Cover Image

Voyage of the Equinox

by Starscribe
Equestria's first interstellar ship is crewed by the best and brightest Equestria has to offer. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are determined to uncover the origin of the mysterious alien Signal, no matter what it costs. A comment-driven story.

Twilight Sparkle was only a filly when Equestria detected the enigmatic Signal. A series of increasingly complex mathematical proofs, the Signal transformed from an intriguing curiosity to reliable evidence of extraequestrian life.

And as it happened, Equestria's exploration of their own solar system was nearly complete. With colonies orbiting every planet and large body, and an asteroid belt filled with miners and prospectors, Twilight's civilization was just about ready to turn its focus outward. The signal was less than ten light-years away, within reach of a daring, experimental voyage. A voyage Twilight Sparkle would lead.

Along with a small crew of the most skilled scientists and engineers Equestria could offer, Twilight is determined to uncover the mystery of the Signal, and brave the final frontier for future generations of Equestrian explorers.

A comment-driven, CYoA story. Please use the links provided in the author's notes of each chapter to vote, rather than the comments.

This story is a creative experiment of mine, one meant to explore the general idea that creativity is often most fostered by restrictions. As a result, I've imposed a number of restrictions on the writing of this story, which I'm stating explicitly here so I can be called out if I break any of them.

1. Brevity is the soul of wit
No chapter may be more than 1000 words long. This wordcount only includes prose, and not the questions/rolls.

2. Every choice matters
When a choice is offered in a chapter, at least one sub-optimal choice must be present, with no indication about which is which other than the prose itself. Every chapter should end with a CYoA-style decision tree when possible.

3. Fate is cruel and the universe is heartless
The decision of the vote must be respected. This means any character could be killed, or the entire story could end in failure, if that's what the votes decide. Where numbers, stats, and randomization appear in the text, these elements are not verisimilitude, but are decided by public diecrolls in my discord server.

Note: Because of the unusual production of this story, its chapters won't be edited in the same way as my usual fare. Feel free to point out any mistakes you encounter.

Awesome cover by Zutcha as you can probably tell. Editing stuff by Two Bit and Sparktail, where applicable.

Teen
Complete
Death
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Alternate Universe
Mystery
Science Fiction
Profanity
Adventure
 
TMS

179326 words: Estimated about 15 hours to read
Download:textHTMLePUB

136 Chapters:

  1. Chapter 1 2018-10-10 16:06:22 UTC
    1174
  2. Chapter 2 2018-10-11 04:59:11 UTC
    1239
  3. Chapter 3 2018-10-12 00:20:47 UTC
    1231
  4. Chapter 4 2018-10-13 08:59:43 UTC
    1486
  5. Chapter 5 2018-10-14 21:40:51 UTC
    1301
  6. Chapter 6 2018-10-17 02:39:05 UTC
    1077
  7. Chapter 7 2018-10-20 06:36:33 UTC
    1083
  8. Chapter 8 2018-10-22 05:19:11 UTC
    1090
  9. Chapter 9 2018-10-22 18:09:41 UTC
    1252
  10. Chapter 10 2018-10-24 07:45:05 UTC
    1147
  11. Chapter 11 2018-10-25 22:48:24 UTC
    1051
  12. Chapter 12 2018-10-29 12:12:35 UTC
    1199
  13. Chapter 13 2018-11-02 19:39:14 UTC
    1190
  14. Chapter 14 2018-11-07 07:27:46 UTC
    1089
  15. Chapter 15 2018-11-08 01:57:17 UTC
    1135
  16. Chapter 16 2018-11-10 08:22:37 UTC
    1185
  17. Chapter 17 2018-11-12 09:55:05 UTC
    1136
  18. Chapter 18 2018-11-14 00:23:59 UTC
    1205
  19. Chapter 19 2018-11-15 10:47:43 UTC
    1057
  20. Chapter 20 2018-11-15 23:19:03 UTC
    1095
  21. Chapter 21 2018-11-18 01:57:49 UTC
    1181
  22. Chapter 22 2018-11-19 08:16:33 UTC
    1247
  23. Chapter 23 2018-11-21 07:51:53 UTC
    1379
  24. Chapter 24 2018-11-23 07:42:45 UTC
    1290
  25. Chapter 25 2018-11-23 20:53:03 UTC
    1360
  26. Chapter 26 2018-11-24 12:24:57 UTC
    1326
  27. Chapter 27 2018-11-25 15:59:29 UTC
    1559
  28. Chapter 28 2018-11-27 16:59:30 UTC
    1416
  29. Chapter 29 2018-11-29 16:59:30 UTC
    1381
  30. Chapter 30 2018-11-30 17:00:43 UTC
    1488
  31. Chapter 31 2018-12-02 16:59:31 UTC
    1357
  32. Chapter 32 2018-12-03 17:00:44 UTC
    1381
  33. Chapter 33 2018-12-04 17:00:44 UTC
    1403
  34. Chapter 34 2018-12-07 16:59:33 UTC
    1414
  35. Chapter 35 2018-12-09 16:59:33 UTC
    1362
  36. Chapter 36 2018-12-13 16:59:35 UTC
    1461
  37. Chapter 37 2018-12-17 16:59:36 UTC
    1435
  38. Chapter 38 2018-12-21 17:00:37 UTC
    1402
  39. Chapter 39 2018-12-28 19:00:37 UTC
    1359
  40. Chapter 40 2018-12-31 16:59:24 UTC
    1434
  41. Chapter 41 2019-01-03 16:59:24 UTC
    1408
  42. Chapter 42 2019-01-07 17:00:40 UTC
    1333
  43. Chapter 43 2019-01-12 17:00:08 UTC
    1482
  44. Chapter 44 2019-01-15 17:00:09 UTC
    1332
  45. Chapter 45 2019-01-19 17:00:02 UTC
    1325
  46. Chapter 46 2019-01-22 17:00:01 UTC
    1430
  47. Chapter 47 2019-01-25 17:00:02 UTC
    1261
  48. Chapter 48 2019-01-27 17:00:02 UTC
    1234
  49. Chapter 49 2019-01-29 17:00:03 UTC
    1309
  50. Chapter 50 2019-01-31 17:00:04 UTC
    1301
  51. Chapter 51 2019-02-04 17:00:02 UTC
    1257
  52. Chapter 52 2019-02-06 17:00:03 UTC
    1185
  53. Chapter 53 2019-02-09 08:55:03 UTC
    1187
  54. Chapter 54 2019-02-11 17:00:04 UTC
    1205
  55. Chapter 55 2019-02-14 17:00:04 UTC
    1670
  56. Chapter 56 2019-02-17 17:00:06 UTC
    1238
  57. Chapter 57 2019-02-20 17:00:02 UTC
    1299
  58. Chapter 58 2019-02-22 17:00:02 UTC
    1293
  59. Chapter 59 2019-02-25 17:00:03 UTC
    1325
  60. Chapter 60 2019-02-28 17:00:03 UTC
    1185
  61. Chapter 61 2019-03-04 17:00:05 UTC
    1211
  62. Chapter 62 2019-03-05 17:00:05 UTC
    1420
  63. Chapter 63 2019-03-07 17:00:05 UTC
    1497
  64. Chapter 64 2019-03-09 16:00:06 UTC
    1471
  65. Chapter 65 2019-03-12 14:00:07 UTC
    1709
  66. Chapter 66 2019-03-14 16:00:01 UTC
    1432
  67. Chapter 67 2019-03-16 12:00:02 UTC
    1348
  68. Chapter 68 2019-03-19 16:00:03 UTC
    1270
  69. Chapter 69 2019-03-21 16:00:04 UTC
    1269
  70. Chapter 70 2019-03-22 16:00:03 UTC
    1237
  71. Chapter 71 2019-03-25 18:00:08 UTC
    1308
  72. Chapter 72 2019-03-27 12:00:05 UTC
    1344
  73. Chapter 73 2019-03-29 17:48:30 UTC
    1388
  74. Chapter 74 2019-04-02 16:00:02 UTC
    1403
  75. Chapter 75 2019-04-06 16:00:04 UTC
    1331
  76. Chapter 76 2019-04-09 16:00:05 UTC
    1616
  77. Chapter 77 2019-04-12 16:00:05 UTC
    1556
  78. Chapter 78 2019-04-17 16:00:07 UTC
    773
  79. Chapter 79 2019-04-22 16:52:28 UTC
    1559
  80. Chapter 80 2019-04-25 16:00:02 UTC
    1199
  81. Chapter 81 2019-04-29 16:00:02 UTC
    1237
  82. Chapter 82 2019-05-01 16:00:03 UTC
    1393
  83. Chapter 83 2019-05-04 15:00:02 UTC
    1335
  84. Chapter 84 2019-05-08 15:00:02 UTC
    1037
  85. Chapter 85 2019-05-09 15:00:02 UTC
    1247
  86. Chapter 86 2019-05-11 15:00:03 UTC
    1370
  87. Chapter 87 2019-05-14 20:25:02 UTC
    1207
  88. Chapter 88 2019-05-21 15:15:02 UTC
    1331
  89. Chapter 89 2019-05-28 15:00:03 UTC
    1497
  90. Chapter 90 2019-06-04 18:00:01 UTC
    1248
  91. Chapter 91 2019-06-09 14:00:02 UTC
    1521
  92. Chapter 92 2019-06-12 14:00:03 UTC
    1371
  93. Chapter 93 2019-06-15 14:00:01 UTC
    1467
  94. Chapter 94 2019-06-19 14:00:02 UTC
    1288
  95. Chapter 95 2019-06-27 14:00:03 UTC
    1475
  96. Chapter 96 2019-07-03 14:00:01 UTC
    1201
  97. Chapter 97 2019-07-06 14:00:02 UTC
    1322
  98. Chapter 98 2019-07-10 14:00:03 UTC
    1265
  99. Chapter 99 2019-07-13 14:00:02 UTC
    1714
  100. Chapter 100 2019-07-17 14:00:02 UTC
    1311
  101. Chapter 101 2019-07-22 16:00:03 UTC
    1151
  102. Chapter 102 2019-07-26 16:00:04 UTC
    1620
  103. Chapter 103 2019-07-30 13:37:22 UTC
    1755
  104. Chapter 104 2019-08-06 16:00:02 UTC
    1471
  105. Chapter 105 2019-08-10 19:00:03 UTC
    1314
  106. Chapter 106 2019-08-20 16:00:04 UTC
    1115
  107. Chapter 107 2019-08-27 16:50:01 UTC
    1314
  108. Chapter 108 2019-09-03 15:00:02 UTC
    1278
  109. Chapter 109 2019-09-10 15:00:02 UTC
    1393
  110. Chapter 110 2019-09-17 16:55:03 UTC
    1280
  111. Chapter 111 2019-09-24 15:00:01 UTC
    1256
  112. Chapter 112 2019-10-08 15:00:01 UTC
    1153
  113. Chapter 113 2019-10-18 15:00:01 UTC
    1206
  114. Chapter 114 2019-10-28 15:00:01 UTC
    1243
  115. Chapter 115 2019-10-29 15:00:02 UTC
    1187
  116. Chapter 116 2019-11-05 15:00:01 UTC
    1289
  117. Chapter 117 2019-11-12 15:00:01 UTC
    1383
  118. Chapter 118 2019-11-25 15:00:02 UTC
    1245
  119. Chapter 119 2019-12-09 15:00:01 UTC
    1252
  120. Chapter 120 2019-12-23 15:00:01 UTC
    1464
  121. Chapter 121 2019-12-30 18:00:02 UTC
    1445
  122. Chapter 122 2020-01-06 18:00:01 UTC
    1330
  123. Chapter 123 2020-01-16 18:00:00 UTC
    1036
  124. Chapter 124 2020-01-17 18:00:00 UTC
    1407
  125. Chapter 125 2020-01-20 18:00:00 UTC
    1706
  126. Chapter 126 2020-01-27 17:59:59 UTC
    1292
  127. Chapter 127 2020-02-06 17:59:58 UTC
    1151
  128. Chapter 128 2020-02-10 17:59:58 UTC
    1241
  129. Chapter 129 2020-02-24 19:59:57 UTC
    1347
  130. Chapter 130 2020-03-02 14:59:57 UTC
    1382
  131. Chapter 131 2020-03-20 18:59:56 UTC
    1386
  132. Chapter 132 2020-03-27 14:59:56 UTC
    1566
  133. Chapter 133 2020-04-03 14:59:55 UTC
    1399
  134. Chapter 134 2020-04-20 14:59:54 UTC
    1903
  135. Chapter 135 2020-05-18 14:59:53 UTC
  136. Epilogue 2020-05-29 15:00:53 UTC
    1872