Author's Notes:

Once again, not minor changes, though there are a few things towards the end that might be a 'surprise' to old readers that don't re-read. I'll summarize it in the spoiler bars below.

Basically, Richard's bow has yet to arrive though he did set up the range. Doing so took longer than he expected and when Dr. Song got off work she found an empty house and no Richard in sight. This sparked an argument between Richard and her when Richard finally arrived home. Nothing major.

Also, this means that new content is coming shortly.

The next week and a half passed rather quickly. Twilight was a cruel mistress when it came to teaching, and I was pleasantly surprised when I could actually communicate most concepts in so little a time. Then again, being a mute might have expedited that process, but it was still the quickest time I've ever learned a language in. To put it in perspective, I took two years of Spanish in High School, and only remember two phrases. “Servesa por favor,” and “Donde esta el bano?”

Then again, hoof-language was slightly intuitive. The way the beats of the front and back hooves, or, in my case, hands and feet, melted together formed the phonetic words, which would allow one of sufficient skill to make up words of their own and still be understood. Thus it constituted a 'living' language. Though it was still a rather hard concept to try to create your own words, even Twilight struggled with it.

After hoof-language lessons, me and Max both had some other 'class' to take, dealing with practically everything to do with pony culture, while Dr. Song skipped out and went home or read a book. We also taught Twilight about human culture. Currently, I was in a rather heated argument with Twilight about gravity, the law of conservation of energy, and quite a bit of Quantum Mechanics-like things.

+Look, all I say is it impossible to move object many million times larger than planet around planet without extreme gravitational and electromagnetic disturbance ripping planet apart, plus energy required is more than in your star system.+

“And all I'm saying is that the Princesses magic is more than sufficient to both move the sun and deal with any of these 'so called' gravometric waves that you say would occur from moving the sun. Not that it occurs at all.” Twilight retorted, her angered state more than enough to ignore the horrible grammar that I'm sure I had.

+Look,+ I pointed to a visual representation of the Sol system. +The size of sun in my solar system is one hundred and nine diameters of Earth. It is three hundred thousand times mass Earth. Your sun has be about same size compared in order to support life. Object that large generates gigantic amount of gravity force, which what keeps planet in orbit. We far enough out that our forward momentum is perpe- per- continued by sun gravity, which also keep us near sun. This stabilizes orbit around sun. Planet then turn on axis while orbit sun, making illusion sun rise. No Princess make rise.+

“URRGGHHH” Twilight said, throwing her hooves into the air. “There's no way that there is enough force behind the 'gravity' of the sun to do that. Everypony knows that gravity is just a by-product of the magical field that is apart of Equestria. Not the 'mass' involved.”

I facepalmed. +Gravity is create because Higgs Bosons want pull matter together. More matter, more bosons, more gravity. Not 'Magic field.” Just because 'Princess claim this, not make true.+

“You're impossible!” Twilight said, dragging a hoof down her face.

+Are you two quite done?+ Max asked, waltzing into the library's main room from the basement. He had left the argument about half an hour ago, claiming it was hopeless to try to convince Twilight of reality.

“I am. Richard is just.... UGGHH!” She stormed off into the kitchen.

+So... have you told her that the Princess is probably using her claims to control the populous?+ Max asked.

+No... Not yet.+ I replied.

+Warn me before you do. I'll dig your grave for you.+

+Funny.+

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

+So, how Fluttershy?+ I asked, trying to simultaneously break the tension and release the boredom.

+Fine, fine. Still thinks I'm malnourished, but I think that's just a recurrence of her first impression of me.+

We lapsed into silence again. We could hear Twilight banging something around in the kitchen.

+How go it with Rainbow?+ I said after another minute.

Max laughed. +She's still kicking my ass, though I am starting to have a chance at beating her.+

I let out a hum as I thought. +Hey... want learn how to fight?+

Max sat up. +What?+

+You want me teach you how to fight?+

He seemed to perk up a bit at the thought. +Sure. Plus I bet it will relieve some of the boredom I've had recently.+

+Me too.+ I said, standing up. I motioned for Max to follow me. We exited the library into the small, enclosed back yard that it had. There wasn't much in the way of luxury in the small green expanse, but it would suit our needs.

+Okay. First, you attack me. I need know you current level. So no hold back.+

Max looked unsure. +Are... Really? How... but I...+

+Just attack, you son of silly person! You mother was hamster and father smelled of berries!+

Max's eyes grew hard. + You did not just quote M... Mou... Mon…. That movie in order to provoke me!+

I could tell right away that his anger was faked, and that he was holding in laughter. Thankfully, however, he obeyed my command and charged headlong at me, his fist ready to knock my clock.

Unfortunately for him, he was doing something that you only really see in animes, where the character rushes in, fists behind them to deliver a 'devastating' blow. I neatly sidestepped, grabbed his fist as he swung, stuck out my foot, and then used his arm to guide his fall into a half-nelson hold, with my knee putting pressure on the shoulder of his free arm.

It was over in under ten seconds.

I shifted my position, pushing his arm up just enough to incite pain, and tried to communicate with my three free limbs.

+You... power much use... use need dexterity much, no power+

It was incredibly hard for me to even sign that out, taking far longer than I originally wished to hold him for. But at least it seemed to make the message sink in. Just as I was about to release him, however, I heard a crash from the library and Twilight screaming “MAX!”

I looked up just in time to be flung back by this large purple beam. I slammed into the fence, the wood groaning in complaint but holding. The whole world was spinning around me. My head was pounding. I tried to stand, only to crash and fall like I was drunk. Blearily, I looked up to see Max doing... something in front of a purple blob. I couldn't hear past the ringing in my ears. I felt my arm give out under me and then darkness embraced me.

I awoke to the far to familiar feeling of Twilight's couch. Just like the time before, I had a horrible headache, pounding away like some dwarf had decided my head was a perfect place for a forge. I groaned.

“Richard! Thank Celestia you're alright!” Twilight said nearby. A moment later I was glomped by a large, furry object. “I'm so sorry, I just saw Max in that position, and I reacted,andnowyourgoingtohatemeandthenyou'llgetdiscoveredandPrincessCelestiawillfindoutImisusedmypowersandthenI'llgetbanishedtosomefarawaylandandlockedinadungeon and I'm so sorry!”

I just sat there awkwardly as Twilight sobbed into my chest. Max and Dr. Song were both nearby, the former barely holding in laughter and the latter holding an expression somewhere between amusement and concern.

+Twilight. Bad headache. I forgive. Please release.+ I was able to sign out once she started breathing in a more normal range.

“You forgive me?” she asked, stepping back.

+Yes. But headache. Ad.. Adv... medicine please+

Twilight perked up, running a hoof through her unkempt mane. “Right. Thank you so much! I'm so sorry.... I'll go make some willowbark tea. That should help!”

I watched as she practically flew into the kitchen. I shook my head at her antics, only to realize my mistake as the throbbing worsened.

“So you got knocked out again, huh?” Dr. Song asked in a playful tone.

+I blame you ponies. You need not make habit of this.+

Dr. Song and Max both laughed. I chuckled as well.

+So, Max, next time let us tell Twilight before fight practice.+

+That's probably a good idea.+ Max said.

The next few hours passed during which I recovered from yet again being laid low by ponies. Twilight would not stop apologizing the whole time, which eventually became a great source of amusement. Eventually, Twilight believed me when I said I'd forgive her. This did not stop her from inviting Dr. Song and myself on a beach trip that she and the 'girls,' a group of five friends plus Twilight, had been planning for a while. Dr. Song and I both loved the idea.

She also expressed concern over why her spell had such an effect on me. It was only meant to stun a creature, and it shouldn't have even affected me, or so she said. She did theorize that my 'shroud'-like abilities were wearing off, and that she thought she knew the cause. However, she didn't elaborate, instead sending me and Dr. Song back home for the day.

+That big mess, right?+ I signed off to Dr. Song.

It took her a moment to respond as she translated the hoof-language. “Yes... Yes it was.”

+At least it got us beach trip!+

“Yes, well there's that.” Dr. Song said, smiling. “So, anyway, what do you want for dinner?”

+Truthfully, I'd love nice, juicy steak. Or meat any kind...+

“I know you would, but we've been over this. You can't really get meat in Ponyville, and it's too expensive to import from Canterlot.”

I sighed. +I know....

Eventually, Dr. Song decided on a nice pasta dish. It was somewhere between spaghetti and linguini, and it had a wonderfully hand, sorry, hoof-made sauce with just the right amount of garlic. It almost made up for the lack of meat. Just as I was getting a second helping, however, I had an idea.

+Dr. Song?+ I signed out.

“Hmm?” She finished chewing. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Melody?” she half-scolded.

+Sorry, Melody. Look, I want know. Do ponies have bows?+

“Bows?” She asked, confused. “What kind of bows? Ties? Ribbons? Instrumental?”

+No... like in bows and arrows. Cross bow, or even long bow?+

“Why yes, we do. Though it's rare to find a longbow outside of specialized communities.”

+Would be possible get one? Plus twenty four arrows?+

“Yeah, sure! They're rather simple to make with magic, and cheap too. Though I'd need to special-order them... Hmmm...”

+I'd be willing do stuff for them!+

“Alright, I'll order it tomorrow when I'm in town.” She said, “Though I have to ask, why do you want them?”

+I... need bow practice?+ I couldn't exactly tell her the real reason I wanted one, and that was the first excuse that came to my head. Thankfully she bought it.

“Fair enough. We'll probably have to set up a range somewhere out of the way....”

+By Everfree? Nopony want go there anyway!+

“That's a great idea! Can you make it yourself though? I'm going to have to get back to work soon.”

+Sure.+

“Great!”

The next day Dr. Song went out after hoof-language classes to order my new bow. I had sorted the poundage and draw length out with her beforehand, though both her eyes and Twilight's nearly fell out of their skulls when I told them I pulled a 55lb bow. Apparently the world record for bow strength was just under 45lbs. At least they could still make a powerful enough bow. Step 1 of Operation: Meat Hunks was underway.

The next two hours were spent in one of Twilight's history lectures, which would have put my own history teacher to shame. She managed to drone on through myself and Max defeating each other in thumb wrestling, over which Spike refereed, after which we decided to out-climb eachother up the bookcases, and wound up needing Spike and Owloiscious's help putting the books back on their cases. In comparison, my History teacher managed to lecture through a Mariachi band that few seniors decided to send through to every class for a week. That was glorious. Sadly, there were no Mariachi bands in sight and Twilight had just turned around to see me doing a rather rude impersonation of her using my desk sideways on Max's as a chalkboard.

"Did you to pay any attention at all?" Twilight asked, seriously irritated.

I looked at Max, prompting him forward with my hands. He shook his head wildly and pushed me ahead of him.

+Well... I... It was Max idea?+

I watched as Twilight's right eye twitched, before she visibly calmed herself. "Alright... I'll... Just... Oh just go outside and play..." Twilight said, exasperated. I shrugged and went outside, Max on my heels. A few moments later we heard Twilight scream from inside.

"WHO TOUCHED SHELF A-3?!?! NOW I HAVE TO RESHELVE THE WHOLE LOWER SECTION! SPIIIIKKKEEE!!!"

I looked at Max, barely managing to hide a grin and saw that MAx was doing the same thing.

+Let not us speak of this+ I signed.

+Agreed+

I gestured to the backyard. +Shall we begin?+ Max nodded.

+Alright. This time, attack me without a runnup. Do not move you legs, just move you upper body.+ I instructed Max. He pulled his right fist all the way back and gave a full swing. I effortlessly blocked it, and then used his own momentum to send him tumbling to the ground.

+Once again, you use much power. Watch this.+

I got him back to his feet and we both changed into a fighting stance. I took a deep breath, before jabbing out with my hand. Max flinched, bringing his hands up to block but he failed. I hit him in the shoulder hard enough to send him sprawling. He staggered back up to his feet, clutching at his shoulder.

+See? The big attack you tried was too pre... perdi... foreseeable. My quick jab had just as much power as behind that as well. Plus, I know to clench hand just before impact, not as I swing. It increase power behind punch.+

Max nodded, still holding his shoulder.

+Now for the fun part. Knowing how to fight and have strength to fight are two different thing. So drop and let's do twenty.+

Max gave me a disbelieving look, before I pulled a drill sergeant/ancient chinese martial instructor mix move on him and punched him in the stomach.

+You want be fighter? You need strength and knowledge. The mind just as important as body. You so far focus on mind. Now we focus on body as well.+

This time he dropped with me and started doing pushups. We had no counter, so I just kept telling him to get back to it after he stopped. An hour later, my plan was working and I forced myself and Max to do over a hundred push-ups. I didn't mind, but Max had necessitated breaks after every thirty push-ups or so. By the end of it, I was pleasantly sore and Max was drop-dead exhausted.

+Workout, why you hurt so much!+ Max asked no one in particular. No one in particular, of course, didn't answer.

The next two days passed in much the same way. I got gradually better at hoof language, I learned more pony history, and then I taught Max fighting. I also instilled in him the difference between a fight and a brawl (which, if you want to know, is that a fight is to the death and only entered in for survival and never willingly, and a brawl is what you'd see in a high-school hallway. Or a bar), and I started carefully nurturing a seed of self-restraint so that by the time I taught him everything I knew I wouldn't have created a monster.

On the third day Dr. Song had to go back to work. She 'walked' me to Twilight's to spend the day. After lessons, however, I snuck back to her house and gathered a bunch of materials and then went off into the forest. Within two hours, I had built a nice-looking and mostly well-hidden archery range. There was still some work to do, but at least I could use it now. I also set a few snares, which I think I made correctly, in the hopes of catching a rabbit or some other, similar appetizing creature.

Two hours later I was making my way to Dr. Song's house in the hopes of being there before she got home. Sadly, I was too late.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Dr. Song's voice echoed out from a chair in her living room the moment I opened the door. "Why did you leave Twilight's and not come straight here? I've been worried sick! The first time I get a human and this is how you behave?"

My lips set a fine line as I heard her words, anger rising in my chest. +I am NOT your human. I never was. I be someone who live in your house, yes. I be your guest, yes. I am NOT your property, and I WILL NOT be treated so.+

Dr. Song, who was already angry, became even more enraged. "You think that I am treating you like a would a human? I let you sleep in the guest room for Celestia's sake! I give you food and shelter, and I can't expect a tenth-bit in return! I even ordered you a bow, just because you wanted to 'practice'! And THIS is how you betray me, accusing me of treating you like an animal!"

+You seem to think I am your pet. You think I need 'permission' from you to go where I want. Well, guess what, missy, I don't. I could grab my stuff and go to the forest and survive, and I'd have much more freedom there! I'm not some second-rate citizen! I'm a living, breathing, sentient human being, and I demand to be treated as such!+

Dr. Song's withers slumped as I sat there simmering. "I... I'm sorry. You're right." Her ears drooped as she said the words, flattening out beside her head. "I... I was just worried. I know there are plenty of ponies out there that have now problem just takign a human, and... I just couldn't stand the thought of you just disappearing."

It was my turn to slump as the guilt set in. +Look, I'm sorry. I just... I am more thand capable of looking after myself. I know you are worried, and I shouldn't flaunt your concern. I'm just... +

Dr. Song's eyes softened. “I guess... I guess I can understand. You're probably used to being able to go where you want, and this can't be easy for you... I just... I don't want you getting hurt.”

+Thanks, mother+ I signed sarcastically, winking at her to let her know I was joking.

“Alright, I won't berate you anymore... Just... tell me next time when you want to go out, alright?”

I nodded.

“Now go get some rest. Remember, the beach trip is in a few days, and we want to be all ready for it!”

I sighed, shaking my head as I went to my room. I was rather tired.