///LOCATION - NLTT-512-3A/EQUESTRIA/R.B.L.///TIME - 07:40 LMT///DATE - 19-05-2232///

"I WILL GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" Eric yelled, still shaken up from the realisation that he was now speaking an equine language.

Professor Goodall was still as calm as he always was. "Like I said, I merely altered your vocal chords, and granted you the ability to understand Equestrian, all in one spell. Lingua Doctrina is quite an advanced spell, but I have studied it for long enough to understand it's proper function. Now, if you would please refrain from shouting or being enraged, we can try to continue, understood?"

Eric was still angry, but he also wanted to understand what was happening. The only one that seemed to have a good grasp on the situation, was this unicorn, which he could now understand. It would still take some time for him to process all of this. "Alright then, but first, I'd like to know just what exactly is going on."

"That's quite reasonable. First off, let me introduce myself, as I have seem to not have done so yet. My name is Goodall, I am a professor in Anthropomorphism at the Royal Biological Laboratory, which is where we are currently located. What is your name, if I might ask?"

"I'm Eric Callaghan, and I am a UEE-citizen. You have no right to hold me here against my will!"

"Well, mister Callaghan, first off, didn't we agree that we weren't going to shout? We wouldn't want the guards to think that I'm in trouble. Second, we're not holding you against your will. You are free to leave as you please. Lastly, what exactly-" Goodall couldn't finish his sentence, as Eric was already on his way to the door. He opened it, but was immediatly stopped by two guards, standing at the other side of the door with their rifles ready.

"Free to leave, huh?" Eric said.

"You are free to leave, AFTER you answered some of my questions. That was my fault, I suppose I should have made myself clear. Now, if you would please sit back down, we can continue."

Eric didn't like where this was going, but he knew that even those old-fashioned guns could seriously hurt him, if not kill him immediatly. He wouldn't be able to defend himself either, as he was unarmed. His pistol was in th ehands of Michelle, who was probably worried sick back at Oblivion. He decided that the best course of action would be to coöperate, and to see what would happen. Maybe Goodall was being truthfull.

He sat back down on the edge of the table, and Goodall returned to his clipboard with questions, which he was hovering in front of himself. The fact that these beings possesed anti-gravity devices, but were still using ancient rifles at the same time, was something that he would have to figure out the reason for at a later date. Goodall continued with his question. "Now, as I was about to ask, what exactly do you mean by UEE?"

"UEE, or United Earth Federation, is a collection of planets and space-stations, formed in the year 2098. The goal of the UEE was to unite the powers of Earth to face the alien threat."

"I'm sorry, space-stations? I've never heard of those, but I presume from the name that they are some sort of transfer hub in the sky?" Goodall asked, confused.

"Kinda, yeah. Some stations are transfer-hubs, but some have other purposes. There are research-station, mining-station, farming-stations, military-stations, and so forth. I was born in a space-station, called Oblivion, in the Nuakea System. I believe Oblivion is a research-station, though I'm not really sure. And you're right, they are high in the sky. Really high, actually. Most of them are circling more or less 400 kilometers above the surface of a planet, but the height depends on the diameter and gravity of the planet."

"Fascinating... But tell me, just how exactly did you get here? I presume from your explanation that you are not from this world?"

"That would be correct, professor. Like I said, I'm from Oblivion. I bought my own spaceship a few years ago, a beautifull and brandnew H2215EX Divertia, which is what your guards found me in."

"So, hang on, let me get this straight: You... are from space? And you can travel from planet to planet in a... ship?" the professor summed up.

"Basically, yes. But we can travel further than just between planets."

"What do you mean?" the professor looked at the creature from space with curiosity radiating from his eyes.

"Well, we can travel between stars aswell. The station that I'm from is quite far away. I'm not sure how far exactly, as I'm not even sure where I am, but it is atleast a few dozen lightyears."

"I know I keep asking more and more, and I hope you don't mind, but what are lightyears?"

"That's fine, I like talking, especially after being stranded in space for a few days, and then taken prisoner with nobody to talk to. Lightyears are a measurement of distance. It's quite easy, actually. One lightyear equels the distance that light can travel within one year."

"I see. That must be a really long distance then."

"It is. Do you by any chance use distances like kilometers and such." Eric asked.

"As a matter of fact, we do!" Goodall said, surprised by the fact that an alien form an entirely different solar system used the same measurement-method as they did. Why this was the case, he didn't know, but he suspected that it was due to the fact that it was simply a logical and universely capable method. Clearly a good standard for the universe.

"Well, one lightyear is roughly 9,5 trillion kilometers. So yeah, it's quite a distance!"

"Fascinating! I can't even imagine how advanced your species must be. How many of you are there, if I might ask. In case you are curious, Equestria has a total population of around 59 million ponies. That's quite a lot, isn't it?"

"I presume that Equestria is the nation that we are currently in?" Eric asked.

"It is, yes."

"That's quite a decent number, though us humans are a bit more numerous. I'm not sure what the current total is, but last time i checked, the counter was somewhere around 630 billion people, all planets and stations included."

"630 BILLION?! Excuse me, but that seems rather impossible! Even if you are that advanced, there is simply no way that you can have a nation with a population of 630 billion inhabitants."

"Well, you are right, it couldn't fit in a nation that you are acustomed to. However, keep in mind that the human race has colonized a few dozen solar systems, and that we have built even more space-stations."

"And just how big are those stations then?"

"I'm not sure about the exact size, though I do know that most stations have a population of around 1 and a half million."

"Unbelievable... And here I was, thinking that you were just another mythical being from the Everfree Forest. We have to discuss this with the princesses!" Goodall exclaimed with excitement.

"Ah, so you have a monarch?" Eric noted.

"Two, to be exact. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." Goodall said with pride.

"And who's your queen or king?"

"Uhm, what do you mean?"

"Well, if there's a princess, or rather two of them, then there must be a ruling king or queen, right?"

"I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe it is different where you're from, but here, the only queen I've ever heard of is Queen Chrysalis..." Goodall went silent. He had clearly said something that he didn't like to discuss.

"Anyway" he said. "The princesses are the reigning ponies. They control this beautifull land known as Equestria."

"So, what do we do now?" Eric asked.

"Well, I presume you had some personal belongings with you on that... -ship- of yours? I suggest we go and collect those, before those guards do. They are good at their job, don't get me wrong, but they aren't really good when it comes to something else than shooting things."

"Yeah, I've noticed that..." Eric said, pointing towards the back of his head, which had been hit multiple times by different ponies. The first time was by that guard in the cargo-hold of his ship, and the second time was in his cell, when they knocked him unconscious. "Anyway, you're right, I would like to return to my ship. Maybe get some stuff to contact the UENRS."

"UENRS?"

"Yeah, the United Earth Navy Rescue Service. They basically come and help people when their ship has malfunctioned." Eric explained.

"Is something wrong with your ship then?"

"Are you kidding me? Have you seen the state that my beautifull vessel is in?! She's ripe for scrapping! I just hope I can salvage enough to establish communications with a UENRS-vessel so they can come and pick me up." Eric exclaimed.

"Hmm, I don't know that much about space, but I do know somepony who does!"

"Somepony?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just... Us humans normally say somebody instead of somepony. Which one would you like me to use?"

"I don't really mind, but I'd suggest saying somepony when talking to other ponies. Although it will probably be a while until you will be allowed to talk to civilians..."

"What do you mean?"

"Seriously? You are an ALIEN! There's now way that the princesses will allow such news to spread! Can you imagine what kind of chaos that might cause?"

Eric thought about the history-lessons about the First Encounter. That was about a 100-or-so years ago, when humanity first met alien life. Those On'San had caused quite some panic, which was actually justified, as they started bombing Earth almost as soon as we made first contact. "Yeah, I think I can imagine what that would be like."

"Still, the civilians can't know about this, but the military can. They will escort us to the crash-site, as there have been reports of changeling-activity around that area."

"Changelings?" Eric asked. He then looked trough the window, and noticed that they had been talking for a few hours already, and he was starting to get really hungry and thirsty. "Actually, nevermind, we can discuss that later. Right now, I just need to eat and drink something."

"Oh, ofcourse!" Goodall replied. "From what I heard from the guards, you do not like our food, or atleast not flowers?"

"You're correct in assuming that! Back where I'm from, flowers are decoration, not food. We normally eat vegetables and some plants though, and meat ofcourse."

"...Meat?" Goodall replied. He suddenly appeared far less excited. Instead, he seemed more scared than curious. He took a few steps back, keeping his eyes on Eric.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked, looking at the unicorn in confusion.

"It's just... I..."

"Oh, I see." Eric replied. He had figured out what the issue was. "You ponies are herbivores, aren't you?"

"Uhm, yes, that's... right."

"Well, humans are actually omnivores. We have evolved to eat both meat and plants. There have been discussions about whether we really NEED to eat meat, and after some research, we came to the conclusion that, while it is not neccesery, it is recommended for humans to eat meat atleast once a week."

"I... See..." Goodall started to understand. He was still taken back by the fact that he had been talking to a flesh-eating monster, but Eric's explanation seemed to make sense. He would have to investigate it further though. "Well, I suppose that's fine, but we don't really have any... meat... in the canteen. Or anywhere, for that matter. What kinds of plants do you eat then?"

Eric told Goodall about some of the plants that were most commonly produced on the farming-stations and planets, and Goodall knew some of those, which he went to get. Eric sat there, on that table, on an alien world.

"Who knew I'd get to talk to a unicorn one day!"

Author's Note

This chapter basically wrote itself! I'm rather happy with the dialogue, as this is still something that I'm inexperienced with. I do believe, however, that I have dragged this chapter out more than I should have.

If you want your character to be featured as a human soldier, pilot, politician or civilian, or a pony civilian, politician or royal guard, please send me a message with the character's name, looks, characteristics, and role if you have any preference. All featured characters will be credited.

Featured Characters:
Lightning Sky - Oskar