UPDATE!

good chapter, and scary filly is scary...

sheesh, fillies these days...

anyway nice chapter!

.....nyx......?

Okay not nyx.....and what's up with twilight? Loving the suspense just hope that strider is okay, he should be due to plot protection but......

worth the wait hope you update again soon can't to find out what happens next

Damn, Fluttershy knows her psychology shit!

That is a cruel, cruel cliffhanger. Good job.

A good, and very interesting chapter.

Aaaaand Strider gets his ass kicked.

Oh well. Let's see what happens next :)

Twilight is all like

"Fuck im high"

strider, You stupid git

>>138293138293

Know what the best part is?  Some bronies think that Strider's a very Gary Stu-ish character, or at least they thought he was, because he can do incantations in his head instead of having to speak them.  It's just EASIER to speak them because that requires less mental focus.  And yet, he's not the only one that can do that, he was just one of the first in his squad.

>>137502137502

Plot armor isn't as strong on OCs. Remember, he had shards of his RIBCAGE fly all the way out his back, with plenty more lodged in his heart and lungs. Combined with his severed wing, and potential nerve damage in his neck and spine, he might never walk or fly again, even if he DOES live. And even if he DOES recover, he is clearly not going to be an active player in this story anymore, short of any mention of Dashie visiting him in the hospital.

Now the BIG question: Is this Nightmare a piece of Nightmare Moon that got ripped out of Luna, or is it a seprate entity that TURNED Luna into Nightmare Moon?

...finally, does `Tia have any Nightmare Dusk protocols set up, or will she be flying by the seat of her throne?

>>138372138372

....What?  No, no parts of his ribs went flying out his back. Just the force of the backlashing spell.  That's what sent him flying in the first place!  Trust me, if he'd gotten THAT injured, I would've written in some comments or thoughts about how he can't feel most of his body, not that he's in utterly agonizing pain.  Nor did any of it reach his heart, just his lungs.

>>138456138456

Ok, so unless he drowns in his own blood (A very real posability, but unlikely due to this being fiction), that leaves his laserated lungs (which will leave him bed ridden for a month and change, at LEAST), head and neck trama (Probbably overstated, given Feeling Pinkie Keen), a detached ribcage, a "Tenderized" leg (years of physical therapy PLUS however long it takes for it to heal correctly, if it even CAN), and one severed wing (which, unless they can get it reattached fast enough AND get it to heal right AND put in MORE physical therapy, could leave him grounded for the rest of his life).

...yah, I think it is safe to say that the poor guy isn't going to be an active part of any more action sequences in this fic. To bad, really. I actually quite liked him.

At least i'm not the only one who felt the story actually killing Strider... The things you've written would be quite extreme even for a fic like "one way" where they have ghost ponies who can heal themselves from about anything... I think you overdid this even if you want to kill Strider. But if not, this is seriously too much. If you took just 20% of this you would die.

And this is not the only problem with this battle scene. Twilight's doing nothing but some shields, and Rainbow Dash The Element of Loyalty and the lover of Strider doing NOTHING?! What the hay?! She just watches her friends fight their worst battle in their life? This is completely out of character.

Still i'm looking forward for the next chapter, and i meant this to be "constructive criticism", i don't know how well i succeeded with that :)

>>138996138996

You're talking about these injuries as if magic can't heal them well enough to allow him to recover within a couple of months and get back into active duty.  Not to mention that he's still plenty capable of using the magic he's learned until he does, though he WILL take quite some time to fully recover.  Also, his wing was severed, but it's not like it was ripped off at the base or left detached for hours on end, though he'll likely be grounded even longer than it'll take for him to get walking once more.  On top of that, an equine's body has a lot more muscle mass than a human's, so his neck is fine, though he's probably got a headache from Hell, given the concussion.

>>139318139318

Twilight was HORRIFIED, and didn't know what to do.  Strider told her to cover him, and she did as best she could, but her magic couldn't hold up against those stabbing tendrils.  Rainbow Dash was moving into position to do something, but never got the chance before he was thoroughly trounced.  Aside from that, they're only powerful when all six of the Elements are together, not apart.  What did you expect Rainbow Dash to do?  Get herself killed?  Being sensible in the face of terror and death is not out of character.  As for the battle and Strider's injuries being overdone, that's the consequence of the Paring Shield.  It's a very dangerous spell just as much as it is useful in a pinch.

>>137488137488 That is exactly what I thought

shit just got real!

keep it comming!!!!

Oh shit.....

Well that was one hell of a fight!

Hmm, I've read some of the comments about Strider and his injuries and I think people are jumping the gun a bit early about commenting on it and how it will affect him throughout the story. People are already counting him out without giving the author a chance to put out the next chapter, which would conclude this little situation here. I'm just nervous that a "magic wand" will be waved and everything will be "set right." Some consequences need to come from sustaining those huge injuries, but I'll just have to wait to see how the author is going to handle this.

Have a good one.

>>139904139904

Thank you, NightCore.  I'm glad somepony seems to realize that we're dealing with a setting shrouded in a whole lot of magic.  That doesn't mean he's going to insta-recover, trust me, he's horribly injured for a reason.  Magic just means that he'll recover....eventually.

>>137488137488 Why did you make me think that?

Well that, undoubtedly, is the most brutal ass kicking I've ever read. You KNOW Strider's not gonna be moving for a while. Kinda spoiled future chapters for myself when I read the comments, but still great story, keep it up!

I wouldn't mind having stories like this animated or made into a comic. It would awesome.

>>140185140185

Huzzah!  Brutal was exactly what I was going for!  I'm glad I got that across.  Actually, now that I think ahead....wow, Strider's on the receiving end of a LOT of beatings.  I wonder why my subconscious hates him so?

been waitin' a long time for this one

thank ya kindly

>>140649140649

More than welcome, Chapter 10's being worked on right this moment!

>>3173331733   that pun....   so painful....

>>137488137488 HA! I KNEW I wasn't the only one who thought that!

"...the whole thing all at once, the whole thing in your mouth, don't bite into it."

I have a horrible, warped, perverted mind

>>142701142701

What in the world am I missing here?  And I've noticed that a lot of people seem to be reminded of Nyx.  I can't really help that, considering what Nyx was and what the Nightmare is similar to.

>>142701142701 bwhhahahahhahahaha your not the only one

FIre Soul, y u so sexy~

Poor Strider.

>>150492150492

Aww Scy, y u flatter me so~. <3

Yeah, Strider kinda got trounced pretty soundly, didn't he?

BUCKING CLIFFHANGERS

BTW Nice chapter.

All I can say is:

Hot damn.

Can't wait for more, Fire!

Ciao!

>>168959168959

Sorry 'bout that!  I know, I'm such a bucking jerk for these cliffhangers.  I B TROLLIN

>>170383170383

Glad to hear that you approve!  Keep on reading, it only gets deeper and deeper from here, with plenty more Wind Strider, the other three of Luna's personal guards that serve alongside Strider, and lots of stuff involving the Mane Six, Sweet Apple Acres, the Nightmare and plenty of shipping drama!  Not to mention Twilight's issues....

>>170823170823 Sounds intense!

ok, 1 question..

i know youre going for quallity, but did you really need this long to make a new chapter? i forgot about it already

also there are people saying cliffhanger, but since i dont know what is it... can somepony tell me this?

dont get me wrong, its a really nice story and a really nice chapter, i just think the waiting time was rediculous

>>171885171885

Considering the Christmas season got hectic for me, and I just had one epic bout of writer's block combined with quite a few new games to distract me, no, I didn't need this much time to put out a new chapter, but I took that much time because I simply couldn't sit myself down and write it.  I don't need to try really hard to get my usual writing quality, and my ability to just sit down and write is coming back now that lots of those distractions are less distracting.  You just gotta remember, things get in the way sometimes.  Besides, have you ever tried writing a chapter a week?  Doesn't sound rough, but when your hobby begins to feel like work....

As for the cliffhanger everypony's talking about, they're referring to Wind Strider's grievous injuries, and whether or not he'll survive them even remotely intact, I believe.

>>182212182212

i see. its not that i dont admire your work, and i understand things get in the way and all, but you failed in something lost of people fail in:

updates

i have serveral story's in my watchlist that havent seen activity for a long time. and for most i dont know if the autors are still working on it.

best regards,

Dutchy

>>183898183898

'Fail' would imply that I simply haven't updated at all.  I had some blog posts during that time trying to explain my position with the writing, and that issue is no longer the case.  That's a very strong word to use to describe a story going on an unintended hiatus for only a month and a half.

So, in a nutshell, Strider broke almost every bone above the belt, and a few below.

Just...damn. He sure got fucked up...

Also, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE NIGHTMARE?

>>188783188783

Oh, wouldn't you LOVE TO KNOW?

>>189052189052 You troll

>>189069189069

Mwee-hee-hee-hee!  I try my best.

Attention all readers: check the Groups section of this website, I've made a Group just for this fic, so you can all talk and discuss and such if you wish to about what you think's going on with my story.  Either way, enjoy!

Tracking! This is awesome. Great and origional plot. And Strider is a boss. A name like Aragorn, a body like Boromir lol. But yeah, keep it up man, I'm really enjoying this. Cheers! You have my support.

>>219457219457

By Celestia....can....can it be?!  Somepony that likes Wind Strider?!

LET THE LIGHT SHINE AND THE GOSPEL SING!

Heh, just kidding. I'm glad you like his character though, you should've seen some of the comments about him when he was first unveiled, readers seemed to hate him!

>>219597219597

What can I say, he sticks to his own moral code, protects those around him and does all of this while maintaining a professional demeanor towards his duties as the princess' guard. I like him as he isnt stuck up, arrogant or rediculouly pridefull. To me he's an honest guy, (stallion), just doing what he can to make the best of the situation. Also, he's awesome with his runic magic.

>>219636219636

He's also not the only one that can do the Runic Magic he's skilled with, he's just a deep thinker and a logical pony.  He doesn't lose his cool and keeps calm even in the most dire situations.  Because of this, he's one of the few users of that form of magic that can do the incantations in his head, rather than speaking them.

That said, you'll be meeting the other three that are just as skilled, if not more skilled than he is, in the same position, in the next chapter. Especially Valkyre, since she's a Unicorn and already inclined to be naturally gifted at magic.

>>219661219661

Awesome! I look forward to it. Cool name by the way. I presume they're in Luna's guard too, not Celestias. Don't tell me, I want it all to be a surprise! But yeah, and to be honest, I like how you've portrayed all of the characters, even Twi with her depression/rage. It's putting her in a situation new to the readers and I think it comes across really well, a change in mind, a change in behaviour; it seems natural, which is a good thing!

>>219690219690

A change in one's mindset is nice only if it is a welcome change and one that they made by their own choice: Twilight's issues are being forced upon her, she doesn't LIKE being how she is right now.  But, I'm glad you like how I'm portraying them all, I'm just using my common sense and knowledge of the show.

Ooooh, I just read this all today. 8 weeks ago, wow, this is taking a while to update. Anyway, you get a thumbs up and a track from me, buddy boy!

Oh, this won't end well. This won't end well at all.

Even an alicorn can make mistakes... but her mistake, was the biggest of all

The wait has been killing me, glad you made up for it!

Very good chapter, sir.

Oh, slow paced chapter. Well, I guess it kind of had to be. Anyway, gggreat job as always. I am soooooooooo. Looking forward to the revelations chapter. Toodles!

same here, i was going a little crazy with the not-worst-kind-but-almost cliffhanger, i really HAD to know what would happen. and when i saw it had updated earlier today, i couldnt read it as it was my sisters birthday; so instead it has been gnawing at me the entire time, as soon as i got home i started reading (after a quick re-read on the last chapter), and i completly lost track of time, it was like a trance.

just in case you didnt quite get the message, you.are.AWESOME.

...although, now i only want more again, its kinda like a drug...

>>323995323995

I have your next dose all cooked up, but you gotta wait for it to cool down.  Just meet me on the corner of March and 15th and you'll get your fix.

"Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye." the Pinkie Promise has nothing to do with death, Pinkie would never put death into her promise, songs, or any other random things involving her

More importantly: new chapter? yay!!

Who does that little bitch wind strider think he is? He has earned this story a hearty thumbs down from me

>>324459324459

Really, on Chapter 3?  Talk about premature.  Oh well, your problem, not mine.

cross my hart up in regret, ending up in beening dead... nah to dark like yours more

Welp, Celestia just doomed us all.

this is so good I can't even comprehend it

Man this story just draws me in more and more. I always like seeing an emotional Celestia.

'I just can't' has forever been such a cop-out.

God I hate that line. Of course, it's going to drive Twilight straight to the Nightmare.

Celestia's smart enough to know this, and still won't do anything, even though assuredly it would have been better to come clean. I swear, sometimes...

>>326392326392

Actually, if Celestia came clean, things would only happen much faster, and long before Twilight could ever be ready for what's going to happen.  THAT would be infinitely more horrible than what could come from her going to see the Nightmare to get answers, and Celestia IS smart enough to know this.  That doesn't make the fact that she's essentially throwing her beloved student and surrogate daughter to the wolves, so to speak, any easier for her.

Damn. And I was hoping for happy stuff.

Well this is just....(punches wall)

Way to kick a stallion when he's down, dash.

>>326887326887

Well, she DID plan on doing that long before he wound up getting himself hurt as bad as he did.  Can't really fault her for being fed up either, considering y'know....she's been bothered by this for quite some time.  Distance sucks hard that way.

a bit cruel but... i love this shit... breaking up, loosing controll, overpowerment, coruption.  its the dark side of live... not less tru

Well... That sucks... Poor Dashie and Strider

Some spelling errors towards the end.

"I-I'll just be back in....well just cal when you're done talking!"

cal should be call.

"You mean you wat to....break up....?"

wat should be want

Don't know if I was ninja'd on this, though.

Anyway, nice to see he made it through. Oh, Strider, he must be going through so much inner turmoil right now. Marefriend he loves, and one secret ruined it all.

>>327215327215

Oh, way more than one secret ruined that, it was gonna be over between them regardless.  Plus, he doesn't really 'love' her so much as he 'really likes' her.  Big difference between being caring and sensitive, and loving someone.  The distance just wasn't sitting well with Rainbow Dash anymore, that's all.  She was tired of being miserable while waiting for him to come and visit, despite liking him.

By the way, the errors in spelling?  They aren't there in my originally written copy on my computer.  Bizarre!  But, fixed either way.

>>327239327239

Aaaand... now I feel stupid.

You fixed the mistakes though right? I am reading a different fic right now, and I don't have the patience.

>>327258327258

Yeah, I fixed 'em, thanks for that.

>>327271327271

No problem.[encouragement] Don't let up the quality, you're doing great! [/encouragement]

>>327276327276

Oh don't worry, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!  In fact, I'm working on a very interesting entry for Studies of a Bookworm at the moment, an entry that focuses around Luna and Celestia more than anything else.  I think it's a very nifty idea!

>>326897326897 Just throwing it out there, distance isn't all that bad. It gets lonely sometimes, but it's worth it.

Holy shit Strider! Beaten physically and psychologically! When will you catch a break my friend?

Also, 2 chapters in close succession was sexy! Thanks bro.

not enough twilight this chapter to suit my taste but on the other hand; TWO CHAPTERS IN TWO DAYS!

i wonder if i could actually get some kind of overdose with negative effects and all from reading to much awesome

>>328119328119

Don't worry Mossflower, I got plenty of the good stuff to keep you sated 'til your next fix.  How about some Studies of a Bookworm to tide you over?  I got some hot stuff comin' up in that product I think you'll find very enticing.

>>327794327794

Personally, I think that if you look closely, Strider really gave Rainbow Dash a break on the whole scenario more than anything.  He just put on a smile, listened, and let it happen while blaming himself.  He let himself rage a little only after she'd left.

Well... That happened.

Well forget you're in the hospital with horrendous injuries that might cost you the job that lost you your marefriend.

You're a freakin' PEGASUS that can do MAGIC!

>>332709332709

Ohh, trust me, the fact that he can do magic like many, many other members of the Royal Guard isn't all that amazing.  Runic Magic is actually very hazardous to one's health if over-used....namely, use it too much and you can consume so much of your soul that your body shuts down and you die.

That said, I'm sure Strider will pull through okay.  As long as he can still do his job, he still has fulfillment in his life.  It sucks for him that he lost his marefriend, but it was probably for the best regarding both of them: they just weren't around each other enough, what kind of relationship can come from that?  He'll be happier being able to just focus on his work, and Rainbow Dash will be happier not having to think about and wish he'd come to visit more often, she can just be her own mare and do her own thing once again.

>>332929332929 Hmmm. In an Equestrian society, I can understand how difficult long distance relationships can be. I'm actually in one myself, and have been for the past 3.25 years. It's very taxing, but it's made much easier when you can talk all the time using a telephone... For us, it's worth it. Anyways, very nice chapters here. Excellent writing quality and all. I really feel bad for Twilight and Strider. And Dash, too... Really, I just feel bad for everypony. Also, on a note with the last chapter: I understand Twi's thirst for knowledge. I enjoy learning and not knowing something like that would torment me too. And... Yeah. I get the feeling that Twilight will end up going back into the forest, since Celestia won't answer her questions. Maybe ya should keep up the good work and write out the next chapters so I won't have to wonder anymore, hmmm? (Naw, take your time. I don't mind waiting.)

>>219597219597

Hay! I mentioned that I liked the guy! The only reason I was "Writing him off", so to speak, was because the average human would be hard pressed to even SURVIVE all those wounds, magical healing or no. ...and of course, the magic settings I tend to read also tend to have magic be a poor substitute for first aid, let alone actual surgery. And regrowing lost limbs tends to be right out.

Ah, yes. Adding insult to literal physical injury. ...er, WHY were some readers calling him a Gary Stu again?

At any rate, I'm glad to see that my favorite OC Flyboy will be making a comeback before this story is over, even IF he has been sidelined for Faust knows how long, plus a month for physical rehabilitation.

Awesome as usual, keep it up!

Poor poor Twilight Hugz make you better?

Amazing as always.

Have fun on vacations.

This is actually one of the few fanfics where Twilight goes through all those nightmares and (as far as I can tell now) won't turn into an alicorn like many other fanfics.

I hope the next chapter will be up soon

Wow, poor Twilight. I'm surprised Spike hasn't gone to Canterlot, enraged, and somehow beat the hell out of Celestia for hiding the truth. That would be one hell of a twist.

Reading this chapter reminded me of the later part of this.

>>512121512121

Yes, the Alicorn thing is overdone.  I was originally going to go with that, but I have something vaguely like it up my sleeve instead.

>>512773512773

Yeey I was right

It's not like I dislike alicorn Twilight, but most of the time she becomes one for the weirdest of reasons xD

And I am very curious of what you have planned

And by the way I realy like the way you describe Twilight in this entire story

>>512783512783

Ah-heh, thank you!  I'm glad you like how she is, I tried to stay as true to her as possible while

still allowing such a harsh change to her personality happen.

asome job and take your time and rest... v-.-

Someone ripped off Nyan Caxx.

WOW. A strong beginning that makes me want more. YOU SIR...are a fine writer

All it takes is a little flutterlove. *Manly tears activated*