“Ok, Equestria loses another point,” said Twilight. Shadow looked up from his menu to give her a curious expression. After leaving the hotel the two were beginning to get hungry and decided that they needed a proper meal. They managed to find a nice place and got a table outside. As soon as they sat down Twilight began to read the newspaper.
“Bad article?” he asked. Twilight just handed him the paper before picking up her own menu, grumbling all the way. Curious, Shadow began to scan the paper very quickly. Most of it seemed harmless. There was a weather report, something about a group call the Wonderbolts, and a couple of adds. But when he got closer to the bottom of the page he found what he was looking for. The article talked about a scientist named Professor Kettle who had just revealed his greatest invention: a steam engine. “You have got to be bucking kidding me.”
“See the problem,” said Twilight as she looked up from her menu. “The Republic has anti-gravity lift technology while Equestria is only now considering using steam power! I mean, I made a steam engine in magical pre-school!”
“The technology level difference is just too much,” said Shadow with a nod. “It will take them a decade or two just to begin to understand our tech, let alone use it. One wrong move and ponies could die. We should tell the princess about this in case Canterlot decides to not share this information.” Twilight opened her mouth to say something when their waiter walked up to them. The waiter was about to say something until he noticed Shadow, and his eyes narrowed a bit.
“Can I help you two?” he asked in a slightly cold tone.
“Ah yes,” said Twilight as she picked up her menu again. “I’ll try the spaghetti and hay bales.”
“And I’ll just have a fruit salad,” said Shadow as he put down the newspaper. Fruit salad was his normal order whenever the two ate out. It was just what bat ponies normally ate. He didn’t mind hay for flowers that much, but nothing satisfied him like nice, juicy fruit.
“What kind?” asked the waiter.
Shadow blinked in confusion. “There’s more than one?”
“We have garden fruit salad, tropical fruit salad, passion fruit salad, apple lover’s fruit salad, and Pinkie Pie fruit salad,” said the waiter.
“I guess I’ll try the tropical one,” answered Shadow.
“I will need to see that you can both pay,” the waiter said as he glared at Shadow. Twilight sighed as she pulled out their bag of bits.
“Would you like us to pay now so that we don’t eat and run?” asked Twilight with some venom in her voice. The waiter actually nodded and Twilight paid him. As he walked away, Twilight knew that he wasn’t going to get a tip! A few moments later their food arrived. As soon as they took their first bite. Both their eyes lit up.
“I have never tasted anything like this before!” exclaimed Shadow. “This is simply amazing.”
“We never had food like this back home,” agreed Twilight as she took another bite out of her meal. “Maybe they just prefer to perfect their culinary skills.”
Shadow nodded eagerly as he swallowed. “Man, if mom were here she’d give…” The excitement in Shadow’s voice faded as he realized what he was saying. Even after all these years, talking about his parents was still hard. He then felt a hoof touch his own and he looked up into Twilight’s caring eyes.
“I know how you feel,” she said with a slight half smile. “I miss them too.” She then paused for a moment, unsure what to say next. She then looked down at her food, used her magic to swirl some noodles onto her fork, and then hovered it in front of Shadow. “Here, try this.” Shadow smiled as he opened his mouth and took a bite.
For the next half an hour the two shared their meals with each other. It was a bit harder for Shadow to do it due to hooves, but he did his best. After all, if his marefriend was going to feed him he should at least try to do the same.
“I have got to get some more kiwi before we leave,” said Shadow. The kiwi had been the best part of his fruit salad. At least in his mind. Twilight had found it to be a bit on the tart side. “So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?”
“Well I was thinking of talking to more ponies,” she said as she pulled out a scroll. “But I think it’ll just be more of the same. We have met some nice ponies, but they seem to all react badly towards you. So I’m a bit on the fence on were to put that point. Right now I have one for Equestria, one against, and one undecided.” Shadow opened his mouth to speak, but whatever he said was drowned out by another pony’s loud voice.
“What do you mean there is no room in this hotel for the Great and Powerful Trixie?” The two turned to see a light blue unicorn with a pointy hat and cape standing before a tanned earth pony.
“I-I’m truly sorry,” said the tanned pony looking rather timid and scared. “B-But when Princess Celestia contacted me, she asked if you could stay in the library.”
“Then you must have misheard,” said Trixie. “Do you honestly think that the faithful student of Princess Celestia would make the Great and Powerful Trixie sleep in a library of all places?! Trixie thinks not.”
“But what can I do?” asked the mayor. “I-” The tanned pony paused as Twilight walked up to them.
“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear the problem,” said the purple unicorn with a smile. “If you don’t mind I think I have a solution to our little problem.”
“Then tell Trixie,” said Trixie with a hint of annoyance.
“Well me and my coltfriend just got the last room at the hotel,” said Twilight. Trixie huffed and looked like she was about to shout at Twilight, but the student of Princess Luna continued. “But to be honest we would prefer something a bit…different. Seeing that you are unhappy with your arrangements, perhaps we could just swap rooms.”
Trixie blinked when she heard this. For the first time in a long time, she was speechless. But it was for a short time. Soon the arrogant unicorn cleared her throat as she turned to look at the mayor once more.
“It seems to Trixie that you, my dear mayor, are performing pitifully,” she said. “You are lucky that this stranger came along to save your flank.” She then turned to face Twilight and held out her hoof for the keys to the hotel room. A few moments later Trixie walked away without a single word of thanks. Not that Twilight really cared.
“Y-You gave away our room?” asked a wide eyed Shadow.
“Yep,” said Twilight with a happy nod. “Now we can look up a lot more information without looking too suspicious. I mean, how are we supposed to ask about holidays and other types of events without looking too weird? Looking up this information would be easier, but we are still supposed to get a feel for the ponies in Equestria. This way we get a place to stay, can continue to meet ponies all day, and when we are done we can go to the library and look through hundreds of books.”
“Well, yeah, that does make sense,” admitted Shadow. “But what about-” Suddenly a cap fell on his head. “What the hay is this?” He then heard a noise above him. Looking up, Shadow saw an angry looking Pegasus mare with a rainbow mane flying down towards him. Once he saw the problem, Shadow simply side stepped causing the mare to crash into the ground. This resulted in the creation of a small crater next to the couple.
“You jerk,” yelled the mare as she pulled herself out. “Give me back my hat!” With that she jumped into the air and landing in a battle position. Shadow did the same, ready to strike if she dared to attack him. The mare then lunged at Shadow with incredible. Shadow’s eyes widen as he quickly realized that she was much faster than Lightning Dust. In less than a second the Pegasus mare was an inch away from his face, ready to strike him with a right hook. Yet she found she couldn’t as a purple aura surrounded her.
“Remind me again who is supposed to be protecting who,” said Twilight as she kept the angry Pegasus at bay who was struggling to reach Shadow.
“Hey, I could have taken her,” said Shadow as he pointed at the mare. He then turned to face her. “If you had just waited a second I would have given you the damn thing back.” This caused the mare to stop all her movements.
“Really?” she asked. Shadow nodded as Twilight let her go. A few seconds later the hat was on its owner's head. “Sorry about that. I guess the wind blew off my lucky hat and I panicked. The name’s Rainbow Dash by the way.”
“I’m Shadow Blade and that’s Twilight Sparkle,” responded Shadow. He then looked a bit closer at the hat. “Who are the Wonderbolts?” Rainbow gave him a horrified expression.
“You have never heard of the Wonderbolts?” she asked, no demanded. “They are only the greatest flyers in all of Equestria! The best of the best! They’re going to be performing tomorrow during the Summer Sun Celebration! Isn’t that AWESOME?!” She then held out her hoof to Shadow as well as giving him her best ‘I’m sorry’ face. “No hard feelings, right?”
Shadow hesitated for a moment. He looked at Rainbow’s face and saw that her expression was genuine. Slowly he held out his hoof to shake hers.
“No problem,” he said. “By the way everypony’s been acting, I guess it’s natural that you’d think I stole your cap.”
Rainbow blinked. “What the hay are you talking about?” she asked. “The only reason I thought that was because I saw you wearing it.”
“You mean it has nothing to do with him being a bat pony?” asked Twilight. To be honest, she believed that Rainbow was pretending to be ignorant or something. However Rainbow just shook her head.
“Being a bat pony doesn’t make you bad,” she said. She paused for a moment and then looked very serious. “Look, I have a cousin named Color Scheme and she’s a bat pony too.” Both Shadow and Twilight’s eyes widened when they heard this. “When my aunt found out it was a big deal with the family. We all got together to tell her that we would stick by her no matter what happened. And Scheme turned out to be really nice and really cool. I remember back when I was in grade class she entered a painting in this contest and won first prize. But as soon as they found out she had bat wings they claimed she must of entered somepony else’s painting!”
“That’s awful,” said Twilight. She could only imagine what it must have been like for the poor dear. To work hard on something, win first prize, and then have everything taken away by stupid distrust.
“It was,” said Rainbow angrily. “It broke her heart for awhile. Heck, I was ready to go buck those judges in the eye!”
Shadow smiled. “Nice to know that she has somepony like you standing up for her.”
“Of course I’d stand up for her!” said Rainbow with a grin. “I’d never leave my family or friends hanging like that. Besides, she’s doing alright for herself. Ponies around here might not know it but she’s the one writing the X-Ponies comics! Color Scheme says that when she’s about to retire she’ll make her first and only appearance. There’ll be no way they can deny her skills then.”
A few minutes later the two bid farewell to Rainbow. While Twilight didn’t say anything out loud, she was beginning to think she had misjudged most of the ponies in this town. Maybe the Republic should join up with Equestria so that they could help fix the ponies feelings towards bat ponies. It was definitely something worth pursuing.
As they went to the market, Shadow and Twilight decided to split up for a while. While Twilight went to talk to some of the vendors Shadow went to see if he could find some kiwi seeds. If the talks broke down then he wanted to be prepared.
As he walked down the street he heard a commotion coming down one of the alleyways. For a moment he hesitated. Whatever was going on most likely wasn’t his problem. But at the same time he was a member of the Royal Guard. Even if this wasn’t his homeland, he just could let something bad go down when he was right there. Slowly he walked down the alley. As he got closer he spotted the source. It was just three fillies. Two of them, both earth ponies, were apparently bullying an orange Pegasus. Near the orange filly was a broken scooter.
“Ah look Silver Spoon,” said one of the earth pony fillies to the other. “She looks like she’s going to cry.”
“I know Diamond Tiara,” said Silver Spoon. “That is, like, so uncool.” They both began to laugh as the orange Pegasus tried in vain to repair her wheels. However, from what Shadow could tell, it was a futile gesture. The base was completely broken and looked like she had originally gotten it from a dumpster.
With a sigh, Shadow turned to leave. He had thought some pony was in trouble but it was just a couple of brats picking on a classmate. It was nothing for him to worry about. If he did get involved then the parents of all parties would get involved and they might ask some questions that could blow his cover. He felt bad for the poor girl but her situation wasn’t life threatening. In fact, solving it was simple. All the orange filly had to do was talk to her mother tonight about what happened.
However, what he heard next caused him to stop dead in his tracks.
“Look on the bright side,” said Diamond Tiara. “Now your mommy will buy you a new scooter. Oops, I forgot. You don’t have a mommy. You’re just some orphan that no pony wants. That makes you the lowest of the low. You’re just a blank flank gutter foal!” With that both earth ponies began to laugh cruelly at their victim.
A half second later the two bullies found a large figure standing in the way of the orange mare. They both looked up to see a pair of golden slit eyes glaring at the two. The figure then lifted his two large bat wings into the air. He opened his mouth to say something, but Diamond Tiara pushed Silver Spoon to the ground and ran away without ever looking back at the friend she had sacrificed to save her own plot. As for Silver Spoon, she heard the bat pony say “Run” and did as he commanded.
As the two left, Shadow turned to look at the poor filly who looked like she was about to use the remains of her scooter as a weapon. He gave a light hearted laugh and held out a hoof to show he meant no ill will.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I just meant to give those two a scare. Maybe I went a bit overboard.” He then looked at the pieces of the scooter. “You know, if you want my marefriend might be able to fix that if you want.”
The filly’s eyes brightened instantly. “Really?” she asked. “That would be so cool.” She then smiled. “Sorry about being scared of you.”
Shadow shrugged. “I was going for scary,” he said with a laugh. “My names Shadow Blade. What’s yours?”
“Scootaloo,” she replied. Shadow grinned as he patted the filly on the head. As he did, however, he felt something that caused his eyes to widen.
First! Sorry, couldn't resist.
I swear- if Scootaloo is an alicorn or something...
2212934
Eh, I'm thinking bat pony.
Now I see some Republic scientist having a breakdown when he realizes how backwards the Equestrians are/
Good chapter. Trixie a big jerk as ever in this story. So the Republic has the advantage with technology. Wonder how Luna and Celestia will react when they find out.
2213011
My dear sister, what is this? A network of information, the sum of all knowledge, easily accessible to all? Why, just imagine what could be accomplished with this great technology!
What is this? 'Meet Single Alicorns Today!' Why, I was unaware of any alicorns aside from me, you, and Cadence!
Wait, what the--
fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/189/8/7/surprise_princess_celestia_by_ultimateultimate-d51p8w6.png
He finds out Scoots and him are related?
2212934
Really? An alicorn was your first guess. It could have been a gash or some other kind on wound hidden by her mane.
2213767 thats more logical then a alicorn and im getting tired of the alicorns anyways
2213159
*The stallion with the odd yellow eyes stood at the front of the auditorium pointing at the simple E-mail message*
"Though it may sound quite unbelievable to everypony, that one web link constituted the first step in Celestia's fall. The dark times of Trollestia and her many, many pranks encompassed several months, only to end when she was defeated by Pinkie Pie and her Mega-Party Cannon."
*With a 'click' another picture appeared with various gag items circled in red with a red line crossed over them*
"In fact we can still 'see' the trauma inflicted on the ponies of that time through the laws they enacted. Woopie cushions, sneezing powder, joy buzzers, disappearing ink, fake dog poo, all illegal in Equestria."
"Someday they'll be legal again but only when we as a society can live with the consequences..........and or whenever the psychiatrists clears Philomena and Celestia."
"Class dismissed."
MOAR?
2213954 I'm going to assume, from a previous author's note, that it is something linking her back to the Lunar Republic or possibly Shadow himself.
Shadow is the best batpony.
2214744 i dont care how it happens or whats going on......i just hope for a new chapter
I can see the long-range comedic set-up gag between Shadow Blade, Twilight, & Scootaloo...
[Twilight]: (to Shining Armor) hey B.B.B.F.F! *shows ring* Shadow Blade and I got married while we were planet-side!
[Shining]: oh really now... *glares at Shadow*
[Twilight]: (oblivious tone) And we have a daughter too! we-
*sounds of Shadow being full-body tackled by Shining and hoof-to-hoof fighting*
[Twilight]: -adopted a orphaned filly named Scootaloo...
For me I'm guessing a police pony is right behind him now its probably who is the cop
Huh... Why would Luna moving to the moon instead of being sealed cause Rainbow Dash to have a lucky hat?
I mean, I know a thousand years is a lot of time for butterfly effects but I'd more expect her not to be born because one of her ancestors moved to the moon and their canon mate stayed on Equestria, than that she'd still be around but wear a lucky hat.
That said: X-men, teaching tolerance of people's differences since the sixties.
Hmmm, I really like this world you've got going here, but I really, really don't like *ahem* Shadow Blade. He reeks of Gary Stu...
... Okay, sorry, but the story is honestly not very good
All right, is downright bad
The idea is not bad but the application is atrocious. The problem is that is such a slap in the face about how good and greater the "Lunar republic" is compared to Equestria,.
They don't have corruption.
They don't have racism
They are thousand upon thousands of years of technological leaps
And what does Equestria have?
A deluded princess.
Royal guards that nearly kill foals because they are bat ponies
Corrupt and incompetent ponies
You are not subtle. You are a punch in the face "twirling mustache" straw-man. Is not even good rhetoric, but...
Luna has twilight sparkle, an enlightened, insanely powerful unicorn master of arcana knowledge, technology and what-not. Who has a colt friend and captain of the royal guard (and master of exposition) herself.
Celestia has trixie, a (for some otherwordly reason but mainly because is the plot) as a rude, self-centered, one trick charlatan. Why would trixie be like this? Why would celestia tolerate such attitude in her student?
I mean, why is Equestria so "bad"? Or better yet, why do you show constantly all the terrible facets of Equestria one after another with no reason but to show how superior is the Lunar republic?
Seriously? Did celestia somehow didn't managed to realize that her forces would assault STARVING POOR DICKENSIANS FOALS with doctors that would refuse to save them if not for the silent treat of an alicorn princess. I mean, there is blind but this is sheer idiocy, specially since her sister, who left the planet because things like that, just came that day to visit in one thousand years.
Or her Unicorn guard would realize that showing said attack to the Lunar captain who just so happen to travel with another bat pony would have been a bad idea.
The problem is that Equestria citizens are tremendous, one dimensional stupid backward racists, from nobles to commoners while your Lunar ponies are so morally righteous, just waiting for the protagonists and important side characters to show them the errors of their ways
... Okay, I'm sorry. Maybe is how you write and is my fault for not liking it. But this bashing-like stories really made me . It's like naruto fandom all over again. One dimensional contrive plot devices as a revenge fic with terrible dialogue, half exposition, cartoonish politics agendas and guhhhhhh
Also you are already in the 30th chapter, so I don't delude myself that you would change this fic and hey, free internet speech, but I needed to get this out of my chest after two days of been stuck in my head.
Either way, thank you. I had wanted to write a fic and this has got me the fuel to start my own work, even giving me ideas for the setting and that's what awesome about art: No matter how bad, it can always inspire you.
Hope for the best and that this doesn't become a conversion Bureau.
Oh, and that it get a MST3K fic... like conversion bureau.
Have a nice day.
3550922 dude the story is rather enjoyably
not cool
Methinks you forgot a word there.
with incredible what
3550922
Thing is, ponies are like this in the show, but the NLR, Tend to point fingers and are very xenophobic.
5234427 I know I'm a bit late, and you've probably been answered by now, but I believe it was supposed to say speed.
5497340 minor correction. this isn't the NLR just LR.
Score for Applebloom for getting it right.
3550922 overall Equestria isn't that bad. Celestia has characters, one VERY similar to her canon self. The bat pony thing makes logical sense because in canon Equestria. ZECORA was shunned for being different. Same senario here just expanded a bit. Later own we see some good Nobles, Cadance among them and Ponyville itself is generally good. Heck Twilight want to put a point for Friendlyness with the bat pony issue being the only thing. Rainbow proves that some don't care if Bat Ponies are different.
the tech gap aslo makes sense. Luna had most of the free thinkers thus the einstiens of Equestria with her when she left. With the need to find better ways to do things on the moon it makes sense that the tech research would be a priority for the Republic. Like wise Equestria would suffer a bit with many of it;'s geniuses gone. They are likely a tad behind canon Equestria as a result. But still on par with most countries around them. Add in Nobilty strangling it is further hampered.
Equestria in this is peaceful, prosperous, and in general happy. the only real flaws is the nobility (Something I think the canon version has but to a lesser extent) and the racisim which is now being address by some.
The Republic flaws is the grudge against Equestria and a tad of arrogance some senators have. However Luna bring bright ponies and the style of government means by default less in the ways of flaws because of the checks in place. something Equestria doesn't have right now.
Frankly you are not thinking real well and too harsh on this story.
5912993 I know, but I was being snarky for the author to fix
claimed she must of entered
must have
garden fruit salad,
tropical fruit salad,
passion fruit salad,
apple lover’s fruit salad, and
Pinkie Pie fruit salad
FRUIT SALAD FOR ALL!
2214880 I have to disagree there. Batsy is better and cuter. Plus she's MAGNIFICIENT! It even says so in one of her titles!!
Though he is the best Batpony STALLION.
For the bat pony artist
I remember when I was a kid, my mother was a big Country Western fan. Charley Pride's 1st album came out & his picture wasn't on the album cover + he never toured (Both highly unusual at the time). IIRC, it was his 2nd album (late 1960s) that had his picture on it & of course it was revealed: He was BLACK! Our neighbors were shocked. It was a SCANDAL! (small town) & my Mom was "What's the big deal? He's good & I like his songs." (Mom always was Totally Clueless). But, AFAIK, he was the first Black C&W star.
I've read that Buddy Holly had the same problem with Rock & Roll in the 1950s. People just didn't believe a white kid could be any good at R&R.
Scootacorn with batpony friend? I have no regrets reading this.
2212934
2213767
My guess is "we can easily cure this wing deformity at birth and/or know which vitamin deficiencies in a gravid mare/early foalhood cause it."
8046861
Nice catch! (But not said in frog/amphibian language.)