Act Two Complete! [SPOILERS] · 12:21am Jun 5th, 2023
Finally here. Longer than it should've taken, but we've made it.
Remember, this blog will contain spoilers! So if you haven't finished Sunken Horizons yet, go do it! Or make your peace.
What do I have to talk about? A lot has happened in the last four years. I got EH published by the Ministry of Image—something I hope will happen with SH as well—and I went off and joined the military. I'm writing this blog—and wrote the last two chapters—from my dorm at Vandenberg Space Force Base, where I'll soon be finishing my technical training.
Those of you who know me will know how I like to write my stories. I usually don't plan things in a lot of detail. I foreshadow things, set up future revelations, without knowing what it all means, and trust that I'll figure it out later. When I started this story, I didn't know any of the answers I've since presented to the questions originally asked. I had working ideas, but I'm always looking for better solutions. Imagine my shock when some one-off line in a random episode presented exactly what I needed: the Amulet of Aurora.
I still distinctly remember the moment I was watching MLP—back when episodes were still being released, in a previous age—and Twilight just casually explained away this weird amulet that could "summon a never-ending hurricane."
But that alone wouldn't be enough to explain, and all that's good comes in threes. After some passionate discussion with my editors, we'd come up with an entire mythology. It was incredibly exciting watching it come together, but then I had to wait four years before I could finally put it in the story. Catharsis!
And there's scenes I've been playing over and over in my head the whole time, waiting for the moment the story finally gets there. First among them, I think, is when Ana finally meets Princess Luna. She's suffered much during the story, and it was immensely satisfying to see her finally experience some happiness for once. I still have big plans for her.
What's next, then? I'm looking into some artists to get cover art done for Ashen Horizons. I'm thinking it'll depict a scene from the epilogue. I'll be busy getting ready to move to my first duty station, as well. And of course I have three side stories in mind, to explore the perspectives of those members of the Mane Six that have been stuck as side characters so far.
Applejack's story will be slice of life, a montage of scenes aboard the Argo as she and Flint relax over mugs of cider in between various events of the story. For Pinkie Pie, I'll be expanding on the night on the town she and Piaffe went on during the siege of Friesland. And Fluttershy will get a short story following her days in the siege camp. I intend to watch a few episodes of MASH for inspiration.
Once I get settled in at my first duty station, I'll be eagerly getting started on Ashen Horizons. I have even more of those "can't wait to write this" scenes lined up, and I hope you'll enjoy reading them just as much as I imagine. In the meantime, I have more details to figure out. If you want to be included, come join the EH Discord!
A big thanks to all my editors! Noc and Dominus Alicorn are still going strong, with the latter being my chief advisor on Luna's grammar. PsyonicG is responsible for much of the greatness that's come out of Twilight's plot, and multiple actual hours of rabid late-night Discord calls. Carma, who's username I do not know, likes to come into my drafts and mock me by providing far superior and more colorful prose which I often cannot use because it would so conspicuously stand out from my own. Without them, you would be reading a much less interesting, much less refined story.
That's all I have to say for now. I really should clean up my room! Sign up for my Patreon!? To be honest, I can't promise very reliable rewards, and I don't really need the money. Uncle Sam foots my bill now. But I appreciate every dollar!
Awesome. Cannot wait for act three.
Also, good luck on your move in the near future, after the training is done. I hope your new place treats you well.
Enjoying this story. Do what you have to do. Keep up the nice work. Can't wait for act 3.
Oh man, I'm about as excited for those side stories as I am for act three.
Congratulation to you for having finish it. What you did is a great achivement. You can be very pround of you.
OHHH MY MAN JOINED THE SPACE FORCE, GOOD LUCK BRO!
gah, damn i am both happy and sad now. i am currently listening to a reading of Sunken Horizons, at chapter 9, and i already cant wait for the third installment.
Going to listen more and see if my theories are correct about some things in the fic whiling keeping my head down about spoilers.