Ponyfic Roundup 275

Read it Later story count: 233 (nc)

It's election day tomorrow here in the UK, so I suppose I should have read lots of political fics or stories featuring Mayor Mare or something. But I haven't, and while part of that reason is that I don't want my whole time online to be full of people (or ponies) yelling about politics, the main reason is that I just didn't think about it. :P Just the three to look at this time, and they are:

Twilight Sparkle Lays an Egg by Georg
Hang by AShadowOfCygnus
Hair of the Sister Who Bit You by Rao the Red Sun

★: 0 | ★★: 0 | ★★★: 2 | ★★★★: 1 | ★★★★★: 0

Twilight Sparkle Lays an Egg by Georg
Twilight, Spike, Celestia, Luna and Cadance
Comedy/Drama; 3k words; Oct 2016; Everyone

Princess Twilight Sparkle discovers a fact about alicorn reproduction she never expected. So do the other princesses.

Twilight wakes up in bed one morning to discover that an egg with her cutie mark is accompanying her. She detects life within, but it's becoming less strong. What is she to do? And how did this happen, anyway? An odd combination of ridiculous humour and perceptive character study, this one – but it's done well enough that it really works. Twilight is very much Twilight, as you'll see, while Spike is the perfect foil as the dragon who's seen it all where Twi is concerned. (Well, okay, not this as such. But a lot.) The ending is remarkably touching, too, and unexpected yet satisfying. Definitely recommended. ★★★★

Hang by AShadowOfCygnus
Other, Celestia and Luna
Dark/Drama/Tragedy; 1k words; Mar 2017; Teen

A Pegasus warrior of old transcribes her final thoughts the night before she is to be hanged.

In the days before Equestria was unified – although Celestia and Luna are around – the protagonist tells her story. By engraving it, judging by the early mention of a burin, which would explain why it's survived down the centuries. Everyone seems to have loved this when it came out, but although I admire its world-building greatly (it's the best reason to read it) I was slightly frustrated it was so short. Yes, that fits the "last testament" setting, but I so wanted to know more. It's also worth saying that this isn't a jolly, cheery sort of olde-worlde fic even aside from the condemned mare. This part of history came from the "fields ran red with blood" school. Even so, a very high three and perhaps a four for those with more tolerance for days-of-yore brutality than me. ★★★

Hair of the Sister Who Bit You by Rao the Red Sun
CMCs, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity
Slice of Life; 2k words; Jan 2017; Teen

Applejack's careless labeling causes her sister a morning full of headaches

Headaches for the CMC as well, as the fillies are in the throes of their first hangover. What sets this fic apart from many of that ilk is that it's not a story about adolescent irresponsibility. That does mean there isn't much in the way of conflict or excitement: it's as slice-of-lifey a slice of life as ever slice-of-lifed. (Sliced-of-life?) The characters are pleasantly drawn and it's a smooth read, so I should think this is one mostly for those for whom "a few quietish minutes with the ponies" is a plus in itself. One interesting thing, which boosts it to a three for me: we get some kind of explanation for AJ's own alcohol-related name. ★★★

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Next time on Ponyfic Roundup: stories reviewed should include Skywriter's Observatory Hill.