6.0 KiB
The Rise and Fall of the Dark Lord Sassaflash [RT][C][FF My Little Pony/Lovecraft]
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Author: u/DuplexFields New Lunar Republic*
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URL: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/93572/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dark-lord-sassaflash
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Score: 13
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Created: 2016-07-09T18:59:29
Post:
Comments:
u/DuplexFields [+5] New Lunar Republic (11 minutes later)
A necromancer who works to end death? A noble goal and despicable, though rational, methods? A dozen knife's edge escapes requiring very careful and specific actions? Yes, please!
Hard high fantasy in a Lovecraftian homage, set in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic universe. As a fan of MLPFiM, I thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure. As a potential fan of HP Lovecraft, this made me want to read the original works. As a fan of HPMOR, I found the dark lord's plotting and goals eerily reminiscent. Everything about this story, from the outside, says it shouldn't work, yet it works far better than I expected.
The author's other MLP fanwork, Mendacity, is also an epic and fascinating read, meant more for fans of Celtic mythology and fantastic races.
u/Nighzmarquls [+3] (8 hours later)
It is excellently executed
u/None [+3] (11 hours later)
[deleted]
u/Chronophilia [+1] sci-fi ≠ futurology (3 days later)
I loved the ending. Ending discussion
u/DuplexFields [+2] New Lunar Republic (3 days later)
Sassaflash is a "background pony," a character seen around town in MLP but never seen talking nor even mentioned. Her name is confirmed by the toyline, the iOS game, and the CCG.
u/Chronophilia [+1] sci-fi ≠ futurology (3 days later)
Oh, cool, so there's some canonical basis for her existence.
I was wondering about her personality. She's not like any MLP character I know of, but she also doesn't really fit into the cosmic horror parts. I think she's the author's original creation (name and appearance aside), but if there's a third part to this crossover then I would not be surprised at all.
u/DuplexFields [+3] New Lunar Republic (3 days later)
The flavor of the first part of the story reminded /u/FuguofAnotherWorld of Terry Pratchett's dry humor style, and I agree.
u/DuplexFields [+2] New Lunar Republic (3 days later)
As far as I can tell, only the names of Sassaflash and the town Hollow Shades are canonical. Her personality seems to be original, and the town's magical heritage seems to be original Lovecraftian fanfiction set in the pony mythos.
The author has some serious skills at integrating multiple mythoi. The other story on that account is Mendacity, the tale of a changeling and a member of the fey on a road trip. It's high fantasy, art, and it has heart. It's not particularly /r/Rational material, but it is in a consistently rule-driven universe extended from the show by the author.
u/Dragonheart91 [+2] (a day later)
I don't see what is rational about this story. In fact, most love craft stories seem decidedly irrational. I'm 10 chapters in and the main focus has been not learning too much and forgetting g things when necessary, which seems like the opposite of what a rational protagonist would do.
u/DuplexFields [+3] New Lunar Republic (a day later)
That's because the Mule is the audience viewpoint character, and Sassaflash isn't telling her side of things yet. It gets rational when they find the tomb. It gets downright sciency about magic after that, because she knows she needs help and allows the Mule to aid her beyond "move this" and "carry that". (She also gets smarter when she is forced to stop doping herself to dull the pain.)
The forgetting is necessary to prevent apocalypse, as she makes perfectly clear. True, the Lovecraftian things are vast powers unbound by logic from outside spacetime materiality. But in a world overshadowed by such hideous things, she's trying to save her race of sapient beings from their eventual extinction, and all its individuals from death, using the full breadth of her mind and all possible tools at her disposal, disregarding social mores and appropriateness. Totally a /r/Rational character.
u/Chronophilia [+2] sci-fi ≠ futurology (3 days later)
It's excellently written, with many twists and turns and some great yet believable characters. Highly recommended to cosmic horror fans, and to anyone who likes it when the protagonist is a villain plotting to take over the world. Knowledge of My Little Pony and the Cthulhu Mythos is not required, though each will add some context to the story if you do happen to know it.
The story has some nice rational influences. The Dark Lord Sassaflash's plots make her almost a pony version of General Chaos, particularly when she overestimates herself. The MLP influence shines through, and in the end it's more optimistic than most stories you'll find on here. With a constant undercurrent of horror and tragedy that comes from the Lovecraft parts.
u/FuguofAnotherWorld [+1] Roll the Dice on Fate (3 days later)
Three chapters in, I am detecting distinct Pratechty-ness to the writing.
u/DuplexFields [+1] New Lunar Republic (3 days later)
That lasts until the trip to Hollow Shades. From there to the tomb, it's Lovecraft, and from the tomb to the end, it's Yudkowsky.