My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

[TheAmishPirate]

I think the suggestion at the time is that upkeep and property taxes would be higher than the money that they would earn just from selling apples. It seems to be the case that a lot of the profits were in turning the apples into cider, so if someone else got that part of the business, it would make the farm unprofitable when taking into account upkeep costs.

Of course, that doesn't explain why the Apple family didn't just buy the machine from the Flim Flam brothers and then sell twice as much cider each day, considering the sheer amount of demand based on that line. But, just accept that they didn't think of that before getting pressured into that contest and the episode does kind of make sense.

I like to think the Apples run their business seasonally. They have a few big bursts of income (Zapp Apples, Cider Season, the actual harvest, etc.) but make next to nothing for the remainder of the year. That, combined with the often-tossed-about headcanon of "AJ is bad at finances, but is too firmly rooted/stubborn to try things differently", explains it decently enough for me. They'd lose the farm simply by not having the money to maintain it, and with no source of income in the near future, they'd have to sell it to have a place to live in the meanwhile.

So...
Amish is a pirate, and Idos is a captain.

Same ship?

Believe it or not, the names evolved independently. To answer your question: Maybe! Though I don't know if we share any personal ships in the other sense of the word...

[OracleofWuffing]

I think the suggestion at the time is that upkeep and property taxes would be higher than the money that they would earn just from selling apples. It seems to be the case that a lot of the profits were in turning the apples into cider, so if someone else got that part of the business, it would make the farm unprofitable when taking into account upkeep costs.

Dang it, Celestia. Giving people land just so you can tax them is a brilliant idea.

Of course, that doesn't explain why the Apple family didn't just buy the machine from the Flim Flam brothers and then sell twice as much cider each day, considering the sheer amount of demand based on that line. But, just accept that they didn't think of that before getting pressured into that contest and the episode does kind of make sense.

Don't forget that the cider has a ludicrously high demand, and the amount of cider that can be made is limited by the amount of apples available for the season. They probably expected to sell all of their seasonal apples by the end of the season just through making cider by hand, so the machine doesn't actually turn a monetary profit, just a temporal profit. Because that's a seasonal good, though, the time earned has to go unrelated products in order to make money- which would require them to buy more goods and services.

Now, that actually could pan out, but I don't think any legally competent family member would think it's a good idea.

That said, in the interest of full disclosure: I find apple cider absolutely disgusting.

[Thanqol]

Re: Operation: Indiscriminate Friendship
That is so amazing, Daniel! I think this project is very cool and I'm really impressed that you went out and did it again!

Best,

Amy

Aw yea.

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Ok. A lot for me to work on, then. I really should have suspected that the problem was that I basically lacked any descriptions. Just by how abrupt or empty some of the fic sounded in my head. I'm pretty sure my biggest mistake was having a video walkthrough of the game open in another tab while I was writing some of this. I intended to use it as a reference, but I think I ended up just ponifying what I was listening to.

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You're right, that's an awful move to make when adapting. These things are massively different mediums and they don't translate well into each other. A much better move for adaptations is to figure out the underlying spirit of the work.

Apocalypse Now is an adaptation of Heart of Darkness. I'd argue that it's the best adaptation of all time. Read and watch those two concurrently and figure out how they're the same work, how they're the same idea.

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I was actually pretty doubtful about including Luna and Celestia. To tell you why I decided to do that, I need to give you a quick summary of the first 20 minutes of Persona 4. The protagonist's parents have to go overseas on business, so they send him to the country to live with his uncle, who is a detective. He is a widower with a daughter. The night after the main character arrives in town, he runs into the supernatural for the first time. Rather than saying Twilight had an unknown aunt or uncle and cousin somewhere, I decided to try and fit the princesses into the role. As contrived as the reasons behind them abandoning their posts would be.

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Okay, that's what Persona did. Why did Persona do it?

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I think the problem is that when I can't explain, I joke. Badly. Which would explain the first chapter.

Do you think I should start over from the beginning? Maybe after I work on my descriptions (I think this problem has spilled over to my roleplaying, actually) and do a better job of planning the chapters out in advance?

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I think a single finished work, even if fundamentally flawed, is worth more than half a dozen incomplete ones. There's all kinds of stuff that you learn at the tail end of a fic that you miss out on if you constantly write introductions. You know how people say 'the ending sucked' so often? That's because people practise intros and short stories and exposition and never follow through to the climax.

Finish the story; it's published on EqD, you may as well. Learn what you can from it. After that, sit back and think long and hard about the nature of your next piece. Identifying core themes, working out the pacing and beat, and figuring out your own take on the story while remaining true to the heart - and not the content - of the original.

[Gamerlord]

Hasbro has released a very easy puzzle game that gives you a clip of this week's episode when you win. *SPOILERS FOR THIS WEEK'S EPISODE, AND ONE OF THE PUZZLES LOOKS LIKE A SCREENCAP OF ANOTHER UPCOMING EPISODE*

[thubby]

clip comments:

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meh, kinda figured they'd have one of these.
story goes like this:
spike wants to know who he is
has wacky adventures
gets in trouble
friends come to help
he realizes HE defines who he is.
roll credits

[Pokonic]

Hasbro has released a very easy puzzle game that gives you a clip of this week's episode when you win. *SPOILERS FOR THIS WEEK'S EPISODE, AND ONE OF THE PUZZLES LOOKS LIKE A SCREENCAP OF ANOTHER UPCOMING EPISODE*

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This episode is going to be the death of a thousand fanon ideas, huh?

[Dexam]

Well, as the younger fellow, I can say with certainty that I've never been banished to the moon. Or anywhere else remote and desolate. And I definitely never went crazy and tried to shroud the land in darkness eternal.

I mean, at least I hope I'd remember something like that.

Hmmm, so you're restricting yourselves to charming people with your song and dance numbers while attempting to scam honest farming folk out of their lands with your combination havester/brewing machines?

So...
Amish is a pirate, and Idos is a captain.

Same ship?

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BTW, ponythread is awfully quiet today.

Brace yourself - a new episode is coming. This is just the calm before the storm.

Aw yea.

Success!

Of course, this means that you have to somehow raise the bar for next year's Operation: Indiscriminate Friendship.

[MCerberus]

New episode speculation:

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Let's play a guessing game: which pony is going to be involved only minimally if not completely ignored this episode?

Applejack!

[OracleofWuffing]

Puzzle based clip episode thingy:

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Was... Was Twilight reading that book backwards?

[thubby]

Puzzle based clip episode thingy:

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Was... Was Twilight reading that book backwards?

response to clip comment

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if she was checking the index, that would make sense.

[Anarion]

New episode puzzle clip thing.

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Bah, understocked Ponyville library. Dragonshy demonstrates that at least princess Celestia Trollestia knows something about dragons since Twilight was informed about how they decide on their lairs and how long they rest. But apparently the princess is keeping that information to herself in order to set up another episode premise.

[TheAmishPirate]

Welp! Bit of a slow day, so it looks like it's time to post some awesome stuff.

First of all, a spoiler-free image dump for everypony!

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Link, because of forum filter.

And a lovely trio of musics:

Pipsqueak's Thunder Plunder by Interrobang Pie - An awesome chiptune song for the best pony.

She's a Glitch by TeiThePony - A remix of General Mumble's She's a Pony. Interesting remix, a little chaotic for my tastes, but I still enjoyed it.

Octavia's Final Boss Theme by Liquid Cobalt - Classical final bosses get the best music. Different feel than No Strings Attached. It conveys a sense of grandness, while still keeping the urgency of a final boss theme.


And I'm two stories into the fic contest. Say what you will about this whole pony business, but the sheer creativity it inspires is something else. And with that, I'm off to bed for tonight.

[Capt. Ido Nos]

Come on every hard drive, spin spin spin!

[maximus25]

New episode speculation:

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Let's play a guessing game: which pony is going to be involved only minimally if not completely ignored this episode?

Applejack!

All my friends are here!

And Applejack is here too.

[OracleofWuffing]

I'm wagering they'll just shove Derpy in the background, and won't really involve her.

Come on every hard drive, spin spin spin!

Uh, those are floppy drives.

Love how he distinguished one as Pinkie, though.

Edit: Oh wow. Pinkie 30% lower is... A thing.

[Soralin]

Edit: Oh wow. Pinkie 30% lower is... A thing.

You wanted pinkie lower? :) Giggle at the Ghosties in D Minor

Also, in the same theme:
Winter Wrap Up in C Minor
At the Gala in C Minor

[Aotrs Commander]

Lyra, that's... You don't... I don't even...

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*skullpalm*

Somepony better get Bonbon a Potion...

[RdMarquis]

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Okay, that's what Persona did. Why did Persona do it?

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I think a single finished work, even if fundamentally flawed, is worth more than half a dozen incomplete ones. There's all kinds of stuff that you learn at the tail end of a fic that you miss out on if you constantly write introductions. You know how people say 'the ending sucked' so often? That's because people practise intros and short stories and exposition and never follow through to the climax.

Finish the story; it's published on EqD, you may as well. Learn what you can from it. After that, sit back and think long and hard about the nature of your next piece. Identifying core themes, working out the pacing and beat, and figuring out your own take on the story while remaining true to the heart - and not the content - of the original.

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If I had to hazard a guess, the writer of the game's plot had the protagonist move in with his uncle to isolate the from all he knew, living in the city. Anyway, I'll try and pick up the story again after I've got school out of the way.

[Thanqol]

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If I had to hazard a guess, the writer of the game's plot had the protagonist move in with his uncle to isolate the from all he knew, living in the city. Anyway, I'll try and pick up the story again after I'm done with school.

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If Persona did it to isolate the protagonist, you've effectively done the reverse and surrounded the protagonist with people she knows. That in itself isn't bad, but that you haven't done it consciously is bad. Understanding a thing is the first step towards directed change.

[Grif]

Lyra, that's... You don't... I don't even...

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*skullpalm*

Somepony better get Bonbon a Potion...

That's not how you train Pokemons! Bad Lyra.

[Lix Lorn]

Lyra, that's... You don't... I don't even...

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*skullpalm*

Somepony better get Bonbon a Potion...

That's not how you train Pokemons! Bad Lyra.

Clearly neither of you read Manly Guys...

Also...
Thanqol helped me find my hammer.

[Capt. Ido Nos]

That's not how you train Pokemons! Bad Lyra.

It... it's not?

I believe I have been gravely misinformed ._____.

[Grif]

Clearly neither of you read Manly Guys...

Also...
Thanqol helped me find my hammer.

I do.

That Magikarp is not Mr. Fish. Jared just lucked out with his Magikarp.

[Aotrs Commander]

Clearly neither of you read Manly Guys...

I actually read that particular strip as it was linked when I looked the source up.

...

Darkspark informs me he wholeheartedly approves of this method of training Magicarp, and wants to try it out right now with mine...

Also...
Thanqol helped me find my hammer.

*skullpalm*

Hey, your DR doesn't work against magic bludgeoning does it, chief? Better be careful!

Neither, I remind you does yours. And while Lixie may have a giant magical hammer, she's not here right now, but I have two magical bludgeoning weapons as it were...to hand.

*whomp*

Besides, so long as it's not on fire, I'll be fine.

*Blither*

Which is more than I can say for you...

[Lix Lorn]

I do.

That Magikarp is not Mr. Fish. Jared just lucked out with his Magikarp.

I actually read that particular strip as it was linked when I looked the source up.

...

Darkspark informs me he wholeheartedly approves of this method of training Magicarp, and wants to try it out right now with mine...

Every Magikarp has the potential for being an excellent bludgeoning weapon, and eventually a mighty Gyarados. Mr Fish is merely the finest example.

*skullpalm*

Hey, your DR doesn't work against magic bludgeoning does it, chief? Better be careful!

Neither, I remind you does yours. And while Lixie may have a giant magical hammer, she's not here right now, but I have two magical bludgeoning weapons as it were...to hand.

*whomp*

Besides, so long as it's not on fire, I'll be fine.

*Blither*

Which is more than I can say for you...

Magic, Bludgeoning, with fire...
Thanks for the info!

[Soras Teva Gee]

New episode puzzle clip thing.

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Bah, understocked Ponyville library. Dragonshy demonstrates that at least princess Celestia Trollestia knows something about dragons since Twilight was informed about how they decide on their lairs and how long they rest. But apparently the princess is keeping that information to herself in order to set up another episode premise.

Trollestia strikes again?

Actually speaking of Celestia...

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Umm Spike you have a direct line to the Princess, why don't you write her a letter y'know asking her where the heck she got that egg from. Then again maybe I'm predicting the resolution.

I believe Lauren Faust has already said that Celestia did put some special attention into Twilight's test.

[Beacon of Chaos]

Related to reactions: What did ponythread think after watching their first bit of ponies?

I held off on my opinion until watching a complete episode, after which: "Wow this is so ridiculously cheezy. Must watch more."

Okay, this was from a couple of days ago, but I thought I'd answer (I haven't been here for a while have I?).

The weird thing is, I'm not sure I even remember. I remember going in cautious, but optimistic, I remember Twilight immediately being best pony for simply being a grumpy and snarky character in this bright and cheerful world (and also that she was the main character and "leader" despite being "the smart one") and I remember finishing the first episode and thinking "I want to know what happens next".


Anyway, found this link on EqD about the Japanese reactions to MLP. A really interesting read, especially the cultural differences and memes sections. Apparantly Cheerilee and Big Mac are more popular than most of the mane cast.

And on an unrelated note, here's a cool plushie:

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How do people make these so fast? This was posted the day after the epiosde aired!

And for no apparant reason, this:

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[MCerberus]

Trollestia strikes again?

Actually speaking of Celestia...

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Umm Spike you have a direct line to the Princess, why don't you write her a letter y'know asking her where the heck she got that egg from. Then again maybe I'm predicting the resolution.

I believe Lauren Faust has already said that Celestia did put some special attention into Twilight's test.

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We must also remember that the library without any books on dragons is the one specifically chosen to house Twilight. The Twilight that is her apprentice BECAUSE she managed to have the raising of a tiny dragon thrust at her as a child.

SISTER, WHY DOTH THOU TORTURE YOUR APPRENTICE SO?

It's *giggle* good for her development.

THEN I SHALL SEND MINE OWN APPRENTICE TO APPRAISE THOUST TEACHING METHODS. TRIXIE, GAIN THE ATTENTION OF TWILIGHT IN SOME MANNER SO THOU MAYEST CONVERSE WITH HER.

*show stoppers happens*

YOU SPEAKIST TRUE, MUCH LAUGHTER IS TO BE HAD IN THE SUFFERING

[Eakin]

Have you played Persona 4? I have a crossover fic that's on hold at the moment because I'm busy with school. That and...well, something feels wrong about it to me. I'm pretty happy with what I have so far, but seems to be lacking something.

I'd appreciate it if you'd take a look.

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/0...t-chapter.html

I love me some Persona, I'll take a look at this too. Maybe I can bring a different perspective than Thanqol if he hasn't played the game.

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OK, first off I have to ask if you've actually finished the game with the true ending. If not you really should. Persona kinda-spoilery critiques:

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*You skipped the gas station scene from the intro.
*You blew right through Adachi's introduction, when he's actually pretty important.

Your failure to employ some kind of wordplay involving getting sucked into a good book is inexcusable

I agree with Thanqol about description. I basically have the accompanying scenes from P4 playing in my head so I can picture what you're going for, but without that I'd be lost.

I think you're improving as the chapters go along. The more willing you are to branch away from a literal retelling of the game's story the better off you'll be. Frankly, you'll have to since once you hit the dungeons the game play takes over for narrative.

Also, I think you've got some serious casting problems. Not that Derpy-as-Yosuke doesn't work, but I can't help but thinking that Derpy would make a better Namatame, since they're both delivery ponies. Plus they both

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inadvertently cause a massive amount of damage and trouble while trying to do the right thing

AJ and Fluttershy are perfect.

Pinkie would a good Yosuke, especially since you've already made Junes into Cakes, where she would work anyway.

I'm having a hard time reconciling Luna, several millenniums old and Princess of a kingdom, playing the role of a 4 year old. It's one thing for a little kid to be lonely because her single parent can't balance work and home life. It's totally another for a fully-grown adult to be so emotionally dependent on her sister that she just sits around at home waiting for her to come back from work.

You're going to run into trouble with Celestia as lead detective on the murders, too. First of all, it's an awkward role to shoehorn her into to begin with. Secondly, Dojima in the game is entirely competent as a detective. He just can't solve the murders because he doesn't have the complete picture regarding the Midnight Channel. Plus, he increasingly begins to suspect his nephew to be involved with the murders, or at least that he knows something about them (and he's right). I really don't see you being able to successfully recreate this dynamic between Twilight and Celestia. It's even more apparent that you could short circuit 90% of the plot by bringing Celestia into the Twilight's library and sticking a leg into a book. In the game, the team has no reason to believe anyone else would have a chance against the shadows. This is harder to believe when your detective is also the immortal sun goddess.

I do like Trixie as Naoto. I look forward to seeing whether you play her more closely to the character in game or more as a jerkass super-detective a la Sherlock.

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If I had to hazard a guess, the writer of the game's plot had the protagonist move in with his uncle to isolate the from all he knew, living in the city. Anyway, I'll try and pick up the story again after I've got school out of the way.

I would actually disagree with this. I think the reason the protagonist gets picked up out of their usual environment and dropped into a completely new place was to provide the player with a completely blank slate. Since you spend the game deciding who the protagonist befriends and what sort of decisions they make, there's no need to establish who he was before. P3 started the same way.

Also, him being one of "outsiders" is significant when you find out what's really going on.

[Lix Lorn]

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We must also remember that the library without any books on dragons is the one specifically chosen to house Twilight. The Twilight that is her apprentice BECAUSE she managed to have the raising of a tiny dragon thrust at her as a child.

SISTER, WHY DOTH THOU TORTURE YOUR APPRENTICE SO?

It's *giggle* good for her development.

THEN I SHALL SEND MINE OWN APPRENTICE TO APPRAISE THOUST TEACHING METHODS. TRIXIE, GAIN THE ATTENTION OF TWILIGHT IN SOME MANNER SO THOU MAYEST CONVERSE WITH HER.

*show stoppers happens*

YOU SPEAKIST TRUE, MUCH LAUGHTER IS TO BE HAD IN THE SUFFERING

I am SO okay with this headcanon.