Tracy could feel the effects of Celestia's tea wearing off already. She had given him a bit of grace—long enough to have that last conversation with her. He certainly couldn't be upset with her over that.
All this time I thought Discord would trick me into breaking my contract. I watched that so carefully, I had no idea what he was really doing. But now it was done, and Tracy's fate was sealed. This is my home now.
He nudged Rose in the side with one hoof, grinning awkwardly at her. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't get off the Everwake. I planned on it, but... Discord was right. If I weren’t taking it, we wouldn't have spent the last few months together. I'd be asleep while everything happened."
Roseluck embraced him. Finally there were no squealing sirens, no boss or princess watching just over his shoulder. He could just hold her and let everything else drift away. But maybe not too long, because he was already relaxing, and that risked falling asleep right here in the living room.
"I forgive you," she finally said. "I know why you did it. You even had a good reason... or you think you did. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let that happen again. You heard what the princess said—you're a pony now. That means I expect better."
She leaned in for a kiss. He lost track of time after that. Eventually she broke away again. Somehow, she continued right where she left off. That made one of them who still remembered. "Hurting yourself 'for me' isn't fair. I won't be responsible for your choices anymore. From now on, we'll talk about it."
She dragged him upstairs—towards her room, rather than his own. By now the mercy of Celestia's brew was entirely gone. The Everwake Janet had dumped down his throat kept him going, but it was still a ton of effort.
"And don’t think we won't have to," she continued. They ignored Tracy's room completely, which was mostly shut. The shimmering pink and green of Celestia's mane radiated out from inside, along with hushed voices. "You won't be any less a bat when you wake up. You'll still want to sleep during the day and be awake at night."
He nodded wearily. "I think I’m... I think we might have to talk about this in a few days. Maybe a week? Two hours times... two months? My math isn't working right anymore."
"You won't be here when you wake up," Rose said, helping him up onto the bed. “Tomorrow morning I'm carting you off to Ponyville General. Now that we know what you have, you won't be a medical mystery."
"Can't you just... keep an eye on me?" he asked. "It's not like I'll go anywhere. I don't sleepwalk."
"No," she agreed. "And you won't sleep-eat either, or sleep-drink. I don't know how long it will take for you to wake up. Don't argue, you can't stop me anyway." She stuck her tongue out. "And when you wake up..."
"I don't know," he finished. He wobbled on his hooves, resting against the side of the bed. "I thought I knew what I wanted from life. Spent four years getting a degree in something your world barely has. The computers in this house are... the only ones in the whole world. I don't know what I'll do."
But even as he said it, Spark Gap realized it wasn't quite true. He might not know his job going forward, but life was about a whole lot more than where he worked. He had a pretty good idea that the rest of his life would involve the mare in this room. Maybe he could help run a flower stand. And learn to fly, and go to the Echo Caverns, and lots of other things.
"We'll figure it out together," she said.
Many years later.
Violet didn't mind getting up early to help at the flower shop. But as helpful as she always tried to be, she was far more eager to volunteer for the evening shift.
Mornings around the shop were always the same—the same dozen or so ponies came by for a healthy breakfast, there would be a few ready to pick up orders, and a shipment for the train bound to Canterlot or Manehattan. Then came a long stretch of nothing until lunch. And right when things got interesting, she was done.
But afternoon, though—afternoons were when anything happened. The ponies who called later in the day were often unexpected—travelers finishing their meetings at the castle, this year’s students from the friendship school, taking some time off.
The only thing she could really count on from day to day was that she'd meet somepony exciting.
Her mom didn't count, of course. Rose came in from the attached greenhouse, pushing a cart of flowers carefully cut from outside. She parked in the workspace behind the counter, then lifted a few trays carefully onto the table with blocks of green floral foam.
"Big order today?" Violet asked, gliding down from the upturned crate she used to stand at counter level. But there were no customers here at exactly this moment—she could always hurry over if anypony arrived. "Can I help?"
"We'll see," Mom said, patting her affectionately on the shoulder. "Aunt Lily should be here to help in a few minutes. But if there aren't any customers, maybe. Keep your eyes on the till, I have to go get the rest of the flowers."
She smiled, then turned back the way she came, slipping out the back to the family greenhouse. Violet's little brother Indigo spent far more of his time there, surrounded by growing things. But Violet just couldn't figure out what made it so interesting. It was the ponies who visited that made the shop fun, not anything they sold.
Even now, Violet's oversized ears sensed something happening on the street outside. She dodged around the counter, gliding over to the glass. The storefront wasn't large—aside from a few wax displays of the food they sold, there was just the counter and a little space for ponies to line up. There was nopony here now, so Violet dared hovering up above the wax display, peeking outside.
There was a strange pony in the streets of Ponyville, maybe the strangest she'd seen in a long time. She wore a lot of clothes, but not in the overly formal way of the fancy ponies from Canterlot or beyond. If anything, her clothes seemed silly. Several layers of dark cloth, including trousers that covered so much of her back legs she was tripping on them.
Her little brother wouldn't be able to hear through glass enough to know what ponies were saying outside. But then she wasn't strong enough to pull a single cart of arrangements, and he could do the whole thing on his own.
"Someone has to help me!" she yelled, stumbling towards one little crowd of creatures milling near the old city hall. But they backed away, a few taking to the air and muttering to themselves.
"I don't belong here!" she yelled, tail whipping around her like a whole cloud of flies was trying to bite her. But if there were flies, they wouldn't be able to get at her skin through all those layers.
Violet reached up, nudging the open sign around with her nose. She glanced once over her shoulder, making sure that Mom wasn't watching. Then she slipped out the door. She hovered high in the air at first, near the oversized "Flower Sisters" sign. She could land on the big sunflower if she wanted, and get a good view.
But there was nothing to be afraid of. The pony wasn't attacking. After some more confused yelling, she collapsed to the street, whimpering to herself. A few passing creatures nudged closer to her, but seemed too intimidated by all her strange clothes to get too close.
Lots of ponies were intimidated by new things. Not Violet, though. She was made of stronger stuff.
She landed on the street a few steps away from the pony. She kept her wings spread, ready to take off at the first sign of danger. Just because she was braver than lots of Ponyville didn't mean she was careless.
"Excuse me," she said, loud enough that the mare would hear her. "Are you okay?"
At first there was no response—then she looked up. "Hell no. Look around you. What kind of world is this?"
"Equestria," she answered politely. "It's a really nice world. That's what my dad always says."
The crystal mare groaned, stumbling awkwardly to four hooves. She was taller than Violet—not as old as her mom and dad, but still fully grown. "Does he know any others?"
"One," she said absently. "We used to watch movies from there. But the old TV stopped working when I was still a filly. I'm not a filly anymore, obviously." She twisted slightly to the side, displaying her sextant cutie mark. "See? I'm a young mare now. Like you. I'm done with school and everything."
The crystal pony hardly reacted to the important things. But she looked up, a feeble shred of hope visible where before there had been only fear. "I'm not supposed to be here, kid," she said. "I'm lost... lost from another world. None of these people seem to care that they're horses. They won't take me seriously. Do you know anyone who will?"
"I mean... duh." She turned, flicking one wing towards the door. "My dad came to Equestria right before I was born. He doesn't leave very often, but he still knows a lot. More than Amaranth's parents know about other worlds. She's just pretending because she knows it bothers me."
"Can you take me?" she asked, increasingly desperate. "I think I... I think I did something stupid. Incredibly stupid. Anyone who isn't from here might be able to help me. I have to get home."
"Sure, yeah. I'm sure Dad wouldn't mind. Come on." She trotted off into the shop, holding the door open with her mouth. As expected, the crystal mare was clumsy, stumbling over her unnecessary clothes and almost tripping on her way in. But she made it inside, right about the time that Mom rolled another cart of flowers through the doors.
"You were outside?" she asked, leaving the cart by the standing fridge and making her way to the counter. "Oh, you've brought somepony. Evening, miss! What can I get for you?"
Violet answered before the pony did. "She's lost, Mom. I think she's from another world."
Her mom froze, but only for a moment. She didn't act afraid like the other ponies had. She just watched, taking in the stranger with one intense look.
"Your daughter?" the stranger asked. "She's right. I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. I don't belong here, and I need to find my way home. Can you tell me anything about horseworld?"
"Equestria," Violet put in. "I told her that already, Mom."
Mom nodded. "Violet, fly down to the relay station and get your father. I think he won't mind leaving work a little early for this."
"Sure thing!" Violet ran, dodging around the strange crystal pony and out the door. "Mom will take care of you, weird pony. Don't worry! She's used to ponies from other worlds."
She galloped for a few steps, then took off into the late afternoon sky.
It took her less than a minute to fly across Ponyville to the relay station. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have feathers, or any of the weather-magic that pegasai enjoyed. Violet was just as fast without any of those advantages.
The Relay Station was an ugly, boxy building, surrounded by Ponyville’s suburbs. While the other structures at least tried to imitate what “old town” ponyville looked like, the relay station didn’t even try. It stood out for its strangeness, from the huge transmission towers on its roof to the flickering neon “on air” lights that occasionally came on near its front.
Violet didn’t bother going through the front, but instead landed right on the roof. She dodged carefully around the strange towers and cables, some of which she knew were incredibly dangerous. She didn’t know which, so she was extra-careful and didn’t touch any.
The rooftop door was always kept unlocked, so she didn’t even have to coax the lock into opening for her. Violet slipped inside, dodging down a dim wooden hallway and following the subtle buzz of electricity in the air.
She found her father where she knew she would, tending to the machines the way a farmer watched their crops.
It didn’t matter that Spark Gap wasn’t the richest pony in Ponyville, or the most important. Her dad was someone to be proud of.
The bat was tall and lean, one of the tallest ponies Violet knew. He wore a toolbelt around his waist and heavy goggles on his head, dodging around strange machines as though dancing with an invisible partner. He didn’t keep any lights on while he worked, relying on the subtle glow from dials and readouts. But that was just fine for Violet--her eyes were just as good.
“Hey dad!” she called, as soon as he didn’t have his head in something. “Mom sent me to get you.”
He froze, ears twitching for a moment in confusion at the sound. But then he noticed her, grinning. He closed the distance in a blur of wings and darkness, embracing her in an ozone-scented hug. “I thought we talked about breaking into work, muffin. Those transmitters are dangerous.”
But he didn’t sound mad, not really. He’d long since given up trying to keep her out. Keeping a young bat away from something they wanted to see was an impossible task, and they both knew it.
“I’m careful!” she squeaked. “‘sides, mom sent me this time! I’m not just ditching.”
Finally he settled her back down, lifting his goggles away from his eyes. “Alright then, muffin. Tell me.”
She did. Dad listened carefully, not interrupting her even one time. “That sounds like a good reason to come home early,” he finally said. “Stay right there, I just need to hang up my stuff. You can show me that corkscrew you’ve been practicing.” His eyes narrowed, just a little. “You are practicing your flight drills, aren’t you?”
Violet giggled in answer, turning to leave. “See you at home!” she galloped back out the way she came, not glancing behind her even once to see what Spark was doing. She slowed as she reached the door, hovering carefully between the antennas before zipping up into the air again, flying for home as fast as she could.
The weird pony was in good hooves now. Dad would take care of everything, like he always did.
kinda didn't like the ending because it implies discord never learned his lesson and kept adducting people on his whims
Violet seems a bit too much of an old hand at welcoming humans turned ponies, but I guess it's a semi-regular occurrence now, so it's understandable!
Also, AWwww!
Onto Forbidden Places!
Very nice ending and cute offspring too! Looks like the "visits" are common now, eh?
Though, I wonder how Tracy's missing is covered up in the human world
10774779
I kinda expect that from Discord. He may have "reformed" but he never really stopped causing trouble.
That was quite the ride.
Great story and great art. Thanks for writing!
Really enjoyed keeping up with this story every week. Any chance that us on Fimfic will get to see that expanded epilogue or is that gonna be part of the hardcover only?
Discord gets away scot free. Spark Gap at least gets a happy new life...
But yes, I feel like Discord's plans didn't end here. He had a goal... or was it just a bet with Celestia? The story doesn't really tell us and it leaves me wanting more. Hoping Forbidden Places will give us more information.
10774788
that why he the greatest villain, he was never reformed just learned how to twist friendship to get what he wanted without consequences
10774794
Discord's portrayal here was more like a loose cannon, he had a bet and won it and that was all he planned for.
10774779
Not really, since in one of the previous chapter he said that there are and always will be naturally occurring worldgates and people stumbling through them. Finding one of those was the way they were going to get Janet home after all. I believe he also said that new gates were going to be created if the experiment with Tracy was a success to allow travel between the two worlds.
Hey guys. I just wanted to say thanks to you all to making it all the way to the end of the story. I cant believe its been a little over a year since we started Fine Print and now to see it all finished. It kind of gives me mixed feelings to see it concluded but knowing there's now nothing more for us to look forward to each week. When I first came up with the concept for Fine Print almost two years ago, I was simply just apartment hunting after my old roommate decided to flake out on a new apartment. It made the whole process stressful as I tried to find a solo studio or anything that would take me up on my paycheck at the time. As I searched I had an amusing brief thought "hey what would happen if my next roomie ended up being a pony" .
In the early days I didn't even know if Spark Gap(Tracy) would be a unicorn or pegasus or whatever, but now it seems hard to visualize the character than anything other than the dorky engineer that moonlights as a batpony that he became.
When I pitched the concept to Starscribe I was happy to see my sort of mediocre concept and initial rough draft get transformed into a well developed story, then surprised as it grew to become one of the more popular HiE stories on the site in the last year. I know a few folks were not really satisfied with the conclusion of the story and I totally understand the criticism it got. If we could go back and change some things to help strengthen up the end I'd be all for it. However, I hope the conclusion we got was at least enjoyable enough for you guys to keep wanting to come back to see where everypony ends up. (And to those wondering about Janet, just may want to keep an eye on "Forbidden Places"...)
I've also been hearing from a few others asking me and Starscribe about if there will Sequel. I'll be honest, I did have thoughts about how things could go in a sequel, especially with Spark and Rose's kids, Indidgo and Violet. Both of Violet and Indigo seem like they're the adventuring types, so who knows what they could be up to when they get older. There's a lot of potential with the human world having been closed off to the family for so long, and how things for Spark Gap could have transpired in the last few years after the portal closed...
I cant guarantee i if there will ever be a sequel to Fine Print, or if Starscribe will have time of be willing to do one in the future. However if anyone is interested in pitching a sequel, feel free to send me a PM/mail, I'd always be open to hearing them.
Also I cant give enough credit to the artists who helped bring some of the scenes of the story to life. So if they're here thanks again Acesential, Pony-way, Lunebatt, DiscordGE, KlaraPL, Rutkotka, Viwrapstur, Amy-Gamy, Xbi, Pridark and Julunis for all their hard work and patience. They took time out of their schedules to help, tried their best to get art to us on time, and most importantly had to put up with me constantly asking them questions. So again, huuuuuge thanks to them for sticking with us for this story.
And once again and Finally, thanks to everyone for reading and discussing FIne Print!~ You guys made what was a depressing and uncertain year for a lot of people all a little brighter for me
I would've loved to know who the Crystal Mare is.
Also, for those that are curious, Rutkotka made us some concept art of Violet and Inidigo. They seem like to me they'll grow up to be explorers, but what do you guys think?
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/582638470447628356/832981920866500608/Indigo.png
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/582638470447628356/832981923059204126/Violet.png
This was a nice way to wrap things up. Spark Gap's and Rose's kids are cute, and even though only present in this chapter, I could already get a feel of their unique personalities. It was cool seeing what's changed and how things have progressed years later. I've enjoyed reading this story and it was a great read.
Thank you for a wonderful story Starscribe!
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I can definitely see Violet as an adventure type, though I'm not sure about Indigo, at least based on their introduction in this chapter. But who knows, it's possible that he could be too. I'd at least be interested in learning how they received their respective cutie marks.
10774817
For what it's worth I think her pony name at least is Apple Shimmer but that's just what rutkotka discussed and I thought about calling her when designing her
10774831
Ok, I hope we see her in Forbidden Places. Would love to hear of how she got to Equestria.
10774834
Maybe. But you do have to remember she wandered into ponyville 10 years after Spark's portal closed.
Thats a lot of time
I guess Discord decided that after the last success, it was time for another round!
10774793
To be honest, the expanded epilogue is a disincentive for me to buy the book. The book's a very attractive proposition, but I'm ideologically opposed to financially supporting withholding part of a story for paying customers. (A sidestory or technical manual? Sure... but not part of a story itself, especially when this epilogue already feels shorter than it should for my satisfaction.)
In fact, it flirts with violating the fimfic rule that got RealityCheck so pissed off that he ragequit for being held to the letter of the rule while a less abrasive user was allowed to stick to the spirit of the rule instead.
(emphasis mine)
EDIT: See my reply. My reaction was predicated on the word "expanded" giving the impression that scenes were missing from this epilogue, rather than that "epilogue" was being used as an uncountable noun to refer to what I would call "two epilogues".
Their children are adorable.
10774845
It is not a violation of the terms of service. This epilogue tells a story distinct from the one here. This one was written and completed with the idea of adding no additional text, hence why we jump many years into the future to see the future life and result of Tracy's voyage to Equestria. It does not modify the story as written here (if such modifications were made, they would be put here as well).
Rather, the expanded epilogue will tell an entirely new, brief story, showing a single moment in Spark Gap and Rose's life about a year after his arrival in Equestria and how things have changed for him and Rose. It will take place long before the current epilogue.
Your interpretation of the rules doesn't just disagree with the word of staff, but also simple logic. If it meant what you're trying to warp it into, it would mean "You cannot write anything on fimfiction if you don't also post all sequels to fimfiction."
The underlying reality is that getting a book printed is a labor of love. I'll already be selling them at cost, to those who are really passionate about the story. I pour a little more of that love in by writing an exclusive short story for those who decide to support me, just as myself and many other authors have done with printed pony hardcovers over the years.
10774857
In other words, it's not an "expanded" epilogue, but an "extra", "additional", or "second" epilogue. In that case, I do agree with your interpretation and you'll probably see me on Indiegogo within the next few days... possibly with an add-on purchase for Message in a Bottle if it turns out to be within my budget.
An "expanded" epilogue sounded like you cut some scenes from the current one.
I'm a bit sad the journey is over, but this was a nice story, and it ended on a delightful note in which to put it in my Completed and Read bookshelf. Good show, Starscribe, and very good show to the various artists who contributed illustrations to it!
10774871
Fair point, I'm going to change the wording right away. I would never withhold anything that was required to enjoy this story from readers generally. (in fact, one of the higher tier rewards involves the potential of adding chapters--those WILL becoming to fimfiction for everyone to read)
Thank you Kenzu and Starscribe!
10774835
Right.
And so it ends. Spark Gap has found his path in life. May it be a long and prosperous one. I wonder if the children will explore the World Gates one day? Even if they cannot stay long term it'd be interesting to see their reaction to their father's former home.
But for now, kudos for another completed story.
This story blew me away. I really enjoyed it. I wonder what happened to Load Bearing... I assume he continued on with his construction company and paid Spark Gap a visit occasionally. I also wonder if Spark lost all cell service/Internet connection when the portal closed, and if he didn't, did he try to contact his friends in Ely letting them know what happened to him?
Huh, is this implying he ever left Equestria between the portal closing and now? As in, he visited the human world?
10774880
Ooh, new chapters? Tell me more!
What happened to Janet? Did she go back to earth?
10774779
Neither did Celestia. This ending fails flat to me and ruins the story
10774961
I don't reveal her fate here because she's an important character in Forbidden Places, which will answer that question.
I can't believe it's finally over! I absolutely loved this story! I hope to see more of your brilliant work!
10774779
I am bummed I failed in my storytelling enough to make people think this was a story about reforming Discord (or Celestia). I could've told that story, but it would've taken at least another hundred thousand words. Fundamentally, I chose to focus on a much more narrow narrative.
For me, the story I was telling here was fundamentally a romance between Tracy and Roseluck. It was about the two of them coping with the insanity of their world and finding strength in each other.
I've mentioned in previous comments my desire to learn--I think the biggest thing I'm trying to figure out after this story is over is how to better set reader expectations in the future. How can I use powerful characters/forces beyond character's control, without creating the expectation in a small minority of readers that somehow our protagonists are going to "defeat" those characters.
Like, if you wanted to convert this story into human terms, you could easily cast it as a love story between a native citizen of a country and an immigrant whose right to be in the country has just been revoked by a newly-elected prime minister. Neither of these characters are political leaders, they never campaigned for a change. They just hired a single attorney, tried to manipulate the legal system, and eventually found an unexpected ending where their love isn't separated by the other character emigrating back to the first's home country.
In that story, I wouldn't expect the two characters to "reform" the prime minister, or change the country's laws back so they can stay. Those are things beyond their control--they see them, but they are powerless to do anything but try and survive them.
I clearly still have some work to do in setting expectations. Even a handful getting to the end and thinking "but Discord never learned his lesson" means I dropped the ball somewhere.
This was a delight from start to finish. Brilliant work in character growth, exploring the world, and layering the subtler plots under the obvious one. And I do love Spark Gap single-hoofedly dragging Ponyville into the twentieth century after Twilight moved out of town. Thank you for a most enjoyable journey. I'm looking forward to the hard copy.
If not for the epilogue attached, I'd expect Tracy to wake up in one of The Elder Scrolls games' intro.
Put shortly, the meter shows 10 s. Here's hoping that Tracy/Spark Gap enjoys his new lease on life.
10774993
i think it because discord was so antagonistic through out the whole story, that we as the reader all feel for Tracy and want him to come out on top, and discord to get punished for it, celestia too came of as callous and uncaring, both needed some comeuppance even if it only explained in a throwaway line, like you could have had Rose say something like another traveler, you think discord learned his lesson after what miss flutershy did once she found out about Tracy what discord put him through etc
Just finnished reading and I cant say more than excelent story you created here. Cant wait for more great stories to come. Just wish i could get hardcover copy of luna is a harsh mistress and my Day would be computer. Anyway good luck with writing.
Really enjoyed the story from start to end. Big thanks to Starscribe, _Kenzu_, and all the artists who supplied story art! The art was probably one of the best things about Fine Print.
That said, I'm not sure about the epilogue. While their foals are cute, I kind of wish it focused more on Tracy/Spark Gap. I would've liked to get a better idea of what he does now that the portal closed. Seems like the epilogue shows that he now works at the train station, but beyond that, details are scarce.
With it being nearly confirmed that Janet will pop up in Forbidden Places, I wonder if Spark Gap & Roseluck will as well.
That's it, it's over.
He made his life, got children, got a fine job and helps from time to time other people who get lost in the wrong dimension.
No over the top drama, no princesses acting out of character to "save" the oh mighty protagonist, he's just a regular pony in a regular world.
Perfect ending.
It was a pleasure to read.
Thank you.
So, is it just me, or is Rose in the second picture looking afraid, and like she's backing away from the new customer/pony instead of coming out to greet her?
Also: is that a bluetooth earpiece on the newcomer?
Sextant cutie mark? So she's an explorer?
It took a year and a month to finish this ride but its a ride I'd hop on again in a heartbeat. Thanks for the wonderful story, cant wait to see what comes out next.
A good ending to a good story. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and the children are adorable.
I quite enjoyed this story, except for this last chapter, it seemed kinda abrupt. Sure, we knew Spark Gap would settle into Equestria, but what happened to Janet? I think a short montage instead of a time jump would've been better, maybe a few paragraphs covering major events, births (if Janet stays I'm sure she'd've been there for at least one, and likely a godmother), jobs and business improvements/expansions, that stuff so this story can wrap everything up all by itself, even if other story(ies) give us more details. Still, overall an enjoyable read.
10774779
To me it sounds like a sequel plus celeatia did explain that wild world gates do exist.
10775111
yeah but they way she said it makes me feel like it be a Quest for the holy grail, it exists maybe good luck finding one, and good luck it actually connecting to the world you want
10775019
I may need to think about that. I might make a few subtle adjustments to the text as I prepare for print publication. I'll make sure to incorporate them here as well. I honestly didn't imagine Celestia as that callus, all things considered. I think I'll revise her dialogue a little too. She's not supposed to be a jerk, she just doesn't have the power to make worldgates, or to force discord to do anything.