On Thu, 16 Oct 1997, David Johnston wrote:

Douglas A. Reeves wrote:

Don't read this if you haven't yet read Bubblegum Collapse!  You've been
warned!

David Johnston wrote:

More importantly, when someone dies that ends hope.  No matter how
depressing a fic might be, as long as people remain alive, they may
still be able to change something.  Ranma can leave his abusive
spouse, or Akane her neglectful one, Ryouga can get over his despair
to some extent and find a different girl, Kodachi can get therapy,
Tatewaki can kill himself, whatever.  Things can always get better,
as long as people stay alive.

And yet, consider this... when I wrote Bubblegum Collapse, I considered
as an alternate ending allowing Nene to live.  Then I realized that the
story would be much, MUCH darker if I had done that... forcing her to
witness the consequences of what she had done firsthand, to see the
devastation she had wreaked, the lives she had taken... *shudder*

I couldn't do it.  It was too much.  There are fates worse than death...

I assume that even if she'd stayed alive, someone important
would have died?

What she had done, while necessary, would have made anyone wish for 
death had they been in her position.  

-- Nick