Meet Ditch.
Ditch is the caretaker at the Canterlot Cemetery. He lives a calm life involving digging, burying, seldom... well, occasional... alright, habitual drinking, and generally managing the place and its residents to the best of his abilities.
Ditch enjoys his job. The salary is not enough to live, but sufficient not to die, the graveyard shifts are not graveyard shifts, and the clients are calm and docile, even if a little bit stiff. Canterlot ponies, right? But Ditch does not mind. They don’t complain and loyally catch some due rest.
Except for when they suddenly don’t.
Chapters (9)
Seems good, so far. I wonder where it will lead us to...
What truly impresses me about your writing style is your ability to establish the world around your characters! Either with massive monuments to worldbuilding such as in "Journey" or with a smaller exercise here, we have learned so much in only two thousand words while maintaining an entertaining narrative. Kudos to you my good sir!
8030859
An early grave, if you ask me!
8031235
Why, thank you very much, that means a lot to me.
This is good, you should continue!
8031366
Oh, I shall!
8031444
Promising!
Stay tuned for this and more, friend!
Reminds me of The Dead Don't Shuffle with a dash of Romero from Bloodlines, but this one seems to have more of a comedy focus and less murdery, but it's only the first chapter. The only thing I take note of is that while Ditch is shown to be a jolly ol' fellow, it's not really shown why. It'll provide a little more context why he is the way he is.
8037215
Well, one thing that I can promise is taking great care of those details.
You, Sir have made another story for me to follow! The humor in this one is amusing, even made me spew my drink in laughter. Was a small waste of rum, But... there is always more rum. I am curious to see how this will go. I must have more!
8038608
Now, I cannot let such a sacrilege stand, lest I too break the commandments of Boozeism! Get yourself another drink!
8038616 I shall repent with much haste! And with Whiskey this time!
I like this so far. Its cool to see a story touching on the topics of death and religion which aren't really covered in the show, for obvious reasons of course. We'll see where it goes from here.
8042534
Hopefully it ventures to a good place! I will do my best, that's for certain.
Promising premise.
I'm curious what will happen next.
8049641
Glad to hear you like it.
8065223
I will be continuing this fairly soon, next week, quite possibly.
Hm. The comedy was laughable, but the ending had me feel a bit freakish. I was just wondering when he would notice that the pony he was talking to was a ghost. Heh. Nice work!
8142884
Thank you! I'm planning to continue this quite soon, stay tuned!
8143067
I most definitely will!
Neat.
I like your "narrating" style and jokes in it.
Followed.
Ooooh, I'd forgotten about this one until I saw it updated!
Ahhh, Boozeism! Truly a religion of wonders! I myself have considered joining the order. Though in my case, it's so that I might attend AA meetings. I figure it's a good way to meet people!
Ditch's nonchalance when confronted with the deceased is both unusual and entertaining. I eagerly await more!
-snorts and about coughs up some of my wine- Well that was a good one. Im impressed. and impressed with the chapter. It does set up a good dynamic between the two. Im curious to see how this goes.
8354025
Thank you very much, friend!
8354060
Yeah, this kind of fell off my radar for a moment, due to mounting personal issues, but I'm getting back to it. Writing Ditch is actually rather refreshing!
8354072
Hopefully well, now that I am getting back into the spirit of writing!
At least he would keep his job if the cementary is haunted.
They would have trouble finding a replacement for him.
Also, I like your writing style, filled with jokes and puns in this story.
Very good work!
8371709
Thank you very much, I aim to deliver!
If the main OCs in this story were voiced, what would they sound like?
8439367
Hmmm... For Ditch, I imagine a very gruff, almost tired voice. Free Verse, on the other hand, would be clear and somewhat elegant... even if hauntingly echoing.
Only a gravekeeper would think of using a ghost to chill his drinks... I applaud this.
8439861
It's about using the opportunities life and death give!
8439871
Very true. Now if only the ghosts of my home would be so kind. all they do is just make noises.
8440093
Make noises back at them. Or offer a sit-down and a nice chat.
I have to agree with him.
*shudder*
I mean, he is the undead ghost and yet he is creeped out by Ditch.
Good chapter!
I can't wait to see what happens next!
8442634
Thank you kindly. I hope something spooky and interesting.
Please continue this, it's most intriguing.
8716958
I shall, worry not. As soon as it hits my writing schedule.
We all now that pain...
Ditch: "Yesterday, for that matter..."
Wow, it had been a while.
Good to see that story continuing!
Even if there were no ghosts this time. (Or does the ending count?)
9112295
Take a while guess about that ending.
I am glad to return to this tale, even after so long. And I am very happy to see a comment too.
Sharing spirits with a spirit lifts one spirits.
Free Verse may have made a grave mistake.
If I had been drinking when I read this, I'd be coffin.
Still, it's a good story, am I wight?
No bones about it!
Once Free Verse figures out how to use a pen, he can become his own ghost writer.
Wow, I figured this story was dead for sure. Certain jokes about a certain year aside, this chapter - and this story - has a lot of heart, which I suppose comes from the opposing personalities of Ditch and Free Verse.
10653595
Things aren't dead for sure, that's the motto of this story so far. And I'm glad you still found it appealing.
Huh. Call me a shovel, 'cause I am digging it.
Yup, still digging it. I'm always up for a bit of ghostly goofing, and this story has that in spades.
I'll see myself out now.
10682713
No, no, stay for a while. The dead are not going anywhere!
... wait.
RIP Robin Williams.
10683589
Let's all hope he found his peace.
Maybe he can make a night job out of this...
There must be a bar somewhere who is interested in hiring him.
Free Verse: "Except it is..."
I'm sure it won't kill you. Probably.
Nice chapter!
I enjoyed reading it.
Had been a while since the last update, but I'm glad the story continues.
If I read the ending correctly Free Verse is stuck in the cementary.
That means he has to keep living(?) there and playing refrigator until he finally manages to pass on.
10683765
Seems like it so far! And I'm glad to get this story going again. It should not be quite that long for the next chapter to appear.
Really want to see a Princess try to figure out that letter after it arrives.