The kind of things I have to think about for the story · 6:05pm May 26th, 2015
Since writing the next chapter is taking me a bit longer than I thought it would, I decided to make this blog post to talk about something that will inevitably happen later in the story:
The season three premiere, A.K.A. The return of the Crystal empire.
Of course it won't happen for quite some time yet, but when it does happen, how will things play out for Artemis?
First, where would she be? Would she go with Cadance, Shining Armor and the Mane six, or would she stay behind?
If she goes, how will that happen? The others surely wouldn't let her come, so would she end up sneaking in the train ride or would something I haven't thought of yet happen to include her in the trip?
If she stays behind, where would she be? Ponyville? In Canterlot with Celestia and/or Luna? Would she have already ran away beforehand to attempt to live on her own by the time the empire returns? Would she decide to somehow stick with Lara once she has to leave Canterlot?
If she goes, how would her presence out there affect the events of the returning crystal empire? Would she sense the heart? Would she 'somehow' fight Sombra? If she does fight sombra, what would happen? Would she 'eat' the fear being projected by him, turning her to the dark side or something of the sort? Or would she simply get her flank handed to her?
If she stays behind, in Canterlot let's say, then how would THAT play out? Someone would have to take care of her (not because she actually needs it, but because Celestia would THINK that she needs it for her own good), so who would do that job? Would her existence already be a known thing, or would it happen then and there? How would she react to Celestia constantly visiting? Heck, how would she react to Luna exactly? That one actually depends more on how Luna would act towards her, in fact.
I thought up each of those scenarios during the span of under three minutes, and they each allow for very different outcomes to happen and even more paths can appear for the story due to those "different things".
So that's one massive headache I'm saving for later.
(I'm not asking which of those should happen, though nothing's stopping you from commenting on them)
Similar decisions had to be taken for the chapter I'm currently working on, A.K.A. the continuation of the story from 'Point Insertion'.
(Spoiler alert if you haven't read up to "Point Insertion")
Artemis is asleep with Cadance. What are the different things that could happen from that?
First, will Cadance already be awake once Artemis wakes, or will it be the opposite way around?
If Cadance is sleeping once Artemis wakes, would Artemis immediately freak out and startle the Princess of Love awake? Would she remain calm, find a way to sneak out of the room and find Lara? In fact, HOW would she sneak out? Hide and wait for Cadance to wake up and run out of the room in panic from 'losing Artemis', leaving the door open? Open the door herself and look around?
If Cadance was already awake, then the chapter at that moment would have to give more of a focus on "how Cadance is taking in everything". Artemis wondering "what the HECK is going on!?" is inevitable, so how will Cadance react to the impending freak-out? She's somewhat emotionally unstable, trying to get close to Artemis to alleviate the guilt she feels about the changeling invasion, so I'd have to work in making sure the execution of Artemis's actions and Cadance's reactions retain a sense of reality with each of their emotional states in mind.
Or, alternatively, I could take the easier way out and make it so that Artemis wakes up a bit later than normal, where Cadance and Daring Do (or, as quite a few of you seem to prefer, Lara) are chatting away in the lobby or kitchen while eating breakfast, completely skipping the freak-out from Artemis (or at the very least alleviating it severely) since Lara would be there.
I'm pretty sure people want a freak out of some sort though, so no, I'm not taking the "easier way out". Just wanted to point out the fact that it WAS an option that the story could've headed towards.
So that's one major string of decisions I had to make. The other has to do with Shining Armor. Obviously, something's up with him after eating what's going to be labeled as 'changeling honey'.
But WHAT changed?
I already wrote that he could feel a pull, feeling like he wanted to go somewhere. Thus, if you haven't guessed it yet, he can sense Artemis to some extent.
Thus, I now have to think about things like "How far can he sense Artemis?" or "Can he eat emotions now?" or "Can he understand changeling speech now?" or "Can Artemis link with him, and would it be a perma-link that would remain no matter the distance?" or "Will he see Artemis as his Queen?" (that one I can answer by saying no, since as you can see from arc 0, changelings have free will. They weren't ever forced to serve Chrysalis, they did it by their own volition because they simply wanted to make their mother happy.)
In the end, I keep getting all these different paths the story can take, each with their own unique outcomes that easily affect future events, though some do so more than others. For the most part, they're all good in their own way. I'm the one stuck trying to figure out which direction would be the best to drag the story along towards, and that's before talking about the fact that after picking a path I have to do my best to execute it properly, otherwise it'd be for naught.
TL;DR:
Writing is hard.
HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry, let me explain what it is I find so funny. When reading this with the future debate about what would happen to Artemis, and if she would stay, who would look after her... Well, I'm laughing because the question got me thinking, and I imagined what sweet chaos would be if Prince Blueblood happened to be at the right place at the wrong time with a little changeling Queen nearby...
*pft*
Can't hold it!
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
And now I thought of another possibility. What if Daring Doo woul- sorry, I meant Lara were to break under her new emotions and take the crazy way out... Foalnap Artemis and raise her in secret? That seems like one possibility and like something I would read. Many more cool adventures! Only getting busted after being found out by the Mane 6 when they go looking for Rainbow's favorite author.
Just juggling ideas here...
I suppose if she goes to the crystal empire depends largely on Shining Armor's connection to her. He'd be able to sense her sneaking on the train. The reverse of that is he may feel compelled to bring her, or at least find being apart from her highly distracting.
As for how she reacts to Celestia, beyond the initial encounter I imagine her reaction will be partly controlled by her technically more mature mind. I say technically since despite having an an adult's observation and critical thinking skills, she ultimately acts like a child. She'd be wary, sure, since Celestia did try to kill her mom, but she'd know when to pick her battles and frankly, free love and knowledge is useful.
As for Luna, I see the reaction to her more as a curiosity than anything. I can see Luna lording that over Celestia.
I think Artemis would bee a little freaked when waking up but,,,, a pony raidiation love and hurt, i think she would get over it fast.
She would go with Cadance to the empire in secret against everyones will. Cadance is the princes of love and Artemis has a strong bond with her food sources, and if Lara don't stick around, well lets follow the food.
But it would probably bee better for the story if she stayed in canterlot and trayed to repair bonds to Celestia while terrorising the nobles.
And Sombra's negativ energy, i dont know, (avoid him like the plauge ?)
I think she should contribute to the future. Artemis should contribute to major events somehow. If she doesn't go to the Empire she should at least end up there after it.
Maybe the changelings built a section of the Empire for themselves? Feeding off the radiating energy?
The crystal empire.
http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Crystal_Heart#The_Crystal_Heart
I hope it doesn't send out a blast of love energy.... otherwise if you have Atremis there.... well... this story would become a tragedy and dark. (Considering what happened last time there was a love blast).
Lore wise... you could have the crystal heart take positive emotions and convert them into regular defensive spells. In order to prevent the extermination of the changeling race (If she is even there. She could be at Canterlot (with Luna/Celestia). Lara's. Ponyville (with Lara or someone else babbysitting).
3101288 Ooooh, I hadn't even though about the crystal heart's "love wave". Huh.
Now I got even more things to think about
3103541 Hang in there author
we Believe in you 
.
) so feel no pressure about the publishing pace, we are all here for a good time so it would not do if you worked yourself to the Point of losing interes in the story 
. Please take all the time in the World to figure out how to proceed with this masterpiece, jokes aside we can be patient and figuring out this stuf now rather than working yourself into an corner will only be proficient for the story 
. So remember to take care of yourself 
and be prepared to receive a shit-ton of praise and internet cockies once the next chapter DO come out, in fact you can have all of them 
you wonderful bastard you 
.
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Also please note that my last comment was a joke (I was serious about the story being really good
I wish you well and hope you have a good day
I keep seeing artemis half waking up in the night and wondering off to find 'Lara", que Candence waking up in the morning and pulling the castle apart trying to find her while having a minor gulit ridden break down
I know that feel bro