“Christopher, are you sure you’re okay?” Aloe asked as she noticed me rub my cheek again.

This morning, I had woken up to a slap in the side of the face by an enraged Alicorn, who apparently didn’t like the fact that I stripped her in her sleep.

Not that anyone would like that.

“I’m fine,” I sighed while looking at my reflection in a nearby mirror. The swelling had gone down and all that was left was a light red hoof mark. “Nothing I probably didn’t deserve.”

“Well, Miss Rarity is here and she wanted to ask you something,” Aloe stated as she looked the mark over herself. I couldn’t help but notice the slight perfume she wore, a slight strawberry mix.

“Whatever you say boss,” I chuckled, bopping the mare on the nose and earning a glaring giggle.

“Carful now, Christopher,” Aloe told me while flicking my nose with a hoof as well. “No fraternization at work.”

“Whatever you say boss,” I repeated as I stood up and made my way to the lobby where I found both Rarity and Spike.

“Hey guys, something I can help you with?” I asked the two of them with a smile.

“Yes, well you see,” Rarity began with a fluttering of her eyes. “With the Gala only a week away, I’ve had a lot of orders for revisions and am, unfortunately, low on gems.”

“So, we’re going to go get some,” Spike continued, holding out a small pail and shovel. “and we were hoping you could come with us.”

“Yes, it would put my nerves at ease knowing such a gallant and strong stallion came with us,” Rarity added as she came up beside me and rubbed herself against my side, flicking her tail against my leg as she did.

“Rarity, there’s no need to try and flirt your way into getting me to help,” I told the mare, shaking my head slightly. “I just need permission from my bosses, you know that.”

“And for Miss Rarity, who is one of our best customers, there’s no need to ask,” Lotus replied, surprising me with the fact that she was running the front at the time.

“Oh, thank you, Lotus darling,” Rarity smiled at the mare before grabbing my right hand in her magic and beginning to lead me to the door. “I’ll be sure to bring him back in just a few hours and please leave an opening for me as well. I tend to get a little dirty during this type of thing.”

“Of course, Miss Rarity,” Lotus nodded as I was finally pushed through the door. “Have a good day everypony.”

“This still shouldn’t be possible,” I mumbled while looking over the fist sized ruby in my hand.

“Oh hush,” Rarity replied as she pointed Spike to another deposit. “We’ve already discussed that this is how gems work in Equestria. Now please continue to clean them off of any excess dirt.”

“As you command mistress,” I replied with a slight grumble. The only good thing about all this, so far, was that she had at least let me change into more outdoorsy cloths before dragging me to the gem field. It was defiantly going to make what would happen at any moment now, a lot more bearable.

And I was once again carrying my gun under a light jacket, in case things didn’t go as smoothly as they did in the show.

“So, is it hard to get gems where you’re from?” Spike asked as he continued to shovel away dirt with his tail.

“Wars have been fought to get ahold of what my planet has,” I replied while looking over a large green gem. “And they’re nowhere near these sizes.”

“That sounds dreadful,” Rarity replied with a sad frown. “Lives lost for something we ponies’ see as simple everyday things.”

“But why fight over them?” Spike asked as he placed a new pile of gems in front of me. “Couldn’t they have more if they just worked together to get them?”

“If only it were that easy,” I sighed while looking over the clean gems I had stacked inside of the wagon.

“Well, let’s just do away with this dreadful discussion,” Rarity interrupted as she looked at me with a raised brow. “Perhaps you could explain to me why you are wearing your… ‘head lamp’, was it?”

“Reasons,” I replied with a shrug, adjusting the strap to the small light on my head. “Might need to look into some holes or something.”

“Like that isn’t foreboding at all,” Spike muttered, catching mine and Rarity’s attention with his comment.

“Why, whatever do you mean, Spike?” Rarity asked out of concern.

“Just something I heard Twilight talking about once,” Spike quickly replied while giving me an apologetic smile. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Well, now I can’t help but be slightly worried,” Rarity replied as she looked around the area with a growing look of fear. “Perhaps it is best that we lea-“

“No leaving!” a voice suddenly called out in an annoying, yet gravely tone.

All three of us turned and watched as three diamond dogs exited a nearby bush and made their way towards us threateningly.

“Pony knows how find gems!” the taller dog spoke in broken English. If I was remembering things right, the red vested one was Rover and leader of their little group. “Pony find us gems and lizard dig!”

“Yeah, that’s not how things are gonna go down,” I chuckled, drawing the attention of all three dogs as I gave them my own glare. “Now why don’t you mutts get outta here before I put you through some obedience training.”

“Silence monkey!” Rover shouted back at me as his two companions growled threateningly.

“Chris, maybe you shouldn’t instigate them,” Spike whispered towards me while looking at the three dogs in worry.

“Spike, let me give you some advice about dogs,” I replied loud enough for the diamond dogs to hear me. “Never give in to them. Show them that you’re the alpha dog in charge first and for most.”

“R-really?” Spike asked as he looked over at me. “But what if… Chris look out!”

“What?!” I blurted, looking behind me and coming face to face with a wooden club.

THWACK!

“CHRISTOPHER!” I heard both Rarity and Spike shout before everything went black.

“Oh, hello Christopher,” Luna chirped as I found myself in my dreamscape. “We are quite surprised to see thou here at this time.”

“Uh… I was… I think I got knocked out by a diamond dog?” I offered with a sheepish smile. “Uh… what are you doing here?”

“Ah, yes,” Luna huffed as her draconic eyes seemed to glare off into the distance, ignoring my question of why she was in my head. “Celestia told us that those mangy mutts were still around. They apparently haven’t gotten any smarter since my banishment.”

“I’m ashamed to say that they’ve probably already captured both me and Rarity,” I told Luna with a heavy sigh.

“And why would they do that?” Luna asked as she suddenly glared at me, a chill running up my spine. “Are you to say that they are holding you two hostage?”

“I-I’m sure I could easily get us out,” I stuttered out in fear. “I-I mean, they’re just a bunch of dogs, right?”

“Quiet,” Luna nodded with a stern look. “When you awaken, ensure the safety of your fellow element bearer and make a return to Ponyville. Do whatever you can to ensure you both make it back safely.”

“You don’t honestly think it will be that bad?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m not sure,” Luna replied. “But if they feel the need to abduct citizens, they should be willing to suffer the consequences. As such, I’ll also prepare the guards to remove this pack from the area.”

“Are they not supposed to be here?” I asked her.

“According to my sister, they have been allowed to occupy certain areas on the basis that they do not harm our ponies in any way,” Luna replied. “If anything, we will have them detained and brought before both myself and Celestia to be put on trial.”

“That seems like a lot,” I couldn’t help but voice, even though I fully understood that.

“You and the other elements are of high importance to Equestria and her safety,” Luna told me with a stern gaze. “To threaten any of you, is to threaten the crown and shall be handled accordingly.”

“Good to know…” I mumbled, finding that information surprising. “So be careful when it comes to legal issues… got it.”

“Exactly,” Luna nodded before she looked at me with a raised brow. “You will be waking momentarily. Please… stay safe.”

“I will, Luna,” I told the princess with a confident grin. “I promise.”

“What it be?” A garbled voice asked as my groggy mind began to awaken. A throbbing in my head drawing a small groan from me, but nothing else.

“It awake?!” another one voiced, noticing my groan.

“And its annoyed,” I groaned out as I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by near absolute darkness.

“Strange monkey be quiet!” one of the voices barked. Small glimmers of light could be seen from somewhere else, but little of it made it to where I was.

“Where the hell am I?” I grumbled as I carefully stood up, the pounding in my head subsiding surprisingly fast.

“No ask questions monkey!” one of the guards barked, revealing themselves as nothing more than two hulking masses of black in the current darkness.

“I’m not a monkey!” I snapped back before a strange itch drew my attention to a worrying revelation.

“M-my element?!” I yelled in shock and fear, finding my right wrist bare, a quick check to ensure I still had my gun and head lamp did nothing to settle my fraying nerves. “What the fuck did you mangy mutts do with it?!”

“What monkey talk about?” one of my guards asked the other as if I weren’t there.

“Me think it talk about shiny thing it wear,” the other replied before its black mass turned towards me. “We take shiny thing. Monkey no need.”

“How dare you take that!” I snapped, rushing forward in a slight panic.

Only to crash into metal bars that I missed in the darkness.

“Monkey stupid,” one guard said as the other simply laughed in a rough way.

“Me get monkey banana,” one guard said as he began to walk off. His body becoming harder to see.

“Get back here!” I snapped reaching out towards the mass. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I still had access to my magic, as it quickly latched onto the guard and pulled it back towards me, slamming it into the cage I was apparently in.

“Wh-what?!” the other guard chirped as it looked down at its unconscious companion.

“Hey, flea bag!” I called, gaining their attention. Before he could do anything, I flipped on my head lamp to full beam.

“Gah!” the dog yelled as he was blinded. Before he could react, I reached through the bars and grabbed his crudely made breast plate and slammed him against the bars several times, knocking him out with his companion.

“Wow…” I panted, looking down at the two unconscious dogs, my head lamp revealing them fully. “I can’t believe that actually worked.”

I was surprised that what I just did had actually worked, let alone the fact that I was able to do magic without the element.

“If I can still use magic without it… does that mean I don’t need it anymore?” I asked myself while inspecting my wrist. Even though I had been wearing the bracer for so long, there were no tan lines and the skin didn’t feel raw, only a little itchy.

“I need to get it back fast, just in case,” I told myself, looking at my bare wrist. It was the one thing that was supposedly preventing me from turning into a pony and every minute without it could be the one where I get changed irreversibly.

After I got it back though…

“Now then,” I grumbled while turning the brightness down and looking for an exit.

Luckily, I didn’t have to look far and found a door to the cage just a few feet to my left. Looking it over, I quickly realized just how dumb these dogs were.

“It’s like they didn’t know I had thumbs,” I chuckled as I reached through the bars and opened the simple latch that simply needed to be twisted to open.

Stepping out, I looked at the two unconscious masses and set to work in trapping them in the cage they just had me in.

“You fuckers are heavier than I thought,” I grumbled as I set the second one against the back wall. It wasn’t so much as them being heavy, as much as the smell seemed to mess with everything.

“You two reek…” I groaned as I looked over the two for anything useful which turned out to be a whole lot of nothing.

“Great, now what?” I asked myself while looking around the room my cell was in. There was only one exit, but my head lamp revealed several small holes in the ceiling.

“Must be for ventilation,” I mumbled before looking towards the exit. I was about to make my way before the smell got to me again.

“Smells horribly,” I grumbled before I realized something.

Dogs have a great sense of smell and I probably smelled of sun shine and roses compared to them, making me an easy target even if I could hide.

“Maybe if could rub myself down in dirt?” I spoke to myself, not wanting to do the urine trick. Looking back into the cage, I realized that I could probably snag one of their helmets and carry that to at least help mask the smell.

“Damn, you look all kinds of fugly,” I told the sleeping dog after taking his helmet. They looked a little like pit bulls.

“Puts us jar heads to shame,” I mumbled as I used my belt to attach the helmet to my side.

Closing the cell and bending the latch with a little magic, I turned my light down to its red low light and slowly made my way out of the room.

“I am defiantly lost,” I groaned out, stopping at another intersection. I had been traveling for at least half an hour and all that turned up was four more unconscious mutts.

I was just lucky that these dogs were really easy to knock out.

I mean, all I had to do was shove them into a wall and they were out like a light.

“I am not properly trained for this…” I groaned out while taking a seat for a moment and pulling my gun out to inspect it.

I had yet to fire it once, not even telling any of the others I had it. But I did have plans I wanted to pass by Applejack in hopes of making a small Firing Range on the farm.

“Not trained for what?” a voice suddenly asked from beside me, causing to me to jump to my feet and face the new threat, quickly slipping the gun back into its holster.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” the diamond dog in front of me asked, looking me up and down. Unlike the others that I had met, this was not a guard and was probably female judging by its voice.

“What’s that thing?” she asked pointing at my head lamp. Taking a moment, I quickly realized that this wasn’t a regular diamond dog, but something more akin to a fox with her sharper snout and features. Her eyes were a dark green that matched the vest and shorts she wore.

“Wh-who the hell are you?!” I asked, hesitant to do anything to her since all she seemed to be was curious.

“I’m Rachel,” the fox replied in a slight huff before pointing a claw at me. “Now answer my question!”

“Like hell I will!” I quickly replied before coming up with a quick plan. “You and your friends messed with the wrong people!”

“I have no affiliation with those mangy mutts anymore,” Rachel muttered to me before giving me a board look. “Let’s just say we had a falling out a few weeks back.”

“If that’s the case, then maybe you’d be willing to help me get back what they took form me,” I continued, hoping that this animosity would help bring her to my side. If I was lucky, she would know how to get around this maze.

If not, I should be able to knock her out with little trouble.

Rachel stared at me for a few moments giving me what looked like an inquisitive eye.

Taking a chance to get my own observations, I was defiantly sure that she was a vixen instead of a mutt. She had a dark orange coat with black paws, snout and stood upright to just below my chin. Her tail was long and bushy instead of thick and clumped like a mace and had a black tip.

Another thing was that she had a more human like figure than what the diamond dogs had.

Unlike them, she had stood straighter and her arms weren’t drooped past her knees. She also was more intelligent, both in the way she spoke and the light I could see in her eyes.

But what really drew my attention was what was located on her chest.

She had actually boobs, her cleavage being obvious from the opening in her vest.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t staring out of a perverted desirer as more of a WTF response.

“I can only take you so far,” she voiced, causing me to realize that I had been staring for too long.

“Sorry?” I couldn’t help but mutter as I looked back up at her face.

“I said, I’ll take you as far as I can,” Rachel nodded with a smirk, one of her claws reaching up and shifting her vest to reveal more cleavage. “Come with me, the main hall is this way and if I had to guess, that’s where the idiots are gathered.”

“Okay…” I hesitantly nodded before holding my hand out. “Lead the way.”

“Very well,” Rachel nodded as she started walking off into a dark tunnel, flicking her tail from side to side as she walked.

“This situation seems familiar,” I sighed before following along.

“You dug all of this?” I asked after several minutes of travel. The tunnel was at least two people wide and had a ceiling tall enough for me to reach up fully and still not touch it.

“I got bored back before the falling out and made a few tunnels of my own,” she replied nonchalantly while looking back at me. “I didn’t want to spend all my time mining like my brother Rover, so I dug a bit.”

“Wait… Rover?” I asked, stopping in my tracks. “Wears a red vest?”

“You know my brother?” Rachel asked, stopping and looking at me.

“No, but a friend of mine does,” I couldn’t help but chuckle as I remembered what Rarity did to gain her freedom in the show. “But I have to ask, how are you related.”

“We share the same mother,” Rachel huffed as she continued forward. “If you didn’t figure it out, I’m actually a Jade Fox, or at least, that was who my father was. We left our first pack when I was still young and made our way here after a while. Rover’s pretty stupid though.”

“Stupid how?” I asked as we walked.

“He can’t read or write,” Rachel pointed out. “But I learned how to from a couple of books I found.”

“Oh... kay?” I muttered as we found our way to an intersection.

“Take the path to the right to reach the main hall,” Rachel pointed out. “The left leads to an exit that’s just a few miles from the pony town of Ponyville.”

“Huh, thanks I guess,” I replied, surprised that she hadn’t led me to a trap.

“What did those idiots take from you that’s so important anyways?” Rachel asked.

“Uh… it’s a gold brace with a white diamond in it,” I told her. “It’s big enough for it to fit my wrist.”

“That sounds… familiar,” Rachel replied with a look of contemplation. “But I’d be careful, most of the pack will probably be in there at this time of day.”

“Damn,” I sighed heavily. I was lucky up to the current point, but I doubt it would last past their whole den. If anything, I had to at least provide a distraction until the guards finally arrived.

“Look, thanks for your help, but you should leave,” I told Rachel. “You don’t seem like a bad person and you helped me this far. So, for your own safety, leave here.”

“Why should I?” Rachel asked as she looked at me with a raised brow.

“Because your pack messed with the wrong people… or ponies in this case,” I replied with a sigh. “Do you know what the “Elements of Harmony” are?”

“Anyone who’s ever bothered to read a book should,” Rachel nodded as a look of realization began to show on her face, a slight twitch going through her left eye. “Please tell me those idiots didn’t do what I think they did.”

“Unfortunately,” I replied with a shack of my head. “The item I’m looking for is the element of courage, my element; and your brother and some others took my friend Rarity, a unicorn who holds the element of Generosity.”

“W-what!?” Rachel stuttered, looking at me in shock as her fur actually paled slightly.

“And right now, guards are on their way here to basically arrest everyone here for kidnapping, attempted enslavement and most likely several other charges.”

“B-but… I-I had nothing to do with this!” Rachel almost shouted in hysterics.

“Just… head above ground and head toward Ponyville,” I sighed. “Ask anyone you see for directions to “the human’s house” and go there and wait for me.”

“B-but what if the guard…?”

“Then don’t try to fight them,” I replied with a shrug. “Follow them and do what they say and I’ll help you after.”

“B-but…” Rachel tried to say as she looked down the right path with worry.

“Sorry, but I don’t have much more time,” I said while heading down the right path. “Thank you for your help.”

“W-wait!” Rachel called to me as I walked.

“What is it? I need to go,” I said, taking a moment to listen to her.

“I… I-I want to help,” she replied with a slightly unsure tone, her body starting to shake.

“What do you mean?” I asked, still surprised by how everything was going. “Isn’t this your, “pack” or something?”

“No, they aren’t,” she sighed with a frown as the shaking continued to get worse. “This is the fourth pack Rover and I tried joining.”

“Are you sure about this though?” I asked, seeing the fear in her eyes as her pupils shrunk by the second.

“I-I have to,” Rachel replied with an almost desperate look passing her face. “Even though I hate him, I would still like a chance to at least get my brother out of here.”

“In that case, I still need you to head outside,” I replied, pointing towards the exit. “This place is a maze and the sooner the guard can get here the better. You help give them direction and I’ll put in a good word for both you and your brother.”

“Do you swear upon your honor?” Rachel asked with a stern gaze.

“What little I have,” I shrugged before rushing down the right path.

“Well, at least I won’t need this right now,” I quietly said as I shut my head lamp off.

After a few minutes of traveling several tunnels, I entered a large hall of sorts. Crystals along the upper walls provided a stable enough source of light for me to see.

The tunnel ended up leading us to a small ledge higher up on one of the walls. Luckily keeping me hidden from the ten varying diamond dogs on the ground.

“There you are...” I quietly said as I looked towards a diamond dog that looked like a Doberman with black fur. He stood slightly taller than all the others and wore a spike studded collar.

And in his right paw was my element.

“Have any of you idiots figured out why that creature was wearing this yet?” the Doberman asked the surrounding dogs in a complete sentence. “There has to be a reason.”

“Monkey still asleep, Alpha,” one of the dogs replied as it scratched its head.

“That doesn’t sound right,” the Alpha replied as he began to sniff the air.

“Crap…” I muttered under my breath as I realized that I had lost the helmet somewhere along the way, the dog’s nose pointed in my direction. For a few moments, I stayed silent and kept myself close to the ground and out of sight.

“Come out creature, I know you’re up there!” the Alpha suddenly called out, drawing everyone’s attention towards my hiding spot.

“Uh… no you don’t?” I called back, fully realizing that I had been caught.

"Don’t take me for a fool creature,” the Alpha called back. “Either come down here on your own or I will send my pack.”

“Then I obviously have nothing to worry about,” I chuckled while crawling to the side. While he may know I’m there already, I doubted that he could see me.

“Hell, I made it this far without raising an alert,” I continued as I reached a large enough bolder to hide me while I stood up.

“Who’s to say we didn’t let you get this far?” the alpha replied, his voice coming from slightly closer to my location.

Rather than respond and give away my position, I carefully continued to travel around the room, keeping myself hidden.

As I moved, I could notice the rooms occupants making their way towards my last location. But luckily, the alpha was waiting behind the group with my element held loosely in his paw.

Picking up a small stone, I quickly chucked it across the room.

“It’s over there!” the alpha snapped as his lackeys rushed over towards the disturbance. But as they all rushed away from the alpha, I made my move.

Rushing out from my hiding spot, I put all my focus into reaching the Doberman as fast as possible.

“GAH!?” the alpha barked out as I blinked behind him and rammed him to the ground.

“I’ll take that,” I smirked as I quickly took back my element, putting it back on with a solid click.

“Monkey, get off Alpha!” one of the guards snapped when they finally noticed what happened.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” I replied while standing up and activating my magic fully, allowing the mist to flow.

“You can use magic?!” the alpha snapped in shock from the ground.

“Yep,” I relied before grabbing the large mutt in a gray mist and flinging him into the others and causing a bowling pin effect.

“Strike!” I cheered as I watched all the dogs hit the ground. “Come on, reset the pins and let’s see if I can get a double.”

“You bumbling buffoons! Kill that thing!” The alpha growled as several of the surrounding dogs stood back up.

“I have a better idea,” I replied while applying my devil arms and cracking my knuckles. “How about I put you mutts through those obedience lessons I promised.”

With that, the first two mutts lunged at me.

Dodging the dog from the left first, I grabbed the second dog by the throat and flung him across the room. As they flew into the wall, I quickly turned and delivered a kick into the first dog’s face as they stumbled from their missed strike.

“Like a boss!” I cheered when I saw what I had amazingly accomplished. Looking back over, I was just able to dodge a swing from another mutt, which I quickly countered with a powerful uppercut that sent it flying back.

Unfortunately, that put me right in the path of another two who proceeded to grab ahold of both my arms, a third making his way forward with a smirk on its face.

“Got monkey now,” the third said as he reared a fist back for a punch.

“I’m not a monkey!” I snapped as I picked up the two mutts holding my arms with the assistance of magic. Before the mutt in front of me could react, I pancaked him between his two comrades, putting all three to sleep at once.

“Dear sweet god, I love magic,” I couldn’t help but say as I turned to face the last of the group consisting of four mutts and the alpha.

“Stupid creature! I crush!” the alpha growled, his proper grammar beginning to fail him in his apparent rage.

“Hulk smash!” I replied with a cocky grin as I decided to pull a Hulk Hogan stance unable to prevent the following laughter.

“You think funny?!” the alpha growled before he shoved one of the other mutts at me. “Bring me its skull!”

“Uh…” one of the still conscious mutts muttered as he and the others look at me with a bit of worry. “W-we no sign up for this…”

“Good,” I nodded with a smile as I noticed their hesitation to attack me.

“Useless mutts,” the alpha growled as he pushed past the scared dogs around him and glared at me with bared teeth. “I took care of the know it all bitch before and I’ll do the same to you!”

“You better not be talking about my friend Rarity!” I snapped, clenching my fist while glaring back at the dog. I knew that this world was different from the actual show, so I was starting to worry about her actual safety.

“Enough talk creature!” the alpha snarled as he grabbed a bolder half his size and threw it at me.

With just one arm.

“Holy crap!” I called out dodging the boulder with a blink and watching it crash into a wall on the other side of the room. Unfortunately, that left me open for the alpha to grab me from behind and flinging me towards two still conscious dogs.

“W-woah!” I called out as the two surprised dogs caught me. “T-thanks for the catch boys.”

“Hit him you idiots!” the alpha shouted before the two mutts reared a paw back to deliver a punch to my face.

Without even stopping to think, I quickly ducked down as the dogs ended up knocking each other out with their own strikes.

“I guess it is true,” I chuckled while standing back up and looking at the two new additions to the stone floor. “You can’t find good help these da-Gah?!”

Before I could finish my sentence, the alpha had rushed me and picked me up by the throat, hoisting me into the air.

“I know what you are now!” the alpha growled as he kept a firm hold of my throat, making it hard for me to concentrate.

“Gah?!” I tried to gasp out as I tried to pull his claw from around my throat, only to fail as he delivered a blow to my gut with his free paw. The blow not only stole what little breath I had left, but also caused my magic to fail me as my devil arms dissipated.

I was already reaching for my gun as he continued to talk, my vision beginning to darken.

“Who knows what I could get for both you and the element?” the alpha smirked. “All I gotta do is—“

THUNK

Suddenly, I found myself free from the alpha’s grip as he let me fall to the ground. The dog falling beside me soon after, but unlike me as I gasped for breath, the alpha was knocked out cold.

“You like that?!” Rachel snapped as she stared down at the alpha, a two by four in her right paw as she stared with small eyes and heavy breath.

“W-what the hell?” I wheezed as I stared at the worrying diamond dog.

“You couldn’t wait for us?” Luna’s voice echoed as she came into view, drawing my attention to her and the group of guards with her.

“What took you so long?” I asked as my breath finally returned and I stood up.

“Do you know how long it actually takes to prepare a group of guards for this kind of excursion?” Luna replied with a stern glare. “We were lucky that this Jade Fox found us and led us here or we would still be lost.”

“Yeah…” I replied as I watched the guards restrain all the unconscious mutts. Even the two that had still been awake.

“We are most grateful for her assistance,” Luna continued as she watched the guards work.

“As long as the human keeps his promise,” Rachel said as she looked over at me, her eyes still small as she gripped the two by four tightly.

“Princess Luna, can I talk to you for a moment in private?” I asked the alicorn while giving the dog a nod.

“Of course,” Luna nodded as I walked over to the side slightly.

One we were a few feet away from the diamond dog, I tapped my ear to relay a message to Luna. Which she understood as a small silencing dome encased us.

“I just need you to tell me if anything the diamond dogs did before me and Rarity were taken was illegal,” I quickly said while relaying an obvious look of worry.

“They don’t have the proper permits for an excavation of this size,” Luna replied with a raised brow almost off handedly. “With this quarry being so close to a town and its depth, it’s an environmental hazard, and one of my guards commented that they expanded past what they are allowed without permits.”

“Okay then,” I replied, taking a moment to think over some things. “What about Rarity?”

“Apparently the dogs that took her earlier let her go with compensation,” Luna replied, her draconic eyes flashing into existence for a moment. “She is not pressing charges, but she doesn’t get much of a say in this matter.”

“Alright then,” I nodded, before sparing Rachel a quick glance. “I guess this is where I also put in a good word for Rachel, the Jade Fox. She helped me make it to this chamber so I could get my element back.”

“THESE MUTTS HAD YOUR ELEMENT?!” Luna shouted, causing my ears to ring.

“Y-yeah, but I got it back,” I replied as the ringing in my ears slowly subsided.

“And you kept your human form?” Luna questioned as she looked me over, a smile developing on her lips. “This is most interesting.”

“Yeah…” I replied as I looked at the brace.

“We shall talk about this more at another time,” Luna voiced as she looked out of the sound barrier. “This is not something to be discussed at length in public.”

“Okay,” I replied with a nod, noticing Rachel staring at the two of us.

A moment later, Luna let the barrier drop and we both looked towards Rachel.

“So… am I free to go?” Rachel asked with an uncomfortable look.

“Just give me a second,” I replied as more guards entered the hall from another tunnel, ignoring me as they began to group more diamond dogs against the wall. I was actually surprised to see Rover and his little goonies being led over to the group as well.

“Hey, bring that one in the red vest over here,” I called out to the guards.

Almost immediately, I noticed the growing look of fear in Rachel’s eyes turn to worry as the guards followed my request and brought Rover over to our group.

“Rover, right?” I asked as the dog was brought to us.

“What monkey want?” Rover growled as his eyes flickered towards Rachel several times without staying fixed. “Want take gems like whiny pony and others?”

“No,” I shook my head, starting to feel slightly sorry for him since I knew how Rarity could get. “I just wanted to meet you. Your sister here told me a bit about you.”

“R-right…” Rover stuttered with a bit of worry creeping into his voice.

“What are you getting at here, Christopher?” Luna asked.

“I just want to confirm a few things first,” I replied before addressing Rover once again. “Why did you and your sister join a pack that was digging in this region?”

“Join pack?” Rover questioned as he looked towards Rachel, the fox suddenly looking very uncomfortable. “No, we make pack. Sister say we dig and live here. Say this good place, lots of gems and no worry.”

“So, you are the one who began this dangerous dig,” Luna started with a frown, looking at Rachel.

“N-now wait a minute!” Rachel quickly began, waving her paws around frantically. “I-I followed all the codes and everything. When we begin to dig too much, I started to make the plans to move when these idiots thought they knew better!”

“Sister stupid!” Rover replied while glaring at his sister. “We find gems!”

“And now look at us you idiot!” Rachel shouted at her brother, anger in her eyes as she looked directly at him. “We got kicked out of every pack we joined and when I finally start one of our own, you and your retarded friends have to mess it up!”

“Friends not stupid, you stupid!” Rover replied with a frown, showing that he at least understood her. “Ra-Rah think so smart, but Ra-Rah caught too!”

“Ra-Rah?” I asked Rachel with a raised brow.

“It’s my birth name,” ‘Rachel’ replied with a frown. “No one takes a name like that seriously.”

“I actually like it,” I shrugged, earning a slight blush and glare from the fox. “Fits the world better.”

“We will have to review this new information,” Luna began, looking at the two before nodding towards Rover. A guard immediately responded by stepping forward and bringing the dog back to the group.

“Miss Rachel, was it?” Luna asked, looking at the individual.

“Y-yes,” Rachel nodded, a slightly worried look developing in her eyes.

“We will be reviewing this information, and if we find that you were telling the truth and following the laws as you said, you shall be free,” Luna replied as her horn began to glow.

“Thank you, princess, I pro-gah!” Rachel began to reply, only to fall silent when a collar appeared around her throat.

“But until that can be deemed, you shall be put under watch,” Luna replied sternly, glaring at the fox. “We do not like to punish the innocent, but we also do not like to played for the fool.

“Should you have lied to us, your punishment will be the same as your compatriots,” Luna continued, looking Rachel in the eye. “And let us warn thou now young one. The others have committed acts against Equestria and her citizens when they decided to take two of the elements.”

“And the collar?” I asked as I watched Rachel vainly try to take it off.

“It will prevent her from trying to escape,” Luna replied before tapping my forehead with her still glowing horn.

I immediately began to feel a spell take place. After working with Twilight, I had begun to develop a sense as to when a spell was being placed on me and how to drain it.

Except for the one placed on me by the princesses’ mother. I couldn’t feel that one.

“Do not drain that spell, Christopher,” Luna told me when she noticed my look of confusion.

“What is it?” I asked with a raised brow.

“It is the tether to the collar,” Luna replied as a small indigo line connected from the collar to my wrist for a moment.

“What?!” Both I and Rachel bellowed out as we stared at Luna in shock.

“You put in a good word for her, so until we have seen that she is telling the truth, you will be the one to keep watch of her,” Luna told me before turning to Rachel. “Before thou complains, we should be placing you in a cell with your companions. This is a reward for helping us make it here and helping Christopher as well.”

“By putting a collar on me?!” Rachel demanded. “This is species profiling!”

“Enough!” Luna shouted, causing the cavern to shack slightly. “As we said, we could easily place you in a cell with your companions, but we are not.”

“Right, right,” Rachel nervously chuckled as she gave a bow. “T-thank you princess.”

“Better,” Luna replied with an even look before turning to her guards. “Bring the prisoners to the Canterlot dungeons and have them wait for trial. Unfortunately, that will have to wait until after the gala.”

“Yes, your highness,” one of the guards replied before they began to lead the group out the way they came.

“They’re not going to get lost, are they?” I asked as they walked off.

“They should know the way,” Luna replied evenly before looking to the two of us. “We shall teleport the three of us to Ponyville. There are a few distraught individuals waiting for thou.”

“Excuse me Princess,” Rachel quickly said as Luna’s horn began to glow. “But will my brother also be put on trial?”

“Yes, he will,” Luna said with finality.

“Well, this will be fun,” I sighed as a sudden flash blinded me momentarily.

“Gah! My eyes!” I heard Rachel shout out as there was a shift in the feeling of our surroundings.

“Christopher!” a familiar group of voices shouted as my sight returned, allowing me to see the giant group of mares falling towards me with outstretched hooves.

“Thank Celestia you’re okay!” Fluttershy softly sobbed as she clung to my face, forcing my own into her soft chest. “I was so worried.”

“I told them you’d be okay big guy!” Rainbow replied as she pulled away from the group and flew next to my ear, my sight still lost in butterscotch yellow fur.

“Merph mufh…” I tried to reply through the fur of my overly affectionate marefriend.

“I am so sorry darling,” Rarity voiced out from my side. “We shouldn’t have left you with those filthy things and I shouldn’t have brought us to such a dreadful place to begin with.”

“When I was in charge, I at least made them bath once a week,” Rachel muttered, not realizing that she was being loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You brought one of them here?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, drawing everyone’s attention to Rachel.

“Tph Rr-Rrh,” I replied though my pony mask. Luckily, Fluttershy’s sobs had subsided by now and my speech ended up causing her to giggle instead.

“It is by our hoof that she is here,” Luna replied, keeping an eye on Rainbow Dash while using her magic to remove my face eater. “It is with her help that we were able find Christopher and those who performed the foalnapping.”

“W-whats going to happen to them?” Fluttershy asked.

“They will be tried for their crimes,” Luna replied with an even tone, although she sounded slightly winded to me as her legs shook very minutely. “But we feel that that is all you need to know.”

“You can hang most them for all I care…” Rachel mumbled quietly enough that even I almost missed it.

“Ms. Ra-Rah, or Rachel as she likes to be called, shall be staying here until we have ascertained her role in this,” Luna continued. “We ask that the seven of you keep an eye on her and ensure she does not try to leave until we know the truth of her involvement.”

“Don’t worry Princess Luna, we’ll keep an eye on her,” Twilight replied as she pulled away from my leg.

“I’m twenty years old, I don’t need some namby pamby ponies watching me like I’m still a pup,” Rachel replied with a frown. “And if any of you call me Ra-Rah, I’ll bite you.”

“And then you will be sent to jail with an assault charge as well,” I told the fox.

“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie!” the pink mare suddenly chirped appearing in front of a startled Rachel. “Doyoulikecake?Whataboutparties,becauseILOVEpartiesandI’mplanning-“

“Why won’t it stop talking?!” Rachel blurted out as she took a step back, pressing herself against the front wall of my home.

“Because Pinkie Pie,” I simply replied as everyone released me. I followed this by scooping Fluttershy out of the air and holding her against my side.

“I still don’t understand that,” Twilight muttered as she pulled the pink mare back with her magic.

“Yes, well, we must be returning to Canterlot,” Luna sighed while looking at all of us. “We hope to see thou after the Gala at some point.”

“We were actually planning to spend a few days there afterwards,” Twilight replied adapting a large smile. “We’re going to have a sleepover in my old room at the castle.”

“What about me?” I asked, hearing this for the first time.

“We wanted to see how you’d react on the spot,” Rainbow sighed. “Thanks for ruining it Twi. Me and Pinkie had this whole bit planed out and everything!”

“Knowing you two, I’d probably end up either pissed off, blue balled or both,” I grumbled while glaring at the two mentioned ponies.

“It involved a bowl of whipped cream, Pinkie’s flank and a tiny smidgen of itching powder,” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“So, one to get me blue balled, one to get me pissed off and another to make me crave pie and not in the Pinkie kind of way…” I said while trying to think it over.

“You do realize that you’re talking about this in public,” Rachel pointed out with a look of surprise. “Also, the princess left.”

“Oh…” I replied while looking around. Aside from Rainbow and Pinkie, the others were looking at us with glowing faces and slightly shocked looks. Fluttershy though was staring directly at Pinkie’s flanks from her position at my side.

“She does have nice flanks,” the mare whispered to me, drawing a blush from me as well.

“Why don’t we take this conversation inside,” Rarity coughed, directing us inside my home.

“Right, follow me,” I replied, leading everyone into my home and into the living room. Almost immediately, Rachel made to sit in my lazy boy.

“You put one paw in that chair and I’ll let Geralt have his way with you,” I warned the fox.

“Who?” Rachel ask as she looked at me. Her face quickly adapted a look of fear as a soft growl sounded off from just behind me.

“That’s Geralt,” I replied as I moved past Rachel and took my seat, shifting the butterscotch mare to my lap and enjoying the feeling of her soft rump pressing down on my crotch.

“Heel!” I snapped, before Geralt’s growls could escalate. “Don’t make me get the squirt bottle.”

With that, Geralt wandered off somewhere.

“Wolfs,” Rachal shivered as she looked towards the spot the wolf had once been. “Why’d it have to be a wolf?”

“That better not jinx us,” I muttered while beginning to scratch behind Fluttershy’s ear, earning a blissful cue.

“Uh… what?” Rainbow Dash asked as she took a seat on one of the couches with her friends.

“Forget about it,” I waved off while Fluttershy began to nuzzle under my chin. “Why don’t you introduce yourself Ra-Rah?”

“It’s Rachel,” Rachel growled back before looking at the others. “I’m Rachel, twenty years old and before you get into the mind set of thinking I’m a diamond dog, I prefer to be called a Jade Fox.

“Seriously though, diamond dogs are complete idiots,” Rachel tacked on with a frown. “Just because you’re a little smarter than the pack alpha, suddenly you’re a threat and need to be kicked out. Then even when you start your own pack, the damn idiots think they know better and take over, kicking you to the curb even though YOU were the one to—“

“Hey!” I quickly interrupted, noticing Rachel’s eyes slowly dilating as her breath began to shallow. “Calm down, your starting to lose it.”

“S-sorry,” Rachel stuttered as she took a seat beside my chair and took some deep breaths.

“Oookay, well would you look at the time,” Twilight said with a forced smile and uncomfortable look. “I should really be getting back to the library and… washing Spike, yeah. Have to make sure he took his bath so…”

And with that, Twilight quickly made her way out of the house.

“Ah, gotta start headin’ off too,” Applejack said as she began to leave as well. “Got an early day tomorrow, goodnight sugarcube.”

“I’m out,” Rainbow added as she followed Applejack out.

“And I do have to finish those dress changes,” Rarity muttered as she left as well.

“I’ve got party planning to do!” Pinkie cheered as she left, bouncing the whole way but stopping at the door way and looking back at me.

“You know, Chris, I wouldn’t mind still doing the thing with the whipped cream and my flank if you want to,” the pink mare smirked while wiggling her rump at me. “No itching powder included.”

“Switch the cream with melted chocolate and we’ll talk,” I replied while fighting to stay blush free.

“I guess I can give you that round,” Pinkie giggled with a blush before finally walking out of the room.

“What about you, Fluttershy?” I asked the slightly sleepy mare under my chin. “You heading out for the night or…?”

“Can I spend the night?” Fluttershy quietly asked as her eyes darted to the still recovering Rachel momentarily.

“For you my little ninja, you don’t even have to ask,” I replied while kissing the tip of her nose.

“Great, so you two are gonna be at it all night,” Rachel huffed. “Where am I supposed to stay?”

“For now, you can stay on the couch,” I replied with a shrug. “I have a free room, but its empty right now.”

“You can’t have her sleep on the couch!” Fluttershy suddenly inputted, a stern look on her face. “She’s a guest, so she can take the bed and we can stay here on the lazy colt.”

“I like her plan,” Rachel smiled while standing up and pointing towards Fluttershy. “So where am I going?”

“Here, I’ll show you,” Fluttershy said as she hopped off my lap and led Rachel upstairs.

“Five bits says she offers her a spot in the herd,” Gilda said as she walked into the room, looking towards the stairs. “I’m starting to think she has a problem.”

“It became a problem when I found out that she has asked almost every single single mare in town if they wanted to join,” I muttered back. “I’m just glad most of them find me weird or don’t find me attractive.”

“And the rest,” Gilda asks as she hops onto my lap and gives me a peck on the cheek.

“I tell them about you and they decide to walk the other way,” I smirked back before giving her a deeper kiss.

“Smart move,” Gilda smirked as she got off my lap and sauntered over to the couch. “Most of the ponies in town are complete pansy’s.”

“That’s not very nice,” Fluttershy replied suddenly appearing above the couch and looking down at Gilda with a frown. “Ponies just aren’t as violent as gryphons.”

“R-right…” Gilda chuckled uncomfortably.

“Did you just leave Ra-Rah alone in my room?” I asked the floating mare.

“Uh…” Fluttershy mumbled before a crash could be heard from upstairs.

“I’ll be right back,” I groaned as I stood up and made my way upstairs.

“Damn!” Rachel’s voice sounded from the bathroom instead of my room.

“Everything okay in here?” I asked while walking into the room.

“Sorry, I just knocked over the trash can,” Rachel replied with a chuckle.

But even though she said that, I couldn’t hear anything as my eyes were locked on her form.

Her naked form.

“See something you like?” Rachel asked while cocking a hip and giving a smirk. Without her vest and shorts, I had a completely unobstructed view of her large chest and lower treasure. Both looking surprisingly human compared to what I was expecting.

“Uhm…” I dumbly replied, unable to look away from her figure. Once again, it was amazingly human compared to all the others I’d seen so far and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested.

But the fact that it was so human like definitely raised some questions.

Questions that I hoped to get the answers to... some day.

“Your marefriend offered me a spot in your herd if I am proven innocent,” Rachel continued, leaning forward and placing her paws on her legs and pushing her breast together. “She said that all I need is your approval and I gotta say, after seeing how you handled those idiots in the cavern, I’m all for it.”

“Uh…yeeeaaaah” I muttered, drawing my eyes from her chest and giving her a blank stare. “We’ll… talk, about that some other time.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Rachel giggled as I left the room, closing the door behind me.

“That will be five bits,” Gilda smirked, meeting me just outside of the bathroom.

“Thanks for the cloths,” Rachel smiled as she finished buttoning up the shirt I had given her.

“Right,” I mumbled as I just stared at her. After her shower, she proceeded to tease me horribly with her tail and constantly pressing herself against me.

But that was it.

“You honestly didn’t think I’d have sex with you so soon?” Rachel giggled as she made her way out of my room, brushing her clean tail across my face as she did. “Check with me tomorrow though.”

“Dear sweet god…” I mumbled to myself, thinking the fox was crazy. “And I thought Rarity was a tease.”

With a heavy sigh, I made my own way out of the room and down to the kitchen.

“Sup everyone,” I said as I entered the kitchen with Rachel to find Fluttershy, Derpy and a wide-eyed Dinky. “Where’s Gilda?”

“She’s staying over at, Rainbow’s tonight,” Fluttershy replied as she helped Derpy cook something for dinner, missing my irritated groan.

“What are you?” Dinky asked Rachel, her wide eyes never leaving the fox.

“I’m a Jade Fox and my name is Rachel,” Rachel replied with a calming smile and warm look to the little filly. “Our species originated from the far east, in the lands you ponies call Neighpon. But I’m also half Diamond Dog and was raised by them in the southern mountains.”

“Really?” I asked, taking a seat beside the entrapped foal. I was actually surprised at how Rachel was acting.

“Yes,” Rachel nodded. “There would be more records of it, but most diamond dogs aren’t known for their ability to read or write and I’m unsure how much info ponies have on Jade Fox’s.”

“They can’t?” Dinky asked. “But how can they not know? Ms. Cheerilee is always teaching us about reading and writing in school.”

“Diamond Dogs don’t go to school,” Rachel replied with a slightly sad smile, drawing shocked looks from everyone but me. “Most find it useless and that it cuts too much into digging time.”

“But then how did you learn?” I asked.

“Like I said, I taught myself,” Rachel replied with a proud smile. “I found a few books when I was young and worked really hard to learn.”

“That’s really impressive Ms. Rachel,” Derpy said as she placed a large bowl of salad on the table. “Have you ever thought of teaching Diamond Dogs?”

“I tried…” Rachel replied with a sigh. “It’s what got me and brother kicked out of our first two packs.”

“You have a brother?” Dinky chirped out as her mother fixed her a plate.

“Had, is a better word for it,” Rachel grumbled with a frown. “When I needed him the most, he left me to follow some stupid…”

“Why don’t we change the subject huh?” Fluttershy asked as she place a bowl in front of Rachel.

“Y-yeah, you’re right le… you cannot be serious,” Rachel began to reply as she looked down at her bowl that was filled with actual dog food.

“W-what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked with a worried expression.

“I may be half Diamond Dog, but I am not a dog!” Rachel huffed as she glared at the bowl with a scowl. “Contrary to popular belief, there is a vast difference between the two.”

“Oh yeah there is,” I muttered to myself, remembering the bathroom incident.

“Oh dear, I gave you the wrong bowl,” Fluttershy replied as tears began to develop in her eyes. “I-I’m s-so sorry!”

“N-no, it’s okay,” Rachel quickly replied as the rest of us watched the confrontation. “Mistakes happen.”

“O-oh… I’m sorry,” Fluttershy replied once again, swapping out the bowl of kibble with a bowl of veggie soup.

“Fluttershy?” I called, gaining the mare’s attention. “Have you been feeding Geralt out of my regular bowls again?”

“No…” the mare meekly replied, giving a sheepish smile.

“I’m not cleaning that,” I replied simply before digging into my own bowl of food.

“Chris,” Rachel said, drawing my attention to her smirk as I chewed my crunchy meal.

“Huh?” I asked while taking another bite, my eyes locked on her.

“That’s a bowl of dog food as well.”

“This is nice,” Fluttershy sighed as she lied on top of me, the two of us on my lazy boy.

“We should really get to sleep,” I smiled back while giving the mare’s flank a firm squeeze.

“I guess,” Fluttershy giggled as I continued to massage her flanks. This continued for a few minutes before a loud crash could be heard from upstairs.

“I better go check that,” I sighed while getting out of the chair and laying Fluttershy down.

“If she needs it, I don’t mind if you stay up there with her,” Fluttershy yawned as she snuggled into the chair.

“Kind of hoping I don’t need to,” I sighed with a roll of my eyes. Making my way upstairs, I heard another soft thump before I made it to my room.

“Ra-Rah are you oaky?” I asked as I entered the room. Almost immediately I heard another thump, this time coming from my closet.

“Ra-Rah? Rachel?” I asked as I opened my closet door carefully.

“P-please… d-don’t,” Rachel stuttered as I found her cowering on the floor, tears visible even in the dark.

“Rachel, it’s okay, it’s only me,” I softly said while kneeling down towards her slowly. “You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”

“W-what?” Rachel asked as she looked around as if just realizing where he was. “Christopher? Wha… what happened?”

“You were having a night terror I think,” I replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I found you here crying.”

“O-oh…sorry for worrying you,” Rachel replied as she shakenly stood up. Leaning on the wall for support, she made her way to my bed where she took a seat on its edge.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked softly, moving to stand beside her. “I have it on good authority that talking about ones’ problems to a friend helps.”

“I-I… I just…” Rachel tried to begin several times as a slightly haunted look passed her eyes.

“Just take it slowly,” I replied while softly petting the top of her head.

“I’ve been having them for weeks now, I guess…” she began softly while laying her head against my chest, my hand following to continue the petting. “It’s always the same thing.”

“Take your time,” I replied.

“It’s not a dream… but a memory,” Rachel continued. “it’s starts with me talking to Ralph, the alpha you fought in the cavern.”

“But this was before he was alpha, right?” I asked, easily seeing where this was going.

“Yeah,” Rachel shuddered as her voice began to crack slightly. “H-he wanted to keep digging, but I said no and next thing I know, several of them jumped me.

“They almost killed me before I got away…” Rachel sobbed as she gripped my shirt with her paws tightly. “I was terrified because I had nowhere to go and knew that if they found me they’d kill me. Even Rover turned his back on me.”

“I’m sorry,” I replied, carefully drawing her in for a comforting hug.

“It took me two weeks to heal and all I could do was cower in a small alcove fearing that they would find me.” Rachel cried. “I couldn’t even make it towards the exit out of fear of them finding me.”

“And then I happened to pass by?” I asked, as the fox continued.

“I-I had heard about you,” Rachel replied as she pulled away from my chest, but kept her gaze low. “I wasn’t really sure, but when I saw you knock out one of those idiotic mutts as if they were made of glass, I-I thought I could use you to make it to the exit.”

“And that’s why you confronted me?” I asked as she finally looked up to me, her eyes slightly red.

“I’m sorry that I used you like that,” Rachel replied before looking back down. “I just wanted to leave that place.”

“Don’t worry,” I replied as I lifted her chin and looked straight into her eyes. “Your safe, I promise.”

“Thank you,” Rachel finally smiled as she pulled me down into a hug.

“No problem,” I replied, returning the hug briefly before standing back up. “Get some sleep.”

“I will,” the fox replied before shifting onto the bed fully. “I promise not to cause any problems.”

“Kid, you’re in Ponyville,” I chuckled while turning to leave the room. “Problems love this place.”

“I see somepony had had a nice night,” Fluttershy giggled as she set down a plate of eggs in front of Rachel.

“Hehe, yeah,” Rachel happily smiled as she looked over at me with a wide smile.

“If you ever want to talk again, don’t be afraid to ask,” I nodded pushing one of Rachel’s back paws away from my crotch for the fifth time. “Stop that!”

“Stop what?” Rachel giggled as she returned the paw to my lap.

“Rachel, there is a filly in this house and I will not have you doing something so inappropriate and end up tainting her young innocent mind,” Fluttershy said calmly, keeping an even look.

“S-sorry,” Rachel replied as she removed her paw and continued eating.

“That being said though, I expect you to help her get settled before you go to work Christopher,” Fluttershy then continued looking at me with a small smile.

“Arguing with you about this is useless, isn’t it?” I asked Fluttershy with a defeated sigh.

“Pretty much, yes,” Fluttershy chirped with a smile as she went back to cooking.

“And what is it I’m supposed to do?” I groaned out while standing up and taking my empty plates to the sink. “I’ll be in my room getting ready.”

“DONE!” Rachel shouted with a mouth full of food. Before anyone could say anything, she rushed past me and headed upstairs, passing a confused Derpy and Dinky in the process.

“Morning ladies,” I said as I finally walked into my place of work.

“Mr. Christopher, thank Celestia you’re okay,” Aloe sighed with a relived sigh. “We had heard that you had been captured by some filthy diamond dogs.”

“They did not harm you, did they?” Lotus asked out of concern, her eyes looking me over for injuries.

“They tried too,” I shrugged while glancing behind myself and looking out the still open door. “But there’s something I do need to talk to you about.”

“Oh, and what would that be?” Lotus asked as the two sisters shared a confused glance towards one another.

“I was wondering if…” I began with an uncomfortable smile while pointing behind me. “She could wait in the break room for the day?”

“So, this is a spa?” Rachel questioned as she finally entered the building, her head continuously swiveling around as she took in her surroundings.

“Is that a diamond dog?!” both sisters asked in shock.

“No, I’m a Jade Fox,” Rachel grumbled back as a reply. “Why do you ponies keep getting it wrong!?”

“Just shut up already!” I snapped back. “You’ve been complaining since we left the house and It’s not my fault we can’t go that far from each other. Fluttershy said she would send the letter, so just wait until the princess shows up and fix’s this.”

“Christopher, what’s going on?” Aloe asked as she stepped up and began to inspect Rachel. “And why is she wearing your cloth’s?”

“This is Ra-Rah, a Jade Fox I met during the diamond dog incident,” I began to explain. “She’s currently under investigation for some mining issues and Princess Luna has me watching her instead of holding her in a cell.”

“My name is Rachel, not Ra-Rah…” Rachel mumbled under her breath with a blush.

“She helped with a few things during the incident,” I continued, ignoring Rachel’s mumbling. “Unfortunately, it seems we can’t get that far away from one another right now. Tried heading here only to make it a couple yards out the front door before I realized that she was being dragged behind me.”

“Thanks for that by the way,” Rachel growled as she glared at me.

“I already told you that I didn’t realize that would happen,” I replied with a frown before looking towards my bosses again. “So, is it okay if she waits in the break room? I should have this fixed by tomorrow.”

“Well, I guess it’s okay,” Lotus nodded hesitantly.

“Just please don’t make any trouble if you would?” Aloe asked Rachel with an uncomfortable smile.

“I won’t cause any trouble,” Rachel replied with a sigh. “First ponies in town run away, now your bosses are scared of me. What’s wrong with this town?”

“I’ll tell you when I figure it out myself,” I replied while leading Rachel towards the break room.

“This town just keeps getting weirder, don’t you think sister?” Aloe asked as she watched the human and fox walk around a corner and disappear.

“We knew that when we came here sister,” Lotus replied as she continued to hold a look of confusion. “But he never answered your question.”

“Which one?” Aloe asked thinking back to a few minutes ago.

“Why did she have on some of Christopher’s clothing?”

“That was sooooo boring,” Rachel groaned as we traveled down the street. “I should have brought a book or something.”

“Will you stop complaining,” I replied while waving at some passing ponies. “While you were off sleeping in the break room, I got a letter saying that Princess Luna will fix the spell so you can stay at my house unless you’re with me.”

“But then I’ll be stuck in that dingy house all day,” Rachel complained.

“One, don’t call my house dingy,” I grumbled back. “And two, you’re under investigation right now, or would you rather be in a jail cell?”

“N-no, sorry,” Rachel replied, becoming quiet.

“Hey, there’s no needs to worry,” I replied, stopping and giving her a reassuring hug. “If you’re telling the truth, you have nothing to worry about. If not, I’ll still put in a good word to have you kept separate from the others.”

“Heh, thanks,” Rachel replied as she returned the hug.

“Come on, let’s keep going,” I replied as I released her. “I wanted to see if Rarity had any time left to make you some of your own clothing.”

“I could always walk around naked,” Rachel replied as she followed close behind me with a devious smirk. “I bet you’d like that, huh?”

“That’s your choice,” I replied with my own smirk. “Besides, it’s not like you’d be the only one walking around naked.”

“Your right, then I’d be like everyone else,” she replied with a mocking frown as Rarity’s shop came into view. “And I sure don’t want that.”

“Tone it down a bit already,” I sighed while walking up to the front door and simply entering.

“Hey Rarity, you up and about?” I called out as I entered the main room, finding it empty.

“Darling, must you really shout?” Rarity asked as she walked into the room with her mane in curlers.

“You got a date or something tonight?” I asked, noticing her accessories.

“Why darling, I’m simply preparing for the gala,” Rarity replied as if it was obvious.

“But that’s still a few days away,” I pointed out with a blank look.

“A lady has to prepare,” Rarity replied in a slight huff before looking beside me at Rachel. “Now, is there something I can help you two with?”

“Just wanted to put in an order for some clothing for Ra-Rah here,” I replied with a slight chuckle. “Only if you have the time though.”

“Actually,” Rarity began with a smirk as her horn began to glow. “I may already have a few things Ms. Ra-Rah can use.”

“My name is Rachel!” Rachel growled out in annoyance. “When will you all get that.”

“Come now dear, its unbecoming of a lady to yell,” Rarity replied with a frown as a small stack of clothing floated out of a nearby cabinet.

“A-are those what I th-think they are?” I asked as I began to recognize the shape of the clothing, doing my best to hold back my laughter.

“Yes, they are dear,” Rarity replied as she pulled out a long yellow sun dress from the pile. “I made them when I got bored and wanted to make something else built for your kind of figure.

“It shouldn’t take but a few minutes to make some basic changes,” Rarity replied as she floated the dress over and held it against Rachel. “I’ve been doing nothing but revisions these last few days anyways, so I don’t mind.”

“Thanks Rarity,” I replied with a smile, before looking back at Rachel. “Now you’ll have something better than my clothes to wear.”

“Just step over here so we can get started,” Rarity said as she floated the dress and pile to one of the work stations.

“No!” Rachel huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

“What?” I asked. “Come on Ra-Rah, it’s just a dress. I’m sure there’s other things to.”

“No, I actually like the dress,” Rachel replied as she turned her head away in a huff. “I won’t go over there until you use my correct name.”

“But I said Ra-Rah…” I began before stopping in realization. “Oh, you mean you want us to call you Rachel.”

“It’s my name, so it’s only appropriate that you use it!” Rachel huffed. “Ra-Rah makes me sound like I’m one of those other idiots.”

“Fine than, Rachel,” I huffed as she gave me a victorious smirk. “Just get over there already.”

“Well, if you insist,” Rachel replied as she sauntered over to the work station.

“I’m still calling her Ra-Rah though,” I muttered under my breath.

Author's Notes:

Today I offer you all another chapter as well as some news.
Good news, so don't go freaking out.
The next chapter will be the start of the Gala AND I'm planning on releasing it on the 4th of July.
So with that, I ask you all to quote the title and prepare for the chaos of the Gala.