Time and water have a lot in common.
They erode stone, help plants grow, and follow their own course... usually.
When an unusual tide carries with it a far-flung summer fling, Sunny Starscout discovers an exception to the rule and a mysterious teenage colt who may change her life forever.
A Sunny Starscout x Sandbar shipfic written for the 2022 Crackship Contest.
Thanks to Saddlesoap Opera and Patchwork Poltergeist for their prereading, editing, and support, and a second thanks to Saddles for making the picture for this fic.
Chapters (9)
How is Sunny Starscout x Sandbar crackshipping?
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I'm glad you asked!
They exist in completely different iterations of the show and possibly hundreds of years apart.
For context, the rules of the contest this is being submitted to define a crackship as follows:
I'm curious to turn the question around, if I may: What makes you feel that this is not a crackship?
So this seems interesting.
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Stay tuned for more to come! I'm glad to have piqued your interest.
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Just be aware that given the history of questions they ask, I'm relatively certain Starlight Nova posts those things without reading the stories.
I'm sort of surprised they haven't figured out yet that the time difference between them is far more extreme than they think it is. I would've thought one of them would've mentioned something that'd clue in the other by now. I guess they've been focusing more on their personal heres and nows too much to give much opportunity for that up to now.
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Admittedly, it is a bit of a plot convenience that they haven't figured it out, but also: It's easy to zero in on details and take something in the big picture for granted. With the big delay in communication, they're essentially sending video messages back and forth, so smaller details tend to be neglected in favor of trying to get broad ideas across first.
One could also assume they're too distracted by the 'Where' and the 'How' to realize the 'When'.
They'll catch on soon enough.
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It takes more effort for me to look into a person's background and the posts they tend to make than to assume positive intent and respond nicely. I'm being quite genuine when I ask what they feel a crackship is and how Time and Tide misses the definition of it. If it was a drive-by comment, so be it, nothing is lost on my part. That said, your concern is appreciated.
PRETTY FUCKIN DOPE CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE
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I'm very pleased to have apparently caused this level of hype! Stay tuned for more!
Enjoying the story thus far.
One minor pedantic (and pointless, as this is fan-fic, so almost everything goes
) nitpick I could put out there is from what we see in the movie 'true' modern smartphones (and other 2010s and onward tech?) appear to be a pegasi only thing, with earth pony tech more reflecting the 1980s to early 2000s (cathode ray tube TVs, per the whole mob sequence, and the tape deck seen in the Izzy in the lighthouse sequence)... That'd give a range on Sunny's phone between dumb brick (going at the early end) and 128x128 pixel potato-vision (Nokia 6610 or similar, circa 2002) for something low to mid-markety, or maybe some PDA-phone hybrid (like the Nokia 9200 series? circa 2001) at the high end, which would do for showing photos (640x200 pixel-ish resolution) but as a fold out thing wouldn't really fit the described smartphone...
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You know, I had considered that exact point, but had figured that with the technological marvels we see Canterlogic put out for defense over the course of only a few days, I was willing to stretch a little to keep the plot on track.
I hadn't, however, considered the possibility of an early PDA device. Thanks the idea!
I think I'm going to go back and swap that smartphone to a flip phone.
I am definitely enjoying this story so far but I definitely want more interaction between Sunny and Sandbar. The tide pool idea is very neat concept and it definitely adds to the tension of not being able to communicate properly. Keep it up!
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Thank you! I'm looking forward to everypony getting to read the rest of what I've cooked up.
You can definitely expect the two of them to interact some more.
STFU Phyllis.
This is brilliant, I applaud you for the amount of time you spent really explaining the magical phenomena in a format that reads like a text book it definitely adds more to the world building.
Solid chapter, makes me wonder Phyllis’s involvement in the overall narrative.
...is it wrong that my mind immediately went to this?
images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1O29yImCdKS8AaqQUgkc6A/67cd680cfe058a2c04aee36efd2c2b97/DoloresUmbridge_WB_F5_UmbridgeAtHerDesk_Still_080615_Land.jpg
Oh, it gets even better! Not only is the supposed "threat" those defenses are defending against not appeared in so long that most of their generation hasn't even see a member of another tribe in person before, they're not even effective defenses--Phyllis is just exploiting the paranoia to hock goods nopony actually needs...probably at a substantial mark-up, too.
Really, Phyllis is no opposing political activist, she's just a devious business pony that's a little more in it for the bits than the ethics, and really probably only protests so strongly to the likes of Sunny simply because, if Sunny's viewpoints were to gain traction, there'd go a large share of her business, and, of course, like ALL business owners, they generally despise the idea of getting less money.
Fortunately, she seems to come around on at least this particular matter after the movie, but we're not there yet, and I'd imagine even that wouldn't stop her from still being a devious business pony at least a little still in the future...her overall approach and tactics would just shift to match the new climate.
Eh, I'd slam it anyway.
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Where do you think I got the idea?
I'm glad that vibe got through.
A fun 'director's cut' moment: When I sat down to write this chapter, I initially wanted to portray Phyllis as set in her ways but genuinely concerned about Sunny... and then the writer autopilot came on and Phyllis said "Nope, I'm going to be a total nag!"
So I just ran with it and followed that to its conclusion, which you see here.
So, this is the last chapter Pre-Movie. Interesting.
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Yep! It's also the second to last chapter.
As you can expect, Sunny going through the events of the movie is going to have some serious effects.
Well, now we know which one it is exactly.
Before.
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Or is it?
Another great chapter; however, it was bittersweet for me. I think what makes it hit hard for me is that they know their time is limited with each other. Their relationship will never blossom into anything more, and the knowledge they will gain from each other will be superficial in the grand scheme of things. I guess it really puts into context how precious time is and how we only get a finite amount of it.
Oh, and the ending caught me off guard! lol
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That's a good read of it. Yes, it's a passing phenomenon. Unless...
As for the ending, fun fact, it's the entire reason I rated this fic T, and it ended up being the key to maintaining a good story pace by getting past a cycle of "they both sleep and it's cute."
Wow. I knew this was going to end sadly and yet, I'm still hoping for a moment where Sunny somehow finds a way to hop back and forth in time whenever she wants. At the very least I would like to think that she could find information on Sandbar one day since has helped save the world at least once.
This definitely sounds like a possible sequel. Probably going to be somewhat popular if you do decide to continue.
You've definitely captured my emotions, wordsmith!
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So many possibilities, aren't there? I'm happy to see people pondering and imagining potential outcomes.
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I'm glad you enjoyed my work.
That said, I have no intention of giving this a sequel. I think this one holds up best by itself.
I was not expecting this to lead up to the beginning of the movie. It sucks that there is one chapter left because I want this to continue so bad!
There isn't much I have to say, but great job on making this shipping pair work, especially with all the time shenanigans going on. Perhaps the only little blemish I could point out a bit was the lone chapter with Phyllis (especially since we don't get to see much of the interaction other than affirmation that, yes, Sunny cares), but even then, it's more of nitpicking since the point's taken: Sunny is quite serious about it.
The hopeful/ambiguous ending's also a nice touch. It's somewhat bittersweet, as someone else pointed out, but I'll add that it's because I'm not sure which she's valuing more at the time: the fact that she and her friends saved Equestria or taking any chance to visit Sandbar, even if it means going back in time and leaving her own time and friends behind (and causing paradoxes maybe).
Anyway, thank you for the amazing story!
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Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I'm not quite sure I understand the issue with the Phyllis chapter. Admittedly, I do suppose it doesn't accomplish much except help the pacing a bit and reinforce Sunny feeling like an outcast.
Would you mind elaborating a bit?
I'm glad you enjoyed the ending! "What if I were to dive in right now?" was one of the very first plot inklings I got for this fic, so most of the fic was built specifically with an intent to lead up to it.
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As for the Phyllis chapter, I think it really is just that and not much more: showing the reader that Sunny is, yes, an outcast in yet more ways. Perhaps I expected more of Phyllis than usual because of the build-up to having Phyllis shown in the first place; maybe I would've thought differently if the chapter almost immediately placed Sunny in her office from the start, so that Phyllis would be less seen as a character to watch out for later in the story and more as this chapter's unique character.
Again, though, it's still more nitpicking than genuinely concerning feedback! This is certainly not enough to make me like the story less.
It's also interesting that such an ending was among the first things you thought of, and then you decided to write your way towards, well, such an ambiguous ending. Of course, it's most likely not the only thing you thought of when you started imagining this plot thread, but I myself find it difficult to write my way towards an open ending unless it's one of the later things I think about, so it's great to see that the journey to that ending has been an excellent experience of chemistry and character.
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Ahhh, I see. Thanks for clarifying. That's a good point to keep in mind.
fascinating start! i was wondering how the characters would even meet, given the eons between them, and the way you introduced the device of this secluded magical pool was very enchanting!
the theory that Sandbar is an alternate universe Sunny would have been a really funny one if that turned out to be true!
i really liked the use of "hooves" as a measurement instead of "feet"; it's always so cute to see those pony-isms. and their messages to each other being exactly one eon and day apart makes for a very intriguing setup for future plot possibilities. let's see where this goes!
haha, really loved those lines at the end! that this time-displaced magical communication with earthpony Sandbar might not take priority over a unicorn or a pegasus is just a great bit of character.
and it's funny to think of Sunny's thinking of seaponies as creatures that just sing all the time! surely, the stories overgeneralized from Princess Skystar, but that is how these things work!
aww, it's nice to see the two settle into getting to know each other! the existence of phones in G5 would definitely throw me for a loop, too. though i wonder why Sunny would be so nervous about Sandbar judging her, when he's clearly from a completely different culture that's used to other tribes and species being around. unless somehow Sandbar managed to only mention changelings, and that in a negative light? i guess that might make him seem like he's from a place not too different from xenophobic Maretime Bay!
cute moment, can just picture it!
points from me for this Prench horse pun! i do appreciate it much
aww! the magical tide pool equivalent of a sent message you can't delete. adorable and relatable!
always love seeing other people's takes on pony periodization!
little touches like this make the world feel more fleshed-out!
if there's anything i know about Sandbar, that is it!
aww, it's nice to see this glimpse of Sunny's tense relationship with Phyllis in the time before the movie. and everything from the description of her office to the passive-aggressive way she speaks is just so spot-on for her, good job with this one!
hehe, "bestie in the pastie" is a fun phrase.
now that is interesting to think about! a pop culture property surviving for centuries
going feral for how much i love "Walkmare"...
and haha, the feel of the fic was just so indistinguishable from the PG-rated movie, that ending definitely caught me off-guard! makes me think of YA novel for some reason
i loved the way this passage built up to its reveal! i really felt the melancholy and bittersweet here, a perfect way to crown a chapter swimming in that mood.
auauaugh, i am such a sucker for this device used in time-displaced romances that even though i saw it coming i still teared up at it!
i loved how Sandbar managed to deduce what Sunny was trying to keep secret, and augh, imagining Sandbar's canon characterization being while he knows that centuries hence, the harmony that the School of Friendship was trying to foster was fated all along to break so thoroughly that the tribes are apart again, yet still being his positive and optimistic self. that recontextualization just itself retroactively adds a wonderful depth to his character. not to mention how perfectly fitting the link between the events of this story and how Sandbar ended up at the School of Friendship feels! just so very much like an extension of the canon (that Fluttershy visit just feels like an offhand anecdote in the show dialogue!).
i'd expected this fic to end before the events of the movie, and i love how it subverted that expectation, and worked its magic of recontextualization on the movie as well! augh, i loved the structure of both strands colliding in this chapter, Sunny's excitement about retelling her adventures and being able to bring closure to her deception-by-omission built up the energy to crash into the tragic reveal, then the painfully sweet bittersweetness of Sandbar's message, then the dénouement... just really amazing stuff!
and it really does feel like young love, you know? somehow, i'm impressed by that most of all! just, idk. that innocence, novelty, and optimism, it's hard to describe!
and the way this end was foreshadowed and deducible from the exposition in the middle chapters, along with knowledge of the events of the movie! agh, there's so much great about this! and an absolute pleasure to read, thank you for it!
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Yiiiikes.
I just now realized I never came back to thank you for all your thorough feedback and lovely comments. This is the kind of response I live for as a writer.
I'm especially glad to see my 'ponyisms' go appreciated. I try to stick to the worldbuild as firmly as I can.
The fact that the movie sets off the climax of the fic was something I had in mind fairly early on in writing, and I'm so glad to see how well people reacted to that.
Thank you for reading!
Ah. I'd like to think that the cave was the same one that Zipp and Pipp would get trapped in, but you wrote this long before chapter 2 of the series.
. . . I'd still like to think that, that it's the same cave, if you don't mind.
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Yeah I wondered that too, until I figured just now that the time on Sandbar's end must be between season 2 and 6, after the Canterlot invasion but before the big Changeling reformation. It makes sense that way.
Ah, you like that calming, chill voice of Vincent Tong, dontcha Sunny?
lol