Ponyfic Roundup 432

Read it Later story count: 98 (-4)

Words read this week: 30,969

Still drained from the thrilling Test match, but... castles. They're quite the thing in Equestria. The one in Canterlot, Twilight's place, the Castle of the Dead-End Plotline Two Sisters, you name it. I occasionally wonder whether that has a little less impact on this side of the Atlantic where "Have you ever visited a castle?" is barely more of a question than "Have you ever visited a river?" I mean, I can reach a pretty decent castle with a 40-minute bus ride. But I digress. Again. Let's get to today's stories...

All Skin and Bones by redsquirrel456
Chilly by kits
Power by Darkswirl
Omelet by GaPJaxie
The Palace Bird by silver hands

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

All Skin and Bones by redsquirrel456
OCs, Other and Sombra
G4 AU; Dark/Human; 6k words; Jun 2014; Mature (Gore)

In a world of chaos, a young necromancer dips into the forbidden arts to set the world right again.

This was a Most Dangerous Game entry, using the "Human in Equestria" prompt. It's a good 'un, too. Set in a post-pony Equestria, where Paul (the human) is doing highly iffy necromancer-y things with bones. Not just bones, either... that [Dark] tag is earned, and I think the M rating as well, though the gore isn't necessarily the usual type. Anyway, in the house Paul is using as a base (which is... well, spoilers) he's being talked to by a voice in the corner as he carries out his mad plans. He also has a dog, which he loves – but also uses to further his ends. Some well-judged world-building and references, enough to intrigue but not enough to answer everything. This one's a keeper. ★★★★

Chilly by kits
Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Mane Five (EqG)
G4 EqG; Romance/Slice of Life; 2k words; Dec 2022; Everyone

Nondenominational Winter Holiday Fluff

This, on the other hoof, is most definitely not a discomfiting darkfic. It's unashamed fluff, and there's nothing at all wrong with that. It's simple and sweet and low-stakes and just all-round nice. Pleasant dialogue, pleasant characterisation. I don't have much else to say, but I don't think I need to have – it's very solid for what it is, and the score is high in its star band. Want something cute and undemanding? Read this. ★★★

Power by Darkswirl
Sombra
G4; Dark/Slice of Life/Tragedy; 2k words; Nov 2012; Everyone

King Sombra wasn't always an evil King- in fact he wasn't even a King, let alone evil...

This is a first-person narrative in reflecting on an earlier life as a bookish sort in a Crystal Library. (I'm being deliberately vague.) Our narrator becomes more and more interested in a certain type of magic that is... let's say not entirely acceptable. For much of the story I was thinking, "Yeah, okay, decently written – but what's the point of all this?" Then, late on, there's a pretty startling twist which puts it all in a new light. I didn't find the lead-up that memorable, but that twist makes this worthwhile. ★★★

Omelet by GaPJaxie
Starlight
G4 AU; Dark/Sci-Fi; 5k words; Dec 2021; Teen

Starlight thinks that every pony should get to try an omelet at least once.

Curse you, Americans, for spelling "omelette" so weirdly! Ahem. With that out of the way: we're in another post-apocalyptic Equestria now, in the vicinity of a ruined and abandoned Canterlot. Starlight meets a teenage colt and together they head for shelter. This isn't a Fallout: Equestria (PR 5) style wasteland where there's a battle every ten minutes, but the smooth world-building suggests nastiness in the background. Interestingly, it seems here that Equestria's tech advanced a lot between the show and this point, and then... well, you'll see. And where the omelet(te) comes in. Disturbing and compelling, with an interesting Starlight. ★★★★

Review no. 1750
The Palace Bird by silver hands
Celestia, Derpy and Luna
G4; Romance/Comedy/Slice of Life; 15k words; Mar 2014; Everyone

As a princess I should not have been so easily distracted by that grey mare with the yellow mane, but what can I say? Curiosity is my one weakness. A girl can take a day off, can't she?

Told in first person by Celestia, this was written for a "Random Romance" contest, hence the unusual pairing. It sees her attention caught by you-know-who (named as "Ditzy Doo" in this fic) at the palace and attempting to juggle her princessy responsibilities and her growing feelings for Ditzy. To avoid setting tongues wagging, a certain Sunny Skies (from PhantomFox's classic, reviewed in PR 30) makes an appearance and is used fairly well. A really annoying Celtic-esque character in a few scenes who says things like "Lass made a wee bit of commotion here in the morn", though I do like the way Tia is treated less deferentially in the castle kitchens. A larger problem is that Celestia herself doesn't really convince, for example in a really clunky assumption she makes at one point. An irritatingly persistent error with speech punctuation too, but it's a shame this author never published anything else as most of The Palace Bird's problems feel like those of simple inexperience. ★★

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Next time, I hope to review:

A Moment in the Sun by Chengar Qordath
Destiny or Coincidence? by TalB (review requested by author)
The Crepuscularity of an Alicorn by PsychicKid
Flashing with Flash Sentry by Spring Romp
You're Majesty by Ninjadeadbeard