Hitch was wrapping up the last of his paperwork before he went home for the night. According to Pipp, Sprout was now perfectly occupied with a new smartphone, so he was hoping that his deputy would go through the rest of his recovery with minimal complaining. He glanced down at his own phone, seeing the text message that had popped up about five minutes ago.
Pipp
Heads up, Sheriff. Zipp might be headed your way, she's not too happy about the flight ban.
Just as he was about done with the last piece of work on his desk, the double doors swung open, and Zipp, looking rather irate, came trotting through the door, right up to his desk.
"And just what is this I'm hearing about a flight ban in town? Do you want pegasi to up and leave Maretime Bay?" Zipp asked with an unquestioningly accusing tone.
"No, I don't. But I do want all pegasi, and unicorns, and earth ponies to be safe when they're in Maretime Bay, Zipp. A kiosk stand was damaged today, and thankfully nopony was hurt. This time," Hitch explained to her.
"So that means just ban every pegasus from flying?" Zipp asked.
"Zipp, if a task takes a specific skill, ponies aren't free to do it just anywhere. When CanterLogic was still open, not just anypony could drive the forklifts, you needed a license. Same with the trolleys around town. I'll stop beating around the bush; you are the only pegasus with considerable flying ability, no doubt because of the countless hours down in that hangar. Nopony else has."
"So I'm just supposed to put my life on hold and teach every single pegasus how to fly?" Zipp asked.
"I didn't say that."
"Have you ever thought about what my mom will think when you've grounded every pegasus within city limits?" Zipp asked.
If Zipp thought that question was going to trip the sheriff up, she was setting herself up for disappointment as Hitch merely raised an eyebrow.
"She was the first one I called when I first considered it. She stands behind my decision one hundred percent, saying that hospitals and clinics have been packed to the brim with flight injuries. I won't have the same thing happening here. And you know what? Yours was the first name she suggested who should teach others. So take it up with her, Zipp. For now, until we figure out a solution, I'm afraid my decision is final."
Zipp wanted to continue arguing, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. With a final huff, the pegasus turned and shoved the doors to the station open, and galloped down the streets.
She needed to go for a fly, and evidently she needed to go out to the hills outside of town to do that now...
FINALLY! Competency in the decision making instead of feelings over what is "acceptable".
Hitch is right, if ponies started getting injured from flying accidents like in Zephyr Heights Maretime Bay's hospital would be quickly overwhelmed and since the doctors and nurses likely don't have a lot of experience treating pegasi that would be especially rough on them. It could also cause the old tribal tensions to flare back up and perhaps even lead to some backlash against Sunny and her friends since they're the ones that brought back magic and reunited the three pony tribes. Though teaching all the pegasi how to fly properly is gonna be a monumental task in of itself.
Guess she's out of options now.
OK, so, on one hand Hitch is right in that pegasi flight is too unpredictable and needs to be restrained before ponies get hurt.
On the other hand, I can see where Zipp’s anger is coming from, not just because she was basically forced into a teaching position without anyone asking what she wanted, but also from what could escalate from this flight ban.
Are pegasi going to need flying licenses now? Why should they have restrictions when unicorns can use magic without any?
It’s not a guarantee, but could happen if this ban isn’t handled carefully. Going to have to wait and see what happens.
11807292
That's a good point. In fact, spellcasting should be the next thing Hitch ought to regulate. Imagine an unicorn with the power of Starlight Glimmer and none of the knowledge or experience.
Not sure about Earth Pony's green thumb. Uncontrolled growth of plants and trees could seriously damage Maretime's infrastructures: roads, plumbing, etc...
Yeah I figured she will get really bad about that
Oh boy that went well so hitch was just getting ready for the end of the day until zipp showed up getting a little upset why they had to ban flying here and hitch explain why this decision hearing about none of the Pegasus don't know how to fly properly and getting hurt in the process so he doesn't want any unicorns or the Earth ponies getting hurt as well and he even told her that her mother was the one who agreed about the situation now she just needs to chill out first I wonder if she's going to agree to help some of the Pegasus learn how to fly I guess we'll find out next time
11807327
Well, yeah. Granted, thus far, the unicorns haven't demonstrated any magic more than levitation and possibly providing light (with the exception of the "Frosty Shivers" mess, but that is still months away in this universe), but yes, if a unicorn came along who DID have Starlight's level of power (and, of the unicorns seen so far, I think either Izzy or Misty would probably be the ones most likely to reach that level of power [and even they would be less than fifty-fifty]) but not the skill to use that power safely, that would, indeed, be a rather scary thought.
And, indeed, Earth Pony magic hasn't developed yet, but WHEN it does, you're going to have an excellent point on that as well.
And, as I said before, Sunny would be the most frustrated because she is going to have to learn to use ALL THREE types of magic.
Again, there's not much I can say that other reviewers haven't already said better, but this is, indeed, an argument where you can understand both sides of the dispute. And Zipp wouldn't have to train ALL of them - just enough of them where they could, in turn, train others (who would go on to train others and so on).
Zipp needs to calm herself down and if she start thinking about opening a flight school for all the pegasuses to learn how to fly. I better wait and find out
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Until and unless Unicorn and Earth Pony magic proves dangerous, there is no reason to regulate them regardless of what regulations turn out to be necessary on flight.
"Frosty Shivers" was... A major threat to all of Ponykind, but also the sort of thing that didn't really benefit from regulation after the fact. I mean, sure set some rules or even laws in place, but it isn't like they will be invoked any time soon probably? Just as long as there is a good framework for when somepony says "It would be a good thing if this winter were colder and/or snowier."* and others don't share that opinion. Maybe some laws about methods for testing spells out of any old books that turn up? (Step 1: Give copies to Sunny and Zipp, since they are the antiquarians. Step 2: Have them compare it to a compendium of stories especially from Bridlewood. Step 3: ...). Rules for inventing NEW spells should probably start with "Think before hand, leave an off-site back-up in case you explode (twice) so others know what NOT to do, and have someone nearby to get you to a hospital if only the tips of your ears detonate." ... Scale and refine from there based on successes and failures.
As for Earth Ponies... they have no magic yet, and when they do... Well, the canon community garden was one solution.
*The reason a song goes "dreaming of a white Christmas", is that in the...northeastern USA I think it is? A good layer of snow at a farm meant there was enough snow (up in the mountains?) that the melt in the spring and summer would keep the crops hydrated.
11807354
True about just needing to train enough Pegasus to train others.