To readers who finished the former Chapter 18 before 18 February 2015,

This chapter comprises the revised first part of the old Chapter 18 (now chapters 23 and 24). It is not new to the story.

“People [capable] of true and natural love can recognize love in any form.” - Host

If it wasn't the gutsiest move she'd made since the beginning of their relationship, then it was certainly the most uncharacteristic, in Twilight's opinion at least. Fluttershy hadn't known until the very last moment how she would ask it, and, when she did, it came out with a mix of pleading uncertainty and intrepid determination.

Rarity's initial reaction at seeing the two embrace was one of nervous acquiescence, a simple yet stammered greeting between Fluttershy and Rarity, and Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Twilight had made sure everypony's needs were tended to, and, as Twilight raised the loft shield and sought to call each pony back for the next part of her lesson, Fluttershy spoke to Rarity once more. “I,” Fluttershy's voice trembled subtly and she coughed nervously to clear her throat. “I, um, have a request, Rarity.”

Rarity watched Fluttershy free one foreleg from around Sweetie to wipe the mostly dried streaks from her eyes and cheeks. Sweetie looked up at the mare curiously, but seemed to understand quickly by her tone what was about to happen and, instead, looked to her sister. “Yes, Fluttershy?” Rarity was soft-spoken.

Fluttershy took a calming breath before beginning. “It's been ... a difficult week, being apart from each other, w-without any way for me and Sweetie to talk or—or be close,” she prefaced. “I know it's difficult for you, too, and I—I'm a-almost,” the equivocation felt strange to Fluttershy, and she paused to process it, to be sure she meant what she was saying. “I'm almost sorry to ask this,” she stated surely, though it was perhaps the first time she could ever remember being almost sorry, “w-will you ... please let me and Sweetie ... sit together ... side-by-side?” she clarified.

Rarity's heart sank. A knot in her stomach started to grow as she considered the request. Her preference, to Fluttershy, must have been clear before she'd asked, yet ... “H—how can I say ... no?” There was a tense moment between the two mares, and Fluttershy's eyes and answering frown really were apologetic. It didn't last long, however, as Sweetie Belle brightened instantly.

“Oh, thank you, Rarity!” she squeaked. The filly squeezed and nuzzled the mare in front of her excitedly, and Fluttershy couldn't help but smile down at her.

“Th-thank you, Rarity.” Fluttershy frowned again, seeing her friend's worry, but, as the couple released each other and stood to return and sit in front of the chalk board together, it was clear she would take the sister's partial assent, regardless.

Rarity bit her lower lip anxiously, and, joining them, took her seat at Sweetie Belle's side opposite Fluttershy, a bit more closely than she'd sat previously. Sweetie smiled happily at her sister, glad to be between her two favorite ponies, and, above all else, relieved to have the contact she ever continued to crave with Fluttershy. Rarity smiled back at her, reminding herself that sitting together wasn't a big deal and she could trust Twilight's judgment. Fluttershy gave a nervous glance sideways and smiled as well.

Twilight made no comment, but was impressed at Fluttershy's nerve. The purple princess stood patiently, waiting for her friends to settle before she cleared her voice, chalk ready once more. Almost simultaneously, Fluttershy and Rarity breathed tense sighs. Despite how nervous she'd felt and her grief at seeing the discomfort she knew it caused Rarity, Fluttershy felt proud of herself for keeping the promise she'd made to be there for Sweetie and happy to put the filly's needs first.

“We left off with Ponistan and Saddle Arabia ...” Twilight launched into what she both hoped and feared would catalyze her friends' resolve, to help put an end, not only to Rarity's uncertainty, but to the uncertainty Twilight knew haunted Fluttershy as well, “which brings us to a very important question.” Twilight paused for emphasis. “If we see foal sexual relationships throughout history and we see them today in other lands, whether or not they can be considered healthy, why don't we see them in Equestria still today?”

Twilight looked at each of her friends, and each of her friends looked back, focused. “Any guesses?” Twilight invited.

There was a pause before Fluttershy raised her hoof.

“Yes, Fluttershy?” Twilight called on her. Intrigued, the purple pony silently tried to guess at what her friend might say.

“W-well, you said before that Celestia didn't necessarily mean for the legal age of marriage to go up, but ... what if she did? What if ...” Fluttershy concentrated, “what if she, um ... perceives more about what's good for foals, at least generally, than other parts of the world or our ancestors recognized?”

Twilight's eyes lit with understanding at Fluttershy's counter-inquiry. “Excellent question!” she enthused. “Among the four of us, you, Fluttershy, may be the most familiar with canon. Now, I know I'm not quite, well ... I should say I'm not really active in the faith, but I was raised in it, and I can still recall the passages they taught us to memorize. Amont, three, verse seven,” she cited, “'Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.'”

Fluttershy nodded, waiting expectantly for Twilight's point. Sweetie and Rarity both looked on curiously while Twilight continued. Knowing the scholarly mare to be skeptical, it took Rarity a little by surprise at first to hear Twilight's prompt recitation. It made sense, when she thought about it, that Twilight would have some ecclesiastical knowledge. She'd never known Twilight to remain skeptical about anything without actually studying it, after all.

“The prophets in recent millennia who've led the church, naturally, would know about the moral ramifications—consequences—of something as important as foal marriage, so what you suggested makes sense. It's entirely possible that, as they receive relevant revelation, when it's both wise and possible, they might enact or support laws that propagate—promote, or otherwise encourage—harmonious lifestyles and discourage disharmony ... but let me ask you this: is there any law in canon that sets a lower age limit on marriage?”

Knowing her answer, Fluttershy paused only to think how best to respond. “I ... did some research of my own, about a year ago, and, there are a lot of ways ponies look at the Harmony writings. There's no commandment, but ... coming of age, a maiden's passing of the flower of her youth before marriage, is mentioned in a single translation of only one verse. I looked and looked, but I couldn't find anything authoritative. I think—and just about every book or scroll I've read agrees—it means, past a filly's first heat. E-except, well ... there are a few reasons to be cautious with how we interpret it. First, the verse's instruction is given only as advice by Palo, and he's careful to say it's not a commandment in the epistle. Second ... even if the only part he means as advice is to warn against burdening yourself with the worldly troubles of marriage, and he really means that marriage after coming of age should be an obvious rule—this seems more likely—then there's still no commandment under Harmony against marrying a—a foal or a very young maiden, or anypony of any age.”

Sweetie found herself fascinated to see a new side to her fillyfriend and proud to learn that the mare's understanding of the Harmony Scrolls surpassed even that of their princess friend. Ancient writ had escaped the filly's understanding when, on occasion, her parents took her to services.

Fluttershy blushed as Sweetie leaned into her side. Looking down at the beaming foal, she noticed Rarity raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Wouldn't you say that's being a tad over-selective about which parts of the New Scrolls we ought to heed, so to speak?” Her question held no accusation, only concern, to which Fluttershy smiled softly and shook her head.

“I don't mean to say I'm sure either way in this case, but, whether Palo meant it as a divine rule or it was just, um ... a rule made up by ponies in his day that he respected, it really isn't clear, especially since he writes plainly that he's not speaking on behalf of God at that part.” Fluttershy felt eager to expound, but reined back her enthusiasm despite her friends' willingness to listen, self-conscious and worried about giving the impression she knew more than she did.

She cautiously continued, “We're promised that a head prophet won't lead us astray, but the prophets aren't perfect.” Fluttershy never knew this more clearly than after Princess Celestia turned out to have been mistaken about Twilight at the royal wedding. “So, when one goes to the trouble of writing that there is no commandment, like Palo did, that's something we should heed before taking everything they say as truth ... not that I think anypony here would jump to any conclusions, I mean ... it's, um ... okay if you do accidentally, I guess.

“A-anyway,” Fluttershy refocused, “in this case, I think it's fair to say that, if it's important for Harmony's sake, we'll eventually find a clear answer. We don't have the full truth, of course, and it's written there's still much to be revealed, but, if we're living in harmony to the best of our ability and we have an important question with no answer, we'll be alright if we keep trying to do our best.” Fluttershy took a breath.

“Still ...” Fluttershy admitted, anticipating where Twilight would lead the discussion, “We are commanded to counsel among ourselves in Harmony, not just follow the law blindly or only follow the law without thinking about how we can better live in peace and good will with our fellow ponies. So, um, I guess ... what we're doing here, talking and trying to understand each other, is really the best thing we can do, and, when we've done what we can, we have Princess Celestia to shed some more light on things when we petition her and Princess Luna.

“Unless there's something I missed in her sermons, she's never made any public revelation about foal marriages. Th-the only reason I've had to ... to stop me from telling Sweetie Belle my feelings sooner,” she looked down at her filly companion, “I mean the only faith-based reason,” she looked again at Rarity, “is the commandment to—” Fluttershy stopped for a moment, her expression changed from calm to nervous, her ears flattened, and her tone shifted from one of patient explanation to guilty reticence. “—to uphold pony-made laws,” she swallowed, “as long as those laws don't require us to violate our fundamental beliefs ... and,” Fluttershy muttered briefly in low, incoherent tones. Breathing deeply, she restarted. “And, if you look at things that way, there is a clear commandment not to marry ... or be with foals ... j—just not ... explicitly written.” Fluttershy looked briefly at Sweetie whose smile had fallen into a small frown, then looked resignedly at the floor. “My confession of love to Sweetie—” Fluttershy tensed against her guilt “—may not have been against the law, but it wound up leading me to break it.”

Fluttershy's mouth opened then closed as though there were more she would say. And to sully Sweetie's virtue as mine has been, to desecrate the act of love outside of matrimony. She hadn't the heart to risk hurting Sweetie by saying it. It was her own weakness, after all, more than the confession of love itself, that had ruined things.

“But,” Twilight picked up when she saw Fluttershy had reached her conclusion, “you've confessed, taken extreme care not to repeat the mistake,” Twilight looked approvingly at her, “and, for the near future, like you said, Princess Celestia could be, well ... inspired, not only to approve your and Sweetie's union religiously, as a prophetess, but, as a ruler, she and Luna have power to make the union legal.”

Fluttershy looked up, smiling again faintly, and she nodded. “That's right.” Fluttershy's smile faded as quickly as it appeared. At Twilight's encouragement, the pegasus changed her mind. She mustn't hold back, even if it did cause Sweetie some pain, “Of course, m-my mistake,” Fluttershy looked down at her foal, “acting so irresponsibly—before we had that approval and were married ...” as Sweetie Belle's brow furrowed and she looked down, blaming herself, Fluttershy wrapped her soothingly in one wing, “it still wasn't in the spirit of Harmony, and I'll do what I can to make it up to everypony.” Fluttershy smiled hopefully.

Hearing her fillyfriend's resolve, Sweetie looked up again, and, seeing the young mare brighten, her admiration of the pegasus won out over her shame, and Sweetie smiled in kind. The way the penitent pegasus seemed happy, even though she admitted to messing up—believing in her own self worth even though she might have burnt the toast or used the last of Rarity's baby-blue sapphires—inspired her to follow suit. “I'll ... make it up too.” Sweetie looked determinedly at nopony in particular, committing to herself more than to anypony among her audience. “If we have to ... we can wait for each other—” Sweetie fought against her fear “—f-for as long as it takes.”

Sweetie's youthful exuberance did little to help as an invisible weight settled in her stomach and on her shoulders. It was a feeling she'd dreaded since the day she'd so quickly raised her hopes and rushed so foalishly into reciprocating the beautiful mare's unanticipated feelings, yet, as she joined Fluttershy, knowing they'd be in it together, she felt that, if it were the only legal way and Fluttershy believed it was correct, then it must be right. Sweetie felt courage bear her up against the burden, and her commitment anneal. The foal beamed suddenly, calm and confident in the face of what might lay ahead.

Fluttershy couldn't help but mirror the filly's fulfilled, serene smile. She drew her wing more snugly around the little pony, and the small unicorn leaned in farther, nuzzling her shoulder.

Rarity looked with a soft expression at the pair, and, for once, the constant worry she'd felt began to recede. As she listened to the pair's commitment and saw, at last, their mutual respect for self-restraint, Harmony itself seemed to bless and guide their union. Gradually, almost as if Rarity had already been convinced, the mare began to hope that Twilight's explanation could change more than just her own opinion—persuade Celestia and Luna—for the couple's sake.

The shift in attitude came subtly, and, whether or not she recognized it, what Rarity felt, more than what she reasoned, was rapidly beginning to change her opinion of the odd pair. Quite unexpectedly, Rarity blushed and smiled widely at the affectionate, devoted couple until, suddenly catching herself, Rarity felt both shame and fear wash over her. Her smile fell into an uncertain frown, her chin turned down, and her eyes shifted left and right, anxiously searching the floor for answers. What happened to the repulsion she'd felt so strongly before concerning the couple, and why did she now start to wish there were a way that their unconventional desires might be fulfilled?

Watching, Twilight couldn't help but empathize with how she thought the older sister must feel. Steeling herself, she focused on the positive. “It sounds like you're both on the path to a very happy ending.” Twilight's congratulation recalled the attention of her three pupils. “I hope,” Twilight's tone became more serious, but was still light, “you'll each hold onto that happy ending as we face the challenges ahead.” Twilight's resolve rang assuredly, leaving her friends, even Rarity, in spite of her doubts, feeling fortified. “Now,” Twilight proceeded, “if you're each satisfied with Fluttershy's explanation ...” Twilight paused and directed her gaze at Rarity.

“Yes, Twilight. Thank you.” Rarity nodded.

“Alright! Back to Fluttershy's original comment.” Twilight telekinetically twirled her stick of chalk, her expression thoughtful as she formulated what to say next. “Since canon takes no definitive stance on foal marriage, and, as Fluttershy also pointed out, since no known prophetic declaration seems to exist from Princess Celestia herself—I can confirm as much, myself—we're left to guess, still, whether the princess really is the reason behind the prohibition—er, why there are no foal marriages today. Maybe Princess Celestia is behind it, and maybe not,” Twilight reiterated, “but we can be almost certain that she hasn't pushed any such agenda—banned foal marriage—at least in her role as a religious leader.”

Twilight paused and directed her attention toward Sweetie. “Sweetie Belle, have you learned about the separation of church and state?”

The filly looked slightly puzzled. “N-not yet, I don't think. I know what the difference is between them,” Sweetie proposed.

Twilight smiled at the filly's guess. “There's a bit more to it than knowing the difference, but that's a start,” Twilight indulged. “The separation of church and state is a principle—an idea that guides our government so that Equestria's laws and its organization don't depend on any particular religion.” Twilight kept her explanation as close to the filly's pace as she could manage. “They can overlap—for example, it's illegal to murder and it's also against the precepts—the rules—of most religions to murder, but the law has to stay apart from the beliefs of any religion unless the lawmakers can mostly agree that something should be made a law, which might or might not match some religion's precepts.”

Twilight paused until the filly nodded, uncertainly.

“This is so that no special treatment from the government, good or bad, can be based on anypony's religion unfairly, like forcing everypony to go to church or, even, forcing everypony not to go to church every week. Of course, few of today's laws are actually based on religious precepts, but are chosen because they seem like good ideas, or else, as I'll explain shortly, because somepony may be especially eager to press their own agenda—try to force their own plan into the government and its laws. Making sure the law doesn't favor any religion,” Twilight repeated, “is the reason we have separation of church and state,” she restated the term for clarity.

Twilight allowed a moment for the filly to process while the two older ponies looked on. Fluttershy, for once relaxed, felt just comfortable enough to let herself adore the way Sweetie tapped her chin and furrowed her brow, then become distracted by the way her eyes caught the soft tinted light of the purple-pink-shielded loft.

Rarity's attention was quickly drawn from Twilight to her sister and from her sister to Fluttershy as Twilight lectured. Now that Rarity knew more and felt able to step back a moment to view things neutrally, she wondered whether Fluttershy had always hidden her admiration of the foal or whether she'd simply been oblivious to the way Fluttershy looked at her sister. Though the pegasus was duly subtle about it, Rarity decided, it was painfully obvious to her, now, that Fluttershy fancied the little filly. Had Fluttershy looked that way at any adult pony, thought Rarity, she'd have known immediately what it meant.

As Rarity came to better understand the nature of the couple's feelings for each other, her observations struck her as neither good nor bad, with neither the excitement of her very first reaction a week ago, nor the terrible dread that followed it. It was simply fact, now. As Sweetie glued herself to the mare at every opportunity and Fluttershy's doting gaze rested upon her, to Rarity's relief, it no longer shocked her. The two simply were, and, more and more, though it unsettled her, as Rarity watched them, she felt something warm inside begin to grow.

After a moment, Sweetie frankly assessed what she'd learned. “That sounds fair.”

Twilight nodded. “Clover the Clever thought so too and strongly believed that religious freedom was essential if the tribes were going to build lasting friendships,” Twilight noted. “The reason I bring this up,” Twilight explained, finally addressing the group as a whole again, “is that, despite the ponies of Equestria having become used to a prophetess as their ruler, often thinking of the two roles combined, the princesses have always seen fit to keep their roles in Equestria's government clearly separate from their religious duties, to encourage the fair treatment of all religious organizations, and to protect all worship practices that don't interfere with another pony's freedoms or the law.”

Twilight met Fluttershy's attentive gaze. “So, while Princess Celestia's religious duty includes receiving inspiration for individuals under her stewardship, including Equestrian citizens, I believe that, if she did know something about foal marriage, she would have sent out word in her role as prophetess. Would you agree, Fluttershy?” Twilight hoped they might reach an understanding.

Fluttershy nodded at first, but stopped. “What you said is true enough, I think. Um ... I mean, not everything the prophetesses know is made public, but something like a—a stance against foal marriage, I'm almost sure, would be ... proclaimed.” Fluttershy pondered. “More often, it's truth that society would reject that's withheld.” There was a hopeful glimmer in Fluttershy's eye at that thought.

“Fair point.” Twilight conceded, happy for the added insight. “I think we agree, then, at least, that Princess Celestia hasn't received any spiritual evidence counter to foal marriage.” Fluttershy nodded in response. Twilight continued, “It is entirely possible, of course, that she's allowed her own bias to affect her judgment, but, if what I've found is true, and I believe it is, there's more at play here than that.” Twilight discreetly observed a clock across her room. “For the sake of time, I'll cut to the chase.”

Rarity looked eager and somewhat relieved. She understood the necessity of historical context but couldn't help feeling impatient and a little overwhelmed by so much of it. Looking to her side, the stylish sister couldn't help but wonder how Sweetie Belle remained so tirelessly focused the entire time, yet she'd had to learn so much more than anypony else just to keep up. Suddenly, what Twilight had said before the break about drive clicked for the young mare.

“Equinism,” Twilight wrote the word by itself in an empty space almost at the end of the time line before focusing again on Sweetie Belle. After a moment, instead, she turned to Rarity. “Would you mind telling us, Rarity, just briefly, what equinism is?”

Suddenly, Rarity felt as though she really were in school again, wondering if Twilight had sensed her weakened resolve to stay focused, as teachers somehow always did. As Rarity opened her mouth to speak, however, Sweetie's hoof shot up eagerly.

“Sorry, Rarity,” Twilight stopped her. “Would you mind if we first heard what Sweetie Belle has to say?” Twilight proposed.

“Not at all.” Rarity smiled at the unicorn foal.

“Thank you.” Twilight responded before turning back to the little filly. “Yes, Sweetie!”

Rarity thought she heard the familiar markings of favoritism in Twilight's bright tone. The thought of her little sister being the teacher's pet caused her to chuckle inwardly in spite of everything, at both the filly and her incorrigibly professorial pony princess friend.

“I've heard about equinism before! Mom explained it to me once, when I read it on the front page at a newsstand, and I asked her what it meant.” Sweetie reported.

Twilight's smile became wider.

“Wonderful!” she responded. “Umm ...” For a moment, Twilight weighed Rarity's lack of involvement against Sweetie's eagerness. “Sorry, Rarity. I'll let you have the next question, if that's alright.”

Definitely a teacher's pet ... to the princess of books. Rarity giggled a little at both Twilight and her sister, and Twilight felt, inexplicably, like her friend had judged her. The princess grinned, blushing faintly, glad to see Rarity's spirits were beginning to rise.

“Of course it's alright, Dear,” Rarity allowed.

Twilight addressed the foal again. “What did your mom tell you?”

“Equinism,” Sweetie began, “ends in -ism, which means it's something ponies believe in or a way they live.” She recited that bit from school, eager to show what she knew. “Equinists believe that all ponies, no matter what race or special talent they have, or whether they're a filly or a colt, should get the same chances and be treated equi—I mean ... equal.”

As Sweetie finished, her sister smiled approvingly, and Twilight praised her. “Very good. That's correct!”

Sweetie would have blushed even without the gentle rewarding caress of her fillyfriend's feathers across her back. At the sensation, her eyelids drooped, she turned a slightly brighter shade of pink, and she nuzzled the soft yellow mare once more. Being smart, thought the filly, was paying off more than she'd expected. Attention, now from three ponies she looked up to, was something she could get used to.

“Equinism, arguably, has it's roots—starts all the way back before the three tribes were united. It's seen many faces over the centuries, but none more radical—um, not that kind of radical.” Twilight clarified. “I mean it's never been so extreme, and Equinism has never been so varied as it has over the past five decades.”

Twilight attached, “Separatist,” before “Equinism” on the board.

“One of the more recent Equinist movements, calling themselves 'separatists,' focuses only on common, particularly underprivileged, ponies. It purports that to rely on any pony of privilege, or even accept well-meaning help from such ponies, keeps the less-privileged from reaching their true potential. This particular variety of Equinist often not only opposes working together with the Equestrian elite and royalty, but, in their zeal—their passionate belief—the Separatists have been known to make political assaults on noteworthy ponies throughout our government in an attempt to influence the law.” Twilight's brow furrowed, and she appeared to concentrate, considering for a moment how best to convey what she was thinking.

“I can't say I completely understand Separatist fundamentals. I mean, I disagree, I guess, that we shouldn't rely on the generosity and kindness of the wealthy and noble, whom they often oppose, but,” Twilight allowed, “it appears to be a rather effective tactical position, allowing them to justify, at least to themselves, indiscriminately vilifying ponies with greater means or privileges than themselves—make them look bad for the fact that they're rich or associated with nobility, even if those ponies haven't done anything wrong, per se.1

“Even more recently,” Twilight continued, “a group known as Coitional Separatists has seen fit to break away from the main movement to accomplish their own goals.”

Twilight chalked an arrow from “Separatist Equinism,” to the end of the time line where she wrote, “Coitional Separatists.” For a moment, she collected her thoughts, her lips pursed, and her brow furrowed before she continued.

“This particular group,” Twilight let out an unconscious huff, “claims to support separatist ideals in the choosing of a mate,” feeling her own tension, Twilight took a breath and relaxed, “by encouraging relationships between ponies of equal status and opposing others. Similar to Separatists generally, yet, as their name would suggest, more focused on sexuality, they claim that unequal relationships either manipulate and oppress ponies of lower status or they betray separatist fundamentals by using ponies of higher status to gain undeserved notoriety or wealth, ultimately creating only more inequality, in their view.

“For the past three decades, Coitional Separatists have been mostly responsible for promoting anything in the scientific community that supports their agenda, giving rise to victimological research and treatment in the realm of sexual abuse or rape between adults and involving foals. Much of the research has proven valuable, but treatment practices over the last two decades, particularly, have come under quite a bit of scrutiny. Still, I've been sorry to find out, research that challenges their views about foal sexual relationships, objectively studying physical relationships among foals—already controversial to start with—yes, Sweetie?” Twilight allowed herself to be interrupted.

Sweetie had let a number of uncertainties and questions slip past as Twilight explained the separatists, yet, as she heard the topic become more relevant to foals, Sweetie thought she'd better ask for clarification.

“How do you practice treatment, and what's screwt-nee?” Sweetie asked.

“Scrutiny is like investigation, often because something isn't right. Practice, in this case, is how professionals, particularly doctors and psychologists perform their duties. Victimology—the study of how ponies are hurt,” Sweetie nodded, having inferred as much, “became popular, thanks, in part, to Separatists who wanted to emphasize how the upper-class was harming the lower class. Once victimology was firmly established—accepted by ponies generally and academically—then the treatment, or care and recovery, of ponies who had been hurt became popular as well.

“In many cases, however, this treatment was forced, sometimes aggressively, and, too often, it left more damage or trauma than any attack or unwanted sexual contact. For example, certain professionals, whose careers relied upon finding patients, sometimes unwittingly implanted false memories in already-vulnerable ponies of terrible things that hurt them more than reality already had.”

Sweetie raised her hoof again, and Twilight nodded.

“Go ahead,” the mare prompted warmly.

“How can a pony have false memories planted in them?” Sweetie was wide-eyed. “Is it a spell?”

“Not exactly,” Twilight responded. “More subtle, though the process has been aided by illusory spells—spells that make illusions—to try and 'dig up' hidden or repressed memories, hoping to stir a pony's mind into recalling something similar to the illusion. Unfortunately, trying to get somepony to remember something they've forgotten isn't easy, and, if a pony starts to have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy, they can imagine something made-up. If they're told it's real by their therapist, they might then believe it. It's this sort of thing that's been scrutinized,” Twilight paused a beat to let the vocabulary sink in, “and shown to cause harm rather than diagnose or treat it.”

Sweetie pondered silently and nodded her understanding.

“Implanted memories aren't the only way that treatment has shown itself to be overly aggressive,” Twilight expounded to the group as a whole. “Social workers, historically, have removed foals from homes without adequate concern for how it impacts them, sometimes based on misinformation or misunderstandings, and have ruined reputations and divided communities. This all was more true about ten to twenty years ago than it is today.” Twilight spoke mostly to Rarity who looked almost frantic at the mention of foals being taken from homes.

All three ponies looked anxiously at their lavender friend, and she frowned. “And, for what the word of a princess is worth, I'd do everything I could to prevent anything like that from happening in Sweetie's case, as long as I knew she was safe.”

Sweetie blushed slightly, Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief, and Rarity relaxed somewhat.

“Right now, our best precautionary defense is secrecy, except from those who should be in the know, and patience until we can petition the princesses in Canterlot.”

“But, Twilight,” Rarity began and then stopped herself, raising a hoof. Twilight nodded, smiling. “Shouldn't, well ... shouldn't our parents be in the know?” She looked briefly sideways, down at Sweetie.

Twilight's expression became serious, and she nodded. “Ideally, yes, and, if we all agree, we'll cross that bridge soon enough, one step at a time. The fact that you know now is progress.” Twilight turned her head and smiled encouragingly at Fluttershy and Sweetie who, Twilight guessed correctly, were worried at the thought of going through the whole process again. Fluttershy managed an anxious half-smile in return. “Collecting information and, now, giving it to the three of you is my top priority at the moment.” Twilight spoke the thought aloud, mostly for her own self-comfort, reminding herself she had a plan, but also hoping to reassure her friends.

Rarity nodded.

“I was saying,” Twilight backtracked, “unfortunately, fears spread by Coitional Separatists have made both finding and conducting unbiased research difficult for caring or gentle foal sexual relationships. There's rumor among certain professionals, mostly outside of Equestria, that anti-foalsexual trends are due in large part to the movement's agenda, targeting nobility, as their past was once closely tied to foal marriage. Even if it is unfair to many of them, not all nobles are innocent, of course. The movement wouldn't have so much public support if not for past abuse,” Twilight explained. Rarity thought briefly of Blueblood's arrogance, and a sour expression crossed her face, “but, among the sparse modern research that I've been lucky enough to find,” Twilight continued, “it seems the problem has been blown out of proportion—made to appear much worse than it really is,” Twilight rephrased for Sweetie. “This,” Twilight finished, “is the best answer I can give for why today's culture is so strongly opposed to foal marriage and sexuality.”

Author's Note

Last revised 18 February 2015
- for style, voice, and detail
- split from the former Chapter 18 into chapters 23 and 24

Original Note:
You know that feel when you've stared at something for so long you can no longer see it clearly?

Many thanks to Setokaiva for pre- and post-editing.

Announcing hiatus!

Duration: ~~about 2 months~~
(COMPLETED! No longer on hiatus.)

What I'll be doing did in the mean time:
- at least 1 (and as many as 3) one shots
- revising Fallen Angels from the beginning
(The order of events will remain the same unless noted.)
(The development of the characters will remain unchanged unless noted.)
- composing blogs with excerpts of any new or significantly changed content in Fallen Angels
- possibly unpublishing every chapter and then republishing them one by one as I revise
~~- writing a chapter or two ahead in~~ Fallen Angels

Will I be around Fimfiction? I plan to be around a lot, still, yes.

Click here for Twilight's Notes.

Chapter 23 References:
http://www.behindthename.com/name/amos
https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Amos%203:7
http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm#Forbidden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erusin
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/468337/jewish/Prohibited-Marriages.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menarche
http://www.behindthename.com/name/paul
http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/8559/does-the-bible-define-a-marriageable-age
http://lurks-no-more.deviantart.com/art/Ask-Twilight-Equestrian-Government-354613757
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separatist_feminism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianic_Wicca
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/coition