I'm terrible at this stuff.  Sorry.

I appreciate every single one of you.  Have a terrific two years, and I'll see you in 2015.

On request, here's my address at the MTC.  I'll be there for the next six weeks.

Arrivederci.

Ponky

Okay.  Wow.  You guys... you guys are so awesome.  Like, seriously, I'm... I'm kinda melting inside.  In a good way, though!  I think... only time will tell.  Mnyeh.

Okay, bumbling intro over!  Let's get into the nitty gritty:  The wonderfolk liked the endings of "The Sisters Doo" and "Looking-glass"!  YAAAAAY!!  I can't tell you how extremely happeh that makes me!!  Once again, I know it was a little rushed since I'm running out of time, but I'm glad that you (or most of you) liked it, anyway.  I'm sure as heck proud of it, considering my circumstances.

So, SPOILER ALERT for those of you who haven't finished "Sisters" or "Through the Looking-glass and What Pinkie Found There".  In fact, if you haven't finished both stories yet, you may not want to read past the adorable picture below.  If you don't care about spoilers, then go right ahead.  All I'm going to talk about is sequels to "The Sisters Doo".

"The Sisters Doo" ended.  Most readers--or at least, most commenters--realized that.  I like how Csquared put it:

"Things were wrapped up rather nicely, but open enough for a sequel should you choose to write one when you get back."

That's pretty much exactly what I was going for with "Sisters", so I'm glad a majority of you accepted its ending as a sort of open-ended closure... if that makes sense.  I guess what I really mean is that "The Sisters Doo" is a complete story.  There's a beginning and an end.  Anything left unresolved doesn't really matter to the story's central plot and message.

And then I went and slapped you in the face with the ending to "Looking-glass" for which, funny enough, Csquared has another spot-on quotation:

"I hate you so very much right now, Ponky. So very much. But it's for a very good reason. You see, between these two epilogues, everything screams sequel....  On the other hand, the way you've tied these stories together so seamlessly leaves me a very happy reader, so well done, sir."

Thanks, CC.  'Preciate it.  ;}

He's totally right.  "Looking-glass" has the most abrupt, sequel-begging ending, like... ever.  I planned that from the moment I started writing it, and I'm happy with the response I got from you.  It's sort of what I expected... except, like, magnified 100x times.  I get a big, stupid grin when I read all the comments that tell me how much people enjoyed both stories, and it definitely makes me want to continue the tale, because there is more story to be told.  I don't like making sequels for popularity's sake.  "Maaaan, this story is so popular that people will read its sequel no matter what!  I'll just write it, even though it has no point!!"  I hate that.  BUT that's not the case with "The Sisters Doo," because there is so much more of the story to be told.  And, believe it or not, it's all floating around in my head.  So maybe... just maybe... by the time I get back here in 2015, "The Sisters Doo 2: Electric Scootaloo" will be ready to write.

(That's not it's actual title, btw.  Don't freak out on me.  It's actually called The Sisters Doo 2: Into the Unsung.)

So, there you have it.  If all goes according to plan, there will be a sequel to "The Sisters Doo" in 2015.  I love my versions of Daring and Ditzy way too much to let them go forever.  And, if I find a way to connect all of these disconnected scenes and themes bouncing around my skull, the next installment is going to be... pretty dang awesome.  Better than the original, anyway (if only because I'm a better writer than I used to be).

Huh... this might be my second to last blargh.  That's pretty weird.  Maybe I'll squeeze in one more before the real arrivederci rings.

Once again, and not for the last time, thank you so much for reading my words, supporting my creativity, Following me, Favoriting my silly stories, commenting everywhere, sending me PMs, all that stuff.  I am so grateful for you guys, and I'll be sad to leave you for two years, but hopefully many of you will still be here when I come back!  It feels super selfish to plug this at all, but oberon started a Ponky Legacy Group to... I dunno, remember me by?  Over the next two years?  Something like that.  I'm sure it'll fade away with time, and when 2015 rolls around and I blargh "I'M BAAAACK!" everyone'll be like "Hmm?  Who are you?"  But the the Ponkacy is still a heartwarming concept, and I'm very grateful for those who have joined.  Means the world.  :ponkyblush:

Of course, if I had any, erm... suggestions... I might tell oberon to change the header to this picture right here.  But, y'know, I'm no egotist.  *cough*

Until next blargh, arrivederci, wonderfolk.

Ponky

Well, I'm about to do it... as soon as I post this blargh, I'm going to post the final chapters of both "The Sisters Doo" and "Through the Looking-glass and What Pinkie Found There" and mark them as complete.  My very first fanfiction epic is almost over.  It's surprisingly emotional for me.

I'll quickly address the main concerns that many readers had with TSD's ending.  From what I've gathered, it was 1) rushed and 2) Dinky's character was too important for how little time she had spent in the rest of the fic.  I agree with both of those things, but I feel I ought to communicate an important fact or two with the wonderfolk.  As many of you know, I'm leaving for Italy to serve a mission which severely restricts my internet access and the types of activities I'll be allowed to do over a two-year period.  Writing and uploading fanfiction is definitely not allowed, but I really wanted to complete these stories for all the people reading them.  I'm very proud of everything I've published, but if I had more time I would have lengthened the ending and written a second side-story called "The Daughter Doo: Honorary Cutie Mark Crusader" which would have documented Dinky and the CMC's adventures getting to Haissan.  

As it happened, I ran out of time, and I thought you would be okay with inventing their part of the story on your own.  But I forgot how seriously the majority of FiMFiction takes its art, and I apologize for that.  In my mind, "Sisters" + "Looking-glass" + "Honorary CMC" would have made one story altogether, and Dinky's addition in TSD21 would have made more sense.  I often forget that you, the readers, don't share my knowledge of what's coming up next.  Heheh... well, I guess we write and learn, eh?  My next epic will be better.

Also, many of you criticizing Dinky's wisdom seem to have forgotten the effects of the tumtum tree.  But I digress.

I hope you enjoy the final conclusions, and please leave comments with your thoughts, good and bad.  I'll be sure to incorporate the lessons I learn into whatever stories I write when I return in 2015.

I might get one or two more blarghs out before I leave.  Until then, arrivederci, wonderfolk.

Ponky

Seriously, how is already Thursday!?  And why is everyone pelting me with PMs and farewells on my user page right at the last second!?  It takes a while to reply to these things, and I DON'T HAVE A WHILE!!

*ahem*  But honestly, thank you all for your kind words.  :ponkysmile:  I'll try to respond to as many of them as I can, but even if I don't get around to yours, please know that each message of encouragement is well received and wonderfully uplifting.

One more day until all my stories end.  Until then, go give this song I worked really hard on another listen, and also watch this amazing typography of "Space is a Waste"--my love song musical tribute to Skirts--courtesy of the clever and generous Quylaa!  He's been a top-notch wonderfolk from the moment I met him, and the quality of this gift is touching beyond words.  Thank you, Quylaa, for making this video.  I seriously love it to death!

So, just to be clear to my 20+ new Followers (thank you!), my name is Ponky.  I write stuff, sing stuff, and sketch stuff.  I love to laugh, I love the wonderfolk (that's you), but most of all I love shortskirtsandexplosions (especially Background Pony).  That's about all you need to know... except for a liiiiiittle bit of "bad news," depending on how you look at it, which is this: I've been called to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in northern Italy, and I'm leaving next week.  In fact, the FINAL BLARGH from Ponky will be posted sometime on Tuesday, so... that's really soon.  It will be hard for me to leave all of this behind, but part of the mission rules is a severe limit to internet access to keep us focused on the work.  I intend to obey all of the mission rules with exactness, as I've been preparing it all my life, so you won't hear anything from me until 2015.  Well... at least not on FiMFiction.  My mom will be keeping a mission blargh on another site, which I'll link in the FINAL BLARGH, and I'll also give you guys my mailing address in Italy to which you're free to write letters.  I promise to respond to every letter I receive.

Tomorrow's blargh will address the main concerns some wonderfolk have had with "The Sisters Doo", but even though the finale was criticized more than I expected, I'm still super proud of the fic as a whole.  It's my first real work of fanfiction, and it'll always hold a special place in my imagination.  Many thanks to all who read it.

Ponky

I met LookOutLondon/Eccentrifuge near the beginning of my bronyism.  I wanted to collaborate with him ever since I heard his incredible music (in hopes of making a collaboration as unbelievably good as this one with Soldat, which you, as wonderfolk, are required to listen to), and over the months 'Centri and I shared ideas and became very good friends.  But only now can I proudly and superexcitedly say that we have assembled a really fun song for the enjoyment of wonderfolk everywhere.

Please enjoy: Bright Eyes: A Wonky Anthem

Also, I can't believe Skirts and I are, like... good friends.  Do you remember when I was mane-over-tail obsessed with him?  Now look where we are.  Wow.  I'm a blessed marsupial.  :ponkyteary:

I've been, uh... saddened downtrodden discouraged... humbled by the comments on "The Sisters Doo" so far.  I have a lot to say, but I'll try to keep it short and sweet in my next blargh when I post the ends of TSD and "Looking-glass" on Friday.  Til then, arrivederci, wonderfolk.  Thanks for all the kind words on my user page.  :ponkysheepish:

Ponky

Feather is awesome and you should donate to her trip to BronyCon 2013 if you can.

JoaftheLoaf is also super awesome, and I wish I would have figured that out, like, six months ago.

Here is solid proof for both of those statements:

Wow.  Now that is talent right there, wonderfolk.  Makes me wish I was genuinely talented, or at least that I had a song or two ready to release before I leave to Italy.  F'naaaa.

I have a ton of stuff on my mind and I've actually been feeling really down, but I had a nice long chat with a good friend of mine tonight and it made me feel a lot better.  Hopefully I continue to improve my attitude as we near the close of my fanficcing for 2 years.  I don't want the last thing I do to you poor people to be venting my head off.  We'll see how well I keep myself under control.  Hopefully pretty well.

Anyway, I lurve you guys.  Thanks for reading and supporting and... stuff.

Ponky

The final chapter of "The Sisters Doo" is released.

I can't even tell you how I'm feeling right now.  But I can tell you that I'm very proud of this chapter, and I really hope you enjoy it.

Heaps of thanks to Honey Mead, statoose, and Skirts for their great help with this installment.

Stay tuned for the TSD epilogue and Fit the Eighth of "Looking-glass," set for release on February 1, 2013.  I'll also be posting a long and squishy blargh about how happy I am to have written this story and worked with such great people and had such a terrific audience, but that can wait for the very end, right?  Until then, the story is essentially completed for your enjoyment.

Every wonderfolk is special.  What you do matters.

Ponky

"The Sisters Doo" is done.  I've finished writing it.  "Through the Looking-glass" is about 2,000 words from completion, which won't take me very long.  I'll probably write it at the beginning of next week.  At this point we're just waiting on my prereaders, statoose and Honey Mead so go bug them about it for me.

Phew.  Y'know, I'm not sure if you all are aware, but I'm a pretty big fan of Skirts' Background Pony.  When it was nearing its completion, I kept asking him, "How does it feel to be so close to the end?"

He said "F'naaaaaa."

When it finally finished, I asked, "Soooo?  How does it feel to be done, finally, with such a huge, epic story?"

He said "F'naaaaaa."

And now I've come to the end of my own "epic".  Admittedly, it's only 1/4 as long (and not even 1/10 as cool) as Background Pony, but... I think I sort of understand what he meant.  I thought that finishing a novel this big and intricate would be a good feeling.  But... it's not.  If anything, it's quite a sad feeling.  A lot like goodbye.

Reminds me of how close the real "arrivederci" is, and how hard it will be to say goodbye to all of you.  If I'm getting teary letting go of Daring Do, whose personality and experiences I made up, imagine how hard it will be for me to say goodbye to the wonderfolk: the real, living people who have been so kind and loving and supportive of me and my silly stories.  It's hard to fathom.  I'm glad I still have a week to brace myself.

In the meantime, get prepped for the end of it all.  I'm super proud of the endings to both stories (well... they're pretty much just one big story), and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Ponky

(also, luuurrrrved the new episode.  Favorite of Season 3, by far.)

Also, for those of you who were involved in my recent social experiment, I only have this to say:  The entire thing was conducted purely out of curiosity.  I don't think any less of anyone, nor have I lost faith in mankind's ability to follow directions.  I have giggled a lot reading your comments, though.  The only solid conclusion I've drawn from the whole thing is that a lot of wonderfolk respect me; some of you showed that by following my directions, and others by reprimanding those who did not.  Either way, I'm grateful and honored to have such good friends on this site.  Thank you, all!  :ponkybeam:

Enjoy that song, because it's AWESOOOOMME!!

Ponky

First of all, I'd like to apologize for offending anyone with my last blargh (even though, as you'll soon find out, that was part of the point).

This morning, I posted a Ponky Poll asking the wonderfolk if they Followed SS&E.  I kept the rules very simple: 1) Don't comment, and 2) Click "Thumbs Up" on the statement that applies to you.  However, I added a twist: in the negative statement, I tossed in a snarky little insult (it read "I'm an idiot I don't Follow shortskirtsandexplosions."), which would usually be worthy of reprimanding.  However, I had clearly stated that there were to be no other comments other than the two I provided.

I could care less how many of you are Following shortskirtsandexplosions.  He's a dear friend of mine and great author, but the true purpose of the poll had nothing to do with statistics.  I wanted to see how well the wonderfolk could follow directions.  Most of you did very well.

There are currently 18 comments on that post; some are written answers to my poll, but most are along the lines of chastisement: "Ponky told us not to comment."  Many comments are slathered in Thumbs, both Up and Down, even to the point that they are "hidden" due to overwhelmingly negative feedback.

Now, I'm not really sure what to think or feel about all this.  I'm sure I lost a few Followers, and I'm sorry for that, but I was far too interested in the results of this little social experiment to care for my own popularity.  I have a few thoughts written down, but first I'd like to ask all of you: What conclusions (about FiMFiction users, or people in general) do you take from this data?  Feel free to comment below with your thoughts.

Ponky