The Light in the Darkness - Story Review

Welp, that was a long break. I could be very sorry about this, but I don't think anyone would be bothered really. Which is fine, since I'm mostly doing this for myself and to improve my own craft. Which I'll start with right away and this time I'm going to review The Light in the Darkness by Zaptiftun.

Now, this title actually has a very interesting backstory, one that is closely connected to "Cupcakes". If you don't know "Cupcakes", it was a fic in which Pinkie Pie brutally tortured and murdered Rainbow Dash. I actually read "Cupcakes" several months ago, I think it's one of the most explicit gore porn I've ever read that even made me physically ill at times. As expected with content this "edgy" it spawned a lot of backlash and fan-reactions and "The Light in the Darkness" can and wants to be seen as such a reaction.

This becomes clear early on in the story when Rainbow Dash flies home from a wonderbolts show when suddenly she hears noise from Sugarcube Corner. Assuming burglars and/or danger she enters the building only to find a completely distressed Pinkie Pie tossing out all potential weapons due to a nightmare, in which she massacred all of Ponyville, including her friends.

Upon hearing this, Rainbow Dash immediately tries to reassure Pinkie that none of this is and will ever be real. Now, I think this part in particular was written to ensure all former readers of "Cupcakes" about the improbability of such events and that it would never fit Pinkie's Character. But to be honest, I'm more or less neutral on this matter. Fan creations can go in an infinite number of directions. Everyone who's on this site knows it as well as me. And everyone can have vastly different definitions on what does or doesn't qualify as "true to the spirit of the show". Now, "Cupcakes" certainly isn't that, but you can just as easily imagining Pinkie being a psychotic murderer or a wholesome and good character and neither side would be wrong. The question whether or not you sell your vision well and "Cupcakes" certainly does that. So yeah, I couldn't connect as well with this part as someone else might've.

However, this didn't stop me from enjoying the wholesomeness that followed afterwards. Seeing the lengths to which Rainbow Dash goes to cheer up Pinkie always leaves me with a warm feeling in my heart and the Element of Loyalty definitely proves she's worth her title. And seeing how the rest of the Mane Six run the store afterwards because Pinkie overslept is just the icing on the cake. This ending really is a nice touch and leaves you with a good feeling once you reach it.

There is one more thing I should add though. Part of the reason why this fic worked for me (and most readers I assume) is because I knew the full context behind it. And I can't help but wonder how this story might've felt for someone who doesn't know this. Because Pinkie having such a harsh nightmare isn't something I'd find easy imagining in such a situation.

But this couldn't be enough to sway my opinion in a meaningful way. This Story is really true to the spirit of the show, it's written well and it's showing Rainbow Dash from her best and most awesome site and how could one not appreciate that? I'm feeling a DECENT to STRONG 8 on this one.

TITLE: The Light in the Darkness

AUTHOR: zaptiftun

TAGS: Slice of Life, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie

FIRST PUBLISHED ON SITE: 21st March 2012

WORD COUNT (at time of review): 4.738 words

8/10
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?