Blackwing's Falling Feathers is over.

(Hit play to get my mood as I write this.)

I first read Griffin the Griffin a few years back when I was still new to being a Brony, and I also strongly was hooked on the Pirate-fantasy stories thanks to having recently seen a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I recall staying up to odd hours of the night binging on the chapters of that fic, and then groaning after I'd fully caught up and then needing to wait for the next....and the next. Then I started reading the other Chessverse fics that were popping up all over the place at that time while I was waiting to relieve the longing-feeling of impatience. It was a Golden Era of text-adventure, not unlike all the Displaced fics that cropped up last summer. But, as time wore on, people lost interest in writing them, or they had life issues, or they got a freaking terrible case of writer's block. I know how that is, as I've got several fics unfinished myself that I will probably never pic up again, but I'm unwilling to let them go.
In time, only a handful of them were still updating anymore, but both Blackwing and Rust kept at their work diligently, even though it would sometimes be WEEKS before they'd update again. Then, their stories came to a conclusion, and I had zero doubt whatsoever that even with the (now first) fics having concluded, that in a way the story would continue on due to so many other fics interlocking with one another. Then, SEQUELS! *girly squeal of excitement* and the adventure began all over again, though with darker undertones. In a manner of speaking it reminded me of living and growing up, because as you live life, you learn that it's not even close to as simple as you once thought it was. The good guys DON'T always win (we know that, but sometimes it feels hard to believe it) , and sometimes they meet horrible fates. But still, they came through in the end, right? Right??
Then Rust cancelled his sequel.
Like I said, I know we've all got lives to live, but it doesn't stop the sad feelings, does it? Sadness that you'll never truly know what happened to them in the end. Sure, it's all fiction, but one of the reasons we got attached to the characters of the Chessverse is that they felt almost real. That, somewhere out there in the universe, they ARE real, and we're following them like a shadow. We're sharing their fears, their hopes and dreams, their embarrassing moments, and when they pump a fist in triumph, we're doing it right beside them! And then the window that lets you see their journey slams in your face, and their words fade as they stride further and further from you. Your part in their story, though you did nothing, said nothing, offered nothing other than a soul-felt desire for them to hold on and do their best, is done, and you can never see or hear from them again.
And now Griffon's story draws to a close. It's a happy ending for him, considering everything that he, his family and his friends have gone through, but reading that last chapter, that last sentence, and seeing that last period....it makes you realize that this really is it. Sure we can go back, (RESET, as it were, for my fellow Undertale fans)and read through it again, but no matter how many times we do that, we still will reach the exact same conclusion at the end. This end being THE END.

To every Chessverse writer, thank you for the AMAZING ride that you built for us, and the unforgettable characters and world that you carved out of the Ether. We really DO appreciate the time and effort you put into them, and no matter what comes next, if anything does, what you've written has earned its niche in my heart.

Ugh, that sounded really sappy, didn't it?
But I don't regret it. Bro-hoof everyBrony!

-WW128