How did it come to this? Well, that's how · 8:50pm Apr 6th, 2020
So it's officially been one year since The Beginning of the End premiered, which in return means it's been one year since MLP ruined my life Shadow of a Doubt began being rewritten into what it is today.
Which means I'm going to talk a bit about the original draft of Shadow of a Doubt, at the time called Cold as Crystal.
I'm still fond of my earliest drafts. They're not quite what I envisioned today, but they're still something I open on occasion to read through. Though I can't say the same for if I'd continued them, since I had a horrible time coming up with overall plots. (Shadow of a Doubt is, quite thankfully, almost 100% planned out. I at least have an ending planned, even if a few small details have changed)
Cold as Crystal was originally envisioned as a short one shot where a reformed comic Sombra and Starlight came together through some means, and bonded over their villainous pasts. There was no deeper plot or anything, just a fun little idea of my two favorite characters interacting. It wasn't even officially named anything yet, just a thought floating through my head that I decided I'd get to eventually. There was also no shipping of the two involved at the time, and I can't even begin to remember when I first got the idea of putting them together, but it was quite a bit after I began to change the story when that came up.
Skip to a while later, I see the leaks for Season 9 (A model sheet with Grogar, Sombra, and a few other miscellaneous things for those unaware) and Cold as Crystal begins to change drastically. It began to somewhat resemble Shadow of a Doubt, and quite conveniently, had quite a bit in common with the actual premier! Though unwritten in the first chapter (The only chapter that was ever fully written), Sombra was resurrected by Grogar, and refused to side with him. Unlike in the official premier however, Grogar does not send Sombra on his own to 'prove himself' or die trying. Instead, he decides to put Sombra back in his place.
Essentially meaning, he tries to kills him. By trampling him. Sombra escapes, though not after Grogar manages to get a few hits in. I actually sort of referenced this scene with this bit in Shadow of a Doubt.
Grogar hadn't planned for things to go the way they had, but he'd accept it. He really hadn’t expected, or even wanted, Sombra to survive and may have had half a mind to warp him back to the lair to finish him off himself. It wouldn’t have been hard, a solid stamp to the neck and Sombra would be gone in a blink.
The fic's original title, Cold as Crystal, is also reused as the name of the first chapter. (It is also the name of the Sombra RP blog I run on Tumblr)
The first chapter opens up with Starlight, who's been called to the depths of the Crystal Empire by the Friendship Map. This was something that was still a concept long into Shadow of a Doubt's writing, though at some point I thought 'No, this seems dumb. The Map just sounds like an excuse' so it was scrapped. Now a days I feel like it would've been better than what I did do, but eh, too late to go back now.
Starlight eventually finds Sombra bloody and beaten in the snow, pretty much half dead after Grogar tried smashing his face and body into horse mush. It was much more violently descriptive than what I've posted thus far! Which is saying something, since the current fic mentions an, albeit undescriptive, maggot infested wound. I'm still surprised no one has brought that up.
A series of events later, they're back in Ponyville, Sombra hospitalized and Twilight panicking in Starlight's face because 'What the heck he's supposed to be dead!?' Starlight eventually realizes she's been sent on the worst Friendship Mission ever, having been sent to help Sombra.
Pretty much after that there's not much written, the chapter ends with Sombra's thoughts below, and the rest is just a messy summary in the depths of my docs.
He’d play by Starlight’s rules for now, but only until he could sink his own hooves into that traitorous goat’s neck.
Season 9 had dropped by the time I was writing chapter 2, and after my disappointment from the premier I scrapped pretty much everything and started from scratch. I hadn't originally planned to post Shadow of a Doubt anywhere for the first few months I was writing it, but my sister told me I should, and being the attention desperate person I am I made this account and threw it up thinking 'This is dumb, no one's gonna notice it'.
Oh how wrong I was...
Anyway, yeah, even before posting Shadow of a Doubt, it was an idea that wouldn't escape my mind. Once much different, and much more violent, it's always interesting to think about. Seeing how a story evolves is always something that's always neat to look back on, even if you've got three different docs full of story summaries, because it's just so hard to stick with something. It's also interesting to see what does end up sticking, whether it be a small detail or a major plot point.
Not sure how many people ended up reading this whole thing, but if you did, I have a gift for you all! A scrapped quote of Starlight's from Cold as Crystal, when Sombra meets up with the CMCs for the first time. The trio is interested because his lack of a mark, but unfortunately Starlight won't let them help him, because, well...
”Sorry girls, he’s got rabies.”
now that would be interesting!
I like what you've got, wether it be the old or new version, to be honest. Keep up the good work!
5237276
I like to think Grogar's capable of much more violent acts than just threats and magic, and since my Grogar was not and never will be Discord in disguise, I feel like I might be able to get away with such a thing! He just hasn't gotten his chance... Yet.
I did feel as if the whole trampling thing was a bit too much at the time, though I'd be more willing to write some violence now. And might be doing so soon.
5237286
yeah! I'm personally glad that your Grogar isn't Discord. Grogar should've been his own personal ram in my opinion.
e
I like what I've heard of the old version! I mean, I love what you have now but I would like to read the older version. Keep up the good work, Moth.
5237501
I'd actually love to show it off for others to read, though I'm not quite sure how. I obviously couldn't actually post it as its own story, though I guess I could make the doc it's saved on public...
Only the first chapter though, the 2nd one was never finished after all, and my notes may have a few spoilers for what I did end up keeping!
5237506
True, that might spoil some things. Maybe when Shadow of a Doubt is done, you could post it per chapter on a blog post.Also, (I was bored and read the comments :P)
Please do. I know, that makes me sound so creepy
But I mean, you suggested it. I'm just complying.
5237545
Well, like I said, only the first chapter was ever finished, but it's an option. I'll have to consider it.
And honestly? At this point I think the violence is unavoidable. Things just sort of escalated in the writing process, whoops.
5237562
I like it because it escalates quickly
The old version sounds like an fun idea, but I think I like the new one more. I have yet to watch the last 6 episodes of season 9 so for now, your story fills in the gap quite nicely. Keep up the good work moth!