Sorry about the wait. I had a field op. And writer's block. And I got drunk a few too many nights... You know what, I'm just all fucked up. Here's more words and shit.

"Now, when she says 'surprise party'..."

"When you least expect it. Yup."

Nick rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted was a social event. He wasn't good around people...or ponies. Nick held the clinic door open for Petal Drops, then followed her in.

"Petal Drops?" It was Nurse Redheart. Petal Drops walked over to the small office window.

"Yes?"

"Lemon Brittle is awake. I can't speak for the well-being of her mind, however. And our clinic is not suited towards her problem. I can't help her. However, I believe the unicorn at the library may be able to help. I believe her name is Twilight Sparkle."

Petal looked towards Lemon's room. "Is she ok, though?"

"Oh, yes. Physically, there are no issues. Mentally, she's a mess. She won't talk, she stares into space. I've never seen anything like it."

"As fascinating as this line of conversation is, can we hurry up and go?"

The two ponies glanced at the disgruntled human. Nurse Redheart was the first to speak. "Yes, just let me grab a wheelchair and some sleeping medication."

"Nope." Nick walked toward the open door.

"Nicholas, where are you going?" cried Petal Drops trotting after him.

"This is taking too long, I got it." He said, hafting the catatonic white filly over his shoulder. He strode towards the exit, stopping only long enough to take the pills from the wide-eyed nurse.

"Thanks."

"Yes...well..." Nurse Redheart hesitated, then resignedly returned to the small office.

Nick whistled sharply. "Let's go, ya little blue headache."

"Glad you're warming up to me!" Grinning, Petal drops followed him out the door and into the sunlight.

XXX

"So she lives in a hollowed out tree..." He turned his eyes to the tree with windows a few hundred meters away.

"Yup."

"So I guess we just say 'fuck you' to the laws of physics and structural integrity, right?"

More confusion appeared on the blue filly's face. "I don't even know what those are!"

"I'll give you a crash course on them, someday."

"Is everyone like you from your world?"

"Is everyone like you in this one? No? Good, question answered. Besides, I'm just a little off because I've been thrown into a land occupied by colored ponies. Believe it or not, that wasn't on my to-do list for that particular evening."

"So, what was?"

"I'd...have taken a shower, and...gone to sleep...I guess..."

She looked at him strangely. "Well...You could do that here in Ponyville. I mean, it's not like you missed anything life-changing, right?"

"You're missing the point. What if you had been ripped away from your home, and tossed into a strange, alien place? Just because you didn't have any pressing issues at the time doesn't make it any easier. Especially not when you're the only one of your kind here."

Petal Drops smiled sadly. "At least you have friends here. It could be worse. You could be alone."

Nick stopped walking and looked at the smiling pony standing beside him. "...You consider yourself my friend?"

"Yeah. I do."

In spite of his situation, his misanthropy, and his generally shitty personality...Nick smiled. "Huh. Imagine that." he said softly.

"My goodness!" The pony and man turned around at the outburst.

A pristine white unicorn with a perfectly coifed main and tail stared wide-eyed at Nick. She trotted around Nicholas, taking in the design of his clothing. She spoke again, in her impeccable mid-Atlantic accent.

"Who designed this? I simply MUST know!" She gently stroked his suit jacket as her eyes shone with desire.

"Er...Brioni. Why?"

"I've never seen anything quite like it! The cut, the material; truly Haute Coutour at it's finest! You simply MUST introduce me to this 'Brioni' gentlecolt. Clearly, he knows the finer parts of stitchwork and design."

She paused briefly at the realization that she was speaking to a guest in Ponyville

"Oh! Where are my manners? I am Rarity; fashionista extraordinaire! And you, good sir, have excellent taste..Except for this. What is this hideous thing?" Rarity prodded at his handgun with a hoof. Nick gently nudged her hoof away from his sidearm.

"That, in my opinion, is the true work of art I carry on my person."

"So, what is it?" asked Petal Drops. "I mean, you take it everywhere, but I'd never really asked you about it."

"That'd be the moneymaker." He said grimly. Petal Drops rolled her eyes, understanding that she'd receive no further information about the mysterious item. Rarity, however maintained a thoroughly confused expression.

"Yes...Well...What does it do?"

"Trust me, miss. Now's not a good time. Come find me later."

"I see..." Her face lit up "I know! You could come by my boutique later. You can hardly miss it, it's the fashion center of Ponyville!"

"Fair enough, now if you'll excuse me, I need to get this little pony to Twilight Sparkle's library" He said, gesturing with his head at the placid filly on his shoulder.

"Goodness. Is she alright?"

"That's why we're going to the library. For...research...or something." he shrugged indifferently.

"Oh, well. I'm sorry I've kept you, then. Goodbye then, mister..."

"Nicholas."

"Mister Nicholas. How exotic. Well, I await your presence at the boutique! Ta-ta!" With that, she trotted off towards a cylindrical building further down the square. Nicholas watched her go.

"She seems..."

"Nice?" Petal drops ventured.

"...high maintenance..."

Petal laughed heartily at his appraisal. "Ha ha! Good call! Come on, let's get going."

XXX

A short series of knocks echoed throw the hollow tree. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." A stout purple dragon toddled towards the door. He threw the door open. A tall creature stood alongside a blue filly. A white pony with a yellow mane lay across the creatures left shoulder. Spike stared in silenced disbelief.

"...Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"...I'm pretty sure it's for you..."

A sigh came from the upstairs. The sound of a wood chair sliding across the floor was heard. Hoofsteps came down the stairs. Twilight's eyes bulged at the sight of the 6 foot giant standing in the doorway.

"Uh...come in..."

Nicholas stepped into the library, gazing at the masses of books lining the shelves. He heard Petal Drops introducing herself, and running Twilight through the story so far. After setting Lemon Brittle down on a couch, he began to peruse the books.

"...and she's been non-responsive ever since?"

"Yeah, she won't talk. Won't eat. It's really got me worried."

Twilight thought for a moment. "Spike, can you pull out 'Anthology of Mental Conditions and Disorders' for me?"

Spike climbed up the wheeled ladder, reaching over to a thick, red backed volume. He pulled it out, and began his descent down the ladder. He set the tome on a table. Twilight walked over to it, checking the symptoms catalogue for a relative match. Every now and then, she glanced at the bipedal creature. Finally, she spoke.

"So, what are you?"

"Isn't that the question of the day... I'm a human."

"In all my studies, I've never heard of a human. Where do you come from?"

He glanced over his shoulder. "A city called Houston. I promise you've never heard of it."

"No. I haven't. How did you get here?"

Nicholas paused.

"I...died... Apparently, God fucked up my ticket to hell, and sent me here instead." He shrugged.
"Shit's weak."

"You DIED? How?"

"Somebody was quicker on the draw than me. I always knew it would happen someday."

Petal Drops tapped her hoof against her chin. "What's 'the draw'?"

Nicholas slid his Infinity from it's holster, glancing at the safety before holding it at his side. Instantly, the firearm was up, sighted in on the blue filly. "This is 'the draw'. This thing will end your fucking life should I so decide." Petal staggered back in fear, and Twilight's eyes were wide open.

"Relax. I have no desire for such an outcome." Gracefully, he reholstered the side arm. Petal Drops expression changed from one of fear to anger. "So that's what that is? A weapon? I'd like to hear about your life before Equestria."

"No." His expression was blank

"I didn't ask, Nick. I'm telling you." She glared daggers at him.

A thin smile formed on his lips "Is that right? Fine. Pardon me for giving you the condensed version, though." He took a seat on the couch next to the supine white filly. He took a deep breath. "I used to kill people for money. Somebody had a grudge, but didn't want to get their hands dirty. So they came to me. And I always delivered."

Petal Drops face fell. "How could you do that? And for money? So you're just a murder, then?"

"Essentially, yes." He glanced at the crestfallen pony and laughed. "What? Ha ha! You thought I was a good person? NOPE! Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart. I'm as bad as they come."

"Why?" Twilight had found her voice at last. "Why would you do that? There has to be a...better way! Why would you take a life so casually?"

"Why not? I have nothing but contempt for my kind. Committing atrocities in the name of bettering the lives of others? Murdering people who disagree with your point of view? And if you weren't doing either of those, enabling the people who were? Fuck it. All I need is my paycheck."

Petal Drops walked slowly over to the couch and sat next to Nicholas. "But, you're no better than they are." She said softly. A look of rage captured the humans face.

"Who are you to judge?" He asked, his voice dripping with contempt. "All I see here is happiness and sugar-coated glee. Nothing bad, nothing evil. Who the fuck do you think you are, coming from your 'perfect' world, to tell me how to live in my imperfect one? Go step on a combat patrol through Var Dishu, where we protect the natives who kill us, and tell me that I'm part of the problem."

Nicholas stood up and strode to the window. He looked out at the town. Nothing but bright colors and candy. No strife, no anger. Just...forced glee. "You sit here in your ignorance and your ignorant bliss. I know there's evil out there. And in a dark corner of your mind, you do too. But here you sit, content to judge me, instead of helping those who need help. Instead of stopping the oppressors you refuse to acknowledge."

He turned to face the two ponies, a sneer on his face. "I'd rather be strong, than a slave to the strong. All I need, should the situation arise, is myself. I'd rather live alone, than die next to impotent allies."

His mind flashed to his wife's face, his son's face. Superimposed on a metal slab in a dark room. Slowly, and with a startling finality, covered with a sheet. *FLASH* Lance Corporal Dawson's face, covered with blood. The smell of smoke and seared flesh in the air. *FLASH* His father's face, ashen, in it's casket. His quivering hand grasping the corpse's. *FLASH* A bottle of whiskey on a table in front of him, and a pistol in his right hand. Tears running down his cheeks. *FLASH* Finally, back in a library in a cheery land...Far from his home...Just as alone as he'd always been.

Finally, he turned around. "I'd rather be secure, than befriended. Am I happy with my decisions? No. Can I change them? No. Would I change them?" A long pause seized the room.

"...I don't know. What I do know is this. There is a little pony laying on your sofa, who needs your help. I'm here for her. I don't know how much that is worth in the grand scheme of things, but I am. So please, Twilight Sparkle...Please, Petal Drops...Help me help her." A stillness enveloped the room.

Finally, Twilight Sparkle nodded her head almost imperceptibly. He felt a grip around his thighs. Petal Drops had him in a hug, tears in her eyes. She looked up at him. "But you don't have to be alone! I don't care about your past! You've proven that you have a heart, that you aren't just out for yourself. Let your friends help you."

He sighed heavily. He reached down and picked up the blue unicorn, holding her in a hug. "Someday, you might understand...But I hope you never do." He set her down, and walked back to the couch. Twilight and Petal Drops tentatively walked over to him. Twilight spoke first.

"If you need to talk...I'm here. I may not always understand what you mean, but I'm here."

"And I will be here for as long as you need me. Lemon Brittle too." She glanced at her friend sadly and sighed. "You can't change the past, but there's always a future that you can run towards. And tomorrow is always brighter than yesterday." She smiled at him.

He rubbed her mane absent-mindedly. "Then I guess I'll keep looking." He glanced at the white pony laying next to him. "But for now, I have a friend who needs my help. Come on, guys. Let's get started."