In the many months since Twilight Sparkle transferred to Canterlot High, Sunset Shimmer's been to her house a good number of times, enough for it to feel reasonably familiar. So when she notices something she's never seen before -- a large, blue-tinted plush shark she calls her blåhaj -- on Twilight's bed, she can't help but ask about it. She's a little surprised to find Twilight looking a bit embarrassed about her stuffed animal -- but when Sunset realizes it might be emblematic of a sore spot in Twilight's life, she realizes it's up to her to restore the magic of the blåhaj.
Can be read as either platonic or shipping.
What's a blåhaj? Here's a summary. And remember the accent on "blahaj"!
Pre-read by Dewdrops on the Grass and The Sleepless Beholder. Featured 30 January-2 February 2024.
”There are many like it, but this one is mine.”
Ah, irony.
Wonderful stuff throughout, especially Sunset recognizing the delicacy of Twilight’s situation through past experience. The suspicion of pity is a pernicious beast. Thank you for a fantastic read.
This was heart-meltingly cute. Great work!
I LOVED this... now I want a blåhaj...
Don't worry Twilight. One of the best part about growing up is that you can by as many plushies as you want and be only slightly judged.
Blåhaj! My beloved!
When I was little, I used to have a big stuffed toy shark that I used to dance with. I used to dance to I don’t feel like dancing by the Scissor Sisters.
I forgot about this memory. Your story restored a memory I forgot about. I enjoyed the story very much, as I enjoyed how you portrayed Twilight’s trauma. Sunset is a great friend. Thank you so much.
Here is the song that I used to dance to:
Sweet, fluffy and big on emotions. A wonderful read. And yes, the "Fighting over Smarty Pants" line got a snicker out of me. Excellent stuff!
I think every one of us could use a stuffed shark for company at times. 🦈
11812153 This is my Blåhaj. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My Blåhaj is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My Blåhaj, without me, is useless. Without my Blåhaj, I am useless. I must squeeze my Blåhaj tight. I must hug harder than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must hug him before he shoots me. I will…
My Blåhaj and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit….
My Blåhaj is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a sister. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its fins and its stuffing. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my Blåhaj clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will….
Before God, I swear this creed. My Blåhaj and myself are the defenders of my people. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is transfems and there is no enemy, but peace!!
Blåhaj, my dearly beloved and the supreme protector of trans people everywhere >:3
When the Odd Squad Discord server suggested we make a stuffed shark our mascot, I thought it was a cute harmless in-joke. Little did I know...it's far from an in-joke.
Well, you learn something new every day. Like what a blåhaj is. I do kinda want a stuffed shark now...
Sunset:"So, is this my predecessor or my competition?"
This is really good, especially since it's very slice of lifeish to me.
There is no huge event, or big thing about Twilight going through the most tragic thing ever, instead, it is a cute interaction between Twilight and Sunset where Twilight reveals a very real and subtle problem that she suffered through a period of her life, loneliness. This is displayed by her cute attachment to her little shark, which is very very cute :o.
It's good stuff
I can hear a British Vtuber in my head right now
Unless I missed it, I still have no idea of what blåhaj actually means. Still a cute story.
Sometimes I'll never understand why people would make fun of someone who collects/sleeps with stuffed animals/plushes. I'm an adult in my early 20s and still collect some and sleep with 2 of them. I can understand how Sci Twi feels entirely about it.
Awww.
11812397
It means blue shark; it's Swedish, and despite the way it looks to an English speaker, it is pronounced bluh-hi, not blah-hajj. The reason that she's so insistent on referring to it by that name is that's what it's marketed as by IKEA.
I had to know what Blahaj meant so I looked it up. Somehow I expected something more mystical than "Blue Shark"
I have quite a large stuffed animal collection and even though I've been married for years I still have one my mom gave me when I was little that I sleep with all the time. Never give up the things that make you happy!!
I'm a simple person. I see a Blahaj - and one crossed with ponies no less - I click like and fave just on principle. :)
11812512
As did I. Though when I punched it into Google, Google yelled at me with IKEA search results before showing me a Wikipedia page. Lo and behold, it's a Swedish word meaning "blue shark".
It's 3500 words about an IKEA shark toy. But it's a good story. I'm not complaining.
And now that the Blåhaj has a new meaning, one that's shared between friends, I have a feeling Sunset will be needing a Blåhaj of her own very soon.
That was very sweet and beautiful. Thank you for this.
Wow, that is a substantial shark! And yes, I realize that's not a new observation but, let's face it, how often do you get to say that sentence without worrying if they'll be your last words?
Great stuff through and through. And... well, I can't honestly say I'm without bias when it comes to the shipping status of the story, but I think it succeeds at working either way, even if having a predilection for the pairing does make some moments substantially more adorable.
Also, I am now picturing the two of them lying together, Sunset hugging Twilight from behind while Twilight hugs her blåhaj in front of her, sandwiching her within comfort and love, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.
11812498
Neat. Thanks. No wonder I've never heard that term before now.
Never feel shame from the little things that give you comfort and happiness (You know, as long as they are legal and consensual) in this big old world that places way too much emphasis on outward image. Be you, be happy with you and good friends will be happy for you and with you. So easy, yet so hard to accept sometimes.
And we all know who would want that old smarty pants.
blåhaj...... that's danish for blueshark.... is we having a Dane here?
that was rather resharkable
11812917
I wish I could take that same advice.
11813176
I understand. I worried about such when I was a teenager. Having a mother who gladly marched into a comic book store and told me to point to the series I wanted to read (Wolverine and Sonic the Hedgehog) then without an ounce of shame, hesitation, or criticism grabbed them, handed them to me and then went and grabbed her own books before we hit the counter helped. She then of course struck up a nerdgasm conversation with the owner about Star Wars.
Blåhaj
This is adorable, and extremely well-written—it reminds me of how I write! Sunset’s internal monologue is particularly well done, as is the dialogue. I always enjoy when characters visibly think through their words and feelings in realistic ways.
*looks up what a blåhaj is*
Blåhaj! 🦈
Blåhaj moment
I love this story, but am I the only one who thought that we were going to lean into what blåhaj means to the trans community? I'm not disappointed but I need to know if anyone else was expecting that or just me. Again no complaints i'm just a trans guy who loves the ocean so my mind immediately goes to the twins meaning for the stuff shock that I wish I had
Super cute an wholesome