A century ago today, years of meaningless madness and cruelty surrendered to
reason.
The first half of the war which knew two generations came to an end,
even if only temporary. The follies and horrors of war were laid bare and
testament for all to see and the lie of glorious war began its inevitable death.
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first world war. The nations of the world
declared that today, we would allow ourselves to be reminded of the
sacrifices of those who weren't lost for the follies and pride of other men and
in hope that such sacrifices might never be needed again. In that spirit, I will
examine a trilogy of stories which speak to these values. Stories that honor the
lives and tribulations of all who suffered, not only in the fields of
Flanders, but in all wars. Stories of the horrors of war and the triumphs of
personal redemption and strength.
When I started doing these reviews, I knew it would be very likely that I
would come across works which were beyond even the scope of my expectations.
In fact, I even relished in such an opportunity. Today's review however is
a work that perhaps more than any other story with maybe the exception of "Past
Sins" or "Fallout: Equestria" represents a work of fiction which truly transcends
the fandom. A work which could stand alone as its own piece of media and
earnestly speaks of thematic elements which many non fanfictions struggle to
discuss with as much breadth and nuance as this author accomplishes; and they do
so not in just one story, but in three back-to-back masterpieces. I am of course
speaking of "The Flower Mare" trilogy. "The Flower Mare", "Seele", and "Unbroken" are a
trilogy of novellas written by Flamenwerfer and available on FimFiction. Written
between April of 2017 and August of 2018, the trilogy explores the relationship of
the Cutie Mark Crusaders with a new resident to Ponyville named Schneeblume,
an Alemanian, or German, florist with a tragic history. The trilogy is a story of
triumph of personal tragedy and the power of reconciliation. I honestly don't
want to say any more than that for fear of spoilers. This trilogy really is the
sort of literature which must be experienced in person. That's why I
implore all of you, before I go into any further detail, please go read this
series. While I will earnestly try my best not to spoil anything
you still need to read this trilogy. Very rarely do I come across a piece of media
which can be as transformative as "The Flower Mare" trilogy manages to be and I
feel that it is a work which must be experienced by everyone.
At 42,000 words across the entire series, the trilogy is roughly the length of a
short novel, so it's definitely not something to read in a single sitting.
Not that you'd really want to as this series is listed as sad/dark and very
much lives up to expectations in that regard. Especially the second entry
"Seele". It discusses difficult and challenging ideas and can be very
emotionally draining on a reader, so I definitely recommend reading the series
in short bursts rather than in a single sitting. I feel it is also important to
note that while the 1st and 3rd entries in this series are teen rated, "Seele" is
mature and absolutely earns that rating for its portrayal of the primary theme
of the series. For you see, at its heart the trilogy is a war story; though
perhaps it would be more accurate to describe it as an anti-war story.
Portrayals of war in "My Little Pony" fanfiction are hardly new, with many of
the greatest stories relying heavily upon war or battle for their drama or
conflict resolution - the "Harmony for All" trilogy by DungeonMiner especially
comes to the forefront of my mind, but it's most certainly not the only example.
But what makes "The Flower Mare" trilogy stand out is the very unique way at
which it approaches war from a narrative, textual, and thematic standpoint. In media,
especially fantasy stories, war is almost always portrayed in a manner inspired by
Arthurian myth or the Tolkien legendarium. A struggle between the
forces of chivalrous good and an unrepentant evil. Black and White.
A conflict of absolutes with conclusion a foregone one.
But "The Flower Mare" is a story deeply inspired by the post-war cynicism of
works like "All Quiet on the Western Front", focusing on the tragedies and
horrors of war taking heavy inspiration from the politics of Europe and
historical accounts of trench warfare during World War 1, the series speaks
heavily of the inherent futility of the battle and monotony and banality of
death in such circumstances.This placement of World War 1 elements in
the "My Little Pony" world really does help to isolate the conflict from the
historical baggage and allows the reader to truly analyze the events of the
series independent of any potential political positions that they might have.
This allows the potential readership of the series to move way beyond just fans
of "My Little Pony", as I honestly believe that this series could stand on its own
merits and be read and enjoyed by almost anybody. As its unique narrative styles
and elements allow both the readers and the characters to truly explore the
nature of war, the processing of grief and trauma, and their relationship to it.
When characters do speak on the "glory of war", it has always spoken in sardonic
terms. Aan ignorance displayed by new recruits or a cruel joke to be pitied
among veterans. The story is extremely nuanced and focuses far more on the loss
of humanity that occurs in war and the struggles of those who survive to
reclaim what is lost. It discusses the requirements of states to dehumanize
the enemy and the effect that has on the psyche. The casualties of war beyond just
lives lost. It relies heavily on discussions of trauma and the recovery
therein, but it does so in a deeply respectful way. The series lacks any of
the condescension that often shows up in anti-war stories. I believe this respect
for its audience and subject matter is truly what helps make "The Flower Mare"
so accessible. If I had to give you a piece of media that this series very
closely resembles, it would probably be the anime "Violet Evergarden" which I
also highly recommend.They speak from a similar place and the objectives and
goals of the main characters are very relatable
and respectable. And the characters really are the strongest part of this
series. Deeply complex and morally ambiguous, Schneeblume plays a beautiful
contrast to the blind optimism of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Initially I did
find the three fillies to be somewhat annoying, but Flammenwerfer perfectly
encapsulates their story into the overall theme in such a way that they
actually grew attached to their approach to the world. Their interest and desire
to help Schneeblume rubbed off on me. As the series progresses, we see how both
the Crusaders and Schneeblume transform one another, helping each to grow into
the mares they should have become had war not interfered in one of their lives.
So with beautifully tragic world building, exquisite writing detail, deeply
complex characters with equally compelling interactions; all tied
together with an incredible thematic narrative about the triumph over
dehumanization and the recovery of the human spirit following the tragedies of
war, I can't help but give "The Flower Mare" trilogy my highest recommendations.
I really don't want to say anymore for fear of spoiling this incredible piece.
It really helped give me a newfound respect for the struggles of veterans
and is a beautiful message of the power of companionship to help heal from
tragedy. I cannot speak higher praises for a series and I will absolutely be
living links for all of you to read this series at your leisure. Please read it
and take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of the veterans around
you. Listen to their stories and help ensure that those who can no longer tell
their own stories are never truly forgotten. I am The Brpny Critic and
while I hope that you remember that every fandom needs a critic, I hope you
also remember the reason we celebrate this day. Thank you for watching and
thanks to the veterans throughout the world for your dedication and service.
May we all never forget why we remember this day.
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