So, a bit of a retrospect… · 3:52pm Oct 14th, 2019
I got into this whole mess over a few things. A friend told me about MLP in 4chan, I read a fic (I don't actually remember which one it was) but I didn't really get into the series at all until I watched it myself, and the character that drew me in was Luna/Nightmare Moon.
I watched the original MLP back in the day, and the ponies' transformation into ravenous mindless dragon-beasts was something that stuck with me from back there, so I knew it could be pretty intense when it wanted to (and way, waaay, waaaay) too mellow the rest of the time. So I risked it. I mean. The character's name was "Nightmare Moon" unless you screw up epically you can't go wrong with that.
And I was not disappointed. The characters were good, the world was evolving this early in the show and Nightmare Moon did not disappoint. I mean, sure, they could have gone with the recurring villain, but as a series opener that lets you see there's so much more going on in this world than a small town from the beginning? That's important to world-building, and a returning Nightmare being turned back into her innocent-er self? Yeah. I was sold.
I mean, I do wish they had done a bit more with Luna's reintegration into society, but fanfics had a lot to say about that anyway. There was a lot going on in my life at that time too, I was in California, trying to survive there with three minimum payment jobs, my kid was on the way to being born, etc. I hadn't written any stories in over a year, and well, this inspired me.
I started writing "The Empty Room." Which I say now, with the glasses of objectivity and hindsight—is still one hell of a story. Eff it. I can read that thing many times over despite writing issues I had somehow developed in my "dead writer" period. Those technicalities make me cringe when I re-read it, but I will always default to the fact that, as a whole story? It's damned good and hey, for all its defects, it was doing very well against the likes of Fallout Equestria and Past Sins at the time they came out.
Sure, I felt that those two were hugging most of the attention (I do have an ego after all), but I feel if I had done a better job editing the final product before throwing it out there, things could've been a bit different.
The Empty Room is now a sort of aside of those days for most people. They tend to forget it existed when fics are brought up and later go like "I can't believe I forgot it!" Even though the impact was real (I still remember the angry youtube readings!) Again, mea culpa, it needed a lot of better things: Better editing, better presentation, better cover art, better description to draw in readers... all the things I later wrote up in my blogs.
And yet, thousands read it and commented both in EqD and here and that really encouraged me. I paid attention to the things that Past Sins and FO:E had that mine didn't: mainly? the things I listed above, and better exposure. That is what I think held TER back. But it's still one hell of a story.
My first two blogs here are gone… I don't even remember what I wrote on them. I re-purposed them tho, because I figured I could use them for other things before many of the options knighty created were applied.
It's been nine years guys.
Of writing.
Reading.
I moved.
Made pony friends online!
Joined fimfic.
Got my own downvoting crew.
People went away.
Had a LOT of problems.
Went to conventions and made a lot of friends.
Finally met people around my area-ish!
Lost contact with a few... learned I didn't mean as much to some (not bitter, that's just the nature of things)
Life continued. I dealt with issues through writing stories.
Fears through creating adventures.
Shared successes and push-backs through blogs.
Bought a house.
Went through... many different jobs.
Went back to school.
So many things!
I learned so much from everyone I ever wrote with, and every time I get a new follower, I still tell myself: make sure you write/keep writing something worth their time.
It's been one hell of a ride with the show, and now we have no limits. We have a solid canon (that we can still mess with) and the infinite to explore still. And if my years writing fic have taught me something, is that something that is loved and that has drawn people together to create a real sense of community is never going to go away completely. Look at Star Wars. Look at Star Trek. Look at Ranma.
Anyway, I'll keep writing. I hope you keep reading!
You took the words right out of my mouth. We all have no limits and I personally can't wait to see what's in store
*cries in Oliver*
Look at Lovecraft, despite the death of its intended message (and good riddance)
Luna was one of the first characters that drew me in as well, along with the great story and how Twilight and her friends bonded together despite being so different. Different, yet the same in some ways. The ways that matter most.
We have all come a long way. Been through many changes. But the most important thing is we did it together. We were here for each other. That is the most important part of our journey. I'm glad to have made it with all of you. And I can't wait to see what is next!
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Did that stuff even really have a message beyond "don't do acid and peyote at the same time"?
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I think it was "Everything that isn't small-town New England is terrifying and you should spend your meaningless life in the fetal position."
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What 5139168 said, only more bigoted and also anti-knowledge. In other words, so thoroughly inapplicable to modern society that even Lovecraft's contemporaries preferred to ignore it in favor of your interpretation (Derleth is reviled for doing so)
The hiatuses were always the craziest times for fan made content. Imaginations keep going but no new episodes to keep them focused.
Considering how much is still being made on older episodes alone, combined with endless hiatus (if you don't count season 10 comics)...
I can't wait to see what's going to happen now.
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Clearly a man who needed a long vacation to somewhere nice and sunny. St. Augustine perhaps? It is a lovely place to spend the Christmas holiday.
I'm still a bit in the mopey part of the post-finale glow, but I have high hopes for what the fandom can continue to make and how long we can keep the ride going. That and I still have so much of it to go back and read.
We still need to get together for another drink, lad. If I can penetrate the UK and us border patrols, it will happen.
5139190 either of us, m8! I have a ton of good friends I want to see again over there too!
You keep writing and I shall keep reading sir!
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Lovecraft also hated everyone who wasn't himself or his mother, was deeply racist and etc etc.
I had to pop in to say a very important thing: The Empty Room has the best PLOT of all of the old school pony fanfics, that is why it will always be my favorite. Yes, it is not as well written as the final version of Past Sins, and it doesn't have the world building of Fallout: Equestria. But damn it made me feel more emotions than any other story back then, with its amazing pacing, twists and turns.
Thinking back, it feels weird that it is over. The end of a long story is bitter sweet, but I loved the MLP ending. They did it, they kept the quality till the end.
I know that the fandom will keep going, I mean, don't go so high as Star Wars; look at the Legend of Korra fandom (I've been roaming around there), and that show was divisive, short, and kinda unprofitable.
We all know keeping friendships is hard, but I have to admit that I find it harder than many people. I don't know when or how to contact someone, or what is proper to say. Hell, I'm afraid of Discord, the chat on streaming services, and social networks. Still, I did dare to meet with you one day, and meeting you and your family was a blessing.
Good luck D. I'll be lurking around... reading.
I've no plans to leave. :)
It's been a pleasure, D, and I hope it will continue to be a pleasure.
What really introduced me to you was The Sweetie Chronicles: Fragments. I might not have read everything you've ever written, but I sure am glad you're here.
That is how you know you did it right.
Guess we can can just wait for more TER world-building, right? It'll be like old times!
I misread mae culpa as tulpa and for a second I was worried for you. Then I realized it was my own stupid brain screwing things up.
This is gonna be around forever.
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That's what she said. OH WAIT...
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