//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Companions 
// Story: What Separates 
// by Zurock 
//------------------------------//

	It was a generally busy day on the streets of Ponyville.  Some ponies were out for a walk while others shopped.  Vendors in the street were restocking their supplies after the morning customers had gone through and the food services were getting ready for the lunch rush that would be coming up.  Twilight and James ambled down the street on their way to the Carousel Boutique to meet Rarity, having gotten up late in the morning.  Twilight was wearing her large saddlebags with a star design on the straps.  She carried the to-do list she had written in one of them and was bringing them along to carry the food they planned to pick up at the market later.
James was puzzling over the idea of magic in his head.  Having a night's rest had helped him get his thoughts a bit more in order and some skepticism and disbelief was flowing back into him.  Still, Twilight's own statement about not being able to have preconceptions of another universe made a lot of sense.  The basic things that make up each universe could just be different, literally.  Physicists could explain a lot about gravity, but they couldn't explain why it was a "fundamental force" of the universe.  Matter attracted other matter.  That was just an observed part of the universe.  In some ways that was as mystical as magic.  A lack of understanding about something can grant it that kind of supernatural aura.  He remembered a specific event from his childhood when he couldn't understand how something worked and his father was trying to explain to him that, "Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's magic."  His father showed him a phone, a device he did roughly understand at the time, and told him, "If you took this phone back to people hundreds of years ago, they would think it was a magical talking rock, even though it's not."  James imagined that maybe Equestria's magic was like that.  If scientists from his world were to ever come along, maybe they would set up laboratories and do research and eventually generate theories and explanations that, even if they relied on different fundamental forces of this universe, would make a consistent kind of internal sense.
Twilight was in a chipper mood, still confident that, with the help of her friends, James could adapt to life in Equestria.  There might be hurdles to jump but jump them they would.  They were already making progress by coming up with an alternative diet that wouldn't rely on such... hard to obtain foods.  She briefly wondered about getting help from her friends.  Some of them had witnessed what happened back at the collapsing tower as well so that might be a problem.  "No," Twilight thought, "I was able to move past that enough to see that there's more to him than that.  They will be able to also."
She caught a sense like she was being watched.  It only took a glance to see that she and James were getting funny looks from the ponies they passed.  The ponies who were also walking down the road would make sure to move to the opposite side of the street first before slowing down and staring.  A few even got a little more cautious, sliding slightly behind wooden stalls, carts, or curtains and shutters if they were watching from the windows.  But their faces and eyes could be seen peeking out to catch a glimpse.  She didn't like it.  They had never seen a human before though, so she hoped that after being around for awhile the strangeness of the sight would wear off.  She looked back at James to check on him, but he didn't seem at all disturbed.
He had noticed the stares, but he was mostly able to shrug them off.  He understood he would be an odd sight.  Also, this wasn't a particularly new experience.  In the past, having to walk down the street armed and in uniform could elicit some similar reactions from civilians.  There was also a side of it that he thought was almost amusing too.  He imagined a child casually leading an elephant down a busy street and the kind of reactions that would get.  And in a table cloth?  It was probably like the circus was in town.  He just kept pace behind Twilight, following her as she lead the way to Rarity's place.
As the Carousel Boutique came into view, Twilight pointed it out to James.  "That's where Rarity lives and works."
"Was she one of the ones I saw with you when I first appeared?" he asked.
"Yes, she was there," Twilight responded.  James seemed to have some consideration on his face of what that might imply for Rarity's reaction.  "Don't worry," she told him.  "She's a little high strung at times, but she's very pleasant, hard working, and generous."
They approached the door and Twilight gave it a knock.
The door opened a few moments later and Spike stiffly hobbled into view.  He had a few fabrics draped over his outstretched arms which he carefully balanced to keep them from falling off or dragging on the floor.  A measuring tape was coiled around his neck and he had several pins sticking out of his back.  "Twilight?" he asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Spike," Twilight answered.  "We're here to see Rarity about making some clothes for James."
Spike looked over her shoulder to notice James.  "Oh, hey James!" he said.  He started to lift his arm up for a wave but some of the fabrics began to fall and he quickly rebalanced himself to keep them safe.
Rarity's voice called from inside, "Spike, dear, who's at the door?"
He shouted back, "It's Twilight!"
After a few carpeted clops, Rarity appeared in the doorway.  "Why Twilight, how are yo-hoo-hoo-hoooo..."  Her words faded and her pupils shrank as she caught sight of James.  She leaned in close to Twilight, never taking her eyes off James.  In a hoarse voice that was probably meant to be a whisper yet somehow wasn't, she said, "Twilight.  It's right behind you."
Twilight frowned.  This wasn't how she wanted it to start at all.  It's cool.  Act natural.  She put on a smile and tried to push things along.  "HI, Rarity!  It's GOOD to see you!  This is MY FRIEND James!  I've been ORDERED by PRINCESS CELESTIA to TAKE CARE of him while he STAYS with me in Ponyville!"
"F-f-friend...?" Rarity fumbled out.
"Yes, FRIEND," Twilight said.  She turned back to James saying, "James, this is my good friend, Rarity."
James had quietly shuffled a few inches back, as if it would make him less intimidating for her.  Giving the best bow he could muster, he said as politely as he was able to, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rarity."
"Oh... ah... yes... how do you do..." Rarity nervously glanced her eyes around.  Then she leaned in close to Twilight another time and again with the raspy failure to whisper asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Rolling her eyes once, Twilight dropped some of the pretense in her voice.  "Yes, Rarity, it's fine."  She got closer to Rarity and in a correct whisper told her, "Trust me.  I promise.  I'll explain the details later, okay?"
Rarity cautiously resumed a normal stance and glanced back at James.  She slowly gave a large, anxious smile.
"May we come inside?" Twilight asked.
Without changing her smile or gaze, Rarity only creaked her head up and down slightly in confirmation and stepped backwards inside.  Twilight and James followed her in and once everyone was inside Spike awkwardly moved about the door to lean against it and shut it.
There was a tremendous amount of decoration on the inside.  Stylized columns appeared evenly spaced along the walls with intricate arches between them.  Golden bows hung at prominent junctions in the structure and the royal purple curtains had frills of a vivacious beauty.  There was no doubt it was the shop of a dress maker, though.  Various racks held examples of Rarity's work, while a small few choice dresses were more visibly placed on pony mannequins.  There were a few shelves lined with a wide mix of available fabrics and a large mirror mounted on the wall.  James was taken aback by how different it was in design aesthetics from the library.  Rarity stood inside, still not having dropped her clumsy smile.
Twilight began, "Rarity, we're here because we need your help."
Her smile started shrinking but still through her teeth Rarity said, "My help?"
Continuing, Twilight motioned towards James and said, "James needs some clothes and since you're the best seamstress in Ponyville I naturally thought you could help."  James spread his arms and legs a little to give a better showing of what he was currently wearing.
Rarity's silly smile quietly faded as the introduction of a subject she was passionate about began to take a slow hold.  Still nervous, she said, "W-well, that drab r-robe is quite tasteless..."
"Princess Celestia made it for me," James quickly chimed in.  He really couldn't resist.
Rarity frantically sputtered, "I-I-I mean, it shines... with a royally... elegant... simplicity!"
Twilight gave a small disapproving look to James but then turned her attention back to Rarity.  "If you have the time, I'd like it if you could make something for him to wear."
"Just something practical to wear.  Even one thing would be good.  I could switch between it and this until I could get more clothes," James said.
Staring at James, Rarity started to speak but she slowly trailed off, "W-well, I don't k-know if... I could..."  Her eyes began to narrow and her head crept forward.  Steadily, she saw not a person standing there but a possibility.  She was used to making dresses, but she had assembled so many other things in her time that she naturally saw the potential for creation elsewhere.  And this one had a size and shape that invited something new.  Not a possibility... possibilities!  She visualized the textiles coming together over his form.  Cottons draped in silks.  Satin weaving with buttons, ribbons, trimming, gems!  Every stitch, every seam.  It was all there before her eyes.  The infinite possibilities.  This was an empty canvas, and it had to be painted!
"Rarity...?" Twilight tried to get in touch with her friend.
Suddenly Rarity snapped back into a rigid stance.  "Spike!" she commanded, without averting her gaze.
Spike dashed over to her side and threw up his hand in a salute, flinging all the cloths draped on that arm directly into his own face.  "Yes, Rarity!" he responded.
The tape measure around his neck lit up as Rarity took control of it and brought it into the air.  She trotted forwards to James as Spike wiped the cloths off of his face and went to grab some paper and a quill.  "Legs together!" Rarity ordered.  James moved his legs together and held his arms out to the side for fitting.  Rarity immediately began taking measurements: legs, feet, waist, chest, arms.  Whatever she felt she needed to refine her vision.  At each measure she called out a number and Spike, ever diligent, wrote it down.  After several measurements and a few repeat measurements, she went back over to Twilight while she wafted the tape measure through the air back to Spike, where it gently wrapped around his neck again.
"Well, do you think you can make something, Rarity?" Twilight asked with excitement.
"Oh, I may have a few ideas," Rarity bragged back.
Lowering his arms, James said, "Something simple will do.  Something I could wear every day."
"Every day?  What will you be do..." she started saying as she turned to look at him.  But having gotten out of her tailoring zen, his sight started to make her a little nervous again.  "...ing," she finished in almost a squeak.
Twilight moved between them to get Rarity's attention.  "That's great that you can help!  I know you're busy, so whenever you have the chance to put something together, that would be wonderful."
"Oh... right.  Yes," Rarity replied, working to maintain her focus.  "Anything your clothes need?  Any requests, ah, sir?" Rarity said to James.  She was getting a reasonable hold of herself, even if her voice was shaking a little.
"Simple.  Practical.  Everyday," he repeated.  He thought for a moment more.  "And pockets," he added.  "Pockets right around the hips, at least."  He patted his hips to emphasize the location.
"Pockets.  Pockets..." Rarity whispered to herself.  She went over to Spike to check the measurements.  Only then did she notice that Spike had dropped all the fabrics she had been carefully selecting before the others arrived and started to scold him.
Twilight said to James, "Rarity is the best there is.  I know she'll come through with something perfect."
James nodded.  He didn't doubt Rarity's talent from seeing what was hanging around the front of her shop.  He just hoped she could do something other than dresses.  But he trusted Twilight's assessment of the situation.  The reaction Rarity had to him was a little disconcerting for him, though.  It probably couldn't be helped after what she had seen.  Still, she seemed to be bouncing back fairly well.  He was a little surprised at how much Twilight's trust did for her.  It made him feel like he could trust Twilight, particularly to explain his situation to Rarity by herself if need be.
"Is there going to be anything else you need soon as far as clothes?" Twilight asked him.
"Actually, yes," James said.  He used one hand to lean up against the wall and picked up one of his feet with his other hand, showing the bottom of it to Twilight.  The sole of his foot was grimy and dirt covered, with small pebbles and various bits of grass stuck in.  "No hooves.  No scales.  Relatively soft," he told her.  "These roads in Ponyville are not for my bare feet.  I could really use some shoes, or anything like that, if we're going to be walking around some more."
Twilight could make out a red soreness on the skin that was still visible.  Maybe Rarity had something immediately available he might be able to use.
James starting brushing off the base of his foot with his hand.
"No, not on the carpet!" Rarity yelled.  She rushed over, magically picking up a dust pan and brush that had laid next to some shelving.  Bending down close to make sure she could see every last foul grain, she started sweeping it up while muttering to herself.
"Here, allow me," Twilight said, taking over the pan and brush and continuing to sweep up.  "Rarity, do you think you have anything James could take for his feet right now?"
Rarity looked at the foot he was holding up.  She thought about the measurements she had taken.  His feet just weren't the right dimensions for most pony footwear she had around.  He would also want something with a thicker base than usual pony shoes since the purpose is to protect his sole, something not typically necessary for ponies.  There was only one thing she could think of.
She went near the front door and flipped open a small cabinet that contained a few inclement weather supplies like umbrellas and raincoats.  From it she pulled out a set of four boots.  They were beautifully made and of a very light gray color.  The soles were purple, connecting to similarly colored highlighting that covered the back and reached partially around the front in a series of smooth swirls.  They looked like a wonderful match for her coat and mane.
"Those are great, Rarity!" Twilight said.  They certainly seemed like they had the best chance of fitting out of anything else here.
"These are my customized Graceful Gale brand Snow Swimmers!" Rarity looked down at them ruefully.  "I just got them in a little while ago.  They're expected to be the hottest hoofware of this coming winter season.  I haven't even had a chance to try them on yet!" she moaned.  She picked up her head to see James again and could recognize the soreness in the foot he was still holding up, along with the markings left from the pebbles and other debris that had sunk in from his walking around barefoot.  Sighing while she shook her head, she magically grabbed two of the boots and brought them over to him.  "Here... try them on," she said.
James attempted to slip his cleaner foot into one of the boots.  Getting past the top of the boot was easy.  It was wide enough to allow a whole hoof through.  It took a bit of force to wedge all the way in, but the boot had enough space to make it more than possible.
"How does it fit?" Twilight asked.
"A little tight, but not uncomfortable enough that I couldn't put up with some walking in them," he responded.  Twilight held the dust pan up for him while he cleaned off his other foot into it and then he put the other boot on as well.  He took a few steps back and forth.  "These should work," he said.  "Thank you, Miss Rarity.  I promise to be careful with them until I can get something of my own."
"Yes, thank you Rarity!" Twilight added.  "You've been a big help.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!"
"You're welcome..." Rarity said with a little smile.  It was nice to help out.  But, goodness, the boots didn't go with that robe at all.  It was such a visually disgusting combination.  Her poor boots!  She wished they didn't have to be seen like that.
Twilight started heading to the door with James following just behind her.  "We don't want to take any more of your time," Twilight said to Rarity.  "I promise I'll catch up with you later, okay?  Thanks again!  Bye Spike!"  She opened the door and went out.  James gave a wave and a thanks as he followed after her.
"Bye guys!" Spike shouted after them, giving a wave and consequently dropping all the fabrics he had just draped over that arm again.





With Rarity set to handle the clothing, the next major thing to accomplish was getting food for James to eat.  It was almost noon and he hadn't eaten since just before he left Canterlot Castle last evening.  They went to the food section of the marketplace where farmers and redistributors were selling every edible thing grown in or brought into Ponyville.  In what came as another half-surprise, James was quick to recognize a lot of vegetables and fruits on display.  Every now and then there was a plant he couldn't make heads or tails of, but it sure seemed like changing universes didn't do too much to crop availability.  How convenient.  He put the Twilight Sparkle mantra to work again.  Who knows, maybe carrots are just an existential constant.
The ponies at the market, like the others they had passed by before, had varying degrees of uncomfortableness around James.  Most of the other shoppers gave him a wide berth.  Some vendors were reluctant to talk to him so Twilight handled all the interaction and, in general, any given vendor warmed up once they realized they would be getting a sale.  At least one of them was particularly amicable, but she did ask Twilight if the food was for her "funny looking pet there."  Twilight really hoped making regular trips to market with James would wear away at this kind of behavior.
They spent awhile moving between stalls, picking an assortment of foods out.  Each new selection available reminded James of things that the vegetarians he had known once talked about.  Twilight used the list she had brought to keep a tally of what had been picked up and write down things that James remembered or which couldn't be found.  She also tried to make what suggestions she could based on her own observations of what he said and everything they had been purchasing.  When she suggested hay, James was pretty quick shoot it down, saying it probably wouldn't agree with him.
After a time, Twilight's saddlebags had filled and James was carrying a full extra bag.  At that point they double-checked the list one more time.  It looked like they had more than enough to make a good start, and Twilight was confident that between what was locally available and what she could order in from Canterlot there would be enough variety to get by.  James expressed some concern for the expense but Twilight assured him that Princess Celestia would cover the costs of feeding him.  They started to make their way out of the market and back to the library.
"You know," Twilight said as they walked on, "I think after we sort all this food and eat, I should take you around and introduce you to the rest of my friends."  Meeting them was something that was bound to happen sooner or later, and it might as well be sooner.  They all had things they could contribute.
"Alright, if you say so," James said with some hesitation.  He recalled Rarity's initial reaction.
Twilight tried to assure him, "They're all very-" but she was interrupted when she heard a familiar voice.  Just ahead, a certain brash pegasus with a vibrant mane was doing some shopping of her own.  Or at least, she appeared to be shopping.
"So there I was, soaring dangerously through the blasts of lightning shooting from the mysterious metal tower," Rainbow Dash was telling the young, disinterested stallion running the stand she was at.  "They shot out all around me, but I dodged and I swooped and I rolled, and I got through without a scratch!"
"That's great, ma'am," the vendor said indifferently.  "Are you going to buy anything?"
"Wait wait, I'm not done yet," she said.  "So then-"
"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called, approaching her.
The vendor looked relieved as Rainbow Dash broke off from him.  "Oh, hey Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, before noticing James.  She took a partially defensive stance and eyed him suspiciously.
Like before, Twilight tried to push on through as if everything was completely natural.  "Rainbow Dash, this is my new friend James.  James, this is Rainbow Dash.  She's the one who pulled you out of the collapsing tower."
There was some mutual recognition.  James remembered her as one of the ponies he had seen after that event.  Rainbow Dash remembered him from rescuing him and what she saw afterwards.  That's what was making her cautious, but Twilight's behavior had her a little confused.
"I should thank you.  You saved my life.  So... thank you, Rainbow Dash," James said, giving a bow.
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow but relaxed her stance.  "Uh... Yeah.  Sure.  I'm a hero like that," she said, somewhat perplexed.  She looked over at Twilight.  "What's going on, Twilight?"
Twilight quickly explained Princess Celestia's instructions.  That James would be staying with her in Ponyville at the library.
"And... you're using him to go shopping?" Rainbow Dash said, gazing at James suspiciously again.
"We were picking up some food for him since a usual pony diet wouldn't be any good for him," Twilight said.  "We are heading back to the library now to eat.  Why don't you join us?"
"Can't," Rainbow Dash replied.  "I gotta pick up something to eat for Tank."  She always remembered to feed her pet tortoise, even if she didn't always have great punctuality with it.  Patience was one the little guy's strengths though, so he was pretty forgiving about that.
James was remaining silent at this point.  He knew Rainbow Dash was scrutinizing him, but she was being much more bold about the whole situation than Rarity was.  He didn't want to make a move that might get a more charged reaction out of her, so he felt inaction was a better course than action.  Twilight would hopefully be able to handle things.
Rainbow Dash got up closer to him to size him up, scanning him up and down.  He didn't look particularly threatening or dangerous.  Especially not in that dumb robe or those goofy boots.  Still, she was worried about her friend.  "Is everything alright?" she asked Twilight.
"Of course, everything's fine," she responded reassuringly.  "Listen, Rainbow Dash, I'll explain everything in detail the first chance I get."  She didn't want there to be any problems but these introductions weren't going the way she had imagined them.
"Allllright..." Rainbow Dash said, almost to herself, as she backed off a few steps.  "Twilight, if everything's ever NOT fine, you come get me."
"Thanks.  I guess?"  The sentiment was greatly appreciated, even though Twilight completely doubted its necessity.  "I guess we'll see you later," she said.
"Later, Twilight.  Later, uh, you," Rainbow Dash said, acknowledging James.  Twilight started to move on and James followed behind her with a quick wave to Rainbow Dash.  Rainbow Dash watched them go, still with an alert gaze, before finally turning back to the food vendor and saying, "Now, where was I?"
He panicked.  "Uh, you had just completely finished your story and was about to buy something!" he nervously suggested.





Twilight and James continued walking on back towards the library.  Once out of range of Rainbow Dash, Twilight said, "I'm sorry about that."
But James wasn't really bothered.  "No, don't be.  Your friend was just looking out for you," he told Twilight.  Having a general understanding of ponies' feelings on violence thanks to his talk with Twilight last evening, he wasn't happy putting the other ponies in a position he knew they would probably be uncomfortable in.  But he understood their reaction.  "She's right to be wary.  There's prudence in not being so trusting of strangers.  You can't know the motivation of everyone you meet."  
Saying that irked Twilight.  He almost sounded like he was implicating himself in having underhanded motives.  "You have to have good faith in the different ponies you meet.  Even strangers.  Trust has to begin somewhere," she told him.
"Trust is a very valuable thing.  If you give it to everyone you meet, then what value would it have?" he asked rhetorically.  "I think your friends understand that and that's why they're hesitant to trust me.  It's fine.  I'm not bothered by it."
Twilight had a brief, doubtful moment.  "But they can trust me," she murmured.
"I got the impression that they do trust you.  Very, very much," he told her in surprise.  "They were fast to take your opinion to heart.  I thought they had a lot of confidence in what you had to say."  Considering Twilight's pained reactions last night whenever she really thought about violence and war, James was still stunned with the relatively more amount of stride Rarity and Rainbow Dash had taken things.  And they hadn't been directly commanded by a mentor, by the ruler of ponies, to care for him.  They didn't have any stake in him outside of respecting Twilight.  "Given what they had seen, I think that really says a lot."
Hearing that relieved Twilight.  Things had not gone completely the way she had felt they would at first, but it was reassuring to hear someone else say that her confidence in her friends hadn't truly been misplaced.  She still didn't like James' take on the situation, however.  "If you have a hard time placing trust in others how can you rely on them when you need to?" she asked.
"It isn't about difficulty in placing trust.  You have to use caution."  It seemed like a straight forward concept to him.  Stranger danger.  In fact, some of the leeway that had been extended to him worried him a little bit.  What if someone else had come through who had a real silver tongue?  Their ability to exploit the ponies could be disastrous depending on their intent.  "Build trust slowly over time.  Both individuals have to work at it to give it meaning because it shatters like glass."
"That still doesn't start it," she complained.  "If everypony is too reserved to start trusting anypony, than no pony will trust anypony.  It's a mutual thing."
"It is.  Both sides have to work at building it," he said again.
"No, I mean, if you don't try to trust others they might see that and even reflect it back at you," she said.  "It can't exist where you aren't willing to try and make it exist."
There was a point there, James admitted to himself.  If every person you meet is a stranger at first and you don't trust strangers, who do you trust?  There has to be a moment of integrity, where someone exposes themselves and that builds the faith in each other to begin trust.  "You just have to do your best," he said, "to give what little you can so they can prove their reliability bit by bit.  It's a brittle thing that you have to guard with care.  If they fail to live up to that trust it breaks."
For Twilight, the glass metaphor was troubling too.  Trust isn't a weakness between two, it's a strength.  "You have to believe in your friends.  It isn't really trust if you let a failure of theirs break what you have between each other."  It's because you have faith in them that you must forgive them if that time comes.  That's how she really felt.
He replied, "There's an expression that goes, 'Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.'  To have a dependent relationship, you always have to prove your trust to each other."
"But that's what I'm saying!  If you're always having to prove your trust, then it isn't really trust at all."  It seemed so much worse, actually.  Then it's like suspicion.  Leaving reminders to each other because you don't believe that they believe in you.
James thought they were getting off track.  This was supposed to be about Twilight's friends exercising proper caution because they saw him do a very unponylike thing.  Also, he's the first human they've ever seen.  A little doubt could carry a lot of safety.  Not that he didn't appreciate Twilight putting herself out there so much for his sake, bringing him into her home, working with him to get food, and so on.  But there was never a time to be so careless as to put so much trust into a person you didn't build it with.
Wait, what was he saying?  He's been in life-or-death situations where, sometimes, he has had to trust his life to people he had never met before.  Sometimes it was even trusting that people elsewhere whom he had never met at all had done their jobs.  Other people he didn't know had put their lives in his hands.  But surely the extreme nature of those circumstances changed things?  He wasn't talking about who he personally chooses to relate with anymore.  Of course, here he was putting so much trust in Twilight.  But even if there wasn't enemy fire this still counted as an extreme circumstance, right?  It's a completely new world.  He could die without their help.
Twilight spoke up, asking him sincerely, "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," he said.
"So, how have I earned your trust?"
He jiggled the bag he was carrying.  "Food," he said.  He kicked out a little with one of his legs, Rarity's boots still on his feet.  "Clothes."  He nodded his head forwards towards the library that was coming into view.  "Shelter."  And it was true.  She was really pulling through for him, and he wasn't particularly doing anything to prove that she should trust him.  So, he gave her the honest truth of what he was just thinking about.  "I trusted you before all that, though..."
Given what he had been saying, that was curious to her.  "Why?" she asked.
"Because I had to," he said.  "I wouldn't make it on my own."
She wasn't sure how to take that.  It wasn't comfortable because it sounded like he was trying to excuse himself.  That he gave his trust but only because the situation was twisting his leg.  In that light he wouldn't have really been giving his trust at all.  She did feel better that, at least for his part, he was trusting her more legitimately now.
They took the last steps to reach the library door.  James spoke up about something else that had been on his mind.  "Boy, I am hungry!" he exclaimed.
Twilight gave a little laugh.  "On this, I couldn't agree more," she said as she opened the door.