It had been several hours since we took over the factory.Camie and I were heading to where the temporary lodging was. I frowned as the ponies stared at us, Camie rubbed her tentacles nervously. I smiled “Relax Camie, I won’t let them do anything.” I gave the staring ponies a glare, they turned away.

Camie smiled “Thanks, it’s good to have you on my side.”

Pear Butter came over to us, she eyed Camie for a moment before nodding at me “I’ll show to your temporary lodging.” We followed her to a larger tent than the others, we entered the tent that was constructed. It had three beds crudely wielded together with three well-worn mattresses, a small bucket for a toilet and nothing really else. She frowned “It’s not much but it’s all we can cobble together.”

I shrugged “It’s probably much better than a cave. It will be fine.” Pear Butter nodded, leaving us. She probably had a lot of work to do, now that hope was finally here for them.

I walked over to the bed and laid down, I waved at Camie “Come over here and lay down.” She slithered over, joining me. I frowned “What was your family like?”

Camie sighed “My family didn’t like my need to interact with worlds. We were supposed to be indifferent, my family cared little for anything even me. I became an outcast among my kind. I was too cheery.”

I shrugged “I was an outcast because I didn’t care for anything really, just doing what I had too. Still it’s good to have company.” I sighed “You have been very lonely haven’t you, if you ever need to talk about anything come to me.”

She smiled “Thanks. It's good to talk about things with someone, I have had bad luck with making friends because of my appearance.”

I smiled “We all need someone, I just never realised it.” I turned to Camie “What are you plans after this?”

Camie frowned “I’m going with you, I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.” She then pulled out a chess board out of thin air, she placed it down. Once we started playing she won the first few games quickly “You haven’t played Chess much have you?”

I chuckled “Well no, I don’t have any hobbies. I was all work and no play.”I started to pick it up though, learning how the pieces moved with each loss. “Hmm, so that’s what that does.”

Camie smiled “Now your starting to get it!” As we played, the game more even. Still I was a long way from beating Camie at Chess “You’re getting better.”

I shrugged “Maybe but I am a long way from beating you.”

Camie let out a soft giggle “I have been playing chess for a long time. Universes have come and gone in the time I have been alive. I have mastered many talents, under many guises and learned so many things.” She then looked away forlornly “Yet anyone who saw my true form screamed in terror,attacked me or experimented on me. You are the first who accept me for me, as I am.”

I pushed the chessboard out of the way, I wrapped my arms as far as I could hugging her. As she started to cry, I realised something about her. In spite of her years and experience, she was like a teenage girl trying to find a place to belong. I held her until she cried herself to sleep, I was not going anywhere so I laid down and soon slumber overtook me. I groaned as I felt the presence of the sun, I felt something warm laying against me. I opened my eyes and saw Camie laying on me, I just laid there. This wasn’t so bad.

I laid back down, I was interrupted by the sound of plasma. I felt Camie leap off me as a plasma blast passed over my head blowing a hole in the tent. I jumped off the bed, as Camie was clinging to the roof. Pear Butter was holding one of the weapons I had supplied, several ponies carrying weapons behind her. All of them aimed at Camie, I shouted “What is the meaning of this!”

Pear Butter pointed to Camie “She was smothering ya!”

I growled “She was sleeping! I let her fall asleep on me, I just dozed off as well since I couldn’t move! It’s as if you are looking for any excuse to treat like she’s a monsters because she is not! Tell me this, if she was another pony would you treat her like this!”

Pear Butter frowned “No but she is not a pony. She is something that doesn’t belong here!”

My eyes narrowed “I’m not a pony either, does that make someone that you hate!” Pear Butter looked between us, she had no answer. I gestured to Camie, she nervously joined me. I pulled her close, the two of us leaving the tent. I asked as we left, heading towards the factory “Are you alright?’

Camie shook her head “I wasn’t expected to get attacked for getting close to you.” She then looked at me with concern “Am I causing you trouble? I mean, these are your allies right.”

I shrugged “I have only know them for a few days and most of it has been helping them with their problems. We share a common enemy, you on the other hand are a friend. We just chill out and chat, we could play some more chess if you would like?”

Camie’s eyes lit up as she pulled out the chessboard, we took a seat nearby. I moved my pawn“What other games do you like playing?”

Camie moved a pawn of her own “I like playing Chinese Checkers, Monopoly. I also like Crosswords, Rubik Cubes, Nonograms, Sudoku.”

I moved my king side knight, rook side “You like puzzles I see.”

Camie smiled as she moved another pawn “Yes, I like things that use my brain. Still it’s hard to find others who share my interest.”

I smiled “Maybe we could try some of those once we are done with this game.”

After I lost the chess game, she pulled out a Sudoku Book. She placed it on the table, I stared at the first puzzle. She piped up before I wrote something “There is a five in that column already, the five can’t go there.”

I nodded “So you can only have one of each number in a row or column.”

Camie smiled “Same with the boxes, each one has 1 to 9. It requires some real thought in order to complete the puzzle.” I smiled, she was so full of energy when she was not being hounded. I wanted to see her like this more often. We spent most of the day playing Sudoku, it was something I wouldn’t mind doing on my own.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.