Chapter 2

Spike and the ponies looked at Dave with even greater shock as he shook Spikes hand.

“WOAH you can talk?” Spike looked with his mouth hung open.

“Yes I can talk,” Dave continued to smile at him. “Who said I couldn’t?”

“Cool!” Spike looked up at Dave, “Can I get you anything? Food? Drink?”

“No thanks Spike I’m fine for now,” Dave smiled as Spike ran off giggling over to Twilight who was still staring at Dave.

Fluttershy poked Dave with a hoof. “Um excuse me… um Dave,” She quietly whispered.

Dave turned towards her trying to keep his smile from tearing his face, I just shook hands with a dragon that was so awesome. “Yes Fluttershy?” He whispered back.

Fluttershy stood back shocked, “How do you know my name?” Still whispering.

“I have seen these other ponies call you Fluttershy, well I thought they were talking to you,” His smile went. “Did I get it wrong… I’m sorry.”

“No need I was just a bit umm…. Startled,” Anyway she could talk about other things with him later. “When we were just in the basement...”

“Yeah.”

“Can we not talk about when you scratched my ears… please?”

“Umm… ok sure… why not?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Fluttershy then hurried off towards a punch bowl and poured herself a drink.

Dave then stood up and turned to come eye to eye with Rainbow Dash who suddenly appeared flying up to his level.

“Listen chump. I am going to be watching you like a hawk so don’t try any funny business,” She said with the hint of threat in her voice. “Anything you want to say?”

Dave looked up at her rainbow hair. “I like your mane.”

She flew back a bit and raised her hooves, “THAT’S IT IT’S GO TIME BUD I Will… wait what did you say?” She landed on the floor looking up puzzled.

“umm… I like your mane.”

“Pfft yeah so what?” She looked away but then looked back curiously. “What do you like about it?”

“The way it is rainbow coloured. Do many ponies have that?”

“Well no...”

“That’s really cool in my opinion,” Dave smiled at her.

Dash’s eyes lit up when he said, 'cool.'

“Yeah well it would be if it was on such a radical pony as myself” She emphasized her point with a small back-flip into the air.

Applejack stepped in to stop Dash showing off before it got out of hand.

“Whoa Nellie. Calm yourself down before you go break somthin,” Applejack pulled on Dash’s tail to the ground. “Anyway ma names Applejack,” She outstretched a hoof which Dave shook.

“Nice to meet you,” Dave replied. “Sorry about those apples I took, I’ll try and pay you back.”

Applejack just smiled at him “It’s fine sugarcube. You only took a few.”

“I still feel kinda bad,” Dave scratched the back of his neck.

“Well if you want to I could let you help me buck apples at some point. If yer allowed that is.” Applejack turned to see Twilight walk over and gawp at Dave. “I’ll be leaving you two alone.”

Dave smiled at Twilight who quickly start to blurt out random questions.

“What are you?”

“Well I…”

“How are you speaking our language?"

“See I…”

“Where do you come from?”

“I…” Dave was starting to get pushed back against a wall.

“How did you get here? Tell me. Tell me. Please!”

“Well I’m try….”

“I need information. I don’t know what you are, I have absolutely no knowledge of how you came here and none of these books have any answers and it is beginning to drive me CRAZY!”

“Beginning?”

“Hey I’m asking the questions,” Twilight was standing on her hind legs with both her front hooves on Dave’s chest. The top of her head just reaching the bottom of his.

“Ok calm down can it wait though I would like to meet everyone before I get interrogated.”

“It’s everypony not everyone.”

“Give me a break I’m still new here. I can‘t become perfect with your ways of talking instantly can I?”

“That reminds me,” She dropped down and went over to Spike who was still sniggering.

“Ok that was strange,” Dave still against the wall not sure if he should move or not.

He didn’t have much time to think as a pink head bobbed up from below smiling.

“HI I’m Pinkie Pie!” Still bouncing up and down, “Welcome to Ponyville,” Stopping in midair she gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Dave asked before looking down and realized that she was standing on nothing. “And how the hell are you doing that?”

Pinkie suddenly flew over to Twilight and whispered in her ear.

“No Pinkie we can’t have a welcome party we have to keep it… I mean Dave hidden,” Twilight then went back to writing a letter.

“But when he is allowed can we have a party then?”

“Sure whatever,” Twilight shooed her off with a hoof.

Pinkie then started to bounce around the room excitedly, “YAY now I have even more time to put together and even bigger party!”

Dave watched her bounce round and round but had to force his eyes away as it was starting to make him feel queasy.

Spike walked over and pulled on Dave’s trousers, “Hey Dave you ok?”

Dave looked down at the purple dragon, “Yeah I’m fine.”

“Well you still haven’t met somepony.”

“Who?” Dave asked more out of the need for a distraction from the bouncing pink blur.

“Her,” Spike pointed over to Rarity who was in deep thought. His legs went wobbly “ Isn't she amazing?”

Dave bent over to catch Spike as he almost fell over just staring at her, “Um yeah I’ll take your word for it.” Wow this guy sure likes her...

Spike then regained a sense of what he was doing before grabbing Dave’s hand and dragged him over to Rarity.

Rarity on the other hand had missed out on most of the introductions as her mind slipped into a trail of thought. Why do his eyes give me the tingles? Do they remind me of something? Maybe some Sapphires I had to collect? That’s it I forgot to get the sapphires for my new costume… no wait I picked them up this morning. Did I just compare it’s eyes with sapphires? She didn't notice that Dave was coming her way.

“Rarity you haven’t said hi to Dave yet.”

Rarity snapped out of her bubble before looking at spike. “I’m sorry Spike. Did you say something?” She then looked over to Dave who had knelt down and held out his hand to her.

“Hello my names Dave. What’s yours?” Dave smiled at her and she just stared at his eyes.

“Rarity,” she sighed as she got lost in his deep blue eyes and placed her hoof in his hand shaking gently.

Dave looked back and saw her staring. “Umm are you ok?”

“I am now,” She was losing concentration again.

“Rarity are you feeling ok?” Spike sounded concerned.

“Yes. Why shouldn't I be?” She sighed as she continued to lose herself.

“Because you willingly put your hoof in dirt.”

Rarity snapped her head to look at her three hooves that were on the ground. “I have not Spike!” sounding slightly annoyed she had been broken from her trance.

“Not those ones,” Spike pointed at the hoof she still had in Dave’s hand.

Rarity looked down and noticed her hoof was sat in the Dave’s hand which had bits of dirt and mud covering his fingers.

Rarity pulled her hoof back and held her head high as she tried to regain her composure, “Well I was simply trying to be friendly to Mr Dave and that the fact that you have rudely interrupted us offends me!” She knew she was just trying to cover up the fact that she had been so lost in Dave’s eyes she could have been sitting in the rain and not have noticed.

“I’m sorry Rarity,” Spike looked down at his feet sadly.

“No it’s ok Spike,” Rarity said trying to fix everything. “I over reacted which is so unladylike and I apologize.”

Spike’s smile picked up again, “It’s ok.”

Dave just sat looking a bit confused, Why did she just stare at me?

Rarity then looked at her hoof. A tiny bit of dirt sat in the middle. “Oh dear I look hideous,” she slowly sidestepped around the boys. “I had better go clean myself up. Um Applejack could you be a dear and help me?” She didn't really give her much choice as she pushed her through to the kitchen.

“What the hay do you need me for?” Applejack was a bit annoyed with having being dragged away from her food.

“I need help with something.”

“With what? A tiny bit of dirt of your hoof? I knew you were prissy but this is jus too much.”

“No not with this,” She pointed subtly at Dave through the doorway. “With him!”

“Aww come on that ain't fair he is new is all jus give him some time to settle in and I’m sure you will both get on like a barn on fire,” Applejack put her hoof around her.

“That’s my problem,” moving Applejack's hoof off her.

“What you getting at?”

“When I look in his eyes I just seem to lose focus,” she looked around the door at Dave and Spike again.

Applejack started sniggering, “Like when you used to think of Prince Blueblood?” She remembered how Rarity used to daydream of meeting him at the Grand Galloping Gala and how that illusion was crushed that night.

“Yes it’s worse though. This time he just pops into my head without thinking.”

Applejack started laughing heavily before suddenly realizing who they were talking about, “Wait you're talking about Dave?”

“Yes.”

“The not-a-pony thing?”

“Yes!”

Applejack stared at her trying to see if she was joking. She wasn't. “Are ya sure he ain't just reminding you of somepony else?”

“I have been trying to think all afternoon but I can’t make sense of it,” Rarity started pacing back and forth. “I can’t be… falling for it can I?”

“No… well I dunno,” Applejack grabbed Rarity by the shoulders to stop her pacing. “Well get Dave to come in here and you can both just talk in out like reasonable adults.”

“No nopony must know about this,” Rarity looked back out at Dave. “I will just have to control myself until I figure out what’s going on.”

“Well everypony might start getting curious if you keep avoiding him.”

“You're right, I’ll have to stay near him at all times,” Rarity hugged AJ before brushing the dirt of her hoof and hurrying back into the main room.

“That’s not what I meant,” Applejack sighed as she trotted after her.

Meanwhile…

Spike pulled Dave over to a corner away from the ponies.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Spike whispered in Dave’s ear.

“Umm sure,” Dave put on a reassuring smile.

“I have a crush on Rarity,” He stood back blushing.

“Really?” Dave wasn't exactly surprised but he tried to sound it.

“Yeah but don’t tell anyone.”

“Why would you tell me this if you have only just met me?”

Spike looked down at his feet awkwardly before looking back up at Dave. “Well I don’t have any guy friends and well… I feel like I can trust you.”

“Thanks Spike that means a lot. Hey you and me are gonna be best buds ok?”

“Great!” Spike raising his hands in the air. “So you wanna do guy stuff?”

“Sure what did you have in mind?”

“Well actually I was hoping you had any ideas. Hanging around with Twilight and the others is cool and all… it just feels like something is missing.”

“Well what kind of things do you do together?”

“Well there was this one time we all saved Rarity from a bunch of dogs that ponynapped her. Umm there was another where we had to stop a swarm of bugs that were eating Ponyville. Oh and there was this time we helped Princess Luna fit in after being banished to the moon for 1000 years. Well what do you do? I bet it is even more dangerous than anything we have ever done!”

Dave looked a bit startled, “Well to be honest me and my friend just play a good game of Halo.”

“COOL… umm what’s Halo?”

“A video game.”

“A what game?”

Dave groaned internally as he looked at Spike's clueless look, “Never mind it will take too long to explain. But those stories sound really cool to me.”

“They do? I thought they sucked a bit because I was just being dragged around most of the time.”

“Oh I see what it is. You just can’t have a bit of independence?”

“Inder…what?”

“Have more freedom in choice”

“Oh like when I followed the dragon migration saved a phoenix family and showed some dragons who’s boss. Yeah that was a bad decision to go.”

“Well stick with me and when I am able we can go out exploring one day. Go camping or something.”

“Sounds great.”

“Wait did you say showed some dragons who’s boss?”

“Yeah they were teenagers about the same size you are. And we just ran away to be honest.”

“How big can dragons get?”

“Well they can easily be bigger than a barn.”

“Wow that sounds cool.”

Twilight had just finished her letter and gave it to Spike, “Can you send this for me?”

“Sure,” Spike sent the message away in a green flame.

“Thanks let me know when you get a reply,” she the turned to face everypony as Rarity and Applejack came back into the room. “I have sent a letter to Princess Celestia explaining the newest discoveries. Which I still intend to research,” That last bit was aimed at Dave. “But I was wondering if anypony could let Dave sleep at theirs tonight as I have lots of studying to do and I fear I may get distracted.”

The ponies all looked at each other. Rarity and Fluttershy both put their hooves up at the same time.

“Well Dave who would you like to stay with?” Twilight and the rest of the ponies looked at him.

“Well umm…” Dave looked at both ponies. I would like to stay at Fluttershy’s but something about Rarity makes me think she wants to talk. “I wouldn't mind staying at Rarity’s as long as Spike came along,” Dave looked down and winked.

Spike looked up at Dave as he knew it had something to do with a certain secret he had just shared.

Twilight nodded, “Ok so long as if Spike receives a letter he brings it straight over.”

“I’ll make sure he does,” Dave reassured her.

“Fine, get in the cart.”

“Excuse me?”

“Well we don’t want you to be seen by anypony until the Princess allows it. So this keeps you hidden just in case.”

“Fine,” Dave said as he said his goodbyes to everypony as Applejack and Rarity brought the cart to the door. Dave jumped in with Spike and covered themselves with a large green blanket.

“Thanks for bringing me,” Spike whispered to Dave.

“Hey no problem. It’s what mates do,” Dave replied as he rustled Spike’s light green spikes on his head.

The trip in the cart was a little bumpy but was quite short.

Dave lifted a small gap in the blanket to look up and see spike sitting next to him.

“Psst Spike,” Dave whispered just in case any ponies were up around.

Spike looked down at him before whispering back. “You ok Dave?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” Dave looked past Spike to the night sky. “What time is it?”

Spike stood up and looked in the distance obviously at some form of clock tower.

“About midnight.” The cart hit a bump in the road which send spike falling onto Dave, “We shouldn't be much longer Rarity seems to be in a hurry.”

“Well how far is it to her house?” Dave asked as they bounced up again.

“Well normally it takes about 5 minutes but…”

Spike was cut short as the cart came to a sudden halt but had Dave as a cushion to stop himself hitting anything hard.

Rarity leaned her head into the cart and whispered under the blanket, “We’re here.” She lifted her head up and looked around before putting it back in. “It doesn't look like anypony is around but be quick."

Dave climbed out of the cart and followed her and spike in through the front door. Applejack quickly grabbed Rarity before she shut the door.

“Promise me you won’t do anythin that might make him uncomfortable. He is still new here to Equestria so take things… slow,” Applejack was more concerned with what Rarity might do than what Dave might do.

“Oh Applejack I will be the most delightful host for our guest and don’t fret he is perfectly safe in my hooves,” Rarity applied some of her elegance to show she was perfectly capable. “And don’t worry I have taken our little chat into consideration, bye bye now!” Rarity shut the door before Applejack had a chance to respond. She turned to see Dave looking at some of her designer clothes.

“Do you make all these?” Dave was looking at all the intricate designs and colours, “They’re really good!” he did sound honestly impressed but he was trying to see how they would look if they were for humans.

“Oh these old things I just made them on a whim,” Rarity took then Dave on a small tour of her boutique leaving out a room which had ‘Sweetie Bell’ written across it along the way before arriving in a small guest room.

“And this is where you will be sleeping,” Rarity smiled at Dave before trotting to her own room. “Don’t forget I am just down the hall if you need anything.”

“Thank you for letting me stay Rarity. See you in the morning,” Dave replied before stepping into the room with Spike. “So who is sleeping where?”

The room was small compared to the other rooms but was still fairly large. There was a large double bed and a long red sofa long one of the walls. There was a window looking away from Ponyville and towards what looked like a forest in the distance. The room was bathed in a dark blue glow from the moon.

“I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa,” Spike said climbing onto it. “Just pass me a blanket."

Dave found a blanket folded at the bottom of the bed and threw it to Spike. Dave then took his shirt, jeans and shoes off and neatly left them just under the bed. Climbing into the bed he felt the covers gently lay across the top of him and softly cuddle his body. Letting out a sigh he turned onto his side and fell asleep.

The next morning…

Dave woke to the sound of the door being opened. He gently opened one eye just to see who it was. Rarity gracefully stepped in levitating a silver tray.

Dave sat up in bed to greet Rarity. “Morning Rarity,” Dave rubbed some sleep out of his eye. Rarity placed the silver tray on his lap. “What’s this?”

“Breakfast in bed for our special guest,” Rarity went over to wake Spike.

“For… me?” the tray had some eggs, toast and some hay on a plate in the middle with a small bowl filled with various gems on the side. “Thank you you’re too kind.”

Rarity blushed a little at the compliment, “It is quite alright darling. I wasn't sure what you could eat so I made an assortment.”

“The egg and toast is great but I’m afraid I don’t eat hay.”

“Not a problem,” Rarity levitated the hay off the plate. “Anything else I can do for you?”

“I’m more than fine thank you.”

Rarity left the room with the hay and headed down stairs. Spike jumped onto the bed and grabbed the bowl of gems. “Emeralds yummy.”

“Wait you’re going to eat them?”

“Well yeah… unless you want some?”

“No thanks,” Dave watched fascinated as the dragon happily scoffed the gems into his mouth. This place just keeps getting better! Dave quickly ate his breakfast and set the tray aside along with the empty bowl.

“So what do you think we are going to be doing today?” Spike asked as he jumped off the bed and began to fold up his blanket.

“I don’t think we will be doing much until that princess arrives,” Dave stood up out of bed and looked at his body. There was no sign of any damage apart from a large bruise on his stomach. That looks like that is healing quickly, he kneeled down to get his clothes. Until then he didn't notice the state they were in. They were covered in dirt and the white shirt had lots of holes and tears. The bottom of his shoes were broken and the laces were frayed. At least his boxers were ok. “I don’t think I can wear these at the moment.”

Spike looked at the damaged shirt, “Yeah these don’t look too good. Maybe Rarity could make you some new clothes.”

As if she had been waiting to be called Rarity poked her head into the room. “Has everyone had their breakfast?” She then saw the dirty clothes, “Oh my… what kind of disaster is this.”

“Yeah the dirt has really got stuck in,” Dave sighed as he collected his clothes.

“The dirt only adds to the problem. These clothes are boring and have no flair about them… Where is the ambition in the design?”

Dave just looked at Spike with an unamused look at having his clothes degraded. Spike replied with a smirk.

“Well I was wondering if I could fix them?”

“Oh no you can’t possibly believe I would let you wear these again,” She snatched them away with her magic. “I will make you some new vibrant and elegant clothes for you to wear on special occasions. In the meantime you may use the bath to wash yourself.”

“Ok thanks again Rarity,” Dave started to leave as he felt his boxers being pulled down. Quickly he grabbed them and held them up. “What are you doing?” He said looking at the puzzled Unicorn.

“Well I need all your clothes for measurements.”

“Yeah but don’t take these now.”

“Well why not darling?”

“Well I will be naked.”

“And? Everypony you have talked to has been naked.”

The thought ran through Dave’s mind, she does have a point I mean she is naked right now and so were the others. If they were naked then how come I didn't see any of their… Dave quickly shoved the thought to the back of his mind. They are ponies why the hell would I be thinking that? “Well can you at least wait until I am in the bath?”

“If you insist,” Rarity then left the room with the dirty clothes and tray.

Spike was in the corner sniggering. “Haha your face when she…” He continued with his fits of laughter as he left the room and went downstairs.

Dave rolled his eyes as he went to the bathroom and filled the large white bathtub with warm water that had a thick coating of bubbles on the surface. He dropped his pants and climbed in and relaxed as the water soothed his body. Letting out a relaxed sigh a knock was heard at the door.

“Come in,” Dave quickly made sure the bubbles were still there before looking back at the door.

Rarity walked in and over to the bathtub. “Are you done with these?” She levitated his boxers up.

“Yeah sure umm... What should I do for clothes when I am done?”

“Don’t worry I have some simple yet ravishing clothes almost prepared for you.”

“Thank you err again.”

“Not a problem. Just clean that mane of yours.”

Dave ran his hand through his hair as she turned to leave. But as she turned she tried to get a cheeky peek in the tub but bubbles spoiled her fun. When she left Dave quickly finished his bath and as he was drying himself Rarity floated in some clothes for him. The Shoes felt like leather but was easier to move in. The trousers were a baggy black with various pockets down the sides. The shirt had short arms and a long body section it shared the colour of the trousers but had a dark blue rings around the neck and arms. The boxers and socks were a simple grey. Obviously Rarity had taken what his previous clothes were like but the felt more comfortable, light and yet stronger than his last set. This is simple to her? I would love to see some of her complex pieces. Finally drying his hair Dave went downstairs.

As Dave reached the kitchen door he heard Spike, Rarity and another voice. This one sounded young and had a slight high pitch in her voice. Dave slowly peeked through a crack in the doorway to see a small unicorn that had a white coat and had a mane consisting of a pink and purple.

“So what is it?” The little Unicorn Started to sound excited. “Can me and my friends play with it?”

“It’s name is Dave,” Spike replied.

The filly stopped to ask more questions, “What’s a Dave?”

Dave then slowly walked into the room gently tapping on the door to let everything know he was there.

“COOL!” The filly ran up to Dave and bounced round his legs asking questions with each bounce. Dave told the story of how he arrived in Equestria and any other questions she had.

“And that is why Rarity made me these,” He indicated to his clothes.

“Rarity is the best designer in the whole world and is the most generous pony as well so it’s no surprise she made them for you.”

Rarity blushed at her little sister, “If you haven’t noticed by now that Sweetie Bell is my little sister I don‘t think you ever will.”

Dave sat Back on his chair and chuckled, “Yeah I noticed.”

There was a knock at the door. Rarity walked over and opened it to find Applejack with the cart.

“Howdy folks I was jus wondering if Dave here fancied a trip to Sweet apple acres,” She chuckled at him. “A proper visit this time.”

They all agreed to go as Dave climbed into the back once again. The trip was significantly less bumpy this time and Dave had been laying there for about ten minutes before the cart came to a stop.

Applejack pulled some of the blanket off Dave’s head. “I am just gonna get ma folks ready to meet ya,” Applejack then left Dave’s view and he was left looking at a bright blue sky.

Applejack then reappeared a few moments later giving him a nod. Dave then slowly climbed out of the cart and met the rest of Applejack’s family.

“This is Applebloom,” Applejack indicated the filly with a pink bow in it’s bright red mane and had yellow body.

“Howdy mister” Applebloom greeted Dave with a wave before running off with Sweetie Bell.

“This is Big Macintosh, he is a strong worker ain't ya Big Mac?”

“Eeyup” Replied the large red stallion with his short orange hair.

“And this is Granny Smith” Applejack placed a hoof on the old grey haired green bodied mare. She was snoring away furiously. “Well now you have met ma family do you still want to help out?”

Dave smiled, “Of course. I have debt to repay.”

Rarity stayed back at the farm with Granny Smith while the rest of the apple family, Sweetie Bell, Spike and Dave all went to buck some apples.

Dave had started watching Big Mac and AJ buck apples for a while before he was encouraged to give it a go. Nervously he walked up to the large tree and kicked with the bottom of his foot and to his surprise the apples easily fell out the tree and landed on the ground. Spike then quickly grabbed the apples and dropped them in the baskets.

“Heh beginners luck” Dave joked as he caught his breath. But as he kicked more and more trees he found himself getting comfortable with his kicking technique and began to let himself relax some more.

The bucking continued for another hour before they arrived where Dave had landed.

“What are we doing here?” Dave asked as he looked around the familiar setting.

“We need to take down the tree you crashed into,” Applejack explained. “So we can start planting another one in its place.”

“Oh ok I'll just stand back,” Dave took a couple of paces back and watched Big Mac and Applejack stand side by side backs to the tree.

“All righty Big Mac you ready?”

“Eeyup,” Was the same reply he had given most of the day but this time had a bit of determination in his voice.

“Ok then 3... 2... 1... NOW!! Applejack and Big Mac raised both their hind legs and put everything they had into that kick which spread the crack which Dave had made pass most of the way through. As the large tree started to fall when the sound of laughter came to Dave’s ears as Applebloom and Sweetie Bell ran into the path of the tumbling tree. A loud snap came from the tree as it fully broke. Both the fillies looked up and were frozen with fear. As the tree began to descend they both covered their eyes.

Applejack turned when she herd the snap from the tree to see it falling towards her sister. The only thing she could do was yell, “APPLEBLOOM!”

There was a short scream of pain as it echoed through the orchard. Sweetie Bell and Applebloom both opened their eyes as they looked up at a red faced Dave who was using his back and both his hands to keep the tree off the ground and crushing them. He opened his eyes to look back at them. It’s my fault they almost got hurt or worse. If I hadn't of landed here there would be no need to have taken this tree down and they would be safe. I hate myself for letting it get this close With that thought still burning in Dave’s mind he slowly but steadily began to lift the tree. Everyone stared at him. He lifted the tree above his head. "And I especially hate this god damn tree” He then threw it away. He didn't care. As long as it was gone.

Shaking his head roughly he opened his eyes to the sight of Applejack jumping on him crying knocking him to the ground whilst hugging him.

“Thank you so much Dave I don’t know what ta say,” She broke into another set of tears. “Thank you.”

Dave was a bit confused as he looked at Applejack on his chest crying and hugging him. The fillies still in shock and Spike and Big Mac looking with mouths hung open. His attention was then drawn to the tree that was 20 feet away and had crashed through another tree.

"What the hell?" Dave whispered as he looked at his hands, the small scrapes already healing.

"Celestia needs to hear about this," Spike whispered to himself.