The Herd (Mediation of Conflict)
The Herd (Mediation of Conflict)
This particular text was originally conceived as an introductory exploration of the protective instinct of mares toward their stallions in order to provide some understanding of the basic foundations of much of Equestrian society. The chapter originally dealt with comparisons between inter- and intra-herd aggression, tribe-scale aggression and the necessity of protecting sparse male populations in a dangerous and volatile environment. It was, as with many of these works, inspired by a conversation with Lero on the subject of differences between his instinctive behaviours and those of ponies.
Following the events highlighted in the preceding transcript and excerpts from Rainbow Dash’s diaries, the focus of this chapter changed dramatically. It has been split into two sections: the first ‘setting the stage’ as it were, by studying an outsider’s introduction to mediating conflict within a herd; and the second exploring the dynamics of the herd on a number of different social contexts.
At this point I’m breaking the first rule of academic writing to speak directly to you, the reader. My experience on that day was a true revelation of how incredibly different Lero really is. I had yet to appreciate or understand his motivations on more than a superficial level. Likewise, as he shall explain within this chapter, Lero also did not understand the dynamics of a herd as well as he had previously thought. In retrospect we found the experience both challenging and revealing of our own natures.
The following is a record of our thoughts as we tried to come to terms with what we experienced that day, written a few days later.
I’d like to thank Lero for allowing it to be published here.
Isolation. That’s what I felt, the day you left with the others. I realise I was working and you believed that you were giving me space. Taking Lyra out on her day off was a kindness, but I felt isolated all the same.
I never knew. I’m not an observant man at the best of times, I just assumed you wanted to be left in peace to work on your writing, and I didn’t want to be a burden.
We’re peaceful together, you and I. And, as you’re so fond of pointing out, I could lift this house with just a thought. In comparison you’re not a burden at all.
I was scared of isolation. You and Rainbow, you’re as close as a horn to a head. The thought that you would allow me into that relationship, to share what you had, was thrilling, but I was afraid.
We share everything with you. What could you be afraid of?
Breaking it. Breaking you or myself, or the bond you shared. I always feared I was the third setting, or the interloper. I’ve never loved anyone like I loved you, but I knew you were culturally inclined to monogamy and I was scared you included me only to try and fit in.
I wish you’d told me. I’ve changed here. You changed me, Rainbow changed me. I do and see things I never dreamed of and you showed me a world I could never have imagined. All of you. You seemed so happy when we were together, and when you began working on your book you seemed even happier than I’d ever seen you. I had no idea you were afraid.
I know. You don’t think like we do, I know that now. I thought I knew it then. I thought you knew that you were isolating me from the rest of the herd and I thought you knew that you were sending me that signal, that you didn’t want me around you any more. Each time it happened I should have asked.
Don’t blame yourself. I should have known too. You’re as special to me as Dash or Lyra. You were the first to care for me even if she was the first to love me.
I wanted to help. Even in my own culture it’s a bad idea for a man to get involved in a fight between his female friends, but I thought you were going to hurt Rainbow.
I was. A little. It wasn’t a rational thought, it was my fear again. For all I knew you’d put her up to it. That bond again, and she’s your lead mare. I know it’s old-fashioned to think that way but time and biology made it so.
We’re a physical species. You’ve always been touch-shy but we’re not. We’re physical in friendship and in anger.
I keep coming back to the fact that you took her side. It hurt me more than anything she would have done to me
I wanted to protect you both. I never meant to hurt you, any more than I wanted Rainbow to get hurt.
A stallion is meant to be a mediator. Remember the mathematics. You stay safe, we fight. When members of a herd fight one another you’re meant to bring us together, to remind us of the friendship and love that binds us, and to heal any rift that forms. If you take a side it means that the bond is broken in some way.
So I just stand back and let you fight?
No. You stand between us. Take the attention on yourself. I was angry and irrational, Rainbow was angry and irrational. As a herd, you’re the core of our relationship with one another. We need you to become our focus so we remember who we are.
Maybe you don’t realise how much that idea scares me. You’re placing a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. I can’t be there every time one of you gets annoyed at the others and even when I am, my natural inclination is to intervene.
And you took her side.
I won’t always take her side. If it looks like I do it’s because Rainbow doesn’t know how to take her own side most of the time. She’ll say something that rubs people— ponies the wrong way and then that bull-headed streak just comes right out and she’ll refuse to back down, even when she’s wrong. When that happens do you see anyone that doesn’t get annoyed at her? I’m the only one. If I didn’t take her side she’d end up feeling abandoned and isolated, just like you did.
I never saw it like that. But she’s not isolated, she has her friends, we’re always there for her.
She thought she was, that’s what matters. Remember how you felt? We were there for you but you thought you were being isolated. I don’t want either of you to feel that way again.
We won’t, if you stand between us. If you want to intervene, you have to do it in a way that doesn’t favour any of us. That means you have to take advantage of the natural instinct of a herd to protect their stallion. We’ll never hurt you, if that’s what you’re afraid of. All you have to do is stand in our way.
Stand in the way of that spiky decoration? You’re asking me to trust you to be rational when you’re not rational, Twilight.
Whoever said anything about being rational? We’re discussing instinctive behaviour, much as it may pain me to admit that anything could ever be more powerful than intellect. If I think you’re being threatened I react to that. If I think I’m threatening you...
How can I trust that?
A test. A less volatile situation. If you see us disagree, just stand between us. I imagine you’ll find our reaction educational.
Trust Test
Date: 1215/21/09
Time: 11:30am
(recording begins)
BELEROPHON MICHAELIDES: Okay, September twenty first, Equestrian year one thousand two hundred and fifteen. Huh. Okay. I wanted this recorded because- because- I don’t know why I wanted this recorded.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: (laughter)
LYRA HEARTSTRINGS: In case we accidentally skewer you and have to explain to the guard. Don’t worry. I’ve already got the paperwork filled out. You fell down the stairs. See?
(rustling paper)
BM: I landed on an ice-cream cone?
LH: Someone must have dropped it. How terribly careless.
TS: It’s Rainbow Dash, she’s the killer!
RAINBOW DASH: Oh sure, blame the only pony in the room without any sharp spiky bits. If I kill Lero, it’ll be in the bedroom, and it’ll be the most awesome way to go ever.
LH: Sounds fun, when do we start?
BM: Why do I put up with you three again?
RD: Because we’re hot stuff, big guy.
TS: I can seal the doors with my mind.
LH: And I have the cuffs.
BM: This is like a bad monty python skit.
TS: Why would you call a s-snake Monty?
BM: It- no, never mind.
RD: Great, now we’ve got all that stuff out of the way (pause) what the hay is going on?
LH: A trust exercise.
RD: A what?
TS: We’re trying to demonstrate to Lero how to mediate a conflict between us without taking sides.
RD: (pause) Sounds kinda- wait, you- you want to get into another fight?
TS: No! I just wanted to try and generate a situation where we had a minor disagreement and then Lero could learn how his actions can defuse that. He needs to see how we react to him.
LH: His role is to be our anchor.
TS: He-
BM: What Twilight’s trying to say is, I worry if I get in between you guys when you’re fighting, you’ll break me.
RD: No way! Never!
TS: It’s a valid fear, Rainbow. We’re all physically a lot stronger than he is. Even me.
RD: Wait, you think I’d want to hurt him?
TS: I didn’t say that! Why would I say that?
RD: I dunno, it just sounds like you want to start an argument.
TS: Not exactly. The plan was that Lyra and I would, uh, talk about something a little controversial and then he’d-
RD: Oh so now I’m not good enough for your egghead stuff?
TS: You’re taking this kind of personally, you know.
RD: I’m not the one who wanted to start a fight for some crazy science experiment.
TS: Okay, maybe you’re pushing this just a little too far, Rain-
RD: Says miss whips’n’irons?
TS: Rainbow Dash, stop this! That’s not fair and you know it!
RD: I didn’t start this!
BM: O-okay, that’s-
(footsteps)
BM: That’s enough, you’re both taking this way further- (pause) And now you’re both staring at me. That’s creepy.
TS: Oh, um, sorry.
BM: (inaudible) really worked?
TS: Yeah. Uh. Yeah it- it’s a natural side-effect of placing yourself right at the centre of our attention. Uh, see how we’re both displaying a slightly, um, submissive posture?
BM: Your heads keep ducking and your ears-
RD: What did you expect, that we’d fall over with cute grins on our faces?
BM: Well, no, but I never thought I’d see you do this either, Dash.
RD: Don’t get used to it.
TS: What you’re seeing is our bodies are trying to show that we’re not a threat to one another. It’s a subconscious reaction to the fact that you don’t want us to fight, and we don’t really want to fight either.
BM: Okay.
TS: When you place yourself in the way of our fight our bodies immediately release large quantities of hormonal neuropeptides that suppress our aggression and encourage more bonding behaviour. The combined effect-
RD: Turns you into even more of a walking encyclopaedia, we get it.
BM: Dash, be nice.
TS: Well I’m feeling very mellow right now, so, Rainbow, I’m sorry I blew up at you like that.
RD: Yeah, yeah, me too. Kinda went over the top. You didn’t deserve that.
TS: I do wonder what brought it on though.
LH: Um, I kind of put her up to it.
TS: (pause) What?
LH: Sorry.
TS: Why would you-
LH: Because you and I have nothing to fight about, which means we wouldn’t believe we were fighting-
TS: Okay, but-
LH: -and we didn’t believe we were fighting, Lero wouldn’t have believed it either and the effect would have been lost.
TS: I guess that makes sense. But-
LH: Yeah, I know, it- I didn’t think she’d get quite that personal about it.
TS: That sort of stung, I have to admit.
RD: Twilight, I’m really sorry!
TS: No. No it’s okay. The point was teaching Lero how to stop that sort of thing and he did it really well. (pause) Really, really well.
BM: Flatterer.
TS: In fact, I think this is one for the letters! Rainbow, you want to come and help me write it?
RD: I (pause) guess? Is this really something we should tell the Princesses about?
TS: Sure! It’s not like we’re telling her anything private. Come on, it’ll be fun!
RD: Twilight, your idea of fun (inaudible)
TS: (inaudible)
BM: That was, uh, weird.
LH: They’re both very passionate and they both have very strong feelings for you.
BM: Yeah, well, I guess it wasn’t what I expected.
LH: Such things rarely are. Lero, a question.
BM: Yeah?
LH: Whips and irons?
BM: Ah, now there’s a little bit of a story behind that. Have you ever read a book called Silverwing, Lyra?
LH: No, but I have a feeling I’ll be remedying that soon.
(recording ends)
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Bearing in mind I'm now on my third week of effective sick-leave because of this torn muscle and am probably off work until the new year (joy!), please enjoy this mediocre offering and I hope you're all ready for the next big EPOMUB (aka Enormous Pile of Made Up Bullpucky) on the subject of herds.
I may come back and tweak this. Be warned.
inb4 Regidar.
1688824 Regidar?!
1688833
Well, I wasn't trying to beat the author.
Huh. I just noticed this chapter gave Lero a surname: Michaelides.
My Greek mythology is a bit rusty, but I'm sure this has something to do with the pegasus taming.
Yay expanded canon!
Interesting take on equine psych/physiology. What're you going to do for human interactions, or is this the extent of it for this pair of chapters (that is what's going to happen, right?)?
I notice that you write Lyra with eloquence and purposefully improved diction, archonix. Even Twilight isn't that literate. Are you trying to portray her as intelligent like Twilight or just very well-read?
This kinda of neuromanipulation can actually be pulled off in real life.
Awesome conversations are awesome.
Well, best relationships are when lovers are also great friends and this deffo worked out quite naturally (even considering polygamy isn't normal in our society)
Better stop the monologue before it starts.
Awesome chapter, make moar, get better soon!
That was a good one. Deep blue sea... a fuckin shark ate me!... Sam Jackson's it'll get ya drunk!
Got here before Regidar.
This piece of literature is far too classy for him to comprehend.
Also, excellent moment with all 4 herd members!
Now I wonder if there will be chapter with Lero inpregnating one of them
because of that spell that Twilight mentioned.
1688916 What makes the herd work so well is the mutual attraction between the members
not just each mare and the stallion
they're all both friends and lovers, which makes it a perfect team effort, not a competition.
which is why polygomy would never work in human society
the females would be attracted to the male alone, not each other.
THIS HAS BEEN ANOTHER EPISODE OF ATLAS' POINTLESS PHILOSOPHICAL RAMBLINGS
XD I actually saw what Lyra was doing the second she did it, if only because I knew from the start that a planned fight wouldn't work. XD Masterfully planned!
THIS.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS.
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN STEWING OVER FOR THE PAST WEEK.
Sweet shit, though Twilight's statements about how different Leo is mentally don't really come across as justified based on the interaction shown. While it is definitely true, it doesn't come across as a stark enough contrast between mindsets, at least from Leo -> Equestrian point of view. It's a difference and a contrast, but it doesn't come across as striking.
Otherwise? Very good chapter, and it makes writing my own fic(s) easier once I get to the romantic stages and the differences between their emotions/psyche's
So males are a natural violence defuser?
Huh.
I DEMAND MARTIAL ARTS BE DISCUSSED NOW!!!
Just kidding! I can't wait for the next chapter...
1688823 For the record, I greatly enjoy your EPOMUBs. They're the main reason I read this story. The second reason, of course, is how freaking adorable these four are.
Laughing my ass off here.
If I ever went to this Equestria, I would like my house to come with me, and by some dimensional fluke, still have power and internet. That way I can troll Lero and Co. with Fate/Unlimited Codes.
I'm sure Dashie would enjoy RWBY as well. 
1689040
Makes sense. Human females tend to serve the same purpose... men are usually just too bull-headed to listen.
That was fascinating, great context for the fight that I hadn't really picked up on yet.
Xeno Side Stories reference!
Yay!
interesting vary interesting indeed
1688985
Are you sure it was pointless rambling? It brought up a good point.
I WILL TAKE IT!
1688896
I think Twilight is more scientific when speaking if she's explaining something, but she also has developed a normal way of speaking, I would guess this is because Spike didn't understand all her fancy words when he was younger. Twilight also gets emotional fairly easily and that effects how she speaks. Lyra on the other hand is much more of a poet and philosopher, and is in practically a constant state of calm, so her normal speaking pattern is as seen here. Eloquent and thought out, a premeditated response.
1689196 It was rambling, sure, but the pointless part was just in there because
well, because of the reason of course
but yes, it is a good point and I'm surprised no one had really brought it up till now,
after all, the idea of polygomy, even in the canon MLP universe, is not a bad one
although practical reasons, mainly involving human nature, prevent humans from making such a
practice work as nearly as well as it does here.
See? Rambling again, so now I have to stop myself from writing out more thoughts of mine.
This is my favorite chapter thus far!
1689063
Though that tends to be before a strong relationship is in place.
Well, when they're not playing "let's you and him fight", anyway.
1689063 Men and their stupid egos...
Wait a sec...
Imma dude...
WHAT IS GOING ON?
BM: (inaudible) really worked?
Translation: Holy shit, that really worked?
Gawd, I love these cute little "cultural differences" you come up with, they're
1689344
Gender roles have changed over the years. I'm not talking about men bring home the bacon and women cook it, but ingrained genetic purpose. Men hunt the game, women protect the home. Men and women are both emotional, but men are usually more confrontational about it, and women are meant to rein them in.
But none of that really applies nowadays.
this is getting better by the moment!
1689411 Because who cares about genetics these days?
Oh wait, I'm a biology major...
1688823 - if this is mediocre then I want to read only mediocre (or better
) stories. I really liked this chapter, so don't feel bad!!!!
MOAR!!!!!!!
ps. Get well soon!
Not bad. Don't sell this one too short. A brief look into this kind of thing is good to get the reader to believe the premise of a lasting polygamous relationship. These kinds of social mechanics should be shown to the reader; not all of us know a great deal of behavioural ecology.
This is the first of the reports in a while I've enjoyed. So few of them have anything to do with Lero or the species difference in general. I can appreciate the background and world-building but a lot of the papers/journals/whatever have had absolutely zilch to do with the topic at hand.
1688896 1689265 That's about the level of it.
1688908 Eeeyup. The brain is probably the single most amazing lump of fat ever conceived.
1688916 I'm getting better as fast as I can!
Monologue away, my friend, you are more than welcome to it. 
1688940 Yarr! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Luna_lolface.png
1688985 We're a naturally competitive species, so polygamous relationships tend to be rather more fraught than in the idealised fantasy land we're reading about here.
1689005 Lyra "Xanatos" Heartstrings. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Lyra_dealwithit.png
1689015 Mmf, yeah, well lets chalk it up to a combination of painkillers and Twilight being prone to hyperbole in her writing.
Glad it's helping, anyway. 
1689040 They'll be discussed, please don't hit me!
The idea that a male will be a conflict preventer kinda tickles me. I used to be a volunteer mediator back in the day, which meant I had to spend a lot of time being very calm and interpersonal while all about me were raging to the heavens, which is pretty much the opposite of how I am in my everyday life. Fun times...
1689053 Ain't they just?
1689132 Eeeeeeyup! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Twilight_Sparkle_lolface.png
1689363
I'm just playing in the world Anonauthor created, if I come up with anything new it's usually by accident. 
1689690 Not all of us, no...
1688823 If this is "mediocre", then your shit must be gold bricks.
1689948 Don't worry, I wouldn't think of hitting someone who is injured.
That being said...
I also end up being calm or happy on the outside, but during these times (school
) I am kinda about to explode in a fiery ball of anger. I found out that being angry involved breaking things. 
Needless to say, I have learned my lesson and now I have started to randomly vent on the internet.
1690244 Best place for it.
1690224 It's hell on the plumbing, let me tell you...
1690257
RRRAUGHFLFABLEEDHDAHGGHBLE!!!
Okay I'm done!
Nice chapter though I must ask one very important question: Who the f**k is Regidar and why do people go out of their way to mention him?
Well, I guess we need to check the Dramatis Personae for Silverwing, to check who will be the next "torturer"...
inb4Regidar.
Also this is very insightful. I'm still debating whether or not I'm adding the Xenophillia herd dynamic to my head canon, but if I do this is definitely going with it.
I like how Lero never gets that he holds ALL the cards in the relationship really. In a single stallion herd his word is Celestia's. If he wants one mare out, he can just have the other two edge her out. If he wants to get rid of two of the mares he can just take the third and start a new herd elsewhere and ignore the other two.
The mares MUST strive to stay in the stallions good graces at all times because he has the final say in all relationship decisions. With out the stallion its just a few lonely mares. Leads into Twilight's fact that the ideal herd size was 2 stallions and 6 mares, that way no one has all the power but its still small enough to be intimate.
Of course know I wonder if groups of mares with no stallion are still considered a herd. I bet there's a stigma to a stallionless herd, like they aren't good enough to get a stallion and are in denial. And then you gotta wonder just how appropriate same sex relationships are. Rainbow indicates she weird for only being attracted to stallions, initially. But it seems like homosexual relationships are just kind of a stopgap measure until you can get a herd with a stallion.
I better stop now before I keep rambling forever.
Dear god Twilight's breaking the fourth wall, RUN!
Snu snu!
1689267 You may find this interesting...
The Sci Show: Monogamy
1690302 He's a guy who basically has made it his life commitment to get first comment on everything he deems relevant.
And this could be one of the reason I, personally, would feel terribly intimidated by the whole "Herd" idea. Others can relate to it, I'm sure.
I'm not confrontational. More like the six-foot 200+ pound guy who sorta huddles in the corner, silently wishing for folks to get along now, pretty please? I had couples and family members put me in the middle of their own conflicts, and let me tell you, being used for a human shiv so people you all like can take stabs at each other is very unfun.
1691240 Ah, I see. Also nice Gigabyte avatar.
1691295 I don't have enough of a social life to get dragged into other people's conflicts, but I still have the six-foot 200+ pound category. I'll have to keep an eye out to make sure that never happens to me.
1691335 Thanks.
1688823
Torn muscles are never fun, get well soon.
1688823
Too bad to hear you are out of things for injuries. I'm sure we all hope you get better soon.
I have to say the Herd psychology presented by both the Author of the original Xenopilia and yourself feel right, given what Ive seen of IRL horse behavior.
Good job with the both of you working up what the changes would be if you add intelligence and a predisposition to lower male numbers than normal horses and let it stew for millenia.