I'm getting Smaug flashbacks. The taunting. The cruel certainty that nothing can survive his might. The chilling shudder at just how freakin' big the mofo is.
Sunset's fate, while I saw coming the moment she was introduced, is still saddening. Especially since she had just rediscovered what it meant to be alive. I was hoping that she'd at least get a proper burial, but that's unlikely now. Just like that, the pony who managed to get by all of Tartarus with hardly a scratch finally meets her end.
I'm afraid Twilight still has lots of work to do. There's still finding out how to solve this mess and reaching Trixie. Then... well, we'll get to that part.
I know the one pony who's saved her (TvE spoils that), but I'm shaky on the other. Eh, I'm too lazy to go back and check. I'll find out next time.
Twi... Sunset... They were so close. Now Tia and the other Twilight stand to judge the single being to cross all of Tartarus. I hope this ending is worth what Twilight has gone through. Yet i have the strangest feeling this is not the last of the blood to be shed. Please excuse me while i mourn our dearly departed Sunset.
4487942 Yeah, I was actually torn about the fact that Reddux feels just a little like Smaug at times. I was actively trying to avoid that, but in the end I think my genuine love for the old bastard of a dragon seeped in anyway.
Now Tia and the other Twilight stand to judge the single being to cross all of Tartarus.
Ah ah ah, not Celestia. Take a closer look: the pony who rescue Twilight was male. It's actually an OC, another cameo that, this time, was made necessary due to the established character locations of TvE. He actually gets more attention in this story than he did in that one, thank heavens.
4488430 Yeah, after much consideration I decided that, even thou I like the old name more, I had to agree taht it was too similar with the name of a certain other chapter. So...
You are an asswhole, I knew you were gonna kill her. I knew it. But I didn't want it. I hoped it would be something else. I had hoped. I was wrong. The epilogue better be good to make up this.
Ok, after last chapter I went surfing north shore and then binge read most of Nightmare Night and Nyx by RealityCheck... so adorable. I have been thoroughly revived and am ready to take the last dive! Haha! Wish me luuuuuuuuk...
Sunset becomes the embodiment of Twilight's hope as the story progresses. Perhaps it is fitting that she died, since Twilight has lost all hope of ever correcting her mistake with no difficulties.
You took everything from me when you killed Sunset. Even though I had to know it was coming. You made her just such a great, lovable character, and yet... yet... I am curious, though: how did the pair escape from Lord Cadance? Did she really just not give a shit about Twilight anymore to the point where she could leave and not be missed? Then again, I guess she was broken beyond recognition, and Cadance did take her horn.
Reddux was... surprisingly underwhelming. I really thought there was going to be some intense battle or something. Instead, we get some imposing dialogue and a Lord who hardly shows off his Wrathful element to the same level that the other Lords displayed theirs. Reddux certainly towered over the pair in my mind (I imagine him being at least twice as large as the red dragon from Dragonshy) and his voice I imagined as Sauron's coming through the palantir when commanding Saruman to "Build me an army worthy of Mordor." Heck, you could even liken him to Smaug.
Twi's ordeal is still not over. What will be the final nail in her coffin? Guess I'll find out.
P.S. no visible errors to PM you in this chapter. Well done!
4931830 I knew Reddux wasn't going to be so horrible as he could have been. By this time, though, I couldn't imagine either Twilight or Sunset being able to stand up to him – Twilight is so weak by this point and doesn't even have any magic, and if Celestia couldn't best him you know Sunset doesn't stand a chance. A big battle was simply out of the question. So, as disappointing as it might be, I decided it was best to just let him be hopelessly unstoppable.
But I don't regret this decision. I doubt Twilight would have survived anything more than this.
4931830 Oh, and regarding Cadance. This was not explained simply because Twilight wasn't mentally there to witnesses it, but there are plenty of options available. Note that Cadance doesn't really 'see' her entire realm, so sneaking around is a distinct possibility. Also note that Sunset mentioned the tormented ponies also exist above the Cloister, so if Twilight was put there after they were finished toying with her it would be easy for Sunset to sneak in, find her and set her free. Cadance and Shining are awfully... 'distracted' with one another, after all.
She hadn’t been poisoned by Ne’er, with hacking fits that seemed to grow ever worse.
I actually have an interesting theory running about this factoid, let's see where it goes, eh? Don't correct me - I want to find out for myself, but to stroke your ego a bit, I'll give you this.
I think the 'sickness' is a tether, a sort of anchor, marking Twilight as a permanent resident of Tartarus, and the closer she gets to being free, the closer she comes to her death. Freedom for Twilight at this point would be the release from the mortal coil - but Ne'er has tethered her soul to Tartarus, and as such, she will never escape.
I am...slightly saddened to know I came up with a great theory, and it was incorrect.
However, it means that you aren't going for a hopeless-nothing-can-be-fixed-ever-again ending, and that makes me wonder just how this will all pan out.
I still think it could have been darker, but that's just me :V
Perhaps it was because I devoured so much darkness and gore in one sitting that I am left really hating this story. All throughout Twi's journey it seemed she only suffered for sufferings sake. I really hope Twi's suffering leads to something worthwhile otherwise... Just nope. I'm not one who cares about happy endings but If there is no happy resolution for Twi at the end of this story then I feel as though reading this was a waste.
Perhaps I have met my limit on how much gore and violence I can take. That would be... Interesting.
Anyway I go into reding the next chapter with hopes of a worthwhile ending for Twi. If she doesn't have a happy ending in this story give me the link to the sequel that has the happy ending. TWI DESERVES A HAPPY ENDING.
Oh, I forgot to mention Twi is my fave character. Seeing her suffer like this brings out the worse in me...
Damn, Twilight's finally out.
I'm getting Smaug flashbacks. The taunting. The cruel certainty that nothing can survive his might. The chilling shudder at just how freakin' big the mofo is.
Sunset's fate, while I saw coming the moment she was introduced, is still saddening. Especially since she had just rediscovered what it meant to be alive. I was hoping that she'd at least get a proper burial, but that's unlikely now. Just like that, the pony who managed to get by all of Tartarus with hardly a scratch finally meets her end.
I'm afraid Twilight still has lots of work to do. There's still finding out how to solve this mess and reaching Trixie. Then... well, we'll get to that part.
I know the one pony who's saved her (TvE spoils that), but I'm shaky on the other. Eh, I'm too lazy to go back and check. I'll find out next time.
Twi... Sunset... They were so close. Now Tia and the other Twilight stand to judge the single being to cross all of Tartarus. I hope this ending is worth what Twilight has gone through. Yet i have the strangest feeling this is not the last of the blood to be shed. Please excuse me while i mourn our dearly departed Sunset.
4487942
Yeah, I was actually torn about the fact that Reddux feels just a little like Smaug at times. I was actively trying to avoid that, but in the end I think my genuine love for the old bastard of a dragon seeped in anyway.
4487947
Ah ah ah, not Celestia. Take a closer look: the pony who rescue Twilight was male. It's actually an OC, another cameo that, this time, was made necessary due to the established character locations of TvE. He actually gets more attention in this story than he did in that one, thank heavens.
Reddux is the worst of all the Lords. Not because he's a dragon, but because he takes away the only thing that Twilight has left: hope.
And now, a moment of silence for Sunset Shimmer
P.S. You changed the chapter name.
4488430
Yeah, after much consideration I decided that, even thou I like the old name more, I had to agree taht it was too similar with the name of a certain other chapter. So...
You are an asswhole, I knew you were gonna kill her. I knew it. But I didn't want it. I hoped it would be something else. I had hoped. I was wrong. The epilogue better be good to make up this.
Ok, after last chapter I went surfing north shore and then binge read most of Nightmare Night and Nyx by RealityCheck... so adorable. I have been thoroughly revived and am ready to take the last dive! Haha! Wish me luuuuuuuuk...
4488633
It's labelled a tragedy for a reason. But who knows? Mayhap you'll find some level of comfort in the epilogue.
...maybe.
4489306
Nothing revives the spirit like copious quantities of D'AAAAWWWWWW...
Too bad we're past the worst of it as of Chapter 10. It means I can't crush the cuteness out of your soul. Well... not as effectively.
and the story is not exactly getting better..........
You know, the more I read this, the more I want to read TvE. That's good writing! Keep it up!
4492899
Why thank you!
If Reddux and Samug fought, who would win?
4493005
I think they'd join forces and have a blast dominating all of Equestria and/or Middle Earth.
Then they'd have to split the spoils, which I imagine is when the sparks would fly. Honestly? I haven't a clue which would win.
Might end up a draw.
Does this mean that Sunset is dead for good?
Can Reddux move freely throughout Tartarus, or is he to big to fit through the tunnels?
4493089
Yes. Sunset is gone.
4493124
That's two people who caught it. Direct answer: I don't know. It's one of the few things I overlooked.
My best explanation so far is that Reddux is so terrible that just his name is enough to force the others to tow the line.
Does Reddux appear, or is at least mentioned, in No Heros?
4493215
He's mentioned fairly frequently in the main series. He sorta has this 'boogey man' aspect to him.
If you check my user page, you'll find I have a story in mind featuring him that will be set in the No Heroes universe.
Sunset becomes the embodiment of Twilight's hope as the story progresses. Perhaps it is fitting that she died, since Twilight has lost all hope of ever correcting her mistake with no difficulties.
Whoa, intense.
"Twilight rolled her eyes but couldn’t resist a small smile."
did you perhaps mean "eye"
You took everything from me when you killed Sunset. Even though I had to know it was coming. You made her just such a great, lovable character, and yet... yet...
I am curious, though: how did the pair escape from Lord Cadance? Did she really just not give a shit about Twilight anymore to the point where she could leave and not be missed? Then again, I guess she was broken beyond recognition, and Cadance did take her horn.
Reddux was... surprisingly underwhelming. I really thought there was going to be some intense battle or something. Instead, we get some imposing dialogue and a Lord who hardly shows off his Wrathful element to the same level that the other Lords displayed theirs. Reddux certainly towered over the pair in my mind (I imagine him being at least twice as large as the red dragon from Dragonshy) and his voice I imagined as Sauron's coming through the palantir when commanding Saruman to "Build me an army worthy of Mordor." Heck, you could even liken him to Smaug.
Twi's ordeal is still not over. What will be the final nail in her coffin? Guess I'll find out.
P.S. no visible errors to PM you in this chapter. Well done!
4494006
Much as it pains me that Sunset is gone... You're absolutely right.
4931830
I knew Reddux wasn't going to be so horrible as he could have been. By this time, though, I couldn't imagine either Twilight or Sunset being able to stand up to him – Twilight is so weak by this point and doesn't even have any magic, and if Celestia couldn't best him you know Sunset doesn't stand a chance. A big battle was simply out of the question. So, as disappointing as it might be, I decided it was best to just let him be hopelessly unstoppable.
But I don't regret this decision. I doubt Twilight would have survived anything more than this.
4931830
Oh, and regarding Cadance. This was not explained simply because Twilight wasn't mentally there to witnesses it, but there are plenty of options available. Note that Cadance doesn't really 'see' her entire realm, so sneaking around is a distinct possibility. Also note that Sunset mentioned the tormented ponies also exist above the Cloister, so if Twilight was put there after they were finished toying with her it would be easy for Sunset to sneak in, find her and set her free. Cadance and Shining are awfully... 'distracted' with one another, after all.
Oh, you killed the only likable character in this story.
4931830
I legitimately could not help but read all his dialogue in Smaug's voice.
5069043
Why are likable characters necessary? Why is killing them a bad thing? What would you have done differently?
I actually have an interesting theory running about this factoid, let's see where it goes, eh? Don't correct me - I want to find out for myself, but to stroke your ego a bit, I'll give you this.
I think the 'sickness' is a tether, a sort of anchor, marking Twilight as a permanent resident of Tartarus, and the closer she gets to being free, the closer she comes to her death. Freedom for Twilight at this point would be the release from the mortal coil - but Ne'er has tethered her soul to Tartarus, and as such, she will never escape.
We'll see what transpires, eh?
I am...slightly saddened to know I came up with a great theory, and it was incorrect.
However, it means that you aren't going for a hopeless-nothing-can-be-fixed-ever-again ending, and that makes me wonder just how this will all pan out.
I still think it could have been darker, but that's just me :V
NOOOOOOO!
*curls up and cries*
5389938
*pats on back*
Perhaps it was because I devoured so much darkness and gore in one sitting that I am left really hating this story. All throughout Twi's journey it seemed she only suffered for sufferings sake. I really hope Twi's suffering leads to something worthwhile otherwise... Just nope. I'm not one who cares about happy endings but If there is no happy resolution for Twi at the end of this story then I feel as though reading this was a waste.
Perhaps I have met my limit on how much gore and violence I can take. That would be... Interesting.
Anyway I go into reding the next chapter with hopes of a worthwhile ending for Twi. If she doesn't have a happy ending in this story give me the link to the sequel that has the happy ending. TWI DESERVES A HAPPY ENDING.
Oh, I forgot to mention Twi is my fave character. Seeing her suffer like this brings out the worse in me...
Fuck, I'm really going to have to gather my thoughts on this one.