Spotlight: Wings of Tomorrow ~ Lament of the World · 3:33am Sep 13th, 2012
Just a minor note: I welcome and encourage any and all discussions to this and any future blog post. That includes both rants and reviews; if you disagree with me, I want to know why. If you agree with me, I want to know if there's anything you'd like to add.
Link to the story here.
Tags: Adventure, AU
I can't remember how I found this fic. I must have stumbled across it in one of my jaunts across the site. Regardless, I love it, and it's shameful how few views it has considering all the work the author puts into it. I'll try to avoid spoilers as best as I can here; the idea with these spotlights is to entice you to read the fic, not ruin it entirely. That's saved for reviews.
A brief synopsis: Fluttershy wakes up to find herself in a heavily changed world. And I do mean heavily.
One of the great things I love about Alternate Universe stories is seeing how far one can push the characters. If you change them too much, they cease to be the Applejack we all know and love and instead become a totally original pony that just happens to also be named Applejack. On the other hoof, if you don't change them enough, then their characterization remains inconsistent with the world they now find themselves in and the reader finds it quite jarring.
For Wings of Tomorrow, Keeper Of Jericho seems to have found a nice balance. Fluttershy is very nearly identical to her character on the show, which considering that's the Fluttershy we follow, makes sense. The other mane six members, however, are products of their altered world; that said, they still remember how they used to be, even if nopony else does. The characters are believable and relate-able; Twilight may not be the prized student of Princess Celestia (hard to do when you're in jail) and has lost her skill of magic, but the other aspects of her character are still there. She's socially awkward, a bit of a bookworm, introverted, and so on. Rainbow is still loyal, Applejack is honest, Rarity's generous. Pinkie, however... Pinkie is both still an embodiment of laughter, yet she finds herself in a world that just can't be happy. She is, in essence, a relic of a world that no longer exists, and it tears at her very being.
The thing that draws me to the fic most of all, however, is the world itself that KoJ has made. I honestly believe this world could exist in the FiM Universe at some point. It's highly cynical, though, so don't expect a lot of the idealism that Equestria as the show posits.
Anyways, back to the world. (MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD)
A pony from the future went to the past to give it technology that hadn't yet been made. This created a fundamental shift, eventually leading to the poisons of personal wealth above all, and Celestia was dethroned in a militaristic coup. Clothing is now required for all ponies, and there is every hint that a major war will break out against two divided factions: those who want more wealth, and those who want to free Celestia from her chains. There's even a very good explanation for how they stopped Nightmare Moon's return without the Elements. I'm highly simplifying things, but that's essentially what's happening.
The world itself is like the show, but set further in the future. There's more houses, more guards, and more technology. Canterlot has an expanse of airships, Ponyville is more like a modern-day London, and magic-practicing unicorns are forbidden outside the military, at least aside from levitation.
There are a few curious spots, though I'll leave them be for now and let you find them yourselves. I am trying not to ruin it, you realize.
(SPOILERS OVER)
Is the fic perfect? No. I can find plenty of problems with it, but that's true of nearly anything if you look deep enough. Still, any minor issues I can find don't harm my enjoyment of the fic and I'll keep reading it until the conclusion. Go take a look for yourself, critique it, let Keeper know you want to see more, fave it, thumb up, and all that jazz. And be sure to tell me what you think as well.
COOL dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Fluttershy_lolface.png
Huh. Now I have to go read it.
I just found out you made this and... wow. I'm really, really touched and honoured to have my humble little story get a blog post dedicated to it. It's very encouraging for an author to know his story's liked, and I thank you for it. I'm glad that I managed to entertain you with my tale. I know it has problems, which is why I'm trying to find help in fixing them, so the story can be even better and more enjoyable. That you went the extra mile and put it in your spotlight was both very kind and unexpected, and I can't thank you enough for it.
Now I'm afraid to ruin your enjoyment of my story with future updates.
I'll keep doing my best, however.
Thanks again. Reading this really made me feel happy and appreciated. Thank you.
390505
I only speak the truth. And I'll read this tale to its conclusion.
-Tricondon