Could you answer a question for me? It'll only take a moment of your life.
Let's imagine for a second that you're falling. High above everything else, you're suddenly plummeting towards the ground with speed you hardly even comprehend at first.
Why are you falling? Does it even really matter? You just are... Well, fine, I guess I owe you a reason. Let's suppose you flew too high with your hot-air balloon and, well, things don't always work out so nice.
Sometimes silly ponies, of course I'm not talking about you or me, forget some really simple things. Like securing and double-checking every rope or something. I'm talking purely hypothetically here, mind you.
And let's assume that these same silly ponies had too much confidence, so much so that they even forewent telling any pegasi about their intended flying route and set off alone. Not that this completely fictitious pony had anything to worry about, right? Balloons are safe and battle-tested. Nopony has fallen off one for who knows how many moons now. Even the Princess's protégé likes to ride in them often. And not checking your ropes? Seriously? It's the first thing they warn you against in flight school. It'd take a real idiot to forget about something like that. Not that you or I ever would do that, obviously.
So what would happen if this complete fabrication of a pony, who hypothetically fell out of her, I mean, their balloon, suddenly found themselves falling towards the earth?
What would this pony's state of mind be like? I guess they would spend their last minutes desperately trying to find some way to survive, before making peace and staring at the beautiful scenery in front of them. Those green rolling hills, the majestic mountains in the distance. The imposing silhouette of Canterlot-castle... They would think longingly about those gorgeous arches and artisan towers they only saw from up close once or twice in their life. Maybe regret not visiting the city more often, even though nothing at all would have stopped them from doing so? They could have easily met even the Princesses had they been just a bit bolder.
Or maybe this pony would slowly admit to themselves that the very reason why they chose to sometimes sneak away in a balloon towards uncharted lands without telling anypony else was the fact that deep down they always longed for that one tantalizing feeling earth ponies can never ever truly experience. To soar the skies alone, the whole world being your oyster, and just fly, fly until your wings ache and your lungs burn and to know if there is a mountain or city or any single little interesting thing in the distance you can just go there and conquer it.
Now imagine how this pony would feel while falling. Would they scream and cry and pray to the Princesses that somepony would find them in those precious few moments and pluck them from the sky before it is too late? Would they feel desperation that they cannot say their sorries and goodbyes? That the very reason why they forgot to check their ropes was because they were upset about an argument, the cause of which they can't even remember anymore, not that it would matter anyways? Or would they realize after the initial shock that this isn't too different from what they always coveted? That, in a way, they can spread their imaginary wings and dash through the open sky, tumbling and rolling like those daring Wonderbolts they always deep down wanted to be a part of, even though that is just a foalish dream. Well, I suppose it's not quite like the real thing, but it's still the closest you'd ever come to that. It'd be almost like a dream for a while, not that I would know.
Of course, nothing good lasts forever and a pony like that would eventually need to make a choice. One I'm sure you've already anticipated for a while. That is: How to land? Because daydreams aside the ground is still very much rapidly approaching. Should she embrace her fate and land head first? Death would swiftly and certainly follow, it's not even a question. It would be one final dance in the heavens above and then tumbling into the great nothing. A simple equation, with an end result you could almost even call kind.
But then, that isn't the only option. Perhaps she should try her hardest to land in any other way possible. Who knows, maybe if Harmony wills it, she could survive. The impact would miraculously only dislocate her shoulder and she could hobble into the nearest town practically unharmed, at least physically.
Or perhaps she would hit the ground awkwardly and break every bone in her body, leaving her helpless and screaming in agony, clinging only to the faint hope that another pony would stumble upon her and haul her off to a hospital. Maybe the doctors could fix her and give her a new chance at life. One she might not even deserve after all that has happened. Perhaps she would be left bedridden for the rest of her life, forced to live as a mere shadow of the pony she was before she left.
And those were the lucky options. It is equally likely that... nopony would come. And she would be left lying there in some deep dark forest or barren outskirt, struck down, as punishment for her hubris. I guess that's an outcome I'd rather not think about, even if we are talking about a hypothetical pony still.
I know this is not exactly an easy question and I'm sorry I even need to ask you this. I also know it's super hard to think due to the wind screaming in our ears and blasting in our eyes, but please hurry. I... I won't hold it against you whatever your answer ultimately will be, but please give me one. I'll even close my eyes.
I just... I guess we ran out of time.
I think I've made my choice.
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Think on your family. Enjoy the view if you can… await your fate. Not much more one can do.
Interesting choice of tags. In the show, Cherry Berry actually falls out of the sky in a ruptured balloon and is saved by Mare-do-Well. Very obscure reference if intentional, incredible coincidence if not!
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Well, to be honest this isn't meant to tie directly into any episode. But I do find the duality of her character pretty interesting and I don't think anyone else in the show would fit a situation like this as well as her.
Screaming non-stop like a torture victim, because every inch of your brain will be screaming I'm falling I'm falling I'm gonna die oh god
Or at least, the pony wouldn't turn into some two-bit philosopher in the last throes of their life. Reeks of rationalfic.
11213509
Ah well I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't mean to be pretentious, I just thought this would be a fun concept to explore in the terms of the contest after it popped into my mind randomly yesterday.
Definitely not intentional. I haven't read any and the extremely patchy knowledge I do have about them comes from listening to others discuss such fics.
Either way, I hope you'll like whatever I write next better.
This really ought to be in parentheses, or in a new sentence.
My thought is look for water, and try to go in as vertically as possible with minimal profile. At terminal velocity, the surface tension will make the impact the same as hitting concrete if you can't break through it. If there's no water, look for trees, and spread your profile out for as much air resistance as possible. You'll want to keep your limbs above the level of your torso, ironically; something is going to break if you're lucky enough to hit a branch, and ribs are there to be broken in order to protect your organs. You'll need your limbs in working condition to get down and get to help.
Failing those two, I'd just be happy to have had as much time as I have. I was supposed to be dead years ago, already made my peace with it and at least it wouldn't be going in my sleep.
I guess in this story the reader is the 'voice' inside Cherry Berry's head.
That does raise the question of why there are these attempts by Cherry to save face. Maybe it's supposed to represent denial or some other sort of deep psychological thing
11213509
You reek; the smell of those who lack imagination.
I like this. I've always been afraid of heights, and the idea of plummeting to my death is genuinely scary to me.
Still, I've always wondered what one would feel while free falling to their death, hypotetically speaking, of course.
Keep up the good work, friend!
Uffff!!!!
Chills!!!!!
<3!!!!!!
Shock, denial, dissociation... It's a lot more productive than blind panic, and earth ponies can never shake the need to do something useful, even in their last moments. I imagine many such pioneers spend their last moments contemplating how to get the most out of them, including any available extra moments.
Wonderful blend of disquieting doom and thoughtful contemplation. It's always nice to see an Angst entry that doesn't tug at heartstrings like an amateur puppeteer. Thank you for this, and best of luck in the judging.
oof, poor Cherry Berry!
so true
the hypothetical phrasing is beginning to make this feel like a Ben Shapiro meme, and i am here for it
oof, yeah, those last-minute regrets! especially in the vaguely-defined world of Equestria, where random ponies really can just meet very powerful and important ones, and the world is filled with too many wonders to even know about, much less see. ironic, too, as Cherry Berry would be the adventurous type for her love of aerial vehicles
aww, and yeah, it does feel like there's something deeper in Cherry Berry being an earthpony
and augh, love the last fall as the one opportunity for a denied ability to fly, just a great trope
it has happened before! and one might as well hope as there's no benefit now in being steely-eyed about the chances
augh, so powerful to address the reader like this! i think of this as her talking to herself in the story, gaining a hoofhold on her thoughts by phrasing everything as if addressing someone. i mean, i guess that's just regular ol' talking to oneself, too! but wow, love the associations that come with that. something about how we are the most loyal audience to ourselves, and the only one that will truly be with us until the very moment that the final curtain falls. i really love that!
love the introspection, love how this explores the depths of possibilities of this background pony, taking her One Trait and spinning it out into an entire character in this most meaningful moment of her life. wonderful stuff!
Hello! Have a review. I really, really liked how you eschewed melodrama, which would have been the obvious route to take, with your fic. Fascinating and powerful. Congratulations on the Gold Medal! Have a fave too.
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I'm almost ashamed to admit that some of the parts that you praise are more very lucky accidents than something I consciously planned, but I'm still very pleased the end result was satisfying.
Thank you very much for the kind words! It's nice to be on the receiving end of reviews occasionally
Great story! I have recorded myself reading it for the audio version and will be working on it soon.
You're a genius!!! <3!
Plot Twist: While looking to cause some random "friendly chaos", Discord scans through the minds of various nearby ponies and finds that most of them were leading the same boring lives most in Equestria were leading at the time and would likely never change anytime soon, even with some "chaotic fun". While just about to leave the area in defeat, his ears peaked up and just happened to hear all of what Cherry Berry was thinking during this whole ordeal. He takes pity on the poor adventure craving mare and freezes time, while offering her a choice to be the first of his own version of the Elements of Harmony or to maintain the most potential ending coming as a consequence of her previous choice if choosing otherwise. She accepts his offer and then is not only saved at the last second before hitting the ground, but rewarded by Discord for joining his new group by making her a Pegasus on par with Rainbow Dash (for the lols - he is discord after all), and then sends her on Daring Do-like adventures to collect relics for him, both in Equestria and beyond... XD
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While this does sort of defeat the point of the story, that is a pretty funny interpretation for an ending. Discord's gonna Discord.
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Yeah, I know. Eh, it's just my preferable twist ending to make the story seem less tragic, especially that the ending leaves it more up to interpretation, even while so still seeming an obvious outcome no matter what (lol). I also think Discord would be about one of the only creatures that could actually save Cherry Berry at this point... He's like Pinkie, just popping out of nowhere to be both fun or problematic, basically to make the world more entertaining for himself and revolve more around him.