by Europa
"Say it after me," Chrysalis said. The next sounds of out her mouth were a series of clicks, chirrs, and chirps.
"My... name," Twilight repeated in Hemipid carefully. "is... Twilight... Sparkle."
"Almost," she said. "At the end, raise your voice a little more. You just said that your name is Twilight Peanuts."
Heat rose in her cheeks and she pawed a hoof at the park's grass. "Oh, um woops. Let me try again." Forming the words in Hemipid was difficult. While remembering what she had to say itself wasn't hard, nor were the grammatical rules a challenge for the all-consuming mind of Twilight Sparkle, the actual pronunciation was quite difficult.
By the time Twilight was done with her second relation, Chrysalis smiled. "Very good. Now." She switched to the changeling language. "Clitter asked me how far the house is from the pond."
Before Twilight could even begin to respond, the ground beneath their hooves trembled. She and Chrysalis both looked towards the sound of paws on dirt, lots of paws on dirt, heading there way.
"Oh not again!" she exclaimed. But before Twilight could set up a barrier spell around them, Chrysalis's own horn lip up and a beam shot from it, scorching a perfect ring around the two lovers and leaving changeling slime where it was.
Seeing her confusion, Chrysalis explained. "Predator pheromones, they'll know we mean business." Sure enough, the rabbits reached the ring, slowed down, sniffed, then went around it. "What do you mean 'again'?"
"Long story, but this isn't the first time Ponyville's experienced a rabbit stampede," she said over the noise. "The Flower Sisters must be panicking."
"Oh yes, the ones that fainted at the sight of me." Chrysalis chuckled sinisterly. "I may have to pay them another visit soon..."
"Riiight," Twilight drawled. "Anyway, let's continue the lesson. So." She licked her lips. "Clitter asked me how far the house is from the pond." At least that was what she thought she said.
"Clitter asked me how deep the fish is under the house," Chrysalis repeated back to her.
Twilight swore in Hemipid. At least she could do that much.