What the Well!?

As I was working on chapter 4 today, I realized I have never explained this expression. It isn't just a clean ponification of "what the Hell." I don't shy away from actual cursing in Homecoming, so it isn't an aversion to using the word "Hell," rather that I am unsure it would make sense.

Implying "Hell" means implying "Heaven" and all that goes with it. The ponies of Homecoming have a different mythos surrounding life, death, and what comes after. It is their belief that when a pony dies, their soul goes to the "Well of Souls." Think of it as a black hole. Ponies who are truly good find themselves drawn swiftly into the Well only to emerge on the other side in paradise. Ponies who are truly evil find their souls cast off by the Well, flung off into nothingness to wither in isolation for eternity. The vast majority of ponies, those who exemplify neither good or evil, find themselves caught in the vortex. Those who have performed wickedness, but have some good in them find themselves on the edges of the Well. They are caught on its fringes, but eventually will be drawn down the Well and emerge in paradise. Those who are generally good, but have committed enough wickedness to preclude them from a straight shot through the Well find themselves nearer the center. Still locked in solitude for a time determined by the evils they wrought, but to eventually emerge in paradise as well.

This is what Chief meant when he said "I hope you come out the other side of the Well in paradise." He hoped that the actions of (pony he was talking about) were sufficient to offset any bad he had done, and that he would make it quickly to paradise.

In conclusion, "What the Well!" is not a typo.

Regards,

Your Favorite Insectoid Abomination,

Mister Clacky