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A Pony's Tale  by Kara's Aunty 11 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/29/2009
Bill the Exploding Pony, heh? :) I don't think you and your muse had any trouble talking this time, cousin dear, because you can just hear all the fun you had writing this. Poor Bill. And poor Asfaloth!

Namarie, God bless, the Imp who is now going to happily run off to read your latest dangerous chapter... :)

Author Reply: Hello Cous,

Fortunately, his explosions were limited to the digestive sort - unluckily for Legolas.

But it was indeed a hoot and a half writing it!

Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear,

Me ;)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/27/2009
Oh, I know how that goes! Took me eight months to get one chapter of Stirring Rings done!

Poor Bill--and worse, poor Legolas. Oh, but I'm certain that Bill just went up several points in Gimli's regard over this one! Heh!

And he thinks to capture the attention of one of the twins' mares, eh? Dream on, little pony! Heh!

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

You may be right about the change of fortunes in Bill and Gimli's relationship...

I couldn't resist giving him a (sort of) love interest. He's had a hard life after all and deserves a break. As for the elven mare...well, it's nice ti have aspirations (snigger).

Thanks for the boost re: my mojo. It was quite an uncomfortable experience for a while there, let me tell you! An eight-month stretch without one, though (shudder. You poor thing. Still, it obviously came back BIG TIME because 'Stirring Rings' is one of the most fascinating and hugely enjoyable fics I've ever read...

Thanks also for R & R-ing,

M ;)

UtfrogReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/26/2009
I am typing this with tears of laughter still wet on my face. This is just lovely and so different. Thank you.

Author Reply: Hello Utfrog,

how excellent to get such a reaction from you! I'm chuffed to bits (pleased as punch, etc) that you like it so much! This was just a silly wee story that came to me to counter all the angst of one of others that's still in progress - keeps a nice balance betwee the two emotions.

I'm actually writing chapter 4 just now (Gimli's pov) and I nearly spat my own tea out thinking of all the things he might do or say in reaction to his pony-encounter...oh the opportunities!

Thank you so much for your lovely words and the great review - you've made my day!

M ;)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/26/2009
That was it! Bill had to find the wizard and convince him to use his magic on the lovely mare (and his long stick on Asfaloth - just for good measure)!

ROTFL!!! Now that pony has an amazing imagination!

Fortunately, Bill will never ever again try to eat the Gimmy's hair. And the Gimmy got his revenge on "Legless". But poor Legolas! It must have been horrible ;-)

Last but not least, the title you chose was great!

Your author's notes confused me a little bit ;-) I've seen a "ceremony" which involved haggis. A man (wearing a kilt of course) spoke lots of words in a lovely accent. I tried hard to understand him, but in the end I failed. During his speech he used a knife to "attack" the haggis, which was part of the ceremony I'd say. Then he left and everyone cheered, but I don't know exactly what was going on ;-) Can you tell me?

Author Reply: Hello Andres,

Bill is a rather clever litle pony, disguised as shy and humble! Poor Legless was horrible - I'm about to start writing chapter 4, so you'll have the chance to see for yoursel just how horrible!

And I couldn't resis the title - the lyrics from that song just popped into my head after I'd covered poor Legolas in pony poo, so I had to use them.

If you want more info on the ceremony you saw (you're lucky, I'm Scottish, but I haven't witnessed one yet - of course, if I acually made the effort, I could, so it's my own fault really!), I've written down some links. The whole event is a celebration of the poet's works and the Scottish identity. The poem you heard 'Address to a Haggis' is read out before the haggis is served and the stabbing may have been the honorary 'first cut' of the dish (although I'm no expert).

For more info on the format of a Burns' Supper: http://www.rabbie-burns.com/the_supper/index.cfm.html

For general info and history on haggis and a full view of the poem 'Address to a Haggis': http://www.worldburnsclub.com/begin/address_to_a_haggis.htm

Have fun & thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

P.S. My own haggis was delicious!

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/26/2009
Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha! LMAO!ROTFL! You sure have a way with words Kara's Aunty! Was that Legolas that got blasted!!!!! LOL! Hugs The Imp

Author Reply: Hello Elflingimp,

I'm laughing at the thought of you ROTFL & LYAO! How brilliant to get such a reaction!! You have made my day, m'dear.

Yep, it was Legolas (he wouldn't really squabble with any other elf like that, they'd probably kill him!). It seemed only fair considering the abuse (ribbing) he's giving Gimli for being bested by a pony - which you'll find out about in chapter 4 (Gimli's pov)...

Thanks for R & R-ing - and I'm SO glad you enjoyed it!

M ;)


TithenaruReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/26/2009
I'm so glad your mojo is back; I laughed 'till I cried! Can't wait to hear more from Bill on Gimmy, Leglass, the prissy elf horse, and flowery scented men.
Tithenaru

Author Reply: Hello Tithenaru,

Great name you've got there!

And it's great to hear you're enjoying the fic so much! I was intending to finish it with the next chapter (Gimli's pov), but I might stretch it to one more, just for you...

(I'm glad my mojo is back too - I had to make some serious bribes and it scoffed the last of the haggis before it re-entered my conciousness, greedy sod that it is!)

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

grmpyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/25/2009
Oh my heavens, did I have a laugh over this chapter. I love Bill the pony's way of looking at life. Poor, poor Legolas. Ahh the smelly one, has become the flowery sented one, he can give tips to Bill, about females.

Author Reply: Hello gmpy,

Glad you're enjoying Bill's wee story! It's nice to try to look at things from his perspective! And imagining how he would refer to non-humans is a hoot.

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M :)

AinarielReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/25/2009
Oh my...What can I say - I've laughed so hard tears are (still) rolling! Poor little pony, pondering "...Bill-bits gently floating to the ground..." You know you are not feeling well when you consider your own demise!

I love Bill's perspective here - decidely more 'pony' than 'horse' (and I've spend a fair amount of time with both) You may not be an equine expert, but you have captured the essense of these mighty little creatures! (I worked with a pony gelding when I was in college that just knew he was the biggest, baddest horse in the barn - Nevermind the fact that he could almost walk UNDER the belly of the School's largest horse!)

I do have bit of con crit, though - (two bits, actually).
1)Horses can't burp - they're physically unable. (This is the main reason bloat/colic can be deadly.) Although I must add that it did bring a chuckle! (The stone that started the avalanche, so to speak...)
2)It seems odd that the elf from the stable would let Bill loose in the field, knowing he was bloated. That can be very dangerous - if the horse/pony were to roll, their intestines can shift and become blocked (this is what can cause death). "Twisted gut' has been a known equine malady for quite a long time - I would think it would be known in ME at this time (by the Elves anyway, if not by Men) Of course, hand walking poor Bill wouldn't allow for the 'race' with Asfaloth, and would ruin the end of the chapter...

Whatever you used to bribe your mojo worked - I am thoroughly enjoying this story, and look forward to more!


Author Reply: Hello Anariel,

Oh I loved every last word of your splendid review - it was almost as long as my chapter! Thanks very much.

Yes Bill is working-class equine, so to speak. The salt of the earth and highly underrated and his continued differences of opinions with the aristocratic Asfaloth have been a joy to write. I'm thrilled you think I've captured 'pony' essence; that's a huge compliment - especially as I've never worked with a horse/pony in my life (I did 'ride' a horse once, but nearly suffered heart failure when it broke into a trot, as opposed to the extremely slow walk I had been getting used to).

So I had a feeling my limited experience would come back to bite my posterior when I wrote that he 'butped'; I wasn't sure if equine actually do, but went with it anyway. You have me there, m'dear!

As for the colic & exercise, well, I DID put a note at the top of the chapter stating I was not an expert and had extrapolated info from various websites and that my interpretation may be flawed, so I was a bit surprised to see the crit on that... But thanks for the more concise explanation of the issue: trying to marry various points of info into some semblance of order on a foreign subject was very draining, so you've been a great help as I can apply this to future fics ;)

I'm chuffed to bits (very thrilled) that you're enjoying the fic and am going to start on Gimli's pov straight away!

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/25/2009
...a little adventure with a dashing stranger...

You show her what she's been missing, Bill! Err, once you're completely healthy again, that is. I'm very glad Aragorn soothed him enough to 'let go', but oh dear, poor... was that Legolas??

Author Reply: Hello Shirebound,

Yup, it was Legolas. Sorry for the confusion (I thought I'd left enough tips to indicate it was him, because Gimli wouldn't really squabble with any other elf, but you're not the only person who's asked that, so perhaps I didn't). I just didn't know how else Bill would describe him, not knowing his name. Mea culpa!

And yes, Bill with a fancy woman, eh? I thought it was only fair - the equine's never seem to get a love interest!

Thanks for R & R-ing.

M ;)

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/25/2009
That Bill is a very ... basic ... sort of creature, isn't he? Feeding and f.. ahem, _reproduction_ is what occupies him - when he is not suffering the consequences of eating "red hay". :-)

But oh! The ending of this chapter! If someone had just managed to sneak a camera in there to immortalize the sight of Legolas being ... fertilized! ROFLMAO

Author Reply: Hello Sunny,

Bill is indeed a 'basic' chap, he only wants a good home, good food and a good master. I don't know if he's occupied with reproduction so much as having a mate (in the manner humans may wish a spouse). He's a decent lad after all, he was prepared to 'marry' her (ahem).

Of course, he could just be a randy old perv trying to make up for lost time...

Poor Legolas, eh? I had the ending of the chapter in my head before I knew how I was going to lead the story to that point, so filling the other 2000 or so words above the last 4 sentences were the most difficult part.

Worth it though!

And I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to writing Gimli's POV next, (I was laughing out loud at work today thinking of it and got some very questionable looks from colleagues who thought I'd lost it - though perhaps I have...).

Anyway, glad you liked this chapter and I'm off to write the next!

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

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