Several Days Later:

Twilight was happily waiting in the lobby for Arkantos to be checked out. He’d been given both the all clear from the doctors, and from Celestia. Now, the only guards watching him would be the same ones patrolling the town. Not only that, Shining was willing to accept him into the guards once he learned about Equestria’s laws and customs!

She couldn’t have been happier that he was being given some sort of life to lead. Though still, something felt… lacking in the moment. For now, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, and it seemed whenever she tried to think more about what might be missing something always distracted her…

“There you are! I’m ready to go.” Arkantos smiled widely.

Twilight smiled up at him, the man was a full six inches taller then her, and now he was handsomely clothed.

Celestia still hadn’t given the all clear for him to walk around armored up, but he didn’t complain.

She was now able to really get a good look at him now that he was healthier. Despite his distinct lack of being a pony, he was pretty handsome. His olive skin seemed to be naturally glistening, bringing more attention to his mere presence. His long black hair was tied behind his head in a ponytail, and now she could look into his strange fiery orange eyes, it was a color she’d never really seen in someone’s eyes before, but it suited him.

By now, thanks to Celestia’s public speech, all of Ponyville new more about his arrival. Celestia had remained positive, and Shining Armor’s speech about how he held all of the virtues of being a citizen of Equestria and a member of the ‘Guard’ (he’d left out the key fact that Arkantos was in fact a soldier, and not just a royal guardsmen, as well as him being a dethroned prince) in his world, he was to be treated as nothing less then another pony, even if he wasn’t one.

Now, Arkantos when he heard about that was livid. By extolling so many virtues and trying to demand he be treated normally, they’d more then insured ponies would hate him.

At least until he got out of the hospital.

And Pinkie showed up.

With a party.

He was greeted to a thunderous applause and the sound of fireworks. (Which thanks to Twilight’s coaching didn’t set him off.)

The hospital staff was less then pleased about the gathering, and the undue stress it’d put on their patients, so within moments they were attempting to break it up.

All throughout the small and quite open town there were banners and different signs put up, all of them welcoming the human and new resident of Ponyville to town.

Twilight and Arkantos had many, many plans already laid out. He wanted to get into learning more about Equestria right away, and what better teacher then Twilight, and of course Celestia while she was still in town?

The two of them rushed through the gathering, stopping for various ponies to greet him, including the Cakes, the Rich family, and a few mares (whom Twilight instinctively rushed him through) who wanted to take a gander at the exotic male now amongst the general populace.

It wasn’t long before the two were barricaded inside of the private section of Twilight’s home.

Her treehouse Library was separated into two distinct halves. The first, the very front of it included all the amenities for the library, and unless she decided to close for the day, was open to the public. The second half was her actual home, and that’s where they were greeted by her brother, and the princesses.

“Come, sit. We’ll all be here to help work you through some basic things… then of course you’ll begin some advanced studies.” Celestia smiled. “Since Shining is still here, who better to explain the laws then him?”

Shining chuckled quietly.

“Sounds like a plan.” Arkantos nodded as he sat down beside Twilight.

Hours later:

Most of the noise of the day had died down and now the sun was beginning to set. After a lengthy explanation of basic laws, most of which he seemed to understand right away. Even commenting several times how other then a select few which only really pertained to things pegasi or unicorns were capable of, they were the same as the laws he was used to.

Since Spike had decided to stay with Rarity for the night (at her request) it was now only Twilight and Arkantos left in her home. They’d just gotten finished with some basic customs and history, and now both were hungry.

“Ugh… thanks Rares… taking Spike for the night…” She grumbled, her stomach grumbling loudly. “Guess it’s left-overs toni- Hey! Where do you think you’re going we aren-”

“To make us food.” Arkantos laughed. “What else would I be doing?”

“Wait… didn’t you say pr-”

“Look, it’s either that or we could risk going out and getting mobbed.” He joked.

Twilight chuckled, “Right.” She smiled a little.

“Anything in particular you want?” Arkantos asked, leaning against the door frame.

“Hm… surprise me.” Twilight shrugged. “I’m not too picky.”

He vanished into the kitchen, and after only a few moments Twilight walked in to join him. She took a seat and watched as he slowly figured out how to work her stove. “Ugh… a campfire would be so much easier to work with. I… really don’t know how these work.” He groaned.

Twilight laughed, “You and me both… Um, I’m pretty sure we have firewood out back… if you wanted to, I could go for some barbecue.”

“Barbecue?” Arkantos questioned. “Dunno what that is.” He shrugged. “I was going to roast some vegetables… make some other things…” He opened the fridge. “Is this… magically powered?”

“No. It uses electricity from the grid.” Twilight shook her head.

“Huh… the Capital had a powergrid in some of the ritzier places… but they never had the best food. Fresh is always better.” Arkantos chuckled. He dug around for a moment, pulling some things out.

“Well… um, I know how to work the oven and stoves but… uuuh, as Spike put it, I could burn water.” She joked.

“And I can turn um… well from other’s statements… I can make shit taste like a banquet.” Arkantos joked. “Never tried, never want to. Just know i made one of the rations that tasted like dirt, and trust me I know what dirt tastes like, taste like fresh cooked veal… oh my gods just thinking about veal is making me hungrier…”

Twilight’s mouth was beginning to water. “Yeah… anything would be good right now.”

“Here, how about you teach me how to use these, and I’ll make us both a good meal?” He offered.

“That’d be great!” Twilight nodded, walking to his side as she showed him the very basics.

Nearly an hour later:

Arkantos had finished sitting the last of the plates out. Despite it being just the two of them he went all out in his attempts to, from what she could gather, impress her, and impressed she was, he did know how to cook, and thanks to his ability to control temperatures… well, it all came out perfect. She was munching on whatever she could, not even really caring what it’d do to her in the morning.

Arkantos was equally as hungry, scarfing down as much as he could after subsiding on a diet of yogurt and jello for nearly a week. The two really, really didn’t care what anyone would think of this, they just wanted to enjoy the great food and company.

“Mmmphmmmm… shhoooo goood… you’re definitely staying here… it’ll give Spike a break, and somepony to bounce ideas off of…” Twilight grinned. “Mmmnnn, are you sure you’re a soldier and not just a cook?” She joked, getting a playful little kick from Ark. “Hey! I’m only kidding.” She laughed.

“Mmmmhm.” Arkantos chuckled.

Twilight shifted to his side of the table, “C’mon. Y-”

Now she recieved some mashed potatoes to the face. And boy, she wasn’t happy.

“What the he-”

And he smeared some more on her face.

“Okay you listen here! Do that again, I dar-”

He did it again, this time her magic slammed the entire bowl into his face, sending him backwards onto the ground.

“There how was that?!?” She growled.

Arkantos pulled the bowl off his face, scooped up some more mashed potatoes.

“No. Don’t you dAARE!” She screeched as she was hit with two balls of mashed potatoes.

“What are you going to do?” He teased.

“I’m going to…” She began before grinning widely down at him.

He immedietly understood why.

“You got yourself into this… remember that.” Twilight’s magic immedietly held him in place.

“No… no, no.”

“What are you going to do about it?” She teased, lifting… something up.

“No! Don’t you daaAAAAAAA!” Now it was his turn to scream.

Author's Note

What do you think she did to him? :P