8 Chapter 25: Fireworks, a teen titans fanfic

8.24 */*/*/* FIREWORKS */*/*/* 8.24

AZARATH, METRION, ZINTHOS !

First, just a quick word on PREVIOUS CHAPTER, if ya don't mind (do ya, btw ? XD)

I had intended, from the very beginning, to start this story with a chapter called CHAOS and end it with another one called HARMONY. So that, in essence, the story would be a progression from Chaos to Harmony : indeed, the adventure starts with many problems in town (chaos), these problems are gradually solved, until all of them disappear, enabling peace to be restored, and it ends up with the happiest of events (harmony). So, therefore, a real progression from worst to best.

I hope I didn't make that last chapter too soppy, too mushy, too "fluffy", as ya guys say ! I admit it was somewhat lovey-dovey, but I really wanted to emphasize on Rae's & Rob's love, so… it had to contains many love elements ! Still, hope it was good enough for ya all !

And sorry, but I couldn't help putting a Flaming Lips song in it ! That song, SHE DON'T USE JELLY, was their first hit single, and their only one in the US, so I thought it'd fit in a US fiction, eh eh ! Also, I really don't like songfic, wz songs in EACH very chapter (sung by the characters) but I just thought that ONE song would exceptionally be okay. And I hoped ya liked the nonsensical lyrics of it !

I also intended to have Moser & Heathfield take part in the celebration, so that they would meet the Titans. After all, they had been playing an important role in the story, so fair enough all protagonists be gathered in the same location, eh !

A tremendous thanxxxx to my dear Ana, who read & reviewed 4 chapters in a row ! I was honestly starting to lose hope, coz if my most faithful & constant reviewer fails me… then I'll most certainly be "review-deprived" for loooong ! Love & Gratitude to ya, Ana !

Okay, there it was for that ultimate chappy !

Now to the CONCLUSION about the WHOLE STORY !

Fiction's finally over !

I started it on April 22th 2013 and am finishing it today, June 23th 2014, which means that it took a whole year plus 2 months (and a day…) to be completed. It's the longest time it took me to write a story (in comparison, SHADOWLAND and RED PRISON, my most ambitious projects, "only" took respectively 5 and 6 months to finish).

This fiction was titled "8" because it involved the EIGHT emoticlones, as well as EIGHT Guardians and EIGHT Keepers. So everything hinted to "8" as the most fitting title.

I did absolutely want to involve Raven's emotions, since I've always been fascinated by them, and I thought it'd be cool if they teamed up with Titans, especially Titans that somehow "relate" to them, as per their nature. Thus did I unite the upbeat Happy & the courageous Starfire, Brave & Cyborg, the brainy Bumblebee & Knowledge, and found funny the idea of opposing the hyper nature of Mas y Menos to Timid's shyness, and have BB deal with Rude, which is responsible of Raven's sarcasm to him.

A word on the INFLUENCES now.

The main thematic idea was the input of mythological elements, since I just LOVE mythology ! Then I decided to add another famous and mysterious source : the Seven Deadly Sins. I don't recall watching David Fincher's SE7EN on TV prior to initiating this fiction… but who knows if it didn't unconsciously influence me…? ;)

And I decided that the Keepers should have heads of animals related to their Sin : like the Dormouse for Sloth, the Wasp for Wrath, the Eagle for Pride, the Pig for Gluttony… Each of the animal heads of the Keepers are in relation with the Sin they represent. But, given that I like hybrids, I chose to put just animal heads instead of entire animals.

It's funny, coz now that I think of it, those 2 policemen, Moser & Heathfield, also seem to be "SE7EN-reminiscent", as there were two cops as well in that movie. Yet, once again, I don't remember thinking about that film when I decided to add those two OC's in my story. It just popped up like that in my brain. Or, if there actually WAS some influence from Fincher's film, it was, as I already said, purely unconscious.

Shall we proceed to the DEDICATIONS now ?

As is said in the description of the fiction AND in the foreword DAWNING, "8" has been written for my favourite TT authoresses, who are :

* GOTHICA13

* ZIANDRA

* PHANTOM OF RUNES

* RAVENANDBB4EVER

* MISERYCRUSH

* SPIFFYPUFFINS

But to these awesome people, I would like to add other names :

** MAGICAL NINJA

** THE ANGERFLARE

who now are also part of my fav' TT authoresses, and last :

** SKYCHILD101

because she loved that story so much, that I feel I have to include her to my dedication list ! :D

So, basically, this fiction is for all aforementioned people, who, IF they read it, hopefully liked it (not counting ya in, Ana, since I know ya dug my stuff that much ! =) Thxxxx !)

How about also exposing a bit my FEELINGS about "8" ?

Well, I did love to write about Raven, my fav' TT character, and about her emotions, who all fascinate me ! (I'm currently reading all the TT story with key-word "emoticlone" in it, and there are some pretty good ones, I tell ya !).

I was most happy to be able to write about TEEN TITANS, since it has become one of my top fav' shows.

And I loved that pairing emoticlone-Titan, the mythological and religious (7 Deadly Sins) stuff, and that side plot wz the policemen.

I confess that, for those of ya who like Raven being just the usual emotionless, deadpan girl we know, ya guys must have been either puzzled or disappointed about my putting her that OOC, by making her so emotional and loving. It's not the first time I do some OOC stuff, coz I think it interesting to go beyond the usual character borders, the "standards" of characters. But I also understand how this can unsettle some of ya, and maybe even discourage them to read a story with the main protagonist being OOC.

I guess one can't please EVERYbody, eh ! But I like taking risks, no matter how it is perceived, so…

But there is one element of "8" that I didn't like : the routine Guardian-Keeper-Guardian-Keeper-Guardian-Keeper… It blocked my plot into a rigid frame, and even if each chappy was different, wz different events, different enemies and environment, it still made it too similar altogether. Prior to writing it, this routine didn't bother me that much in anticipation, but as time passed by, I got ticked off by that expected chain of enemies, by the already "signposted" itinerary that Raven and the Titans would follow. And I'll make sure in the future to ABSOLUTELY avoid a plot that contains an expectable series of events, i.e. a repeated routine which makes it monotonous to some extent.

Alright, time to evoke my PROJECTS, isn't it ?

Well, I've got 2 major projects at the moment : the first one, which I should start either by the very end of the month or by the beginning of July, will send shiver down your spines, and the second one will be much sweeter… but in an atypical way ! (ya know me, now : I like atypicality, originality, difference, imagination, creativity…)

I'm also thinking of a crossover TT X MBC but have no plot yet for this one, while I have for the previous two I mentioned. I wonder what could unite the MONSTER BUSTER CLUB and the TEEN TITANS ! So, if any of you have proposals of plots for that crossover, ya can drop them on my "idea forum" (the link is in the section MY TOPICS FORUM on my profile page, short after the beginning). Thanxxxx beforehand to anyone bothering to help wz ideas ! =))))

And that afterword naturally wouldn't be complete without a THANKS (or, in my own special way, a THANXXXX) section, so here goes :

Thanxxxx to the maxxx to the following people :

the "favouriters" of "8" : SKYCHILD101, XSAMMIEGIRLX, ZIANDRA, PHANTOM OF RUNES, AZERLY, LIVINGBYFANFIC, MAGICALNINJA, SHADOW96ANGEL and STYLE1234 (who was the first to favourite it, on the very first day of publishing !)

the followers of "8" : SKYCHILD101, XSAMMIEGIRLX, PHANTOM OF RUNES, SHADOW96ANGEL, STYLE1234, CUTTIEGIRLL57 and WHEN-TIME-STOPS.

A Maxxxxi Thanxxxx as well to all those who read but didn't review, especially xXSoulDragonXx, who told me to be reading it though not reviewing (too bad she didn't leave comemnts… :-/ )

Your general support, dear Friends, is the backbone of this fiction, and I wholeheartedly thank ya all so much for your endless and unfailing support, and kind reviews !

Last, I'll give the mike to the protagonists of this story, for them to tell you a little something as conclusion.

RAVEN : Thank you so much for reading, and we hope you liked the conclusion ! *rises her hand to show her wedding ring*

ROBIN : Yup, all our gratitude for taking the time to enjoy this, which all ended at best *shows his wedding ring as well*

STARFIRE : It was all a joyous adventure, and we found it so exciting !

CYBORG : Exactly, and we kicked Fraktal's, the Keepers' and the Guardians' butts so good ! BOOOOYAAAAA !

BEAST BOY : Dude, we so got them all ! We're the freaking best ! *V-sign*

BUMBLEEBEE : It was nice journeying wz ya all, dear Readers !

SPEEDY : I really liked it all, and it was an honor have you read about us !

AQUALAD : An honor and a pleasure, definitely !

MAS : We loved battling all those enemies ! It was fun !

MENOS : …what he said.

TIMID : And we liked to pair with our fellow Titans.

RUDE : Yup, 'twas bloody cool ! *belches*

SLOTH : I won't contradict Rude on that one.

LOVE : Definitely a loveable time with our teammates !

BRAVE : Teamwork always will prove just as efficient !

HAPPY : YAY ! Go Teamwork ! Go Unity ! Go Solidarity ! *hops joyfully*

KNOWLEDGE : We were extremely gladsome to have shared this both with our fellow Titans and with you all, dear Readers !

RAGE : And I have never enjoyed myself so much ! Which made me realize that anger was no good solution ! I feel better remaining calm… even if it's not always easy with such sisters as Happy or Rude ! *playfully glare at them, who sweatdrop while giving an awkward grin*

ALL TOGETHER : Thank you for reading "8" and supporting Dixxy !

Alright, dear Readers, time to wrap it up !

As always, I've got a lil' "heartache" as I realize I have to put the final dot. But I console myself by remembering how much fun I had crafting this, and how much I liked your reviews !

And I'm also delighted to realize that, after 7 stories… I still haven't had ANY Writer's Block AT ALL ! Boooh, mean WB, I've never met ya and hopefully never will ! *stick my tongue out at WB*

Okay, I'm leaving ya, good Buddies !

Read ya in… well, in 10 days, 2 weeks, a month or God knows when ! ^^'

All take good care of ya, much success in yr studies, much inspiration for yr stories, and if ya have the time, read TITAN SITTING by The Angerflare, or the stories of Magical Ninja, or the stories involving emoticlones (type 'emoticlone' in the search field for STORY).

My sweetest Regards to ya all !

Peace,

Love,

Ecstasy !

XXXX

Léo

XXXX