"Running Free Across the Plain" Extras · 10:56pm Oct 12th, 2015
Hey, thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed "Running Free Across the Plain." Just wanted to say that, first and foremost. It's not an especially ambitious story, but it's fairly different from what I usually write and I'm glad the reception has been positive.
Now, onto some extras! Anyone who knows a bit about my work knows how much I enjoy metahumor and references, so I thought I'd go ahead and reveal that the story in fact has a few of these hidden bonuses. A very few folks caught onto it as well. If you're curious, scroll down past this adorable picture of a baby Shetland pony (done by the same kind lady who did the picture on the cover) and all will be revealed. If you'd rather go back and see if you can find the hidden "Easter eggs" in the tale, then be my guest. 
That is one cute baby horse.
Huh? Oh, right! (But seriously, check out Ms. Koutnik's work on DA or her own site - her wildlife photography is really great and also I did get her permission to use her photographs and she was kind enough to oblige.)
Well, first of all, the title is a subtle reference to one of my favorite shows when I was younger: an animated series called "Daria," in which a teenage girl gets through her high school years with a killer combination of dry wit and biting sarcasm. In the first episode, she's shown a silhouette of a man and woman talking and asked what she sees. She nonchalantly says "I see a herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains." The guidance councilor showing her the picture says "There are no ponies, Daria. It's just a man and woman talking." Explaining that it is not a Rorschach test, she keeps insisting that Daria tell her what the man and woman are discussing, to which she says "Um, it's a man and woman and they're discussing... a herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains." I always thought that was a pretty good gag. And of course, because bronies are everywhere...
Astute reader Murgatroyd was the first to get the joke.
The other hidden gag is in the Aliens in the story. I admit the whole "ancient aliens" thing is not a particularly new origin story, but I wanted it to be a bit more: I wanted it to bring in the issue of benevolent caretakers and make their actions understandable, but without being patronizing or morally ambiguous. I also wanted them to have the intention of handing the responsibility of caring for the planet off to the ponies, of both blessing and burdening them with the role of stewards of their world.
Also... their names are a metahumorous reference. If you care to know, their names are anagrams. Each of the Aliens is named for a writer/staff member on "Friendship is Magic." Astute reader Moon-Dew got this one.
-Solkyp = Dave POLSKY
-Ytchcarm = Megan MCCARTHY
-Nolras = M.A. LARSON (with a bonus - at one point Sokyp says "Gratitude, Nolras," referencing the "Thanks, M.A. Larson!" meme after "Magical Mystery Cure" came out)
-Aftus = of course, Lauren FAUST
I tried to do my best to portray equine socialization correctly, with the mares generally being in charge and the stallions being more about security and enforcement. I also did my best to portray the Gray Foal as being dependent on his mother, which is a pretty big deal with horses. Before they're weaned, foals will actually suffer a lot of stress and can even get heart attacks if separated from their mothers. Additionally, the scene where the Lead Stallion kills the newborn foal is also something that happens. When a newborn foal is lame, it will sometimes be killed or abandoned if it drags the herd down and the mother refuses to leave it.
I did use quite a few videos as references as well, but some of them might not be that pleasant, so I won't link them here. Although this one, which I used for the opening scene with the Gray Foal waking up, is pretty darn cute.
Anyway, thanks for your support!
You can't see it, but I'm totally squealing because I love it when author's put in Easter Eggs and secrets in their stories.
Neat. :)