Electroshock Theater: All That Glimmers · 3:07pm Apr 13th, 2018
Here's a story I was working on shortly after the "Every Little Thing She Does" episode. Thanks to ECT, I have no idea what it was going to be about, but here's the flotsam that remained in Google Docs.
"It isn't working," said the young princess. She idly stirred her tea with her magic, but neglected to take a sip.
"Starlight Glimmer has been under your tutelage but for a year, Twilight Sparkle," said Princess Luna, between scones. "Were my sister able to attend this meeting today, no doubt she would recommend the virtue of patience."
"Right," said Twilight, with a sigh. She set down her teacup and rested her chin directly on the Crystal Map. It was currently 'turned off', since there hadn't been any friendship problems in months.
"I still don't understand," said Princess Cadance. "You've had nothing but positive things to say about her progress. Ever since that minor incident with the mind control, I mean. Is it her reputation...?"
Twilight shook her head. "Most of the ponies here haven't heard the story of her past. She's well-liked, even beloved," she said. "She volunteers around town, helping others without seeking anything in return. She works harder than Pinkie Pie at making ponies happy, though without the same boundless energy. It's been taking a toll on her appearance."
"Few ponies have the pink one's resilience," commented Luna. "But this is most perplexing. A pony of such generosity should have no difficulty making friends. Does she not spend personal time getting to know others?"
"Well, she doesn't enjoy it, probably because she sees herself as a failure," said Twilight, finally taking a drink of tea in a long, lukewarm gulp. "Everypony she spends time with seems to respect her and admire her, but it never 'clicks'. When I talk to the ponies she's tried to bond with, they always seem intimidated. It's like she's a celebrity or something, and there's this invisible wall around her that keeps ponies from opening up."
"Being a princess can be like that sometimes," said Cadance, with a frown. "But the cure is time. My subjects warm to me once they've spent enough time with me in pony, and the celebrity jitters wear off." She started nibbling on a cookie.
"Friendship can only exist upon a level field," said Luna, raising her hooves at different altitudes for show, then lowered the upper hoof to align with the other one. "Once somepony understands that you are a real pony, and not a goddess, only then friendship can begin."
"That's what I've suspected. Starlight does so much, so well," said Twilight Sparkle, and then her voice fell to a whisper. "Even though she's just a unicorn, she's probably more powerful than all three of us combined. Maybe ponies are jealous."
"That's very insightful, Twilight," said Cadance, with a motherly smile.
"We are in agreement," said Luna, "but I do not believe Twilight was referring to herself."
"Well, there's probably a little jealousy in me," she admitted. "It's humbling to see the crazy things she can do. She's easily the most powerful mage since Star Swirl himself. Excepting Celestia, of course."
"No. She is more powerful than even my sister," said Luna. "You are as well, Twilight Sparkle, though please do not share that fact."
Twilight blushed. "Well, there's a difference between raw power and actual power. Celestia has the wisdom to use her magic effectively."
Cadance cleared her throat. "Um... Maybe Starlight just needs to spend more time with ponies, one-on-one?"
Sounds like it was going to be about... ponies and friendship?
I would have liked if the psychology and philosophy of the "celebrity jitters" and Jealousy could be explored. Why do we feel like that? Is it a good thing? Bad thing? When is it good or bad? Should we have it? The effects it has on ponies? What can happen in the extreme cases? What can it lead to? Possible solutions? And so on.
EDIT: Perhaps some Nietzsche?
Have you thought about featuring ECT in a clopfic?
Power!
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Unlimited power!
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That is seriously very scary.
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It's sadly a well-known and very common side effect of ECT. Famously it was the reason why Hemingway ended up committing suicide.
For some reason I thought this story was going to be about electroshock therapy. I really am literate, I swear I am.
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I've thought about featuring it in a drama fic, but reliving it is a little rough.
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*nods* I understand :) just had to ask for the sake of my own bizarre fetishes *offers you a big hug*