Ponyfic Roundup 337

Read it Later story count: 146 (+1) 

Here we are on Good Friday, which presumably ponies don't mark in any way. It would be rather strange if they did, at least outside the realms of some of the more unusual crossover fics that no doubt lurk out there in Fimficland. Three stories as per usual this time around, and here's the list:

Shell Game by BlazzingInferno
The Great and Deathless Trixie by Blarghalt
The Battle of Carousel Boutique by Greymane Shadow

★: 0 | ★★: 0 | ★★★: 3 | ★★★★: 0 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.

Shell Game by BlazzingInferno
Fluttershy and Noteworthy
Romance; 8k words; Jun 2017; Everyone

Fluttershy just wanted to be normal pony, to be able to walk through a crowd without panicking. Her therapist’s challenge to her, to make a new friend all on her own, didn’t work out like she expected.

That's because it turns out the friend she makes is a fellow attendee at the therapist. That's right, it's Noteworthy. With both he and Fluttershy trying to overcome slightly different problems, there's some interesting interplay going on here. The story is mostly set in late S1, so 'Shy already has the achievement of making five new friends (including Spike; she already knew Rainbow). But something Noteworthy says changes everything. I always appreciate stories that represent Flutters' anxiety nicely, since I suffer from social anxiety myself. I think this one does that well, and gives a background pony a solid character. The ending was a bit predictable, perhaps inevitably, and I did see a few things coming, but it still entertained me more than many shipfics do. A top-end three and definitely recommended if you like the concept or Noteworthy. ★★★

The Great and Deathless Trixie by Blarghalt
Trixie and Starlight Glimmer
Dark/Comedy/Random; 1k words; Aug 2018; Everyone

Trixie's line of work is dangerous. But she's a careful showpony, and that's why she's only died a few dozen times in her career. She thinks this is normal.

This one amused me. Starlight is watching a magic show put on by Trixie and is horrified when she witnesses her death. She's even more shocked when she sees Trixie again a few days later. Trixie, meanwhile, is uncomprehending that her ability to return isn't everypony's. Okay, the premise of this fic is ridiculous, but it takes that ball and runs with it quite nicely. It maybe should be a [Teen] under Fimf guidelines, but I won't penalise it for that as it's silly, not nasty. Another solid three. ★★★

The Battle of Carousel Boutique by Greymane Shadow
Luna, Twilight and Mane Six
Romance/Comedy/Slice of Life; 2k words; Mar 2021; Everyone

Luna declares war on Twilight's friends. The war is short.

One from the department of "newer than it feels", this is a simple, light-hearted TwiLuna fic based around the Princess of the Night's uncertainty over what to get for her marefriend's birthday. Twi's friends are variously unhelpful – to the extent that one seriously annoys another with a revelation – and eventually things degenerate into the eponymous battle. Fluff, but pretty cute and quite funny fluff. I don't much like TwiLuna as a ship, so that this fic overcomes that is an achievement. Three outta three for the threes! ★★★

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No Ponyfic Roundup next week as it's my Easter break, but the following week I will be Spotlighting Pegasus Rescue Brigade's Fluttershy's Bad "Hare" Day.