Line #111 FanFic/TheJourneyOfGraves


1	''The Journey of Graves'' is a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfiction series that revolves around the titular character, Gunmetal Graves. Set in an alternate Equestria populated by humans instead of equines, the series retains the family-friendly slice-of-life and adventure themes the show is known for, while hinting at a wider world that matches more traditional fantasy settings. The most immediate change is the existence of the Marshals, a branch of the Equestrian Royal Guard that acts as Equestria's first and last line of defense. Graves is one of the Marshals' best operatives, but his unyielding dedication to his job affords him little time for developing personal relationships. Naturally, his superiors see fit to station him in Ponyville for a year to force him to make some friends.
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3	Over time, he starts to let his barriers down and develop lasting friendships with the denizens of Ponyville (and even something a little more with one in particular), but time and again, something invariably happens to make things complicated (but most of the time, it's just complicated to him). Could it be that our [[TheStoic stoic]] Marshal is starting to find himself at home in Ponyville?
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5	You can start reading [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/11813/when-the-man-comes-around here!]]
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9	!! The Journey of Graves contains examples of:
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11	* TheAce: Shining Armor, whom Soarin calls a seen-once-in-a-century magical prodigy. Soarin states that Shining could [[CurbStompBattle curbstomp]] Graves in a straight duel, though Graves would have the advantage in other situations.
12	* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Embodiment of emptiness Nul]] is surprisingly friendly towards Graves and considers him a kindred spirit.
13	%%* AfterActionHealingDrama: [[spoiler: Graves and Rarity share one after escaping the chimera and skullpions.]]
14	* AlwaysABiggerFish: Skullpions aren't afraid of Graves. [[spoiler: They ARE afraid of chimeras.]]
15	* AlwaysOnDuty: Despite being stationed in a small town like Ponyville, Graves never lets his guard down. Also holds true for the Marshals in general.
16	* AngerBornOfWorry: [[spoiler: In "A New Road Begins," Rarity enters Graves's hospital room to have him respond with "Hey." After a moment of stunned silence, Rarity crosses the room to his bed and proceeds to smack him the hell out of him while ranting on how she waited for two years for him and all he had to say to her was "Hey"?!?!!!]]
17	* BackToBackBadasses: [[spoiler: Graves and Shining Armor during the Ghangelings' coup]].
18	%%* BadassAndChildDuo: Graves and Sweetie Belle in the 3rd story.
19	%%* BadassBandolier: Graves and his gun case.
20	* BadassInANiceSuit: Rarity makes Graves one for the Grand Galloping Gala. She's actually been doing this for all of his clothes all saga long.
21	%%* BadassInDistress: Story 5.
22	* BadassLongcoat: Graves. It doesn't help that according to WordOfGod, he was inspired by [[http://www.team-dignitas.org/uploads/article_images/Graves03_(1).jpg Graves]] from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends,'' sans beard and plus wide-brimmed hat.
23	* BigBrotherWorship: Twilight, much like in canon. She responds to the reveal that [[spoiler:Graves entered the academy at age 12, when Shining had entered it at age 15]] with sputtering disbelief. She refuses to believe that there could be anyone smarter or better than her brother.
24	%%* BigHeroicRun: [[spoiler: Graves and Shining Armor, on their way to protect Celestia]].
25	* BloodMagic: "The Ugly Side of Right" shows that this exists in the setting, and it's just as nasty as anything from ''Franchise/DragonAge''.
26	* BluffTheImposter: Unknowingly trapped in a coma, this is the only way for [[spoiler: Graves]] to realize it and escape.
27	* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler:"Journey's End" ends with a battered and tired Graves trapped in another dimension facing an army of demons all by himself.]]
28	* BringNewsBack: The lone survivor of [[spoiler: Operation Elder]] barely manages to return to Equestria with an giant chunk of valuable cargo and report that his mission was completed.
29	* BrokenAce: Graves. One of the most decorated and successful marshals ever, good with animals and kids, always ready to help others, and a HumbleHero to boot. But, as later stories show, a lot of that comes from a very dark and sad place.
30	* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Seriously, Graves. A little bit of time off isn't the end of the world.
31	* ColdSniper: Graves' BackStory explains a LOT. A rare good guy example of this.
32	* ColorCodedEyes: Graves has gray eyes. What's interesting is that they are described as different kinds of gray depending on the situation. When Graves is in "Marshal" mode, his eyes are like cold gunmetal steel (hence his nickname "Gunmetal" Graves). When he's remembering tragic events in his past they become gray like fog. In more emotional and tender moments, they become shining silver.
33	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Graves in the entire second story. Twilight (of all people) is the one to set him straight.
34	* ConspiracyTheorist: Most everyone in the military about Graves and the Marshals in general. Hemmingmane seems to think Graves is a robot, based on how he can take more punishment than physically possible '''and''' perform missions that usually require teams of five single-handedly. Hemmingmane's other theory is that Graves is a Revenant- an unholy, undead fusion of several highly skilled individuals into a single body, created with black magic.
35	** Even Twilight gets in on the act when she thinks she's found evidence that Graves isn't who he claims he is. She quickly finds out she's wrong.
36	%%* CoveredWithScars: Graves, much to his misplaced shame.
37	* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler: Graves]] versus a group of [[spoiler: rogue Marshals]]. Guess who wins.
38	** And also Graves versus [[spoiler:Spike]]. After the latter challenged him to a duel, [[spoiler:Graves toyed with him for most of the fistfight, taunting him over being too weak to fight for Rarity. And then suddenly, Spike tapped into his dragon blood and turned it into a mostly-even fight. He still lost, though.]]
39	* DamselOutOfDistress: Rarity, both when describing her [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow Diamond Dog Encounter]] and when [[spoiler:saving Graves' hide from Skullpions and a chimera.]]
40	* DarkAndTroubledPast / DoomedHometown: [[spoiler: Graves' hometown was destroyed by orc raiders, who slaughtered his parents. Then, after years of brutal training and finally joining a BandOfBrothers, he is ForcedToWatch as they are cut down while buying him time to kill an insane demigod.]]
41	* DarkerAndEdgier: "The Ugly Side of Right" is the first story in the series to have the "Dark" tag on Fimfiction for good reason.
42	* DeadlyGas: Not in the traditional sense: this miasma drives you into an insane, murderous rage. If someone doesn't put you down first, you're going to hurt people. [[spoiler: Made exponentially worse by the fact that a dragon demigod has been nesting right in the middle of it for who knows how long.]] "Journey's End" reveals that the miasma [[spoiler:is the leaking essence of [[SealedEvilInACan Nul, the embodiment of void.]]]]
43	* DealWithTheDevil: Many villains in Equestria's history made dark bargains for power, power that inevitably twisted them into monsters. And [[spoiler:Nul, embodiment of void itself]] is the Devil in all of these Deals.
44	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: In Operation Elder [[spoiler:Graves slew a draconic demigod with a bolt of lightning]].
45	** BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: [[spoiler:The rest of his team sacrificed themselves buying Graves the minutes he needed to create that bolt.]] In "Journey's End" [[spoiler:Graves sacrifices his only means of returning home to help seal Null.]]
46	%%* DirtForcefield: Rarity has one, and it's even lampshaded.
47	* DirtyCop: [[spoiler:The rogue marshals]] in the first story.
48	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Graves stabs himself in the chest to escape the LotusEaterMachine.]]
49	* DynamicEntry: A double whammy: [[spoiler: right after being thrown four stories into the air, Graves bursts into Celestia's room and jumps in front of a poisoned bolt for her]].
50	* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Graves had to go through an entire dimension of nothingness, just to get his happy ending.]]
51	* EdibleAmmunition: In story 9 Pinkie dresses up like a ninja and starts throwing baked goods at a pair of guards to act as a distraction.
52	* EducationThroughPyrotechnics: The best way to showcase the proper technique for spellguns is to blow things up, obviously.
53	* EmotionalMaturityIsPhysicalMaturity: An aging spell gone awry turns [[spoiler: Graves]] into a child, complete with insatiable sweet tooth and hyperactive energy.
54	* EspeciallyZoidberg: "Especially the rubber chicken!"
55	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Graves and [[spoiler:Rarity]]. They are quick to deny it at several points. She even engages in a conversation with her pet to tell her that she is not in such a relationship.
56	* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Each entry in the saga takes place in a small window of time, but the series overall spans the better part of a year.
57	* ExoticWeaponSupremacy: Marshals are equipped with unique weapons called spellguns. They're about as awesome as they sound. Graves' spellgun is an AceCustom modified to be a magic ''sniper rifle''.
58	* FriendToAllLivingThings: Animals really like Graves for some weird reason. Even ''[[{{Jerkass}} Angel Bunny]]''.
59	* GoodIsNotNice: Just because the Marshals are a peacekeeping force doesn't mean they're a polite one.
60	* GratuitousJapanese: Pinkie Pie on three occasions, all in the same chapter of the same story. the notes below are the translations.
61	** "I want to spill the blood of our enemies!" when she said sh thought it meant she liked to party.
62	** "Prepare to lose the jewels of the family!" right when throwing a bear claw at a Royal Guard's face.
63	** "Your mother was the daughter of cattle, and your father the son of donkeys!" at the same Royal Guard.
64	* GreenEyedEpiphany: In "Lazy Summer Days", Graves is set on edge when he finds out that a lot of guys in Ponyville are attracted to [[spoiler:Rarity]]. It confounds him so much it drives him to drink. In "Return to the Gala", this happens to Graves again when he [[spoiler:sees Rarity go off with Prince Blueblood, not knowing that Rarity isn't happy about it]]. It also happens to [[spoiler:Rarity]]; imagining Graves at the Gala with another woman irritates her.
65	* HarmfulHealing: Lazarus Pits can heal even the worst injuries in minutes, but those minutes are pure agony. Equestria's military academy keeps a Lazarus Pit in their basement to "heal" recruits who injure themselves doing stupid things to teach them not to be idiots. Graves exploited the pit as part of his TrainingFromHell.
66	%%* HatesSmallTalk: For Graves, a very good reason to not want to attend [[spoiler: the Grand Galloping Gala]].
67	* HeadTurningBeauty: Hemmingmane's reaction upon seeing Applejack for the first time in Story 9.
68	* HealingShiv: Graves can heal people by firing healing magic from his spellgun. Twilight nearly faints in the first story when she sees Graves doing this to Spike.
69	* HeroicSacrifice: During "Operation Elder" [[spoiler:Grave's fellow marshals]] died fighting against an opponent they had no chance of defeating [[spoiler:to buy Graves the five or so minutes he needed to kill it]].
70	* HeroWithBadPublicity: Due to being covered in scars, people keep seeing Graves as a monster despite the fact that he earned those scars saving them. One tribe even took those scars to be proof that he made a DealWithTheDevil and formed an angry mob. It's one of the reasons he doesn't have very good self-esteem.
71	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: In "The Ugly Side of Right", the villain performed BloodMagic [[spoiler:on at least one child, which left her tortured soul alone in a basement.]] The villain learned how to do this with a book of blood magic rites given to him by a mysterious stranger. [[spoiler:Graves tortures him to death by following the book's instructions.]]
72	* HospitalityForHeroes: The residents of Ponyville are more than happy to hold a celebration for a group of passing Marshals.
73	* HumbleHero: Graves, to the point of obliviousness when someone is describing him.
74	* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: [[spoiler:Prince Blueblood]] desires Rarity for this reason. He even proposes to her in "Return to the Gala". [[spoiler:She turns him down flat, having outgrown her superficial fairytale romance fantasies.]]
75	* InnocentlyInsensitive: In the first story, the Mane Six are chagrined when they realize they never asked Graves his name each time they met him that day. In the second story, Twilight of all people has to inform Graves that the others were upset because he refused to spend more time with them, and not because he couldn't help out more.
76	* IWorkAlone: Marshals usually work in small squads, but Graves is a special case.
77	%%* LivingLegend: Graves among Equestria's military. Shining Armor too.
78	%%* LotusEaterMachine: [[spoiler:Story 8 plays this in spades. And it is quite the TearJerker at the end.]]
79	* MadGod: [[spoiler: Typhon, a draconic demigod driven insane by a DeadlyGas.]]
80	%%* {{Mangst}}: Graves. Who else?
81	* ManlyTears: As the name implies, Graves. [[spoiler:After he's escapes the lotus-eater machine as described above.]]
82	* MyGreatestFailure: According to General Ironside, [[spoiler: Graves' attitude towards Operation Elder]].
83	* NakedOnArrival: Sudden aging from child back to adult equals this.
84	* NoEscapeButDown: If your choices are "jump" or "get eaten by a pack of monsters", you're going to choose the former.
85	* NoOneShouldSurviveThat: Graves seems to make a habit of this. [[spoiler: First Operation Elder, then a crossbow bolt with enough poison to kill ''Celestia''.]]
86	* NoSocialSkills: Graves is totally unprepared to handle people who actually ''want'' his company. Twilight can hardly believe that she's met someone who has even more trouble making friends than her.
87	* OneManArmy: What all has Graves done so far? [[spoiler: He single-handedly took down an entire squad of Marshals, took down an entire group of trolls (with some help from Sweetie Belle), took down Skullpions and a Chimera (and Rarity saved his hide), is responsible or throwing off the Changeling coup with his very presence (they didn't expect him to be there, and he lived up to the hype). And if that wasn't enough, he survived enough poison to kill Celestia, followed by waking up months earlier than he was supposed to.]]
88	* OneRiotOneRanger: The best way to deal with [[spoiler: a rogue group of Marshals]] is to send another [[spoiler: Marshal]].
89	* OnlyFriend: [[spoiler:Shining Armor]] for Graves back when he was a cadet. Ironside is grateful for this, believing this was a major reason Graves isn't totally emotionless and withdrawn.
90	* PoweredArmor: Some Marshals forgo spellguns in favor of beating the tar out of their foes.
91	%%* {{Protectorate}}: Graves is this to Ponyville.
92	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Despite his name, General Ironside is a good example of this. [[spoiler: Especially considering that Rarity and Twilight broke into his office.]]
93	* RescueRomance: The relationship between [[spoiler:Graves and Rarity]] really takes off when the two are waylaid by vicious predators. It's a rare mutual case since each saves the other at different points. More importantly, the situation gives them the opportunity to open up about themselves.
94	* RedBaron: The Ghost of Thunder. People started calling Graves that since he's a deadly combination of ColdSniper and ShockAndAwe that just won't die.
95	* RedOniBlueOni: Deconstructed. Ironside explains that [[spoiler:Shining Armor]] may have wanted to understand Graves, but their backgrounds and inherent natures were too different for that to happen. While they did become friends, they still didn't have anything in common.
96	* ScarySurpriseParty: Pinkie Pie likes surprises. Graves doesn't.
97	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: [[spoiler:Graves screams like this]] after being pranked with a bunch of fake bugs.
98	* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Ironside reveals the true story behind Operation Elder to Rarity in order to help Graves.
99	-->'''Ironside:''' Rules are meant to be broken. And besides, he's a bucking good soldier: it'd be a shame to lose him to something that could be solved with a good talking to.
100	* ShellShockedVeteran: Being reminded of Operation Elder [[spoiler:during which his entire team died]] causes Graves' grey eyes to fog up with a faraway look. His eyes look so dead in those moments that Applejack seriously considers the "Graves is an undead super-soldier" theory. Ironside and Celestia sent Graves to Ponyville for the express purpose of giving him a long overdue vacation to keep him from becoming a non-functional version of this.
101	* ShockAndAwe: Graves uses lightning magic in battle. Story 9 reveals that this is extremely difficult to the point of AwesomeButImpractical for just about anyone who isn't Graves.
102	* ShoutOut: In story 9, General Ironside mentions a dragon of the Everfree Forest named Razorfang.
103	* ShroudedInMyth: Graves. He's just a magically weak marshal with NoSocialSkills whose success is due to an insane training regimen and work ethic. His success and his tendency to avoid getting close to others has lead to a bunch of rumors claiming that he's some kind of SuperSoldier. A few even believe he's immortal, a robot, a superpowered undead warrior, or some combination of those. His backstory revealed in Story 9 reveals he's a LivingLegend among Equestria's military who has performed hundreds of missions, many of them singlehandedly, in the span of eight years.
104	* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: Operation Elder]]. Five men left, one returned. [[spoiler:He was also one of the only survivors of his hometown after it was ravaged by orcs.]]
105	** SurvivorsGuilt: The above has left him with a ''bad'' case of this. [[spoiler:The LotusEaterMachine apparently brought this back in full force, which is why he leaves Ponyville. He doesn't believe he ''deserves'' to be happy.]]
106	* StealthPun: Perhaps unintentional, but in story one, Twilight describes Graves as being "like a ''rock''." Given Rarity's history with rocks, maybe it's not all that surprising that [[spoiler: she falls in love with him.]]
107	* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler:Graves takes a crossbow bolt laced with enough Heart's Desire to kill ''Celestia'' in the chest to save her and uses the last of his strength to send a bolt of lightning at the attacker.]]
108	* ThrowingDownTheGauntlet: Or in this case, a mitten. [[spoiler:Spike does this to Graves over Rarity.]] He accepts the challenge.
109	* TrainingFromHell: Graves put himself through this at the academy to make up for his low magical ability. He'd repeatedly push his body to its breaking point, then dive into a magical pool that heals people extremely quickly and extremely ''painfully''.
110	* TranquilFury: In "The Ugly Side of Right", Graves is eerily calm as he punishes a man who murdered at least one child for a BloodMagic experiment [[spoiler:by ''vivisecting the guy alive'' as per the guy's own Blood Magic manual's instructions, using healing magic to keep him alive as long as possible throughout the ordeal.]]
111	* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: The true story about Operation Elder was covered up and the marshals involved in it effectively unpersoned [[spoiler:since admitting that Equestrian marshals slew an ancient revered dragon would have sparked a war between Equestria and dragonkind]].
112	* {{Unperson}}: The fate of Team 26, [[spoiler:Graves' former comrades]], as part of the coverup of [[spoiler:Operation Elder]]. Rarity bitterly notes that even in death they are still sacrificing themselves for Equestria.
113	* VillainTakesAnInterest: In "Journey's End", [[spoiler:Nul]] claims that the end of the world is less important to him than meeting Graves face to face. He's also been observing Graves throughout his entire career with great interest. This is because he believes that Graves is the only other being in existence who believes that [[spoiler:the end of all things is ultimately inevitable -- that ''Nul'' is inevitable.]]
114	* VitriolicBestBuds: Graves and [[spoiler:Shining Armor]]. During their years in the military academy, the latter eventually [[DefrostingIceQueen wore down Graves]]. In the present they have a strong yet snarky friendship. [[RedOniBlueOni Despite having nothing in common.]]
115	* WeakButSkilled: According to General Ironside, Graves is actually below average in terms of magical ability. He only got to where he is now thanks to an insane work ethic.
116	* WhatIsThisFeeling: Graves never stays in one place for long, so emotional attachment is a new concept for him.
117	* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Graves doesn't have the magical reserves needed to cast stronger spells. All he can really use is the most basic lightning spell. That combined with his hard-earned skills and his modified spellgun are all he needs.
118	* {{Workaholic}}: Graves' "mission" in Ponyville was mostly an excuse to make him take a long overdue vacation.
119	* TheWorfEffect: In "Journey's End", [[spoiler:a partially unsealed Nul]] casually banishes ''Discord''. Judging by Discord's expression, it wasn't pleasant either.
120	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: [[spoiler: The lecture Rarity gives Graves in story five.]]
121	--> Rarity: [[spoiler: "You throw yourself out there every day, facing dangers few men could even dream of, only to come back a battered and beaten mess. The people who should be thanking you shun you, even revile you because of the scars you got protecting them. And what do you do? You forgive them. You don't even hold a grudge, though Celestia knows you should, and you move on. You just... take up your gun, and go out to do it all over again."]]
122	* YouDidEverythingYouCould: Rarity and Ironside's opinion of Graves' DarkAndTroubledPast.
123	* ZeroApprovalGambit: [[spoiler: After waking up from a coma at the end of Part 8, Graves promptly ends his relationship with Rarity and walks out the door.]] Confirmed in the first chapter of Part 9, where it states that [[spoiler:Graves' callous departure did spread doubt on whether he even cared]].

Context FanFic / TheJourneyOfGraves