Twilight walked out of the courtroom and looked upon the recuperating town. Her friends awaited her out of the courtroom and they ran up to her.
Rainbow Dash hovered next to Twilight. “What were you thinking?”
Twilight looked up to Rainbow Dash. “What do you mean?”
Applejack gestured toward the town. “You just released this monster back into Ponyville!”
Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think he’s a monster.”
Rarity gasped. “Not a monster? Have you seen his coat?”
Rainbow Dash extended her wings. “His leathery wings?”
“The scars?” Fluttershy added in horror.
Pinkie Pie stomped on the ground in a gruff. “And where is my string?”
“He isn’t from around here.” Twilight said.
Applejack shook her head. “Doesn’t mean he’ll be all friendly.”
“And didn’t he almost burn your tail off?” Rainbow Dash shook her tail.
“Yes, but I don’t think he knew any better.” Twilight replied.
Applejack recoiled. “He didn’t know any better?!” She shook her head. “What in tarnation do you mean? Any pony his age knows what they’re doing.”
Twilight shook her head in thought. “I don’t know. I just don’t think he knew any better.”
Rainbow Dash raised her hooves. “You keep saying that.”
“Yeah, why ya think that?” Applejack added.
Twilight looked up at the sky. “Did you see his reaction to the rain?” Then she looked at the girls and lifted a hoof. “His unnatural hostilities. His efforts to avoid seriously injuring any pony.”
“His powerful rock and fire magic.” Rainbow Dash quipped.
“Come on! I need your help!” Twilight begged.
Crimson walked out of the courtroom at that moment, fully geared. Twilight’s friends looked slightly wide eyed at the stranger. “They gave him back his armor?”
Twilight turned to look at Crimson. “Well, the courts ruled in his favor so he didn’t legally do anything wrong.”
Crimson walked up to Twilight and her friends. Her friends just glared at him in distrust as he bowed courteously to Twilight.
“Ms. Twilight Sparkle, star pu-“
Twilight lifted a hoof at Crimson, stopping him mid-sentence. “Like I said in the courtroom, just call me Twilight.”
“Many apologies. I shall not make that mistake again.”
After a brief and awkward pause, the friends looked at Twilight. Applejack took a step backward. “Well, I got tons of apples to harvest.”
“Uh, yeah. And rainclouds to work on.” Rainbow Dash added.
Twilight looked toward her friends. “Oh, okay.”
Rarity shook her tail. “And I have to wash my tail. Takes hours.”
“The animals need to be fed.” Fluttershy softly commented.
Twilight looked suspiciously upon her friends as there was a brief pause. Pinkie Pie leaned her head in with a suspicious glare. “And I just think you’re creepy!”
Twilight lifted a hoof as the five turned around to leave. “Wait!”
Crimson watched the strange events unfold before him. “I am sorry. Did I do something wrong?”
Twilight turned toward Crimson. “Like what?”
“It would seem your companions do not approve of my company.”
Twilight looked away. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.” She turned toward Ponyville and shrugged her shoulder. “Come on. Let me show you around Ponyville.”
“As you command.”
Twilight looks oddly as Crimson follows her closely.
* * *
The two start to walk around the town for a couple of hours. Ponyville’s citizens looked suspiciously at the now free attacker. Twilight turned her head toward Crimson. “So tell me about yourself.”
“What do you wish to know?” Crimson asked.
“Tell me about your home.”
Crimson stopped walking. Twilight turned around to see Crimson standing still, looking down. “My home…”
Twilight walked up to Crimson. “What’s wrong?”
“You wish to know about my home.”
“Well, I’m curious.” Twilight asked, taking a couple more steps towards Crimson.
“As you wish.” Crimson looked up to Twilight. “My home is a dark and traitorous place. The weak are slain and the strong grow more powerful. My home is filled with deception and devious acts. It is a place of war, violence, bloodshed, and chaos where you watched your back every moment of your life.” Twilight listened in horror as he continued. “Every pony you thought you trusted would betray you if it served their purpose. Even your family would turn on you for power.” Twilight stood speechless. “I am glad I left and I do not wish to return.”
Twilight just stared at Crimson with a long moment of dumbfoundedness. “What a horrible place! What about your friends?”
“I do not understand.”
“What about your friends at home?”
“Friends?” Crimson asked confused.
“You know, ponies who you can rely on and talk to. Ponies you can trust.”
Crimson shook his head. “They are nonexistent.”
“That’s nonsense!” Twilight argued. “Tell you what, I’ll be your friend.”
Crimson slightly recoiled in confusion. “My… friend?”
Twilight smiled. “Yeah. You can talk to me and trust me.”
Crimson looked with suspicion. “What is in this transaction for you?”
“Wh… what?” Twilight tilted her head in confusion.
“A pony does not simply defend another pony on a trial, put your honor on the line, and not expect anything in return.”
Twilight scratched her head. “Uhh… A friend?” She replied kind of unsure.
“I do not understand, but I shall comply with your terms.”
Twilight looked totally and utterly baffled. “Look, trust me when I say I know what it’s like to not know what friendship is.” She nudged her head down the path. “Come on. I want you to get to know my friends.” Twilight led on as Crimson followed closely behind.