It has been a few weeks since Nightmare Night was over and done with and within that time frame Applejack had showed up ready to buck me through the roof of my homestead with Rarity right beside her. They didn't do anything physical, but they did give me an earful.
“An’ she ain't slept in three days!” boomed Applejack.
“And my little sister Sweetie Belle says that she can taste sound!” Rarity screams out from my side. “Sound!” She repeats before placing a hoof over her eyes and falling backward on a conveniently placed couch, a couch I was pretty sure was not there before.
I was told that if I ever did something like this again that they would bring all three of the foals to my home and leave them there until the trouble had passed. I think one of them said something about forcefully adopting Scootaloo, but you really can't adopt a pony that already has a family, can you?
…
Oh God, what have I done?
It was later that day after watching the pegasi and random griffin fly in to bathe and eat respectively. I had just walked in through the back door when a knock came from the front door, I went to answer it only to have my vision filled with orange. I leaned back looking down at a twitching and jittery looking Scootaloo being held in the air by purple hooves. I gently leaned to the right spotting Miss Cheerilee. “May I?”
“She's your problem now.” Cheerilee spoke sternly.
“Nope... “ I quickly closed the door. There was banging on the door almost before it had closed all the way. I decided to wait until it stopped before opening it back up and looking at her. “I am a single man, I cannot be adopting fillies,” I stated firmly
“Adoption? What?” Cheerilee said before shaking her head at me. “Oh no, that's not the problem. You see I was trying to grade tests, but my sister was literally walking on the ceiling and zooming around like Rainbow Dash.”
Cheerilee give me a devious smile. “And considering that it is your fault for all of this, I’m making you watch her until I’m done with grading!” She stated it in a tone that said there would be no compromise.
I let out a sigh, in both regret and relief as I was totally not a man to raise children; no I’m normally the uncle that fattens the little ones up on sweets and sends them home to their parents. I leaned forward and took the jittery ball of orange and purple fluff in my hands causing her to squeak lightly but doing nothing more; aside for twitch that is. “I suppose it's only fair.”
“Great!” Cheerilee spoke before turning and trotting away leaving me with a ball of energized filly.
I took Scootaloo back inside sitting her down on the couch where she shook and looked around jerkily, and then she was off! “What have I done?” I heard breaking from somewhere in the house and then seen the orange blur which I stepped in the way of taking a filly to the chest and wrapping my arms around her. I then stood there a moment to catch my breath. “Alright, I know just what to do with you.”
After a short walk in which I held scootaloo the whole way. she was saying things, but I had no idea what they were. We ended up at the Park where I then released her from my arms. A scream of cheer and she was gone like a rocket. I went over to a nearby bench and sit down trying to keep an eye on scootaloo while also watching the other fillies and colts play.
It was somewhere between ten and thirty minutes when scootaloo reappeared from the clouds and shoot back down to the ground the safe way shooting across the playground before abruptly coming to a stop on her forelegs her wings shaking and then she dropped like a stone taking deep slow breaths.
“Run 'em till they drop; works most of the time.” I stated aloud walking over and taking the filly up in my arms and walking over to the honing stones; sure she was not a unicorn, but it was a nice relaxing location.
I sit down with her laying her gently down in my lap, gently run my fingers through her mane.”I guess they aren't so bad.” I yawned out as my eyes began to close. The small orange filly twitched in her sleep, her ear flicking and her little forelegs doing a little kick as if she was running.
===============
“Mister Shepherd?”
I wake slowly my eyes fluttering open as I look up at the gray stones around me, I blink the sleep from my eyes and look down, scootaloo was still gently snoozing along with another little filly curled up next to me. I look over to the sound of hooves to see Miss Cheerilee standing nearby with a small smile on her lips.
“Good evening mister shepherd.” she says with a hint of amusement in her voice.
I stretch my arms giving a groan. “Hey, you here for scootaloo? She's a bit tuckered out.” I say
She lets out a chuckle and nods. “You are good with children mister shepherd, perhaps you should--”
“Nope, I don’t do little ones.” I shake my head as she takes up scootaloo by the scruff of the neck and places her softly upon her back.
“Well, it’s something to think about,” she winks at me as I feel two little limbs wrap around my forearm causing me to look down at the little pony latched to me. I let out a sigh.
“Come on kid, time to get up, you need to head on home.” The little filly groans fluttering open her large blue eyes blinking and letting out a cute squeaky yawn before laying her head back on my lap.
My head drops in dejection while cheerilee lets out a coo at the adorable sight.
“It looks like you have your paws full, we’ll just be on our way.” she says with a giggle as she makes her way back home with her sister.
I sigh and place my hand on the back of the little filly, she felt cold to the touch as I give her a little shake causing her to groan and smack her lips before yawning again and sitting up giving me a groggy look.
“It's time for you to head home, I’m sure your parents will be worried about you. would you like me to walk you home?” The little filly looked at me with slowly blinking eyes and after a moment she nodded her head.
“Alright,” I got to my feet and the little filly looked up at me lifting her arms into the air. “oh no I-” her eyes were so big and as she looked at me, I caved. “Okay just, tell me where to go.” I reach down and pick up the filly and she points in the same direction my home was sitting.
As we walked along the filly seemed to become more and more awake with every step I took. After we got to my back yard. “Well, I’m home,” I said.
The little filly looked up at me and in a soft sweet voice said. “Tank Ooo, addy.” The filly then kisses me on the cheek and leaped out of my arms landing on her hooves and dashing off into the growing darkness.
I stood there for a moment not entirely sure what just happened but I was far too tired to deal with it at the moment, it had been a long day. So I stepped into my home cleaned out my coffee maker for tomorrow and went to bed. That night was rather peaceful, the insects, or Changelings were singing, it was nice, the air was cool because of the time of year, but it still felt nice.
=============
A few days later I stepped out I had things to do, Twilight wanted to give me an update on some renovations she had made to the land, we had been walking for the last two hours but we made it the small wooded area, which was more like medium sized forest of trees, as we got closer to the forest I could see that a lot of the trees had large fruits upon them at closer inspection I found that they were mango trees. “What's this, an orchard?” I asked aloud
“Yes, and no,” Twilight said, “It's more of a sanctuary really.”
“A sanctuary for what?” I asked as I followed her into the trees.
“Well, I didn't think you would mind considering all the other creatures moving in, and with all the land you have I thought this would be a great to put in a place for some more friendly residence of Equestria.”
“Uh huh.” I stated as a sound from overhead caused me to look up as we neared a larger clearing. What I saw was bats, lots of bats, lots of really big bats. I involuntarily shivered. “So, a bat sanctuary?: I said
“Well yes, you see Applejack had an area on her farm dedicated to them and I built this area for them so she could have the secluded area of her farm back. and then other ponies moved in” Twilight clopped her hooves together happily.
“Other, ponies?” I asked her as we entered the clearing, I looked up into the morning glow to see bats, no, you see you don't understand, they were the size of ponies, in fact at second glance I found that they were ponies with large leathery wings.
I also saw a little foal running around playing in the grass of the clearing, it popped its head up out of the grass, its large slitted eyes looking in our direction, its long ears had tuffs on the ends of them and it let out a squeak as it sprinted over to us. The little one looked up at us with large eyes and just stood there.
I stared back at the foal for a long moment. “Hello?”
The foal cried out “The Shepherd!” And then leaped at me causing me to let out a very manly cry, yes it was manly dangit, I do not cry out in fear! Though from Twilights point of view it went like this.
“Not the neck!” And then I fell to the ground with a foal nuzzling into my cheek and latched to my head, as I passed out my face turned completely pale.
I woke up about thirty minutes later to the sound of groveling. “Oh, we are so sorry Princess Twilight our daughter didn't mean to hurt The Shepherd.”
“I’m sure he will be alright,” Said the voice of Twilight as I groaned and slowly sit up rubbing my face. When I sit up I looked over to the voices. “Good morning again Shepherd,” Twilight said with a smile.
“What happened?” I grumbled
“Oh, you were cuddled by an adorable little filly and passed out,” Twilight said matter-a-factly.
“Is that all? I had a nightmare that I was attacked by a large ba--” Finally regaining my bearings I looked over to see Twilight standing next to a thestral pony as another smaller filly thestral hid under her mother between her legs with a sad expression.
The blood left my face again, but I did not pass out this time. “H-hi.” I stuttered out
“Greetings The Shepherd.” The thestral, a mare I picked out from the tone of her voice. She bowed low to me along with the filly. “I am sorry my little filly has scared you so, I will take any punishments you decided is proper.”
There was a little cough after I stood there not speaking for too long, I looked over to Twilight, and took a breath, and then another deeper breath to calm myself as my brain begin catching up to the situation.”N-no it’s fine, just an old fear of mine, I’ll get over it.” I smiled half-heartedly
“Thank you The Shepherd.” The mare spoke and the filly repeated as they both stood from their bows and the mother took her filly under a wing. “Little filly it's time to get you to bed, it's far past time.,” The mother spoke causing the filly to wine. “Aww, but mom!”
Twilight nodded, as she turned to me. “I didn't know you were afraid of thestrals,” She spoke causing me to look at her.
“Thestrals no, bats yes, I had a bad experience with one once, it….. scared me,” I said with a half smile. “But I’ll be okay, it will just take some time to get used to it,” I then started walking through the clearing with Twilight hot on my heels.
“Several thestral families have moved into the area after it was grown, they are a subspecies of Pegasi and eat fruit exclusively,” Twilight said, I paused and turned to her.
“Don't say that,” I said
Twilight blinked at me. “But, several famil-”
“Not that. Don't call them a subspecies.” I said pointly, “I don't like like it, Just call them ponies”
“O-kay?” She spoke in a confused tone. “Can I ask why? It seems to have got you worked up.”
I looked away from her looking around the area. “Because it separates, and is demeaning.” I look to her, with a frown. “These ponies though different, and admittedly a bit scarey at first glance don't need to be told that they are below other ponies, once ponies start thinking that way it will keep going, and then instead of just fearing the thestral, for their looks they will start hunting them, hurting them for what they are.”
Twilight was taken aback. “Ponies wouldn't do that!” She rejected.
“Maybe Twilight, I sure hope they wouldn't, but on my world it did happen, whether it was from someone of power or normal citizens it started slow and then.” I shake my head. “Just, promise me that you won't classify them, or anyone as a subspecies ever again, they are ponies and deserve respect like any other.”
“Alright, I promise.” Twilight says to me nodding, but her face held a contemplative look on it as if she was rethinking her whole life at my words.
I nod back to her. “You are the Princess of Friendship Twilight, your words hold weight behind them,” I said as I stopped in the middle of the clearing. I did not see it at the time, but Twilight got large eyes when I said that, almost fearful and full of shock. “I think this is a good spot.” I turn back to Twilight snapping her out of her thoughts.
“For what?” She asked me still a little rattled.
“For a Belfry.” I state firmly with a nod and look back at Twilight.
“A Belfry? Why?” She looks at me with a confused gaze her thought completely switching over from horrified to quizzical.
“Because it would please me greatly.”
================
As Twilight and I was walking back to my home, she looked around before looking up at me. “You know, I think we’re being followed.”
“Yeah, we were followed out to the woods too, I think it is the little filly I saw the other day. She's been following me around relentlessly since then it seems” I spoke
“What makes you think that?” Twilight asks.
“Oh, well, I went to the market the other day and spotted her hiding in a bush, and then I seen her hiding under my back porch while I watered the flowers, and I’m pretty sure I saw her looking in through my window last night before bed, but I can't be sure.”
“That's a little creepy,” Twilight stated.
“You're telling me.” I nodded.
After that, we made it back to my house where twilight and I parted ways.
===========
After watching the earth ponies leave the garden for the night and watching the pegasi fly off from the bath, It was time for me to head back inside, I took up my mug walking in shutting the door and refreshing my coffee.
There was a knock at the door, not the front one this time but the back one. I sit my cup of freshly poured coffee on the counter and opened the door. My vision was filled with green. “Here, this is yours.”
I leaned back spotting the little filly that has been following me around for the last few days and then leaned over to look at the mare holding her in her magic, I look at the mares smiling face. “Nope.” I say plainly trying to shut the door the mare narrowed her eyes at me and stopped the door from shutting.
“Yes,” She stated firmly with a hiss her eyes glowing green.
“Nope!” I denied again still trying to shut the door but it was forced open and the filly in question was shoved into my chest. “I don't do kids! And I don't have any!”
“That's great! She's a Changeling and your daughter take care of her, I’ve got things to do and she’s been bounding around the tunnels like mad.”
“Chrysalis….” I state with a flat tone as the filly now changeling clutched to my arm, nuzzling me. “Wait, daughter? Wh- we did not!” I denied certain events that never happened.
“Ta-ta!” The changeling queen sings out as she vanishes back into the darkness.
I stand there on the back porch mouth open, the little nymph looking up at me with large purple eyes, before nuzzling my chest speaking softly. “Addy.” she spoke with an adorable squeak.
“What?!” I look towards the darkness where the queen made her exit. “Chrysalis!” I yelled.
get a blender, problem solved.
...
wut?
how?
Chrysalis, that consummate liar, just pulled a fast one on our protagonist.
This was a fun read!
Is this the part where our protagonist gets to observe Changeling behaviors?
Run em till they drop, yes!
Uhhhh..... Talk about weird. I didn't see that happening. Although, I guess it'd be understandable that he'd have a kid. So, what happened? Was he drunk and got some action or did he just feed Chrysalis a bunch of Love while drunk??
His talk with Twilight was SO FUCKING STUPID!
"You can't talk science, because science is racist!"
It's like I heard another brain dead tumblr SJW moron.
If Thestrals are sub-species of Pegasi, then they ARE sub-species of Pegasi. No matter how long his politically correct ass will cry about it, it won't change this.
Blacks aren't sub-species. The don't have enough differences from other races to qualify them as such. Thestrals have.
...wat?
6668276
Mmmm, mango smoothies~
Almost saw this coming don't think he'll be a vad dad just gonna be hard to explain how he got a kid lol
Till next time thank you very much.
6668318
He was addressing Twilight about this issue. She is a political figure and her words do have some weight in them. Maybe he just wanted to take preventive measures against tribalist and speciesist ideas considering his land has become the hub for different cultures. I think he was right to be concerned about it.
Another point was that Twilight did say that within hearing range of the thestrals and considering her position... well you get the idea.
6668318
Even if they are a sub-species of Pegasus, he just doesn't want them called that. He probably wouldn't have a problem with them being called that for scientific purposes, but Twilight was using it as an everyday word and things can just go wrong with that.
As for the story, the thing that I noticed the most is that names are not capitalized a lot of the time. I may have noticed only this because of all of the other fanfics with grammar errors in them, but I just don't really notice those types of errors anymore unless I'm specifically looking for them. But I don't really take in the story as well then.
sorry but you are trying to use the term sub as meaning below or inferior . a sub-species is defined as follows.
(Members of one subspecies differ morphologically or by different coding sequences of DNA from members of other subspecies of the species. Subspecies are defined in relation to species. )
6668318 This isn't a morality problem...it's a communication problem what twilight is implying might not be what other folk might think it means, therefore doing what the Shepard is implying they would simply because they misinterpreted the meaning.
Thx this story really made my day after waking up from a depression filled 17 hour nap
6668396 Ok, so maybe we shouldn't call our system heliocentric, because it might offend people that believe we are geocentric?
It has nothing to do with racism, speciesm or any other dumb "ism". It's scientific fact, and anyones butthurt won't change that. Science isn't racist!
Would you be offended if I called you subspecies of Homininae? After all, I'm calling you 'sub'. If so, then I guess then Orangutans are your superior, since they come from higher part of our orders tree.
6668403 no, she wasn't using it as "everyday word". Would you walk to someone and say "hello my fellow member of Homininae subspecies."? No. She used it as a information. Comparably, it was like you would say that someone lives in a suburbs of some city. Would that be racist to suburbans? Or to city dwellers? No. It's just basic information.
And the "everyday word" she used, was 'Thestral'.
6668433 Schools in Equestria are free I think. They aren't idiots.
And if some tribalists wont to insult and/or alienate someone, there are other methods than just calling someone an offshot of the pegasus tribe.
Huzzah for an update!
SO EVIL!
6668462
I'm sorry... I wasn't trying to offend you nor I was correcting you about scientific semantics. I was just trying to get you to consider the main character's motivatons and why he reacted that way to Twilight. We'll never know until the next chapter whether this scene is a foreshadowing of more headaches that our reluctant ambassador has to deal with or not. Cheers.
Hahahaaaa.... This story makes always cheers me up.
Ilove this serie so much, everything is soooooo cute.
Bats in the belfry???
Depending on if Threstals have sensitive hearing like bats, enchantments might need to placed on the bells or the structure itself so the chimes aren't painful to their ears.
Other belfry options include roosts for Threstals and pegasi to rest on, openings that make music when water or wind passes through them, making the belfry into a clock tower so "everypony" knows what time it is, etc.
http://spongebob.wikia.com/wiki/SpongeHenge
If the belfry is on top of a tower, the space bellow the bells could serve other functions like storage or someplace to gather when the weather isn't pleasant.
6668462 Listen person whom thinks he is top shit, you can't use modern human logic in Equestria no matter how much your little brain whines about it. You have to take context to understand it in Equestria, as in saying that they are just a "sub-species" would mean that they ARE below normal ponies because they aren't one on top or a dominant species themselves. Even if it is science that they came from pegasi sh could have still used a better term for it because, as the guy you just yelled at said, she is a PRINCESS, one of the top leaders of the COUNTRY. So how do you think the easily influenced ponies might react when the hear a princess call the thestrals a 'sub-species'? Here, I will tell you what, THEY ARE GOING TO ACT AS IF THEY ARE ABOVE THEM! Again, even if it is what they are science wise she could have used a better less, offense term. Like they are a branch off or just a different category of pegasi.
Also, yes, science technically is racist, sexist and specist. As SCIENCE say that black people are better at surviving high temperatures then white people are or that men are physically stronger then women and that we are the best species just because we have a big brain.
6668462 Schools are free in US and we're surrounded by idiots. Idiocy is not a matter of education but a matter of the ability to think in a given situation.
6668276 oh noooo!!!!
6668281 Muahahaah! Who knows... Muaahhahah I do!!! MUAHAHAHA!!! Someday we might very well find out!
6668304 I love reading the comments, so many cute ideas crop up in my head lol. Thanks for that...
6668307 We will just have to wait and see...
6668403 Thank you, I'll go through and change that in a bit. I normally just never know what to do with names XD, I guess they always need caped so I'll start doing that from now on.
6668433 Wow, this chapter sparked a lot of debate, but yes this is the general idea of what I was meaning. Being a Princess, Twilights words now hold a lot of power in them. Even in every day conversation. This could lead to some very unsavoury situations that could cause problems if spoken at the wrong times or near certain ponies.
I myself don't know a whole lot about human relations, what I do know is based on looks, beliefs and other factors a lot of horrible things have happened in the world. I think the character here just does not want things to spiral out of control, it would cause far to much trouble in the long run of things. In the end he does not entirely know what or how his new standing affects the world at large, all he knows is that there appears to be a lot of other creatures taking roost here and he has a feeling more will come in time and if something should happen between two different species it could cause problems.
6668507 I try, my chapters and writing still needs a lot of work though...
6668506 With all the crazy going on lately.... I think he is just gonna roll with it lol... Plus, I'm a horrible writer lol, who apparently does well with cute stories... XD
6668456 I am glad to have helped you in some way, depression can be very difficult to deal with. I know how it is...
6668544
6668552 Thank you, I to love writing this story; I'm not sure if it will end ever or how to end it but if I ever do find a way over time I will. Until then the cute will go on!
6668591 Some things I need to think on yes....
Hee hee, bats in the belfry.
This little filly "stalker" is too cute, I may have to draw some fan-art now.
6668640 Yet at the same time, the hero of the story the same logic in this chapter, and you see no problems with that. And above that, you're using the same logic as well. You assuming, that because some humans were assholes, the majority of "love and tolerate" ponies will be as well.
Yes, let's call them bat-equestrians, because if you call them thestrals it will be very offensive, and they will be sad, and will call other pegasi "cis", and shove this political correctness up your ass.
No, science isn't racist. Human interpretation of it is.
6668691 unfortunately for you, that's mainly US problem. Rest of the world fairs quite better.
6668722 Okay, so I am going to assume two things, one, that you didn't even fully read my comment or just skimmed it, and two, that you are a troll considering you response time to this.
So yeah, how about that? Read my comment ALL the way through and then comment again. Also are you saying you are are not human then? or are you saying that you are but have higher knowledge or something?
Uh, what? The word "subspecies" is not racist, offensive or otherwise demeaning. I'm not sure why anyone would think it is.
6668403
Uhm, no, she wasn't. She was using it in the scientifically correct manner. Feeling insulted over that is like feeling insulted if someone calls you homo sapiens.
If she had been a condescending cunt about it then yes, it would have been offensive. But she wasn't and it wasn't.
6668318
Basically this.
But nevermind all that shit, what I want to know is where the heck the kid came from and how! Is it just Chrysalis fucking around with him? Is she actually serious? And if so, when/how did it happen?
6668721 Awww! If you do I'd so love to see it!!!!
6668462 Well, science is not racist, but politics is both this and stupid. Not to mention that science might interpret things in different way, and wording rough moments is a thing in itself. Would you tell to a nigger that he is a nigger? Well, you may, but this is unwise. The same way, calling batponies a subspecies of pegasi is unwise, even if it is true.
Also about our world being heliocentric and whatnot. You know, in childhood you think that Sun orbits Earth. In middle school they say that Bruno was right and Earth orbits Sun. But if you come to university and learn some Physics, you understand that all inertial systems of measure are equal. Thus, which of them orbits another is entirely irrelevant. But if we say that Earth orbits Sun, we get simpler equations for other planets, and because of this solely our system is said to be heliocentric. This is like measuring weight is possible in kg and lbs, both are correct, but one suits better(metric system for me, for example).
And also because most people think that the starting point (aka Sun here) matters.
Not using something as "everyday" doesn't mean it is not insult. For example, even in 20th century there were "scientifical" theories about inherent racial inequation, like in Nazi Germany and before. And that becomes worse than "everyday word" : a "common knowledge". It is not talked about, but everyone knows it.
And about insulting someone - yes, this is not only method, but it is one of them.
6668739 He' not a scientist, he is a Shepherd. And he has to be politically correct.
Don't worry, this story is purrrrfect
6668820 Thank you for your kind words!
so he can check off bat ponies of the list now he just needs Chrystal ponies, sea ponies, Minotaur, yaks, buffalo, dragons, zebras, mules, and those badass goats from the comics (they gave zero bucks)....you know reading this chapter and looking at this list i just realized we dont have a branched species of unicorn yet. we can not let this stand! CREATIVE PEOPLE UNITE AND AWAY!!!!!!
Must have more chapters. Like now.
6668857 I really should make a list of species..... Thanks for the help I'm going to use some of this list and add some I thought of as well...
6668879 the only other creature that could be said to sapient would be the chimera from that one episode but it just flat out tried to eat applebloom.....OH WAIT cows, sheep, and the horses from saddle Arabia and of course you have a sorta catch all with discord and his neighbors. that sounds like if might be a pretty fun chapter right there actually.
*wakes up, gets morning coffee, looks out to enjoy his peaceful morning sunrise, BAM, yard full of eldritch abominations, silently wondering what he is on as he watches Thingpone do her thing*
highly adorable 18+ Thingpone story in link (dont be put off by picture and give it a look see)
You know, I really wouldn't mind Changelings in the back yard (assuming I had several hundred acres like him) singing, or rather, chirping at night. Kind of miss that now that I live in the city-- used to live in a far more country setting as a kid.
What I don't miss is those deafening cicada. Oh. My God. Can they get any louder? I can only imagine the racket a bunch of changelings screeching at each other would be like. Well, no, it would be like the cicada. Maybe that's what happens when two rival hives border each other?
p.s. You do realize that if he builds a belfry then it'll have a church of some such under it... and from there the batponies will come up with some pseudo-religion based on The Shepard.
6668865 Give it time.... (Says Pinkie Pie after she told twilight Rarity was going to be a old cat lady.)
6668914 lol yeah, I've got a list of about fifteen different creatures at the moment... That's not excluding the ones I've already wrote for. It might be a while before we get around to them all but give it time I'll do my best to give it justice!
It's times like this I'm glad I don't live in Equestria.
Why? Because if I had been in Shepherd's shoes when that was said to me, the first thing out of my mouth would have been "Hah. I wonder if I can now go to her for sound advice?"
oh lord, one thing after another.
he needs a water feature.
That was adorable. Scoots will be embarrassed by this forever. That's a lifetime supply of blackmail material for you right there.
Chrysalis: even when she's nice, she's a dickweed.
6668966
6669042 it's not funny! People get lynched when they are as bad with puns as I am! What's Equestria's version??? Honey and Pegasus Feathered? Being on the receiving end of an Apple Clan filly asking if I'm not going to stay for brunch? Dog piled by the entire village as they gave me the biggest group hug possible??? I CANT SURVIVE THAT!!!
6668698
Yeah. Names are proper nouns which are always capitalized. So are words like mom or dad, but only when they replace a name. Examples are like 'I saw that Mom was picking her nose', not like 'My mom was picking her nose.'
Sorry if this seems condescending, but it isn't. A surprising amount of people my age don't know this kind of stuff.
6668739
My roommate said he would take something like this as racist, so I'm going to trust his racial judgement on this sort of thing.
6669172 Cuddle mobs!
6669238 Its cool; I like to try to learn as much as I can. You should have seen what my spelling was like ten years ago... It was the most horrible travesty ever seen! Words being so messed up I could not even read them and I typed or wrote them out... lol.... Spell check didn't even know what I was trying to say back then to tell you how bad it was....
You call yourself a horrible writer, but each chapter is better than the last. This story started out moderately interesting and mildly amusing, but now it's simply great
6669284
Ouch. If even spellcheck can't tell... Well, you got better and that's what counts. You're definitely better than around half of the authors around here.
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I'm pretty sure that no one here has looked into how taxonomy works. Taxonomy is the system used to classify living things, of which species is the smallest classification.
First off, the system was developed in the early 1700's, long before DNA was identified, and classification is determined by shared animal traits. Things like having a spine or gives live birth. The exact traits are entirely arbitrary, if a group is too large, a trait is found to differentiate it and it is split, hopefully down the middle.
Genus and species make up binomial nomenclature, or in plain language, two word name. Every living organism is assigned one when it is discovered, the only exception being mutations of a species which are designated a sub-species, which do not differ enough from the parent species to warrant their own designation, or are not viable enough to reproduce into a stable population.
Here are some reasons why referring to a sapient population as a subspecies is offensive:
1: A sub-species implies a parent species. Implying "Like a pegasus, but not", implying not as good as a pegasus. This is a logical fault, but is exactly the kind of thought process that breeds in various societies.
2: Implying that thestrals are mutations of pegasi.
3: Implying that thestrals are not important enough to warrant their own binomial nomenclature.
4: Implying that there are only three "True" pony species, that all the rest are deviations.
This last point is likely something Twilight was taught, having been raised in Canterlot. I say this because it's said that alicorns represent "all three pony types". Not six if you count crystal ponies and changelings; or eight if you count flutterponies or sea ponies. Nine if you count breezies.
So bottom line. Science itself if not racist. But that's like saying words are not racist. Words are just sounds. We assign them their meaning. Science is just a tool, but it can easily be used to promote racism.
I have to agree that what Twilight said was a VERY racist (or speciest, or tribalist... take your pick).
Idea from the earlier cicada post for changeling behavior: changelings snack on lesser insects for basic protein throughout the waking cycle.
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Have a great night and good job mate