'Dear Scootaloo' Notes · 4:28am Mar 13th, 2013
There was a period of about an hour after I read that rejection letter from EqD where I almost quit writing.
Today is the kind of day that reminds me why I write. I love you guys and gals. Every blasted one of you (except that guy who copy-pasted 'Dear Applebloom' and posted it as his own story.)
So, let's get a bit deeper into 'Dear Scootaloo.'
-The character of Firefly is a major reason this fic even exists. For the longest time, I had NO IDEA where to go with 'Dear Scootaloo.' The original idea had Scootaloo being Dash's niece, the abandoned daughter of Dash's estranged sister. That died, and I basically gave up.
Then I came here.
The overwhelming demand for a close to the 'Dear' trilogy convinced me to re-examine the premise. I was still lost... until inspiration came from an unlikely source. Bored one day, I cracked open one of my favorite books of short stories; 'the Further Adventures of the Joker.' Inside was a story called 'Best of All' which heavily featured a lesser-known Batman character named Dr. Leslie Thompkins. Dr. Thompkins ran the Gotham Abandoned Children's Home and was Bruce's grief counselor.
Everything hit me like lightning.
I basically took the idea of Dr. Thompkins and combined her with G1 pony (and Faust favorite) Firefly. After that, the rest of the story came easy.
-Much like the bastardized Latin I used for ancient unicorn in 'Paternally Yours,' I used another bastardized language for ancient pegasus; Czech. It was going to be German, but I didn't care for it. Also forgot Loo by itself can be a toilet.
In future continuity installments, I'll also reveal ancient earth pony and ancient zebra. Suggestions?
-I'm not sure where I first read about the idea of pegasi abandoning weak newborns, but I thought it was a great paralell. After all, in ancient times pegasi were great warriors... like the Spartans.
-I thought a long time about that Fluttershy line. She never did specify why her parents weren't around in 'Dear Sweetie Belle' did she?
-Not even joking, I was doing the final revision of this story when the thought finally occured to me; "Wait a minute. Clouds can't catch on fire." Insert hasty line about chemical that turns cloud to smoke.
-When I wrote that one line in 'Dear Sweetie Belle,' I had no idea that Feather Duster would become such a monster of a character. He's my first villain I've used that is solely my creation, and for that reason the crotchety old a-hole has a soft spot in the black part of my heart. In the end, Dash needed an adversary to overcome, so I chose the old pegasus.
-While not the epic air dual I promised, I rather like Dash and Feather Duster's fight scene.
-Hey DashStep! That Rainbow Factory shout-out was for you, buddy!
-I was asked today "is Feather Duster dead." To that I answer... "Well, he's on the other side of the Rainboom."
-I. Love. Dash. and. Firefly's. Last. Scene. It flows better than any other part of the story.
-Don't ask me where the name Bubble Burst came from. I haven't the foggiest. Pepperdance was my first blind bag pony, and I swore I'd put her in a story one day.
-Scootaloo's parents almost naming her Violet is a shout-out to the first version of this fic. Violet was Dash's drug abusing older sister.
-Was that Appledash hint in 'Dear Applebloom' too subtle. Here, let me make a BIGGER ONE.
-I always wanted to write the CMC having an arguement. There's some foreshadowing here; Rarity's teaching Sweetie Belle some simple magic.
-Sweetie Belle makes the observation that there's no mention of the Great Storm in her letter. That's a joke at my expense for not planning ahead.
-GEE, THIS FORESHADOWING OF SWEETIE BELLE WANTING TO FIND HER FATHER WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL IF I HAD FINISHED THIS EARLIER, HUH!?
-The baby blanket is not sequel bait. It's an open door.
-Someone asked me if there was some secret magic at work in that last part of the story. Yes. Yes there is. I've been putting hints in every story. You'll have to keep reading...
Overall, this story exceeded my expectations, and it looks like most folks are the same way. Let us toast to the closing of the circle!
Raise your glasses, friends. To the next story!
(And EqD can go BUCK ITSELF FOREVER! 1000 VIEWS IN A DAY, SUCKERS!)
EqD don't know what they're missing, I almost feel sorry for them. 100% agreement on the Dash/Firefly scene, the emotions were so powerful. Always love seeing Dash and Firefly in the same story, doesn't matter how.
Eqd bought stock in enron and not in google
Cheers my good and now stalked writer.
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/343/462/79a.gif
i can´t believe how time passes, i remember reading the first two chapters of Morning Glory and thinking this is good, am ashamed of myself now
it was months ago and i don't even remember if i had an account at the time, maybe i had but had no idea of how FIMFiction works 
thank god i took the time to figure that out, so that now i can stalk/follow your every move and continue reading Morning Glory as well as read everything you have 
that last scene between RD and Firefly, such powerful and filled with feels scene, a second raise of my glass to you for that scene alone.
Mmmmm mysterious magic at work, sequels to become, APPLEDASH in the future? yeah as i said above and in my other comment, know yourself stalked/followed
pardon if i don't write much here since i already leave a comment in Dear Scootaloo
Some great stories in here. Not only are they well-written, but they can get me with all the feels.
I'm really looking forward to what you put out next. I'm wondering though. On future installments in this particular universe you have set up, are you going to stick with the "reveal things via letter" format, or no?
as for ancient earth pony and ancient zebra, since zebras are native to Africa maybe something related to that, maybe a butchered French, since many colonies in the African continent where from France, or a language more native to its original inhabitants.
As for Earth Ponies how about something like Ancient Mexica, or something along the lines, since many tribes and cultures of Mesoamerica where exellent farmers and warriors, Mexicas, Aztecs, Mayans, the central and South America history is filled with many cultures and languages
913949 No, the letters format was only for the CMC. If you click over to my Author's Page, I have the in-continuity stories I've done so far in their own section in chronological order.
You know, the whole idea behind the original 'Dear Scootaloo' could still happen with Babs Seed.
Yes, I know you will not be including her in the letter format, but it would be interesting nonetheless.
*raises cider mug* YESH!! TO...TO...THIS SHTORY!! YEAH!
*collapses*
What now? A Dear Spike episode.
I'd read it.
Hmmm... actually maybe written from the Princess as she is influenced by the inevetible reports sent to her from Dashie, AJ, and Rarity... and maybe the CMC. I'd like to know about Spike's origins in your world.
--Spade
Well I'm glad to see you didn't give up when EqD rejected you. That took a lot of confidence.
Do not be worried over EQD. They are a great site, but at times their prereaders are strange and schizophrenic creatures of the deep.
So lets not go the EQD, 'tis a silly place.
Keep writing. To not write would be borderline criminal.
Your series is the first one I read in a day and probably the quickest watch. I hope one day you find whatever/whoever your looking for. On a side note they were all one chapter might have had something to do with it.
If you wish to use portuguese as one of the remaining ancient languages, I'd gladly translate whatever you need.