Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.
― Sun Tzu, 'The Art Of War'

Karn lay on the floor of Twilight's tree house. The manner of its construction intrigued him. He looked idly out the window in his attempts to move his thoughts away from what had been resurrected earlier on in the lab downstairs. The experience had been very painful and had left him shaken and more than a little embarrassed. This was one hell of a first day introduction to the outdoors of Ponyville here in Equestria. He had not made a great impression.

After he'd been able to calm down and compose himself, Twilight had very kindly suggested that they all retire upstairs so that he could get some rest. Karn was certainly in no condition to argue - he was most effusive with his thanks.

His bed for the moment was the floor, on top of a rug thoughtfully provided by Twilight. The pillow for his steadily throbbing head was a cushion off one of the pony sized couches, but it was indeed softer than the wooden floor. The comforts were Spartan, but they were no less deeply appreciated for that. The attention of his well wishers was touching. Simple things - but they greatly affected him. He wasn't used to feeling this kind of gratitude.

His attention out the window to his right was focused on silly minutiae. Principally the manner in which the leaves on the tree's branches outdoors slowly rustled and swayed in the gentle breeze. He remained intent on this simple act of nature, more as a means to drag his mind's focus away from his former world and to forget the fact that he felt foolish, childish and quite ridiculous after what had transpired in the lab.

In his semi-meditative state, he lost track of time. In fact it had only been about half an hour since he had first lain down upon the makeshift bed. He remained still, just concentrating on silly things outside, forcing his mind to keep those hideous recollections buried within him. Occasionally those nightmares would try to push aside the effects of his meditation and make a dash for his full awareness. Thus far he'd been able to win these inner battles. With each fight against those demons, the job became easier. So many battles - it would clearly take a long time to bring this aspect of his experiences to heel, such that he controlled them and not vice versa.

He had been lying there silently looking outside with his breathing slow and relaxed, as the ponies who were there with him had kept a close vigil. This action on their part was born more of a concern for his well being, rather than any fears of his being dangerous. Their conversation behind him was quiet, not quite a whisper. He tried not to take notice of anything they might be saying, preferring instead his meditation to try and clear his poor, fear addled mind.

Pinkie Pie was the first to cross over to him and inquire how he was currently feeling. "Karn? Are you sleeping?"

He broke his meditative rest with a gentle laugh. "No, Pinkie," he answered quietly. His vision remained fix on the foliage out the window. The wind picked up pace and then gently settled again. The rhythm was strangely calming. "I was just watching the leaves."

"Watching the leaves? You mean outside?"

"Well, yes, Pinkie, as opposed to the inside ones."

"There are leaves inside? The last time that happened, it was a sleepover with Rarity and Applejack and that didn't go so well."

"Huh. I can imagine," he chuckled. He felt the more astonished that the performance of the leaves outside the window still had his complete attention. He realized with a start that he was actually being quiet rude, with his head turned away from his friend. He managed to roll his head to his left side, resting on the cushion.

"Of course it ended well! They were best buddies again after that!" she continued.

"You all certainly stick together. Thick as fleas, so to speak."

"Thick as ... "

"Sorry, I mean you're all very close," he corrected himself. "I need to stop using metaphors that you all clearly don't use here".

"Pinkie, is he doin' okay?" interrupted Rainbow Dash. She had warmed just a tiny bit towards him after the scene in the lab. Karn wasn't prepared to push that though, lest he say something she wasn't pleased with and her old distrust would rise again.

"I don't know! I think so! He was watching the leaves!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"The leaves?" The look on Rainbow Dash's face suggested she was worried about his sanity, or whether indeed he had any.

"Yep! He was just telling me how he was looking outside at the leaves, and ... "

"Please don't go stressing him too much, you two. He clearly needs some rest and a makeover at some point to clean up that mane of his," chipped in Rarity.

Karn managed a slight smile at that suggestion. "You're still wanting me to abandon my carefully cultivated hair? Can I not enjoy its presence, just for a few moments more, my lady? It and I have been very close for so long now," he moaned, as he feigned a degree of concern. But the exhaustion that was very nearly palpable in this voice made it clear that he was being facetious. Rarity was having none of it.

"Oh! Don't be ridiculous ... "

"Yeah! I'm better at that than you are!"

"Pinkie!"

"Are y'all in here beating th' poor guy around 'is ears with all that nonsense? Ah reckon he just needs to make it ta Sweet Apple Acres and we can see what work he's up to doin'."

"Applejack, that sounds like a great idea," managed Karn. "In my present state of mind, I doubt this would be a good time to pursue that, but I would certainly like to make it there at the first good opportunity," he said.

"You bet! Fresh air, hard work, it'll get you running again in no time! Apples, too, of course!"

"Apples don't run!"

There was a sigh from Applejack. "No, Pinkie, ah reckon they don't. Anyway, Karn, you just get yer strength up and when yer up to it, we'd love ta have you over our way!"

Drawn by her friends and the discussion, Fluttershy was the next to appear alongside his well wishers. "Is he feeling a little better?"

"Yes, Fluttershy, thank you," he whispered, with a weak, sensitive smile for his guardian angel. Whilst the morning had been very traumatic, he felt that much closer to her for it.

"He's watching leaves!" observed Pinkie Pie.

"He's watching ... "

"Fluttershy, I was just looking out the window at the leaves on the tree. I was trying to meditate on those and not ... well, earlier events."

Twilight joined the growing circus. "Karn, you were supposed to try and rest! What are all of you doing in here?"

Karn had given up the prospect of a little rest. He felt exhausted, but touched by the attention of them all. "It's okay, Twilight. I was leaf watching and meditating a little, but I'm okay at the moment, thank you."

"You were leaf watching?"

It struck him as interesting that all of them had been as surprised as he was, upon discovering he'd been watching leaves on a tree outside the window, as a means to clear his thoughts and try to relax. "Yes, Twilight. I was trying to just observe them in motion, and not think about anything specifically. It's a simple means of meditation - to force my active mind to focus on something trivial, in an effort to keep other thoughts at bay."

"Interesting," mumbled Twilight. There was more scribbling in that book of hers. Karn wondered what it was she was writing down, and felt a strange urge to read it back. "I've let Princess Celestia know you're here, Karn. Since you're not well enough to travel, she suggested making the trip here to see you instead."

"Princess Celestia is coming HERE?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "When? Do we need to clean this place up a bit?"

"No, I think things are fine as they are. But we should make sure that Karn is at least sitting upright and able to make a half decent impression for the princess," suggested Twilight.

None of the others had so much as a chance to move. Pinkie, announcing she was "Right on it!" immediately tore around the house gathering together the largest chair that could be found. She even managed to locate a foot rest for him and another blanket to keep him warm. Karn, as skilled as he was at manipulating time, found himself deeply impressed.

"Pinkie, your consideration and dedication to my comfort are greatly appreciated. I certainly hope I am still able to stand from such a relaxing position to greet your Princess?"

"You'll be fine, sugar cube. Princess Celestia has a heart so kind, that the breeze stops ta listen to her evr'y word!"

"Thank Christ I stopped my observation of the foliage out the window then," he observed, Applejack cocked her head at him. "Well, if the breeze ceased, the leaves would stop moving, and ... that would sort of ruin my focus," he explained. He could tell that she still didn't entirely understand the concept he was trying to convey to her. He decided it didn't matter. "I'm glad your nobility is kind hearted. If this Princess Celestia is as considerate and erudite as all of you, I am intrigued and eager to make her acquaintance."

"Karn, you'll be just fine. Please try and relax for her, and just be yourself. Um ... she may want to ask you some questions ... "

"Oh shit, Twilight no, no please ," Karn stammered, suddenly edging forward in his seat.

"NO, KARN! Not those kinds of questions! She's mostly eager to know what you're like, what your customs were in your home Country of ... " she rummaged through her notes .... "Alsovia! I explained to her about what we discovered in the lab earlier and that I promised not to put you through that again. Really, it's okay, Karn. She understands too, from what I've told her of your experiences."

Karn had felt suddenly cold and clammy at the mention of questioning. Twilight's gentle gaze and reassurances helped to ease his anxiety though and his sympathetic nervous system began to back off somewhat. "Thank you, Twilight. I really don't think I could go through all of that again."

"Who's up few some cider, Sweet Apple Acres specialty!" chimed in Applejack. Karn's eyes lit up - he could recall the beverage from his hospital bed.

"Applejack, you need to ask? Your question is rhetorical, surely!" Karn managed, unable to hide his grin. His voice was still quiet and exhibited that fatigue but he was most certainly keen to imbibe this carbonated fruit juice that he had learnt of since arriving here in Equestria. "Do you carry a spare supply of this stuff in your ... well, your ... what is it you are wearing anyway?"

"These? Oh, these are called saddle bags! Ah carry a spare bottle or two of cider with me fer special occasions. I reckon this is as good a special occasion as we've had today! Git yer mugs out, everypony! ... And er, every human!"

The ponies and Karn seated around Twilight's lounge sipped the cider and the conversation roamed from odd news and gossip of what was going on around town, to what was happening with Karn.

"This princess of yours, Princess Celestia. How should I address her? I am not used to addressing royalty and I assume there is an etiquette to be followed."

Rarity of course answered, being by far the most knowledgeable of the subject. "When she enters the room, you should stand, and offer a bow. As you don't have hooves, I am not entirely sure how you should go about prostrating yourself, but I think as long as you can lower your gaze and perhaps kneel on one leg, that should be enough. You'll find that the Princess is not one to be too insistent on such aspects of royal etiquette, Karn. As long as you make the effort to appear respectful and acknowledge her presence as gracefully as possible, I am sure she will appreciate your actions ... except ... "

Karn managed a look at Rarity that suggested she was about to request something that he probably wouldn't like. "Except, my lady?"

"Well ... Karn, would you mind retiring downstairs with me? I know that's the lab, but I promise that I won't be doing any experiments on you! There is just something I want to do for you, before the Princess arrives! Twilight, we still have a half an hour before her arrival?"

"The Princess is always punctual, Rarity. I would say thirty minutes precisely!"

"Karn, would you please follow me downstairs for a moment?"

He lay there staring at the graceful mare, not sure whether to trust her or not. What game was she playing? "Um ... Rarity ... what are you getting at, exactly?"

"Tsk, it's okay Karn. You are just somewhat disheveled and you simply cannot be seen like that by the Princess on her arrival!"

Karn was hesitant. The last time he'd ventured downstairs, he'd ended up a screaming ruin. "Rarity ... "

She could obviously sense the pain that was still there, just behind his voice. She walked gently to him, took his hand in her hoof and tried to reassure him. "Karn, my dear, I promise. I am not here to hurt you. My only thought is to tidy your appearance somewhat, before the ruler of Equestria arrives to meet you. Surely you would like to make a good first impression?"

He looked into her eyes, attempting to ascertain what her intentions were. It didn't matter anyway - aside from the looks of distrust from Rainbow Dash, none of these ponies thus far had expressed anything other than kindness in their eyes. Rarity's eyes were blue, bright, pure - she had this lighter blue shade of makeup applied to her eyelids. Her eyes fixed on his, whilst she clearly waited for a response. He tore himself from his reverie. "Ah, sorry. I was lost for a moment. Well ... lead on. I trust you, my lady."

The other ponies present watched Rarity leading Karn downstairs, until they were out of sight.

Applejack turned to Twilight. "Now, what do yew s'pose that was all about?"

"I suspect Rarity wants to make sure our guest is neat and prim for the arrival of Princess Celestia," answered Twilight.

"Pffff, yeah! After everything that's happened today, she oughta just lay him out and iron him from head to toe!" quipped Rainbow Dash.

"Oh my goodness, she's not going to do that to him, is she?"

"No, Fluttershy, I'm sure they will both be fine," reassured Twilight. "I made sure I pointed out to Princess Celestia in my latest report that he is a little fragile when dealing with what he went through prior to arriving here," she informed them. She sipped her cider, but the look on her face was one of deep thought. "I am very curious to know what life was like for him back ... well, wherever he was from. Away from the horrific wars it sounds like he's been involved in. I wonder what his family was like?"

"He seems pretty smart, like you! I'm willin' to bet he went through a lot of books 'n stuff too," observed Rainbow Dash. "I bet the two of you will end up spending days just readin' through all these dusty manuscripts you have stocked in that library of yours!"

"You know, Dashie? I actually hope so! I think I'd enjoy that quite a lot!"

"Do you think he likes to dance?" Pinkie Pie asked Twilight.

"Well, Pinkie, nobody has brought up that subject yet, but I'm sure ... "

"I bet he does! I mean, he has that look about him, like he'd be nimble, you know? Like he'd love to move around a lot and not stay still, which suits me, because it's very hard for me to sit still, except for that one time watching paint dry, now THAT was hard work, I don't think I could ever do that again. We need to have a welcoming party for him when he gets better, I bet he loves parties and I know he loves my special drink, we should absolutely get him to come to the grand galloping gala next time that's happening, I bet he'd be the talk of the ball and ... "

"Ugh. Yes, Pinkie, to all of the above."

"Do you think he likes animals?" Fluttershy asked Twilight.

"I think so? Given that we are different species and he seems well disposed to us, that would be a good sign."

"Do you think he ... well ... eats other creatures?" she asked, trembling.

Twilight had to go back through her notes, to observations she had made on his physiology not long after his arrival. "As near as I can tell, Fluttershy, he is an omnivore."

"You mean ... he can eat anything?"

"Well anything that isn't poisonous to him. Humans have incisors, two medial and two lateral, on their top and bottom jaw. They have canines, which indicate that they can eat meat ... " there were gasps from the other ponies "... but they also have premolars and molars, which indicates that they can eat vegetable material. My guess is that as long as his diet includes foods that meet his physiological needs, he shouldn't need to eat meat at all!"

There was a chorus of relieved sighs.

"I still don't understand why Rarity would want to take ahm ... " stumbled Rainbow Dash, as she froze in mid sentence.

Rarity and Karn had made their way back up the stairs from the lab - catching Rainbow Dash's attention in the process.

Rarity made the introduction. "My dears, I present to you the clean and highly presentable Karn of the clan Rolltagen! Ready, just in time, for the arrival of Princess Celestia!"

Karn's appearance was indeed greatly changed. His previously ruffled uniform was now neatly pressed, his boots shined, his hands and face clean, and he stood with a certain amount of pride. Gone was the long hair that he'd been living with for so many years. Gone also was the mustache he had likewise carried from one battlefield to another. His face, now clean shaven, showed his other facial features that had been heretofore hidden. A strong jaw line, a muscular neck, several scars that had long healed. The effect of his having been shorn also made him appear somewhat younger. He looked fresher - less like a 'ruffian' as Rarity had pointed out to him downstairs.

Fluttershy found herself noticing the strong lines of his face, that sweet smile he was showing presently. She followed his strong brow, down to his nose and those loving lips, across the few scars he bore on his cheek, down along his neck, along his broad shoulders and down to his chest. She longed to sit and quietly talk with him as she had done in the hospital. He seemed such a sweet creature.

"Karn!!! You look ... wow! That suits you, real well!" exclaimed Applejack.

Karn was apparently not quite so convinced. "You think so?" he asked as he ran his hand behind his neck, his memory expecting to find long strands of hair but finding nothing more than the tense trapezius across his lower neck and shoulders. "I feel very awkward with my hair having been removed. Rarity, you say this appearance sorts better with your culture?"

"Karn, my dear, I most certainly do."

Karn ran his hand through his shortened but well presented hair, managing a sigh of resignation. "Well then, I shall make the best possible effort to fit in and of course do my utmost to make a good presentation for Princess Celestia."

Rarity called out to them, right on cue. "Princess Celestia's here!"

The Princesses entry to the house was proceeded by several armed guards, the kind which Karn was all too familiar with. Following his friends' lead, he waited until the Princess arrived - and found himself astonished.

He could see at once why such a creature would be elevated to the nobility. She was graceful of course, radiant, she commanded a respect without having to utter a word, or give so much as a glance. Karn found himself momentarily transfixed by this vision of what he was certain was immortality. Noticing that his friends had bowed low to her, he immediately followed suit.

He crossed his right arm over his chest to cover his left breast with his hand, then lowering his left knee to the floor he bent his head fully with his chin resting on his chest. The act was actually one which an adept would use upon graduating from basic training and thus being allowed into the ranks. Given that there was no nobility in his part of the world, the gesture was the most fitting one he could come up with. It seemed the correct action to take, rather than to prostrate himself entirely onto the floor. Doing so would have felt like worship and he was sure that wasn't what this amazing Princess would've have wanted. He wasn't sure how he knew that, it just seemed ... fitting.

"Rise, Karn, you are amongst friends here," he commanded and he found himself eagerly obeying. The voice was gentle, there was a smile within it.

"Thank you, Majesty." he managed, as his other pony friends also rose back onto their four hooves.

"I hope you don't mind my intruding upon your first day around Ponyville, but given the circumstances I thought it would be prudent for me to meet you as soon as possible. I am sorry to hear you are not up for traveling."

"Well, Majesty, I am currently somewhat exhausted but I am glad to say that under the gentle care of your subjects," and he gestured to the other ponies, "my condition continues to improve!"

She smiled at him. "I am certain of that. Shall we sit and continue our introduction? Perhaps over some tea?"

"I'm alllllready on it!" cheered Pinkie Pie. It took little time for the table to be set, although Karn made do sitting on his footstool from earlier. It felt safer than a pony sized wooden chair.

"So how are you finding Ponyville? I hope my subjects have been understanding of your situation!"

"Well, Majesty, it takes all kinds. Some seem to be okay with my being here, others are afraid. I think most of them are just curious."

"Do they have reason to fear you, Karn?"

It was a question he was not expecting so soon. There was no hint of threat or maleficence in that question, just a genuine query about a creature she knew very little about.

"No, Majesty. I ... " he swallowed hard. "I'm what you would call an order adept. I tend to be reflexive when not actively engaged in battle. I am of course soldiery in attack. However, when not doing so, my reactions are geared solely towards defense. To that end, I have these ... reflexes."

"What manner of reflexes?"

"Majesty, adepts have generalized skills. Has Twilight written to you of what I've told her?" he asked. There was an affirmative nod from Princess Celestia. "So yes, we have generalized skills. Great strength, the ability to repair physical wounds very quickly, very fast reflexes. A very few adepts have particular abilities and this is what sets them apart. I was gifted with the ability to dilate or 'bend' time, and to shield myself very strongly against almost any threat. Perfecting these skills meant I rose to the rank of a Secondary Master Adept."

"A Secondary Master adept? Presumably there were also Primary Master Adepts from where you came?"

"Well ... yes Majesty. The skills they have are varied, and incredibly powerful. Some can teleport themselves under objects, through water and such. Some can even absorb energy directly from other adepts. It's difficult to describe, they can reach out and just ... draw the energy directly from them. This leaves the victim essentially immobile and well, that's the end for them. Still others have the power to ... " Karn stopped. He didn't think it appropriate to describe the acts he had seen in the fashion he had meant to describe. How could he - amongst such company?

"Karn ... " the Princess spoke softly. "It is okay. I understand it has been hard for you. But if you are to live with us here, for any length of time, I wish to be certain that it is safe to do so."

He nodded. "Majesty ... some Primary Master Adepts had powers of telekinesis that go beyond any that I would have. I have watched Master Adepts quite literally rip a human being to pieces. Just by using telekinesis. Just ... ripping them apart. Tearing off arms, the jaw, the legs, ripping open the stomach ... just ... eviscerating them while alive," he stammered. He shook his head, unable to continue.

"Karn, I want you to be absolutely honest with me. Do you possess the power to do these things?"

"No, Majesty. I'm a Secondary Master and that is as high as I could possibly rise. I was tested and tested thoroughly for primary abilities, but I had none. I can use telekinesis to move small objects or defend against blows from heavy objects, but nothing more."

"What offensive powers do you possess, beyond those you described to me earlier?"

"I can use energy I store to form blades of raw power from my hands. Again, this is something that I would use when going into battle, rather than finding myself startled."

The Princess sipped her tea a little more and thought upon his answers. "Karn, if you stayed here, do you - within yourself - feel like you would be a direct danger to the lives of any ponies or other creatures here?" She looked at him with these piercing eyes.

"No, Majesty, I cannot conceive of being a danger to anyone. As happened this morning, I suspect the most I would do is feel threatened, shield myself and flee. I've seen enough of the people of the town to realize they are not a threat - and in fact I feel they have saved my life."

A smile crossed the Princesses face. "I have heard of the dedicated care you received whilst recuperating, from one pony in particular".

Karn returned the smile. The subject was of course Fluttershy. "No doubt you refer to my guardian angel."

"Your guardian angel?" asked Princess Celestia.

"Majesty ... I have a brief recollection of arrival at Ponyville Hospital. I was already feeling feverish and quite ill. I was convinced that I was suffering from severe hallucinations, never having been around such magical ponies before," he admitted. There was a solemn nod on the part of Princess Celestia. Clearly she could understand his situation. "As the days progressed, my fever got increasingly worse and my physical pain started to become unbearable. I spent many nights tossing, turning, bolting awake and screaming. I kept reliving the horrors of where I'd come from. Majesty, I have no idea how long this went on for - night after night, day after day, just an unending train of nightmares, cold sweats, vomiting. She ... was always there. I thought she was a figment of my imagination. She would just ... be there. I remember the feeling of her cooling my fever with a damp cloth, her soothing voice. Then finally, there was that one night ... " he stopped and turned his vision back to focus on the center of the table.

"What happened on this particular night?"

"The nightmare. It was the worst I'd had to that point. It was so vivid, so fresh. I could smell the death, I could smell the blood, I could hear the screams, the crashes, the crackling of power being wielded for acts that ... were just unspeakable. When this horrific explosion of entropy struck me, I could feel my skin blistering, I could see it burning off, I could see my own flesh melting away. I remember screaming in the dream, then finding myself facing the hospital wall - just screaming and screaming."

His eyes still fixed upon the table, he took a moment to catch his breath before continuing.

"I remember laying back on my bed - just ... alone. It felt like I had nobody anymore, and nowhere to live. I wasn't sure if I was dead, or alive and in some kind of hell, or out of my mind. I felt so scared - abandoned. After so many days and nights of agony and night terrors, I just .... well, gave up. I wanted to die. I wanted to cease to exist. Well, that's when my guardian angel was at my side suddenly," he smiled. "There she was. I didn't know what she was, or if she was real, and at that point, I didn't care. She just ... gently wiped my face and neck. I didn't care that she wasn't real - or at least in my anguished mind, I assumed she wasn't. Then she offered me absolution. She told me she forgave me! Then she sang this most beautiful lullaby."

Silence ruled the room for a moment.

"She cradled me gently back off to sleep. And after that ... "

He turned back to face Princess Celestia, who was thoughtfully observing him. "That's when the nightmares stopped!"

"The terrors, nightmares, visions stopped? From that moment?"

"Yes!" laughed Karn. "I actually slept and got genuine rest that night! The next morning, I was given some more medication to help with my pain and fever and I was so terrified to sleep - I just didn't want to dream anymore. After struggling against it, I did finally doze off and ... I dreamt."

"What did you dream of?" asked the Princess.

"Of peace! That first dream after that evening ... I remember being in a field, with trees, green grass, clear skies. It was ... peaceful! Beautiful! I remember vividly looking around in my dream and there she was."

"Someone else was in your dream?"

"Indeed she was, Majesty," he stated. He turned to smile at Fluttershy. "Fluttershy was right there with me," he grinned. Fluttershy's eyes grew wide in astonishment. "She didn't say anything, she didn't do anything, she was ... well, just there. That was the pattern that followed after that. Sometimes, I didn't dream at all, or did so but not vividly. Any lucid dream I had, there she was."

He once again faced Princess Celestia.

"Princess, as Twilight has told you, I come from Alsovia, on a planet called Chronos IV. Alsovian society is ruled by clans. There are numerous clans spread through hill country and the lowlands. Most clans get along very well, but in times past there was widespread warfare between them. As time progressed and the desire to trade and we developed a desire to form a defense against outside aggressors, the clans slowly bonded together. Today, we are no longer at war with each other, but after our history we have certain customs. The highest of which, is the sharing of the cup. When one clan meets another, a cup of locally distilled drink, called 'whiskey', is shared between each senior clansman, each of whom takes a drink from the cup. It's a show of trust, a demonstration of friendship and good intentions. We are also renowned throughout many star systems for having ... long memories."

"Are you saying you hold lengthy grudges?" quizzed the Princess.

Karn rolled his eyes. "Oh yes. But, understand Princess, this happens when warranted. If you offend an Alsovian, the offence is remembered. Saying that, if you perform an act of kindness or give aid to an Alsovian, you will have enlisted that person in your service until they draw their last breath. We are a great and honorable people. We do not choose wars or fights, but if we are offered one, we will not turn from them. We are a generous people, we welcome strangers as long as they also partake of the sharing of the cup. The country is largely given to farming, either animal husbandry or horticulture. My own clan is famous for its wines, a drink I am told you do not have here. We live according to a code of honor and respect. Women need not fear to walk through our towns, doors are not locked. Transgressions are rare but harshly dealt with."

"Karn, if this is the society you came from, how did you end up being an adept, battling on foreign fields?"

"I was found at a young age to be possessed of such abilities. My parents were both order adepts and so from a young age I was taken away to commence my training. The basic training of an adept takes approximately thirty of your 'years', from what I've been able to determine from Twilight. Once that training is complete, you are posted to your combat unit and they send you were you are needed."

The Princess decided to press him on other subjects, curious about the day to day lives of these humans.

"Did you have time for celebrations and such where you grew up, Karn?"

Karn eased back on his footrest a little and smiled nostalgically. "Oh, yes, Majesty. At the end of each cycle, we would gather at the Chief's hall. There would be fine wines from our own vineyard, fine whiskey from neighboring clans. There would be music of course - sometimes martial, sometimes jovial and of course music to dance to. We would hold competitions too! Someone would grab a table and cordially demand a feigned slight on his honor be settled with arm wrestling! There was would wagering and the two would wrestle until finally the table itself upon which they rested would be shattered. Getting to their feet, they would embrace and the wagers from the match given to help with the upkeep of the farm. If one was lucky, one would obtain the honor of a dance from a lovely lady of the clan - perhaps of a neighboring clan! The revelry would pass through until dawn, when finally - exhausted from dancing, discussing all kinds of worldly subjects and signing, we would slowly work our way back to our homes to rest."

Karn stared off into the distance for a moment. "I miss it," he whispered, as he turned his vision to the pot of tea sitting on the table. The smile slowly faded from his face and he looked at once forlorn.

There was minute of silence as ponies sipped tea and Karn's eyes seemed intent on Twilight's tea pot.

Princess Celestia gently broke his distracted train of thought. "Karn, I think you mean well. I do not perceive you to be a threat to the ponies here, but I am going to have to ask you to be watched by one of the elements of harmony that you see here."

"... elements of harmony, Majesty?"

"Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. I am entrusting you to their care, to keep a close eye on you. I will be expecting my student Twilight to report to be regularly on how you are progressing. Please understand that I am not doing this out of a dislike for you - but because you are an unknown entity here. Until you are able to come to terms with your 'demons' as Twilight tells me you refer to them, I feel it is prudent for you to be watched."

Karn saw that such an action was pertinent. It made good, solid tactical sense. He could see why Twilight would make such a good student for a ruler such as this.

"I understand, Majesty. Thank you."

"There is one other item I was hoping to discuss with you before I leave. It involves this item that you arrived with."

Karn's heart froze. He could not recall having anything in his hands before his disembodiment. A long, wooden box was raised onto the table before him. He felt his skin crawl. Twilight slowly lifted the lid, and there before him was something he had hoped he would never have to see again. "Oh Jesus fucking Christ!" he spat and pushed back from the table.

"Karn, I'm sorry seeing this has obviously distressed you. This item arrived when you did ... "

"Fuck! ....... FUCK! "

"It's been kept under guard ever since."

" God DAMMIT!!! FUCK!"

".... Karn, calm down! We need you to calm down and get ahold of yourself!" Princess Celestia's voice was suddenly charged with command. It was a tone that even Karn's horror could not possibly argue with.

He slowly calmed himself down, slowing his breathing and releasing the tension in his hands. He just sat there, staring at the contents of the box - the object he'd somehow brought with him.

"Karn, I need you to try and relax and think clearly. We need to know what this is, so we can determine how best to ... "

"You need to destroy it. As soon as possible. It should be crushed, destroyed, buried and forgotten. Such a thing has no place here."

Twilight and Princess Celestia exchanged puzzled glances, before looking back at the shuddering form of Karn. He was glaring at the box with utter hatred.

"Karn ... please. Could you let us know what this is?"

"It's a model TM217 long range sniper rifle," he growled. "It's an energy weapon. It has an incredibly long range, it has a very flat trajectory, a good rate of fire and any adept can recharge it. The scope on the top is to help the soldier aim the thing. Its effective range to target really depends on your field on vision, and in extreme cases the curvature of whatever planet you are on. I refused to operate these things. I can only imagine it was blown next to me when I ... well."

"A 'sniper rifle'?" asked Twilight, gently. "Karn, what's a 'sniper'?"

"A sniper ... " and he breathed heavily, "sends death to you from a distance. A man would cross a path to get a canteen of coffee and the upper half of his body would just explode, showering all nearby with blood and bits of what was once a human being. These energy weapons were designed not just to kill, but to cause maximum carnage to reduce morale. It was fucking effective, alright. You never had any idea where it would come from. You could be talking to a friend one instant and then he would just be all over the trench. You often never saw the bastard that did it. I've watched a chaos adept use one of these to play with a victim. He caught a young soldier in the open, and just cut apart the ground around him, just making him scream in terror. Anyone who made a dash for him was mercilessly blown to pieces. In the end, the poor guy just had enough. He stood up, turned to face the direction the shots were coming from and just let himself be blown in half. Blew his waist and his legs clean off. It still took him ten seconds to die. He cried the whole time."

Karn glared at the rifle in the case.

He looked up at Princess Celestia. The anger, the regret, the disgust over this thing was there in his eyes. "Majesty, I implore you with whatever power, magic or tools you have at your disposal, destroy this evil thing. Destroy it completely, grind it into the soil and grow crops. Make haste to do so. Erase its existence from your world."

"Karn, than you for sharing that with us. I can see it was clearly difficult for you, but we thank you. I shall indeed dispose of it immediately."

The manner in which the Princess had destroyed the rifle was surprising. There had been an astonishingly powerful light - yet it emitted no heat. Shielding his eyes with his hands and grimacing, Karn had turned from the glare. Once the bright light faded, he turned back to find nothing more than a pile of smoldering ashes and small fragments of metal on the table where the rifle had once stood. It astonished him that whilst the weapon was now nothing more than a memory, the table upon which it had sat remained completely unscathed.

Setting aside that part of the visit, the rest of the afternoon's conversation had actually been convivial. Karn had asked a good many questions himself of how things worked in Equestria. He had finally twigged to the concept of "cutie marks". He had assumed they were just strange tattoos until it was pointed out to him that the design of each cutie mark related to the specific skill of the pony.

The Princess had left to return to Canterlot. Feeling somewhat stretched out by what had happened, he had asked Spike where a convenient nearby spot to sit in peace would be, to be alone with his thoughts.

It was thus that he found himself - with Twilight's permission - perched on a branch just outside the same window he'd been so entranced with earlier. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Spike and Pinkie Pie were back inside the house. Karn sat on the branch of the tree growing inexplicably out of the side of Twilight's abode, and tried to be at peace with his thoughts. A slight rustle at the window caught his ear.

Turning, he found himself looking upon his guardian angel. "I hope you don't mind my intruding? I'd understand if you would rather be alone."

He observed her for a moment. "No, Fluttershy - it's fine. I would appreciate your company. Thank you," he smiled. She wriggled her way through the window and sat next to him on the bough. "I'm sorry I'm not very talkative presently, Fluttershy. I just had a lot on my mind."

"I'm sorry that everything has been so hard for you today," whispered Fluttershy. "Is there anything at all I could do to help you feel more relaxed?"

"It's okay, Fluttershy. You don't need to apologize, you didn't do anything wrong", he grinned. "It's thanks to you that I'm here at all, remember?" His smile broadened.

Author's Note

I've found music to be deeply inspiring here. The earlier portions of the chapter were written with the astounding Messiah by G. F. Handel playing in my ears.

I am tired and heading to bed.

2017-03-30 POST EDIT:
I had to virtually bulldoze a lot of the sloppiness from THIS one. I've left enough of a hint of the attraction between between Fluttershy and Karn, but without the cringeworthy rubbish that I had there previously.

Numerous small grammatical fixes, especially to dialog.