Avatar: The Last Alicorn. Book 4: Alicorn

by Jeweled Pen

Avatar series two voting time

Okay, it looks like the next avatar series will be coming(albeit not for a while). However, it's now time to start voting on what people want to see! Keep in mind this isn't a guaranteed thing since, frankly, I might not have a story I can mold around the selected story. But I will try and at the bare minimum I will make a what-if mini story if one of them has a preference. To vote, either add a comment or private message me. Now, without further ado, the options! All taken from the previous chapter, with their pros and cons.

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There are four avatars: The elements were shattered and the avatar state was broken. That means the power that holds the four elements is shifting. Instead of there being one avatar, there are four, each with their own element. They must try to work together and harness their own powers. Unfortunately, bringing about the powers of the true alicorn may cost three of them their bending, can they really work together, knowing that it may cost them their powers one day?

That one is probably unlikely, since as fun as it would be, I think it would be a better what-if series than the continuation.

Nyx or Snowdrop as the avatar: This was my original idea, since I absolutely adore these characters. Simple, follows the main plotline of the series. Easy peasy. Lots of cameos from other important ponies in the fandom.

The main problem with them is I have to get permission from the fan creators and then if I do the characters wrong, well, it could end up with a lot of backlash. Especially considering the other problems it could make. I also thought the idea of a blind avatar would be, well, nice. All the cameos would really hold the story back in pace, since I'd have to get dozens of permissions, any of which could be taken back at any time if they didn't like how I portrayed their characters.

The avatar was born when Twilight 'died': See, in the series when Aang died, the avatar state was broken. That didn't happen in this series. So my thought was 'what if the next avatar was already around?' As in, born. Twilight could help train him/her, bring about a time of two avatars, they'd have to work together to repair the damage them both existing would create, how would it disturb the spirit world, etc. I even had a plan to have her meet the other avatar in book two, but I decided against it.

This is another not likely one, though I do think it would be interesting. I haven't completely ruled it out, namely since I think I could do a lot with it, as well as use it to show the birth of Harmony(the town.)

Diamond Tiara as the avatar: An avatar who believes she is the best thing ever, spoiled to a brat, yet always compared to the previous avatar who not only saved the world, but managed to tap into powers that no other pony had ever even dreamed of. She has to fix what Discord broke, or risk losing the world a second time. Also, she has to get over herself.

Yeah, this one is the most likely one. I wasn't going to tell who it was originally, but I figured I might as well. I found the idea of Diamond Tiara as an avatar and suddenly having the world thrust on her shoulders to be an interesting story. I feel I can really do a lot with her, to develop her as a character. Especially since the only real thing we know about her from the show is 'she's a brat'. But the thing about being a brat is, for most people, they grow out of it. So I want to see where she grows.

Suggested by popular demand(I've had two people request it), the Korra series using Killa97's characters. I'm honestly not sure about this since I'm not familiar with her, but I've had a few people request it already so I'll look into it. Though, it has the same problems as using Nyx/Snowdrop, namely that I would be using another ponies characters. Not to mention apparently those characters are fairly based on set parents for each char, which I'd have to modify to suit the story. But it's possible.

Finally, a fan suggested one: Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments and I'll add them here. Once I've had some voting and decide, I'll post a few preview lines I plan to use for the next book. Have fun.

Comments

[HalflingPony]

I honestly have no opinion one way or the other on what you do with your next story, but in the interests of saving both you and Pen Stroke time asking and answering a question he's already dealt with dozens of times:

Yes, you have permission to use Nyx. Just don't be a jerk about it.

[eric-emanwu]

My comments on these things remain unchanged, but I'll reiterate how I see each one working or not working.

For the 4 in one avatar thing, I thought that was a good idea for creating interesting dynamics around those avatars. That each one could have different attitudes as they work with the others, and that what they're all working towards is figuring out who is "most worthy" based on their attitude and smarts. Another component of this which I thought of is how this "divided" avatar could help contribute to the erosion of confidence in the Avatar that was present in Korra's story. If there's no elements, and there's no sure avatar, than what use have we for them anyways? (or something like that.)

For the "2 avatars" plot, while a chance to be heartwarming and an interesting character study, is actually my least favorite of the ideas. Mostly because it would beg the question why twilight never lost her powers and harmony privilege if a new avatar had arisen. And because I liked the idea that an avatar can only get help from the past through spiritual meditation rather than having a real avatar mentor in the flesh.

For the 2 different fan character ideas, I state the same idea I have for how to handle it: If you really want to use these characters, just ask/look and see if you can use them, and just move on. In fact, if you called this the "easy" way, this would be the least difficult for you to work through.

The Diamond Tiara idea also is interesting, because really Diamond's dilemma will also allow a fair amount of self-delusion. Sure, diamond's the avatar, but by the time Twilight Sparkle died, she was probably known as the greatest avatar EVER. A warrior, a peacemaker, a scholar, a friend, etc. Sure, Diamond could say that everything Twilight was is hers now, but the delusion is in the incongruency between who she is, and who twilight is. In a way, it makes perfect sense, since an avatar typically reverses prominent traits of their previous avatar in a new regeneration. On the other hand, given the timeframe, she'll be living in the shadow....of the crusaders. Since in this continuity Scoots, Sweetie and Flower were half a generation below the element bearers, this means that any attempts to bully them is going to give diamond a boot to the head and a glare down since they fought with that legendary avatar. It also does make "lin's" criticism seem more legitimate, because with the "you've earned none of this" could be considered even more of a putdown since diamond always thinks she has. Oh, and Silver Spoon could be Asami. And Starlight Glimmer could be...Kuvira.

As for any other ideas, well....what about a child of one of the element bearers as the new avatar. This would create an even more difficult legacy for the new avatar to live up. That it's not only Twilight they're trying to live up to, but their mom too. Or another species as the avatar? Then you can add a racism friendship is magic element, bringing in elements of the griffon kingdom there as well (season 5). I'll....get back to you with more.

Personally, I think the Nyx one would be the most fun, but as I haven't read that fic I can't know if it would have the same kinds of intricacies you had in your previous avatar story. But, it's always the author's call ultimately. If you think you can do the same thing with Nyx, I say go with it. Otherwise, stick with Diamond.