Magisight Chapter 30: OUT + Cloudsbane Music! · 9:55pm Mar 14th, 2020
Huzzah! Chapter 30 is out! I hope everyone has been enjoying things so far. With the release of 30, we've got only three chapters left to go before Magisight is fully complete.
This chapter had a slightly interesting journey from conceptualization to completion. The original-original draft had Twilight trekking through the forest, and fighting off a pack of Timber Wolves. I like blowing up monsters, but it felt kind of gratuitous since Twilight could just teleport to the Castle. Not only that... well, they're Timber Wolves. Keeping them in the story as some sort of monster or obstacle to beat would have been kind of a downgrade when compared to the weather golems of Cloudsbane. I suppose I could have come up with some other eldritch forest-dwelling nightmare for her to fight, but I've honestly had the headcanon that the forest has steadily been growing safer overtime, ever since Discord's plunder seeds were handled. Still, probably not good for a filly to wander in by herself, but a capable pony like Twilight or her friends would probably be okay.
The castle is still kind of spoopy though! It was the sight of one of Equestria's darkest hours, the rebellion of Nightmare Moon. I like the idea of intense magical events leaving a permanent "impact" or "footprint" on the land, resulting in strange oddities. Twilight's gift allows her to see a sort of "cosmic replay" of the battle, albeit abridged somewhat. The draft of this was inspired by the season 4 premiere, and my editor helped me flesh it out a little bit better, by really enhancing the "time scrying" scene. Something about the whole idea of alicorn magic leaving an imprint is just really satisfying to me, and tying it in with the Tree of Harmony was a delight. Thanks again to my editor, Ember, for helping to flesh it out and bridge the connections!
Speaking of the Tree, who saw that coming? Probably obvious in hindsight, but I just love the Castle and Tree being in close proximity. That's a lot of alicorn magic just permeating the land. Did anyone else suspect that the words spoken in Twilight's dreams might be a spell? One of the many pieces to access the final nexus point of magic? Everything is all linked together in the end, and so much destiny is tied to our little purple pony princess.
She'll be alright, though. There's some good stuff in store as we roll into the very last stretch, and I'm very eager to share it with you all. Still aiming for once every two weeks, but we'll see how things manage. If nothing else... it's still only three chapters to go!
OH! And, before I forget, MUSIC! Cadenza Heartsong has just published a song to go alongside the pegasus arc, aptly titled Cloudesbane. Links will be added to the relevant chapter's authors notes as well as the fanfic's main page. Go give it a listen! You might even catch a glimpse of the horrors of the weather golems... (Listen here!: https://youtu.be/slNVSlRIE_M )
May the stars shine until the end of your journey!
-PK
