Ponies began filing into the Lieutenant Colonel’s office at the guard-post, interrupting Harry’s study of the plans.
The Lieutenant Colonel explained the issue at hoof. “So, pull out your clothes and we’ll see what Harry Potter has to say about them,” she concluded.
Harry immediately noticed that they were all unicorns. It kind of made sense. Pegasi couldn’t fly without their wings, and earth ponies, while exceptionally strong, would still be at a disadvantage. At least unicorns could still cast magic, even if it was weaker than normal, as Twilight had discovered with the few test spells she had cast yesterday.
Two of the ten ponies had business suits that were acceptable. Unfortunately, the scouts who had them were mares and the suits were not appropriate for them. They swapped with two of the stallions. Three of the clothing sets would be good for fancy dress dinner parties in Cambridge, but completely out of place in Little Whinging. Two were evening suits and, again, unsuitable for everyday wear in Little Whinging. One set was beachwear. The final dress was perfect for a casual upper-middle class woman — what Petunia would have considered appropriate for normal house-wife wear in public.
Fortunately, Rarity had brought along the issue of Vogue and Harry was able to quickly point out several acceptable combinations for casual or business casual in Little Whinging and most of London. Or at least, what he thought would be appropriate based on what he had overheard and seen his aunt gossiping about.
With Twilight’s help Rarity retrieved several bolts of cloth and her sewing supplies and they set off to the portal with several additional seamstresses. Any alterations would be made on the other side where she could actually see both the clothes, the pony-person they were to fit, and what she needed to tell the other seamstresses to do to accomplish that.
The area around the portal was even busier, if that was possible, than the path to it and at the Guard Post. There was already a large clearing around the portal tree and unicorns and earth ponies were removing tree stumps while the armoured and working pegasi flew cover overhead and trimmed branches from trees still standing. The beginnings of a wooden platform around the base of the tree was in place, protecting the roots while ensuring that rainwater reached the tree and kept it alive. Obviously, the pony forest experts were unsure of how the tree affected the portal, so they were not going to take any risks to its health.
Soldiers of all three tribes patrolled the perimeter.
Rarity, at first, spent her time on the preparation platform on Equestria’s side of the portal, fashioning sandals for the mares and altering their clothes. This last was especially important for the mares. The concept of breasts being up front and so . . . prominent . . . caught the mares by surprise. Rarity was thrilled at the prospect of fashioning clothes that took advantage of a feature normally completely ignored in pony society.
Harry was rather surprised at how . . . big . . . the variation was in that respect for the mares. Pinkie Pie was remarkably normal while Fluttershy, like Applejack, was surprisingly large. Rainbow Dash was the smallest of the group in that respect, but was by no means what people would call flat.
For the stallions, Rarity made sandals but put covers over them to make them look like shoes. As long as you didn’t actually look at them, they passed inspection. And, compared to the mares, their clothes were simple; a few alterations to make them fit better, remove some of the fancier details, and the four stallions were good to go.
This required a lot of back and forth traffic through the portal, though, because they were unsure if casting magic on the Earth side would attract attention. Fortunately, magic cast on items on the Equestrian side carried through to the Earth side.
One thing that Harry had forgotten to mention to the adults was that human hair colours were very bland by comparison — and Twilight hadn’t known any better. Fortunately, for the unicorn scouts this was not a problem as they used a simple colour change spell to make their hair either brown or black. Twilight took care of Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash refused. Harry interrupted before the argument could get too loud, “Excuse, me? But there are some people who dye their hair various colours. While Rainbow Dash’s is unusual, it isn’t impossible. People will just think she’s rebelling against her parents or something. One person with a weird hair colour is not that unusual, but a whole group will attract a lot of attention.”
For some reason, Pinkie Pie’s spell failed after only a few minutes. They just had to hope it wouldn’t make them that much more noticeable.
Twilight did have a different question for Harry, “Where did those glasses come from?”
“Oh, I’ve always worn glasses. I can only clearly see things when they’re close.”
“But you can see just fine in Equestria!”
“Actually, I can see better in Equestria than I can here with glasses.”
Applejack bumped the alicorn before the new project could completely capture her attention, “Twilight, focus!”
“Oh!” Twilight blushed. “Of course.” She looked at Harry, “But we should have your eyes checked here when we have a chance, to make sure the prescription is accurate. We wouldn’t want to send you to Hogwarts with the wrong glasses. Not to mention getting those broken frames fixed.”
Harry and the fillies spent the rest of the day in the playpark showing the Mane Six and the scouts how to walk and maintain their balance. The scouts, it seemed, had been practicing walking on their hind legs for a year, now, and quickly adapted to their new forms. They found the playpark’s swings, slides, and climbing bars especially interesting and useful in practicing with their new hands and learning to keep their balance. Fortunately, no one noticed that none of the women or girls had ever heard of underwear, except in the vaguest of terms from Harry.
Harry was impressed with how quickly they were all adapting, much faster than the fillies had. Even the Mane Six seemed to cope well. Running without tripping over nothing might be a problem for them for a while, but he didn’t expect them to try to outrun any monsters or villains in this world any time soon. It would take a few more days of practice before they were comfortable with their new forms, but they were not so awkward as to draw undue attention.
The parents and children who saw them thought it was wonderful how those well-dressed parents still took the time to play with their children, pretending to clumsiness to let the kids win at the games they played walking and running around the park. A few parents even came over to compliment them on this, which the respective scouts graciously, but confusedly, accepted. Naturally, they did not correct the perceptions of those parents.
The scouts did mention to those parents that they were new to the area and looking to purchase homes. They asked if the parents knew of any that might be for sale, or whose owners were considering selling, as well as the location of any stores or other businesses that the parents could recommend.
Harry and the fillies were quite exhausted by the time sundown approached and they headed back through the portal. Half the scouts, in teams of two, started exploring Little Whinging and wandering up and down the streets to familiarize themselves with the location. The other half returned to the portal and set up a small perimeter around it to watch for predators or any curious humans who might stumble across them.
۸- ̰ -۸
Harry was amazed the next morning at seeing how much the soldiers had done. Apparently, the construction crews had worked through the night. Most of the trees at the edge of the road were gone and the foundations for the two Everfree Forest walls were well in progress. A crew was installing a tall wooden picket fence between the now-cleared frontage of the Everfree Forest and the paved road they were walking on. The former Guard building now had a sign adorning it, “Portal Check-in,” and a gate beside it and across the path leading to the portal. Harry could see the construction crews laying the foundation for a much larger building to sit astride the path and over the gate.
The Guard at the gate ushered them inside where Lieutenant Colonel Shining Charge once again greeted them. “Good morning, Ladies. I trust you had a good night,” she said, looking as if she certainly had done so. Harry suspected she hadn’t slept at all considering all the work she was supervising. “Prince Blueblood should be here soon with the funds the Princesses have provided for you. My understanding is that you shall be attempting to retain the services of a lawyer to assist us in acquiring the land around the portal?”
“Yes,” said Twilight, “That’s right.”
Harry noticed that behind the Lieutenant Colonel and tacked to the wall was the map from yesterday. It now had various lines in different colours drawn on it. The colours probably indicated the current state of progress on those sections.
A Guard came trotting in. “Sir,” he said, saluting, “Prince Blueblood’s chariot has been sighted and he should be here in a moment.” The Lieutenant Colonel returned the salute and the Guard trotted back out.
Harry discovered a new map as he propped himself against the table. It was of Little Whinging, or at least the streets nearest the portal. The unicorn scouts must have drawn it. He quickly located Wisteria Walk and Magnolia Crescent on either side of Privet Drive. His eyes were drawn to Number Four. The Dursleys were probably still there.
“Is that it?” asked Apple Bloom, looking between him and where he was staring.
“Huh?” he said, looking over at her. Scootaloo was beside her and Sweetie Belle was on his other side.
“Your relatives. The ones you never talk about. Is that where they live?”
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re shivering.”
He hadn’t noticed, but he was. Red-faced in embarrassment at that, he looked back at the map. “Yes,” he whispered. “That one. Number Four.” He waved his hoof vaguely at the map.
The three fillies carefully examined the map, then looked at each other and nodded.
He sighed. “Look, girls, don’t go there. Don’t do anything. They don’t deserve your attention. The worst thing you can do to them is ignore them, so, just, ignore them.” He looked at the small outline of a building with a number four on it. “Yeah. Ignore them.”
His desire for revenge was still there, but if he never saw them again, it would be too soon. And if he did see them? Well, he had learned quite few magical tricks in Equestria. Some, he knew, Twilight would disapprove of him knowing, much less using.
She kept saying he was a good colt. He wasn’t so sure.
۸-ꞈ-۸
The former narrow path leading from the guard-post to the portal was now a level graded track of packed sand easily wide enough for the ten ponies to walk side-by-side down it. There were clear signs that the raw dirt bordering it on both sides was seeded with grass — small green shoots poked up already, earth-pony magic at work “quickening” plant growth.
Construction crews at several places along the path were installing paving stones on the packed sand. The path would be paved by evening, based on the speed at which they were working. Other crews were working on the walls, grounds, and remaining trees. He could also see the bunkers and trenches they were digging for concealed attack positions bordering the path.
Harry could tell that by the time they were finished the entire area between the walls would look like a carefully groomed park, without a sign that anypony on the path would be under constant surveillance. Its history as a part of the dangerous wild Everfree Forest would be just that, history. Instead, it would have a completely different danger — but only to foes of Equestria.
A series of stakes driven into the ground across the path delineated the foundations for the walls separating the immediate portal area from the rest of the construction. There was a second checkpoint there. Harry could see that the ground around the portal had been contoured so that the tree was centred in a wide, raised area at least two hundred paces, about thirty celestials, in diameter. Grass already poked up on it.
A four-pony wide wooden deck with a waist-high railing spiralled once around the portal. Anypony approaching the portal had to walk completely around the tree, making their presence obvious to the Guards watching it. Similarly, anyone leaving would be clearly visible to all the Guards. Or would immediately attract their attention by repeatedly leaping or flying over the railing. Moreover, the wood decking would make sneaking impossible for earth-ponies and most unicorns by amplifying the noise of their hoof-steps. Flying pegasi would give themselves away with their wing noise.
The trees in the area around the portal had been considerably thinned to improve the Guards’ lines of sight. Enough remained to project the ambience of a park instead of a killing field — the Guard’s bunkers would be unnoticeable as slight ripples and rock outcroppings. At regular intervals, except where interrupted by still-standing trees, were very high poles as tall as the trees themselves. Harry wondered what they were for.
Construction ponies were still working on the unfinished spiralling deck leading to the portal.
To one side of the tree at the top of the spiral was a wooden preparation platform that gave the group room to stop and loosely drape their dresses and other clothes about themselves. Then, one at a time, the guards stepped through, followed by the Mane Six, Harry, and finally the fillies.
The other side of the portal was a surprise. Harry stumbled slightly at the sudden change in his balance, and grabbed the handrail that was right there. He kept walking, running his hand along the rail more for reassurance than actual support, as he looked around. He was in a large tent. On this side, too, a wooden deck to protect the tree’s roots had been built. In front of him were the mares, now women, arranging their clothes to a better fit, some in highly inappropriate manners considering the stallions, men, standing around them adjusting their clothes for a better fit.
Some of the women were removing everything and starting over, not just adjusting the belts and shoulder straps. All of the guards were removing the straps from the large soft-cases they had worn as saddlebags in Equestria’s side of the portal. They would now carry them by hand. By design, they looked like standard briefcases but with softer corners.
Originally, the Mane Six had wanted to bring their formal saddlebags. Harry had been able to convince them that most adults in England did not wear rucksacks, and instead they carried briefcases. Harry knew there would be more than a little grumbling over having to use their hands for such a mundane chore. Especially with Applejack carrying the two briefcases that held the gold and gems. Those things were heavy! Not that Applejack seemed to notice.
Harry moved off the short path and pulled his trousers up to fit properly, tucking his shirttail into place. He’d carried his mostly empty rucksack in his mouth. He spit out the strap and slung it over his shoulder. He watched the fillies come through the portal. They were quite used to walking erect now and the transition only caused them a short stumble, just as it had Harry, and none of them fell. They had little to change with their sundresses except to shake their shoulders and make sure to place the straps in positions that were more comfortable.
Prince Blueblood, surprising Harry, seemed to be coping well. Based on what little he had overheard, Blueblood was a bit of a blighter — rude, insufferable, insulting, and obnoxious were only some of the things Harry had overheard the mares call him over the last year. The unicorn had a bored and exasperated expression as Rarity fussed over him — as if she were at fault that the clothes didn’t perfectly fit after coming through the portal.
Because he was to be the Ambassador, he had the fanciest of the clothes — a full suit made of the finest cloth available in Equestria. The mares’ dresses were almost as formal. Their guards were neatly dressed, but more casual.
The problem came when he tried to walk. It wasn’t that he had any great difficulty; it was just that he walked as if something was wrong with his legs — stiff and slightly uncoordinated, just like the scouts and the Mane Six had started out yesterday. It detracted from the dignified image they wanted him to project. Unfortunately, they didn’t have seven or eight hours to run him through the drills the scouts and mares had used to acclimate themselves to their new mode of walking.
Harry thought a moment. “Twilight?” he said. “I think Prince Blueblood needs a cane. It’ll help him walk and look more dignified.”
“A cane?”
“Yeah. A piece of wood that reaches just above his waist. There’s a knob or handle on top that he holds and he uses it to keep his balance and to lean on if he needs the support.”
At Twilight’s request, a scout brought in a branch. With a little trial and error, and several trips through the portal to use her magic, Twilight changed it to end up with a smooth, polished piece of wood with an angled handle at the top. The tip had a small piece of rubber to provide traction on slick surfaces. Blueblood had insisted she decorate the handle with an image of Celestia on one side and Luna on the other.
Prince Blueblood quickly adapted to the cane. “Why this wasn’t arranged before-hoof, I don’t know,” he glared at Twilight as if it were her fault. When she looked down flushing slightly, he surreptitiously winked at Harry and nodded.
Outside the tent was another shock. While all the trees around the portal remained, a certain amount of trimming had taken place, as well as the ground contoured. It all looked natural, thanks to the skills of the earth-ponies, but was radically changed from what Harry and the fillies had come to know. The Guards had carefully trimmed the surrounding trees to allow more light to reach the ground. The additional light explained the presence of the soft carpet of grass that had replaced the forest debris normally scattered around the portal tree.
Staring around carefully as he waited for everypony else to get ready, he spotted what could only be a defensive position a few yards away. Two trees were close together and a large tree had apparently “fallen” so that it formed a barrier at an angle through the trees at about waist high. It ran over fifty feet behind the tent. Below the trunk was a mound of dirt filling the gap between it and the forest floor.
It was only when a Guard moved that Harry realized he was leaning against the trunk. When Harry looked away and then back, he found it quite difficult to find the Guard again, even though he knew where he was. He thought chameleon-magic must be in use. As he carefully looked around, he could see that “fallen” trees and fortuitous placements of large mounds blocked off access to the other side of the tree-portal. The only access to the portal was from the tent-side, and that was restricted to one direction.
A scout led the group to the nearby roadway separating Little Whinging from the playpark and woods. Considering most parents and children would be at the playpark and not watching the road, people were less likely to notice the group of Equestrians exiting the woods there.
Their trip to Little Whinging’s city centre was unremarkable. While they were more formally dressed than the residents were, the mid-morning meant most people were at work or off running errands. And because most unicorns, like earth-ponies, walked virtually everywhere they went, their walk was brisk and easy. The walk also allowed Prince Blueblood to adjust a bit to his cane.
They did have to drag Twilight away from her analysis of the tarmac that was a modern road instead of the cobblestones used in Equestria. Harry finally stopped the flood of questions on where the material came from, how it was treated, how they managed to make it so smooth, and so forth, by saying, “Twilight! There are entire books on the subject!” The rest of the walk was quiet except for occasional exclamations at the cars and lorries they saw, which all the Equestrians watched carefully whenever one went by. Harry was sure their intent study of each made the drivers a bit uncomfortable.
City centre was a bit of a lark, consisting of a single street of a dozen or so businesses, much like Ponyville. There was a Waitrose supermarket and some smaller shops, several restaurants, banks, charity shops, a post office, a number of estate agents, solicitors, betting shops, an insurance broker, and two public houses. The architecture was completely different from what the Equestrians were used to, not to mention the constant flow of lorries and cars. The zebra crossing was another innovation to them — the traffic in Canterlot and the other cities wasn’t zooming along at high-speed as the cars and lorries seemed to be doing — that is, the normal limited in-town cruising speeds for cars and lorries was the equivalent of a full-fledged run by most ponies.
It took a concerted effort by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity to keep both Twilight and Pinkie Pie out of the various shops they passed. Blueblood rolled his eyes, but kept quiet. He was above that sort of behaviour. His job was to be aristocratic. He could do that much more easily than Twilight, who acted more like the over-enthusiastic bookworm than the near-goddess alicorn that she was.
The first solicitor they found specialized in personal injuries and accidents, so they quickly left. The second specialized in employment law and wills. The third they found by accident. Harry happened to glance up a side street as they walked along High Street looking for the next solicitor’s sign. The sign he saw read “Conveyancing Services, Yueshi & Fuxiao, Solicitors.” Which sounded like exactly what they wanted.
۸- ̬ -۸
9009231
The wizards are a minority you might not like how they stay hidden but the fact that they feel they need to hide makes them the oppressed ones. I think this is the only time I have seen anyone try to claim that people forced into hiding are the oppressors. Honestly I would argue neither side is being actively oppressed but seriously all the wizards do is hide.
You're right you can't judge an entire society based on the actions of a few (ironic considering people here doing the same with wizards) but the fact is history tells us that when confronted with something different and strange muggles will generally react in fear and paranoia of what they don't understand. Which again was the whole reason wizards had to go into hiding in the first place.
Oh this is going to be FASCINATING! Celestia isn't screwing around and this whole thing is WORLD SHATTERING. The Magical Community is going to explode. And so is the muggle unless they do something fast to prevent it.
This is quite well thought out. I sincerely hope they all succeed in this endeavor.
Okay, that was too short.... I needz more.
9009291
Yeah I pretty much agree with all of that. It would definitely be messy for both sides, not sure why people think muggles will be more reasonable than wizards.
Debates aside I hope the story doesn't go down that route, I'd prefer it tell a fun story and I'd hate see it slowly transition into another fix-fic.
Right then. Let's get it featured again!
9009313
Any time a previously-featured story updates, it goes straight into the bottom three featured slots. Being featured once is an achievement; being featured 10 times means you uploaded nine more chapters after your achievement.
We need an active countdown timer to the next chapter. This is so good.
9009339
Well, I for one am willing to play silly buggers with the Featured box if it keeps getting us new chapters!
9009339
The bottom three slots are for updated stories with high heat; them being featured before is no guarantee and a story that wasn't originally featured might make it if it got popular later, or lack of competition.
9009291
Fun Fact: The statement quoted so often in the bible that "Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch To Live" that so much of that Magic=Evil bull is based around is actually a mistranslation from the original Hebrew. Luckily for Equestria, and the potential reveal of the Human magical society, it's the 90's, and Magic in Media is starting to become more mainstream and accepted. If anything, the introduction of an entire alien species with peaceful intent who's entire culture is basically synonymous with the existence of magic will jump-start this trend even faster.
9009484
There are lot of other passages in Bible against magic, both in Old Testament (therefore applicable for Jews) and New Testament.
Quran also contain bunch of quates against magic.
I am aware of mysticism streams inside Judaism and Islam (Kabbalah and Sufism correspondingly), but they are more like spiritual philosophies rather than sciences of wonder making. You are well too optimistic about people accepting magic. I know that 90s are time of New Age movement, but Abrahamic religions never lost their grasp on politics. I would like you remember the fact, that even D&D were facing accusation of satanism at that time because they contained magic in their setting.
9009236
While I agree that the magical would have been considered the oppressed when they first went into hiding. I don’t think it can be said that they are still oppressed by the time of the Books. If the magicals bothered to actually have any real understanding of the non-magical world and still felt they needed to remain hidden then I would agree with them still being oppressed. As it stands, they just don’t want anything to do with the non-magicals.
9009531
Oh I agree I was mostly just saying it's silly to think wizards are oppressing muggles. I don't think either groups are being oppressed by the other these days.
9009561
Muggles don't manipulate magicals' memories of they discover something they shouldn't. We've no idea what the machinations of the wizarding world had done to scientific and cultural progress of the world in the name of protecting the secret of magic.
9009568
Right but muggles would approach the situation with imprisonment, intimidation or assassination at worse. Having your memories erased and sent on your way doesn't seem as harsh by comparison.
I know some people get triggered by stuff like this but it's really not as terrible as you seem to think it is.
9009579
First, you can't blame people for things they haven't done. Making comparisons of crimes between the two peoples fails when you keep that in mind.
Secondly, there is the issue of consent. Non-magicals have none, with no chance of appeal, change, or growth. The situation will never change unless the secret is revealed by the muggles themselves and that confrontation will be terrible because of all the things wizards did to them because they consider it their right to do so. Or it will never be revealed, leaving a culture that manipulations a much larger one indefinitely for the 'greater good'.
This had always been a problem with the setting and the majority of MLP crossovers don't address this, including Magic School Days (which while hinting at it, doesn't fix it).
I can understand why, it's a very large scope and overshadows the school plot, but its still a concern.
9009579
I was just stating that the magicals haven’t bothered to keep up to date on the non-magicals. Also, all of the reactions you gave are worse cases. Remember that there are non-magicals that are aware of magicals, including high ranking government officials.
9009604
I think it's just that much like in Men In Black, memory manipulation is seen as better then letting the secret get out because some lunatic went around killing people with something they aren't supposed to know about.
Plus it's accepted that without any kind of memory manipulation the entire concept falls apart as there is no way you could keep something like this a secret otherwise. But it helps that we are rarely ever shown it being abused such as with Gilderoy Lockhart.
Frankly it's like a firearm it can be used for both amoral and moral reasons but it's not like you can just not use it because there are situations that require it. At least the memory charm won't leave you dead afterwards.
9009672
Just because the concept is used in other works doesn't make the idea of it not disturbing on multiple levels.
This is a problem with all of them.
It's worse in Harry Potter because their reasoning is very shakey, Wizards in power are corrupt, and there is no benefit to muggles. It's entirely done to protect the interests of magicals at the expense of non-magicals. I see it from the angle of how magic removed from people's lives leaves a bland world that they are coerced into accepting. It's very depressing for mundane people and does nothing to solve the problem, only warding against it flaring up.
9009704
The benefit to muggles is that aside from being kept in the dark about magic they are also protected from magic. Wizards don't care much about muggles but it's made clear that most wizards don't want to see muggles dead at least not at the hands of magic. Understandably it's all in the name of keeping the secret but it's still good being done even if it's for selfish reasons.
Honestly outside of select cases, muggles are more likely to be harmed by other muggles than they ever would be by magic.
Hold up, doesn't this seem a bit weird? I really do not think Harry would have to wait for a year to attend Hogwarts after first received the invitation letter. Plus, in the meantime, I find it unbelievable that none of Hogwarts staffs come to check whether Harry did get the letter or not (since he never replied it).
Why I have a itchy feeling that they might be a wizard or two working here?
9009785
Celestia said she had been making plans since Harry was found in case they discovered the portal. Harry admitted to being bipedal.
9009741
The wizards are NOT protecting the muggles out of the goodness of their own hearts! That so-called benefit is for the protection of the WIZARDS only! If they wizards don't keep the magical creatures out of sight and under control, then the muggles will find them, capture/kill them, and then find the wizards as they stumble around looking for dangerous magical creatures.
9009785
The scouts have been practicing ever since Celestia interviewed Harry. She's not stupid and knows that, eventually, the portal will either reopen of be discovered. She's just hedging her bets by getting the Scouts ready in advance. The same is true for preparing the portal entry and contact with the humans. Unlike the Storm King's invasion which was a surprise. If the sister's had had a year to prepare, the Storm King would have been wasted rather quickly.
9009800
9009801
Make sense. Now the bet is on whether the group would make a scene first or a wizard/witch notice them first.
9009801
Your average muggle will not survive an encounter with a magical creature. Hell your average wizard probably wouldn't survive.
Seems that this Equestria has learned it’s lesson from the Changling invasion. Unlike cannon the guard in this Equestria mean business! I approve.
This feels strange. You wouldn't say "soldier people", so why say "soldier ponies"?
"was" (it applies to "dirt", which is an uncountable noun).
"earth-pony magic at work, “quickening” plant growth." perhaps?
Missing space.
You might want to clarify this as something like "Waitrose supermarket". As a Canadian, until I googled it, I had no idea what a Waitrose was and had guessed that it might be a British English term for some kind of multi-way intersection. That really messes with the immersiveness of the story.
9009866
First of all I highly doubt Harry would use the term since it's really old slang on the British side. It'd mostly fallen out of favor by the time he was born.
Secondly. The latter two examples you give are the exact same place.
i read solicitors and thought. "oh no."
9009926
It is hinted that Harry does read a bit though, which increases his chance of having heard or read it. I also get teasingly called a Yank by my best friend who is British and only in his 20s, so younger than Harry. It isn't as unlikely as you seem to think.
Also, no they don't refer to the same states? True, the Union states include the Northeastern/New England states, but they also include most of the Midwest states.
9010532
Midwestern? What the hell are you talking about? Most of the 'midwestern' states didn't even exist as they are during the time of the civil war. And some parts of the Union weren't even present during the war. States like California, Nevada, and Oregon financially sided with the Union because the by and large government heading over the gold Rush, but the only 'midwest states' at the time were Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, and Illinois. So yeah, the term Yankee by and large in the vernacular of the states refers to the major participants of the war on the Union front.
I guess one could refer to the Midwest as far east as Indiana, but considering that that's the term itself is ...there's a word for this, but the closest I can remember is self-referral... Either way, it's a moot point.
9010586
In the comics Blueblood is portrayed as a very skilled diplomat, while still spoiled and arrogant.
Also, remember that in this fic gender roles seem to be at least somewhat reversed in Equestria - some of Blueblood's actions at the gala actually come off a bit better if you assume it wasn't expected for him to be the chivalrous one. He's still arrogant and a jerk, but more of the human equivalent of "snobby person at a party".
9010566
New England states, aka those called Yankees in the majority of the US are: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Add on New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and you get the rest of the Northeastern states, which were part of the Union. They often get called Yankees too.
But so, too, were: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Which are all part of the Midwest region of the US, and not typically referred to as Yanks by those not from the deep South.
There's a fun aphorism for this whole linguistical predicament, really, attributed to E. B. White.
9010595
He's a royal, with a name that actually cries out blood superiority, is snobby, stuck up, and even if he's good at his job, the attitude is one that could very easily mesh with little effort on the writers part with some of the less savory elements of the Harry Potter universe. Lucius Malfoy in particular, as well as any of the more 'aristocratic' numbers. A magic-capable member of actual royalty would appeal all the more. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to deal with the "twist" of the Rupert hobnobbing with the wankers and finding out only too late that they were knobbing him.
Really enjoying this so far, particularly well-written and engaging with a lot of thought put into it.
One small thing, hate to be a nitpicker but Harry mentions pants again, unless he's talking about his underwear it should probably be trousers (unless he really was tucking his shirt into his underpants).
It's only a small thing and the colloquial British is overall very good so it's up to you if you'd rather leave it as is for the sake of ease.
9009835
Fixed. Thanks.
9010597
I love to eat pie for breakfast.
9010703
Fixed. Thanks. Those snuck by.
9010612
Except . . .
"They," sniff, "aren't unicorns. They have to use those silly wands to do any magic. Wands made from animal parts," delicate shudder with an expression of mild revulsion. "Even an Earth Pony has more magic at hoof than they do."
9010876
That really makes me wonder about non-magical humans going to Equestria. Or squibs. Would they become magical ponies? What effect would it have on them after they left?
So I binged on this recently, and I gotta say. Much better than I expected. (I acknowledge that I was very cynical, and I should apologize about that.)
I went in expecting the worst of the In Another World type of story (Mary Sue wish fulfillment and a boring OP main character). Instead I got a surprisingly thoughtful piece with a lot more than just 'becomes Celestia's student. Joins the Mane 6. Saves the day.'
Two major points are actually incredibly impressive to see brought up:
First, the pony side not just ignoring the portal; Celestia promptly set up a team to investigate the world, along with a delegation to attempt to reach a positive diplomatic relationship with humanity, while acknowledging that it might not be anything so good. (Celestia doing properly Princess things and not automatically assuming that all is good and sunshine? Not common you see that in fanfics.)
Second is Harry Potter. I was always annoyed with the Harry Potter series for how easily he just brushes off years of traumatic abuse; even his first time in Diagon Alley, he's just a normal kid, not one who flinches at adults or is conditioned to accept the worst sorts of punishments. So to see him behaving as a victim normally does, with actual mental scars and an obvious dependence on the ones who 'saved' him from it?
I'm basically over the moon to see that acknowledged.
Also I always appreciate a fanfic crossover that actually acknowledges how difficult it would be to go from Human to Pony. So many just say 'And he/she adjusted just like that.' And move along the plot. To see it a central point of even just a few chapters is refreshing.
My only worries at this point are that it'll be very easy for Harry to slip into a Marty Stu position without it being meant.
And also how Dumbledor is going to be treated by the fic in general. I dislike bash fics on principle, but people hating on the headmaster seems to be the most common approach in Harry Potter fanfic.
9010876
One word solves that.
Imperio.
I have been really enjoying this fic.
Although I confess that I would have liked to see more Harry and CMC's shenanigans in Equestria (the end to the trebuchet one was heartwarming) and seeing more of Harry healing a bit now that he had a genuinally caring enviroment to live.
Thank you for showing the Equestrians trying their best to try make first contact and making detailed plans to archive a peaceful contact (sure, there is a lot of room for initial problems, but it was more due they would not expect that a world were society is divided in magic and non-magic populations) but getting ready to the possibility that things would go sour.
Really looking forward to more Competent Equestria!
And why I get the feeling that the solicitor that they would have a foot on the Wizarding Britain.
Probably the Wizards will try limit the Equestrians's contact with muggle society (although they would have to warn the UK's Prime minister of it - and I think that the UK's government would be very interested to help the Equestrians - if nothing, for possible trade) and wonder why they are so interesting in their technology. One way around their separation would be ask muggleborn wizards about and to help them buy science books and technical manuals.
(I would love to see Equestria go Solarpunk! )
The same for Wizards's magic - while Harry and the CMC's are in Hogwarts, Twilight could buy her own copies of the books of Hogwarts's curriculum and send them to Equestria where the ponies could see the differences between the magic of the two worlds (it would be interesting if they are complementary or if they work in completely different principles - if the the latter is true, then ponies's magic could be indetectable to the Ministry of Magic!)
And it would be nice to see a personally-a-pill-but-actually-competent-profissionally Blueblood doing circles around Malfoy and Co.
9011045
The thing about Harry in the books is that people tend to really overreact when it comes to the Dursleys. Harry didn't come from an abusive home he came from overly strict one and while some people refuse to see the difference there absolutely is one.
In the books The Dursley's are jerks but never monsters they don't allow him many of the luxuries as Dudley but they aren't constantly beating the crap out of him either. Harry often gets punished for things he doesn't do and get's sent to bed without Dinner which wasn't all that uncommon a punishment back then but of course thanks to Dudley it happens alot.
As for being locked in the cupboard, that only happened when he really made them angry and that was usually when he accidentally used magic. Now people freak out about this but it's basically the equivalent of being grounded he still got fed and was allowed to use the bathroom but otherwise was confined to his room. If he had a normal sized room this wouldn't be nearly as bad as it appears.
As a result Harry ends up being quiet and polite. Always being careful not to anger adults believing they are all as harsh as The Dursleys. The Dursley's never hurt him (outside of Dudley picking on him but that's not the same thing) so of course he isn't gonna act like a traumatized victim.
The point is Harry's childhood sucked but it was no where near as traumatic as some of the more delusional fans like to believe.
9010597
I don't think most people would refer to Kansas as Midwest. Nor Ohio for that matter. But whatever floats your boat. And aside from Kansas and Michigan, the majority of the states you mentioned were not major participants of the war. Just like Texas wasn't a big part of the Confederate psrticipants. You're really just referring to supply lines and manpower, the economic side of the war. It really was fought heavily on the Eastern front. North and South Carolina for example have major attractions for civil war buffs. I believe they had a fair of some kind for it once a year. Kentucky has a site dedicated to it as well. Even Georgia has more than a few museums and sites for the civil war.
But either way we've had this conversation long enough here. If you want to continue it, send me a pm.
9011198
I think that's being overly soft on the Dursleys. The Dursleys were abusive (though perhaps psychologically rather than physically), and absent threats like Voldemort Harry definitely should have been relocated to a loving home.
However, there are degrees of abusive. So while I do agree the Dursleys were abusive I'd also say they were less abusive than what many people think of when someone says "abusive home".
9011198
I honestly really have to disagree with you on this point. 'Strict discipline' is a common excuse given by abusive authority figures. With the descriptions you gave alone, sure they can be construed as general disciplinary tactics.
But overly punishing one child while never doing so to another, keeping a child in a cupboard as their bedroom while the other gets two bedrooms, punishing a child for something beyond their ability to control, those are abusive. Emotionally so. One grows up internalizing their lack of worth, which is something I feel lent a lot to Harry sacrificing himself in the books. Abuse isn't all physical attacks, after all.
And yeah, locking him in his room wouldn't be a big deal if he had a room. Which he didn't. He had a cupboard, that's the abusive part of that situation. And then when he did have a proper room, they put bars on his window, a catflap on his door, and far too many locks. That's not strict, that's treating him like a prisoner. For existing as something beyond his control, and ruining their 'image'.
As for your comment about children in abusive homes not knowing why they get abused, I have to call bullship on that. Thy know they're abused for their actions, so they try to tailor their actions as much as possible to prevent it from happening more. Does it work? No because abuse is often triggered by things outside their control. But it tends not to stop them from trying, up to the point where they get older and act out because they'll get punished anyway.
The fandom does tend to present a lot more physical abuse in fics, which is sometimes unfortunate because it's a symbol of how little people consider emotional and mental abuse actual abuse, but it's usually in AUs such as this one, which doesn't follow all of canon anyway.
9011257
I'm not arguing whether or not he was abused because especially by today's standards (when I was a kid there were alot of things parents could punish a kid with that would be considered abusive today) he absolutely was. I'm just saying it wasn't to the point where he was negatively affected to an extreme degree. He still wound up a healthy, kind and intelligent young boy. There was certainly an adjustment period but nowhere near as much as there would be if he suffered the way some fans like to believe he did.
9011045
9011064
Thanks. I'm trying to make it as realistic as possible -- given that both are fantasy worlds.
9011198
A: His "room" was a closet! Not because the house was crowded and they had limited choices, but because they didn't want to waste the space on him. (i.e., an empty guest room and Dudley having a room entirely for his BROKEN toys.
B: In Britain, summer hols start the second or third week of July, meaning he was banished to his cupboard for three-to-four weeks and not allowed out (except to eat and for bathroom breaks I would imagine).
C: Professional authorities on child abuse all agree that Harry Potter was being abused. At one point a therapist she had met asked J.K. Rowling if the entire series of books were just a fantasy a severely mentally abused child had escaped to because his reality was so horrible. She never said no. Which is sad, because other fannish theories about Harry Potter she has had no qualms about shooting down rather quickly (i.e., Dudley might have children who were magical, Draco Malfoy is a werewolf, Snape is a vampire, Ron Weasley was just a time-traveling Dumbledore, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood one day end up together, Fawkes was a Dumbledore Horcrux, Hermione and Harry are secretly siblings, Draco is secretly good, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were lovers, Hermione's parents never got their memories back, the Dursleys hated Harry because he was a Horcrux — all emphatically denied by Rowling).
9011317
This doesn't speak to the level of abuse he actually suffered just that details about his life before Hogwarts are vague enough that the theory could actually make sense. It's like that episode of Buffy where she wakes up in an asylum and told her entire life (the show) was something she made up. It's obviously not true but it makes enough sense that it definitely could be.
9010876
Actually - here's two more.
Confundus.
Obliviate.
And any other compulsion magics. Especially subtle ones. Or a cheering charm used to subconsciously train him to enjoy the company of those in question.