• Member Since 16th May, 2012
  • offline last seen Oct 3rd, 2017

Loyal


Just a dude. Writes horsewords... with varying regularity.

More Blog Posts376

  • 345 weeks
    Memories of the fallen.

    Nathan again, I just wanted to make a quick blog update for anyone who might want to give their best wishes. It has come to my attention that there will be a memorial service for Loyal held on the 19th of August. I'm making this post so that anyone who maybe happened to enjoy Loyals work has a chance to pay proper respect.

    Read More

    11 comments · 2,639 views
  • 346 weeks
    We will remember him.

    Hi everyone, my name's Nathan and I come today to bring some somber and tragic news. The reason Loyal isn't here giving you the news is because he sadly is the news. Loyal and I would have been best friends for 5 years this fall, but I am so very sorry to have to inform everyone that Jordan Williams appears to have taken his own life last night.

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    58 comments · 5,211 views
  • 367 weeks
    Fallout: Saddle Arabia Compendium, Vol. 1

    Stable Alpha

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  • 370 weeks
    Tattoos

    There was a Tumblr post some time ago that mused on tattoos, how everyone was born with their own, and they were unique to that particular person. It went on to detail how, when one tattoo bearer fell in love with another, their native tattoos would appear on the partner's body. And would remain, even after heartbreak. Some people would be littered with the marks, and others would go their entire

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    11 comments · 686 views
  • 372 weeks
    Fallout: Saddle Arabia is LIVE!

    That's right, folks, the first (two) chapter(s) of Fallout: Saddle Arabia are published! This marks the first time I've stepped into the Fallout: Equestria fandom, after many years of reading the stories and playing the games.

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    0 comments · 427 views
Jun
16th
2013

Archmage: Beyond the Crystal Mirror - Foreword · 2:25pm Jun 16th, 2013

Archmage: Beyond the Crystal Mirror - Foreword

---------------

Hello to everyone, faithful followers and new readers alike. I’m greatly pleased that you’ve taken the time to read my story. Before we begin, though, I have a few things to share. For new readers, this story might be relatively confusing without having read its precursor, Archmage. It’s a daunting task, I know, but I suggest you do so here. Otherwise, many parts of this story will be confusing to you.

To my old readers, I want to begin by thanking you. Were it not for your support and friendliness, this never would have been possible. So while I have your attention, allow me to spell out a few things for you.

I drew inspiration for this story from the multiple comments and requests sent to me after the finish of Archmage. A lot of the readers wanted to see how different events might have played out, should Twilight have chosen differently in her path of learning. For instance, what would have happened should Twilight have chosen not to become Archmage at all? What would have changed if she had held Luna’s motivations against her, and not forgiven the princess for pushing her to lose her virginity? What would have happened if Twilight had chosen to become a god, rather than return to Equestria as a princess? All of these questions and more can and will be answered in this story.

A word of caution, however. Many of these other possibilities are tragic, sad, and in some cases, violent. To be safe, I am adding both the tragedy and gore tags to this story, in addition to the alternate universe, sex, and sad tags. This will cover many possible tangents, and allow me to be flexible with the possibilities. I will try my hardest to stay within the realm of reason for these, but I cannot promise all of you will be pleased.

Having said that, I can now go on to say I will be accepting requests for this story. Mind you, these requests are just that: requests. I will take them into consideration, and will not accept all of them. There is no formal way of making a request, but I do suggest the following:

-Make it realistic. All of these different worlds Twilight will be exploring are still within Equestria. There is no Earth, no crossover worlds, no other planets. Please keep your requests within the Archmage-verse, that is, the alternate universe I created in the previous story.
-Make it relevant. To Archmage, that is. Use story arcs, characters, and plot lines from the original work. Don’t ask me to use your own story or someone else’s. These requests will be ignored outright. I don’t care how congruent or close they are, I will not use your story in this request.
-Be patient. Be understanding. Maybe your request doesn’t strike my fancy, or I just plain don’t feel like writing it. Maybe I think it’s silly and not worth my time. Or maybe I have something else planned. While the alternate dimensions carry a lot of opportunity for variety, writing the same story seven times with minor differences can and will get monotonous, not just for me, but for other readers. If you feel something I write could have been done better or differently, feel free to write it yourself. Some chapters will be written on request or with suggestions from readers, while others (Like the first few) will be my own creation. It’s safe to say, however, that most if not all of these chapters will be things readers of the original story wanted to see done differently.
-Be civil. Yes, I am a clop author. What I write is, primarily, erotic. But I no longer write catering to other’s fetishes or wild delights. I will not accept requests with wild or out-of-character sexual tendencies. Twilight and Luna’s relationship was one of romance and passion, not lust-fueled eroticism and self-gratification. Asking me to write them doing something as wild as a dom/sub relationship or a wild fuck-fest will get both of us nowhere. Please, try to be civil with your requests.
-Enjoy! I’m writing this story so my readers can explore a little bit more of the world I’ve created, and see how Twilight’s different decisions might have impacted her relationship with Luna, Celestia, and the rest of the world. There will be sadness, there will be laughter, and there will be sex. Keep an open mind as you read, and remember this one very important fact:

All of these chapters have no impact on the story. The events in Archmage were the actual and true events, and cannot be changed or taken back. These are all tangents. Different timelines and possibilities that, while realistic, never actually happened. And before you ask, yes. There will be a little bit more development outside of these realms, in the world of Archmage. But for the most part, the story will focus on Twilight’s exploration of these different worlds.

Once more, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story, and thanks again to everyone for your incredible support. I look forward to creating and sharing more content with you all over the next… However long I’m going to be doing this.

Sincerely yours,
-Loyal

^.^

Report Loyal · 2,244 views ·
Comments ( 26 )

Huh. This sounds fun...

When do you plan to release this?

~Skeeter The Lurker

I suppose I'll throw a request in.

In the part of the story where Twilight becomes the archon of the sun (or whatever you want to call it) To stop goldencrest (or was it silvercrest...) When he tried to take control over the night, what would happen if that power infected her mind and she never reverted back to normal?

1147735
In other words, what would have happened if Twilight had seized the power of the day and tried to bring about her own agenda with it?

1147726
Wolfton is reading through the prologue now, and afterwards I will be uploading the story. Approval takes anywhere from an hour to a day typically, so expect it by Monday at the latest.

1147739 Well I don't think her own agenda would really involve anything too terribly catastrophic. So I was thinking instead of that, the influence caused her to became sort of a lawful evil type and gave her a massive lust for power.

I have two requests, one easy and one hard:

The easy one is simple - I just want to know what happens if Twilight fails at the library.

The harder one is more difficult to put into words and may be pointless. What happens if Twilight finds a world that is better in every conceivable way then the one she has now? For example, what if Twilight finds a world where the only difference is that her parents lived and that's it? No strings attached, nothing to make it seem like it would have been better for Twilight/Equestria if her parents had died.

I don't mean that Twilight finds a "perfect" Equestria, just one that she'd rather live in.

Does that make since?

1147745
I'll consider it. Good request.
1147747
I had already planned on writing the first one.
And as for the second one: There will be a chapter where Twilight finds a world she'd rather live in. I won't say anything more than that.

1147755 Awesome. Is there a limit you'd like us to observe when it comes to giving you requests? I was planning on reading through your story again now that it's done. I just need to give it some time so I can hopefully forget all the minor, and maybe some of the major details.

1147758
Changing minor details is kind of an iffy thing for me, and I'd appreciate it if you refrained. But major requests are welcome. As far as the limit... I'll decide what does and does not go into the story. If one user makes eighteen phenomenal requests, I'll be writing eighteen phenomenal worlds for them.

1147764 Alright I'll keep all that in mind then.

How about she finds a world where someone else was picked to be Archmage (ex. Trixie)?

1147770
I had intended on doing a world where she denied the position of Archmage, and somepony else was chosen in her stead. While it may not be Trixie, I do have plans for something like this.

How about she finds a world where someone else was picked to be Archmage (ex. Trixie)? Also, just for laughs, a world where everything happened like it was ment to, but everyone are ponies.

Requests, huh? Would you mind writing something about Archmage dealing with other magical races (Zebras, Dragons, Deer etc), whose magic is very different from the traditional schools known to ponykind? It could be some kind of diplomatic event, friendly duel or solving some kind of problem together with a non-pony.

By the way, if Twilight was an archmage for 170 years by the end of the first story, isn't it about time for Spike to wake up from his long sleep? His reaction to everything that happened to his sister/mother (and her relationship with Luna) would be both hilarious and heartwarming.

Here's my request, what if regal managed to hit celestia with that spell? Just an idea there

How about one in which twilight succeeds at the library but in doing so loses rarity?

What if Discord were an involved character? Either as an antagonist, supporting role, or even a teacher.

What secrets will Celestia and Luna tell Twi now that she is an alicorn?

1148022

Oh yeah, how would Spike react and would he now be involved with negotiations with the Dragon Kingdoms?

I only have one request. Right this as well as you write all your stories! You already know what I prefer... (to read a damn good story :twilightsmile: )

I'll try to throw a request out.I have two Ideas, but one probably follows the actualy main story. How about Twilight meeting up with Spike after his long nap is over, and Twi is now(basically) immortal. (this may have been canon in the Archmage universe after the events of the story)

And then the canon diverging story, what if Twi continued to read the book, and not close it? What if she learned about her own Prophesy?

I had a few thoughts, but I'll leave you with the one:

In the Library, where Twilight successfully altered the defensive spell matrix to preserve the books rather than the library- what if she instead came upon a rapidly fading Bolt-ghost, and replaces his dwindling life-force with her own, becoming the new keeper / archon / librarian? It might not even be permanent, as having access to such a colossal archive of magic might yield a solution, but she does bind herself to the library as a stop-gap measure. Would it take days, weeks, months to fix everything? Does she ever get to leave?

1251482

This. I like this.
It's on my proverbial list.

Took me a while to mesh this into a semi-coherent idea, but here goes: :twilightsheepish:

In the original tale, both Celestia and Luna are preparing to witness the end of the world around them, while up in the void, Twilight is having a lovely chat with two gods, trying to decide which version of immortality she prefers. The two gods seem to present both a good and a bad side to going back, but they don't provide the same treatment to the latter choice - becoming a god. In short form:

Alicorn = immortality good, watching everyone else around you pass on with time bad
God = immortality/omniscience good, ??? bad

So, the question is, what is the consequence of choosing to be a god? We know how it benefits Twilight, but will it cost her, and how? With that said, here's my idea:

Twilight chooses to become a god, and is immediately granted the power and abilities that were promised to her. Her two new equals then reveal the other side of the coin:

The entire universe that Twilight knew was created for the purpose of fulfilling the final prophecy - the creation of the god of Magic. Twilight's life was simply the final piece of the prophecy, and now that she has become the third god, the universe that Twilight knew is no longer needed. Together, the three gods will end the existing universe, and begin anew. Only this time, with the god of Magic finally arisen, then can begin their ultimate creation. In other words: the other side of the coin, to borrow from Celestia, is to watch the world burn.

Thanks for your time, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

GMP

1339794
Ouf. That's a good idea. And Twilight, simply being a denizen of the mirror, has to watch as the world burns around her. When I get around to writing Beyond the Crystal Mirror chapters more frequently, I will seriously consider this one.

Good request!

1339794

Actually I don't think the universe would end. If only for this one reason.

The end said she would live alongside the Sun and Moon.

This was a duel function prophesy. The Sun and Moon could either be the Deities of the sun and moon, or as the Royal Sister's thought as an Alicorn. So either way the prophesy would be finished, and the universe wouldn't explode ... although an exploding Universe would be cool, but I doubt that Twi would allow the destruction of her love.

______________________________________________________

1147739

I haven't started the sequel yet, but am going to now. Looking at this forward I have a few questions / requests.

Request 1 Question 1:What happened to Startswirl's unfinished spell? The chaos that could've caused if she cast that with Luna and Celestia in the same room as her would've been interesting. And since Tia and Luna are blessed by differnet dieties. All 3 shifting their marks, would've been intriguing. Since only Twi currently holds an Element of Harmony.

Part B) What if that (after the library insident) ascended her to Alicorn status, would set off a chain reaction that either A) Also turned their friends and loved ones (those they were emotionally tied to through the powers of strong friendship), or B) Only effected Twilight, as before but jump started the talk with the Deities before her death.

Request 2 and Question 2:

We never see her learning Fear Magic. What is that / how did she master it?

It'd be interesting if she got consumed by fear, after nearly / did loose Rarity in the Library.

Request 3:

What if Twilight lost her virginity to Celestia rather than Luna? Or what about any other pony? [those could be individual fics that would have far reaching consequences]

Request 4:

What if the Sonic Rainboom never happened, and Twilight got a different Cutie Mark? Or from the imbalance the archmage at the time blew up in Canterlot Towers?

1373711

I see your point, and to be honest, that thought crossed my mind as I was typing my original idea/request. Now, I'm not trying to start an argument here, but allow me to elaborate a bit:

It is true that the final prophecy has a duality to it. Whether she becomes a god or an Alicorn, Twilight is indeed destined to stand between the light and the dark. (well, it seems true to this reader; Loyal is free to dispute that, as he wrote it after all. :twilightsheepish: )

However, the way I see it, the two gods have always existed both in and out of the normal plane of existence. They command immense sway over the universe, but they themselves are unaffected by what goes on in it. So, should the universe end, whether by a naturally occurring incident or their own hooves, the gods would continue on as if nothing had happened, so to speak. Ergo, should Twilight join them, she too would be immune to any events henceforth, including the apocalypse.

To put it another way, the idea is similar to how many Christians understand the nature of god's power over existence. Coming up in Catholic school, it was 'gospel truth' that god could end the universe as we know it and begin anew at any time (aka - the new kingdom to come, post-rapture, etc.)

Thanks!
GMP

/again, not trying to open an argument, just discussing :scootangel:

1374139

It's all good, honestly a part of me would've loved half-seriously debating you (it besides ranting is a favorite past time. Well ranting is my special talent, but I digress), but I wouldn't have argued, you put your thoughts together in a logical, well thought out manner and has to date been one of the more enjoyable, lengthy replies I've yet to read. But I must reply to this. Now as you said earlier it's not an argument, and no offense is meant. It's merely a discussion.

While a part of me can agree that being apart from things would've allowed them to act objectively (looking at all the moving pieces of the probable futures, reality, and what have you with an vulcan like objectivity) rather than subjectively (what mortals on the lesser planes of existance are used to). There are a few things wrong with the outcome. Although I can see it partially as possible.

The biggest thing is that it lasting millenium, being responsible for all magic. Slowly ripping it out of the physical plane, and dooming Celestia and Luna to a slow tortorus spiritual death where they watch the world around them slowly die with the inability to control day or night. Their subjects that gave them an emotional center being gone, and the universe slowly dying around them. It seems OOC for Twilight. Especially millenia of that existance.

I think she'd be the kind of pony that'd allow even the immortal Celestia and Luna a repreive to where ever their subjects vanished to, or at least visit them as the Day and Night used to in that universe to allow them the blessing that it was all going to end soon. And actually grant them death, before starting over. But six thousand years, that's a bit long for any being.

Especially since a Deity is physically and spiritually resonant with an aspect of reality (Day and Night represented not only their aspects of time, but the archetypes of those aspects of their name sakes.). Killing off what they represent, and removing those who worshiped them basically killed off their attachment to reality, their anchor into mortal affairs. I think things would get boring quickly.

I can honestly see a thousand years needed to build up the spell needed to shut down things and restart it. Heck I could've even have seen the darkness said in that chapter slowly engulfing the universe, devouring everything and when everything was wiped clean having a fresh start. But for the darkness to be so slow moving, that it'd force Tia and Luna to torture, and give way to the death of an innocent Twilight. It truly was heart rending to see the sweet Twilight we know and love sit back and allow them to Suffer for 6 thousand years, the murder of one of her Alternates, only to see the mare she loved and the mare who practically raised her euthanized because she was to callous to end things quickly (After all if an imballance merely explodes everything that exists that was affected by a prophesy, than there should've been no reason why they had to suffer for as long as they did. If at all.).

One last thing, on the other hoof if they didn't decide to wipe everything from existence because there was no real need at that point in time (a different alternate universe) than just like the Day worked through daylight, Celestia, and Light users. And the Night worked through the plane of Shadows. Twilight would've been a deity that was not only their balance (thus the balance to the magical appocalypes), but of all magic. And could've worked through magic users to usher in an era of magical prosperity, enlightnement, and growth. A true utopia. Then when all the ponies of Equestria were spiritually ready could've spiritually let them touch their plane of existance and in that moment of pure bliss. Erradicated the universe and started over. While everypony was at peace and harmony. Rather than terror and fear.

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