//------------------------------// // The New Citizens // Story: Equestrian PSAs and Ad spots // by Gabriel LaVedier //------------------------------// An early evening bit of television enjoyment. It's the sort of time when lots of Equestrians are tuned in, for the dramas and comedies. Your own selection is one of the light, multi-species comedies, with the mix of absurdity and cerebral humor. As ever, the dysfunctionally functional characters have managed to move their lives forward, with a lot of errors and idiocy along the way. The credits conclude and sweep straight into the seals of the Royal Pony Sisters as the Ministry of Inter-Sentient Affairs. Then it shows the words, “An important message from the minister of Inter-Sentient Affairs.” The scene is a very nice office. The marble and gold in the background is very Canterlot, as are the touches that look like a modernized Equusian style. The only visible things are frosted glass windows, the top of a dark wood desk stacked with papers, and a fairly portly hippogriff. He has a serious look on his booted eagle face, but it still doesn't take away from his avuncular aura. Beneath him is the small blurb, Peppermint Pinfeather, Minister of Inter-Sentient Affairs. “Hello to you, united citizens of Equestria and to all outlying lands which this program can reach. As you are aware, in the past decade new sentient species have come to clearer and more direct light. I mean, of course, Diamond Dogs and Changelings. They have become very apparent in the minds of Equestrians, through media depiction and educational supplements to try and normalize their presence. “This is how it has always been, and indeed, the way it should be. What is the easiest way to make an utter stranger familiar? Normalizing them by making their presence ubiquitous. They appear all over, so there are no whispered mysteries and rumor-filled uncertainties. One can hardly hate a being with whom they are familiar. Like living among many different types of ponies makes disliking them all the harder, and makes it impossible to believe any strange or negative rumors. “Admirably, the attitudes have been changed, by and large. From complete ignorance of their existence, quickly through fear and derision and into acceptance. And hybridization. Marriages, crossbreeds, all the hallmarks of accepted citizens in a stable, peaceful and harmonious society. It warms the heart and fills the soul with joy and pleasure. “But still... there are pockets. Small pockets, true. But pockets of uncertainty, even backward-thinking revulsion and mistrust. This is a true tragedy. A terrible thing to happen in a wonderful place such as Equestria. But there is no denying it. It becomes our duty, as members of a ministry designed to eliminate conflicts and ensure peace and harmony, to change those negative minds. Some minds will never change, such as Randomoids. But I like to believe the best out of all sentient species. That we all can learn to love and accept all our citizens and all new species. “I don't expect anyone to simply roll over and do as I say. I want you to see that, yes, it is entirely possible for these new species to become well-integrated and stable members of our society. You will see, perhaps, a familiar face, and also a very secret figure, given government dispensation to speak. For the good of the Principality, some secrets can be waived. “I am Peppermint Pinfeather, Minister of Inter-Sentient Affairs, and I thank you for listening.” The scene cuts to an interior space, a very bright interior space. Eggshell white walls in a place that gets lots of sunlight. It looks really nice, a nicely appointed upper middle class or even lower upper class home space, either an apartment or a house. The view from out of the numerous windows looks like Canterlot, obviously in a nice terrace. The furniture looks very nice, the collection of couches, shelves and electronics appropriate for a family. The camera comes around to the overstuffed chair, the kind that can seat two, if they cuddle up nice and close. At present it houses only one occupant, a female Changeling, lounging comfortably on her belly. She regards the camera with a slight smile, and flutters her blue eyes. “Hello there. My name is Marianne. Marianne Crash. I realize the last time I was asked to make one of these I left off my married name. It's strange, because I'm proud of that, as proud as I am of my beautiful Ponylings. But some things are just distracting. Exciting, in a way. For some poor worker, who never knew much more than basic education and a certain, repetitive future, all of this government activity is very unusual and unexpected. “As a worker I was only ever expected to harvest love, and return. I had no aspirations. None were ever seen as realistic. I could never breed, ever. I was restricted, under pain of death. But I wanted it. I wanted it so badly. It was a drive in me, which I pushed down and away. It was a distraction to my mission. A mission that failed. And I am ever so grateful to Princess Cadence and her husband for making it fail. “I was captured immediately afterward, the only one still inside of the palace. It was just a fluke of location. I hit a wall and didn't slide off to a window or door like the others. The captured me, chained me and threw me in the dungeon after a speech by Celestia about invasion and love. It was... oddly touching. She acted like an upset parent, disappointed in a wayward child. I learned about that in my lessons about how pony culture works. But I had never known a parent that cared enough to be that upset. Our lives were hard, and very unkind. It is no wonder we cannot make our own love there. But here, in Equestia, there is love everywhere. It is so wonderful, spilling over and permeating every inch. “With my capture, you learned about us. With our defeat, we learned about you. This power in love and togetherness. So much stronger and more wonderful than the power of a swarm. As you later found, almost all of us snuck back to your lands, to surrender to you. When your enemies are defeated they become your friends. There is peace and plenty here, food for our stomachs and love for the organ that has not been given an official name yet. The second stomach. And love does not go away when it is given. It grows. As long as we have peace, we will never want for love. “Grows... your scientists were so interested when my love combined with my guard's love and created our first twins. I went from anonymous captive, to strange celebrity. An... oddity, I suppose. The looks I got hurt so badly. The looks my husband got were worse. He was so strong... we never let it affect us. We lived under scrutiny, to make sure there wouldn't be any harm to me and that our children would be born fertile. And I found out later that doctors had advised not trying to breed with Changelings before the results came in. Equestria held its breath for us. Because you are, in the end, a place of love, and forgiveness. “No matter how we look, when we do not look like you, we were accepted. We should be very welcome. We nurture love, support society and stable communities. Love is so much more abundant when there is peace and plenty. It is in our interest to be empathetic and to keep the nation strong. We are model citizens, because we know it is best that this land remain strong. Now that we know what real love is, we never want anything else. Now that we know that kindness is greater than fear, and freedom better than rigid obedience, we want only the same thing as all of you. We want to be here, in peace. “Please... anyone out there that still does not like or trust us... look to your neighbors, your friends, the government. They won. The swarm was utterly defeated. Any forgiveness should speak well of us. And all we want is to be invisible in our own chitin. We want to melt into the background, no more special than a donkey or a griffin. Or even no more noticeable than a pegasus or unicorn might be to an earth pony. So integrated, so normal, we vanish while being here. Surely, that is not too much? “Again, I am Marianne Crash. Wife, mother, homebody 'ling, and for the period of my pregnancy, political symbol. Today, at the behest of the government, I was the face and voice of Changelings of Equestria. Thank you for listening.” The scene changes very abruptly, from the bright Canterlot home to a dark forest. The professional craft of lighting does what it can, but only so much can be done with an off-screen fire shining on a scene in a deep forest at night. Even night vision filters only go so far, but it is sufficient. What it shows is a Diamond Dog, a female. She is a member of one of the middle-sized breeds, the kind whose male version lacks jowls. She wears light amounts of makeup, enough to enhance her lashes and sallow eyes, and give her lips some definition. On her upper body is a collar with a green gem, as well as a bark brown cloak, while on her lower body is a pair of brown trousers. Affixed to her cloak is a large, silver badge in the shape of a crescent moon, as well as several medals, including a large eight-pointed silver star with a diamond crescent moon in the center of it. She is standing up straight and proud, a proper constable stance. She throws her right hand across her chest in a standard salute and lifts her head slightly towards the camera. When she speaks her voice is a high-toned, raspy kind associated with Diamond Dogs, “Hello Equestria. Name is Emerald Facet. Constable Emerald Facet of Nightwatch. I am married to strong, handsome pony, also Constable. We have many beautiful, strong puppies. Diamond Ponies cared for in nearest town. Am proud to be with my handsome pony, and proud to be in Equestria. “I protect Equestria, from dangerous things. Could be digging. Parents would like me to dig. Bah! More to life than digging. No matter! Do many secret things. Must work in dark, keep close to others, fight dangerous things. Earned medals for being strong Dog. Cannot tell things I did. Most proud of biggest; husband admitted he loved me when I got it. Helped Equestria much AND got my pony. Is memory of happy time. “Know that some ponies do not like Diamond Dogs. Very few, yes. Very, very few. Is good, says good things about land. Do not get bad looks when I am with husband, ponies say nice things about puppies. Understand why some do not trust. Dogs are very new and did not start out friends. Things were very hard. Had to learn more, change some, show we are friendly. “Dogs joined schools, taught about gems, showed how society worked. Taught ponies many things, learned things too. Changed how were organized, became United Colonies and brought in technology to be better. Let ponies and others live in colonies if they wish, made cities on surface, and went to live with ponies. Worked with you, learned with you, loved you. “Now we are here, working hard, your neighbors and part of families. Not enemies, not strangers. Part of Equestria. And many Dogs like me. Work as Constables. Prove we are brave and strong, and protect country from real bad things. If country is strong, we are strong. Can keep having nice things, can have peace, and those like me can protect pony families. We are stronger as family. Protect more, care more, do more. Would do anything to protect my puppies and my husband. Will do anything to protect you. You are family now. This my home now too. “Not have to trust me, not have to believe me. I know some will not. But please remember, Dogs are here now, and want to help you. Know I will be loyal to Equestria, for husband and puppies. Thank you for listening. I am Constable Emerald Facet. Will protect you from things in the night. Thank you.” The screen cuts to the seals seen at the beginning of the spot, with a voice saying, “This has been an important message from the Ministry of Inter-Sentient Affairs, prepared under the auspices of and with full personal approval by the Royal Pony Sisters.