The Wind Thief
Epilogue
Some weeks later...
Sly fidgeted.
She wasn’t used to standing still for long periods of time. As a foal, she had driven her parents crazy with her restlessness, even when she wasn’t pretending to be a thief or an adventurer. At least once a week, she was sent home from school with a warning slip for running around during class. It had been a huge relief when the school finally closed for lack of students, and she could wander freely throughout her days.
“Stop that,” Twilight Sparkle whispered. She sat serenely next to Sly, looking immaculate in her simple librarian’s robe. Her mane was as long as it was before the crypt — which was to say it was short and cut razor-straight just below her ears. Sly’s wish had not only restored Twilight’s health, but her hair and coat as well. Sly found herself staring at the lovely strands occasionally. Twilight didn’t seem bothered by the attention.
“Sorry,” Sly whispered back. They had been waiting for most of an hour in one of the palace’s many reading rooms. Twilight passed the time, predictably, with a book. Sly fidgeted.
It had taken the better part of two days to emerge from Curalmil’s tomb. Although Twilight had been healthy and hale, Sly had barely been able to walk. As they had already emptied the tomb of healing potions, there was nothing they could do for her injuries but wash and bandage them. She hadn’t minded that part. Twilight hadn’t, either.
It had also served to distract Twilight from being furious at her. She guessed what Sly had done within minutes of the wish, and spent the next several hours railing at her for wasting it. Sly hadn’t cared; even the sound of a furious Twilight was music to her ears. Eventually, Twilight’s anger petered out -- it was hard to be mad at someone for saving your life, after all. Sly’s shameless use of puppy dog eyes may have helped things along.
Their first steps outside the tomb were an emotional reunion with the sun and wind. Sly actually cried with joy when she felt the warm rays on her face. Twilight simply sat down and sobbed.
After that, the return to Canterlot was uneventful. Twilight pretended not to notice Sly stopping by the pawn shop to drop off saddlebags stuffed with loot, and together they reported to the palace. An honor guard was already waiting for them at the gate when they arrived.
Technically, the honor guard was waiting for Twilight. The actual city guard was waiting for Sly. Only Twilight’s quick intervention and assurances kept them from slapping Sly in chains and hauling her back to the jail. Instead, thanks to Twilight’s pull at the palace, Sly was given a room in the guest quarters. She politely ignored the guard stationed outside her door and pretended not to mind their daily searches of her belongings.
As if they would notice anything missing, anyway.
No sign yet of their host. Sly sighed and inspected the bookshelves for the seventh time. Nope, nothing new there. Twilight glanced at her, then rolled her eyes before returning to the book.
She wasn’t so haughty last night, Sly grumbled to herself. The memory sprang to mind, unbidden but welcome nevertheless.
***
The previous night...
Sly was dead asleep when the knock came at her door.
She was up in an instant, balancing on the tips of her hooves. Her eyes automatically sought out the light and dark parts of her room, and she was moving to hide in the shadows when her brain came fully online, reminding her of where she was.
She trotted carefully over to the door and opened it. Outside stood Twilight Sparkle, who was looking at her nervously, and the guard, who was ignoring them both.
Sly blinked sleepily. “Uh, hey?” Ever the smooth operator.
“Hi... uh, good evening,” Twilight said, ducking her head. “Can... can I come in?” she finished softly, almost whispering. The guard ignored her with what seemed like a supreme effort of will.
Yes you can! Sly was completely awake, now. She glanced out the door to see who else might be witnessing this visit, then drew back inside, holding the door open for the librarian. “Of course.”
Twilight smiled and trotted past her into the room. Sly waited until she was clear, then leaned closer to the guard. “We’ll try to keep it down,” she whispered. The expression on his face was priceless. She gave him a polite smile and retreated into the room, closing the door behind her.
She turned to Twilight, who was standing in the center of the room. “So...” Her voice cracked nervously. She paused, swallowed, and tried again. “So, uh, is everything alright?”
Twilight nodded, then gave the room a quick glance. It was a disaster zone. Random articles of clothing, weapons, potions, scrolls, rappelling gear, first aid kits, and even a few genuinely expensive artifacts littered the floor and available shelves. Sly cursed herself for not cleaning up. Idiot! You knew she would come over at some point!
Twilight bit her lip, looking more nervous by the moment. “I’m sorry to bother you...” she trailed off.
“No, it’s fine. What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “Just, nothing.” At Sly’s raised eyebrow, she continued. “I can’t sleep. It’s silly, I know.”
Sly leaned back a few inches, remembering their nights in the crypt. The times Twilight would bolt awake, covered in sweat, shaking from some nightmare. The times Sly did the same. Oh. Ohhhh...
She shoved her heightened expectations to the back of her mind and gave Twilight a reassuring smile. “It’s not silly,” she said. “Come on. It’ll be just like in the... er, like before.” Neither of them were ready to talk about the crypt yet.
Together they climbed back into the soft, still-warm bed. Twilight drifted off almost immediately. Sly lay awake a while longer, listening to the steady rhythm of Twilight’s breathing. Eventually, the soft pulse of Twilight’s heartbeat against her side and the welcome warmth of her body lulled her to sleep.
***
“Sly?”
Sly started, the memories of the previous night evaporating, replaced with the sun-filled reading room. She spun around to see Twilight looking at her with an amused expression.
“You looked... distracted,” she said.
“Just thinking!” Sly said. “Thinking about...” She glanced around. “Books. Thinking about books.”
“Mhm.” Twilight set her own book down on a table. “Come here.”
Was that an order? Sly balked for a moment, then grumbled to herself and walked over to the table. This would not become a habit, she promised.
Twilight waited for her to arrive and started fussing with her mane. Sly made a few protest sounds, then settled down and let Twilight do as she wished. It wasn’t that bad.
“When Celestia comes in, let me do the talking,” Twilight whispered. Her breath tickled Sly’s ear. “Do not tell her about the jewel. Do not let her know you have it.”
Huh? “Wait. Don’t tell her about it? We spent weeks getting this thing! We almost died for it!”
“One wish per lifetime,” Twilight said. She pulled back far enough to look Sly in the eyes. “Celestia has to do what’s best for the kingdom. The jewel can still be used against the dragons, but not as long as you’re alive.”
Sly froze. Her eyes went wide as the full impact of what Twilight was saying hit her.
“She... no, she wouldn’t do that.”
Twilight looked away. “I love her, Sly, but this is about more than us. She’s a good pony, the best pony I know. I don’t want to dangle the jewel in front of her, and leave your life in the balance.”
“But she wouldn’t really—”
Twilight silenced her with a peck on the lips. Her horn glowed, and the black jewel lifted from its chain around Sly’s neck. She tucked it behind Sly’s mane, out of sight. “Let’s not find out.”
Sly stammered something, and probably would have eventually formed a real sentence, if given enough time. Before she could make any real progress on that front, the arched doors at the far end of the room opened, and a soft pastel light filled the room as Celestia entered.
They both bowed to her. Or rather, Sly bowed, while Twilight pretended to bow, then ran over to her mentor and tossed her forelegs around her neck in a hug. Celestia beamed at her, returning the hug with what looked like real love.
Sly waited a moment, then rose. Twilight still grasped the princess tightly, her eyes scrunched shut. Sly could see her mouth moving, but was too far away to hear whatever she said. Twilight released her hold on the princess’s neck, and together they walked back to Sly. Tears stained Twilight’s face; Celestia wore the same gentle smile as always.
Did you smile when killing dragons? The thought jumped to the front of her mind. She stuffed it back furiously.
“Hello again, Sly,” Celestia said. “I’m glad to see you return to us safely. From what I’m told, you and Twilight had quite the adventure.”
Twilight turned, placing herself between Sly and the princess. “It was, your majesty! We fought a dragon, dozens of draugr, a giant spider, and a lich or two. More than I ever expected.”
Celestia hummed appreciatively. “That’s impressive. And the other thing?”
“Ah...” Twilight paused and licked her lips. “I’m afraid there was no sign of it, princess. We may have to keep looking for references to the jewel. I’ll be glad to get started on it immediately!”
Celestia laughed quietly, filling the room with joy. Even wary as she was, Sly felt her spirits lifting at the sound. “There is no rush, Twilight. Take some time to recover from your hurts, and rest. We will continue our search soon enough.” She tilted her head and smiled at them. “Now, why don’t you join me for lunch? I’m excited to hear all about your trip.”
Twilight bobbed her head, almost foallike in her excitement. Together they walked toward the same door Celestia had entered in. They shared a word, and Twilight bounced ahead of her, nearly floating with joy at seeing her mentor again.
Celestia waited a moment. Once Twilight was through the arch, her horn glowed, and the heavy door swung shut. The princess turned to face Sly and slowly walked back to her.
A tiny icicle of fear stabbed into Sly’s gut. She swallowed nervously and smiled up at the princess.
“Your majesty,” she said, politely.
“Please, relax, Sly. I thought we’d have a little chat.”
Chats were good. Nothing wrong with chatting. Sly nodded her head in agreement.
Celestia took a seat beside her. Even sitting, she towered over Sly. The gentle smile never left her face.
“I understand the two of you became quite close during your trip?”
It was a question, but it really wasn’t. Sly nodded again. “We did. I hope that’s not a problem, your majesty.”
“No, not at all. Twilight never had many friends, and I’m glad to see her making one.”
Right, a friend. The fear faded and Sly’s smile relaxed, becoming more real.
“A very close friend, even,” Celestia continued.
“Very close,” Sly agreed.
“The kind of friend you share a bed with.”
Sirens went off in her head. “It’s not what it sounds like!” she protested. “There were extenuating circumstances! We didn’t do, uh, anything!”
Celestia chuckled quietly. The mirth was infectious, and Sly found herself calming down. “Please do not be alarmed, Sly. You are a good pony, and will be good for her, regardless of how deep your relationship runs.”
Relationship. Sly mouthed the word silently, and found she liked it. A feeling of joy began to build inside of her. Relationship... our relationship!
“On another note,” Celestia broke into her musing, “I couldn’t help but notice Twilight was lying about the jewel.”
Sly’s train of happy thoughts derailed, crashed and burned. “Lying?” she stammered. “Why would she lie to you, princess? She wants to stop the dragons more than anyone.”
Celestia nodded. “You might not be aware of this, Sly, but I raised Twilight from a filly. She is a terrible liar, which I consider to be a very positive trait. Skill at dishonesty is not something to be proud of.”
That was unfair. Sly was about to complain when Celestia fixed her with a piercing look.
“But that leaves the question of... ah, yes, there it is.” Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, her horn glowing with a gentle white light. Sly felt a tug on her mane, and a moment later the jewel floated into the air between them. It hung from its chain, as dark and lifeless as the moment she had made her wish.
One wish per lifetime. Sly shakily rose to her hooves. There were two exits, plus the window. If she caught Celestia by surprise she might be able to reach Twilight. She had no weapons but her Shout. Not the best odds, all things considered.
“Please relax, Sly,” Celestia said. “I remember this weapon too well to want it for myself. It is not worth a single life, no matter how valuable we think the wish might be.”
Sly blinked. “But... the dragons?”
“We will find another way to stop the dragons. Another Dragonborn, perhaps.” She glanced at Sly again. “The last time we put our trust in this jewel to solve our problems, the world nearly ended regardless. I lost my sister, my kingdom... we nearly lost everything.”
Celestia stared into the jewel’s depths, as though able to see the dancing images again. After a moment she closed her eyes and floated it back to Sly, hanging it around her neck. The jewel rested just above her heart.
“Keep it safe,” Celestia warned. “We are not the only ponies who know about the jewel or its limits. If others were to discover that a wish could be in their hooves, at the price of your life...”
Right. Other ponies were not as kind and wise as Celestia. Sly glanced at the jewel nervously.
“But come, let us put aside such dour thoughts,” Celestia said, smiling again. “Lunch awaits.”
Twilight was waiting too, on the other side of the door. Her eyes widened as they walked out, and widened some more when she saw the naked jewel resting against Sly’s chest. She mumbled something to Celestia as the princess passed, then pressed up against Sly’s side.
“I said to keep it hidden!” she hissed. “What are you thinking?!”
Sly shushed her, drawing a satisfyingly aggrieved expression from the librarian. “It’s okay. She knew all along and doesn’t care. Also, she said you could keep sleeping in my bed.”
For once, Twilight had nothing to say. Sly grinned at her, then trotted down the hall toward the promised food. A clatter of hooves on the stone behind her announced Twilight’s recovery and subsequent pursuit.
Sly picked up her pace. Canterlot was a nice city, she decided, and the company wasn’t bad either. A pony could make a good living here. A Dragonborn could, too.
Twilight caught her as they reached the dining room. A sharp glare suggested Sly would be paying for that comment later.
That was fine. For now, lunch called, and she was happy to answer.
- The Wind Thief -
A Tale of the Dragonborn
You told me there would be no shipping -.-
I swear to god if there isn't a fucking sequel your getting a fus ro DAH to the face!
I've loved it since the beginning, and to see it end is wonderful, but god the more-than implied shipping makes me incredibly angry. So many amazing stories have been totally ruined that way. If you do a sequel, please by Talos's name don't continue that line.
I really like this story. I do hope there's going to be a sequel, as I am sure it would be even more amazing than this one. Truly incredible, thank you for gifting us with this masterpiece.
Good story, though the ending didn't feel much like a resolution and the boss theme got a little monotonous. Also, I didn't see any mention of Rarity's fate.
4/5
Surprised how many people see the minor shipping near the end and immediately assume "RUINED FOREVER". It was a good fic, loyal to the source material, and interesting in its own right. Still, I'd love to see a sequel.
In all honesty, I feel kinda guilty for having read this fic, simply because you made it available at no cost.
I absolutely loved this story.
I love Sly's characterization - her mischievousness behavior provided a nice touch of light humor in the story, but her loyalty and dedication in the end were very admirable. She's easily one of the very best OCs I've ever seen in a fic, and I hope we get to see more of her in the future.
I loved Twilight in this story too. At first, I found her inclusion specifically to be a bit weird, mostly because this was the first universe I've seen where Spike either doesn't exist or doesn't know her, but those thoughts quickly fled my mind. There was some very nice character development with her, making her actions of fighting and killing the creatures within the crypt very believable (and epic).
The relationship building between the two was also very well written. I liked how they went from more or less hating each other to becoming such close friends, willing to lie and put their lives at risk just to protect the other. The pacing of the relationship development felt rather natural, not rushed at all. The hint of light shipping at the end didn't bug me at all either, though it was kinda obvious during the final few chapters that they were a little bit closer than friendship.
Overall, this is definitely one of the best fics I've read. You did an excellent job writing it, the story was absolutely marvelous, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your fics.
Awesome! Here's hoping there will be a sequel at some point!
And also, ignore those guys. Feel free to put in as much shipping as you want. It's YOUR story, not theirs.
227481
Really? I've been noting the hints at it the entire time... I thought it was fairly obvious. As always, great story Gardez. It was an honor.
seriously? people are bitching about the small amount of shipping in this fucking awesome fic?
shipping is great when done right and what iv seen so far its right.
Best skyrim crossover I have read, sad to see it go, but it did have a very good ending regardless
I think Lium is simply concerned that some good series tend to go downhill when there's a major change in a character's relationship status. It's a genuine and reasonable concern.
If it's worth anything, I don't intend for the sequel to be a 'ship' fic. It will be a story, like this one, with ponies trying to find their way in a difficult world. I also expect Sly to be mostly frustrated in her tentative romantic efforts, because I find her more fun when she's frustrated.
I was going to say that the shipping is well done and adds some depth, but several people above me have jumped in to defend it. One thing that does irk me is that MLP shipping is ALWAYS homosexual, and I believe if fanon ruled then the entire pony species would have died out, but when a relationship is well done it really doesn't matter the gender. It's just a touch monotonous.
Always with the shipping. Sigh, at least it's done tastefully.
EDIT: I realize that I am pointing out one thing I don't really enjoy within a marvelous story. I really love your writing style, and I have nothing but approval for your previous stories.
But I have trouble getting past the shipping.
By all means, don't change the story on account of me, as I am one person with very specific tastes, but shipping isn't my thing, unless it is awkward and ends up a massive failure so that the rule of funny can take effect.
It just feels like this fandom has this odd fixation on romantic relationships of all sorts between every two ponies within the FiM universe. I would personally prefer seeing more friendshipping and less relationshipping.
All my ranting aside, this is a great story and I wouldn't mind reading more of it, if and when you start a new one within the same vein.
CiG,
I remember once being told that if I ever meet someone I admire, I shouldn't ruin the chance to have a conversation with them by devolving into a rabid fan-boy and frothing at the mouth. I've always figured it's a good piece of advice, so I try to reign in my childlike idolatry whenever you toss a comment or a PM my way. I meet mixed success, as my barely legible comment on The Glass Blower indicates (What? It's my favorite.) But I digress. Hopefully I pull this one off with minimal froth.
You write like you should be getting payed for it and nobody's told you that yet. Actually, I should say you write fiction like you should be getting payed for it. I think for me, the best way to describe your writing is that it's... well, it's easy. It reads like lightning and I don't miss a thing. No unpredictable sentence structure, no convoluted chains of dialogue, no irritating word repetitions. On top of all that, it's still sprinkled with just enough new words to feed my ever-growing vocabulary. Subsumed? Thanks for that.
I say easy, but I don't mean simple. It's digestible but still complex, and that's what really gets me. Sentences can and do serve more than one purpose. Every action is a chance to show a character's inner thoughts — a chance that you downright steal, in some cases. The result is like going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant: I get a delicious meal with no cooking involved. I feel like I should dress up and pay. As for making it complex, the most overt example I can think of:
"Laughter was pretty low on the list of responses she'd been expecting, somewhere between physical assault and a declaration of undying love, though of the three, it certainly wasn't the worst."
See that? That was nice. I really liked That.
As far as the story on the whole goes: it's a lot of story about a few characters, which is great. You kept what should have felt like a boring structure (what with four boss fights) interesting by making each of them so much different and by keeping the story focused on Sly and Twilight, rather than gratuitous violence. Good stuff.
Wow, this was REALLY good! Absolutely incredible. You have my undying thanks for writing this story, and I can't wait for sequels.
Astounding. This story was captivating from the very beginning and I still hunger for more. Also your ability to turn my favorite writer, aestheticB, into a raving fanboy for good reason is notable. I hope to read more about sly in the future and look forward to reading more of your stories.
228007 I can see it now. She madly loves Twilight, but gets frustrated over her nagging whenever she notices Sly has a few items in her bags that shouldn't be there xD
Here's hoping we see some more Tales of the Dragonborn in the future.
Thanks for the nice story.
My only disappointment is that it was so freaking short!
This is a Skyrim crossover, not a Marvel vs. Capcom. I want 50 hrs of pure AWESOME!
Can't wait for the sequel.
Can't rate it any higher than five stars? Oh well! Loved this story and too hope there will be a sequel.
I really liked how you made an intresting tale out of what was basicly a four level dungeon crawl.
oh no.now someone is going to make a slytwi clo fic...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.............NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
yes :3
Lovely ending xD
Just the kind I love xD
Though, I will be mighty dissappoint if there is no sequel :3
Okay, I found the time, I sat down, and I finished reading.
I will start out with saying, well done.
You have proven time and time again with this piece that you know how to choreograph and convey battle scenes clearly to a reader. There were only brief moments at times I felt lost in the battle but that's standard fare even with professional written pieces. I blame myself.
The relationship between Twilight and Sly actually doesn't come off very shippy past friendshipping (which I'm thankful for in this piece). I say this because in a very traumatic experience you obviously cling on to friends you have even if it can be a little awkward. Twilight not being able to sleep without somepony like Sly by her side after having died - like what 3 times almost? - just makes sense.
The story about Curamil and his empire was fantastic. I love Curamil as well, from what you wrote, you could tell he was a loving father and a great - if a little bit ruthless - of a leader. The last words where he sounded truly disappointed in his sons was something else too. As well as Sovyn's entire role in it.
Great work. Thank you for making a Skyrim crossover that is truly of quality. If you make a sequel, I look forward to it.
Well damn. I'm not very eloquent to begin with, and this story has robbed me of the ability to put the proper words together in praising or criticizing it.
Let me just say that I enjoyed every moment of it. If there were a better way to write a Skyrim/Pony crossover... well, I don't think I could have thought of anything close to this. Your method of delivery (in the form of a bite-sized single adventure) well, it works. It works brilliantly.
I need to know what happens next. Absolutely need to know.
And I appreciate the depth of Sly and Twilight's friendship/relationship. It was almost shipping, and it was more than friendshipping, but it rang true and I appreciated it. The same goes for all of your characters. There's a spark of life in them that I can't even hope to match in my own writing. Well done.
There has only been ONE other fan fic I've read that kept m coming back for more like yours has, and that was Fallout: Equestria by kkat. You hear me? I have placed this story upon the pedastle in my mind that was, untill recently, solely occupied by the best story I have ever read. I Thank you for your wonderful tale of friendship and magic. I wait with bated breath for the sequel that I hope you can write with the speed of Rainbow Dash, and the grace and beauty of Rarity. Bravo.
Aww, it's over! Will there be any sequels?
234826 Are you thinking what I'm thinking
this I loved...
well told, ensnaring story, and a nice, non almighty OC
five moustaches for me...
235131
I'll bring the trampoline, you bring the handcuffs. Um... my grandma died about 7 years ago, so you'll have to ask yours to do it.
228007
HnngAAAH I love your story. I can haz moar?
If you're turning this into a series, I'm really hoping it ends with Luna somehow coming back. I know that seems kind'a... I dunno', anticlimactic? No, that's not it... something... I can't think of the word. Whatever it is, I know it'd probably be silly to expect Luna to somehow come back and for everything to magically be all better, but my chest still tightens a bit when I think of how that all went down, how she died. That was real tragedy, and I've never been able to handle tragedy very well. I can handle sad. Bittersweet is cool with me. But tragedy hurts.
And I, for one, hope you don't shy away from shipping in the sequel. You've already proven you can do it tactfully.
REALLY looking forward to that sequel. From what I understood of your past comments regarding this sequel, it sounds like there's going to be more variation in scenery, and that'll be nice after this long dungeon crawl. (but if that's not the case, you do dungeon crawls very well! )
Loved it. The narration is simply ensnaring, and the descriptions provide the perfect amount of detail: not too vague, but not too in-depth.
This story, like "The Glass Blower's Tale" was simply too good. It has made me crumble into the dust of FAIL when I see the pathetic little scribbles my fingers scrape onto a sheet of paper. You paint with words in the manner of Tolkein, while my narrative looks no greater than "Run, Spot Run" by comparison!
How can I possibly achieve such a mastery?! I am but a mud pony grovelling about in the dirges of fan-fiction whilst thou art a great and mighty alicorn from whose light I must shy away or be consumed to ashes!
This was amazing. My favorite story from you by far, and I LOVED your other stories. A little disappointed/relived that you didn't use "and then I took an arrow to the knee."
This is the greatest story that has ever existed
228007
Woo! Still got top billing even though I went insane for a month. I hope you keep writing Gardez, I really do. If you didn't write, who would I have to yell at? Nobody, that's who. Well, maybe Corejo, but he's not a replacement. Needless to say, I still want to work with you when you can get around to writing again. I'd even pitch in if you decided to write some short stories outside of a pony, possibly even a book; hell, most people I've worked with are doing it these days.
Speaking of which, I was wondering if you'd sometime like to rework The Glass Blower with me. Something about it just screams "Disney animation" to me. At sometimes I think I overstep my limits and pretend that I really am a writer with you, but I guess that's a bit of a pipe dream brought upon by delusions of grandeur.
Anyways, best of luck.
236265 No that the person who did fallout equestria should do a skyrim one
This story has been excellent. I look forward to your future endeavors, and the future adventures of Most Definitely Not Trixie.
248181
Ah-hah, I'm not the only one who thought it was Trixie for the first couple chapters!
248181
250109
You know, Sly was never intended to be a pseudo-Trixie. They certainly look similar... eerily similar, I suppose, but they're definitely different ponies.
Have some art!
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/054/3/0/city_of_shadows_and_light_by_akurion-d4qqbx2.jpg
will Twilight appear in your next fanfiction too as a mainchar ?
This was honestly, a brilliant story, I didn't even notice 1 mistake while reading, to add; and to think this was only 1 adventure, makes me happy.
I'm disappointed to see a small amount of people that are seeing the shipping as a disgrace. I liked their relationship and how it progressed into more of a couple type one.
It was kinda obvious they were starting to like eachother anyway.
Plus, for the haters, honestly, saying you don't like the shipping dosen't matter, the rating's this story is great too. The shipping is really throughout 2 of the best chapters, the last 2. Saying you hope theres no shipping is like completely fking with the plot of this story, the ending is seriously mostly about how she is trying to save Twilight from Curamil.
If there is the sequel, I don't want it to be overloaded with shipping like most stories, but it would be nice to add a little in.
5/5
I love that picture of Sly. In fact, I am not really into many OC ponies but Sly is my first!
BTW I approve of Sly's relationship with Twilight. I think it was nicely handled. Hell if a dude saved me like 5 times I would be open minded to a different kind of relationship... I didn't say that! I'm sleepy!
Best crossover ever read, best OC, saddest Luna moment. Many achievement unlocks here. Grats and I look forward to the sequel!
251412
Yeah, I saw that fanart the other day! Not with the title and everything, but still. It's good to have an actual visual, I've been having trouble cementing her appearance in my mind.
I'm pretty sure I know who Sly is actually suppose to vaaaguely resemble, but I'm keeping that to myself.
Well I thought the shipping was done very well. Though Sly's hair isn't quite what I imagined...
I absolutely LOVED this. Seeing as it's a Skyrim crossover, I imagined this going in a totally different direction, but I honestly don't think this could be any better. I gotta say, I really wasn't expecting a ship in this, and while I don't find it totally necessary, I still find it believable and very sweet.
As a Skyrim junkie and a die-hard Brony, this is the greatest fanfic I've ever read. You sir (or madam) have done a HUGE service to the Skyrim, Brony, and fanfiction community, and are, in my opinion, best Brony.
PS.
I and everyone else would LOVE some kind of sequel to this, but seeing as I can't think of any logical progression beyond this story, I think we'll be just fine without one.
a beautiful story. One deserving of many a moustache
BUT IT'S GONE NAAOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
..... a great read, at any rate
228007
I find that would be hilarious, very.. fucking hilarious.
Finally sat down and finished it. That was fun! And they kissed! Woo
And there we go! I finally sat down and read it over the last couple of days, and what a fun ride!
I am incredibly jealous of your prose, Gardez. The way you use language is just so clean and efficient. You will never see superfluous description or unnecessary words. It's always trimmed down with just the perfect adjective or simile to give it its emotion and imagery. There aren't many authors in the fandom who can do that.
If I had any criticisms, it would be the pacing/structure of the first 4 or so chapters. It all moved along very quickly from point A onwards, and although it may just be a personal preference, I think that adventures need their organic evolution, even with such an overarching goal rather than just, 'they the city, suddenly a forest, suddenly a dragon, suddenly a cave.' Also, while you did a great job at keeping the tension up with each of the three brothers, the structure became a little repetitive over time.
However, and this is probably important to note, as someone who has sunk far too much time into Skyrim, I know that this is essentially the structure of half if not most of the Skyrim quests, haha. So really, I am not sure if the criticism should be levelled against the story or the game designers.
The emotional dynamic between Twilight and Sly was fantastic and very nicely developed. Even with the issues I had above, they kept the story ticking along beautifully. Needless to say, if you ever write a sequel for this, I am already very excited for it!
I really enjoyed this one so thank you! Keep up the amazing work!