History Fanfic / Misunderstandings

* BigBad: [[spoiler: Big Top started the crisis by kidnapping and torturing Peter, and than manipulated members of Canterlot's elite into trying to destroy Peter's life, and caps everything off with his sabotage of Twilight's experiment.]]

** There is a possible one building between Sveti and Peter.

* FromBadToWorse: Peter is first stranded in the Everfree forest, kidnapped, locked in a cage as part of a sideshow to be whipped and humiliated, escapes only to be nearly killed by a minotaur, pursued by ponies, nearly killed by Prince Blueblood [[spoiler: driven to near suicide, nearly framed for eating a filly, attacked by rogue griffin soldiers, trapped on the Astral Plane due to a sabotage of Twlight's experiments, and brought back only to learn that not only severed his connection to Earth, but the magic he has been absorbing and channeling to his world will now build up inside him, until he '''EXPLODES'''.]]

* ChekovsGun: Twilight and Shining Armor discuss that the magic Peter has been absorbing would cause a normal creature to explode ''twice''. [[spoiler: After Peter is transported to the Astral Plane, his connection to Earth is gone, which means he can no longer transfer the magic he absorbs to his world. Unless something is done, the magic inside him will build up, causing him to literally explode.]]

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler: Aircolt Swift Wind, the pony Peter accidently shot and Sergeant Peppermint York visit the Griffin embassy since Swift Wind wanted answers. When Sergeant York angrily refuses to believe Peter's story and calls him a monster, Swift Wind tells her that he has forgiven Peter, and asks her "Why do you hate him so much?" York immediately flies away, and admits to the conspiracy against Peter.]]

* EasilyForgiven: Averted. Peter and Sveti make it clear that they are not about to forgive Wisk and Ferris for what they did to them while working for Big Top.

* XMeetsY: The author explains that this story owes much of its inspiration to both ''Fanfic/AVoiceAmongTheStrangers'' and another story called ''Over The Hedge and Through the Woods.''

* MartialPacifist: When I chimera attacks Ponyville, Twilight attacks it, then teleports it into the woods rather than killing it. Peter, who witnesses this, is frightened by Twilight's power, but understands that she had enough mercy to let this threat live, which convinces him to turn himself in [[spoiler: up until his unfortunate encounter with Swift Wind]].

* PrinceCharmless: Blueblood is as smug as ever but his behavior towards Peter takes him to a new low: when Peter enters his room, Blueblood throws furniture with sufficient force to kill him even though he hadn't even attacked him, decks one the royal guards in the process and nearly injures her servant, demands Peter be put in chains or else be locked up by parliamentary maneuver, and allows one of the nobles to shamlessly insult Sveti. He gets told off by Princess Celestia and Luna, who due to his actions, have to put Peter under crown protection.

* MorethanMindControl: Big Top's special talent. He can't control ponies directly, but he can merely bring out whatever emotions already exist inside a pony.

* InterspeciesRomance:[[spoiler: The reason why Sveti ended up in Big Top's sideshow. Her father, a griffin diplomat, was in a relationship with a pony. Big Top blackmailed her with the evidence of that relationship. Eventually, Sveti's father killed himself out of grief.]]

* JerkassRealization: Sergeant Peppermint York has one when [[spoiler: when she learns her anger toward Peter is unfounded and she has been targeting an innocent creature for nothing. She gets an even bigger one when she learns about the sabotage and realizes how she let her anger overwhelm her sense of duty in favor of a group that could have destroyed Canterlot in its goals, and asks that she openly testify about the conspiracy instead of remaining anonymous, even if she could face legal charges.]]

'''Twilight''': Well. In that case, let's take note of what resulted from the plan that you and certain other nobles--who no doubt represent the 'cream of the crop' in your mind--formulated. You enlisted the aid of a complete psychopath, a wanted fugitive, whom you allowed to spread harmful rumors about an innocent creature. You and your cabal of nobles maneuvered to politically isolate Peter Collins, to persecute Sveti Windwhisper--even [[BadBoss conspired to frame one of your own]], Prince Blueblood, for your plan to disrupt my research...a plan, I might add, could have resulted in the death of myself and everyone nearby, reopening old breaches into a parallel plane, and even the utter destruction of Canterlot itself. As a result of your actions, Farris Wheel, a promising actor and playwright, lost his life. As a result of your actions, a young filly by the name of Dewdrop nearly lost hers. As a result of your actions, there has been untold needless suffering and conflict [[WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis that could have been avoided otherwise]]. You let [[EvilIsPetty petty]] [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] and short-sightedness gallop roughshod over everything this nation stands for. '''And you dare tell me that I am unfit to rule?!'''

-->'''Ensemble''': “You're a sweetheart; there are times I wish you didn't only prefer stallions. You'd be a good catch.”
-->'''Quick Service''': “There are times I wish you were a stallion, so we're even.”

* ManipulativeBastard: Big Top, and that is ''without'' his mind control abilities. It works in his sideshow where he can force sentient creatures into acting violent in front spectators.

--> [[spoiler: '''Silver Star''']]: Your ascension was a mistake. We trust Princess Celestia with the very underpinnings of our world, but how she could select some... some bumpkin like you to become royalty is inconceivable! You know nothing of how politics works in this city, nothing of its deepest traditions and culture, and you dismiss this Parliament and the nobility as no more important than a common street-sweeper! It would have been better if you'd gone back to that speck of dirt called Ponyville, and somepony with some notion of what this nation needs had been given that power instead. You're not fit to rule.

--> '''Twilight''': Is that what you believe, [[spoiler: Mister Star]]? That I'm unfit to rule because I don't understand traditions or politics, because I don't have or value the 'noble bloodlines' you cherish so completely?

--> [[spoiler: '''Silver Star''']]:I... I, well, that is to say, perhaps not myself, but there are a number of other nobles-

--> '''Twilight''': Well. In that case, let's take note of what resulted from the plan that you and certain other nobles--who no doubt represent the 'cream of the crop' in your mind--formulated. You enlisted the aid of a complete psychopath, a wanted fugitive, whom you allowed to spread harmful rumors about an innocent creature. You and your cabal of nobles maneuvered to politically isolate Peter Collins, to persecute Sveti Windwhisper--even [[BadBoss conspired to frame one of your own]], Prince Blueblood, for your plan to disrupt my research...a plan, I might add, could have resulted in the death of myself and everyone nearby, reopening old breaches into a parallel plane, and even the utter destruction of Canterlot itself. As a result of your actions, Farris Wheel, a promising actor and playwright, lost his life. As a result of your actions, a young filly by the name of Dewdrop nearly lost hers. As a result of your actions, there has been untold needless suffering and conflict [[WeCouldHaveAvoidedAllThis that could have been avoided otherwise]]. You let [[EvilIsPetty petty]] [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]] and short-sightedness gallop roughshod over everything this nation stands for. '''And you dare tell me that I am unfit to rule?!'''

* XMeetsY: The author explains that this story owes much of its inspiration to both Fanfic/AVoiceAmongTheStrangers and another story called ''Over The Hedge and Through the Woods.''

--> '''Twiligt''': Is that what you believe, [[spoiler: Mister Star]]? That I'm unfit to rule because I don't understand traditions or politics, because I don't have or value the 'noble bloodlines' you cherish so completely?

--> [[spoiler: '''Silver Wisk''']]: Your ascension was a mistake. We trust Princess Celestia with the very underpinnings of our world, but how she could select some... some bumpkin like you to become royalty is inconceivable! You know nothing of how politics works in this city, nothing of its deepest traditions and culture, and you dismiss this Parliament and the nobility as no more important than a common street-sweeper! It would have been better if you'd gone back to that speck of dirt called Ponyville, and somepony with some notion of what this nation needs had been given that power instead. You're not fit to rule.

--> [[spoiler: '''Silver Wisk''']]:I... I, well, that is to say, perhaps not myself, but there are a number of other nobles-

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Twilight lays an epic to Silver Star, and by extension the other nobles involved in the conspiracy.
--> '''Silver Wisk''': Your ascension was a mistake. We trust Princess Celestia with the very underpinnings of our world, but how she could select some... some bumpkin like you to become royalty is inconceivable! You know nothing of how politics works in this city, nothing of its deepest traditions and culture, and you dismiss this Parliament and the nobility as no more important than a common street-sweeper! It would have been better if you'd gone back to that speck of dirt called Ponyville, and somepony with some notion of what this nation needs had been given that power instead. You're not fit to rule.

--> '''Twiligt''': Is that what you believe, Mister Star? That I'm unfit to rule because I don't understand traditions or politics, because I don't have or value the 'noble bloodlines' you cherish so completely?

--> '''Silver Wisk''':I... I, well, that is to say, perhaps not myself, but there are a number of other nobles-”

--> '''Twilight''': Well. In that case, let's take note of what resulted from the plan that you and certain other nobles- who no doubt represent the 'cream of the crop' in your mind- formulated. You enlisted the aid of a complete psychopath, a wanted fugitive, whom you allowed to spread harmful rumors about an innocent creature. You and your cabal of nobles maneuvered to politically isolate Peter Collins, to persecute Sveti Windwhisper- even conspired to frame one of your own, Prince Blueblood, for your plan to disrupt my research...a plan, I might add, could have resulted in the death of myself and everyone nearby, reopening old breaches into a parallel plane, and even the utter destruction of Canterlot itself. As a result of your actions, Farris Wheel, a promising actor and playwright, lost his life. As a result of your actions, a young filly by the name of Dewdrop nearly lost hers. As a result of your actions, there has been untold needless suffering and conflict that could have been avoided otherwise. You let petty jealousy and short-sightedness gallop roughshod over everything this nation stands for. '''And you dare tell me that I am unfit to rule?!'''

Unfortunately, the locals are skittish, distrustful of anything not their own, and outright terrified of whatever might be threatening to them. And with no way to speak to or understand them, what might have been a trip through paradise becomes a journey through a living hell, where the simplest of misunderstandings can bring the most dire of consequences. Alone, confused and desperate, Peter wages a one-man battle to escape a land seemingly out to get him, searching for a way back home, while the forces that protect this magical nation- ignorant of his goals and terrified that he may be a threat- do all they can to capture him.

** Sveti, herself learns to speak in English from Peter.

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: The ponies conspiring against Peter attempt one: put his mind on edge by filling him full of magic, present Ferris- one of the ponies who imprisoned him- with a few angry royal guards so that he will act fearful and lash out and convince ponies that he is some kind of dangerous monster. Peter does lash out, but does cause bodily harm, and is more interested in escaping, which only cements further that he is not a violent monster.]]

* MindControl: Big Top's special talent, and what he sometimes uses on the creatures in his sideshow, when he doesn't torture them.

* MurphysLaw: Called "Marephy's Law" by Twilight, which seems to be shadowing Peter throughout his time in Equestria.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Ferris Wheel takes the crossbow Big Top meant for Peter.]]

-->'''Ensemble''': You know, sometimes I wish you weren't into stallions.
-->'''Quick Service''': Sometimes I wish you ''were'' a stallion, so we're even.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Evident in the title. Not just Peter's initial ability to understand ponies and vice versa, but the inability of either to determine the other's actions, as well the the paranoia of many ponies causing them to not understand certain facts creates much of the conflict of the story.