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hippo2 — The Masterpiece - Part 8
Published: 2010-07-03 07:08:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 13049; Favourites: 89; Downloads: 1
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The following weeks were very similar to the last ones: Hermione dug herself in work, while Martha desperately tried to keep the contact with Tony and Stefania alive or at least to get Hermione out of the atelier. Hermione however cared less and less about her friends. Soon, Martha realized that she was fighting a lost battle. One day, Martha returned with a postcard from the mailbox.“Look, Hermione! A postcard from Vienna. Tony and Stefania are on a trip. And Stefania writes, that Tony had proposed her at the park of Schönbrunn! Of course, she accepted. Isn’t that romantic?”
“Whatever!” Hermione replied and returned to her painting.
“Hey! Are you even listening?” Martha asked. Hermione gave no answer. Now Martha had enough. She conjured up a fireball and threatened to burn Hermione’s painting. This gained her Hermione’s attention.
“Don’t you dare!” Hermione shouted.
“I’ll do it! If you don’t listen to me.” Martha threatened.
“Ok! What do you want to talk about?”
“Actually, I want to talk about you: I hardly recognize you anymore. When we first met you cared about me and your friends. We did so many things together. But since you made that stupid second wish, all you know is work, work, work. You are obsessed with painting but not in a good way. Frankly, your paintings don’t look something special. It’s rather mass production. It’s just like all you care is the money you get for your paintings. And that’s not good. What about the masterpiece you wanted to draw?”
“The masterpiece?” Hermione responded as if she awoke from a trance. Then, the realization hit her. “My dream! What have I done! I wanted to be a famous artist, but instead, I lost my friends and my dream. I’m a total failure. Totally worthless. What shall I do?”
Martha was about to comfort her friend when Hermione did another, fateful, impulsive decision: “Martha, I wish that you will make me into a masterwork painting. It shall have the same style like the great renaissance masterpieces. I wish that I will appear only to a true connoisseur of art as a masterpiece. So, a greedy person will never buy me.”
“Hermione, no!” cried Martha. “This could all be sorted out somehow. Tony and Stefania send us a postcard. They still care. And I’m still here. We could have helped you. Why did you wish for this stupid thing!”
“You still care?” Hermione said in shock. “Please! Undo the wish!”
“I’m sorry! It’s too late! Wish granted!” Martha said with tears in her eyes. As she blinked, Hermione’s body began to vibrate and disintegrated into a colorful dust. The dust then swirled into the painting Hermione was currently working one. When it settled down on the canvas, the picture was finished: It showed a landscape, a grove with some marble busts. Between the busts stood the figure of an ancient, Greek priestess or goddess. She had a striking resemblance with Hermione.
Martha turned away. Though she still had some hours left until sundown, she immediately returned to her bottle. Martha just wanted to be alone.
THE END
Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]
Part 3: [link]
Part 4: [link]
Part 5: [link]
Part 6 Variant A: [link]
Part 6 Variant B: [link]
Part 7: [link]
Don't miss the next story: [link]
This story is based on an idea by .
Once more, I'd like to thank for the proof-reading.
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Comments: 50
Tragedy aside, I wonder what that would feel like... 💕
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There's one Part, where she's released from the picture again
Forever Genie? - Part 5B
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The finale of the Martha stories is kind of a create your own adventure story. When you read the story, you can decide on several points how the story will go on. Depending on your desicions, Hermione becomes human again or not. If you are interesting, I can give you more information.
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Oh okay I'm not much of a writer sorry.
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You don't have to write. All you have is to read the stories. Say, did you read all Martha stories before "The Masterpiece" yet?
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Ok, there are three different ways Hermione could end as, depending on our earlier desicions in the story.
hippo2.deviantart.com/art/Fore…
hippo2.deviantart.com/art/Fore…
hippo2.deviantart.com/art/Fore…
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Ouch. Well, that was a horrible fate for Hermione, and pretty harsh since Hermione really is mostly a good person... but then, this was not Martha's fault, either. Hermione twisted the wish herself, and was being too hard-headed at the time to talk to Martha first. It's a rather depressing ending, really, especially when it largely seems like Hermione is really afraid of becoming homeless again.
Actually, I guess Martha could've thought really fast, declared that wish a freebie (since Martha seems like she's able to do that, like with the Carla and Stefania wish), and given her one more wish to cancel that wish out, but I guess it all just happened too fast for Martha to think about that. I wouldn't be surprised if Martha did think about that much later.
Carlo was creepy, in just his way of thinking. The way he kidnaps Stefania, and thinking that he's doing it for her own good. He seemed to miss the lesson: instead of learning "treat women like people," he learned "being a woman is the worst thing ever." It's kinda' tragic, really.
I also noticed that Carlo was a lot worse than Stephan when they were introduced. Carlo was harrassing Martha and Hermione, while Stephan was mostly along for the ride. So it makes sense that Stefania would be the more likely one to learn the right lesson here.
I get the feeling that Stephan would've probably been a better man if he didn't hang around Carlo so much. As it is, Stefania seems to have become happy with who she is, and with Tony, so it's kind of sweet, anyway.
That "no sleeping" wish had to be one of the easiest kinds of wishes to put a cruel twist on, by making it so that Hermoine would grow more and more tired, but not be able to sleep. Martha liked Hermione, so it's not like she wanted Hermione to suffer, but oddly enough, twisting that wish probably would've saved Hermione in the end.
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Hermione is based on a real friend of mine. This friend helped me write the story, so we agreed on this ending.
About Carlo: Yes, he's just a dick. And I wanted him out of the story for good. So, both fates work. If you like the more human solution, let Martha scare him to death. Otherwise, he always was kind of slimey, hehe.
Stephan might have become a different person, but he definitely makes for a cute Stefania. I even made a spin-off picture of Stefania's and Toni's wedding: [link] It started another tradition of mine, the "Thank You-pictures".
By the way: Stefania and Tony will have another appearance in my stories. Just keep on reading.
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I'm actually kinda' torn on Carlo's fate. On one hand, at least until we meet Gregory, he's the most horrible character we've seen, what with the kidnapping and all, and she's punished other characters for less. On the other hand, it wasn't the result of a wish, which makes it feel less fulfilling, and more like Martha going out of her way to mess with him more. Even though it feels like he deserves fate B, for Martha's character, I like fate A more.
And aww, the wedding picture is sweet 
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Than you can go with punishment A.
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This never escaped me. This brought anger into my heart.
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such a tragic end...I feel sorry for hermione...
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Hermione is a character by . She liked that fate when we were writing the story.
But there are two other characters introduced in this story, that will reappear later.
If you want to continue, you might read this story first: [link] It's a story written by a friend and the start of his own genie series. See it as a cross-over between and established series and a new series. It also explains, how Martha ends up in Switzerland.
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I liked the whole Hermonie getting sucked into the painting. I wonder what will become of her after that.
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"It belongs to a museum!" would Indiana Jones say.
Or maybe she will end up in some private collection.
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I LOVE IN THWE PAINTING U HAVE HER BODY BEING SUCKED INT PAINTING AND I LOVE ALL UR WORK MARTH
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How can Fate be so cruel?! Hermonie was not a evil or mean master to martha, yet she is cursed all the same. is there no hope for her?
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It's really the saddest end so far. As Martha said, if she wouldn't have rushed her last wish, there would have been an solution. Maybe if someone will wish her free...
Anyway, some characters from this story will return. And it's not only Martha...
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The things we say in anger are never the things that should happen. Sad.
But, what does the masterpiece look like?
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There's a short description on the story. I don't know if I can paint it. It's a very good picture actually.
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I know, and its good... it just doesn't do it for a final image, I guess.
But at any rate, its still a good story - kinda fable like. Wish for the world, and the world will disappoint you. Wish for things that are realistic, like good friends, good family and earn your goals - and the world will deliver.
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I see what you mean. The final picture would be an alternative. But I wanted to show the transformation.
You're right about the fable. Maybe even my own hopes flowed into the story. I just hope it's not too cheesy.
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I like to have some moral or character developement in my stories. Even Martha has changed since the series began.
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Glad you like it. There will be new stories soon.
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It is a sad ending to the story of Hermione, too bad for her and Martha.
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Yeah! But it's something new from my usual stories. And I have to thank for the idea.
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oh, by the by. your faces are 120% on improvement scale. keep it up, get all the way to 200%
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totally not. 
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hmmm, perfect. i like this angle, not used much in the genre. sad, recognition. ah, like bitter wine with a sweet bouquet to get it down our throats till it burns away our insides with fiery fury. ^^
your words are chosen well. yes. and the picture is great too. uncompromising, hints of the Wicked musical's realm where you can't take anything back. much what people want to see, cause that's what we feel.
taoists know better ^^, but we savor what we get in the here and now anyway.
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you should be ashamed, by making your art better you inherently make others look worse by comparison. xD great job
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Then you should try harder!
Don't be sad. You achieved a lot during the last weeks. Keep on trying and you'll get much better soon.
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You artists are all the same with your drawing and coloring and detail.... how do you sleep at night?
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Don't feel bad, because you don't draw yourself. And don't let someone tell you, you're only a half-artist, because you only write. Good writing can be as difficult as good drawing. I know what I'm talking about.
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you artists all the same with your words of sympathy and understanding, I dont know how you have any freinds.
... and thanks for the encouragment... and your making me feel bad for taking me seriously you know how to make sarcasm backfire xD.
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Well done. Way to keep variety with the stories and their style. Enjoyed.
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It's a difference from my usual endings. I hope it's not too much of a downer.
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i hope i wil not end up like her...(there are some perquisite though..)
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If you will end inside a picture, I'll buy you.
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