HOCUS POCUS IS COMPLETE: Discussion on what's next from PRB. · 3:28pm Dec 9th, 2015
Well… that took almost three years.
It’s way later than I anticipated, but my longest fic ever by a huge margin, Hocus Pocus, is finished. This one doesn’t have bonus chapters like Shipping and Handling did, so it’s completely finished at the time of this post. And, looking at the word count, I wouldn’t say it really needs to be any longer, to be honest.
Anyway, this blog post isn’t to talk so much about the finished story as it is to discuss what I’m doing next. If you do want to talk about/review/praise/rip on Hocus Pocus, feel free to do so in the comments on the last chapter! If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear everything you have to say.
I’ve got a few different story ideas in the works, and I’m pretty okay with working on any of them, so I figured I’d ask you, the readers, to voice your opinion on what you’re most interested about seeing from me next! Ideally, all the options below will eventually be written, but you guys can help me decide which one should be next.
Which of these piques your interest most?
Option 1: Crescent Moon
[Dark][Comedy]
Five chapters – Approximately 40-50k words?
Rating: Teen? Maybe Everyone, I’m not sure yet.
Synopsis: After returning from her imprisonment on the moon, Luna is having trouble returning to her normal princessly duties. A crazy idea and some modern science help from Twilight Sparkle’s newest invention leads to Luna attempting to clone herself in order to get out of some of her mind-numbing work. Instead, the process goes horribly wrong (or perhaps right?) resulting in the creation of an adorable filly Luna clone. Can Princess Luna handle having little Crescent Moon around, or will her situation turn into a real nightmare?
PRB’s comments: I’ve had this idea for a looooong time. It’s actually been around as long as the idea for Shipping and Handling has; it just never got written. It’s a silly concept and will feature some popular characters and a plotline that gets surprisingly dark, yet without losing track of its bizarre comedic roots. If it goes well, I hope to have you both laughing and held in suspense as the fic reaches its finale. If I do start writing this one, I may pause between chapters to release another oneshot, rather than release all five chapters in a row.
Option 2: Nester
[Adventure][Comedy?]
Oneshot
Rating: Everyone
Synopsis: Architecture Drone 833, or Nester to his friends, is banished from the changeling hive for a rather fantastic level of failure in a critical military situation. With no place in pony society and nothing but hostility from his own people, what’s an exiled changeling to do?
PRB’s comments: This is a side story featuring Nester, the friendly changeling from Hocus Pocus, whose backstory was only vaguely described. You do not have to have read Hocus Pocus to fully understand this story, though. This is Nester’s story, and doesn’t feature Dinky or her friends at all. This option is short enough for me to release as a oneshot, and the plot is relatively well outlined already. This story is planned to be written in first person from Nester’s perspective. I don’t have any first person fics on fimfiction yet (though I have written them for other fandoms in the past).
Option 3: (Currently Unnamed fic featuring mainly Rumble, Flitter, and Cloudchaser)
[Slice of Life]
Oneshot
Rating: Everyone
Synopsis: Tired of being babied by his foalsitters Flitter and Cloudchaser, Rumble wishes he could have the chance to prove he’s responsible enough to take care of himself. He quickly gets that chance when, in an ironic twist of fate, his foalsitters are transformed into infants. Now it’s up to Rumble to keep little Flitter and Cloudchaser out of harm’s way while he tries to reverse the spell, all before Thunderlane gets home. Good luck, Rumble!
PRB’s comments: I really like these three characters, and haven’t had an opportunity to write about them yet. This is a cute, fun little story I’ve been bouncing around in my head for a while. I also plan to write it in first person from the perspective of Rumble, who is not a highly gifted foal like Dinky and her friends were in Hocus Pocus, so it will force me to practice properly writing with a child’s perspective, something I’ve struggled with in prior stories.
Option 4: Bing Bang Zam 2: But Wait, There’s More!
[Comedy]
Oneshot
Rating: Everyone
Synopsis: Flim, Flam, and their new manager have to step up their showmanship to the extreme in order to outcompete world-renowned salespony Billy Hays.
PRB’s comments: I don’t even know. I thought of this and I knew I had to write it eventually. I’m not sure why I have a thing for making Flim and Flam test their wit against ponified celebrities, but there you have it. It should be noted that my plans for this fic are a lot less developed than the plans for the ones listed above, so it may not be possible to release it in the very near future.
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Now, the other thing I want to talk about is the possibility of a third book to follow up Shipping and Handling/Hocus Pocus. I do have a plotline for one thought up; honestly this has been intended to be a trilogy since I first decided to write Hocus Pocus. But Hocus Pocus was so, well, huge and time consuming, that I figure it’s best not to confirm a third book unless there’s sufficient interest. Hocus Pocus attempted not to leave anything hanging; the series can conclude there without feeling unfinished, but if there is a considerable interest in me releasing the end of the trilogy, I’ll start working more earnestly on fleshing out all my ideas. It will NOT be the next fanfic I release; even if I confirm that I will be writing it, it might be a while before I actually begin. Please include your thoughts on whether or not you’d like to see a Shipping and Handling 3 someday in the comments below.
Here’s the story info:
Magic of the Heart (Shipping and Handling 3)
[Adventure][Romance/shipping]
Number of chapters to be determined, length likely 200,000+ words
Rating: Teen
Synopsis: Several years have passed since the events of Hocus Pocus, and life for the Doo family has never been better. Ditzy’s job at Equestria Speedy Shipping Services and Dinky’s education at Celestia’s Academy for Gifted Unicorns are both going as well as anypony could have hoped. Their small family is given an opportunity to grow larger when Ditzy’s now long-time coltfriend, Autumn Breeze, proposes to her. However, what should be one of the most joyful days of Ditzy and Dinky’s lives grinds to a halt when an old foe reappears, setting in motion a series of events that throws both ponies into a wild new adventure that neither of them could have ever imagined.
PRB’s comments: This is intended to be the conclusion of the story set in the universe established in my first and most well-remembered pony fanfic, Shipping and Handling. While Shipping and Handling focused on primarily Ditzy Doo’s (Derpy’s) adventures, and Hocus Pocus looked mainly at Dinky instead, this story will be an even split, shifting focus between Ditzy and the Equestria Speedy Shipping Services crew at some times, and Dinky/Clarity/Honeydew/Scuffle/Pipsqueak at others. This story takes place about four years after Hocus Pocus, meaning Dinky and her friends would now be in their final term at Celestia’s Academy, and around 18 years of age, as characters like Sparkler, Scorch, and Frosty were in Hocus Pocus. Characters from both Shipping and Handling and Hocus Pocus will reappear, along with some new ones.
Now that this big fic is out of the way, there’s new stuff on the horizon. Thanks to all my dedicated followers! I hope to keep writing stuff you want to read soon.
~PRB
Hmm, so many choices...
Crescent Moon, and yes to more S&H, please!
Definitely #4. I honestly don't think the others sound like anything I'd want to read. :/
3605077
Fair enough, thanks for the input PP
Of the option listed the two I am most interested in are option #1 and #2 with #1 being the first choice. I don't know what actual direction you will take it in, but I can't help seeing a filly Nightmare Moon running around being evil by putting salt in everyone's cereal and other such shenanigans.
As for Magic of the Heart, considering I've enjoyed the first two stories in the series I certainly wouldn't say no to a third installment. If it is made I will be quite interested to see what directions it goes in as the first two stories while related are both very different in type.
Now I'm off to read that final chapter.
I'd say S&H 3.
3605089
Well, the changeling one I wouldn't read because I haven't read Hocus Pocus (or S&H c.c) yet, not because it's a bad idea.
My vote's for Nestor's backstory, and I'd love to see more Dinky and company in the future
3605132
Well like I said there, the changeling one can be read entirely independently of Hocus Pocus. No context from that is required at all.
I;m always a fan of changelings, so Nester has my vote.
Also, I am one hundred percent on board with having a third book in this series. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of work on the site.
Probably 2, then 1, since it seems like you can finish 2 faster then get onto 1.
I like the Nester and Magic of the Heart options, with Bing Bang Bam 2 coming in at third place vote.
I vote for a third book in the series. I like a lot of your ideas too. I'm interested in the third book idea as well as the one with crescent moon
Yes please
Nester!
Wouldn't Dinky be super powerful at age 18 due to her Dark magic?
Ok first things first while I would love to sit here and rant and ramble about how amazingly well written and how invested you made me with hocus pocus and go on and on about how I want you to finish the trilogy but honestly I can't think of anything to say that hasn't already been said and I don't know how to praise your story without just sounding like a fanboy so I will simply say yes unequivocally yes please do write a third entry in your brilliant series with that out of the way as for your next fic I would be very interested to hear more about nester
Oh, frakk.....Cosmic Glow crawled out from under her rock, didn't she?
3605098
Ditto.
How about all of the above?
Personally out of all of those I would like to see the S&H/HP sequel most and maybe the luna clone one after that.
First of all, loved both S&H and Hocus Pocus. Second, I'd like to hear Nester's backstory. Third, please please please please please write a third book. I'd love to see more of this storyline!
I personally like the sound of Crescent Moon . . . I do like me some dark comedy. And I have to admit that I am torn on the idea of a sequel to Hocus Pocus. On one hand, I loved the stories and the characters and would enjoy seeing more of them. However, the end of Hocus Pocus just really felt like the perfect closure. It tied up all the loose ends and left the future wide open to the imagination. I have to say I would only really support it if there would be a whole lot of development/characterization/plot to make it seem like a necessary story rather than a sequel done to fill up some more words about these ponies.
3606011
I intentionally tied up all the loose ends with Hocus Pocus because I don't know for sure if I ever will write a sequel. I wanted Hocus Pocus to be able to function as an ending, but at the same time not block the possibility of another story.
The series COULD end here, but I have a very developed idea for another adventure featuring these characters. I just have to decide if I want to write it.
I'd love to see Magic of the Heart get written, because I not only like your work, but now I want to find out if Sparkler actually gets to tell Presto how she feels about him.
I am just REALLY into the idea of a Nester story.
Like, a lot.
Love me some friendly changelings man.
Thanks for asking for input!
1. This story sounds adorable, but it might be hard to pull off without retreading a lot of the ground that Past Sins has already covered. If you do write it, try not to dwell on the public at large/nobles/press hating and fearing the foal.
2. Sounds cute, I would love to see how Hocus Pocus's answer to Severus Snape ended up where he did! My only hope for that story is we learn why he was at Cranky and Matilda's wedding.
3. Sounds like a light-hearted foal centric story. Until I read the second half, I was sure this was going to be another one of those stories where Rumble becomes an adult and engages in relations with Flitter and Cloud Chaser, so I am relieved this is something else.
4. This sounds awesome. Definitely my first choice, Flim and Flam are hilarious, Bing Bang Zam was fantastic, and the FlimFlam brothers facing off with their real-world counterpart sounds fantastic.
5. A final trilogy sounds great. As someone who has read both the first two stories, my only advice there would be to tilt it a bit more towards Dinky than Ditzy in terms of story time, just because Ditzy seems like she has everything in her life pretty settled, wheras Dinky is still in school, so there is more inherent room to grow for her as a character.
Thanks for asking, and listening!
Would love to see a third for S&H/Hocus Pocus. I love all of the ideas so it is hard to pick just one.
I'm not usually one for commenting much, but I'd definately be interested in Magic of the Heart, and the Nester story.
Out of the 4 stories, I'm tied between Crescent Moon and Nester. The Nester story is just a one shot, but he's character was so fun in Hocus Pocus, and getting to see his origins in greater detail would be awesome. The Crescent Moon one however seems like it has a lot of potential and interesting story lines involved, as well as good character development potential, and not just for Luna or the clone.
I would still definitely read the other two stories though as they are still interesting ideas and fun story lines.
I would also vote whole heartedly to get a sequel to Hocus Pocus and Shipping and Handling. Both stories were amazing reads with interesting characters and excellent plot lines. Having a third story that combines the two lead characters rather then focusing on just one of them has great potential, and getting to see how things have changed for everypony over the 4 year time gap will make for a great read.
A third, and final, story to cap off the universe started in Shipping & Handling would be a great choice, but only if it were a bit faster in its delivery to the hungry audience.
If it does happen that you write it, I'd honestly rather you write it from start to finish, and then post the chapters, as opposed to the more customary method. That way, we're not left in the middle of the story (or at any other point, for that matter), wondering if it became a dead-fic just because your life got busy and left little to no time or energy for writing.
Crescent Moon and Nester yes plz.
I would go for the sequel... I wanna see ScuffleDew be resolved!
I'm interested in Crescent Moon and 3. Mostly Crescent Moon.
Nester or Crescent Moon.
My first instinct is to immediately vote for Crescent Moon, but that [Dark] tag kind of worries me. Option 3 is a fairly distant second for me.
As for S&H3, there is not enough yes in the world
3607098
Honestly, I'm not sure it will get any darker than, say, chapter 19 in Hocus Pocus.
Seemingly hopeless situations, danger of death, descriptions of ponies being in pain.
But no like psychologically horrific imagery or gore or anything like that.
And it's also got a weird comedic spin on it that will keep things light despite that.
I'd love to read magic of the heart, but I don't want to have to wait for updates, so I'm going to have to vote for nester.
S&H3 is definitely something I'd want to read, but in the meantime, Cresent Moon sounds good too.
I really want to see Shipping & Handling III, but I can understand if you want to take a break. Meanwhile, Nester and Crescent Moon look pretty good. The former I'm really interested in seeing, and the latter could be fun. I'd say be carful with the wacky premise, but you wrote Shipping & Handling. You know better than I.
Yes to Magic Of The Heart.
#1, 2 and S&H 3 please! :3
I vote for Cresent Moon, Nestor and Magic Of The Heart.
Cresent Moon sounds interesting and full of possibillities for both comedy and heartwarming moments.
I really liked Nestor in Hocus Pocus and would love to read his story.
I loved and enjoyed reading both Shipping & Handling and Hocus Pocus. I would love to read about the continuing adventures of characters from these stories.
I'm sure whatever you write will be absolutely amazing PRB
I vote for whatever YOU want to write so you keep giving us this amazing fiction :D
Also, yes, I am all for a final story in the Shippingverse here, once you feel the time is come.
3607103 Well that's good to know. My concerns have been alleviated
For me Nester (I love changeling stories!), Crescent Moon and, of course, S&H 3.
I vote option 4 or option 2.
Also, all of my yes on SH 3.
Option 4
The choice here is easy: ALL OF THEM! With an extra helping of YES for Shipping and Handling 3: Magic of the Heart. My wife and I started reading Shipping and Handling when we were pregnant with our fourth child. Now that child will be 2 next week. It has been awesome following your wonderful stories alongside seeing our children grow up and the way Hocus Pocus concluded really had a lot of emotional bittersweet happy feels. The personalities of the four friends reminds us a bit of our own children. We know it will be some time before the third part comes out (if it even does) but it will certainly be worth it and we hope and pray it does.