Artex reached Ponyville in less than six minutes at a dead run. He was feeling very pleased with himself, even though he knew Rainbow Dash would say he still needed to improve. He waved at the multicolored residents of the small town and nearly every one of them waved back. He slowed down to a jog as he neared the library. The sweat had dried on him and he was suitably well cooled off as he opened the front door.

"I'm back!" he yelled, closing the door behind him.

A tan Unicorn with a fuchsia mane and tail looked up from the book she was writing on, on the couch,
"Oh hey Artex." Razor Wit was almost always in a good mood when he came back from the farm, "We weren't expecting you. I thought you were going to Fluttershy's."

"I am, I just stopped by to pick up Suey." he looked around, puzzled at the distinctive absence of a certain lavender Alicorns mare and purple dragon, "Uh Razor, where are Twilight and Spike?"

Razor blinked twice in rapid succession,
"You forgot that Twilight was going to sit in on Day Court with Princess Celestia didn't you." she said sardonically, "And Spike is helping Rarity again."

Artex facepalmed and groaned,
"I always seem to forget when she's going to be away for the day." his right eyebrow quirked as he lowered his hand and stared at Razor, "You must be bored to tears huh."

Razor shook her head,
"Not at all. Quiet days like this are the perfect time to compile all the notes I take during our talks every night."

Artex nodded,
"I suppose that makes sense. I take it Suey is sleeping in her bed in the kitchen?"

Razor Wit smiled,
"That she is. Should I plug my ears?"

Artex nodded then pursed his lips and let out a shrill whistle,
"SUEY! SUEY, SUEY, SUEY PIG!"

The effect was instantaneous. A loud scrabble of little hooves on the solid wood flooring heralded the very reason for his presence. A brown piglet that had to weigh all of ninety pounds came running in from the kitchen into the main sitting room. Suey was roughly four months old but already she was big. She had four tusks protruding from her snout. Two, three inch tusks toward the front of her snout and two, six inch tusks closer to her eyes. Darker brown bony plates ran from the front of her snout all the way down her back. The plates didn't wrap all the way around her underside but they were already as hard and dense as granite. Her little brown eyes lit up when she spotted Artex. He braced himself and held out his arms.

Suey took a running leap into Artex' arms, nearly knocking him over,
"There's my girl!" he said fondly hugging the pig, "Oh you're getting so big! Here soon I won't be able to pick you up anymore." Suey wagged her little curly-cue tail happily and nuzzled Artex' chest, grunting excitedly, "Alright then, come on, we're going to go see Fluttershy today and make sure you're all healthy."

Suey excitedly wriggled around in Artex' arms until he was forced to put her down, he opened the front door and let her scamper outside. He unslung the sheath which held his khopesh and placed it next to the couch where he slept every night.

Razor reached her left fore hoof over and touched Artex' arm,
"Remember you have magic practice with Twilight tonight when you return from Fluttershy's and after that we're supposed to continue with our comparison and contrast of Human and Pony culture. Do you remember what we're discussing tonight?" she asked.

Artex nodded,
"Sure do," he cleared his throat and spoke in a British accent, "Our discourse shall consist of an exchange of information pertaining to the usual processes and traditions associated with birth and death, first of Humans then those of Ponies, wot, wot."

Razor removed her hoof from Artex' arm and held it in front of her muzzle, giggling behind it,
"Right. Well then I'll see you later. Have fun with Fluttershy."

Artex smirked and headed toward the door, calling over his shoulder,
"Oh I will."

He closed the door behind him and looked around for Suey. The energetic piglet was only a few feet away, rooting around the roots of the library tree, 'Looking for mushrooms again.' he thought, 'She sure does love her some mushrooms.'

He leaned over and lightly tapped the piglet on the back,
"Are you coming or not?" he asked with a smile.

Suey looked up from rooting, her snout was coated with lose dirt. She grunted once at Artex and wagged her tail. Artex pointed in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage and began walking in the direction he had indicated, Suey following happily. Artex had been introduced to the pigs on the Apple family farm some months prior and had been astounded to discover their own pigs could not only speak but were intelligent enough to have a coherent conversation with. He expected that it wouldn't be long before he and Suey were having their own conversations. He considered her to be closer to a very pink, quadrupedal adopted daughter than an actual pet, even though Fluttershy had given Suey to him as a pet.

The pair walked down the well worn dirt path out of Ponyville and into the sparse woods which stood between the town and Fluttershy's cottage. The walk was as pleasant as always with birds swirling on the wing and singing overhead. The trees were a brilliant green and lush foliage abounded on literally every branch. Small woodland creatures scurried about, oftentimes right across the path. Suey wandered forward, ahead of Artex always examining one plant or another, before turning around and trotting back to walk side by side with him. Artex' days were much brighter with Suey around, she was a bright light in the hidden, unspoken darkness of his mind.

He enjoyed Suey's company immensely for watching the little piglet gave him something to smile about. The conversation with Granny Smith earlier had set him on edge, though he was loathe to mention it to the kind old mare or her family. It was a stark reminder of what he had lost when he was brought to Equestria. Not for the first time, his thoughts journeyed back to happier days when he and his wife would make dinner together then sit down at the small table in their apartment and enjoy the fruits of their shared labor. They were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, however they had worked hard and they were happier than they had any right to be. Their apartment was small, less than nine hundred square feet, but even though they were constantly tight on money, they enjoyed each other's company immensely. Having been together for thirteen years, they had grown so close, neither could imagine living without the other. It was a type of wholesome codependent relationship that they had both come to accept and Artex missed his wife terribly. Thinking of his loss in such quiet moments allowed him some little precious time to mourn without anyone asking him what was wrong. It wasn't as though he resented the fact that his new friends cared about him, he had been brought up a certain way and that way included how to cope with loss privately. His eyes moistened and he never tried to wipe them, he let the tears come as he enjoyed his small hike, communing with nature. He knew his tears would dry eventually but his new friends had helped him see that holding his grief in was an unhealthy way to deal with loss. He smiled as he thought about his friends, they were a new support structure in his life, especially Razor Wit. She had been a good friend, a good friend indeed.

In one of his more rare moments, Artex stopped walking, closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky,
"It may not be what I expected or wanted, but . . . Thank you." his short prayer finished, he opened his eyes, took a deep cleansing breath and continued on his way, feeling marginally better.

Artex and Suey arrived at Fluttershy's cottage a few minutes later. Artex was feeling better from his short period of mourning and he was also feeling hungry. He had skipped lunch with the Apple family in hopes of asking for one of Fluttershy's amazing acorn cakes. He would have never thought that he would ever be referring to something made with acorns as delicious, but the butter yellow mare with her long pink mane and tail had turned him into a believer. The first time he ate one, he had been skeptical to say the least, however after a single bite, he was in love. The small, oval, brownish yellow confection did not look particularly appealing, but the explosion of flavor concealed within was undeniable.

The sweet and savory smell of acorn cake made itself known as Artex and Suey approached the little cottage built in the above ground roots of a massive old tree. The two of them walked up to the front door of the cottage and Artex knocked lightly, remembering how easy Fluttershy was to startle.

A few moments later the door opened and there stood a monster. It was an insane amalgamation of all sorts of different animals all mixed into one. The creature looked to stand at least nine feet tall and it walked upright, its long sinuous, serpentine body snaking back and forth. Its head and neck were a light brown and gray color, its snout was elongated and sported a wide array of razor sharp teeth with a single odd snaggle-tooth protruding downward from its upper jaw. Yellow eyes, one with a large red pupil and one with a smaller red one stared down at Artex. Fixed atop the creature's head was a deer antler and a bluish, bulbous goat like horn. Its right hand was a lion's paw and its left was an eagle talon. Below its neck its fur changed to a more bark brown shade. A bat wing jutted out from the right side of its back and a light blue feathered wing emerged from its left side. Its left leg looked similar to a hoof and its right leg resembled a dragon's claw. Its tail was green and scaly ending in a whitish tuft of fur.

Artex was puzzled to no end. The creature looked hilariously ridiculous . . . yet there was a strange intimidating sense to it, as if Artex was an insect compared to the creature. Artex had felt such a thing before when he was first in the presence of Celestia, the power of the presence of the creature before him now, was beyond even the white Alicorn Princess.

"Um," Atrex began uncertainly, "Is Fluttershy here?"

Discord blinked in surprise, taken aback, he turned his head and called into the cottage,
"Oh Fluttershy, there's a giant shaved talking monkey and a Great Pig at the door asking for you." he said casually.

Artex, feeling as if he was being rude and seeing as the monstrous creature wasn't acting openly hostile, decided to introduce himself,
"I'm Artex Rias." he said extending his right hand, "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

Discord turned his head back toward Artex and shook his hand with a lion paw,
"Discord, avatar of all things chaotic, and purveyor of randomosity." he said making a black suit jacket and top hat appear on his body and a cane appear in his left eagle talon, "And believe me," he added with a mischievous grin, "The pleasure is all mine."

"I don't know if you've ever met Pinkie Pie but I think she could give you a run for your money." Artex replied releasing the lion's paw.

Discord pulled on his goatee thoughtfully,
"You know," Discord said lowering his head down level with Artex' face, "I'm familiar with literally every living thing in this world," he held up and twirled a single digit of his lion's paw and Artex levitated off the ground and spun slowly, "But I can't say I've EVER seen something like you before." he lowered his digit and Artex lowered to the ground, "Just what, exactly ARE you?"

Artex crossed his arms,
"Well first off, I'm slightly offended that you levitated me without asking first. Second, if you wanted a look at me, all you had to do was ask. Third, I'm a Human. So back at you, what are you? I'm not familiar with many creatures in this world, but you strike me as somewhat interesting."

Discord held his lion paw to his chest proudly,
"I just happen to be the finest example of a Draconequus you will ever see."

"And the only one, as far as we know." Fluttershy added trotting up behind Discord, "Won't you come in Artex?"

"Um, I'm kind of being blocked by Dyslexia." Artex said.

"Discord." the Draconequus corrected and with a snap of his fingers, he was behind Artex, "There, spoil-sport, are you happy now?"

Artex walked through the open doorway, Suey following him, and said over his shoulder,
"Thanks Dysentery. "

"Discord." the mildly irritated being of chaos corrected.

Fluttershy turned her head and gave Artex a firm stare,
"If you're going to in my house, I ask that you respect my friends. Discord doesn't have many friends and I was hoping that the two of you might get along."

Artex had the sense to look sheepish,
"Alright," he turned to Discord, "Sorry, just don't use magic on me without my permission and I'll get your name right. Deal?"

Discord smirked and leaned against Fluttershy's door frame,
"Sure, sure, whatever you say, just don't expect me to cry at your funeral when that stick up your flank gets infected."

Ignoring Discord, Artex knelt down and gave Fluttershy a hug,
"I brought Suey in so you could give her a checkup, if that's alright."

Artex let go of the yellow Pegasus mare and stood up as Suey trotted up to Fluttershy and started nuzzling her fore legs,
"Aww, aren't you looking healthy?"

Suey wagged her little tail and grunted happily as Fluttershy began running her hooves over the piglet's back, feeling for abnormalities. Finding none, Fluttershy gently laid Suey on her back and continued feeling out abnormalities. Suey was perfectly cooperative when Fluttershy opened her mouth to check her teeth and tusks.

She looked at the piglet's eyes and ears and hooves in turn then stood back up smiling broadly,
"She's the perfect picture of health." Fluttershy proclaimed, "She was perfectly behaved too, I'll go get her a treat."

Fluttershy left the front room and Discord was suddenly in Artex' face, his voice a perfect match for Clint Eastwood,
"Listen bub, Fluttershy was right about me not having many friends, heck until she became mine, I didn't care if I had any or not, but she IS my friend and I'm not having YOU take her away. Stay or go, I don't care, but we were having tea and I plan to finish that." he gestured behind himself, "I didn't conjure up THIS many cucumber sandwiches for nothing."

Artex looked beyond Discord. A tray on the living room table sported a four foot tall miniature mountain of sandwich quarters on wheat bread.

Artex quirked an eyebrow at the display then faced Discord again,
"Look I didn't even know you were here. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, but I promise I never intended to ruin your time with Fluttershy. Would it help if I left?"

Discord planted the back of his lion paw against his forehead dramatically leaning back and closing his eyes,
"Oh the terrible burden of choice!" he quickly straightened up and regarded Artex again, "Actually no, I'd love for you to stay. You aren't a native of Equestria and I, for one, would love to hear how you came to be here. Besides you intrigue me. Chaos flows off you in waves yet you do nothing with it. You're rude one minute then you're as polite as a Canterlot Noble. You are at war with yourself. Your very nature practically oozes delicious chaos and yet you struggle for control and balance. It's like some sort of chaotic dance."

"Yeah, I wish I was the only one." Artex said, "All Humans are like that."

Discord looked ready to drool,
"An entire species with chaos all but built into them? How have you survived? Your history must be absolutely riddled with war."

"It's not something the Ponies would want to hear about but in our more recent wars there were hundreds of thousands left dead on battlefields and those were just soldiers. Civilian casualties were in the millions." Artex said quietly.

Discord's jaw dropped,
"And Celestia let you stay here?" he asked in disbelief, "She should have welcomed me openly." his smile returned, "Well," he said looking off in the distance and using his eagle talon to make circular gestures in the air, "I mean there was that whole 'ruling Equestria and making everyone feel the effects of my chaos' thing but really who counts that? It was only for a couple thousand years, I mean who's counting? Let bygones be bygones, right? At least I didn't kill anypony."

". . . Yeah, whatever you say." Artex replied uncertainly.

Fluttershy trotted back into the room with a small bag in her mouth. She set the bag down next to the table and nosed it open. Reaching her muzzle within, she withdrew a small round biscuit and tossed it to Artex. Artex held it up and sniffed it, it smelled like molasses, carrot, and oats. Smiling, he lowered his hand and held it out to the Suey. The little piglet sniffed the treat for a moment then gently took it from Artex' open palm, crunching on it happily.

"Oh Artex, Discord and I were just having tea, why don't you join us?" Fluttershy asked.

Artex held up his hands,
"I don't want to intrude on you two. I can come back later."

"Oh it's no trouble at all, I was actually hoping you would come by early so you and Discord could talk. Believe it or not, you have a lot in common." Fluttershy said.

Artex turned and looked at Discord, then turned back to Fluttershy with the singularly most disbelieving expression even Discord had ever seen,
"We do?"

Fluttershy nodded,
"Yes, you were both brought here through means you don't understand."

Artex' eyebrows rose and he looked back to Discord,
"Really?" he crossed his arms, "I'm not the only outsider huh?" Discord matched Artex' look, and Artex smiled, "What say we all sit down and talk about this?"

As promised, update today! Remember to Like if you like the story or Dislike, I would appreciate it if you left a reason why.