Harmony Theory new chapter and Q&A · 9:41pm Feb 11th, 2013
There's a new chapter of Harmony Theory out. Thanks to Coandco for proofreading. I've also resubmitted the story to EqD, a big thank you to Cold In Gardez who gave me a lot of help in cleaning up the early chapters, and some excellent advice on how to improve. EqD is swamped right now, so I hear, so it might be a while before they get around to taking a look at it. I've got my fingers crossed, but I know they can be a little picky.
Harmony Theory is about 160,000 words long now, the length of a decent novel. It's also reached what I think of as the end of part one of the story. That's as good a place as any to hold a little Q&A session. Post questions in the comments to this blog, if you've got anything you're curious about. I'll answer questions about the setting, characters, and background info but I won't give any spoilers for future events in the story.
Anyways, I'm excited to continue, and I hope you're all enjoying what I've written!
-Sharaloth
How does Twilicorn fit in with The Archer and the Smith series?
817951
Twilicorn doesn't. The Archer and the Smith is an alternate universe that branched off from the main during the events of Friendship is Magic (the pilot).
It looks like a great story, and I can't wait to read it when it is complete. But now, when you said "part 1" I can see, that it is not even near the end....
So the question is: How long do you think it will take you to finish?
Who is that wizard overlord guy from The Archer and The Smith? The one who had the dragon patrolling around.
818099
That depends on a lot of things, including how much time I have to write between life, work, and other writing projects. I envision the story as having four parts, but nothing requires each part to be as long as the first. If you'd like, think of it as following a book series. You read them as they come out, and there is some time between each (ideally a year at most). The story is currently at the end of 'book one', and if the next part is the same length and takes me the same amount of time to write, then you can come back in six months and it will be at the end of 'book two'.
818117
That is the Sorceress. She rules the Heartland of Equestria with unquestionable authority. Feriotrax Sanguinus was her chief enforcer, brutalizing whatever segment of the population she deems needs it. The Sorceress was once a fashion-loving unicorn named Rarity, but has long left that life behind her.
Are we going to see any new stories in the world of the Archer and the Smith any time soon?
818288
I'm working on one right now with the tentative title: The Heart Thief. I'm only about halfway through writing it, and it'll require some polish, but I've got free time this week so I'm going to be working on it.
818131 Ahh, I had a sneaking suspicion that the bearers of the Elements were the rulers, thanks for confirming that! Does that mean that the dragon was Spike?
818360
Nope. The dragon was not Spike.
818362 Oh, okay.
I'll be looking forward to The Heart Thief. I'll admit, The Archer and The Smith has always been one of my absolute favorite fanfictions.
Keep on writing!
818293
Awesome.
In Harmony Theory how much of the mane 6 are you thinking of bringing in? I'm guessing probably all of them simply due to the nature of where your story is taking us however... I thought I'd ask.
Plus are you thinking of adding more to The Archer and the Smith? And by that I mean more like a longer story rather than a one shot.
817965
What about in Harmony Theory?
Harmony Theory is very entertaining, I found it a few hours ago, and caught up on the recent chapter just minutes ago.
It's interesting how one can't quite be sure if Rainbow(And AJ) are the originals, well made imitations, or something else. Or who made them(The originals, the EoH, third party). It's also very fun how while the EoH seem to be Eldritch Abominations, unlike most settings with such things, Twilight and friends actually seem to have figured them out. For whatever degree of good that would do.
So I guess the only real question is,
Will it be awesome?
819407 Three of the mane 6 have already made an appearance, and it's not really a spoiler to say that all of them will be part of the story. As to continuing the Archer and the Smith: I do have a continuation of the story in the planning stages.
819472 The events of season 3 happen in the Harmony Theory universe, just in a slightly different way. Many of the instances of Twilight doing research for Celestia are instead her studying the Elements of Harmony, and she had them the whole time instead of being given them during Discord's 'rehabilitation'. This means that, yes, Twilight got her wings. It does not, however, make her an Alicorn. Nor does it mean she kept them.
819784 If I have anything to say about it, it will be.
819942 3? ...there's RD and AJ... and then... well I guess then that leaves my suspicions correct? Twilight? ...or maybe that's the answer you want me to come up with so when the real one shows her self I go "WHAT!?-IRHUIAHGDUAHSDIUGAUOWIHIO!~?!?!
" And am completely surprised... hmmmmmm I'm thinking maybe I should go back and reread the whole thing... xD 
cause that's just what I do 
My questions about Harmony Theory will be answered in the coming chapters, I hope so at least !
I am looking forward to The Heart Thief, I LOVED The Archer and the Smith.
819942
Three of the mane six have appeared? Well unless your counting Spike as part of the "mane six", it seems you're giving a small hint (and another with the Twilicorn bit). Though you've shown through your writing that you are very capable of twists and turns that completely blindside your audience. In good ways of course.
But I hope you'll indulge my theory-crafting for a bit, I have a few ideas that just won't leave my mind after reading such a mysterious and enthralling story.
With you're little hints (or complete diversions), the most obvious choice is that the third mane six is Twilight. This leaves two more obvious choices, Twinkle Shine or Umbra (though now that I think about it, could Umbra be Cadence?). Twinkle shine is the most likely, though I have my doubts. Too obvious (though that could be the idea....). Umbra is another, but with you mentioning that Twilight didn't necessarily become an alicorn or keep her wings, this becomes less likely (could all be a diversion from the truth). Rainbow Dash could be Twilight with the glowing eyes bit, but I really doubt that one.
My other guess is that the third mane six is Pinkie. It's really out there, but Blaze might be Pinkie. Literally BE Pinkie. I wouldn't put it past Pinkie to be able to reincarnate herself with all her memories. She is the pony most likely to break the natural laws of the world.
Speaking of Blaze, even if he isn't Pinkie, he is either the wielder of laughter or a proxy. Just like Charisma is the "inversion", anger. Star is probably magic and Astrid is probably loyalty. Calumn might be kindness, though I don't think it's there yet and Hard Boiled is honesty.
Inversion, seems to be the key to why the schism happened. Whether the schism happened because of Harmony inversion or if the inversion happened because of the schism is still a mystery. Though my thinking is telling me that the schism happened to stop Harmony. Umbra, while seeming evil, is just a neutral player in all of this. She spoke of being made from the ashes of the mane six, so perhaps she is their creation (giving credit to the possibility that Twinkle Shine is Twilight Sparkle and how they have a connection. Or maybe Twinkle is just the mortal embodiment of Umbra just like Nightmare Moon needed Luna).
I have also thought on how Dash and now Applejack came back. A sacrifice was needed, in Applejack's case it was Conrad, a pony that lied all the time and was full of deceit. The opposite of honesty. Which makes me think that Charisma is only kept around to bring Pinkie back. My thinking falls apart slightly when confronted with Rainbow's revival. Was James Bay going to stab Max Cash in the back? From the story Max told Calumn, James seemed like the loyal one. Given how Max behaves, he seems like the betrayer. Though maybe the sacrifice isn't just what's needed, maybe it's an act of betrayal/deceit/anger/etc. along with a life.
Thinking of the elements, every element has it's opposite except for magic. It brings some terrifying possibilities if you think about it (and I understand it). The wielder (or proxy) of magic could be good or evil, as long as they could control magic, they could potentially flip the others. Magic in the end, controls it all. Perhaps that is why Max is after it, to control Harmony or maybe it's to control Chaos. History seemed to forget the elements and Discord, though it had the help of Umbra (and possibly Twinkle Shine), but either Cash is an embodiment of something/someone else or he just stumbled upon something he shouldn't have (Harmony Theory) and he really is just a crazy pony.
In the end, whether my guessing is right or not, you have written a wonderful story and I hope that you update soon.
819472
After watching the episode: It is HILARIOUS how well it all fits into Harmony Theory. Seriously, it's like they read my notes.