Ponyfic Roundup 254

Before I get on with Ponyfic Roundup itself, I ought to give a quick signal boost to The Fimfiction Feghoot Festival, run by Super Trampoline. This is now open and runs until 14th July. You'll need a Fimfiction account to enter, but otherwise it's open to all-comers. There are actual real prizes for this one, too! (A feghoot is a short story ending in a terrible pun that's been set up by the story itself.)

Read it Later story count: 254 (nc)

Three stories this week, which is three more than I would have if I'd reviewed none at all but half as many as I'd have if I'd reviewed them all twice and pretended they were different fics. See you in St Ives.

Misadventures in Manehattan by The Princess Rarity
Now Hiring by miss-cyan
The Brief, Torrid Love-Affair of Fernando the Straw and Madame Le Flour by CoffeeMinion

★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 1 | ★★★★★: 0

Misadventures in Manehattan by The Princess Rarity
Coco Pommel and Other
Comedy/Slice of Life; 13k words; Jun–Aug 2014; Teen

A day in the life of Coco Pommel and Grace Manewitz. They're friends, coworkers and... flatmates. Oh, boy. This should be entertaining.

An episodic fic that's more a series of scenes in chronological order than anything else. Coco is portrayed as the good-hearted but somewhat naive newcomer to the big city, while Grace is a more streetwise Manehattan native. This chalk-and-cheese friendship ought to make for lots of fun, and it has its moments, but it didn't quite gel. Perhaps this was because I didn't warm to Grace as a character: she seemed too big-city-cynical. After a while, I also started to get irritated with the sheer number of fanservicey cameos: Vinyl and Octavia getting it on (or not) next door, Cheese Sandwich having his name made fun of, you get the idea. I still don't like stuff like TV in Equestria, either. ★★

Now Hiring by miss-cyan
Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, Big Mac, Apple Bloom and OC
Sad; 4k words; Mar 2014; Teen (Death)

In the wake of tragedy, the Apple Family is looking for somepony to help them. A mare, new to town, might be just who the need, in ways they didn't realize.

It's not often these days I come across a really original idea, but here's one: after her parents' death, Apple Bloom needs a wet nurse. Rosemary takes the position, but she has sadnesses of her own. This RCL-inducted fic is a tender tale, one that uses its sadness very well without having it tip over into "woe is me and woe is everyone" territory. The characters are all well portrayed, and the writing has a tight emotional restraint that fits perfectly with the storyline. I could imagine this being what actually happened back then. ★★★★

The Brief, Torrid Love-Affair of Fernando the Straw and Madame Le Flour by CoffeeMinion
Other, Pinkie Pie, Mayor Mare, Mr Cake and Mrs Cake
Romance/Comedy/Drama/Random/Tragedy; 3k words; Feb 2016–Mar 2019; Teen

A parody of tragic romance, in which the titular couple faces an unfeeling world that forbids their love... for their passion cannot be denied!

I don't really know what I can say about this one! That short description is spot on, and if you enjoy reading absurdly overwrought descriptions of the passionate love between two inanimate objects then this crackfic is for you. I'm pretty sure nobody else has ever written this ship, for a start. Also, there's a bonus chapter inspired by a Flashfic 150 contest, so I kind of had to review it at some point! ★★★

---

Next time on Ponyfic Roundup: stories reviewed should include King of Beggars' Berry Bitters and Apple Sours.