The Road to Spectacular Seven · 8:55am Jun 28th, 2016
I've never written a sequel before. And I know there's the stigma that the sequel can never live up to the original. Unless you're The Empire Strikes Back. I know I'll only have half the audience that Long Road to Friendship had. And I'm okay with that.
But, I also know that, people go into the sequel with certain expectations, expectations that can ruin the experience sometimes.
I want you guys to be excited! I'm excited! This is going to be fun! So, to get you guys excited and to kinda give you a sense of what we're going into, let's talk about Spectacular Seven in a sort of prescript. It's like a postscript, but with less spoilers.
So before I talk about Spectacular Seven I need to make an addendum to Long Road to Friendship. For those of you who read the postscript, you might remember the very first thing I said about it was "7.5 out of 10, it's not Sunset of Time."
That was a mistake.
I love Sunset of Time it's still my best story in my opinion, but it was unfair of me to compare Long Road to Friendship to it, because those two stories are not comparable! They're doing two completely different things! The only constant between them is Sunset.
SoT is a powerful adventure about hope and sacrifice. LRtF is a romantic comedy about redemption. The point is, there are stories that you can compare, stories set in their own genre:: fantasy to fantasy, comedy to comedy etc. Comparing these two stories undermines both of them.
So, I change my score for Long Road to Friendship to 8.5. It still has its problems that stop it from being any higher, but it was still decent.
Okay! On to the main event!! What is Spectacular Seven? Geez, where do I start. I think I should start with what it isn't. If there's anything I want you to take away from this blog it's this:
Spectacular Seven is not Long Road to Friendship part 2.
This is the sequel. And I think there's a strong distinction between a sequel and part X. Part X is used to signify that this is the next part of said story. A sequel tells you that you're in for something different. A sequel (hopefully) let's you come into the story without being too confused. Part X usually requires you to have seen or read the first part. If you read the The Two Towers without reading Fellowship of the Ring you'd probably have no idea what the fuck is going on. Tolkien intended it to all be one story but had to split it into three parts due to how big it was.
So, through all that rambling, my point is, SS is a sequel. The characters are coming back, the setting is coming back, and a lot of the humor is coming back. There's going to be references to what happened in the first story. But this is a whole new plot, I'm introducing new characters, and there's a new central theme to the story. In addition, while there's still a lot of slice of life moments, there's a lot more excitement this time around. Read as THERE'S GOING TO BE FUCKING MAGIC!
Okay, I'm done. I've vented. Moving on.
I'm using the thriller tag to cover the story, because it's not really an adventure since a majority of the story takes place in Canterlot. I think thriller covers excitement and action. There isn't a dark or sad tag, but things do get a little... grim at some points.
I'm trying to balance the slice-of-life with the action. The story is a lot more toned down and less Shonen than my very first design. There'll always be the greater arc going on, containing the heart of the story, but there'll still be time for day to day life and activities.
The story is broken up into four volumes, the first being named Rainbow Rocks and as you can guess, covers the events that happened in the movie in my own, dramatic way. Right now, the only two similarities between the movie and my version, is the Dazzlings will be there, and it's a music competition.
I never mean to write as much as I do, but I end up with higher word counts than I originally expected. Taking that into account for all four volumes, I think the story might be... almost double the length of Long Road to Friendship. We'll see, but it's going to be a long story.
Throughout the story, we're going to see a lot of characters, new and old. One of which will be Moondancer. If you've already read the stinger, you can tell she's... not canon Moondancer. Not by a long shot. Moondancer was originally conceptualized at the outset of LRtF in 2013 with every intention of her showing up. Her design is based on her original G1 appearance and her cameo in the Annual with Sunset. I created a personality for her that fit with her name. I never expected her to actually show up in the show, but I'm not changing her one bit. She's become one of my favorite characters to write, and you're either going to love her, or you're going to love to hate her.
We get to explore the backstories and histories of a lot of the other characters too, and it's my hope that a majority of the cast will undergo some character development. I know some definitely will, but there are others like Applejack who's harder to show some growth since she's already so well-rounded. Of course, Sunset's going to undergo some more growth, but I'm putting it out there right now, she'll never reach how she's depicted in canon.
Well, I think that covers everything. Before I wrapped this up, please give a round of applause to my assistant producer HenryAnthonyCourtler who has helped me hash the story and looked over the outline. As of now, we're about 80% done with story planning and I've already begun writing the first chapters. All we need now is some cover art, and I'm shopping around.
So, when will the story release? I was scared that I would be so busy, I wouldn't be able to get it out until December. But, with the way things are moving, I think it's quite feasible that...
Spectacular Seven will debut this September. For alliteration purposes alone.
I'm happy to be writing this story! I'm happy you guys are looking forward to it so much, and I can only hope it lives up to expectations. I laid out things that I'm aiming for to at least clear up some perceptions, but I can't change your expectations. Regardless, I think that if you enjoyed Long Road to Friendship and if you still watch the show, you're going to enjoy this.
So get ready guys. The Story is Not Over.
It's happening!
For once I can use this correctly.
and also
You are about to write an awesome story with great characters, action, magic and humor... and you will make me hate the time between chapters and make me curse the constant unchangeable flow of time itself.
I'm not entirely sure if I should hate or kiss you ...
On that note: Hi, my name is Scout and I'm addicted.
Actually, the 2nd and 3rd sequel ussually are better than the orginal. At least from my wiew on the experience.
Well now I am glad to see and hear that the story will go on. That's really awesome.
Hey~
One of my favorite stories getting a sequel, more than okay with that. Everyone on site is so touchey with quality, maybe it's just because I have low standards or I'm not super high strung- well, high strung over other people's stories, but I've almost never been let down by a popular story going a direction I didn't see or want. Do what feels best, I'll be a fan from beginning to end regardless.\\
Looking forward to it.
You have no idea how happy I am that a sequel is coming out.
I still haven't read "Sunset of Time" it's in my "Read later" list.
I have read both stories and love them both. Can't wait for the sequel!
4053309 what they said.
Best news I've gotten all month
Is that like friendship magic?
I did not read the majority of this, specifically because I am currently reading Long Road to Friendship for review and didn't want to risk spoilers. That said, I'm about halfway through the story and am enjoying it so far. I dread that it'll take another 2 1/2 years to write, but consider me interested anyway.
sweet! i guess that means i should actually finish reading long road to friendship.
long road to friendship almost made me cry, lets see if this will ;)
You mean twice as long as that story you got burnt-out on like 3 times and took you 3 years to finish?
It all sounds really exciting! ^___^
Yeah, LRTF and SoT are so far apart from each other, that it probably wasn't a good idea to even compare them. The tone and themes are completely different, with the latter being a fantasy-adventure and the first one being a slice-of-life/romantic comedy. The most 'magical' things going on in that story is the curse itself and maybe Trixie's family (which is what made so many people go crazy haha). Otherwise, it was very consciously down-to-earth and somewhat gritty; what with taking part on Earth and Sunset's snark :P.
Naaah, I don't think it would be fair to expect that LRTF Sunset would be anything like how she is in canon. The closest you've ever gone to writing her would be in Firebird Dahlia, which is unique since it's post-RR. Otherwise, every interpretation of Sunset's character, including the malevolent Vesper Radiance, has been a unique departure. LRTR Sunset is snarky, brash, rough-around-the-edges and hasn't really lost any of that in her reformation. Canon Sunset Shimmer has become an absolute sweetheart. She still has some edge with that jacket and tough girl 'coolness', but she has become every bit as warm and loving as the rest of her friends and transformed into this angelic figure. Even on her best moments, LRTR Sunset is still rough and "tough-loving", though we know just how sweet she can be through her actions and rare openly emotional moments that she embarrassingly tries to hide
.
In that regard, It's probably fair to say that LRTF Sunset and the story as a whole has always been much more realistic. Canon Sunset, doing a 180' and being super sweet, kept to the child-friendly tone that the movies go for. But thinking back to how cruel Sunset was in the first movie, and being given artistic freedom, it's fair to say that LRTF Sunset is more to how she would realistically turn out. Still blunt and crude and having some of the traits she had in the first movie, but much more mellow and with a warmer heart ^^. As much as she's changed by the end of the story, she's still a looong way from being as sweet as she is in the canon movies, and the thought of LRTF Sunset becoming THAT nice would probably make her barf
.
But anyway! I'm looking forward to the new story, and all your other ones in the works! it's all new territory for you, now that Firebird Dahlia is completed. I'm excited to see how this new era goes for you! <3.
I'm delighted that you've seen the difference between the two stories. Cherish them for what they are, not for you feel they aren't.
As for sequels...did you miss the part where Rainbow Rocks was a heck of a lot better than the original Equestria Girls? Come on, keep up.
Anyway, the nice thing about sequels is that you don't have to spend quite so much time on establishing the characters and can throw yourself directly into it. How you handle that is what decides how successful the story will be.
Ah, the best part. After all, you said you prefer the slow burn and it's so much more satisfying in the end.
I look forward to reading this beyond measure, though I likely still won't read it until it's done, because I simply couldn't handle waiting. Don't worry, I think I speak for all your fans when I say I have faith in you.
I'm sure we're in for a great ride!
PS: I'm holding you to that tease about the Lulamoon family being prominently featured! I'm desperate to see more of them. (More fencing please?
)
Oh and a request for the cover: please put the dang story name on there (and yours too!)
You've made my day! I'm definitely excited!
Well, you can consider me well and truly hyped.
Reading "Long road to friendship" right now and I just want to say is... ( ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN! )
Not always true. Lion King 2 was amazing, and the romance there was handled far better than in the original, and Revenge of the SIth is almost unanimously considered better than Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Yes I love the Prequels. Also, Rainbow Rocks blew Equestria Girls out of the water.
Yeah, one is an epic, the other is a fairly lighthearted romantic comedy. Which I liked which is odd because I usually can't stomach rom coms. Then again, Long Road was actually well written and didn't have shitty laugh tracks.
Agreed. For example, if you count all of Star Wars as one big story, then A New Hope is Part 4, and Empire Strikes Back is less a sequel and more Part 5. Lion King 2 however, is a real sequel, since it uses the universe of the first one to tell a new story.
Never heard of that kind of magic before.
Or you could be Kingdom Hearts and have a dozen games, all of which are important to understand the third numbered game in the series.
Also, I was already on board since I haven't read a single story from you that I haven't enjoyed and I loved LRtF, but embedding freaking Kingdom Hearts music makes me super hyped and excited.
[youtube=mUnrWo6z9WY]
SO HYPE.
Both Sunset of Time and Long Road to Friendship are perfect masterpieces in my eye. I know some people said LRtF jumped the shark, but really, it's no different from the show and actual life. Sure, slice of life stuff is what typically happens, but occasionally something happens that's a bit grander than we ever expected and then we go back to our normal lives as we strive for our goals.
And I think you are selling yourself too short. I think your audience for Spectacular Seven will be as big as Long Road to Friendship. Everyone has been waiting for this since LRtF ended! I know I have. And I am glad that it'll be double the length of LRtF, as that gives me more of your Sunset Shimmer before her story comes to an end (which is what is going to sadden me most; I just want to keep reading her forever). And I'm giddy to hear we may be getting a September release! If something happens to delay you, don't worry. While I do want it to come soon, I also want you at your best and certainly don't want you to become discouraged with it if it proves too much. Stories should always be done for the enjoyment of them.
I'm anxious on what will happen in your version of Rainbow Rocks and how certain things will change. I know that scene of Princess Twilight and Sunset in the kitchen probably won't happen as it did in the movie (assuming Princess Twilight does come), but it does seem like a prime opportunity to make Sunset vent on Princess Twilight for the whole curse and leaving her behind. But whether Princess Twilight is in this, I know your story will be perfect as always, just like Sunset.
The Long Road to Friendship may be over, but I'm in for the next long road ahead with Spectacular Seven. Thank you for all you have given us with these stories.
Albinocorn's take on the Dazzlings incident... Interesting! I'm looking forward to that more than I'm looking forward to Moondancer, but it will be interesting how she'd be the complete opposite of the canon pony.
It's fun to think of how the show just hates Albinocorn's headcanon. Look at magic-less pony Trixie vs magical human Trixie, dandy Moondancer vs shut-in Moondancer, brash snarky Sunset vs sweetheart Sunset...
4053931
I guess there's an entire swath of anime you've missed out on.
4054114
YUS!
I am so listening to the opening to KH2 when this story comes out.
Can it be September yet?
Also: damn you! Now I can't listen to KH music with out thinking about both the game AND your story! Double shot to the feels right there!
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Long Road To Friendship is still one of my all time favorite fics.
YESSS.
BRING ON THE SPECTACULAR SEVEN!!
I adored long road to friendship and I can't wait for the sequel.
I've read this story like months ago, but I still sometimes think of the twilight doll and start laughing my ass off.
Its gonna hurt to have a hype boner for so long.
Yiissss!
This is really cool news! I love the characters in Long Road To Friendship, so I can't wait to read more of them
Right on, Albinocorn! Roll on September 
I am failing to find the proper words to express how hyped I am for SS. Long Road is the reason SunLight is my otp and part of the reason Sunset in my favorite pony.