I don't normally read deathfics...my poor heart can't take it but I'm new to the site and am trying to read all the stories that have been nominated so I can vote.  That made me cry and not a lot of fanfics do that.  You've got my vote.

Author's Response:

Hi there

I don't normally write them but this idea got in there and wouldn't go away!

Good luck with all the reading, I'm working on that too!

Welcome to the site, I am sure that you'll love it, and thank you for your vote! Mary xx

Wow.

*silence*. WOW.

Did I do this? Holy crap! How? Why? What? Dammit... Why didn't I come up with it then? I mean, I am getting close to what you're doing here in my current story's showdown (which still needs to be written but is already lined out) ... but THIS???

Wow. Dear f***ing God... sorry... have to stop for a second to regain my self-control.

Anyhow. This oneshot rocks out loud. And I am glad that Tree featured it because otherwise I would've buried her under piles of emails to effing do so instantly. And by the way, I wrote her a review in the meantime and she was very pleased with it! *grin*

I usually don't read deathfics that frequently. They bring me down. I know, writing them is even harder as I've done one myself. But this one is soooooo worth reading. I'm gonna rec' it to my friends. Dude, this is awesome.

Okay. Review time it is and here goes (beware of rambling and randomness, read on at your own risk, I am a blabbing fool and very chaotic!):

dazzlingly bright in the death of the sunlight I just love drastic contrasts. And this one is even so subtle in its dichotomy. Cool. Death of sunlight instead of sunset. So poetic and sad and sets the mood for this fic. Amazing skill to play with words and emotions here.

stripping his t-shirt off. This had me drooling wholeheartedly, as if the levee had broken... lol. I just love to see him strip his chest. He does it way too seldom on the show! So, way to go, Mary! carved the symbol on his chest. OUCH! I knew right away what he was planning coz I've been thinking to do something similar in the big showdown. But how cool was that. I'm gonna have to come up with something else now. Too bad. pulled on a fresh t-shirt... Aw, too bad again. Pity you did that but necessary for the trap to work! Awesome. Very cool idea to hoodwink the Great Manipulator! And very Dean. I grinned while watching 5.01 where he blasts away the ass-hat Zach and his minions. But I also cringed inwardly as that scene also was one reason for me to doubt if End of Days was still worth to go on coz the show used my ideas for the showdown in the premiere.... Now you've shown me that whatever the show comes up with it is worth to write your own ideas regardless. I will see what I can find to top your idea... *plot bunnies attacking the computer*

feeling insignificant in the grand scheme of things.   Didn't he always? And he hated being the football getting kicked in the ass by the two parties rivaling for the apocalyptic Superbowl. His disdain for Castiel “being a bigger picture kinda guy” stands witness to that. But this time, he somehow seems at ease, relieved to feel like this. Nice twist. Coz, he, the insignificant Joe the Plumber, gets to stop the Apocalypse in his own badass, going-down-in-a-literal-blaze-of-glory-kinda way. Very cool. Love his screw-you-guys style!

The foreboding silence sent shivers up and down my spine by the way. In the beginning, I pictured him alone out there and didn't wonder why he was so focused on the car, but the silently waiting demons took me by surprise. I think I even clutched at my chest and said: “Good Lord, where'd they come from? Awesome!” to an empty room (heehee, in German obviously, not in English but still). You really had me there and I am not one to scare easy.

demons own version of a Trojan horse.   Oh great concept. It is, isn't it? Oh that bitch... that damned bitch. And it worked so well considering their agenda to Divide and conquer, didn't it? Damn, I would hate to see that happen on the show. The last two episode nearly killed me regarding the trust issues and then splitting up because Sam can't be trusted to stay away from the demon blood. *sighs* I just wish, Dean had called him back before he got into the pickup truck... I need my boys back together. Family is supposed to stick together, you fight, you argue, you cry, you even mistrust or hate but in the end it's family. And the Winchesters are simply at their best when they are together. And frankly, they need to be at the top of their game seeing what they are up against this year...

the blood that still dried on it’s blade, had been Sam’s.... finally keeping the promise.... Dean still kept his promises. HOLY CRAP. Tears. After only half of the ficlet. TEARS. So you may kill Dean in the story, but you had him kill Sammy first??? So you really killed 'em both! You're evil... in a terrific way! After all I killed em both in my deathfic. I shouldn't be judgmental here. LOL. And Dean keeps his promise. Always. But that makes me fear for Sam's safety now regarding the course of the show. Oh dang, I just hope they get back together soon...

The grace and the sigil... I've said it earlier on, the sigil was a great idea and using the celestial retractable leash is just perfect. Only sad thing is, I need to find something different now. I know I am repeating myself here. I just mean to say, I love to see this idea work out so well. I couldn't have done it better, so actually I am glad you wrote it first. Better to have it well done by someone like you than half ass it...

“I’m Batman and your screwed.”  ROFLMAO Truly, utterly HIGHlarious. So Dean. And so heartbreaking at the same time. The last snarky remark he will ever make. *sniff*

used her strength to pull himself up …. Awwww. The Impala, his fountain of strength, the one thing that can make him go through with his plan now, the one remaining thing from happier (if crappy still) times. His home.... gawd. I love the car for its badass look but I also adore the emotional side to their relationship. The kids practically grew up in her and she has been their companion through all the hard times and the fun times (e.g. Dean havin sex in the back seat, LOL)

collection of items that he kept to mark each of his losses Dude, could you friggin stop making me cry now? This is so sweet and touching and I am grinning through tears at the thought of Castiel's trench coat being burned... That man's wardrobe sucks out loud, heh. But anyhow, I could really see Dean collecting items of the people he lost. He is a real old sap... CHICK FLICK! But hey, we all know that deep down inside his soul he is the most emotional, the most loving person any friend or family member could have. Loyal to the bitter end. *has a Deangirl moment*

She was going to die with him. He wouldn't be alone at the end.  *is speechless* I am glad he won't be going alone. Loneliness is the worst torture for Dean, isn't it? He needs others more than they need him – 'cept for this fangirl here, I need him even more. LOL.

Fire cleansing his soul, going home It started with fire and it ends with fire. But oh so different fires. Hellfire and cleansing fire. The one robbing him of his home, the other bringing him home at last. Terrific, excellent, brilliant, poetic.... I have no words to describe how much I admire this. He dies but he is dying knowing he can rest now, that his destiny is fulfilled, his last job is done. To quote Kansas here: There'll be peace when you are done/Lay your weary head to rest/Don't you cry no more. I could really see something like that as the final scene.

Mary, I am in awe at your talent. And so honored to have sparked something as beautiful as this. This should really show people how important reviews are for us authors. They aren't simple motivational notes, they can actually further a story along or spark the idea for a new one.

When I started reading fanfic, I immediately felt compelled to leave a few notes for the authors. It was these people (the authors) who encouraged me to try and write myself. So reviews are fun and highly rewarding for both sides...

To cut a very long review short: Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of art with me and the others. And congrats on the feature....

Hugs, Ilka

 

Author's Response: *Sits in stunned silence for a moment*

 

What a review! Thank you doesn't seem enough somehow!

 

I loved that it got a featured, dogs were howling when I squealed upon discovering that! Glad too that it save Tree from ‘death by email'!

 

Yes this all rose to life from the desire to use the show title ‘Provenance' in a drabble and your review of said drabble! There was a little line that I had used - bare golden skin to black burning metal - and your review had this little line in it - However, it could also be that he lets go of the Impala as she is a total wreck.

 

This was the line that got me thinking about the end of this story. I had already had the idea of using the sigil from 4.22 (I actually hadn't seen the premiere when I posted this, does that mean they stole my idea? lol) when Cas zapped Zach with it and I had the idea of giving Lucifer back his grace but I didn't know what else to put in it, no start, no finish. You gave me my finish because your review put the idea of the salt and burn into my head - the only way that I could see Dean letting the Impala get wrecked was if he did it, and then that linked to the black burning metal line. Of course if he was going to burn his car then there was no way that he was not going to die with her. I then just worked backwards from there.

 

Salt'n'burn, grace, sigil, knife, and then start it as it ends with Dean showing his love for his car. His baby looking her best for her funeral, because that's what we do for the ones we love when we say goodbye.

 

I have this image in my head that I can't shake of Dean lying on the car, arms spread almost crucified in a way,  the flames licking at her side, reaching up to claim him and the sky an orange hue bleeding into red with the sun setting and the black clouds being pushed back on the horizon. All that with the car sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon, beautiful and desolate, just like the man himself.  

 

I don't like death fics myself either but there was something about this when I wrote it. I was left feeling that he just finished what he was supposed to in the way that he was supposed to. Glory in death in this case. Peace and love his reward.

 

I really cannot tell you how much I love this review and I have had some great reviews for this! You've picked a lot of my favourite pieces from it; the Trojan horse, the batman line, the little collection in the car and of course my personal favourite too....the stripping of the t-shirt!

 

Re your story though, (which I am about to go find and read!) I think you should finish it the way you intended to. I would love to read the way that you use this. If it runs close to the ideas in this then it doesn't matter to me because there will always be stories that run with similar veins in them, after all there are bound to be some great minds that think alike! *smiles* That's the nature of fanfic, we are after all, all inspired by the same show, or sometimes like this, by a review or even another story that gives us an idea to write.

Again, thank you soooo much for this, I was nervous about this one because it was a deathfic but the reviews and the featured have made me very glad that I posted it.

Mary x

 

UNBE-FREAKIN'-LIEVABLE!!!  this had me on the edge of my seat. 

First, the description of the Impala and the love and care shown to her by Dean was so beautiful!  It truly summed up how important the classic was in his life, what a constant she provided him.  The comfort she gave him in the end was very touching.  I'm so glad he decided to end it all with her.  What a brilliant concept!! "Sitting in the driver’s seat one last time, he gently caressed the wheel and laid his head on it. A little piece of him didn’t want to do this to her but she was his and it was how it was supposed to end."

Secondly, I was so sad to learn that Sam had died and flabberghasted that it had been Dean who had killed him.  How tragically sad that he'd had to keep his promise to kill him if he couldn't save him!  Especially since he was determined to save him at any cost.  The description of Sam's blood on Dean's knife was so poignant I could feel Dean's pain.

Then when he carved a symbol into his own chest---damn!  That takes moxy. And with the knife they got from Ruby---the gambit that " made fools of them both" was very cunning!  "He watched them close in tighter and he smiled.  Bring it."  Trademark Dean Winchester!! 

When he's sitting on the edge of the casnyon drinnking beer and flings his arms out and yells,  “You ain’t getting this! I ain’t gonna let you!”  That was Dean Winchester at his finest!  I knew he was pushed as far as he could go and had a kamakazi plan in mind.  That really got my blood pumping!

Tricking Lucifer to stab him and complete the ritual was clever!  Then when Dean forced Lucifer's grace back on him---stupendous!  "but now that you’ve got your grace back…well…I think daddy wants a word with you, and he’s really, really, pissed.”  TA!  Gotta love that sarcastic sense of humor.

 Dean's response to Lucifer's question, who do you think you are is stupendous!  “I’m Batman and your screwed.”  I love that you took one of most loved quotes from the show and used it here!  He's gonna die with that wonderful arrogant, cocky attitude.

Then when he salts and burns himself and the Impala---I had to stop reading because my eyes were so teary.  "She was going to die with him. He wouldn't be alone at the end."  Using the Impala's pink slip as the torch was perfect.

Oh, I can't forget that he made the Impala into a shrine of his lost loved ones.  Each article chosen was an accurate representation of its owner.

Favorite parts?  The entire story is my favorite.  It's a poetic way for Dean to end his tumultuous life.  And he does it with his characteristic style and grace.

I thought I wanted the series to end with a happy ending but after reading your work, it's the only way to end the show.  Anything else would be a mockery.

Absolutely my favorite story EVER!!!!

Author's Response:   I think my first words have to be WOW! What a review! Thank you so much for this, it made my day! The Impala is a love on mine. I’m a car junkie, love them and she is just beautiful. So if Dean is checking out, she is going with him and looking her best too! He couldn’t leave her behind, she is the only one that never let him down, and yes I know I’m sad! lol I had to kill Sam unfortunately as Dean had to be last man standing, so I decided that it would be good to go back to Dean’s promise to kill him from Playthings without delving to deeply into what happened.  I liked the symbol carving, I wanted to show just how much b*lls the guy has, and then the salt and burn cementing the fact that he is a brave SOB. I like that you picked up on the pushed to the edge feeling that I was trying to give in the first part. He’d killed his brother and his friends were gone, there was nothing left for him to fight for yet he still does. Challenging the demons in true DW style! The grace was an idea that got in there and I had to get it out and once Ilka put the idea of the Salt and burn in my head well it all clicked together. Thanks Ilka You mentioned the Batman line. I had to put that in. I want my brave, cocky arrogant Dean back and here he was at his best in these few lines! Go Dean! The salt and burn got me too cause really I don’t want them to die, I want them to get their chance at normal but if they have to go, it has to be guns (and in this body parts) blazing!  The little momentos bit is really because I actually hate Cas’ trench coat! I want to burn it! So I took my chance and gave Dean an item from the main people in his life as well.  I would love the series to end this way if I couldn’t get the happy ending. Thank you so much again, I loved this review. *goes to print it and pin to wall as inspiration for future stories* Mary x

Wow, that was an amazing story, so beautifuly written, i loved it. I read it all without crying and then i got to the last two beautiful lines and that was it the flood gates opened.

Author's Response:

Hi Lindsay

Thanks as always. I had a little tear in my eye as I wrote this too.

Really glad that you liked it and thanks again for stopping to let me know, Mary x

Beautiful. Devastatingly sad but beautiful all the same. 

I picture the canyon as the Grand Canyon and it is the perfect place for Dean and the Impala to finally defeat Lucifer and find peace for themselves. 

Just not quite sure how I'm supposed to get through the day with such a hauntingly emotional picture in my head.

Author's Response:

Hi there

Thnak you so much for stopping and reviewing this. I still don't quite know how I feel about this little story so I am glad that you liked it. It makes me sad but I like the idea of Dean getting one over on Lucifer!

The canyon is the Grand canyon in my head too, I have this picture of the Impala parked almost on the very edge, with the beautiful backdrop behind. A fitting place for them to find rest.

Thank you again, Mary x