//------------------------------// // Chapter 2a. Meeting New Friends // Story: Translation? // by Oculus //------------------------------// Sitting up I stare blankly at the two ponies in front of me, mostly at the rainbow maned mare that had spoken in some language I couldn't begin to understand in the slightest. "Wl blf gsrmp sv srg srh svzw?" She asked yellow pony. Fluttershy hummed thoughtfully before walking over to me and gently pulled my head down, and considering neither of them seemed like they were going to hurt me I didn't resist. She examined all over my head, I'm guessing to check for concussions. She turned back to Rainbow Dash and shook her head. "Ml, srh svzw rh urmv. Gsrh rh z mvd hkvxrvh hl sv xzm'g fmwvihgzmw Vjfvhgirzm. Ovg'h tl tvg Gdrortsg, hsv dlfow olev gl gib zmw gizmhozgv srn." Rainbow Dash nodded and muttered something else to Fluttershy. Said pony trotted over and smiled at me. "Be back. Stay couch." I just nodded and stared blankly at her, surprised the cute little pegasus was able to learn how to speak even that little bit of English in such a short amount of time, even if it was one of her special talents. I laid back down on the couch and closed my eyes. This has to be some kind of nightmare...When I wake up I'll be back in the hospital with my father scowling at me for not being stronger and my mother holding my hand...Please... I drifted off to sleep with a single tear trailing down my cheek. Fluttershy POV After I had asked the strange new critter to stay on my couch I headed outside to catch up with Rainbow Dash. When I made sure the door was shut I looked up to see her hovering in circles just a few feet overhead. "Rainbow are you ready?" I asked my friend in my quiet voice, just barely loud enough for her to hear. I flew up to her level and she nodded. "Yea I'm ready Fluttershy, but aren't you worried about him eating your animals? I saw the teeth on him and they looked just like a tiger's!" She threw her two front hooves up in the air in exaggeration at the last part of her statement as we began our journey towards the Ponyville Library. "Yes I'm sure, I could tell he was scared and confused but I'm sure if he was any danger to anypony that he would have attacked the instant he woke up." Rainbow huffed angrily, though I could tell she was scared and just trying to keep her tough-pony act up I said nothing. "Fine but I'll be keeping an eye on...whatever you want to call him in case he is dangerous. One wrong move and he's getting an eye full of hoof!" Rainbow made some practice punches in the air. I knew she could protect our friends if needed, she had proved that in several different occasions, but I wouldn't let that happen. Violence is never the answer... I thought to myself as Rainbow Dash and I landed in front of Twilight's house. Rainbow knocked on the finely crafted wood door, rapping three times before backing up. A few crashing sounds and shouting sounded from behind the door and I cringed, fearing that the poor baby dragon known as Spike had gotten hurt. A moment later the door opened to reveal a tiny purple and green dragon. "Oh hey guys, you looking for Twilight?" I nodded and I couldn't help but smile at him, he was just soooo cuuuuute! "Yea, me and Flutters found some weird looking creature and was wondering if she could help us figure out what in the name of Equestria it is." Rainbow replied. Spike nodded and asked us to stay here. After a minute of waiting a lavender unicorn appeared with her saddle bags on her back. "Alright I'm ready, where is this creature you two found?" We began walking back to my cottage and Rainbow explained along the way how she came across something falling from the sky, how it crashed into a tree, and the part where she brought it back and that it didn't speak Equestrian. "It doesn't speak Equestrian huh? Well I suppose that isn't too strange considering most animals from the Everfree don't. But for an animal to speak another language is very strange. I'll have to take some notes on its body language and speech patterns to see if I can decipher the language..." Twilight started mumbling on about something about research as we reached the hut. "Alright everyone he might be sleeping so we need to be very quiet as to not disturb him." I opened the door and Twilight stopped talking. My two friends slowly walked in behind me and Rainbow Dash shut the door after Twilight and I had entered. Peering around the corner I found that my suspicions had been correct, he was curled up in a fetal position napping and had pulled the blanket over his torso. I smiled, seeing how peaceful the critter looked while asleep. I waved for my friends to follow me into the living room. As soon as Twilight saw the sleeping beast her mouth dropped open, her eyes became saucers, and she gasped. Rainbow silently chuckled at her reaction, trying her best not to laugh. She leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "Egg-head..." I giggled and turned to face the two. The unicorn was already scribbling notes as fast as her horn would allow and the pegasus had put on a serious face and took her post at watching the beast sleep. I walked over to Twilight to see what she was doing. "I'm just writing some basic notes on its appear-" I stopped her mid sentence. "He, this is a male." Twilight's face turned slightly pink and she nodded. "I'm taking some basic notes on his appearance. If you don't mind Fluttershy could you wake him up please? I think I might know what he is." I nodded and walked over to our guest and gently shook him. "Time to wake up sleepy head." Dan POV "Mrrrrrmmf..." I groaned, feeling someone trying to wake me up. Geez a guy dies and he can't get five minutes of sleep? I heard a soft voice trying to pull me from my slumber. It was so gentle yet so powerful, I just felt compelled to do whatever the voice commanded. With all the strength I could muster I pulled my heavy eyelids open and glared at the jerk who just woke me from my nap. In front of me was the two ponies I had already met but standing behind them scribbling away with a pencil in her magic grip was the lavender unicorn mare known as Twilight Sparkle. "Xlnv lm hovvkb svzw, Gdrortsg sviv dzmgh gl hvv ru hsv xzm urtfiv lfg dszg blf ziv." Fluttershy smiled as she helped me into a sitting position, speaking to me in the foreign language again. I hope I can figure out how to communicate with them soon, this is getting old. I glanced up from the yellow mare and jumped half out of my skin, Twilight had come across the room and was now studying me more closely. She hummed, obviously deep in thought, and tapped on my knee cap with a little rubber hammer she had pulled from the bags she had over her back. Immediately my leg kicked forward slightly. As soon as Twilight saw my leg kick she jumped back, only to blush as she realized she had hit my pateller reflex. Fluttershy smiled to her friend and said something inaudible in her ear and Twilight nodded before continuing her examination. After what seemed like hours (though it was more like thirty minutes, it was still felt long though!) Twilight scribbled down her final note and stepped back, a sparkle in her eye and a smile that could have rivaled Pinkie Pie. "Zoirtsg gszg'h zoo gsv rmulinzgrlm R xzm tvg uli mld, gszmp blf Uofggvihsb. Mld R mvvw gl svzi srn gzop, nzbyv R xzm urtfiv lfg dsvg ozmtfztv rg rh." Fluttershy nodded in reply to Twilight before walking over to the couch and sitting next to me. Glancing down at her she pointed with her hoof from her throat to Twilight and made some dying fish lips moves. Assuming she wanted me to talk to Twilight I gave it a shot. "Hello, my name is Dan." I spoke slowly and clearly, letting her hear every syllable. Of course she began writing notes the instant the first word left my lips. Twilight tapped her pencil to her chin, the gears in her head spinning in overdrive. Well this is going to be a long day... Twilight Sparkle POV "Svool, nb mznv rh Wzm" The strange creature that basically looked like someone had shaved an ape and painted it the color of a peach began speaking slowly, emphasizing every syllable. As much as I hated being spoken to like this I feel like it's the only way we can learn his language. Quickly scribbling down what each letter sounded like I silently prayed that I was doing this correctly. After I finished writing down all of the words I tapped my chin. I have a theory of what language this could be, I remember a mare that came to the library a few weeks ago checked out a book with similar sounding words. I wonder... I began charging magical energy into my horn. I concentrated on the center of the library and with a flash of light and a swoosh of wind I found myself standing in that exact place. "Spike! Spike where's the book of ancient mythical beasts?" I yelled up to my room. There was a moment of silence before my number one assistant replied from upstairs. "Section D second shelf from the bottom!" He sounded groggy so I must have woken him from a nap, oops. "Thanks Spike!" I quickly trotted over to where he said it was and sure enough, the large, green cover book was right there. Quickly grabbing it with my magic I slid it into my saddlebags and prepared another teleport to Fluttershy's house. Le woooossh! With a bright flash of light I appeared right where I had previously been standing. When I look up to see the creature I notice he's eating an apple and leaning casually against the arm of the chair. Even sitting down he was as tall as, if not taller than, most ponies. He waved at me, just watching with curiosity as I pulled out the book I had brought with me. Flipping to the middle of the book I found something that looked similar to him. They were called Humans, scientifically known as Homo Sapiens. Humans were a strong race that previously inhabited Equestria before the arrival of Discord when he supposedly wiped them all out of existence. Not much is known about them other than when provoked they can easily fight and win against several ponies. I shivered at the thought of the one sitting before me becoming outraged. I heard a crunch to my left and flinched, throwing my hoof its way and making contact with something soft yet hard at the same time. There was an audible Oof! and when I looked over I saw the Human crouched over holding his side. I heard him growl and my eyes widened. "Mother of Celestia what have I done..." The Human stood up straight, his whole six feet looming over me and causing me to gulp. I took a step back and tried to apologize before I remembered he couldn't understand me. Grumbling he went and sat back down on the couch and pulled up what I thought was his first layer of skin. After I saw the same peach colored pigment under the green I realized that it was just his clothing. I mentally face-palmed for thinking otherwise. I slowly walked over and decided to risk sitting next to him on the couch. When I sat down I noticed that he sat in a strange position, just like the mare I got the book from. Speaking of said book I pulled it back out and turned back to the page I was on. At the bottom of the page was a key I hadn't realized was there. My eyes widened and I smiled, finally finding what I had been searching for. I was about to try speaking to him when I felt something on my head. Turning my eyes only to look at the Human I saw that his...hand I believe the book said with the diagram...was on my head. I stiffened, fearing for what was about to come, and closed my eyes shut. After a moment nothing happened so I opened one eye to look at him and he was smiling for some reason. It wasn't joyous or maniacal, instead this smile was a sad one. Before I could ask what was wrong though he silenced me once again. This time he began running the five digits at the end of his hand through my mane before returning it to the top and repeating all over again. My eyes drooped, I had never liked anypony messing with my mane, let alone petting me. But something about this was relaxing to me. I closed my eyes and laid my head on his lap, letting myself drift off to sleep.