• Member Since 20th Mar, 2012
  • offline last seen January 9th

ArtieStroke


Wordsmith, fan of monsters both literal and figurative, Sunlight is the reason I get up in the morning, Rarijack too

T

This story is a sequel to Oversaturation


Magic is now more or less commonplace in the world. Now that most anyone can fly, use telekinesis, or have super strength, you'd think superheroes would cease to be a thing, right?

Well, not only has the comics industry still kept chugging along, but those whose quirks are more unique to them than to their "species" may or may not have gotten it into their heads that their newfound gifts could be used for good- or maybe evil.

What's a hero without a nemesis, after all?

Warning: Rated T for some possibly heavy themes and generally bad things perpetrated by bad people, though not outrightly described in detail.


Set in the Oversaturated world

EDIT: Holy Horses Batmare, we've been featured! November 5th 2016

Chapters (9)
Comments ( 109 )

Oversaturated, Artie. Ed, not Ion.

I know we started with Ion, but we're at Ed now.

Also...

I'm not the one that makes these decisions, but I think you miiiight be able to move this over to the Main Stories folder.

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7633699
Roger that- fixed the conjugation, though I think I'll wait for a sure-fire okay before moving it

Well, this is fun. And with Celestia's history, this isn't exactly new for her.

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I'm not a hundred percent sure myself. I'm tempted to say so...

Oh, why not? Nonexistent seal of approval granted.

Ok, no 'halt your evil ways, evildoer' speech first, just straight to quips and punches? Wow, I never expected Celestia to be a antihero.

Let us poke

Let us prod

Let us see

Time Magic eh?
lots of uses...

The Crusaders didn't found PAULDRONS—that was Maud and Spike—but I could certainly see that being a misconception, especially since that was the first time the group made headlines beyond "Isn't it ridiculous that there's a special interest group fighting for the civil rights of rocks and parrots?"

And yeah, popular as the Gamer Luna meme may be, Vice Principal Luna clearly isn't the most tech-savvy person in the world. Remember, folks, this is the woman who was duped when Sunset physically cut and pasted one photo over another.

Don't worry, Moondancer. The magic handles all that nasty mass increase and spacial warping that usually comes with time dilation. It's the people who can travel backwards in time who should be giving you headaches.

In all, very fun chapter. And Minuette is definitely going to need a guiding hand, going by that questionable withdrawal.

And here I was going to set up Minnie as Sailor Pluto. I mean I could still do it, but Razz is going to whine about the (lack of) age difference.

Great chapter! You missed the S on PAULDRONS though.

7659531
Thank you! Also- whups :twilightblush:

7659376
Yeah I was thinking that the Crusaders being the Crusaders makes them a little more memorable to the public eye. While I do enjoy me some game playin', meme shoutin' princess of the Night, I honestly don't think Luna's kept up with anything more modern than the 80s. Bet she's a wizard at pinball tho

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Well, keep in mind, there's such a thing as old-school gamers. Some people caught Pac-Man Fever and never recovered.

Oooo. We're getting some plooooooot. Me likey.

Me also likey if you put equivalents in the equivalent term thread so I don't have to search and ask for every reference.

Friendly reminder that "Apple Bloom" is two words.

In any case, good to see Celestia deliver some hard truths. I think these kids are going to turn out alright.

So, if Fancy Pants is the Iron Man analog, does that me Fleur will be JARVIS?

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Proooobably not, seeing as how she's kind of a high schooler at Crystal Prep too

Fancy Pants is going to have severe issues patenting the term Magitek. It's been floating around the culture for so long, it would be like trying to patent the word teleporter, or FTL.

Shrapnel to the heart or a chisel to the skull? Either way, you're in for a bad time... up until it's your captors' turn.

And no one said every tech genius had to be an earth aspect. The raw materials may not intrinsically like Fancy Pants, but the man is practically made of charisma. Still, the thaum reactor embedded in his forehead is probably going to draw some stares.

Poor Chysalis...she wanted to take down Tirek..

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What makes you think she didn't?

7659531 You still could use her as Pluto. My Sailor Moon lore isn't perfect, but doesn't she have a forbidden time stop ability like this Minuette's?

It's nice to see someone work for a miracle rather than just ask for one. Though I should expect as much from a self-made man. He's just making himself.

Wait, are you aware of any of this?

Right now, your guess is as good as mine. Possibly better.

But still not as good as Artie's. Though that's one fewer people pleading for restora... tion. Oh.

Just hitting you, isn't it?

Indeed. The sheer number of weeping cries not to an uncaring goddess, but one who knew too well why she couldn't help. There's a story to be had there.

So glad to hear that my suffering can feed your hobby.

Don't forget, young lady, you exist because of that hobby.

In any case, very nice chapter, Artie. As you can see, you've given me another bit of inspiration to play with.

Thought the visitor might be Chrissy, or Sunset. Good to see my guess panned out.

So, Fancy's magic is now laced with electricity? As electricity was mentioned when he put his electrified gem in.

Fleur's optical magic... What does that mean?? ... X-ray abilities or something and she discovers his secret? ... And that's Technology, not magic, but she's a Unicorn, so what's her talent?

Estee, and now you, is making Fleur connected to a prostitute-like thing... or at least sexually related, fanon?

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I figure Fleur is a senior at Crystal Prep, and is more just joining up with the Wholesome because she's questioning her own sexuality and stuff, and the Wholesome is a safer place to do so than her incredibly competitive school (and also because a good while back my best friend/drift partner RP'd Fleur as a secret changeling, and this was a nice throwback/inside joke.)
As for her magic, one of the meanings for the Fleur de Lis as a symbol is "light" and "life", and that's all I'm gonna say on the matter :raritywink:
Also it's less laced with electricity and more interfaced to him through technology- though I've always figured that magic feels a bit like a more enjoyable electrical shock- at least when I write it.

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It is an absolute honor to inspire the one who has inspired me. I'm thrilled you enjoyed this- and I hope I continue to live up to the expectations!

Man I really need to do something about the lack of a cover image for this story.

7699434 Chrysalis is an ex-sex worker, and does not prostitute any of her Children unwilling to donate their bodies. That said, she fully respects sex workers and tries to ensure fairness for them, unlike the unfairness that was lumped on her.

Also, she only accepts legal adults into the Wholesome for legal reasons. Then again I guess Crystal Prep could teach college courses on top of being a high school and Fleur's just college age.

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I think she's got aura powers or lifesight or something?

7699531

Thank you for that clarification. ... But doesn't change that both your and Estee's Fleurs are related to sexual things... But, that might just be a superficial and tenuous connection... And you haven't said that your Fleur isn't a prostitute / doesn't do sex work... But if she isn't an adult, then obviously she wouldn't be... so it's in the air until you two pin down her age... I'm mixing you two together... :sigh: ... I / it could split the universe in two on this single point. Whether Fleur's adult / a prostitute or not... :rainbowlaugh:

7699531
An 18 year old can be a high school student, can't they? I think most western education systems expect students to complete their secondary level education at 17 or 18, rarely 19.

7699688 Yeah ... and only about a quarter of students who graduate "on time" wouldn't turn 18 at some point during their senior year. Guess this rules out Fleur having a summer birthday, though. Unless the standards for "legal adult" are different here as opposed to what many of us are used to on Earth (and I'm saying most because I'm fairly sure there's some variation between countries here on Earth). Not that I'd expect it to be that different, since humans do generally hit maturity somewhere around that point, but there's nothing inherently special about one's 18th birthday.

That said, I wonder how many teens join the Wholesome on or shortly after their 18th birthday (or whatever the equivalent is).

hmm...Thaumitek? Tinkertech is overdone....

Fancy Pants can be Thauman (thaum-man).

His catch phrase can be "I am Thauman, hear me roar."

So is Fancy Pants going to make this breakthrough available to Tirek's other victims? I'm sure he's not the only Gem type that would like his magic back.

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As for her magic, one of the meanings for the Fleur de Lis as a symbol is "light" and "life", and that's all I'm gonna say on the matter :raritywink:

My first thought is Dagger, which makes me wonder who Cloak will be.

Then again, I don't know the DC heroes as well, so there may be one in there that you plan to use.

Time will tell...

Minuette should have shouted ZA WARUDO!

7649425
She appears to have a form of retroactive clairvoyance so unlike other supers she has no reason to consider if it it is not what it looks like.

You know im favoriting this now for referencing the Pony Platforming Project.

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My problem isn't with the fact that Celestia is certain of their criminal status or not. It's more the problem of her not not giving them and opportunity to surrender peaceablybefore beating the snot out of them. Even if she knows they won't do it, it's kind of ethically and Morally questionable.

Well, you done write by me!
I wait happily for more words!

7714667
Beating actively violent or actively malicious people up is not morally questionable, only ethically questionable.
As long as no permanent bodily harm is inflicted (she has no abilities for psychic harm), the pathos of the act is has only subjective value.

Also Celestia's SOP is "stop the nearest bastard and move on to the next"

I wondef if Celestia's retroactive clairvoyance is from being able to see all that is under the sun?

7715026
It sure would explain her strange ability to pull batman gambits out of her butt at a moment's notice, wouldn't it? Also, SO glad you caught that reference!

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I suppose that you could argue that it's not morally wrong since we don't have absolute insight of Celestia's moral code, but it seems... inconsistent, at least. and that said, it really doesn't deflect my original point- that it's not really fitting to the heroic ethos, pushing her into the anti-hero area.

7716434
Celestia is a high school principal, and former public school teacher.
Her tolerance for playing nice with unruly individuals is understandably low.

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7716434
Well, it's also a little more than that- Celestia has a bit of a history in this verse, which will be evident in later chapters. She has her reasons for being more pragmatic as a hero.

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The pony platforming project one

7717503
Oh.
You said that to the wrong comment which got me awfully confused.

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True, but harsh or no, most principals give rule breakers an opportunity to at least explain themselves or apologize before punching them in the face.


7717354

Fair enough. I await further revelations.

7722404

True, but harsh or no, most principals give rule breakers an opportunity to at least explain themselves or apologize before punching them in the face.

Those rule breakers are still in school, Celestia knows they still have a chance to be politely shaped into better people.

Celestia's punching bags are no longer in school.

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Still doesn't alleviate the underlying problem. But erstwhile author says he's going to resolve that so- we wait.

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*She
And also while there is good reason for her pragmatism, I also figured that was just... A normal super hero response to an obvious crime? It's not like she beat the tar out of him and left him bleeding- she let out a quip, knocked him out in one punch and left him around for the police to pick up.

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Dont worry yourself over this discussion, he's a moralist logician and im an ethical utilitarian; we're having a friendly and entertaining debate over the semantics of Celestia's actions and their root causality.
The story remains awesome, as a given in our discussion.

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