Ship It! Ship It Good! · 4:36pm Jan 12th, 2012
With apologies to Devo ...
So, I'm a sucker for ships. Two of my three MLP stories are romances, and that's not a coincidence. And I find it interesting both what ships I sail and which ships others do ... as well as what ships we're leery to step foot on.
Even before I got involved in reading and writing pony fanfic, I was all about the Rainbow Pie and the Rari Jack. This is mostly based on "Griffon the Brush-Off" /"Over a Barrel" and "Look Before You Sleep," respectively. As soon as I saw these episodes, my little head canon immediately started yelling, "They are TOTALLY in love! TOTALLY. In. Love." The Beloved Spouse, for what it's worth, agrees with me on the Rainbow Pie but strongly contests the long-lasting potential of RariJack. Spouse says they might be able to have a fling but would never be able to stay together long-term, a position with which I strenuously disagree. (RariJack 4 evah!) But that is a discussion for another day, perhaps.
There are other ships I've come around to, as well, though, mostly after reading good fanfic featuring them. For example, I'm now a total believer in Twi Pie, which started when I read Sir Gimp of Baath's "Causality" and realized that Twi and Pinkie totally have great chemistry together as well as great potential, and I'm a recent but enthusiastic convert to The Way of AppleShy, courtesy of Cloudy Skies' "Where Earth Meets Sky." And I'm totally down with the Flutter Dash, though I tend to prefer to interpret the two of them as being very good, long-standing platonic friends.
But then there are the ships that kind of break my brain. For example, Apple Dash comes into my brain, and my brain just sits there and thinks, "But ... but they're JUST FRIENDS. I dun geddit." (And, to be fair, I know a fair number of fans feel similiarly about Rainbow Pie.) So too with RariShy and Rarity and Twilight, whose ship name I don't even know. Brain breakage. Do not pass go, do not pass $200. It's not that I DISAPPROVE of these ships, or anything of that nature, it's just that I seem to utterly fail to comprehend them.
So, here is my question of the day for anyone reading this: What are the ships you sail? What are the ships that break your brain? What ships will you never, ever touch, not even with a ten-foot pole? Do you have an OTP and, if you do, what is it? I wanna know. :)
What about Rarity and Pinkie Pie? I never saw a fic with them shipped and I doubt you can ship them unless you twist either character a bit, which I was actually thinking on doing while writing a fan fic with them shipped lol, I got plans for many fics already, but if I get some good ideas on this I'll write it down and post it on the website.
I'm down with pretty much any ship. I don't have many preferences but a good Applejack ship would be my favorite. I try to not let personal opinion of a certain ship get in my way of enjoying a well written story. For example I hate Gilda shipping, but there was a fluttershy and gilda ship I read a while back that was actually quite good.
My favourite is definitely Rainbow Pie, simply because I usually find it to be the best and most interesting, as well as being what I reckon to be the most realistic pairing. As realistic as you can get when talking about homosexual relationships between ponies from a children's cartoon anyway.
After that comes FlutterDash and either Apple or TwiDash. I could see reasons for both of those happening.
Yes, I know these ships all include RD. She's the most pairable character really.
I'm sure there's a bunch of other ships I don't mind reading too, but I can't remember them all off the top of my head.
As for ships I avoid, I've never read and don't plan to read a PinkieShy ship, as the idea seems silly to me.
I've also never been to sure on RariJack. I've read a few fics with that ship, but I always end up thinking 'Hmm, maybe, I'm not sure'.
Favorite Shppings: PinkieDash, RareApple,Twixie, , Swettieloo and BerryMent.
Shppings I don't understand/Don't Like: AppleDash, FlutterSparkle, SoarinDash, RainbowFire, Rarispike, Cherileex Twilight, BlueBlood x Trixie and AppleSpike.
Crak Shipping that I really love: AppleDashPie, DiamondBloom, BraeburnPie, SilverSparkle, CarrotDerp, Cloudshy
(Cloudkicker x Fluttershy. I read about this couple just once, but I really liked the idea), RarePants, etc.
There are other shippings I really like like TwiPie, RareMac, Twilestia, TwiLuna, etc.
There are also some shippings very rare that I really love For example: ApplePie, RarePie, RareDash, TrixieJack... (People could say that those are my second favorite shippings)
And I would like to finish this with a couple I found really interesting: Pinkie's Father X Twilight's Mother (Only if their respective wife and husband and already dead) I don't remember when I shipped those two, but I'm in love with the concept.
Well, I think Thats all.
4657
I only recall seeing it once, in Ringcaat's "The Combinatorics Project" (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7281053/1/The_Combinatorics_Project), in chapter 2. The entire story is a series of alternate takes on the various possible pairings, and I think the Rari Pie pairing is one of the weaker ones presented but still intriguing. I will say, though, that Rari Pie is also one of those ships that my brain just seems to say "Nuh uh" too.
Would love to read your take on Rari Pie, though! Do it!
4658
I try not to let my biases and preconceptions interfere with my reading of a story, either. And I must say that, despite TwiDash not being one of my preferred ships, one of my fave shipping stories is a TwiDash.
Applejack needs more love. I should write more Applejack.
4668
I think I dig Rainbow Pie so much because I think Pinkie has an unparalleled ability to knock RD off-guard and, while some see the two as too similar, I see them as very opposite in many ways. While RD is all about being cool--that is, being aloof, keeping her emotions in check, presenting a fascade--Pinkie is the exact opposite--never aloof, never holding back, never concerned about how she's being perceived by others.
Rainbow Pie IS best ship, 'tis true.
Agree that RD presents shipping opportunities aplenty. I think it's because she's got that dark angsty hero fanon thing going on. Drives the ladies wild, doncha know.
Never read a Pinkie Shy, though there is a Pinkie Shy tumbler that's quite cute (http://askfluttershyandpinkiepie.tumblr.com/).
4680
Because, if I were to ship any of the CMC, it'd probably end up being Scoots and Applebloom. Sell me on SweetieLoo!
SweetieLoo! You must tell me why you ship them, for I am greatly intrigued.
Also: I am warming up to the idea of Apple Pie. Long have I wanted an excuse to ship them, because, honestly, BEST SHIP NAME EVER. But there just didn't seem to be anything to work with--UNTIL I watched "Hearth's Warming Eve," in which the two of them made a fantastic funny lady/straight lady comedy team. Granted, they were playing characters, but those characters were close enough to their real personalities that I started to see some way to make S.S. Apple Pie a seaworthy vessel.
Good stuff!
Cheers,
DB
4728
SweetieLoo.
I don't really know.
It's just, when I think about it, I like it.
Sweetie Belle is not weak, but I like the idea of Scot protecting her, and I also enjoy imaging Sweetie being the only one who is allow to see Scot's soft side. I guess that's the same reason because RareDash seems so interesting for me.
And, besides, they both were under a table.... A Table!!!
Oh ApplePie... I'm in love with that shipping, but there are not good fics about it, except for The Combinatorics Project.
I'm not sure about "Hearth's Warming Eve", because they were Smart Cookie and Puddinghead. But, in the other hand, I support PuddingCookie Shipping.
Likes: Well, to be perfectly honest, I'll read any kind of story, regardless of the ship involved (even if none). But since Spike is probably my favourite character, Spike/Rarity and Spike/Apple Bloom are my personal favourites (it helps that "Like Fine Wine" is among my favourite fics, as are "Porcelain Secrets" and "Quit Dragon Your Heels"). I also have a soft spot for Spike/Applejack due to "Unintentionally Yours". Among the Mane Six, TwiShy is a personal favourite (thanks to "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"), while anything involving Rarity outside Spike/Rarity is a distinct turn-off (one reason I didn't like "Best Night Ever" as much as a lot of other people did, even though "Groundhog Day" is one of my favourite movies).
Dislikes: Well - just go check the galleries on mlp-fim-shipping.deviantart.com. There are over 80 different galleries for different pairings there (and that includes "collective" galleries like OC het, OC slash and so on, so the number of different pairings is even higher), and some of these elicit a "huh?" reaction at best and an "eww" at worst (Rarity/Diamond Dogs? Really?!). Also, "Our Last Goodbye" notwithstanding, Twilight/Spike is iffy - incest, much?
4794
You know, now that you mention it, I could see Scoots letting Sweetie Belle see her softer side in a way that she probably wouldn't with Applebloom. Sweetie's just so ... I dunno ... non-threatening? And the two of them were friends even before Applebloom joined the trio, so there's that, too.
I can see RariDash working, totally. For me, what would make it work is that they both have Big Goals that they're working for--joining the Wonderbolts and becoming a big fashion designer. While the other four seem more or less content with their current positions in life, RD and Rarity are always striving towards their dreams, their future. They both have the fire in the belly.
4833
I think "Like Fine Wine" was probably the best way to have workable Spike/Rarity. Because he's just a kid in the show, I think there would need to be a period where he and Rarity would be apart, where he could grow up, so that when they met again, they could interact as equal adults.
Also dislike the stories with a child character paired with an adult character because of issues of consent. Though, again, if the story takes place years later, where the child's now an adult and able to interact with the other character as an equal, I think it's fine.
Cheers,
DB
I stay away from Rarity in fan fiction- no offense to anyone who likes her, I just don't. I mean, maybe she and another character might have a thing, but I just really don't like her so I've never explored it. Sometimes the side stories in a different fic will have her with Fluttershy, so if she's not the main I guess it's okay for Fluttershy to get some love. Idk.
Anyone, Vargas made me love AJ and Twilight, even though that's only the second time I've seen 'em(the Combinatorics Project comes to mind).
No Gilda. I can see her being redeemed but just no. Also, the princesses being in a relationship with a pony doesn't make much sense in the long run- either you make the Princess mortal, the pony immortal(which just seems like a cheap shot) or the Princess just lives on, which is horrible. Ship them with another immortal character, one that's not canon or something.
That's all.
5169
Aww, poor Rarity. I feel like she's probably the most disliked (or least liked, perhaps) of the Mane Six in the fandom. I do like her, personally, but different strokes for different folks and all that.
I can see Applejack and Twilight, fer shure. My own head canon has Applejack kind of serve as Twilight's unofficial second-in-command during Elements of Harmony missions and whatnot. Because she is the loyalest of friends and most dependable of ponies. Seriously, in a crisis, you want Applejack there with you--and I could definitely see romantic feelings being born of that kind of pre-existing bond.
Cheers,
Donny's Boy
I know this is a touch late, but I'm fond of a few ships, myself. I like Twilestia, because of the bittersweet poignancy of the Mayfly December Romance. I love RariJack, because of the fantastic opposites attract vibe they have, and the simple fact that they DO have some common ground. They are both hard workers in their respective fields. They are both generous, both stubborn, both honest in a way, and they both enjoy what they do.
I, in all honesty, can't see RainbowJack, because of how stubborn Applejack can get about being challenged in the area of physical prowess. Applejack, and Rainbow Dash both hate losing. Though I've seen some pretty well-written RainbowJack's, but I wouldn't write one myself.
I can see how Rainbow Pie could work. It's like how RariJack works, for me. They are dissimilar enough that they won't consider one another a rival, and have enough common ground that makes a good foundation for a relationship.
RariShy, and RariTwi are workable, too, because they have a similar opposites attract vibe as RariJack. RariShy seems like a fairly natural progression of their established friendship. RariTwi, though, seems a touch teen comedy cliche. Beauty and the Nerd, or Give Geeks a Chance.
Weeellll let's see...
It's weird: due to time and other things I haven't read many Appleshy fics, but that pairing seems like a natural one. Not just due to opposites attracting, but because these opposites seem to compliment each other quite nicely. It's easy to see how Applejack would be the kind of supportive spouse that Fluttershy might need to develop more confidence. But also it's easy to see how Fluttershy would provide Applejack with the kind of personality she needs to be able to let go around, be vulnerable, express her fears and concerns, and not be so on all of the time. I suppose in this way RainbowShy also makes a lot of sense, though with more potential for friction as Dash is more abrasive and less patient, and also probably less willing to open up. (Which would make for good story grist.) ((In stories I'd probably play up Dash and Shy more as old friends, and wholly intend to for some ideas for shipping stories I have.))
RainbowPie was a ship I had trouble warming up to for awhile, but now it just makes sense. I suppose Donny Boy's stories on the two have helped a lot in this regard. If you look at their interaction in show it could suggest a romantic relationship, though there's also enough (at least in season one) to suggest Pinkie has a crush on Rainbow that is one-sided. But they are both fairly in-the-moment personalities who tend to be laid back. Neither seems to take things very seriously and they would appreciate that about each other: not having to sweat the small stuff. At the same time, Pinkie is probably more serious and sensitive to others needs than fans often realize. See for example her refusing to prank Fluttershy because she knew how emotionally sensitive Fluttershy is. She'd at least do Dash some good in terms being more attuned to other peoples' needs and personal boundaries. (And if not that, then Applejack would pick up the slack as Dash's friend, though I've often wondered why no one has done the Dash-ship fic where after doing something particularly "Dash" Applejack sits Dash down at a bar and gives her a good talking to about what's required in relationships. It seems like a natural use of their friendships in regards to all other Dash shipping pairings.)
Similarly Rarijack is another pairing I've warmed up to, mainly for a lot of the reasons given here but also due to Diamond in the Rough which doesn't so much play on those specific reasons but nonetheless offers a touching, funny, and rather convincing portrait of the two coming to terms for their feelings for each other.
Oddly enough, despite recognizing the reasons others have given for RariDash I somehow have trouble seeing the two. I know they are classic Scorpios who take what they want, are very ambitious, and passionate about what they do. Yet at the same time I have a hard time seeing either Rarity or Rainbow having much patience for each other in a romantic context. Whatever broad similarities there are in personality, Rarity's fussiness and Dash's impulsive, devil-may-care attitude (combined with their strong will) seems like they would break apart with nothing to stabilize or further bind the two. (In contrast, Twilight has a less explosive personality and a certain groundness that could allow her deal with Dash and that would cause Dash to make her more seriously.) Granted I haven't read any Raridash fics yet.
And of course I really can't see ApplePie or RariPie due to Pinkie's personality just appearing to be completely incompatible with the two in a romantic sense. Otherwise I'm open to most shipping combos among the mane six.
I also like Twilight and Luna which "Luna Eclipsed" reinforced. At base you have Twilight, a pony who never had friends until recently, helping out a pony that has been isolated for 1,000 years and really needs help with connecting to other ponies. Plus canon Luna's ham personality and archaic mannerisms only enhances the exquisite shippiness when paired with the reserved scholar and history nerd.
Also GildaPie is the best crack ship!
It's funny that I'm answering this because as of say, the beginning of July 2012, if you'd had asked me about shipping, or even fan-fiction, I would have given you a look as though you had been licking cane toads and then make some facetious remark about an ethnography I was reading (which actually would be pretty accurate regarding my wider interests).
Then I watched the first two episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
And then I saw 'The Ticket Master.'
I pretty much immediately started shipping AppleDash, HARD.
And it's not out of my system...granted I haven't properly written a fan-fic about them or even done drawings of them despite that being one of my favourite hobbies. So there's a creative itch that needs to be scratched. It may also be that, despite my appetite for AppleDash fics, I'm never wholly satisfied by them.
7458
"I, in all honesty, can't see RainbowJack, because of how stubborn Applejack can get about being challenged in the area of physical prowess. Applejack, and Rainbow Dash both hate losing. "
Well you could pretty much say that Applejack and Rainbow Dash are too competitive to be compatible. Plus Dash would likey go crazy living on a farm, or AJ's family and routine oriented life. That her (apparent) lack of work ethic would drive Applejack nuts. Or that RD's goal of joining the Wonderbolts would potentially take her far away from the farm for long periods of time. And that's to say nothing about their differing Earth Pony and Pegasus lifestyles they follow.
But the more I think about these contradictions and potential points of conflict, the more fascinating the become to me. They are also very alike in their athleticism, their competitive nature, that they tend to (relatively) follow their heart, and not get wound up in small details. And still seem drawn to each other.
It's not just being their physical competitiveness. In "Over a Barrel", the two monopolized what should have been a conversation between Braeburn and Little Strongheart. Of course AJ at least has family in Apploosa, but what skin does Dash have in this game that got her so hot and bothered? None, other than she feels the need to argue with AJ and to have AJ see her as being right. There's almost this palpable need...no desire to impress each other and hope that each other notices. Is Applejack merely roused by Dash or physically attracted to her? Or does Dash's carefree spirit appeal to parts of her that sometimes need a release from her day-to-day routine and responsibilities? Does Dash merely see a good friend and worthy rival in Applejack, or the one pony in Equestria that hold her attention for extended periods of time? That can make her think twice about doing something (see Applejack giving RD the look in "Boast Busters")?
Which is where I get dissatisfied with a lot of AppleDash fics. They really don't ride the competitive tension properly beyond a 'will they or won't they' theme and things get too idyllic too quickly. AJ and RD's competitiveness is arguably a manifestation of their inability to work through their feelings. Arguably in order to make a relationship between them work both characters would be forced to re-evaluate themselves and why they are so competitive. And they might just do that.
After all, Dash abandoned Pinkie and Rarity in desert just to chase after Applejack.
5169 Why not canon? I've seen plenty of DiscordXCelestia and even one example of DiscordXLuna (well, more like Nightmare MoonXDiscord)
8587 "[...] I've often wondered why no one has done the Dash-ship fic where after doing something particularly "Dash" Applejack sits Dash down at a bar and gives her a good talking to about what's required in relationships. It seems like a natural use of their friendships in regards to all other Dash shipping pairings. [..]" Congrats, you just inspired me to write about that after I finish my first fanfic (it's a funny Twinkie), I think it'll be RainbowShy, and Dash will get really mad and then go to Sweet Apple Acres to drown her sorrows in the cider in the basement that Applebloom's not allowed to drink.
Anyway, regarding the thread, I like FlutterDash, RariShy, and PinkieDash, in that order. I'm afraid I can't go as in-depth as you all, but I think I like RainbowShy/FlutterDash because
. I like to think that Rarity gradually fell in love with Shy during their spa adventures. But, I digress. Pinkie totally has a one-sided crush on Dash, as proved in Griffon the Brush-off.
A) they're childhood friends, and I always like cute romantic stories about childhood friends, and
B) They seem like the closet of the mane six (Twi, ironically, seems to be the only one who hasn't taken a particular liking to at least one of her "friends"; she's equally distant and cold with all of them)
As for RariShy, I just think that they're emotionally compatible and I like to think that there could be a dramatic love triangle between them and Spike, like,
26187
Yay! My self-involved blather has produced RESULTS.
26187
I like FlutterDash for those reasons, too. I think there's a lot of potential for sweetness in the "childhood friends fall in love" angle.
8935
"And then I saw 'The Ticket Master.'
I pretty much immediately started shipping AppleDash, HARD."
Swap "Ticket Master" for "Griffon the Brush-Off" and "AppleDash" for "RainbowPie," and this is me. Though I've always had shippy tendencies, through all the various fandoms I've been involved in.
I am slowly but surely coming around to the Way of AppleDash. They have a very interesting relationship and complex dynamic. But I think my own personal default will always be to write them as friends and explore those dynamics in a platonic way.