Update on The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam, plus some interesting links · 4:41am Oct 17th, 2014
First of all, go visit ChuckFinley’s blog post on Better Writing Through Triangle Chokes. It’s a fascinating view on the writing process as compared to Mixed Martial Arts (which is related to TTatRE only in that Twilight/Greenie have got caught in Marital Arts, but I digress)
Second, watch Fan Art Law at Comic-Con by Josh Wattles. A very informative view from the legal viewpoint about how what we do rides the razor blade between perfectly legal, and taken to court for more money than we have ever seen in our life.
I’ve finished another arc on Letters From a Little Princess Monster where they experiment with a lemonade stand, as well as international pyramid funding. The next arc will cover school starting and other educational processes, as well as… Oops, better not spoil that.
Now, what I posted about in the first place: The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam
Some of you may be aware of the first picture I contracted for Royal Exam from Dotterall titled Two Hats Joined As One
I liked it. I really did, and still do. But I happened upon another artist selling commissions while dressed in rags and scrounging through a dumpster (just kidding, he was at a local gaming convention), and gave him a few bucks to see what he could do with the concept.
And here’s the result:
Credit to Micah Weltsch at Micahdesigns on Instagram.
I can’t help it. I’m using this one. It’s beautiful.
And here's a quick peek at the chapter of The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam that I'm working on. No griffons or ponies were harmed in the creation of this scene. Much. Well, nothing fatal at least. Previous knowledge of Diplomacy by Other Means is not critical, but might help keep things straight. I tried to make it standalone, but with mixed results.
~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~
With that, an armored griffon she did not recognize stepped up to the two sentries who had been barring their entry, spoke a few words in Griffon, and turned to go back into the Council Chamber. Following, the two princesses and the rest of the group walked down a short shaded corridor roofed in flaking wood that Twilight was not sure would last the rest of the year and out into the bottom of a large outdoor amphitheatre. It appeared that the very back row perches had been shunned by griffons who did not want to wind up on the ground in a heap of rotting wood and splinters, and the resulting crowding forward had filled the first and second row of perches to tight capacity, with several griffons taking their place where only one had been originally designed to sit.
There were even griffons sitting on the ground, mostly adolescents and a scattering of females, but all of them looked at Twilight as she stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine with the intense glare of predators, even Gilda and Sunny, sitting on a prominent perch higher than the first row. To their sides were the incredibly mismatched pair of Pumpernickel and Emperor Ripping Claw, the huge griffon making the bulky Nocturne seem small and harmless by comparison, until Twilight realized that the sand she was walking on had absorbed the blood of Wingmaster Talon, the second griffon that he had killed that night. Pumpernickel had discarded his back-and-breast armor somewhere before taking his place, a probable indication of his dual-role being Wingmaster at the moment instead of Night Guard, although he retained the knee-length shinguards and a somewhat battered helmet. The odd pieces of Night Guard armor seemed a little metaphorical to Twilight, as if the Nocturne were able to actually change his insides by switching his outsides, although Rarity would understand totally and Rainbow Dash would just ask if she had been drinking enough water while out in the sun.
She stepped forward, keeping her eyes on the Royal Perch and trying not to smile at the way Sunny wriggled the talons on one claw as if sneaking a tiny wave to her. Behind each of the primary Royals was a second, and Ambassador Sharp Feather rolled his eyes at Sunny’s little indiscretion, while Laminia gave a poor attempt to suppress a smile of her own. Both of the Nocturne were wearing sunglass lenses clipped to their helmets, which was a little distracting to Twilight’s nerves even though she realized it was to protect their sensitive eyes, which would be nearly blind in the bright sunlight. What was more distracting was the way Emperor Ripping Claw’s son watched her as she walked, with his eyebrows lowered over narrowed eyes, and a certain rhythmic flexing of his sharp talons.
Sunny stood up as soon as Twilight stopped, turning to the side and announcing, “Wingmaster Pumpernickel, I would like to invite Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire, Keeper of the Crystal Heart, Mate of Shining Armor the Protector, and Princess Twilight Sparkle von Twinkle of Ponyville, Bearer of the Element of Magic, Mistress of the Silver Diadem and Defender of the Realm, Mate to Lord Green Grass, Teacher of Kings, into our council meeting to present a request.”
“Granted,” rumbled her odd Wingmaster. “The aerie of the Misty Mountains welcomes Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, now and forever more. Your eggs shall be protected in our nests and your fledglings may fly in our sky as they wish. What request does the representative of Equestria have for our proud aerie?”
So far, everything was proceeding according to the schedule, and something deep inside Twilight’s chest relaxed a little. Only a few more lines and she could excuse herself for the flight home.
Looks like we’re going to get back to the Crystal Empire before dark after all.
“My mate and I would like to request the presence of Princess Sun Shines as a member of our mating circle. She is an honorable representative of your aerie, and a friend to my mate. We would be deeply honored and indebted to your aerie for this, and would view it as a symbol of how ponies and griffons can live together in friendship and harmony.”
Pumpernickel nodded, turning to the little griffon who was so proud she looked about ready to burst into a cloud of downy feathers. “I see no problem with allowing — “
“What!” The emperor’s son shoved himself forward, attempting to go nose-to-beak with the Nocturne wingmaster if not for the restraining wing of his father. “You can’t be serious! Allow one of our royalty to take part in a pony wedding? Are you insane?!”
The amphitheater around Twilight seemed to be filled with nervous whispers as the surrounding griffons talked among themselves, but Pumpernickel’s vibrant tenor cut through the whispers like a knife.
“Emperor Ripping Claw, control your fledgeling.” Both pony and griffon had struck nearly identical poses, glaring at each other with their wings risen slightly off their backs.
Twilight was surprised to find that she had taken a few quick steps backwards and tried to compose herself as the emperor turned to Sky, head down and wings beginning to rise.
“Stand DOWN, my son!”
Rather than back off, the smaller griffon raised his wings too, snarling back at the emperor. “I shall not stand down, Father. If you shall not rise up in defense of our sacred traditions, than I shall. Wingmaster Pumpernickel, I hereby challenge you for the leadership of this aerie!”
Oh, dear looks like more bloods going to be shed.
Oh man, Pumpernickel never gets to participate in the calm, reasonable diplomatic meetings.
Also, the way the emperor's son was looking at Twilight makes me just a little bit nervous.
2538425 You too, huh? Don't worry, there's a happy⁽¹⁾ ending from my favorite diplomat:
There was a flare of resistance in the griffon’s eyes as he turned in Twilight’s direction, but only for the shortest instant until a hard-driven hoof slammed into the griffon’s side again and the the prince sagged to his knees. Pumpernickel grabbed Sky around the neck, his sharp teeth so close to his feathery ear that little tufts of down flickered with every word he spoke. Although she was sure their words were supposed to be private, her new alicorn body had far more acute hearing than before, and she could hear every edged word from the deadly serious Nocturne.
“I just saw that look in your eyes, and I don’t like it. You may not like ponies, but that is Twilight Sparkle, Equestria’s newest princess, and if anything happens to her, Princess Celestia, you remember Princess Celestia, right? Immortal, raises the bucking sun every morning? Could burn the entire Griffon Empire into smoking lava? Well, she would be just a little bit upset, and so would her sister. Same thing, only the bucking moon. Created my whole race just because she was lonely, and Twilight Sparkle is her friend. Now I’m feeling pretty generous right now, and if you have even the slightest urge to hurt Princess Twilight Sparkle or Princess Cadence, just nod your head, and I’ll make your death as quick and painless as possible. Go ahead. Just one little nod.”
(1) For a given value of 'happy' that is.
I love the nested hats. It's like the united crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
And "Teacher of Kings," huh? Dang, Greeny, not to shabby at all.
Eagerly looking forward to this.
Note: I need to plug my Guest Chapter for Cheerilee's Thousand in my next blog post. Also Final Solution and mylittleeconomies new story On The Origin of Specie (Oh, the puns).
2538527 More like the right value of 'happy'.
To paraphrase something a wise man once said.
"Do not taunt the happy fun pony."
(Hey, Jack Handy is plenty wise.
)