"What is there to talk about?" Jason asked bluntly.

"For starters," Celestia started, the stern tone in her voice ever present, "we need to talk about those Diamond Dogs."

Jason let out a snort.

"Let me guess, you're mad that I killed them?" He asked dryly.

Celestia stared at the pony before her, silently stunned by how casually he brushed the subject. He just went straight to it without a breath of hesitation.

"I can't say that I'm entirely mad." She responded. "I've been the ruler for this land for over a thousand years. I know that some situations, no matter how you tackle them, will result in bloodshed."

"And when was the last time that happened to you?"

"Around 300 years ago."

Jason gave a dry chuckle.

"Damn. Best record I've ever heard, jeez. So then, if you're not that mad, why are you even here?"

"I wanted to see how you'd be taking it."

Jason paused for a second to think before responding.

"Don't regret a damn thing. They deserved it."

Celestia stepped towards his prone form, causing the Pip-Boy to tick in a higher pitch.

"So you just think that you can justify ending their lives like that? You don't regret it in the slightest?"

Jason stared at her before slowly opening his mouth to respond.

"Princess, I may seem like some kind of ruthless killer to you right now. You probably think that I'm all guns and no talk. What I did to them was brutal, yes. What they did, however, was unforgivable. In the Wasteland, I dealt with plenty of their types, like Slavers. They tracked down the one place that those people could call 'salvation' and tried to bring them back in to custody. I killed all the Slavers then, and I did it knowing fully well that it meant that people that deserved freedom would keep it. Anyone, regardless of species, that tries to take away the birthright of freedom like that... they don't deserve to live."

"What if they had families? What if there were children waiting for them back home?"

"Didn't think you'd care about families of Slavers, of all things. Still, It'd be better for their kids to go without a parent that takes up that kind of work. Would you rather have a generation that was based off of the notion of kidnapping and slavery were a preferable way to live, or a generation that understands the value of other lives?"

"This isn't the world you knew. We could have at least tried a bit at first."

"Found a Guard of yours dead right outside their cave's entrance, and nearly 20 more, all dead, inside their cave. Tell me, how many more would you rather have sacrificed to get them to 'talk'?" Jason emphasized a bit more bluntly than intended.

"You still didn't give a clear answer earlier. You were talking about how you weren't a killer, and I don't see how-"

"Hold up," Jason interrupted, raising a hoof, "I never said that I wasn't a killer. I've killed plenty in my time in the Wasteland. Hundreds, even."

"If you're trying to sway my opinion towards your favor, you're dangerously off track."

Jason gave a chuckle before shaking his head.

"I'm not trying to win your opinion, nor am I trying to convince anyone in this room that I'm innocent, by any means." Jason brought up his Pip-Boy and swiped away all of the tubes that were connected to his forelegs, splattering blood and breaking apart the needles that were lodged in his skin. He shakily got up from his position and stood up in front of Celestia. He glared straight into her eyes before continuing. "I am a killer. There is no avoiding that fact. I have killed before and I, more than likely, will again."

The Solar Princess looked down at him with a slight pang of fear, hearing this... outsider, bluntly state that he knows fully well that he will likely take more lives the longer he stays. She narrowed her eyes and began to feel her anger seeping out.

"You just keep saying that you're a killer. Do you even care that I'm letting you defend yourself? Do you really have nothing to say that would even slightly be positive for you?"

"I don't think you understand. I don't care. I don't give two shits what you think of me. I know what I've done, what I'll do when I have to, and that you're not just gonna let me walk out of here with that mindset. But the funny thing," He gave a light chuckle, "the funny thing is, you think I even care about leaving."

Celestia was genuinely confused at this statement.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you honestly think I care about being able to walk out of here?" He asked with a smile, shaking his head. "No, I've given up. I just don't care anymore. I've seen the worst the Wasteland had to bear, the horrors of what so many so desperate would do to make a living, and I didn't want to walk out then. I watched as the only people who could be remotely considered 'good' wasted away, being torn apart by bullets and plasma, and I didn't want to walk out then. I had to sit back and watch as my father died before me, coughing up his insides, inches away from my face, and all I could do was watch as he crumbled into a heap and boiled inside his own skin. I sure as fuck, did not want to walk out alive then. I gave up when I walked into that same room, where he died, locked myself in, and drowned myself in enough radiation to kill a hundred people. How happy do you think I was when I found out that several good people died dragging me out of that room!?" He shouted slightly. "If you think I'd just fight my way out, then I'm glad to disappoint. I'm fucking tired of trying to run for my life, when I literally tried to end it, so many times. So yes, I'm dangerous. Yes, I'm a killer. But I am not remorseless. Every time I kill, I pray that the next life taken would be my own. And if you're going to arrest me, execute me, or whatever it is you do here, then just get to it, because I. Don't. Fucking. Care."

Jason finished with a ragged breath as he glared death right into Celestia's eyes, letting her see the torment he's held. She had to resist backing away in fear and shock as they stared into each other. She took in a quick breath while she thought to herself.

'Dear Mother above, why is this one so complicated? I don't know if I should be afraid for his own life or for anything that goes against him.'

The Wanderer broke off from the eye contact and walked over to a nearby table, where his bag was waiting for him.

"I've got a load of medical staff already hounding me for living through the Wasteland, telling me that everything inside me should have killed me. There's a group of mares out there that want to try and know about my past, and they're pushing hard. Now, I've got an angry member of royalty here, telling me that I'm dangerous. So if you want to take me in to custody," Jason ignited his horn and whipped out the 10mm Pistol, and pressed the barrel to his temple, "you better hope your guards are faster than bullets." He turned back to Celestia before sighing. "What's it gonna be?"

Celestia stared at him for a minute while contemplating everything she had ever gone through, trying to search for anything reminiscent of this scenario that could help her. Here he was, the Wanderer, a pony she thought to be a definite source of trouble, ready to take his own life on a whim. He had just risked his life to save two foals, and had killed eight Jaws to do so. He spoke of no remorse, yet she could see that he was still horrified.

"Why are you so scared?" She asked.

"Why am I scared? Why am I-" He slammed the Pistol onto the table, cracking it a bit, before storming up to her. "I woke up one morning to find the only world I had ever known ending all around me, because the one person I could turn to in my life had left. I went after him in the slightest, faintest hope, that I could get back what I lost if I tried. I had to wade through Hell of so many kinds, I was terrified at what I might become. I turned into a killer, I turned into a hunter, into something that people would talk about around small fires in the night, praying that whatever it was, wasn't real. I've been targeted by assassins and hounded down by massive military organizations, and I remember, in gruesome, painful, excruciating detail, DYING!!! Then, I wake up to find the world in even more shit than when I left it, and guess who the fuck had to fix it?" He asked with a tired smile. "Then, to top all that shit off, I go off, ready to die, yet again, stopping a massive organization that wanted to take over the Wasteland. I get ready to embrace death, and then guess what happens. No, go on, FUCKING GUESS!" He waited a few seconds in the tense silence before continuing. "Yeah, I WAKE UP IN THIS WORLD! I wake up in a different world, in a DIFFERENT FUCKING BODY! Then, I see some giant version of whatever the HELL I'm supposed to be, and it just talks to me a bit before letting me go off to walk alone through that creepy as shit forest. I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE MYSELF IN THE GODDAMN MIRROR!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE!? YOU THINK I'M JUST CALM AND ACCEPTING OF THIS!? I'M NOT!!! I'M BEYOND TERRIFIED!!!" Jason was tearing up slightly as he took a step back. "If you're gonna go off on me now, make it quick." He said while turning around.

Celestia stared at him for a minute before inhaling deeply.

'This might not bite me back that hard... but I'd rather not take a chance now that they're known in Ponyville.' She thought to herself.

"Jason," She started softer than before, causing him to stop dead in his tracks, "I'm not going to execute you, or imprison you. You did, after all, save two foals. Not only that, but you're the only one that can do what's necessary out in the Jaws' territory. They're the gang that's not only foalnapping ponies, but are also assaulting multiple towns. Right now, there are barely any Guards that we can afford to spare guarding so many towns. I think it would benefit all of us if you were to stay here in Ponyville."

The air was tense with silence as Jason merely breathed. A faint brown glow came around the bag on the table before the flap opened up to reveal the torn suit that signified his origin.

"Must be pretty desperate if you're coming to me for help. Fine. I'll stay in this town. Might as well. Who knows? Maybe I'll stay dead next time." He turned back to look at Celestia once more. "I'll leave Twilight's castle as soon as I can, so don't worry about her. Just remember that when I go against those Dogs, I will try talking at first. If they attack, though, I won't let them walk."

Celestia gave a deep sigh before turning back to the door, ready to leave. As she did, Jason sighed to himself as well.

'Killing or living. Goddamn it. Back to square one.'