Project Gaia : The arrival of humanity

Chapter 29 : Offensive

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

- Carl von Clausewitz

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Whinnypool, Southwestern Equestria. July 2nd 2038. 0630 Hours.

The small chairs of Whinnypool Elementary creaked under the weight of the new species Twilight had taken under her wing. The furniture, built for young ponies, forced the tall creatures into weird positions. The female lifts her thighs and spreads her legs awkwardly. Her knees jutted forward, exposing her front bottom and bent at an uncomfortable angle, her bottom barely fitting on the seat. The chains around her ankles rattled softly as they stretched to the legs of the chair. She shifted uneasily, the awkwardness of the posture adding to her discomfort. The male, less concerned, leaned back as much as his restraints allowed, his expression one of mild irritation mixed with boredom.

Twilight, standing at the blackboard, levitated a piece of chalk with her magic. She began by writing large, clear letters of the Equestrian alphabet, pronouncing each one carefully. "⏃(A)... ⏚(B)... ☊(C)... ⎅(D)... ⟒(E)... ⎎(F)... ☌(G)... ⊑(H)... ⟟(I)... ⟊(J)... ☍(K)... ⌰(L)... ⋔(M)... ⋏(N)... ⍜(O)... ⌿(P)... ⍀(Q)... ⌇(R) ... ⏁(S)... ⎍(T)... ⎐(U)... ⍙(V)... ⊬(W)... ⋉(Y)... ⍾(Z)" Her melodic voice filled the room. The pair mimicked her sounds, albeit with heavy accents.

The female seemed particularly engrossed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully echoed each syllable. Twilight noted the enthusiasm in her eyes, contrasting sharply with the male distracted demeanor. The male repeated the letters but lacked the same focus, often glancing toward the window as if longing for escape.

Twilight then transitioned to simple vocabulary. She wrote the word "sun" and drew a bright, smiling sun next to it. "⏁⎐⋏(Sun)," she repeated, pointing to the illustration. The female's leaned forward, her chains clinking softly, her lips moving silently as she memorized the word. When Twilight moved to "⋔⍜⍜⋏(Moon)," drawing a crescent shape, the female once again showed interest, tilting her head slightly as if committing every detail to memory. The male, meanwhile, gave the faintest nod of understanding, his impatience barely concealed.

The contrast between the two fascinated Twilight. Could it be that females of their species were naturally more intelligent or adaptive? She scribbled a quick note in her journal, her quill scratching softly against the parchment.

After ensuring they had grasped the basics, Twilight introduced more complex words like "⎎⏃⋔⟟⌰⊬(Family)" and "⎎⍀⟟⟒⋏⎅⌇(Friends)" Each term was accompanied by a simple drawing. For "family," she sketched a group of ponies together; for "peace," a serene meadow. The female's responses came swiftly, her eyes lighting up with each new concept, while the male's seemed to lag, his responses slower and more deliberate. Twilight couldn't help but feel a growing optimism. Perhaps, with time, these creatures could integrate into Equestrian society.

Twilight progressed to pronouns, emphasizing their importance in communication. She pointed to herself and said, "⟟(I)." She pointed to the female and said, "⊬⍜⎍(You)." Repeating the gesture several times, she encouraged the pair to reciprocate. The female hesitated but eventually obeyed, her voice shaky as she said, "Karli-ana." The male followed suit, his voice gruff as he introduced himself, "Nu-nez."

Their responses, though heavily accented, marked a breakthrough. Twilight beamed, writing their names on the board alongside "Pony," and drawing a small figure resembling herself. She then pointed to them, her chalk tapping lightly on a rough sketch she had made of their form, prompting them to name their species. The answers, however, left her perplexed: "Men-sch-lich" from Karli-ana and "Hu-mano" from Nu-nez.