/mlpol/ - My Little Politics

>>380062
Nice to see that I'm not the only one who likes, >>186545 → this comic. ^^

I thought I update it once the last panels of chapter 3 dropped. So if that was a concern, I hadn't forgotten, I was just waiting. Not that I mind, it's nice to see that I was not the only one who liked it. ^^

>>380066
>That link...
Wait what? I don't know which post that is. I have never even seen it. Wtf. ^^
Here is the correct link, hopefully: >>377998 →

>>380066
>>380067
Honestly, I have no idea how that even happened.^^

>>380062

I haven't read this particular comic though the cover art is kino. However, in the other review thread I was asked to take a look at the original Cupcakes fic:

>>379031 →
https://m.fanfiction.net/s/7745399/1/Cupcakes-Volume-I-Original
>Published Jan 16th 2012, the latest aired episode was s2e13. So this dropped RIGHT at the beginning.

Since this one is short, and since I probably won't be getting back to Project Horizons any time soon, I might as well do some light reviewing in the interim period.

My methodology for reviewing these fanfics has changed over the years. Apart from Nigel's thing, the first long story I ever did a thorough critique of was Past Sins, which was from roughly the same era in the fandom as Cupcakes. While I still have a low opinion of PS overall, looking back I may not have been entirely fair in my approach to critiquing it. I was basically analyzing it the same way I would analyze a professionally edited, published novel and holding it to the same standards. In my defense, due to some confusion on my part, I was under the impression that I was critiquing a professionally edited, published novel. Still, though, it was unfair; sort of like holding a teenage garage band to the same standards as the Smashing Pumpkins or, if you'd like a more up-to-date analogy, it was like holding any current commercially-successful music artist to the same standards as a teenage garage band from the 90s :DDDD.

Anyway, with all that said, here is my current approach. Whenever I read someone's fanfic, I try to answer the following basic questions:

1. What idea was the author attempting to convey with this piece?
2. How effectively does the finished piece convey this idea?
3. Relative to the author's apparent skill level, how well executed is the finished piece in terms of prose quality, style, coherence, word economy, etc?
4. In cases where other samples of the author's work are available, does the current work show notable signs of improvement? "Oi guv'nah, are you avin' a giggle at my expense then? P'raps that's why y'didn loik me latest AI-generated lesbian Twidash clopfic that's actually an analogy for the decloine and fall of mod'n civ'lization? But I swears I did me best, sirrah, honest I did!" :DDDDDDDDDD

This is actually more or less the same methodology I've always used; however, the "relative to skill level" addendum is important. Since doing PS, I've come across stories that were poorly-written from a technical point of view, but that are nonetheless well-constructed and enjoyable to read. Most of Sven's catalog falls into this category, and of the fimfic stuff I've formally reviewed, Exchange is probably the best example.

On the other hand, I've also encountered pieces from authors who can write well enough, but whose actual output tends to be unmoving and uninspiring. Chatoyance's Kafka-thing would probably be the best example of this: the prose quality was excellent, at least by Fimfic standards, and it was a rare treat to be able to review a story without having to endlessly correct the author's grammar and sentence structure. However, the story itself suffered from severe pacing problems and most of the characters were dull and forgettable, and overall by the time I was finished with it I was glad to put it away. If I had to pick one of the two stories to reread on a long bus trip through Oklahoma, I'd definitely choose Exchange over That Indestructible Something.

In short, just because a story sucks doesn't mean it isn't worth a read, and just because an author can write doesn't necessarily mean their story won't suck. Of course, from time to time you also come across those occasional stories, like Our Girl Scootaloo, that are just objectively terrible according to every conceivable metric, and there's nothing anyone could say to defend it.

Anyway, with all THAT said, on to Cupcakes itself.

As I said, this story is quite short. The total length of the complete text is 4050 words, which is shorter than many individual chapters in many of the other stories we've looked at. This small amount of text is further subdivided into three separate chapters, which feels unnecessary but what the hay; it's a party. Plot-wise, there's not a whole lot to it; the entire story can be summarized pretty quickly and easily:

>Chapter 1: Is It A Prank?
Dash is flying around Ponyville, when she remembers she was supposed to meet up with Pinkie. She goes to Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie informs her that today's friendship activity will involve baking cupcakes. She gives Dash a sample cupcake, but unfortunately for Dash it seems that Pinkie has slipped her whatever the horse-pun variant of a Mickey Finn would be. She falls unconscious.

>Chapter 2: Please Don't Do It Pinkie!
Dash wakes up in a secluded chamber, strapped to a table. Pinkie informs Dash that she is about to be murdered, and that her flesh will be the primary ingredient in today's cupcakes. Dash objects to this, pointing out that other ponies will notice if she suddenly disappears. Pinkie then reveals that she has done this sort of thing before, and to prove it shows Dash the remains of some of her previous victims, among them Gilda and Twist (both S1 characters who appeared early in the series but were not in any subsequent episodes). Torture and mutilation ensues.

>Chapter 3: Every Rainbow Has An End
Torture and mutilation continues. Pinkie then gives Dash a painkiller so that she can remain conscious and watch her own organs being harvested. However, as Pinkie removes the skin from her face in order to make a mask, the trauma proves to be too much for her and she expires. Pinkie then decides to forego making cupcakes, and to instead perform taxidermy on her friend's corpse so that she can keep Dash with her forever. The story ends here.

Running out of space and time, will continue this in a new post a little later.

>>380067
Crap,...sorry Sven, I did search the catalog cuz I knew there was a Cupcakes bread, I just couldnt find it. I'd have necro'd it ._.

>>380069
Thanks GG, I kinda suspected that the original shprt wasnt as good as the refined and formatted comic that followed. Not to criticize the original story either, but methinks the author didnt realize the gem they were sitting on, and has hence responded to the no doubt overwhelming demand that the series continue. And it is!

And so brings us to the current and most-recent post
This story is WILD because it does two things really well. It completely upends the ponies. Its the kind of story that's hard to read BECAUSE (aside the ponies) it's believable, and its written so well into the MLP story that it becomes eerily hard to not see as possible.
Anon has some interesting theories about it, better if he explains it. But without spoiling, the question arises "Who or what is talking to Pinkie?" with a teaser side-questiom, is it talking to other ponies now?

One of the most compelling aspects to the story is the degree to which the author convincingly depicts Pinkie's pathology. Whether the 'voice' is that of madness, or something else entirely, Pinkie herself is depicted in a way that is believable both in context and with the overarching story of the show.
Perhaps anon's experience was different, but for the duration of the story there was no point where my brain said "wait, hold on, that doesn't make sense", which is a really unsettling feeling when reading a story like this; Again, kudos to the author.
Every bit of dialogue is consistent with and in character, and if you didn't lose it at Dashmom then I question your empathy. Where's tjis asshole's patreon?? *storms off*

https://ko-fi.com/M4M7XOPKI
Artist's Ko-fi,....

>>380062
Chapter 4 will be the last one right ? I haven't look much into this comic yet. Just seen a few pages on xitter. Is it worth it ?

>>380086
No idea of anything EXCEPT a sneak preview of one page of the next chapter, no spoilers

>>380088
No worries. I haven't read any of it. Not even the 1st chapter.
That's why I'm asking. Is it worth a read ?

>>380080
Between Ponk waking up and Ponk being in chains, there are these pages.

>>380091
I really like it so I would say that that's a yes. ^^
Give it a try if you wish: https://www.deviantart.com/piesinful/gallery/94761042/chapter-1-unlucky-day

>>380092
Except for the one I included that you already included...

>>380091
I WOULD say absolutely, but make no mistake, it is WILD, and you can't unsee it

>>380080
Also, thanks for putting into the effort of uploading the chapter like this. Imo, this makes commenting on it more easier and puts it one more display. But maybe it's not necessarily better either, idk.

>>380095
Yw, sorry I forgot that you posted in the spooky stories thread or Id have just posted there. Anon from the board gave me a heads up that it had been posted, and we got into a lengthy discussion about what we noticed, and theories about what is happening and the possible explanations. He's got a banger theory so I dont wanna steal his thunder

>>380092
>>380094
Thanks, I will probably check it out in my free time. I hope for lots of good gore and action.
>you can't unsee it
GOOD

>>380083
Ooh, a palindrome! But to reiterate, I shot the artist $20 and I'm the #4 contributor for the month. If y'all that got some scratch, give it up for ya boy. The cupcakes song video is STILL the theme for /mlp/ 4cc team, and that only scratches the surface of how much of an impact this one story had on the fandom.

I was gonna "no spoilers" the shit, and absolutely go give them monies, but they put the 'sneak preview' image in their ko fi background so don't cry to me on spoilers

RD wakes up next chapter

Okay, because anon presumably wants to see how well his argument is articulated by another:

Its this one here. >>380080
Bottom left.
Agony.

Discord was a primordial force wasnt he?

And, Agony APPEARS to be a subject worth an entire book in pony-ology.

>>380105
I honestly, feel like waking up to balloons after being almost murdered by Pinkie Pie isn't the greatest idea...

>>380069

So, how did our little batch of cupcakes turn out? Sticking to the methodology I outlined above, let's go down the list:

1. What idea was the author attempting to convey with this piece?
This story falls into a curious sub-category of writing specific to fanfiction: the alternate headcanon. Basically, the idea is not so much to tell a story for its own sake, but to explore some alternate interpretation of the canon that the author had thought up. This can either pertain to characters or to events in the overall story. In this case, the author is attempting an alternate characterization of Pinkie Pie: instead of the cute, sweet, exuberant party pony the show's fans would know and love, we have this cold-blooded cannibalistic psychopath.

However, the author provides an interesting twist. He doesn't alter Pinkie Pie's basic personality or mannerisms, and as far as I can tell he retains all of the canon events in the show up to that point. All the author is attempting to do is to show us some stuff that is happening behind the scenes, that completely changes the audience's perception of the character.

Before we get too far into this review, I would like to clarify one main point: Cupcakes is not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, and I will not try to argue that it is. However, I mentioned above that even if a story is not "good" in the technical sense, it's still possible for a "bad" story to strike at something vital that moves the reader, and even to have literary value on some level. It's similar to how someone who doesn't play the guitar could still pick one up and figure out a simple melody, and even turn it into a song if they felt like spending the time. A serious musician would have an easier time developing the tune into a real composition, and would probably do a better job, but simply thinking up the melody doesn't require serious talent or even serious intent. That is what I think is going on with Cupcakes, and that is the point I will try to make.

Case in point. The author of this story, at least according to the information I have, is some anonymous online autist calling himself "Sgt Sprinkles;" that alone should be a clue that he probably wasn't all that serious about what he was doing. We can probably assume that, when he sat down to write this, the good Sergeant was not planning to write a serious short story, or even a serious fanfic. He probably just had this idea in the shower or something, and felt like writing it down and shitposting it on /co/ or wherever this story originally appeared. However, there is still a clear theme to this story. The observant follower of my blatherings on this site will likely recall that a theme is one of those serious literary things that serious stories need to have.

In Cupcakes, the theme revolves around trust and uncertainty. People and/or ponies are multifaceted individuals, and everyone has weird, dark little secrets that they don't tell anyone about. Most of the time these secrets are relatively harmless: maybe you cheat on your taxes or shoplift occasionally, or maybe you're the administrator of a fimfiction backup repository who virtue-signals about foalcon, but whacks it furiously to Scootaloo porn when nobody's looking :DDDDDDD. Occasionally, though, you'll run into someone who is hiding something really dark.

The most unsettling aspect of this is that you have no way of knowing who that person may be. It may even be someone close to you, someone you trust implicitly; that's what makes it frightening. It's not possible for one person to ever truly know another, so even in high-trust relationships there is always an element of uncertainty: your spouse of 40 years might turn out to be a serial killer, or your best friend might be a furry. You don't know, and there's no way to know. You might even be better off not knowing.

All you can really do is trust people and/or ponies and hope for the best, knowing all the while that if you trust the wrong person or the wrong horse, you might end up baked into a cupcake or worse, end up getting yiffed. It's a constant, lurking fear in all human and/or equine relationships, and that's what makes it a universally appealing theme, even in something as niche as an online creepypasta about colorful horses.

So, to summarize. The question we are trying to answer is: "what is this story attempting to convey?" In my view, the author is attempting to accomplish two main goals here, one very specific and niche in its appeal, and one very general and universal in its appeal. The first goal is to present an alternate explanation for Pinkie Pie's behavior in MLP:FiM. This goal is very niche, and will only be of interest to a very limited audience, specifically bronies. The second goal, however, is broader: to provoke the reader to think about trust and friendship in a darker context. How well do you really know your friends? This second goal hints at something universal and human. Thus, if properly developed, a story with this theme could appeal to anyone, even people who have no interest in MLP:FiM, and might even have...gasp...literary value.

To be continued.

>>380105
RD in pic took off her bandages to check if her wings were truly gone.
>>380121
>or your best friend might be a furry. You don't know
^^

>>380121
Playing back into the idea of Agony as a tangible driving force, another prevailing theme is the stages of grief: denial, anger, bartering, and acceptance. First through RD, finding herself in this upside-down situation that's so unbelievably horrible that it seems unthinkable until it proves real, and then likewise through the Mane 6 and others. It's possible that theres other explanations, but I'm particularly excited at the idea of a non-canon villain/adversary that is conceptually PERFECT for existing but unestablished pony canon. A villain who would/could/should have been in the show/series.

Another point for the comic versus the oroginal short story is that - just as with memes on 4chan - it has been refined and polished. Cupcakes was seemingly intended to be a standalone one-off story. It wasn't until the overwhelimg support and celebration by the fandom that it has become the iconic meme it has. The author of the comic doesn't appear to be the same as the short story, so this is more of a fan spinoff/completion of an existing fanfiction.

>Pinkie makes her dress look good despite it's horrific origin.
>RD the solve survivor that clawed herself out from the bowels of hell.
>Twilight. Is it years later? Is pinkie truly there?
He is good at coming up with these striking images.

>>380149
Oh, I suspect Dashie's hell has only just begun, and if anon's theory about Agony is correct, then the next target is Scootaloo

The thing about the Agony theory: The main drive one assumes of such an entity would be - similar to Discord - to spread as much Agony to as many ponies as possible. One can assume Rainbow Dash to already be 'compromised', and her closenes to Scootaloo would make a similar psychotic betrayal the next 'closest' victim, who would then have access to the CMC

>>380149
>pic 1
Another interesting theory recently shared:
The dress image is said to depict "All of pinkie's victims in ponyville".
But the author is cheeky, and it doesnt rule out the possibility that Pinkie's,... proclivities go back further. Possibly even to when Pinkie got her CM.
Yes, it's been posited that Pinkie's CM party was in fact, the massacre of the Pie family.
Im in author's discord, so will give hints and applicable tidbits and doodads.

>>380156
>Pinkie's CM party was in fact, the massacre of the Pie family.
Hehe, I figured that was the case first yesterday. The page right before Twilight and Pinkie are shown in the same panel in the comic for the first time, is filled with eyes. It occurred to me then that was probably a flashback induced by hearing Twilight say her name with such fear. Neat to have it confirmed, kinda of.

>>380077
The yellow flowers creep into the room through the window in RD's room.

>>380161
>>380077
OH SNAP
>pic 1
Rarity brings flowers, and gives brushies. D'awwww
>pic 2
Behind Scoots are the flowers. But on the right are some,

Late to it, but thread theme:
https://youtu.be/GlpjQErcR_8?si=61NZq5WC4BmxLEPh

>>380182
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AbtCTbSWTk
Did you see this in the last thread? It's a classic. I was so cultured back then. ^^

>>380189
>did you see this?
Yes I did! I thought it was shit then and think its shit now! ^_^
Anon is welcome to their own reception, but if I wanted back-gargling pony content I'd,....

>>380190
>I thought it was shit then and think its shit now!
Of course, and that's completely fine but it does make me curious. I really like it so I can't help but wonder why someone else wouldn't like it too.

Could you elaborate your feelings? No need to hold back either, I won't judge you and I will try not to let your opinions change my of you.

There are people who will insist that the only aspect of art that is worth critiquing is the objective side but I think the subjective side is worth thinking about too. Une exemple: a woman wouldn't be aroused by another naked woman unlike a man, which makes it interesting to pick apart what makes it so?

>>380192
Its a personal thing, I cant stand the Youtuber's voice

>>380193
^^
Well, I guess that would be a problem. ^^

How is the author of this comic's discord. Any fun? Any sekrets?

>>380194
Not super exciting, its a discord. Theres a small section devoted to theories and predictions, and a whole lot of,... unrelated.

>>380195
I see. ^^

This is the image that I think is about Pinkie's past when she killed her family.

Okay, this is going to take me a second, and its gonna be a pain in the ass. The reason is, these are the artist-direct images which actual artfsgs tell me is better
So, in the same sense that Brie is dissecting a torpedo (of course Im going there Xp) im gonna post the 'best'(?) version of up in here. It wont be quick, the site gets quite mad when I try to post quickly, so I'll be at it for a minute

6-10

No one understands flutterbutter ;_;

And now, for anyone wondering "what in the everloving fuck is 'anon' doing this time?", heres the answer (aside from the hq archive now)
Next chapter cover art

>>380286
>Sugars & Spices
It's kinda funny how this reminds me of fan-pieces of all kinds from that era:
"Now a rainbow's tale isn't quite as nice
As the story we knew of sugar and spice"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD3g9XnAB48

>>380290
Appreciating that its not a huge mental leap, I see you're thinking along similar lines Dash has wings in those oics Xp

>>380286
Also, either you missed uploading a page or he didn't make an improvement on it. But the completely blue page with a bunch of eyes before the confrontation between Ponk, Twi, and AJ is not there.

>>380292
Correct. The pinkie eyeball image - while seeming to be by the author - is not part of the official comic canon "thread"
Theres alot of artist/fan art, I'll compile some

Heres some

New chapter launch, pages 1-4
All credit for SinfulPie if I have neglected to mention by name. Easy to find on any booru, show some love

Current theories:
Thats a Derpy in that pie
Thats a Babs in that pie

Theres a number of possibilities, based on undetermined variables.

We know this all takes place pre season 4 cuz unicorn twilight. We know the original story was published mid season 2. At this point in the story, Babs and fam SHOULD be well established in Manehattan, as she doesnt appear until later.
We also know that Pinkie isnt just a psychopath, but an 'artisan'. Its easy to fit Gilda into the mix for "offenses", but Pinkie seems to want trophies, specifically Cutie Marks.

We also know from the following pics that Derpy, Blossomforth (correlatable to the frosting and aprinkle pattern of Dashie's cupcake?) and yes Babs are dead by "present day", as pic 3 is Bab's scalp on a seeming ponnequin head shutup, that was clever as shit, when Luna burst into the basement

>>380367
>>380368
>>380369
>>380370
Well, to me there's only one way it can go from a dramatic standpoint. The letter is gonna tell AJ that Babs has gone missing and then she will eat the pie that is Babs. This is the most dramatic outcome which I feel means it what will happen.

It's almost like a law in writing, imo. Not that its something wrong with doing what has most payoff that's what I'd do as well but I can not not see it.

The pie and the letter both have this ominous red around it. ^^

>>380378
Its probable. I was fixating on Derpy cuz the "wall trophy" pic, but with all the foreshadowing and easter eggs the author has displayed,... yeah thats prolly babs

Found this, https://www.fimfiction.net/story/14590/the-cupcake-chronicles
I skimmed it. I don't think sinful pie read this but there are some parallels. Even if he did he certainly added more to it or focused on another path.

Nu and fresh
Like, minutes old

(Okay, I told author I wouldnt post, but Im pretty sure she doesnt know Im here, so Im gonna risk it)

>>380495
The animation progresses. Not gonna post that until it's complete, but its coming along well.
My predictions and analysis has probably proven irritatingly accurate as far as what the scope of the story is, and especially wrt decoding Pinkie's dark triad malevolence, and author has stopped responding to my theory posts. As such, I can confirm without confirmation that the animation is a sequence representing the nightmare that Dash is trying to wake up from, concluding with seemingly Pinkie going to devour her and she wakes in the hospital, later confirmed by a teaser shot of dash's eyes open, in the comic detail style versus the animation (comic has much finer detsils, naturally).