Ponyfic Roundup 553

Read it Later story count: 89 (+1)

Words read this week: 12,029

Not a great deal to say up here, other than that it's raining as I type. A higher word count than last week, but not by all that much. So here we go:

Coming Home by The Cyan Recluse
Twilight's Revenge at Midnight by Shadow Light
This Is How A Unicorn Thinks by Casketbase77
If I Were Discord by n [sic]
The Castle's What?! by RB_

★: 0 | ★★: 2 | ★★★: 2 | ★★★★: 1 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I enjoy an average amount scores two stars.

Coming Home by The Cyan Recluse
Chrysalis
G4; Adventure/Drama; 4k words; Nov 2015; Everyone

Chrysalis is beaten. Her invasion of Canterlot? Failed. Her hive? Scattered to the winds. The future of her people? Bleak, grim, and hopeless. But change is in the air, and something is calling Chrysalis north, to the birthplace of the changelings.

Whinge out of the way first: the parts in grey text aren't easy to read, at least for me, and the colouring matters here. This story was written for a Write-Off with the prompt "Distant Shores", and intriguing it is too. It links the changelings with... well, spoilers, but it's a fascinating idea that I think the fic justifies. Inevitably some of this is joshed by S6-onward canon, but treat it as an AU and it largely still works. ★★★

Twilight's Revenge at Midnight by Shadow Light
Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Mane Seven and Sunset Shimmer
G4 EqG/FiM; Romance/Comedy/Random; 2k words; Jun 2018; Teen

Twilight has been trolled by Celestia multiple times...she's tired of it.

The only story on this author's account. They're open about being a new writer, but there is (was?) promise here. The first chapter contains a nice twist, perhaps a bit over-direct but it's amusing. A pity there's sudden!TwiLestia in the middle. The second, featuring Luna, squashes far too much into a small space and teeters on the edge of [Random] disease. Still a shame the author left, as if they'd stuck around, written more and settled down then they might have done more with this kind of story. Only a mild two for this, though. ★★

This Is How A Unicorn Thinks by Casketbase77
Izzy
G5; Slice of Life; 1k words; Oct 2021; Everyone

Izzy finds it very stressful to stay carefree.

Been a while since I reviewed a G5 fic, hasn't it? As the publication date will tell you, this one is based purely on movie canon, which makes things simpler. Happily, it's a really good character piece, showing the tension – even contradictions – in a unicorn like her living in pre-unity Bridlewood. It's cute, but under the surface there's a terrible loneliness. Thank goodness we know that wasn't to last! Still, a fantastic G5 vignette. ★★★★

If I Were Discord by n [sic]
Tank and Other
G4; Sad; 1k words; Jul 2012; Teen

I miss Papa

Yes, the author's username is just one letter. Longer-standing ponyfic readers may not need that "[sic]" since I think n was once relatively well known – but it's not a name I've seen for some while, so the note feels sensible now. As for the story itself... well, the longdesc (although not long itself) is more illuminating: "Singing a song for the departed, Screwball wonders about Papa with another." I'm actually not entirely certain exactly what inspired this story – but I like the idea that Discord plays by some rules, and that Pinkie is a sort of kindred spirit. Its pre-reformation origin means it's dated very badly in one or two places, though. ★★

The Castle's What?! by RB_
Twilight, OC and Starlight
G4; Comedy/Slice of Life; 4k words; Mar 2023; Everyone

Two things you do not expect to learn during a building inspection: 1) that your castle is alive, and 2) that it has attained sapience.

Right Angle is a buildings inspector. He's come to inspect Twilight's castle. It's... an experience. This story is a lot of fun, with just the right level of absurdity to keep it feeling like it belongs in canon Equestria. I particularly enjoyed Starlight being the level-headed one, just ambling through various absurdities as Twilight... well, doesn't. This is a light-hearted piece without much if any deep meaning, but there's nothing wrong with that. Top-end three and a great choice for a tea-break fic. ★★★

---

Next week (and this will remain the case for a little while yet) it'll be another low word count. There'll still be five stories, though, to wit:

A Day at the Tracks by BradMayFan
Spring Tide by SPark
Many Parts by OkemosBrony
The Truth About Dark Magic by Waypoint
The Fifth to Final Move by The Lunar Samurai