Sun rises in the East, winter is followed by spring, and a person can run away from its problems only for so long. One day, you've got to turn around and either yield - or face them, stand and fight for the values you believe in.
Apparently, the above applies to Humanity as a whole, too. However, there's a catch: is fighting worth it if you cannot win?
Several years have passed since the emergence of Equestria. The shiny bubble of the Barrier now covers a substantial portion of the planet and is still expanding, albeit at a slower rate than initially predicted. An even greater part of human population has chosen to undergo Conversion, exchanging their miserable existence for a new life in a bright and hospitable dimension, and set off for the mystic tides, never to be seen on Earth again. Most institutions and organized structures of humanity have thus gradually dissolved into non-existence; the remainder of the planet is now controlled by HLF-spawned communities, or just by plain brigands who rapidly slip towards Middle-Age levels of culture and technology.
There's an exception to this, however. In a remote and unwelcoming region of the continent, one shard of the old civilization just doesn't want to let go. And the people in charge aren't happy at all about the deal the old World Government struck with the Princesses...
Oh, by the way, did I mention that's my first-ever published fanfic?
So if you're reading this... my condolences, there's a fair chance it'll suck))
Then again, maybe it won't.
So, this is going to end bad for these humans isnt it?
538795
Nu-uh, I'm not disclosing plot details yet))
Besides, your mileage on good or bad may vary...
I mean like this
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CantArgueWithElves
I'm kind of hoping for something like this: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScrewYouElves
538795
it ALWAYS ends bad for the humans (and remember there IS an exception to every rule... except rule 34, there is NO exception...)
although most TCBs tend to hide the fact that it ends badly...
however.... a speech that is completely anti-human, the fact that Equestria almost always emerges by itself and is in 99.9% of the cases lethal to humans OR keeps humans out (which means theyll get crushed once the barrier fills up the entire planet) and the fact that Conversion serums are ALWAYS from Human to Equestrian (sure that explains when the barrier acts as a barrier, but not when the barrier acts as a field that keeps magic from killing us) instead of human + refined magic to create some new genes....
yeah it'll end bad for the humans...
and this particular fic has the Dark tag.... it'll end REAL bad
538840
Rule 34 is more of a universal law, one that not even Pinkie Pie has been able to break. :\
538853
yeah.... just like the law that makes the speed of light in a vacuum stuck at almost 300 000 km/s? (canadian, I don't use the Imperial system)
538867
Hehe, Ikr!
ugh, you suck. i thought I'd READ all the conversion Bureau's. then you went and published this. *SIIIIIIGGGGGHHH* *begins reading*
Clever. Waiting for more, and I don't get it why someone dislikes this, it's actually quite decent, even pretty good for a first story.
538795
Sadly, most of these stories always do.
Oh my. It seems I've over-edited the Princesses' letter up to a point that I accidentally
a whole line. And the one which was connecting it to the next chapter, no less. Or, rather, I've altered it in such a way that the beginning of Ch.II no longer makes sense. Will fix right away... That was really embarrassing.
This is not too bad, at least not yet, which is why I don't understand all the thumb downs. Certainly it can't be because the humans we have met so far are actually likable (and leaders in government too!), which seems to be anathema in general CB stories. I have to wonder why it always has to end badly for humans too, why Equestrians and their magic and Man with our technology can't work together to find a solution to this "expansion" which does not end in the latter's demise , or why magic has to be lethal to humans or why we can't immigrate to their land when they have no problem passing between the barrier. I have too many questions, but I suppose I should expect no forthcoming answers regarding a universe whose premise is genocide porn; I'll just have to hold out for the day somebody turns it on it's head and writes a thorough deconstruction. Anyway now that that is out of the way, I thought this was a decent effort, and one that hints at a possible better portrayal of mankind, and for that I will follow.
This is probably a stupid question but... What happened to the track button? As far as I can tell, I never saw any info on the subject
)
Now I have to put everything in my favorites if I want to "track" them.
(not that it's particularly bad on the authors part
539030
Thanks. I understand why people tend to have a certain prejudice against TCB stories, and believe me, I'm trying my best to avoid mimicking Chatoyance or Midnight Shadow. Of course, that's exactly the thoughts of any beginning author)) Let's see if I manage to pull off that.
539095
Thank you, too. Don't expect Ch.II to come out too soon, however. According to plan, I've got to introduce three (maybe four) new human characters, further develop the two you've already seen, give some background for the whole IIG thing, move the plot up to embassy's arrival and, perhaps, finally let in a few ponies on the scene - some 4k words from the beginning, it's about freaking time for a ponyfic!
I'm certainly intrigued. I look forward to seeing where you go with this.
It seems like the ponies are pretty much evil in casses like these.
Haven't read the story yet. Just wanted to clarify a few things. So the point is mankind is can choose between joining Equestria and have a new life. Or remain it what is left of humanity as it quickly dwindles to nothing as well as there technology, traditions, culture, history and etc. And there is group of humanity that will not give up without a fight?
Because if this is the story it sounds REALLY damn familiar, yet I can't place my finger on it.
539894
I believe nobody has yet tried the, errm, perspective I'm using.
539139 I think it was just that (when they asked why people kept tracking finished stories) no one was using 'fave' and people were using track for both 'I want email on this when it updates' and 'I'll read this later and decide', so they changed it to the 'read later' list and 'fave w/ optional e-mail' thing that's there now.
539948
Well I've seen this idea SOMEWHERE! I just can't remember from what. Whether it be from a fanfic, book, TV show or movie...and it's bothering me greatly.
Oh and i found fight even if there are no chances of winning. After all better to go down fighting then give up. After all fighting against impossible odds is what makes it fun and exciting.
Interesting. Not sure about this fic yet, but I've definitely got my eye on it. There's potential here.
Hmm. Interesting take on the CB-verse where the Human characters are actually likable.
Hopefully, this will partially serve as a deconstruction of the CB-verse.
This is not bad so far, but giving my knowledge of TCB fics, I'm not holding out much hope. I'm sure Celestia is going to demand that they convert, but I could just be jaded after reading other TCB fics.
I do have this on watch though, and I hope that it turns out different for the humans. but we'll see.
539369
Well, you're looking at them through human eyes, and in this Universe they've got a lot less reasons to be enamoured with candy-colored horsies than we do, dontcha think?)) They even might be reading between the lines things which aren't really there, or at least not quite in the way Frank and Maria worded them. The characters' attitude towards ponies, the Princesses & Equestria will be further clarified in the next chapter.
By the way, guys, I read all the comments, and if I don't reply to some of them, it is generally because an honest answer would be too much of a spoiler. Sorry
Glad to see an update, I was worried it would never come! Exposition heavy, which I don't mind, but I did have trouble keeping track of all the new characters and who was speaking at various times. Other than that one issue, I liked what I read; I'm hoping that this democratic city-state will leave a more favorable impression of mankind to the Princesses, but barring that it's good to hear they are being proactive in developing a contingency to deal with the encroaching barrier. I look forward to reading chapter 3.
If the alternative is as bad as conversion, I hate to think of what it is.
Well, I too have been waiting for a while, but this seems quite good and getting better with each chapter. Waiting for more and a moustache for you.
808221
Pareto's principle - 20% of work takes 80 percent of time, they say
807781
Make no mistake here, for now their 'democracy' generally amounts to wishful thinking
I'm now running into the next chapter's territory a bit, but this state you're currently seeing basically began as a coup of one of the local WorlGov branches against the central authority, backed up by the military. Their society, political and administrative structures still heavily take after their ubiquitous, totalitarian predecessors, and this cannot be changed in an instant. It's been even worse at first, 'cause organisations which enforced law and upheld public order for the WG were not part of the conspiracy, and had to be disbanded.
I'd say this state of affairs wouldn't be changing at all - after all, it has been time-tested, and it eliminates certain problems and complications - if it wasn't for (initially) Frank's belief that such a structure becomes very fragile and vulnerable whenever an important position falls into incompetent or ill-willed hands (heh, he's speaking out of personal experience). By his decision, things being as they are were filed under the "State of Emergency" label, and behind it they're working towards creating a mid-21st century-inspired state
That's no cakewalk by any means, not least because they're trying to artificially rebuild something humanity hasn't seen for several decades.
808166
I'm now going to choose one out of several alternative versions of "what exactly was he talking about", to avoid accidental contradictions in the future, actually))
Huh, use your imagination
I understand that it is one of the many underlying themes of "Conversion Bureau" fics, but I can't help but get a little upset at the fact that the ponies which we hold dear to our hearts just march in and act like they own the place. I know that it wouldn't make for much of a story, but I think that most of our problems would be resolved by keeping the Princesses' on a short leash in the first place. It may seem a little cruel to keep people from becoming ponies, but I think that there would be no problems with this giant magical bubble going to kill anyone who doesn't want to be a pony (Personally, I wouldn't; I like my opposable thumbs.) had the human population diminish below the minority line.
This story is great so far, by the way. I am in no way bashing it. I just have a tendency to voice my opinions on a topic I feel strongly about. All in all, I think that the majority of the human's in the Conversion Bureau universe could be solved by getting on top of the issue rather than just standing back with a WTF face while the human race continues to dwindle into non-existence.
TL;DR - read it anyway
- IrOnPUdDiNg
826281
> I understand that it is one of the many underlying themes of "Conversion Bureau" fics, but I can't help but get a little upset at the fact that the ponies which we hold dear to our hearts just march in and act like they own the place.
You don't say?
It's probably one of the reasons the Mane 6 (relatively) rarely make an appearance in TCB stories, compared to most other fanfic sub-genres.
The one who got it the hardest though is, without any doubt, the Sun princess. I guess if the 'canon' Celestia learned of the way she's depicted in some of the TCB fanfics, she'd be a lot more upset about it than over the harmless "Trollestia" and "Molestia" jokes.
> I think that most of our problems would be resolved by keeping the Princesses' on a short leash in the first place.
> All in all, I think that the majority of the human's in the Conversion Bureau universe could be solved by getting on top of the issue rather than just standing back with a WTF face while the human race continues to dwindle into non-existence.
That is a good point, and in fact there are several 'fics (you can find some of them in "Humans aren't bastards" and "Anti-TCB" groups, btw) which explore this ocean of possibilities. My story, however, follows a more 'classic' outset, where humanity has dug itself into a hole deep enough before taking any action to preserve itself.
) enough. For now, the most immediately-notable difference is the Barrier which accelerates and decelerates instead of a steady rate of 'ground consumption'. As for other differences... well, you'll have to wait and see.
Actually, it was my intention to 're-invent' the typical TCB setting from my point of view. I do hope that, aside from my heroes and the perspective, the rest of the universe looks familiar (I'm even hoping for 'cliché'
interesting Story so far, Keep going