A little Christmas one-shot story I wanted to do.
Its Hearts Warming Eve and Ponyville is alive with the cheer its inhabitants are known for. One of these inhabitants, a Unicorn Stallion named Silver Flame, is making preparations to spent the holiday with his family. He wouldn't be traveling along however; this year will be the first he has with his new Marefriend; an Eastern Kirin named Sapphire Ribbon, who is coming along to spend holiday with them.
Sapphire is very excited to spend her first Hearts Warming with her new Coltfriend, yet deep down under her excitment there sits a lingering fear of how Silver's family will react since this is also the first time they'll be meeting her in Kirin.
Chapters (1)
Very nice story; works well as both a one-shot and the start to a series.
I also really love your references to your other stories, with them meeting Dragonfly Wings and Bluebelle, as well as referencing the hyena clans. Really helps sell the idea that your stories are all inter-connected and is a nice little easter egg for anyone who read your other stories.
Great work buddy. Thanks for sharing.
👍
Don’t you mean in person?
11875038
Thanks.
Indeed it does, which is the case; most of them are inter-connected.
Thank you very much and always happy to share. So to cover a few things;
I wanted to show that Silver and Sapphire deeply loved each other and I think I did that well, your thoughts?
I'm curious: Since this is the first time we meet Silver's family "officially" for lack of a better term, what would that Pack's first impressions be? We'll go deeper into individual relationships as I go deeper into their characters, I'm especially curious about their reaction to first meeting Titan Wing who's taller, by a foot or two, then Myst.
I will say for now that there is a reason why Titan is as big as he is, and it's not just genes.
And speaking of first impressions, I know you've technically "met" Silver's family before when I did a Q&A with them in the Form, but I'd like to hear what your thoughts are now,
11875097
No, "in Kirin" was very deliberate. I said "in Kirin" as Sapphire is a Kirin and this is her first time meeting Silver's family. It comes from the fact that in the show the Ponies, and I'm guessing other races, rarely (if ever) use words like that and use their species in its place, like the Ponies using "everypony" instead of "everybody".
11875821
I agree; they had some very nice chemistry and very cute moments together. I could totally buy that they were in love with each other. And the backstory about how they met was a nice addition.
Well, I imagine Celine would take the lead, being the most extroverted and the one shaking hooves and paws and generally being the friendliest. Lizzie would keep pace with her, but she'd be trying very hard to look like a tough bodyguard - which may or may not fall flat given how she's young and doesn't have that much muscle on her.
Red would also be following Celine, and she'd be greeting people as well, though it would be with a bit more formality, and she'd be carrying herself with a bit more professionalism. It'd feel like she was at some sort of business meeting rather than a family get together.
The rest would mainly remain grouped together, though I can see Luke gently encouraging Shiva to join her daughter - since Shiva's had a fair share of bad experiences with new people, she'd be very hesitant to join in, but try to cover her nervousness with a regal front - and Darius giving a little wave and a smile. Kodo would avoid eye contact, shuffling nervously in the background, while Myst would stand more aloof. Jazz would be sitting cross-legged on the ground, softly playing a tune, Lupa would be next to her reading, and Marcus would be right next to her, playing a gameboy - or it's Equestria/wolf pack equivalent.
Logan would stand out the most, since he'd be chewing on what looked like a cigarette, pretty clearly waiting to see how they'd react to him smoking. Because the minute someone called him out for it, he'd smirk and reveal he was chewing on a lollipop, becoming further interested in how they'd react.
As for when they saw Titan, Celine would probably ruin his attempt at appearing intimidating by coming right up to him with a big smile and introducing herself. Though admittedly, Lizzie and Myst would lock on him like they were judging him to be the biggest potential threat, and even Shiva would casually put herself behind Luke, who himself would stand ready to protect her.
I like the variety that you have with them. It can be difficult to make sure each character stands out in their own way when you have a bunch of them, but I feel you did a good job distinguishing all of them so that they all feel unique.
And the way you handle them being introduced to Sapphire really reminded me of my own family reunions. It was a good memory to bring back.
11876190
Thanks, I was thinking about how the two met and grew close and that was the first thing that came up and it worked perfectly.
And I will say this: Silver and Sapphire do eventually have at least two children: An Eastern Kirin Colt named Steel Flare and a Unicorn Filly named Emerald Ribbon.
Yep, that's what I meant.
Well that trick wouldn't work on them; they'd spot the lollipop instantly but would smile and joke with him about it. That and because of their time in school the siblings are... desensitized towards that sort of thing (bullying wasn't the only problem the school had
) They never got into it thankfully as none of them wanted to be in that cesspool when they didn't have to be.
Well of course, Celine is the most friendly of the Pack after all.
How would she react if Titan did the same trick to her that he did to Sapphire?
Titan would take their reactions in stride, noting how he knows that his size can be intimating to others but he reassure them that unless given a reason he's usually a gentle giant, which would likely help relax them.
Also, how would the Pack react to Titan carrying Cookie (who doesn't mind at all and even enjoys it) like a kitten?
11876568
Aww.
Cute.
So, they'd more likely get on his case about lighting a lollipop stick? Because he has a lighter and he does light the end of his lollipop sticks to further the illusion. Though if they still saw past it, he'd be impressed, noting that they're sharp-eyed, leading to both of them sharing stories about their times in school (Before you ask, yeah, Logan spent some time in schools similar to the one they endured - it's why he's a tough little guy. I've been juggling a few ideas on his backstory, ranging from Kodo and Red encouraging him to spend time in schools to Red initially carrying him around on her adventures before leaving him with Kodo, to even one where Logan used to be a human kid (with Red also being human but having the ability to shapeshift) until he met Kodo and a mishap with the pack link and some magic turned Logan into a wolf (this backstory is likely going to be what happens with him in my standalone novel 'Of Scales and Fur', when he gets the chance to show up).
She'd either boop him right back, or lick his hoof (what she calls a 'mlem'
)
Very much so, which in turn would cause Luke to declare Titan 'Brother' material, since he's a gentle giant too. Though Shiva would then warn Titan that when Luke declares someone to be 'brother' or 'sister' material, he usually hugs. And as long as Titan was okay with it, Luke would want to give him a big bear hug.
We'd get a pretty funny moment where Shiva admits that she misses when her own dad could do that, only for Luke to get the wrong idea and promptly lift her up and onto his back.
That in turn would cause Darius to glance warily at Myst, as if worrying she was about to ask him to do that (remember, Darius is way smaller than Myst is), only for Myst to then pick Darius up and put him on her back.
11876646
More of seeing how much thinner (unless its one of those big ones) stick compared to an actual smoke, and even if it was a thicker one the siblings can spot the difference really fast. But having said that; they would at least get a chuckle out of it. They would play along at first though by asking Logan and when he revealed it was a lollipop they just smile and give him credit for the illusion.
Both my parents smoke so I've been around that all my life, so spotting the different is quite easy for me. I don't smoke, closest was a e-cigarette and just one puff had me bent over coughing to clear my lungs. Heck the only reason I even tried it was because it was flavored and I was curious. Now this was years ago, back when I we still had all three dogs, but I still remember clear as day trying to clear my lungs... and at least two of the dogs taking the chance to lick the inside of my mouth.
Funny, yet
. Still, was to busy coughing to care at the time. That was the first and only time I tried that.
To either of which Titan would take it in good humor.
Titan would be fine with it, and would gladly return the bear hug. While he might not be as strong as Luke, he's still quite a powerhouse. Okay funny idea: The two having a bear hug contest.
Darius carrying Myst, that brings a few memories from a cartoon I used to watch long ago back. IIRC it involved a piggy-back race and one of the characters had the poor luck of having to carry one of the heaviest ones. Though IIRC that time somehow won the race.
As for Myst picking Darius up; is it wrong that I get the image of him standing on her shoulders like she's a lookout tower/sniper nest? Because that was the first thing that came to mind when I read that.
11877093
Yeah, my own dad only smoked once when he found his own dad's (my grandfather's) pipe, and that was mainly to mess with my mom, who hates the smell of smoke.
Yeah, me neither. I saw a PSA about smoking that kinda freaked me out, since it had janky animation and really weird looking characters.
I know most people think that the PSA's are kinda lame, but the one I saw did a pretty good job making me want to stay away from smoking.
Agreed. Funny, yet
.
As long as no one got their back thrown out, I imagine Luke will be all for it. He saves the back breaking bear hugs for enemies.
Ironically, Myst is more associated with bears than Luke; Luke himself is more associated with bulls, since he has a horned helmet and will often charge at someone before he hugs them (which also comes from my own belief that the dog Luke was based on, Duke, was a bull in a previous life, since he was as stubborn and prone to charging as one)
Getting carried around by her big lovable bull of a husband? No, she wouldn't mind it in the slightest.
Yeah, first thing that comes to mind for me is SpongeBob, when he managed to befriend that sea horse Mystery. There was a gag where SpongeBob rode on Mystery for a brief time, then let her ride on him.
I always loved that joke, since it's funny, but it also shows SpongeBob's good heart; he can be eccentric and dim-witted at times, but I always love episodes that show he's well-meaning and caring underneath.
At first, she'd be holding him more in a bridal carry, since she'd think it would be amusing to have the girl doing that rather than the guy. But Darius - once he realized Myst was going to spare him from carrying her - would then climb onto her shoulders just like that. I can even see them quoting this vine.
Of course, Myst wouldn't actually think it was dumb, she'd just quote it for the sake of being funny.
11877259
I can agree with that, I've seen that sort of thing with not only smoking but with drugs too, and for me seeing the effects and what it can do to a person turned me off it all. That and I will admit the waste of money I saw that sort of thing would be.
Now of course, one can get addicted to anything, but what matters is knowing how to control it, not let it control you.
I think Luke and Titan would get along very well.
That makes so much sense, and Luke does live up to that I would say.
I remember that one and I fully agree on SpongeBob, while he can be dim-witted his heart's in the right place and he's had his smart moments; like the time he tied to get Krabs and Plankton to restart their old friendship. Didn't quite work but points for trying.
She's got a sense of humor, and can be funny when she wants to be.
11878586
Oh yeah, and my dad loved messing with my mom.
Ironically, that was why she married him; he makes her laugh.
Agreed. 👍
I was hoping so; as I mentioned, he even has a bull-like helm complete with horns. He's very proud of that helmet.
Absolutely.
Especially now that she's leaving the trauma of her past behind her. Expect her to become far more boisterous now that she's been able to truly move on.
11878758
One of the signs of a strong and good one. 👍
I get why, but didn't he have horns already? I remember you saying he had horns like a Houndoom, even had a reference picture.
Helped by the fact she had plenty of support from her pack.
11879389
Yeah, sorry; I got confused.
I have trouble remembering whether Luke just has armor that lets him look like a Lucario/Hounddoom or if he got some sort of gift from another OC that let him assume those forms, or if he was always like that.
I keep making different alternate versions of him, and it's a little hard to keep them all straight.
It's like they say; the strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.
11879806
I know how that feels.
Exactly. 👍
11879843
Yeah.
To make matters better, I recently got my hands on a book that included an illustration of a guy (Dalton, he's called) that I swear looks kinda similar to Luke.
static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_6646.jpeg
Specifically in how they're both hound-like figures with horns. Luke's got blonde fur as opposed to Dalton's black, and blue eyes as opposed to Dalton's red.
Also, I'm pretty sure Luke is bigger than Dalton - or at least has more muscle.
11880083
I see what you mean.
I'm pretty sure too, still; not a hound I'd want to met in a dark alley.
11880573
Especially not if you're not following the law.
Dalton's essentially a police captain in the world he lives in, so lawbreakers definitely need to watch out for him. He makes Fox look downright nice in comparison.
Though, when you're not breaking the law, he's actually a really chill guy, and he's got this incredibly sweet friendship with his partner Celia (who reminds me a lot of Myst, specifically with the way Celia and Dalton interact with each other, combined with how Celia used to be Dalton's superior similar to how Myst was Luke's Alpha)
Check out this video as an example of how Dalton and Celia interact (though fair warning; it does imply a pretty heavy topic, though I hope the video handles it subtly and with grace)
The way Dalton promises that he and Celia will get through everything together...
I feel like Luke would say the exact same thing to Myst, promising that no matter what, he'd help her get through whatever was bothering her.
11880718
Oh yeah.
Agreed joined by the rest of the Pack.
11880816
Without question.