As Iclyn and Sirius embarked on a train to Canterlot and took their places, the former human couldn't help but think about what had happened earlier that day.

He had showed his more sensitive side to another person, and it was a thing he had rarely ever done. It worried and relieved him at the same time. He hoped Iclyn wouldn't tell anyone about it, and at the same time was glad he did it. Not only did it feel better, but it allowed him to lower his emotionless mask in her presence, which was good for his shattered mental health. He even began to develop friendly affection towards the pegasus filly.

Would she become his new friend? Deep inside, he was almost sure she would. He wished it to come true. He discovered a new chance to live, and he truly wanted to have someone to turn to with his problems, and he had plenty of them.

He leaned against the window as the train softly rocked against the tracks, making him sleepy. Beautiful sceneries passed by as the train neared the Canterlot Track: a set of railroad ways that rose higher and higher, circling the Alicorn Peak until the arrival at the capital city. The view from the height was breathtaking, and everything seemed so small.

Iclyn glanced at Sirius from time to time. While the problem she encountered was resolved, she could see in his eyes that he was thinking about something. His expression was neutral and slightly tired, his eyelids low. The pegasus guessed that he didn't get much sleep because of the nightmare.

She wanted to talk to him but didn't know how. She managed to help him once by using her words, but she was unsure how to act next. Did he accept her as a friend or was there hesitation and uncertainty? She hoped he would become closer to her, open up a little. However, everything ended after he hugged her. There wasn't remorse or anything like that, but he hadn't shown her anything ever since.

Sirius was still mysterious to Iclyn. He came from nowhere, and she wasn't sure he was one hundred percent pony. When he spoke, she noticed he had fangs in his mouth, something that normal ponies don't have. Of course, there were lunar pegasi, but he looked nothing like them. Also, he wasn't a normal pony to begin with: calm and collected, and yet aggressive and sad. Everything was mixed together inside him, and the mix was unlike anything Iclyn had ever even heard of. He had many problems that were hidden from her, and she couldn't fathom the circumstances that shaped him into the person he was at that day.

Iclyn was worried about him like a friend would. She didn't consider herself his friend, however — he hadn't let her get too close. He was still a large mystery, even his origins were unknown. Who were his parents? Where was he from? Why did he come to Equestria? And most importantly, why was he the way he was? Iclyn was pretty sure that she could get the answers only by asking Sirius, and she feared he would react negatively if she did it. She didn't want to push her luck.

Besides, he had fallen asleep by the time she thought of it. She moved closer to him, pressing her side against his. Maybe it would help him with his dreams and repel the nightmares.

During the train ride, nightmares didn't plague Sirius indeed. However, something strange happened in his dreams.

He opened his eyes. He was still in the train, but it had stopped by the time he came to his senses. It was empty as well, its doors opened. The former human looked outside, and discovered that there was artificial light, one that could be seen in underground metro systems.

He cautiously looked around again. There was still no one. Slowly and carefully, he got up from his seat. Unfortunately, he was defenseless again — his sword was nowhere to be found.

He disembarked the train. The surroundings resembled a plain and gray subway station. There were simple rectangular columns supporting the unremarkable ceiling, as well as a few simple wooden benches along the wall. The station name was blurred, hidden from Sirius behind an invisible veil.

He shook his head slightly, and then went to the exit. It was a flight of stairs with an out of order escalator. So far, there was still no one around. Everything was completely silent, and only the sound of Sirius' hooves clicking against the marble floor was echoing and reverberating through the empty halls of the station.

Soon, he came to a fork: there were two ways he could take. At the end of one of them, he could see a distant pony silhouette which seemed to call Sirius, but he couldn't hear the exact words. The other way was a much shorter, and yet darker corridor, only one lamp illuminated the end of it.

He took the second one. He couldn't trust whoever that pony was. He didn't know them. What if they did something bad to him?

At the end of the corridor, there was a table. And on the said table, a very familiar thing lied.

It was Sirius' revolver. Its polished gray metal shone in the light, and there was some blood on the muzzle, dull red in color.

Sirius picked the revolver up and checked its cylinder. It had five bullets — the maximum capacity. One of them was already used, however.

He felt the pull. The revolver called to him. He obeyed it, flicking the cylinder back into place and cocking the hammer.

He pressed the muzzle of the weapon against the side of his head, its coolness chilling him to the bone as sweat rolled down his forehead. He was so close, so close. He could feel it touching him. It was the most pleasant touch he would ever hope to get.

He hadn't pulled the trigger yet, however.

Maybe he shouldn't. There were possibilities. Maybe he shouldn't end his life right there and then. Everything went smoothly in the new world, he even had fun once, and one of the ponies was kind to him.

He frowned. Fun lasted shortly, and kindness was certainly fake. Why would anyone care for him? He knew her for less than a week. She couldn't possibly care for him in any way. A roommate, classmate, nothing more. Not a friend nor lover. Not a part of the family either.

Besides, his heart already belonged to someone else, someone he couldn't let go no matter how hard he tried. It was like an obsession, an unhealthy, disturbing obsession. It drove him crazy, it drove him mad. He couldn't live like that. He knew he would never reach the one he desired, and he knew what she would answer if answered at all. He was nothing to her, so unimportant, boring, and creepy. He couldn't possibly get what he wanted, he thought.

One thing remained. Death.

Someone kept calling him, their voice growing louder. He couldn't hesitate, not when there were people who would pull him back into the swamp of feces that was the life.

He pulled the trigger. However, he didn't hear the shot — he woke up instead.

"Sirius?" Iclyn called her roommate, looking at him with worry.

"...Woke up." he replied, grumbling slightly. He kept his emotions under control — he couldn't allow another sentimental moment to happen between him and the filly, at least not so soon. "We arrived?"

"Yeah. Let's go." Iclyn nodded, and then the two proceeded to disembark the train and go outside the train station.

Sirius was deep in thought. While his strange dream had almost faded by then, he still remembered something — who was that pony at the end of the hallway? Did they bear any significance? He didn't know. Maybe it would become clear to him as time went on.

Meanwhile, Luna was studying the revolver. She decided that perhaps calling Sirius wasn't a very good idea, especially considering that he was mentally unstable. Of course, maybe she would get her answers, but for what price?

There had been one bullet already shot before Luna found the revolver deep in the water. Whom did Sirius shoot and why? Was it self-defense? Murder? Attempted suicide?

Luna had her suspicions, one more insane than another, and yet all plausible. It was clear he wasn't born a pony. The alicorn hadn't seen such a weapon before, and she was sure it was made by neither minotaurs nor griffons, two possible species that could hold such a weapon effectively.

Thus, the revolver confirmed her earlier suspicions — Sirius was from another world and wasn't a pony until he appeared at the Birthwater lake.

Should she do anything about it? Maybe. Sirius could very well be a danger to others. However, he hadn't done anything even remotely bad to any pony aside from those who arguably deserved it. So far, all he did was self-defense, and such an act wasn't prohibited in Equestria. He hadn't murdered or severely wounded anyone as well. All in all, it was safe to assume that he used violence only when necessary.

So, should Luna return the revolver to him? After all, there were no legal reasons for her to keep the weapon to herself. Besides, he already had one weapon who could be used for killing. Frankly, anything he could lay his hooves on could be used as one. Even his own horn could be used for successfully stabbing someone to death if he was persistent enough.

All in all, there was no reason for Luna to keep him in the dark. She could use this possibility to gain Sirius' trust as well, seeing that she did cause him some trouble before.

So, she went to write a letter.

As Sirius and Iclyn reached their apartment, the former human felt a strange sensation — a pull towards a certain direction. After that strange dream he had, it became stronger and stronger.

He looked in that direction. He knew that there was the Canterlot Castle. Why did he feel the pull towards it? Why then?

"Sirius, look — there's a letter for you." Iclyn said, gesturing at his bed. Indeed, there was a letter packed into a midnight-blue envelope with a silver wax stamp.

Sirius approached his bed and took the letter into his magical grasp. There was indeed his name on it, written in flowing silver-colored letters. He opened it.

Dear Sirius,

I believe I have something that belongs to you. You should take a look at it and tell me if it is indeed yours.

Please, come to the Lunar Wing of the Canterlot Castle. The guards will show you the way from then on.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

Sirius furrowed his brows. He understood it was why he felt the pull towards the castle. Did Luna cast a spell on him? Was the item she found calling to him? He had only one way to find out.

"I will return soon." he told Iclyn, and then headed out of the apartment.

The filly stared at him with confusion. Just where was he going and why?

Some time later, Sirius finally reached the castle and entered it without any problems. The guards kept an eye on him since he had a sword on his side, but didn't do anything to stop him or take the sword away. But if they tried to, there would be a very unpleasant surprise waiting for them.

Soon, the former human came to a set of big double doors. They were night-themed, having a crescent moon and stars on a dark-blue background.

"You are Sirius, correct?" one of the guards approached him. Unlike others, he had dark-gray fur, orange slit-pupil eyes, bat-like membrane wings and longer fur. His armor was also different from what Sirius had previously seen. It had more protection, as well as different color: shades of purple instead of plain gold.

Sirius nodded, and then he and the guard proceeded into the Lunar Wing of the castle. It was decorated with gothic architecture elements, such as pointed archways and elaborate stone carvings. There also was an enormous and very well detailed map of the moon's surface. Sirius was quite surprised by that fact — the pony race wasn't very advanced in technology, not to the point of space travel. Perhaps they had telescopes that allowed them to study the moon that close. Otherwise, there was no explanation he could think of.

Before a certain door, the guard stopped Sirius.

"Wait here. I shall inform her majesty about your arrival." the guard said, and then proceeded to knock the door. The voice of the nightly princess responded, and the guard entered. Soon, he returned and allowed Sirius to go inside.

He felt the pull stronger than before. But it didn't come from Luna, no. She was sitting at a table, and on the said table something lied under a piece of black cloth. It was the magnet Sirius was looking for.

"Good morning, Sirius." Luna greeted him softly and carefully. "How was your week?"

"...Fine." he replied after a moment of consideration. "If you take away being attacked on the first day," he begun to list, making Luna frown. "Twice on a row, and then almost attacked again, not to mention almost got myself beaten up. If not for this—" he shook his side, directing Luna's attention towards his sword "—they would've attacked."

"I'm... very sorry to hear this." Luna said. While she knew about the first two incidents, she was unaware of the third one. "I promise I'll make sure they will be punished accordingly."

Sirius stared into her eyes. So far, he was sure she wasn't lying.

"So," Luna cleared her throat. "I found something that I think is yours. Take a look." she swiped the piece of cloth off the table, revealing the revolver. "Do you know what it is?"

Sirius knew well what it was. It was Smith&Wesson .460 XVR revolver with 21.3 centimeters barrel. He remembered he got it some time ago. If his memory was right, it happened about six months before his suicide.

He stared at it in disbelief. How could it end up there? Did he not notice it when he came to the new world? Most likely, yes. And he was going to get it back.

"Yes." Sirius said, confirming Luna's thoughts and suspicions. "I need it back."

"I will give it back to you if you answer a couple of questions." Luna stated firmly, nodding. "It won't concern your personal life, seeing how you refuse to talk about it."

"...Let us begin." Sirius said slowly. He hoped she wouldn't ask anything too... sensitive. He should carefully work everything out — he needed that gun.

"I've thought about you a lot, truth be told." Luna admitted. "There is one major question I want to ask you. Are you an alien?"

"A what?" Sirius blinked. "What does alien mean?"

"Are you from another world?" Luna rephrased her sentence.

"..." Sirius figured out it wouldn't do him anything if he hid the truth. She already knew, denying it was impossible. "If yes, so what?" he asked, some aggression showed in his voice.

"Neither I nor my sister will take your freedoms away because you're an alien, don't worry." the princess assured. "Every single being deserve to search their happiness in our country, pony or not. As long as they follow the law, of course." she cleared her throat. "I just wanted to know... Why does your world has this?" she gestured at the revolver.

"I used it for... self-defense." Sirius replied. "It was, um created for hunt. Our weapons are developed more than what you have."

"And how do you call such weapons?" Luna asked with interest.

"They are guns." the former human replied.

"Guns..." the nightly alicorn rolled the word on her tongue. The word was short and somewhat aggressive, and yet elegant.

"But this thing is a... revolver." Sirius managed to pick the right word. "You won't understand the complete name."

"Alright... And the last question." Luna picked up the revolver and flicked the cylinder out. "It has five slots. One had already been used." she looked at him. "How did you use it?"

"It is personal." he replied. He wasn't about to tell her the real reason.

"Vendetta?" Luna asked.

"What?" Sirius blinked in confusion.

"Revenge?" the princess used another word.

"...Maybe." he replied, looking away. Maybe his suicide was a sort of revenge he inflicted upon himself because of self-hate. He was weak, not strong enough to survive in that world of humans. The failure deeply scarred him, and there was no other way out than to make sure that the one behind all this was dead — himself.

"Alright." Luna sighed slightly. "Take it. Please, don't kill anypony. They don't deserve it." it came out like a plea than anything else.

"If they don't give me reason to." Sirius replied, picking up the revolver, his magic forming into hands, one of which wrapped around the handle. Luna noticed it but didn't comment, instead studying the movement of fingers. "Besides, I would have done it already. I have this." he used his magic to shake his sword slightly.

"...This is also yours." she handed him a small metallic box she found alongside the revolver. "I... I hope you won't have to use this weapon again."

Sirius turned around and walked to the door. At the last moment, he turned around.

"Likewise." he said, and then left.

Luna continued sitting in her armchair, breathing lightly. The tension was gone, replaced with a feeling of numbness. She saw a flicker of deep sadness in his eyes as he said his last word.

No, he wasn't going to kill anyone, Luna understood. He was capable of killing, but it didn't mean he wanted to.

Sirius stood at the edge of Canterlot again, looking down. No one was around him as he stared at the ground down below.

He pressed the muzzle of his revolver against his temple.

He hesitated.

His gun began to shake.

No, he couldn't do it again, not when everything looked like it was going to become better as days passed.

He lowered his revolver. The fear of another painful transformation prevented him from pulling the trigger.

Maybe he wouldn't need it indeed.

Author's Notes:

In case there is still confusion: Luna returned the revolver to Sirius because he already had a weapon and she understood that there would be no difference if she gave him another one. He could very well use anything to do what he needed. Besides, she was sure ponies hadn't done him anything too bad.

Maybe it wasn't the best choice of action, but maybe Luna got something from it as well. At least she didn't overreact to the news that Sirius wasn't actually a pony. Besides, she knew she had to keep her calm if she wanted him to cooperate.

If there are any questions left — ask me, I will explain.

Also, every single detail of the dream/nightmare sequences matter. Remember it when you try to build theories around what is happening inside Sirius' mind.