Plotting (Ch65)

Chapter

Tumbl

So, technically this is a bit of a filler chapter.  As in, it moves us from the chapter involving Gongaga's (and subsequently that entire world's) fall into darkness and into the actual visit to Hollow Bastion.  But that's not for a few more chapters yet.

A couple of things changed from the original outline to this chapter.  Originally, this was going to be the first time Aerith asked Zack about accompanying her to Radiant Garden/Hollow Bastion.  However, I realized that her doing that is a little bit out of character because it's somewhat unsensitive.  However, I mostly fixed that by having them talk about it sooner so that when the topic gets brought up, it's somewhat Zack's decision to go.  Because he does what to, just to see.  Plus, the guy loves adventure and all.

But then (and I always knew this was going to happen) I was going to stick a holiday chapter in right before they could go.  And guess what's getting posted in a couple of days?!?

by Gatchacaz 

I'm really excited.

Also, this makes me happy:

This person does a lot of videogame-related cross-stitch patterns.  If I had more time, I'd probably stitch some myself because they're so freaking awesome.  Anyway though.

In other news, I'm finally done with finals! Which, theoretically means I'd be rearing right back up to post fifty bajillion things and keep going at full-tilt.  However, I've still got some stuff going on, so posting will still be a bit slow.  Plus, then Christmas :P

However, if anyone's interested, I wrote a thing with the three main characters based off of Axel, Roxas, and Xion.  I love getting approved for creative works in my major.  The premise is clearly different (well, mostly.)  But anyway, if anyone's interested in reading a lovely sci-fi short story with three recognizable personalities, just lemme know.

In other, other news, I'm going to be writing a holiday-special for my main KH-fic.  I have absolutely no idea the plot of it yet, but it will probably involve everyone I can throw into a room together, well, mostly, considering I operate with a cast of like, 20 people.  Regardless, it'll probably be mostly AU, though it might be able to fit in between Betwixt and Between and Book 3, I suppose the holidays could have happened in there.  *shrug* Anyway, that'll get posted as a one-shot sometime next week.  And that's in addition to the already-written holiday chapter for the Prequel.  Holiday cheers all around!

I think that's all I have to say for now.  I still have some work today, but once I'm done with that, I'm going to go hang out with my friends and we'll be celebrating the end of the semester!

Review Responses:
No, KKBeckett, you won't know what's going on with Cloud for a couple chapters.  Because spoilers :P

Teaser Quotes:

"Rinoa..."
"I can do this!"

"Rinoa, I'm the hospital here."

"It's because you're a Sorceress isn't it?"

"Best to learn from the best!"

"I can't have you get hurt! You, or any of my friends."

Have a Christmas Video: (mostly 'cause this little girl is adorable--I love ASL)

A Growing Family (ch58)

And not because anyone's getting pregnant! They just keep adopting people! *MINE*

Chapter

(no tumblr, I apparently didn't have any tumblr-length thoughts this time around)

Well, this whole sequence ended up being a lot longer than originally planned.  And by sequence I definitely mean the "family feels fest in Traverse Town" sequence.  Also known as Cloud's first visit slash the visit where Zack and Rinoa are both there at the same time.

I just kept adding things to it, though! And so long as I figured the things I was adding were productive, I just kept adding chapters.  Though, this is actually the last of the chapters of this sequence/arc/thingy.  Not quite like the "end of a volume" sort of thing, like with what happened by the end of the FFVIII arc, but certainly the end of a longer sequence-arc than just a chapter.  I'll stop talking now because I can feel myself make less and less sense as I continue.

by twin-cosplay on dA

Anyway, have a picture of Yuffie because this girl is an awesome cosplayer of her.

Also, I just love how everyone ended up getting divided into chapters.  Aerith and Rinoa ended up together, where they kept trying to "out-polite" each other as KKBeckett put it.  Aerith does this frequently, she did it at the end of AtP when Tifa and Cloud showed up and it all ended with Yuffie giving up her bed for a bit.  (They've since added another room up there.)

Meanwhile, Zack and Leon go inspecting because the two of them get along pretty great.  And Cloud's just helping Cid because he can, but he's also betting Yuffie because he wants munny for a new sword.  Yup.  I just.  Yup.

But then Zack and Cloud have to leave because Cloud has to leave because he doesn't want to hurt anyone.  Zack has absolutely no idea why Cloud thinks this, but he wants to do what's best for Cloud.  Aerith, as usual, is super supportive of the whole thing, but it's sad because they have to say goodbye and *sniffle* my feels.  

Review Responses:
archsage: I don't think it's so much as Yuffie has a crush on Cloud, as she admires him for whatever reason.  She just decided one day (the day he first showed up) that she was going to like him.  She respects him because he's not Leon, he's not cranky-pants (Cid).  He's not even Zack, who she has to like because he's an extension of Aerith.  And he's certainly not Rinoa, who really just doesn't know how to deal with Yuffie.  (And that's probably because Rinoa had her own mischievous days and she's still that way and she really doesn't spend too much time for Yuffie, and her case was already sunk because of Leon.)  Cloud actually sort of cares for Yuffie in a way.

Anyway, that was a rant.  I appear to have come off as unclear.  I haven't actually watched any of RWBY, but it's certainly on my to-do list.  I keep seeing it show up on my tumblr dash and I know I just need to start watching it.  But, no, right? Kairi! And Rinoa! Ugh! His portrayal or Rinoa is wonderful!

And I kind of feel bad about Kiros and Ward, but I have such a huge cast already that I just... *sigh* I really can't!

KKBeckett: I think I ship Zerith harder than I ship Namiku.  And that's saying something.

Teaser Quotes:

"Why can't I go?"
"Because it's too dangerous."
"But they're going!"
"I don't think they should go either.  But I can't stop them.  They're all adults."

"Well, it looks like it's settled then.  You can't go anywhere until you're at least fourteen."

"Don't you even think about using Fire to light the stove.  It lights on its own."

"Well, let's head outside.  I hate leaving from indoors..."

"There's a difference between knowing and seeing."

And... well... I have feels about this video because it's just so darn beautiful.

Fight Against Larxene (ch31)

Because yup, that definitely happened.

Link to the chapter: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/31/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

Link to the livetumbl: http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch31/chrono

by ~StrawberryKestral on dA

So, somewhere along the lines, I decided I wanted to include a chapter that had pre-Organization Larxene (I guess Arlene?).  Mostly because I happen to like the canon where the Organization is just WAITING for her to turn into a Nobody because she has so much potential.  But she's doing pretty good as a Somebody.  So good, that she landed herself the second-to-last spot in one of the Olympus cups.

I thought about Xigbar being the last person in the cup, because he's keeping an eye on her, but then I figured that would be too much, so I cut Xigbar and threw in a Guard Armor, because it didn't really matter anyway, because that's the battle Angeal comes and helps with.  (Which is why Larxene wasn't last.)

So anyway, I started writing backstories and stuff for her and it was not okay.  I'm not even sure how she wormed her way into the story at all (as the livetumbl will attest to.)

All I had originally planned was Zack looking for Angeal and he winds up in Olympus Coliseum because that's where Angeal's gonna be and Phil ends up forcing Zack through a cup because that's what Phil does.  That's all I knew.  But then all the Heartless battles would get boring and monotonous, and then Larxene happened.

Fun fact, Zack saying "bitter taste" upon finding Angeal missing and his mother recently having passed away is a direct reference to Axel saying the exact same thing after the final battle in All the Pieces and Saix dying.  I'm not sure if it was intentional, but I definitely realized it after the fact and figured I'd make mention of it here.

Another fun fact, what Zack's got equipped is the exact same thing that I had equipped when I was going through Crisis Core as I was simultaneously writing this chapter/playing the game.

Also, rar went through some cups in Olympus in KH1 to help me determine just how easy certain Heartless would be for Zack.  It was pretty amusing and fun.

The Crisis Core soundtrack was super helpful for me when I was writing this chapter.  It's super handy for just about the next several chapters I write with Zack (having all of them written, I can say this with utmost confidence.)  You'll hear more about it, I'm sure.  Or you won't, 'cause I'll have forgotten.

Also, Zack was giving me feels prematurely and it was not okay.

Review Responses:
So Zack has exactly what he needs... for now.  At the moment, at least.  And yes, yes, that is Larxene.  Most definitely.  I don't know how, it just happened.

Have a very Zack-related video! (for some reason, it won't let me embed it, but Tto12 is awesome (so is ARS), so you should click on it.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbai1xKfLSg

Stories about Fights (24)

Or something lame like that.

I'm actually super sorry that I haven't been posting/updating the blog.  I literally don't have time and it's not cool.  Stupid school.  I mean, I get it... I need it... but... ugh.

Link to the chapter (just in case you've all forgotten which one i'm referring to): http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/24/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

Link to the livetumbl (which I filled in earlier this evening in my abundant spare time (don't let it fool you, I actually didn't have any, I was doing that while I was eating dinner)): http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch24/chrono

by `Ahr0 on dA

I'll admit, the picture on the left technically depicts events that have yet to occur, but this is the chapter where the picture fits best.  And when I stumbled across that picture (while looking for OTHER pictures, I fell in love with it instantly. Heh.) I just love Squall's face.

So anyway, I knew all along that Rinoa was going to be the one to recognize Laguna as her mother's mercenary, considering she's the only person in the room who can actually make THAT connection.  Squall, however, gets to realize that the man in front of him is actually his father.  And he's not super happy about it.  I mean, think about it, your father figure disappeared before you were even born and now you're finding him 18 years later? Yeah.  No.  Thanks for nothing, dad.

However, this is also the chapter that features Laguna's story.  So, my story in a story.  It's similar to Laguna's story in FFVIII, just with the addition of extra Worlds, really.  I realize now, looking back on it, that it's completely dumb for him NOT to have finished that letter, but... Laguna's a very emotional man and in his grief, he simply didn't finish it.  Or something like that.  Because, that's what had to happen.  I swear, this is FFVIII's doing, not mine.  I'll continue on with Laguna's sob story in a couple of chapters (when I get the chance) mostly because that's when the rest of this goes down.

Quick Review Response, Kiros and Ward will likely not be making an appearance.  They may make a cameo much later in the story, but I make no promises.  I've got a ton of characters to deal with already.  Heh.

Anyway, have another Vocaloid video: (I'm in a mood)

Zack versus a Relationship that Doesn't Exist (ch13)

The little twerp actually thought for a moment there that Aerith and Leon were a thing.  It was super cute.  And obviously not true.  Zack's jealousy was thankfully short-lived.

Link to the chapter!: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/13/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

Link to the livetumbl: http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch13/chrono

Not a whole lot there this time around... it happens.

Anyway, so this chapter is basically just a continuation of the last chapter's Zerith feels.  This is where Zack and Aerith ACTUALLY become a thing and it's super adorable.  Because Zack's all like "I think I like her *doesn't know what to do*" And Aerith's like "He's really sweet and nice, I like nice people... but I don't know what to do..." And Leon and Cid are both like "JUST KISS!"

Not really, but practically.  Zerith has a fanclub and the leader is Leon.

And then there's Yuffie, who's just like "WHY DO YOU INSIST ON LEAVING ME BEHIND! I LIKE YOU PEOPLE!" (Yuffie generally speaks in caps in my head.)  Granted, I know Yuffie and Zack don't particularly get along in Crisis Core... but Yuffie gets along with Zack in my canon, because Aerith likes Zack and Yuffie likes Aerith.  (Aerith's like, her favorite person, this is FF canon).  So, yeah.

But yeah, first date, pink ribbons.  Adorable.  I'm really glad I decided to split the last chapter and this chapter into two chapters, because it was originally supposed to be one.  But yeah.

Unfortunately, then Zack has to leave.  He's still a mercenary.  Granted, the Genesis business is going to

by *jameson9101322 on dA

change things a little (you'll see), but he's not one to be tied to one place for long.  But he's now officially a satellite to the FF gang in Traverse Town.

And hush, I know, I just posted a chapter about Zack and I'm posting a picture that lacks Zack.  However, this picture is cute and depicts the FF gang at their approximate ages right about here.  Ish.  Thereabouts.  It's cute.  Also, this artist does a LOT of art.  It's all really neat.

Anywho, so I'm aware that Zack should be squatting more, and I'm having conniptions about it.  Murr.  I just don't know how to incorporate it quite yet.  Every scene I've got with Zack he's doing other things and not squatting.  (sigh.)  The most squatting I've seen Zack do is when he's at Costa del Sol.  (I'm simultaneously playing Crisis Core.)  I'm also running missions to postpone my death.  It's cute.  "Let me just sit here right outside the Nibelheim reactor and run misssions.  Yup.  Totally."

So, review responses!

Yes, KKBeckett, Aerith and Zack need to look out for each other.  It's actually more of a "Aerith, make sure that Zack doesn't get in trouble" than a "Zack, make sure Aerith doesn't get hurt" kind of thing.  I love that about them.

Frankly, I just love Zerith.

That's all for now, have a video! (More Zerith!) (CANON Zerith)  I was super excited by all of these when they started showing up in my DMW.  They show up for every character, but I like Aerith's and Cloud's the best.

Zack Feels (Prequel Ch7)

What's funny, is this particular chapter didn't even give me that many Zack feels.  But the Zack plot arc as a whole gives me a lot of them.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/7/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

by *chibiasta on dA. (she does a lot of
cute FFVII art if you want to check
it out!)

I knew from the beginning that Zack was going to meet Angeal shortly after he was out on his own (past Olympus Coliseum) and they were going to become fast-friends.  Granted, that friendship isn't quite there in this chapter, but it will grow.

Originally, it was just going to be that Angeal was going to agree to help Zack become a better fighter and keep Zack from falling into the darkness.  (I was going off of Zack's dealings with Hades back in Olympus.)  However, I later nixed the darkness idea, figuring I have enough people dealing with it and Zack doesn't need to be one of them.  Zack can have an awareness, sure, but struggling with it? Nah.

Then the Genesis plot arc merged in.  I wasn't sure, initially, if I was going to include Genesis, because I've heard he can be a pain to write for.  (He is, I have future chapters that include him).  But I wanted to include him nonetheless.  Genesis was how I explained the black feather at the end of the Birth By Sleep secret ending.  Genesis is, I believe, the only person in Crisis Core to have black wings? I could be wrong... I totally could be wrong... I haven't actually FINISHED Crisis Core (kill me later, I literally am working on it.)  However, it made for a convenient person, and then Genesis morphed into a villain for Zack, kinda like he's a major antagonist in Crisis Core (though, it's still mostly Hojo's fault, but whatever).

So, this chapter was born out of those facts, basically.  And I really do like how it turned out, actually.

I even livetumbld it a little....  http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch7/chrono

Though, I warn you, there's only a couple posts there.  I got into the livetumbling swing in later chapters.  Though, I periodically drop out of said habit.  *shrug*

So, Review Responses:

KKBeckett: You're in for a wild ride with the Genesis arc, it's a feelsy one :P  And I'm glad you like my Angeal inclusion.  Also, Zack's just awesome.

And, as usual, have a video :)

Because I love the Piano Guys :)

The Unwanted Mission (Prequel Ch6)

Convenient link to the chapter: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/6/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before


I don't think I had originally anticipated sending Rinoa off on a mission to spy on her father, it just sort of happened.  I think I decided it would be an ironic situation and I went with it.

I hope that I accurately reflected Rinoa's initial panic on being told to go spy on her father, and then her maturity when she realizes that, despite all that, she's actually the best one for the mission and she's not going to let the Timber Owls down.

I had planned that Rinoa would start losing her magical abilities.  You'll see why later.  I can't say why now because spoilers.  I knew that she'd be living in Timber, making her way in life without revealing herself as a Sorceress, which admittedly gets easier when she has less magic to draw on.

I actually don't have too much to say about this chapter, honestly.

I remember having trouble writing it.  I actually started both this chapter and the chapter after it simultaneously and got stuck on both.  Not fun.  But, I finally got the inspiration for this chapter and finished it!

Picture on the right by *procerdecrepusculum on DeviantArt.  He does a lot of good art, you should go check it out.

Review Responses:

Just the one from KKBeckett: I'm really glad you liked the development of both Rinoa and the world!

Video:

I have a newfound obsession with this song.  It's the cellist in me. You should check out the Piano Guys altogether, however, because they're awesome.