Letter of Destiny, advanced concept · 12:39pm Jun 12th, 2019
Recently, a friend of mine became fascinated with my book series Maledictum Insania and read all of them through pretty quickly. He became particularly curious what my alternative storyline would have been if I had ended up choosing the ending Letter of Destiny from the first book as the base for the rest of the story. Eventually, he got me thinking about this series again which I considered done and dealt with. I still find it pointless to spend another year or so writing another book on a series that hardly ever got any following in the first place, especially now that the generation is ending. So I decided to just take the more developed concept I have now and publish it as a blog post. If you want to find out what I came up with in terms of that concept but haven't read my book series yet, be warned of spoilers.
As I mentioned in this blog post a long time ago, the biggest difference in storyline would have been that Obsidian Shards would have remained alive for the rest of the story, Fluttershy never turned into a reaper and they both were expecting a foal. Unfortunately, the foal would be killed by Despair in the womb just days before it was due, acting as the catalyst for major character changes in the couple. Through training with Obsidian, Fluttershy's mind became fairly strong, but lacking the reaper curse she gets in the main storyline, it is not imprenetrable. The loss of her foal due to such gruesome circumstances would have made her mind vulnerable to the curse of madness and, twisted as this curse is, would have taken to amplifying her rarely seen rage and hatred.
If she couldn't have a child, why should she care about animals anymore? If she couldn't be happy, how could she give any happiness to others? Life hasn't shown her any kindness, so she refuses to give it any longer.
This results in her frequently getting into fights with her friends and, even more so, her own partner Obsidian Shards. She blames him for having been incapable of protecting her and their unborn foal, even though having a history of being an elite warrior. In her physically vulnerable state, she relied on Obsidian to keep them both safe and, in her eyes, he failed at this task. As time passes, she becomes increasingly more resenting of him and their fights become increasingly more aggressive. It eventually peaks in a scenario where Obsidian is helplessly hanging from a cliff, only holding on by one front hoof, with certain death underneath him. Fluttershy stands atop and is the only one able to rescue him. But as she looks down, she hesitates. The contemplation if she should truly pull him up after all the fights they had been in and all she deemed him guilty for, or if she should actually give his hoof a push and let him fall to his demise, is clearly written in her expression.
Although she ultimately decides to save his life, the damage is done. Fluttershy meant everything to Obsidian, even after all the fights they had been in. She was the sole reason he decided to keep on living, yet she was considering to let him die. She may not have executed her thought, but this still was the biggest betrayal Obsidian ever experienced in his life. He now could no longer trust Fluttershy and starts to hate her as well for doing this to him.
With so much negativity, it is unsurprising that the couple ends up divorcing. These two could no longer endure one another's presence and, without ever clearly stating so, arranged to take turns being with the rest of the group, avoiding eye contact as much as possible. Twilight and the rest of course are absolutely defeated by the situation and it breaks their hearts to see these two who once used to love and support each other so much now be ready to kill each other.
As time passes on and things get increasingly more difficult, Obsidian and Fluttershy eventually find themselves alone, stuck together in a cave. While initially silent, they both just couldn't hold back starting to blame one another again with everything that has thusfar transpired between them. This turns out to be the worst fight yet, as they both start to physically attack each other, rapidly escalating into a battle to death. But after all this time and all the battles they had been in, both Fluttershy and Obsidian are about equal in strength and skill, eventually leaving them both completely exhausted on the floor, panting heavily as they laid in their mixed blood. Before either one could regain enough strength to end this, the former couple is found by Twilight and her friends. All the blood and wounds sends them into shock and they immediately separate Fluttershy and Obsidian, making sure they get tended to in separate medical establishments. The injuries are so bad, they both need weeks to recover, during which they repeatedly state their clear intention to murder the other one as soon as they get out again. The group of friends, though, makes sure to talk to either one extensively and give them lots of time to contemplate their thoughts, actions and decisions for the future. In the end, Twilight and the others managed to calm them both down enough to at least avoid seeing each other.
Ultimately, months later, another big attack happens and the entire group is forced to lock itself in a storage room. For the first time in ages, Fluttershy and Obsidian are in the same room again. So of course, Twilight keeps a close eye on both of them. But after having nearly killed one another and having had a lot of time to think about everything, their attitude starts to change. Twilight had thusfar tried everything within her power to make them understand that all the suffering they had been through wasn't caused by one another, but by the demons. Despair in particular. Now, locked together in a storage room with all their friends, they have their first non-hostile conversation in years. It seems that they finally start to understand they both had gone way, way too far and actually talk about their problems and their past. Apologies are exchanged, but Twilight felt like this wouldn't be enough to make sure they would truly stop attacking each other. So she decides to project the happy moments of their relationship in front of them, making them relive the wonderful past they used to have together before everything went down. Happy memories fill their minds and, at long, long last, they come to understand and find peace in everything that happened. It is a beautiful, heartfelt moment that causes tears to gather in the eyes of all present. If they couldn't trust and rely on one another, who else could they trust and rely on? The couple allowed the curse of madness, as well as the demons, to get between them. They allowed each other to be torn apart and made so much weaker than they were before. Now, finally, they decide to work together again and at least try to become friends again.
Gradually, over the last 10 chapters or so, trust is rebuilt and friendship gradually grows. These two ponies, for the first time in years, begin to smile again and, just before the end, they finally overcome their troubled past and renew their vows. The suffering they had been through ultimately made them stronger. If their love could surive this, it could survive anything.
I hope you enjoyed this quite possibly last ever blog post from me. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer it.
Huh, interesting idea. This was actually a satisfying premise to think about, and it makes me want to reread the last book.
Do you think you'll give G5 a chance? It may not be the end..
5073429
I cannot say anything for sure at this moment. I wasn't very successfull in this gen, so i dont think it will change in the next. I actually started writing an original story i intend to publish one day, but havent worked on it for about a year now due to real life getting in the way.
5073438
Not even necessarily writing wise, think you'll watch it?
5073445
Im certainly giving the new generation a try