I'm a writing machine! · 11:33pm Jan 20th, 2019
While I didn't write as much as I planned over the past week, I made up for it this weekend by writing 2000 words! This brings the total word count to just short of 10,000.
In terms of what's happening in the story, it's farther into the setting-up stage. And Twilight breaks a new toy, so that's something, I guess. It won't be much longer before the really interesting stuff happens. Then maybe after I finish writing the entire rough draft, I'll go back and cut back on the infodumps. Or expand them and add more witty dialogue, whatever works.
So here is a taste of what I wrote this weekend. Please keep in mind that I wrote this quickly and barely edited.
“Now that you're here, I need you for some tests.” I glanced back and forth between Rarity and Rainbow.
“Great, we're being voluntold again.” Dash held up her foreleg. “It's okay, I'm used to it by now.”
“I just need to get your potential longevity readings before and after life infusion treatments.” I flew up to where Dash hovered in midair and held the potential longevity dial to her foreleg. The needle moved to 97.
“Can I try that?” Rainbow reached for the wand, but she accidentally bumped my hoof, knocking the device out of my grasp. The gauge dropped onto the Cutie Map with a loud clack, the needle sliding to 3000 as all of the crystals glowed brightly.
Apple Bloom gasped. “The Map is alive!”
“That makes sense,” I said slowly, picking up the gauge in my aura. “It came out of the Tree of Harmony, and it obviously has some form of intelligence.”
“Which is all the more reason not to mess around with it,” said Spike. “You wouldn't like it if somepony used you as a tool to enhance a spell.” He stared first at me, then at Rarity. “Right?” he asked pointedly.
“All right, darling, we see your point,” said Rarity.
“Is the Map okay after Starlight used it?” Fluttershy asked hesitantly. “I mean, do we even know if it still works like it did before?”
I tapped my chin. “I don't know. It hasn't called anypony on a mission since the incident with Starlight, but it's only been a few weeks.” I shrugged. “Let's just deal with one problem at a time.” I held the dial to Rarity, and then I noticed that the needle was stuck on 3000. “Oh no, I broke it!”
“It's okay!” said Apple Bloom. “I'm sure we can fix it!”
“I'm sure you can fix it, anyway,” said Applejack with a hint of pride. “You've always had the knack for mechanics.”
Apple Bloom held out her foreleg to me. “Can I see it?”
I floated the device into her waiting hoof, and she immediately began twisting the dial.
“Take your time,” said Rainbow.
I arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
“It feels weird to do a life thingy without Pinkie here,” answered Dash. “I mean, all of us were here last time."
“You're saying it set a precedent?” asked Rarity.
“I guess. Besides, what if something amazing happens and she misses out? She's gonna be so disappointed. We're talking about a mare who once made clones of herself just so she wouldn't miss out on having fun with any of her friends.”
I shuddered. “Don't remind me.”
Rarity's eyes opened wide. “The Mirror Pool! What if–”
“No!” said Spike and I simultaneously.
And then it turns out that the longevity reader is working just fine; that's Rarity's dragon heritage throwing it off.
5000023
I'm not sure if I'll actually use that, but it's brilliant nonetheless.