So I'm curently in the process of writing something, and I'm making solid progress · 4:38am Sep 28th, 2015
There's no guarantee this will make it into the final story, but here's an excerpt of one of the later chapters:
"Ok, ok, but if we could find some common moral ground between our cultures that doesn't involve Harmony, that might help explain my perspective to Rainbow." Westley ran his hands through his hair before he let out a breath of air.
"But aren't Harmony and morality, like, the same?", Rainbow Dash said.
"For you guys, as far as I know, probably? Not at all for me. Let me rephrase: Do you guys have any taboos that don't involve Stigma? Maybe even things that just bother or annoy you?" Westley looked around, but no answers were forthcoming. "Look, Harmony is an absolute rule that's broadly applied without exception to numerous races and individuals, right? I find it hard to believe it covers ALL of the moral problems for EVERYONE."
"Well...", Twilight began. "I have always found it odd that Harmony doesn't punish students for cheating on their classwork. I suppose it's because it mostly only hurts the student?"
Westley clapped and pointed at her. "But! But it bothers you a lot when people cheat, right?"
"Yeah! What's the point of studying if you're not going to study? Having rote and practical experience with knowledge is just as important as learning it in the first place. It's a waste of everyone's time if you're not going to do what you've said you'd do!"
"So even if you couldn't feel Harmony, that would still bother you?"
"I think it would."
"Bingo. The Irreducible YOU has a MORAL problem with it."
"Ok, but what does this have to do with me?", Rainbow said.
"It's the same thing as your poster, kinda. You won't rip it because it matters to you, not because Harmony has anything to say about it.", Westley said.
"Are you saying I don't actually care about my friends?"
"What? No!" Westley paused to think for a moment. "Well... maybe, but let's not start with the most pessimistic possibility here. I'm trying to explain... about multi-colored equines, who have an alien psychology that makes them treat me like they're sociopaths..." He rubbed his temples while he considered her words. They made an uncomfortable amount of sense, and it made him question his low opinion of Harmony Lodge's teaching methods... and his friendship with Trixie. "If... If I were to surgically remove your knowledge of the poster's fragility, Rainbow... You would still care for it, but you might accidentally harm it. If the Irreducible You doesn't really care about your friends, I don't think there's anything we can do here, so this is where we need to put our hopes."
This story is going places, and it's going to be a wild ride.
Oh, you're doing that thing. Very cool.
3429099 YES. THE THING. WITH THE JUDGEMENTAL TREE.