• Member Since 13th Jun, 2012
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AugieDog


I've been writing and selling stories for longer than a lot of folks reading this have been alive. Check Baal Bunny for more!

Sequels1

Comments ( 143 )

I should probably mention:

That this'll be ten chapters, each, of course, named after a sort of mineral formation, and I'm hoping to keep my usual pace of a chapter every ten days.

Mike

Favorited and I haven't even read it yet!
But I will, it's just kinda late atm for me so...
Anyway, I loved the original, so I will no doubt enjoy this!

Mineral formations? That seems like an... unusual theme. Any reason?

1936639

It's my brain:

I've worked with it for a number of years now, and when it coughs out something that I don't quite understand, I tend to go with it for a while, trusting that it'll make sense eventually. In Biology, for instance, I was planning on having the chapter titles be the names of actual bodily systems--circulatory, endocrine, lymphatic, et cetera. But my brain said, "Nah, just use colors." And I have to admit that I like the end result much better since I got to play with the color names in the later chapters--"Green" for queasiness and jealousy, "Blue" for unhappiness and the whole "true blue" of loyalty, that sort of thing.

So with this story, instead of chapters titled Jurassic and Cambrian and like that, my brain said, "Go with rocks." And thinking about it, I decided it was right again. The story will fall into three sections, after all: Metamorphic to examine how Applejack and Fluttershy's relationship changes things in and around Ponyville, Igneous to examine the incendiary relationship Fluttershy has with her past, and Sedimentary to dig into the long-settled layers of Applejack's history.

So, yeah. I blame my brain.

Mike

That was made of pure d'aww. :pinkiehappy:

Instafollow.

HUARGH They're so cute :3

Awesome sauce! :rainbowwild:

Just read the first chapter and I thought the addition of the musical number was brilliant!
It really made this chapter all the more excellent!

Still, I do reserve the right to insert a musical number into any chapter at the drop of a hat, so again, please be aware.

I see what you did there.

Next:

"Metamorphic: Slate" will be chapter 3, and we'll be touching on ev'rybody's favorite subject, cartoon pony physiology! Look for it on or about January 29th.

Mike

Which ends Act I:

Of our current melodrama. Act II, Igneous, wlll also have three chapters, and I'm gonna try updating on the 8th, the 18th, and the 28th of February.

Mike

Ooof, poor Fluttershy. Not a great set of choices for her. :pinkiesad2:

Twilight's handling this pretty well, but she's still not quite the best at tact, is she? :facehoof:

2041970

Alas:

But I'm sure it'll build character... :fluttercry:

2042525

I'd forgotten:

How much fun Twilight is to write. I mean, it's been a year-and-a-half since I finished Half the Day is Night, and I haven't really featured her in anything I've done since! :twilightoops:

Mike

... I still hate "wiggler". 'Tis a coarse term, fitting as it may be. A minor complaint, mind you, requiring no redress.

2046092

I agree to an extent:

But I finally settled on "wiggler" 'cause I needed something that would sound cute and innocent to Fluttershy. Her whole life, she's disliked every word she's ever heard to describe her anatomical irregularity, and not having a word for it has intensified her hatred for it and for herself--she's very much a victim of "the tyranny of language" the way I write her. That AJ can just come up with a term so light and unrefined and giggly at the very moment that Fluttershy feels the most shameful and vulnerable is a threshold moment in the whole "exchange of gifts" thing I'm exploring with their relationship, the way they each supply traits that the other lacks.

But yeah. I keep thinking of worms ev'ry time I type it... :twilightblush:

Mike

Well!

That ended up being twice as long as I thought it would! So much for following my notes! :twilightsmile:

Mike

I liked it, honestly. The character development is coming along great and all the interactions seem genuine and a certain ping of realness. So I say good job.

FF out, and hoping you updated soon :pinkiehappy::twilightsheepish:.

2111132

Thanks!

Even though this chapter tried its best to kill me, I'm hoping chapter 5, "Igneous - Obsidian," will be better behaved and let me get it posted on Feb. 18th as per my planned schedule. Spoiler alert: it's got a song in it! :pinkiehappy:

Mike

That's better:

Some shifting of the story's skeleton let me split that big long chapter in two.

Mike

Ah, the joys of:

A work in progress. As I explain, this isn't a new chapter but is rather the second half of the previous big, long chapter. Hopefully, all will now be well structurally! :pinkiehappy:

Mike

What a charming bunch Fluttershy's family appear to be. No wonder the company of a psychotic lagomorph does not faze her!

2134978

Just wait:

Mom and Dad are even moreso... :ajbemused:

Mike

Man, Fluttershy's really having a rough time here. Don't you think she deserves a break? :fluttercry:

Guess that wedding chapel is going to have an awfully lonely half when the day comes. Then again there's easily enough Apple and Co. family members that they might end up needing both sides in the first place.

2143590

Without being too "spoilery":

This is the emotional nadir of the story. There's a few hard moments still to come, but after this, there's nowhere to go but up. And the other songs are much peppier!

2143598

I'm seeing:

Squirrels ev'rywhere.

Mike

2143915

I was referring to equine family members. But you raise a valuable point, guess it'll be a summer wedding then, since most temples frown upon allowing half a forest's worth of animals into services.

A part of me is disappointed that Carnation wasn't taken to task for her rather improbable predictions, buts the same time at least it got it over with for Fluttershy.

2144197

Or they could have:

A civil ceremony on the steps of city hall, the mayor presiding, the town square filled with ponies and the skies filled with birds and chipmunks using hang gliders.

Hmmm. Gonna hafta file that image away for later... :pinkiehappy:

2145678

I'm trying to resist the temptation to have Fluttershy quote the ancient Equestrian proverb "Living well is the best revenge" in the next chapter. Still, that next chapter, "6 - Igneous: Granite," should be ready Feb. 28th.

Mike

Your writing style is fantastic. It's like I'm actually in their minds, thinking what they are thinking. You know how to get me involved in a story!

And I like the really positive vibes I get from this story! Even though Fluttershy's going through such crap she's got AJ right there.

Don't stop this fic. Keep on going! I'm really liking the story and the characters you're creating!

2181321

Thanks!

My current plan calls for 10 chapters with each new chapter posting on a day ending with an 8: Feb. 28th for "6 - Igneous: Granite," Mar. 8th for "7 - Sedimentary: Flint," Mar. 18th for "8 - Sedimentary: Shale," Mar. 28th for "9 - Sedimentary: Sandstone," and Apr. 8 to wrap it all up with "10: Pearl." Now to see if I can actually do it! :pinkiehappy:

Mike

I wonder if little Fluttershy will ever get up the courage to top. Though there's a certain sweet charm to Applejack dominating the physical side of their relationship like that.

"Yes!" Silk Screen leaped into the air with a hoof pump. "C+, here I come!"

:rainbowlaugh::facehoof:
I was kind of expecting Fluttershy to freak out about the modeling, or even have an embarrassing accident, but things went much better than expected! :yay::pinkiehappy:
Fluttershy gets some of her self-esteem back, and then immediately funnels it into a cockamamie shenanigan :facehoof:
And Dad turns out to be crude and a little stupid, but I guess at least that's better than the utter loathing and malice Mom is filled with.

Well, I think AJ and Fluttershy will be having a rather awkward talk shortly, but hurrah and huzzah to one of the odious family members getting their what-fors.

2195019

The temptation:

To answer your query with the two words "It's coming" is almost overwhelming. But I can't imagine I would ever resort to such double entendres. :twilightblush:

2195664

Fluttershy's ability to bounce back is what I love best about writing her. She's like a sea anenome: she squeezes closed at the slightest touch, but she always folds open again. :yay:

Just as a side note, I wrestled with myself all week over Bolide's first line, his response to Fluttershy saying, "Hi, Dad." Originally, y'see, he was going to say simply, "Fucking shit." :twilightoops:

2195180

And this is what I love best about writing AJ: once she sets a goal for herself, she will accomplish that goal in whatever way it takes. I mean, practicality is a form of honesty, right? :twilightsmile:

2196612

A line I used in an entirely different context springs to my mind: "I hope ev'ryone has their tickets to Awkward City. 'Cause I don't see this ride going anywhere else." :eeyup:

Mike

2195664 I was COMPLETELY expecting Fluttershy to have an embarrassing incident. I was quite confused when it didn't happen, but I really enjoyed it when I finally understood why.

Prediction time!

Fluttershy poses for Burnt Umber. Fluttershy's family sees the resulting picture. They show up at the wedding or at some other significant time.

Although I don't know how I feel about that. Fluttershy's family just sucks, you did a good job of showing that. This'll be a hard thing for them to come around from, know what I mean?

And only 3 more installments in this fic? I dread it ending, but I want the next 3 installments ASAP as well! the 8th is so far away!

2199758

I'm glad:

To hear that Fluttershy's reasoning at least made partial sense. Of all the characters, I'm the most like her, and trying to explain my odd thought processes--even to myself sometimes--can get a little dicey... :pinkiecrazy:

2202455

I don't wanna get all "spoilery," but since the story's entitled "History," we're just dealing with our heroines' pasts and won't be seeing the wedding at the end. That'll hafta wait till a potential story after this one: "Philiosophy"? "Theology"? "Practical Maths"? I haven't thought that far ahead, looks like. :pinkiehappy:

But there are four more chapters here: the three "Sedimentary" chapters where we meet Applejack's parents and finally get the song I've been hearing AJ sing to Fluttershy since this whole thing started in my head last year, then the epilogue, "Pearl," to get the two of 'em back to Ponyville.

Mike

Chapter 8:

"Sedimentary: Shale," should be here March 18th.

Mike

This, is once again a great chapter. March 18th you say? I'll keep an eye out.

I had dreaded that Applejack's seemingly easy way with duplicity might have caused a greater doubt in Fluttershy's mind, so I'm glad they got over that quickly. Poor Marmie, though. :pinkiesad2:

2238845

I like to have deadlines:

Even when I hafta make 'em myself. It forces me to let a thing go and move on. 'Cause otherwise, I'd keep fiddling and fiddling and never get anything done at all. :raritystarry:

2243524

Applejack's actions at the end of "Granite" will have consequences in "Shale." If I can pull the scene off correctly... :twilightsmile:

Mike

2248449

Heh, I know how it feels. I've been meaning to write down the story in my head for about two years now. Never got around to actually starting it. Probably should someday, but music is such an alluring thing too :3

Well, that went better than the last two. Not great, but better.

Good god. I am very impressed by your work. Extremely romantic. But not sappy. I like it. :raritywink::raritystarry::pinkiesmile::pinkiehappy::pinkiegasp::rainbowlaugh::rainbowkiss::twilightsheepish::twilightsmile::ajsmug::yay::trollestia:

2272273

Fluttershy's sections:

Are "Igneous," all volcanic explosions and flows of lava. Applejack's are "Sedimentary" with layer after layer needing to be navigated. So Fluttershy's sections are more obviously unpleasant while Applejack's are trickier. Or something... :twilightoops:

2272556

Thanks! This sex-n-romance stuff isn't the sort of "light adventure" I usually write, so I'm having fun with it.

Mike

A couple days early:

But I think this is done. Look for "9 - Sedimentary: Sandstone" on or around March 28th.

Mike

Toppy Fluttershy, yay! And wearing the hat, too. Perfect.

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