Been awhile

Sorry for the delay between chapters, been busy with RL. But I've gotten some time to make progress.

My Little XLR (possible name change to My little Megas, not sure yet.) is almost done. Just working out the final bits before I check over my grammar and spelling.

Bowser and Pinkie, may be pushed back a bit. I'm getting a ton of Ideas for the next chapter and still haven't figured out how to sort it together. I will say I'm half way done with the current chapter, and if it feels like its taking me too long I might chop it up into smaller chapters.

One thing I'm ambitiously working on is a sort of Fire Emblem styled MLP story that will take place during the early days of Equestria's formation. It will be a story about a band of rookie soldiers banding together to protect the newly formed nation in its greatest hour of need. In a time where not everypony is thrilled with the Idea of unifying the three pony tribes, sinister forces are trying to shatter the era of peace and harmony Equestria hopes to usher in.

I'd say more but I tend to reveal to much when I do.
I can't say its a crossover since it won't have characters from the actual FE series in it, nor take place in their world.

That brings me to my current dilemma.
I am not sure how I should go with this. I mean I got the basic story down, just not sure how to go about with the characters.

I don't want to just take a FE story and ponyfy everything. That just seems unoriginal.

I could go with OC ponies, with references to present day ponies. (Like ancestors or something,) But OCs just aren't that accepted by readers.

I could just place the mane 6 into the story. (Actually the more I think about it the easier this one sounds. Which is why I'm sort of against it. I prefer the harder choice, but I'm will to go with this.)

I could go with an idea a friend suggested and go with ponies using magical weapons to change into human form to fight. I.E. like the laguz from the GameCube Fire Emblem series, except backwards.

Oh I just don't know which to pick. I mean I want to do this story but I don't know how to go about doing it.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.