Ponyfic Roundup 573

Read it Later story count: 89 (-2)

Words read this week: 17,052

All right, off we go again! I hope you all appreciated my last post being something other than a Ponyfic Roundup. You see, I can still do it! In a couple of weeks' time I shall say goodbye for a bit for Easter, but I'm here for now. Anyway, without further adieu [sic] I shall provide you with the slate for today:

Luck of the Lyrish by Timaeus
A Lesson Never Learned by Workard
Just Look at This Baby by FrontSevens
My Lil Scoots by Hawaiian Summer Splash
There's Something in the Woods by HoofBitingActionOverload

★: 0 | ★★: 3 | ★★★: 2 | ★★★★: 0 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I enjoy an average amount scores two stars.

Luck of the Lyrish by Timaeus
Lyra and Bon-Bon
G4; Romance/Comedy; 8k words; Mar 2016; Teen

On St. Paddy's Day, Lyra tries to woo Bon Bon with only the best worst pick-up lines around. Results may vary.

St Patrick's Day isn't as absurdly massive in the UK as it apparently is in parts of the US, and thankfully we don't do green beer, but as it's the nearest review day to that... Lyra, who has Neighlic/Neighlish blood (the fic is inconsistent), is trying to get Bon-Bon to agree to a date. She does this by deploying a remarkable number of stereotypical Irish mentions. Leprechauns, check. Guinness, check. Blarney Stone, check. In truth it gets tiring after a while, so it's fortunate the ending goes in a slightly different direction. That makes the final few pages more enjoyable, but it's too much of a "Begorrah O'Shillelagh" style slog to get there, so a highish two only. ★★

A Lesson Never Learned by Workard
Twilight
G4; Dark; 1k words; Apr 2013; Teen (Gore)

A very short story bringing you into the middle of a dramatic event. This is based on some inspiration I got through time. So for a quick heart pumping moment, give this story a read. How did it all come to this?

In the longdesc, the author asks us, "Please don't bash on me because it seems unfinished. I actually think that it adds a nice touch to it all" and suggests it's a "cut-out of a longer tale. Anyway, we open with Twilight in extreme peril from an alicorn princess, apparently Celestia. Why are there flames? Why is Twi so worried about punishment? What the hay is actually going on? In the end, this is a striking little vignette, but the near-total lack of context does hurt it. ★★

Just Look at This Baby by FrontSevens
OC, Changelings and Mane Six
G4; Comedy/Slice of Life; 4k words; Oct 2016; Everyone

Pumpkin Munch the bat pony finds a baby on her doorstep one day, and she can’t wait to show everypony in Ponyville.

...this baby's amazing. Wait, no. In reality, though, it's not far off. You have to accept a rather absurd premise – that Pumpkin would decide a baby left on her doorstep was rightfully hers – but I do appreciate that what seems to be a horrible piece of writing turns out later to have a purpose. Twilight is particularly Twilight in one scene with Pumpkin, which Cold in Gardez appreciated, and Pinkie is highly Pinkie late on. It's all a bit uneven, and the ending is underwhelming, but I had enough amusement out of this for a lowish three. ★★★

My Lil Scoots by Hawaiian Summer Splash
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo
G4; Sad/Slice of Life; 1k words; Jul 2015; Everyone

Scootaloo is going to be moving. And it's hard for Rainbow Dash to accept it.

A very simple story that does exactly what it says on the tin. There's nothing especially startling here, but the fact that the fic doesn't overreach works in its favour. We stick with Rainbow's perspective the whole way through, and it's clear she's finding it almost unbearable. Undemanding tea-break fare. ★★

There's Something in the Woods by HoofBitingActionOverload
Rarity
G4; Slice of Life; 2k words; Aug 2015; Everyone

One night every month, Rarity creeps out of her house and sneaks unseen into the Everfree Forest. She is going in search of The Witch.

And no, the Witch is not Zecora. That's not a spoiler, as it's clear from early on. You do have to read for a little bit before you grasp the chronology of this piece, but I won't give it away. The character Rarity meets is not entirely appealing, and although some reviewers adored this I can only assume I'm not clever enough to spot something they did. I still like it, and the character work is nice. I just feel I'm missing something important. As it stands, a solid three. ★★★

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Here we go with another five quick reads for next week!

The Lizard of Ot by Baal Bunny
The One Who Wasn't Meant to Die by Sir Hat
Catching Fluttershy by Jubilancy
What Could've Been by Boltstrike58
Shadow Pasts and Shining Futures by TheAspiringWriter93