The Open Road hype blog! · 3:41pm Jul 31st, 2020
Since it’s coming in a few days, it’s time to hype The Open Road! Thing is I’ve always sucked at hyping stuff lmao, but dammit I’ll try. I’ve shown it off before, but I’ll throw the cover art in here again, as well as the description, an excerpt from the first chapter, and a thematically appropriate song that you’ll likely ignore.
(source)
Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Sunset Shimmer are used to controversy. Ever since Sunset was added to the others’ marriage, ponies haven’t stopped talking about them, and not in the way they would have liked. And being the newest member of the royal trio, Sunset’s gotten the brunt of the public’s ire.
So, when three royals and their draconic little brother decide to get away from it all for a while, it’s no surprise that their first choice is going to be a road trip... to the human world!
So, the four embark on a journey, riding atop Sunset’s motorcycle to fun, beaches, adventure, friends, and whatever else might lie before them! After all, what better place to lose oneself, if not the open road?
Pasu did this drawing back in October of 2016, as well as a series of other drawings of TwiShySet on a road trip. It was just a for fun thing, but the idea took hold in my brain and I decided fuck it, I’m doing this. It took me almost four years to get to it, but I managed to make it work! The results is one of my more fun stories (I may be a pretty solid author, but "fun" is something y’all probably don’t associate with my work much lmao), and I can’t wait to bring it to you!
So that’s what the story is largely about and how it came to be, here’s an excerpt from the first chapter itself. Keep in mind this happens after Piece by Piece, and this spoils that story a bit.
The Apple sisters walked over to meet them halfway. “Hey, Sunset,” Applejack said as they hugged.
“Hey, AJ.”
“Can I have your bike when you’re done?” Apple Bloom asked.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “No, ya can’t have it. I said you could ask if you can use it some time… And where are your manners? Ya ain’t even said hi yet!”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Hi, Sunset. So can I use your motorcycle when y’all get back?”
Sunset snickered as Applejack shot her sister a dirty look. “Why not? I doubt I’ll be using it. But you gotta get a motorcycle license to drive it.”
“I will! Trail Blazer is gonna be so jealous!”
“I told her she needs to drive something more sensible,” Applejack said, shaking her head. “Only having a motorcycle gave y’all hell.”
“And I told her we still have her truck,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “So it’s not my only way of gettin’ around.”
“Right, well…” Sunset looked between the two of them and pointed over towards her wives. “I’m gonna be over here, you know, not getting sucked into that debate.”
“Aww, come on!” Apple Bloom ran up and put her hands around Sunset’s arm so she couldn’t leave. “AJ’ll listen to you, you gotta reason with her!”
“Look, AB, sometimes you gotta pick your battles.” Sunset shook her head and started walking, using her larger size to just drag Apple Bloom along behind her. “And this battle is one I’m not getting into.”
Pulling Apple Bloom wasn’t as easy as it once would’ve been, and truthfully, Apple Bloom could’ve easily overpowered Sunset. She wasn’t a younger teenager anymore, she was a young adult and had wound up being almost as tall as Sunset was. Then with all the farm work she did, there really was no comparing the two of them anymore.
But she let herself get dragged over to Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, who greeted her in turn. Pinkie in particular took how close they were as a reason to pull them closer for a group hug. “Just think! If AB gets her motorcycle permit, she’ll need someone to teach her. You’ll have more reason to come around then!”
“That’s a good point, Pinkie,” Sunset said with a nod. “With that in mind, I think it’s best if you don’t drive my motorcycle. The less I have to see of you the better.”
“Psh, what makes you think I want you to teach me?” Apple Bloom waved her off. “Scootaloo can drive a motorcycle, I’ll just have him show me.”
“Sounds like something Scoots would do,” Spike said. He didn’t sound sad, but Sunset wondered if hearing about Scootaloo would be hard for him, so she decided to change the subject.
“So, AB, how are things going with Trail Blazer?”
Apple Bloom smiled. “We’re doing good. We started talking about getting our own place together.”
“Yeah, I could see that.” Sunset nodded. “How long have you been together? Three, four years now?”
“Gonna be five years in a few months.”
Sunset let out a whistle. “Damn, congrats.”
“I forget that you three are actually older than you’re Equestrian counterparts,” Twilight said. “The Apple Bloom from our world is only sixteen.”
“Oh, that makes more sense,” Fluttershy said. “I was surprised that you’d been dating someone since you were eleven…”
Apple Bloom laughed. “No, I’m twenty-one. I even go out to the bar with AJ after work and everything now.”
“So what are you doing these days?” Twilight asked.
Sunset cocked her head to the side. “Uh, I thought we already established that – Trail Blazer!”
It was hard to say who was more embarrassed by Sunset’s comment, Applejack or Twilight. Applejack turned and physically took a step away from them, while Twilight’s head fell into her hands. It was not, however, Apple Bloom, who just laughed.
That’s all the preview I’ve got for you. The rest you can read on Sunday, when the story will be posted. But for my music nerds out there, here’s what I’d use for the opening credits montage if this were a TV show/movie:
Fluttershy looks so cute in the side compartment!
5326152
And I just love the idea of Spike being a big ol pupper now
Hehehe she does
5326155
Apparently too big to wear his seat belt! For shame, bun!
5326156
In the actual fic, he wears a doggy helmet that's not pictured here because I care more about repping safety than I do about sticking to the cover art lol
Don't grump at me, I didn't draw it
5326157
This is very acceptable.
These four are going on a road trip together? Well, this is going to be an interesting story to say the least.
I'm hyped for this! Really looking forward to reading!
Also, thanks for a nice chapter of Torn the other day
5326166
Hope you enjoy it!
I certainly think so, but I may be a little biased in that regard
5326174
Awesome, I'm glad to hear people are looking forward to this story. Should be a fun one! And glad you enjoyed the chapter of Torn as well
Looking forward to reading it again.
5326308
I will never get over the fact that people like these stories enough to read them multiple times