[1/23/2018: Red Mirror and Sonic Forces: Those Six Months are active. Let’s rock.]

[10/10/2015: It happens with all of us eventually - it's time to move on. I've cleaned out my stories, leaving only the ones I still find palatable. I will slowly but surely finish Red Mirror, and that will very likely be the end of my run here on FFN. I'm sorry. This may sound sad, but for me it's a step into the future. I'm writing an original series whose characters make me happier than I've ever been, and sometime I'm going to try to find an agent and test the waters of the publishing world. I will always have this site, and you guys, to thank for part of my journey as a writer. I will always be proud of SR and forever grateful for the feedback I received on that story and on many others, as well as the friendships formed with fellow writers. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. -DC]

You

Have not lost a thing

Whatever may come

The light of hope is always shining there in your heart

You've not lost a thing

Whatever you do

Just know that your tomorrow will be waiting for you

The Light of Hope, Sonic Forces

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To my continued surprise and excitement, some people have been inspired to do artwork (...or translations, or fanfiction-fanfiction... the gang's all here XD) based on my stories! The least I can do is link back and try to share what they've done. Thanks so much guys! Sorted newest to oldest.

Survivor's Resolve stuff

Resolute Will (by Soulfully Sadistic) - a fanfiction that takes place in Meka Tower, based during the events of SR! If you like Sonic-Lucas interactions and the general vibe of intensity that came with that part of the story, you'll probably like this too; it's a good read so far. Give it a spin!

German translation (by Tikal on the Sega-club forums) - the first eight chapters are complete so far!

So... Helpless (by CharlesBulbmin) - a heartbreaking but adorable picture of Sonic and Tails, while Sonic is fighting Eggman in the cave.
Refraction (by Speedy1236) - a beautiful depiction of a moment from the story's finale.
Reunited (by NessaCity and Sonicspeed5) - one of the happiest moments in the story, from chapter 31.
These Bars (by NessaCity and Sonicspeed5) - from near the end of chapter 12. Watch your click if stuff bugs you easily.
The Aftermath (by LightningChaos2010), with SR logo - beautiful and heartbreaking work right here. Currently the story cover!
Survivor's Resolve logo on its own (by LightningChaos2010) - it's just full of win.
Knuckles saving Sonic from falling off the fortress (by SONICFAN11LUV) - a drawing of a scene in chapter 33.
Colored version of below (by Sockmonkey145) - the unbreakable bond given more life through color.
Can You See Me? drawing inspired by Survivor's Resolve chapter 17 (by Sonicspeed5) - they're with each other in spirit!

Undestined Future stuff

Series poster (by Sonicspeed5) - drawing that captures the essence of the series!
Faster Than You Think drawing (by Sonicspeed5) - Sonic and Tails.
A New Hero Rises 'screenshot' (by xXStoryWolfXx) - Sonic trapped in Eggman's base.
Hyper Tails from Beyond the Chaos (by Sonicspeed5) - colored pic of Tails looking determined in his advanced form.
Tails asleep on a lilypad (by magenta-oranges) - what Tails felt like doing in chapter 12 of Beyond the Chaos. xD

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RECOMMENDATIONS (listed alphabetically)

Trying to spread support around for other writers a bit! This little area is for what are my personal favorite Sonic stories! Sometimes I like a story to the point where I feel the need to tell the world why, even if just briefly. Like any story, none of 'em are perfect, but enjoying them and getting immersed in their plots and characterization is enough for me. Maybe you'll like them too. I strongly encourage you to give any of these a read, and even put a list of your own favorite stories (with reasons) up on your profile! We need to spread the love and support the works of literature around us, yeah? :)

Bruised by bradhadair12 - a wonderful take on the final battle of Sonic 2006. Even if you don't like the game, this is most definitely worth a read. Fantastic narrative from Sonic's perspective, and great battle scene.
Hydrophobia by tiacat11 - just what it sounds like. A oneshot diving into Sonic's fear of water, even giving it a backstory, while keeping him in character. Authentic and heartwarming.
Kidnapped by tiacat11 - this story pulled me in because of its spot-on characterization, an admirable portrayal of Sonic (along with Tails and Cream) and some well done 'dark' scenes.
Letting Go of Hope by Comix28 - great story, and all the characters are handled quite well. A nice amount of focus on what's going on in characters' heads, especially Sonic, which I love.
Life could have been so different by Taranea - one of the few Shadow stories that kept me. Great character and a very believable take on what happened on ARK 50 years ago - this became part of my mental canon unintentionally, that's how good it is. Touching, dramatic, and funny.
Mutant Body, Mobian Heart by The Mysterious Traveller - I just got lost in this story when I read it, with its elegant wording, character interactions and heavy emotion. It gripped me incredibly. Great Tails and SatAm story; very moving.
One Look by ZehHyperactiveAuthor - a short, somewhat AU story with a remarkable take on Sonic, further magnified by the other character's realizations about his attitude. Sometimes it's the captured that sets the captor free instead of the other way around. ;) This story gave me chills.
Only Yesterday by Ardil the Traveller - good storyline and dialogue. Different and fresh. For some reason I always remembered this story after first reading it - it's one of those reads that made me nostalgic to read it again years after I thought I'd forgotten about it.
Panacea by dib07 - thick with plot and emotion and challenge - not for the faint of heart. Wondrous character interaction that almost becomes family-like, delicious descriptions, and a distinctive, graceful kind of writing.
Pretence by dib07 - great action that never seems to stop, and a wonderful message about the value of freedom and friendship. A very raw, honest story. Fluent descriptions and an overall gripping read.
Prophecy by Asher Tye - the first Sonic fanfiction I ever read, back when it was called Silver Fox. I still love it. Stuck with me for some reason. One of the few SatAm based stories that kept me reading.
Rising Star by JudasFm - an adorable and heart-wrenching story of Tails and Sonic's first adventures together. Action-packed, funny and inspiring. I tend to forget it's an adaptation of Sonic 2.
Secrets of the Emeralds by JudasFm - probably one of the most well-known Sonic stories of its time, and for good reason. Superb dialogue, precious and memorable characterization, and wonderful touches of wit. Feels like a Sonic story... if a bit dark in tone later on. Absolutely thrilling and captivating read.
Shadow: Transcending Lifetimes by Child at Heart Forever - an emotional and introspective oneshot that captures a heartwarming instance of character development for Shadow - and does a naturally great job at portraying other characters in the process, too. Wonderfully executed.
Sonic Concepts by Exploder - intriguing plot that makes humans a more integral part of things, and good characterization. It's like Sonic X, except for more well done and more mature. Lots of Sonic and Tails.
Sonic Concepts 2 by Exploder - great character development, moral conflict, and action. Does everything a sequel should do. (Read it even if you didn't read the first yet.) Fantastic story, especially for Tails fans, but Sonic fans too.
The Wind In The Abyss by Speedy1236 - a thorough exploration of characters (particularly Sonic and Knuckles) that is full of meaning, great defining moments, and an undeniable grasp of the characters' personalities. It's one of those stories that feels like it could have happened in a canon, and fits in pretty seamlessly.
Unleashing Sonic: Story Mode by Child at Heart Forever - an adaptation full of charming character and wit and excitement. It's thorough and fills out the content of this already-loveable game.

ABOUT MY WRITING

Could say a lot here, but for the sake of neatness I'll keep it short. It's best to let stories speak for themselves anyway.

Like any writer, I have plenty of room for improvement. My writing has errors. Sometimes I repeat things too much. Sometimes things aren't foreshadowed adequately that should have been. I have needed to grasp at straws in a plot before in order to make it work (though I'm quite sure anything grating is older, heh). But... if there is anything that I can say for myself and my writing, it's that I can write characters.

My favorite thing about writing is taking a character, whether already well-developed or completely bare-bones, and weaving them into something even more memorable from that foundation. This is the case for my Sonic fanfiction and for the original characters I've created myself - but in the case of this site, mostly Sonic. ;) I grew up with these characters. One day, as a kid, I wanted to write a story like I'd seen so many people do on this website. I did so and never stopped, and eventually the characters became my own, in a sense. They became the vessels through which I projected the stories and themes I wanted to share. It carried over into my adult life and now I don't see myself ever stopping writing completely, even though I'll eventually transition into entirely original work.

For as close as I try to stay to canon and good characterization, my stories do NOT have the usually comparably-lighter tone that the games do. If that's what you're looking for, that's perfectly fine, but you will not find it here. I write deeply, intensely, and with no holds barred. This isn't even entirely deliberate; it's just the way the story comes to me. I'm very forward in my storytelling and do not edit for the sake of censorship alone if it matters to the plot or characters. Some things in my stories are descriptive, emotional, or otherwise heavy (just the way I like it! ;P). But at the same time, nothing happens without reason, and nothing is at the expense of the characters' personalities. I strive for as close to perfect characterization as I can get, building on the foundation the Sonic universe has already laid, enriching it, fleshing it out... but staying true to the core.

Short version of everything? I write deep and sometimes dark. Take it or leave it... but take the it! ;) (...Yeah, don't fret if you don't understand the reference.)

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SURVIVOR'S RESOLVE (If you're gonna read one, start with this.)

Full summary: Sonic and friends find themselves in the midst of a predicament already at its worst. Now Eggman's success depends on his knowledge of Chaos energy, an area Sonic happens to be quite experienced in. But the blue blur has no intentions of playing along.

Meanwhile, circumstances bring together an unlikely but working trio: Tails, Amy and Espio. The ninja-detective informs them that Knuckles has hired the Chaotix Detective Agency to help guard the Master Emerald... but why would Knuckles request help with such an important duty? Their search for answers only brings about more questions. Fortunately - and unfortunately - it turns out all of their problems are intertwined in some kind of chaotic tree, with Eggman at the root and Sonic caught in the vines.

Knuckles has changed. Tails is suddenly carrying the world on his shoulders. Sonic is pitted against counterproductive circumstances. And everyone is about to discover that it takes something more than skills or smarts to survive the unfathomable.

Perilous waters are rising... in more ways than one.

The longest and most descriptive of all my stories, and also one that aims to give quite a few characters proper development (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Espio and Eggman being the mains) rather than just Sonic and Tails like my series did. By the end of the story I'm confident you'll know what I mean. Having said that, while this story is about quite a few characters, at the same time, it is about Sonic. He is the main character of Survivor's Resolve in the same way he's the main character of the games.

It's also the riskiest of all my stories for a number of reasons. One is the larger cast since I'm admittedly accustomed to focusing on just two or three characters. Another is that a lot of the story, especially the first half, takes place in the same few settings, which can be less interesting for some people than having characters go to a lot of different places. (However, I think this physical stillness tends to allow for a lot more emotional movement and thorough development and depth for the characters.) The most apparent is probably its lack of subtlety all throughout - this story doesn't censor itself in any capacity and has quite a few dark moments. It is simply told 'the way it happened,' if you will, with nothing left on the cutting room floor.

All in all, it's somewhat different from my series and somewhat similar at the same time, but is an ambitious project I've been working on for two and a half years now. It delves deep into the characters without straying from who they are at the core, and is a dark adventure with a silver lining (...most of the time ;P). It is an exploration of character and a journey full of danger, threats, adventure and hope. I'm proud of it and of the message it'll ultimately deliver, and I hope someone out there gets half as much out of it as I did.

Feel free to contact me if you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or just to chit-chat about the latest Sonic game. I like talking to people even if I don't always have time to answer promptly.

DC