Time passed by slowly during the coming weeks for Jack as it all seemed to merge together into an inconsistent paste of training, rough sleeps, heavy drinking and the occasional mission out into Equestria at large to retrieve strange objects. Sparsely sprinkled between the four facets were increasingly brief visits with Flitter, terse conversations with either princess, and time spent in the castle labs helping the scientists understand how basic ballistics and chemical reactions worked for firearms.

Rolling a capped syrette of morphine between his fingers, Jack sat facing away from his personal workbench with an unlit cigarette hanging from his lips. Today was supposed to be the day that the griffon emperor finally arrived after so many setbacks and delays. Jack had agreed to stay out of the way, in return for enough bits to keep himself content while out on the town. Of course, spending those bits would actually require going outside the castle walls on foot. Swallowing thickly at the thought, Jack placed the syrette back inside the little medical case and set it aside. The bag of bits sat undisturbed on his workbench, next to the disassembled frame of an M16A4. It was lacking a lower receiver, so the weapon and its four mags of ammunition were practically useless.

He pondered what he could actually do in town and who he could finagle into coming with him for a long few minutes as he smoked. Flitter had begun to grow the tendency to snub his offers of adventure in place of studying and training. Of course, she was shaping up to be a fine officer, but it didn't change how it felt. He definitely couldn't invite the princesses, they'd draw far too much attention for his liking. Petyr was strictly ‘no fun allowed’, same with Field. Mythic and Baron were equally boring and stiff necked regarding Jack's brand of fun, and Taven would be asleep for several more hours. Sighing quietly as he stood and pulled a shirt over his now toned form, Jack rolled his shoulders and tied the bits bag to his belt. His magnum slipped into the concealed holster he'd scavenged from his ruined, empty plate carrier as he readied himself for a dangerous sortie beyond the wire. With an errant scratch at his scraggly beard, Jack walked toward his third floor balcony and simply stepped off the edge.

His exo skeleton and prosthetic legs absorbed the shock with ease, allowing him to stroll away unharmed and unimpeded. The gate guards seemed surprised to see him, but by now knew better than to think him an Equis human and let him pass unmolested. The sprawling metropolis of Canterlot laid itself bare before him, and Jack found himself even more lost on regards of what to do than before. Hooking his thumbs into his pockets, Jack began his leisurely stroll through the streets. Simply deciding on a random direction, Jack set off to explore and hopefully find somewhere to get terribly drunk before nightfall.

As he passed through the crowded streets, Jack took idle notice on how some ponies went far out of their way to avoid him. Some barely seemed to notice him, and others simply turned their noses skyward. A faint smile began to creep its way onto his face as he plugged his earbuds in and cranked up his music to drown out the rhythmic clipclop of hooves. Almost like Earth. As he wandered further into the city, the feeling of high class smug nobility gave way to middle class townhouse living and smaller streets that meandered aimlessly through the city. Eventually, Jack's wanderings found him standing before the boarded up front of the DRMSI building. His feet came to a halting stop as his hands clamped down hard. On a whim, he changed course toward the building's rear. A large bay door stood ready to accept shipments that would never arrive. Not anymore, thanks to him. Shoving his armoured fingers under the bay door, Jack heaved upwards and forced the rolling door upwards with his exo enhanced strength.

The inside of the building was dark and empty, having been emptied out months prior. Slowly walking under the bent door, Jack let it rattle back down and slam closed behind him with a crash. Now locked completely in the darkness of the loading bay, he took a deep breath of the dank air and began to walk into the building. He passed by labs and storage rooms, each as empty and as ransacked as the last. It appeared that the Royal Guard had been thorough in their searches, as barely a scrap of paper was left lying on the ground. As he began to get closer to the center of the building, Jack began spotting signs of combat. A blood spatter here, a musket ball embedded in the wall there, burns and stains and everything in between painted a hectic scene in his mind. Soon though, Jack found himself in a large, open lab that overlooked a familiar enclosure.

The past began replaying before him as he tried to recall it all in his mind's eye. The monstrous beast, snapping Akasha's neck and playing with her body. The primitive hunters throwing themselves against its hide to no avail. The sounds they made when it ripped them open. The sounds it made when it killed them. Like a child playing with it’s toys, a gleeful smile across it’s horrendous face.

Jack knew that whatever that thing had been, it’s creator was mad. Truly, utterly mad. He shuddered at the memories and grasped the guard rail to steady himself. His blood began to boil at the thought of the abomination that had once been a child, what it had done to the tribe. His tribe. They were dead and gone long before he had even awoken from his coma. The camp in the woods had been desolate and swiftly abandoned when he'd found the time to check in on the survivors. Cursing under his breath, Jack released the guard rail and turned his back on the enclosure to clear his mind. When he turned, Jack immediately spotted the faded name plate resting on the wood door leading into a ransacked office.

Dr. L. Maltenics, Project Lead

With his hands clenched tightly at his sides, Jack treaded into the office slowly and took it all in. To the side was a large bay window, like the observation platform, it had afforded her a view over the entire enclosure. The office was well ransacked, the guard having missed only a few scraps of paper and a small picture frame. Kneeling down and gingerly plucking the picture from it and the pile of shattered glass, Jack slowly turned the picture over in his hand. It was of an older stallion and a smaller colt. Maltenics’ family, presumably. Betraying thoughts flitted through Jack's mind as he gently set the picture down on the desk face up. Did I do the right thing?

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts away, Jack set off from the office and back into the facility. Of course I did the right thing. She had Delta King. And she was probably- No. No, she was apart of all of it. She's just as responsible for what happened as everyone else. Having a family doesn't make you any less guilty. Jack rubbed at his face as he wandered through the ruined halls. Without warning his heels skidded to a stop at a ‘T’ junction hallway. Stained into the floot tiles was long dried blood that etched the side of a fair sized woman. This is where she died. The event played again in his mind's eye against his will; clamping his eyes down and rubbing at them with his thumb and index finger did nothing as the sounds of Elissa choking to death on her own blood filled his mind. She'd held onto him as she'd died. In those final moments, she had relied on him to save her. He had failed. He had failed her, the tribe, everybody.

His body shuddered from the racking emotions as he slumped against the wall by the stain. “Oh God… I'm sorry Elissa….”

"jack..."

His eyes shot up and he immediately perked at the sound of her voice. “Elissa?” He forced himself to stand as the voice called out again, further down the hall. Following it as fast as he could, he pushed all reason from his mind. Maybe she hadn't died! This was a land of magic after all, anything was possible. Barrelling through a locked wood door that shattered under his weight and momentum, Jack found himself in another lab.

"Jack..."

“I'm here! Where are you?” He called out frantically as he turned in place. He found himself stopping just before a massive strapped operating table. Thick black stains marred the metal surface, and the straps were thick enough to probably hold even him down in his exo-skeleton. Realization dawned upon him as his eyes wandered over the equipment that was swiftly gathering dust. This is where they made monsters. Cold fury began to settle over his mind, and like a sickness, it spread through his entire being. Elissa’s voice echoed in his mind. Dr. Forge must die.

Through grit teeth, Jack smiled and openly agreed with her. “Doctor Forge is going to die.”

______________________________________________________________________

Finding his way out again had been child’s play, and it was back out into the street where he had chased Maltenics. Tracing his old steps, Jack soon found himself before a good sized club, nestled in with several other businesses. Despite the time, it was still open. The bouncer was standing outside, looking bored to death as the club must have been dead during the daylight hours. As Jack approached, the bouncer paid him no mind. By the time he had reached the doors, the bouncer had finally noticed him and was moving to get in his way.

“Woah there boy, no humans allowed. Go on, shoo!”

Jack snorted derisively as he continued walking toward the door. “What, you wanna see my ID?” He came to a teetering stop before the stallion as he started patting himself down. “Huh, gimme a second, must have left it in my other pants.”

The stallion at the door furrowed his brow as his mouth fell in disbelief. “Wait, you're- You're one of those smart humans!”

Rolling his eyes, Jack grinned wide for the bouncer. “Dingding! We have a winner! You wanna fuckin’ cookie or can I get my drink on?” Jack's venomous snark forced the stallion back a step as he scowled.

“Hey, I recognise you! You're that psycho human who barrelled through here a couple months ago and killed that mare! The boss wanted your hide on the wall! I oughta beat your butt right here and-”

The stallions sentence was cut short by a surprised yelp as Jack grabbed him by the scruff and hefted him off the ground with both hands. Pressing his face against the stallion's muzzle, Jack spoke in slow, careful words that did nothing to hide the violence he desired. “Then you go fuckin’ get her. I'll be inside, waiting for her. Capiche?” He dropped the dangling stallion on his ass. “Go on, go get her.” Jack snarled, before following the spooked pony through the club doors. The dance floor was empty, but the bar and booths were not. Ignoring the other patrons and the looks the present bouncers were giving him, Jack sidled up to the bar and grunted at the barkeep. “Something strong.”

Seemingly unphased by the look of the human before him, the mare shrugged and started pouring a glass of scotch and cola. She looked to Jack as she poured a single shot in, and continued to pour shots in as he rolled his hand, signalling her to continue. With room for maybe two shots left, he finally motioned for cola. The bartender slid the drink across to him, and arched a brow in curiosity as he drank. Draining the drink without pause, Jack smacked his lips and hummed thoughtfully.

“Not bad stuff huh?” The familiar voice asked, causing Jack to quirk a brow and turn toward it. To his surprise, Taven was sitting further down the bar. The stallion waved with a wing, and looked to be fairly far down his own chain of empty drinks.

Surprise was quickly overcome by jubilation in Jack's mind over having someone to drink with, finally. “What the hell are you doing here!? Don't you gotta guard my stupid ass in a couple hours?”

Taven laughed lightly as Jack took a seat next to him and had another drink poured. “It's my night off, so I figured, fuck it!”

Grinning and nodding, Jack toasted to the words and slugged back his drink. “To self destructive tendencies!” He toasted again.

Another voice joined them, this one he didn't know. “It must have been self destructive tendencies that brought you back here human.” Turning his head toward the effeminate voice, Jack caught sight of possibly the most angry unicorn he'd ever laid eyes on. The anger sat behind her eyes like a festering flame, and it served to keep Jack's traitorous tongue in check, If only for a few minutes. She was a relatively small white mare with a hilariously vibrant electric blue mane. “You're the one that ran through here like a banshee after some mare. Wrecked my wall and door.”

Meeting her gaze levelly, Jack simply shrugged. “I had a good reason, if it makes you feel better.”

She held her eyes on him for a long moment, as if sizing him up. Finally, she clicked her tongue and flashed a smile that held bigger canines than Jack's. “Okay. Follow me. I wanna chat at you.” She glanced over toward Taven, who was making a very good show of not wanting to be there. “Don't worry Taven, you're safe. For now.”

The guard grunted as he eyed his drink. “Thanks Scratch…”

She smiled like a hawk, before looking to Jack. “Come on, come on.” Without speaking, Jack plucked his third drink from the bar and followed behind her beyond the back door. They weaved their way through a small hallway that Jack had faint memories cannonballing down in pursuit of Maltenics. Coming to a temporary stop at one of the doors, Vinyl invited him into her lair.

As he sat down heavily on one of the plush, abused couches available, Jack sipped his drink and chewed his cheek before speaking. “So are we actually gonna talk or are you gonna try and kill me?” He took another sip of his drink and nodded his approval of it.

Smiling thinly, Vinyl sat down on her favourite seat and settled into it. “Chill dude. I bet you'd be a bitter cocksucker anyways.”

Relaxing only a tiny amount, Jack eyed the lair. “So, vampire, or something else?” He asked casually.

Vinyl seemed surprised, if only for a scant moment before chuckling. “Was it the teeth? Hm. You're sharper than you look boy.” Her demeanour changed smoothly from pissed off DJ to tired ancient. “So why did you decide to bust up my club?”

With a roll of his eyes and a scant barring of his teeth, Jack kicked up his feet and laid back on the couch as he answered. “Cuz if Dipshit the pony pressed the wrong button, Canterlot wouldn't be a mountain, it'd have been a crater. Mind if I smoke?”

Vinyl's mouth worked for a moment, before she pursed her lips thinly. “I'd suggest against it.” She stared at him as he sipped his drink and relaxed. “I still want money for repairs. Although….” She smiled, and opened her mouth to speak, only to be cut off.

“You have a very dangerous task I can do for you instead of paying to put me back in your ‘good books’.” He answered plainly, causing Vinyl to growl in disapproval.

“Let me finish, shithead.” She ran a hoof through her mane as he grinned. “You look like someone who can actually put up a fight, not just survive one.” He rolled his hand at her, motioning for her to continue with the compliments. “And I would say you're probably the right amount of crazy. How'd you like to beat a couple ponies into unconsciousness for sport?”

“First rule is you don't talk about fight club.”

Vinyl blinked and looked surprised. “How-... You know about it? Okay, makes my life easier.” She sat up and eyed him. “The Club lets bets go on before fights. So, boy, you're going to win the first two matches and throw the third.”

“No I'm not.” Vinyls temple vein bulged as she fumed silently at the man. He smiled thinly and sat up. “I'll fight, lord knows I need to beat the piss out of somebody, but if you expect me to lose just so you can make a couple extra bucks, you feel free to sign up for the third and make me.” Vinyl opened her mouth to snarl a threat at him, but found herself cut off yet again as he leaned forward and fixed her with a deadly serious stare. “And if you think you can threaten me with a painful death, I'd like to see you fuckin’ try, girly.”

A tense moment passed between the two, before Vinyl began laughing in amusement. “I like you! It's about time somebody in this town had some balls!” She grinned openly, baring her fangs at him. “Fight club starts at noon.”

“Noon?” Jack quirked a brow in confused curiosity. “Uh, Why?”

Vinyl simply smiled as she lounged and snagged a slice of cold pizza. “Night guards have better hearing. There's a backroom you can use to get ready.” She waved a hoof at him, signalling for him to leave. He did so, after snagging the last slice of pizza and running off to collect Taven. Vinyl glowered at the door for a moment before sighing and smiling without humour. “This should be entertaining.”

______________________________________________________________________

Back in the castle, Flitter was making use of her one day off to help Luna prepare the meeting room. During the dark days in Canterlot, the pair had fought together, and had found a sort of common ground. It had been Luna who had secured Flitter a position within the prestigious officers academy.

“I do hope the Emperor leaves his family in Griffonia this visit.” Luna said quietly as they adjusted the map on the table.

Flitter looked up from her corner with a curious expression. “Why’s that princess?”

The lunar princess rolled her eyes as she adjusted chairs and cushions with her magic. “He and his wife are lovely, being even more accepting of me than some of our own ponies after my return, but their daughter is a bully and their son is a brooding brat with a superiority complex.”

Nodding her understanding, Flitter finished the last of the organising and pawed at the stone floor. “Princess-”

“Please Flitter, call me Luna. After everything Discord put us through, I believe you've earned that much.” Luna smiled softly at Flitter as she trotted to the small mares side. “What is bothering you?”

Sighing softly, Flitter relented to the princess. “It's about Jack… I think he's doing really well now, but… I want to do more for him. What else can I do?”

There was a long pause as both mare looked to the windows and floor in thought. The answer was an obvious one at least. Luna sighed softly and wrapped a wing around Flitter's side. “Give him what he gave you, a stone to hold onto when the world goes mad.”

Flitter's features fell as she leaned against the princess. “Do you think he'll ever… like me? I mean… he seems to hate even being touched by ponies now, and I don't know why…”

“I believe that is a much more difficult question.” Luna gave Flitters side a pat with her large wing. “It has been a small miracle that he hasn't had a run in with Blueblood yet…” She shook her head and got back on topic. “If you make your feelings known to him, you will have your answer. It is a shame he woke up after Hearts and Hooves day.”

Flitter frowned softly and nodded her understanding. “I'll just… I'll think of something. “

“I'm sure you will Flitter. Ah, sister is coming. Let us greet her and the Emperor.” Luna affixed her royal regalia and nodded at Flitter's cadet uniform, which was pressed perfectly.

“Should I go?” Flitter asked cautiously as she glanced toward the door.

Smiling confidently toward the small pegasus, Luna shook her head. “I would like it if you stayed. I am grooming you for this sort of thing after all.”

Before either mare could speak another word, the Royal Guards at the doors pulled them open, and Celestia strode through with the griffon emperor at her side. The empress followed close behind, and thankfully not a single griffon more passed through the doors before they clicked closed behind the party. Emperor Wilhelm was by all means, a very large griffon. A veteran of many campaigns in combating rival griffon generals during the Griffonian Reunification Wars, he was a study of burly strength and commanding presence. The wizened griffon smiled as wide as was possible and ran a paw through his hair feathers before grasping Luna's offered hoof and shaking it respectfully.

“A pleasure to see you again Princess Luna.” His wife Ophelia cooed happily behind him, and was next to greet Luna warmly.

The empress was equally happy to see the princess of the night. “The telescopes you sent have made for many a wondrous night, princess.”

Luna smiled and bowed slightly to them both warmly. “It is a pleasure to see the both of you again, though I wish it were for more pleasant happenings.” She glanced to the door and felt her question rising in the back of her mind. “Have you left the prince and princess back at the capital?”

Sighing as he relaxed into a prepared chair, Emperor Wilhelm drummed his talons on the fine wood and gold trimming of the table. “Carolus is leading a small expedition to the north, despite my wishes otherwise. Gilda has come with us, but has decided against joining our meeting. She and her guard are out on the town, and I pensively ask for forgiveness for the trouble they will cause.” His eyes fell on Flitter, who was still standing at ease over Luna's shoulder. “This must be the young cadet Falenas I have heard rumblings about. A pleasure.” He offered his talons to Flitter, who regarded them with worry for a moment, before taking them and shaking.

“It is an honour, your majesty.” Flitter managed to keep her cool composure as she fell back on her training and held a calm face.

Clearing her throat as she sat down across the table from the others, Celestia looked to the pair of royal griffons. “Emperor Wilhelm, Empress Ophelia, we have much to discuss. We mustn't tarry.” The pair nodded, and everyone shifted their attentions to Celestia, who held grave features. “Nearing his defeat, Discord gave us a rare gift. A look into his plans, and a warning.” A confused look crossed the griffons' faces and Celestia continued. “He was willing to kill myself and Luna, to upset the balance of the entire world to stop this apparent threat. He left us with a prophecy.” She took a moment to compose herself. “When the forged Progeny run free and the second sun looms, Order will retake what is rightfully his.”

The group shuffled uncomfortably and mulled over the prophecy. The empress was the first to speak. “Is this ‘Order’ possibly a new threat? Like Sombra, or Discord himself?”

“Perhaps it is not. After all, Discord is the essence of chaos given form. What if this ‘Order’ is his balance? It would only make sense for him to try to turn us against this new being.” Emperor Wilhelm mused quietly as he drummed his talons. “A most disturbing revelation either way…”

Nodding her agreement with Celestia, Luna leaned forward slightly and smiled thinly. “We for one, have decided to not take this new threat, real or imagined, sitting on our rumps. After the events of Discord's human attack, we have learned that we cannot rely on the Elements for protection from all threats.” All eyes were now on Luna. “A sword and a shield are being created, to protect all from any threat.”

Celestia picked up where she left off. “We offer an armistice with Griffonia, one stronger than the trade agreements and goodwill we share now. To keep all creatures safe, and form a valid response to all threats regardless of nature.” She slid the prepared declaration across the table toward the Emperor and Empress who both read over it intently.

“I see… room for many more signatures on this page Celestia. Will the other nations be entering the fold?” Empress Ophelia asked as she shared a look with her husband.

“That is the plan, yes. Queen Omega of hive Alpharious will be arriving within the week, and Chancellor Selkin is due to arrive during the Grand Galloping Gala. The others have yet to respond.” Celestia rested her hooves on the table and regarded the griffons. “We must put aside age old grudges and bear arms together.”

Emperor Wilhelm stood and offered his paw to Celestia. “To a brighter future for all, together.”

Taking his paw with her hooves, Celestia held him with a level stare before nodding in agreement. “To a brighter future.”

______________________________________________________________________

The gathered crowd roared with approval as the two stallions collided in the ring, grunting and snarling at each other as they fought for dominance. Inside the warehouse on Canterlot’s edge, almost one hundred ponies had gathered to watch, bet, and participate in the spectacle of blood sport. Jack grinned openly as he waded through the crowd with Vinyl in front of him leading, and Taven behind him looking very surprised and uncomfortable. The crowd roared again as one of the stallions gained the advantage and slammed the other into the ground. As they reached fighter registry, Vinyl turned to Jack and motioned for him to get closer.

“I'm your manager. You better not be wasting my time human.” She warned, before getting down to business. “Not a lot of rules here. Bare hooves, no eye gouging, no groin shots, no magic unless specified, no weapons, and when the other fighter goes limp or taps you stop.” She paused to let it all sink in. “You need a nickname. How's ‘Fucking Bastard’ sound?”

Snorting, Jack cracked his knuckles and looked to the fight as the top stallion rained blows on the other stallion. “Nasty Jack.”

The mare scrunched her nose in distaste. “That's a shit nickname.”

He simply nodded and gestured toward the registry. “Uh huh. But it’s mine.” Rolling her eyes as she turned, Vinyl trotted up to the registry as Jack turned to Taven. “Okay, here's the plan.” He untied the sack of bits from his belt and handed them to Taven. “Bet for first fight knockout, second round tap. Me, obviously.” He disengaged his exo skeleton and stuffed it into the bag that Vinyl had provided for his belongings.

Taven frowned as he was handed everything. “I really don't like the feeling of all this Jack.”

Jack simply smiled at Taven. “You're my wingman Taven. I've got your back and you've got mine. Right?” He held out his closed fist, knuckles first to the stallion.

Returning the smile, albet weakly, Taven bumped Jack's fiat with his hoof. “You can rely on me Jack.” Jack grinned wide and snapped a swift salute, before joining Vinyl’s side for registry.

A few minutes later, Jack was added to the roster and awaiting his turn to enter the ring. Vinyl paced beside him, looking unhappy as he wrapped boxing tape around his hands and knuckles. “So you've fought before? Dammit, I should have asked that first…” Ignoring her question, Jack pulled his shirt off and rolled his shoulders to work the muscles. Vinyl turned her head toward him, regarding the myriad of intricate tattoos and scar tissue that ran his muscled body with interest. “And here I thought just your face was fucked up. Alright, well, at least you're in shape.”

The announcer interrupted any further discussion between the two as she bellowed. “AND NOW, FOR A NEEEWW FIIGHTEEER! GIVE A BIG WELCOME TO, NAAAASTYYYY JAAAAACK!” Jack held his head high and strode into the ring as the crowd roared their approval of fresh meat.

He hefted a wrapped hand high into the air and pounded his chest with the other as he roared. “UURAH!”

The crowd laughed as he paced, assuming his pumping to be bravado. The announcer mare smiled and directed the overhead spotlight to the opposite end of the ring. “AND NOW FOR A RETURNING FIGHTER, A FAN FAVOURITE, THE ONE, THE ONLYYYYY, GOOOOLLDEEEN WRAAAAATH!” The crowd roared louder than before as a large muscular earth pony trotted into the ring and bowed dramatically, eating up their attention. Vinyl winced painfully as the opposing fighter grinned. Taven glanced toward the mare as she held a towel and a water bottle.

“This isn't good Taven, Golden Wrath for the first fight?” She cursed unintelligibly under her breath before growling. “I better not be wasting my bits.”

Smiling weakly, Taven shrugged and returned his rapt attention to the fight that was about to begin. “Jack's full of surprises Vinyl…”

“FIIIIIGHT!”

The stallion charged forward, bellowing as he lowered his head. Jack's heels squeaked nearly imperceptible on the floor as he shifted off the the side out of the stallions charging path and brought his right leg up high for a kick. As Golden barreled passed, Jack's coiled leg snapped out and stomped the stallions foreleg at the knee midstride as all the stallions weight sat on it. The wet pop of a violently dislocated limb sounded out in the warehouse and Golden let out a surprised shriek of pain. The shriek didn't last long as Jack pounced on the downed stallion and drove a series of heavy hammer blows down onto his skull. Within seconds, the bloodied stallion was beaten into unconsciousness and Jack stood victorious. He began resuming his pre-exercise stretches, warming up for the second fight as the surprised announcer scrambled for her microphone. The fight had lasted less than twenty seconds.

“W-WE HAVE A WINNER BY KNOCK OUT! NAAAAASSTY JAAAAACK! WHAT AAAN UUPSEEET! PLACE YOUR BETS FOR THE SECOND ROUND, NASTY JACK VERSUS IIIINDIIIIGOOO RIIIIIPPEEER!”

Vinyl was clopping her hooves and cheering ecstatically. “Yeeaaaaah! You kicked his fuckin’ ass!” Jack simply shrugged and grinned as he cracked his knuckles, flexing the bloodied hand wraps. She turned to Taven and shook him by his collar. “We've got a champ!” The stallion seemed terrified as the mare pulled him close and grinned with her massive fangs showing.

Closing his eyes and focusing, Jack repeated his internal mantra.

Inhale. Count to four.

Exhale. Count to four.

Inhale. Make it hurt. Count to four.

Exhale. Make them remember your name. Count to four.

“LET'S GIVE A BIG WELCOME TO, IIIINDIIIIGO RIIIIPPEEERR!!! “

The crowd roared their bloodlust as Jack opened his eyes and locked onto the wiry pegasus. Jack muttered to himself as he stretched his arms across his toned chest. “Make him tap. Make it hurt.”

The following three fights were violent, bloody affairs as Jack worked out his aggression on the hapless fighters. He hadn't been paying attention to anything but the targets in front of him, so he hadn't been watching the crowd. Vinyl was grinning wide and clutching several bet stubs that had been checked off. Taven had made more accurate bets, but his pile looked considerably smaller. The sweat that clung to Jack's body was being patted away by Vinyl as she practically force fed him the water bottle.

“You're doing great, a couple more fights and-”

Jack shook his head as he finished the water and tossed the bottle aside. “One more. That's it. I doubt a new door and some fuckin’ plaster are worth that much.” He gestured lazily toward Vinyls stub pile, which forced her to scowl and attempt a poor plead.

“Come on man! Just a few more!” She dangled another water bottle before him and smiled as it was snatched up by the man.

The announcer trotted back to her little raised platform and picked up her microphone, interrupting Jack the moment he opened his mouth. “ALRIGHT LADIES AND GENTS, WE HAVE A NEW FIGHTER ENTERING THE RING, A CHALLENGER FOR TONIGHT'S UPSTART CHAMP! GIVE A BIG WELCOME TO, SUUUURRGIIICAAAL FUUUURRRYYYY!”

Jack rolled his eyes at the name and glanced toward Vinyl. When he saw her eyes wide with shock, he turned to regard the newcomer. His own jaw tried to fall open, but was clamped shut post haste despite his own shock. Standing beside a cocky looking griffon, was a rather stocky woman with short brown hair. She smiled at him and waved, before dropping a locally made jacket into the griffons waiting talons. Jack turned from Vinyl without a word and approached the center of the ring, where the woman met him. The woman was well built and obviously in great shape, but to make matters much worse, Jack spied the instantly recognisable emblem of the SAS tattooed on her shoulder.

The woman raised her wrapped hands for him to tap. “This is gonna get bloody, innit marine?”

Jack returned her smile and tapped her hands, earning confused looks from the spectators. “It's the way of our people.” He immediately returned to his corner and adopted a considerably more professional stance. The woman took up a stance that spoke of predatory aggression and highly trained skills.

Behind him, Vinyl tried to get closer so she could be heard. “Who is she? You know her?”

Tensing as he waited for the call, Jack muttered. “Looks like we're only getting one fight after all.”

“FIIIIIGHT!”

Instead if the explosive starts the spectators were used to, both combatants only paced forward a few steps before beginning to slowly circle each other. All noise died down in the warehouse as everyone watched with bated breath to see what would happen. Surgical eyed Jack like a predatory cat, waiting for the split second his guard fell. He did everything in his power to make sure that didn't happen.

Without warning, the pair pulsed forward and struck at each other. The sounds of balled up fists meeting flesh echoed through the eerily quiet warehouse, only to be punctuated with a suppressed grunt of pain from Jack. The pair broke off again and returned to circling each other; Surgical wiped a thin line of blood from her mouth and Jack favoured the ribs that she’d driven her knee into. Again they met in the center, dodging and striking at each other, picking away at their rivals defenses. It was becoming painfully obvious that Surgical was far faster than Jack, on top if that she was fresh to the fight. A failed uppercut from Jack earned him a flat palmed strike to his nose, which crunched painfully and began bleeding profusely. Following through with a sweeping leg, Surgical cried out in surprise and pain as her fleshy shin impacted the ceramic plates that armoured the vital components of Jack's prosthetic legs. Blinking through the tears and ignoring the pain, Jack's fists lashed out and caught the woman off guard. Without pause he grabbed hold of her and tossed her hard into the ground.

The pair fell to the ground and began the immediate fight for ground control. Using what little advantage he had left, Jack focused on forcing Surgical to tap as fast as possible by pinning one of her well muscled arms between his legs and twisting. The woman grit her teeth in agony as she squirmed and tried to break free of the pin; her free hand grasped and scratched at his prosthetic. As Jack twisted the arm a little bit further and the muscles in her shoulder began giving way, Surgical fingers found purchase in his legs release socket and pulled. With his pin falling the pieces as his leg popped free from its socket, Jack had a scant moment to utter a nasally curse before the woman wrapped her own legs around his arm and pulled herself onto his chest unimpeded.

Jack's vision went white as he balled up fist struck his temple hard and rattled his brain. He felt his muscles screaming in pain as Surgical twisted them in ways they were never meant to go. He could barely hear the cries of Vinyl and Taven, urging him onwards to victory. The voices were quickly beaten out of his head as Surgical began hammering down on his head with both fists and verbally repeating her own mantra.

“Gotosleepgotosleepgotosleep-”

It was a pleasant moment when he fell away from his own battered body into the embrace of unconsciousness. That moment quickly faded as his eyes fluttered once, revealing Taven and Scratch standing above him, trying to rouse him. The sounds of the world were slowly beginning to filter back in over the sound of rushing blood inside his ears. The next to return was the painful throbbing agony that curled around his abused body.

“I think he's awake.” Taven peeked over into Jack's eyes and waved at him, trying to get his attention. He earned a very pained groan in response as Jack forced himself to sit up.

“Wherth muh legh…” Even his voice sounded beaten to a pulp as he tried to blink away the tears the broken nose brought forth.

“Oh, uh… here.” Taven dragged over his stray leg and looked to Jack with open worry. The stallion sighed to himself as Jack struggled to get his leg to pop back into place in its socket. After a moment of struggle, it connected with a muted click and his leg flexed. A bruised and bloodied hand jutted down into Jack's tunnel vision; as he looked up to see who it belonged to, he found it connected to Surgical. The woman smiled despite her abused features, and gave her hand a shake to emphasise it. Taking it with his own abused hand, Jack was helped up by the smaller woman, who clapped his back and laughed.

“You're a right tough bastard ain'tcha? I had to go fookin medieval on yah.”

The griffon at the woman's side sneered at Jack's ponies, who scowled at her in return. Jack simply shrugged as he wiped a bit of blood from his face. “Ah get that ah loht.” He winced as he gently touched his broken nose.

For her part, the woman winced in sympathy. “Well, good fookin fight there mate. Me an’ Gil gotta head to some fookin’ castle and see the folks. Maybe ring me up?”

“Oh what a cooihncidehnce… ah need tah go toh a chastle toh.” He muttered out and motioned for the bag Taven was carrying. Pulling his exo skeleton from it, Jack ignored the looks he got as he threw it on and let it hold him up.

“Yer a fookin Longbow? Shite. No wonder those limbs wouldn't pop easy like.” Surgical chuffed in mild amusement before limping a bit. “If’n we’re headed to the same place, mind letting me lean?”

Shrugging weakly, Jack looked to Vinyl and smirked. “Told yah, ohne fight.”

The mare scowled hotly at him. “You owe me bits for that lost bet.”

“Ah thought youh wahnted meh tah throw?” He flipped her off and grinned, despite the pain it caused him to. Turning to the others as Vinyl stormed off, Jack beckoned for them all to follow him.

______________________________________________________________________

By and large, the meeting with the Emperor had gone incredibly well, with both of the griffon rulers pledging to join the cause and to the additional caveats the treaty had entailed. Now, Wilhelm, Ophelia, Luna, and Celestia were walking through the halls, chatting pleasantly. A cry of alarm rippled out through the guards in the Grand entrance hall, which drew the Royal group’s attention. Celestia frowned heavily as she lead the group toward the disturbance. Her displeasure grew tenfold as her eyes fell on Jack and his bodyguard. The man looked like he'd picked a nasty fight and lost; his face was blackened with bruises and his nose was bent the wrong way. Next to him was another human, this one limping and equally beaten to a bloody pulp. They were both bleeding on her carpets. The pair and their followers froze upon spotting the Royal party descending the stairs towards them.

Wilhelm spoke first in a low warning growl as Ophelia frowned heavily. “Ada, what did I say about starting trouble?”

Celestia held a similar tone as she held Jack with her gaze as Luna groaned and rubbed her face with a hoof. “Likewise, Jack.”

The pair of bloody humans traded a glance between themselves, before speaking in unison. “I can explain.”