//------------------------------//
// Meeting the humans 
// Story: Applejack Through the Ages 
// by Paradise Oasis 
//------------------------------//

Normally, the denizens of the human village paid no mind to the odd goings-on around them in Ponyland; they had grown accustomed to the sight of Phoenixes flying overhead, of giant spiders creeping past in the woods nearby, or of diamond dogs rummaging through their thrown-out garbage. But ever man, woman, and child either working in the fields or involved in some other labor around the community took notice when a flying chariot, being pulled By two Pegasus guards, and carrying two earth ponies, came to land just outside the town. Wantall and Edwina ran out to greet the newcomers, when they spotted a familiar winged form swoop down beside the chariot and land.  

"Sugar, you're back!" Edwina ran up and hugged the Pegasus, who wrapped a wing around her human friend in greeting. "Oh, and I see you've brought friends with you!"

"Ewww, she's actually letting that primate touch her!" Lambaditsa whinnied in disgust, which sounded to the humans just like any other horse noises. "How could you let that filthy poo-flinger even lay a hand on you!?"

"Huh, so these are Homo Sapiens," Paschalitsa noted curiously, looking the humans over. "Being primates, I thought they'd be, harrier."

"Edwina, Wantall... these are Paschalitsa and Lambaditsa. I've brought them here to show them you and your people aren't savages!" Sugar Apple told her in english. "That way, they'll see humans aren't a threat, and you won't be attacked anymore!"

"Why should we have to prove anything to them!?" Wantall snapped angrily, glaring at the two new arrivals. "They are the ones who attacked us! Seems they're the ones who are a threat here!"

"Listen to me... Wantall, I believe she said you're name was?"  Paschalitsa said to the middle-aged man in slightly wobbly english. "I want to apologize for my companion here's rather hasty attack on your herd. It was a rather foolish and rash action to take, and I hope our species can start over?" 

The jaw of every person and pony present dropped at the mare's proficiency in the human tongue.  

"W-wait..." Sugar asked, in a stunned voice. "When did you..."

"If I was going to take up the human cause as my political issue, I had to do some research on the subject." Paschalitsa replied, shrugging with her hooves. "It wasn't that hard to learn their language from one of the pony merchants who does business with the already established human communities."  

"Bah, why should I waste my time learning a bunch of monkey chatter?" Lambaditsa snorted, looking away in anger. "I have no business with these poo flingers."

And so, Sugar Apple and Edwina gave the two mares a tour of the village, showing them the neatly planted fields, as well as the recently gathered harvest. They showed them how the humans watched the signs of the seasons to know when to plant, and how they used the soil to thier advantage. 

"So they rotate their crops, like the farmers of Equestria once did!" Paschalitsa noted admiringly, both in english and the pony tongue. "We could learn a thing or two from these humans!" 

"Oh come on, Pasch! They're just digging holes to fling their poo into!" Lambaditsa chided her. "Don't make it sound like they can actually grow plants like ponies can!"

Sugar then took them to the smithy and storehouses, so they could see the many tools and crafts the villagers had made, and could use. 

"They are master craftsman, achieving so much without the aid of magic." Paschalitsa complimented the humans. "If we ponies hadn't had the unicorns and their magic, I doubt our civilization would've gotten out of the paleopony stage as quickly as we did!" 

"So they can make metal sticks to fling their poo with, big deal!" Lambaditsa jabbed, scowling at the impression the humans were making on her fellow senator. "These creatures don't belong in a village like this, they belong in a zoo or menagerie to be gawked at for the freaks they are!" 

"Wow Lamba, you sure do bring up flinging poo a lot." Sugar Apple finally commented in the pony tongue, raising an eyebrow at the other mare. "Do  you have some secret that you're not telling us?"

Lambaditsa's face turned a deep red, as Paschalitsa burst out laughing at the Pegasus' sarcasm. The confused humans could only stare in bewilderment, until Paschal finally turned and spoke to Edwina.

"I think we can safely say, Lady Edwina, after seeing your herd and how you live, that your kind is no threat to ponydom. I assure you that there will be no further attacks on your village, and the ponies of Fort Rainbow Dash will show you no further hostility." 

The ponies and the humans all cheered at that... all except one pony and one human, both bitter that their race was forging ties with an inferior species. It was then that sugar noticed a little girl- the one who had climbed on her back that first day she arrived with the humans, and she had given many horseback rides to during her time in the village- was trying to get up on Lambaditsa's back, and get a ride from the new 'horsey'.

"Pretty pony," The happy little toddler giggled, grabbing Lambaditsa's mane, and pulling herself up on the mare's back. "Wanna go for ride on pretty pony!"

"No, don't do that!" Sugar cried out galloping over as fast as she could. "Child, get down from there NOW!"

But it was too late. 

"Get off my back, you filthy brat!" Lambaditsa called out, rearing up and violently tossing the surprised human girl off  her body. "Did you see that?! The small human tried to attack me!"

The little girl tumbled, the back of her head hitting the ground beneath her with a loud crack.  The child immediately grabbed her head, crying out in pain, as blood oozed out of her damaged skull.

"HYDIA!" Edwina cried out, rushing over to where the child lay, injured. "Sweetie, are you all right?!"

"Bad Pony!" Little Hydia managed to whimper, rolling around in agony as dozens of villagers rushed to help her. "Bad pony hurt me! I hate ponies!"

"Damn you, Lambaditsa! Now you've made everything worse!" Paschalitsa spat, glaring at the other pony in anger. "You're already in hot water for usurping the Margrave's authority, you'll lose you're senatorial seat for this!" 

And in all the commotion in the village, Wantall watched the scene unfold with a white-hot rage in his heart. Now he was certain those ponies were nothing but a menace, and they would pay and pay dearly for threatening his people...