Zero slowly trotted away from the theater, ignoring the screams of outrage from the griffon. He began to pick up his pace when he noticed the guards arriving at the scene. It wasn't that he was worried they would try to apprehend him. Rather, He didn't want to to be recognized as a hero again and have to face the crowd of reporter ponies. He certaintly did not enjoy that experience. After getting a significant distance away from the theatre, he found a public bench and took a seat. He allowed himself to rest and noticed that he was being followed this whole time by Rarity. He nodded towards her.
"Miss Rarity."
She wore a look of utter bewilderment, "What just happened back there?", she asked.
Zero grinned as he answered her literally, "Was it not obvious? I prevented an attack against Canterlot by the griffons and ended all but one of their lives."
The mare shook her head. Her mind went into shock when she was taken hostage and she was still trying to piece everything together. "I mean specifically when that one griffon grabbed me. He clearly intended to take my life but instead you offered your own life in exchange. Would you really have given you're life for me?", she asked as if it were a simple question.
Zero frowned as he pondered the question. The answer was yes and no. No because he knew soon after examining his foe further that it would not need to come down to giving up his life. However, he was fully prepared to stop the griffon from harming Rarity, regardless of what it cost. In truth he would have done this for any of his other friends, such as Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash. They had been nothing but supportive towards him since he had been in this world. He was closer friends with these ponies, whom he had only spent two weeks with now, than anyone he's known back in his own world for his whole life. He felt the need to give back to these ponies. His answer decided, he spoke up.
"Yes", he replied softly. Zero was completely caught off guard by what happened next. The mare leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. It was his turn to be shocked as she kissed him. He quickly pulled away, not exactly enjoying this act of affection.
"That was unneccessary.", he stated.
"Oh I'm sorry...I just thought...I must look so foolish now.", she stammered
Zero glared at her. He wasn't sure how she could have thought that he would enjoy something like that. He wiped his face with his hoof.
"Do not do it again or else I may not save you next time.", he warned.
Rarity pouted. "And here I was hoping to win you over for our little challenge earlier. You are going to be much tougher to crack then I thought."
Zero chuckled lightly, "I shall never crack/ It is not in my nature/ You should just give up." He got up from the bench and began making his way to the palace in order to report his mission's success to Luna. Rarity stayed behind a bit before beginning to walk behind him.
"Never.", she whispered to herself.
As the two made their way to the palace, Zero decided to tell Rarity of his meeting with Luna earlier. He explained how she had asked him to investigate for any suspicious activity during the show and that was the reason why he had not returned after saying he had to use the restroom. Rarity nodded as he told his story, no longer mad at the fact he had ditched her earlier. As they approached the palace doors, one of the guards spoke up.
"Might wanna be careful in there", he warned. Zero did not get the reason for the guard's warning until he entered the throne room to see Celestia and Luna having a heated arguement.
"I gave you an order to not take action against the griffons but instead you go behind my back and do so anyway!", Celestia spoke in a terse tone.
"I did what I felt was right, sister", hissed Luna, venom dripping on the word "sister".
Before the two could continue, they both noticed Zero as he entered.
"You!", shot Celestia with fury lining her voice, "I should have know you were up to something earlier! Why I even gave a savage such as yourself a chance to prove your worth is beyond me."
Luna quickly rose up in his defense, "If this noble stallion had not done as I commanded, hundreds of ponies would have been lost in the theatre as it burned. You heard what the guard reported. There was oil lining the entirety of the structure. The griffons clearly meant to set it ablaze."
"That is not the point! The point is that Zero should not have been involved in this at all! We cannot trust him!", shrieked Celestia.
Zero had enough. He was fed-up with Celestia's bullshit. He drew his blade, his gaze locked with pure hatred towards the white alicorn.
"I will take no more/ Of your judgement without proof/ I will make you see."
Luna and Rarity gasped while Celestia returned the glare. Rarity began to whisper to Zero in a concerned voice.
"As much as I agree that Celestia is being rather unreasonable, that is no reason to start a fight. And besides, she possesses powers bordering upon godly!", she said in a hushed tone.
"Gods can still bleed.", he replied with a tone devoid of any emotion.
Before things could escalate any further, Luna once again spoke up, "Will neither of you see reason? Fighting will get us nowhere!"
Celestia kept her unblinking gaze on Zero, ignoring Luna. "You take action behind my back and now you openly threaten me. What is stopping me from throwing you into the dungeon?", she asked.
"How about the fact I saved one of your 'Elements of Harmony'?", Zero replied.
Upon hearing this, Celestia immediately recognized Rarity standing by the stallion's side. "What do you mean?", she inquired.
"Rarity was in attendance of the show. Had I not done what I had, she would have died along with hundreds of others. I did not do Luna's will to defy you. I had orginally decided to decline her request. It was the fear that harm may come to Rarity that convinced me to go through with it. I was not going to allow her to be hurt.", as he finished, he felt Rarity nuzzle his side.
Celestia had no response. Once again, the stallion made her appear foolish for assuming something that was not true. Knowing her apology would mean nothing to him, she simply told him, "Leave.", in a quiet tone.
"Gladly.", was Zero's reply as he turned to walk out into the night again. He stopped, however, as Luna called out to him as she approached.
"Wait!", she shouted, catching up to him, "I didn't get a chance to thank you for what you have done. I am especially grateful that you left one alive for interrogation. I promise I will find a way to repay you."
Zero simply shook his head, "Consider it an act of charity. You need all the help you can get with Celestia." He once again began walking out into the night, Rarity in tow. As they made their way to the station to return to Ponyville, Rarity began to speak.
"Those things you said back there...", she didn't finish her statement, instead continuing her thoughts, "I really must make this all up to you one day."
Zero pondered her statement for a bit. "I'll think of something.", he stated.
Upon arriving back in Ponyville after a quiet ride in the train, the two ponies parted ways. Rarity again thanked Zero as he disappeared into the night. He took his time as he made his way home, admiring the beauty of the night sky. The embrace of darkness was always comforting to Zero.
"Shadows before me/ Darkness consumes my vision/ Night is my true home", he stated to himself.
Upon arriving at his home, he noticed a note had been taped to his door. He pulled it off and began to read.
Hey Z! It's me, Pinkie! I was wondering if you'd be able to come by Sugarcube Corner tommorow. I wanted to ask for your help with something super duper important in a few days. Dashie told me you went to Canterlot, so I left the note here. I hope you'll be able to make it!
Zero sighed. He knew he would eventually have to deal with the ball of energy that was Pinkie Pie. Atleast he wouldn't have to worry about actually spending the whole day with her until later in the week, if what she said in her note was accurate. He had planned on giving himself a free day or two considering his amazing progress with Celestia's challenge. He stepped inside his home and removed his gear, hesistating slightly when removing his cloak, Phant0m. He really did love it due to the way it looked and how useful it was earlier. Despite the questionable behavior of the mare, he couldn't argue with the quality of her work. He made his way to his bed, laid upon it, and began to ponder his life so far in Equestria. He couldn't help but wonder how the situation fared on Pandora. He was sure the other vault hunters were suffering without him.
Axton fired a full clip of his combat rifle in the direction of the bandits before throwing down his Sabre Turret and taking cover behind a nearby wall, his two companions joining him shortly after. He began to speak with them.
"Do you guys feel like we're missing something?", he asked.
The siren Maya answered, "You're right. I thought there was four of us. What happened to that guy who dressed like a ninja? He kinda creeped me out."
"That weirdo?", replied Salvador the Gunzerker, "Didn't he speak in poetry or something?"
"Yea, that's right. I remember he wouldn't even use gun. I can't tell you how many times he passed on an amazing piece of equipment that a bandit dropped because he insisted on only using his sword."
The three vault hunters looked at each other before shrugging, "I'm sure he's fine", finished Axton as the three of them continued their quest for guns, guns, and more guns.