Actually, I'm Dead - Autopsy: You just got Wave Blasted · 12:34pm Oct 14th, 2015
You know something quite important in journalism? The Five W's
What?
Okay, first of all, I want to make something very, very, very, very, very clear: This is not a fake chapter. Everything that happened in the chapter is canon.
Some elements even had some build up, it was already stated that Trixie was quite vocal on her Roani heritage, or that she also traveled all of Equestria. In addition, you can check in Chapter 6 (all of it) how Trixie behaves around new ponies, and how much she actively tries to keep distance, so she being unaware of how respected she actually was was also foreshadowed. Other elements like the Black Room (Celestia's personal safe), or Duo appearing sporadically (which is actually the reason of his name) were already introduced, if memory serves, in the second interlude.
And of course, things like Maud knowing and caring over Trixie or Rainbow Dash going through an attitude change are canon now.
Now, the thing here is that most of the author's notes are also real too. This chapter has been building up since around 'Walker and I wrote Chapter 3-4, so it didn't come up out of nowhere, but it was all planed. In fact, in his own blog, Nightwalker left a clue too...
In his own blog!:
We're hoping to have it told it three major arcs. The first will be set in Ponyville, and follow a number of the events of season 3 but with Trixie added to the mix. (Look forward to the one with Lightning Dust.)
Where? and When?
On Chapter 10, right on time for the fiction to have 500 following readers, 300 likes, 20 dislikes, and 3000 views.
Why?
With a milestone like that one above, I knew I had to do something big ('Wlaker agreed), something worthy of the moment. In the early chapters and drafts, it was stated that this story could as well be told by Trixie, since the narrative around her had some of her panache imprinted over it. I sustain that by driving the story to have the same goal as Trixie; be remembered.
So we plotted the whole "funeral chapter" as a way to give a show. We have the actors doing the performance of their live; Go ahead, check the chapter. Each relevant character did an action that defines them. A magnificent stage, arranged by Rarity and Pinkie, in the exact same stage where Nightmare moon herself did her comeback act. And even an important audience. All the elements for a good show where present so, my counter-question is the classical "Why not?"
Also, the funeral was so heart wrenching (I have no troubles admitting that I was in tears by the last line), that I felt I needed to drive it to its logical conclusion and make it an ending. Not THE ending, but this IS a wham episode nonetheless.
Who?
The chapter? 'Walker and I. I can't stress enough how important he has been to keep this fiction running. I'm dead serious guys (no pun intended), all of you who are following me because of Actually, I'm Dead better start adding Nightwalker to your following too.
The trick? Me. It was my idea to do it, so I take the whole heat for it.
Does anyone else has this error where new chapter of faved stories do not appear on the unread faves list?
From what film you took the guy who covers the burning village with his head?
You know I was wondering why Lightning Dust wasn't there. I expected you to make her a big jerk and not care at all. I wonder what you will do?
All I know is you won't disappoint.
So, the point of the trick was to help make the whole show that was the funeral a memorable one? To showcase Trixe's life and her connections as a show?
Ok. I don't really understand the why, but it succeeded at the showcase bit tying all the hints together and making them apparent.
Yet, I still don't get why the trick in the first place, It just made me feel like an idiot for being sad for Trixies fate for a reason that Isn't actually the case. Why bother making it sad that Trixie is gone then reveal that she ain't quite all the way dead?
Is it just meant to be a Closing Act Cliffhanger?
"oh look, stories done and everyone attempts to save trixie from the amulet in the end amounted to a mangled corpse in a wooden box. Oh wait, here is a teaser, come back next chapter to find out what the hell is going on."
I don't even get why I'm so frustrated with such a one-time use literary device. I wish I could pinpoint every thing that makes it so galling.
3469441
Not sure what's going on with your feed but I've had a little myself. I've had it where some posted chapters of stories I track don't show up properly, but it's erratic and doesn't happen often. No idea the cause or a fix.
As for the movie, it's from Django Unchained. Awesome movie! Christoph Waltz is utterly fantastic, and Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio are just evil, evil sons of bitches.
3469505
Well... as far as any pony knows her actions finally killed Trixie. They're going to be none too pleased about that. As we'll see in a little.
3469385
For me, success is writing a good story first. Popularity feels good too, but I would like to know I did a good job to earn it first.
3469441
Django Unchained
Tarantino for the win, motherf*cker!
3469505
I want to address Dust with caution. She's in some aspects like Trixie, but her actions were far more serious and her reactions are different.
I'll do my best.
3471062
Because I wanted you to feel like the characters. As far as they are aware, the story is over, so I felt like the trick would help to get into the same mood. If there's something modern storytelling can and should do more is to let and even encourage the audience to participate too.
It was never meant to be a cliffhanger. There is a closure here.
Who said she ain't "all the way" dead?
3471074 I really hope this won't be like most fic where she's a complete dick to everyone. I like Lightning, Trixie, and Starlight. I can personally relate to all of them. I was like them at some point in my life, maybe not all at once but still. It's a deep rooted connection to the characters as they were in the show.
Well, whatever Wave does I know he won't disappoint.
3471103
Ah ,that makes way more sense.
As to Trixie, I don't really know what her situation is apart from that she might be in some kind of limbo and that she is going to be talking to someone/something rather Important.
The not all the way dead is in that it seems like Trixie still has some things to get through before she might get to the whole, resting in peace part of death.
I wonder if its going to go all Greek for Trixie, where death is but the next great adventure.
Thanks for the info
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I like Lightning too. I get what you say about relating. That's the point of having dimensional character with flaws; they are closer to the spectator.
And I'm really blushing right now. Seriously.
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and that's the core concept of this whole fic; guessing, figuring out, following the leads... Discovering.
3471074 It happens evry two weeks. And I know I have somewhere in my 300 faved stories an update I'm trying to find scince yesterday.
3471085 Django. That was the name. Thanks.