this story is barely mega man. it's more focused on being conceptual. the title is extremely literal, like yeah you could view the end of the universe as the epilogue to every story ever told.
i know the science is janky in some spots. i know that. that's okay. it's the science i need for the story.
who all from this anthology was on the planet? whoever you want, baby. tomato. maybe drop man and his partners are there. maybe jade. pirate man. King. somehow, petal is there and happy if you want. who was the lover? i mean, probably copy man, right? that would make sense, right? but, truth be told, I just... I couldn't bear to have the story go in such an explicit direction.
like, yes, if i was committing to a big project about tanuki man's near-infinite space adventures at the end of time, i would probably iron out who from earth was still present. but why would i do that?
the point of this story isn't really "about" that sort of shit. it's about tanuki man. it's about his ideals being taken to a lovely extreme. you know he feels the love, right? he knows the name of every one of those trillions of aliens and robots on his planet. he would never call it "his" planet anyway. he just keeps the lights on.
so then what was that ending even about? not the "i love you" part. hopefully you get that i am an extremely sentimental person and i think expressing love is important in moments like this.
i mean, i laid it out in the story, didn't i? my commentary bled into the prose and i gave you suggestions about outcomes
if you want to know my personal take?
tanuki man, his lovers (he's poly), his people, and his planet, they all survive. they witness the birth of a new universe. whether it's the same or on repeat, tin can goes on and on and on. it's about being okay forever. something i wish i could have. it goes on forever because i love this little town and the funny man that runs it. he lives in my head and i think about him a lot.
you know i'm gonna make a game, right?
i'm gonna make a bunch, actually.
the big project is going to be a platformer that spans from his awakening to the start of the invasion. gonna file the serial numbers off. make it its own thing. include scenes lifted near-verbatim from the server's archives wherever i can.
hire artists and musicians. do a bunch of the art and music. do all the programming and most of the original writing.
after that, i've got some ideas. an expanded version of the invasion as a fire emblem type tactical rpg would be fun. y'know, in a war is hell sort of way. could also make a bunch of original shit that is nonetheless still set in my legally distinct spinoff of a fanfiction project of a slept on video game franchise.
it's always been all about the love.