“So, dear…” Rarity asks innocently as she casually eyes up a dress in a boutique window. “…Are you enjoying yourself?”
I pause to consider her question. It’s my first time going out to Canterlot – which is to say, going out to have fun, instead of just commuting between the palace and the clinic. Surprisingly, it hasn’t really played out the way I thought it would.
Firstly, I hadn’t quite expected the paparazzi storm that had engulfed us when we left the castle grounds. There were twelve different unicorns, all furiously snapping photos of us and shouting questions relating to anything from the trial to my brand of cologne – it’s Mare’s Stallion, by the way. Rarity claimed that it was what all the proper Canterlot stallions were using, so why not give it a try?
The blitz hadn’t lasted long, though. The parasites had been quickly driven-off by the palace guards, leaving me to wonder why this was the first time I’d been mobbed when I’ve been out on the Canterlot streets a grand total of two times before now.
“It’s…” I turn and take a look at the dress Rarity’s busy evaluating. “It’s fun, but not really what I expected.”
“Is it because of those newspaper nuts?” Rainbow jerks her head forwards to the end of the street, where a pair of ‘journalists’ are being held at bay by a pair of city guards.
“Yeah. They kinda took me by surprise.”
“Not me.” Rainbow puffed her chest out. “Ponies are always bugging me for interviews and stuff, and I’d actually do some of them… but that sorta stuff’s way too boring, ya know?”
“Rainbow.” Applejack promptly reprimands the cyan mare for her boasting. “What she means, Jacob, is tha’ ever since this whole mess started, we’ve been getting them reporters buggin’ us every time we leave the palace.”
“Still better than the paparazzi on Earth.” I shrug. I feel like I should apologize for the inconvenience that the incident’s caused, but come on. Being bugged by the media’s probably the smallest out of all the complications I’ve caused – or more specifically; Trixie’s caused. “They’re like parasites.”
“That they are, Jacob.” Applejack nods, while I take a moment to wonder why she continues to call me Jacob, instead of Keys. “They’ll write down any li'l thing an’ call it news.”
I nod, and we fall silent, waiting patiently for Rarity to finish her window-shopping and the others to return from their own browsing. Twilight’s been sucked in by a bookstore further up the street, Fluttershy’s looking for some high-grade pet food – most likely for Angel – and Pinkie went AWOL the moment she saw a bakery, leaving the rest of us to mill around in the middle of the street.
It’s almost like going into town back on Earth – except that back on Earth most of my friends were male, and I didn’t get stared at wherever I went. That’s getting to be a real pain. Some ponies are subtle, others aren’t. Either way I feel like every move I make is being watched, which is extremely uncomfortable.
Maybe at some point, when the trial’s over and ponies have gotten used to having a human amongst them, I’ll be able to walk out here on my own and not be stared at like some carnival sideshow. It’s not even the ‘adored celebrity’ kind of staring, so much as it is the ‘Oh wow, it’s that really strange thing’ staring.
“Ugh…” Rarity grunts in a detestable tone. “This dress has been hoof-stitched all wrong, and altered with a machine of all things. What self-respecting boutique owner would put this on display?”
“Does it matter?” I ask bluntly, not even attempting to offer any real advice. It’s a useless gesture, though, as I know that Rarity’s making these comments to assert that she’s a better dressmaker than whoever produced the gaudy piece in the window.
“You aren’t going to buy it, so why don’t you just forget it entirely?”
Rarity doesn’t have a reply for me, so I simply shrug and turn to look at another window.
We’re in the heart of Canterlot’s shopping district, which is filled with the most upscale shops you could find. It’s just too bad that I’ll never be able to get my hands on a computer, or at least an iPod. I’m really missing my music.
Instead, most of these stores are filled with products that could come from – at the very latest – the forties. Things like record players and typewriters seem to be the most mechanically-advanced devices I can find, even though Twilight has a machine that reminds me of a massive 50’s era computer in the basement of Golden Oaks, and the Flim-Flam brothers own something resembling a car.
Here’s a fun fact about Equestrian typewriters. There’s two different kinds. One has a full QWERTY keyboard, made so that unicorns and possibly pegasai can type directly onto paper– although I’m not really sure how fast unicorns would be able to type - due to their limited multitasking capabilities. Pegasi might have an easier time of it, but they’d be limited to peck typing with the tips of their wings.
The other kind is the same type shown in ‘Ponyville Confidential’, with only two oversized keys so that earth-ponies can operate them. I honestly have no idea how that works. Maybe it punches Morse Code into a card, and an air-reader converts that into text. As unlikely a concept as it is, there wouldn’t necessarily be any electrical computing involved… so it might work.
“Cupcakes!” Pinkie’s voice reaches my ears as she trots up the street towards us. Her back is laden with an obscenely large pile of confections, comprised primarily of cupcakes and all sorts of pastries. Even at a distance, they look mouth-wateringly delicious – which sucks, considering I can’t eat them.
“Lots and lots of cupcakes!” The party-pony hollers as she rejoins the group. “There’s enough for everypony!”
“How kind of you, Pinkie.” Rarity removes the top cupcake from the tower with her magic. “This all looks quite delicious.”
Disinterested, I turn my attention back to the storefronts around us. I’m starting to wish that I’d taken Twilight up on her offer to go looking though bookstores. A good book would be a great way to pass the hours leading up to the trial – after all, I can’t play the piano all the time.
The four mares are chatting away happily, snacking on Pinkie’s hoard of treats, which gives me a chance to do a little exploring. I mean, hey; I might even find something nice that catches my eye. I’ve still got a few thousand bits to my name, and I doubt funds will be a problem any time soon once the trial’s been and gone. The hell Trixie put me through is going to lead to some juicy reparations from her family, which means I’ll be able to pay my own way for the next little while – and stop leeching off the royal sisters.
Actually, I’m starting to feel quite cheerful. The worst is behind me, and the future is nothing but sunshine and friendliness – and therapy, of course. The only uncertainty is how long the Mane Six will be sticking around Canterlot. Most of them have duties back in Ponyville, which I doubt they arranged suitable stand-ins for before coming to Canterlot – I mean, the Grand Gallopng Gala was only meant to keep them away one night, and now it’s been ten days.
It’s at this point that I catch myself staring blankly at a set of large ornate dinner plates in the window of an expensive homewear store, drawing surprised stares from the ponies residing within it. An awkward chuckle at my own foolishness and a casual sidestep to the next window takes care of that issue, and I can’t help but notice that this is one of the first times in ages when I’ve taken such a ‘who cares’ approach to what random strangers think of me.
The next store looks to be selling antiques. A cursory look in through the window shows no musical instruments of any kind, so I simply frown and keep moving. I don’t know what problems so many people seem to have with browsing store windows. Even if you aren’t looking to buy, there’s normally something that’s interesting for some reason or other.
After ogling at a few different pony inventions – including a giant pair of hoof-operated scissors and an array of jewellery designed to fit on a unicorn’s horn – I find myself perusing the bookstands standing outside a fancy-looking bookstore, now so far up the street that the cheerful banter of my pony companions is barely more than a faint burbling.
There’s a breathtaking assortment of literature laid out in front of me, and I don’t recognize a single title or author. It’s actually a bit of an ‘Oh wow’ moment to think about. There’s so much to this world that the show could never hope to capture and portray. Every Equestrian author, and every book they wrote, and every page in those books are all things that I would have never known had actually existed had I not come here. Now I’m the only human ever to be privy to these things – apparently.
Is that a reason to be happy I’m here? I can never tell any more. Now I need to impose an extremely harsh standard on what makes me happy I came to Equestria, because it needs to be something so wonderful that it justifies a month of brutalization and torture. If I had arrived here any other way, every last little thing about Equestria would make me happy that I’m here.
And amazingly, thinking about this isn’t ruining my mood at all.
“Changelings and You: How to Enjoy a Successful Relationship with a Shape Shifter.” I mumble, gazing amusedly at one of the many books. Its cover depicts a Changeling with its upper body transformed into the likeness of what can best be described a handsome stallion with an alluring smile adorning his face. Looks like Equestrian society isn’t as G-rated as My Little Pony portrays it.
Looking through a few more of the books, I find myself surprised by how many relationship guides are adorned with pictures of stallions. Most of them are images of rugged or handsome ponies, but a few seem to lean towards the sultry in their presentation.
I suppose that if you consider all of the background ponies from the show, Equestria still has a mare-stallion ratio that slightly favours mares. Maybe that’s caused a swap in gender objectification when compared to Earth – although judging by the small number of sexually-themed covers, I’m more inclined to say that the scales are close to even, leaning slightly towards stallion-objectification. It’d sure be fun to just view a group of ponies for a day and see what they do differently to humans, but I’d probably spend the entire time feeling like some creepy stalker.
As my long-winded train of thought on Equestria’s loose gender rolls comes to an end, I place the books back onto the rack and move into the store. I’ve got a chance to gleam some of the finer details of Equestrian society here, and I’m sure the others can do without me for a little while.
“The Lonely Mare: A Biography of Princess Luna… The Fantastical Sky Pirates of the North…” Some of these titles sound terrible. I also can’t help but feel that any biography written by the same pony who wrote a fiction novel on Sky Pirates would be a piece of crap. That’s a little preemptive, but I have no intention of actually finding out.
There’s a plethora of books available, grouped under their author’s name. What’s also surprising is the range some of these authors posses. I never would have thought that the mare who wrote the ‘Daring Do’ series could have also authored a collection of adult novels, but she did. (It’s also worth noting that there appear to be at least thirty Daring Do books, and this particular store has awarded them three shelve rows to hold all their copies.)
“How to please your stalli- Oh-Jesus, really?” I shake my head, quickly moving to the next collection of books, which appear to be a set of Daring Do rip-offs. And there was me thinking that Bronies had over exaggerated the popularity of the series.
“The Exciting Escapades of Ebony Eldritch? Come on.”
“Keys?” A familiar voice catches my attention, prompting me to turn on the spot and meet the gaze of a purple mare with four books slowly orbiting her head.
“Twilight.” I nod at the shelves next to me. “Just immersing myself in some Equestrian culture…. I think. Oh, and it seems that the others are nearly ready to get moving.”
“Okay.” She nods in turn. “I just need to pay for these.” Her eyes flicker to the books dawdling in a circle just above her eye-line.
“Right.” I glance up at the four books. They all look to be the same size and color, with the one presented to me right now emblazoned with the title; ‘A Mare’s Guide to Cultural Tolerance’.
Twilight walks past me, heading towards the counter at the front of the store. I myself can only stand there and bite my lip.
She’s buying a book on being culturally tolerant. That reminds me that I’ve made no attempt to adjust my behavior to Equestrian standards. The fact that Equestria and Earth have such similar social rules isn't exactly a factor when it comes to trying to fit in. There’s bound to be some notable differences, and I think I owe it to the others to at least try to fit in.
I watch Twilight walk away for a further second, before stepping back towards the corner she had emerged from.
After slipping out of sight, I immediately identify a large shelf full of books, each one emblazoned with the title ‘A Mare’s Guide to X’. Scanning through the titles, I see that they cover a massive range of topics, from astronomy to dating other species.
Of course, none of this helps me. There must be some books here for stallions.
Looking down, I notice that the books in the bottom shelf are colored differently to the rest. Their covers are a navy blue instead of a dark red.
Slowly – and painfully – I drop to my haunches, bringing my gaze to bear on the apparently smaller ‘A Stallion’s Guide’ series, which have been co-authored by the same writers of ‘A Mare’s Guide’.
My first worry is about the smaller selection range. A book on being culturally sensitive doesn't strike me as being a best seller in a place like Equestria – especially in Canterlot, with its majority unicorn population – so it’ll be a stroke of luck if they have a copy, considering how few books I see right now.
“Oh, hey; There it is.” I mutter to myself, retrieving a book from end of the shelf. “Huh. Convenient.”
With much groaning and cursing under my breath, I rise back to a standing position to properly inspect my prize. As I recall, two days ago I needed help getting up from a cushion. Now I can do squats without having to prop myself up with my cane. If that isn’t progress, then I don’t know what is.
I stroll back up to the front of the store, where Twilight is completing her purchase of seven different books – six of which look to be from the ‘A Mare’s Guide’ series. I can’t help but find that unusual, considering how scientific Twilight is. She has access to the Canterlot Archives, so why is she buying a bunch of beginner-level tutorial books?
“There we go.” Twilight accepts her change from the tired looking clerk, before picking up the stack of books with her magic and turning to me. “What’s that?”
“Just one of those ‘Stallion’s Guide’ books.” I shift slightly so that the subject title of the book is hidden. The last thing I want right now is a discussion on whether or not I need to be more culturally sensitive with Twilight in the middle of the store.
“Oh. Okay then.” Twilight nods slightly, looking notably irked by my evasiveness. “I’ll just… go meet up with the others.”
“Sure. I’ll be right behind you.” I make a point of smiling warmly as the lavender mare turns and departs. It might be a little awkward, but at least I averted an argument.
Once Twilight is out of sight I turn and slide the book onto the counter, before rummaging through my pocket and placing the fourteen bits the price-tag demands on top. “Good morning. Just this, thanks.”
The weary-eyed, blue-coated stallion behind the counter fixes his gaze on the book and money for a moment, before glancing up at me.
“I’m sorry.” He reaches out with one hoof and casually sweeps both the book and the bits towards him, pulling them over the edge of the counter. “We don’t serve monkeys here.”
I watch dumbly as the stallion sweeps both the book and my bits onto the floor in front of him, which places them well out of my reach. It takes a good three seconds for his words to register.
“I’m sorry?” I raise an eyebrow. Surely I misheard him.
“I said, we don’t serve your kind here. No animals.” The stallion’s eyebrows drop slightly, turning his eyes from tired to angry as a hard edge enters his voice. “Now, get out of my store.”
Is this actually happening? Did this prick just steal my money and tell me to get out? Am I being targeted by racial discrimination?
“What?” I blink twice at the blue unicorn. It looks like Equestria definitely isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Trixie’s journal had alluded to her being a unicorn-supremacist, and it looks like there are others with the same mindset.
“I said…” The unicorn’s eyebrows lower further as raises himself up slightly, despite the fact that at best his head reaches the top of my stomach. “…Get, out.”
“What?” I ask again, still finding it hard to believe that the owner of a book store is doing this. Where the hell did this come from?
“I’m not saying it again.” The clerk tenses up slightly, as if anticipating some sort of scuffle. “Get the hay out of my store, you dumb Monkey – or there’ll be trouble.”
I continue to stare at the unicorn for a few more seconds, summing things up. I’ve just been robbed, and now I’m being discriminated against and threatened. There’s no way I’m going to just stand here and take it.
“Trouble?” I spit the word out of my mouth, loading it up with as much contempt as I can. “You think I’m afraid of your prissy little ‘trouble’?”
The clerk bristles at my accusation “Are you call-”
“No! No! Fuck you!” I cut him off, my voice rising in volume. “I was beaten tortured, and kept in a cage for a month! Do you think I’m afraid of a scrawny little asshole like you?”
The blue unicorn stares at me for a moment. It doesn't seem like he’s at a loss as to what to say, so much as he seems surprised by my explosive rebuttal.
“How dare you?!” He demands, his voice outraged. “How dare you speak such slander in my store?!”
“Go fuck yourself!” I respond heatedly, hefting my cane. “I should… I should kick your ass for that!”
I’m taller than this asshole, and I have my trusty cane to use as a club. Even in my weakened state, I think I could win in a struggle – provided that he doesn't get a chance to buck at me, of course.
“I’d like to see you try, you filthy ape!” The clerk looks about ready to leap over the counter and attack me. What started as some R-13 racism has escalated into a heated exchange that looks to be on the verge of becoming physical in nature.
“Keys? Are you okay?” Twilight’s voice cuts off my own reply, which most likely would have been the final quip from either me or the clerk before our exchange came to blows.
I turn to look at Twilight, who is accompanied by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The other three mares are hanging back in the middle of the street, and all six of the look concerned.
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
“But we heard shouting.” Rainbow challenges my claim. “What’s going on?”
I pause, glancing at the now-uncomfortable looking unicorn behind the counter. I desperately want to hit this racist stallion, but at the same time I know I already have an infinitely better option available to me at this very moment. All I need to do is mention this to the others, and this guy will get his comeuppance. It’ll most likely be a fine or something for theft and slander, which is okay with me. It’s still a better idea than getting into a brawl.
I smirk slightly at the stallion. It goes without saying that he hasn’t thought this through very well.
“It’s fine.” I repeat as I smile readily, looking from the mares to the clerk. “Enjoy the rest of your day, sir.”
I take a moment to savor the growing expression of apprehension on the clerk’s face, before turning back to the others. “Let’s go. I’ll tell you outside.”
Author's Note:
R-13 Racism FTW!
Anyway, this is a chapter which doesn't have much happen in it, but at the same time has something markedly interesting happen in it. I suppose it's up to you all whether you like it or not.
Coming up next: HAIRCUTS!
And of course, feel free to nitpick. I love feedback.
Vengeance on a racist? This will be good.
holy bouncing Buddhas, i was JUST thinking to myself, wondering when you were going to add the next chapter and BAM there it is! that almost surprised the whiskers off my face! time to put mah reese's peanut butter cups down and start reading!!!
Wow, ponies are DUMB.
Aw that guy is getting what's comin' for 'im.
A visit by Molestia.
Should have seen that coming. Trixie isn't the only pile of horse manure out there, just the worst of it. Gotta remind myself, Equestria may be better than Earth in many ways, but that still doesn't mean it's a perfect utopian paradise either. Probably a very unique style of racism due to the fact that there's more than one sentient race in the world.
Ponyville didn't take kindly to Zecora for a good long while. I also remember Rarity would not stop calling Iron WIll a monster just because he was different. Even though he was to an extent minding his manners, she would not stop calling him a monster. Never failed to raise my hackles. Then there's Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. And the greedy diamond dogs and Gilda. The ponies are no strangers to war either...
Well, anyways, this is a good chapter. Unexpectedly serious but does a good healthy job at painting Canterlot in a more sensible and less Disney-ish sort of way without being over the top dark or grim in a cheesy sort of way. Thank you very much!
I would have whacked him with my cane and go ballistic, but hey
that's just the anger talking
Great chapter! It's awesome how you create equestria as something
that can resemble our civilization but have a different outlook on things.
Racist bastard=store clerk
That unicorn was lucky Keys is weak.
Why didn't Keys take the opportunity to get the book before leaving?
I'll fell free then.
"I desperately want to hit the ass of a stallion, "
That came out kinda wrong
Also, this guy is too passive, he could've at least told them all right there, his money was still stolen.
It'd be hilarious if "The Fantastical Sky Pirates of the North" turns out to be a non-fiction historical account.
Probably a good world building development to establish that Trixie isn't the only bad pony in the world. That said... he is so going to get what's coming to him, the only real question should be which of the mane 6 gets to him first.
Even if Keys turns decides to not want to continue the fight, at the very least he should not just accept the theft of his money.
Love it.
I can't help but complain that Keys was a bit too passive in his encounter with the bookstore owner. Sure, his decision was probably much more professional than any of the alternatives; but, as he said, he was beaten and locked in a cage for a damn long time. If I were in his place, nothing would have stopped me from going ballistic on that guy while the Mane 6 were in the store - not necessarily physical, of course, but you could be damn sure I would be screaming and hollering at the injustice of the situation.
But then I'd have to deal with the problem of the press, so I guess it's a good thing I'm not in his place.
Anyway, definitely looking forward to what happens next, especially the girls' and possibly the Sisters' reactions.
Also 1572235
God damn, I lol'd pretty hard at that. Fantastic tension breaker.
In my mind, I have stabbed that fool till his intestines have been expelled.
Awaiting further releases.
1572330
Eh, I'd pass of his passiveness as a combination of utter disbelief at the gall of that bastard and probably being rather tired (He's still going trough physical therapy).
For all those advocating violence, don't be silly, what's a little physical pain when there are still journalists outside. A little free advertising and that store will not only face theft charges, it will likely go under when the population of canterlot learns what just happened.
I am sorry my good, all be it racist, stallion. Due to my currently injured state, I cannot give you the punishment you deserve myself. That's why I am going to tell the royal princesses Celestia and Luna, I believe they may wish to have words with you afterwards... Have a nice day.
Racism...Racism everywhere.
"I desperately want to hit the ass of a stallion, but at the same time I know I already have an infinitely better option available to me at this very moment. "
Frustrated, Keys?
Keys should have pulled the Predator-Prey card and put that pony back in its natural place.
What the Hell? What the FUCKING Hell?
1572125>>1572656
He didn't take the book because it fell onto the floor, along with his bits. He wasn't able to pick it up because he's still stiff, and it's mentioned earlier that he had a hard time squatting and then standing back up without using his cane.
Stupid racist thieving pony is very, very stupid.
Like, he's way too stupid to be credible. I would "understand" not selliing anything.. because hes stupid, but stealing Key's money too? Considering that everyone must know Key is under royal protection? In public? For a goddamn book?!
That pony must be a stupid singularity or something.
Now i just want the retribution to be of divine/magnificient bastard proportions. I'll get the popcorn.
1572010
I think you mean that its portrayed in a more realistic way rather than resembles our own civilization.
Believe it or not, in many areas of our own world racism is on its way out. What does remain is subtle, certain reactions you have almost subconsciously, or ideas only mentioned in private. Obvious racists dont last long in most social circles and outright discrimination is punishable by law, not to mention bound to lose you nearly all of your business.
Overall i find it fascinating how people still think our own world is some dark evil place filled with nothing but misery when compared to Equestria, and still fall back on that ( Earth < Equestria) way of thinking, even when met with a situation that humans have largely begun to make real progress on and the ponies (If this issue is anything more than an isolated incident.) seem to have a problem with.
mememaker.net/static/images/memes/952161.jpg
1573133
Oh my god!!!
Why did you post that!
Now I can't stop laughing!
Keys should have two little words in his head after all this blows over. "Go home."
This has been a nice wake up call indeed. I wonder if it will change his expectations of the outcome of the trial. I fact, he seems to be surprisingly naive, assuming he'll get big money from reparations. This is Equestria, not Earth. The rules are different.
Is it weird he said a whole bunch of anti-human slurs and the only part that phases me is that he stole that Key's money? Also what is with Keys this chapter, he is kinda a jerk through out. He was planning out how he is going to leech money out of Trixie's parents.
He needs to chill out with the hate. He is in Equestria, happy, rich, and is friends with the mane 6 and yet all he can do is think about what horrible thing will happen to Trixie next. Yes she made your life a living hell for a month, but you are getting stronger and her horn is still shattered. You won, so stop being a sadistic creep.
Also having a whole bunch of how to books for mares and only a few for stallions sounds abit more than 'slightly' sexist.
1571993
but isnt a visit from molestia more a reward than a punishment?
1572001 Is she the worst of it, though? Do we really know for certain that as horrifically evil as she is, there isn't anyone worse than she is?
Keys, how do you expect to get any respect when all these ponies act like you're their bitch?! You gotta man the fuck up and start handing everypony's ass to them. Knocking the shit out of them will prove you don't take shit from anyone, which would most definitely come in handy.
Man. Keys is one very patient man. Weak or no, that's when the cane should have hit the head. Leave the unicorn with a nice lump.
Then again, unicorn. Unicorn means magic. Keys has had some very bad experiences with magic. He could well realise that.
Huh, there are idiots all over the multiverse apperently.
"we dont serve monkeys"
oh shit.
Ooh, jumping back to the echo of an abandoned plot point from book 1, are we?
I'm ok with the existence of racist ponies, just don't take it too far. (Though I realize the futility of asking the mind that came up with all the horror that Keys went through for mercy is akin to asking Twilight not to reference her books for an essay.)
1571987 The premise is human influence seeps in because the show's made by humans. So far, it's been relatively mild, just another lower-level unicorn with a stick up his flank who thought he could get away with something. If ponies can sweat, he's just opened an ammunition shop with all those bullets. He has to know who Twilight is.
What we have yet to see is how the nobles react, aside from Cadance. I imagine Blueblood's going to open his mouth and prove he's an idiot, and I'm sure Fancypants' toadies will do similar. I have to wonder what the Guards think while keeping those stone faces.
Elitism: It's not just for Earthlings.
:1572125 The book and bits were swept behind the counter. Not easy to reach, even when you're healthy.
1573385 Not if you remember she has more stamina than probably every stallion in Canterlot.
Can you say "shattered pelvis" or "drop dead from exhaustion"? I knew you could!
1573913 Yeah, bullying always gets you respect. </sarcasm>
Not as bad as it could have gone. The last thing Jacob needs is to have ponies thinking he's unstable. He should have told Twi immediately, but I think he's going to let the word get back to Celestia and Luna, which is infinitely worse. I mean, who wants to be sent to the moon?
And deep down, where he won't even admit it to himself, I think he's very likely still afraid of unicorns that resemble Trixie. Appearance and attitude. It wasn't worth a confrontation, anyway. All he needs to do is wait.
1574341 Violence is always the answer. Always. Even in Algebra.
Naw. I'm just playing. In all seriousness, though, he can't just let everypony walk over him like a rug. He needs to stand the frick up right there. Beating the stallion behind the counter would've been totally called for and within his right. In my opinion.
1574327
doesnt matter, i had snu-snu
This chapter was the best yet!
Epic plot twist/prediction: Key's/Jacob's romantic intrest is...(pause for dramatic effect)...TRIXIE! (that would be interesting...)
Just a thought...but the way it's going I think it's Twilight.
Also..."We don't serve monkeys here!" LOL
That unicorn just stole Keys' book and money. Better get the Royal Guard on this.
1571925 I started laughing my ass off so hard at the little quarrel. I literally imagined keys for a second kicking some store clerks ass. Good show my friend, good show indeed.
Keys had trouble doing a squat. It's for the best it didn't come to blows, because he would've gotten his ass handed to him on a magic platter. The unicorn would have ripped the cane out of his weakened hands with telekinesis and beat the ever loving bejesus out of him.
Still, props for the unexpected altercation... it was weird not seeing any sort of darker side to things after the tone of this story's predecessor. It's also nice to see Keys getting a little more active. The world building was a nice touch, too.
The wheels keep turning, and it leaves me wondering where this story's gonna go. you spin a good yarn, good sir. A good yarn, indeed.
Wasn't expecting the racism........
Keys needs to do the mature thing. Go beg Luna or Celestia to go take away that dudes store, take away his serving license or something. I mean keys has the hookup being friends with Celestia, he needs to set an example of the guy. So that everypony knows that racism will not be tolerated. It's like bullying he you don't shove back its only gonna get worse. It'd be logical to get the princesses to stomp out the fire before it grows, eh?
1572235 Agreed! Get rid of them darn monkeys! We need more ponies!
What happened to my prediction of 'the uneventful afternoon' chapter?