Chapter Preview: How To Train Your Stardust · 8:40pm Jun 7th, 2017
The scene below contains the opening to this week's exciting chapter of AJBS. Stardust and Yaks! The loudmouthed wilder beasts against the critically vocal warrior... Nothing will go wrong there, right?! Enjoy!
What are the chances Twilight's still pacing around like a nervous wreck?
High.
Yep. Even though I assured her that, should everything go according to plan, all will go fine with the yaks' visit. Yep, we've reached the episode where some more furry animals similar to the buffaloes journey to Ponyville from Yakyakistan - I'm not even gonna bother - to make a new peace with friendship alongside ponykind. The alicorn practically begged for me, pleaded that I spoil future knowledge of this particular event to help things go smoothly for the arrival of the Yak Prince, and he enjoyed the trip to Ponyville.
In response, I had simply walked up to Pinkie, and told her, "Show them the secret room." The Earth Pony eventually understood what I was referring to. Revelations were shared, gratitude expressed in the form of joyful tears, and I basically resolved the episode before it become an issue.
Ah, the sound of Spike using the trumpet. Better hurry up.
The Ponyville party was still under development, but Twilight insisted we at least welcome the visitors to the castle firsthand with decorations and food similar to their homeland. I had cringed at that; Twilight's extensive research doesn't always benefit her. Yet my warnings fell on deaf ears to the mare, so I instead cautioned her about the... Excessive behaviour of the yaks when don't go their way.
And I swear to Christ, if those overgrown perfectionists decide to suddenly start trashing the foyer before I get there, I will-
The sound of outraged roars.
"Oh son of a [BEEP]." And just like that, my pace quickened, arriving through the left hallway of the first floor and into the being-trashed foyer, greeted by the sight of six stunned ponies, a petrified dragon, and three yaks smashing up the place. With an irritated growl, a brief glare cast my friend's way. "I leave for like five minutes!"
I warned her about this!
Now the yaks were storming around the place, stamping and crushing everything in sight with their hooves, horns and teeth. Everything that Twilight and the rest put effort into. It'll take days to fix everything in here!
Idle brutes... Though their strength is noteworthy.
Well I'm glad you improve, your Highness. Now excuse me while I sort this mess out. It's time for Plan B.
What are you planning? Rant at them?
...
"HEY! YOU OVERGROWN FURBALLS! CEASE THIS AT ONCE!"
And it successfully did the trick, the three large stooges paused from their oncoming storm, glaring in my direction from behind the fringes. The Prince, Rutherford - fur a lighter brown than his two escorts - spoke on behalf of the three in total, "YAKS TOO MAD! YAK FOOD NOT PERFECT! THEY MAKE US EAT DIRT!"
"YOU WILL EAT DIRT IF YOU CARRY ON!" It was only a few seconds before our faces were within inches of one another, a heated stare down commencing. Human vs Yak. Take your bets. My voice was as loud, meeting the Prince's tone head-on, "YOU APPRECIATE EFFORT PONIES PUT INTO, THEY KNOW NOT BETTER!"
"YAK FOOD TASTE NOT LIKE YAK FOOD!"
"THEN SHOW HOW TO MAKE YAK FOOD! TEACH FRIENDS TO MAKE NEW THINGS! THAT'S HOW FRIENDSHIP WORKS!"
Now it was resorted to a growling contest, our faces literally pushing against one another in display for dominance. Please, I faced worse than what this ungrateful Prince had to offer. A flash of pink before a certain lavender pony attempted to interject between, vainly trying to push me away, "Jack, we don't need to make things worse...!" My hoof caught the mare before she fell at my sudden leaning back, Twilight's gaze then focused on the Prince. "I'm sorry about that, sometimes he can be a little crass-"
"WHAT IS PONY'S NAME?"
"Huh?" Twilight blinked. "Oh. I'm Twilight Sparkle, your Highness, and I apologize profusely for the less-than-ideal first impressions-"
The yak stamped the ground impatiently, and instinctively, I reached forward between them and shielded the mare. Rutherford pointed then straight in my face. "NO. YOUR NAME."
"STARDUST BALANCE. TWILIGHT WARRIOR." That last bit was intentional, to make it clear I was just as prepared for anything these yaks would dare try to attempt next, should this plan fail spectacularly. And so far, I couldn't say if all was proceeding well or not. "I REQUEST HIS HIGHNESS TO BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR EFFORT FRIENDS PUT IN! LOWER EXPECTATIONS; NOTHING IS PERFECT!"
Another stare contest, and I idly noted the Prince's two escorts now standing beside him, all three glaring at me with hidden eyes. Through Balance, though, I sensed their strong shared emotions; feelings of pride and expectations. My own breath was small, lungs albeit tired from the yelling to match the vocal furballs-
"THIS PONY KNOWS BATTLE! AGREED!" What? "WE TRY AGAIN! PONIES AND YAKS BE FRIENDS EVEN WHEN PONIES NOT PERFECT!" Ow! Right in my ears! But from the corner of my eyes, Twilight looked stunned then... Immensely relieved. And so was I. My plan was actually seeming to work. I got these yaks' approval... Somehow.
Perhaps humans and yaks are not entirely different.
...Haha. I can't really argue. Instead, I nodded to the Yak Prince, matching his large tone once again.
"GOOD. BECAUSE PONIES WILL SHOW YOU PONVYILLE PARTY TO SHOW HOW PONY FRIENDSHIP IS SPREAD."
A response of elation despite how loudly painful the voice was, "YAKS LOOK FORWARD TO IT!"
