Tabitha sat down at her chair, confident and pleased. The camera would soon be hers, and she would have an unfettered view of herself, as the ponies saw her.

Beep, or so her computer produced.

She wiggled her mouse to wake up the screen and quickly saw she had an email. She hurriedly checked, but the computer reported to be offline despite the arrival of the correspondence.

It was a reply to the thread with the same force that had brought her and her building into that crazy world.

"Is that you, Caretaker?" Spring poked her head around the corner. "Ah, it is. If we are to share living space, we should endeavor to know one another and be polite to one another's doings."

Tabitha flashed a smile, eyes glancing between the comely elf and her screen. She wanted to see that email. "Let's do that, but let me check this first."

"What matter of magic device is that? I suppose it would make sense that any Caretaker would possess such magic devices. I will leave you to your sorceries. Knock on my door when you are ready to speak." Spring folded an arm to put a hand over her heart, even if she missed by a few inches thanks to her shape.

Tabitha found herself thinking impure thoughts again as her new roommate departed. Shaking her head vigorously, she turned her attention back to the computer and pulled up that email.

Good day.

I have been good to my word, and you have adjusted quite well. I'm proud of you.

Tabitha developed a quick smirk. As if she needed the approval of some magical creeper? Still, the fact that it, whatever it was, was still watching her was somewhat worrying. She drew the blinds and resumed reading.

No need for that. You are an actor in my play, but have no fear. I don't use strings. Puppets are dreadfully boring. I will set the stage and populate it with actors, but only the rare one will have even the hint of a string. You're much more fascinating with your approximation of free-will to cling to.

She scowled at the words. They could be taken as a threat, and she wasn't sure how else to accept it. The idea of her... everything, being some mad thing's device like that? She considered abandoning the email entirely, but she wanted to know if it had anything productive to say.

Good, you're still there. Don't get worked up. It's not as if you can control who comes or leaves your life. Make the best of it. Your situation is quite fascinating. Either way you turn, bestiality.

She raised a brow.

Don't give that look. The elf is just as inhuman as any horse, she just has a shape you recognize more easily. The words you understand that spill from her lips thinly hide just how unlike you she is. Is that bad? Is a fur pelt bad? Speaking of that, eager to explore your own pelt? I'm excited to see what you do with that knowledge. Go on, she's waiting for you, and you have so much to learn.

The letter ended there, though it had adapted itself to her reactions. She didn't like that. She didn't like whoever or whatever was sending those messages! But... they had also kind of saved her, and her building. Sure, she might have pulled out of the nosedive and found some clients, or she might not have. Either way, it had provided her with an overabundance. Yet, it had... kind of taken away everything else.

She sighed as she pushed to her feet. It was right about one thing, Spring was waiting for her.

Tabitha wandered down the hallway and knocked lightly on what had been her guest room. "All done."

There was silence a moment, then the door swung open with a gust of fresh air and the scent of pollen. The world before her was like a thick forest and its queen stood before her. "I'm glad you came," said Spring with a nod. "I've made things comfortable while you were busy."

Tabitha glanced around with wide eyes, taking in the stretching forest vistas that seemed much larger than her room should have ever supported. "Uh... So... Wh--"

"Come, enter. We have so much to discuss." She stepped to the side and waved inwards.

Tabitha advanced on uncertain feet. "What'd you do to my guest room?"

"It is mine for now, so I made myself at home." She gestured with a wide hand. "Welcome. I trust the forest does not bother you much? I am told humans enjoy the sights of it, even if they hide in their cities."

She did... sorta. It was enchanting, and terrifying all at once. "What about my stuff?"

"Your possessions are safe. It would be impolite to cause them harm during my stay." She closed the door behind Tabitha and they were surrounded by forest. There was only the barest hint of the door, with the forest going in all directions. "This has been a trying journey for me. The equine creatures here seem to enjoy their cities as much as any human."

"Th-that's true, I think. At least this is a city." She had no idea what other pony towns or hamlets there were, heck... "Humans don't always live in cities. Some live practically by themselves."

"But not you," spoke Spring with authority. "You are quite comfortable in this city." She offered a hand to Tabitha. "Teach me, show me. I need to become used to this place."

Tabitha took the offered hand and found the skin smooth and warm. She moved to shake it, but the elf wasn't shaking. What should she do?! "I'm a little new to, uh, elf greetings. What do I do?"

"Since we are to be bound as living partners." Spring tugged at Tabitha and they were kissing. It was a chaste kiss, and didn't last long, but that didn't stop it from overwhelming Tabitha. The elf clasped her hand firmly, then stood back, withdrawing her hand. "Am I your first living partner?"

She had had boyfriends before, but that was different... "Not quite like this. Just to be sure, we're, you know, just sharing space for a while, right?"

Spring seemed confused. "You... Did I misread the signs?" She stepped into Tabitha's personal space. "It is easy to forget you are a Caretaker, human or not. You would have us be distant?"

Tabitha blinked in confusion. "No! I mean, not distant, just... shouldn't we be friends?"

"Friends?" Spring seemed just as confused. "A human concept, of course. We are allies, sworn to come to one another's aid. Distant, not interfering with one another's lives or business." She raised a brow. "Or perhaps you would rather be a pet? Are you a human that knows your place?" She set a delicate hand on Tabitha's chest. "I would treat you well and gently."

That was going the wrong way! "No thank you! I'm quite fine owning myself." She danced back away from the hand and bumped into the door, the reminder that she wasn't standing in a 'true' forest.

"I thought you had offered the rarest of relation," explained Spring.

"Which is...?" Tabitha imagined almost any answer she got would be worrying, but she had to know.

Spring shook her head with disbelief. "Are we truly so different? How do humans manage this without blood? This explains much... The rarest relation is that of those bound together. Two become one. It is most often done by breeding pairs, but not always." She raised a brow at Tabitha. "You didn't wish that?"

She had accidentally proposed to an elf?! "I, ah, no offense, please don't take offense. You're a very pretty, I mean, you're pretty. We should get to know each other before we even consider that, right?"

"That is the only relation that shares living space."

"Among elves," argued Tabitha. "You're not home, or with other elves. We can make up our own rules."

The very idea of it, of making up their own rules, it seemed repugnant to Spring as her face twisted a moment before she took a slow breath. "It's my mistake. You're a human, one that consorts with the equines. Of course you don't understand."

"W-what? I'm not married to them!"

"I never said you were." Spring looked mildly confused a moment. "This is another equine thing. Caretaker, I don't comprehend you. I understand your words, but the meaning behind them is lost. Our relation remains woefully undefined, but I would entreat that you instruct me. If I am to live among them, I would do it properly."

Her dreams, whimsical as they had been, of a hot elf babe were shattered. There was no way she'd find happiness with Spring, not like that. She was harder to grasp than the horses by far. Razz, as broken as he was, was easy to grasp. "That's fine. Maybe we'll both learn something from it. For now, I'm going to head back to my part of the apartment. Maybe we'll have dinner later, together?"

"I will bring a proper dish," promised Spring as she seemed to relax. "We are as mentor and student. This I can understand."

Tabitha left her elven roomie to her work, whatever that was. Shaking a little, she moved to her balcony.

With a loud thump, Razz landed beside her. "Great news!"

Tabitha jumped back in surprise. "Wha?! Razz? Don't do that."

"Sorry." His ears splayed apart and he looked genuinely sorry. "I got a new job. It's thanks to you!"

Tabitha was pleased, but... "Thanks to me?"

"I pictured you in my head, and you guided me through it. Whenever I felt unsure, you were there, and I got through the hard bits when I thought they weren't going to take me. I start Monday!"

She'd been used as a sort of conscience? She supposed there were worse things. "That's great. What's the job?"

He spread his fore hooves as he reared back on his hind legs. "I start as a cleaner for a hotel. One of them saw me working here and I got the job."

Tabitha smiled at that. "Oh, that's wonderful. Do they pay well?"

"Mmhmm." Razz bobbed his head quickly. "Thank you so much!"

"And you know how you're going to keep that job, right?"

"I'll never be late and I'll work hard."

"And you won't do your 'friends' any favors related to it," said Tabitha firmly. "I'm not your boss, so it's not like that. As a friend, your friend, please. I don't want anything from you but you to be happy."

He licked his lips even as he nodded. "R-right, no favors."

She felt ready to lecture him, but that wasn't... what he needed. "Look, forget me."

"W-what?"

"Pretend I'm not here. This is about you. You want to do better, so be better. Your 'friends' won't help with that."

"I guess not..."

"Speaking of which, you keep using plural, but I only met the one."

He perked at that. "Oh that's right! You never met Copper Trap. He's got a mind like a trap and he's super clever. You should meet."

That sounded better than the thugging mare. "I'd be delighted to, if you want that. Maybe after the convention?"

"Oh that's right!" He spread his wings wide. "I'll see you later!" He launched from the balcony and was gone, to the convention, or so she assumed.

Author's Notes:

Relations are complicated, and cause typos.