The problem became obvious almost immediately. Though the green pegasus had been more than happy to announce her alternate method of communication, namely writing in English to her new friend Lily, however she had not contemplated the possibility that it would be difficult or even impossible. Though Lingual Rose could indeed write in English, all the fillies who had attended school learned how eventually, the problem was that her communication skills were limited. Indeed, though she was amazingly gifted at spoken languages it seemed that her writing skills were that of a small filly—if not worse. Not only that, but her energy seemed to be stifled when she attempted to write. The best she could do was simply scribble: "I can write" upon the page.

Why she couldn't write baffled even she for, though her cutie mark was in spoken language, it wasn't as though she couldn't do other things outside of her talent. For this, she grew eerie and distant. Lily, though initially excited, grew disillusioned as well with the idea. Though she ever supported her friend's endeavors, it seemed as though she were never going to communicate with her after all. Because of this, Lingual Rose was scared that Lily would leave. After all, would she still want to be friends after all of this? Inside, she knew that something had to be done before the gap between them grew too wide.

Lingual Rose, after days of thought, finally thought of at least one thing that could help them, other than her failed attempts at writing her feelings. Lily would have to learn a language, any language, but at least one other than English it seemed. On a sheet of plain paper, the pegasus scrawled: "Maybe take language class. School. Tuesdays. Spanish."

The pink earthpony, still eager to become friends with the other, nodded at the idea saying that she would think upon it during the week. Then, something unexpected happened. Lingual Rose, at the door of her house with a piece of paper in her hoof, now waving in the wind, leapt out to hug her friend. She seemed to be weeping once more. In a harsh whisper, Lingual Rose said:

"मत छोड़ो."

Lily, her golden eyes sparkling, drew back from the hug and gave her friend a wide smile. She stroked her friend's maroon ponytail tenderly. Then, with a little kiss upon the cheek of her friend, so to speak, she said gently:

"I don't know what you said but let me tell you this: you're my friend Lingual Rose and nothing can change that. I don't care if we have to write a few things down or take a language class or two. I just like spending time with you. If anything, the silence we share says so much more. I'll come back this afternoon for tea, okay?"

The other nodded and Lily turned to leave. She smiled one more time before prancing off to Town Square where the Town Hall lay. (It was there that the classes would be held, after all). Lingual Rose, with nothing else to do and nowhere else to turn, went into the garden until such time as her friend could return. Though Lily had indeed comforted her before leaving, still the doubt lingered in the heart of the pegasus. She closed the door behind her and entered the garden. She gazed up languidly at the sky. The sun was still high but it would set soon and, when it did, her friend would return. As if sensing her thoughts, the roses grew restless and began to shake their leaves.

"Она здесь идет, не так ли? Это пони вы называете "друга". Вы солгали нам."

Lingual Rose did not move from where she was, near the door, and kept gazing up at the sun. She believed, foolishly, that if she did not gaze upon the roses that they could not hurt her. Indeed, this was not true. After a moment of silence the pony moved into the garden, sighing. It was true; she did abandon her roses in favor of her new "friend". However, it wasn't as though she had really lied about it at all. In fact, she had said nothing. Absolutely nothing. With deep green eyes pleading, the pony said (without hesitation):

"Dat is niet waar. Ik heb niet gelogen. Ik heb niets te zeggen."

The roses twisted around one another, as if angered. The pony flicked her tail and turned around. The followed her and snaked around the gazebo like snakes through the grass. Still the creature held her ground; she wasn't going to be intimidated by her own garden. After all, Lily would soon return and then they could carry on in blissful peace. The roses began to grow downwards, closing in on the pony so that the gazebo appeared to have walls of vines and thorns. Suddenly it grew dark, though it was the middle of the day, at least in the perception of the now nervous pegasus. Lingual Rose began to panic; she was claustrophobic. Tears sprang to her eyes now.

"Apakah Anda mencintainya? Anda lakukan, bukan?"

Lingual Rose desperately wanted to scream the truth that yes, yes she did love Lily, but she simply could not. Her voice was stuck in her throat and, when she attempted to speak, all that came out was a squeal. She tried to fly up past the vines, but they blocked her, repeating that question over and over. Did she love Lily? Of course she did, but…

"Natirèlman mwen fè!"

The roses seemed to be surprised by her admittance of her love, for they loosened their hold of the wooden poles of the gazebo. Lingual Rose tried to escape past them, but they tightened the grip once more. The pony kicked against them, spurning them. The roses ground the vines together and a strange hissing noise was produced.

"Syng for oss og ikke for henne."

The green pony shuffled her wings, weeping. She wanted to do anything but sing for the roses. After all, she was scared out of her wits. The roses had never gotten quite this willful and demonic before. The last thing she wanted to do was feed them. Still, Lily would be here soon and she wanted to be with her. The only way to accomplish that right now was to feed them and be done with it. Nodding, the pony opened her mouth once more as she had for years and years. Songs of all languages flowed throughout her being and throughout her mind. Her voice was deep and low, as if it was unused for all this time.

"شما امواج خاکستری اقیانوس به مقصد به دنبال زندگی فراتر از ساحل تنها دور از دسترس هستند. با این حال، آب تا کنون تغییر جریان مثل زمان. مسیر شما را امتحان کنید."

The roses seem to sooth with the melody and the swayed back and forth lazily. The blooms grew larger and more numerous as the lyrics continued and the thorns shrunk back into the vines. Lingual Rose, as she sung, felt the connection between her and her beloved plants flourish once more and she felt a sense of completeness within her. She flapped gently towards the vines and let them wrap around her foreleg. She stroked the vines, now free of most thorns, and allowed the blooms to come towards her. One even crawled to her ear and deposited a deep red flower behind her ear. With one final lingering note, Lingual Rose withdrew herself from the plants, meeting with a bit of resistance as she did so.

The roses seemed to mourn her as she retreated into the house but, with one final note, a high B, she left, kissing them goodbye. The flowers chuckled as she left, noting that the pony had once again fallen in love with them. It was their scent that kept them in her good graces, after all. Feeling satisfied, the roses retreated into their usual hibernation and said no more.

Nopony, not even the roses, had noticed a pink earthpony with a lily behind her ear staring in upon the whole scene. Nopony knew that she had tried to go around back and surprise her friend. And now nopony would believe what she had just seen.