This might have been an easier solution to Spike's noise problems than the method he chose...
This is our first post in the new Writer's Training Grounds system: last week's submissions and this week's prompts, all rolled up in one post! Find everything below the break.
Spike gave advice to quite a few diplomats while Twilight was asleep, which likely lead to more than a few offscreen conflicts. What sort of trouble resulted from this?
Thanks to The Ferret for this prompt!
Spike realizes there's something much more worth taking advantage of than political power: Princess Cadance's crystal growth spell.
The Writer's Training Grounds is a weekly writing exercise in which authors of all skill levels are invited to craft a story based on the prompts provided above. Responses to these prompts are posted directly on Equestria Daily in a weekly compilation post that bypasses the pre-reading process. Authors are then highly encouraged to read comment on, and promote each others' stories -- if you've ever prepared a copy-paste comment for an episode followup, consider doing the same for a fellow WTG participant!
If you have any prompt ideas for next week's WTG, feel free to chuck them over to fanfiction@equestriadaily.com with the subject line "WTG Prompt Idea" or something similar. We just might use it that week and give you credit!
Da Rulez:
- Keep the content appropriate as defined by our submission guidelines.
- Keep it between 1,000 - 7,000 words. >Greentexts and doorstoppers should apply elsewhere!
- Keep it to two genres maximum. For the roundup, fics will be grouped by their primary genre.
When you finish working on your fic, use this form to submit it to the Training Grounds. However, we will require much of the same information as if you were submitting a regular fic as follows, and this document explains what these requirements are.
- Story title
- Author name
- Story description (~1 paragraph maximum)
- Word count
- Genre tags
- Character tags
- Story URL (must be hosted on FimFiction, GDocs, dA, etc.)
- Email address
The deadline for submission is >>>Saturday, June 27th, at 11:59pm EST<<<
As always, please continue to leave us feedback with what works well for these events, what's not working well, your general satisfaction with these, etc. etc. and so on. Now get writing!
For those of you here to read, check out our submissions for "Slice of Life" below.
Normal/Slice of Life
[Normal] - 2300 wordsAuthor: A Hoof-ful of Dust
Bon Bon... er, Special Agent Sweetie Drops has come clean to her very best friend Lyra about her past, but there's one secret she's still keeping.
People Are Strange
Characters: Lyra, Bon Bon,
[Normal] - 2053 words
Author: DouglasTrotter
With the wedding over, the Doctor decides its time to return to his home. There, he discovers a strange object which peaks his curiosity. As Derpy arrives, she's roped into being his assistant for the experiment. Can the Doctor and Derpy save the day after an accidental button press by the googly eyed mare?
The Button
Characters: Derpy, Dr. Whooves, , Applejack
[Normal] - 2460 words
Author: Nazo the Mysterious Hedgehog
Three days after the wedding of Cranky and Matilda. Ditzy Doo (aka Muffin) visits her friend The Doctor, and after a test of his latest creation is successful. Ditzy accidentally breaks a jar in The Doctor's lab, can they overcome the calamity?!
The Ditzy Calamity
Characters: Doctor Whooves, Ditzy Doo, DJ Pon-3
Comedy/Random
Random][Sci-Fi] - 1104 words
Author: Helen Towers
Suddenly, Stormcloud!
Characters: Doctor Whooves, Derpy Hooves, Raincloud
[Comedy][Normal] - 5128 words
Author: Levarien
All According to Plan
Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Amethyst Star, Pinkie Pie
[Comedy] - 2914 words
Author: inglobwetrust
Bon-Bond
Characters: Bon-Bon, Lyra,
Author: Helen Towers
Derpy messes around with Liquid Fireworks, and accidentally creates an indoor rainstorm.
Suddenly, Stormcloud!
Characters: Doctor Whooves, Derpy Hooves, Raincloud
[Comedy][Normal] - 5128 words
Author: Levarien
Matilda and Cranky's wedding didn't go off as planned. That irritates Ponyville's chief planner, who incidentally happens to be one of the four most powerful ponies in all of Equestria. Twilight has many questions, and they begin with the whereabouts of a certain spirit of mischief.
All According to Plan
Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Amethyst Star, Pinkie Pie
[Comedy] - 2914 words
Author: inglobwetrust
"We're going to talk about this later!" Well, later is now. Lyra wants to make things clear with Bon-Bon – I mean, Special Agent Sweetie Drops – and the unicorn has a lot of questions on her mind.
Bon-Bond
Characters: Bon-Bon, Lyra,
Adventure
Author: Jay911
After the wedding of Cranky & Matilda, Bon Bon thought she and Lyra had worked everything out. But Lyra has seemingly been avoiding her ever since. The former secret agent wants to come clean to her friend, and ultimately, something forces Bon's hoof, making her seek out Lyra and set things right.
Back in the Saddle
Characters: Bon Bon, Lyra,
[Normal][Adventure] - 4588 words
Author: Raeligath
Later in the evening after Matilda's wedding, Lyra is too distracted by burning questions about Bon Bon's old life as a monster hunter to just enjoy spending time with her. However, since trying to just spill everything is too daunting for Bon Bon, they agree to approach the topic like a game: two truths and a lie. As Bon Bon tries to think up good “truths” and “lies”, she remembers one of the old monster hunting team’s adventures. Some parts of these memories are less fun than others.
Two Truths and a Lie
Characters: Bon Bon, Lyra,
Shipping/Romance
Author: Georg
Bon Bon comes clean about her past. Now it’s Lyra’s turn. Run, Lyra. Run.
Slice of Life - Lyra and Bon Bon Are Just Best Friends. Honest.
Characters: Changeling Lyra, Bon Bon,
Crossover
[Random][Crossover] - 2313 wordsAuthor: PixieDustandFairyPowers
After completing her mail rounds, Derpy decides to visit the Doctor. An experiment goes awry.
A Derptastic Adventure
Characters: Derpy, Doctor Whooves,
[Adventure][Crossover] - 4395 words
Author: ScifiPony
When Doc left the reception early, he declared in his fancy Trottingham accent, “You were brilliant!" He grabbed me into a strong brief hug, with back pats, that left no doubt that I had been embraced by an earth pony stallion. And as quickly as that, he set off across the town hall’s ramada. Me? Brilliant? "Wait, Doc!" When he turned on the steps, I said, "You haven't eaten anything. It's free food. Not only that, it smells good, too.” Mostly, I wanted to ask what he meant by “brilliant.” Little did I know this meant discoveries about fundamental physics, fixing a time machine, and learning the truth about my special talent.
No Fault of Her Own
Characters: Muffin (aka Ditzy-Doo), Time Turner (Doc), Mane 6
