This story is a sequel to Reunions and Laments
Black Rainbow is a unicorn shock rocker with a tempestuous reputation. So, when the CMC wanted to attend one of his concerts, Sunrise volunteered to chaperone. Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight all thought this was an excellent idea.
They had all forgotten that, even for someone from another world, Sunrise has an unusual perspective on things.
When the concert ends, the discussions begin. Suddenly, the jury is out on just how excellent that idea was. Sunrise’s explanations may or may not be helping her case.
(Content note: narcotics, or “bad alchemy,” are discussed by the main characters but not used by any characters directly depicted.)
Artwork by Sixes_and_Sevens. Please check out their excellent artwork and stories.
This continuity continues in Back to School.
Chronology Note: This story takes place at the beginning of Season Six. In this timeline, Starlight is not Twilight’s apprentice.
Part of the Sunset Rising Continuity.
Is this story anthro? The constant references to 'feet', 'elbows' and just the general tone in the first few paragraphs is kinda what makes me wonder. . . .
10375758
No, but I can see the confusion.
The ‘feet’ mention was a typo (now corrected to ‘hooves,’ thank you for catching that!), and the use of ‘elbows’ simply refers to the arm-like structure of ponies’ forelimbs.
Great think piece, this.
10376963
Thank you.
Oh goodness, I let a Coyote story sit for almost two weeks. How silly of me.
Hmm. Now I'm wondering if pegasi are better equipped to handle whiplash given that they have to endure higher G-forces.
This point actually cuts the other way in the specific case of the Crusaders. Remember, Apple Bloom's accidentally dosed herself with a bad batch in canon.
And this is certainly one way to prepare against the worst. It does provide relative safety and oversight even in the worst case, but I think seeing the chemical husk on stage will do quite a bit for keeping the Crusaders clean. And it's not like Cheerilee has photos of organs ravaged by recreational drugs on file. All told, an excellent addition to this timeline. Thank you for it.
10396582
Very true. I’d thought about having Rarity point out the degree to which Apple Bloom was the most likely of the three to become a cook if anyone did... but I decided that Rarity would likely err on the side of diplomacy on this one. And it’s not as though Applejack didn’t connect those dots herself.
So very glad you liked it!
Watching my uncle's rolling disaster of a life was more affecting than all the years of DARE. This is a man who shot himself in the foot, went through three years of surgery, got wasted at a party, attempted to demonstrate the 'awesome story of how he shot himself in the foot', and did it again. Same foot, same gun, same room, same chair.
Equines do have feet. Hooves just wrap around them, being nothing more than giant evolved finger- and toenails. So using “feet” is perfectly okay.
“Can you picture that?”
I see that line, and I know exactly who that opening act is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoKFBjd5-F8
10863850
You are so right!
One of the great influences on me growing up, in fact.
My mom made me the same offer when I was a teen. I never had to take her up on it, but just knowing it was there helped to break some of the "breaking the rules" attraction that drugs can have.
I'm more than halfway convinced that if AJ had her way, AB would live her life out of a locked closet. That way she'd ALWAYS be where AJ could keep an 'eye' on her and make sure she's safe. Sunny's methods might be a tad off, but she's got her heart/mind in the right place.
I never felt tempted to try hard drugs, but I did smoke a little bit of 'theater tobacco' back in my young and dumb phase. That said, had I not had college age tutors, a nurse for a mom, and JROTC, who's to say. It is a scary thing to be sure.
11671793
Yeah, AJ should never have had to help raise a sibling while trying to grow up herself... but there just wasn't much of an option. And I agree that she's a bit on the overprotective side sometimes, though I think she also knows that about herself and tries to keep an eye on it. Ultimately, she usually strikes me as the "keep 'em busy with chores an' they'll git in less trouble in life" approach to teaching responsibility, which has its strengths and its weaknesses.
AJ and AB sometimes also remind me a little of those moms who have daughters super young, and the two of them kind of end up having an almost sister-like relationship. Interestingly, such daughters rarely want a daughter young themselves, for all that they may treasure their close friendship with their moms... possibly because they also saw how having to parent at such a young age put such a strain on things.
A lot of AJ's assessment regarding Sunrise was right on the money: though I do think Sunrise has a bit more sense than AJ gives her credit for, it's still less than Sunny probably thinks. Heck, they're all still learning.
And, of course, with Applejack's warning to the foals being easily misinterpreted as "don't get caught," well, things will continue to be interesting in the future...