"I can't believe you two are going to Saddle Arabia," Velvet said, her bottom lip stuck out in an exaggerated pout.
Crystal wrapped a foreleg around Velvet's neck and hugged her tight. "I offered for you to come with. You decided you'd rather spend time pursuing adoption agencies across Equestria." She giggled and pulled back to smile at her. "I expect a little Velvet running around when I get back."
"You realize that if I adopt a foal, they won't be a 'little Velvet', right?" Velvet quirked one brow. "Do you even know how adoption works?"
"Of course I do!" Crystal huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "Can't you let me have this? I won't see you again for months!"
Velvet gave a derisive snort and put a hoof to Crystal's chest. "Okay, okay." She pushed her away, then waggled the hoof to shoo her. "You better get going before one of us starts crying about how we'll miss the other, and then it'll just be a whole dumb mess."
There was a pause as they merely stared at each other until Crystal smiled softly. "I'll miss you."
"Same, d'uh." Velvet waggled her hoof again. "Now go!"
Crystal scrunched up her nose—albeit grinning all the while—before she turned away and trotted up the ramp, pausing briefly to admire the ship.
It reminded her of her grandfather's luxury airships. Its white hull was long and sleek, with an intricate design along the sides that resembled the twisted and gnarled roots of a large tree.
As she finished her ascension, she discovered Golden already standing on the deck, waiting with all of her luggage stacked in a neat and orderly pile beside her.
"I've just been informed," Golden said with a toss of her voluminous mane, "that your producer, Prince Majesty, wants to speak with you." Her lips curled into a light grin. "Apparently, they think I'm your personal assistant."
"Well, it's a better title than 'friendly freeloader', don't you think?" Crystal giggled. She lowered the suitcases held in her magic beside Golden's and kept walking forward. "Then, Assistant Golden, please take my things to my cabin. I'll go see what the prince wants!"
"Dusty!" Golden called, giving Crystal pause to look over her shoulder and see the mop-headed stallion step around the pile of luggage. "Dusty, get to it."
Crystal blinked a few times. "You brought him?"
The stallion locked eyes with her. Though his drooped slightly, there was a distinct fire burning in them. "Of course. I am an actual personal assistant. This is my job."
Why did she get goosebumps from his stare? It was almost as though they were embittered rivals, but she hadn't a clue what they were fighting over. Golden?
Crystal blinked a few times, then smiled. "Well, I'm sure she'll be very grateful for your assistance in the desert. I look forward to getting to know you, Dusty!" With the most casual wave she could muster, she turned back to walk away.
"Cast off!" a pony called from somewhere, and she paused to hold her ground.
She tilted her head back at the sound of the sails unfurling, smiling as she watched the white sheets cut through the air like the talons and feathers of a white bird, eager to catch and ensnare the wind.
With a creak and a groan, the ship started forward at a slow and cautious pace. The ships on either side at the dock bobbed lightly as if to wave farewell. Crystal looked back to see Velvet standing at the edge of the pier, both forelegs flailing in a desperate goodbye.
"Be safe!" Velvet yelled into the wind.
Crystal reared onto her hindlegs to wave back at her. "I will!"
Velvet dropped down, a bright smile on her face, but Crystal's heart ached. Even at the slowly growing distance, she could see the sad look hiding behind that smile. They would miss each other.
"He's waiting," Golden reminded her, nodding her head. "Don't delay."
Crystal nodded and broke into a light trot. Her hooves clicked against the wood that was almost too smooth, too polished. So long as she didn't gallop around haphazardly, it felt like she would maintain her balance. That, of course, would likely be challenged when they hit the open waters and the world as she knew it became a rocking, tilting, lurching mess.
An airship hitting a bit of turbulence was one thing. A boat in the water, however, was an entirely different matter. She had never gotten seasick before, but she'd also never been out to sea. The air was tinged with salt from the ocean beneath them, a stark reminder of what lay ahead of her: a long journey filled with potential bouts of nausea.
She reached the cabin that served as the captain's quarters, sitting boastfully tall and proud in the middle of the deck. After knocking, she pushed the door open and started to speak, but the sight in front of her froze her in place.
Three ponies—no, three horses stood around Prince Majesty. Their svelte bodies towered over the stallion who was, himself, taller than Crystal, making her feel like a little filly in a room of adults. They were around the same height as Princess Celestia, but were otherwise so very different from ponies, from herself. It was like meeting an entirely new species.
The mare turned to acknowledge Crystal first. She had a deep brown coat that glistened in the light to accentuate the taut muscles of her frame. A blaze of white went down the middle of her face, and the black tresses of her mane were parted to one side and fell in gentle waves.
"Greetings," she said in a voice that carried an unfamiliar accent. "You must be Crystal Wishes, daughter of Upper Crust, the Writer."
Crystal blinked, mouth agape, speechless.
At the mare's side, one of the stallions flared his nostrils. His off-white coat was speckled with grey spots that congregated along his shoulders and flanks but thinned around his middle. His mane, similarly parted only to one side, was like a mix of salt and pepper. The end of his muzzle was dark grey, almost black, and parted with a lopsided grin.
"It must be so," he said. "She is the one."
The third stallion was a bright chestnut color, offset by patches of white that rose from his hooves and reached for his knees, and he had a long blonde mane that was braided in several places. He said nothing, merely watching her with deep brown eyes.
Prince Majesty trotted forward, waving his hoof to urge her inside. "Come in, come in! Meet your Fatinah, Khalil, and Ghareeb!"
A pang of realization crashed down on her as she looked between the three horses. These were Arabians? She had seen pictures during her research, yes, but they hardly prepared her for reality. They were so foreign, so exotic, so beautiful, so strange.
Finally, she came back to her senses and quickly shook her head. "Forgive me. My who? But what about auditions?"
"Oh, tut, tut." Majesty clicked his tongue. "That was the plan, yes, but it turns out that there are so very few Arabians qualified. They don't have films, you see, so there are hardly any aspiring film actors in Saddle Arabia. Then there are only so many of them that speak Equestrian! We can't very well have somepony who can't speak Equestrian, now, can we?"
The mare's ear flicked and she looked at Majesty with a strange curiosity on her long, elegant face. The chestnut stallion rolled his shoulders in a light shrug, and the grey stallion kept grinning and watching Crystal and Majesty. They must have seemed like foals. Crystal felt so very small under the weight of their towering gazes.
"It's a wonder we even found these three! Well, we found four, but the mare was just not right. Not right at all!" Majesty shook his head, then beamed at her. "Aren't you pleased? Don't they look wonderful?"
Crystal furrowed her brow. "I... Forgive me, Maj, but I thought you brought me along to be involved. I would have liked to have met all of the candidates."
With a light snort, the mare stepped forward. Her piercing gaze tore right through Crystal's moment of defensiveness. "Are you displeased with me, Crystal Wishes?"
"No!" Crystal quickly shook her head. "I hardly know you! I just—I am just surprised, that's all."
Majesty reached up to put a hoof on the mare's shoulder—or at least as close as he could get, instead touching just below it. "Won't you give me a moment with Mrs. Wishes? We have some things to discuss after all you've told me."
Things to discuss. Crystal's stomach tied itself into a tight knot. Was it more news of decisions made without her? They had hardly left port and already she was feeling adrift.
The three Arabians nodded. They each bade polite farewells before exiting the cabin, leaving her alone with Majesty. When she looked back at him, his expression was worryingly serious.
"I was going over the script so far with Djamila, and she explained some complications." He sighed, walking over to the desk set against one wall and dropping into the seat. "Didn't you research Arabian culture?"
Crystal's ears folded back. "I—I did research, yes, but now I have a sinking feeling I missed something important."
Majesty threw his hooves into the air as if to beg the heavens for aid. "Oh, it's awful! Your precious story must be changed!"
"Changed?" she repeated in a quiet voice. Her ears went completely flat against her mane. "What needs changed?"
"Khalil and Ghareeb cannot simply be together. They would be looked down upon and treated poorly by their families and friends! You don't want that for them, do you? You want them to live happily ever after?"
Crystal could only nod. Her throat felt dry. She had never looked into Saddle Arabia's views on same-sex couples. It had never crossed her mind! Did they have something against it? Why?
Majesty smiled. "Good! Then we just have to make a small change. Just a tweak. I'm sure you understand. We have to respect their culture, after all. Djamila has a very easy solution: Khalil and Ghareeb should both marry Fatinah."
"What?" Crystal's eyes went wide. "Majesty! That's not a small change! That's changing the entire message of the story! I'm sorry, but—"
He raised a hoof, laughing. "No, no, no! It doesn't change a thing! She doesn't have to love them. She just marries them so that they can be her husbands and, thus, be together. It's quite genius, actually. An ultimate show of friendship and kindness. For them, she sacrifices her freedom. Isn't that a much more wonderful message?"
Crystal dropped her gaze to the desk and slowly shook her head. "I don't understand. Why? Why does she have to marry them?"
"Oh, Djamila explained it so well." He pursed his lips much like a pouting foal. "How did she put it? Hmm, well, you see! In Arabian culture, it is a stallion's duty to take care of a mare, and it is a mare's right to be cared for. Stallions must do their duty or they'll be looked down on, you see. Don't you?"
Conflicted feelings stirred in her chest. "I... I suppose, yes."
Majesty nodded. "Therefore! If Fatinah marries them, the problem is solved. It's really such a simple change that I don't see any reason to make a fuss. It's all right with you, isn't it?"
Crystal didn't say anything for a while. Majesty continued to prattle on, but she stopped listening. Respecting the culture of Saddle Arabia was important; however, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was lost. That she had lost. Lost what? Control? Power?
No, it had nothing to do with either of those things. The Desert Rose was precious to her. For so long, she had been oblivious to Velvet's feelings about her, and about herself. Velvet suffered quietly with feelings of uncertainty and self-loathing. This was Crystal's apology, Crystal's affirmation that Velvet was wonderful and to not feel ashamed of who she was.
And now, Majesty wanted to change things. The story was no longer hers. She had relinquished it to him.
Pressure built up inside Crystal's chest and she nodded when it seemed Majesty was asking her a question. It didn't matter what he asked; he was the one in charge.
Majesty clapped his hooves together. "Great! Then I look forward to the finished script. Silver is already in his cabin, whittling away at what remains. Remember to have some fun. We'll be at sea for a while!"
"Yes. Thank you." Crystal smiled and turned for the door. The echoing of her hooves resounded in her hollow heart. What else would change? Would she even recognize it when it was over?
She descended the stairs to the sleeping quarters, gaze darting at the numbers on the doors. Four, five, six—there it was! Seven. Her cabin. With a sigh, she turned the knob in her magic and peered inside the room.
It was fairly modest, with a large bed and a small porthole that gave a glimpse of the blue skies outside. The room swayed just slightly as she stood there, so she dragged herself inside, shut the door, and collapsed on the bed.
Her muscles ached, but not from any physical exertion. One conversation with Majesty had drained so much of her mental strength that she felt exhausted. Doubt swirled in her chest and it felt like the walls were closing in on her, so she quickly snapped her eyes shut and instead focused on her surroundings.
Back, then forth. The ocean's waves cradled the boat, rocking her into a lull. For how still her body was, her mind was racing that much faster.
In her mind, Fatinah had been a brilliant white mare that shone like the sands she called home. Djamila was still lovely, of course; but she wasn't Fatinah. Not in Crystal's eyes.
And Ghareeb! He was supposed to be a dark stranger wandering the desert. Both stallions' coats were far too light. It would make him seem less mysterious than Crystal had imagined.
A sigh escaped Crystal, followed by another. There was nothing she could do. At the least, she could try to enjoy seeing new sights. Majesty couldn't take that away from her, could he?
"Crystal," Golden said as the door opened and she stuck her head in. "I have a concern."
Crystal squirmed on the bed to look at her. "What is that?"
"I... do not believe the motion of the ocean agrees with me."
Crystal blinked a few times, sitting upright. Golden's luxurious coat seemed dull and without life, and her eyes sagged. When the boat gave a particularly noticeable lurch, a sound bubbled up from Golden's throat that was less than pleasant.
"Wh-What can I do?" Crystal slipped off the bed. "Should I get Dusty? Or Majesty? Or—"
It was too late. Golden's head dipped, and a foul smell hit Crystal in the face, sending her own stomach into a twisting flip. For a moment, the both of them stood there, unmoving and silent. Neither seemed to want to acknowledge the reality they were in.
"Sorry," Golden managed in a weak, raspy voice. She took a small step back. "Sorry."
Crystal tried not to sigh to avoid breathing in the smell a second time. "It's... fine. Let's get you up and into fresh air. I'll—I'll just have somepony take care of it." Gingerly and carefully placing each step, she walked out into the hall. With her shoulder against Golden's for support, they made their way back onto the surface.
A gust of salt-licked air hit their faces, both a cooling and a stinging sensation. Golden gasped it in as though the air below deck had been suffocating her. She started drifting toward the railing, and Crystal had no choice but to follow alongside her.
"How long are we on this boat?" Golden asked, leaning over the edge preemptively.
Crystal winced. "I think a whole week."
Golden groaned and slumped against the railing. "I regret all of my life choices that brought me here."
The sails fluttered wildly in the wind that whistled through their manes. For a moment, Golden merely focused on breathing in and out while Crystal tried to think of a solution. The shore was still so close that, if she had to, she was certain she could swim to it. Golden wouldn't survive the trip if she was already this sick.
"I'll go see if Majesty has anything," Crystal said, taking a step back. "Just stay right here and keep breathing."
Before she could make it to the captain's quarters, however, she spied Dusty coming up from below deck. He had a look of concern on his otherwise tired features, his gaze darting about before landing on Golden. His expression shifted between surprise, then back to concern, deeper than before.
"Dusty!" Crystal winced when his lips pulled into a taut, disapproving line when their eyes met. "Dusty, Golden appears to be seasick already. Did you pack anything for that?"
"Of course." He turned to head back down the stairs. "Make sure she breathes. I'll get it."
Crystal wanted to question him why he seemed to dislike her so much, but there wasn't time for that. The sound of a second round of nausea hit her ears and she hurried over to return to Golden's side. She rubbed a hoof along Golden's back and said softly, "Shh, shh. You're all right. Dusty is on his way."
Golden's frame trembled with a quiet sob. "This is—"
"It's fine," Crystal tried to reassure her.
"This is so embarrassing." Golden dropped her head low. "What if—What if somepony important saw me like this?" She groaned.
Crystal couldn't help a breathless laugh. "Oh, thank you."
The clicking of hooves approached from behind and Crystal turned, expecting to see Dusty. A light squeak accompanied her sharp gasp when she saw one of the Arabians—the chestnut stallion—walking toward them with a bag held in his mouth. Once he was just a few paces away, he lowered his head and gave it a small bob as if to throw the bag, drawing her attention to it.
"Huh?" Crystal's magic encircled the bag to take it from him. "What's this?"
He lifted his head and smiled. "To settle the nausea of your friend." His accent was even thicker than Djamila's, but his words were clear.
Golden's magic snatched the bag out of Crystal's and she tore it open to look inside. "What?"
"It is the root of zanjabeel," he explained, though Golden's expression remained skeptical and uncertain. "It will settle."
Crystal stood on the tips of her hooves to take a peek, spying the thick, gnarled root inside that was the color of sand. One whiff was all it took to confirm her suspicion. "Oh! It's ginger root, Golden. Ginger root."
That seemed to be enough for Golden as she crammed one of the roots into her mouth. Her nose scrunched up, but she diligently chewed on it nonetheless.
"Thank you, ah—" Crystal blinked. "I'm afraid I didn't get your name."
"Faizan bin Aqila al-Shefa'a." The name rolled off his tongue like smooth grains of sand gliding through an hourglass.
Crystal struggled to contain her smile. "Faizan, son of Aqila. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with what shefa'a translates to, though, but I know it is important."
Faizan's ears perked and he lowered his head to her level. "Al-Shefa'a: the Healing. My family is versed in medicinal herbs. You surprise me, however, little pony. Equestrians are not named as we are, yet you know of the meaning behind my name?"
"Although I'm ashamed to have discovered my research was not extensive enough, I know at least that much." Crystal sighed and looked at Golden, who had her eyes closed and was still chewing on ginger root, then back at Faizan. "I apologize for whatever offense my story may have caused."
"Think nothing of it." Faizan smiled and straightened back up. "Djamila is the one who took issue with it. Wajdi, her brother, argued that the film is intended for Equestrians, and our culture should not restrict it. You ponies will not understand why the issue exists."
Crystal shifted her hooves, glancing down at them. "Admittedly, I don't understand the issue, either. But—" She jerked her head back up, quickly smothering that train of thought.
It would be terribly rude to say such things to his face. No, she would just have to accept that what she wanted and what she had planned were no longer relevant.
"I respect it," she continued. "I respect your culture. There are so few stories set in Saddle Arabia that I would like to do it justice, even if that is at the expense of my story."
Faizan chuckled. His muscular yet thin shoulders rolled in a light shrug. "So be it. It will be a pleasure to work with you, Crystal Wishes, daughter of Upper Crust, the Writer."
Before she could argue against the formality, he flashed a knowing, playful smile, and she snapped her mouth shut.
"Your friend should find relief," he continued as he turned to walk away. "Keep the zanjabeel in case the nausea should return."
Crystal nodded. "Thank you!" She looked at Golden to urge her to give her thanks, as well, but the mare still seemed to be fighting a battle at keeping her composure. Crystal smiled and leaned against the railing, looking out across the vast, empty ocean that lay ahead of them. It filled her with a sudden sense of dread.
A week at sea. Months of filming. All that time, she would receive no word from Silent. Her smile faltered. Was this really okay for her to do? What would he think of her having an adventure while he struggled to survive?
Hooves approached at a brisk pace. "Miss Golden, I—" The clicking stopped, and Crystal turned her head to see Dusty staring at Golden. "What are you eating?"
"Finfer," Golden managed around her full mouth.
Dusty looked at Crystal with narrowed eyes. "What is she eating?"
Crystal returned his aggressive stare with a soft smile. "Ginger root. I think she's feeling better already. I'm sorry to have worried you."
Golden nodded and mumbled, "Forry."
While Dusty made a fuss over where the ginger came from and what it might do to Golden's health, Crystal returned her gaze to the ocean. The gentle waves glistened under the afternoon sun, reassuring her that it would be all right. Everything would be all right.
This wasn't an escape. She wasn't running away from the war, from the support group, from her worries. She was doing exactly what Silent would want her to do: keep moving forward and not shackle herself to fear. The thought brightened the smile on her lips.
He would be proud of her, just as she was proud of him.
I just hope that this small change to the story won't upset Velvet Step. After all, she had no idea of what Arabian customs are either. I honestly like the change.
Hah! Would you look at that...
:chuckles: I do not respect characters like that, but I find this infantile buffoon amusing.
Both Crystals did their homework! Bravo! Such preparedness deserves its rightful praise!
Well done, well done!
And so it begins...
Majesty has already started steamrolling over Crystal. Faizan seems quite likable, however... could a partnership develop between he and Crystal to return some control to the author???
Seasickness. not fun... A bit of trivia...
When Buffalo Bill's Wild West show first went overseas to Britan, many of the American Indians got terribly ill. One of them was so certain he was going to die that he even painted his own body for his funeral.
As for trans-atlantic crossings with horses, as many as half of the first shipments of horses may have died en-route to the Americas from Europe. Let's hope that's not the case with this story, eh?
Although that would be a quick fix with Majesty...
Couldn't they draw from theater actors?
Did she really not think to research a major aspect of her story?
they could use dyes or magic.
Yep, a lot of us saw this coming, though it was less extreme than we were expecting.
Dusty's thing is interesting. I forget, is he close enough to Golden's age to be that kind of jealous, or is it just caretaker jealousy?
Proud of you for not standing up for what you believe in? Proud of you for relinquishing one of your veritable babies to a stallion so conceited that he calls himself "Prince Majesty?" Proud of you for changing everything that a story stands for just to make it rigorously politically correct? Politically correct to a pretty much irrelevant, non-your-book world?
I find that hard to believe
Come on Crystal, this is YOUR story! Don't let Prince Majesty try to take control from you!
What if Crystal changes it so that Khalil and Ghareeb marry some other mare? That would stay true to the original story of Fatinah remaining the free spirit she is suppose to be.
Also in regards to how Crystal imaging Fatinah as being white...I don't know why But I always imagined her to be brown.
Anyway, I can't wait to see where this goes.
7625071 So far, Velvet's been pretty cautious and concerned about the whole thing; Crystal's the most invested in it!
7625078 Both Crystals did homework! Maybe story-Crystal didn't do all of her homework, but my copious amount of notes imply that I have done mine. :>
7625164 Ahhh, I'm glad you like Faizan. I really like him.
7625247
That's assuming they have theater actors! And that those theoretically existing actors would be interested in acting in a film, which would be a foreign medium for them.
1) For her, it wasn't a major aspect. It was something Velvet had thrown in (originally, it was a mare and a stallion). The major aspect is Fatinah; Khalil and Ghareeb are an afterthought for her.
2) It's not something she thinks about to think about. Her culture (as a whole) is so accepting that it doesn't cross her mind that other cultures might be different. She's only read about Arabian horses in a book. She's shocked at how actually different they are in this chapter. Up until now, they were just "bigger ponies with a different culture, the same way as Manehattan 'culture' is different from Canterlot" ... She didn't fully appreciate just how different things are until she met the Arabians.
1) That's assuming they brought unicorns with that magic and/or dyes to do that. Prince Majesty doesn't seem concerned about these details, so it's debatable on whether or not he would have cared to bring unicorns/dyes.
2) Crystal is in the heat of the moment. She's not thinking rationally. She's not sitting at home, reading about this situation, calmly and with time to logically and detachedly think about these things!
7625271 We don't know Dusty's age to know what kind of jealousy he's suffering from.
7625361 Crystal is referring to her going off on an adventure across the seas "without him" rather than sitting at home, glued to the window, waiting for a letter. Also his name is Prince Majesty, literally, that's his name, hahah
7625440 She feels powerless! Of course... that is only right now. How many straws will it take to break the Crystalcamel's back?
Oh I can understand why Crystal would be so upset about the movie adaptation going in that direction. Its like someone telling a painter that his art is no good and then changing it for him in a way that he did not see fit at all.
Oh I can understand why Crystal would be so upset about the movie adaptation going in that direction. Its like someone telling a painter that his art is no good and then changing it for him in a way that he did not see fit at all.
And here we witness the first layer of RDX being applied to Crystal's previously indestructible emotional dam, behind which her temper remains a placid reservoir of calm, cool waters...
The sluices may open occasionally for tears to flow, but when this baby really blows, Prince Maj better be ready to run, 'cause it'll be pure white water fury!
Yes. That's the important quality here. Alright, I've had it. Get'im, Golden!
Oh! Oh. Well... Horseapples on a stick. 'Scuse us a second while we get Golden situated and find a suitably fiery stand-in. Don't think you're off the hook, majesty...
No, no No, NO! Bad Crystal! *bop* The why can be just as important as the what when it comes to these things. Most any reasonably accommodating person will be glad to explain the why if you genuinely wish to know so as to avoid further issue with the what!
Ignorance is the true rude. Willful ignorance...
At least Faizan seems to be a reasonable sort; he knows what Saddle Arabians can/will do, and seems open enough to what Crystal would like. I already have high hopes that he'll make a suitable stand-in for our indisposed Golden when it comes to Majesty.
And, given that one very, very brief scene, I'm not sure it's Crystal who Dusty has to worry about...
I'm wondering if Crystal will just say screw it and have Fatinah marry neither anyway. Having the stallions hook up was by her own admission kind of an afterthought to appease audiences (wasn't it Velvet's idea?), and could be omitted to dodge the country's homophobia without losing much in the way of theme. Fatinah marrying ponies she doesn't want, even as a sham marriage, would pretty much demolish the whole point of the story -- not just for the movie, but for the incomplete serial.
I mean the way Majesty worded it like Fatinah giving up her freedom to make them happy is...I mean wow, Velvet would strangle someone.
7625485 I see. By the way, have you noticed the comment I made in your gallery section of your DA page?
7625614 You just earned a thumbs down from me on that comment.
7625440 They can always have Fatinah's actor painted white.
7625730
This setting isn't modern-day America going through high-profile LGBT rights movements. Writing out a gay couple to appease a censor would be a dick move here and now -- one that happens depressingly often in the real industry. But remember, this Equestria is so casually accepting of same-sex couples that Crystal never thought Saddle Arabia might be against them, because to her that's not even a concept. But it also means she wouldn't have any reason to see that couple as being the kind of living statement they would be at this time and place IRL, because to her that line doesn't exist at all.
So her options are:
1) Cave in to Majesty and defeat the whole point of Fatinah by having her marry stallions she doesn't like
2) Write out the last-minute hookup (probably the most pragmatic)
3) Put her hoof down, follow through with the implications of stallions marrying in a hostile country, and have them elope or something (potentially the most awesome)
Mmmm... excellent developments in this chapter.
There are a great many ways this could play out. Anything from Crystal stepping aside as Prince Majesty does as he wants to her going behind his back to get the scene filmed as intended followed by the actors themselves being jailed/executed for obscenity.
Or even...
:action:
7625485
But theater is way more common than films and most cultures place some historical and cultural significance associated with them. And while it's a foreign medium, it's still pretty similar.
wardrobe and vfx are pretty critical for film so it would really surprise me if no one thought of that kind of stuff.
Somewhat understandable, but i'm still not entirely on board with this explanation. The whole courtship process is a major aspect of the story that she would have to research, and given the explanation, it might have come up
understandable
It starts will a small thing... Just a small change. And then another one... and another one... and anotha one.
...I think I stepped into meme territory.
Faizan is a cool dude, though, here's hoping Crystal's interactions with the Arabians turn things out for the better.
And... poor Dusty. Golden's been seeing him less and less, hasn't she? What with being out of the house so much now. Now his job of taking care of her is being threatened as well.
... I just can't believe you've shipped them all
7626010 First and foremost, this is our first chapter that has real, true glimpses into Saddle Arabian culture, and a lot of that came from Majesty. He is an unreliable source in the sense that he is going to over simplify and hoof wave things. The entire situation isn't going to be explained in depth by him in just this first chapter, but here you go: Saddle Arabia is an ancient and fairly... xenophobic isn't the right word. They are a proud country that relies on no one else. They don't have unicorns or magic hooves; they are horses who must do everything the hard way with only their own "religion" (for lack of a better word) and their history to support them. The film medium is foreign. Equestrians are viewed as a spoiled, childish race. Their fancy magic and technology are sometimes treated with suspicion. Reaching out for film actors isn't and wasn't an easy task. Maj was met with resistance and skepticism. It really has nothing to do with anything other than that, but he doesn't know that.. I try to avoid going into spoiler depth for things we're going to learn in the story but I can see that dancing around the topic isn't working here. ^^;
Wardrobe/vfx: I'm not saying Maj hasn't thought of these things and couldn't take care of the issue of their appearance. I'm honestly just trying to dance around things that may or may not be resolved in coming chapters. That's the trouble with responding to some comments. I try not to just outright spoil things but I know my replies can sometimes lead to more confusion when I try to play mini-devil's advocate. Inner Harbor Films does low budget films, a medium which is already not as popular as it is in our world. Equestria loves live action shows like plays. Bridleway shows are our Hollywood films. Films don't get the same kind of attention as them, but nonetheless yes. It's possible Maj did bring the resources to change the Arabian horses' entire appearances... assuming he cared about that to bring the resources for it.
You can be on or off board with my explanation, I can't really help that. ^^; Same-sex couples are a non-issue in the land of Harmony and Friendship (as a whole—obviously there are always exceptions). It's not something Crystal would even think about. It was also a change introduced by Velvet because "stallions are hot". Crystal is a romance writer, not a historical non-fiction author. Her research, while thorough according to her standards, more or less came from a guilde book written for tourists. She writes romance for swooning a romantic heart, namely an Equestrian heart. Even though she chose the Saddle Arabian culture (pretty much on a whim), she's still writing for an Equestrian audience, so her research only went so far.
The overarching plot of Hopes involves Crystal "growing up". She spent the near entirety of Wishes in a sheltered bubble. She faced very little actual adversity and didn't even know what an elevator was. In Hopes, her world is expanding rapidly whether she likes it or not. She is, more or less, totally naive. This Saddle Arabian adventure is a big step into broadening her horizons and awareness of the world around her. The war, obviously, was the first step, but a negative one. Now she gets to have a positive one. Trust me and bear with me!
... this is why I shouldn't reply at 3am. No filter! Rambling. Zzzzz
"We must respect other cultures afterall!"
Screw you for not respecting Equestrian culture then.
I'm feeling that Crystal will end up feeling regret about agreeing to the movie deal...
7626128 somewhere, there is an unhappy medium
It seems Crystal has hard time being assertive, this her story after all. I can understand her wanting to respect the culture, but I think in the process of it having all these changes and revisions the story is losing its spirit, something Crystal should be worried about.
7625164
True. The death rates at Jamestown were apalling and the deaths continued to be extremely high untill brewerys were established then plummeted. The key to colonization appears to be beer. Or at least killing the bad stuff
In the water.
7625734 That's true.
Ah, the joy of adventure. Off to a foreign lands to make dreams come true. Crystal's chance to make a movie.
And then,
Sony PicturesIHF happened!But, it's no problem. Just a couple adaptations to the plan, no involvement in the casting, but no problem. Still a piece of cake.
And then,
EAIHF happened again!7626104 I can get not wanting to spoil things but just saying I have a plan and things will be explained in the coming chapters would be better than dancing around the subject. I pretty much would have immediately accepted that as an explanation.
I forgot that it was a velvet suggestion. I also thought she had done better research than that. This is why I'm not a huge fan of serial stuff, it's harder to remember random details like that when there's gaps in between chapters.
I would have read this way sooner but I've been either too busy or totally not in the right state of mind due to writing a very sad character death. It was a favorite of mine too, so I've been a bit of a wreck! Killing characters is so hard!
On a more related note: Crystal is seeing my nightmares come to life! Actors that don't resemble the characters and producers wanting to make changes! This is why if my sister were to accomplish her dream of owning an animation studio I would demand she buy movie rights to my books, she's probably the only way my dragons will see the big screen without me dying inside. My babies deserve the best, because what's best for me is what's best for them! Seriously though, I'm like an overprotective mother when it comes to my stories, I can't even think about traditional publishing without a feeling a dread washing over me. Self-publishing is the only way for me.
And once again this has wandered into me talking about me territory! I've clearly still got my own stories on the brain!
I love this already and woo Arabian horses!
There seems to be a lot of feedback on this chapter with a pinch of "Crystal, you may not know what you're doing so let me tell you how you should write your story" which I see as a knee-jerk reaction that I can relate to. I will do my best to avoid saying what I think Crystal should or shouldn't do or what should or shouldn't happen in the future. I did that too much with Velveteen Mask and am trying to make up for it.
Yay! A previously insignificant character being brought to life! I see this as foreshadowing character development for Dusty, which I love the idea of!
All that is important to me is that Crystal is safe, gets rich and matures (in that order).
Also, I feel a slight time skip coming soon. I don't know anything special, just making a guess.
I feel for Golden. Sea sickness sucks. Not that I've experienced it. Just the cleaning up part. That was gross.
Oooo, Dusty is along for the ride. INB4 him and Golden get lost in the desert and have a romantic and/or comedic adventure together. Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, that sort of thing.
Oh snap.
Ahh, that feeling when hopes and dreams meet the reality of implementing a large, complex project. I'm going to hold off on condemning Majesty for this change, he may simply be right about how to respectfully portray the existing Saddle Arabian culture as opposed to some ideal one where the stallion pairing wouldn't be any kind of issue.
Eee, I'm so glad this part is here! I can't wait to see how it plays out. I'm loving the set up so far, and the way you wrote Crystal's reaction to seeing the horses made it feel like a magical encounter. So hype!
Maj can sit and spin, though. XD
*flinches inwardly* What remains? I guess that's one way to put it. Not like it's unheard of for a book to get butchered by a film adaptation.
7632319 I second this opinion!
Well I figured something would come up. Granted.. its not uncommon for books and movies to differ. I have to say I am curious about the new characters on the board and your take on the Saddle Arabians. Maj is already starting his takeover of her story, I am curious to see how crystal counters it. A good chapter! and poor golden.
I really do love the Saddle Arabian naming convention, (is that the right term?) the names sound nice and they mean something.