mag7fans | Fan Fiction --a Challenge! (Reply)

It might be a little bold of me to do this, but I've had it on my mind for weeks while I've been in the hospital (see my journal for details if you want them.) This fanfic challenge has been eating at me to announce it and see what comes out of it. Ready?

I think you could call this the "Ships Passing in the Night" story challenge. The idea is this--we don't know for sure how or where any of the Boys spent the years of the Civil War, other than Nathan. We can probably assume it's been more than 5 years since it ended, and could be as many as 15, which gives us a wide playing field to imagine how old any of them might have been at the time, whether they were in uniform, etc. So, I want to see you decide where some of them were at the time, and--write a story that has any two of the characters in the Mag 7 universe on OPPOSITE sides of the war, and having a brief encounter of some sort.

One rule--they will NOT remember the meeting, or sighting, or what have you, when they join up in "Ghosts of the Confederacy," and will never remember. No "canon" breaking events, but you get points for the event being something that IS meaningful at the TIME to at least one of them.

Another rule--no "sci-fi" or fantasy elements--no astral travel, time travel, etc. This is a straight Old West universe challenge, albeit set before the period of the series.

And because of his age, extra credit for finding a way to involve JD.

Oh, and no one has to actually be in uniform or a combatant--characters eligible for this challenge include characters who are no longer living at the time of the series, such as Sarah Connelly, JD's mother, etc. As long as he/she has been mentioned in the series, he/she counts.

Now, you can make a pretty good argument about which side of the war a few of the characters might have been--I cannot BEGIN to imagine Chris in a Confederate uniform, but it IS possible if you want to go that way. Just as the idea of Ezra being a Union man (if he has any political leanings at all) is a pretty long stretch. But how about Vin? Texas went with the South. And Buck has a pretty thick drawl, too--it's possible he joined up from one of the states on the western edge of the Confederacy, or one of the states that were sharply divided and essentially supported both sides. Heck, even Maude Standish might have gotten caught up in things somehow (probably trying to get away with the booty of her latest "enterprise.") Think about it and you can see a lot of possibilities.

This challenge has already produced one small miracle, actually. While I was in the hospital, away from my computer entirely, I started writing. My sister brought me a composition book and I wrote more. And--drum roll, please--I actually STARTED and FINISHED a story in the same night! An actual SHORT story. Unheard of for me. It's my answer to my own challenge, and I'll post it once I get it typed in. It's a little obvious, but I like the way it turned out.

So, anyone want to take this on? I'm really interested to see what comes up. No word limits, and vignettes (drabbles, I think y'all call them) are acceptable.

::Kris wanders away into the night, trying to catch up on sleep deprivation and a total lack of kitty cat love....::