Meet Gilda the Griffon. You might remember her from the season 1 episode "Griffon the Brush Off." She was a bully and a jerk, thinking she was cool and everyone else in the world (save Rainbow Dash) were a bunch of "lame brains." By the end of the episode, Rainbow Dash told her off and she left Ponyville in a huff, telling Rainbow Dash to call her back when she decided she wanted to be cool again.
Of course, Rainbow Dash never did... and that's the problem. Not only was she Gilda's best friend, she was her ONLY friend. Left alone for three seasons, Gilda's been traveling Equestria in search of... something. She just can't put her talon on it, though. Maybe she can find it at Canterlot's Festival of Friendship, a rare celebration that's happening in a little less than a month! There's just one teeny problem that's getting in her way of that goal:
Gilda is dead.
After sacrificing herself in the single selfless act she's ever done in her life, the Powers That Be give her an option to partake in a usually Ponies-Only challenge: The Changeling's Game. If she can survive for seven days, invisible on the streets of Canterlot, she can take back her life.
Strange things are happening in this game, though. Hidden agendas, double agents, and more Xanatos Gambits than you can wrap your head around... can Gilda get out of the game and take back her life? Will she be able to forge friendships along the way? All will be told, in time. Until then...
"You have 7 Days. Fail and face Erasure."
This is shameless Monday morning quarterbacking, but I would have called this 'The World Friends With You'
2472028
I can't tell if that was a REALLY lame pun or a rather nice play on words. As such, allow me to compliment you and groan simultaneously: GROOOOOOOOOood one, man!
I actually have a reason for calling it Friendship Ends With You though, the least of which being that it spells out FEWY and I like fairies. Essentially, if you don't take the effort to meet people halfway and make friends, you're never going to get anywhere. As such, friendship does end with you, and your own personal efforts. Still though, "The World Friends With You..." I gotta write that down somewhere.
Interesting looking forward to seeing where you go with this.
2472393
Well, thanks! Glad to hear it!
This is amazing :D I wonder who'll her partner will be. Gilda so fits Neru's profile. <3
2480321
I know, right?! So many people pick Twilight to be Neku, and I guess I can understand that, seeing as she started the show as an antisocial loaner (plus she's Purple) but the difference is that Twilight isn't... well, a complete jerk. I figured Gilda just fits the bill better, and nobody else tried a fic with that in mind... so, why not? Right?
The world ends with you in pony form? AWESOME!
You deserve a like, favorite and follower.
2487922
Thank you very much, good sir! I'll take them all with much gratefulness!
This just me trying to keep characters and terminology correct:
Reapers =Changelings
Pins=Crystals
Text messages = Magic Scrolls
Noise = Parasprites
Uzuki = Flim
Koki = Flam
Neku = Gilda
Shiki = Trixie
Beat = Derpy
Rhyme = Dinky
2487939
Correct, on all accounts! I'm kinda impressed you got those last two already, they're not showing up until Day 2.
2487950
Given that you established how they fit the requirements to be a part of the Game last chapter, and there only being one pair that falls along that kind of relationship at this point in the game (Sota and Nao not actually becoming Players until the Second Week) it wasn't much of a stretch.
Just a couple questions/musings:
Gilda's wings; would those happen to be her price, or is she like Neku, in that her price is the memory of her death. I mean, I can totally understand if it's the former, what with her probable cause of death being a train. Or perhaps her wings being taken is a way to circumvent her and pegasi's advantage of flight?
Speaking of prices, what's Trixie's? I suppose it'd be a stretch/cop out to just have hers be a repeat of Shiki's, which is why you haven't done so, I am assuming.
One last thing, I realize that it's much much harder to pull off in fiction as opposed to the game, but I still think it'd have be interesting if we could have gotten a glimpse of the Composer. Just sayin.
2488514
Oh... right. Heheh... Well, to answer your questions...
Gilda's Wings: Yes, those were her entry fee, as will be elaborated later. Pegasi and other winged creatures (but mostly Pegasi because Gilda's the only exception to the Ponies-only rule) can still fly, but there's, like... an invisible "ceiling" that prevents them from passing the walls. Still though, they can travel low very quickly and can fight pretty dang well.
Trixie's Entry Fee: Mm, sorry, I'm keeping that one a surprise. You'll find out around Day 5/6. Clever reader like yourself though, you might be able to figure it out if you pay attention to the details in this and the next chapter. (Though if you do, PLEASE don't spoil it!)
Composer in the crowd: ...yeah, I was considering doing that, but nothing I could think would work, both considering that this is a reading format rather than video, and one other reason that I won't expunge until later in the story.
Thank you so much for putting so much thought and stuffs into this! It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
...okay, even I admit, that sounded weird. Feel free to ignore that last bit and take the compliment.
Oh my god everything feels just perfect. I kind of wish I could remember how the original ended.
I never played that game, but I'll give this a shot. At the very least I'm liking this story so far, so keep up the good work.