What Have I Done? · 5:27am Apr 18th, 2019
So ... even though I shouldn't have ... I started another writing project. It's a side project. Which means weekends and post-quota only. But it's a good incentive. And I'll be tossing it up on my Patreon as a supporter award as it's written, and then when it's all done I'll post it here on Fimfic. Post-edit, of course.
What is it, you may ask? A Dusk Guard side story? Nope. It's something ... new. Something I couldn't get out of my head until I'd worked on it. I call it Stranded and it was inspired by a brainstorming session kicked off by another story on the site (I won't spoil which one just yet).
But I will offer a teaser:
What have I done?
The question echoed through Sunset’s mind as she galloped through the palace, her heart pounding in her chest. Each thud was like a gavel striking down. Or worse, the sound Princess Celestia’s hoof had made when she’d stamped it at the end of her proclamation.
What I have to do. She lowered her head, gritting her teeth as she galloped through the back hall. Any minute now a member of the palace staff could discover what she’d done, come across the two members of the Royal Guard she’d stunned and shoved into a side closet. Or the stunning spell would wear off, and one of them would cry for help—
Focus! She galloped onward, hooves sliding against the stone as she took a tight corner. She had to be quick. Her escort would be discovered. It was only a matter of time. And when they were, Princess Celestia would know in moments.
She had to be gone before the Princess found out. Had to reach the mirror before anypony could stop her.
It was her destiny. A destiny the teacher she had loved had tried to keep from her. Out of fear? Out of jealousy? She didn’t know.
But I will have what’s mine! The servants passage widened, and from ahead she could smell the scent of the kitchens.
Perfect. She smashed through the door in a rush, startled staff looking up in surprise. One of the cooks dropped a pot, contents splashing across the floor.
“Sunset?” one of them asked. “Are you—?”
There was no time for finesse. Power rushed through Sunset’s horn, blasting out of her in a wave of opal light. The eyes of everypony in the kitchen rolled back, each of them collapsing like a puppeteer’s tools at the end of a show.
Puppets, she thought, a fresh wave of pain rolling through her chest. Like I was.
Enjoy your teaser! More will come! 
A side project? You fool! You'll destroy yourself!
...
Not that I have any room to talk.
Looks quite interesting
5045981
Yeah, on the one hand it's a terrible idea with how busy and stressed-out I've been. On the other hand it's an outlet and I really wanted to tell the story once I had it.
5046040
I hope you continue to be impressed!
5046200
In truth, I love side projects. I’m always working on longer stories. I have to, otherwise they’ll never be completed.
Side stories are a way of breaking away from those and letting me explore other avenues. It’s a great way to clear the head and come back fresh.
5046209
I like getting them done one at a time, to help keep my head straight across massive plots. The only reason I started this one is because I'm editing three projects at the moment and really wanted to write something, but my next full story (Axtara: Banking and Finance) wasn't slated for another month.
So, surprise Sunset Shimmer story! I've had this idea in kind ever since I started reading WandererD's Ranger and got talking with some folks in a brainstorming thread about how you really could have her go anywhere ...
5046211
Alas, I have not read Ranger yet. I still need to get to Gunsmoke (which I’ve already read, but that was for pre-reading/editing purposes). And thanks to my “one story per author” rule and vastly overloaded long-term schedule, it’s likely I won’t get to Ranger for an extremely long time.
5046231
Ranger is good. I think you'll enjoy it. Though I'm not current on it, and it's not finished yet, so you're probably fine.
And here I come with Hunter/Hunted too.
5046283
Which will also take forever to get to. Seriously, my long-term schedule for big stories is booked up to August 2020.