PreCommon Era Chapter One/PreLunar Rebellion: Chapter One: Omnivore Meet Herbivore/A New Resident
As he stood there looking at the sky, his stomach growled and ached for the third day in a row. He had water enough from the stream he had found, and he had crafted some very crude spears from a pile a branches he had found the day before, but still he had yet to come across any life, or anything that even resembled edible food for him to eat. So standing there he sighed and started following the stream, which grew into a mighty river. His once pale skin now tanned from the sunlight that poured through the branches and leaves of the trees. His rich green eyes constantly scanning the area looking for what, he did not know, and his red hair dirty from sleeping on the ground by a tree that seemed to scare the wildlife away. He was of average height but by now his stomach was beginning to push out with the obvious signs of starvation, contrary to the normal healthy, if not fit, form he usually had.
Still no food. His stomach growled loudly, and he winced as a pang of hunger hit him once again, only for the growl in his stomach to be answered by another growl this one from behind him. Thinking that it was at least some meat he twirled around ready to at least fight for some food he was surprised to come face to face with a wolf, a wolf made entirely of wood.
“Impossible!” he said knowing that Timberwolves, if he was correct in what it was, only existed in Equestria. However this revelation wasn’t going to let him sit around and ponder it as the timberwolf jumped at him and, luckily for him, landed with the sharpened tip of his wooden spear in its head through its eye socket. As the beast fell apart, the young man knew that he had been exceedingly lucky. So he ran, and he ran, following the river until it started to cut into a small, yet very wide, gorge, one he knew from the looks of the rope bridge hanging over it. This was the bridge to the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters. And if this gorge was only just starting that meant that…
“No fucking way…” he thought aloud and he started up the path, ashamed that he hadn’t tried looking harder earlier. Within hours, though his stomach growled louder every hour, he managed to sneak his way up to the castle, the moon shone down on him and the very intact castle doors. Biting his lip he banged on the door, hoping beyond hope that maybe he could find something to eat from the castle’s cooks.
- - -
Luna had just risen the moon, and was watching with sadness that every pony had begun their night time routines—the ones that would either lead them to sleep, or grumble about being awake at some ungodly hour when everyone else was still in, or was going to, bed, when she heard banging at the doors to the castle. The doors that led right to the Throne room! Surprised the alicorn rushed to her throne and sat there waiting for one of the servants to open the door, when she remembered that only a few guards, a cook, and herself were awake…
- - -
About to give up, Masao started to turn around when the doors shone with a pale blue light and the doors opened. Swallowing hard, he stood at the doors and waited for them to open all the way and as soon as they did he stepped inside much to the surprise of the one princess on her throne.
“What manner of beast art thou?” she thought aloud and Masao frowned at her words.
“I am no beast, Princess Luna—” he said without thinking and the next thing he knew he was against the wall his body enveloped in that same pale blue aura as the door had been not a few minutes before.
“Who, or what, art thou and how doest thou know my name!? Speak demon or have thee lost the ability to do so at the sight of my power!?” she exclaimed at the unknown creature.
“I am Masao” he managed to say even as her magic started to choke him. “I am a human being!” he said and she dropped him.
“So thou knowest proper manners we see.” said Luna with a snort and Masao simply smiled
“As for how I know your name, I was called from across space and time to aid you, to help you. I do not wish for you to feel anymore loneliness.” he lied, he had no clue as to why he was there but if he could he would do everything in his power to help her.
“Thou art lying.” she said her eyes glowing white.
“No, not entirely, I truly don’t wish for you to feel lonely anymore” he said and then his stomach growled echoing loudly in the throne room. “Well that, and I am hungry.” he finished and Luna frowned at him.
“So what thou really came here to do was raid the kitchens, as it were.” she countered making Masao frown at her.
“And why, pray tell, would I have bothered knocking if all I was going to do was steal from your food stores? It isn’t as though the thought didn’t cross my mind, but I don’t think that stealing from someone I wish so help is the right thing to do, nor would it help my situation any.” he countered not bothering to even pretend to show reverence to her.
“Thou just said thou art here for food.” came the retort. Seeing that arguing was going to get him nowhere, he took a step towards her before getting on his knees.
“Please, Princess, I am hungry, I have been lost in that forest for several days, with no food, and only the stream as a source of drink.” He begged and Luna went wide eyed, she didn’t ever like to see someone beg, not when she could do something about it, but on the other hoof this was an unknown creature which made her very wary. Sure her sister welcomed the Gryphons with open hooves, and even certain dragons, but from what she could see he was a carnivore, if his teeth were any indication; could she really risk one of her subjects?
“And what could we provide that thee could eat? From what we see, thou art a carnivore, my subjects and I are herbivores” she said and Masao had a small placating smile on his lips.
“If that is what is worrying you, princess, don’t worry, I am what is known as an omnivore, I can eat most flora and fauna,” he said but when he got a confused look from Luna he realized that they did not have a scientist classify plants and animals just yet. “Flora is the primary classification of plants, and fungus; and Fauna is the primary classification for animals, and insects.” he explained before his stomach growled again this time even louder than before as if it knew that he was going to eat soon.
“Canst thou eat hay? Or oats?” she asked and Masao cringed at the mention of hay.
“So far as I know humans cannot digest hay. However if you happen to have boiled water and some sugar I can make what is known as oatmeal.” He said as he bit his lip.
“Thou acts as if we have never heard of oatmeal before.” she said and Masao chuckled before waving a hand around.
“Kinda hard to not think of this as ancient; my species, though limited, travels the stars, landed on Terra’s moon, which is also called Luna, has cured diseases you have yet to come across, and some that would kill your subjects, Small Pox for example—” at the mention of Small Pox Luna’s eyes zeroed in on Masao.
“Thou sayest thy species has a cure for small pox?” she asked with a slight urgency and Masao bit his lip again before once more his stomach growled. “How rude of me,” she said as she got up from her throne and with a wing gestured for Masao to follow her which he did after a bit. “We shall sit and eat, dost thou have any preference for thy meal?” Masao smiled and nodded
“Yes as a matter of fact, I could do with some fresh spinach, oatmeal, and some nuts, preferably peanuts. I need some source of protein.” Luna nodded although she had no idea what protein was, but she was glad to be able to fulfill all of his requests if only so she can get some information on how to cure Small Pox. How little she knew…
- - -
Sitting in the dining room, Masao munched on the food that was brought to him, much to the obvious surprise of the ponies that were there; they had also seen his teeth and believed that he was a carnivore, and as much as they wanted to believe their princess, seeing it with their own eyes was something else.
“Now that thou art fed, perhaps thou could tell me about how thy species have cured Small Pox.” said Luna and Masao went wide-eyed before taking a deep breath.
“I can tell you what I know, but before I start I want your word as a princess that you will allow me to finish before you interrupt.” Said Masao and Luna studied him for a moment before she nodded and Masao sighed, “What I was going to say about Small Pox, is that we have learned how to prevent it, not cure it, as the only cure for Small Pox is rest.” Luna almost interrupted when Masao stopped to take a breath. “Before I continue, have you heard about Cow Pox?” Luna nodded not seeing where this was going. “Have you ever seen how those that contracted Cow Pox never get sick with Small Pox? In case you are wondering, it is no coincidence, Small Pox and Cow Pox have a similar genetic make-up—” He paused in midsentence and thought to himself ‘I keep forgetting they are barely into their middle ages...’ he then continued “—how we learned to prevent Small Pox was that a physician was treating a patient of his for Small Pox, when he noticed how the milk maids—they are the ones that tended to the cows—at least the ones that had previously contracted Cow Pox didn’t seem to catch Small Pox. He theorized that if someone was infected with Cow Pox they would not catch Small Pox. So he tested this theory by purposely infecting several volunteers, or at least I think they were volunteers, with Cow Pox and low and behold, not one of them contracted Small Pox in their lifetimes. What he had invented was known as vaccinations, which with the exception of a few select viruses, Small Pox being one of them, is just a weakened version of the virus, which taught the body how to combat it.” Luna frowned as Masao finished, the only way to help protect her people was to hurt them.
“I am sorry that this isn’t what you are looking for. However, medicine is not something I really studied, I just learned about that one in passing…” Masao managed to say, causing Luna to glanced at him worriedly.
“Is there no way thou could tell me more?” asked Luna as Masao frowned, he knew basic survival tactics from camping in his youth, with nothing but a tent.
‘Yeah, thanks dad’ he thought before sighing once more, “Nothing that your people won’t find out eventually, I mean I know some basic survival tactics for a human, after all I am human, but I can help tell you what plants are dangerous to touch, let alone eat, I can also tell you what alcohol is actually good for medicinal purposes, same with several plants, but again you’d figure that out on your own without my help” he said before shaking his head.
“Dost thou wish for more?” the lunar princess asked, gesturing at the plate in front of him. and Masao shook his head, a sad look on his face.
“No, I should—” he started before Luna looked at him, hard.
“Should what? Thou said thou wanted to help me, why? Doest it look as though we needest thee?” she asked, in a tone that seemed more curious than harsh as she waved a hoof at the young man, whose gaze never left the plate in front of him.
“No, but you do look lonely and—” he tried again when another voice spoke up.
“Greetings dearest sister, thou did not sayest that thou would be hosting someone tonight.” at the voice Masao froze, this probably would not end well, from almost every fanfiction he had read, Celestia, for surely that was whom was talking, would want him gone.
“Sister, we did not expect thee to awaken so early. Is it truly so late?” Luna asked looking at her sister with a look of surprise.
“Fear not, dear sister. For we are glad thou hast found someone to spend time with on thy lonely nights.” said Celestia Masao chanced a glance towards the eldest sister. “And who art thou? What manner of being art thou?” she asked calmly, Masao turned towards the older alicorn.
“I am a human, your highness, my name is Masao.” he said and to his surprise Celestia just looked at him with interest.
“And what pray tell is a human? I have never heard of one before.” she said, her sister, Luna, remained quiet as she gazed at Masao.
“Homo-Sapien, ‘Wise Man,’ Human, Terran. Those are just some of the names my species can be called.” Masao said a little confused.
“Interesting titles but what art thou? How didst thou come to be?” Celestia asked, and at that Luna turned to Masao as well, a look of pure curiosity adorning her features.
“Well that depends on the point of view.” Masao said now feeling uncomfortable with the duo’s looks.
“It can wait until later; thou lookest as if thou will fall over from a gust of wind!” exclaimed Luna, Masao looked at her with a thankful gaze that she ignored, it seemed that she truly thought he was that tired.
“I thank you, princess, I have been wandering that forest for a while before I stumbled across your castle.” Said Masao and Celestia’s gaze lingered on him for a little while before she nodded
“We shall have the guards prepare a room for thee. We can continue this when thee awakens.” she said and Masao started to nod before he shook his head.
“If you wish to know more about me, princess, then you shall have to either wait for your sister to awaken, or learn it from her. Even if I don’t know the true reason as to why I am here, I do intend to be there for your sister; she needs a friend to stay awake with her throughout the night.” he said as he stood up to his full height which brought his height to about equal of that Celestia’s horn but he did not stand in an intimidating manner, rather, he walked over to the tapestries, pretending to examine them; knowing that one or both of them would demand answers to questions that, through no fault of his own, he would be unable to answer.
“Dear sister, I truly believe that he is of no danger to our subjects; has he not been forthcoming with any answers we have sought?” asked Luna and Celestia shook her head.
“No dearest sister, he did not answer the question about what his species is, or came to be,” said Celestia. Not caring that Masao could hear her, “He is hiding something.”
“Perhaps, or perhaps I don’t think that I have the energy to go into a discussion of that length at present.” Masao shot back, completely interrupting Celestia’s train of thought.
“Thou art very rude.” said Celestia and Masao rolled his eyes as he leaned against the wall of the dining room.
“No more rude then you are, princess, talking about someone behind their back, and not even having the decency to keep your voice down when you questioned my honesty.” Came the retort making the white Alicorn’s feathers to ruffle and a small blush of embarrassment to appear on her face having been called out.
“Dear sister, I am tired, and I am sure so is our guest, perhaps it is time for us all to go our separate ways until dusk?” suggested Luna trying to prevent a scene, and Celestia nodded sadly knowing that her time with her sister had been taken away from her due to this creature. Not that it was actually its fault, but never the less this human being did take time away from her sister…