The wind was a vampire, threatening to suck out every last bit of warmth. It was cloaked in a swirling white mask that reduced the world to two pony-lengths in every direction. The unending desolation would crush hope in all but the most foolhardy -- or the most determined. Mi Amore Cadenza was one of the latter. She was a mare on a mission. With Celestia as her witness, she would not fail.
She had not come unprepared. Her entourage included the best cold weather specialists that Equestria had to offer. Using every trick at their disposal, they were able to guide her toward the sanctuary in the storm. Cadance smiled as she let her mind wander.
She had her Shiny at her side and a multitude of support ponies at her back. She would make Auntie proud.
Then, she would take a nice long soak in a hot bath.
With hot chocolate.
Lots of hot chocolate.
Snuggling with Shiny.
Nice warm Shiny.
The fantasy was so captivating that she did not at first register the wall of magic. Her backside was still experiencing an unfettered blizzard while her front half had emerged into a pleasant spring day. The ravenous wind was replaced by a warm breeze. Fresh grass tickled hooves where there should have been snow over permafrost instead. The respite was enough to take one's breath away. In the distance, however, lay something far more remarkable. It was a city older than Celestia herself, a city made of crystal.
Next to the pink princess, Shining Armor used a forehoof to lift the snow goggles from his eyes. “We have arrived,” he stated, awe in his voice.
“It’s here.” Cadance breathed. “It’s really here. Auntie was right.”
“I think I see ponies among the buildings,” Shining said, squinting as he shaded his eyes with a forehoof.
“They’re back.” Cadance smiled.
“That means the old king could be back as well.” Shiny reminded her with some hesitation.
“Then it is time to do what is necessary,” Cadance said with steel in her voice. “The city must survive.”
Shining replied, "I always knew you had the heart of a fighter."
Cadence gave a grim smile. "The old Cadence would have been shaking in her hooves. The pink queen knows she can handle the black king."
The Transfiguration classroom was now the exclusive domain of the Gryffindors.
“It’s not fair.” Lavender crossed her arms in front of her chest, pouting fiercely.
“Not fair?” Professor McGonagall scowled from where she was sitting behind her desk, having held the Gryffindors back after class. “I fail to see how holding you and your classmates to the same standards as the rest of the student body could be considered unfair.”
“But we weren’t hurting anyone,” Dean spoke up. “In fact, we were providing pizza and things for everyone.”
“Shall I consider that a confession?” Professor McGonagall asked. “In case you have forgotten, students are not allowed to leave school grounds unaccompanied. If a promise is required from your phoenix to halt that transgressions, then that is what shall be. Princess Celestia has already spoken to her on the subject, and it has been agreed that you shall have your wings clipped.”
“Princess or not, anypony clipping my wings is dead,” Scootaloo snarled, taking a step backward as the rest of the herd closed ranks in front of her.
Immediately, Professor McGonagall regretted uttering those words. “I was referring to your excursions with the help of Philomena," she said in a placating tone. "Children as young as yourselves should not be traipsing across the entirety of the United Kingdom unsupervised. It was a poor choice of words, I did not mean that literally, Miss Aloo.”
“I did,” Scootaloo said. “If anyone gets anywhere near my wings with a pair of scissors . . .”
“Miss Aloo!” Professor McGonagall snapped. “I shall not be spoken to in that tone of voice. Five points from Gryffindor.”
Hastily, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle huddled with her and quickly exchanged whispers. The professor could have sworn she could see the air shimmering above the redhead.
“I'm sorry, ma’am,” Scootaloo said contritely when she broke the huddle. “I just want to make it clear that my wings are off limits.”
“Understandable,” Professor McGonagall said. “Now I suggest you and your friends head to your next class, before I am forced to find more reasons to take points away from my house.”
“This sucks,” Seamus said as he followed his herdmates out of the classroom.
Minerva sighed as she watched them go. Without a word, she took a muggle object out of her top drawer. Twilight had attached a small crystal to it so it would work in a magic-rich environment. After the professor pressed a small button on it, tiny numbers began counting up, marking the seconds as they passed.
In a meeting room in an anonymous building in Whitehall, a meeting was taking place.
“So,” said a nondescript man sitting at the head of the table, “what have we learned this week?”
“Don’t eat Every Flavour Beans,” one of the other men immediately quipped.
“Oh?” asked the man running the meeting.
“Yes, petrol-flavored beans look just like licorice-flavored.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“The cheesecake flavored ones are to die for,” said a third man. “Pity they are so small that they just leave you wanting more.”
“I hardly think our time should be wasted discussing delicacies,” said the man in charge.
“I suppose you don’t want to hear about cockroach clusters either then?”
“I hope you’re joking,” pleaded someone further down the table.
“Keep hoping.”
“We are drifting off topic,” said the man in charge.
“Actually,” said a woman in a smart business suit, “I have one more food-related item that may be pertinent.”
“Please continue.”
“Our little centaur is lactose intolerant,” the woman said. “The poor dear made a mess in the girl’s loo.”
“I see.” A note was made on a conveniently-placed pad of paper. “How is she faring otherwise?”
“She tolerates the attentions of the other students well enough,” the woman said. “Enjoys it even. Her friend, Miss Thomas, on the other hand, has refused to take pony form ever since her classmates started bringing bows to class. She is a little tomboy. The whole class is adapting as is the wont of small children. The novelty of having nonhumans in their midst is quickly dissipating. One discrepancy of note is also food-related. Licenta consumes about two times what her peers do, resulting in some jealousy when snack time rolls around. The other children can’t understand why she’s getting more than they are, and she is too willing to share -- well, with the exception of when we serve apple slices, anyway. This was easily rectified by using alfalfa sprouts to make up the extra mass. She considers them a treat.”
“Good, good.” Another note was made. “I needn’t remind you that the wizards have reduced the centaurs to an endangered species, confining them to isolated locales. These people need our help, and the Queen means to see that they receive it.”
“Of course, sir.”
“What news of the elder daughter?”
“She still hasn’t changed at school. She is much more reserved than her younger sister. We only have second-hand knowledge of her changing at her friend’s houses, confirming that she is a pegasus like her siblings, and most likely her mother.”
“Any developments on the unicorn child?”
The woman shook her head. “The neighbor remains our only witness to his or his mother’s true nature. He hasn’t been tempted by the alfalfa sprouts offered in his cafeteria but has shown a preference for both apple pie and apple strudel when it’s served. The only thing to mark him as anything other than a normal child is that he has informed his friends that he will be joining his cousin at Hogwarts next year.”
“Have we ascertained how they are keeping their hair within the normal color spectrum?”
“Sir,” another man answered for the woman, “our observer, who had a tour of Canterlot, has reported seeing several ponies with manes that would be unnoticed in the general population. It is safe to say that any ponies integrated into our society would have been chosen from those.”
“That still doesn’t rule out the use of dyes,” another man noted, “or magic.”
“We are too far behind the curve,” said the man in charge. “I want a way to conduct an accurate census of the ponies already among us.”
Inside her herd’s tidy apartment, Nymphadora breathed a sigh of relief, glad to get away from the nightmare, if only for a little while. The cake was a lie. What was supposed to have been a casual lunch was instead an hour-long interrogation, and things had been no better when she had returned to her home. Things had picked up where they had left off when her tormentor had shown up at her doorstep the next day. Luckily, as she suffered the older griffin’s attentions, a polite knock had been a convenient excuse for a break.
Steeling her nerves, she opened the door. "Hello?" she said when she looked down and saw a strange unicorn looking expectantly back at her.
“Oh!” the unicorn broke out into a wide grin upon seeing the griffin answering the door. “You’re taking a form more compatible with your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my . . . Mum?”
“I would hope he’s not your mum.” The unicorn continued to grin. “That’s my job. Besides, I’m rather sure he’s the wrong gender.”
“Mum? What are you doing here?” Nymphadora asked.
“Can’t a mother visit her daughter?” Andi asked, waving her hoof down the hallway. “Besides, your father needs your help with something.”
“What?” Nymphadora looked down the passage just in time to witness the notice-me-not spell being dropped, revealing Twilight and a changeling in its true form.
“Hello dear,” the changeling said in her father’s voice. “I haven’t figured out the mechanics yet . . .”
“Eeeeeeeeeeek!” The sound of retreating hooves could be heard further down the hallway.
“. . . and that keeps happening,” Ted Tonks finished.
“Your aunt is ecstatic over having a new source of love honey,” Andi confided. “I swear, she’s become addicted to the stuff.”
“Who is it, Tonks?” Glados said, coming up behind the other griffin to have a look over her shoulder. “Tell them to go away; we’re not finished tweaking your look yet.”
“Tonks?” Andi frowned. “Don’t tell me she’s got you calling her that. Her name is Nymphadora.”
“Mum!” Nymphadora gave a full-bodied cringe.
Glados tilted her head in thought. “Nymphadora? That's a lovely name.”
“No!” Nymphadora muttered, taking several steps backward to allow her family in. “No, no, and no!”
“It’s your name, dear,” Andi said, accepting the invitation.
“Who is it?” Gordon asked, coming to stand next to Nymphadora in a vain attempt to shield her from his mother.
“Hello, Gordon. I’m glad you’re here, I was afraid that I was going to have to have my daughter track you down.”
Gordon’s head rotated sharply as he refocused on the unicorn leading two others into the apartment. “Mrs. Tonks? Er . . . Hello. It’s good to see you.”
“Likewise.” Andi beamed.
“You are Nymphadora’s mother?” Glados said, eyeing the unicorn. Then turning her head, she took in the sight of her son standing next to the hen she was grooming to be the perfect match. “Are we doing this?” she asked bluntly.
“You’d better believe we are,” Andi replied, her smile somehow growing wider.
“This isn’t good.” Gordon murmured as Nymphadora groaned.
Grinning, Twilight asked, "Can you feel the love tonight?"
Gordon and Nymphadora looked her in the eye. As one, they flatly said, "No."
Open Book loved her job. Attending to the royal library was a reward unto itself, so much so that she almost felt guilty getting paid for it. She would have gladly given bits for the privilege. Giving a tour to a large group of foals was its own special kind of bliss. She loved helping ponies find the information they sought. It was a pity these foals were not going to access what they wanted, but the lesson wasn’t going to be wasted, and who knew? There may even be an aspiring mage among the bunch.
That was not to say it wasn’t a peculiar assortment of foals. While mixed company wasn’t uncommon, there were actually two bat ponies in the mix, a rare sight indeed, not to mention the white owl that was riding on the back of the blue pegasus colt.
“Here we go,” Open Book said to the foals. “But I’m afraid this is as far as we go today.” She pointed at the extravagantly carved door that barred their progress. “While it is laudable that you wish to know more about teleporting, it is knowledge that isn’t accessible by the general population.”
“Laudable?”
“She means commendable, Scootaloo.”
“Commendable?”
“Er . . . admirable.”
“Well, why didn’t she just say so?”
“Anyway,” Open Book continued. “You see, this door is a test. A simple test, yes, but a test nonetheless. One must have a basic understanding of magical theory to open it. Simple levitation will not work. However, once you’ve put in the time and effort, you’ll be able to access the books in the room beyond. It’ll take a lot of work, but I’m sure that a few of you will master the skills needed to . . .”
“Alohomora.”
*Click*
“And I see one of you already has those skills.” Open Book held out her hoof to bar the progress of the rest of the foals even as she watched the fluorescent orange filly practically gallop into the next chamber. Open Book pulled the door shut with her magic. “I am sorry, but she will be the only one allowed to enter. It is a test for each individual not . . . What are you planning to do with that stick?”
“Alohomora.”
*Click*
“Umm . . . What? How did you do that without a horn?” Open Book closed the door once again after watching an earth pony enter a place not normally accessible by a member of that tribe. “Well, that was unexpected. I think it might be a first. Honestly I’m not sure . . .”
“Alohomora.”
*Click*
“Are you kidding me?” Once again, the door was pulled shut as Open Book turned to address the remaining foals. “Something's not . . . Oh, I see you all have sticks.”
“Alohomora.”
*Click*
“I may not be the smartest mare, but even I can recognize a pattern.”
“Bombar . . .”
Several of the other foals quickly tackled the colt.
“Seamus!”
“What? I can’t let Dean be the only one with a cool fire-based cutie mark!”
Open Book sighed, “Line up. Let’s keep this orderly.”
One of the perks of being a prefect was having access to every room in the dormitory. Percy took full advantage of that to enter one of the twins' trunk unannounced. “I’m off to the village,” he called out, rapidly descending the stairs. “Dainty wanted me to ask if there was . . . What are you doing with Magah?”
One of the twins turned to look at him. “The firsties asked us to keep an eye on her for a while. It seems she will let them out of her sight if we keep her occupied.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Percy clarified. “What is she wearing?”
“She likes playing dress up,” said the other twin.
“And we need to practice our transfiguration,” finished the first.
“Where’s the rest of it?” Percy asked.
“Rest of what?”
“Her outfit,” Percy said.
“That’s it.”
“Oh,” said Percy
. . .
. . .
“We should probably feel guilty for this,” said a twin.
“You really should,” said Percy.
“But you have to admit that shade of blue looks good on her,” said the other twin.
“Red!” demanded Magah. “Want red!”
. . .
. . .
“We are going to get so much hate for this,” said a twin.
“This is so wrong.”
“So very, very wrong.”
“We should be ashamed.”
“So very, very ashamed.”
“I’ll be right back,” Percy said. “I’m sure one of my roommates has a camera.”
“Worth it!” chorused the twins.
Soon after the sun had been put to rest and the moon called to do its duty, the royal sisters were enjoying some time together in the comfort of their private lunarium. Contentedly, they lay upon several overstuffed cushions as they traded stories about their duties.
“Sister, dear,” Princess Luna asked during a lull. “We see that thou dost enjoy the company of thy pet tonight.”
“Yes,” Princess Celestia acknowledged. “I thought it would be best for her to spend the night here. After all, the foals were just informed that she will not be spiriting them all over the countryside anymore. Hopefully, this will curtail any resentment.”
“A wise precaution.”
“Yes.” Princess Celestia nodded. “It is our hope that this will contain the Crusaders for a couple years at least.”
“Thou were ever the optimist.”
“They are but children.” Celestia chuckled. “Rambunctious, but they do have limits.”
“We are looking forward to the day when should a problem arise, we can just point them at it and command them to fix it,” Luna confided.
“'Fix' being a relative term,” Celestia said.
“They shall discover the drawbacks of developing a reputation for doing the impossible,” Luna said wisely.
“Still, while doing the difficult is impressive, I suspect that doing the impossible will take even them some time.” Celestia chuckled.
“Where, on that scale, dost thou rank finding a new method of transportation?”
“Don’t tell me that you are already buying into that reputation,” Celestia said as she spotted Raven Inkwell waving a hoof at her to get her attention. “Yes, Raven?”
“Your highness,” said the unicorn. “I think this would be the proper time to inform you of a report I have received on several foals bypassing Oncoming Storm’s door in the library. The descriptions match some familiar faces, so it may be relevant to this conversation.”
Celestia blinked at Raven a few times before turning her attention back to her sister. “That doesn’t mean . . .”
“The basic treatises concerning teleportation are kept behind that door, are they not?” Luna interrupted.
“True, but teleportation isn’t something you can look at the theory for and then poof, you’re off. We are still looking at a couple years' grace here,” Celestia countered.
“There still does exist the question of how the clever little foals didst arrive at our library,” Luna reminded her.
Celestia sighed, “Obviously, they owled themselves. Besides, you can go to any bookstore and purchase a tome on how to teleport. Oncoming Storm’s door really is rather useless if you stop to think about it.”
“I disagree,” Luna said. “A pony must invest either time or money if they dost wish that knowledge. As to the difficulty of teleportation, we suggest a wager. If, by this time next week, one of their number hast a cutie mark declaring their competence in the art of teleportation, thou shalt return the bag of delectable chocolate covered espresso beans that Ambassador Heartstrings had gifted us and thou hast so rudely confiscated.”
“One of their number with a . . . You have yourself a bet, and if your premonition does not come to pass, then I shall burn the sweets, and you shall not ask for replacements.”
“Thou dost drive a hard and unfair bargain.” Luna pouted. “One bag verses a lifetime of deprivation. We detect disparity.”
“Very well, if you win, not only will you receive the bag back, but I will never interfere with your acquisition of chocolate covered espresso beans again.”
“Then, as we hast heard spoken, thou hast a deal.”
“Shall we add my acquisition of fire whisky to the wager?” Celestia asked hopefully.
“No.”
“Luna,” Celestia whined. “That is hardly . . .” but that was as far as she got before there was a flash of green flames and she found herself with a faceful of human foal. After bouncing off the Princess of the Day, said foal landed on the pillows with a plop, only to stare up in shock.
The princesses looked down and returned the favor.
“Um,” the filly ventured. “April broke the rule about tickling a sleeping dragon.”
The princesses continued to stare.
“Am I dead?” the human foal asked meekly.
“What in the name of Merlin is going on in here?” Professor McGonagall demanded as she entered the common room. She was met by the sight of the male students being cornered by the female students. There wasn’t a boy in sight who wasn’t sporting visible red welts. From the way the boys stood, it was obvious that they had received far more punishment than what was visible. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“It’s just some basic instruction in proper behavior,” Fay growled.
“Just some basic instruction?” Professor McGonagall said in disbelief. “I could hear the screaming all the way in my office. We are not barbarians. Surely your basic instruction could be performed without so many stinging hexes.”
“Magah pretty!”
“Good lord! What is she wearing?” Professor McGonagall gasped.
“The boys were practicing their transfiguration.” Fay informed her.
“Right.” Professor McGonagall turned to leave the same way she had come. “Carry on, then.”
As she settled down behind her desk, the screams continued unabated. Just before she cast a silencing charm, Professor McGonagall heard the boys call out, "Still worth it!"
The earth filly reread the letter recently delivered to her by an owl, gritting her teeth all the while. She was not a happy pony.
Dear Dull Roar:
My name is Fay Dunbar. I am a prefect for Gryffindor house. Let me begin by expressing my regrets that my first communication with you is under these circumstances. In fact, I would have considered the matter closed if not for a conversation with Apple Bloom. She has emphatically insisted that I write to you to inform of and explain a recent incident in my house. Apple Bloom has also assured me that there is no chance that you will not find this letter infuriating. For that, you have my apologies as de facto alpha mare.
There has been a conflict between my responsibility to administer punishment and the rights afforded the Weasley twins by virtue of their membership in your herd, of which I have only recently been informed. According to Apple Bloom, I have unwittingly committed an atrocious breach of protocol with the recent punishment administered to the twins’ persons. Rest assured that no permanent damage was inflicted. Our school nurse promises that the welts will recede in a few days. They will not be healed earlier since Madam Pomfrey agrees that the punishment was warranted. I have been instructed to inform you that such corporal punishment is extremely uncommon and is almost unheard of in this day and age. However, the punishment was proportionate to the infraction.
I fear I must put this into perspective. The majority of the male population of my house has also shared in the punishment. It is only the novel circumstance of herd agreements that compels me to write you on the subject. Apple Bloom has been very vocal over the cultural incongruity. She has gone so far as to promise to use me as a projectile if I so much as consider doing the same to one of her colts without informing her first. She has made it amply clear that it is her right and responsibility to deal with situations such as this for her herd. She also informs me that the same applies to you and the twins and that I should have contacted you to see that proper punishment was administered.
I fear this is where cultural conflict comes into play. While, in your culture, I may have acted at levels worthy of a blood feud, in mine, I was well within boundaries. However, in this case, both cultures must be taken into account. That is why I am writing to offer a formal and sincere apology. It was not and is not my intention to initiate hostilities. It is my hope that we can come to a mutual understanding and move past this incident.
Please let me stress that the twins have not taken permanent damage nor were they alone in receiving repercussions for their actions. In fact, I have already been in contact with Dainty Lace, as her stallion Percy was also involved. That meeting reinforced the importance of writing to you with all due haste. It is also why I take sole responsibility for the punishment administered; the other females were acting under my guidance.
Again, I respectfully remind you that this is an unintentional cultural clash. I also remind you that the twins have grown up in and are familiar with the culpable culture. Let it be known that I have every intention to honor your customs and norms. No disrespect or insult was intended.
I ask for your forgiveness and understanding. Please do not let this be a reason for conflict.
Furthermore, I hereby pledge to contact you if a similar situation arises, prior to any punishment being administered.
Yours sincerely,
Fay Dunbar
P.S. After having Apple Bloom proofread this letter, I must update my description from de facto alpha mare to a status similar to deputy sheriff’ A minor thing maybe, but it does highlight that there are cultural differences that we still have not uncovered.
No, the filly was decidedly not happy as she reread the letter.
The store clerk was not unfamiliar with famous people entering his store, let alone someone who had been dominating the airwaves recently. The one who entered his shop fit that category. It was a shock that she entered without any type of bodyguard or visible security of any sort. Still, she had an easygoing, friendly smile, marking her as someone he would love to get to know better. However, he was well aware that that wasn’t likely to happen.
“Good evening, miss.” He smiled back at her. “How may I help you?”
At his words, her smile only grew wider, proving that she wasn’t overwhelmed by her fame. “Hello,” she said. “I need ten pounds of chocolate covered espresso beans.”
The clerk replied, "You're in luck." Gesturing to a neatly arranged stack of dainty baskets, he said, "We have a gift pack going for just under ten quid."
Puzzled, the woman asked, "Quid?"
"Pounds sterling."
"I meant pounds in weight," said the woman.
“Ten pounds?” he asked in shock. “Why on Earth would you need ten pounds of expresso beans?”
“I never said anything about Earth.” She ran her hand through her distinctive aqua and white hair. “Sybill just sent me a letter saying that I was going to need to send them to Equestria for the next solar flare.”
Has she watched it already? Twilight is unexpectedly quick to be in trend.
Wow, that was quick. I wonder who was it then.
So, it looks like the Centaurs are about to go on a breeding spree since they entered the post-industrial society.
Goodness, culture clashes ahoi in this chapter.
I mean, given that you effectively did the pegasus equivalent of threatening to take away the legs of a recently healed paraplegic, she's kinda justified in snapping back at you like that.
You know, much as the mares' hypocrisy regarding the strict rules around stallions that they're flagrantly ignoring has irked me, I'm actually with the ponies on this one. Abuse is a very serious matter, regardless of gender, and had the genders been reversed here everyone would be calling for the heads of those abusing girls in this manner. Yet, because they are boys, a prank that was done with full consent of both parties and harmed nobody is being treated as something deserving punishment with pain that is going to last for days, and this punishment is deemed okay.
Screw "moving past this incident", Fey deserves everything the various herds are going to send her way.
Check your favourite artists and see if they have open commission slots (or ask if you don't know for sure) then send them a message with your idea, either through their preferred art sites or email.
(insert P0rtal joke here)
While the punishment of boys probably is pushing it whose rules should apply? Equestrian or Earth they are on Earth attending an English school but part of a Equestrian herd. Fay truthfully went above and beyond by writing Bull Rush as Apple Bloom insisted. Fay is a perfect and Apple Bloom has no right to insist she do anything nor does the herd. While the Magical government has recognized unions between humans and ponies IN most cases foreign nationals visiting or residing in another country are subject to the laws and regulations of that country and if they don't wish to comply there is generally a simple solution deportation
Changeling versus Sombra.
I wonder how Sombra's mind control works when confronted with the Hive Mind...
I feel a "that's an academy record" meme quote building up here.
"I hardly think our time should be wasted talking about anything else. I mean, Candy Battered Bacon!"
Murder, Twilight, It's spelled murder, not love.
And you better run, or learn the hula.
Bombarda, in a library. It wouldn't been simply a fire based cutie mark, but a "wonder fire destroyer"-level one.
Developed taste? Last time I remember, she was as bold as a feminist protester in front of Putin.
"Aren't you like married?"
"Three times over?"
"How do you think I sustain the household?"
Speak to prof. MacGonagall.
I suspect she's keeping track.
The best kind of dead.
Also, has ever been explained how Spike came linked directly to Celestia? And if it was her doing, could she not restrict it somehow?
10689741
Earth's, given that they are on earth. Laws of the land you are in should always take precedence over the laws of your country of origin.
The bigger problem is the punishment itself, which has less to do with the act and how legally justified the punishment is and more to do with personal satisfaction. I'd love to see how well Fey's argument would hold if the genders of the punisher end the punished were revered. Which is kind of what we see at play here: Dull Roar is reacting to the situation with the same fury any of us would if we heard a girl got beaten so hard they would be feeling it for days.
Okay this bit with Tonks and Gordon is getting out of hand. Not that I find it in any way unbelievable; it's just frustrating, even as an outsider watching. Nice touch about Tonks' father also being a changeling, though.
10689677
I've been trying to think how to put this in terms that a mare in Equestria might look at and say. "They had it coming. And More."
Start out by making her understand the gender reversal situation, with the colts having the same cultural outlook on earth as Fillies have on earth.
Secondly, make this argument. "How would a group of colts in Equestria react upon discovering that a group of mares were using a mature, but severely mentally handicapped, stallion, as a living doll for their prurient enjoyment?"
The boys didn't just play dress-up with a good looking female who enjoyed the activity. They took advantage of what can only be described as a mature female with the mind of a toddler. This was child abuse. They got off light.
Side Note: I have high hopes that exposure to Equestria and the ambient magic there has sort of jumped started Magha and she is growing up mentally and will in time develop a fully realized intelligence.
10689764
agreed. Their denial has a flavor of sheer stubbornness and digging their claws in simply because they are being pushed together. They are so focused on not going along with the pressure they haven't taken a step back and really examined how they feel about each other.
They need a wake up call. What form that would take I have no idea, but I find it telling that they have not broken all connections with each other and gone their separate ways. Despite all their denial they don't avoid each other, quite the contrary.
Also I wonder how much of Gordon's insistence that Griffon's don't do herds stems from a bunch of adventurous mares trying to corral him some time in the past. He's mare shy.
10689761
People have to stop thinking of Magha as a super hot woman. She is at best a toddler in the body of a mature woman. If I caught a teenage girl sexually molesting, and that was what the boys were doing in a way, mentally handicapped teenage boy darn right I'd take serious action, but a few prank hexes would not be anywhere near enough. The authorities would be informed.
Darn, I've sort of let this get to me once my mind went down certain alleys. I'm going to stop venting, but I trust I've given people something to think about.
The next solar flare...
Oh, this is going to be good!
So who got the cutie mark in teleportation, I wonder? I'm guessing Sweetie Belle, purely because she has spent more time moving around via various teleportation methods than any other member of the Griffindor herd. If it's not Sweetie Belle, my guess is Luna Lovegood because, well, Luna.
I don't see why Fay needs to write a letter to Dull Roar. The Twins, to my knowledge, are not actually in a herd yet. Dull Roar has no right to be involved with anything they do yet until either a herd agreement is signed or they just skip that and go straight to consummating the relationship.
The next Solar Flare.... does that mean Celestia got more Fire Whiskey in addition to Luna getting her chocolate espresso beans?
As for Teneysha... they seem to have just dropped off the face of the earth last March. No new art since 2019, and no new personal favorites of theirs since March 2020. Just... sudden stop in activity. Hopefully they are alright.
Although I have a better question. Why is it this story universe lacks any fanart??? There should be tons of fanart for Magic School Days but I have yet to see a single piece anywhere. That makes me sad.
Thank you very much for the update!
Another awesome chapter
what’s wrong with putting a transfigured unicorn in revealing outfits artists Do it to the Equestria girls all the time
Here's some reference material.
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/938119/unofficial-hazy-days-and-magical-ways-chapter-11-character-listing
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/938120/unofficial-hazy-days-and-magical-ways-chapter-11-thread-tracker
Most excellent.
Let's hope Tonks learned how to use Obliviate, she could need it
10690024
when i get my good art supplies ill try and draw something maybe scooty getting wings
10689761 Considering what Hogwarts is modeled after or seems to be modeled after gender wouldn't matter a turn of the last century boarding school though I don't believe any were co-ed. Also lets not forget from the books this happened almost 30yrs ago
10690206
Sounds awesome! Or maybe the CMC Hug-bombing Professor Snape in thanks for Scootaloo's wings.
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10689793
Oh no, no need to apologize, you absolutely did raise a couple of interesting points. However, to raise a couple of counterpoints: Magah is not a toddler or someone with brain damage, she's an entirely different species. Clothing is, by its nature, a human cultural thing, so Magah having different interests when it comes to clothing is not in and of itself a mark of mental damage. She's a unicorn, clothing to her is just a fun thing at best. The only reason she doesn't just outright go naked is because people don't allow her to. Not for Magah's comfort, but for their own.
Second counterpoint, the "treating Magah the way the twins did is inhumane, because Magah is mentally limited" would have been a good reason for punishment... if that is how people treat Magah. However, none of the wizards treat Magah like a mentally limited person, they treat her like a pet, rather consistently referring to her as Sweetie Belle's possession (despite Sweetie Belle's protestations). That rather heavily implies that the punishment for the boys wasn't because they were abusing a child, but because they were upset with lecherous behaviour. The "guy gets punched for opening the bathroom door where the girl is undressing" gag, so to speak.
10690209
The wizarding world does seems to be largely ahead of the curve there compared to the muggle world. Outside of the stairs to the girls' dorm, gender never really comes up as a barrier in the wizarding world.
10690305
My reaction was caused more by people treating a bit of slapstick as something worthy of moral outrage, and I hold the author guilty of this as well. I was sort of intending to give him a reason why the boy's wives might become more sympathetic toward the girl's hexing their husbands.
Even though they might still maintain they should have gone through proper channels.
Makes me wonder if they might not petition for one of their herd to attend the school in some form. Assistants for Filch?
So they can be on hand.
As for Magha not being mentally handicapped, I'd argue that at the moment. She's clearly showing a growing intelligence that exceeds that of a normal earth unicorn, in my eyes she's a child. And I hope she grows up.
Secondly, a mare in Equestria is not likely to parse the finer points of Magha's nature. She's a fully mature unicorn, with a mind on the level of a toddler.
But, to get back to my first statement. This is a tempest in a teapot. The nature and genre of this story makes what the boys did and the reaction to it very British in some ways. It's exactly the sort of humor I would have expected to see in the old "Carry On" movies I loved in my twenties.
Can't help but feel that Mcgonagall fucked up here...they had a way to atleast keep track of the foals when they left the castle and Philomena would fetch a professor to keep an eye on them...now there is going to be no way to track them with out escalating...which as a teacher she should know won't end well. Also first rule of Authority...Never make a Rule that you know won't be followed...it just undermines your Authority. And it just make them get creative. And to anyone that thinks that using the Wards to punish them when they leave the castle? all the foals would have to do is figure out how to trigger false positives...
Yay! Another chapter! Which aunt was Andi talking about? I would assume Narcissa since I don't think Bellatrix has been given any on screen but I could see a dementor victim getting addicted to love honey.
10690519
If regular punishments won't work it's time to get creative. Take away privileges or maybe manual labor. I'm sure being made to clean the school toilets without magic every time they get caught might dissuade them. Maybe write to Cheerilee and see what she would do to reign in unruly students. Though for starters they need to ban and find a way to prevent students from mailing living creatures, since that would nip the main issue of students leaving the grounds without permission in the bud. Mostly, but I doubt dragon fire is a fun way to travel, mostly because since it sends you straight to Celestia you're pretty much instantly getting caught.
10690442
Fair enough. I myself am on the other end of the spectrum, mostly because I've become increasingly tired of the "girl beats guy because of pervyness" gag over the years. I've watched far too many anime where guys are getting punched through walls for the dastardly crime of opening an unlocked bathroom door and it being treated as deserved, so seeing it being met with outrage for a change is rather refreshing.
10690581
that just would encourage them to get even more creative...it's part of why you don't make rules that you know aren't going to be followed, it incites rebellion.
10690611
Which is why you make incentives to MAKE them follow it. Take away privileges, punishments you know they won't enjoy, or, if they continue flaunting the rules, EXPULSION. They don't want to follow the rules, they don't have to attend the school any longer, and under wizarding law they ALSO don't get to legally own wands.
10690663
which is something the teachers DON'T WANT...
10690838
Then what's the point? They either enforce the rules on ponies or they're basically saying pony students, or those connected to pony students, are allowed to do whatever they want. It's basically the blood purity thing again only by species instead of family.
The rule about students not leaving the grounds without permission isn't unreasonable, and they've only been getting away with it because they found a method of doing so that hadn't been accounted for. Because they were clever doesn't excuse that they were still knowingly breaking the rules.
In any case I've realized there's a rather simple way of getting them to behave: peer preassure. The next time they sneak out, everyone in their dormitories gets punished. Do it again? The entire house. Keep it up? Hogsmede privileges for the school canceled. Make the rest of the school mad at them enough to get past their cutness/novelty factor and their fellow students will shut them down.
10690885
I keep wondering when they will realize they could just get a house elf to do delivery. I mean...it's not like magic is secret now, so long as they give clear instructions and a location it should be fairly easy without leaving the school.
Wondering how long it would take delivery companies(Amazon) or take out food(dominos) to start hiring house elves for 1 day rapid delivery.who needs trucks when you have a cafeteria of elves that can arrive at their address with a thanos snap?
Darn...now I really wanna see a video with dobby using the infinity gauntlet.
10690885
That is a very black and white view of things. You do something wrong, you get punished for it. Unfortunately, the real world doesn't work that way. Regardless of who is good or evil, there are other factors at play. Expulsion is not taken lightly.
The school has several things to consider here.
A. The behavior, while against the rules, is not disruptive. In fact the student body has benefited from it.
B. The students at fault make a significant portion of the first year population.
C. The rule they are breaking was put in place for the protection of the students and to reduce liability on the school that could result from students getting hurt.
D. Let's be frank, there is a lot of political force behind this group of children.
E. The students, in question have demonstrated a lot of potential.
If it were just one or up to say three students refusing to follow rules, then the carrot and stick approach could apply. The school would be stupid to try to harsh of a punishment in this case. They would risk a general revolt among the students when no one is being harassed, hurt. or really inconvenienced. Again, one must keep in mind why a rule is made, this one is in place to protect the students breaking it and shield the school from any legal threat resulting from the students being hurt outside their sphere of influence.
It is common in fanfiction for an author to show the bad guys getting away with breaking the rules with impunity. In real life that can also apply to the good guys as well. Breaking rules doesn't make you evil. ((see the concept of Lawful Good verse Chaotic Good)).
In short, the students are not disrupting the school. They are not showing contempt for authority, (disregarding one rule does not qualify for that, no matter how many times they do that.) And most importantly, the school and specifically these students are 'under the microscope' so to speak. There is no upside for applying excessive punishment in this case.
However, requiring their guardians to sign a waver for the uncontrollable and unsanctioned off campus excursions would be warranted. As well as other precautions.
In real boarding schools, students sneaking off campus is a thing. Technically against the rules, but depending on the scope, staff turn a blind eye. Most of the sheep will follow the rule if attention is not brought to those who refuse to be prisoners. History has shown that being too heavy handed with discipline in this case, will backfire and backfire spectacularly.
Trying to get the other students to peer pressure the Crusaders is just asking for the problem to multiply. Taking Hogsmede privileges is creating a black market for transportation off campus.
As it is, you have a contained problem with a limited number of students. If you can't fix it at least don't make it worse. When all possible outcomes are considered, blind application of the rules is a lose lose option. Remember, the school is their for the benefit of the students, not the other way around.
A wise leader does not use 'the beatings shall continue until moral improves' as a policy.
As always, I am not advocating for the morality of the situation, just pointing out some factors that are relevant. 'How it should be' rarely translates to 'How it is' when the rubber meets the road.
Wonder if when Dull Roar finds out what the Twins did will she be more angry she wasn't consulted or that she didn't get to participate?
10690233
ill try im not very good
10690997
To add to this along with my original point...McGonagall KNEW that the foals would find another way out...and now they have no say on where and when they go unlike before where Philomena would get a professor to supervise the outing...now? that's not the case...McGonagall fucked up.
10690599
Well, something to keep in mind. The cultures that find such humor so hilarious are most often those cultures where Women are supposed to walk two steps behind their husbands, metaphorically.
If you look at vintage newspaper strips from before the sixties it was a common bit of humor for the wife to beat up the husband. It was funny because it was so against the norm.
Japan is still very much a male superior culture, so the anime girl friend who beats up their boyfriend reflects that.
Side Note: In Japan handling money and household budgets are considered women's work. So the Husband hands over his paycheck and she gives him an allowance. Weird considering the above.
10691178
That is an argument based on hindsight. She knew they would attempt to find a workaround, but there was no certainty they would find one. What's more, the options of Philomena keeping an eye on them and retrieving a professor are not void, the Crusaders were never aware of this arrangement.
What Minerva did was a calculated risk, and by the context of the story, council from Princess Celestia was received beforehand. It has always been a balancing act between allowing children their freedom to grow and protecting them. For the Crusaders, there is a higher probability of serious injury or death than an average child, that can not be altered. However, mitigations of those odds can and should be attempted. One of the best way of doing so is to make an obvious feint that draws the attention of the subjects so that they are ignorant of other safeguards put into place.
This is a bleak and depressing subject. We want all of our children to reach their majority. It is harder to insure that for some more than others. And that is before random chance comes into play.
10691188
It's pretty common in almost every culture, anime is just the most prominent example to the point of having an archetype centred around it. It's an oft overlooked problem outside of comedy gags as well, as abuse against men is rarely taken seriously. Many are the 'hidden camera tests' where people leap to the defence of a girl being shaken and slapped by a guy, but ignore or even laugh at a guy being shaken and slapped by a girl.
10690885
Goodness no! Collective punishments are bad for a variety of reasons. Even putting aside the obvious unfairness of punishing someone for something they didn't do, punishing those who follow the rules for the actions of those who break them is going to lead to resentment, not just towards the rule breakers, but also the teachers. It sends a message that you're incapable of disciplining the rule breakers, and are handing the responsibility of discipline to the students. This is bad, because not only do hormonal teenagers by and large lack a concept of proportional punishment, meaning you risk the rule breakers being punished far beyond what you had in mind, but it also vastly increases the risk students who previously followed the rules are going to be breaking them as well. After all, if they get punished anyway despite following the rules, why should they even bother following them?
About your picture problems, Do you have an account on any creator websites such as deviant art or inkbunny? If so, you could create a contest for a person to create the picture for you, or alternatively you could commission a work of art which suits your tastes.
10691221
10691220
10691178
All right fine, I guess I'm just a moron for thinking kids should be expected to follow school rules and actually get punished for breaking them.
10691243
No one is calling you a moron. Nor is it implied. We were just pointing out that it isn't as simple as you were stating, while doing our best to lay out reasons why.
It is expected for students to follow school rules and for them to be punished when they break them. However, theory and practice don't always go hand in hand.
10689750
Pretty sure that's still Queen Cadance. And unless something happened off screen, she's not connected to the hive mind.
Unless you are referring to that there are probably a few changelings in her personal guard.
10690580
I could be wrong on the family structure, but I thought she was talking about Twilight. They're both part of the Black family now.
Brown looking sus.
Point of order: We're still two or three years away from The Lion King.
Ah, a backup set of Element Bearers. Always nice to have.
And I'm not sure which royal sister will come out of this latest wager worse for the wear. I think the answer is "the castle."
(Not going to comment on the ongoing discourse. You've made that bed, but I see no need to join in rumpling the sheets.)
10691376
Thought that too at first but remembered Sirius is a cousin to the black sisters so to Tonks that's a cousin once removed. Though they could be calling Sirius and wives as aunt's and uncle despite not being the technical relationship. In a narrative sense you'd think Twilight would defend herself if someone called her an addict to her face.
10691456
I wonder how long it'll take until one of the government employees gets turned into a pony. Cue narrowed eyes around the table.
10689750 Perhaps something like the Tyranid hive mind, but with positive vibes instead of hunger? Hatred shall flee at the mere presence of the hive mind, and disagreements will become more civil, with much less shouting. Truth and facts will prevail this day. Hail to the queen of Crystalia!
Yes, a Kiramager reference.
Someone have been playing Frostpunk i see.
Is Sombra the coming of the dark then?
Sucker bet!
Celestia shod have known better at this point.
10691477
Actually there was already that undercover Inspector from Scotland Yard. The one who exposed the human trafficking.
Not sure exactly what happened to him but he was permanently turned into a pony and then ether permanently turned into a human or given a ring.