Twelve

Twilight gulped, not really sure what to do. For years she had wondered if there was life out there. She had spent nights thinking what wonders did they have. Hours were used in thinking what could she possibly ask this alien life form should it arrive to Equestria. To her surprise, it happened. An intelligent, alien being had arrived at Equestria and was currently sitting inside the library. Her library! All those years, all those nights, all those hours! The time for knowledge had arrived! Many of the greatest questions of all time would finally be answered by this immigrant from the stars!

If she could keep Leo and her friends from murdering each other that is.

"Well...I guess welcome to Equestria is a bit late at this point." she thought. Applejack was currently restraining Rainbow Dash by her tail, trying to stop the pegasi from assaulting Leo, who was on a battle stance herself, ready to come to blows if necessary. First contact from outer space, a moment that would never be repeated. And it was about to be bashed in pieces.

"Not on my watch." Twilight growled, her horn starting to glow.

Rainbow was covered in purple magic, forcibly seated on the floor, away from Leo, who watched with astonished eyes as the magic happened. Applejack was suddenly teleported besides Rainbow Dash in order to keep her under control. As a last act, Twilight teleported herself in front of Leo, who backed away a little from the sudden appearance.

"Now then...let's try this again. I am Twilight Sparkle." she introduced herself.

Leo blinked a few times before returning to her stern position.

"My name is Leonia Goldenmane, and I come from the realm of Regulo of the Zodiac Cluster and I am most certainly not an alien. Now, can you please tell me: Where am I?" She asked. Twilight wasn't sure if to be stunned by the information or taken aback by her unfriendly tone. It sure sounded more like a demand than an actual question.

"This is the land of Equestria, under the rule of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I apologize for calling you alien before. I didn't want to offend you." Twilight answered. Leo didn't say anything, but she relaxed her stance. Twilight smiled, happy that the apology had been accepted, as she pointed a hoof to her friends.

"These are Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The little guy is Spike. You met Fluttershy earlier." Twilight explained. Fluttershy. She was the pegasi that was the owner of the ursa.

"Why did her animals attack me?" Leo asked. Twilight cringed. So much for starting over.

"That...I'm afraid I don't know. Why don't you tell me your side of the story?"

Leo began telling her share of experience, from the moment she woke to when the animals snapped, making sure to put an emphasize on how they were glaring at her from the get go. Twilight listened the tale with attention, allowing nothing to distract her. Until Leo mentioned the question.

"Meat? You eat meat?" Twilight asked, sounding rather unsure.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Leo asked. Now that it was pointed out, Leo's teeth did seem a lot more pointy than usual whenever she spoke. Imagine that.

"But you're a pony." Spike said.

"No, I am not. I am a zodiac. What is a pony?" she asked. Another double take from Twilight. The gears on her mind were already spinning wildly. She had expected this alien to be, well, alien, but not that alien, and there was a nagging feeling telling her it was going to get worse. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud growl. The entire room went quiet as Leo barely managed to hide her embarrassment.

"I, uh, I need food...please." she asked, murmuring the last part. Rainbow Dash hid a snicker before being elbowed by Applejack. Spike went on to prepare something, coming back with a salad, much to Leo's horror. She tried giving Twilight a stern look, but the effect had been broken. Curse her three stomachs and their rumbling.

"Salad is all I have I'm afraid." Twilight said with a smile. Leo's lips trembled for a few seconds before she grudgingly took a bite, slowly chewing the leafs. It felt weird and it tasted bad.

"I can't believe Taurus enjoys this..." she murmured as she ate.

"Taurus? Who's Taurus?" Applejack asked.

"My brother..." Leo started before covering her mouth. But the damage was done.

"Brother? How many of you the are?" Twilight asked, her interest growing bigger and bigger by the second. Leo nearly choked on a leaf as she frantically tried to fix her mistake.

"I lied! I have no brother! I demand you stop asking stupid questions!" Leo ordered. A small stain of dressing on her cheek reduced the effect of the order. Her earlier image of a stern and tough warrior was crumbling, and she was to blame for it.

"Do they all go in those weird ships?" Dash asked. Leo immediately snapped back to her old self.

"My ship?! You have my ship?!" she asked, pressing on Twillight, all but forgetting her salad. It would fallen to the ground had Spike not catch it in the last second.

"Y-yes, but-"

"Take me to it. Now."

The ship was right where they had carelessly left it. Even the shovel Applejack had thrown was still impaled on the ground. To their surprise, nopony had found it yet. Twilight thanked Celestia for that. Explaining this to the public was the farthest thing on her mind right now. Leo jumped inside, noisily inspecting whatever damage that may have happened during the crash. After a few minutes, she came out, visibly unhappy.

"It's busted right?" Dash said.

"It is repairable, but I do not have the knowledge or the tools to do so." Leo explained.

"So, what are you going to do?" Spike asked. Leo thought for a few moments, before pointing a hoof at Twilight.

"You there, Twilight Sparkle." she started.

"Uhm, yes?"

"I need accommodations for my stay. Where is that possible?" she questioned. Twilight was a little stunned for a few seconds before gathering her bearings.

"Well, you slept at Fluttershy's cottage last night..." Leo cringed "...but It don't think its a good idea right now."

"Ah' can't keep her. We're too busy with the farming to be worrying about her." Applejack said. Leo frowned. Twilight put a hoof on her chin. Applejack couldn't have her, and unless she could walk on clouds, Rainbow Dash was not an option. She didn't want to force Rarity to have her when they hadn't even met yet, and leaving her with Pinkie Pie would be asking for problems.

"You'll be staying with me." Twilight said, doing her best to hide her excitement. A whole night of her and an alien! The perfect time to find out everything about her! Leo hid a small shiver when she noticed the grin that Twilight had. Something told her that sleeping wasn't exactly on the mind of the horned pony.

"What about my ship? I cannot just leave it here!" Leo complained. Twilight light her horn for a few seconds. The entire ship glowed for a few seconds before vanishing, leaving no trace behind.

"You could have done that from the get go and yet you had us digging it out." Applejack said.

"I was out of ideas! And I wanted to get a head start on it." Twilight replied.

"Remind me to charge you double next time you buy some apples."

"My ship! What have you done with my ship!?" Leo shouted as she grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, prompting Applejack and Dash to prepare to fight. Mr.Bear was just below their level. Between the two of them, Leo didn't stand a chance.

"Relax Leo! I just teleported it to my basement." Twilight said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Leo just stared in shock and worry, her mind still trying to accept the fact that her ship vanished into thin air.

"Witchcraft..." she murmured.

"Nope, Just magic. Shall we go and get your room ready?" Twilight replied sweetly before walking away, Spike grinning smugly on her back. Leo stared at her then back at the empty hole and then back at Twilight. She stammered a few words before finally following Twilight back to the library. Applejack and Rainbow Dash waited until they were out ear shot before starting laugh until they could laugh no more.

"Did you see her face?! She was blown!" Dash said.

"Oh my, my insides hurt!" Applejack said as she rolled on the ground.

"Guess little miss I'm-an-alien-you-must-obey-me isn't so tough after all!" Dash laughed.

"You remember lunch? It was like she was trying so hard!" Applejack added.

Unknown to them, a small light started glowing from where the ship had stood. It slowly increased it's power before shooting up to the sky, flying at breakneck speed. Applejack barely noticed, her laugh slowly dying out.

"You heard that?" she asked.

"Heard what?" Dash asked, still snickering a little. Applejack strained her ears a little, but no sound came except for the slight rustling of the wind.

"Probably nothing. Come on Dash, let's go." Applejack said, pulling the shovel free. Both friends left the field, ignorant to what had just transpired right besides them.

Meanwhile, far, far up in the sky, the glowing light travelled, it's message of vital importance. One that had to be delivered no matter what. Eleven minds waited for that message. It was a simple signal, but by no means did that diminish it's meaning. The light, stopping after traveling thousands upon thousands of miles, gave a short pulse of energy before fading away. Eleven beings cried in joy, for the message had been received, and it was of glad tidings.

She did it.