Though today’s story isn’t about a winner, you’ll find the story itself certainly is one.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
[Sad] • 1,055 words

The Equestria Games honor the best of the best. But for there to be winners, there must be losers.

FROM THE CURATORS: This is, as Present Perfect put it, “a well-built behind-the-scenes look at a scene from the show through the eyes of a griffon. … It feels like an exercise in imagery, but has a surprising amount going on.”

We’ve previously featured several stories at FIMFiction’s 1,000-word minimum threshold, and at that length, using every word effectively is crucial — a lesson Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger takes to heart. “It’s always impressive to me when an author can paint a picture of a character, a species, or a culture that quickly, and that’s where this story shines,” Chris said.  JohnPerry agreed: “It’s strikingly evocative for something so short.”

What’s even more striking — and a major factor in its feature — is its use of indirect storytelling for its emotional impact. “It sets something up and tears it down, letting the story be told in the background,” Present Perfect said, and Horizon concurred: “Half the story is a description of the gryphon’s hotel room, but not a word is wasted.”  JohnPerry also praised the story’s depth. “I appreciate how the narrow focus on the narrator character leaves a lot to interpretation,” he said. “There’s layers upon layers to explore in this one, and in barely over a thousand words that’s quite the accomplishment.”

Read on for our author interview, in which A Hoof-ful of Dust discusses the wizardry of words, the golden age of television, and random acts of Derpy.
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