Applejack yawned mightily as she woke up, the faint glow of dim light rousing her as the morning sun always had. She was still somewhat tired, but blamed that on getting to sleep especially late last evening. Sleepy or not though, she was ready for a long day of work. As she got off the pile of leaves though, she recalled the exact situation and that morning chores weren’t the most pressing matter. It was rescuing Anthony and getting back home somehow.
Her gaze shifts towards Fluttershy on another patch of leaves, still fast asleep. That was fine, not many got up as early as Applejack did. She places her favored hat back on her head and looks up, and involuntarily balks at the whirlwind of activity that the workaholic Shyguys had whipped themselves into. It was striking to see them so energetic, after such a late night of similar activity and it being so early in the morning, as far as Applejack could tell. ‘Nopony gets up before me!’ Applejack thought in amazement. ‘Even Big Mac doesn’t get outta bed until I’m already downstairs!’
A separate group of Shyguys take notice of Applejack and quickly usher her towards another part of the canopy village. She follows along with the hoof-tall wave of Shyguys, starting to pick up her pace to match theirs better. Applejack had to admire their work ethic, even if she couldn’t fathom where it came from. ‘And Rainbow Dash says I work too hard.’ she thought as she moved along, getting more used to the speedy junglefolk. Once the short escort is done, she’s sat in front of Knight Guy... and with a steaming wooden cup of some liquid placed in front of her.
“Ah, you are awake.” Knight Guy says, his mask currently the only armor on his stout body, though a pike is still strapped to his back. “Thank you for your aid with the Bright Yoshi yesterday. After such a filling and energizing supper of those powerful plants, we barely needed breakfast this morning and were able to get an early start. We had a fair amount left over as well. Please, drink.” Knight Guy gestures to the cup.
Applejack decides to save the conversation for later and begins drinking. The tea-like liquid was earthy and strong in both taste and smell. She wasn’t quite used to the flavor but she couldn’t deny the spring in her step it gave her. “Ah!” she exhales as a quick wave of general relief washes over her. “That really hits the spot! Thanks a bundle, and yer welcome. So what are we doin’ today?”
“At the moment we are simply finishing our general chores, though a few of us had the spare time to make something that we believe would aid you.” Knight Guy stands back and makes a short tweeting noise that echoes across the nearby jungle trees. Not five seconds after the warble, a pair of Shyguys are already in front of Applejack and presenting her with their handiwork: A green coil of tightly-braided plant fibers made into a very sturdy-looking length of rope, and plenty of it. The Shyguys place it on the ground at Applejack’s hooves and then dash away to vanish once more into the bustling crowd of mysterious workers.
“You made good use of that vine the other night, and I thought we could provide you with a much sturdier option.” Knight Guy says in his odd whispery voice.
Applejack laid a hoof on the ‘rope’ and felt it as she uncoiled it slightly and was instantly beside herself. It was barely smoother than the rough hemp fibers she was used to, but its weight was shocking. “This is perfect. And ya made it outta a bunch of those vines?”
“Not the type you had made use of. We used a different variety of plant. I am glad that we were able to satisfy you. Hopefully this will be to your advantage.”
“I’ll say...” was all Applejack could mutter as she held the product of the Shyguy’s efforts. Between the rope and her new shoes, she’d never known such incredible efforts, and to have them simply gifted to her was even more baffling. She drapes the coils of rope over herself to make carrying it easier. “Ah... I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if I can repay ya fairly, but I’ll sure as sugar try mah best to.”
“No worries. I’m sure you will in time. Now, I think we should wake miss Fluttershy. It’s a few hours until midday and we should make haste to the Bright Yoshi once more.”
Applejack nods, pausing in confusion when Knight Guy’s words settle. “Wait, it’s almost noon? But the sun’s barely out-” Applejack looks up and sees the thick, smothering growth of the canopy above them, the thickly-leaved branches blocking all but a few gaps that let the peaking sun’s light to filter down into the village. Applejack sighs as the revelation hits her. “Right... Hayfeathers, that means I've been catchin’ Z’s all mornin’! I’m terribly sorry, I should’a been up and at ‘em sooner.”
Knightguy waves it off. “Nothing to fret about, last night was exhausting. I slept in a bit myself. I might have been asleep well into afternoon if we didn’t have such potent vegetables for dinner.”
Applejack looks back at the various clusters of working Shyguys, who’d had the same meal for dinner and a bit for breakfast, but hadn’t been fighting for their lives last night. “Alright, I s’pose that’s fair. Alright, let’s see how ‘Shy’s doin’.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she needed a bit more rest.” Knight Guy said softly. “She had been injured the worst and possibly poisoned. We know that she’s made a full recovery, but it’s sure to have exhausted her either way.”
“Well, she’s better at all this translatin’ anyways. Especially if she can actually understand folks. I’m just glad the Yoshi fellas speak Equestrian.” Applejack says. “I never knew bein’ able to talk to animals like she does would be so important.”
“Communing with the plants and the earth is easily as commendable a skill.” Knightguy replies equinamably.
“I don’t talk to plants.” Applejack replied defensively. “I mean... I got a way with ‘em for sure, but saying I talk to plants is... makes me sound like some kinda crazy mare who lost her marbles. I mean yeah it’s like talking but... saying I ‘commune with plants’ is a weird way of putting it. It sounds stranger when you call it what it is, iff’n ya follow.”
“I... do not.” he replied, pausing for a brief moment. “But I will take your word for it.”
Done with the conversation, Applejack walks over to Fluttershy and gently taps her. After a few moments the pegasus rouses. “Oh... how late is it? I didn’t sleep too long, did I?”
Applejack furrowed her brow just slightly. She wasn’t so enthused at being the only one who thought it was still very early in the day. “No big deal. We just need ta get back to them nice Yoshi so we can talk more about this treaty deal.”
“Right, of course.” Fluttershy replies softly as she gets up and stretches, flapping her wings slightly. “I do feel much better than last night at least.”
“Good thing, too. I’m not much fer talkin’ things out like this, but we gotta get off this island.” A thought crosses the farmer’s mind. “Say, you little guys are a fast and clever bunch. Why don’tcha make a boat yerselves?”
Knight Guy looks up at AJ for a few moments before responding. “We have all we really need here in the jungle. We haven’t needed to leave at all, so we haven’t had a necessity to learn how to construct or pilot anything more than a river raft.”
“...Okay, I suppose that makes sense.” Applejack submitted. “Jus’ a thought.”
Fluttershy is noticed as being awake and a troupe of Shyguys wander by, depositing a cup of the leftover dinner, Fluttershy squeaking slightly at their sudden appearance and pace, before giving her thanks just before the Shyguys are out of earshot.
Knightguy makes a noise that sounds like either an upset ape or odd chuckling. “They seem to like you two quite a bit.”
Applejack paused. “How can you tell?”
“They slowed down quite a bit while in her presence.” Knightguy explained, his brief laugh quieting down into his regular speaking voice.
“They slowed down?” Applejack questioned, still just as confused.
“We live our lives in a span much shorter than most thinking races in this world - even so, we get as much done in our forty to fifty years as any Toad or Koopa can in their one to three centuries.”
Fluttershy looked a bit confused now. “Most animals back home are lucky to live fifty years unless cared for very well... Over a hundred years is a standard age range?” Fluttershy began doing some quick math in her head. “You have the average lifespan of a pegasus, but you say you don’t live very long? I think you’re very impressive, especially for your size.”
“Oh, ah, thank you miss!” Knight Guy says, shuffling his stubby feet in mild embarrassment. “Still, the average lifespan of most other thinking beings in the world is a century or more, especially for those with access to some of the more potent magics... I’ve heard that the Mushroom Kingdom is ruled by an eternal princess who has reigned there for millenia.”
“Wow. And she ain’t an alicorn?” Applejack asks for clarification, though she already can assume the answer. “That’s mighty impressive.”
“They say she is a goddess, descended from the heavens to rule her people in kindness. The tales say much of her generosity and her loyalty to her people - she has been the target of many schemes by dark creatures due to her power and the sheer, honest, goodness she embodies.”
Applejack and Fluttershy both blink. “So... she is like an alicorn... but she’s not a pony?” Fluttershy just shrugs and makes her point. “It doesn’t matter that much right now. If our best chances of rescuing Anthony are in that kingdom, we have to go there. I’m sure if this princess is really that old and powerful, she must have some magical ability to get us home afterwards.”
“Right now, ah’ll believe anything that don’t get me feelin’ bad about hearing it.” Applejack says with a sigh. “Let’s get this treaty-thing dealt with so we can get a move on. Is it just gonna be us three again or are ya bringin’ more of you fellas with?”
“Several more - we must bring a full delegation to the Bright Yoshi.” Knight Guy says, standing a bit straighter; he’s almost audibly smiling. “Thankfully, this means we may bring more warriors to defend the group with.”
Knight Guy makes a few more chirps and then an almost howl-like sound, and a swarm of Shyguys run up, many of their white masks decorated with various deliberate streaks of assorted colors, all of them carrying spears taller than themselves by several times. A few come up to affix the rest of Knight Guy's armor onto him, working so fast that one could only hear the clasps and buckles being pulled and snapped into place for a few moments, before the armorer's leave and come back with their own spears. The company already appears that much more numerous just from the addition of a few members, and the assembled Shyguys begin to repeat a stern, non-verbal phrase in their animalistic language whilst raising their spears upwards ceremonially.
Fluttershy and Applejack find the display of weaponry and low chanting to be almost frightening. The warriors themselves were only up to the ponies’ legs, but their spears were nearly twice head height, and the painted markings on their masks were just a bit intimidating. “Well... I don’t think we’ll have much trouble from those feathery Yoshis this time.” Applejack says, still somewhat awed at the troupe that was to accompany them.
“Actually, the Crested Yoshi might take it as a challenge. We will still be moving through the underbrush as much as possible.” Knight Guy informs. “Though the Gray Tribe will likely stay away unless they happen to be in a hunting party themselves.”
“That’s... good.” Fluttershy offers. “Let’s just go as soon as possible. Perhaps bring something to offer the Bright Yoshi? Gifts sound like a nice idea if we’re trying to make friends.”
Another group of Shyguys look to one another and chatter quickly and sharply before all begin nodding in agreement, then dashing off to various workstations and quickly hammering out a small slew of interesting device-like trinkets and knick-knacks. Impressively, it only took four Shyguys to carry almost twice the load Applejack had carried back the night before, the small people once again demonstrating their exceptional combined fortitude.
“I wonder what sort of work ya could do on a farm if all ya had ta do was grow trees and pick from ‘em. Could probably get half a month’s harvest done in under a day.” Applejack says, feeling like she’d never stop being awed at their sheer impressiveness. “Glad yer on our side.”
“The Gray Tribe are only our rivals because they never abandon their savage ways, only worrying about creating more dangerous weapons and poisons. They have no art for craftsmanship beyond a wickedly barbed net.” Knightguy says with a sigh. “And yet... they eat better than we on many occasions. But we try to think ahead rather than only worrying about how much food we can put in our pots. There are some tribes on Yoshi’s Island who are primarily farmers and they eat better than anyone on this island could imagine... but their land is much richer and more accepting of trees that grow fruits.”
“Why don’t you move there then?” Fluttershy asks. “If you’re going hungry...”
“Do not mistake me. We are never hungry, but we do not get enough food that throwing it away is ever something we will worry about. Besides that, the waters are treacherous without a proper vessel. We decided long ago that we would not take the risk of leaving the island just to have more than what we need and already have.” Knight Guy sighs and adjusts the pike in his grasp. “Now then, let us make haste. Hopefully we can reach the Bright Yoshi well before the sun lowers.”
The entire group gets on the thatch and wood elevator, and the Shyguy troupe squeezes together almost comically to fit all of them at once, even going so far as to balance atop one another to leave room for the ponies to stand comfortably.
The journey through the jungle was, while dark and eerie as ever, uneventful. The only dangers were the ones perceived from flickered shadows and lightly rustling leaves. The Shyguy troupe moved forward unfettered. Applejack also noted a great functional advantage to the masks they wore, noting how often they could take a swinging frond to the face and not flinch, whereas she would have to make sure she wasn’t growing a welt on the end of her snout with every vine or leaf capable of bapping her in the face.
Nevertheless, the trip to the Bright Yoshi’s land was indeed expedient and easy, and they were at the clearing’s fortification much sooner than it seemed to take before. During the entire walk, the only trouble was Fluttershy getting a feather caught on a gnarled vine at one point, which was easily dealt with. As the troupe neared the portcullis of the Bright Yoshi’s village, all spears were held back over their shoulders non-aggressively.
The yoshi stationed to watch the gate visibly gawks at the seemingly-emotionless phalanx of armed and painted Shyguys. “Uh...”
“We are the delegation, arriving as requested.” Knightguy states.
Without another word from the shocked Yoshi, the main gate is opened. The Shyguys are about to pile in as their usual tidal wave but Applejack holds up a hoof, backed by Knight Guy. “Ah, they prolly ain’t used ta folks walking around like they got a dozen places ta be in the next ten seconds. We prolly wanna take this a bit slow here.”
A few chirps and whistles come from the crowd and after a bit of ‘discussion’ they all settle on a light chittering noise that makes its way across the swarm and they drop their spears to the ground before the gate and wander in... and it was at that moment that Fluttershy realized she had never seen their feet move slow enough to not be considered a blur, until now.
As it would take several hours to have the delegation settle in (negotiations to be started the following day), Fluttershy and Applejack had the time to simply relax and enjoy themselves. As well, the local Yoshi encouraged the two ponies to explore the port area if they wished, and even Fluttershy seemed quite enamored with the bright and colorful reptiles all around.
“It’s very nice. Especially these Yoshi. Normally when animals are this brightly colored, especially reptiles, it means they’re venomous.” She pauses and looks to a passing Yoshi with bright orange scales. “You aren’t venomous, are you?”
The Yoshi pauses and quirks it’s head before making a confused-sounding warble noise in the back of its throat. After a few moments, the Yoshi gives up and continues walking.
“Does he mean he don’t understand what ya asked, or if he’s not sure what you’re talkin’ about?” AJ asks, scratching her head in confusion.
Fluttershy quirks her head this time. “They aren’t making animal noises I’m familiar with, like the Shyguys do. “The Yoshi seem to actually have their own language.”
Applejack huffs and adjusts her hat. “An’ it just figures that the ones that do talk are the nasty ones. I swear, those guys had some crazy teeth, but I’m not entirely sure these guys even have teeth, sharp or not.”
“Oh, we do.” a Yoshi says, walking up to them, this one’s scales a solid brick-red. “But they aren’t sharp like those Crested guys. We eat melons. I love melons. Oh, but we don’t have poison or anything in our mouths.”
“Well, uhm, technically it’d be venom...” Fluttershy says, her voice getting progressively quieter as she realizes she’s correcting someone.
“Eh, venom, poison, what’s the difference?” the red Yoshi replies with a hand wave and a small smile. “Anyway the chieftess said we’re gonna be helping you get across the ocean. You’re so lucky getting to go on an adventure. I wish I could go on an adventure. I like wandering off and finding cool stuff, but it gets dangerous if you get too far from the clearing. And getting to cross the ocean is like... an even bigger adventure!”
Applejack and Fluttershy were starting to relate this Yoshi with Pinkie Pie and it made them feel a bit more at home, despite being an unknown multiversal distance away from it.
“I just had an idea! I’m gonna go ask the chieftess if I can come with you! That’ll be great! Oh if she says yes I’ll have to think of what to pack...” the brick-red yoshi wanders off quickly towards where the chieftess’ house was, a light hop and flutter in her step not too dissimilar from the pronking that ponies had seen from... “Pinkie Pie. She’s like Pinkie.” Fluttershy finally states aloud.
“Ayep...”
“It’s almost weird in a way.”
“How similar they are?”
“The fact that I’m imagining Pinkie Pie with scales.” Fluttershy clarifies.
Applejack cocks an eyebrow at the mental image. “Yep. Not thinkin’ about that again.”
“Me neither. That Yoshi seems nice either way, though. And maybe it’d be nice to have somepony with us if Knight Guy isn’t coming. I mean, I assumed he wasn’t coming. Maybe he is.”
The pair keep looking around the Yoshi’s odd jungle town. It was certainly friendlier-looking than the deep jungle the Shyguys lived in. For one there was ample sunlight at any given time. “It’s nice here. Very relaxing.” Fluttershy comments softly, and she gets a reply sooner than she’d expected.
“Yep! It’s so nice out today! But the best part about living around here are the fruits. Most of them like it a bit humid but that means having to go out into the jungle, but that just makes them taste better!” The brick-red Yoshi was back, not that the ponies needed eyes to tell. “Oh, and the chieftess said I could come with you if you let me. Apparently we’ll have a boat big enough for six Yoshis, which will be great since there aren’t gonna be six of us! Oh, have you tried any of the fruit yet?”
“Ah, we had some a them mushrooms and veggies from last night.” Applejack offers.
“Oh those are tasty too, but you need to try some of this other stuff, I’ll be just a second!” The Yoshi dashes off again.
Applejack sighs as a smile crosses her face. “Well I can name one difference between her and Pinkie. Pinkie at least introduces herself first-thing before shovin’ food in yer face.”
“Maybe she doesn’t have one. They don’t seem to have names.” Fluttershy thinks aloud quietly.
AJ rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Aw come on, everypony’s got a name. She’s probably just excited is all. I mean, back when I was a young’un I thought me leaving the farm to have an adventure was gonna be the best thing in the world. Even if it didn’t end well for me, I can understand where she’s comin’ from.”
The brick-red Yoshi comes back around with a couple of fist-sized fruits that neither of the ponies had a name for. “These are pretty good. I really like the fruits around here. I mean, everyone likes the fruit around here but I really like the fruit around here. Though I hear they have other fruits on the other island. They got things like uh... uh... oh I heard they had names for them but I can’t remember. They’re supposed to be yellow. Really yellow.”
Fluttershy takes the offered jungle fruit and eats, finding it very sweet. Applejack decided to try helping the Yoshi determine the name of her mystery island fruit. “Yellow? Uh, where do they grow?”
“Oh, the other island is a lot more tropical and stuff and... uh, they’re supposed to grow on trees.”
“Bananas?”
“I... I don’t think so? They’re kinda lumpy.”
Applejack pauses and she gives several answers that are refuted as being not correct, despite the Yoshi being unable to give proper defined reasons for why they were all wrong. This continued for a few minutes before Applejack gave up. “Ah can’t think of anything else it might be.”
“Well, maybe when we go there we can find it and I can show you!”
“But... we aren’t going to the other island.” Fluttershy says. “We’re going to the Mushroom Kingdom to find those heroes to help us save our friend.”
The Yoshi blinks and then nods. “Oh boy, we’re gonna be heroes! That’s even better than yellow fruit-melons! Yes! Oh I can’t wait, this is gonna be great!”
“Uh, sure.” Applejack says, getting a little exhausted by the intense optimism. It wasn’t a bad thing and she wasn’t opposed to it, but it was tiring her just slightly after her several minutes of trying to deduce the identity of an incredible super-fruit... which was quickly discarded amongst the tirade.