WTF " Half-Birthdays" Ideas · 7:31pm Jun 3rd, 2016
Hi everyone!
Sorry for the delay in WTF2; editing has taken longer than expected, but I'm almost done! Should be posting this weekend, if all goes well, and the first FtGoE side-fic will go up right after! FtGoE would be next on the block... Phew!
But I wanted to run something past you guys: I have an idea for a couple short WTF side-fics that I might lump together into one of those "Whenever I Feel Like It" anthology fics (Knee-Jerk Title--"WTF: Half-Birthdays." Chapter titles would include the kids half-ages in the title, to keep readers chronologically oriented).
However, I'm not entirely settled on the plots I have in mind. Thoughts?
Age 5.5: Apple Bloom
College sophomore/junior Apple Bloom comes to the bakery for lunch, but is uncharacteristically quiet, and snaps at Foxie when she tries to talk to her. Pinke guesses, correctly, that Apple Bloom is pregnant (with Tender Taps's kid??) and scared, and the two have a single-mom talk. Will probably include an update on the other CMC, etc., and a shotgun wedding scene..
Worries:
-Might be repetitive, with Pinkie repeating lessons we've already seen her learn (e.g., "Don't shut out your friends," etc.).
-Might come across as moralizing ("If you, the reader, ever find yourself single-pregnant, this is what you must do...", which, as a single male from a more-traditional family, I have no real right to do.)
Age 11.5: Lyra and Bon Bon
WTF go to Lyrabon's for some reason (to buy some candy???), meet the two of them and their adopted foal, and realize that not all families need a daddy. Would be used to balance out the heteronormative, "I don't have a daddy and that's bad and wrong" tone of part 2.
Worries:
-I don't like reading same-gender ships, and I've never tried writing one. Not sure I'd do a good job (plus, I'm still fond of Lyrabon as "best-friends-without-benefits" interpretation).
-This would be written to solve a problem, and the problem might not be as bad as I think? We'll see how you guys feel about part 2.
While we're talking about pipe dreams: I'm developing quite a next-gen cast! Would anyone be interested in reading a proper, adventurey spin off? I'd appreciate any ideas you might have for a plot...
I for one would like to see side stories. The characters you have made are adorable and the story is interesting enough to warrant some of the side characters (to the main narrative) getting some time in the spotlight IE world building.
Applebloom
Maybe instead of her fretting over being a single parent perhaps her and Tap have a strong relationship and she is fretting over telling him and her family instead. That way it isn't retreading old ground and you still get the comedy of a shotgun wedding.
Lyra-Bon
Advice about writing same-gender couples from someone who knows a number of such. Their relationships are no different than my own hetro marriage. They live, they love, they argue, etc. Gender doesn't really play a part in it. Just my experience at least. I am not a fan of "isms" and try to live my life treating everyone equal.
Except giraffes. Fuck those long goats, something ain't right 'bout them.
Bonus:
Aurora
Maybe her first date with a certain little colt at Sugar Cube Corner with Twilight and Pinkie separately stalking them to make sure their foals behave. With the running joke being the foals huffing and puffing that it is not a date when the grownups say how cute a couple they are. End with a peck on the cheek and a fainting colt.
I love the first one. Yes.
3997235
Me too--especially with some of the suggestions from Fnord!
3996144
Holy cow, I love this idea! It would allow her to have some of the same struggles without getting stale! ("How did you tell your stallion you were pregnant?" "Well... I might not be the best to ask.") Some questions I'll PM you about though to keep from clogging the thread.
Thanks for the suggestions. Again, I'm starting to think I might be overreacting, but we'll see what the responses are.
Loved this suggestion too--it's on the list :)
Some questions/discussions incoming via PM.
3997349 I do also like the second one, as it would send a more serious and good message.