Category Archives: Features

Pascoite’s “In Bloom”

21 Friday Mar 2014

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How far do you go for somepony who needs your help but doesn’t want it?  Today’s story peels back the foliage for a compelling glimpse at a disturbing family.

in-bloomIn Bloom
[Dark] [Slice-of-Life] • 8,661 words

In a yard, all alone, a pony whiles away the time caring for the lawn and the roses. Roseluck can understand that, to a point. And she’s determined to help.

FROM THE CURATORS: Although we had a vigorous debate over whether this story’s unflinching look at a psychologically abused child was in the spirit of the show, there was one thing which we unanimously agreed: In Bloom is “well-written and powerful,” to use Chris’ words.  Present Perfect went further: “In Bloom has got everything I love about stories in general.”  And Benman dug into what makes this story such an exemplar of high-quality writing: “This does an excellent job with exposition. Pasco has a knack for picking out small details to hit the reader right between the eyes with the full weight of what’s going on.“

Ultimately, this is a story about pony — and its collision with a far grimmer mindset. “Friendship is a key theme here,” Bradel said, and Benman agreed: “This is not a nice story, but it has nice things in it, and the brightness stands out against the darker backdrop.”

Read on for our interview, in which Pascoite discusses collecting rocks, child-rearing, and comprehending rules.
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Heliopause’s “A Wake Of Mist And Flame”

14 Friday Mar 2014

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Long before you ever looked at today’s feature, Princess Celestia knew that you would end up reading it.  Don’t worry; it’s all part of the plan.

mist-flameA Wake Of Mist And Flame
[Slice-of-Life] • 13,730 words

Darrilon has proudly served Princess Celestia for many years, and risen to the rank of Captain of the elite squad known as the Solarian Patrol. But every day is a new challenge when your superior officer (and divine ruler) has no respect for protocol or procedure.

FROM THE CURATORS: We could talk about how this story has — as Vimbert puts it — “a neat OC, a fantastic Celestia interpretation, and a fun writing style that puts characterization at the fore,” but we’re all too aware that that’s exactly what she wants us to do.

Chessmistress Celestia is a common cliché in the fandom, and where this story truly excels is in its vibrant inspection of a trope that many authors use carelessly.  “This story does a remarkable job of making Celestia truly divine, which is to say, she operates on a completely different level from us mortals,” Horizon said.  “The scene with her lunch is a great example of a little thing that really sells that alienness … and engages with that theme on a deeper level.”

Read on for our interview, in which Heliopause discusses astronomical affinities,  Faustian fanworks, and solar social subterfuge.
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RBDash47’s “Old Friends”

07 Friday Mar 2014

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Although today’s story introduces us to the Grim Reaper, there’s nothing grim about the poignant conversations we get to follow as our protagonist moves through the years.

old-friendsOld Friends
[Sad] [Slice of Life] • 2,330 words

She noticed the pony for the first time when she was young, not long after she’d received her cutie mark. He became her oldest friend.

FROM THE CURATORS: There’s no better way to summarize this story than Present Perfect’s formulation: “a short, quiet contemplation of the nature of death and loss.”  Those elements are also what make it such an exemplar of fanfiction.

We all were impressed at how much depth the story was able to cram into its mere 2300 words. “Although many years pass in the story, I never felt as though there were important events glossed over or skipped,” Vimbert said. “Authors who spend hundreds of thousands of words on a few days or a week could stand to read this and re-examine their attitudes towards detail.”

It also struck an admirably gentle and accessible tone. “This is a surprisingly light read, despite its seemingly weighty subject matter,” Chris said.  “The sparse descriptions and languid pacing, a seemingly odd combination in the abstract, match the tone very well. … Its sadness is a natural product of the story, not the result of any particular attempt at emotional manipulation.”

Read on for our interview, in which RBDash47 discusses demons in lightsuits, lies of omission, and slogging through a freezing river in your underthings.
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RedSquirrel456’s “No Quixote Here”

28 Friday Feb 2014

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There is a lot to like in today’s story, but the protagonist is not one of those things.

no-quixote-hereNo Quixote Here
[Comedy] [Slice-of-Life] • 13,804 words

Following a most unpleasant encounter at one of Canterlot’s great parties, Prince Blueblood decides that he is tired of everyone thinking that he is a lazy, empty-headed ponce. He decides the only solution is to have a grand adventure and reinvent himself, becoming the good, dignified, heroic Prince that everypony expects him to be.

The only problem is he’s a lazy, empty-headed ponce.

FROM THE CURATORS: “This story is an excellent illustration of the principle that tragedy + absurdity = comedy,” Horizon said — and we were all impressed by the balance it struck between the two.  “Never do the more serious scenes feel out of place,” Chris said, “and Redsquirrel does a good job of keeping even the more serious moments of the fic full of gentle levity. … While deflating Blueblood is the comic equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel, it’s no less funny for that.”

We also appreciated the solid deconstruction of Blueblood’s character, which dances on the edge of pathos without ever making him truly sympathetic.  “The interactions between he, Celestia, and Shining Armor all carry an air of realism that sells the entire fic,” Chris said.  Horizon agreed: “The supporting characters’ reactions to Blueblood speak volumes.”

Read on for our interview, in which RedSquirrel456 discusses the comedy inherent in flaws, and what distinguishes Blueblood from the show’s other antagonists.
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Archmage Ludicrous’ “That’s All”

21 Friday Feb 2014

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This week’s feature offers a literal taste of what makes the Mane Six’s earth ponies who they are.

thats-allThat’s All

[Slice-of-Life] • 1,559 words

A vignette regarding a pragmatic pony.

FROM THE CURATORS: That’s All is well-named.  There are no dramatic reveals here, no buildups to bad puns, no descents into comic absurdity — only pitch-perfect Slice of Life.  It’s exactly what it appears to be: “a fantastic short piece with … a sort of over-the-top importance bestowed upon something rather unimportant,” Present Perfect said.

Even though it weighs in at a mere 1,559 words, we all agreed that it packed in “remarkable Pinkie Pie characterization,” as Present put it. “That’s so rare that it deserves to be spotlighted for that alone,” Chris said.  Horizon went further: “I’d be borderline if it was just about Pinkie being written well, but no, this is about TWO characters being exactly who they are.”

Read on for our interview, in which Archmage Ludicrous discusses when to reject randomness, and the unexpected similarities between Pinkie Pie and Applejack.

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DawnFade’s “Alabaster”

14 Friday Feb 2014

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Today’s story is a short, potent look at losing a loved one who hasn’t gone anywhere.

Alabaster
[Sad] [Slice of Life] • 2,165 words

Vinyl Scratch visits her father.

FROM THE CURATORS: Our mission at the RCL is to find stories which truly stand out as exemplars of what pony fanfiction can be — whether that means exceptional wordsmithing, clever approaches to canon, deep worldbuilding, etc.  Alabaster cut right through that to grab our attention with how bluntly evocative it is.  “This feels genuine,” Present Perfect said.  Chris agreed: “Either the author’s writing from experience, or there was a major investment of empathy in this fic.”

We also noted the sure hand of its laconic prose.  “Its biggest strength is the way it knows exactly how much detail to show,” Ben said, and Chris added, “It’s the little things, like where she’s feeling frustrated at the pleasant-but-generic items the staff puts out, that elevate this from ‘generic sadfic’ to ‘potentially cathartic.'”

Read on for our interview, in which DawnFade discusses forgetting and reveals the reason behind the story’s title.
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Cold in Gardez’ “Lost Cities”

07 Friday Feb 2014

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Put on your pith helmet and shoulder your saddlebags: today’s story is an expedition into rarely explored corners of the literary map, teasing out stories of ancient lives from lifeless artifacts and crumbling structures.

lost-citiesLost Cities
[Slice-of-Life] • 6,859 words

North of Canterlot, in the far marches of the Equestrian lands near the border with the Griffon tribes, there is a mountain that flies.

West of Canterlot, beyond the Galloping Mountains and a desert painted in the pastel hues of a faded rainbow, a tower sits at the edge of the world.

South of Canterlot, past the Everfree forest and the desolate badlands, a city of gardens waits to be born.

FROM THE CURATORS: If you’ve never had the chance for tourism at ancient ruins — staring at fragments of walls reclaimed from nature’s grasp while a tour guide weaves you tales of the people who built them — this does a remarkable job of drawing you into that experience.  Its four chapters are nothing but bones of the past, presented with archaeological-style commentary and some hints toward the greater sweep of history, but are remarkable reading nonetheless.

“I really admired how Gardez was able to create a compelling story without a single character present in the work,” Vimbert said.  “I don’t usually go for stories that employ such writing gimmicks, but there’s a rich tapestry of suggested history in these words. A lesser author would f**k it all up.”

Horizon agreed: “This is the Spoon River Anthology of MLP scenery-porn.”

Read on for our interview, in which Cold in Gardez discusses recursive inspiration, Rarity’s difference from the other Mane Six, and the essential humanity of ponies.
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xjuggernaughtx’s “Diary of a Pliant Tyrant”

31 Friday Jan 2014

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On the heels of an episode bringing everyone’s favorite draconequus into Season 4, today’s story is a reminder of what we all love about fanfic — how it can embrace and extend the show, and explore the depths of the characters we enjoy.

pliant-tyrantDiary of a Pliant Tyrant
[Comedy] [Slice-of-Life] • 16,437 words

It’s funny what an idle slip of the tongue can lead to. When Discord makes an off-hand comment to Fluttershy about the mental diary he kept when encased in stone, she begs him to continue it. She says it will be “therapeutic”, but he’s sure it’ll be a real bore. But who can resist those puppy-dog eyes and a bribe of fresh cookies? Grudgingly, he takes up a pencil to document his thoughts and experiences in his new life. A life among his old enemies. A life he never wanted.

FROM THE CURATORS: Like Pinkie Pie, Discord is one of MLP’s most difficult characters to write well — all too often he’s inserted as a soulless source of randomness or an excuse to break the fourth wall.  This fic (which is the sequel to Diary Of A Silent Tyrant, but works beautifully as a standalone story) earned its feature based on one of the strongest characterizations we’ve collectively seen anywhere in the fandom.

“I heard pretty much the whole story in John de Lancie’s voice as I read it,” Vimbert said.  “Discord’s voice is pitch-perfect,” Present Perfect added.  “The characterization of Discord is remarkable,” Horizon agreed.

That magnificent voice is wrapped in a solid plot arc about redemption and friendship, with plenty of hilarious and poignant moments along the way.  It’s lengthier than the average short story, but “it was never not interesting,” Present Perfect said.  “The story has a lot of unexpected heart at the end,” Vimbert added.

Read on for our interview, in which xjuggernaughtx discusses Pinkie Pie protectiveness, MLP’s life-changing effects, and how to get into Discord’s head.
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Bad Horse’s “The Magician And The Detective”

24 Friday Jan 2014

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Today’s story presents a uniquely Equestrian interpretation of a singularly brilliant sleuth — and there’s more at stake here than a mystery to solve.

magician-detectiveThe Magician And The Detective
[Romance] [Sad] [Crossover] [Adventure] • 14,685 words

To Holmes, she is always the mare.  In his eyes she eclipses the whole of her sex, and fills him with admiration and loathing.  Whether she in fact stole the Starry Night was ultimately beside the point.  What mattered to Holmes was that he had been matched at his own game, by a mare; that it had not been altogether unpleasant; and that she had caused him, however briefly, to turn his keen and unflinching gaze upon himself.

FROM THE CURATORS: “If this were just one of Doyle’s Holmes stories, it’d ‘just’ be good,” Chris said — but this story goes well beyond that, and impressed us enough for a rare unanimous approval.

Beyond the mystery, there’s also a deep deconstruction of both MLP’s and Doyle’s characters, which brings them to life in a way few stories manage.  “It’s got so much to say about its characters I think in some ways I’m still processing it,” Horizon said.  Chris added, “The interpretation of Trixie really sells it for me.  She deftly walks the line between sympathetic and antagonistic.”

The twists of the final chapters also spurred high praise.  “The phrase Tour de Force gets tossed around far too often, but I’d absolutely describe this fic’s end as such,” Chris said.

Read on for our interview, in which Bad Horse discusses interactive literature, Sherlock Holmes’ class consciousness, and a writing tip well worth repeating.
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Insert Pen Name’s “The Fight for Cranberry Hill”

17 Friday Jan 2014

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Today’s story is breezy, lighthearted, and utterly endearing.  Moreover, it’s a perfect complement to the winter season in which we’re now embroiled, and a refreshingly fun look at childhood–and the tribulations which spring therefrom.

cranberry-hillThe Fight for Cranberry Hill
[Comedy] [Slice of Life] • 9,539 words

It’s winter in Ponyville, and Diamond Tiara is queen of the Hill. Can the Cutie-Mark Crusaders cast her from her snowy fortress?

FROM THE CURATORS: “It’s a happy story about happy ponies doing happy things,” said Ben, and sometimes that’s all a story needs to be.  All of us noted its native sincerity, resulting in a fic which is pleasantly satisfying without being cloying.  Moreover, we found it to be genuinely funny: “The foals’ earnest delivery of war-movie clichés is just the right amount of absurd,” said Horizon, and although Present Perfect was less eloquent, he concurred.  “All the war jokes are amazing,” as he put it.

Read on for our interview, in which Insert Pen Name discusses his standards for what he publishes, waxes nostalgic about his childhood, and reveals how he deals with memes in his works.
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