The End of an Era · 5:45pm Oct 12th, 2019
But by no means the end of a community.
As everyone knows, the series finale is tonight, and thus, the end of FiM's TV run (because for those not in the know, there will be a season 10 in comic form). I have already watched the leaks, so I know what happens, but I have no intention of saying anything about it here (even though some people have been in the episode discussion).
I've seen a number of people posting about what the MLP FiM community has meant to/done for them, and I'd like to do the same. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm pretty sure this community saved my life, and I very much mean that in the literal sense. I first discovered it right before I was diagnosed with what turned into Lymphoma, which caused me to be stuck in the hospital for months on end, multiple times. I managed to find various streams that allowed me to keep watching, and then at the very beginning of 2013, I found this site. After I finished my first story, which was kind of just for gits and shiggles (if you know the reverse phrase) I ended up writing Through Crimson Eyes, which let me kind of cope with what was happening, especially because I was writing as things happened, with only the ending in mind (since I'm generally an optimistic person). But since most of my IRL friends had already started working and didn't have a lot of time to come see me, with only family taking the time to do so, it got pretty lonely pretty fast.
When I came onto this site I ended up making some new friends that were really helpful in keeping me company, even though we were in different time zones (very much so in the case of Crystal Moose, A Daughter and her Dragon's initial author). After becoming close friends with both him and my editor Shahrazad, I ended up editing for them and others, and along with writing Through Crimson Eyes, that became my main method of keeping myself occupied and feeling productive, especially because it allowed me to befriend other authors as well (some of whom I unfortunately don't see on the site much anymore). Without these, despite my general optimism, I wouldn't have been surprised if I had fallen into Depression—which luckily I never have—and eventually could've led to suicide. For those of you not familiar with cancer, it is, to spare the gory details, not fun.
Luckily, my participation on this site and in this community—which I only stumbled into after being convinced to watch the show, obviously—that never came to pass. I made new friends, felt productive, and it eventually led to my earning a Bachelor's Degree in English, which I never would have done if I hadn't been writing and editing here. It also allowed me to start my own 'business' freelancing as an editor. There are a lot of things that never would have happened to/for me had I not been on this site, and for that, I am forever grateful. While I know many have, I have no intention of leaving this community. Not only do I still need to finish A Daughter and her Dragon, but I have a s*** ton of stories in my 'Read Later' lists (yes, plural).
I'll be with you guys as we transition to Gen 5, and if there are any of you that don't intend to, I hope we can stay in touch. And for those of you that I have offered an ear to if you ever need it, that offer still stands.
It's been a great ride, everyone. One book might be closing, but now we just have to wait until the next one opens.
See you all in the next installment.
—LD
I'll still be here, too, LD!
You can't get rid of me (yet). So I'll still be here. C:
Me too.
I will keep reading!
Yep, no plans to leave. :)
And I do plan to give G5 a chance, cautiously optimistic, but even if it turns out to be bad, there are still plenty of fanworks.
Me and many others are too damn stubborn to leave this fandom not that I would ever wanna leave this strange mess they we call the MLP fandom. You'll be stuck with us for a while bud.
I aint goin nowhere. Imma give gen 5 a chance, but even if it sucks there's still awesome works like this one
Oh so they're continuing in comic book form like Buffy the Vampire Slayer? That's pretty cool
5 to 10 years left or 1000 years ....
Old meems heh