this isn't really a question about the story, but anyways: Why did the homestuck fandom die out so much? As a person who entered late (this summer) I don't understand.

2012 was the start of the hiatuses which nudged fans into other fandoms. During the hiatuses of 2013 people became more invested in other fandoms and lost interest in homestuck. 2012 and early 2013 was also the time of the Trickster Arc which pushed people away because it was too weird.  It was also around this time that everyone was sure Homestuck would soon be ending so the fandom that was hated by all became loved by all. Other fandoms were nice to us and out of this Fandomstuck was born. Personally one of my favorite homestuck memes of all time it only assisted in the seeping and breaking away of homestuck fans into other fandoms. And then of course came the Gigapause of late 2013. Only die-hard fans survived this year long break without going into Homestuck hibernation. This was a good thing for the fandom however as the piece of shit bucket phase kids either left or learned. No more were the con horror stories of grey smudges or bucket throwing. No more were the meet ups and photoshoots where the attendees numbered in the hundreds. The fandom was at peace, left only with those who knew of how awful it’d been and wished never to return. And then the final straw, the retcon. Making a confusing tale even more confusing some couldn’t take it and cursed the story. Others left due to the fact the their precious children, the ones they had spent years watching grow were no more. They’re experiences changed, the challenges they faced abandoned. No more was Rose’s alcoholism, no more was Dave’s emotional issues, Terezi’s abusive tale, Jade’s failed romance with Davesprite. All of it replaced with support, love, friendship and sadness. The characters were different now, not by much, but their stories had changed. Some left over that. Some left purely because all this was done to bring back Vriska, a character no one wanted to return. And to bring us to present, the most recent incident that cause some to leave was the creation of Sprites^2.  

You are young in an old fandom. There have been many things, many memes, many problems, many arguments, many laughs that you have missed. You never knew the fandom at it’s most active, most exciting, most embarrassing, most cringe worthy, consider this a blessing. The fandom wasn’t always as cozy as it is today.