A Matter of Numbers · 11:04pm Jul 9th, 2014
I’m sometimes interested in the properties of numbers, even though I’m not that great at math. One of the things I like is when numbers have really low prime factors. For instance, 150 is 5x5x3x2, which 151 is, well, just 151. So I think it’s fair to say that 150 is much more of a nice, round number than 151 is. Now, consider 162. Not what many people would call a nice, round number. And yet, if you factor it out, 162 equals 2x3x3x3x3.
“Great, PJ,” you may be saying. “But I don’t come here for math, I come here for pony stories.” Well, the last time I posted about Derpy’s Human, I said that my plans were to go to Chapter 150, which would be the end of Karyn’s time at school. But she just finished her third year, and we’re only at chapter 110. There’s no reason I can’t cover a whole year in 40 chapters, but if I had 52, it would be one chapter for every week, and the whole story would have a nice, round number of chapters. I only need one thing.
Twelve more chapter ideas.
And that’s where you all come in. I’m opening up the blog entries and the comments to you guys. If I can get twelve good ideas that fit in with the story, I’ll extend it for another twelve chapters. Now, a few guidelines. These are going to be slice of life chapters, not structural to change Derpy or Karyn. So, something like Derpy and Karyn meet the president of the United States, that’s not going to happen. You can ch ange other people or ponies, but not my two girls and not the setting.
Aside: for those of you who just came here to find out about next week, it's Derpy and Karyn on a beach again, but this time it's on Earth, and they compare and contrast the two occasions. I've buried this in the middle of the entry so that you have to read the whole thing. End of aside.
Also, I’d like to limit it to one suggestion per person. I have a good slate of regular commenters here, but the statistics say that a couple of hundred people read this every week. I’d like to hear from some of the lurkers as well.
So that’s the plan. If it doesn’t work, well, like I said, I can do it all in 150 chapters. It’s all up to you.
Hmmm. I suggested this idea a looooong time ago. I think it was sonic
boom. (Ha see what I did there?) it was when I suggested that Karyn could fly with Changeling wings. And I know you said only one suggestion but when Colgate said to meet with her after they tested Karyn's changeling/unicorn magic you never cleared that up. I mean you met with her again (twice actually) but you never cleared it up.
it was just killing me.
You missed a x3 when factoring 162. Also blah blah, something about your story ideas, but I don't care because you got math wrong, which obviously invalidates everything you say or write until you fix it.
2270303 Fixed. I deny all responsibility and blame it on the shoddy online calculator I used.
2270323 Great! And because you do have your maths right I'm forced to believe you about the online calculator. Even though every bone in my body is twitching about doing so for some unknown reason.
So you want suggestions.
I've wanted to see Cheerilee. How about a chapter where Karen and Derpy take Cheerilee to meet with an elementary teacher on earth. They can learn the ways their teaching is similar and different. I'm not good with specifics on short notice. 
It's your story, so do what you want.
12 chapters of clop, you could write complete rubbish and the masses would still be pleased.
Problem solved
In all seriousness though, write about Dinky being confined to a hospital for one reason or another with them coming to cheer her up ( or the other way around ).
All I can say to this is that 151 is the number of original Pokemon.
Oh, so this is where all the people went!
I was thinking that with the number of people learning that Equestria is real that eventually there will be a turning point and she'll be sought after for pony visits (instead of her trying to find them). The fandom can totally handle that with dignity and respect, right? We'd even get together resources for that embassy I was talking about! Then, the pony visits would be handled by someone else and she wouldn't need to feel so guilty for not spending time with Derpy....
2271080
This may hurt my geek cred, but I have never played Pokemon. In no capacity. I've never played the cards, I've never played the games, not red, blue, or orange; not diamond or emerald; not X, Y, or Z. I've never had anything be super effective or not very effective. I watched a few of the old anime. I remember not liking Pikachu, really hating Togepi, and wishing that Psyduck was better. I think I could distinguish between Nurse Jenny and Officer Joy. But basically the numbers mean nothing to me.
Something that won't change them, but that will allow them to have fun.
I had two ideas for this, one of which being that it would take out time in the summer for both Derpy and Karyn.
Now it would work easier on the Equestrian side I imagine..but doing it that way means she ages a little more. A camping trip. Karyn, Derpy and maybe even Dinky get some time together and head to a camping trip. Maybe Dinky has something important she wants to tell her mom and having Karyn there will also help give Dinky the courage to talk about it.
The other side being that Derpy is invited on a road trip. Being that she'll have to be invisible a lot, she may have some difficulty keeping to it since there may be things that even Derpy may want to check out. Human world and curiousity after all can grow.
I know you said only one suggestion, so I'd say the Camping Trip more than the Road Trip.
2270323 Why are you using an online calculator when there's a perfectly good one on your computer. Hell I'm sure even Mac's and Linux's (Linuxi? Linui?) have a calculator program
Its a long shot, but Karyn could do more things around Equestria, like transforming into a pony and modeling for Rarity, or working at the post office sorting letters.
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In fact, Linux comes with a program for factoring numbers built in. It’s called… wait for it… factor.
(I don’t think it’s pre-installed on Macs, but it’s definitely available through Homebrew/MacPorts/Fink/etc.)
OOH, OOH IDEA! Derpy and Karyn could visit the Earth Postal service! I'm slightly embarrassed javascript:smilie('
');because i don't remember if they'd done that already but an entire chapter dedicated to that would be pretty cool!
Maybe a day at the cinema? Say, if there were some classic films on and Karyn took Derpy to see them. Great chance for Derpy to learn pre 1950's lingo
I hope this gets 12 good ideas, then. This story keeps me coming back to the site.
My suggestion falls in with Yoshi1990's, but with a twist: Cherliee has been getting questions from her students about our Earth and decides she wants to go visit. She also decided that Big Mac wants to go visit. ("I do?" "Yes, Big Mac, you do." "Yes, dear.") After all, in a small town, ponies talk. This means fun for her and Big Mac away from most prying eyes.
And a twist if you think it might make it more interesting --maybe tell it from Cherliee and Big Mac's point of view. Having two characters visiting our Earth lets them talk to each other, and as far as the risks of bringing two ponies goes, if any pony is likely to not cause a scene on our Earth, I think it'd be Big Mac.
Okay, here's my chapter Idea: Derpy expresses the desire to meet earth equines in Karyn's world. Karyn makes books a getaway at a saddle club in a small town a few hours away. She hides Derpy's wings and cutie mark with a large saddle blanket and saddle. She meets with the ranch owner to check in, explains that her 'daugher' will be riding her own 'pony', then excuses herself to get Derpy & using her magic she changes into a little girl to make it easier for Derpy to carry her on the ride. (Is it possible to 'switch places' and let Karyn be the horse and Derpy the little girl through 'contact' magic?) Anyway, Derpy can communicate with the saddle club ponies with natural earth 'horse sounds' either as a learned/instictive knowledge or through a spell from Twilight.
Second Idea, (yes I know only one, but I see others have two, so 'me too') Karyn has an elective class to take to finish her senior year and she has chosen Greek Mythology. So to gather first hand (hoof) knowledge Karyn & Ms Hooves travel the far reaches of Equestria and beyond to study (and maybe talk to) the Hydra, Manticore, Griffins, etc. Since Tirek (centaur) isn't going anywhere soon, maybe even the underworld to speak with him and meet Cerberus as well. Karyn may decide to blend in and change into the creature she is studying, and might have to defend Derpy from some dangerous event or creature. This second idea could get you the additional chapters you need by itself!! See aren't you glad I mentioned it? As a last note, I hope you will give a little credit to the poster of your chapter idea or do a collab with them if you have the notion. That's it for me! Thanks for the great read so far!
I am wondering what happened to the water park project Rainbow Dash had a while ago. Maybe a bonus chapter about the grand opening?
Karyn and Derpy plan an outing of your choice, maybe at the theater to see EQG2 or maybe an IT/ Computer expo at the big town hotel convention center. (or something else altogether) Somehow they get separated, and after an exhaustive search, Karyn finds Derpy sobbing at the top of the building. After a period of consoling and appologies, Derpy relates that this event recalled some bad memories as a filly when she was lost from Daddy so many moons ago.
Second Idea is the theater showing of EQG2 would be a way to show Ms. Hooves the human side of ponyville. LMK if this is along the lines of what you are looking for in a chapter idea. Time for a smiley!!
I don't know if you're still looking for chapter suggestions but I only came across the blog post today...
Anyway, someone made a comment on one of the stories somewhere around Chapter 105 (plus or minus 5 chapters) about having Karyn and Derpy go to an aquarium where they have the underwater passages.
That seems like a cool idea as I imagine Derpy wouldn't have had the opportunity to see fish in their natural habitat or the ocean from underneath.
I just had another idea ... but I don't think you could get a scuba tank that'd work for a pony.
