door. "Oh wow. I thought she'd lock the door." he closed the door behind him and looked around making sure to be close to the only way out. "I'm not crazy. There's someone in here, I know it." Jack saw something move in the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw a small part of a tail flicking out from under the bed. Jack placed himself between the hotel door and the bed so Charcoal would have to go through him to leave. "You're under the bed. I know it. Come out. We need to talk."

Charcoal tried to think of a way to get out of this. But the thinking too hard gave her a massive headache. She sighed, giving up. She slowly crawled out from under the bed. She then walked over to Jack, once she got to him she just stared into his eyes. Then she embraced him and burst into tears.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal tried to think of a way to get out of this. But the thinking too hard gave her a massive headache. She sighed, giving up. She slowly crawled out from under the bed. She then walked over to Jack, once she got to him she just stared into his eyes. Then she embraced him and burst into tears.

Jack held on to Charcoal with all his strength. For two reasons: To hug Charcoal. and to make sure she doesn't make a dash for the door. "Charcoal. It's okay. You don't need to run from me. I'm trying to help you." Jack said softly as he patted her back. He still held on to her for the big sneaking suspicion that she was going to break out if his arms and book it.

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack held on to Charcoal with all his strength. For two reasons: To hug Charcoal. and to make sure she doesn't make a dash for the door. "Charcoal. It's okay. You don't need to run from me. I'm trying to help you." Jack said softly as he patted her back. He still held on to her for the big sneaking suspicion that she was going to break out if his arms and book it.

Charcoal continued to sob into Jack for a bit. After a while she calmed down enough to form words between gasps. "I'm... I'm sorry... I'm just so... scared right now..." Charcoal said between gasps. "My mother... told me to... leave you and... meet her at the... abandoned house... across from the... cafe we were at." Charcoal said before continuing to sob into Jack.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal continued to sob into Jack for a bit. After a while she calmed down enough to form words between gasps. "I'm... I'm sorry... I'm just so... scared right now..." Charcoal said between gasps. "My mother... told me to... leave you and... meet her at the... abandoned house... across from the... cafe we were at." Charcoal said before continuing to sob into Jack.

Jack was surprised. "She really tell you that? That's pure evil. Why would she want to split us up? Don't they see that we need each other? Well, I need you, but I don't know if you need me. I hope you need me. Also we have a baby foal on it's way. Your mum will probably tell you to have an abortion." Jack hugged his mare even more "Don't do it, sweetie. They have no more power against you."

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack was surprised. "She really tell you that? That's pure evil. Why would she want to split us up? Don't they see that we need each other? Well, I need you, but I don't know if you need me. I hope you need me. Also we have a baby foal on it's way. Your mum will probably tell you to have an abortion." Jack hugged his mare even more "Don't do it, sweetie. They have no more power against you."

Charcoal was beginning to calm down a bit in Jacks embrace, though she wasn't sure about what Jack said. "B-but... they could hurt me... s-she already did... in the bathroom...she held me against the wall... I-I don't want that... to happen to you to Jack." Charcoal said, still a little hysterical.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal was beginning to calm down a bit in Jacks embrace, though she wasn't sure about what Jack said. "B-but... they could hurt me... s-she already did... in the bathroom...she held me against the wall... I-I don't want that... to happen to you to Jack." Charcoal said, still a little hysterical.

Jack put his hoof on Charcoal's lips. "Don't speak." Jack calmly said "Don't worry about me, but thank you. You can get a restraining order. They won't even be able to go near you. Now does that sound great?" Jack took his hoof off Charcoal's lips and with that hoof he stroked her hair.

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack put his hoof on Charcoal's lips. "Don't speak." Jack calmly said "Don't worry about me, but thank you. You can get a restraining order. They won't even be able to go near you. Now does that sound great?" Jack took his hoof off Charcoal's lips and with that hoof he stroked her hair.

Charcoal thought about what Jack said about a restraining order. Now that she had calmed down a bit she saw how much if a good idea that was. "Thank you Jack. I'm sorry for running away before. I was just... I was just really scared. Thank you for not giving up on me."

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal thought about what Jack said about a restraining order. Now that she had calmed down a bit she saw how much if a good idea that was. "Thank you Jack. I'm sorry for running away before. I was just... I was just really scared. Thank you for not giving up on me."

Jack nuzzled against Charcoal. "I forgive you for running away. And your welcome. I will never give up on you." Jack blushed "Sorry. That sounded better in my head." 'Not a bit.' "What I mean is, that I won't ever give up on you... I mean give you up. Or let you down. Okay, I might do that once, but I won't mean it."

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack nuzzled against Charcoal. "I forgive you for running away. And your welcome. I will never give up on you." Jack blushed "Sorry. That sounded better in my head." 'Not a bit.' "What I mean is, that I won't ever give up on you... I mean give you up. Or let you down. Okay, I might do that once, but I won't mean it."

"Thank you." Charcoal said as she felt Jack nuzzle against her. She felt safe with Jack with her, and he was so very soft. She rested her head up against Jacks chest, she listened to his heartbeat as she layed there. Just like a new born foal it was a calming sound to her.

[Jack Spades 162]

"Thank you." Charcoal said as she felt Jack nuzzle against her. She felt safe with Jack with her, and he was so very soft. She rested her head up against Jacks chest, she listened to his heartbeat as she layed there. Just like a new born foal it was a calming sound to her.

Jack continued to stroke Charcoal's mane. She lied her head on his chest. The feeling of her head calmed him down. It was like he was in a dream. Everything was silent. It was just him and Charcoal. Nothing was wrong. Nothing could stop them. Everything felt right. He could feel his heartbeat in his chest. Jack lowered his head and kissed Charcoal's head. "This is the perfect moment." Jack whispered.

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack continued to stroke Charcoal's mane. She lied her head on his chest. The feeling of her head calmed him down. It was like he was in a dream. Everything was silent. It was just him and Charcoal. Nothing was wrong. Nothing could stop them. Everything felt right. He could feel his heartbeat in his chest. Jack lowered his head and kissed Charcoal's head. "This is the perfect moment." Jack whispered.

"Now don't you go and start jinxing us too." Charcoal said with a chuckle. But what he said was true, this was the perfect moment. Everyone was happy, her parents didn't know where she was, she might have found a way to keep them away from her. What could possibly go wrong? 'Oh I don't know, how about EVERYTHING!'

[Jack Spades 162]

"Now don't you go and start jinxing us too." Charcoal said with a chuckle. But what he said was true, this was the perfect moment. Everyone was happy, her parents didn't know where she was, she might have found a way to keep them away from her. What could possibly go wrong? 'Oh I don't know, how about EVERYTHING!'

"Jinx for a jinx." Jack replied "Remember when you said it before your parents came? Yeah. Your fault. Now it's my time to cause something bad to happen so I will be blamed for something." Jack smiled "I actually don't want to do something bad to happen." Jack hugged Charcoal tightly. 'Don't you want to protect your mare?' Yeah. 'Why don't you confront her parents and explain everything to them.' Oh so you're the jinx. 'I think you should do it, or her... What? I'm bored.' Jack looked to Charcoal. He had a thinking face. He looked troubled. "Hey Charcoal. What if I talk to your parents, you lock the door to this room. I explain everything to your parents. They understand, and we are free. How does that sound?"

[Charcoal Embers 169]

"Jinx for a jinx." Jack replied "Remember when you said it before your parents came? Yeah. Your fault. Now it's my time to cause something bad to happen so I will be blamed for something." Jack smiled "I actually don't want to do something bad to happen." Jack hugged Charcoal tightly. 'Don't you want to protect your mare?' Yeah. 'Why don't you confront her parents and explain everything to them.' Oh so you're the jinx. 'I think you should do it, or her... What? I'm bored.' Jack looked to Charcoal. He had a thinking face. He looked troubled. "Hey Charcoal. What if I talk to your parents, you lock the door to this room. I explain everything to your parents. They understand, and we are free. How does that sound?"

Charcoal was surprised by this question. "I... I don't know. I'm not sure if they would listen to you." Charcoal says. "And it is likely that they will beat you... but if you really think you can convince them then I say you could try." Charcoal gives him a kiss. "Just be careful, I don't want you getting hurt."

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal was surprised by this question. "I... I don't know. I'm not sure if they would listen to you." Charcoal says. "And it is likely that they will beat you... but if you really think you can convince them then I say you could try." Charcoal gives him a kiss. "Just be careful, I don't want you getting hurt."

Jack was nervous. He was more nervous than he ever has in his life. He let go of Charcoal. Jack made it to the door. He stopped "If I'm not back in a day. Come looking for me. And don't forget to lock the door... I love you." Jack opened the door, left, and closed it behind him. It was time to man up. Jack bolted out of the hotel until he found the café. He looked across the street to see an abandoned house. Must be the place. He approached the front door and knocked.

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack was nervous. He was more nervous than he ever has in his life. He let go of Charcoal. Jack made it to the door. He stopped "If I'm not back in a day. Come looking for me. And don't forget to lock the door... I love you." Jack opened the door, left, and closed it behind him. It was time to man up. Jack bolted out of the hotel until he found the café. He looked across the street to see an abandoned house. Must be the place. He approached the front door and knocked.

Charcoal watched as Jack ran out the door. She got up and closed the door, then locking it. "I love you to Jack... good luck."

 

Charcoals mother had been waiting for Charcoal to come. She heard a knock at the door and smiled. "Honey, it looks like our daughters here, lets give it to her good for old times sake." She began walking to the door. Once there she opens the door. "Hey there sweetie, I see you- what are you doing here?" She asked when she saw it was Jack.

[Jack Spades 162]

Charcoal watched as Jack ran out the door. She got up and closed the door, then locking it. "I love you to Jack... good luck."

 

Charcoals mother had been waiting for Charcoal to come. She heard a knock at the door and smiled. "Honey, it looks like our daughters here, lets give it to her good for old times sake." She began walking to the door. Once there she opens the door. "Hey there sweetie, I see you- what are you doing here?" She asked when she saw it was Jack.

"Good evening. Mrs... I'm sorry. I you never told me your name. Anyways, not important. I'm here to talk to you and your husband about Charcoal, her childhood, and what you were going to talk to her about tonight, on Charcoal's behalf. Now, enough chit-chat. May I come in?" Jack asked confidently.

[Charcoal Embers 169]

"Good evening. Mrs... I'm sorry. I you never told me your name. Anyways, not important. I'm here to talk to you and your husband about Charcoal, her childhood, and what you were going to talk to her about tonight, on Charcoal's behalf. Now, enough chit-chat. May I come in?" Jack asked confidently.

"On Charcoal's behalf?" Charcoals mother gives a small smile. "Well then, I don't see why not. Come on in." She steps to the side and waves her hoof in an inviting manner to keep Jack calm. "And by the way, my name is Sonata." She says as Jack enters the building and she shuts the door behind him.

[Jack Spades 162]

"On Charcoal's behalf?" Charcoals mother gives a small smile. "Well then, I don't see why not. Come on in." She steps to the side and waves her hoof in an inviting manner to keep Jack calm. "And by the way, my name is Sonata." She says as Jack enters the building and she shuts the door behind him.

Jack felt a bit safer "Sonata." Jack repeated as he entered the house "What a pretty name." 'Don't trust her. She's trying to gain your trust just to crush it.' I know. She's not gaining my trust. "So. Where shall we begin? Actually, I'll start. Why are you trying to break me and Charcoal up?"

[Charcoal Embers 169]

Jack felt a bit safer "Sonata." Jack repeated as he entered the house "What a pretty name." 'Don't trust her. She's trying to gain your trust just to crush it.' I know. She's not gaining my trust. "So. Where shall we begin? Actually, I'll start. Why are you trying to break me and Charcoal up?"

Sonata smiled at Jacks question. "Well, break up might be pushing it a little. I would say it was more along the lines of we just don't like her happiness. We find it much funnier when she is crying, sad, or scared. And the way she didn't even put up a fight was priceless."