Hero
Twilight continued to ponder, her questions clearly still myriad. I enjoyed this time immensely, having discussion with another pony who didn't go to sleep at the mention of 'philosophy' was rare enough, to find one who enjoyed it was truly spectacular. My time in the gaps is often filled with my drawings, with my readings, but most of all with my thoughts. There, in the silence, they resonated so clearly, that truly I could understand my own mind.
"Clockwork, tell me, many ponies have called my friends and me 'heroines' before because of our actions against Nightmare Moon, yet I've always been on the stance that we are not. Heroes, as you would argue, are given meaning by their contrast to a villain, but could they not exist independently of one another? What would you say?"
This question was startling, and clearly loaded.
On one hoof, to give her praise and call her a hero could help me fall into good graces with the mare I cherished so deeply...
Yet she has stated she is not.
Was this modesty?
Or seeking an honest answer?
Wasn't modesty part of what made a hero?
Perhaps not.
To assign meaning to a term was easy, but definition?
The hero's meaning is to contrast the villain, yet couldn't a meaningful hero exist without one? Surely they could right?
And a meaningful villain without heroes? It seems logical...
But no, they could not...
For heroes could not do what makes them who they are without the contrast of their actions.
A hero does what is right, and for one to distinguish what is right, there must be wrong.
"Well, by what I would say is popular definition, yes, you are a hero, but not by mine."
Twilight sharply looked up from her tea.
"Oh?"
Twilight glared at me, before regaining her composure with a quick deep breath,
*Tick-Tock*
"I appreciate your honesty, I guess." Twilight quickly returned to her tea, her brow furrowing.
I still do not understand other ponies.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, but by my definition, I don't think I could ever be a hero either. Very few ponies can. I would simply consider myself a good stallion at best, and you a good mare at the least."
"So what is this definition of yours, then? How is it different?"
"Do you remember our discussion on fear?"
"Of course."
"Well firstly, a hero must be courageous, not brave. If they are afraid of not taking action, then they are simply ordinary, yet brave. A hero must not be coerced into their deeds, they must be act simply on their will, no consequence shall come of their inaction."
"I suppose that makes sense. The motivation for my battle with Nightmare Moon was in part the consequences I would face for inaction, so that's why I'm not a heroine?"
"Partially."
"Partially? What else is there?"
"Your battle with Nightmare Moon, how did it end?"
"Well, after Nightmare Moon was transformed into Luna, princess Celestia reappeared, and the sisters made up after so many years."
"And after that?"
"There was a banquet to celebrate the reunion of the sisters."
"Were you and your friends honored at this banquet?"
"Of course."
"Then I would state this could also provide you are not a hero, simply a good mare."
"Why?"
"Earlier I spoke of recognition, that this is the motive to all our behavior. Could it have been a motivator in your fight as well?"
"Now hold on, I never asked to be honored..."
"No, but would you be upset if you weren't?"
"Of course not!"
"You were upset when I, a lone, undoubtedly crazy pony, said you were not a hero."
"...fair enough. Yes, I suppose I would be upset if I didn't receive some credit."
"Tell me, who else fought to stop Nightmare Moon?"
"My friends of course! Applejack, Pinkie Pie-"
"What about the two guards stallions who charged her as soon as she emerged, but were quickly knocked out?"
"Oh, uh, I guess I hadn't thought about them..."
"Can you tell me their names?"
"No...I don't know them."
"They were heroes, Twilight."
"But they didn't stop her! They didn't even slow her down for a second!"
"Exactly."
"Huh?"
"Tell me, Twilight, your battle with Nightmare Moon, was it hard?"
"It certainly wasn't a walk in the park...but looking back I did manage to win with just a few scrapes and bruises. I suppose I've had worse days, yeah."
"Those stallions were knocked unconscious and fell 30 feet to the hard ground. One broke his wing very badly."
"Why tell me this? Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?"
"No! Not at all, I'm just trying to provide some context. You saved Equestria, there is no doubt, but there were others who fought. Do you believe winning is what makes a hero? In the end, must the hero always triumph?"
"No...I suppose not, but they were destroyed! It was stupid for them to fight her in the first place!"
"Again, exactly."
"I don't understand, what are you getting at with all this?"
"Twilight, my definition of a hero is not simple, nor is it happy. It is, and will always be, destined to be tragic.
A hero is courageous, acting when there is no fear of not acting. Those stallions could have stood there on the ground and watched everything unroll safely from a distance. Yet they acted, in spite of tremendous fear, they acted.
Secondly, a hero neither needs nor wants recognition, for their deed are self satisfactory, as they are recognized by themselves.
But mostly, a hero is separated by their will.
You see, a normal pony will do what is right when it is easy.
A good pony will do what is right when it is hard.
But a hero?
A hero does what is right...
When it is impossible.
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Just so you know I am blatantly plagiarizing this for my ethics class
.
Very happy this is not dead. Thanks for the update.
Don't know if it's on purpose, but I think you meant;
V!NY1-2C547CH
4100128
Um, no...not really? I like my username the way it is...
4100133 Oh, I thought you wanted it written in Leet, you know.
7h!2 14n9u493, !t'2 c4113d "1337".
(This language, it's called "Leet)
4100083
The last line of this chapter is blatantly plagiarized from my own english composition lecture paper on heroism, which is on some sort of online submission database, so be careful.
4100136
Haha no, this is edmdjanese. When I had a part time DJ job, my stage name was K0RT-M4R5H4LL, it's just replacing letters with numbers which look similar-ish. That's where the username came from.
4100139 I know, replacing letters with look-alike number's called "Leet", it's what some people would call an internet language.
422422!N2 H!D!N9 !N 7H3 C10237. :3
3898282
lewd pictures!
Holy hell that's weird. I just checked out the movie on Netflix, and I though 'oh, well, time-stoppage isn't that unique and...oh...he draws pictures,
I am sorry to say, but this is where I will probably stop reading. The last two chapters ... what happened? Up until this point the story was a unique and pleasant experience that was both thoughtful and well written, but these two chapters ... urgh.
I'm going to be blunt here - these two chapters read like the author pulling out a soapbox, getting on top of it and having the main character act as his mouthpiece while he conveys The Truth on a subject matter, while Twilight (from the few times she does speak or act) feels dumbed down and presented as an opinionless dimwit who apparently has issues producing any meaningful thoughts herself on the topic, and thus has to be spoonfed The Truth by our obviously right and deeply insightful main character, thus (supposedly) reinforcing the legitimacy of his words in a self sustaining circle.
I am sorry to say, but I found these last two chapters to be condescending in their self-righteousness and distasteful in their obvious approach to shove an opinion (The Correct Opinion, since Twilight doesn't do much beyond sit there and sputter a few weak indignations that aren't characteristic of her at all) down the reader's throats.
This was a good read while it lasted, and I don't know what prompted it to take the turn that it did, but I can't in good conscience continue reading this and derive enjoyment from it. Best of luck with your future endeavors, but I am afraid this is my stop.
Oh my fucking god this is so good...~!
You are blowing my fucking mind with every paragraph. I'm enjoying each one of these little chapters immensely.
Already a little excited to see what mind blowing chunks of English you throw at me next.
Bravo.
Had to read through the entire story again after i saw the update, it's been that long. but man, it was worth it! and you say the story is only getting started? Hot diggety damn, I can't wait to see what comes next!
Interesting. That's a new way to look out at things. I don't necassarily agree 110% with it but it certainly caught my attention. Good work.
4100137
Thanks for the tip!
Seriously though this is an absolutely beautiful piece of writing that has some really heavy philosophy behind it. The last few lines of this chapter are probably the most simple and poetic way to describe universalism I've ever heard, and I've read everyone from Socrates to Kant! While I'm obviously not going to copy this it is a beautiful ideology that I'd love to share it with some of my peers. Cheers!
The ticking stopped about halfway through the chapter.
I agree with what you have to say through Clockwork on this chapter.
Oh how i love these 2 chapters I greatly enjoy the philosophy and it did flesh out clockwork a bit more
Ah, yes. The definition of a Hero. Indeed. I always preferred this version to others. It was more... accurate. A hero is not born, nor is a hero made through an act of greatness.
A hero is made through self-sacrifice, and sometimes even that of which in the highest form.
The difference between a Champion and a Hero is that a Champion lives to tell his tale of glory to the masses.
A Hero dies, and lets the masses tell his tale over his grave.
This chapter warmed my heart. Wise indeed.
as I mentioned two comments ago 5)Meaning ≠ doesn't equal existence. They are not the same thing.
Because his definition is less broad by only applying to those that make right actions that contrast wrong actions, excluding right actions in general.
His definition also included the 3 requirements of acting trough courage and humbly(Trough intrinsic motivation) and must have the will/character to act toward what is right no matter what.
I believe this definition is pretty silly, random, limiting, and impractical. Knowing that this is his idea of a hero just make me lower my personal respect toward Clockwork.(If you are reading this, Please don't take this personal, I don't want to offend anyone just for being critical)
Silly Clockwork you may gain enough knowledge to predict and understand Twilight actions; but every pony is different so complete understanding of all their actions it's a goal that's only possible after knowing every pony.
4100143 No way! We got to stop them before it's too late!
~Leonzilla
Makes sense to me. But I still think Twilight and her friends are still heroines; just because they had an incentive to act, it was still a hard decision to make; in Twilight's position, she still could have taken the easy way out and chosen not to act, but she chose to act. Motivation or not, I still think that constitutes heroism.
4103345
Regarding "meaning doesn't equal existence"...what if your life had no meaning, or if it appeared to lack it? Would you, then, have any reason to exist? I believe that the reason we exist is because we feel that our lives have meaning, or at the very least we are validated by others, and once that's gone, then, well...you can see where I'm going with this, right?
Why can't I like this more than once?
Still, absolutely loving the story.
4107341
Why can't I favorite more than once!?
Oh man -- what if he left Twilight in one of those moments? Even if he realized his mistake right away, she'd have aged an eternity. Better still, if he started moving through time again, and she didn't, what would happen to her body in the present?
You're breaking my brain, man
4100137 good guy 71NYL
4111025 Well actually it was stated that when your in the space between the seconds you dont age, she would be trapped there until she figured out how to get out.
This happens to be a paradox, If I were to build a machine that stopped time and I never aged but I couldn't get out then too me the universe is forever stopped, however in your perspective time keeps flowing, meaning that 1) I just vanished from reality, breaking the law of conservation of matter and energy, or 2) I spent "no time" figuring out how to get out and succeding
These kids are heroes!!!
by your definition, anyway.
