"I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."- Ayn Rand

On her trip to Carousel boutique, neither Rarity nor X-ray exchanged any dialogue. The albino mare didn't know why, but for some reason she felt like a ghost was haunting her (not because X-ray was cloaked) and ready to strike despite X-ray's unusual lack of interest in combat.

Rarity suddenly felt X-rays footsteps mute, causing the white unicorn to get even more nervous. With a gulp she nervously whispered; "X-ray...."

"Yes?" answered the scrawny counter terrorist's mechanical voice.

"I was just checking to see if you were still following me."

"You're heart rate is going up at unhealthy speeds." noted the cloaked rifleman.

"Is it now?" questioned Rarity with a fake nervous voice.

"Not to mention, your vitals state that you seem to have a splitting headache and the electromagnetic pulses stored within your horn seem to have dissipated."

Rarity gulped . "Forgive me darling, but I'm just really nervous, I feel like you're going to murder me any moment."

"Well the 23rd is meant to scare enemies not only with it's noticeable sadism, but with paranoia as well."

"But I'm not an enemy, right?"

"Of course not."

Rarity suddenly remembered something terribly important. "X-ray dear, where is your drone? It seemed to have disappeared the moment we entered town."

"I cloaked the drone and directed it to the centre of Ponyville. It's keeping watch for anything suspicious." answered the invisible rifleman.

'In other words, he's spying on us.' thought the albino unicorn.

Finally, Rarity found herself in front of her home. The unicorn found some of her magic return, she slowly opened the door with telekinesis before turning to (hopefully) face the cloaked X-ray.

"Um, X-ray. I hope this won't be a problem but-"

"You have a little sister inside, I know that."

"How did-"

"Combination of Magnetic vision and motion trackers. Anyway, I don't think it would be such a great idea for me to get close with Sweetie Bell considering my controversial profession. Plus, I hate children."

"Don't worry, Sweetie Bell is a very mature filly, as long as you steer the conversation away from war, she'll be alright."

Rarity opened the door and trotted in. The cloaked X-ray closed the door behind her, causing the unicorn to flinch..

Suddenly, an adorable white unicorn filly, with a pink mane and green eyes quickly galloped to her older sister and embraced her.

"Oh, my gosh Rarity!" cheered the filly. "Can you believe it, aliens are real! They're kind of scary. But they're so cool. I can't wait to learn about them!"

Rarity swallowed hard. "Sweetie Bell, I need you to be at your best behavior tonight. We have a certain guest-"

"Is it somepony famous?"

"Our guest isn't a pony."

"Oh, is it a Zebra then like Zecora?" asked the young filly.

"Try, two legs, hooded, masked and without a muzzle." said a quiet mechanical voice.

The filly's eyes opened and she turned around to face a bi-pedal, non animated, masked soldier. The filly put two and two together before she screamed in excitement.

"OH MY GOSH, YOU'RE ONE OF THE ALIENS. Ow, my head hurts. AND YOU'RE SLEEPING OVER. I keep hearing things. THIS IS SO COOL. Rarity, my head won't stop pounding."

The thin soldier raised an eyebrow. Something told him his appearance alone equaled a concussion grenade to a pony.

Rarity trotted to her sister. "Oh, you poor thing. I'll get you some painkillers right away."

The albino unicorn rushed to a medical closet, hurriedly levitated a casket of medication and galloped straight to her sister, only to find that she was already being administered painkillers by X-ray.

The counter terrorist looked up at Rarity.

"Relax, I've already taken care of it." X-ray looked down at Sweetie Bell. "Are you feeling okay? My HUD reads that all mental trauma should dissipate within an hour."

The filly finished the last of her water. "I'm good. Thank you Mr. Alien."

"Call me X-ray."

Rarity put the basket down. "X-ray what are you thinking? Your medication surely only applies to humans, does it not? Who knows what effects it could have on Sweetie Bell."

The commando sighed. "Relax, these painkillers work fine on equestrians, canines, and avians in addition to primates."

The fashionista rolled her eyes. "Anyway, X-ray, your room is upstairs. I'll get started on you're room-"

"Don't worry, I'll handle it." nodded X-ray. Rarity was about to protest until Sweetie Bell spoke up.

"Yeah! Mr. X-ray is only trying to be a gentlecolt. Besides, I'm kind of hungry. Can you please make dinner?"

Sweetie Bell gave her sister those puppy eyes nopony could resist. Rarity grinned and started to trot into the kitchen to prepare dinner while X-ray tapped a series of commands on his tablet.

To Sweetie Bell's shock, suddenly, a light blue hologram emitted from X-ray's device. It was big enough to encompass a quarter of the room.

"Rarity, look at this! It's so cool!" cheered the unicorn feel.

Rarity placed down the ingredients of her salad and trotted back to the living room. The elder mare's mouth dropped the moment she saw what was a diaphragm of the overview of town.

"What is that?" asked the fashionista.

"It's a hologram, your species is too primitive for me to explain it properly. But in essence, it's an interactive projection."

"Whoa, how can you see all of town?" asked the curious Sweetie Bell.

"Let's just say I have a hovering robot stationed at the centre of town that has a camera that's over looking this settlement. The camera is wirelessly connected to my tablet and is streaming the footage back at me. I would explain what streaming and wireless means, but again, your species is too primitive." explained X-ray.

The filly was too invested in the hologram to pay attention to what X-ray said. "Can you see what's happening inside of houses?"

X-ray nodded. Using voice commands; "Drone switch to magnetic vision.".

Suddenly the hologram changed from relaying physical images to views of magnetic signatures. Silhouettes of ponies inside their dwellings were visible. Unicorns, who had more electromagnetic energy in them, were the most noticeable.

Rarity shook her head. "X-ray, this is spying!"

X-ray shifted his gaze to the elder mare. "Protocol dictates that in the event a unit enters an unfamiliar settlement, they must have a means of surveillance to make sure that no plots or heinous acts are going to be committed against them. This is my way of making sure that no unwanted individuals are entering town with villainous thoughts in mind whether you like it or not. Besides, I'm just doing a security check, I have no interest in the private lives of ponies."

Rarity and Sweetie Bell observed the slender commando use mesmerizing hand motions to control the hologram. The way the device operated was completely alien to the two equines.

The hologram shifted it's perspective to face a projection of Twilight's library. Sure enough, a Scarecrow was with the alicorn, reading a book apparently. X-ray turned the hologram to face Sugarcube Corner, zoomed in and saw Overwatch secure as well. Finally, the scrawny commando rotated the hologram again, and zoomed in to Sweet Apple Acres. Scorch was alright and with Applejack's family.

"Hey, Mr. X-ray, can you look at us with that holo-thingy?" asked Sweetie Bell.

X-ray simply zoomed out to once again face an overview of the town, located Carousel Boutique and zoomed in to show a picture of X-ray looking at a hologram of X-ray looking at a hologram of X-ray (paradox).

The commando zoomed out and used neural controls on his HUD to shut off the projection.

Rarity was stunned. "My dear, Twilight would have killed to seen that. She would immediately have wanted to start replicating that technology right away."

X-ray simply shook his head. "No offense, but that technology would require the use of fingers to properly use. Holograms and other motion or touch related devices need to be precise."

X-ray gave his gloved fingers a twirl much to Sweetie Bell's pleasure. Rarity got back to preparing food and X-ray headed upstairs. Sweetie Bell went to finish her homework.

The commando opened the door of the guest bedroom and found it a mess with pony mannequins and fabric littered everywhere. On the couch laid a small white cat. A persian cat like the ones on Earth although this one was animated and much more diminutive.

X-ray walked up to the feline known as Opalescence. The cat opened her eyes gently and gave a hiss. This didn't stop the commando for going in and giving it a pet on the head.

"You know, my friend Scarecrow has a cat like you back on Pewter City. Except it's a boy and not animated like you."

The cat fumed at the commando who interrupted her beauty sleep and raised her claws. X-ray was unmoved. The feline jumped at the counter terrorist to attack soldier with fury swipes, but the attack was not very effective as the cat merely struck X-ray's barrier. The amount of force inflicted was enough to shatter Opalescence's claws.

The cat looked at her shattered nails before crying pain. The feline cried and scurried out of the room.

After cracking his knuckles, the commando got to work. He used magnetic vision to find a series of cleaning aids stored in a closet to his right.

X-ray searched the databanks on his HUD and noted how the cans of the cleaning agents bore an uncanny resemblance to those being sold in the mid 20th century. Appearances aside, the formula used to make floor polish also matched formulas used in the 20th century as well.

Then X-ray turned around to face the clothes on the mannequins. Some of the garments resembled those worn by nobles of the renaissance while others resembled 19th century suits. Casual clothing of the 21st had yet to be seen.

'They're evolving like humans...selectively.' thought X-ray.

Once diplomacy was over and contact with the federation was restored, the entire UTF was going to solve the mystery of this planet once and for all. For now, the commando had a room to arrange.

After 10 minutes, X-ray had arranged his room. Not only were the mannequins and fabric disposed of properly, but he mopped the floor spotless.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes!" shouted Rarity from below.

The commando laid down his carbine, his knife, explosives, magazines, tablet and wrist computer neatly. X-ray proceeded to take off his bullet proof vest and all other forms of armor padding as well. He didn't worry about somepony taking away his equipment since it was too heavy for even a human to carry without magnetic attachments.

X-ray headed down to the kitchen, his side arm still with him, to see Rarity and Sweetie Bell feasting. Rarity took note of the reduced armor and equipped materials on him.

Rarity paused a bit before muttering. "Forgive me X-ray, I don't know what humans eat so I'm afraid-"

"Relax, I don't need to eat anyway. My drugs won't wear off for another few days." interrupted the masked soldier. "All I need is water."

Rarity offered X-ray a pitcher of water. The commando slipped the pitcher under his bandanna and proceeded to drink the animated water. It tasted like water, it felt like water, and it was H20. Yet the appearance of the liquid belonged to that of a cartoon. Not only that was absurd, but the fact that the water wasn't filling.

Rarity knew X-ray was lost in thought underneath his mask. "Is there something troubling you, X-ray?"

X-ray looked up at the sisters. "It might sound ridiculous, but this water isn't exactly filling. Felt like I just drank half a pitcher. I'm not even that thirsty."

Rarity raised an eyebrow and levitated another pitcher to X-ray. What the commando drunk just have quenched the thirst of an average pony.

X-ray slipped the refilled pitcher under his bandanna and drank. Now it felt like he had drunken a pitcher.

Sweetie Bell, mouth fool of salad asked. "So Mr. X-ray, why do you look so funny? You look so rough and way less colorful. And why does my head hurt every time I look at you?"

X-ray gave a small chuckle. "Oh, I'm the one that looks funny? Not the animated unicorn that looks like a character from a little girl's show?"

Sweetie Bell knitted her eyebrows. "What do you mean? "

"I don't know how to explain this to you, but everything outside Epona looks...non cartoony like me. Life isn't as colorful nor is the appearances of everything so exact." explained the masked soldier.

Rarity took notice of her sister looking at her for an explanation. "Sorry Sweetie, but I don't even know what X-ray means by that." The filly gave a sigh off annoyance.

After eating for 2 minutes, Sweetie Bell perked up. "So, how did you and your friends come to Equestria Mr. X-ray?"

Long story short, Rarity and X-ray spent the next half hour explaining Shadow's predicaments in Epona before arrival to Ponyville. This encouraged Sweetie Bell to start asking a train of questions.

"So Mr. X-ray, where are you from?"

"Born on Auraxis, raised on Requiem."

"What city did you live on?"

"That's classified."

"How old are you?"

"24."

"When were you born?"

"That's classified."

"Is X-ray your real name?"

"No."

"Can you tell me your real name?"

"That's classified."

"How many planets have you visited before?"

"That's classified."

"Can you show me how your guns work again."

"No."

"Can I use your hologram or tablet thingy?"

"No. It has classified information on it."

"Can you tell me how your suit or technology works?"

"Your species is too primitive to provide an explanation."

Sweetie Bell gave her sad look again. "Can you please tell me something about you?"

X-ray rolled his eyes underneath his shades. "Do you have any questions on humanity?"

Rarity placed a hoof on her little sister's mouth. "Sweetie Bell, it's still a school day, it's almost 9. Have you finished your homework?"

Before Sweetie Bell could respond. "Ponies still have homework?" asked X-ray.

"Well of course we have homework!" beamed Rarity.

"How regressive. School work should be done in school and work at home gets in the way of our personal ambitions and self studies." stated X-ray.

"That's absurd." countered Rarity.

"Says the species that believed in magic."

Sweetie Bell spoke up before the argument continued. "Well, I did most of it. But there are two questions I can't figure out-"

"What exactly is your homework about?" asked X-ray.

"Oh, it's math." sighed the filly.

X-ray got up from the table. "Tell you what, I'll help Rarity with the dishes and help you figure those problems out." Overwatch was the best mathematician he knew, but X-ray was adept in all fields nonetheless.

Rarity smiled at X-ray's generosity. "No need darling. I'll clean the dishes. You help my sister right away."

Sweetie Bell directed X-ray to her room. The filly's room resembled that of any generic girl's dwelling between the ages of 6-11. X-ray noted the furniture and dolls resembling those of the 20th century despite Sweetie Bell's booking being akin to something in the 17th century.

What Sweetie Bell was learning was just simple long division. X-ray wasn't going to question fillies and colts learning math. Any sentient species should naturally be adept in number crunching and the discovery of multiplication and addition, etc. should be inevitable.

"Alright, I'm going to show you how long division works." instructed X-ray.

The rifleman picked up (to his bewilderment) a pencil form the 21st century and began writing down. Sweetie Bell's eyes widened at X-ray's hand motions.

"That is so cool." awed the filly. "The way you write with those fingers is amazing."

X-ray laughed. "Well, I question why your species has pencils anyway. I could understand writing with telekinesis, but what about pegasai or earth ponies. How do they write?"

"They use their teeth." answered the filly.

That answer only furthered Shadow's theory of ponies evolving like humans. X-ray brushed the thought aside and finally finished helping Sweetie Bell who in turn packed her bag.

The filly prepared for bed as X-ray headed outside to find Rarity. First the commando headed to his guest room, drew his wrist computer and watched as his HUD appeared on his shades. X-ray then head down. The elder sister was busy at work with a sewing machine, trying to catch up on lost work.

The ectomorphic commando tried to get her attention. "Rarity."

The unicorn screamed at the tip of her lungs. "X-ray you scared me."

"It's what the 23rd does. Listen, I just wanted to tell you something you should know. Remember how me and my friends stated ponies were evolving like humans."

Rarity nodded.

"Well there's more to that. Turns out your evolving selectively. I look at your dresses, and I see clothes from numerous eras. Some garments equate to those of the Renaissance while some equate to the 21st century. I see pencils from the 20th century but books from the 16th. I see golf shirts, but your shoes are all slippers."

"I'm afraid I don't follow darling. I'm not inept at science. I'm just not....human at it. But I still get your message. It is undeniable our species are closer than we think."

After a pause, Rarity spoke up again. "By the way, what do humans of your time wear?"

"Suits and dresses are largely unchanged. As for casual clothing, it doesn't move past shirt, jeans and sneakers. In the winter times, we wear parkas and jackets. Before I was conscripted to the 23rd, cerise, my favorite color was the 'in color'. Now all I wear is black recon armor. White in snow environments."

"Doesn't your armor need washing by the way?" asked the albino mare.

"Nah. Suit repels all dirt and stench." shrugged the commando.

After a pause. "You know, I'm surprised I'd meet somepony like you." remarked X-ray.

Rarity gave a confused smile. "How so?"

"If you were a human, you'd be a fucking asshole."

Rarity's smile melted.

"Every human girl I met that enjoyed fashion was always a greedy snob. They thought so highly of themselves just because their rich parents could afford to buy them stylized clothes. When me and the rest of Shadow were still in high school on Requiem, we weren't what you'd call popular. We often clashed with those kinds of snobs who sadly were popular. I have zero tolerance for fashion obsessed bitches."

'They make fun of us for not wearing branded clothes by designers we couldn't give two shits about. At least our parents aren't working for fucking Mega Corp. Traitorous assholes.'

Before Rarity could speak;

"Then I met you. I used to think that girls had to choose between being fashionable or being altruistic. You Rarity, are not only one of the most nicest people, human or pony, that I met, but you show you can love clothing and be generous at the same time. Almost makes me feel bad about lashing out at you. Almost."

Rarity gave a sigh of flattery. "Thank you X-ray, that must mean a lot coming from you."

The slender soldier nodded. "Sucks that you're a pony."

Rarity blushed. "Say X-ray, you and your friends are going to be left on Epona until you can reestablish communication with the federation right?"

"Right."

"Until then, may I practice making clothes for your friends by using you as a model? I never worked on bi-peds."

X-ray chuckled. "Sure, just remember, I'm the thinest and shortest amongst Shadow."

Rarity squealed in delight. For the rest of the night she started taking measurements of X-ray while making marks on her fabric. X-ray at the meantime, used neural controls on his HUD to open a video he saved on his cloud storage. He made sure the volume was adjusted so only he could hear it and not distract Rarity.

Author's Notes:

Find the Pokemon reference.

Yes I used an Ayn Rand quote on a page featuring Rarity. Suck it. No I'm not an objectivist, but Rand spoke sense sometimes. Sometimes.