WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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Paper tigers written by midnight dancer

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"And you see, Princess, by allocating the
bits currently being spent on such frivolous

00:00:29.390 --> 00:00:35.300
things as music for the public schools, we
can beautify Canterlot and bring in more tourist

00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:37.050
revenue besides."

00:00:37.050 --> 00:00:42.050
The overstuffed unicorn stallion drew himself
up to his full height, smiling confidently

00:00:42.050 --> 00:00:47.140
at Princess Celestia from in front of his
easel, a posterboard covered in bar graphs

00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:49.430
settled upon it.

00:00:49.430 --> 00:00:54.540
Celestia sat quietly for a moment, keeping
her expression carefully schooled.

00:00:54.540 --> 00:00:59.340
She considered, briefly, sending his petition
to Luna instead.

00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:05.530
With a small sigh, she discarded that idea—she
didn't need Luna thinking everything had gone

00:01:05.530 --> 00:01:10.350
to pot in her absence, nor did she want to
pay the stallion's therapy bills after Luna

00:01:10.350 --> 00:01:12.320
was done with him.

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Tilting her head, she gave off the impression
of deep thought, rose eyes slightly unfocused

00:01:18.220 --> 00:01:21.480
as the stallion waited patiently for her answer.

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"I see.

00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:27.380
Stuffed Shirt, do you mind telling me why
we should stop a program proven to help nurture

00:01:27.380 --> 00:01:33.210
a foal's ability and willingness to learn
in favor of some pretty paint on old houses?"

00:01:33.210 --> 00:01:38.530
She smiled down at him gently, keeping the
pulse of anger buried deep within her breast.

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Snorting, he began to roll his eyes before
catching himself and clearing his throat.

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"Ah, as I said, it would bring in tourist
revenue for Canterlot—"

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"Canterlot is the richest city in Equestria,
with a record high surplus of bits."

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Her assistant hoofed the relevant documents
to the stallion, who gave them only a cursory

00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:01.060
glance.

00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:04.560
"I don't see a reason why we should cut this
education funding."

00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:11.130
"Because the surplus won't last forever—what
if Canterlot falls on hard times?

00:02:11.130 --> 00:02:15.910
Or a natural disaster hits, like that hurricane
off of Hoofwaii some years back?"

00:02:15.910 --> 00:02:21.760
That was actually a fair point, and Celestia
began considering it, before his next sentence

00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:23.200
stopped her cold.

00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:28.000
"Besides, your highness—it's not as though
ponies need to be educated to take out our

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trash or sweep our streets."

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The anger flared again, and in her head, Celestia
fantasized, briefly, about immolating him

00:02:37.220 --> 00:02:39.111
on the spot.

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A small ruffling of her wings was the only
outward sign of anything being amiss with

00:02:42.970 --> 00:02:47.790
the Princess, and she forced the bile back
down again with a small swallow.

00:02:47.790 --> 00:02:52.110
"You are suggesting that the ponies in the
public schools are kept ignorant?"

00:02:52.110 --> 00:02:54.780
"I'm glad you asked."

00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:59.350
He pulled up another poster in his pale blue
aura, settling it on the easel.

00:02:59.350 --> 00:03:04.890
"As you can see by these figures, test scores
are going down year by year.

00:03:04.890 --> 00:03:10.480
Granted, they're still higher than most cities,
but the foals are not performing to standards.

00:03:10.480 --> 00:03:15.670
They don't appear to care about their education—I
don't see a reason to keep funneling money

00:03:15.670 --> 00:03:19.940
to poor schools and districts when they don't
appreciate it."

00:03:19.940 --> 00:03:21.890
"I see."

00:03:21.890 --> 00:03:26.310
Celestia peered at the graphs, making a large
show of examining them carefully.

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"And tell me, how much of this is the fault
of lazy foals versus a large influx of foals

00:03:32.270 --> 00:03:34.800
from our recent population boom?

00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.040
We haven't sent money to the schools for hiring
more staff in quite some time; I can imagine

00:03:40.040 --> 00:03:42.980
that the schoolteachers are getting overwhelmed."

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Stuffed Shirt shuffled nervously as she turned
her gaze to him instead.

00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:52.440
"In those facts and figures there, do you
have the average class size?"

00:03:52.440 --> 00:03:56.010
He pulled one document out of his sheaf, eying
it distastefully.

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"It would appear that the average class size
is forty-two."

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Celestia blinked, something finally managing
to surprise her.

00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:06.160
"Truly?"

00:04:06.160 --> 00:04:07.260
"Yes.

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But back to my proposal—" He was cut off
as Celestia raised a wing.

00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:14.640
"I know precisely what to do with it."

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Stifling the urge to request that the proposal
be sent to her personal lavatory, she turned

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to her assistant.

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"Quill Feather?"

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The pegasus came to her side once more, pulling
out a quill and parchment from under her wings.

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"I am ordering that extra money to account
for the population boom be sent to the school

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districts of Canterlot, districts one through
seven.

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I want you to find out how many teachers they
need to get the class average down to twenty

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students maximum, and then send them enough
to hire the teachers.

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This does include teachers for gymnastics,
art, music, and the sciences."

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Quill Feather scribbled down the note cheerfully,
Celestia smiling beatifically at the now stammering

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unicorn.

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He stared back, mouth slightly agape.

00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:07.680
"Princess, even with conservative estimates,
that's hundreds of thousands of bits per year—"

00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:12.240
"I am aware of my country's finances, Stuffed
Shirt."

00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:16.719
She eyed him coolly, one eyebrow raised as
a small smile appeared.

00:05:16.719 --> 00:05:21.039
"In fact, I must thank you for bringing this
to my attention.

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Why, with your selfless act of bringing this
to me today, I am certain the schools would

00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:29.300
love to give you recognition for all your
help."

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Stuffed Shirt paused, seeming to think about
it, while Celestia's gut churned.

00:05:35.080 --> 00:05:38.729
Gods, how I hate diplomacy in this age.

00:05:38.729 --> 00:05:44.810
There was a time, many hundreds of years ago,
that one of the sisters merely saying something

00:05:44.810 --> 00:05:48.210
and stamping a hoof was enough to make it
so.

00:05:48.210 --> 00:05:52.889
If a few ponies were upset by that, well,
they had dungeons.

00:05:52.889 --> 00:05:57.300
Nowadays, it's all lawsuit this and jailtime
that.

00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:58.550
She sighed.

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Shaking the errant thoughts of days gone by
from her head, she forced a kind smile down

00:06:03.990 --> 00:06:06.090
at Stuffed Shirt at his nod.

00:06:06.090 --> 00:06:09.189
"I'm so glad we could come to an agreement.

00:06:09.189 --> 00:06:13.430
Thank you for bringing your proposal to court
today, even if the outcome wasn't quite what

00:06:13.430 --> 00:06:15.460
you were expecting."

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The stallion bowed hastily before gathering
up his now moot facts and figures.

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"Thank you, Your Highness."

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As he made his way back to the throne room
doors, Celestia brought her head beside her

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assistant's to speak privately.

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"Quill Feather.

00:06:32.229 --> 00:06:36.830
My use of the word 'you' in my proclamation
was literal.

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I am entrusting this to you."

00:06:39.870 --> 00:06:46.290
The pegasus balked, golden eyes widening as
she nearly lost her grip on her papers.

00:06:46.290 --> 00:06:47.290
"I...

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Your Highness, I don't mean to contradict,
but we have a Minister of Education for that—"

00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:57.110
"A Minister of Education that is clearly not
doing his job.

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If he were, this wouldn't be happening."

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The temperature in the immediate area rose
by several degrees—yet Quill shivered at

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the look in her sovereign's eyes.

00:07:07.289 --> 00:07:12.749
"You've served me loyally in all things during
your time here, and I have nothing but the

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utmost faith in your ability to carry out
my decree."

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Celestia smiled warmly, allowing one wing
to brush fondly over her assistant's back.

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Quill Feather smiled, bolstered by her Princess'
faith, and fluttered her mottled feathers

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excitedly.

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"I won't let you down, Your Highness."

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Celestia looked into the pegasus' eager face,
full of hope and determination, and it took

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all of her considerable might not to crack
and sag beneath it.

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She smiled instead, never showing that it
was only the gritting of her teeth that kept

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her from screaming.

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Purple hooves clacked eagerly across the smooth
stone floor of the castle, golden shoes shining

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by the lights hung in alcoves along the walls.

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As she approached her mentor's quarters, she
slowed, not wanting to appear too eager.

00:08:04.349 --> 00:08:08.990
Twilight Sparkle smiled, using her magenta
magic to smooth down some stray hairs in her

00:08:08.990 --> 00:08:10.699
mane and tail.

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She breathed deeply before standing straighter,
bringing one elaborately-shod hoof up to knock

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gently on Celestia's door.

00:08:18.470 --> 00:08:20.569
"Come in."

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Celestia's voice, normally as warm as the
sun and twice as bright, was dull and nearly

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listless through the heavy wooden door.

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Twilight hesitated for a second, before slipping
into the room quietly.

00:08:35.090 --> 00:08:40.440
Celestia laid upon a large golden pillow,
snuggled down into the soft material.

00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:47.790
An exquisite tea set, painted with roses and
vines, sat on a small table beside her.

00:08:47.790 --> 00:08:53.949
Small squares of colorful paper littered the
table, one side colored while the other was

00:08:53.949 --> 00:08:56.250
a matte white.

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Celestia raised her head from her contemplation
of the merry fire in the hearth, and smiled

00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:03.759
warmly at the newest Princess of Equestria.

00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:05.870
"Twilight Sparkle!

00:09:05.870 --> 00:09:08.700
You know you do not need to knock."

00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:11.720
Hooves shuffling awkwardly, Twilight blushed.

00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:15.540
"I know, but it only seemed polite.

00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:20.000
But, you wanted to see me, Princess?"

00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.980
Celestia motioned to the table with a foreleg.

00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:27.630
Twilight approached, settling down on the
cushion across from her.

00:09:27.630 --> 00:09:34.130
She felt a little thrill of nostalgia—how
many times, as a filly, had she settled onto

00:09:34.130 --> 00:09:38.589
this exact cushion with this exact tea set
in front of her?

00:09:38.589 --> 00:09:43.660
She lifted her teacup to her lips, savoring
the delicate aroma coming up in small curls

00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:47.620
of steam for a moment before sipping.

00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:52.610
Celestia mirrored her actions, the two content
to merely drink and be in each others presence

00:09:52.610 --> 00:09:54.800
for a time.

00:09:54.800 --> 00:09:59.290
After a few moments of silent bliss, Celestia
turned to Twilight.

00:09:59.290 --> 00:10:04.040
The purple alicorn could see the bags under
her mentor's eyes, and the strain of ruling

00:10:04.040 --> 00:10:08.420
was for the first time fully evident on Celestia's
face.

00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:12.250
"Twilight, do you enjoy origami?"

00:10:12.250 --> 00:10:16.790
Lifting a blue square in her magenta aura,
Twilight nodded happily.

00:10:16.790 --> 00:10:18.190
"Yes!

00:10:18.190 --> 00:10:23.449
I've read a lot of books on it, but haven't
had too much of a chance to try it myself."

00:10:23.449 --> 00:10:27.600
Celestia chuckled, drawing a green square
to herself.

00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:32.620
She moved the tea set gently to the stone
floor, clearing the table for the two to work.

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:37.180
"It has been a favorite past time of mine
over my years of rule.

00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:40.069
I find it very calming."

00:10:40.069 --> 00:10:45.579
Her golden magic folded her square expertly,
leaving her with a paper swan in a matter

00:10:45.579 --> 00:10:46.720
of moments.

00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:52.009
Smiling, she animated it with her magic, flying
it over the table to boop Twilight on the

00:10:52.009 --> 00:10:54.300
nose.

00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:59.280
Twilight giggled, beginning to fold her own
paper carefully the way she'd seen her mentor

00:10:59.280 --> 00:11:00.680
do.

00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:02.060
Celestia smiled.

00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:07.570
"Now, while you've got something to occupy
your mind, tell me what's bothering you."

00:11:07.570 --> 00:11:10.840
Jerking her head up, Twilight blushed.

00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:14.310
"I'm fine, Princess, really."

00:11:14.310 --> 00:11:17.310
Another corner of the paper folded down carefully.

00:11:17.310 --> 00:11:23.790
"It's just that ruling is a little stressful,
but it's nothing I can't handle."

00:11:23.790 --> 00:11:27.570
A piece to the side came up, folding into
a wing.

00:11:27.570 --> 00:11:32.589
"Is that why you rushed to my study so quickly
that you sounded more like a herd of antelope

00:11:32.589 --> 00:11:34.250
than one pony?"

00:11:34.250 --> 00:11:39.690
Arching her brow, Celestia took a deliberate
sip of her tea, eying a stammering Twilight

00:11:39.690 --> 00:11:41.940
over the rim.

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:42.940
"Well...

00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:44.810
I... it was just..."

00:11:44.810 --> 00:11:48.089
The smaller alicorn sighed, shoulders drooping.

00:11:48.089 --> 00:11:50.410
"It's just hard.

00:11:50.410 --> 00:11:54.130
All this new magic, and I'm so much stronger
than before!

00:11:54.130 --> 00:11:59.170
I helped Luna with the beginning of Night
Court, just to get my hooves wet, and there

00:11:59.170 --> 00:12:01.529
was this awful petitioner..."

00:12:01.529 --> 00:12:06.130
She trailed off, blinking back tears as she
stared at her paper.

00:12:06.130 --> 00:12:11.360
"She just... she didn't care that her blacksmith
shop was polluting the local river.

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:16.649
We—we had to force all these restrictions
on her, and we have to send somepony to check

00:12:16.649 --> 00:12:22.220
up on her periodically now to make sure she's
doing what she's supposed to do."

00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:23.220
Celestia nodded.

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:26.230
"These things will happen, Twilight."

00:12:26.230 --> 00:12:30.779
"I know, she just... she made me so mad!

00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:34.899
I lifted her paperwork with my magic and it
imploded.

00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.899
Literally imploded.

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.120
I didn't...

00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.980
I didn't mean to do that."

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:46.410
She lifted her paper again, frustrated, and
the tiny folded swan tore in half.

00:12:46.410 --> 00:12:52.050
Twilight stared at it, letting it drop to
the table as tears welled up in her eyes.

00:12:52.050 --> 00:12:57.270
The two sat together for a time, Celestia
watching Twilight with sad eyes as she cried

00:12:57.270 --> 00:12:59.079
out her frustrations.

00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:04.819
Twilight pulled her wings around herself,
cuddling in close to them for comfort.

00:13:04.819 --> 00:13:09.660
After awhile, the sobs turned to sniffles,
and Twilight wiped her face quickly with a

00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:11.180
foreleg.

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:17.160
Mumbling an apology, she drank deeply of her
tea, letting the jasmine smell calm her.

00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:20.720
"We are like tigers, Twilight."

00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:25.470
Celestia settled back, taking a sip of her
own tea again as her student's red-rimmed

00:13:25.470 --> 00:13:27.139
eyes met her own.

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:32.569
"Incredibly strong, fierce, and protective
of our kin.

00:13:32.569 --> 00:13:37.440
For us, our kin includes all of our little
ponies here in Equestria."

00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:43.279
Uncomprehending violet eyes met calm rose
ones, Twilight searching her mentor's for

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.329
clarification.

00:13:44.329 --> 00:13:46.430
"Why... what?"

00:13:46.430 --> 00:13:52.620
With a chuckle, Celestia pulled another paper
to herself in her golden magic.

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:57.399
"What I mean is that we are a strong, and
very dangerous, force.

00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:02.000
The smallest slip in a time of stress, and
entire cities would be wiped clean off the

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.100
map."

00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:08.850
She calmly folded her paper, studiously ignoring
Twilight's gaping mouth.

00:14:08.850 --> 00:14:11.139
"Have... have you..."

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:16.980
A warning glance from Celestia stopped her
cold, her mentor's steely gaze boring into

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.980
her.

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.630
"Have I what, Twilight?"

00:14:20.630 --> 00:14:26.370
Celestia's voice was calm, even loving, entirely
at odds with the cold, flinty look in her

00:14:26.370 --> 00:14:27.370
eyes.

00:14:27.370 --> 00:14:33.500
"Have I killed populations, reduced landscapes
to ash and glass, and burned away countless

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:36.329
frail mortal bodies?"

00:14:36.329 --> 00:14:42.060
Twilight sat quietly, mouth working soundlessly
as she blinked at her mentor.

00:14:42.060 --> 00:14:48.579
The warm, loving light she associated with
Celestia had been changed; it was now that

00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:52.639
she could see the harsh, blinding side of
the Sun.

00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:58.820
That, mixed with Celestia's obvious fatigue,
struck Twilight speechless for once as she

00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:02.740
floundered in her own mind to come to grips
with everything.

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:08.360
Abruptly, the older alicorn turned back to
the papers on the table, expression smoothing

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:11.230
over expertly as she lifted an orange one.

00:15:11.230 --> 00:15:15.389
"What can you tell me about paper tigers?"

00:15:15.389 --> 00:15:20.260
Twilight clicked back into the role of student
with practiced ease, mind clearing at the

00:15:20.260 --> 00:15:21.649
direct question.

00:15:21.649 --> 00:15:26.810
"It comes from a Chineighse phrase meaning
something that is as threatening as a tiger,

00:15:26.810 --> 00:15:28.689
but is ultimately harmless."

00:15:28.689 --> 00:15:33.970
She watched with some awe as Celestia spun
the paper in her magic, mountain and valley

00:15:33.970 --> 00:15:36.420
folds both executed with ease.

00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:42.570
"It's often used in literature or politics
as a descriptor for somepony such as..."

00:15:42.570 --> 00:15:45.230
She paused, tilting her head.

00:15:45.230 --> 00:15:47.130
"Such as?"

00:15:47.130 --> 00:15:53.839
The paper was taking shape, a larger rounded
section stemming from a thinner one.

00:15:53.839 --> 00:15:59.689
"Such as... such as a king, queen, or other
ruler."

00:15:59.689 --> 00:16:04.810
Twilight met her mentor's eyes, confusion
and reluctant comprehension warring on her

00:16:04.810 --> 00:16:05.910
face.

00:16:05.910 --> 00:16:09.240
"Very good, Twilight."

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:14.450
Celestia gently folded down the tiger's head,
the smooth, blank face staring out across

00:16:14.450 --> 00:16:15.450
the table.

00:16:15.450 --> 00:16:16.450
"But...

00:16:16.450 --> 00:16:22.529
Princess, we're not... not ultimately harmless,
are we?

00:16:22.529 --> 00:16:25.759
I don't understand."

00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:30.399
Twilight gently prodded the tiger with her
magic, drawing back as Celestia levitated

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.329
a bit of charcoal over.

00:16:33.329 --> 00:16:38.850
Drawing deliberate, harsh stripes down the
tiger's side, Celestia shook her head.

00:16:38.850 --> 00:16:40.259
"We are not.

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:46.830
We must hobble ourselves, change from tigers
of flesh and blood to those of paper.

00:16:46.830 --> 00:16:51.310
Did you not wonder why you and your friends
were sent to save the Crystal Empire?"

00:16:51.310 --> 00:16:55.829
"I... it was a test for me?"

00:16:55.829 --> 00:16:57.540
Celestia inclined her head slightly.

00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.759
"It was.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:04.079
But, Twilight... when the gods fight, only
mortals lose.

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:09.490
The truth is simply that yes, Luna and I could
have easily disposed of Sombra.

00:17:09.490 --> 00:17:13.240
He was laughably weak after being imprisoned
for so long.

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.810
We would have made very short work of him.

00:17:16.810 --> 00:17:21.150
The problem is that we would have also made
very short work of half of the population

00:17:21.150 --> 00:17:23.510
of the Crystal Empire."

00:17:23.510 --> 00:17:28.640
The tiger stood proudly on the table between
them, coal smudge eyes glaring fiercely at

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.750
Twilight.

00:17:29.750 --> 00:17:34.860
The purple alicorn met its gaze, wings ruffling
slightly as she shifted.

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:40.350
The silence settled in, broken only by sips
of tea from Celestia and the soft shifting

00:17:40.350 --> 00:17:41.770
from Twilight.

00:17:41.770 --> 00:17:45.159
"Something doesn't make sense."

00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:49.650
Twilight poked the tiger with her magic, turning
its gaze to Celestia.

00:17:49.650 --> 00:17:53.890
"If we're so dangerous, why do we need Royal
Guards?

00:17:53.890 --> 00:17:59.230
I know about using them as a police force,
that's fine, but why do they guard each and

00:17:59.230 --> 00:18:03.110
every door and hall in the palace?"

00:18:03.110 --> 00:18:06.720
Celestia beamed, eyes sliding shut as she
nodded.

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.120
"An excellent question.

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:12.110
In return, I posit one to you.

00:18:12.110 --> 00:18:15.480
Let's say there's some group of ponies that
doesn't like the monarchy.

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:20.200
And let's say that in order to make a point,
to score a blow against the Royal Sisters,

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:24.600
they decide to assassinate the Princess' most
faithful student."

00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:29.110
Nudging the tiger to look at Twilight again,
Celestia opened her eyes.

00:18:29.110 --> 00:18:34.770
"What, do you suppose, an alicorn mad with
grief might do?"

00:18:34.770 --> 00:18:39.230
Shoulders slumped, Twilight looked down at
the table, mind working.

00:18:39.230 --> 00:18:40.230
"I...

00:18:40.230 --> 00:18:43.210
I guess you'd forgo a trial..."

00:18:43.210 --> 00:18:45.460
"The accused would never even make it to trial.

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:48.549
That is why we have Royal Guards.

00:18:48.549 --> 00:18:52.480
They protect the more foolhardy of our little
ponies from us."

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:57.429
Celestia rose, stretching out her legs and
wings before looking back down at the newest

00:18:57.429 --> 00:18:58.429
Princess.

00:18:58.429 --> 00:19:02.429
"You must always be mindful of your emotions,
Twilight.

00:19:02.429 --> 00:19:04.900
You must always be in control.

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:11.470
And most of all, you must never, NEVER forget
that a tiger is only truly dangerous when

00:19:11.470 --> 00:19:13.350
she is not caged."

00:19:13.350 --> 00:19:19.400
Celestia folded her wings back down, and feeling
her student needed some time alone, trotted

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.130
softly out the door.

00:19:21.130 --> 00:19:26.809
It thudded shut behind her, and Twilight barely
moved, simply watching the little tiger with

00:19:26.809 --> 00:19:29.010
haunted eyes.

00:19:29.010 --> 00:19:35.360
A few moments later, the door opened and closed
again, leaving nopony behind but the ashy

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:39.510
remnants of an origami project.

00:19:39.510 --> 00:19:43.480
The End

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:48.390
Hello guys snogwritts here congratulations
for making ot the end of this video.

00:19:48.390 --> 00:19:52.440
As always I definitely enjoyed reading this
fic to all of you

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.770
Alrighty then lets start reviewing this fic

00:19:54.770 --> 00:19:58.380
Ok so heres this

00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:02.190
Now this story is based on the prime ruler
herself, Celestia.

00:20:02.190 --> 00:20:07.330
The author had a unique way writing this story
specifically with this rulers perspective

00:20:07.330 --> 00:20:09.529
against moral ponies.

00:20:09.529 --> 00:20:14.100
This is relevant in the proposal scene with
stuffed shirt and his accusations to spending

00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:15.830
bits in the right ways.

00:20:15.830 --> 00:20:20.690
This critical incident there revealed Celestia’s
acts towards these ponies, and it’s clearly

00:20:20.690 --> 00:20:27.820
seen in the story with the conversation with
twilight as well.

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:32.751
The ending was well thought, it definitely
ended it well and wrapped the story up, if

00:20:32.751 --> 00:20:35.539
it didn’t have any plot holes…

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:40.470
The story felt like it was missing something,
something vital to plot itself.

00:20:40.470 --> 00:20:45.301
Now do remember the plot is the sequence of
events in a story and for this case the author

00:20:45.301 --> 00:20:48.700
needed to fill in the “middle” part.

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:54.429
Yes indeed the beginning and end was good,
but the middle felt weak and another event

00:20:54.429 --> 00:20:57.980
could have been placed to help accelerate
the story more.

00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:02.380
The reader can know its characters more since
it feels more like a short story that can

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:04.860
contain a great ending if it has a good middle.

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:19.690
My suggestion to the author is to add another
event between stuffed shirt and twilight,

00:21:19.690 --> 00:21:29.960
maybe Celestia experiences something, another
conflict or leaves her palace, do something

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:36.140
for the middle . Working on the middle can
definitely cause tone to rise, which is disappointing

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.140
here.

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:42.520
According to the official source this is a
sadfic, but strongly it isn’t.

00:21:42.520 --> 00:21:47.500
The story just felt more of the “drama genre”
the to the “sad” genre, this also recently

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:52.480
happened on another fic we read “I spoke
to Ms. Smarty Pants today” where comedy

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:54.309
was more implemented than darkness.

00:21:54.309 --> 00:22:01.010
What I can say is this sadfic's tone isn’t
as decent at all the way you look at it, the

00:22:01.010 --> 00:22:11.540
only the tone you get is from twilight , which
the fic is focused on Celestia which is another

00:22:11.540 --> 00:22:12.540
flaw.

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:18.750
Now this author's writing has the potential
to write other genres than sad, my suggestion

00:22:18.750 --> 00:22:30.200
is to work on writing sadfics so you can present
a good atmosphere 

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:40.360
to 
the reader.

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:50.620
Overall, this writing has potential, but can
be greatly improved.

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:55.510
Alright let's wrap this video up, so before
you write something remember to focus on your

00:22:55.510 --> 00:22:56.970
genre.

00:22:56.970 --> 00:23:00.539
If your having trouble finding a genre ask
these questions to yourself.

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:08.000
Can I describe the genre in writing, can I
convert it to figurative speech, can I pass

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:19.049
it to the characters, can I pass it to the
atmosphere.Really ask these questions to yourself.

00:23:19.049 --> 00:23:23.730
Alrighty then as always thank you for listening
ffellow viewer and if you like the video please

00:23:23.730 --> 00:23:28.320
give this video a thumbs up and if you haven't
already subscribe to the channel I upload

00:23:28.320 --> 00:23:33.610
weekly fanfic reads every Saturday on a variety
of genres and give an analysis after each

00:23:33.610 --> 00:23:34.860
one.

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:37.970
Alright that's it for me this is Snogwritts
signing out