I followed Apple Bloom and her friends, Sweetie Bell, a unicorn, and Scootaloo, a pegasus. I will never understand pony names. They showed me around, pointing out buildings, such as Sugarcube Corner and Golden Oaks Library, and places they'd failed to get their Cutie Marks. But they failed to point out places that they didn't think were important, like the market, which I noticed and noted its location. I also made sure to note the location of the library, the Town Hall and a meat stall.

Not long after Apple Bloom yelled, "Hey, it's Miss Cheerilee!" And galoped off in the direction of a dark purplish Earth pony, quickly followed by her friends. I, of course, followed at a more leisurely pace.

As I approached the mare smiled warmly at me, "Hello, you must be the Mr Wesker I've heard so much of!"

I inclined my head. "Guilty as charged."

"And so unique! Personally I would love it if more non-ponies lived here, it would give me a great excuse to teach about different culture."

"You're a teacher?" I asked.

She nodded, "I sure am. I love children and I can't imagine doing anything else." She turned to the kids. "Run along, girls, me and Wesker are going to be talking for a while."

"Come on, girls!" Apple Bloom chirped. "Sugarcube Corner has a sale on hayshakes!" With a cheer they ran off.

"Cute. Completely destructive and near impossible to control, but cute."

"You have no idea." Cheerilee muttered.

I sighed contently, "Personally I envy you a little. Having a job centered on kids. Well, that's a dream for me. Unfortunately, I won't ever have a job like that."

She frowned, "Why not? You seem great with foals."

I sighed, "I have a few issues. Impatience, I hate bullies and some other things."

"Oh. I guess that would make it hard to work with children. Do you have any of your own?"

"Me-children-I-uh-that-n-n-n-no." I spluttered. "I, uh, last time I was around a member of my own species I felt I was too young to take up that responsibility."

"I see. And now?"

I scoffed. "I won't be able to find my kind again. Let's just say...we're the best at staying hidden from Equestria." True, up to interpretation though.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She muttered.

I shrugged. "Eh, doesn't matter. Somebody like me would never get the guts to ask someone out."

"You mean somepony."

"...I'm not saying that. Ever."

After talking to Cheerilee for a while longer the girls dragged me off to continue the 'tour'. I just didn't have the heart to tell them that I didn't really care at all about knowing where they failed to get Cutie Marks or where the trees with the most sap were.

As we approached the heart of the town again a posh, somewhat snobbish, looking white unicorn came out in front of us. "Girls, I think that Mr Wesker would like to explore on his own, dears!" White Prissy called. A chorus of complaints cried out. "Now, now! But if you want to do something, I could use some models!" The girls quickly scarpered after that.

"Thanks." I said, rubbing the back of my head. "As much as they mean well, they can get a little..."

"Excited?" White Prissy supplied.

"...Sure. Much better than what I was thinking of."

"I suppose my sister and her friends can get like that some times.Oh! Where are my manners? I am Rarity, owner of Carousel Boutique, where every dress is chic, unique and magnifique!"

I raised an eyebrow. "So you only do dresses?"

"Oh, good heavens, no! ...Although...I guess my slogan does give that image, hmm?"

"How about...Carousel Boutique, you dream it I make it. Or something like that?" I might as well pitch in. Sweetie Belle would be devastated if she loses this place, Sweetie Belle being her sister from deductive reasoning, having the same coat and Sweetie being the only unicorn in her little group.

She gasped. "Ideaaa!" She sung. "How about 'Bringing your imagination to the fabric!'?"

I shrugged. "It could do with some work, but it's a good start." It finally clicked that she used my name. "Hey, how do you know my name?"

She giggled, "Sorry, but news of you has been spreading ever since you appeared in town and helped that...that Changeling." She sighed and shook her head. "That poor dear. No creature, pony or otherwise, deserves to be abused like that."

I think it's time to dig around here. "But why was that Changeling being attacked? Why all the hatred?"

She just stared at me. "Surely you've heard of the invasion of Canterlot?"

I shook my head. "No. What invasion?"

She sighed. "It was a few months ago, Princess Cadence was getting married to Shining Armor, Twilight's older brother. It turned out that the Changeling Queen was impersonating Princess Cadence and Twilight was the only one who noticed. She was trapped in the Crystal Mines and there she found the real Princess Cadence and interrupted the wedding just in time. The Queen revealed herself just as her drones smashed through the shield surrounding the city, we fought but in the end it was Shining Armor and Princess Cadence who defeated them with their love forming a shield spell of some kind. The Changelings and their Queen ended up being blasted towards the Badlands."

I closed my eyes and thought on that. That...would explain the hostility. And what McDouchenozzle was spouting earlier. "And you? Why do you seem to give them a chance when other condemn their species for one incident?"

She gave a small smile. "Oh, you know, I don't want to alienate any potential clients." Her reply was cold, rehearsed, clinical and utter...

"Bullshit." I said. She stumbled backwards, scrambling for something to say to throw me off. "Tell me the truth. I don't care. Changelings are special to me, I won't say anything to anyone."

She stared at me for a few seconds before sighing, "Oh, dear, if you must know...you swear not to tell anypony?" I nodded. "I...have several Changeling friends. From both before and after the wedding. I just fail to see how they could be classed as monsters. They feed off love for Harmony's sake! Not exactly the stuff of nightmares now, are they?"

I frowned. "I only have one question left. Do you hate the species as a whole for the wedding?"

"Well...no. You can't blame many for the action of a few. I don't even think I could hate the Queen that invaded. Dislike and find despicable? Indeed. Hate? I don't believe so."

Satisfied I glanced towards the sky. "Well, I better be off. Goodbye, Rarity." I took off, following the wind.

"Have a wonderful day, Mr Wesker." She called before continuing down the path.

Ponyville was small, yet comfortable. Just like your classic idyllic village. Birds sung their songs, lives were lived in peace, and it was all so...cutesy. Makes a guy want to puke. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against peacefulness, but for fuck sakes, you live right next to the Everfree Forest! How many defences do you have to protect against something just wandering out and into the town? None. That's right. None. Fucking idiots.

"Um...excuse me..." Someone nearby whispered.

I turned around and saw a shaking yellow pegasus. "Hello." I smiled.

"Um...hi..." She whimpered.

"...Can I help you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"N-no, no! I mean...maybe...I...I was just wondering...are...are you...a...carnivore?" She shot backwards, "Um, I mean, if it's not too rude to ask?"

I smirked, "Well, that's a bit presumptuous, isn't it? Just coming up to someone and asking their dietary needs. Usually one starts with a name, or is that getting too mainstream these days?"

"Oh, I didn't mean...! I...I..." She whimpered and blushed as she slid to the ground and covered her head with her hooves.

I chuckled to myself, these Ponies are so easy to fuck with! "Wesker."

She glanced up, "W-what...?"

"My name. And you are?" I waved a hand.

"F...Fluttershy..." She whispered.

"Fluttershy, huh? Just why are you interested?"

"Oh. Well, I...I look after animals from...from all around, and it'd...be nice to speak to a carnivore to get their perspective on hunting." She started to get a bit more confident towards the end. But that's like saying, 'That ant is two millimeters taller than the rest.'

"Well, I'm an omnivore, not a carnivore, but I know this book by a Griff. Trials And Tribulation Of A Travelling Griffin. It's a good read and it has an entire segment dedicated to hunting from a Griffins perspective. It should help." I smiled.

"Oh, thank you, Mr Wesker...I...I'll have a look at that." She whispered.

"It's just Wesker." I said, following the path again, feeling the conversation was going to be very one-sided after then. "See you around."

"Goodbye." I heard a soft whisper.

I glared at the green barrier in front of my face. I despise magic.

"Haaands..." The mint unicorn breathed, clutching at said appendages.

"Let. Go." I growled.

"Handy, hands, haaaaaands..." She sung.

"I will kick your face in!" I snarled, beginning to raise my foot.

"My hands, miiiiine..."

"Lyra!" A new voice called out as a cream coated Earth pony ran up and snatched the freak away from me. "Bad, Lyra! Bad!" She scolded. I wondered where she had come from. I noticed the barrier had connected with a house but instead of phasing through it, it just stopped on top of house, most likely to conserve energy. This new pony must have climbed through the house.

"But, Bon Bon!" Freakshow whined. "Haaands!"

"No! Bad!" The new mare cleared her throat. "Sorry about that. Lyra's usually a nice pony, but...she has a bad obsession." She coughed. "I try to keep her out of trouble, but there's only so much one mare can do. I'm Bon Bon. She...she's Lyra." She looked away and blushed a little.

"I think I have something of yours." Bon Bon gave me a quizzical look so I held up one of my hands. A certain mint unicorn attached.

"LYRA!!!" Bon Bon yelled, snatching her off me and glaring at her. "I am so, so sorry. I'll just...leave you now. You ever come by my shop, Bon Bon's Bonbons, I'll give you a free sample for the trouble." She turned her attention to the mint menace. "Come along, Lyra." She forced through clenched teeth.

"But, Boooon Boooooon!" Lyra whined as she was dragged off.

As I left the town the town and entered the Everfree I promised myself two things. One. Never fall victim to Apple Bloom's cuteness again. Two. Never get in the way of fillies trying to get their Cutie Marks. Oddly enough you'd end up covered in tree sap. (Luckily I'd managed to sidestep just in time)

Three. Avoid Lyra like the fucking plague.

I took a deep breath of fresh air, the pleasant scent of fresh flowers and a nearby waterfall flowed through my nose. The sounds of woodland animals scurrying around the nearby trees and jumping across branches, sung in my ears. Opening my eyes, I took in the sight of the setting sun, sparkling through the trees, dew shining in the the orange light, the sky a brilliant mixture of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Yeah. This is the life. I sighed contently. I could just lay here for the rest of my life. Just...relaxing.

I exited the Everfree on the Sweet Apple Acres path, several weeks had passed since my first, but not last, visit to Ponyville and hopefully it wouldn't be so frantic this time. Not long after the trees I was trekking through began to change to apple trees. After a few minutes of walking I came across Applejack lazing about at the base of a tree, her hat pulled low over her face. I decided to take a page from her book and relax like her at the bottom of the tree next to where she was.

I stared up at the blue sky, filtered by the tree's green leafs. It felt great to just kick back and relax like this. It was great for self-reflection. Why had I been so kind and nice to these ponies? Because if I wasn't chances were Princess Traitor would learn of me. That and over the past few weeks my visits to the Circle of Tranquility had left me with a clear mind.

Applejack chuckled softly, "You sure are a quiet one, ain't you?"

I looked over to her and returned a smile, "I've long since learned the importance of silence and relaxation. It's good for the soul." I turned my gaze back to the sky. "How's Apple Bloom?"

"She's been doing good. Other than the crusading, of course."

I grinned, "Of course. So, what's going on?"

"Nightmare Night's coming around in a week, that ought to be fun. Hey! You should come! It's great!"

I looked over to her, thinking it over. "Hmmm...okay. Sure, why not? Maybe it won't be so bad."

Author's Notes:

Omake: (Rarity talking about why she doesn't hate Changelings.)

She gave a small smile. "Oh, you know, I don't want to alienate any potential clients." Her reply was cold, rehearsed, clinical and conflicted with what she said earlier.

"OBJECTION!!!" I cried, dramatically throwing a finger in her direction. "You say that you didn't want to alienate potential customers, yet Scarab, the Changeling from earlier, had left town after being beaten, unlikely to ever come back, yet you still synthesised with him!"

She shot back, shivering, "Uh, I...I don't know what..." She stopped and instantly collected herself. "I fail to see the importance of such an event. I would feel bad even if it wasn't a Changeling, as I said."

I nodded, hand against my chin in thought. "True. But..." I snatched up some papers out of her saddlebag that I'd spotted earlier and held them loosely in my hand. "That doesn't explain why you have several designs for outfits both inspired and for Changelings! Ponies don't have the right body type for these clothing!"

She flinched back as if struck, sweat poring down her face. "I...uh...I...I...you...! You don't...! Ah...! You...I...th-they....Argh!" She slumped to the ground, a flash of white filled the air for a second. She sighed and stood back up. "Fine. You win. I cannot, will not blame the entire Changeling race for the actions of a few! They deserve that much respect at least! The same respect as any other living being! I don't regret that, I never will!"