The inhabitants of this universe are quite interesting here. They seem to be equine in nature and intelligent. Their technology is what really gets me. It's extraordinary as I would call it, a mix of magical gemstones to power what looks to be everyday appliances. Simple in nature, but I have to be careful about what I take apart for I think their leader is watching me. She (I believe it is) seems to always be a short distance away from, watching me from the corner of her eye. I don't blame them, I'd keep an eye on me too. However, when I put something back together, I may upgrade it just a little bit to be more efficient with power consumption or use a little bit of ingenuity to bring out a little flavor for the appliances that cook.
Right now, however, my goal is to learn their language. For all the times this tall horse thing has talked to me, I simply can't understand a thing. She has led me to what I believe is a library and so my search begins for a book. With a library with this vast of a collection of tomes and parchment, finding what I need shouldn't take long. Just something written in a language that binds the worlds together. A language that could be long forgotten here or commonly spoken amongst other species here. The key lies in finding it.
Celestia seems a little more than intrigued at her guest's little find in the archives a few days later. He has found a rather ancient scroll that even she forgot she had and even went as far as to claim a small table in the corner. The being has also claimed several other tomes, quills, parchments and a few inkwells for some unknown purpose. What that may be can wait since she has some preparations to make for the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration. Especially since her student has been going a little off the rails lately with prophecies of Nightmare Moon's return. As much as she would just love to see what her little green guest is working on, Celestia does have her own duties to take care of.
After a couple of weeks of careful planning, Twilight has been sent on ahead to Ponyville to check on the progress of everything there, and hopefully get her some friends she'll really connect with. Celestia is making her way to the archives with careful and measured steps since the creature has been staying there all hours since his finding of that scroll. When he wasn't relentless scribbling of.... well... gibberish, she would often find him asleep, face against one of his gloves. The alicorn'd be lying if she said she didn't find it adorable. Today is different, for when she reaches the archives there's a voice. Something low, as if it's trying to be quiet and not alert any pony to its presence.
"I... am" The voice calls out.
Celestia slowly peeks around the corner to spy her guest staring at a piece of parchment he has written on. Pacing around the desk.
Then she hears the voice again. "I. Am."
It's coming from the being. Is he teaching himself Ponish? This quickly as well? I seems he is full of surprises.
"It's nice. To..." He then stops himself just to grumble in a different tongue. He then clears his throat to start over. "My name is...."
Celestia didn't quite catch his name, she quickly left to depart towards Ponyville for the Celebration. Shame too since maybe knowing his name would help her understand just who and what that creature is. Another time then when there isn't something in the way. For now she will just leave him to his own studies and teachings of their language, he does seem to be picking it quite well.
It took me a wee bit longer than I initially thought to find what I needed. I was thinking it would be a book, instead it's a scroll older than most of the tomes I've found in this library but it has exactly what I need. The Language of Dragons is the script and base I will be building off of to learn this new language that I've been presented with. The Tongue that Binds is always the same with very little in the regard of variation and it seems these universe's version of it is no different. So my studies will start tonight.
Translating an entire lexicon of language has been... troublesome. It's as though someone or something didn't want this to be discovered. Starting to make me wonder about the dragons here, if there are any after all. That's something I'll have to look into another time when I finally have my bearings in this place. For now I'll just focus on learning what I can as quickly as I can.
I have no idea how long it's been but I'm gaining an understanding of the language here. Pronunciations, spellings, letters, it's all fascinating. Another thing I have found out is that the tall one has been making sure that I eat something. True to their equine nature most of the dishes she brings me are as I expected; vegetarian. They are good, I'll give them that much credit. I've also woken up in early mornings to find a blanket draped around me. Honestly, it's been a while since I had someone look after me this much. Not since... well... that's not important right now.
I think I have it now. After some restless nights, having to translate myself through several tomes, and maybe a bit of my own magic mixed in. I'm now confident enough in testing my linguistic skills. Forging is good and all but only gets you so far without being able to speak a common language to communicate. So, here goes nothing.
"I"
"Am"
No. No. That doesn't sound right, not official enough. Or would it be proper? Matters not I suppose, if I'm about to introduce myself to this land's esteemed leader, I want it to sound right. Trying again, from the top.
"I... am.."
NO! NO! NO! I said to make it sound proper! Opening up with 'I am' makes me sound like a complete fool! Come on, I know I got this, I've had to do this many times before. One more try, from the top. Making it sound proper.
"My name is-"
A noise catches my attention, my eyes darting towards the door to find... nothing? I set the parchment I'm reading from down and walk over to the entryway of the library and peek out. Noone. Nothing. Just marbled halls, lavender rugs, and gold trim as far as I can tell. Maybe it was her checking up on me again, she has been leaving me alone for the past couple of days, must be something important. Soon, my kind and generous acquaintance. We will be able to talk, for I'm sure you have plenty of questions.
Today was exhausting, but something good came of it. Celestia has her sister back thanks to Twilight and her newfound friends. Luna seems to only be at a fraction of who she once was, but she's just happy to be back with her sister. It has been addressed that things have changed since they were last together on the chariot ride over. Celestia has taken liberties in setting Luna up with a room back in Canterlot and that she's more than happy to show her around. Luna had some other ideas however.
Luna breaks away from Celestia when she thinks she isn't looking. Her sister knows, she always knows. The younger alicorn goes to peek in to the archives to see of something that may be from the old castle. What she wasn't expecting is a small green creature sitting at a table in the corner, furiously scribbling. Before Celestia could get her own sister's attention, Luna's voice suddenly reverberated throughout the entire castle.
"BEGONE FOUL BEAST!"
It sounds like Luna has found her guest.
Celestia opens her mouth to say something to stop her sister from doing anything rash. Far too late as the next sound is arcane energy ripping through the open air. She watches in slight horror as the attack on the creature comes quite close to taking him out. Celestia needs to act quick before her sister kills him. The Solar Princess charges up a spell of her own while Luna goes for a second blast. Both their spells go off, with Celestia's being just a second too late. A beam of magic hits her guest square in his chest and knock him against the wall.
"Sister!" Luna yells with some more restrained fury towards the eldest sibling. "What are thou doing? There is a wild beast in the castle!"
"He's not a beast, my dear sister, he is my guest here." Celestia calmly replies as she strides in front of her sister. "I expect you to treat him as much."
An audible groan can be heard from said guest as he step away from the wall. Celestia takes a step towards him, a little surprised that he is even still standing after a blast like that. She continues a careful walks towards the being. One of her wings stretched out to steady him in case he needs it. She watches as he steps away from the wall, dusting himself off and grunting at the new hole in his shirt.
"Luna! You blew a hole in his shirt!" Celestia leans in to get a closer at the damaged garment. "I'm sure one of the staff can fix it."
"I wouldn't worry about it." He says, taking the alicorn by surprise and causing her to take a few steps back from him.
He looks up noticing the ever increasing quiet that has fallen up the room. Two pairs of wide eyed stares are trained on him and two slack jawed ponies staring at him. He lifts his goggles above his his eyes and lets them rest on his forehead. A big, toothy grin that shows off two rows of sharp enamel on display.
"This isn't how I wanted our introduction to be... but greetings. My name is Anneto, how may I help?"
Celestia's spell breaks as Luna faints, her body hitting the ground. Neither expected him to just suddenly talk to them, but it all now makes sense as to why he spent so long in the archives. He has been self-teaching himself Ponish. Quite exciting yet oddly terrifying. The Sun Princess' wings flap a single time. Unsure how to actually approach such a sudden change in dynamic.
She clears her throat after realizing she may have been staring a little too long. "Celestia. Princess Celestia."