The room was silent and filled with a little tension, neither one of them wanted to be the first one to break it though. He kept looking from the window to her, and back until he finally settled on her. Though he kept silent, he saw her look up and meet his eyes for a few seconds before looking down.

"So, um, how are you doing Applejack?" He asked, breaking the ice.

"P-pretty good at the farm I guess, but for myself not that good." She replied, and he could see her relax a little now that the tension had been cut a little.

"Well, I guess we should get straight to the point here. If your still not sure, why not take your time? I really won't mind, sorting out your feelings can take some time, I mean I had between seven to eight months to figure out mine." He said, and after saying that he could see her tense back up.

"I-I just didn't feel right not visiting ya, I mean you are a good friend in the hospital. But, you are right I should take more time to figure out my feelings." That made him wince a little.

"So, you are still confused then?" She nodded in response. "Applejack, like I said take your time. I don't expect you to know your feelings, at least these kinds of feelings the next day." He said.

"I know, but still I just wanted to come to visit ya and make sure everything is okay." She said, giving him a little smile.

"Well, you saved me from those three who seemed to try to seduce me. Not that I don't mind, but I kind of want to follow doctors orders, that and this is a hospital. It's not a place for that," he said making her laugh a little.

"Well, your welcome I guess. So, besides them trying that, how are ya feeling?" She asked.

"Better, Twilight brought some games for us to play. Though I'm still having a little trouble controlling my wings, especially since they keep getting bigger." He said, managing to stretch his wings a little.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get used to them, and you know what they say about big wings don't ya?" She asked, and he could a little smirk on her face.

"Yeah, pretty much what humans say about big feet." He said, getting a laugh from both of them. "I'm glad that we seem to be able to have a laugh despite what we're going through right now."

"Me to, though I wish I could give ya an answer. But, it's all kind of new for me, you know? I mean I've had crushes before, and I've had others have crushes on me. But for some reason, this is confusing the heck out of me. I mean, like the rest of our friends, I consider you family just like you consider us family." She said, making him nod.

"I understand, I mean my feelings for you and the others were confusing as well. For you, it was because I thought I was just confusing gratitude for you saving me, but as time went on and when I ended up getting a herd, I knew my feelings were real. At least now I'm sure of it," he said.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"I mean that you don't know what you have until it's gone, and when you decided to take that time, I thought you wouldn't come back. Not this soon anyway," he said.

"Oh, well don't ya worry. No matter what, I will always consider ya a friend," she said giving him a smile.

"That's good to hear, but who knows when you figure out your feelings? Things might be too awkward, even more so than this," he said.

"Yeah, guess you're right. But listen, I will give you an answer as soon as I can, and don't worry. You can still have that job, just check in with Big Mac when you're ready." She said, tilting her hat. "See ya around."

"Bye, and sorry about how my marefriends acted when you first walked in." He said, waving his hand.

"Don't worry about that, I understand. I hurt ya, and they were just worried about me hurting ya again. But like I said, I promise to give ya an answer." She said and left the room leaving him alone and in silence again.

He let out a sigh of relief feeling the tension leave, and he closed his eyes to take a breath. As well as that went, it still didn't answer the question he wanted to know the answer to. Though he was too deep in thought to hear the door open and close, and the only way he knew someone was there was when he felt a hoof on his shoulder.

"Hey, how is it going?" He asked, opening his eyes meeting cyan eyes.

"Fine, but how did it go with Applejack?" Luna asked as she removed her hoof.

"She didn't give an answer, she was still confused about her feelings. Before you ask, she just wanted to visit and make sure I know that she will try to always consider me as a friend. At least, that's what I assume she meant," he said.

"Well, at least you can get a little closure now," Luna said.

"Yeah, and hey where's Lyra and Derpy?" He asked.

"Derpy said she was heading home, and Lyra said she was going to pick us up some dinner," Luna replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, glad she came to visit even without giving an answer. Though I'm glad for her timing," he said.

"You were enjoying it, and we wouldn't have taken it much further," she said.

"How far would you three have taken it then?" He asked, feeling a little worried.

"Oh, we would probably have teased your wings a little bit more. Then probably give you a massage, and that's about it,' she answered.

"Um, why do I have a feeling that massage included something else?" He muttered.

"Probably because you have a dirty mind sometimes," Luna giggled at his reddening face.

"Fair point I guess. But here, lay next to me for a little bit," he said patting his hand on the bed where he made some room.

"Gladly," she said moving onto the bed giving a sigh as she laid down.

"Now, how do you feel?" He asked, wrapping his arm around her.

"Pretty good, very comfortable." She answered.

"Good to hear." Just then, he could hear her give a squeak as he started to massage one of her wings. "Now, how does that feel?"

"P-please, s-stop!" She squeaked.

"Why should I? Besides, I figured you like my little revenge. Doesn't it just feel wonderful?" He asked, smiling evilly.

"Y-yes, but p-please it feels to g-good." She pleaded.

"Alright, I guess you know how I feel whenever any of you do that to me." He said, finally stopping his massage making her give a sigh of relief.

"That was just too great, Derpy was right when she said your hands feel like they're enchanted." She huffed. "Maybe you should give me a proper massage sometime?"

"Maybe, depends on how much teasing you do." He said.

"Hey, I'll have what she had." Both him and Luna looked up to see Lyra standing there with trays of food with a smirk.

"No can do, at least not right now." He said, and he unwrapped his arm from Luna. "Maybe I won't give any of you massages if you keep up with your teasing." Lyra folded her ears in slight embarrassment.

"So, you just gave her a massage?" Lyra asked.

"Yes he did, and it felt really good. Almost too good if you ask me," Luna muttered.

"You can tell me about it later Luna, but here's the food. And I promise I won't tease you anymore as long as I get a massage as well Brandon." Lyra said, setting his tray down.

"Thanks, and we'll see," he said licking his lips at the food.

They sat there eating, and soon Lyra and Luna excused themselves for a little bit and he knew exactly what they would be talking about. Though giving some massages would be well worth the trade of not being teased for his wings, or for anything else for a little while. He gave a chuckle as he remembered Luna's pleading face mixed with pleasure as she asked him to stop.

It wasn't long before he started to fall asleep though, and he looked at the clock to see it was only a little past ten. Though what surprised him was that Luna and Lyra had been gone for more than an hour now. But he shrugged it off as he decided to use the moment of peace to fall asleep before they came back.

---

He found himself in some kind of trench, and he could hear the moaning of others who were most likely mortally wounded. A loud bang rang out from above, and he turned to see another human yelling something into his radio, though he couldn't make it out. Though the man fell as something sparked against his helmet.

Something felt wrong, and suddenly he found himself on the ground grasping his arm. Though he couldn't feel the pain, he knew that it was quite painful by the way he seemed to be screaming. It was a strange feeling, not feeling the pain but knowing it should be there.

The next thing he knew he was in some kind of small village, it seemed peaceful enough. That was until the men and women around him in the same uniform started to break down doors and dragging out the villagers. He couldn't believe his eyes as he went forward to a small girl with only one arm and kicked her down to the ground and started to wave the gun at her, and he could tell he was yelling.

But this couldn't actually be him, he would never do this to a child. At the same time, he could tell that whoever this was didn't want to do this either, like he was being forced to do it. For some reason, he got the sense that tears were being held as another soldier came up and dragged the little girl away.

He wanted to yell at the other soldier to let the girl go, but for some reason, he remained quiet as the soldier put the girl with the other villagers. Though he looked away and started to walk in a different direction, he had a feeling of dread came over him. A dread that was confirmed when he looked back to see the girl laying there, though it was only a moments glance.

Once he turned his head around, he was in a completely different place and looking at a beautiful girl. One with blonde hair, moderate cyan eyes, freckles along her cheeks, and she seemed graceful as we danced. Though that was interrupted when he found himself in what looked like a living room, and the girl from before was packing.

She was putting her clothes in a suitcase, and then grabbed another case in which he knew was a lyre case. That's when he thought his mind was just putting aspects from the ones he loved into a human girl, but he felt like she was real. Like he knew her like he was in love with her.

"Please, don't leave. You know I can't deny an order, I had to do it! I didn't even kill any of them," he could hear himself say.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're still a monster! I'm sorry, I know you've been through a lot with losing your brother and your mom last year in that horrible accident with the towers. But you've changed too much, I don't even know you anymore. I mean the man I fell in love with would never take another's life, even if he was ordered." The girl said.

"But I haven't killed anyone," he argued.

"I don't know that, you've been overseas for the past six months. For all I know, you're the one who did kill that entire village." She said. "I'm sorry, but with you being in the military I'm just going to have to leave you. As I said, you've changed too much."

"Please, you're the only thing I have left. You know my family doesn't have anything to do with me, and I'll quit the military if it means I get to keep you in my life." He tried.

"It doesn't matter, you're already too changed from the man I knew. Even if you don't have any blood on your hands, you're not the same. Goodbye Brandon," she said taking her suitcase and lyre case and started to walk out the door.

"P-please don't leave me all alone...." he said even though he knew she was already gone.

---

"Brandon, Brandon!" He suddenly sprung up with tears freely running down his cheeks, and as he looked around he saw Luna and Lyra standing there with concerned stares. "Thank goodness, are you okay?"

"W-what...?" He tried, but couldn't.

"You were having a nightmare, and I couldn't get into your mind to help you with it. I'm so sorry Brandon," Luna said as she threw herself around him. "You were screaming out, and thrashing when we arrived. It must have been horrible, do you know what it was about?"

"N-no I don't," he said though as he met Lyra's eyes she could tell he was lying to Luna, only she ever knew the truth about his nightmares.

"They are getting pretty bad Brandon, I wonder if somethings causing them to get that way?" Lyra asked as she walked up beside him, and when Luna was done with her hug she gave him a quick nuzzle.

"You knew about his nightmares?" Luna asked.

"Of course, though when he first arrived they only came very rarely and less intense. Before you ask, remember me and him were best friends and we could tell each other any secret." Lyra said.

"Fair enough, but I do have to agree. Something is causing your nightmares to get worse, this time you were muttering about a young girl. From the sounds of it, this girl was probably a little filly at most and something went wrong. Do you remember anything?" Luna asked.

"No!" He winced at the intensity of his voice. "Sorry, but I don't remember anything."

"It's fine, but I think you need more rest, as do we. And don't worry about the nightmares, I'll be keeping watch." Luna said as she got on the bed laying next to him and nuzzling him.

Lyra followed, and he gave a sigh of contempt as he laid his head back on his pillow. Though he couldn't go back to sleep, the eyes of that little girl kept appearing in his mind. Then that blonde girl, for some reason she reminded him so much of his loved ones here and thought she was just a mixture of them in human form, but he knew better. She was a real person, one he seemed to love at some point.

Soon, sleep fell on him again with the eyes of the little girl still looking at him. Though it did make him once again question, if it was real, and not a figment of his imagination, then was he a monster? Did at one point in his life, he become corrupt and kill others out of not denying orders?

He was in a light sleep, and could still feel the two mares on either side of him. It did bring great comfort to him, and he managed to wrap his wings around them making them press even more into him. Though his sleep was interrupted with a shift of the bed, and he could feel one of them slip out of bed.

"Brandon, I know you're awake. Please tell me what's wrong? Are you still bothered by the nightmare? What was it about?" He heard Lyra whisper, and he opened his eyes to see her silhouette.

"Not the whole nightmare, just one part of it. The little girl, I can still see her staring at me with lifeless eyes." He whispered back.

"T-that's horrible, but you need to tell me more. You know how well it helped before," Lyra said.

"I know, but not when Luna is laying right here. Maybe tomorrow when she goes get lunch or something," he said.

"Okay, and just know that we won't leave you and we do love you," Lyra said, quickly giving a peck on his lips before going off to where he assumed was the bathroom.

Author's Notes:

Well, that was interesting wasn't it? Are these nightmares more than just his subconscious? Is he a monster? Well, anyways hope you enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!