The Bond

Interlude I

Your author for this fiction here to mark out this important spot with some questions and answers.

How did we get here?

That one question has been with me throughout these past few months that I've written fanfiction here in Fimfiction. When I first started out in January (if I recall right) I instantly thought 'The Bond' would face the same fate as too many Human in Equestria -stories, meaning that they're instantly forgotten in the midst of other works and shot down to the deepest parts of Hell...

So I found it amazing that some of you actually enjoyed my crappy first chapter.

With that one faitfull move, you guys helped me to achieve this milestone of first arc done with 17 chapters about Nucleus, Alto and Maero in the land of Equestria. With me now nearing 80k words in total, I cannot help but to find it shocking it's actually me who has done this amount of work and to this genre so despited in certain circles...

So it's really dumbfounding to see this at over 1000 views on first chapter and 5200 in total.

Very, very dumbfounding....

I dunno, maybe it's just cause the fact I kept on going and not really stopping to think too much about it. Now, as I start to think more of it, I don't think I'll ever get the answer to it...

Have I gotten better?

My grammar was, and partially still is, very atrocious like you can read out from the first three to four chapters. Any other after those tends to be on the same level if you discard the latest ones.

But overall, it has gotten a lot better, at least according to what you guys have told me.

Anything I regret?

At this point, nothing thanks to the change I did with the start of the second chapter. Don't think I've forgotten that or any other unanswered stuff through out the story.

Although I tend to break the important rule of telling and not showing to you readers, so that's one thing I really regret of doing. But I doubt this has happened on many occasions as one of my goal in every chapter is to provide you with the proper, believable surroundings alongside with the expressions and emotions each of the characters deal with, minus some minor ones.

One another thing is the formatting of the lines, especially the dialogue and mind lines. At somepoint during the character specific ones, I seems to have tried to create some sort of 'three-strike' rule in order to cut down the lenght of the text. That... was disturbed in a bit as I wrote out my other stuff and it's visible in the last one.

Also the OOC moments; for example the first draft of chapter 6 had Twilight saying perhaps the worst line I've ever written for any none OC character. Also the dialogue of Rarity in chapter 14 with Nucleus... Lets just say I'm thankful that I've got amazing fellows pre-reading for these kind of silly mistakes.

Who's my favorite OC character?

By far, I think that either Nucleus or Maero deserves the spot. Now, I do love Alto as well, however his character isn't nearly as powerfull when it comes to these two. Nucleus was actually the first one that got drafted out, due to my initial plans involving him being the only main character and having Maero + Alto be only side characters.

Do tell who's your current favorite and we'll re-check on this in the next interlude in far future.

I also hope I don't anger any possible Alto fan out there :twilightsheepish:

But I'm also pleased over the personalities of Ditzy Doo and, particulary, Carrot Top seem to be fine with you. I was a bit worried over that many of you would be displeased over what kind of mare Carrot is, but it seems I was overworried.

What reasons I think made this story a succesful one?

Now, I'll let each and everyone of you think out this on your own. I cannot really tell why in the hay you guys keep coming back to read this perhaps a bit higher quality fiction. But I'd very much want to know what do you people overall think, so I can think ways to improve myself.

What are we to expect within the Arc 2?

Ahh, rather interesting question that needs an answer...

In short, somewhat different to what you've seen up to this point. Meaning you'll see a lot more physical action, emotional build-up and most importantly, the actual plot that was partially missing in the Arc 1.

Alas, I cannot really tell more as othewise this would be as long as one of my regular chapters and I don't want to spoil out anything.

Any major changes up ahead?

In fact, one really important and that is the update dates. As you presumably know, I try get a new chapter out once a week, sometimes a bit faster and too many times late.

This..... might see a change in pattern. It'll all depend on how I shall decide upon Sandstallion and this other shortish story (about 10 chapters). Nothing fully decided, but don't be surprised if I'll be taking a bit longer.

But I Pinkie Promise. the next one will be done by the start of next week :derpytongue2:

Still, this whole story isn't fully my work.

Many great people have been involved in the creation, so lets have them here shall we?

Glassed

You, my dear man, are one heck of a guy. The talks you and I have had...

I'm honoured you took a look, Glassed. Hope I've deemed my worth.

Also, sorry about those late day talks and I think many times you were too polite to ask me to shut up.

Mister Fluttershy

Although you were (almost always) late with your messages, they were funny to read and sometimes you even had good critique on certain aspects.

And hopefully you'll continue on doing it (not being late of course).

Silvarrn

*clap,clap,clap*

You deserve an applaude for your work in sorting out my early work and creating something coherent out of my word-soup. I really hope you'll be able to soon make a return to your work.

Here, Hydkore commands you to go and check out his work!

Meliron

Here, everybody, is a one damn fine editor. You've done really great job on fixing my stuff out in these latest chapters and otherwise for helping me to improve my writing skills. I swear, you need to sign up at the Proof reader group!

Oh, and if I see you try to fix this little interlude...

Stalin The Stallion

Huge thanks to you, my eastern comrade, for the amazing cover art you provided for this story and to ultimately design what the guys visually look like.

On note, here's actually an old concept art for the cover I found while dusting my image folder.

I think that pretty much covers out what I had in my head. If you have any other questions, hit them up in the comments and I'll answer to them, though I'm quite pessimistic :ajbemused:

One another subject concern is the first couple of chapters. As I mentioned earlier, their quality isn't anywhere near to what I nowadays write so I'm going to revise them a bit, just to make the text go more smoothly and not breaking the current OC characters mentalities a whole lot. I don't think it wouldn't take me too long, it's a rather more the grammar stuff, but I still would like to know what you people think, as I very much dislike the idea of tampering with stuff that's in the past, however it woud help out any possible new reader. Do note that this wouldn't require any back tracking, as I won't change anything relevant to the plot.

Now lastly, I intend to take a teenie-tiny break from writing The Bond, just to clear out my head.

...................

........................................................

................................................................................................................................. Pff, screw it.

I'll see you some time soon with the start of the second arc.

After all, I think most of you want to see the start for the friendship between the main guys and the mares, dont you?

But I'll leave you with a single warning...

Nothing thus far in this story has happened due to accident or sheer luck

.... Everything has a reason ....

-Hydkore-