>>42517226
I'm liking this a lot so far. The prologue did a great job of getting me hooked, something about the m6 just fucking around made for an appealing start to an adventure for me. And I liked how all of the m6 got fucked over and had little adventures, they just all got back home quickly aside from ajshy. And I really liked the interesting lore on the locations they got sent to. I like all of the character interactions as well*. Which I think is why I like the ponyville chapters a bit more, since there's more of that. Although there is the significant caveat that the first arc is everypony being more and more mean with each other. I liked the ajshy part of this, but not really the Rainbow sperging out part. And when I say I liked it I mean it made me feel intentionally unsettled and anxious and it built a lot of tension. Which got properly released later on. Now that I think about it though, it seemed to start almost immediately which doesn't make sense with the evil spirits all the way in the crater valley and them literally weeks of travel away. I would have to reread it to see when exactly it starts.
>something horrible happens to some of the m6
>the princesses were actually immediately informed and respond appropriately*****
Wow, how immensely refreshing. I was not expecting this at all honestly. Their behavior is... interesting. I can appreciate not wanting them to immediately solve the problem and I think political blockages is a good way of doing that but unfortunately a lot of it comes off as weak. They aren't allowed to cast big spells? wtf does that even mean. Why would a country next to Equestria (first of all even know a big spell was cast) immediately assume some sort of hostile intention from the most peaceful nation to ever exist when they (the most magical beings on the planet) cast some magic? And they can't cross any borders? It's not an army mobilizing. Would the other countries really take offense to individual or small groups of pegasi flying around? Brighthoof seems to have done it just fine. They also don't seem to be doing anything. Maybe they're politicking but Twilight seems to be the only one trying anything at all with her research. But to clarify here, I do like the princesses in this fic and that they were brought in so quickly. The polarized opinions are interesting as well, based Luna saying 'fuck other countries, we should act.'
I liked all of the other m6 being horribly worried as well. Twilight forcing Rainbow to realize that all of her friends miss ajshy just as much was a kino idea, but as I said Rainbow herself drags that part down. Also I was really hoping for AJxShy and I guess I still am and there might be time for it but I was pretty disappointed when we, as per fucking usual, went down the RainbowxShy road. We'll see I guess. The beginning of ajshy reminded me of lost cities kinda but with the m6 instead of a rando as a narrator.