It was silent for a moment, nobody even moved.
Starlight spoke first, “What’s happening?”
Twilight stepped back, “Nothing we can see, but it might take a while. All she needs to do is keep the necklace on, and keep talking.”
The weight around her neck made Mud freeze in place. Her nerves were uncomfortable with the foreign object. She wanted to take it off, but waited until Fluttershy would say something to find out what the two purple ones were saying.
Fluttershy looked at Mud, gesturing a hoof at the necklace. “Don’t take that off.”
Mud let a glare form, and she started her way to the couch. Her front legs bent from the irritation, making her walk off balanced.
Starlight caught some of Mud’s mumblings, sounding exactly when the Kelpie would cuss judging by Fluttershy’s reactions every time. The Unicorn rolled her eyes, excepting the short attitude.
Twilight fell back on the other couch with a sigh of relief, her wings falling down beside her. “I should have taken the train.”
Rainbow flies up and lands on the arm of the couch, gripping it with her hooves to lean over the princess. “So, whatchu wanna do now?”
A levitation spell suspended the Pegasus in the air. Twilight leaned forward, grinning at her. “I’ll let you know, but sometime I want to run a few tests with… Mud, was it?”
Starlight was about to respond, but Mud did first. The dark mare lifted her head, angling her ears to Twilight, eyes wide. She growled in surprise, tail flicking about.
Fluttershy looked over, “What?”
Everyone turned, looking curious. Mud sat up and pointed at the Alicorn, meowing loudly. But it was pronounced with long “a” sounds, like crude vowels.
Twilight looked on confidently, “Yes, it’s working.”
Mud looked at her, growling worriedly as she understood most of what the pony said. The Alicorn waved a hoof dismissively at her, “Don’t worry, nothing bad is happening.”
Starlight blinks at Mud, and turns to Twilight. “What is that thing?”
“It’s a special little spell I put together, I’ll tell you about it later.”
***
After lunch, which was mostly sandwiches, Starlight, Mud, and Twilight gathered in the Library. Twilight laid out on the desk only a few scrolls and a book, directing a hoof at each as she informed Starlight.
“I have only ever read about Kelpies once, when Rock Hoof came back from Pone Henge, I read up on the Mighty Helm. Turns out they encountered Kelpies a long time ago, but the translation made it out into a different word.”
Starlight glanced over at Mud, who was still eating a sandwich. “What did the Mighty Helm find out?”
Twilight levitated the book open, turning to a certain page. “It says here they can shape shift.”
The Unicorn looked at the book, “Like a Changeling?”
Mud stopped before taking another bite, and looked at the ponies. She growled with what sounded like “Wut-z shinj-ing?” But it was faint in the mixture of growling and clicking.
Starlight shook her head, “Nothing you are, at least, I think?”
Twilight stepped up to Mud, “Can you turn into anything?”
Mud stared, taken off guard. She thought a moment before growling “No” and held her sandwich again to eat. That was the only word she could form completely while wearing the translator.
Twilight raised a hoof, “What can you do?”
Mud straightened her posture, raising a hoof proudly to her chest. Speaking with her mouth full, making it harder to understand her growls. “I can swim, hunt, and fight better than anyone.”
Starlight heard the broken sounds, and rolled her eyes. But twilight was more fascinated, nodding and waving a hoof for Mud to continue. “Aaand, anything else? Like… Can you breathe fire, or breathe underwater?”
Mud hesitated, “I… can see in the dark.”
The Alicorn whipped around, quickly writing the new info on one of the scrolls.
Mud hunched over in boredom, letting out a snort as she looked around. Twilight circled her and wrote on a parchment with her quill.
Starlight flipped through the book and skimmed over the words. She looked up as the Alicorn lifted out Mud’s arm, squinting closely while the Kelpie stared with caution.
“Wow.” Twilight’s interest made its way up and down Mud’s arm and to her shoulder, along with tough prodding from the Princess’ hoof.
“Her structure is very interesting.” She moved to the other side, lifting Mud’s other arm.
The Kelpie pulled away, “My structure?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes, it’s common in some species. But I predict you’ll be growing a considerable amount.”
Starlight then remembered, she hadn’t given the report letter to Twilight yet.
“Yeah?” Mud huffed, “No scat, I’m LonerBlood.”
Starlight flinched and looked up, that was a favorite swear the Kelpie used often.
Twilight only tipped her head, “LonerBlood, what’s that?”
Mud rolled her eyes, lowering to tuck her hooves under her chest.
“Ponies…” She muttered as she rested her head against her arm, curling her tail over the rest of her body.
Starlight gestured a hoof, “Mud, can you stay awake for a minute longer?”
“No.”
Both the Ponies stepped aside, talking quietly so not to disturb the Kelpie.
Twilight grinned amusedly, “Well she’s cheery.”
Starlight nodded with a sigh, “Sorry, Mud’s just like that.”
“Have you tried talking with her?” Twilight sat down, Starlight did the same.
“We tried, but whenever we ask about her, or whenever we bring up her past, like the Tribe, she just locks up.”
Twilight smiled assuredly, “Then don’t, just be there for her.”
The Unicorn looks up at her with a surprised look.
“A few years ago, I was just like her.” Twilight shuffles to sit beside Starlight, resting a hoof on her shoulder. “And so were you.”
Starlight looks over at Mud, who was fast asleep now, her deep sounding breathing almost heard. The Unicorn thought for a moment, turning her gaze at her hooves.
Then she smiled faintly, “She’s alright, I guess she’ll come around eventually.”
Twilight winked, “Eeevantually.”