)Where do we go from here? · 5:56pm Jul 8th, 2012
I'm getting really good at making my titles ask my questions for me.
But then I do the dumb thing and ask them again anyway.
Warning to all readers - if you have not read the entirety of Hearts Aflutter, I strongly suggest you ignore this blog. Spoilers lie in wait.
And here, I'm just gonna write a whole bunch of stuff so that whoever might not be up to date doesn't accidentally see any plot points that I'm about to mention, because that would really suck - I hate seeing spoiler tags really big but accidentally skimming over them regardless.
So everything in this space is actually rather pointless. Just in case anybody's actually reading this particular pointless paragraph, I would also ask this question - what do you think of the story so far? Everything about it - writing quality, style, plot, structure, whatever.
Be honest, if you'd like - I take well to criticism as long as it isn't insulting - and I'm not easily insulted either.
You'd have to... I dunno, somehow bring my mum into it. I don't even know what relevance that would have. Also no religious flame wars or anything, because those things really happen here a lot. No organising jihad attacks, definitely no planning parties and not inviting me...
The comments should stick to Hearts Aflutter, I think. That'd be for the best.
Okie dokie, I think anyone who saw that spoiler tag should be alright by now - I'll begin.
---
Where do you guys all want to see Hearts Aflutter go? Besides a happy ending, of course. I have plans, ideas and the like - I also have a few unresolved plot points even, such as Fluttershy's whole guilt thing, Fluttershy's recovery, Scootaloo learning to fly, Fluttershy learning to fly, that surprise party that Pinkie (didn't) mention, Rainbow Dash taking 'Shy on a date, the beginnings of a TwiShyDash love triangle (No way in hell) and also the actual death of Fluttershy, because the way things were going it was just the obvious outcome of everything. Maybe she'd be hit by a balefire bomb next time, I dunno.
(That was a lie - I promised I wouldn't hurt Fluttershy again, and I won't. Her death will be painless.)
{I'm lying again - actually, no I'm not. Her death will be painless. Also in her sleep, peacefully after living a long and fulfilling life for however long ponies live for.}
Regardless, there are things I've got upcoming, some of which is already written. But the fact is, I've never actually taken any ideas from you guys and what you want - it's my story, but there's no reason why a little fan input can't help. I'd really like to know. Where do you think Hearts Aflutter is going, and where do you want it to go? What do you want to see happen that I might realistically be able to do?
Should I have more Mane 6? Maybe a little more CMC, now that Scoots is in here? Some Spike? And are there any background characters I should give a part to maybe?
Should I turn it into an epic adventure or grimdark? (No.)
Maybe they should get married at the end. Anyone like to see that? Who knows. These are my potential ideas, not yours.
I really do want to know what you all want to see from this. Obviously I won't be able to accept all of your suggestions, because that would just be silly and the plot would go all aflutter too - off to la-la land to play with the Teletubbies and sing with the Happy Tree Friends and explore deep space with Captain Picard. Or maybe just some OC alicorns
(Believe it or not, that isn't a lie. Way back when that was actually an idea I had FOR THIS FIC - I had an OC alicorn who ruled the dreamscape who Fluttershy was gonna chill with for three months or whatever while Rainbow Dash basically killed everyone. Yeah, that's how bad at writing I used to be - read still am.)
Yeah, I'd say that's about it. Where do we go from here, guys?
- MS
Execelsior, Midnight, that's where. You haven't steered us wrong so far.
Unless you can invent some kind of conflict though, Hearts Aflutter is ready to be wrapped up. I'm sure you have ideas, but they're most likely for another story and another time.
This story is brilliantly handledl, I would hate for you to drag it out beyond it's reach borders and have it collapse under it's ownm weight. However you're the author, and it's only truly done when you think it's done. I am personally getting a distinct wind down vibe.
That's my two cents anyway.
Yes.
219597
I do see what you mean, and I'd absolutely hate to have the fic crush itself after all this time spent getting here - that said, I also don't want to give it too abrupt an ending. You're exactly right when you say it is winding down. I'm not going to introduce anything major anymore - I'm done, in that respect.
I imagine a maximum of five chapters before I end this, and perhaps an epilogue also - though five chapters is a lot of leeway. The likelihood is that, now that Rainbow and 'Shy have basically overcome their troubles, it might become a good deal more like a slice of life, as we see how they deal with normality after so long - also, I think a couple of chapters where nothing terrible happens would do my readers some good.
So yeah, as I said - nothing crazy epic is gonna happen anymore. I'd just like to see what everyone else would like to happen at some point before I close it all up.
219603
...
Yes what?
219609
Hee, I'm sorry - couldn't resist going for the joke answer.
On a more serious note, I'd love to see the Big First Date - preferably with Rainbow trying faaar too hard to make it the Best Date Ever and going OTT. I'd love to see more Scoots in particular (yaay for Scootalove!) and the CMC in general. And if you find a way to squeeze Raindrops in there, then it would be at least 20% cooler, 'cause Raindrops is awesome.
219626
Yes.
That's not even a joke answer. First date? Totally gonna be awesome. And of course it was going to happen anyway.
>.>
<.<
Yes it was.
First date and some slice of life with Fluttershy's recovery and her and Dash finally making up completely and being happy with each other, Dash has done so much for Fluttershy, It would be a shame to see it fall apart now. Then a happily ever after ending would go nicely. Maybe even have scoots become a part of the family (depending on how you see that young filly, they could make a cool family those three). I'm not normally so keen on them getting married, Rainbow probably wouldn't consider it a necessary action for Shy to know how much she loves her. But in this case, with all thats happend... I think it would be kinda fitting... and sweet.
219861
Nah, nothing like that.
At all.
219988
We will pretend that was never there.
220008
Nothing spoileriffic at all. Certainly not how the fic will end.
220036
And I'm most definitely glad that I never confirmed it was the real ending.
I say add the CMC in there, perhaps for one to two chapters, but not as a main focus, aside from Scootaloo. Make them more of a side note, such as As she glided over head, Rainbow Dash could see another of the infamous CMC, Applebloom, watching the construction ponie who were putting up a new home... maybe a little more in depth than that, but not much.
Perhaps, you could have there be a dance taking place, that Rainbow Dash wants to take Fluttershy to for a date, but neither of them know how to dance on the ground and...what do you think? serious question there, not rhetorical.
Those are my ideas, and of course I'd be happy to do any editing as well.
221050
That dance idea actually sounds incredible - could lead to either angst or utter cuteness, depending soleley on where in the timeline I place it. Even works, too - Rainbow still has that dress Rarity made her back in chapter 5 or whatever.
And thanks for offering to help again - I'd definitely be interested in your help.
221219
Thank you for the compliment, but I of course, as always, bow to the master. Also, beware the fine-toothed grammar-comb!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!
221242
No, not the comb! Anything but the comb!
Please, I'll do anything, anything at all to keep my syntax lice right where they are - you don't have to do this!
221275
SYNTAX LICE!? SYNTAX LICE!? I was only going after dead word-choices and split sentences! If the problem is as serious as Syntax Lice, I'll have to bring in the big guns...BRAIN BLEACH!!!!!! WE MUST NOT ALLOW FOR RUN-ON PARAGRAPHS OR VERBOSITIS!!!
221291
My poor lice! I'm so sorry~~!
I brought this upon you all
As long as it has a happy ending and no more Fluttershy getting hurt I'll be happy.
I comment here (read: this story) too much...
Sad!Twilight is worst Twilight.
Anyhow, maybe have Twilight meet somepony.
Are you ever going to expand on the as-yet unresolved plot point of Dash's omgwtfamazing memory, and Twilight's jealousy of it? Seems like it was just dropped into the middle of a chapter and then left alone. Either way, no matter what you do, I can't wait for more!
You know, with flying, I would expect that there would be at least some memory of it. I mean, obviously, getting your wings severely injured and being in a coma for three months would screw that up by no small amount, but I don't think it would be quite as difficult as you (and by extension, the characters in the story) are making it out to be. I mean, I don't mean that when she starts up again, everything immediately comes back, but like, once she gets a good...quarter through the regimen, maybe half, she would remember the rest of it and all that would be left would be building up muscles? If you get punched in the mouth hard enough or otherwise receive sufficient injury that it needs to be locked in place for...months, let's say, you'll obviously need speech therapy to get some of that back, but it's as much in the mind as in the muscles. You don't just "forget" how do do something when the something that is required to do it is damaged. Just a thought.
Also, I'm glad that there won't be any more Flutterhurt. With that in mind, I might finally get around to favouriting this story instead of juggling in my head whether or not I want to.
228406
Valid point, sir, all valid points.
But it is harder than one would think - people who've had debilitating injuries to their legs and been hospitalised for long times also have to learn to walk again. Your point is that it's as much in the mind as the body, and that's absolutely right. It is, however, also in the motor neurons.
Fluttershy's nervous system was actually damaged, and then repaired after a three month absence of leave, or indeed larger movements of basically any kind. She remembers how to fly, for sure - but her body doesn't at all, and nor is it currently capable of doing so. She'd probably just injure herself. So you're probably right - I've made it out to be harder than it likely would be. But... I have no idea what the but was. You're right.
Oh! But yeah. It's still gonna be a trial, for sure. I think in actuality the difficulty of this is somewhere in a grey area between both your stance and mine. And heck... She's a flying magical pony. We don't know much about how these things would work in Equestria. I figure as long as I try my best, it'll wind up alright.
I do my best - I mean, come on! My first story ever gets 3,500 views? I've got some fans to try and keep happy, so any help helps!
Thanks for reading, and taking the time to speculate. I really hadn't gotten very many opinions on this matter before, so each one counts.
And I do hope you lean towards favourite
- MS
Well, as I was once told, a happy ending is something earned and not ripped out of the eighth dimension.
It sure would be nice to have things patched up between them. I think it might just break me if Fluttershy dies...things for Rainbow will be so bad if that happened. That's when I will stop reading your story, unfave it, and put it out of my mind forever.
This is my 2 cents, but this is still your story. As crap as you think you are at writing, the ending you choose to go with is the one you think is the best way to end the story. Be it wedding, Flutterdeath, crippled Rainbow, or a reality-breaking reset button made by Twilight in a twisted turn of events, it's your party.
Glad you asked, though. Shows you care for the diminutive readers that roam this site for FlutterDash.