BONUS CHAPTER: Celestia's response
Luna walked into the Royal Throne room. The grandiose building had lost it's luster on the Royal sisters hundreds of years ago, especially when Luna was dead-tired. She simply trudged toward her sister's throne, where Celestia was reading a scroll of some sort. "Sister, why hast thou called me into thy presence at such an unseemly time of day? I have had a most trying night, and need all the sleep I can get."
Celestia peered over the letter she was reading. "The only reason I would awaken you at this time of day is that I need your counsel."
"Hah. you need my counsel? Sister, do tell. Could it be a Stallion? It's a stallion, isn't it?" Luna perked up. This might prove to be... what's that word Twilight used?... Oh! "Fun".
"It's not just one stallion. It is a city full of them. Read this letter, Luna. I would like to hear how you would respond." Celestia magicked the letter to her sister, who quickly began reading.
As her eyes scanned the page, her smile dissipated. "Twilight is... having a hard time accepting that Mares are superior to Stallions? This seems clear-cut. Simply tell her that that's the way it is. It has been since the dawn of..."
"Sister, in your absence, a lot has changed. Almost everywhere, stallions are given equal rights. This is how it has been for nearly 500 years."
Luna snickered. "That explains Blueblood." she laughed. "And here I thought that he was just acting out-of-place." After seeing Celestia's steely glare, she cleared her throat. "And now we see the predicament. Thy power far exceeds this... isolated democracy, but..."
"It wouldn't be democracy if I stepped in, would it?" Celestia finished her sister's sentence. "So, what do we do?"
Luna thought for a second, and then her eyes lit up. "We could use this to test thy student's astuteness. We can send her a 'follow your heart' type letter, and watch carefully as she makes her choices. It may prepare her for..."
"Her greater purpose." Celestia smiled. "Mother and Father must be watching, after all. Twilight is being prepared."
---
My faithful student,
At this time, for reasons you already know, I am unable to directly affect any of the proceedings in this town. That being said, I hope that I can still help the matter at hand through you.
I am not going to tell you what to do. You must do what you feel is right, of course. Your friends may not agree with you either way, but in the end it is up to you to decide what you value most.
If you were to ask me what I believe, I would simply say that equality is the inherent right of all sentient beings, as is friendship. I feel very strongly for this, but unfortunately cannot act on it in this particular case. Democracy must take its due course.
I have all faith that you will do the right thing, my pupil.
Your mentor,
Princess Celestia
This is to celebrate being featured. Enjoy. 
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2781067
You know, a few people disliked this story just because of the title.
The more you know...
2777119
Another story, another time.
Keep up the good work
2781109
I was totally planning that... Totally...
2nd thoughts edit!:
The ratio of stallions to mares has nothing to do with the next generation. SOOOO:
OFFICIAL WORD OF GOD:
The stallions have a tendency of running away when they are young, making the ratio of stallions-to-mares lopsided as Adults, though kids are about even (explaining how many colts are in Cheerilee's class)
And Celestia predictably tells Twilight she is on her own. Which makes sense given the context of the story.
2781187
You called it!
2780617 Okay, so if you save 'em as a Microsoft Office word document (.doc) then we won't have compatibility issues.
2781193
Got it.
Sorry I already posted another chapter without telling you. I just needed to get it out there.
(Ran it through a spellcheck, so I think it's good)
2781196 No problem. I'll still help out if and when you want it.
I see what you did there.
2781259 thanks.
2781294
encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSvPTSaPbBxgMxoH6TS2uh8TbbnmE8OhwqI32-jnzmmK8hSIObD
2781311
>It wouldn't be democracy if I stepped in
Personally? My headcanon version of Celestia would have stepped in a while back (like several decades ago) and slapped the mayor and town council on the back of the head over this whole issue, with a strongly worded speech about how disappointed she is in them. At least for the whole "no stallions born in Ponyville can ever leave" law. That definitely isn't cool, and frankly I'm kinda surprised that it hasn't been challenged in court yet, possibly all the way up to the national level. Other then that, she's probably not the type to interfere on a local level, unless Mayor Mare goes full retard and orders the PPD to begin mass arrests or the Sun Party riots and starts beating Moon Party supporters or something equally severe. In which case she'll take action so fast that the Apple family's heads will still be spinning fifty years down the road. And they'll never quite be able to wash the taste of Enlightened Absolutism out of their mouths, kinda tastes like banana.
2781379
I was kinda trying to hint at the fact that stallion's rights happened everywhere else a while ago, and Ponyville just happens to be the last bastion of bigotry. It would explain why all of Equestria's founders were female (besides possibly Star Swirl).
2781398
Well even then, unless Equestria's legal system works radically different from ours, national laws override local laws. In which case, literally all they'd need would be for one stallion (or sympathetic mare) to file a lawsuit against the Ponyville civic government, then for said lawsuit to eventually ride all the way up to Equestria's version of the Supreme Court. Which is probably some form of personal ruling by Celestia or her sister, given how Equestria seems to be an Absolute Monarchy. Frankly I'm not even sure they have non-executive branches of government. But whatever they have, that group or pony then strikes down the law in question as being 'unconstitutional' or whatnot. And then all the bigoted mares in Ponyville have no choice but to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 10th century C.E, (now with 100% more Alicorn!)
Well unless the equality laws were merely passed on the local level and no national law exists, then Ponyville is still in the clear. In which case Caramel should really just be sending a letter to some newspapers and letting them know that "hey, there's a hell of a story out in this backwater town full of bigots! Come run some articles on the upcoming Election!"
I still like your story here, I'm just a horrible compulsive nitpicker.
2781519
I... might address that.
Or I might just pretend my story is perfect.
A simple case of Celestia being wise, and let a matter of mortals handle a problem like this on their own. it has my further approval.
2781534
Carmel should do like MLK and do sit ins. He really needs media attention. Something to put pressure on the Mayor.
Surprised all stallions haven't run away after reaching majority. Not like they can be physically stopped from leaving.
On that note. Why would guys even move to Ponyville if they have no rights?
Cranky Doodle decided to retire there.
2781600
Cranky Doodle is just crazy.
2781610 bitches can't touch cranky
2781109 Yeah, that's definitely the case. Of course, a lot of people like to say it's like that because real horse herds have more females than males, but the ponies in MLP aren't very much like real horses, so it's very shaky logic at best.
But whatever, I worry about this stuff too much. Besides, the gender ratio in the show seems to be improving in Season 2/3, hopefully Season 4 will help balance it out even more.
2782392
Aye, MLP was made for little girls, hence why there's probably less than 10 stallions in all of season 1. Though I have yet to actually count them, I do believe the gender demographics started evening out significantly over the course of the following seasons, as they realised how many men were watching the show. This effectively reduces the idea of herds to an old and outdated observation or perhaps just sexual fantasies.
files.chesscomfiles.com/images_users/tiny_mce/Teary_Oberon/YG6vv_GIF_Collection_of_someone_eating_popcorn-s320x240-181195-580.gif
This is getting good.
I really commend you upon this story so far. What turned me off about Stallions on Strike was that it had a tendency to play the subject material you're covering here (male discrimination and rights in a female-dominated society) for laughs, due to it being the exact opposite in real life. I like that you're taking everything seriously here, focusing on Twilight's indecision and inner turmoil between speaking out against a law she knows to be unjust and supporting her friends who support said law. I look forward to seeing more of this in the future.
2794759 Hope I can answer that.
2796377 Hopefully I can keep that up. I'm glad you enjoy it!
2781519 2781532
It's worth noting, perhaps, that Celestia does not state that stallions are guaranteed equal rights, even though that is the implication of her statement. Also note that only Ponyville is a democracy; everyone else in Equestria follows Crown Law, as I have decided to call it. It could be as simple as there being no laws that prohibit those rights to stallions, and since they have not been denied, the populace takes that to mean the Princess doesn't want them to do it.
2781600 2781610
Cranky is also a donkey, so technically, he can own property and leave as he pleases, because local laws don't prohibit a donkey from doing those things, and can vote because he can own property. And even if he can't vote, he probably doesn't care as long as they leave him alone. And if they don't leave him alone? Well, he's been stockpiling banana creme pies (now rock-hard) and cannonballs for just such an occasion.
2796377
In one sense, this story is a social commentary on how things used to be (and still are in some places of the world), while SoS is a social satire on how things currently are. You know, in one sense.
I am insanely patriotic almost a combo of red neck and MLK liberal similar to that of Malcolm X whiling to fight for freedom even if leads to blood and I will be pissed if stallions don't get their rights even blueblood and Luna I am very displease with your sexism so if thinks don't go for MLK Carmel shit will get real
AJ Dash Rarity I'm comen for ya
Kind of scared for Carmel about how Doctor Hooves said they were extremely close to succeeding. The stallions have almost everything needed to make a social movement work, except the major one, the martyr. I fear Carmel's going to die or be severely hurt before this fic is over.
You ever hear that old saying, Celestia? Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
2988738
American democracy is Two wolves and a lamb voting over what the cows get to eat for dinner. Only one wolf is too lazy to vote, the other wolf is was told that cows like prefer red meat. And the lamb is voting for the cow to get hay, but has no idea how to get enough hay to feed a cow.
3301756
That is impressive political commentary. I don't quite get it, hence it is well done.
Seriously, I am a bit confused, could you explain your analogy, or is it kinda obvious??
Very helpful Celestia...
Celestia could resolve this without directly targeting Ponyville at all. Assuming that Equestria has something analogous to Federal preemption (if a national law and a local law conflict, the national law prevails), all she would need to do is create a law guaranteeing freedom of movement for all Equestrian citizens in Equestria. This would preempt Ponyville's law prohibiting stallions from leaving Ponyville, and force Ponyville to address the issue.
Good day.
I am really rather enjoying this story, however just a bit of fridge logic here:
"If you were to ask me what I believe, I would simply say that equality is the inherent right of all sentient beings, as is friendship. I feel very strongly for this, but unfortunately cannot act on it in this particular case. Democracy must take its due course"
Rather rich coming the from the absolute monarch no? Of course I have yet to read ahead, but I felt the impression aught to be voiced. In addition if Equestria has a bill of rights (likely to have been instituted upon equal treatment across Equestria), or just a proper judiciary system then logic dictates all the Stallion's rights movement would have to do is charge the township for discrimination and have the laws overturned in court, this has been commented on before but if it has yet to be addressed in the future chapters would you be so kind as to do so?
Have a nice day
EpsilonWinter
Das a good Celestia dat is m8, doesn't interfere with it, but gives Twilight some advice.
3380442
Some ponies are created more equal than others, duh.
3380442
Because of you putting that in bold, I now suddenly shift to reading that part in Peter Cullen's voice whenever I read this chapter.
I love Luna's response
"...We can send her a 'follow your heart' type letter, and watch carefully as she makes her choices..."
It's like: "oh whatever, just give her a 'heart of the cards' bullshit reply and let me go back to bed."
3546552 Just that part? From now on, I'm reading all of Celestia's dialogue in Peter Cullens voice!
Well...that was a rather grim statement from Luna
WHAT THE BUCK WHY IS BEST PONY A BIGOT
2781534
You know that's a load of bull, right? Because, why the hell be a ruler if you aren't going to, y'know, rule.
Goddess or no, it's monumentally stupid. Why not just step down and be a background feature if you are going to give advice instead of acting? Either let the mortals rule themselves, or piss off and stop pretending that you are a wise ruler.
Also, democracy or no, nation trumps town. She really should have done something.
3546552 I read it in Morgan Freeman's voice, as I do with all of Celestia's dialogue.
Celestia, I think you have been spending too much time with Optimus Prime
So now we learn that Luna is a sexist in this story...
9001533
Not sexist, just WAY out of her political element.
9225942
But still sexist, strictly speaking -- in this case, sexist because she is so severely out of her political and cultural element, granted, but she still clearly believes that one gender is superior to the other.
This interlude revealed a lot of conflicting world-building. Why is it that a historical prejudice against one gender has managed to find an outpost in one relatively insignificant rural town? You info-dump a lot, but don't really offer a clear sense of setting and what different social and legal circumstances have done to impact this world.
The message of "democracy above all else" is an extremely poor one too, since it is a thinly-veiled attempt at appealing to the crowd and blind faith. Not only are the flaws of democracy ignored entirely, but Celestia is clearly putting a system above being right or ethical. Plus, she acknowledges that the rest of the country doesn't even use democratic elements; it's an absolute monarchy. So we have a passive monarch and a sexist one, something that is two flavors of bad extremes.