Amigo Chapter 6 · 4:03am Apr 14th, 2019
So yay, finally an update. Once again thank you to the amazing Flutterpriest and Admiral Biscuit, for not killing each other in this chapter, or the next one for that matter. Now, onto some... things.
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Have you ever tried to pick up one of those amigos? They're frickin' heavy! I picked one out of the trash back when I delivered newspapers, it was a chore, that was for sure. Batteries were junk, but I donated it to the local senior center, which they said they'd go from there. Hopefully it helped someone out, but I never learn of any of my walker/crutch/cane/etc donations, so here's hoping.
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Ever since the Flim Flam brother's episode, I love the idea that Big Mac and Rainbow Dash have a kind of sibling/friendly rivalry going on. Maybe not as serious as the one between AJ and Dash, but more of a friendly, slow paced thing where- aw to hell with it, they're one of my guilty ships. FORGIVE ME.
Also, on that note, Flutterpriest (yes I'm calling you out on this) did not realize the pun here:
“I know you’re going for a rise out of me. You’re just lucky that it works.” Rainbow began pushing harder, forcing Macintosh to compensate in order to keep up.
I used this pun in another story, although reading back I might not have actually published said story, so I don't know if anyone else has used this pun successfully.
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Admiral Biscuit brought up the good point of why didn't Twilight just take the amigo to town when they were only half way to SAA. That was a very good, valid point, that I just kinda said "meh" to and left it. Haven't you ever done something kinda dumb in retrospect? We all know Purple Smrt has. Wait...
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“Oh, what a good dog.” Earl patted Applebloom on the head, then continued up the porch.
The little filly stood there, confused. “Did he just call me a dog?”
This killed the Priest-boy. I'm glad he got a laugh from it, because I just picture the scene from Sisterhooves Social where AB's all "Uncouth? What's Uncouth?"
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Earl and Granny Smith getting along so quickly was not the original idea for their meeting. I had previously planned that Granny wouldn't take Earl's shit, and would dish it out ten fold to him, which would then cause them to better get along. That being said, I could have easily filled another chapter up with that, and well, I've been saying since the beginning this was to be a short story, so I cut it in favor of them just hitting it off well, contrary to his interactions with most of the mane six (at least, at first).
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I'm learning by lots of my same aged friends families that the "spare table" routine has been a dying thing, favoring instead to just throw all the kids in front of the television on the couches. I find it weird, because we still use our spare table to butt up against our primary one for the rare times in the year we have a family dinner. I will freely admit though that we are lazy and just leave the leaf in the center of the table all year round.
I was always told that wasn't a good practice, because over time the leafs from the constant pressure/weight/whatever would bow them, and the table would sag in the center. My vintage dining tables that have leafs I remove them and store them laying flat in old pillow cases. Also don't ask why I have a supply of vintage dining tables.
On the same note as the tables, the dishes was another thing that Admiral pointed out. Originally I had them laying out a set of unmatched plates and tools, but realizing how more structured and traditional the Apple family is, Granny Smith wouldn't allow such a thing, especially with guests. My house, we have so many Corell dishes that don't match, it's a constant norm. I used to make a scavenger hunt out of it, like when we'd get one special plate that person got a prize when setting the table. Spoiler: I never gave out any prize.
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Yadda yadda yadda, MacDash shipping, yeah yeah, move along...
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Fun fact, I actually don't plan my blog posts, unlike I'm sure Admiral does because he's got notes for everything and studies and researches meanwhile I'm just rambling on as I re-read a chapter for the last time before pressing the submit button.
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Ah, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree. One of my favorite war songs, although I was once told it was originally written between the Great War and the Second Great War, but I never bothered looking. Glenn Miller's version with Tex Beneke is the best. I have a couple copies of the original 78's. Victor Blue Bird, baby, couldn't get better quality then unless you listened to them live.
Oh yeah, right, controversy time. I don't think Admiral had any comments on this, but Flutterpriest pointed out that the song was kind of a stretch for ponies to know it. I said to hell with that, it's a song about apple trees damn it, why wouldn't Granny Smith know it? Or maybe it's part of the Magic of Friendship (TM) that connected the two to know the words.
While on the music, Admiral did question why it took the ponies and Earl so long to come up with a song. I stated,
I remember the two times I ever went to a family reunion, all the old timers would take, no joke, an hour to warm up, and pick a first song to start out with. It was comical, from what little I remember.
I also figured that Earl had to half ass teach them the song. I hope my link to the song made some of you sift through some other Lawrence Welk skits on youtube. Your welcome.
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In case you were wondering, the records in his suit case, normally when you bought a single 78 record, they came in a standard brown paper sleeve with the logo's, advertisement, or even pressure you to buy war bonds. I thought about adding such details, but chose not to. This story isn't about records, although if you know anything about 78's then you'd know for almost twenty years Colombia Records used a red label and either black, silver, or gold writing. I don't know if there's any significance to the color of writing, but meh. Also Colombia records drive me nutty because they're the only company I can honestly say that didn't have a side A or B marked. So annoying when I'm sorting...
Also also Harry James was almost exclusively a Colombia label name. I miiiiight have one or two by Decca, but I don't remember for sure.
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It was brought up by one of my two prereaders that they found it odd Twilight Sparkle wouldn't know CPR. I'd believe that maybe in theory she might, but between uncertainty and waywardness of alicorn strength, Twilight would rather somepony else do the job. Fluttershy was my obvious choice, but when writing the scene M*A*S*H was on the telly and Hawkeye had to massage a patients heart. And I thought, huh, I wonder if unicorn nurses can do that. So why not have Rarity try? Her magic is a lot more precise and fine, which I'd think would need to be a qualifying skill. Also I like to imagine all nurse ponies are white, so I get to enjoy my own silly thoughts. So silly...
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I worry some readers might not be too happy with Redheart's firm attitude towards Twilight about giving her space. That's a real nurse thing, my sister is a RN and I can't remember how many times she's told us stories about families who just wouldn't move out of her way to treat a problem. Listen to the nurse, people, or she will stab you with a needle. And enjoy it. Greatly.
Also Redheart speaking with a sheet in her mouth is a thing that I'm a firm believer in that Earth Ponies have to take a special class in school about talking with stuff in their mouths. Depending on the pony, it might count as a extra language class.
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Alright, that's all for now peeps. Next chapter out soonish. Speaking of Redheart, and medical thingies, if you haven't yet, GO CHECK OUT GEORG'S LATEST FIC, Farmer Bruener Has Some Ponies. It's a great Ponies on Earth fic, and the best part is 6 chapters in and we've maybe moved time wise, a couple hours? It's great. Really, go read it. Except you, Georg, get back to your desk and write that next chapter.
Based on research, you can talk surprisingly well with some things in your mouth (but not others), so I think that would be something ponies would just figure out without taking special classes.
Hey, they're written up to Chapter 18. I cheat. :)
I have a cousin who is built like a tank and uses it to her advantage when functioning as The Bitchy Nurse.
There's a Guiness World Record for blowing bubbles with a tarantula in your mouth, so surely there must be some skill in talking while mouthholding. There's a thought - PoE would complicate all kinds of things, particularly world records.
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That is an idea for
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I don't see the pun.