Myasnik ran as fast as he could, leaping over walls ten times taller than himself with no issue and even running up and along them as well. He was putting as much distance as he could between him and any of the ponies. Though considering he was in a city on the side of a cliff, his options were very limited at the moment. However, when he was about to make a run for it again, he felt a sharp pain in his torso, then all in his limbs. The sleeping ‘virus’ was finishing its work in augmenting his body. To call it a virus, however, was far from what it was, or what it used to be. This version of it kept the host mostly human. In the next few months, however, Myasnik was going to find out soon enough just what happens if you do not consume a living creature, being. But for now, he was safe. From this at least. He falls back against a wall of the castle, his hands clutching at his stomach and his breathing quickening. He grunts in pain as his body remains sore after the process was done, but at least the hard part was done. But he wasn’t going anywhere for awhile after that.

    His mind went back to the images of the sheer look of horror on his friends’ and marefriend’ faces. Especially the latter. He buries his face into his hands and lets out a groan of frustration. If he hadn’t been expecting something like this, he'd probably be in more of a mental breakdown than anything. But right now, he just wished that he was able to move without feeling the soreness. He slowly rises to his feet and gets ready to find a place to hide But before he does, Both Celestia and Luna land on either side of him, ready to block his exit in any way they could, their horns glowing brightly.

    “Tch, perfect…”

    He said as he shifted his gaze between the two sisters, glaring at them intimidatingly hoping it would get them to back off. However, that certainly wasn’t happening.

    “Myasnik, why did you run?”

    Asked Celestia, keeping her eyes on him directly, watching for any sudden moves.

    “What do you think? It certainly isn’t because I am now a walking biological weapon that that could now cause trouble for everyone if I was so inclined. So you two are now here to make sure that doesn’t happen by any means necessary huh?”

    They both understood why he had thought that. After all, with what he was capable of, he could easily infiltrate even the highest of authority if he consumed someone like that and took their form. Not to mention know what they know as well. Yes, he was a dangerous element. Dangerous, but not unstoppable. Despite his new abilities, he still had the weaknesses of a human. Both Physical and emotional. Celestia took a few step closer to him. Myasnik was starting to get jumpy, his muscles throbbed and his eyes focused on her.

    “Stay back, I don’t want to hurt you, princess. Please…”

    She kept approaching him, slower this time. The mare reaches out to him with a gentle hand, trying her best to calm him down with her words. He was fighting the urge so much to lash out and attack her, his body was saying defense but his emotions were shouting ‘DON’T YOU DARE!’ Myasnik only closed his eyes and waited for whatever was going to happen. He felt a gentle hand rest on his head and then drift down to his jaw. He didn’t open his eyes, but Celestia fell to her knees, placing her other hand on his shoulder.

    “Myasnik. Remember what I told you the other day? No matter what would happen to you, we would get through it, together.”

    Luna walked over as well and kneeled by Myasnik as well. Clearly, he was in great stress shown by his clenched teeth and shaky breathing. He truly was expecting the worse to happen. In his mind, even a single threat that comes from him made him think that everything he had gotten here would be stripped away from him by a swift death. Once Celestia and Luna got to him though, his fears seemed to have subsided after her words. He slowly lifts his head up to gaze At Celestia who had a gentle and warm look on her face.

    “You saw what I did though. Everyone did. Do you really expect everyone to be okay with what I just did? Even back in my world, I would either be put to death immediately or held up in some lab to be tortured and die a slow painful death.”

    “But this isn’t your world, is it?”

    Luna asked as she was doing her best to calm him down as well. She did feel bad about invade his dream when she wasn’t welcomed, but at the same time, she was just trying to get to know him for personal reasons. It wasn’t because Celestia had asked her, not really. She wanted to befriend him.

    “No..it’s not. But this was much worse than I was expecting. This...thing that I have inside me is a perfected version of a very dangerous killer virus that nearly destroyed one of the biggest cities in our world because it was embedded in one man. He took down elite black ops soldiers and monsters that were overly transformed by the virus. And I am sure you know what a virus’s objective is. Consume everything organic.”

    “That may be true, Myasnik. But you said it was ‘perfected’. Something tells me that it is not so much a virus, but more of part of your genetics now. Which means it must be something that you can control. Am I right?”

    Asked Celestia as she lowered him down gently as he slid down the wall on his back. He nodded as his body became less and less tense.

    “Yes, I can control it. But that isn’t the issue. I received memories when the code merged with mine. And at the end of those memories, there was an explosion that carried the real virus. I have a feeling that if certain conditions aren’t met, I am essentially a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Which could cause a widespread epidemic. Which is the last thing I want to happen here.”

    “And do you have a way to keep that from happening, Myasnik?”

    Ask Luna as she leans in for an answer just as her sister does. He lowers his head again, knowing the answer is quite grim.

    “You saw what I had to do. With that would-be assassin. If I don’t absorb a living being or creature for at least a few months, this is going to get quite bad. Because not only will it kill me, but it will kill many others as well.”

    “And you are right. Ending your life right here and now would prevent that from happen. But, I am afraid if I did that. I would be hurting quite a few ponies who care about you deeply, including my own student who has come to love you like her own flesh and blood. We will find a way to work around this, Myasnik. I promise. But for now, I believe you are needed elsewhere. Those three fillies must be wondering where you have gone, wishing you were there with them. Not to mention the others. I am sure they are worried as well…”

    Myasnik wasn’t too sure about that. He lowered his head and looked at his hands. No particular reason, it is just something he did when he wasn’t sure of himself or what was going to happen. But she hasn’t lied to him yet. So he slowly stood up and took in a deep breath, then released it slowly.

    “Whatever you have become, it doesn’t change who you are. Those ponies still love you either way. Those three need you especially. Don’t keep them waiting any longer, Myasnik

    Myasnik nodded slowly. Celestia gently took his hand and nodded as well.

    “Then off we go.”

    She looks to Luna.

    “Sister, could you see to it that this doesn’t become a public issue? That last thing we need is for this to get out in the open.”

    Luna nodded firmly, spreading her wings.

    “I am on it, sister.”

    She said before flying off, going to do just that. Celestia suddenly teleports Myasnik back to where the incident happened. They were all still there, hugging and comforting one another. Celestia gently pushed him forward, urging him to go and see that they smile once more.

    “Go on.”

    She whispered lightly. Myasnik nods and begins to make his way towards them. He kept his gaze to the ground though and his fists tight. Twilight was the first to look over and see him approach. The tears that she was shedding stopped as she saw him.

    “Myasnik…?”

    “Yeah Twi...it’s me/”

    Sweetie and the others heard his voice, they slowly brought their tearful gaze to him. Nope, it certainly wasn’t their mind and heart playing tricks on them. He was standing there. They all tore away from their sisters and tackled him to the ground.

    “Myasnik!!!”

    They all shouted in absolute joy, squeezing him as hard as they could, not letting go. Myasnik blinks a few times, not really expecting this reaction from them at all. Celestia was right it seemed. They didn’t back away from him as he approached, they all gathered around him will his marefriends smothered him with affectionate nuzzles and nearly robbed him of his air supply with their hugs. Myasnik finally sits up and looks down at them.

    “I honestly didn’t expect this kind of reaction from you three. But I am happy that my last thoughts did not become a reality…”

    Sweetie looks up at him with her beautiful green eyes.

    “Did you really think we’d stop loving you even after that? We were expecting something to happen.”

    “Yeah, we were expecting’ much worse actually. We thought you’d turn into some kinda monstrosity or somethin’. But thankfully you are still you. We are happy we didn’t lose the one we love so dearly…”

    Said Apple Bloom, as she nuzzles into him some more. Her arms wrapped tight around his waist.

    “We thought you had really died back there...that pony shot you through the head. I don’t know how, but you recovered from it so quickly. But I don’t care. You are alive and that is all that matters…”

    Scootaloo said s she placed her muzzle in the crock of his neck. Myasnik closes his eyes and brings his arms around his three marefriends. The doubt that was overflowing in his heart finally washed away by their words and comforting. The others gather around as well, happy to see that things were alright in the end. However, one thing was going on in Celestia’s mind as she watched this. A worry that seemed to bother her very much.

    I will have to speak with Myasnik if his abilities are true in seeing memories of that pony he absorbed. If they wanted him dead. Just what could we be dealing with in the very near future..?