Red grit his teeth as the rubbing alcohol met his wounds. But it was better than having it infected. As Fluttershy bandaged his wounds, he realized just how lucky he was. He could have easily been killed, but for whatever reason, he had made it out alive. Sighing as Fluttershy bandaged his wounds and put his arm in a sling. (I'm not even going to explain, because fuck you, that's why.) Once his arm was in the sling, Red realized that having the use of only one arm, even though he had to endure the same thing many time before, it still reminded him how long it would take before he would have the control of that arm again.

As he looked at the sword he had obtained from Nightmare. It seemed like it was made just for him, which he found odd, considering that she only met him when he got to the ruins. Hey, Nightmare, I have a question. "What is it?" How did you know how to make for me? And, for that matter, when? "Well, to be honest, I just took a shot in the dark. I had no way to tell you would be the one to wield the sword." Hm, whatever you say...

As Red got up, he noticed the worried expression that Fluttershy still had. "What is it Fluttershy? Are you really still worried about me?" He asked. Fluttershy just nodded. Red sighed, "Listen, Fluttershy, nothing's gonna happen to me. I mean, I survived a manticore and a hydra. And I don't think that happens every day here." Red told her. "And besides, this isn't the worst thing that I've been through." "I-it's not?" Fluttershy asked. Red nodded, "I should probably tell you about my life, or at least, some of it. As a child, I had an older brother. One would think that he'd be a good guy, right? Well, he wasn't, he was a monster. But, after a while, I was sick of him. So, going against all of my promises of not becoming like him, I finally stood up to him. It was... Messy, to say the least.

"Once I felt the familiar pain, something inside of me snapped. And after the confrontation, I started hearing this voice." "You're damn right you did." "As the voice grew louder, it told me to what to do. I ignored it as long as I could, but, I couldn't ignore it forever. I finally gave in, and as I did what he said, I found out something about myself, something that terrified me. I actually found the color of blood quite fascinating. After a few days of doing what the voice told me, it said that I had earned enough of his trust that he would tell me his name. He said, 'Kid, you and me, we're gonna go far, and if we're gonna go far, you're gonna need to call me something. So, I'll tell you my name. Broken.' The name was fitting, he was telling me to do things no sane person would ever do. Once he told me his name, I tried ignoring him again. It didn't work. He kept me up at night, ordered me around, and even tried to take me over.

"I knew I couldn't let him win, so I gave it all I had. But it wasn't enough.I lost. I saw him do terrible things to family members, innocents, and friends. After some time, I launched an ambush, and tried to take myself back." "Asshole..." "I was able to do it, but only barely. I managed to cage him, but I couldn't shut him up. Nothing could. As I grew older, I began traveling my world, and, after finding some kind of machine, other worlds. I tried to start over in each one, but Broken wouldn't let me. My family had... Abilities. I had one that came was useful more times than I could count. I had the ability to manipulate smoke. I was able to heal my wounds in a matter of seconds.

"As time went on, my ability grew stronger. I was able to move on from only healing, to actual combat. I was able to keep myself hidden, after all, you can't hit what you can't see, right? After that, transportation, I was able to turn myself into smoke, and move faster than I could before. After that, I felt like I had nothing left to live for, but, as I traveled, I noticed how the Darkness in the worlds were stronger than the Light. After that, I tried to help the Light, evening the the tides. But, sometimes, I was tempted by the whispers of Darkness. I fell prey to them, and helped extinguish the Light. After I saw my mistakes, I couldn't stay there anymore, moving on to the next world." "Like the coward that you are..."

"And then, one world, I came across two ancient weapons, and was able to purge the manipulation that the Darkness held over me. After that, I lost count of how many worlds I had been through, and it was all a blur. Until I came to this world. Something about it just whispers me to stay. I don't know why..." "Sure..." "But, the whispers show promise, so, I decided I would stay. And that was when I met Princess Twilight, and, soon after, Celestia and Luna."

Red had a solemn expression as he told his story. He had only mentioned the parts that anyone sane could handle. He looked at Fluttershy's reaction. She just looked at him with a blank stare. "I understand that you don't want me to live anywhere near you after what I've just told you, so, I'll be going now." As Red tried to get up, Fluttershy just hugged him, crying. "N-no, you don't h-have to go. You've b-been through s-so much. I-if anything, you n-need to stay here." She said, between sobs. "What!?" "What?" "W-what?" Red asked. "You mean... You'll let me stay here? B-but-" Fluttershy didn't let him finish, and hugged him tighter.

Red was shocked, along with Broken and Nightmare. Fluttershy was willing to let him live with her, even with the sins he committed. "What happened in your past doesn't make you who you are, it's what you choose to do now that do." Fluttershy said. Red couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could anyone, especially someone as innocent as Fluttershy, be willing to let someone with a past as dark as his, not only let them live with them, but want them to live with them? It was one of the few things that Red just couldn't understand. Next Chapter: Voices Part I Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 58 Minutes