The excitement in the Janus Thickey Ward tended to be of the most unpleasant variety. Had it been in the muggle world, it would have been a home to St. Jude. Its residents were afflicted with ailments that were beyond the reach of current magical knowledge. However, much like Pandora’s Box, amid a world of despair, there was still hope. Most recently, it had come in the form of an arrogant, small, brown unicorn with medical knowledge from another world. Hitherto incurable conditions were now foal’s play to the arsenal he brought to bear. Synergies between the two magical worlds and the medicines of the mundane had resulted in remedies that none could have managed separately. Still, there were cases beyond even this revolution.
For the most part, the ward was a waystation to the next world, where the residents had yet to surrender to inevitability.
It therefore came as quite a shock to the young healer when a spectral voice said, “He . . . he . . . hello?”
With wide eyes, she practically jumped out of her own skin as she turned, half expecting to find the ghost of a newly-departed. Instead, she locked gazes with a frail woman who did not have the strength to lift her head from her pillow.
“Hello? Where am I?” came an unsure voice.
Deftly, the healer took out her wand and pointed it at one of the many crystals situated throughout the hospital. With a muttered word, it turned yellow and started blinking. “Lady Longbottom,” she then said, running scans with her wand over the woman as the bed moved the patient into a sitting position. “Can you understand me?”
“Yes . . .” The voice was frail from disuse. “Where are we? Why is Frank sitting there and not moving?”
“Lady Longbottom, you are in St. Mungo’s. I am Trainee Healer Bafort.”
“St. Mungo’s?” Alice Longbottom shuddered as memories returned. “How badly was Frank hurt? Where’s my Neville?”
Ignoring the first question, Healer Bafort responded. “Your son? Last I heard, he was taking classes at Hogwarts. It’s safe to assume that’s where he is now.”
“Hogwarts?” Confusion laced her voice. “He’s not even out of his nappies yet. He wouldn’t be at Hogwarts.”
“You’ve been here for a while,” the healer said, double-checking her readings. “If I remember correctly, since the end of the war.”
“How long was that?” There was panic creeping into her voice. “How long have I been out?”
“Mmmm . . . nine? Ten years? I think,” the healer said, marking down her readings on a clipboard.
“Ten years?” It didn’t come out as the shout that was attempted; it was a stage whisper that broke half way through the first syllable.
“I’m going to have to ask you to remain calm,” the healer stated. “I can’t risk giving you a calming potion, all things considered.”
“Ten years? Ten bloody years?”
The rant was interrupted when the doors to the ward opened and three senior healers strode in with brisk steps. They took one look at the hysterical woman sitting in the bed and pulled their own wands, filling the air with diagnostic spells.
Much data would be collected, and a certain novice healer would be getting remedial training on how to break sensitive news to patients.
As an educator, Professor Minerva McGonagall had scoffed at the notion that ignorance is bliss. She now knew better. With the collapse of the Statute of Secrecy, the ways of the muggle world had come crashing in like a tsunami, sweeping away the status quo. Since that fateful day, she had come to dread the cock’s call and its promise of yet another attempt by the cruel world to drown her in a sea of change. It seemed that just as she had gotten comfortable treading its waters, it would start to rain. Minerva was now positive that if she ever met the individual who coined the phrase ‘when it rains it pours’ she would be indulging in some therapeutic hexing, with prejudice.
It would be safe to say that she wasn’t a happy kitty. The gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster’s office must have sensed this, as it had jumped out of the way without requiring a password, letting the Professors of Transformation, Herbology, and Muggle Studies, along with the visiting inspector, pass without breaking stride.
“Come in, Minerva,” Albus Dumbledore’s voice called out before the entourage reached the door at the top of the moving staircase.
“Albus!” Professor McGonagall was the first through. “We’ve got a problem.”
Rising from his seat behind his impressive desk, Headmaster Dumbledore replied, “It would seem it is the day for problems. What is it this time? Another foreign dragon?”
“Worse,” Professor McGonagall said. “One of the staff, Extra Security, has been sending students to her home with the express intent of persuading them to form herds. She was interrupted in the process of owling her second student.”
Professor Dumbledore blinked before sitting back down. “She has started already?” he asked. “I must say, that didn’t take her very long.”
The other professors in the room blinked at him in return, silent for a second before Professor Sprout demanded, “You knew she was going to do this?”
Professor Dumbledore nodded before pushing a bowl full of sweets forward to offer to his guests. “Lemon drop, anyone?”
“Albus,” Professor McGonagall said with a threatening tone. “You knew this was going to happen and did nothing to prevent it?”
Professor Dumbledore nodded a second time. “Yes, she came to me this morning. She wanted to check the upper years for individuals who change into her breed of pony. Given what Severus has told us about their dire need for new blood, I felt it would do no harm to accede to her request.”
The Muggle Studies Professor spoke up. “You gave her permission to kidnap students?”
“Kidnap? No,” Dumbledore said. “Why would I give her permission to kidnap students?”
Professor McGonagall rubbed her forehead with her right hand. “What exactly did you give her permission to do?”
Popping a lemon drop into his own mouth, Professor Dumbledore said, “I told her that she could test the students for their alternate forms. I recall informing her that she wouldn’t need parental consent for the students that were of age, but she would need it for younger students before taking them from the school grounds.”
“Oh my,” the Muggle Studies Professor said. “Did you perhaps inform her that she would need the permission from the of age students before relocating them?”
“I would think that such a thing was obvious,” Professor Dumbledore said, studying the faces of the people in his office. “Surely, she wouldn’t . . .”
“She did!” Professor Sprout snapped. “She tossed Mr. Walker into an owl’s pouch without so much as a by your leave.”
Albus Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. “I assume that didn’t go over well.”
“His girlfriend wasn’t happy,” Professor McGonagall said. “When she caught up with Mr. Walker, words were exchanged, and ponies were hexed.”
“How unfortunate.” Professor Dumbledore frowned. “I trust that no permanent damage was sustained.”
“A budding relationship was almost certainly cut short,” Professor Sprout snarled accusingly. “Headmaster, you know herds are a considerable commitment. How could you allow such a thing?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Professor Dumbledore asked. “I had, no matter how wrongly, assumed that Ms. Security would be more circumspect. We do not interfere with our students’ relationships, after all.”
“Albus,” Professor McGonagall said. “Can ye not see that there will be people who will think the whole thing is predatory?”
“I suppose it is to some degree,” Professor Dumbledore said. “Though, considering the cultures involved, it is up for discussion as to which side contains the predators and which the prey. May I remind you that marriage contracts are still very much in use. This way, instead of being betrothed to the woman of their parent’s preference, these young men are being introduced to young women of their own age, being given a choice. I would think that this is preferable. Not to mention, given the nature of herds, the aforementioned marriage contracts are not completely ruled out.”
“Marriage contracts are a thing?” asked the inspector, who had been observing quietly.
“Very much so,” the Muggle Studies Professor acknowledged. “It is one of the major sticking points the normal government is contesting with the magical.”
“I’m afraid I will need to put on my Chief Warlock hat for a moment and inquire over the reaction of the ponies concerning the hexing you mentioned.” Professor Dumbledore changed the subject.
“They are reacting amazingly amicably,” Professor Sprout admitted. “They were happy when I removed the hexes my badger inflicted them with.”
“I have sent an owl to the princesses, apprising them of the situation,” Professor McGonagall said. “Hopefully, we can allay any concerns they may have over our treatment of their subjects.”
“Wait a minute.” Said the inspector. “Wasn’t she responding to what she perceived as a kidnapping? I’m sure that will grant some leeway.”
“We can only hope that is the case.” Professor Dumbledore said.
“THEY DIST WHAT!?”
Princess Celestia allowed the briefest of cracks in her unnatural poise as a reaction to her sister’s outburst, flinching at the rage-filled voice. “They foalnapped two young colts from the human’s school for magic.”
“AFTER WE HAST ADMONISHED THEM FOR SUCH BEHAVIOR? THEY WOULD DARE?”
“It would seem that we have underestimated their desperation.” Princess Celestia glanced at the scroll she was floating. “If it is any consolation, they got permission from the second colt’s father, so it wasn’t a foalnapping.”
Princess Luna stared at her older sister with sheer astonishment. “What?”
“They got permission from the colt’s father.” Princess Celestia repeated. “It would seem, he signed a consent form.”
Princess Luna continued to stare. “What is wrong with the humans?”
“Now Luna,” Princess Celestia chided. “We must make allowances for the differences of other creatures, as long as they do not harm our ponies.”
“Yet, it dost not speak well of the humans; they be so callous concerning their stallions.”
“I am starting to get the impression that they would be just fine with it, if ever mare in Canterlot sauntered over and started claiming stallions, willy nilly, just as long as they were back in time for tea.”
“They do make good tea.”
“Yes, they do. Remind me to introduce you to the newest blend I have acquired.”
“And the chocolate covered espresso beans be divine.”
“Luna.”
“We are just saying.”
“Luna.”
“But We digress. What actions must be taken?” Luna relented on the one subject. “Surely, such impudence cannot go unpunished.”
“First of all, even though they haven’t come right out and asked for it, some kind of amends for the injured parties must be offered.”
“We shall make sure that our subjects comply.” Luna said fiercely.
“They have crossed the line.” Princess Celestia nodded firmly. “Banishment of the mares in charge shall be considered.”
“’Tis a just punishment for such a crime.” Luna nodded as an owl flew into the room. “More news.” She inclined her head.
“I think we may have just received our first official letter of condemnation.” Princess Celestia sighed as she used her magic to relieve the owl of its message.
“We are sorrowful that such would be richly deserved.” Luna sighed as well. “Our subjects hast sorely angered us.”
“It is from Professor McGonagall again.” Princess Celestia started reading. “Wha?”
“What news, sister?” Luna prodded.
“Just a second.” Celestia’s eyes flew over the message at least two times before she continued. “She says that their headmaster gave permission for the thestral to test the students for their pony forms and that underage colts could be introduced to willing herds given approval from their guardians. The only real infraction was the older colt being taken without consent and he declines to take offense.”
“What is wrong with these humans?”
“She is also offering apologies that the colt’s fillyfriend took out her anger on the fillies gathered for the introductions.” Princess Celestia blinked her eyes rapidly in bewilderment.
Luna stopped to consider this. “Hast we done some deed that makes them wary of our wrath? Why dost they fear our ire against rightful retribution? Any filly hast the right to defend her claim thusly.”
“Patriarchal society.” Celestia said. “Remember that they are a patriarchal society, Luna.”
“Thou dost say that as if it explains their madness.”
“In a way, I think it does.” Celestia hummed.
“Does thou think their reaction would alter if it were fillies being taken to be herded so unethically?”
“That is a distinct possibility.”
“And what actions are to be taken? Are we to ‘wait and see’ whilst these crimes go unpunished?”
“As galling as it may be, that is exactly what we shall do,” Celestia said. “The main culprits have effectively banished themselves.” She waved the newest parchment as an example. “They have relocated to the badlands, outside our sphere of influence. That doesn’t even take into account that the laws, as they now stand, are in direct opposition to their survival as a race, and thus they may consider them unjust.”
“We would counsel official banishment of the culprits.” Luna protested. “Our first foray of mercy was thrown back in our face.”
Celestia scanned the parchment yet again. “Sister, it is time to stop thinking of this in terms of right and wrong and start thinking in terms of practicality. We are currently faced with an entire race of ponies that has taken the first step to divorce itself from our rule, going so far as to banish themselves for crimes they feel they have no choice but to commit.”
“Their crimes are unforgivable.”
“And yet, it would seem that the humans have already forgiven them.”
“Must you play Centaur’s advocate?”
“Somepony must, and your anger precludes you from that duty,” Celestia said. “I, too, am enraged, but experience has taught me not to just start hoofing out punishments in cases like this. Unless we take action to facilitate their survival, they will only get sneakier, and somepony will get hurt when, not if, it gets out of hoof. This isn’t a herd of entitled mares snatching a stallion; this is an entire race of ponies concerned about extinction.”
“Tia.”
“Don’t ‘Tia’ me. Repercussions are only effective as far as the perpetrators are not willing to suffer through them. The stakes are high enough that the thestrals have already hinted at being willing to suffer anything to ensure the survival of their kind.”
Luna stared balefully at her sister.
The large white alicorn sighed again. “We need to address the underlying cause. Telling somepony ‘Don’t steal the bales of hay from your neighbors even though your foals are starving’ never works out well in the end.”
“And their crimes shall go unanswered?” Luna gritted her teeth.
“This time, their crimes were committed outside our borders.” Celestia reminded her.
“They art our subjects.”
“They won’t be for long if you continue down this line of thought,” Celestia countered.
“Tia.”
“They have gotten a mouthful of hay. They will be back for more and it is our duty to ensure that nopony and nohuman suffer as a result. Punishing them will only make them fight harder.”
Luna snorted. “You would allow them to pillage unwary colts?”
“No, not unwary. Neither of the adult stallions involved are willing to press charges, and the underaged one had permission. We have no injured parties at this point, and I would very much like to keep it that way.” Celestia regarded the floating scroll once again. “Professor McGonagall’s last letter stated that she was just made aware that the muggles have something called ‘artificial insemination’ which may eliminate the ‘instant herd’ problem.”
Luna blinked. “Those words hast no business being put together thusly.”
“Instant herd?” Celestia queried.
“Artificial insemination.”
Celestia chuckled. “Good. Now that you’ve calmed down, it’s time to be a mediator.”
True to their daily routine, Nissy and Bella were sitting on the couch, watching their soaps when the owl arrived.
“Bark!”
“Oh, hello Hedwig.” Nissy said, brandishing her wand. “I don’t see a letter. So, passenger?”
“Bark!” Hedwig nodded.
“Ex dimittere.” Nissy tapped her wand on the owl’s pouch.
The expected sound of retching reverberated as a pony tumbled out of the pouch, landing on all four of her hooves as if she traveled by owl every day.
The two witches looked at the newcomer without recognition.
The pony looked back with half-lidded eyes.
“Hello there,” Nissy ventured.
The pony looked back with half-lidded eyes.
“Are you going to say anything?” Bella asked.
“eek,” said the pony.
The sisters blinked. “Well, that was the calmest scream I have ever encountered,” Cissy admitted.
“Do you have more? Or are you done?” Bella asked.
“I have one more,” the pony said and then there was a pause. “eek.”
“Now that you have that out of your system; would you like some popcorn? The story is getting good,” Nissy said, gesturing toward the telly.
It was at that point that Pinkie stormed into the room. “Is everyone all right? I heard scre . . .” She took in a surprised breath. “Maud!” she called out as she flung her arms around the stock-still pony. “Maud, are you hurt? You were screaming your head off.”
“Pinkie,” said the pony who still hadn’t moved.
“Yes Maud?”
“You’re not a pony,” said Maud.
“Oh, right,” Pinkie said as she shrunk down to her four-hooved form. “It’s so good to see you! What a surprise! I’m so happy! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
“Pinkie,” Nissy scolded. “Don’t jump around like that. It isn’t good for the baby.”
“You’re pregnant,” said Maud, still not having moved.
“Yes! Isn’t it great!” Pinkie held a hoof to her mouth as she started giggling. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your eyes go that wide before. It isn’t that big of a surprise.”
The Black sisters looked at the half-lidded eyes of Maud before glancing at each other then turned their attention back on the ponies.
“Perhaps introductions are in order.” Nissy ventured.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Pinkie beamed. “This is my big sister Maud Pie. Maud, these two are Narcissa Black and Bellatrix Black.”
“Please to meet you,” Maud said calmly.
“Likewise,” said Nissy.
“Hello,” said Bella.
“Maud,” Pinkie chided, tapping her sister’s shoulder with a hoof. “There’s no reason to be so suspicious. They’re friends. Family actually, they are cousins of my stallion.”
Sirius decided it was time to rush into the room. “Have you seen Pinkie? She just took off like there were cupcakes burning somewhere.”
Gloria stuck her head into the Hufflepuff’s seventh-year’s girls’ dorm room and called out, “Ruby? You in here?”
“Go away, Gloria,” replied Ruby’s tear-filled voice.
“Sorry, I can’t do that,” Gloria called back. “You got an owl. Well, actually, a visitor.”
“A visitor?” Ruby sniffed.
“You know, it just occurred to me that the wards around the school are completely useless at this point,” Gloria said. “Anyone can get in at any time they want, so long as they have someone here willing to let them out of an owl’s pouch.”
“Gloria . . .” Ruby said testily. “Visitor?”
“Right, sorry. I brought you a cute ball of fluff that you can cry your eyes out into.”
“Ball of fluff?” Ruby shuffled off her bed and approached the other girl, reflexively looking down. “You!” she said with venom in her voice.
“Me,” confirmed the pony.
“Me too,” added Gloria.
“Oh, shut up Gloria,” Ruby said before narrowing her eyes at the pony. “What do you want?”
“You need to come fix this,” the pony answered.
“Fix what?”
“Torin Walker is a mess. You know how sensitive stallions can be.”
“What do I care?” Ruby snapped. “You stole him from me.”
“We. Do. Not. Poach. Colts,” the pony snapped back. “You had an argument. You both said hateful things, and you both ran away crying.”
“He broke up with me,” Ruby snarled.
“Stallions are overly emotional, prone to outbursts they don’t mean,” the pony snarled back, baring her fangs. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you that?”
“Hold on,” Gloria said. “Just a minute. What is your name?”
The two other females broke off their staring contest long enough to give her a bemused look.
“I mean I can’t just keep on calling you ‘flufflepuff with fangs’ in my head. You have a name, don’t you?”
“Shadow Flow,” the pony said. “Don’t mind me, I’m just trying to get my alpha mare to do her job.”
“I’m not your alpha mare,” Ruby snapped.
“Do you seriously think any of us are going to deny you that position?” Shadow Flow countered.
“I don’t want anything to do with a herd,” Ruby snapped.
“Yeah, yeah, we got that,” Shadow Flow said. “Humans are normally monogamous, and the mares have to be eased into the concept of a loving herd. I’ve heard the seminar. Now, can we do the easing later? We’ve got a hysterical stallion to deal with.”
Ruby sputtered, then opened her mouth to say something only to sputter again.
“Flufflepuff with fangs and no sense of tact,” Gloria amended.
“When did my life become a bad romance novel?” Ruby complained.
“Around one o’clock,” Gloria said helpfully.
“Is she doing that on purpose?” Shadow Flow asked.
“Sometimes, I seriously don’t know,” Ruby admitted.
“Well excuse me for interrupting.” Gloria huffed. “You’re welcome to go back to growling at each other.”
“She did kind of kill the mood,” Shadow Flow said.
“Whatever. You can leave now. I told you I’m not joining your herd.”
“You’ve got it backwards. We are trying to join yours . . . if you’ll just give us the chance.”
“I thought I made myself clear in that regard.”
“And we would have backed off to give you some space before approaching you again. It’s the whole ‘trying not to become extinct’ thing. We can’t exactly give up just because you are being culturally selfish.”
“Culturally selfish?”
“I’m not sure exactly. It was part of the seminar, but I kind of zoned out during parts, and I left the pamphlet at home”
Ruby placed two fingers against her temple. “Damn it, you little creeps have got to stop making it so hard to stay mad at you.”
“Flufflepuff with fangs and no sense of tact, yet still caring and lovable.”
“Shut up, Gloria.”
“So can we go to comfort -- I’m going out on a stalactite here -- ‘our’ stallion?” Shadow Flow asked hopefully.
“What exactly do you want from me?” Ruby asked.
“Just the basics for now. Stop our stallion from crying. Hug and make up with everypony. Maybe get to know your mares. Then some more hugging.”
“Her mares?” Gloria looked at Ruby and gasped. “You’ve got minions! How is that fair? I want minions!”
Shadow Flow looked warily at Ruby. “Is she joining the herd too?”
“Is everybody ready?” Twilight asked as she entered the room. “The reservations are in one hour. Oh hello, a visitor?”
“Hello, dear. I see you finally managed to pull your nose out of your book.” Sirius grinned as he greeted his first wife. “Say hello to Pinkie’s sister Maud. She received a letter from their mother letting her know that Pinkie was planning to visit the old homestead; so, she decided to pop over to Ponyville and share the train ride with her. Bon Bon was kind enough to forward her via owl.”
“Be glad Sirius summarized for you,” Bella said. “Otherwise, there are some weird translations going on here.”
“Bella,” Nissy growled.
“What?” Bella shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to manage it, but for the sake of my sanity, I’m filing this entire conversation under ‘Pinkie being Pinkie’.”
“Oookay.” Twilight turned on her heel. “I’ll just go and call the restaurant and let them know we need another seat. Pleased to meet you, Maud. Did you want to go as a pony or do you want a ring to turn human?”
“Hello,” Maud said.
Twilight paused midstep, waiting for an answer to her question.
Everyone waited.
“Pinkie, stop bouncing. Andi told you it’s bad for the baby.”
And waited.
“I can be a human?” Maud asked.
“Yes.” Twilight nodded. “It’s not nearly as disorientating as you might imagine. Oh, I should warn you that humans are omnivores who eat meat.”
“Oh . . .”
. . .
. . .
“eek.”
“Maud! Calm down!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Humans don’t eat ponies!”
“Is she panicking?”
“I think she’s panicking.”
“Pinkie or Maud?”
“Take your pick.”
“Do something.”
“Rictusempra,” Nissy intoned, pointing her wand at Maud.
Maud stood there. “heh.”
“Great, she’s gone from screaming her head off to laughing her head off.” Pinkie waved her hooves at her sister in worry.
“Tickling charm?” Twilight asked.
“Yes.” Nissy nodded. “I’m pretty sure that there isn’t anything like terminal calmness, but I didn’t want to put that theory to the test; so, I didn’t use the calming charm.”
“Try something else!” exclaimed Pinkie. “This place is weirding her out!”
“Quick cousin.” Bella suggested. “Hug and kiss her. No woman can resist some serious comfort.”
There was a pause. “Did Bella just give me a complement?” Sirius asked.
“Backhanded as it may be.” Nissy nodded.
“The tickling spell is still working.” Maud said. “…heh.”
Nissy quickly cancelled the spell.
“Are you calm now?” Twilight asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, that was redundant to ridiculous levels.” Bella said.
“Think your ready to go out and eat?”
“No thanks.” Maud said. “I lost my apatite.”
“Hehehe.” Pinkie giggled. “Even scared out of your mind, you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
The humans in the room looked at the pink pony as if… well as if she were Pinkie.
“It’s a good joke.” Pinkie giggled. “Get it? Apatite, appetite. It’s rock humor.”
The humans continued to stare.
“Aw, just forget it, it’s time to end the chapter anyway.” Pinkie pouted
“Pinkie, what are you tal……….
New chapter‼️‼️
Sterilization of the offenders would put them in their place very fast. How willing would they be to do illegal acts if the punishment reduces their chances to survive as a species even more?
I could not care less if they are on the brink of extinction if their answer is kidnapping and rape (They kidnapped Severus and weren't going to take no for an answer. Only the fact he could aparate saved him from being used as breeding stock). They can die out and BOTH worlds will be better off for it.
Minerva tried to give Albus a dose of common sense. Good luck with that.
Wow, I rarely see Maud with this much expression in any of the fanfics.
It's good to see this long overdue issue starting to be addressed (I think). It's gotten to the point that a group of thestral mares could rape a stallion in the middle of the throne room without anything happening to them and it wouldn't be out of place in this story. Despite previous elements to the contrary.
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I personally would have had Luna make a deal with Discord imminently after the incident with Severus. The number of humans turned ponies, the number of humans turned thestrals, the number of human males on earth. That's a lot of willing stallions. Make it clear that maintaining good relations with the humans will be the salvation of the thestrals, and the other thestrals will hunt down the perpetrators themselves for fear of driving away the humans.
By the stars....Maud in this....
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Well I must say, you live up to your Name, Avatar, and Description with this comment.
Hehehe. Love reading these always leave me smiling,
Just Pinkie being Pinkie. Most excellent,
First of all. Thank you for a new chapter. This is one of the stories that keeps me coming back. I always lightens my evening, or morning, to find it in my in-box, so to speak.
Secondly to address the issue that generates so much debate. I won't lie and say I think there are inconsistencies in regard to the treatment the Thestral mares are getting. In my head canon I subscribe it to guilt on Celestia's part once she discovered just how badly the banned mares faired. I'm sure Discord made sure to fill her in, in Graphic detail.
That said. The plot has to be taken in the context of the story. This is a silly Merry Sue sort of story. I grew up with the Beverly Hillbillies and there were more than a few occasions when Elly May hogtied a male-critter, the first time asking her Pa if she could keep him.
And I have to admit to bias.
If a bunch of good looking guys/stallions were to kidnap a human woman to be their broodmare it would be out of place in anything but a clop story. But a gaggle of good looking girls kidnapping a guy in a comedy story just does not raise the same flags.
Futurama demonstrated that with their Snoo Snoo episode. and in that one it was implied that survival was not a common thing for the guys.. Death from Snoo Snoo is still a meme I see now and then.
When I run into a plot I just can't accept I drop the story. This story so far, because of its genre has not reached that point.
Maud is so expressive!
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It's sadly not a black and white issue, as sterilization of the offenders hurts all bat ponies, but you can't let them get away with it.
Sadly despite her discomfort with the idea Luna may have to get used to artificial insemination, not every human who becomes a bat pony will want to be In a herd. Bat pony mares will have to face the possablity they can't bare thier stallion's child because he isn't a bat pony. I know people who support poly are resistant to this truth but humans are for the most part monogomus especially females. As sad as it is, healthy poly relationship is a rare thing. A close friend of mine I in a working poly relationship now, bit his first attempt was less than pretty.
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And a few months after the last Batpony dies off it is discovered that they play a critical role in balancing the magic of Equestria and the entire world breaks apart.
I still disagree with the baishment laws, the punishment it WAY TOO Far for that crimes attached to it
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I think that is what is biting him on the butt now. The comparison. I think the earlier punishment should have been far less dire.
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Were I one of the Princesses, i'd made the punishment a huge fine, maybe some jail time and then some community service. For repeat offenders, maybe even find a way to swap a ponies gender
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Actually I've been wondering why the gender swap option has not been promoted.
And/or. Any group of mares guilty of stallion naping will be presented with the option. One of them can volunteer for gender reassignment, or the princess will do it for them.
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Agreed. I am also against the whole forced herding lol
She should still get prison time for the muggle kidnappings, at least
You can't just go around and teleport people across the city and leave them stranded. That's kidnapping too.
I really hope Maud doesnt have to BOOP anything.
{BOOP. Bat Out Of Pony. }
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Or they could just do the expedient thing, sterilize the entire damn lot of the Equestrian native thestrals, and let them die out entirely for their hubris. And the "We're dying out so we're entitled/must do this" mentality is exactly that.
Any future thestrals would come from changed humans and their offspring, who hopefully won't have the penchant for kidnapping and near rape that the Equestrian ones possess.
Yay new chapter ☺️ thanks for the chuckles.
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I understand your reasoning, But 2 things.
As far as I can tell it's only been one group/coven. The others are innocent. For now.
And I estimate that within a couple hundred years, a thestral with equestrian heritage will be a rare minority. One way or another, they are about to be wiped out anyway.
I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, I agree with Celestia that mere punishments won't address the root of the problem. As long as the Thestrals are in this situation, it remains a breeding ground for lawbreakers. The only long-term solution is to address the scarcity of Thestrals and make sure the tribe is no longer on the brink of extinction.
On the other hand, Luna also has a point that punishment needs to be levied. We've already seen what happens when you give Thestrals leniency: They see your inch, thank you for it, then yoink a mile the moment your back is turned. To not have any of these Thestrals punished after they were already let go the first time would essentially signal to the Thestrals there's nothing they can't get away with. And that risks them continuing these shenanigans even if the Sisters somehow address the root cause of the Thestral rarity.
Which has me wonder... given that neither sister really knew how bad the situation was, it's unlikely the Thestrals reached out to Celestia and Luna for a solution to the problem. Are Thestrals genetically incompatible with other Tribes? Or did they just never try to have a child with the other tribe? Spread the seed?
Also on a little side note, while we have been railing against the thestrals can we also spare a thought for the parents of the boys? Especially the one who signed the agreements essentially saying "yeah it's okay for you to bang and marry my underage kid?" Because that is some next level terrible parenting.
I'm kind of confused at the idea of supposed "adults" being involved in what is still clearly a kidnapping, regardless of whether or not some fools are willing to forgive such dangerous behavior. There were no adults involved; there was nobody involved that was over the age of 17, if I recall correctly, and regardless of fictitious wizard universe rules, that is not an adult. Hell, it's arguable that 18 isn't properly fully grown yet, or even 20; the brain doesn't stop developing until some time in our early to mid-twenties... which, incidentally, is around the time our bodies start to give out, ceasing production of a certain hormone and therefore causing our ability to readily heal and recover from wear and injury to slowly peter out into nonexistence- hence, aging.
Ahem. Getting back on track, regardless of whether or not they're willing to weather the consequences, the fact that remains that consequences should still be had. Even if they're in danger of extinction, it's nobody else's problem. And their unwillingness to outcross to other tribes of pony is essentially damning them. Of course, the whole entire culture of forcing herds onto monogamous couplings is ridiculous and extreme in the first place; surely they're not all in such dire straits- and even when they are, that doesn't excuse attempting to override other people's consent. This entire thing is fucked up, and it sounds like you're trying to find excuses for it.
11135537
While I don't necessarily agree that they should be condemned to extinction, I don't think that they shouldn't be punished in some fashion. Herd culture in and of itself is fine, but basically making it a reverse of our own society and having the sexism going the other way, as well as making it out that anyone who chooses to be monogamous, even if they're from an entirely different culture, out to be selfish to the point of forcing them into relationships they don't want, is rankly ridiculous. Also, the whole "alpha mare" thing tubs me the wrong way; first of all that's wolves, and second of all it isn't even correct, disproven by the same guy who first theorized it in the first place.
I dunno; it's like every time the author takes a step forwards, they take two steps backwards. None of this is necessary; it feels like every decision in regards to the ponies' fictional culture was contrived as an excuse to have these sorts of bullshit plotlines even exist in the first place.
Wouldn't artificial assimilation just make a lot of humans unknowingly married to the Thestrals...
Or does sex directly need to be involved?
Not just seaman
11135625
Which is why I first suggested sterilizing the offenders. I repeat again, how likely are they to perform any of that illegal involving kidnapping or rape if those very acts only serve to force them even closer to extinction? Banishment certainly isn't doing anything to stop them. That they keep getting away with this behavior and having it brushed off is honestly starting to piss me off at this point.
Maybe if they had two functioning brain cells between the lot of them, they could just have given an advertisement saying "herd desperate females looking for available male" in the daily prophet. With the added caveat they must be changed into a thestral to be eligible. In such an instance they're signing themselves up to people who come to them, making it mutual on both sides. Instead they seem to prefer either taking them by force as in the case of Severus with intent to rape him, or forcing them to try on a ring, them taking them without consent with likely similar intentions as what happened with Snape. I seriously doubt if one of these humans-turned-thestrals flat out said "nope, not interested" that they would back off.
Maud just makes this hole chapter so good.
she is the life of any party she is always laughing and making jokes.
a awesome chapter team.
Yeah definitely not gonna please everyone...
Anyway the more they cry extinction, the more I find it harder to sympathize since everything we know about ponies interbreeding (at least as far as canon goes anyway) means the thestral population problem is most likely their own fault for not even attempting to interbreed with the other pony races. For the sake of argument, we're going to assume the Cakes' marriage is as presented, meaning that pony couples of one type can produce foals of other types, even generations down the line, meaning that the thestral population is only an issue is because they're so insistent on keeping things to threstral x thestrals pairings that they've ignored the rest of the population simply because breeding with non thestrals wouldn't GUARANTEE thestral foals...even though getting some thestral foals out of non-thestral pairings would be preferable for their situation than the NONE they seem to be getting by pursuing their racial purity path. Even the earthiest of earth pony families, the Apples, appear to have at least a few unicorns in their ranks (not counting Sugar Belle).
Also Shadow Flow can take her "cultural selfishness" accusations and shove them up her plot. Again, it seems, now confirmed in universe even, that pony culture is to be allowed to steamroll over the human ones and any dissenters are just dismissed as being wrong. And for all her claims of not poaching stallions, I don't think anyone even bothered to include Ruby in any herd discussions til she showed up in person and started blasting, so she's perfectly in her rights to tell Shadow to get stuffed.
11135741
Heck that's what they're doing with Ruby right now. She's telling them to sod off but Shadow won't because she wants to legitimize their actions by making Ruby the alpha mare so they can pat themselves on the back and say "Nope, no stallion poaching here. We totally didn't take advantage of a horny teenage boy and inadvertently break up his existing relationship."
Also has Ruby's pony form been shown? Cause honestly it better not be thestral too.
11135962
unless being thestral is recessive trait
11135995
Which would still mean adding thestral genes to the general population would stave off complete extinction since even recessive traits can resurface down the line.
11135537
Genocide is always an option, I guess...
NEVER the right option, but AN option.
11135986
Opinions on the batpony side of the argument aside, I do think this is one of the best parts of the chapter, because it is a great example of one of the biggest problems in this debacle in a microcosm: culture clash. We have two people, one a pony one a human, both with their own cultural views arguing the exact same topic, yet completely misunderstanding the other. Like here:
Being the alpha mare is a big deal in Equestrian herds. It basically means that, as far as the other mares in the herd are concerned, what you say goes. You set the rules, you set the punishments for breaking them. From Shadow Flow's point of view, giving Ruby the position of alpha mare is a sign of how much they respect Ruby as a person, and her ties with Torin. Ruby, on the other hand, does not see it as an honour one bit. She just sees it as an attempt for the mares to poach Torin away from her. Something that is further shown here:
Shadow Flow thinks the problem is that Ruby afraid that she is going to lose status, that she is going to lose Torin if she has to join another herd, and the solution to Shadow Flow's mind is to join Ruby's herd instead so Ruby can keep her status with Torin. What Shadow Flow completely misses through the culture clash is that to a human monogamous mindset, sharing Torin with anyone is losing him. That the special bond between two people, the promise to be loyal to one and only one other until death do them part, will vanish forever.
I love stuff like this in stories. Yes, so far the resolutions have weighed a bit overly into "Equestrian side or bust", but that doesn't detract from the joy of reading about these kinds of culture clashes.
11136105
I suggested sterilization of the offenders because Equestria is against the death penalty. They shouldn't be, but they are. So I ask you, what is the point of penalties for breaking the law if they do nothing to discourage said behavior? Banishment does nothing to stop it, so something more impactful is needed. If it's not the death penalty, sterilization is the next best option in this instance. At least with sterilization they get to live out the rest of their lives.
11136215
What makes you think the sterilized will stop “recruiting”?
Unless you are going to willingly commit genocide there will be some that can breed. Those that are no longer able to breed will be the ones to gather those humans that can by hook or crook. After all, what else do they have to lose?
11136361
Because if you keep sterilizing all offenders. And by that I mean both those doing the kidnappings and anyone they're working with (IE the recipients of said kidnapped people), eventually they'll either reach the point where every thestral is sterilized, or they'll get the hint. And if they keep at it to the point they die out as a species? Well that's what I call being too stupid to live and getting what they deserve. Darwinism at it's finest.
11135683
Wizarding Britain has this … agreement with Equestrstria, or at least see eye to eye on sex = marriage.
The rest of the world doesn’t,
That’ll be a wake-up call soon enough.
11136368
A problem I see with that plan is the one Celestia pointed out: The thestrals are already at the point where they're ready to just quit Equestria altogether, and such a draconian punishment would more likely result in anyone looking to get in on the kidnapping exiling themselves to somewhere outside of Equestria's reach and try it there. Worst case scenario, the entire thestral race just packs up shop and establishes a new country of their own outside of Equestria and continues the kidnapping, now with even less rules getting in the way.
11136374
Until you stir up the international/interworld community by your actions and they retaliate with force. And humans don't have an issue with using lethal force. So either they keep it up and get sterilized, or they try to abandon their country altogether and keep at it, at which point they're hunted and gunned down like the rabid animals they show themselves to be, and the world is made better by their absence.
11136368
How do you intend to prove that the breeder knows how the newly acquired herd mate was gotten?
Especially if they agree to join?
Also, once Celestia goes down that road, other citizens will see that her absolute power can easily be turned on them.
Irreverent Earth is now in play, and that sort of power play won’t fly for very long with pushback up to and including outright rebellion becoming a possibility.
FYI Celestia can see this, Luna is having trouble doing so.
11136379
Guilty by association, knowingly or not. End of story.
Make sure to sterilize the kidnapped too…
You know, guilt by association.
11136378
Humans very much have an issue with using lethal force. The amount of people okay with simply gunning people down is very small, and simply genociding the thestrals would be political suicide for any nation that isn't a dictatorship (and a dictatorship wouldn't really care about a small number of random people going missing). Nevermind the damage such a move would do for the relations between whichever country does that and Equestria, because criminals or no, Equestria is very unlikely to look kindly on a nation that resorted to genocide as anything other than a final solution.
11136384
Why yes, very much against using lethal force... that's why every military in the world is not armed with lethal weapons, right? That's why police don't have access to lethal weapons, right? That's why violent criminals aren't gunned down, right? That's why the US didn't spend the last 20 years bombing the taliban, right? Where refugees will ambush and violently assault people who have nothing to do with their situation. Sure, not opposed to lethal force at all, especially if we feel they're attacking and harming our populace, such as by kidnapping them...
Get your head out of the clouds, or your ass... maybe both. The world isn't as friendly as you think it is. It's a far harsher thing then your fairy tale world.
11136383
Being the victim who was kidnapped by their will, there is that exception. IF someone however finds "Hey, you know how we're facing extinction? Well now we have some available stallions that you should totally take advantage of!" doesn't cause them to pause and question what's going on, not to mention contact their local authorities, that is willful ignorance.
Now, can you please kindly go fuck off? It's clear we're never going to agree.
11136404
Is it? Then why have almost three quarters of our world's nations abolished the death penalty? Why does even a nation that still has it like, say, America have the highest number of incarcerated people in the world? Why doesn't the country just kill all those criminals? That'd be the solution you say humans would go for, and people would be fine with, and yet they don't. Heck, there's been massive protests going on there the last couple of years because people don't want that to happen.
Our world isn't a fairy tale world, but the vast majority of its people aren't monsters. The UK, which is the offended party in this debacle, is one of those nations which has abolished the death penalty. Kidnapping nets you anywhere between 12 months to 12 years of prison, depending on the severity of the crime. Not execution.
11136419
The Wizarding UK hasn't removed the death penalty though, have they? Otherwise Sirius Black wouldn't have been sentenced to the Dementor's kiss in Prizoner of Azkaban. Nor would, in this very story continuity, so many of the pure blood faction been thrown through the veil. So your argument about the death penalty not occurring in the UK is entirely irrelevant.
Now I would suggest we steer away from further real world arguments at this point before we drag it too far off topic. I have plenty of more I would like to say on the matter, but this is not the time nor the place.