This story is a sequel to How to Save a Life
Twelve years ago, Rainbow married the woman of her dreams. Seven years ago, that same woman walked out on her. Now she comes home to find Rarity waiting outside her condo's door.
It might be the most frightening thing that's ever happened to her.
Last story in the Breakup Trilogy. Loosely inspired by Smith & Thell's Forgive Me, Friend.
Cover art commissioned from NekoJackun.
Other stories inspired by music:
Ordinary World
Bed of Roses
Escape
How to Save a Life
Bulletproof Heart
Drops of Jupiter
Time for Tea
Now with a Ukrainian translation by volkov!
Chapters (1)
Dang it. This looks good, so good I feel like I want to read the two prequels. But I want to read this now. Gah
This was incredible. What a perfect ending! Was not expecting it to end happily, of all things! So glad everyone's doing well.
I actually figured
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You weren't? The whole point of this story from the start was that Rarity was a bad friend from the prequel.
Spoiler for commentary. It isn't actually an answer it just branches the same topic. Might not even be a spoiler...? Eh.
By the way, something I had already thought when reading the prequel was that, well, Rarity ending things with Rainbow on that note... Didn't leave space for friendship? It was painful but it was also weird, because they were supposed to be friends right? Like, I'd need to read the prequel again but, even if I agree Rarity should have left Rainbow, that manner of "leaving" did feel very... finite. It didn't feel right. So in a way, I've been waiting for this story (mostly unknowingly?) for a while.
Holy fuck Rainbow
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Now I understand why Rarity had to leave. Gods I would to with a reaction like this.
Ouch
Reverse Epistemology. Or rather, I don't believe it even if I know so. Denial?
I'm a witch but I'm not manipulative or *intentionally* a heart wrecker. eeeeee What did the Catholics do to us?
I hate that you can't marry more than one person at the same time? Just... I'm poly that's why. Just sucks.
This is great. Just saying, this is amazing.
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And the followup: This is what Talking looks like, Rarity.
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Rainbow too but, ya know
eyes widen, then narrow You? A gym teacher? .... shrugs sounds about right
Ohh god my heart.
I really love this.
Principal Luna? Congratulations, maybe Princess Luna will rule Equestria one day when Tia is senile. Probably in a few thousand years.
English, too! Trust me that takes a special kind of patience. Specially if you are teaching High School. Like, you also need a degree? I think?
I was not expecting this. Nice surprise though. I still think you need a degree though
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Or... Teacher's school? Literature? What. I need to review my University goals
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Both Escape and How to Save a Life had sad endings, IMO. That's why I was surprised.
You know, for all that y'all are surprised, this is extremely predictable and in character for Rainbow
I love it
spits popcorn wait wait wait.... she didn't???
You fucking better!
Me too
Oh gods I loved this story, so much!
I kinda want a cutesy slice of life with the follow up meeting too. I'm really curious to know how everyone is doing, ya know, in general. Maybe even Rainbow's date? Romance in the follow up meeting sounds nice too. Idk, your call, I'm just curious
This is really great. Like, really great. I had a feeling about some things, some things surprised me a little, but mostly I just loved the release of pent up tension I didn't even know I had from the prequel. Mostly it was really nice. Not much to say here like, BH levels of closing comment, but, there's one thing, tiny, really.
FINALLY. Oh gods, like, I was actually okay with the ending of the prequel but like I said in a previous comment, it always rubbed me the wrong way to have Rarity just... walk away, like their relationship was nothing! I've yet to re read the prequel but It's coming back to me: The way Rainbow arrived at Sunset's apartment was actually pitiable, I felt really sorry for her even if ending things was really the best possible outcome, how it ended felt... hollow and ultimately unsatisfactory? Or rather, it left me with a modicum of anxiety. It took me a moment to remember what had actually happened to Rainbow, and still it hit me gradually. By now I remember the gist of it, and, woe is me, I was way more inexperienced in reading at that moment and I never actually saw this sequel coming. I think. Either way I'm glad Rainbow got a conclusion in this story, I actually liked her character arc in general, so it's nice when a character you like has a satisfactory ending. I'm not sure exactly how, but I came to like Rainbow as a character much more these last few months (which don't actually feel like months? Time is a lie) so, I'm happy with that.
I spoke about BH. There will be a sequel right? I still have to finish my second reading, (or was it third? I really feel like I've experienced BH in soooo many ways it felt like I read it at least 3 times by reading it once. Months later I could still tell you the plot in detail, maybe even add some quotes. I don't know how I do it) but I do remember you mentioning something about a sequel. I don't remember the name exactly but I do want to know (or I need you to remind me) if there's a time frame for when it's coming out? I normally wouldn't ask you this because I know how the writing process looks like sometimes, but I do remember you saying something about it. You could also say it's unclear and I wouldn't judge you in any way :v
Either way, yeah ^~^
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Lol, I thought Escape's ending was more definitive than sad. Sure, they agreed to test something that was uh, adulterous :v but for fairly good reasons, even if the whole situation is messed up
While I've found this series very interesting, I can't quite buy into the emotional narrative, especially in this story. The contrast between Rarity's/Twilight's perspectives and Rainbow's is telling, and honestly the former kind of made my skin crawl. I'm not sure if that was intentional, or if it was my own distaste for those kinds of people coloring things, but it doesn't leave me optimistic about the couple's prospects, or invested in their continued friendship with Rainbow.
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Well, technically you don't have to read the prequels to get what's happening in this one. The prequels provide context, but not information you absolutely must have to understand this. That said, the three are meant to be an overarching plot arc.
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I knew people would expect a Bad End™, which is why I was very careful about a lot of elements going into the story. I was tempted to tease the title for ages, but I feared even that would clue people in.
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All of this is good news, because it means you interpreted the ending of Life how I intended. It was absolutely a terrible way to end the relationship with Rainbow. I meant for it to be. I'll admit, it was at least partially for setting this story up, but it was mostly themed on bad decisions for what the perpetrator might see as good reasons.
Regarding Bulletproof Heart: Famous Last Words, I invite you to read the opening of this review blog, which has some recent and pertinent information on that subject. I don't have a timetable for the sequel's release other than "this year, hopefully".
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I can say with certainty it was your "own distaste for those kinds of people coloring things". But that's okay. I fully expected some people to react that way. The touchy nature of the underlying subject matter was one of the reasons I was interested in writing this to begin with.
Hey look, it's the exciting conclusion
I legit cannot hear these words coming out of Rainbow's mouth. Because the next line isn't, 'when did you get a dictionary,' this feels way out of place for me.
"You can't handle the truth!"
The real song this is based on, fact. Nearly every word lines up, which is kinda scary, really.
That said, I believe this one is my favorite of the three, but who doesn't like the resolution more than the initial suffering anyways? As a single story, the stages of falling out, breaking up, and recovering all make a wonderful little piece that says; 'life goes on.' While I'd love to see how the other girls lives have gone in the background, I can't see that as being anything but a fluffy epilogue. I would enjoy it, but it wouldn't be as hard hitting or satisfying as this is, I don't think.
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Fair point.
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My concept here was that Celestia got tapped for some higher rank, like a superintendent or something, and so Luna took up the principal job. I had intended to specify this, but figured it didn't need to be said as it's not important to the story at hand.
I feel like this is one of those rare instances where a story I read would have worked better as a short film than a written work. As per usual, this has stellar character work. But having the long-extended cry which transitions Rainbow's lingering animosity into calm nostalgia actually be a longer, extended scene would make it seem less abrupt.
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Hah! I don't expect anyone to ever make one of my stories, short or otherwise, into film. I agree with you in sentiment, though; there are scenes that are meant to take a while but you can't spend a couple thousands words on them or you'll bore your readers. It's frustrating, but it's a fact of the medium.
The most I've ever hoped for was to someday be able to afford commissioning a graphic novel version of one of my stories.
I was actually hoping that Rainbow would ask Sunset out, but it's still a good delivery.
10/10
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I'm just glad the writing is going well ^~^
Amazingly well done. I look forward to what happens in the future. While I wait on that I have some catching up to do in regards to the rest of the series.
If this is how this series is going to end, it ended on a high note 📝 and as much as I would like to see more, the in between years with rarity and twilight, even this reunion Party, I can understand that it wouldn’t be as impactful as the three stories you have. Reminds me when I was finishing up my story, buttons date with silver spoon, and inevitably got those; hope there’s a sequel, comments.
It’s not that I didn’t have ideas, or couldn’t have written one, but with how well wrapped up I ended the story, the only way a sequel could work was to either create unnecessary conflicts or just write it as a fluff conflict free fluff story, which really wasn’t needed, and was better to just end it there and let any fan inmagine how any continuations would bee
Hm, I noticed some points about Timber that weren't really in the last story but sure seem familiar.
All in all, this cleaned up nicely. Rainbow remains loyal in more ways than one and has a bright future ahead of her. She acts as a good window to the future of how things have gone in the wider world outside of the girls. Every bit of her anger to Rarity is justified, and it's like her to think of Rarity making the same mistakes and putting Twi and Timber's daughter in her thoughts before Rarity and Twi do. Her line about "awesomeness not lasting forever" did feel somewhat out of character, though. She clearly still expects to lead an awesome life and enjoyed her time as an athlete, she's just moving to a different kind of awesomeness now. That feels more in-character for how Rainbow might see things. I also liked how she evolved and still showed that she was married to Rarity, even if their relationship didn't end well.
Rarity in this series is still so wonderfully toxic. It's plain to see that deep down, she does conceal a witch and one that feels completely in character for her too. I'm reminded of something that feels like a much more subdued version of what was done in All About Rarity, and certainly nothing nearly as vile as the Rarity in there. This stays firmly grounded in the realms of domestic conflict and plain realism.
With how the story turned out in the end, I can say this was a satisfying installment and that I'm sure there will be a more positive reunion than not. However, even though you do list this as the final story, the series doesn't feel complete. Three characters are left somewhat up in the air, or at the very least their stories feel unresolved and under-explored.
Sunset is a big question mark. How has she been faring as an adult in the human world? We are hinted that it's good, but really how is she? Is she married? Does she have a job? How is she adjusting further into non-horseness? What's that like for her?
Corona feels like there is tons more to tell with her. She lives with her mother and mother's mistress and only sees her father for what's essentially the summer. She was at the heart of such an ugly split and uprooted to wherever her mother wanted to take her. Corona's father went through mental health hell. How did she handle this? Or grow up knowing that her mother had an affair and that her Other Mother is the cause of it? I'm sure that overall she's not a wreck, but it's hard to believe that she's going to be all sunshine and rainbows about the matter.
Then there is Timber. He is leagues better than where he was in the last story, but it feels like he was robbed a voice that could have been used for one last story. For years he's only seen his daughter for what amounts to summer vacation lengths of time. Dude's amazing from coming back from where he was and getting himself what has to be a dream job for a guy named Timber Spruce. He was able to initiate and pull through a divorce from his cheating wife. The fact that his depression 'spoke' as it did and he referred to himself as a bad parent way back when makes it sound like he really, truly cares for his daughter no matter how much he doubts himself as a parent.
He should have gotten full custody after his recovery is what I'm saying.Seeing a story focusing on him, his health, and his daughter would really feel like proper closure for the series. It's hard to believe he's totally okay with how things are now, and fatherhood, male mental health, and Timber Spruce aren't exactly common stories on FIMFiction. I would 100% be on board with reading a story like that.10113922
Nice commentary, as expected. Looking back on it, you're right that there could be more material. The trilogy is done, but side stories are always a possibility. I've already thought of at least one, though I can't say with any confidence I'll ever get to it.
Two topics come to mind. First is Sunset Shimmer, who we already know has a job. She had one in the last story. There's a reason Rarity asked if Sunset knows about Rainbow's upcoming teaching position at Canterlot High. That being said, I suppose it's always possible her duties have changed/expanded in the last seven years. Depends upon how much of her old ambition has been retained.
The other topic is Rainbow's claim: "awesomeness doesn't last forever." This was meant to be a big sign to the readers of how much she's grown over the years. Yes, there are "other types of awesome", as you pointed out, but that ignores the whole point of Rainbow's statement: she's getting older, and she can't do what she's been doing forever. It's time to slow down and take on a different role. The fact she recognizes that fact, rather than fighting her age and insisting she's got one more year and getting bitter about her ever-worsening ability, is intended to show the true evolution of her maturity... which is also one of the reasons it came up so early in the story.
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That's certainly another way to view her line there. I just hadn't thought of it.
👀
When typing that, I do remember vaguely that she wasn't unemployed. I just hadn't remembered what it was she was doing.
This was essentially where my train of thought went; if she had a job in the last story (which you did correct me about) was it still the same one from seven years ago?
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In the last story, Sunset was the school's Counselor, i.e. having an open door for students to come talk to her about whatever problems they had. A sort of 'child/teen psychiatrist', if you will. When I wrote this story, I assumed her to still be in that role, but it's always possible she could have moved on to teaching or even, if she were ambitious enough, take up the Vice Principal position. Part of me thinks that Sunset would love to maintaining a leadership role since she's something of a natural born leader, but she could also have 'mellowed out' and learned to be happy with what she has. It's up in the air right now.
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Both options would feel very much like her to do.
I liked the way both these characters were portrayed. Towards the end I got a sense of a dynamic that sold them having been in love, but earlier on I got a clear sense that them breaking up is the good decision here. It was when Rarity mentioned Twilight wanted to get married that I was really struck by that: I could empathize with Rainbow being angry, but at the same time the way she jumped down Rarity's throat and jumped to conclusions felt completely out of line. And I really liked that they both had their faults like that throughout this trilogy. Makes them feel human and stuff or something.
This was great. A fitting and lovely conclusion to the trilogy. Almost a little too feel-good at times – a tiny part of me grumbles that IRL relationship woes rarely end so positively for everyone involved – but it’s far overshadowed by the rest of me that just wants to see the characters I care about end up happy, dagnabbit. So I’m very satisfied with this.
I’m glad that Timber’s issues were recognized and that he received the help he needed. (Off-topic, but is it common for someone to stay in a hospital on suicide watch for that long? I honestly have no idea.) A little sad we didn’t see Twilight directly in this one, but a natural absence is better than an unnatural shoehorned appearance, IMO. Rainbow and Rarity’s dynamic was great, too. Rarity truly had royally cocked up their breakup, dumping her in about the worst way possible short of DMing her on MySpace.1,2 Their reunion was portrayed very well, I think – the justified anger and resentment, but also the sadness and, most of all, how they still care for one another. You really did an excellent job at bringing them to life, too, in everything from dialogue choice to their little mannerisms.
I don’t judge Rarity like some other comments do. Yeah, she definitely screwed up the actual break-up, but I chalk it up to the fact that people aren’t always great strategists, especially in emotionally difficult times. She fucked up and she knew it, and I think that shows in her approach to Rainbow, especially at first. But overall, I think this – and the prequels – did a good job of explaining her situation and how she truly had the best intentions for ending her marriage, even if the execution was off. They were both miserable, they both knew it, but RD was never going to end it herself – and Rainbow makes that extra-clear here – so she had to do it. It’s not witch-y of her to want to be happy, or to want an unhappy marriage to end, or to decide to force the issue if her partner was unwilling to let go. And now, thanks to Rainbow, she’s learned some important lessons that’ll help her and Twilight have a better go of it.
So yeah. Thoroughly enjoyed this, as well as the trilogy as a whole. And I’d love to see some more of these characters, even if it’s just a SoL-y little short. It’d be like a little epilogue.
Now, going through some of your fics lately has only reminded me how badly I want to read more Bulletproof Heart. So I hope that’s going smoothly.
1 Real story, ask Mark Oshiro.
2 I really wanted Rainbow to joke, after Rarity flies off, that this was the second time her wife3 left her without saying goodbye.
3 Still technically married!
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This is exactly why I set the third story nearly a decade after the breakup: these kinds wounds don't heal overnight. I figured the only way I could get this story to be even remotely believable was to give the characters time to marinate in the consequences.
Wonderful commentary, as always. Many thanks! Also, don't count these characters out just yet; I've got an idea in the works, and it is far from an SoL-y' short. It's kind of run away with me, in fact.
Work on BPH's sequel remains ongoing, I can reassure you of that much at least. Not as fast as I'd like, but the only real delay is it being a lot longer than anticipated.
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To quote that character in that movie, that’s the best dang bit of news I’ve heard all week.
This seems to be a trend with you and this series – telling people in the comments there won’t be a sequel … and then posting a sequel anyway. I noticed you did that more than once in this series so far. A reader could develop certain expectations from that kind of trend, y’know …
A pretty good problem to have, at least from my perspective as the reader.
So far, how would you say it compares to the original in length? (I assume you’re talking about the first half, since you previously announced you’d decided to split the sequel in two parts.)
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In my defense, I legit never intend to write those sequels. But then an idea hits me and I'm all "screw it, that sounds too good to pass up." Guess when it comes to me, the lesson is to never believe me when I say "never", at least when it comes to what I may write.
Hard to say at the moment, but only because I'm at work and don't have access to my file. I haven't actually bothered to check the wordcount in a while. If I had to guess off the top of my head, I'd say the sequel Part 1 will be shorter than the original, but not by a significant amount. I'll try to come back and edit this comment with a proper number later.
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I’ll stay tuned for that wordcount update.
Oh, I believe you when you say you don’t plan to write the sequels at first. It’s just a good thing that you keep changing your mind.