How far will one stallion run to escape what pursues him?
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Kudzu, you write some of the fluffiest scenes I've ever read. Heartwarming moments that never fail to bring a smile.
Then, you write something dark, something horrible like this, but make it all worthwhile at the end, and I don't know what to feel. Bravo, Kudzu. Bravo.
Bucky's come a long way from what he was. The Snoot Bump that changed Everything.
As painful as this chapter was to read, I am still compelled to edit.
in a miserable lump
very much like a
tore her chains
too
needs a comma after fool
at?
This whole story has little bits of To Dance In Shadow scattered in it, but in this chapter, I feel it was especially prevalent.
That was a really good story. This chapter was good too, I hope it is as you intended it to be.
Poor Bucky can't even leave the house without earning new scars
The sad part is, that it seemed the cosmos were full of twisted, dark lives (if the victory celebration is any sort of indication) - before the good and innocent really spread, and those who'd not become pure demons settled down and became more or less peaceful in comparison. Lives the Fates still wanted to save (for some reason - who'd want to save those things?). At that point in time, if they'd not rebelled and the cosmos were restarted, the world might very well be in a state of paradise right now, wipe out the current state of things where the strong and evil prey on what very few weak and good are left. Ultimately not a world very interesting to read about, but from an in-world perspective they did sort of screw up. The evil might have so vastly outnumbered the good that a restart would have only turned out for the potential best.
I'm not entirely sure why Bucky felt more defiant towards the Omnicorn after that. Omnicorn was fighting a war, made a mistake while apparently fighting an actual and potentially separate threat. Creating an entire race of demigods to restore order that was destroyed by meddlers perverting and corrupting his pristine world for their own twisted ways - he honestly seemed like he was trying to handle things the right way and everyone else decided to kick over his sandcastle.
If anything, seems like she became bitter and spiteful over time.
Honestly, was not expecting her to be a foal. ... Her children are dead and she'll take another couple of decades before she's ready to face Shining again, and he'll be middle-aged by then by human standards.
Kudzu, unless the Omnicorn can prevent an alicorn's ascension, I thought demicorns like Twilight and Cadence were supposed to ascend to Celestia and Luna's level of immortality once they'd died in the expression of their bound concept/element? Cadence died for Love. Instead she was literally just dead, no automatic rebirth into god-tier Cadence. The Fates had to rescue her.
I'm don't want to complain, but I really don't like this deal. It's too easy. Like the giving of his mother, this one is just. . . IDK. Also for many this will put most in the "fight against god" camp. I however still support the cosmic reset. I understand more now how God feels and I can understand why there is a need for one. The recovery after such a horrible event seems so impossible. And the damage so irreparable that to wipe the slate clean as start over would better. Kind of like what Bucky did at Griffonholm. Screw the locals who stood by powerless, screw the entities that caused this they deserve to be wiped from existence. Start over, learn from mistakes, create the perfect world. I can even kinda understand his resentment for Celestia and Luna. They are a reminder of his biggest failing. Defiled and unclean, they now carry the mark of inperfection. Luna embodies the darkness that was once represented by the very creatures that destroyed everything. And when she was swayed by that darkness... it's all so really sad.
My heart is dying from what you did to Bucky!!
5400100
just as Celestia had to rescue Twilight. But I suspect while the fates could not intercede in Cadence's ascention Bucky could. Fates and Thanatos are grounded after all. But Bucky is a good nacent Alicorn of war. Designing and creating tools of warfare. His attitude isn't great but he was chugging along well on his way to acention. So why couldn't he have the power to unlock her potential.
Question.
Discord? What is he where did he come from what was he before how did he become the avatar of chaos?
And shouldn't he, as chaos incarnate, be able to face up to the omnicorn of harmony, at his full power?
Should be "into a fire"
On the chapter, I'm rather sad about the loss of Cadence's foals. Now that she is immortal, she's infertile; that is going to really hurt once she learns of that. For at least a decade Shining is going to be without his wife (or at least anypony similar to her), what's left of the Crystal Empire is down a leader for the foreseeable future, though on a possible upside or at least interesting development that occurs to me as I type, Twilight might have the unique opportunity to foalsit her foalsitter... huh.
Still loss of any possibility of children (exclusion of other wives and adoption in the interim of course) is pretty sad, this is going to be pretty rough on everyone for a long time. Also, just having Cadence as a foal instead of an adult is probably to to weaken Love for a while though hopefully the ascension to greater alicorn will make up for that in time.
One final thought, now Bucky knows with absolute certainty that if War rises, Love will die. Great additional motivation to be sure that will never come to pass!
5400148
Problem is, there is not really anything standing in the way of this problem repeating. Outsiders could still get in and interfere, disrupt the balance, and corrupt the new cosmos. They got in the first time; they can get in again. Making a new sandbox just gives the bullies a new place to be bullies and do what they want.
I really wonder how shining armor will react to this.
Bah, he will most likely be more than happy and continue to rule the Crystal empire til her coming of age.
All i can say about this chapter is Damn.. just... Damn... Powerful chapter.
5400201
but with the lessons of the first failure God would be more wary of the agents of chaos. The warning that the fates had said would be heeded, a wiser, less arrogant God would be more open to his family. Her lesson learned things would be better. Weather or not things would break down enough for them to want to reset again isn't even being considered. But that's the problem with having a free reset button. To use it or not, the more things fall apart the more you just want it all to end.
OMG, this is is so horrible! Shining Armor is now the most eligible Batchelor. A Prince without his wife, (till death do us part kind of frees him from any marital obligation) and two very proper mares looking for an eligible Stallion. Oh look Rarity, your Prince is in mourning of his dead wife. Go comfort him with your sweet Coco.
5400211
Omnicorn seems pretty stubborn to me, from the language of this chapter and previous ones it seems more like Omnicorn is more of an authortarian parent, expecting/demanding obedience and punishing rebellious behavior.
This doesn't seem like a "family man" in the more traditional sense, more the "a man is a king in his own house" kind of deal, on!y the house is Creation. The whole 'moving forward with trying to wipe out Creation' thing doesn't really support the idea that Omnicorn is going to listen to others, now or in any later Creations.
Before the corruption thing we saw here, the Fates and Thanatos were loyal to their Father, they tried to warn him, but were not acting in opposition yet. Still weren't listened to. I really don't see much, if any, evidence of Omnicorn really learning anything, so I don't think he'll be "getting it right" if he tries a second time. Or even getting it done any better for matter. And if trying again from scratch isn't likely to go any better than the previous attempt, then Omnicorn would likely be better off trying to figure out how this current Creation could be improved, so if at some point a "next try" does happen, there would be more information to work with on stopping those problems that arise. But again, I don't see the Omnicorn attempting to "better" itself by doing that based on what has been shown.
...
Unless that is what Omnicorn has been doing with the attempted universe-i-cide, poking the 'dying animal' that is Creation to watch how it react to the various stimuli that the Omnicorn inflicts on it. But that view of it's behavior seems, to me, to be particularly detached and cold way to go about interacting with the 'final moments' of your 'child'. Then again...
Ugghhh, I hate thinking this deep. It is too early in a morning in which I haven't slept yet to be thinking this profoundly and deeply on a topic I was (initially) trying to oppose.
Blargh.
5400219
Coco would never allow Rarity to be that dishonest or shallow towards a grieving stallion. Shame on you.
Tense issues here. You've got both past and present tense. Need to choose one.
The dead
Hold up. Cadance was fat with twins as well, right? Are they gone? Will they return once she has grown? How will Shining Armor deal with the fact he will die before his wife is old enough to be with him once more, and will more than likely never see his foals?
...of course, the flip side of that is that she will grow faster to adulthood, a few short years compared to a usual upbringing. Perhaps that's why the Fates said she needed the milk of all three tribes?
5400277
Going to ask a simple question. I don't want a spiel in response.
How do you, as a person and human being, consider ants?
5400284
Who is saying she's being dishonest? They are proper noble mares who wish to share their love. Shining is a greaveing Stallion who will need to be protected from gold digging mares looking to snag a Prince. Rarity's intentions can be declared after he has finished mourning his wife and child.
5400292
Yeah, no. Sorry. answering that would require a spiel so as to avoid the obvious complex question there.
5400296
Ehhh, yeah I know, but between the comment on "death do us part" (a somewhat irrelevant consideration in this way for a herd accepting society) and the "Oh look," lead-in, I read your post with something of a sarcastic tone in my head, leading me to think you were suggesting less than acceptable behavior from Rarity and for her to drag Coco along with her on that course.
I hope she doesn't need a guardian for long. Bucky's already self-reduced lifespan and penchant for making it shorter on a regular basis probably means she's barely going to be an adult when he dies. Since he can't transfer the title, someone needs to come up with a non-ascention method of extending his life.
5400277
lol, yes thinking this hard is bad for our helth. But we have seen emotion from God. At least Bucky has. The idea that a controlling parent figure is somehow harmful to good family dynamic isn't much diffrent from the idea of personal freedom vs what's good for a country. The idea that all would be better if we reform all the criminals wipe their minds of evil, magically alter memories for the good of the inoccent. We assume the worse of God because that all we see. But He is just like Celestia, like the fates. Gods among mortals who dance to their whims. For Her to have the solution to the problem so close at hoof, and yet Their own children oppose it muse be hard. Even for a kind loving parent, if my daughters went through all that and I could make it all better by waving my hand I would. In a heartbeat. And Boy would I be pissing if my other kids opposes my decision.
This chapter is HORRIBLE, in the dark and good way.
So Candace is the pink foal, did not see that coming. Wonder how Shining will feel about this, the one you love turned into a newborn.
Would the revived Candace have any of her memories, when she grown up?
If so... What's the age of consent in equestria... I'm a perverted bastard.
I believe Bucky's mental strength and endurance has been increased quite a bit.
5400306
Ahh yes I see that. Agreed if not done properly they would be no better than the gold diggers themselves.
BTW "Till death do us part" was only mentioned because it was a monogamous marriage and Cadence is now a foal. Not holding out hope for their romantic relationship.
5400326
I'm not holding out much hope for the romance either, but I also don't recall Cadence being personally against polyamorous relationships, being the alicorn of Love and all (and how she was going have foals in the first place).
5400298
It's not complex. It's actually quite cut and dry, an injection of the perspective that you're ignoring to push your own opinions and leaving this unfairly one-sided. You can't consider a god's thoughts and actions from the position of a mortal, you have to try and think like them to be more credible in the attempt. The ant cannot be held responsible for judging you, it is an ant - it doesn't understand more than it was born to understand. It cannot know all that you know and therefore it cannot see the grand design that you work towards. Your successes may look like the utmost tragedy and failure to it. Your mistakes might go unnoticed. It lacks the ability to perceive what you even are.
So too, would we not be able to truly understand a being that weaves the cosmic thread for its own purposes. Even if we know those purposes, what could we possibly truly comprehend of them aside from what -we- think of them based on -our- experiences? Things that are foolish to us might, by some measure, be required by the greater universe for any sort of progress. Things that are nonsensical or barbaric or cataclysmic might not even register as a hiccup and thus our opinion matters for nothing.
The subject matter is a god. Formerly mortal, but now of a class that measures time in "events that I deem appropriate to exist". Which you cannot directly fault a godly being for when you've stepped on ants and kicked over at least one ant hill in your life. It's human ego to believe that our finite lives have such meaning that even beings that far removed from us but with total authority over all aspects of what we can consider existence must halt their plans and conform to us. If they did, it would be due to a whim - not something they are forced or required to do.
I'm sure in the end the Omnicorn will be the great big bad guy because every story has to have that one figure you're supposed to hate while the others get their redemption, and all too commonly they always pick someone who wields authority or is above the sort of person in station that is the audience to play on feelings of inadequacy and justice coming to the evil that is someone who stands above us.
But at the same time I don't see people hating the Omnicorn for the right reasons. No matter what words have been used so far to put it down and judge it, they all seem to lead back to "I judge it as I would my next door neighbor." Which is just not how it works.
So, as I said, quite simple: Your answer would have simply been, "They're just ants." Pause and consider a human being, then try to come to those same conclusions and comparisons and understandings while attempting to emulate a much smaller and simpler creature that lacks all frame of reference aside from what it knows of itself. How many ants only comprehend you by your boot coming down from the sky?
Essentially:
31.media.tumblr.com/b9941f24ba6cec5cca601a21b3ea51d5/tumblr_inline_n9mb1cjdvP1qayjdk.jpg
5400331
I doubt she would have a problem with it either. But I believe it was said that Cadence would grow up normally even though she is immortal. And while she has the same soul I don't think she will mentally be Cadence. If so she'd be a preborn. Super scary having a foal tell you your not doing IT right. Giving you pointerse and crap. I think for everyone involved Cadence is gone.
5400334
I'll reply to rest of your post later, but for now, i believe Kudzu already pointed out the leader of the Mirror Traveler's to be the story's Shadow on this incredibly long and complex Hero's Journey.
read this chapter... sole thought in my mind "FUCK ME"
this was far too much for a single chapter, intense like no other... MOAR!!!
5399991 couldn't agree more
5400350
Then I'll look forward to this Shadow. However, I am still of the mind that the audience, and indeed most of FIMFIC in general give immortals a bad rap and don't try actually comprehending things from their viewpoint, and only consider the here and now, thus judging from a mortal's standpoint. Which may be all that matters to a particular mortal or set of mortals, but in the long run means absolutely nothing, and cottoning to each mortal means no progress is being made towards some greater goal that their descendants could flourish and prosper from.
Benevolent immortals seem to have far more issues than beings like the Omnicorn, who are just so far removed from caring about little creatures that don't actually matter overall, or actually evil immortal beings who do as they like until someone stops them. Yet at the same time they're all pretty much treated like the evil variety around here, and even the most benevolent are put under a glass lens and held to scrutiny that just wasn't created with their unique existence in mind. Such a thing is why we have a 'Jury of your peers', people who stand a chance of understanding your situation.
Does that make more concise sense for you now?
Didn't Cadence also lose her unborn foal?
5400402
if she was at the epicenter of a nuclear explosion I doubt they would find anything. And sadly if she died then so did her baby. Unless the pink foal is her baby... with Cadence's soul.
When Big Daddy Omnicorn comes down and at least attempts to seriously explain why he feels the need to hit the reset button because of one bad turn rather than try to salvage the situation then I'll consider his side.
The Villain who was actually a Hero in the Long Run is one of my favorite character archtypes but it only comes into play when I know they're a Hero.
5400431
Could actually be a giant man-baby jackass for all I know. My issue is that The Chase is also a psychological project on top of a story, and we're supposed to consider perspectives outside of what we 'know'. Yet I still see people stagnating on that and singing the same stuff we could spin about people in our daily lives when referencing characters who move the heavens, create the galaxy, and know and understand more than we'll ever know, from the lowliest immortal on up to the Cosmicorn.
I don't even care if it's a Hero. Just annoyed that people still aren't really stepping outside of their boxes and putting in the effort to really escape what limits their conceptions. "It does things, I see these things, I don't like them = villain." And usually the "I don't like them" part is based on sheer hubris without them even realizing it because we don't encounter situations like this in our own lives. We're supposed to be What If-ing here, we're not a gaggle of slack-jawed yokels being spoon-fed a million words and more.
Surely you've felt some of my frustration with this?
Also... if no rapid aging, then will we be seeing Twi foalsitting Cadance?
5400492
I said it already and I´ll repeat: this story is deeply influencied by the greek mythos of all-powerfull immortal beings withh deep failed human characteristics, like in the classic stories. It´s not the power level that denine then, but what they do. Its hard to us (myself included) to easily accepet such universe, since we have the typical christian vision of an perfect GOD (and make no mistake, I DO believe in GOD and in the Holy Bible) but THIS universe have different rules. Sometimes it´s little hard to read and accept. Like I said, deep christian vision of the world. But once you come to accept and, if you ever had the chance to read the classical greek mythologie, it will be even more delightfull, you´ll find the story very interesting. More and more Hero´s Journey ethos on it.
At this point kudzu should consider creating his own tag for this story: GREEK EPICAL MYTHICAL.
5400492
I would love to consider the "What Ifs" and underlying motives. I should totally follow kudzu's advice on getting a notebook as he generally leaves tons of hints and notes around about the characters and what will happen or their motives.
The problem with Omnicorn is that unless I've missed something, I've yet to see anything that gives a potential "what if" statement. All bits of evidence has been stacked so hard against him that the only road we can see him (just Omnicorn, not any other immortal) as an asshole. Not even an asshole but rather a child that made a mistake and wants to sweep it under the rug as if trying to hide it rather than own up to his mistake and fix it.
I will say one blessing Omnicorn has so far is that everyone in story that knows of what he's doing is speaking of his actions from their PoV. He still has the chance to come down and blow everyone's mind by presenting evidence that says "I need to wipe the slate clean" and make people waver in their feelings.
........... okay i know i am about to give a critique but hear me out here.
i get what you are doing. betrayal and fallen gods kinda thing, the servants turning on the masters for a sinful purpose. as a mythology and as an event it does make sense to have it.
on the other hand, in execution it does not make that much sense. how could the mortal predators, seemingly before they even had magic from the looks of it, have overpowered beings who can level cities as individuals? and even if they could, Thanatos could have easily interfered, withered away enough of them, or all of them, to neutralize that threat. thanatos is death itself. i cannot see why in this incident he could not have easily stopped this from happening.
i would even question why the fates would not directly interfere in a situation that would cause great damage to the cosmos.
.......... and the incident that killed cadance is suspect. why would she outright blast when she could pacify? love magic could have stopped them dead in their tracks. dragons are beings with such capacities, mirror walkers just ponies. and that is disregarding the crystal heart. .
other than that the mirror walkers presence also confuses me. if fate itself cannot bind them, how could destiny manipulate them? unless they were already buddy with the dragon and cosmic pants had directed the dragon against the empire, thus coincidence that can only occur with the mirror walkers.
5400625
Clearly, the aggressors had some help. Notice that that the alicorns were all subdued and kind of vacant?
That is because something else pacified them and made sure that its army had a feast... a means to grow stronger.
But you obviously missed that implication and lacked the means to put two and two together.
5400625
Also, what you saw was the VICTORY.
Which means what?
The battle was OVER.
What do you think happened during the battle?
Well, obviously, the alicorns lost and were subdued.
DUH!
How hard was that?
Not very. I mean, come on. I work really hard on this and missing the obvious is insulting.
"Bruce, show respect," - Diana
"Respect to what?" - Bruce
"These are the gods! They are the very beings that hold the universe in order, they are who determine what is right!" - Diana
"Then they've failed." - Bruce
"What?!" - Diana
"They failed. The moment a child has suffered they failed. Everything they've claimed to have done is a lie, and I won't show respect to overpowered beings who do not hold to the very ideals they claim to enjoy while they impose them on others."
"Mortal, you dare speak to the Olympians in such a way?!" - Zeus
"No, I dare speak to a meta being with god level powers who has a playground he's tired of playing with that way." - Bruce
(So, why the Batman and Wonder Woman Quote? Because of how similar it is. by the by... A cookie for those who know where this comes from... But like I said it really does have some similarities. The Olympians have treated the world like a playground. The same is for the Omicorn. Equus/Equis was his playground and he's upset that it's not what he wanted. His Playground isn't playing by his rules.
Ah, victory indeed does smell of sex and death, though usually one or the other.
Oh, and nice to see long pigs in here, too.
5400717
War Pigs.
5400720 Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses?
Evil minds that plot destruction?
Sorcerer of Death's construction?
In the fields of bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning?
5400643 Being the Devil´s Advocate here, I had to say that it was good reading you say that, kudzu. Sure, eventually I would come to understand that, specially with more chapters adding more to this part of your mithology but, between being slow, my limited english skills and, above all, the overwhelming ammount of feelings, and sadness and....well, errr, EVERYTHING in those two chapters, it wasn´t all that clear for me too.
Not saying wasn´t clear at all, just that I have personal limitations and, sometimes, take a while to get everything sorted out.
And now that things are moe clear, they are even more sad then before. I did not thing that it was possible. Looking forward to see the consequences against Shining Armor.
5400702 No idea where this came from, but as soon as I discover, I´ll buy it !!!
Also, I can´t favorite this enough.
I must ask this, Kudzu. Was Cadance able to give birth before heading into battle (even if born early, they'd still have a better chance than if with her against the dragon)?
And the other thing is, while I'm sure they'll all be happy/proud and hug the heck out of him for what he did, every alicorn and pegasi Bucky knows are going to wingslap the living hell out of him for this stunt.