Question and Answers to DT · 10:58pm Nov 20th, 2011
Since my Beta-reader is very busy, I will use this break to answer a few Questions that came up in the comments and in messages. If you have questions yourself, just send me a PM or comment to the blog. In case you actually read it.
1.: When does this take place in canon?
Right after season 1.
2.: What was that thing with the ball gag?
Something a writer should never do! I just added the thing to give Rarity's shock a focus in the cliffhanger. But one of my readers went a bit overboard, telling me that he would never read my stuff again, calling me sick, et cetera.
Therefore I decided to spite him and turn the ball gag into an innocent, sweet and only slightly disturbing memory, instead of using the other 3 non sexual plans I had in mind. I am sorry for that... it did interrupt the flow a little and I was not happy with all of the pay off. This is exactly why I shouldn't let insults (and those were insults, no constructive critique) lead my pen. I hope my readers can forgive that silly excursion!
3.: What were the other plans?
A. Twilight used is as a softer biting-aid, so she wouldn't ruin her teeth when performing difficult and straining spells. If you look at her doing some magic, she usually bites her teeth hard during those.
B. It's from Rarity's special back-room line (other writers have developed this aspect already) and Sweety Belle thought it to be a training-tennis-ball. She forgot it in the library after the door wreath debacle (It was still sticking to her due to the tree sap. They wanted to be Cutie Mark Crusader Tennis Players before. 4 ponies are still in treatment)
C. It's improvised and Spike just plunged a tennis ball on a regular bit gag. And don't think that that is sexual, they are horses for crying out loud! Have you seen early sketches? Rarities outfit had a fitting crown piece and reigns!
4.: What dragon lore do you use?
I started with D&D lore (A certain chapter should have given a clue ;) ), but I will strain from it. Twilight will read the Draconomicon and you are in for most of the ride.
5.: What was with the scene in the basement between AJ and Rarity?
Easy, I wanted to do a tripple joke against the Rarijack shippers:
Almost all of these shippings start with them fighting. They usually interpret a lot of sexual tension between those two, be it there or not. AND the thought progress, I used was basically copy and pasted from some stories, I read.
And just for the record: I like the Rarijack shipping! I just think that after Swayback Mountain, it got a little stale. But that is only what I read so far, so please PM me stories that don't follow that formula.
6.: Are there any things you, as the author, are proud of in your story?
Applejack didn't lie a single time during the chapter "Tea and Talking". I predicted that Luna liked hoods before Luna Eclipsed! My Twilight got crazy before it was cool! Ok... just kidding!
7.: Where is the next chapter?
Its done, really! But my beta-reader is very busy right now and I will not offend you with an un-edited chapter again!
8.: When is the dragon comming already?
2 more chapters! Ok... maybe 3. Not more than 4! Heck, I don't know! Those ponies are just so entertaining! Maybe the dragon is a philosophical thing that we all desire and... you won't let me do the "Waiting for Godoth" thing, do you?
If you really need prereading assistance, I would be more than happy to offer my services. Admittedly I only have a little bit of experience in the field, but it's something I'm very interested in doing more of.
And besides, I'm tired of waiting for the new chapter, dammit!