MLP:FiM fic Recommendation Thread
- Thread starter Master of Squirrel-Fu
- Start date
I'll leave this thing here, since no one recomended it:
Composture
This is just beautiful. Best romance fanfic I read in a lot of time. Pairing is twilestia.
Composture
This is just beautiful. Best romance fanfic I read in a lot of time. Pairing is twilestia.
[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=APJEw944XyM[/video]
My Little Dashie: In a grey, dull, dying city, one man comes across a box on his way home from work. Upon opening it, he finds a filly Rainbow Dash. When he takes her home and raises her as his own, she takes his life in new directions he never imagined possible.
Haven't actually ready it yet but if the song above is anything to go by it's gonna be like knife right in the feels.
My Little Dashie: In a grey, dull, dying city, one man comes across a box on his way home from work. Upon opening it, he finds a filly Rainbow Dash. When he takes her home and raises her as his own, she takes his life in new directions he never imagined possible.
Haven't actually ready it yet but if the song above is anything to go by it's gonna be like knife right in the feels.
Okay, just looked up this The Conversion Bureau thing. The Idea seems like something I'd just love to read, in just about anything. I'd shell out real money to see something like that! An eldritch space appearing in earth and rapidly expanding, and that humans can't survive in this space naturally. The residents are a "Superior Race" free of human vices and offer the chance to survive by becoming one of them. It would be the story of what makes a person a person, what the meaning of death is, the implications of if it is right to change something as deeply seeded as human nature just to live. And the fact that it's essentially death either way just different forms. By God, I would punch a baby in it's smug little face to read something like that! (Albeit I'd probably do the same for a sammich but my point still stands!)
But the thing is that reading the tropes and what others say about it most of this seems to be ignored for either grimdark or horribly racist overtones ("...using happy, colorful ponies to advocate racial supremacism and ethnic cleansing!"), or simply just blindly saying "Turning pony is good" and drop all the philosophic gold there to write about "evil human" terrorists that want to get in the way. While others portray Equestria as the evil facist secretly grimderp world and the humans as flawless good guys. I need some recs on that...
But the thing is that reading the tropes and what others say about it most of this seems to be ignored for either grimdark or horribly racist overtones ("...using happy, colorful ponies to advocate racial supremacism and ethnic cleansing!"), or simply just blindly saying "Turning pony is good" and drop all the philosophic gold there to write about "evil human" terrorists that want to get in the way. While others portray Equestria as the evil facist secretly grimderp world and the humans as flawless good guys. I need some recs on that...
The problem with the Conversion Bureau is that it causes everyone in MLP to suffer from massive amounts of character derailment. The only good "Conversion Bureau" fic I've read was a deconstruction called Greyscale, where the Equestrian barrier appears, and both sides are excited to find out about alien life...but then the barrier starts expanding on its own, and no one can stop it.
Kinda feel foolish since most probably know this one, but
The Unexpected Love Life of Dusk Shine-The unexpected twists and turns of life if Twilight had been born a stallion. Harem anime-like hijinks (No clop, but some allusions), but good for me for three reasons.
1. Gives a funny origin for Opalescence, the demon cat that she is
2. Gives a funny, touching and rather original reason for the Pinkie/Pinkamena seperation of personalities
3. It gives the cutest, funniest name for a character and an awesome name for another.
SPOILER ALERTBut it still needs explanation
But First, Here are Some Doubts-A story that starts with Spike finding out Rarity has a coltfriend (Kinda cliche). It could use a proof reader, but not that badly, and it has some nice reflections on Spike and his own generous nature, even at the cost of his own happiness, Applejacks reaction, protectiveness, and even a little jealousy, as well as the emotional struggles of Big Mac as he worries about a relationship of his own and how his family will react (It's not Spike and Mac, Mac is with somepony else).
My Little Dragon-An interesting species flip about Spike, the only unicorn/pony in a land of dragons, and his adventures when his princess/mother Celestia assigns him to protect a powerful young hatch-ling, Twilight Sparkle.
My Little Insano: Madness is Magic-A monomaniacal, scientific super genius with death-ray/hynotizing goggles, a real funtioning gaydar and violent tendencies is turned into a unicorn and set loose in Equestria, what could go wrong?
Warning, a crossover with the Spoony Experiment web series involving other That Guy With the Glasses characters and some more mature language.
Unnatural Selection-Warning, not for the faint of heart, does have some gore. In a world of carnivorous ponies, a young dragon tries to survive, and maybe change the way things are, but can he help ponies who don't see a problem with the status quo?
Dear Spike-Spike and Rarity have been dating for a while, but when Rarity is royally ordered for them to break up for the safety of Equestria, how will Spike take it? And how will it effect everyone who holds him dear?
The Love of a Dragon-A broken hearted Spike disappears while helping Rarity at a fashion show. Years later, he's back, but not the same.
Really liking this so far because, spoiler alert, it currently has a Spike/Derpy pairing
My Little Naruto Friendship is--Where Am I! A funny Naruto crossover where the blond has to adjust to Pony neighbors, hooves and...A talking Timberwolf?
The Unexpected Love Life of Dusk Shine-The unexpected twists and turns of life if Twilight had been born a stallion. Harem anime-like hijinks (No clop, but some allusions), but good for me for three reasons.
1. Gives a funny origin for Opalescence, the demon cat that she is
2. Gives a funny, touching and rather original reason for the Pinkie/Pinkamena seperation of personalities
3. It gives the cutest, funniest name for a character and an awesome name for another.
SPOILER ALERTBut it still needs explanation
But First, Here are Some Doubts-A story that starts with Spike finding out Rarity has a coltfriend (Kinda cliche). It could use a proof reader, but not that badly, and it has some nice reflections on Spike and his own generous nature, even at the cost of his own happiness, Applejacks reaction, protectiveness, and even a little jealousy, as well as the emotional struggles of Big Mac as he worries about a relationship of his own and how his family will react (It's not Spike and Mac, Mac is with somepony else).
My Little Dragon-An interesting species flip about Spike, the only unicorn/pony in a land of dragons, and his adventures when his princess/mother Celestia assigns him to protect a powerful young hatch-ling, Twilight Sparkle.
My Little Insano: Madness is Magic-A monomaniacal, scientific super genius with death-ray/hynotizing goggles, a real funtioning gaydar and violent tendencies is turned into a unicorn and set loose in Equestria, what could go wrong?
Warning, a crossover with the Spoony Experiment web series involving other That Guy With the Glasses characters and some more mature language.
Unnatural Selection-Warning, not for the faint of heart, does have some gore. In a world of carnivorous ponies, a young dragon tries to survive, and maybe change the way things are, but can he help ponies who don't see a problem with the status quo?
Dear Spike-Spike and Rarity have been dating for a while, but when Rarity is royally ordered for them to break up for the safety of Equestria, how will Spike take it? And how will it effect everyone who holds him dear?
The Love of a Dragon-A broken hearted Spike disappears while helping Rarity at a fashion show. Years later, he's back, but not the same.
Really liking this so far because, spoiler alert, it currently has a Spike/Derpy pairing
My Little Naruto Friendship is--Where Am I! A funny Naruto crossover where the blond has to adjust to Pony neighbors, hooves and...A talking Timberwolf?
A talking Timberwolf that sounds like a Hanar from Mass Effect! Also, another good Conversion Bureau fic is United We Stand in the Hasbroverse, if only because of the future possibility that the Mane 6's Elements of Harmony will combine with the Autobot Matrix of Leadership in Optimus Prime's chest. This is the G1 Autobots. Combined with the habit of G4 ponies breaking out in song, this means there's a good chance both Dare and The Touch will be sung. That said, Greyscale is amazing.
... Incredible. Just. Incredible. The first Naruto crossover with MLP:FIM that I read and the author crossed over EVERYTHING BAD ABOUT THE NARUTO FANDOM IN THIS!!! FOX TAILS! GIRLS FALLING FOR NARUTO AT THE DROP OF A HAT! AND THAT DAMN 'BELIEVE IT'!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! *froths at the mouth* ... Sorry about that. But, seriously, those are bad things. And this is a bad story for it.
Edit: Also, this guy only saw the Naruto dub and doesn't read the manga. You can understand it by what he did with Kurama and the 'stones and slander' stereotype for Naruto's childhood.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! *froths at the mouth* ... Sorry about that. But, seriously, those are bad things. And this is a bad story for it.
Edit: Also, this guy only saw the Naruto dub and doesn't read the manga. You can understand it by what he did with Kurama and the 'stones and slander' stereotype for Naruto's childhood.
Here's a new one. The Music of Ponyville.
Octavia Philharmonica would like nothing more than to practice her cello and to compose beautiful music all by herself. Unfortunately, her teacher Princess Cadance has other plans! Sent to Ponyville to assist with logistics for the Vernal Equinox Festival, Octavia wants only to get through the ceremony with as little interaction with the local populace as possible, but her plans are derailed by the return of two ancient evils: the ancient tyrants Burning Sun and Nightmare Moon.
Another reinterpretation of Friendship is Magic, and already has its own fan nickname: The Cadanceverse. It's a music-based Mane Six, written by GrassAndClouds2, who is really knowledgeable about music. As in, the music is described so well one could almost hear it. I immediately liked Cadance, which is surprising considering normally don't care about her at all. Perhaps it's because she's not using subterfuge like Celestia, and is upfront and honest with Octavia when she says she wants her student to realize there's more to the world than music, and if not make friends, at least learn to work with others.
Related note: I would love it if the Elements of Harmony were music-based. The name "Harmony" would work perfectly, too. Of course, Vinyl Scratch must hold the Element of Wubs.
Octavia Philharmonica would like nothing more than to practice her cello and to compose beautiful music all by herself. Unfortunately, her teacher Princess Cadance has other plans! Sent to Ponyville to assist with logistics for the Vernal Equinox Festival, Octavia wants only to get through the ceremony with as little interaction with the local populace as possible, but her plans are derailed by the return of two ancient evils: the ancient tyrants Burning Sun and Nightmare Moon.
Another reinterpretation of Friendship is Magic, and already has its own fan nickname: The Cadanceverse. It's a music-based Mane Six, written by GrassAndClouds2, who is really knowledgeable about music. As in, the music is described so well one could almost hear it. I immediately liked Cadance, which is surprising considering normally don't care about her at all. Perhaps it's because she's not using subterfuge like Celestia, and is upfront and honest with Octavia when she says she wants her student to realize there's more to the world than music, and if not make friends, at least learn to work with others.
Related note: I would love it if the Elements of Harmony were music-based. The name "Harmony" would work perfectly, too. Of course, Vinyl Scratch must hold the Element of Wubs.
Squirrelly reviews
So I've been readin up on all these recs, or most of them, ...pretty much only the ones with humans in them. And here's my opinion.
But first a look a the rating system I use. It's 1-10, but a little skewed.
0: the absolute bottom grade, it's not just bad, it's maliciously bad. It's the literary equivalent of the work grabbing you and then clubbing you upside the head with a sock full of pennies, razerwire, and soaked in acid.
3: Unreadable to the degree that it would be preferable to literally do nothing as the alternative.
5: Actually enjoyable to a degree but hugely flawed by something.
7: Pretty good and a recommended read.
8: Great story has all the things needed for it to work great.
9: Perfect story. it has that added spark to make it really come alive. Would actually pay decent money for it.
10: The holy grail of good entertainment. Would cut off my right nut for it.
Arrow 18: 8/10
It was a damn good story. It's a bit slow at first and the medium of it being read as logs can make some parts a bit too bland, but it really helps capture it and you can still feel the characters in spite of it being a second hand retelling. It's a great deconstruction of the Human stories without being grimderp or shoving it in your face. You are along with a man that meets a truely benevolent alien race and as they share with each other and learn. There is not good or bad one, nor any real villain of the story, but it doesn't need it. All in all I readily recommend this story even to those who do not tend to read into the fandom.
Hands: 2/10
I had initially been expecting something far better from AJT. Something witty and creative. This was neither. I was moderately interested at first, even when the first major thing I hated came up within the first chapter. Namely completely skipping over the SI's first 2 months as he grows accustomed to an alien world with freaking magic talking ponies! But I've read some stories that still turned out good even when starting in media res (my most hated form of introduction). But it didn't really get better. The next few chapter just seemed kinda pointless, less like he was writing a story and more like he was just typing out a random idea and hadn't quite fleshed it out before starting. I'll admit that a few times I found a few things amusing but overall it just seemed like a waste of time. And then there was all the immature sex gags. It was like a 14 year old virgin boy was writing it when ever something like that happened. I can understand the concept of him going "Prison gay" for ponies(hell even some farmers do and they still have humans around), but without building up a real relationship beforehand for the readers to see it just comes out of left feild and makes the SI seem kinda creepy for lusting after horses, even magic talking ones. And then there was the SI's knack for juggling both the conflict ball and idiot ball. And despite jumping headfirst into danger senselessly in an over dramatic fashion he still only seems to go along for the ride on the plot railroad. It's like Shirou from inflight, only exchange his constant pondering on killing things for justice with lusting after ponies. Honestly though, I feel that if he had just avoided the topic of sex and lust, or at least worked up to it, than this story might have been much more enjoyable.
Friendship is Optimal: 7/10
The story of an optimized computer, Celest-A.I., that will assimilate you to satisfy your desires though friendship and ponies. All in all it actually seems like the ponies were more a colorful background element, as the story was more about the human characters and how they lived through and dealt with it before and after assimilation. It's a bit short on actual plot, jumping forth quite fast over large periods of time and change and tends to skim over some important philosophical questions but over all still a good read. It's not like TCB, while Equestria is still shown in a mostly positive light and the better option all around it still gives an unsettling feeling and CelestAI is not shown as truly benevolent nor even believing herself to be, she simply is doing as she was programed, to satisfy as many people's values as possible through Ponies and Friendship by any means necessary, and does so through admittedly questionable means. It leaves you pondering on what was truly right in the end, humanity is in a virtual paradise as immortals, but the universe itself is turning into grey goo to support them. It makes you think, and that's what makes it a good story.
Sunny Skies All Day Long: 4-5/10
I had expected something totally different out this story to be honest, especially given the title card of Celestia laying in a mud puddle. I figured it to be a 'be careful what you wish for' plot with Celestia wanting to see what life for a normal pony was like and getting the worst day of her life through a series of unfortunate accidents. It reality it was a nice fluffy slice of life fic where she enjoys seeing the world though the eyes of her new Alter ego Sunny Skies. It's short, and while not bad it just lacks a spark to make it really memorable. If you got time to kill that go ahead.
Foal Necromancer: 3/10
Again I had been expecting something different from the story based purely on the title and cover. At first I had thought it would be a dark fic and would likely go grimderp before too long and decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and read a bit. Right at the beginning I was pleasantly surprised, a benevolent Necromancer of believable origin! Oh how my hopes soared! He had escaped to Equestria and became an Alicorn, an eyeless, zombie looking alicorn. I had expected something along the lines of him becoming just as hated here and him trying to prove himself, he'd be a good character but still viewed as evil by the ponies for some his more unwholesome actions such as killing in self defense, and the whole necromancer thing. Or perhaps even an epic new quest with entirely original plots! And then I was sorely let down. There was no murderings, defense killings, or the like. The Necromancer ends over acting his surprise at not being constantly beaten with vinegar soaked whips, exposites his cruel past for no reason and without prompting, and there is not sense of plot at at all. It's just boring. Save yourself the trouble and don't bother reading this if you had anywhere near the same expectations I had.
Quantum Castaways: 9/10
To be honest i was expecting to hate this story, I was most pleasantly surprise! It's the story of Twilight being transported to an island by herself where everything wants to kill her and meets a human living there. I had thought it would go Grimderp in a second, boy was I wrong! Oh, it does have it's share of grimness and blood but still keeps a light and easy tone and doesn't shovel it on where it doesn't need to be. It take the time to build up a good relationship between Twilight and Marshall but doesn't meander long enough on it for you to get bored, just nice solid and enjoyable character development. You really feel it when one shows emotions, especially concerning the other. It's such a nice character dynamic that even if it did end up going romantic I wouldn't much care, nor would I even if it stay completely platonic as it works either way. The basic plot comes in later, with them trying to find a way off the island, which is a mystery, reminding of Cage of Eden before it sucked. It does have a few problems to warn about though, for some reason every chapter starts with a whole song written as the intro, it can be annoying but easily ignorable. Marshall tends to swear alot at the beginning, it can be a little out of place at times especially his lewd humor but again it's ignorable. I highly recommend this to everyone, even people who normally would hate MLP, it's just so fucking awesome!
Stone Cold: 5/10
Discord trades places with some human who ends up sealed in the statue instead of him. He slowly goes insane. I didn't really know what to expect. You get to watch from his point of view as he slowly starts to starts to lose his sanity bit by bit, making just a bit less sense with every skip until eventually he's more loopy than Pinkie and Discord put together. It's an okay read, if kinda slow, and sadly likely won't be continued past the cliff hanger it ended on. It you got patients that feel free to read it, but if you don't it's probably not your cup of tea.
The Golden Record: 7/10
Short, too damn short! It's like blue balls! The Voyager probe lands in Equestria, the whole thing reads like the opening prologue to something epic, and i am not using that word lightly. It's too short to get a really good rating, but what it does have leaves you really wanting to see it continued. I warn you though, prepare yourself before hand lest you smash you computer in rage at it's epic teaser cliff hanger of an ending. There's a link in the comment to a fic that tries to "continue" it called Interstellar Record, I'll save you the trouble of checking it out. It's shit. Most of it was just youtube embeds to what was recorded because the lazy SoB couldn't bother.
My Little Megas XLR: 9/10
Fuck yeah. A truly great work of comedy on par with "Big Human on Campus After School" or anything by Legendary Legacy. It really captures the spirit of Megas XLR, the jokes are all gold, the plots are just what you'd expect from an Episode of Megas with their own little twists. Nothing more needs to be said, it's fucking hilarious. Read this, READ IT!
Ghost story: 3/10
Boring. Just boring. There's no conflict nor real character development. The jokes tend to fall flat and the SI barely has a single dimension and that it's just "Yay ponies!". Unless you are very forgiving and have literally nothing else to do than don't bother reading this story.
Anthropology: ???
My rating on this is pending but looking good. I haven't actually gotten past the point where Lyra, spoiler: turns human and goes back to the human world but it seems pretty good so far.
My little Dashie: 7/10
I had expected a story that would stab me in the feels so hard I'd have flash backs to Disney's The Fox and the Hound. While it was pretty sad it wasn't quite as feels-shanking as I'd thought. It was very bitter sweet, but nice I have to say. Nice, it pulls your heartstrings in both directions.
Arddun Lleuad: 6/10
It's a sort of an odd story and with how it was described to me I'd expected something more. Honestly, while it has some nice writing it's pretty rushed and confusing especially towards the end. It leaves too much hanging by the end of the story and Chester and Luna's romance just seems mashed together in a rush and left me feeling squicked, and not just because it was man on pony. Still an okay read, just nowhere near as good as the hype.
Ballad of Echo: 3/10
I'm seriously hating Echo, serious he's fucking annoying. So the story is this guy gets trick by discord into entering equestria, only as a Diamond dog rather than the pony he thought he'd be. He takes the whole thing far too much in stride for it to be believable. I had initially thought it'd be a good look into Pony social structure from an outsiders view from a perspective that was generally antagonistic towards it. Nothing like that. The annoying bastard ends up tagging along with Daring Do, I'd felt hopeful when he'd gotten his throat ripped out casually by the big bad after showing off and being annoying, that it'd been a clever way to subvert how these things usually go by showing the SI that it's not all sugar and sunshine bitch! But that was not to be, he somehow got more annoying by just writing everything instead of saying it, which kinda killed any reason for him to have his voice box removed. It just gets worse.
Chains: 5/10
Meh, Don't really have strong feelings about it. It's an okay read but some of the stuff can probably drive some people to tardrage.
So I've been readin up on all these recs, or most of them, ...pretty much only the ones with humans in them. And here's my opinion.
But first a look a the rating system I use. It's 1-10, but a little skewed.
0: the absolute bottom grade, it's not just bad, it's maliciously bad. It's the literary equivalent of the work grabbing you and then clubbing you upside the head with a sock full of pennies, razerwire, and soaked in acid.
3: Unreadable to the degree that it would be preferable to literally do nothing as the alternative.
5: Actually enjoyable to a degree but hugely flawed by something.
7: Pretty good and a recommended read.
8: Great story has all the things needed for it to work great.
9: Perfect story. it has that added spark to make it really come alive. Would actually pay decent money for it.
10: The holy grail of good entertainment. Would cut off my right nut for it.
Arrow 18: 8/10
It was a damn good story. It's a bit slow at first and the medium of it being read as logs can make some parts a bit too bland, but it really helps capture it and you can still feel the characters in spite of it being a second hand retelling. It's a great deconstruction of the Human stories without being grimderp or shoving it in your face. You are along with a man that meets a truely benevolent alien race and as they share with each other and learn. There is not good or bad one, nor any real villain of the story, but it doesn't need it. All in all I readily recommend this story even to those who do not tend to read into the fandom.
Hands: 2/10
I had initially been expecting something far better from AJT. Something witty and creative. This was neither. I was moderately interested at first, even when the first major thing I hated came up within the first chapter. Namely completely skipping over the SI's first 2 months as he grows accustomed to an alien world with freaking magic talking ponies! But I've read some stories that still turned out good even when starting in media res (my most hated form of introduction). But it didn't really get better. The next few chapter just seemed kinda pointless, less like he was writing a story and more like he was just typing out a random idea and hadn't quite fleshed it out before starting. I'll admit that a few times I found a few things amusing but overall it just seemed like a waste of time. And then there was all the immature sex gags. It was like a 14 year old virgin boy was writing it when ever something like that happened. I can understand the concept of him going "Prison gay" for ponies(hell even some farmers do and they still have humans around), but without building up a real relationship beforehand for the readers to see it just comes out of left feild and makes the SI seem kinda creepy for lusting after horses, even magic talking ones. And then there was the SI's knack for juggling both the conflict ball and idiot ball. And despite jumping headfirst into danger senselessly in an over dramatic fashion he still only seems to go along for the ride on the plot railroad. It's like Shirou from inflight, only exchange his constant pondering on killing things for justice with lusting after ponies. Honestly though, I feel that if he had just avoided the topic of sex and lust, or at least worked up to it, than this story might have been much more enjoyable.
Friendship is Optimal: 7/10
The story of an optimized computer, Celest-A.I., that will assimilate you to satisfy your desires though friendship and ponies. All in all it actually seems like the ponies were more a colorful background element, as the story was more about the human characters and how they lived through and dealt with it before and after assimilation. It's a bit short on actual plot, jumping forth quite fast over large periods of time and change and tends to skim over some important philosophical questions but over all still a good read. It's not like TCB, while Equestria is still shown in a mostly positive light and the better option all around it still gives an unsettling feeling and CelestAI is not shown as truly benevolent nor even believing herself to be, she simply is doing as she was programed, to satisfy as many people's values as possible through Ponies and Friendship by any means necessary, and does so through admittedly questionable means. It leaves you pondering on what was truly right in the end, humanity is in a virtual paradise as immortals, but the universe itself is turning into grey goo to support them. It makes you think, and that's what makes it a good story.
Sunny Skies All Day Long: 4-5/10
I had expected something totally different out this story to be honest, especially given the title card of Celestia laying in a mud puddle. I figured it to be a 'be careful what you wish for' plot with Celestia wanting to see what life for a normal pony was like and getting the worst day of her life through a series of unfortunate accidents. It reality it was a nice fluffy slice of life fic where she enjoys seeing the world though the eyes of her new Alter ego Sunny Skies. It's short, and while not bad it just lacks a spark to make it really memorable. If you got time to kill that go ahead.
Foal Necromancer: 3/10
Again I had been expecting something different from the story based purely on the title and cover. At first I had thought it would be a dark fic and would likely go grimderp before too long and decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and read a bit. Right at the beginning I was pleasantly surprised, a benevolent Necromancer of believable origin! Oh how my hopes soared! He had escaped to Equestria and became an Alicorn, an eyeless, zombie looking alicorn. I had expected something along the lines of him becoming just as hated here and him trying to prove himself, he'd be a good character but still viewed as evil by the ponies for some his more unwholesome actions such as killing in self defense, and the whole necromancer thing. Or perhaps even an epic new quest with entirely original plots! And then I was sorely let down. There was no murderings, defense killings, or the like. The Necromancer ends over acting his surprise at not being constantly beaten with vinegar soaked whips, exposites his cruel past for no reason and without prompting, and there is not sense of plot at at all. It's just boring. Save yourself the trouble and don't bother reading this if you had anywhere near the same expectations I had.
Quantum Castaways: 9/10
To be honest i was expecting to hate this story, I was most pleasantly surprise! It's the story of Twilight being transported to an island by herself where everything wants to kill her and meets a human living there. I had thought it would go Grimderp in a second, boy was I wrong! Oh, it does have it's share of grimness and blood but still keeps a light and easy tone and doesn't shovel it on where it doesn't need to be. It take the time to build up a good relationship between Twilight and Marshall but doesn't meander long enough on it for you to get bored, just nice solid and enjoyable character development. You really feel it when one shows emotions, especially concerning the other. It's such a nice character dynamic that even if it did end up going romantic I wouldn't much care, nor would I even if it stay completely platonic as it works either way. The basic plot comes in later, with them trying to find a way off the island, which is a mystery, reminding of Cage of Eden before it sucked. It does have a few problems to warn about though, for some reason every chapter starts with a whole song written as the intro, it can be annoying but easily ignorable. Marshall tends to swear alot at the beginning, it can be a little out of place at times especially his lewd humor but again it's ignorable. I highly recommend this to everyone, even people who normally would hate MLP, it's just so fucking awesome!
Stone Cold: 5/10
Discord trades places with some human who ends up sealed in the statue instead of him. He slowly goes insane. I didn't really know what to expect. You get to watch from his point of view as he slowly starts to starts to lose his sanity bit by bit, making just a bit less sense with every skip until eventually he's more loopy than Pinkie and Discord put together. It's an okay read, if kinda slow, and sadly likely won't be continued past the cliff hanger it ended on. It you got patients that feel free to read it, but if you don't it's probably not your cup of tea.
The Golden Record: 7/10
Short, too damn short! It's like blue balls! The Voyager probe lands in Equestria, the whole thing reads like the opening prologue to something epic, and i am not using that word lightly. It's too short to get a really good rating, but what it does have leaves you really wanting to see it continued. I warn you though, prepare yourself before hand lest you smash you computer in rage at it's epic teaser cliff hanger of an ending. There's a link in the comment to a fic that tries to "continue" it called Interstellar Record, I'll save you the trouble of checking it out. It's shit. Most of it was just youtube embeds to what was recorded because the lazy SoB couldn't bother.
My Little Megas XLR: 9/10
Fuck yeah. A truly great work of comedy on par with "Big Human on Campus After School" or anything by Legendary Legacy. It really captures the spirit of Megas XLR, the jokes are all gold, the plots are just what you'd expect from an Episode of Megas with their own little twists. Nothing more needs to be said, it's fucking hilarious. Read this, READ IT!
Ghost story: 3/10
Boring. Just boring. There's no conflict nor real character development. The jokes tend to fall flat and the SI barely has a single dimension and that it's just "Yay ponies!". Unless you are very forgiving and have literally nothing else to do than don't bother reading this story.
Anthropology: ???
My rating on this is pending but looking good. I haven't actually gotten past the point where Lyra, spoiler: turns human and goes back to the human world but it seems pretty good so far.
My little Dashie: 7/10
I had expected a story that would stab me in the feels so hard I'd have flash backs to Disney's The Fox and the Hound. While it was pretty sad it wasn't quite as feels-shanking as I'd thought. It was very bitter sweet, but nice I have to say. Nice, it pulls your heartstrings in both directions.
Arddun Lleuad: 6/10
It's a sort of an odd story and with how it was described to me I'd expected something more. Honestly, while it has some nice writing it's pretty rushed and confusing especially towards the end. It leaves too much hanging by the end of the story and Chester and Luna's romance just seems mashed together in a rush and left me feeling squicked, and not just because it was man on pony. Still an okay read, just nowhere near as good as the hype.
Ballad of Echo: 3/10
I'm seriously hating Echo, serious he's fucking annoying. So the story is this guy gets trick by discord into entering equestria, only as a Diamond dog rather than the pony he thought he'd be. He takes the whole thing far too much in stride for it to be believable. I had initially thought it'd be a good look into Pony social structure from an outsiders view from a perspective that was generally antagonistic towards it. Nothing like that. The annoying bastard ends up tagging along with Daring Do, I'd felt hopeful when he'd gotten his throat ripped out casually by the big bad after showing off and being annoying, that it'd been a clever way to subvert how these things usually go by showing the SI that it's not all sugar and sunshine bitch! But that was not to be, he somehow got more annoying by just writing everything instead of saying it, which kinda killed any reason for him to have his voice box removed. It just gets worse.
Chains: 5/10
Meh, Don't really have strong feelings about it. It's an okay read but some of the stuff can probably drive some people to tardrage.
Alright, how about these crossovers
Ninja Synthesis-Because of a mistake by Tobi, and a unique event elsewhere, a young Naruto and Sasuke, fresh after the Uchiha Massacre, end up in Equestria. Now, they must adjust to the changes of their new home.
A nice little story, although only a couple chapters along. It does feature an abused naruto but, *gasp* not a beaten one? Yes, this fic, as far as I've seen (Unless I missed something) doesn't go the cliche "Angry mob chasing a kid" route, but actually reflects on the emotional damage that neglect and open disdain can have on a child. And Sasuke is taken, literally, from the end of the massacre, so yeah.
Plus, it presents a nice way of the boys changing to suit their new home, rather than just "*Poof* you're a pony", and given the existence of Nature Chakra/energy, it almost seems understandable.
Home in Banishment-After the war is over, Naruto and Sasuke are betrayed. Lost between worlds, they pull a last ditch effort to save themselves, and guess where they end up...
Another Naruto crossover. I'll be honest, this story is kinda meh'. It's not bad, in fact some elements are pretty good (How and Why both Naruto and Sasuke end up in Equestria is pretty cool, the effect of the new lands on Sage Mode, etc), and it has potential, but the chapters so far seem just a bit meh', even though it's a good story (I said good, not great). Check it out if you want.
Spike: Proof of Concept-Twilight has noticed Spike acting odd. Finding her books on dragons seeming to be completely wrong, she hopes to find answers somewhere, especially when Spike's actions put his own health at risk.
A bit of a darker fic, with a darker, hiddenly-ruthless Celestia up to some under-hooved things, and how they effect others.
Shadowed Souls-A much darker HiE story. A man who has long forgotten his own name, left in the dungeons of the Equestria Empire to rot, until he is able to escape, thanks to a captured Changeling. Now, he wants revenge, and he'll get it...
I mean a dark fic, there are mentions of rape in this sucker, and blood and gore and death and stuff, with a ruthless, war-happy Celestia.
The Dragon and the Photograph-A somewhat angsty story about age and forgotten memories, lost to ease a broken heart.
I'm a...Little Dragon-Spike reflects on what he is, but is rather hard on himself.
Seriously, this almost reads like a dragons suicide note, but it's good in a cathartic sort of way.
Okay, let's wrap this up with some laughs...
The Mind of a Dragon-A somewhat randomly funny story looking into the thoughts of a match-making dragon as he deals with a talking rabbit, a homicidally insane baker, and and hooking his Rain-bro up with the mare of her dreams and more.
It's funny. Not really great literature, but funny.
Ninja Synthesis-Because of a mistake by Tobi, and a unique event elsewhere, a young Naruto and Sasuke, fresh after the Uchiha Massacre, end up in Equestria. Now, they must adjust to the changes of their new home.
A nice little story, although only a couple chapters along. It does feature an abused naruto but, *gasp* not a beaten one? Yes, this fic, as far as I've seen (Unless I missed something) doesn't go the cliche "Angry mob chasing a kid" route, but actually reflects on the emotional damage that neglect and open disdain can have on a child. And Sasuke is taken, literally, from the end of the massacre, so yeah.
Plus, it presents a nice way of the boys changing to suit their new home, rather than just "*Poof* you're a pony", and given the existence of Nature Chakra/energy, it almost seems understandable.
Home in Banishment-After the war is over, Naruto and Sasuke are betrayed. Lost between worlds, they pull a last ditch effort to save themselves, and guess where they end up...
Another Naruto crossover. I'll be honest, this story is kinda meh'. It's not bad, in fact some elements are pretty good (How and Why both Naruto and Sasuke end up in Equestria is pretty cool, the effect of the new lands on Sage Mode, etc), and it has potential, but the chapters so far seem just a bit meh', even though it's a good story (I said good, not great). Check it out if you want.
Spike: Proof of Concept-Twilight has noticed Spike acting odd. Finding her books on dragons seeming to be completely wrong, she hopes to find answers somewhere, especially when Spike's actions put his own health at risk.
A bit of a darker fic, with a darker, hiddenly-ruthless Celestia up to some under-hooved things, and how they effect others.
Shadowed Souls-A much darker HiE story. A man who has long forgotten his own name, left in the dungeons of the Equestria Empire to rot, until he is able to escape, thanks to a captured Changeling. Now, he wants revenge, and he'll get it...
I mean a dark fic, there are mentions of rape in this sucker, and blood and gore and death and stuff, with a ruthless, war-happy Celestia.
The Dragon and the Photograph-A somewhat angsty story about age and forgotten memories, lost to ease a broken heart.
I'm a...Little Dragon-Spike reflects on what he is, but is rather hard on himself.
Seriously, this almost reads like a dragons suicide note, but it's good in a cathartic sort of way.
Okay, let's wrap this up with some laughs...
The Mind of a Dragon-A somewhat randomly funny story looking into the thoughts of a match-making dragon as he deals with a talking rabbit, a homicidally insane baker, and and hooking his Rain-bro up with the mare of her dreams and more.
It's funny. Not really great literature, but funny.
A lot of these I haven't read, so I'll only make a few short comments on several of them.
Definitely would put it closer to 3/10, maybe 2/10. Why? It's simply TCB under another name. And ever since Chatoyance got ahold of the 'verse, it's been plunging into a ravine with no signs of stopping.
While I might give it a 4 or 5, you're right on all points. It had the potential to be amazing, and failed hard.
Agreed SO HARD. On both this and the "sequel" fic. Damned cliffhanger had the potential to be epic. I mean, even if they never got in contact with the humans, simply the Voyager craft's remains and the Golden Disc would definitely have major effects on Equestria, now that they know there's alien life out there that has done great feat of science in an expression of goodwill.
Definitely would put it closer to 3/10, maybe 2/10. Why? It's simply TCB under another name. And ever since Chatoyance got ahold of the 'verse, it's been plunging into a ravine with no signs of stopping.
While I might give it a 4 or 5, you're right on all points. It had the potential to be amazing, and failed hard.
Agreed SO HARD. On both this and the "sequel" fic. Damned cliffhanger had the potential to be epic. I mean, even if they never got in contact with the humans, simply the Voyager craft's remains and the Golden Disc would definitely have major effects on Equestria, now that they know there's alien life out there that has done great feat of science in an expression of goodwill.
I have to disagree with your assessment of FiO. At least the original one, for I have not fead and as such cannot judge the rest of the fics based upon it. Yes it is mildly misanthropic, but not in the same sense that most mlp and tcb fics are. It's pretty much just saying that living in the real world sucks ass compared to living in a fantasy world, not that humans suck. It actually avoid critisizing humanity in general. It isn't a ponyfic so much as a fic about weither or not it is a good thing to abandon reality for Utopia and doesn't simplify or even give an answer to this complex question, instead leaving it up to the readers to decide for themselves. Much better than TCB.
Also I apologize for any misspellings, borrowing Himuras phone to write this and can't be arse to spell check with the rest of its bullshit.
Also I apologize for any misspellings, borrowing Himuras phone to write this and can't be arse to spell check with the rest of its bullshit.
Well, I'll toss out a "new" rec (new in that it hasn't been recced before). Masked. Fluttershy finds an interesting item in the woods: a mask. Such a simple thing. And yet, it causes quite a bit of a stir in Ponyville.
Crossover with The Mask. Specifically, Jim Carrey's movie, not the (IMO) inferior comic. Sadly on hiatus, despite Mask!Fluttershy having just showed up in The Mask's usual whirlwind flair.
Ssssmokin'
Crossover with The Mask. Specifically, Jim Carrey's movie, not the (IMO) inferior comic. Sadly on hiatus, despite Mask!Fluttershy having just showed up in The Mask's usual whirlwind flair.
Ssssmokin'
The Dresden Fillies: Strange Friends by psychicscubadiver
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, accidentally travels to Equestria after being attacked in the Nevernever. Twilight is none too amused with their newest 'guest', but trouble is brewing. Somepony is planning something sinister and the mane six may need Dresden's help however little some of them want it.
The Dresden Fillies: False Masks by psychicscubadiver
Almost a year has gone by for Harry Dresden since he left Equestria. He'd have written, but between saving his newly discovered brother and destroying a scourge of vampires he's been a little busy. Then out of the blue he receives a strange letter from Twilight asking him to return. With no cases at the moment he eagerly accepts, but his friends aren't the only ponies expecting him. There's been a lot of rumors since his last visit and some ponies aren't too keen on seeing him come back.
A sequel to The Dresden Fillies: Strange Friends.
Stargate Equestria: Connection by Bosstone
BOOK 1: When the SG-1 team stumbles through the Stargate into Equestria, an ancient sleeping foe awakens. Can Colonel O'Neill and his team protect the planet's unusual but friendly inhabitants and find their way home again?
Stargate Equestria: Incursion by Bosstone
BOOK 2: When a new threat enslaves Equestria, the ponies must turn to Colonel Jack O'Neill and SG-1 for help once more.
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, accidentally travels to Equestria after being attacked in the Nevernever. Twilight is none too amused with their newest 'guest', but trouble is brewing. Somepony is planning something sinister and the mane six may need Dresden's help however little some of them want it.
The Dresden Fillies: False Masks by psychicscubadiver
Almost a year has gone by for Harry Dresden since he left Equestria. He'd have written, but between saving his newly discovered brother and destroying a scourge of vampires he's been a little busy. Then out of the blue he receives a strange letter from Twilight asking him to return. With no cases at the moment he eagerly accepts, but his friends aren't the only ponies expecting him. There's been a lot of rumors since his last visit and some ponies aren't too keen on seeing him come back.
A sequel to The Dresden Fillies: Strange Friends.
Stargate Equestria: Connection by Bosstone
BOOK 1: When the SG-1 team stumbles through the Stargate into Equestria, an ancient sleeping foe awakens. Can Colonel O'Neill and his team protect the planet's unusual but friendly inhabitants and find their way home again?
Stargate Equestria: Incursion by Bosstone
BOOK 2: When a new threat enslaves Equestria, the ponies must turn to Colonel Jack O'Neill and SG-1 for help once more.
Heart to Heart-A nice, funny one-shot about Spike asking his Babysitter Cadance some tough questions about love, with some funny outcomes, leading up to...
Best Chance for a Romance-Shot down again by Rarity, Spike enlists help from a surprising source, his cousin BlueBlood.
It's only one chapter so far, but I like the not-douchey, helpful, almost big brother-like take on Blueblood towards Spike.
Best Chance for a Romance-Shot down again by Rarity, Spike enlists help from a surprising source, his cousin BlueBlood.
It's only one chapter so far, but I like the not-douchey, helpful, almost big brother-like take on Blueblood towards Spike.