Aww man... caught up already? Looking forward to more.

Well, this is an interesting turn of events. Orchid is nothing like I would have expected, dithering around for six years because she felt like it seems a bit irresponsible to me but we'll have to see how this all plays out.

And once Cresent convinces the others that he hasn't invented a new imaginary friend, having a friendly autonomous ghost for a stealth mission will be a godsend. Although, if Sombra practices a form of spirit magic things could turn very dicey. Should be fun.

7850412 Ask and you shall receive! Just standby for a little longer. The next chapter is written, and now it is just a matter of me combing through it proofreading, editing, and addressing the parts that are either too weak, too boring, or otherwise don't flow in a way that sets well with me. As it currently stands, there's not enough "hook" in the chapter and is serving only to lay some foundations. It's not a bad chapter, but it's missing a certain spark that make it special. I'm nearly done though and my goal is to have it out by the weekend at the very latest, whether I think it is perfect or not.

7852495 Irresponsible? To an extent, I suppose. In the aftermath of Waxing's "ascendance", Orchid had to deal with her own set of frustrations, and in some ways, I'd argue got the worse end of the stick. As such her character has developed greatly since her genesis as I thought about all the different things to do to her (I know that sounds worse than it really is. Although writers are just socially accepted psychopaths, I swear). As far as her involvement from here on out, well, you'll just have to read and find out. :)

First of all, welcome back. Good to see this continued again, the last few chapters seem to have a few interesting things developing within, which proves promising. The slight, hinted teasing of Celestia and Waxing growing closer, perhaps to a point of being romantic (which would be quite welcomed, I personally have to say) has been well handled. The bit with her looking after Waxing's daughter a few times now lends itself to this potential perception of events.

The Crystal Kingdom feels as if it is definitely going to be the conflict of this current arc, as the story has the potential for many arcs, up to the potential return of Luna, perhaps even beyond? No clue where you intend to stop it, but there is a lot of story potential here. most definitely. But, back to the Kingdom, and Sombra... the initial interaction did an excellent job of showing him as the calculating, manipulative tyrant you wanted to paint him out to be, and it makes me wonder just how events will turn out with the mission there. A lot of people like to think he was banished due to the elements and Celestia & Luna working together, but obviously those cards are no longer on the table, so in order to arrange for events to align with canon in the future, it should be quite entertaining to see how you arrive to that point. Hopefully things don't get too dark for Waxing, though, because Sombra's approach does very well entail a fate far worse than death.

Orchid is... an intriguing wild card in things now. I'm honestly reminded a little bit of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series, in which Death is an individual who passes his or her mantle on to the next, and wears it as a job and title, rather than being it. The similarities aren't all there, but in the fact that one failed reaping, holding off on just one job, will hold you up until it is done is what sticks out to me. As for a wild card, I say this because you have, effectively, an individual that can go pretty much anywhere, and hear pretty much everything alongside Waxing. I don't see anything romantic coming of those two, but an odd friendship? Most certainly, especially if you stick to your guns and keep Waxing immortal and unkillable throughout the story.

So, lot of promise and potential still present, and I'm looking forward to a few events. The romance (hopefully!) with Celestia, and the events that will go down in the Empire... plus the eventual, awkward and most likely painful revelation of Waxing having to tell those who know him why he isn't aging in some time. That'll be a hard thing to cover up from the country, too, if he remains visible at Celestia's side.

Good job though!

7862645 Thank you! I will finish this story, no matter how long it takes me. I suspect it won't be until I graduate though that I can make more steady progress on it, because, well, college. And I love hearing your, and other's, speculation on things. Holding the "master plan", it's fun to see where y'all are and leaves me excited. Especially as y'all raise some of the same thoughts I had when planning. It's like playing Battleship, but never telling y'all if it's a hit or a miss.

And you are right, there's a lot I can cover. I have some distinct points and arcs planned out, some more complete than others. Funnily enough though, the ending was the very first thing I wrote, which I'm glad because at least I know where to stop. I do question why I decided to make a massive epic my first real effort and not a smaller tale, but I don't regret it.

Now as far as this arc, I don't think it spoiling anything by saying the Crystal Empire will disappear since I have it in bold, in the description, that canon will be bent, and I'm not looking to break it. I want the reader to be able to read this, and then watch the show and be able to say, "Yeah, that could've happened. Maybe." In regards to how dark things will get for Wax, it'll be a fine line to walk, especially as things go on, but I'll cross that bridge when it comes to it though.

Now Orchid. Whew. She has taken on a life of her own as I started writing her as is far different from the original drafts. I have to say though, I prefer her this way. She's a lot more fun to write, but also allows for more depth of character to explore. In regards to her genesis, she borrows heavily from the premise of another story idea I had three years back, but never wrote past an outline. Admittedly, I am unfamiliar with the Incarnations of Immortality series, but the premise sounds intriguing and I might have to go check them out.