Old again
Renaissance Pony
Chapter 22: Old Again
by Dafaddah
Globe spanning editorial team: Microshazm and SecondLaw
Fifteen years after the Lunar Rebellion
The breeze blew in from the lake, bringing with it the sweet scent of lilac from bushes that dotted the lakeshore. Nearby stood a small three-room cottage, the only sign of civilization in this wild place so near the Everfree. Angie tried to ignore the enticing smell, a reminder of summer days spent near the lake in leisure and learning with her parents and the Maestro. Today was a day for more serious pursuits. As always, Angie was anxious to please her teacher. She was comforted somewhat by the presence of her aunt Celestia, standing next to Starswirl and smiling encouragingly.
Angie scrunched her face in concentration, tracing dark lines on her light blue forehead. Projecting upwards from it, her horn emitted sparks of blue fire nearly the same colour, as she focused on the convoluted thought pattern needed to produce this complex spell. It certainly didn’t help that the Maestro was gazing at her intently through the whole process, while levitating a cantaloupe in the air next to his head.
Here goes nothing! she thought, and cast the spell. She felt the thaumic energy discharge through her horn. A glowing blue half sphere appeared a few paces in front of the three ponies. Inside the hemisphere, the landscape had changed. The wild grasses of the lake bank had been replaced by the type of underbrush one would normally see in the lea of a forest.
"Excellent!" said Starswirl. He floated the cantaloupe forward until it was half-in and half-out of the field. "Now Princess Celestia, please attempt to teleport the fruit away from its current position."
The elder princess' own horn glowed for a moment and Angie closed her eyes.
There was a loud 'whump' and a wave of sweetly pungent and sticky wetness washed over her. When Angie opened her eyes again there were pieces of fruit everywhere. Bells jingled as Starswirl brushed off bits from his cloak, and straightened his hat. Aunt Celestia stood immobile, eyes wide open, her normally pristine white coat speckled with gobs of green melon flesh. As always, her ethereal mane waved in the breeze, pristine in all its colours.
Angie stared at the pair for a moment, and with a snort began laughing. The light around her horn extinguished as she failed to hold the spell. The shield dissipated and the area within it returned to its previous grassy state. With a massive effort of will Angie clamped down on her hilarity, but when she looked up both senior ponies were looking at her with sober expressions on their cantaloupe speckled muzzles. At that point she simply lost her composure, and started laughing so hard she was forced to sit on her haunches and grab her sides.
Aunt Celestia didn't help things when she wiped one side of her elegant muzzle with a hoof, took a lick and remarked: "At least the cantaloupe was ripe." Looking down at her now green streaked chest and forelimbs, she remarked casually, "It's a good thing you didn't use beets, Starswirl. It would've taken forever to wash the stains out of my coat." Angie was already finding it hard to breath, at that point, but Aunt Celestia hadn’t had all her fun yet. She raised an eyebrow in Starswirl's direction, and said in her Patented Princess Celestia Deadpan voice, "You could have warned me in advance, you know. I’m perfectly capable of teleporting a cantaloupe and raising a shield at the same time."
Starswirl blushed. "Oh. The thought hadn't occurred to me," he said. The elder ponies waited patiently for Angie to wind down and catch her breath. The Maestro looked in her direction and frowned as Angie tried to hide her residual giggles behind a hoof. "It's not seemly for a student to be laughing so at her teacher's discomfiture," he groused. "When I was instructing your father there were no such breaches of decorum."
Angie bit her lip. Her dad had told her many wild stories of his studies with the old mage, but she had too much affection for her teacher to openly contradict him in front of her aunt. She scraped gobs of the gooey mess from her side and flank, revealing her cutie-mark, a large six-pointed star like her dad's with a single five pointed star similar to those of her mother's. She sighed. It was going to take some effort to get her coat clean.
Aunt Celestia winked in her direction. There was a flash of light from the white Alicorn's horn, and suddenly all of the sticky fruit remains disappeared from their coats. It was Starswirl's turn to appear surprised. "I didn't know such a spell existed!" said he.
"And I didn't know that teleportation could cause an explosion," said aunt Celestia sounding more serious. Angie sighed as she noticed that the playful twinkle in her aunt’s eyes was gone.
"Indeed," said Starswirl. "I just discovered this recently. Since the barrier field is a form of teleportation across dimensions, it appears that teleporting an object when it is half in and half out is akin to teleporting two objects into the same space. The typical result is an explosion, and the least destructive result is simply having the object fall into two pieces, a decidedly unsatisfactory result if the object in question is a living being." His own expression had become sober as he spoke. "I must admit, Princess, I am at my wits end. I fear this is a limitation of the barrier field that we will have to live with come the convergence with the earth.” He shrugged. “As is the unfortunate fact that the field itself, being composed of thaumic energy, will be poisonous to humans. In any case, I have already devised a way to combine a teleport interdict into the barrier spell."
Celestia sighed. "It cannot be helped then. The alternative is to allow magic to erupt unexpectedly at random locations over the earth, perhaps killing millions of humans. We must implement the barrier field, even in the likelihood that the humans will blame us for its effects. As the relative passage of time between our universes keeps fluctuating, I fear that time to make our preparations may be getting short. Please proceed with building the field as soon as possible." She turned towards Angie. "Young Princess, I hear that you have no small part to play in this enterprise."
"Yes, Aunt Celestia, as will my mother, at least for the first year." Angie felt her cheeks warm at the unexpected praise.
Starswirl laughed. "As you can see, she is her father's daughter: not only is she the most talented young mage of her generation, but she also blushes just as easily as he did." Angie smiled warmly at the old mage. He knew how much it pleased her whenever he said that she reminded him of her dad. They both missed him very much.
Starswirl pointed to the cottage. "We'll live here, each one of us taking four hour shifts at maintaining and building the spell's thaumic pattern and energy store. After a year, the entire system should be mostly self-sustaining. It will then be a matter of informing the spell of all known manner of objects and life forms that it will allow to pass through, and what to do with those things that must not be allowed in."
"This will be an unprecedentedly powerful spell, and a very dangerous one," said Celestia, raising an eyebrow. "Its behaviour will approach that of an intelligent being."
"Indeed," replied Starswirl. "I have designed it to be able to learn. And therefore I must be its teacher. It may take me many years, but as the one who will bring this entity forth into being, it is my responsibility to ensure its proper nurture and growth." He gestured towards the cottage. The three began walking towards it.
"As a consequence, it may take quite a while before I can return to work on the amniomorphic spell for the humans. Reducing the amount of energy needed for a full body conversion is a most vexing problem." He raised an eyebrow. "Alternatively, I suppose, one could locate a quasi-infinite source of energy, in which case the problem would become moot." He smiled at the absurdity of the suggestion.
"We still have generations to devise a solution to this conundrum, Maestro," said Celestia. "And given their scientific prowess, perhaps the humans will be able to assist in the process."
They paused as they had arrived at the cottage. A platinum coated mare appeared at the door. Angie trotted over to embrace her mother. The corners of her lips tugged down when she saw her mother's frail bow to Princess Celestia. The year since her father's passing had not been kind to her mother. She looked almost as old as Starswirl.
Celestia for her part embraced Princess Platinum warmly as the old friend she was. "So then," she said with a wry grin. "You and your daughter intend to spend a year helping to generate a spell in the company of this grumpy old unicorn and his assistant."
Her mother laughed, the wrinkles at the edges of her eyes bearing witness to the joys of a lifetime well lived. "Joly is both a gentlecolt and an excellent cook,” she said. “I cannot imagine we shall lack for anything. And truth be told, I very much look forward to spending a year in my daughter's company. We've had so little time together while she's been at your School for Gifted Unicorns these last few years."
"Enjoy this year, dear friend," said Aunt Celestia. "These past fifteen would have been far more difficult for me without your able presence at my side."
Celestia turned back towards Starswirl. "And what of you Maestro? How will you fill your magic depleted days?"
The old mage's grin was brilliant. "I will do a little painting, a little reading, and I will work on a little pet project I’ve been developing."
"How mysterious, Maestro," said Celestia. "You would be amazed at the progress in the arts, sciences and philosophy amongst the humans in the last few years. I have taken the time to do a few short visits to that realm. Perhaps we might make the time to discuss developments there upon occasion?"
"It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty," said the Maestro. He hesitated a moment. "Tell me, Your Majesty, do the humans remember my name on the world of my birth?"
Celestia chuckled. "Worry not, Maestro. Your fame has only waxed with each passing century. Your legacy with humanity is that of being one of its greatest artists, as well as one of its great scientists and thinkers. Should I say anymore I would risk inflating your ego beyond sustainable dimensions, and we've had enough explosions for one day, don't you agree?"
Starswirl rubbed the back of his head with a hoof as the mares laughed. The door to the cottage opened again and a cream coloured stallion invited them in. "I've made tea fit for three princesses and a famous old charlatan," said Joly. "And her highness Princess Platinum baked some cookies earlier. Please, everypony, do come in."
Angie followed the elder princess in but stopped on the doorstep, seeing her teacher pause, as he often did, to gaze towards the distant Everfree forest. She was struck by a sudden curiosity.
"You miss them, those humans you left behind in that world, don't you?" asked Angie.
"Every single day," said Starswirl sounding a bit melancholy. "Why do you ask, girl?"
"You have that look of loss in your eyes. Why does that always happen when you gaze towards the Everfree?"
He heaved a sigh. "Soon after I first came to this world, I founded a community. It became the first real home I’ve ever had, even in my life amongst the humans." He turned his gaze in her direction, and she saw the pain in his eyes. "But my Ponyville was destroyed in a single day. Joly and I still miss it dearly." He gestured in the direction of the forest. "Its ruins lie just beyond the lake. I made a vow that one day it would be rebuilt, but with every passing year that promise seems more like just a foalish dream." His eyes again looked into the distance. "Forgive me this indulgence, but do go in, Hydrangea dear, I won't be a minute."
"Yes, Uncle Mo," said Angie as she gave him a quick nuzzle. He smiled briefly at the use of her pet name for him. She turned back to the happy scene inside of friends sharing a brief moment of fellowship and family.
After dinner, Starswirl accompanied Celestia on a brief walk before the sovereign was to return to Canterlot to attend to her many duties.
The Princess was in one of her more sombre moods. Thankfully, these were increasingly rare since that initial difficult year after her sister's rebellion. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Outwardly, she seemed much the same as she had when he had first arrived in Equestria. Looks can deceive, he thought. Only he and a few trusted others knew how difficult those days had been. Platinum, Hurricane and Puddinghead. And Clover... My dear departed student, Clover. He sighed. Of all of them, Clover was the one who was able to step up to Celestia, and tell her when and where he thought she was wrong. He had even argued with her, the starstruck lad who could hardly believe it when he had first met Celestia in the flesh. The memory made him grin.
"Are you thinking of him?" she asked quietly.
"Yes." There was no question as to whom she referred.
"Were he here no doubt he would tell me how foalish I am to try to save humanity. How inept I was at handling my sister, and how my indecisions cost ponies their lives."
Starswirl nodded and smiled fondly. "Perhaps."
"He and Platinum kept the Equestrian state from fragmenting, when I was... recovering. I will be eternally grateful." She glanced at him. "And now, I will lose both you and Platinum to this project for a year."
Starswirl hesitated a moment. "In my case, Your Majesty, I might have to remain isolated for much longer, years, perhaps even decades, whilst I raise the barrier spell."
Celestia paced beside him in silence. He waited as she digested this news. She would speak more when she was ready, and no sooner. She stopped as they approached the lakeshore.
Finally, she spoke. "I am frightened, Starswirl."
"Of what, Your Majesty?" he asked. The breeze was pleasant and redolent of the nearby lilacs.
Celestia turned a sad gaze upon him. "Always I've had my sister with me, and now I do not." She smiled apologetically. "I am very fortunate to have had such good friends during these difficult times, but—" she hesitated "—it is my lot, without exception, to lose all those I love to the sands of time." There was a deep sadness in her eyes. "Luna was always my one constant, my one consolation, even in mourning my little ponies. But now I will have to face their deaths alone, and I do not know if I will have the strength."
Starswirl wrapped the princess in a hug. She leaned against him and wept silently. After a minute, he gently disengaged.
"My goddess of truth," he said looking up into her eyes, "let me tell you a truth in turn that is wider and deeper than the cosmos itself: if you love others you will never be alone."
He distinctly heard a sniffle coming from the lilac bush nearest to them. He brushed a few fronds aside telekinetically, revealing young Hydrangea's face. She blushed brightly in true Clover tradition, and strode from around the lilac stand.
"He's right, Aunt Celestia," she said breathlessly.
To her credit Celestia did not take offense at the intrusion, but rather bestowed a sweet smile on the mare. "Still, all ponies, even you my sweet niece, will eventually leave me."
Hydrangea's expression grew determined. "True, I won't always be here with you, but after me, my foals will, and after them, my grandfoals.” She raised her tiny blue chin in defiance of time itself. “I swear it, Aunt Celestia, you will never be alone."
Starswirl chuckled at the youngster's earnest vow. "Celestia, take it from an old bachelor," he said. "Family are the ponies you choose be with and those who choose to be with you. You are with family now."
"Thank you both," replied the princess, hugging the unicorn mare in turn. "Your words are a great comfort to me. But I must admit to another worry. I miss Luna and her wise advice. Just speaking with her helped me think things through, even when we did not agree. Hydrangea, your father filled in most admirably for my sister when he was still with us, as has your mother since." Her gaze grew apologetic. "But I can see how heavy the burden sits upon her withers, and I will not have my concerns drive such a true friend into an early grave." Her gaze turned back to Starswirl. "I have so many doubts these days. So few voices tell me what I must hear, and not just what they think will please me."
Starswirl raised an eyebrow. "Your Majesty, many are the times in my life when the only counsel at hoof was mine own. Usually I brought order to my thoughts by asking myself questions, and then writing the answers down in my journals. If it is Luna's advice you seek, then do so still, in a letter. Report your days to her and tell her what you are doing and why. And ask your questions." He placed a hoof over Celestia's heart. "As long as you love her, Luna is here, and will be always. You will hear her reply when you need to."
They waited in silence as Celestia wiped her tears. "You are a wise old pony, and a good teacher, Maestro," she said as her smile returned.
Hydrangea beamed up at him. "Yes, he is," she said. "And even a passable uncle."
Everypony chuckled at the jest. Celestia took a step. "Now I must depart to end the day and begin the night," she said. "Good evening, my very dear little ponies." She bowed and was gone with a flicker of blue light.
His niece wrapped him in another hug. Starswirl resolved to cherish this coming year. He was all too familiar with the pains of aging, having gone through the process once before. He knew that his time amongst the ponies of Equestria was not infinite. You still have much to do before you can rest, Leonardo, he reminded himself. And much of it you will have to do alone. Yes, he would cherish his last year amongst the ponies, and then he would miss them very much.
He walked slowly back to the cottage with a mare he called his niece, where awaited the homely joys of family.
Celestia stood on the balcony of the recently completed Observatory Tower of Canterlot castle. It was one of her favourite places in the new castle, and her preferred place to do the rising and setting of the celestial orbs. Having to manage both sun and moon was very tiring and emotionally taxing for the princess, so she had decided to do the full ceremony of the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon only once per year.
She closed her eyes, and 'felt' through the aether to locate the moon. Once it was firmly in her grasp, she lowered the sun below the horizon and before the light was fully faded bade rise the moon. Slowly it emerged over the distant edge of the world, the unicorn head silhouette graven there a reminder of what she had lost. Once the moon was safely on its trajectory through the night-time sky, Celestia relaxed and open her eyes. It was a paltry sky, compared to her sister's dazzling and bejewelled firmament, but it would have to do, until her mastery of the art of the night could grow more sophisticated.
Celestia then turned and began a familiar ritual of her own devising: she lit a candle to her sister, and placed it near the window in sight of the moon. She knew there was no chance that Luna might see such a small flame from the location of her imprisonment, but it was nevertheless a great comfort to her own ravaged heart. She stared at it for a while, a smile on her lips as she recollected memories of better times. A thousand years, she thought. A thousand years before I know whether she is lost to me forever.
She sighed and strode to the stairwell leading down. With a last glance she looked at the writing desk where a scroll lay, partially unfurled. On it she could still make out the last few lines near the bottom.
Rest assured that I will always love you, and that I count the days until your return.
Your most faithful sister,
Celestia
The scroll glowed around the edges, rolled up into a tight cylinder and rose into the air. The stopper on a small vial on the desk levitated upwards as well. A tiny whirlwind of powder rose from the vial's confines to dust the scroll, which dissolved in a glimmer of green fire. Celestia smiled and descended the stairs.
On the moon a letter appeared and was snatched hastily by a dark blue hoof. Nightmare Moon hesitated a moment, in the full knowledge that if the news were good it might comfort her opponent, small and insignificant though she was. In the end, novelty won out over caution. After fifteen years in this land of eternal stillness anything new was too much of a temptation, even a letter from the enemy's sister, so bored was the mare. Slitted eyes read hungrily.
She loves me still! Exulted the voice of Luna in her mind.
Nightmare Moon stared down at the scroll, which erupted into flames and was consumed in an instant.
Their momentary truce shattered, Luna resumed her assault on the invader, locked in a fight to reclaim her very soul. This time she would not concede. No, she would never give up, for her sister loved her still, and that was all she needed to know to keep on fighting, for a thousand years if need be.
A year later
Starswirl closed the cabin door behind him. Joly stood a few steps away from the entrance with their luggage, the bulk of it belonging to the fussy stallion. He waited in silence as Starswirl took in the scene at the cottage. It was one of those beautiful spring days at the lake. The wind blew through the lilac bushes, spreading the flowers’ gentle perfume. The lake itself sparkled in the sun, with buzzing insects and chirping birds bathing the day in nature’s cheerful symphony.
“What a feast for the senses, Joly!” said Starswirl. He glanced at his companion. The stallion smiled, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“Are you sad to leave such beauty behind, Maestro?” he asked in his gentle voice.
Starswirl smiled. “Yes, and that is why this is the time to go.” He gestured around him at the lake, the cottage and the nearby forest. “This is the image we will keep in our minds when we recall this place. This is how I want to remember it.”
“Aye. I think I agree, Maestro.” He raised an eyebrow. “Still, I will so miss the place. I do hope Princess Hydrangea will take good care of it.” The expression on his face softened, and his gaze lingered on the tidy cottage.
Starswirl felt his heart go out to his long-time companion. “You always become so attached to things, Joly. As to me, in my life I’ve had to change homes so often that all I need is the cloak on my back and a good hat.”
Joly laughed out loud. “And that’s why you hardly ever take them off, old vagabond.”
Starswirl put a hoof on Joly’s withers. “Perhaps. But this is an old vagabond whom fate has blessed with stalwart friends.”
Joly took a deep breath and nodded. “I guess that makes two of us.” He favored Starswirl with that tiny little grin he had whenever he felt an adventure was about to begin. “Let’s go then.”
Starswirl nodded. He thought of what he was leaving behind: the princesses, the School of Magic, and all this pony business. Before him was the leisure to do nothing but follow his curiosity wherever it led him. What are you waiting for, old fool?!
Starswirl smiled broadly and charged up his horn to engage the dimensional travel cantrip. It’s time to go change the universe!
He cast the spell. There was a flash of white.
First Epilogue
Celestia was holding court in Canterlot when her majordomo approached the throne and bowed, scroll in hoof. Her interest piqued, she nodded and he preferred the missive. His horn glowed and it floated up to her, unfurling it so she could read its contents. Her heart sank as she read. She thought of adjourning court and rushing off, but a moment's reflection was enough to realize that it would not only be futile, but might alarm her little ponies. She nodded, and the majordomo quietly rolled the document up and levitated it back to a pouch on his back. He bowed, and no doubt would deliver the letter to her desk with today's court documents. She smiled as if it were nothing of import, and gestured for the next petitioner to approach.
That evening, Celestia strode into Starswirl's cottage by the lake. As she had expected, the windows were dark when she approached. Also as expected, the door was unlocked. She pushed it aside, and dispersed the gloom by emitting light from the tip of her horn. Scanning the interior, she saw everything much as she last recalled: a tidy kitchen and common room containing a large table with several large comfortable cushions near the fireplace, and two doors leading to the cottage's two cozy bedrooms.
On the table lay a large hard-bound book, a familiar-looking statue of a draconequus, and a scroll. As she approached, the scroll rose into the air and unfurled itself. She smiled. The letter had recognized her. A typical Starswirl touch!
My dear Princess Celestia,
Once upon a time a young lady stepped into my studio, and with a smile stole my heart. Little did I know then how she would come again to change this old man, and bless his life with true friendship and new worlds to discover!
For one such as I, to whom learning is the summit of all joys, that gift was beyond compare! Another earth to explore, and then even more worlds beyond it, each one a treasure in its own completeness, and each a reflection of the universal reality that lies beneath them all. Even the world upon which your sister sought to confine me was a great gift, such that were I before her, I would embrace her and kiss her hooves in thanks —
Celestia had to look away. She waited a moment, wiped her eyes with with a fetlock, and again turned her gaze on the levitating document.
— that she she gave me so much. I think of her often. She also gave me another gift: she briefly showed me a book by a fellow human, Isaac Newton, that described tools of mathematics such as I had never dreamt of. Such is serendipity, as what I learned on that world forever changed my understanding of the structure of the cosmos, and Newton gave me the voice with which to sing its praise. Please do extend my gratitude and affection to your sister when you next write to her.
After my rescue by Clover, and my return to health following the unpleasant events of that time, I visited the remains of Luna’s quarters and found that book and some others. With the information I learned regarding Clover’s search through the worlds I was able to delve ever more deeply into the foundations of the cosmos. The results are the interdimensional barrier spell, amongst others things which still astound me even as I think of them. Within the statue on the table I have invested the barrier spell. It awaits your signal to be activated once you have determined that the convergence is nigh. I hope you like the statue. It's a study I did to improve that horrid one you keep in your garden. Someday perhaps you'll allow me to replace it.
Of the other discoveries I've made, one has given rise to the first purpose leading me to my current passage: I have discovered much about the foundations of time. How ironic it is that this knowledge comes to me when I have so little of it left! Let me assure you, Dear Princess, that I am not being an ingrate. The life I now live is my second one, a gift received from your hoof and for which I am eternally grateful. But to understand time, I will need to spend all that is left to me, and so, a hermit I must once again become. Oh, worry not as to my welfare, as my dear friend Joly has chosen to accompany me in my exile – an old hermit still needs his comforts, no?
As a parting gift I leave you the notes in the journal that accompanies this letter. You will find there a spell to travel backwards in time! This is of far less value than one would think. The range of such travel is quite limited, perhaps four days at the most, for the past is jealous of its certitudes, and only suffers admittance to those it feels will not contest them.
You will also find a treatise on the concept of destiny. Here I must tell of the second purpose of my self-imposed exile. With it you will find a spell, still incomplete unfortunately, for changing one of the very foundations of Equestrian society: a pony’s cutie-mark. These are indeed very much linked to the expression of the future, but unlike the past, the future is a veritable herd of warring potentials, refusing all certainty but death. What I seek to do now is to study time and destiny, both most dangerous pursuits. It will be safest for all beings that I do these studies on another world far removed from this one and the one of my birth, one with no beings present whose lives would be forfeit should my experimentations tear down the very foundations needed for life, a danger that I foresee as all too possible.
Speaking of foresight and the future, I have one last gift for you, My Princess. In my examinations of times future I can sometimes discern concentrations of great potential. Sometimes these are opaque to further scrutiny, sometimes they reveal surprising images of what may be. And sometimes many such images are superposed, drawing a palimpsest of every possible outcome all at once. There will come a mare, of my student Clover’s descent, who will be a mage of such power as to rival even those of the Alicorns. She will bear Clover’s mark as well as that of the unicorn royal line. (Fear not! It is not our dear Hydrangea, although it will very likely be a filly of her lineage.) In this mare is the potential to fulfill all of your dreams for Equestria, and also the possibility to turn it all to ashes. I have seen into this mare’s heart, Celestia. She is fundamentally good, but she will need your guidance, and even more so, your love, in order to resist the temptations that her power will offer. Remember this and be ready, Celestia, your sign will be the circle of rainbows.
When you read this I will have been gone for several days. I know you have ways to find me, but I must ask that you do not share that information with others. Please allow an old and weary friend this last indulgence, that in the few years I have remaining, I might live in quiet pursuit of knowledge and the good company of my gentle companion. I know that you would argue that I should remain as Minister of Science, for much still remains to be done. But we are both aware how little I do at the Ministry these days, and that younger ponies have earned the opportunity to carry on that work with all the vigour and energy that old ponies such as this one can rarely muster! You and your little ponies no longer need me, Celestia, and I have every confidence that you will succeed, for of this I am certain: Equestria and her Princess are strong!
Know that I will always have you in my heart, dear Celestia, as I hope to remain always in yours. Please do visit, when you can find the time.
With love and friendship undying,
Starswirl the Bearded
P.S. I have one humble request...
Celestia rolled up the scroll and gathered the book and statue from the table. Upon the book's cover was Starswirl’s cutie mark. She examined the little draconequus statue more closely. She smiled. It was indeed a much more expressive and – lively – looking statue than the actual frozen Discord in her garden. With a final glance around the cottage, Celestia teleported away.
Celestia materialized inside her bed chamber. As expected, there was nopony else there. She crossed the room to the doorway that led to her office. On the way over her she placed the three objects she carried onto her dresser table. Her horn glowed again as the doors opened to reveal three pegasi clustered around her desk.
"Oh come-on, Sky," said Harvest Wind. "You know what the Maestro will say when he's back, he's –"
"– not going to be back," interrupted Celestia. Three faces turned in surprise, then all three bowed deeply to their sovereign.
“Summer Breeze and Sky Blue, what a pleasure to see you again,” said Celestia. “I hear your business is doing quite well indeed.” The pair did look prosperous, with Summer in a fine dress and Sky wearing a yellow Velvet doublet that flattered his azure coat. “I assume you have come to Canterlot to congratulate Harvest Wind on his promotion to Captain of the Royal Guard.”
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Summer. Her ears swiveled to focus on Celestia. "Is there something the matter with the Maestro?"
Celestia smiled reassuringly. "Fear not, my little ponies. He is hale and hearty, but he has come to an age where he has earned a rest. He has tendered, and I have accepted, his petition for retirement from public life." She turned back to Harvey. "Captain, when we are done here I would like you to please inform the Chamberlain of the Equine Assembly that I will add a new motion in tomorrow's session, a discourse on the contributions of our former Minister of Science, and a call for nominations to fill the vacancy created by his departure."
All three ponies' mouths hung open. Celestia smiled. "Come now, why the long faces? He is still alive and with us."
Harvey was the first to break the silence. "But Your Majesty... everything will be so different without him!"
Celestia looked into the earnest eyes of her little ponies one by one. "Will it now? Pray, tell me how." She looked on expectantly.
"He invented the Amniomorphic spell. He made it possible for ponies of different tribes to have foals of their own," said Harvey with a slight blush.
"I for one wouldn't even be here otherwise," said Sky. "My dad's a unicorn." He nuzzled Summer. "Just like our twins."
"To hear the youngsters speak nowadays, the concept of tribes hardly exists anymore," said Summer. "And then there's the School for Gifted Unicorns, which the twins are attending."
"And all those new sciences Starswirl set up, with all the rules on to find out what's true and what's balderdash! That's changed almost every trade and profession, from farming to rainbow production," added Sky.
"Not to mention all the amazing flying machines," said Harvey, a smile crossing his features.
"Don't forget" – said a new voice from the main door leading into the office – "the codification of magic, and all of the other wonderful spells he's contributed over the years. And not least of all, he saved my dad's life more than once." Princess Hydrangea entered and bowed to Celestia, then went to hug everypony in turn, ending with Celestia herself. "I guess uncle Mo has finally decided he'd had enough of politics," she declared with a wink.
Celestia eyed her niece. "And of being a teacher as well as of being Archmage. He said he thought it was time for younger ponies to take the reins. I know of one recently graduated mage whose former teacher has recommended her highly. Perhaps she might be interested in teaching force-fields and animative magic at my school." Celestia gaze calmly at Angie and raised an eyebrow. The mare looked confused a moment, before practically crushing Celestia in her second hug in as many minutes.
“Yes! Yes! I accept!” said Angie emphatically, practically jumping up and down in her enthusiasm. Her friends each gave her congratulatory hugs of their own.
Celestia turned her attention to Sky. “I have a task for you as well, Mr. Blue,” said Celestia.
The stallion bowed. “Your wish is my command, Your Highness,” he said and turned his head towards Harvey. She just caught sight of the tip of the tongue he stuck out at his foalhood friend.
"I have decided to ask your uncle Hyacinth if he is interested in the position of Archmage. I would consider it a personal favour if you could ask him privately about his interest in the appointment before I do so formally."
"Of course, Your Majesty. I'm sure he would consider it an honor, but I will ask him and come back to you with his reply tomorrow, as Summer and I are having dinner with him tonight."
"Splendid!" Said Celestia. "I guess then that it's time for me to write a letter. I do hope to have the pleasure of seeing you all again during the next few days." With friendly goodbyes, the three pegasi and unicorn bowed and left the office though the main exit. The last to exit was Harvey, who turned and winked before shutting the door.
He is very handsome in that uniform, thought Celestia. And he knows it!
With a grin she went to her desk and sat down. Her horn glowed and a scroll of paper settled on her desk as her quill dipped into the ink pot, and then hovered over the page.
Dear sister,
Today the inevitable happened and our Starswirl announced his retirement from public function. He wants to be free to study only that which strikes his fancy and follow his inspirations wherever they may lead. This is much the same as what he did before his retirement, but with less supervision from yours truly, and fewer students and underlings underhoof. It strikes me that his situation has much in common with his life just before I brought him to Equestria!
He sends you his love and gratitude, Luna, and says that you are often in his thoughts.
In contrast to our dear Starswirl, Equestria has changed in many ways, and when I look at our little ponies I can see that it has been very much for the good. Perhaps I am biased in making that assessment, but I am sure that you would be as proud of them as I am. For the most part they now govern themselves quite effectively, and in my daily courts their disputes have become pleasingly trivial. Rational thought rather than emotions or superstitious dread governs their actions, thanks in no little part to the contributions of our pony shaped human. It gladdens my heart so to see how they care for each other, and I cannot help but feel that they will succeed and prosper where our own Alicorn kind failed, becoming the very expression of Friendship and Harmony.
With love and affection,
Your devoted sister Celstia
Second Epilogue - many years later
Celestia paced gracefully through the Annual Canterlot Fair and Exhibition, surrounded by an entourage of unicorn nobles and her Royal Guard. Around her were laid out row upon row of colourful tents, each one a delegation representing a town or county of Equestria. There were even larger tents with delegations from neighbouring kingdoms and principalities, including the Gryphons, Zebras, and Minotaurs, amongst many others.
She made it a point to attend the fair every year. It had become a major meeting place where all parts of Equestria could mingle, exchange ideas and most importantly build the links between families that knit the nation into a single, unified whole. Because of the Amniomorphic spell, Ponies now took it for granted that unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies were all one species, and her somewhat allegorical Hearths' Warming Eve story and pageant had done wonders to ingrain that feeling of fellowship for all the ponies of Equestrian society.
Still, the ghosts of Equestria's tribally segregated history haunted her still, so she was ever vigilant for any signs of regression to the attitudes of the past. That was why she was taken aback when at the end of a long row of bright tents, she saw a dull, well patched habitation that had obviously seen better days. At each side of its front entrance were laid out trestle tables, upon which were arrayed an abundance of seeds, tubers, small potted plants and other agricultural seed stock.
To her right, the Master of the Fair, a fancily clad unicorn named Duke White Tie turned up his snout with a sniff. "Go no closer, Your Majesty," said he. "This is a disreputable lot." He tried to lead Celestia on to the next tent, and was visibly flustered when she refused to budge.
"And to whom does this tent belong?" she asked pleasantly.
"Nopony of importance, Your Majesty, I assure you," replied the duke.
She waited patiently, keeping the same smile on her features. The duke’s expression grew resigned. "They call themselves Pilgrims. They are landless earth ponies that travel and trade seeds, doing seasonal farm labour. Wherever they go there are reports of trouble, petty thefts and such. Really, your majesty we should not consort with such a shiftless group.”
Celestia's only response was to stride up to the trestle tables, where a severe looking pony stood with a worried looking mare. A young light green coated filly, peeked up in awe at her from under the table, her mane and tail done up in beautifully intricate blond braids. Celestia smiled at the youngster, whose eyes widened before turning on the most dazzling smile Celestia had seen that day.
"Mah pa is the very bestest seed collector in all Equestria, Yer Highness!" The filly beamed up at her in obvious pride. Celestia turned her attention to the subject of the filly's assertion, who with his wife bowed low.
"Your daughter speaks highly of your seed stock, sir," commented Celestia.
"Ayyuup," replied the stallion, looking somewhat dazed.
"Why trade in seed? Wouldn't you rather grow your own crops, Mister..."
The stallion's eyes narrowed a bit. "Name's Smith, Yer Majesty. We ain't got no land, so we travel to where there's work, and we trade seed."
Celestia paused and considered. She had an old promise to keep, and maybe these ponies would be the ones to make it work.
"I have a proposal for you, Mr. Smith," she said. "There's prime farmland waiting for settlement. I won't lie to you. It's not the safest country, being right on the edge of the Everfree Forest, but I think that for just the right ponies, it's a chance for land of their own and building a better life. What do you say, Mr. Smith?"
The stallion's eyes were now wider than dinner plates, but there was no denying the hunger in them. He glanced at his wife, who nodded. "Sounds interestin'. Are there any conditions to this offer, Yer Majesty?"
Celestia smiled as she heard the duke's indrawn breath. More than anything else, that question confirmed her first instinct that these were the right ponies.
"I have three conditions, Farmer Smith. The first is that you invite other pony pilgrim families to settle the area. After all, it takes more than one family to start a town."
The stallion nodded.
"The second is that, once the town is established, it will welcome all ponies that I send there, including pegasi and unicorns. It takes all type of ponies for a community to prosper."
Again, the stallion nodded.
"Good! The third is that you name this town Ponyville. That would make both me, and a dear old friend, very happy. Do you agree to this final condition as well?"
For the first time the earth pony smiled. He and his wife both nodded together.
"We agree. We ain't got nothin' fit to give a princess, Your Majesty, so all we can say is that we're mighty thankful, an' we'll do our very best to never letcha down."
"Then, Farmer Smith, I suggest you prepare your family for travel." Celestia bowed, then turned and led her delegation onwards to the next tent. Her ears were nevertheless pointing backwards, the better to eavesdrop on the consequences of her visit.
"Sugarcube, y'all better gallop on over to tha Apple's tent, and the Rich's an any o' the other Pilgrims you 'kin find. Meeting o' the families in our tent tonight," said Mr. Smith's voice.
"Yessir!" said the filly. "Hey pa!" she added. "The Princess called you Farmer Smith. That means we is all farmers now, don't it?"
"Well I recon it does, now, sugarcube. I recon it really does."
There was the sound of a filly's "Yee-haw!", then Celestia saw the filly in question gallop by, leaving a trail of dust in her wake.
As the duke led her to another tent he waved the dust out of his face and sneezed. Celestia grinned in satisfaction. This was turning out to be the best Canterlot Fair and Exhibition, ever!
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*clap* *clap* *clap* Wow, so it's finally complete huh? I'm so lost, I think im going to go reread it to catch up.
encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_n9r_8bplgTATP0pfRpgyp-lCWR3BBBgxwJKLIwmM2FyPlr3F Good job.
One criticism: When I read Celestia's offer to Angie, I thought she was being offered the position of Archmage as well as teacher, so I was a bit taken aback to see Celestia offering it to somepony else moments later. Upon rereading, I saw how I jumped to conclusions, but it seems to me like a very small jump indeed given Celestia's preceding comments.
3832755 Downloaded. It's now sitting among a dozen stellar fics on my Kindle Paperwhite. On a side note, I enjoyed Alone a lot, and it has indirectly inspired an as-yet unwritten short in my head.
3950815
Way cool! Let me know when you publish it!
Daf
I muchly enjoyed how you took the "amniomorphic spell" line, which was surely intended as nothing but magobabble in the show itself, and turned it into... *vague hoofwaving* all this.
TCB... although I've read a lot of Bureau stuff, particularly everything by Chatoyance because she can really write and worldbuild, I now feel like I'm over some kind of Bureau phase and don't plan on reading anything else in that universe (unless, of course, it looks like lots of fun - that's what happened in the case of Reneighssance Pony). So I suppose what I'm trying to say is, the TCB warning dissuaded me a bit, but I feel like the payoff was well worth persisting past the creep factor that TCB-cosmic-horror-Celestia gives me just by existing (and the fact that you diverged from Bureauness very quickly helped).
Aaaalso the "ma donna" line was too good to resist.
Aaaaaaalso cracked up at the apple/there'saspellforthat line.
4471437
Glad you liked it! I've done a sequel called This Quiet Earth that explores far more of the relation of between Earth and Equestria, technology and magic, and their mutual dependencies. It also feature Twilight Sparkle finally meeting Starswirl and being adorkable as usual.
4590148
Given the historic accuracy of stereotypes, I hope you'll give this story a chance based on its own merits. Plus, I'll be very happy to address any questions you have on this story, its plot, characters and their motivations.
I'm sorry, the story was well-written in style and description, but I couldn't help but think about all this happening because of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Plus the glaring fact that if humans are so prone to death due to thaumaturgical energy, the spell used on Leonardo in the beginning (that wasn't even invented yet, though it was shown that Celestia could transform into a human and back at will...) should have left him as a dead unicorn. It's a shame when a good storyline is defaced by contradicting info and events.
The descriptions and interactions were superb; you just need to work on your backstory and canon implementation so that future boo-boos like these are avoided.
Thanks for the nice words regarding my writing. I have received some criticism for being to sparing of words, and that might be the reason you missed the explanation in the story for the difference between Leonardo's conversion to Starswirl, and the mass conversion processed presented in the typical TCB storyline. The rational is presented in the chapters Relativity:
Leonardo's conversion was done on an already dying human body, so the deadly effect of magic on it was a moot point. Essentially Celestia created an entirely new physical body for him by merging some of her own matter with his, and using her own genome to do it. In essence he became a partial male clone of Celestia (which is also why I was very happy to see him depicted as having a white coat in the only image the show has provided for him!)
At various points in the story it's explained that this required a significant chunk of Celestia, so the conversion did to Leonardo would only work for a small number of people, and certainly not sufficiently to convert the entire population of the e earth. That is why Celestia gave him the task of figuring out how to do it in the first place.
As to Celestia's transformations, she is capable of doing the same type of shape shifting as the Changelings, which is very superficial and does not transform her nature (i.e. the matter of which she is composed) into terrestrial matter.
I'm sorry this didn't come out more clearly in the story. I'll consider doing an edit to make this point more evident. Thank you for the comment!
5326496
What's in a name? And who's to say from whence a muse's voice shall ply its whisper into eager ears?
Interesting story. I read it all and the only thing I did not like about it is Starswirl coming from earth, but that detail aside it was a nice read.
5353851
Thanks for the feedback!
Ah, ever it is thus in romance and more still so in shipping: life is like a box of candy, ya never know what yer gonna get, but you drool over it anyway...
Sorry for taking you for a ride, but daVinci's barn door did not swing both ways and when it did swing it was for gentlemen only. I didn't hide it in the first chapter, which is as accurate a representation of the last years of Leonardo's life as I could make it, down to the decore, people, architecture and physical grounds of the Château de Cloux.
I did feel sorry for Luna though. Especially since she is going to have (foreshadowing alert) "one of those centuries".
I think I had a nerdgasm, just at the description.
6782304
Let me know how you feel when he starts figuring out magic...
I feel like something happened to the description of this story? I don't think I would have read it if the only info I got from the description was the authors name... Is that intentional?
6805634
No it isn'! Thanks for the heads up!
7618571
I couldn't help catapulting him in.
7914604 TCB is The Conversion Bureau, it's basically an "I hate humans, lets all be ponies instead, then we'd be better" thing.
I avoid everything even slightly connected to it like a plague.
7915271 huh forgot all about that comment was funny to read it though ha ha
How ever i do suggest this story i cant remember much about it at the moment but i know i enjoyed the story.
7914604
TCB is The Conversion Bureau, based on a story by Blaze. The original story was basically an ecological disaster scenario where Equestria's universe converges with the Earth's, with magic being essentially toxic to humans. Together, humanity and ponies develop a rather radical solution: conversion serum that turns humans into ponies. Eventually the zone of convergence grows to encompass the entire planet Earth. The original story itself was somewhat preachy, and a portion of the FIMfiction community (like our friend 7914623 ) interpreted as anti-human, pro-pony, whereas others took it as a cautionary tale about the risks of environmental destruction. The usual reasonable arguments ensued!
However, a large number of readers (and writers) had another completely different take on TCB: it is a truly impressive vehicle for examining the issues of personal identity and what it truly means to be human. This is especially of interest to those who see this as an allegory to the coming issues of trans-humanism: what does it mean to be human when you'll be able to change/augment your body through either electromechanical or biological means. When you significantly deviate from the natural human body plan, are you still "human"? How will this effect your feelings, the way you think, how you relate to others, including natural humans?
A huge number of stories ensued, some of them based on the TCB, but taking the details (such as the motivations of both individual and groups of humans and ponies, their leaderships, etc) into directions that differed from the original story significantly. Most of these stories are blatantly humanist, such as my own - where Celestia is a fan of humanity and is essentially trying move Equestrian society closer to our own.
Nevertheless, the TCB haters insisted (as evidenced by our friend 7914623 ) that ALL TCB stories were anti-human and that pontification was essentially the death of the original human and therefore a form of genocide, no matter how the author of the story chose to portray it in their stories. The acrimony on these issues continued to grow, with both pro-TCB and anti-TCB groups participating in continual flame wars that eventually grew so toxic that the admins had to crack down on rather severely.
I don't presume to tell people what to think. My stories stand or fall on their own merits. I've used the TCB scenario where I felt it provided a useful context for the dramatic background of my stories. But in ALL my stories I celebrate the genius of mankind, which is pretty evident to anyone who has actually read them.
In the case of "Renaissance Pony" I try to explain why Equestrian society has so many parallels to human society and history. The answer is that Princess Celestia is a fan of humanity and is actively working to move Equestria's society in that direction. In the same way Luna is influencing artistic expression by linking human's dreams to ponies (that is explored a bit more in "This Quiet Earth"). Also in "Renaissance Pony", Leonardo is forced to examine the question of his own identity - is he really the same person when transformed into the pony Starswirl? A final major issues in RP is the transformation of magic from an arcane art into a science - the way it's presented by Twilight Sparkle in the show. This is what drove my choice of daVinci, one of the founders of Scientific Rationalism, to become Starswirl the Bearded.
7915271 , the reason Starswirl is gay in the story is that I tried to portray Leonardo daVinci as true to the historical man as possible. I did a huge amount of research on Leonardo's life, attitude, words, and relationships. He actually was homosexual, so I just worked it into the story. For the most part, my characters are heterosexual since that's the easiest for me to write from experience (heterosexual man in his fifties happily married to the same woman for over thirty years). My stories are PG anyway, so I leave my characters' sexual lives stay private!
Overall, I welcome feedback, and I hope you enjoy my stories for their content.
7916480
Ah, sound argument. But from a standing perspective on the difference between trans-humanism and TCB that I notice. In most TCB cases it wasn't just the physical body being altered, but the mind and instincts were being altered as well. One thing to point out is how do you tell the difference between a human pony(new foal) and the original? What if it was reversed if humans turned ponies into humans. Converting them physically, mentally, and instinctually into that of a human? Could you still call them ponies or would you call them humans. If you couldn't tell them apart?
It brings up a good question if a persons personality were to be altered radically with in a second. To the point the person answers to a different name, acts different in every way, and responds different. Are they still the same person? If so would it be ok to brainwash people to make them behave the way you want? Is it ok to mess with the mind to remove violence and make people complacent with their lives? Those are some extra questions that was ignored in the TCB.
The TCB was a bit like the Borg from star trek. A species that went around and converted others into itself. Altering not just their bodies, but their everything. It's an ingrained fear of being conquered by a superior species. In this case Radioactive creatures that kill just being in the presence of.
While the TCB had the plot of ecological disasters. It had an undercurrent of humans make the devil look like a saint. It kept hammering home all the evils of humanity, even after it mentioned humans had finally made peace. The original author even showed a bit of misanthrope in there comments, but tried to spin it. So a lot of people did latch onto that.
So the original along with the author kind of painted all TCB stories in a bad light. What could have been a great story was ruined by politics and opinion, by everyone even the author. The idea of getting rid of all the evil and only keeping the best of humanity kind of sounds wrong in away. It creates a moral conundrum. Like painting war as only a human byproduct, is a bit of a stretch. War while evil, is sometimes a necessary evil. It goes back to the quote evil rises if good does nothing. In this case some TCB's removed all aggression from humanity, even self-defense. Which is a bit evil. So the idea to solve evil with evil, thus makes it morally superior. Because it's your evil, is a bit of a high-horse issue. <-- Wonder if that counts as a pun.
Ponies have their own evil, several times a pony almost ended their own world. Ponies also showed to have some racism issue, and well. They have quite the same issues as would be expected of any sapient race. Even fighting wars themselves.
In Trans-humanism it isn't meant to be forced, and the innate human instincts are to remain. You are not changing one species into another. Instead trans-humanism is only one route of evolution for a species. Not a conversion into a species that already exist. But it doesn't remove your question. What constitutes as a human. Which is a great question. With what constitutes a pony? What makes to the two species different, similar, and what defines them?
Another point I found brought up in a discussion. Was why none of the scientist tried to find out why magic was dangerous to humans? It isn't the human form, the mind, or instincts. It was something more like genetics. So why not find an isolate the difference and use that?
edit: Meant to add The original TCB was a great horror story, before all the issues. Though I could ignore the slight humans are Cthulhu trope being beaten over my head and everyone arguing. It was a horror story in that humanity would go extinct do to an event out of their control. With Celestia trying to preserve their memory not their species. At least that's how I tried to see it. But with all the arguments ruining such great potential.
8535706
Thanks for responding after all this time! You raise some good points but I ask that you consider the following.
Different authors had radically different takes on the TCB and particularly on the motivations of its main protagonists because they were using that setting for different dramatic purposes and storytelling devices. As a consequence pretty much every multi-author setting (such as TCB) suffers (benefits from?) a degree of fragmentation as there is often no official "canon" to reign-in such deviations.
Also, as to the question of changing form affecting personality (particularly pertaining to the use of TCB as a way to explore the effects of transhumanism), I don't think this represents the "death" of the person undergoing the change. I present three arguments for this perspective:
1) It's equivalent to saying that people who have experienced a major life-changing event have in essence "died" and been replaced by someone else. Also, if changing a person's personality was equivalent to the death of the individual then any form of psychological or psychiatric therapy would be equivalent to murder!
2) There is a huge body of evidence that significant physical trauma (from disease, amputation, etc) can have a deep impact on personality. Again, this change doesn't mean that the original personality has died, but it certainly can cause major behavioral changes.
3) Change is an inevitable part of life -only the dead can't change! What is in the individual's control is how they react to that change. People are already having options to replace parts of their given physiology with either biological or technological substitutes, which will certainly impact how they think of themselves and how they react to the world around them - thus affecting their personality to a greater or lesser extent.
It's from this perspective that I used the TCB world to explore the impact of physical change on personality - and thus transhumanism. I'm aware others may read something different in my TCB stories, but for what it's worth, that was my intent.
A final note. Culture also has a major role to play in the perception, impact, and acceptance of physical changes on personality, something that I try to explore more deeply in "This Quiet Earth".
8535869
Didn't like how the first one came out.
"Times change and so must I.
We all change. When you think about it, we're all different people all through our lives and that's ok, that's good, just so long as you remember all the people you used to be." -steven moffat.
You still bring up a good argument. But I think it's how the change comes about. It can come from time, trauma, or an attempt to help. But in the case of some of those TCB it was more like forced brainwashing.
For your third argument I submit this. Spike is a dragon, nobody will argue that. Yet he was raised by ponies, taught by ponies, and cultured like ponies. Yet he is still considered a dragon and not a pony in a dragon body. So on one side it's the extinction of one species. So let's say spike and all the dragons were turned into ponies. Would they still be called dragons or ponies?
(Note in legend of Zelda hylians and geurdos are considered humans.)
So from a stand point humans are any species who are apart of the genus homo. All hominids are considered humans even Neanderthals and erectus. So there is that point that can be made for what defines a human. It's basically a species, where genus equestrian is a horse. So two different sub-groups of genus. Thus even with Transhumanism cybernetic or genetic enhanced people are still apart of the hominid family. Thus human by that definition.
Where as the conversion turns them into the Genus Equus which is a different group altogether.
Though it begs the question if the new foals have human DNA or if it's 100% pony. If it's a mix in DNA then that creates a new sub-species of genus Equus. Wonder how that would affect them it would sacrifice one species and one race, and create a new one.
Now metaphysically, what defines a human is more difficult. It's harder to grasp, because the whole human spirit argument. But how long would the human spirit hold out, before it became pony spirit in the TCB universe? Three maybe four generations before humans become myth and the new foals are just ponies? So from that stance I guess it would be how they identified themselves. Do the new foals consider themselves humans, do they refer to their existence as humanity? I didn't see much of that in the TCB universe. They just picked up the lexicon and referred to themselves as ponies. So from a metaphysical stand point I guess when they no longer consider themselves humans. They are no longer human would be the correct answer in that sense.
But the TCB still reminds me a lot of the Borg. When the Borg assimilates a human the person is no longer considered human unless rescued. Even then they still have Borg parts in them since not all of it can be removed. But they are considered human once more. Thus the question of are they human metaphysically may come down to how they identify in that sense. Definitely a horror story in my mind. Because the human species is no more and ponies get an upgrade or slave race, depending on the TCB story. As the Borg says, "We will add you biological and technological distinction to our own. Resistance is futile." Resistance was futile in some TCB stories. Seeing as how the species was going to die either way. TCB ponies are Cute, Cuddly, terrifying Borg.
I've read both these stories. Though I did read "this quite earth" first, this helped make some sense. Though the ending of "this quite earth" did confuse me. Was it about the AI or the other TCB. Left me with huh? 😄
8536105
The ending of This Quiet Earth shows the newfoal community that resulted from the McMurdo station humans (some of the last to convert) were basically pony shaped humans. Because of their isolation from Equestria far away from the Exponential lands, their culture has remained typically human - as demonstrated by the baseball game and Max's mother's reaction to seeing Discord and Starswirl.
However, I really don't like it when authors bang the reader over the head with their own conclusions, so I tend to write these things so people can make their own conclusions. You're not the first person to - rightly - call me out for the ambiguity!
(Addition to original post): It's a pity you read This Quiet Earth first as you would have been exposed to Starswirl's deep questions about his own identification as a human in Renaissance Pony. The funeral sequence in This Quiet Earth was essentially in reference to this personal issue, as well as his anguish over the extinction of humanity in the world of "This Quiet Earth".
8536130
I read that, but I can't help but think. He only behaves that way do to how he was raised. Similar to how spike is more level headed than most dragons. It made me wonder how the next generation that grew up around other ponies would behave. Also, weird as it maybe. Pony's did have a predator ancestor and some horses can eat a little meat. But you would think this version would be more predator than the equestrian ponies. But I digress they are now genus equus. Also since this is taking place in Leo's time in wouldn't surprise me that none not even Celestia thought of isolating why magic was poisonous to humans and fix that one problem. That technique was discovered after Leo's time. It's considered splicing.
You would also think magic storms are dangerous to any creature magical or no. Or maybe I'm forgetting something.
But one problem I did have speeding up technological discovery can be dangerous for a species. If they are not acclimated correctly first... But then again it would explain the need for hand holding.
8536273
Or hoof-holding, in this case.
It might have taken me a while to find this story, but I would say it was very much worth it.
9111263
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this story and the concept, I think that if Leonardo DaVinci was to come back to life, he would be flattered (if somewhat confused) at being a star in this story, of course, beyond that, I think that he would be fascinated at technology in general, but he would find the ideas of fanfiction to be curious (if not as interesting as the magic boxes that can transmit/store/show images (and moving images at that) near-instantaneously) . Don't know how he would feel about bronies, but horses were a big thing back then, particularly for well-bred young men (if I remember my high-school history classes correctly) so perhaps he would be okay with it. Anyways I repeat my earlier sentiment of well done and I look forward to reading the sequel.
9506749
Thanks for the feedback. DaVinci did have a love of horses, at least from an esthetic perspective as he lavished a lot of attention on horses in his sketches and sculptures. But above all was his love of knowledge, which I hope has come through in my portrayal of him.
9507131
I felt you captured his love for learning quite well. In any case, I like this version of Starswirl better than the canon version.
Coming back to this story after finishing a new game called "The House of DaVinci" I am respectfully inquiring if there'd be any way possible to get a physical copy of this story. It would be well worth it in my opinion.