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i can't decide, can you decide?

@Reblod flag uh oh™ forum 10 comments schedule
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@Reblod flag

So I've been revisiting the plot and story for my original Medein story, Rogues of War, and since it's so old it needs a lot of tweaking. There's this one part near the end during the 'final battle'.
Here's the idea I can't decide on.

My main villain Mara goes mad frankly. So either…
The final battle is real. There's death, blood and two sides battling it out. A siege on Mara's fortress is happening with catapults and cannons. Then the protagonist Kado comes along and they fight.
OR
The final battle is all in her head. The enemies she fights aren't actually there and she has no army. She's alone in her fortress after having her forces slaughter everyone and then destroying them. Kado appears and they fight.

What do we think?

@KalamariCakes

I really like the last one! ESPECIALLY if it's a twist ending… i'm a sucker for twist endings..

@m1dn1g7t_ri0ts_13

I like the last one too! That sounds really interesting and more creative!

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@Reblod flag

Yeah, I like it too. I'm just so torn between an epic battle and a fake one. But this story needs an ending that isn't dramatic and sort of leaves you feeling sort of…eh I don't know. Like it's not a happy ending with a full stop but more of a quiet, into the night type of finish.
I think I'll do that. There are plenty of epic battles along the way. Alright, thanks for your help!

@m1dn1g7t_ri0ts_13

That's a good idea! Good luck with your story!

@Sayori

Though I like the second idea, you should be careful with "it was all a dream" carpet-pulling twists. If you don't write them well, you can sort of screw over your readers. However, the way you've written it in this post seems good because there was still a big real-world impact, so I'd say the second one would be a solid twist.

@m1dn1g7t_ri0ts_13

I agree with Sayori. I also want to add that "It was a a dream" kind of twist is very popular and you'll have to add your own elements and make it creative.

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@Reblod flag

I see what you mean. It's not like she wakes up and everything is back to normal. I keep thinking back to that scene in one of those Twilight movies where there's a battle and lot's of people die but it's just a vision.
It's more like, she wakes up one day and has everyone killed and then the next day she believes everyone is still alive and doesn't notice all the mutilated corpses around her. At first, I was imagining a completely deserted city but then I realised it would still be covered in dead bodies and blood just not so fresh.

Now I'm just thinking aloud but I was wondering if I should hint at her killing everyone or if I should leave it completely to the moment she gets a reality check

@RJ-world-building

Definitely hint at her killing everyone. That way readers won't feel like the twist came out of no where, and won't feel like you added it in just for the sake of having a twist. Plus, when they read the chapter a second time, they will be able to see all the little hints and foreshadowing!

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@Reblod flag

Sounds good!