I wrote a thing.

And I'm thinking about writing another.

The reason why I felt like this warranted a blog post was because the other thing I was writing is:

A. a full multi-chapter story, and
B. sort-of-sort-of-not a sequel to the short story.

To clarify: the short story should be able to stand on its own. This multi-chapter story should be able to stand on its own. But, ideally, the two should be read together - short story first, long story afterward - for a fuller picture and fuller context. Even chronologically speaking, the two should be able to transition seamlessly into each other. The only reason I've got for breaking it apart like this was to gauge interest in this sort of story, see if people want more of something similar, figure out what flaws I had in that story and try to make sure I don't make them in the long story to follow.

Because, fundamentally, I like the idea of Ember struggling to be a ruler. Most of the trials-of-ruling stories in the canon have protagonists that either don't govern all that much (i.e. Twilight), or have plenty of experience with governing already (i.e. most of the rest of the alicorns, mayor mare.) Unlike them, Ember has a lot of particularly difficult subjects to rule over, from an entirely different and much less leader-friendly culture, without the sort of moral support ponies tend to provide each other with. That, plus her youth and inexperience, means that she has a particularly tough job to do - and that difficulty, coupled with her personality, allows for a lot of interesting political drama. I'd like to sink my teeth into that sort of proverbial pie, both as a creator and a consumer (and incidentally, if you guys have read any good fics concerning this sort of plot, I'd be more than happy to read them.)

In any case, comments and suggestions are absolutely welcome, and hopefully you'll be able to enjoy the story.

-Petrichord.

_{"Above all, a living thing wants to discharge its strength — life itself is will to power" -Friedrich Nietzsche}