With the Fire Ruby stolen, Spike and Ember must undertake another quest across Equestria to locate it. However they soon run across the gun slinging bounty huntress Applejack, and the notorious air pirate Rainbow Dash!
Much as I love the Pie sisters, this story is already pretty stuffed! Plus I really suck at writing Maud. Would like to have Marble and Limestone in particular, though.
10306196 Concerning Maud, it would be difficult to integrate her into a story like this when the only emotions/tropes she has demonstrated canonically are flat joy, dull surprise, deadpan snarker and tranquil fury.
As for Marble and Limestone, it could be a good opportunity for Spike to break Marble out of her shell, especially since she hesitates to even talk to others, while Limestone could be the resident Tsundere in Spike's harem.
10312581 Yes, Maud is unlikely for many reasons. I do like Marble and Limestone, but if I pack a story too full it risks losing focus and their characterization could end up flat; so unless readers just want a cameo I'm not sure about such an addition, especially since I wish to complete this and move onto the likely final planned installment.
10312790 You don't have to cram every single character into the same chapter. You can alternate focus moderately between individuals or groups across multiple chapters throughout the story. If you can do that while keeping your story engaging, that's great! Characters get their share of the spotlight, and your readers can continue enjoying the story. Everyone wins.
P.S.: I'm not sure how right I actually am about writing several characters in a story arc, as I only have 2nd hand experience with storytelling in general, since I'm only a reader.
10312831 Ah yeah, I simply want the characters to be there for a good reason. I figured Pinkie ran away from her conservative family so having all four sisters end up running away to a prostitution den and being okay with it seems a bit much of a stretch, even for the porn logic I'm using.
At best I'd think maybe they all wished to support Pinkie? To be honest I didn't even think of her sisters when I wrote her in, I originally planned to have Pinkie show up at the end of this story but I never make any 'hard' plans for my fics and shift things depending on my mood/flow.
10312855 You know, that actually gives me an idea for how you can include the other Pie sisters into this arc.
I figured Pinkie ran away from her conservative family so having all four sisters end up running away to a prostitution den and being okay with it seems a bit much of a stretch, even for the porn logic I'm using.
Let's start with your idea that Pinkie ran away so she could have more freedom over her life.
1) Marble and Limestone find her either in this sub-arc or the next after months, if not years of tracking her down.
2) Pinkie then fully explains why she has been happier after doing so (assuming that any departing note she may have left wasn't enough).
3) If Pinkie does end up joining Spike's harem, this could also be a good opportunity for Spike to take a step further in his quest to become the next Dragon Lord by asking her sisters himself to join his harem, if he wants to have any hope of learning to assert himself as well obtaining more mates for his harem.
4)a) In Limestone's case, her aggressive personality caused boys to avoid her altogether, and she had grown frustrated that she could only drive them away, *especially after Maud found a boyfriend of her own (Following canon here)*. Finally landing a relationship, even if it's with a dragon, could make her genuinely happy in the long run.
4)b) In Marble's case, she's so incredibly shy and timid that she lacks the courage to talk to anyone that's not her family, so she has never formed a relationship. Joining Spike's harem could mean not only her first true relationship, but also the chance to learn to break out of her shell from bonding with Spike and/or her sister-mates, possibly even for good.
5) The sisters can live happily together under Spike's care. If Marble and Limestone decline, they can be at least allowed to visit Pinkie whenever they please.
6) The rest of the gaps are yours to fill as you see fit.
It may not be much coming from a viewer, but I hope it can help you with including Pinkie's sisters in this story arc. I mean, when was the last time a FiMFiction story had Marble and Limestone in a harem with Spike?
10312943 I like your ideas and will take them under consideration. I've toyed with another idea for Marble and Limestone, possible spoilers Marble works as a duet act with her twin Pinkie who has helped her come out of her shell, while Limestone is another prostitute there who doubles as a bouncer/gunslinger under Cherry Jubilee but not sure whether I'll use that. Maud likely stayed on the farm.
10313125 That could work as an alternate scenario.
Marble and Limestone also work as prostitutes alongside Pinkie. After Pinkie gets laid with Spike, she could invite them in on the action, offering them their first time with a dragon. If they start getting addicted after the first few rounds, then Spike could take the next step in asking the Pie sisters to join his harem. If they agree, not only will they get to enjoy a healthy sex/love life with Spike, they will also be allowed to visit Cherry Jubilee whenever they want.
P.S.: I didn't think I would end up brainstorming with you in the comment section, but here we are.
10313915 Thanks! Don't worry too much about bogging your stories down by adding more characters. You can make it work by stretching the story/arc a bit further in order to give each character some elbow room, especially in this case, where harem stories are bound to have loads of characters (mostly female).
10329390 Nope, likely two more chapters. Next will involve three of the Pie sisters and the one after that will likely wrap this up, although I have a sequel planned that will probably finish the series.
Great chapter!
I'm guessing he'll claim 4 Pies in one go?
10305958
Some of them are experts in geology so, that would be a great advantage for both parties.
10305958
10306088
Much as I love the Pie sisters, this story is already pretty stuffed! Plus I really suck at writing Maud. Would like to have Marble and Limestone in particular, though.
10306196
Their sister's happiness is all they care for.
10306196
Concerning Maud, it would be difficult to integrate her into a story like this when the only emotions/tropes she has demonstrated canonically are flat joy, dull surprise, deadpan snarker and tranquil fury.
As for Marble and Limestone, it could be a good opportunity for Spike to break Marble out of her shell, especially since she hesitates to even talk to others, while Limestone could be the resident Tsundere in Spike's harem.
10312581
Yes, Maud is unlikely for many reasons. I do like Marble and Limestone, but if I pack a story too full it risks losing focus and their characterization could end up flat; so unless readers just want a cameo I'm not sure about such an addition, especially since I wish to complete this and move onto the likely final planned installment.
10312790
You don't have to cram every single character into the same chapter. You can alternate focus moderately between individuals or groups across multiple chapters throughout the story. If you can do that while keeping your story engaging, that's great! Characters get their share of the spotlight, and your readers can continue enjoying the story. Everyone wins.
P.S.: I'm not sure how right I actually am about writing several characters in a story arc, as I only have 2nd hand experience with storytelling in general, since I'm only a reader.
10312831
Ah yeah, I simply want the characters to be there for a good reason. I figured Pinkie ran away from her conservative family so having all four sisters end up running away to a prostitution den and being okay with it seems a bit much of a stretch, even for the porn logic I'm using.
At best I'd think maybe they all wished to support Pinkie? To be honest I didn't even think of her sisters when I wrote her in, I originally planned to have Pinkie show up at the end of this story but I never make any 'hard' plans for my fics and shift things depending on my mood/flow.
10312855
You know, that actually gives me an idea for how you can include the other Pie sisters into this arc.
Let's start with your idea that Pinkie ran away so she could have more freedom over her life.
1) Marble and Limestone find her either in this sub-arc or the next after months, if not years of tracking her down.
2) Pinkie then fully explains why she has been happier after doing so (assuming that any departing note she may have left wasn't enough).
3) If Pinkie does end up joining Spike's harem, this could also be a good opportunity for Spike to take a step further in his quest to become the next Dragon Lord by asking her sisters himself to join his harem, if he wants to have any hope of learning to assert himself as well obtaining more mates for his harem.
4)a) In Limestone's case, her aggressive personality caused boys to avoid her altogether, and she had grown frustrated that she could only drive them away, *especially after Maud found a boyfriend of her own (Following canon here)*. Finally landing a relationship, even if it's with a dragon, could make her genuinely happy in the long run.
4)b) In Marble's case, she's so incredibly shy and timid that she lacks the courage to talk to anyone that's not her family, so she has never formed a relationship. Joining Spike's harem could mean not only her first true relationship, but also the chance to learn to break out of her shell from bonding with Spike and/or her sister-mates, possibly even for good.
5) The sisters can live happily together under Spike's care. If Marble and Limestone decline, they can be at least allowed to visit Pinkie whenever they please.
6) The rest of the gaps are yours to fill as you see fit.
It may not be much coming from a viewer, but I hope it can help you with including Pinkie's sisters in this story arc. I mean, when was the last time a FiMFiction story had Marble and Limestone in a harem with Spike?
10312943
I like your ideas and will take them under consideration. I've toyed with another idea for Marble and Limestone, possible spoilers Marble works as a duet act with her twin Pinkie who has helped her come out of her shell, while Limestone is another prostitute there who doubles as a bouncer/gunslinger under Cherry Jubilee but not sure whether I'll use that. Maud likely stayed on the farm.
10313125
That could work as an alternate scenario.
Marble and Limestone also work as prostitutes alongside Pinkie. After Pinkie gets laid with Spike, she could invite them in on the action, offering them their first time with a dragon. If they start getting addicted after the first few rounds, then Spike could take the next step in asking the Pie sisters to join his harem. If they agree, not only will they get to enjoy a healthy sex/love life with Spike, they will also be allowed to visit Cherry Jubilee whenever they want.
P.S.: I didn't think I would end up brainstorming with you in the comment section, but here we are.
10313893
Always happy to hear ideas even when I don't end up using them, shows me readers are engaged by the fic!
10313915
Thanks! Don't worry too much about bogging your stories down by adding more characters. You can make it work by stretching the story/arc a bit further in order to give each character some elbow room, especially in this case, where harem stories are bound to have loads of characters (mostly female).
I take it this is not the end of this story.
10329390
Nope, likely two more chapters. Next will involve three of the Pie sisters and the one after that will likely wrap this up, although I have a sequel planned that will probably finish the series.