Twilight Sparkle is feeling a little glum about her long-term prospects. Can Rarity help her formulate a less gloomy understanding of the nature of the universe?
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Ponydora Prancypants
Joined 29th Sep, 2011 ·
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I admit I didn't understand very well their discussion, but some things I did get and they are beautiful. Why create anything at all if nothing is new? Why try to live if you are simply going to die? Beauty and harmony do seem like very good choices. Creation and creativity really do seem like very good purposes.
Aye, Rarity.
Entropy ain't what it used to be.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I had a hard time getting a feel for the discussion the two were having because of the lack of description at the beginning; I realize that this was a purposeful design choice due to what we learn over the course of the story, but it made it much more difficult for me to get into the story and the conversation that the two are having.
Also, people who act like Twilight did in this chapter annoy me. Infinitely so.
In the end I think this story deserves a thumbs up from me. It made me think a little bit about the heat-death of the universe, if nothing else.
Wait a second. Blue and yellow? This may not be a metaphor at all. It'd certainly explain why Twilight's contemplating the heat death of the universe...
Yes, because thermodynamics best applies to a system of largely indistinguishable, low-mass particles, like a room full of gas. The universe as a whole is better considered gravitationally, where equilibrium is a big clump rather than a diffuse haze. This is what happens when you use the wrong model.
In all, a nice little story of humongous scope. It's sad to see how much Twilight forgot in her entropic solitude. Magic may be quantifiable, but friendship isn't. And if you think the best thing to do is nothing at all, why even exist? But she has at least one friend to remind her, and maybe more. They have time to wait and see.
(Also, I only just noticed Rarity's face in the story image.
)
Heh. Misattributions or no, I see what you did there.
D'aww.
Okay, fine. I smiled. You win this one, Ponydora! ::shakes fist::
Well, Twilight sure is a wet blanket, isn't she? Rarity has some cosmically impressive arguments for creation, and really what better advocate for it could there be? I'd like to think her off-hand gift to Twilight was our own little number, even if she prefers the big, bright ones...
Twilight Sparkle, superintelligent shade of the colour lavender.
This seems rather fitting....
______________________________________________________________
When the last eagle flies over the last crumbling mountain
And the last lion roars at the last dusty fountain
In the shadow of the forest though she may be old and worn
They will stare unbelieving
at the last unicorn
When the first breath of winter through the flowers is icing
And you look to the north and a pale moon is rising
And it seems like all is dying and would leave the world to mourn
In the distance hear the laughter
of the last unicorn
I'm alive,
I'm alive
When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning
And the future has passed without even a last desperate warning
Then look into the sky where through the clouds a path is torn
Look and see her how she sparkles,
it's the last unicorn
I'm alive,
I'm alive
5678972
Damn, this is exactly what i was thinking as i finished the story and then your post was the first one after it when i read it. My mind was blown.
Also, I'm so happy you're back right now, Ponydora.
That's telling gloomy ol' Twilight, Rara.
The physical act of creating art may not push back entropy--perhaps nothing does--but the decision to share that art with the world and let it inspire and further transform itself in the minds of those experiencing it sure seems like it must be a victory of sorts for creation. Much as you've done here. So, thank you for writing and sharing and helping beat back entropy a little more.
This story is reminiscent of Isaac Asimov's The Last Question as told by ponies...
Maybe Rarity and Twilight could create the Equestrivac to provide a solution for the entropy problem?
5678967
I guess that makes Rarity a Hooloovoo?
5679630
I'd like to think they'll figure it out in time. And hey, this is a bit like Mr. Asimov's story! Neat.
5678967
Pretty much!
The first billion years are always the hardest.
Aww, Rares! You fight that entropy. Sometimes we all get a little too Twilighty and not enough Sparkley, and then the deep dark "what's the point" questions start piling up. Thanks for helping us all chase the gloom away. I love the fashion vs star creation comparisons, hahaha! And love that she stood up for herself and all that is Art and Creation. Frivolous it may seem, but art is what defines us and makes things worth living. Thank you for another fine contribution to the worth of life, Ponydora!
It seems like Rarity sides with Freeman Dyson, sort of!
Dyson's eternal intelligence
...well, that was interesting. I like how the question of what Rarity is creating is slowly answered over the course of the story.
I wrote a review of this story. It can be found here.
I create beauty and bring joy to others as a way of saying fuck you to this shitty universe with its inflexible laws and zero energy density. My flights of fantasy are orders of magnitude better than this stupid crippled retarded reality. Sure the universe will kill me and cover up the evidence so nobody will know that it wasn't the best of all possible worlds, but it's not like anybody will be listening anyway. Might as well pretend they're listening now, so I can shout my pretend stuff at them and show them why everything is terrible. My frozen corpse is sticking its tongue up at the sky because reality is a horrible failure, and none of this shit should even have existed.
Who's to say that, even if Twilight is right, that this hasn't happened before? Endless cycles and all that. Don't be a downer, Twi.
alltheragefaces.com/img/usercreated/5035fd53e9c64.png
Sorry about that. I just can't help it.
I do apologize good sir for what is about to take place. This is not me promoting myself but rather just a big coincidence. Observe
I really enjoyed this, as for all of your work. But this is probably the one with the most time-wimey stuff. Anyhoo, I look forward to what you write in the future. I give this: 5/5
Although, as a beloved fan of Douglas Adams, this story reminded me rather faintly of some of his more bizarre work.
- A
Excellent story, set in the far future of the Poniverse. It very much reminds me of my "Poniternity" concept, in which the Mane Six all ascend to become Alicorns and then the Ponies as a whole rise to become the Guardians of their Multiverse -- allies of the Cosmic Concepts against the Night Shadows and other major threats.
Interestingly, the specific despair to which Twilight almost surrenders in this story is similar to the motivating philosophy of the Night Shadows, who have answered the question of what to do to stave off entropy with "plunder and devour other Universes." Twilight Sparkle, though, is still a moral being and would not do any such thing. I'm also glad to see that your Rarity is still, fundamentally, an artist.
5679310
The impulse to create art stems from creativity in general, which is exactly the sort of lateral thinking which can lead the way out of energy dearths by identifying alternate ways of generating or using energy. Mind you, with a massively-augmented Twilight Sparkle thinking on the problem already -- and there is no reason to assume that she's the only one so thinking -- the solution may not be an easy one.
But hey -- the later techs on the tree always cost the most lightbulbs.
Hey,
It's been nearly two years since you were last seen so it's likely you may not see this, but who knows, maybe you'll login to reminiscence. In any case, I literally made this account to send you this message and comment on a few of your works to ask you if you have written/published any books. I adore your writing and would love to support your work. I have been a big fan of 'The Flight of the Alicorn" for years now, I recently just reread it to reminisce in your amazing story telling. I'm an adult now, which is a wild thought. But yeah. I've got the means to indulge in what I love. I love your writing, if you ever write any books please let me know.
*coughs up a lung*
I'm sorry, what? Did I miss something? What? WHAT???
I am so confused. I am massively confused.
And also, Rarity's argument implodes when applied to the real world.
8969180 Clearly the Elements ascended to Alicorns, and then further to Cosmic Entities of pure energy, able to manipulate space and time on a galactic scale.
10348686
Clearly. XD
stupid. Rarity's words are complete nonsense.
Twilight actions are not logins
Reminds me of existentialism, in that this also uses the idea that life creates its own meaning merely by existing.