Twilight returned the following day as she said she would. The door opened and Jason looked up from the book he was reading to watch her enter. He smiled as he closed the novel and set it beside him. He was looking forward to this, he had always tried to get as much information from wherever he could, and Twilight seemed like an unlimited source.

"Good morning, Cpl. Sinder!" she said happily as she pushed a chair around to the side of his bed. She set down her saddlebags and began searching through them for some note taking equipment.

"Good morning yourself, Twilight Sparkle." he responded.

She glanced at him as she rummaged through her saddlebags. "It's alright to call me Twilight, you know. It's not like this is going to be some kind of official meeting or anything." She found what she was looking for and sat down in the chair, ready to write down anything he said.

"Then you can call me Jason." He said, eyeing the quill and paper suspended by magic.

"You know Corp...er...Jason, that's the second time you have changed how you like to be referred to. Why is that? First it was Corporal Jason Sinder of the United States Marine Corps, then it was Cpl. Sinder, now it's just Jason. Why? That just seems over complicated to me." she said as she made a quick scribble on the sheet.

"Well the first I used as a formal introduction, explaining who I am and my connection to the Marine Corps. The second is a more formal way of communicating. Stating our rank helps identify who we are in a professional manner. And Jason is simply my first name. Before I joined the Corps, that's what everyone called me, and it's the name I prefer in these relaxed environments." He explained.

Twilight, nodded as she quickly jotted down a few notes.

"Are you going to be doing that the whole time?" He asked.

she looked at him over the top of the paper. "What?"

"Writing down everything I say." He responded, "I thought this was just a friendly conversation, not an interview." He raised an eyebrow towards her and a small grin grew on his face.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, blushing slightly as she lowered the pen and paper to the ground. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to document everything! It isn't exactly normal to speak to an alien, and the information you could provide would be fascinating to any intellectuals around Equestria!"

His grin grew into a full smile. Now here was a girl after his own heart. She obviously wanted to glean any information off of him as she could, and he respected that...

However...

"I just wanted a relaxed conversation, something to help orient myself with your society, you know, figure out how things work around here. I promise, later on you can interview me for as long as you want. Right now though, I just need to get my head screwed on straight."

She smiled. "Ok Jason, that seems fair enough. So, what do you want to learn about first?"

He jumped right into it. "Well, yesterday I remember you mentioning that this was a monarchy..."

They chatted for several hours, exploring every topic that came into their minds. Everything from their different governments, to biology, individual thought processes, social norms, and even going into how individual relationships worked.

Twilight couldn't contain her excitement.

He has just as many questions as I do! she thought to herself. He soaks up every piece of information I give him! Like a parched sponge, and his thirst for knowledge is unquenchable!

"So Jason," she began. "What exactly did you do on Earth?"

He glanced at her with slight confusion.

"What do you mean? I've already told you I'm a Marine. Actually i've told you a few times, you're probably sick of hearing about it." He said.

"Well yes, you have mentioned that a few times, but that wasn't my question." she replied with a grin. "I mean what does a Marine do?"

"Ooohhhhh that's what you meant." he stopped and thought for a second, thinking of how best to explain. "Well the Marines are a branch of the United States military. our primary focus is the defense of our country and the protection of international interests."

"Oh so you're like the Guard!" she exclaimed. " Sworn to protect and serve the common citizen! Keeping the peace and upholding the law!" She was excited. "I must introduce you to my brother, Shining Armor! He's a captain of the Gaurd! I'm sure you two would get along amazingly well!"

"That would be great Twilight, but what you just described sounds more like a police officer. They are responsible for upholding the law within the country. The Marines are focused on any kind of international power that threatens our country's welfare." He tried to think of how he was going to explain this next part. He remembered quite clearly their earlier conversations, and from them he understood that ponies were generally extremely passive. The occasional tussle was fairly common, but assault and murder were completely unheard of within their society.

I might as well spill it. He thought to himself.This is not a wom..er..mare who would appreciate any kind of misinformation. I could lie, but if I was ever found out then it would crush any aspect of trust I have with her. I do NOT want to lose that. Well, here goes nothing.

He sighed, "Our primary method is force. We learn about the threat, locate it, and eliminate it with extreme discrimination." He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the disgust on her face.

"What do you mean eliminate?" she asked. she couldn't fathom what he meant with his explanation. "You mean, like, Going in and breaking things? Scaring them so they aren't a threat anymore?"

Jason looked toward the ceiling and steeled himself for what he was about to say. "That wouldn't work. Not where I'm from. That would just make them more angry. More desperate. More dangerous. No we...We eliminate the threat at the source...We eliminate the people."

He risked a glance into her eyes, and what he saw there fired a bolt of sorrow into his heart. She was in pain. emotional pain the likes of which he had never seen. Tears began forming in her eyes as she stared into his, searching his very soul. "You...You kill them... you take the life of another sentient being. Why?" Her voice had started at a low whisper, but was increasing in volume as her despair turned into anger. "What gives you the right? Who are you to decide who lives and who dies! Nobody that's who! The nerv"

"It's not like we do it for fun!" he interrupted. "The only reason we do it is to protect our loved ones." He was desperate. He had just revealed what kind of monster he was to the closest friend he had made during his stay here. Hell, she was his only friend. His mind scrambled as he attempted to justify his previous actions.

"Do you know where I was before I crashed here? Afghanistan...We were on a mission to destroy an Al-Qaeda cell. The reason we're fighting them is because almost 13 years ago, they destroyed two buildings. do you have any idea how many people died because of their actions?"

Twilight sat in stunned silence. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. He realized how angry he was becoming trying to justify himself. He attempted to calm himself and was mildly successful. He no longer felt the need to shout to get his point across, however tears were beginning to form as a result of how desperate he was to regain her friendship. He saw her shake her head in response to his question and he continued.

"2,977...All innocent people, just working and making their way through life. All gone within the span of a single morning." His voice was almost a whisper.

"Why?" She asked. "what possible reason could they have for wanting to hurt so many?" Her voice quivered. She was unable to fathom such a massive loss of life.

"I don't know." He said quietly. He was staring at his feet. His mind lost in melancholy as he recalled that day in his memory. "I can't explain why they did it. Their culture, their beliefs, something drove them to attack us. I don't know what it was, their way of thinking is too foreign for me to understand their motive."

He looked at her. She had brought her hoof to her mouth. He could only see sadness within her large, lavender eyes. It was too much for him and he felt tears begin to roll down his cheeks.

"I lost my mother to that attack." He swallowed hard. "That is why I joined the Marine Corps. So I could do everything within my power to protect the people of my homeland. They are my family and I love them as a family. I will do anything it takes to prevent anything like that from happening again, even if it means I have to kill someone. I will not willingly allow anyone to go through the pain of losing a loved one the same way I lost mine. I will fight for my people, because not all of them can. I will protect my loved ones to my dying breath. And I will gladly give my life, knowing that it meant a little boy can go home to his mother one more time. That, is why I am proud of being a Marine." He looked over towards her, tears streaming down his face. "That, is why we fight."

Twilight lifted herself off of the chair and wrapped her forelegs around the human. Her tears dampening the skin on his chest. He attempted to turn but his wounds prevented him from moving. He instead wrapped his left arm around her and returned the embrace.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly. "I thought I understood what life was like for you, but I obviously didn't. Society has formed to different standards where you are from. Your kind has adjusted to a more primal way of life, using violence to prove it's points." She released him and looked into his eyes. "You do whatever you can to protect people. Even if it means hurting the person who wishes them harm. You are not a simple Guard. You are a Protector. "

Her hug had done incredible things to his emotions. Never before had he had to justify why he joined the Marines, people had always just understood. Here though, after saying those things, he fully realized everything he did for his country, and he was proud. More proud than ever before. He managed to regain his composure after a deep breath.

"I still prefer the term Marine." He said, a small smile making it's way onto his face.

She let out a small laugh and returned to the chair.

"So," she said, "That's what you do huh?"

"Yep."

This conversation isn't over, but that is quite enough of that topic for today. Twilight thought to herself as she changed the subject.

"Personally, I am a scholar. My primary focus is magic, I even managed to gain the attention of Princess Celestia herself!" She said.

"Wow!" He said "You must be exceptionally powerful!"

Their voices continued late into the night, as they explored into each others worlds. Each question bringing them closer together other as knowledge switched hands between them.