Hex

Breeze sat up through most of the night, thinking about Applejack's words.

"I'm not alone..." he whispered gently to himself. Am I really not alone? he thought, turning and looking out the window. "... Besides, I'm a thief. I can't have any partners, any companions. I have to be alone. It's for my own safety. They will all betray me..." He stood and walked to the window for a better view of the moon. "... Would the ponies here betray me?" he wondered. "Of course they would. Anypony is capable of betrayal, capable of lying. Even you, Phoenix Flame. Could have been honest from the start..." he muttered. Suddenly, he heard hoofsteps approaching. He turned to face the door as it opened. Big Macintosh stood in the doorway. "Did I wake you up?" he asked.

"Eeyup," the farm pony replied. Breeze scratched the back of his head.

"Ah, sorry about that. I can't sleep." Big Mac approached him. "Yo, can I talk to you for a bit?"

"Eeyup," he repeated. Breeze slightly rose to the air.

"You ponies here... You wouldn't betray me, right?" he asked. Big Mac shook his head.

"Nnnope."

"You... you sure?" He looked around. Big Mac was about to respond, but he was cut off. "Yeah... Yeah, y'all are alright..." Big Mac looked at him, confused. Breeze landed and turned back to the window. "I come from a land of mistrust, that's all. Always having to explain myself, always having to watch the ponies around me... I discovered that an unseen pony can't be questioned, so I took to the shadows. It was easier to avoid questions, rather than answer them," he explained. He turned back to Big Mac and looked past him into the hallway. "Has Applejack told you anything about me?"

"Eeyup..." Big Mac looked to the side. "Apparently, you're quite the thief back home."

"Ah, so she told you that part... Well, you can take something new to her in the morning. I'd have told her myself yesterday, but... uh..." Big Mac smiled. It was a friendly smile, calming Breeze down enough to get back in bed. "Well, I'm sure you know. See you in the morning."

"Eeyup." Big Mac strolled back to his room, leaving Breeze to rest. He awoke before the sun was up.

"Ah... No..." he complained to himself. Looking out the window, he groaned. "The sun's not even..." he said, trailing off. Rubbing his eyes, Breeze slowly and carefully walked down the hall. Reaching the front door, he suddenly took note of how silent the farm was. Everypony's asleep... Huh... he thought. He looked towards Ponyville. You aren't alone, but... No, no, don't think about that. It's a new day. Let's go steal something; that'll make you feel better... Uh, make me feel better... On his way, he scanned the ground, looking for a target. When he couldn't find one, he landed in the center of town, annoyed. "Nopony? Really?" he said to himself.

"Look closer, Silent Breeze," a voice within the darkness said. Breeze turned his head to see a guard approaching. "Hello there. My name is Steel Shield. I believe we've met before..." Breeze chuckled.

"Ah, hello. I didn't expect Princess Celestia to send the Royal Guard to Ponyville..." he said, smirking. "Well, it doesn't seem like anypony's awake; let's just head over to the Hay-Burger, I guess. They're probably open." Steel Shield nodded once.

"Better than staying out here. Oh, by the way, I have a couple of questions for you." Breeze began wandering off and laughed.

"We can talk when we get there, bro." He stopped and extended a hoof. It connected with the guard's, and the two began walking towards the restaurant.

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack awoke. Yawning, she made her way to Breeze's room.

"Alright, up and at 'em! I reckon I could use a..." She stopped, realizing that Breeze was gone. "Dang it. Where did that pony go off to, now..." She stormed out of the farmhouse and towards Ponyville. In the town, Breeze and Steel Shield were sitting at a table at the Hay-Burger.

"Yo, did you guys find that necklace yet?" Breeze asked.

"Yes, we were lucky to retrieve the necklace hidden in the back room of a wealthy citizen's home." Steel Shield looked over his shoulder to a unicorn who was frantically searching the ground for something. "Excuse me for a moment..." He stood up and approached the pony as Breeze played with a napkin, bored. "Do you need help, miss?" The unicorn looked up.

"Oh, yes. I seem to have misplaced a gem. Could you help me? Please?" she begged.

"Of course, miss. I'll find it for you." Steel Shield looked back at Breeze, who motioned for him to come over. He sat back down next to him. Breeze had a grin on his face. "What is it?" he asked.

"Yo, I totally took that gem." He reached down and took out a ruby. Steel Shield looked at him in shock and awe.

"How... How did you manage to steal that so fast?" he asked. "You're a really good thief, yeah, but... That's just ridiculous!" Breeze slid the gem to the mare when she turned away, then brought his attention back to the guard.

"While you were busy complaining about how long it was taking the cooks to make our food, I walked over and convinced that nice mare over there to look around outside for a diamond that I had dug up for my marefriend that doesn't actually exist." He closed his eyes and smiled. "It was all by chance, honestly. If our food was brought out on time, I wouldn't have had time to take the ruby; you'd have seen me." Steel Shield looked at him in thought.

"You really are a skilled thief..." he said moments later.

"Well, yeah. It's my special talent, after all... You feeling alright, bro?" He suddenly stood, accidentally hitting the table with his chest. "Yo! Everything okay?"

"Princess Celestia didn't send any of the Royal Guard here; I came here on my own. I was looking for, well, you, Silent Breeze." Breeze sat still, looking at him in confusion.

"Well, what was your reason?" he asked calmly. "I can assure you, I've done nothing really remarkable since you've last seen me. I haven't been staying here that long, after all..."

"That. That right there. Your attitude completely changed when I questioned you... You've done something, haven't you?" he asked, approaching. Breeze looked side to side.

"Well, I... I ran into a crowd of ponies and had a, um... moment of weakness, but that's about it." Steel Shield's eyes narrowed; he was unconvinced. "... Alright! I impersonated one of you guys shortly after getting out of the castle and stole a necklace, claiming that it was the missing one..." he groaned, upset.

"I'd say that you were trying to trick me, but knowing you... You probably did..." Steel Shield responded. "Well, just turn the necklace into the Royal Guard or the princesses at some point today, okay?"

"A'ight. Yo... I didn't think you'd catch on that quickly..." Breeze said in amazement. Steel Shield chuckled and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"I've dealt with all kinds of criminals in my time as a guard, son..." Before he could say any more, Applejack ran through the doors to the restaurant, looking around. "Uh, miss, are you looking for somepony?" he asked.

"Yeah, I am," she stated, pointing a hoof at Breeze. "Him."

"Uh..." He couldn't think of anything to say. He approached, looking back to Steel Shield every once in a while. "...Yeah?" Applejack had a look of anger on her face.

"Y'all never told me you were fixin' to leave this morning..." she grumbled. Breeze cocked his head to the side.

"I didn't think you'd mind. I planned on being back sooner, but I ran into... that stallion." He motioned to Steel Shield, who bowed slightly. "I'm sorry; I really didn't know it'd bother you so much."

"We're going back, Breeze." He groaned loudly, leaning his head backwards. Steel Shield walked up to him.

"Yo, we'll catch up later, bro," he whispered quickly.

"Alright. See you later." The two hoof-bumped again before Breeze trudged out behind Applejack. After mere moments of walking, she suddenly stopped at the edge of Ponyville.

"Hey, we aren't home yet..." Breeze said. Applejack turned around and stepped close to him.

"Y'all had me worried sick. You always tell me when you leave." He instinctively stepped back.

"Well, you don't gotta worry; I was just chillin' with Steel Shield. I ain't gonna put myself in danger all the time." Applejack turned her head.

"Yeah... I know, but I still worry... You got a good head on you, and I guess I don't want that goin' to waste."

"I... I understand," he stuttered, unsure of what else to say. She hung her head.

"You probably think I'm just bein' silly." Breeze shook his head, stepping forward.

"Not at all. I get you, I..." Applejack looked into his eyes. "I just don't want you to be upset... Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" he asked.

"Just... J-Just be a little more open with me... We here in Ponyville ain't like the ponies of your homeland." Breeze reached out and brought her closer. "Big Mac told me what you said to him, and I just want to let you know that we ain't gonna turn on you. You ain't alone, like I said before." His eyes suddenly shot open, and he pushed her away, jumping back. "Hey!"

"You're wrong," he growled.

"No," she said in a harsh voice. "You're wrong." She stomped her hoof. He flinched at the statement, shaking his head shortly after in an attempt to recover.

"I must be alone. The more companions I have, the greater my risk of betrayal is. I can't afford company."

"I already told you, ain't nopony here's gonna turn on you!" A tear rolled down her cheek. "Don't you see?" Breeze was stunned.

"I... I can't... It's the way it must be..." Applejack shook her head.

"Ain't nopony's plotting against you... Why don't you believe me? You... You ain't by yourself," she repeated.

"Yes, I-I am. Who do I have? Who's on my side?" he asked, stepping forward. She looked at him, stepping forward as well.

"You have me," she answered. "You have me, and I ain't leavin' you." Another tear fell. It was Breeze's.

"You... You're lying. I don't believe you!" he cried. He opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by Applejack. Without saying a word, she jumped forward into him. Catching him off-guard, she forced him into a passionate kiss. As the sun rose, the two shared this loving moment in absolute silence, apart from the chirping of the birds. When she released him, he fell back onto his flank in shock. "W-What... What?"

"Do you believe me now?"