One hundred and fifty four signatures. I sighed, and rubbed my aching legs. For the past four days, I spent every spare moment going door to door with my clipboard. I was making progress, but I still had a ways to go to reach the two hundred minimum if my petition was going to carry any legal weight. I was ready to do whatever it took for non equines to have all the same rights as ponies, and whatever it took for me to be able to call myself a citizen of Ponyville.
I had visited every mule and donkey in Ponyville proper that knew how to read and got their signature. So far, I even convinced a few ponies to sign. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were quick to support my efforts.
I went to Sweet Apple Acres, and explained my campaign to Big Mac and Applejack. Apple Bloom wandered into the kitchen and started listening in. AJ seemed pretty bummed out, and left before I could even ask her to sign. Apple Bloom offered to sign in place of her sister. I'm not sure if her signature counted, but I let her anyways.
Perhaps the most surprising signator of all was Twilight. I'm not entirely sure if she signed because she actually believed that non-equines should be eligible for citizenship, or because she didn't want me to be mad at her anymore. If her haste to get the human banished was anything to go by, I'd assume the latter. A signature was still a signature, even if it was signed for the wrong reason.
I had a feeling I was going to need more than just a stack of signatures if I wanted to see my vision become reality. Ponyville's is a town that's stuck in it's ways, and those ways don't embrace non-ponies. However, I think you are well aware of that.
The point was, I realized I was going to need support, and more support than Twilight's pity would afford me. All of the folks I talked to didn't seem especially eager to join my cause. Apple Bloom might have wanted to help, but I didn't know how much a little filly with a curfew could help me lead a protest.
Then again, I had a curfew and a bedtime. I sighed, collapsing to the ground. I was already exhausted and it wasn't even two in the afternoon. It slowly dawned on me how big of a job I decided to take on. One baby dragon's time and energy wasn't enough. If I didn't find someone else to help me, the whole movement would collapse in on itself before It begun.
I struggled back to my feet. I glimpsed a tall lanky figure in the distance, sitting at a little outdoor table. Was that the human? I squinted, and walked closer.
He was sitting at one of the outdoor tables of this café by the edge of town, sipping water, and munching away on a breakfast salad. He was missing his pink clothes, and in their place, he wore a navy sweater and a pair of pants that weren't falling apart. He looked remarkably presentable. I could hardly recognize him, aside from being the one human in town. You know what I mean. I looked at him, then my clipboard, then back at him. I felt a grin spread across my face. If there was anybody to help my cause, it was the human.
I ducked underneath the rope divider of the restaurant, and approached the wire table. “Hiya Mr. Human,” I said cheerfully. I wanted to show that we were on the same team. My efforts were not as successful as I hoped. He looked up and around, scratching his head. None of the other customers returned his gaze.
I cleared my throat. “Down here.”
“Oh... um, hello there.”
I offered my claw to him. “I'm Spike the Dragon, and would you mind if I borrow a moment of your time?”
He looked at me with a good deal of caution. “Well met.” He gingerly gripped my claw with his thumb and forefinger, and then offered me the opposite seat. “You're not Twilight's dragon, are you?”
I hesitated. “I am, but that's not why I'm here.” I slid my clipboard forward across the table.
He put down his fork, and read and then re-read the cover page. “I don't get this.”
“It's simple. We non-equines don't have the same rights as the ponies. We're not even considered official citizens. I'm trying to change that. I think I could use your help.”
He looked at me warily. “You want more than my signature, don't you...”
“I think if we work together, we could do more than just get this petition to city hall. We actually could change something! You've become more than just a human. You're a symbol to all the mules and donkeys, and all the other non-equines to what happens if we step out of line.”
He steepled his fingers, and pressed them against his forehead with a hearty sigh. “Spike, is it?” I nodded my head. He continued. “I don't think I'm in any position to be rocking the boat in Ponyville.”
“I think rocking the boat just might be your only option, Mr. Human.”
“Walker, call me Walker.”
“Okay, Walker. What I'm saying is, you're down and out. Hay, half the ponies here are rearing to kick you out. I think it's in everyone's best interest if you align yourself with the rest of the non-eqs. We'll work together to actually mean something in our own community. Don't you want to be able to vote, to own property without being taxed? Get a legally recognized marriage?”
“'Non-eqs'? Is that what we're calling ourselves?” He shook his head. “I'm just trying to live day by day Spike.”
I slammed my claw into the table. “But how can you do that when you're out of a job, and these ponies are this close from chasing you out of town!”
The human grinned. “False and false.” He retrieved a card from his pocket. “Non-equine visa. I'm working for Lyra now, and I got this bit of legal protection keeping me in Ponyville. I think things are finally looking up right about now.”
He turned around and gestured to the interior of the restaurant. “I found a restaurant that lets me eat inside.” He frowned. “Well, technically I'm only supposed to sit outside. Regardless, the waiter is becoming my friend, and he says that they might consider me for a job if somepony leaves."
I looked around. None of the ponies were giving Walker any trouble, but I also noticed he had the entire half of the outdoor area to himself. I watched as a couple of unicorns whispered something to the waitress. She nodded, and scooped up a couple of menus from the table adjacent to us, before leading them inside. I turned back to Walker, and raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, so usually, I stay back while Lyra orders the food, and I give her some bits to pay for it. We would eat lunch that way. But a few days, ago, I wanted a snack, and so I thought, well, what’s the worse that could happen? I’ll leave if they start yelling. And you know what happened when I came here, right here, and asked for a smoothie?” There was a twinkle in his eye.
“What?”
“They gave me one!” He broke into a huge grin. “That waiter sat me down at a table, like I was a normal paying customer, poured me a glass of water, and then he asked me what I’d like to order.”
“That sounds… expected.”
He didn’t seem to hear me. “Get this; I’ve been talking with Silver Platter, and he’s cool. He says that one of the waitresses is about to go on maternity leave, and I should ask the manager if I can fill in for her. He told me that I’d probably be good at carrying trays, on account of my hands and all.”
“They won't even let you eat inside! What makes you think they'd actually hire you?”
The smile slowly dropped from his face. He sighed, and stabbed at his salad dejectedly. “Baby steps, Spike, baby steps. They let me eat here, and that's more than I can say about any other restaurant. It might not seem like it, but I'm making progress, slowly...” Another sigh. “But surely.”
“Don’t you want more out of your life here? Don’t you want to know that you’ll be treated as an equal?” I stood up in the chair, and put my claws on the table.
“Spike, I just want to go home. I’m hoping that if I can wait here in Ponyville, I’ll be able to find something that will lead me back. I’m not in a position to be demanding things of Ponyville. I've only had my work visa for less than two weeks. I just need to play it cool, and wait for everypony to accept me as someone who isn’t going to go off the deep end. I'm not going to throw away all the progress I've made.”
He took a sip of water, and a breeze ruffled his hair. “I went into Rarity’s boutique the other day, and she made me another pair of pants. I bought carrots from some pony, and they told me to have a good day. Don’t you see Spike? These ponies, they’re beginning to warm up to me. This is not the time to be rocking the boat.”
“We're talking about ponies who chased you out of a job.”
“Spike I don't think you understand. You’re an accepted member of the community. Ponies value you.”
“Hardly,” I muttered bitterly.
He didn't seem to hear me. “I haven't earned that acceptance yet.”
“You shouldn't need to win a popularity contest to earn basic rights! This is what I'm talking about. This is why we have to organize.” I pounded my fist.
“I'm not going to stand up on a podium and preach why I should be allowed to stay when Twilight is waiting around every corner with a net.”
“If we change the law, Twilight, or anypony else wouldn't have the right to banish you just because of your species.”
He crossed his arms. “I don't think you understand. I have a good number of ponies that want to see me gone, especially if I was trying to become a full citizen. I'm certain they could all find a way to have me taken away before we get any law to pass."
“So you're afraid of Twilight Sparkle.”
“Well, lets see. She has the power and desire to send me back into the crazy forest. Yes, I'm very afraid.”
“Have you ever had a conversation with her?”
“Not an actual conversation. She asked me if I had wings and stuff like that. It was very one-sided.”
I rubbed my chin, having a stroke of brilliance. “Mr. Walker, I have a deal to offer.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “I can arrange a chat between you and Twilight, if you're willing help me with this petition.”
“So in exchange for agreeing to help you, you're going to throw me into the lion's den.”
“If you give me this chance, I can get Twilight on your side.”
“You mean the mare that was doing everything in her power to send me off to live with dragons?” he snapped. I returned a harsh glare. He slunk down in his seat a little bit. “No offense, of course,” he muttered.
“Okay, maybe she won't be on your side, but I think that giving her a second impression of you, outside of all of the gossip and lies that have been going around, would certainly sway her opinion.” I noticed a mare on the opposite side of the patio looking at the two of us suspiciously. I ignored her gaze.
Walker drummed his fingers on his now empty plate. “Or, I could just avoid Twilight, and not have to deal with the situation.”
“You said yourself that you need to get ponies to warm up to you. Twilight's an influential pony, believe it or not. I'm sure that if you sat down and had a conversation with her, she'd start questioning all of the rumors. If she starts questioning them, all the
other ponies might just follow suit.”
He tapped his fork against the plate, and stared into his glass. After a minute of fidgeting, he spoke. “What would I be doing? Just going door to door?”
That didn't exactly sound like a “yes”, but it sure wasn't a “no”. I shrugged. “That's what's been working.”
Jerry grimaced. “I don't think anypony would exactly want me showing up on their doorstep.”
“True....”
“Look Spike, if it means it will get Twilight Sparkle off of my back, I'll sign. But I don't think I'm the one to win over Ponyville.” He took the clipboard in hand.
“Well, if anyone's had the full treatment of the Ponies' worst, its you. I just might need to have you speak about your experiences. “
He shrugged once more. “I guess I could do that.”
“Excellent, come over if you can tomorrow. Twilight will be in the Library, and you two can talk things over.”
“What should I say?”
“I don't know. I'm sure if you just actually explain yourself, you won't find her to be so hostile.”
He pinched his brow. “Now you're sounding like Derpy and Rarity.”
“Trust me on this one. Twilight can be stubborn, but she's not thickheaded. Not usually, anyways. Give her a chance to see that you're not as bad as everypony is telling her you are. So, what do you say, meet me outside the library, tomorrow at four?” I offered my claw.
He reluctantly reached out and shook it. The words seemed to hang on his lips, like he wanted to take them back the moment he said them. “...I'll see you then.”
There is -in no way, shape or form- a possible avenue for this plan to blow up in their faces.
also, update! it's like Christmas came several hours early!
I'm honestly not sure if I want the conversation with Twilight to go well or badly...
And I know it can't happen till the end, but I'm so still waiting on Deus ex Princess.
It's 25/12 2:50 AM... at least I'm in bed reading updates and this showed up.
You should feel bad for making me wonder about the next chapter and preventing me for sleeping because of that.
Congrats on the feature, this is a great fic and i'm glad that at least one non-clop/romance got into the box. Well done.
Go on...
I remember when this used to have a Comedy tag (or I could just be derping out)
3678576
I took the comedy tag off because it kept on being downvoted into oblivion for being too depressing for a comedy tag
3678546 I agree i doubt i will be able to sleep for a while as i will be thinking of how things go with twilight and how walker will try to say things.... like asking for steak lol
I still like this story, thanks for the update. I love how you go through all the viewpoints and tell the story from everybody BUT his viewpoint. I'm curious if you're saving his for the end, or you're never going to do his. Either works for me, but I like where this new arc is going (considered the end of the other arc, him finally having a visa and not completely on the run from the law). I still think that dream sequence is a perfect summary for his life so far.
Now that things are looking up for Walker (even if it's only by a REEEEALLY small amount), that Tragedy tag scares me everytime I see it even more.
I'm the 1001st comment. Merry Christmas.
Does Spike know Jerry's first name already in order to think of him by that name in the final scene?
This could either go very well, or very poorly. I don't see much of a probability for any middle ground here. And I have a nasty feeling, despite my best wishes, that this is likely to go poorly. Others have said it, but I think it bears repeating; that damn tragedy tag!
Talking to Twilight sounds like an awful, awful idea.
I still think you are leading us down the road to this poor man's death.
3678714
tragedy tag doesnt always mean there is tragedy every chapter, maybe something good will happen!
3678482 Yeah, Murphy's a good guy, and it's Christmas. He'll chill for the holidays.
3678988
Hopefully.
3678528 My thoughts exactly. These ponies… they need to be more tolerant of others… even though Spike is 'accepted', it's easy to see that he's still second-rate to all the others. Walker is in the right, he shouldn't be rocking the boat… at this point, his only real defense is his visa… thingamajig… But still, it's obvious Ponyville is a Crapsaccharine World (or in this case, town). Will Walker clear the racism, or will he be sent into the Everfree? C'mon, c'mon, place yer bets! Place yer bets! Four Internets, five? C'mon, take a chance! Place yer bets, place yer bets!
3678482
Nope. No way no how. Smooth sailing from here boys!
applejack.ponychan.net/chan/files/src/135074837872.png
If you are not going to have a tragic ending, do not use the tragedy tag.
Do you intend to have a tragic ending?
3679208
I even have a great name for the ship: Titanic.
I heard it was famous for some reason, but I just can't remember what for.
Yay! This is a wonderful Christmas present!
Yay things are looking up for Walker now.
Soooooo short.
Too short.
This is one of my favorite stories. So write more dammit!
What was that saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions?"
Anyways, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
I bet that Twilight will blame Jerry for what Spike is doing, because she's looking for a scapegoat. She's batshit crazy, and will go apeshit on Jerry.
3679257
"Tell me how your story is going to end".
Interesting development. Also a bit telling about Twilight.
I like how it clearly shows how much thought you have put in this fic.
In the words of another person voiced by Tara Strong...."What could possibly go wrong?"
I see all this way how things goes better for him, and then I remember the tragedy tag.
This will end with Twilight writing to Celestia about murdering someone, without realise that what she did?
3679496
I detect rape in the future.
So Spike found the scape goat.
3680031 If you use a tragedy tag, you already have. Unless you don't know the proper use of the term Tragedy, which is the possibility I'm hoping for here. I have enough tragedies in my life, I don't need my escapist material feeding me more.
3678847
I know, I just worry that any advantages, any good feelings, any ground gained... They all might just exist so that the eventual tragedy is all the more heartbreaking.
3680752
Those who have been following the story for a while know that I've already changed the story tags twice. After bowing to the second bout of complaints, I still got complaints about the tags. That was when I stopped caring what people thought the tags should be.
I realized that I'm the author, and I think I know more than anybody else where I'm taking this story. All of you guys see the little ups and downs of the story, but I know the entire arc, because I designed it. I think I know which tags are appropriate for this story. It's frustrating when people insist that I change the tags every time something good or bad happens
I refuse to change the story tags again, because no matter what they are, someone is going to take issue with the tags I've chosen. Well, that's not entirely true. The tags right now are the ones that stop most of the "ZOMG UR STORY'S TAGGED WRONG" down votes.
tl;dr -- not changing tags, regardless of complaints
Posessive its.
EDIT: Just noticed it should also be Ponyville is.
3680908 I think the tags are appropriate... assuming there will be at least a little tragedy sometime in the story. (Though I suppose there was a little already) The big deal about tags is merely that it explains the type of story this is to new readers. People who've already begun it... don't count. Tags don't matter to them beyond helping the author categorize their story (again, for new readers). If people have actually downvoted this story for being tagged wrong, well... then they're idiots, who can go fuck themselves. If you think your tags are right, then so be it.
Other than that, as per usual...
imageshack.us/a/img33/5764/likethischapter.jpg
Oh, and Happy Hearth's Warming!
quickmeme.com/img/0b/0b79f088b2757d673cfe2fd6c938408718d67c2b3102c8d741566b620b30a1a5.jpg
If you kill a chicken in skyrim, every NPC in town will attack you.
3682153
Unless you're the Thane
Poor Jerry.
Things are finally looking up, and now he's probrobly going to get beat to death with a floating couch or something when Twilight goes on an insane xenocidal rampage.
Fun times ahead!
3682153 Its terrible how well that picture sums up the situation. Though it makes more sense here than in Skyrim.
Judging by what Spike said at the beginning, I'm guessing that after Jerry leaves, humans will come looking for him, making them realize they've created a very hostile first contact scenario
Jerry is going to die, i have a horrible felling Humans won't be pleased(if we come a knocking). War might be thing. All in all i love/hate thia story, y u do that? They need a suspense tag.
I particularly like how you wrote Spike in this chapter. He sounds and acts mature and it looks like he knows what he is doing. Asking Walker to have a conversation with Twilight was the best thing he could do, also the one thing I wanted for a very long time. So, thanks for that.
I really like Spike in this chapter because, as I mentioned above, he sounds and acts mature.
I am really looking forward to Walkers and Twilights conversation, there's no way that could go wrong right? XD
Anyway, thanks for the update, keep it up please!
This chapter's Spike really made me love the guy even more, I mean, sure he is Twilight's assistant, but when he noticed that he wasn't considered a citizen he goes on a petition for non-Eqs in Ponyville (or maybe even Equestria). He acts mature and so unlike a "baby" dragon, less so a selfish and greedy dragon. He's doing this cause for the donkey and mules, the dragons and even Human(s?). What I'm trying to say is, author, can you give Spike a hug for me?
wanna good twist? Suddenly a squad of russian commandos ran out of the everfree and burned down the entire town. the end
Well, Walker is about to become a reluctant activist. This is going to be interesting.
A vote for Spike is a vote for freedom.
Vote Spike today
3679208 I am just waiting 5o see how WELL this goes.
Goodbye self esteem and general protection.
"Welcome to my parlor, said the spider to the fly", can you get out of this Web of deceit and gossip?