• Story: Kindling Hope

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    Author: The Mechanic
    Description: Looking past the cover of a book isn't easy for ponies at the best of times. It's even harder when two different cultures encounter each-other, even though they both want the same thing.
    Kindling Hope

    Additional Tags: Zecora, Hope, Books-and-covers, spirits
    Wednesday, July 13, 2011 op
    Labels: , , , , , ,
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    34 comments:

    1. tinwhistleJuly 13, 2011 at 11:02 PM

      For a second there I thought this was a Rainbow Dash/Zecora Shipfic, but then I realized it wasn't...

      ReplyDelete
    2. no spaceJuly 13, 2011 at 11:09 PM

      "Romancing Quest" and not a shipfic?
      ...
      Interesting.

      ReplyDelete
    3. AnonymousJuly 13, 2011 at 11:11 PM

      >linked story is "Kindling Hope"

      Think somepony derp'd the entry title.

      ReplyDelete
    4. tinwhistleJuly 13, 2011 at 11:12 PM

      Actually, I like it a lot so far. The whole spirituality mythos builds on to Zecora's character. It adds nice background. I predict this fic being fairly influential.

      ReplyDelete
    5. FluffyWuffsJuly 13, 2011 at 11:17 PM

      Inb4derp

      ReplyDelete
    6. Delta PangaeaJuly 13, 2011 at 11:25 PM

      Wheee, I do love me some Zecora Stories.

      And that image amuses me. Reading Rainbow awaaaaay!

      ReplyDelete
    7. CandleEyesJuly 13, 2011 at 11:35 PM

      You had me at "Zecora."

      ReplyDelete
    8. AnonymousJuly 13, 2011 at 11:38 PM

      Ok, Dr. Mend from "The Vagabond" ( http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/05/story-vagabond_22.html ), The Summer-Lands from "It's a Dangerous Business, Going Out Your Door" ( http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/04/its-dangerous-business-going-out-your.html ), and this appears to be a squeal/continuation of "Shaman" ( http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/story-shaman.html )

      Anything else I missed?

      ReplyDelete
    9. Wanderer DJuly 13, 2011 at 11:43 PM

      It is always a pleasure to read a story that gives much more to characters like Zecora than a passing mention and a rhyme. Well done!

      ReplyDelete
    10. Delta PangaeaJuly 13, 2011 at 11:44 PM

      Read it. Loved it. Recommend it. 5-Starred it.

      ReplyDelete
    11. AnonymousJuly 14, 2011 at 12:00 AM

      She does evil dances!!!

      ReplyDelete
    12. BlankFlankBronyJuly 14, 2011 at 12:04 AM

      Nice story; too bad it's complete...

      ReplyDelete
    13. HawkysuJuly 14, 2011 at 12:21 AM

      Sethy! You derped on the title!

      That said, this story's just as good ;)

      ReplyDelete
    14. AnonymousJuly 14, 2011 at 1:02 AM

      really good story, congratulations! Zecora has more of a depth story now thanks to you :)

      ReplyDelete
    15. Wanderer DJuly 14, 2011 at 1:56 AM

      @Delta Pangaea if you 5-starred it and I 5-starred it, why is it showing 2 ratings and 4.5 stars? Weird...

      ReplyDelete
    16. PattyJuly 14, 2011 at 2:32 AM

      I like the depth given to Zecora, and also the reasoning for her visits to Ponyville, despite being unwelcome. I'm presuming that this all took place before the Poison Joke incident?

      ReplyDelete
    17. The MechanicJuly 14, 2011 at 6:55 AM

      The story takes place approximately 2 years before Season 1 Episode 1. =)

      ReplyDelete
    18. BareeJuly 14, 2011 at 8:44 AM

      Of course, Zecora is hard to write for because of the rhyming. Heck, even in the show her rhymes are a bit mediocre at times.

      But yeah.... A cute story. Well written. Its not the best thing ever, but it was a fun read. Also nice to see a continuation of the shaman thing. I assume that other story inspired you? Or did you write that as well?

      ReplyDelete
    19. The MechanicJuly 14, 2011 at 9:19 AM

      @Baree


      It's not that it's a continuation of the Shaman story, honestly. Rather an addition to it. Filling in a different portion of Zecora's life.

      Shaman dealt more with her life during the process of her becoming a Shaman and what she had to give up to follow that dream... with a dash of homecoming as well, when her spirit was summoned back for a visit.

      Kindling Hope is centered around Zecora's arrival on the 'New World' shores, working her way to the Everfree Forest, only to be balked in her attempts to get to know the ponies. Just as she was about to give up, she stumbles across one of the very reasons she became a Shaman in the first place; to help. She managed to forge at least an understanding with the Doctor and Nurse at the Hospital, so she kindled hope within her that things would be alright in the end.

      To answer your question, yes, Shaman was mine, too.

      I'm also looking at another Zecora story, but this one will be a bit different than the previous two.

      I guess I see these stories more as related but stand-alone than continuations of each other, honestly. I'm certainly open to suggestions and thoughts on the issue!

      ReplyDelete
    20. BareeJuly 14, 2011 at 9:58 AM

      @The Mechanic

      I really should pay attention to authors more... I read so many fics, yet if browse the archives I can't tell just from the titles which fic it is. Its just... new story, click link, read, maybe leave comment and move on. Especially with one shots.

      Anyway, yeah... I assumed it was the same author, but I should have been sure. If I recall correctly, Zecora was already in the Everfree forest in Shaman. So the flashback parts of that would have happened before that story, but the rest must have happened after this one then.

      I think its fine if you want to write these in such a way that they can be read as stand-alones, as long as you avoid creating any continuity errors in any of them. That would bother me. Of course, that is just my opinion :)

      ReplyDelete
    21. AnonymousJuly 14, 2011 at 10:30 AM

      This seems like it ought to be an interesting story, but... I just couldn't get into it. I liked the opening scene, then I skimmed for a few pages, and eventually gave up. I can't even come up with a decent reason as to why, which is why I'm posting this anonymously. I just felt like I ought to leave a reaction. Sorry.

      ReplyDelete
    22. The MechanicJuly 14, 2011 at 11:33 AM

      @Anonymous

      Hey, no problem. Thanks for trying!
      Not every story will agree with everyone, though it would be nice.

      Thanks again for the feedback!

      -The Mechanic

      ReplyDelete
    23. The MechanicJuly 14, 2011 at 11:36 AM

      @Baree

      Heh! Yeah, I was bouncing times around a bit. =)

      But that being said, the timelines are pretty well sorted from here on out. If more time shifting needs to happen, I can do that much, much more clearly from here on.

      And thanks for the Continuity warnings.. we wouldn't want the pony universe to die by divide by zero fault. ;)

      -The Mechanic

      ReplyDelete
    24. EkevooJuly 14, 2011 at 12:14 PM

      That's a great story! I agree it doesn't fit well with the continuity but I feels so in line with what I feel Zecora is all about. Love it!

      ReplyDelete
    25. The MechanicJuly 14, 2011 at 12:40 PM

      @Ekevoo

      Ekevoo, I'd actually like your opinion on something because your comment hit the nail right on the head of a thought I've had.

      It seems to me that eventually fanfic is going to have to go off the rails in terms of continuity to the show.

      Twilight's spells can only go haywire so many different ways, etc.

      How far off the rails, so to speak, do you think is permissible?

      For instance, the next Zecora story I have in mind is going to rather be off-canon from the show. Not in terms of violating her personality, but in terms of 'It ain't never gonna happen' in terms of the show.

      Just curious as to your thoughts.

      ReplyDelete
    26. AnonymousJuly 15, 2011 at 5:29 PM

      Loved this, very good indeed. Zecora needs way more love in the second season.

      I know you asked Ekevoo for their input, but would it be okay if I weighed in with mine?

      I think as long as you stay true to everypony's characters (that's a big reason why we love the show, remember), and you don't get too crazy with the shipping I'd say you could get away with pretty much anything you pleased as far as events are concerned. As long as we get a good, fulfilling story out of it - which you've proven you can deliver with this - you shouldn't worry too much about flying in the face of canon.

      I'd say the biggest problem you could have is maintaining consistency with other fanfics if you're trying to reference them which is what I'm assuming you're doing with having Mend in there. If not that's fine, but otherwise, the Dr Mend from Vagabond would never have used (supposed) hallucinogenics while he was studying.

      But yeah, keep writing, this is the stuff that I come to ED for and also the reason I no longer have any semblance of a life. Can't wait to read more.

      ReplyDelete
    27. The MechanicJuly 15, 2011 at 5:43 PM

      @Anonymous

      Fair enough! You know, I could've sworn that I'd seen Dr. Mend around elsewhere other than that one?

      I thought he was a common backgrounder that had been fan generated.

      I'm quite willing to change the name to be true to his character! Might just do that, too.

      That, and I need to track down the author and apologize for using his original character without permission.

      Which, by the way, if you're reading this.. I'm sorry! I adored the Vagabond series!

      Thanks again for your input, and I'll get right on fixing the Dr. Mend issue. I swear I thought he was available for general use!

      ReplyDelete
    28. AnonymousJuly 16, 2011 at 5:23 PM

      @The Mechanic

      Whee! You're the first author that's replied to my nonsense! Thank you!

      ReplyDelete
    29. Nova25July 16, 2011 at 6:51 PM

      >It had been this way from the very first time she tried to meet the ponies; they had shunned her, ran inside their huts, shut the doors, and basically left her standing alone in the middle of the street while they cowered in fear.
      -Most surely, this story MUST be happening before 'Bridle Gossip', right ?

      ... the part with the Doctor and the spirits makes me think of that show with the woman who help spirits go ''into the Light'' ...

      ... The whole ''spirit walk'' was quite interesting, I must say :) ...

      ReplyDelete
    30. Nova25July 16, 2011 at 6:55 PM

      @Anonymous
      Mend ?

      The Doctor's name in this story is Whisper, no ?
      >Doctor Whisper looked at Nurse Tenderheart who nodded, then looked back to Zecora.

      ReplyDelete
    31. The MechanicJuly 16, 2011 at 10:33 PM

      @Nova25

      It HAD been Dr. Mend at first, but I had inadvertently used someone else's character and didn't have him done correctly.

      Out of respect for that author, I changed the doctor's name in my story. It was the only polite thing to do, after all!

      ReplyDelete
    32. The MechanicJuly 16, 2011 at 10:34 PM

      @Nova25

      Yup! it takes place about 2 years before Bridle Gossip, considerably before Twilight shows up. =)

      ReplyDelete
    33. TruthseekerAugust 3, 2011 at 5:50 PM

      Hello Mechanic. I don't necessarily mind others using my O.C.s as long as they are acting in character.

      ReplyDelete
    34. The CommanderFebruary 6, 2012 at 10:37 PM

      AND THEN EVERYONE GOT HIGH AND IT WAS AWESOME.

      ReplyDelete

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