)Little Changes, Big Implications · 3:45pm May 12th, 2012
I've gone and changed a few details in Rarity's Worst Day Ever, as far back as 'Avalanche', again. Here's why...
I'm still gettin' some very upset critics, and I'm figurin' out more of what's upsettin' them. One anon was good enough to point me to a HiE Dash clopfic he considered the peak of romantic wonderfulness, and it was most revealing. The single strongest characteristic of it was that Dash was utterly sincere throughout, and her internal state always matched her 'front' or outward attitude, unfailingly. She said what she meant and thought what she said and didn't deviate from it for an instant.
The trouble with applying that standard to any Applejinx work, is that I've learned my stuff on detective novels and Le Carre spy thrillers, and I'm always looking for ways to have an undercurrent going on. It's fundamental to what I do. The unstated thoughts are a far better guide to what's really important than the 'front' characters put up- just as it is for Dash in 'Sonic Rainboom', or Pinkie in 'Party Of One'. That's probably why I went pony so hard on discovering the show- the writing was sophisticated in a way I don't often see.
In responding to this anon, I learned things- and they shed new light on what's really happening with Applejack, which speaks to why she's reacting as she is. You can reread if you like, but in case you don't want to, here is what's now alluded to (in various ways).
Applejack thinks Big Mac has BEEN playing with Dash. I had to cut Dash off before she said anything about how it was a first and only time- I had her try to instead pass it off lightly with a 'least I could do, right?' which implies that it was something she'd been doing for him before- I changed 'Applesauce' so AJ twice says outright that Big Mac has BEEN fuckin' Dash. Quite a few little changes needed to set up that underlying state of mind...
But it was necessary, because the fact is that Dash only counts wingplay, and is being loyal 'to the death' about that- and Applejack had to have a better reason than 'she had Mac once'. Almost anything can be forgiven once, but an underlying pattern of behavior that makes your world out to be a lie... I've had that happen, to me, and that's where Applejack has been, though I didn't recognize it at first. She's mistaken, but it had to be a lot plainer what she was mistaken about, and why she jumped to that conclusion.
Having straightened that out and made it plainer (as with adjusting Big Mac on the cliff, it took relatively little changing of words because the potential for the adjusted reading was already very much there), soon it's time to see what Applejack does when trying to move on. Just had to make it a little clearer that she believed Dash had seen Mac in action, sought him out, and was leading a double life under her nose- unforgivable.
And of course- Dash never did any such thing. But nopony has told Dash a thing about what Applejack said she had BEEN doing.
I'm sure in spy novels, if everyone sat down and talked honestly about how they felt, they would clear up many misunderstandings too- but they've got reasons for not doing that. For the ponies, pride, hurt feelings, independence and ego will have to suffice as reasons.
Chapter Seven should be done by the end of next week- all the advance plotting and retroactive adjusting are eating up a lil' time here, but it's to try and make the overall work read better when it's done.
As a pre-reader... I approve of these changes! Well-thought-out changes, with reasoning. I'm proud of you
111742
*g* as a pre-reader, if you can get ANY 'Trixie' material up on THAT site no matter how good it gets, I will eat my own hat
111876
Unfortunately, unless we drop the clop clause, that won't happen. I WISH I could get it up there (heck, we wish we could get Romance Reports up on EqD!) but the no clop rule stops us.
Aw, I'm joking- I know it's a family site (sort of).
I jes' wish I could count blogpony as a reader. He is mad for Trixie after all, and I even snuck in an inside joke about an old chan thread and a series of images I thought hilarious (sympathetically meant, I mean look who's sayin' it)- and I think at this point there is NOPONY, nowhere, nohow, who has made more unsympathetic folks say "OMG I kinda love Trixie now". It's not for blogpony's sake, but I still find myself hoping that would make him happy, because I think he's cool and is doing a very interesting (and challenging) thing.
Hell, at this point Trixie gets to be CANON Trixie in a committed relationship and loved for it. Before the first book, who would find that plausible? Well, it IS plausible under the right circumstances.
To be honest, I don't really feel that the change was needed, though considering the direction you are going, it still works either way. It's the same outcome, more or less, though with a slightly different underlying reason. I always thought that it was because pegasi and earth ponies view sex and love differently. To Dash, sex is just sex. To Applejack, sex and love go hand in hand (or hoof in hoof), and the two are still struggling to understand each other's views fully. The one indesgression with Big Mac upset Applejack cause she had thought that Dash had changed, and was becoming more faithful. Dash is confused and upset because she still doesn't understand just how earth ponies view love and sex. A case of crossed signals and two strong, stubborn personalities, if you will.
Then again, maybe I'm just reading too much into a story about multicolored, talking ponies fucking each other
111983
No, you're right- I just have to make some points REALLY clear, because my audience includes folks who absolutely do not get what you described. And I've been concerned the sheer rage Applejack's been experiencing has made her unsympathetic. Last book it was all Dashie being unsympathetic, this time I have a feeling it's AJ veering that way- and it's not really about them making up with a hug and kiss and being all better.
111995
To be honest, I'm still unsympathetic towards Dash, but again, that could just be me.
And at the moment, Celestia too for that matter. Talk about a bad case of empty nest
112040
I'm seeing the opposite reaction too, so I guess it all works out... I think it's a little unusual for the Princess to react in that way. But she wouldn't be going along with it if she didn't realize that she'd got too clingy and was stifling Twilight's growth. I think she's angry with herself for allowing it to happen.
112078
True. If I may put forth my own view on the topic. The way I see it, she may have some reason to worry about the bits, Twilight and Trixie themselves have already stated they too worry some on the matter. But I think Celestia is more worried about everyone growing past the point where they really need her because of it, more than fearing some terrible danger. Her own personal worries making her react more strongly to what may amount to just a hastened journey to adulthood and less dependance on a parental figure. Trixie, who's had more exposure to the bits than anyone, already acts as if she doesn't need the approval of anyone (except for Twilight), and the bits may be helping the others realize that themselves.
Though I am curious to know what Luna thinks about it all. I feel, and again this is just my opinion, that in a way she's not as old fashioned as her sister in regards to certain things. Perhaps less needing of someone to look after, and more willing to let others go and be themselves. I could only imagine what Celestia's reaction would be if Luna herself requested one of the bits. Of course that just brings up the question of who'd she be using it with.
And speaking of questions, I may be wrong, but we haven't yet found out what sort of effect, if any, it would have on a stallion, have we?
Actually, thank you. I never did quite get why AJ was so mad (I mean come on, Dash has(had?) sex with everypony), but I also never asked because I figured all would be revealed in good time. I was sort of guessing that AJ had some kind of line drawn at family. Thanks for the explanation, I really appreciate it
. My small brain needs a nudge every now and then. 
Yeah, I didn't get that that was AJ's bone-to-pick in this case. I thought it was more a case of "yes you may fuck anypony except my kin - and I figured that would go without sayin' " with Dash not even thinking to ask and maybe just a little "who has the best Applecock?" going on under the surface.
In "Pardon," I got the sense that while Celestia is distancing herself from the situation, Luna has some interest in the situation and that she and Trixie have maybe hit things off a little. So if there will be a Princess involved it's sure to be our favorite nerdy weaver of dreams and dark things, the pony with the sexy-to-Trixie Royal Voice.
If so, I approve greatly. Unless Luna comes across as a purely evil I-don't-use-that-word like she does in Romance Reports, but that would be uncharacteristic for the Trixie-verse.
112510
There is certainly ALSO 'you may not fuck my kin'- seen all the way back in 'Trixie' in the Rarity scene- but it somehow wasn't enough. When I realized what the situation must seem like to Applejack- that's when I realized what had happened, and did a few little adjustments to make it plainer.