About latest story... · 9:37pm Nov 8th, 2015
I originally planned The Lightningverse during summer of 2013 (as that was when StarryOak first posted the idea). I didn't actually start publishing it until January this year.
The same basic idea was always the same, but I found myself changing the actions that kicked the story into motion quite a bit. In fact, the original planned story had nothing to do with StarryOak's idea (as I was conceptualizing it long before she posted it). It started out as a PipLuna shipfic (Well, they didn't actually become a couple at the end; It was more or less just building their relationship.), which would be set into motion by three fillies fawning over Pipsqueak (including Diamond Tiara, Sweetie Belle, and either Dinky or Lemon Daze), but Pipsqueak not having much interest in any of those three. I came up with the idea sometime after season three finished airing. The conflict would start by Luna casting an age spell on herself so that she and Pipsqueak could spend the day together, but when Celestia becomes too tired to lower the moon, Luna tries to transform back, inadvertently becoming Nightmare Moon.
After that, things switched to Nightmare Moon's perspective, with her bringing Sunset Shimmer back to Equestria. So then stuff happened, Lightning Dust and Sunset Shimmer get knocked back in time, and it pretty much goes the same way as the current version of the story. Pipsqueak's perspective... kinda cops out.
The story changed alongside my ships. I decided to shift Pipsqueak's love life to another story, and I also kinda decided to tone down the heavy drama. So I decided to explain how Trixie ended up with Chrysalis.
I'll do this sort of commentary and behind the scenes explanation thing every few chapters.
Oh, and I'm feeling a lot better about A Friend Not Worth Having after watching the latest episode. The final chapter will do a much better job than that trainwreck of an episode.
In the first chapter, I originally had Trixie being all depressed before bumping into the changeling and reading an extended version of the book. Later on, I revised it so Trixie was not sympathetic at all. My line of thinking is that I should stop watching/reading if I end up siding with the villain. Also, Trixie originally read a section on how the Crystal Empire was founded by Princess Amore... which had no relevance AT ALL to the rest of the story, so I ditched that. But the chapter became too short as a result, so I had to fill it out with Trixie's speech on illusions. I also had to lengthen the fight sequence a bit.
I started writing this LONG before the Lost Treasure of Griffonstone aired, and that episode both helped and hindered this story. The story started out with Gilda not having reconciled with Rainbow or befriending Pinkie yet, so she was less reluctant to go with Trixie. The episode also gave me more ideas behind the war problem (which is kind of a Noodle Incident).
And... that's pretty much it for the first chapter. The second chapter (first written in January) originally featured a long rant from Trixie on how stupid Chrysalis was in ACW. But I didn't want to turn the story into merely a mouthpiece for what I thought was idiotic, so I made some of the suggestions Trixie made ridiculous. But my opinion became outdated, and it was extraneous with very little comedy, so I took it out.
The whole "Pony of Shadows used Sombra's DNA" thing was an idea that I just couldn't let go.
There was no reason for me to leave out Sweetie Belle's name, but I wanted a red herring.
And chapter 3 is what I think is the funniest so far. I made some suggestive descriptions, but I don't plan to have any clop during the first nine chapters. After that, expect clop to be featured frequently.
There's some Lavender Unicorn Syndrome, but that's going to die down with time. The idea is to read what your favorite author's style is, and try constructing a sentence in their style.
I purposely made Rain Dance a jerk. I wanted to vilify a background pony. Rain Dance appears briefly in Winter Wrap Up.
The whole "red lines correcting" gag was something I came up with while typing the story up on DeviantArt. At one point, Trixie drops an f bomb on DA when it turns out "brony" isn't an actual word, but... this isn't DA. Also...
It means 'to send the griffon to Tartarus where she's forced to watch Generation 3.5 of My Little Pony for the rest of her life while being slowly mutilated to death'!
Trixie originally said that, but not ten seconds ago, she was trying not to offend Gilda, so it would seem odd if she suddenly started making threats like that.
Gilda's right. I was talking out of Chrysalis' mouth when I was first writing the chapter. I was getting annoyingly sidetracked at how natural Trixie's and Gilda's remarks were getting. Now, I happily read the comedy, realizing just how funny it actually is.
Yeah, that was my old headcanon about Sombra. I am far better off without it. Also, funny how I made a joke about Chrysalis (not really) killing and resurrecting Trixie and Gilda, when that's exactly what I wanted to do to Rain Dance (and that's coming from someone who hates, hates, HATES Trixie and Gilda).
I especially love Trixie's last "narrative complaint" joke about the unnecessary detail. I had no idea how to end the joke, so I just had Rain Dance. Neither you or I will ever know what Trixie was going to say, especially since she's a fictional character. Good thing too, because if Trixie were real—[insert violent threat here]—
Sorry, got a little sidetracked there. Anyway, the statement is true, since going forward, Trixie and Rain Dance are NOT going to get along. Dear Celestia, I loved the ending to this chapter.
Synopsis for chapter 4:
The battle begins, but it goes on out of sight as Trixie ventures into the human world to bring back Sunset Shimmer.
Synopsis for chapter 5:
Sonata Dusk effectively hinders Trixie's efforts to drag a corrupted Sunset Shimmer back to Equestria.
Synopsis for chapter 6:
The villains' plan come to fruition as different characters get dragged into it, the most affected being Sunset Shimmer, Lightning Dust, and her twin sister.
Synopsis for chapter 7:
The best moment and worst moment of Sunset's life so far happen simultaneously.
Synopsis for chapter 8:
When Lightning Dust and her twin meet a young Gilda, they realize that they've been sent back in time.
Synopsis for chapter 9:
The effects of the twin Pegasi's interference with the past happen. Fortunately, it does wonders for Trixie's otherwise non-existent social life.
Synopsis for chapter 10:
The day Princess Celestia sends Twilight, Trixie, and Spike to Ponyville has arrived, but just before the trip happens, Trixie unintentionally offends Moon Dancer. In an attempt to make it up to her, Trixie goes on a great and dangerous adventure, risking the lives of herself, Gilda, and Lightning Dust in the process. Meanwhile, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's relationship has unexpected effects on other ponies.
Synopsis for chapter 11:
Trixie's efforts to make it up to Moon Dancer are further bolstered by a dangerous trip through the Everfree Forest while being accompanied by her new friends, dragging Sunset Shimmer, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon into it as well.
Synopsis for chapter 12:
Sunset Shimmer and Lightning Dust devise their plan to get back to their own time, but not without the happily-accepted help of an arrogant braggart (Trixie), an oversensitive and defensive griffon (Gilda), a sex-obsessed siren (Adagio Dazzle), and two rich fillies (Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon), all of whom are more than willing to help. But things don't start off so easily, as they scramble for a place to live and where to find syrup for their pancakes. Things get worse when Minuette confronts Trixie, straining Trixie's friendship with Sunset, before sending a tame changeling to stalk the group.
Synopsis for chapter 13:
Tensions between Sunset and Adagio still haven't disappeared, tensions that Sunset has to face on the long trip to sneak into the Star Swirl the Bearded wing, the most secure section of the Canterlot archives.
Synopsis for chapter 15 (I haven't written chapter 14 yet):
Trixie puts on her performance in Ponyville, but Gilda causes her show to end in a different way. Afterwards, Ponyville is in danger from both an ursa minor and and ursa major.
Synopsis for chapter 16:
Trixie's trial for the previous day's events happens, with Princess Celestia presiding as the judge and Spoiled Rich being the prosecutor for the case. But Trixie's friends aren't very supportive, especially Gilda and Diamond Tiara. Trixie gets the opportunity for revenge by prosecuting for Gilda's trial, especially since Twilight plans on defending Gilda.
Synopsis for chapter 17:
Spoiled Rich's trial happens, with Princess Celestia presiding as the judge and Trixie being the prosecutor for the case.
That's as far as I've gotten. I'll write up the remainder of the chapters as fast as I can (which will be hard, since this is a lengthy, ongoing story).
