This story is a sequel to Highways and Headlights
In an empty discount store, Rainbow finds direction.
Chapters (1)
- Member Since 23rd May, 2020
- offline last seen Sep 30th, 2022
Fiddlesticks
i choose defeat. i walk away.
Fiddlesticks
Joined 23rd May, 2020 ·
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Fiddlesticks · 1.4k words · 36 0 · 654 views
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The strangeness continues, though the specifics of the situation at hoof are slowly becoming clearer...
Keep up the good work!
:)
... Words cannot describe the way I felt when I read this paragraph (and the several mentions of the plush afterwards). In the context of the site, yay!!!!!! But, in the context of the story... I feel strangely as if I'm being watched. Somehow I have become a side player in Rainbow's fever dream/coma/existential crisis/???????, and I'm concerned that that is not at all a good thing
Perhaps I should take it as a hint, that I'm on the right track when it comes to liminal spaces being the driving concept in this story. Rainbow's time in liminal spaces is indicative of being in her own personal liminal space; in other words, Rainbow is in a time of transition, perhaps between versions of herself. Whatever happened to her, to Ponyville, to her friends, to the world... It has forced her to undergo a personal transformation, and she seems to be having trouble accepting it. I mean, what else would the second-most stubborn pony in Equestria do?
Or, y'know. I could be totally wrong. Maybe this is a transition of Equestria that Rainbow is just trying to endure. Maybe this is a transition all of her friends are experiencing (which I'm inclined to think it is, judging by some of Rarity's comments in the previous installment), and Rainbow herself is standing still.
I honestly don't know what to make of Pinkie's comments about "missing" RD. My first thought is that Rainbow is in some sort of coma or dream, perhaps under the influence of magic, and is fighting to get back to her friends. But, then again, if that were the case, I doubt she would need Pinkie's encouragement to do so??? Agh, I don't know what to think!!!
Regardless of my logical confusion, your writing is once again incredibly emptionally evocative. Whatever is happening, Rainbow is longing for something. Understanding, closure, a return to normalcy... Whatever she's reaching for is still a music, but I can feel that pit in her stomach. I can feel her listlessness, and her sense of loss...
I am DYING for another installment. But, at the same time, I can soak in this for a long time. I'll likely be rereading the three you've released and looking to draw some conclusions from what you've given us so far. Gonna try not to break out the string board and thumbtacks, but you never know! Celestia knows I have a lot to say lmao
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!
EDIT: I'm seeing more references to your commenters now.... Dash being "Socially Awkward", the "feeling some kinda way" comment, your follower "legally fluffy" and the "illegally fluffy" plush, follower "delusionalism" and Dash's "delusionalisms", commenter "dawnofsnow" and RD standing "against a dawn of snow"... Okay. I'm fully riveted now. Definitely will be rereading. Did any other readers catch references to themselves or their comments???
After reading Mushroom’s comment, I feel super excited that I got some form of recognition, I usually don’t. Also, this seems to invite some inspiration from Austeroh for the shout-out idea.
Also, for the record, this:
Is in concept quite similar to a comment I’ve left on these stories. It probably wasn’t intended to be that way, though.
Regardless, this is another fantastic story by who I’d consider the most mysterious writer on FiMFiction. Perhaps the best thing about this story is that nopony’s in this clothing store, but it still functions. It’s almost like Rainbow Dash is this store. She’s broken, but she’s still there, she still functions, kinda.
After all, this is called Discount Stores and Metaphors.
I’m interested, as this story implies that Dashie ran away from home for some reason. We don’t know the reason, but perhaps it was some familial dispute, or just some world-changing event, as a couple people have noted, that forced her to run. Perhaps she doesn’t want to come home because she was forced to run away, which would add a whole new dimension to these stories.
Whatever the case, these stories are fantastic and easily the stories I’m the most curious to read about.
10264162
haha i completely agree, these chapters (I guess you could call them?) are so addictive, but at the same time, it’s great to re-read and, like you said, let it soak.
I didn’t catch that many but that’s so cool! Also the mushroom pony plush kinda reminds me of someone
10264330
No, I think you're right!! The first comment I left started with "this left me feeling some kinda way", and the comment you left on the second installment about things being planned and connected is absolutely reflected in this passage. I think we're all being acknowledged very purposefully and repeatedly!
And I just wanna add that these nods are being done really well. I honestly didn't notice any but my own until I went back for another scan, and started putting the pieces together. Makes you wonder just how much control we have over the direction of this little tale...
I'm also interested in the additional comments the author is injecting via their blogs. I hesitate to say it, but it almost feels like we're approaching ARG territory with this!
And what about the profile itself? Are we meant to believe that Fiddlesticks is related in some way?
So many questions!
EDIT: another interesting tidbit I just noticed: every installment has the exact same word count of 1375. Literally don't even know what to do with the sheer amount of info we're parsing through, and the full series hasn't even dropped.
EDIT EDIT bc my brain is CHURNING: checked through their profile for any stray info. There's nothing useful in the about page (as I expected). I've found two things which are sticking out to me as interesting:
10264379
I’m very interested in Fiddlesticks’ profile, too.
Like for example if you read their notes in a certain way, it comes out with this:
And I left alone again
Are you here to watch me fall?
All we are is falling
And that was all she saw.
It’s almost poetic in a way, and it’s remarkably interesting.
10264162
10264330
10264351
Great, now that you've all brought it up, I've gotten all paranoid thinking every little thing might be some sort of vague reference to me.
Seeing as the author is seemingly tying all of us into this, I figured I might as well take my turn to look for bits that might've come from me. Here's what I've noticed, in case you're curious:
(For added context, my username and profile picture were nicked from a relatively obscure 70s concept album called Hope. Fellow user Super Trampoline pointed this out on my profile page at one point, so it's not too much of a stretch to suggest this fic's author may have noticed that.)
Whoever our author is, be they a newcomer with a high-concept debut or a well-known author's alt. account (I have seen one or two comparisons to Austraeoh, after all), I have to commend them for their thoroughness. Looking forward to seeing where they take this!
10264396
Their profile message is also changing apparently, and idk how often. Just happened to catch the change as I switched tabs:
and I left alone again was the original (maybe??), and now it's how can I be me if you can't be you?
The poetry builds....
10264404
if you stay I'd tell you I'm sorry
10264406
The second one (I think) was ‘and I left alone again’. I can’t exactly recall the first one, but I remember loving it and the one comment they had posted for it.
This is, as far as I know, the third iteration of their bio, if it can be called that.
10264412
and I left alone again
are you here to watch me fall?
and of everything of yesterday
from ashes to sky
from the sky to the earth
10264412
if I fall
will you catch me?
10264411
Oh, our enigmatic author speaks!
Rest assured, I'm staying, and I will gladly accept your apology... That is, as soon as I figure out what exactly it is you're apologizing for.
:P
10264406
10264396
I know! I noticed that too. The first thing on their user page was “if I fall, will you catch me?” It’s all very enigmatic. And I’m guessing we have at least two installments left, seeing as Fluttershy and Twilight haven’t made an a appearance yet.
10264421
It seems like they're indirectly answering questions... 10264412 "asked" about the first iteration of their bio, and got a true answer. So I guess we have to wonder what you asked them 👀
Well... we in it now gang haha. See you all on the next installment!
This is... probably the first time I've commented on these stories. These... one-shots, if you will.
It's very, very interesting, how every story doesn't seem to connect, but they do.
It forces me to find the connection, and so far, I seem to have failed in doing so.
But it is my belief, that we will find the connection.
Aside from the characters, the places in which they meet are interestingly peculiar.
For example, (spoiler alert to the first story, Food Courts and Skylines) I expect to find Rarity at the mall, but instead, it's Applejack, who would be most at home in a market, not a mall.
Then, (spoiler alert to the second story, Highways and Headlights) It would stand to reason for Rainbow Dash to be alone on the road, kind of the same way as how Austraeoh started. Instead, we find Rarity there. As I said earlier, she would fit in the mall, but on the road... it's peculiar, and I can't quite put a finger on it.
And now, we have this. Expectation for me, going into this, knowing that Rainbow Dash meets a member of the main 6 every story (except herself, of course), is Twilight. Instead, we got Pinkie Pie, who, as a party pony, would be right at home on the road, like Cheese Sandwich before her.
From these three points, I think I have a hazy idea about who's going to be next, and where would the meeting take place. In case the author don't want me to reveal all of these things, it's fine. I'll take it down. Otherwise...
and here i thought she was never going to show up at all! but anyways... this context (as well as Number Two's) has vastly reworked what i thought of this story. it isn't some unknowable future or end that rainbow is afraid of, that's causing these dreams, its fear of going back to see how everything's changed. the dream with spitfire convinced her to get back in contact with her friends- now she has to be reminded to come home
It turns out that I was somewhat right, Rainbow Dash did leave home for some reason. But, Pins-N-Needles seems to be right, Rainbow Dash seems to be afraid of returning to see that everything has changed.
If Dash hasn’t been to Ponyville, where has she been? And why aren’t the rest of the mane six in Ponyville either? Oooh, this is getting cool, and we’re getting more answers!
Aw, I love the characterization of Pinkie Pie in this chapter!!
It's really soothing to see RD and her friends getting to do normal, simple, easy things. The conversations are serious, of course-- but the eating pizza, the shopping for chocolate milk... It's so calming and peaceful to see them in a world that is full again.
A world that is full of Fiddlesticks, of course.
I don’t understand what’s going on in the story.
10313924
) This series has a group dedicated to it, and in it there is a section in the forums tab that will explain what’s happening here. It should be called “Of who we are and where we’re going”, or something along those lines. Here’s the group link! Empty Spaces
Hey there! That is quite ok, because none of us did either when we started (We’re stilling piecing it together even now
10316714
Thanks