Assumptions XI: The-one-that-nearly-broke-me post-chapter notes · 12:26am Mar 10th, 2012
Dear Reader,
I apologize for the three-week gap, but with life catching up with me, I've had very little time to work on this chapter. Now, I may have finished a chapter of "Demise" (which, I think most of you won't like, since it's a tad sad), and devoted around 45 minutes every night to doodling ponies. I'm improving, very, very slowly, and have been at it for a week. Nevertheless, Here's the story you've all been waiting for.
Now, before you murder me about my incorrect explanation of radiation (there is no such thing as cold radiation, it is simply the hot objects lose their heat to the night sky, etc...) or drowning, or shock, remember: I am an architecture student, so I'm pretty much useless in about everything. I also think a proper explanation would have been far too complex, and Twilight would have tried to dumb it down for her friends. And also, I have poetic license, so your argument is invalid.
When I started writing, I honestly never thought my chapters would ever break the 5000 word barrier. How wrong was I? The length was also a part of the reason the story took such a long time to write.
Also, I'm not overly fond of the plot devices I used in this chapter. Caramel is unlucky, again. Snakes; Bronius Maximus used them way better in at Home On The Range. Well, I decided to bite the pillow (what?) and just be done with it. Please don't hate me.
The one character I really like though is nurse Redheart. I think she'd be very nice until about 5 PM, and the later her shift would drag on, the more pragmatic and cynical she'd become. Also, why aren't there more nurse Redheart fics. Not even good ones, it offers itself very nicely to a self insert. A strange pony is found beat up outside of Ponyville (he was probably a traveller) and falls in love with the mare who nursed him back to health. Or something... (I promise never to write it, though).
I also hope FlutterMac is to your liking, and RariPie makes sense. I refuse to idealize relationships. They're probably never perfect anyway, but that doesn't mean they're not worthwhile. I wouldn't know though.
The next two chapters I promise will be simpler, with very little FlutterMac or RariPie drama. I hope to release them short after one another, so it might take two to three weeks to get it done.
The sequel-o-meter currently stands at 1, which means one of you suggested it. I wouldn't write a sequel, but an extra chapter/epilogue could be in the works if there should be demand.
Spoiler: The next chapter will contain 20% more coolness courtesy of the Wonderbolts and 40% more of pegasi questioning the direction in which Caramel's barn doors swing. It will be called: Asumptions XII: Up To The Sky, Down To The Ground.
The guess the artist whose lame song lyrics EG uses to name his chapters is still open (they're not the actual song names, though).
Also, I inserted some Bjork lyrics into last chapter, they were: “As much as I definitely enjoy solitude/ I wouldn't mind, perhaps/ Spending a little time with you/ sometimes, sometimes” from the song Possibly Maybe (It's a nice song, listen to it).
Before we go: My Dumb Tumblaar
TV tropes page for Assumptions
Peace out!
EG
Well a "where they are now" epilogue would be nice, but I'm happy with anything (as long as you don't go and deliberatedly troll us. Then I'd be annoyed and then laugh it off).
Can't wait for Flutterpony Caramel.
[mental image: Caramel shakin' his flank and singing "Doncha wish your marefriend was hot like me?"]
Can't say I'Ll be waiting for Demise holding my breath, but I'll probably read it to see what it's about.
28592 Well, troll epilogue... I should really write one. As in one serious one, and a troll one. I probably won't make it in time for April Fools though. Shame.
I'm hoping to get Demise featured on EQD, as well as asking a real artist to use their artwork as a cover for the story. Needless to say, it might take a while to get it together (I'll need to write the whole thing, get pre-readers on Ponychan to help me improve it and then submit it). And don't worry, you're not obliged in any way to want to read it. Oh the whole thing will be so deliciously sad... and I will use the tears of my readers to power my doomsday device
In other news: Fluterponi Caramel will be quite badass. You'll see...
Also, I hope you picked up on the insinuation that AJ's and Mac's parents were killed by snakes and Mac has post-traumatic stress disorder, because he was there (AJ wasn't).
Sequel-o-meter now stands at 2. (Technically, it's an epilogue-o-meter, but that sounds lame).
You have no idea how relieved I was to see an update email in my inbox. Ehh, sleep is for the weak.
Also, I don't blame you for being 65% more late than you said. After trying and failing to write my own story (ask me later) , I know stories to be the slippery beasts they are.
28665 Thanks for reading and commenting and updating that TV tropes page after Chapter X.
So you're writing your own fic, eh? Good luck. Sometimes, it just takes a bit of time to figure out the details, even if the rough idea is there. Give it some time. Or try a one-shot first. 1000 words is good enough for this site, and it's always nice getting feedback on your work from others.
And don't worry, I'll finish Assumptions even if it kills me. It's just a bit tedious, and I feel like I'm repeating myself too much when I write it. Writing bits of Demise was incredibly welcome, because it just took me away from this story and gave me an opportunity to step outside of the established character interactions that I have dealt with for 11 chapters.
Sorry, what I meant to say was I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the story and good luck with one of your own.
28636 Tears of the readers?
That's...
That's...
So tacky! Where are you from, a Saturday Morning Cartoon?
I did catch on the parents-killed-by-snakes thing, it just didn't really register. Oh well, at least we know why they aren't around (I'm still of the opinion that Applebloom is result of AJ's teenage pregnancy, and that Big Mac and AJ aren't blood-related but adopted by Granny- oh od this sounds like a crackfic, somebody should go and write it >.<)
And now that you said he's gonna be badass, I can't help but start imagining Caramel shooting off smart remarks ("at least I'm ambiguous because of the wings, what's your excuse, cream puff?")
I know I don't have to read it, but sometimes I like to get out of my comfort zone now and then. I still remember when I decided to read an horror book when I was twelve, at night (I used to read a lot at night, usually finished at 2-3 am). I just found it in my collection and decided to see what it was about.
Didn't sleep 'till morning came ._.
Anywho, I'll probably read it. And bitch at you because you'll be cruel to Fluttershy and how can you dare to be cruel to such a cutiepie?
Apologize! Apologize now!
Last, don't worry about how much it takes to write it. I should know too ._. friggin' thing I was writing for the contest, abandoned it when I found out I actually wrote around 17k and wasn't ready to wrap it up then and couldn't get around to want to finish it TARNATION
28809 Well MLP technically is a Saturday Morning Cartoon, even if they do change the time slot.
And why can't Mac and AJ be related. What's wrong with a lil' incest? Apple Bloom turned out all right, didn't she? It would be more awesome if she was actually Braeburn's daughter (Oh those long, boring family vacation nights, what to do?). Anyway, he'd get AJ pregnant, but she'd only find out when she got back to Ponyville. Everyone assumes Mac is the father, even Granny, and that's why he's so withdrawn. AJ is ashamed to tell the truth, especially because she does not want to ruin Braeburn's life. Oh yeah, who's got a sick headcanon now?!
Also, horror. I'm a real wuss when it comes down to it. When I was little, just hearing about the werewolf episode of the X-files messed me up for a couple of months.
I actually thought to myself when I watched the latest episode today; Fluttershy is so happy and gentle and waifu. Why would I write that? And then I realized: Burn what you love, love what you burn. That's what I'll be telling myself when I'll be writing the story. Also, just got a permission from the artist to use his doodle as an image for the story. YEAH! This is gonna be epic.
Also, you managed to squeeze out 17k words in a week. Holy cow. Are you a wizard. The most I can do is around 3500, any more would probably drive me insane. Well, once you're done with it, get a pre-reader (on here or ponychan), polish it up and publish. I'm just wondering, what genre was it?
28821it's... it's far less impressive than that, honestly. I guess I read the rules wrong, because I could've sworn it was 10k characters max, not 10k words. Or maybe not, can't find the rules anymore.
So, really, I only did write around 3k words in about two days (because procrastination... is a bitch >.<) before I gave up on it all. Now the half-baked story is sitting in my hard drive glaring at me along with all the other unfinished stories (though I think one is actually happy I'm not gonna finish it- it was turning out rather fine, but I was always correcting this and that here and there and I laid it on thick on the drama). Maybe I'll finish it, real life permitting.
29603 Think it was 10k words max. 3k words in two days is still quite good, especially for creative writing. (Today, I managed 2400 words pure text, no layout of anything for an academic essay, and I feel drained).
I think I just might write that AJxBraeburn incestfic. I mean, marrying a first cousin is actually legal in a lot of places. I like the idea. I don't want them to end up together, of course, but it could be really interesting.Ok, I'll not talk about it anymore, since I don't want to spoil it, but damn. That might be another long term project. Maybe I'll write it over the summer.
Also, do you think it's weird that all my story ideas seem to be kind of strange and slightly twisted, but not in a good way?
29688 if it was indeed words, then I have real bad ideas about acceptable length -.- comes with writing fiction in the URPG (note: somewhat obscure pokemon forum game, where you catch pokemon by writing stories and evolve them with battles via AIM, last time I checked)
as for AJ/Braeburn... Incest is relative, after all, and we know nothing of their degree of relation, it could be anything from close cousin (son of AJ's parents sibling) to distant rel ative (possbly even an uncle, big families are quirky like that) or not related at all (married in the family). And besides, they're ponies, I'm doubtful genetic rules work the same way as humans, let alone moral or ethical ones. I'M pretty sure it doesn't work for bovines, and canaries practice parental incest in captivity, though it's mostly hearsay of my mom. She really likes pets.
i like the idea anyway. Can't say anything precise until I get a better feel at Braeburn, but i get the feeling it'd work much like raripie.
*is enjoying flinging plot bunnies your way*
I don't really feel your plots are that twisted. Well, Demise probably is a little, but sad =/= evil twisted. When we hurt our character, we're sad too. Except if you're evil, like the author of 8-bit theater.
And anyway, it won't be nearly as twisted as some of the Trollfics around the site (like, iirc, "Applejack the incestous necrophiliac" or "Seriously, Applejack, not cool". I puked in my mouth reading the first one. Or the 'classics' likw "Cupcakes" or "Ten pounds" or "Rainbow Factory") so really, you don't really seem twisted enough for that level. But don't mind me, try your hand at that.
29717 Not twisted, just... It's not gore, in which there's quite an easy suspension of disbelief (at least in Cupcakes), but there's something wrong with them. Like how we're always used to Hollywood films, even the good ones, but when you see a European film, it's mostly a bit more raw and ugly and mundane. I would think Cupcakes would be more likely to make as an episode than Demise. I don't know...
Anyway, I wouldn't want AJ and Braeburn to end up together. I'd imagine ponies would assume Big Mac is the father, even Granny Smith might think so. Braeburn would not know. He'd simply get the official news and would think Apple Bloom is his cousin. AJ would refuse to tell anyone, does not want Braeburn to get in trouble as well, especially if Big Mac would be a little too overprotective, as in "I'll kill the colt who did this to you".
Then imagine Braeburn were to visit Ponyville and really hit it off with Apple Bloom, thinking his little cousin is such a cute filly, and that he'd like to have kids of his own someday, bla, bla, bla. AJ would be dying inside, not only because it hurts her to hear that, but also because Apple Bloom's life up till that point has been a lie. Maybe if Braeburn got interested in one of her friends as well. Or AJ would have a potential suitor as well... just to complicate things even further.
That's like a soap opera (which is not a good thing, mind you). Also, There are a few pictures of AJ and Braeburn, but no shipfic involving the two. Oh well...
Speaking of twisted, I don't necessarily have an original idea, but I was going to write a thriller with Celestia as the villain. Basically, it would explain the secret of her eternal youth, as well as her pinkish hue. Luna would try to stop her. (for major spoilerage go here, and see what I might have in mind). Of course, that makes Celestia's school for gifted unicorns... and Twilight's next... haha Naturally, Celestia would have a reason for her descent into madness (something to do with Discord, probably).
So yeah, my current priorities atm (besides real life, which comes first) Assumptions, Demise, Discord and Celestia (no shipping, one shot), AJxBraeburn, and Gory Celestia.
29739 puh-lease, a soap-opera is only as bad as the script-writers behind it. And, incest aside, the "surprise father" is kinda common among hollywood movies and tv seriea (oh hey, girl-I-left-twelve-years-agp-and-is-my-true-love, how's life? What a nice kid, almost twelve you say? Ah, I kinda wish it worked out between us, I like kids, and so and so), so there's a non-soap opera plot you can use. Unless it turns out that it's no Braeburn's, it's really Big Mac's, conceived in a night of salt-licking to dRown AJ'S sorrows.
Though that's not really befitting of the Element of Honesty, eh. The whole lying-about-the-father business, not the sleep-with-relatives. Honesty never said anything about that.
I'm surprised there isn't any good Celestia-makes-Soylent Green (for ponies, from ponies!) around, you'd think with Trollestia and Molestia and Tyrannolestia somebody hd to have the idea...
29757 I really don't wanna go down that road, that is too "Hollywood". I think Braeburn considers it a mistake and is glad it didn't go any further (little does he know), and AJ, well, she wouldn't lie. She'd try to defend Big Mac, but they wouldn't necessarily believe her. For all intents and purposes, Apple Bloom would be an accident, AJ and Braeburn were just teenagers, experimenting, I'll-show-you-mine sort of thing, bored to death in the middle of nowhere. It was probably short and awkward for both... they're not meant to end up as a happy "family", though I think they might end up happy.
I don't know about Pon-lent Green, maybe I've had this blood-bath idea in my head for too long. Oh well, we'll see.
29770 ah, but Pon-lent Green has many uses, you see! Bath salts (for that therapeutic metallic scent you can't get anyway else), mane-conditioner, face cream, hoof shiner, maquillage, ingredient in ancient forbidden rites of unspeakable horror, magical battery liquid, horn polisher, seasoning, cupcake filling, and it can be processed to make splendid dresses, accessories (rumor has it, eye contacts too!) and much more!
(i was using the term as catch-all for the type of plot, not any specific kind)
also, I wasn't referring to AJ upholding the lie of Mac being the father, but rather her breaking down every time she's asked who's the father and Mac having to buck her unconscious to avoid her making a spectacle of herself. She can't lie to save her life, you see. As soon Braeburn or the mane cast sees them together and asks the wrong question they'll know something is up.
At least that's my opinion. I'd try and write this version of the story if I wasn't prone to digression. I'd probably end up talking abouT the ancient and noble house of Apple, descending from the great Melonius or about Appleloosa's dry climate or somesuch. It's great for world building, but I then get lost in my musing and don't know what I meant.
still, you shoul d go to sleep now ( and so should I. 2 am isn't time to go to sleep t on a weekday.)
29805 So it comes down to AJ's honesty. When Apple Bloom was born, and somebody asked, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh would insist she's a sibling, etc... not letting AJ speak up. When someone would ask if Macintosh was the father, AJ could honestly say: "No, he isn't", and storm off. Of course, that becomes unbearable when Braeburn and Apple Bloom meet. Thus she ends up breaking the news to him eventually, leading to a whole clusterfuck of emotions. I also like the idea of AJ having to grow up too fast, and Braeburn having this more or less carefree life, and AJ having to take care of their precious little mistake (
), would explain their different personalities.
Actually, I wonder how people can pull of AJxBig Mac. Oh yeah, I forgot, that's mostly just clop.
Bleh, I think I'm done with theorizing on this. I guess I'll just have to see where the story takes me.
30237 setting aside that Honesty isn't just about always telling the truth, but also living a clear life and somesuch, that's pretty muh the way I'D go about it too.
And personally I can't see how somebody can ship Fluttermac either, so it all balances out. I mean, if I imagine them together they're stuck in an apologizing judo match ("I'm sorry!" "I'm sorry you're sorry!" "I'm sorry you're sorry I'm sorry!").
30246 OMG stop not liking what I like.
I think any credible FlutterMac needs outside influence, they'd never just get together otherwise,
I just started writing the first scene of Assumptions XII. It's about 800 words long and we're not even in Cloudsdale yet. Ah well... Writers gonna write, readers gonna read. Sorry about me bitching here, I just need to vent a little under the illusion that someone listens.
30576 heh don't worry. Venting is good when it leads to doing something productive.
(an I wasn't saying that about fluttermac because you like it, just in genral. After Fixing Up Miss Smartypants TwiliMac is my OTP ;p)
I was trying to write a different story and started with like, 3 paragraphs in a growingly pretentious tone about Ponyville and Canterlot's high circles ._. Don't even know how t introduce the story proper now... Oh well, I'll manage
This fanfic bit the dust. A shame...
That 'next chapter' bit is sounding more tragic by the second.
this is sad