Ever the researcher, Princess Twilight Sparkle had spent some of her free time studying anything that piqued her interest–as long as it was legal and (usually) didn't do any harm.
However, she was never interested in studying the enjoyment of ear scratches. Until now.
With Eric Reed's help, Twilight tests some of her favorite guinea pigs friends to learn which of them likes their ears being scratched the most.
Oh, and Eric and the ear-scratch testees think Twilight's idea is weird too.
This story takes place after the events of my A Giant Adventure to Equestria story. However, it's not required to read it first to enjoy this story (and laugh), other than to learn how and why the human OC Eric Reed is in Equestria, and how his bonds with the other characters formed.
Last but not least, special thanks to TheBrokenBrony for pre-reading and proofreading this story.
I expect she would match or even beat Rainbows score, she needs to be tested just to make sure
OMG,
I never laughed like that so hard in all my life.
Scritchy scritchy scritch-a-scritch.
10751374
She might get tested to be sure if Rainbow doesn't try to hog the ear scratches for herself that is.
10751389
Glad this gave you such ​a huge laugh!
10751805
Glad you enjoyed this story, just like you enjoyed my other ones
In Twilight's kinda defense, she was just as surprised at Rainbow liking her ears scratched as all of them. Luckily for Rainbow, she'll get to enjoy her future ear scratched in secret since Eric would keep it from the others.
10751816
That's more or less is what Twilight had on her mind when she got her idea for her tests. She wanted those ears scratched!
Yeah, I called it. Rainbow liked it the most. You could tell with how much she denied it in the beginning.
10752695
Rainbow was being honest about her feelings at the beginning, but she didn't think she'd actually like it. She seemed like the type to think having her ears scratched would be stupid, so I left her acting the way she did at the start more for characterization sake whether than it being foreshadowing.
If she really did like the ear scratches from the start, I think she would have been trying her best to get out of being tested instead of whining about it, knowing she would have been caught enjoying it anyway.
Or did you mean how she tried to deny it right after she was tested the first time, not how she complaining from the start of the story??
10752748
I just meant you could see it coming from a mile away.
10753627
I see. I'm not that surprised that you & others saw it coming; I have been called it early too if I were reading this story, It was even part of the reason I didn't intend for it to be the main twist of the story, but just a humorous moment. The tests themselves all being a ruse from Twilight and her reason for it was meant to be the story's true twist.
Such a random silly concept- I adore it!
10756667
Thanks, and glad you enjoyed it!
I kinda expected AJ to get a low score since she is the most grounded and mature out of all of them
10759219
Yep. Maybe I could have thrown in a twist and had her score be much higher.
It was a missed opportunity I suppose.
10759712
Also is Eric still dating Sunset or was it for that one story only?
10759765
He's still dating her. For the sake of readers that haven't read When Dating a Sunset, I try to leave out saying they are dating, but still show more subtle hints, like Eric thinking of or mentioning her in a story, showing that he thinks about Sunset when she's in the EQG human world.
I do have plans for at least one multi-chapter story with Sunset that would use her and Eric's relationship, but it will be quite a while before it's out. I had planned to have written it by now and even wrote the first draft of the first chapter several months ago, but I found myself writing a story that ended up far longer than I thought. That story pretty much forced me to put the Eric x Sunset story on hold. I'm planning on finally getting back to it in earnest in about a few weeks once the writing break I'm on right now is over.
Dawww... So cute. But what about combos like petting the neck and going over the spine of therr back...
Great oneshot.
10846227
Glad you liked it! Cute was what I was aiming for.
Eric might have mixed feelings about that, especially if Twilight wanted it. She might look aborable getting those combos, but she might not want to let Eric go until she had enough.
Adorable
10883245
Thanks. "Adorable" is possibly the best single word for ponies getting their ears scratched, at least to me.
I havent read this yet
but ahen i do ill spoil the pony whk scored highest. MWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes Hello, I haven't read the fic, but I felt the urge to leave a comment applauding you for the brilliant decision in cover art.
This is now on my read it later list, which I will get to sometime between now and Ragnarok.
10886385
As much as I hate ruining a good scheme, somebody might might beat you to the punch on spoiling who likes their ears scratched the most! Bwa ha ha ha!
10887403
Funny thing is I was close to commissioning for a picture of Twilight or Pinkie getting their ears scratched to be the story's cover art, before I figured that a screen-shot of one of Twilight's ears could suffice.
That gave me a good alugh.
IT WAS RAINBOW DASH! DASHY LOVES HER EARS SCRATCHED THE MOST! MWAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Adorable and funny.
Definitely need to read the rest of your series of stories.
A curious fact. When I was young, I worked part-time in a stable for a while. Of the 9 available horses, only one mare had a positive ear-scratching reaction, the rest were not amused. But they really liked scratching their backs and some gentle muzzle petting.
However, scratching a horses during the spring shedding can be strange, since your hands are getting all covered in hairs regardless of which part of the body you are scratching.
By the way, do your Equestrian ponies shed? Eric could be very impressed with this process.
11251489
Glad you like the story, and hope you'll like the others when you check them out! I take it most of the horses at the stable you worked at were like how this story's version of Applejack and Starlight felt about ear scratches.
Equestrian ponies shedding isn't something I really thought about to be honest, so for continuity's sake, they don't shed in my stories. It's comparable to the way humans "shed" hair; we do it, but it happens so slowly, we tend to not really notice it.
I might have been able to have some fun with a story of ponies shedding with Eric in it, so not thinking about it when I was writing those series stories might end up being a missed opportunity.
11252655
Sorry for the long answer. The computer's hard drive chose the most unfortunate moment to fail. And choosing a new SSD to replace and restore the usual set of programs was a certain pain in the back.
Oh yeah, our horses definitely were like how this story's version of Applejack.
And they even also liked scratching their backs, as was in the show in that episode with Spike. Link on screenshot.
As one proverb says, one cannot embrace the unembraceable. If you feel like it, you can have fun in this direction when inspiration arises.
And just the thoughts that I had on this topic during insomnia.
Option 1: Ponies do not have a shedding season and slowly change their hair like humans.
If there are snowy winters in Equestria, then they will be forced to create and wear insulated clothes during the cold season. Also, the ponies will be forced to heat the living quarters well.
For a displaced human this option will be an undoubted success. The fact that ponies will be familiar with the concept of winter clothing will definitely make life easier for a man.
Option 2: Ponies actively shed in the off-season.
Yes, it will add a lot of problems in hair care. But they will do fine without clothes in the winter.
At the same time, it will be quite cool in their houses so as not to overheat indoors with their reinforced fur coat.
For a displaced human this option will not be very good for living. At least, until he has his own dedicated room with a fireplace or some kind of magical heating.