//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Twilight Sparkle vs. the Yaks // by Silver Letter //------------------------------// The dungeon was not as bad as Twilight had pictured it. Cool air circulated down there and there was enough light to get around easy enough. The walls were made from bluish crystal and the doors of the cells were thick steel with little slits to look in. Cadance pointed at one of them. “They’re inside. Be careful.” She kept her distance. The two of them approached the door and Twilight slid the latch to peer inside the cell. The three yaks lay on the ground on a pile of hay which appeared scattered all over the place. The yak she recognized as the prince got up. When he rose, his head got into a beam of light cast from the barred window high up. It glinted off the bands of gold on his thick horns. “You again?!” He snorted angrily. “Why you? Enemy of Yaks come to bring insults?” “Hardly,” Twilight replied. She tried to focus but the mere voice of that yak brought back feelings of frustration. “My friend came with me to speak to you. We all feel that talking is the only way we can get past this.” “You are no great princess of friendship,” the prince said snappishly. Twilight wondered if provocation was the only thing the yaks knew when it came to talks. As far as she was concerned, she was done so she had Ribbon take her place without another word. Ribbon looked inside then introduced herself but the prince gave no acknowledgement. As she left and sat down against the crystal wall, Twilight felt like giving him a stern lecture on their total lack of decorum then their ridiculous hygiene after that. She gave a worn out glance over to Cadance which reciprocated. They were both stressed out. She listened as Ribbon tried to use every bit of psychological knowhow on the prince. It must have been trying, even for her. They responded with grunts more often than full sentences, or whatever passed for it in their far-flung country. But still, she wrote down what she could in her little notebook and never got impatient. She would nod and try to casually lead the conversation where she wanted to take it. But with little payoff, it must have been as difficult as opening a lock with a toothpick. And as patient as Twilight thought herself to be, it’s not flattering to realize that she would have given up long ago. After one of the longest hours ever, Ribbon walked away from the door. Twilight was staring up at the ceiling, daydreaming of Applejack’s farm or Rarity’s boutique. She would rather be anywhere but in that dungeon. When Ribbon stood between them, Twilight looked at her. “I did what I could. I thought that trying to find common ground could help them open up a little. It was harder than I thought it would be.” “Can I see the notebook?” Twilight asked. “Sure. Here you go.” Twilight grabbed it and flipped to the page she started writing on. It had broken down the yaks by individual or that was the intention at least. The prince didn’t fare well, having mostly negative comments scribbled down. Arrogant, demeaning, hostility….the words kept getting bigger and harder to read as if having been placed under intense annoyance. Twilight had no idea. Ribbon’s eyes didn’t twitch and her mouth kept its neutral shape the entire time. She deserved serious credit. When it came to the other two yaks, they were summarized rather simply: docile and subservient to the prince. Twilight knew it would be bad but to see it in writing by her most unbiased friend was hard to take. Shining Armor came from the stairs and walked up to them. Twilight saw him and he smiled warmly. He wore his charming royal armor and his mane looked very sleek and clean. “Hello, Twilight. I came as soon as I could.” He gave Twilight a quick hug then turned towards Ribbon. “You’re my sister’s friend? I hope those three didn’t give you too much trouble.” “I do admit that they’re a difficult bunch.” She giggled. “But they’re nothing I can’t handle from behind an iron door at least.” “I was worried that they would be able to break out at first. They really are some of the strongest creatures I’ve seen besides creatures like the Minotaur.” “I can imagine. All I recall from the incident in Ponyville was their yelling and loud stomping. I could hear it all the way from my office.” Shining’s eyes widened. “Really? Well, did you learn much about them?” “They’re like closed books if I had to describe them quickly. In a way, it’s just like their country, isn’t it? I was hoping to get their point of view and why they did what they did but…I didn’t get much. I can at least speculate that honor and tradition play a huge role in their cultural mindset.” “It’s not really a lot to work with,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Twilight. What else could I do?” Twilight gave her the notebook back. “It’s alright. I don’t blame you of course. I’m going to speak to the prince one more time before we go. Excuse me.” She took a deep breath and approached the slit with a dignified air. The prince saw her and shuddered as if trying to shake water off his body. His large nose was crusted over and leaking some kind of mucus. Twilight noticed how bad their hair smelled. It was like old leaves and wet hay. She crinkled her nose which caused the prince to snort. She immediately went into speech mode. “Prince…this is my final entreaty. For all our delegation’s efforts have accomplished…” “Pony words are too difficult!” the prince said, cutting her off sharply. “Not Yak way!” They started their little dance of anger anew. “Then what can I say that you will understand?! Why not try to work with us?” Twilight yelled. “Yaks will not work! Yaks choose war!” “This is not a war. You’re our prisoners,” Twilight emphasized curtly. “For now, princess. Yak brothers received messenger birds. Soon will be at bright village gate!” He grinned, flashing his chipped, stained teeth. From what Twilight could see of his eyes, they shown off his princely arrogance. “Wha….what did you say?!” she cried. They didn’t reply save for deep laughs. She fled, passing her friend and relatives and hurried back up the stairs, ignoring pleas for her to slow down.