Why I wrote Vanishing Act · 11:20am Mar 12th, 2020
Vanishing Act was intended to be something of a Fix Fic and Accusation Fic for Friendship Games, the third EG movie.
When I watched the Friendship Games, there was two things that really annoyed me.
One was the fact that they dropped the subplot about Sunset longing to go back to Equestria because she misses home and doesn't understand magic in the human world. Aside from missing out on an awesome duet, I felt that part would've added an extra layer to Sunset as a character, and added to the growing story arc of magic in the human world.
But the thing that really bothered me was the fact that they pretty much glossed over the bullying Sci-Twi went through at the hands of her peers. Yeah the Shadowbolts somewhat redeemed themselves by helping to save everyone, but they and their other classmates weren't properly called out for their behavior. It also frustrated me that aside from Cinch getting called out, we never really saw her face the consequences onscreen for blackmailing and mistreating her own student.
Sure, things might have "worked out" in the end with Sci-Twi getting to go to CHS, but the Shadowbolts, nor Crystal Preps other students, were given a proper lecture for what they did, nor were they shown to be better people.
I also wondered several things too: how bad were things that Twilight felt the need to transfer to an independent study program? Why weren't Shining Armor and Cadence aware of how bad the situation was? Clearly, there were some personal issues that needed to be addressed as well.
I felt having Twilight vanish and end up in Equestria would be a better way to show the dangers of bullying than Twilight becoming a dimension-destroying demon.
But I also wasn't really interested in writing a revenge fic. I feel a lot of fics like this seemingly ignore the theme of friendship and trust in favor of making everyone into a malicious monster and making things overtly cynical. The show is called "Friendship is Magic," yet a lot of writers ignore those themes. Redemption, second chances, and change are a part of the whole thing.
But I wanted the process of forgiveness and personal growth to feel real, and not just be something that comes from a bunch of rainbow lasers. That change can happen but it doesn't happen overnight. I want you to be able to root for the Shadowbolts and see them as flawed people, while not excusing their bad behavior.
My hope is that I have succeeded in telling a sad, somewhat dark story that also is a good tale about atonement and compassion.
Yeah, I’d say you succeed in writing a kind of dark story with compassion and redemption in it. It’s amazingly well written!
Both shows like to do the "blast something with lasers" thing a lot.
That's the problem with a lot of mainstream media nowadays, it's made simple and safe rather then something more complex.
I been liking the fan fiction a lot more then the actual shows.
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I think people tend to forget that MLP is, at its core, a show for little girls.
It's been an excellent story
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That's True.
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It's a great story so far 😊
Are you going to finish the story
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Yep. Come the summer time.
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Great thanks 👍
I just read this page today, And u are right! the writers failed to give a better ending, What really bothers me is that there's not enough focus on the shadow 5, give them a real purpose Hasbro! are they good girls or bullies?
Didn't Dance Magic show that the Shadowbolts did become better after the Friendship Games? They did make more of an effort to be civil and friendly to Rarity when they first see her (compared to Friendship Games where they acted cold at best and hostile at worst toward Canterlot High) so they are trying to be better. Sure they end up stealing Rarity's idea for the music video, but it is at least only to help their school rather than purely operating on thinking their school is superior mindset like last time. And they are willing to be friendlier with and collaborate with the Rainbooms on the music video in the end.
Plus that special mentioned Cadance replaced Cinch as the principal so Cinch did receive some consequences in canon.
So Dance Magic at least tried to show the Shadowbolts were improving.
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I guess, but they still did try and still Rarity's idea.
Plus it irked me that Sci-Twi didn't get more apologies for all the things she went through.