| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sb1_8.JPG]] |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ''Pandemic'' is a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic written by [[https://www.fimfiction.net/user/ASGeek2012 ASGeek2012]], and now has a sequel. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Lazy Pines is a small town in the high country of Colorado, easily overshadowed by the bigger sights to see along Colorado State 9. When influenza strikes the town hard, it is little more than a statistical blip in a typical flu season. No one thinks any more of it as the initial wave of infection passes ... until the other symptoms begin to manifest. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Meanwhile, during what should have been a routine trip to Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer and Rarity stumble upon a strange anomaly which turns into an all-consuming mystery. As they discover the complex web of magic stubbornly maintaining this mystery's secrets, the Princess of Friendship grows worried what it could mean for herself and her family. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | And as the residents of Lazy Pines struggle to understand -- or even believe -- what is happening to them, two worlds have irrevocably been set on a direct collision course. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | The sequel takes place six months later, with everyone trying to adjust to the new world. However, humans are beginning to develop magic themselves, while human and pony separatist groups vie for power. Worse yet, there appears to be a conspiracy in the FBI, opposed by a mysterious council of Night Ponies. It is complete. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | The main stories can be found at: |
| 16 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/359176/pandemic Pandemic]] |
| 17 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/415320/pandemic-aftermath Pandemic: Aftermath]] |
| 18 | |
| 19 | There are also a number of side stories by multiple authors: |
| 20 | |
| 21 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/413568/pandemic-pony-in-the-mirror Pony in the Mirror]] |
| 22 | |
| 23 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/400051/pandemic-what-you-are-meant-to-be What You Are Meant to Be]] |
| 24 | |
| 25 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/413766/pandemic-picking-up-the-pieces Picking Up The Pieces]] |
| 26 | |
| 27 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/429360/pandemic-monsters-we-make Monsters We Make]] |
| 28 | |
| 29 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/463693/do-ponies-on-earth-have-magic-dreams Do Ponies on Earth have Magic Dreams?]] |
| 30 | |
| 31 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/440779/pandemic-desert-getaway Desert Gateway]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/441076/pandemic-new-horizons New Horizons]] |
| 34 | |
| 35 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/434540/pandemic-big-apple Big Apple]]. |
| 36 | |
| 37 | * [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/410781/pandemic-hope Hope]] |
| 38 | |
| 39 | There was also an anthology of short stories by multiple authors in the works. |
| 40 | |
| 41 | The "main storyline" clocks at over 800k words, with all of the recommended side stories bringing the total to well [[{{Doorstopper}} over a million.]] All stories are either complete or ongoing, and have a complete [[Characters/{{Pandemic}} character page]]. |
| 42 | |
| 43 | !!Tropes Are: |
| 44 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 45 | |
| 46 | [[folder:Pandemic]] |
| 47 | * AChildShallLeadThem: [[spoiler:After the transformation is complete the ponies in one shelter including a number of adults start to look towards 17 year old Laura as their leader, a role Sunset is more then happy to see Laura take up. {{Lampshaded}} in Chapter 40.]] |
| 48 | * AdaptationalVillainy: In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'', [[spoiler:Sunset Shimmer was Celestia's power hungry and prideful student. While bad, she was mainly an AlphaBitch for much of the movie who eventually reformed after being [[OneWingedAngel transformed into a demon]]. Here, she is a driven MadScientist who uses biological warfare to transform billions of humans against their will into ponies.]] |
| 49 | * AerithAndBob: [[spoiler:The fact that some of the transformed are taking on more traditional pony names lead to this, though]] which is "Aerith" and which is "Bob" depends [[spoiler:on whether one is from Earth or Equestria.]] |
| 50 | --> [[spoiler:'''Strong Hooves''']]: My name is [[spoiler:Strong Hooves]], and this is [[spoiler:Jim]].\ |
| 51 | [[spoiler: '''Jim''': Yeah, yeah, I know, I haven't quite bought into the whole pony naming thing. Lemme 'lone.]] |
| 52 | * AffablyEvil: [[spoiler: Sunset. Despite being crazed enough to magically experiment on another species, she isn't cruel about it. She spends some of her time in Lazy Pines trying to help guide the newly transformed humans, genuinely becomes good friends with Laura, and despite Twilight opposing her, she merely sends her far away, refusing to hurt her beloved niece]]. Even when she debates her goals with Star Singer, she is mostly polite and civil during the debates, plus [[WellIntentionedExtremist she's more genuinely insane then outright evil]] as she is completely incapable of seeing what she is doing is wrong. |
| 53 | * AliensSpeakingEnglish: Zigzagged. [[spoiler:Sunset didn't start out speaking English, only learning it after entering the human world. Twilight and Starlight only are able to speak Latin and Greek, the former only useful when speaking to a Catholic priest, who allows Twilight to use an English translation spell on him]]. |
| 54 | * AmbiguouslyEvil: [[spoiler: Triss as while she appears to be benevolent there are to many questions about her motivations and goals to be completely trusted.]] |
| 55 | * ApocalypseHow: [[spoiler: Sunset's main goal is to trigger a benevolent ApocalypseHow/Class3A version of this attempting to transform all of humanity into Equestrian Ponies, but Twilight's interference lowers it down to a ApocalypseHow/Class1 as with millions permanently transformed around the globe humanity has no choice but to adapt, it also doesn't help that the most powerful and influential nation in the world also happens to be the hardest hit.]] |
| 56 | * ArcWords: The word “responsible” is this for Laura’s character arc as [[spoiler: until she gets her cutie mark]] her whole life for the last 9 years has been defined by her desire to be more responsible and her CharacterDevelopment is all about her moving beyond this rather vague goal and finding a real purpose in life, on top of that responsibility or rather the lack of it also happen to be major themes in regards to both Jenny and Eileen and the word "irresponsible" comes up more than once. |
| 57 | * ArmorPiercingQuestion: Starlight gives one to Twilight in Chapter 18 (see WhamLine below for details). |
| 58 | --> '''Starlight:''' Would she have had time to scream? |
| 59 | * BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: After the direct approach failed due to Twilight protecting her, Sunset takes advantage of America's policy of not negotiating with terrorists and Twilight's ignorance of said policy in order to pull off a [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Soldier]].]] |
| 60 | * BigBad: [[spoiler: [[AdaptationalVillainy Sun]][[AffablyEvil set]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist Shim]][[MadScientist mer]].]] |
| 61 | * BigBadFriend: [[spoiler: Sunset has become this to Laura under the guise of Sadie 'Sunny' Sommers and though Laura is initially unaware of who Sunset really is or what she has done the friendship is genuine on both sides to the point that Sunset has become something of a [[ParentalSubstitute second mother]] to Laura and even when Laura does learn the truth about Sunset she has an increasingly hard time viewing 'Sunny' as anything other then her supportive friend and even continues to use her nickname.]] |
| 62 | * BrokenPedestal: a few examples. |
| 63 | ** [[spoiler: A two part villainous one for Sunset Shimmer. First in regards to Celestia when Sunset learns that Celestia not only wiped her from both history and the memories of her loved ones but also turned Twilight against her and then towards Twilight when Sunset realizes that Twilight has fully rejected everything Sunset has ever taught her and is fully intent on doing everything she can to stop Sunset.]] |
| 64 | ** [[spoiler: An initially {{Downplayed}} example for Laura when she learns that her friend Sunny is really Sunset Shimmer and was responsible for all the transformations as while Laura is trying to maintain her newly gained self confidence without falling back on Sunset's pep talks she's having an increasingly hard time seeing Sunset in a bad light and has accepted the transformation to such an extent that not only is she struggling to see what Sunset did was wrong but actually wishes she was turned into a pony a long time before she actually was, however once Sunset openly admits to what she is doing and why the pedestal is thoroughly broken but it does result in a partially RebuiltPedestal posthumously where Laura decides to honor her good memories of Sunset while still looking towards the future by taking on the name "Sunrise Storm" as well as taking Sunset's nickname "Sunny" as her own.]] |
| 65 | * CassandraTruth: |
| 66 | ** Deconstructed with Fred Turner. When serving in Afghanistan, he came across a refugee child [[spoiler: really Sunset in disguise]], that did not appear in any government records. His continual affirmation in the child's existence led to him getting discharged from the army. This turned him into a conspiracy freak, believing the government was trying to hide something from him. |
| 67 | ** [[spoiler: When Starlight and Twilight arrive on Earth, it takes them quite a bit of time and effort to convince anyone that they are not transformed humans, but actual members of that species from a different world.]] |
| 68 | * ClarkesThirdLaw: Discussed when [[spoiler: an FBI Agent witnesses Twilight demonstrate her magical abilities. He scoffs at explaining away such power as "magic".]] |
| 69 | * {{Deuteragonist}}: Starlight Glimmer, Dr. Kevin Conner and Jenny Tanner all fill this role rather nicely. |
| 70 | ** Starlight is basically Twilight's {{Sidekick}} and when the story focuses on Earth if it is not following Laura or her family it is usually following Kevin and those around him, [[spoiler: that is prior to Twilight and Starlight arriving and even then he continues to receive the same amount of focus,]] on top of all that Jenny goes through just as much CharacterDevelopment as Laura does if not more so and has a major subplot involving [[spoiler: a storm that happened when she was 5 which is somehow connected to Sunset and thus the transformations themselves.]] |
| 71 | * DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:[[VillainyFreeVillain Princess Celestia]] is this until the end of Chapter 14 as her need for secrecy turns Twilight, Starlight, Luna and the rest of the Mane Cast against her especially when it's discovered that the secret Celestia is trying to hide directly involves both [[BlackMagic dark magic]] and Twilight's own family.]] |
| 72 | * DoingInTheScientist: [[spoiler:It’s only after Twilight and Starlight convince humanity of the existence of magic that the CDC are able to prove a direct link between the flu and the strange transformations despite the obvious correlation and before the two Equestrians show up humanity had absolutely no idea how to explain or deal with all the transformations. Though this is {{Downplayed}} and PlayedWith as magic is [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic treated as a science with its own laws and structure just like physics]] and Twilight Sparkle a magical prodigy describes herself as a scientist.]] |
| 73 | * EarlyBirdCameo: Josie gets a mention and is seen leaving Dr. Conner’s office in Chapter 5 and gets another mention in chapter 17 and Emma had an unnamed appearance in Chapter 15 when Laura spots her out of a crowd of fellow high school students quite a while before either of them were properly introduced, and little Molly and her mom Theresa also had cameo appearances several chapters before their names were revealed. |
| 74 | * EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: None of the stronger night pony magics, nor the dreamwardens, are shown here, and none of the dreamwarden's societal modifications are present in Equestria. |
| 75 | * EndearinglyDorky: Starlight's {{lampshade|Hanging}}d opinion of Twilight's foalhood journal entries in chapter 22. |
| 76 | * EnsembleCast: this story is told from the perspective of quite a large number of characters, especially on the human side. |
| 77 | * EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Despite the two of them being on opposite sides and working against each other Sunset adores her niece Twilight and was very much a CoolAunt to Twilight when she was a filly, foalsitting her, mentoring her and celebrating her magical abilities. Unfortunately as the trope implies she ended up turning into an [[EvilUncle Evil Aunt]], and when she learns in Chapter 42 that there is no hope of bringing Twilight to her side and that Twilight was prepared to kill her if necessary, she comes to view her niece as a traitor and a disappointment. In another example Sunset eventually developed genuine affection for Laura which only highlights the tragedy of just how cold and calculating she has become in general by the time of her death.]] |
| 78 | * EvilUncle: [[spoiler: This is what Sunset is to Twilight in this story, [[WellIntentionedExtremist albeit not by intention]]. Sunset and Twilight were very close when Twilight was a filly, but her desire to forcibly transform an entire species turns them against each other, however it's slightly {{Downplayed}} as mentioned above Sunset is more [[WellIntentionedExtremist legitimately insane then truly evil]].]] |
| 79 | * ExBigBad: Starlight Glimmer was a one time cult leader/dictator and later used TimeTravel to get revenge on Twilight for taking down her cult/dictatorship, but was eventually [[HeelFaceTurn talked down and reformed]] by Twilight. She offers her own unique perspective and abilities as a former villain who was not to unlike [[spoiler: [[BigBad Sunset]]]] to help put an end to this crisis. |
| 80 | * {{Expy}}: [[spoiler: In a {{Downplayed}} and unintentional way Laura is yet another one for Twilight as they both have had their lives set up by a pony with a ton of magical power and a sun motif whose influence literally gave them wings and then both of them went on to take the lives they were given and made them their own and both of them had very close relationships with [[BigBad Sunset]], who was quite the CoolAunt to Twilight when she was little and became a [[ParentalSubstitute surrogate mother]] to Laura.]] |
| 81 | * FullNameUltimatum: Sarah pulls this on Jenny after a police officer informs her of Jenny's latest reckless misadventure. |
| 82 | * GenreRoulette: While this story is over all an urban fantasy family drama (focusing primarily on the Tanner family and Twilight Sparkle's own family) thanks to the RotatingArcs it also starts out as a medical mystery half the time and a political mystery the other half before eventually turning into a race against the clock philosophical bio-terrorism thriller. |
| 83 | * GodzillaThreshold: [[spoiler: Twilight eventually gets so desperate to stop [[BigBad Sunset]] that she agrees to let Starlight use her Cutie Unmarking spell on her and gives the green light to let human snipers kill her should that plan fail. She then used a spell that would likely have killed Sunset had she not willingly let Starlight's spell hit her.]] |
| 84 | * GoneHorriblyWrong: [[spoiler:Chapter 33 reveals that there might be some sort of cosmic tier threat or monstrosity roaming around in humanity's dimension that seemingly ''eats'' magic. Sunset's plan may very well result in humanity's extinction at the hands of this threat if it succeeds -- worse still, once it wipes out humanity, it may well use the portal on Earth to invade and devour Equestria as well!]] |
| 85 | * HeroWorshipper: [[spoiler:Twilight used to be this for Sunset Shimmer as a filly however this went away after Twilight got her memories of Sunset back though Twi still greatly admires her aunt’s magical abilities.]] |
| 86 | * [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Hoist By Her Own Petard]]: [[spoiler:If Sunset never informed the griffons of her spell, Celestia would have never suppressed all memory of her and it would have been much harder for Celestia to counter what Sunset taught Twilight, also if Sunset had remained in the shadows instead of taking on a human identity Twilight and Starlight would have had a very hard time convincing humanity of her existence let alone guilt and thus would likely still be [[KilledOffForReal alive]] and well on her way to finishing her plans.]] |
| 87 | * HourglassPlot: [[spoiler: Laura started out mostly drifting through life while Jenny was sure about herself roles which reversed after the transformation with Laura sure about her path in life and Jenny unsure, also Laura starts out as the rational one who is reasonably freaking out over the transformation even breaking down into tears when her tail came in while Jenny just roles with it as one of her fantasies, however after much CharacterDevelopment for the both of them again come to switch places as Jenny starts to become the rational one rethinking everything and eventually deciding to become human again, while Laura slowly but surely comes to embrace her new life as a magical pastel colored pony to such an extent that she is among the first to earn a cutie mark thus ensuring that she will be a pegasus for the rest of her life which happened 'right' after an argument with Jenny where Laura stubbornly refuses to rethink her transformation and only comes around after learning the truth about Sunset but even then she doesn't want to become human again, not that it matters anymore.]] |
| 88 | * [[EvilCounterpart Insane Counterpart]]: [[spoiler:Sunset Shimmer is one to Twilight, Celestia and even Cadance.]] |
| 89 | ** [[spoiler:Like Twilight, Sunset is an incredibly powerful magical prodigy renowned for doing the seemingly impossible who was at one time Celestia’s star student and Sunset was even at one point a viable candidate for ascension to alicornhood and was being groomed by Celestia to wield the Element of Magic both things that ended up happening to Twilight, they both also happen to have older brothers.]] |
| 90 | ** [[spoiler:Like Celestia, Sunset picked out a young girl with a lot of potential and worked hard to give her a truly wonderful life while also literally giving her wings though a forced and irreversible transformation though unlike Celestia with Twilight, Sunset did all this with Laura mostly from the shadows until towards the end game and did so by convincing her to throw away her own past, Sunset also tried this with Twilight but Celestia managed to counter that, though by using some morally grey methods.]] |
| 91 | ** [[spoiler:Like Cadance, Sunset used to foalsit Twilight and Twilight absolutely adored Sunset similar to how she eventually came to adore Cadance though with Sunset it was more of a case of hero worship than anything else.]] |
| 92 | * ItsAllAboutMe: Jenny puts her love of fantasy role playing above the present reality, pissing everybody off to no end though through CharacterDevelopment she comes to realize this about herself and starts to grow out of it. |
| 93 | * JerkassHasAPoint: Agent Heller is absolutely right that human society can't handle [[spoiler: millions of people permanently transformed into magical pastel ponies with a very different cultural identify to humans showing up in what is effectively the blink of an eye, in fact no society is prepared to handle such an extreme demographic shift.]] |
| 94 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Agent Heller. While he's not exactly a nice guy ([[MeaningfulName the word Hell is in his name]]), his heart is in the right place and he wants to do the right thing, though he defines "the right thing" as "the right thing" for the country rather then for it's people, though he is an FBI agent. |
| 95 | * KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: This happens to Sunset in Chapter 52, tragically just after Twilight has [[SuicideByCop seemingly]] convinced her to cooperate with human authorities.]] |
| 96 | * KnightInSourArmor[=/=]SourSupporter: Starlight Glimmer, who is indeed very cynical about Celestia's motivations, and [[spoiler: who is more focused and pragmatic about their trip to Earth than Twilight.]] |
| 97 | * MacGuffin: Star Singer feels this way about the Elements of Harmony. Twilight disagrees. |
| 98 | * MadScientist: [[spoiler: [[BigBad Sunset Shimmer]] modified the flu to slowly transform humans into ponies and is attempting to use it against all of humanity, Starlight even refers to her as such.]] |
| 99 | * MagicalSpeciesTransformation: This fic features an epidemic of flu whose carrier virus was infected by a transformation spell, causing a strain of the disease where, after the original symptoms have run their course, the patient gradually transforms into a pony, trading their human shape for the ability to use magic. [[spoiler:By the time the epidemic is brought under control, a significant number of humans — including a quarter of the United States' population — have been transformed in this manner.]] |
| 100 | * MeaningfulRename: [[spoiler:By the end of the story a number of new ponies take on more traditional pony names with Laura in particular taking on the name Sunrise Storm or Sunny for short as both a tribute to her good memories of [[BigBadFriend Sunset]] and as a break from the past, feeling that she needs to focus on the future.]] |
| 101 | * MindOverMatter: Humans transforming into Unicorns quickly learn basic levitation. |
| 102 | * MoreThanMindControl: [[spoiler: What [[BigBad Sunset]] is doing with the transformed ponies, using the transformations tendency to make those changed perfectly comfortable in their new bodies and a dream/vision to convince them to come around to her world view.]] |
| 103 | * MyGreatestFailure: [[spoiler:Celestia comes to believe that the whole situation with Sunset and Twilight is this even more so than having to banish Luna to the moon.]] |
| 104 | * MysticalPlague: [[spoiler: [[BigBad Sunset]] modified the influenza virus to magically transform humans into ponies complete with magic powers.]] |
| 105 | * NextSundayAD: The story takes place in March 2023 but the only reason you would be able to figure this out is based on lines stating that this story happens in late winter 21 years after 9/11. |
| 106 | * OhCrap: [[spoiler: Starlight lets out two big ones in Chapter 50, when she realizes that Sunset’s cutie mark is about to be set free and another when she sees for herself that Sunset has escaped which also qualifies as a PrecisionFStrike given her word choice.]] |
| 107 | * OneWordTitle: Named because a flu is an important part of the story. |
| 108 | * ParentalSubstitute: [[spoiler: Laura eventually comes to view Sadie AKA [[BigBad Sunset]] as somewhat of a second mother.]] |
| 109 | * PatientZero: John Barrows the Lazy Pines’ chief of police feels this trope applies to Fred Turner. Dr. Conner makes no effort to disabuse him of this notion even though he disagrees with the terminology preferring "index case". |
| 110 | * PointOfNoReturn: [[spoiler: Twilight and Starlight come to view getting a cutie mark for the transformed humans as this, after which they will likely be ponies forever, and among the very first to cross this point is Laura just like Sunset wanted.]] |
| 111 | * PrecisionFStrike: So far there have been four [[spoiler: once by Starlight in Chapter 34 and the other three by Twilight, Starlight and an unnamed soldier all in chapter 50.]] |
| 112 | * RelatedInTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: In this story Sunset Shimmer is Twilight's aunt.]] |
| 113 | * RotatingArcs: For the most part the chapters alternate between following Twilight and Starlight in Equestria and following Laura and her family as well as the events in Lazy Pines. [[spoiler: Later, Twilight and Starlight arrive on Earth, where the story eventually settles on a similar pattern of focusing on Twilight and Starlight and then on Laura and the residents of Lazy Pines.]] |
| 114 | * SelfDeprecation: A little bit in Chapter 13. |
| 115 | --> '''Dr. Conner''': This has got to be the most bizarre thing I have ever encountered in my life. It sounds straight of a bad sci-fi story. |
| 116 | * [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Solder]]: [[spoiler: Sunset knew that the U.S. Government would not negotiate with her when she refused sedation fully aware that trying to do so would result in her death, she even tried it more directly by going against directions before Twilight saved her even if it was in vain.]] |
| 117 | * SuperStrength: Humans transforming into Earth ponies begin exhibiting enhanced physical power in the middle of their transformations. |
| 118 | * TemptingFate: Early on in Chapter 2 Twilight talks about how Chrysalis was the last real outside threat to Equestria, but latter on in the story [[spoiler: we learn about the Devourers magic eating monsters from Earth's Universe that could use the portal to travel from Earth to Equestria.]] |
| 119 | * TheBGrade: Twilight was once traumatized over getting an A- on a report she did on when the griffons threatened Equestria with war. |
| 120 | * TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: By the end of the story it is clear that the world has been permanently changed by what has transpired and this change [[LampshadeHanging has been directly compared to the death of the old world and the birth of a new one]]. |
| 121 | * TheImmune: [[spoiler: Due to a mutation that allows him to passively channel magic into his immune system, Kevin's body is able to fight off just about any disease, including Sunset transformation virus.]] |
| 122 | * TheMindIsThePlaythingOfTheBody: As more people start transforming into ponies, [[spoiler: they gradually come to accept themselves as ponies, and their very social dynamics start changing to resemble them too. The reclusive farmer Turner and the introverted Laura become more social and open about their anxieties. And they start using pony terms unconsciously. This is justified InUniverse; as the method that Sunset's transformation curse uses to change it's victims messes with their heads to make it seem as if they were always meant to be ponies.]] |
| 123 | * TheProtagonist: Due to the [[RotatingArcs way this story is written]] we have two Twilight Sparkle and Laura Tanner, the later of whom fits despite the large EnsembleCast as half the story mostly revolves around her and her family with Laura getting the most focus. |
| 124 | * TitleDrop: The word “pandemic” is used in Chapter 27 and Chapter 40 and in a meta example Twilight uses the phrase “friendship is magic” in Chapter 34. |
| 125 | * TragicVillain: [[spoiler: This is what Sunset ultimately is she started out living an idyllic life with a loving family and being well on her way to becoming an Alicorn Princess, but her shortsighted nature caused her to throw all that away in pursuit of an ambitious goal which not only is completely pointless but fails to see it fully realized and in the end when she realizes that she gave up everything for no reason at all and has nothing left to live for she winds up pulling a [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Soldier]] despite Twilight's attempts to stop her.]] |
| 126 | * {{Unperson}}: [[spoiler: Celestia erased all memory, both historical and mental, of Sunset, knowing that the merest knowledge of the latter's germ warfare could lead to outright war from other nations.]] |
| 127 | * UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: [[spoiler: Sunset's reason for thinking that the transformation is in humanities best interest.]] |
| 128 | * VillainHasAPoint: [[spoiler:When Sunset Shimmer is confronted by the fact that Equestria defeated the prophesied threats without her plan, she cuttingly asks exactly ''how'' they did so, pointing out that, in the end, Equestria survived through what boils down to ''luck''.]] |
| 129 | * VillainyFreeVillain: [[spoiler:[[DiscOneFinalBoss Princess Celestia]] acts as one until chapter 14 as she was forced to suppress all memory of [[BigBad Sunset Shimmer]] in order to prevent a war and she does come to regret doing so especially having to wipe her memory from the minds of Sunset's family including her [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes beloved]] niece Twilight Sparkle.]] |
| 130 | * ViralTransformation: The transformation of people to ponies is spread by a flu virus. [[spoiler: Sunset was able to use the self-replicating properties of viruses to replicate the magical properties of her transformation spell within a person.]] |
| 131 | * WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler: Sunset Shimmer's very involvement is a spoiler, as is '''everything''' else about her, which is mostly why there are so many spoilers on this page, same applies to both Triss a dragon like being from humanities universe who asended to become her races equivalent of an Alicorn billions of years ago and the Devourers giant magical eating monstrosities/biological space weapons.]] |
| 132 | * WellIntentionedExtremist: |
| 133 | ** [[spoiler: Sunset engaged in her biological warfare program as a means of protecting Equestria; her belief was that by vastly increasing the pony population, there would be a much larger pool of magic to use to combat the threats that Star Singer prophesied.]] |
| 134 | ** [[spoiler: Princess Celestia chose to erase the memories of Sunset to prevent war. This included Sunset's own family, and she still chose to cover her tracks from Twilight and even her own sister Luna.]] |
| 135 | * [[WhamEpisode Wham Chapter]]: Just about every single chapter qualifies to some extent and with dozens of chapters that's just way to many to properly list though one of the biggest is Chapter 49 where [[spoiler: Laura obtains a Cutie Mark rendering her transformation into a pony irreversible.]] |
| 136 | * WhamLine: These happen a lot due to the shear amount of [[WhamEpisode Wham Chapters]]. |
| 137 | --> '''Twilight''': [[spoiler:It's dark magic [[note]] Revealing the hidden type of magic contained in Celestia’s diary.[[/note]]]] |
| 138 | |
| 139 | --> '''Twilight''': [[spoiler:Sunset Shimmer. [[note]] The reveal that not only is Sunset involved in this story but considering her name is something Celestia wanted to keep hidden, and it’s clear Twilight does not recognize the name this is not the Sunset we have seen before.[[/note]]]] |
| 140 | |
| 141 | --> '''Jenny''': [[spoiler:They kinda looked like horse ears. [[note]] Describing the ears on Fred Turner's head.[[/note]]]] |
| 142 | |
| 143 | --> '''Heather''': [[spoiler:Hooves, His feet have turned into ''hooves''. [[note]] Referring to Fred.[[/note]]]] |
| 144 | |
| 145 | --> '''Twilight''': [[spoiler:I think she was searching for a way to make the transformation permanent. [[note]] On what she discovered Sunset was up to when it came to transformation magic.[[/note]]]] |
| 146 | |
| 147 | --> '''Heather''': [[spoiler:It looks like it's coated in glass, doesn't it? [[note]] About her transforming hair revealing that we are not just dealing with baseline unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies but at least crystal ponies as well.[[/note]]]] |
| 148 | |
| 149 | --> '''Celestia''': [[spoiler:Sunset planned to deliver her spell by utilizing a virus. [[note]] When referring to how Sunset’s permanent transformation spell actually worked which is '''exactly''' how the transformations on Earth are progressing.[[/note]]]] |
| 150 | |
| 151 | --> '''Celestia''': [[spoiler:She was not seeking to open a portal to another part of Equestria, she was seeking to open a portal to another ''universe''. [[note]] About Sunset’s portal which when taken with the above all but outright confirms that Sunset is behind the events on Earth.[[/note]]]] |
| 152 | |
| 153 | --> '''Starlight''': [[spoiler:[[ArmorPiercingQuestion Would she have had time to scream?]] [[note]] Starlight questioning Celestia’s account of Sunset’s death when Twilight tells her that if the portal did in fact collapse around Sunset she would have died instantly leading them to conclude that Sunset might have faked her death and may in fact be alive on Earth where nothing and nobody can stop her.[[/note]]]] |
| 154 | |
| 155 | --> '''Sadie:''': [[spoiler:My name is Sadie Sommers, but all my friends call me Sunny. [[note]] The reveal that Sadie has the exact same nickname as Sunset Shimmer.[[/note]]]] |
| 156 | |
| 157 | --> '''Star Singer''': [[spoiler:I was responsible for what Sunset claimed she believed. [[note]] Rather self explanatory if you ask me.[[/note]]]] |
| 158 | |
| 159 | --> '''Star Singer''': [[spoiler:She had a condition where one eye drifted, so she had trouble focusing. [[note]] Describing the griffon Sunset permanently transformed into a pegasus revealing it to be none other than Derpy.[[/note]]]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | --> [[spoiler:'''Sunset''': I sensed only one pony traversing the portal. [[note]] Indicating that Sunset has no idea that Starlight is on Earth giving Twilight an ace in the hole.[[/note]]]] |
| 162 | |
| 163 | --> '''Star Singer''': [[spoiler:That little sample you gave me? Something in it is channeling magic! [[note]] The reveal that Kevin’s is unknowingly channeling magic into his immune system which is why he is immune by most diseases included the transformation.[[/note]]]] |
| 164 | |
| 165 | --> '''Celestia''': [[spoiler: Oh, my dear, poor, deluded Sunset, how could a pony so brilliant be so horribly ''wrong?'' [[note]] In regards to Sunset's equations about Celestia's power level which she used to estimate how much more magic Equestria needs.[[/note]]]] |
| 166 | |
| 167 | --> '''Starlight''': [[spoiler:You believe that Star Singer saw a vision of some sort of magic-eating monster? [[note]] Figuring out what Twilight is trying to say as for why she thinks there aren't any magical civilisations in Earth’s Universe and that humanity developing magic at all puts them in danger.[[/note]]]] |
| 168 | |
| 169 | --> '''Star Singer''': [[spoiler:Devourers? There's more than one?! [[note]] Revealing that there are multiple magic eating monsters out there.[[/note]]]] |
| 170 | |
| 171 | --> '''Emma''': [[spoiler:L-Laura! On your hindquarters ... i-is that ...?? [[note]] The reveal that Laura has obtained a cutie mark making her transformation irreversible.[[/note]]]] |
| 172 | |
| 173 | --> '''Agent Heller''': [[spoiler:Terminate Sunset Shimmer. [[note]] Absolute proof that the government is not playing around and is willing to do ''anything'' to stop Sunset.[[/note]]]] |
| 174 | |
| 175 | --> '''Laura''': [[spoiler:I'm going to be as happy as I can, and be the best pegasus I can be, but not because of you ... but ''in spite'' of you. [[note]] Laura turns against Sunset which tragically turns out to be the last thing she ever says to Sunset before she is KilledOffForReal.[[/note]]]] |
| 176 | [[/folder]] |
| 177 | |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[folder:Pandemic: Aftermath]] |
| 180 | |
| 181 | * {{Doorstopper}}: While this trope is normally associated with Truly Massive works, in relative terms, this applies. The first chapter comes in at nearly 14000 words, and most others are at over 10000. Few of [=ASGeek's=] other works or chapters beat the 8000 word mark. and only the last 2 chapters of the first story exceed 10000. |
| 182 | * KudzuPlot: Lots of [[RotatingArcs changes between different characters and stories every several chapters]], though they all intermesh and conclude. |
| 183 | * NotQuiteBackToNormal: Many individuals remain in their partial transformation state after the virus was dispelled. Jenny herself retained some elements of her transformation, like super-strength, and [[spoiler: many others, including Jenny and Ryan, are developing unique magics.]] |
| 184 | * MoreThanMindControl: Averted, here. Not only is [[spoiler: Ryan's magic outright mind control]], but the vision is viewed [[spoiler: and shown by the Dreamwardens to have been true mind control right now]]. |
| 185 | * TheMindIsThePlaythingOfTheBody: Magic appears to operate this way, no matter the species. This doesn't necessarily make it safe, however. |
| 186 | * TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: The Dreamwardens, [[spoiler: until they become the NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering.]] |
| 187 | * TragicVillain: Downplayed with Ryan. [[spoiler: He may have been tortured by Sha'am, but he still decided to use his peculiar talents to mind-control people of his own free will.]] |
| 188 | ** Averted largely with Fuller. He claimed to want a safer US, but appeared to be more interested in personal power. |
| 189 | ** Averted in a different way with the Dreamwardens- their main goal was to ensure that [[spoiler: no one realized that a large portion of the pony population was theoretically capable of mind control. When that became impossible, they asked for openness and legitimacy.]] |
| 190 | * ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: The Dreamwardens. Unusually, a heroic example, though an unpopular one. |
| 191 | * UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: A downplayed example with [[spoiler: the Dreamwardens- they wanted a society with free minds.]] |
| 192 | ** Especially with [[spoiler: Sha'am: She cared more about having a purpose than creating any utopia. She decided on eternally torturing herself when she realized that her ego hurt the Warden's cause.]] |
| 193 | * WalkingSpoiler: [[spoiler: Just about everything involving the Dreamwardens. And Ryan's real name, late in the story.]] |
| 194 | * WellIntentionedExtremist: Fuller, [[spoiler: possibly. And maybe Ryan/Billy/Night Song. And evidently the Dreamwardens.]] |
| 195 | [[/folder]] |
| 196 | |
| 197 | |
| 198 | [[folder: Side Stories]] |
| 199 | |
| 200 | !!Pandemic: What You are Meant to Be |
| 201 | Matthew Gilmore of Charleston, South Carolina, is transforming into a night pony during the ETS crisis. A friend of his discovers a greater complication, however, when she reveals that his sex is changing; Matthew had likely been transgender and deeply closeted, helped in no small part by being attracted to women. Matthew meets, and grows close to, a fellow night pony. Taking the names Phobia Remedy and Rosetta Stone, the two try to begin understanding their new world. It is complete. |
| 202 | * GenderBender: Matthew/Phobia. Zigzagged, in that he was a deeply-closeted and transgender, but unaware of this until the transformation. |
| 203 | * SecondLawOfGenderBending: Matthew |
| 204 | * SupernaturallyvalidatedTransPerson: Matthew/Phobia and Tonya. |
| 205 | * TheFundamentalist: Charlotte/Sunset and Tom start off as this. Sunset stays as this, albeit with a different bent. |
| 206 | * SliceOfLife: Most of the Story |
| 207 | |
| 208 | !!Pandemic: Picking Up the Pieces |
| 209 | Phobia Remedy takes on a new position of power amongst the night ponies, despite personal difficulties. Meanwhile, Rosetta considers marriage to Phobia, and other family issues, while the woman Devon must deal with raising two pony foals. Meanwhile, Tattered Wing adjusts to a new life in law enforcement, and Sunset Blessing adjusts to Machiavellian politics. Complete. |
| 210 | * BlackAndGrayMorality: What is justice, and who should be dispensing it? And how, and when? |
| 211 | * CerebusSyndrome: The first story wasn't exactly full of humor, but this one includes shades of BlackAndGrayMorality and has a darker overall storyline, along with the slice of life elements. |
| 212 | * CosmicHorror: The [[spoiler: Dreamwardens]] eventually become this. |
| 213 | * {{Doorstopper}}: Almost as long as ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and containing vital information for the sequel. |
| 214 | * DreamLand: Formed from the consciousness of all magical beings, including [[spoiler: any humans with any exposure to the ETS virus]], but where entire sentient beings, as well as knowledge, can reside. |
| 215 | * KudzuPlot: Becoming dreamwarden, taking care of children-turned-foals, reuniting a family, handling a rape, dreamworld trials... |
| 216 | * MagicAisMagicA: averted with regular pony magic, and dream magic. |
| 217 | * MissingPlotPoint: Phobia being transgender is how we were introduced to the character. This fact is largely irrelevant in the sequel, only being relevant as part of Sunset's character development. |
| 218 | * PhotographicMemory: Apparently, Tonya has this, because she was able to remember everything that she said and did (including her own thoughts) when she realized that [[spoiler: Phobia had been raped]] well enough to satisfy a [[spoiler: dreamwarden trial by sharing said memories.]] |
| 219 | * PoorCommunicationKills: A downplayed example, but Phobia caused all kinds of consternation when it was revealed that she knew [[spoiler: Tonya didn't kill Swift]]. Up until that point, that had been a major driver of the plot. |
| 220 | * PowerCreep: The [[spoiler: Dreamwardens]] are by far the most powerful beings in the setting. |
| 221 | * RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler: Phobia, early on.]] |
| 222 | * VoluntaryTransformation: The Broken One Dan must decide whether to rehumanize, or live with his injuries. |
| 223 | |
| 224 | !!Pandemic: Monsters We Make |
| 225 | Thanksgiving, six and a half years after ETS, life in Riverview goes on. Wild Growth goes around the world, working to restore the environment and to provide crops (and make a killing in cash); Jessica the six-year-old is a child prodigy, just starting High School, waiting for a human brother and collating knowledge on Astronomy, hoping to shortly join NASA; Tonya helps her wife, Sunset Blessing, enable temporary transformations. Yet, events are moving forward, and life is changing. It is ongoing. |
| 226 | |
| 227 | %%* ContrastingViewpointSequel |
| 228 | * ChildProdigy: Jessica, who is just at the edge of what humans have ever done. [[spoiler: Justified, because the magic of ETS may have caused it, with her having been born severely prematurely.]] |
| 229 | * KarmaHoudini: The Dreamwardens committed many technical crimes, and were very guilty of conspiracy, yet they faced no repercussions for doing so. Neither did Luna, for creating immortals in human society. |
| 230 | * MissingCharacter: Phobia has a viewpoint character for the first two stories in the series. Not this one, though. |
| 231 | |
| 232 | !!Do Ponies on Earth have Magic Dreams? |
| 233 | |
| 234 | * ActualPacifist: Most of the ponies are this, aside from some night ponies. Unusually for a pegasus, Tinker averts this, inventing pony-compatible self-defense weapons. |
| 235 | * NotSoEpisodic: The several seemingly-unrelated plot threads come together near the end. |
| 236 | |
| 237 | !!Pandemic: Desert Getaway |
| 238 | The Oasis in the desert hits a slight snag: Oases require water. To rectify this, they hire a fledgling weather team from Marquette, Michigan to assist them in controlling the local weather. One small problem: that isn't strictly legal. It is complete. |
| 239 | |
| 240 | !!Pandemic:Pony in the Mirror |
| 241 | Testing out a time spell, preacher Sunset Blessing meets her past self. Complete one-shot. |
| 242 | * [[spoiler: AllJustADream]]: Unusually, this one impacts the real world. It was also spell-induced. |
| 243 | * [[spoiler: StableTimeLoop]]: Creating one is the entire plot. |
| 244 | |
| 245 | |
| 246 | !!Pandemic: Big Apple |
| 247 | * BigApplesauce: Well, what did you expect? |
| 248 | * FurryReminder: Ponies are required to carry blankets onto public transportation, to protect the seats from their hooves. |
| 249 | |
| 250 | |
| 251 | !!Pandemic: Hope |
| 252 | Bart, cursed by a debilitating disease which afflicts his mental stability, spends the vast majority of his days at the Saint Junivus Psychiatric Ward. He faces a constant uphill struggle to piece apart reality and fantasy, and he is dogged to do it alone. |
| 253 | |
| 254 | When a global outbreak changes everything about his already shaky reality, he must explore what life means to him. The ETS (Equine Transformation Syndrome) pandemic could become his salvation... or it could become the very thing that forever breaks his mind. |
| 255 | |
| 256 | |
| 257 |
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