Can Yona Talk to the Animals?

"Yona have problem. Need advice."

The yak in question that had just referred to herself in the third-person was standing at this very moment upon Fluttershy's cottage doorstep, having unexpectedly dropped by to see her teacher this afternoon, and it wasn't even a school day.

"Oh, um... okay," Fluttershy responded through the open door, a little confused. "You don't want to talk to Starlight? She is the school guidance counselor, after all."

The yak shook her head, her dark braids swaying with the motion. "Yona think yellow pony know how help Yona with this better," she replied simply, her expression serious.

"Oh." Fluttershy blinked. "Alright. Come in, Yona."

The mare stood aside and Yona trudged her way inside the cottage living room, several small animals - a squirrel, a bunny, and a chipmunk - scampering into the next room as she entered. Fluttershy closed the front door and gestured to the green couch. "Won't you sit down?"

Yona emitted a small grunt of affirmation in reply and walked over, circumventing the coffee table to just by the indicated furnishing. She sat down abruptly, her larger yak frame making the pony sofa jerk to a tilt before falling back to the floor with a thud.

Fluttershy might've winced at this years ago, but she had grown accustomed to things a lot worse than this from Discord's visits to her home; instead, she flew over to a nearby bureau, retrieving the tea set that sat upon a silver tray. She presently fluttered back over to her guest, setting it gently upon the coffee table.

"Here," Fluttershy said, smiling as she hoofed a warm cup of chamomile to her guest, "would you like some milk and sugar with that?"

"Yona have three sugar," she responded. "No cream. Yak no like cream... Thank you." She grinned.

"You're welcome," Fluttershy replied warmly, the soft plush of tea barely audible as she added the requested number of cubes to the teacup.

Once she was finished, Fluttershy took her own cup into her hooves and moved to the armchair perpendicular to the sofa whereon her guest was seated. Yona sat quietly for a while, simply stirring the dissolving sweetness into the liquid in her cup.

After a few moments, Fluttershy cleared her throat softly, prompting Yona to look up. "Nice weather we're having," the mare remarked amiably, trying to dispel the silence.

"Weather not bad," Yona responded, placing her teacup back on the table. "Bit warm. Yona like snow."

"Oh? Well... I like snow too," Fluttershy remarked. "My friends and I have lots of fun in the wintertime." She smiled encouragingly.

Yona was silent, her expression despondent and her shoulders slightly drooped. Fluttershy looked to her expectantly. A few moments passed before Yona realized the mare's gaze was still on her, and she appeared to abruptly recall her reason for visiting Fluttershy in the first place. She straightened her form and looked to the pegasus with a determined expression.

"Yona come here to ask Fluttershy for help. Pony teachers say, cutie mark pictures show pony talent. Yaks no have cutie mark, but yaks plenty talented!"

"Well, of course, Yona," Fluttershy replied, smiling, unsure where her student was going with this.

Yona sighed tiredly, then after a moment continued. "Professor Fluttershy has cutie mark showing butterflies. But Yona knows Professor talk not only to butterflies, but also birds and bunnies, and all kinds of creature!" She flailed a hoof with her last sentence, emphasizing her point.

"Mmhmm," Fluttershy sounded over the rim of her teacup, encouraging her guest to go on.

"And for Professor, this her special talent. Talent pony dedicate whole of life to! Back in yak village, not many animals. Only yaks - yaks and snow. Recently, Yona make discovery." She leaned forwards and narrowed her eyes at Fluttershy, who shifted uncomfortably under Yona's intense gaze. "Yona. Speak. Spider," she finished, matter-of-factly, then she slumped back into her seat.

Silence hung in the air for a few moments before Fluttershy spoke, her eyes awide. "You do?"

Yona gave a curt nod. "Yona speak spider. Like pony speak butterfly. What this mean for Yona?"

Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, but her lips simply closed again. She blinked, not sure exactly how to reply. Some moments later, the mare finally spoke, "can you communicate with any other animals?" she asked cautiously.

Yona shook her head. "Yona try with birds after learn could speak spider - just like Yona see Professor Fluttershy do in class, but Yona hooves make too much noise. Birds fly away. Birds afraid of Yona." The yak slumped her shoulders sadly. "Yona need help."

Fluttershy's eyes softened and a warm smile graced her lips. She got up and took a few steps toward Yona, placing a comforting hoof on the yak's foreleg. "Don't worry, Yona. I'll help you."

Yona smiled broadly, then abruptly enveloped the mare in a bone-crushing hug. "Yona knew Professor Fluttershy know how to help Yona!"

Fluttershy did her best to speak despite the absurd pressure squishing her. "Y-Yona." She coughed. "C-Can't breathe!"

Yona released her professor immediately, grinning sheepishly as Fluttershy gasped for air. "Yona sorry. Yak sometimes forget how strong yak is." She stood up. "What Professor want Yona do first?"

Now at least somewhat sufficiently recovered from Yona's hug, Fluttershy took one last gasp of air for good measure and smiled. "Well, Yona," she replied breathily. "I-I guess w-we'll start with a lesson on how to approach another creature... quietly."

"Professor's words sound good!" Yona beamed, grabbing her teacup and downing it in several big gulps. She smacked her lips and placed the cup back on the table with a clink. "Ahh! Pony tea good! We start first lesson now?"

Fluttershy smiled weakly, her demeanor suddenly turning to slightly wearied. "Sure, Yona. I... guess that now would be fine."

---*---

Fluttershy stood by a small tree in front of her cottage, proffering a hoof towards a bird that sat on one of its branches. The little red cardinal tilted its head curiously, then hopped onto her foreleg with a chirp. She smiled, turning her head to face Yona a few yards off behind her. "Alright, Yona," she whispered. "You can come over now."

Yona starting walking towards her teacher, her steps a bit heavy.

"Gently," Fluttershy reminded her.

Yona immediately slowed, taking quieter, more deliberate steps. She stopped once she got up close and stood beside her teacher. Yona's ears flattened against her a head, as she was feeling a bit nervous.

"There," Fluttershy said warmly, "now, hold out a hoof."

Yona did as the mare asked, and the pegasus brought her own foreleg to hang in the air next to the yak's. The little bird soon understood and hopped over and onto Yona's foreleg. Yona smiled broadly, glancing excitedly to her teacher and back to the cardinal that now sat on her arm, its head bobbing every which way and that.

"What Yona do?" she whispered.

Fluttershy smiled. "Crimson?" she said, turning to the bird. "This is Yona."

The bird tilted his head, singing out a selection of cheerful twittering sounds.

"He's very happy to meet you," Fluttershy said, smiling.

Yona sighed sadly, her facial features betraying her disappointment. "Yona no understand. Guess maybe Yona no speak bird, after all."

Fluttershy smiled. "Yona," she chuckled. "Crimson didn't say anything."

Yona balked. "What?"

"Animals don't use words as often as we do," Fluttershy explained. "Usually, they just prefer to convey emotions through sound. That may be why you didn't understand them whenever I brought them to class. Crimson's twitterings were happy - so that means he's happy to meet you."

Yona blinked. "B-But... that not real language."

"Well..." Fluttershy began, "animals don't often need words to convey their meaning. You might try to start a conversation with him though."

Yona's eyes slid back to the bird. Crimson emitted a long low tweet accompanied with a tilt of his head - he appeared quizzical. Yona thought for a moment. "Crimson like sunflower seed?"

Crimson chirped happily, hopping once or twice in place. By his enthused response, it was clear that the answer was yes.

Yona looked back to Fluttershy. "How you get bird to say word?"

Fluttershy stifled a giggle and hurriedly cleared her throat. "Well, try asking him a question that's more complex."

Yona let out a forceful sigh and narrowed her eyes a bit in determination. "What Crimson's favorite food?" she asked.

Crimson was still for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Suddenly he emitted a very specific pattern of succinct chirps.

Yona chuckled. "Yona like pumpkin seeds too." Suddenly she gasped, looking to Fluttershy. "Yona understand bird!" she exclaimed.

Crimson flinched.

Yona immediately lowered her volume. "Yona understand bird."

Fluttershy giggled. "It seems that you do!" she affirmed, feeling delighted to bear witness to her student's discovery. "Should we try bunnies next?"

Yona nodded as she grinned, her braids bouncing alongside her happy face with the motion.

---*---

Chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies... even Harry the bear! Yona could communicate with them all, and do so even more effectively under Fluttershy's guidance. It was true that the animals hadn't talked with her much per se, but she could definitely understand them either way. Yona couldn't believe how much animals could say without talking!

"Yona can't believe how much animals can say without talking!" the yak exclaimed, grinning as her teacher walked her out.

Fluttershy giggled, stopping by the mailbox. "Oh, I'm so glad you dropped by! Now I finally have somecreature to share my love of animals with! It's so exciting!" She beamed.

Suddenly, Yona sighed tiredly.

"What's the matter, Yona?" Fluttershy asked, concerned by her student's sudden change in demeanor.

"Oh, Yona happy can talk with animals but... Yona still not know what this all mean."

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "How so, Yona?"

"Well..." Yona averted her gaze. "Professor Fluttershy talk to animals, and now Professor take care of animals all the time. Should Yona become animal taker-carer? Should Yona start own animal sanctuary after friendship school? Should Yona give up log tossing and focus whole life on new talent?"

"Oh my..." Fluttershy remarked, realizing how serious her student was. "Well..." Fluttershy continued, "I don't know that you'd have to give up... what was it?"

"Log tossing," the despondent yak replied.

"Yes, log tossing. Not if you love to do it. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Yona. I care for animals and I still find the time to teach at the school and help my friends." Fluttershy smiled warmly at the young yak.

Her student glanced up, eyes still sad but her tone hopeful. "Then... Yona can still become whatever Yona want to become? Even great storyteller like Rockhoof and animal-carer like Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy nodded.

Yona's face lit up. "Yes! Today best day ever! Yona learn can speak with animals and make plenty new animal friends, all without having to give up what Yona loves!" She suddenly lunged at Fluttershy, the mare sounding out with an 'eep!' before abruptly realizing that Yona's grasp was much gentler this time. Fluttershy sighed relievedly, melting into the hug.

"Yona thank Professor Fluttershy with all Yona's feelings!"

Fluttershy giggled. "You're welcome, Yona."

Yona released her teacher and smiled brightly. "Can Yona come by tomorrow for more lessons?"

Fluttershy smiled warmly. "It would be my pleasure, Yona."

Author's Note:

Please direct your grammar and spelling corrections to PM. Thank you.