So, what if the ponies were real, and were held in secret underground government facilities all around the world?

What would we do?

Would we find these secret facilities?

Would we free the ponies?

How would we free the ponies?

And if we do free the ponies, with very little casualties, where would we go to protect them?

I’d like to hear your answers.

Well I’ve thought roughly through similar situations before. Eventually some government agent or employee would slip up and someone would either find an access point to the files online or would actually let others know about it. A large part of the nation might not care but those who do would form a secret organization/rebellion, like XCOM but reverse. They would likely use abandoned military bases or secret facilities of their own. Once the ponies have been located and the necessary forces gathered, they would start launching rescue ops. They would bring the ponies to their bases and together they would either increase the number of their forces, use magic to make new advancements to help the effort, or both. Word would eventually become more public and more would rally to the cause resulting in 2 outcomes: a civil war breaks out or the project is stopped by the people and new places and laws are created for the ponies.

That is what I think would happen, Well, at least if everything went according to plan.

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Based on some of the most major countries:

U.S.
What would we do?
public outcry and mass protests

Would we find these secret facilities?
in like 20 years

Would we free the ponies?
after a lot of riots

How would we free the ponies?
riots and public protest

And if we do free the ponies, with very little casualties, where would we go to protect them?
they would be released after a hearing

China

What would we do?
Nothing.

Would we find these secret facilities?
No.

Would we free the ponies?
No.

How would we free the ponies?
You wouldn't.

And if we do free the ponies, with very little casualties, where would we go to protect them?
Nowhere.

100 riots brake out and are suppressed every day in China.

Russia

What would we do?
useless protests and maybe an armed insurgency in the middle of nowhere

Would we find these secret facilities?
probably, the government sucks at keeping secrets

Would we free the ponies?
probably not

How would we free the ponies?
It'd be hard with the FSB at its current strength

And if we do free the ponies, with very little casualties, where would we go to protect them?
Some village in Siberia, probably.

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Well I’ve thought roughly through similar situations before. Eventually some government agent or employee would slip up and someone would either find an access point to the files online or would actually let others know about it. A large part of the nation might not care but those who do would form a secret organization/rebellion, like XCOM but reverse.

Secret rebellions in large highly developed countries where the majority of the population doesn't care usually ends up with terrorism. (*cough cough Chechnya)

They would likely use abandoned military bases or secret facilities of their own.

Which would and could be easily discovered with modern satellites and tracking programs. As well as radio interception and GPS.

Once the ponies have been located and the necessary forces gathered, they would start launching rescue ops.

Which would probably be located and destroyed before they even reach the location, due to aforementioned modern satellite and tracking systems. Also secret government facilities tend to be protected by the military.

They would bring the ponies to their bases and together they would either increase the number of their forces, use magic to make new advancements to help the effort, or both.

That is, if the ponies are still alive/conscious/willing.

Word would eventually become more public and more would rally to the cause

And against it.

civil war breaks out or the project is stopped by the people and new places and laws are created for the ponies.

A civil war would be the the least likely outcome, but a segregation system would be most likely in the event of public outcry.

But hey, this is just me playing devils advocate.