P.S.A. Update Status. · 7:55am Nov 11th, 2022
Salutations friends, Dollars here with another quick briefing on our current operational status, complete with complimentary music.
Sooo, What's first on ye old list today...?
#1
Dashie Punches a Shark is exceeding my personal expectations; many thanks to this wonderful community for that! I have plenty more like it flitting about my hard drives so, pipe up if there is a desire for more...
#2
Big Mac Builds a Fence
This is somewhat of a personal pet project I started cobbling together quite some time back. It started out more as self help writting practice but, it grew on me, mostly because I feel a kinship with the big red fellow. I'm big, quiet and come from a long line of farmers. Sooo... I guess his mannerisms just came natural to me.
Any of you familiar with The Bottom Shelf have actually read a couple bits and pieces of it, a little trivia there for you. The story, if I ever actually finish it, will follow Mac through a series of trials and tribulations as he is tested by fate family and occasional mischief. Plus who knows, there may even be a few of my own life experiences hidden away within.
If anyone's interested that should start posting... Sometime during the holidays, I think... IDK anymore.... Sooner then It'll be ready probably.
#3
Infinity's End Times Gone By
Good lord, are you people still here? It's been like, two years or something hasn't it? At least? You, you still think you want more? Well, okay but I warn you now, it only gets darker the further into this maelstrom you go...
Bad news first then, just going to rip it off fast like a band aid.
Ahem... RRRRIIIIPPPPPP!!!
Alright then.
Soooo basically there isn't any....
There, that wasn't so bad...
Long story short, I'm my own worst enemy 
and I don't even mean like, being my own worst critic kind of enemy either... I most definitely am but...
I meant more like, lose a thumb drive with a massive amount of world building on it, in my desk drawer. Spend four hours writing, hit DON'T SAVE on the prompt... That sort of thing. Your talking to a man who once walked into a room and the local game console died... Red ring and all...
So yeah, that's who's driving this story.
I wish I could give a better excuse but things have been incredibly chaotic around here since, about mid February.
That's not to say I've been idle though mind you.
The good news.
The good news is that I haven't been idle!
was really hoping that would sound better than it did in my head....
So basically where we're at is that the next couple of chapters are actually pretty much done but they lack a final editing, Jake has been unavailable, so that's where that is. All in all though there's actually quite a few chapters that are right on the edge and ready to drop. Anybody have one more quarter? I wish I was here today with a loud proud posting announcement but alas... Perhaps next time 
I do have a few things to send you home with though, if you want them.
They're down here to avoid spoilers... If you hate spoilers or, just long convoluted anti spoiler methods you can go ahead and take off, thanks for coming and we'll see you next time.
Everybody else, please follow me on down...
way down here....
Just a little further, careful though, it's dark......
Ignore that....
Okay, here we are. Enjoy! Or, don't. They aren't FULLY edited.
Infinity's End; Times Gone By, upcoming chapters trailer...
Scene teaser #1
“I thought you said that you knew where you were going…”
“I said that I knew where I wanted to go,” Sombra corrected defensively as he pulled himself up onto the next ledge, his words leaving a foggy trail in the glow of his horn as they entered the chilly night air. “If the path I travel should differ from the one that was expected then so much the better. Or if you prefer, we can return to the keep and listen in rapture to the berations this little venture is sure to glean for us.”
“Oh would that not be just like the captain,” replied the young mare below with another of her dazzling smiles, graciously accepting the offered hoof that pulled her up to Sombras’ little perch. “I can hear him now, how could you be so reckless Sombra? What would your father say if he were here Sombra?”
“A flawless impersonation,” Sombra shot back with a grin, suppressing a chuckle as he looked past her to the castle nestled in the snowy valley far below, knowing full well the recompense that was sure to be waiting when they returned. “I think the only thing missing would be the diatribe directed at my accomplice.”
“Accomplice?” she snorted in retort, a mischievous gleam flashing in the mares' vibrant arctic blue eyes as she waited for Sombra to negotiate the next part of their climb. “I intend to imply this was all to your design…”
Scene teaser #2
The faintest sounds of fluttering wings echoed across the still waters of a bay side bog, the trunks of long dead trees the only witness to the passing owl as he flew deeper into the misty mire, a few creaking whispers among the branches and clumps of thorny brush the only reflections of life that remained. The further one traveled here the greater the thickening of the mists, eventually blotting out any sense of the surrounding swamps, save for the murky depths directly below.
This was a truly damned place; the air was putrid with the scents of musty decay and death. It was here that Wisdom found his destination, alighting atop an unnaturally flat piece of stone, its level just above the unmoving waters. He stood there a moment, completely still as he took in the perfect silence of this place. Nothing moved here, not the water nor even the air, all were quiet and lifeless. If he concentrated, turned his head and strained his senses to their limits Wisdom could just detect the faintest trace of the ocean waves crashing along the rocky coast some distance away, but nothing more.
With a caution he rarely showed Wisdom took a single slow step forward, peering into the murk. His keen eyes could discern nothing of the mysteries that surly lurked beneath the surface, lost and forgotten by all, save for one. Though he would never have admitted it to any who might ask, Wisdom swallowed thickly before reluctantly leaning forwards and dipping the very tip of his beak into the water.
Stepping back he watched with a certain amount of trepidation as a series of ripples slowly spread across the waters and out of sight into the mists that surrounded him, his little island seeming to grow smaller all the while. The seconds turned into minutes as he waited, the slight cold of this place somehow creeping into his core despite the protection offered by his immortal plumage, a sense of dread slowly raking its claws across the back of his mind.
Just as Wisdom began to think his call had gone unheard his senses picked up a change to his surroundings, a sound that had not been there a moment ago. Glancing down the owl found that a change had indeed occurred; the waters surrounding him had begun to move, flowing passed his rock towards the sea with a growing sense of urgency. Something from upstream was making its way towards him.
Then, as quickly as it had started, the rushing waters found their calm once more. The swirling murk stubbornly held on to its secrets however, revealing nothing of change as the silence regained its grip, not even the owls’ nervously ruffling wings making a sound.
Wisdom knew better than to think so little of the theatrics; he was no longer alone. With a careful and obvious motion he stepped up to the edge of his tiny platform once again, eyes still scanning the waters surface for any sign of the one he sought. For a moment he thought he had caught a glimpse of faded green scales, of a tail slowly sliding through the gloomy depths, there for but a moment then gone again. He knew then that he was not the only being studying another.
Scene teaser #3
Terra slowly turned the ornate piece of metal over once more in his magic before sliding it over his head, the familiar sensations of the helmet’s corresponding holes cupping his ears came as a strangely comforting feeling. With a subtle click the chin strap locked the piece of headgear in place, completing the formidable looking ensemble.
With a stretch of his wings to ensure their mobility the King summoned his weapons to his sides, the matching pair of massive zweihander moving with an elegance that only came with an intimate understanding of one’s blades. A few quick flourishes and stance changes however saw a slight frown cross Terra’s face, the Alicorn left staring at the edge of one of his raised swords.
For a moment Tiberius thought he spotted a look of uncertainty flash in the eyes of his King, though some other thought seemed to chase it off as his gaze eventually left the floating blade to lock with that of his soldier. Tiberius liked to think that he knew his King well; a lifetime of service to the crown had graced him with a rare familiarity of the Alicorn.
“Is something the matter, sire?” Tiberius asked after a moment, his King’s gaze clearly laden with a query that had yet to be made.
“It is my wish that you would spar with me for a moment,” Terra replied pointedly, leveling one of his weapons at the Pegasus, its tip lowered towards the ground in a friendly challenge to a duel.
Tiberius was stunned to say the least, his mouth working a few times before sound would come to him. “My King, I could not possibly bare steel against you! What of-“ he cut off dutifully as Terra raised a hoof.
“Nonsense.” Terra scoffed, his face softening a bit as he looked his warrior in the eye. “There are few I would more readily ask as you and truth be told, I feel as lissome as a rusted hinge.”
The assurance doing little to ease the tension he felt spreading through his body Tiberius set his jaw, sparing a moment to mull over his situation before he gave his King a slow nod. With a measured and deliberate motion his wings unfurled, the blades secured to their leading edges glinting in the morning sun.
Swallowing thickly Tiberius pushed the last of his apprehension aside, his mind calming even as his heart screamed with excitement at the dawning realization of the confrontation before him. Terra had done battle with Gods and monsters beyond his comprehension, how was a mere Pegasus to challenge him?
To even have asked this of him however was the highest compliment, a recognition of his abilities that spoke volumes about the value Tiberius held in the eyes of his King. Woefully outmatched or not the guardsman was determined not to disappoint his ruler.
“And the terms of this bout?” Tiberius asked, the hairs of his nape twitching as the King flourished one of his floating blades to indicate the area around them.
“Same as the garrison yard, if either combatant is pushed beyond the confines of this courtyard they will be declared the loser, with the first to land a solid blow to hide declared the victor.”
“Agreed.” Tiberius replied with a nod, carefully marking the edges of the engagement area in his mind. It was not a large space, perhaps a hundred and fifty hooves across with high walls on either side with a few archways leading off to other avenues of travel.
At nearly five times his height the King possessed a foreboding frame and would make short work of the distance. Coupling that with blades of greater length than the Pegasus’s own would grant the Alicorn with a far superior reach.
“I believe that as the challengee’ you have the right of advancing first.” Terra offered chivalrously, pulling one blade up slightly above and behind himself while the other remained pointing straight ahead.
Tiberius hesitated a moment as he scrutinized his King, eyeing him up and down closely as his body shifted through more than a few readying stances. He had trained against several of the Paladins in the past and was well aware of just how formidable they could be even without their magic in play. Still, every fighter had their points of weakness…
Alicorns were large and powerful creatures to be sure, with strong legs and shoulders that held their bulk aloft. That height came with a few disadvantages though, cursing them with high centers of gravity and larger blind spots. All reasons why they preferred to fight in the air when possible.
“Very well my King.” Tiberius responded, his voice level and calm as his brain recalled everything he remembered about their training in days long gone. “Stand ready!”
Stand ready my friends and happy almost holidays ~Dollars.
