Maiara and Exploration

Chapters

First Contact
Broken Promise
Interlude: Birth of a Nation
Twists and Tickles

First Contact

My name is Maiara, and I’m part of one of the tribes that live on a collection of nine islands smack dab in the middle of no where. My tribe, the Ildelia, live and rule the second largest island in the group, the one furthest to the west and the one easiest to defend. Our village was the only one set atop a mountain side, in a crater within the mountain’s top. Smoke and flames had once shot from that spot many generations ago but the beast that had once lived deep inside the mountain's belly had long since left it’s hiding place and now our tribe rested atop it’s previous roost, which provided protection during times of war. Not that that ever happened of course, not in my lifetime, at least.

I was quite a bit away from the mountaintop village, down in the jungles below, resting in a tree when I saw it; a monstrous creature with great, purple skin, wings of wood and canvas, scooting its way towards our little stretch of land from the west. No one had ever been out west, for the only things to see out there were sea beasts and other monstrosities, much like the one that stood before me now. Occasionally they would wash up on shore and our tribe would have a feast in honor of the sea’s bounty, but never have I actually seen one alive, breathing and bathing in the sun, nor have I ever seen a sea beast fly. Similarly, I had not thought that one could land so gracefully on a beach. Slowly, I made my way through the tree tops, careful not to make a sound as I came closer and closer to the edge of the sandy shore. I reached to my chest, where my charcoal and flute were strapped to me by a strip of canvas.

I watched as the sky beast’s great belly slowly opened, a set of steps lowering down to the sand, my jaw dropping as I observed two smaller, four legged creatures exiting the beast’s body. At first I thought the creature was giving birth…but it didn’t take me long to realize this elaborate sky beast was not a sky beast at all, it was closer to a sky cart, only made for taking things from one place to another. I watched, mystified, as the two creatures began to wander around the beach. The one closest to me was covered in green fur, the hair on it’s head and in it’s tail were a mix of a lighter sort of green and a soft white color, I could spot a small curled horn poking out of that mess atop it’s head. It was looking around excitedly, with the energy of a child who had had one too many sweets. I pulled myself tighter against my tree top hiding spot before the other one made a noise, which I could only assume was some sort of call to green one, since green one stopped in it’s tracks and looked back at the other. The other’s colorations were a bit more...bizarre; it’s body was the color of ground wheat but it’s tail and hair were brightly colored, a curled mix of blue and purple that made me think of a flower we had growing in the village. Wheat one said a few more words, their language (if that was what it was) a few high pitched whinnies mixed with snorts and noises that I simply had no idea how to classify. Although I couldn’t understand a word, Wheat One seemed annoyed. Green One responded with a dejected sort of whine, waving her hoof at the jungle. Wheat One rolled her eyes at this and made another annoyed sound. Green One lowered her ears and grumbled as she retreated into the Sky Cart.

What I saw next nearly made me fall out of my tree: Green One returned with a small, thin, wooden plank, her horn gleaming with a yellow glow, a similar aura surrounding the plank of wood and a long white feather poised above it, both plank and feather floating a distance infront of it’s nose. It was using word smithing...without words at all! I watched, my jaw practically touching my knees as this...impossible thing, started scribbling the feather across the wooden plank. These creatures...these things were strange, impossible things; sky carts that could carry a whole village, mute word craft, strange colors and movements… I had to tell my tribe. Slowly I started to make my move back inland, but in my excitement I had stepped on a branch that couldn’t support my weight. With a crack and a yelp I was sent tumbling to the ground.
“Shit!” I swore, quickly sitting up, noticing the plank of wood was on the ground, both four legged creatures staring at me with wide eyes. I gulped and got to me feet as quickly as I could, attempting to make a run for the village, but a golden glow quickly caught me and lifted me from the ground. I struggled and kicked as Green One’s voice started up, excitedly, as it dragged me back towards the beach. Wheat one seemed dumbfounded, staring at me with wide eyes as Green One turned me over in it’s wordless craft. I yelped lightly, pressing a hand against my groin to keep my loin cloth in place as Green One turned me over.
“Put me down!” I gasped, glaring at Green One. Green One didn’t seem to understand, but Wheat One finally found it’s voice. It made some angry noises at Green One, motioning towards me, I saw Green One’s cheeks flush as it turned me the right way up, and slowly lowered me to the ground. Slowly Wheat One patted my head, making what I could only assume was a comforting noise...they were treating me like a dog!

I was tempted to run but I knew if they wanted to keep me here there was nothing I really could do about it. The two began to talk to one another, the conversation going back and forth, green one occasionally glancing at me as I watched the two talk. These creatures were intelligent, they could speak, maybe it would work on them; sometimes tribes from other islands wished to trade with our tribe, our brothers from the other islands were so different from us that we often needed help translating, it was probably my best shot at actually getting something done. I reached into the loop of my harness and grabbed my charcoal, the two noticed what I was doing but made no move to stop me. I held the charcoal between the fingertips of my thumb and pointer finger (green one in particular seemed entranced at this) and looked between the two. Finally I decided on Green One, since it was the one keeping me here to begin with. I began to draw, Wheat One made a noise, but Green One quieted it with a wave of it’s hoof. Puffing out it’s chest I got the feeling Green One had absolutely no idea what I was doing as I drew the rune; a plant like structure with four circles spaced between the ‘branches’ of the rune. Technically, I could have drawn something much worse, something that would paralyze or even kill Green One if I wanted...but I didn’t really want to test how fast Wheat One could run. I finished drawing the rune and scooted back a bit. Green One turned to Wheat One, puffing out it’s chest and making several noises, it’s movements and posturing reminding me of some of the bright colored birds in the jungle. For the first time Wheat One and I seemed to be in agreement, we both sighed and shook our heads at Green One’s actions, though I don’t think Wheat One noticed.

I returned my charcoal to its place on the harness and grabbed my flute. I took a deep breath, put my fingers in the proper spots, closed my eyes, brought it to my lips, and I played. The song that activated the rune was short, sweet, but with that melancholy edge to it just beneath the surface. The best way I could describe it is watching a play you didn’t quite understand with someone you enjoyed spending time with, something sad was happening on stage, you knew it was supposed to be sad, but you and your friend were having such a good time that the sadness didn’t really come through as strong. I heard one of the four legged creatures gasp, the white glow of the rune activating visible even behind my eyelids. I continued to play, bringing the song to a completion and opening my eyes...just in time to see a wheat colored hoof coming straight at my face.The kick got me right in the jaw, knocking me sideways. My flute was sent skittering away as Wheat One got on top of me, it’s voice now seething with anger. Wheat One spat accusatory words at me as it gestured to Green One, who was blinking rapidly, the rune I had left on it’s chest having melted into it’s flesh, as it usually did. Wheat One raised it’s fore hoof, threatened to hit me again.
“Get it off me!” I cried desperately, pleased to see my words causing a response from Green One. It’s head snapped to me, it’s eyes widening again as it looked at me, then Wheat One, who made a noise of concern towards it’s green companion. Green One, after a pause, made another noise, which sparked an angry noise from Wheat One. Green One said something else, which only seemed to confuse Wheat One, then repeated the first noise. Slowly Wheat One climbed off my chest, and I breathed a sigh of relief rubbing my sore jaw.

“I...uh...hello?” I looked up, Green One was staring at me, expectantly, Wheat One staring at Green One with it’s mouth slightly open. I didn’t answer right away, I was too busy checking to make sure I still had all my teeth, but when I finally did speak I could see Green One jump.

“It was a translation rune” I explained “So we can understand each other” I looked at Green One, who appeared to be close to fainting. I let out another sigh. “Can you keep your friend from hitting me while I make another?”

It took Green One a moment or two but finally it nodded and switched back to it’s native language, explaining to Wheat One as I retrieved my flute. Wheat One seemed apprehensive as I returned. It made another angry noise as I began to draw the rune on it’s chest. Green One was kind enough to translate for me.

“She says that if you do anything funny she’ll buck your teeth down your throat.” I couldn’t help it, I paused in my drawing. I glanced at Wheat One, then at Green One, then Wheat One again, then back to Green One. Slowly I pointed to Wheat One.
“She’s a girl?” It was an honest question, short of pushing them on the ground and spreading their legs I had absolutely no idea how to tell the difference with these creatures, but Green One seemed to find the question hysterical. It fell over onto it’s back, making a high pitched mix between a whinny and a squeak that I could only assume was the creature’s laugh. I sighed and went back to my work, but not before I stole a quick glance and confirmed that Green One was also female. An activation song later and Wheat One was standing there, blinking rapidly just as her friend had been
.
“There.” I said finally, standing up, Wheat one’s mouth dropping as the single word reached her ear. Green One gave her a quick nudge with her foreleg and Wheat One muttered
“Oh..I...umm...I guess I’m sorry for...umm..you know...bucking you in the face.” I nodded, just once, to show I understood, but I didn’t comment otherwise. Green One coughs softly, her horn lights up again and she retrieves a scroll from the piece of wood she had dropped earlier. She began to read from it. “We extend this invitation of alliance with any sentient, pony, griffin, dragon, or sentient being not yet classified. Please treat the crew of HRPS Exploration as royal emissaries an extensions of the crown. Please offer them all the respect you would show a member of the royal house. They are simply there as observers of your culture and your lifestyle.
Yours Sincerely Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Magic and Knowledge.” Green One silently rolled up the scroll and looked up at me. I can’t lie...I had absolutely no idea what Green One had just said, but Wheat One seemed to be pleased with it. I just nodded dumbly, trying to pretend like I knew precisely what she was talking about. Wheat one bowed slightly, her front legs bending as she lowered her head a bit. “My name is Bon Bon” She said primly “Nice to meet you”
Green One then grabbed my hand left hand between two of her hooves and forcefully shook it up and down so many times I thought she was going to dislocate my shoulder.
“And I’m Lyra! It’s Awesome to be here! “ Bon Bon sighed
“Would it kill you to act with a bit of professionalism?”
“Would it kill you not to attack the only member of a species we only just met?” Lyra retorted, giving her eyebrows a little wiggle. Bon Bon’s cheeks flushed.
“I...I thought it had done something to your brain or something! I thought it had turned you into a vegetable!”
I couldn’t help but snicker a little bit “My name’s Maiara.” I said, pressing my hand to my chest and bowing slightly “Well met”
Lyra quickly grabbed the wood and the feather with her wordless word crafting, quickly scribbling on the wood once more. I tried to ignore this, as I continued. “I’d be happy to take you to the village and introduce you to the el-”

“Theres a whole village of you guys?!” Lyra interrupts, her eyes going wide.
“I...yeah..” I said, a tiny bit confused “I can show you the way up the mountain if-” Lyra had disappeared into the jungle. Once again, Bon Bon and I were in agreement. We both sighed and said “This is going to be one long visit.”

Broken Promise

Lyra didn’t get far. She had gotten herself tangled up in some vines not too far off the beach when Bon Bon and I reached her. “Uh, a little help here?” She whined, squirming against her bindings. Bon Bon and I shared an exasperated glance at one another before I stepped forward and began to untangle the Green little beast. I heard her half whisper “Hands!” Before she finally dropped out of the vine’s grasp.

“Please don’t pay her any mind” Bon Bon said with a roll of her eyes. “She had this strange fixation with hands and...well...your species for as long as I can remember.”
“You’re just jealous your strange fixation hasn’t turned out to be real yet!” Lyra retorts still grinning. Bon Bon flushed at this “I told you, trying to make cavity preventing candies isn’t an obsession” Lyra seemed about ready to retort when Bon Bon cut her off

“At any rate, you need to stay with us since, you’re the one with this particular obsession” She waved a hoof at me “And you’re the one who has to take notes while I ask the question you’re far too excited to ask.”
Lyra blinks, quietly picking up the wooden board she had been holding a moment earlier, her cheeks turning a bit pink. As the golden glow surrounded the board again Bon Bon gave a soft nod.

“Now then, we’ll get your basic information before we get on with the questions about your culture.” Bon Bon explains as we begin to walk. I nodded quietly to show I understood.

“Okay, Name, Gender, and Age if you please”

“Maiara, female, 19 winters” Lyra scribbled as I answered, I glanced over her shoulder but the words didn’t quite make sense. It took me a second before it clicked in my mind that the translation rune only worked on speech, not written language. I shrugged and returned my gaze to the wheat colored pony to my left.

“Okay” She said “Now what can you tell us about your race?”

I paused quietly, chewing on the inside of my cheek. Where to start?

“Well…There are two types of people, the wordsmiths, like me, who can do word crafting, work with runes, keep the knowledge of our tribe’s history safe and generally entertain everyone.” I couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride swelling up in my chest.

“The other kind are the Earth smiths, they’re good at almost everything, they tend the fields, work with metal, they’re good builders, and they keep the tribe fed and housed” I heard Lyra switch abruptly to her native language, whispering something to Bon Bon, whom nodded in agreement.

“What about the weather, Maiara?” I cannot tell you how much this confused me, but, they were my guests so I tried to answer as best I could, perhaps it was a part of their culture.

“Umm...it’s fine, I guess, I mean it’s kinda humid every now and then but I can’t complain”
Lyra snickered and Bon Bon shot her a look before continuing on

“I mean is there a sort of human that controls the weather? A kind of human with wings perhaps?”

“No” I said softly, maybe a bit too quickly. The angel rune was...well...forbidden, only meant for the elder of our tribe, and even he didn’t use it, least of all to give us a bit of rain. Bon Bon seemed to realize she had stepped on a rather sore topic of mine, however, so she changed tact rather abruptly.

“What about your tribe? Can you tell me a bit about them?” My mood brightened considerably. I had told this story to children so many times, but I’d never been allowed to tell it to someone from another tribe. The thought that I was giving this story to a couple of complete outsiders made me feel so...important!

“The Ildelia tribe was founded long ago, when outcasts from the other eight tribes found this island.”

“Eight tribes? There’s more than one?” I nodded quickly

“Yes, all to the east. We have the second largest island to ourselves, since we’re such a young tribe, the rest divide themselves up into subtribes on the other Eight islands.” Lyra made a soft noise of understanding, continuing to scribble her notes.

“See the people of the other islands have this superstition about going where the sun meets the sea, they thought this island was cursed and the great beast within the mountain didn’t help that stereotype. The outcasts, the Ildelian founders, were chased here by the other tribesmen, stuck between them out at sea and the great smoke spewing beast. All hope was lost, until a piece of a sky fell.” I paused for dramatic effect, only continuing when Bon Bon prompted me with a whisper

“What do you mean, a piece of the sky fell?”

“Precisely what I said, a piece of the sky fell. A piece of the sky descended, between the cowering Idelians and the charging tribesmen. The piece of the sky suddenly opened and out flew a beast of the rain, gray like a cloud just before it becomes a thunder head, its great big eyes sparkling like lightning. It hurled a flaming piece of metal at the tribesmen, who fled in fear. I don’t even think they saw the other creature that stepped out of the piece of the sky.” Again I paused for dramatic effect, continuing before either of them prompted me.

“It was a beast of earth, brown like the earth, he and his companion took one look at the hungry Idelians and decided to help. The two defeated the great beast in the crater-”

"What just like that?” Lyra squawked indignantly. I smiled and nodded

“Yup, just like that. One moment they were in the crater and in the next moment the great beast had flown away, far to the south. We took up residence in its nest. The earthen one taught my people of the art of Wordsmithing, and the one of the cloud taught us how to make our ceremonial food. Then they just climbed back inside the piece of the sky and just disappeared. We still celebrate that day every year! We call it Healing day”

“Why Healing Day?” Bon Bon asked quizzically

“Because that’s the only name the brown beast gave, its gotten kind of muddled over the years, every version of the story has a different name for him; The Great Physician, Medicine Bringer, The Healer, but it all boils down to the same thing”

“Oh so I suppose you and the other tribes aren’t on too good terms then?” Asked Lyra, her quill still dancing across the wooden board.

“Oh no! We are, at the moment. I mean sure there’s been wars but we shared the gift of Wordcrafting with the other islands, that made it a lot easier on everyone. We still trade, and theres bits of their culture that’s still with ours. Thats the reason why no one ever comes to the west side of the island” I explained. I was unaware of my little slip until Bon Bon cleared her throat.

“Aren’t we on the western part of the island? Why exactly were you over here if you never go over this way.” I coughed, but I was saved by the western gates of the village finally coming into view.
“O-oh look! We’re here!”

The guards, two large earthsmiths whom I had rarely spoken to, glanced at the two creatures I was bringing in.

“Its okay, they’re friends”I said, trying to keep my voice as even as possible

“Friends of yours, Hoarder?” Asked the guard to my left, before he snorted and spit at my feet. I sighed and tried to keep my face impassive, but my hands had balled into fists. The guard had brought his face so close to mine that I could smell his breath.

“Give the Elder my regards” I muscled my way past him, pushing Bon Bon and Lyra ahead of me. I hoped they’d ask me no questions about the event, and thankfully they kept quiet.

The villagers had made it abundantly clear that they did not care for me after my father had followed my mother into the void, their looks no longer bothered me. Had they, I might have noticed something was off. As it was, I marched right through the village square, Lyra’s head going this way and that, like a child at his first Healing Day Festival. The small squat little huts were not our destination, ours was the larger, one near the center of the village reserved for the village elder. The elder of our village was easily three times my age, but he had been a proud earthsmith before his predecessor died and his body still had the muscle and scars to show for it.

As I walked in with my guests I felt the hush pass over the hall. I quietly bowed, motioning for my two four-legged guests to do so as well. “Well met Elder Aucaman” I whispered as I rose back to my feet.

“Ah my dear Maiara!” He said, his voice snide and thick with venom. “To what do I owe this...unexpected intrusion.” His eyes danced over my two guests as I motioned a hand to them.

“I found these two on the beach. I have tested them and proved their intelligence. They have come from beyond the western sea. They wished to see you.” The elder nodded softly, his eyes looking over the two hoofed creatures.

“I see. Well then” He turned to one of the guards standing behind his throne “Announce a feast for tomorrow” My heart stopped. Feast? We didn’t have the...he couldn’t possibly...As if to answer my question he waved a hand at the two guards by the door. The closest one grabbed Bon Bon.

“Hey let go of her!” Cried Lyra, but the guard already have a blade to Bon Bon’s throat. Lyra hesitated and that was all the other guard needed to catch her as well.

“You can’t do this!” I cried “They’re intelligent! They speak! They’re just like us!”

“They are beasts” The elder replied, his eyes staring down at me coldly.

“They are here to feed us, nothing more. They washed up on the beach, they are part of the sea’s bounty. The tribe shall feast on their flesh at sundown tomorrow” Instinctively my hand went to the loops on my harness.

“You can’t do...I won’t let-” Before I could finish my sentence a slap rang across the room. I fell to the floor, my flute skittered from my hand, rolling to the elder’s feet. He picked it up, twirling it between his fingers. “Knowledge Hoarder, Oathbreaker, and siding with the beasts? Have you no shame?” Fear crept into my bones as I watched him, tears creeping to my eyes. That flute...my mother had made me that.

“P-please! I’m s-sorry” I squeaked as a cruel little smile curled over the man’s face

“Oh no my dear, there’s no going back from this. As village elder you have sworn an oath to obey me, and now I find you questioning my orders? Well...you know quite well what that means, don’t you?”
“No plea-!” SNAP!!

The two halves of what had once been my flute fell to the dirt floor.
“Get out of my sight.”

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I don’t know how long I spent crying...an hour? Two? I had no way of telling inside my hut. I had never met my mother, she had died giving birth to me, but losing that flute...it was like losing her, the heavy, sick feeling of my heart pressing down on my stomach was almost unbearable. But my brain quickly asserted dominance over my body. It blocked out the grief...there’d be time for that later, now was the time to take action. I went outside, wiping my puffy eyes on the back of my arm as I searched the undergrowth around my hut. I found just what I was looking for, several small tubes from a plant we used to make our loin clothes. Peeling them away from the cottony innards I took twelve of them inside and quickly dried them over my fire, cutting them at various lengths before tying it all together with a bit of cotton. This would only really work for a short time, but a short time was all I needed. I waited until the sun sank below the horizon before I began to draw.

I placed the rune just over my navel, a simple triangle, with a bar coming down from the top point, forking into an upside down shape, quite like my new friends’ hooves, only much thinner around the center. A single dot in the center of it completed the rune. I placed the charcoal back in my harness, grabbing a leather bound book from the floor. The thing had been with my family for generations...if I was going to do this, I’d have to take it with me. Slowly I brought the flute to my lips and played. The song was far from elegant, as a matter of fact I was downright clumsy with my thrown together instrument, but I got the job done in the end. I felt the rune on my tummy flash as the dark paint melted into my flesh. To my perspective nothing really had happened, but as I walked out of the hut the few out and about paid me no mind. Their eyes passed right over me without a second glance. I walked, silently as I could, through town square, past the elder’s den, and towards the eastern end of the village where the fires lay. In two cages laid my four legged guests, I breathed a sigh of relief. Neither had been injured too badly.A cut here and a bruise there, but at least they hadn’t had a leg broken or worse! I crept forward, amazed that the area was only being looked after by one guard, who was currently napping in front of the fire. I moved to Bon Bon first, she was leaning against the bamboo of her cage, her body covered in sweat, her mane disheveled. Slowly I placed a hand on her foreleg.

The moment our bodies met my spell, on her at least, had been broken. She jumped and I quickly held a finger to my lips. “Shhh” I breathed. I glanced at the guard, who snored and twitched in his sleep, but failed to wake. I made my way to the ropes that held one of the walls up, taking the sharpest rock I could find off the ground I began to quietly hack at them. It took several minutes of hard work before I finally managed to break it open. Bon Bon rushed to Lyra’s cage and nudged it, moving her hoof to Lyra’s mouth to keep her from crying out. Bon Bon whispered something to Lyra in their native tongue, and then turned to me, tried to say something, then frowned and put a hoof to her lips. Terrific, the translation rune had worn off.

Lyra seemed confused before I gently tapped her, breaking my illusion on her as well. I began to cut through her cage’s ropes as well, Lyra had obviously been making some effort to do the same thing earlier, these were frayed much more than Bon Bon’s had been. I brought Lyra out of her cage, she quickly embraced Bon Bon, then threw her forelimbs around me. I hurried the two out of the village, heading through the undergrowth we made our way around the side of the mountain, towards the western side of the island. The beach had barely come into view when we heard a loud horn blast. I gulped and turned back towards the mountain...they knew.

I sighed and turned away from their airship, standing with my back straight and tall. I’d face my end, maybe bring a bit of dignity back to my family name. I soon realized that their hoofsteps had stopped and quickly turned back around. The two were at my sides again. Slowly I squatted down next to Lyra, taking out my family’s book. “Here” I whispered, despite the look she gave me.

“Take it, I won’t be needing it any more…”I tried to pass the book to her. Even if I didn’t have any children, my family legacy would continue through these ponies...at least it would if Lyra had followed my initial plan. Ignoring the book I offered her Lyra’s horn began to glow, she encased me in her wordless wordsmithing and began to run for the ship, pulling me from my feet and forcing me to hover along behind her.

“H-hey! Put me down! Let me die with dignity, damn it! This is supposed to be a noble sacrifice!” Lyra didn’t stop, heading up the stairs of the air ship, pulling a lever once I and my book were safely inside, the stairs clinking up against the hull as the chains pulled them tight. I watched Bon Bon scream something into a funnel next to the door, a second later the whole ship lurched. A hissing and puffing noise could be heard as the floor vibrated beneath us. I couldn’t see, but I could feel the great beast pushing itself from the shore, taking to the sky. Grumbling I reached through the wordless field and gave Lyra a sharp slap upside the head

“Put me down!” Lyra looked sheepish again and slowly set me down on the floor. The place was cramped, to me at least. The two ponies could easily stand upright and not have to worry, but I had to stoop just to stand. Slowly, Lyra grabbed my hand with her horn’s glow and began to lead me down the halls into the bowels of the ship, Bon Bon trotting along behind us. She took me to a small room with orange walls. Set into one of the walls was a circle that appeared to be filled with...what was that? It was as if...someone had frozen the air. I slowly made my way over to it, tapping at the hard surface, looking out at the great expanse of sea. Lyra made another noise and I turned around. She was blushing quietly, scuffing her hoof against the soft wooden floor. Giving another irritated sigh I slowly brought my fingers to the side of my mouth, miming playing a flute. It took a few seconds for them to get it, but eventually a look of recognition passed over Bon Bon’s face. She ran out of the room and came back with a pan flute, not unlike the one I had made, save for the fact that it was metal. I slowly drew another translation rune on my chest, and played the song on the flute. I wasted no time.

“Why didn’t you leave me!” I snapped, much to the ponies’ surprise.

“But..we..” Lyra started, but I cut her off. I was so mad I could barely see straight!

“I could have died with honor, brought some scrap of dignity back to my family! But nooo! No you had to drag me along and make me an Oath breaker AND a coward! I can’t believe this! I can’t believe you’d-” I was cut off by a wheat colored hoof firmly smacking a familiar spot. What is with everyone and attacking my face!

“Now you listen to me missy!” Hissed Bon Bon. “Dying with honor is still dying, no matter how pretty you dress it up. They’re still killing you just because you saved a couple of ponies like us! You did nothing wrong by standing up to those...those...beasts!” Her expression turned a bit more gentle.
“If it weren’t for you we’d be stuffed and roasted by tomorrow morning, you saved our lives, and thats plenty honorable from where I’m standing.”

“Yeah” Lyra chimed in “And no matter what happens me and Bonnie’ll always remember that! It ain’t every day you get your flank saved by a human” I sighed slowly slumping against the wall.

“I don’t even have a home any more...how can I ever go back?” Bon Bon sat down next to me, putting a foreleg around my middle

“You don’t need to, you got a place to live right here.” Lyra nodded her agreement, making her way to another one of those metal funnels in the wall. “Miss Hooves, a tray of muffins to the orange room please?” Several seconds later a gray, winged pony flapped her way into the room, holding a tray between her hooves. “Here we are hot from-”
She stopped, her eyes widening as they met me...or at least when one met me, the other one had drifted a little to my left. “T-this is one of the creatures you were talking about Captain Lyra?” She squeaks
Lyra rolled her eyes. “Yes Derpy, thats a human. And how many times have I told you not to call me Captain?”

Derpy continued to stare at me for the longest time. “Oh huh? Coming Dinky!” She called out of the room, shoving the tray into my hands and dashing from the room. I looked at the thing they called muffins. I slowly picked up the cup shaped pastry. Blueberries aside I was sure I had seen these before...once a year for the past 19 years in fact
“That mare gets stranger every day.” Lyra commented under her breath as I took my first bite.

Interlude: Birth of a Nation

~~~1236 years, 3 months, 6 days, 9 hours, 21 minutes and 5 seconds ago

Discord groaned, lazily floating on his back, paddling his way through the eastern sea. Those rotten sisters had ruined his fun again! What was the big deal anyway? Why must they always ruin his best pranks? Card board trees, chocolate rain, candles that made it darker, exploding whoopy cushions, it was funny wasn't it? They had a good laugh didn’t they? Though he supposed that candy bar in the royal swimming pool might have been a bit low brow but, hey, a prank was a prank, and pranks certainly didn’t warrant war. Two little princesses weren’t that big of a problem of course, but they had gone and turned all the ponies against him as well! The nerve! Even now, far to the west, they were attempting to find a way to follow him. A few flying jellyfish and newly made sea monsters had set them right...but they still presented a problem. If he were to rule over all Equestria and still have his fun he’d need something ready made to mix in with the ponies when the time came. After all, where was the fun in everything getting all stale? He had to make sure there were several different brands of chaos, so that the ponies didn’t get too comfortable...and that meant something new!

The Draconequus sat up, climbing ontop of the water’s surface. “Alright lets see now” He looked around “Well here is as good of a spot as any!” He snapped his fingers and with a soft ‘poof’ a pull chain appeared, suspended in the air. He grabbed it and gave it a tug. With the sound like a flushing toilet a whirlpool appeared, easily 30 miles across. Discord cackled watching the mad swirling for a second, floating above the scene, his voice changing to that of a wide eyed innocent little child for a second
“Water go down th’ hole!” He snapped his fingers again and the whirlpool suddenly grew a mouth, which hacked and coughed for several minutes before spitting out nine islands, complete with squawking birds, trees, and little animals. He tossed the watery jaws a giant cough drop

“Thank you good sir” He said as he moved on, the whirlpool disappearing behind him. He made his way to the centermost island and quietly sat down in the sand.
“Ah...nice little vacation spot. Perfect for an experiment!” With a snap of his fingers a labcoat appeared on his body, a pair of thick gloves on both of his hands, a pair of thick, taped up glasses, tilted slightly to one side, dangling on the bridge of her nose.
“Its time to get cooking!” He pulled up a pail, much like one a child would use when making a sand castle, tossing just a bit of sand in mixing it around with his hand, snapping and pulling out a little bundle of flesh. The bundle wiggled and squeaked in his hand
“Aww aren’t you just the cutest widdle fing I ever did see?” He coos, teasing the ball with his finger. “Now then, lets see….chaotic as possible…hmmm..Nice long limbs” As he spoke he pinch a bit of the flesh and pulled it out, making a set of long legs, that stopped about 3 feet up the creature’s body.
“Yes that always makes the ponies cringe, spidery legs! Hmmm…” He looked at the four things he had made, the creature unsteadily wobbling there in the sand before him. He grabbed it and pushed it backwards a bit, straightening its spine, and shortening its arms. It balanced there for a second before toppling over.

“Perfect!” He crowed, before setting down next to the creature’s legs.
“Hmmm..what now...hooves are so last century….” His left back leg gave him a swift kick in the rump “Oh hush you! You wouldn’t know fashion if it came up and bit you in the…..if it kissed your….Huh….Okay we’ll get back to that” He frowned at the creature before snapping his fingers loudly.
“This little piggy went to market” He cooed, pulling at the stub at the end of the creature’s leg, a foot appeared and so did a toe.”This little piggy stayed home” A second toe appeared on both of the feet. “This little piggy had roast beef, and this little piggy had none. And this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home!” As the fifth toe popped into existence Discord tickled the creature’s feet with the tip of his tail. The creature flailed and let out a muffled squeal. “Oh don’t worry you’ll be able to laugh later!” He said, patting his creation’s belly

“Hmm...now about the skin...nah lets leave it as is, no fur, but easily burnt and easily damaged by the cold.” He then made his way to the little stubs on the end of its arms
“Hmmm...Hooves are still-” His left back leg raised again, preparing to kick “Well they’re just not good if he’s got both his arms free anyways” The leg lowered again. Discord thoughtfully rubbed his chin, then slowly looked down at his hand.
“Eureka!” He snapped his fingers and a pair of tentacles appeared at the end of the wrists “Perfect!” The two tentacles began feeling over his creation’s body, the left one starting to go right between the creature’s-
“Erg...don’t do that...you’ll go blind...er…” He frowned “Maybe tentacles were a bad idea…I’ll save that for later though...” He snapped his fingers again and the tentacles disappeared.
“Nasty...you best wash off those wrists young stallion” His creation ignored him, simply sitting there. With a quick snap of his fingers a set of hands appeared on the fleshy stubs. When his creation attempted to continue feeling himself up Discord slapped his new hands.

“No, bad...though I suppose if you’re gonna learn a lesson a brain would be a good place to start...Hmm...but if has to be something nice and confusing. Lets see….” He snaps his fingers “Okay got it, omnivore, with poor eyesight, no strong fangs, and no concept of what edible!” As he spoke a rounded head appeared on the creature, with little ears spaced on either side of its noggin, parallel to its beady little eyes. The muzzle was much shorter than the things he was used to interacting with, and the creature’s pearly whites, although sharp to some degree, weren’t made for ripping apart prey.

“Good, now we’re getting somewhere!” He went on to the creature’s head, frowning and pulling a watering can from nowhere. He sprinkled some water onto the thing’s head until a long, black shock of hair grew.
“Alright now that we got decals out of the way, lets see whats under the hood.” In one swift motion he grabbed his creation’s head and unscrewed the top part of it, setting the hair, ears, eyes and forehead to one side as he feels around inside the skull. He pulls out a keyboard and old, faded screen, both of which were still connected to something deep inside the body of the creature. He began to type furiously on the faded keys.

“Okay lets see...Extreme distrust of anything unfamiliar, but innate curiosity. Holier than thou attitude, low sense of self worth. Oh! Capacity for magic with no way to cast it, thats a wonderful idea. Alright and….hpmph...what next….” He scratched his chin before a light bulb popped into life above his head “Ah! Huge libido but deep rooted feelings of inadequacy.There that should be about it! Ctrl+C, Ctrl+N” A new little blob appeared next to his foot “Ctrl+v” The blob shot up to the same size as his first creation. After he replaced the first’s keyboard, screen and skull he turned to the second and with one snap of his fingers, the creature’s body changed, his features becoming softer, his hair longer, and of course a certain something between his legs disappearing. As the sun set Discord had a whole little colony of his creations, each a little different than the others, about 13 males and 13 females in total.
“Ah there we go, now what to call you….?” Just as he said this an owl in the forest gave out a low hoot.
“Who…?Hu...Human! There we go, you’re all humans!” The Draconequss beamed at their cheers, it had been so long since he had actually pleased someone other than himself.
“Now gather around my little humans, and Papa Discord will tell you all about why the sun and the moon are bad.”

~now~

Discord sighs lazily scooting along the aisles of Canterlot’s library, doing the backstroke through the carpet,the middle of his body submerged while the rest was held up by an inner tube. His lazy swim was interrupted by the delighted squeal from the tower several floors above. The newly reformed Lord of Chaos gave a sigh.

“Oh great, here she comes.” Not wanting a scolding, at least for this, Discord got up out of the carpet and returned it to a solid state, leaving his inner tube in the middle of the aisle dedicated to beach side recreation. A purple blur had made its way into the room by this point, making a beeline to a collection of maps and notes in the center of the room, in a little area marked “Princess Sparkle’s private study, do not enter, that means you Discord.” So naturally Discord followed Twilight in.

“You seem in a rather good mood today Your Highness” He remarks, putting as much emphasis on her title as possible, rolling his eyes. Twilight seemed completely unaware of his snarky tone.
“Yes! Yes I am Discord! Today is off to an amazing start!”
“Oh so Mr. Sentry finally lasted more than 3 seconds then?” He said with a smirk and a raise of his eye brows. As he expected Twilight froze, the blush hitting her cheeks so hard he wouldn’t have been surprised if her horn started steaming.
“I..umm...ah…”She stammers, unable to form a coherent sentence.
“Ah okay, still living up to the name Flash then, got it” Discord chided, floating a few inches behind her.
“So, your boyfriend’s over sensitivity aside, what's got you all worked up?”

Twilight, eager for the change in subject, quickly held up the parchment she had just received.
“The Exploration has made contact! A whole new species of intelligent beings! Can you imagine what sort of things they’ll be able to share with us? The mythology, the technology, the history, ohhh!” She squealed again, clutching the parchment so tightly to her chest that Discord was amazed it wasn’t crying for assistance yet.
“She said they had found 9 islands about 813 miles to the east of Equestria! An-”
“Pardon the interruption, but would these things she found happen to be bipedal, squishy, mostly hairless beasts with an almost obsessive need to stay clothed at all times?”
“Yeah…?” Twilight said slowly.
“Oh wonderful! She found my little humans! I was wondering where I had put them!” Twilight’s jaw hit the floor.
“You mean to tell me, you knew about the discovery of a lifetime and you didn’t think to tell anypony?!”
“Nopony asked” Discord said with a shrug. The slap of Twilight’s hoof hitting her face could be heard throughout the library.

Twists and Tickles

Author's Note

For anyone who reads this...yeah i'm not a huge fan of Shyamalan. It's hard to like someone who ruins probably the only movie adaption one of your favorite shows will ever have....buuut that's not saying I can't make fun of him and add a little nod to one of my favorite reviewers to boot! Enjoy! More coming soon!

Twists and Tickles

When I awoke the room was dark, the sun had yet to rise. I let out a sigh, rolled out of bed, and made my way out the door. The dining area was still being set up for breakfast, but a few things had been laid out. I grabbed a gray pastry from a bowl on the table, when suddenly a very familiar man stepped up next to me. “Morning dad!” I said, without looking at him. He didn’t move.
“Dad…?” Slowly I looked up at his face. His usual kind bearded face was mangled with bits of flesh missing. One eye was gone, and the other was milky and had a worm sprouting from it, his jaw dislocated in a soundless scream.

“Oathbreaker!” cried the monstrosity as I quickly backed away, backing right into the Chieftain. His eyes glowed a fiery red, his mouth pulled back impossibly wide revealing a set of sharp pointy teeth. “Betrayer!” I didn’t know what to do, suddenly I felt so small and scared. I curled up on the ground, hiding myself from the monsters. When they didn’t attack me, I thought I was safe….thats when the muffin started staring at me with its golden criss-crossed eyes. “Derp!”

I sat bolt upright in my bed on the Exploration, covered in sweat, and breathing hard. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, got up, and started for the little doorway that lead to my bathroom. As I reached for the handle a man leapt out. His skin was quite dark, very tanned, and his hair was quite dark as well, though his face was clean shaven. Before I could even question his appearance he began to quite literally bounce around the room squealing “Ask me what it means! Ask me what it means!”

I woke with yet another start, glancing around and finding my room, mercifully, empty. I sighed and slowly began to lower myself back down to the mattress...only to find the same dark skinned man laying next to me, grinning at me. “What a twist!”

I awoke with a loud cry, which earned me a shriek and a green hoof to the face. Oh thank goodness, this wasn’t another dream. The pony next to me was staring at me, her eyes at first wide with terror, then shifting to a look of sympathy, quietly patting my upper arm as I rubbed my aching jaw. Why did these ponies always go for the face!

The two of us had been examining my book, it had been two days since I left my tribe and Lyra was still just as eager as she had been before to learn all about what she called “Human magic” She had dragged Bon Bon into my room at sun set last night and the two of us had been going over and over bits of the tribe’s culture, and the runes in my book while Bon Bon occupied my bed. Lyra had fallen asleep after a few hours, and Bon Bon had been asleep for hours already at that point so I had decided the floor would be good enough for one night.

I quietly scribbled a translation rune on my chest as Lyra gibbered next to me. I ignored her for the most part, playing the activation song quietly on my flute. “Bad dream?” Bon Bon asked from her spot on the bed. I grumbled and nodded. “I haven’t been sleeping very well since I got here. “

“Ah that’s just airsickness! You’ll get over it!” Lyra dismissed with a wave of her hoof. There was a very soft “Clonk” Sound as Bon Bon delivered a slap upside the unicorn’s head, not unlike a coconut being hit against something hard. “Ow! What?”

“Lyra, Darling.” Bon Bon said, her voice laced with barely contained annoyance. “Why don’t you go see how breakfast is doing?”

“Aye Aye!” Lyra said, saluting the other mare and quickly rushing out of the room.
“Sorry about her” Bon Bon muttered as the unicorn’s hoofsteps retreated down the hall “Lyra means well she’s just kind of...dim when it comes to emotions.” The mare quietly slid out of bed and trotted over to where I was sitting. I didn’t look at her right away...I was too busy fiddling with my book. “Do you want to talk about it?” Bon Bon asked gently “It’ll make you feel better” I let out a sigh.
“Its just...I’ve been thinking about my family lately…”I began slowly. I could feel Bon Bon stiffen next to me. I couldn’t really blame her, during our last ‘interview’ when they had brought up my family I seem to remember it not going well...Bon Bon had tried to get off the topic but Lyra...Lyra had ended up thrown from the room.
“I...I was just sort of wondering how my dad would’ve reacted to all this. The ship, me leaving, stealing my mother’s book…the betrayal…” I sighed again “I’m not really sure if he’d be happy or upset with me. I mean...he died a little after I reached adulthood and my mother...I never even got to know her. How would they have acted?”
Bon Bon placed a hoof on my shoulder. “I’m sure they would’ve supported you. That’s all any parent can do really, just support your child and hope everything turns out alright. But I’m sure no matter what would have changed if they were here, they would’ve kept loving you.” I couldn’t help but smile, jeez that was corny, but I supposed she was right.
“Thanks Bonnie” “You’re welcome, now come on lets go get breakfast!” I froze...in the two days I’ve been here I’d always had breakfast here, in my room. I still haven’t met any of the other crew, save for my fleeting introduction to Derpy.

“T-thats okay, I’m not really hu-” “Oh no you don’t!” Bon Bon declared, grabbing the holster around my torso between her teeth and giving it a firm yank from behind.
“Yourf coming wiff me misseth! No more eattin’ in herth!” She growls, dragging me along behind her down the narrow hallway deeper into the bowels of the ship.

It only took a few minutes to get to the dinning room, even with my weak protests slowing things down. The moment my cream colored captor and I entered the room all conversations died. There were seven ponies in the room, not counting Bon Bon; Lyra of course, who was too busy stuffing three or four pieces of...very odd looking bread in her mouth to even notice we had arrived, Derpy of course, who was quietly pulling a smaller gray-pink unicorn closer to her, an orange unicorn with a darker orange mane with two funny looking circles emblazoned on its flank who was giving me a flat but mildly curious look, a lavender colored pegasus with a light pink mane and a rainbow mark who was looking at me with a look of such enthusiasm it scared me a bit, a pair of hornless and wingless ponies both pink, one with a green mane and white flowers on her rump and the other with a yellow mane and a more pointed sort of white flower both stared at me with a look of horror and mild disgust.
“Everypony” Bon Bon began “This is Maiara, our indigenous guide.” The smallest unicorn glanced up at Derpy. I heard her whisper

“Mama what does indigigness mean?”
“Maiara, this is Lily Valley and Daisy, our Fauna experts” She introduced the two pink flower ponies first.
“Rainbow Drops” She introduced the purple pegasus next “Our security off-!” She was cut off by the pegasus zooming in and bowling her over, grabbing one of my hands with both hooves and quickly shaking it up and down “Hi there! Great to finally meet you! I just know we’ll be great friends! “ My arm was starting to go numb...luckily I was rescued by Lyra, who had finished with her bread and had gently lifted Rainbow Drops away from me with her golden magic Bon Bon got back up, glaring at Rainbow “Sorry...she’s part of Lyra’s...anthropology group”

I raised an eyebrow, I really don’t know what the word Anthropology means, but I can only assume it means ponies with a strange fascination with things like me to the point that invading personal space is mandatory. I made a note to sleep under my cot from now on to keep out of harm’s way while I slept.

“Anyways, this is our ship engineer, Tick Tock” The orange unicorn nodded to me and responded with a polite “Greetings” I was not entirely sure but by his voice I think this...Tick Tock might’ve been the first male pony I’ve come across...I’d have to ask Lyra or Bon Bon after this to make sure.

“Of course you’ve met our cook Derpy, and this little filly” She motioned to the smaller unicorn “Is her daughter, Dinky, our Cabin Filly” Lyra clapped her hooves together. “Now that that’s all out of the way, why don’t we finish this meal that Derpy was nice enough to make for us!”

Slowly I approached the table and pulled a chair up for myself. Lyra and Rainbow’s grins widened as I sat down, rather cautiously, while Bon Bon simply rolled her eyes.

“You owe me five bits” I heard Lyra whisper to Bon Bon “Later” Bon Bon hissed back in response.

I slowly picked up the weird bread I had seen before. Sliced bread of course was nothing new, but this stuff seemed...hard, not stale hard just sort of crunchy, and a darker shade of brown. I sniffed at it while some of the others started eating again, all except for the two flower ponies who were still staring at me with worried looks. Bon Bon nudged me with her fore leg
“It’s called toast, dear. It’s basically bread that’s been cooked again. It’s alright” “Yeah!” Lyra chimed in “You should try it with Jam on it”
Finally one of the flower sisters spoke up “Can...can it understand what we’re saying?” It...wasn’t exactly a completely unfounded question, but for some reason the way she asked it made me a tiny bit mad. Maybe it was just being called an It that got me. Regardless I turned to look at the one who had spoken, Lily. I raised myself up from the table, rather slowly, never taking my glare from the cowering pink pony. Slowly I raised my hand up and reached out for her, she flinched away as I drew closer and closer. Finally I got to my target and I began to rub her ear between my forefinger and thumb.
“Eeep!” Lily squeaked before she fell to the floor, in a squirming mass of giggles and flailing limbs. “S-s-stop!”
She cried through her tears as I continued tickling, a grin slowly spreading across my own face “Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t really understand you!” I responded impishly as the others began to laugh at Lily’s flailing.
“S-stop p-p-please stop! I’m s-s-sorry!” She squeal, trying to knock my hand away.
“I’m sorry could you repeat that?” I cooed.
“I’m sorry! P-p-please I’m gonna pee!” Finally I let go of Lily’s ear and sat back in my chair. It took a bit for Lily to get her breath back but when she did she got back in her chair and gave me a glare, a smile still affixed to her muzzle. “I’ll get you back for that later!” She said.
“Well it’s gonna have to wait, Lily, we’re gonna need Maiara. We’re reaching the next closest island in just a few hours! We need her to help us make contact!” Lyra declared.
I gulped down the chunk of toast I had been chewing on.