//------------------------------// // First Impressions // Story: Peace at Last Side Stories: Back in Neighpon // by Prince_Staghorn //------------------------------// Neighponese Stag and Hope were greeted by Pupa running to them as fast as her three good legs and one gimpy leg could carry her, giving both a hug. Both smiled and nuzzled the little filly. "What took you so long, Nīsan?" the little filly asked. Stag smiled. "Sorry I couldn't be here sooner. We got a little sidetracked." "Is Mama here?" Stag paused. This would be... difficult. "She... couldn't come today, Pupa. I'm sorry. But she'll come home and play with you soon, I promise." Pupa grinned, then nuzzled her older brother's leg. Now to introduce Twilight and Spike. * Twilight and Spike watched as the small filly ran up and hugged Stag and Hope, then began talking to Stag. "Nani ga Nissan, son'nani jikan ga kakatta?" Stag smiled. "Mōshiwakearimasenga, wareware wa koko de hayaku suru koto ga dekimasendeshita. Wareware wa sukoshi yokomichida." "What are they saying, Twilight?" "I don't know, but I think Staghorn's apologizing for something." "What do you mean you don't know? I thought you studied this sort of thing." "Reading a language and listening to it being spoken are two different things, Spike." "Well... hey, I think he's introducing us." Twilight paused long enough to see Staghorn was finishing talking to the Changeling mare on the throne. "...Watashi no kenkyo ni kanshite, watashi wa Twilight Sparkle o shōkai shi, Equestria no ryū Spike." * "...With my humblest regards, I introduce Twilight Sparkle and Spike the dragon of Equestria." Danauria considered the unicorn and dragon. "Can they understand us?" "No, I do not believe so. They are here as diplomats, however, so conversation with them will need to be exchanged in the Common Tongue." "They came alone?" "No. Princess Luna assigned one of her guards to watch them. he and I have become... friends, I suppose." "Well, where is he?" *** Atop a nearby building stood a Pegasus stallion. He was dark green, his brown mane accentuated by a red stripe, his turquoise eyes gleaming. His cutie mark was fairly interesting by normal standards: a black rose, in the center of a flame, circled by a full moon. Everyone who knew him called him Red. He was one of the most capable fighters in the night guard, and while not captain, showed a lot of promise. Unconfirmed rumors also stated that he was the first of several lucky and unsuspecting stallions to welcome the Night Princess back in the "old-fashioned way."^ What was also known about him was that he was the son of a Pegasus surfer named Selene Seabreeze^^, and that he loved the night more than anything else. He had set up a perimeter, and now watched the building carefully. He had been given the duty to guard Twilight Sparkle, and he wasn't going to fail. Satisfied all was safe, he glided down and entered the building. *** Twilight was somewhat relieved when Red walked through the doors. Despite all the progress Stag had made establishing good relations, a room full of changelings still made her nervous. The sooner this was done, the sooner she could go back home to Nyx... and possibly ask out Doctor's cousin, a handsome grey Pegasus stallion in a bowtie... she was getting off track. However, she didn't miss the looks between Hope and Red. The poor stallion always seemed to get awkward around Hope, and the changeling princess always seemed flustered around him. Twilight thought it was cute, like seeing two little foals too nervous to ask each other out. Of course, nothing like that would happen, right? * "He's cute-looking." Cerci smirked. "He's too old for you, Chīsaki." "Not the Pegasus! I meant the dreamboat on the unicorn's back." Cerci looked at the purple and green dragon on the unicorn's back, who was currently using a claw to clean out an ear. She looked back to Chīsaki, who practically had little hearts floating around her head. "...Really?" Chīsaki dramatically stood up. Outside, dark clouds gathered with an ominous rumble "With Ryū as my witness, he will be MINE!"^^^ It would have been dramatic, had the lightning and thunder signaling the start of a thunderstorm not startled her, causing her to fall on her face.