Epilogue
Drifting Down the Lazy River
Epilogue
"...and so there ain't nothing more to write about, and I am rotten glad of it, because if I'd a knowed what a trouble it was to make a book I wouldn't a tackled it, and ain't a-going to no more."
— The Adventures of Buck Fin
Beauty in Equestria can be found everywhere, but the skills to capture those sights and events are rare indeed. The artistic world is always looking for new talent in the galleries and ballrooms of the rich and powerful, in concert halls and receptions of the well-connected, and the bistros and coffee houses of the cultured, but over the last few years, a number of paintings have emerged to fascinate and frustrate even the most serious collectors. First there were, of course, the inevitable paintings of the Royal Sisters, done in a fashion no other artist had ever attempted, but when the artist was sought to claim the fame which they deserved, none stepped forward.
Then there were the other places these strange and captivating pictures began to appear, from both noble and common houses around Canterlot, to a restaurant in Baltimare which soon had more of the new artist’s pictures on their walls than any other location in the world.
To this day, the artist has yet to be found. But there is one tiny hint to their location.
Of all the strange places to find artistic talent in Equestria, the rural Fenwick valley ranks among the most peculiar. If a traveler is very lucky on their journey through the vineyards and farms of the river valley, they may find a home or business along the riverbank with one of these treasured paintings, done in the same stunning style that no other artist could possibly match. It may be a painting of a family member, or their home, or even a sunset, but just like the rest of the recipients, no matter how many bits they are offered, the owners always refuse to sell.
Some say the mysterious painter is an alicorn who paints with the colors of the sky, while others claim she is a water sprite, because the paintings always seem to crop up near the river somewhere. Still, the owners of the paintings refuse to say just who the artist is or where they hang their easel.
However, it is rumored that if one is very lucky and happens upon a small riverboat working its way up or down the river, a miracle may occur, and one of these miraculous paintings will find its way to your home. The description of the mysterious boat is different in every telling. Some say it sails without a crew, a mechanical spirit of the river itself. Others claim it is really a haunted castle, and the ghost of a beautiful pale mare walks its halls, vanishing without a trace when confronted. A few even say the rumor is false, and the riverboat is just an ordinary speedboat, piloted by a young earth pony diver and his unicorn engineer wife who travel up and down the river to mark the underwater snags for the river Fen’s barge traffic.
Still...
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And they painted Happily Ever After.
The End
sad to see it end but I'm happy everything came out grand for them.
The painting of Celestia... I wish I had the money to have a talented artist recreate the paintings from this story.
Oh... oh wow. This was beautiful! Seeing Turpentine touch the lives of so many and be touched in turn...
Bravo on this wonderous world.
Thank you for wrighting this.
I'm not crying only because I'm in class right now.......
Damn it, I'm crying...
Very satisfactory - nice to see cameo appearances from other stories too.
Oh. Oh my yes. Oh yes indeed. Oh how fantastic. This right here gives me the warm fuzzies.
This was great.
I like this sort of epilogue, where the last chapter does end the story in a satisfactory way, but the epilogue is a sort of denouement, adding more without being out of place.
I really want more seaponies from you, but since I can't really think of any way for you to make a sequel, I guess that just means I have to do it myself.
But I'm already working on a story! This is so unfair...
7969261 You're in good company, cause I am too-ooo-ooo!
Thank you for the story. It was wonderful.
This was a thing of beauty, combine this with the previous story and you really have done wonderfully. Now I have that sad last page feeling though :(
This was beautiful, you wonderful monster.
I'm just gonna have to go wallow in despair and hope to see more of Ripple, Turpentine, Gabby, and Pearl via cameos in your other fics...
One question, though: Adopted sister, wife, or both? (I mean, it's not like there'd be the normal concerns of genetic mishaps, but it'd still be a little weird.)
There is no better way to end a story then by never ending it at all.
-Me.
7969815 This is a slice of life at it truest the story doesn't end till death at least what us poor mortals can see.
GREAT STORY GEORG.. Wondering what sort of painting Turp would do of Twilight and Candance
Oh? You'd think there were enough public clues. The princesses must've been actively supressing them; after all Turpentine was introduced to many ponies as the one drawing that card that was published in the papers, and anyone really looking would probably see the style similarities.
I guess with seaponies involved, it was the safest course of action...
I like this one
7970133 Oh, but the art community is looking for somepony in their 20s or even 30s, a handsome young lad or lass who goes to the wine tasting parties, hangs out in the clubs, etc... And that expected age just keeps going up as Turpentine grows.
7970080 I was tempted to slip in a reference to the M6 at the end, but restrained myself.
7969565 After a few years, Gaberdine can adopt Turpentine and move him from Ward status to Adopted Son (inheritable). That puts him in his teens, and older ponies can take *years* of close therapy to get over traumatic events. Decades, even. Now when Ripple goes through puberty, things will get... tense.
7969311 7969261 Your tears give me strength. And incentive.
7969093 This is probably the first story I wrote where I'm kind of expecting to get some fan art about the characters. Pen Mightier kind of surprised me with the first Ripple picture. I like surprises.
7970188
I hope some of it will include Luna. And a waterfall
7970188 I wasn't even thinking of them can you imagine trying to keep Rainbow Dash or Pinkie still enough for a portrait. Fluttersly and Twilight would be easy enough. Surround Flutterhy with animals and give Twilight a HUGE book
Dat ending! Turp and Ripple are together!
Damn, this was a really pleasure reading every day.
Thank you for a wonderful story.
Aw they got married, best ending.
The only way this could have been any better would be if Podunk had made an appearance.
I put this on my read-it-one-of-these-days list 'cause Georg, but kept putting it off because "seaponies? Seriously??" Then one evening I read the first chapter, and was all "Wow!" So I read the next chapter, which was even better. After that, this tale consumed all my waking hours until I finished it.
This is a masterpiece, good sir. Bravo! Thank you for sharing it.
A wonderful ending to a wonderful story!
I've really enjoyed reading these two stories. The characters are very well written and very likable (especially ripple). I really hope you plan on continuing the story further. I know that all good things must eventually come to an end, but I just can't help wonder what the future has in store for this enchantingly motley crew of characters you've given us.
In any case, both The One Who Got Away and Drifting Down the Lazy River will forever have a very special place in my list of favorite FIM stories.
-Cheers-
I was hoping to see Celestia's reaction to her painting. But I'm just going to imagine she hung it up in the throne room.
An utterly brilliant little story. My only regret is that you aren't some kind of dimension-hopping wizard who can fetch the paintings that you hint at describing, so that we can gawk at them like everypony else.
7970133
This perfectly sums up my feelings about this epilogue. The 'mysterious, unknown artist' schtick seems so forced, but the sentiment behind it is understood. The only way this could have been published (as it seems to be a news article) is if the Princesses passed some obscure libel law to forbid dissemination of a 'wandering artist's' secret identity.
The bit about Turpentine and Ripple being husband and wife was delightful. It was, by far, the best aspect of this chapter for me. It also made me feel a bit better about Gabby's "I can't be your father yet" cop out in the last chapter. While I liked the actual sentiment, I am going to pretend that Gabby secretly shipped Turpentine/Ripple obsessively. Therefore, to keep his son and avoid adopted-child-incest, he contrived the cabin colt position to keep Turpentine from running off (until he was Gabby's son-in-law).
I loved this story! It was simply, perfectly... pastoral, and a sweet bit of nostalgia for this boy that grew up in a small town on a river.
Thanks, dude.
A wonderful story that leaves you wanting more.
If you ever have time for a sequel, you have my support.
Ooo, well well well.
7971127 I know where you liiive mooori
7974063 You know, traditionally, people who actually have a serious threat against me do it in private messages.
T^T that last sentence man... bout made me tear up. lovely way to end it
7970133 you and me both. that last sentence... sad too tho. assuming its a sign the seaponies still haven't gone home.
What a nice, calm ending to a great tale.
At the end of some tales, I find myself lingering at the last word for some time, as if to hope that some miracle will occur and more words will spring up and pages will burst forth like new leaves in spring.
It is those stories I treasure and hoard like a dragon.
Those are the truly marvelous stories. Simple, quiet tales such as "Stuart Little"; powerful and touching science fiction classics such as "The Time Machine"; sprawling tapestry epics like "Lord of the Rings"; bitingly clever satires touched with whimsy akin to "Matilda", and quaint yet poignant fantasies in the vein of "The Last Unicorn".
And now, to their number, I add this tale.
7974063 I know where you live.
ON EARTH!!! *ZOMG! INTERGALACTIC STALKER!!*
7970188 DRINK THE TEARS OF YOUR FANS AND GROW IN POWER!!! MUWAH HA HA HA!! (Alondro puts an evil spin on everything...)
7969300 Ain't 'denouement' one o' the fancy wurds fer gettin' nekkid?
7970662
Hold on there a moment.
When you say you put this on your read-it-one-of-these-days list, does that mean you haven't yet read "The One That Got Away" or were you simply referring to the pair of stories?
Aww. What a wonderful story. Shame it time jumped, as i personally love all the in between stuff, but eh, your story after all.
It was interesting having this orphan character give me more than any other before, as ive never experienced it and not anything close to it i was pleasantly surprised when you hit my heart towards the end. And the way you describe the art! Oh it is lovely, i picture it in my head and i only wish someone out there could make it, and more so, someone out there would sell it. Though i fear nothing could quite do justice. The ending was very sweet, and we got that glimpse of eventual ending for Ripple and Turpentine, which was nice, i wish there was more, and another story that goes in between the previous chapter and this one would be great, but either way i loved it.
Fav and like from me. Keep on writing man.
So how long did he end up actually drifting down the lazy river? One scene in one chapter, IIRC?
Aww.
I hope we will see some more of Turpentine and Ripple in the future.
They deserve a romance themed fanfic.
8180586
It's an allegory.
When i first found this story and The one who got away I put off reading it for a few months. Now that I have read it, the only regret I have is not reading it sooner. Those two stories have left me in a daze only a few books have.
The way you wrote your characters, showing their personalities, thoughts and emotions, brought them to life. That, combined with your storytelling makes them something worthy of praise and admiration.
Also, I have to say that i really liked Turpentine. His character amd this story of him searching for a home and his place in the world just spoke to me.
Tl;dr 11/10 will read again
So while the entire story was amazing (Everything I've seen you do has been), I have to say that this might be the single most perfect epilogue I have ever seen.
This was an amazing and serene adventure. I applaud the author for this work of art.
9575737 The combined two-volume set of The One Who Got Away/Drifting Down the Lazy River will be available at Bronycon 2019 at the bookstore for purchase, under the rather narrow rules of publishing fanfiction which summarize down to "Thou Shalt Make No Money Off This Or Else."
This was a wonderful read. And to think I only began reading the pair due to the comment on Farmer Bruener has some ponies. Or something like that
Youre the only person who makes me cry at work.
Wonderful story.
I kind of wish we'd gotten to see Celestia and Luna's reactions to the painting. I suspect Luna would have found it nearly precisely what she expected, while Celestia would find it to be a shocking but loving recreation of her most treasured memories. Perhaps something for a Thoughtlet? I'm imagining Luna somehow conspiring to get the portrait unveiled for the first time in Canterlot without Celestia ever managing to catch a peek, so that shehas to handle the shock of it while surrounded by ponies. Perhaps Celestia's response is an important element in the fame of our new artistic master's fame.