I can't remember my original name, but You can call me Sunset Shimmer. Everyone else does, ever since I got tossed up in this wierd mess. I don't remember too much about my old life either, outside of my calling being in engineering and computer technology, and my favorite thing otherwise being magic, which I thought was fictional back then. I was also human, I guess that's an important detail to mention. If you want to hear my story, well, read it aloud to yourself. Everything I can remember and then some should be written down here, so indulge yourself with knowing everything about my life.
I can't believe it, I'm finally trying my hand at story writing once again! Maybe it won't be a reputational disaster this time. I love constructive criticism, so feel free to file a complaint in the comments section, but if you do, at least try to explain what went wrong. I don't know how often I'll be updating this, I've got a lot of stuff coming up in my life, including but not limited to college, and my dedication can sometimes completely change focus on a whim. I've wanted to get back into writing for a while now, I just haven't had any good ideas to write on. Chances are I'm going to hit massive writer's block on this story and completely stop, similar to last time I wrote, but we'll have to wait and see.
And before I forget, compliments to user golden dawn for the base idea, in his/her story, "new life, new me". I have no creativity for this stuff, so when I saw such a great idea for a story, currently abandoned at two chapters and as-of-yet in serious need of extreme editing, I couldn't pass up the inspiration.
FEBRUARY 2022: It's been such a long time. I barely remember what I wrote for this story, beyond the base premise, along with being able to reread what I've published. I had a vague story arc planned out and saved in the form of excerpt notes, but even that got lost on a failed hard drive that I was unable to recover, along with many other projects both writing and otherwise.
If I ever get back to this writing project, and I honestly can't say if I ever will, at this point I might be better off starting over from scratch, with a similar premise but a fresh take, instead of trying to pick this back up from nothing.
My perspective has changed rather drastically over the years, as such my writing style has certainly followed suit, as I've noticed in the tone and nature of comments and content I've posted in years past, and the difference would be rather jarring without a complete rewrite; not to mention having to salvage what I've written of the existing story into what's essentially a new one, compared to my lost and forgotten plans from before.
To those whom have showed their appreciation of my past work, in both likes and comments, thank you. If not for the positive feedback, I'd be just as likely to mark this as another piece of personal history, to be forgotton as I've already moved on through multiple different chapters of my own life since.
It tells me that there were some things I did as a depressed high schooler with anger management issues was of immature origin, and that means a lot, as I'm still trying to put my past behind myself in that regard.
I know, this never made it to any frontpages, or got *too* much attention, but the support it did get still means the world to me.
Now, I'm gonna end this description update before I get too sappy or start repeating things.
Nice start
Denial of first
What is your background experience or education in computer science, trigonometry, and programming?
7797004 Entirely self trained, can do lua and java code, can do custom desktop builds as easily as I breathe, and I've not taken any trig classes yet, but I did end up tutoring throughout most of my Algebra and Geometry classes.
As a side note, I could probably rebuild a car engine if you give me the right tools as well. Probably the rest of the car too.
I also do alot of DIY, A recent example being that I repaired a JBL subwoofer with nothing but screwdrivers and a hot glue gun. Result turned out great too. Another example is the entirety of my desktop; the whole thing is salvaged parts, and I've barely spent $250 on it, but it performs as well as a prebuilt desktop in the $600-700 price range.
7797193 You sound like one of those people that have a GJM wall.
7797327 You say this, but you haven't heard my voice yet. Are you just eager to assume my voice or somehing? I'm sure that if we skype, a lot of wierd and/or interesting topics could come up, perhaps you'd like that, eh? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
But for real, I have way too much free time with my life right now. I'm sure I can fit in an interesting conversation with internet strangers, in place of writing youtube comment essays.
But for real, I have actually gone and written several essays in the youtube comments. Why? I got bored.
Anyway, I'm gonna go post this comment, then sit and ponder over the third chapter. Wanna get it done for either tomorrow or Saturday.
7797193
In that case, you have a new follower!
I fucking LOVE stories written by professionals in the main character's field!!!
7797405 Stories like that usually end up being some sort of self insert. I tried to steer away from that, but I tried to keep the main character similar enough to where I still know exactly how to write hi- her. I guess the main character, since he/she doesn't remember their original name, could be seen as one of the possible ways I'd end up in a year, with my college up and coming, but either way I'm gonna deny that it's SI.
I have about 203 words -and counting- in on the next chapter as of this comment, and writer's block hasn't eaten away at me too hard yet, so I think I'll get back to that.
I just like to respond when somebody comments on my work, and I will always try to do so unless I end up somehow getting a community too large for me to handle it. I doubt I'll ever get that popular, though, so responses for everyone!
Next thing I know I feel like I'm everywhere and nowhereat the same time
*nowhere at
Did I inhabit the bodh of a close friend to a magic queen or something
*add a ? at the end
7798434 Gotcha. Typing the chapters up on my tablet sucks, and stuff like that comes up alot.
Good thing I got Chapter three done on my laptop this time. Gonna upload that soon.
I love WPS Office mobile, but they really need to set up keyboard overlay detection, so I can see what I'm typing without adding several blank spacer lines.
Really enjoying this so far, I'm eager to see how long our hero..ine can deceive Celestia once she is mobile again. I'm a sucker for Sunset redemption stories and this is certainly an interesting twist.
7798941 The base idea that inspired me for this, was unfortunately not my own.
Credits are in the bottom of the description. If you go read the credited story, you might see why I was compelled to make this, when the inspiration hit me.
In short, that writer has a lot to learn if he/she is going to stick to trying to create a story.
I won't say I'm perfect, but I am trying my best to make an enjoyable story that not only could be read and understood by anybody familiar with MLP, but also someone entirely unfamiliar with MLP could piece together the elements around the story.
Kind of like the main character, now that I think about it. As far as I know, I have plenty of free time up until January, when I start college. That means you'll likely see updates often, unless I encounter some sort of massive writers' block that I just can't figure out how to write around.
With that said, enjoy, while my free time lasts. Gonna try to have chapters up daily for now.
I'm enjoying this so far, and i see you are taking the challenge to add a chapter daily. i look forward to more and wish you good luck in the endeaver of these rapid updates
7804310 Thank you.
I've taken the challenge to write daily, because this has turned out to be very easy and fun for me to write so far, piled onto the fact that I have... buttloads of free time right now. Sometimes I have to sit and think about how a character would react to another character's actions, if the character reacting is not the main character, but that's really the biggest trouble I've had with it. I mean, I've managed to establish the characters introduced so far in my mind, if not on the words. Here we have what I imagine of both hospital chaeacters to be:
Fresh Bandage: White furred, tan mane/tail unicorn, crossed bandages cutie mark, sometimes percieved by the public as actual bandages, skmetimes causing problems. Socially unpreparing, therefore easy to embarrass (she embarrassed herself out of the room on introductions for christ' sake), but will take initiative in a heartbeat (Like carry a... 'sleeping' mare in a compromising position just to get to their destination, or the sedative needle in Chapter one).
Quick Fix: Pale pink Pegasus, light red mane, Team Fortress 2 health cupcake cutie mark, fairly obvious source of inspiration (I was thinking on the fly for that character design, don't expect much originality). Bubbly personality, similar to canon Pinkie Pie, but without the parties, world-bending power, or intensity. Gets bored at work sometimes, but loves her job regardless, because she can help patients recover faster, and in the rare case of extreme trauma, recover at all.
Sorry if you saw this comment before it was completed, my keyboard crashed while I was typing (on my phone) and I pressed the post button. I hate the keyboard crashing with a passion, I really do.
Please, please, please put this part above the More/Less tab.
7806106 Sorry, I wanted to have some words before I ran the actual description through, and I guess I had too much to say.
I still want to have something before the description, but for now I guess that's as good an idea as anything.
at least the memories were more something he watched rather than "him" getting completely rewritten... at least it seems that way and i do hope it stays that way too XD
7808325 No worries.
If you want to know why, read the spoiler.
I based it upon the premise that mind altering is an illegal form of magic. Because of this, the amnesia spell searches for strong points within the buried memory, and forces the reciever to experience them again to re-establish the link between the mind and the memories. If the amnesia is too strong, the mind can develop a personality that is too different to reconnect the link, resulting in it being too late, and forcing the pony to regain their memories naturally. As is natural for the nature of the main character, there is no point where the mind is similar enough to accept the memories and establish the link. The memories of Sunset are there, but most of the things he/she will remember will pop up as little snippets of odd knowledge. One example of a snippet is how he/she swapped out Princess Celestia's internal nickname of "longhorn" to her proper name, for at least a chapter before he/she actually knew that Celestia was her actual name.
I hope that clarifies it a little.
EDIT:
If you need another, less obvious example of a memory snippet, the fork scene wouldn't have happened if he/she hadn't stumbled into Sunset's memory of Telekinesis. It also wouldn't have happened without the power boost from the blood transfusion, as the memory was based around the magic level of a normal unicorn. See, the way I'm writing this, I'm thinking about a skeleton as I write, and just drawing the skin. It leads to some very interesting developments, and sometimes I don't even know entirely what I'm writing until I look back at it later. I admit I did write both snippets in with the exact idea in my mind, but with this chapter I believe I've solidified their presence and how they'll work.
Poor bastard. not only does he know that he replaced a young child with her entire life in-front of her (even if she killed herself), but to know that her mother looks upon you and thinking she sees her dead child. Wow that most be a guilt trip.
I only hope she can give Celestia what she wants, and not totally crush her if her deception comes to light.
7808487 Depending on how I end up writing it, it's not entirely going to be deception. Depends on how often the little... snippets of memory happen. Read up the spoiler on my last comment, if you need examples that I've already written into the story.
May she live on as memories.
7808602 that is all good and true, but my point is that the MC will probably have a hell of a guilt trip even if she is technically is the true Shimmer, knowing what she knows.
Good thing sunset was a bit of a ass before she changed, masking the transition almost flawless.
7808667 It's a both is and isn't situation. Her Memories are there, albeit locked up.
Even if they came flooding back, s/he wouldn't identify herself as the true Sunset, due to the fact that there was another life's worth of memories there before they returned. Also, there is the sense of wrongness that s/he will feel about those memories, because by my story's logic, every soul resonates differently, and the memories resonate in tune with the intended soul. Kind of like Soul Eater's soul logic, but not as strict, nor as controllable.
Now for the other half of that comment.
Are you saying my character's an ass?
How dare you! There is no donkey here!
But that's still kind of half right, regardless.
My character is more apathetic than the original Sunset, and has an interesting tendency to bottle up anger and leave it behind, but s/he's still kind of an ass.
I will switch over to entirely referring to the MC as a she, when I feel the time is right. for now, s/he works best, because right now that topic is more of a resignation point for him/her.
7808750 I totally agree to what you are saying.
I personally would still feel some guilt for the events, even knowing that it was not my fault that it happen. I am happy that our Mc actions did not kill the original, because if you know that the one you replaced died from the action, it would be traumatizing (being of your fault or not) .
7808795 I said yes and no, because from a soul perspective, she's dead as a doornail. There's nothing left, because her mistimed venture into the mirror shredded it. The book she had in the memory spell mentioned this, but the MC didn't think on it due to the implications. Her memories remain, but the new vessel is unable to use them properly.
Hence "May she live on in memory."
I meant that literally.
Anyway I gotta get to working on the next chapter, I think I got things to do tomorrow, so I want to have it done early so i can just up-and-post-it tomorrow if I need to. If I don't need to I might do a two-chapter day.
you poofed! what happened? holidays get too distracting?
7866112 I poofed coz college. Great timing on your comment though, I happened to be looking to my tracking list when I saw the notif bell had a number on it.
College has been fun, but it's been time consuming as well.
I can confidently say that I've had about half of the next chapter complete; not sure when I'll have the time and motivation to get back to it, but I have a little over 500 words in according to WPS Office's word counter.
It probably doesn't help that I can't decide exactly how I want to go with it at the current point it's written to.
I don't plan on abandoning this story quite yet. I may be poof for the moment, but I have not abandoned it, nor, as I just stated, do I plan to.
Just a little tight on time and inspiration right now, that's all.
very cool stuff. cant wait to read more of your ideas.
if you can, i would like to know more of your headcanon about Equestria. your ideas are interesting, and it can be more fun to discuss ideas than write it in a narrative.
7935440 If you want to discuss with me I have a Discord Server for it.
It's not very old and nobody has joined it yet, but it exists regardless.
https://discord.gg/5AW4Y
It's unfortunate that this story was abandoned. It looked promising.
A damn shame, this had so mich potential.
8955189
This is likely not over. I'm just not in the greatest state of life to work on this sort of stuff at the moment.
CIT college honor student, cramped living space, bad sleeping habits, it's all built up on me over the last year and a half, and at the end of it all I just don't have the mental capacity to do much more than think/consume anymore. I plan to return to this one day, for sure, especially if I can find and finish up the next chapter on my old laptop. I had a full plot thought out for this story as well, but I never wrote it down so I'm going to have to pull that back out of the ether if I can.
I don't know how soon I'll be able to build up the mental capacity for it; I get out of my twenty month college program come august, so that's some degree of stress out the door. Maybe then, maybe before, I can't say.
Either way, thanks for saying I have potential, makes me warm in the heart to know somebody likes something I did.
EDIT; I scrolled through and noticed my comment style hasn't changed over the years lol. Long and descriptive, just how I like it. Discord server still exists btw, invite link changed to this though. If you want to chat with me it's still barren so having someone there would be nice lol
8969102
It was my pleasure to read through this and the fact that you desire to come back to it despite what's been going on in your life made me smile.
If I may make a suggestion, being a somewhat of a writer and a massive bibliophile (lover of books), I find that writing down ideas you have for a story when they come to you, even going so far as to write out the scene can actually be quite relaxing not to mention it expands your mental capacity in the process. Just be careful you don't get carried away and lose track of time.
All the same I'm looking forward to seeing this continued. I will be honest, I came to this story with trepidation as I was unsure if I would like the premise. But I am happy to say that I rapidly grew to enjoy it and it left me craving more.
Plz update