"I understand ma'am, and Bird?" Knuckles nodded towards the door and the shy mare nodded in return and left the room leaving the three of them alone.

"You can go and wait at the door Knuckles, and when Twilight and the others return do not block their way," Luna spat out as she returned to tending to Brandon.

"Yes ma'am, but there is something about your new lover. Before he closed his eyes I believe I saw them glow..." Knuckles went silent as Luna once again returned her gaze to the bat-pony.

"I am not blind, but perhaps it was merely a trick of our eyes. If it is not then I and his other marefriends will bring it up and keep an eye on it. Your job as of right now is to make sure he stays safe," Luna snapped making Knuckles nod.

"Yes, protect him both from the outside threat and the inside as well. That is what I perceived from your letter," Knuckles said before taking a bow before walking out to stand guard, and as he did Luna stared for a few moments before giving a frustrated sigh.

"I figured as much," Brandon said making the alicorn's heart almost stop, at least that is how she felt.

"Y-you were pretending?" Luna asked as she took a breath to calm her heart, though she couldn't help but be mildly impressed. It was not everyday somecreature could scare her like that.

"Yeah, and I'm sorry for the little scare there," Brandon said with a little smile tugging at his lips before he himself took a deep breath. "Despite your mistrust in him you still called him to help me through my memories and the emotions that came with them. I-I just needed to know for sure."

"Huh, you still seem like my Brandon but yet so different. You definitely got me," Luna said shaking her head. "Yes, and before you ask I knew about him because when I came back I asked my sister what happened to the soldiers that served me before and after I became Nightmare. As you know first hoof, my sister likes to keep tabs on those she does not completely trust. Though, she could still do the same for those she does trust."

"Was she always like that?" Brandon knew he probably shouldn't have asked, especially since he already knew the answer.

"N-no, it was my betrayal that made her that way. B-but we... I have gotten us off track. Are you sure you're okay with him?" Luna replied and Brandon could see that she would accept it either way. He looked out through the inner window at Knuckles with Bird talking to him.

"Yeah, I am sure. That and no offense but the current guard can be a little..." Brandon tried to say but bit his lower lip.

"Incompetent?" Luna suggested making Brandon give a little chuckle.

"I didn't want to offend you or your sister," This just made Luna roll her eyes.

"It is my sister's doing, something about not having to train the guard as much due to a thousand years of peace," Luna gave him a little smile of her own.

"Heh, and hey Luna?" Luna looked up and locked with his eyes. "Try to be easy on him, and don't ask me how but I believe him when he said he was looking for redemption for what he has done. Just like I know you believe that as well, and that's because that is something all three of us seem to have in common."

"Brandon..." Luna tried as his gaze drifted to the outside and she could see the full weight of his memories on his face. Almost making him looking much older for some reason.

"I'm only showing you how much they weigh in my mind because I-I'm afraid Lyra and Derpy won't be able to handle my full grief and guilt. Not yet at least," Brandon said and when he turned to lock eyes yet again she saw the faintest hint of a glow yet again.

"What do you mean exactly?" Luna asked and she could not break his gaze, as if he were making her maintain eye contact.

"I served three of the five years that was required before the war ended. Three long years, forced to fight, forced to commit more crimes. By the time I was let go I was... broken, unfixable. At least that's how I felt, especially when..." Brandon closed his eyes and sighed a heavy sigh, thus releasing Luna from whatever hold he had over her.

"When the love of your life called you a monster and walked out on you," Luna finished which made him open his eyes which had tears on the verge of releasing.

"Do not mistake me, you, Lyra, and Derpy are the loves of my life, and maybe if I'm lucky I may find at least one more," Brandon said giving her a sad but hopeful smile and she could not help the little blush that formed.

"M-my mistake, what I meant..." Brandon raised his hand.

"I know what you meant, but I just thought you should know that. But my point is that after she left I feel like I went spiraling, and I also feel like at some point I may have at least tried to pick up the pieces," Brandon said as his voice sounded like it was fading, and looking at him Luna knew this time he really was about to fall asleep. At least she would make sure this time.

"I'm truly sorry you had to suffer through all of that, my heart hurts for yours. Just like Lyra and Derpy," Luna said as she used her magic to cover him.

"I-I know I need to..." Before he could say another word Luna locked lips with him.

"If it is okay, I can tell them. You need your rest, we have a long train ride tomorrow," Luna said wiping the now flowing tears from his cheeks. "I love you so much, just as they do. Just like all your friends, just like Grace, because we are your family and we will never leave you especially when you're in so much pain."

By then he had fallen asleep, tears still streaming for a few more moments before they finally stopped. But despite the tears, he had a little smile letting her know he had heard her. Which she sat by his side until the others finally came back. When she looked up with her own tears at the corner of her eyes Twilight dragged her friends out leaving only her, Lyra, and Derpy in the room with Brandon still sleeping.

"I-I fear we may have a r-rough road ahead," Luna said and the other two mares sat down she told them what all happened since they had left.

"T-three whole years..." Lyra had said, her voice almost breaking and Derpy had already broken down into sobbing. "I-I can't even..."

"H-he w-will n-n-need u-us..." Derpy managed to choke out.

"Not just us, he will need everypony. Including his new guard," Luna said making Lyra look at the stallion who now stood stoned faced at the door.

"A-are you..." Lyra started but taking one look back at Luna she gave sigh. "He's the one who agreed?"

"Yes, I-I may have summoned him but I regret that decision. But it was Brandon who agreed to let Knuckles be his personal guard," Luna said making Lyra shake her head, Derpy couldn't stop the tears flowing. "H-he believes that Knuckles is telling the truth about seeking redemption, and frankly so do I. Just as I believe Knuckles may be able to help with problems even our love and support may not be enough."

"W-would his e-eyes..." Derpy managed, and Luna knew what she meant.

"Maybe, and we can only hope he will trust us enough to tells us. Either way, my sister will want an update on him and I will not forget any detail," Luna said as she flared her horn as he started to stir.

"I-is that really a good idea? I mean no offense but your sister has already proven that she will..." Lyra said making Luna give her a sad stare of her own.

"I know what she is capable of, and besides it would be better to tell her now than later. Just trust me on this and I will make sure she does not overreact by taking unnecessary measures like asking his friends to spy on him," Luna said looking out in the hall at Knuckles again. "After all, she will be focusing on something else."

"Hmm, we'll see about that. Like you know your sister has her ways, and she may use him to watch me and give her updates as a way to redeem himself in a way," The three mares all turned to see Brandon now awake.

"B-but how? M-my sleep spell..." Luna started but she had to remember who she was talking to. According to Twilight and the others, including his doctors, he had some kind of resistance to sleeping spells. But she couldn't help but wonder if that was because of his mind, or something else. Maybe even a combination of both.

"It's hard to sleep with my nightmares, even with sleeping spells," Brandon replied, though from his tone even he was completely sure.

"How much..." Luna started but once again he cut her off because he had been waiting for them to ask.

"Just about telling your sister about my eyes, and I think you should and if you don't I will. I at least owe her that much even if she does send somepony or use somepony I already know to keep an eye on me. Especially since most of my memories have come back," Brandon said the sadness and guilt still very much evident, again making him look far older but that just made at least Luna curious about something.

"B-brandon?" He turned to look at her, and there again his eyes had a faint glow.

"I don't know my exact age now, but I do remember something about those cells that the doctors here found," Brandon answered taking a deep breath. "I think he needs to be here before I explain, Lyra would you?"

"Brandon, I-I..." Though as he looked at her an understanding passed between them though both Luna and Derpy also knew why he asked her. To give her a chance to let out the tears somewhere private. "I-I'll be back, just promise you won't go anywhere?"

"I don't think I could make it out of this bed without these two forcing me back into it," He gave her a little smile making her nod in return and hurried out the door. A few moments later the doctor entered the room.

"It's good to see you awake, and Lyra tells me you remembered something about these cells?" Brandon nodded as the doctor wrote down a note. "Now, I have been in contact with your primary and he tells me not a single one of the medical books you had mentioned anything about them."

"That's because I think it was lost during my arrival here, and the books that were found were made before the cells were created," Brandon explained.

"W-what do you mean created?" It was Derpy who asked making him give a little sad smile.

"As those medical books suggest my kind does not naturally have a cell that heals us as fast as the cells that they found. But I remember that the cells were created in my great- grandfathers time, and don't ask me how that's beyond my understanding. All I do know is that these cells were used as treatments for the severely sick and when they realized that the cells stayed in the body and multiplied like a normal cell, it was eventually everyone got it.

Though it can't be passed down from parent to child because it wasn't a natural cell. So when a baby is born the first thing they do is inject them with a dose of the cells, but every now and again the body would reject them. That's what happened to my neighbor and why he got cancer, and why the world is suffering from overpopulation and draining resources.

Especially when it was discovered that these cells didn't just heal injuries done to the body, like let's say a cut. They also healed us on a cellular level. Meaning we started to age slower and without sickness, we could live a lot longer." Brandon explained as the doctor made notes.

"B-but what about your, oh what did you call it?" Luna asked.

"Aspergers and these cells didn't prevent any mental condition, nor will they heal whatever causes it. It can help ease the condition but it won't get rid of it, so I don't remember exactly how old I actually am but my physical age stopped about when I turned twenty. While I know I physically age still, but it's why I thought I was younger than I am," Brandon answered.

"This is all very fascinating but do you mind if we take some samples and see..." The doctor shrank a little as Brandon gave a hard stare.

"The answer is no," Brandon said it with such disgust and anger that the doctor couldn't get out of the room quick enough. He closed his eyes taking a few deep breaths. "I-I'm sorry a-about that."

"It is a little understandable, after all without those cells, your world may not be in such a dire state. But I do think we should find a way to apologize," Luna suggested and Derpy just stared at him for a moment.

"Y-you're a lot different now, a-ll t-the anger, a-and s-sadness..." Derpy started making him avoid eye contact with her. "I-I really c-can't imagine the p-pain and g-guilt. B-but you are s-still holding on for u-us aren't you?"

"Yes, a-and even now t-the man you fell in love with..." Brandon started but went silent as Derpy approached with a look he did not recognize, but he did see determination mixed into her eyes as both her eyes locked with his.

"Is right here in front of us no matter what you think! Y-you may not be the exact same but you survived whatever that horrible group did to you because that is who you are, a survivor! Y-you already survived these memories once before and now you have us, all of us!" Derpy said with finality and at the end of each sentence, she came closer until she was nose to nose, before giving him a passionate kiss.

"She is right you know," Lyra said suddenly at the door making Derpy and Brandon break their kiss, her eyes red and puffy. "You are suffering because you just got your memories back and even if it just hopeful thinking, you are still you. We will not let you give up on yourself. So stop with the tough guy act and be the real Brandon, the sensitive one who is not afraid to cry!

The one who is hiding behind this act! I-I... we know you are in so much pain and have so much anger, that I know few can understand but that is all the more reason to let it out!"

"I-I can't..." He couldn't meet the mare's eyes.

"P-please, I-I thought I had l-lost you twice now! I am refusing t-to lose you a third t-time because you're being stupid and selfish by hiding who you really are!" Lyra yelled out making him wince. "I know you're in there, the one who can make a bad joke without a second thought, the one who can see past the true pain!'

"You're right," To all their surprise he started to get out of his bed as he said that cupping his hands over his face. "I-I feel like I've been through this before, b-but i-it's like it's all so fresh..." At this point, he removed his hands as tears were streaming down his cheeks. "I-it took so l-long for s-someone to c-call me out on it the f-first t-time.

Y-you have n-no idea how m-much I appreciate it Lyra, y-you know me too w-well. I-i'm so sorry for what I-I did, s-so angry a-at my world that m-made me d-do those h-horrible things... " He practically growled out the last part. "I-I can't p-promise t-that after t-this I-I won't be w-withdrawn again. B-but I-I swear to all of you I-I won't let m-my memories consume me..."

"T-there you are," Lyra said as she met him halfway and put a hoof on his cheek. "A-always trying to hide, but y-you always have that twinkle of kindness in your eyes."

At that, he finally collapsed to his knees and let out a scream full of his pain and his guilt until his voice gave out. He fell into Lyra's arms and was quickly wrapped up by the other two mares. It did not take long after his scream his friends, his family, burst into the room and surrounded him even more.

It was early morning when they woke up to find he was not in the room which made them all panic until they saw him out front through a window. When they got to him he was sitting in front of a tree that seemed to have a fist-sized hole in it. Which despite his protest they had a doctor take a look at his hands.

"Seriously, what were ya thinking?" It was Applejack's turn to scold him. "After everything..."

"I needed to let out my anger at myself somehow," Brandon said as the nurse finished bandaging his injured hand.

"We know you have so much pain and anger, but what did that tree do to deserve you putting a fist through it?" Derpy asked.

"Which is kind of awesome he is able to do that..." Rainbow shut it after all the other mares, especially his herd members all turned and glared at the pegasus.

"Thanks, Rainbow," He said giving the biggest smile he had in a while which got all of them to smile as well. "I-I will find a better way than punching a tree."

"Good, because you could have agitated your shoulder," Derpy said.

After that, he signed his dismissal papers and gave the nurse an envelope and asked her to give it to his doctor. Which as they walked out of the hospital and toward the train station Luna asked about it. He just simply said it was a letter saying he was sorry, and a gift certificate for a restaurant that a pony nearby was selling.

"It's good to that smile again," Luna said as the station came into view.

"I just hope I can keep it up, my memories..." He tried but Luna cut him off.

"I know how you feel, but like we have to remind you we are here for you. A-as for your anger, there is a safer way to take it out..." Luna said looking away with a little blush making him raise an eyebrow.

"I might have to try this other option," He said giving a little laugh as her blush deepened. Though she could tell it was a bit forced it was still good to hear, almost like a long-forgotten song. "Oh and Luna, about my eyes glowing. I can't explain it in words but there is something more to it. All I know is it's like I can see a pony's intentions, but I can't if that makes sense."

"Magic sometimes doesn't have to make sense and thank you for telling me," Luna said leaning against him.

"Here I thought I would be leaning against you. I mean since you know, the leg and shoulder?" He gave a full-hearted laugh as she rolled her eyes and walked in front of him with the rest of the group. Which he stopped as they continued on and gave a sigh. "I know this is where I belong, and I pray that my fellow humans can do the same."

"Hey is your leg really bother you that much?" Lyra was the one who called breaking him out of what he was saying and he shook his head. "Then get your butt moving or we might miss our train!'

Author's Note

Well, I know his emotions are all over the place but what can you expect? Will he truly be able to get past his own past or will it destroy him? Just because he has had a good day does not mean he won't revert to back inside his inner walls. Hope you all enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!