Awww yis, new chapter. I was waiting for one.

…I don't really know what to say. What does one comment about when all they feel is sympathy?

Do continue.

So, is Twilight next?

On my gosh, I have been waiting for this chapter, thank you good sir!
Now off to reading it

I've been waiting for this like a mo-fo since the last chapter release. And I am now happy.

This chapter alone is enough to show that Icarus is quite the intellectual speaker (then again, he's the son of Daedalus, so it'd be weird of he wasn't). Personally, it's kinda weird seeing someone speak so intelligently, especially in a fanfic.

Charming in my opinion

From the looks of things it'll be either Pinkie, Twi, or AJ next. Fluttershy and Rarity haven't really had a moment with Icarus if I recall correctly.

yay good read.

A very excellent read. More please.

Wow that was nice.
I really like the way you Icarus and his relations with girls. Please write more.

Great chapter. Like how the girl's feelings on the matter are explained so well. Icarus leading Rainbow on makes him a bit difficult to emphasize with, though.

That aside; can he still walk on clouds?

cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23711898.jpg

Commence read.

Ah. Phantom pains.

2182224 Philosopher, your turn.
Philosopher: "Thank you.
Life is a teacher. It taughts us so we are prepared for the final, death. Time and life are nearly equal to each other, and they "work together" you could say. Time heals the wounds, that life causes, because when life is the teacher, time is the principal, because it also defines the length of the life, if you understand my point (that is not so great but still something).
So simply, life causes the pain, teaches you poorly, and time will take care of it, gives you another possibility to learn. Time goes on, but life stops, the principal still keeps controlling, while teacher loses a student that is now ready.
I hope this was somewhat understandable."

2183937 I honestly did not expect such an in-depth response to my silly comment. Props to you

2183955 It's pretty late here, my personalities happen to jump out randomly.
Sexuality: "Damn right we will!"
Oh god not you again.
Anger: "Want help?"
You still have that baseball-bat?
"Yup!"
Go on...
Sexuality: "Shit..."

Disappoint. This is yet another Gary Stu fic.

I don't know, something seemed a little off about the section of Twi's confession about the competition...and I feel horrible, because I don't know exactly why, so I can't tell you what was wrong. Maybe I was expecting her to give more of an explanation about the whole competition, or try to defend herself and the other girls somehow. Doesn't really matter tough. Everything else was great, and with every new chapter you just leave me wanting more!

2184182 How do you figure? He possesses no spectacular abilities, he is fallible, and he's aware of problems that he has. What about that makes him a Gary Stu? Or are you making this claim simply based on the fact that he's garnered the romantic attentions of the Main 6? Honestly, it doesn't matter to me, since I don't think of him as a Gary Stu, but I'm curious about why you said this, because I want to know how hard I should laugh.

2185820 A Mary Sue fic contains multiple elements that make it a bad fic. A very noticeable element of this fic is that everyone in the Mane 6 loves the protagonist. Since you don't think this to be an issue, then I won't elaborate on it because that won't lead anywhere.

The protagonist, however, does show the characteristics of a Sympathetic Sue. He lost his wings in a freak accident. Something happened to his mother that took her out of his life. These traits make the reader sympathetic to the character.

I'm glad you understand what a Mary Sue is and that you're (hopefully) taking steps to avoid it, but having unreal superpowers and being infallible aren't the only characteristics of a Mary Sue. I'm glad you asked for criticisms of the story, but generally speaking, you don't laugh at the advice given. That being said, you can laugh as hard as you want. Go ahead. Laughter is the spice of life. This fic will be a well written Gary Stu fic in my eyes.

2185988 I'm not laughing at the advice given, I appreciate it, but I learned a long time ago that I can't take myself too seriously, or my writing suffers. I take the advice to heart, trust me, I do. But, at the same time, I just have to sit back, look at just what I'm doing, and laugh. It's when people take themselves too seriously, that I laugh. I'll admit, I was a bit dismissive, but it's merely something that I do to make sure that I don't get upset about this.

Now then, to the meat of your comment.

Not everyone in the main 6 loves him... They all have an interest in him, and the characters may hint at such strong affection, but that doesn't mean that they all do. Dash, I've shown, does love him. As does Pinkie. The supplemental section that I added was there to add more depth, and to show what's going on in the background. Not everything is lovey-dovey on the island. Things won't go terribly for Icarus, that's a certainty, but you can't just assume that they all love him because one of the characters said so.

As for sympathy... Well, a character who's looking for sympathy would try to make something more out of their disability, or poor station in life. Icarus hasn't spent much of his life suffering. He's lived comfortably for his whole life, and he only rarely has to deal with major problems. Now, since I don't feel like writing an Odyssey length epic, I've simply jumped to the point in his life where things get really interesting. Since he's been unwilling to talk about his wings for so long, it may come across that he's looking for sympathy, but the girls are all aware of his thoughts on the matter, and they don't coddle him for it. He doesn't want people to feel sorry for him, he just wants to be left to his own devices.

As for avoiding turning him into a Stu/Sue of any variety, I make sure to have him only do things that I would do. While I stand behind the fact that it's not a self-insert, Icarus is the closest I've ever come to actually making a character that I can see myself in. With that mindset, I make sure that he doesn't do anything that's unreasonable, or out of character. It's also why the chapters take longer to write. It's because I want to make sure that the story comes out in a manner that I deem is satisfactory.

Again, I appreciate the comment, and I also like the fact that you responded to my dismissive reply. When it comes to comments, though, only take about half of what I say seriously. This comment is an exception, of course. I don't usually write this much to respond.

This fic will be a well written Gary Stu fic in my eyes.

Is there even such a thing?

AVANTE!
-Jet Howitzer

2186103 I'm glad that you took the criticism seriously even with your light-hearted perspective, but the notion that you want to laugh at the comment is just a bit too condescending without being properly informed.

I believe that if you really wanted to convince the reader that not everyone in the Mane 6 loved Icarus, you would need to do a lot more work. From the chapters currently written, the reader will probably assume that everyone does have a love interest in Icarus, given that they made a game out of who could get him to say "I love you." I was convinced that the each girl had a major love interest in him when one of the girls specifically said that they each liked Icarus. With what the reader is given, he/she probably has to assume that they are all in love with him. It only makes sense.

While I do agree that Icarus hasn't been looking for sympathy, his past events still prompt others to be sympathetic. He might not be aware of what he is doing, but by pushing others away and asking them to leave him to his own devices almost causes others to give him the sympathy that he may/may not want. I take back my accusation that this makes him a Sympathetic Sue, though, mainly because I now realize the real power of perspective. Well done.

And of course Gary Stu fics can be well written. The good writing just serves to hide the bad plot points a Gary Stu/Mary Sue fic has. I like what you've done so far but with more work you can definitely make it much better.

At this rate I imagine the final chapter will just be a mass orgy.

Rant at the things you did "wrong"? Please, don't make me laugh!!!

an error in the last line

Our walk had taken us all the way to the house, and I gave the beautiful woman a warm smile as I opened the door. “Time. Time heals all wounds.”

2193096 Wan: Adjective: pale or weak. The wan sunlight of dawn. In this case the smile isn't a warm one, but is, in fact, a small and weak smile.

2195446 :/ damn
Anyway, sorry for wasting your time, good job btw :D

2195482 Tis fine, comrade. I'd rather have people question what I write than to just trust me. Shows I have an educated audience.

2195569 I feel flattered >//>

Yay, character development!
As far as a good laugh goes, you're SOL.

2187690
Is that bad?

So Jet, why does the first half of the suppliment mirror the words in this chapter?
It's a lot of re-reading... it's not great. Can you level one out?

That was awesome

Author's Note: And yet another chapter done. Be sure to rant at me, and let me know all the things I did wrong. I need some good laughs.