Faith Manages · 2:48am Feb 27th, 2017
I’d like to take a moment to reflect on how this all started and where this is all going. I know most of you are here for my Sunset Shimmer stories and there’s only a hoofful of GoE followers in here. This is about both. Don’t worry, this all ties together.
Hopefully, you’ll know a little more about why I do what I do by the end of this post.
At the end of Season 4 of Babylon 5, there was an interesting series of events. The final episode of the season was uniquely constructed as they had just got cleared for the fifth and final season. It was a last-minute greenlight.
“The Deconstruction of Falling Stars” is a series of vignettes detailing events occurring from one year to a million years past the events of Babylon 5. At the end of the episode, a special message appears on the screen:
"DEDICATED TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PREDICTED THAT THE BABYLON PROJECT WOULD FAIL IN ITS MISSION. FAITH MANAGES."
J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5, described this message as such:
"On the one hand, it is a statement of hope to anyone else out there who has a dream, to follow it no matter who speaks against you, no matter the odds, no matter what they say to or about you, no matter what roadblocks they throw in your way. What matters is that you remain true to your vision.
"On the other hand, for the reviewers and the pundits and the critics and the net-stalkers who have done nothing but rag on this show for five years straight, it is also a giant middle finger composed of red neon fifty stories tall, that will burn forever in the night.
Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm is my Babylon 5.
It’s been ridiculed, demeaned, trolled and insulted. In the comments, people have told us to go kill ourselves or asked to be killed themselves solely because this project exists. And those are not the worst we have received. I won’t dignify them by repeating them. These comments (among many other things) have driven me into a couple nervous breakdowns. They’ve driven me into depression, into doubt and into questioning what I’m doing.
But I’ve still gotten back up and thrown myself into the fight once more.
I don’t expect comments like these to go away. Instead, I intend to become tougher. We’re in this for the long haul.
I’m in this for the long haul.
I started this account on FimFiction originally as a mouthpiece for Public Relations for Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm. Since then, I rectified that oversight. My eighth story—Habits of the Equestrian Phoenix—releases tomorrow, a story that--while set in the Wavelengths timeline--doesn’t require any knowledge of any of the other stories.
You’ve seen the scope of my vision for the Wavelengths Timeline. It has nothing to do with Gardens of Equestria. It’s something I’m doing on the side. Yet, they are also connected.
You see, every story I write gives me a little bit of visibility. I get a little more interest, interest I can show GoE to. If you aren’t interested in GoE, that’s perfectly okay! I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m here to show you things.
I came tell to tell stories and make games.
I ain’t out of either.
As Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm is now truly out in the wild, things promise to become much more interesting.
This last Saturday, we had a team-wide meeting where we all got together and actually had a full conversation. Over twenty people in across the world, from the east coast of the US to the south coast of Australia. At least three different countries were represented in this conversation.
We’re a multi-national team, bound together for a single purpose: to create an awesome game.
The Wavelengths Editing Team has people in Eastern Europe, New Mexico, California and the east coast of Australia.
I’ll be attending Babscon in a month and a half because of the generosity of a Texan and a Norwegian.
I’m hoping to attend BronyCon in Baltimore for the first time this year, which will also be the first time on the East Coast.
This sort of thing is beyond my comprehension. In a day and age where the world seems to fear what is different, what is “other” and what is unknown, I look at the world and can point to multiple continents where I have friends.
Hell, I can actually complain how annoying timezones are when trying to talk to them!
Babylon 5’s mandate was to be a place in neutral territory where all races could work out their differences peacefully. One unique element of humanity celebrated in the show that none of the other races had was something we take for granted today: humans build communities.
And even if some of our communities these days are fracturing and breaking, there are plenty who are still strong.
GoE has become on such community.
The MLP fandom is another such community.
As we near Season 7 of this epic show and the upcoming release of a full-blown theatrical movie, with Season 8 already confirmed… I know we’re not going anywhere.
There was one comment I received in GoE’s comments that I truly laughed at for how absurd it was:
“When the show dies, you guys are going to feel really stupid.”
That’s interesting.
Now, there are dozens upon dozens of examples I could use to show you how absurd this statement is. But I'll just use one. In my opinion, probably the best one.
Anyone remember a short-lived TV show called Star Trek?
Stupid, campy little “wagon train to the stars.” Only reason it got a third season was because of a letter-writing campaign.
The first Space Shuttle was named Enterprise because of that show. An entire generation of engineers, astronauts, physicists and doctors were inspired by that show.
In an interview, Nichelle Nichols, who played the black female communications officer, said that the day after she told Gene Roddenberry [the creator] she planned to leave the show, she was at a fund-raiser at the NAACP and was told there was a big fan who wanted to meet her. Nichols said,
I thought it was a Trekkie, and so I said, 'Sure.' I looked across the room, and there was Dr. Martin Luther King walking towards me with this big grin on his face. He reached out to me and said, 'Yes, Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan.' He said that Star Trek was the only show that he, and his wife Coretta, would allow their three little children to stay up and watch. [She told King about her plans to leave the series.] I never got to tell him why, because he said, 'You can't. You're part of history.'
When she told Roddenberry what King had said, he cried.
Whoopi Goldberg was inspired to join acting because of Nichelle Nichols. Klingon is actually a real language with its own grammar and vocabulary. The modern cell phone (originally the flip phone), is based on the original Star Trek communicator. I could quote much more, but someone always did a full Wikipedia article on the cultural impact of that show that barely survived three seasons in the sixties.
Eventually, yes, MLP:FiM will move into a different incarnation or come to a close. But it doesn’t matter. This fandom has build orphanages, saved lives, created lifelong friendships, built marriages, taught values to an entire generation, donated countless dollars toward victims of attempted suicide and more than we ever see.
Artists have been able to support themselves off of commissions and prints. Authors have learned the tools they need to make it professionally right here at FimFiction. Musicians have moved on to become enormous household names.
So, what’s the point of this?
The point is that spending your time here, no matter what you’re doing, isn’t a waste. One day, my work on GoE will allow me to provide for my family far better than I can now. One day, I’ll have best-selling novels written using lessons I learned here on FimFiction.
All because in 2010, Lauren Faust rewrote a TV series designed to sell toys into something that defies definition even to this day.
Those who hate this show do so because they hate what’s different. They’re afraid. They’re afraid of being looked down on by their friends or family. They’re afraid of defying society. And these days, fear seems to be all around. Because yeah… fear does breed hate. They go hand-in-hand and hoof-in-hoof.
You want to know what one of the cures to fear is?
Faith.
Faith that we are better than we appear to be. And we are. Despite evidence to the contrary, the human race is capable of wonderful things. And every day, we do wonderful things. That can be something as small as a kind word to a hurting soul or as big as curing a disease afflicting millions.
Faith that the good guys will win in the end. Faith there is indeed good in the world.
Because there is. Look around. You’ll find it. The evil might be louder, might be more publicized, might be easier to see… but the good is everywhere.
Have faith that it’s there.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love...” (1 Corinthians 13:13a)
Faith even in the darkness, there is good.
Hope for a better tomorrow, even when you can’t see past today.
Love for one another, even when the hate pours in from all sides.
Now, how this turned into a philosophical and psychological meandering about the world, the fandom and so much more… I don’t know.
But I do know this.
Gardens of Equestria isn’t going anywhere. We’re out to make an awesome game and we’re going to do it.
These stories aren’t going anywhere. I plan to keep writing them. Maybe even after I’m ready to transition back to professional stories (either way, I will finish the Wavelengths Timeline).
I don’t dream small. I never have. I never will. You shouldn’t either. Why?
JMS said it best.
"Faith manages.”
I’ll see you folks tomorrow for Habits of the Equestrian Phoenix.
Huh intresting
Funny thing is i made a babylon five fan fic And I ask others if they ever heard of it your one of the few i have met that have.
That's one thing I like about this fandom. It's here to stay. Many other properties that have long since gone off the air still have active fans. We even have the advantage of coming to be two decades into the information age, which has resulted in so much fan activity. On top of that, some very nicely set up fan sites, like this very one, that have let us flourish.
We're here to stay, and being a part of it is a special kind of magic.
... this... this was just.... so beautiful..... This gave me Kkat blog post levels of warm and fuzzies and happies and feels and just..... I feel kind of disappointed there is nothing I could add to this or comment on or.. remark on better then what you have said.... My only real response would be...
And just to add a bit extra vindication.. while I had heard of GoE, hadn't really been that interested, just, kind of "Oh that's a thing" but never looked into it, seeing you pushing it so much, and all your posts finally made me curious, been meaning to play a bit of Fallout anyway... so why not... and holy shit was it amazing and did just that little bit added so far make me hyped to see what is coming next.
Don't worry about the assholes, the haters, the morons that just "Der hur pony stupid becuase girl stuffz" they are not worth paying the least bit of attention to, from what I've seen with those that matter.. those that actually are fans of FoE, are willing to give it a try... it's been damn good.. but of course you've likely seen far more.
Just..... thank you and all the GoE team for making this amazing thing, for sticking to it, and can't wait for more. Thank you for some really fun, touching, sweet, stories.. that turned out to also be based on one hell of an epic premise I can't wait to see the answer to, and thank you for this.. simply amazing message of hope... and faith.
If Sanya ever does fall, we should have no shortage of those able to take up Fidelachius. (If you do not get the reference.. why are you not reading The Dresden Files!?)
Wait a sec, are these comments coming from inside the pony fandom? I sure hope not.
Being completely honest: I'm here for the Sunset. I have a tangential grasp at best of what Fallout is about, let alone have actually played it. But I still make sure to read every GoE blog I see from you, because it's frankly impressive and inspiring with or without the hate. I'd love to see you and your team succeed, and who knows? Maybe eventually you'll break me and I'll give it a try.
And for what it's worth, being not just on the front page of EqD but in their banner surely has to count for something, right?
I've seen my fair share of negative comments, but wow, I had no idea.
There is also another cure for the negativity that you see in the internet, and that is support.
Know that there are always people out there supporting you in what you do, and they are the slient majority.
Keep on creating!
4438190
from here
“Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm” is a story-driven DLC experience designed for Fallout: New Vegas. Inspired by the popular novel, Fallout: Equestria, Gardens of Equestria will combine the Equestrian Wasteland and the Mojave like never before. With an immersive storyline, over 80,000 words of recorded dialogue, custom music, new models, custom artwork, over 90 levels and an immense new worldspace to explore, it is unlike anything before attempted in the Fallout: Equestria fandom.
Gardens of Equestria: Dances of Light and Shadow is a novel by Novel Idea that will tell the story of our heroes after the events of “This Coming Storm.” It will be released after the launch of “This Coming Storm.”
4438212 Sounds almost right. Almost cause i'm sure GoE team will pleasantly surprise us, gamers.
And i need to get up to speed with New Vegas. My last Fallout was F2.
4438212
N-not quite, no. Consider it a fan-written epilogue to Fallout: Equestria, and additonal playable DLC for New Vegas.
4438212 The main story of GoE is independent from Fallout: Equestria, though it is inspired by it. Consider if the Mojave and Equestria began to merge at a fundamental level, from billboards to stimpaks. GoE is about how it came to be, the consequences of such an event and how to stop it before it rips apart reality itself.
Nicely said, and good on you for seeing your hopes and dreams through in spite of naysayers
I'll be at BABSCon too; I hope we get a chance to meet!
4438251
As someone who loves Fallout but could never make it through more than the first several chapters of FO:E, I am now officially interested. Is this thing downloadable anywhere that doesn't require an account?
4437590 Well said. Well said, indeed.
4437619
4437681
High praise indeed! I'm thrilled that even one person checked out GoE from my yammerings. Thank you for your comment. I gave me the exact same feelings.
...yeah, as a freakin' lightsaber, baby! (Oh yes, I have indeed listened to every one of them on audiobook)
4437800 Oh no. These are coming from the general population on the Nexus. As for GoE, you'll see plenty more, trust me. As for the banner, well... our Art Director did design that specifically for EqD!
4437872 Thank you. The vocal minority are indeed a minority. They're just really freakin' annoying!
4438643 There should be some sort of author meet up thing! I won't be doing any GoE panel at Babs, so we'll have to figure out something.
4438649 Nexus is the best place for us to host it due to it's publicity, ease of access and servers. At this juncture, we don't have it mirrored somewhere else. Please note though that GoE does consider Fallout: Equestria to be canon. It is its own unique story, but will contain spoilers for FO:E. While you'd get more out of GoE by reading FO:E first, it is by no means required. (And I do understand. I almost put down the book during Chapter 3. That being said... I'm glad I got through it).
4440118
Sanya carries Esperacius, not Fidelachius.......
Yeah not sure how I derpped on that one, I blame my brain being filled with warm and fuzzy and what not from your post.... and Butcher taking so damn long to get a new book out. But YAY! Awesome series is awesome and next book should be even more awesome. If you ever get a moment of free time between all the stuff you seem to do, FDresden+Ponies is even more then twice the epic (And those fics are what got me into Dresden in the first place. My Little Denarians, and The Dresden Fillies. One of them has Harry Dresden having to work out the logistics of fielding a team of Lightsaber wielding ponies, and his solution involves the word "duct tape" they are awesome)(Also, YAY! I made a happy too.)
4441087 No worries. I knew what you meant, but I had to look up the sword name to be sure.
You had the sword right and that's what really matters. And yes, I do know of the Dresden Fillies books! I did the covers for False Masks, Great Power and Strange Friends. 
As for the rest, I've been holding off until they're actually completed. I get invested in too many stories that take too dang long! (Secret: If I'm publishing a long story, always know that it's actually done.)