Krystal steeled herself as she led Sunset up to the pagoda. She knew she'd probably made the worst possible first impressions on the rulers of the largest tribe on the planet - and the primary signatories to the treaty that allowed contact between Cornerian space forces and the planet - and now she would have to work to try and salvage that. Somehow, she doubted she'd be able to do so readily, and wondered just what the King and Queen would demand of her for what had been done. She only hoped Sunset was getting her tension and would be on her best behavior here.
The King and Queen Earthwalkers also resembled Ceratopsia dinosaurs, though were distinctly different from the two guards who were still stuck face first in the earth before them. The King had only one horn rising out from his muzzle, wore glowing crimson cloth over his ankles and back, and had glowing jewels embedded in his bronze head-frill. The Queen had no horns and wore no cloth, but jewels were embedded in her head-frill and her coat glowed with royal purple highlights beneath the bronze. Both were watching Krystal and Sunset closely as they approached. The King was the first to speak up.
"<Now, what is so important you feel you have to disrupt our morning by embedding our guards into the ground at our feet?>" he asked intensely.
The Queen clicked her tongue against her beak rapidly, a sound Krystal knew was the Earthwalker equivalent to laughter. "<Though given it was these two, I'm not sure I can blame you.>"
Krystal managed a weak smile. At least they didn't appear antagonistic towards her yet. "<Please forgive our rude arrival,>" she began courteously. "<I attempted to send a signal to request landing clearance, but no one responded, and the urgency of my errand - and the short attention span of my young one - precluded waiting indefinitely for a response.>"
The Queen's eyes lit up as she looked over Sunset, who had floated up to examine the jewels in her flesh.
"<Oh, the Long Speaker's been down for a while,>" the King explained, using the closest the Dinosaur tongue could come to saying 'communications device', when they had no innate word for 'device'. "<I sent a message for a replacement part, but no one's answered. Rather disappointing to be such a low priority.>"
Krystal blinked as she took that in. "<You sent a message...on the broken Long Speaker...requesting someone come fix it.>"
"<That's right,>" the King insisted firmly. "<The Offworlders said I should send a message on the Long Speaker if any of their Metal Gifts broke down. So when the Long Speaker broke down, I sent a message. Why haven't they responded?>"
Krystal gritted her teeth to keep from groaning aloud. It was unfamiliar technology, so it was reasonable to assume they wouldn't fully understand it. "<Your Majesty, the Long Speaker can neither receive nor send messages when it is broken,>" she attempted to explain.
"<Which is why I sent the message->"
"<Dear,>" the Queen interrupted, "<how do you tell me when your throat is sore and you need medicine from The Trader?>"
"<With gestures, of course!>" the King responded immediately.
"<You don't tell me with your voice?>" the Queen coached.
"<Of course not!>" the King countered firmly. "<My voice doesn't work when my throat is sore! If I tried to use words, you wouldn't be able to hear me!>" His eyes widened in understanding. "<Oh! Now I understand!>"
Krystal breathed a sigh of relief. At least helping with this issue would smooth things-
"<Bookface!>" the King called to another guard. "<Run down to The Trader for throat medicine for the Long Speaker!>"
One of the guard Earthwalkers lifted his head from his book, repositioning the glasses he wore. "<I'm going to get medicine!>" he declared at the top of his voice as he began moving off towards the edge of the Walled City.
Krystal struggled not to laugh at Sunset facepalming. Plainly she realized just how ridiculous the situation was. The Queen's giggle suggested she did too. "<Your Majesty, if you like I can carry the message of your request for replacement parts for the Long Speaker to the other Offworlders, so they can come repair it for you. Not being a creature, I don't think The Trader's medicine will work.>"
The King thought that over for a time. "<Hmm...I suppose you have a point. You can carry the message...but we'll try the medicine anyway. If the Offworlders arrive and find it fixed, it just shows we're starting to understand their metal gifts!>"
The Queen clicked her tongue rapidly, an indulgent chuckle. "<Whatever you say, dear.>" She turned back to Krystal. "<Now, what is it that brings you here?>"
"<It is in regards to my daughter,>" Krystal explained, pleased to finally be on the right page. "<She has a great power, similar to what I believe you call the Krozoa Gift. I have a similar power, though nowhere near as great as hers. Her power is so great that it can cause her harm, unless she is in an environment rich in the energy of her power. Our family's Star Rider->" Star Rider was the term that had been used to refer to a space ship. "<-has been greatly modified to create an artificial environment of such a nature...but this leaves her socially stunted, as getting potential friends her own age onto our Star Rider is...prohibitive.>" She paused to gather her thoughts.
The Queen's tongue began clicking rapidly as she pawed at the earth with one foot, equivalent to a loud belly laugh. "<You invaded our home, assaulted our guards, raised questions to our very faith and way of life, and made my husband look quite foolish...that seems a very roundabout way to go about asking if our son can come out and play.>"
Krystal chuckled nervously. "<My apologies. I'm still getting used to motherhood. It came as...something of a surprise when she chose me to be her mother...>"
Her words brought great attention from both monarchs as they looked Krystal over closely. She tensed up, wondering if she'd said something wrong. Eventually, the King nodded firmly. "<Tricky!>" he bellowed.
A much smaller Earthwalker - almost as small as Sunset, with one stubby horn, no jewels, purple-bronze pebbled coat, bracers on each ankle and a collar around his neck - raced up to the pagoda, only to trip over his own feet and land on his back in front of the monarchs.
The Queen clicked her tongue as she nosed him back upright. "<Tricky, this young one wants to be your friend.>" She turned to Krystal. "<What is your young one's name?>"
"<Sunset Shimmer,>" Krystal responded, tensing up as her words once again caused a stir amongst the listeners. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to translate it, she thought to herself.
"<An honorable name,>" the King murmured thoughtfully. "<Tricky, go play with Sunset.>"
Tricky let out a happy squeal as he ran forward in an attempt to tackle Sunset, who countered by rolling onto her back to flip him over her before lunging in with a tackle of her own. Krystal watched happily as the pair tussled happily. Quickly checking her scanner, she was pleased to see there were no negative interactions between Sunset's magic and the environment around her.
She noticed the King and Queen Earthwalker watching very closely as well. She wanted to shrug it off as parental concern, but the way they reacted to the name...
Hmmm I wonder how this will end
"Huh...It turns out another translation of her name is 'False-God ass kicker'....convenient.
now I'm curious as to why they reacted in that way to her name as well.
THIS line ACTUALLY made me facepalm so hard that I pretty much just slapped myself in the face.
8414260
Probably some prophesy about "the light of the dying sun" or something like that. You know how these ancient magical civilizations are.
8414260
Well, how would you expect a culture of Sun and Moon worshipers to react to someone named "Last Light of the Dying Sun"?
Hmmmmm... Time travel shenanigans, or prophesy?
...
Perhaps prophesy from time travel shenanigans?
A long shot, but... Maybe communication -or past communications- with Equestria?
Looks like Sunset's got a Tricky new playmate.
Not really sure if the King understood the whole exchange just from gesturing how Krystal tried to phrase the questions.
I'm beginning to like her already.
8414264
Oh good, I wasn't the only one. Also, ow, my nose.
8414277 We'll see what else they have up their figurative sleeves later.
I half expected a "There's a hole in my bucket" routine
The King would be the source of many stories on "Not Always Right".
I like the Queen, she's fun, and despite the suspicious tension, they're taking things pretty well
Oh good god. Listening to the king is going to give me an aneurysm.
Tricky, I can not stand him, He was a pain my ass through Star Fox Adventures.
8414266
I was going to aim this at 8414265, but given that you used it too...
How in Epona's name did you translate Sunset Shimmer into "Last Light of the Dying Sun"?
8414395
I am unfamiliar with this reference.
8414451
Eh, knowing Tats, he'll find a way to make Tricky tolerable. XD
Well, things seem to be going smoothly for now. At least the Queen seems smart
8414235
I'm hoping by Star Fox Assult, Tricky would develop a crush on Sunset.
Wow, I like the name translation (given that commenters have provided it). It'll definitely be interesting to see a more detailed reaction.
And I'm loving these social media jabs. Even the way Bookface speaks is spot on!
Still not all that familiar with the later StarFox games and how people are reacting to the characters, but there's enough here to make it understandable for me.
8414476 Considering that certain ancient EARTH mythologies included Apep (or Apophis), the serpent that DEVOURS THE SUN TO CREATE THE NIGHT, among other somewhat crazy explanations for what happens naturally and has been explained away by science over the centuries...
A more fitting question is 'Why would you NOT end up having that as a translation'.
Last Light of the Dying Sun? That sounds like a Red Baron title for Sunset if I ever saw one.
Interesting
I'm hoping for a scene where Tricky is asking for those goddamn mushrooms and Krystal is forced to tell him that those mushrooms have been making him hallucinate.
Well, it's clear that the Queen is the brains of the operation, or at least has a better grasp on common sense than her husband... hopefully Tricky gets his smarts from her.
Doe the Star Fox universe have the equivalent of an Ipad??? Because the king needs one badly!
Tricky playing with Sunset is adorable and we need several chapters of it... maybe they get to meet Belina Te of the Snow Horn tribe and the Cloud Runner Queen's kids... or maybe a group of young Saurians???? Because it would be cool to have Sunset bring Tricky and some other friends to Equestria for a visit.
8414496
I don’t think that is possible.
8414926
Hey, if he could make X7 Axl not annoying, I have faith he can do the same with Tricky.
8414937
Or making Captain Quark a respectable character. Both were something I didn't expect could be pulled off
8414476
In many ancient languages, they called sunset "the death of the sun" and sunrise "the birth of the sun", believing the sun to die and be reborn each day. If her name had been "Sunrise Shimmer", it would have translated to "First Light of the Newborn Sun".
8414886
Actually, from the perspective of a race that doesn't have advanced technology (or as their language calls it, "Metal Gifts"), the King has a perfectly logical perspective. It's only idiotic because we're used to technology and can see where he's going wrong. The Queen just has a better grasp of technology than he does.
And he wouldn't be able to use an Ipad. No fingers.
8414476
Not Always Right a website that proves how the saying "the customer is always right" is utter bull [expletive].
Or to directly quote TV Tropes, "Not Always Right is a website dedicated to stories of the stupid, ignorant, egotistical, funny and just plain mad customers whom retail staff across the world (well, mostly in the Anglo-sphere — since it's an English-only site) encounter. "
Here's a link
God, the king's as stupid as he is amusing
8414266
Honestly, with a little more worry than they showed. Even for rulers that's pretty good restraint.
Hmm... So, either Sunset and Krystal, possibly Fox, will be on Sauria when Adventure(s) starts, or Tricky will be on on the Great Fox for a prolonged visit when the proverbial shit hits the fan. If the gang is on Sauria, Krystal will likely have had experience with the Krozoa at that point and know well enough to dodge Andross, or Fox will be in a position to head off nearly the entire damned thing shortly after Krystal gets captured... or pull off an Uncontrollable Rage moment when he finds Krystal in the... well, crystal.
If they're all on the Great Fox when everything happens... actually that would probably throw off Adventures anyways, as Krystal getting captured is the focal point of the game. Andross will either use Sunset instead somehow, find a way to get Krystal as a backup, so to speak, or use one of the Earthwalkers or Sharpclaws.
Maybe the King or Queen?
One plus if the story goes almost linear to the game is that Fox will have previous experience with Krystal's staff by the time everything happens, even if only in that he's well aware that it's a magical focus. Whether or not he can actually do anything with it is another matter, as I think you've already stated Fox has no magical talent in this story.
I think. I haven't gone back to check, so I don't know.
8414984
Fruit or rubber ball on the tip of his horn to make it a stylus????
8415990
Alright.
Now tell me how he would manage to position horn and tablet so that he could see it clearly while doing so without making his chiropractor weep.
8415993
I had not thought of that part, my bad.
I need fanart of Sunset and Tricky playing with his ball.
Minor nitpick, but in the game, proper nouns (names and places) stay the same, eg: "General Scales <ruler, tyrant and dictator of> Dinosaur Planet"
Sauce: intro of the game american version, also my old copy of the prima strategy guide
Why am i sensing some "ancient prophecy" shenanigans in the future?
8415999
Rubber tips on the claws I assume he has?
8414984
I was wondering where you (or anyone else) are getting translations from? I'm not familiar with Star Fox lore, so if they have an actual "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Trek" style language, I'm not aware of it.
8417633
I don't. I was just working off origins of the actual words 'Sunset' and 'Shimmer' as far as what it might mean in a language that hadn't developed what we consider 'modern terms' yet.
8417634
Well, your translation makes sense, though it's a little ominous. There are several ways you could play that in the story, and I will have fun seeing how you do it (if at all).
8417634
if you are in need to translating the saurian language it show how the letters and such work in the manual for star fox adventures. might be digital version online somewhere
8421163
I honestly don't want to go to that much effort for translation, to be honest. Especially not when the plan is for Sunset to become fluent from her friendship with Tricky.
It's gotten even better. 😃
What? Is she the dinosaur goddess reincarnated to them?
Urghh, I feel the Queen should be in charge she gets it.
8654327
Who says she isn't and they just humor the King?
8751901
I hope so or else everyone's in trouble.
I hate Tricky...I hate him so much.