Excited Dragon Noises · 8:39pm Oct 31st, 2019

Okay, okay, so this isn't Halloween related, but that's okay isn't it? Yeah, I'm going to assume it is.

Project Skystar Horror, as Deep Six is increasingly becoming known to my frazzled brain, is still ticking over. Ran into a couple of plot issues but nothing a bit of thinking time won't sort out.

Project Stopgap Story, designed originally to bridge the gap between Proximity finishing and Deep Six arriving, is coming along ridiculously well however, and is doing nothing to challenge my perception that I should probably just stick to writing romance. I enjoy it soooo much.

Because I'm a sucker for teasers, let me drop some obvious hints about who'll be falling in love.

meepxmorp

CANYOUGUESSWHOITISYET!?

And because I'm feeling double teaser-y, here's a snippet from the story. An early draft, mind, so the finished product may a) vary and b) be an improvement in quality.

But the doubt was a far more unpredictable opponent than the sun had been, nestling beneath her skin and demanding that she did something violent to release it. Ember was still in a mood to be stubborn though, and instead lowered herself to the ground, her legs dangling over the edge of the mesa. One day down, sure, but her father's summits had only ever lasted one day, even when dealing with ponies. How she had allowed this one to be scheduled for a week was still beyond her, and for a minute Ember debated the idea that she was ceding too much ground to them. Why did ponies need so long to agree a few laws and treaties and diplomatic arrangements anyway? It was almost insulting that they couldn't just take her word for it that the dragons were cool with trade and whatever.

A deliberate clearing of a throat rang out across the warm air, followed by a voice that was both familiar and alien.

"Am I disturbing you?"

Ember looked over her shoulder. Princess Twilight Sparkle was standing a few meters away, framed by the advances of the moon. Silvery light dripped across her frame, giving her wings the appearance of motion even though they were folded against her barrel. Her horn was glowing with a dim light of its own, and as Ember's eyes tracked up she saw the bouquet of flowers. She repressed the grimace, though as she rose to her feet she did allow her eyes to show her irritation.

"Twilight! I thought you'd be asleep by now. Got a long, busy, long week ahead. More talking, somehow."

Twilight's face was a picture of pony joy. Ember could practically see the rock candy tumbling from her smile. "I know, right? I've already revised tomorrow's agenda to allow another two hours for the discussion of whether the trade agreements will allow for the opening of clothing boutiques and flower stalls, which I understand was at your request." Her smile turned momentarily predatory. "So I thought I'd take a flight and clear my head."

"My request was for there to be no clothing whatever-you-call-them," Ember snapped, "and definitely no flowers. There's nothing to discuss, especially for two hours."

Twilight's grin widened. "If only that were true. As it happens, the Greater Equestrian Florists Guild feels differently, and they've got the legal right to request we bring a proposal to the table. I told them you were an accomodating Dragon Lord though, and committed to securing an agreement that works for both nations."

Ember folded her arms and glared at Twilight. Then she roared. Twilight winced at the furious power of it, but her smile quickly returned. "Speaking of which, I didn't get a chance to bring you these earlier. The Guild sends its compliments."

The bouquet of flowers was suddenly hovering in front of Ember's snout. A sickly aroma, like a headache made sweet, surrounded her, pushing its way into her nostrils and her mouth. Before she could even think she was sneezing, thin tongues of flame chasing the moonlight away.

"Lost hoards, are you trying to start a war?" she gasped between sneezes, her eyes growing watery and sore. Snatching the bouquet, Ember tugged it from Twilight's magical grasp and launched it over the edge of the mesa. "Oops. I hope they won't be offended."

"Very diplomatic. I can see we've got a lot to learn from you."

Ember balled her hands into fists. "Oh, so you mean it can go both ways? After today I sort of forgot."

They glared at each other. Ember puffed smoke from her nostrils, her tail whipping the hard, rock-strewn ground. Twilight had set her jaw, her wings flared out.

Then they both burst out laughing.

That's all you're getting for now. I expect the finished version will be arriving the weekend after next, or thereabouts.

Happy Spooking Day to you all!