What is next on the list? Updates on things to come. · 8:42pm Mar 25th, 2018
First priority: the superfun thing. TwiDash mind control clopfic... parody. With Rainbow Dash as the dominant one. Expect facepalm comedy. Was going to be a oneshot, can't do the idea justice with less than three chapters, so...
Second, and likely going to be done sooner: any oneshot. I don't know if anyone's noticed, but I've gotten stuck in old routines again. I'm used to writing Scootaloo, Rumble, tackling all the same worries and themes, and as fun as it is, it gets stale after a while. Doubly so when I'm looking to write original stuff sometime and some of the characters have their expies showing up... not that I've gotten any writing done on that, just a lot of thinking. I need another palette cleanser.
So what's the oneshot going to be? Well, I had a few ideas, but I can't remember where I wrote them down exactly, or they required too much build-up to be a oneshot, leading me to:
Changeling Observations on Animal Companionship.
I still need to see the movie, but from what I gathered, there was again a remark on the princesses not having a standing army. So, the idea was to address that in a roundabout way. Basically, for a while now I've considered Celestia as a beastmaster type of fighter, coordinating monsters under her command rather than fighting one on one. This led her to adopt certain behaviours and attitudes towards ponies (like, say, Twilight or Luna). Anyway, reason she's weak now is because her monsters are out of commission: sick, or hibernating, or on migration. The only one she has left right now is Philomena. Fit Spike into that logic however you will.
But the story idea is this: Pharynx gets sent out into the wilds to purchase some guardian monsters for the changeling Hive. Only he can't find anything just right in the shop, so he goes hunting for better applicants. With Fluttershy, and Thundereye (the Ancient Beast salespony from Trade Ya).
Seriously, Pharynx wanting to fight monsters one on one, getting into conflict with Fluttershy on making friends with animals versus Thundereye's view of trapping them efficiently and/or avoiding the ones that aren't worth the danger.
"But Cracker, what kind of monsters would they catch? Pokémon?"
I was thinking more something along the lines of this:
Thump... thump...
The Earth trembled, to a beat that reminded the ponies of an animal jumping.
"What is that?" Fluttershy asked. "I hope it's friendly."
"Something big," Pharynx replied, grinning as he went a little mad with anticipation again. "I hope it's not."
The beast hopped out from beyond the treeline, landing on webbed feet. It cast its gaze upon the intruders with disdain written plainly upon its snout. It shook its body, dropping some feathers in the process. Then it honked and waved its antlers back and forth in a menacing fashion. That is, menacing to the ponies. Pharynx would have described it as 'promising.'
Thundereye shuddered. "Whatever it is, it's definitely Caneighdian."
Yeah, crossover with one of the more nostalgic games in my library. First game I ever won as a prize, I think. Granted, it was a pity prize for last place, but still... 
My biggest worry is keeping it short and multitasking so I don't delay superfun's request any more, but to be perfectly honest, I'm trying to get my groove back a little. This idea is purely for the fun of it. I'm looking forward to writing Pharynx. I haven't done much with anyone post-Starlight era. And this school idea, which I also still need to see, just reminds me too much of Filly Funtasia to get excited over for now.
Priority 3: Bastion.
Been a long time since I wrote Changeling Blood, and a lot has happened in-canon that'll royally mess up the stories I'd planned. But the second one in the series at least doesn't have too much to be concerned about. It's basically the griphon authorities coming to check up on Bastion, because of rumours he's been mistreated and, technically , his official living guardian falling under griphon law, meaning they can take him away.
Yeah, one of the reasons this got delayed as much as it did was because it's going to go into the themes of loss, particularly of losing parents. And I know at least one person in my readership has had to deal with the reality of that. Needless to say, I'm going to have to be really careful with it. It's weird, I don't think I've done a proper tearjerker yet, have I?
How is Bastion's story going to evolve now? I'll post that in a separate blog for those who are following it, but I can say right now some of the later ideas have either been cancelled or are close to cancellation. But those things were big, epic stories that were not quite fleshed out plot-wise, only the flashy scenes in Michael Bay-style.
Sorry to keep you all waiting, hope to make it worth your time.
Cracker out. Video slightly related.
Definitely some exciting ideas in store. Looking forward to them.
Instantly imagined the other four staring at Dash as Equestria burns in the background.
"Okay, mistakes were made."
Like, I heard it in her voice.
4825970
I had one piece of dialogue ready, actually, pitched to the requester. It went something like this.
So it will be somewhat steamy, but funny as well. No burning Equestria, though.