A bark of laughter tore across Crystal's consciousness, rousing her from a dream instantly forgotten the moment her eyes snapped open. Her ears twitched as the laughing continued somewhere beyond her bedroom door and she rolled her head to the side to stare at the empty space beside her.
Silent must have been intercepted trying to sneak out. She giggled to herself and stretched out her legs, then tugged the comforter over her head. The light sneaking in through the curtains indicated that he was probably already going to be late for work as it was. Though she felt bad for Silent, the longer she teased him, the longer Crystal was free from—
The door creaked open. It seemed it was her turn for torture. Crystal held her breath and tried to stay perfectly still.
Velvet's low voice pierced through the silence. "You two-bit dam. I know you're awake."
Crystal ripped the blanket away to look at Velvet with wide eyes. "What did you call me?!"
"You heard me." Velvet smirked and leaned against the doorframe. "Silent looked preeetty guilty, slinking out of your bedroom like he stole something." She winked.
Crystal felt heat rise to the tips of her ears and she flopped back down, burying her face against her pillow as an uncontrollable fit of giggles overtook her. "Oh, I think he did."
A gasp escaped Velvet before she tossed her head back, laughing again. "Wow! Must've been some night, huh?"
Giggling some more, Crystal grabbed the pillow to hug it closer. "Oh, I think it was."
Hoofsteps. Crystal braced herself for the impact of Velvet jumping on the bed until she noticed the hoofsteps were moving away from her. She lifted her head to see Velvet sashaying her way across the living room and toward the kitchen. "Velvet?"
Velvet stopped and looked over her shoulder. "What?"
"You're not going to come tickle me until I spill the details or threaten me with blackmail?" She frowned, one ear perked upright and the other limp to the side.
"No way! It smells like sex in there and I don't want to know how you two did it. There are some lines, yanno?" She laughed. "A mare is entitled to some secrets, and this is totally one of them."
Crystal stared for a moment before she said in a squeaky near-shriek, "It does not smell like—like—like that in here!"
Velvet rolled her eyes. "Fine, it smells like stallion sweat and mare scent. Now come on, I have breakfast ready."
Crystal glared daggers at Velvet's back, then paused and quickly sniffed the air. "It doesn't smell like anything in here," she muttered as she slipped out of bed. "What's for breakfast?"
"Celebratory love cakes!" Velvet exclaimed as she whirled around, holding out a plate with a heart-shaped cupcake on it. The frosting and fondant was layered suspiciously similar to a traditional lattice pie crust. Velvet glanced down at the space beside it littered with tell-tale crumbs, then admitted, "Well, singular. I ate the other one."
Crystal stared at the plate, one brow raised skeptically. "Love... cakes?"
"No, celebratory love cakes. My mom sent me home with them and had me keep them in the fridge until you were ready." She held the plate out closer toward Crystal, grinning. "And I think you're ready."
Slowly, a flush crept onto Crystal's cheeks and she pushed the plate back to Velvet. "I-I'm good, thank you."
Velvet gasped in exaggerated mock offense. "But my mom made it especially for you!"
Crystal stepped around her to walk into the kitchen, shaking her head. "I'll just have a nice, plain, simple bagel." She opened one of the cabinets and fished out the bag while her magic retrieved strawberry jam from the fridge.
"Okay, fine, have it your way. I'm not going to let my mom's baking go to waste. She so rarely actually bakes herself, you know, so to think that she would go to the effort to make this for you and you'd just reject it is really heartbreaking."
Crystal groaned, whipped her head to the side, and levitated the cupcake off the plate. "Fine!" She took a bite and mumbled around the mouthful, "Happy?"
"Yup!" Velvet set the plate on the counter and pranced toward her bedroom. "Now, I'm going back to bed, 'cause someponies kept me up all night."
Crystal nearly choked on her cupcake as she struggled to swallow it so she could exclaim, "Lies! Everything you just said was a lie! Our rooms don't even share a wall, and—and—" Her face felt like it was on fire. "It wasn't all night!"
Velvet stopped just short of disappearing into her room. Slowly, she turned her head, her brow furrowed and lower lip stuck out in a small, pitying pout. "Well, I suppose that's to be expected for the first time." She flicked her tail and winked. "Don't worry. Practice makes perfect!"
Crystal huffed, puffed, and threw the remainder of her cupcake at the mare, who laughed and ran forward to avoid the projectile pastry. "I'm never talking to you again, Velvet!"
"We'll see about that!" Velvet teased, leaning her head back through the doorway to stick her tongue out at Crystal. "It's gonna be a really boring ride to Ponyville tomorrow."
The flame of embarrassment died, replaced with wide-eyed dread. "Tomorrow?!" Crystal gasped and dropped the jar of jam out of her magic as she spun around to look at the calendar on the fridge. "That's tomorrow?!"
"You're the one who suggested Horsey schedule it for after you graduated so you didn't have to miss school, you know." Velvet leaned against the doorframe, crossing one leg over the other. "Did you seriously forget?"
Crystal slumped forward against the fridge. "Ugh, yes, I completely did." She sighed. "It's hard to get into the spirit knowing that this is the wedding they didn't want that I suppose I..." She trailed, frowning.
"Got distracted by something shiny?" Velvet offered with a grin.
"Something like that, yes." She straightened up and rubbed her temples. "Okay. It's going to be fine. We just have to take the train, show up, make sure Horsey doesn't have a panic attack, and stand pretty for the ceremony. They're going straight to the honeymoon and skipping the reception, so we shouldn't have to stay too long for that." She sighed again. "Then we can come home and life can get back to normal."
---
If Crystal had to describe Horsey's wedding in one word, it would be 'beautiful'. If, however, Crystal was given four words with which to describe the wedding, it would be 'beautiful, but not Horsey'.
She did her very best to stifle a yawn that crept up her throat, her jaw clenched tight and her eyes watering from the struggle. The mayor was in the middle of a speech more or less the same as the judge had given, but it didn't feel the same. The town hall was filled with so many ponies and while Crystal was delighted Horsey had a whole town interested in her wedding, she dreaded the reception. What sort of questions would they have? How long would she have to stay before she and Velvet could sneak to a train?
Her ear twitched when Velvet nudged her in the gut and nodded toward the happy couple in front of them, who Crystal realized were staring at her expectantly.
"Oh." Crystal flushed and levitated the necklace with the ring attached as a pendant toward Horsey. "Sorry."
Horsey giggled and whispered, "It's okay, it's almost over."
"For you, maybe," Crystal whispered back, grinning.
Horsey just giggled again and, when the mayor prompted her to, slipped the necklace over Savoir's head.
"I now proclaim you wife and husband," the mayor said, her tone lilting with excitement. "Savoir, you may kiss your bride."
The room erupted in cheers and stomping as Savoir leaned down to place a soft, chaste kiss on Horsey's lips. They turned to face the crowd and, as they walked down the carpet to the doors, were showered in rice and more happy exclamations. Crystal, Velvet, and the other bridesmares—Golden Harvest, Sassaflash, and Cloud Kicker—waited until the couple was halfway down the aisle before following alongside their groomstallion counterparts.
Crystal glanced up at Hors D'oeuvre as they walked together. "Congratulations on the public addition to your family."
Hors bobbed his head in an absent nod. "I suppose that is a way to put it. It is nice that they do not have to hide it now."
Crystal giggled. When she crossed the threshold to the outdoors, Horsey was waiting for her, wide-eyed. "Wh-what's this?"
A pure white carriage was parked in front of them, adorned with the same coral and orange peonies that Horsey had in her bouquet. The gilded wheels shimmered in the light and across the back of the carriage, in a matching gold-leafed script, were the words "Just Married".
"A wedding gift," Crystal said, smiling brightly. "To take you to your honeymoon in style. What, did you think I was going to let you go off on hoof, or in a hay cart?"
Horsey blinked a few times as her eyes glossed over with tears, then threw herself forward and wrapped her forelegs around Crystal's neck. "Oh, Crystal, it's beautiful! But you didn't have to! What are we going to do with this afterwards?"
Crystal waved a hoof. "I'm sure Axel will help you find a way to repurpose it. He's very good at this sort of thing."
"Thank you, Crystal," Savoir said. "This is perfect." He leaned down to nuzzle Horsey's cheek. "Are you ready to go, l'amour de mon coeur?"
Horsey let go of Crystal to look up at him, then nodded. "Uh-huh." With the aid of his hoof, she climbed into the carriage. Once both were inside and the stallions in front started to trot forward, Horsey leaned out the window. "Catch!" she called as she tossed the bouquet at the crowd of mares.
Velvet shrieked in exaggerated terror and backpedaled away while Crystal and the others jumped forward, forelegs flying in desperation.
"I got it!" squealed Golden Harvest. She hugged the bouquet to her chest and stuck her tongue out at the others. "I got it! It's mine!"
"Aww..." Crystal returned to Velvet's side, pouting. "Well there goes my turn."
Velvet laughed and flicked her forehead. "Really? Was it so good you're already ready to put a ring on it?"
Crystal's eyes widened. Her gaze darted to see who was nearby before she raised a threatening hoof. "Hush, you. Let's just go mingle at the reception."
"Or we could... not." Velvet looked at the crowd that poured out of the building and toward the town square where a buffet was waiting. She then turned her head in the direction of the train station. "We could just bail. I mean, Horsey and Savoir did, so why can't we?"
Crystal frowned. "Because we're her Canterlot friends and we'll look like snobs that don't want to mingle with Ponyville ponies."
"But we don't." Velvet shrugged. "I mean, they're not our friends, and we don't live here. What's the big deal?"
Crystal fell silent and simply watched the crowd of ponies. Velvet tapped a hoof to indicate her impatience until finally, Crystal sighed and turned away. "It seems wrong, but I would like to just go home."
Velvet's expression lit up and she patted Crystal on the shoulder before trotting toward the station. "Great! Then let's go! I don't know when the next train is but I don't want to miss it!"
"Why are you in such a hurry to get back home, anyway?" Crystal followed alongside her, one brow raised. "I know why I am, but I'm a little confused about your motivations."
"Maybe I have a date." Velvet squinted at her. "Ever thought about that?"
"No, because you've made it clear to me that you don't want a relationship," Crystal replied with a frown. "So I gave up considering that possibility."
Velvet tossed her head back as she laughed. "Okay, you got me there. Honestly? The performance is next week and I'm a little nervous. I want to get back to practicing."
Crystal's ears perked upright. "Are you going to get me tickets for this one or do I have to buy them myself?"
"What, Miss Custom Carriage can't afford tickets to a ballet?" After a brief moment, Velvet added in a serious tone, "How much did that cost, anyway?"
"I paid for it a while ago, so that's past bits." Crystal waved a hoof to dismiss the question. "And you're avoiding my question. You know how expensive the good seats are, and surely wanting to actually be able to see my talented, wonderful best friend in the whole of Equestria is worth getting in the VIP row?"
Velvet laughed again, shaking her head. "Okay, fine, fine! Do you want a ticket for Silent, too?"
Crystal fluttered her eyelashes. "Pretty please?"
Velvet climbed the stairs to the platform, flicking her tail in Crystal's face. "All right, okay. Two tickets it is."
---
Crystal hummed as she trotted down the main castle hall toward Luna's wing. When she arrived outside Silent's office, she knocked on the door and chimed, "Knock, knock!"
There was no answer. She waited a moment longer before knocking again. "Hello?" Still no response.
Her hooves shifted as a flurry of nerves overtook her. She wasn't supposed to go into his office when it was shut, but what if he were in there, passed out on the floor? Or perhaps he was sleeping, though she couldn't realistically imagine such an event. Slowly, the nerves settled to the pit of her stomach like a heavy weight that tugged her ears into a drooping position. What if something were wrong and he was shutting everypony out?
Uncertain of what to do, Crystal just started pacing. As more time went on and castle staff that passed by began giving her odd looks, she slumped against the door and stared at the ceiling. Where was he?
"Ms. Wishes?" came Willowy Tempest's voice, and when Crystal looked up at her, she continued, "Is something the matter?"
Crystal rose to her hooves and shook her head. "No, or at least, I don't believe so. I was just looking for Silent Knight."
Willow frowned. "Is the lieutenant not in his office?" Before Crystal could respond, Willow marched toward the door and opened it after a quick knock. "Lieutenant?" She stopped, then said in low voice, "Of course he's not here. Why should he be here? It's only his job to be here."
"Perhaps I'll come by another time," Crystal offered, taking a step back.
Willow whirled around to face her. "I understand that you and he are a couple, but I would have you know that your stallionfriend is the single most annoying colt I've had the displeasure of working with." She jabbed a hoof at the empty chair. "His job is to be here during certain hours, and this hour is one of those! His job is to handle House Guard affairs! Do you see that pile? There shouldn't be a pile!"
Crystal glanced to the side. "Yes, perhaps another time would be best."
"Whenever I need him to sign something, or whenever I have a question for him, that seems to be the exact moment he is away! His schedule shows that he should be here, but is he? No! And when I try to ask Princess Luna where she believes he might be, she says she 'knows where he is'." Willow groaned, rolling her eyes. "It is as though he can do no wrong! Princess's favorite or not, he has a job to do!
"At the very least I wish the princess would give me some kind of indication as to when his secret, off-the-books meetings are, because they are certainly not on any copy of any schedule I have. Or at least he could put a sign on his door to inform ponies such as you and I that he is away so we don't waste our time waiting on the off-chance he is in but preoccupied!"
As Willow stood there, taking ragged breaths to recover from her rant, Crystal shifted from hoof to hoof with indecision. Finally, she blurted out, "Do you have any plans Friday evening?"
Willow blinked a few times, then furrowed her brow. "What?"
Crystal offered a weak smile. What, indeed? "You seem awfully stressed, and Silent Knight seems to be the cause of that. Next week, the Canterlot Ballet is premiering Swan Lake. I have tickets." What was she doing?
Willow's brow furrowed further. "I'm glad for you?"
"What I mean to say is"—What did she mean to say, exactly?—"I have two tickets, one for myself, and one for you, if you'd like."
For a long, awkward moment, they just stared at one another. Willow broke the silence with a derisive snort. "Your stallion isn't here, so you're immediately giving away his ticket?"
"No, no, no." That was exactly what she was doing! Crystal waved a hoof, smiling wider. "I was going to ask him, yes, but you seem as though you could use a nice night out more than he. I am primarily there to support a friend who is in the ballet. It was hardly a date at all."
Willow's gaze drifted up and down Crystal's form, then wandered about, then returned to Crystal. "I don't have any plans for Friday evening."
"Wonderful!" Crystal clapped her hooves. "I also have dinner reservations for before the show at Le Bernardin, so we can meet there and walk to the theater together."
The skepticism returned to Willow's voice. "Are you certain this wasn't supposed to be a date?"
"It's simply convenient to the theater," Crystal deflected.
"All right, then." Willow took a cautious step away from Crystal, stared a moment longer, then started down the hall. "I'll see you for dinner on Friday, I suppose."
Crystal smiled and waved. "Give the princess my regards!" Once Willow had turned the corner out of sight, Crystal diverted the hoof from waving to instead rub her temple. "Seriously?" she muttered, shaking her head. Could she possibly have made that any more awkward?
Hehe, another great chapter Crystal! :3
She's adding *another* pony to her herd?
I liked this chapter a lot; even if it was more of a bridge than a plot chapter, it covered everything it needed to, smoothly and at a good pace. Velvet's antics were as funny as always. Crystal's night out with Willow should be interesting; I'm really looking forward to that. Keep up the great work!
I... just... can't...
And what the hell Crystal just did here, at the end
New vocabulary added: gilded
Oh Velvet you really do care enough about Crystal to go easy on her.
Oh really. That has interesting implications if it isn't Princess Luna simply maintaining mystique.
*edit*
I am not sure how I forgot to mention this.
Velvet using her nose pleases me due to recent word flailing.
Velvets nightmares will now consist of being chased by a giant wedding bouquet.
Velvets nightmares will now consist of being chased by a giant wedding bouquet.
6340850
gotta catch em all.
Velvet wins so much in this chapter. So damn much. ^^
Of course Crystal wouldn't smell the scent left behind from her and SK's "activities".Oh wow that wedding was sooner than I thought. Hehe, I liked that little tiny shout out for my OC you did there. Lol Velvet's reaction to that bouquet is priceless!I know she is all about the single life, but dang she avoids the concepts of love like the plague. This evening with Willow aught to be interesting...
I like that Willow is getting a little support. It's interesting to see how frustrating Silent's habits are to other ponies and coworkers; I never properly considered that angle. The fact that Luna "knows where he is"? That makes me a little nervous... Silent's secret activities may not be quite so secret...
EDIT: Though Willow is so often portrayed as grumpy now that I don't know what to make of her... Hopefully things get a little easier!
I lost it when I read this.
Yeah... That ending. I've said my fair share of "why would you say that?!" things in my life, but I've never had an entire conversation of it.
I'm even confused as to her background planning. It's like one of those moments in a movie that just makes me cringe uncontrollably because the fallout can't possibly be any better than the situation it was meant to defer, and is likely to be a whole lot more awkward.
Wait a tic...
Unless this is surprise shipping and Crystal herself is going to try and bow out in favor of someone else.
Velvet in this chapter was a riot. Poor Crystal. She almost had the bouquet but i would have laughed so hard if it hit Velvet anyway. This was a fun chapter, and I sorta can understand why Crystal extended the offer to Willow. But, And yes i read Silent Knights story and sorry if i spoil anything, But how does she know about Silents Secret Meetings? Is she a spy?!?! -eye twitch- Anyway a great chapter cant wait for the next one.
Heehee. I've done that for the garter toss.
6341080
:loveydovey: You're infringing on my territory, love lines attack!
That would be a masterful save on Crystals part.
6341179
I'm trying to decide whether Crystal might end up trying to hook up Willow with Velvet that night out of embarrassment and desperation.
Did they bang or not?
I think they banged.
I'm putting this note up here since a handful of people noticed Willow mentioning Luna... As always, I will neither confirm nor deny, but I will point out that Silent had his hoof in many different pots, any of which Luna may or may not have known of. Luna has also mentioned in Secrets that she perceives Silent as a foal she must protect in some regards, and this may (or may not!) be another way she chose to protect him.
Okay, on to the responses!
6340825 Thank you!
6340850 Her awkward subconscious is, at least!
6340851 I was admittedly nervous, because as you said, it's more of a bridge chapter than an advancement chapter, but a necessary one. Thank you!
6340855 Crystal had what I like to call a "major brain fart".
6340893 Recent word flailings mentioning Velvet's sense of smell greatly pleased me.
6340930 Legit!
6340969 Life is better when coupled together... EVERYPONY coupled together. OT27, anyone?
6340991 She is happy you are pleased with her.
6341037 When I imagined Horsey throwing the bouquet, that was the first thing I imagined. I had to write it! I wonder what will happen when Crystal throws her own bouquet someday?
6341048 I have been excited for a very long while to show Willow's perspective of Silent's shenanigans. While he's out and about, Willow is stuck back at the palace with no idea where he's gone! She is a VERY structured pony and relies on schedules. Silent, y u no follow schedule?!
6341075 I lost it when I wrote it, to be honest.
6341080 As mentioned above, it's what I call a major "brain fart". Seeing Willow clearly go unhinged because of Silent, and Silent not being around, her brain kind of ran away with her. It's one of those situations where the ball starts rolling and you can't stop it and oh god why did you say that well now you're committed might as well continue the farce oh god please don't notice I'm sweating—
6341087 Silent Knight had several secret meetings, some more incriminating/secretive than others.
6341092 I-I've never understood garter tosses. I did not partake in one myself... just weird to me!
6341423 I think so, too!
Good work, Crystal! Finally, showing all my ponies how we do things here at QnB.
You see, here at QnB, we have a motto; the official QnB motto ever since I unilaterally made that decision about one sentence ago. And that motto is: Sweetie all day everyday.
And here, Crystal has gone almost all day without any sweetie, so she does the quick-thinking and intelligent thing by getting herself a temporary sweetie.
Look, you can't talk her out of this. She just asked Willow on a date, cleverly disguising her motives so it doesn't look like a date, so that she can get Willow uses to the idea of being a temporary sweetie, so that she can eventually be moved up to a part-time sweetie.
Sweetie all day everyday.
If nothing else, it'll give an extra option for a pizza whenever she can't get Silent Knight's sausage smackdown or Velvet's petite pan.
Say it with me, pony: Pizza all day everyday.
6341437
I am picturing Luna sitting in her room when all of a sudden a tone sounds in her head. Closing her eyes and concentrating a small dot labeled Silent Knight is pac-maning its way through the streets of Canterlot before stopping on at Crystal Wishes (Condo). Opening her eyes Luna makes a note not to frequent his dreams this evening.
Are familiar with Patrick Swayze? If so, did you know that his widow was a dancer when they first met?
6341489 Hahah! Sweetie all day everyday! Now I just need a shirt that says this and my life is complete.
6341503 Until it is disproven, it must be true!
6341527 I am familiar with him, but was unaware of that fact. What about it?
6341552
I can't claim to have thought of it. I just borrowed it from the far funnier and more talented Lance Biggums.
And modified it for content.
6341895 It is attributed in my mind to you now, so just accept my amusement graciously.
Well, that was awkward
This chapter made me think of something.
(Secrets "spoiler")
Is Silent's contact Luna?
Crystal, what are you doing!? You're supposed to be the one that's all calm and in control in social situations! Now stop freaking out and get it together, girl.
Also, I don't trust Velvet. She let Crystal off the hook too easy there. I feel like, rather than cashing in her stockpile of jokes and innuendos all at once, she's saving them to mess with Crystal for weeks to come. Oh, and Sunbeam still hasn't happened yet. I can't wait for that one.
6341402
If it weren't for the fact that Velvet is going to be indisposed at the time of the dinner and in the show they're watching, I would totally support that idea.
And once again Crystal gives the impression that she likes mares a bit more than usual, how does she keep getting herself into such situations?
6342254 Indeed!
6342404 I know, right? I don't think her mother prepared her for a mare on a tirade because of her stallion after waiting for said stallion for long enough to get strange looks. Her brain argues that she did the right thing. Placate and bribe the angry mare into submission. As far as Willow knows Crystal was totally in control of her runaway mouth!
Stockpiling torture to spread out over an indeterminate amount of time does sound a lot like something Velvet would do.
6342489 I'm sure it'll be fine... It totally won't look like they're on a date at all... It'll be fiiiine!
6342573
Hey, now, let's not be misleading. 'Torture' is such a loaded word. At worst it's merely some sisterly ribbing; Velvet is simply congratulating her for passing such a momentous milestone in her life. Velvet wants to be there to share in the joys of life with Crystal, as any good friend would.
The fact that Velvet enjoys watching her blush and sputter in embarrassed indignation, possibly for the next several weeks, is entirely beside the point. Don't try to detract from Velvet's kind and caring nature by muddying the waters with your inflammatory language.
6342588 Ah, yes, how could I be so thoughtless and rude? I absolutely meant joy sharing, not torture. Thank you for the needed correction!
6342404
Actually, given this chapter, I think it could be a thing.
While at dinner, because Crystal's so embarrassed about what's going on, she desperately tries to talk about anything but what she and Willow are doing, or about what led to the dinner situation. So she talks up Velvet. A lot.
Then, at the theater, because Velvet's right there on the stage, Crystal can point her out and whisper her praises to Willow.
And then, when Crystal is leaving after successfully foisting Willow off on Velvet, she runs into Lovey.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Crystal." Mock glare. "You know how much work I now have to do to fix this mess?"
6343031
Hmmmm... It's certainly possible. I like to think that Crystal will be better prepared than that once she's had a minute to let her mind calm down, but who knows.
If anything I'm more worried about the rumors. Pretty much everyone already thought she was with Velvet, and now she's on a "date" with Willow. It kind of makes me wonder if Silent will end up with a reputation like Sunny's just by proxy, lol.
Crystal, I think at this point you should be able to say the word.
Oh my, the Love Cakes. Velvet's mom is best mom.
Woooo, go Horsey! Again!
Nice.
Hah!
Crystal, going to the ballet with your stallionfriend's antagonistic coworker is not the same at all as going on a date. But, hey, maybe you can help with that antagonisticness. (Note: I do not anticipate it helping.)
I do find that very interesting that Willow has noticed Silent's off-the-books meetings, and that Luna knows about them, too. Who else has noticed, and who else (other than Crystal) has Willow told? Those seem like potentially very significant details for certain later events, some of which are still developing even in Secrets.
Hmmm...Nice new cover art...
6345076 Thank you!
No, Crystal, you could not have been any more awkward. :P
Well I did say that this was one of the arcs I was most looking forward to, so did it live up to what I hoped? YES! I loved this general arc, seeing how Crystal struggled to help SK cope with the loss of his dad. Then seeing her finally take that next step with SK. Though I'll be honest, when I first read the chapter in secrets I thought they had just, hmm how do I put it? Vigorously cuddled? I guess that'll work. But Velvet gets major points in my book. She almost reminds me of myself in her incessant teasing of Crystal. So, in short, thank you for not dissapointing my expectations.
6348369 You're not the only one that doubted Crystal's determination and Silent's abilities! Then again, Silent is not one to share such details, so his first person account is a little sparing in that regard. He is a gentlestallion dealing with a lady's reputation, after all. But... nope! Crystal was a mare on a mission! After all, she was feeling frisky back in chapter 64... Took her long enough to make up her mind.
Thank you for commenting and for enjoying my work!
6348466 jeez when you say "back in chapter 64" it makes me realise just how long this story is and we still have no idea how much longer it'll run, but I'm OK with that. I'd hate for such an awesome story to end. Though I do have a question for you: how do you keep going on writing through all that happens in life? Is it just that you see the fan base and feel the need to write more, or is it that you just haven't hit that point of writers block? I've tried my hand at writing several times and with varying degrees of sucess, nothing on here though.
6348786
I can spoil those dreams for ya! Currently, I've plotted the story out so that I can end Wishes at exactly chapter 100, though I often go off script and make scenes I thought would fit in one chapter extend to two, so that is a very rough estimate and please don't hold me to it! Nonetheless, chapter 100 or otherwise, there will be a sequel, but it will be a... different kind of story!
Oof. I will say first and foremost the trick was finding my genre. I've tried to write high fantasy and I've tried to write science fiction and I've tried to write adventure. I've failed to get past the first few chapters each and every time. Nothing has ever "clicked" for me before the way Wishes has. So, the first trick was finding out I apparently have an emotional connection with slice of life.
The second trick is kind of cliche, but it's love. I don't just have my current bio set to the quote that it is just because I like it but because it's the truth for me. The non-shortened version: Love is the answer to everything. It's the only reason to do anything. If you don't write stories you love, you'll never make it. If you don't write stories that other people love, you'll never make it.
I love this story and I love its characters, from the main to the mundane. Heck, Zerox was supposed to be a very brief gag that I kind of liked and all of a sudden he was following Crystal and now they're going on a date. If I name a character and they're not a cameo, I grow insanely attached to them. (To avoid custody battles with owners, I maintain a strict policy of only liking cameo characters, not loving. I would hate to break up an owner and their OC just because I got carried away.) I know where this story is going and I know what will happen in the future tales, as well as the tales that branch off from it. I have so much material for minifics that my brain might explode.
I can't always sit down and belt out a chapter with ease, though. Some days it's nearly the next day before I get the update out because with work and life and sometimes the lack of motivation. Some days I've missed the update for those very same reasons. I tried to sit down yesterday to get a head start on Tuesday's chapter and maybe wrote 200 words, if even. I'm nigh incapable of writing when the spark isn't there. Sometimes, the self-obligated pressure of a schedule is the only reason a chapter makes it out on time, because I pressure myself into forcing the spark, which lights the fire, which turns those 200 words into 3,000+.
I'm sorry, that was an extremely long reply, but I feel very strongly on the subject. The TL;DR: I'm in love with the characters and the stories and most of the time that makes writing a breeze, but sometimes I just have to tell myself I need to get the chapter done and that kicks myself into gear. Also, I didn't say this above, but absolutely yes, the support from y'all is a strong motivator, too, but I try really hard to not make that my primary motivation because I don't want to rely on external factors like that.
6349189 Ya know what I've been at a writers block for an old story I've been siting on and your words just gave me a bit of a motivator to go and try to publish it. Here's hoping it's half as good as I hope it is. (It will be on here btw :3).
Aw that's kinda close hopefully we'll get to the whole arc that just recently released on SK's story before its all over in this one. I'd hate to have to it end before there.
Oooh, that sounds interesting, it wouldn't happen to be a kind similar to a certain mare's desires for her stallion that wouldn't be so kid friendly would it? jk, jk.
And It's alright to see a long response, it's just nice to see a big writer like yourself taking the time to respond to comments on your stories.
6349279 Well, just remember the old but true saying: practice makes perfect. The first stuff I wrote was complete and utter crap. The stuff I wrote five years ago was complete and utter crap. Heck, I think the Labyrinth story I wrote last year is crap. The only way to get better at writing, in my opinion, is to just keep writing... and then go back once some time has passed that you can't remember the exact words you used. Once you read it when it's "like new," you're more likely to spot things or ways you write that you didn't realize you do. One of my terrible habits is over-use of "as". She sighed as she stood up... He smiled as he walked over... etc. etc. I realized that when I went back to older chapters about a month after I posted them.
I don't want to spoil too much, but I promise the ending will make this story a whole and complete one.
Big writer? Where? Thank you for the kind sentiment!
And this is why I just love Velvet xD
6354877 Its cool. and I wont spoil it for ya
Poor Velvet running away from love. She is just in denial for her love for Crystal!
And now I hate you, one line of Velvet gave me a very bad idea about Ruby Moon's story xD
And this why working anywhere that requires tickets sucks. I love my friends, but the instant a new movie comes out they turn into freaking sharks.
Knowing that you can't steal what was given, I'm betting that Silent must now be in possession of a certain black and pink lacy undergarment... I wonder where he was hiding it?
It sounds like Crystal is disappointed here.
Really disappointed.
Crystal obviously wants to do nothing more than to talk about last night with her best friend, after she 'properly' pretends to try to withhold that information, and Velvet isn't giving her the slightest opportunity.
Velvet, I am dissappoint. Of all the times you have been there for Crystal as a supporter and advocate, you are failing as a confidant and missing a huge bonding experience. What does friendship mean to you? You said you didn't want to just be lunch-date friends, but you are cutting her off here and preventing real intimate conversation that close friends share. What gives?
6399645
He stole her virginity not undergarments haha