People find things more satisfying in threes—three obstacles, three main characters, or three acts.
A "proper" ending shouldn't just go back to the start; it should establish a new reality for the hero, for better or worse. lh11rar
Something must stop them. In "Bastion-style" stories, this is often the environment itself or "Scrappers" representing the wreckage of the old world. In "Bastion-style" stories, this is often the environment
"Proper story’s supposed to start at the beginning. Ain't so simple with this one." In her hand, she gripped a heavy iron
She stood up, her boots crunching on what used to be poetry. In her hand, she gripped a heavy iron key, cold enough to bite through her glove. It wasn't for a door. In this new world, doors were luxuries for people with walls. This key was an anchor.
The world didn't end with a bang; it ended with a sigh and a lot of grey dust.