No Rescue
It was inconceivable. The idea that this construct would agree to not only sit in a prison cell, but also allow herself to be regularly subjected to torture, was complete insanity.
And Starlight would not accept it.
Taking in a deep breath through her nostrils, Starlight exhaled it sharply through her mouth, furrowed her brow, and planted a frown upon her muzzle. "How can you want to stay after everything that Twilight's put you through?"
An eyebrow raised, Twilight said, matter-of-factly, "Because this is my purpose. It's why I made me."
Starlight blinked. "You... made yourself?"
"No, I, me, didn't. I, the other Twilight, made me." Twilight pondered her phrasing for a moment. "It's hard for me to explain, because I have both of the memories. It gets sort of mixed up in there." She tapped at her chin. "It's like, I remember making me, even though I know that I, the one that made me, isn't the me that's telling you this. But you need to understand that I, the other Twilight, doesn't remember it. At least, she doesn't really remember the parts that matter."
"What do you mean by that?" Starlight asked.
Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, her eyes scanning as if reading the back of her eyelids. When she opened them she looked at Starlight. "I'm just gonna start at the beginning." She then gazed off to one of the walls behind Starlight as she began her story. "I really tried everything before it came to this. Enchanted chests. Idol statues. Personal effects. But none of them could hold the feelings. They would all leak over time, like trying to hold water in a burlap sack. And so I tried to think of how I could make something that could hold emotions.
"That's when I thought of a construct. It was perfect! It was just like a pony, but it wouldn't think or feel. Yeah, it could move and would probably try to wander off, but I could just chain it up.
"Now, a construct has to be made from materials both natural and inorganic. No wood. No metal. So I formed me from Barnsbury clay and used sands from Mareitius for color. I could have made me look however I wanted, but I felt it would be most appropriate if it looked like me. I certainly wouldn't want the avatar of my darkest thoughts to look like Fluttershy!
"When I had finished forming it, I tried to use my magic to give it life, but it was too complicated as an alicorn. There's something special about that form. Every time I tried that, the clay would fracture when the wings unfolded or the horn would break off. So I had to take off the wings, but that was fine. It was still me - I was born a unicorn, after all.
"But even after I animated it, that construct wasn't me, this me. At least, not really, because I don't actually remember what it was like to be that one."
Twilight scratched at her neck. "I don't think I knew anything then. Like, I had no mind. I know I'm the same one, physically, but the way I was alive wasn't quite the same. I looked like a pony. I even moved like a pony and breathed like a pony. But the problem was, I couldn't hang on to the emotions. They leaked out at the same rate as before.
"And that was when I realized what the problem was: even a construct is just a fancy mechanism. I couldn't make it hold those thoughts because it had no place to think thoughts. But I could fix that. And what would bad thoughts matter if it couldn't feel the emotions that made them bad? So I labored for hours until I created a spell that let me expand the life of the construct. And I gave me thoughts."
Suddenly, Twilight looked around the room. "I remember that. As me me. I was here. And the first thing I remember is the glow of my horn dimming in front of me. I looked at me and I looked back at me for the first time. At least, for the first time where I knew I was looking back.
"But I was different then. I didn't feel like me now. I don't know how to explain what it's like to think without feeling. I don't even think I really remember what it was like, because I feel things when I think back on those times. But anyhoof, I gave me the memories again."
Twilight shook her head. "That was a huge mistake. I, I me, remember getting the memories. But even if the specifics stayed, all the other stuff, the reactions and feelings around them, still came back out. So the emotions were just kind of there. But they didn't have any thoughts attached, so like, the anger wasn't toward somepony or something. It was just anger. And sadness wasn't sadness over stuff that happened. It was just sadness.
"And that was the really hard thing, because those emotions seeped back into me, the other me. And they were really bad." Twilight put a hoof to her chin. "Of all of them, I think jealousy was the worst. Pure jealousy not attached to anything. Before that, I didn't think it was possible to feel jealous about something but not know why. Everypony I saw could make me feel jealous for no reason. It is so infuriating to be jealous like that, because you can't even try to fix it. If you don't know what you want, you can't convince yourself you don't need it, or that the other pony deserves it. Shame was also pretty bad, for similar reasons.
"So I had made my situation even worse and my solution was now the problem. Then again, I saw how I could fix it. But I didn't want to do it. I fought it. I fought it for days!"
Twilight looked Starlight dead in the eye, a look of pleading on her face. "You need to understand that. Please, know that I knew it was wrong! I knew I shouldn't, but the torment of thoughtless emotions was just too much for me. I even apologized to me for what I was going to do. And I remember being apologized to, but I, me, didn't understand, of course. So when I lit my horn to give me emotions, I had no idea what was coming."
A deep breath was pulled into Twilight's lungs. "That was a moment. Sweet Celestia. To feel for the first time! It was like teleporting out of a stuffy room right into a breezy field. Like breathing deeply when you're finally safe from drowning. You don't realize how much you need the air until you haven't had it. And I had never had it."
Starlight wondered if that recollection would make this Twilight smile, but it didn't. At best her expression was neutral, but it soon became a frown.
"You can probably imagine what happened next. The first emotion I ever felt was curiosity as I sat in front of me building up magic. I figured I'd get more memories, but when our horns touched-- GAH!" Twilight shouted and jumped in place a few times. "Yah-yeh-yuk! Ugh! To go from feeling nothing to feeling every manner of horror that life has to offer is not a good way to get introduced to emotions! And those first few hours of trying to understand what was happening to me were just terrible. Trying to sort through what these feelings were was not straight-forward. And the fact that they were unattached to anything meant that I had to puzzle out why I might feel each one..."
Twilight's eyes darted toward the ceiling for a moment, then she looked back at Starlight. "Alright. You know disgust?" She actually waited for Starlight to nod before continuing. "Yeah, so it's telling you that you don't want something. But how do you not want it? It isn't like fear, where you want to get away from something that could cause you physical pain. It gives you this tingling on your skin to make you want to wipe yourself down. It makes you want to throw up. So disgust is about getting rid of things that are already on or in you, or avoiding things that you don't want to have on or in you. But nopony told me that. I had to sort it out myself. And it took a while.
"But for me, the other me, I still had a problem...
"After giving me the emotions, I technically felt better, because those thoughtless emotions were gone, but there was now this nagging guilt. I just couldn't live with the fact that I was forcing something that could actually feel to experience a pain that even I couldn't bare. After a couple days, I decided I was going to come and take it all back. I was going to reverse the spell and shoulder all of those feelings again and come up with another solution.
"But, when I thought about doing that, I also couldn't handle the idea of taking those corrupted emotions back. And do you know what emotion I was feeling?"
Starlight initially thought the question was rhetorical, but when Twilight did not continue, she said, "Disgust?"
"Exactly. I was grossed out by those emotions. I didn't want them back inside me. The thought of it literally made me vomit. Twice! But I was afraid of the guilt, too. It was hurting me, and it was only going to keep on hurting me. So I couldn't take it back, but I also couldn't live with the pain of not taking it back!
"And that's why the next time I came here, I gave me the memories of making me, and all of the guilt that came with it. Now I, the me right here, have those memories and feelings.
"Do you see what I mean? About how Twilight doesn't understand? At least, not really. Sure, she has vague memories of making me, but all of the details and emotion that went into it is gone. She doesn't know what she's doing! She doesn't know that I have the capacity for thought or emotions; all of my outbursts are just mechanical to her. So all of my pain really isn't her fault when you thin--"
"What?!" Starlight shrieked. "Not her fault? Like hay it isn't! Are you crazy? She's torturing you, for pony sake! I don't give a buck if she 'doesn't know what she's doing.' It's like a little colt bucking a cat and thinking it's funny. Just because he doesn't understand that it feels pain, that doesn't make it okay. You tell the colt off and explain why it's wrong!"
Shock filled Twilight's face. "No! You can't! You can't tell me-- I mean, her! It would make all of this pointless! I would feel guilty all over again. And then I'd have to put even more guilt into me!"
Starlight shook her head. "No, she wouldn't do that, because I wouldn't let her. You don't have to let that fear control you. I'll keep you safe from Twilight and make sure sh--"
"Don't do it!"
"--e never hurts... what?"
"Just let me stay here!"
"But... but I can protect you! You must have the memory of my fight with Twilight. You know my magic is just as good as hers."
Twilight nodded. "Yes, I do. I have a lot of her memories. And even if they are almost all bad ones, I still know how I felt in those situations. And my fears were hardly ever for me. They were for my friends.
"I probably care just as much about those friends as if I was Princess Twilight. I would have gladly sacrificed myself to stop you in that fight. And, when I'm true to myself, I, the me standing here, would do the same."
Looking at Starlight, Twilight asked, "Will you let me do that?" She lifted up the forehoof that Starlight had freed. "Will you fix this chain and let me make that sacrifice?"
Starlight stared back at her. "You can't mean that."
Twilight said simply, "I really do."
Why was this happening? How could this attempt to do right have gone so horribly wrong? Starlight was no stranger to brainwashing, of course. Sure, there were no spells or propaganda machines here, but clearly this Twilight had been driven mad. Nopony would ever agree to this. So she was going to have to make the choice for Twilight. Whether she liked it or not.
Nodding to herself, Starlight looked back at the construct and opened her mouth. But when their eyes locked, Starlight could not help but recognize the resolve inside of those violet, bloodshot eyes. To her horror, those eyes were not the dead, mindless eyes of her villagers, nor did the construct wear the vacant expression of somepony being mind controlled. She looked completely conscious and aware. She has justifications. She has motives. She thought this through... Reluctantly, Starlight allowed her mind to come to its uncomfortable conclusion. She made this decision on her own.
If I force her to go... If I take her without her consent... No matter how Starlight tried to spin the narrative, it was undeniable that, from a plainly obvious angle, she would be capturing this Twilight, not liberating her. And keeping her against her will would, by definition, be imprisoning her. Once Starlight recognized that, she realized that she could not bring herself to do it.
Finally defeated, Starlight felt her withers and spirits sink. Spike was right. When push comes to shove, I don't have what it takes to make the hard choice...
Starlight walked toward Twilight and looked down at the chain she had broken. Her horn started to light up, but then dimmed again. She looked at Twilight until Twilight looked back. "Please," she begged. "Let me help you."
"If you want to help me now, all you need to do is fix that link," she said, then added. "Besides, you've already done plenty to help me tonight."
The unicorn could not stop herself from laughing at the lunacy of that statement. "Ha! Well, that's nice of you to say and all, but you're asking me to undo literally the only thing I did. When I walk out of this room, I'm going to be leaving you just like I found you."
"No. That's not true." Twilight shook her head. "You've made this so much better, because now I know that I could have left. You finally gave me a choice!" And at that, for the first time, Starlight saw this Twilight smile. "I never realized how much I needed that." The construct looked down at her hooves. "It's different when you choose your chains."
Starlight's gaze drifted to the chains, then back to Twilight's face. A hint of that smile was still there as she... admired?... her shackles. Starlight blinked and felt the wetness of tears on her muzzle. She sighed and shook her head and looked back at the broken link. Focusing on it, she closed her eyes and ignited her horn. When she opened them again, the chain was whole.
"Thank you," she heard Twilight say. But she could not bring herself to again look upon that face.
Turning, Starlight began to walk out of the room. Absentmindedly, she responded, "You're wel--"
No.
Taking in a deep breath, Starlight pushed herself to look back. Twilight was there. Mane still matted and snarled. Coat still coated in grease. She was unchanged. And her face now held a look of confusion.
"This is not how your story ends," Starlight said, more against reality than toward Twilight.
Looking concerned, Twilight recoiled.
Starlight sniffed and shook her head sharply, throwing a few tears to either side of her. "I'm not going to free you. I don't agree with your decision, but I will let you make it. I'm not going to force you to do anything, do you understand me?"
Her face relaxing slightly, Twilight nodded.
Starlight gathered the spit in her mouth and swallowed. When she blinked, more tears spilled forth from her eyes, and after a moment she could taste one of them as it touched her tongue. "But, if you want, I can c-come back again. I'll... I'll come visit you."
Taken aback, Twilight stared at the other unicorn. Her mouth rested open. Her eyes locked tightly onto Starlight's.
Wiping at her face with a hoof, Starlight asked, "Is that okay?"
Twilight blinked twice, then, "Okay."
With a shuddering breath, Starlight mustered the strength to say, "A-a-alright. I'll s-see you soon... then."
Finally leaving, Starlight faced toward the door and walked away. It was not a good solution. It was not even a satisfying one. The gesture was much smaller than what this Twilight deserved, but it was just all Starlight could think to give. As she walked out of the room, she used her magic to pick up the brown cloak and place it on her back.
"Starlight?"
Starlight heard the word, but it took her brain a moment to register its significance. Glancing back, she dared to look Twilight in the eye one more time. The pony's head was cocked to the side. Her right eyebrow was slightly higher than her left.
"Why are you doing this?"
Steeling herself, for the sake of the construct, Starlight forced her lips into something akin to a smile.
"You seem like you could use a friend."
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- SpellBinder · 6k words · 10 2 · 927 views
- FluttersForeva · 3k words · 31 9 · 2.3k views
- Teyeson Bee · 3.5k words · 31 3 · 1.6k views
- ponytaz · 2.6k words · 56 3 · 3.3k views
- Cold Spike · 68k words · 58 4 · 1.9k views
- Amethyst_Crystal · 2.1k words · 45 1 · 1.9k views
- SpellBinder · 10k words · 37 3 · 2.1k views
- Silver_Bolt · 21k words · 68 2 · 4.2k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.128 seconds
Total duration
1,003 users online
232,270 hits today, 1,996,409 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
So... what about the problem where bottling your emotions leaves you a drained husk? It wasn't *only* bad because the bottle broke.
Not even getting into the deal where if you don't remember anything that made you feel bad you'll keep making the same mistake over and over like Twilight is doing in this story.
This was very well done. I'm glad I read this story - it was a hard experience in some ways, but it really provoked a lot of thought about the implications of the construct, of the emotions involved, and to that end I say, "Great job!"
8665481
I agree. Everything that Twilight is doing here is full of problems, and I'm sure most folks would think that she was wrong to do this. But I'm also guessing most folks, in the first chapter, felt for Starlight and hoped that she could make her own dark thoughts go away.
Those kinds of thoughts are what I hope this story gets people to consider - the deep thoughts we wish we didn't have.
In our universe, we can't throw feelings into bottles or beings, but we can (and do) try to repress them. How many of us are actually brave enough to face our own demons head on? Isn't it easier when we just make ourselves forget such things? And, in some cases, is it actually better if we let those thoughts fade away? Even if it means we might end up right back where we started?
I honestly can't decide which approach is best. I think it probably depends on the individual case, which is a big flaw in Twilight's set-up: she doesn't show discernment about which thoughts should be given away.
8665488
I'm glad you enjoyed it, and that it made you think. And I hope the process wasn't more difficult than it needed to be.
I really liked the story :) Great job !!!
8672253
From a certain point of view, the construct was set free. To be set free and to be given the right to choose the course of one's life are the same idea; the latter is essentially the definition of the former. And Starlight did give the construct the freedom to make her own choice. This is the essence of the line "It's different when you choose your chains."
That's probably not a happy way to think about it - it's definitely not a happy ending! - and I did also write "It was not a good solution. It was not even a satisfying one." So I can't fault you for concluding the ending is not satisfying.
As for Twilight being confronted about her actions, that would definitely be a part of the sequel. I'm exploring some options for that. There are many paths it could take, but all of them do have to include Princess Twilight being called out in some fashion for enslaving the construct.
8674428
I agree. I also think Twilight should learn to handle her emotions instead of forcing them onto someone else.
Like most readers, I imagine, I have conflicting feelings about this story. On the one hand, it was written rather well, with my only concern being Spike's Heelface Turn. On the other hand, Spike Heelface Turn felt kind of baffling.
I can accept Starlight's and the Construct's actions, even, to a certain degree, Princess Twilight's. However, I find myself growing increasingly concerned with how Spike changed his mind.
Regardless, I enjoyed the story, and it certainly succeeded in making me think. Good job thus far, and I hope the sequel is as good, if more satisfying, than this was.
8754257
I'll admit, Spike's part was the hardest one for me to write. I didn't see a good way to explain his decision without either dragging out his explanation to Starlight, which felt forced considering Starlight's anger at it, or switching to Spike's perspective for a bit, which didn't seem right as the whole story was intended to be from Starlight's perspective. In the end, I went with what I wrote, intending it to be part 1 of the double plot-twist in that chapter, but I agree that it is a sudden turn that can come off as forced.
The idea I was trying to express was that, in his first conversation, he made an emotional choice to believe that the Construct was real. After a few days had passed, however, and he actually thought about the implications of freeing the Construct, he began to rationalize away his emotional response in the hopes of maintaining the status quo.
Spike's character is supposed to represent the part of us that, when we see our brokenness and/or darkness, has a gut reaction of wanting to deal with it, but after a night's sleep, decides that it is better left undealt-with. When we see that part of ourselves, we often do feel ashamed of or afraid of or even disgusted by it, yet so often we don't want to address it when the light of day comes again. It is easier for us to leave that part of our mind untouched.
As for the sequel, so far it is more about the actual characters and less about the symbolic implications of their roles. This is probably because, unlike this story, I'm not staring from the ideas I want to express, but instead starting from the characters and seeing what they do. Perhaps the ideas will bubble up to the forefront before it's done, or maybe the story will remain character driven. The one thing I really want, that I don't have yet, is an ending, but I'm considering just letting the story write itself toward one. I haven't decided yet.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story overall and thank you for the critique.
8755210
I suppose that falls enough in line with what we've occasionally seen from the show. I can see that, much like Spike, my intial reaction was negative, followed by weary acceptance.
There NEEDS to be a sequel to this. I really want to see Twi's reaction to Starlight knowing about the construct.
8981193
yeah id like to see that too.
First off, I must say, I believe congratulations are in order. Your story really is thought-provoking and so I applaud you for it.
But, I was looking through the comments and then I saw you say something. Namely this part:
The construct was never set free. The construct was never given the freedom of choice from the moment it was born, no matter what the interpretation in this case is. Yes, it made a choice, but that choice was never a true one. The clone has been heavily influenced, impacted and brain-washed by the emotional payload that comes with being an emotion/memory dump. She's a slave that's been born and raised in a life of servitude. A life of captivity. She doesn't know anything different beyond the chains that she's been burdened with and thus doesn't want anything different. She has never known a life outside that room. It is because of this that her choice, no matter how much one might emphasize on it being hers, is wrong. It will always be wrong. There was never an informed choice but one out of ignorance and that is what makes all the difference.
Compare a slave born and raised in captivity to a slave that has experienced life outside of captivity but been forced to work as a slave. Which one is going to choose the chains? The answer is obvious.
There's also to consider, the chain of circumstances that lead up to the conversation. There's also to consider, despite it 'choosing the chains' in the final chapter, that there's no guarantee of certainty that it would have done if Starlight had asked it when she first found it.
When Starlight first discovered the clone, what was it doing? It was crying. Puddles of tears littered the floor of its cell. It was begging for the pain that it'll inevitably receive to be delayed.
It's been chained since birth and is living in appalling conditions:
Does it get any more clear about what's going on when it's seen next?
When Twilight Sparkle walked into that room to unload the emotions that she feared, when the 'construct' confessed to hallucinating and thus clearly showing signs of mental degradation and instability due to her torment and suffering, when the 'construct' begged for Twilight Sparkle to not do it, it was quite clear from that point forwards, that any sense of decency, every shred of empathy and sympathy that should naturally arise from seeing such a being in such a state, no matter how much one would justify it: had been forcefully removed. And all it took was this one line:
The 'construct' feels despair, hopelessness, sadness, depression. All the negative emotions that comes with. No amount of happiness is being shared here. For it has never felt any. It even begs further before the next wave of brain-washing comes along. I also think that this is when she actually thought for herself for a change that wasn't being heavily influenced by Twilight's brain-washing:
And then, when Starlight attempts to rescue the 'construct', is it not highly convenient that the 'construct' now begs to stay because
And here we reach the crux of the problem. A choice born of out of ignorance rather than an informed one. From the moment she was granted sentience she has been systematically tortured to the point of masochism. But, because she has become an emotion memory dump, she also believes that she is merely the other side of the same coin. That she is also Twilight Sparkle, that her friends are her friends too, and that what is happening is for the greater good... But, is it not highly convenient that any moment of doubt, any amount of longing for freedom that she had, that any slave has, even if born in captivity, was dispelled due to Twilight's latest emotion memory dumping? In essence, to put it mildly, it's the equivalent of a whipping. A reminder of the slave's status in life and that they are destined to forever be in servitude. We as human beings know that this should never be. Everyone should be given a choice: an informed choice. A choice that is theirs to make when you have what you need to make that decision.
But the 'construct' doesn't have that. Starlight needed to give the 'construct' that choice with a strong, valid argument. She needed to dismantle the hold that Twilight had on the clone's mind, piece by piece, and she tried, but failed in the execution. Namely, this part:
Twilight isn't being true to herself however. She isn't accepting that feeling those types of emotions is what makes her who she is. She isn't accepting that feeling those types of emotions is what makes a pony, a pony. She isn't accepting that feeling those types of emotions is what makes her alive. She's quite literally locking them away, and in so doing, locking herself away. If Starlight had mentioned this as a retort rather than a protection promise than the conversation would have gone very differently.
Alas, the tragedy of the ending.
9123941
A very good analysis. Thank you for taking the time to write this.
You were paying attention. I was wondering if anyone would notice this. The specific incidents of Once Upon a Zeppelin did, in fact, create this problem. And yes, things may well have gone differently had Starlight acted before Twilight's return.
Why did Twilight agree to go on the trip? It was to relax. To get away from stress of being a princess. What was the result? Stress and princess duties. Attempting to relax backfired. So when the construct processed these thoughts, she came to a simple conclusion: Attempting to avoid stress will not result in relaxation or happiness.
But, as you correctly point out, she is only receiving selective information. She did not, for example, know about Twilight's family showing their love for her to make her vacation better. By knowing only suffering, the construct can assume that life outside involves a lot of suffering. Indeed, she must believe she knows this very well, because it was the whole reason Twilight made her.
Untangling the identity of the construct is a main plot point in the sequel. Actually, many of the points you present here come up in the sequel, but this one is central. How is the construct different? Will Twilight's friends accept her as if she were Twilight? (Also, what will Twilight's friends think of Twilight's actions toward the construct?) And, of course, the biggest question of all: if given a real choice, an informed choice, would the construct actually want to stay with Twilight?
As I said before, the sequel will be much longer (it's looking like 40-60k words if I dig into everything I want to look at) and it will take more time to come out once I begin releasing chapters. However, I hope to begin releasing chapters soon. I had been fighting through figuring out an ending, and I think I finally have one. This story was not intended to have a sequel, so I never planned that one out and it has taken this long just to figure out how it will end. I won't say what type of ending I'm aiming for with the sequel, but I will admit that, with this story, it is not meant to have a satisfying ending - the ending is meant to be bitter.
I'm truly glad you found this to be thought-provoking. Above all, that is what I wanted from this: to write something to make others think.
Thank you for reading and for considering this story so deeply.
9124199
Likewise I'm sure
I do wonder how you'll go about this point. Many, many authors have tackled the philosophical implications of cloning and this website isn't any different. Most tend to use the infamous "Too Many Pinkie Pies" episode as a foundation due to the ethical issues concerned there. And with that in mind, the reaction that the Main 6 have to such clones can vary from story to story. Will they react with cold indifference much like Spike? Outright hostility? Reluctant acceptance? Complete acceptance? I do look forward to how you handle what happens next. Here's to hoping that they understand Twilight's viewpoint, but also recognize that what she is doing is wrong and chastise her good for it.
No... No it wouldn't. The 'construct' told Starlight this:
The philosopher Rene Descartes said: Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum ("I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am").
The 'construct' clearly feels. It clearly thinks. If it were allowed more information and realized just what Twilight Sparkle was putting (torturing) her through? That not even her creator feels anything for her (anymore) and simply sees her a lab utensil, as if she's a willing assistant in all of it? To be seen as an outcome of a spell and nothing more? No. It would not want to stay.
If this universe's pony-kind prides itself on the 'magic of friendship' and harmony as much as it advertises and preaches, then the 'construct' must be allowed to choose properly.
If the sequel's ending is just as bitter as this one, I do hope you leave a sense of hope that things will get better. There's honestly nothing wrong with a happy ending, so long as it's well-deserved.
If I were to judge by this story alone, I have full confidence in your writing ability that you'll pull off a satisfying conclusion. I honestly look forward to it.
Best of luck to you and thank you for taking the time to read and reply
Deep, really deep.
This is the best compromise that can be reached for now, I suppose, with the ConstructTwi choosing to stay of her own free will.
But mark my words, Starlight. You must get Twilight to reconsider. Therapy, Princess Celestia, whatever.
Please. Make her understand that this isn't good for her, for anypony involved. It's taking away a fundamental part of who she is and why she is. Plainly put, it's wrong.
10029756
I guess you can understand my description now, huh?
10029785
Honestly, I really loved how this not only left the overarching question of "Should ConstructTwi be freed?" open, but yet it still completed Starlight's character arc in the story. I definitely hope there's a follow-up to this story as well.
Okay, I'm glad I took the time to read this. I was expecting the focus to be more on Starlight's difficulties with reforming, but what I got instead was a story which framed the impact emotions and memory have on one's self-identity. Definitely a favorite, if only because of how much my mind is whirling now.
Putting aside the questions of whether or not the construct is in its right mind (which it isn't) and if a self-aware being whose sole purpose is to feel miserable is alright to make (it is not), I can't help but wonder something else. Namely, is it even a good idea to give up your past emotions and memories in the first place? I, for one, would be terribly afraid of the implications. Alongside knowledge and innate talent, those are what make you, well, you. The person I am today would not exist without all my memories of MLP, and this site. The man typing this comment would effectively be dead and buried if I gave that up. Even a maladjusted lunatic like pre-friendship Starlight shouldn't tear herself apart to become 'better', that's tantamount to suicide. To make this even more clear, if somebody gave up all of their emotions and memories, what would be left? A robot. Robots have data they can read and access, knowledge, and programs they execute to accomplish tasks, talent.
In conclusion, Twilight is tearing her own soul to pieces.
10031379
"I don't want my pain to go away; I need my pain! We lose our pain, we lose ourselves." -James T. Kirk
Retro story
whoa , this is a better redemption story than canon starlight.
Since Starlight didn't need to doubt herself and is learning friendship on her own.
just to kidnap is terrible. she can create another 1.
it's better to convince not to keep
not particularly thoughtful thoughts