And so the first wholly original story of the Lunaverse begins (finally)! That is to say, the first one not based off of a Friendship is Magic episode.

Amethyst Star, for those of you who don't know who I'm referring to. AKA, "Sparkler." Certain parts of this story are going to be hard to write, and now that we all know who Amethyst Star is, I think we all can probably guess why. I promise it will be worth it, though.

On a considerably lighter note, while writing the opening stinger, the bit prior to the main theme, this song came on my playlist. Listening to "Europa" whilst imagining Dinky Doo trying to catch a chicken can only enhance your reading experience.

Fluttershy being independently wealthy is basically something that my friends and I came up with to explain the fact that Fluttershy doesn't seem to have an actual job, but nevertheless doesn't seem strapped for cash. I mean, she's not a vet, as animals seem to come to her of their own volition rather than owners showing up. I thought that maybe she raised chickens for their eggs, but we've never seen her trying to sell any, and she doesn't have nearly enough chickens regardless. She might make a living off of selling pets, but I something doesn't mesh up quite right with that, either.

A common fan theory is that she writes dirty novels. This is silly and I do like it for the less serious stories, but for this I wanted something more, well, likely. So: independent wealth from her family controlling most weather production in Equestria via having a controlling interest in the weather factory in Cloudsdale.

Oh, and Angel Bunny is still around, I just couldn't find a way to work him into the current chapter. Maybe he's hibernating since it's still winter, or something.

The diabeetus, I has it.

Again, Love Love Love the setting.

Though I have to wonder if Cadance is butterflied to "just" a unicorn or pegasus, if she exists at all in Lunaverse?

>>605783605783

I've decided she still exists, and is still an alicorn. We'll get to her eventually.

Well, I always assumed that Fluttershy was on the city (or county?) payroll, much like the weather ponies.  Apparently animals have to be looked after -- by ponies -- in FiM world, just as the weather has to be managed, so I figured the government would foot the bill.

As for Cadence...  I don't even accept her as an alicorn in canon, so obviously I don't want her to be one here either.

>>605808605808

...that make sense but isn't as fun as imagining Fluttershy stating "I'm independently wealthy."

Also I want this to be the case so that she can own the beach house for the Inevitable Beach Episode (which isn't really inevitable, but come on! I want sea ponies).

This is just, just, wow!

Dinky is the most adorable thing ever, what more, reading the narrative as presented from her perspective is almost like reading my own thought processes transcribed.  The subject matter is different, but it's chock full of the same kind of long winded intertwining tangents that define what’s running through my own head at most any given moment.  I also love the recurring motif that is focused on the meaning of words, new ones she learned, those she only thinks might be real, and words she’s heard others use but only has a vague contextual grasp of.

Keep up the good work and this may top Boast Busted as my favorite.

>>601613601613

Fluttershy as independently wealthy, I can go with that.  Not the presumption I usually work under, as I generally assume she is employed by the city to tend and manage the local wild life, making her something of the really world equivalent to a park ranger or game warden.  Still, it’s a fair bit more plausible than the secret porn novelist approach, no matter how amusing an idea that makes.

Anyway, so Sparkler or rather Amethyst Star.  I'll admit I missed that until it was pointed out, as I was probably focused too much on all the adorably intellectual filly cuteness.  It would seem rather obvious now where this story is ultimately heading, though how it will go about getting there should still be an interesting treat.

>>605916605916

It would seem rather obvious now where this story is ultimately heading

SPOILER: The story will end with Sparkler teleporting away rather than actually facing her problems. I have a pattern going, damnit, I must stick to it!

>>605938605938

Her 'problem', in this case, is an intractably-stuck jar of peanut butter, of course.

>>605938605938

Good point, though technically speaking just because something is heading in a particular direction doesn't necessarily mean that will end up being where it ends up when all is said and done

: "Exactly!  Like this morning when I got up to get some breakfast, only to realize the Cakes where all out of eggs, which is rather silly when you think about it.  I mean they are bakers!  Can't exactly open up Sugarcube Corner for the day without any eggs, but then I remembered that today was the Cakes day off to spend with their foals, so naturally the deliveries for all the eggs and sugar and salt and flour and all the other baking ingredients was scheduled for tomorrow, though they are totally going to need some flour anyway to keep the twins happy, but I checked and we had plenty of flower so I knew they would be okay.  That was when I realized I was still hungry so then I decided I should go out to eat, or better still I could go too the library and see what Spike was cooking up, only than I realized I might not be that Pinkie Pie and so I might have to go all the way to wherever it is Corona has been hiding out, and while I knew that with my super amazing Pinkie Sense I could so total find the place, but then I remembered that she's a real meany grumpy pants, even though she doesn't wear any pants, and that ponies are supposed to be totally afraid of her so I decided not to.  It was than that I realized all this meant I probably wasn't the Pinkie Pie who helped Twilight save Equestria and so we never got to be bestest buddies ever and that she was all alone somewhere being sad and so my mane went all flat, then I remembered that at least I wasn't the Pinkie Pie that ate Rainbow Dash and so my mane got all cruelly again, but seriously can you image, BLEH, plus the Cakes would so totally not appreciate all the remodeling done on there basement as it would make Sugarcube Corner a pretty bad environment to raise foals in, I mean just imagine if they got into any of that, especially Pumpkin since she likes to put everything in her mouth.  Anyway, then I found my self typing on this guy's funny box thingy, which was confusing at first because it has so many keys and they were all so small, and then the "n" and "m" keys kept popping off, he should really get those fixed, but with a little Pinkie Pie ingenuity I managed to type out this entire message, and that is how I got to share a delightfully breakfast of biscuits and eggs, oh and bacon, but I didn't eat that part because I think it's made out of pigs or something and like I said I am so totally not the Pinkie Pie that would enjoy that kind of thing."

Uh... wait, what just happened?

>>601613601613

I'm assuming that the dirty novels are just a hobby here, then, and not an income source.

>>605836605836 I want sea ponies, too!

Okay, Ditzy may be best mommy, but Dinky is also best daughter. You wrote her very well, too. So hugable...

>>606076606076

Probably all three, she gets Food Stamps and tax breaks being low income, has enough in the bank for a rainy day, and writes porn under the "Fluttertongue" name.   Or Flutterkisses, but Fluttertongue is the better punchline.

Okay. I'm guessing that Amethyst Star's role in all of this will to try to screw up the bond Ditzy and Dinky have because of a need to be a dutiful sister to Unnamed Jerkwad Dad. It's sort of too bad that Trixie can't use her influence to do something about him. I'd love the next headline of the Foal Free Press to read 'Deadbeat Dad Beat Dead."

I can already feel my blood sugar rising....

Nice start, very cute.

"Deadbeat Dad Beat Dead"

Ooh, sibling arrivalries. This looks promising!

I also expect that this is going to be where Raindrops punches Trixie in the face for acting like an idiot......

>>606480606480

Wasn't that in Boast Busted, or is this going to be a thing now?

>>606558606558

It was in Boast Busted.

Raindrops takes her job seriously. Both weatherwork and Trixie punching. Keep your eyes out for Trixiepuncher Raindrops in the next Blind Bags wave!

On a more adorable note, Dinky. Daawww. I told a friend yesterday, MLP:FiM has both the worst and the best fanbase. This falls under the latter.

I do however wonder how old people think she actually is. She's seen reading a newspaper in "Ponyville Confidential", and she's almost always depicted by fans as being clever, insightful and rational. And she's the same size as the CMC. (Admittedly due to the production team using a standard model.) On the other hoof, Derpy constantly cuddles and mothers her (and in many cases walks her to and from school) while the CMC is allowed to run roughshod across Ponyville without supervision, doing crazy things like ziplining or diving or digging pit traps. On the third hoof, Derpy might just be an unusually overaffectionate mother, while the CMC's parental figure go from too busy to neglectful to disturbingly absent. On the fourth... I don't know. I may be overanalysing.

Looking forward to how this will turn out, particularily in regards to Sparkler's role. Also, hoping to see Trixie again. She could be a lot of fun as a non-central character this turn.

There really needs to be a Dinky icon here. She is just the cutest, best little girl ever!! Ooooh she wants to buy something nice for her momma with the money she earned herself? So precious! And precocious!

Actually, since you mentioned the events of Coronoa's return I am a bit interested in knowing what happened to the original Mane Six (sans Twilight who never came to Ponyville) and how the foals of Ponyville are acting in the aftermath or how they're different in the Lunaverse.

This is probably the best alternate universe MLP fic I've ever read. You mix it up and of course give emphasis and depth to different characters but you don't really change them so much that we can't recognize the ponies we hold dear, regardless of whether they're undeveloped background characters like Raindrops or Lyra or more prominent ones like Cheerilee, Trixie or Fluttershy.

So well done!! Can't wait to see what happens with Amethyst Star and Dinky!!

Nice to see a return to the slice of life category. Adventure is fun and all, but it's peeking into these ponies lives that really connects us with them.

Very cute, very heartwarming! I do believe this needs to go on my favorites right...about...now!

Dinky had used to like chickens. Then she’d worked with them.

You think you have it bad, Dinky, you should see what us humans have to live through.

>>608454608454

there's something missing on that list

i swear to all the powers that be, no farm truly profits. ever.

at the end of the day, everything in your coffers goes into maintenance or your equipment falls apart.

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/eenope.png

anything that's left goes to trying to survive 'til harvest season

and a single bad harvest can send you spiraling to endless debt leading to eventual bankruptcy.

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Applejack.png

So Lunaverse-Jerk!Applejack has a point... she's just not realizing she's part of an Industrial Agribusiness instead of a Family Farm.

>>608806608806

exactly

>>607119607119

I'm not going to bother trying to guess at age equivalencies between ponies and humans. Dinky is in the same class as Applebloom and the gang, which is being broadly defined as "some time in elementary school." I do imagine Ditzy, though, as a somewhat clingy mom. She's entitled, though.

The CMCs are probably given a lot of leeway in the show for two reasons. In-universe, Ponyville is a pretty safe town from the looks of things. Out-of-universe, it'd be difficult to show them getting into all manner of crazy adventures if the writers had to always shoehorn in an adult chaperone.

So Fluttershy's loaded.....I can go with that.  It certainly beats "writes romance/erotic novels" and "modeling residuals" for a living.

Plus your open to plenty of spit-take/reaction jokes.

Don't think I've seen many Ditzy/Dinky/Sparkler stories or at least ones not involving Dr. Whooves. This should be fun.

So does the Lunaverse follow standard Rpg currency exchange rates or is there a more specific one in mind?

>>609776609776

if memory serves, that was the plan, but it got scrapped due to currency in the Mane Land not making much sense in the first place

so i think it's still up for debate

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Derpy_Hooves.png

>>609847609847

>>609776609776

For now, I actually *am* gong by the standard D&D assumption that 1 silver is the most basic form of currency and is basically the game's equivalent of $1. I'm just not going by standard D&D prices, which assume that most people survive on 1 sp a day; instead I'm imagining that 1 silver bit really is equivalent to $1, albeit more like a dollar in 1950 than a dollar today (that is, able to get you more).

Given that I'm going for a somewhat more antiquated feel to Luna's Equestria (what with gas lighting, etc), though, I'm seriously tempted to come up with an unnecessarily complicated monetary system like the Victorian Britian's currency:

1 pound (also shown as £1 or 1l.) was 20 shillings.

1 shilling (1s.), was 12 pence. Also often known as a 'bob', as in "I paid six bob for this",

Thus there were 240 pence ("pence" being the British plural for "penny") (20 x 12) to every pound.

Other Victorian words to do with currency:

1 guinea was £1 1s. (or 21 shillings) - ie. a pound with an additional shilling.

1 crown was five shillings. (and half-crown two and a half shillings, of course)

A half-sovereign ten shillings.

1 farthing was a ¼ penny.

If I did that, though, I'd have to go back and retcon some prices I've mentioned. £1 was a lot of money in Victorian Britain, with relatively high-middle class Britons only making about £30-£70 a year. Shillings, crowns, pence, and half-sovereigns were spent much more commonly. If I did do this, then the bit would probably be rendered equivalent to the shilling.

If it's one thing I like about your stories it's that I usually leave them learning something I never knew be for. Be it monarchy rank or Victorian era currency.

Simple works, I really can't remember a game or book that didn't stray from the basic Copper > Silver > Gold model. Honestly the only time I've seen anything higher was in the rule book.

Also can't wait for the inevitable Beach/Sea ponie episode.

>>610540610540

I was wondering about that - you mentioned "silver bits" in a way that implies there are other kinds of bits. Interestingly, the bits we see on the show are yellow. I read an essay a while back which suggested that these are probably brass, rather than gold. Then again, we don't know how abundant gold is. There's a lot of gold in Canterlot, but we don't see it anywhere else, while gems are pretty abundant. On that note, though, gold is usually associated with the sun, and silver with the moon, so maybe silver is more highly prized in the Lunaverse.

The thing with the D&D economy (other than not making sense in a lot of ways) is that it's usually based on an old feudal economy, where the disparity between the working class and the middle class (let alone the upper class) was pretty huge. Peasants made a silver piece a day, but middle-class professionals (good artisans, scribes and so forth) made a gold piece a day. It may be worth examining just how poor the working class is in the Lunaverse, because they don't seem all that badly off in canon.

Anyway, actual review! Dinky is exceptionally cute. The insights into her thought processes are really well written, and capture her as a child much better than most writers do, including myself when I'm writing the Crusaders. I tend to assume that Fluttershy is paid to look after animals by the Mayor, but she's so cutely embarrassed about being gentry that I wholeheartedly approve. I don't think Ditzy is being especially overprotective here. After all, she's letting Dinky go out and have a part-time job, which is a pretty big step in the real world. I don't think Ditzy needs to walk Dinky home after work, she just really wants to.

That is all.

>>612915612915

I'd like to read that essay, if you can dig it up. Anyway, I'd assumed that Mane Equestria still uses gold for its currency more out of a sense of tradition than because gold is in any way actually valuable in Equestria - sort of like how we still associate purple with royalty even though the reasons for doing so (purple cloth dye was ludicrously expensive, such that only royalty could generally afford it) are long gone. Ditto Lunaverse and silver, though there is also the sun bad/moon good motiff to consider. Anyway, silver bits are probably either backed by some metal that is considered precious, maybe platinum or something, or else it might be a true fiat currency, like our dollars or pounds or euros or whatever.

I'll probably go the simple breakdown for silver bits, if for no other reason than the sake of my head. In that case, 1 silver bit = 100 copper bits - basically pennies.

Excellent story; I think you capture Dinky's voice very well. Looking forward to more!

On one hand, I found a minor spelling error:

"as Dinky though it should"

On the other hand, I just got a cavity.

As mentioned, this story is happening simultaneously with the next story I've planned for the Lunaverse, "Helping...Hands?" Ditzy's seeming non-sequitor scene is helpign to establish that.

It is now 3:12 AM where I am, so that's about all I have to say for now.

Very sweet. I really like how you handle Dinky and Ditzy's characters here. And I'm hoping that Tiara doesn't decide to buy the necklace just so Dinky can't have it, because that would be mean of her.

>>634936634936

Which is exactly what she's going to do.

That being said, the surrealism segment not only lays the groundwork for the next story, it reminds us that a key background character is still afraid of Trixie and (since she has no idea how equine interaction works) confuses her being caught Trixie's meltdown with being hated.

>>610540610540

If you do make the silver bit like the pound sterling, you'd be doing the same thing that Wheller does in his universe.

>>634936634936

Way to go, now narrative causality's going to make CERTAIN it happens.

This is so wonderfully cute.

Let me guess, Diamond Tiara is going to want the same necklace as Dinky, isn't she?

Dinky is so adorable and earnest, might need to brush my teeth again Interesting to see her interactions with the other kids, good to know somethings don't change much though the universe, at least as a Scoots fan

Also Paniced trixie is hilarious, like a mix of Neuoric Twilight and 'too occupied to explain' Pinkie... I can assume then that the next fic is going to be touching on another one of those hinted moments from Boasts Busted, should definately be fun

>>634936634936 I don't think Filthy Rich would let his daughter get away with that, either out of basic pony decency or out of wanting to avoid making an enemy of one of the Elements of Harmony. On the other hoof, they might want the same necklace entirely coincidentally...

That was probably the most accurately written schoolroom scene I've read - it really reminded me of my own school years. Well done. And Scootaloo is adorable, even when she's being entirely a slacker.

I genuinely can't say I prefer the canon universe or the CelestiVerse Mane 6 to this version.

All my hats, entirely doffed to you, sir.

>>635155635155

That'd be mean...

>>635164635164

Given the name of the fic, and Trixie's insistance that everything is in hoof, it probably won't be too hard to guess which hinted moment...

EDIT

Woohoo! Featured box again! I literally couldn't of done it without you guys. You all rock!

“I have a toothache" I know I do after that scene.

I think it's reasonably well enough established that maneverse Filthy Rich probably wouldn't let his daughter buy the necklace just to be a bully. Not so sure about lunaverse Filthy Rich though.

Dinky, your adorableness is cavity-inducing. XD Poor Cheerilee. I'm a little afraid of what the fallout will be when Sparkler learns that yes, Dinky is basically exactly who she thought she was. Nice to see more of the CMC, and I loved how distracted Dinky was in class. As always, I can't wait for more~! :D

What is it with Dinky that makes people break out the double extra-big heapings of adorable when they write her?

I noticed one typo: “Want a ride?” Ditzy asked, kneeling a little so that Ditzy could get on her back, where it was warm and her mother could use her wings to keep cold wings from Dinky’s face. - I assume you meant "cold winds" there.

On the subject of coinage, I've seen someone use "jangles" for copper or silver coins worth less than a bit.

Found another two typos - Why wouldn’t she of saved up for her mother? and [...]something that Ditzy wouldn’t of been able to offer much help on anyway. - where you've used "of" instead of "have".

Dinky continues to be precious, and her worrying about the hundred bits during the class was a very funny moment. Now, I'm curious about who she reminds Sparkler of...

>>635426635426

Jangles. I like that...

People break out the adorable when writing for Dinky because...well...

Image: http://images.wikia.com/mlpfanart/images/7/7c/Dinky2.PNG

Look at her.

First of all I LOVE your version of Ditzy. Out of all the variations I'd read of her in fanfics yours has to be if not my favorite then definitely up there with it.

Second. Poor Fluttershy, out of all the mane six she seems to have been hit the hardest due to the differences in the universes. Well except maybe for Twi, but she brought her problems onto herself. She seems even more sheltered than canon Fluttershy, if that's even possible. Perhaps the fact that her friendship with Rarity doesn't seem to exist in this universe is a big part of it.

Third. I notice Apple Bloom doesn't appear to be present in the school scenes. Intentional?

And I hope Diamond Tiara doesn't buy Dinky's necklace. I fear our little filly's going to have enough problems in the near future without having to deal with that too.

Oh and Trixie's cameo?

>>635766635766

Third. I notice Apple Bloom doesn't appear to be present in the school scenes. Intentional?

She isn't? I thought I'd written her in somewhere...in any event, no, it's not intentional, and Applebloom could have easily been any one of the following ponies from this scene:

“I’m going to just have lunch inside,” Dinky decided, backing away a few hoof-steps. She didn’t get far.

“Me too!”

“Me three!”

“I wanna eat inside too, Miss Cheerilee!”

“’Cause the sun’s too bright!”

“Yeah!”

“Where’d you get all those bits?”

“Gah!” Dinky exclaimed as the stampede hit.

I'm with Cheerilee. I can't handle the sweetness.

Man, this brought back memories of grade school for me. All it took to be popular in class (for one day at least) was to have something so unusual that all the other kids needed to check it out. Of course, I never managed to get my stuff back in the same condition that it had left...

Diamond Tiara. How that pony makes my teeth grate.

And just what's happening that has Trixie in such a tizzy?

Looking forward to more!

Quick! Everypony!

The Night After

READ.

>>635448635448

the author has a habit of overpronouncing the contraction 've (should've would've could've) which makes it sound like 'of'

it seems to carry over into his writing

Image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Derpy_Hooves.png

Arg how come I didn'T receive notification for this update? SOmething must be wrong ><

Dinky is so SWEET!

So. Frickin'. Adorable. Dinky is best filly! But that look Amethyst gave her... Not good, methinks.  

Ah man, now I need a dentist......

Why does Dinky always have that effect on me?

And Trixie in here was just......my god.

Very interesting. Wonder what's up with Sparkler. Maybe Ditzy's sister in law?

Also I'm wondering if DT is gonna be petty enough to try and buy the necklace Dinky wants.

walking on starlight

♪♫ And don't it feel good! ♪♫

Something a bit horrifying just occurred to me. If Dinky is getting all this attention from the kids at school because of the money she's been earning, what happens when they all figure out that Fluttershy is paying three silver bits a week for help with her animals?

Also, so there really are only a dozen or so students at the elementary school?

That was another fun chapter. I really fear that Diamond Tiara might do something mean to Dinky soon. I can't help myself, but bullies are the worst kind of villains. I'd rather deal wit evil overlords bent on world domination.

Sparkler is Dinky's half-sister, right? I think you mentioned something like that before. I think we're in for some interesting family drama in upcoming chapters.

Keep up the good work

Dinky's internal song, by the way, is from the Producers. Specifically, it's Leo Bloom's first lines in the song "I Want to Be a Producer."

Castor Cut is an OC, as I couldn't find a unicorn pony I wanted to use. Actually, that's a lie, I did, but I chickened out. For a little while, though - about an hour - Dinky's and Amethyst Star's dad was Fancy Pants.

Additionally, Ditzy's line in "Longest Night," about how she feels that she doesn't deserve the Element of Kindness, should by now be farily well explained as to why she initially felt that way.

Oh, freaking Hell. The stupid mule blames Ditzy for something that was going to happen anyway given her father's need to tomcat around like an idiot. And don't think that I didn't notice the name of one of the friends Trixie alienated and might want to un-alienate.

The conflict between "stupid vindictive idiot know-nothing know-it-all Sun-damned Brenda Walsh from 90210 with hooves" friend and "hapless victim of a slick-talking sexual deviant" friend is going to lead to certain things:

1) Raindrops spurring Trixie's conscience by the subtle masterstroke of punching her in the face.

2) Dinky becoming Trixie's assistant.

3) A dumb-ass kid who only THINKS that she knows what's going on getting a hard lesson in reality.

>>679769679769

I feel I need to float this idea: you're assuming that Ditzy Doo was a victim, or otherwise not fully aware of what she was doing. But her little flashback scene was written in specifically to dispel that notion.

My point is, it takes two to tango.

Vicereine Twilight Velvet, nice.

And Diamond Tiara's heart grew three sizes that day -- but then she noticed and forced it back down.

Oooooo, so that's the rest of the story, or at least more of it.

That is so sad......

Vicereine Twilight Velvet? I want to hear more about that.

"I hate them ‘cause they’re mean and they smell and they go to the bathroom everywhere."

Now wherever did you get that idea?  

>>679798679798

As a quick refersher, the ranks of nobility in Equestria are, from lowest to highest:

Lord/Lady

Knight/Dame

Baronet/Baronetess

Baron/Baroness

Viscount/Viscountess

Count/Countess

Marquess/Marchioness

Duke/Duchess

Archduke/Archduchess

Viceroy/Vicereine

Grand Duke/Grand Duchess

Prince/Princess

King/Queen

Emperor/Empress

Typcially speaking, however, a Grand Duke is a sovereign in his own right in the traditional (Terran) ranks of nobility, and not subserviant to a higher power. So a viceroy is typically the highest rank of nobility before reaching the guy who is ultimately in charge of everything.

>>679780679780

I know that it takes two to tango. The problem is that Amethyst Star only sees the effect their stupidity had on her home life and can't see what kind of Hell her 'tormentor' has had to endure. The idea that Ditzy isn't laughing at her misery not only flies in the face of everything a properly paranoid citizen of the Lunaverse can't help but think would happen, it goes against her need to have a villain that she'd blame in the Celestiaverse as well.

>>679732679732

Yeah! "I destroyed the life of an innocent foal who I regard as an object of pity (no matter how violent her hatred of me might be) because of my throbbing biological urges and haven't made amends to my satisfaction."

>>679824679824

I wouldn't go so far as to call the typical Lunaverse citizen paranoid, just...more open to the idea of betrayal and misdirection than is generally seen in MLP. They've still got a generally brighter disposition than humans.

>>679873679873

I think that you will agree, however, that Amethyst doesn't see the whole picture when looking at Ditzy. Getting her to see her as more than a homewrecker is probably either the point of this or something that'll have to be worked on.

>>679920679920

I'll agree on that, yes.

Poor Dinky had her surprised ruined Diamond Tiara was almost nice too. I wonder if Sparkler had let the sale go through if Ditzy hadn't burst into the shop?

Twilight Velvet is a vicereine? I didn't expect that.

No offense, but why?

And I like your way to explain how Dinky and Sparkler are sisters. Works good in the lunarverse.

>>679985679985

It's something of a holdover from my interpretation of the mane universe, actually. Namely: Princesses do not marry down the social strata; not very far down, at least.

Oh, they can be in love with whoever they want, live with whomever they want, have kids with whomever they want, but marriage is about more than love when royalty is concerned. There's dowries and inheritences to consider. Marriage is a transaction amongst the nobility (and not just the bride! The groom as well). So Shining Armor must therefore of been either reasonably high in the ranks of nobility, or else (more likely) set to inherit such a rank from his dad. Not to mention that Twilight was foal-sat by a princess.

Now, even if this isn't true in the mane universe, in the Lunaverse, where the nobility is more important and actually does stuff, it's certainly true there. So if I want Shining Armor to get married to Cadence (and I do! They make a great couple), I need to have Twilight's family be landed nobility, and highly ranked ones at that. Nothing lower than Duke would do.

And then I pictured the look on Trixie's face when she learns that Twilight Sparkle is the daughter of Viceroy Nightlight. 'Twas silly.

Everything I expected pretty much happened in this chapter. Except Tiara not being a bully, much. That of course doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it

Twilight's mom being a vicereine is an interesting detail, especially considering what her daughter ist currently up to (re: Boast Busted). With every chapter I like your Lunaverse more and more. Keep up the great work.

I just wonder if AS's realization that Ditzy feels like plop for treating her like plop when she was Dinky's age isn't going to make things worse. I've seen what happens when that happens and it ain't pretty. It usually leads to things like this:

Raindrops: "If you don't get done being remorseful, I'll have to kill you."

Nice Diamond Tiara is nice!

...and while yes, it does take two to tango, AS needs to realize that applies to her 'oh so loyal' dad as well. I honestly think they're equally to blame, and that Ditzy's current feelings on the matter pretty much redeem her. It's a mess.

I anticipate the next part! (will this be four chapters like Boast Busted, or will it be a bit longer? And I really want to know what Trixie needs feathers for...)

>>680700680700

Four or five, but certainly not six. That's all I'm sure of.

>>680058680058

Vicereine sounds important, a representative of the monarch. But isn't that what Trixie for Luna in Ponyville is?

It's the highest rank somebody can have without being a part of a ruling family. But it's a title which isn't a rank of nobility, more a position which also common can hold.

>>679920679920

AS's reaction isn't entirely fair, especially where Dinky is concerned, but considering the emotional trauma that comes from a broken home, is rather accurate.    In all likely-hood she acts the same to her father as well.  It will make the reconciliation between AS and Ditzy that much sweeter though.

Oh wow....this chapter was just heartbreaking. Well, not the first two-thirds. It was actually pretty funny seeing how much Diamond Tiara had her father wrapped around her hoof and seeing her be...mildly pleasant was nice.

Yikes....that's a pretty dark turn there. Ditzy an adulterer? Never seen that before. And Castor Cut would be Dinky's dad too huh? Urf. Can't wait to see how Ditzy and Cut's family reacted when they found out that Cut had a marefriend on the side and got pregnant. Awkward...

And poor Dinky! She worked so hard to get her momma a present and now everything's ruined! :(

Sad Dinky is the saddest thing ever. In fact I'd go so far as to say that this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!

Also, Twilight being middle-high royalty? That's gotta be hard to deal with in specially in light of the Ursa situation that crops up later. No wonder she wanted to run and hide, poor girl...

There's hurt and blame on both sides, here. Ditzy did a bit of... doodling, but so did Castor, and Ditzy does feel awful about it.

And wait... why does Trixie need to get punched?

Also, yay on Diamond Tiara! Great chapter, Double-D.

>>680896680896

No, it isn't fair. As bad as she feels now, the realization that she's wasted a crapload of time obsessing about it is going to make her feel worse. Now, don't get me wrong...she and Ditzy are probably never going to be friends as such but at least she'll be civil enough towards her. My guess is that the last paragraph will involve her giving Dinky a family discount on that necklace.

>>681263681263

Because Raindrops perceives her as throwing Ditzy under the bus to get in good with Amethyst.

>>681295681295 I... doubt Trixie is gonna do that. Nor do i see Raindrops thinking Trixie is gonna do that, either, to be honest. At least I hope neither happens.

>>681374681374

Same here. As a matter of fact, I hope that the story ends with Trixie saying "Wait....who did you say the jeweler was again?" after Ditzy and Amethyst have settled things between themselves.

>>681408681408 Yeah, good ending there.

>>681427681427

Let's just hope that the author thinks so too. I don't want this getting any uglier than it already is.

>>681438681438>>681427681427

Trixie's only scheduled for two scenes in this story (one of which has already happened), both of them basically non-sequitors that don't affect the plot overmuch but instead tie the story into "Helping...Hands?" She'll have a bigger role in the next story, but both of these stories were supposed to develop the rest of the Luna-6 more than Trixie, who's getting plenty of screen time between me and everybody else's stories.

>>680801680801

That's true and false. It didn't start as a title of nobility per se, but traditonally only nobles got appointed to it, and it became a title of nobility over time on Earth. We can presume the same thing holds true in Equestria.

The key difference between Trixie's position and that of a viceroy is that a viceroy has actual executive authority second only to the monarch. Trixie, meanwhile, is basically a glorified messenger and only has executive authority in very specific, very limited circumstances.

>>681607681607

Oh, right....the thing with Lyra. Odds are that she'll only learn about this if it ever occurs to her to ask. (Which I doubt will happen what with her being her and all. She's sort of a jerk that way.)

I'm surprised no one commented on DIamond Tiara getting a little tsundere at the mention of Scootaloo...

^ I was actually just about to comment about how interesting Tiara's reaction to her comparison to Scoots was. Doth protest too much, perhaps? It was REALLY nice to see her not being such a total so-and-so, especially since Dinky never really does anything to deserve ill will. And on that note, AWWWUHH! I'm gonna agree with whoever up there said that sad!Dinky is the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING. She was THIIIIS CLOSE to getting that perfect necklace! Houu, if only she'd said "to momma love Dinky" and left it at that! So curious as to how this will turn out, and so EXTRA curious about the next story with Lyra. Lyra and hands...

Diamond Tiara being nice to somepony?  Inconceivable!

She's really a changeling in disguise, isn't she?

>>681295681295

Actually I got a good feeling about where this is going.  Dinky is totally gonna bring them both together.  Calling it right now. :twilightsmile

:>>681665681665  :

>>681665681665

That would explain a lot, come to think of it......