The Man and The Moon

"Do you miss them?" Her question seemed to come out of nowhere, I never expected this timid mare to ask that question, but did I...?

"No, I don't." She stops tracing the brand and covers it with her surprisingly gentle and soft hoof.

"Then why do you look so sad?"

"It's not them I miss." She tilts her head concern filling her eyes, as she feels my heart beat increase, she looks into mine for a few seconds before putting on a smile.

"You don't have to tell me, Edward, I just want to help you be happy."

"It's not the other humans I miss. Well. Maybe a couple, but..." Sighing I pat her head and scratch under her chin, hoping that they like that here. "What I miss Fluttershy, is my life."

"What do you mean...?" Flashing her a smile, I ruffle her mane one last time before resting back on my hand.

"I'll tell you after we eat."

"A-alright." Pinkie exits the kitchen with our order and pauses as she looks over the two of us.

"Oh! Are we taking turns feeling his brand? Is it poofy, squishy, Oh! I know! It's soooooft. Right?!"

"Pinkie... Edward and I are having a serious talk, and I'd prefer it if it was just him and I for the time being." Blinking rapidly she realizes that Fluttershy is in one of her rare stubborn helping-a-friend moods.

"Oooooh, Okie dokie lokie!" She sets down our order before disappearing into the kitchen.

"You didn't have to send her away, you know."

"If she stayed we wouldn't have been able to eat." I watch her casually eat her Sunday, it's clear that she wants to eat it as fast as possible so she can hear about what it is that I miss about my world. She was quiet but it was obvious she wanted to help me in any way she could. 'Why are these ponies so nice to me when the rest don't even want me in the same town? What could they possibly gain from helping me adjust or being courteous to me? Perhaps I'm just thinking like a human... Some ponies show human traits, yes, but these seven. They've been nothing but kind and accepting towards me. They were actively trying to be friends with me.

"Do you really want to know what I miss Fluttershy?" She stops eating for a second, before glancing at me.

"Will you tell me if I say yes?"

"Yes."

"Then yes."

"Well, common then, let's go somewhere."

"Where?"

"I dunno. Is there a place close by that no one really goes to?"

"Yeah, right this way." Leaving our sugary goodness at the shop, I follow as Fluttershy leads me towards the place she had in mind, and as it came into view, I was, looking at a hut, it was surrounded by various animals that flocked to Fluttershy.

"Where are we..?"

"Oh, Edward, this is my home. You said a place where no pony really goes to and well, only our friends really visit so we'll have plenty of privacy."

"Makes sense." She leads me inside and sits me down before producing tea and sandwiches and sitting down herself.

"You can speak freely here. Let everything out." Taking a deep breath I collect my thoughts and try to think about the best way of explaining it.

"Like I said Fluttershy, I only miss a couple of people from over there. Other than that, I don't miss anything. Where I come from, it's constant war, constant pain, losing everything that makes you, you because the higher-ups decided that you might be good at backstabbing. You can't even marry or have... Relations with anyone else without government permission. I don't miss it one bit."

"Then what made you upset?"

"Because. I was seeing what my life could have been. Instead of a battle-hardened solder craving confrontation for honor or a blade in the shadows, I could've had a peaceful, happy life, with friends, family."

"You don't have a family, back home?"

"They disowned me when my occupation got changed."

"Why would they do that?"

"Forced occupation change or not, if it doesn't bring the family honor, they don't want you."

"What about your friends?"

"Dead."

"Lover...?"

"Never had one."

"O-oh... I'm so very sorry, Edward, about your past I mean. But you're here now, and you have eight friends already, all of whom, will not rest until they see you smiling."

"Thank you, Fluttershy." Patting her, I yawn. "gonna have to thank Twilight for setting this up."

"Wait, you knew?"

"Not until now." She goes to speak but stops as she seeing me yawn a second time.

"Are you tired?"

"Yeah, I kinda skipped sleep last night."

"Why would you do that?"

"Just did, I was thinking about things all night."

"Like the things we talked about?"

"That and some more, but I need to get going so I can rest up." Standing I look at the gentle mare before petting her head and turning to leave, only stopping when I feel her tug on my jacket.

"Y-you don't have to leave, I mean I don't know how long humans can go without sleep, so I don't want to take the chance of you collapsing on the way back to the castle." She looked almost apologetic as if she felt like she was over-stepping some kind of boundary by asking me to stay for my well being taking to the air she meets my eyes. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened, Edward so please stay here until you've rested." Focusing more on my eyes she plants a hoof on my chest. "You look so tired, I bet you haven't slept in days. Please, Edward, stay and rest here." I look into her eyes for what feels like minutes, I can see a deep and true concern for my well being, she was really pushing for me to stay to the point of resembling begging.

"Would me staying really make you feel at ease?"

"Yes."

"Alright, then." I remove my jacket and drape it over one of the chairs as I lay down on the surprisingly comfortable couch and look up at her as I almost instantly start dozing off, it isn't long before my world fades to black.

--->Twilight<---

"I wonder how long those two will be gone for, it's been three hours."

"You're the one who set it up, Twilight."

"I know Spike, but it usually only takes about a half hour to resolve these issues."

"Then why don't you check on them. They might've gone to Fluttershy's hut."

"Hmmm... I suppose that's an option. Okay! I'll go visit. Wait how would you know if they went to her hut?"

"Dragon's intuition."

"Oh, right." Trotting out I'm glad I left closer to noon, and not night where I have to teleport home. 'Oh, right. Teleporting is a thing I can do.' With a flash, I'm outside her hut, giving it a knock I hear Fluttershy speak softer than usual.

"Come in." Entering I'm taken slightly aback by the sight I'm greeted with, Edward sleeping on a couch with Fluttershy sitting by him, brushing his hair out of his face. "Oh, Twilight, come to check in?"

"Yeah... How'd things go?"

"Hmmm... Good. He says thank you, by the way?"

"For what?"

"Setting this up."

"You told him?"

"He figured it out."

"O-oh..."

"He looks so peaceful when he's sleeping, doesn't he? You'd never think there was something wrong if you judged off of how he looks now."

"Yeah, he does... So, were you able to find out what was wrong with him?"

"He told me a little bit, but not everything." I watch as the human sleeps, his mouth slightly open, the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he breathes, she was right, he does look peaceful almost like he's a completely different pony, or person, as he'd call it. A soft groan escapes his mouth as his body twitches a little. "Aw, he's dreaming."

"Wonder what it's about."

"Luna will know, you asked her to visit him, didn't you?"

"That was last night Fluttershy."

"He didn't sleep last night. So maybe she'll visit him now."

"It's possible. So how long has he been out?"

"About an hour, I didn't exactly let him leave."

"Why?"

"The poor dear looked exhausted and I didn't want to risk him collapsing on the way back to the castle. Fell asleep the moment he laid down. Oh! Would you like some tea I have Ginseng?"

"Sure." as she leaves to go get a fresh pot of tea I turn my gaze back to Edward, his breathing has picked up and a sweat appeared on his furrowed brow, he looked distressed, almost as if his dream turned into a nightmare.

--->Edward<---

"Just shut up and get the hell out of here!" I scream at them as I stand there on a bridge facing a sea of people ready for blood. However reluctant they were they fled at my command, leaving me alone to cover their retreat it wasn't long before they disappeared into the woods. Time felt like it slowed down as I waited for one of the attackers to make the first move, the heavy rain was deafening as it struck my coat and the rushing waters of the river below us, I could count them, 10, 20, 45 people in total and they all wanted me dead. My senses we all on high alert, I felt every drop of rain, I saw every puff of breath that escaped their mouth then everything sprung back to life as one of them rushed forward, meeting their speed we meet in the center as time once again goes to a crawl, his every movement laid out in front of me going from his hip to do an upwards diagonal slash, I duck dodging to the side he swung with, I quickly lift mine up and slash his throat before grabbing his weapon and tossing him off the bridge. Keeping with the momentum I go towards the next combatant, I dodge a downwards slash with a quick-step and a half spin stabbing him in the back with his comrade's sword while blocking another with my own, with a mighty head but I make the man stagger before removing the blade from the deadman's back in the same motion sweeping his leg with it and sinking mine into his chest, taking his I throw it into the crowd I stand to take the next combatant until I hear a scream from the woods behind me, turning I see the face of my friend decayed, but reconizable, his ashen hair barely on his head, only one eye in his sucken half face, half skull, the redness of his iris rests a demonic glow, his jaw cracks as he speaks.

"You failed, Edward. The Raven failed to protect his dear friend." I go to react but I'm met with a slash to my back as I'm thrown from the bridge. Floating down the river the forty-two men remaining charge past the bridge where he ran and leaves me with one statement. "You let me die." Jumping to a sitting possition I call out his name.

"Anderson!" panting I look around and realize I'm still in Fluttershy's hut with two startled mares, covering my mouth I stand only to be guided back down by Fluttershy.

"Edward, are you alright? Who's Anderson." Looking at the mare with tears streaming down my face.

"My friend. I-I couldn't. H-he." She covers my mouth with a hoof before shushing me in an attempt to calm me.

"Shhh Edward, shhh, everything's fine we're here. Everything is fine." She holds me in a warm embrace, her fur getting matted with my tears as she rubs my back and holds me. "You're going to be alright. Just, sit here and I'll get you a glass of water." She flies off, leaving me to get the drink. Catching my thoughts I look over to the still shocked Twilight, putting on a front I address her.

"Sorry, for startling you like that Twilight. I don't know what came over me."