... As to why I've been rather quiet and why you should care (spoiler: you shouldn't).  In short, last year of degree, last term was more hellish on writing time than I thought it would be, and this last term is exams, exams, exams.  Once all that's out of the way (16th May), I can dedicate myself to writing more and finishing Binky Pie, which I believe just turned two years old.   Which makes me feel old.  And slow.

I've finally finished Pony of the Opera, for which I am thankful.  I started writing that around July last year, so it's good to finally have it done.  To tell the truth, before beginning it, all I had done was watch the film adaptation of Lloyd Webber's musical about ten times.  I had no familiarity with the book or any other version of the story, although I had visited the location that inspired the story, the Opéra Populaire or Opéra Garnier in Paris, which is a fabulous building that I heartedly recommend visiting if you're going to Paris!

Originally I planned the story to be a straighter adaptation of the film, but as I began writing, I realised that the themes and values present in both the film and the original novel did not translate well to the FiM universe, and began to work around it.  The result, I hope, is a compromise that both captures the feel of FiM and remains faithful to the spirit of the story, if not the letter.  The characters are primarily adapted from the 2004 film, especially Carlotta (Prima Donna), André and Firmin (collectively Falsetto), Madame Giry (Madame Quick Step) and Buquet the Technician (Iron Knot).  Fluttershy stars in the role of Christine Daae, while Rarity partially takes over the role of Raoul.

After beginning, I started to read the original book by Gaston Leroux, which is available in English for free on WikiSource, Project Gutenberg, and other such repositories of non-copyrighted literature.  Many of the elements of the story are, as a result, adapted from both the book and film, and the order of events follows the book more closely, perhaps, than the more familiar musical.  Someone familiar with both works should get more enjoyment out of the story than someone familiar with only one or the other as a result!

The scenery of the story's setting - Canterlot and the Royal Opera House - is based on my impressions of Paris (for the streets of Canterlot) and the actual architecture and layout of the Opéra Populaire (for the Royal Opera House).  I visited Paris again whilst writing the story, and made sure to see the Opéra once more, if only to refresh my memory of its layout and décor!  The underground lake is, sadly, merely an element of fiction from the original tale (although based on real waterways and catacombs that run beneath the city of Paris).

All in all, this story was an interesting challenge to write.  I chose to keep the style deliberately flowery in places, moreso than I would normally, as I felt this better showcased the grandeur and decadence of the Opera and all it entails.  Adapting the story to FiM was not as easy as I thought it would be, but hopefully it will be enjoyed.

And now that I have that story out of the way... I'm free to dedicate more time to completing Binky Pie!

I have finally posted something!  It's been a long break.  The long delay was started by exams, lengthened by writer's block, and then further extended because I got roped into doing writing for a private server who are developing a new setting for World of Warcraft.  This chapter of Pony of the Opera has been in the writing for quite a long time, although there was large chunks of nothing between writing.  It's been a nightmare to write specifically because of the confrontation, which is not a subject that comes easily to a setting like My Little Pony! Regardless, this represents the last big chapter, as now only the Finale remains, which hopefully should arrive without too much of a long wait.

I got 'tagged' or something.  While I ain't gonna humour the notion in its entirety by annoying a further eleven people and forcing them to answer some questions, I'll answer the ones that were sent to me.

Namely...

1. Who is (the) best pony?

Rarity, and Celestia.

2. Why?

Personally, Rarity solidified herself as my favourite in S1E19; A Dog And Pony Show, and that's just been continued ever since.  I like her because, of the Mane Six, she's... Pretty much the biggest hypocrite, but somehow remains true to her spirit of generosity despite it all.  Tabitha St Germain's voicework on her is also excellent, and Rarity's lines and reactions crack me up more often than the others.  She's also a complete karma Houdini and very fun to write for.

However, I also adore Princess Celestia.  Like everyone I've got my own notions of what she's really like, can can argue based on the show.  She is by far my favourite character to write anything for, because I picture her as the adult that's forced to be mother to thousands of children who all look up to her and expect her to act in a particular way... And at times she gets sick of it, and longs for a break.

My favourite line from Celestia definitely comes from S2E20; It's About Time: "Good morning, Twilight!  Love the hairstyle!  Well, Happy Tuesday!" /walks off.  /no explanation given.

3. How does magic work?

My personal theory is that, in universe, magic is powered by the bonds between ponies, as a collective effort.  There's a magic 'field' that pervades and surrounds everything in Equestria, that ponies can tap into either indirectly (as Earth Ponies or Pegasi) or directly (as Unicorns and Alicorns).  The more friends (proper friends) a pony has, the more powerful they are, when tempered with trained talent and skill.  Magic powered by a bond of true love between two ponies (as demonstrated with Cadence and Shining Armour) is on a similar level of power to the Elements of Harmony, which requires a minimum of two ponies and some tricky genetics and fate.

As for mechanics?  It's been shown to act somewhere between pure force and some kind of energy, but I don't think it's worth analyzing to that degree.  We also know that some creatures have innate magical ability (Cockatrice, CHangeling) and others certainly aren't powered by friendship (Windigo, Discord).  In fact it could be argued that both friendship and hatred work as sources of power, although ponies as a race can only use the former.

4. Do you think Chrysalis was truly evil?

"Evil" is relative.  As I wrote shortly after the episode in this short story, I don't think a Changeling needs to dominate to exist, but I think Chrysalis was portrayed as something more like a concerned 'mother' who was willing to go to serious extremes to provide for her 'children'.  Unfortunately for her, so's Celestia.

5. What about Discord?

Discord is Chaos, let's not confuse that with Evil.  By the same Token, Celestia and Luna (as one unit) represent Order, but I'm sure that in their thousands of years of life, they've committed acts that would not be considered 'good'.  I think both of them need to exist, or else the universe in which Equestria exists would ultimately stop working.  Unfortunately, the two are constantly at odds with one another, although perhaps in time they could form a mutually beneficial partnership.

Of course, having said that, Discord does delight in the apparent torture of beings under his rule, and is completely egotistical and concerned with only his own satisfaction and amusement.  In that way, yes, he's 'evil'.

6. What is your favorite meme?

Hrm.  I dunno.  I tend to smirk at most of them.  Like any joke, delivery and timing is everything.

7. Favorite episode?

Hrm... Possibly S1E20; Green Isn't Your Colour.  I love the play-off between Fluttershy, Rarity and Twilight in that episode.  As mentioned above, I also enjoy A Dog And Pony Show for Rarity's magnificent hamminess, and I've had favourite moments all throughout season two.  Of course, there's also Party Of One.  Who doesn't like schizophrenia and possible mental breakdowns on a kid's show?

8. If you found yourself in Equestria, what species would you want to be?

In all honesty?  Probably a unicorn so that I could retain the semblance of having hands.  But if I'd been born a pony, Earth Ponies are pretty cool.

9. If you could, what pony would you date?

Yes, well, next question!

10. Would you adopt the filly version of Queen Chysalis?

After screaming for several hours at the concept of a talking, shapeshifting, half-dragonfly, half-horse monstrosity on my doorstep, possibly.

11. WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS TAGGING CRAP?!

No idea.  I ain't continuin' it.

~~~

Right, right, update news, I suppose.  I've finished my exams (rejoice!) so I'll get back to writing pony soon enough.  Mainly scrambling around to find my inspiration again.

Just as an awareness-raising point; I'm currently entering my month of exams, hence the considerable delay in updates on my various stories.  The finale to Pony of the Opera is still being penned, and once that's finished I'll be writing the next chapter of Binky Pie.

Whelp, I finally updated Pony of the Opera after five months.  I'll try and do the next, final chapter in the coming week, but no promises there.  Then it's back to Binky Pie!

Speaking of Binky Pie, two things have come to my attention regarding it.  Namely:

1.  It has been given a TV Tropes page.  I can legitimately tick off a life goal.  Much thanks to Andyroid for setting it up, and the other editors for contributing to it!  It's still just a small article at the moment, but I'm sure it can be expanded in time.  I would do it myself but that kinda feels like cheating.

2.  There's a live reading of it being done on YouTube by this fellow.  He was, at least for the first few chapters, reading it 'blind' (recording it as he read the story for the first time), so it's almost like a literary Let's Play.  Go and give him some support, too!  Especially since Binky Pie is apparently the first non-Grimdark one he's done a reading of.

I believe that's all I've got to natter about at the moment.

I'M GETTING THERE, HONEST

I'm in the middle of exams at the moment, but I'll soon be back to updating.  Next up: Pony of the Opera - Act II: Scene II.

In the mean time, I also run an RPG/Writing forum, which blends a choose-your-own style story with RPG style elements in a Sci-Fi setting.  I... can't really summarize it that well.  Go take a look, and sign up if you're interested!

When I wasn't looking, I got 102 followers.

I have one-hundred and two followers.

That's as many as ten tens and two.

And that's awesome.

In other news: Hey, look, an update!

I dunno whether anyone else finds these interesting, but it helps me keep track of stuff.

So, one month on from the last post, where am I?  ... Not much further!  I've added two more chapters of Binky Pie, still haven't started Act II: Scene II of Pony of the Opera, but I did begin work on the sequel to Fleurdeliser, and the necessary world-building for Sugarpunk is well under-way.

Of course, real life intervenes, as it always does, or else I'd be a lot further ahead than I currently am.  This week alone I have four multiple page laboratory reports to write (no easy task, I assure you), as well as a presentation on... something related to Forensic Chemistry to prepare, and weekly tutorials to finish.  University leaves little time for hobbies, sadly.  Still, I try and snatch what time I can get.  I enjoy writing immensely, after all.

As to what'll update next... Eh.  I dunno.  I started writing Fleurdeliser - Royal Flush because the idea was sitting in the back of my head, but I don't think that'll be finished for a while yet.  I really ought to finish Pony of the Opera... But admittedly after watching Phantom of the Opera for the umpteenth time, the fervor begins to wear off.  Not to mention it's now (shock gasp) show-inaccurate, with its portrayal of Derpy in the Intermission.  Granted this is hardly an important plot detail but it still annoys me.

Pony Shorts will update intermittently, as ever.  I tend to just write and post those the same evening, there's rarely any planning involved.  I think the one that took me the longest was On Crowd Songs, but then it is nearly double the length of anything else in there.

As for Binky Pie!  Well, that's taken the lowest rung at the moment.  It'll get there eventually, though, honest!

... I think that's all I've got to ramble about.  I would've loved to have taken part in this writing competition, but sadly time conspired against me.  Perhaps next time.

Managed to double-post this.  Typical!