Onto the Pony Planet--Chapter 18 Notes · 12:29am Sep 30th, 2014
A huge thanks to my pre-readers and creative consultants: Humanist, AnormalUnicornPony, metallusionsismagic, AShadowOfCygnus, bitbrony, MSPiper, Woonsocket Wrench, and my parents.
We now know, if we read the IDW comics, that Starswirl was around during the time of Luna's banishment; we also know that only Princess Celestia knows how to get to his library.
Starswirl experimented with spells and portals to get to other worlds, so . . . well, I guess I'm gloating here. Anyway, it's comic canon that Starswirl knew spells and such to get to other worlds, and that Princess Celestia has kept the knowledge of how to do so away from most ponies. And, of course, Starswirl would be very concerned with protecting his pelt and getting back to Equestria, in case his explorations led him to a dangerous world.
The ponies who are mentioned as dueling with Lyra are Twinkleshine and Moondancer.
Twinkleshine is a somewhat commonly appearing background pony
Moondancer has been mentioned in the show, but never seen. However, she does appear in the IDW comics.
Besides the “What is a Photocopier” I mentioned in an earlier blog post, three novels influenced the whole court case:
Wilkes: His Life and Crimes, by Winston Schoonover. Wilkes' character in the novel (as I remember it) was an inspiration for Noble Voice.
Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow. Fancy Pants was slightly influenced by the defense lawyer in that novel (Sandy, if I remember correctly), as well as the idea of the judge calling an end to the trial when it's obvious that the prosecution is just grasping at straws. IIRC, that's called a 'directed verdict.' It may only happen when the prosecution's case is so weak that the judge believes that the defense need not present an argument. I'm sure any legal scholars reading this blog note can correct me.
Airframe, by Micheal Crichton. Rather than a lawyer, it was a TV personality, but he would make an inflammatory statement that wasn't a question, or lead the interviewee down one path, and then change topics to catch them off guard, and I put some of that into Noble Voice's character, as well as Fleur's admonishment to Lyra to not fall into those traps.
According to one of my pre-readers, who shall not be named, Fancy Pants' full name is "Sir Fancicus Denim Pants-on-head, Esquire" but that was just silly.
He obviously wears a bowler hat.
I've always pictured him in a top hat...
MONOCLEMONOCLETOPHATMONOCLE.
2494758
I dunno, he seems like he'd be too big to fit inside a top hat.
Fancy Pants might wer a bowler hat, but it would be more appropiate if Luna wore a Monocle, a HUD, and rode a starfish bicycle.
Ah, the dreaded Fluttersaurus. Obsessed with collecting and cuddling anything cute (anything smaller than her). How did the Princess ever escape those nefarious clutches?!
Also, I still need to buy any of the comics...
2494958
Why hasn't it occurred to me before just now to write a Fluttersaurus story? Why? I have that freaking comic.
Also: BUY THE COMICS.
2494941
I dunno; fandom has her pinned as being a luddite. I could see her being the last pony to get a cell phone or Google Glass.
2494931
Depends on how big the top hat is, now doesn't it?
derpicdn.net/img/view/2012/10/6/114938__safe_bowtie_fancypants_top+hat_falcon_artist-colon-tntparty.png
(unrelated, but awesome)
2494758
I just don't see him as being stuck-up enough to wear one. That's probably my ignorance of historical fashion showing.
2495046
Because I hadn't pointed it out yet!
Great, now I'm imagining a scene where Ponyville is stampeding in the background, being chased by Fluttersaurus, while Rainbow confronts a nonchalant Twilight - Twilight eating at an outdoor café. Rainbow is screaming at Twilight about why Twilight is doing nothing about the rampaging Dinosaur. Twilight says it's not a Dinosaur - it's a Fluttersaurus - and it just wants to snuggle all the cute ponies. Rainbow sits down, suddenly calm, and says, "Oh. It's Tuesday, isn't it?"
2495074
I never could get the hang of Tuesdays.
2495050
Old tech is old.
And I live where the luddites were. The building that has the blue plaque for the temporary courtroom for judging them is a few hundred yards along the road.
2494758
I've always wondered why a stallion named Fancy Pants apparently isn't in the habit of wearing pants.
2495113
Maybe his pants are too awesome to be worn in public.
i.ytimg.com/vi/X5pnwfx7e_w/0.jpg
^ go to 10:00. Reminded me of that for some reason lol.
2495139
Or maybe they're capable of walking around in public on their own? Those would indeed be the fanciest of pants.
2495181
I'd buy a pair, that's for sure.
2494958
The tiny arms?
2495198
They're more grabby than you'd think...
2495184 just make sure you don't get the wrong pair
That's a lot of ponk on his head.
2495731
Quite so. Wearing the wrong trousers could ruin one's day.
2498055
Soon, everypony will be wearing one.
2495155
LOL. I haven't seen that movie in years. I was tempted to watch the video all the way through...
Fun fact: before Airplane!, Leslie Nielsen was a dramatic actor . . . and that's why his comedies are so funny.
2498066 ikr?
The last picture... Was it photoshop or actual episode? If actual episode - which one?
2498311 Probably the too many pinkies one, seeing as there are two of her.
2525131
Oh, I remember this one! Thanks!
*Sees Picture with Fluttershy Tyrannosaur*
...
Nope! Nope! Nnnooope!!
2526048
I'm actually thinking of writing an AU one-shot with the Mane 6 as dinosaurs. Fluttershy, of course, will be the T-Rex who only wants to hug cute little animals that run away in terror whenever she comes close.
I haven't decided what the rest of them ought to be.