Larva was less than happy at having been shoved into the tiny pouch that the owl had worn on its breast. The darkness into which she had been noisily regurgitated was familiar but foreign. The texture of the stone floor and the subtle eddies in the air currents evoked memories of growing up. This had to be one of the caverns that her hive had recently abandoned. However, the chittering of 'lings was eerily absent and the reassurance of the hive mind was faint at best. Larva suppressed a gulp as she finally understood the idiom "you can't go home again".
Her sense of smell had alerted her to the new residents long before her sharp eyes picked up the silhouettes of nigh invisible ponies with leather wings. She was positive that there had been no other occupants when her hive had departed. Apparently, the batponies had found the extensive network of dens and tunnels to be an ideal place to set up a village, staying far away from their sun-loving cousins. Granted, the general pony populous had only recently been reintroduced to their kind, with their emergence coinciding with the return of the lunar princess. Still, Larva found the speed at which her old home had been usurped to be unusually swift.
Larva hadn’t been the only 'ling to be surprised when she was ejected from the owl’s pouch. To say that the batpony mare who let her out was disappointed would be an understatement.
“You’re not a stallion,” the thestral mare noted before Larva had managed to pick herself up off the ground.
“Was I supposed to be?” Larva asked; as an infiltrator, she was perfectly comfortable taking on the form of somepony of the opposite gender.
“We were supposed to be getting some young stallions.” The batpony frowned as she gestured to the cavern packed with expectant mares. “Not that a new mare won’t be welcomed. The fresh blood is invaluable, but intel says it will be harder to convince human mares.”
“I can see the thought process behind that reasoning,” Larva said, dusting herself off. “Hello, I’m Larva.”
“Inky.” The thestral mare held out her hoof for a hoofbump. “I have to say, I can’t get over how agreeable you humans are to a little bit of foalnapping.”
“We’re not actually foalnapping anypony!” a mare in the crowd called out. “We are only temporarily relocating them so that we may propose a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is both unique and mutually beneficial. The choice to participate or decline as they see fit is to be emphasized so that the agreement cannot be disputed.”
Larva looked at the pony who had spoken. “You have a lawyer’s cutie mark,” she stated.
“Salespony, actually.” The mare shook her head.
Larva sighed and turned back to Inky. “So, you’re kidnapping human stallions?”
“Maybe just a little.” Inky wilted. “But we plan on returning them after we get a commitment.”
“We got cake!” a mare in the crowd piped up. “Stallions are easier to convince when you have cake!”
“Amateurs,” Larva muttered.
“Can you change into a thestral pony?” Inky asked, running her eyes up and down Larva, getting back on subject.
“I can,” Larva admitted. “But it wouldn’t be useful for your purposes; I can’t have thestral foals.”
Inky huffed. “Extra was supposed to be finding humans with thestral forms and sending them our way. It’s our job to convince them that they want a herd comprised mainly of our mares. Not that mares from the other tribes wouldn’t work, that would still get our genes out there and increase the rate of recessive births.”
“I’m starting to understand why I was sent.” Larva mused. “I can help with the matchmaking; it’s kind of my thing.”
“Um.” Inky hesitated. “I think I should warn you that we are kind of skirting the line here. Technically, since we are in the Badlands and not in Equestria, the princesses shouldn’t be a problem, but there is the chance that your human government might get upset.”
Larva snorted. “You are just snatching a guy and showing him potential relationships that will last a lifetime. I do that all of the time. They may complain and shout, but they get over it quick enough. Especially if you have a spot of tea handy. Add that to the cake and you’ll have nothing to worry about. You might want to throw in a few biscuits as well, just to be safe.”
“Tea?”
“Yes, tea. They are Englishmen, after all; you’ll be amazed at what you can get away with if you possess a china tea set and some Earl Grey.”
I need to wake up.
Rainbow Dash’s day had just taken a turn for the surreal. The soap operas that Bella was so fond of had nothing on what she was going through. It was a plot twist that was so unbelievable that it seemed too bizarre to be real. Yet, here she was, her world shattered and rebuilt over the course of one meeting. She had been hoping to visit the school afterward to let Scootaloo know the adoption had been completed; she had even arranged with Professor McGonagall to take her new official daughter out for dinner as a surprise. Well, there had been a surprise; the adoption had been cancelled. The reason was completely unforeseeable. It was unimaginable and unthinkable.
It had brought tears to Rainbow’s eyes. That was happening way too much lately.
Hagrid hadn’t been the one to meet her at the gates of Hogwarts, instead it was the creepy Fich guy . . . Fish . . . the crazy cat guy? Whatever, it didn’t matter. His grumbling the entire time during their walk to the castle would have been annoying if she had been paying attention.
“Lady Black,” Professor McGonagall called out from where she and Scootaloo were standing just outside the front door of the castle. “You’re early.”
“Yeah.” Rainbow said gruffly. “I’m sorry, something happened. I need to see Scootaloo as soon as possible.”
Professor McGonagall studied the rainbow haired woman. “Whatever it is, I hope it isn’t too traumatizing.”
“'Traumatizing' doesn’t begin to cover it.” Rainbow turned to address Scootaloo. “We need to go talk to Mom and Dad.”
“What’s this?” the thestral colt looked at the parchment in his hooves. He wasn’t quite an adult yet but he was on the cusp.
“It’s a consent form,” the woman wearing a towel replied. “You aren’t of age yet; so, you need to have your guardian sign it.”
The colt skimmed the form. “You have a form that allows you to kidnap me for the express purpose of throwing a lot of fillies at me with the hopes that I’ll agree to join a herd?” he asked skeptically.
“Yes, you can use this owl here to send it to your mother for a signature; then, we can get you on your way.”
The colt blinked at the parchment then at the woman. “Are you for real?”
“Of course.”
“Could I get one of those as well?” the colt’s friend, standing next to him, asked. “My father says I need to get my nose out of my books and find a girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry; you are an earth pony,” the woman said. “Not that we have anything against earth ponies, but it is fresh thestral blood that we desperately need.”
“I’m still having a hard time believing this is serious.” The thestral colt waved the parchment. “Besides, the headmaster said we should wait until after graduation before forming herds.”
“This will be under adult supervision.” The woman reassured him. “And you will be helping preserve one of the great pony races without sacrificing your right to take a human filly as one of your wives.”
“Fine, hand me a quill; I’ll send it to my dad.” The thestral colt held out a hoof. “He’s been making noises about me getting close to some girls from Equestria like the Weasley twins did. This’ll get him off my back.”
“That’s not fair, you know,” his friend complained. “My father has been pestering me too, and you had the answer just land in your lap.”
“Luck of the draw, I’m afraid,” said the woman in the towel. “Your friend is only the second thestral colt I’ve found. If he were two months older, he’d already be surrounded by eager fillies.”
“Can I get another go at that ring? Maybe this time I can come out as a thestral.”
“It doesn’t work that way.” The woman shook her head sadly. She was too distracted to notice the student stomping up behind her. Therefore, she didn’t react before she was yanked backward by her hair. Blinking away tears, she found herself staring at an unwavering wand.
“Where’s my Torin?!”
Rainbow Dash was a hardened veteran. Riding in a magical pouch was a little cramped, but it was otherwise not uncomfortable. Exiting, however, tended to be an undignified demonstration of gravity. Armed with that knowledge, she had chosen her parent's house as her destination. Instead of wood or tile, the floor was made of cloud, perfect for a soft landing. For those without flight magic, however, a somewhat harsher second landing needed to be taken into account. Now, all she had to do was hope that her parents could follow the directions that she had sent along with her wand.
Bow Hothoof was treated to a sound he hadn't heard since his retirement from professional sports after he tapped the pouch with the wand held in his wingtip and said, "Ex dimittere."
A mare who shared his coloration tumbled out. Windy Whistles jumped forward to hug her and said, "Rainbow! Honey! It's great to see you!"
“That was some tremendous owl riding!” Bow added, vibrating in place in his excitement.
“Moooom. Dad,” Rainbow said and gave a weak smile. “Hello.”
“Ooo! This is the filly you’re adopting!” Windy said, scooping up an eeping Scootaloo. “She’ll fit right in! Our first grandfilly!”
“Mom.”
“You are going to be the best mother!” Windy continued.
“Mom.”
“And you . . . are going to be the best daughter!” Windy rubbed Scootaloo’s cheek with a hoof. “Our daughter has the best taste in daughters.”
“Mom. We really need to talk.”
“We have so many stories to tell you about Rainbow when she was your age!” Windy told Scootaloo as Bow came over for a closer inspection of the filly.
“Mom, I know what happened to Rainbow Star,” Rainbow Dash said firmly.
It was if cold water were splashed onto the two eldest ponies in the room. They froze, staring at their daughter with looks of pure astonishment on their faces.
Still held in Windy’s forehooves, Scootaloo looked first at Bow then up at Windy. “Who’s Rainbow Star?” she asked, able to talk for the first time since they arrived.
Rainbow sighed before addressing Lodestone. “You may as well head back to Big Mac; we’re going to be a while.” Then, when she could delay no longer, she continued. “Rainbow Star was the mare who bore me; she was Mom and Dad’s herdmate,” she informed Scootaloo.
“Not ‘was’ . . . ‘is’,” Windy corrected with a whisper.
“No, Mom.” Rainbow lowered her own head, closing her eyes in pain. “Was.”
“No,” Windy whispered, searching her daughter’s face. “No,” she repeated, putting Scootaloo down on the floor. “No!” The tears were freely flowing. “NOOOOOO!” Windy wailed fleeing as the hope, she held for years was shattered.
Bow stared at Rainbow, tears welling in his own eyes. “Was?”
Rainbow nodded, leaking water from her own closed eyes.
“I need to go help your mother,” Bow said, amazingly calm.
“Dad,” Rainbow said, not looking up. “I’m sorry.”
Bow hesitated before saying, “We always knew it was a possibility.” With those words he turned to trot after Windy. “Just . . .” He stopped at the doorway. “. . . it never was going to be easy to hear.” He then left to find his wife.
Scootaloo looked around in confusion, tears in her own eyes. “What?” she asked Rainbow. “Why?”
Rainbow took the few steps forward needed before she could wrap Scootaloo in her wings. “You need to hear this, squirt.” She said, “I wish I could spare you the pain, but you need to hear this.”
“I . . . I don’t understand,” Scootaloo said.
“Rainbow Star, my other mother, was a long-distance flyer,” Rainbow said. “She used to make good bits doing deliveries to far off places. One time, when I was very young, she didn’t return. I used to have so many excuses; I even blamed her for abandoning us, but deep down I guess I always knew.”
“But . . . wha?” Scootaloo asked.
“It’s a long story,” Rainbow said. “You’ll have to wait until they come back; I don’t want to repeat it.”
“But . . . but . . .”
“Tell you what. My mom used to make me hot cocoa when I was upset; I’m sure we can find the ingredients while we wait.”
“You’re trying to distract me.” Scootaloo accused.
“Is it working?”
“Will there be marshmallows?”
“I’m sure there will be.”
“Then I’ll let you get away with it just this once.”
Exiting an owl’s pouch was almost never either graceful or dignified. Extra found out that being bound by magical robes only exacerbated the situation. The proof was in the additional bounces added to her landing.
The female student who had accompanied her stood up quickly and brandished her wand at the chamber full of ponies. However, the ponies couldn’t have cared less, as their attention was elsewhere.
“Another stallion!”
“He’s cute!”
“Mine!”
“Like hay he is!”
“mother,” the newly arrived colt managed to get out before he was swarmed.
The female student stood slightly stunned as a sea of ponies flowed around her legs to reach their target.
“Watch those hooves!” Extra cried out. “Some of us can't get off the floor here!”
The female student looked around the cavern and locked her gaze on an unexpected sight. “Torin?” she asked.
“Ruby! Hello, glad you could make it.”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Having a cuppa. Care for some?”
Ruby flicked her wand and the seat next to Torin was vacated causing the mare previously occupying the spot to suddenly be very grateful that she possessed wings. “Is that cake?”
“Yes, it’s very good.” Torin nodded.
Ruby pinched the bridge of her nose as she sat down. “Why are you still a pony?”
“I don’t have the ring anymore.” Torin shrugged.
“If you think I’m sharing you, then you’re about to undergo massive blunt trauma to your head.” Ruby said, picking up a cube of sugar with a conveniently placed pair of tongs.
“Shouldn’t that be ‘if you think I’m sharing you, then you’ve undergone massive blunt trauma to your head’?” Torin corrected.
“No.”
Torin shuddered. “They really aren’t that bad once you get to know them,” he started.
Ruby transfigured the chair on Torin's other side into a large club with studded metal bands, evicting the mare who had been occupying it.
“Woah! Woah!” A redheaded woman seemed to melt out of the shadows as the mare squawked at the loss of her seat.
“This is a private conversation,” Ruby said, eyeing Torin dangerously.
“I know, I know,” Larva said, raising her palms pacifyingly. “Just hear me out.”
Ruby gave her a dirty look.
“First of all.” Larva glanced at the transfigured club. “Can you even lift that thing? It looks heavy.”
“Wingardium Leviosa.”
“Okay, now, that’s just cheating.”
“I’m a witch.” Ruby reminded her.
“Most girls wouldn't admit that.” Larva nodded. “Though I suppose, a unicorn would have picked it up in their magic as well. Would you mind putting it down, having some tea and maybe calm down a bit?
“You ponies have no right to . . .”
“I’m not a pony,” Larva interrupted. “I am a neutral third party that got dragged into this by a woman wearing thick glasses and her white owl. Right now, I’m just trying to stop you from clubbing your boyfriend or worse, start playing whack-a-pony with an already endangered pony tribe.”
“A woman with thick glasses and a white owl?” Ruby asked
“Yeah, she just sauntered into the pub as if she owned the place.”
“That’s where Professor Trelawny got to with Potter’s owl.” Ruby sighed, remembering the scene from earlier that day. “Okay, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but if the word ‘herd’ enters the conversation at any point, all bets are off.”
“Okay, just hold that thought. I need to go save that other boy and make sure he chooses the right girls for his . . . um . . . gaggle. I’ll be right back.”
“Would it be too much to ask to be untied?!”
“Shut up, you,” Ruby called over her shoulder while pouring some tea. “You’re not forgiven for kidnapping my boyfriend.”
The family had regrouped around the kitchen table with mugs of cocoa in front of everypony before the conversation continued.
Cupping her mug between her hooves, but not taking a sip, Windy broke the silence. “Honey are you sure? It’s been such a long time, and there could have been a mistake.”
“I’m sure, Mom.” Rainbow stared into the depths of her mug. “I went to finish up the paperwork and officially become Scootaloo’s mother. They had just finished the medical tests, you see.” She shuddered and took a deep breath. “Mom, they told me. Scootaloo . . . They said.”
“Take a deep breath.” Bow suggested.
Rainbow did just that. “They said they had found a mare at the edge of the forest. They don’t know what happened, but she was burnt crisp, without a hair on her body, no cutie mark to identify her. She was barely alive, so they took her to the hospital.”
“Sweet Celestia.” Windy clutched her eyes closed as more tears came.
“They said.” Rainbow swallowed trying to get some moisture in her throat. “They said they tried everything to bring her back, but she never improved; she never regained consciousness. She was beyond hope, but she was pregnant. They kept her alive long enough to give birth, nearly the entire gestation of the foal.”
Bow was crying silent tears as Windy leaned into him for comfort.
“The filly . . . the filly was born with stunted wings.” Rainbow continued. “Otherwise, she was in perfect health.”
Scootaloo stiffened at these words and looked worriedly at Rainbow without uttering a sound.
“They.” Rainbow swallowed again as she paused. “The tests came back; I can’t adopt Scootaloo because they now know where her father is, and he didn’t know of her existence before today. I . . . I can’t adopt my own sister.”
I need to wake up
Frantic knocking assaulted the door to her office before it was flung open, and a first-year with an owl on her shoulder rushed in.
“Princess Hope?” Professor Sprout addressed the invader. “What happened?”
“Please, Professor!” the small girl held out her pouch-bearing owl. “You need to go save Torin from Ruby before she does something she’ll regret later.”
“I hope you got that out of your system,” Larva stated as she watched all of the flopping ponies who cluttered the floor of the cavern.
“It’s only the jelly leg hex,” Ruby said. “It lets me blow off some steam without really hurting anyone.”
“I’ve got to pee badly!” cried out one of the batpony mares doing her best imitation of a limp noodle.
“I’d say it affected more than their legs,” Larva observed.
“I may have overpowered the spells a little.”
“You do know it’s not nice to curse someone just because you disagree with what they say.”
“I didn’t curse them. I hexed them,” Ruby corrected.
“There’s a difference?” Larva raised an eyebrow.
“It’s a matter of scale,” Ruby admitted. “Nothing I did is permanent, and nothing was that serious.”
“I saw what you did to Torin.”
“He’ll recover.” Ruby shrugged.
“I really need to pee!”
“I think you might have some anger management issues,” Larva observed.
“It’s been a stressful day,” Ruby said. “Finite. Fine, go to the loo then.”
“Thank You!” the thestral mare vanished into the shadows.
“You’re being stupid.” Larva huffed. “I told you already; those three mares will be perfect matches for you and Torin. Unlike the blue-haired one he was eyeing -- that would have been a nightmare.”
“Are you bloody daft?” Ruby snarled “Why should I put up with the disgrace?”
“Disgrace?” Larva tilted her head. “There's no disgrace in love.”
“Love?” Ruby barked “What would you know about love? You’re more than slightly nutty if you think you have a clue.”
“What would I know about love?” Larva snarled. “I know I will never experience it. I can see it. I can see its potential. I can even taste it, but I will never experience it. It’s my job to see that it thrives, but I am denied its embrace. Don’t you dare tell me I don’t understand love. My entire life revolves around collecting love, forever prohibited from . . .”
"Hang on a tick." Ruby looked at the redheaded woman as understanding dawned. “You’re a changeling.”
“What?” Larva stumbled over the word as her monolog was interrupted.
“You’re a changeling, like Clouded,” Ruby clarified.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Larva suddenly found herself on the defense.
“Does Torin love me?”
“What?” Larva resisted the whiplash. “After what you just did to him, why would you ask that?”
“He’s trading me in for a bunch of cuddly, fanged, wanna be vampires. Of course, I need to know.”
“He’s not trading you in,” Larva said. “Is that what you’re afraid of?”
“I’m not going to be just one of his conquests.”
“One of his . . . You do realize you practically have ‘alpha mare’ written across your forehead.”
“I told you already . . .” Ruby was interrupted by a large owl flying into the cavern. She looked first at the bird and then at a certain bound woman. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Extra said. “Look, now that you’ve calmed down a little; I’ve lost the feeling in my legs. I’ll admit that just snatching Torin wasn’t fair to you and I apologize for the distress it caused.”
“Would you stop making it difficult to stay mad at you?” Ruby snarled.
“Please.”
“Okay, okay, Finite.” Ruby relented.
“Thank you! Thank yoaaaaarrrrggghhhhh! Pins and needles! Pins and needles!”
Larva looked at Ruby with a reproachful glare.
“I might have put her knickers in a twist,” Ruby admitted.
“You do realize that there are going to be mares having nightmares of you for the rest of their lives.” Larva said.
“Serves them right.”
“Could you at least allow Torin to rejoin the conversation?”
“Maybe in a few minutes.”
“Are you going to let whoever it is out of the pouch?” Larva asked
“Um, how do these things work again?”
“Place your wand on it and say ‘ex dimittere’,” Larva said.
“Ex dimittere.” Ruby obliged.
There were the customary troublesome sounds before a familiar woman landed unexpectedly gracefully on her feet and looked around. She then turned to Ruby and stated, “I see the hat considered putting you in Gryffindor.”
“Actually, its second choice was Ravenclaw,” Ruby admitted. “Gryffindor was third.”
“Well, I’m glad you decided on Hufflepuff.” Professor Sprout nodded happily. “Now, where is my other wayward badger?”
“If you’re asking about Torin, he’s that pile over there.” Larva pointed.
“Could you not have trusted that he would stay loyal to you?” Professor Sprout asked disapprovingly.
“He was talking about how the thestrals needed his help badly.” Ruby frowned. “He was just seeing how many knickers he could get into.”
“I don’t doubt that of any teenage wizard; however, Professor Snape has informed the staff that the thestrals do have a pressing need. I would advise not judging them overly harshly.”
“I am not in the wrong here.” Ruby huffed. “Ma’am,” she added belatedly.
Professor Spout frowned before pointing her wand at Torin and muttered, “Finite Incantatem.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Torin said, getting to his hooves before turning his angry gaze on Ruby. “I just want to get into their knickers? Is that all you think of me? You don’t think I wouldn’t be moved by their plight to preserve their race? You think this is only about the sex?”
“Tor, you . . .” Ruby started.
“Stuff it, Ruby. You and I are through. I don’t know what you thought you were doing, but I’m not standing for it.” Torin flapped his wings angerly. “There are a lot of knickers laying about and I need to get to the task of getting into them.”
“Tor, you can’t . . .”
“I said ‘stuff it, Ruby’.” Torin pointed a hoof at a thestral mare who had been lying quietly on the ground. “Professor, would you mind counter-hexing Shadow Flow here? I’m not sure where my wand is right now, but I suspect I’ll have it again once I get a ring to change back.”
“Finite Incantatem.”
“And her.”
“Finite Incantatem.”
“Her too.”
“Finite Incantatem.”
“And finally, her.”
“No, not the blue-haired mare,” Larva cut in. “I warned you to stay away from the blue-haired mare.”
“Right, you’re a changeling; can feel love and all that.” Torin sighed. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Larva nodded. “And I never said I was a changeling.”
“Says the woman named Larva,” Torin said sarcastically, helping one of the mares to her feet. “Look I appreciate all the help you tried to provide, but I have some knickers to get into, so if you’ll excuse us.”
“Mr. Walker, you are about to do something that is irreversible,” Professor Sprout said. “I’d suggest a cooling down period before you proceed.”
“I can’t, professor.” Torin said venomously. “Don’t you know I’m a knicker-seeking wizard? It’s in my nature.”
“Tor, don’t you.”
“We’re through, Ruby.” Torin helped another mare to her feet. “Come on, it’s time for you to show me your knickers.”
“What are knickers and what’s with the sudden fascination with them?” Shadow Flow asked.
“Let’s go somewhere private and I’ll explain,” Torin told her.
“Stop ignoring me, Tor!”
“Bye Ruby.” As Torin left the cavern in the company of three mares, his voice trailed off. "And you, Ruby, don't get to call me 'Tor' anymore. From now on, I am Progenitor!" There was a loud slap as wingtips chastised flanks.
“Well, you made him mad.” Professor Sprout said unnecessarily.
“I told you, you were overreacting,” Larva said. “Don’t worry, though, I can see that you still have a chance. He just needs some time to get over his anger.”
“I don’t want him,” Ruby said firmly.
Larva looked at her skeptically as did Professor Sprout.
“I don’t want him,” Ruby repeated. “He can have his herd; I don’t need him.”
“Why won’t you stop being stupid?” Larva asked.
“I don’t need him!”
The words were softly spoken and faded before anyone heard them.
“I need to wake up.”
Kidnapping is kidnapping. They deserve prison time.
Now I certainly didn't see Rainbow being sisters with Scootaloo. That is undoubtedly going to create a lot of drama
I appreciate how hard you tried to ease everyone's concerns about the kidnapping. And how the mares faced consequences for their actions.
Larva has her work cut out for her.
I'll admit I haven't actively sought out scootadopt stories, but this still feels like a satisfyingly unusual and elegant way to do things.
As strange as it may sound to some people, a writer doesn't always get to choose where their story goes, sometimes the characters grab the reins (so to speak.)
I think this is the point where I just have to leave the story.
Half of the chapter feels like justifying transforming and kidnapping kids barely out of school into a serious decision and then really tries to make Ruby out to be the bad one for justified insecurity.
I can't.
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Same, the whole premise is just.... if it was the other way around, you know people would be up in arms about it, equality means treating both sides the same
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We also have to keep in mind that this author has hinted that Sweetie Belle is Rarity's daughter.
Overall, a nice chapter to wrap up some loose ends. Though, on the other hand, it's created several new loose ends.
I'm surprised how tolerant of the thestrals Snape seems to be given that they foalnapped him. And seriously? Didn't any of the staff think Extra might try to pull something like this?
And Rainbow Dash being Scootaloo's sister. Didn't see that one coming. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold. I'm just surprised that Scootaloo was never told the circumstances of her birth. She's grown up thinking that she wasn't wanted.
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Yeah, but I've seen other authors do that before.
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Personally, I don't really see it. It's just as reprehensible as it ever was, and the repercussions were not at all serious or permanent. They even know that what they're doing is hella illegal, by stating that they're going the extra mile to circumvent it. It's awful, and it needs to stop, and be corrected; I don't want to give up this story, but I might have to if things continue. Just because the author isn't oversexualizing the first years in this story (an unfortunately common occurrence in other HP/MLP crossovers, for some ungodly reason) doesn't mean that they're not oversexualizing minors at all, nor does it make this acceptable. Even if they were grown men, it'd be dubious as hell.
I also hate how they basically forced the issue between Gordon and Tonks; for fuck's sake, they really shouldn't have been proven right for being a bunch of pushy and obnoxious nags! For all that this is a fun story, the author clearly does not understand how a healthy relationship is supposed to work!
And before anybody gets onto me about criticizing the herd arrangements next, I... don't actually have a problem with those. Ponies are equines; equines form herds. And it's not as if it's unusual for humans to have polyamorous relationships, themselves (though most documented cases of polygamy, the ones that make the news, are not even remotely healthy examples- but I'm sure it's doable; just that they've got a lot of bad press from creepy cults). I do have a problem with the frequent harem dynamics going on, though, as well as the nonconsensual sharing of husbands that the Equestrian government in this story literally forces upon its subjects. Not to mention the exaggerated desire to reproduce in mares, and the startling lack (and probable criminalization, at least in stallions) of homosexuality, barring one or two cases (Lyra and Bonbon don't really count because it's kind of hard to avoid it; not that you really should.)
Didn't expect that twist with RD and Scoots! Going to cause some hardship there I think... But their bond will come out stronger in the end. I think so anyway.
The Thestral situation is rather silly and amusing to me. Though the kidnapping is a bit much.
I get it, the bat ponies are basically facing extinction so it makes sense that they are going crazy since it seems they found salvation with the humans turned bat ponies.
However, what I think needs to happen soon is Celestia or really Luna to make an appearance and start enforcing the laws that were earlier hinted at to prevent the exploitation of stallions.
That should hopefully lead to discussions about the generally typical human monogamy and how generally human women don't share and would be extremely offended if even suggested it, maybe then this will smooth over relationships between the races?
populace
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Hmm Why should it do that?
11080139
Not really understanding that... Really WHY should it get hardship? There is a TON of justifications for the mess, they were ALREADY on track to become family, HOW should this end up in hardship?
Wake up Scootaloos mother!
Wonder if they can replace the pouch opening sound with that of a deploying hydraulic door ramp? Or leave it because of Roger Rabbit rules? It can only open when its funny?
11080003
Well at least scootaloo will still be able to have parents and this way her honorary big sister becomes a real big sister. It isn't perfect considering what they hoped for but considering they are still family just in a different way take what you can get. Sometimes in life you have take what you can get even if not what you were hoping for.
11080126
I'm guessing that every mare wants to be a parent and like our people for some reason birth is the way to go even if they could adopt.
The thought occurs to me that it should get more evident the effect of Pony forms for Humans... I can just see the anguish of a Quiditch captain that finds out he has an Earth Pony form and has to re-learn his to fly.
it was at this point Ruby knew she had fucked up. yep normal woman.
so much fun in this chapter so many twists and turns.
this is a grate chapter.
11080275
Yeah; it just. Smacks so unrealistic; even in our own culture, back in the days when being a homemaker was everything to "most" women, there were likely plenty who couldn't be assed. It just feels... all kinds of awful.
11080274
Rainbow Dash mentioned a father that didn't know about Scootaloo... I suppose she could have been referencing her own father, but what if there was another? Just how big is her family's herd?
11080289
Personally I never understood why birth is better than adoption for a lot of people but it seems to just that. Equestria girls can not kick butt but be parents unfortunately I think with the small number of males compared to females that forces many males into being homemakers whether they hoped for more or not.
I wonder what would happen if a Changeling drank Veritas serum while shapeshifted. Would it make them change back to their true form?
11080301
I mean, they didn't even have to write it that way; if you look at canon, especially later seasons, the scarcity of stallions bit isn't even true. Also, about the birth thing: people are very hung up on children being biologically "theirs". As if adoption and fostering somehow makes the child less of a family member to them.
That reminds me, I wonder how and why artificial insemination isn't a thing in Equestria.
Another thing... in G1, ponies apparently canonically reproduced by looking into magic mirrors, making a wish, and essentially cloning a baby version of themselves into existence. Thinking about it, there was that weird pond thing that I can't remember the name of that Pinkie messed around with... I wonder what something like that could've originally been meant for. 🤔
11064382
You know what else would have been laughed off in that time period? Marital rape, the rape of men, either by women or other men and a bunch of other morally dubious things. Stop trying to justify this. It's not okay. This is literally you right now:
You: Writes something morally outrageous
Me and others: Are morally outraged
You: *surprise pikachu face*
11080319
This is unfair. I specified level of moral outrage not that there is any outrage at all. Have you read the comments on what people consider to be proper punishment? This is what I find astonishing, that and the absolute black and white stance many are taking. People are livid over second degree kidnapping by desperate individuals who have no intentions to cause harm to their victims.
huh. odd but interesting. Wonder who needs to wake up.
I'm sorry, but Tor does need to grow up a bit. Did Ruby overreact? ...Debatable. But finding out her boyfriend had been kidnapped, then forcing his kidnapper to take her to him only to find him in herd discussions without her...I think her reaction is at least understandable from her perspective, and that the thestrals caught in it should feel lucky she only gave them jelly legs the magical way instead of by using that club she made.
And really this is one of the issues I've been concerned about, basically how pony culture has been running roughshod over human/wizard culture and anyone who pushes back is made out to be the bad guy. Unfortunately for ponies, and especially the thestrals, the majority of western culture has been raised monogamous, and not everyone is going to be open to the idea of herding, AND if they keep pushing herding like this, the next Ruby might not be so nice about it. And as I said a chapter or two ago, it's only a matter of time before they kidnap a GUY who won't be nice about it.
At the very least I hope now that Professor Sprout is aware of the thestrals shady(or rather frankly, criminal) activities involving the students, they can shut it down and find a better compromise for doing things that doesn't absolutely reek of human trafficking.
11080375
The "harm" doesn't necessarily have to be physical. At the very least they way you present things is that they're going around kidnapping guys with the intention of tricking or at least pressuring them through forced confinement to make life altering deals which sound like they'd be heavily skewed in favor of whatever benefits the thestrals.
NOT helped by the scene of Extra giving out "permission slips" to the underage wizard thestrals which, given "Sales Pony's" involvement, may or may not be clear about what exactly the parents would be approving for their kids.
Just to be clear:
This basically says they're not going to let any of their kidnap victims go until they're locked in as a breeding stud.
11080400
No idea how to differentiate this situation to some weird case of fast paced stockholm syndrome.
It made me feel really uncomfortable how fast he wanted to join in.
You know. I'm beginning to wonder just how much the transformations change. They are turned into one-hundred percent biological viable versions of either humans, or ponies.
But while cultural influence can affect how we regard certain sexual practices, there is also a hard-wired component. Ponies are herd animals and in this AU they are most certainly polyamorous. Just like real feral ponies and horses tend to herd with one stallion for a given number of mares. And the development of bachelor herds for all those stallions who have no herd. In Equestria that is eliminated because of the gender birth ratio.
My point is that the ponies are biologically wired to accept herds. And does that mean young adults, most of whom are virgins, might be influenced by that. monogamy is far more cultural for humans, though there is a biological component that encourages polyamory.
Tons of cultures where harems were, and are, a thing.
The biggest problem with every human stallion being able to have one human female in their herd, with the herd having no say in who she is, is that if she does not have a pony form her attitude will be purely human cultural and that is a hard barrier to climb. But if she has a pony form herself she might find herself more accepting of the idea.
This is put fairly bluntly, but I think it is a concept that might be worth some thought, if only to explain how easily some of these boys accept the idea, beyond being hormonal teen-agers or young men.
This is beyond out of control. Torin oogles, gets kidnapped and then goes hey lets join a herd...eyes sparkling I will be the savior of a species! Girlfriend finds out....Girlfriend Badger finds out who are naturally loyal and fierce and goes to save him only to discover yeah he's oogling/cheating and she overreacts. And Torin then goes forget you I've got my herd, I changed my name to Progenitor and now I will go off to mate while everyone else including Professor Sprout and Ruby just stands by?
I think Discord should interfere with this spiteful insanity and Torin should talk to Professor Snape....I sense a Snape's worst memory thing coming on.
Also the bat pony desperation kidnappings need to be addressed by the princesses. At this rate war would break out over forced human to pony kidnapping.
Hey random thought does your magic still consider you are married if you mate purely out of spite? And since Ruby had apparently mated with Torin first wouldn't his own magic find his actions in violation?
I am quite familiar with the 'WTF did i just write' phenomenon.
One if my main characters was only supposed to have one love interest........now he thinks he's Ranma Saltome
does that mean bow is scootaloos dad?
11080126
This has never stopped confusing me, because even in this story there are still noteable monogamous families. The Cakes, the Pies, the Apples, Twilight's parents, all the way up to the highest level of government in Cadance and Shining.
11080054
You have to remember that Snape's past is a lot darker than what the thestrals are doing. Not that this justifies them, but Snape at least can look at his own actions and go "well, I've done worse, and with far less noble intentions."
11080375
Ehhh, you kinda wrote yourself into a corner on that one. If it had been done on a purely willing basis with no strings attached, there wouldn't be much of an issue. But this point you've established several things that muddy the waters: For one, the batponies ultimately don't give anyone a choice. You're there, you're going to have sex with at least one of them, probably more, before you get released. That makes it rape, which makes things awkward. Then there's also how you spent several chapters on how stallion abuse is one of the greatest crimes you can perform in Equestria, with some of the harshest punishments for it. This makes the batpony situation even more awkward, because it makes it seem as if they have carte blanche to commit one of the worst crimes Equestria has and get away with it with little to no consequence. Then on top of that, you also established that wizarding magic means the act of having sex marries the wizard or witch to whomever they have sex with, which ensures that there will never be "just a quicky for the kids, no strings attached" for wizards and witches, as Torin seems to be thinking here. This is a lasting change that irrevocably alters the lives for those who enter into it, Which is not something forced on someone else so casually.
The whole network of otherwise unconnected systems you created for this world turns the batpony situation from "horny mares desperate for children" into "near-ethicless cradle robbers who will force boys barely out of childhood into marriage", and the boys who agree to it with nary a second thought to the life altering change this entails into, at best, kind but short sighted idiots who don't realize the monumental consequences of their choice, or at worst brainless twits who think with their lower wands.
Here's some reference material.
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/973072/unofficial-hazy-days-and-magical-ways-character-listing-chapter-26
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/973073/unofficial-hazy-days-and-magical-ways-thread-tracker-chapter-26
11080516
Yes herds pretty much only have One adult male who has sex with the adult mares, that's how they are structured.
I know it sounds sexist, but in nature you don't get plural relationships that involve multiple males. And Note sex does not mean a relationship.
11080740
11080740
doesn't sound sexists' to me at all it seems rather fun.....tiering after awhile physically , but still.
11080530
All this is why I was confused when I got downvoted for saying 'maybe they should look into a way to break the infinite forever marriages' lol
The bat pony sitch is getting painfully intense. Still interesting tho.
Most excellent.
Wow, is it SJW scandal? 8-()
11080429
11080467
Isn't it simple? Ruby indeed saved Torin, but did everything to make it look like returning a runaway puppy, an untrustworthy boy who thinks only about sex.
He saw that both his captors and his savior treat him as a thing, not as human being. Ruby is described as returning her property, and being suddenly reduced to property is great humiliation, isnt it?
So Torin is acting childish, but not without logic...
11081326
Not that Torin was going about it with much grace either. His first reaction to Ruby coming to rescue him basically amounted to "oh hey, want to get to know your fellow girlfriends?" which... understandably set off Ruby. Because the answer to Sprout's question of loyalty turns out to be a resounding "no", as Torin had already decided to join the herd and he was just going to convince Ruby to join after the fact, rather than discussing it with her beforehand.
11081422
Lets look at the text. The first words of Ruby were:
Let me translate it: "if my slave thinks that his master will share, that slave will be severely punished".
Torin than tried to rephrase her words into "you are insane, if you think..." and got negative answer. Ruby is really thinking that it is her right to punish him.
Her next actions were clear demonstration of force - creating weapon, cursing everybody in sight... btw, that moment about "I got to pee" is, clearly, a cruelty. Watered down, almost harmless, but cruelty anyways. And Torin is, at that moment, is magically tied - by her.
Than came
So she is strong about not giving Torin to decide, because she thinks that he is obsessed by idea of making sex.
Isn't it enough for teenage boy with a bit of self-respect? She clearly trampled him, but, surprise, not every boy want domineering bitch as a girlfriend.
Maybe older, more level-headed man will be not as fast at deciding who shall command who, but here is a boy - who got physically (magically :-) ) punished for disagreeing with his "savior". His repetition of "knickers to get into" shows that he was greatly offended by this very words.
His decision to go with thestral mares was "acting out of spite" - clearly emotional, not logical...
11080386
Pretty sure it's illegal and they know it's illegal given they moved the entire tribe to the badlands in hopes of avoiding the princesses attention.
Really hoping but not expecting that this will drive home the consequences of their actions to them as they've just destroyed a relationship and gotten justifiably attacked over their first kidnap victim. Who frankly honestly does seem to be more interested in sex than a relationship given he keeps picking a blue Thestral after being warned by a changeling who's whole purpose is sensing compatibility that she'd be a bad choice.
I mean I can get his being a bit pissed off at his girlfriend cursing him but from an outside perspective he practically screams brainwashing. Flip the genders and its someone's girlfriend being transformed into another species and when you show up saying "Hi that's Bill, Tim and Steven their going to be my husbands oh and my names now Breeding stock."
11081508
Oh I'm not absolving Ruby from any blame either. The "haha, girl beats up guy over romance" gag had already gotten old decades ago for me (and well written tsunderes are ever so hard to find as a result). However, let's look at Torin's first words on the subject as well:
He's already defending the mares who are talking him into their herd, and is already trying to get Ruby to go along with the idea. His joining the herd wasn't a reaction to Ruby, he'd already made that choice even before Ruby arrived.
That, and the comments about how he had been "eyeing" the blue haired mare like he's out shopping, and continued to do so even after warnings not to, doesn't exactly endear much sentiment. It rather makes me wonder if Ruby's knicker-chasing comments, crude though they were, didn't have more truth to them than Torin wants to admit.
Honestly, I'm not sure what Larva sees between the two, because between Ruby's violent possessiveness and Torin's eagerness to get it on with other girls, that particular relationship seems like it would have been so toxic I'd be worried about fallout.
Thinking about it Trelawny and Larva have done nothing to avoid this mess only made it worse.
11081607
Yep and as evident by his choices he's picking based on physical attraction not any actual attachment. Not to mention that what about the next guy if he doesn't want to take the deal they are just going to keep him prisoner till he does they aren't going to send him home.
To be fair to Ruby (also not a fan of the beat up your boyfriend approach) but she is a teenage girl who's emotions were probably already running high with worry over the guy she was dating being kidnapped. Then when you show up he's not "Oh good maybe you can get them to listen as your also a girl" (patronising though that could be) it's "Hey they're not that bad and check out the flank on that one". So we could easily be seeing her at her worst in the midst of an explosion over him constantly ogling other girls. I mean even with this she was willing to listen especially on finding out about Trelawny and she did warn them if the word herd was brought up all bets were off yet Larva was still talking about him picking the right mares. So it wasn't "Stop staring at other girls" so much as "I am not going to be one of your co-wives". She did trust him to stay loyal something likely important to a badger till he apparently said "These girls are cute be part of my harem."
11080001
What consequences?
They got EXACTLY what they wanted, and the price was a slight hexing... that was removed.
Oh, and a likely permanently emotionally broken witch, but they don't actually care about that.
Unless she becomes the scourge of the Threstrals...
I'd read that.