>>83333Fug it. I'll try to tell it like it is from the perspective of the Catholic-hippie-pangan-taoist-buddhist-dragonkin persona I've created.
Sister Ash pauses for some time, still holding Abby to her fluff as she strokes the little filly's mane.
".. The world, as it is, isn't a very safe place..." She says, after a minute
".. It can be frightening, cruel, and unfair, full of dangerous crestures; you had to learn that the hard way..." She continues
"But the world isn't terrible either.. It's bountiful and full of beautiful things; full of mysteries and magick in every corner of the realm. There's plenty in the world to be afraid of, but that just means there's so much more worth protecting..."
She nudges the filly slightly
".. Like you.." she says, softly
".. There's so much in this world worth protecting: the trees in the valley, the meadows, the ponies running through them.. There's so much to keep safe, but only so many ponies who can do it..."
Then she pauses, as if unsure how to continue
"Nopony can protect everything all on their own, but everypony has something they want to protect.. Some ponies want to protect their country, others want to protect themselves, for some it's their family, and for others it's only themselves.. Protecting things is part of what makes life meaningful; what keep ponies going in this beautiful and dangerous world. The thing you want to protect defines what you are, but you don't have to decide that so early on...."
"The Sisters in this abbey are all here, because they've chosen to protect.. They want to protect you, and your friends, even if they can't always do it all themselves.. Foals like you.. aren't at an age when they can completely protect themselves, so they need help, from grown-ups, and from eachother.. You weren't completely wrong about being helpless, but you'll grow up one day, and then you'll have something you want to protect too..."
Then she turns the filly to make eye contact with her
"..But in the meantime.. Please let us try again to protect you.. Okay?" She asks, almost pleadingly