Applejack and Rainbow Dash knew this would be hard, but a long distance relationship was in their future from the start. A Wonderbolt and an apple farmer don't have a lot of time in the same place, so they do their best with letters and the occasional weekends. But when Applejack finds out that Rainbow Dash is on the cover of Flyers Illustrated: Wet Feathers Edition, it plays on a fear she never mentioned to Dash: Everypony knows that famous ponies are different from normal folks. . .
Right?
"Wet Mane Rainbow Dash," used in the cover image, is by Suikuzu.
Prereading by DbzOrDie, First_Down, Tchernobog, and Jackie
Chapters (3)
This should be a fun read.
Looks like you've done it again, Bookplayer. Yet another new, creative take on a concept that has been done to death by other writers (the done to death part being Dash and Applejack being split up by Dash being in the Wonderbolts). The story takes itself seriously but not so seriously that it's unrealistic. Bravo.
Aha!
I have been waiting eagerly for a couple days for this. Thank you for yet another - I assume beforehand - terrific work of AppleDash fiction.
The dead horse of the concept behind this fic has been ELECTRIFIED and lives once again! Excellent work.
I was a little iffy on a few paragraphs, but then again, I come from a poetry background, so I'm sort of inclined to flowery prose and shit. The really compelling bit was how it seemed very in-character for all those involved. Applejack's reaction was appropriately frustrated and begging for normalcy, Rainbow was casual and dismissive, it really felt in character, and I was impressed.
There's also a few punctuation issues in small spots that make it a bit of a tough read, but overall you did nicely and need more love.
I don't read non-humanized fics often anymore, but I'll make your stories an exception, Book. This was really swell.
Very lovely. A terrific take on the difficulty of communication and the breakdowns that can result in it when going through indirect channels, especially between two characters that aren't the best at expressing themselves through words. And for the record, I think you made the right choice in leaving the sad tag off.
Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts is a contention for pretty much romance story written including her (
). The expectation she has to leave at some point and spend extended periods of time away from her loved ones is a big sticking point which is rarely addressed.
This story is probably one of the sanest approaches to it. Let the characters communicate and talk it out. Eventually, Rainbow Dash has to return when things get messy and try to soothe things over. As a character, being forced to divide time between her loved ones and her dream is especially tricky. The resolution in this story is probably the most practical as well.
It's a good read.
Arr, the difficulties of love: feeling worried/sad about something, but not wanting to bring it up in case you make your significant other worried/sad.
WILL NOPONY EVER LEARN?! (Did I emphasise that enough?
)
Oh those silly, lovable ponies, I just want to hug them all 'till they beg for mercy. Especially the silliest, most lovable of them all:
PinkieScootaloo.A wonderful story Bookplayer. Greatly enjoyed, and deserving of a place on my Favorites list.
Keep up the wonderful tales.
2230138
I hope it is!
2230157
Thanks! I often find myself looking for different ways to tell old stories, I'm glad I made it interesting!
2230221
Thanks so much for giving it a chance! Especially since I'm the least poetic writer on this site, and commas are my nemesis (and no number of prereaders can tame them.) I'm so glad you found it compelling anyway, and thank you for the detailed comment.
2230334
Aww, thanks! I'll be writing you a humanized fic soon, so you don't get overloaded on ponies.
2230371
Thanks! Yeah, my prereaders voted unanimously against the Sad tag. I'm just a wimp, I guess.
2230386
Thanks!
I wish I'd been able to go more into Dash's side of things, but to me that just lessened the tension. Keeping it with AJ let me really go into what AJ was feeling, but you comment reminds me of my thoughts that the same story from Dash's POV would be just as interesting- Dash is dealing with new situations, being away from home, and all of a sudden (to her, wt least) this comes out of nowhere. But that's a maybe-someday story to tell.
2230417
Nope. As long as there are ponies in love, ponies will be dumb about it.
. . . at least, that how it works for people.
2230442
Scoot is Best Awkward Teenager Pony. Hooves down.
2230458
Thank you very much! I'll try!
Interesting. I EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM YOU!
I'm not a fan of AppleDash, but I'll say that this story is okay in my opinion. I didn't notice anything glaringly annoying about it. I do feel like the play on distance was actually quite great, although the whole "Wait, I got an idea!" phrase (and I mean the phrase itself) in Dash's letter did seem unnatural to me. It's a nice story; I can't say anything stronger than that. Sorry.
2230635
Great things? Really? Well, I'll do my best.
2230669
Thanks for reading it. Not every story is for everyone, and this may not be my masterpiece. But I appreciate you taking the time to look at it and comment, and I'm glad it was at least okay!
2230683 Anytime. And since you probably didn't read my review of Martian's "Dance" in the blog, I was wondering if I could do a blog-review of one of your stories I particularly enjoyed. If not, I'll leave a review of it in a comment.
2230704
You are absolutely welcome to review any of my stories, good or bad. I actually considered asking you to preread this one for me, but your last blog said you were busy with stuff.
Yeah... that "busy" thing somehow isn't keeping me away from poni poni poni. Well, I may have it done by the end of the night (PST). Off to it I go.
2230609 It is known.
Knew it was a matter of time before I saw this in the featured box. Well earned.
2230896
HUZZAH!
Fantastic and realistic. As per usually from you. Couldn't stop reading and I'm not even into Dash shipping.
After thirty-odd years of purchasing a similar non-pony magazine once a year, I'd say the characterization of the Wet Feathers issue is dead-on perfect.
oh scootaloo, i love that lil filly
Applejack, don't give up!
Well, DAMN.
Psh, book player, the goddess that you are, you don't need my justification to know you knocked another one out of the park. So, don't mind me. I'll be sitting back here, just being jealous.
Promise you'll be like Dash, and won't forget all us little authors when you're big and famous?
2231068
I know, right? Heck, I still have a copy of the 1986 issue with Elle Macpherson on the cover stashed away somewhere. And as a horny, pre-internet teenage boy I read it for the articles too. Totally. /liarjack
I am most definitely adding this to my read later list!
Beautiful. Seriously, that was absolutely wonderful. I think I even teared up once or twice, and that's no easy feat.
Short read. Fun read. Emotional read. I laughed my flanks off at those last few lines...
This shirt describes my feelings about this fic perfectly:
welovefine.com/2794-7297-large/rd-so-many-feels.jpg
2230535
My favorite author is writing a humanized story? BEST DAY EVER!!!
Also, I really loved this story. Also, I had a better comment that I wanted to leave, but my keyboard is pretty broken, so this is all I can do for now. Expect a better one in a couple days.
Commence read.
AppleDash imminent.
i forgot to turn my view mature on and clicked this thinking it was a well made clopfic,
fool me once, shame on you.
Wow that was a fun read, great job man
The ending with Scootaloo was an incredibly funny way to end it
I'm not a huge fan of romance stories, and this story isn't an exception to that. I felt that Applejack was just too annoying of a character for me to really care about how the story resolved; not like the resolution was very hard to see coming in the first place. She also seemed a bit too emotional at some times, and threw logic right out the window at other times. There were some punctuation and spelling errors as well, and just a small amount of confusing passages.
That being said, the story isn't horrible, as there were indeed SOME good qualities to it. You did an exceptional job at keeping Applejack and Rainbow Dash in character (for the most part) and the way you handled a long-distance relationship between two ponies who aren't the best at expressing themselves to begin with.
Overall rating: 6/10
This needs a sad tag for all the angst that's in it, but it was well-made and I enjoyed it for the hurt.
oh my what did i just read
2231571
>Doesn't like romance
>Thinks character is over-emotional
>Thinks character should be more logical.
New theory. You don't like romance because you've no idea how romance works.
Not bad for a shipfic.
I like this. Well done dood.
....I really wanna know what happens when August rolls around....
Aaand, I love it already. You do this thing where you mix seriousness and humour just right - It makes things realistic and flowy, if that makes any sense. I was like "Oh Scootaloo, you crack me up," and then I was all, "Aw AJ's sad now and Dash is oblivious, and gah, inner turmoil!" So yeah, simply smashing job! (I kinda wish I was British). Anywho, onward to the next chapter!
Another fantasticly superb AppleDash from the all mighty Bookplayer. I absolutely loce these stories of yours and I can't wait to see more.
I haven't seen many people tackle this subject matter, at least not well. Lack of communication and intimacy, and uncertainty of the future make long distance relationships a tricky subject to write. But you nailed it. You addressed problems like separation anxiety and the break down of trust in a believable, compelling, and in character way. I can't say enough good things about your masterful characterization, and how much of Dash's character you were able to capture in those two short letters. With that said, as happy as I am to see them together, I'm not sure if the problem has really been resolved.
All of these same problems Applejack faced, she's going to face again, and she's going to face them over the course of years. She even acknowledges this, but continues on anyway. It seems like they're both making the exact same mistake they both made in the first place, leaning on old promises that they'll do better next time. It stinks of self delusion. Mostly, it feels like this story isn't finished yet. You stopped writing just as the real story began.
And that bit at the end with Scootaloo, I'll admit that it was funny, but it was random and out of place. It didn't fit the tone of the rest ending and ruined what would have a been a very sweet, if somewhat unsatisfying, resolution.
That seemed very negative. I'll say this: you kept me reading from straight to finish, and you got me thinking after it ended. I'm not sure if I can ask for much more from an author.
yes
2232160
I came here to comment, but this said pretty much everything I wanted to, and more.
So, thanks for that.
Bahaha, oh dear,
That cracked me up so much.
Excellent work!
I adore the characterization, everypony felt spot on. Poor AJ
, I felt all of your feels.
Congrats on a well deserved feature.
2230896>>2230920
Thanks, you guys.
2231063
I'm glad I could make it interesting! Thank you!
2231160
You stop that. I do not need to be getting a big head.
But seriously, I'm so glad you liked this one, you were one of the folks I had in mind as I was writing it. I thought to myself, BronyNeumo likes some good angst in with his AppleDash. I hope he likes this!
2231197
Aww, thanks! I'm glad I could really make you feel it.