"P-please, don't shoot me!" Anastasia managed to utter meekly. She was still frozen in place and afraid to move a millimeter.

Sirius blinked. He realized it was indeed her. Her distinct soft voice with some Russian accent still present was very familiar to him. What must he do next? She was a remnant of his past, something he wanted to forget but couldn't. He could kill her and end it all.

Suddenly, a thought appeared in his head. No, killing her would be sick, disgusting, unacceptable. She did nothing wrong to him, it was he who messed up and ended up pushing her away. It was all his fault, not hers. If he killed her, he would become a true murderer. No justification, no excuse would save him.

He was disgusted at himself. He knew not all humans were monsters. Why would he kill the first human to appear in Equestria after him? Maybe they were just as broken as he was and needed help to become whole again? Maybe they were just confused and wanted to go home? Sirius felt sick to the bone. His parents, friends, the special someone, all of them were good people. There were more good people in the world besides them, too.

Would he be any better than those he wanted to kill? No, he wouldn't. He mustn't kill unless it was self-defense. He wasn't a murderer, at least he hoped he wasn't. And then, there were Anastasia. As he was used to call her softly, Nastya.

He loved her, but to him love was disgusting. He didn't know what to do, he was confused beyond words. What must he do with her? He couldn't just leave her. How did she even appear there? Had she committed suicide as well? No, it was impossible. She had a happy life, much happier than his. She would never have a reason to kill herself. She had plenty of friends, some boys liked her in a special way. She must've already got a boyfriend, too. He didn't know it.

Sirius used to stalk her once he stopped going to school. It was sick, it was disgusting, but he just couldn't stop. She hadn't seen him once but he saw her, he followed her anywhere he could. On social media, he monitored her activities, her posts. It was unacceptable and creepy, but he couldn't stop. He was obsessed with her and refused to let go. From something mostly innocent, his attraction grew into addiction and he couldn't get rid of it as if he was still doing drugs.

Anastasia still didn't move. She saw hesitation in Sirius' eyes and hoped he wouldn't press the trigger. She hadn't known it was Stanislav yet. Though, the look in his eyes was oddly familiar.

"How did you get here?" Sirius asked her finally. He made up his mind and decided that he would do anything possible to finally let go and maybe have her as a friend.

Her eyes widened. She knew that voice, that slightly monotonous way of speech. The voice was just like she remembered it albeit slightly lower. It couldn't be...

"Stas?" she asked, and he immediately flinched. It was him. "Is that... you?"

"...Yes." he nodded. "So, how did you get here?"

"I... Well, I was actually searching for you." Anastasia started explaining. "I, um, came to the lake you liked and... I saw a strange red plant on a rock. I walked to it to see what it was since I haven't seen it before, and... There were weird footsteps. Um, I don't remember much, but... there was a shot. It didn't hit me, but I stumbled and fell into the lake. And... I'm here now."

Sirius wasn't skeptical in the slightest. He didn't believe in ghosts or anything supernatural, but he had already discovered there was afterlife and magic. There was nothing impossible, it seemed. He decided to believe in her statement.

He took a closer look at Anastasia. She was wearing clothes, though they were unbuttoned and loose. She also had a backpack and his sword strapped to it.

Sirius walked to her and looked at the sword. It was as he remembered, although the tip was flat. He was surprised it survived in the fire.

It was, in fact, his first longsword. Its cross-guard was straight and simple as was the rest of the sword. It was still a fully-functional sword that could cut very well. He never used it in trainings with others but only for cutting different thing to learn how to align the sword properly.

He took the sword from Anastasia, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. She stared at his horn as she saw it glowing. It was glowing before but she hadn't noticed it until that very moment.

"W-wha... Magic?" she said, eyeing the horn with interest and fascination.

"Yes. This world is... different." Sirius replied. "It has magic which we can use with our horns. Though, it doesn't matter now. I'm afraid there is no way for either of us to go back." he silently added that he didn't want to return anyway.

"...Oh no..." Anastasia sat down as her eyes teared up. She expected it but pushed away the thought until it was confirmed. She had to embrace it. The university, gone. Her friends, gone. Her family, gone. Nothing remained but a distant memory of a person and a couple of items. "No..."

"It is not the time for crying." Sirius averted his eyes. He just couldn't look at her. It was partly his fault that she was there. "Follow me, I will get you to a better place than this forest."

"I... I..." the girl sobbed, realizing that her life was changed forever.

Sirius sighed, and then finally put the revolver back into the pouch, remembering to disengage it first by slowly releasing the hammer. Then, he placed his old sword between the first two. He would certainly make use of it as at least a wall-hanger. It had so many memories associated with it he couldn't just throw it away or reforge. It bore some significance to him even while he was rarely attached to things.

"Nastya, let's go." he repeated, using the softer variant of her name.

She nodded somberly and stood up. Tears were streaming down her face, leaving trails behind. Her eyes were already red as she sniffed. She was entirely engulfed in sadness.

It was painful for Sirius to see her in such a condition. She had lost everything in one moment while searching for someone she hadn't even talked to for two years. She found him, but was it worth it? Sirius definitely doubted it. He also couldn't do anything to help. They became too distant.

"By the way, don't call me Stas." he said, gaining her attention.

"W-why?" she asked him quietly. Why would he want that?

"My name is Sirius now." the former human replied. "Now, listen closely. I had to learn a new language to communicate with others, and they look just like us. Unicorns, regular kind, and pegasi. As strange as it sounds, it is true. This is your new life — you better accept it."

He was slightly harsh towards her but he saw no reason to like their birth world. It was a mess. There was living and artificial trash everywhere, nasty people were in power and didn't do anything they were supposed to, and basically no one cared for anyone or anything. They were all about themselves and no one else. There were good examples of humanity but they were drowned by the overwhelming amount of 'intelligent' trash that Sirius despised so much. He was no better and he realized it but he was still better than most.

That was why he didn't want humans in Equestria. The country had no defenses that could sustain an invasion from Earth. Many third world countries were invaded for resources and political reasons, why would Equestria be different? Ponies would be enslaved, forced in camps to be studied, and humans would try to learn how to use magic. Forests would be gone, resources drained, those opposing to humans would be murdered in cold blood, and the once peaceful country would turn into another pit for trash.

While Sirius understood his methods were extreme and psychopathic, he knew how bad humans could be. Nothing stopped violence but bigger violence, unfortunately.

With the dark thoughts in his mind, Sirius thought about how to help Anastasia blend in.

"Also, you need to take off your clothes." he said. He didn't like his own tone but he couldn't help it.

"What? I'm not going around naked!" the girl protested.

"Everyone else is. No one cares if you're naked. Do you want to get noticed and then questioned about your origins?" Sirius asked, his anger rising slightly.

"But—"

"Are you going to act like a spoiled child or do as told?" Sirius snarled, losing patience.

"Don't talk to me like that!" Anastasia retorted, glaring at him.

"The only reason you're alive right now is because I don't hate you as much as others." he growled out aggressively. "And what, do you think I want you to get naked for my sick pleasure? You must do it if you want to successfully make it, not because of me."

"...This is not how I remember you." Anastasia sighed, making his heart sting. She started taking off her clothes while not looking at the one she thought was her friend.

"Should I care?" Sirius replied angrily but it only made her sigh again. He didn't want her to be close to him any longer. Love was disgusting, he was no better, and he didn't want the reminder of his failures to constantly be with him. "Now, you do what I say you do. Don't talk to anyone, don't act too interested in the surroundings, and follow me."

"Where are we going?" she asked tiredly. She wanted to get over it and be done with it. Her friend had become someone else entirely during the two years she hadn't seen him. She didn't know if she could still be friends with him anymore.

"To my house. To blend in, you will have to learn the language." Sirius explained. "It is easy but it will take time, I still struggle a bit. Then, we'll figure something out."

"...Alright. I guess I don't have a choice." Anastasia nodded, and then proceeded to follow him while looking at the ground.

Sirius decided to be silent. He didn't want to harm her by saying what he did and what he considered being another option. He committed suicide and was stopped from another. Besides, he hoped she wouldn't have to kill herself. In the end, he still cared about her in some way. He tried to cut the ties but he couldn't — they were way too strong.

He didn't know why Nastya was there. Was it a coincidence? Why would she go searching for him after he had been away from her life for two years? It just didn't make sense to him at all.

Something wasn't right but he still had to figure it out by himself.

So, the two continued walking. Soon, Anastasia noticed a limp in her friend's gait.

"What's with your leg?" she asked him.

"Got in a fight because of someone else's mistake." Sirius replied.

"It must've hurt..."

"It didn't." he shook his head. "I did something worse to them. It was a fair trade."

"What happened?" Anastasia asked. She just wanted to keep the conversation going as a way to distract herself from the fact that she would never return to her home. She also wanted to know how he got in such a situation.

"I was thrown across the room, bones broke, my leg couldn't be fixed afterwards." Sirius answered, and then said with great satisfaction: "I shot the horn off."

"This... isn't just a fight. Why was it so... brutal?" she was shocked by how easily and carelessly Sirius was talking about it as if it was nothing. He was definitely not the one she had befriended a long time ago. He had always been violent and looking for a fight with those he didn't like but it never went above bruises. The most he had gone to was knocking his opponent out on exactly one occasion.

"Some... beings just don't deserve to live. I was aiming at the head." Sirius replied.

Anastasia stopped. No, it was all wrong. It wasn't Stanislav she remembered. He became someone entirely different and much more violent and aggressive. What happened to him to make him that way? She just couldn't understand.

"Stas... it's not you..." she said, her voice shaking from shock. "You... you'd never do that! You'd never say that!"

"There was no other way." Sirius replied quietly. "I protected the one I... care for. If I didn't, everything would be much worse."

"W-what happened, then?" Anastasia inquired.

An image flashed before Sirius. Blood, clashes of steel, bones breaking.

"I don't want to talk about it." he stated darkly, and then continued moving. "Let's go. We will talk once we're safe."

Anastasia nodded silently and followed him. As much as she didn't like it, she had to follow him unless she wanted to get lost and die in the forest.

Soon, the two embarked on a train to Canterlot. Anastasia couldn't help but look out of the window as the train went through forests and then up the mountain, allowing for a breathtaking view to be seen. The new world was very beautiful and it was filled with all kinds of colors at that time of the year.

Meanwhile, Sirius was sitting silently. He didn't know what to do next. He couldn't force her to stay with him forever. Someday, he would have to reveal her to the princesses or arrange everything by himself. He had money, and he was sure he could just buy his way. No one must know that there is another alien. Maybe he would let Iclyn know. Yes, he definitely would. He trusted her, and it couldn't be said about the princesses.

"N... Nastya?" he called after stuttering slightly. It felt so strange saying her name again.

"Hm?" she turned to him.

"Wake me up when Canterlot is announced." he said, and then added "Please."

"Can-ter-lot. Got it." Anastasia nodded, and then turned back to the window.

Sirius sighed and relaxed. He wanted a quick nap before he had to deal with Anastasia and everything that came with it.

Author's Notes:

There are more disturbing things inside Sirius. For once, he had used to be a stalker.

Yeah, it turns out he has a lot of negative sides. At least he realizes it and desperately wants to fix it. I guess it is a somewhat redeeming quality that makes him not a total psychopath.