This has all the clop parts removed, but still contains some lewd horse words. This exists because the amount of clop in the OG chapter was too much in terms of length and amount of "content"; and has been the main complaint of my readers.

Read the OG chapter if you want all the clops, lovin's, and other little tid-bits. Otherwise read this for a lot less clop.

"This is so stupid; I hate this," Atchmon complained as he descended the mountain with Rarity strapped to his back. His white-knuckled hands tightly gripped the black rope-vine they were using to repel down the side of the vertically rising cliff. One end of the rope was tied to a solid chunk of rock at the top, while the other end was tied to the human's waist.

"Nonsense, darling; y-you're doing a wonderful job," Rarity praised nervously as she tried her best not to choke the life out of him, in fear of falling from the sheer height of their decent.

"Easy for you so say; I'm doin' all the work," he grunted in effort, and put a foot into the next tiny alcove below him, which were few and far between.

She could see his tiredness growing with every effort, as the human took a breath and pushed on; making little progress.

"Over there, I think I see an opening you can rest at," Rarity pointed a shaky hoof to their left.

Atchmon took her word for it, and shifted over to grip the next rock beside him; moving sideways along the cliff.

"That's it; easy does it now," Rarity encouraged.

"Are you seriously talkin' to me like I'm a pony, or someth-AH!" He grunted in exasperation, then lost his footing and slipped just enough to make the pair scream for their lives.

Neither dared to speak again, until Atchmon found his courage and confidence to keep moving.

They made it to the deep alcove only to find it was a cave leading far into the mountain. The pair shifted to look into its deep, dark abyss, while Atchmon kept his grip on the rocks beside the entrance; both were cautiously looking out for any Quarray Eels.

"What do you think; should we go inside and see where it leads?" Rarity suggested, and glanced at Atchmon's scrutinizing eye as he examined the cave.

Atchmon looked down and checked the rope around his waist. There was only a few yards of slack left, and about a few hundred yards of sheer vertical drop left to descend down the mountain.

"Yeah, looks clear," Atchmon grunted as he pulled them around the corner, and felt relief along with a small compulsion to kiss the ground after finally setting his feet on the solid cave floor.

Rarity used her magic to untie the binding keeping herself attached to him, and slid off the human's back. Her hooves clopped against the rocky surface, and echoed into the cave's interior. A moment later, the sound of rushing water emanated from the cave's deep, dark, depths, before a large colony of bats washed over them.

"Aah-ahhaha!" Rarity screamed and dropped to the ground in fright while covering her head.

Atchmon fell to his knees and did the same, until the colony emptied from the cave with a couple of strays lagging far behind the main group.

"Are they in my hair, please tell me they aren't in my hair!" Rarity squeaked as she tussled her mane with her hooves.

Atchmon checked her over. "Nah, you're good."

Rarity hung her head and sighed in relief, while staying laid out on her belly. "I thought you said it was clear!" She exasperated, and shot Atchmon a look.

"I said it looks clear," he retorted back incisively.

"Well, how does it look now?" She frowned.

Atchmon looked back into the caves abyss. "Looks clear," he grinned cheekily while cocking his head at her.

Rarity let out a grumbling sigh as the pair stood back on their legs.

Rarity illuminated her horn to see what's ahead of them.

The pathway narrowed and curved to the right, before the pale blue light of Rarity's horn was lost to the blackness. The pair moved to get a closer look, as they passive aggressively fought for who should be the leader.

"Excuse me, dear, but seeing as how I have the light, don't you think I should trot ahead?" Rarity suggested intelligently, silently hoping he wouldn't press the issue.

Atchmon thought for a moment before speaking. "Well, alright, but if there's trouble you get behind me quick as you can, alright?" He instructed more as an order, rather than a question or a suggestion.

"A-, oh, alright." Rarity conceded, and was about to argue, but decided to let him have his way, just this once.

The pair followed the pathway leading further into the mountain. The ceiling was too short to accomodate Atchmon's tall stature; forcing him to remain bent over, until the pathway opened into a vast cavernous space. The narrow path continued to spiral downward along the wall towards the black nothingness below them. The darkness seemed to consume Rarity's light, like the darkness itself were pressing in on them.

Atchmon kicked a loose stone down the enormous pit, and waited... After a few seconds, nothing happened. The pair tilted their heads and listened carefully, while inching their ears closer to the edge as the seconds ticked by; before the stones impact finally echoed back to them.

The pony and human shared a nervous look; each knowing it was a long way to fall; and both hugged the wall a little tighter to keep from accidentally falling over the edge of the narrow path as they continued their downward, spiraling trek.

"Does it seem really humid in here to you?" asked Atchmon after what felt like an hour of walking along the narrow path. The normally stale air grew wet with moisture the further they went.

"I was about to ask you the same thing, and look at this." Rarity pointed a hoof to the wall along their path. It glisented with moisture in the pale light of Rarity's spell.

Atchmon stuck close to Rarity as they continued to travel. Her spell was only effective within a small bubble-like range. Anything beyond her light could ambush them, with little chance for them to react, or counter their foe.

Downward they descended, until the first glimpse of a faint pale-green light illuminated from the bottom of the large shaft.

The pair started to encounter small glowing mushrooms growing along the cavern walls. Their spindly tendrils draped lazily below their caps, which jutted out from the stone walls. The glow beneath them grew ever brighter with every passing minute as they continued to follow the spiraling path along the deep pit.

The pair finally reached the bottom of the pathway, the circular room was filled with glowing foliage; including ferns with streaks of green luminessence outlining its leaves, along with other plants of varying types and unique lighting around their stems.

The couple wandered through a narrow winding corridor, and what they found on the other side was a breathtaking sight of natural wonder.

Several shelves of blue luminescent water pools cascaded downward into larger pools under the pale-green and purple light of gigantic glowing mushrooms and foliage; which grew out from both the walls and stemmed from the ground. Bathing the oasis in bioluminescent light.

"Oh, my... how gorgeous!" Rarity gasped in awe, and squealed in delight as she cut the light from her horn; allowing their eyes to quickly adjust to the natural light of the cavern.

The humidity was much thicker near its source, but still far from stifling as they approached the hot springs.

Above them, a steady flow of steaming water cascaded down the wall from a fissure in the rock, and poured freely into the awaiting pools below. The largest semicircular pool rested at the bottom, and was easily twice the length and width of Atchmon's height.

Atchmon knelt down by the rimstone barrier and held his hand above the steaming water, before carefully touching its surface to test out its temperature. He swirled his hand in the pool, before looking back at Rarity with a big toothy grin on his face.

"Ooh, you're gonna love this, Rare." He cooed.

Rarity cantered over, and stuck her hoof into the steaming pool as well.

Not too hot, and it was far from cold; if anything, it was just right!

The pair shared a bright smile and wasted no time in quickly stripping off their clothing and gear.

Atchmon only had his blade, belt, boots, pants, and socks to strip off, while Rarity's attire took a bit more work to get off herself.

She paused halfway through pulling off the straps to her leather barding, before seeing Atchmon's maleness in front of her face as he shuffled out of his pants and undergarments.

Rarity's face flushed at seeing it so fully; something she only saw glimpses of.

Normally he'd face away from her whenever they bathed together, and he always wore his pants or undergarments when not needing to clean himself, or when the weather was too hot for his comfort; but he must have forgotten his modesty in the rush to get into the awaiting hot spring.

Rarity had to rip her eyes away from staring at the human's dangling genitals, before he finally turned away and stood before the pool.

It intrigued Rarity to see that his body hair grew so oppositely from most other creatures. Having patches of hair in places where--with anything else--there would be none, or much finer hair at most. She stared up at his smooth back and the intricate pair of wings that adorned his shoulder blades, until a pang of guilt stabbed Rarity's heart at seeing the left wing ruined by the scar left from the Thunderbird; knowing it was her fault that it was there to begin with. She didn't find scars appealing in the least, but Atchmon managed to help her understand how they could be seen as attractive; and she couldn't imagine her rugged human guardian without his proofs of might and adventure.

Her eyes continued to trail along the divot in his back, until she stopped at his flanks, and bit her lip; then shook herself to be rid of the lewd thoughts entering her mind.

'Honestly, Rarity, did you already forget your standards and become an uncivilized cave-mare, after spending a single night in the wilderness!?' She mentally berated herself and undressed the rest of the way, while Atchmon started to wade into the water.

'At least his 'equipment' doesn't look so different from a stallions... Oh, for the love of Celestia, you need to cease thinking such thoughts, Rarity. Atchmon has made his intentions clear that he doesn't find us appealing in that way.

Her thoughts trailed as she watched his toned flanks disappear behind the smooth, round, rimstone barrier; his great mass causing a small deluge of water to spill over the edge.

Rarity pulled off her barding, and then proceeded to silently bonk herself on the forehead at the continued lewd thoughts; but the soft leather did little to help in disciplining herself.

"Ahhh," Rarity sighed delightfully, as she slid backwards into the awaiting pool. The water was so pleasantly hot that she could feel every pore in her hide opening up; blossoming to drink in the natural spring and its minerals, and to rejuvenate her spirit.

The pool itself was shallow enough for Rarity to sit comfortably on her haunches, yet deep enough to reach her withers.

"Mmmph," Rarity mewled, and relaxed, while crossing her forehooves over the smooth stone edge of the pool, before resting her head upon her forehooves.

She released another deep sigh that held all the tension, soreness, and stress of the past few weeks, and let it all melt away into the water; draining it out of her. The hot bath doing its magical work soothing her aching body.

Atchmon watched as Rarity slowly dipped into the steaming pool; her face smiling in pleasure as she sank into the hot water. His eyes trailed from her voluminously curvy purple hair, which looked attractively wild-looking and wind-blown over her pristine white hide. His eyes trailed down her smooth back and fuzzy hide, before ending at her curvaceous rump, adorned with three blue gemstones, until her body disappeared beneath the rippling water.

He sat cross legged, with his back resting against the cool stone barrier; his arms resting on the ledges beside him. His large size kept much of his upper body above the shallow water, even with him leaning back to relax for a soak; whereas, with Rarity, it nearly submerged her. The pain of the scar on his back dulled as he soaked in the soothing hot pool. The cold rimstone he leaned against also helped in easing the inflammation of his wound.

The couple shared a look of utter bliss as they laughed softly together. Each knowing this was a well deserved retreat, while every ache, sore, and overworked muscle washed into the hot water; their bodies melting into a dull, relaxing heat.

After soaking for awhile, it was time for them to clean the rest of their bodies, and tend to their gear.

Rarity pushed away from the edge and trotted around the pool's wide open center. She'd dip her head underwater, before rising up and shaking out the excess moisture from her mane; along with any dirt and detritus that may have collected in her hair.

Rarity felt cleaner than she had in weeks, as she sat down to wash her face with her hooves.

She turned to check on Atchmon, who looked completely relaxed as he rested his head against the smooth, round, rimstone wall that surrounded the steaming pool.

Rarity's mind blanked as she stared at his human features under the pale bluish-green light of the cavern. From his almost flat muzzle, to his tiny snout, and beady little eyes; to his broad chest, and rolling musculature along his limbs.

His demeanor was never like that of other stallions. He was strong, brave, bold, brash, and a tad coarse and boorish at times, but a true gentlestallion whenever he wanted to be. Not that there weren't any stallions like that, but none ever seemed to find their way to Rarity. And those that did, lacked any of the noble traits or charm that she found herself attracted to the most.

Atchmon's gruff, down-to-earth nature reminded her of a certain apple farming mare she was quite fond of; and if not for that analogue, Rarity couldn't say she would've become such good friends with the noble-savage human. He won her heart and her trust all on his own, and without sacrificing much of who he is. He was stubborn to change, yet still willing to better himself by listening and following Rarity's advice.

Rarity was a Lady, and an honorable Lady doesn't push a stallion into something they don't want to do. But like many powerful, strong-willed mares, Rarity was no different in her desire to claim a stallion; as was her right as a proper lead mare. However, she always found such roles trivial in modern society, and fantasized about finding a strong stallion who'd do all of the work, and make all the moves...

But that wasn't the world she lived in...

However, it was the world that he lived in.

But, Atchmon didn't covet her like many other suitors, and thus, Rarity had no leverage over him. She knew that if a stallion were ever to 'obtain' her; then she, herself, and her reputation would be cheapened and she would no longer be considered a priceless commodity among noble stallions. Which was why she saved herself for only her perfect stallion.

Her Prince.

Her one true love.

But now... after everything they've been through together...

Whenever she thought about it, Rarity always had eyes for her own kind. She always imagined settling down with a nice Unicorn Stallion, and having a couple Unicorn foals, and living in the Unicorn Capitol of Canterlot... But those fantasies were all during the time of her obsession with Prince Blueblood. Then, when that plan fell through, she set her eyes on other successful Unicorn stallions like Trenderhoof. Of course, Trenderhoof wasn't interested in her in the least; despite her best efforts to gain his attention.

Then there were all the non-ponies she met on her many adventures. Some were quite charming--like Capper--others were just plain handsome like Blackthorn; she so admired the many points on that guardsdeer's antlers. But, deviency like that was risky to practice among higher society, despite its slowly growing acceptance among common ponies.

'But there was a spark between us, wasn't there? I could've sworn I felt a connection back there.' Rarity thought back to their reunion atop Big Blue, the Ursa Minor; and the Ursas beautiful ascension unto Luna's gorgeous night sky. Remembering Atchmon's loving face looking at her in both scenes.

After everything Rarity has been through, he fulfilled her every desire and fantasy, but one. He rescued her, gave her strength, and encouraged her. He listened and learned from her, and took charge, and taught her what she needed to know. He didn't bend to her will, nor wilt. She'd seen him at his strongest, and his most vulnerable; just as he'd seen hers.

Above all, he respected her; and she, him.

Generosity was her Element, so...

Could she really give her most precious gift to this alien?

Should she?

Rarity continued to stare blankly at the man as he washed himself; watching him slide his body underwater, then quickly rose up while scrubbing his face with both hands; sending water spraying everywhere. Then watched as he ran his palms over his long, slick, wet, black, oily hair; leaving it mostly slicked back behind his ears with a few rogue strands hanging in front of his intense, regal-looking eyes.

Atchmon sensed Rarity's eyes on him, and found her staring at him with her lips parted. He gave Rarity a tiny smile, and shook his head at her. "Whut?" He chuckled, while subtly shrugging his shoulders; which snapped Rarity out of her thoughts.

"Nothing!" Rarity squeaked tersely and looked away bashfully.

Atchmon pursed his lips and tipped his head nonchalantly, before moving on to clean his jeans and socks. The only article of clothing that remained with him had certainly seen better days. His pants were a patchwork of soft leather and linens from other clothes he packed with him during his first arrival into Equestria. The Everfree forest was unrelentingly cruel against cloth.

Rarity looked back at Atchmon while he busied himself with cleaning his clothing. 'I'm not the least bit attractive to him, am I?' She thought and checked herself over.

Her mane grew to be completely unmanageable as it stuck itself wetly around her shoulders; all frayed, knotted, split, dry, dirty, and a dozen other things that no stallion would ever accept. The same could be said about her tail, which was shorter than she'd like, and every bit as ragged.

'I look like I've gone to a cheap, second-rate beauty school and let a talentless student have at me...'

Her hide wasn't as pristine as it used to be, either. At least it finally stopped shedding, leaving her with a thin, and very smooth summer coat. However, it was still overgrown in some areas where it grew naturally, which needed to be trimmed.

She lifted a hoof above the pool, and watched as the sparkling water cascaded off the long, wispy hairs of her unshorn fetlocks; which--to herself--made her look every bit like the 'scruffy country bumpkin' that she was.

She found nothing 'charmingly rustic' about her current physical qualities.

'Nopony would ever want a mare as haggard, bedraggled, and ugly as I am.' Rarity thought sadly, and looked over at Atchmon again.

Atchmon caught Rarity's look again, and waited for her to say something.

"Rare? Everything alright?" he asked in concern, and looked around behind himself; thinking for a moment that she might not actually be looking directly at him.

Rarity didn't seem to hear him, as she continued to stare a ways from him with the water up to her barrel. She watched as droplets of water dripped and rolled down his smooth skin. Rarity stood motionless with her lips parted as she stared at his strong jawline, then along his wide neck, and across his broad chest, before being interrupted from her thoughts.

"Rare, yer starin' a hole right through me." Atchmon chuckled nervously, while looking at her with a raised eyebrow and a strained smile at her odd behavior.

Rarity winced as she turned away embarrassed again, then a moment later turned back.

"Do you like me, Atchmon?" She asked out of nowhere.

His face dropped. "You know I do," he answered immediately, as if such a fact couldn't be argued. Atchmon's look and voice was laced with concern, but was still confused by the strange vibe she was putting off.

"What do you think of me?" She asked randomly again, while lifting a hoof as she stepped towards him.

Atchmon knitted his brows as he worked his mouth before answering. "I think you're a really good pony, Rare; but what's goin' on; what's up with you all of a sudden?" He leaned towards her as his concern grew.

Rarity worked her mouth before asking him another random question. "Am I your friend; or your pet?"

"O' course you're my friend," he answered quickly; his brows knitted tightly in worry, unsure how to read the look on her face.

Rarity looked away and gave him a ghost of a smile at his sincerity, but it wasn't quite the answer she was seeking.

"But, sometimes," he continued.

Rarity gazed longingly with her ears perked towards him; hanging on his every word.

"Rarity, sometimes when I look at you, I don't see a Unicorn. I see a very strong, kind... sometimes annoying," Rarity tried to suppress her snicker at that unexpected bit, and Atchmon chuckled lightly with her; lessening the tension between them. "Very pretty Lady. But, other times I see you as a Unicorn, a pet that I have to take care of, and I care about you a lot... I'm just not sure anymore if that's the animal caretaker in me that's feelin' that; or if it's... somethin' else." He finished and looked away; like he was making sure himself if those feelings were true.

Rarity stood quietly by herself as she mulled his words over, but couldn't bring herself to accept or believe them. 'He thinks I'm pretty, but still sees me as nothing more than a four-legged animal... I can't blame him. I do look and smell like a wild feral horse, after all...'

"You wanna tell me what's goin' on now?" Atchmon questioned in concern.

"Just- nevermind," Rarity sighed as she deflated, and stared down at the pool; the water reflecting back her melancholy look. 'A good pony... Pretty... But not beautiful...'

"No. Not 'nevermind'; somethin's obviously botherin' you." Atchmon started firmly, before softening his voice. "C'mon, talk t' me; tell me what it is... Did I do somethin'?" He finished sincerely.

"You haven't done anything, I just-" Rarity started defensively, and worked her mouth several times before looking away again.

Atchmon watched her in concern, before his lips curled into a knowing grin as he relaxed. "S'okay, Rarity; I think I know what's goin' on." He said, looking smug.

Rarity prickled and her blood froze despite the hot water surrounding her. 'He knows! Oh, why did I stare at him like he's some juicy, delicious hayburger! He's going to think I'm a creepy pony!'

"You want me to help fix your hair for ya, don' cha?" He smirked knowingly.

Rarity nearly fell over. "I, ah, y-yes; if you don't mind." She said, and forced a nervous chuckle.

"Nah, I don't mind," He started nonchalantly, and waved it off like it was nothing. "Come on over here and I'll help ya out with your hair, m'kay?" Atchmon suggested as he motioned for her to sit beside him.

Rarity nodded her head. "That would be wonderful, thank you," she trotted over to him; the water sloshing around her legs as she neared his seated form.

She turned from him, and accidentally showed off her ample flanks in front of his face, before sitting close to his side; then noticed the blushing human was trying so hard to look at anything but her.

Rarity winced as she mentally berated herself for the mistake. 'Subtle, Rarity; really subtle...'

"Thank you again for helping me with my mane. You can groom it so much better than I ever could with my little brush." She complimented, and leaned over to rest against him. She liked the feel of his smooth skin against her coat, his body felt so pleasantly hot in the steaming pool, and Rarity hoped he wouldn't reject her need for closeness.

She still hadn't gotten her fill of company since being left all alone in the wilderness for nearly two 'whole' days.

It wasn't like she didn't go days without company, or have anyone come into her shop during that time, and she'd rarely leave home before a project was finished; but the situation just made it so much worse.

"S'all right; figured you were overdue for this sorta thing." Atchmon pulled an arm over her withers, and turned his body to better work on her purple hair. His nimble fingers sifted and ran through her mane; getting all the tangles, knots, and bits of stubborn debris out of it. "But I refuse to believe there's not a magic spell out there that can do it all for ya."

"Mmmph, yes; but I know first hoof that mane magic can be tricky," Rarity closed her eyes and melted into the wonderful treatment, while his blunt digit massaged her scalp. "Magic is a fickle and mysterious energy we've yet to fully understand, despite the fact that it's ingrained into our very being," she started to explain. "We can will it to do many things and solve many problems, but there are times it causes more trouble than it solves... I'm living proof of that, as you can see."

"Mmm," Atchmon hummed in understanding as he washed the mare.

Mutual bathing wasn't something Unicorns practiced; such a thing was reserved mainly for the Earth Ponies. Pegasi could get by with their somewhat dexterous wings. But once a Unicorn foal was old enough to use their magic; they were expected to act much more independently. At the moment, Rarity couldn't care less about social norms, so long as Atchmon kept rubbing her scalp in all the right places, and used his hands to trickle the steamy mineral water over her head.

"So... you seem like you've had a pretty rough day," Atchmon started in mock curiosity.

Rarity smiled brightly as they started to play her favorite game: 'Beauty Salon'. She, at one time, begged and pleaded with him for days to pretend like they were in a fancy spa whenever they bathed underneath their tiny waterfall back at the meadow; and all for the sake of sanity and a sense of normalcy for herself.

How appropriate that he'd want to play that game now, considering how against it he was at the time. Well, Rarity wasn't about to waste the opportunity, now that they were in the best possible setting for such a theme.

"Oh, yes; you wouldn't believe what I've been through, even if I told you, darling." Rarity easily slid into the role, adopting her usual high class accent to go with it, as she relaxed further while Atchmon used the blunt tips of his fingers to scritch at her scalp, before running his digits through her hair some more.

Atchmon almost couldn't keep up his own role, and chuckled at what he dubbed to be Rarity's 'fancy' voice. "Oh, really? Try me." He challenged, trying to contain his amusement.

Rarity could almost imagine the embarrassed grin he was sporting from playing such a 'girly' game.

"Where should I even begin?" She started, flourishing her words. "How about when I was whisked away from my home, and thrust out into the wild unknown with nothing but the hide on my back."

"No. Way." Atchmon gasped in mock shock, and tried to stifle his snickers.

"Oh, yes it was terribly dreadful; but it wasn't all bad though,"

"Yeah; how so?" He questioned.

"I was rescued by a rare creature known as a 'man' who brought me into his home, and under his protection."

"A man you say... What did you think of him?" Atchmon hesitated, but continued playing the role with a little more interest.

"I was absolutely terrified to be honest; after all, I'd never seen anything like him before; I thought for certain he was going to eat, or enslave me; but he quickly proved himself to me; and earned my trust." Rarity trailed as she recalled all her time spent with the noble human.

The pair shared a laugh and joked as Rarity recounted her harrowing tale of survival, filling him in on everything she'd seen and dealt with in the last couple days; until the conversation and revelry tapered, and the pair were left in silence once again.

"Hey, Rarity, you mind if I ask you a question?" Atchmon started hesitantly.

"Of course, dear, you can ask me anything." Rarity said reassuringly.

"You remember when you were tellin' me about how ponies could be in relationships with other species? Like Dragons, an' Griffins, 'n such?"

"I do recall telling you about that," Rarity cracked an eye open; having a small inkling in her mind, and was interested to hear where he was going with this, but decided to withhold any judgement until she heard more.

"I was jus' thinkin' that... Since the tree is... Gone," Atchmon spoke as though finally accepting the crushing truth. "Then there's a good chance I'm goin' t' be here for the rest of my life."

Rarity turned, and placed a hoof on his chest. "Don't say that, darling; I still have hope for you." She interrupted him; feeling the firmness of his body beneath her hoof.

Rarity's heart dropped as she realized her mistake.

Touching a stallions chest was a BIG no-no; but luckily Atchmon didn't seem to care where she touched him.

He gave her a ghost of a smile. "I wish I had your positive thinkin', but I'm jus' tryin' to be realistic." Atchmon said as he held Rarity's hoof against him, while reaching his other hand around the withers to stroke her shoulder on the other side.

Rarity turned towards him fully to stop his petting, and held Atchmon's hand in both of her hooves. "Atchmon, tell me what's on your mind." She looked up at him in concern.

Atchmon grasped and caressed at her pastern; it helped him to work out what he wanted to ask. "I was wonderin' if there might be someone- somepony out there that might... like me," he winced and looked away, as if regretting asking the question.

"You want a special somepony," Rarity voice drifted in shocked realization; but Atchmon took it as a question.

"Yeah, I-I guess I do... I don't wanna to be alone any longer than I have to; so I was wonderin' if you knew somebody out there that might like me. I mean, a pony or somethin' that would like--er--might like a- a thing like me, you know?" He asked while still looking away, unable to meet her eyes; and felt as though he were about to implode from the shame and humiliation, while his gut wrenched from asking such an idiotic question.

The answer was obvious. Why bother asking at all? Who would want some ugly-freak of an alien like him?

"I do..." Rarity said just above a whisper.

"Huh?" Atchmon looked at her hopefully.

Rarity looked away; unable to meet his eyes. "I- I do know a few mares who might be right up your alley," Rarity quickly recovered. "I'll check them over before giving them my 'Rarity Stamp of Approval'." Rarity half-laughed, faking her enthusiasm for his sake, and tried to ignore the growing ache in her heart.

"Oh... That's good... Maybe you could introduce me sometime once we get you settled in." Atchmon sighed in disappointment.

"Yes..." Rarity said solemnly as she turned away from him; and felt the human continue kneading into her mane.

Rarity clenched her teeth as the fresh pang of rejection ached her heart. 'He doesn't like me. He wants a special somepony, and it's not going to be me, and it's not fair!'

"What if there's one that I like; what should I do then?" He asked curiously.

Rarity buried her emotions deep in order to answer him. "You should follow your heart's desire, of course," Rarity craned her neck as she leaned over and put a hoof to her mouth, as if blocking anyone who might overhear what she was about to reveal. "I'll let you in on a little secret; mares love to be pursued. I know that doesn't coincide with our typical courtship rituals, but lots of mares would greatly appreciate a stallion who makes the first move."

Atchmon nodded in understanding. "So, pretty much jus' do what I normally would back on my world, right?"

"Precisely." Rarity smiled demurely as she gave a single nod of her head, before turning away.

Atchmon worked to put the finishing touches on Rarity's dark purple mane, and pulled it all over to one side so that the Unicorn mare's beautiful, long, white neck laid bare before him.

He admired her beauty. Her purple mane had always amazed him; it being such a new and different color from the dull browns he was always used to seeing on his own people's heads.

Atchmon lowered his body and leaned in to wrap his arms around Rarity.

Rarity closed her eyes and sighed at the warm embrace, before relaxing into him; letting her body further rest against his. She let her emotions drain out of her and contented to enjoy her time with him, for however long it lasted; and for good or ill.

"'m really glad you turned out okay," Atchmon whispered in her ear.

Rarity smiled as she felt a pressure behind her ear, followed by the tell tale sound of his gentle platonic pet kiss.

"I didn't get a chance to say it before... but I missed you,"

"Mmmph, I missed you too, and I'm glad to see you're unharmed as well," Rarity mewled in his embrace. She didn't care that he may always see or treat her as a pet; Rarity still enjoyed the feeling of being so loved and cared for.

"Well, for the most part, at least; how does your scar feel? Is it- Was it-" Rarity felt guilty for not asking about it earlier. There was just so much going on, and too much take in. 'The Element of Generosity... more like the Element of Selfishness...' Rarity clenched her teeth at the mental berating. 'It's no wonder why Atchmon didn't accept my courtship, nor offer me his.'

"It's fine; you did a great job stitchin' it for me; it doesn't even hurt at all now," Atchmon continued to whisper in her ear, while gently swaying with the small, white mare in his arms.

Rarity shifted with him, enjoying the calming sway of their bodies along the touch of his smoothness as all those negative feelings washed away; and were replaced by special love-butterflies that fluttered around inside her tummy and migrated throughout her limbs; leaving her body buzzing with warm feelings of affection.

How far they've come as friends that she'd let him do this; when weeks before just a light touch on the shoulder made her feel uncomfortable.

Compare that to now, and those days were like a distant memory.

Rarity's ear twitched as she felt a pressure behind it, followed by the sound of another kiss.

Ponies usually hated for their ears to be touched, or messed with in any way. Mainly because it was their strongest and most important sense that helped warn them of nearby predators. The fact that Rarity didn't mind his touch against her most precious sense, showed just how much she trusted him.

Rarity didn't mind his kisses or his closeness; instead, she welcomed it. She needed to feel loved and cared for, just like her friends would do for her during their group hugs.

Rarity felt Atchmon's cool breath blowing on her neck, contrasting the warm humidity of the atmosphere around them. Her brow knitted as she felt a pressure against her temple, followed by the sound of a kiss emanating from Atchmon's lips.

She felt his hand move from embracing around her shoulder, to caressing under her chin; subtly applying pressure to her jaw and forcing Rarity to lift her head.

Then those love-butterflies started to freeze in mid-flight as her blood chilled, despite the heat of the hot water surrounding her. Rarity's stomach tightened as she realized what he was doing. Just as Atchmon kissed her slowly on the cheek; just shy of her lips.

His hand moved from beneath Rarity's cheek to her withers and caressed down her back; a place she explicitly told him was off-limits for personal and private reasons; while his other hand stroked down her soft, exposed throat--another 'bad touch' zone--before continuing its journey down her bare chest.

He dared to go further down to her sensitive belly; her soft white hide felt like velvet under his touch.

Rarity's breath quickened as she felt the pressure of his touch sliding over her sensitive areas. Her face burned with desire, while her body flinched with each tender touch to her erogenous zones. Her limbs were stiff with tension, and stomach twisted with nerves.

His touch neared the rise of her soft mounds, sending intense tingling sensations through her tummy, while she felt his cool breath against her neck, before a pressure grew against her cheek as he gave her another kiss.

She felt increasingly claustrophobic as the amorous human crowded her, while dominating her senses with his ministrations, until a sudden panic overcame her.

"Atchmon!" Rarity yelped in shocked-surprise as she turned and pushed him away with both hooves against his chest; keeping the amorous human at bay, before she stood up and trotted away a few steps before turning to face him fully.

Atchmon felt Rarity's resistance and quickly released his hold on the mare.

Rarity stood before him and stared at his wide, beady little eyes, which matched hers in petrified shock.

But to Atchmon, Rarity's shocked face looked more like she was terrified of him; and he felt like scum for what he tried to do to her.

After a long moment of awkward silence, Atchmon was the first to speak. "Rare, I-I- I'm sorry... I-I thought- I don't know what I was thinkin'; sorry..." He finished just above a whisper, before looking away in shame. "I'm sorry."

Rarity almost didn't hear what he said, as she tried to sort out the millions of thoughts, feelings, and emotions buzzing around in her mind.

'I'm not ready for this! Am I ready for this? Of course I'm ready for this; I'm a grown mare; I have needs! Do I have needs? Are those needs needed now? He likes me! Wait. Does he like-like me, or just like me? Is it going to be a one time thing? What about after? Will we still be together?'

Rarity shook the thoughts from her head, and tried to put her mind back on track. 'I can't believe this! I've been thinking about this moment since I was a little filly, and I feel like I'm going to wet my tail! Calm down, Rarity, he's your friend; you aren't some immature school-filly. You can talk this out like grown ponies... EXCEPT HE'S NOT A PONY! AHHHHHH!' Rarity's mind did a few summersaults, before she regained her wits.

"Atchmon, I- bu- th-th-this is so sudden; so forward; I- I thought you didn't like me that way," Rarity stammered in confusion.

"I know, but the truth is, Rarity, I-" he tapped at his chest, looking for the right words. "Ahhh, shouldn't be havin' these thoughts an' these feelin's about you," he rebuked himself in a grumbling sigh, while covering and rubbing his face.

"I don't understand; what do you mean you 'shouldn't'?" Rarity concerned, feeling hurt; but did share some inkling of how he felt.

They were two beings from two different worlds...

"I mean jus' look at us," Atchmon despaired. "You're a Unicorn Princess and I'm-" He paused. "Nobody..." The human sighed as he deflated.

Rarity shook her head while looking worried. She took a breath, ready to tell him the truth; but Atchmon continued on with his profession.

"And you're smart too," he continued. "I always feel dumb as a stump when we talk about things together; but you always see things and think of things that I never would've thought about." His words sparked something in Rarity's heart as he spoke; she ached with longing and her yearning only grew as he continued to profess his feelings towards her. "And you're cute, an' pretty, and amazing. And I'm not just talkin' about your magic, that's awesome too; but more than that... You look at me in a way no one else ever has." He finished sincerely; looking at her.

Rarity sniffed as she held a hoof up to her lips, trying to contain her emotions. "You really think I'm pretty?" She asked, not wanting to believe his words. Rarity knew she looked awful.

Atchmon nodded his head. "You remember the night I first found you?" He started.

Rarity nodded and listened.

"I found this lil' Unicorn; that was wore out, roughed up, dirty, and covered in all kinds o' nasty," he chuckled weakly, but stopped himself short. "You wanna know what my first thought was?" He looked up to Rarity, who was subtly leaning forward and looking at him intently; hanging on his every word. "I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen." He finished, looking at her sincerely.

Rarity held a hoof up to her mouth and sniffed as she tried to hold back her tears. "So, why...?"

Atchmon swallowed. "At the dinner... the 'date' that we had... I was jus' thinkin' about the way you were teasin' me, and I started to think 'maybe you weren't jus' playin' with me'; were you? Were you really tryin' t- t' court me back then?" He looked up to her, hopeful to hear her answer.

"No!" Rarity exclaimed, and realized too late how that sounded, as Atchmon put on a pained expression. "I mean, yes!" He looked hopelessly confused. "I mean I did, but it was for a different reason; and now I do again, but for another reason; and I-I-I'm just going to stop talking until I get the hoof out of my mouth." Rarity rambled on quickly, before another awkward silence befell them.

"You kissed me, and... I wanted to kiss you back... But I-" Atchmon paused as he stared at her working his mouth, but was unable to finish what he was going to say.

"So why didn't you?" She asked him gently.

"I liked you, Rarity... I liked you too much, and I still like you alot..." he swallowed the lump in his throat, while Rarity's heart swelled with his admitted feelings towards her. "But I was so afraid you'd think I was a creep, or a monster for liking you as more than a friend; that I didn't even think- I never thought that anyone could ever like me the same way... And every time I thought you did... I didn't want to believe it. I've always- I've never come anywhere close to somethin' like that, and I thought 'maybe I could try with you'... Sorry for bein' so stupid," Atchmon shook his head, as he lowered it dejectedly.

Rarity moved forward and put a hoof on his cheek; forcing him to look at her. "You are not stupid." She stated firmly. "You always berate yourself whenever you show the slightest bit of caring, intelligence, or emotion. There is nothing wrong with that." She emphasised.

Atchmon removed her hoof from his cheek, and held it in his hands as she sat down before him. "I jus' didn't want you to think I was weak," he said looking away again.

"You're a lot of things, Atchmon; but 'weak' definitely isn't one of them." Rarity reassured him.

Atchmon looked melancholy as he took her hoof from his cheek and held it in his hand. "Thanks, Rare; I know that a Princess like you could never be with someone like me... So I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me after what I jus' tried to pull. I just hope you understand that I can't not try anymore." He finished, looking away. "I can't."

"Don't you think that's up for me to decide?" Rarity suggested, gripping his hand in her pastern.

Atchmon kept his eyes averted; unsure if she meant for him to answer the question.

"Do you really believe that you aren't worth knowing; that you aren't worth loving?" She paused, seeing him finally look at her. "I certainly don't believe that; I'm glad to have met you, despite our circumstances; and I'm sorry that it's taken me this long to admit it, but I've felt the same way about you too. I didn't say anything because I thought I was respecting your boundaries, but instead I was denying my heart what it truly wanted. And that's you... I love you, Atchmon."

A hollowness grew in Rarity's heart and stomach as she watched him stare at her with an shocked expression, while his mouth worked to form words

Atchmon took a shaky breath and caressed Rarity down her shoulder, before holding her hoof in both his hands. "Rare..." His tightened throat barely allowed him to whisper. "I love you too,"

Rarity took his hand and placed it over her heart. "As more than a friend... or as a pet?" She looked away with a hint of doubt still lingering in her chest.

Atchmon shook his head. "I really don't know anymore," he said as he hesitantly leaned forward and placed the back of his digits gently on her cheek. With a little pressure he forced Rarity to look at him, while still allowing her the chance to turn away. "But I'd like to find out." He whispered before touching the soft, cool, velvety skin on Rarity's small white snout with his lips.

Rarity felt herself being drawn in by his presence; watching through half-lidded eyes as he planted the warm kiss on her cold snout.

She felt anxious again at his forwardness, but the moment his lips touched, her heart fluttered and knees went weak, while she unconsciously lifted her head at the contact, trying to get a taste of his lips.

Without hesitation, Atchmon closed his eyes and placed another peck further down; brushing the tip of her mouth. Only he didn't stop like the one before; instead, he went in for another kiss, before finally latching his lips onto hers.

Rarity's lips felt so soft and small, and yet so full and supple as he kissed her lips.

Atchmon pulled back to look at what he'd done. When he opened his eyes the back part of his mind expected to see a gross horse face.

But that wasn't what he saw at all.

He didn't even see a Unicorn.

Sure, Rarity technically was a Unicorn, but that was always synonymous with a mythical animal in his mind.

No.

What he saw was a Lady.

A very pretty, and very exotic lady; and his heart started to thunder and stomach churn in excitement at what was happening between them.

Rarity's body was pleasing to his eyes. There were places where her humanistic qualities blended seamlessly in with her equine-like traits. Her shoulders were--at times--more squared, feminine, and demure; much like a girl from his own world, making her body look incredibly well proportioned.

No part of her seemed out of place.

Even her legs, which graciously weren't the knobby, bony appendages of an equine. She still had plenty of meat on them, while being toned enough to accentuate the powerful tendons within her legs.

Rarity was a mare; an exotic girl, his mind corrected itself and over-corrected again, and again; until the two words and their meanings were one in the same in his mind.

Rarity, at the same time, was panting heavily trying to gain her wits about her, while her head swam in a dizzy haze.

"Wait just a moment would you, darling?" Rarity had to step away and take a breath from the sparks igniting between them.

Rarity closed her eyes and searched for a familiar burning sensation deep in her core.

The ever-present 'itch' during estrus wasn't there...

'I'm not in heat, yet; so my judgement isn't impaired, and neither is his. Which is worrisome... I should've been well within my season by now...'

Rarity noticed Atchmon was waiting for her; his breaths were deep and heavy with anticipation, while his look was predatory, which thrilled Rarity to see.

"Rare; do you wanna... keep goin'?" Atchmon suggested hesitantly, while looking giddy with excitement.

'He's leaving it up to me even after we've gone so far!? Do I want to- No; of course I do! But we're both so dirty, and the setting is so beautiful, and... he's waiting for me. A mare would have to be insane, or incredibly picky to not take a stallion up on such an offer... But he isn't a stallion...' Rarity took a breath and dashed away all her fears and worries. This is it, isn't it? The part in the story where the heroine professes her feelings to her true love, and then they...' Rarity swallowed her nervousness.

"Rarity, we don't have to do anything, if you don't want t-" Atchmon started to say.

"Will you stop being so perfect!" Rarity suddenly shouted hysterically.

"Sorry," Rarity squeaked in a tiny voice, after seeing Atchmon's bewildered expression, and relaxed when he chuckled lightly.

'C'mon, Rarity, it's time to mare-up and show him we're not some timid school-filly.' Rarity swallowed her nervousness again, before taking a step towards the human's seated form. She studied Atchmon's face carefully, to be sure her advance was welcomed.

His eyes were always so relaxed, and half-lidded; but now they were alive with excitement and anticipation.

'That's it, Rarity, now just lean in a little to offer up a kiss, and wait for him to accept our advances.' Rarity stopped before Atchmon's crossed legs, and leaned in while lifting her head for the tall human to reach.

'That's it, Rarity, just go ten percent of the way, and wait for him to come to you... Or twenty percent, that's fine... Thirty... Wait. Fifty... What are you doing? Eighty... STOP!' Rarity closed her eyes as she started to mentally berate herself for moving too fast, but her thoughts were shattered when Atchmon's lips mash against hers.

Atchmon was stunned with anticipation as he watched Rarity approach him after her sudden outburst, but quickly realized what she was going to do.

He wanted that moment to last forever. To see her slow gait approach him ever closer with her seductive, half-lidded blue eyes. Her supple, white, open lips just begging to be kissed, before feeling himself drawn in by her presence, and then melting into their union.

Rarity's tail wagged excitedly as they made out; slinging curtains of water droplets behind her, echoing the sound of churning water along with the suckling of their kisses throughout the cavernous chamber.

Atchmon wasn't holding anything back as he tasted Rarity's soft, luscious lips. He suckled and brushed at their delicate, feminine fullness; before daring to tease her mouth open with subtle licks of his tongue.

A mewl escaped Rarity's throat as she felt the soft wetness of his textured muscle teasing the entrance of her mouth with delicate little rasps as it sought admittance beyond her lips. She gasped sharply and uttered a throaty moan, as she opened her lips and slipped out her tongue to meet his.

She watched through half-lidded eyes as the savage human claimed her mouth. His tongue felt so incredibly soft against her own, as they licked and teased the tips of their wet muscles together, before Rarity pulled away while licking her mouth; tasting the human's saliva on her lips.

Rarity's heart thundered as she panted to catch her breath, her hoof lingering on the human's chest, before she moved away to pose before him.

"Ah, Ooh..." Rarity's gasping moan echoed through the cavern when he entered her, as she was being thoroughly claimed by her mate.

Rarity didn't know how long he kept thrusting into her. She came twice more, during their beastial rutting. Just as one orgasm ebbed the next built atop of it. Time seemed to blur while the cavern filled with the carnal sound of wet smacking flesh, and passionate moans being uttered from the mare being bred over and over.

Atchmon finally stopped and squeezed Rarity's rump against himself for the final time. Her vagina was so sore and abused she could barely register the twitching pulses of his cock as he sprayed her insides with his virile seed.

His length retreated from her swollen depths, and Rarity finally collapsed into a messy heap of exquisitely spent mare.

"You... and I... and we... Wow..." Rarity panted breathlessly as she laid on her side, unable to think coherent thoughts as her body writhed and nethers ached from the thorough ravishing she received from her human lover.

She felt Atchmon lay beside her with a tired huff.

Rarity wanted him to remain inside her, to fill the empty void beyond her entrance; but couldn't find the strength to ask him. Instead, she stayed on her side and caught her breath, letting the stone floor cool her sweaty, overheated body.

Soon she felt a large, warm body press into her back, while an arm snaked its way between her forehooves, and rested on her chest, while a secondary arm dug itself beneath her cheek; letting her head rest on a firm body of warmth.

Atchmon pulled her into his warm embrace, while shifting his body closer to engulf hers.

Rarity never felt so warm and loved, as joyful tears streamed down her face, while her human lover cuddled next to her; wrapping his big, long arms around her sore, thoroughly ravished body.

She nuzzled into his arm; the long, dark, fine, hairs tickled her nose as she took in his scent.

This was it.

The moment she'd been fantasizing about all her life.

And it was perfect.

"How," Rarity started. "How did you manage to keep going after you've already climaxed; I thought stallions, er, males in your case; I thought they could only go once every half hour, or so?"

Atchmon smiled as he petted his mare. "Guess I was makin' up for lost time," he sighed, while rubbing her tender belly.

Rarity hummed at the pleasant feeling on her stomach. "Well, I'm certainly not complaining."

"Was that your first time?" He asked curiously.

"Yes," she answered. "My first everything, actually." Rarity emphasized, embarrassed in her afterglow.

"Me too," he sighed contentedly, before burying his face into her neck.

Rarity looked over at him. "I'm honored," she said sincerely.

"Me too," Atchmon smiled bashfully while nuzzling her close, then leaned in and gave her a kiss.

Rarity nuzzled back into him, just feeling his body, warmth, and love around her.

After several minutes of cuddling together, the pair got up and sank back into the hot pool to let the warm water do its magic soothing their overworked muscles and cleanse their sweaty bodies.

Rarity sat between Atchmon's legs and leaned her back against his chest, after he reassured her that she wasn't going to damage his family jewels, and after his insistence.

"So, you liked it?" Atchmon asked with a knowing grin, and chuckled in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

"I wanted to ask you the same thing, but I think the answer is apparent; given both of our current conditions," Rarity hummed with him tiredly, and rested her head against her human's smooth chest, while Atchmon held Rarity close and dripped warm water over her body. "Most stallions don't like it when mares ask for a performance review, but I always forget you're not a stallion..." She sighed, and settled into the wonderful cuddles.

"What do stallions usually expect outta- somethin' like this?" He drawled curiously, while motioning between them.

Rarity caught his hesitation, but it seemed more for the sake of finding the least brash way of asking the question. "Lots of things, really. How our flanks look and feel. How quickly we become aroused, and ready for mating. How we smell, and how far we can sheathe them..." Rarity drifted as she turned and nuzzled into him.

"She- Sheathe them; what's all that intel?" He asked confusedly.

"Well... some fillys pride themselves on how much of a stallions, mmph, phallus they can take into their bodies. Some mares are more well endowed in that area than others, you see; given how stallions usually can't seat themselves fully within a mare," Rarity explained. 'At least I don't have that problem with him!' She mentally sang and grinned proudly as she hugged herself tighter against her stallion.

'It's almost as if his body was meant for pleasure, and to never cause harm.'

Atchmon was in silent thought for a few moments. "So was I... big enough for you?" He winced, afraid to hear her answer.

"Oh, you were perfect, my darling prince," Rarity sighed dreamily, and kissed him on the chest just to feel his smooth skin on her lips, before nuzzling back into him.

Atchmon returned the gesture, and kissed the base of her horn, while petting her back and shoulder.

"Really?" he asked with a hint of disbelief.

"Of course," she started reassuringly, and raised up to look at him. "To be honest, I was afraid you were going to be too big for me; I am nearly half your size, after all." Rarity hinted matter of factly.

Atchmon gave her a ghost of a smile. "Hmph, despite my size I'm, uh, I'm actually... not that big down there," he finished quickly, and looked away; ashamed of his inadequacy.

"Don't be ashamed, dear, you saw how much I enjoyed myself, didn't you?" Rarity trailed a hoof over his chest to reassure him. She clenched her vaginal walls and could still feel that odd sense of hollowness just beyond her entrance where he was inside her; where she still wanted him to be.

"I know, but considering you're a pony, I just figured a 'stallion' had to be way bigger than me," he shrugged.

"Well, you're not wrong," Rarity started sincerely. "I know through gossip that there are stallions out there with members so large; that you can only imagine what it must be like to have something the size of your foreleg just suddenly shoved into you." Rarity admonished, while she extended a hoof outward as she explained.

Atchmon winced at that, and clenched his buttocks, as the mental image flashed through his mind.

"What about I?" Rarity started to ask."I wasn't too dry was I? Not too tight, or-"

"You were great," he emphasised with a pleasant sigh. "I haven't felt that good in forever," he praised, while giving her back a rub, before letting his hand travel down to her breasts and played with her soft, squeezable udders.

Rarity mewled at the cupping, rubbing, and squeezing sensations he was giving her teats.

"I can't believe how much you like those," Rarity mewled. "How do I compare to mares in your world? To girls, I mean," she asked, feeling more comfortable with talking to him about her worries.

"I'm not really sure. First of all, they've got both of these located around here," he said, while squeezing her breasts a final time, before moving up to rub her chest.

Rarity snickered at the thought of galloping around, while her udders jiggled upon her chest.

"What?" Atchmon asked curiously, wanting to know what she found so funny.

"Oh, nothing; just a silly thought," Rarity said as she tried to contain her giggles. "So do you really think I'm attractive, even though I'm nothing like your kind?"

"Are you still worried that I just see you as a pet?"

"I suppose I am..."

Atchmon wrapped his arms around her. "I'll tell you what, it didn't even cross my mind while we were doin' it, ya know? You weren't 'Rarity the Unicorn' or 'Rarity the pony'; nah, you were jus'... 'Rarity' t' me," he explained sweetly.

Rarity took a deep breath as her heart swelled at that. "Really now; 'just Rarity', huh?" She teased.

"You know what I mean," He rumbled, and kissed the base of her horn. "My dear," he planted another kiss on her brow. "Sweet," another peck on the wide bridge between her eyes. "Beautiful," another on her snout. "Majestic," again on her cheek. "Gorgeous," he took his hand and lifted her head to kiss her lips. "Rarity," he whispered, looking into her eyes, before pulling away with a predacious grin on his face.

"Mmmph, now that's more like it," Rarity purred with her eyes closed, while Atchmon lifted her up and moved in to nip at the soft hide of her throat.

Rarity nuzzled her cheek around his face, while he bit at her soft throat, before he pulled away; much to her disappointment.

"But if you wanna know how I really feel; tell me the story about how you got your nickname?" Atchmon hinted.

Rarity looked a little miffed as she thought about how much she wanted to hear what he thinks of her, and how much she wanted him to keep pleasuring her; before rolling her eyes and satisfying his request. 'At least he'll get another laugh out of it.'

"Back when I was a little school-filly we had an exchange student come in from the neighboring town of Bovineville, her name was Bluebelle, and she was a shy young calf who started to... develop a little early.

"The other colts and fillies made fun of her splotchy hide and maturing udders; making snide remarks about her looks.

"I couldn't stand seeing her so alone and being made fun of; so I took it upon myself to show her how beautiful she really is. I made her an attractive yellow gown and a sun hat to go with it. Oh, it just made her day to wear something so pretty,

"But alas... it wasn't enough. The others still made fun of her, saying she couldn't cover up what she was on the inside. It just broke my heart to see her run off crying like that; I mean, could you imagine being all alone without a friend in the worl- Oh, I guess you can; sorry, darling,"

"'s alright, keep goin'; finish the story," Atchmon reassured her.

"I was going to show everypony that being different was beautiful, so I took some black paint and made splotches all over my pristine white coat, just like the Cows would have, and I wore a pair of prop horns on my head;

"That also didn't work, but at least Bluebelle wasn't the only one being teased anymore as I became the laughing stock of the school; even our teacher joined in the revelry. We became the best of friends after that, and had a good laugh afterwords.

"I was quite sad to see her leave to go back to her home,

"Since then the other school ponies called me 'Rari-cow'. Then, a few years later when I started gaining weight--due to my emotional eating--they started calling me 'marshmallow' too; because of my white coat and the squishy pudge around my belly. I'd never been so mortified, and humiliated;

"We still keep in touch, Bluebelle and I, she's more than happy to send me some of her delicious ice cream that she makes herself from her business." Rarity sighed as she finished her story, and awaited for the laughing to come.

"That's what I love most about you, Rare," Atchmon said as he hugged her tighter. "You're willing to do whatever it takes to make someone else happy, feel welcomed, and accepted."

Rarity's heart soared as she melted into his embrace.

"What about me; am I anything like you imagined you'd end up with?" He asked.

"Sadly no... I've always imagined falling in love and marrying a Noble Unicorn stallion, and having a couple Unicorn foals, and living in the Unicorn capitol of Canterlot, but... Ooh, who am kidding; I am a deviant." Rarity whined.

"That a good thing, or a bad thing?" Atchmon questioned.

Rarity looked him in the eyes. "I've recently started to fancy other creatures so long as they exuded a bit of charm and nobility. So at the moment my dear, sweet diamond-in-the-rough; it couldn't be better." She cooed sweetly.

"Mmm, then I guess I am too," Atchmon smiled, before leaning in to give her a kiss.

"Is there anything else that the 'girls' from your world have that I lack?" Rarity wondered curiously.

"They have really soft skin that's really smooth too," he continued.

"Do you like it better?" Rarity asked, and dreaded to hear his answer.

"I wouldn't really know; but I do really like your coat. I think it's because it's so different from what I've always expected," he mused sweetly.

"I like your smooth skin; it feels wonderful on my hide," Rarity sighed contentedly as she wriggled against him. "Forgive me for saying this, Atchmon; but I'm glad those girls from your world ignored you,"

Atchmon looked at her with a neutral expression. But behind his eyes Rarity could see the turmoil caused by her cruel statement, and almost regretted her choice of words.

"Because it means I get to have this wonderful man all to myself." Rarity said as she reared up and pinned him between her fore legs, before giving him sweet little kisses around face and lips.

Atchmon reciprocated, and did the same.

Atchmon hissed through his teeth as he came again.

Rarity watched his chest heave and body convulse violently in the wake of his climax, while the human's hands roamed all over her petite pony body, his raised legs allowed Rarity to lean back and wallow in her afterglow with him as he climaxed inside her. His hardness still pleasantly lodged in herself, as their mixed juices leaked between their union.

Rarity felt a wet warmness growing inside her, knowing her mate had hit his peak, and felt gratification at her accomplishment.

She had claimed him as hers, just as he claimed her.

She would be his, and he would be hers... at least she hoped so.

"Gosh... that one kinda hurt," Atchmon half-laughed as he laid back panting for breath.

Rarity looked down on him as she panted breathlessly in utter bliss; her face heated with passion and lust, which started to ebb as she trailed a hoof down and rested it above her udders. She squeezed her velvet walls around his cock and felt his sticky, wet member still lodge happily inside her body. Rarity could almost feel the copious amount of sperm that was pumped into her sore, velvet tunnel during their whole night of love-making.

Atchmon retracted his arms, and pulled Rarity into his embrace.

Rarity relaxed and allowed herself to be taken in by his cuddles, feeling his wilting member slip from her sore tunnel for the final time that night with an audible parting of wet, sticky flesh.

"How much do you love me, Atchmon?" she cooed tiredly.

Atchmon looked at the innocent mare in his arms. "High as the sky, and deep as the ocean," he kissed her snout. "Though, that isn't good enough for you."

"Why on earth not, my love? It's very sweet," she mewled.

Atchmon smiled brightly when she called him 'love'. "Because, they say 'the sky's the limit' and 'you can only hit rock bottom'; you see, they both have limits, and my feelings for you goes way beyond those barriers, my... princess." he hesitated before sporting a huge grin on his face. His heart throbbed when he called her his princess. Knowing how much she liked that; even if it embarrassed him to be saying such lovey-dovey things, but he didn't care, so long as it made her happy.

Rarity felt herself drifting, while her mind dwelled on everything which brought her to this moment. Her head rested next to Atchmon's as they both snuck little kisses and whispered sweet nothings to each other.

"Atchmon," Rarity started just above a whisper. "Thank you for saving my life."

"You saved mine too, don't forget." He rumbled tiredly.

"Mmm, yes, but I'll always be indebted to you." Rarity shifted herself to lay her head on his chest. "That bird was terrifying, wasn't it?" She spoke idly as she drew tender little circles with the tip of her hoof on the human's smooth chest.

Atchmon stayed silent awhile before saying anything else. "It wasn't just the bird."

"The wolf," Rarity whispered, as she tensed and pressed deeper into his body as the memory of her horn piercing through flesh replayed itself vividly through her mind and body.

"Sorry, didn't mean to bring that up; but that wasn't it either," Atchmon said as he comforted her.

Rarity thought for a moment, before turning her head to look at him. "What else could I have done? You've essentially carried me through this trying time," she said with her chin laying on his chest.

Atchmon took a breath and looked up to the ceiling, before letting it out. "Before I met you, I was- I was gonna do somethin'... Somethin' stupid, an' permanent to myself, and... If you hadn't shown up," Atchmon paused as he lifted his head to look at her. "Neither one of us would be here right now." He hinted emphatically, and hoped that his gaze alone would tell her what he couldn't.

Rarity rose up and looked at his face in concern as she quickly realized what he was telling her. She felt foolish for not thinking of it herself, before now. Of course he'd be mentally unwell after spending over half a decade in isolation. Most ponies couldn't stand being alone for more than a couple days without contact.

That's why punishment by exile was so rare...

It was practically a death sentence.

"Do you still feel-" she dreaded to ask, but she had to know of his well being.

"No. No," Atchmon reassured her. "But I know if I ever lost you... I don't think I could live with myself." His low voice croaked out the words.

"Make me a promise," Rarity started firmly, while tapping his chest. "That no matter what happens to me; you'll make it to my home. Please. Promise. Me." Rarity spoke firmly, emphasising every word along with a hoof tap against his chest.

Atchmon looked away. "I can try. That's all I can promise."

Rarity sighed disappointingly and nuzzled into his neck, knowing that was all she was ever going to get out of him. Him trying was still better than him wallowing forever in loneliness back in his cave.

"Speaking of home... If my friends can find a different way for you to return to your world; would you leave, if given the chance, or stay here?" Rarity ask, sounding indifferent to her query.

"You really think they can do it?"

"I certainly believe so."

Atchmon took a breath. "Well... I would definitely like to see more of your world, an' all the amazing things you've told me about... But on the other hand, I hate knowin' that my sister doesn't know I'm okay. We were never all that close... but still; she tried to be there for me when nobody else was. I owe her that, at least."

Rarity tried to hide the pain in her heart. 'I know I'm not a good enough reason for him to stay, and I shouldn't expect him to for my sake, but to actually hear it... Goddesses, Rarity, why didn't you think of this before? No... I'm not going to think about it, and just enjoy the time I have with him while it lasts.'

"Then let me ask you this. If you were to be in a romantic relationship; would you stay here and make a life..." Rarity paused. "With me?" She added, while rubbing his chest.

Atchmon stared at the ceiling in silence as he thought. "I don't know, Rarity..." He sighed. "The easy answer would be 'yes', but at the same time... I-it jus' feels so wrong. Like, it's something I'm not supposed to do, and so I never get to fully enjoy it, you know? And I know how stupid that sounds; I mean, who's around to judge me for bein' with a pony." Atchmon stated sarcastically.

"It's not silly at all, dear; but I do understand where you're coming from," said Rarity. 'He said yes!'

'His feelings are exactly how I feel. Many of my high society 'friends' in Canterlot would never accept a pony in a cross-species relationship. It's practically committing social suicide... Goddesses, I need to work on not thinking of things like that, after just hearing them; it's so insensitive after what Atchmon just confessed to me! Well, I know Fancy Pants and his wife, Fluer dis Lee, will support me, they've always been an open minded pair and dear friends. Even if they aren't willing to partake in the change in times as well.'

"I won't lie to you, Atchmon; ponies aren't going to be any less judgemental. I'll certainly take the brunt of it, if it means having you by my side."

"Don't you worry about that. There's nothin' I hate more than some over privileged piece o' pony-pies tellin' me what I can, or can't do."

Rarity chuckled at that, he wasn't technically cursing, but he was getting better at forming analogies between their cultures.

"Besides, you've got a great ass; no way I'm lettin' someone take somethin' this good away from me," Atchmon chuckled, and gave Rarity's lusciously round rump a firm squeeze.

"Atchmon!" Rarity squeaked at the pressure around her buttocks. "Watch your language," she reproached him while tapping a chastising hoof on his chest.

"Not this time," he grinned, and kissed her full on the mouth.

Rarity giggled at the ticklish kisses Atchmon was planting on her snout.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Rarity started brightly and pulled away as she leaned over Atchmon's torso.

"What's that?" Atchmon asked, while stroking Rarity's back as she used magic to levitate her saddlebags over.

"I found the present you hid away for me to find," she answered happily, rummaging inside her saddlebag.

"Present?" He questioned in confusion as Rarity pulled out the craft he made for her so many weeks ago. "Oh, riiight, that present; I almost forgot about it... Do you like it?" He asked while brushing a finger along the black feather hanging below the relic, before grasping his fingers around the wooden circle, and examining his old work.

Her purple hair was woven into an intricate spider-like web within a tiny, perfectly circular wooden branch; a small red bead was trapped in the webbing, while beads of white-gold quartz and feathers of soft ebony down hung below the charm on several woven strands of purple hair.

Rarity twirled the relic in her magic, after Atchmon was done holding it.

"I love it, but why did you hide it away within my bags to begin with?" She asked curiously.

"Well, it was back when we were jus' gettin' to know each other, and... I dunno, I guess I decided it was a dumb thing to do, and decided not to show it to ya in case you didn't like it. You were havin' nightmares, and I jus' wanted to do somethin' nice for ya. I mean, you were having a rough couple of days of it so..." He finished with a shrug.

"Atchmon." Rarity started reproachfully, and rose up on her forehooves to look him in the eyes. "The first thing you should know about me is that I would never spurn a gift that was made with time and love."

Atchmon gazed up at her. "Yeah, I think I know that now," he said, and rubbed her soft breast-less chest. Rarity laid down on his shoulder, while she held the charm above them in her magic.

"So what is it?" She asked innocently, while turning the relic in her magic, watching as her purple hair and the black feathers danced below the charm; their surfaces gleamed under the dim light of the bio-luminescent foliage around them.

"It's a dreamcatcher," he said simply.

Rarity froze at his words, while her mind both tried to convince her that wasn't what he said, and reminding her that there wasn't any magic in Atchmon's world... or so he said.

"I thought you said there wasn't any magic in your world?" Rarity started carefully, after rising up again, and looking at him to see if he's lying.

"There isn't," he said simply, and sensed something was amiss with Rarity. "What?"

"How does this catch dreams? Do you infuse some sort of spell, o-or is it a kind of magical fetish?" Rarity asked while examining the dreamcatcher more closely in her magic.

"Rarity, it doesn't actually work," he emphasised while shaking his head and chuckling nervously at her seriousness.

"But I believe it does!" She started excitedly. "Why else would it exist, and how would you know to make it; and if it doesn't work, then why would you make it to begin with? The one over your bed was much bigger than this. How do you know it doesn't work?"

"Because, I still had strange nightmares for days after makin' it; every day I woke up I felt exhausted and drained of energy. They did stop eventually, and I felt better, but it's mainly just a cultural thing, that's all." Atchmon finished sincerely with a shrug.

"How's it supposed to work if it did?" Rarity pressed.

Atchmon let out a huffing sigh, not understanding why Rarity wouldn't take his word for it. "T-the belief is that the air is full of both good and bad dreams. The beads in the web are supposed to attract bad dreams into it, where they're caught, while good dreams pass through the openings in the web and follow the feathers down to the sleeper. It's important to hang it over your head wherever you sleep; that way you'll have good dreams when they fall on you from the feathers hanging below it. Then, once the sun comes up, its light will burn away the bad dream. There's some other stuff too, and the details change between the different tribes on my world; but that's pretty much the gist of it."

Rarity nodded in understanding. "I think this is the reason why Princess Luna hasn't been able to contact me," she said distantly in quiet, thoughtful realization. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" She asked accusingly.

Atchmon started to feel like he was in trouble for something he didn't do. "Who- what- w-well you didn't ask, and we argued a lot about my beliefs, and I didn't want to push anymore of my culture on you so..." Atchmon shook his head and held his hands up in a shrug; like he didn't know what else say. "What's the big deal?"

"Don't you remember when I told you about the rulers of Equestria; about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" Rarity started to explain her reasoning.

"Yeah, and I still don't believe that they move the sun and the moon. Pegasi moving clouds is one thing, but a dang Princess pony goddess movin' something like that," he shook his head in disbelief. "No way. Now, I'll believe it when I see it, but until then there's only one Great Spirit that I believe in, and he ain't a pony; I can tell you that much."

Rarity looked apathetically miffed by Atchmon's stubborn beliefs, and ignored his counter argument to finish her explanation. "I understand you're very defensive about your beliefs on the subject of life, the universe, and the beginning of everything; but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about Princess Celestia, and her sister Princess Luna. Don't you remember when I told you she not only moves the moon, but is also the warden of dreams? And the time I told you about the Legend of Nightmare Moon, and her goal to turn Equestria into a living nightmare?"

"Yeah, and...?" Atchmon shook his head, not understanding where Rarity was going with this. "You beat her and lifted the Nightmare curse with the Elements of Harmony and she turned back into Princess Luna... Right?"

"Yes, Atchmon, but you're missing the point. She can walk into my dreams and speak to me."

Atchmon thought for a moment. "You mean... like a dreamwalker." Atchmon stared at her with a neutral expression as the dots connected in his mind; and why Rarity was being so pushy on the subject. "You never told me that!" he suddenly exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me that, or explain what that meant?" he countered.

"Because you didn't ask," Rarity countered his own counter with a bit of snarkiness behind her voice. "And besides I seem to recall you understood what all that meant about her; and then we had that very long and heated debate about how the sun and moon can move on their own without a Princess to guide them. The existence of an omnipotent being that no one of your kind has ever seen, and yet still worship as a supreme being." Rarity tried not to sound haughty, but she did.

"Okay, first of all, I'll believe your Princesses can move the Sun an' Moon when I see it with my own eyes; and as for the dream warden thing. I jus' pre-ten-ded to... Oooh..." Atchmon's voice trailed as his face dropped when he realized something. "Well, I jus' didn't want you to think I was a complete dummy!" Atchmon threw his arms up petulantly, and crossed them over his chest.

Rarity took pity on him. "Well, in your defense, I don't think Princess Luna can enter non-ponies dreams anyway. So there wasn't much reason for me to tell you about it in the first place." Rarity explained as she put a hoof on his leg to comfort him.

"Oh, my, God. You mean to tell me that if I had just asked you about what that meant, we could've been rescued weeks ago." Atchmon dismayed, laying an arm over his eyes as he laid back down. The full weight of his mistake to save face, fell on him.

"I'm afraid so, darling," Rarity sighed as she joined him on the floor. "But the blame isn't all yours. I thought the dreamcatcher above your bed was so balefully drab that I didn't want to offend you by saying anything negative about it."

"No, it's definitely my fault we ended up like this; I'm always the one messin' things up no matter what, anyway," he mumbled. "Even when I don't mean to..."

"Oh, is being here with me like this really so bad," Rarity pouted playfully.

Atchmon scoffed. "Pff, no, o' course not, but I always- you know what I mean," he sighed. "I wouldn't trade this for anything, and it's been a pretty fun adventure, hadn't it?"

Rarity laid down on his chest, and started drawing circles with her hoof. "Mmm, yes, I suppose it has, though I could do with a few less near-death experiences," she sighed tiredly.

The pair laid together in silence. Staring up at the only obstacle in their path to civilization. The charm floated between them in Rarity's magic.

"Alright then, let's just go ahead, hurry up an' get rid of this thing," Atchmon grasped the circular charm within his hand. The small relic was easily engulfed by his palm, with Atchmon enclosing his digits around it, ready to crush it to splinters.

"Wait!" Rarity exclaimed, and pulled the relic away with her magic.

"What? You wanna wishbone this thing?" He questioned, while mock testing a few pulls to see how best it would break while the charm hung in midair.

Rarity sighed in disgust as the memory of that event flashed in her mind. "I still regret letting you talk me into participating in that horribly morbid ritual. But no, that's not it, nevermind that. Just wait a moment, dear." Rarity pushed his hand away from her gift with a hoof.

"What do you wanna do with it then? Don't you wanna go home as soon as possible?"

"Y-yes, but... w-we don't have to destroy it right now, do we? I mean, we could enjoy each others company a little while longer. O- or we could hide it away someplace where its power is nullified. I'd hate to destroy something you went through so much trouble to make for me; for the best of intentions. I'd like to keep it, if we can." Rarity cradled the dreamcatcher in both her hooves, admiring the tiny circular object like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"You mean, you wanna stay a while longer... with me?"

Rarity nodded her head sweetly to him. "I don't want Princess Luna to see my dreams after all we've done," she bumped her flank against him. "So, perhaps we can hide it away tomorrow night?"

Atchmon sniffed as his eyes misted with tears, when Rarity's words hit him deeply, then leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry," Atchmon sniffed. "I don't mean to be blubberin' like a big ol' baby but... And I know it's a bit stupid at this point; but I have t' ask you sumthin'."

"What is it my dear sweet honey bunny."

That made him laugh to the point he almost couldn't regain his composure. "Do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

Rarity's face slowly dropped in shock at the question, before a smile curled on her face. "If we're going to be together, Atchmon, then there's a few things we must sort out. First, I don't think I can ever be your girlfriend, but... I'd be more than happy being your marefriend."

Atchmon sniffed as he embraced his mare, and she wrapped her hooves around him. "I think I'm the happiest man in the world right now," he uttered.

Rarity thought of making a joke to point out that he was the only man in the world, but she didn't need to; because he slowly started to chuckle, before it became a full laugh. She joined him and they laughed together.

Nothing else was said between the two as they quietly laid together, enjoying each others closeness. Their chests expanded in slow, tired breaths as they eventually drifted off to sleep, their limbs entangled in the other's warm embrace.

Rarity laid across Atchmon's chest with her lower half resting sorely on the hard cave floor, above their makeshift bedding. She didn't mind, her lover made for an exquisite pillow.

Her mate.

Her lover.

He was nothing like the immaculate 'Prince' she once pined after so long ago. If anything, he was the polar opposite of that uncouth stallion. The human wasn't anything like what she imagined her ideal mate would be.

A Unicorn at the very least.

And yet, she couldn't care less as she nuzzled deeper into his body while inhaling the heady scent of her mate. She banished those thoughts from her mind; not wanting memories of old crushes to ruin this perfect moment.

Rarity could smell Atchmon's fragrance wafting thickly from the pit beneath his arm, before carefully nudging her snout closer to breathe in his pheromones. She rested her snout in the crevice beneath his soft, sensitive area; causing him to stir.

His unique aroma saturated her senses just like she wanted. "Mmm," Rarity mewled tiredly as she took in deep, long breaths of his scent. 'I just love the smell of his bouquet; it's so intoxicating, and hard to pin down; sweet and smokey with a chocolatey aroma; coupled with a bare hint of spice that tickles my senses in just the right way...' Rarity breathed her lover in deeply, his subtle spice nibbled at her senses, leaving her wanting more.

"Mmph," Atchmon stirred and stretched his body, causing his joints to pop loudly within the cavernous chamber; before tightly wrapping his arms around the soft, warm, fuzzy body laying against him. "Mmmph," he sighed huskily in contentment as he squeezed Rarity against himself.

Rarity lifted her head and watched her lover wake from his slumber. "Good morning, my Prince,"

"Mmm, mornin', hun," Atchmon mumbled tiredly and smiled as he slowly woke from his sleep.

The pair laid together silently staring into each others eyes as they awoke.

Atchmon took his hand and grasped Rarity's big, white pony ear, and proceed to knead a pudgy digit along her inner concave.

Rarity flicked her ears and head to avoid the unfamiliar sensation. "Hey, stop that," she whined playfully.

"Hold on, be still," he asked, and she obeyed; trusting him completely, while he took his hand and caressed Rarity's face, lingering over her eye.

Atchmon gently ran his pudgy digit over each of her eyes, before Rarity felt him pull away with a light tugging sensation following after him.

"You had a big goober on ya," he said, as he flicked the sleep away from her eyes.

Rarity's heart swelled from the unexpected grooming, and leaned in to nuzzle him in thanks. Atchmon superceded her and gave Rarity a slow, gentle kiss on the nose.

"I just love how soft, fuzzy, and cool your snout is," he whispered huskily.

"Mmmm, I hate to leave, but I need to go. Please wait for me would you my dear?"

"Where're you gonna go? He questioned. "The pools are right there." He asked, as Rarity moved to stand up.

"I'm not about to further desecrate this beautiful place with any more of my bodily functions," Rarity stated primly as she shifted to lay on her hooves.

Atchmon rolled his eyes and sighed. "Alright, I'll be here when you get back. Be careful." he said, while the hand that was caressing Rarity slid over her body as she stood.

"I will," Rarity reassured him, as she stood on her hooves, relishing the feeling her lover's lingering touch as he caressed her body starting from the neck, to her shoulder, and across her back, before lingering on her curvy flank as she moved away.

Smack!

"YAH!" Rarity whinnied in surprise as she jumped her lower half away from the strike to her rump; and put on a look of hurtful confusion at the human who just struck her.

'Did I do something wrong? Did he not want me to leave? What did I do? Why did he hit me?' Rarity thought frantically, until her worry came to a crashing halt once she noticed the predatory smile Atchmon was sporting.

Rarity's eyes trailed over his flat, exposed torso and immediately locked onto his erect member sticking out from his waist as he rolled his hips enticingly; getting Rarity to notice his throbbing erection.

Rarity's body tightened and shuddered in excitement as she unconsciously lifted her tail, and felt her marehood twitch for him; followed by an audible patter of their mixed juices hitting the floor. Rarity's head swam with thoughts of being mounted again, while her winking sex drooled dollops of her mare-cum; the slimy, viscous liquid ran down her leg, the feeling of her wetness made her shudder with anticipation.

She quickly trotted away to do her business while clamping her tail down to keep from trailing a mess of juices with her. She wanted nothing more than to get back before the pleasant sting on her rump faded, as she fantasized about mouth bits, bridles, and riding crops.

Rarity was trotting back through the short tunnels after doing her business. 'I hope the bats don't mind, but with all the guano around, surely they won't notice.'

"Uhk, Ah, Grrrah!"

Rarity perked her ears at the sound of Atchmon's grunts and moans as they echoed through the passageway. She smiled and shook her head in disbelief. 'How rude; he's starting without me!'

Rarity spoke casually as she rounded the corner leading into the oasis chamber. "Honestly, Atchmon, are all human males as insatiable as you seem t-" Rarity paused as she saw, to her horror, Atchmon being pinned down and tied up by three stout-looking armored beasts with two more pointing spears down at him.

"Rare, get ou-th!" Atchmon tried to warn her way, but was gagged by a thick rope that was being tied around his head.

"Unhand him this instant you dogs; you brutes!" Rarity shouted as she charged forward with her horn lowered and ready to gore anything in her path; until a heavy weight suddenly dropped from out of nowhere onto her back; stopping Rarity dead in her tracks.

She couldn't get anywhere near Atchmon to aid him against their assailants, and tried to buck the heavy, unwelcome rider off her back; but to no avail. Her legs and body were still too worn from yesterday's and last night's activities.

Rarity's muzzle was quickly bound with a rope harness, before the fiend atop her back dismounted and picked her up with ease; holding the mare around the barrel beneath its arm and horribly smelly pit.

Rarity tried to kick out, but her hooves only clanged feebly against the lout's armor.

Atchmon thrashed weakly under his captors, but could do nothing with his limbs tied together.

"Got 'nother intruder," one said thickly.

"What that thing?" One of the brutes dumbly asked in a deep, croaky voice.

"Don' know, but the Boss will know what to do with them," said one with a sly sounding voice.

"It got pwetty wings, but it no fly?" The croaky dumb one questioned in confusion, while scratching the top of its head.

"This one looks broken, but still has some spunk; and the Unicorn will fetch us a nice price from the Boss," the sly one chuckled impishly.

They tied Atchmon's limbs to a pole and carried him off, before a sack was placed over Rarity's head, which plunged her into darkness.

A roughshod, prickly rope dug into Rarity's tender neck as she was pulled along behind their captors

Without her sight, Rarity had no choice but to follow wherever the apprehending curs were taking them.