GREEN
137
0
6246 33.95 KB 513
6246 33.95 KB 513
-
>manticores typically nest in damp caves with pooled water
-
>They choose such locations for easy access to water but also to keep their wings from drying out
-
>Many ponies might not be able to tell at first glance, but a manticores wings are quite thin so......
-
>Most ponies don't get more than a first glance, you mumbled to your self
-
>Skimming through the encyclopedia you begin to zone out
-
"Ughhhh"
-
>You close your eyes and take a deep breath
-
>Your mom and dad expect too much of you
-
>Spending so much of your time reading through dusty old books
-
>All this information going into one ear and out the other
-
>Thus was your life as the future ruler of the Crystal Empire
-
>Dad gets to lead the guard and hassles ne'er-do-wells
-
>He always has the best stories to tell
-
>If half the stories you hear from the guards are true then he is a very different pony in his line of work
-
>You have never really gotten to see firsthand of how he handles ponies who have broken the law but it doesn't sound like he gives much leniency
-
>Never really have talked at length about it, or rather he wouldn't
-
>He probably has some idea in his head that it is to "protect you from the horrors of the outside world" or some non-sense but you wished he would indulge you
-
>You don't get out much
-
>Too busy learning the "tools of the trade" as your mother and Princess-Regent puts it
-
>Speaking of
-
>You turn yourself from your thoughts and return to the book
-
>This was not an unfamiliar tome
-
>"Beasts of the World: Known or Otherwise" by one Distant Demeanor
-
>He was an explorer a very long time ago
-
>Even before the Crystal Empire disappeared
-
>You had read many of his works
-
>"The Zebra Conundrum", "Saddle Arabian Days", "Griffons, The Final Problem"
-
>You could go on
-
>He wrote from the perspective of his time
-
>Ponies were to inherit all that there was and the rabble and creatures that plagued these lands would bend the knee
-
>As time passed everypo-err, Everyone found more common ground than differences this sentiment faded
-
>For the most part anyway
-
>Nowadays Equestria is home to a number of non ponies
-
>Though they don't really have their own towns, or cities they can still be found in the countries more populated areas
-
>For that matter you turn to the table of contents of your book
-
>Kirin, Griffins, Wendigos, Diamond Dogs, Humans, Changelings, Draconequus, Zebra
-
>Humans...
-
>You haven't read about them for a while
-
>You read this book so that you had a understanding of the histories of the various creatures you might parlay with
-
>But you have never seen a human
-
>Youve seen all manner of being enter the court at your mothers behest but never a human
-
>Skimming through the book you read a familiar passage
-
>"What is it to lay down and die?"
-
>"To succumb to the short comings of the soul"
-
>"I do not know"
-
>"Nor do i think any other pony knows"
-
>"Our spirit does not dour at the prospect of hardships"
-
>"To a never-ending descent"
-
>"We move forwards towards a brighter tomorrow"
-
>"That is what separates us from the dregs and beasts of the world"
-
>"Both words describe the human experience perfectly"
-
>"Bestial, and lowly"
-
>"Hailing from beyond the frozen north, into the great darkened freeze, Humans wallow in starless night and cold"
-
>"A sunless expanse so bare that it numbs the mind"
-
>"Temperatures so low that even magic begins to settle and fade"
-
>"Capable of turning the smart and willful into mere animals"
-
>"Do not believe a word of it my friends"
-
>"These humans like to spout such tripe so that it may help them live with their own shortcomings in all walks of life but none of it is true"
-
>"Humans do indeed live in the barren wastes they so like to describe but it is not out of necessity"
-
>"Merely their nature"
-
>"Ever combative of change they choose to subject themselves to this torture rather than find refuge in other lands"
-
>"No heed or pity should be laid at the foot of the human"
-
>"They care not for this world or its inhabitants"
-
>"Barely being able to grasp our tongue, it is folly to conversate with such specimen"
-
>"They only ever emerge to trade for coal and other raw materials"
-
>"Never has a humans tired eyes gazed upon the luster of gold and silver, and saw its glory"
-
>"Only chunks of coal do they value"
-
>"Though it makes for quite the astute likeness"
-
>"Humans never come bearing gifts when coming south"
-
>"Always expectant of a swift trading of coal for whatever they can scrape from their lands"
-
>"Never a conversation of why they live in such abject dreariness, nor a regard for our ever so generous offers should they ever deign to move south torwards our border"
-
>"It is always the same line of thought"
-
>"They trade us bits of a glassy green ore called malachite, for a bounty of hardened coal"
-
>"They do not make small talk or any other polite gesture"
-
>"It is all business"
-
>"As soon as they are done with their material needs they leave as soon as they came"
-
>"Pulling their large wooden crates through the snow on long beams they depart back north"
-
>"Into their humble abode"
-
>"Good riddance I say"
-
>"Though we have no formal line into their dwellings a few things can be assumed"
-
>"First of these is that they are carnivores"
-
>"Large chunks of meat from all manner of being hang from their primitive carriages"
-
>"Never has there been a report of a human attempting to eat or otherwise harm another pony but that is hardly proof of anything"
-
>"Second is that they have at one point met another grouping of ponies"
-
>"Our first ever record of encountering them, had one of their number speaking a very broken form of equish"
-
>"Though never being conversationalist they could at least grasp the concept of a social encounter"
-
>"Third and most curious is that their seems to be less of them every time we have the displeasure of partaking in trade relations with the humans"
-
>"Though we can never be certain as to what they face in their homeland it seems that they are dwindling"
-
>"Or perhaps an even more concerning possibility is that they are slowly becoming less dependent on us for our supply of coal"
-
>"That their numbers swell behind the icy veil and prepare to invade our lands"
-
>"Barbaric creature such as them that are incapable of politeness are all the same"
-
>"Perhaps it is best that the humans go the way of the uncivilized"
-
>"To be buried in the annals of time"
-
>"One day far from this one, they could be reduced to fairytales"
-
>"That they left no mark upon our world"
-
>"A pony might one day stumble across their bones, frozen beneath the tundra"
-
>"Exuberant claiming the discovery of a lost species"
-
>"But alas, for all that walks, flies, swims, or otherwise drags its self along this world, let it be known"
-
>"Distant Demeanor saw it first!"
-
>Though there is more of his thoughts on the creatures, one piece of their puzzle is missing
-
>A proper rendition of what they look like
-
>Almost every other species had a very detailed rendition of their known anatomy and even what examples of what individuals could look like
-
>Humans only had a crude sketch
-
>A lengthy and thin being wrapped in some sort of cloth
-
>Two things coming out at the bottom that could maybe be described as hooves?
-
>Their equivalent at least
-
>Two more appendages coming from either side of the humans upper half ending in some kind of five pieced claw
-
>How strange it was that their body allowed them to stand up right
-
>Almost like a tree
-
>From where you can assume their head to rest, covered by that ever so obscuring cloth you can make out two beady and small eyes
-
>Just below them some form of snout pokes from the garment half covering its head
-
>The nature of the sketch being the black sheep always seemed a mystery to you
-
>Though you had no one to ask about it, it didn't stop you from wondering....
-
>A sudden creaking takes your focus from the book again
-
"Princess, court will begin soon"
-
>Looking up you see Dusky Hearth
-
>A trusted maid of the castle, and long time confidant
-
"Tell mom I am busy today"
-
>"Flurry you know I cant"
-
>Court...
-
>Reading about the histories of other ponies and creatures was much different than dealing with them
-
>Your mother, as much as she loves you, does not give you any leniency in regards to being present when court is held
-
>Though you only have to participate a few times a week it still ends up being the worst parts of your day
-
>Hours of ponies complaining about the most mundane things
-
>"So and so isn't respecting my opinions!"
-
>"My neighbor painted his house a ghastly shade of yellow"
-
>"Outlaw romance novels, they are corrupting the youth"
-
>All of it so mundane
-
"Nothing important ever happens during court" you protest
-
>"Flurry, you know I have a lot of work still ahead of me"
-
>Turning your head away from her in acceptance you climb down from your seat
-
"Must you always guilt trip me?"
-
>"Must you always argue?" she said with a knowing smirk
-
"Tell her I will be there soon"
-
"I need to put all this stuff up"
-
>"Don't linger"
-
>Giving her a nod you begin mentally preparing yourself
-
>For all of the gusto your father puts into his line of work, it doesn't measure to your mothers dedication to statecraft
-
>She knows every pony who enter her court and there problems
-
>Deftly she weaves her web of intrigue to keep everything in its place
-
>Maybe not as dire as it you are making it sound
-
>She just has a secret sense for how ponies feel
-
>What to say, what to do, and most importantly when not to act
-
>She is more a spectator than a participant in the court
-
>Nudging ponies into talking their problems out rather than ruling in favor of one over the other
-
>Guess it comes with being the princess of love or whatever
-
>Putting away the last of your books you make for the door
-
>The halls of the castle were normally quite busy but as you made your way
-
>Ponies, Crystal or otherwise milling about attending to their duties
-
>This time however your trotted alone
-
>A sinking feeling started to form in the pit of your stomach
-
>Last time things were like this it was because a cavalcade of griffon emissaries had arrived to meet with your mother
-
>You were there too of course but you were purposely not warned ahead of time, so the following greetings and niceties were very awkward
-
>You didn't realize complimenting them on the size of their beaks was rude
-
>It seemed like it would be something their culture would be proud of but alas not
-
>Though with a bit of help from your mom you both smoothed things over
-
>"Princess, please watch where you are going"
-
>You hadn't even noticed you almost bumped into a maid pony levitating a large silver platter over her head
-
"Oh I'm sorry" you stutter out
-
"Just zoning out a lot today"
-
>Giving an affirmative nod she begins to turn and continue on her way
-
"Before you go, do you know where all the other maids are?"
-
>She turns her head back towards you
-
>"The yakyakistan delegation is set to arrive soon and we are not at all done preparing for them" she spoke before turning away again
-
>If there was a pit in your stomach before, now it is a bottomless hole
-
>Yaks were loud, foul smelling, hungry and hairy things
-
>Its just how they are, they cant help it but your aversion to them is still all the same
-
>"Sorry princess I thought you knew but i really must get going, the banquet they have requested wont plate itself"
-
"Uhh yeah, sorry for stopping you again"
-
>Without a glance back she quickly trots off down the hall
-
"Ok flurry, focus" you mumble to yourself
-
>As you approach one of the few side doors that lead into the throne room you hear a loud crash followed by many hooves scrambling
-
>Nearing the door you hear muffled voices
-
>Prodding the door with your hoof you are greeted by the sight of a crumpled pile of wood and hay
-
>"You heard the princess, the yaks will not speak with us if they do not have their own platform!" yelled one mare
-
>"It was an accident!" yelled a stallion in return
-
>Two groups of ponies surrounded what seemed to be the remains of the aforementioned platform
-
>On one side was a group of castle workers, and the other, members of the royal guard
-
>"Just gather up all this blasted hay while we get these beams back on their supports!" growled one of the guard stallions at the front of their group
-
>"Don't tell us how to do our job!" jabbed back one of the workers
-
>Where is your mom in all of this?
-
>Taking a deep breath you step through the threshold of the door and clear your voice
-
"Please stop bickering" you said shakily
-
>Telling ponies what to do still doesn't come naturally to you
-
>Maybe it never will
-
>The guards make an effort to lower their head at the sound of your intrusion
-
>"Our apologies princess" spoke the de facto leader of the group
-
>Lifting his head he meets your gaze
-
>"One of our numbers over zealous inspection of the platform caused a wooden plank to give way and bring the rest of its bulk with it"
-
"Well please fix it quickly"
-
"The yaks could arrive any time now and we don't want them to throw a fit"
-
>Practicing in front of mirrors did not make the words of command come from your mouth feel any less awkward
-
>"Of course princess" he replied
-
>Looking to the worker ponies, they have already began sweeping up the hay and gathering it back into the piles
-
>Turning your gaze to the center room you cant help but notice the stark difference it now had compared to the usually elegant flow it previously held
-
>Large wooden tables take most of the space in front of the throne
-
>The platform that was being rebuilt was set center of the throne
-
>Large barrels flanked either side of the room near the tables as well
-
>Braziers hung from above the sitting areas giving the room a warmer reflection in its crystalline walls
-
>It looked more like a feast than a political meeting
-
>In this confusion however a single thought slipped your mind
-
>Where is your mother and what is she doing?
-
>She is the one who made you stop reading to come down here anyway
-
>Trotting towards the throne itself you find your answer
-
>Just past it, she is on the balcony looking down onto a parchment that is being levitated in front of her
-
>As you approach her she fails to spot you
-
>You cant make out exactly what is written on the parchment but it is very sloppily written
-
>Almost like a foals scribbles
-
>Speaking of foalish antics you ready yourself to scare your mother
-
>Your sweet vengeance for all the trouble she has caused you today!
-
>Lowering yourself into a crouch, you begin sliding ever closer to your victim
-
"Aaaah" you scream as you leap at your mom
-
>Unflinchingly she immediately seizes you mid air, in her magic and hovers you in front of her
-
>Without even batting an eye she levitates a piece of paper before you
-
>"Flurry now is not the time for games"
-
>"This is a list of titles and honorifics you are to learn before the banquet is held later tonight for our esteemed guests"
-
>The paper is filled top to bottom with different titles
-
>Some of them aren't even titles and just descriptors of separate feats the yaks prince had supposedly performed
-
"Mom, could you have not warned me about all of this a few days ago?"
-
>"No" she replied tersely
-
>"Apart of being a ruler is having to learn and think on the move"
-
"Surely you don't think I can memorize all of them before the yaks arrive!"
-
"The ponies out there are fumbling over themselves trying to finish setting whatever it is you have out there up" you reply just as sharply
-
>"Yaks much prefer the more rustic looks of a wooden barn to a castle made of crystal and since they are traveling to us, we are going to make them feel more at home"
-
"They sure smell like they live in barns" you mumble
-
>"You will be on your best behavior when they arrive"
-
>"No filly of mine will extend anything but their best hoof towards trusted allies"
-
>"Besides you have some time, the banquet wont begin for some time now"
-
>"There will be much talk before we satiate their appetite"
-
>She gives you a smile as she lets you writhe away from her grasp
-
>"I know you are always tense in these situations but I promise, just relax and whatever you do, don't make any comments on the size of their horns"
-
"You are never gonna let the griffon thing go" you say as you turn away from your mother
-
>"I'm only messing with you sweetie, I know you can do this"
-
>"But really, do not comment on their horns"
-
>"It is a very touchy subject in their culture"
-
>With a dismissive wave of your hoof you trot back down to the gathered tables in the throne room, paper in tow
-
>Sitting at the farthest one from the ponies hard at work you begin looking over the document of titles
-
>The mountain king? Conqueror of mole hills? Performer of the breaking dance?
-
>This was gonna be a disaster
-
-
>After what felt like an eternity you finally lay down the document
-
>Closing your eyes you try to parse your mind to find all the bespoke titles you have just read
-
>Aaaaaannddddd nothing
-
>You know what?
-
>It doesn't matter
-
>Grasping the paper with your magic you carefully fold it together neatly and tuck it behind one of your wings
-
>You will just do a quick check up when the yaks arrive
-
>Looking up from your corner you can see that the throne room now bustling with the castles denizens
-
>The platform from earlier now standing on its own, taking center stage of the room
-
>A plentiful amount of hay is being spread about the floor around and atop the grandstand
-
>Thinking back to when first entering, you hadn't even questioned its presence
-
>Do yaks walk on and sit in hay?
-
>What else might they do to the rest of their food?
-
>And food there would be if previous experiences were anything to go by
-
>The first time you had seen a yak was when you visited had one of the markets near the castle with mom and dad
-
>Even back then as young as you were, you remembered much
-
>Your mom had you nestled between her wings and dad had been making stupid faces at you the whole time
-
>While milling about in the colorful stands two things had caught your attention
-
>Two large, hairy and decidedly not colorful masses of fur
-
>They were looming over a crystal pony at his food stall
-
>"Yak not understand what you want!"
-
>The pony at the stall pressed his hoof towards the one leaning over him
-
>"Bits, you oaf!"
-
>"I want payment for all the food you have eaten!" his temper flaring
-
>The large ball of fur leaned his head towards the ground and bit down on what seemed to be scattered pieces of half eaten fruit
-
>Whipping its head back up to the stall a hoofull of crushed apple cores landed squarely on the table
-
>"There are bits, did this make happy?" it asked with genuine confusion
-
>The ponies anger instantly turned to a dead pan stare
-
>Breaking your gaze on the predicament unfolding in front of you, your father notices it too
-
>"Yaks...." he mutters
-
"What is a yak?" you ask before standing up on your mothers withers
-
>Dad thinks for a second before replying
-
>"They are like us but..more..."
-
"Loud?" you asked him
-
>"Yeah haha, but don't say that to them sweetie, its rude"
-
>Smiling, you both turn you ears back to their argument
-
>"These bits!" stammered the incredulous pony, scattering a small number of gold coins before the yaks
-
>Without missing a beat, one of the yaks immediately lowers its mouth to the stall and scoop the coins from the table using its huge tongue
-
>The coins disappear into the yaks mouth as it begins to chew
-
>"Blyeah"
-
>As quickly as they entered the coins are spat from his mouth
-
>Rearing up on his back legs the yak begins to loudly stomp the currency into the dirt, deforming the small gold tokens
-
>It is at this point the vendor finally loses his words
-
>Mouth agape he backs away from his table
-
>The yak moved forward with a gruff tone
-
>"You trick me!" he said as he leveled his head at the pony
-
>After that your memory gets a bit fuzzy but you think dad sorted them out
-
>Or maybe not and that poor pony got headbutted
-
>Either way you had met more yaks since then and they are all the same
-
>"Flurry what are you doing in the corner by yourself"
-
"Huh"
-
>Looking up, your dad was walking towards you
-
>"Stuck in your head again?" he asked
-
"No, I'm just trying to memorize all these stupid titles" you lie
-
>"I know your mother can be a bit overboard with her little trials and tribulations she puts you through but she means well"
-
"Yeah I know, just wish she would clue me in on stuff instead of just dropping this stuff on me" you say before motioning around you
-
"Makes me feel like some little filly who cant handle herself"
-
>Dad closes the gap and pulls you into a hug
-
"Not in front of everyone!"
-
>Trying to pull away from him proves to be a pointless task
-
>"You are our little filly"
-
>"Besides, you always pick up on this kind of stuff pretty quick"
-
>"Faster than me at least"
-
"Where have you been anyway?" you asked before separating from him
-
"Aren't you guys supposed to be getting ready for the yaks to be here"
-
>"Ill have you know we have been running drills all morning missy" your dad replies
-
>"We are about to leave the castle and make for the edge of the city, where we are to meet the yaks entourage"
-
>"I came to let you and your mother know before we depart"
-
>"Where is she anyway?"
-
>You point a hoof to the staircase behind you
-
"She's on the balcony reading some kind of scribble"
-
>"Still?"
-
>"She has been there all day!"
-
>Turning from you he begins to ascend the stairs before turning around one last time
-
>"Make sure you go over whatever your mother gave you again"
-
>"She wouldn't have given you this task if it wasn't important, she trusts you"
-
"Yeah, yeah I know"
-
>You attempt to resist rolling your eyes but fail
-
>Knowing your dad will soon depart to collect the yaks party you sit back down at your table
-
>Levitating the piece of paper from your wing that you had stashed earlier you take a deep breath
-
"Okay, lets try this again"
-
-
>Duke of cairns, Trotter of trees, Flinger of rocks, and a hundred other titles float very faintly on your mind
-
>You know you wont remember all of them but you will keep a hoofull that you can use tonight
-
>Levitating the paper you tuck it away beneath your wing again
-
>As you looked back up to the throne room proper you take in the sight before you
-
>The rest of the throne room at this point had been completely transformed
-
>More large wooden tables now lined the walls near the entrance and the whole palace floor was covered in hay and straw
-
>Castle staff bustled between them all, setting all manner of bowls and utensils. though you doubt yaks would appreciate, or use either
-
>A small team of guard Pegasus were busy hanging a large, flowing banner above the throne rooms doors
-
>A greyed helmet with a pair of horns protruding from either side was emblazoned on the center of the tapestry
-
>Just how many yaks were coming to the castle?
-
>Even some noble families had begun to congregate inside the castle grounds
-
>You have seriously underestimated how big this "political event" would be
-
>Getting up from your table, you see a familiar face
-
>Dusky Hearth was among the gaggle of ponies attending the benches
-
"Hey Hearth" you call to her but she doesn't hear you
-
>She is completely absorbed in her work as the castles preparations come to an end
-
>Before you call to her again you quell the thought
-
>Now isn't the time to conversate
-
>You don't even know what you are supposed to do here yet really
-
>Finding your mother would be the next step you take on the path of trying not to embarrass yourself tonight
-
>Turning, you make for the balcony she had seem to take a liking to
-
>As you approach, your ears perk up to a conversation ahead of you
-
>Peering around the corner you see your mother talking to none other than the royal physician
-
>"-guarantee anything"
-
>Only catching the tale end of the sentence you haven't a clue what it is they could be saying back here
-
>Shaking your head, you mentally chastise yourself for eavesdropping on your mom
-
"Focus flurry, what is with you today?" you say to no one in particular
-
>Rounding the corner you announce yourself
-
"Mom, I think i have enough of these memorized"
-
>The physician turns to you first before lowering his head curtly
-
>"Princesses" he says as he turns to return to the castle
-
>Your mom rises as you approach
-
>She draws forward and wraps you into a big hug
-
"You and dad are the same!" you exclaim, trying to escape her hold
-
>She laughs as she nuzzles your hair
-
>"We have common ground" she says teasingly
-
>Releasing her grip, you step back
-
"Well what am i supposed to do when the yaks get here?"
-
"Just stand at the door and greet every one with a dumb smile on my face?"
-
>"No of course not, your duty tonight will be to escort and entertain the princes daughter"
-
>"It will be like a little play date!"
-
>Deadpan
-
"So why did I just spend an afternoon learning her dads titles instead of hers?" you protest
-
>"Preparedness young filly, preparedness"
-
>"When you inevitably speak to him you will do it as they prefer"
-
>"They come from afar at our behest to ensure our relations do not falter, it is the least we can do" she chides
-
"Yeah i guess.."
-
>"Good!" she declares
-
-
>After you and mom were done talking, both of you returned down to the throne room
-
>Your mother being the princess-regent sat atop the throne
-
>You stood to the side of her awaiting your fate as a glorified foal sitter
-
>What would you and a yak princes daughter even have in common?
-
>And what was mom and the castles physician talking about while all of this was going on?
-
>A question for another time
-
>"Brr Brrr Brrrr"
-
>Trumpets sounding made you turn your head to the door
-
>Finally something is happening
-
>The doors of the palace swing open revealing your father standing next to a gargantuan example of a yak
-
>His eyes completely obscured by his auburn fur
-
>Two long horns coming from either side of his head
-
>Behind them, a veritable herd of his ilk in tow
-
>All of them, decidedly quiet as opposed to their usually thunderous selves
-
>Between all the guard ponies and yaks flooding into the palace you fail to notice your charge
-
>The yaks daughter is seemingly nowhere to be found
-
>The tables begin to fill with his entourage as you begin to panic
-
>You dad departs from the princes side and ascends to his position next to the throne your mom sits upon
-
>He gives you a smile as he passes you but it does not quell your uncertainty
-
>Surveying the crowd you have no clue what she even looks like
-
>You expected her to be smaller than the rest of his group but no such luck
-
>Before you let your emotions get the best of you, mom begins to speak
-
>"Welcome, dear guests to our Crystal Empire" she declares
-
>"We gather here today to ensure our mutual prosperity, and friendship continues unabated"
-
>Instantly you are enraptured
-
>Mom always had a commanding presence, having difficulty focusing on anything except for her speech
-
>"Though we lead different lives, our shared goal of harmony keeps us close"
-
>"May we tread this path together!" she exclaims
-
>The yaks prince raises himself to respond
-
>"Yes princess, to another decade of good times!"
-
>With a nod, all the yaks begin stomping their front hooves into the floor, crushing the hay and straw
-
>After this display of pride has ended the noble ponies in the crowd begin conversing with the yaks princes group as he steps towards the throne
-
>Your mother and father equally step down from their perch to greet him more personally
-
>Without giving you a glance they are gone
-
>You are on your own
-
>You have to go find this filly before you go crazy
-
>Or whatever they call their daughters
-
>"Excuse me, you must be Flurry Heart"
-
>Spinning around you see a yak about half the size of its kin
-
>But that's not all
-
>Looming behind her, something follows her
-
>A tall thin... something
-
>Long arms and legs, it stands motionless and quiet
-
>Five taloned claws, strange pointed snout (nose?)
-
>You have to angle your eyes up to see its head
-
>It stood well over the two of you
-
>Its gaunt eyes locked onto yours
-
>Audibly gulping you tear your gaze from it
-
-
"My name is Flurry Heart as you just said" you stammer out, mentally berating yourself for repeating what she said
-
>She gives a dainty bow of her head in return
-
>"I am Timbal, one of the daughters of Prince Rutherford" before doing a little twirl far more gracefully than you thought possible of a yak
-
>"I've heard much of you from my keepers!" She exclaims
-
"Keepers?" you ask wondering if the looming thing behind her could be one of them
-
>"They are like your attendants and maids you have here at your castle" she replies in an almost practiced manner
-
"Oh yes, heh, all part of being a future ruler no matter where you live I guess" you say trying to regain control of the conversation
-
>You are starting to realize that she was a bit more prepared for this than you were
-
>Raising one hoof to the creature behind her you begin
-
"Is this one of your uh, keepers?" you ask tentatively, afraid to insult whatever this is
-
>She turns from you quickly and raises a hoof of her own to the thing shadowing her
-
>"No of course not!"
-
>"This is my dear friend Anonymous, forgive his staring, he does this to everyone"
-
>Looking back up to the thing named anonymous face, you realize his eyes haven't moved an inch
-
>Still affixed to your face, vacantly as if he is wafting for something
-
>Averting your eyes from his you see he is clad in what seems to be little more than a burlap robe
-
"Its nice to meet you anonymous..." you say with a practiced and firm smile
-
>He doesn't speak but instead seemingly breaks his trance, giving you a nod before stepping back
-
>This just keeps getting weirder
-
>You want to ask if he speaks, and for that matter what exactly he even is but Timbal beats you to it
-
>"He cant talk very well but understands plenty!"
-
>As if in affirmation of this he lets out an audible snort
-
"Oh my that's very... peculiar" as soon as the words left your mouth you already wish you could take them back
-
>You sound so much like one of the nobles snobby foals its embarrassing
-
>"It might seem a bit weird to some but we understand one another pretty well, or so I would like to think anyway" she says while looking back to him
-
"I meant no offense" you assure her
-
>"Then I will take none" she says with a smile
-
>"Have you ever seen something like him before?"
-
"No I cant say that I have, what is he if you don't mind me asking" you crane your head upwards to look at him as if to ask permission of the question
-
>"He is a Hooman!" she replies in an excited tone
-
>Hooman? Human!
-
>Of course, you hadn't even recognized it because of the pictures from your book
-
>Without all of the layered clothing from the books sketch he almost looked like his own creature
-
>But now that you know, the resemblance is unmistakable
-
"I have read about your uhh, kind?" you try to tell him
-
>He cocks his head sideways before getting closer to the two of you again
-
>"Really?" Timbal asks in disbelief
-
>"I thought only yaks knew about them"
-
>"What do you know about hoomans?" she asks suspiciously
-
-
-
-
-
>Finally something you could tell her about
-
>Small victories
-
"Well I know they live in the Far North" you say as you give Anonymous a cursory glance
-
"They also tend to travel in large groups when they have come to trade with the crystal ponies long ago"
-
>Before you can continue you are cut off by one of Timbals hoofs striking the ground
-
>"I know all of that, I thought you might have something you ponies would have kept secret"
-
>Deadpanning at her you respond
-
"Well why don't you tell me something about him that I don't know then"
-
>"Hoomans cant use magic"
-
>What?
-
>Everything uses magic in some form or shape, it is one of the few common grounds all species posses
-
>Heck even diamond dogs eat gems for their innate magic
-
>"Its why they live so far north" she continues
-
>"Way up there magic isn't around as much"
-
"Well even if they cant use it, why do they live somewhere it isn't plentiful?"
-
>Before Timbal can answer anonymous leans forward towards you, raising one of his long appendages to his head
-
>He takes one of his clawed (hoofs?) to point at his head
-
>Watching his movements he then wraps his weird hoof tips around his face
-
>Looking to Timbal for clarification, you see she is trying not to laugh
-
>"She doesn't understand you Anon" she chides
-
>"He is trying to tell you the magic messes with his head, he cant communicate well when there is a lot of magic around so he talks with his hands"
-
>Hands? That must be what he calls his hoofs
-
"How does that work" you ask quizzically
-
>"Sometimes when we are back home and the wind is blowing just right, he can speak just like you or me, but it doesn't happen often."
-
"That's terrible!"
-
"Is there anything that you can do to help him?" you ask
-
>She takes a moment before looking back to Anonymous
-
>He doesn't seem fazed by any of this but you couldn't read his face even if you wanted to
-
>"I'm not sure to be honest, that's one of the reasons my father agreed to let him tag along"
-
>"He let me write a letter to your mother, Princess mi amore Cadenza, to ask her if she knew anyone that could help him"
-
>That must have been the scribbles she was reading earlier,
-
>"I thought she would have told you, seeing as you were to escort us tonight"
-
"Mom doesn't like to clue me in on too much of anything unfortunately for us both" you say with a grumble
-
>With a knowing smile she gestures to the room around the two of you
-
>"Well enough with the pleasantries, we should move somewhere else that isn't the middle of the party
-
>Looking around you realize that indeed, this whole debacle had occurred in the center of the throne room
-
>Yaks and ponies bustling around to their preferred cliques, you needed to find somewhere to entertain your charges
-
"Why don't I show you my book that has an account from an old pony explorer who met some humans"
-
>She squees in a pitch you would have thought impossible for her
-
>"Yes of course, I would love to."
-
>She turns to anon motioning him to follow
-
>You hadn't even noticed but he had slinked away to one of the nearby tables and taken an apple from one of the numerous platters
-
>With a grunt of affirmation he rejoins your group
-
>Turning towards the main staircase your group makes for the top
-
>"So how big is the castles library?" she asks excitedly
-
"Its pretty big I guess, but I dont really have anything to compare it to."
-
"Do yaks have libraries?" you inquire
-
>"No, certainly not"
-
>"My dad doesn't really like books all that much, he is convinced they are tools of the wendigos to lead yaks astray"
-
>That's.... certainly an idea
by ClericalError
by ClericalError