The Story is Complete, But... · 6:06pm Oct 26th, 2022
Elements Change the Dark Hearts was a story project that started off as a small set of chapters to act as a one off for a boss enemy for my (then) favorite game of all time. It was early in my hobby as a writer, and it wasn't very well thought out outside of the initial concept, but as I wrote more chapters, I began to have more thoughts about it. What if it wasn't just Bael and Fluttershy that had this strange encounter? What if the other Elements ended up bonding with other "Dark Hearts". What if I themed it in a similar way as I themed it for the one off? What if it all became one story, rather than a disjointed set, with an underlying narrative flowing beneath it?
So, armed with all of these questions, I quickly drew up plans (quite literally), changed the story name, used the original story title as a section title (which would then lead to each "part" being 9 chapters long), and off I went on a near six year long journey that started on 12/12/12. All of this effort to make this great big goofy story about otherwise horrible creatures learning to be at least a little less horrible, for one reason or another, where they took their first steps into the realm of redemption, or at least acceptance of their new circumstances, and I'm still not quite done.
Since its completion, while I was mostly satisfied with the result, I've always felt there was something missing. Of course I was going to make a sequel story. That was decided in the middle of writing "Elements", as well as the anthology for side chapters (and even the debatably canon side story about Trixie), but there was something I felt I wanted more than anything else for it, but I just didn't know what it was. It wasn't until, while I was nearing its completion, that I stumbled across a group that showed me exactly what I was looking for.
It was then that I started on a new project for the already completed story. If you're reading this now after checking out the updated "Elements Change the Dark Hearts", then you'll know what it is. If not, then allow me to spoil you. In preparation for the project I decided to create images for each part, representing the two characters, each art piece based on the cover art of select video games. However, only the line art will be used for the story presented here. The reason for that will be my secret for the time being.. Note that I will be updating "Elements" every day until Halloween in this way, so you'll see it pop up on the front page every now and then.
I intend on trying to get this new project for this old story done by the end of the year, hopefully shooting for December 12. That would mark it as a 10th Anniversary thing, which would be just so nice.
To all of my readers that have stuck with me over the years, and for all of those that have recently joined me because of my dumb story about monsters, thank you so much for staying with me and for taking such interest in my work. I can't wait to see what my future holds, even if it's just for the sake of these hobbies of mine.
Edit: It looks like someone decided to downvote the story. Why? No real clue. Didn't even get a comment to tell me that I suck eggs or anything. Some cowards, honestly.
I believe in you, bro! You can do it!
Been a huge fan of this story and I'm looking to how it'll develop further.
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Thanks man, and thanks for being there every step of the way.