right so it's been about 10 years since i wrote my last fanfic (i was barely a teen) but I'm relistening to Gideon the Ninth and i had an idea. I am putting this out there in case this premise already exists and if not then it's so hopefully someone talented could write it instead.
Also, spoilers for the big twist at the end of GT9, and one of the twists at the end of HT9, and i guess one of the main plot points of NT9.
This would be for an AU fanfic. In the original canon work, the secret og resurrection lyctor who joined the adepts and cavs at canaan house to try to mercy kill them to prevent them from becoming more lyctors was Cytherea the 1st, who killed the real Dulcinea (and her cav) and took her place.
What if instead, the og lyctor was impersonating a different necromancer there at Canaan House instead? There could be a whole series of fics exploring the effects on the story after replacing Cytherea-impersonating-Dulcinea with another character there.
So like, hypothetical idea, and the one that works the best imo: what if the secret lyctor killed the real Palamedes and Camilla, styled himself as Pal, puppeted Cam's dead corpse to seem like his lyctor, and then the story plays out similarly from there. But now, the real Dulcinea (who would survive in this AU) is confused and heartbroken when the Pal from her letters doesn't seem to know or care who she is. And "Pal" is working to sabotage the lyctoral trials while also "using his investigation skills and psychometry" to cover his tracks. And Harrow is still suspicious of both of them but reluctantly works with both of them, and Gideon still has a crush on Dulcie and gets close with the 6th and the 7th. And in the finale of the book, Dulcie confronts "Pal" about how she realized he's an imposter, somehow sacrifices herself to try to stop him or slow him down, Gideon sees it all, and then she, Harrow and i guess Protesilaus have to fight "Palamedes Sextus" as "______ the First, Lyctor to the Necrolord Undying". And the story concludes the same way as before.
Then i guess in Harrow the 9th, Pyrrha-possessing-G1deon hatefucks Wake-posessing-"Palyctor's"-dead-corpse. And in Nt9, we have Dulcie and Protesilaus sharing a body and cohabitating with Pyrrha-in-G1deon's body and Nona lol.
Idk i haven't fully thought it thru, but i think it could be an interesting idea to go thru and see what would have to change to have the other necromancers in book 1 fill the role Cytherea does and what effects that would have on the story and the sequels. Just thought it would be fun, and again want to see if this already exists and if not if someone else is inspired and writes it
