What more can I say about Fallout Equestria that I haven't already? It is amazing, incredible, heartwarming, heartwrenching, sad, joyful. It can take you to the very brink of despair, without ever losing that last spark of hope that just maybe things will get better. All and all it is a truly epic story, in every meaning of the word. It is more then worth all the praise, all the accolades, all the love.
Is it perfect? Of course not, and I pointed out quite a few places where things could have been done better. But, no work is utterly perfect. Is it for everyone? Again, of course not, nothing is. Clearly I am far far from alone in loving this story though. Nearly every aspect of it was done almost perfectly, some flaws, some mistakes, but they are small, tiny compared to the overall majesty and grandness of the story.
Though, if I had to choose just one thing about the story I most loved, that makes this stand out so so much above the vast majority of things I've read (and that's a lot) it is how almost perfectly Kkat manages to mesh the dark, grim, world of Fallout, with the bright, happy world of My Little Pony. Two things that just should not go together. Yet this story makes them work, and in doing so creates something truly great. I understood this, and yet didn't really quite get why, how it managed to do it, or at least express that in words, till a fairly recent SF Debris review about another unrelated work. His line (slightly paraphrased here) about it just so perfectly sums up FOE as well, it made me realize exactly how those two managed to be blended so well.
And that attitude is why I don't think this is a dark work. There is a dark aspect to it to be sure. Just about everything we see emphasizes those darker aspects. But in the midst of all this, [the main character] is lamenting that things aren't different. Trying to find a way to overcome the darkness in all of this. In essence, we've learned that it's a dark world, but the story is focused on one person who doesn't think that it should be.
And that, perfectly sums up FOE and why it works as both a Fallout and MLP story, and why, despite the blood, the pain. Despite everything that says it should be, FOE is not a Dark story. It is set in a dark world. The setting is incredibly dark. Even darker then Fallout's in places. And yet the actual story, is not. It's never about that darkness, it's about looking at that darkness, seeing the pain and suffering it causes, the apathy that lets it go on because ponies are to scared, or to certain it can't be changed to try. About looking at all that, accepting it as being there, and then saying "No, this is not right. Things should be better. Things WILL be better. I will MAKE things better."
Despite the darkness of the setting, the story being told is about light, and above all else, about hope. And that is what makes it work for me. This blending of two so diametrically opposed works. The setting is pure Fallout, while the story being told in the setting stands as a shining beacon of the morals and ideals of MLP. It's easy to believe in things like love, tolerance, harmony, and friendship when you are living in the near paradise that was Equestria as we knew it. But staying true to those ideals in a setting as dark and painful a this one? And yet they do. yes ponies may have forgotten those ideals, may be trying to ignore them because they don't believe they can survive with them. But Li'lpip shows them the truth, shows them that the setting is only so dark because ponies HAVE rejected those ideals, and that they ARE right, that those ideals ARE important. That no matter how dark it gets, how much gloom and suffering there is. There is ALWAYS hope. And sometimes, even the smallest glimmer of hope, is worth fighting for.
And that is one of the greatest strengths of the work, that it NEVER denies that bad things happen, it fully and freely admits things like death, rape, slavery, all of the happen. And yet it handles them well. The story is never about those things. It is about knowing those things existing, and fighting to end them. Kkat manages to include those things in the story, without going to far with them. And that very very delicate balancing of them is by far one of the most masterful things done in this story and takes a LOT of talent.
Speaking of Li'lpip, well I've already said almost everything I need to by now. I love her both as a character and as a pony. (not like that) I understand her, empathize with her. I truly do not understand the vast majority of criticisms thrown at her. But I've already addressed pretty much all of those.
Really, instead of another long winded rant/diatribe about how great she is to me, let me just post this
In the end, Fallout Equestria is one of the single greatest stories I have ever read. It is more then worthy of all the praise, all the love, and all the admiration it has received. If there was one work of fanfiction I would see published and treated like any other story (Copyright issues somehow becoming a non-issue) It is this one. It works as both a fanfiction, and simply as an amazing story in it's own right.
I've gone on for more pages then some other stories just extolling how great I think this work is, ans I still don't feel like it's enough, but all great things must end. And so has this. There is simply one last thing I want to say.
Kkat, thank you. Thank you for making a work so amazing, so glorious. For sharing this truly amazing and inspiring story with all of us. I know I cannot speak for everyone, but I also know there ARE many that share this sentiment. Thank you. I was truly moved, truly touched by your work, your story. It truly is one of the greatest works of fan fiction, and one of the best stories period I have even seen or read. Li'lpip is an inspiration, to never give up, to never give in to darkness and despair. but to fight, to keep that small spark of hope alive and burning. And whenever things are looking dark, grim. There will always be this story to remind us that no matter how bad things get, how much it seems things can never get better. There is still, always, no matter how slim, the possibility it might just end in sunshine and rainbows.
And Thank you as well for encouraging me to do this. It was one of the best times I've had, and I am going to miss it. Thank you for reading my words, commenting on them, supporting me as I did it. There were times I slacked off, started to lose interest. But then I'd get just a quick little note from you asking if the next one was coming and find all the energy I needed to get back to work. This review wasn't made just for you, but for everyone interested in FOE, in exploring and looking at this amazing story deeper. But it was made because of you, both for writing the story, and for giving the push I needed at times to both start, and keep it going. And thank you for that.
My only regret, is that it is now over. I'm going to miss doing this, seeing all your comments, and having this as an excuse to talk to you, hehe. So, all I can say beyond thank you, is... Hurry up and get writing something new so I can do something like this for that as well, heh.
And thank you to everyone whose read this, commented, shown your support, as well. I know I called out Kkat specifically, but it was not JUST them. It was also all of you, knowing that I had people eagerly waiting to hear what I had to say. To Kkat, and to everyone who has, is, or will read this. Thank you and I hope you enjoyed it.
Future of this Blog
I know when I started I said I was thinking of moving on to Project Horizons after this, but no, hell no. At the time, I thought I could get through it, but the more I learn about it, the more I know I'll never touch it. I might post my overall thoughts and explanations on why in another article here, but I won't bring this one down with that.
I will say, I did truly enjoy doing this, and would be very interested in doing this with some other stories. Though, I have to admit, I'm curious how many would be interested in that, whether it was my style and words and what I was saying that were the really draw for this, or simply what it was about. The interaction, the comments and discussions about my analysis was half the fun, and if there are those that would like to see me do other works, I am very open to doing so, as long as there is an audience wanting them.
As of now, there are three works that are at the top of my list of possibilities.
Fallout Equestria Pinkeyes The only other big name and well known FOE side story that is actually complete, and also the only other one I've read.
CRISIS: Equestria an amazing story, with some of the best OC's ever created, as well as the absolute worst one I have ever seen. Which is going through revisions and updates to the earlier chapters and so would give me something fresh to read and allow me to compare the two.
Time Lords and Terror as well as it's sequel. On this list because they are, after FOE, my favorite pony fics I have read. A truly amazing Doctor Who crossover that blends those to series every bit as amazingly as FOE blends Fallout and MLP. granted, that is a much easier task then what Kkat pulled off.
So, just let me know what you all want to see or would be interested, and if I should change this liveblog like Pannic did his to just be one larger repository of my works, or make a separate one for them.
Once again, thank you all for reading, commenting, and I hope you enjoyed this. As well as want to see more, just, let me know.
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