Rarity woke shivering from a dreamless sleep sometime in the middle of the night. The bitter air had numbed her exposed hide with its coldness. She shifted tiredly, pressing herself deeper into the toasty body next to her, seeking out its warmth.

Atchmon had his arm over her, his warmness keeping the cold at bay where it rested on her. However, his own exposed, fur-less skin had numbed with cold too. Soon between the cold, her constant vibrations, and other movements, finally stirred him awake as well. He moved from her, the frigid night air quickly sapping away any lingering heat. Rarity mewled her complaints, before both of their forms were covered in a velvety-soft, cool blanket.

Atchmon returned next to her, stopping for a moment to pet her from the neck to her back, before carefully wrapping his arms around her, and held her close. After a few moments warmth radiated throughout Rarity's body, and she let out a contented sigh.

She dug her cold snout deeper into his warm chest, the long soft hairs tickled her nose, and let out a tired yawn, breathing in his sweet-smoky aroma, before finally settling back to sleep.

---

Rarity slowly trotted through a dark forest, within the dense fog that surrounded her. The doling mist parting from her as she moved onward, wary of all that was around her. The constant sense of dread was keeping her tense, ready to gallop away at any sign of danger. The menacing look of the trees bore down on her, and there were things hiding in the dark brush. Their glowing yellow eyes followed her every move, while every sound made her stop, listen, alert to any danger.

Fear and panic suddenly took hold of her heart, and she quickly galloped away from the imaginary beasts that were hunting her.

"Rar-ty."

She could barely make out a voice in the distance, before a shimmery blue form appeared in her path. She stopped suddenly, her hooves skidding across the dirt, before halting feet away from the aberration.

"Rar-ity? Mis-s Rar-ty c-n -ou -ear me? Wh-re -r- yo-?"

"Princess Luna? Is that you? What's going on? Why can't I see you!?" She asked, her eyes wide in desperation.

"W-ere ar- yo- spe-- t- -e- -y- lit-le p-ny; I- c-n bar-y se- --u!"

Rarity could barely make out the form of the Princess of the Night. Her statically presence shifted, and waved about in front of her. In a moment she would be gone, the next she'd return, never fully becoming solid. Her transparent form struggled to keep the connection, moving jerkingly about, as if moving in a strobe light.

"Princess Luna? Princess Luna, I'm here, I'm here; are you going to rescue me!?" She asked with hope beginning to fill her heart.

"Ar- y-- o-ay -y de-r!? W-er- -r- --o!?"

"Please help me! Take me home! Save me! Please!" She begged, trying desperately to find a way to help.

"R---t- -e--l f--d --- - pr---s-! ...." Her figure flashed thrice, before vanishing entirely.

"Princess!? NO! NO Don't GO! Please! Don't leave me here all alone!" She shrieked, as terror consumed her.

Snap!

Rarity immediately turned to investigate the noise, barely catching sight of the wolf's wide maw as it let out a sharp, savage growl.

All Rarity saw was teeth, before its massive jaws enclosed around her.

---

Gasp!

Rarity woke with a shock coursing through her system, her heart beat against her chest before she finally relaxed, and laid her head upon the bedding once again. Damning the beasts who hunted her within her dreams.

'Princess Luna was trying to speak to me! My friends are really trying everything to find me! She smiled as her heart raced again, knowing she was going to see her friends again soon. 'But wait, I could barely understand what she was saying. It wasn't like the other times I've seen her in my dreams; and those were always quite lucid. Not only that, but I barely had any control over myself compared to the other times,' She thought before shifting on her back, looking towards the ceiling, trying to figure out what was different about this time as her eyes wandered over the carvings. Briefly imagining herself in Atchmon's position, wondering how many countless days he must have spent staring up at that same spot on the ceiling.

Her eyes continued to wander until landing upon the charm above the bed, its beautiful feathers a scant few inches from her face. She reached up with a hoof, gently caressing the strange, yet pretty decoration with newfound appreciation. After the talk with Atchmon last night, she felt much better about being around him. Knowing that deep down they weren't that much different. As far as being artisans, and their societal needs go.

Perhaps I was just too far from her, no that can't be right. Princess Luna should be able to connect with everypony in the world, regardless of distance. But then again there aren't any ponies in the Everfree, aside from the very few I do know about. Perhaps it's the Everfree Forest itself, it has always been a place of wild magic. Maybe it's the cause for the interference, and if that's the case, there is nothing I can do about it. She finished her thought process, feeling a little disappointed in herself.

Rarity laid there for the moment, trying to remember anything she could about dream magic. Unfortunately her passion for fashion always took priority over her other studies. She was no idiot when it came to thaumatology, even though not being as naturally gifted as Twilight or Starlight Glimmer, nor having the privilege to attend Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Her parents simply couldn't afford to send her at the time.

Though that happened a couple years after she finished her schooling, they were once struggling to provide for both of their children, so she could find it in herself to forgive them.

During that time she had taught herself transformation, transmutation, AND transfiguration magic through great effort, after she heard tales of the 'impossible enchanted dress'. However, she had limited herself only to fabrics, and other related crafts to achieve that dream. Getting the enchantments to 'stick' to the shifty fabric was always the most difficult part. She very nearly accomplished a mock version of that dream, that was until that vile Suri Polomare had stolen her designs, and her fabric.

Rarity also had a chance to display her prowess when Trixie first rolled into town, shivering at the memory of the green hair that the boastfully-uncouth-brute of an enchantress had hexed her with. It took Rarity a whole day to undo the magic.

Worst day of her life, ever.

That was until yesterday...

Her special talent allowed her to learn everything there was to know about gems, not just locating them, though she never particularly enjoyed the dirty work involved with finding them. She also learned how to enchant them, for whatever purpose they needed to serve, with little effort.

She had her relationship with Maud, Pinkie Pie's older sister, to thank for that. Though Rarity would always be insistent on updating the rock farmer's wardrobe, despite her constant refusals, she couldn't help letting the strange pony's passion for geology rub off on her. Rarity all but threw herself into learning about gems, and gem enchantments. Such endowments were usually just cosmetic, though she was embarrassed to admit her motivation for learning was fueled purely by her fantasies.

All these things she felt would be useless for surviving out in the Everfree.

Rarity lightly shook her head, trying to put her mind back on track from the tangent she trailed off of. Feeling regret for not expanding her magical abilities, knowing it wasn't as if she couldn't learn through effort. But she simply didn't have the time between managing her now three boutiques that she was very proud of, and worried what would happen to them if she didn't make it back soon. A strong teleportation spell would be quite useful right about now, though such a spell was the reason she ended up here in the first place. It wasn't all bad, at least she had much better company than she did on her first day in the Everfree. Even if he is a bit 'rough around the edges', so to speak.

Speaking of rough edges...

Rarity examined the furred leather 'blanket' that was atop her, feeling a little discomfort of knowing what it was made from. Its burning warmth protecting her against the cool morning air. Her coat was damp with sweat from the sweltering heat the covering provided, moving it away to cool off her scorching hide, the chilly air feeling quite refreshing. She watched in amazement as a bit of fog doled off her body, rising up into the drafty air.

Rarity's natural scent wafted around her, and silently hoped she didn't disgust her bedmate with her offensive feminine odor, as the cool air worked to dry out her stench. Rarity hated her smell, most mares did for one reason or another, but hers only served to remind herself of the terrible nickname she received as a schoolfilly.

She took a moment to examine the tanned leather, which was flawless, and lacked any blemishes other than the rough-dried edges. As far as she could tell anyway, never having an interest in learning about the furred-fashion that was currently all-the-rage in Griffenstone. That was until now, when she's getting a first-hoof look at the trend.

The 'blanket' was made from combining three different-colored furs, of what looked to be the same type of animal. Though probably not the wolves from last night, as it lacked any red coloring, and were crudely stitched together with a combination of twine and leather strips. Her heart ached at the botched knitting, a sudden compulsion overcame her, wanting to correct such a crime against sewing. 'Why am I actually admiring this? Sure, it's the most fantastic material I've ever felt but- It's something's hide for pony's sake!' Rarity caught herself before delving too deep into her thoughts, opting to gently remove the rest of the blanket off of her.

Rarity moved off the bed stretching out each one of her aching muscles, pushing her hooves out one at a time, her injured fetlock sending a jolt of pain up her leg. At least I can stand on it much better than yesterday, it doesn't hurt as much either, perhaps it won't take as long to heal as I feared. Rarity thought, as she finished her workout by arching her back like a cat. Her joints popped, and tendons stretched, feeling as though rubber bands were breaking off inside her. The light exercise rejuvenated her energy, making her feel wide awake.

Though she desperately wanted a much needed massage, not just for her sore muscles, but to relieve the stress of the last few days.

'I know exactly what I'm going to do when I get back home. I'm going to take Sweetie Bell, and bribe Aloe and Lotus to let us live in their spa for a whole day. Maybe even two, or three!' She smiled happily as she rolled her head, working the fibers around her neck.

Rarity's eyes had adjusted to the dim light of the cavern, and saw that her saddlebags were placed in the middle of the cave floor, along with a canteen and a note. Rarity knew the stationary came from the notepad she kept in her saddlebags, for the occasional clothing measurements she would take of ponies she met on the go. The message was pinned to her bags using one of the needles from her sewing kit, which she care fully removed with her magic, not wanting to damage the paper. Then unfolding it, as she levitated the sheet up to her eye level.

'It's all clean,

not the same bowl,

canteen is yours,

sorry about last night'

A little smiley face was drawn on the bottom, seeing the simple little drawing made her smile as well. Such a kind, considerate gentlestallion, if only some of the nobles back home would take a lesson from his example. She thought, briefly thinking of her first meeting with Prince Blueblood.

Rumor has it his 'Aunty Celestia' gave him a stern talking to, he apologized to Rarity about his behavior. Explaining that there's no shortage of noble mares who wanted to court him, and that he thought she wasn't any different. Well she proved him wrong when she simply walked away with a huff. He's been a little obsessed with her ever since. Sending her the occasional letter, all but begging for a second chance. It's true what they say, first impressions really are everything.

Both her and Atchmon made mistakes on their first meeting, wishing she had made a better impression on him. But all that was in the past now, and they have a fresh start to become good friends. She stood straighter, and felt more determined at the thought.

Atchmon had given her one of his spare canteens. Leaving it and her bags, which were once again full to the brim with food, in the middle of the floor for her to find once she woke from her slumber. 'Such a generous being. One after my own heart!'

She put away the needle where it belonged, her magic lingering on the kit for a few moments, before finally closing the container. So much for this being used only for fashion emergencies... Oh, Sweetie Bell, I'm so sorry. She read the note again to make herself feel better, before placing it neatly inside her saddlebag, then worked on fixing the bed.

Rarity magicked up the blanket, folding it in the air while shaking and fluffing out the furry bedding at the same time. Rarity had always been a natural multi-telekinetic-tasker, she had to be in order to keep up with the near ceaseless production of dresses her boutiques demanded. Sassy Saddles had really given her horn a workout, after taking all those orders for the 'Princess Dress' that first day.

Rarity effortlessly restored the bedding to its former glory, with a few improvements, it looked about twenty percent more comfortable than before. 'Dashie would be pleased.' She was surprised to find that the furred leather lacked much of a smell, save for her own recently added odor, and the faint smoky-sweet scent of her platonic bedmate. Feeling a little embarrassed for her behavior last night, there was no excuse for a mare to push herself on a male without his permission.

'At least he didn't seem bothered by it, or maybe things are different where he's from. I don't even know what might be considered a social faux pas to him. Today that's going to change, it's about time we had that talk. Now if only I knew where he went off to.'

---

"God, dammit!" Rarity heard Atchmon's distressed voice from outside, and went to see what was wrong with her new friend. She poked her head out the entrance of the cave, scanning the area, and could not see him anywhere in sight.

"Atchmon? Where are you? Where did you go?" She called out to him worriedly, her heart speeding up. He was silent a couple moments before answering.

"'M up here Rarity. Just go 'round t' the back, should be easy 'nough for you to walk up." His voice sounded above her.

Rarity cantered down and around the hill, her hoof feeling sore whenever she put weight on it, eventually the angle of the hill changed to a gentler sloping one. It was a little steep, but she could manage even in her current condition. Now Rarity was no layabout, however, she wasn't an athlete like Rainbow Dash, nor a hard laborer like Applejack, and neither a perpetual ball of energy like Pinkie Pie. Upon reaching the top of the hill; she was a sweating, panting, mess thanks to the 'short' climb up, if she could even call it that. Rarity silently swore to herself that she was going to cut back on the ice cream and emotional eating.

Huff. Puff. Puff. Mmmmph! Rarity pushed herself over the last leg of the 'hill'.

Atchmon watched as the white unicorn caught her breath. She stood up straighter atop the miniature mountain. The bright clear morning sky shined upon her, highlighting her presence, while her body and barrel shifted subtly with every breath. Rarity's poise was angled slightly from him, as ladylike as it should be, with her head held slightly up. A gentle breeze blew her straight mane and tail elegantly in the wind, completing the pose.

Rarity worried her stature came off as pompous, lacking the desired effect, for he stared at her unmoving and unreadable. His ears never so much as twitched, but his face and eyes were locked on her. He couldn't help but admire the unicorn, as he stared at the magnificently-majestic-mythical creature before him.

Atchmon was leaning over, sitting cross-legged on the grass, and wearing a furred vest to keep himself warm in the cool morning air, along with his long blue pants, and moccasins. A few broken sticks and pieces of stone littered the ground before him, along with a tiny fire near where he sat atop the mesa of his home.

"Hey... Mornin" He greeted her distantly.

"Good morning. What's wrong Atchmon, I heard you yell, is there something the matter?" She asked in concern. Her amazing cerulean eyes, bluer than the bluest blue, looked at him worriedly.

"What? Oh! Oh, no, I just can't seem to pull my head out of my ass, and get these arrows made right." He gestured around at the mess in front of him.

'His vulgarity is starting to become quite grating. No matter! It's just one more thing we can discuss. Perhaps I can sofisticate him, maybe teach him about Pony culture, and proper etiquette. Wouldn't that be something? 'Rarity the Everfree Tamer'!' She smiled to herself, and felt relieved to see he wasn't in any trouble.

"Didja get my note?" He asked, trying hard not to stare at her. Finding it difficult, as his eyes darted between his work and her.

"Yes, and are you sure you want me to have your canteen? You have so little already, no offense of course." She never felt comfortable taking something from others, she was always the one giving things away on a whim. Her special talent, and career afforded her that luxury. Equestria was quite ripe with no shortage of precious stones, though only the rarest gems held any real value.

"Yeah, it's alright, I have a spare. Plus I been want'n an excuse to make a waterskin, just to see if I can do it. So you can use it? The canteen I mean."

"Um, yes. The bowl is fine if you want it back, I don't mind." Please don't make me drink out of a bowl again.

"Nah, you keep it, I was more worried you couldn't read my note." He fiddled with some of his tools, as he spoke.

"You think I can't read?" She asked surprised, and feeling a little insulted.

"Nah, 'cause I got terrible handwritin', ahehe-heeeh." He chuckled, looking away from her with a big grin on his face, and rubbing the back of his head. 'Oh, goddesses he's shy! If not for his size, and fangs, he'd be absolutely adorable. Rarity cooed to herself.

'His attire leaves something to be desired as well, and there is nothing I can do about that. Unless- NO! Why did I even consider that!?' Rarity shook the thoughts entering her mind and focused on something else.

"So what are you doing up here by yourself, what made you shout like that?" She inquired, looking at the various bone tools, and arrows around him. Quickly answering her own question, though allowing him to answer her regardless.

"Try'n to make some new arrows, lost three of 'em saving your behind the other day. Two that broke from the wolves, and I never found the one that missed the boar the other day. Fuck'n sucks 'cause that was one of my good ones. He muttered at the end, while tapping some rocks together, before looking back at her. "It's important to stock up immediately when you lose somethin' valuable like that." You've got your work cut out for you with this one Rarity. She thought as she winced at his continued profanity.

"I'm terribly sorry, they must take an awful lot of work to make." Rarity said in concern, as she eyed the various bone tools, and leather pads around him. Along with flecks of stone, and the few broken arrowheads that littered the ground before him.

"They do, and a lot of time too." He sighed. "But it's not all bad. I've had plenty of time to practice. Course today's not really been my lucky day." He gestured to the broken pieces around him.

"Do you... wanna learn how to do it?" He asked after a few moments of silence between them.

Her artistic mind was intrigued to see how the 'stranger-from-another-place' made his craft, despite already knowing a little about the process from history books. Back when ponies settled in one place to grow crops, rather than continue being nomadic grazers, using stone spears to protect themselves thousands of years ago. Unicorns had much more primal magic to combat with, it was all brute force, and lacked any of the elegance of today's spells.

She trotted over and sat next to Atchmon, leaning some of her weight on him. He tensed at her contact, and she pulled away, mentally kicking herself for not asking permission first. Males always loved their space, and mares had to give it to them when they demanded, otherwise the mare would have a very bad time.

"You're okay, I'm- just not used to it, been awhile since I last been around somethin' that wasn't goin' t' kill me right away. Heh..." He grinned embarrassingly away from her. Rarity felt relieved he accepted her company, and felt a little sad for him after hearing that. She mentally forgave him for calling her a something, rather than somepony.

"Okay! So. First thing we gotta do is make the arrowhead." He picked up a large stone and got to work. From the start she could tell it was going to be a tedious process. She wanted to know more about him, and couldn't help asking questions while she watched. He broke the stone into smaller and smaller pieces using the various bone tools around him, until he had the desired shape. His progress slowed the sharper and thinner he made the arrowhead.

"So Atchmon... I don't want to sound rude for asking, but I'm curious. What are you exactly? I can't think of anything that comes remotely close to looking like you. Can you tell me about where you're from?" She asked gently, not wanting to push him. He paused for a few moments at her question. His expressions were very subtle, but she caught it, years of living among Canterlot's elites have made her an expert on picking up subtle body language, and other visual cues. Perhaps he's not so unreadable after all, most of his expression seems to be centered on his face.

"I- I'm a human," he answered without looking at her, completely focused on his craft. "or just a 'man' for short, and as for where I'm from," he stopped for a moment, looking towards the horizon, before continuing his work. "I grew up in a small hunting town, near two major rivers. There isn't much to say about it, very close-nit community. Everyone there knew everybody, it was a bustling little village whenever hunting season hit. The rest of the time we'd spend most of our days fishing, or tubing down the rivers, sometimes going as far down as the ocean they drained into." He finished, examining the new arrowhead.

Rarity looked closer to examine it as well, and could see nothing wrong with it. The stone's shape and thinness were perfect! So far as she could tell anyway. 'Oh, what do I know? It's pointy! That's all it needs to be, right?'

"That looks pretty good, next step is make'n a hole for the fore-shaft to settle in. I've already got these sticks treated, and ready to drill out the hollow. Compound arrows have always been my favorite, they take more work, but they're much more versatile." He grinned, extending his long legs out, and shoving a long bone-tool into the ground. Atchmon steadied the tool with his 'hind paws?', with the sharp pointed end of the tool sticking up. Then placing the tip of the shaft to the tool's point, and used his paws to quickly rotate it. Causing the bone-tool to carve a hole into the shaft.

"May I see one?" She asked, curious to see what 'treatment' one could give to a piece of wood.

"Sure." He reached over, grabbing one from his pile, and held it out to her, stopping for a moment to look at her hooves then her horn, before slowly opening his digits. Allowing her to gently levitate the stick from him.

"That feels- wow." He breathed in amazement as the magic enveloped the shaft. "I don't even know how to describe it. Fluffy, tingley, I dunno? Ha!" He stared in awe at the floating object, smiling at her, showing his canines, before returning to his task with a breath. "I measure them out at arm's length, or I can just use one of my good arrows as a measurin' stick." He explained while she held the stick up to her eye level, taking a bit of pleasure in how easily she 'wow'd' him.

She examined the shaft, finding nothing wrong with it. The stick was straight and smooth as can be, with a transparent brown twine wrapped around one end. She tried to bend the rod with her magic, and found that it had very little give.

"How did you learn to do this? You said you were from a 'hunting' kind of village? Do all- 'hue-mons', did you say? Are they all like you? Do they all survive like this?" Rarity asked, motioning throughout the camp with the stick. She could tell he was getting more comfortable being around her, becoming more talkative, while his voice spoke with confidence.

"Humans, and no, not really. There's a lot that just learn for fun, and I'm the only human that's like me. For me, it took lots of trial an' error mostly. Some of this stuff I only heard about, but didn't actually have a clue on how to do it. I could remember bits and pieces, so I just had to, uh, 'connect the dots' so to speak. But really, a lot of what I know is because of my mom."

"You're mother taught you all this?" Rarity said in disbelief, and wondered what kind of place mares had to teach their colts how to kill.

"...Nah, I doubt she even knew how to do a fraction of what I know; even way back when. No, she was always pushin' me to learn the old native traditions. Fancy dancing, basket weaving, beading; but I was always more drawn to the 'brave warrior' side of our traditions. You wanna know what's funny? She actually isn't a native herself, only by marrying my dad did she become part of the tribe. There's a name for people like her, but I can't remember what it was. Sifs, or serfs, er somethin'," his mood changed suddenly.

"Can't say I took to it too well, I was always more into computers... Technology and- inventions, that sort of thing." He added after seeing her look of confusion. "Doesn't mean I didn't pick up a thing or two. Plus I've always loved roughing it in the woods. That was always my choice of escape whenever things got too stressful." he smiled, before his look and voice turned somber. "I miss her a lot... dad too... and sis." He muttered.

'I don't know what I would do if I never got to see my family ever again.'

"mmm-mmmh," he cleared his throat. "We'd usually make the nock at this point for the string to go in, but I've already got that carved out." He pointed out the groove that was cut on the other end of the shaft.

"So after that the fletching goes on next." He reached over, pulling out a clay bowl full of black feathers. So that's why he saved those feathers from the boar. Interesting, in a disturbing sort of way. I suppose everything really does have its uses. She felt sorry as the memory of her attitude from last night flooded her mind. "I've got these ready to go as well, usually you have to split'em apart, an' dig'em out.

"What's that?" She asked as he pulled out some white strands of something from a leather satchel.

"This is sinew, or tendon from the wings and legs of our boar-friend from last night, who we have to thank for all this. Yeah I know, sorry." He apologized apathetically after seeing the shock on her face.

"W-what do you do with that?" asking shakily, feeling the sickness coming on again. Grateful she didn't eat anything that morning.

"You chew it." He answered simply.

Rarity watched in disgust as he placed a few thin strips into his mouth, and gnawed on the tendon. She looked away, immediately regretting ever asking the question. Her discomfort doubled as Atchmon explained away his reasoning for doing it.

"Yesh it'sh nashty, an' no it doeshn't tashte good, at all, an' no I don't like it. Like at all. But when thish shtuff driesh it's prolly better than the besht super glue for holding the arrowhead in plache." Rarity grimaced as he talked with his mouth full, and couldn't bear to watch as he'd tear a few strands away from his mouth, only to put them back in, his cheek rolling around like a cow chewing on its cud.

'The work just keeps piling up Rarity, perhaps I've bitten off more than I can chew... Why did I just think that!?'

"Shpeaking off glue, thish is pine shap," he pulled out a stick with a thick glob of what looked like caramel around it. "this shtuff is even better than the onesh I ushed to ushe back home. Thish kind hash a bit of a shweet shmell to it; funny id'nt it?" he said more to himself. "We can ushe it t' hold the feathersh down flush wit' 'he shaft, an' t' glue the main an' foreshaft t'gether. I have quite a few of thoshe made already, lotsh of time to level up my widdlin' skillsh, heh."

Atchmon pulled out small threads of sinew from his mouth, and carefully wrapped them around the shaft then tied the feathers in place one at a time until all three were secured. He then brought out a spool of thread from Rarity's sewing kit.

"Hope you don't mind; but you have no idea how much easier this stuff makes things."

"Oh... not at all, after everything you've done for me, I'd like to help out in anyway that I can." Rarity finished happily, though feeling a little queasy from watching him work. That was by far her least favorite step of the process.

"I'm just glad I don't have to tear off any more thread from my own clothes," Rarity's heart sank after hearing that, unable to bear the thought of ruining her own clothing just to survive. "but some help would be great. Couldja take this, and stick in the flames for a few seconds, so I don't have to get up?" He handed her the goop covered stick.

"It would be my--gulp--pleasure..." Rarity tried to keep a straight face, imagining what damage such a sticky material could wrought on her mane if it ever got stuck.

She did as he asked; bathing the gunk in the flames, before floating it back to him. He had a huge grin on his face as he plucked it from the air.

'He's really so impressed with such a simple spell, I'm sure any one of Twilight's spells might blow his mind. Doubly so!' Then he gingerly dabbed the glue-sap onto the feathers, carefully setting them in place just so on the length of the shaft.

Rarity looked across at the horizon while he worked, eyeing the few unique landmarks that jutted out over the forest. There were several tall, rocky hills not too far away. A large waterfall in the distance, and nearly directly ahead of them was the tallest tree she had ever seen. It towered above the canopy, with no other tree bothering to challenge its heights.

There were the Matterhorn Mountains to the distant southwest, acting as the border between Equestria, and the Bad Lands. She could barely make out the short peaks of the Macintosh Hills to the south. And to the northwest, Rarity could swear she could see the teeny-tiny mountain spire of Canterlot.

While Rarity took in the scenery, Atchmon put the finishing touches on his arrow, gluing the fore-shaft in place, then wrapping the arrowhead with more sinew.

"There, all finished." He said somberly, twirling the arrow between his digits, giving the fletching one last look over. "Now all we have to do now is wait for it to dry... or decorate it, if we feel like...." He gave her a sad smile, before holding up his new arrow. "Mom would be proud..." He muttered.

"Don't worry Atchmon, I'm sure you'll see her again." She tried to console him, placing a hoof on his thigh. He jumped a little at her contact, before looking at her with a sad smile, and shaking his head.

"No, she passed away a long time ago, before I ended up here." He added after seeing her disheartening look. He petted her shoulder with the back of his palm, she lifted her leg a bit at the contact, before relaxing again. Allowing him to trail his digits down her shoulder a couple of times, before he dragged them all the way to her hoof.

Rarity's heart went out to the poor human, she would be beside herself if anything happened to either her parents. Feeling grateful they were still around, even if they were constantly away from home. She made a mental note to spend a little more time with them.

"How's your leg doin', feeling any better?"

"Wha-? Oh, yes! It feels phenomenally better than yesterday, thank you for asking."

"It's very important to take care of yourself when you're out here." He said distantly. "Don't want to get an infection, or anythin'." he said distantly.

"Atchmon? Would you like to join me for breakfast? I'm starting to feel a little famished." Thinking a meal might improve her melancholy friend's mood.

"You know what? That sounds pretty good, I could use a break. C'mon, I'll even help you get down, didn't think you'd have so much trouble getting up here." He moved to get up, and Rarity shifted to give him some room.

"Well... Alright, thank you for helping me, again, for- with everything." Atchmon didn't say anything, only giving her a half smile as a response.

The pair made their way down the sloping hill with Atchmon leading her.

"Easy, easy, you got this girl." Atchmon encouraged, as he steadied her down the hill, Rarity had shifted her body side ways and was making slow progress with her approach.

"I thought I asked you not to call me gir- AH!" Eventually she lost her 'footing' causing her smooth hooves to slide down the hill farther from her than she would have liked. Forcing her to over correct her balance, nearly falling on her side, which would have caused her to roll violently down the hill.

Luckily Atchmon wasn't too far from her, catching her with his torso, wrapping his arms around her chest and underbelly.

The shock of the short fall made Rarity rear her head suddenly to protect it, and felt something collide against her horn when she did. The pair stood stock still for a few moments, with Rarity feeling Atchmon's firm grip on her.

'Oh my Celestia, did I just-'

"Whew! Ahaha-ha, that could've turned out really bad." Atchmon started calmly; hiding his nervousness, while the tip of Rarity's horn pressed under his jawline. Rarity carefully lifted her head away from him, minding her horn.

"I am so sorry I didn't mean to- I- I just lost my balance, and it all happened so fast I- Oh, dear, are you all right, I didn't hurt you, did I!?" Rarity nearly panicked upon seeing the small nick on his chin, with a single tiny drop of blood leaking out.

"Eh. It's just a scratch. After everything I've been through, I wouldn't put it passed an accident being the thing that gets me, heh. Here, I got you." Atchmon decided it was best to carry her the rest of the way down, Rarity had frozen stiff when he lifted her with ease. Her body locked in place as her instincts compelled her to give up, surrender to the predator, and let him have his meal without a fuss...

Atchmon put her down just before the entrance of the cave. "You go on ahead, I gotta grab somethin' real quick, then I'll join you, m'k?" He told her while pointing his thumb behind him.

"Oh, ah, alright, sorry again for- you know." She tapped her horn with a hoof, and he gave an understanding half smile, before turning away. Rarity worried he was just hiding his real feelings, any other pony would be furious. "Oh, goddesses that was scary." She whispered, placing a hoof over her chest, trying to calm her beating heart, as she watched him disappear around the hill.

---

Atchmon returned shortly, along with the massive contraption in hand, leaving it leaning against the bed. With the stick flap left open there was enough light flooding into the cave for the pair to see what they were doing. Rarity was sitting in front of the small table with a rainbow-colored apple, and various nuts arranged neatly on a plate. Which was really just another bowl, but with an extremely shallow, almost flat concave. It was the closest resembling a plate that she could find in his collection. I wonder if he even knows about other dinnerware, or maybe his people customarily only use bowls.

"Where did you find this? It's not zap apple season yet, is it?" She asked, pointing a hoof at the fruit.

"Zap apple? That's not what I've been calling them," he muttered, "there's a small group of trees about a mile or so out, that's where I get'em."

"But they shouldn't be, it's not time for them to ripen yet, they need very specific conditions to grow. A friend of mine is an apple farmer, she told me all about it, quite passionately I might add."

"Maybe the conditions for growing are better for them out here, I dunno, that's my best guess." he shrugged. "But what I do know is that they grow instantly after a thunderstorm, and they're the most delicious apples I ever did eat!" he exclaimed, while pulling out one of the leather rolls, which covered some of the fresh jerky from yesterday.

The smell of cooked meat wafted inside the small cavern, the heavy smell teased Rarity's senses.

The pair made themselves comfortable for their breakfast together, Rarity decided to stay seated near the table, while Atchmon laid on the bed, with a chunk of the pork jerky. Rarity felt a bit annoyed he messed up the bed, and didn't bother to notice her efforts, but decided to let it slide.

"So tell me. What's a tiny lil' unicorn like you, doin' all the way out here in a dangerous place like this? Step through any weird trees recently?" He asked, tearing off a piece of meat.

Rarity looked at him confusedly, not understanding what he meant by that, before looking above him at the mural.

"You don't seem the type that likes to go campin' for fun."

"Oh no, I despise camping! All this nature," she squeaked. "Just look at what it's done to my mane." She brushed a hoof through her disheveled hair. She could smell herself, and him inside the small cave. Hoping her odor wasn't too offensive. 'At least he smells kind of nice.'

"So how'd you end up here?" he asked; stripping off a piece of meat.

"Well, it all started just a couple days ago..." she told him about the spell, and how it malfunctioned, as well as her other ordeals that day.

"Good thing I showed up when I did, otherwise you'd 've been dog chow. What are the odds..." he finished thoughtfully.

"Indeed." she agreed.

"Must be fate, then."

"I- suppose so."

"Hmmm, whelp, best thing to do when you're lost is to stay put, until others find you."

Rarity mentally kicked herself for abandoning the place she first appeared.

"Hey, none of that now, sounds ta me like you didn't have much of a choice."

"Yes, but still... I was foolish to think I could find my way out, without knowing exactly where I was first."

"Well I'm glad you did. The company here is infinitely better than it used to be." he said, brushing the back of his hand along where her neck met her shoulder. Then giving her a light, playful push to cheer her up.

She smiled at him, thankful for his attempts to make her feel better.

"So! What's it like bein' a unicorn? I'm dyin' to know!" He shifted so he could face her more directly. His curiosity and excitement picking up the longer he waited for her answer.

"Oh! W-well... what would you like to know?" She asked, caught off guard by the sudden, and unusual change in topic.

"I wanna know... everything! Tell me about your world, and where you're from." He gave her a toothy smile. The sight of his sharp teeth, and wild-looking eyes made her very nervous. He must've caught her discomfort for he relaxed his features, but she was more than happy to sate his curiosity.

Rarity talked for an hour about the Unicorn tribe, and about pony culture and class, as well as some of her most notable adventures. Embellishing a bit here or there, and maybe omitting a few embarrassing details entirely.

Atchmon was completely entranced as she spoke, hanging on her every word. Rarity felt a little embarrassed by all the attention he was giving her, asking very few questions, and listening intently to her every word. Good gracious, I'd say he's even more infatuated with discovery than Twilight! Even when she got a full grown Dragon to agree to an interview. If only more stallions would act this interested, but I suppose it's easier for him. After all, he's never seen anything like me before.

"Wow... so you 'ponies' live in towns and cities too? That's so cool!" he said breathily. "And you live in a castle made completely out of crystals in the likeness of a tree!? That sounds freak'n awesome; like somethin' straight out of a fantasy novel!" He beamed in amazement. "An' not just that, but a whole Empire too, Ohh, I wanna see that!" He sighed dreamily, as he flipped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling with a big smile on his face.

Rarity had to lie about the castle when he questioned why a 'princess' decided to lived in a boutique. "You'd think so about the castle, but a lot of others don't share the same opinion." Rarity said, shrugging her shoulders. "But you could see the Crystal Empire if you wanted to. IF you changed your mind about helping me. I'd be more than happy to arrange accommodations for you, upon my safe return."

Atchmon frowned, and was silent for a few moments before answering. "I can't..."

"If you could change your decision about helping me, I'm sure I can find some way compensate you for your assistance." She said gently.

"It's not about any kind of reward Princess, I simply can't help you. Just go outside and look around, everything you see out there is all that I know." he gestured halfheartedly around. "I couldn't get you back even if I wanted to. Not t' mention the fact the monsters get worse the further out you go." He muttered.

I guess my decision is made for me, I'll just have to stay put. My friends can't rescue me if I get myself swallowed whole by some monster.

They stayed inside the cave for the moment, enjoying the coolness it provided against the rising heat from outside, as well as the company they gave to each other. Rarity rubbed her hooves together, trying to think of anything to break the silence. She looked down at them, feeling grateful once again they were back to normal when a thought occurred to her.

"How did you know?" she asked him.

"Believe me princess, I've tried going as far out as I could. You aren't the only one here who's wanted to find a way out." he said, looking at her. "Stupid thinking I could find an end to this forest." he muttered.

"Sorry, that's not what I meant, I mean, how did you know about the cockatrice? How did you know that- you know, how that would have cured me?"

"Ah, hmmm," he thought for a moment, "I don't suppose you'd know anything about Ozzy Osborne do you?"

She shook her head in confusion.

"Mmm, then you're better off not knowin'. Trust me."

She looked at him still confused, and was about to ask the question, before he looked at her, and slowly bit down on the meat jerky, then quickly tore off an especially large chunk with his sharp teeth. Chewing at her for emphasis.

She widened her eyes, her own breakfast suddenly looked quite interesting, making a habit of not looking at him again. But the mental image was there, and she didn't feel like finishing the rest of her meal.

---

Rarity's eyes wandered around the cavern, looking for something else to converse about, before landing on the strange contraption he carried around so fondly.

"Could you tell me about your weapon? It's quite fascinating, I've never seen anything like it." She stared in awe at the complicated system of pulleys in Atchmon's bow, which rested against the post at the foot of the bed. "Did you make that as well, surely not, it's looks awfully complex."

"What? Oh, you mean my bow?"

"That's not like any bow I've ever seen before. It looks so alien, so advanced..." she looked at him cautiously, looking for any reaction. Nothing? Really!? hmmm....

"Nah, there's no way I could make anythin' like that. Maybe I could carve a simple one out of a tree around here, but you can only get somethin' like that back home." He reached over, holding it up for her to see, while pointing out the different parts, and explaining them as he went. "This is a carbon fiber reinforced aluminum alloy bow, with ninety pound cams."

"It can shoot an arrow at around three hundred and eighty feet per second, and it's my most valuable possession. This costs more than all my things put together. Well, maybe not so much now, but back then this was the best bow you could get." He finished, proudly presenting his possession.

"What did you do for a living that allowed you to purchase an item of such value?"

"What? Nah, I didn't buy it. I could never afford somethin' like this, I traded for it." He held it higher, beaming with pride as he gave it a quick look over.

"Traded? What did you trade for it?"

"My prize winning buck."

"Oh, you raised deer? A friend of mine likes to keep a few of those around."

"Raised? I hunted it down, Rarity. It's kinda my thing if you hadn't noticed."

"You mean you traded the--gulp--corpse of an animal you killed f-for that?" She finished pointing a hoof at the bow.

"Yeah, and there's actually a decent story behind it, if you wanna hear it. I'll even leave out the, um, unpleasant details, if you want." Atchmon offered.

"Well... alright." 'I might as well hear it, there's really nothing else to do around here.'

"Okay, so it was nearly the end of hunting season, I'd just tagged me a trophy that was sure to be a winner at the annual competition. This buck was glorious! It had twenty-four points on'em." He held his digits above his head, doing a poor impression of the creature he killed.

"I'm guessing a deer with larger, pointier horns is considered to be more desirable? I can certainly see that, we unicorns can be a little bit jealous of the multi-horned creatures of the world. I'm guilty of that as well. The only comfort comes from the fact that we can do magic, unlike most of the others."

"Yeah, the bigger, the better."

"Wait, would you have taken my horn!?" Rarity held her hooves up to protect it, looking at him with fearful, worrisome eyes.

"Rarity..." Atchmon sighed. "Come on, what's it gonna take for me to show that I'm not a threat to you?" he asked sympathetically.

Rarity gave him a sheepishly apologetic smile, and beckoned him to continue his tale.

"Anyway, this city-boy comes up offering to buy it from me, and I told him no. We got into an argument, and eventually he offered up this bow, and I wanted it. Bad. So I agreed, and he won first prize with my buck. Though later he wanted to trade it back, and I told him no, again. Well he wasn't too happy about that, apparently he wasn't used to not getting what he wants. So he swung at me, and we scuffled around a bit, until you wouldn't believe who showed up to break up the fight!" He paused grinning at her. Rarity hated to admit being enamored by his tale.

"Who was it? Who stopped the fight?"

"The city boy's daddy! So it turns out this kid begged his old man to buy him this bow, which costs thousands, I remind you. So he could give bow hunting a shot. Even though he knew next to nothin' about it, guy was barely in the woods a day, before he called it quits, didn't even bother getting up early, and I only know this because a buddy of mine who works as a park guide was hired by him. Anyway, the kid told him that he promised his daddy if he could win first prize, then he would get a year off from school. But if he came home with nothin', then he'll have to get a job, and the dad can take away his trust fund, which is some sort of monthly allowance for rich kids as far as I know. The guy even offered my friend extra pay to help him find a winning buck. He tried, but didn't get one close to as good as mine."

"Obviously you didn't part with it lightly, what happened next?"

"Not much, the dad broke up the fight, and asked me to explain what was going on, he got really pissed at his kid. Told him to wait in the car, and apologized to me. Even offering to pay for my pain and suffering, but I was a proud idiot, and refused the money, and we've been together ever since!" He finished, hugging his most prized possession. Rarity stifled a giggle at his silliness.

"You must have been very proficient with a bow, from what I've seen anyway."

"Oh, no, actually I wasn't all that great with it, at first. I just got lucky that buck was in the right place, at the right time. No, this," He held it higher. "started off as a hobby, then grew into a necessity..." He trailed off a bit. "I was stupid thinkin' I had everything I needed." He muttered to himself.

---

"So, Atchmon? Why do you keep a... ehh, dragon's skull in your home?" She dreaded to hear his answer. You'd think a trophy like that would merit a mural in his home, but I don't see a story about it anywhere.

"Oh, that? I found that almost a year after I settled here. Pretty cool huh!? Kept it as a good luck charm, and to remind myself of what's waiting out there... how it's no joke... I talk to it sometimes, keeps me sane... Sort of." He tailed off, looking a little ashamed.

"I- see... so does your, um, skull friend have a name?" She asked nervously.

"Mahoney." He said simply. "So it really is a dragon, I thought so too when I found it, and not a few days later I see a ton of 'em flying across the horizon..." He looked at her, then promptly looked away again. "I know how that sounds, you must think I'm crazy."

She placed a hoof on his arm. I shouldn't judge him. I was barely in the forest a day, before I was so desperate for company, I started talking to the first thing that crossed my path. She gave him a smile, letting him know it didn't bother her, and he gave a thankful one back. Both were quickly becoming more in sync with their expressions.

The two friends snacked in silence a few minutes longer, Rarity would look away whenever Atchmon would tear off another piece of jerky with his sharp teeth!

"Sooo... you eat... meat?" Rarity squeaked. Atchmon stopped in mid-chew, looking at her like a foal who got caught with their horn in the cookie jar! He glanced at the slab of cooked meat in his hands then back at her.

"Uhh... Yeah? I-I can finish this outside if it bothers you too much." He offered, though not in a hurry to move from his spot on the bed.

"No, don't bother yourself on my account, it's quite alright, I've just never been so close to a carnivore before." She said while taking a more submissive posture, taking a page from Fluttershy's book, while slightly hiding behind her mane. Thinking it would show she didn't mean anything rude by it.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm actually an omnivore. So I can eat all kinds of things."

Rarity wasn't sure if that did make her feel better, or not. I guess it's a good thing he has such a wide variety of options.

"I should thank you for this though, normally I'd have to sit all day in a tree for hours to get something as good as this!" He exclaimed, holding up the pork jerky. "Your my new good luck charm, hehe! I haven't been this loaded with food in months. Not everyday you get to thank an animal for your food. Hehe- erk!" Rarity looked at him suddenly, with a hurt expression. "N-not that I think you're an animal, because you're totally not, an animal, I mean!" He finished hurriedly, trying and failing to make up for his mistake. "I'm sorry Rarity, this is all - so- weird to me." He said gesturing between the two of them.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little offended, hmph!" Rarity turned away with an angry pout, before looking at him again. "Why is it so weird to you, are there no ponies where you're from?" She asked while pursing her lips, yet curious to hear is answer.

"Well... There are, but!" He exclaimed, after seeing the angry look on her face. "They really are just animals. They don't talk, they don't think, they just eat, shit, and make little horses. That's it. That's all they do, aside from what we can train them for, labor mostly." He finished, visibly shrinking away from her.

Her friend was from a place, and part of a species who enslaves her kind, and doesn't even bother to teach them basic manners. Though he could have been referring to the horses, many scientists and thaumatologists believed we evolved from. We did share so many common traits.

"Please believe me Rares, there's nothin' like you, or me where I'm from." He emphasized.

"So you really were going to enslave me, and make me work your fields." She muttered.

"No! I-I wouldn't do that now! I would never-" He paused looking away from her worriedly, eyes darting back a forth, trying to think of what to say "J-just imagine your kind is the only ones who can talk. How would it make you feel if your cat, or dog, or whatever suddenly started speaking to you?"

"I guess, maybe, I can understand where you're coming from, but do forgive me for feeling a bit uneasy around you." She said, looking miffed. 'I can't believe it. He called me an animal, then compared me to a cat. The nerve!' "And that's another thing. Must you be so profane? You are in the presence of a lady, and I'd very much appreciate it if you would clean up your language around me. Please." She added firmly.

"Yeah, you're right. 'M sorry Rarity. I- bein' out here so long I've sort of lost my filter." He smiled sheepishly, knocking his fist on his head. "I'll try to do better, I wasn't always like that before, honest." He sounded just like Applejack...

She sighed, "Its okay Atchmon. But if you'd like, there's much I can teach you about proper manners and etiquette, if you'd be willing to learn."

"Huh? Oh! Sure, yeah, you bet. There's really not much to do out here. So really anything that can break up the monotony of everyday would be a good change."

Excelent, perhaps when we're rescued, he'll go back to his homeland and teach others as well. 'Rarity the Everfree Revolutionary'! Noo, that sounds too silly.

---

"Hey, I'm gonna check on my traps in the garden real quick, I'll be right back."

"Alright Atchmon, oh, wait. What should I do with my plate when I'm finished with it?"

"Here, give it to me, I'll take care of it."

Rarity levitated the ceramic to him, and he gingerly let it rest in his palms.

"Hah, I don't wanna ever get used to that." He said with a big grin, before leaving.

He returned a few minutes later with a cage made of sticks and twine. Inside was a furry little animal hopping around, trying to squeeze through the gaps in the bars. Rarity took a closer look, the animal had light brown fur, with a white bottom on his fluffy tail, and also had tiny little wings, which fluttered when it'd hop from one end of the cage to the other. And it had tiny antlers on its head.

"Gasp! Monty, is that you!?" The little wolpertinger shifted around to look at her, wiggling his little nose, before rising up on his hind legs, trying to poke it's tiny head through the bars of his cage towards her. Rarity jumped up, ignoring her sore muscles, to welcome her little animal friend.

"It is you; are you okay? Did you get hurt? Were you as frightened by those wolves as I was and- hey!? Wait a minute, you abandoned me! Why you selfish, incompetent, little beast. I thought we were friends, I- wait... What are you doing in that cage?" She looked at Atchmon. "Why is he in a cage!?"

"He got caught in the trap I set in the garden, keeps lil' shi-eh guys like this from eating all my food." He said holding up the container a little higher, getting a look at the critter himself.

"What are you going to do with him?" She asked in concern.

"Well I was planning on eating it later... Why?" He replied nonchalantly.

Rarity's jaw dropped to the floor, "But he's just a poor, innocent, little creature!" Not believing he said he was going to EAT Monty. "Is there anything you don't eat!?"

"Unicorn, but that could change." He muttered between his teeth while looking away.

"What? What did you say?" Rarity asked while narrowing her eyes suspiciously; almost daring him to say that out loud, though she didn't actually hear what he said.

"I said it's just an animal Rarity." he lied.

"He's not an animal, you are; and his name is Monty. Now, I demand that you release him at once," she ordered with a wave of her hoof. "What did he ever do to you?" she frowned at him, looking quite cross.

I could do it, nopony would ever know... Great, she's already got me thinking in her weird pony words.

Atchmon looked at Monty inside the cage. "Guess it's your lucky day little fella." He set the cage down and opened the door. Leaving it on the cave floor, then retook his spot on the bed.

Monty cautiously poked his head out of cage before hopping out, and carefully scouted the area, keeping at least one side of himself against a wall at all times. Before he was comfortable enough to travel to the center of the room, where rarity laid out a few berries for him. Which he happily munched on, while she poured a little water in a spare bowl for him next to his food.

"Thank you Atchmon, I promise you won't regret this."

"Yeah, welp, he's your pet now, so yer the one that's gotta clean up after 'em."

"Don't worry, I've kept pets like this before, you won't even know he's there."

"You're right Rarity, he's gone already, and it looks like he left a few 'thank you' gifts behind, just for you. Hahaha!" He laughed, and slapped his knee.

She looked down finding the 'presents' left by her fuzzy little friend.

"Doooh! Monty!"

---

After cleaning up Monty's mess, Rarity realized she needed to relieve herself as well.

"Atchmon? I-I need to use the- where do you go to- you know? The bathroom?" She whispered, her cheeks blushing in embarrassment.

"Number one, or number two?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"One, or two? Do you need to pee, or... you know, the other thing?"

"Oh, uh, the first one?"

"Go as far out to the tree line as you feel comfortable, and for future reference, if you gotta do the other thing. There's a hole near the garden you can go in, should make for decent fertilizer." He mumbled at the end.

Rarity understood what it takes to grow good crops. But like many others, she wanted to pretend like she didn't know were much of the ponies waste ended up. Much of Ponyville's went to the nearby farms for their fertilizer. Applejack's family was paramount in setting that system of 'waste not, want not'.

She was about to leave to do her business, before the memory of the recent animal attacks in the last few days flooded her mind.

"Atchmon? Are you sure it's safe for me to go out there? Alone?" She lifted a hoof up to her muzzle, looking worried, thinking she would be whisked away by some monster, if she strayed too far from her guardian.

Atchmon laid there thinking for a moment, before answering. "You do draw a lot of trouble... Actually I need to go too. C'mon we can watch each others butts." he paused realizing how that sounded, before quickly trying to correct his mistake. "I mean I wouldn't actually be watching your butt, because that'd just be weird and, uh, ahehehee..." He turned away from her looking embarrassed.

"It's okay Atchmon, I think I understand what it is you're trying to say, and I would feel much safer if you did 'watch my back'." she smiled, and he gave a sheepish one back.

Atchmon had lead Rarity to the farthest side of the meadow, she was having a little trouble going, as he watched her while she walked in little circles, trying to work herself up to do the deed.

"Don't look; you said you wouldn't look!" Rarity called him out.

Atchmon quickly acted like the clouds were quite interesting. "I'm not!"

"I can't go if you're looking at me."

"Fine, I'll go over here then." he said, deciding to lean against a tree to do his own business.

How strange, he doesn't have to squat, or spread his legs, or anything... Nice, real nice, Rarity. You complained so much about him looking at you, and now here you are observing him as he does what every other stallion does. Honestly, we need to rein in our social 'boo-boos' before this gets out of hoof!

The feeling of needing to go suddenly hit her, and she quickly trotted off behind a nearby bush. Atchmon waited patiently for her to finish her business.

"Atchmon..." She whined.

"Not looking, I promise." he replied nonchalantly.

"That's not it, what do you do for toilet paper around here."

"Toilet paper? What's that?" he teased, and she groaned in frustration. "I'm just kiddin', hold on I've got you covered." he pulled off a few leaves from the tree above him. Then without thinking, handed them over to the squatting mare as she looked up to him.

"You promised you wouldn't look!"

"Relax, we're the only ones out here."

"True, but I'd still like a little privacy. You at least know what that is don't you!?"

"Sheesh, say no more princess." he left her to finish her business alone, but not too far, just in case another animal got any bright ideas about disturbing her.

---

The pair returned shortly, Atchmon reclaiming his spot on the bed again, with Rarity standing near the foot of it. She stared at the empty spot for a moment, before looking at Atchmon who was watching her with a bemused expression. He moved his legs, allowing her more room to lay comfortably with him.

"You wiped your feet off didn't you?" he teased. Though she immediately stopped to check them over, before looking at his amused face, and shooting him a look, which just made him laugh.

She hopped up on the bed, turned around and laid with her fore hooves dangling slightly off the bed.

Rarity shuffled through her saddlebags, and pulled out her mirror. Her mane looked a little ragged, but nothing so bad a good brushing wouldn't fix. Her makeup was gone, revealing every flaw on her plain white face that it used to hide. Without her baby-blue eyeliner, she looked tired despite all the sleep she caught up on last night. Atchmon was one of the lucky few to see her 'Au Natural'. Rarity put down the mirror, and brushed herself without it. Not that she ever needed it, her movements automatic from the countless times she'd brushed herself before.

"Hey? Can I borrow that for a minute?" Atchmon asked, pointing at the mirror.

"Sure?" She levitated it over to him, and he gingerly accepted it with both hands, afraid of what might happen if he disturbed the aura surrounding it.

Atchmon took a breath, then slowly held up the mirror up to his face, and froze. He slowly brought his hand to his face, and poked and pulled at his skin.

"I look... old... older..." He muttered somberly, before sighing and letting the mirror hang limply in his grip.

"Atchmon? Darling, are you alright?" she asked in concern. I thought only I could look that distraught on a bad mane day.

"I don't know." He muttered. Rarity's mind raced to find away to cheer him up.

"If it's any consolation, you don't look old to me. What is your age, if I might ask?" She tried to give in a comforting smile, but he never looked at her.

Atchmon didn't answer for a few moments, before shaking his head, just realizing she had asked him a question. He looked towards the ceiling, keeping his eyes there while he spoke.

"I was twent- no I had a birthday coming up soon, so I'm twenty-seven now, and by the time this winter hits I'll be... twenty-eight years old..." He deflated upon hearing his own words, the color and any remaining joy drained out of him.

'Dear Luna... I thought only Pinkie Pie could pull off something like that, the poor dear looks so devastated!'

"Well that's good, we're almost the same age. H-how many years do humans live for?" she asked giving him a strained smile in order to cheer him up.

He thought for a moment before answering. "Usually about eighty if we're lucky, a hundred if we're really lucky." he sighed, "God help me if I live that long in this- effing place." he muttered.

That was impressive to Rarity. Unicorns lived an average of seventy, with Pegasi and Earth Ponies barely making it passed their fifties or sixties. It was always assumed that the more 'athletically inclined' pony tribes were shorter lived because of the physical toll their livelihoods strained their bodies. Whereas with Unicorns, they were more susceptible to diseases of the heart or brain because of their lack of physicality and excessive reliance on magic.

'Such long lived creatures... Think, Rarity, think! What would make you feel better in this situation?'

"Would you like a makeover? I'm sure I can work my magic and make you fabulous, darling! Won't that be fun?"

"Feh." Atchmon barely managed a chuckle, instead giving her a sad smile, and shaking his head.

That almost got a laugh out of him, I should've known stallions don't care for 'fru-fru' stuff. Let's see, what do stallions care about...? I've got it!

"I don't know about you but I getting tired of being cooped up in this dreadful cave, so, is there anything to do that's fun around here? Do you have any games we could play?" she asked while batting her eyelashes, trying to work her charm that she was infamous for.

Atchmon blinked a few times before answering. "Well... there is one game I've really missed playing, what all can you do with that magic of yours?" His mood starting to pick up.

Rarity slowly smiled in curiosity for what he had in mind.

---

"Alright! We got a ghost runner on first and third, you ready for the pitch?" Atchmon called out to her, holding the roundest rock he'd ever found during his time there.

"I was born ready, bring it on!" She exclaimed, lifting a fairly large stick that had been carved and sanded into the closest likeness of a baseball bat.

Atchmon had explained some of the rules about the sport, and adjusted them accordingly to fit her needs, and because of her handicap. They agreed that anytime either of them got a hit, it would count as a base, while the rest of the rules remained mostly unchanged. Balls were still called as such, as were strikes, and fouls. Rarity's 'home' plate was a large, flat rock Atchmon pulled from the fire pit. Which acted as one of the boundary's, while the garden acted as the other.

Rarity was never all that into sports, nor the 'garden party games' played among Canterlot's elites, but this game felt like it was tailored just for her. Its slow yet fast pacing, and turn-based styling, allowed her to enjoy every minute of it.

Thwack! And she oh, so loved the satisfying 'crack' of the bat.

"Nice hit." Atchmon complimented while watching the 'ball' fly towards the treeline.

Atchmon tried underhand pitching at first, before switching to a high arching overhand pitch. Allowing him to throw the 'baseball' exactly where he wanted it to go, while also being easy enough for Rarity to hit. Monty was being a good little helper, chasing after the rock, and scooping it up in his antlers, then bringing it back to whomever was pitching. Rarity made the suggestion to give him some food whenever he did, and the little critter was more than happy to offer his assistance. Atchmon took it in stride, never questioning the tiny critters motives, having seen similar intellect in other creatures.

"Oh, ho, ho, this is so much fun! I think I'm getting the hang of it."

"Hey, I gotta take a quick water break; I'll be right back."

"Alright Atchmon, I'll be right here, bring me some too, please." 'What a wonderful little game. Simple, yet so much fun!'

The two laughed and played, switching positions occasionally, though never keeping score, until the heat of the sun forced them to take a break. Atchmon suggested they spend the rest of the afternoon near the falls, saying they could cool off there and get clean while they're at it. Rarity agreed of course, wanting to wash the sweat from her coat.

---

Rarity was less afraid of the water this time as she happily trotted through the shallow pool, unhindered, aside from her leg, and confident she wasn't going to drown. Even if she was in any trouble, Atchmon was never too far away. Rarity magicked up globs of water, pelting him with them like magical water balloons. While he'd splash water on her using his hands.

After they had their fill of fun, the pair bathed under the falls, Rarity would occasionally catch Atchmon staring at her, which he'd promptly turn away, showing his back to her.

"Atchmon? What does your cutie mark mean?"

He looked at her with wide eyes "I'm sorry, my whut?"

"Your cutie mark, you know?" She asked pointing a hoof at her flank. "The one on your back, I wouldn't be surprised if you forgot about it. How can you ever see it when it's back there."

"You mean my tattoo? I got that after my eighteenth birthday. It was a present to myself after... well it was a present."

"Tatoo?" She blinked in thought. "Oh, I've heard of those, I've even thought about getting one. Some look really pretty."

"Really? You guys got a magic needle that changes your fur different colors, or something?" he asked, suspiciously.

"Wha? What are you talking about? A needle? There's not anything like that involved that I'm aware of. Don't you just dye your skin to look like that?" she pointed a hoof at his back.

"Uh, hehe, no Rares. To get one like this you... Have you ever had a shot before?" he gestured, pretending to push the plunger down on an imaginary shot into his arm.

She nodded her head, starting to realize where he was going with this.

"Well imagine that, but a thousand times over, really, really fast. With ink being jabbed directly into your skin."

"Doesn't that hurt?" she asked, horrified by the brutish process.

"Not really, after awhile you get used to it."

It wasn't too surprising to hear about, there were several races throughout Equestria that didn't have marks of their own. Hide dying was becoming more popular, lots of ponies liked having intricate symbols, and works of art painted into their fur. It was just a shame it wasn't permanent. Unlike 'branding' which was practiced among the Minotaurs, and Cattle races. Usually only those that belonged to a large clan received a brand, however, it was considered a poor emulation of the Pony race's naturally occurring custom. The Griffins and some of the younger ponies were picking it up as well, despite knowing that it actually was permanent.

"What's a- what'd you say? Cutie mark? What's that?"

Rarity explained what it was, what it meant, and how ponies go about acquiring their marks.

"Bullshit."

"Atchmon, language!" Rarity chastised him.

"Sorry, I mean, I don't believe it. You mean to tell me this thing" he pointed at her flank. "just appears outta nowhere, just like that?"

"You're always so impressed by my magic, how is this any different." She levitated another glob of water, before letting it splash on his face when he looked up to it.

Atchmon spurted out a stream of water from his mouth towards her, looking unamused. "Well... you got a point there. Magic is, as magic does, I suppose." he said.

---

Rarity waited a few minutes to see if he would say anything else about his tattoo. When it seemed like that was it, she left the falls and dried herself off. That's alright, not every pony is proud of their marks.

"Atchmon? Is it alright if we head back now? All this fun has made me hungry again." Rarity asked, while wringing out the last bit moisture from her mane with her magic.

"Yeah, sure let's- err-wait, there's something I need to check on first, since we're all the way out here, is that okay with you? I promise it won't take long." he pleaded.

"Well... alright, if it's not going to take very long; just lead the way." Rarity said standing straight as a soldier.

The pair walked a few minutes without saying much, Rarity was beside herself trying to think of what to say to break the uncomfortable silence. Atchmon would look back occasionally to see how she was doing, both smiled shyly whenever they made eye contact.

"Hold up." Atchmon said sticking out his arm, blocking her. "You see this here?" He pointed to the tree next to him, with one of the arrow carvings she found on her first night.

"Oh, yes. If it wasn't for those I might not be here now." Rarity nodded her head at the familiar carving.

"Really? Well you're lucky you didn't end up in one, I make them pretty strong for the bigger stuff out here. Don't want a jackrabbit mess'n up all my hard work, you know?" He grinned at Monty. "Anyway, if you see one of these you're at least thirty feet from the trap itself."

"And you mark the trees near a trap with a circle, correct?" Rarity answering proudly, knowing she was right. He smiled looking pleased at her answer.

"Yup, that's right. I have pits like the one last night spread all around the area, they're more for protection than actually catching food. If I'm out here, and there's a monster I don't think I can handle. I just lead it to a trap, and the rest takes care of itself." He grinned, looking proud of his cleverness.

Rarity knew the Everfree was a brutal place. The law of the jungle is eat or be eaten, but to meet somepony who lives out here following that law to the letter, and be happy about it... Then again if it wasn't for him, and his ways, she would be dead several times over right now.

That does it, I need him to protect me until my friends rescue us. Only temporarily of course, I'm not going to be some layabout while he does all the work. Though I'm still not sure what I can offer him, whatever it may be. Perhaps I can find someway to improve that drab cave of his.

The pair continued walking, soon enough Atchmon pointed out a tree with the circle emblem carved upon it. Then pointed at the ground where the trap actually was. Rarity was amazed at how well hidden it was, it took Atchmon lifting the hatch of limbs and leaves for her to finally see it.

Another minute quickly passed by, Atchmon stopped with a heavy sigh. Rarity looked around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary within the thick woods, until she followed his gaze. She looked over to a pair of trees whose enormous trunks formed a near perfect circle, if not for the ground. Their trunks met in the middle then corkscrewed strait up! The two trees were so tall they easily pierced through the canopy with another three hundred yards to spare 'That's the tree I'd seen from atop the cave. No, not just 'a' tree, but two trees!'

"What is this?" Rarity breathed in amazement of the strange natural growth.

"It's the way back home." he said somberly. Rarity was confused, and carefully thought his words over, until an image of the portal to the Breezies home came to her mind. "At least you're on the same world you came from..."

"It's a portal, isn't it? You really didn't come from someplace in Equestria, you came from a whole other world, didn't you?" she breathed in awe, looking back at him.

"You know what this is!? Can you open it!?" Atchmon whirled on her, kneeling down and grabbing her by the shoulders. He looked in her eyes as his own grew hopeful. His outburst had scared her, and his firm grasp even more so.

"I- I'm sorry, but I have never seen, nor heard of a portal like this before. I've only seen one that occurs naturally, but i-it's nothing like this," she said waving a hoof towards the tree. "Opening one takes a tremendous amount of magic, and... I'm sorry, but I don't have that kind of power." Rarity felt horrible after seeing the disheartening look on his face. He released her from his grip, and kneeled down looking utterly defeated.

"But I do know a pony who can help!" she said quickly, trying to make him feel better. It worked, he looked at her again, filling with hope as he hung on her every word. "My best friend, Twilight Sparkle, is the best there is when it comes to magic. I bet she can tell you everything there is to know about your portal problem. Not only that, I bet she can even find a way to open it for you too. Best of all, she and all my friends are looking for me, and once they rescue me, they can see about helping you too! Wouldn't that be nice?" Rarity finished excitedly to lift her friend's spirits.

"You really think she'd do that for me?" he asked, his smile growing wider by the second.

"Of course. Any friend of mine, is a friend of Twilight's, and Twilight helps all her friends." She finished with a big smile, which made him smile too.

Atchmon was beaming with restored hope. He sniffed; covering a hand over his mouth as his eyes started to shimmer with tears while he gazed back at the archway.

"Atchmon? Are you alright, I didn't mean to upset you I-"

"No! No, I'm not upset, I'm happy. Which is a big deal for me, I haven't felt like this in... I don't even know how long." He breathed, shaking his head. "This is it, this is finally it." he whispered, rising up and nodding his head towards the tree portal with determination in his eyes.

Atchmon looked down at her, and smiled a truly happy smile for a moment, before frowning with a worried look on his face. Looking once more to the portal for a moment then back to her. Rarity watched him, unsure of what to make of the exchange, or his sudden change in mood. He gave her a sad smile as he looked down at her.

"C'mon, let's head back, I bet yer as hungry as I am."

'grrrurgle!'

'grrrurgle!'

At that moment both their tummies let out a loud growl of confirmation.

Rarity and Atchmon both looked at each other with wide eyes, simultaneously looking at their stomachs, before looking back at each other again. They started to chuckle before it turned into a full belly laugh. Each hearing the other's amusement made the other laugh even harder.

"Mmmhmm ehhaha Ahahahaha...!" Rarity tried to stifle her giggles with a hoof, as she nickered.

"Pffftehehaha AhAHha haHAHAHA...!" Atchmon made no attempt to hide his, grasping his sides as they started to split.

---

The pair had returned to their home and were sitting near the fire pit, letting the heat from the flames further dry themselves off, and allowing the smoke to do it's work driving off the pestilent insects. Atchmon was roasting some potatoes and onions on a shish kebab for himself over the fire, and Rarity had cucumbers with carrots on hers.

Rarity had decided to watch Atchmon pick the ripe vegetables from his garden, not too eager to get her hooves dirty just yet. Applejack would have been impressed by the compact, yet productive little garden. Where he grew a medley of different fruits and vegetables. There were potatoes, onions, carrots, corn, watermelons, strawberries, pumpkins, and some bean plants. Nothing grew particularly large, as Atchmon had explained, but at least it grew fast. Which he stated he favored that, over having an unnecessarily huge meal.

He believed the soil must've been especially fertile, and considered himself lucky everything grew so easily. He explained that he was no farmer despite growing up surrounded by farmland.

"I pretty much just plant'em, feed'em, and water'em, and they do the rest." He said, when she asked how difficult it was to keep.

Rarity was busy thinking over everything she had learned about Atchmon that day, while she rotated her dinner with her magic. Almost burning her food just enough to give it that interesting 'grilled' flavor she used to enjoy her father making for the Summer Sun celebration. She watched Atchmon enjoying more of his jerky, who was sitting cross legged on the grass, looking as though all was right with the world, while she sat next to him.

"How do you do it Atchmon, live out here for so long with nopony to talk to? I couldn't even make it a day on my own." she asked pensively.

"What's up with you all of a sudden?" He said, surprised by her melancholy tone.

"...I don't know, I suppose I'm just curious about you."

"hmph... I just got used to it I guess. Helped I was kind of a loner even back home. Used to think it was a 'mark of pride' not to have others around, to do everything by yer'self, without no one else's help. Looking back on it now though... god I was stupid." He whispered.

"Atchmon?" She asked, getting his attention. "I just- I want you to know how terrible I feel for what I said to you yesterday." She leaned over towards him, wishing she had sat closer next to him.

"Well, I'd say you're only human, but I guess that wouldn't really apply to you, huh? Heh." He lightly shook his head, blowing on a small potato before taking a careful bite.

"I may be just a pony, but that doesn't excuse my behavior." She understood what he meant, and could appreciate his humor, strange as it was.

"You weren't that bad, you had every right to be angry." Atchmon said as he watched her with a calm expression.

"You don't understand, I wasn't just angry, and unpleasant. No, I was being downright mmm-mean and nasty!" she spat the words out, almost too painful for her to admit, but it was true, and still felt she needed to make up for it.

"A pony should never be like that, much less an Element bearer, or a Princess." She added, taking a moment to gauge his reaction, and seeing his ears staying plastered against his head. 'Does nothing ever bother him?' She cleared her throat and continued. "In fact, of all the worst things a pony could say, that was by far the worst possible thing a pony could ever say to anypony!" Rarity dismayed as she flourished her words, while dramatically holding a hoof up to her forehead, as if she were about to faint.

"Whoa, hey, easy." Atchmon tried to calm the drama queen, placing a hand on her withers. "Don't worry about that, it's okay, I mean sure words hurt, but it's not like they're a- a weapon of mass destruction, or anything. So, you know, water under the bridge, and all that." He gave her a reassuring half-smile, before returning his attention to cooking the kebab in his other hand.

"I should've been more understanding of your situation. Exile is the worst punishment a pony could ever face and-"

Atchmon looked at her curiously. "And... what?" he asked, wondering what made her stop so suddenly.

Rarity looked at him warily. "You weren't punished by being sent here, weren't you? A-are you a dangerous criminal, o-or something!?" she pointed her kebab at him accusingly, quickly shifting away from him.

Atchmon face dropped after hearing such an accusation. "Are you kiddin' me!? No! I've never done a bad thing in my life!"

"How can I be sure, huh!? How do I know you really are telling me the truth! That you are, what you say you are?" Rarity questioned never lowering her kebab defense or her suspicions.

"Well what about you!? How do I know you aren't going to kill me while I sleep, hell, maybe I'm just going crazy again. For all I know, you're just another figment of my imagination." Atchmon waved an arm as if to wipe the unicorn apparition away.

"What!? T-that's ridiculous!"

"Yeah!? Well... now you know how I feel," he finished with an annoyed huff, and turned away from her while shaking his head; unable to believe the things he was hearing.

After a few moments Rarity sat back down, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry." she said simply. "I'm just... scared, I've been in a few situations like this before, but it doesn't make it any easier. You scare me sometimes Atchmon. When you had me tied up... I was so afraid."

Atchmons only response was to take an angry bite out of a hot potato from his kebab. Then immediately regretted it as he worked to cool it off within his mouth, before giving up and spitting out the steaming vegetable. Then took a quick swig of water to cool his burning tongue.

Rarity tried her best not to laugh. After what she said it wouldn't be right to make fun of him.

"I get it, alright, I'm sorry I tied you up; but I did it because you scare me sometimes too," he shot an angry look at her, before looking away at the fire again.

Rarity shook her head in disbelief, and looked away in shock after hearing that. 'I scare him, what- why- b-but he's so big! Why would he be afraid of me? What does he have to fear? After taking on all those dangerous animals, you would think he wasn't afraid of anything. she thought, and told him as much.

"I know I'm big and scary, even by human standards..." he sighed. "Hell, even my own family was afraid of me when I grew up... so was everyone else. I guess everyone fears what they don't understand, huh?" he asked with a ghost of a smile, before it disappeared.

Rarity thought his words over, and decided to give him a chance to explain himself. "So, how did you end up here? I mean, I know how portals work, but how did you end up through that one?" she asked, pointing a hoof in the direction of the Arc Tree.

"It's not a very exciting story; nothin' like yours." he said somberly, then blew on an onion to cool it off.

"I'd still like to hear it, if you want to tell me, that is. I did tell you mine after all..."

Atchmon was silent a while before answering. "I was goin' through some stuff, and I just wanted to get away for a little while. So I packed up enough supplies to camp out for a few days. I figured I'd rough it in the woods, like I always did when things got tough. Helps to clear my head, you know? I dunno why, but I decided to take a whole new route that lead into the 'restricted' zone of the wilderness. I think I just wanted to be sure no one was going to find me, I didn't even bother telling anyone I was going. I thought- I thought that no one would've cared if I was gone, there wasn't really anyone left who would've anyway...

"There was a few myths, and local legends about the place. People would disappear, most would be found dead, all chewed up in 'mysterious' animal attacks. Heh. No one would've ever guessed the animals were coming from a completely different world," he gestured around at the forest.

"The first day was pretty uneventful, so was the second, until I saw one of these little guys," he offered Monty the potato that burned him, which had finally cooled. After a quick bite Monty rejected it by tossing it away, before raising up towards Rarity's floating kebab of carrots and cucumbers. "The one I saw didn't have any wings. Jackrabbits is what we called 'em. Just like Unicorns they're supposed to be a myth."

Rarity looked at him when he said that. 'Unicorns, just a myth? I've never even heard of his kind before. So what would that make him? Wait, what was that one Unicorn's name that was always going on about 'Hummons', I think is what she'd call them... Oh, Goddesses, if she ever found out she was right all along-'

"Imagine my surprise when I saw one. I didn't want to kill it, I figured capturing it alive would fetch me a pretty big reward, maybe even make me famous. I already had plans to breed it with other rabbits that belonged to this one farmer I knew," Atchmon looked the unicorn over, while she was busy playing keep away with Monty.

"Hmph," he laughed, looking amused at the tiny creature's attempts to steal food. Until he fluttered up with his wings, and bit off a carrot from Rarity's stick.

"Monty! Is it too much for you to say please?" Rarity chastised the little critter. "Sorry Atchmon, please continue," she smiled apologetically at him.

"I tracked that rabbit for hours, until it lead me to the portal. I'll never forget what it looked like, or how I felt when I saw it. I knew right away what it was, but... I didn't want to believe it. It was like... trying to look through a mirror. Inside the portal you just saw more forest, but... it was all... different. Sorry I don't know how else to describe it. And when I stepped through... god I never felt so scared, and excited, and terrified all at once! I swear I felt like I was this tall," he brought his thumb and index finger close together to show her when she giggled. Though she was enamored by his recounting of his first few steps into Equestria.

"On the other side all the trees all looked about the same, so it didn't stand out like the one here does." he said as he nodded up towards where the portal-tree was. Even down on the ground you could easily see it above the canopy. "Every tree in the area was just as big as it. I remember one of the Elders talking about the area. That the forest around was full of magic... I never would have thought he actually meant that literally." he chuckled.

"I saw so many amazing things just in those first few hours after stepping through. You wanna know what the first animal I found was?" he asked, and she looked at him curiously. "A Turducken. It had the body of a turkey, with the head of a chicken, a duck, and of course a turkey. It had webbed feet, and it even quacked at me, HAHAhahehehe!" he laughed while laying on his back, and looking up at the first few stars that were appearing in the evening sky. He was silent a few moments before his voice turned somber.

"And then this happened a few days later..." he said dragging his hand across his chest, over his scar. "I just knew I was going to die, even if I did make it through the portal, I was days away from home. No one would ever find me in time... and when I did make it back, it was gone... I camped out around that tree for weeks, until I got brave enough to wander further out. Found this place, and I've been stuck here waiting for it to open again ever since..." he cleared his throat and rose up again.

"So long story short, I jus'- freakin'- walked into Equestria. Isn't that what you called this world?" he asked, though never looking at her. Only staring into the flames.

"Yes... so you ended up here by accident too, just like me... I'm so sorry for accusing you of being evil." she said somberly with her ears drooping in shame.

"It's okay, it's not the first time I've been accused of bein' a criminal. People've always told me I've got the look of one, so I can't really blame you. Especially considering how darn tiny you are, shoot, I've had dogs bigger 'n you!" he grinned at her showing a bit of his teeth, and making her heart race. His little jab at her small stature made her smile too.

'I guess I deserve to be made fun of; that's good he's making jokes, it must mean he truly forgives me... He's not evil... he's not evil. He's just- different, and that's all there is to it.' she thought over and over, trying to beat down the tiny bit of fear she still felt just from being near him.

---

"Could you tell me more about your people, we sort of got off track, when I told you my 'origin' story. heh." he chuckled lightly.

"Sorry about that, what was I talking about again?" she asked thoughtfully, while trying to remember for herself.

"Something about exile, then you accused me of being a criminal."

Rarity mentally kicked herself upon hearing the word, Atchmon noticed this and gave her a playful shove against her shoulder, which cheered her up a little.

"We have our fair share of bad ponies in the world, but exile is for the worst, of the worst. There are programs in place to rehabilitate those who have... 'strayed' from our way of life. There hasn't been a formal exile in centuries, thanks to Princess Celestia's rule."

"Hmm wow, I wish our own leaders back home could make such a lasting impact. She must've been really something."

"Oh she is." Rarity stated factly.

Atchmon stared at the fire for a moment, before blinking. "....Wait, what? You mean she's still alive!? How long do you unicorns live for?" he asked, while looking at her confused.

"Oh, she's not a unicorn, she's an alicorn, and she's lived for at least a thousand years."

"That's- impossible nothing can live for that long! An' what's a all-e-corn anyway, exactly?"

"Alicorn, and she like a unicorn, in that she has a horn like mine," she said as she tapped her head. "but it's much more grand, and she has the most beautiful wings, which are the envy of every Pegasus." she said dreamily, remembering the time Twilight gave her those beautiful gossamer wings.

"Did you say Pegasus? As in a horse with wings, pegasus?" he asked unbelieving, and mouth agape.

"Pony, darling, and yes of course." Rarity answered; her heart trembled in excitement at teaching him about her world.

"Wow, so is this Cell-es-tia, your sister?"

"Oh mmhmmph, no darling." she giggled at the idea. I wish...

"Wait, if she's a princess, and you're a princess... Oh, she must rule a different kingdom, right?"

"Oh no, she and her sister, Princess Luna, are the true rulers of Equestria. 'Princess' is really more of a title for those in the highest position of government."

"Any other 'princesses' I should know about?"

"Well there's Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor, who rule over the Crystal Empire. Sorry I never got a chance to tell you about them. And there's Princess Twilight who's the Princess of Friendship."

"Princess of Friendship? Sounds made up to me. Wait, that's not the same Twilight you told me about that can help me is it?"

"They are one in the same, and you wouldn't be the first to think that about her title. Regardless, Princess Celestia personally tutored her, trained her, and groomed her to become the ruler she is today. None are more deserving of the title than she is, and I'd argue against anypony who would say otherwise. And they are all alicorns as well, with the exception of Prince Shining Armor."

"You ponies have some weird names. So what about you? Are you princess of anything, why don't you have any wings?" he asked, taking another bite of jerky.

Rarity's mind raced to think of something. Anything! 'Why do I keep lying to him! It's not like he's some noble prince I'm trying to trick into bedding with me, not that I would ever stoop so low. "Oh-h, no I'm just a regular princess, I don't really have any special titles, ahehe. 'Nice Rarity, that totally didn't sound suspicious at all.' "Though if I had to choose one, it'd have be the 'Princess of Fashion'!" he laughed at that. "And as for why I don't have wings... a-alicorns are very, very rare you see, and... Well, now that I think about it, I know next to nothing about them other than that. Princess Cadence's baby, Flurry Heart, is the first naturally born alicorn in at least a millennium..."

"Huh... any other types of ponies beside Pegasus's, Alicorns, and Unicorns?"

"Pegasi, and there are also Earth ponies who don't have wings or a horn." she informed.

"Good to know there are some 'not' special horses- sorry, ponies out there."

"Oh, but they are special, in their own way." Rarity added. "They're physically much stronger than the others, and are much more attuned to the earth, so they mostly become farmers, but many are great artists. We Unicorns like to pride ourselves on being the ones who sophisticated the world, but in the last century the Earth ponies have pulled ahead, and now the vast majority of famous artists, designers, and inventors are all Earth ponies."

"You sound like you're in love with one, from the way you talk." he teased with a sly grin.

"W-what? N-no I'm not!" Rarity stammered defensively, while shaking her head and hooves.

"Keep tellin' yourself that." he said, smiling at the flustered pony.

"B-besides they lack any tack when it comes to politics. Though they can be shrewd business ponies, which is why most unicorns make their career in government, or constant study to advance our knowledge of magic, and other thaumatalogical studies. At first the nobility used to comprise exclusively of Unicorns, and very few Pegasi. Now nearly half are all Earth ponies! Though that's mostly due to the change in times, as more houses are starting to accept intermarriage between the races. However the oldest houses, like the Bluebloods and Pants houses, are sticking quite closely to old traditions." She felt giddy teaching him about her world, of all the wonderful things she could show him. It was only fair after everything he had done for her. She owed him her life, and he brushes it off like it's no big deal.

"And Alicorns? How special are they?"

"They have all the strengths of all the pony races, and they are magnificent." she breathed dreamily at the end.

"I guess bein' a pretty pony is a big deal to you, huh?" he teased.

"Oh, yes, without grace and beauty a Unicorn simply isn't a Unicorn."

"I would think the horn makes the Unicorn. On my world we just have regular ol' horses."

Rarity leaned in to more precisely place her kebab near the fire, while Atchmon leaned over towards her to do the same. Their shoulders connected in the middle, and they both looked at each other, and spoke at the same time.

"Sorry." he said.

"Sorry." she said.

"You first." she said.

"You first." he said.

"That's alright you- Hehe." he chuckled softly.

"That's alright you- Hehe." she chuckled softly.

Atchmons eyes trailed over Rarity's unique 'alien' features. From her short round muzzle, to the fine white hair covering her face. From her big beautiful blue eyes, to her lush eyelashes. Which there was no way those could be fake. He eyed her pretty purple mane, which looked very well kept, despite looking a little ragged, and seeing it was long enough to reach the ground. His eyes trailed over her mane's curvature and down to her scalp, and noticed how much it grew out like a mohawk.

His eyes wandered over her features again, this time taking it all in at once, before his gaze was directed upwards towards the spire atop her head. He unconsciously leaned in closer to examine the spiral fluting around her horn, the milky-white ivory shining like Mother of Pearl. Though, it was beginning to dull in small splotches all over; probably thanks to her recent hardships.

"You're staring at my horn dear... That's not very polite," Rarity informed him bashfully.

A unicorn's horn was a large part of what made them beautiful. The longer and pointier it was, the more attractive it was considered. Rarity was fortunate and blessed enough to be considered 'well endowed', despite her pedigree. She'd always been a little jealous of Twilight after her Alicorn transformation; and made every effort not to blatantly ask to 'compare size' with her like some immature schoolfilly who wanted to know for sure who has the best. Rarity was sure it was herself, of course.

"My eyes are down here, darling." she might've been offended if he were any other stallion staring at her 'assets' like that. Instead she smiled at his innocent fascination.

"Oh. Sorry, heh, I was just thinkin' you're goin' to accidentally poke me with it again," he grimaced realizing his mistake just before remembering her reaction to his tiny cut. Which could've been a sensitive subject to her, Rarity's concerned response had confirmed his thoughts.

"What!? Oh no, I would never purposefully do that. That's why it's so important for a unicorn to keep their head held high. We wouldn't want to accidentally gore one of our friends." Atchmon gave a strange look for a moment, before giving a gentle smile.

"Ouch, yeah I'd bet that'd hurt." He said, trailing a finger over the newest scratch on his face.

"Mmm indeed, but accidents do happen. Usually through no fault of our own." She gave him an apologetic smile.

"The other ponies think we unicorns are all snobbish, stuck up, inbreds, but really most of us unicorns are just trying to be polite by not injuring everypony around us, or ourselves for that matter."

"So, and I've noticed you do this a lot, when you have your head like this," he lifted his up slightly, almost failing to keep an eye on her, because of her tiny size. "you're just showing that you're being friendly, and not aggressive?"

"Ah, yes? I suppose I am, though it's more to be polite, and considerate of those around you. A fight would be unbecoming of a unicorn. Though if I wanted to initiate a challenge, I'd point my horn directly at you and scuff my hoof on the ground. As you've seen already."

"Mmm, can I touch it?" he asked reaching above her head while she was distracted with her food. "Wonder what it's like to do magic." he said thoughtfully as he reached up, with his hand just going past her eyesight above her head.

"Ah, ah, ah! Ehh, hehe. Sorry darling, but you really shouldn't touch a unicorn's horn when she's casting dear." she gently pushed his arm away. "Not to mention it's incredibly rude to touch a unicorn's horn without their permission." she stated firmly.

"Oh, cause it'll mess up the spell? What'll it do, blow up or somethin'?" He asked excitedly.

"Aaaeeehehe, it's actually a very private place to touch a unicorn. It's gets very sensitive, you see..."

"Hmmm, I guess that makes sense." he said simply, and leaving it at that.

"So why would others think you're inbred, from what you've told me about unicorn society, I'd pretty much expect the exact opposite from the wealthy and powerful."

"Pedigree is very important in unicorn society." she started, grateful for the change in subject. "In the not-so-recent past, many of those in the nobility sought to keep as much purity in their ancient bloodlines as possible. Which meant breeding with those of another noble family, or all too often mares ended up married their fathers, or any brothers that were born, if they were born..." she added.

"Euh," Atchmon said with a disgusted face. "What do you mean by 'if' they were born?" he asked curiously.

"Females are born more often than males. About four out of five births will usually be female, and that goes for all pony races, except for alicorns of course, but at the rate they're going we're overdue for a male alicorn! mhmph!" she laughed at her own joke, which made Atchmon smile too.

"Twilight has had to face such scrutiny too, she was born into a fairly well off family. Whenever she was assigned to do a genealogy report for the Princesses, she found evidence that she could actually be a descendant of the most famous, and most powerful unicorn in pony history!"

"Wow, sounds awesome. Who was it? Not that I would know who you're talking about, but still."

"Starswirl the Bearded, who also just so happens to be Twilight's idol, and I think she may have a little bit of a crush."

"Heh." Atchmon only chuckled as a response.

"You should have seen her when she told me about it. She was so excited and yelling, and she like" Rarity stood up and tried to bounce around like her friend, but because her leg was still sore, she could only manage to hop on her front hooves shouting 'OmygoshOmygoshOmygosh' and 'YesYesYesYes' doing a perfect impression of her friend. Which only made Atchmon laugh harder at her silliness.

"Anyhow back to talking about genes, do you see this?" she asked as she sat back down, this time much closer to him, and held up her hoof daintily in front of him.

"See what?" he asked, leaning in closer to inspect her hoof.

"The bit of groove I have on the tip of my hoof."

Atchmon gently grabbed her hoof without thinking, she tensed and almost pulled away, but stopped as she felt him trail the short, pudgy, blunt digit over her hoof.

"Oh yeah, I see it now, it's really noticeable when you feel it." It gave Rarity a short time to look at his own amazingly versatile appendages, before he let go of her.

"I'm very fortunate to have them. It's rumored that Princess Celestia's, and Luna's hooves are completely cloven, but they always hide them with their regalia, which they're rarely ever seen without, all because some uncouth 'Prince' from Neihgypt gave them a nasty nickname because of it."

"I think I get it, so... you're not married to your dad, or brother are you?" he asked, barely able to hold back a teasing smile.

"What! Oh no, no, no! I didn't mean to imply- I - I don't even have a brother! N-not that I would- I mean I would never- Oh, horseapples; just listen to me stammer on! You- you weren't being serious weren't you?" she asked him suspiciously.

Atchmon only stuck his tongue out between his teeth and gave her a smile.

"It's uncouth to make ladies panic like that!" Rarity exclaimed and swatted him with a hoof a bit harder than she meant to.

"Ow! Ahahaha!" Rarity feared she hurt him when he yelled in pain, but relaxed when he started laughing.

"Whew. So what you're saying is that you won the gene pool lottery with these, huh?" he said point down hat her hooves.

"I-I don't even know why I showed you that, not even my closest friends know I have them. They're just far too subtle..." she finished somberly.

"Rarity? Are you alright? You look so down all of a sudden."

"Oh! Yes, sorry, I-it's nothing, really, I just got lost in my thoughts. But to answer your question, no I'm not married, not yet anyway. Not that there are any current suitors..."

Atchmon watched as the melancholy pony took a few more bites off her food. Thinking about what all she told him. "There aren't enough males to go around, are there?" he asked, though know he must've been partially right.

Rarity was surprised by his correct statement. "Mmm, yes. We ponies are polygamists, it's the way we've survived for thousands of years. Though our population has tapered these last few decades, because of the ideals of cross species herding, and monogamy are becoming more popular. Which back then anypony caught engaging in such acts would've been shunned from society."

"What other species are there? I thought there were only four pony types?"

"Oh, there are many other beings in our world besides ponies. There are the Griffins, the Mules, and Donkeys. The Minotaurs, and their other Bovine cousins, the Buffalo, and of course there are those vile Dragons! Though I don't know why anypony would want to herd with such monstrous creatures! The Camels, the Antelopes, Llamas, and..." she sighed. "the Caribou. Who've been pushing their radical patriarchal views on our more female dominated society these last few years. And there are the mysterious Centaurs, and other ancient beings."

"Wow, an- and they all can talk like you an' me!?" he asked excitedly over the new information.

"Mhmph! Yes." she giggled at his awestruck face.

"Ohh." he gasped in awe, as he let the thoughts sink in. "Well... I can understand sticking with your own kind, but what's so bad about monogamy?" he asked, shaking his head.

"Well, since our gender ratio is four to one in favor of the females..."

"Ah, right, there's less to go around." he nodded his head in understanding.

"Precisely, and... please don't judge me too harshly when I say this." she begged.

"I won't." he whispered shaking his head, while giving her a concerned look, and leaning in a bit closer to her for support.

"I want to have a monogamous relationship when I'm married, just like my parents." she said gently while looking away, bracing herself for the verbal bashing to come.

"So? If that's what you want, then I don't see a problem with it." he said.

Rarity immediately looked back at him in shock. 'W-what!? It- it's like he didn't even care!' "B- but isn't it wrong? Wouldn't I be selfish keeping a stallion all to myself?" she asked in disbelief.

"I don't know about all that, but on my world monogamy is perfectly normal; so I don't see a problem with it." he said simply.

Rarity couldn't believe what she was hearing. A whole world where monogamy is normal, a place where beings can be fully devoted to each other, and nopony else. It was like a dream come true, the little voice in her mind tried to remind her their weren't any stallions in that world, but she didn't care. And spent a few moments reminiscing on all her old fantasies, of how she always wanted to court a stallion. No not just 'a' stallion. Her stallion...

"No." she shook her head "You're just making fun of me, aren't you."

"I'm serious Rarity, the number of males and females on my world is pretty much the same... not so much in my home town, but yeah." he mumbled. "And if you found that hard to believe, you're definitely not going to believe it when I say Polygamy is actually illegal. You could actually go to jail for having more than one wife."

"T-that's insane, throwing herds in jail just because they love each other?" she really couldn't believe in such a backwards thinking world. Atchmon only shrugged in response.

"I never thought I'd hear those words from a male. It makes most them feel like they're living in the old times, back when males were actually owned by their lead mares."

"Ooh, yeah, that doesn't sound too good."

"No, it doesn't, which is why I find it so fascinating, and so romantic. Just a mare and her stallion facing a world that's always trying to pull them apart, yet they remain together, forever, always!" she cooed, lost in her daydream.

Atchmon could only chuckle at her as she acted out a bit of her fantasy by waving her hooves around.

---

They decided to retire back inside the cave to cool off after their meal together. The sunset nearly fully illuminating the whole cavern, so they could still had enough light to converse with each other.

Atchmon shifted, positioning himself upon the bed much like he did last night, propping his back up against the wall with his head bumping into the charm which lay above it.

"Okay, so, serious talk now. I know we're pretty different as far as our food needs go. So I was wondering if there's anything else you need to live out here. Any special plants, fruits, or vegetables I should be on the look out for while I'm out and about?"

"I think you have me very well provided for, though if you come across any oats, I would really appreciated it if you could get some of those for me, please. Oh, and some flowers too, if you don't mind."

"I'll keep a look out for 'em. Anything else? Anything I need to do to take proper care of you? Do you have any special needs, I know it's really important to take care of your hooves, but that's pretty much all I know about ponies."

"Well... there is one thing you could do for me, if you don't mind." she said, feeling her body ache all over.

"Sure. What is it? What do you need? What ever it is you can count on me to do it for ya."

"Could I see your, um, 'paws' for a moment, if that alright?"

Atchmon blinked at her, before realizing what she was asking. "Oh, you mean my hands? Uh, okay, sure..."

She examined his odd appendages, they were not nearly as large, nor as clumsy looking as the Minotaur's, and had far more versatility and flexibility compared to a griffins, and were much softer than either, despite the few calluses he had. The right of which harbored far more than the left, especially along the sides of his first digit and the short pudgy-looking one.

"It's, ah, actually quite important for a unicorn to keep their magical chakras clear, otherwise we could become quite ill." She lied. At least they don't look dirty, no sharp claws, or anything which could cause harm.

"And how do you do that exactly." He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Deep tissue massage!" she squee'd.

---

There's something different about her, she seems so much more... feminine than before. Atchmon thought as Rarity laid herself out on the bedding. Stretching and positioning herself in a way he knew should have been impossible for her species, and yet, somehow retained all the grace and flexibility of a person.

He started off giving her back a good scratching, which she absolutely loved, but that wasn't what she needed.

"Oooohhhh, that does feel really good, darling. But could you be a dear and start the massage, please, my muscles hurt so much." she begged him.

Atchmon was a little nervous about touching her in, what he considered at least, to be an intimate sort of way. To him this was something only couples do.

"Does it hurt when I do this?" he rubbed his thumbs along both sides of her spine, trailing them up and down. While admiring the long, sensual divot in her back. It's just like petting a dog... riiight, keep tellin' yourself that buddy.

"Oh, no, that feels absolutely divine! Darling, I believe we've found your, mmmmph, calling." she mewled.

"I don't think I could do this for a living. I'd rather go broke exploring the world." His discomfort increased the longer the session lasted, not from the length of time, but from the ever increasing moans, and mewlings of the one beneath him.

He continued to rub his hands and thumbs over her back, occasionally lingering on her shoulders a bit longer whenever she'd ask. "A little lower, now to the right- right there! Get that spot, would you?"

She'd tense for a moment when ever he'd work the tension out on a new muscle, before quickly relaxing again. She explained that he didn't need to be so gentle with her, and that she was quite used to a firmer treatment.

"Ohhhh-mmmph.... A little lower dear, get my haunches too, if you would please." she then wiggled her rump at the request. Her plump flanks brushing against his arms when she did.

"Annnd there's the line." he said while removing his hands from her, more to catch a break for his sore fingers.

"What!? Don't stop now, we were almost finished!" She protested, rolling on her side to look at him better. Her poise caused her tail to slide away down her rump. Atchmon couldn't help trailing his eyes along her curves, before snapping out of his thoughts.

"I'm just not comfortable with touching your ass- butt! I meant to say butt." 'Even if it does look like a girls, god how long has it been since I last seen one of those, and hers looks so round... so soft, so- stop that!'

"Flanks darling, or as I said, 'haunches', which are right here." she said pointing a hoof at her cutie mark. "Please, don't be such a- I'm trying to think of a better word for 'big bummer', but please, I really need this." she pouted at him, begging with big puppy eyes.

"I don't know," he sighed and eyed her flanks, lingering on her blue-diamond brands a moment longer.

"Please, won't you do this for me? Please, please, please, plee-he-he-heease!" Rarity begged desperately as she grinned toothly, while arching her back far enough to look at him backwards.

Atchmon sighed, "All right fine, if it means that much to ya."

Rarity squealed in delight, before laying flat on her belly again.

His thumbs rubbed over her tightly corded muscles, feeling the powerful mass beneath her soft hide, all while she made passionate moans. He couldn't help watching his thumb trail over her blue diamond brands, surprised to find they were flush with rest of her hide.

"Hmmm," 'Weird, there's no scarring. Maybe it's more like a birthmark, or a tattoo, but I don't see how a needle can change fur like that. Could just be dyed, or maybe it really does appear just like magic.'

"Ooooh, you're doing a marvelous job!" she mewled loudly. Rarity started to lose herself in the pleasure, unconsciously lifting her tail when he trailed his digits along the sides of its base, and into the small of her back, just above her croup.

Really going above and beyond, aren't'cha, ya freak... What the hell is wrong with you, stop looking!

Atchmon couldn't pull his eyes away from her sensual flanks, her soft hips rolling as rubbed his thumbs along her curves. It didn't help that he was sitting atop her hind legs. Allowing him to bend far over her, and causing his crotch to occasionally grind into her rump. Which he tried, and fail, to avoid at all possible.

Rarity's tail flicked back and forth in delight, the soft fibers of her hair whisked across his chest and over his arms; eventually exposing herself to him. It lasted just a moment, but he saw everything. The light charcoal, velvety-looking fuzz around her anus, and pussy. The puffy skin of her vulva, and the image of her slit going all the way down to a curious looking bulb at the bottom.

All the while, Atchmon couldn't stop thinking about what was suppose to go there. As his vision tunneled to view her sex once again. 'She's not even a person, dude!'

'Oh my god... whoa...' Atchmon panted slowly, as his excitement steadily rose.

Rarity's tail whisked to the other side, exposing her marehood to him again. He trailed his hands over her soft, slender flanks more firmly in his desire. Dragging them all the way down her hind legs, then pushing his thumbs up against her rump. He stopped for just a moment at the base of her hind quarters, before daring to go further. Letting his short, pudgy digits dig into her soft derriere, and spread her cheeks ever so slightly apart.

Rarity's tail whisked again, and she uttered a loud, throaty moan; far too lost in her bliss to notice the lewd things the human was doing to her body.

When her tail passed by, he could see a hint of pink of her insides, its coloring contrasting well against the darker outer sides.

"Ohhh, do that again, please dear. A little more, just a little harder, right there; Oh, that's perfect." Rarity breathed, nearly losing her breath from the pleasure she was receiving. Every pass of his hands sought out every bit of pain, and replaced it with bliss. Rarity felt she could drown herself in this feeling, his hand were like a gift from the Creator herself.

Atchmon stopped where she asked, letting his hands rest on her thighs, while rotating his thumbs around her sore spots. Then trailing his hands down, caressing her springy rump, before going back up to squeeze her delicious cheeks again.

His heart was racing, and his excitement grew, while feeling a painful pressure growing in his crotch. He watched Rarity's arousal leak from her slit, which was beginning to gleam with moisture.

"Oh, yes, I can feel my magic flowing already." Rarity moaned, as she approached the height of her relief. Feeling her endorphins course through her body; giving her a sense of gratification and renewed energy. She wallowed in the fuzzy after-feeling of what is undoubtedly the best massage she'll ever receive.

"That's not the only thing that's flowin'," Atchmon said idlly without thinking.

Bump-boom!

Rarity's heart dropped after hearing that, and she knew exactly what he was talking about. She could feel the distinct glide of her wetness against her skin, down in her nethers.

She then quickly scrambled out from underneath the human, and off the bed, with her tail pinned tightly between her hind legs.

Atchmon couldn't help associating her behavior to a dog who got caught doing something very naughty, as Rarity daintily scuffed a hoof at the ground with her ears drooped in shame, and looking like she couldn't bear to look him in the face with her worried eyes.

"Oh, dear! I am so sorry, please forgive me, I-I swear this has never happened before, i-i-it's just that it felt so good, and-and I know there is no excuse for a mare to do that, and I should know better, and I'm- !" she sat down and covered her face with her hooves, trying to hide her shame. "Ooh ponyfeathers! Stupid, stupid Rarity." Atchmon barely heard her whisper, her voice muffled by her hooves.

"H-Hey!" He interrupted her. Rarity flinched at the sound of his raised voice. "It- it's, okay. There're plenty other things to fret over than- than that." he swallowed the saliva he didn't notice had pooled in his mouth. "You seemed like you were really enjoyin' it at least. A little too much if you ask me." He muttered at the end, while subtly pulling at the crotch of his pants.

"Thank you." She whispered. "You don't know how relieved that makes me feel, and the massage too. I really do feel so much better; is there something, anything, that I can do for you?" She approached him lifting up a hoof, hanging on his every word.

'You better stop thinkin', what it is you're thinking, right now. What the hell is wrong with you, she's an anim-'

"There must be someway I can repay you for your help, and to make up for my... repulsiveness." She shrank away at the word.

"I, uh, I- I don' want anything, really. I'm just, uh, happy to help. Don't want you gettin' sick and all." He said with a strained smile.

"Right... sick..." 'Stupid Rarity, why don't you just turn around, lift up your tail, and wink at him while you're at it! What is it about being out here that makes you lose all common sense, and decency! At least he doesn't seem offended, nor going to take advantage of my offer, any other stallion would.'

"I'm, ah, gonna go outside an' get some fresh air for a little bit." He said getting up, and briskly headed out without so much as looking at her again.

"Oh, alright, I'm- sorry, again." He left the den, before she had a chance to finish her apology.

---

After a few minute of fretting, Rarity couldn't stand to leave things as they were, and sought to make amends with Atchmon who was sitting atop the hill.

"Atchmon? Is it alright if I join you?" She called up, while staying near the cave entrance.

"Sure Rares, come on up. You need any help?" he asked down to her.

"No, but thank you, I can manage this part on my own." she called above.

"Is- May I sit next to you?" she asked him, once she made to the top of the hill.

Atchmon only patted the ground next to him, giving her a smile and a nod, beckoning her over.

"Thank you." She said as she settled in next to him. "I sure miss having my seat cushion. Not to mention my drama couch." She smiled sheepishly at him, returning a half one of his own. Way to break the ice Rarity, you have all the grace of a big dumb rock when you're nervous.

"Hey, about earlier." He started to say, before Rarity cut him off.

"I know what you're going to say, and I completely understand why you're mad at me-."

"Mad!? I'm not mad, what makes you think that?" He said raising an eyebrow. "That's ridiculous."

"But I've done so many things wrong around you, not to mention I'm doing a horrid job of representing my species." She hung her head, looking disappointed in herself.

"No Rarity, you didn't do anything wrong." He shook his head.

"So you really aren't mad? You aren't just saying that to spare my feelings, are you?" She looked up to him feeling hopeful.

"No, not at all!" He turned a little more to face her. "No... and I didn't even get to touch your horn neither. I'm gonna start calling you 'horny'." He grinned trying to pick up the mood.

"D-don't you dare! Ehahaha!" She laughed despite herself, after all the stress of the last few days she needed a good laugh. Oh Pinkie Pie, I never thought I'd miss hearing you go off on one of your tangents, and all of your excitement. I need to let you know how much you brighten up my day when I back.

"Rarity," Atchmon's tone interrupted her thoughts, and she gave him her full attention. Wanting to know what bothered her dear friend. "When I woke up this morning, I couldn't believe you were there, just, right there. I got up and went through the motions like I'd always done. It was like everything was just a dream, and I was so afraid that when I woke up, you wouldn't be there. And I'd be alone again... I want you to know that today's been the most fun, interesting, and most amazing day I've had in ages! It's been so unreal, I mean, you ... Rarity, you are real. Like, really real." He wanted to pet her, but stopped short, instead leaving his arm resting on the grass behind her. But to Rarity it seemed as though he'd pulled a classic stallion move. Pretending to stretch but instead resting a hoof, or in some cases a tail, behind her. Even without the actual physical contact, it was very nearly identical.

"O-of course I'm real darling, do you not see me right here!" She said grinning at him, and shaking her head. Not understanding what he meant. Oh goddesses, did I lead him on!? Is he giving me a signal!? He couldn't possibly be interested in me, could he? After everything today, I can't blame him for thinking I was interested. Could I be- NO! He's not even a pony!

"You don't get it, on my world... you don't exist, you- unicorns, they're just myths, fairy tales, just stories..." He tailed off, looking melancholy. Rarity placed a hoof on his arm, gaining his attention.

"I can assure you, darling, I'm certainly no myth, and I'm quite real." She nuzzled into his shoulder, then smiled up at him. He smiled back, before looking towards the horizon.

"Are you- do you unicorns go into a, uh, 'heat' phase?"

"Oh, no, no, no!" She said trying to convince him. "I won't go into season for months, no, I- what I did back there was an accident, I swear!"

"It's okay! I was just curious. It's just all so- fascinating to me, it's surprising how similar you are to a pony back home, and yet you're also so much like a... well, human." He finished, looking mystified by her presence.

"I'm flattered to be such an object of interest to you Atchmon, but its very rude, not to mention quite embarrassing, to talk to a mare about her heat cycle, but I'll forgive you this time." she said, ending with a devilish smile.

"Thanks." He grinned. "Interesting to know what makes you feel good, you're just so- different from me, and I like that! It-it's new, it's exciting, it's.... amazing. You have no idea how amazing you really are, Rarity." He looked into her eyes, taking in her majestic presence.

"That's the sweetest thing anypony has ever said to me." She held a hoof up her to muzzle, with her cheeks tinted red, and looking at him with misty eyes, before rushing in and giving him a big hug!

It'd been a very nice day, and for a few moments she could forget where she was, as if the dangers around them were worlds away. The couple sat atop the mesa of their home watching as the sun set.

"Look at that, there's no place else you can see somethin' like this." Atchmon breathed, as he looked unto the horizon, while he held onto her.

Ribbons of pink, green, and orange whisked across the sky, as the two friends watched the yellow-orange sun descend below the horizon. The few shafts of light clinging over the mountain peaks, before slowly disappearing behind them. Luna's moon quickly ascended the sky, filling the void left by her sister. Its luminescence washing the camp in ghostly white light, save for where their small campfire lay dying nearby.

"That's the kind of stuff I live for, the reason why I stepped through that doorway between worlds." he smiled down at her.

OOOOOOWOOOOOOAROOOO

Gasp! Rarity pressed herself tighter into Atchmon's side. While he pulled an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder, trying to comfort as he felt her start to tremble in fear.

"Hey, don't be afraid. They know better than to mess with me." he said gently, trying to reassure her safety.

"How can you be so sure?" Rarity looked up to him with big doe eyes, wanting to believe his words.

"A couple years ago... I felt like I was the king of this forest, I felt unstoppable." He flexed his arms, and Rarity could finally appreciate his physique, knowing the human must've been in his prime, as she gazed upon the firm muscles in his arms and chest.

"So one day, after a hunt, I find a wolf pack tearing up my camp. I managed to chase 'em off, but not before they made off with all of my food. So I tracked them down, all the way back to their den, and I... asserted myself to the alpha leader at the time. I don't know what it is about this place, but the animals here always seem to be so much smarter than the ones back home... Anyway, there was a- a moment, where, I could swear we had some sort of understanding, and from then on they stayed on their side of the creek, and I stayed on mine." As if to confirm his story, more howls sounded in the distance.

"They're probably just mourning their losses, it's their own fault though... should've stayed on their side. A lot of my leathers were from the ones that didn't pay attention."

Rarity pressed herself a little harder into him for protection. Atchmon only chuckled, before taking a breath, cupping his hands over his mouth, and bellowing out his own howl.

AROOOOOO-

"Stop it! You're going to bring them here!" Rarity yelled in panic, and pushed him over to stop him. She looked down on him with anger clear on her face.

"Hey, it's okay, I'm just saying hello-" he tried to console her, while giving a confident grin only to be cut off.

“Do you think that’s funny!? You scared me half to death!” she shouted angrily at him.

“Well, no, but-” Atchmon moved to get up, but Rarity pushed him away again when he rose.

She stormed off down the hill, and later Atchmon heard the rattle of his stick-flap door being slammed back into place. Leaving him to listen to the hauntingly lonely song of the wolves.

---

After a few minutes he joined her inside the cave, without light the interior would've been pitch black. Though instead, a faint cerulean aura illuminated a corner of the small room. He approached her slowly, before she tucked away whatever she was looking at in her saddle bag, then floating it off to the side. She curled up on the bed facing away from him, and cut off her magic, leaving Atchmon to navigate the rest of the cave in the pitch black.

He reached the bed without issue, having moved within his home many times in the past while in the dark, before slowly climbing in himself. Rarity reluctantly relinquished a portion of her side allowing him to lay comfortably, though not as much as the previous night, next to her.

"Rarity, you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like until you're rescued. I'm sorry I can't help any more than that. We can talk about it more tomorrow."

Rarity only laid there, if she heard him, she made no attempt to let him know.

"Rarity? Look at me... please?"

She shifted over after a moment, only enough to look at him with a single blue eye.

"I wanna tell you somethin' that's helped me get through a lot of tough times here." she turned towards him a little more. "Sometimes... you have to become the thing you fear the most, so you aren't afraid anymore." he said quietly.

"...I don't think I could ever do that, Atchmon." she whispered.

He sighed quietly, "Then for your sake, I hope you can." He turned around, letting her think his words over, before she too turned around, and together they slept; back to back.

Next Chapter: Great Outdoors Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 43 Minutes