This story is a sequel to What Comes Next
Author's Note: Although this story is a sequel to 'What Comes Next,' it functions solidly as a standalone feature, and an excellent entry point into the 'What Things May Come' Trilogy. It does, however, feature prominent spoilers from the first story.
Ponyville works to rebuild after a devastating attack leaves much of its infrastructure battered and broken, but even as the town pulls itself back together, it soon becomes clear that not all is well. A dangerous, mysterious, and seemingly omnipresent foe emerges from Pinkie's worst nightmares, and may be to blame for the disappearance of Ponyville's own. As Canterlot scrambles to understand this new enemy, the Mane 6 find their Elements - perhaps even their very souls - under attack. Time, however, is not on their side, and every moment spent preparing for the upcoming conflict may very well cost the ponies of Equestria dearly.
To be honest if i was pinkie i would not have forgiven applejack for kicking me in the face but then agian i am not pinkie so yeah. I mean if i suddenly rememberd someone who was suppose to be my friend kicking me in the face for whatever reason they wouldnt be my friend anymore but again pinkie is way too forgiving yeah i am a bit of a grump dont mind me....holding grudges is bad i know but still theres a point where you draw the line where you should forgive and being kicked in the face isnt one of them because thats crossing the line.
5272769 Huh. That's actually a pretty valid point that I didn't think of. It just goes to show you that when you write fiction, you can try to think of everything but ultimately it's just not possible.
I would, perhaps, argue that Pinkie knew Applejack was only acting to protect Rainbow Dash in the first place. Maybe she even blamed herself a little bit (at that time) for what happened. Given that, I think she decided it was for the best to not hold a grudge. Chalk it up to her realizing that enough pain and suffering had gone around that there was no point in spreading it further.
It should be noted, however, that Pinkie is undoubtedly strong enough to do whatever she has to to protect her friends in the future - even if that is from Applejack, regardless of how much she forgives her. Though I think it goes without saying that she'd rather it not get to that point.
P.S. Good to see you've come around to reading the rest of my story! It sounds like you've found some merit in it to get to this point, which is much appreciated.
5272774
Its no problem really I was wrong to assume it was something it wasnt. Cupcakes is the fanfic that i['ve grown to hate even seeing fanart of it just make me so....It put pinkie in a bad light and i didn't like that so i came to the conclusion if pinkie saw that people saw her as someone who would kill her friends she would be so devastated because she wouldnt hurt her friends i think she'd rather die then ever lay a hoof on them. It was this creature thing that was corrupting the elements and i like that because it makes more sense in a world of magic. Like i said pinkie is a way more forgiving person/pony then me heck even my friends say it seems like i am in permanent annoyed mode. Its experience really pinkie is more willing to give people the benefit of the doubt that's why i like her because she doesn't allow herself to hold grudges.
The point is i let my grudge against cupcakes cloud my judgement when they hate can be blind they were serious. I would've probably done the same as applejack did but i would have gone for a more tackle approach ya know take em down and restrain them then knock them unconscious with a good punch in the face and then go untie my friend from the rack or whatever table thing Dash was on. Of course these are ponies i dont think they can tackle and restrain and then punch since they dont have hands so what am i saying XD. In end i just love pinkie and i want her in a good light especially in her friends eyes i hope thats understandable.
5272803 I hear ya!
I love all of the mane 6 cast for different reasons. Even Rarity, though I don't write much of her because I honestly find her a little boring to write. This story definitely puts each of them through the wringer, but ultimately I want all of them to remain true to themselves, and have their best personality traits shine through.
And yes, I am quickly finding that Cupcakes is an exposed nerve for much of the fimfiction community. I wish I'd had the better sense to tie in with something else, but them's the breaks! Actually, I'd initially intended for What Comes Next to be a separate project entirely, but I couldn't stand writing Pinkie as the antagonist (like I said, I love them all), so I merged it with a second project I had kicking around. That's what turned into "What Came Before."
But that's a discussion to take place for another time. For now, I am really enjoying my work on this sequel, so I'm staying the course and enjoying this journey on which I've sent the mane 6. Which reminds me: I'm making a lot of progress on Chapter 8, so expect that to be coming in the next few days or so. It's shaping up to be one of my favorite chapters of the series so far.
This comment chain makes me happy. It's good to see people accepting things for what they are rather than what they seem like.
5272803 Having Celestia herself there explaining what happened probably helped a bit.
5275095
Indeed. Celestia is pretty awesome in that way she explains things and helps others understand the situation. True people will sometimes look at a fanfic once and dismiss it because it looks bad. just because it looked like cupcakes didn't mean the story was a revenge!fic I think the correct term would be redemption and sgt sprinkles really made a mess of things when he wrote cupcakes. So did you like cupcakes? I didn't like what it did to pinkie if he'd used an oc maybe I would've like it better I dunno.
5275126
I haven't read Cupcakes, only heard of it. From the descriptions I've heard, it sounds far more squicky than what I'd typically care to read.
5275135
Good that story is awful it only filled me with rage more then it did grossing me out. I was screaming this is ooc the whole time. I think Dashie crying in cupcakes triggered a lot of heart strings among the fandom which is why revengefics started popping up. There was one alt story that tried to be different before going into gross clop territory ugh i do not like clop but yeah it was the cupcakes chronicles lets say I like Rocket Blaze's take on the alt ending of cupcakes better since they deal with the action/drama they didn't shoehorn romance in it. I believe romance has its place and shoehorning it into a grimdark story is a bad idea.
5275163
I can relate to that. This is the only Cupcakes-related thing I've read (aside from things involving actual cupcakes), but the Hard Reset trilogy was semi-ruined for me in a similar way.
5275163 The fact that it was so OOC was one of the things that inspired this story. Why was it OOC? Because it was just one piece of a larger plot that involves an ancient villain trying to corrupt Equestria and turn it into his own personal feeding ground. Malice is a lot like Discord, but driven by evil rather than chaos.
I am really enjoying this story and in all you have written thus far. The plot has caught my interest and I can clearly see no references to any of the whole cupcake stick. Your character representations are on par and its just nice to see Pinkie back to her former self and that she was just a victim in much of all this. Poor Rainbow and Applejack, damned Malice the big meanie!
Anyways I thought you have done a rather solid story thus far and I can't wait to read more when you next update it.
-Frost
This is getting more interesting and exciting as each chapter passes and I still can't find anything to fault you with. I am really enjoying this story, you are a good writer and once again you were simply worth following. As usual your pacing is on par and your character representations are spot on. I simply applaud you and commend you on the quality of your stories.
Keep up the good work, and I shall look forward to the next update and when Malice finally gets what comes to him. I am also intrigued in regards to the whole Discord thing...
-Frost