Mittens kept to the shadows, skimming the thoughts of passing ponies to understand their language, their body language on a deeper level than just basic mimicry. Safe within her new box- Mittens had named it BoxTwo since it was her box- she watched the hustle and bustle as everyone prepared for the festival. Stalls were set up, games and attractions tested, and decorations that had a strong resemblance to the decorations Mittens remembered her human/friend/owner putting up once a year. As the sun set and darkness engulfed the town, ponies of all ages dressed up in all manner of costumes began to wander around, buy food, or play one of the games.
Mittens was careful to avoid being seen as she shuffled around in BoxTwo and took in the sights. She wandered over to hide behind a barrel and watched a performance put on a striped pony and from it she learned the name and purpose of the festival. Mittens chirped at the revelation of offering sweets to Nightmare Moon, looked around and quietly snagged a small wrapped treat from the closest food stall and left behind a blank gold coin in its place.
The wind picked up, the gathered crowd looked at the sky, and Mittens poked her head out from BoxTwo to see what had their attention.
The night sky was obscured by dark clouds as something flew overhead. Something descended to the ground, Mittens retreated back into BoxTwo and shuffled past her hiding spot for a closer. Whatever it was, the ponies were uneasy around it, pressing their bodies low to the ground.
It was another pony, taller than the others and-
Bluuueee...
The dark blue of the fur, the sparkling, constantly moving mane and tail was mesmerizing. Time lost all meaning, transfixed on the deep blue pony with both a horn and wings Mittens' trance was only broken when the pony spoke, addressing the crowd in a booming voice. The blue pony was loud, the crowd moved away from her- Mittens thinks the blue loud pony is a she.
The blue, loud pony seemed to be a figure of authority and was trying to communicate with the others. But from the way a pink pony in a chicken costume caused a group of smaller ponies to flee en mass, Mittens could tell it wasn't working, and the blue pony walked away, her thoughts a great swirl of sadness and dejection.
Mittens made sure her grip on BoxTwo was firm and followed the blue pony as she walked away from town.
Mittens watched the blue pony as she sat before a statue of an admittedly intimidating winged, horned, fanged pony. However, Mittens had already made up her mind and approached.
The pony looked over her shoulder as the sound of Mittens's shuffling within BoxTwo caught her attention. Mittens rolled the treat had grabbed earlier towards the pony.
"...So, Thou have come to bring tribute to Nightmare Moon?" the pony asked, clearly unhappy.
"No, for you. Hello!"
Mittens wasn't sure what expression the pony was making, was it good? Was it bad. She scrambled to say more words. "I saw others afraid of you. Others afraid of me."
"You? Pray tell, why would Our subjects fear you? We do not sense anything from you that would cause them unease." The pony accepted the treat, her horn glowing blue-
Bluuueee
- An elegant, blue hoof clad in a sparkly shoe poked the side of BoxTwo. "Are Thou well?"
Oh, right, focus! Words!
"Yes! Just, blue, you are blue! I like blue!" Mittens squeaked.
The pony looked confused. "Thou are a strange pony...Tis that why the townsfolk fear you? Thou has no reason to hide from Us, Thou are guilty of no crime."
Mittens chirped, this pony wasn't frightened by her, this pony understood. Mittens dared to hope and skittered out from under BoxTwo.
She watched the pony closely, ready to run. "My name is Mittens...I am not a pony. I am a Yldduc sent to make friends."
"Ah, Thou would certainly frighten those unaccustomed to life's mysteries," the pony stated. "We are Princess Luna, one of the rulers of this land."
"You are not...Afraid?"
Mittens could only stare as Princess Luna looked her up-and-down, calm yet stoic.
"To shun another for their appearance when they have done no wrong nor intend any ill will is detestable. We have no right to pass such judgement, especially after what We had done a thousand years ago."
Mittens trilled quietly. She wasn't sure why Princess Luna was so remorseful. "You made a mistake?"
"...Yes, a very big mistake."
"You...I have trouble with words, Yldduc don't use words a lot, but mistake is fixed now? Princess Luna forgiven?"
"We are...Unsure," the pony admitted. "Our sister has made it clear We were not at fault yet, We still feel as if We need to work towards the crown and duties We bear." Princess Luna's thoughts spoke volumes about how troubled she truly was over it, the guilt ran deep, further validated by everyone's fear of her.
"Sister not think you made mistake, ponies see only the mistake," Mittens realized and smiled, showing teeth. "I forgive you!"
Oh, Princess Luna was suprised. "What? But-Thou has no idea what We have done!"
Mittens didn't see why that was a problem. "Will you make the same mistake?"
"Neigh! Never! We would sooner spend another thousand years on Our moon!"
Mittens chirped brightly. "Then I forgive you!"
"...It is not that simple..."
"For you, it isn't. For others who remember mistake, it isn't. I don't remember the mistake, I don't see you for the mistake. I see Princess Luna, first pony to not be afraid of me. First Pony Friend."
"Thou would...Call Us friend?" the pony, a bit taller than Mittens, looked much smaller than she was with how she shied away from her.
Mittens dropped her smile and did her best to explain. "Yldduc live with other people for stability, we need The Warm Fuzzies to survive... Wait, wrong words-" Mittens concentrated. "Yldduc need to have good relationships with people to generate the energy we live off of."
"And We can provide you with this energy because we... are friends?"
Mittens squeaked. "Yes! Yldduc telepathic sense respond to good feelings about Yldduc, body makes more energy, Yldduc helps people! Repeat!"
"Thou were sent here to find food, Our subjects, We are food." Princess Luna's gaze was... Oh, angry, she was angry.
Mittens scurried to hide back under BoxTwo. "Won't hurt ponies! Doesn't take from ponies! Just senses. Please! Anger hurts..."
Mittens tried very, very hard not to run. She curled up into a ball to dull the pain. "Won't hurt ponies, want friends, need to be nice to ponies. Will do anything, sorry!"
The anger, the pain faded quickly. Mittens felt BoxTwo being moved aside and tensed as a hoof gently rested atop her spherical form. Slowly, Mittens uncurled, the pony's concern and regret clear against her senses as she looked up at Princess Luna. Mittens gathered her scattered thoughts to try and talk, talking helps. "I was sent to make First Contact, to tell ponies about Yldduc so The Conglomerate could start peace talks to have Yldduc and ponies live together..."
Princess Luna rested her hoof on what passed as Mittens' shoulder. "We apologize, there are many monsters and foul creatures that wish harm upon Our subjects, We assumed thou were the same, just unaware of the danger thou posed."
"I made the mistake of using the wrong words, I'm not used to being a person yet...I was a cat before I sent here."
"...A cat?" the pony was confused again.
Mittens mewled, her body rippled and morphed into a lanky, one-eyed black cat. "I was a Yldduc-Cat, I had a human-owner-friend that liked me a lot! I was liked so much The Conglomerate asked me to be the Yldduc for First Contact with ponies... I've never been people and used words this much before, I've only been animals. Yldduc look like people or animals others recognize as safe and normal in their area to make better friends with them!"
Princess Luna nodded. "Thou are a convincing cat."
"Cats are complex, not as complex as words but I studied cats for a long time. I am the best cat!" Mittens said, standing a little straighter as she reverted back to her normal form. "Boss-Yldduc said I can't be cat, have to be a pony." She showed off her attempt at looking like a pony before reverting back.
Princess Luna looked thoughtful. "We may be able to offer some assistance, We will introduce thee as a representative for your kind so that the public need not fear your true form. T'would paint the Yldduc race in a positive light."
"But, new things scare others. Yldduc have always hidden true self until we gain new friends' trust. You understand being scary or not-same, so I trust you."
"We will do all We can to ensure Our subjects accept your kind...If they do not run from Us that is..." Mittens' new friend looked worried. "Perhaps Our sister truly is better suited to mingling with the populace..."
Mittens trilled, a fluffy tendril extended to pat the pony's side. "You're my friend Princess Luna! You can do it, even it takes all... all- A really long time, things will get better eventually!"
Mittens' First Pony Friend smiled. "Thank you Mittens but please, call Us- me, Luna."
Mittens sensed someone approaching, she went back to hiding in BoxTwo as a new pony, a purple horned one in a costume that had a lot of bells and was very-
Bluuueee
She snapped back into focus sometime later when Luna nudged her with a hoof as she walked by. Mittens squeaked and rushed to follow her First Pony Friend. Mittens watched the bell pony- Twilight Sparkle- talk with Luna, help Luna make new friends, and Mittens was purring in joy as Luna made peace with the smaller ponies and...Oh what was the word?
Oh, right, Fun, Luna was having fun. Mittens was happy for Luna. As she followed her First Pony Friend, Mittens couldn't wait to report the good news to her superiors, to share her joy with others.
Mittens had made a friend.