I can tell this will be funny.

This is a wonderfully creative premise with a unique voice, and I cannot wait to see more.

Nightmare Scoot?

TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY, NOW. Scootaloo is best nightmare.

Can't say I'm too pleased with the whole "villain-of-the-week," one-trick pony you've turned the Nightmare into

Other than that, this is amusing and I think I'll track you for a bit.

Tracking....Done.

This is going to be hilarious...

Can't wait!

Although, I think Nightmare Tom would be best Nightmare.

Nightmare whatever, the new running joke. I am liking this idea.

However, I must say that the timeshifts were a bit unclear. You need to make it clearer to the reader that a flashback is going on.

Of course, the most important part here is the fact that this is one of few fics written in first person. You did it well and it shows just who the narrator is.

I was half-thinking this was going to be a The Incredible Machine crossover, but then I remembered that that discipline's just "Contrapology". Oh well~

NIGHTMARE DERP

This is relevant to my interests. And is fantastic

Aww... They should just leave Scoot nightmared. After al it's not like she actually has the ability or power to make a science fair last forever. And who knows if the power boost won't let her wings get stronger?.

(Also, Scoots can fly a bit as shown in several episodes, you NEVER see ANY of the young Ponyville pegasi  flying though, only Pound Cake and the Cloudsdale ones.

Nightmare Derp is best pony.

Tracking!!

I am sorely tempted to make a sockpuppet account, just so I can give this a second thumbs up.

Damn. AJ comes alive when you write her. Good show!

Poor, poor Applejack. I can honestly say I'm as confuddled by all that's going on as she is.  Filly needs to take a nap.

Her perceptions are definitely putting heavy coat of coloration over the events, but the way you write it keeps me reading. Keep it up.

Also: Pinkie's a horrible secret-keeper.  Did Twilight neglect to have her make a Pinkie Pie Swear?

I could read your AJ's internal monologue all day.

>>328399328399

The story makes a little more sense if you read "Infernal Machines" first; one of the real foundation weaknesses of this piece, at least as far as the presentation on FIMFiction goes, is that it contains an integral prologue that's not even in the same story file.  I pondered posting the entirety of "Infernal..." as Chapter 1, but that means changing narrators right out of the gate, which I thought might be more confusing than not.  I just couldn't work all the flaws out of this particular concept, but I think I'm gonna run with it anyway.

Unless that's not what you meant at all, in which case, never mind!

>>328399328399

Additionally, yes!  Twilight appears to have forgotten that step, which would have been handy for her.  Pinkie Pie Swears appear to throw Pinkie's otherwise scattered care and attention into stratospherically high gear.

It's the occasional fic like this which makes me think there might be something to the TwiPie ship. For Science!

>>379015379015

Apparently, though I don't keep close track to the terminology, this is "Twinkie" or "Twinkie Pie".  It's far from the most far-fetched 'ship, although Pinkie here is notably different than canon Pinkie, much as I try to sell the reader otherwise.  

Thanks to MandoPony's "Sweet Apple Acres" for getting me in a nice solid Applejack headspace, and as ever to Device Heretic for helping me understand that I'm not wasting my time in doing this.  

Road trip denied...

I'm still finding the whole Nightmare-of-the-week thing to be real cheesy, and I've got this feeling we're not done with it quite yet.

Asbestos.  Safe. You ponies have GOT to be kidding me.

Keep it up.

Thoroughly enjoyed, sir. This story is getting funnier by the minute, and I can't wait for the next chapter. I spotted absolutely no errors, and I just wanted to know, do you proofread your own work? Or do you have a beta you bounce this stuff off of? I only ask because if you do not have a beta, I would gladly volunteer. Not that you're a bad writer or make mistakes, it's just that if you slip up or—not that you're going to slip or anything, I just—I—um—uh—the—

Well, fuck me. I seem to have contracted chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome.

>>385443385443

The Nightmare of the week makes sense for the story in that it allows for a crisis in which the elements are required yet not one that will send the entire town into a panic like the widely varied disasters that regularly occur but require a less "Orbital Friendship Cannon" response. It is cheesy though, but Nightmare Scoot has got to me the most adorable thing ever.

>>384773384773

I found this chapter funnier than the previous 2. Even though the tone was more or less the same I guess there was more showing with AJ responding and less of AJ just telling (sarcastically bitching). I felt that was a bit overwrought in the first 2 but perfectly balanced here.

>>385452385452

Everybody makes mistakes, Akela.  I keep finding them and squashing them.

I don't have a beta circle; I'm pretty new to Pony and haven't gathered one yet.  Any lack of errors in my stuff can be blamed on faint obsessive-compulsive tendencies that urge me to keep reading my own stuff over and over over again.  Additionally, Pony seems to be my outlet for uninhibited writing -- I've found that I work best if I have an prose outlet I don't have to worry too much about, and writing about simple, broad, candy-colored characters with absolutely no pressure to sell the work when I'm done (because I *can't*) seems to be fitting that bill nicely.  

That all having been said, I'd be more than happy to have another voice from the web to bounce things off of.  PM me?

>>385443385443

Oh, we are *so* not done with the Nightmare, but perhaps not in the way one might expect...

Twilight's... "time kitty"? Is depleted? What is this I don't even...

>>385863385863

It's slang! A 'kitty' is a pool of spare change; here, Twilight is saying that she's already used up all the time she had scheduled for Unexpected Disturbances.

I've been spreading this story far and wide as documentary proof that you're one of the best writers in the fandom. I am a huge fan of your style of comedy, and your dialogue and characterization are right up there with the best. I will read everything you write, so keep giving us more.

>>386736386736

Thanks, NorsePony.  Word-of-mouth is best word.

>>385549385549

Glad to hear I've hit balance, at least temporarily.  Unfortunately, things start getting off-kilter shortly after this; see if you stick with me.  

I, for one, love the Nightmare of the week idea. The comedy in this fiction is just grand, keep it up!

>>392066392066

Thanks, Moose.  I only think it gets funnier from here on in, but I'm me.  

"Stranger Danger."  That is a name to run away from VERY fast.

And I think Pinkie needs to reorganize her show notes...

Derpy's grey, not blue.

>>409959409959

This is basically the dialogue:

Author:  Okay, so, Derpy's sort of a periwinkle color.

A.J.:  Your mother's a what now?

Author:  Periwinkle.  Like the flower.

A.J. (thinks):  Naah.  Too fancy.  She's blue.

Author:  But --

A.J.  LISTEN, YOU FLEA-BITTEN MONKEY, WHOSE STORY IS THIS?

I think I can bargain her down to "gray", but that's not right in my eyes.  Maybe I can get her to agree to "blue-gray".  Let's see.

UPDATE: Compromise successful.

I need to brush up on my hypercube dance. It's a little rusty.

Loved the chapter, keep up the good work!

>>410010410010

I'm sorry, but Derpy looks like a very definite "grey"  to my eyes.

... Ok, the FiM wiki calls her "blueish-grey"...  Still, I think most people would look at at her and think "Grey with yellow mane."

Capsaicin in its pure form? It doesn't just burn, it's toxic.

Image: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PwNz4pUZizQ/T3jpJ4-r7FI/AAAAAAAAkx4/ZDhABjXWD30/s320/sciencetist_pinkie_and_twilight_by_doggie999-d4urbfp.jpg

Source

>>424474424474

Oh, perfect.  Source, please?  

>>425202425202

Source added.

Alrighty, finally finished what you've got published. I like it! This is easily one of the better-written fics on FiMFiction here, and I think you'd get a pretty good reception on Equestria Daily if you choose to continue pursuing that route. I saw this in the queue and while I don't know what exact response you were given, I believe that you may have been referred to Ponychan when the reviewer only meant to suggest a few touchup points.

Can't believe I missed this until today's EqD post. One of the only fics I've read that had me literally laughing out loud.

Only one thing to say Skywriter... 'BRAIN HUG!!!!!!!' I'm loving this, your portrayal of the characters is excellent along with such simple but awesome dialogue as "All right, let's blast her,"

And this chapter's almost-made-me-wet-myself-from-laughing-so hard award goes to... "Ooh!  Ooh!" said Pinkie.  "Rarity, make a mooing noise!"

>>306843306843

that's kind of the point. The fanfic writers HAVE turned her into a one-trick pony.

Somepony has ISSUES....

Parody is a useful ingredient--- but only in small doses. Don't overdo it, or it comes off like a hate-letter to the thing you're writing a fanfic about.

Utterly hilarious opening. I do like the idea that by now Nightmare vanquishing is so utterly commonplace they barely take the Elements off.

So Pinkie's going all Bill Nye on Ponyville's plot? This cannot end well.

Definitely had a good time reading this one! EQD really is selecting some good fanfics for us.

Sadly, the story ended.

I will check out all of your other stories!

>>468215468215

Don't worry, more's in the offing.  More's been written, in fact, I'm just releasing it slowly.  

It's like someone turned up the madness on Girl Genius, and blended ponies for taste.

Ah, SCIENCE! in action is a wonderful thing to behold, is it not?

Actually, Dustjacket McOldpony is in charge of the Preservation and Restoration department of the Canterlot Royal Archives. He hasn't written anything other than a few professional papers.

Also, I think I can see where this is going, but I'm not quite sure how Prof. Danger fits in...

Corrupting the Elements with the power of SCIENCE! It's definitely a novel approach. :)

>>306843306843  I HATH SEEN WHAT HE HATH DONE HERE!!  He's spoofing the many many many other fics which have the Nightmare possessing this or that pony, or many ponies, or everypony.  Essentially, the Nightmare already IS a villain of the week in fan fiction!  As is Discord.  But he's chaos so he does what he wants.  

Seems to me, keeping the Nightmare in Scoots FOREVERRRR would be a good idea!  She seems about as harmless as can be!  And can't even fly!  >:D

Aha... cunning evil is afoot... er... ahoof!  

As an evil mad scientist myself, I can clearly see that Doctor Danger plans Equestrian domination!

Interested to see where this goes. Could Bell Pepper be THE MEXICAN APPLE THIEF?!

>>474260474260

Close, but not quite!

Oh.  Crap.  This... does not look good to be honest.

Man, I cannot fully express how much I adore this story and the way you tell it. It tickles me in all the right places without setting off my "OH COME ON!" alarms. Although I'm pretty forgiving with fics to begin with, they don't often make me laugh out loud. Smirk, sure, but actually laugh? Nah. This chapter managed to buck that trend in multiple places though, and I can't wait to see more.

>>474916474916

>>474950474950

>>474973474973

>>476808476808

>>477430477430

>>477438477438

>>479735479735

>>480669480669

GUYS. GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS. It gets even better.

>>483387483387

I would hope so. My mind's been blown with amusement so far, so I'd be disappointed if he couldn't keep it up.

>>483407483407

Well, Jeff sent me the next, like, bajillion chapters two weeks ago, and I can guarantee they get even funnier.

>>483431483431

Sweet.

>>483431483431  Bajillion chapters?  :C

*sighs and gets more IV nutrient and fluid bags and 10,000 mg caffeine tablets*  Damn you fic writers... damn you all... how dare you write all this awesome stuff when I have so much work to do.  The only way to make time is cut out eating, drinking, and sleeping!  

>>484922484922

Well, not a bajillion. More like a few.

>>485542485542  TOOLATEIJUSTDOWNEDTHEENTIREBOTTLEOFCAFFEINETABLETSANDNOWMYPULSEISOVER9000BEATSPERSECONDANDOHMYGODI'MGONNADIE... (explodes with 500 megatons of force, completely destroying New Jersey)  

>>485542485542 and >>485944485944

Ah, the first casualty of my fanfic.  I can only assume there will be more.

>>488562488562

I will do my best to make that happen :evillaugh:

>>488562488562 Aaaaaactually, in addition to me being dead, the blast killed about 14 million people in the NJ, Philly, NYC area!  So you've inadvertantly become one of the most evil ponies in all of history!  Yay!

Oh, and as for why I'm still here after blowing up in a thermonuclear explosion... I got better.  

>>474950474950

It's funny because Applejack does not know this obvious fact about literature.

So Pinkie is Alan Sokal.

That.

Explains.

EVERYTHING.

Chaos! :discord:

All I could really understand is and .

Overall, another chapter of hilarious ridiculousness and Twilight solving the mysteries of the universe. Great work, waiting for the next chapter!

Frostwyrm

Both AND are super smart? It's a dream come true!

Brilliant!

Thanks to all the above for the kind words.  And on the previous chapters as well, for those of you still reading.  My vaguely obsessive nature gets concerned every time I don't do an individual reply to every single comment, but that really tends to mess up the page with Lots-Of-Skywriter-Talking-Pay-Attention-To-Me action.  So a nice warm blanket thank-you to everyone.

I want some of that evil genius potion.

Really not seeing how this has anything t'do with the Prequel story but it's cute nevertheless. I'm in n_n

>>474950474950 but the papers he did write were very well received by his colleagues and many still seek him out for advice. *giggles* Sorry I couldn't resist.

ooooohhhh horseapples. this isn't gonna be pretty.

Oh, Applejack's gonna show them some science, alright. Veritable geysers of science, science of hitherto-unimagined proportions, more science than even Twilight can handle. Enough science, in fact, to last forever.

>>508167508167 ...to last, FORREEEVERRRR!

Oh, wait.

Oh, yeah.

Wait.

Yeah.

Applejack has gone Malus.

Seems as if that lemon punch makes everyone slightly drunk and also gain a sudden increase in brain operating power.

... Can I have some for my AP tests?

>>509393509393

You won't like the eventual side-effects.  Trust me.

>>508167508167 and >>509098509098

Oh, how I love to see speculation like this.  Mua, I say, ha ha.

Haha!  Thanks for another great chapter.  Can't wait to see the havoc that the Professor causes, eh!

If I may comment... GENIUS, PURE GENIUS!!!!!:pinkie happy:

Truly, this is writing that every pony can strive to!

>>509580509580

Side effects may include megalomania, evil laughter, torch wielding mobs attempting to destroy your laboratory, and government hitmen.

~~~~~

Great story.

I really want to meet this "Dustjacket McOldpony" you speak of!

Love where this is going!

This is a true cheezyvaganza of silliness. AJ may not be so keen on it - - but I find this very amusing.

That punch was spiked with mad science -flavored Narrativium, wasn't it?

Uh-oh, the punch was spiked with Genius Juice.  

It makes your brain swell really big, and then you die from the intracranial pressure after spending your last hours screaming in agony about transdimensional branes.

It's terrible...  

Uh... Oh...

Everypony except Pinkie and the Pepper family have gone all super-science on us!   And Spike is... Igor?

"Demon Liquor" indeed.  Well said Bell Pepper.  Well said.

Oh dear.

LARGE HADRON CIDER AJ is best pony.

> "I'm sorry, Pinkie," sighed Fluttershy, "but I really have to go plan some abominations of nature.  I hope you understand."

Heee!    That's my favorite line in this chapter.  Looking forward to the next!

> "Your big sister's got big plans for tomorrow, involving booze."  She struck a head-high pose.  "Antimatter booze."

> "I'm sorry, Pinkie," sighed Fluttershy, "but I really have to go plan some abominations of nature.  I hope you understand."

... You, sir, would run an excellent game of Genius: The Transgression.

Snap out of it ponies! Your science is scaring me .

Seriously though, I loved fluttershy's "Abominations of nature" line.  and Large Hadron Cider.  Yeah, I see what you did there.

You know what would be ironic?  If it takes AJ getting possessed by Nightmare to clear her head out enough to fix this.