The sound of my hooves seemed to echo through the hallway as I made my way through the castle. It was afternoon... or early morning for me... and ponies were moving all over the place on their duties. Guards, castle admin staff, even a few maids could be seen.
I tried not to get in any of their way, but I didn't let any of them delay me from my destination.
Stopping by a pair of doors, I looked to the guards outside it, "is she in?"
"Princess Celestia is currently in a meeting, your Highness," Sergeant Clear Blade answered from the left of the door, "I believe it will be finished in a few hours."
"Hey, good news, change of schedule," I said and walked past them to push the doors open.
I really disliked doing that to them as both of them kind of twitched. Their orders were to not let anyone in, I knew that, but.. alicorn.
"...Sir," Clear Blade said and moved a bit to get in my way, "Princess Celestia is in a meeting with the representative of the tax service. I'm not to let anypony past..."
"I understand that, sergeant," I told him, "But this is something that potentially affects the lives and freedom of hundreds of ponies. Please stand aside, I am going through those doors. Guards or no guards."
He looked profoundly unhappy but didn't move, "I...I have my orders, sir," he said, "But I may ask Princess Celestia for clarification?"
My respect for him went up another couple of notches and I paused, giving him a nod, "Go."
He bowed briefly and then backed up and wrote a small note on a piece of paper before he knocked on the door and opened it a crack before slipping the note through where it was quickly grabbed by a yellow magical aura.
A few seconds later I heard Celestia's voice, "Let him in, Sergeant."
He opened the door and I moved past, giving him a nod on the way before I entered the room. I looked to the unicorn with stacks of papers laid out before him on Celestia's Desk, "Leave us."
Penny Pincher quickly turned to me, "Lord Page, I don't think you quite realize wha-" he started to say before he just kind of trailed off and swallowed before he quickly nodded, "I-I think it may be just about time to break for lunch," he said and then quickly bowed to Celestia, "W-with your permission, Princess?"
"We can continue later," she agreed and he quickly left the room. Almost fled.
Celestia quickly got up and rounded the desk as the door closed behind him, her horn flashing and the outline of the walls and doors quickly flashed, signalling a sound dampening spell, "Page, what's wrong?"
I scraped my hoof against the marble floor and shifted my wings before I looked to her, "Do you know how many bat ponies there are?"
Celestia blinked and then frowned slightly, "I don't. I know they are rare."
"I don't know either," I told her, "Could be a dozen left. A hundred. Couple of thousand. Nopony knows. Do you know why?"
She shifted her wings slightly as she frowned at me, "They can use their illusion to look like pegasi?"
"And almost every single one does," I said before I looked up at her, "Because if they don't, do you know how they are treated?"
Celestia actually flinched slightly before she sighed, "...Yes. I do."
I looked at her for a long moment, "Do you know what I did yesterday?"
Celestia nodded and slowly sank down to sit, "The same thing I did a hundred and eleven years ago."
I blinked at her in surprise, "What?"
She shook her head sadly and looked to me, "About a hundred and eleven years ago, it struck me that it was a very long time since I last saw an actual bat pony. So I did some research into the matter. I managed to find a few dozen and I talked to them. I then tried to go out in public after using a transformation spell to look like one. I... suspect my experience was similar to yours."
I stomped my hoof against the marble floor with an echoing crack, "So why didn't you do anything about it!?"
Celestia sighed sadly, "Do what, Page? There are already laws against discriminating against ponies based on their tribe... and yes, thestrals count as one. There aren't enough thestrals around to let ponies get used to seeing them every day, even with the Lunar guard. They are already protected under the law, same as everypony else."
I raised my wings, "But there has to be something!"
"What would you have me do, Page?" she said gently, "Order ponies to be kind? Do it by force? There is only so much even alicorns and princesses can do."
I looked at her for a long moment before I felt my ears droop and I sank down to sit as well, refolding my wings, "...I don't know..."
Celestia scooted a bit closer, slipping a foreleg around me along with a wing and I hugged back, leaning against her warmth.
What do we do?
Celestia gave my mane a small nuzzle, “You’re right, Page. It’s way past time that something is done. We’ll figure something out, I promise.”
“I know where we have to start,” I said against her coat, “The guard.”
Celestia tensed and then slowly shifted to look down at me, looking into my eyes, “What did they do?” she asked.
Last time I heard that tone from her, she threatened to burn the griffon ambassador alive.
I put my hoof on her chest with a small smile, “Relax, Sunshine. I just think we need to give them some clearer rules of conduct.”
Celestia frowned slightly before she nodded, “Very well.”
Time to sort out the Pony Police.
Here's an idea, Page: write a book. Have one of the protagonists be a bat pony and give the reader a way to sympathize with and understand them and what they put up with. The trick is though, don't make that the main focus of the story, otherwise it could come off as preachy and get ignored.
On a different note, I wonder how it would be received if it became known that Fluttershy, the bearer of the element of kindness and a hero of the kingdom, was a bat pony? I think she's what the bat ponies need, a celebrity that's loved and a bat pony to show everyone that bat ponies aren't bad or something to be afraid of. It'd take a lot to get herself to put herself out there like that though.
To say something not directly related to this chapter, I appreciate the regularity and consistency of your updates and for having something enjoyable to read because of that. Thank you.
i always hate how short these chapters are but every day im so glad to see a +1 chapter to this story.
The Royal Guard is supposed to uphold the laws of the nation among other duties. What that Guard did was directly contrary to that and he knew it. A very public demotion is in order as a warning to the others.
10370432
I agree. The best way to fight racism, or specism in this case, is to normalize the minority group and educate the rest. Fear of the unknown is probably the most pervasive fear in humanity; I imagine it's the same or worse for ponies. But expose people to the minority everyday, throughout the day. While understandable, the concensus of bat ponies to hide themselves is also preventing them from becoming the norm. Including bat pony protagonists and characters in popular media is a good way to normalize them and dispel myths. The danger there is creating or enforcing stereotypes about the minority group.
That said, Celestia is right. There probably aren't enough bat ponies to normalize them across Equestria, and you can't force ponies to not be specist. I think Page has a good start.
Celestia and her "nothing unpleasant" policies... She is damn highest moral authority in whole Equestria, one thing she could instantly do as first measure and that would help wonders, would be openly and loudly calling anyone, who claim himself follower of harmony and later treat somepony worse because he had leathery wing, straw shameless hipocrite who make her ashamed as princess of this nation. Yes, for a lot of ponies it would be slap across face, but it's how you point out evil, by being blunt about it, not by jumping around it, so you will not hurt anyone. Your next massive failure, Celestia, coming from this, that you want to be all kind and pleasant, when positions of power sometimes require to be hard and ruthless for greater good.
Celestia also forget about two old proverbs: "Only thing that evil needs to win, is apathy of good", "These who stay silent about something, agree for it"
*wormhole opens at the Crystal Empire*
Discord: ....sigh...hey *pout*
Princess Cadance: ...sigh...hey *bigger pout*
Discord: Getting too serious to do any hilarious shipping related shenanigans too...
Princess Cadance: YES and Shining Armor is rubbing it in my face with a party at the castle!
*Sounds of Party Time Shining Armor being heard thru the walls*
Discord: I see...*brings out a barrel of extra strong apple cider along with two filled glasses* A toast for better days?
Princess Cadance: A toast for better days.
*both clinking their glasses and start drinking for the rest of the day*
That is a very important first step, if the guards allow, condone, or even worse display, discriminatory behavior themselves then the average pony will never have a reason to change
Ok ... Laws exist. Behavior needs to be checked...
Celestia isnt exacly wrong. Still a few words of dissapointment would do a lot. A speech in fact
But seriously Thestral ponys need a royal treasure based breeding and foal raising support system.
THAT MUTCH should be the absoluty minimum Celestia can do for them.
And a week of nightmare as punishment.
I really liked this chapter and the direction the story is going.
It made me think however on Pages words towards Celestia on rules of conduct for the guards.
It really reached me personally (see below for the reason) and I think that alone would not cut it, and so I decided to write a heartfelt letter to Hiver.
Now however, I think I'm ok with putting here as well since I am interested in thoughts of other readers concerning this. So here it goes:
After posting this, I discussed this whole topic with my fiancée and he asked:
Why are bat ponys treated so badly?
I explained their history in this story and so he asked:
Why wouldn't Celestia add it (he means the actual truth about thestrals) to stuff that should be taught in school?
I thought he had a point, so I'm adding this here as further food for thought.
10370455
I thought Celestia's way of judgment would be more positive. Punishment in this fashion seems to be the typical american way. Other countries still put people to jail (not that this is what I suggest here) but jails is treated as an instituation better the criminal so they can reintegrate into life after their sentence.
In this case I rather thought of a reprimand and a nececessary edudation and sensitivity training (and that in a positive and unforcing way) for the whole royal guard. And while we're at it: What about the Night Guard? Do they know they have actual thestrials among them and their history? What about palace staff?
10370694
Jails in america dont help people. One can be happy to leave it one day and not break wile inside... Youtube has many examples!
Well to be fair Celestia hold Equestria stable for over 1000 years... Everyone has to cut conors Thanks to Lunas return and Page being there she has less workload to relax from time to time and a few sets of new eyes to see problems plus helping hooves to solve things.
Good example you made here
A firm spech at how disapointed she is in her subjects for theire poor behaivour regarding Thestrals would certanly be a great start.
10370756
It's Celestia; for all but the most rotten, that'd be enough on its own. Remember, there are subtle implications that she's worshiped as a goddess, and she'd be well within her rights to agree with them (but she doesn't, because she's cool like that).
10370432
heyyy, that's a pretty great idea!
10370669
Thank you for that and thank you for that message.
Page (and I) is of the opinion that ignorance breed fear and knowledge stamps it out.
Yay new chapter!
Keep up the chapter work and let there be change for the bat ponies!!
In their defense, the interaction between Page and the guard wasn’t awful or abusive. They are just forced to being the bad guys. Not unlike most of our police.
10370669
I think you're right - information may help, yet, it is still a problem that I don't think will be solved just by information (for citizens) and instructions (for the guards)
As I see it, if the bats are going into society openly, it's going to be a long uphill process that neither side currently have much incentive to begin.
The bats have reputation, stigma and even abilities against them - illusion magic doesn't exactly invite trust. - That and it's a status quo none yet have shown much interest in changing.
My best suggestion beyond information and demystification ; "The children shall lead."
Looking forward to see Hiver's approach.
*hums funeral march* Oh, don’t mind me, just... trying to pick which dirge would go best for that one guard last chap.
I'm surprised that in a similar situation with bat pony, a similar anti-hero did not appear:
*on a dark night, a pony in a long cloak and a hat walked between the streets of Manehattan
S: Shadow Diary 7.08. ??
S: A rat carcass in an alley in the morning, hoof marks on a torn belly.
S: This city is afraid of me, I saw its true face: the streets are an extension of the sewers, and the ditches are filled with hatred.
S: And when the drains are completely clogged, all this scum will start to sink.
* a pair of webbed wings emerged from under the cloak and with several powerful strokes the pony flew up to the roof of a high-rise building.
S: When the accumulated dirt of hatred and contempt foams up to their waist, all the aristocrats and politicians will look up and cry out: "SAVE US!"
* slightly tilting his head from under the shadow of the hat, a pair of dragon eyes appeared.
S: and I will whisper: "NO! ..."
* looking around the pony began to look down at the city from the roof of a skyscraper
S: Now the whole world is standing on the edge, looking down into the hell of a hell, all these liberals, intellectuals, sweet-talked talkers, and from something suddenly no one knows what to say.
S: Below me is this terrible city, it screams like tartare, full of mentally retarded children, and the night is not the same as before.
* looking at the pocket watch designed in the style of nightmare moon, the pony said in a calm and calculating tone.
S: it's time for them to learn that for every action there is a reaction.
Thanks for the new chapter! Looking forward to the update!
Starting with the guard does sound like a good first step. After all, if you already have laws intended to curb unacceptable behavior and they’re not working at least in part because the people/ponies/whatever supposed to enforce them are themselves part of the problem, then no matter what else you’re also doing you’re not helping anyone by letting that stand.
My first step would also be the guard. Directly followed by education. Xenophobic idiots are mostly just morons who don't know better. The truth about racism has to be shoved down everyone’s throats repeatedly throughout school especially in the first years and again later when you can understand the topic better.
10521652
Although it still tries to rise it ugly head from time to time. But unlike the old days people who kill without a good reason such as self defense eventually pay the price though it will hopefully be easier when they can get cops to remember that they can't charge people for not bowing to them
That was the correct answer! 👍
10371050
Bad police is still a minority, especially when you look beyond the borders and at the entire world.
"Ma'am, your mere existence is causing a disturbance. You need to leave. Now!"
10371050
Was he breaking any laws? No? Then leave him alone. Thestrals deserve to eat lunch at a public park same as any other tribe.
That guards earned a raise or a few day of payed leave at least in my book!
You don't know what to do?
How about stop talking about 3 ponies tribes and start talking about 4 tribes?
Have a public reveal of the 4th type and changekings, better yet multiple such reveals were Celestia talks to the public about them and let the public interct with members of the species in a safe enviorement?
You know, do something. The situation is not the same as with humans were the problem is the interactions of the race with others and instead it is the lack of interaction. Heck, if Kitten is anything to go by everypony stills thinks they drink blood and hunt ponies.