Reassurance about The Conversion Bureau

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Just need a little reassurance here. I've started to read, the Conversion Bureau by Blaze. I must say, I'm a little disturbed by it. When I first became a brony, I thought I found a group of fellow idealists who believed in their fellow man. Then I pick this up and it sounds like "James Cameron's: My Little Pony." The amount of misanthropy in the first few chapters is very disheartening. I can understand the need to set off the plot. Why are humans ponifying en masse? Okay! I get it, but there's already a justification given. There's a magic plague that ponies are immune to. BAM! Right there. You still have all the outside resistance from the human hold outs, who now have believable reasons to resist Equestrian dominance. We're destroying ourselves? We've been doing that since the invention of the nuke, before that WWI, before that the Napoleonic Wars, before THAT the Sengoku period, before THAT the Crusades, I could go back to the Trojan War! (Don't fight a historian when it comes to precedence. ) Anyway. The story has, so far, failed to mention the Lunar landing, the American Revolution, the Renaissance, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Benjamin Franklin, Mother Theresa, or any of human society's achievements. The main character states our species is driven by hate and greed and would buy and sell land in Equestria. (Private property?)

Lily: "The Horror! The Horror!" What nailed it was Twilight responding with "Very well put," what was?! That was an opinionated supposition at best! Then we had Rainbow Dash saying "Let them stay in that manure-hole they live in." and Pinkie's "Human bodies are icky and big and ugly and...and mean! Humans are mean!" . . . All right! That last one was just a slap in the face! Hearing the characters I've grown to love (and identify as human) loose such venom on my species is just hurtful and not a little bit out-of-character. When Zecora showed up, they were irrationally suspicious, but they didn't break out the torches and pitchforks!

 

Now maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, since it IS early in the story. Not saying I'm gonna stop reading it. With a premise THIS kickass, how could I? (Plus a bit of human OC Fluttershy romance is never a bad thing. ) I just want to know if the story changes it's pitch about us later, or at least gets mentioned less as the plot picks up. So far, I just have to say I'm a little shocked. I thought the brony community was about hope in our potential to love and create. Can you honestly say a species of homicidal extortionists could create this?

 

Edited February 9, 2012 by Steelquill

[Kyreth 194]

I haven't read it but its just a story. Its the same with all the horror fics and such, people just write what is interesting to them. It doesn't necessarily reflect what the author thinks of humanity.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I haven't read it but its just a story. Its the same with all the horror fics and such, people just write what is interesting to them. It doesn't necessarily reflect what the author thinks of humanity.

 

True enough. It's just you could justify the horror fics by the author purposefully going for shock value or pure dissonance. Whereas this seems to be an actual (and slightly political) statement. Like I said though. The premise is utterly inspired! If you don't already know, Equestria is a small island nation off the East Coast of the U.S. Humanity is slowly dying but Celestia and Luna have extended a hoof of mercy by offering ponification to all humans who wish it. The global and personal reactions to this are explored, and it's interesting to see how a nation as fantastical as Equestria navigates international politics.

[Ezynell 2,037]

This song is so... moving. It's almost tearjerking...

[Steel Accord 6,660]

This song is so... moving. It's almost tearjerking...

 

Yeah. Mandopony is a genius! Give his other songs a listen. His and Acousticbrony's. Edited February 7, 2012 by Steelquill

[Guest]

That song was beautiful, sad, but beautiful.

 

On the topic of the fic though, I haven't read it yet so I will not judge (I am off to read it though, so I may repost later.)

[Queen Cassie 3,058]

Okay, hang on, I've heard of this Conversion Bureau set of fics, but I have no idea what they're about. Can someone give me a spoiler-tagged summary of some sort?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Okay, hang on, I've heard of this Conversion Bureau set of fics, but I have no idea what they're about. Can someone give me a spoiler-tagged summary of some sort?

 

They are all inspired by Blaze's original "The Conversion Bureau." It's set in the near future in an alternate universe. Equestria is isolationist island nation off the east coast of the United States. Humanity is on the decline as the magical radiation given off by Equestria is slowly killing the species. In an act of pity, Celestia and Luna have set up a global service to give those who wish it a whole new life in pony society called the Conversion Bureau . . . it's exactly what it sounds like. The Mane Six are still primary characters along with an OC who's the main protagonist. The conflict largely comes from how individuals and groups react to the rise of ponykind as the dominant species, and the fall of human society (good and bad.)

[Queen Cassie 3,058]

They are all inspired by Blaze's original "The Conversion Bureau." It's set in the near future in an alternate universe. Equestria is isolationist island nation off the east coast of the United States. Humanity is on the decline as the magical radiation given off by Equestria is slowly killing the species. In an act of pity, Celestia and Luna have set up a global service to give those who wish it a whole new life in pony society called the Conversion Bureau . . . it's exactly what it sounds like. The Mane Six are still primary characters along with an OC who's the main protagonist. The conflict largely comes from how individuals and groups react to the rise of ponykind as the dominant species, and the fall of human society (good and bad.)

 

Wow, that actually sounds really fascinating, if a little bit heartbreaking. If the concept is handled well enough by a good enough author, I just may have to seek out that original fic and read it after all.

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

I think he's just writing out his fantasy of turning into a pony. He also probably has Body Dismorphic Disorder so he doesn't like his own body. He was probably bullied when he was younger thus the quotes about humans being mean.

Edited February 9, 2012 by glitterlicious

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Wow, that actually sounds really fascinating, if a little bit heartbreaking. If the concept is handled well enough by a good enough author, I just may have to seek out that original fic and read it after all.

 

Having read more than my original posting, I will say it's at least worth a read. From where I'm at at the moment, Blaze seemed to be trying for a Heroic Fantasy adventure in Equestria with Spy Fiction background elements. Let me put it this way, Avatar's entire opening was spent telling us that the Earth is dying and it's our fault so we deserve extinction on our polluted planet unless we turn into the "better" species of another world, then the rest of the movie is on awesome (original meaning of that word) vistas, fantastic creatures, and a romantic sub plot. Swap the Na'vi for ponies (who I'd rather be anyway) and it's the exact same idea.

 

I think he's just writing out his fantasy of turning into a pony. He also probably has Body Dismorphic Disorder so he doesn't like his own body. He was probably bullied when he was younger thus the quotes about humans being mean.

 

No doubt, and he's given an excellent ready-made setting for others to use for wish fulfillment. My initial criticism came from the stories inability to mention all the good humanity has achieved, and the pony's shared consensus that no such good existed. Edited February 11, 2012 by Steelquill

[Queen Cassie 3,058]

Having read more than my original posting, I will say it's at least worth a read. From where I'm at at the moment, Blaze seemed to be trying for a High Fantasy adventure in Equestria with Spy Fiction background elements. Let me put it this way, Avatar's entire opening was spent telling us that the Earth is dying and it's our fault so we deserve extinction on our polluted planet unless we turn into the "better" species of another world, then the rest of the movie is on awesome (original meaning of that word) vistas, fantastic creatures, and a romantic sub plot. Swap the Na'vi for ponies (who I'd rather be anyway) and it's the exact same idea.

 

That makes it sound even more interesting, at the very least worthy of a good solid look. I'll look it up when I get the chance. Thanks.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

That makes it sound even more interesting, at the very least worthy of a good solid look. I'll look it up when I get the chance. Thanks.

 

No problem! Ironic though, that I posted for reassurance about the rest of the story and ended up encouraging others to read it.

[Starshine 16,335]

I rather think it's wasn't about "human-are-too-busy-killing-themselves-they-must-be-ponified!" scenario, but it was "let-us-invade-earth-they-got-land!"

 

If you read and re-read Twilight's speech, Equestria need to expand, and the ponification will happen when they least expect it (something like that, can't really remember), you will know that this TCB universe is all about the invasion, not the salvation.

 

But this genre actually got some decent writer

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I rather think it's wasn't about "human-are-too-busy-killing-themselves-they-must-be-ponified!" scenario, but it was "let-us-invade-earth-they-got-land!"

 

If you read and re-read Twilight's speech, Equestria need to expand, and the ponification will happen when they least expect it (something like that, can't really remember), you will know that this TCB universe is all about the invasion, not the salvation.

 

But this genre actually got some decent writer

 

Wait! So Equestria is the bad guy? . . . . THIS STORY IS JUST AN INCREDIBLY ELABORATE "TYRANT CELESTIA" JOKE!

[Starshine 16,335]

Nah... Just think about it

 

If you read the Blaze's writing really really slow, you might spot a few points

 

1. Equestria never exist on the Earth before, they just popped out of friggin nowhere, being badass and stuff with their ever-growing impenetrable diamond-hard shield that radiates magical aura that slowly kills human if they ever got too close.

 

2. Equestria was extremely rich with their ever-flowing magical energies that somehow acts as a radioactive to humans. Human's only hope to survive in Equestria was ponification. Sacrificing their last string of humanity to be converted as Royal Sisters' subject, putting away their fingers and free will along with it

 

3. Humans can't go in there, but Ponies can simply trot to our side of the barriers without any side effects whatsoever. Our technology can't go inside, but their stuff can go to our side

 

4. We have no choice but to die as a bipedal or live as a four-legged slave equine. Blaze never hinted anything about wiping every single damn on the earth (the so-called purification), but somehow almost every TCB writer accept this as a canon. Be their humble subjects or die on two legs :/

 

Okay, the last part was only my assumption, but all of these only adds as one story: A perfect, fail-safe invasion

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong about some details though

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Nah... Just think about it

 

If you read the Blaze's writing really really slow, you might spot a few points

 

1. Equestria never exist on the Earth before, they just popped out of friggin nowhere, being badass and stuff with their ever-growing impenetrable diamond-hard shield that radiates magical aura that slowly kills human if they ever got too close.

 

2. Equestria was extremely rich with their ever-flowing magical energies that somehow acts as a radioactive to humans. Human's only hope to survive in Equestria was ponification. Sacrificing their last string of humanity to be converted as Royal Sisters' subject, putting away their fingers and free will along with it

 

3. Humans can't go in there, but Ponies can simply trot to our side of the barriers without any side effects whatsoever. Our technology can't go inside, but their stuff can go to our side

 

4. We have no choice but to die as a bipedal or live as a four-legged slave equine. Blaze never hinted anything about wiping every single damn on the earth (the so-called purification), but somehow almost every TCB writer accept this as a canon. Be their humble subjects or die on two legs :/

 

Okay, the last part was only my assumption, but all of these only adds as one story: A perfect, fail-safe invasion

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong about some details though

 

I'm gonna have to stop reading right there. As I said, I haven't read the whole thing yet. I'll get back to you once I'm done.

[Starshine 16,335]

Whoops, sorry about the indirect spoiler

[Smokin'HotRarity 182]

Wow...radioactive barrier? Laaa-mme...

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Whoops, sorry about the indirect spoiler

 

Don't worry about it, once you "read it slow" and "spot a few points" that sounded like hindsight. So I didn't read the rest. You're good!