Wait this is actually pretty good why does it have so many dislikes?

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Probably people that just look at the tags and vote without actually reading, thinking it's just some gorefest bs story.

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Combination of what Toiwat noted, plus the fact the story is rather explicitly gay between the cover art and descriptions, so it doesn't really stealth as well as other stories with LGBT themes.

It's fine, though. This story is extremely self indulgent in terms of themes and what I'm writing. It was mostly written for the interest of like five people, and the fact that there are seemingly a bunch people that really enjoy it is nice to see.

Spike, by request of the Guard Captain, used his new power to burn through the enemies and watch Luna’s back. A trusted ally while her right hoof was preoccupied with the Storm King himself.

love that this is a dark reconstruction of Spike being used as a flamethrower in the canon movie scene, haha

Admiration and respect had truly morphed to something beyond that. I knew it was wrong. He was grieving, unstable, and not ready to commit to another after his prior beau had so callously left him. I was greedy, I wanted him for myself and I took advantage of the situation to forge a relationship wrought from grief and desperate need.

yes, not an ideal time to begin a relationship, but given everything going on at the time, it’s quite understandable the question of whether or not it’s a good time for one wouldn’t really factor in

Shining was hosting a lecture in the surgical amphitheater located in the Canterlot Main Hospital.

love this connection in the story between the awful splatter gore of one context and the lifesaving medical intervention of the other. which itself is the same duality that is had by the necromancy magic that brought Spike back to life! dang you are good

“when two different necrotic energies interact with each other, the weaker energy gets shorted out. As arcane cores are stronger, they would cause any biofuel run object to falter when in close proximity.”

oh that explains the lights in the family dinner chapter! also, love the use of a classroom setting to get some good, meaty diegetic worldbuilding in

“Tempest Shadow.” Flash, Spike, and Shining collectively tensed at the mention of the name.

hoowee, where will this go from here! and of course the chapter opening with Shining Armor decapitating the Storm King really informs the atmosphere here, love it

“Or kill her, or talk to her, or insult her. Quite frankly, I am indifferent. Whatever you may do, I will look the other way within reason, since the only worth she has is what peace of mind you may acquire from her.”

that is definitely what the Luna as depicted in this story would say here, love it

“Just to be clear, if you do not kill her, I will. Her actions make her life forfeit as a key instigator in the war. I only wish for you to do what is good for you rather than what you think is.”

those words from Luna at the end are sure to come back later

“You need to lay off, Shining,” Spike said, his voice soft and reassuring. “Remember what Luna said. Do what’s good for you, not what you think is good for you.”

that was quick!

“I hardly see the relevance, but,” she scrunched up her muzzle in annoyance as she growled out, “I was born in Ponyville, now… what are those looks?”

extremely understandable looks

“Team Beta or whatever they called themselves have also been forcibly disbanded. Rather easily since they all hung up those flags in plain sight,” Flash said.

that does sound about right

“I—” Tempest gulped. “I had been playing with some other ponies back in Ponyville when our ball rolled into a nearby cave. I’d gone in alone to get it back, but it had been home to an Ursa Minor. It attacked me, cracked my horn in half. My friends—” she spat, pure venom in her voice, “—abandoned me. Left me alone since I was a cripple,” a bubble of emotion caused her voice to hitch.

this motivation made sense in the context of the canon movie, but in this grimdark world it sure does feel very, very silly!

“I made them.” A prideful grin spread across her face. “My special talent is fireworks and that encompasses bombs. I used the organs harvested from the cockatrice of the Everfree Forest then mixed them up with several other ingredients to create the petrification bombs. Had them magically charged and ready to throw when we landed in Canterlot. We could only build a few, but we only ever needed to take out one of the Princesses.”

huh, for some reason i never sat down to wonder just where that petrification technology came from and just why we never saw it again. this makes a lot of sense! stealing it

“Do what’s good for me, right?” Shining said with a bemused smile. “I needed a few good punches and answers to some niggling questions I had. Now that I have them, I can say I sympathize to a point, but ultimately her motivation was as worthless as I knew it would be. It’s time to move on.”

Perking up immensely, Flash bounced to his hooves and nuzzled the side of Shining’s cheek, his tail wagging excitedly behind him. Rolling his eyes in amusement, Shining returned the affection.

aww, that is so heartwarming! i am so glad Flash and Spike are there for Shining Armor, they are such a wonderful family together

“She was conscious through everything. Right up until I stabbed her through the heart. In her final moments, she had changed her tune. It was all ‘Shiny, Shiny!’,” Tempest said in a mockingly high pitched voice, “always calling out for her ‘big brother best friend forever’ to come save her. Well, where were you BBBF?!”

oh boy. surely Tempest can’t think that Shining would give her a better end than Luna will? and augh, yeah. i was happy before but thinking back there was no way this arc would ever end so cleanly for Shining, was there

“Funny. That’s the same sentiment a dragon I talked to recently had.” Spike tapped a claw against his chin. “I’m starting to worry I’ve become abhorrent to speak with. Maybe I should attend one of those conversation workshops that are so popular right now.”

Spike def still has his sarcasm centers intact through all this

“So, I proposed mixing my dragon fire with some necrotic, which would make it last longer, way longer, and could have the heat turned down. Not too hot, but definitely still hot enough that it will hurt.” Bright magenta flames began to spew from his mouth through the gaps in his teeth. “Fun fact, this room happens to be soundproof, so no one will hear anything no matter how loud you are.”

hoowee

Tick. Tock.

It felt morbid, in a way. The ticking. As it was counting down to the end of something.

Something important.

noooooo not the foreshadowing!

“I’m not foalsitting you,” Flash said with the kind of resignation that bespoke of an argument already had.

“You have a shitty way of showing that you aren’t. Speaking of, why Captain? You never call me Shining, or Armour, or anything else.”

oof! honestly i was into their dynamic so much this caught me by surprise

“So, I call you Captain to… draw a line. For myself.” Flash shrink in on himself, bunching up with his wings hitched above his head. “I only want to call you by your name when I feel like we’re… okay. Like we aren’t just holding onto each other because of trauma, but just because…” he trailed off.

They both stared down at the floor. Unsure of what to say. The silence expanded and grew until it encompassed the entire room. Any words either stallion tried to say got stuck in their throats.

In the quiet, against all odds, the broken clock worked just once more.

Tick. Tock.

Before it permanently stopped.

i was wondering how you’d stick the landing here but you definitely have! and the broken clock stopping at the end, ugh, just cinematic and beautiful