Ready, Aim, Freeze
The string was pulled taut. The point was lined up with the last unfrozen spot on the target. All she had to do was land one more shot before the competition and she'd win the gold. She didn't blink as her teeth held for one more second.
*Zwip!*
The ice arrow flew through the air. Her target was completely covered in ice. She had done it. Ponyville had its first medal in the Ice Archery event. The other ice archers gave disappointed frowns. However, the crowd cheered as one. They approved of their new champion.
"Archer! Archer! Archer!"
---
"Archer! Dinner's ready!"
"Coming, Mother!" she hollered.
The blue earth filly sighed as the dream faded. She stood there a moment holding her replica war-bow. Over on her backyard fence, twelve suction-cupped arrows held firm against the marker-drawn target. That was the bare minimum that the ice archers ever had to use in an official event.
Idly, she looked back at her golden bow-and-arrow cutie mark. She remembered seeing it one day in class after feeling like one of Ms. Cheerilee's best and brightest students. As far as grades were concerned, Archer's were in the class's top five. Now, she wanted to make the meaning of her talent a bit more tangible. The first Equestria Games where she would be of the registration age limit were in eight years. The more practice she got in between now and then, the better.
But professionals couldn't work on an empty stomach. With a nod of acknowledgement, she hoisted her bow onto her back and headed inside. It was time for the champion's meal of mac and beets.
---
"Hey, Scootaloo! When did you dye yourself blue?"
Not this again, Archer internally groaned. She put on a forced grin to the two colts scampering up beside her.
All the grown-ups she ever talked to said that everypony was special. Some just happened to be a little more special than others. Archer admitted to herself that these two ponies were kind of cute when they didn't open their mouths. But as soon as they said something, she wanted to turn invisible so that they could bother somepony else.
"Wow, you finally got your cutie mark. Congratulations!"
"Fellows," she addressed the pair formally, "we have been over this. I am Archer. I have had my cutie mark for almost a year now." She pointed to her back. "Also, no wings."
Snips opened his eyes wide before pretending to shrink away. "Oh geez. Sorry, Archer. Come on, Snails! Maybe one of the other Cutie Mark Crusaders knows where Scootaloo is."
His best friend nodded as they hurried on down the path.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" Snails called, "When did you change your colors?"
"Not this again!" groaned Sun Glimmer loudly.
Archer shook her head and continued her long trot.
---
Upon arriving at her desk, Archer positioned her bag and supplies just so. She then turned and waved at Tootsie Flute in the desk next to her. The other filly's face turned a bit red before she returned a smaller wave. By this point, Archer had accepted the weird behavior as normal. At least it wasn't annoying like the confusion Snips and Snails made about her. Seriously, how hard was it to tell an earth pony apart from a pegasus pony? They looked nothing alike.
In any case, Archer promptly turned to the front as Ms. Cheerilee walked in and stood in front of her desk.
"Good morning, my little ponies," she greeted brightly.
"Good morning, Ms. Cheerilee," responded the students with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
"I have an announcement before we get started," declared Ms. Cheerilee, "We have a guest speaker today who has graciously volunteered to help provide a visual for our lesson on Equestria's Royal Guard." She motioned toward the door. "Please, come in."
The gold armor wasn't surprising. After all, that was the standard outfit for most of the Princesses' guard ponies. It was the pony wearing the armor that made Archer gasp in excitement. Her eyes widened in glee.
"Greetings, fillies and gentecolts," said the guard to his audience, "My name is Flash Sentry."
It wasn't until the guest opened his eyes that Archer remembered to close her mouth. Still, she couldn't hide her giddy smile. On the contrary, Flash Sentry turned his head directly at her. He didn't return the silent squee, but she saw his eyes twinkle in joy all the same. To everypony's surprise, he stopped what he was about to say in favor of trotting over to Archer's desk.
"Why hello there, milady," he greeted. Then in an even bigger surprise, he held her hoof in his and proceeded to kiss it.
Archer used her other hoof to stifle a giggle. As quickly as the moment had happened, the armored guard pony was already trotting back to the front of the classroom. To save professional face, Ms. Cheerilee gave a slight cough.
"Thank you for that demonstration of a gentlecolt's noble greeting to royalty," she expressed, "Now then, would you care to share with the class a little back story regarding the Royal Guard?"
"But of course." Flash Sentry cleared his throat. "Now then..."
---
After the lecture had finished, it was time for the class's snack/recess break. The crusading trio ran out the door, having a discussion of potential tether-ball cutie marks. As Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked away, Silver Spoon readjusted her glasses. A glare of light briefly reflected off her lenses. Archer hung back and gave Flash Sentry a big hug.
"I am so glad to see you," she told him.
"The feeling is mutual," he replied with a small grin. "I have a couple things to take care of, but I'll be sure to walk you home after school. Okay?"
"Verily!" Archer gave a quick salute before scampering out the door.
This little amount of free time was always a conundrum for Archer. The playground was a vast domain. There was always so much she could do, but she never had enough minutes to do all of it. She rubbed her chin in thought. What was the best way to play today?
"Uh... um..."
Archer snapped out of her thought at the little voice coming from her left. It was the blusher.
"Oh, how does it go, Flute?" Archer inquired.
"Eep!" squeaked Tootsie Flute. "Well, I... er... H-Here!" The shaking filly put forth her hoof, holding open a paper bag.
Archer pointed a hoof between the bag and herself with a questionable look on her face. Tootsie Flute gave a hesitant nod. To that, Archer reached a hoof over to grip the open side of the bag to get a better look at its contents.
"Fudge squares!" Archer noted aloud. She looked up at the one offering. "May I?"
Tootsie Flute nodded again. With permission granted, Archer reached in and pulled one of the treats out. She took a bite and immediately sighed in satisfaction.
"Did you make these yourself?" Archer asked.
"Mm-hm." Tootsie's voice couldn't be heard by anyone except herself and Archer.
Archer took another bite. "These are really good. Thank you for sharing, Flute."
Tootsie Flute's face turned a slight tint of crimson. She turned away while continuing to hold the bag awkwardly. Archer tilted her head in confusion. She still didn't understand why her classmate kept looking away like something was wrong whenever Archer showed her a polite gesture. She shrugged and swallowed the rest of her fudge square.
"I'd be careful if I were you."
Tootsie Flute looked back up as Archer turned to face the extra voice. All of the grown-ups told her that every filly and colt was special. Though, she wished that some fillies wouldn't constantly remind her how "special" they were.
"What are you blabbing about, Spoon?" Archer asked as evenly as possible.
Diamond Tiara answered instead. "If you keep up that affectionate act toward others, you might upset your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" Archer raised her eyebrow.
"Please don't play dumb," teased Silver Spoon, "The whole class saw him give you a kiss this morning."
Archer tried to recall a moment that they could be referring to. Aside from Snips and Snails acting like their usual selves, what other boy did she interact with today? Her mind suddenly latched onto a realization. She couldn't help but chuckle at the rich kids' naivety.
"He isn't my boyfriend," she said smugly.
"He's not?" Diamond Tiara tilted her head.
"He is my brother," clarified Archer.
The lights went on in the upstairs compartments referred to as Tiara's and Spoon's heads. Plan A had to be quickly aborted as well as Plans B, C, and D. They were about to walk away slowly before their minds settled on Plan L. It was time to reach for another flightless level of low.
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," said Diamond Tiara.
"You... are?" wondered Archer. Who is this changeling and what has she done with Tiara?
"Yeah, we feel like so sorry for you," added Silver Spoon.
Archer continued to stare at them in confusion. By this point, the blusher had set her bag down and was observing the situation cautiously.
"I don't understand," admitted Tootsie Flute. "What are you sorry about?"
"Well, anypony who is related to Flash Sentry must be living in shame right about now," Diamond Tiara held a hoof against her head for a dramatic effect.
"Real shame." Silver Spoon mirrored the pose.
Archer narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
Tiara flicked her hoof across one side of her mane. "Surely you know that it's a crime to be the perfect Royal Guard."
Spoon copied the motion. "Yeah, I heard that at least a thousand ponies want him executed on perfection charges alone."
Archer scoffed. "That is ludicrous. There is no such thing as a death sentence against perfection."
"Well, there wouldn't be," Diamond Tiara admitted, "if there wasn't an additional charge that even the Princess can't overlook."
"One bad thing that tips the hammer against him." Silver Spoon nodded in a sage imitation.
"And what might that be?" asked Archer skeptically.
"You mean to tell me that you don't know?" Tiara looked shocked.
"You're his sister and you don't even know?" reiterated Spoon.
"Know what?" Archer and Tootsie Flute asked at the same time.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon exchanged a glance. They looked left. They looked right. They motioned with their hooves to come closer. Flute immediately leaned in. Archer sighed, knowing that she really should just walk away right then and there. But to humor them, she resignedly leaned toward the duo as well.
The rich duo whispered, "He had an affair with Princess Twilight."
The wheels screeched from a delivery carriage across the street.
"What?!" Archer harshly breathed.
"There are at least a million ponies that have written for his head on that charge," added Tiara.
"Y-You are lying," stammered Archer.
"Sure, that kind of action is legal in Equestria," Spoon kept going, "but with a Princess? You need permission through marriage first. That's the only thing saving Prince Shining Armor from his own charges."
Archer stomped her hoof. "Cease and desist at once! I cannot believe I allowed myself to listen to the garbage you call speaking!" She shoveled down a second fudge square before grabbing Tootsie Flute's hoof. "Come along, Flute. Let us see if we cannot assist the Cutie Mark Crusaders in obtaining their marks in tether-ball."
Tootsie Flute blushed as she was dragged along. "Uh... okay."
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watched the flustered pair move away. As soon as they were out of hearing range, they replaced their sorrowful facades for a pair of smirks.
"I think we've met our quota today," Spoon commented.
"Yeah," agreed Tiara, "I feel so good that I don't even feel the need to hound the Blank Flanks today."
They each reached into the abandoned bag and pulled out a fudge square. They performed a mock toast before enjoying the fruit of their hard, heckling work.
---
They are lying. They have to be.
Back at her desk, Archer started flipping her pencil around atop her hoof. Her brow was furrowed and she couldn't get rid of the scrunch in her mouth. She wanted to focus on Ms. Cheerilee's post-recess lecture, but it sounded like warbling background noise at the moment.
My brother isn't like that. He's a proud Royal Guard, for Celestia's sake! The Royal Guard doesn't get involved in... that.
She didn't even see the piece of paper set on top of the stuff on her desk. She twirled the pencil even more rapidly.
Do they?
The pencil was practically spinning like a top.
But... what if they do? What if he did? Will he really be executed? They can't do that to him! ... Can they?
"And that's time!" declared Ms. Cheerilee. "Please pass your papers to the front."
"Huh?"
Archer's pencil went flying into the apple on Ms. Cheerilee's desk before smashing it against the chalkboard. The rest of the classroom's occupants stared in shock at the blue filly. But she was too busy staring down at the piece of paper she hadn't noticed until right then.
For the first time in her life, Archer was turning in a blank pop quiz.
---
*Ding! Dong-Ding! Ding! Dong-Ding! Ding! Dong-Ding!*
"Alright, Pinkie Pie! That's enough!" called Cheerilee.
"Okie-dokie-lokie!" the bell ringer called back before happily skipping away.
Meanwhile, Archer was too caught up in her own thoughts. Her hooves kept to their automatically straight line she followed on the path home.
Tiara always lies. Tiara always lies. Tiara always lies.
"Equus to Archer! Come in, please."
A spark went off in Archer's mind. Her eyes scanned wildly for the caller of her name. She was surprised to see her big brother trotting up to her.
"Sentry? What are you doing here?" she inquired.
"I did say I would walk the lady home. Is this not correct?" he reminded her.
"Oh, right." Archer patted a hoof against her head to recollect herself. "'Twas so."
She stepped in line beside her big brother. Though, her eyes became fixated on the path ahead. She was trying to enjoy her brother's company. Truly, she was. But for some reason, today just wasn't allowing her to be merry in his presence.
As she passed by other ponies in town, enjoyment became an increasingly difficult task. Archer saw the eyes of these ponies staring at her and her brother with not-so-smiling faces. The words of Tiara and Spoon ate at the back of her mind.
One million ponies... execution charge... affair with... Princess...
Archer shook her head and frowned deeply. No! Tiara always lies! ... Right?
The blank stares from passersby weren't helping her hold onto her heart's belief in the truth.
Those eyes... My brother is a good guard. Why do their gazes at him contain disapproval?
She barely heard Flash Sentry's thoughtful hum. She did, however, hear him clear his throat quite clearly.
"Pardon me, Lady Archer," he addressed her.
"What ho!" she exclaimed before letting out an awkward cough. "I mean... what ails ye, Sentry?"
"I find myself suddenly parched," he explained. "Would you care to join me in my venture into the nearest, fine establishment?"
Flash Sentry pointed a hoof toward the building in question. Archer couldn't help but release a quick chuckle at how he had just described Sugarcube Corner. Fine establishment, indeed.
"I would be delighted to," she replied with a curtsy. She then stood on her hoof-tips to whisper into his ear. "Won't Mother be mad at us for spoiling our appetites?"
"Don't worry," he whispered back, "I know how to handle Mother."
---
The sweets' shop was fairly empty today. That wasn't surprising, considering it was a school day. Most of the regulars had already come in that morning for their pick-me-up needs. Flash Sentry considered this to be a good thing. He and his little sister needed some time to themselves.
He ordered a couple of the smaller cakes as well as two foamy drinks. After that, the siblings found seats off in the corner of the shop. Archer took a sip of her shake before nibbling her treat. Sentry, on the other hoof, barely touched his own. The food was meant more as a distracting excuse. He took his helmet off and set it down beside him.
"Talk to me, Archy," he gently requested, "What's on your mind?"
Archer gulped, more air than cupcake. This was discussion bait and she had taken it hook, line, and sinker. She sighed before letting her her emotions become clearer.
"What do you know about Princess Twilight Sparkle?" she inquired.
"Hmm." Sentry thought that this would come up sooner or later. "I know of her. I know her title. What do you think?"
"So..." Archer sipped her shake again before continuing. "Are you two... a couple?"
"Tch!" Sentry held back a spit. "That's probably the fifth time I've heard us being described that way... twenty if you count the times I've heard it when the other guards thought I couldn't hear them."
Archer's face scrunched up in uncertainty. "Did you ever... you know...?" She made little invisible circles with her hoof in the air.
He shook his head. "Personally, I don't believe that bumping into each other twice in the hallway by mistake is enough to qualify as an intimate intercourse."
Her ears perked up. "So, there isn't any affair?"
"Rumors are rumors," said Sentry, "It's up to the listener to stop them."
Archer sighed in relief. Sentry took advantage of the pause in the questioning to take a sip of his shake.
"How did such a thing even start?" Archer wondered.
Sentry set his cup down and shrugged. "There are some ponies that assume romance whenever two ponies so much as exist in the same universe. Heck, I bet there are some ponies outside that window right now who think you and I are an item."
At that moment, Pinkie Pie popped up in front of the window looking straight at you. She narrowed her eyes as she lowered herself below the window. A deep horn played a note in the background.
"But I digress," dismissed Sentry. "What made you start thinking about this?"
"Well, Tiara and Spoon brought it to my attention," admitted Archer.
"Are they bullies in the class?" he guessed in the form of a question.
"That's putting it mildly," she shuddered before continuing, "Then I saw some of the ponies looking at you with disdain and... well..."
"Worst-case scenario presumption." Sentry closed his eyes and nodded. "I understand. It's not always easy to separate the facts from the fiction when connections can be made between almost anything."
"So... why do some ponies... really, really dislike you?" wondered Archer. "You're the best big brother I know."
He opened his eyes and chuckled. "Ever heard Lincolt's expression about fooling some of the ponies?"
"Yeah?" she responded, waiting for him to continue.
"Well, Lid Gate had a corollary that went something like this: 'Every pony can be pleased by some things, and some ponies can be pleased by everything. However, not all things can please every pony'." He took a big bite of his cupcake and swallowed. "Basically, no matter how good you strive to be, there will always be one or more ponies that dislike you for some reason."
"But, why?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Who can say? But more importantly, does it really matter? What you do with life is up to the destiny that you strive towards. The disdain from a few thousand or a few million isn't going to stop me from performing my duties in the best way that I can."
"What about the rumors about your future execution?" she inquired.
"Archy." Sentry looked dead serious. "In my position, I'd have to try pretty darn hard to make the Princesses angry enough to consider firing me, let alone hold an execution. I have no intention of testing their patience to such a degree."
Archer blinked. A snort escaped her nose. A chuckle escaped her lips. Fits of giggling erupted into a full-blown chortle session.
"Oh, Sweet Celestia. I'm terrible," Archer said between laughs, "I'm laughing at the basic requirements of incurring the Royal Wrath."
"You think that's bad?" Flash Sentry smirked. "You should have been there when I broke out in chuckles after hearing a preposterous story about horse meat in confectionery."
The siblings laughed together, loud and hard. Archer even started banging the table. The morbidness was just too funny. At some point, the Element of Laughter herself joined in the fun.
"What are we laughing at?" she asked while smiling brightly. However, neither of the customers could find the breath to answer her. She shrugged before continuing to add her giggles to the cacophony.
---
"Hast thine thirst been quenched, Sir Sentry?" Archer inquired.
"Indubitably so," affirmed the Royal Guard pony. "Shall we proceed to our living quarters for the evening?"
"Assuredly!" The filly accepted the proclamation with excited approval.
"Bye!" Pinkie Pie waved at the departing ponies. "Come back again soon!"
As they trotted on their way, Archer started humming a few bars. Although Celestia was setting her sun, the day was looking brighter than ever. It always did after a good talk with her big brother.
---
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A blue Scootaloo story? You are awesome Tundra.
Archer is awesome. We need more stories with the arcade filly. Will read now. <3
That was a nice speech on "Hate me all you want, ain't gonna stop me from doing what I want or need to do." there, I can sort of appreciate the way Flash gets so much grief for his flat human variant of Flash that bronies rave over, much how many hate on and over exaggerate on Diamond Tiara.
Speaking of Diamond Tiara, that whole scene was pretty solid. Way to effectively keep things close to the show characterizations of those two. Bonus points for giving Flute some adorable characterization here. Poor thing, I like this story a lot. Great job!
P.S. As preachy as Flash felt near the end, I felt, I really wished this was more canon. Archer and Flash work remarkably well as siblings. Aside from him living in the Crystal Empire as a Captain of the Guard. Shame. I actually liked this Flash Sentry.
Blootaloo
Okay... That was adorable
Because...she's not an actual character from the show? Just a guess...
4667370
She is. And “Archer” is her actual, official name.
4667438
You’re absolutely right, of course. I wasn’t arguing that Archer should get her own tag, just pointing out that she’s “an actual character for the show”.
Like it.
4667370
Actually, she was shone in the show.
img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110825191908/mlp/images/e/e0/Archer_ID_S1E12.png
Excellent work! The fact that you made me actually feel sorry for Flash Sentry, a notoriously underdeveloped character, speaks to your talent as a writer.
Excellent story, yeah I don't get the hate that Flash has, for God's sake there are characters with less screen time and personality than Flash and they are more popular than the main characters.
4667472 So did so many other ponies. But they're not known enough
4667668
Oh.
4667394
4667472 Being a background pony on the show and being a character are two entirely different things. The only reason Lyra, Bon Bon, and Derpy have tags is because the fandom has latched onto them to the point of hilarity. Some background ponies are just that: background ponies. Extras. Unimportant. Having a name doesn't change that. A character has to have something distinctive about them to earn a character tag. Archer is just a random background pony that happens to have a name.
4667711
Background characters are characters. Sure, Archer isn’t important enough to deserve a tag, I agree with you on this point. But she’s definitely a character from the show.
The word you want is "taut", not "taught."
Also: don't use so many "fancy" speech verbs ("wondered", "inquired", "noted", "clarified", etc.) all the time. For the most part, you should stick with the basics, "said", "asked", and "replied." Those are "invisible" to the reader, and they won't notice you using them. Save the fancy ones for when you really need to put across a specific tone of voice for maximum emotional impact. (Also, not all verbs can be used as speech verbs. "Dismissed" is not a speech verb, for example; you can use the adverb form, as in " "____", Flash said dismissively.", to describe the tone of voice in which he says it, but "dismissed" is the past-tense verb of "dismiss", which is a completely different action than speaking.)
And speaking of speaking... the dialogue is a bit weird, especially for a young filly. I can see how the stilted, overly-formal and flowery dialogue might be a game between Archer and her brother when they're together, but for her to say something like this:
in response to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's taunting just seems strange. Even for an adult, that would be an oddly archaic manner of speaking; Princess Luna might say something like that, being a thousand years out of touch, but a Ponyville schoolfilly shouldn't go around talking like something from a William Shakespeare play all the time.
Nice story overall, but a bit of fine-tuning the above issues would help, IMO.
Oh hell yes. Flash Sentry!
Also, I like your quirky characterization of Archer.
You seem to shift into first person here. Otherwise it was a fine story.
4668012
I think that's the point. Pinkie Pie is breaking the fourth wall again and looking at you, the reader, being disapproving to us thinking if Flash and Archer are an item.
4668123
...Well, that makes even less sense. We readers already know they're not an item, because that's kinda already established by the story.
Regardless, perspective shifts are still not a good idea. It just looks weird and breaks the flow of the narrative.
4668166 I think of it more as a warning not to, much like how Pinkie Pie acts in regards to a Pinkie Pie Promise. It's basically another example of Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. And you never know what people might think, even if things are spelled out clearly for them. Or they disregard it completely and start making their own stories about it, but that's definitely a long-shot.
I admit, the way it's done is very distracting, and it took me a moment to realize what it was doing. It isn't the best part of the story, and could easily be left out and be fine without it, but I find it a little humorous for what it is.
4667662 I think Flash gets hate for his existence in the Animated-Movie-That-Must-Not-Be-Named and for his role as someone to whom Twilight is romantically attracted (plus some people think Twilight's reaction to Flash is OOC). It's not just because he's an underdeveloped, flat character without much screentime (though he is that).
4669468
Right... the Waifu issue
4667711
More importantly: Why do some ponies who aren't background ponies not have a tag yet?
Filthy Rich deserves a tag. The pie sisters have one for crying out loud! We even have a breezie tag! But poor Filthy Rich can't get one?
For shame!
4667820
Important thing to note, she might have actually learned to speak like that from her parents.
(I personally have a friend who speaks like that, and sometimes talking to her takes a few moments longer to translate to plain English). Plus, if she was using it to show disdain for the horseapples spewing from DT's mouth, it would be in character for the sister of a royal guard to get fancy with her words.
Not saying it was necessarily right, but it does actually happen IRL.
1 great bucking story
makes me sad that it ended
2 I thought I already killed spoon and diamonds family including her in past sins season 2 version huh whatever Ill kill them again my pleasure
3 yes a bucking tom story buck yes im so bu
comment writter swearing 2 much and the comment will continue after hes done swearing .....
yeah wait it they did it again god dam
end of comment
It's nice to see Archer -- and Sun Glimmer -- getting some love.
Very true!
4667180
I gave her a whole chapter/sub-story of her own in Special Talents, if you want to read my take on how she got her cutie mark. Of course, my interpretation of the character is a little different, and it was written before ice archery was introduced in the show...
May I ask where Archer first appeared, because it seems like everybody knows her expect me.
4670472 , Season 1 Episode 12: "Call of the Cutie".
So, in this story, Scootablue is Flash Sentry's sister?
Funny thing is, I once wrote a story where Scootaloo was Flash Sentry's sister
4667394 4667472 Mainly, much how Filthy Rich to this bucking day doesn't have one, is because she hasn't had a prominent role in the show or real impact on the fandom.
No one draws art for her. Hardly any fics with her that have become staple enough within the fandom to be spoken of any worthy note far as places like EQD and such are concerned, and because apparently we're getting a new tagging system with whatever new site update we'll someday get that supposedly improves on the system we have now once it launches.
But yeah, no prominent role in the show beyond sitting at an arcade, which inspired this beautiful pic here:
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/10/6/442764__safe_blushing_button+mash_controller_archer_scootablue_artist-colon-apricolor.png
To which I wish the fandom wasn't so hung up on copying other people's headcanons and create their own, because quite truthfully, Sweetie Belle and Button Mash are not cute together and rather boringly written half the time. THIS picture right here seems way more plausible and could of done wonders for these two and, who knows, if we had anyone with the passion, could of written a truly original story that could of earned little Archer her own tag. But, nope. Let's all copy Janimation's tumblr and stuff. :ajbemused
And the premiere CMC episode where she sat in Scootaloo's chair. That same episode even has frames with the proper colored characters of Scoots and Sweetie Belle before it flashes back to Archer and whatever the other Sweetie Belle is called.
4670284 I fail to see what version of Past Sins you read, while I may not be known or seen as the most admiring of people towards Pen Stroke's works, he did a pretty good job of fixing and fleshing out a lot of plotholes and expanding on a lot of scenes.
Even Nyx was much more tolerable in the finale version (what you call Season 2) and did well to not show as much bias as the not so Diamond Tiara tolerant authors who write scenes with Diamond Tiara tend to do. Sure, while the whole tricking her to the everfree forest is still something I'll consider a bit out there for their bullying ways, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon an family are most certainly alive and healthy.
I think you need to cut back on the intolerance levels and take a page from Nyx. Learn that not everyone will get along with everyone. We all have our tastes and people we prefer to be around. For DT, she just doesn't trust the spawn of Nightmare Moon and assumes she'll likely one day turn evil again and possibly take away her Daddy again.
Bash DT all you want. Murder her all you like. People do the same with Nyx after all. But don't spread misinformation about someone's work. It might make others not want to read it or give it a bad rating even if they somehow believed your lies about Past Sins.
TL;DR: Try reading some Diamond Tiara stories like Feud Between Friends, Yukito has great stories that stick close to show canon and builds on those personalities while adding his own on top of them. Or Blueshift's Filly 5 story with that Robocop Sweetie Belle pic as a cover art, it has such along title I always forget what it's called. xD
Or, try reading all the way through Pen Stroke's Past Sins. Either or.
I HATE the flashXtwilight
I HATE the way most stories display him
I LOVE this stories depiction
4670400 Ah, I remember that one. But I mean, I'd love to read a Archer focused story good length. This was a good start, and frankly I still think Archer and Button make more sense than Janimation's alternate universe stories. Just need someone to really do for Archer for as Tundra began doing here. Sharing more headcanons/story ideas.
4667820 I was speaking quite well at the age of 3 and a half. By 5 I was able to go out to the store and buy bread at the bakery. Though the older kids in the neighborhood ended up causing me to waste said bread on some adult who lied about how he'd eat it with a bunch of bugs. My mom was friends with the store owner and once I explained what happened Tony gave me a bit of a scolding but his wife still gave me another loaf to take home.
The concept of how many quarters were in a dollar were taught to me by the store other next door who ran a small Spanish diner. He was a nice man, his family was pretty good to me. Times were different then and my mother worked full time.
By the time I was 7, I was teaching myself to read through gaming magazines and managed to go from being a grade behind on my reading, to having almost a 12 year old's reading level.
So, seeing how much of an oddball I was and how I copied tones and phrases from many of the movies my brother showed me as well, back when I was 6 since he didn't move back in with us till I was 12, I guess I can't really share the sentiment of how unbelievable you think Archer's personality turned out.
I agree with everything else, but not on how 'mature' Archer sounded. The scene at the end though was more on my mind than that cease and desist. Something anyone who grows up with a cop for a father or some such field would pick up on as kids emulate adults, hence why it's so important for us to lead by example. Which breaks my heart when I see how some parents do anything but...
But I digress. Going by what we know of the show, and how mature sounding and words that were used, even if they weren't really aware of their full meaning or getting it wrong altogether, i.e. DT in Ponyville Confidential calling her talks with CMC as 'diplomacy', something she thought praise worthy and not knowing that was actually something to be frowned upon, known as blackmail.
4670756 I am super dupper sory if did 2 u or PENSTROKE I just hate TD and SS but I get what ur saying I hope u can forgive me
please again terrably(sorry if I spelt that wrong suck at spelling) and hope we can b friends
but if u dont accept my apology I can understand fully
SINCIERLY
lunasroyalguard4life3
Pairing Archer with Flash Sentry like this is a new one to me, but I think I like that idea. Even if it could've been communicated a little better, Archer's quirky manner of speech is a nice touch too.
"Nuh-huh, I'm not supposed to talk to criminals!"
"Criminals?! The cheek! We are the best-bred ponies in Ponyville!"
"Nuh-huh. Criminals. My brother does NOT have an affair with Princess Twilight Sparkle and insinuating such a thing is a Royal Slander. Just you wait till Princess learns what you said about her! You will not see the daylight from the dungeons to the end of your lives! And now bye! It would be bad to see sister of one of Royal Guards seen hanging out with a pair of criminals!"
This is so meta, I feel like I'm directly being talked too.
4671052 Don't worry about it. I was never mad at you, I was more disappointed in your misrepresenting someone's work is all. Had you RP'd as Nyx as you attempted and not added that it was an actual scene in the story, which isn't of course since Past Sins is rated "Everyone" after all, I'd a thought nothing of it.
Sorry if my wordiness upset you. I type a mile a minute, mostly stream of conciousness spewing out. And not liking DT or Silvy is perfectly natural, they are supposed to come off as being stuck up rich girls who just don't know any better and presume they're special by rights.
I'm pretty open-minded to a lot of different kinds of people. I'm not going to dislike you over a comment on the internet, at the very least.
/hugs
Sorry for upsetting you. Was never my intention.
Here are some of the stories I mentioned and a few else I thought you might like I was too tired to find the links to link to you earlier.
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Anyhow, here are a few you might actually enjoy. If anything, you'll have something worth reading for when you get bored/curious enough to try them out:
Cubic Zirconia by Arcum42: cubic zirconia
Diamond Tiara Goes to Boot Camp by Dungeonguy88: Diamond Tiara Goes To Boot Camp
That Yukito Story I mentioned before: A Feud Between Friends
Flirt to the Finish by Mudpony: Flirt to the Finish
Here's the one I mentioned before by Blueshift: sweetie belle the future of friendship enforcement
And lastly, if you want to see Diamond Tiara get hurt and don't mind a bit of 'romance', where she does go through a few hilarious deaths, here is one by Mattricole: diamond tiara likes dating sims
My personal favorite is "How To Be A Mother" series. That was adorable and random. Diamond Tiara, whether starting off as a prank or not, finds a loophole and adopts Scootaloo. Shenanigans ensue.
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I don't dislike any character in the show. You can create magic when you add in some flavor to the mix, characters like DT add flavor to your food. Otherwise all you have is plain CMC rice and no Spoon.
The best thing about fanfiction, much how this story by Tundra shows, it lets us create new portals into things the show can't, won't, or hasn't touched on yet.
Expanding on characters that the show just doesn't have time for, i.e. background ponies and characters like DT and SS who don't get enough, though S4 did show a lot more love towards those two later on in the season, who again don't get the screen time needed to develop them as a character without accidentally redeeming their only antagonists for the CMC for example.
A GOOD story needs conflict. A conflict requires an antagonist, even Nature itself can be used as an antagonist. But stories NEED to have conflict. Diamond Tiara is as integral to the show as any mane 6. And Diamond Tiara has been shown to be an outgoing filly and apparently a Gymnast/Dancer/Cheerleader of some sort as well implying she has plenty of things to do beyond bugging the CMC.
So, why? Why pick on those you've been able to get along with just fine at the flick of a switch, only to turn that switch off to show off or make fun of others? Fanfics, until S5 at least, can show us many different answers to these questions or ignore them completely and create something very show quality or better.
I diverged into running my mouth again, sorry I'm just overly chatty.
First off, great story, will most likely read again in the future!
Second, what's up with their speech?
Pretty sure that Flash, Diamond, Spoon, and Archer were all born AFTER Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, not before.
I really, really hope you do something larger and more ambitious with Archer. Because I adore the personality and mannerism you gave her (Though it felt weird on Flash, I admit). It was just so adorable and quaint. An anachronistic and chivalrous filly is the best thing ever.
I would officially read the hell out of something more substantial with her. (Assuming it also contained more Tootsie blushing. D'aww!
)
The story itself felt like an introduction to a character in a larger work, more than anything. I suppose because everything else in the fic seemed to mostly be a point on FlashLight shipping hammered into a story, and the premise was rather thin as a result. But as an introduction, it was quite good.
4670637
I understand now, thank you for clearing that up.
Also, that pic is adorable!
I'll echo other commentators. This is a good and unique character you've given us, and I'd like to see her in a larger piece. This was good and solid enough though, apart from the somewhat jarring:
4670569
Clearly, we need a fic where all three of them are siblings.
I love this fic
YESSSS lol so funny
This is why it's important to be a unique looking pony that can't be mistaken for anypony else.
4675137 , Oh hi there, Cyan Fluttershy with brown mane dye.
4675144 She is very relieved to find out that you don't actually get executed for being perfect.
4675168
WHY THE FUCK IS THEIR A GODDAMN CHURCH FOR YOU!
4675571 , Inside voices, please.