Wow, an actual walled ghetto. These comparisons get darker and darker don't they. Not that it wasn't already implied. Comparisons with Belfry's upbringing seem imminent, and everyone but Twilight and the youngest who don't know any better see what's going on.
Oh Twilight knows what's going on, she just doesn't see it as any kind of problem. What's insidious to them isn't to her as she had a very sheltered life and is in such a position as to see Celestia as unable to do wrong.
It's more that Twilight was like many and completely ignorant to the problem and now that she's facing it, even after being told straight to her face by the grandmother, is still trying to deny it. She is seeing though now.
Y'know, a thought came to me earlier today, and it's easiest, nastiest way to either permanently shut Twilight Sparkle up or force her to acknowledge her hypocrisy. Because there's an even rarer, more important kind of pony than bicorns: alicorns.
The population of alicorns is so low, that they're technically extinct. And that's terrible, because alicorns have super magic pertaining to hugely important things. Worse still, we know for a fact that they cannot be subjected to prolonged stress, because there's always the possibility of them going insane and, say, try to exterminate all life by ushering in eternal night. Or one of them getting mind-whammied by someone. Or get sociopathic like Celestia, because why the hell else would she risk ruining the lives of all Twilight’s friends on the off chance that finishing a mystery spell would, for some reason, cause spontaneous alicorn-syndrome.
All the rationale that applies to bicorns applies even more so to alicorns. For the good of her race and ponies as a whole, Twilight needs to relinquish her authority, give up her research and stop risking the world by trying to save it.
Oh, and when her brother proves that alicorns are genetically viable with normal ponies? She needs to start raising her tail. For the greater good.
Also, that grandmother is awesome. Someone get her a beer, she's earned it.
Please please oh please don't leave us hanging there too long! There so many things building up nicely, it is going to be fantastic!
The dynamics beetween the thestrals and the two bicorns are really shaping up nicely. And Bronze Chainmail is actually fading in the background, Attention Span is surprisingly gived some sort of character devellopment. A nice touch. Pierre's letter to Pinkie was perfect. While Edward is the perceptive one that always find new useful info and toss lazer piercing question left and rigth, Pierre actually better at dealing with more emotionnal stuff and his strike can be just as efficient if not more then Edward's. I'll say it again, the two main characters copliment each other nicely.
The reserve part is really the core of this chapter and boy was it great! From the very poignant description, to Fortune's relationship with Pierre to the whole scene with the herd... There will be much to think about at this point.
Final word before the exit:
“The better question is what went through his mind when I finished.”
He was thinking of baseball obviously; sports, bat, ball... perfectly innocent, rigth? Okay, I'm out of here now.
It great to see more of this great story again, it was well worth the wait. So we finally get to see the reserve of the Bicorns, I always enjoy a good world building and, I am sure there will be more exploration of the reserve in the next chapter or so. I had been wandering what would be what it would be like. I was honestly expecting it to be something like the living condition of that communist country that had forced/pressured it population to have as many children as possible, I can’t remember the name anymore I think it was. I was great to see Fortune again and that Pierre sill seem to be interred in her and that it is mutual. The scene with the family was nice too. I wander what is the issue with the Theastrals and what way they are marginalized by the rest of Equestria and for what reasons (Nightmare Moon I am guessing), and why their prospects seem so dim for them compared to the Bicorn who seem to coddled to the point of not being allowed to work for themselves. I wander if their two causes could be joined together, despite the different in living standards; I wouldn’t be surprised that there would be a lot contention on that issue. I hope we get to see the Theastrals living conditions in this story to and not just focus on the Bicorns and broadening the issue to Equestria.
At least it would make Pierre and Edward look like such whiners all the time. Edward seems to have had a field day with confronted the guards and Twilight of the reality of the Bicorns situations of the consequences of the pressure having large families. I wander how big the kitchen must be to be able to host over twenty ponies in a house, I can would image that possible if there food prepared in advance, you would have a hard time with the limited space of a house hold unless every one pitches in including the foals spread throughout the household.
Still, don’t feel the where the pressure come for them to have more foals or why they accept this lifestyle even after several generations of that. The Church has always sought to control family through the mothers sense they are the ones how educate the children’s in the first years of life. I would guess that they somehow want to follow Celestia’s wishes to perpetual, sense her opinions seems to have a heavy influence in ponies live, and she could the equivalent to God to them as a near divine figure.
I wander how the schools work in those sanctuaries, and how their curriculum for the foals might differ greatly. I wander if their education is intestinally limited to them so that their avenues of job carries or to never question the established order of the community. I am also guessing that the foal are condoned to be dependent of the system and to always be grateful for what they are given to the and never ask for more. I wouldn’t be surprised that they are taught of how precarious the continuation of their tribe/culture and they are instilled with the responsibility of perpetuating the system. I could draw a minor parallel to our own culture but I don’t feel that it is the same here as I
I wander what they do to prevent them from wanting to be curious about other ponies or wanting to go outside of the reserves. I also wander what they do if entire families of Bicorns decides to visit another reserve at the same time; it must be a logical nightmare to deal with unless they have special transports just those kinds of occasions. I am guessing that movement of the Bicorns are probably severely restricted, I wander what they have to do to be allowed to leave the place, even if it is for another reserve, if at all, other than part of the breading program. I also wander if they have their have a holidays of their own and what sort of activity it they do.
I wander what do the regular ponies that live or maybe just rather sell produces to the bicorns, think of the bicorns or how their dealing go with them.
I suspect that the sixteen year old bicorn might have committed suicide because he couldn’t live the life that he wanted or couldn’t be with how he wanted. All doe I wouldn’t be surprised that that they in actuality a several young Bicorns that tried to leave or wanted to do something else with their live but where gilt or shamed into conforming.
Still, I wander what most Bicorns do most of the day they must had something to do other them just taking care of foal no matter how busy they are with it so many foals they have to have something meaningful to do with their lives.
I wander if the Bicorns have their own consul in the internal governance of the reserve, and how does it work, or everything is administrated by from the outside ponies, that don’t really interact with them in general that are very disconnected from the population, making the Bicorns seem more like statistics rather the individuals, which might explain in part why the Bicorns are intestinally marginalized by the government and treating them like “breading animals”. I would believe that self-governances of the Bicorns will be an important part of their future emancipation, assuming that that they don’t become corrupt or art won over with bribes from the Equestrians.
I was mention in earlier chapter that they are individuals that seem to keep bicorn because of the good fortune the apparently bring, I wander if we will get to see some instances of that in the story later on.
I wander if the “Unlucky” condition mainly affects male Bicorns, that might explain that what they have herds, or at least more frequent then what it seems in in Ponyville and the show. I also wander the breading program is not just made to make sure of compatibility between Bicorns but also make sure that there isn’t any inbreeding between then. If it is the case they have to keep a tight control on the population’s growth because of how low the population might have been at one point, and the gene pool might be critically shallow for them because of the lack of genetic diversity. If it is the case, then it would mean that the bicorn population is in dire need of new blood and that would make Pierre and Edward even more valuable them most because of the of the robustness of their genetics compared to the average mail bicorn. To my knowledge, the absolute limit of a population to maintain genetic diversity is about ten thousands individuals, otherwise they will become vulnerable to genetic diseases crop up in later generations.
This is about all that I can think of the chapter so far. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter will hold next.
Hello bicorns....It's been awhile. I hope you brought something cool to the story. *Finishes chapter* Well....only one word I can think of to describe the amount of excitement and fulfillment that I got from all of that.
7892173 genetic disease is the one thing bicorns have no statistical fear of, thanks to the luck trait. however, imagine the number of genetic malfunctions and unluck bicorn would be born with...
Ah yes, welcome to your state-sanctioned population center. Have a gander at all the wonderful sights, such as [FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER] and [MANDATORY ENTERTAINMENT], maybe even peruse the local information repository containing multitudes of [STATE-APPROVED LITERATURE]! But don't take too long, lest you violate the [ENFORCED CURFEW], so make sure you head home to your family and help [STRENGTHEN THE STATE]. Remember, [THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD], and [GLORY TO THE SUPREME LEADER]
Communist undertones aside, I'm really loving this. Can't wait until everything crashes and burns, like a good train-wreck.
7892308 Yes, and their luck it had done a marvelous job to keep them from being entrapped into reserves and being dependent on the state to to provide them with their every needs.
Suicides and blank flanks. A ghetto. Negativity instantly censored when the bivorns of normal ponies. Oh, and the elder who doesn't give a buck anymore. Thestrals.
Didn't see anything but the autocenser coming.
The suicides balance the population problem out easily.
The lack of cutie marks, but with proof of the possibility is horrifying, given the implications of cutie mark loss, or just being so restricted they can't find it. Lets hope the CMC never learn about this. They might launch a ... Crusade.
The thestrals being mistreated makes for an interesting part, especially since the MC's are of the go lack said prejudice.
The ghetto. The contrast with ponyville, like cutie marks, is disturbing. Whatever causes the serious artistic construction is lacking there. It honestly feels way too much like a mirror of one of the misanthropic views of earth.
7892004 hmm. Given when this story started, and lack of Mention of Tirek by the MC's, I don't know if that is valid. Pretty sure Flurry Heart didn't exist at this point, nor any implication of alicorn foals. Still amusing turnaround idea.
7893082 , but it is being used as a friendly insult and is not intended to technically correct.
-----
The lack of cutie marks is the most telling part of the situation. Whether just an indication of their skills, a representation of their souls, or a power amplifier, that so many adults missing them has implications.
Given Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome, and the concepts of Cutie Fracture(damaged mark permanently disabling talent) and Cutie Shift (marks changing) it is a huge part of a point's psychology.
That most bicorns fail to manifest CM implies that the restrictions are severe enough that most bicorns are unable to gain enough enthusiasm for a skill to both become really good at it and love it.
Asking Twilight about how her life would have been if she had been forbidden from using magic and reading, presumably because it was too dangerous.
Or, for at matter point out what would have happened if the poison joke was perminent, given directly attacked their talent.
At this point I suspect that Unlucky Horn disease is a bull made up to explain low birth to death ratio despite massive families, thus to cover up high suicide rate among bicorns. Maybe "Unlucky Horn" is just a codename for bicorn's suicide?
The lack of cutie marks is the most telling part of the situation. Whether just an indication of their skills, a representation of their souls, or a power amplifier, that so many adults missing them has implications. Given Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome, and the concepts of Cutie Fracture(damaged mark permanently disabling talent) and Cutie Shift (marks changing) it is a huge part of a point's psychology. That most bicorns fail to manifest CM implies that the restrictions are severe enough that most bicorns are unable to gain enough enthusiasm for a skill to both become really good at it and love it. Asking Twilight about how her life would have been if she had been forbidden from using magic and reading, presumably because it was too dangerous. Or, for at matter point out what would have happened if the poison joke was perminent, given directly attacked their talent.
I don't find this relevant to what I commented, unless were talking about really, really loose terms. Also, yeah, getting pregnant 24/7 kinda prohobits most work that you could do, unless were talking about stallions.
7891762 Twilight needs to meet bicorns that actually lived the life she wants to force on Ed and Pierre. Also, thank you, hope the squee didn't hurt your throat or anything.
7891814 Equestrians prefer the term "reserve". "Ghettos" has such... unfriendly implications...
Okay, I'll stop now. But yes, we will get into Belfry's and Steel's upbringing, though the next one might actually focus more on Fortune and family's. We are in one ofthe biggest reserves after all.
7891956 Cynical grandma is best new character! I mean, even the dogma wears off eventually. Twilight's in for a rude awakening. It won't be gentle.
7891996 It's funny, but I'm in England right now, and I have met so few people that could pull of Ed's deadpan snark. I have met some though. Quite impressive, sometimes.
A quick precision though, which I think has been mentioned somewhere here, this started as alternate season 4. I know, so far back. So Tirek kinda didn't happen or did in a completely different way in this universe. We haven't really focused on it, we have our own timeline anyway. So, Flurry Heart? Yeah, that is non-canon for our story. Who knows if alicorns can get pregnant or not?
Also, Fortune's grandma deserves a beer and then some, but do you really think anypony will give her one? If you recall, Pierre got weird looks for daring to take a cup of alcoholic punch at his own party.
7892027 Thank you. we're now throwing the characters in the melting pot of tensions.
Pierre and Edward were designed to be complementary. They make a strong team, but they can barely stand one another (though they also can't stay away from one another,too much fun).
We are also trying to put a bit more focus on the bats now, because of course, their issues are important. We are doing a lot more social commentaries than we had imagined in the beginning. Darn trying to make them justice now.
As for what Pierre was thinking about, right on point. He was definitely thinking of a strenuous physical activity that involved a bat, balls, scoring, receivers, nine rounds, hat tricks. You might just be Sherlock's reincarnation, sir!
7892143 We do not appreciate your tone of shocked awe and delight, reader. Or do we...?
7892173 Okay, oh boy, lots of questions today, huh? Alright, quick answers: thestrals are going to be explored, though not immediately. I could say the same for the kitchen and the dining room. I mean, it's big, and I would say they probably go at it in rotations, like two adults and maybe six-seven kids at the long table, while the other kids wait/play, then the second group gets to eat at the table. Reminds me of my family reunions at my grandma's home. We did three or four rounds this way.
Pressure is cultural, yes. Comes from the education they receive, of course. There is however also some monetary elements. Larger families get larger checks. Families that don't have foals frequently start to receive a bit less. Not entirely sure if we are going to take a look at the education system within the reserves. There could be some of that next chapter, but that detail is a bit hazy.
As you said, moving the families are logistical nightmares. As such, it doesn't happen a lot. It's also pretty damn expensive to buy tickets for that many ponies at once. Paperwork is involved to justify getting out of the reserves, or doing anything of note really. The Chiefs often have to read through a lot of it to try and sort some of the troubles/genuine requests/important changes. I don't want to get too deep in the politics of it yet though, save that for a later chapter.
Important notion: there are tons of rumours about magic in-universe. Bicorns are not exempt of this, and the less credible the source, the less likely that the rumour is true. Some critter that hears of bicorns in hearsay might think that they grant some sort of luck, but their magic is not exactly that. Remember, part of Pinkie's Pinkie Sense is bicorn magic.
As for the article's teenager, in this particular case? ...you'll get it next chapter, I think.
We haven't really established if the disease strikes more males than females. We just go with the idea of a slightly skewed number of both genders. Also, ancient tradition, less common nowadays, but more or less kept alive in reserves for the sake of the species' continued survival. And yes, the breeding program does do a lot to try and avoid inbreeding, but one of the problems is that ponies' understanding of genetics were flawed for some time before they finally got it. As for the genetic disease that crops up... well, one's been named dropped since the earlier chapters: Unluck Horn. It is genetic.
7892272 That would be quite the lucky instance, I'd say.
7892308 Actually... genetic diseases are one of the reason for the necessity of the breeding program offering suitable partners as opposed to letting ponies just choose whomever they want. The Unluck Horn disease affects both the magical and immune systems of a bicorn, develops in the later years of puberty generally. Sometimes a little earlier.
7892316 EXCUSE YOU! Not only do the bicorns not have a curfew, but they also are not required to pay hommage to glorious sun-queen! They do that on their own, thank you very much!
The lack of cutie marks, but with proof of the possibility is horrifying, given the implications of cutie mark loss, or just being so restricted they can't find it. Lets hope the CMC never learn about this. They might launch a ... Crusade.
More the latter actually. Ponies can't really lose their cutie marks, but they can fail to ever realize what is their true special talent/destiny if they are not being given a chance. Hard to imagine how a firefighter bicorn would ever get the opportunity to develop their cutie mark.
Also, yes, as you said, alternate version of season four is the timeline. No alicorn baby so far.
7893082 Honestly? Ed just doesn't care. He's trying to rile Pierre up as per their friendly hatred. If it sounds worse, it's gonna be said. They both know what he means anyway. Also, ranakastrasz's reply to you was only the first line of his comment, I think. There is a line separating this from what you quoted.
7893136 Nope. Sorry to disappoint, but the disease is real. The population is inbred to a certain degree and that brought forth that disease which would have been relatively obscure otherwise. There is a unicorn variant of it, by the way, but most ponies in Equestria don't even know that.
Thats below the separation line. Only the top bit was a response to you.
I try to avoid posting twice in a row. ---------- 7893463 I believer that multiple cutie marks are possible for each pony depending on what happens. The trigger seems to be an epiphany when they display skill and enthusiasm in the talent's domain.
Comment posted by Ranakastrasz deleted Jan 24th, 2017
7893463 Bicorn luck looks more like lesser precognition. From the avoidance of dangers without noticing it is apparently subconscious.
Unlike the effects of Felix Felicia(luck potion, although it reads like a guided precognition effect, like a short term path victory) it seems umguided, just avoiding dangerous situations by minor alterations to the bicorns actions. In more extreme situations, the compulsion is blatent, like the collapsing in the castle. It seems entirely focused on survival, short term, and from a genetic standpoint, probably reproduction as well.
The dreams, visions, and prophecies are more like a separate ability which only links in due to it being precognitive. It is rarer, far reaching, and always blatant. It has no compulsion either.
7893463 Mmm, yeah, I gathered as much. Still, the lack of Flurry heart would just make it even more imperative to keep the alicorns under lock and key, since insofar as things stand they only come about is through... shrug of god? And the lack of evidence of whether Alicorns can be bred just makes the hypocrisy all the worse, as it means nobody's even entertained the notion of subjecting the likes of Celestia to the same "help" they offer to bicorns.
I would say they probably go at it in rotations, like two adults and maybe six-seven kids at the long table, while the other kids wait/play, then the second group gets to eat at the table.
Yeah I I remember that with my own family at my grandparents.
There is however also some monetary elements. Larger families get larger checks.
Yes, that would make a good intensives to have more foals, I suppose that the difference the allowances. I have heard of some welfare families have done the same to get a larger welfare checks, and I am aware of that communist dictatorship use that system to pressure families to have more children do get more food rations or even be penalized if they don't maintain the the growth.
I am still curious to know how the communities are govern on the internal level.
7893656 Considering Alicorns seem to possess some level of longevity and are the ruling class, it really shouldn't be surprising that no one says anything. By your own logic, should they not be asking the same of Discord or Tirek? They are a nearly extinct race, at least as far as we know...
Love the chapter, quite a few interesting characters introduced, my favorites being Faith and the grandmother.
Faith because she is what the system tries to mold them to be, promiscuous and eager to serve her pony overlords. Reminds me of how the cows are treated in the show, and makes me wonder if Celestia is trying to do the same thing to the Bicorns. Though cows are intelligent creatures in the show too... makes me wonder what happens to other species that try to make a life in "The number one power in the world"
The grandma however is a funny as hell character that made me laugh at the contrast to Faith. She's bitter, sarcastic and sees the system for what it is. It's also apparent that she loves her family, but hates that they're stuck doing something that they don't love, evidenced by lack of Marks.
Keep up the writing, it's always quite a lot of fun to see the interactions you make
Poor Pierre, can you defy destiny? Deny all you want, but you're falling! Edward will be wearing the most saddened poop-eating grin when this is all over... Keep going! ;)
“For daring not to want to live in Ponyville, no less,” drawled Ed.
You ran headfirst into the Everfree forest, and almost got killed because of that. That's not exactly a nice, peaceful bus ride to Vanhoover.
Well, that was some lovely exposition. They finally get to see the bicorns all banished to the pony equivalent to The Projects. I honestly don't know what Twilight thinks she is going to accomplish in doing this, but hopefully it will give Edward a chance to find out more information. Not so sure Pierre is going to be much help. He's in the troublesome situation of having found a perfectly nice, compatible girl, and having to reject her on principles alone. It's one thing when they try to force you to breed with random people, but when Twilight is actually damn good at finding someone Pierre will be attracted to, he's not going to get out of that one easily.
This story is simply amazing. Glorious. I have read it with bated breath and aching heart. I couldn't go sleep until I finish it. IT IS THAT GREAT. THIS STORY NEEDS MORE RECOGNITION. I love these kind of story. Freedom vs Harmony, idylic lifes of ponies as a ilision of bigotry and/or salvery and/or other stuff.
Do you have maybe some recomendations that are similiar to yours?
Has Pierre and Edward been screened? The Foals seem to think it's a great big thing and are raised to think that having kids help Equestria. Why do they assume life outside Equestria is terrible? Twilight's first thought was an overlord or dictator. IN the reserves, they are so tightly controlled that they've forgotten about freedom. What happens when a Bicorn has a vision?
A ghetto dressed up as a gated community, a population so used to, and indoctrinated that such a life is truly a godsend. They see Pierre and Edward's lives as some sort of story to how hellish it can be outside their "safe" community.
This story might inspire me to make a shelf of stories labeled "Things that make me go squee when the update".
We need more of the grandmother. She seems to be key into shattering Twilight's perception.
Wow, an actual walled ghetto. These comparisons get darker and darker don't they. Not that it wasn't already implied. Comparisons with Belfry's upbringing seem imminent, and everyone but Twilight and the youngest who don't know any better see what's going on.
7891814
Oh Twilight knows what's going on, she just doesn't see it as any kind of problem. What's insidious to them isn't to her as she had a very sheltered life and is in such a position as to see Celestia as unable to do wrong.
7891814
7891992
It's more that Twilight was like many and completely ignorant to the problem and now that she's facing it, even after being told straight to her face by the grandmother, is still trying to deny it. She is seeing though now.
Another great chapter. Ahh how I see so much of that sarcastic fuck attitude Edward has in myself.
Perks of being British I suppose.
Y'know, a thought came to me earlier today, and it's easiest, nastiest way to either permanently shut Twilight Sparkle up or force her to acknowledge her hypocrisy. Because there's an even rarer, more important kind of pony than bicorns: alicorns.
The population of alicorns is so low, that they're technically extinct. And that's terrible, because alicorns have super magic pertaining to hugely important things. Worse still, we know for a fact that they cannot be subjected to prolonged stress, because there's always the possibility of them going insane and, say, try to exterminate all life by ushering in eternal night. Or one of them getting mind-whammied by someone. Or get sociopathic like Celestia, because why the hell else would she risk ruining the lives of all Twilight’s friends on the off chance that finishing a mystery spell would, for some reason, cause spontaneous alicorn-syndrome.
All the rationale that applies to bicorns applies even more so to alicorns. For the good of her race and ponies as a whole, Twilight needs to relinquish her authority, give up her research and stop risking the world by trying to save it.
Oh, and when her brother proves that alicorns are genetically viable with normal ponies? She needs to start raising her tail. For the greater good.
Also, that grandmother is awesome. Someone get her a beer, she's earned it.
7891995
It's what I said, just in a more to the point manner. I do tend to waffle on a bit too much.
Please please oh please don't leave us hanging there too long! There so many things building up nicely, it is going to be fantastic!
The dynamics beetween the thestrals and the two bicorns are really shaping up nicely. And Bronze Chainmail is actually fading in the background, Attention Span is surprisingly gived some sort of character devellopment. A nice touch.
Pierre's letter to Pinkie was perfect. While Edward is the perceptive one that always find new useful info and toss lazer piercing question left and rigth, Pierre actually better at dealing with more emotionnal stuff and his strike can be just as efficient if not more then Edward's.
I'll say it again, the two main characters copliment each other nicely.
The reserve part is really the core of this chapter and boy was it great! From the very poignant description, to Fortune's relationship with Pierre to the whole scene with the herd...
There will be much to think about at this point.
Final word before the exit:
He was thinking of baseball obviously; sports, bat, ball... perfectly innocent, rigth?
Okay, I'm out of here now.
BY THE GODS!
AN UPDATE!![:pinkiegasp:](https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/pinkiegasp.png)
It great to see more of this great story again, it was well worth the wait. So we finally get to see the reserve of the Bicorns, I always enjoy a good world building and, I am sure there will be more exploration of the reserve in the next chapter or so. I had been wandering what would be what it would be like. I was honestly expecting it to be something like the living condition of that communist country that had forced/pressured it population to have as many children as possible, I can’t remember the name anymore I think it was. I was great to see Fortune again and that Pierre sill seem to be interred in her and that it is mutual. The scene with the family was nice too. I wander what is the issue with the Theastrals and what way they are marginalized by the rest of Equestria and for what reasons (Nightmare Moon I am guessing), and why their prospects seem so dim for them compared to the Bicorn who seem to coddled to the point of not being allowed to work for themselves. I wander if their two causes could be joined together, despite the different in living standards; I wouldn’t be surprised that there would be a lot contention on that issue. I hope we get to see the Theastrals living conditions in this story to and not just focus on the Bicorns and broadening the issue to Equestria.
At least it would make Pierre and Edward look like such whiners all the time. Edward seems to have had a field day with confronted the guards and Twilight of the reality of the Bicorns situations of the consequences of the pressure having large families. I wander how big the kitchen must be to be able to host over twenty ponies in a house, I can would image that possible if there food prepared in advance, you would have a hard time with the limited space of a house hold unless every one pitches in including the foals spread throughout the household.
Still, don’t feel the where the pressure come for them to have more foals or why they accept this lifestyle even after several generations of that. The Church has always sought to control family through the mothers sense they are the ones how educate the children’s in the first years of life. I would guess that they somehow want to follow Celestia’s wishes to perpetual, sense her opinions seems to have a heavy influence in ponies live, and she could the equivalent to God to them as a near divine figure.
I wander how the schools work in those sanctuaries, and how their curriculum for the foals might differ greatly. I wander if their education is intestinally limited to them so that their avenues of job carries or to never question the established order of the community. I am also guessing that the foal are condoned to be dependent of the system and to always be grateful for what they are given to the and never ask for more. I wouldn’t be surprised that they are taught of how precarious the continuation of their tribe/culture and they are instilled with the responsibility of perpetuating the system. I could draw a minor parallel to our own culture but I don’t feel that it is the same here as I
I wander what they do to prevent them from wanting to be curious about other ponies or wanting to go outside of the reserves. I also wander what they do if entire families of Bicorns decides to visit another reserve at the same time; it must be a logical nightmare to deal with unless they have special transports just those kinds of occasions. I am guessing that movement of the Bicorns are probably severely restricted, I wander what they have to do to be allowed to leave the place, even if it is for another reserve, if at all, other than part of the breading program. I also wander if they have their have a holidays of their own and what sort of activity it they do.
I wander what do the regular ponies that live or maybe just rather sell produces to the bicorns, think of the bicorns or how their dealing go with them.
I suspect that the sixteen year old bicorn might have committed suicide because he couldn’t live the life that he wanted or couldn’t be with how he wanted. All doe I wouldn’t be surprised that that they in actuality a several young Bicorns that tried to leave or wanted to do something else with their live but where gilt or shamed into conforming.
Still, I wander what most Bicorns do most of the day they must had something to do other them just taking care of foal no matter how busy they are with it so many foals they have to have something meaningful to do with their lives.
I wander if the Bicorns have their own consul in the internal governance of the reserve, and how does it work, or everything is administrated by from the outside ponies, that don’t really interact with them in general that are very disconnected from the population, making the Bicorns seem more like statistics rather the individuals, which might explain in part why the Bicorns are intestinally marginalized by the government and treating them like “breading animals”. I would believe that self-governances of the Bicorns will be an important part of their future emancipation, assuming that that they don’t become corrupt or art won over with bribes from the Equestrians.
I was mention in earlier chapter that they are individuals that seem to keep bicorn because of the good fortune the apparently bring, I wander if we will get to see some instances of that in the story later on.
I wander if the “Unlucky” condition mainly affects male Bicorns, that might explain that what they have herds, or at least more frequent then what it seems in in Ponyville and the show. I also wander the breading program is not just made to make sure of compatibility between Bicorns but also make sure that there isn’t any inbreeding between then. If it is the case they have to keep a tight control on the population’s growth because of how low the population might have been at one point, and the gene pool might be critically shallow for them because of the lack of genetic diversity. If it is the case, then it would mean that the bicorn population is in dire need of new blood and that would make Pierre and Edward even more valuable them most because of the of the robustness of their genetics compared to the average mail bicorn. To my knowledge, the absolute limit of a population to maintain genetic diversity is about ten thousands individuals, otherwise they will become vulnerable to genetic diseases crop up in later generations.
This is about all that I can think of the chapter so far. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter will hold next.
I wonder if he helps a few foals get their cutie marks? that be nice
Hello bicorns....It's been awhile. I hope you brought something cool to the story.
*Finishes chapter*
Well....only one word I can think of to describe the amount of excitement and fulfillment that I got from all of that.
THAT WAS GREAT!!!! KEEP IT UP!!!
7892173
genetic disease is the one thing bicorns have no statistical fear of, thanks to the luck trait. however, imagine the number of genetic malfunctions and unluck bicorn would be born with...
Ah yes, welcome to your state-sanctioned population center. Have a gander at all the wonderful sights, such as [FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER] and [MANDATORY ENTERTAINMENT], maybe even peruse the local information repository containing multitudes of [STATE-APPROVED LITERATURE]! But don't take too long, lest you violate the [ENFORCED CURFEW], so make sure you head home to your family and help [STRENGTHEN THE STATE]. Remember, [THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD], and [GLORY TO THE SUPREME LEADER]
Communist undertones aside, I'm really loving this. Can't wait until everything crashes and burns, like a good train-wreck.
7892308 Yes, and their luck it had done a marvelous job to keep them from being entrapped into reserves and being dependent on the state to to provide them with their every needs.
Suicides and blank flanks. A ghetto. Negativity instantly censored when the bivorns of normal ponies. Oh, and the elder who doesn't give a buck anymore. Thestrals.
Didn't see anything but the autocenser coming.
The suicides balance the population problem out easily.
The lack of cutie marks, but with proof of the possibility is horrifying, given the implications of cutie mark loss, or just being so restricted they can't find it. Lets hope the CMC never learn about this. They might launch a ... Crusade.
The thestrals being mistreated makes for an interesting part, especially since the MC's are of the go lack said prejudice.
The ghetto. The contrast with ponyville, like cutie marks, is disturbing. Whatever causes the serious artistic construction is lacking there. It honestly feels way too much like a mirror of one of the misanthropic views of earth.
7892004 hmm. Given when this story started, and lack of Mention of Tirek by the MC's, I don't know if that is valid. Pretty sure Flurry Heart didn't exist at this point, nor any implication of alicorn foals.
Still amusing turnaround idea.
7892173 Wow, you sure do wander a lot. It makes me wonder where you are going. I hope it is a safe trip and you don't get lost.![:moustache:](https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/moustache.png)
7892454 Thank, I think...![:rainbowlaugh:](https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/rainbowlaugh.png)
Xenophilia.
I don't get how so many people get this wrong.
7893082 , but it is being used as a friendly insult and is not intended to technically correct.
-----
The lack of cutie marks is the most telling part of the situation.
Whether just an indication of their skills, a representation of their souls, or a power amplifier, that so many adults missing them has implications.
Given Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome, and the concepts of Cutie Fracture(damaged mark permanently disabling talent) and Cutie Shift (marks changing) it is a huge part of a point's psychology.
That most bicorns fail to manifest CM implies that the restrictions are severe enough that most bicorns are unable to gain enough enthusiasm for a skill to both become really good at it and love it.
Asking Twilight about how her life would have been if she had been forbidden from using magic and reading, presumably because it was too dangerous.
Or, for at matter point out what would have happened if the poison joke was perminent, given directly attacked their talent.
At this point I suspect that Unlucky Horn disease is a bull
made up to explain low birth to death ratio despite massive families, thus to cover up high suicide rate among bicorns. Maybe "Unlucky Horn" is just a codename for bicorn's suicide?
7893132
I don't find this relevant to what I commented, unless were talking about really, really loose terms.
Also, yeah, getting pregnant 24/7 kinda prohobits most work that you could do, unless were talking about stallions.
7891762 Twilight needs to meet bicorns that actually lived the life she wants to force on Ed and Pierre. Also, thank you, hope the squee didn't hurt your throat or anything.
7891814 Equestrians prefer the term "reserve". "Ghettos" has such... unfriendly implications...
Okay, I'll stop now. But yes, we will get into Belfry's and Steel's upbringing, though the next one might actually focus more on Fortune and family's. We are in one ofthe biggest reserves after all.
7891956 Cynical grandma is best new character! I mean, even the dogma wears off eventually. Twilight's in for a rude awakening. It won't be gentle.
7891996 It's funny, but I'm in England right now, and I have met so few people that could pull of Ed's deadpan snark. I have met some though. Quite impressive, sometimes.
7892004 BLASPHEMY! What's a god to a non-believer?
A quick precision though, which I think has been mentioned somewhere here, this started as alternate season 4. I know, so far back. So Tirek kinda didn't happen or did in a completely different way in this universe. We haven't really focused on it, we have our own timeline anyway. So, Flurry Heart? Yeah, that is non-canon for our story. Who knows if alicorns can get pregnant or not?
Also, Fortune's grandma deserves a beer and then some, but do you really think anypony will give her one? If you recall, Pierre got weird looks for daring to take a cup of alcoholic punch at his own party.
7892027 Thank you. we're now throwing the characters in the melting pot of tensions.
Pierre and Edward were designed to be complementary. They make a strong team, but they can barely stand one another
(though they also can't stay away from one another,too much fun).We are also trying to put a bit more focus on the bats now, because of course, their issues are important. We are doing a lot more social commentaries than we had imagined in the beginning. Darn trying to make them justice now.
As for what Pierre was thinking about, right on point. He was definitely thinking of a strenuous physical activity that involved a bat, balls, scoring, receivers, nine rounds, hat tricks. You might just be Sherlock's reincarnation, sir!
7892143 We do not appreciate your tone of shocked awe and delight, reader.
Or do we...?7892173 Okay, oh boy, lots of questions today, huh? Alright, quick answers: thestrals are going to be explored, though not immediately. I could say the same for the kitchen and the dining room. I mean, it's big, and I would say they probably go at it in rotations, like two adults and maybe six-seven kids at the long table, while the other kids wait/play, then the second group gets to eat at the table. Reminds me of my family reunions at my grandma's home. We did three or four rounds this way.
Pressure is cultural, yes. Comes from the education they receive, of course. There is however also some monetary elements. Larger families get larger checks. Families that don't have foals frequently start to receive a bit less. Not entirely sure if we are going to take a look at the education system within the reserves. There could be some of that next chapter, but that detail is a bit hazy.
As you said, moving the families are logistical nightmares. As such, it doesn't happen a lot. It's also pretty damn expensive to buy tickets for that many ponies at once. Paperwork is involved to justify getting out of the reserves, or doing anything of note really. The Chiefs often have to read through a lot of it to try and sort some of the troubles/genuine requests/important changes. I don't want to get too deep in the politics of it yet though, save that for a later chapter.
Important notion: there are tons of rumours about magic in-universe. Bicorns are not exempt of this, and the less credible the source, the less likely that the rumour is true. Some critter that hears of bicorns in hearsay might think that they grant some sort of luck, but their magic is not exactly that. Remember, part of Pinkie's Pinkie Sense is bicorn magic.
As for the article's teenager, in this particular case? ...you'll get it next chapter, I think.
We haven't really established if the disease strikes more males than females. We just go with the idea of a slightly skewed number of both genders. Also, ancient tradition, less common nowadays, but more or less kept alive in reserves for the sake of the species' continued survival. And yes, the breeding program does do a lot to try and avoid inbreeding, but one of the problems is that ponies' understanding of genetics were flawed for some time before they finally got it. As for the genetic disease that crops up... well, one's been named dropped since the earlier chapters: Unluck Horn. It is genetic.
7892272 That would be quite the lucky instance, I'd say.
7892283 Why, thanks. We'll do our best.
7892308 Actually... genetic diseases are one of the reason for the necessity of the breeding program offering suitable partners as opposed to letting ponies just choose whomever they want. The Unluck Horn disease affects both the magical and immune systems of a bicorn, develops in the later years of puberty generally. Sometimes a little earlier.
7892316 EXCUSE YOU! Not only do the bicorns not have a curfew, but they also are not required to pay hommage to glorious sun-queen! They do that on their own, thank you very much!![:raritywink:](https://static.fimfiction.net/images/emoticons/raritywink.png)
7892391 So much stuff being revealed at once.
More the latter actually. Ponies can't really lose their cutie marks, but they can fail to ever realize what is their true special talent/destiny if they are not being given a chance. Hard to imagine how a firefighter bicorn would ever get the opportunity to develop their cutie mark.
Also, yes, as you said, alternate version of season four is the timeline. No alicorn baby so far.
7893082 Honestly? Ed just doesn't care. He's trying to rile Pierre up as per their friendly hatred. If it sounds worse, it's gonna be said. They both know what he means anyway. Also, ranakastrasz's reply to you was only the first line of his comment, I think. There is a line separating this from what you quoted.
7893136 Nope. Sorry to disappoint, but the disease is real. The population is inbred to a certain degree and that brought forth that disease which would have been relatively obscure otherwise. There is a unicorn variant of it, by the way, but most ponies in Equestria don't even know that.
7893295
Thats below the separation line. Only the top bit was a response to you.
I try to avoid posting twice in a row.
----------
7893463
I believer that multiple cutie marks are possible for each pony depending on what happens. The trigger seems to be an epiphany when they display skill and enthusiasm in the talent's domain.
7893463
Bicorn luck looks more like lesser precognition. From the avoidance of dangers without noticing it is apparently subconscious.
Unlike the effects of Felix Felicia(luck potion, although it reads like a guided precognition effect, like a short term path victory) it seems umguided, just avoiding dangerous situations by minor alterations to the bicorns actions. In more extreme situations, the compulsion is blatent, like the collapsing in the castle. It seems entirely focused on survival, short term, and from a genetic standpoint, probably reproduction as well.
The dreams, visions, and prophecies are more like a separate ability which only links in due to it being precognitive. It is rarer, far reaching, and always blatant. It has no compulsion either.
7893564
o, well, you didnt link a user or give a notion that it was meant for cracker, so i thought it was for me, sry
7893463 Mmm, yeah, I gathered as much. Still, the lack of Flurry heart would just make it even more imperative to keep the alicorns under lock and key, since insofar as things stand they only come about is through... shrug of god? And the lack of evidence of whether Alicorns can be bred just makes the hypocrisy all the worse, as it means nobody's even entertained the notion of subjecting the likes of Celestia to the same "help" they offer to bicorns.
7893463
Where are you staying?
There's usually a large difference in attitudes between counties
7893631 It wasn't meant for cracker, it was generic, for everyone.
I suppose I should have put it above the user-reference.
7893463
Yeah I I remember that with my own family at my grandparents.
Yes, that would make a good intensives to have more foals, I suppose that the difference the allowances. I have heard of some welfare families have done the same to get a larger welfare checks, and I am aware of that communist dictatorship use that system to pressure families to have more children do get more food rations or even be penalized if they don't maintain the the growth.
I am still curious to know how the communities are govern on the internal level.
7893656 Considering Alicorns seem to possess some level of longevity and are the ruling class, it really shouldn't be surprising that no one says anything. By your own logic, should they not be asking the same of Discord or Tirek? They are a nearly extinct race, at least as far as we know...
Love the chapter, quite a few interesting characters introduced, my favorites being Faith and the grandmother.
Faith because she is what the system tries to mold them to be, promiscuous and eager to serve her pony overlords. Reminds me of how the cows are treated in the show, and makes me wonder if Celestia is trying to do the same thing to the Bicorns. Though cows are intelligent creatures in the show too... makes me wonder what happens to other species that try to make a life in "The number one power in the world"
The grandma however is a funny as hell character that made me laugh at the contrast to Faith. She's bitter, sarcastic and sees the system for what it is. It's also apparent that she loves her family, but hates that they're stuck doing something that they don't love, evidenced by lack of Marks.
Keep up the writing, it's always quite a lot of fun to see the interactions you make
Poor Pierre, can you defy destiny? Deny all you want, but you're falling!
Edward will be wearing the most saddened poop-eating grin when this is all over...
Keep going! ;)
You ran headfirst into the Everfree forest, and almost got killed because of that.
That's not exactly a nice, peaceful bus ride to Vanhoover.
Well, that was some lovely exposition.
They finally get to see the bicorns all banished to the pony equivalent to The Projects. I honestly don't know what Twilight thinks she is going to accomplish in doing this, but hopefully it will give Edward a chance to find out more information. Not so sure Pierre is going to be much help. He's in the troublesome situation of having found a perfectly nice, compatible girl, and having to reject her on principles alone. It's one thing when they try to force you to breed with random people, but when Twilight is actually damn good at finding someone Pierre will be attracted to, he's not going to get out of that one easily.
This story is simply amazing. Glorious. I have read it with bated breath and aching heart. I couldn't go sleep until I finish it. IT IS THAT GREAT. THIS STORY NEEDS MORE RECOGNITION. I love these kind of story. Freedom vs Harmony, idylic lifes of ponies as a ilision of bigotry and/or salvery and/or other stuff.
Do you have maybe some recomendations that are similiar to yours?
From me I recommend "The Rise of Darth Vulcan" (http://archiveofourown.org/works/5553836/chapters/12811085). It chelenges the ilusion of prosperity in Equestria just like your story.
I don't think anyone has asked this before.
Has Pierre and Edward been screened? The Foals seem to think it's a great big thing and are raised to think that having kids help Equestria. Why do they assume life outside Equestria is terrible? Twilight's first thought was an overlord or dictator. IN the reserves, they are so tightly controlled that they've forgotten about freedom. What happens when a Bicorn has a vision?
The equestrians idea of trying to help the bicorns race is not a bad one, but sadly they corrupted it
A ghetto dressed up as a gated community, a population so used to, and indoctrinated that such a life is truly a godsend. They see Pierre and Edward's lives as some sort of story to how hellish it can be outside their "safe" community.
*sigh*