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[horizon-events]

My entry for Horizon Creation Celebration 2023! @horizon-events

The cover Illustration is a little bonus ;) The fic is the main event!

Freaky Friday (3156 words) by littlelionpaw Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Horizon (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Aloy & Beta (Horizon), Background Aloy/Erend (Horizon) Characters: Aloy (Horizon), Beta (Horizon), GAIA (Horizon), Erend (Horizon), Kotallo (Horizon), Drakka (Horizon), Sylens (Horizon), Original Characters Additional Tags: Post-Game: Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, Sister-Sister Relationship, Freaky Friday Situation, Inspired by Freaky Friday (2003), Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Sisters being sisters, POV Aloy (Horizon), POV Beta (Horizon), They fight a lot, Don't worry they'll make up, Trauma, Self-Discovery, A Little Bit Of Ereloy, Light Ereloy, Feelings Realization, A bit of Magic, Original Banuk Character, Panic Attacks, Canon-Typical Violence, Psychological Trauma, HCC 2023 Summary:

„There are few things that annoy Eputak more than not listening. The old shaman cackles softly as her fingers find what they are looking for. She can’t make her own people listen, but maybe those sisters will. The fire is dead, but a few embers still glow in the encroaching darkness. This will be enough.”

Aloy and Beta find themselves in a rather peculiar situation – they somehow have switched bodies. While the sisters, aided by GAIA, search for a way to reverse the switch, they also try to hide their “condition” from their friends.

[horizon-events]

Blooms of War, Laurels of Peace: A Horizon fanfic

Summary: It was an ebb and flow, a push and pull, a dance unique to them. Carja and Utaru, sun and earth. Two tribes historically opposed, two elements that should not coexist in harmony.

But in each other they found balance, purpose…and something more.

For the Horizon Creation Celebration 2023 event from @horizon-events.

Screenshots by Stef (RadiateLove on AO3). These are so lovely; thank you for letting me share them with my fic!

UPDATED 11/15/2023

Chapters: 2/5

Chapter 1: Tension

Chapter 2: Truce

One thing I love about Horizon as a series is the possibilities it provides to expand upon the existing lore and explore different dynamics between characters. It's interesting to find similarities and contrasts and how those play off each other, which is why Zo and Avad appealed to me as a pairing.

This fic idea came from a discussion in the Kotaloy Elysium Discord server sometime last year about how Zo and Avad could be a potential match. They both stepped up as reluctant leaders for their respective tribes: her during the Red Raids to help push the Carja back at Barren Light, and him to liberate Meridian from Sun-King Jiran's reign of terror. Both lost the person they loved most before their time, making them kindred spirits in that regard. And, my sense is that they would come to understand each other despite their different upbringings and experiences.

The challenge for me was to create a believable romance between two characters that haven't met canonically. There isn't much action here compared to my first longfic or other subsequent fics I've written, but I hope the dialogue and the descriptions are engaging and help depict the developing relationship between Zo and Avad, as well as the friendships she has with Erend and Kotallo.

I'm happy to have participated with other talented writers and artists in the Horizon Creation Celebration 2023 event. It's been amazing getting to focus on these two characters and expand on their canonical background while bringing my own interpretation. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing this fic.

Please consider sharing the other #HCC2023 works on Tumblr and other social media and looking up the collection once it's up on AO3. 🤩

[horizon-events]

Avad - Battle for the Sundom

My entry for the Horizon Creation Celebration event organised by Horizon-Events (@horizon-events). Thank you for organising it! I was worried that I wouldn't make the deadline. But I had this vivid picture in my mind of Avad screaming in battle that kept me going and finishing way before the deadline.

[horizon-events]

For something a little different than my usual virtual photography, here's my project for the Horizon Creation Celebration hosted by @horizon-events!

I'm really happy with how it turned out - and I'm excited to see everyone else's creations! More info below the cut ↓

I had this leather bag that I found at a thrift store, but it had somebody else's monogram on the front that I never liked. I always planned to do something about it - and I thought adding the medallion from Rost's armor would be the perfect project. The stitching of the medallion required the most work by far, but I also added a little Nora-inspired feather-and-bluegleam charm to the strap.

I didn't buy any supplies for this - everything was sourced from things I'd already collected (...hoarded?) in hopes of using them in a project someday.* The medallion uses reclaimed leather from an old purse, some blue cord I'd saved from... somewhere, and red cord of similar provenance. A stiff piece of plastic from packaging serves as interior support, and a strong magnet is currently holding it to the bag. I may attach it permanently, but I didn't want to yet in case I decided to use the medallion somewhere else!

All the feathers were found on the ground - there's an obvious jay feather (Steller's jay's in my neck of the woods), a white feather (most likely from a gull) that I colored with alcohol ink, and what I believe is a pelican feather - you can barely see it behind the purple one. The cords holding the feathers were all from my stash as well.

The "bluegleam" is a quartz point colored with glass paint. I'd had an idea for sculpting and casting the bluegleam cluster Aloy wears on her Frozen Wilds armors, but I wasn't able to get a finished product I was happy with. I'm not giving up on it, though - hopefully I can manage it someday!

*Which, honestly, is a miracle. I finally used stuff in a project! See, keeping interesting things is more than just adding to clutter!

[horizon-events]

Posting has begun!

Congrats to our friends who have participated in our first creation celebration! Please check here each day between November 13 and 17 for our creators' works to be shared to the blog!

[horizon-events]

My entry for @horizon-events: a cover for @mr-jaybird's fic, Verdant Limbs Wither; Still the Seed Rises. Give it a read!

[horizon-events]

Following the events of Forbidden West, Zo journeys to Nora lands to meet Sona, remembering her time with Varl all along the way.

It has been long, tiresome work the last three months, but finally Zo has convinced the Chorus to uproot themselves and act, successfully conveying the desperate threat they face against Nemesis. With Kel dead, revealed as a murderer, Fane was easier to sway. In truth, it was the rest of the Chorus Zo had to work hardest to persuade. She thinks that what ultimately moved them was that after distributing Focuses to them, Zo was able to prove that Nemesis was ultimately responsible for the infection that caused their Land Gods to turn against them and blight their fields. The rage of the Chorus upon learning of that was unlike anything Zo had seen since the Red Raids. And unlike the war with the Carja, their enemy was entirely removed from the cycle of life, a threat that stood against everything the Utaru believed in. Now, the Utaru leadership has scattered. A member of the Chorus had been sent to every Utaru settlement, each taking a Tenakth veteran with them. When the time comes, the Utaru will be trained and ready for war. As ready for war as one can be against a threat like Nemesis, anyway. Now, standing at the entrance to Plainsong, preparing to make her long journey to Nora lands, Zo looks up at the settlement she once called home. The verdant paths twist up and around the ancient dishes, sowing old death with new life. Zo puts a hand on her belly, now more visible, thinking of the new life she carries within herself. Thinking of her child, Varl’s child, pulls her mind back to the last time she and Varl were here, entering Plainsong.

[horizon-events]

Helping kick off the Horizon Creation Celebration (via @horizon-events) with this piece I've been excited to finally share!

I love these two, individually and as a pair. My sweet reliable boy. His clever, iron-willed lady. It's a good thing nothing bad happened to either of them!!!

[horizon-events]

It's finally here! @horizon-events

[horizon-events]

Sign-ups are closed! Thank you for joining us, friends, we're so excited for the creation period, which lasts through the first half of October! Happy creating!

[horizon-events]

Sign-ups close today, 7/18!

Sign ups are officially open for the Horizon Creation Celebration!

You can find the form here!

Filling out this form will give you a link to the discord which you should join if you have not already. If you have any questions about the event, you can ask them there or send an ask to the blog.

Check out the rules post here!

[horizon-events]

Sign ups are officially open for the Horizon Creation Celebration!

You can find the form here!

Filling out this form will give you a link to the discord which you should join if you have not already. If you have any questions about the event, you can ask them there or send an ask to the blog.

Check out the rules post here!

[horizon-events]

One week left until sign ups close!

Sign ups are officially open for the Horizon Creation Celebration!

You can find the form here!

Filling out this form will give you a link to the discord which you should join if you have not already. If you have any questions about the event, you can ask them there or send an ask to the blog.

Check out the rules post here!

[horizon-events]

Sign ups are officially open for the Horizon Creation Celebration!

You can find the form here!

Filling out this form will give you a link to the discord which you should join if you have not already. If you have any questions about the event, you can ask them there or send an ask to the blog.

Check out the rules post here!

[horizon-events]

Sign ups are officially open for the Horizon Creation Celebration!

You can find the form here!

Filling out this form will give you a link to the discord which you should join if you have not already. If you have any questions about the event, you can ask them there or send an ask to the blog.

Check out the rules post here!

[horizon-events]

The Horizon Creation Celebration is a celebration of our fandom! Participants will create some type of creative work (fanfiction, illustrations, edits, virtual photography, fanmixes, the possibilities are endless!) to this end. All creations will be posted starting October 15th.

Please read the following rules in their entirety, including the rules for the roles you’re not signing up for!

General Participant Rules

As we will be allowing explicit fanworks for this Big Bang, all participants must be 18+ years of age, without exception.

Participants must be willing to join an invitation-only Event Discord server. Here you will have ready access to mods, other participants, and inspiration activities. When you are accepted into the challenge, you will receive an invitation to the Discord.

All participants are required to treat one another with kindness and respect! No harassment, name-calling, bullying, or ship- or character-bashing will be tolerated. When in doubt, use the Golden Rule. Let’s all be groovy to one another. 

Writer Rules

If you choose to write a fic, the word count minimum is 8,000 words.

The posting platform for fic will be Archive of Our Own. If you do not have an account, a mod will be able to provide you with a code. 

You may not reuse or repurpose fic you have posted before, but you may use WIPs that you have discussed as a starting point.

Please utilize all applicable Archive warnings and choose an appropriate rating for your story’s content, without exception. If you have questions or concerns about warnings and ratings, please contact a mod. Please see our Warnings Policy at the conclusion of the rules.

The challenge is open to canon, canon divergence, alternate universe, and crossover fic. Sequels to previous fics are also allowed, as long as they can be read as standalone stories and adhere to the rest of the guidelines.

Stories may contain romantic elements/pairings/relationships, or none! Both ship fics and gen fics are welcome and equally-celebrated. 

Fics are not required to be posted in their entirety, but you are encouraged to have your story at least 90% finished by your posting date.

If you wish to submit multiple creations, please cap that at two.

Other Creation Rules

There are no limits as to what you can choose to create, as long as the artwork can be submitted electronically. Consider illustration, animatic, mood boards, original music compositions, fanmixes, virtual photography, cosplay, edits, jewelry, and textiles. Get creative!

Graphic or NSFW art will be allowed as part of the HCC. However, if you are collaborating with another user, please check with them to make sure this is welcome. Unsolicited graphic/NSFW art will not be tolerated. All graphic/NSFW art will be posted on tumblr with the good old Modesty Crop.

You must create new art for this challenge–we will not allow reusing or repurposing art that you have posted before, however as with writers, you may be inspired by an unshared WIP.

Creations will be shared on your preferred twitter, tumblr, and/or AO3 - yes you can post other mediums besides fic to AO3!

If you wish to submit multiple creations, please cap that at two.

Beta Reader Rules

Written works are not required to be beta read, though we do encourage you to give any fic a thorough review prior to sharing.

Please respect the time and energy of your beta readers. If they offer edits you do not like or understand, please communicate this with them and try to clarify.

There will be a channel where you can request a beta reader if you would like one. Those agreeing to be a beta reader should cap their particpation at two written works.

Collaboration Rules

You may absolutely collaborate with another creator, whether you do art for a fic, or create something together. Mods will not be facilitating a match process, and you will be required to maintain communication independently from the event. If your partner ceases to communicate with you, please let the mods know so we can adjust your participation status to “solo”.

Check-In Deadline Policy

Check-ins for this event will be used to see how you are progressing. Missing one will only result in a moderator reaching out to you one on one to see if you are still participating.

Dropping Out

Life happens. If you would like to drop out of the challenge, you can do so at any time.

To drop out, send us a Discord message or email horizonbigbang@gmail.com with your intent.

Ghosting is not polite, but we understand it happens. Please do not worry about needing to leave the event.

If you have chosen to collaborate with someone, please be respectful of your partner and let them know you will not be able to continue. If your partner has dropped off and hasn’t let us know, please just shoot us a message!

Warnings Policy

Authors add warnings to fanfiction to let the readers know its content before they make the choice to read. Some content is very triggering for certain readers. Some subject matter simply falls outside of the content a reader enjoys or feels comfortable reading. 

For the Horizon Big Bang, we will require warnings for the following content:

Major Character Death (AO3 Archive Warning) (If the fic contains the Major Character Death)

Underage (AO3 Archive Warning)

Rape/Non-Con (AO3 Archive Warning)

Graphic Depictions of Violence (AO3 Archive Warning)

Child abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual)

Domestic abuse

Incest

Dubious consent

Suicide/suicidal ideation/self-harm

If your fic contains this content and you do not provide a warning, you will be given the opportunity to change your header. If you do not, it will be removed.

We strongly encourage clear tags for the following content:

Kinks (BDSM, A/B/O, breathplay, bloodplay, watersports, scat, etc.–prepare/excite your readers for what they’re going to read!)

Drug/alcohol/substance use

Mental health issues

We also urge writers to tag any romantic pairings that appear in the fic, even those that appear in the background.

Let’s keep the Horizon Creation Celebration a safe space for all to enjoy!

[horizon-events]

Sign-ups begin June 18th!

Watch this space for the sign-up link for the Horizon Creation Celebration! Sign-ups will begin June 18th and and Close July 15th. The event officially begins one July 16th!

Check out the rules here!

Check out the information page here!

Please don’t hesitate to message the blog with any questions regarding the event you may have!