At Mudbriar's funeral, Starlight Glimmer struggles to be a friend; she and Maud reflect on roads not taken. (Igneous and Pinkie provide flavour, rock and candy-based respectively). Also, there is the mirror lake....
Era: Post-Season 9. (See an index of my stories, sorted by My Little Pony Season).
Note: This site suggests "Mud Briar", but "Mudbriar" is what the fandom wiki uses and, for purposes of this tale, it sounds more poetic.
Image: Source is clickable on the image. The Image ONLY is by Delapouite under CC BY 3.0.
Chapters (1)
thank you for your entry into the Contest! really looking forward to this one!
This, this I enjoyed. Pinkie Pie was over the top (even for her) and I'm not sure what Starlight's thought's on Ingenious being archaic was meant to convey, but I enjoyed the rest of it. Both Starlight feeling out of her depth, and Maud feeling overwhelmed, are really well done.
The fact that the Mirror pool wouldn't technically extends Mud Briar's life (merely create a copy of it) was explained fairly well too. It makes since that neither he nor Maud wanted to pass on his life to another that way, if it meant dealing with a different person each time.
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Thank you for reading and for the kind comments!
I suppose there are at least four main topics (there may be more, but this is what comes to mind at the moment):
(1) Starlight's inner drama;
(2) Maud's drama (mostly hinted at);
(3) Commentary on individuals' responses to funerals- Pinkie Pie's response is one extreme (histrionic emotional). Igneous' response (flat, emotionless, factual) is the other. (There are also platitude givers (as Starlight notes) and sometimes funerals will see a distant wealthy relative (Stygian) or employer toss money at a situation and have a bizarre mid-funeral advertisement or weirdly-written memorial read by someone else). Starlight wants to avoid the extremes of Pinkie Pie or Igneous.
(4) And there's commentary on Mudbriar and Maud's end-of-life decisions.
I read this weeks ago and didn't leave a comment. I feel like a bad friend.
This was good. The awkwardness of the situation is truly felt here. And the awkwardness isn't comedic, as it usually is. It's serious awkwardness.
And that ending is perfect. When Maud just needs someone to sit with her, Starlight's inability to have words is exactly what she needs.
You tell a beautiful story.
ah, avoidant Starlight, i can definitely see that
very interesting bit of worldbuilding here, would not have thought to connect those two characters quite that way! and exploring the revived Pillars' odd relationships with the Equestria of a thousand years in their future is always interesting
such a beautiful description of Maud here
ah, very neat elaboration of the canon Mirror Pool! does solve that ethical conundrum with the clone Pinkies
ooh, nice reveal, good theme!
and a powerful mental image at the end, following the revelation. this is definitely a high-concept story rather than low, something not expected from a funeral setting, which makes it all the more interesting, and the concepts were good ones. lots of neat ideas i may
stealbe inspired by later!11006844
Thank you again for the detailed comments!
If you do, please let me know (I'd like to see what is made of the ideas) and if appropriate, please link back.
(I suppose you would have even without asking, but I figure it shouldn't hurt to ask) 
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Thank you also! Best wishes to you.
too rational ? where is the rationality here ? Only one stupid statement "1 life = right" shows how stupid everything is
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