Honestly, I didn't think I'd make it. · 10:21pm Aug 20th, 2022
Well, it has been a few years since I started the final revision to Carina's story, Crystals & Chitin. What started out as a seasonal narrative on a brony gaming community's website between 2012 and 2016 has seen many failed attempts to fill in the gaps of time between the various entries to become a single coherent story.
The deciding factor was actually my interaction with another author here on fimfic. Phoenix Dragon's story, Without a Hive captivated me. The main character was everything I tried to make mine out to be. The lore around changelings in his AU was so similar to my own that I was compelled to contact him and ask if it would be okay to use elements of his headcanon in my story, not actually expecting to ever finish it.
The conversations that took place between us over the following years convinced me to stick to this iteration of the narrative, and now the story has been told. If you look carefully, there are actually two cameos in Crystals & Chitin from his AU. They are blink-and-you'll-miss-it though, so I won't hold it against you if you missed them, especially if you have yet to read Phoenix's trilogy (Fragments, Without a Hive, and A New Way).
While I don't think I ever said so in one of the author notes, the story wouldn't exist without his influence, so I'll put it here: Thank you, Phoenix. I won't go so far as to dedicate the story to ya, but you'd deserve it if I had.
That aside, if you are reading this, I am going to assume you read the story to completion. If not, maybe go do that. I'll wait.
Back? Great! I hope you liked it.
There are, as I type this, a few thousand words typed out already for what was going to / may yet become the sequel to this story.
The main character is firmly established in my mind, as is the general setting and backstory. I know a few specific scenes that I want to share later in the story, if it gets written, but not much else. I don't have a plot. I don't have an antagonist (unless the main character ends up their own antagonist, which could 100% happen).
And, I don't know if you noticed or not, but my upload schedule has been absolutely terrible. I am genuinely concerned that my interest in Gen 4 MLP may expire before the next time I write 'the end'. Ya know?
I know I asked this in the final chapter, but it bears repeating: What would you like to see? Are you okay with a story that has a better than zero chance of never actually ending properly, or would you rather I provide what I have as an epilogue to Crystals & Chitin?
Without a hive was without a doubt one of my favorites.
There was also:
In sheep's clothing
Flitter
... screw this I'm taking a screenshot...
i.postimg.cc/2S1GfG0V/Screenshot-20220821-134221-Chrome.jpg
Now to figure out how to put yours on my page too...
Anyway, I'm so glad you were able to finish it.
And I love that Phoenix was able to help.
Yes, i would love to see those words you already wrote out.
And if you should want to leave/stop before you finish that, I understand.
As for your intrest for the gen 4 and writing...
Take it from me... if you stop, it is very hard to start again.
But you also shouldn't force yourself.
If you WANT to write something else in this AU (and i admit that would be awesome,) go for it.
If you don't, try to make something that interests you and make it fun to write.
And maybe you will get some cool ideas for later in the meanwhile while also not burning out...
I'm okay with a new story that may never finish, I would rather read part of it than none of it.