In Honor of My Friend · 4:59pm Apr 23rd, 2023
Artwork by AAnotherpony
Most of you have likely seen this update blog. I'm sure writers far larger than I were able to share it around, given the explosive response. I'm so happy to see it. In a horrible time, it's great to see this community come together in acknowledgement of one of its most kind and selfless users.
Unfortunately, Level Dasher passed away peacefully this morning in his sleep, per his brother's post on Facebook. I won't be linking or taking screenshots for the sake of their family's privacy, but I imagine Chris may be making an addendum to the blog post that mentions this, when he has time.
In my thirty years of life I have never shared as much in common with someone as I did with Josh (Level Dasher.) He loved to commission artwork as much as I do, he loved writing fan fiction as much as I do, he loved themes of platonic love and family bonds as much as I do, and we even had uncanny loves for similar food, ways of navigating our day, etc. He was kind and selfless on top of this, being an unintentional role model to me every day. I feel truly blessed to have been able to fly across the country and spend a week with him last year before his health began to deteriorate. He brought me to Central Park in NY and the local museums of history, which I had never been to, and it was in the gorgeous autumn months of Fall as well.
I will always consider Josh as the brother of similar age that I never had.
Artwork by Eztp
Josh and I had something else in common. Our greatest work of writing, our magnum opus, was based on Friendship is Magic. For me it was The King of Love Bugs, and for Josh, A Daughter and Her Dragon. Its final chapter remains barely unfinished within Josh's drive files, and Chris has mentioned how Josh brought it up to him while in the hospital.
I've been in contact with Chris about having it uploaded and completed, perhaps in spirit. I will also, with his blessing, be uploading it under LevelDasher on my own website.
You can expect my next blog to be some kind of update regarding this.
Lastly, I would appreciate as much sharing of this blog around as I can get. ADaHD already has quite the following, but I'd truly love to share Josh's work with as many people as I can, especially if it's to be completed soon. Stay tuned for updates.
I love you, Josh, and wherever you may have gone, I take great solace in that you're no longer stuck in a body plagued with medical shortcomings.
Goodbye, dear friend.
May your stories and your achievements live on in this community we call home.
It is a tragedy that you had to leave us so terribly soon.
Take care, Level Dasher.
I can't believe he's gone...I am so sorry for all the grief that you and the rest of LD's family are going through right now, and I know it must be so much worse than any grief I feel...I just wish I could find the right words to say other than I'm sorry for your loss...but know that I really, really mean it when I do say that
To think it was only a few months ago that he was celebrating his 10th anniversary on the site. FimFic has lost a man full of talent whose writing always breathed warmth.
I am glad you are going to preserve his story on your website.
There are few things in this world as heartbreaking as the passing of someone as kind of spirit as LevelDasher. I did not know him well, save through his writing, but I can see the world has grow so, so much less without him in it.
May he find nothing but peace and joy, while we carry on the torch he has passed to us.
I'm really sorry for your loss, the way you talk about your friend, it was a blessing that you met, God bless you two.
At least we can all take comfort in the fact that he passed beyond the mortal coil peacefully.
Rest in Peace, Level Dasher. May whatever comes next be kinder to you than this life.
It's so tragic…the second one this year, and the streak of at least one great member gone from this site in a year because of passing continues…
I hope that we could become stronger together in following years and stay together
If I recall correctly, Dasher did a lot of work on Google Drive. If you're working with his brother, you might be able to access his Drive by submitting a request to Google here. Maybe we'll be able to see more than just the last chapter.
Either way, may he rest in peace.