"A Steep Learning Curve" - Pony Grimdark Fanfiction by

[@ScribblerProductions101]

This is fucking amazing. I have no words . You have flabbered my gast and gasted my flabber. I am shooketh and shaketh and sicketh and forsaketh. You all did such a fantastic job on this! Thank you so, so much. I’m crying, ya bastards. You made me cry.

[@flower_lover01]

Happy birthday we share the same birthday ❤️ so congratulations to me and you and all of us who’s birthday’s today! Hope you live many more years!

[@calamitykate1982]

Happy B-day Scribs! Hope you have a magical day! ❤️❤️

[@tonybufford93]

Happy birthday scribbler I hope you’re feeling better

[@Bulbasaur617]

We hope you have a less "grim" birthday!

[@hopesrainbowworld1130]

Happy birthday!🎉

[@StarrChild.]

The way Starlight is written is so sad because she is actually trying. Her attempts aren't malicious she just doesn't know how to react to the situations she's in.

[@Nomed38]

I take it you haven't read many fan docs about Starlight as most do not end well for Ms Glimmer.

[@forgettablename6436]

"The extra generosity she implanted in Pinkie 4" Oh dear lord this isn't even the first time she's done this.

[@Danero1919]

This. This is Starlight. They had to hold back in the show, but this is who she truly is. Brilliant story and reading. Happy birthday, Scribbler!

[@ghostdagreat]

The Pinkie 4 twist is crazy. Starlight is almost sympathetic up until that point.

[@selectidiot]

that was said after rainbowdash number 5.

[@ghostdagreat]

@@selectidiot yep, but it didn't immediately register in my mind what that meant then and it felt somehow crazy to realize the other M6 were involved too

[@leonneon6985]

I gotta say this, the entire story is done so well, but by god, starlights voice actor is MAGNIFICENT. I couldn’t believe how accurate and well done Starlight was here. I’m so impressed.

[@thelostnarrator]

IMShadow007 is amazingly talented! :D

[@Qwer-teaBinch]

Maybe if rainbow dash didn't SCREAM AT HER the whole time one of them would have thought to teleport her to the hospital, but asking rainbow to be calm is like asking a water not to be wet

[@dovewingseyesaregreen5664]

To think that Starlight used a spell earlier in the fic that would have saved Applejack: that teleportation spell. They didn't need to carry her anywhere to get Applejack to a hospital thus not really needing to use a healing spell to let her live until then. But I guess there wouldn’t be a story then if that were the case. Good story either way. Happy birthday Scribbler!

[@Mistressofthelostones]

Knowing Rainbow Dash and seeing Applejack's wounds, yeah, a teleportation spell isn't enough for RD and them organs are finna be left out

[@cipherdan8860]

That's the good ending

[@Faerievixen1]

fr, but it seems that they were in a panic so that's why they didn't use teleportation spell

[@I_Eat_Lemons]

You have to have a lot of focus to teleport, any MLP fan knows that.

[@johnrandolph1989]

Seeing that fusion of RD and AJ sent me back to the early 00's. " Big Brother Edward " " That person Edward "

[@cassieblue9140]

Oh no...

[@leabournisien407]

This is exactly what I thought when hearing those ugly sounds, I had a Vietnam flashback

[@matty4z]

when you want a sister and a new puppy but can only have 1 lol

[@RageIsMyName]

OMG 😭😭

[@thelostnarrator]

Happy Birthday Scribbler! 🎉

[@SilverTheNightWolf]

Happy birthday Scribbler 🎉

[@RazorStallion46]

Happy Hearths Warming Eve Birthday Scribber

[@GabiShy]

Happy Birthday British Lady

[@Bulbasaur617]

Holy cow! Happy birthday Scribbler!

[@CyreeTWPF]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCRIBBER!!!!!!!!!!

[@thenewadventuresofhenry6998]

36:25 "The First time was a baking accident. How was I supposed to know there was a gas leak?" "The Second time was a bandit attack while on a catering delivery. I TOLD her not to go that way." "The Third time? Well, I didn't sleep well that night, I was hungry, frustrated, and she was just getting on my nerves."

[@Dcandmarvelfangirl]

The fact that all the characters except twilight are clones is even darker

[@star22sally67]

I like that sweetie belle is the one that lingers. Being a unicorn, i wonder if she felt...something. Also, damn. How many tines has she messed up when Twilight was away?

[@selectidiot]

4 times with pinkie, 5 times with rainbow.

[@deervvitch]

In my opinion, a lot of this could've been avoided if it wasn't for how Rainbow Dash acted. *spoilers, of course* Starlight was pressured by Rainbow when she could've flown to a hospital while Starlight tried to help Applejack. She instead yelled at her and insulted her, putting an already anxious and self conscious mare into more of a panic. (ie: her magic severing AJ's leg) Not just that, but she did warn RD to not touch Applejack during the spell... Also, Starlight didn't even have the magic to heal Applejack enough for them to transport her to a hospital. RD just panicked and pressured her to use that "big brain" of hers. Not to justify Starlight's handling of the result of the...Merge. She could've told Twilight about what happened, and yet... how could she even begin to explain this mess to someone who is implied in this story to not trust her? Also, for people wondering how the clones could be possible... given the canon show, its very much a possibility. Remember the episode where Chrysalis used strands of hair to make clones of the mane six? It's entirely possible to clone using magic, and especially because she has a lot of "Samples" to use... that's how it could've worked out. Which in all honesty is terrifying because this is something that hypothetically *could* happen in canon. Anyways this is *very* well written, lovely work yet again! Always a fan of Starlight in grimdarks.

[@AriaGrill]

Damn in character starlight fics are so cathartic I love her when she's evil. Fantastic work everyone, and happy birthday scribbler!

[@bethanyhaffey975]

29:22 Sweetie definitely knows that something is up. 35:06 They look like something from “the colors of space”!

[@1989JROG]

I’ll be honest this is the first time I’ve heard IMShadow007 as Starlight Glimmer instead of Twilight Sparkle. Not bad.

[@dragoncross42]

Oh my sweet Celestia, this story give me chills all down my spine with how dark it was, and i love it. Man i love the twist of what really happen to Rainbow and AJ i was in shock at just how dark this was. Thanks Scribbler for making an amazing story like this!!! Thank you everyone involved for another enjoyable Grimdark reading!!! Now i feel like getting a cookie.

[@AMLongman-h1e]

I've been thinking on how a grimdark sweetie bot story could be horrifying. Like the story starts of with the cmc doing what they always do. Until disaster strikes and sweetie belle find out the horrible truth. She tries to hide her secret until a programing glitch happens, due to water or something. And classifies everypony as an enemy, and start to rampage through ponyville, all whole sweetie belle, still conscious, is unable to stop the massacre. The desperate screams of sweetie belle as she sees her freinds brutally killed and ripped apart, her sister trying to stop sweetie, but gets mowed down, and the town of ponyvile becoming a ghost town.

[@skyshunts]

That would be so cool

[@AMLongman-h1e]

Also, to add to the story, the story is told by the ladt resident in ponyville, and at the end, when the pony bieng told the story leaves it reveals that under the hood is a damaged old sweetie belle with one eye cracked open.

[@EmmaJ_95]

honestly, Starlight really did tell Rainbow not once but twice but unfortunately both herself and Starlight don't work under pressure

[@dabi211]

Dude the apple jack voice actor is REALLY REALLY good. Starlights character is so tragic in this she was actually attempting to help. also hAPPY BIRTHDAAY 🎉

[@mrmlpvideogerman]

no way? It can't be that we're both making the same fanfiction for Scribbler's birthday this year? Lol what a coincidence.

[@Bulbasaur617]

Well this was another heck of a grimdark fanfic here. Looks like Starlight's been messing with Twilight's secret lab stuff again. At least Starlight's trying. Just not the right way like in the show. You and those involved here did a fantastic job here. And a nice Birthday present/Early Christmas gift for Scribbler. Well done on this!

[@silver45470]

This is both the most horrifying and the most thrilling story ive heard recently. Perhaps one of the best ones of this year. Grimdark isn't exactly my type of stories to go for, but i can enjoy it if its done right. Thank you, Lost!

[@ASMaster]

I've been watching for over 7 years now and the fact that you're still keeping up with the same content literally warms my heart and I hope you and Mag are both doing well!

[@sonicgen20]

Geez that’s dark. So now she’s gonna replace the main six with her own improved versions of them. And who says she’s stop there, she could move onto every other Ponyvillians. Maybe even beyond.

[@Crypt-Kitty]

WOW!!! So so great!!!! Everyone did a great job, from the writing, the artwork, voices and editing! It was Scribblers birthday, but I feel like I got a gift lol!

[@MaddoxParsons-v4z]

I’m going to be honest even if twilight was in this situation instead of starlight, I doubt twilight would have done much better than starlight did. I mean what happened to applejack couldn’t just be fixed easily with magic or even medical care there just wasn’t much that could be done for her.

[@antonrueda1044]

I just looked at the description and saw that MLP Arts is going to voice Applejack! Yes! Her Applejack voice is my favourite out of all the ones I've heard over the years!

[@TheCommenterDragon]

Another magnificent and brilliant reading Lost! As usual everyone did such a masterful and glorious job, everything from the voice work to the art was ever so phenomenal make no mistake about it! And major kudos to Scribbler for writing the story!!!

[@miserablenadia944]

18:56 aj: *inhales* starlight: yes-! aj: AÆAAAAAÆH-

[@diamondsoul740]

Honestly I did not expect where to go the way it went but I am pleasantly surprised and interested in the story

[@bellsroselps9548]

In the absolute best way possible, this fic made me squirm, the voice acting is 100/10, i can usually handle gore so when a reading like this makes me genuinely nauseated I KNOW it's amazing Absolutely amazing work as always.

[@IceCreamMonster1366]

Holy shit Boss……………..That was absolutely awesome! Body horror is my top fear and you did an insanely good job with it! Actually had my heart pumping. Lol 🖤 awesome stuff as always boss and I can’t wait to see more!

[@MultiMegaman64]

Wow. I have this to say. Losty, this has got to be one of your finest works yet! You and the rest did an amazing job on this! When I saw Applejack's severe injuries, I knew Starlight was in quite a predicament! The AppleDash abomination at the end was horrifying! Great work as always, Losty!

[@alexdati7940]

I wish this had more parts then just this one, I hope it gets updated in the future because this idea is AMAZING!! It got me invested and flabbergasted at the end, very good work

[@dylanterry3421]

This was insane and such a well put together b-day gift for obab. Well done lost and magpie you guys are some of the greats. And that ending shocked me to my core.

[@ghostsospooky7017]

4:37 bro have you seen the way Twilight has treated books in the show? She's committed so much book abuse😭

[@RenzoXD2069]

Wow, that was a shocking and tragic Grimdark story, #TheLostNarrator; surely fascinating as the old ones you showed in your channel. It also makes me wonder what other dark and tragic mistakes Starlight could have gone through when she was an apprentice during the G4 series 😬😬 (after all we never saw the other side of the coin with that story).

[@silver45470]

Happy birthday, Scribbler! May your desired accomplishments come true and warm your heart!

[@star22sally67]

Ok, but like i kind of blame AJ fir all of this. Like, who in the right mind would go running to chase after a bunch of deadly timber wolves alone!?! Like, yeah shes strong, but shes one pony. And with no weapons? No backup. Like im with Starlight when she first heard RD say AJ just decided to take an unknown amount of timber wolves head on by herself and she was just flabbergasted. WHO DOES THAT!?!

[@LLMN90]

I love fics where it's just Starlight messing things up. Badly.

[@anonymouswind1]

At the beginning i thought it would be something about Starlight just wanting to enioy her day withh her candy only to get interrupted by the different Mane 6 Oh boy was I wrong

[@dragonphoenix790]

Best wishes to Scribbler! That was so dark but the story is so well made.

[@Lazy_Artist129]

Woaaaaah this is so awesome!! The art, the story, its so amazing!! Happy Birthday Scribbler!!! Hope you have a super birthday!!

[@kaltv6486]

If you want my own opinion and to be at star’s defense, she did warn Rainbow Dash to get out of the way. And just because she didn’t listen now both and AJ was an amalgamation. Not only that they are ashes, but they all replaced by clones. It’s not really starlight fault, I mean, she is trying and trying is a word. So if you look at it from that perspective, she didn’t did all this for any malicious reason and she is indeed trying to be a good person. //I had to edit this because of how much error it had//

[@antoniocombs8406]

I absolutely love this and it's just made my day that plot twist at the end was perfect

[@DannyNWRE2]

*whistles* Now this…this is just peak! Fabulous job there, Lost! BTW, happy birthday Scribbler!

[@Greg44348]

This video was so good ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ really intense also omg that last art apple jack and rainbow dash combined to together was cool and scary ❤❤❤ keep up the good work happy birthday @scribbler productions

[@hypedragon2197]

I need more stuff like this 😭😭😭😭 the gore, the disturb, the grotesque, I LOVE THIS

[@waryduck4063]

Wow. This whole thing had me at the edge of my seat! Hats off to everyone who put this together, and happy birthday Scribbler!

[@TerryFox7]

Happy bfay scribbler, i honestly enjoy seeing the slow descent into madness, and noting subtle words at the end ot also shows this isnt her first time with cloning experiments

[@postalhook3151]

This one was a head scratcher of a story awesome but somewhat confusing at the end considering it implies that starlight has remade the elements 4 times at first I thought it was just AJ and RD but the comment about pinkie pie says that it’s more than just them

[@ShadowSnowflakenya]

Happy Birthday scribbler!"!! OMG so excited for this!!!

[@Jerkwad152]

I was expecting something right out of The Fly. Was not disappointed. Well-done. 👌

[@summersweete09]

This was so crazy didn’t even start out as a grimdark but man did it get dark! Amazing also happy birthday scribbler!

[@JocelynBorkowski]

OH GREAT HEAVENS. CLUTCHING MY PEARLS. FLABBERS: GHASTED. amazing work! every upload gets better and better!! hoping for more :) absolutely DIGGING semi(?)evil starlight

[@antonrueda1044]

Happy birthday to Scribbler!🎉🎊🎁🎂

[@vladivoices]

Amazing job on the reading! Such a wicked ending! X3

[@kixad6882]

Me who has been starving for more MLP Grimdarks: *Eats greedily*

[@nyteskii868]

I forget how much I love Scribblers writing 😩💗

[@ScribblerProductions101]

Thank you ^_^

[@silver45470]

A grimdark story featuring Starlight? Im in for a Rocky ride!

[@TheRealSparkplugTheFox]

I remember this story! I read it a few years ago and had a feeling this one was this story. Nice to have an audio book for it now!

[@not_mana]

!!WARNING LONG TEXT!! CONTAINS SPOILERS!! Happy birthday Scribbler. - - - The realization that not only had Starlight maimed, mutilated, replaced, imprisoned, and killed off two of the elements of harmony and her "FRIENDS" out of the necessity of the situation, she went out of her way to kill off the rest of the mane 5 and replaced THEM too, is horrifying. In her mind, it was the best thing to do, since they were all best friends and would eventually realize something was wrong and get suspicious. Wonder how Twilight would feel about all this when she gets back. I have no idea of the timeline, but assuming RD and AJ were only missing for so short of a time that the CMC only noticed because they had short-term plans with them and they weren't really that concerned, starlight did all of this in a matter of DAYS. The reason I think Sweetie was suspicious at the end, was because she sensed odd, familiar behaviour in cloned RD and AJ. Maybe cloned Rarity is overly friendly, or forgetful, and Sweetie sees a nagging pattern. I doubt it's true suspicion of malice, only a seed being planted, a suspicion of Starlight's character. Within a matter of days, Starlight maimed RD and AJ, decided without a hint of doubt in her mind that she would go on ahead and replace the rest of the mane 5 while she's at it. Kidnapped them, made clones of them using the mirror pool water, had time to tweak the clones and stuff them with "better qualities", select the best version of the clones, train them with memory magic so they would act normal (as we know clones don't have memories unless trained manually or magically), make several improved versions of them, then killed the original mane 5 and burnt their bodies. All without a hint of guilt, remorse, fear, or even thinking it was wrong. Starlight only felt anger, annoyance and frustration as she blames RD for "causing this all to happen", completely rejecting any idea of this all being a fault of her twisted mind. Because this whole thing wasn't wrong to her. This starlight was a true socio/psychopath, not in the way fiction depicts, but a realistic way. She's not evil, evil is to purposefully and knowingly commit wrongdoings often under the guise of good or justice, but starlight did not see what she did to be evil in the slightest, she only said sorry once before burning RD and AJ because they were still alive and visibly suffering. She said the socially acceptable thing to say to someone who is suffering, to negate consequences. She made it clear that she didn't truly care because once they were dead, she immediately snaped out of that "dramatics" and wondered if the new fake Pinky would give her cookies, even congratulating herself for putting more generosity in the clone. She has no empathy, no guilt, the concept of that doesn't exist in her mind, she isn't capable of it. Scribbler knows well how to write this type of character, and I'm truly sorry, I don't believe I need to explain why. !!SIDE TENGENT ON ASPD AND ETHICS OF STARLIGHT'S ACTIONS!! If you try to put yourself in her horseshoes, think of this in the most "logical" way, without a morsel of emotional intelligence or empathy, there was nothing "wrong" with what she did. Starlight is a traumatized psychopathic filly with a God complex. She destroyed the Timberwolves like she was asked, tried her best to save AJ, EXPLICITELY warned RD to not touch her at any cost, by technicality, this was all RD's fault for going against warning and causing them to be mutilated. What was Starlight supposed to do then? Let authorities know and get put into jail, open an investigation, have everypony everywhere being horrified and lost, Equestria loses two important ponies, and send the WORLD into a panic? RD and AJ were already too far gone to be saved, but knowing Equestrian ponies, they would keep the mangled mutilated RD and AJ to be studied, alive and suffering, in attempts to heal them. EVERYTHING will fall apart. What starlight did, it hid the horrors of the accident from the world, RD and AJ were back and better than ever! And so are the rest of the mane 5! They were alive, safe, healthier, and rid of their flawed qualities. Equestia didn't go into panic, nothing changed, she even put RD and AJ out of their misery! What the story is highlighting, is how messed up starlight's mind is. If you found yourself agreeing with Starlight's actions, it doesn't make you a psychopath, it just means you have been immersed into a story written from the perspective of a psychopath, how they rationalize their actions, how they truly don't see anything wrong. It "makes sense", because it made sense to Starlight. The story was centred around the perpetrator, not reality, not the consequence. In reality, in practice, and from the perspective of somepony not ill, her action would've been dysfunctional and flawed. The reality being if starlight was sound of mind, she wouldn't have snapped and massacred the Timberwolves so violently and caused a mental decline, putting her in a heightened state of negative emotions. She could have done a simple anaesthetic spell to calm AJ down, and teleport her to the hospital to be helped. Instead, she was shaken up, tried to take the situation into her own hooves to an inappropriate degree, overestimating her skills and ending up hurting AJ more. Then, after AJ flatlined, she made the mistake to SHOCK her, causing her body to get brutalized and burnt, making her jolt back and suffer unimaginable pain, freaking her and RD out even worse. Instead of communicating to them both about what went wrong and what she was going to do next, apologizing, asking for help, or even emphasizing to RD to not touch AJ as it will cause them to be mutilated, she took the situation without another word and caused the tragedy to happen. Had she only opened her maw and let them know, they would be fine. What I suspected happened, Starlight's spell worked perfectly, meant to mend the bones and flesh of AJ back to normal, but when RD touched her, the spell mistook RD as something to be mended and fused together with AJ's body, causing THAT to happen. Sure, RD shouldn't have touched AJ as warned, but she was upset and afraid, wanting to protect her best friend from Starlight after she caused AJ more pain, and is planning to do something unexplained and possibly worse. Starlight shouldn't have been so violent. She shouldn't have used that much magic. She shouldn't have tried to play God and take it all into her hooves instead of just zapping to a hospital. She shouldn't have burnt AJ. She shouldn't have tried to do something without telling them. She shouldn't have evaded the consequences of her actions. She shouldn't have killed five ponies. She shouldn't have made cloned replacements for the dead ponies. This was her wrongdoing, and she would never realize it until it's too late. As a side note, I believe starlight has doomed Equestria :) The clones can't use the elements. Knowing Starlight, she would spiral and kill off everypony who suspects her, or better yet, everypony ever, to make a better Equestria. Starlight would be the new God. That or, you know. Twilight will find out and sends her ass to Tartarus.

[@Maajihaphe]

all of this, and all starlight had to do was teleport aj to the hospital

[@Mistressofthelostones]

Atleast she put them out of their misery

[@Bayden-Bluedash]

I hope you and Mag are having a happy Hearth's Warming Lost! A good story coming around the hoildays that i'll be happy to read! Glad the 2 beautiful mares are having a peaceful hearth's warming together! Sorry i arrived here late at first though next story, i'll try to make for in time!

[@asiamaturin353]

Poor AppleJack, I felt so sad for her. I just hope Twilight doesn’t get mad at her for doing that to them for at least trying to help

[@rhiannondavis5724]

Another great grimdark fanfic reading, Lost 😄👏

[@crispybutters]

damn the cmc’s fuckin hate starlight, the slander is wild 😭

[@RageIsMyName]

The ultimate Appledash fic. I'm sorry, I'll leave 😭😭😭

[@Aeonah]

Poor Applejack always getting the worst of it.

[@RadRedStudios]

Another awesome reading Lost, and Happy Birthday Scribbler!

[@rhiannondavis5724]

At least Applejack didn't die after being attacked by the Timber Wolves

[@andrewjennings7306]

This one is seriously amazing wtf!

[@damiancazares7994]

Happy Birthday to Scribbler and I don’t how age she is today

[@PastaPrincess25]

A home without snacks is the scariest thing ever. The horror! 😱

[@Flowers_BloodyLilac]

35:13 NOOOOO! well atleast loyalty and honesty are easily replaced elements of harmony…

[@drunkoldladygaming1473]

Awesome! Happy Birthday Scribbler! Cheers!

[@LexiB-o9c]

I had the same thought like Scootaloo when it comes to Starlight.

[@RageIsMyName]

Omg this is NOT what I was expecting when I turned this on 😭😭😭

[@SevaSeva-i9l]

Cutie marks raiders ? Is that Fallout Equestria reference 🤨.

[@stardustandflames126]

Well... she did say not to touch her...

[@DarkTheAuthor]

This videos title is exactly whats going on with me. Im trying to improve my own art for my own MLP horror im working on

[@primroseprime9533]

Happy birthday to Scribbler 🥳🥳🥳🩷🩷🩷

[@sammcburney148]

I've seen "Color out of Space" I know how this ends lol (Horrifyingly)

[@woolynchlightemerald]

Twilight: hey starlight have you seen- WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!? Starlight: uhhh…. Scribbler’s birthday present? 😅

[@mlparts9032]

Happy birthday Scribbler! Thank you for this gift of a story 💟

[@crystalcrystal6266]

Wow you must have twlight time management! Able to make a story for scibbler birthday also working on the story for us and keeping the cats and magpie feed !!!!

[@BrianSmithcool4573]

Happy Birthday Scribbler 🎉

[@jamesshannon2090]

36:31 wait pinky 4?

[@thesoldierofequestria9266]

happy birthday scribbler and so glad your back at your own agency lost we love your video's so much,never listen to the haters only the fans

[@winterflower1352]

Happy birthday Scribbler

[@madeleineallen7758]

Happy Birthday Scribbler!

[@nightryder1227]

I know Scribbler she my third favorite my first is lost narrator and my second is magpie happy birthday scribbler 🩷🖤🩵

[@ShokumaOfficial]

Babe wake up, new MLP grimdark reading just dropped

[@snakegirl1925]

Amazing as always but i have to ask why didnt they TELEPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL!?!?

[@Nomed38]

Plot device is probably the answer

[@selectidiot]

hanging organs could disrupt the spell.

[@Dane300]

This was amazing!🙏👌

[@Tia-bz8lf]

Fr

[@samsheyman1312]

So Starlight can just make clones of people?

[@hollytheanimalcrossingfan]

Makes me wonder if those 2 were already clones before they fused .

[@samsheyman1312]

@@hollytheanimalcrossingfan hmm

[@selectidiot]

@@hollytheanimalcrossingfan its said in story pinkie is 4th and rainbow is on her 5th.

[@LittleWerewolfPlushie]

5th times the charm?