Teaser: Shipping and Handling Official Sequel! · 6:42pm Jan 24th, 2013
Fillies and gentlecolts, I am thrilled to finally be able to present...
CLICK HERE to visit the artist's page and tell her how amazing she is!
That's right! As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, the sequel to what is still my most well-known story is now well underway! If you haven't read "Shipping and Handling", there isn't much from this point down that will mean much to you, (not to mention there are spoilers regarding the first book) so continue at your own risk!
I'm trying my very best to ensure those of you who enjoyed "Shipping and Handling" will not be disappointed by this sequel. I've got a little information to share for those interested. Consider it a teaser of what's to come.
As I'm sure you can see from the title art, the focus is switching from Ditzy Doo to her daughter, Dinky.
The first book concluded with Dinky Doo boarding the train to travel to Celestia's Academy for Gifted Unicorns. Anyone who thought I was going to leave a perfectly good story oppurtunity like that unused was very much wrong!
"Hocus Pocus" is going to continue the story, and is set in the same universe as the first book. This means there will still be some appearances by the familiar cast of characters that worked at Equestria Speedy Shipping Services as well as a (large?) set of new characters associated with the academy. (Three of the most important new characters can be seen on the right side of the picture, standing over there with Sparkler).
Speaking of Sparkler, what IS she doing over there anyway? As many of you are no doubt aware, Dinky and Sparkler are sometimes believed to be related (because of Sisterhooves Social). If you read Shipping and Handling, you've probably realized that this is NOT the case in this story's timeline. Sparkler wasn't even in the first book.
So what role will Sparkler have here, and how will it affect Dinky? Well, I can't go giving away major plot points before the story even begins now, can I?
Although the second book will be slightly more adventure-oriented (as opposed to the first book's shipping mini-stories) I'm still trying my best to keep it to the fun and lighthearted tone of the first book, because everyone certainly seemed to enjoy that. In a way, it's still going to be kind of "slice-of-life", but life can get exciting when one is attending an academy of magic.
Anyway, I don't want to give away any more specific details than that. You can expect the first chapter (and the second one, for that matter) in March. I'm not precisely sure what day in March, so keep your eyes open, and as always, thanks for your consideration in reading this, (and any) of my stories!
~Pegasus Rescue Brigade
P.S. Were you fed up with certain "weird" chapters in the first book? Don't worry, this one will have at least 90% fewer references to imaginary universes, and 100% less cameo appearances by a certain administrator of a popular pony blog. You know what I'm talking about~
*insert fangasm here*
you're sequeling th' third fic i read EVER?! YES!
*various assorted excited noises*
Sounds awesome! Can't wait
'Nuf said.
...Now I need to read all those extra chapters... faaaaaaah more things to do.
#firstworldproblems
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/219/397/are-you-not-entertained.jpg
I AM ENTERTAINED! THIS PLEASES ME! GO ON!
May the Grace of the Valar Protect You
Shire Folk
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN NOT WAIT!!!!
Love the work you do and there is no way this will disapoint.
746923
The extra chapters are "not canon" so to speak. You can skip them and the sequel will still make perfect sense!
Goodness, from what you're teasing us with, it seems you're doing everything you can with the story perfectly! A good Dinky development story, lighthearted yet adventure-y, and all the old S&H gang making appearences – "I can't wait" is an understatement. :D
Oh my god! It is absolutely glorious!!!!
Never has there been a picture to hype you up more for a story!
And never has there been an author more worthy of such art!!!
746942
Follow the link and compliment the artist!
I... I can't wait for this. I absolutely loved the first one and if its a sequel I can't wait to see how it I continues. I mean beyond what you've said here.
I'll have you know, I still keep getting the canon of this story mixed up with the show's canon.
No other story has had that happen with me yet.
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Allow me to release my squee of joy.
YES!!!
I've waited for this!
And Dinky is going to be the MC? YES!!!!!
I liked the "weird chapters".
Time to go praise an artist.
Oh god yes.
So, Dinky attending Celestia's Academy will be the focus of the story? I cannot wait, I love stories like that!
I
Am
EXCITED!!!
*squee!*
...Yes.
If there was a picture of my avatar doing the Fluttershy folded arms pose, I would post that with the word above this sentence below it.
Oh.
But I wanted to see Pinkie's imaginary universe again! That was one of the best chapters in my opinion.
Can Dinky go to inanima once?
Please?
I'll give you a moustache.
747279
I'm not sending Dinky to Inanima.
However, Ditzy is still working at Equestria Speedy Shipping Serives, which means Watt (and Pinkie Pie) will make one or two small appearances in the story. So we might get to hear a little more about what's going on in Inanima~
747288
Darn.
Oh well, so long as it gets a mention.
You know what would be really cool though? If you made a sidestory where the mane six follow Pinkie and Watt into Inanima.
Just a thought.
Yer a wizard Dinky.
March?
Best birthday present EVER! 
My heart stopped when I saw this blog post. Then it exploded with anticipation! S&H was awesome; here's hoping Hocus Pocus will be all the more so!
Mustaches for you.
746935
2nd that ! but why i have to wait soooo long !?
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I can't wait! But I have to wait. But I don't want to wait!
747415
I would have loved to start it earlier but I'm taking the time to develop the characters and the world in which the story takes place a little more.
I'm just trying to be stronger in the areas of S&H that were the weakest (like OC characterization), and that takes time.
Heck, I COULD release chapter 1 next week, but the quality would suffer noticeably. So wait till March and hopefully it'll be worth it.
747609
it's okay, take your time, i still have like 40 story to read on my ebook reader and some books and manga to read.
ah and no worries, your story got priority allready
Bu-but... I wanted Seth to appear! And you can NEVER have enough pinkie
748187
There'll be a little more Pinkie.
The problems with adding fandom personalities like Seth are as follows:
1. That made a lot of people mad last time because it "breaks the immersion" or something. I can sort of agree with them.
2. Brony in Equestria stories are no longer accepted for EQD. They used to be back when I wrote S&H, but I can't do it again now. Since I'm an EQD pre-reader and reject people for this very reason, it's especially important I stick to my own rule.
Can't wait man.
Very excited for this, S&H and Fluttershy's BHD were incredible stories. Now stop teasing and give us a release window!
~Momentai
That is all
748935
Right now, the release window is "March".
As that gets closer I'll be able to give a better estimate.
749308
Thanks very much for the estimate. I know that giving a hard deadline just ruins everything. March is looking to be extra-awesome this year between this and Luigi's Mansion 2! Have a good day/night depending on your time-zone!
~Momentai
I'm looking forward to reading this, although it does sadden me some to know that it might be quite some time before I'm able to. I leave for Basic Training in March, and won't be able to read again for quite some time after.
Official sequel to Shipping and Handling has been finally confirmed?
PARTY TIME!
aww i actually wanted more animiah.
(be it one capture.)
nah this could be interesting (i hazard a guess book one was pre sister-hooves.)
all for "lighthearted".
748680
That's fair enough. To be honest, it was one of the few chapters I didn't like all that much anyway. Looking forward to the sequel.
As for Sparkler:
1. Seriously, am I the only one here wondering about her role in the story?
2. I'm guessing the stint in Sisterhooves was either Dinky being an "honorary sister" or Sparkler being adopted. I'm going to guess Sparkler has...
Also, I really like that this one will be more an adventure story rather than a set of romance stories. Makes it sound more like Fluttershy's Bad "Hare" Day, which I think is your best long fic.
758042
You can pm me, I like to know how people's thought process is going about this. Thanks for not theorizing in the comments though.
But honestly, I'm just kind of ignoring Sisterhooves Social here.
Either that or it happens after this book.
758353
Okey dokey, then.
Awwww... I liked the imaginary sequences. Especially anything, ANYTHING with Watt. He's best original character ever in my book.
Okay, so I didn't want to read the teaser (I don't like spoilers), but I still want to say that I am extremely happy to see that Shipping and Handling is getting a sequel! S&H was my second fanfic (only to My Little Dashie) and is the story that really got me into reading fimfanfiction in the first place. Reading My Little Dashie felt like more of an obligatory thing as a briny to do (though it was still good), but Shipping and Handlingn I started and enjoyed of my own accord! Though I will not be reading it as you update each chapter (I hate juggling unfinished fanfics), I eagerly await its conclusion! Thank you!
Okay, I couldn't help myself! I read it and now I'm even more excited! I might not even be able to wait for you to finish like I normally do! I enjoyed the weird chapters of S&H, but I don't care if you do or don't include like stories in Hocus Pocus, I think it will be an awesome ride either way!