All right, this is Nick and Ben Carpenter.  I'm going to ask you both a series of questions  First: how would you describe the concept of fanfiction in one paragraph?

Ben: People who get involved enough with a storyline have fantasies about it. If the person feel like it, they get written down and become fanfiction.

Nick: Fanfiction is... the greatest form of flattery. Writing fanfiction is like saluting the creator of the original with the utmost respect. One doesn't write fanfiction for that one show or game that you kind of liked, and that you'd watch or play when you had free time. No, fanfiction is the acknowledgement of the creator's ability to write compelling works, and do it well.

Ben: Way to outdo me.

(laughs)  All right, next question.  Do you write fanfiction, or just read it?

Nick: I've tried my hand at writing fanfics. Mostly, I just read them, though.

Ben: Same here.

You've both told me that you like My Little Pony.  How did you get started in that?

Ben: I accidentally clicked on the "Bronies" tab on Memebase back in September 2011, saw some interesting memes, and then proceeded to browse through every single page on there and starting watching the show on YouTube on September 17th, which, coincidentally, was the same day that season 2 started.

Nick: Ben told me about it, but I never really got into the show until January of this year. I was bored one night and decided to peruse Youtube for interesting videos, eventually deciding to check out FiM. I found it humorous, and was drawn in by the fluid animations and high quality visuals.  Computer art is a hobby of mine.

Is My Little Pony your favorite show?  Do you do any other fanfiction?

Ben: I watch Dr. Who and The Simpsons, but they aren't airing new episodes right now.

Nick: Yeah, Dr. Who is pretty good.  I've done some art of Minecraft, but it never really went anywhere.  FIMFiction is the first fanfiction website I joined.

What genre of stories do you like to read and write?

Nick: I read a lot of Human-in-Equestria. I also sometimes like to read alternate universe stuff.  When I try to write, I attempt to do original character stuff, firstly to try to develop believable, balanced characters and secondly because I'm slightly nervous about writing for the Mane 6.

Ben: I pretty much stick to action, adventure, and sci-fi.

Do you ever imagine that you're in the show as one of the characters?

Nick: It's happened before.

Ben: Yeah.

How would you react?

Nick: It might be cool for a while, but I'd want to leave eventually.  I really like having thumbs.

Ben: It depends on who I met.  I mean, I'd act differently around Blueblood than I would around the CMC.

Would your reaction be different since you know about the show?

Nick: Oh, absolutely.  I probably wouldn't panic as much because I would know where I was.  I'd also know who to go to for help.  It would probably make me want to go home more, though, because I would know that I'm in a TV show.

Ben: Basically what he said.

So you're in Equestria.  Are you still human, or have you become a pony?

Ben:  I'm a lime green pegasus with yellow-orange mane and tail, blue eyes, and jet engine cutie mark.

Nick: I'd be a rather plain brown pegasus with a computer mouse for a cutie mark.  While I certainly wouldn't mind being human - I already mentioned the thumbs issue - I'd rather not stick out.

Ben: I read a story once where they called stallion cutie marks "stud stamps."  I think I prefer that.

Makes sense.  All right, I think I've got everything I needed.  Thank you both.