Submission for CategoricalGrant's Cuddlefic Contest. · 1:52am Feb 14th, 2019
Howdy Switchers, Scoundrels, and Touchers.
Today, I have managed to finally write something after a very, very dry month of not-much-happening.
I don't know why I have struggled to find words to put onto paper. Maybe I have not had the right motivations. Perhaps I've a bit disheartened that ideas I thought would leap into the imaginations of you, the readers, were not met with the reactions I expected. Possibly it is because I've let video games and other matters of life take over my attention rather than tales of horses in fantastical situations. More likely it is all of these reasons and many besides.
However, thanks to Mr. Bassist, I was introduced to a competition that did whet my appetite and encouraged me to write more. CATEGORICALGRANT'S CUDDLEFIC CONTEST!! Entries are still open to be written and posted by Friday and I implore you to give it a shot, even if it is a one-two thousand words. Read the forum detailing the rules, pick a prompt or two or eight, and go for it.
That is what I did, starting with an idea I expected to last for two-four thousand words. I knew it would be based in the hospital, that CategoricalGrant's character Wave Function would play a heavy part, and that a sickly but sweet foal named Golden Gate would be an important focus. However, the story changed wildly from being a mad-capped adventure (I had never read a 'cuddlefic' before this, I wasn't sure what they were) to a drama, until the story was shaped into what it is today. Views changed too, from being told through Wave's eyes, then through Spike's, until I decided I needed the narrator to be omnipresent to capture the real emotions I wanted the story to broadcast.
So, this is it. 'His Other Half,' my entry to what was a really challenging but fun contest. I went for all eight prompts, attempting to see if I could get them all in without breaking the story. I'm not sure if I did it or if some of the references were too obscure, but even if not it was fun to try it.
The story is about Spike and an accident that causes him to have a long stint in the hospital. While there, he recalls a nasty fight between his friends but worries that he does not recall what it was they fought over. Luckily, he meets plucky Golden Gate who insists on helping him despite the conditions that keep her in the hospital too. Together, they share hugs, friendship and stories until finally, they work out just how to solve Spike's predicament.
I hope you read it, and if you do I hope you enjoy it. I also hope you join in on this or future contests by CG, it really was a lot of fun. Thanks go to Syn for introducing it to me, CG for setting up the contest, and I wish all the contestants the best of luck.
All good things,
Dusky.
