1 — The Warden
Trixie saw nothing but Astrid's terrified face, heard nothing but her last gasps of breath. In the periphery of her vision, in some foggy corner of her mind where her thoughts were not consumed by her friends, Trixie knew where she was heading. As the guards had said when they came to take her away, she was being led to the spire that pierced the sky. The Warden was waiting for her somewhere inside it, waiting to question her about something she likely had no interest in talking about. Though she was not shackled, she felt the weight of thick chains dragging deep ruts into the ground behind her. It slowed her down, made every step tortuous. But even if she could throw off the chains, slip out of her manacles, she couldn’t run away. Where would she run to anyway?
To her friends, obviously... or so she thought at first. The more Trixie considered returning to that death-filled room, the more she came to realize that she didn't want to be there. She wanted to comfort Polaris, tell him that everything would be all right, but the less idealistic side of her knew that wasn’t what she would do. What would even be the point of lying to him? No, if she were still in that room, she would be staring in silence, just like she had been before the guards showed up. She would try to say something, probably something like, "It's not your fault," or ,"There was nothing you could do," but the words would get caught in her throat, choking her, suffocating her until she fell back into silence. In a way that she hated to admit to herself, Trixie was glad the guards came when they did.
With her head hanging low, Trixie watched the ground pass endlessly beneath her. She'd faced drakes, seaponies, and windigoes; she’d nearly drowned to death, froze to death, and fallen to her death, and never once was she as afraid as she was now. The thought of dying never frightened her, at least not enough to deter her, but now that she was forced to face someone else's death, Trixie found herself pitifully frightened. She was disgusted at her own fear and cowardice, but she knew there was no way she could face Polaris the same way again. What would she say to him?
Trixie’s hoof hit a little mound of snow, causing the crystalline flakes of pure white to flutter upwards. For a brief moment, it looked like the world before her had been cast in a divine light, and sprinkled with cosmic dust... then a gust of wind passed and swept the sparkling dust away, leaving Trixie staring at something far less beautiful. The spire reached up into the sky, seeming to grasp at something just out of its reach, and then in anger turn into a sharp point which stabbed the pale blue sky. At least, that's what it appeared to do from Trixie’s perspective. Every so often, little sections of the tower would change slightly. Different material, different style, it was like it had been built in short bursts over a long period of time. Perhaps, Trixie guessed, it might even still be being built somewhere up beyond what she could see.
The snow crunching beneath her hooves, Trixie crossed the sparse courtyard where a handful of benches had been laid out in a circle around what looked like a pulpit, and passed the line of sturdy-looking pine trees that flanked the cobblestone path to the front entrance. A pair of guards standing on either side of the ornately-decorated double doors snapped to attention as she and her accompanying guards approached.
The one on the left, his cold face barely visible beneath his helm, stared straight forward as he said, "Captain."
A silent nod from the guard on Trixie’s right and soon the stallion by the entryway was pushing open the heavy door until it swung inside with a dull thud. No one else said a word as they crossed the threshold into the tower's base. A rush of cold air hit Trixie’s back. She turned her head to see the door being closed behind her. With a second, yet more dull thud, she found herself with no way out, not that she'd really had one before.
Trixie had expected that, being inside, the tower would be significantly warmer than the rather biting cold that filled the town. In fact, it was just as cold inside, and perhaps actually colder. No hearth greeted them, and no torches lit the solitary hallway they walked down. Narrow windows appeared at regular intervals, providing what little light there was, but the braziers Trixie did see were bereft of any light. They passed by a series of unmarked rooms, all of which had their doors closed. The tower looked massive from the outside, but inside it was small and cramped.
Shuffling quietly through the halls, Trixie noted that they had to walk in a single-file line, and that, at most, two ponies could walk abreast in the hallway. Easy to defend, perhaps, but there was so much wasted space. They walked past many empty rooms. She couldn't reasonably guess what the tower’s true purpose was. It all seemed so superfluous.
Trixie barely had time to ponder this thought before she was being shoved into a narrow stairwell that spiralled upwards around the outer edge of the tower. Here, larger windows illuminated the staircase, and allowed Trixie an increasingly privileged look at Frostvale, the higher they climbed. Passing one window, Trixie saw what looked like the market square where hundreds of ponies had already gathered to sell their wares. Another window and she saw a line of large buildings built into the side of the mountain that anchored Frostvale's northern border. The way the buildings were tiered suggested to Trixie that they were homes, likely for the more wealthy citizens. And, in fact, her guess was soon proven right as she reached the next window which showed Frostvale's slums. Squat homes were all smashed together with no regard for any regularity, almost like a pony simply built their home wherever there was room. Trixie watched a couple of foals race out of a dilapidated house and into the pile of snow on the opposite side of the road. They had just started hurling snowballs at one another when Trixie’s gaze was broken.
With another turn, Trixie felt her breath leave her lungs. Out of the window she saw the whole valley laid out before her. The mountain she and her friends had come out of sat ominously to the west of a thin river which ran right up to the city walls, and probably inside too, Trixie guessed. It was very likely that the river flowed down from the mountains which made up Frostvale's northern wall, which would also explain why there was such a large city so far north. The gates of the city were closed, and the snow-covered road which Trixie had walked very recently was being patrolled by a contingent of black specks, likely guards, their black cloaks making them rather conspicuous against the harsh white of the snow. As she tried to look down, Trixie felt herself being pushed forward by the guard behind her. She stumbled a little, but stayed on her hooves.
The next window brought her back to the market, but a little higher up this time, and for the next few rotations, she simply circled higher. "Are we going all the way to the top?" Trixie asked.
The guard in front gave a gruff chuckle, and the one behind simply said, "No."
Trixie thought better than to ask how high they were going, and in fact that question was soon answered as they came to a landing. A door, flanked by lit braziers, stood resolutely. The guards stopped, and the one in front held up his hoof, rapping it against the door firmly. A few muffled words came from behind the door, and a second later it swung open, revealing a well-dressed stallion with a neatly-trimmed mane and a tabletop lectern floating in front of him. He glanced once at Trixie, then waved her inside, shutting the door behind her as she entered, leaving the guards standing outside.
Immediately Trixie felt warmer, like she'd just walked into a summer day in the middle of winter. The crackling fireplace to her left answered her unasked question. Surrounding the fireplace were a couple of chairs and a small table with books piled on top. The walls were lined with shelves, and it soon became clear that the room was positively stuffed with books. It wasn’t exactly what Trixie had been expecting. The room felt… almost comforting. It was warm, and inviting. She felt like picking up a book and sitting down in one of the chairs by the hearth, but she never got the chance.
“So, then,” said a deep voice from the far end of the room, “you must be Trixie.”
Slowly, Trixie’s gaze shifted from the flame-licked logs to the back of the room where she saw a high-backed chair and a swarthy stallion seated in it. He sat with his back to two large stained glass windows, and one clear one in the middle. Fractured light from the colored windows cast his face in shadow. The desk before him was monstrous, carved from one single piece of wood, and likely weighing hundreds of pounds. It was covered in ink spots and wax drippings from the various inkwells and candles that littered it. His chair scraped against the ground loudly as he pushed away from the desk and slowly stood up.
At his full height, the stallion, whom Trixie assumed was The Warden, was taller than her by at least two heads, and his thickset shoulders made him look all the larger. A small silver circlet, with a fat sapphire stuck in a swirling center, rested on his head. His swept back mane was long and flowing, darker than the night sky and as thick as braided rope. Dragging behind him as he approached Trixie was a black fur cape, big enough to be from a bear, and not a small one at that. His round chest heaved, his russet brown coat shimmering in the firelight.
He stopped just a few feet away from Trixie, dark blue eyes glinting in the light. Gesturing to a small table by his side, he said, "It's a rather cold morning outside. Have some tea to warm yourself."
Trixie didn't respond right away. His voice had a certain roughness to it, though she didn't think it unkind. She glanced at the tea tray that rested upon the table's spindly legs. "I... I'm fine," she said after a bit of hesitation.
Baring his teeth as his lips split into a smile, the Warden growled, "I insist."
Trixie glanced behind her at the tall stallion who’d been standing there silently, then nodded slowly. Her horn glowed dimly as she lifted the teapot and set aside a cup and saucer. Pouring the steaming tea into the cup, she took the opportunity to ask, "What do you want from me?" Trixie noted that he glanced over to the other stallion before responding.
Turning slightly, the Warden lifted a hoof and pointed out the large window. "Do you see those mountains?"
Trixie followed his hoof. It led right to the mountains she'd escaped from only a short time ago. Holding the teacup just below her lips, Trixie took a discrete sniff. Mint, she determined, was the primary flavor. Taking a sip, she nodded cautiously. "Yes."
"Do you know what manner of beast resides within its tunnels?"
Trixie hesitated a moment. She lowered the teacup. "...Yes."
The Warden lowered his hoof, a small smile appearing on his face. Walking over to the tea table, he poured out a cup for himself, then offered it to the other stallion with a raised eyebrow. From behind Trixie, the tall and lanky stallion bowed his head ever so slightly. His horn lighting up, he received the offered teacup and took a gentle sip. He bowed his head slightly in thanks.
Turning back to Trixie, the Warden took another sip of tea. His gaze drifted to the fire. The flames danced in the reflection of his eyes as he said, "You asked me before what I wanted from you." He turned his head towards Trixie. "What I want is simple. It will require nothing from you save information." Smiling, he said, "You can provide that, right?"
Trixie glanced over her shoulder at the third pony. He said nothing, but grinned kindly. Slowly turning back to the Warden, Trixie said, "What kind of information?"
His teeth glinted in the light. The Warden gave a wolfish grin, taking another sip of tea. He set the cup down on the table and made his way towards the window. Staring out it, he spoke loudly so that Trixie could hear, though it wouldn't have been hard for her anyway given the size of the room and the gravitas of his voice. "There's no need to be coy. I know you were in the drake's tunnels, in their home. You've been where no pony from this town has ever dared go. In the den of our enemy..." He paused, casting a glance over his shoulder.
Trixie watched him. She remained quiet, her lips still, and the only movement the rising of her chest as she breathed.
"We're at war, young lady. It may not look like it, but there can be no doubt about our place in this valley." The Warden placed a hoof on the window. Silence fell for a few moments, then he spoke again. "Do you know what those... monsters have done to this city?" He spat the word out like poison. "What they did to... to..." A low growl escaped his lips. “I know that a friend of yours also suffered because of the drakes. You owe it to her to give me all the information you have.”
Trixie’s teeth clenched. The teacup trembled in her magic, splashing tea onto the ground. “I owe it to her…” she said in an equally low growl. “I owe it.” Trixie’s eyes snapped up to the Warden. “Astrid died right in front of me! She died because I couldn’t do anything! Then, just when my friends needed me most, you came and took me away. You dragged me here to question me about drakes, but all I want to know is why she had to die…” Trixie’s voice fell to almost a whisper. It trembled. “Why should I care about the drakes when you won’t even let me care about my friend?”
The Warden remained unfazed. "They are our enemy," he said simply, in a quiet voice that rumbled across the room. Taking a deep breath, the Warden visibly calmed, his shoulders relaxing and his hoof moving back to the ground. He turned around. "All I want is for you to tell me what you saw while you were in their city. And I want to know how many of them there were. That should be simple enough, right?" His face returned to the same wolfish smile he'd had before.
Trixie said nothing at first. She looked down at her teacup, swirling what was left of its contents. She took a long, slow breath, calming her racing heart. She carefully considered her response. "I'm sorry. I can't remember what happened very well. It was so dark, and they carried us from room to room with bags over our heads." She glanced up at the Warden, the hints of a sneer tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I wish I could be of more help."
The Warden's lips, once upturned, curled downwards into a scowl. His eyes narrowed into sharp points. "Don't lie to me," he growled. "I know you met with their queen in private. You spoke with Tiamat alone, something that no other pony can claim to have done and lived to tell about it. I know you know something. Just tell me what their city is like, what they are like. That's all I want to know. It's simple."
Trixie gave the Warden a stony-faced glare. “If you know all that, then you also know that Corona wasn’t with me all the time, so he doesn’t know what happened.”
“I never said anything about Corona,” said the Warden, his eyes narrowing.
Trixie gave a sharp laugh. “You didn’t need to. He’s the only one you could’ve spoken to, and he doesn’t know what happened to me. They took me away in private, yes, but I never met any queen... Tiamat, or whatever. The only drakes I saw were the three that kept my friends and I prisoner."
The Warden's gaze narrowed further, his scowl deepening. "Just three? That's all you saw? Corona spoke of at least a dozen. Is he lying... or are you?"
Trixie kept her face straight. "When we were first captured, he hit his head while we fell from the bridge. I don't think he remembers what happened after that very well. I promise you that I only saw the three drakes that kept me prisoner. They talked like there was a lot more, but I couldn't say how many."
The Warden swung his cape around, storming past the desk. He knocked over the end table that the tea pot sat on, sending it crashing to the ground. Ignoring the shattered pot, he drew upon Trixie, rising to his full height. Staring down at her, he opened his mouth in a snarl, but before he could say anything, the pony behind Trixie cleared his throat.
"Vidar..."
The Warden froze, his cold eyes still fixated on Trixie. He stared at her for a long time, then eventually backed off. Adjusting the clasp of his cloak, he turned away. "If that's all you know, then that's all you know." He returned to his desk, taking a seat in the high-backed chair. Steepling his hooves on the desk, he said, "You may go."
Setting the tea cup down on a nearby table, Trixie wasted no time in making an about face and heading for the door. As her horn began to glow, and the door creaked open a hair, she heard the sound she knew in the back of her mind was coming.
"Wait..." said the Warden. "Just one moment more."
Her heart was beating hard. Trixie swallowed the lump in her throat, staring at the carved wooden door's many contours, trying to decide which face to put on when she turned around. Trixie turned just her head back towards the Warden. Her face was flat, and did not betray her emotions. Her eyes thin, amethyst points. She said nothing. The Warden, from his desk, slowly lifted his head to look at her while the other pony’s gaze shifted from one end of the room to the other.
"You may go," repeated the Warden, "but this is not the last you will see of me, Trixie." He reached for a scrap of parchment from the inside of his desk. Extracting a quill from the inkwell that rested at the corner near the candle, he tapped it once against the side of the glass container. "As I told you before... we are at war here, though the city does not know it yet. The threat of the drakes’ presence is ever-looming, and it is only a matter of time before the first sword is drawn, and the first blow struck. With your help, Trixie, that sword could be ours, and the blow could be lethal." Staring at her for a moment, he said, "We will speak again," then he began scribbling something on the parchment.
Trixie turned back around. The sound of his quill against the parchment was all that filled Trixie’s ears as she opened the door and stepped back into the hall. She was immediately greeted by the same two guards who had escorted her to the spire in the first place. They said nothing, merely nodding down the same stairs she'd climbed so recently. Taking her first step down, Trixie’s ear twitched at the sound of a crow cawing dolefully from its perch on the window ledge. She glanced out the window and saw the great northern gate standing ominously. It gave her an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She’d tried not to show it in the room, but her heart was pounding against her chest. A chill ran down her spine, filling her stomach with dread, as she realized that now she’d have to go back to the hospital room.
Watching the door close, the tall, thin pony watched as the Warden continued to write. After a minute or so, The Warden stopped and looked up. His ears flicked a couple times, then he said, "I can practically hear the gears turning in that mind of yours, Starkad. So, tell me, what do you think of her?"
A small smile played across Starkad's lips. His horn lit up with a brilliant gold as he picked up the broken pieces of the teapot, quickly reassembling them into the correct shape. Using his magic further, he pulled the liquid from the rug at the hearth and dumped it into an empty cup. Once he'd finished this, he set the tray and the cups aside. "She's lying, that much is obvious."
The Warden huffed, quickly scribbling down another thing before saying, "Yes, even I managed to discern that. I can't guess why though. What purpose does it serve?"
Starkad chuckled quietly to himself. With a sly smile, he glanced at The Warden. "Well, now you've touched on it, haven't you, Vidar? The lie itself is inconsequential. Of much greater import is the reasoning behind the lie. Why, indeed, would she withhold information about the drakes? Whom does it benefit? Her? The drakes? Perhaps a third party?" Starkad strode across the room towards one of the many bookshelves lining the walls. Scanning the shelves, he said, "What was it again? 'The first way to lie artistically is to tell the truth—but not all of it. The second way involves telling the truth, too, but is harder: Tell the exact truth and maybe all of it… but tell it so unconvincingly that your listener is sure you are lying'?"
The Warden looked up from his writing to see Starkad smiling disarmingly at him. He shook his head. "You always did have a quote from some book for every occasion. One of these days you're going to be at a loss for words, no one to quote. What then, hm?"
Starkad grinned. "I suppose I'll have to think for myself then, won't I?"
The Warden grumbled something under his breath. "So, are you saying that she's not lying, but merely trying to fool us into thinking she is?"
Adjusting the tightness of his collar, Starkad shook his head. "No. As I said before, she is clearly lying, though there is undoubtedly some truth to what she said."
"And how does one uncover the truth buried within the lies?"
A wide grin snuck its way onto Starkad's face, curling his thin lips upwards. "Ah, now that is the question, isn't it?"
The Warden's brow furrowed. He pursed his lips, looking down at the parchment. "Hm, perhaps it would be easier to simply imprison her until she becomes more cooperative. It would be a simple matter of--"
"No!" Starkad's hoof shot out. He paused, collecting himself and clearing his throat. "No, sir. That would not be wise. One can never trust information gathered while the one providing the information is under duress. It is unreliable at best, and utterly false at worst."
"Another quote?"
"Personal experience."
"I see..." The Warden nodded, as if agreeing with something, then said, "Then I will continue with my original plan. Here." Rolling the parchment up, he took the seal of his office and stamped a freshly poured pool of wax into place. "Take this to Knight-Commander Bulwark at the southern gate."
Starkad raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Standing up, The Warden lumbered across the room, slapping the paper into Starkad's chest. "Orders to close the city gates. Both entrances, and limit access to and from the city to patrols and hunting parties only."
"Vidar..."
The Warden's face darkened. "This is just the first step in an elaborate dance. Our hooves have only just stepped upon the ballroom floor."
Starkad looked at the parchment, then back to the Warden. "And keeping her locked within the city is just an added benefit?"
"The first casualty, perhaps."
The Warden turned away, walking back to his desk, and leaving Starkad to himself for a moment. After a brief pause, he eventually nodded quietly, then headed for the door. Letting it shut quietly behind him as he exited, Starkad glanced back at the door before trotting down the stairs. He looked once more at the parchment in his hooves. The Knight-Commander could wait. There was something else to attend to first.
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The tower gives me major Orthanc vibes.
I thought The Warden would be much more unlikeable than he really is, granted we've only just met him, but his desire to protect his city from the drakes is understandable. Also his relationship with Starkad is interesting, especially since it seems that Starkad has an agenda of his own.
Good chapter, and eager for more.
Have a Trixie:
i.imgur.com/DDvA17A.png
Alex writes a Trixie story? Oh dang dis gone be gooooooooood.
War with the drakes? Yespls
5355540
It's almost as if you didn't read the first story in the series, Bob. HOW RUDE
I love that you kept the Pinecone picture.
Trixie must be very proud, because I am.
Is that a chocolate cake she is munching on?
This better be a chocolate cake
I can't start reading, I'm SO excited I'm totally paralyzed! I'll try to leave a proper critique when I read it...
awesome start!
It really have been worth the wait, the chapter's really elaborated with good (and maybe, sometimes, a bit excessive) descriptions. Also there's clearly a good story plot behind all this new characters and the new location, so if all the chapters are going to be like this, I can already call it a success
just don't make us cry too much when Trixie returns to Polaris...
By the way, is the next covert art going to look as great as the first fic's? :)
5356376
I've seen the rough draft of it, and knowing that it's being drawn by the incredibly talented Belligerent Sock, I can say that without a doubt it will be at least as awesome as Letters' coverart, and possibly more awesome.
Er.. 'were'?
Interesting seeing another look into the Letters universe :D
Interesting start, to be sure. I suppose I'll follow this.
I really want to kill you right now, how could you kill Astrid?! She was bloodly pregnant! You horrible excuse for an author, I would strangle your avatar using my avatar! Cause strangling you wouldn't solve anything.
Such a good start, as well as a good chapter to bridge the first story and this one.
5356145
Nope, it's
acornspine cones. The real question is why is she eatingacornspine cones?--Sollace
Edit: derp
am I the only one that thinks Trixie is eating a mound of shit on the cover art
5358452 when I saw the thumbnail my mind Instantly Thought of that exact thing...
Bad mind... dirty mind... cease thy filth ridden thoughts.
>TFW no one remembers the "Trixie eating pinecones" meme anymore.
alex, it's official. We're oldfoals.
5359667
I swore it would never happen to me... but here it is. Hold me, pav.
Okay, quite a nice, tense opening. I am still... really really disliking Astrid's death, but good to have Trixie's anger about it there. The Warden... well-intentioned extremist, there? I dunno. I have a feeling of self-fulfilling prophecy with him and the Drakes.
Nice to see you back in the saddle, alexmagnet.
I must confess, I'm a little nervous. This second "book" starting as our heroes arrive in the city suggests we might be spending a lot of time stuck here, while the "unread letters" suggest our other heroes won't be catching up any time soon. That will be a heavy burden to place on Polaris, and I would hate to see his and Astrid's goodwill repaid so poorly because of these circumstances.
5362409
Well, obvious I don't want to spoil anything, but this is the second act of a three act structure, so I'm sure I don't have to tell you what that means.
Also, "back in the saddle"... I can't tell if that pun was intentional or not. Good lord, I've been on this site too long.
Oh no, not another one of these. UGH.
Is Trixie eating... Pine Cones???
5374311
Sir, such subtle and sexy use of sibilance is beyond such a simple mind as mine.
Okay I'm impressed with this story so far and its prequel.
I noticed lots of comments from other bronies say they didn't like the non chronological order of the chapters. Personally I actually love it. It really shows great skill in story building. Not many writers can pull that off. I have read a few novels that had that kind of building but they are very rare but also at the same time considered in my country one of the best literary artworks produced. So far I only have read this kind of system in 2nd war novels.
So I was really surprised to see it being used in an adventure story. As I said truly amazing, this is one of those hidden gems in the fimfiction.
As for the story itself. Cannon wise this will be hard to pull off since the new seasons will come and in your story arc so far Trixie only had the Ursa Major incident and not the Alicorn Amulet. So we have actually now a different time line scenario. Because in the show it was stated in season 4 that only a year had passed between season 1 to 3. Soon it should be considered to become an alternate universe I think.
As for the story so far I have noticed you posses a great deal of knowledge about dragons in mythology wise. So my guess is that you played D&D. Since I see a lot of references to that game mechanics as well as certain aspects of its general background.
But back again to the story. Trixie 180 character chance is actually done somehow right. We never saw how she chanced her attitude in your stories yet somehow it doesn't come of unnatural either. I'm still trying to figure it out how you did that. I think your non chronological order of chapters is hiding her character development. As readers we know it happened but we don't see how or when it happens. How did Trixie came from being an angry and obnoxious character to a calm and likeable character is actually not shown. Only small moments we she her chances. Yet it feels right. I haven't figured out yet how you have done it.
But trust me, I'm determined to find out.
Overall I give this story and the prequel a score 10/10. Which is kinda weird to give since it's even not finished yet. I have already favourite previous one.
... And yet another leader who obviously has no idea how people(ponies, whatever) work or simply doesn't care. Ponies generally do not think rationally. If you force someone away from someone who they have a deep connection to who is dying... that doesn't exactly promote cooperation. I get the warden is supposed to be the bad guy, but still. I'd have expected more from someone who has someone, who likely knows ponies rather well, as an adviser. (Yay for terrible unlegible sentence structure.)
Great story btw. Although Twilight already knowing Midnight does feel a bit forced.
okay alex I found a humongous problem this is big time so look closely
Formatting > move the bottom slider to the right:
i.imgur.com/FwddboP.png
what are you going to do about this before it breaks the site
5419977
I think I'll just commit seppuku and get it over with.
5420064
I'll fly in for the funeral
lol jk
5420064
Also, have you seen the Princess Celestia and Princess Luna options in the color box? Trippy as pho.
Please continue on this story, so far it's amazing, but making your Great and Loyal Fans wait so long (it's not that long, I know) for the Great and Powerful Update is torture! It feels like getting thrown into Tartarus after your husband/wife left you for someone else he/she saw at your wedding ceremony! It's not as bad as people canceling their half-finished fanfiction masterpiece, though.
Well, this sequel's off to an interesting start. And a handful of antagonists whose collective behinds I already want to shove my foot in.
So they are trapped in another place? Damn...
5381518 I am glad to see that I am not the only one who loves how the first part of this series followed a non-chronological order. The only other example of this style that comes to my mind is the first Highlander movie, and even that movie did not execute the style as well. I do hope that Alex does the rest of this series in the same manner.
On the subject of the canon timeline, I am curious as to exactly which episode it was that it was stated that only a year had gone by since the S1 opener. Personally, I feel that having all four seasons occur in a single year's time makes the show seem too rushed. There are just too many different things which make it more sensable for each season to be its own year.
post contains spoilers from Letters From a Friend at the End of the World, read at your own risk
5381518 the trick to reading this story is to individualize the different parts. So far we have 3 storylines running that will eventually coincide; Trixie in the past (i.e. Hoofington and onward), Trixie a year later (from the windigoes onward), and Twilight following Trixie. If you can individualize each section as a story of it's own, keeping in mind that when it's all said and done the three will connect, then you'll understand the story a lot better.
As for Trixie's change of heart, the first we see of it chronologically is when she is leaving Hoofington. Her letter then was fairly sentimental but still gave off a bit of an aura saying "I will complete my mission." It's the old standby of friendship is magic, she got together with her oldest friend, Anvil, and after spending three months with him she began to transform. From there she meets Polaris and Astrid and quickly becomes friends with them, we can assume she continued to transform throughout the journey because of the magic of friendship.
She still doesn't know what she is looking for in the north, or why she is even going there at all anymore. The Eye told her she would either become the strongest unicorn in Equestria or she would die in the snow, and it would be her choice. We won't know until the conclusion of the trilogy.
Oh! A sequel!! *squee*
Imma read the shit out of this thang!
God damn it! God damn it! F
k! F
k! F
k! F
k! F
k! F
kie, F
kie, F
kie you for breaking my heart after reading and witnessing Astrid's death!
Normally a character death doesn't really affect me that much but hers? Hers was so god damn painful for three factors,
One, she was an awesome and interesting character you made! I loved her to know end and you just did that to her!
Two, the reaction from the two main ponies just goes beyond understanding that they are very heartbroken, Trixie seeing her death went into tears upon witnessing and losing a dear friend! And her own husband went through the same ordeal and they couldn't do anything to rescue her, and she was calling for help! She was calling desperately for help and was crying and they couldn't do anything to save but watch her die! She was even scared to die! That is cruel!
And three, is probably my one reason to hate what you did even though it was bound to come, she was BLOODY PREGNANT! She never got the chance to give birth to her baby due to her dying and her own child might, no WILL, never be born to see his/her father and the world because of the tragic death!
I love your writing and the story is very outstanding and all, but that is just cruel Alex! I don't want to accept Astrid's death at all! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! I AM NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS! THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR MY HEART TO TAKE!
OMG!
why!?why!?why!?why!?why!?why!?!! why would you kill her off?! she was a good character and after we found out the good news too! im like NOOOOOO! she has to live! she has too! i am in tears right now because of it!
update?
Amazing story, told out of order, confusing as hell and will likely never have our questions answered. My God, Its Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumia all over again.
update?
tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Dead-Its-dead-Jim.jpg
or is it ?
It's been well over a year. I pronounce it dead... Such a shame, it was a really good story.
OK, what's the deal here? You've been here about a week ago. It's not a hiatus anymore, it's ignoring. Any updates? ANY? Not even about real life? Much less then fanfic?
5 days ago. WHAT THE HELL, MAN?! Why are you ignoring your story? I've HAD it with abandoned stories, don't do it too!
Well shit, I guess Trixie never becomes a god and never meets Twilight or crosses the Onyx Mountains.
I was really looking forward to that.
Cancelled? A damned shame.
I haven't even read any of this story and i'm already feeling upset about it being cancelled.