Your wish is my command.
Clockwork. 23 chapters and still going. :smallbiggrin:
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Your wish is my command.
Clockwork. 23 chapters and still going. :smallbiggrin:
I am beginning to suspect there are only so many times you can read the sad-old-pony-death stories without it becoming ineffective, no matter how well done or not - especially when you've seen this sort of thing before.
My reaction (as this was the thing that thubby posted the first page of the other day) is now at the stage of irritation that this has become such a cliche. Heck, sad-pony-grief is practically a genera all itself now.
What depresses me is the larger majority of fics and such, aside from a few scattered one-shots, are tending more towards this or the grimdark end of the pond, whereas the more upbeat, show-like stuff seems to be in the minority. I wanna use pony for something, y'know, uplifting entertainment, light-hearted and amusing...
For a show that's obtained a huge following by being really cheerful, bright and hopeful, the fanbase can be downright lugubrious at times...
The answer to this is yes, for the vast majority of people, as you well know. And for the rest, even gods ought to have some humility.
They used that pie as a stand-in for a gunshot and played it to equal dramatic effect and you know that.
Deadly is right. Amish is also right.
This is a good idea. I actually didn't realize that Thanqol had written "A Study in Rainbows" until Phoe linked it in her LP of pony fantasy 6 because that one came out before I really started reading people's fanfictions.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like an awesome party, glad it went well, especially nice sneaking in the pony tracks (which really are reaching the level of professional quality tracks these days).
Have some cake and Lyra to celebrate
Can't tell if you're serious, just looking for an excuse to use "lugubrious" in context, or both. Probably both.
My own take is that it's still emotionally moving and provides one with a sense of the beauty and transience of things, which is valuable to experience, but I do agree with you that the fandom has done a few too many variations on ponies getting old and dying. I'd guess it relates to the fascination to explore the implications of their very happy world and contemplate how it deals with bad things happening that would never make it onto the show. Although if I see one more "Spike outlives everypony and is very sad" fic/comic, I might be cross, so there is that.
Hmm. Gimme time to think about this.
~HAPPY BIRTHDAY!~
You know the drill! Take your pony and cake sir!
The latter.
Well, there you go, then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Anarion
It's not that I've got something against it all per se - it's the repetition that gets me. As you have no doubt gathered by now, I consider variety for variety's sake to be important. And my threshold for the sads before it starts to annoy me1 is a bit lower than most.
Happy and at this point beleated Birthday!
1Because, let's face it, I am a bit of an engineering-minded, pragmatic and unempathic peasent at the best of times...
This is a good idea. It may even be worth adding the list (or a link to it) to the thread intro posts
All my stuff is on Fimfiction
What Dreams May Come
Writing is Hard
Duel Nature
Always Has Been
Dark Knight of Canterlot
What bugs me, I think, is that the reality of life is rarely so linked to just a few people, the way the comics seem to portray Spike as only connected to Twilight his entire life. I find it odd that, in his entire life, Spike would have no other friends than the mane 6. This does not diminish the loss when someone beloved dies, but rather makes it so that those remaining are not left alone.
Gah, this was a sad fanfic. In comic form? I actualy sniffled.
.Quote:
What bugs me, I think, is that the reality of life is rarely so linked to just a few people, the way the comics seem to portray Spike as only connected to Twilight his entire life. I find it odd that, in his entire life, Spike would have no other friends than the mane 6. This does not diminish the loss when someone beloved dies, but rather makes it so that those remaining are not left alone
Well, Spike was literaly raised by Twilight, and knowing her he probably never bonded with anyone else in those first years besides her and Celestia (excluding Canterlot noblility, which is actualy a genuine topic in itself). Sure, he's played with the CMC a few times and is probably on good terms with Snips and Snails, but otherwise his interactions with ponies consist of the mane six and what few brave souls dare to go inside ponyville library. He's skipped on of the main ways most individuals of his age tend to befriend eachother (school) and generaly dedicates himself to the library (and pleasing Twilight). Hardly helps that she's bascily taken both a motherly and older sister role in his life.
Sequel? I don't remember saying I was going to do a sequel. My Faithful Student is the closest you're going to get to a sequel since it's in the same continuity.
No, what I'm planning on doing (once I get this documented Nuzlocke run out of the way) is finishing up this fic that is essentially exploring Fluttershy's mindscape Psychonauts style.
But that's not really consistent with what we're shown of his interactions and his personality, though.
Spike clearly does know and is friendly with lots of other ponies: even if we assume that the likes of Moondancer, mentioned in the first episode weren't "friends" per se, there is a fair wealth of evidence he's got other friends - that he was able to set up Hoity Toity, meaning he must have some social contacts (even if you say they aren't friends, he would have to have some skills even to set them up), for another his encounter with Lickety Split in Secrets of my Excess, someone who he is at least passably friendly with. And the fact that he, unlike Twilight, clearly has no problems making friends (remember he was always the one chiving Twilight to do so). This is why I always find the Spike-ends-up-miserable-and-alone so annoying, because he's a naturally garralous and sociable character, and honestly, as far from the traditional "dragon" personality type as you can get on his best days.
And, for that matter, even Twilight is reasonably friendly with ponies around town, even in season one (e.g. Daisy), and she, apart from maybe Fluttershy, is easily the most reclusive of the bunch.
If one of the major character died, you can bet they'd be a far bigger turn out at a funeral than most of these sad fics would have you believe. (I mean, and this is aside from the fact that the Mane Six are three-time saviors of the freakin' country!)
i agree it is over-played often. but he's a dragon. no matter how many friends he has, they will all leave him and die eventually.
if, for the comic's continuity, the friends he made in pony-ville were already dead and the mane 6 are among the last, it still works.
his physical size and however he grows up will change how he interacts with normal ponies. "friends" are one thing, the mane 6 are basically his family.
True. While normaly I would form a response, look at the time! It's imagedump time!
Spoilerhttp://i55.tinypic.com/1181ymq.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2z73fv6.jpg
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm...yshxo1_500.png
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...tytwiceomg.png
http://i56.tinypic.com/4sihsj.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7472/1306533421073.png
http://i53.tinypic.com/vzyf6o.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/24cw9w4.jpg
All of which implies Spike can never make new friends. That the Mane Six are the only good, close friends he will ever make in his entire life.
Which - considering the ease with which he apparently does make friends, considering how social an animal he is, considering that friendship is very crux of the entire show - is complete cobblers of the highest order.
You're assuming he's stuck with only those friends he's made until now, that he won't make other friends.
Look at Celestia, she's probably outlived all the ponies she knew from before Luna's banishment, except Luna (and maybe there are other old alicorns, but let's ignore that). But would you say Celestia is alone? I wouldn't, she seems to have at least some friends, and while she'll probably outlive them too, in another thousand years she'll still have friends.
Making friends is something you can do all your life :)
Edit: Pinkie'd
Thoughts on the Comic;
Lot of ponies here talking about how they are worried about being jaded from sadfics and sad-comics.
I wouldn't over-analyse that lack of feel, if I were you.
The comic is long and obvious. it also has numerous bits that stand out as...off, I suppose.
Things that stood out to me in addition to that;
They all or almost all very specifically had Husbands. It was quite specific about that, and keen to point it out repeatedly.
Also, they all drifted apart. Because, that's why.
Celestia hides Twilights Journal, and even Luna who doesn't agree waits several years before showing spike, despite Twilight having left a message specifically for him.
And yeah, no-one notices the Dragon living in the graveyard for several years?
Also, yet another artist who can't count spike's number of limbs accurately. (Scootaloo might learn to fly one-day, but spike doesn't have wings and we've no reason to believe he ever will. And you know what? That's fine too, he's no less of a Dragon for it).
Oh, and it's yet another story that has Spike basically acting exactly the same as baby-spike despite aging him extensively.
It's a well drawn, competant comic that utterly fails it's Sad-Attack because it's just so overdone, so wordy and so ingenuine. Sad by Numbers.
Also, I still want to see some Epic-Style fanart of Crackle.
Think fast!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1P6JCeyYY...ke_assault.jpg
Why did you do that? I just forgot that...
The timing is perfect. I've got 26 hours on a train tomorrow. And all of you just provided me with convenient links to great pony, so I can fill the time with it. Muhahaha. Just according to pony keikaku (pony keikaku means keikaku).
Happy belated birthday
Have a slice of cake (not for the faint of heart)
Happy birthday! :smallbiggrin:
Everypony else already pointed out that Spike can make friends through his whole life. But I'll also add that this is not a unique problem of being a dragon. You could have said "elves" or "dwarves" "spirits" "gods" "alicorns" or pretty much any fantasy race that's long-lived. Heck, even among humans people die of accidents and diseases and have varied lifespans.
Outliving others is a thing that happens. It's always sad, but rarely breaks people the way these comics seem to portray because, as already has been said, you're never too old to make new friends.
Pinkie Pie has to get all that energy from somewhere...
Very cool Windwaker style NMM
And a badass looking anthro NMM in armour.
Gee, this seems familiar somehow...
Different worlds...
Twi, Dash and Fluttershy playing a risqué game of poker. :smallbiggrin:
And lastly, a Diablo 3 crossover.
Good, I do believe I'm caught up on image dumps.
except now he's a gigantic dragon of nigh limitless lifespan and he's aware of that.
and those media often play up the reality of this tragedy. *points at LotR*
humans don't usually think about it because no one knows how true it is for them among other things. i may not outlive my family.
imagine knowing, for a certainty, that everyone you know is going to die leaving you behind. now imagine the same being true of everyone you will ever possibly meet.
in fact, its something tia fics often touch on. spike is essentially in the same situation, but we see it from the beginning.
it's a loss of innocence. for a very long time he would feel very much alone.
Spoiler
I'll get to compiling some of the other old-timers that I know had written fanfics, but currently aren't posting.
I'm really liking the idea of making a pony Brawl game.
Spoiler
Twilight
B: magic bolt
Side B: Ranged telekinetic grab
Down B: Charged Blast around her.
Up B: Teleport
Final Smash: Flaming Pony of Death! (Invincible, flying, fast moving)
Rarity
B: Needle Throw
Side B: Ribbon of Pain
Down B: Gem Reflector
Up B: Saddle Umbrella
Final Smash: Whining oh god the whining!
Fluttershy
Acts like pokemon trainer except with Angel, Manticore, and Cockatrice instead.
Dwon B: Swap
Final Smash: Stare
Angel
B: Foot Thump
Side B: Carrot Toss
Up B: High Jump
Seal
B: Roar (Just pushes back with small damage)
Side B: Side Slam
Up B: Ball bounce
Baron Awesome:
B: Peck
Side B: Feather shot
Up B: Flight
Applejack
B: Charged Buck (Like Marth's sword)
Side B: Appleshot
Down B: Brings up Apple Pie to throw
Up B: Lasso
Final Smash: Summon the Apple Family!
Pinkie Pie
B: Charged Tackle
Side B: Party Cannon
Up B: Rocket launch
Down B: Disappear
Final Smash: Pinkamena's Party
Rainbow Dash
B: Charged Tornado attack
Side B: Super Speed Strut
Up B: Filly Flash
Down B: Buccaneer Blaze
Final Smash: Sonic Rainuke!
CMC (Yes all three. Like Ice Climbers)
B: Applebloom's hammer smack!
Side B: Scootaloo's Scooter!
Down B: Sweetie Bell's Singing
Up B: Pony tower grab
Final Smash: Cutie Mark Crusaders Brawlers YAY! (Rezzes destroyed CMC members and gives short invincibilty/damage increase)
The Great and Powerful Trixie!
B: Reflector
Side B: Firework Barrage (Charged attack like ROB's laser)
Down B: Lightning Strike
Up B: Smoke Bomb Vanish
Final Smash: Watch in Awe! (Screen zooms in and follows Trixie)
Princess Celestia
B: Laser Light (Diagonally pointed down)
Side B: Wing Strike
Down B: Energy Absorbtion
Up B: Royal Chariot
Final Smash: To the Moon! (One shot laser like Zelda's arrow of Light)
Princess Luna
B: Royal Canterlot Voice!
Side B: Lightning Bolt
Up B: Lightning Cloud Rise
Down B: Transform into Nightmare Moon
Nightmare Moon
B: Magic Blast (reflector like Zelda's B)
Side B: Lunge Horn Stab
Up B: Wisp Form
Down B: Transform into Luna
Final Smash: The Night Shall Last Forever!
Princess Cadance
B: Love hearts (Like G&W bacon)
Side B: Kiss (Life steal attack)
Down B: Get into Mining cart
Up B: Flight grab attack (Kinda like Kirby's Up B but a grab)
Final Smash: Love Shield
Shining Armor
B: Ranged Reflector
Side B: Shield Bash
Down B: Physical Reflector
Up B: Shield Bounce
Final Smash: Love Shield (Yes he has the same final as Cadance)
Queen Chyrsalis
B: Steal Abilities
Down B: Transform into whoever's ability you have (Final Smash undoes this as well as death.)
Side B: Love Drain (Grab attack that steals health)
Up B: Spiral horn jab!
Final Smash: Changling Invasion!
Derpy Doo (Trophy)
releases a bunch of items like piano's to fall on the enemy on a fly by. Friendly Fire on.
Time Turner (Trophy)
Flicks hour glass putting enemies into slow-mo
Discord
B: Chocolate Milk Shot (Does damage over time)
Side B: Explosive Milk Toss (behind him)
Down B: Summon Sky Pies
Up B: Walk on Nothing (treats air as ground)
Final Smash: Storm of Chaos (Changes Stage if you hit terrain during the swap you are KO'd
added Discord and Derpy.
That comic is adorable, particularly Angel. Comics like that really redeem that little bugger in my books.
Hey has anypony seen a comic in which a big powerful warrior is running in fear from Lyra?
Finally @IKnowNoNames: If you want to have an online Brawl game you need to either post or send me the information I'll need. Also no gurantees it will even work.