Aredn locked the door behind the princess once she was inside the library, now he had walls between them and the peering eyes of the townsfolk. Being out of their sight made him feel at ease to go back to acting how he usually acted around her, feeling the stress melt away due to the lack of prying eyes he let out a sigh. "Okay...what are you doing?" He asked once he noticed the princess' spell starting to cover all of the walls, then he facepalmed realizing what that was about. "The sensitive data." He said with his eyes closed.

"That is correct my little jester." The princess said in the middle of a mild laugh, which made the stallion blush while an awkward smile formed on his face. "However, before I can share any information about it I need to know how are you acquainted with those creatures." Her tone shifted from playful to serious with the snap of a finger.

"Fair enough," Arden said walking to a bookshelf, he had noticed that they were being watched by Rarity by catching a glimpse of her before she hid again. The unicorn was hiding in the bushes right beneath the window, so he decided to come up with an act. He would act like he was consulting a specific book the princess asked about, and he knew just the tome. 'The Elements of Harmony, A Reference Guide.' He found it the previous day while organizing the books, once in his hands, he turned back to the princess which had an eyebrow raised while she kept looking at him. His answer was a quick movement of his eyes towards the window, Celestia looked at it then back at him with an expression that could be understood as 'Got it.'

"Okay," He started taking a seat on a couch facing the princess. "I like to write and come up with stories, so I researched some things about ancient myths back in my world. Nothing too deep, just the basics so I could find some inspiration. That's when I stumbled upon the Baku legend, also known in my world as dream eater." He explained while he acted like he searching for something within the pages.

"I see, and what do you know about them?" The princess asked while crossing her arms and tapping her fingers like she was getting impatient.

"Back in my world, they were seen as neutral creatures. Neither good nor bad. One could summon them by chanting something like: 'Baku please some devour my nightmare.' Or something along those lines, it also required a charm." He said getting up and taking a seat beside her to show a specific part of the book. "Once summoned the Baku would eat the bad dream and leave. If the person that summoned him did not do it so often, because in that case the Baku's hunger would increase and it would not restrain itself to devouring the bad dream. he would devour everything the person's mind created. Which would result in negative repercussions I never got around to discovering due to my other studies." The stallion explained while tracing his finger on the book that was positioned as to allow the princess to see the transcript.

"Oh..." She said looking at the pointed areas on the page as she moved slightly away to get some distance between them. "They seem to be more docile in your worlds myths than in our reality. Originally they entered ponies dreams and ate only the vile thoughts that corrupted them, however...their behavior changed. They started to invade every single one of our subjects dreams and ate away every single thought they had, may it be generated by the mind or the heart. Those afflicted turned mad and attacked anypony who came int their line of sight." She explained with a tone that made Arden feel bad about asking for information about these creatures.

"I-I'm sorry if don't want to talk about this anymore..." He said closing the book and getting up.

"It's okay," she said regaining her composure. "Luna was yet to be born when our parents discovered that the Baku can only enter the dreams of those who know about their existence in detail. Hence, operation: Dream eater's demise, a complete eradication of all written records were made to prevent any other victims. And in order to protect those who already knew about the Baku they created special counterparts to protect the minds of their subjects and their daughter." Arden placed the book back on its shelf and started to scratch his chin.

"What were these counterparts?" He asked while he started to move his hand around the other books on the shelf.

"They were spirits created by magic that protected the mind and heart of their host." She further explained, her voice was getting darker and her breathing changed. "The spell was discovered after Luna's birth, so both I and she received the protection. My counterpart is called Daybreaker. Luna's..." Celestia did not continue, and he could hear her starting to sob.

"Nightmare Moon," Arden said turning around and seeing the proud ruler crying her eyes were closed shut as she tried to hide her face in her hands. "Listen, you can stop, I get the picture. No need to go any further." He said getting closer to her as she continued to weep. Then he sat by her side and tried to reach his hand to place on her shoulder...'Sould I? I'm not used to this...I can't even say that I know how she feels. What can I do now? My questions brought this up.' He thought to himself as his hand approached her shoulder. Once it came in contact with her fur the princess looked to the side as she lunged at him. Which threw the stallion into a panic, mainly because of the risk of being impaled by her horn.

"IT'S MY FAULT!" She cried. "I told her stories about the Baku! I ignored my parent's warnings. I ignored how much she was afraid of not being loved by her subjects! I must have weakened the counterpart and she was corrupted!" She shouted crying, even more, Arden finally got over the shock and started to think about what to do. He then hesitantly placed his hand on top of her head and started to brush her mane with his hand.

"Shhhhh...It's okay. You can't change the past. But the future isn't set in stone." He said in a soft voice he had used on very few occasions...occasions that usually involved sad news. He started to cry. "*sob* You know *sob*...when Nightmare tried to take over me and I scared her off. She was afraid of the Baku reaching somepony she referred to as 'her'." He said feeling more tears roll up his face when the princess heard that part she got up really fast and locked her eyes on his, they were a few inches from each other. 'There I go again...the one thing I was told again and again to be careful with: Stop making the pains of others your own, there is only so much one can endure. It's good to feel empathy towards your patients, but you cannot take it to the point it clouds your judgment.' He thought to himself remembering the advice from his teachers after the simulation classes.

"*sob* Y-you...you think that..." The stallion was still crying while he did not avert his eyes from hers, he then moved his head up and down with a smile on his face. Celestia gasped as she got back and covered her mouth, Arden felt his chest get warmer as he saw the smile taking over the princess' face. Then she hugged him again, but this time he knew she wasn't searching for help in the gesture. No, this time she was showing her gratitude. "T-THANK YOU! T-THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

"It's okay," Arden said returning the hug. "I'm just helping my friend. Do you need anything else?" Arden stated breaking the hug and looking back at the princess' face.

"I-I need to place the protective ward on you to protect you from the Baku." She said slowly going back to her usual self. "Then there is the mental wards to keep you safe from mind control spells. Mind Walker will make them more specific to protect you in your dreams." She further explained still wiping her tears from her red eyes.

"Okay, do your thing." He said closing his eyes, his voice still in its soft tone. The princess charged her magic and reached his forehead, Arden felt a shock where the princess touched his skin.

"The wards are placed. Now for the counterpart." Celestia said Arden could hear the magic charging up. Then he felt something soft touch his forehead...he felt something like it before...but he couldn't remember what it was. Once again a shock, but this time the princess' voice followed instead of silence. "Y-you...already have one? You have protection against them."

"What are you talking about?" Arden said opening his eyes, he saw that the princess had a faint blush on her cheeks that was fading. "How's that possible?" He asked trying to ignore the blush that had disappeared.

"I don't know." She answered, which made Arden raise an eyebrow and tilt his head. "You never cease to surprise do you."

"I guess." He answered scratching the back of his head.

"In this case I guess...I guess I better head back." The princess said getting up still facing some of the aftermaths of that much crying.

"Get some rest okay?" He said looking at her as he got back on his hooves. "I know I feel like crap every time I cry like that. And before I forget, thanks for the wards. You're saving my life here." He said offering his hand. A warm smile formed on the princess' face 'That's the face I want to see. She looks better when she is smiling.' Arden thought to himself when she took his hand and pulled him into a strong and warm embrace.

"I'm the one that should be thanking you." She said in a whisper, then he felt the same thing from when she tried to cast the spell on him, but this time on his cheek. Those were her lips...the spell was activated by a kiss on the forehead. Like when a mother sends her child to sleep and wishes them goodnight. If the spell was originally created by her mother to protect them...then it would make sense. Otherwise...that could mean...'Nope! You're reading this wrong Arden, she's just grateful about the help. Don't do that stupid mistake of misreading things, again.' Then she got back, a very slight blush could be seen on her face. Then she charged a spell and vanished.

"That's magic for you..." Arden said a little bit sad, he was still bothered by the 'only defensive magic' thing. Then he noticed the spell the princess cast dispelled itself, so he went to the front door. With one hand on the doorknob and the other on the key. He twisted both at the same time opening the door, which revealed two mares who faceplanted on the ground.

"You know ladies..." Arden said looking at the two mares, Applejack and Rarity. "...I always wanted to fall for somepony and have somepony fall for me, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind." He continued as he helped the two mares to get back on their hooves. "To what do I owe the pleasure of having you two eavesdropping?"

"Ha-ha..." Rarity awkwardly laughed as Applejack lowered her hat as to cover her face. "I'm sorry, but the princess dropping to visit isn't something that happens very often soooo...you can't blame us for being curious about what the two of you were talking."

"Ah was just curious about the reason Rarity was sneaking around yer house." Applejack said making Rarity glare daggers at her. All the while Arden was laughing at the conversation. 'Those two seem to be very close, they remind me of some friends of mine.'

"Anyway..." The stallion said making the white mare stop trying to melt the orange one with her death-glare. "I actually wanted to talk with you two." The mares looked at each other. "The job offers? I want to talk about my work hours with you two." They let out an 'Oooh...' in synch after he explained. "As well as ask a favor from you Rarity."

"What is it darling?" She asked tilting her head at the sudden request.

"Do you think you can come up with some clothes by tomorrow so I can work on the farm? That way I won't have to use these all the time?" Arden said pointing at his garments. "They are made for traveling, not for working."

"I would need your measurements to do that darling." She answered. "And all of my things are back at the shop."

"Got you covered," Arden said pulling one of his pockets out of his pocket and fitting his entire arm into it. "The pony who gave me these wrote down my measurements and gave a copy of them to me." He said pulling out a scroll that contained his measurements. "This should have everything you'll need." He said handing the piece of paper to the seamstress.

"O-okay." Rarity said while keeping her eyes locked on the pocket the stallion placed back on his belt. "I-I will work something out for you...for tomorrow at 12:00 PM." Arden gave out a smile once he heard that.

"Alright! Now, how can we work this schedule out? I'll need to have everything sorted out before the end of the day."

"See you two tomorrow!" The stallion shouted at them as they left. "And thanks for the jobs!" In the end, the arrangement was that he would work alternating between the two places from Monday to Friday having the other two days of the week free. He would work from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, stopping only for lunch or when the two of them told him to do so. His job would be whatever the hay they wanted as long as he wasn't humiliated or placed in harm's way by doing them. Something rather odd for a male to settle for those conditions without much resistance.

"What the heck is up with that stallion?" Aj asked her, the seamstress shrugged at her before starting to scratch her chin. "There isn't a single guy in this town that would take a job with those terms."

"I don't know." Rarity said biting her lip. 'There is something really off about that guy. He acts like he is nopony special, yet the princess comes to check on him and throws herself at him after she started to cry uncontrollably...this is one gossip I got to get to the bottom of.'

"What do you think we should do?" Aj asked making her snap back.

"Let's have all the girls to keep an eye on him." Rarity said firmly. "Fluttershy can use her animals to check on him during his free time or when he gets out of our line of sight. Rainbow can keep track of what he does during any errands we sent him off to. And Pinkie...we better leave her out since she would probably dress up as a spy and start to stalk him. In a non-discreet way." Rarity explained, earning a confused look from her friend.

"You really want to figure out what he's hiding, don't ya?" Aj said pulling her hat down as to cover her face, Rarity turned towards her and nodded. "Ah can't say I completely trust the stallion. So Ah'm with ya. Let dig out what he buried in his backyard." Rarity let out a sigh of relief as she reached out to shake her friend's hand, Aj accepted.

"It's a deal then!" She exclaimed before they parted ways. 'Very well Mr. secrets, let's see what you're hiding in your closet!'

'He was really kind...and he certainly did give me hope to see my sister once more. I wonder...what would he think if I assigned him to be a soldier? Nah...I'll have to think about something else. At the very least...I know I can drop by anytime. I wonder what we can talk about next time?' The princess thought to herself as she continued to hear the complaints from other nobles about petty things, then she remembered a message from Candace to the stallion. 'Damn it! I completely forgot about the advice to help him control his talent! Oh! I got a reason to go back now! If it helps...I might be able to see what made him trigger his abilities for the first time!'

The sun Princess got on her hooves with a smile on her face, leaving behind her a bunch of confused nobles that were surprised to hear her humming to herself as she walked away.

"Soo...the princess is waiting for her sister to return and that project of a male actually got the better of the mare in the moon..." The lonely creature said to herself as she entered her cave once more. "...that idiot might make a decent pawn for getting the princess to aid me. The only problem is the mental wards...I will have to work my way around them. And there is only one way to do so." She continued her mumbling as she lit a crystal from her former kingdom with magic revealing a large underground pool with crystal clean water that reflected her image on its surface.

Her black chitin body reflected on the surface, as well as her once grand emerald green royal dress that was now ragged pieces of clothing that exposed parts of her belly and back. Her eyes glowed in the dark and were fixed on her reflection, her wings twitching from time to time. Her green unkept mane fell in front of her face, living in these conditions had its downsides. Not being able to take better care of herself was one of them. "I wonder whose form will I have to take to manipulate that idiot. Maybe Celestia? Or maybe...somepony else entirely?" she said looking at her image shifted from one form to another as green flames engulfed her between each of her transformations. "There is yet to be born a pony who can resist the charms of the Changeling Queen! And since I already know his schedule...I can prepare to approach him in so many ways." She exclaimed producing an echo before she started to laugh a maniacally. "After all, I can be anypony he so desires!"