Looking at the two older siblings and Rainbow Dash, I gulped at the thought of how I was going to handle three angry mares at once. Whispering to Sweetie Belle from the corner of my mouth as I angled my head to hide it, I asked, "Did any of you talk to them?"
Letting out a short giggle, Sweetie Belle said, "We didn't have the time... and when we saw them coming they were mad already."
Groaning to myself, I look at the approaching adults to see their faces. Rainbow's face was the angriest of them all, though I already knew that it was mostly due to having the least amount of self-control compared to her peers. Applejack's face was locked into a bit of a scowl, her eyes projecting anger, but not rage, which meant that she may still be reasonable. Rarity, on the other hoof, just had a frown on her face, though her eyes had the look of someone who was annoyed. As the three came upon us, Rainbow was about to open her mouth before Rarity stick out a hoof in front of her face.
"Please Rainbow, like I said before, it may be best if we get Aether's side of the story," Rarity said.
"I know what you're feelin' Dash, but Rarity has a point. I'm plum angry about what I heard too, but it'll be best if we let her explain... this," Applejack, said, causing Rainbow to shut her mouth, but not without mumbling something to herself.
As the trio turned their attention towards me, Rarity open her mouth to say something, yet I decided to follow her earlier example as I said, "I can guess why you three are here, but let me say this then first. Most of what you heard is false."
Cocking an eyebrow, Rarity said, "Oh? So you didn't participate in a brutish fight?"
Blinking at that question, I thought to myself, Okay... news certainly travels fast here. "No... that is true, what else have you heard?"
Before Rarity could continue, Rainbow flew up to my face as she said, "How about the fact that you're only into fillies and that is why you're hanging with the Crusaders!"
"Rainbow! I thought you were going to restrain yourself," Rarity admonished as Applejack bit down on the tip of Rainbow's tail before dragging her away from me.
During all that, I could only facehoof and groan to myself. "So you three... really think I would just play with my friends only for a kiss session?" Beside me, I could hear the Crusaders making various signs of disgust, with even Scootaloo gagging a bit.
"Well, you do have those per-" Rainbow started to say before Applejack and Rarity slammed a hoof over her mouth as they smiled widely at us, while I just facehoofed with the other hoof, covering my face with both of them as I released an even louder moan.
"Hey, why did you stop Rainbow from telling us what Aether has?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Pulling down my hooves from my face, I said to Rainbow, "Nice job there Rainbow." Turning my attention to Sweetie, I replied, "Do not ask Sweetie Belle, it is something related to my parents." Eyes widening, I saw Sweetie nodding her head, the other two nodding as well when I laid my eyes upon them.
"So... was what Rainbow said true, Aether?" Applejack asked, her fury less directed at me and more at Rainbow as she let go of her tail, but not without shooting her a look.
"That is the one thing that is false. The Crusaders are my friends, and I do not think of them in that... way," I answered before I grimaced, sticking out a tongue at the idea. "Honestly, why did you three actually thought that about me? You really should not let... what is that word..."
"Rumors?" Sweetie supplied for me.
"...Yeah... rumors. Thanks Sweetie," I said as I looked at the three mares. Their anger soon faded into embarrassment, Applejack circling a hoof against the ground as Rainbow looked to the side, blushing a bit from her now pointless rage.
"Well, dear, that is a relief. Though I have to ask, what caused those rumors to surface in the first place?" Rarity asked.
"Do you three happen to know the colts called Snips and Snails?"
"Pfft, of course we know them. Hard to forget that they led an Ursa Minor to Ponyville when Trixie first came here," Rainbow answered. "Wait... they were the ones who started those rumors?"
After giving Rainbow a nod, Rarity asked, "I know those two have a penchant for... not thinking things through properly, but what would possess them to come up with such an idea?"
"It was from me telling them that I am not interested in colts. Somehow they came to those ideas and ran off to tell everypony before I could do a thing. I thought other ponies would know better to believe them... but it seems like I was wrong about that," I said dryly. "So where did you three heard about this?"
"Well, I heard it from Carrot Top while I was settin' up my apple stand."
"Heard it from another member of the weather team."
"I overheard somepony talking about it while I was out getting groceries."
"So... that means the entire town has heard this rumor..." I said in an exasperated tone. Dropping my heads into my hooves, I continued, "I can not believe that those two could cause that much damage so quickly."
"Now don't you worry about that. We'll get the word out about that rumor bein' false," Applejack declared.
"Indeed. It is my duty as a fair citizen of Ponyville to dispel that horrid rumor," Rarity said.
The two mares then looked up at Rainbow, who was tapping a hoof against her chin. A short moment passed before Rainbow said, "Here's something I don't get, why would you tell those two that... oh..." before her muzzle split into a wide grin.
As Rainbow started to open her mouth, I decided to cut her fun short as I said, "Say it and I will start saying the stuff that you three do not want me saying, ever," as I pointed a hoof at the Crusaders. This caused Rainbow to go wide-eyed at my implications as she shut her mouth, though I could still hear her muttering to herself.
"What? Stuff we can't hear?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Same answer from before," I answered, ending their questions, but Scootaloo only glared in response to the idea that she was being kept in the dark about something.
Clearing her throat to get everyone's attention, Rarity said, "Well, while it’s good to know that those rumors are mostly false, I believe that we need a more private talk with Aether on the matters of the fight and... other things. So, girls, would you so kindly move along? I assure you that Aether will be able to follow you shortly."
"But Rarity, Aether already had to a talk with Miss Cheerilee and Pinkie Pie about the fight," Sweetie Belle whined as I raised an eyebrow at whatever intentions Rarity has in mind.
"Now, Sweetie, we all have our own concerns that we wish to express to Aether, but I believe that it would be best for her if you three didn't hear them," Rarity said before giving me a look that told me to help.
Sighing, I said, "It is alright Sweetie, I do not think this will take too long. This might be something that I like to keep as private, like my... parents... I will meet you three in the clubhouse, how about you start getting ready for our next crusade?" I said, causing the three fillies to nod glumly before heading off. After they are out of earshot, I look at the Rarity as I said, "Okay, what is this about now?"
"Dear, you don't have to be so blunt about it... I'm just curious about your distaste in... romantic relationships with colts. I know that you're more mature about that subject, but I was wondering if you perhaps didn't know about some of the reasons that mares and stallio-"
"I know that sex leads to foals," I deadpanned, though my blatant use of the word 'sex' caused both Applejack and Rarity to blush, though Rainbow wasn't phased by it.
"So... you're not interested in havin' any foals in the future?" Applejack asked. Odd she's aski- no wait, she's big on family. Of course she would ask something like that.
"Having foals, is probably not going to happen since I will not have any interest in dating colts ever. Raising foals... ask me years later, because that is a different matter," I answered.
"Well... okay... but are you not interested in dating anypony?" Rarity asked.
"Why are you three so interested in my love life?" I groaned, causing Rarity to blush from my statement. "Look, I do not know if I will be interested in fillies or not, I only know for certain that I will not like colts. Ask me again in several years, maybe I might develop interest, maybe not. Can we just drop this now?"
"Alright Aether, we'll drop it then. Go have fun with your friends. Hopefully they learned somethin' from bein' grounded twice about doin' things too dangerous for ‘em," Applejack replied. Giving the trio my farewells, I started my trip to the clubhouse as I steeled myself for whatever plans the Crusaders have in store for today.
"I can't believe you actually punched Diamond like that!" Scootaloo exclaimed, as I dumbly nodded at her. The moment I arrived at the clubhouse, I was bombarded with talk of the fight between Diamond and me, if you can call it a fight. "I knew you were awesome, not as awesome as Rainbow Dash of course, but you were amazing out there!"
"I never thought that you win that fight like that. I mean... well... I knew that in a fight between you and Diamond that you would win, but I didn't thought you would win so easily," Apple Bloom said.
"You three... must really dislike her a lot," I replied.
"Well yeah, she and Silver Spoon have been teasing us since forever!" Sweetie said.
"You’ve got to teach me that headlock you did on Diamond. It looked like she would never get out until you let her go," Scootaloo demanded. Upon hearing that demand, I just looked at her with a look that said 'are you fucking kidding me?' "What? Why are you giving me that look?"
"You just got finished with your punishment... and now you want me to teach you something that will only get you grounded again? Do not answer please... I am just not going to teach anypony how to do that," I stated.
"Awww... but it looked to cool." Scootaloo complained as I rolled my eyes.
"How about we just move onto getting our Cutie Marks? I am wondering what you three decided to try this time," I said in an attempt to change the subject.
"Oh, we're going to try bungee jumping!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Oh... um... what is bungee jumping?" I asked.
"Wait, you don't know what bungee jumpin' is?" Apple Bloom asked as all three looked at me in surprise.
...Really? They are trying another 'extreme' thing? How many times do they need to be grounded till they learn their lesson? I thought to myself. "What... it is not like I am going to know every 'extreme' thing out there. Can anypony explain to me what it is?"
"Oh, it's where we get a rope, tie it to some bridge high over a ravine, and jump off it."
"...What the buck?"
I would say that's a horrible way to explain bungee jumping, but to be fair, there are very few sane ways to explain bungee jumping. It's trying a rope around your body and jumping off some high place to the rope snags you before you hit the ground.
Also; 'anyone'? Shouldn't that be anypony?
Yaay, bungeeee. Wait, wasnt the other end supposed to be tied to the Top of the bridge?
Logic. The only true revival to shenanigans.
Oh no...
That's... a good way to maim yourself. Using a normal rope, I mean.
I REALLY hope that's not where this story is going.
Somepony is going to get hurt...
6062662
That's an even worse description of bungee jumping, tying a regular rope around your waist and jumping from a high place is a good way to rip yourself in half. If it doesn't immediately rip you in half is a worse situation because your still alive to feel the pain.
Bungee Jumping is the art of dropping off a bridge like structure hanging above water while 'safely' tethered to a stretching cord in such a way that you won't get hurt. The cord has to be able to stretch a great length to slow down your fall instead of causing a sudden and very lethal stop.
It's only extreme when you don't do it over water.
Oh gawd, that ending. Bungee Jumping?
Aether, stop them, just... stahp them... now.
Awesome job... awesome job.
6062766
actually, you can tie a regular rope to yourself (on your ankles, preferably) and jump a 100 feet down and survive the experience.
That's how bungee jumping started in the first place.
When's the triple funeral?
I think I've figured it out.
One reason why the mane six are so perplexed that a younger filly like Aether isn't interested in colts is because with the gender ratio the way it is, even Snips and Snails are a catch. I suppose if you're a mare in this setting, you have to be persistent from early on, or you'll end up alone.
6050060 programmer here, can confirm.
why should aether already want to have foals in the future, isn´t she to young to be sure about that stuff?, i mean if she would not be that mature.
6062958 only to be sure you don´t get me wrong, i agree somehow to the idea, that there are more females, than Males, then again i like to think, only because they never showed that much males, that doesn´t means that they could just add a village with more Males than females, that could maybe even cause a problem for the show.
One way why i think about that second idea is, because i don´t like that herd, or heat stuff that much, but i only dislike the heat thing, if the story explains it like they would have no self controle, that means that every Stallion who would like it, could easily jump them. somehow i was not sure if i should speak like that, even if this is rated teen. I honestly don´t remember the rules about that matter.
The herd stuff, well i just don´t believe that more than two, or maybe even three ponys can love each other without loving someone less than the others.
I am maybe a bt stubborn, but since i don´t remember if this is something that the fans decided, since there where not much males scene in the show, but i just like to think that as odd as the show could be with the magic stuff and everything else, that there could even be a village with more Stallions than Mares, and we don´t saw every street in Manehatten or other Villages did we?
What i wanted to say actually was, at first i tried to image that Snips and Snails maybe get lucky if they are a bit older, but if we like to think that there are more females than males, then they probably don´t even need to get wiser.
This was a fun chapter, but did they got angry about her, because they thought Aether wasn´t really friends with the Crussaiders, or did they got angry because Aether could have a crush at the Crussaiders?
6062958
Even seeing this, I'm still a bit confused since 'interest' must develop after a certain point, right? Most kids I've seen are in the 'cooties' phase throughout Elementary School. Even assuming that puberty happens young (which doesn't make sense because gender ratios in that direction wouldn't change reproduction rates), there are still people that don't develop interest in pursuing guys/girls even if they might find a gender attractive (because relationships are hard). Why wouldn't they just assume that Aether is like that?
I actually think it is because they are all innately suspicious of Aether now. He is so weird that they feel that every piece of weirdness must have some sort of rationale behind it that they need to get-to-the-bottom of for fear of him corrupting the youth. It is a valid concern since he's already nearly killed the CMC with his antics.
6062766 You're jumping off a bridge. Body of water or not, that's extreme.
6062830 I'm imagining you popping out out of a bush to give that addition. Blame your avatar.
*Cackled maniacally* She thinks she's not interested in anything but wait till her first heat kicks in.
Now THAT would be hilarious. Aether in heat. Getting a lovely 'mare chat time' from Pinkie Pie.
And all the shenanigans that follow.
6063198
What complicates things is that we don't quite know the conversion between Aether years and pony years. If 27 corresponds to the human equivalent of 16-17, I can understand their surprise more than if he's the equivalent of 10-13 as a filly.
This actually happens a lot in real life to the chagrin of those who are disinterested; some parents/acquaintances can be rather interested in talking about relationships to this age range.
Your explanation about their suspicion is probably more likely, though.
6063191
The real reason for what we see in the show in terms of gender imbalance is, without a shadow of doubt, a consequence of A: selling toys (female dolls more appeal to the core demographic) and B: animation templates (every filly uses the same base while every colt is unique). It's just a fun bit of fanon that some enjoy.
Using meta-knowledge, this story is most likely going the route of more significantly mares in the general populations simply because it went to the trouble to mention the imbalance in the first place. It's a story about adaptation to a new world, so it's likely a lead-in to more culture shock.
I'm leaving it to the author to fill in the blanks. If there are herds, which we don't know yet, then Aether will possibly have his understanding of the basic pony family unit turned on its head.
Even though perverts like me include such things, I don't think this story would benefit much from elaborating on estrus and breeding habits too much; the tone isn't there.
The geographic explanation can also be fun. The longest story on the site, which I can't link to due to rating, has Stalliongrad at 80% male or so.
6063344 okay the ethrus, and herd stuff i only said becaus i had to think about it, not really because of this story, but i didn´t mentioned it i guess.
To be honest i didn´t try to translate everything you said this time, but it was enough for me to know that it seems like it is really a thing everyone else could decide for his own, i meant the thing thing with the males, and the females.
It is not important for me if the story actually is like that, i just watched the show two or three times, but not every season three times, that means i am not sure anymore if this maybe really was mentioned, but now i know it is mostly a fan decision.
Still reading this fic, and still loving it! Keep on keeping on!
Sigh...the Rainbow hate is pretty blatant anymore...
She may not be my favorite pony, but she seems to serve little purpose but to be the main character's verbal punching bag.
It's ironic really because everything Aether hates about Rainbow Dash she herself is guilty of...
I mean she seems to dislike her because Rainbow comes off as an arrogant, prideful, braggart.
Aether states that the reason she does not like watching Rainbow do tricks is because she would rather be doing them herself...which sounds really arrogant, prideful, and boastful.
Heck she goes through most of the story bullying the adult ponies trying to help her out...and getting away with it!...in this chapter right here she basically tells the older mares to back off or else...majorly arrogant and prideful.
I am not attacking the character or anything I am just trying to understand why every time Rainbow Dash is in a chapter it's going to turn into a hypocritical bullying session.
6062830 Survive? Most likely. Come out whole with nothing wrong? Good luck. People being hanged and dropping 1-3 feet end up with broken necks. Jumping 100+ feet with the rope around your stomach is probably going to snap your spine, if not break your ribs and badly damage all your insides. Around your leg, and it's going to break it, if not rip it off.
Hehe, love how how Aether just flat out told them to back the fuck off about the love life thing. Though I doubt she won't end up dating eventually. Still if Aether is smart she will try to flat out stamp this out, seriously they really need to stop with the extreme sports. Though it might help Scootaloo.
so i think we can firmly say that in this story pinkie pie is the most mature of the main 6.
applejack, rarity and rainbowdash are all running around jumping to conclusions, rumor mongering and pointlessly confronting Aether over nothing and everything. if they would quit obsessing over the fact that to them they are the adults and aether the child then they might accidentally act like it.
i include twilight in this list because she is running around playing with advanced tech literally like a child that discovered her parents loaded gun.
6064403
Sadly that's canon for her, see Magical Misery Cure.
6064063 Yeah, I don't know if this is something the authors doing on accident or if it's purposeful, maybe to show that RD reminds Aether of herself and she doesn't like those aspects of herself represented in rainbow dash. But yeah I do see a lot of Cockiness in Aether very similar to how I would imagine RD would act, but a more subtle show-offy way.
ONLY SO MANY WAYS THIS CAN GO WRONG! SO MANY!
6064087 actually ropes have a lot of stretch to them when under load (up to several feet). If it was tied properly around the shins and ankles it probably wouldnt break anything. probably. As an example of using the equations of a spring, consider a weight of W= 200 lbs on a theoretical rope. At L=200 ft., the static deflection should be given by:
δ = W/K = WL/M = (200x200)/19555 =2.0 f
so with a 200 pound weight on 200 feet of rope the rope ends up stretching an additional 2 feet, and thats a relatively slow stretching compared to a sudden jerk. also keep in mind each rope has a different amount of stretch to it based on what its made of, how tightly its bundled, and if its been stretched before. but yeah in theory if you had the right rope it would work, probably a polypropylene cored nylon rope.
6065149 this sound like you been bungee jumping, as for hangings you know there's a art to it right... don't ask me what likely medieval/wild west history show did cover it but hanging measured to your weight height carefully so as to be as human as It can be. the goal of hangman was try to ensure a to lead to a clean break of neck for quick death rather than a drawn out struggling public spectacle... if you want more information you'll have to search it because I don't remember much more than what's above about it..
6064087
well, if you just jump straight down you'll likely just rip off your leg. jump at an angle and enough fall energy will be converted to rotational force to keep your limbs. also, you can use your own body as a spring by pulling your legs close.
still wouldn't recommend it, though.
anyway, see the original form of bungee for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3jSlA3UkaU
6065197 not jumping, taking down trees. 300 pounds of wood swinging down from 40 feet up is a much better incentive to know your shit than a long fall and a short stop. And yeah the hangman had to figure out how much distance was needed to ensure that the weight you put on the rope at the end of the drop snapped your neck too much and you risked decapitation as the vertebrae failed and not enough and the person suffocated instead of breaking their neck.
6065149 6065204 Ok... Both good points!... Now, think about something... This in a world where research into better ropes is most likely not a thing. Do you really see ponies making better more improved rope? Probably not... It's most likely the most basic kinda rope possibly made back in the medevil days.
Also keep this in mind... They are foals. Kids. Children. Do you really think ANY of them would know this kinda stuff? Even the alien kid from another demension, would HE know that kinda info? He didn't even know what that was, and is not something you pick up from surviving and adapting in the wild
6065234 well I'd imagine he'd know the difference between a lasso rope and something that should be used for jumping but honestly... this proably going down the cliff hopefully they remember the water this time.
6065234 magic ropes and logical thinking.
problem solved.
6065339 Got to remember he is demensional hopping and surviving all the time. Would he REALLY know the difference? Where would he learn? Unless he popped out in a cowboy world. Remember also he comes from dealing with very advanced and high tech worlds and beings. Would he know much about a very low tech rope?
6065344
"this doesn't look like a normal rope" looking skeptically at the tight large blue rope
"corse not we use special magic ropes like the Pegasus there supposed to be a lot stronger and are able to ground nearby electrical issues that's why we use em for zappe apple season, since there so strong I figured we could use em!"
And than it ended with all three being electrocuted because the ropes still held a charge and had yet to sent off to be to be safely drain, as these ropes required when used else they remained a charge which could activate under tension or strain on the rope.
Magic is not a direct point of solution or safety it is a point of physics break... it can be beneficial, costly or catastrophic the cmc finding an object worse than the alicorn amulet, a cloud grounding grade magic rope which like ways a large amount can still crush and doesn't stretch well at all leading to severe injury if it breaks or something comes to a rapid stop. Also keep in mind magic tends to have its own effective backlashes either taxing your mana & or physical as well as having certain explosive results being a potential
6065345 it honestly might depend on if he saw anything useful in wild west videos or need to climb a cliff or ten before to give him some idea what not likely to work
6065971
i spoke in jest.
anyway, in regards to magic I don't have to keep anything in mind, since no rules were ever specified.
6065234 this is true they probably dont know. however since the ropes are probably hand braided and either cotton or hemp they have A LOT of stretch to them. Its one reason they fell out of use. That said the kids would probably not figure this out and still end up cutie mark crusaders street pizza
C'mon Aether! All of your friends want to jump off bridges, why not join them?
6258133 *deadpan* If you actually like your life, maybe?
6258133 well, in my case, I'd definitely join them. explained best by XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1170/
...Aether, you already know that word. You used it in a conversation mere hours ago. [Two chapters prior]
So you shouldn't be tripping over that word.
Rule 1 of learning foreign languages: learn all the swear words.
(Normally I bash on using buck instead of fuck, but it makes sense in this context AND isn't being used to actually refer to intercourse, so I'm okay with it)
6062830 Uh....no.
The origin of bungee jumping was using jungle vines that were strong and had stretching properties. Plain rope, as been mentioned, is quite a painfully and almost certainly lethal way of ending one's life.
6610133
yes. that's what i thought when i read that. (decided on mark because... idk(go to 10:00))
Well, the first words of any foreign language you lean do tend to be the swear words, it took Aether quite a while.
Congradulations, Aether,you have finally adopted the native swears.
that's one small step for interdimentional travelers, one giant leap for Aether Aura
Well I got to say these last 2 chapters have filled me with HATRED!!!
reminds me of "hearts and hooves day", when the CMC kept gagging at Mac and Cherilee's love-talk...
It's actually pretty impressive