Interlude 1: Cutie Mark Crusader Investigative Reporters!
Sweetie Belle was looking deflated. Her ears had been drooping just a bit, she hadn't been laughing as much, and she didn't even correct Scootaloo when she said "funner".
The Cutie Mark Crusaders had been trying things all day. Everything they could think of had been tried, from sheep-shearing (they owed Applejack extra chores for a week after that mess) to water-skiing (and then, duck wrestling, albiet accidentaly.). It was approaching the time of evening when they were forced to return home and dream up more adventures to be had then next time they got a chance.
Applebloom walked ahead of the other two, as they trekked the long path on their way back to Ponyville. They were soaking wet from the lake, as their attempts at a water-skiing cutie mark had quickly turned into a try for a swimming cutie mark. All three of them knew they were in for a talking-to when they got home. Applebloom, though, was still upbeat, as she always was when her friends were nearby and there were more ideas to try.
"We could do ice skatin'!" She burst out, suddenly. It was a good idea. Ice skating cutie marks were not uncommon...
"With the way we failed at water skiing, I don't think we should try something without something soft to land in." Scootaloo pointed out. "Otherwise, we could get hurt."
"Ah'm not sayin' we hafta go fast or anythin'! We could be one of them fancy figure skaters!" Applebloom smiled. "We could do spins, and pir-uh-wets, and maybe even a figure seven!"
"You mean a figure-eight?" Scootalooo asked.
"Well, that too." Applebloom blushed. She had no idea what a figure seven or a figure eight was, but part of the fun is making things up as you go!
Sweetie Belle observed this conversation from the back, and still not participating. It was about at this point that it struck the other two crusaders odd that Sweetie Belle hadn't even chimed in yet. "Hey, Sweetie Belle, is something the matter?" Scootaloo called back.
"Yeah, you are lookin' a mite sad." Applebloom added.
"I'm just thinking..." Sweetie Belle said, in a somewhat grave tone. "About what Miss Cheerilee said about voting."
"Ya mean that Stallion's can't vote in Ponyville?"
"Yeah, Ihad no idea. It doesn't even make any sense, I mean, what makes a Stallion different from a Mare, anyway?"
Scootaloo chuckled. "Well, could you imagine letting Snips and Snails vote for the mayor? They would probably vote for somepony crazy, like that Trixie character."
Applebloom took the sentiment a little more seriously. "Well, Ah asked Applejack about it, and she said that it has more ta' do with "tradition", or somethin'. She said it was how our parents did it." To tell the truth, Applebloom wasn't really paying attention at the time.
"I asked Rarity about it and she said that stallions are more likely to make 'uncouth' and 'unladylike' decisions than mares, so letting them vote is 'positively out of the question.' And then my dad said that he didn't mind, as he and mom always agree on who to vote for, so he is represented that way."
"Well, Ah guess that's fair..."
"But then I asked about stallions who weren't married, and he just shrugged and said 'some things we just can't change'. Now how in the hay is that fair?"
"Whoa, there, Sweetie Belle. No need for that kind of language." Scootaloo cautioned.
"Sorry. But the more I think about it, the less sense it makes. I mean, stallions pay taxes and work jobs just like everypony else! I just think it's wrong."
"So, whut do we do? We're juhst three fillies who don't even have our cutie marks yet." Applebloom said, trying to bring her friend back from hopelessness in the worst way possible.
"I don't know. Maybe go talk to the mayor?"
"I think the mayor may be a bit too busy for that."
"Well, then, get the word out!"
"And how do ya expect we do that?"
There was a moment of silence as all three considered.
"I know" Scootaloo suddenly said. "We could write for the Foal Free Press!"
"No! No way in tarnation are we gonna do that again! Do ya remember last time..." Applebloom objected.
"That's because last time we were spreading lies. Remember? This time, we just talk about the inequality in Ponyville..."
"And maybe we can git folks to change their minds!"Applebloom finished.
"That sounds like a great idea!"Sweetie Belle squeaked. "We can be investigative journalists!"
"And maybe we can help change this place for the better!" Scootaloo smiled.
The three hoof-bumped.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS, YAY!"
---
Excerpted from the Foal Free Press
Dear all,
I know it has been a while since you have seen me, and we weren't on great terms last time, but I promise this will be different.
I have decided to begin reporting again, but this time covering a very different subject.Prepare to see interviews, opinion columns, and other media related to serious matters in this weekly section.
I hope you can forgive me for last time, and we can start fresh and ready to tackle the news together once again.
Sincerely,
Gabby Gums
(Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.)
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r-really? Interlude? When you left off at such a climax last time with Twilight might having to confront her friends?!
Hmm, looks like the CMC might actually make a difference in a good way.
Dude, get an editor. Please.
not bad and really raiers that just wrong
ps where dose Spike fit into all of this
I like the idea of gabby gums being in on this. Also, still waiting for when we get to see Rarity be the sexist self absorbed monster she really is. Worst pony is worst.
3370313 Spike is a boy and a non-pony. I doubt he has any rights at all.
3370313
Simple answer: He doesn't.
Spike is technically a Canterlot citizen. That's one thing against him. Spike is also considered to be a minor, which means that even if he was born in Ponyville, he can't actually vote because he hasn't reached his majority. There's also that thing about him being a dragon. Since the debate about Stallion Rights is opposed by Tradition, I doubt the Founders of Ponyville accounted for non-pony residents (Although I do seem to remember that one of the sticking points that ended up being part of the Stallion Rights movement was brought about in fear of non-ponies buying up Ponyville land and getting votes)
Oh and Spike is a boy. If you don;t know why that disqualifies him, I suggest rereading this fic
So hoping that the penultimate chapter has all the Stallions (and their supporting Mares) stop work utterly until their demands are met.
To the author: Thank you for finally clarifying in-story that Rarity opposes Stallion Rights. Only need one more to make that "At least half the bearers of Harmony oppose Stallion Rights" true. Either it's Rainbow Dash, who is a massive misandrist or Fluttershy, who is so afraid of ponies hating her that she refuses to take sides or say what she supports and possibly abstains from voting. Those are the only two unaccounted for
3369960
Impossible! They have no male members and what happens when they disagree? If Rainbow is against stallions voting, you can bet Scoots will take her side.
They're lucky it wasn't swan wrestling. Swans are bloodthirsty monsters.
3369960 Maybe...if the Crusaders weren't living examples of good intentions going horribly awry. All the good intentions in the world count for nothing if you botch the execution.
3371124 Or, Scootaloo could have already formed an opinion strong enough that finding out Rainbow holds the opposite position doesn't make her do a 180° flip, but instead causes an actual crisis of faith, i.e. Scootaloo actually disagreeing with Rainbow Dash, for great drama.
Mind you, I'm not advocating nor predicting that that will be what goes down, but I think it's very possible.
3371124 Also it strikes me as sexist to suggest that members of one sex can't be effective crusaders for the rights of the other sex.
While this is a good chapter, I'd have to agree with daniboyi about the pending confrontation.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Why go with Gabby Gums? Sure, it's an established part of the canon, but the CMC could just as easily have made a new pen name, or even just a title/group name, i.e. "Foal Free Press Investigative Journalism Team". Gabby Gums just has too much baggage to be a reliable news source.
3374731 Don't you remember? Gabby Gums kinda sorta was redeemed, and it was signed with all three of the CMC's names anyway, so it can't be that much of a problem.
Did you just asked people to stalk you?
I'm offended that you thought you had to ask.
Here I vow that I will loyally stalk you until you finish this story.
~Leonzilla
Gurby Gurms!!
3439821
For example, pinkie would nuke the planet with the orbital friendship cannon.
A man on the other hand-
oh, wait a minute.
Wrong example.
Rarity... I want your skull as a cup.
3440946 no, that's a good example. Pinkie: blows hole in planet. Man: burns giant burn mark on planet. Much less damage.
So, basically, Rarity opposes "uncouth" and "unladylike" decisions? What about Applejack or Rainbow Dash? They don't seem very ladylike and it's fine for them to make such desicions, but not for stallions. Looks like Rarity contradicts herself.
4514820 yes
3371934
Five years later, I have absolutely no idea if the pun was intentional.
media1.tenor.com/images/a6440e3e8a29ac9237096f314f986c6e/tenor.gif?itemid=6219985
Gender isn’t a proper noun, nor is it possessive in this instance.