Merry just leaned back against a tree next to a pile of bones and a roaring fire. Some timber wolves had decided to join Merry in his feast and would take what he tossed in their direction.

“Now that they are done and gone, guess I should head back to my house.” Merry stood up and flipped through his iPod play lists. ‘Time for something a little festive...’ Making Chrismas - Rise Against. Merry put his earbuds in and listened to the music, singing along to it as he walked back toward town.

‘I wonder what everyone’s opinion about me now is after my little escapade with those griffins...’ Merry stopped walking and stood at the edge of town. He took a deep breath and sighed ‘As long as Scoots doesn’t hate me, I don’t care what the others think.’ Merry put on a smile and traveled into the town. All the ponies stopped and stared at Merry as he passed. Many of them began to follow him back to his house silently following him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Celestia and Luna were just sitting in the living room across from the mane 6. Scootaloo had placed her self between both princesses with a big smile on her face.

“So what are we gonna talk about when my dad gets back princesses!?” Luna just looked down at Scoots

“Well we are going to figure out why he did what he did exactly.” Celestia spoke up

“Indeed, while what he did we somewhat agree with, his method was completely unorthodox and has now caused quite a big mess for us to clean up.” Scootaloo just looked down a bit at the couch.

“You know when Merry was watching over me a few days ago. He admitted he was nothing but a big screw up, and that he does stuff without thinking, So you cant blame him entirely.” Scootaloo continued to look at the floor while Fluttershy stepped forward

“Yes, I noticed it as well, He even told me outright, He just does what he feels is right at the moment.” Twilight steped up next to Fluttershy

“Yes, He also told me the human race was prone to violence, so that might explain his actions as well. You cant deny his races natural tendency’s.” Princess Luna and Celestia tilted their heads up in thought

“So what you’re telling me, is that Merry is some Violent brute of an alien, that could cut loose and kill at the drop of a hat?” Celestia began to frown at the thought.

“NO! My Dad would never just kill for no reason! He’s a Knight!” Scootaloo stood up and puffed up her chest “He’s a Knight that saved me and my friends from some Timber wolves! Not only that he stuck up for us when we were being bullied! He’s also really nice. You remember all that money you gave him so he could buy stuff for himself?” Princess Celestia and Luna nodded

“Yes, we sent him 1,000 bits, that should of covered anything he would of needed for at lest 2 months.”

“Yeah well, he spent all of it on toys for me and all our new friends! That’s how we all got these toy armor sets, and not just that! He even let me, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom paint his house, why I don’t know, but he believed me and my friends could do it.”

“Well that certainly explains why the house looks as it does...” Scootaloo sat back down and looked up to Luna and Celestia.

“He’s also really kind, even before he had money or a place to live. He found me sleeping in the park and he took care of me. He made sure I had food and kept me company at night. He would even give me his food if what I had wasn’t enough...” Just then Merry flung the door open and shouted

“Scoots! Don’t tell them all of that, now everyone’s going to think of some kind of softie...” Scootaloo looked over to the door and smiled

“Dad!” She ran up to Merry and leaped into his open arms.

“Hey Kiddo, told you I’d be back by dinner time. Did these mares treat you well while I was away?” Merry just patted her mane and set her back down on the ground.

“Yeah! They were all nice, and Fluttershy made us all lunch.” Merry nodded his head.

“Well alright then now lets see what these Princesses wanted to talk about.” Merry walked over to the middle of the room and took a seat in his beat up chair while Scootaloo sat in the chair with him in his lap. Merry placed his hands onto the hand rests and looked at the princesses, then looked over to the window and noticed he had some onlookers.

“Now Princesses, I know what I did was out of the ordinary and unorthodox, However I would like to plead temporary insanity due to my rage boiling over.” The princesses just looked at each other back to Merry.

“Temporary insanity?”

“Yes, After I saw them being so mean to Scoots, I snapped and could no longer control my actions. For that I apologize, However the statement I made earlier that day still stands.”

“And what statement would that be?”

“That Scootaloo Sue is best Princess.” Both princesses raised their eyebrows along with the main 6. Twilight was the 1st to Speak up

“What what?! And what made you decide to give her your last name?” Merry just laughed

“I did so because she’s my little girl now, and no one can say otherwise.” Everyone just sat in their seats dumbfounded. Even Scootaloo at hearing Sue after her name. Celestia cleared her throat

“I think we are getting off track, We need to figure out what to do about the griffin kingdoms now missing 2 royal’s.” Merry just scoffed

“Good riddance I say. Just blame it on me, make some story up about how they decided to travel with you to investigate a new alien that landed near here, and I just became hostile. Its pretty truthful anyway.” Celestia just tilted her head up in thought.

“That may work, none of the other country’s know of your existence yet, But they may still send some type of small squad in order to hunt you down in revenge.”

“Then just add in after I attacked them I fled into the Everfree forest or something, send their forces away, and give them a description that’s not like me.” Celestia and Luna sat in thought for a moment then smiled.

“Yes, that should work. Now on to other business...” Luna got up from her seat and walked over to Merry. She then walked around him and poked his face, then she rubbed her hoof in his hair.

“What are you doing?” Merry just pushed her hoof away and looked at her.

“What I’ve always wanted to do to an alien! I control the night sky you see, but I never thought there would be life out there on the other planets that I had seen off in the distance.” Merry just brought his head back and squinted his eyes at her.

“I call shinanigans, how can you control something that big?”

“Oh, I don’t quite ‘control’ it, I simply persuade it. You see it’s a very delicate process that requires extreme amounts of power and a delicate hoof. My sister controls the sun as it may. Hence our names. Celestia and Luna.” Merry just stared at them with a look of confusion. He looked down to Scoots and after a second he said

“Are the princesses of your land insane? Or is it just common among royalty to think they can control things of such astronomical size?” Scootaloo just giggled along with the rest of the mane 6 and the princesses.

“No Merry, they do indeed control the sun and the moon, They are alicorns and their magical powers could possibly be considered god like.” Twilight had moved forward and tried to explain things to Merry. Who in turn began to grunt and moan at such crazy facts.

“I Still call bullshit! Pic’s or it didn’t happen.” Merry sat in his chair with his arms crossed.

“Still question us? Fine then, its about time anyway, so watch as we show our power. Come sister.” Luna lead the way outside followed by Celestia who only sighed in defeat.

Merry was beginning to question all he knew about space and the solar system as he followed them outside. Merry’s jaw dropped and his mind went blank as he saw their horns glow. Then the sun began to fall while the moon rose up into the night sky. After the sun disappeared the moon was in the suns place in the sky. Stars began to appear starting around the moon and out until the night sky was complete. When it was done Luna just sighed then turned to face Merry with a triumphant smile.

“Do you still question us now?” Luna just had a big grin on her face while Celestia just shook her head with a smile.

“Huh wha, bu, who...” Merry began to grunt and moan again. After a bit he calmed down and spoke “So why do you let griffin’s push you around? Why not just take over with your stupid amounts of power?” Celestia and Luna dropped their heads.

“It is because we cannot upset the Balance of power, and we are not warlike, We would rather have peace and live in harmony with the other races. We alicorns were born for the soul purpose of protecting the lesser races and the world. We also hope to teach them of peace and not war. We only have our power in order to protect and save those that require it.” Celestia sighed as Luna took over

“Yes, In the past some Alicorns have become corrupted by the power they held and attempted overthrow the balance of our world...” Merry held up his hand

“Hey, I didn’t ask for a history lesson, My brain cant handle all that info in one sitting. And going mad with power isn’t uncommon, in fact, among my race its something that is repeated over and over again. It’s a shame really. Anyway, lets get inside and get some grub before bed.” Merry walked back inside followed by Scootaloo and the others.

“So what did you want for Dinner Scoots?” Scootaloo looked at the ground with her tongue sticking out in thought.

“How about some more of that Stir fry you made yesterday?”

“Really? You don’t want something else?” ‘All those premade things I got will probably never get eaten at this rate.’

“Nope! That stir fry is good! No ones ever made anything like that before!” 'Probably because the prep work and everything is really complex if you don’t have hands or magic.' Merry just shrugged.

“Alright everyone, Princess Scoots has spoken. Have a seat at the table while I cook it up. Hope you don’t mind, but Im gonna add a slight twist to it. Found some noodles today.” The princesses just looked at each other with confused looks while Scoots just looked up to them with a huge smile on her face.

“Don’t worry princesses, I’m sure you’ll like it too, Merry is a great cook!” Scootaloo ran into the kitchen to sit at the table and watch Merry cook. Merry had brought out everything he needed and put his earbuds in. (SuperTramp - The Logical Song). He had a pot filled with water and set the fire on as he finished prepping the veggie’s and then began to cook it all together. All the while he was singing along to the song.

Merry finished his Stir fry the way he had before, but when it was done he added the cooked noodles to add some volume to the meal. He then placed a plate in front of everyone and along with some silver ware and then placed the huge pan filled with the food in the middle of the table. He filled up Scootaloo’s plate and then his own. Leaving the others to fend for them selves.

“You know, its called manners to serve the Princess of the kingdom before your self.” Merry stopped eating and looked at Scoots, then back to Celestia.

“But I did.” He pointed at Scootaloo who was eating the food on her plate. Celestia and Luna just gave Merry a dumbfounded look along with the mane 6.

“Why do you keep saying that Scootaloo is a Princess?” Merry stopped eating and looked them in the eyes.

“To me a Princess is someone that stands up for her people, and doesn’t tolerate injustice. Today I saw Scoots stand up to those griffin’s for Fluttershy, while you two were about to just let it go. That’s why Scootaloo is and will forever be my little princess. Any more silly questions, or are you going to get something to eat?” Luna and Celestia just sighed and levitated some of the food to their plates followed by the mane 6. The princesses faces lit up at the 1st bite and their sour attitude faded.

“This is good, How did you, come across such a dish?” Said Luna through mouthfuls of the stir fry. Merry just shrugged

“Well, I was home alone one day, and the only thing left in the fridge was a bunch of old veggie’s that would of gone bad if I didn’t make them into something. I eventually made this after I combined a few cooking methods from different cultures around my world.” Celestia paused for a moment

“You made this up, using left overs from your old home, while mixing different cooking styles?”

“Yeah pretty much, a mix and match of different things brought together into perfection. The only thing I know is the onion and garlic can never be changed out for something else. They are the base of this dish... The oil is interchangeable with other things similar and same with the veggie’s.” Merry finished his plate for once and sat back. “Now I know you’re not here to just eat, so ask your questions and I shall answer them for you if I can.” Celestia just stopped eating and looked up to Merry.

“My 1st question is, can I have this recipe? The cooks in the castle must learn it.” Merry just face palmed

“Yeah sure, next question goes to Luna.” Luna looked up with a mouth full of food. She chewed for a bit then swallowed.

“How did you recover from such a grave wound? Such a thing should have killed you, yet you quite literally walked it off, and now there is but a scar upon your abdomen.” Merry just smiled.

“Gather round children and I shall tell you a grand tale about my life and how I came to be...”

“That’s not what I asked...”

“Hush child. Now it all started when I was walking home from school. Out of no where I was killed by a bad guy with a bat, rather rude if you ask me...Anyway I ended up in the nether world waiting office. It was there that my body was modified into that of the living dead that gave me my unnatural healing powers. Not just that, but I was tasked with the job of collecting good and evil deeds for my demon and deity overloads.” Celestia and Luna just paused for a moment.

“Pic’s or it didn’t happen.” Luna just crossed her hooves. The mane 6 who had been mostly silent up to this point looked to Applejack who was wide eyed at what Merry had just said.

“He’s a tellin the truth Princesses, that's the 1st time Merry’s a said something around me that was a complete truth.” All the ponies were dead silent until Scootaloo spoke up

“So, my dads a zombie?”

“Well, I”m not 100% zombie. Actually I don’t know what I am truthfully. I can see in the dark, I regenerate all non fatal wounds almost instantly, and fatal ones seem to take a bit longer. I was told a severe head wound would kill me, but I have yet to test that. I only need to eat to keep my regeneration going, and as for pain well, I don’t feel much of it. I guess I’m sort of a freak. I’m not REALLY an alien, just some thing from across the veil.” Merry had dropped his head a bit at just telling them all what he really was. Scootaloo hopped out of her chair and just stood there looking at Merry.

‘I really am a monster aren’t I?’ Merry sighed as he couldn’t keep eye contact with Scoots. Merry fell out of his chair as Scootaloo jumped up at him and embraced Merry in her little hooves.

“I don’t care if you’re an alien, freak, monster, or whatever. You’re still my one and only dad.” Merry just smiled as a tear formed in his eye.

“And that’s why you’re my princess Scoots.” Merry just hugged her tighter and kissed her on the forehead. “Now its getting late, you should get to bed Scoots.” Scootaloo just shook her head

“I don’t wanna go to bed.” Merry just sighed and pulled out his iPod.

“How about I set you up with my iPod, and you can go sleep in my room tonight?” Scootaloo thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Ok, you have a deal.” Merry just smiled and set his iPod to play the Ozzy Osborne track list and started it on Walk on Water.

“Just take it out of your ears when you’re done with it. I’ll be upstairs when the guests have satisfied their thirst for my knowledge.” Scootaloo nodded her head up and down as Merry put in the earbuds for her. She went upstairs with the iPod on her back bobbing her head. Merry just chuckled

“She’s so cute, anyway, what else did you guys wanna know?” Rainbow Dash spoke next

“I wanna know why you decided to take care of a kid. When I 1st meet you, you seemed like the kinda guy that ran from responsibility, and taking care of Scoots is nothing but responsibility, what gives?” Merry just laughed.

“What can I say? I told Twilight I had a bit of random nature, and when I saw Scoots fending for her self and scared about what her friends and YOU most of all would think of her, if they found out she was homeless and had no parents. You know why she never came forward before? She told me that she didn’t want to be embarrassed or shunned in front of her Idol, you, Rainbow Dash.” Merry just sighed “ But its not your fault, she’s just a kid that was overwhelmed by the worlds hard truths.” Rainbow Dash backed down into her chair and just looked at the floor.

“I didn’t know the squirt had it so hard...” Rainbow Dash just thought for a moment then looked up to Merry. “I’m gonna personally teach her how to fly now.” Everyone in the room just smiled

“Good, because I cant fly, so there’s no way I was gonna be able to teach her. Ha-ha. Now next question...”

“What do you plan to do now?” Celestia had finally asked a real question.

“What do I plan to do? Well in all honestly, if I can just live as normal a life as possible until Scoots grows up. I’ll just be fine. My only worry is that the Griffins find out the truth and come back for revenge or something. But hopefully you cover it up well enough so my past doesnt come to haunt me...” Merry thought for a moment “...yeah, I’ll live my life for Scoots, my little princess...Heh. You know its funny because she’s not even my real daughter, let alone the same race, but I love her anyway. I don’t know what it is about her, But I couldn’t get her out of my head that 1st night I found her.” Merry just smiled while he looked at the floor. “Hey tell me something, She will be able to fly right? From what I figured out, she cant fly all that well because of the way she grew up. She had trouble finding food, so her wings couldn’t grow properly. Now that she’s being taken care of, she will get to fly right?” Celestia just smiled and nodded to Merry.

“Yes, she’s still young and she will learn to fly, in a few months she should be caught up with the other Pegasus of her age.” Merry just sighed in relief.

“That’s good, I’m glad its nothing that will be permanent.” Merry leaned back in his chair “So, you girls have any more questions? Or will I be able to rest now?” Twilight spoke up next

“Before you had told me you had no faith left in your race. Why is that exactly? And why are you so protective of Scoots” Merry just sighed.

“Well, when I was younger I had a friend, My one and only real friend. He was my next door neighbor and I was 6 at the time it all happened. Being a little kid, I had no idea why the police and a bunch of people were outside the house that day. Asking my parents and me if we had seen anyone strange around the house. I had no idea someone came by and kidnaped my best friend Kyle.” Merry took another deep breath and sighed “It wasn’t until I was 13 I asked my parents what had happened to him. I only remembered because I saw an old Photo with both of us in it smiling... That’s when my parents told me exactly what had happened to my first real friend.” Pinkies mane had deflated and she looked at Merry

“Did they find him?” Merry just chuckled and gave her a light smile.

“Yeah, they found him a week later...” Pinkie’s mane returned back to its original state, at lest until Merry finished his sentence “...in the woods inside a plastic bag.” All the ponies had gone wide eyed “It turns the out sick bastard that kidnaped him was a pedofile that like to rape little kids until they died. It was at that moment I lost faith in my race. Then it got worse, I investigated some of it my self. I found out they caught the guy, but he was able to get away scot free. Why? Because some Stupid Cop fumbled the evidence and they couldn’t find him Guilty. Can You Fucking Believe that Shit?!” All the ponies just sat there. Unsure of what to say.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much why I have no faith left in my race. Having people like that, then having stupid people working the justice system and letting sick people like that get away scot free. Its also why I’m overprotective of any kids I see. No child should ever have to go through stuff like my friend Kyle did. Its part of the reason why I snapped when I saw those griffins picking on Scoots like that.” Merry just sighed and leaned back into the chair.

“I try to not remember stuff like that, Anyway, do you have any more questions for me?”

The mane 6 all looked to each other and the princesses exchanged glances. “No, I think we know enough for now Merry. We shall take our leave.” All the ponies stood up and walked to the door. The mane 6 took turns speaking to Merry before they left.

“You’re still awesome in my Book.”

“Even though you are bit rough around the edges, your heart is made of gold.”

“Yall can come by the farm anytime you want if’n you need help.”

“We can throw a Party later! I still don’t know when your birthday is, So I’ll find out next time!”

“I can um, come by and make lunch or dinner for you and Scootaloo, you know, if you want me too.”

“Just know that we will always be your friends Merry, No matter what you are.” Merry just looked down to the ground and crossed his arms.

“Thanks you guy’s, I’ll remember that. Oh yeah, Before you leave, could I get some more bits Celestia?” Celestia just chuckled before looking at Merry.

“Yes, fine, just don’t go spending it all in one afternoon again, and I’m not going to help you anymore after this, So find a job.” Merry just laughed, "Yes of course." Merry waved to the rest of the ponies as they left.

When everyone left Merry sighed and went back in to the house to clean up. He washed all the dishes and cleaned up everything making the house neat and tidy. Merry went upstairs and saw Scootaloo asleep in his bed with the earbuds still playing music.

‘Heh, she fell asleep to Ozzy Osborne.” Merry went up to Scoots and took the earbuds out and turned the iPod off. After placed it on the night stand he got ready for bed, brushed his teeth and all that jazz. He had been feeling tired, apparently the damage from today was enough to make him want to sleep. After he got in his sleep wear, the blue pants and blue shirt, He slipped into the bed next to Scoots and cuddled up next to her.

For the 1st time in 4 days Merry had a real nights sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Sister, did you see in Merry’s mind what I saw?” Luna had looked up to Celestia with a worried look.

“I’m not sure what you saw exactly, But I saw a torrent of mixed emotions. His mind is quite chaotic and his decisions are based soully upon his mood at that moment.”

“Not only that Tia, but he reminds me of myself before becoming Nightmare Moon.” Celestia looked down at Luna

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s on the edge. All he needs is another big push to completely snap. I just hope that never comes.” Luna looked ahead of them on the chariot “Sister, we must prevent the griffins from finding him at any cost. I feel the outcome could end drastically.” Celestia put a hoof up.

“Worry not Lulu, that was my plan from the beginning. And even if he does snap, he doesn’t have the power of a god like you, so I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad.” Luna just sighed

“I hope you’re right sister.”