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This story is a sequel to The Pain of Eternity
Sunset Shimmer's father passed away while she was in Canterlot, studying under Princess Celestia. After that, she never had a chance to visit him in the cemetery again, until now. But as she heads back to her hometown with a friend to pay her respects, the author of a certain book latches on to them for some reason.
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Dot's a strange name...
You are only as alone as you believe yourself to be. I know I am not alone, and so I never shall be.
Story image is a frame of the flooded train track in the final act of "Spirited Away".
9830712 One of the best movies out there.
I thought Honey was a stallion?
Wait, so Twilight's daughter went to a library...that's not in her castle?
And oh good, Sunset is still around, I assumed she'd died too.
Anyway, having recently lost both my grandmother and grandfather, thanks for this.
9830721 Thanks for reading, and sorry for your loss. I'm glad this story struck the right chord for you as well.
Re: error I got mixed up a bit there with all the characters and didn't fix that during an edit.
9830727
To be honest, when it happened, I...didn't cry. I felt a little sad, and empathetic towards my folks, but that's it. My grandmother had been suffering from Alzheimer's for ages and the last time I saw her I didn't recognize her. My grandfather's been dying for years and he gave off the impression he just wanted to check out already. It came as a relief, really. We all knew it was coming. I went to their funerals, said the right things at the shivas, and...went on with my life.
Will Honey ever be able to move on with his?
9830718 There are many small details I noticed throughout the film which escape most viewers.
For instance, did you realize that at least 3 weeks went by in the human world during the 3 days Chihiro and her family were in the Spirit World? There is the fact that their car was full of dust and surrounded by a high growth of weeds which hadn't been there when they parked... but even more than that are the phases of the moon. Pay attention to the phase from the first night to the last... it goes through 3/4 of a cycle, from a crescent to waning gibbous.
Then there is the train which is stated, "It used to go in both directions, but these days, it's a one-way ride." Keep in mind that the station they passed through connected the human and spirit realms and you'll get the idea: it carried the souls of the dead into the spirit realm to their 'final destination". As to the rest of the statement, in Japanese lore there were times in the year when the spirits of ancestors would return and commune with the living. But that no longer occurs, if one is to take stock in the legends. Therefore, the movie slips in that little bit of cultural mythos with the explanation that the train carrying the spirits no longer makes any return trips.
It's that sort of subtle attention to detail and subconscious-level world construction that makes it feel so alive. We see that magical, impossible fantasy realm as stuffed full of detail and alive as our world, and internally we come to want to believe in it because it satisfies the innate sense of 'completeness' of any location in reality. In contrast, there are the stark, displeasing worlds of the bad CGI movies and the 'uncanny valley', where our brain picks out details which contradict innate standards of 'natural' and 'unnatural'.
It takes a true artist to understand that balance and deliver the amazingly realistic unreality of "Spirited Away".
As Mr. Plinkett would say, "You may not have noticed it, but your brain did."
9830740 I don't know. I would hope so, but some people just let that fester and their lives are affected negatively all through... even though Honey is a bit of a simplified character, sudden death of a family member (especially at a young age) is a very traumatizing event that has been known to be the underlying cause of several issues later in life, like paranoia, panic attacks, emotional disconnection, etc. And there's nothing we can do for them, other than guide them to people that specialize in that kind of thing... but in the end, it's up to each individual to be able to face those demons. Some can, and some can't.
I was going to accuse you of blatant memery, but then I remembered that that's canon.
Unless the Apppejacks traded places before they got on the train, you have a bit if an issue with certain appendages when wrestling.
Aside from that, fantastic look at the nature of bereavement and a wonderful jab at the entire concept of the immortality blues. Those who still live ultimately decide how they treat those who pass on, and both Sunset and Applejack have found healthy ways to do so. Brilliant work. Thank you for it.
9830755
When first he appeared, I thought him obnoxious and annoying. And he still is. He's also kind of tragic.
9830802
Accuse canon of blatant memery, then.
9830740
One of the best expressions I’ve seen of the difference between losing a parent and losing a grandparent appeared in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Komarr:
This story sure was very good and sad at the same time
Oh man. This is an excellent swipe at writers who use angst as a substitute for real emotion.
Excellent, excellent bit of writing, Wanderer. I'm trying to lean more towards Sunset's view, having just lost my grandmother. And a great way to end it, too.
Wanderer D thank you.
I still miss my dad sometimes even after all the years he’s been gone. But spot on - I will always have the memories of the wonderful times we had together and the love he shared with us. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
This is a great sequel to your previous work. There is definitely a labour of love done here.
While it does explain the same moral of the previous story. You somehow bring another perspective using Sunset and AJ.
Then there's the expanded lore showcasing who wrote Pain of Eternity. And also the lesson of not forcing your opinions upon others.
Also, funny way of retreading the same ending of your previous fic.
This was very sweet, very introspective of how different people deal with grief in different ways (healthy or not). I was surprised that Honey Stead followed them to the cemetary, but it did leave an impact- Sunset was right, they were lucky for what they had, memories and lessons and a history with those who have passed.
The epilogue surprised me, but dang it was cute and very touching!
Powerful story.
Although I feel bad for Honey Stead. He comes across as being one bad day away from becoming a Batman villain.
9874847
Didn't he already have that one bad day, though? Except instead of using his pain to become a badass hero or a terrifying villain, he...wrote an angsty fanfic.
9874847
If he was going that route, I think he would have by now. I guess one good thing did come from that travesty of a book. He found a better way than turning evil to vent his angst on Equestria.
10124951
9875846
True, true.
Honestly, to me Honey Stead is a very pathetic, pitiable character. He chose to hold onto his pain, to remember their last moments and keep emptying out the broken part of his soul.
When I lost my parents, I was in a dark place for a while. I remember the day of the stroke that put my Dad in the hospital for six months, and I remember seeing him in bed, barely coherent. I remember my mother, and the pain she suffered in life.
But more often, I remember the good.
I remember the silly voices my father used to do to entertain/annoy me.
I remember my mother's smile, and the joy she felt when she found peace of mind in the wicca faith.
I remember my father's encyclopedic knowledge of Miss America pageants.
I remember my mother's determination never to break, no matter how much she hurt.
I remember both of them going to war with a school when I was suspended for fighting back against someone who was bullying me.
This is a wonderful story. And it will always have a place among my top favorites.
Because we should always embrace the Joy of Remembrance. This story is a perfect reminder.
God bless, Wanderer.
This is one of the best stories about mourning on the sight. Thank you for sharing.