And Lil'pip is out of the Stable. And it's a damn good introduction to just how different, how alien, this world is to the one she knew. Everything she goes through, probably in the space of a few minutes is pretty much what you'd expect from anyone in that situation, even the bouts of agoraphobia. IMO, the time spent detailing just how different this world is is also a great point because it sets us and her up to learn just how else things have changed for her, first the easy to see stuff, the ones she should have expected, sounds, size, smells, all that, but paving the way for her to learn how else it's different, how much ponies are different as well up here.
Alright, I said the one Pipbuck feature I kind of can't just see "it's magic" being a good enough explanation for was the FOF ident system, well I was wrong, there's also the way the map maker can instantly label any location she comes across, no matter how new it is. Granted the fact that that doesn't make sense is at least lampshaded a few times in the story. So good time for a (hopefully) quick tangent, game mechanics in story.
This is one thing that several people find a bit hard to swallow, the way things behave like in a video game, despite it's not supposed to really be one. Some things, like the end of chapter level up and perks, are easy enough to just look at as artistic license, since they really don't effect the story at all directly, and give a nod to the Fallout portion of the story for fans of that. Others tend to require a good amount of Willing Suspension of Disbelief, such as the FOF system, map maker, and Lil'pip's Saddlebags of Holding. Rather unsurprisingly, the ones that seem to have to easiest time overlooking this stuff, are the ones that are also fans of the game, while the ones who have a harder time, tend to not have played them.
Personally, I don't mind them, yes some of the more obviously forced and nonsensical ones could have used some altering or a bit better explanation, but Kkat does a pretty good job of explaining most of them with an in universe reasoning that makes sense, so I'm willing to cut a little slack on the ones that don't quite fit. And this is just one thing where everyone will have their own opinion on how big an issue or non issue it is. (dammit this is making me want to stop reading and boot up some FO:NV)
And back to the story, we find out that Lil'pip is in a place we all know well, Sweet Apple Acres, and now that we've sen Lil'pip starting to deal with how different the world is from the one she knew, now it's our turn as the reader to deal with that same issue, as the Apple family farm is in ruins. Yes it's what you should expect going in, but knowing things would be like this, and actually seeing it directly are different things. Followed by our first taste of just how hellish both the Wastes, and the aftermath of the war were with a recording of a father, trying to find help for his sick son, having been unable to get into the Stable in time.
And now another possible stretch from the games, computer terminals that still work, despite years of neglect, decay and radiation. And this one, the author does give a pretty good explanation for, though not till later.
And the very first ponies she meets, taunted her, laugh at her, lock her in chains and march her off to be sold as a slave. With such a warm welcome to the Wastes, people wonder why she's a bit quick to get aggressive and distrust ponies.
After a quick introduction to the spritebots, we get a bit of a crash course in the difference between slavers, and raiders and just how depraved and sick raiders can be, though it barely scratches the surface yet. And yet more great introduction to how wonderful and friendly the Wastelands are, not out more then a few hours, and she's captured by slavers, sees a pony dies for the first time in her life, and gets splattered by his blood. It's a wonder she's not curled up in a ball or running in panic. But she retains enough sense to work on freeing herself.
As an aside, I like this part, I do, it really shows us, without being to blatant about it, what type of pony Lil'pip is. She's sickened by the violence, the death, scared out of her mind, and yet she is able to push that aside, keep herself at least partially rationale and able to focus on what's important, freeing herself. And as soon as she does, rather then run for her life, she turns and tries to help free her fellow captive. And then the fight, also fairly good IMO, Lil'pip's hesitation in hurting another pony is understandable, as is overcoming that damn quick when it was a matter of life or death. Yet she still holds off on killing her foe, only to have her "companion" finish off the helpless pony. it also shows that while she may not like ideas, she is practical enough to know when they make sense and work past her issues, such as with looting bodies for food and supplies.
And yet more reason why she fairly quickly becomes more then willing to defend herself, the pony whose life she had just saved, mugs her at shotgun point. She shows she is a quick study, grabbing the combat shotgun and turning the tables, talking Jack down without firing, and letting him go. Do I think she would have pulled the rigger if she had to? Yes, she would have hated herself for it, but she would do it. She does not, and no matter how much people try to twist the story, never LIKES violence, yes she becomes a bit callous and desensitized to it, expecting that it is often needed and the only way to survive, but she never LIKES it. As I said she tends to be very practical not letting her own distaste keep her from doing what is required to survive.
And queue lampshading of the map maker stuff talked about earlier. More kicks to the heart for readers, showing Carousel Boutique in ruins and defiled, and then our first recording of a canon character from the past, Applebloom telling us that her family was in Stable 2, and that Sweetie Belle was the first Overmare. Of course adding the Fridge Horror that it means AB WASN'T in the stable when it closed. But it is a touching bit, AB asking Sweetie to keep her family safe.
And perk time, proving she is a fast learner, though also not that smart since those perks are pretty much a waste given how easy it is to reach level cap and how useless they are once you do.
Okay thoughts, well most of it was covered in the list already, the chapter begins showing us just how bad the Wasteland is, gives Lil'pip a very rude awakening to the new reality of the world she's in, show's the reader the ruins of places we care about, bringing home that this IS After the End, and it also shows that while she may not like like violence, she is mostly able to keep her head and do what is required to survive.
Comments
