She could see the well even from far off, surrounded by a massive ring of dark stone monoliths. Each block formed an ancient monument, taller and larger than some of Ponyville’s buildings. Each one looked like it had seen the weight of countless passing years.
It reminded her a little of a similar monument she had read about, taken from Equestria’s distant history. Her family had taken her to visit Ponehenge when she was just a filly, and she had marveled at the scale. Yet now, she thought she knew what that structure had been based on. She wouldn’t be so impressed if she ever returned.
Another thing surprised her—the feel of grass under her hooves, the smell of flowers and the touch of moss growing on the edge of monuments. She even imagined a few distant echoes of birdsong, and the not-too-distant gurgling of a stream.
You are in more danger here than you have ever been in before, the boatman had said. But after being attacked by the shades of lost ponies near the surface, this seemed quite friendly.
“I’m not sure why ponies made this out like it was such a big deal,” Twilight whispered to Applejack, keeping her voice low just in case. “I thought we were coming to see some terrible monster, but it looks like whoever lives here is quite friendly.”
They passed one of the monuments, several times thicker than Twilight’s body was long. It looked like something had been written there, but whatever it had said was eroded almost to nothing.
“Hush up, Twi,” Applejack hissed. “She’ll hear you.”
“Why wouldn’t Death be friendly?” asked a voice. Twilight had expected billowing power, perhaps something like the Royal Canterlot Voice she had heard from Luna more than once. Instead, she heard only a whisper, and couldn’t even point to its direction. She couldn’t guess at an age, or even a sex.
Ponies who spoke of Death at all typically referred to her as female, just as the rulers of their world they knew in life were female. “Your work is done, Applejack. The visitor has reached me in safety. Either I will return her to the surface, or I won’t. You cannot shape that decision now.”
“As you say.” Applejack lowered her head towards the center of the circle, as ponies sometimes bowed to the princesses.
Twilight followed her gaze, but she could see nothing there but a shape of low rocks, partially overgrown by moss and grass. No pony, for sure.
“Well, good luck and all, Twilight. I hope fer yer sake you’ve thought long and hard about what you’ll do in there. This ain’t the kinda place where we can come back later and change our minds.” She rose, gave Twilight a brief hug, and was already turning away.
“Wait!” Twilight called, conscious all the time that whoever had spoken was probably still here, still listening. “You’re leaving me down here? I don’t know the way back!” It wasn’t as though Twilight had been ignoring what she saw on their way. But she didn’t think the boatman ever took ponies the other way.
“Do not worry over how you will return to the surface when you do not know that you ever will,” whispered the voice, shifting and jumping strangely with each word. It was as though the identity of the speaker was never the same from moment to moment. “Come forward, Twilight Sparkle. I am eager to hear your plea.”
Twilight glanced behind her again, to wave goodbye to her friend one last time. But Applejack was no longer there. She wasn’t walking away down the path, didn’t seem to be crouching in the shadow of the massive stone blocks. Twilight was alone.
It’s either this or die, she thought. Much sooner than I was ready for. She had not been an Alicorn for very long, not even long enough to master flight. Applejack’s advice that she accept what little life was left to her and welcome death when she came had fallen on deaf ears.
“Where are you?” Twilight asked, her voice becoming slow and respectful. As she had spoken to Celestia for most of her life. She walked slowly too, across the mossy path and towards the object at the center of the circle of stones. This must be it, the so-called “Well of Souls” she had come to find.
Considering the monument all around it, she pictured something similarly grand. Perhaps a shaft so wide that a fully-grown dragon could dive inside without splashing someone standing at the surface. No doubt there would be a massive throne of skulls or something else horrifying beside it, where Death would sit and judge the mortals who came to her.
“Where?” repeated the speaker. Twilight held still this time, listening very closely. Trying to discern a direction. It sounded very close—as though the pony were right behind her. She snapped her head back, but there was nopony there. Now it sounded like the speaker was in front of her. “Where is Gravity? Where is Fear?”
She saw no throne, no skulls, and nothing like the well she had imagined. This one was about three feet across, made from black stones of varying shade. The well itself was so worn down that it had almost been completely swallowed by the life within the circle. Bright red flowers grew nearby, with a few of the birds she had heard perched on their stems.
Twilight gulped. “Gravity is… everywhere. It manifests wherever there are objects with mass.”
The smell drifted slowly towards her. Like an unburied corpse, left out in the sun for days. She choked back a gag, backing away from the flowers. She couldn’t see down the well from this far away, though, and something in her needed to. Just what did a soul look like, anyway?
“Indeed,” the voice answered. This time it seemed as though it were coming from somewhere deep in the well, echoing up a long shaft and stretching as it came. “As is the case with Death. Though it is the living that causes Death to manifest. Only by limiting your view to a single instant does it seem to you I am not with you. Yet I am already there, waiting for you. That day has already come, and it will, and it is here now.”
Twilight shivered. There was much Death implied, and much she wanted to ask. But those things were not why she had come tonight. They could wait for another adventure. “I’m here…” She whimpered, coughed, cleared her throat. Then she stepped forward, standing a little straighter. “I’m here to petition you, Death.”
The voice sounded almost amused. “Always with formality, constructed politeness from you ponies. You think I am your enemy, yet you act as though I am a king. I wonder, have you come to beg for what the Nightwatcher demanded? Did she send you hoping my response would be different to you than it was to her?”
Death sounded suddenly as though it were behind her again. “I will not give the end of pain she wanted for Equestria. If that is your desire, take it. Live as you desire until the last light has gone from the last star. I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”
“No.” Twilight wasn’t sure it was wise to contradict Death—but then, she wasn’t sure exactly how she was supposed to act around it. At least when she had fought Discord there had been something to look at. But this wasn’t some spirit of death, as she supposed her friend Applejack had become. This was Death itself. She was no person to watch, and probably not even a mind as she understood it. “I’m not here for that. If ‘Nightwatcher’ is Luna, then she didn’t even suggest I ask about that.”
How much of what I’m hearing is my own imagination? How much of any of this is actually happening? It was easier to think that maybe this whole night was a fever-dream. She would wake up in bed with Spike asleep on the ground at her hooves and everything would go back to the way it was.
“Then come forward,” the voice urged. “Many have come before me. Ask, and we will see.” See what, the voice didn’t tell.
Twilight obeyed anyway, as much out of curiosity as fear for what Death would do if she refused. She tried hard not to smell the flowers, and made each step securely. The well was shorter than she was, and it would’ve been easy to trip and fall inside if she wasn’t careful.
She stepped close enough, looked down, and at first she couldn’t see anything at all. It was blinding, whatever was down there, blasting up into her face. But no… she blinked, and realized what she saw was only her own reflection in the water far below.
“This is it?” The words slipped out before she had fully realized what she was saying. “I mean, not to disregard your domain, or your powerful impact on the lives of…”
She heard laughter from behind her. “Things come apart, Twilight Sparkle. The center cannot hold. There will be less magic in the universe tomorrow than there was today. In ancient days, this well was something more grand. Souls of all kinds came with their demands, and there was power enough to fulfill them all.
“Power spent returns again, but always some is lost. Yet the souls who visit are shadows of what once was, barely-real echoes from a greater age. Perhaps enough remains for you.”
“I don’t want to live for just a year,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I’m not ready. I think I have more to offer Equestria. And I want to live long enough to do that.”
“Few are ready,” said Death, whispering into her ear. “I know the fantasy you believed, it is the same one that so many mortals share. You think I am out of reach—you imagined all the years you had ahead of you, that after all that life you would be ready. But deep down, I think you knew that isn’t true. When one of my servants came for you, you would still wish for one more day. One new spell you might invent, one more mystery you might solve. There will always be one more.”
Twilight wanted to argue—yet as she opened her mouth to protest, to insist that she was different, that only because her death had come so soon was she upset—she realized that wasn’t true. Twilight saw the future before her as a never-ending series of opportunities. Was there any milestone she might cross, and decide right there it was enough?
If there was, surely becoming an Alicorn was it. Almost nopony ever does that. And as she thought that, she realized she wasn’t alone after all.
There was another pony with her, on the other side of the well. A pony almost her size, who proved only to be shadow cast by the flowers when she looked too closely. Yet if she didn’t search for the pony, she was impossible to miss. How long had she been there?
The voice didn’t seem to move around anymore as it spoke. Nor was it shifting—it was distinctly female, and close enough to her own that she almost sounded like family. “Be honest with yourself, Twilight Sparkle. Did you come here so you could live forever?”
“No,” she said, and she meant it. “But I want to live more than a year. It seems like Equestria is in constant danger. Maybe it’s selfish of me to think that I’m the pony who will make the difference against the next big threat… but my friends and I brought Luna back to her sister. We saved Equestria from Discord. Without me, the Elements of Harmony are useless. Sure, there might be other friends who can use them… but there might not.”
There was a long silence. The shadowy figure on the other side of the well approached the ruin, brushing aside some of the moss with a hoof. She took hold of the old crank on the side of the well, and began to move. It creaked, and a little bucket began to descend past her, on a bit of frayed rope.
“I cannot simply extend life, Alicorn. Your kind will have to discover those mysteries on your own. What I can do, however, is bind. A pair of young sisters once came to me, when they realized the terrible consequences of their magic. They begged for more time, so that they might use the powers they had gained to protect the ones they loved. Yet when they came, it was up to them to choose what in all creation their souls would twist and bind. They chose the most enduring objects they knew, not realizing how long a sentence they signed themselves.”
There was a splash from far below. Twilight’s eyes jumped to the sound, and again she could see light in the ripples the bucket made. Light beyond the brightest sunlight, illuminating the vast cavern with its unthinkably distant ceiling.
The shadow of Death was suddenly in front her, and everything before Twilight’s eyes began to blur. She could see through it, but only while she looked directly at something. Otherwise, she saw only blackness where its body ought to be. “What will I bind to you, Twilight Sparkle? What is it you must see until the end?”
Twilight looked away, unable to stare into the partially-solid thing for very long. By the time she looked back, it was gone, standing again at the other side of the well. It began to crank again, reeling in the bucket. “Does it have to be a thing?”
“No.” Again the voice sounded pleased. “It doesn’t have to exist as stars and moons. So long as it is real to you, it is real enough. Choose with care, however. If strange eons pass, and you find yourself waiting beside me for the death of the last star, that is how long you must wait. What you bind will be bound.”
Twilight was staggered by the idea of living as long as a star. From what she knew of astronomy, that meant the thousand years Celestia had waited without her sister would be less than an eyeblink in the time she would endure. Would ponies even exist for the majority of that time?
Twilight didn’t like the idea of her mentor stuck alone, waiting until the death of the sun. But at the same time, she wouldn’t pick the same fate for herself if there was another option. What can’t I live without? Princess Celestia had already taught her that. “Friendship. That’s what I want. Equestria might grow, might be replaced one day… but so long as there are still friends out there, there’s still something worth protecting. There’s still more to do. When all the friends are gone, well… guess I’ll be done.”
The silence didn’t last nearly as long this time. Twilight watched the figure, and found it seemed to be growing more distinct the longer she looked at it. Not a vague blob of shadows at all, but a pony with a light gray coat, and a long mane that drifted behind it in an unseen breeze. It wasn’t an Alicorn though, only an earth pony. Maybe that meant something.
Death removed the bucket from the well, sloshing full of… something. Every time it moved there were little flashes of light, and Twilight’s magic senses could register something there. A little strange, since she couldn’t sense the pony holding it. How could the pony move it without a horn of her own?
“Are you certain of that, Twilight? There will be no later chance to change your mind. As time stretches on, as you are forced to live while others do not, you will think back to this moment. Perhaps you will wish you made another choice.”
“Perhaps,” Twilight repeated. “But it’s the best choice, I think. So long as there are friends to make, then there are things I could do.”
“Then it will be,” Death said, stopping just in front of her with the bucket. It looked old, and larger than she’d expected. Something that might be used around a farm, maybe. “And when Friendship itself has died, I will be waiting for you. I hope for your sake you are ready for me then, and not filled with regrets you did not welcome me sooner. Or longing to be a part of whatever comes at the end of Friendship.”
Twilight opened her mouth to reply—a mistake. She felt a sudden jerk as something slammed her head down into the bucket, and fire surged down her throat. She gasped by reflex, and that only made things a dozen times worse.
There was a splash, and Twilight wasn’t standing by a well anymore. She hadn’t just had her head shoved into the bucket—she was completely submerged in fire. It burned all over—but her eyes were the worst. This was far worse than the public pool she’d learned to swim in as a child, with its chemicals to keep clean. This was like the worst laboratory accidents she’d heard about, alchemists spilling their reagents all over themselves.
She screamed, but that only made things worse. She twisted and contorted and barely even realized she was drowning. If she could see, she expected she’d have seen her flesh itself dissolving. She flailed and flapped her wings uselessly, trying to lift herself to the surface of… whatever she’d fallen into. The well?
This is how I die, she thought. It’s a trick. Death just made me trust it so it could get close, and now I’m dying.
But then again, Twilight wasn’t helpless. She wasn’t the foal who had barely been able to levitate a book. If anything, her magic had received a powerful boost when she became an Alicorn. She could teleport from Canterlot to Ponyville if she wanted!
But before she could get together the concentration to form the spell, her head broke the surface of the liquid. She hacked the contents of her lungs out into the water, gagging and spluttering and whimpering in pain.
The air itself appeared transformative—no sooner did she feel it against her face than the pain all over her body began to ebb away. One wing brushed against something slick and stony, and she drifted over towards it, trying to get purchase.
She didn’t feel as though whole sections of her flesh were being eaten away anymore, either.
At first, she feared as though the blindness was genuine—but no, she was only looking straight up, where brilliant sunlight was shining down on her from above. That meant it was noon?
She could hear voices—many of them, actually. Ponies talking in the carefree, casual way they did at market. She could even recognize some of the voices.
I’m in Ponyville’s market well, Twilight realized. “Help! Help!” She looked up, casting her voice as high as she could. “I’m stuck!”
There was an iron grate at the top of the well, with an opening only wide enough for the bucket. But that didn’t stop her voice, and soon enough she saw a gray-furred pegasus mare poke her head in, looking down. “Hello? I don’t think anypony is supposed to be down there.”
Twilight flapped one wing in annoyance. “No I’m not, Derpy. Could you bring some help? Applejack’s stand should be nearby—tell her I fell into the well! She’ll know what to do!”
Twilight tried another teleport, but the magic didn’t seem to want to come. Her horn flickered and spluttered, and only some of the water beside her vanished. From the splash and squeals of surprise from above, she could guess where it had gone.
Her erstwhile rescuer might not be the brightest mare in Ponyville, but a few minutes later and she had returned with Applejack. Her friend didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see her there, though the crowd gathering around the grate certainly looked shocked.
It was a good thing Twilight knew how to swim. Despite her weakness, she could manage an occasional flap of her feathers to keep her above the surface of the water.
Soon enough Twilight was slumped against the side of the well, wrapped in a towel the gray pegasus had retrieved while Applejack worked, and repeating the same lie to anypony who asked how she had got there.
“Teleporting from Canterlot is harder than I thought,” she said over and over. “I guess I still need some practice.”
It hurt a little to lie to so many of them—including several of her friends. Pinkie Pie brought over a cupcake shaped like the well, and Twilight couldn’t even guess how she could’ve baked it so quickly.
In the end, ponies returned to their business, leaving the novelty of the town’s new Alicorn behind. Except Applejack, who had stayed under the pretense of “bending the grate back.”
Once the ponies dispersed, she bent the iron with barely any effort, securing it over the shaft.
Well, one pony had stayed behind. Twilight rung the large towel out, levitating it back towards the mare who had given it to her. “Thanks for letting me borrow that, Derpy.”
“No problem,” the mare said, taking the damp towel on her shoulder. “I always keep a few of these handy, just in case. You’ve got to be more careful, Princess.”
Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but before she could get the words out, the pegasus was already fluttering away through the air.
“I guess I know what you decided,” Applejack said, inclining her head slightly.
“How?” Twilight asked, keeping her voice down. “It hasn’t been a year yet.”
“Ponies who make it that far either get what they came for, or they don’t come back,” Applejack whispered. Then she turned, back towards where her sister was manning the stall. When she spoke again, it was a little louder—for the ponies still moving about the marketplace to hear. “Anyways Twi, Derpy’s right. You should be more careful.” She walked away, leaving a damp Twilight alone.
She made her way back to the library a few minutes later, still trailing water as she went.
Spike had been sitting in one of the library benches, surrounded by a small ocean of comic books and empty ice-cream tubs. He sat up with a jerk, sending both to the ground around him. “I’m up!” he announced to no one, before turning to see Twilight. “Oh, h-heh.” He got up, standing between her and the mess. “I didn’t think you’d be back until late. Celestia sent a letter to say she’d sent you on a mission and it might take you a little while.”
“Well, I’m back.” Twilight didn’t say a word about his mess, didn’t even look at it. “I’m gonna take a nap. Then maybe visit Rarity a little later. Once I feel alive again.”
“Awesome!” Spike followed her as far as the base of the stairs. “Can I come?”
“Sure, Spike. Just make sure the library doesn’t burn down until I wake up.”
“Sure thing!” He saluted up the stairs. “I will protect it with my life!”
“And… make sure you don’t spill ice cream on our comic section.”
“Right.” Spike turned away, darting over to the pile of disordered comic books.
Twilight didn’t watch him after that. Charon’s words still haunted her, more than anything else that she had seen. Apparently, he knew one of her friends was in danger, and wanted her to help.
She would, once she got a little sleep.
My theory? Rarity is part of a mafia. No one steal.
There is a fanfic where Rarity is a pirate who left her boat to become fashionista in Ponyville.
While I'm eager for more, I'd rather wait patiently than see the quality of this drop.
This is well-written (no pun intended), features my favourite pony as the protagonist and contains 150% the daily dosage of world-building. What's not to love?
Hmm, when twilight bound herself to friendship does that mean just that of the ponies, or all beings capable of experiencing that in the universe. If it's the latter twilight will be alive for a very long time. Maybe even beyond the stellar period of the universe assuming it also applies to AI. and the stellar period of the universe is like 100 trillion years. So umm, twilight you may have dun goofed.
I probably should have seen Twilight's choice coming from the start... at least, it was obvious once it was made explicit that she could be bound to a concept.
What's that, girl? Twilight fell down the well?
In case of towel emergencies?
It almost feels like there's something more going on with her... but then, this isn't the story of her secrets.
You say that like we don't already know what Twilight's doing next... or at least what she intends to do. Perhaps Rarity is to this story as Rainbow Dash was to "The Cutie Mark Chronicles".
8527759
Could get even more complicated if it interacts with Cadance's. If Twilight loves Cadance and Cadance is friends with Twilight, could they survive indefinitely?
Friendship, good choice. I was guessing either that or Magic, but you could argue the two are interchangeable in some fashion in this is setting.
As 8527759 noted, it's ambiguous whether or not Twilight's soulbond applies to all friendships across the universe. I suppose she'll find out eventually. Still, I have to wonder what Death thought Twilight was coming for...
In any case, one down, four to go, all of which promise to be fascinating. And Derpy is a hoopy frood who knows where her towels are. Looking forward to the next installment.
8527776
I definitely got that vibe myself... but thinking on everything that was said, it seems far more likely that Death is Pinkie.
Where the buck is this:
even from?
I just finished reading the Warhammer 40K Novel Fabius Bile - Primogenitor and it sait more or less exactly the same . .
8528223
An old poem.
8528240
Ah, thanks.
8528223
This is a poem, The Second Coming.
8528091
Heck if it's not limited to one universe she could be alive for even longer. Heck if Death counts as a friend, then she'll be one of the last things alive....
8527759
It's a Starscribe fic. If AI doesn't count I'd be shocked!
But as far as how long she'll live, she probably isn't too concerned with actual length, since as far as she was aware until this alicorns were truly immortal, so however long she lives she'll have initially prepared to go beyond that. The key point is she didn't want to risk living on alone like Celestia might.
That implies Death already knows all.
...Oof, that's heavy.
Also, I fear Twilight will come to regret that choice.
8528646
Absolutely. In fact, it'd be interesting to see whether she or Cadance lives longer. After all, friendship can be replaced by love.
Still, it'd be interesting, at the end of the universe, to see Death metaphorically polishing the counters, putting the chairs up on the tables, and turning out the lights before she leaves... and Twilight being there to help.
8529492
While we were editing this chapter, one of the editors suggested death saying something like. "It was good to meet you, new friend!"
But that seemed a little dark.
8528688
In a way its POSSIBLE she may end up more alone then Luna and Celestia. Friendship may endure on other worlds while Twilight is trapped in a dead Equestria.
When the Sun goes Nova and consumes the world that Celestia has watched over, and Luna in turn has long since died due to the Moon being pulled apart or consumed by the same blast....what then becomes of Twilight. Does she float in the void of space, suffocating slowly in agony, but never dying, because somewhere, in a galaxy far far away, a race she will never meet has still got friendship?
Unless Twilight has a way to jump between worlds, its LIKELY she will end up more likely to be alone then Luna and Celestia ever were. They will survive till the end of Equestria.
Twilight will survive till the end of every sapient being in existence.
Wow, this was an amazing story so far. I'm not sure what part to point out because I loved all of it. Well written, vivid descriptions, all the characters voices were there. Loved it!
8529492
Wait, is Cadance associated solely with romantic love, or with any form of love? I mean, platonic and familial love are still love.
...This could mean that Twilight and Cadance will sustain each other indefinitely, unless they have a falling-out.
Log to be part of what is at the end of friendship...
So hard to choose the exact moment you would like to die when you don't know the future. It seems to me the best you could do in that situation is to either shoot over or under the point that you expect to reach that mark and live the rest of your life with that choice.
A little strange to hear Twilight say she couldn't live without friendship, she pretty much did for most of her life didn't she? If it was Pinkie Pie I would swallow it but I would think Twilight would be able to come up with another aspect of herself that might be more fitting for this decision.
I'm still completely oblivious as to why somepony would want to die in this universe, sure life can get very tiring and miserable but I can't see Death as a worthwhile means for attaining peace, but hey, I'm an optimist, I believe that it is always possible to find an alternative, but if I'm wrong then I guess Death will have to do.
If I had the choice to bind my life to an abstract concept I would pick Dreams.
Dreams are made of everything that is, isn't and could be. It doesn't cover all the things that couldn't be but there is no abstract concept that I know off that covers that.
and besides Dreams never end!
I would exist for longer than time itself, which doesn't even make sense, it defies reason and logic. That's dreams for you. xD
8529975
Why?
No, seriously; this is Friendship is Magic, why SHOULDN'T Twilight be making friends with the personifications of the fundemental forces of the universe and whatnot?
'Cos frankly Charon and Death both sound like they are spending far too much time being introspective and whatnot, and Twilight making them (perhaps with some sort of deal with whatever thing deals with time (bonus points if it turns out, to be I dunno, Minuette or something!)) to take a few hours off and sit down and have a friendly chat once in a while - play a friendly game or something, have a picnic maybe - would do both of 'em some good.
(Death of the Discworld finds time to hang out with his mates, after all. Equestria!Death seems to be taking her a job a bit too seriously if you ask me...)
8535940
There's no reason she couldn't. But after this whole section was characters telling her to be careful and to choose wisely I felt it would be a little off-message if the very first thing she heard was complete confirmation that she'd made the worst possible choice in terms of moderation (though it would probably be one of the best possible choices in terms of lifespan extension).
8536065
I think the disconnect here is I'm not seeing the former as a mistake.
(I mean, yeah, it's not what I'd have chosen, but I'm a) not the magical princess of friendship and b) but a quick glance to the left there will quickly suggest where my proclivities in that sort of direction lie...)
This is reminding me of the legend of the Deathly Hallows. Y'all are bringing up some good points. When her time comes, will she greet death as an old friend?
8532935
that's most likely what luna did
8541500
I think Luna bonded herself to the moon and then used some of her long lifespan to develop Dream Magic in this story.
No no no. Why would Death have a throne of skulls? That's the other guy!
Wait. WAAAAAAIT. . Luna had come down there once and plead for Death to exempt all of Equestria!? And Death is willing to give this? There's gotta be some trick here.
Well then, Well, how might the net entropy of the universe be massively decreased?
And why would anyone expect to bargain with the Lone Power and live?
Cliche and a bit of stolen phrasing, but placed well into the mouth of the right character. Death will never want to wait one more day. Death is punctual.
Then you just have to make sure Friendship doesn't end .
8528143
See: Binkie Pie.
As some others have mentioned, Twilight didn't specify that she wanted to be bound to friendship on her planet. If she's bound to friendships on other planets, or even other dimensions, she could live far longer than Celestia and Luna.
Somehow I expected Twilight's return from the Well of Souls to be a little more dignified. Then again, the whole experience has been very humbling for Twilight.
I suppose it's possible that Twilight has never seen an earth pony do magic (if we don't count Pinkie Sense) because Pinkie usually works her magic just out of sight so that there is (slightly) plausible deniability to casual observers.
Anyway, I think I know which of the Mane 6 will be the focus of the next arc.
Following the heck out of this one! :)
Any idea when the story is going to continue?
8688289
I am working on the next chapter right now, actually. But if you'll look at my profile you'll see I have 4 weekly-update stories right now. It's hard to find time to write so many things at once.
8688361
Ok fair enough. I'm a patient guy, I can wait.
Note to self.
Starscribe, I consider this one of your weakest(if not the weakest) stories you have written.
8778615
It might not be for you. I don't expect everything I write to appeal to everyone. Don't force yourself to keep reading a story that you aren't enjoying.
8778633
8779538
Oh hey, it's CGP. His videos are all awesome. I wonder if you've gotten confused between characters wanting something and me advocating for it.
8779547
I hope not.
I assume you've seen that video, yes?
Well, I don't like the death-acceptance, the stereotypical talk about and semi-stereotypical representation of death in this story, it just feels stupid.
Especially considering it's about Twilight.
8779589
Yes, I've seen all his content. As a matter of fact, I saw this video before writing this chapter, as the dates will suggest. Gray's entire point is that the commonly accepted view of death does not survive serious scrutiny. But if you think that means it's not a logical way for a character to think, that simply isn't the case. It's a commonly accepted view--there's nothing "stupid" about characters holding it. That's what we call faithfully reflecting reality. Which obviously isn't required in a fantasy story with ponies and grim reapers, but it is the direction I chose.
8779623
Bleh.
i.imgflip.com/1n2ol9.jpg
waiting for an update.
This is Great! please write more. We have 4 more secrets to uncover.
Celestia's kind of a dick.
"Welcome to the family. You'll be dead in a year. Tah."
8944182
Your wait may soon be rewarded. Not today, and not tomorrow, but soon.
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I really like the way you've written this story, it was very fun to read and I'm diggin' spooky Applejack and your portrayal of the underworld overall. I'm probably gonna wait until part 2 is finished to read it all though.
8530050
Depends on EXACTLY what they bound themselves... Because they can be bound to the CONCEPT of moon and sun... and so that is going to go a LONG way...
Where's Nathan Brazil?