Nightmare Night update/teaser and good news for Feathered Hearts fans · 3:28pm Jan 17th, 2023
The new Nightmare Night chapter is now well over 14k words and climbing as it's still not finished. I have one more sequence and transition to complete, which will likely leave this up over 16k words by the time all editing passes/prereads are done. That's on the verge of needing to be split up, but I'll try to avoid that, as I'd honestly prefer this epic battle of friends-turned-foes to be contained within a single chapter.
In any event, the target release date is now this weekend, and depending on how fast prereads come in, it could be launched anytime from Friday night to Sunday evening. But first, I have to finish the chapter draft. There's certainly enough there for a teaser, however, so here you go:
Though dawn was swiftly approaching, the sky remained dark in the east as two former friends faced off in the wilds of the Everfree, in a clearing not far inside the forest where it was believed an old village once stood.
Raw power crackled around each ascended pony as, their auras boosted further by the wild magic of the woods, the intense radiant heat of their bodies threatened to set the surrounding forest aflame. But Annie Smith had rallied the Timberponies and Timberwolf packs of the area to contain the threatened conflagration by feeding a steady stream of water to the plants of the area while the Cyberponies stood watch as well at a safe distance, keeping the wood-based creatures shielded as they worked.
In contrast, the dragon ponies mostly remained at the castle in the care of the siren ponies and Peregrine Pacil. The former sang to help heal them more quickly while the latter had been able to draw on his new Cyberpony and Timberpony powers to heal himself and help, volunteering to do so in service to his new Lord.
All the dragons except Spike, that was. He had limped to Twilight’s side despite her admonishments, determined to stand with her as she faced down her final foe. Having seen the damage that Solar Inferno had wrought on her forces, and worse—her former scribe—Eclipse’s initial delight at seeing Sunset’s ascension had ebbed to be replaced by something far darker and more dangerous, glowering angrily as she pinned her longtime friend with a stare.
She was in her fire form again, her bluish flames looking like a gas stove burner on low even as her eyes still glowed bright red. Unlike Solar Inferno, however, she still wore her Coltic armor and other attire, which she had enchanted to survive the intense heat.
“Wow, You’re actually starting to look severely pissed, Queenie,” the former Sunset noted. “I might actually have to take you a bit more seriously now.”
“Spare me such feeble bravado and look around you, false Pharoat—you’re all alone right now, facing my full power. I, on the other hoof, have an entire army backing me, though I don’t need them to take you down. I love them and fight for them as much as me, and thus, they stand with me. So who stands with you, Sunset Shimmer?”
Despite the mistaken address, Solar Inferno didn’t lose her smirk. “Aside from Sci-Twi and Delta over there? There’s an entire school on the other side of the portal, including five of the best friends in existence. I think you of all people would know that I’m never alone as long as I keep them in my heart. And I already told you that my name is now Solar Inferno. You wanted respect for your new title, so kindly show a little for mine.”
Eclipse’s slitted thestral eyes narrowed, still glowing red. “Do not presume to lecture me on proper form of address when you took pains earlier to mock my new name and worse, harmed my subjects, Sunset Shimmer. To say nothing of my beloved son,” she all but hissed with a glance back at Spike, who was still exhausted and being attended by Timberbloom.
She was the only member of the CMC still available to do so with Cyber Belle coordinating magical containment operations with her fellow Cyberponies and Fireflight down as well after having her phoenix fire drained, affixing the newly ascended alicorn of fire with her own green-eyed glare.
“Yeah, Sunset…” Spike said weakly as he sat on a seat of soft moss that the former Apple Bloom had generated for him, sipping a concoction that Annie Smith had whipped up for him, promising that it would soothe his seared throat. “You hurt us. Even Carrot and Cup Cake.”
Solar Inferno bowed her head, finding the canine version of Spike and the human versions of the Cakes flashing through her head, knowing how she’d feel about having hurt them. And worse, having done so deliberately, even if it was for an ultimately necessary reason. “I’m sorry, Spike. I truly am. I wouldn’t have done it unless I had to. But using your fire was the only way to power my ascension spell. Which was in turn the only way I can take her down.” She turned back to face the corrupted Queen.
“You have not taken me down yet, Sunset Shimmer,” an unamused Eclipse warned as the pair began to circle again. “You proposed a duel, so let us begin. Now make your move, so-called Pharoat of Fire! The sooner I defeat you, the sooner I can regain the portal and begin my invasion of earth.”
But Solar Inferno only laughed, her grin growing and causing Eclipse’s ire to rise in turn. “Sorry to tell you, Queenie, but you can’t. Your invasion is already permanently prevented.”
Eclipse looked startled, then sneered. “Hardly. Just like all your actions here, you’ve only delayed me, not defeated me. Even your ascended form is ultimately just an inconvenience to be swept aside. Before this Nightmare Night is over, the sensual conquest of Earth will begin, Sunset Shimmer. And there is nothing you can do to stop it...”
There you go. You'll find out what Sunset means shortly. But first, I have to finish the chapter draft, and I admit the last sequence/transition is giving me issues.
To that point in the chapter, I've got a strong sequence of magical exchanges with the pair engaging in a battle of wits along with a game of one-upsmanship (upponyship?), drawing on various human game and entertainment franchises to design their attacks around. It's also taken a couple surprisingly dark turns at times as blood will be drawn. You'll also find some foreshadowing of the eventual story climax as the ultimate key to victory over the curse will not be any of the current combatants or even the human Element Bearers. Which is not to say they will play no role.
As far as Feathered Hearts goes, I've decided to write a single chapter of Continuation and Chronicles before resuming work on Midnight Rising. The reason is that I don't get my new testosterone pellet implants until Thursday, and after that, it will take a week before I really start to feel it and two weeks to reach full charge. If I'm going to work on clop at this point, I'd really rather do so when I'm at my max, so to speak. It's a lot more enjoyable as my motivation is far higher, and I think it will also show in the quality of the work! 
That being the case, I'll open the next story arc of C&C with a new chapter and aim to have it out before the month's end. As for what to expect there, no combat will occur as the Cloven in the area are destroyed, and no sex is planned for now as they're all exhausted and hurting, licking both physical and emotional wounds. But you'll see them arrive at Aricia and start to settle in, with the planned highlight being a confrontation between Gilda and Cipio over using her unit as bait.
There will also be questions of how the arrival of the humans and Changelings will be received by a reeling populace, and if I get around to it, maybe finally contacting Starlight Glimmer. The last part is iffy, though; it depends on whether it feels like it fits in. But don't fret, fans of Glim-Glam--she's already on the way into the story.
I'm looking forward to the next Unleash the Magic chapter.
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Thanks. And as always, I’m looking forward to seeing your feedback on it.