) Before I head off for work tonight, here is the promised preview I mentioned earlier for Peace and Isolation. Enjoy!Inspiration for Peace and Isolation · 10:22pm Nov 24th, 2012
The idea for Peace and Isolation has been one I've developed over the better part of a year. It has been modified and changed many times as I discover new stories among the fandom, and that occur to me. The story that you read is one divined from the works of dozens of stories among tens of authors, each contributing more to the greater whole. Such inspirations are:
A Foul Light Shines, by Karazor. This was the fic crossing Ponies and 40k that struck me as being not only well thought-out, but gripping as well. The gist of it was that a Rogue Trader ship had slipped into the mini-verse of Equestria, seeking repair after a daemonic attack. There was an intresting dialogue between Luna and a Confessor, where she mentions being friends with the Emperor. That began a train of thought that would eventually lead to the first (and as of right now, only) Luna/Emperor Ship. The secnes when the Mane Six encounter daemons for the first time are also well done, establishing them as one of the biggest threats they would ever come across.
Chains of the Kindred, by Solvdrage. This story found on Tvtropes was actually the first fanfic I ever read. And man, was it good. The fleet from Medusa V falls across dimensions to arrive at Earth during the Invasion of New Mombassa, and has Chief fighting alongside the Imperium against the Covenant, Flood, Tyranids, and Chaos. The size and scale of the battles described, going across Halo 2, Ghosts of Onyx and other such works sealed the deal on being the best fighters in the multiverse.
Mass Effect: New Origins, by erttheking. His story illustrated that, while Mass Effect was rather weak to Halo, the people were by no means pushovers. While its long in story length, and does have a few spelling errors and mild ranting (which is actually rather endearing), the author successfully interweaves the two universes together, building a narrative with a cast of charecters so large as to make Harry Turtledove proud. Its also one of the few fics that depicts the Jiralhanae/Brutes in a sympathetic light, which is pretty unique in and of itself.
Before I commited to this, I was pondering doing a minor 40k/MLP HiE type story, featuring Fluttershy befriending a space marine. It would've involved him kicking monster ass, the Princesses being the Emperor's daughters/Primarchs, and Pinkie opening up an Eye of Terror in Ponyville. I had even done a drawing for the story in art class, which had Fluttershy smelling a flower while the Astartes had his foot on a Ork skull, bolter gun and chainsword in hand. It later became insperation for this.
I Wonder What's Up There?, by CodenameOne. This one, I believe, had the most effect on me, but not for the reason you think. The story, in short, was terrible. Not in the way it was written, by any means- Codename is a fine writer, who manages to convey the atmosphere and feel of impending doom in his story very well. What bothered me about the story was how depressingly sad it was. Both the Covenant and Humanity show up, things go south, and (SPOILER ALERT) everypony dies. And I do mean everypony, from Mane Six to Princesses to background ponies, over the course of three fics. What bothered me was that they went down so easily, too. Did magic not do anything against technology? Were the Elements of Harmony and the powers to move celestial bodies meaningless?
Point being, I didn't agree with the message presented. In a way, Peace and Isolation is something of a rebuttal to What's Up There?. The focus of writing this for me was, "How many powerful groups can I throw in this, and what's the best possible outcome for all involved?" And its rather simple to do so, as well. When you have the Princesses healing the Emperor who controls his people, the Master Chief being reclaimed by enemies-turned-friends, and a paragon Shepard who will fight for all that is good, then the odds of surviving the first wave is practically guranteed.
But do keep in mind, that all these worlds can go very dark when given the chance. Remember, we've got 40k (which defined the word "grimdark"), Halo (which gave us the Flood), Mass Effect (which gave us the Reapers and Leviathans) and even MLP (one word: Cupcakes). Just because humans and ponies may be buddies doesn't mean that they'll have it easy.
But I digress. Expect a new update shortly.
I eagerly await the next update.
I may have to look some of those fics up, and I wait with bated breath for further updates.