This story is a sequel to Alternate Beginnings: Year Seven
In the aftermath of Nightmare Moon's return the mares of Herd Apple, newly instated Elements of Harmony, must come to grips with balancing their new responsibilities with the old. That shouldn't be a problem, since Equestria-shattering events only happen once every thousand years or so, right?
Twilight Sparkle prides herself on knowing absolutely everything that she needs to know. About everything. So, when Princess Celestia sends her to Ponyville to stop Nightmare Moon? She uses that knowledge to reunite her mentor with the newly freed Princess Luna. And, afterwards? Twilight wants nothing more than to stay with her new found friends, her fellow Elements of Harmony. However, something about the entire situation seems a little off.
Takes place after the Alternate Beginnings series. Quick guide!
Sex tag is for relationships between human and pony (no clop)
The story continues in Errant Finale!
So the next adventure begins! I hope Doug can get some help as it looks like he has some very nasty PTSD. Now I wonder how he will handle his first meeting with Twilight when she will be asking tons of questions?
Doug is going to need some serious Friendship to help with this! I'm really looking forward to Twilight's reactions to the Herd and Doug himself. Luna is going to have to do a lot of work too to help Doug with his PTSD. Her dreamwalking will help a great deal. But, I've been looking forward to this! Doug's story has been quite good, and honestly looking forward to seeing where it goes! So many wonderful reactions and interactions to see!
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question is will twily join the herd?
i will stand by my previous statements and hope that Twilight doesn't join the herd because of doug
wow twilight is a dick
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After too long a wait! Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it.
I don't know that it's full-blown PTSD just yet, as any person going through a traumatic experience is going to have some reaction. But there are definitely going to be repercussions from the event!
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She is just fresh from Canterlot and has alot to learn about Friendship before she becomes the Princess of it. This is OCD freakout.
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I really can't wait for her and Doug to have their real first interactions. And for her to meet the foals and come to understand the relationship!
I think Twilight is going to make a fool of herself before she actually talks to Doug. Then again Twilight had plenty of issues during the first season.
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i understand their will be some level adjust meant but she could of been nicer about it and they could of not had a party for 17 hours so both parties did wrong
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Very true. But then, she is also a reclusive, OCD shut-in who is entirely overstimulated. You're right that both parties were at fault there, and thats what makes or breaks friendships. She just needs some time to recharge.
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very true
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.!!
Whelp. Now for Spike to get dissappointed too. Lol. Misunderstandings incoming.
This was nice
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Ah, character development. It's just the worst, amirite?
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Oh, ye of little faith!
I wonder if Spike caught the fact that Rarity may have someone special in her life? Still this was a fun chapter!
When will Spike realise that there's no point since Rarity has a partner and a filly
really really hope twilight doesn't join the herd
I swear if twilight joins the herd to spike me i will be mildly upset
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I doubt she will. Think of it from her perspective, she is going to be having sex in front of Princess Celestia. She would die of embarrassment easily once she finds out. I think she is safe from joining this heard. Hopefully she goes with the big red stud that is in Applejack’' family. Starlight Glimmer would provide more interpersonal drama for the characters.
Afraid of magic? Guess Rarity will need to adjust a bit when it's her turn.
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He definitely realizes it, but that doesn't mean he isn't attracted to her, as any teenage guy can attest. 'Dude, your mom is hot' kind of thing. He won't actively pursue her (wrong fic for that) but it'll certainly slip out from time to time (again, not that kind of fic).
Poor Doug. He needs some serious TLC.
doug is gonna have ptsd for the rest of his lide
I think they are all going to be mad when they find out what Nightmare Moon did to Doug. Hopefully they all will help him out.
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Lol. True. Looks like Rainbow and Rarity have that covered though.
Despite what Doug just said, I doubt that Twilight given her curious nature will leave the matter be. Hope it doesn't cause too much damage.
Also, given Spike's lack of a reaction to Rarity being in a herd, I guess he's okay with pining after a mare who's already spoken for since I can't really go with the 'he's just a kid' excuse now.
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They all (including Twilight) heard the story Doug told them about what happened, but they might not have really absorbed what it meant to him; after all, everything worked out and they can all be friends again!
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I still see him as a 'kid' if only because he hasn't really gone through puberty yet. Different speeds for dragons and all that. So maybe closer to a precocious preteen than a baby. He certainly won't pine away for Rarity like he does in the show, if only because he realizes the futility of it. I see ponies maturing faster than humans as well, with gaining a cutie mark as the primary indicator / instigator of puberty and becoming an adult (with all the legal ramifications that entails).
doesn't rarity already have her prince?
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That's what I was thinking to....
Is this a sequel to alternate beginnings if so should I read that series first?
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It takes place immediately after the end of that series. Events will be more recognizable if you have read that series first, but I'm trying to write it so that it shouldn't be required. It will read more as a mystery / trying to figure out what is happening (essentially what Twilight is doing).
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Ok cause I havent read the other one so I didnt know
Oh poor sweet summer Twilight what would we do without you?
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It's a bit long altogether but I would recommend it. Especially if you can read fast.
Otherwise the author has done an admirable job of making it both self contained as a story and have nuggets of world building throughout the series that doesn't need the reader to read all of it.
Well, talk about a plot twist.
Well that was a big clue. I hope all the mares took note and will help ease Doug’s issues. Then again I think he is going to be very protective of his foals for a bit.
So we see the beginnings of what led Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon look down upon those without Cutie Marks. Both believe that a mark is what makes the adult and therefore adult things like leadership. This will definitely lead to what causes the issues between the Rich foals and the Apple foals.
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Yup; and for this setting, a cutie mark isn't just a mark of what your occupation is, or what brings you joy. It is the indicator of adulthood. It marks the onset of puberty. It makes one (seen as) eligible to go out on their own: drink alcohol, get a job, find a place to live, start or join a herd. Though the last one is similar shift to our society: while it is physically possible for many ten year old boys or girls to get pregnant, society restricts that to those sixteen and older with few exceptions.
Oh boy, i can foresee some drama when Gilda finds out that Scoots is RD's child.
Huh, Gilda's already making an appearance? And given the herd dynamic, the drama has most certainly been...raised.
What, did you think I was going to say doubled?
Maud 2.0 over here.
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I knew that was coming, yet I had a different source of inspiration for her.
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Where from if I may ask?
Hmmmm....personality shift at two....strange, but understandable. Can't wait to see robo-pone do stuff. Good chapter all around.
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A bit from Nightmare Moon's influence, though also a bit from me wanting to add in a much different personality and not add another OC. Really, it's mostly a split of Pinkie Pie's personality - one bright and cheery foal, the other calculating and perfectionist.
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Abathur
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Should of seen that one coming.
Almost forgot how jumpy ponies are around the unfamiliar. Guess they're relatively okay with Spike due to some idea they consider him Twilight's pet or something?
Either way, I see Doug wasn't the only one affected by Nightmare Moon's actions. Wonder if the others were too and are just hiding it. I mean I'd be having nightmares of the event too even if everything turned out fine.
Which gives Luna more reason to quell the nightmares of foals as a form of redemption. Speaking of which, will Luna try to help Doug with his fears? Or does him having no magic prevent that?
Edited the chapter order; what used to be chapter one is now chapter three. Shouldn't impact much of anything.
can you slow down a bit I feel like if i blink 5 chapters will appear
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The real problem is that I did almost 40k words on the first day. Now if only every day could get that much attention; maybe that's why in the show the first, what, three? Four? seasons take place over the course of one year. Though that won't happen here, it'll get more spread out. Eventually.