History FanFic / Xenophilia

* NetworkToTheRescue: The author of ''Xenophilia'' originally posted the beginning of the story in an obscure little corner of the internet and seemed content to leave it there. Only after urging from supporters was it continued, leading to the massively popular and successful universe it has become.

''Xenophilia'', written by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/AnonAuthor AnonAuthor]] and published on [=FIMfiction=] by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/AnonponyDASHIE AnonponyDASHIE]], opens several months after [[MeaningfulName Bellerophon]] "Lero" Michaelides' unexplained arrival in [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Equestria]]. Despite missing his home and family, Lero has adjusted well - he has multiple paying jobs, a nice house, and a close friendship with Rainbow Dash. Said friendship gradually grows into love, but Lero fails to pick up on it until Rainbow impulsively kisses him in the opening chapter.

* UnusualEuphemism: Referring to a stallion as a "saddlebasket" is extremely offensive and implies he is being courted for amusement.

* [[LikeASonToMe Like A Daughter To Me]]: Celestia privately worries about Twilight's choices in romantic partners, partly because she's the closest Celestia has had to a daughter in a very long time.

* UnusualEuphemism: Referring to a stallion as a 'saddlebasket' is extremely offensive and implies he is being courted for amusement.

* WhatTheHellHero: Twilight delivers a mild one towards Celestia when she sees how scared Lero is of her, something which isn't completely Celestia's fault. Twilight is also pretty shocked when she discovers that Celestia threatened to teleport Lero into space [[SecretTestOfCharacter to see how he's react]].

* CurbstompBattle: Any time Lyra gets involved in a fight. The only time we see this ends with Lyra winning a flawless victory in a matter of seconds.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: No character is strictly evil per se, but after Lero saves her from drowning, Honeybee is at least grateful enough to thank him and promise to leave him and his herd alone in future.

* FishOutOfWater: Lero. It still throws up problems from time to time, but he adapts fairly well.

* NiceGuy: Lero. Just don't provoke him [[BewareTheNiceOnes too much]].

** Averted with Lero, who shows no issues dating anyone much stronger than him. While he doesn't specifically seek out strong mares, it is noted that he's managed to attract several of the most dangerous ponies in Equestria.

** Lero, for several weeks prior to the first chapter, partially as a result of his lack of knowledge of Equestrian culture and social cues. It's especially apparent in the side-story "Living the Dream". Rainbow herself doesn't figure out that he does reciprocate her feelings until he kisses her back.

* ValuesDissonance: In-universe, this affects a lot of Rainbow and Lero's relationship, as well as Lero's interactions with other characters. He proves fairly adaptable, though.

* WhatTheHellHero: Twilight delivers a mild one towards Celestia when she sees how scared Lero is of her (something which isn't completely Celestia's fault). She's also pretty shocked when she discovers that Celestia threatened to teleport Lero into space [[SecretTestOfCharacter to see how he's react]].

* ACupAngst: The pony equivalent. Rainbow having a lack of 'bounce' to her backside, combined with her strength and musculature ends up causing many stallions to ignore her or blow her off for more attractive mares, and leads to some serious self-esteem issues about her appearance.

* BalancedHarem / SupportingHarem: Played with. In modern Equestria it's common practice to not favour one member of the herd over another, something which Lero tries to adhere to. However, Rainbow Dash receives more prominence in the story and - despite being considered an antiquated custom - is viewed as the lead mare in the herd by Twilight and Lyra. Rainbow does not enjoy being referred to as such.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: The stories note to the point of exhaustion that Lero is quite a bit more frail and weak than all kinds of ponies, a fact he himself is all too aware of. However, as one chapter in the main story demonstrates, he can easily strangle a unicorn out of channeling a spell... and that's without trying to cause any real damage.

* CurbstompBattle: Any time Lyra gets involved in a fight.

* DistractedByTheSexy: A common problem with mares in heat. As a result they'll isolate themselves until it's over.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: While no character is strictly evil per se, after Lero saves her from drowning Honeybee is at least grateful enough to thank him and promise to leave him and his herd alone in future.

* FreakinessShame: Owing to a combination of factors, Rainbow Dash has a very low opinion about her appearance and comes to view herself as this. Lero strongly disagrees with this assertion.

* [[HumansThroughAlienEyes Humans Through Pony Eyes]]: The main story is told from Rainbow Dash's point of view, and the spinoff ''The Xenophile's Guide to Equestria'' is written by Twilight and features a variety of ponies' perspectives on Lero.

* MuscleAngst: Female version. Rainbow's exceptional strength for a pegasus and stallions' reactions to it gives her a very poor body image of herself. It doesn't help matters that her strength ended up causing her father to wonder if she really was his daughter.

* ObliviousToLove: Lero, for several weeks prior to the first chapter, partially as a result of his lack of knowledge of Equestrian culture and social cues. It's especially apparent in the side-story "Living the Dream". Rainbow herself doesn't figure out that he does reciprocate her feelings until he kisses her back.

* ShipperOnDeck: Mares have a tendency to engage in this in-universe due to the gender disparity. Rainbow Dash points out to Lero that if they didn't do this, it would result in a lot of unhappy and lonely ponies.

* TheSmartGuy: Lero certainly isn't a slouch in the brain department, despite not being quite at the same level as Twilight.

* SuperDrowningSkills: According to Rainbow Dash in the side story "Fish out of Water", ponies either fall into the category of capable swimmers or being completely unable to swim at all with no middle ground, most in the latter group. Lero is also initially believed to fall into this category due to the poor swimming abilities of apes, but he quickly proves them wrong.

* TrappedInAnotherWorld: Lero.

* WhatTheHellHero: Twilight delivers a mild one towards Celestia when she sees how scared Lero is of her (something which isn't completely Celestia's fault). She's also pretty shocked by Celestia threatening to teleport Lero into space [[SecretTestOfCharacter to see how he's react]].

* {{Xenofiction}}: The story is told mostly from Rainbow Dash's perspective (with some chapters being written from Twilight or Lyra's viewpoint). The completely different instinctual reactions and thought-processes of ponies plays a very large role in the setting.
* TheXenophile: While not played up to the same degree as elsewhere, Lyra does come across as quietly fascinated by Lero.

** Celestia also later encourages Twilight to try and court Lero and Rainbow Dash.

* AngstWhatAngst: Averted. Lero has a much harder time of things until he becomes friends with Rainbow Dash, and even years after the event, having adapted well to Equestrian life it's made very clear that he still deeply misses his family.

* FreakinessShame: Owing to a combination of factors Rainbow Dash has a very low opinion about her appearance and comes to view herself as this. Lero strongly disagrees with this assertion.

* AbortedArc: After [[TheReveal the Reveal]] that [[TheFairFolk the Fair Folk]] were likely responsible for bringing Lero to Equestria, the plot point ends up being abandoned when the story finishes soon after due to the author [[RealLifeWritesThePlot losing inspiration]].
* ACupAngst: The pony equivalent. Rainbow having a lack of 'bounce' to her backside, combined with being quite muscular end up causing many stallions to ignore her or blow her off for more attractive mares, and lead to some serious self-esteem issues about her appearance.

* DistractedByTheSexy: A common problem with mares in heat.
* DoubleEntendre: Rarity is apparently a master of this, and often uses it as a means to make Rainbow Dash embarrassed.
* DreamWithinADream: Happens to Rainbow Dash in the side story "Living the Dream". Whether the dream is a vision of the future, or merely just a dream is [[ShrugofGod left to the reader to decide]].

* IfItsYouItsOkay: As she is not attracted to other mares, Rainbow's growing feelings towards Twilight cause her much confusion, before she ultimately accepts that love is love.

** Lero. Despite being very good at defusing situations with words, there are times where his lack of knowledge of local customs ends up inadvertently upsetting others.

* LoveHurts: Having had a bad experience with romance in the past, Rainbow Dash's feelings for Lero cause her much pain until she learns that he does reciprocate those feelings.

* OutWithABang: Referenced. Rainbow mentions that if she ever did [[ItMakesSenseInContext kill Lero]] it would be through this, and be "the most awesome way to go ever".
* PlatonicLifePartners: Lyra and Bon Bon.

* ShipperOnDeck: Mares have a tendency to engage in this in-universe due to the gender disparity. Rainbow Dash points out to Lero that if they didn't, it would result in a lot of unhappy and lonely ponies.

* TheSmartGuy: Lero certainly isn't a slouch in the brain department, even if he's not quite at the same level as Twilight.

* {{Xenofiction}}: We spend more time in Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, or Lyra's heads then in Lero's perspective, and this alters the tone of the work.

* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: A common issue. Public nudity is a common aspect of pony culture, to the point where concealing clothing is somewhat stigmatized as related to menial labor. Grabbing a mare's chest isn't anything unusual, but touching a pegasus on the wrong part of the shoulder is scandalous in public. "Dolphin-style" as a position is uncomfortably kinky. A gentlemare never lets the stallion pay for a dinner date.

* ShipperOnDeck: Mares have a tendency to engage in this in-universe due to the gender disparity.

* BalancedHarem / SupportingHarem: Played with. In modern Equestria it's generally considered good practice to not favour one member of the herd over another, something which Lero tries to adhere to. However, Rainbow Dash receives more prominence in the story, and while considered an antiquated custom, is viewed as the lead mare in the herd by Twilight and Lyra. Rainbow does not enjoy being referred to as such.

** Bonbon's mother is stated to have been an outright [[NobleBigot Noble Tribalist]], unwilling to hire unicorns to do a job even if her lack of hands or magic made doing the work herself nightmarish. She was still perfectly nice to Lyra, a unicorn, as her daughter's friend, though. It's implied to be a frustratingly common attitude, albeit one thankfully fading with time.

* PrimalFear: One reason why Lero is shunned by many ponies when he initially ends up in Equestria is for fear he'll eat them. For the most part this disappears after he makes friends and earns the respect of many of the town's residents.

* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: A common issue. Public nudity is a common aspect of pony culture, to the point where concealing clothing is somewhat stigmatized as related to menial labor. Grabbing a mare's chest isn't anything unusual, but touching a pegasus on the wrong part of the shoulder is scandalous in public. "Dolphin-style" as a position is uncomfortably kinky. A gentlemare never lets the stallion pay for a dinner date.
* [[WouldntHitAGirl Wouldn't Hit A Stallion]]: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. Due to the reversed gender roles, hitting a stallion is something most mares would never do. The behaviour is so ingrained that when Lero is threatened by Shimmer, Rainbow Dash after the event is very skeptical that she would have actually gone ahead and done it.

* GenderRarityValue: Mares outnumber stallions about four to one in the general Equestrian population, and Ponyville's closer to eight to one. Unusually, there's a mix of forms of this trope: while stallions have a good deal of social power and thus are worshipped in some ways, they historically have lacked political or economic power and were either possessed by mares or at least used for labor.

* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: A common issue. Public nudity is a common aspect of pony culture, to the point where concealing clothing is somewhat stigmatized as related to menial labor. Grabbing a mare's chest isn't anything unusual, but touching a pegasus on the wrong part of the shoulder is scandalous in public. "Dolphin-style" as a position is uncomfortably kinky. A gentlemare never lets the stallion pay for a dinner date.

* ADayInTheLimeLight: The side story "The Weak Lyre" is told from Lyra's perspective.

* Prequel: The side story "Living the Dream", set shortly before the main story.

* {{Polyamory}}: Customary in this version of Equestria, due to the higher percentage of mares than stallions.

* SexSlave: As a result of the matriarchal culture, stallions usually ended up being effectively in the past, until the princesses put a stop to the behaviour. Apparently FetishFuel in-universe for some, to Twilight's disgust.

* ThreeWaySex: Fairly common within herds. Due to polygamy being common in Equestria, this doesn't have the same connotations as in [[ValuesDissonance human culture]].

* [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex Good Ponies Have Good Sex]]:

* HeadTiltinglyKinky: Rainbow shows shades of this, being very willing to push the envelope and try new things. Twilight in comparison is much more reserved and more reluctant to try what is [[ValuesDissonance unusual]] [[YourNormalIsOurTaboo behaviour]] for ponies.

From here, the story follows Lero and Rainbow Dash's relationship as they both attempt to understand and adjust to each other's cultural and social norms. Particular focus is given to Equestria's tradition of polygamy, (a necessity given the male-to-female ratio) where the lead mare of a herd will set her stallion up with unattached mares.

This story has since spawned a ScrapbookStory [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/57315/The-Xenophile%27s-Guide-to-Equestria sequel]] - written in-universe by Twilight Sparkle - [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62265/Xenophilia%3A-Side-Stories two collections]] of [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/67231/xenophilia-further-tales side stories]], both in progress, set at various points in the timeline, and a [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62374/xenophilia-side-story-cultural-norms one-shot]] dealing with Lero's taboo against public nudity. The series' popularity has also inspired several pieces of RecursiveFanfiction, and elements from the story are increasingly being referenced or borrowed [[FollowTheLeader in other works]].

* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Rainbow Dash's crush on Lero isn't a secret to anyone except Lero, and once the two get together, Twilight and Applejack very quickly figure it out.

** Human patriarchal culture, and specifically the concept of males defending females, becomes a repeated CultureClash when in a society where the men are supposed to be defended by women. Lero standing up for his mares rapidly escalates even small problems into major disasters as the nearest mares want to defend their man.

* UncannyValley: In-universe, regular horses tend to fall into this for most ponies due to the facial expressions.

* AbortedArc: After [[TheReveal the Reveal]] that TheFairFolk were likely responsible for bringing Lero to Equestria, the plot point ends up being abandoned when the story finishes soon after due to the author [[RealLifeWritesThePlot losing inspiration]].

* BadLiar: Rainbow Dash does does an extremely poor job of denying her feelings for Lero.

* TheFairFolk: Hinted at being responsible for bringing Lero to Equestria.

* FootnoteFever: ''The Xenophile's Guide to Equestria'' makes extensive use of footnotes.
* GenderRarityValue: Mares outnumber stallions about four to one in the general Equestrian population, and Ponyville's closer to eight to one. Unusually, there's a mix of forms of this trope: while stallions have a good deal of social power and thus are Worshipped in some ways, they historically have lacked political or economic power and were either possessed by mares or at least used for labor.

** Lero. While very good at defusing situations with words, there are times where his lack of knowledge of local customs ends up inadvertently upsetting others.

* TooDumbToLive: Honeydew, who ends up threatening Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Lyra. The last one [[CurbstompBattle doesn't end well for her]].

*** Human patriarchal culture, and specifically the concept of males defending females, becomes a repeated CultureClash when in a society where the men are supposed to be defended by women. Lero standing up for his mares rapidly escalates even small problems into major disasters as the nearest mares want to defend their man.

* FantasticArousal: Wings and flight muscles for pegasi. Unicorn horns as well, but only under certain circumstances.
** And only for some unicorns: Rarity says it never did a thing for her.

* TechnicalVirgin: Using a 'cooler' isn't gay. Or even really count as sex. Doesn't matter that two mares who are in love might do the exact same physical thing.

* MundaneLuxury: Owing to his fingers, Lero's skills as a masseur are this for ponies, to the point where his schedule is booked for weeks in advance.
* NiceGuy: Lero. Just don't provoke him [[BewareTheNiceOnes too much]].