As the night came, Anastasia couldn't find rest. She was ripped from her world and thrown away from everyone she liked. Friends, family, all disappeared within just a few seconds. With zero chances to return home, she could only lament the loss of everything she had ever had.

While there was Sirius, Anastasia didn't like how much he had changed. He became even more weird than before. Even after he revealed what was inside him all that time, the girl was weirded out by it. Among her friends, there was no one even remotely like Sirius. She finally saw how obsessed he was with her and she didn't know how to respond to that. It was very odd.

She felt like all of it just wasn't real. The new world, the change of body, Stanislav returning with a strange name-change, magic, intelligent equines, everything was so unusual she felt like her brain was going to explode from the surreality of it all.

Sighing, she stood up from the bed. She needed to take a walk to clear her head. It was the least she could do to at least try to feel better. She was way too unhappy about the situation she was thrust in. A new world sounded nice but she had people she liked. What would her parents think? What would her friends think?

Slowly, the girl walked through the mansion to the exit. Once outside, she breathed in deeply, the cool nightly air refreshing her. She decided to stretch her muscles a bit and take a walk around the territory.

The first thing she noticed was the garden. A couple of beautiful and unusual flowers were blooming in the night, glowing a subtle neon-blue color. Anastasia walked to those flowers and sat down, enjoying their pleasing glow.

What would she do in the new world? She didn't have a job, she had only recently graduated the school. She used to be a good sportsperson in riding but it obviously wouldn't work in Equestria. She could also swim quite well but it was clear why she couldn't use it either. All in all, she had absolutely nothing save for a few items that didn't mean much anyway.

Anastasia sighed wearily. She didn't know if she would ever find something to do. Maybe there was a way to return home? But she didn't wan't to leave Sirius behind. Something was obviously wrong with him, something that made him... strange, angry, even hateful.

"...I don't hate you as much as others." his words were. What did they mean?

She couldn't understand it yet. A lot had changed since she separated from Stanislav. He had changed and even adopted a new name. Why? There wasn't anything wrong with the name he had previously had. But... There were things that were wrong with him.

Everything was so strange to Anastasia, so different and unfamiliar. She wasn't sure if she would ever adjust to it.

Sirius had a weird dream that night. As soon as he woke up he almost immediately forgot it. Was it important? He didn't know and didn't care. He felt like a wrung out rag. Even the sleep didn't ease his mind and he woke up just as tired.

He opened his eyes and saw that it was very early in the morning. The sun hadn't risen yet but there was light coming from the outside through the window. He looked to his side and saw Iclyn snuggling close to him.

The former human still didn't know what to think about his relationship with her. She loved him for reasons he couldn't quite understand, she was even willing to be very close to him. She even kissed him.

It felt weird. He had never experienced any kind of kiss before. No one was attracted to him during his school years, and he? He hadn't given any kisses either. He wanted to, he even tried to, but it just didn't work. He lacked courage at the very least. He thought it might change once he confessed his feelings to the one he loved but it didn't turn out well.

He remembered that day as if it had happened just a day ago. It was winter, he was in eighth grade. He was fourteen, and he was finally ready to confess his true feelings for Anastasia that grew during the two years they were friends.

He was dressed as usual: black winter pants, black shirt with a warm dark-blue jacket on top of it, and a pair of winter boots. He held a precious bouquet of flowers with his gloved hands as he made his way to Anastasia's house. His heart was fluttering and there was a spring in his step. He would often breathe on the package the flowers were in to make sure they were perfect.

Soon, he reached his destination. It was a simply one-storeyed house. He stepped on the porch and knocked the door a few times. Soon, it opened, revealing a girl roughly his age. It was Anastasia, his love.

"Oh, hi Stas." she greeted him. "I didn't expect you to be here."

"I have a surprise for you, Nastya." he replied slightly nervously as an uncontrollable blush creeped onto his cheeks. He unwrapped the gift before her eyes. It was a set of three white roses — her favorites. "I... I just wanted to say, um..." he stuttered as he gathered up courage. "Nastya, I, I..." he extended his arm with the flowers. "I love you." he said in one breath.

"..." the girl blushed slightly as she heard the three words. However, she was just surprised. She stepped aside and said: "Come in. I think you need to get warm."

Stanislav nodded happily and yet shyly, and then entered the house. He was slightly sad that she didn't take the flowers but he was sure she just needed a vase or something since she disappeared somewhere further inside the house.

Stanislav took off his jacket and hung it, and then proceeded to take off his winter boots and place them near the exit to dry from the snow that sticked to them during the walk to his beloved.

Then, he waited for her to invite him further, his heart aflame with love. It was it, his moment of confession. He could barely wait for Anastasia to return and talk to him. To his relief, the girl appeared at the doorway pretty soon.

"I prepared some tea, if you don't mind." she said with a slightly awkward smile on her face. He smiled back and followed her with a happy spring in his step.

The two took seats at the table opposite to each-other. Sirius warmed his hands against the cup of tea. The flowers he had brought he placed on the table he and his beloved were sitting at. Everything was peaceful and comforting, just like Sirius wanted it to be. However, a creeping feeling of something being wrong nagged him.

Soon, the two sipped their tea in a strange silence. While Anastasia was nervous, Stanislav was beaming with happiness, often glancing at the girl with love in his eyes. She was his, all his, and there was nothing between them. She hadn't yet said those three words, but Sirius felt the love already. He basked in its warmth, enjoying her presence. Finally, that moment had come, he confessed his feelings to his special person, the one who was by his side, the one who protected him, the one he inevitably had fallen in love with. He was sure she would return the feelings.

After the girl finished her own cup, she looked at Stas and called him. He looked at her, hope in his dark-green eyes. They were wide, taking in as much of the girl as they could as love bloomed inside him.

"I wanted to say to you..." Anastasia said, trying not to look into his loving eyes. "I... I'm sorry, but I don't love you."

Stanislav's heart skipped a beat as his face immediately darkened.

"W-what?" he asked, stuttering. No, he couldn't believe it. The two were pretty close already, why didn't she love him? He wanted to do nice things to her, he wanted to be there for her all the time, and he would do anything for her. What was wrong?

"I'm sorry, but... We better remain friends, Stas." the girl sighed. "You're a really good friend but I, um, can't see us being a couple."

"...I understand." Stanislav replied in a dark voice. So, it was his fault. He hadn't done enough to earn her. He could've been better, nicer, more caring. He immediately remembered all those time he tried to push everyone away from Anastasia — he wanted her to be his and his alone. It wasn't right, he understood. It was time to go. So, he stood up from the table and said quickly: "I, uh, see you at...school." his voice trailed off at the end as he muffled the last word. He found it hard to speak as sadness overcame his mind.

Hastily, he made his way to the hall, forgetting the flowers as tears appeared in his eyes. He quickly put on his jacket and boots and then exited the house without saying anything.

After he returned home, he locked himself in his room and grabbed a knife. As he fought the urge to cry or yell in pain, he cut himself deeply in the hand. That cut stayed for the rest of his life, reminding him of his first big failure.

Sirius looked at his right hoof. As he expected, the scar was still visible even under a layer of fur. After all, all the scars he had gotten in his previous life went with him to his second one. He deserved all those scars, no matter how they appeared on his body.

"Sirius, is everything alright?" Iclyn asked aloud, snapping him out of his memories and dark thoughts. He didn't even notice himself sitting up and staring at the wall blankly.

"...Not everything." Sirius admitted. He sighed deeply. "Sometimes, I wish I was different. I made many mistakes."

"We all do mistakes, Sirius." the filly assured him as she put a wing over his shoulder. "We learn on mistakes. Do you still feel bad about making them?"

"Yes." the former human nodded.

"My mother once told me that mistakes are what make us who we are. Good or bad, normal or strange, it doesn't matter." Iclyn explained. "We can always improve ourselves after making a mistake. We can never be perfect, but that's how we live. Despite all of your negative sides, I love you with all my heart. You can admit your mistakes, and I am sure you can learn from them."

Sirius couldn't deny it. There was truth in her words. He could see his mistakes and maybe he could even fix them by not repeating them and making amends with those he mistreated.

Iclyn was right about him. He made a mistake and he understood it. Maybe it was time to let some of his past go?

Love wasn't disgusting. He forced himself to think that way after he failed at it and after his hatred for others grew immensely. He just didn't want to suffer because of love, he wanted to make himself forget it and throw it away as if it was nothing worth considering ever again. He remembered the awful things he fantasized about his love interest, and he was deeply ashamed of those fantasies and desires that kept him up at night as he did nothing but masturbate to his filthy imagination. Truly, his first love was more of an obsession because he felt it was his last. He saw that people younger and older than him were happy, and it struck him deeply.

He did wrong, he was jealous of others being successful in love and much better at it than him. He had seen many couples that were happy, and he didn't have a special someone to adore and love. He was all alone, all by himself for years and years after he was denied love. He felt abandoned and lost. Depressed, even. That kind of love couldn't be given by parents or friends, unfortunately.

But there was one thing he could try to do. He had a new life, a life full of opportunities. He could either stay and do nothing or he could make his own fate. It was time to act.

Sirius leaned to Iclyn and kissed her on the lips. Her eyes widened in surprise but she gave in and returned the kiss, making him feel appreciated and loved. He wanted to jump in joy as his heart filled with life. Iclyn had done many good things to him, it was no surprise he developed deep feelings of affection and adoration for her. She had been there for him ever since they became friends. However, it took only a few weeks for Sirius to develop feelings towards her. It felt strange, odd, but it was true.

Truthfully, she was a different species than him but he didn't care. No one could dictate him whom to love. He could make such decisions himself, and it was time to stop denying the truth.

He was still confused and depressed but he could try love as his medicine. He must let go of his old obsession and embrace new, better feelings. He knew how not to repeat a mistake and he intended to make his life better by accepting love and care.

Soon, the two separated after the long kiss. Sirius opened his eyes, and in them there was a feeling he had suppressed for quite some time — immense love. He finally understood that he could love and he wasn't going to waste the chance to start a page of his life over.

"I must confess, Iclyn..." he breathed in deeply. "I love you, too."

Author's Notes:

That is how the appearance of one person can change everything. Eye to eye, Sirius met with Anastasia and finally let go. He stopped suppressing his feelings for Iclyn and let them flow freely. It was time to try something new, something that can make him become a better person.

After all, what is better than love?