I think ponies mistake my role in this whole fiasco. The princess asked me to work alongside the mayor, and act as her advisor in regard to the human. Seeing how the mayor kept on deferring our meetings about the subject, I had to act alone at some points.
You have to understand, I didn't have a lot of concrete information to rely upon. All I knew for certain was that there was some odd creature who came out of the Everfree Forest and killed Fluttershy's animal friends. Next, this creature decides that it wants to live in our town and eat cows. What am I supposed to think? I was told by our princess to handle the situation in her absence, and I did what I thought was cautious and prudent. I'm sure if I had actually known a little more initially, I could have found an adequate solution.
My scarce information was not for lack of trying. I was compiling a report about the human, just like you are. Would you like to see it? It’s only incomplete because I never had a chance to speak with him personally… Okay, well that’s not exactly true. I had a preliminary interview, but that was brief. I was only seeing if he could fit in with another species. I had another interview planned with him, but that one was, um... postponed.
I actually did speak with him briefly. He sort of dropped by one day. It was rather fitting, because at the moment I was trying to compile my notes on the human into a half way decent essay. This was very difficult to accomplish since I had no concrete data to rely upon.
The bell above the door jingled. “Twilight?”
I looked up from my research. He was peaking from the door “Yes, Spike?”
He scratched the spines on the top of his head. “Um, we have somebody that wants to get some books.”
I shot him a look. “You mean somepony.”
He hesitantly slid back, and the door opened fully.
A non pony visiting the library was a rare sight. I had a inkling that whoever this visitor was was part of Spike's silliness. Nevertheless, it was my job to be amiable to all who were using the library. I turned to greet the mule, or donkey, or whatever waited beyond the door frame. “Hello! Is there anything—” I gulped as the creature stepped in. “I can help you with?”
The human ducked inside and stood towering over me. Gone were his ratty pink clothes, and in their place, a soft blue sweater, and tan pants. He looked down at me in only the way an angry carnivore wearing corduroy could. I knew in my heart of hearts, if there was anypony he was going to kill, it was going to be me. I was the one who had ordered him relocated. I was the one who held his fate in my hooves, and I had turned that against him.
I swallowed a knot in my throat. He might have been big, but I had magic on my side. It looked like I was going to have to take responsibility for my decisions. I wasn't about to let him just eat me and Spike. I took a battle stance. Haunches lowered, horn directly forward. I was careful to not break eye contact. Instead of charging at me, or taking out his knife, he squatted down, until he was eye level with me. “Easy there. I’m here to get a library card,” he said.
I grimaced. “I’m sorry, but only residents of Ponyville are allowed to obtain library cards. If you would be so kind as to leave” I took a step backwards and then scolded myself. I didn't know how humans reacted to body language. That could have been perceived as an invitation to attack.
He reached into his pocket, and I tensed further into my battle stance. Instead of the knife, he pulled out a plastic card. “Actually, I just so happen to have a two year non-equine work visa, and I am entitled access to the public library for the duration of my stay.” He spoke the words as if learned in rote.
“He's right you know,” I heard Spike say, as the pitter patter of little feet marked his re-entrance.
I frowned once more. I slowly backed up until I was next to Spike. Not once did I break eye contact. If I turned around, or looked down, or even hesitated, it could mean our deaths. The human fidgeted uncomfortably under my gaze. “Spike,” I whispered harshly. “What in all of Equestria is the human doing in our house?”
“He said he wanted a library card,” he replied bluntly. Much to my surprise, the human actually broke eye contact, and started examining the book shelves. What would an animal possibly want to do with books and library cards?
I turned to Spike, keeping the gangly beast in my peripheral vision. “Is this part of your little survey thing? I don't see how letting this rabid human into our home does anything except put the two of us in danger!”
Spike rolled his eyes. “What you have is someone looking for a library card. Because our house just so happens to be a giant tree library.”
“He's not supposed to even live in Ponyville! He's not entitled to a library card.”
“Twilight, he has a work visa. He can get a library card. If you don't give him one, you could be in danger of losing your position as town librarian.”
The human must have overheard us. He turned around, and offered the card from across the room. Hesitantly, I levitated it over, and examined it. I couldn't figure out for the life of me how he managed to secure a steady job, let alone the right to live here. I made a mental note to investigate the matter later.
I grumbled, and floated the visa back to him. I wasn't going to risk my position as librarian just because somepony else goofed up and gave a chicken murderer the right to live in town (even when I advised against it, but I digress). I supposed I'd just have to humor the human, Spike and their little political stint. “Is there anything in the librarian's guidebook about work visas?”
Spike presented a tome to me, pulling out the bookmark ribbon, and opening the to the appropriate page. “There's a mention of it in the law book,” he said.
“Let me see.” I levitated the book over and parsed through the legalese.
Spike relinquished his grip, and looked at me smugly. “I believe you'll find it in the fifth paragraph.”
I traced my hoof back, and sure enough there the passage was. Griffons with a non-equine work visa are permitted access to all public services outside the field of medical care and public education.
I squinted up at Spike, wondering what he was so satisfied about. I turned back to the human, and bristled. His gaze had wandered toward my desk. I eeped as I realized every note I had on my human report was scattered everywhere. He picked up one of the sketches, and furrowed his brow.
I levitated the paper out of his hands with a nervous chuckle, and quickly stacked all the papers, face down. For good measure, I threw a large tome on top of it. “Heh, just a little project of mine.”
“Huh.”
He didn't seem ready to attack, so I cleared my throat and continued. “Well Mr. Human, technically you're not a griffin, but I think that it is within the spirit of the law to allow you access to a library card. I can't imagine why you would need one, though.”
“To read books?”
I paused to look at him. “You can read Equish?”
“Yes, I can read.” He took a moment to roll his eyes. “It’s a little hard with pony writing because all the letters are squished together, but I can still read.”
“Where did you learn how to do that?”
He shrugged. “Parents taught me, and I learned more in school.”
I blinked. “Excuse me, it’s just that I never conceived that you would possibly had an education.”
“Fourteen years of it.”
My jaw nearly dropped. He’d been studying almost as long as I've been alive. Did that mean, he had done more research than I did? But how could that even be possible, unless... “What else do humans have?”
“Like schools?”
“Anything.” I pulled my notes out from the under the book, and levitated over a quill. I quickly began sketching down my findings.
He shrugged again. “Hospitals, grocery stores, libraries…” he paused to take a look around. “Town stuff, really.”
I nearly squeed with delight. It looked like I just might be able to give a thorough report to Celestia after all. I wouldn't want to dishonor her with incomplete research. I was going to have to redraft the conclusion though.
The human's voice interrupted my train of thought. “Are you taking notes?”
“Umm... yes?”
“Why?”
I swallowed nervously. “You see, since you're the first human we've encountered in recent history, I was tasked with studying you.”
“If you were studying me, why did you try to kick me out of Ponyville?”
I sighed. “Between the chicken, the cow, and all the stories I heard about you, I had a...”
“Fear?” Spike offered.
I shot the baby dragon a harsh glance. “...A reasonable apprehension about having you so close to civilization. I have qualms against letting wild carnivores living amongst my loved ones,” I said.
“So you're solution was to throw me into the woods to die,” the human said with a scowl.
“I tried to find another social species for you to live with, but they would be more dangerous than any forest I could put you in. I was hoping if we put you back in the forest, you would find your pack of humans again.”
“Do you think I would even be here if it was possible for me to go home? I can't because, despite all the freaking magic in all of you, you can't find a way to get me back where I belong. I barely survived that death trap you call woods.”
“I don't think you understand. Would a human have reacted any differently if a manticore had wondered into their home from out of nowhere, and wanted to live in their town? My first duty in is to ponies. I have to consider their safety before yours.” The human had no response. Spike gave an angry snort as I continued. “But it seems that you're slightly more civil than I originally thought. As long as you're not making trouble, and you're contributing to our community by working, I suppose I can give you a library card.”
“Gee, thanks,” the human said.
“Spike, would you get the blank cards?”
Without comment, Spike handed us a card. The human scribbled out the proper information on a separate form. Within minutes, I hoofed over the card to him. He took it between his fingers, unsure of what to do. He cast an uncertain glance at Spike.
I wasn't entirely sure what he was doing. He seemed uncertain himself. “Well, would you like to check out a book now?” I asked hesitantly.
“Sure...” He scratched the back of his head. “Do you have a King James Bible?” he asked after a moment of deliberation.
I leafed through the catalog. “I'm sorry, I don't think we have that book in this branch of the library. I do believe I saw a book like that in the Canterlot archives. I can root through their collection if you're really pining after it.” I tapped my hoof to my chin. I went out on a limb, and guessed that the book might be lost in the woodwork in our own library. I made a mental note to look for the book next time I have Spike spruce up the place. Maybe it was thrown into the trunk of older books. I would have to see the librarian's log to be certain. The puzzle certainly had me stumped.
“I'll just do without it,” he said.
He stood there silently for another awkward moment, looking at Spike. I cleared my throat. “Well, if you're not going to be checking out any books, I have quite a bit of research to be doing, so—”
“Hey Twilight,” Spike yelped. “Why don't you ask Walker some questions for your report?”
I grimaced. The last thing I wanted to was tempt fate by letting into my home a second time “Spike, I'm not sure that's such a good idea.”
“What would Celestia think if her faithful student gave her a poorly researched report?”
I began nibbling my hoof. I kept glancing back at my desk, and back at the human. “I guess it would fill in some gaps in my body paragraphs.”
The human shot a quizzical glance at Spike. “I didn't think this is what you had in mind.”
Spike motioned with his claws. “Just go with it,” he whispered across the room.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
The human swiveled back towards me. “Sorry, what were you saying about research?”
“Since you already have a job, and a work visa, there's not much else to be done about your present situation. I suppose there wouldn't be any harm in asking you a few questions.”
“Right now?” he asked. He didn't seem especially eager to have another research interview.
“Now is a good a time as any. I don't want to have Princess Celestia wait on my report.” The human cast a glance at the door, biting his lip. “Or, we could schedule a time.”
“Rescheduling?” The human sent another questioning look to Spike. Spike replied with a firm nod. “I guess I can do that,” he said with a sigh.
We made plans to have an interview at the library over some tea for the next Saturday.
We never had that interview though. The day he came to the library was three days before Nightmare Night.
So he has four more days alive.
Also, fuck you, Twilight.
I bet my money on that the ponies finally lose control of their fear and kill him. I can only hope that after the ponies tear him to pieces, Luna & Celestia rains down a gloriously wrathful justice on all of Ponyville that burns brighter and hotter than the sun itself, sparing only Dinky, Derpy, and Lyra.
Or maybe they just finally send him to his world. Dunno, I suck at predicting endings...
Ahhh, Twilight trying to spin doctor her way out of her role in the "fiasco." And coming across as a paranoid bigot.
Thats an ultimatum if I ever saw one...
My heart, I can't take this.
Something awful is going to happen and it's going to happen soon!
Oh come on, being sapient usually means that there's some sort of education envolved, even if it is only parents teaching kids how to eat with a spoon.
We've been educating the future generations (albeit a very primitive form of education by current standards...fine, very basic survival stuff) since before we invented the wheel.
Damn it, Twilight IS as bad all the characters make her out to be.
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Yeah. My money is that he is going to die before all this is done to.
Can it communicate in any meaningful way? Even if I cannot speak directly to it, the first sign of communication - yes. Yes, I would react slightly different than this farce of a thing you call a government, Twilight. However, first contact is always stressful. Oh, and about the 'pack of humans' - what part of 'I'm from a different world' are you not quite understanding? Do you just not get it? Are you purposefully ignoring the situation?
My vote is that humanity comes looking for their 'lost brother,' sees the treatment he had to endure and tells the ponies to 'piss off and never contact us again' before taking their shiny techno-toys and going home. And Twilight is a sad-panda after that.
3689665 Yeah, except Twi specifically said
Apparently eating meat and being able to use a knife to kill chickens means you have less of an intelligence than the master equine race.
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Wow, none of you want this to end happily, can't poor walker live and the ponies be punished? I assume Luna will head there herself. Just hope Walker doesn't do anything stupid like dressing up as anything scarier than a piece of cake.
And maybe Twilight isn't so central of a bad guy, she really only talked to him once and apart from that only heard rumors. Applejack is worse than her for what she did and Lucky is an absolute cunt that should be kicked out of town. I want some LyraxWalker love.
Four chapters... We shall see.
3689689 Twilight is an antagonist because she fails to see the truth and her ego won't let her see the truth, and that is going to get an innocent killed, she's one of many "bad guys".
If she's dishonored, Twilight is banished from Ponyville and must commit seppuku.
.
..
...
So, according to Twilight, the human, who can talk, think, and even work like anypony, is not merely a savage. He is not even a person.
What kind of shit does Celestia´ school program teach?
Who is this mare without even a hint of intelligence and what has she done to Twilight?
You send me shivers down my spine every time I see an update to this story.
Did Twilight actually say that research would get in the way of her research paper?
She failed at librarian
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I don't think any of us want to see Walker killed. It's just that the the story seems to be heading in that direction.
I would be really, really surprised if he survives. And yes, Twilight is the bad guy here. She knows he'll be killed if he is sent into the forest but has no qualms about it whatsoever. And, through her conversations with Spike, she has shown herself to be a condescending racist. So again, fuck her.
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It's funny you call him a lost-brother, because if you read the story as reinterpretation of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, Jerry is essentially Cain. He is exiled from human society for killing his brother(Not to say that Jerry actually killed his brother), which would explain why he physically can't find his way back (because of his own mental reservations of returning and because his community wouldn't allow it). No one comes to rescue those that are exiled.
on a less depressing note, one goes to internet to the first one to copy paste the paragraph with all the tree puns
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Internet me.
EDIT: Admittedly, I had a bit of an easy time what with being the recipient of the reply itself so perhaps I should bow out.
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Or maybe a more domestic route? The Princesses, both not being complete bigoted idiots and recognising the potential advantages in knowing a technologically-superior alien, scold the town before whisking him away to a fresh start in Canterlot? Although, seeing a bunch of spacemen wave a bunch of gadgets under Twilight's nose before zooming off with a 'You're a mean one, Ms Grinch' would be immensely satisfying to see...
.. not that there's going to be a happy ending, of course.
Oh, I'm so burning with anger at that Author's note. It implies the fic will soon end!
This fic should be HUGE! It should go on its HUGE QUEST!
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Well, to be fair, Angel Bunny can read and is smarter than some of Ponyville's residents.
He can't, however, actually speak, so that's still a point.
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here you go
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The main reason everyone thinks this ends badly is because there is foreshadowing as people refer to it as a type of incident, that apparently occurs on nightmare night. You also have the weird issue of him never being one of the interviewed, which might be an indication that he is dead.
For some reason, I'm thinking he had to defend himself and hurt/killed a pony. The town then killed him possibly.
Edit: I take that back. Reread the dream/Luna chapter and realize he's still alive as they're obviously looking for him. So, he's technically alive at least at the Luna interview point. I'll hold onto fight occurs and he's run out of town or to ground. I wonder if Spike's initiative will be resolved or not. I hope it does. Maybe that's the final chapter? Thinking about it, fight is possible, death is very unlikely as the interviews seem to be taking place after everything and so everyone's definitely alive at the time.
3689737 That's not fail at Librarian, that's a fail at SCIENCE.
TWILIGHT, YOU MAKE DOCTOR INSANO CRY.
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It's not that I want an unhappy ending, it's just hard to see how this story could possibly avoid one at this point. The best that I think we could hope for would be that Jerry isn't killed by a raging mob.
Given the way that Applejack, Twilight, and Fluttershy have acted up to this point, I think it's possible that the Elements won't function for them anymore.
Finally, He catches some semblance of a break....let's hope it lasts.
Well, spin things however she wants to, Celestia and Luna aren't going to let Twilight walk away from this one. I think that Derpy, Lyra and Dinky will be described as the only survivors of whatever arcane horror the Princesses visit on the guilty town of Ponyville.
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Twilight means a formal education
I really can't believe you've actually written a story that has most of the mane six be in character, and be completely horrible bigots, all at the same time, and have it work.
Because it works. And I just want to ring her little purple neck after this chapter. And unless this shit is actually in line with what Celestia and Luna believe, Celestia has failed as a teacher, and a ruler, by not catching this shit and stomping it out. Every time Twilight opens her mouth in this story I just want her to stop. Breathing. Stop breathing. Forever.
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An ending can be happy depending on whose perspective
4 what left? 4 chapters? NOOOOOOOÕÕÕÕooooooõoooooooooooooo.......
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And I don't? The spoon example was the very extreme of how much education he's had.
Well, if he can't return to his home, then...I don't know, this will have a bloody ending.
3689648 or liberty prime is summoned by an stupid pony trying to kill walker, prime kills ponies, democracy rule, end
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"Ponies is Communism. Communism must be defeated. The only good communism is a dead communism. The only Way is the American Way." he says right before he starts flinging his football nukes at Canterlot while I sit there wearing 3D glasses and nom some popcorns.
3689689 This story is marked as Tragedy. That means by definition it is going to have an unhappy ending.
I know a lot of readers are calling for blood and that it's listed as a tragedy. But I still hope for a happy ending.
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I must be less awake than I thought, I completely missed those puns when reading the chapter.
3689952 So true, it hurts.
Since there's only four more chapters of this, I am going to have everyone start betting now! C'mon! Place yer bets! Will he live, or will he fall? C'mon ! One Internet, two, three, four? How much ya gonna place? Feeling lucky (pun intended)? Place a bet! ANY bet!
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That fits in pretty well with my theory. I've believed from the beginning that the trip Celestia is away on is a diplomatic mission to Earth. I'm thinking Twilight and the others have pretty much destroyed her efforts and that all Celestia will find upon coming back to inform Earth's first ambassador to Equestria of his new position is his cooling corpse or, perhaps worse, a mind so broken that he may as well be dead.
Still there's that small hope that Luna just recognizes a situation akin to her own come Nightmare Night and spirits him away. I somehow doubt she'll get the chance, though.
Just... this is ridiculous.
She's the most educated pony in ponyville, and you've got her acting dumber than a sack of wet crap.
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I'm hoping that he'll die defending somepony else and then everypony else will go "Oh, what have we done!" and kill themselves, mostly.
This story will end with one pony dead, a human put down and a princess back from her diplomacy back on earth with so much disappointment it will be a true tragedy to leave her student so soon on her lessons.
........Twillight is a big meanie mcmeanie pants in this fic!!
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"Also, fuck you, Twilight."
*salutes* You said what we all were thinking.
Arg! The foreshadowing cliffhanger kills me with suspense!
I'm glad the updates are picking up. Looking forward to the next chapter!
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armyrecognition.com/images/stories/east_europe/russia/missile_vehicle/sa-17_buk-m2/SA-17_Buk-M2_9K37M2_surface_to_air_defense_missile_system_Russia_Russian_army_defense_industry_military_technology_640.jpg
This is a Buk-M2E. Capitalism can't get closer more than 50km to it. Celestia would be happy to purchase 150 of them, which is very tragic for emperyalism.