I browsed through the shelves, until my eye caught what I was looking for. I scrambled to the top of the ladder, and pulled out the dusty old tome. The Monster Manual: Version 3.5. "Twilight, I think I found it!"
She magicked the book over to herself, and began flipping through the pages. I slid down the ladder and began cleaning up all the note paper scattered on the floor. I looked at Twilight. She wasn't quite on the verge of a breakdown, but she had a certain restlessness to her, never having all four hooves planted on the ground at any given moment. She was constantly muttering under her breath, whether she was reading, scribbling down notes, or just making herself something to eat. She had been like this for a couple of days, a relatively minor research binge for Twilight.
"Mostly harmless!?!" I heard her groan. "Mostly harmless? Is that all these damned books ever have to say? I swear to Celestia, these encyclopedias just plagiarize off of each other. Would it kill anypony to actually do original research?"
"I thought that's what you were doing." I examined one of sketches of the human she had made. She had a picture of the human in front and in profile, with notes scribbled in the margin. Half-Minotaur? There was an arrow pointing to the end of his extremities. claws fingers? I looked at my own digits holding the page. There was an uncomfortable resemblance.
"Only by necessity! I'll write an article about the species once I figure out this whole crisis." She flung the book aside, and started flipping through another book frantically. I wished that she would stop making a mess, especially since Mayor Mare was going to be meeting with her within the quarter hour.
I collected the book --as well as a few others strewn about the library in her cyclone of research-- and climbed back up the ladder to put them back into place."I don't get what the big deal is about. It seems like the human wants to fit in, from what I've seen." Applebloom was probably the only one in the town making him feel welcome. In fact, she seemed like the only pony who wasn't afraid of him. She had stopped by a couple of days ago to ask me what omnivores liked to eat. At first, I thought she was arranging a party for me, but my hopes were dashed when she explained she was making a gift basket for him, after what happened on Sweet Apple Acres.
"That's just the problem, Spike. I don't think he can. You've seen what he did to Fluttershy's chickens. I don't think it's safe to let a creature capable of such atrocities live in our community."
"I dunno, it just seemed like he was hungry. I mean, doesn't Winona, and everypony else's pets eat other animals?"
"That's different. We only feed them animals that already died."
"But I saw Opalescence go and kill a bird, and try to give it to Rarity. It was really gross. Isn't that the same thing that the human did?"
"The difference is that Opal didn't break into Fluttershy's cottage, take her own kitchen knife, and slaughter a chicken! Opal couldn't hurt a pony. This human is more than capable of doing so. It's one thing to be a carnivore that ponies take care of. It's another thing to be a wild predator, straight from the Everfree forest, living in the middle of town." She looked up from her notes. "Would you want a Manticore living next door to us?"
"I guess not..." I worked in silence for an another moment. "But the human talks, doesn't he?"
"So?"
"Doesn't that make him different from a Manticore?"
"That's what makes this so difficult, Spike. He's a carnivore, but he can talk his way out of things. Frankly, I think that's the only reason why he's still in Ponyville."
"I've never seen anypony want to kick out a Griffin from Ponyville. They talk, and they kill other animals."
"Well, Griffins are different. They are civilized. They know better than to try to eat pony's pets, and they would never try to eat anything that talks. This human admitted that he ate cows!"
"Gilda sure didn't seem civilized to me..." I grumbled.
"Mean? Yes. Dangerous? Not so much. Besides, she was only visiting for a couple of days. It's not like she was trying to become a citizen."
"So what are you going to tell Mayor Mare?"
"I'm going to advise her to do what's best for the human, and for everypony. Princess Celestia entrusted me and her to handle the situation in her absence. I believe that all parties would be better off if he relocated somewhere far away from Ponyville."
"So you're going to kick him out."
Twilight frowned. "Well, when you say it like that, it seems a little unfair."
"But it is. What has he done, killed a chicken? I've destroyed buildings, and you never tried to get me kicked out of town."
"Spike, You weren't in control of yourself. It was Dragon's Greed that made you do that." She put down her books, and trotted over to lay a hoof on my shoulder. "Besides, you are my number one assistant. I couldn't live without you here."
She gave me a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Twilight. I just think that everypony's making a bigger deal than they should about the human."
"Spike, I know it's hard to understand, but the human scares ponies. You've seen Fluttershy's cottage." I recalled that she was busy installing a third dead bolt on her door the last time I had visited. "And you've been hearing what ponies have been saying about him, that he loves to eat cows and Pegasi wings. When he worked at sweet apple acres, he threatened Caramel with a knife before they kicked him off the farm. Somepony even told me that he was abandoned by his pack because he tried to eat another human." I gasped. Twilight continued. "We want you in Ponyville because we know that you would never hurt somepony on purpose. We just can't say the same about the human. He's caused mayhem twice now. I don't want to give him a chance to really hurt somepony."
I shuddered, but held my ground. "Twilight, you can't believe all of those rumors, can you?"
"I don't know what's true anymore. Roseluck says this, Oatmeal says that, and I'm not sure who is right. Some of the stories seem exaggerated, but I can't discredit anythng until I know solid facts. All I know for certain is that three ponies saw him point a knife at Caramel back at Sweet Apple Acres."
"Did you ask AJ what happened?"
"She told me that she's not sure what happened. She was trying to keep everypony calm when all hell broke loose, and the human got chased away. AJ said that not many of the farm hands came back after that day."
There was a knocking on the door. "That's probably the mayor," I said. Twilight gathered her scattered notes into a stack, and then made her way to the door.
I looked back at the drawing of the human's hands, and then back at my own claws. The human didn't look all that menacing, just a little tall. I'm surprised that everypony was freaking out about it. Then again, Ponyville seems to freak out over anything, be it Parasprites or bunny stampedes. I flipped over the paper.
List of possible matches for human's relocation:
Diamond Dogs
Griffins
Buffalo
Minotaurs
Dragons.
I felt a lump form in my throat. Was I really classed among all of these undesirables? Did Twilight put my species on the same list as Diamond Dogs? I was struck by a horrifying realization. "I'm not a citizen of Ponyville, am I?" I asked.
Twilight stopped in her tracks. "What? No Spike, you're not old enough to be a legal citizen."
"But when I'm older, when I'm a big old dragon, who can't fit through the door anymore. Am I going to be a citizen of Ponyville? Am I going to be able to vote? Have a home?"
"Spike, now isn't exactly the best time--"
"Am I just going to be like the human? Nopony wanting me in town because I'm big and scary? Only allowed to live on the fringes of equine society?"
"Spike, don't say that. You'll always have a place here." Another knock on the door tore her attention away from me.
"Then what am I, if I'm not a citizen of Ponyville?"
"It's a little complicated. We'll have to discuss it later." Twilight opened the door, and put on a cheery smile for the Mayor. She entered the library, and a few leaves tumbled in after her. "Hello, Mayor Mare, have a seat, please." The two mares walked over to the living quarters.
"But Twilight--" I grabbed her hoof.
She pulled her leg free, without even glancing down at me. "Spike, let the ponies talk."
i give spike a mustache
Poor Spike...The worst part is , He's RIGHT. Yet Twilight refuses to acknowledge that....
Damn.
I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but I feel like I don't know whether I should love or hate this story ? I love all the interactions and differences between the human and the ponies. But FUCK do I hate how the ponies are acting. ~~~racism~~~
(its very well written tho)
Officially?
Spike, you're considered Twilight's pet. Why do you think you get turned into a dog rather than a person for Equestria Girls?
Yay Update
Boo distrustful and biased Twilight
Yes, yes.
Push your allies towards the Human, let your forces grow weak you give us your strength.
No longer are they your friends, but ours!
And when we have gained the companionship of all those who you drive away, we shall take over the entire world!
Not by force, oh no. That's the way of the crude and uncreative. We shall be chosen and lifted up by the inhabitants of this realm to our rightful place as EMPEROR!
2675983
Your profile pic is perfect with that comment
2675983 That fits so well with your avatar.
Horse meat has traditionally been high grade, sought after, expensive meat. Also, almost every human has eaten it at one point or another, knowingly or not. Perhaps if the ponies need further reason to distrust him, this informational tidbit reveal could be worked into a comedic situation. Of course to the ponies utter horror.
Hmmm... Maybe one of the mares develops a "prey" fetish and starts fancying the scary "predator", making things highly awkward for the poor guy, as she stages situations where he can errr.... "hunt" her. Of course this could generate even further.fear in the pony population as somepony witnesses one of her clumsy tries and gets the wrong idea.
Im just late night rambling, pay me no heed.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Spike the Dragon, aka the Voice of Reason.
>"Spike, let the ponies talk."
oooh! i was gonna complain this is way too short of a chapter, but it's way too good.
Twilight, the more you talk the flimsier your justifications come across.
Spike, you are an awesome individual.
Twilight, if you're not sure what to believe, go talk to the human yourself. I thought you were supposed to be smart?
Ooooooooooooh... That's going come back and bite her in the ass HARD.
2676049
that was one of the lines I didn't think much of when I first wrote it, but when I came back rereading it, It kind of broke my heart.
Oh you silly ponies. First you're racist towards each other. Now you're speciest. So much for being a race of happiness and love.
Poor Spike. You sleep in a doggy bed and they didn't even bother to retake the group picture to have you in it.
Spike, buddy, she loves you. That's about it. If you were a stranger to her then you would be an experiment kept out of town.
It has always been there. Hidden in the show text. Racism. Zecora,Spike, the donkeys. They have all been mistreated on the show.
2676172
Speaking of broken hearts, the human guy, his hearth is gonna explode sooner or later. In his place i would have lost that cheerful, friendly demeanor much sooner, would either be depressed or lashing out. Can't wait to see what'll happen to his mental state
Dem references, especially the D&D one. Glorious.
Ah, there it is.
After the building criticism in the comments as well as general building misery around the protagonist, I figured what was next was a direct acknowledgement. The hypocrisy of accepting griffons and the like HAD to be addressed at some point, after all.
Spike was a PERFECT choice for the POV, I'm amazed I didn't see it coming. Dragon Quest sets a precedent for it already. While Twilight and company love Spike as one of their own, he's also seen as the exception, not the rule. Other dragons raised by dragons and acting as dragons, are still seen as monstrous and terrible. Spike was raised by ponies and that makes him one of the good ones.
Similarly, the insistent terminology of Iron Will as a monster in Putting Your Hoof Down for no good reason makes Jerry's situation quite plausible. While the situation is upsetting, I don't think the panic and coldness of the ponies is that out of place.
Ow.
But what a way to end a chapter. Sums it all up right there.
This chapter was short, but not one word was wasted so I can hardly complain. It's my favorite chapter yet, in fact.
I would love to see twilight's face if she saw how much more advanced human society is compared to Equestria.
Update :D
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me likey :D
-Hotwingsrule
2676290 I wholeheartedly agree with your ideals, good sir. Walker-
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/WalkerTitle.jpg/200px-WalkerTitle.jpg
-should just snap and point out all the hypocrisies in their society and then they all start thinking about what they've done. They all need a b*tch slap to their logic processors.
Now, I think I'm going to open up an interdimensional portal and pour liquid Wrath all over Spike after he heard that little quote.
2676291 I agree 100% on that one.
Finally a fic where Spike starts to realize that he is pretty much a pet to the ponies.( I know twilight cares for him. But when i saw the equestria girls trailer. Spike should of been a human.)
Well look at that. I almost gave up on this story with how depressingly one-sided things got overall. Sure, Walker got a bit of moral support but not much beyond that as of late. Maybe now he'll gain an actual ally? I can only hope that the rampant speciesism towards him will come back and bite them in the ass.
I'm also very happy that you pointed out how the ponies have no problem with keeping non-herbivour pets and feeding them meat. It's well established by now that at least Fluttershy has no problem with giving fish to some ferrets. It was, in fact, my biggest gripe with this story so far. Writing it all off as pones being narrowminded antagonized them too much for my taste, especially with Walker not making much of an effort to talk back. He needs to grow a backbone by the way. A story where the protagonist always ends up worse than before no matter what he tries is not a good story.
There's something that has been nagging me for a while now, though. Why did our resident human not try fishing? There clearly is edible fish in the lakes and streams around Ponyville, so why did he never try to catch any in the weeks he stayed there? Heck, it would have fixed his malnourishment in short order.
wow, seeinf this, I just realized that Ponies are a bit of racist
Well this sucks. I seriously hope the ponies realize how wrong they are and apologize for the way they're treating him. Not to mention get chewed out completely by one of the more sensible ponies. I am really disappointed in all of them despite the understandable circumstances. I hope this has an ending where everypony sees how wrong they are and make amends.
Daaaang, this is dark.
Spike: *sad voice* How come I don't get to be a citizen.
Me: *offers hand* Come to America! You'll be accepted in no time! We've got nowhere to go but up up up up UP!
Spike: Brilliant!
2675972>>2676239
I couldn't agree more.
That last sentence tho...
100% RACIST
Oh, did my head heat up on that. >.<
I....I just want to cry! Now I have images of Spike and Jerry starting a protest movement for equal species rights in equestria.
Also, I would be really, really, REALLY, interested to hear what Celestia has to say on this. Directly, from the horses mouth as it were. Surely Applejack spreading lies, Pinkie spreading fear, Fluttershy dolling out panic and Twilight spreading prejudice smacks right in the face of friendship, magic, and harmony. Surely there must be reprocussions for that in the fabric of the magic that let's the elements work, and being far wiser and more worldly I'm veryinterested to hear if Celestia would back these unfounded nasties.
I also expect a very heartfelt/very angry letter to land plop on old sun plot's horn from our little dragon friend on that very needlly issue of his citizenship.
I... Wow Twilight... Just wow. You're trying to do research on the human and don't even have the decency to ask it to tea? Do you even know his name? And with Spike, just shutting him down. Legitimate questions, important questions, and you say he cant understand because of who he is...
You suck Twilight. You suck worse than the other Twilight (books). You single hoofedly alienated your pseudo-son/ brother figure by invalidating his questions of his own self worth. The more I read, the more I really hope Jeremiah does snap and just kill a bunch of ponies. They clearly want a monster, why not give it to them. Racist bitch.
2676169
I'm kinda torn about that line. It has a very nice impact, and fits into the flow beautifully. On the other hand, i just can't picture Twilight actually saying that. I just seems too out of character. Maybe reword it? i dunno.
Great. She might as well be the Twilight that haunts the Conversion Bureau universe.
the problem with this story is that it inverts the elements- applejack is a Liar, fluttershy is Cruel, and there is no friendship from twilight. really, when you go this far off character for that much of the main cast, you should at least have an 'alternate universe' tag or something, cause it isnt 'friendship is magic' anymore. this is 'MLP: Racism is Magic' instead.
at this point, i really want to see Celestia show up and be 'very disappointed' in the ponies behavior, and help the poor defenseless human.
2676867
Yes, I would like to hear Celestia's say in this as well. I would like to see celestia give Twilight a failing grade on her friendship test for being completely racist and being a hypocrite about preaching friendship, but not practicing it. Then she will make the citizens of Ponyville feel shameful of their actions. If the author does something like that, it will make my life and it will get mustaches by the truckloads.
2676977
It's a tough call though. It would be quite the Celestia Ex Machina. The only way it wouldn't be so is if she turned up last second in front of a lynch mob or similar.
Or just a really serious letter. I can see Twilight's face now, "To my faithful student......I am very disappointed in you..."
so much rascism, I hope that Jeremiah meets zecora at some points and becomes her assistant in the everfree forest, she is much wiser than most of the characters in the show and herself has faced being shunned
Yessssssssss. I've been waiting for this to continue for quite some time. Keep it up man.
Poor Spike, the guy is smarter then people give him credit for. And it seems like Twilight is so deep into panic mode that she isn't really thinking clearly.
This is just gonna get worse before it gets better isn't it?
2677020
I like that idea.That would devastate Twilight more than giving her a failing grade. What the ponies don't realize is that they are acting very human like with being prejudice with outsiders and other species. I can see an Equestrian civil rights movement happening in the future.
2677352 well it's just that this is the perfect time to start ramping up a major protest movement for some serious civil rights change. Just because of someone's diatery requirements which they can't help they're a second class,citizen? Neigh, worse, not a citizen but an animal to be owned, leashed and beaten? Break little Twilight Sparkle's heart by making her sit there and watch as her 'beloved assistant' takes to the street with the 'murderous carnivore' while they make perfectly reasonable arguments in a logical and calm manner, which everyone blows up at only for Celestia to arrive and side with them and give those bigots the world's meatiest slap down. Oh man it makes me tingly.
Yes! A new chapter!
I feel really bad for Spike now. He obviously has a good view of what's going on around him, but nobody's listening to him because of his age and the other ponies' "experience" with these matters. Very good chapter.
Once again, Twilight showing off how incompetent she is.
Here you are, Spike, have a mustache
Pretty good story so far, can't wait until it continues.
I rode into a town once and shot a chicken. The whole place turned against me, even the children. AND I didn't get the meat. I swear, something is wrong with the guards and citizens of Skyrim...
2676621
I know! Isn't it great!
Monster Manual 3.5? so do ponies play dungeons and dragons
2677387
"We shall overcome! I have dream where all live together in harmony, a dream where all are treated equally no matter what they are or what they eat. Carnivore, Herbivore, Omnivore, we are all children of this universe, and we should all act like brothers and sisters. We must be vigilant and no longer let prejudice and persecution of others based on their background, diet, race, and species continue. We must ignore the rumors and seek the truth. We must not hate because hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Citizens of Equestria, I ask not to judge an individual based on their outward appearance, but judge them on the inside, judge them on their inner character; because you never truly know someone until you see things through their point of view. Oh I have a dream, oh I have dream..."
This shall be the era of change in Equestria, and it shall be glorious. Civil rights speeches are fun!