The caribou have enslaved the mares of Equestria and desecrated the land. But they've forgotten that the more you push some ponies, the harder they push back. Applejack and Rainbow Dash didn't forget.
4701563 Fixed the error (which someone else had pointed out to me, and I read the thing over and over and could not figure out what he thought was wrong with it... I think I need to dust off my computer screen. Sorry, Gabriel.)
mentally flopping back and forth about whether to hide them or direct the guards to their destination.
Then, after a few days
Hey, Applejack! It's working!
Best outcome: she calls AppleDash and they can resume unbrainwashing her. Wouldn't it just figure: she calls AppleDash AND more caribou and/or brainwashed males. Tacky: …which either harm Dash even more, or that Dash has to kill and get more traumatized over.
Psychotic conflicted Twi is best (and scariest) Twi this could really, really work with Twi showing some signs of progress, regaining some of her power, but unable to be trusted with it. She is in some ways the neediest of pones (it does always throw me that they're humanized or anthro, but that's the 'genre') and it's really important that for her, right now, sanity and power are more traumatic than insanity and evil. Those are a comforting story compared to what things really are and what she's done.
If I know Spike, he'll end this as a suicide bomber of some sort, similar to how Rarity's up to something. I don't think the real Spike can handle what the 'genre' does to him. Certainly can't handle facing a draconic lifespan remembering what he's done.
Jeez, O. This look into Twilight's mind is disturbing as fuck, dude. Seeing how deeply the Caribou have scarred her, how her own thoughts are tainted. Did you research Stockholm Syndrome, or are you just that damn good a writer?
Part of me thinks the only way Twilight would ever see the truth is for a stallion to say what AJ is saying... but then that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? It'd just be another Master telling her what to think. She needs to come to it on her own, or to be led there by AJ and Dash. That's why for as much as I'm hoping the swamp pony town exists, and that there are ponies who made it out of this unscathed, it might be better for it to be deserted. If for nothing else, what if Twilight made it out and led the Caribou there?
For some reason I wasn't informed about a new chapter on my tablet. Nor phone. Only on a computer Oo' Weird.
Anyway, I'm really impressed. Twilight's thoughts feel so real, I can understand her motivations even though I don't agree with them. It's disturbing but it only shows you good you are as a writer, O. And I love the interactions between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They really need each other, maybe someday they'll be able to leave it all behind them and start a new life together... at least lack of Tragedy or Sad tag let me hope so.
“We’re all cracked, sugarcube.” Applejack sighed. “Every damn pony in Equestria-- we can fix the magic, we can send the caribou packin’, but unless Twilight has some pretty big trick up her sleeves, we can’t undo what’s been done to us. But if we’re safe… if we can get outta this pit, we can start to settle in with who we are now.” “You’re not that different,” Dash said softly. “That’s what’s amazing about you.”
I love your Applejack. Maybe because your Applejack is mine Applejack. She's intelligent and strong and she fights, always fights, as long as there's someone worth fighting for.
"Mistress, in my opinion--my professional opinion, that is--Solange is mentally ill."
Tanya laughed as she turned to walk on, giving the nun's braid a tug to bring her along. "Marya, Marya, I expected better than that, from an intelligent and well-educated person like you. Sanity is always socially defined." She stopped to pick a flower and tuck it behind one ear.
"Among Romans of the late Republic, fo' example, overt sadism was the normal personality type. Mass masturbation in the stands of the Coliseum while they watched people bein' burned alive or torn apart by wolves. I'm familiar with the technical terminology yo' might apply to Solange; masochism, fo' example, learned helplessness, regression, transferal, identification with the aggressor. All addin' up to a perfectly functional response to this environment, even if it would have been neurosis before the War. Fo' that matter, what was that Viennese fellow, Englestein, we studied him in introductory Psychological Manipulation--claimed women were inherently masochistic. Nonsense among us Draka, of course, but perfectly sensible among out-landers, where females are slaves anyways."
Marya opened her mouth, considered certain doctrines of the Church and closed it again; futile, to try and explain the difference to a Draka.
-- from Under the Yoke by S. M. Stirling
Perhaps AppleDash are the crazy ones, here. And if Dash really "[wants to] be safe with a pony who cares about [her]", maybe she should take the red.
[/devil's advocate]
-----
Even if the girls can find some way to undo the changes the caribou have wrought, and kick their asses back to wherever they came from, Equestria is pretty well screwed barring some magical memory-editing. Assuming the red-collars and males don't stay happy with what has happened, relations between the sexes will be at an all-time low. Social cohesion is going to be shot to hell, birthrates will never meet replacement levels in the next few generations without medical or magical intervention, and the resulting sex-segregated and collar-segregated cultures are going to be profoundly unhealthy, not to mention possibilities like revenge attacks from former black-collars on the males and reds alike. I could see some small minority of the males and red-collars who carry on with a milder version of the status quo being the most demographically successful group.
And if Dash really "[wants to] be safe with a pony who cares about [her]", maybe she should take the red. [/devil's advocate]
Ah, but that's what Dash wants after a year of being tortured... so, the same Dash who's showing PTSD symptoms and could snap and murder anyone who makes her feel threatened for herself or her loved ones. The Rainbow Dash she was couldn't have been happy as a red collar, and now she'd only be happy if she had a master she could trust totally to keep her safe AND if she was extremely careful to do so. And, since she seems to be blaming all stallions, probably a mare. None of this likely in the setting, and is absolutely not going to happen if Dash is returned to her old master. That's one of the flaws in the setting as its usually shown: breaking a mind isn't something that happens cleanly, and jagged edges are dangerous for everyone.
Edit: This goes for the question of Twi, as well. Sure, she's able to be actively engaged with the current culture, but her thinking is so shaky that she has problems considering self-preservation... and that's a sign of insanity in any culture (or even in animals. Not getting yourself killed is pretty much the one thing that everything in the world has to be able to accomplish.)
Did you research Stockholm Syndrome, or are you just that damn good a writer?
If I have to pick one, I'll have to go with research. I focused more on (non-magical) brainwashing and cults, which I've always found interesting, but really cult behavior, brainwashing, Stockholm Syndrome, and abusive relationships are one big ball of similar psychological mess that anyone who's actually interested in a setting like this should look into. Apparently a little research can fool people into thinking you're a damn good writer.
Wow it's amazing to read Twilight's inner thoughts. It's such a great perversion of what normal life is life, and it does so much for her character. I'm not a big Twilight fan, but her character is one of the main reasons this story is such a good one. This chapter feels a bit like filler, but it was a nice breather from the action of the last chapter. AJ and Dash will find Twilight's pants and then the pod and there's no telling how they'll get her out of there. I can see Dash making the argument to let her die, forcing AJ to make a choice now that she set herself up for how wrong she feels in taking Twilight with them. That's going to be an awesome bit of conflict to watch!
Wonderful! While I hate the rape scenes for what they are and reminding me of more terrible time of my life, I enjoy the rising of the characters, except Twilight.
Welp, good thing I am killing her off in my new Fall of Equestria story that I am making due to the vicious and mind numbing hate for this world.
4704779 As a participant of this debauchery, I seem to see the male fans wish death upon the caribou and female fans increasingly enjoying the never ending "midpoint" of this setting. And I sort of forgotten how this ties into your comment. Apologies, lol.
Well, actually, the secondary point I was to make is some of us of either gender enjoy caribou death almost as much as the intermediate horrorscape stuff. :3
4717499 I can't speak for other women, but while I don't particularly enjoy the never-ending midpoint, I'm also not among those screaming for caribou heads. That's not because I don't want to see the caribou fall, it's because I'd rather it come about in a more character-growth focused way on the part of those doing the overthrowing, with emotions other than rage and extra-ragey-rage. (And a total lack of video game characters.)
But I'm just the writer of this fic, what do I know?
Holy shit. I have never been so conflicted on a story. On one hand this is probably the most realistic stories I have ever read. Like literally all the reactions and how the characters respond to the setting are extremely hyperrealistic. On the other hand this story portrays events that I don't think could happen. For instance the entire foe verse. I just can't fathom how an invading force somehow mass brainwashed an entire country defeating four near if not utter goddesses. Taking out an extremely versatile super weapon while corrupting the mass populace. Followed by changing society rules so suddenly to the point where all the males (less than a 5th of the population mind you) were like "okay this is so totally okay and acceptable now" which I just don't get. This is amazing and I look forward to more but I just can't understand this
Well, when you said Wednesday I didn't expect 12:04 in the morning, it was a welcome surprise... noticed one small error:
Gah! Pseudo-brainwashed stupidity is one of my largest pet-peeves, would it be possible to rape someone to their senses?
4701563
Fixed the error (which someone else had pointed out to me, and I read the thing over and over and could not figure out what he thought was wrong with it... I think I need to dust off my computer screen. Sorry, Gabriel.)
Thank you for pointing that out!
Well this should be punishment enough for twilight. The thought of never ending pleasure at the cost of your life.
oh my gosh thak you
I have never experienced a perspective as twisted as Twilight's, yet played so straight, since Uncle Ruckus.
Hey, Applejack! It's working!
Best outcome: she calls AppleDash and they can resume unbrainwashing her.
Wouldn't it just figure: she calls AppleDash AND more caribou and/or brainwashed males.
Tacky: …which either harm Dash even more, or that Dash has to kill and get more traumatized over.
Psychotic conflicted Twi is best (and scariest) Twi this could really, really work with Twi showing some signs of progress, regaining some of her power, but unable to be trusted with it. She is in some ways the neediest of pones (it does always throw me that they're humanized or anthro, but that's the 'genre') and it's really important that for her, right now, sanity and power are more traumatic than insanity and evil. Those are a comforting story compared to what things really are and what she's done.
If I know Spike, he'll end this as a suicide bomber of some sort, similar to how Rarity's up to something. I don't think the real Spike can handle what the 'genre' does to him. Certainly can't handle facing a draconic lifespan remembering what he's done.
Are there renegades who got away?
Jeez, O. This look into Twilight's mind is disturbing as fuck, dude. Seeing how deeply the Caribou have scarred her, how her own thoughts are tainted. Did you research Stockholm Syndrome, or are you just that damn good a writer?
Part of me thinks the only way Twilight would ever see the truth is for a stallion to say what AJ is saying... but then that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? It'd just be another Master telling her what to think. She needs to come to it on her own, or to be led there by AJ and Dash. That's why for as much as I'm hoping the swamp pony town exists, and that there are ponies who made it out of this unscathed, it might be better for it to be deserted. If for nothing else, what if Twilight made it out and led the Caribou there?
For some reason I wasn't informed about a new chapter on my tablet. Nor phone. Only on a computer Oo' Weird.
Anyway, I'm really impressed. Twilight's thoughts feel so real, I can understand her motivations even though I don't agree with them. It's disturbing but it only shows you good you are as a writer, O. And I love the interactions between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They really need each other, maybe someday they'll be able to leave it all behind them and start a new life together... at least lack of Tragedy or Sad tag let me hope so.
I love your Applejack. Maybe because your Applejack is mine Applejack. She's intelligent and strong and she fights, always fights, as long as there's someone worth fighting for.
4702591
Ah, but is Twi really insane?
Perhaps AppleDash are the crazy ones, here. And if Dash really "[wants to] be safe with a pony who cares about [her]", maybe she should take the red.
[/devil's advocate]
-----
Even if the girls can find some way to undo the changes the caribou have wrought, and kick their asses back to wherever they came from, Equestria is pretty well screwed barring some magical memory-editing. Assuming the red-collars and males don't stay happy with what has happened, relations between the sexes will be at an all-time low. Social cohesion is going to be shot to hell, birthrates will never meet replacement levels in the next few generations without medical or magical intervention, and the resulting sex-segregated and collar-segregated cultures are going to be profoundly unhealthy, not to mention possibilities like revenge attacks from former black-collars on the males and reds alike. I could see some small minority of the males and red-collars who carry on with a milder version of the status quo being the most demographically successful group.
4702958
Ah, but that's what Dash wants after a year of being tortured... so, the same Dash who's showing PTSD symptoms and could snap and murder anyone who makes her feel threatened for herself or her loved ones. The Rainbow Dash she was couldn't have been happy as a red collar, and now she'd only be happy if she had a master she could trust totally to keep her safe AND if she was extremely careful to do so. And, since she seems to be blaming all stallions, probably a mare. None of this likely in the setting, and is absolutely not going to happen if Dash is returned to her old master. That's one of the flaws in the setting as its usually shown: breaking a mind isn't something that happens cleanly, and jagged edges are dangerous for everyone.
Edit: This goes for the question of Twi, as well. Sure, she's able to be actively engaged with the current culture, but her thinking is so shaky that she has problems considering self-preservation... and that's a sign of insanity in any culture (or even in animals. Not getting yourself killed is pretty much the one thing that everything in the world has to be able to accomplish.)
4702591
You would know, wouldn't you?
As for renegades, there is a resistance, but it's pretty leaderless and ineffective... for now.
4702819
If I have to pick one, I'll have to go with research. I focused more on (non-magical) brainwashing and cults, which I've always found interesting, but really cult behavior, brainwashing, Stockholm Syndrome, and abusive relationships are one big ball of similar psychological mess that anyone who's actually interested in a setting like this should look into. Apparently a little research can fool people into thinking you're a damn good writer.
Wow it's amazing to read Twilight's inner thoughts. It's such a great perversion of what normal life is life, and it does so much for her character. I'm not a big Twilight fan, but her character is one of the main reasons this story is such a good one. This chapter feels a bit like filler, but it was a nice breather from the action of the last chapter. AJ and Dash will find Twilight's pants and then the pod and there's no telling how they'll get her out of there. I can see Dash making the argument to let her die, forcing AJ to make a choice now that she set herself up for how wrong she feels in taking Twilight with them. That's going to be an awesome bit of conflict to watch!
Poor Twilight. I get this feeling that what's happening right now is going to be a turning point for her. Hopefully for the better.
Karma's a bitch
just like Twilight to her friends
GOD DAMN STUBERN *squee*
How the hell did I miss this little gem?
Wonderful! While I hate the rape scenes for what they are and reminding me of more terrible time of my life, I enjoy the rising of the characters, except Twilight.
Welp, good thing I am killing her off in my new Fall of Equestria story that I am making due to the vicious and mind numbing hate for this world.
4704779 As a participant of this debauchery, I seem to see the male fans wish death upon the caribou and female fans increasingly enjoying the never ending "midpoint" of this setting. And I sort of forgotten how this ties into your comment. Apologies, lol.
Well, actually, the secondary point I was to make is some of us of either gender enjoy caribou death almost as much as the intermediate horrorscape stuff. :3
4717499
I can't speak for other women, but while I don't particularly enjoy the never-ending midpoint, I'm also not among those screaming for caribou heads. That's not because I don't want to see the caribou fall, it's because I'd rather it come about in a more character-growth focused way on the part of those doing the overthrowing, with emotions other than rage and extra-ragey-rage. (And a total lack of video game characters.)
But I'm just the writer of this fic, what do I know?
Holy shit. I have never been so conflicted on a story. On one hand this is probably the most realistic stories I have ever read. Like literally all the reactions and how the characters respond to the setting are extremely hyperrealistic. On the other hand this story portrays events that I don't think could happen. For instance the entire foe verse. I just can't fathom how an invading force somehow mass brainwashed an entire country defeating four near if not utter goddesses. Taking out an extremely versatile super weapon while corrupting the mass populace. Followed by changing society rules so suddenly to the point where all the males (less than a 5th of the population mind you) were like "okay this is so totally okay and acceptable now" which I just don't get. This is amazing and I look forward to more but I just can't understand this
i.imgur.com/g6MCE.gif
I have no idea how you was able to write Twilight thoughts. It's so messed up. Good job.