Navi stretched her little limbs, breathing a deep yawn. She rolled over, not wanting to get out of her unusually comfortable bed. She didn't know why her bed felt so soft that morning, but she didn't care. She dared to peek her eye open, and witnessed the light that managed to make it into her room.

“Morning...” She told herself. What was it she was doing that morning? The one thing that every child was forced to do. Go to school.

“Wait...” She thought out loud. “...darn it. It's Tuesday.” She rolled out of the bed, landing on her hooves with cat-like reflexes.

She made a scowl that only a child could make, and squinted at an unseen object. “Gym day...”

She sighed, her bright day already becoming a little bit darker. She looked back at her bed, and grabbed the covers in her mouth. She pulled it up toward the pillows, and unwrinkled it as best as she could.

With that done, she looked to the night stand, placing a hoof against the drawer. She nearly opened it, but spotted the unusual items that were setting on top. Her dinner plate, which she never put up last night, was gone! And the ripped bag of cookies had a note on it!

...Kestral! She thought. She remembered who her new guest was, along with their discussions they had.

She removed her hoof, and looked closer at the note, reading it.

I took the day off today, so we'll walk to your school together this morning.

-Love,

Mom

She giddily hopped at the idea of walking with her mom to school. It was a very rare occurrence, to be sure, but it did happen. With a smile plastered on her face, she opened the drawer, and pulled out the simple, leather-string necklace. She put it on, once again admiring the bright red heart that laid against her chest. She scrubbed it with the side of her leg a little, making sure it was as shiny as she could make it. With her daily ritual completed, Navi grabbed the bag of cookies and began walking down the hallway, towards the living room.

She poked her head out of the stairwell, the delicious smell of freshly cooked batter hit her nose. She took a deep breath, soaking in the smell. Mmmmhhh... pancakes... She thought.

Before getting to the kitchen, however, she went right to her backpack. She shuffled through the books that filled it, and decided to just place the bag on top. Before she closed it, though, she looked at the looked at the couch next to it, or, more importantly, the one occupying it.

She looked over Kestral's sleeping form, which was laid flat, taking up the whole couch. He was facing up, with his feet sticking over the arm of the couch, with one of his hands at his side, while the other was just covering a spot on his chest. She didn't understand why he was wearing that shirt. Especially with that vest over it. Why not wear one or the other? And why even wear them to bed in the first place? Well... she mused. He doesn't have a blanket... so maybe he's cold.

She looked at his hand again, and it looked like it was reaching for something. It kept going forward, then dragging back, like it couldn't reach.

She reached into the brown paper sack, and pulled out a cookie, then placed it on his chest. She watched as his hand covered it, then latched onto it, like it would save his life. Then his body relaxed. She just smiled, and leaned over next to his ear.

“Thanks Kes...” She whispered. Navi gave a small hug to his head, and she got off quickly, hoping her mother didn't witness what she did. I wonder what he's dreaming about?

“Navy? Are you awake?” Her mother's voice called out.

“Y- yes, mom!” She said. “I'm getting my bag.”

The form of her mother's head poked out from the kitchen walkway. “That's fine, sweetie. But try not to wake Mr. Petrovski up. He's going to need all the sleep he can get.”

“Yes, mom.” She said, grabbing her bag. She followed her mother back into the kitchen, placing the saddlebag next to her chair. She took a big whiff of the warm, scented air, breathing in the hungering smell of her morning meal. Her stomach growled at the sight of the giant pancake that took up her whole plate. It wasn't even a regular flapjack, either. It was her absolute favorite, because on that special day, not only did she have a fresh, steaming hot pancake for breakfast; She had a fresh, steaming hot pancake for breakfast, smeared with a glob of peanut butter.

Her mother set a glass of milk down on the table for each of them, and sat down next to Navi. She put her hooves up together, just in front of her, then looked at Navi. “And what do we say?”

With her mouth watering at the sight, Navi didn't think her answer through quite clearly. “Thanks, mom!” She picked up her fork, and went right for the pancake, but stopped, once she heard her mother speak again.

“Ah Ah!” She said. “Try again.”

“Huh?” She looked up at her mom, then remembered what the gesture was. She put down her fork, and put her hooves up together as well. “Right.” She closed her eyes, her mother presumably doing the same. “Thank you, Lord Aquamarine, for giving us the opportunity to receive a blessing such as this. Thank you for protecting us, with your oceans. And like the water you command, we will be swift to help those who need it, give life back to the world, and be strong against the will of evil. As you followers, it is our duty to bring water to the desert, and by doing so bring life to the lifeless, faith to the hopeless, and needs to the have-less. In your name, we pray. Amen.”

Once the prayer was over, Navi grabbed her fork and cut off a massive bite, shoving it into her mouth. In spite of the peanut butter seemingly gluing her teeth together, she did not regret it a bit. The syrup kept it from getting worse, and she still had that cold glass of milk to drink.

“Slow down, sweetie.” Her mother said, eyes focused on cutting her pancake properly. “You can enjoy the taste longer if you eat slowly.”

She swallowed. “Yeah. I can also enjoy the taste longer if I don't brush my teeth. But that's not healthy.”

Her mother just shook her head, and continued eating.

Much to her dismay, the meal ended far too early for Navi. She was was licking her fork and plate clean of all the peanut butter that was not already in her mouth. She was no longer hungry, but there was no limit to the amount of peanut butter she believed she could consume.

“Aww.” She said, looking at the completely clean plate. She went ahead and drank the rest of her milk as well, leaving the area above her lip white. Navi looked up to her mother. “I'm done.”

“See what I mean?” She asked, eying her daughter. “Go put your dishes up. I'll wash them when I get back.”

“Are you sure?” Navi asked. “It's your first day off in, like, forever.”

She smiled at her. “It's fine. I'll have plenty of time to relax later.” She said.

Navi nodded, and grabbed her plate. She walked over to the sink, depositing the object into the large, metallic bin. She did the same with her cup, but made sure to rinse it out first. With that done, she made her way back to the living room, tummy full, and good feelings saturated. She walked to the other side of the room, going into the small bathroom that was at the corner, and looked for her toothbrush.

She found the object in question, then grabbed the jar of toothpaste that had the label 'Navy' on the side. She swiped the brush through, covering it, and hastily began brushing her teeth. She shoved the device back and forth through the monotony of the morning routine, knowing that it was for her own good. After a minute or so, she spit out the contents of her mouth, and rinsed out her mouth to ensure her mouth was perfectly clean. She put her brush up, and walked out of the bathroom, with breath as fresh as a pile of peppermint.

She glanced as Kestral, still sleeping on the couch, as she walked back to the kitchen. Her smile turned into a small frown, as she reminded herself of the whole reason she brought him here in the first place.

Navi walked into the kitchen again, making her way to her chair, and taking her seat next to her mother. She watched her mother eat for a few moments, then spoke up.

“Mom?” She asked.

Her mother turned to look Navi in a curious manner. “Yes, sweetie?”

She looked up at her mother with an odd look, almost like she was worried. “Should...” She started. “Shouldn't we offer Kestral some breakfast?” She asked.

Her mother smiled faintly. “Not right now, sweetie. With as much blood as he lost, he should really be getting some rest. I'll probably make him something later.” She said.

The word 'probably' only seemed to make that slight frown turn into a bigger frown. “And... Mom?” She hesitated, not entirely sure what the answer would be.

“Yes, Sweetie?” She looked at her daughter with a little more care in her eyes.

“You're not...” Navi said, then she went down to a sad whisper. “...you're not going to... turn him in... are you?” She asked.

Her mother sighed, and slowly drifted into a more distant look. She looked towards her plate, instead of her daughter. Even at her young age, Navi was able to tell that what she just asked didn't have a clear answer. A part of her had hope that she would just say 'no'. “I... No. We're not going to turn him in...” She said.

A light sparked in Navi's eye, like her hope for the future had just been reignited with a spark from the sun itself. She stood on her back hooves and hugged her mother, digging her face into her. Her mother returned the hug, but not without continuing.

“But that doesn't mean he's staying forever.” She said.

Navi sat back down again. She didn't have a frown anymore, so she simply looked at her mother in an attentive manner.

“I'm sorry, sweetie, but if he's going to stay any longer than today, I need to know what we're getting involved in.” She extended her hoof, placing it on her daughter's shoulder. “I know that you want to help him,” She leaned in, kissing her daughter on the forehead. “but I need to know that I can keep you safe. Okay?”

Navi nodded, knowing that whatever her mother does, it's for the best. “Okay, mom.”

“Good.” She said. “Now, let's get you to school.”

“Uhhhhgg.” Damn, feels cold in here. Kestral thought, reaching up to rub his eyes. Instead of feeling his finger against his socket, though, he felt a hard, dry object scratch instead.

“What the...?” He leaned up, using his other hand to rub out the fragments of whatever that was from his eye. He sat up, back against the couch, and began waking up fully. He opened his eyes to see that the object in his hand was, for some reason, a cookie. “...hell?” He flipped it over, wondering how he managed to wake up with one in his hand, when he didn't even have any left.

Must have been from Navi. He thought. With a shrug, he began eating the sweet. Can't be any worse than having a doughnut for breakfast.

He stretched his arms and legs, popping whatever he felt necessary. A look around showed that he was in the house, still. Although it was dark, with the lights off, the curtains failed to withhold all sunlight, and allowed enough of it through to make everything visible. Huh. So, either they're both still asleep, or they're both already gone.

He continued to sit on the couch, realizing that a small headache had formed. He began to wonder if it had something to do with the blood he lost. Perhaps, he thought, it was a lack of water. It was the first time he had lost so much blood, considering he had never been in a serious accident before, so he had no true grasp on what symptoms could arise from it. Instead of focusing on that, though, he went to a more important question.

Why didn't she turn him in? He saw the price on his head himself; One thousand bits. As of two days before, at least. He had half-expected to wake up to a guard throwing a cuff around his wrist, or something akin to that. It was one of the reasons he slept lightly, on guard for anything suspicious. Of course, the better reason for his light sleeping was simply because he was only drifting in and out of it up until his new, 'normal' bedtime; Six A.M. Not that he had a clock on him to check the time.

The point still stood, however, that he held at least mild surprise that Ms. Winterhoof actually trusted him enough to let him spend the night, let alone not sell him off. He suspected it was because of Navi's belief in him. Surely she realized that, if Navi was alone with Kestral for several hours, and nothing had happened to her, then he was worth at least hearing out.

CLICK

Damn. You really have a knack for perfect timing.

He tensed a little as the door opened, putting a hand on his bag, just in case it was a guard about to walk through the door.

To his relief, only a single body walked through that door. She walked through with air of confidence, like she pulled in all the willpower she had, and used it to keep her head high. She noticed him, but didn't speak immediately. She closed the door, and flicked on the crystal light that was hanging above them.

The air became tense, with the two beings in the room looking at eachother, sizing eachother up. There wasn't any fear...any sort of hard feelings on their faces. It was simply two people taking in the vast silence, before the two began to go through the necessary conversation.

They didn't start immediately. In fact, one could say that they were taking their sweet time, letting sunlight burn away before they started. But they needed to start sometime, so Kestral, the thoughtful man he often was, scooted over on the couch, and patten the spot next to him. “So. You want to hear my story?” He asked.

She sucked in a deep breath, and released. She looked longingly at the couch, and walked to it. Just before she sat on it, though, she steered the conversation in a different direction. “Yes, but...” She started. “... I need to apologize for my behavior for last night.”

“Apologize?” He looked at her incredulously. “Apologize for what?”

“I wasn't very hospitable last night.” She said. “and... you were suffering for it.” She laid down on the couch, head towards him. To her credit, she still held her head high.

“And most people wouldn't be very hospitable towards me.” He countered. “Besides. I'm still alive, right?” He gave a reassuring smile.

“... Mr. Petrovski, with all due respect, you nearly bled out next to my couch. So, I still apologize for failing to help you immediately, and...” She dropped her voice some, like she was ashamed. “... and for so eagerly taking your money.”

Kestral shook his a head, a smile forming on his face. “You and your daughter...” He said, pointing his finger at her. “... you are very nice people, feeling the need to help people without reward. It's noble, I’ll give it that.” He put his finger down and leaned back against the couch, hoping to get in a a more comfortable position. “But you both need to stop feeling so guilty over me. I'm alive, and you're wealthier. It's a win-win as far as I care.”

She pursed her lips, carefully looking over him like one would a sketchy suspect. “... and how would you know that Navi was feeling guilty?”

...Shit. I just let that out.

“Well.” He said, trying to think quickly. “You know. We were just talking last night, after you left.” Can't think of a good lie around it... I guess I better just tell the truth. He thought. Navi might have forgotten to keep it a secret anyways.

“So, you promised me you'd leave her alone, then broke that promise the second I left?” She asked, making a piercing gaze towards him.

“I...” He said, not sure how to start. Oh boy.... I could tell her that she approached me...No. She's her mother. She needs to know. “I checked on her... because I heard her crying.” He said, the words feeling foreign in his mouth.

“So that's why she had your cookies...but somehow I doubt that. She would have told me something this morning.” She said.

“She was crying about you.” He said. When he saw that Ms. Winterhoof simply opened her mouth without speaking, he continued. “For much the same reason you apologized to me. She, too, was not happy about how last night went.”

“I...” She started, looking down. “... yes, I guess she would have been quite worried...” She said, then looked back up at Kestral. “But that's something I should have talked to her about. Not you.”

He waved it off. “How about I tell you my story, and maybe you'll understand why I felt the need to look after her.” He said.

She gave a firm nod, urging him to start his tale of events.

“Okay, so about a week ago, I woke up in a forest....”

[]

“... and here we are.” Kestral finished. He coughed, and drank from the glass of lukewarm water that Ms. Winterhoof had fetched a while ago. It had been a little more than an hour, and by the way Kestral's voice was getting, she could tell that he was not used to talking so much.

He had only told about the week or so that he had been in Equestria, and nothing prior, but it had been quite a tale. She had interrupted a couple of times, with skepticism towards how badly the changelings were actually being, but overall, she felt that he actually knew what he was doing. She didn't want to get anyone hurt, let alone killed.... but if Chrysalis, Luna, and even Discord are able to agree that this group of changelings, this new faction, was a real, true threat to Equestria, then she feared it wasn't up to herself to simply turn him away.

He could have been lying, sure. But the newspapers a day ago had proven that he actually met Chrysalis, and at Discord's statue, nonetheless! If she let him go peacefully, surely it was because she let him, and not because he escaped.

And Navy....

She felt so bad now. She had the audacity to not believe her own daughter, to refuse to help someone in need without a second thought. She thought Navy was just trying to help someone because he made up a sob story. But she realized her mistake. Navy was right, Kestral needed help. Not just someone to heal his wounds, but someone he could just be himself with. Everyone else... many of them fear him, most just see a monster, but now? Now she knows the real Kestral. The human that's protecting them all from the dark.

And he looks out for Navy because... she was the first one to help him.

Sure, Discord was helping him. But that was just to achieve his end goal. Chrysalis helped him, but she wanted 'love' for it. Luna helped his nightmares, but she got to learn of humans in return. Navy, though? She was the first to really, truly try to help him, just for the sake of helping him. No strings attached, no gimmicks. She just wanted to help.

She watched as he rose up, stretching his arms and legs, like he was getting ready to go exercise.

“Going somewhere?” She asked.

“Just stretching.” He replied. After a moment, he sat down again. “Dang... is it cold in here to you?” He asked.

“No.” She said. “I... would guess that it's either your blood loss, or lack of fur.”

“Well, I felt just fine yesterday. Must be the blood loss.” He said.

She watched him lean over the other side of the couch, probably looking at the dried bandages that were still laying on the ground. She got up, and moved around to grab them.

“Here, you need to rest.” She said, motioning for him to sit down. “It'll help your body replenish its blood. Do you want something to eat?” She asked, ready to enter the kitchen.

“Uh. Yeah, actually. I'm kinda starving.” He said. “I have some money, too. So I can just pay you whatever you need.”

“You already paid me a thousand.” She deadpanned. “And...I’m trying to be more hospitable here. You don't need to compensate me for everything.” She shook her head. “Just... Is there anything you want? Any special diet that humans eat?” She asked.

“Well. To be honest, I would really love to have some meat. Preferably chicken.” He said.

…

…

“...on second thought, I need to go get some money.”

Oh well. I guess I get to go shopping today.

Author's Notes:

Hope you all have a good read.