“And she’s up for it? Just like that?” Rainbow Dash asked. The book she’d been reading sailed in an arc over her shoulders, forgotten while the pegasus peered over the rim of the bookcase that was her perch. Twilight didn’t even comment; a magical glow seized the book and re-shelved it with precision that bespoke unwilling practice.
“Yeppers! Just like that,” Pinkie said. She kicked the door shut behind her and trotted into the library proper. She’d smiled all the way home from Canterlot, and at present, she wasn’t quite sure she could ever stop. “I don’t actually know what you mean with ‘like that’, but we’re going out on a date, so if that’s what you mean, you’re right!”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “Oh my gosh, that is awesome. You’re going out with Princess Celestia! How?”
“That’s what I said, and that was exactly what I meant to say when I said she said yes, wow, it’s like you can read my lips! Or, well, my words.” Pinkie tilted her head and beckoned her friend down, trotting them both a little closer to the desk behind which Twilight sat. So far, the unicorn had said rather little, but watched and listened.
“And how?” Pinkie stuck her tongue out while she thought, scratching her head to try to stir her brain into action. It wasn’t quite the same as a pound of sugar, but it’d have to do. “I talked, I think. I told her everything! Some things, anyway. I didn’t tell her all my secrets. I didn’t tell her that Fluttershy makes cute noises in her sleep and that sometimes I sneak into her bedroom to poke her, or that I actually ate twenty-seven corn cakes, but a mare’s gotta have some mystery, right? I read that in a book.”
“Sure.” Rainbow Dash grinned and shook her head, but frowned soon after when her attention fell upon the silent unicorn. “Hey, Twilight? Why aren’t you freaking out or whatever? Are you hearing this?”
Twilight’s mouth hung open for a moment. “I... that’s not fair,” she said. She sighed and sank down to lean against the desk, turning to face Pinkie Pie. “It’s not in my place to ‘freak out’ anyway, and I’m happy for you, I really am. It’s a little weird, sure, but I’m here for you.”
Pinkie giggle-snorted, a broad grin on her face as she trotted around the writing desk to throw a leg around Twilight’s neck. “That’s really nice of you, but it doesn’t have to be weird or silly or strange; you don’t have to call me ‘dad!’”
Dash’s snickering was a faint backdrop to the sheer un-noise of Twilight’s extreme lack of expression and the flatness of her tone. “Pinkie Pie? She’s not my mother.”
“Aw okay. Uncle then!”
Twilight ground her forehead with a hoof. “That’s not how it works.”
Pinkie hopped up and down. “Ooh, but it does work? I win!”
Rather than groan, roll her eyes, or do any of the other little gestures Pinkie had grown accustomed to, Twilight gave a little giggle and shook her head. She even smiled. It was enough to give a pink earth mare pause and ask consider if perhaps she’d finally driven her friend crazy.
“I’m sure it’ll work out fine,” Twilight said, leaning to touch her head to Pinkie’s. The quiet only lasted until interrupted by the creak of the Library’s front door and Rainbow Dash’s voice soon after.
“Hey Rarity, Pinkie’s going on a date!”
Rarity paused at the threshold, a pony frozen in time for the a fraction of a second. The book she’d been levitating at her side dropped dangerously close to the ground before it was whisked away by a burst of Twilight’s magic. At Pinkie’s side, the unicorn muttered something about disrespect for literature.
“Well, this is news,” Rarity said, slowly approaching the other three. “Am I right to assume that this is a result of yet another one of your visits to Canterlot? A date with—”
“Princess Celestia!” Dash blurted, her grin almost matching Pinkie’s.
Pinkie Pie nodded and ran over to bump snouts with Rarity. “What she said! I was all, ‘hey, do you wanna eat marshmallows with me sometime?’ and she was all ‘sure thing Pinkie, you’re the best’! Except it didn’t happen like that at all, but I did bake her cookies before I went home!”
“I’m sure,” Rarity said. She levitated out a handkerchief from her mane to wipe her snout before smiling back at her. “Well, that’s simply the most delightful news I’ve heard all day, then! Have you begun preparing? Do you have plans for what to wear at all? You do realize I would delight in designing something new for you to wear, and if you need brush up on—ah, rather, if you want some pointers in basic etiquette, I’m sure I can try to help with that.”
Pinkie Pie squinted. Making squinty eyes didn’t actually help her think by itself, but it made the world a little smaller, and with less to look at, it was slightly easier to pin her brain to task. “Dresses? Eaty-whats? Aw, maybe? I was just gonna wing it!”
Rarity stared as if the words simply failed to find their way into her ears. A very subtle frown crossed her features, one that bespoke an incoming crisis of faith. “You... plan on going out with a princess without any preparations and with not so much as a single curled eyelash?”
“Nuh-uh,” Pinkie said, giggling. “I’m not going out with a princess, I’m dating Celestia!”
While Rarity didn’t seem able to find words for the moment, Twilight trotted around her desk. “I think all Rarity means is that you of course want the date to go well. I don’t think that, I, ah,” she gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. “I guess doing everything by the book isn’t the most—isn’t the only important thing.”
Pinkie Pie shrugged. “Sure? I mean, yeah, I do, I totally do want to have a super time, but I really just wanna hang out more with her. If she wants to go on a date with me, she’ll go on a date with me, and that’s exactly who I am!”
Twilight gave a small nod and a smile, while Rarity scratched one leg with the other and coughed.
“Well, I can’t argue with that,” Rarity said, shaking her head. “I simply don’t get an opportunity like this very often, and I would so love to help.”
“Aw, that’s okay. It’s next weekend, so you have plenty of time to try to convince me to try that eaty thing and maybe make some kind of neat action dress so neat, I won’t be able to say no!” Pinkie gasped. “Maybe you can make a pink stealth suit with wings? That would be so cool!”
Rarity smiled in the way she did when Pinkie had said something particularly silly, though Pinkie couldn’t quite tell what that might have been. “I’m certain we can reach some sort of, ah, compromise.”
“Next week?” Dash asked. “Where’re you taking her? Ponyville Cinema’s showing The Return of Krastos on Friday!”
“I don’t think that’s what the princess has in mind,” Twilight said, laughing. “Sorry, Rainbow, but I think she’d be more interested in a proper play.”
“Or perhaps a symphonic piece,” Rarity said. Dash rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out.
“Oh. I’m not taking her. She’s taking me,” Pinkie said. “She asked me if I minded her arranging and fixing everything up nice because everything we’ve done so far has been my kinda stuff, and then she got a really clever look on her face and I kind of lost track because I started wondering if her cutie mark is hot like the sun and then she asked me why I was staring at her butt. After that we decided to get back to making cookies in the royal kitchen. The chef with the biggest hat was really nice!”
“I see,” Twilight said in a tone that suggested she did, in fact, not see at all. Pinkie decided not to argue the point all the same.
“Well. I, for one, find that rather romantic, in an odd, roundabout sort of way, ignoring that very last part about flanks,” Rarity said, leaning over to give Pinkie a brief hug. “I do hope you’ll forgive my earlier misgivings. None of us are infallible, I suppose.”
“I don’t know about that,” Pinkie said, leaning back against Rarity. She closed her eyes and buried her head in the purple mane of her friend; Rarity’s mane was far softer than it looked, and she so rarely got the chance to snuggle it. “You say lots of really clever things. I’m still thinking about what you said about ponies with bigger smiles on the inside,” she said, poking her head out of Rarity’s mane to smile at Twilight and Rainbow Dash. “Can you imagine how big the smile Celestia is keeping bottled up is?”
Rarity made a little noise not entirely unlike the little squeals Twilight tended to make when a new shipment of books arrived from the Royal Library, and a set of surprisingly strong legs squeezed around Pinkie’s neck, making her giggle. Dash, for her part, looked away and waved a hoof in dismissal, and Twilight said nothing, dropping her eyes with a smile.
“You simply must give me all the details when you return,” Rarity said, finally letting go. “Right now, however, I need to give Fluttershy and Applejack the news!”
“Sure!” Pinkie Pie said. “You can try to make me wear a dress later, and then we can make a totally not at all planned round of hide and seek in your boutique!”
Rarity didn’t smile quite as bright at that. Rather, one of the corners of her mouth desperately tried to tug the other one along for the ride while she made for the door. “Until then!”
Once Rarity had left and the door closed behind her, Rainbow Dash stretched her entire body, then her wings one by one. “Anyways, it’s getting late. I’m gonna head home for a nap unless you guys need me for anything.”
Twilight chuckled. “As invaluable as you’ve been in creating a mess here, I think I’m ready to let you go. Seriously though, thank you for the company.”
“Hey, no problem. Thanks for the food.” Dash grinned.
“Need you for anything,” Pinkie repeated, rolling her jaw. “Hm. I can’t think of anything either. Oh, wait! That’s unless you wanna come along for the date!”
Rainbow Dash gave a short burst of laughter. “Pinkie, you really have no clue how dates work, do you? I don’t care about that sort of junk, but even I know—”
“Of course I do!” Pinkie said. “I meant like a double date! That’d twice as datealicious.”
Twilight shook her head and gathered the books spread out over her desk into a neat stack. “Last time I checked, Rainbow Dash didn’t have a special somepony in her life,” she said, though she raised a brow and peered over at the pegasus even as she spoke.
“You could ask Luna out!” Pinkie beamed. “She’s always around the castle. Or is it a palace? I keep forgetting, but I know where her bedroom is!”
A smirk slowly spread across Rainbow Dash’s face. “I’m liking that idea.”
Twilight rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Really funny, you two. I’m not going to take the bait this time.”
Dash’s grin disappeared in an instant. The pegasus poked her own chest, the very image of indignation. “What? Why do you think I haven’t been around that much lately, huh? Rarity gave me some books about dating, and come on, Luna’s totally hot.”
“You—” Twilight sputtered. “You what? I—no, I mean, of course it’s none of my business, but I—”
Rainbow Dash said nothing, simply staring at Twilight with the tiniest and most devious smile Pinkie had seen in a long while. Slowly, Twilight’s protests petered out until the unicorn’s ears lay flat against her head. She flicked her tail once and snorted.
“Okay. Fine. You got me.”
“Too easy,” Dash snickered, making for the door. “Catch you later.”
Pinkie Pie paused by the door. It was already dark outside, but she’d not feared the dark for a very long time. Besides, Ponyville was still alive with plenty of ponies milling about; some were heading to meet with friends, she imagined. Some were coming home from work, a rare few were heading to work, and perhaps a few of the pairs of ponies who walked down mane street were on their way to some date-y place like the movies, the park, or a very comfy couch.
She was most certainly not afraid of the dark, and she had plenty to do. Back home at Sugarcube Corner, Gummy would be anxious to hear all about her Canterlot trip. Oh sure, Gummy pretended he didn’t care, and sometimes he barely even blinked when Pinkie told him the most amazing things, but she knew that he loved it deep in his little gator-heart.
When that was all done, she needed to head straight to bed to get plenty of rest if she was to get up early in the morning—no less than three ponies had their birthdays tomorrow, and she was sure that Lily would appreciate a surprise birthday muffin delivered to her when she left her home for work at six thirty-five in the morning.
And still she lingered in the doorway. She wasn’t actually quite sure if it counted as lingering if nopony had asked her to leave, demanded she leave, or physically tried to shove her out the door, but the quality of the silence felt very linger-y. Something else kept her.
Almost as confusing as the odd and tingly feeling that made her linger was the fact that Twilight hadn’t even commented. The unicorn stood at her side in silence, just like she had ever since Rainbow Dash had left a few minutes earlier.
“Are you okay?”
If Pinkie Pie were to be honest, those words could have belonged to either of them, but it had definitely been Pinkie herself who asked. Twilight looked like she wanted to say something, only she didn’t.
“Hm? Yeah. I’m fine, I just...” Twilight trailed off, licking her lips, swallowing, sighing and shaking her head with such mechanical precision, part of Pinkie Pie wanted to applaud. The unicorn’s expression suggested that she wasn’t looking for applause.
“Listen, Pinkie. I know I said this before, but I’m really sorry I made such a big deal out of this... this everything.”
Pinkie shrugged and bumped her flank against Twilight’s. “S’okay, silly!”
“It’s not,” Twilight said. “It really isn’t. It was disrespectful to you and to Princess Celestia. It was childish. I’m better than that. I didn’t mean to mumh fh—”
Pinkie Pie tilted her head and leaned in close. When she put a hoof under Twilight’s lower muzzle and pushed, Twilight’s mouth closed. It did wonders in stopping the nonsense from tumbling out of her friend.
“You’re being silly, and everything is okay, okay?”
Twilight looked indignant for a second, pulling away from Pinkie’s hoof, but at length she nodded. Slowly at first, her repeated nods eventually came with conviction. “Right. Okay. Just believe me when I say I’m happy for you. For both of you.”
Pinkie smiled and touched her snout to Twilight’s. “Of course I do.”
Twilight rubbed at her face with the nook of a leg. “I’m still going to insist on making it up to you somehow, but, uh, so. Are you okay? It looked like you zoned out there for a little bit.”
Pinkie had a simple answer for that. Most of her was ready to shout “of course!” and hug Twilight—perhaps reach inside one of her nearby party stashes and add some confetti for added effect. Most, but not all of her. A tiny part argued that she wasn’t entirely super-duper completely sure, like a piece of carrot in a chunk of nougat.
“Probably,” Pinkie said. Twilight sat down and perked her ears, and it made Pinkie feel a little less silly for her own uncertainty.
“What do you call it when you feel very, very good, but at the same time, there’s this, um,” Pinkie bit her lower lip and clopped her hooves together, searching for words with which to pin this strange thing down. “It’s not-good, but not entirely bad either, like you’re not sure about something that’s going to happen, and you like it, but at the same time—nuts, this is super hard.”
Twilight’s expression immediately softened. The unicorn scooted a little closer and couldn’t quite stifle a giggle, but it was the nicest laughter Pinkie had heard in a long while and it came with a small grin to boot.
“I think most would call that nervousness or fear. Perhaps ‘trepidation’ if you want to be specific. Does that sound familiar?”
Pinkie Pie sighed through her nose. “Well, I don’t like it. Or maybe I do. That’s what’s silly about this. I can’t decide! It’s almost like the pre-party jitters, but with less sugar. I’m not supposed to worry, Twilight!”
Twilight nodded and leaned in against Pinkie Pie. It helped a lot more than it should against the faint chill seeping in from the open door. “I don’t think it’s that strange, but it’s not a problem unless you let it stop you, and the Pinkie Pie I know is going to be eager to head over to Canterlot and find out how this all goes.”
“Oh.” Pinkie sat down, peered down at her own tummy, and gave it a little prod. “The date. Yeah, that’s probably it. For a second I thought it was about the birthday muffins I’m baking tomorrow, but this makes loads more sense—aw, and it’s totally worry-ful too. Can we go back to me not realizing?”
“You said it yourself, when Princess Celestia herself says ‘be yourself’, well, having good advice in the form of a royal decree, you can’t beat that. What’s there to worry about? You’ll be fine.”
Twilight’s smile was so sincere and honest, it was tempting to agree, but now that the world was slowing down a tiny bit—when the smell of fresh-baked cookies faded and there were fewer ponies in the room than Pinkie had hooves—it was a little too easy to answer that.
“I guess,” Pinkie muttered. “But being Pinkie Pie also means that sometimes, I’m a teensy tiny bit silly in a bad way, too, and I don’t want to be. I don’t ever mean to be mean, but sometimes, you can hurt somepony by saying things they don’t want to hear. Inconsiderate.”
Twilight’s reply was a tilt of her head. Pinkie perked her ears, glad to be able to teach her friend something.
“It’s was the word of the day on your calendar Monday last week, it means—”
“I know what the word means, Pinkie. I just wonder who would ever say these things about you.”
“Oh, nopony. I just thought that since things almost didn’t go as great as they did for a little bit—”
“Inconsiderate. The pony who took my stupid words so seriously it hurt her?” Twilight asked, crossing her forelegs. “The pony who spends every day trying to make others smile? The mare who can't sleep unless she's thrown a party to make everypony else feel special, yet sometimes forgets her own name?”
Pinkie Pie stuck her tongue out and slowly tilted her head sideways. Unless she had missed something, and she frequently did, they were nice words, but Twilight looked a little bit angry.
“Pinkie Pie? Trust me. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. I know you, and I know Princess Celestia.”
“Ooh.” Pinkie Pie bounced up on all fours, grinning. “Does that mean you can help me cheat on my test by telling me all kinds of little secrets about her?”
Twilight shook her head and rose to stand, indicating the door with a flick of her head before leaning over for a quick hug. “No, it means that it’s going to be fine, and that I’m not worried, which means you shouldn’t be, either. I’ll see you tomorrow—I got a couple of books you can read about formal etiquette and everything if you really want them, but right now, it’s goodnight.”
I was just hoping you would post a new chapter today. Thank you so much!
Just what is Rainbow Dash up to?
And I'm fairly sure Pinkie will be fine. Things seem to naturally work themselves out when it comes to her.
Lu-na! Lu-na! Lu-na!
This was sweet. I always like the girls just bein' friends. Kinda what it's all about, yknow?
I was SO going to sleep. Thank you kindly for showing me the wrongs of my way via your writing.
And another excellent chapter is complete. You don't happen to have another one tucked away there somewhere, do ya?
I love the way you're building on details of Pinkie's character so much. It really makes her come alive.
It would be hilarious if Dash actually asked Luna out.
Unless that's some some strange Pinkieisum, I think you have a little editing error there. In any case, wow, Pinkie is pausing to consider if she's driving her friend insane? Wow, that's huge.
Okay, back to reading.
Yes, another good chapter here. Interesting little bit between Pinkie and Twilight at the end there.
Luna Dash.
There's a ship I haven't seen often.
And she's been shipped with darn near everyone!
The way you write Pinkie, sometimes I have to wonder just how much she even notices or understands of the romantic side of her budding relationship. But work your way through the babble, and it becomes more clear how she feels and how much it means to her, even if she doesn't articulate it well, since it's probably something she never had to bother with thinking about before.
"with precision that belied unwilling practice"
I think "bespoke" is the proper word here :3
2334935
I've never found a story shipping Rainbow Dash and Luna. (Or RD and Celestia) I've seen it pop up at least twice in some random fics, but I've never seen a story that has an actual romance between one of the princesses and RD. I'd love a link to a good RDxLuna or RDxCelestia story, if anyone knows one.
Commence read.
Darn, Pinkie gets no assistance for the big exam, from Twilight.
I'm sensing slight hints at future sprinkles of a TwiDash shipping on this delicious cupcake of a story. Maybe I'm just reading into it a bit too much though.
2335488
Seconded! Dag, there's an untapped gold mine of insecurities there!
Poor Pinkie having self doubt, damn, even she has worries and YAY!!!!!!! I can't wait to read about Rainbow Dash and Luna, maybe you should make a second story based on that Gods, I love this story, it's so badass and heart breaking at the same time
LunaDash huh?
Dash: I am the fastest flier in Equestria!
Luna: We are the night herself! We are the fastest!
Dash: No way, no how!
Luna: Cease thy rambunctious ramblings, the night shall out fly thee forever! Mwahahahaha!
: Oh get a room you two.
Dash: I bet i'm the fastest lover in equestria!
Luna: We shall take thee on thine bet and bed!
2337661 Write more of this, my Raven Sense tells me you will go far with it.
Yay! My night is a hundred times better now. I love the way you write Pinkie.
My hopes for Twi conflict! They are mortally wounded!
Also...
...Dash is actually going to go ask Luna out, isn't she?
Makes sense. A god is the only fillyfriend awesome enough for Dash.
Anyway, there is much love in me for this chapter. It's occasionally heart-stoppingly cute, and gives us more time in Pinkie's head. Which, given your skill with her, is a very good thing.
The doubt, and the way you played it off, as just a sudden stop in the door, was utterly brilliant. That whole thing was my favorite scene in chapter. At least, after this:
I don't know why, but I adore that sentence. Call it a bit of snobby writer's pique. I think it was a perfect bit of description.
I mean, if you ignore the typo with 'the a'.
2335488
Luna/Dash is one of the threads in my own fic, Crucible. But, it's not the primary point of the story, I admit. And isn't slated to be a huge point until the latter half of the story. Outside of Dash (and Luna's) chapters anyway, where, for obvious reasons, it's a focus. Luna's hamminess serves to be one of few personalities that rather blows Dash's out of the water, and leaves her reeling. Couldn't resist the ship.
Doesn't take much, just a positing that Luna may like particularly forceful, bombastic mares. Not unlike herself, really.
Twi's totally dropping hints, Rainbow. Get your flank in gear, filly! My Little OTP: Out of Context is Magic
Lovely chapter this time around, the imagery of Twi's library duties being so automated that she even saves them midair and whisks them back to their shelves is both fun, and a joy to imagine. Also, Rainbow sitting on a book case like a perch seems really cute in my head. I'll add that to the list.
Great work man, can't wait for more.
2335488 There's one clopfic where Rainbow becomes Luna's maid for a week due to a lost bet. Does that count?
inb4 Pinkie memorizes that book and shows up with a tux and a monocle, speaking with a posh accent the whole time.
Rarity likes tuxes right? I hopes so...
A most aweso0me chapter indeed and looking forward to more.
Ah, a very comfy couch. In my experience, one of the very best date-y places.
The number of little slice of life details in this chapter, and in the fic as a whole, is really astounding. Rainbow Dash chucking books across the room, so often apparently that Twilight has become some expert book catcher, Pinkie Pie planning to deliver birthday muffins the next morning, Twilight's grumbling last minute save after Rarity dropped her book. These have little to do with the overall story, but they infuse so much life into the writing it wouldn't be half as enjoyable without them.
Ha ha ha, this reminds me of the P4 Endurance run when they were trying to explain the story to Dave. It turned into a confusing mess that was hilarious to watch.
2263109 I'm very glad to hear it, and hope the incoming finale is to your liking!
2263115 If only 'twere so simple! We'll see if it is, but I'm willing to throw my chips in with you on this one.
2263147 Haha, oh gosh that comment got a lot of upvotes. My lips, at least, are sealed on the topic. I'm posting the last chapters up in a few days, hopefully. Then you can see what happens to the other pairs of lips!
2263170 Aww, yay! I'm super glad to hear from someone else who liked that particular scene! I always have the best time writing Celly and Luna being Celly and Luna, and if at least one other person actually enjoys it, then the world is a shiny place.
2263360 You shall have your wish really soon, promise! Just want to make sure the last batch (next is a multi-chapter update) is the best it can possibly be. Thank you for reading!
2263380 Aw, since it's been a few chapters since that comment, I really hope you feel better about Twi now, at least!
2263462 No comment. More chapters very soon, but no comments on levels of smooch contained within. Perhaps Pinkie is just trolling you? Perhaps. Perhaps not!
2263586 My day is now better by an order of one rainbow. Thank you!
2263610 Moth and flames? I don't know. Thank you for reading thus far, though!
2263619 If I knew that this fic would garner so many statements like this, I would have made this an interactive fic, and by interactive, I mean that the "yes" button on the "should they kiss soon" poll would go to my paypal account.
(I don't have a paypal account for these things. No I wouldn't.)
2263676 Hopefully not the bad kind of frustration, and I'm very glad to hear some love for Celly here - thank you very much!
2263910 I cannot tell exactly what you are agreeing with, but I agree with it nonetheless.
2264001 The toasty one has a point, but regardless, I hope the chapters show that Celestia really isn't dense in the sense that she's stupid--because if you've cause to think that, I consider it a failure on my part! She is certainly a product of her station, though! I hope the next set of chapters do not disappoint in this regard.
2264127 Unconfirmed theories, of course!
2264193 I've been using CellyPie myself, but honestly, the very fact that the ship is so rare anything goes/there is no accepted standard is part of why I really rather like it.
Lovely little summary though, haha. I did laugh!
2264444 I've always tended towards slower stories, and I understand that it won't be to everypony's tastes. I can't very well apologize for something that was fully intended, but I will say that trying to write something that's comedy and ship is fairly new to me, so that may be part of it; hopefully the conclusion does not disappoint you if you're still interested!
2264568 It's interesting you point out the in-story pace like that, because I believe you're absolutely right. Of course part of it is that Pinkie doesn't really think about it in a conventional manner, and neither does Celestia -- if either side tried to push the other in a way that did not work out, this would rapidly early a [Sad] tag.
2264638 Even though I'm working on a long backlog of comments and I know this comment was for ch8, I will happily spam-repeat (because I'm happy about this) that the final batch is coming real soon; thank you so much for reading thus far!
2264640 Because Cloudy is a terrible pony who has just now re-learned for the second time the lesson about not posting incomplete stories when the rest has yet to even be written. I am not doing this again. :|
2264775 Awf, that's a lot of really sweet words, you're very kind to say so, and I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. This sort of stuff makes my day!
The Twilight stuff in particular, I'm glad to hear people feel is fixed or resolved. I don't pander to audiences or write stories reactively, but it was endlessly frustrating to read people crying foul over the handling of Twi when I had the next chapter dealing with just that already in the works.
>PS: You have one grammophone in there with two m's instead of one. ;)
Goldurnit. It looks so weird with one m due to it having two in my native language. Thanks!
2264966 But but--I'm done writing! It's editing that eats time now!
2265138 End of the week or so and we should have more, promise!
2265608 I'm very glad! I recognize the pacing isn't to everypony's tastes, but I'm very glad to hear that it's worked for +1 readers. Thank you for reading thus far, and I hope you bring more chapters very soon!
2265743 2266089 Thank you both - for reading and for the fixes. They look so silly when highlighted, I don't know how they slipped the net.
(Yes I do: Because I stressed. And Celinkie is a terribly cute word.)
2265794 Your request does me great honor! Thank you for reading thus far!
2266146 1. You totally should! Not knowing how to draw is no excuse to hide from inspiration, and 2. I actually know how that feels. I started drawing art based on Esle Ynopemos' Wendersnaven despite not being an artpony.
Thank you for reading, and if you do draw something, you've gots' ta show me!
2266592 I think I'm gonna be very happy if you feel that a slow paced ship + Pinkie Pie feels believable. Thank you!
2266732 Awf that's crazy talk. Comparing works across authors makes no sense, and it's nothing to do with perceived skill or popularity; style accounts for so much that once you move past wondering where to place the commas, you can't go around saying X is better than Y, you can only point to differences that in most cases aren't subjectively better or worse.
I wish you the very best in your writing!
2267227 It's sappy as heck, and I'm sorry to say I don't think we're quite out of the woods with sap yet! Always covered in sap-sap.
Except, you know, I'm not sorry. I love this stuff.
>Pinkie's constant looks of mysterious pondering aren't my faaavorite. But that might be because it's more unnatural on Pinkie than if she suddenly spouted tentacles and started screaming about strange aeons and death dying.
On one hoof, that's the "point", but on the other hoof, I still can't quite decide if I laid it on too thick with that.
2267303 But who's to kiss who? That's the question!
2267348 You can't Clowww-deeee me when your name is impossible to pronounce like that! "Emmrrllllllld"? It just doesn't work! Meanie.
>I like how seriously Pinkie is taking her promise to Twilight.
Probably bad form for me to agree with something positive said about my fic in my own comments section, and I'll be the first to admit to flaw X and Y, but I will say that I really enjoyed this very bit. In general, I like highlighting character strengths (and strengths that can be flaws) that aren't traditionally associated with ponies. It's funny you mention the word "considerate" too, but I shall say no more on that right now.
>but I keep seeing Rarity x Applejack, and maybe a bit of Dash x Fluttershy too... I may have a problem.
Haha. Okay, see, since it's just a comment here, I can sneakily kinda-unsurprisingly-reveal that really, I'm sort of trolling myself here. I love tossing out stuff like that to let people think what they want. I love reading it, I love writing it, but I never make it canon in my fics; I can't have all my fics shipping all the ponies.
Or can I.
2267971 Thank you very much!
2268527 Aw, NotLestia? Am I missing something? Still, I'm glad! Digressions and asides like that are almost more fun to write than the main meat of the story!
2269447 Not the first to say it, no, but by far the fanciest way to say it. I congratulate you!
2270712 Aww, no killing and no hate, I swear I thought of it n' din' mean to make Twi a villain!
2271353 Joke's on you, I have a book!
Okay no seriously, it makes sense, no? A disguise with a multicolored mane would be a terrible disguise, I figure!
>I love/hate the way you completely go against the standards of Brony fandom.
Now, I understand you probably meant this tongue in cheek, and you're not trying to start a huge discussion, but it's an interesting point--I find far too many people take fanon as canon. When people start yelling at authors who write Lyra who isn't in a relationship with Bon-Bon, I get very, very sad. :\
Also, that had nothing to do with anything. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your comment!
2271428 Trololol and soforth!
It's interesting. Another story I wrote--very specifically trying to avoid having an antagonist--got critique for exactly that antagonist, and here it happened naturally. No idea what happened, but I'm glad if it's to your liking. Thank you!
2271475 Don't need to understand to coexist, at least, but we'll see! Last batch of chapters coming soon!
2272149 I read that twice, and I still don't completely understand it. My conclusion is that what you said makes perfect sense and fits the CellyPie thematic.
2272980 Very glad you feel that way!
On the topic of Celestia herself, she's particularly tricky. She's got less screentime than the mane 6 by far, so you can't point to a precedent for her every action, but she's too well characterized to treat her like an OC with a station and function. All you can really do is try to interpret what you see and hope it fits others' interpretations of her. This is the third story I've written that tries to pin her down, and she's different from both of the others by far.
I really, really like writing Celestia.
>For me, the buildup is one of the best things about a burgeoning romance.
This. The realization and all things related to it can be so very, very wonderful.
2272990 You probably figured it out by now since the comment was on an earlier chapter--and my apologies for the slow reply. Sorry if the chapter breaks're confusing, but I generally treat each chapter end as a full break, and if I don't it should be very quickly apparent!
2273132 Gol'durnit those are awkward. I think I fixed them when you first made the reply, but I'll double check. Thank you, and thanks for reading!
2274942 All aboard!
2277297 Upvoted. Congratulations on writing the first finished CellyPie ship fic!
2278367 Haha, oh wow. I'm glad, and thank you!
2280144 Oo, do tell? I can tell you my own reasoning for the title afterwards!
2287903 Then I shall say thank you right back for making me smile with your kind words!
2288638 You're very kind to say so, and I'm glad! I'm also secretly glad you describe it as "slightly off the wall" rather than a complete crack ship, because, I mean, if I thought it was completely silly, I wouldn't have written it!
2295265 You say it like it's a good thing, so I'm gonna assume it's a good thing, thank you!
2298801 2298818 2298822 2298868 2298918 2298952 Semi-mass reply, but I just have to say, if Pinkie knew how hard people were rooting for her, she'd throw a party just for you, haha. Glad if this particular chapter worked out!
2298812 Frankly, I could have fun writing an entire miniseries with Pinkie teaching ponies how to bake at this point.
2298866 Have you been peeking into my notes? How could you possibly have--
Oh. Because Pinkie.
2299066 Aw, I'm sorry, but also, thank you! If it helps, writing Pinkie Pie being sad or insecure makes me feel wretched, even if it's only the tiniest bit,
2299082 Every ship needs to be tested to see if it'll float!
2299100 If it is, I've been doing it wrong for a very long time.
2299102 The irony of you suggesting I never disappoint in the same comment where you point out that I've done a spellderp in a sentence used that very same word? Marvellous. (Also, fixed. (I think. I hope it sticks.) Thank you!)
2299120 She just doesn't want ponies to know she collects My Little Human figurines. Yep. Yessir-or-madam.
2299226 We're not in clear waters just yet!
I do need to re-watch that movie, however.
2299257 I'm glad, thank you!
2299264 I have actually done TwiLestia myself before, and it does seem the more popular one; there's so little to base other mane6xCelestia off of, it requires a lot more groundwork. It's been a lot of fun though, and I'm extremely pleased to hear it if it works for you!
2299298 Dun dun dunn! I hope the conclusion will be to your liking!
2299356 Oh, you mean her collection of embarrassingly lame teacups? I didn't think it was worth going into detail 'bout, is all!
2299429 Luna? You got a little something on your--err, well, everything. Such a slob. :(
2299492 I'm very glad! I was a little concerned the shipping was marginalizing the funnies, but I hope it's still worth a smile here'n there.
2299573 You are very gracious! I hope to resolve the issue of impending smooches-or-not very soon. This weekend, or weekend plus one, probably!
2299612 Luna has a set of boxer shorts with colorful motifs. Boxers were all the rage before her banishment, and she can't deal with the fact that it's fallen out of favor since. :(
2300574 Oh, that stuff in her closet? It's a set of romance novels about Twilight and all her friends, penned by Luna herself, of course! What else?
2299635 No firing! No fire! Ponies are flammable. Try hugs instead?
2299774 Haha, d'aw, your enthusiasm is infectious. I shall have to hurry up the last chapters!
2299807 That... is immensely profound, and an oddly calming mental image. I like that. A lot. Have an internet and a half.
2300204 It's a little hard to comment on, this. I mean, my basis for this bit of characterization is based on observance and the image you build up in your head after years of surrounding yourself with these ponies--I wouldn't want to enter a slugfest with someone who said "I feel this is wrong", because I usually can't point to an exact why. I can't tell you that "this part of this episode is my precedent for pony X acting this way" because I just don't work like that.
At the same time, if you yourself feel I have a canonical footing, and it just rings untrue for the same reason it fits my mental image of Pinkie, well. Darnit. That's frustrating on so many levels, gah. I would love to know the exact why of it.
Am glad the rest seemed to work for you! The snow globes are one of those little details that, hm. It's in this group, you know? Details that aren't funny or anything, but point to a larger story I'll never tell--many will consider it uninteresting, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. I am pretty much The Biggest Fan of Celly/Luna affection like that. They're one of the few pairs I'll never ship simply because they make such amazing sisters.
2300280 Slow but inexorable. There will be shipping!
2300350 If you can't feel your left arm, you should see a doctor. Otherwise, I'm glad. Thanks!
2300440 I'm very happy to hear it!
2300507 I insist you keep at least one; it's very hard to browse without one!
2300558 Hurrah, brah!
2300862 You're very kind to say so! Half the fun of writing is seeing which part each reader focuses on, alike this. Thank you for reading!
2300865 Oh, no. It's just her baby pictures. If Celestia finds them, there will be no end to the teasing.
2301134 If I worried without frustrating, I consider it the best possible success. Thanks for reading thus far!
2301148 Aw, I take it that's a good thing--thank you very much! I hope the rest has as many adorbs in your eyes.
2301235 But--but-- the mouse isn't guilty of delaying chapters, I am!
Not that I condone you shift your violence to me, though. Hrm! Still, I thank you for what I shall interpret as very kind words!
2301914
>The master of romance.
Okay just hold up here for a second. That made me, well. I won't be one of those guys who say "I laughed out loud and rolled around on the floor so fast I caught fire" when I really mean "I exhaled." That comment made me smile broadly for a good long while, is the exact truth.
Anyway! I'm super glad that the chapter was to your liking, I really am! The British/American English split actually nearly ruined the whole hidey part for a bit, haha.
>The fact that she starts trying to bake, just to do something right.
>just to do something right.
See, I've used this very aspect of Pinkie at least twice now, yet still, when you repackage it thus, you make me feel a little bad. I hate being mean to Pinkie, even if I'm happy it worked.
However, it is this--
>Celestia acted very... mature, about it all. She clearly staked out her position on Pinkie's craziness by plainly asking for emotional consideration, without being bitchy.
--that gives me the most relief. I seem to miss the mark on this quite often. I won't bring out examples, but I tend to interpret character motivations in a very, very fluffy light, sometimes leading to people accusing characters of acting like assholes, and my reply'll be "What? No, it's sweet!" If I didn't fail with Celestia here, I'm very, very happy.
2302240 I will of course try! I mean, thank you for your very, very flattering words here, but the simple truth is that if I do not try, I stagnate or worse.
2302247 The second one there is a flat out derp, but since it's another speaker continuing the sentence, I left it with a regular period in the first instance there. Is there a clear rule for this, or do you still believe it should be an emdash?
2302463 Haha, d'aw, you're very kind! Sadly, the spell has a very, very long cast time.
2303228 You've just hit one of the Things. See, I have a set of Things, traits with my writing--be they perceived or confirmed as flaws or strengths--that I have to react when others comment on. You bring up locations and being able to visualize them, and I have to say, I'm both surprised and delighted: it has always been what I consider one of my greatest weaknesses.
I look to authors like Couch Crusader, and I am filled with envy over their ability to create a landscape so vivid, I can reach out to touch it. I doubt I will ever reach his level, but I would love to know -- if you should remember -- what it was that worked for you in my descriptions.
Don't feel pressured, it's just an idle thought and an elaborate, relieved "thank you."
>I'm normally a little indifferent to Pinkie Pie
I have to say, this makes you the minority! Most people I see either love or hate her, hah. Still, I'm incredibly glad to hear of it if you're enjoying the story so far, and I hope the rest is to your liking.
>Not that my lonely opinion is of any importance, so value that however you wish.
An opinion is everything and nothing. Some people seem to feel that because they read something, they have a right to criticize, to be heard, and to be accommodated. They're bloated on entitlement and dead wrong. Others hold the opinion you front here. You're equally wrong. To know someone appreciated something I wrote, and appreciated it enough to leave a comment saying so -- to take time out of their lives to write me a few words when they didn't need to -- that means more to me than you could possibly imagine. It's a large part of why I write.
2304046 Believe me, it hurt to write her like this too. I'm glad if there was at least a little suspense in it for you though!
2304843 If Bison is pleased, it is a good day. (Holycrapthoseeyes.)
2305250 In her closet? Action figures, of course! What else? I can't possibly imagine what else it could be.
>This chapter was really sweet, and rest assured that if I could draw atm, the CellyPie hug would be the top of the list.
How dare you not draw this? I mean, it's like you expect me to be content with you working on a comic based on one of my fics! Ponies these days. (Daily reminder: You are awesome.)
Seriously though, I hope you were just indisposed or in transit; my first thought was that you'd hurt your arm or somesuch.
2305783 Moar shall be had! And yeah. I like exploring new territory. The fact that there's been no prominent CellyPie before really did wonders to motivate me!
2305801 2335581 Happy Pinkie is better Pinkie than sad Pinkie. And hey, if Twilight thinks about it like a test, of course she won't help; do you think our favorite bookish unicorn ever cheated on a test? I think not!
2306036 The stuff in her closet? Oh, that's just the clothes from her "rebellious" phase six thousand years hence. Some of that stuff's indecent!
2308785 In the back of her closet? It's her hair products. She wants everypony to believe her hair's natural--and by natural I mean magically natural--but it's all a sham!
2317839 I'm glad! Very excited to see what you think of the ending when it goes up!
2334503 I did say every week! Well. And I also didn't post one today, so I kind of dropped the ball there. Sorry about that! On the upside, the last batch (read: multiple) of chapters will be going up in a few days if all goes according to plan.
2334519 I'm fairly sure Dash is just playing pranks. But then, you can never tell with her. She's devious, that one.
>And I'm fairly sure Pinkie will be fine. Things seem to naturally work themselves out when it comes to her
Pinkie certainly seems to be banking on this a lot of the time!
2334541 It is precisely what it's all about! Also, re: Luna. It's like you're biased or have a favorite pony or something, I don't know.
2334550 Sleep is never the right option! Now kindly submit to me your bedtimes so that I can plan the next chapter release to optimally disturb your sleep schedule.
2334802 I'm glad you like! I do in fact have multiple chapters tucked away, but they need a tiny bit more polish before they're ready. I accept that a few spelling errors will slip the net, but I want to give my friends and pre-readers a chance to point out how and if they suck first!
2334830 2334935 2337501 There are common ships, there are uncommon ships, there are very uncommon ships (Hi. CellyPie.), there are crack ships (Lyra x Toaster), and then there is RainbowPie.
Now I kinda wanna do it.
2334867 Cloudy is drunk and words bad. Darn it. I think I fixed that one when you made this comment, but I'm gonna go back and check if I remembered. Thank you!
2335166 I cannot judge whether or not I have succeeded, but what I will say is that you have just aptly described much of what I aspire to paint here. You can doubt that Pinkie sees romance the same way you do, but you cannot and should not ever doubt it's sincere and 200% heartfelt.
This is in fact part of what I want to do with a different ship fic entirely. Now I have to go jot down more notes for that. Augh. Derailed.
2335357 Drat. Researching then fixing if appropriate, thanks!
2335802 Since we're very close to the end of the fic, and I don't want to lead anypony on (I'm VERY sorry if I am spoiling, but this is very much unrelated to the main plot), the simple truth is that I haven't intended any secondary shipping pairs.
What I do is write all these little plugs that let people interpret it however they wish. I completely understand how people may see LunaDash, TwiDash, AppleShy (personal favorite of mine), RariJack, FlutterDash etc etc., and I'm not at all saying it's wrong, either! When I've published something, I become a reader just like anyone else. I have my own interpretation. Intent doesn't change how anyone else reads it. It shouldn't, anyway.
To be honest, though, I did toy with the idea of taking TwiDash further because I had the option to make ch10 very cute using them, but I felt it was a bit unneeded.
2338609 Sorry! Conflict: Resolved! The alternative was to have Twilight become Nightmare Sparkle and kidnap Celestia, but I didn't think the name was catchy enough.
>...Dash is actually going to go ask Luna out, isn't she?
Makes sense. A god is the only fillyfriend awesome enough for Dash.
I'd sneak in an extra word or two. It makes a concerning amount of sense, hah. "Hey, it's not my problem if other ponies settle for less."
>The doubt, and the way you played it off, as just a sudden stop in the door, was utterly brilliant.
I'm happy to hear it, especially since it was almost a spur of the moment thing! Well, not quite, but that segment wasn't on the list of planned moments, it just popped into my head as something that made sense, something I needed to do.
>Call it a bit of snobby writer's pique.
You know, I will call it just that, but I also feel like mentioning that writing or reading curiously crafted sentences are a favorite of mine, so thank you! I fixed the typo, I think. It looked particularly egregious on a pedestal like that, hah.
You're actually doing LunaDash though? Darnit, if it weren't Dark, I'd have to read it just to see what threads you pull on for that, if there's something beyond what you describe.
>Luna's hamminess
Okay, see, I've never heard that word before. While I can infer what it means, I thought of flanks far quicker than I like to admit, haha. Darnit. Now I want to try my hoof at this ship twice as bad.
2339170 Spread seeds of tons of different ships, watch which ships people read into it when they conflict. This is so much fun.
Finale draws closer. Am a lil' bit nervous and excited to hear what you think if you stick around for the ride, but I'm very glad and flattered you've read this far! (If you ever do draw that Dash, I demand linkage, by the by.)
2339445 Haha. Fun fact: Mares (or women!) in suits = awesome as heck. I'm just throwing it out there.
2339461 Thanks! More is coming soon, promise!
2339844 Read, laugh, stop, frown, consider, realize that Pinkie Pie is entirely correct. It's the truth!
A lot of Pinkie's words're like that I guess.
2342035 I really wish I could just buckle down and try writing Slice of Life some day, because I basically agree. Writing these little details is a lot of why I have fun when I hammer out another fic. I think it's like shipping or adventure or anything else that goes into the write-soup. I can't do just one thing. I'm very glad you enjoy it though!
2350648 Wait, durr, P4? Afraid I'm not familiar with, but now I'm curious!
2351450 2351075 Thank you very much! I'm really happy to hear it - and yeah, it was never intended to be a very conflicted ship, and Twi was never slated to become some sort of villain or third wheel, but I understand why people worried about that in between published chapters, I really do. Appreciate your kind words!
I'm normal. Replying to every comment that isn't a reply to everyone else is normal. Stop looking at me.
2375321
Yeah by all means, I'm not trying to say "you're WRONG!" or anything, just that it didn't quite work for me (as in, "sounds like a personal problem, dude").
As for why exactly, I'm not even pointing necessarily to canon, but instead to the characterizations of Pinkie in this fic. To me, it doesn't seem like someone who jumps straight to "I'm so stupid" would have the level of self-confidence required to demand smoochies like that. I could read it as her being nervous and not thinking, but that isn't quite the way you wrote it, I guess? I dunno. Like I said, me me me. This kind of thing will always happen when you get far enough away from established canon, let's not take it too far .
Pff nooooo, biased, me? Perish the thought!
Daaaaaang, you sure cranked out the responses here! I wonder how many words that was...
2375468 Oh I very much enjoyed it, I like a serious Pinkie Pie even though it's not really her, you done a very good job though
2375576 Wait, durr, P4? Afraid I'm not familiar with, but now I'm curious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90FFra1830w&list=PL3A8186976CC9159E For the full effect of the utter confusion, watch this episode only, as this was the one I was referencing. I do suggest you watch the rest though, it's among my favorie of Youtube series.
2375576
Large Hams are bombastic, larger-than-life characters.
Dash. Luna (And NMM). Trixie. Flim and Flam. Photo Finish. Even Rarity and Pinkie at times.
Honestly, FiM writers love those sorts of characters, it seems.
And so do I!
As for doing the ship yourself, which you should: The doubled brightness has been doubled?
2375738 Oh, nono, I didn't mean to suggest that I felt wronged, either, it's just (mild) frustration over feedback that isn't, you know? And that's not critique or me saying I wish you hadn't said what you had! Please don't think that. All I mean is, they are words that I wish were actionable, but in the end, I just have to nod and shrug and say "that makes sense."
And yeah. I could paste all those replies to a document and find out, but I don't think I want to. It took about two hours. :|
2376243 Oh! Okay, see, I don't even have to watch the full vid (but I will when and if I find the time!), but when I know it's about Persona 4, I guess it makes a bit more sense, haha.
2376263 And I shall thank you today, and hope that it is to your tastes!
2378234 That makes a bit more sense! The word "bombastic" alone explains it well enough already, but thanks! I think Luna should be in the list of examples on that tropes page, frankly. It explains why I like so many of these, because it goes hoof in hoof with pompousness.
I love pompousness.
2375576
'Broken Eclipse' is much better than 'Nightmare Sparkle' anyway.
"Hey, do you wanna eat marshmallows with me sometime?"
I may have to steal that line one day.
2401091 yep, also, the comics are fine, but "nightmare Rarity" could be better...
I dunno, "Jagged Obsidian" or "Diamond Hooves" or something like that...
Trepidation trep·i·da·tion (trp-dshn)
n.
1. A state of alarm or dread; apprehension. See Synonyms at fear.
2. An involuntary trembling or quivering
3. Nervicited
I believe Pinkie was feeling the third definition.
You'd think it'd be one of the romantic bits, but no, having read this whole story I can safely say my favorite line in the entire thing remains:
EDIT:
Though this is a close second:
Even Pinkie Pie can't stop herself from being nervous!
Looking forward to the date!
Aw dammit.