Silent shock struck the two to freeze in place. Leo's deadly phrase had had left the both Spike and Fluttershy blinded by shock. Leo's follow up respond was leaving in silence without another word being said. His next destination obviously to Fluttershy's home. The tension had left the walk silent. No words were exchanged beyond that point, Fluttershy and Spike had no proper respond for Leo. In way, the simple phrase left them petrified, the bitter lingering scent of cigarettes on his form did not help. It made them a anxious to be around the space of a creature that wanted to rid the life of the marine and the ones who helped in that raid.

They started to have a small amount of doubt that Leo might not be the friendly human they think is. However, being the only two that were willing to listen when Leo opened up, they understood his contempt. They soon came down the path that led to Twilight's home back in ponyville. Spike had to inevitably depart, despite everything, he could not just avoid his sister, they lived in the same house after all. But before he had left, he had something to say to his friend.

"Leo, I know things have been hard for you back on earth." He said pausing, taking a deep breath before he continued. "But you don't need to worry about that anymore in Equestria. Ponies here are accepting, and won't hurt you because you're foreign."

Leo's expression deadpanned with both his eyebrows raised. It didn't take long before he realized what he had said, remembering how the mane six had made their "great impression". The event of his arrival contradicted his statement of comfort, he was hurt because he was foreign. In all honesty it was almost the same when he arrived in the U.S. However, Leo had decided to discard his grudge towards the five that harmed him. The reason for that was because he empathized with the ponies of how he would react if he saw a creature he never seen on his land. The reaction might have been the same, he thought.

"It's alright Spike." He shook his head. "I won't hold it against your friends. "His lips curled into a small smile. "Not even Rainbow Dash."

"Even Twilight?" He asked with a somewhat mildly shocked look.

The moment Twilight's name was spoken, his smile reverted back into a dead frown. His eyes showing his mood had went to brooding. It was that moment Spike had realized his mistake, and mentally scolded himself for bringing up the name of the mare that had ruined his day.

"I'm sorry Spike, but no." He shook his head. "It's not the fact that Twilight had strapped me down, and hooked me up to a machine against my will." He closed his eyes, exhaling softly. "It's that she opened up an old wound that lead to a truth I was better off not knowing."

Leo went his way to Fluttershy's home, with his head hanging, his hands in his pockets. Both Fluttershy and Spike were perplexed at Leo's last statement. What exactly did he mean by that.

No matter, they already pushed Leo to reveal one of his many horrifying aspects of his life. It was best not prod deeper into the scars of time.

"Well, I'll see you later." Spike waved goodbye as he made his way back to the library. Before he could continue, Fluttershy called out, her hoof stretched out to him.

"Spike, I know you're upset with Twilight. I know I am...but..." She paused. "...but before you scold her Spike, find out what she wanted from Leo. What she would get out of doing something like that to him, I know Twilight explained this morning why she did it. But I feel though like she wasn't completely honest, or at least she cut some parts of the truth out."

Spike nodded in agreement before he finally made his way home. Fluttershy stood in the middle of the dirt path, thinking to herself how she could cheer Leo up. Nothing came along as she pawed the ground in frustration, sighing in a somewhat cute tone that was supposed to be a sign of irritation.

"I guess I'll have to make it up as I go along." She thought internally as she finally followed Leo, who was long gone.

After Spike had departed, Leo and Fluttershy were left alone in each others company. Silent as ever, Fluttershy kept her pace in silence, her mind was racing with many thoughts that probed the back of her mind. His past, his life, his out look on his enemies with pure contempt as he spoke of them. A demonic fire in his eyes with the sure attempt to make them die if given the chance, captive of his contained purged rage and hatred which burned passionately like the flames in hell. A puppet pulling his own strings in a way, but still a puppet nonetheless.

As soon as they reached the bridge that led to Fluttershy's cottage, she picked up her speed to the door, reaching out with her wing, opening the entrance for Leo as he approached.

"Um, after you." She mustered up a smile as best as she could as Leo walked past her.

"Thanks." He spoke lifelessly, the same apparent mood in his eyes.

She slowly shut the door behind them as she followed behind, watching Leo make his way to her green couch landing on it and tossing his backpack aside, lacking vigor. His position slouched backwards as he let out a grunt, his head on the sofa as he stared at the ceiling aridly.

It was sad watching Leo in a lifeless state, perhaps pestering him to reveal a painful part of his past was not a well thought out plan to help him. Still though, if Leo was to be saved from once again living his life in a mental isolation, then he would have to open up for his own good. But for now, it was enough, and it was decided to leave well enough alone, and prepare dinner for her guest.

"I'll go and get dinner started, you make yourself at home."

"Sure..." He let out lifelessly.

At that point she had decided to let Leo be, and get started. Maybe after they both sit down to a nice steamed veggie meal, the whole conversation could be forgotten.

Spike had made his way down the dirt road which led home, as he stridden many thoughts had lingered in his mind; how would he approach Twilight? What in earth's name was she doing to Leo when he was strapped?

Flashbacks had crept into his mind, remembering the look of fear in his eyes as laid helplessly to what experiment Twilight had preformed on him. Whatever it could have been, it must have been nightmarish to catch a glimpse of Leo's rage that Twilight spoke of when he fought the Timberwolves.

Without knowing, Spike had absentmindedly walked barely a foot past the door frame entrance. His attention snapped out of his thoughts as his sister stood in the middle of the library, were she began to reconstruct the door to the basement Leo knocked down, splinter by splinter.

It wasn't long before she became aware of his presence, a sullen look in her eyes as her gaze wandered to Spike. The feeling was mutual as he too gazed sullenly, he knew that she was about to scold him for his lack of obedience and acknowledgement. Normally he would relent at his sister's unpleased mood.

Today however was an exception however.

"Well?" She started with her sullen look, her eyebrow raised.

"Well what?" Spike spat out venomously.

"Aren't you going to apologize for your behavior today?!"

"Coming from the one who took a strong approach to take somepony down their basement and perform experiments without their consent?" He snarled.

She cocked her head back at his response, her temper began to rise. Spike had never spoken to her like that before, what's gotten into him?" Don't you dare take that tone with me Spike!" She slammed her hoof on the wooden floor, displaying how serous she was being. "I did what I had to, to find out what we were dealing with."

"By strapping him to a metal table, against his will?! What kind of crazy idea did you think was warranted to do something like that?!"

"It was the only way to get the analysis I was looking for!" She stepped forward.

"Analysis for what?!" He threw his arms up, completely outraged, but more annoyed that she kept being vague. "What kind of crazy nonsense are you talking about! Why are you obsessing over him--"

"BECAUSE HE'S DANGEROUS SPIKE!!!" She shouted, her horn glowing reflexively has the books came flying out of their shelves. Her emotions finally getting the better of her.

The atmosphere fell silent in the library, except for Twilight's heavy breathing, her body began to seep her bodily fluids from her magic burst. Spike stood in place, stunned at her actions, she has never reacted that way before, not unless she was sure she was right about something. Her obsession over "pinkie's sense" was proof of that. Spike sighed in defeat and decided it would be best to humor her insane assumption of Leo being dangerous. Big mac, and the Timberwolves were proof of that, but those two had valid reasons on why Leo had to use force.

"Alright Twilight, I'll humor you." He leaned back against the counter. "Why is he so dangerous?"

She fixed her posture as her horn glowed along with her satchel. What was pulled out of the satchel was a rolled up piece of paper, it was the lab analysis from before when Leo's readings spiked. Spike tilted his head in confusion as the piece was levitated to him, he wasn't sure what exactly was in it that would justify her action. Slowly he opened up the analysis results to its full extent. At first his expression perplexed as he began to read, he wasn't sure what he saw was true so he just let out a scoff as he shook his head. In his peripheral vision, he could see Twilight slightly agitated. He continued on as the reading began to wave normally, which at that point it began to make sense, however as he continued on he noticed, he noticed something that was external. The readings showed that they Spiked beyond the charts, not only that but too soon, which was even more strange. As he continued, he saw that the readings began leave the charts even more, which not only signified that the being in place was aggressive, he would blindly attack inanimate objects in his path.

"It does explain why he attacked Carrot Top's cart..."

When Spike began to near to end of the results, he noticed the lines were back in place, but in a more vertically scribbled pattern. What was most out of place was the page itself, it took a shade of grey that you would see from the skies in a gloomy day. It made Spike nervous, he knew what the patterns meant, soon as he reached the edge, what took place at the end of the paper was that the final section was black.

"Twilight..." He set the analysis paper aside. "...do you realize how insane this is?" He spoke with a hint of how obviously the paper work had to be mistaken.

Twilight's mood had shifted back to unpleasantly aggravated at his un-indented rude response. "How is it insane?! The proof you asked for is right there on paper!" She pointed.

"But this goes against the laws of nature and magic!" He exclaimed loudly. "How can a being have 0.06 magical life force inside them? That's amount is barely enough to sustain a dying weed plant, let alone a new born foal." He gestured at the analysis he laid aside. "Then all of a sudden it has the quantity of a manticore! How do you expect me not to call this nonsense!" He raised his voice hoping to get his point through Twilight's stubborn belief.

"Think about it Spike! Remember the talk I had with the others a few days ago! He comes from a world completely void of magic, which means his body is not dependent on magic the same way as ours. That explains the beginning of the analysis!" She levitated the scroll parchment between her and Spike. "It also explains the strange anomaly like effect of his body, which shows right here in my charts!" She wobbled the scroll piece left and right to push her point forward, hoping Spike would relent. "The reason for that could be that his entire body is still trying to adjust to our magical atmosphere, it explains that magical burst in the ever free!" She let out ecstatically of her discovery. "It explains how his strength increased ten fold!" She took a moment to recompose herself before she got to excited as she exhaled. "However, his body still hasn't adjusted to our planet's atmosphere, which is why after Leo used all that energy to defeat the Timberwolves, it dissolved completely, leaving nothing left in him. It explains why his motor skills went on complete shut down, leaving him with no energy to even stand!" She thought back to where Leo lied face first on the blood tainted dirt, how his lungs could barley squeeze air in and out. Barley having the strength to sustain Leo by small narrow breaths from the verge of death. "He's unique Spike. Beyond any scientific history research for anomalies in our world. He could very well be the answer to discovering new types of magic!" Twilight became very giddy of what doors Leo's anatomy could open for science and magic all around. Spike thought wasn't pleased at all. She was still forgetting the fact of the morning's incident.

"Even if what you're saying is true, he's still not the dangerous being you make him out to be." He turned his back to Twilight. His arms crossed, his closed eyes. She was interested in him in a way that just made Leo seem like a being with no rights whatsoever. "I doubt Leo would be willing to even be your test subject for your 'scientific find'." Spike shot Twilight a gaze over his shoulder. "Your straight forwardness is more than proof of that."

Twilight eyes narrowed at his response to her entire statement. But he was right, after what she pulled with Leo, there would be no chance he would let her near him. Lest she would wish to have her horn snapped like a tooth pick, she didn't know for sure, but that was what she felt when his grip was around her horn.

"Fine, you're right. I guess my eager mood got the better of me and I acted without thinking how he would feel." She sighed in defeat as she sat on her haunches, relenting to Spike's defense over Leo which shocked him. Spike had never won an argument with Twilight ever. The dragon's spirit's leaped with joy of his victory, but his exterior remained the same, he had to make sure how serious her actions were. "Could you do me a favor though?"

Spike perked as she levitated the scroll parchment over to him. It also seemed to have another piece of paper against it."Could you please send this to Celestia? I want her to know what we're harboring and what she'd want us to do."

Spike hummed internally as he contemplated Twilight's request. Should he send the scroll parchment to Princess Celestia all the way over to Iron helm. What would she have the mane six do once she read the analysis. Would she have them take drastic measures to use the elements of harmony on him. If so, he would be entombed to a stone prison like the god of chaos. He wasn't sure she would have them do quite that, but when it came to the security to her ponies, she would stop at nothing to protect them. But this is Celestia, she would not take such measures until she had them to go through Equestrian process to determine if they were a threat to national security. So after reflecting the two outcomes, Spike had come to a consensus as he reached for the paper work.

"Gods, please let me make the right decision..." Spike inhaled deeply, followed by a strong exhale as fire shot out of the dragon's mouth and into the papers, burning them to dust to be only carried by the wind from the door Leo knocked down, to their destination in Iron helm. He couldn't help to feel qualm of his decision to oblige to Twilight's request, another feeling that came in was betrayal. What would Leo say if he found out? "Please forgive me Leo."

In Fluttershy's dining room, she and Leo sat in silence, not much was said as she kept her gaze on her plate, she had felt anxious sitting to the probably emotionally disturbed human. She began to wonder of he would ever come out of his mental despair she and Spike put him through. What a terrible idea that was to help Leo, she couldn't help but scold herself for their bold action, but before she could continue her mental berate, she had heard a hum of content from Leo. She gazed up and saw that he was enjoying his meal she served him. It made her heart flutter that he was enjoying her meal.

"Um, how do my steamed vegetables taste?" She asked as she fidgeted her hind hooves under the table waiting for Leo to respond as he swallowed his morsel.

"It's not bad actually. What kind of spices did you put in this?" He asked, his mood showing that he had completely forgotten what he was upset about. It was apparent to Fluttershy to keep him in ignorance from his past, so she kept the conversation going.

"Oh, um, I just used salt and pepper." She smiled.

"Huh...funny how to standard spices can make something good." He shoved another fork full of vegetables in his mouth as he chewed contently. "I gotta say, I never thought I'd be eating like one of those nice white family homes like this." He said, oblivious to his statement.

Fluttershy tilted her head at said statement, white folk? What did that mean. "White family?" She asked curiously.

From Fluttershy's repeat of Leo's sentence fragment, Leo had realize the mistake he had made and began to cough with his mouth still full, slightly choking. He pounded his chest roughly, forcing the semi chewed meal down with a loud exhale. He recovered quickly to out his excuse from his statement.

"Oh...uh! You know, I meant folk! Folks, as in all of us humans as one. Not different races you know!" He chuckled nervously. Fluttershy was completely dumbfounded by his odd behavior. She began to wonder what she has said wrong to turn Leo into a nervous wreck all of a sudden. However, it was much better to cope with than his brooding mood over his scarred past. She figured it would be best to keep him in his current state of babbling, seeing as he now had forgotten the wrenching talk on the hill.

She continued with her meal as Leo kept on his torrent of sorry excuses, giving a slight nod to let Leo she was paying attention. Her consumption of her meal still on.

With a little more grace.

After dinner was over Leo had decided to have a moment of respite on Fluttershy's couch, he needed to let the meal settle in his stomach before he could head to the bathroom. But before he could get comfortable, Fluttershy had decided to finally point out Leo's body odor. Leo's eyes shot wide open in shock as he came to a realization, he hadn't showered since he came to this world. The smell of his stench soon became apparent as his face scrunched up in disgust. Soon after, he was guided to the guest room, followed by Leo having to strip in front of Fluttershy, oblivious to her presence or how uncomfortable she would be. Her face was red as she left the room, closing the door slightly until it was only open by a creak. She waited outside until Leo's arm stuck out with his clothing.

"Here you go Fluttershy." Leo called out from behind the door, her feathery appendage taking the dirty garments from him.

"I'll go wash these and leave them on your bed when I'm done." She said as she made her way down stairs.

"Thank you Fluttershy." Leo closed the door behind him, sighing deeply as he made his way to the shower. "Fuck Leo, how could you forget your own hygiene." He thought as he entered the bathroom.

It was a little bigger than Twilight's; it had a bath tub on the left far side of the room, and a entire shower section on the right far corner with a curtain that was yellow with pink flowers. Right next to Leo's right side of the entrance was the sink and a mirror. He decided not to waste anymore time and headed inside the shower.

"Alright, time to wash this 'mierda' off of me." He reached and turned the knob. Hissing was what came before warm water started impacting his dirty stench written body. A pleasant sensation coming over his form. "Oh fuck me hard, that feels amazing!" He leaned his hands forward against the wall, his arms keeping him balanced as his he hung his head, loosened from the good feeling of warm water washing over his back. He sighed in content as he let the water work it's purifying magic. Well almost.

He reached for the barred soap to his left and began to rub the slippery soap over his legs, back, rear, feet, arms and armpits. He had one spot left to go. His torso. He rubbed the soap on his abdomen, the bubbly soap barely hiding what lied beneath. His stare had wandered to what couldn't be ignored on his body.

His scars, but the scars in general are what not caught his attention.

One stood out from the others, it was small, but it has left it's mark physically and emotionally. It had caused him to remember the talk a few moments ago. It was the bullet wound the marine had gifted him with as a child. That day the world forced him out of his childhood innocence, revealing how cruel it truly was, no matter how far he ran. He placed his clenched fist over the scar, closing his eyes as he shuddered from the touch. It's been almost a decade and its impact is still as fresh in his mind and heart as he was reminded of his short lived friend. His eyes snapped open with malice, reminded of his contempt of one of the aspects he hated in life, the most that caused him this pain.

It was the united states of America.

The country that had made game of his kind to be hunted down and exterminated once they crossed their borders in a land that used to belong to Leo's people and others. His emotion of hatred taking the reins once again, Leo clenched his upper teeth on his bottom lip, applying enough pressure that it began to bleed down and trickle from his chin, and circle the drain below him.

"By a bunch of European assholes..."He muttered angrily, his hand against the wall balled into a fist. "Of all the suffering I went through...I have never been reduced so low and humiliated in my entire life!" His breathing became heavy and slightly rapid, his anger once again seeping spiritually from his being. "One day america, you are going to get yours." His eyes clenched shut, his left eye brow twitching in madness." You are going to reap what you've sown one hundred fold!" He hissed.

knock knock

The sudden disturbance of knocking had nearly caused Leo to lose his balance, almost slipping fro the soapy water. Startled by the unexpected interruption he was forced away from his contempt towards one of his negative aspects of his life. Drawing his breath calmly as he recomposed himself from the sudden startle.

"W-who is it?"

"It's me Leo, I just wanted to let you know that your clothes are clean and are on the bed when you're done. Also, feel free to use the spare toothbrush I have on the sink counter."

"Okay, thanks Fluttershy. I'll be right out." He shut the valve, halting the water's gentle assault on his body.

Stepping out from the shower, he reached for the towel hearing Fluttershy's hooves steps faint from the bathroom door. He stepped in front of the sink counter, drying himself with the surprisingly soft garment on his skin. While he continued to dry himself, he noticed his reflection before him that stared back. It couldn't be helped, he had gazed upon his body through the mirror and saw the scars of experience and time had left upon him. Noticing these marks over his body had began weigh his spirits; like an anchor to a row boat. Each one represented its own form of shame as past confrontations reminded him of his defeats through out time. He relented his thoughts on the past and sighed in defeat. "Who am I kidding, it's just wishful thinking..." He reached for the tooth brush Fluttershy gave him permission to use, squeezing a small amount of toothpaste on the brush, and began to wipe out the cavities that were beginning to invade his teeth from the lack of his dental hygiene, since his arrival.

"Another thing I forgot."

His expression morphed into a boring one as he stretched the rim of his lips wide, watching his teeth in the cleansing process. He spat, rinsed, and bared his teeth into the mirror as the tiny gaps from his teeth began to seep very little blood from his gums.

"I guess they're clean."

He rinsed his toothbrush and stepped out with the towel around his waist, slouching from fatigue the day had caused him, with a said of needle sharp pain stabbing his back. "Shit, my back hurts." He muttered, leaning his upper form backwards, his arm tenderly massaging his aching back."God, I'm being stabbed!" He groaned as he stumbled forward over the bed, laying face first. His groans loudly resonated through the sheets. It became clear that he was being overly dramatic. He sighed what little oxygen could be seeped through the sheets, followed by him turning over his back,staring up at the ceiling.

Taking notice of the room's lamp light in the center of the ceiling he saw little flying glowing specks, buzzing inside, watching as some flew in, and some flew out, straight into the open window, above Leo's bed. A gentle cool breeze invading his slightly moist form.

"Heh...is that what passes as efficient electricity for room lighting in this world?" He chuckled, spreading his arms as he began to close his eyes. Under his right arm, he noticed something different, it wasn't the bed sheet. He lazily turned his gaze over to his right, in place was his boxers, and his pants. His jacket was over on the drawers as his glanced pushed past his lower garments, folded very neatly for his connivance, next to his backpack. His cigarette pack was placed neatly over his garments. "That was very nice of her."

He sighed, pulling himself up, slouching on his new, more comfortable bed. He reached and put on his undergarments.

"Don't' have any pajamas to sleep in, guess my boxers will have to do. His gaze went to the ceiling once more, his sight on the light above him as the sound of small wings barely resonated through the room. He raised an eyebrow as he began to contemplate its function settings.

"Hmm, I wonder..."

He clapped his hand trice, waiting for a reaction from the fireflies. Soon enough they all emerged from the tiny hole and out into the window as the room dimmed its lighting, until it was enveloped by darkness. Leaving only the majestic glow of the moon to touch everything.

"God, today was shit." He placed his hands on the back of his head, his gaze still at the ceiling. He began to reflect on today's toll on him. "That was the third time I was driven over the edge..." He frowned as he began to recreate the dreaded feeling of being possessed by his rage. The thought made him shudder as he pictured himself in third person, all he could see in his mental image was himself, running wild like a rabid animal, attacking anything that moved. Luckily, the only was who was mildly hurt and emotionally hurt was himself. And the accursed Twilight. "This morning seemed like it was the start of a new beginning, then that dumb bitch ruins it for me." He growled.

Leo lied in place as his thoughts were invaded by Twilight's image. His temper was in dangerous rising level from her alone, taking immediate action, he stepped from his bed, over the drawer and grabbed his pack of cigarettes and returned back to his previous location. Lying on his back, his hand fishing out a stick from his pack, quickly placing it in his mouth. His motions froze in place as he remembered two important things; one Fluttershy obviously does not like the smell of cigarettes and two, he does not have his lighter.

"Shit!" he silently whispered, his hands hitting the mattress like a pouty child. "How am I supposed to cover my bad mojo in clouds if I don't have my fucking lighter anymore!" He sighed irritably, crossing his arms, letting his defeat sink in.

A soft yellow glow that touched Leo's form had caught his eye, the sound of a single buzz out side the window. Exhaling annoyingly, Leo raised from his bed and out the window to deal with the little nuisance. His form sat on the window frame, spotting the insignificant life form buzzing before him. "You caught me at a bad time..." He raised his hand, ready to swat the insect from midair. "...It's nothing personal." He spoke with his cigarette in his mouth.

The insect quickly took action as he flew over to Leo, near his face. Leo's eyes widened, his head recoiled slightly back as the insect came closer to Leo's cigarette tip. The firefly turned his rear and pressed on the tip of his cigarette with his rear.

What the fuck? Leo said internally as he watched the firefly preform his odd act.

Soon enough, the tip of the cigarette began to cloud as a familiar air type substance was making his way through the stick and into his mouth. His eyes widened, caught on of what the firefly was doing. Wasting no time, he huffed the cigarette trying to give light to the tip. As the temperature rose, the firefly knew that was his time to remove himself from the burning tip.

Leo huffed, taking in the tobacco smoke into his body. Stopping a moment to hold in its contents to work its magic to his lungs, he exhaled loudly as the smoke emerged from his mouth and into the cold night air.

"I feel so much better..." He said. His eye taking notice small speck of light that was the firefly that was distancing himself from Leo, and into it's laminating brethren. The swarm flowed through the air majestically up into the night sky, their luminance presence added a much more serene beauty to the night sky's. Leo watched with fascination to how much this world's beauty presented itself to him. He huffed and puffed his cigarette, his sigh mellow as he wondered what could make this even better.

An idea popped in his head as he sunk back from the window to retrieve his I-pod from his jacket, then resumed emerging back on the window as he sat on its frame. He powered his I-pod on, and began to browse through his saved music files to fit the perfect scenery before him. A small moment of searching and he found the perfect song for the moment. He tapped the song and it began to play the beautiful music.

The music began to beat softly in his eardrums as he relaxed and took in the beautiful night sky scenery once more, he inhaled his dose of tobacco as his head bobbed to the beat. He sighed, "Always without fear...right." His gaze still transfixed in the beauty.

"You know..." He thought to himself, puffing a cloud into the air. "It's the little good things in life...that keep this mind from falling into complete ruin." He chuckled with his cigarette in his mouth, his eyes closed as he shook his head at what he just said. "'Puta madre...I'm starting to sound poetic." He muttered, his cigarette stick was ready to burn out as the song coincidently was too about to draw to a close. "Well..." He pulled his cigarette from his mouth and held it up the heavens. "...this last puff is to my new beginning." He inhaled powerfully, extracting what little tobacco was left to be burned to ash, and its smoky substance to be consumed by Leo's abused lungs. He flicked his cigarette bud outside, little stray ambers following the bud into its rough decent. With that he sighed and rolled up his headphones and went back inside to enjoy a much needed time for respite.

It's been almost an hour and a half since Fluttershy whished Leo a good night sleep, the crickets chirped and the wind blew smoothly over her house, accompanied by a small howl.

Everything seemed to be in the right place for a restful night. So why couldn't she sleep? Perhaps, it was because her mind kept lingering on Leo. She couldn't help but think his mood was still rancid due to a reminiscence of the shadowed past during his innocence. She didn't blame him, what she had just heard was so appalling that it almost made her faint, but not before she swallowed her vomit of how disgusted she was. How could a country be owned by a majority of humans who prejudice others from another country looking for a better existence.

Equestria didn't really have any border walls to keep other equines or creatures from a new and better existence. She still remembered the name of Leo's friend he had meet across the border. They were so young, trying to give each other comfort, to make it through together. Only to be reminded of earth life's cruel laws, she was torn away from him, having to hear her screams in the back of his mind was more haunting than any angry spirit's possession of a house.

The silent had continued for only a few moments until a faint thump was heard down the hall, where Leo's bedroom was. She jerked up slightly, wondering what it was she had heard. She pondered whether or not to go investigate the noise at the risk of disturbing Leo's slumber. A small moment passes and she decides to take a risk, sliding her legs from the covers, and gently placing a hoof on the floor, followed by her others. She quietly trudged through the dark halls of her home, being delicate as possible not to disturb the sleep of the other residents in her house; her animals.

After what had felt like forever, she had finally made it to her destination. Slowly she pushed the door open, and with that the silence was broken like a wine glass on a tile floor. She shushed the door from its intruding noise, the creaking halted sharply, but the door kept on opening how it should. In silence.

She ever so lightly pressed on across the room where Leo lied in rest, his appearance known but his body a little vague due to the darkness of the clouds outside shadowing his form. She approached closely, finally making it to Leo, she inspects him but not to close. She still can't make him out through the darkness. The clouds start to thin out until they fade completely, his form finally visible to her eye and what she sees before her drops her heart. A troubled look on his face, the remnants of his tears matting his eyes all the way down to his cheeks, his eyes squeezed shut, and his body jerking slightly with every small sob chocked out.

Fluttershy felt her throat had grown a lump from watching the human before her, the one who had brought down two Timberwolves single handedly, reduce into a crying mumbling mess of a man...let alone a boy. Doing what she thought would be the best course of action, she gently laid her hoof over his head. Stroking him softly for what ever little comfort she could give him, it had only reduced a quarter of the sorrow, the sudden halt of his jerking was evident of that. What began to worsen was his tears seeping out even more, and his slightly incoherent mumblings of apologies.

"I...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry....I tried to save you...I really did, but...I-I wasn't-" His sobbing became louder, his jerking much stronger than before. "I wasn't strong enough...I wasn't strong enough to save you. And I'm still not strong enough...I couldn't save my mother..." His facial muscles tightened along with his grip on the bed sheets, the streams leaving their ducts into a moistened spot of the bed. "I'm weak...I couldn't even save myself from John..." He uttered.

Fluttershy watched in a frozen state, the words had left her shocked beyond belief. He was blaming himself for the bad things that had happened, mostly of the loss of his dear friend; Idoya. He blames himself for the loss of her chastity and her life, he blames himself for believing he was to fault because he wasn't strong enough to save her and his mother. The sad reality though was that there was nothing he could do for them, Fluttershy thought. Life had grounded him up in an early age, still at his most weakened state in his childhood, it was as if though the world weaved a cruel fate for the young stray.

To Fluttershy that just was not true, his actions from a few days ago were what contradicted himself of his self berating statements. He proved just how strong and brave he was when he fought two Timberwolves alone and won. He sacrificed his body to protect her and Applejack instead of running like the coward he thought he was. Perhaps it was why he didn't run away.

He didn't do it for himself, or to save face. He did not know it, but deep down he did it because he wanted to compensate for his miserable defeats back on earth for the ones he could not save. That was why he did it, that was why all his reasoning and logic thinking were swept aside like bothersome dust on a table. He wasn't physically strong, so his final resort to save at least two lives were to offer up his body as collateral for the lack of strength of his being.

In the end, the final payment would be death.

It wasn't right to Fluttershy, it just wasn't. He didn't have to do what he had done because he was weak, he didn't have to keep punishing himself for his failures. Life had done that since his beginning, alone, adding one more tormenter would not compensate in any way at all. It would only make everything much more plagued by a woeful swarm to rain down on him. Fluttershy could not just stand idly by as Leo slowly killed himself.

Inhaling, then sighing deeply, Fluttershy lightly brushed Leo's blanket from his form. His grip defeatedly released the fabric coating his body, revealing only his midsection. She gently climbed on as not to stir Leo from his sleep, taking place next to him. She pulled the covers over themselves, once again coating Leo with Fluttershy besides him. Careful with her movements, she placed her head on his chest, her fur rubbing against his skin had sent a small shiver over her body from feeling something so foreign. Gently she nuzzled her head over him, his sorrowful movements gently coming to a crawl until they came to a complete halt. The faint and gentle sound of breathing from Leo had given her reassurance of his mental and emotional well being. In time, she began to drift off, her eyes heavy as slumber began to take her.

That was until two limbs attached with appendages had rubbed her fur the opposite way, under her wings causing her to yelp. Her heart raced as her body tensed, she feared she had awakened Leo and he would be mad at her for what she was doing. She dared to peek up only to see Leo was still in dreamland. She felt his arms gently applying pressure, he moved her up slightly until her head was below his chin, nuzzling it caringly.

His subconscious actions had left her perplexed, but she had come to the conclusion that he was only finding something to nuzzle, a common reflex during sleep. She sighed in relief, slightly moving her head facing the wall and her ear against his chest, she calmed her heart beat as much as she could until it returned to its natural rate. There was something off however, something that wasn't hers, she listened closely, her ear began to pick up a secondary heart beat shortly followed by hers. It was Leo's heart, she could feel him live where she was, the sound of the two resonating beats grew calming and relaxing as she sleepily rubbed her head against his chest, yawing. Her eyelids once again weighed until they were shut completely. Her presence completely unknown to the oblivious boy.

The two laid together, a night of welcoming peace and respite eagerly waited them both.

In Ironhelm, both the goddesses of Equestria stood outside their royal guest bedroom on the balcony that over watched a small section of the kingdom, with its small soft glow. The night was silent as their gaze were transfixed beyond the distance of the city, and into the moon. A troubled look upon both their faces as they replay what they've both have read after the diplomatic dinner with the minotaur king and senator. It was by luck that the letter had appeared afterwards.

Both had processed the letter over and over again, along with its schematics that reinforced her analysis. The facts could not be ignored, something was back in their homeland that was foreign to their planet's soil. Something they were not sure to be wary about or not, the schematics they've reviewed had left them troubled. Princess Celestia the most since she felt like she had encountered this before, but the memory eluded her.

"Sister," Luna spoke, her tone calm but serious." Do you think this foreign being Twilight examined could be a possible threat?" She turned to her sister who was still staring off into the distance.

She sighed calmly before she spoke her mind. "I'm not sure Luna." Celestia's gaze met her sisters, a worrisome look in her eyes. "I'm not sure why he's here in the first place, and in our country of all others on this planet." She pondered the odds.

"Do you believe it is an old enemy in a different form?" She asked. "By the results and notes we have read, this 'Leo' draws his strength from rage and hatred...negative emotions. In order to defeat his enemies, alike that of our old foes we have encountered and defeated." She began to remember a certain foe who had also drew his power from negative emotions.

"You don't mean King Sombra do you--" Before she could finish the rest of her sentence, the night goddess had placed her hoof upon her sister's mussel, halting her sentence. Her head lowered as her brows shuttered from a memory she really did not want to think about.

"Don't, sister!" She uttered shakingly, her breaths short and sharp. "Do not speak of that name in my presence...please." She pleaded, the memory of her conciseness becoming consumed by her resentment and envy that had created a new being that had tarnished her name, the final architect that had sent her over the edge was none other than King Sombra. "That name, it reminds me of what I became..." She shuddered once more as she leaned to her sister for comfort.

Celestia was shocked of her sister's sudden emotions. Luna had never acted this vulnerable before, not even around her. Perhaps it was because they never spoke of King Sombra after his defeat. How could she be so inconsiderate, she thought. She should have known that the subject would be sensitive.

"Lulu..."She rubbed her sister back to comfort her. "I'm so sorry." She nuzzled her caringly. "I didn't know, and I didn't mean to remind you of that moment." She hugged her sister tightly with her enormous wings. "Please forgive me."

"It's fine sister." she sniffled. "It was just my moment of weakness." She brushed off as though it was nothing, recomposing herself as she cleared her throat. "But back to the matter at hoof. "She looked over the table near the balcony railing, the contents on top are what drew both sister's attention. "We have a more pressing matter to deal with right now."

Celestia nodded in agreement, there were more important matters to deal with. "You are right Luna, right now we both must find out if this 'Leo' is friend, or foe." Celestia's mood had hardened of the possibility if the foreigner being a threat. "If he is an enemy to our nation and to our beloved ponies..." She stomped her platted hoof, her look was of serious determination. "We will use the elements of harmony."

Luna gazed of into the distance once more, her thoughts of meeting this visitor invaded her mind. "Understood." She uttered coldly before both sisters retreated back inside and into their beds. Resting for the long journey home, back to Equestria.

Author's Note