Authors Notes:  AKA "The Padding Story". The cover image provided the inspiration for this story.

praise jesus, you made numbers interesting

This is one of the most unique piece of writing that I have ever read. Very fine work, keep on writing.

Pretty unique way to tell a long story in a short way

My face is leaking. Brilliant, I say. Also coincides with my headcanon!

I like my numbers.

This story has numbers.

I like this story.

Definitely an interesting way to show this kind of story. I liked it.

My response, good sir.

It's very great story, and reminds me one story of great sci-fi writer Lem... But I lost name of this novel.

Anyway, great way of showing thousand years of Celestia's pain.

(And it gave slightly robotic, GLADoS-like feeling)

You forgot:

Six thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three acres of forest permanently made uninhabitable due to the magical backlash of our last battle.

Great fanfic!

Sometimes the best stories are the simplest ones. You have done a superb job writing this... words can't really describe what I think. Thank you for sharing this.

Celestia's Paladin

Beautiful.  I'll see you on the featured section, hopefully.

>>11873841187384 Ditto.

Great fanfic, but I also think you should have mentioned the Everfree Forest there. Fave'd.

dear internet:

go ahead. try and call Celestia a troll. make a bananas joke. I freaking dare you.

this was amazing. it's difficult for a mortal mind to comprehend just how long a thousand years is, but this certainly gives us a basic idea. good grief.

I'm curious how much research and calculations went into making these stats realistic? Off the top of my head, I've got no idea how many laws are passed each year, or how many criminals are convicted, etc... you really must've gone full Twilight with this. I commend you.

GOOD stuff!! emotional range =

>>11873841187384

>>11879951187995

In hindsight, I really should have added something about the Everfree Forest but I was too worried about padding the story out to 1,000 (I never want to have to write out numbers again) words for it to even cross my mind. Yes, I see the irony.

>>11879431187943

Thank you for reading it.

>>11882171188217

The hardest part was trying to figure out how many leap days are in a 1,000 years (I calculated 143) due to all the rules (every 4 years except for years divisible by 100 and that rule is excepted for years divisible by 400). Everything else was educated guesses (i.e. "How many seconds in between conversations?" 60x60x24x365,243=31,556,995,200. Leap seconds were not included because I said "screw it".)

>>11885951188595

But WOULD there be leap years in Equestria? Remember that there, the sun goes around the planet, so 1 year could be exactly 365.00 days, not 365.23 days as there is here.

Another fanfic theorizes that their planet does indeed rotate, but at a rate of 1 revolution every 365 days, allowing for the seasonal tilt and the rotating of constellations.

God. This fic is amazingly simple, yet it says what need to be said.

It's nice and unique.

Amazing.

This...this is genius with numbers

Image: http://static3.fjcdn.com/comments/fluttershy%2Bapproves%2B_e2d69148151b74cbdd07b72835f1cac4.png

>>11887401188740

For all we know, one Equestrian year could be 500 days long; it's Like Reality, Unless Noted.

I remember when there was a rule stating that stuff uploaded here had to be stories. Guess they missed one.

Truly awesome. I love stories about the fall of Luna tha6 focus on Celestia's guilt and shame. WAY too many Tyrant-lestia who write it being a cold, harsh thing she did. Imagine having to banish your own sister to 1,000 years of solitary confinement because you failed to see the signs. Heartbreaking in the best ways.

Another like for thee.

Oh noes, I see some rumblings about the numbers. Lemme grab some popcorn and watch.

Very rarely does a story grip me enough to have to read it out loud. Congratulations for making such an amazing story.

I am amazed how you combined the cold, hard numbers with the swirling emotions, bringing those numbers to life. Looking at it, I can see that the smallest of things can create the greatest of difference, right towards the end. Top marks!

>"Six million, eight hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred and fifty-one calories consumed trying to fill the emptiness you left."

and

>"One million, one hundred and ten thousand, two hundred and thirty-nine meals eaten alone."

That's just over 6 calories per meal

>"Four million, seven hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and four alcoholic drinks consumed to numb the pain."

That's  about 13 per day

Interesting take and format!

>>11896431189643

The calorie number isn't how many calories she's eaten overall, it's how many she's eaten while depressed over Luna. (Like how people eat ice cream when they're sad.)

As for the second one, um, oops . (I'm surprised you didn't notice how many sessions of Parliament she's attended.) Looks like revisions will be in store (and I can add that little bit on the Everfree Forest too).

I haven't felt this involved by an Excel spreadsheet about ponies since I read the Best Pony Survey at Bronycon.

The juxtaposition between the cold, calculated facts and Celestia's personal inputs regarding the data was oddly effective. As you read line by line, top to bottom, you really understood how much grief she went over, having calculated such an exhaustive list, each marked by her emotional input. Yet the very end, the change of tone and rhythm as she is redeemed, was very powerful. It was different, but moving all the same.

Just have to ask: other than the scientifically-specified values, how ever did you come up with all those numbers?

>>11900211190021

As lame as it sounds, I simply guessed. Some of them I used math on (i.e. "How many meals had she eaten" 365,243x3 and then I added or subtracted a few to make it seem more realistic [how often do you really eat three times a day?]) while others (like the "hours of radio listened to") I guessed based on generally how long radio would have been around for (say a 100 years) then converted that into hours (876,000) then grabbed a small, random number (13,284). Other times, my guessing failed miserably (as Bulbasaur pointed out above.).

I don't know why I did it but I read this story immeadiately after reading I Miss You, and while listeneing to Viva La Vida on repeat.

Saddest thing I've ever done.

And I'm not including any emoticons because they cannot even come close to portraying the sadness I feel.

Thirteen thousand, two hundred and eighty-four hours of radio listened to, trying to forget your screams of hurt and betrayal.

One blue stuffed alicorn which I stained with my tears.

These two lines...

Combined with Viva La Vida...

And Reading "I Miss You" beforehand...

My feelings are going to be locked on "Sad" for hours.

Excuse me. I need to go and let some of those feelings out.

Good story, by the way.

That was when I ruled the world...

Is it wrong to want to hug a magical pony princess and say that everything is going to be okay to her?

Being immortal sucks if your alone. Though I would wonder how she could even attempt to kill herself.

It's a new way of looking at things, I'll give you that.

that was beautiful. if i knew how, i would post the picture of sweetie staring into the bright light.

>>11889861188986

These statistics painted a pretty vivid story about all that happened in the thousand years of Luna's Banishment.

It just approached it in an very unconventional fashion.

Have a good day, sir  

>>11896871189687 earned you a fav on this.

author: *takes most boring thing to people and writes a story that puts a real perspective on life"

if you think about it.

A great concept and near-perfectly executed.

What a great story, but now I have a strong urge of doing math.

Also, I have a question. I might be wrong here. When you wrote:

"One million and three sentenced to jail time or temporary banishment.

One million and two's sentences lasted less then one hundred years."

Was the one sentence supposed to be Discord?

>>11906101190610

The one sentence was Luna.

Wait, so where exactly is the story in all this?

Quick, somepony put the "I'm still alive" sung by GLADoS!

Saw the title, Intstantly reminded me of this quote.

"One death is a tragedy, A million is a statistic"

>>xTSGx Oh. I thought you were talking about after Luna's banishment. It makes sense now. Thanks.

>>11826471182647

Are you sure all your figures add up? Some of them seem a bit large.

>>11906641190664 Churchill.

>>11906461190646

This is Princess Celestia recounting the loss of her sister, things that happened in between, the prep work she did to regain her, and their reunion.

I saw this in the featured box and wanted to make that old joke: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Then I read it.

You have acquired a like.

A new and interesting take on things!

>>11907101190710 Yep, Though it sometimes is credited to Josef Stalin

I shed manly tears tonight

19,000 cities built? Erm, I don't think so... That would mean that there were 19 cities built on a yearly basis... That... would not happen on a 3 billion bit budget. also, america spends about that much yearly on infrastructure....

So, my 2 cents, some of your numbers were waaaaaaay off, but other than that, an interesting perspective/take on the 1000 year thing.

I'm not going to lie, that was beautiful. It's so hard to find pieces like this make it to the featured box, mostly because it's so difficult to pull off something like this and still have impact. I think you managed it quite nicely!

I'll admit that I skipped over this because the synopsis seemed a little meager. (And the first comment called it a padding fic.)

Then someone recommended I read it.

Fav and a like, and good job telling a story in a unique way.

Thank you for writing this

Nice.

I read this story out loud and in a monotone voice.  

It made an already awesome story sound AMAZING.

Liked.

>>11907121190712 Oh, I see the events. I do not, however, see the story that coincides with those events.

>>11908681190868

You see events portrayed in a way that represents the actions of characters and gives you emotional insight, but you don't see a story?

My friend, I think you may be confused about what stories are.

I really think that celestia thinks like this that shes can remember with absolute recall and clarity  amazing work

Your Loving and Loyal fan Lord Stormy Sky

Progression of my emotions from this

Final score:

Superb!

>>11907541190754

Perhaps "founded" would be a better word then "built".

Equestria isn't nearly as advanced as the US, with their transportation system being circa 1850's. Roads are, more then likely, unpaved through most of the country (except in urban centers like Canterlot, Manehatten, etc.) because, like in 1850's America, most ponies use the rail system as it's far faster then "horse" and buggy so the government wouldn't need to invest significant sums of money in them. Because of this, costs would be greatly reduced.

As for bits, I've always imagined a bit (because it uses precious metals and inflation would be reduced as a result) as being worth several times that of the dollar (1 bit = 7 dollars) and so, has more buying power then a dollar.

I will acknowledge that there are figures that have been grossly overestimated and will hopefully be correct when the time comes to revise.

I was reading through it and then I got to the section where it goes

Two attempts to use Dark Magic to rescue you. Three hundred fifty five deaths as a result.

It didn't make me cry so much as scooped out a piece of my heart and replaced it with ice, I mean those stats were depressing but this! It drove her to murdering hundreds in probably barbaric ways to try to get Luna back, and this does not seem impossible.

Great job! (Why am I such a sucker for Celestia is sad fics?)

>>11908811190881 Actually, perhaps I am being a little unfair. Let me re-phrase: I see a poorly constructed story. The central conflict is weak and poorly defined; the character development is vague and abstract at best; and the resolution shows little to no connection to the journey undertaken by the main character because we don't really see a journey. That's not to say those elements are completely missing, just they are not nearly developed/demonstrated well enough. Ultimately, it's a show don't tell issue, and the presentation of this fic leaves its central conflict and the journey to remedy that unclear.

As a result, the story is poor. Which, of course, is not to be confused with the author is bad. It's a novel and unorthodox idea, so kudos to the author for giving it a shot. I just don't think it succeeded.

>>11909871190987

Ah, then in part I agree. I do think there should have been more refinement in the order of listings, maybe grouping them a bit. I'd agree that it isn't a particularly strong story, but the novelty of the format weighs heavily in its favor. What I'd like to see is a more fleshed out story that uses this kind of passive statistical data to add more flavor.

>>11909631190963 The bits thing makes sense, you are correct there.

Founding 19000 cities, still doesn't make sense...

For a quick reference: Russia, the largest country in the world, has 1000 cities. Russia itself, has been around for ~2500 years. Over the last 600 years it has been formerly recognized as Russia. I am assuming that Russia is just slightly larger than equstria, seeing as how equestria was based off of a map of a small island in southern Ontario, Canada.

Anyway, still food for thought.

>>11910201191020

Revisions will be made to rectify the statistical errors. I simply couldn't be asked to do in depth research for a 1,000 word oneshot. One of the joys of readers is that they do the research for me! I don't even have to pay them. (inb4 you all start demanding money or *gulp* more stories.)

>>11910491191049 Yup. We sure do. Merry... researchmas?

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Rainbow_Dash.png

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Colgate_beam.png

I thought the ending was a bit too broad and happy.  Otherwise, great piece of art.  I can't call a story, per say, but that's alright.  You've made something I've never seen on this site before, and that's a Rarity .

Liked and favourited.

I'm not crying

>>11910161191016 And there we agree. With better organization and a little more detail to move away from the 'telling', there could be a pretty good/interesting story here.

>>11909871190987

Avant garde fics are notoriously easy to break(outside of comedy), but this avoided some of the more common flaws(narrator jerking, etc). This seems better than some of the other experimental sadfics(there was one that used multiple text colors and it was posted as an image :/).

Wow, nice.

Didn't really think about much of that before!

>>11910801191080 Oh yeah, I remember seeing that one in the featured bar. I never did get around to reading it, chiefly because of just how much criticism it was receiving for being too... abstract, I guess. Judging by your reaction, I made the right choice!

... Yes... YES! Awesome work! I teared up while reading this.

You sir/maden, have won one free dragon with a stache, .

Also, please take a follow and a like.

>>11910991191099

Haha, I didn't read it because I couldn't get the image to be tolerably legible on my Kindle Fire, which was what I was using most on the days it stayed popular.

Format can kill.

At least this is nice and easy to read!

>>11911301191130 Haha, very true.

All the Elements did IMHO was relieve the symptoms, Celestia spent a thousand years being prepared to cure disease after Luna was no longer insane.

"and I thought I was good with numbers!"

"you are, Twilight, but some ponies are just real d*** good."

When I read "Nine hundred and eighty-two years waiting for somepony to be able to save you." the music for the Halo Reach "Deliver Hope" ad started to play in my head.

Oh man, this fic delivered some good feels. It may have just been a series of written out numbers, but damn...

I legitamately almost cried. There was some light welling and sniffles at the end.

No fic has made me cry yet, but yours came close.

So, what was the deal with those three other questions?

>>11912951191295

What questions?

Nineteen thousand two hundred and eight cities constructed while you were gone.  Wait what?  That is A LOT of cities, I hope most of them are ones that were razed and rebuilt.  Unless of coarse we are talking small settlements and towns.

91 other Faithful Students, Twilight, you are only sorta special.  

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Twilight_crazy.png

Among the most moving poems I've read this year.  Simply beautiful.

Numbers with emotional symbolism?

Takes talent sir.

The first fic of it's kind i've read, and better than a lot of other fics i've read. Great job.

-The numbers, Celestia, what do they mean?

-I don't know what you are talking about.

-The numbers, Celestia, they have a code. A code to your failure.

-NOOO!

The is far and away the most amazing way I've ever read of conveying the absolute torturous soul-destroying grief that banishing Luna brought on Celestia. Bravo and ovation, sir.

This is a pretty great story, I must admit. However, there is one thing, though small, that bugged me. It's the use of the word 'and'.  The reason I have a problem with it is that in the years since I began learning about math way back when, I learned that in math, the word 'and' is used to describe the placing of a decimal, which would change the statistics drastically. Then again, I could just be an idiot and am not remembering correctly.

It's not a big deal, and it didn't take away from the story, I just felt the need to point it out.

>>11913381191338

Five thousand, four hundred and seventy-one questions asked about the new features on the moon.

Five thousand, four hundred and sixty-eight teary eyed answers.

three more questions then answers, that's what he meant

...

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Everything burns!     Definately not the Equestria I love.

Such a grand story... numbers have always intrigued me, no matter how much I constantly fail at math.

Amazing....

~Have a good one.

Image: http://media.scout.com/media/forums/emoticons/168/speechless.gif

THE NUMBERS, MASON!

"One hundred and ten gallons, two quarts, three pints, and five ounces of tears shed over your loss."

In metric, 503.540 litres.

Times that by approximately 60000 for each tear per litre, that's 30,212,400 tears.

That's basically:

-30,212.4 tears per year

-82.77 per day.

-A whole lot of tears.

I could do this all day, but I won't

That was completely unneccesary, but fun.

Oh yeah, great fiction :) Love the concept.

Brilliant.

Well, who'd have thought that numbers could pack so much emotional weight?

Great job, xTSGx!

Dem feels. This is awesome.

Fascinating concept and execution.  There's not a real story here, even if the reader is very familiar with all aspects of the series and lots of popular / common head-canon concepts. It reads like a single entry from Celestia's diary. Some of the numbers are too jarring and seem to break the immersion, even then. Great attempt at something different!