Hello, my dears... I'm sorry if you thought that this was an update, but this is really important :(

Disappointed.

I am. I really am.

Hello, my dears :( It's been quite a while since I have last given signs of life hahaha.. sorry about that. School has been really keeping me busy.

...But that's not what I want to talk about here.

The other day, a concerned reader of mine informed me of a story that is extremely similar to my "HetaOni (Hetalia x Reader x 2P!Hetalia)". At first, I didn't want to believe that it was true, but when I read the chapters (which were like, 7 chapters, and the "author" said that there are lots more to update).......my fears were confirmed.

Her story is called "Let's Escape Together" on Quotev. Here is the link, if you want to compare for yourselves: https://www.quotev.com/story/7058128/Lets-Escape-Together/3

And here are screenshots of the first chapter. I would have accepted it if it were the same idea, but different presentation and with their own concept filled in...but... I'm sorry, I just couldn't see it. All I see were just rephrasing, without even giving a thought as to why it is included in the story, or whether it was necessary or not.

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/YQv7VaW.png" /></a>

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/qsEneAv.png" /></a>

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/BoEZhau.png" /></a>

((Well, since you can't really view them on Wattpad, you could just use the link I gave to compare the story))

Now, I only posted my stories over at deviantArt, here at Wattpad, and occassionally, at FanFiction.net.

Before knowing of this incident, I didn't even have a Quotev account. The only reason I have an account there now, which is still "flamehazelollipop", is so that I can talk to the said "author" of the story.

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/mLbNtyp.png" /></a>

Let me just type here what I told her (in case you can't view my screenshot using the link):

~

"Hello. I am quite positive that you know me. I am flamehazelollipop, the author of the story "HetaOni (Hetalia x Reader x 2P! Hetalia)" on deviantArt, Wattpad, and Fanfiction.net. A concerned reader of mine told me about your story, "Let's Escape Together (hetaoni x reader)". At first, I didn't want to believe that someone had purposely copied my work. I'm not angry, I'm disappointed. I want to talk to you to clear things out. 

You're also a reader of mine, I know. If you weren't, you wouldn't have been able to post that story of /yours/. Listen, I don't want to fight or anything, okay? I just want to talk this out with you. If you needed help in writing a story, you could've just talked to me and I would have helped you think of a different concept. It is not right to take other people's wor and call them as your own. I did not work hard on that story just so someone can copy it. I worked hard on that story so that I can create something that could make people happy. 

Maybe you wanted to do the same thing, but let me tell you, that it isn't rewarding at all if you do that using something that you did not create yourself. I've read your story, and I can see that you actually have potential, but please. I ask that you not take this lightly. It does not feel good to know that your reader has done something like this. 

More than feeling angry, I feel hurt. But I know how to forgive people, just as long as you explain to me what your intentions were. Thank you for your time, and I hope you reply to me soon. If you ignore this, then I would have no choice but to report you. It's not something that I would want to do, but I can't let this go on if you choose to just shrug off this message of mine. I hope to hear you response soon, alright?" 

~

I tried to as polite and professional as I can. I kept in mind that the person who I'm talking to is a reader of mine, and I wanted to understand what her real intentions were. I'm not pointing it out to her just because I feel like it. I just wanted to call it to her attention so that she may be aware that I already caught her and it's time for her to confess her mistake. People make mistakes, and I understand that.

What I wanted from her was really simple, for her to admit what she had done, tell me she would never do it again, and then...yeah. I would have accepted her apologetic actions. But....

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/3jdth8l.png" /></a>

She replied with this: 

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"Sigh* I'm sorry....I didn't notice this earlier and yes someone did sent me a comment. Thank you for telling me. the truth is that I didn't know of this story till now. I've been thinking of writing this story years ago but I was too busy. When the game Hetaoni came out....I played it and plant to make a story since I found out others gave up on it. If I copied u then I apologize. I will tell my reader's this if you'd like. I'm happy but sorta angry at myself for copying...I hope you can forgive me for doing a crime like this. Bows sadly*"

~

But I was really disappointed when I saw her response. Well, I'm glad that she replied within several minutes..but... I'm sorry, I just can't accept what she had mentioned.

===

"The truth is that I didn't know of this story until now."

===

--I'm sorry, I really don't believe the fact that she didn't know about my story.

What hurts me is that the only way someone could have gotten that story would be for that person to be a reader. My reader.

I tried my best to encourage her to tell me the truth. I'm not doing this just because I want to pick a fight or make her look bad or whatever she might think. If it looks like I'm bullying her or anything, I'm not, okay? I'm not pressing this matter onto her because I want to raise myself up and have other people hate her or anything of the sort. I'm not worried of "her story" getting more reads than mine. NO.

I'm worried about her.

Copying other people's works is wrong. It not right to take something that someone had worked so hard for and claim it as their own, as if they had made such great efforts themselves.

A lot of people cause uproars when it comes to copying art or taking art and claiming it as their own--but stories are the same, too.

Writers work hard to produce good stories. Writers take long hours just to make a chapter. I, as a writer, hold true to that. I'm not boasting, no. The only reason why I work so hard, and think so hard about the stories that I craft, is for my dear readers.

I always feel happy whenever I see people comment what they think, because I can see how they enjoy my stories. I have seen readers comment about how happy, sad, or mixed they are on their feelings. Seeing how I brought out those emotions in them, makes me feel achieved. Seeing how they also formulate theories on their own, makes me feel proud of them, because they're using their critical thinking skills. It makes me so happy to see them simply enjoy and laugh at the bits and gags of my story.

When my readers are happy, I'm happy.

It makes me so motivated to make more chapters that will make you guys smile.

You guys, my readers, are really important to me. Please don't ever forget that. I treat you guys like my extended family. You guys can always approach me. I may not be online all the time because of school work, but I always keep you guys in mind.

I replied once more to her, but I wasn't able to take a screenshot of it anymore. But this is what I said, 

~

"Look, I don't want this to be some big issue but... I'm sorry, because I do not believe that you did not know of my story until now. I have read through your story and I can obviously see that it is not just "similar". I just want to hear that from you. I want you to tell me the truth on whether or not you are a reader of mine who read my story and decided to post it on this site, even though I can see that you are. People make mistakes, I just want you to learn from this.

There is no "if I copied u", there is no "if". You really did, I know. I am just so disappointed that you would make up something about not knowing that the plot you used was mine. I can accept the fact that you made the first setting as Reader's home and it's her semestral break, but to go up to the point where you included Reader's aunt and how her situation was, and how Reader got the cupcake, and even my running gag on how China cuts off Reader's sentences?

There is a fine line between writing a story "inspired" by other people's work, and downright copying it. I see that you've made extremely minor changes, but that's not the point. I'm sure that you have a creative imagination that just needs a little push, a little effort. That's why you don't need to resort to taking other people's ideas and calling them as your own.

I don't care about reads, comments, favourites/votes or whatever. I'm not sending you this message because I'm worried about your story having more fame than mine. No. I don't need that.

What matters to me is that I make my readers happy from reading /my/ work. I have worked days, weeks, months, and I even reached more than a year just for my HetaOni story.

Do not fool your readers into believing that you did so much for them, when you only did so little. You would be lying to them at that. Please don't do that to them. They don't deserve that. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to take tell your readers /the truth/ and after that..

I want you to take down that HetaOni story that you have here. I'm sorry, but this is a serious matter. People make mistakes, and I hope you learn from this incident. And, if you ever write another HetaOni fic of your own ideas, concepts, and plots someday, you'll see. You'll realise how it feels so much more rewarding when you give your readers a story that really comes from you, a story that you've worked hard on yourself. It's never too late to change. I hope to see that in you."

Even though I feel bad asking her to take down "her story" (because she has readers for it), I just couldn't take the fact that she's lying to her readers about "her work".

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/8qVMJAb.jpg" /></a>

((In the screenshot, a reader of hers thanked her for 'her' update and wondered what happens next, to which the 'author'  replied, "you will find out! Like usual,it'll be up in a week or so! I never abandon my stories when people love it (though I do have lots to update,)! Stay tune!"))

I'm sorry, but as a person who values her readers, I can't help but feel sad seeing people lie to their them. They don't deserve that being done to them.

She did not reply to me after that, she deleted  my comment on her profile.

What she did do, was post "a very important author's note":

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/eqw4hrB.png" /></a>

Which I quote,

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"Some birdie told me that my story is like someone's. They noticed similarities between my stories and their's. And I'm trying NOT to copy hers. I deeply apologized to this. I have to give most of the credit to the author that my story seems to copy. I've noticed that author has an amazing sense of writing. I feel sad and I want to change this story for the better. This is a little awkward to write this but please...I'm sorry. I will rewrite this whole story. I mean everything even the title will change. If you don't like this story anymore, take away your hearts on the story because I understand that I'll have to pay changes for seeming to write a story like someone else's. I'll pay the cost for whatever is necessary. I'm not deleting this story but for now on....everything will be reconstructed. Hope you can understand this feeling of mine. I am ashamed."

~

I AM TRYING MY BEST, OKAY?

There's only so much that a person can take! I did my best to reach out to her, but she still denies the fact that she knows me, my story--and the fact that she copied the concepts that I have worked hard on for the past 15 months.

Is it really right for her to say,

"They've noticed similarities between my stories and their's. And I'm trying NOT to copy hers."

"I have to give most of the credit to the author that my story seems to copy."?

I'm not going to hold back anymore on saying that I'm REALLY HURT.

I'm sorry! I'm sorry, okay? I know I might sound immature, and maybe even you guys would think that I'm overreacting, but I just...

She apologised. I know. I'm not denying the fact that she apologised.

But that's not my point.

She didn't apologize because she knows she copied my story. It was more like she was sorry she got caught.

I don't want to pick a fight with her, I just want her to learn from her mistakes. I'm worried because if she doesn't someday, she might do the same thing to an author who isn't as understanding as I am. Any other author would have reported her and "her story" right away. But I gave her the chance to admit her fault, take down the story herself, and just let things be buried in the past.

But I don't think that's happening.

Look, SakuraRin-chan.

I know it's you. I know you are my reader here Wattpad. You're the same "Wendy" that goes by the name "Sakura Rin". Please don't even deny this, I have proof.

<a><img src="http://i.imgur.com/fQaGNew.jpg" /></a>

((When I saw your name on Quotev, I always thought that it was familiar. Then, when I was reading comments, like I do everyday, I noticed one of the inline comments in my HetaOni book, Chapter 16 (Part 1), wherein a "SakuraRin-chan" had commented ""Matt...it's okay...hugs him*We all love you!No matter who you are!hugs more protectively*"))

You even comment on my chapters. I know, because even if I don't reply that much here on Wattpad anymore (because of time and the number of comments that I can't keep track of), I still read every single one of the comments when I have free time. Because reading my readers comments is something that cheers me up.

I'm not sure if you follow me or my book anymore, but here's to hoping that you'll see my message, and understand my point.

I love and trust my readers so much, I don't want to feel paranoid just by something like this. I don't want to go thinking that someone might copy my story again and post it on some other site without me knowing. To think that it was already happening for three months. It's like someone cheated on me behind my back. Look, my dears, if you guys have any problems with writing, or can't think of a concept of your own--I can help you. I'm here. You are free to approach me. Note me, message me, skype me, kik me, e-mail me, go to my house even, if you like. I'm willing to help. I always am. I don't turn down things like that. And if there is a certain concept or theory of mine that you want to use in your story, tell me. I allow that, and readers have already approached me for things like those. I'm not selfish when it comes to you guys. Just as long as you know that there are limitations.

Before writing my HetaOni fic, I already gave credit to the creator of HetaOni, Tomoyoshi (through Reader's monologue in the first chapter). And even then, I still couldn't feel at ease. I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to write a fanfic using all the lines from the original game (even if I did do my own version of it and my own underlying plot). That's why, as soon as I found a way to contact her and send her a note, I immediately told her what I was doing. And she was really supportive of it. At that point, I felt a sense of relief, but that doesn't mean that I won't acknowledge her and her team anymore for making HetaOni.

That's why, to that person who had copied my story, I hope that you understand what I'm trying to say. I'm doing this for you, and for the other writers out there.

I'm sorry if I'm asking for too much. I apologise if it seems like I'm going overboard with my rant like this. But I just can't settle down without at least letting all these things out.

And to my loyal readers out there, I know that some of you might get angry for my sake, but please don't pick fights or anything with the person I mentioned. My point was to help her understand what was right and what was wrong. If you know her, then it'd be a help if you explain this matter to her. If you don't, it's alright not to do anything about it. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you guys with this sort of thing.

Well, I've ranted more than enough..ehe. I apologise for being inactive for the past month, school has been keeping me extra busy as usual, but it's looking up for the better. Thank you for all of your love and support. I was supposed to use my free time today to finish up writing Chapter 18 of my HetaOni fic, but I just couldn't do it with all these emotions within me bottled up. I'll do my best to give you guys an update soon. Since I have a 3-day weekend this week (because yay Happy Chinese New Year....even though we're not Chinese haha), expect an update by Saturday or Sunday. :)

Love you, my dears! <3

~flamehazelollipop