Let it known, now, that this entire chapter will NOT be a chapter. Rather, it is a statement of intent.
I'm done with this story. Period. It's over. Not writing any more of it.
No doubt there will be those amongst you who think this rather sudden and brutal; however, I have several good points on my side that should stem the onslaught. (I make it sound as thought trillions of people read this fanfic. Talk about ego.)
First. I have lost interest in finishing it. This is not necessarily the fault of the story itself, per se, but the game: more precisely, my waning knowledge of it. It has been AGES since I played it (at least five months now), and the events that transpired in Skies are seeping out of my brain. I cannot effectively write on a game that I do not remember. No doubt you're all now saying, 'come on, you could just replay the damned thing!', which is quite true: however, I feel no compunction to do so. It does take quite some time to beat it, after all, and I just don't have the energy to redo De Loco's bloody mountain dungeon thingy. That place is hideously annoying.
Second. I don't want to do fanfiction anymore. Now, this is not a strike against the honour of any fan works. I've read many a quality story in my time based on video games, anime, and any number of other subjects. However, there comes a time when a budding writer (one hoping to earn a living from their craft, that is) must move away from reworked imitations, and create something more original. I want to design my own worlds, my own characters; I want to own my creation, not co-own.
Third. This story looks like it could go on for aaaaaaages. I would prefer it not.
Fourth. I'm too busy. I have to recoup my monetary losses over the year this summer, leaving me with precious little time already towards my original writing. Something must be slain to allow me a breather, and this fanfic, unfortunately, is it.
Fifth. I literally dreamed a novel into existence sometime last week (Friday, I think it was), and really really reeeeeeeally want to devote my time to writing it instead. The plot was there; the characters; the setting; even a few smatterings of dialogue. If brief flashes of inspiration are the bread and butter of a writer's palate, then a dream the likes of which I had is a three-plate dinner buffet free of charge. Indeed, it is through this that you may be able to witness more of my writings, as I may decide to post it online as I work on it (though it won't appear on or its sister site for original fiction). In that case, I'll probably slap it onto a Live Journal account or something. This is, of course, for those of you who seem to think I'm a good writer (you fools!), and wish to see what I have in store.
Now that I've thoroughly disappointed any hopes of 'Rise to Excellence' being finished, I will allow a rather insufficient compromise to take place: I'll fill you in on some of things I had PLANNED on occurring story-wise. A cruel teaser, perhaps, seeing as how it'll never be seen through to fruition, but I prefer this over a Chaucerian cop-out manoeuvre (anybody who understands that gets a sticker).
Galcian is put under the tutelage of Gregorio in the academy, and learns naval tactics from him. Gregorio has vague recollections of the boy who embarrassed the hell out of him years earlier.
Galcian, encountering several problems with formal conduct (insulting other nobles) is confronted by King, they argue, and King puts him in the care of a personal teacher in such matters: Lady De Winter, otherwise known to Galcian as Mama. Her real name popped up earlier on, though I'm sure most people didn't even realize it. She'd been spotted while at the marketplace and dragged back to her noble roots, ones she abandoned for reasons that I'm not fully clear on yet. Mostly out of boredom with her cushy situation, I suspect.
Galcian is placed in the police force during his training, and one of his first assignments is tracking down Squim and eliminating him.
Galcian meets Belleza's father somewhere along the way. References made to Belleza, though nothing big.
Once he's of age, De Loco (junior) sets himself up alongside Galcian in a plot to oust his own father (mainly because of his father's snubbing) for the spot of Admiral. I'd hoped De Loco would become a relatively big character later on. C'est la vie, eh?
The whole war against Nasir was gonna occupy a gigantic chunk of story, outlining Galcian's rise from relative obscurity to a spot of relative prominence (Vice Admiral, at least). It was this story point that daunted me the most, I think.
Tricks and Marlo were going to attempt to escape Valua, get caught (by Galcian, acting as a dock captain or something similar), and summarily be executed by their friend (after much mental debate with Galley, of course).
The whole shebang (minus the epilogue) would've ended with Galcian on the Green Continent, looking out over it all and revelling in his power, and then being interrupted by somebody shouting his name in anger. That person, naturally, is Ramirez, thus bringing the story to a close with their first meeting.
The epilogue would've taken place in the brief few moments before Belleza's ship crashes into Galcian's escape pod thingy (just after the fight with Vyse on his station – what the hell was it called again?) and featured a long, impassioned debate between Galcian and Galley.
Oh, and as for the little flashes that keep appearing at the beginning of each chapter – those were recollections of Galley's parents. The idea was that they'd been killed in a raid of some kind, and Galley left for dead – only to be snatched up by Mama.
There was more, but I've forgotten a bunch. No doubt it would've come back in time.
That's about it. It should be known now that, even though I'm abandoning the story, it doesn't mean I really dislike it; I've grown fond of my characters. No doubt I'll import a few of them into later works (aside from the copyrighted ones, that is). I truly appreciate all of your kind comments; they allowed me to keep writing in times of annoyance, sadness, and poor health. The morale boosters you provided were more helpful than you can imagine.
It was a valuable experience for me, no doubt, and I think I'll be able to take the lessons I learned from writing this an incorporate them into any future enterprises.
If I decide to post my stuff, I'll let you know right here; otherwise, keep a lookout for any authors with the last name Bird. God willing, there'll be one in the next few years. Ciao, y'all.
