I'm basically just a dick to emotions and headcanon · 12:55am Mar 12th, 2014
So this post is about Happy Ending, obviously. So there are lots of spoilers, obviously.
This is probably my favorite thing I've written on here. I probably say that a lot, but whatever.
I decided not to do an epilogue for it because I feel like it's whole, and doesn't need anything more from me, even though there are still a lot of loose ends and unexplained things in the story itself. There's simplicity in it that I don't want to ruin.
I came up with the idea for Happy Ending a while ago. Actually, I came up with the story title This is the Way You Left Me a while ago, but the story followed, and eventually, it morphed into the Happy Ending that exists now. Which, by the way, is very heavily connected with its namesake, and y'all should at least read the lyrics of it. Now, onto the story itself.
Golden Harvest isn't exactly likeable. And not in the Lady Macbeth way, where you're sort of rooting for her the whole time, just because she's so evil. Goldie's the epitome of unlikeable simply because she's so apathetic. She doesn't care, which is very annoying. All of this is very, very intentional. I wanted a protagonist unlike any other. And also unlike any other protagonist, there's no redemption for her. There's no catharsis, no happy ending. I strive for realism, and unfortunately, this story, especially its ending, is realistic.
In fact, I debated whether or not to include those last two words for a very long time. But I like breaking hearts, I guess.
Now I'll talk about the characters a bit. I already mentioned Goldie, so I won't repeat myself.
Written Script- I think he's the most normal character in this story, which can either make him the most or least realistic one. His life itself is fascinating, but we don't see that here. He only appears twice in the story, sans flashbacks. Goldie stresses how nice he is and what a great parent he is, but he's sort of a dick to her throughout. Not that Goldie deserves any better.
Dinky- It's had to put yourself in Dinky's hooves, but it's the most important in order to understand the story more. She seems confused and innocent, but at the same time, bright and wise, at moments. Again, we have Goldie stressing something we don't really see: Goldie says she's very smart, but she doesn't seem that way in the story.
Derpy- In my opinion, she's the most interesting character. For being locked up in a mental institution, Derpy sure doesn't seem crazy. She's perfectly rational the entire time, perhaps even more so than Golden. Other than her mysterious hatred of Script, she's the simplest character, but she has the possibility to be so complicated. We know barely anything about her, especially if you disregard your previous headcanon.
I could go on forever, mentioning everything from length to use of alliteration, but I'll save y'all from that.
I'll leave you with a question though, one I think is left unsaid but is incredibly important: who's the best parent?
plumander
P.S. <3 u regi
Edit: 2+2=5 made it to 500 likes! Woo!
The best parent? I think it's hard to say. Script seemed like he had everything under control, but the final chapter makes me think he just walked out on Golden and Dinky, and that's definitely not something a true parent would ever do.
Like you've noted, Derpy may seem capable as it is, but we don't know what she's like when her beloved daughter isn't around. She could be rash, abusive, and all around unpleasant. It's unlikely that this is the case, but there has to be some reason she's in a mental institution and not, you know, taking care of her daughter right this moment. As much as I like Derpy as a character, I just don't know enough about her in this scenario to make that call.
Golden may be completely apathetic toward Dinky, but it says something that she hasn't done the same thing as Script and walked out the door. Agreement with Derpy or not, it wouldn't be terribly difficult for her to disappear in the night, never to be seen again. The fact that she's not leaving the filly on her own raises interesting questions about what Golden really feels or, more importantly, what she'll gradually grow to feel.
In the end, who's the best parent? I'd say all of them and yet none of them. They all have their vices, but they also all have the potential to be great.
Best parent? Hard to say.
I'd go directly to Script, really, because it comes off as such. Then again, he did just bail, and that's not very... committed. When you become a parent, you've got to be committed.
Derpy is obviously not a good candidate because she's in a mental asylum. You don't just get put into an asylum just because. There's a reason she's there, that isn't explained, and it's going to be key as to why she's not a good parent. I can't go outward right now as to say why, but I have the feeling.
Golden is just a bitch. She doesn't give a fuck, and she's distant and pretentious. She's frankly unlikable, as you pointed out. She doesn't love Dinky, and she's basically still watching over her because she's obligated to after Script bailed.
tl;dr they all suck
fuck you