Bygone Era's preview Ep 2 - New Cover Art, Character previews, and short chapter preview · 6:24pm Sep 27th, 2019
So, this was probably the biggest and most unexpected thing to happen to me. I recently decided to try and see if anyone would draw two of the characters from the upcoming story, and when everything was done it actually ended up becoming the new cover art. I just want to say real quickly, thank you to Little Tigress/Moonlightfan on deviant art for this amazing work, and I'm glad you had fun making it.
Anyways, with another week gone till the series finale, and thus the release of Fears of Bygone Eras, let us get down to business by talking about characters. More specifically, let's talk about Luminous Oracle and Psyche, the two characters you see in the cover art.
Many of you familiar with the original story will recognize Luminous as the protagonist, and her role has not changed one bit since then. However, I plan to build even more on the element of her being an incomplete version of a certain pony who I shall not name for spoilers. In some ways, she is very much the same pony as she was in the original, but the biggest change is the fact she is not a princess this time. She is also is unable to have a cutie mark for some reason, one which I'll leave for the story to explain when it comes out.
The second character, the pony with the blindfold on, might not be as familiar to many of you due to her being introduced right at the end of Beginnings. This is Psyche, and she was actually originally going to be the main antagonist of the original story. While that is no longer the case, I have built on what I tried to do with her and cranked it up by a hundred. Personality wise, she has none, and I mean she literally is incapable of expressing emotions or even understanding them. While her role isn't going to be as big now as back then, I feel like this was a change for the better.
Lastly, I want to leave you all with a small sample of what to be expected from the prologue, and your first look at another returning character. I hope you all enjoy.
“H-h-h-hello?”
“Hey! Can you hear me! I… I recognize your voice but I can’t remember your name. I’m Silvia, who are you?”
“I-I-I don’t know… I’m too scared to think right now. I don’t know how I got here, what I’m doing here. The darkness is just scary. I want my mommy back! Give her back to me!”
“A child? Here? No, she sounds to old but… Okay, listen up, I think I see you from where I am right now. I don’t know where your mommy is, but I can promise to keep you safe from the darkness for as long as necessary. I give you my promise. Do you see me? The big furry creature in the void?”
“Y-y-yes. I-I-I think, but you look just as scary as everything else here. Your eyes, your teeth, and there is something else about you that terrifies me. I… I know you! I don’t know who you are, but I do at the same time. Are you the reason mommy isn’t here? Did you do something to her Silvia? Is it that magic I see around you.”
“So I never turned back when I died. Listen, Rana, can I call you that for now? I know I must look like something out of your nightmares, but I promise you I have no intention of harming you. My fur will keep you warm and comfy, and I’ll hold you for as long as we drift. Understand.”
“O-okay. I’m coming over.”
…
“Yes, that’s it, a little closer. A little closer. I think I can…”
“S-s-s-silvia, why are you staring at me? You look so angry when your shocked. Is there anything I can do to help you or-”
“You’re… just a light! Not a wolf, not a pony, not a dragon or paradox, just a light!”
“Silvia, why do you look so angry? Do you… not actually like me? Silvia?”…
“Forgive me, Rana. That was wrong, but you see I’m not exactly in a better position myself. All things considering, I just met the last moments of my life.”
“You’re dead? But then how can I be here? Am I dead? No, that would mean I could never join mommy again, or see my sister! I don’t want that, I really don’t want that!”
“I don’t know if you’re dead, Rana. This isn’t just the plane of death we are in after all, and truthfully no one else should be here, but it’s nice to not be alone. Come closer, I hold you while you cry… there. Light or not, you can cuddle up in my fur anytime you want. Tell me, Rana, you want to hear a story? We’ve got all the time in the world, and nothing else to do.”
“Sure. What kind of story is it? Is it a happy story.”
