What Readers Are Saying...
"You make the waterworks happen," -Stardust_Scratch
"It has been like watching a gruesome car crash. You cannot look away from it, and it tears you apart, you are sure you are gonna have nightmares about it, but you just keep reading." -llDenkerll
"Have any of you ever accidentally’ed your way into a horror story, that was way darker than you thought it was going to be? ...I’m going to go scrub my brain down with a few hours of mindless pony fluff... I am enjoying the story I swear," -fargo11
"The ending of the last chapter left me with hope, with expectations, while the end of this chapter leaves me with sorrow, with emptiness, with hopelessness. I need more," -Anshlun
"I lack any words to describe how fucked this whole situation is. It hurts so much. Good job," -Hermaeus xerxes
"This story has some painful feels to it... I need time to think now," -Destiny Chaser
"Every time I read the witches' dialogue I feel genuinely scared... I don't have a clue of what's going to happen," -TheFaceofMercy
Starlight Glimmer had always been a difficult pony.
She's getting better, though! Really! Three years of living with the Princess of Friendship, one of the most beloved ponies in Equestria, is bound to rub off on a mare. Though Starlight continues to grapple with her insecurities and past mistakes, she never would have presumed she'd be free of the guilt - as it should be.
Yet over the years, she's come into her own as a devoted, passionate, and empathetic friend (despite a few bumps here and there).
But one day, like any other, a strange illness befalls Princess Twilight Sparkle. Starlight is driven to a foal's storybook for answers. Armed with her magic and faith, the ex-student follows a crumb trail leading to one reclusive group dwelling in the heart of an otherworldly bog. If there was any salvation for the pony who'd saved Starlight, it lay solely with them. Except when the time comes for payment to be collected, what's left behind is picked up by Twilight and her friends.
And Starlight doesn't want them to. For how can something so broken be put back together? She'd much rather save them all the trouble...
Canon divergence one year after 'The Movie,' post-season seven
Rated-T for some disturbing imagery and heavy themes concerning depression
Artwork of the Witches by Hermaeus Xerxes: https://derpicdn.net/img/view/2019/9/22/2150483.png
Starlight's Theme: Above and Beyond by Paul Dinletir
Twilight's Theme: Homecoming by Jeff Marsh
The Broken Bond Theme: The Birth of a Soul by Fran Soto
Pre-reader/Editor: JD McGregor
Cover Artist: Calenita
Definitely want to see where this goes. Its off to a great start!
(Description of story)
How is that possible?
I....I....I NEED TO READ MORE! SOON PLEASE!
8597587
Well, did you read it yet?
8597643
Yes, but I haven’t played the Witcher 3 nor do I know anything about G1 MLP.
8597685
The author's note at the end?
8597697
Oh... you expected me to read that long thing? No offense but it is called ‘author notes’ so I normally don’t read them if they are longer than a paragraph, unless it says it is important. Sorry
Please continue PLEAAASEEEE !!!!!
Dear lord... don't stop this.
I always wanted to see a real scary witch in a story.
I want more! I want more! I want more!
...Please?
So... it seems like she traded Twilight's health for her own.
...At least, that's what the first chapter states in my opinion.
I absolutely love this premise, it just seems so Faustian to me.
Dude, my heart started to seize up when I was reading the description of the witches in conjunction with the music playing. I was legitimately scared at the time.
Well, I'm intrigued. I hope there's more to this story.
So twilight is alive and starlights price is never knowing that?
8599936
Twilight is okay, Starlight found out about that, so the Witches met their end of the bargain and it was time for Starlight to meet her's.
So Hydia took something dear from her
i'd have thought spike would have gone with her, just as back up.
i didn't care for the ending, seemed abrupt.
8600126
It's not over.
It was abrupt! Yes, but that's how it's meant to be. Starlight was at least thinking she'd be able to see Twilight, but all of that went out the window when she completely locked up realizing that the prophecy foretold actually was coming to pass.
Everything fell apart before she herself could
Definitely got my interest
Time travel?
8600339
derp
I'ma track this one.
She traded her magic, didn't she?
8600538
Well now. You can’t finish the chapter like that and then NOT right the rest. The only way something that horrible could happen would be if I’d have made some sort of horrible bargain with ancient magical creatures...
8597544
I hope this story meets your expectations in the future. Glad to hear you liked the start!
8597634
Ask and ye shall receive... in hopefully a week! Preferably less. Semester's almost over, thankfully. So I'll have plenty of time to write - both this, and my other stories (on FF.net).
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Y'all are in luck!
8597930
I hope I delivered in that regard. I don't know if you read my author's note and know why I made the Witches the way they are, but my main priority was nailing the same unsettling eeriness which plagued the Crones of Crookback Bog's main scene in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
8598166
In essence, yes. Starlight didn't exactly let herself get sick (as Reeka stated, they didn't want her "miserable life"). But she did end up trading the closest thing to her life, and now, well, you know Starlight Glimmer. You know how important her magic is to her...
8599320
I'm really glad to hear that! The music was what made that particular scene so unforgettable in Witcher 3, and I'm happy to hear someone's experience was enhanced by its inclusion.
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Thanks for the follows, friends! I hope I don't disappoint.
8601073
Yay!
8601073
I can't wait!
8601073
Waiting eagerly! Seriously though i just realized i was imagining the witches in Mike Mignola's art style and I can't give a bigger compliment than that.
8601249
*looks up* Damn that's badass!
Great start. I just hope it doesn't end in the dark cause that's not the vibe I'm getting.
8602449
What do you mean by "end in the dark"?
8602547
The story is obviously framed so that "things go bad for Starlight" but how a story progresses and how a story ends can be two different things.
8602580
Oh dear, I do hope you don't allow that mentality to color your perception of the narrative!
Yes - this story is definitely a rough go for Starlight Glimmer. But I'm not doing that out of some malicious hatred of her, I'm doing it because this scenario makes sense for her character: she makes thoughtless decisions which would only impact the present, without any thought for the future. And to save someone as important to her as Twilight, it only further fuels this irresponsible behavior.
It was always going to bite her at some point - just going with her gut. And although she has once again achieved success, it will come at the cost of something dear to Starlight.
Above all, this fic is supposed to be exploration of both her relationship with Twilight, and Starlight's mentality as a character. Two things which infinitely fascinates and endears me to GlimGlam
How do I know this story won't die after only one chapter?
8602646
Not at all I try to keep an open mind.
But... well. For now I'll just wait and see.
8602689
You don't to be honest, but I have truly wanted to write this story for a year now. I'm really excited to finish it
How's progress on the new chapter?
8602739
I for one am looking forward to seeing more of this. o_o
8616175
It's half written. Should ideally be done and posted by the end of the week, if not sooner.
8616200
Oh, I'm so happy to hear you are interested in this story! I hope it continues to engage you up until the final words :)
Seriously, the music turns that whole scene with the Witches from something "merely" unnerving and unsettling, into something bordering on downright terrifying. Loved it.
Definitely looking forward for more!
8616370
That's exactly what I hoped to achieve with the music! I'm glad you liked it.
This is essentially what inspired me to go about doing this particular concept, I loved it so much I wanted to recapture it here:
I coulda swore the witches left without taking anything. Oh well, we can love our ponies, but we can’t save them.
Damn. Getting Fizzlepop Berrytwist vibes here.
Once upon a time, I would’ve sworn that Starlight would get another chance. A way to get back what she lost.
Now, after the movie, the answer is no.
I’m very curious as to how this is going to affect her.
Also, did those damn witches change the book on purpose? I feel like they would do that specifically to mess with Starlight.
Yay new update! *reads update* Yay my heart has been punched! Exactly like I wanted! Emotional masochism is magic friends! Seriously good chapter. Can't wait for more!
8621973
Wonder If Fizzy might make an appearance here maybe help starlight through this a bit?
Why is Starlight crying? IT WAS WORTH IT. Twilight is ALIVE.
8622747
I dunno it might have something to do with her HORN BEING RIPPED OFF.