History Literature / AcrossTheGreenGrassFields

* DarkSecret: [[spoiler:There has never been a human hero in the Hooflands. The previous "heroes" simply ceased control of the throne and have been passing it on in secret for a long time, and every other human has either died, been killed, or was DrivenToSuicide.]]

* HoldingOutForAHero: The equines of the Hooflands put all their need for heroism on the humans that arrive there, claiming that humans are simply better for the job. This is why Queen Kagami is allowed to reign: although they could rise up against her, they are waiting for the right human to do it instead. [[spoiler:It turns out that "Queen Kagami", and likely many human heroes before him, have been using this to exploit them.]] Regan eventually snaps and yells at them about how for all their claim that HumansAreSpecial, [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot they could have solved their own problems long ago]] and it's unrealistic to put the fate on their land on a child.

* TheReveal: [[spoiler:There has never been a human hero in the Hooflands. Their previous acts of heroism were subterfuge to let them seize control of the throne, and everyone else died or committed suicide.]]

* WhiteMansBurden: Deconstructed. [[spoiler:The human "heroes" of the Hooflands have been using this premise to rule over the Hooflands in the shadows, pretending to be their horse companions and spreading propaganda about how humans are the only fit heroes so that any other humans will be brought to the castle.]]

* TheManBehindTheCurtain: [[spoiler:The human hero who crowned Kagami queen of the Hooflands assumed the throne in her place and waited for his door to reappear. It's implied all previous human heroes did the same.]]

* YouKillItYouBoughtIt: In a manner of speaking. [[spoiler:The man who's pretending to be Queen Kagami asks Regan to kill him and assume his place as the rightful ruler over the Hooflands. He reveals that he did this to the woman before him, and she before him.]]

%%* FantasticRacism:

%%* HellishHorse: The kelpies.

* HoldingOutForAHero: The equines of the Hooflands put all their need for heroism on the humans that arrive there, claiming that humans are simply better for the job. This is why Queen Kagami is allowed to reign: although they could rise up against her, they are waiting for the right human to do it instead. [[spoiler:It turns out that "Queen Kagami", and likely many human heroes before him, have been using this to exploit them.]] Regan eventually snaps and yells at them about how for all their claim that HumansAreSpecial, [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot they could have solved their own problems long ago]] if they'd truly wanted to.

%%* VanHelsingHateCrimes:
* WhiteMansBurden: Zigzagged. The point of the story is that the Hooflands' natives could and should have solved their own problems, instead of mindlessly trusting their monarch (and every human they saw). But at the same time, they ''needed a human to tell them this'', [[spoiler:their magic makes them literally incapable of not being racist,]] and it's pointed out earlier in the story that certain actions often needed in heroics (climbing, hiding, dexterous manipulations) are legitimately impossible for equines. [[BrokenAesop So which is it?]]
%%* YouKillItYouBoughtIt:

->''“Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.”''

But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem…

* HellishHorse: The kelpies.

* {{Kirin}}: In the Hooflands, kirin are sapient unicorns, unlike the unicorns that Regan's centaur friends herd (those unicorns are more like deer with sharp horns, and they are very, VERY unintelligent).

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Queen Kagami, her Sunlit Majesty, who offers a significant bounty to anyone who captures Laurel- dead or alive. She also sets ridiculous prices for trade goods that drive her people into poverty.

''“Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.”''

* FormerFriendOfAlphaBitch: The unintentional version where it wasn't her choice. Regan confided in Laurel hoping for support from her childhood friend after learning such an identity shaking thing. Instead Laurel rejects her. Processing the incident is a major part of Regan's character arc.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Her Sunlit Majesty, Queen Kagami.

* {{Homage}}: Described by the author as a love letter to the very first ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends My Little Pony]]'' cartoon. Regan, like Megan, is a human who goes to a world of horses and horse-related magical creatures (the Hooflands rather than the Ponylands), and must go on dangerous and heroic quests there.

* InsidiousRumorMill: Reagan knows this is what she faces after Laurel's horrible reaction to learning she's intersex. She was already a witness to this when Heather got on Laurel's bad side. Likely another factor that let her see her door.

* TheManBehindTheCurtain: [[spoiler: The human hero who crowned Kagami queen of the Hooflands assumed the throne in her place and waited for his door to reappear. It's implied all previous human heroes did the same.]]
* UnicornsAreSacred: Averted hard; the centaurs in the Hooflands who herd unicorns use the unicorns for their hides and meat.

* {{Arcadia}}: Compared to some other [[MagicalLand Doors]] the Hooflands are idyllic. Any danger comes more from the political divisions present than from nature or magical rules. Granted, those politics include things like "is it socially acceptable to eat fellow sapients", but it's generally still a good place to grow up.

* ImAHumanitarian: Gristle the kelpie. Zigzagged with Zephyr the [[OurPerytonsAreDifferent peryton]] who wouldn't eat someone still alive.

* {{Kirin}}: In the Hooflands, kirin are sapient unicorns, unlike the unicorns that Regan's centaur friends herd (those unicorns are more like deer with sharp horns, and they are very, VERY unintelligent)).

* Arcadia: Compared to the other [[MagicLand]]s seen the Hooflands are idyllic. Any danger comes more from the political divisions present then nature or some magical rules. Granted those politics include things like "is it socially acceptable to eat fellow sapients" but the place is still good place to grow up.

* InsidiousRumorMill: Reagan knows this is what she faces after Laurel's horrible reaction to learning she's intersex. She was already a witness to this when Heather got on Laurel's bad side.

* {{Kirin}}: In the Hooflands, kirin are sapient unicorns, unlike the unicorns that Regan's centaur friends herd (those unicorns are more like deer with sharp horns, and they are very, VERY unintelligent).

* {{Homage}}: Described by the author as a love letter to the very first [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends My Little Pony]] cartoon. Regan, like Megan, is a human who goes to a world of horses and horse-related magical creatures (the Hooflands rather than the Ponylands), and must go on dangerous and heroic quests there.

* UnicornsAreSacred: Averted hard; the centaurs in the Hooflands who herd unicorns use the unicorns for their hides and meat.
* WhatAnIdiot: Regan ''knows'' that her best friend Laurel is intensely judgemental and has permanently shunned other girls for even the slightest hint of not being a "proper girl". The narration emphasises how carefully she has avoided ever risking Laurel's disapproval all her life. Then Regan finds out that she's intersex, and even ''Regan's'' first panicked reaction is "I'm a boy?" before she's reassured.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' That she would never tell Laurel anything that so obviously set her apart\\
'''Instead:''' She immediately tells Laurel that she's XY, and Laurel reacts exactly as badly as one would expect.

* WholePlotReference: Described by the author as a love letter to the very first [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends My Little Pony]] cartoon. Regan, like Megan, is a human who goes to a world of horses and horse-related magical creatures (the Hooflands rather than the Ponylands), and must go on dangerous and heroic quests there.

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Regan is utterly, utterly terrified of being "weird" because she knows that KidsAreCruel (see below). This does not make learning she's intersex any easier on her.

* ParentsAsPeople: Regan's parents do their best to keep her from copying Laurel and reassure her that there's no wrong way to be a girl, but Regan is too young and too afraid to really internalize any of it.