Season Finale Inspirations (Damn You Brain!) · 2:20am Dec 4th, 2015
So, how about that season finale eh?
As a fanfiction writer, there are two vectors through which I gain enjoyment from watching the show. The first is the enjoyment that comes from the show itself and the second is effectively mining the show for ideas on what to write next.
Already my mind is chewing away at possibilities for both Skitchverse and Lunaverse. Which is all well and good. But this is where the whole "Damn you brain!" decides to raise it's ugly head.
Because it's trying to come up with another AU to write stories in. Despite all the other projects that I already have open. Because it hates me and wishes doom upon me. ...Or maybe it just wants to share all the ideas with everyone.
It was mostly sparked by the fact that we have enough pony villains across the show now to make an AU where they're the Element Bearers. Right now, the title for this universe that I may never get to writing is the Villainverse and I'll run down some of my thoughts here just to get them out of my head.
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Once upon a time in the magical land of Equestria, the ponies were ruled over by a council of wise and mighty alicorns. But one day, emerging from mysterious shores across the sea, came a traveler named Scorpan. The monk quickly ingratiated himself into the court and began to whisper into the ears of Equestria's rulers.
Devious and deceptive, seven of the eleven were corrupted to darkness, falling into the worst aspects of their natures. Mighty Equestria buckled, then shattered as the remaining council members fought their twisted kin. It was council members Sombra and Crystal Wings that found the legendary Elements of Harmony. They, along with council members Luna and Celestia, banished their former friends to the depths of the land.
But the conflict hurt the friendships of those that remained and each would go their seperate ways. A thousand years since the conflict and Equestria is now a trio of successor states.
The Exalted Solar March
Equestria's eastern seaboard was nearly washed away by the rage of the Princess of Storms, save those parts already under the iron hoof of the Princess of Diamonds. The ponies of Manehatten and the other coastal cities cried out for help. And the Sun answered. Celestia worked herself to near exhaustion protecting the ponies of the coast. So, when the new states were formed, they repaid Celestia with their devotion.
The Exalted Solar March has a reputation for being fanatics beyond it's borders, ready and willing to die for their solar princess. In their opinion, they're just devoted and tend to their homeland with care. For her part, Prelate Celestia maintains a polite public face. Not that it stops the rumors about what she does behind closed doors. That she weeps bitter tears every night for her lost friends.
The Lunar Trade Republic
As Celestia got the East, Luna took the west. Specifically the land bordering the inland Tranquil sea. There it supplies trade goods to the various small states on its other side, such as Tambelon. They also do some minor trade with the former Equestrian heartland. Alas, the mighty Everfree forest makes that difficult, raised by the Princess of Beasts and the Princess of the Land during the conflict that split Equestria.
Doge Luna sees to the mercantile exploits of her land as a way to focus her mind on things other than the glory of what Equestria was. Her strained relationship with her sister is a particularly sore topic of discussion and something that ponies would be smart not to bring up in her presence.
The Heartland
The largest of the Equestrian successor states, and ruled over by King Sombra and Queen Crystal Wings the Heartland remains an odd choice for a kingdom's name. But made out of the bustling center of old Equestria, for the ruling couple it signifies their dream. Their dream that someday, someway, Equestria will be restored. The stubbornness of the two sisters has, so far, made that impossible.
For now, with the largest amount of land, ponies and army, they watch their borders, afraid that Scorpan's fellows might some day arrive.
The Mane Six
Adagio Dazzle: Unicorn and Queen Crystal Wings' personal student. Specializes in "spell songs" and using her amazing voice to assist with her casting. Confident and somewhat stallion crazy at times, Adagio Dazzle's ego has made her unpopular around the castle. So her mentor has sent her to Ponyville to both make some friends and learn some humility. Future Element of Magic.
Starlight Glimmer: Unicorn and Ponyville's resident "crazy mage". She lives in a tower at the edge of town engaging in research on the nature of Harmony and the Elements that helped save the world all those years ago. She has a small army of assistants that help her out, giving some in Ponyville the impression that she's a border line cult leader. She steadfastly denies this. Future Element of Honesty.
Aria Blaze: Pegasus, head of Ponyville's weather patrol. While somewhat stand-offish to those she doesn't know well, Aria is somewhat legendary for having the back of those who can crack her tough exterior. She loves thunderstorms though. Their booming noise and flashing lights perfectly speak to the kind of music and entertainment she loves. Loud, and full of life. Future Element of Loyalty.
Lightning Dust: Pegasus and Everfree Ranger. One of the fastest fliers in The Heartlands, she patrols through the Everfree Forest to help keep the town informed of approaching Timber Wolves and other monsters scared up by the Princess of Beasts and the Princess of the Land. Known for her sarcastic sense of humor. Future Element of Laughter.
Sonata Dusk: Earth pony and restaurant owner. Sonata loves to sing while she cooks and loves to chat and talk with the customers to her small cafe. Even outside her restaurant, she's a nearly constant sight around Ponyville, always trying to help out those in need. If your house's wall collapses, Sonata Dusk will be there with a hammer and nails. Future Element of Generosity.
Suri Polomare: Earth pony and ex-fashion designer. A late bloomer with her cutie-mark (needle and thread), she ended up going into fashion and traveling to Manehatten to try and make it big in the city. Something happened there, alas, and she came back to The Heartland with a new focus in life. After going to medical school, Suri is now one of Ponyville's doctors, known for her soft demeanor and gentle hooves. Future Element of Kindness.
AU Tone/Feel
Don't go into the woods. The fear of the unknown and the echoes of a dead empire and a lost golden age. The challenge of sticking to lofty ideals when one doesn't know what the next threat creeping around the corner might be. The burning ember of hope, yearning and dreaming for greatness to return. All of these would be important themes to the AU.
Equestria's successor states have been battered...but they aren't ready to fold yet. The lands outside of Equestria's former land are largely unknown. There's the rumor of a griffin state somewhere to the north and buffalo somewhere to the south but they are nearly unknown to most ponies. The lands over the seas might as well be the surface of the moon. All that most ponies known is that Scorpan the Deciver, the Destroyer of Dreams, came from somewhere there. First contact stories would defiantly be something happening here.
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So, yeah....not sure if I'll ever do anything more with this AU, but the ideas are filed away in the back of my head for now. What do some of you guys think? Think that the AU idea might have legs? Does having Adagio Dazzle as the Element of Magic just ruin the idea for anyone? And if it does, why do you all hate Best Siren? 
Whoa this looks so interesting. I like that you brought the sirens into it rather than just Trixie or Sunset Shimmer. Those two are fantastic, obviously, but I feel like in the niche genre of "Villain Mane Six" they're overused. I want to write in this AU so much. Seriously.
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There's also the fact that, for me at least, The Lunaverse already definitively occupies the spot of "Trixie as a member of the Mane Six" role. I already write for it and I don't think I could ever surpass RDD's creation on that end. Might as well go a different direction, you know?
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That too. I think this is a really creative direction to go.
Interesting AU idea, but I hope that you stick with the Skitchverse and Lunaverse stories for now. I have enjoyed those stories and would like to see more of your writing in those worlds, but if you write something in a new AU I would take a look at it. Thanks for the stories so far and I look forward to any you write in the future.
Let's see..
Exalted Solar March
A "march" is specifically a county of a kingdom that lies on the border of another kingdom. They're administered by a Marquess (also called a Marquis or Margrave, with the feminine as Marchioness (yes, Marquess is masculine)). Marquesses were never rulers of lands in their own right; those would be Dukes, Princes, Kings, and Emperors (and like titles). If there's a Solar March, then that means that the March has to be part of a larger state, with the ruling Marquess subservient to a greater liege.
If Celestia is a Prelate, then her realm could be referred to as a Prelature, if you're looking to call it something other than a "kingdom" or the like.
Lunar Trade Republic
Not sure if a nation would ever put "trade" in their name. Also I question whether or not a nation that has had a singular ruler for presumably the past several centuries can really be called a "republic", unless Luna keeps running for office and keeps winning.
Mane 6
Good choices on tribes for the sirens, and I'd definitely be interested to see how things get pulled of with them.
I guess it hits everyone; just at different times. I came up with the Antagoverse about 2 years ago, I guess, although I limited myself to only minor antagonists and made some fairly sharp character changes. This Villainverse, however, is much more in-line with an AU, as it does much more than just shuffle around some character roles and make Blueblood less insufferable; it's an actual reimagining and that counts for a lot, I think.
Also:
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NERD
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Wow. When it comes to naming fantasy kingdoms, you just took me to school good sir.
Somethings for me to consider if I go forward with this at least. Thanks for taking a look!