As he wandered the moonlit streets, arm limp and bleeding, he began to wonder. He wondered if all he’d done had been for naught. What if he failed in the task set to him? He knew he would be the cause of the deaths of many, but they had chosen their side. He dared not let those who had not die due to his failures. He was still walking when he noticed a woman walking down the street, a basket of flowers in her hand, a rabbit at her heels, and a tune on her lips. She seemed happy. “Excuse me, signora, could I have a moment of your time?” he called out to her, raising his hand as he approached. She turned to look at him, her expression of happiness turning to one of distress. “Do not be troubled, I am not here to harm you. Quite the opposite, in fact, I need your assistance.” he said, grunting in slight pain. As he neared her, he could make out more details about her. She had pink hair, and a yellow gown, with white ruffles at the hem and the edge of the sleeves. Her eyes were a deep mixture of blue and green, almost the color of the ocean off the coast of Roma. She looked at him for a moment, then noticed the deep wound in his shoulder, and the blood stains on his sleeves, the blood dripping from both onto the cobblestone street.

“Oh my goodness, what happened to you, you poor man?” she said as she approached him, worry evident in her voice. He decided it was not in his best interest or hers for him to say.

“It’s not important, signora, I was hoping you could direct me to the local doctor. As you can see, I’m not in the best shape.” he said with a slight laugh. She was being more serious.

“Oh no, she won’t be working until morning. Please, come with me. I’m no doctor, but I can help you more than anyone else can right now.” she said, taking his uninjured hand and dragging him away. He simply laughed.

“Well then, if you insist, lead the way perdere...” he said, trailing off, and still following the woman. She seemed kind. To kind for her own good. He would be careful not to tell her to much, as not to her in danger.

“My name is Francesca Svoliona. But please, just call me Fluttershy.” she said, blushing slightly. “All my friends do.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fluttershy, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” he said, wondering why her friends would bestow upon her such a name.

“What is your name? if you don’t mind me asking, that is.” she said, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

“I am Vincenzo Valteri da Venezia, at your service.” he said, stopping for a moment to bow dramatically, causing Fluttershy to laugh lightly. He stood straight again and continued to follow.

“ ‘Da Venezia’?” she asked, not knowing what he meant.

“Venezia is the city where I was born.” he explained.

“Oh! So, by your custom, I would be ‘Francesca Svoliona da Ponyville’? it sounds… nice.” she said a smile on her face. “Well, here we are.” she said as the approached a small hut with a thatched roof. “Come in and sit down. I will get my supplies. Angel, dear, could you keep an eye on our guest for me?” she said, sitting him down in a chair and rushing up the stairs. He was confused as to who this angel was, until he noticed the rabbit staring at him.

“Deve essere pazzo!” he said under his breath. Then he felt the rabbits teeth sink into his shin, and decided otherwise. “Maybe not..” he whispered to himself as the rabbit detached itself from his leg. She soon returned, carrying a basket full of medical supplies and a candle and set them upon a small table to his left, then left again, only to return with a bowl full of warm water. He knew he would have to, so he removed his robes, his bracers, his leather straps used to hold his throwing knives, and his leather chest armor. She looked astounded at his armaments, and the amount of scars that latticed his chest. But she shook her head and returned to the task at hand.

“Now sit still, this might hurt.” she said as she held a needle of the candle flame, then threading it. He prepared himself, gritting his teeth for the inevitable. He felt the needle puncture his flesh, and the thread follow suit. He sat there for what seemed like an eternity while she stitched his wound shut, him not showing any amount of pain. “There, all done. Now, I don’t thin it’s wise for you to do anything with that arm for quite some time, until tomorrow morning at the very least. Do you have somewhere to stay?” she asked, sounding like a parent, bandaging their child’s scrapped knee.

“No, I do not, but I do not wish to impose I-” he started to say, but was cut off.

“Then you can stay the night here. Now…. How did this happen to you? You do not have to tell me if you do not wish to do so, but I am worried for your safety once you leave.” she said, her eyes pleading. He sighed.

“Fine, I shall tell you… though I warn you, it is bound to change your view of me.” he said, noting the worried look in her eyes. He proceeded to tell her the tale, as much of it as he dared, and as much as was required for it to make sense. She was shocked.

“B-But… why? Why did you kill them?” she asked when he was done.

“Because they would have done the same to me if they had seen me. You see, my beliefs, and the beliefs of many of those close to me, differ so greatly from what Celestia wants the world believe, that we are to be killed on sight… if they can.” he said, a smug grin on his face. “They can try, but they shall never succeed.”

“Why would Celestia do such a thing?” she asked, as the front door opened behind them, and a familiar voice spoke.

“Because she is a tyrant, who desires to hold onto her power at all costs.” Vincenzo looked behind him to see Sophia standing in the door way.

“Hello, Sophia. I see you have such little faith in me, that you came to hunt me down!” he said jokingly.

“Well master, when you didn’t return, the others became worried, and since I sent you on this errand, I believed I should be the one to come find you.” she said, pulling down her hood to reveal rainbow colored hair, and deep violet eyes. Fluttershy gasped.

“Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here? How do you know Vincenzo?” she said, looking from one to the other and back again. He sighed.

“Well, I see friends around here have a habit of giving each other odd affectionate names. Sophia, or Rainbow Dash as you call her, is one of us, and what she says is true. Celestia is a tyrant, and thus we oppose her with all our might.” he said, shaking his head slightly. “You know, you could have just asked to come and speak to your friends, Sophia, I would have given you leave to go.”

“Yes, I know, but you offered to, so I saw no reason why not to let you.” she said with a sly smile.