I was going to post another set of “Read It Now” reviews today, but the stories I was reading weren’t agreeing with me. So I figured I’d finish up this set of recommended story reviews, as I haven’t done one of these in a while.

This contains five stories. One of them – Best Young Flyer – is nearly novel-length. Two – The Saga of Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade, Interior Design Alicorn and The Lotus Eaters – are more or less collections of short stories that are closely related, sharing characters or ideas between them. The last two stories – Diamond in the Rough and Big Mac Reads Something Purple – are two strong shipfics, one written by Absolute Anonymous, the other by Bad Horse.

Yes, two Bad Horse stories today. Don’t worry, they’re both quite good, and very different in nature.

Today’s stories:

Best Young Flyer by bookplayer

The Saga of Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade, Interior Design Alicorn by Bad Horse

Diamond in the Rough by Absolute Anonymous

The Lotus Eaters by Horizon

Big Mac Reads Something Purple by Bad Horse

Best Young Flyer

by bookplayer



Romance

32,833 words Scootaloo has a job as a flight instructor in Cloudsdale and a cloud house of her own. She doesn't have a special somepony, but she's cool with that. Just a normal life for a normal young pegasus, until a streak of rainbow turns her life upside-down. After all, could she really resist the chance to train for the Best Young Flyers competition with a Wonderbolt? Could she turn down an offer of no-strings-attached passion with the most awesome pegasus in Equestria? Is there any way she could not fall in love with the shining idol of her foalhood? Could Scootaloo ever say no to Rainbow Dash?

Why I added it: It is the best aged-up Scootaloo x Rainbow Dash story I've read, and gives an interesting look at what struggles such a relationship would face.

Review

Scootaloo thinks Rainbow Dash is totally hot, but she knows she’d never have a chance with Rainbow Dash – Rainbow Dash is ten years older than her, a Wonderbolt, and can have anypony she wants. Why would she ever be interested in her? Scootaloo is happy with her life as a teacher of remedial fliers – like she once was – but she’s a bit lonely.

Rainbow Dash could have anypony she wants, but she wants Scootaloo – for now, at least. Sure, she’s tried out having a few relationships in the past – with Soarin and Applejack most notably – but she knows that she’s just not well-suited for romance. Just a roll in the hay or two with the odd fan or admirer is enough. Scootaloo is an old friend, though, so there isn’t any of the usual awkwardness of celebrity sex.

Once the two get together while Rainbow Dash trains Scootaloo for the Best Young Flyer competition, it seems like the perfect arrangement.

But it turns out that Rainbow Dash isn’t as done with romance as she thought she was. She loves Scootaloo. But if she made Scootaloo her marefriend, she’d just screw it up again. If they keep things as they are – friends with benefits – what could go wrong.

I mean, it’s not like Scootaloo could ever find someone she wanted to date so much that she would give up on sleeping with Rainbow Dash, right?

A story of an older Rainbow Dash who isn’t unlucky in love so much as she is really bad at it, and a Scootaloo who has learned that she isn’t ever going to really achieve her dreams, so she should settle for the merely good enough, this story has enough twists and turns in it to make the audience anxious. Is Scootaloo going to break the rules and fall in love with Rainbow Dash? Will Rainbow Dash fess up to her feelings before it is too late? Will Skylark, a fellow teacher at the school that Scootaloo teaches at, end up walking away with Scootaloo because it hurts too much to be in a relationship with a pony who won’t admit they’re in a relationship with you?

The supporting cast here is painted excellently, and does their job very well of noticing the things that the two protagonists are missing, but at the same time being unable to interfere because the two ponies just won’t listen to their good advice. The whole world of ten years hence is painted believably enough, and the character voices come through quite well.

And the story is funny in many places, while being entirely serious in others. It does a great job of integrating humor into the proceedings, and plays off of the characters’ personalities quite well:

“I like that idea.” Scoot got a big teasing grin on her face. “Let’s try to get another cutie mark, I’m tired of this one.” Sweetie Belle laughed. “Sure, it’s been ages since I had to wash tree sap out of my mane.” “Ya know I always had a good feeling ‘bout firework designin’, but I went and got my cutie mark before we could try it out.” Apple Bloom started to giggle. “YES!” Scoot said, stomping her hoof on the ground. “I’m sure that’s what my cutie mark was supposed to be in. We should’ve tried, there’s no way that could’ve possibly gone wrong.” “You’re right, and Rarity had plenty of room in the boutique to try it out! She wouldn’t have minded three fillies playing with explosives in a room full of flammable cloth.” “How ‘xactly are we still alive, y’all?” Sweetie shook her head. “Honestly, I have no idea.” “We’re too awesome to die,” Scoot pointed out.

She didn’t even have time to make fun of him, before Dash was even done cheering Scoot was climbing the sky for her next trick. Scoot reached the peak of the sky, and turned, falling into a tight corkscrew. It looked almost like she was drifting, but each loop was perfectly even, all the way to below the Colosseum. “Oh thank Celestia!” Dash yelled to the sky, breathing a sigh of relief. The clover should be easy for Scoot. A voice called from a few boxes below: “I had nothing to do with it, Rainbow Dash.” “Um, sorry Princess Celestia,” Dash called back, blushing, as Soarin’ and Fleetfoot cracked up.

But the pathos is very real as well. It is obvious that Rainbow Dash is screwing things up from quite early in the story, as we get to see just how cool Scootaloo is, but in many ways, the story is more about Rainbow Dash than Scootaloo – Scootaloo has to realize that Rainbow Dash is only human just a pony, but there’s a lot of issues and chances that Rainbow Dash has to take throughout the story, and it quickly becomes clear that Rainbow Dash is the one doing the chasing throughout the piece, rather than Scootaloo as you might expect. Seeing Rainbow Dash crash and burn and then keep on trying – something Scootaloo has to relearn from Rainbow Dash over the course of the piece – is great, and the story does a good job of maintaining the tension, both on Scootaloo’s potential victory at the Best Young Flyer’s competition, as well as over whether or not Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash will be able to make things work and really get together at the end. Indeed, it isn’t even clear if they really should get together until a good chunk of the way through the piece, once Rainbow Dash’s issues become increasingly clear.

If this story has a flaw, it is that it is telly in a number of places. While the story mostly uses telling effectively to keep things moving along at a brisk pace, there’s a few places where character emotions are told when we should have – or could have – picked up on them in another way. Still, the telling does have the advantage of making the story highly accessible, as it won’t leave readers who are lacking in ability to read subtext behind.

All in all, though, it isn’t enough to cause more than the odd hiccup, and the story is an excellent piece which both shows how things might go in ten years, as well as a lot of the issues that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo might encounter if Rainbow Dash DID eventually decide she wanted to date.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

The Saga of Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade, Interior Design Alicorn

by Bad Horse



Comedy, Random

4,940 words Should the powerful and sexy alicorn Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade follow his destiny as savior of Equestria, or his love of interior design? Why not both? BASED ON AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER BY DEVICE HERETIC!!! This is my first alicron Mary Sue self-insert fic, so plz b nice. Maybe Ill write moar if ppl like it

Why I added it: This is the best red and black alicorn story ever.

Review

This is actually two separate but related stories in the same continuity. The first story is Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade and the Chaise Lounge, and it is about a mighty wizard coming to visit Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade and convince him to aid him on his quest to save all of Equestria.

Tragically, the alicorn is rather busy rearranging furniture, leaving the quest to his “partner” (if you know what I mean), Phil.

The second story is the tale of an attempt to get Twilight Sparkle out of the shower gone wrong when Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade gets there before Phil is done.

These are two very, very silly stories, and masterfully written. Contrary to what you might expect from the description, the stories are not, in fact, badfics, but rather comedies of the highest order.

Churning dark clouds hurried overhead past Ponyville, blown on a chill, foreshadowing wind. The red glow on their undersides faded as the sun's last rays died and night descended on the town. The gaunt, old grey unicorn pulled his tattered and dusty cloak tighter about him as he made his slow and deliberate way down the town's empty streets. The traveler paid no mind to the street signs, but stopped now and then to sniff the air, and cock an ear to the sky, before grunting to himself and continuing. Eventually he found himself on the doorstep of a nice Ponyville townhouse, one of those new tri-levels going up on the south end. He eyed the row of peonies in a window flowerbox dubiously before rapping heavily and ominously on the door. Inside, the red-and-black alicorn Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade stood in a room by himself, silently regarding a tan chaise lounge situated between two oak end tables, one with a brass lamp with fringes on its shade, the other with a vase of red flowers. His massive muscles rippled with every movement of his battle-scarred body as he turned his head, first to one end table, then to the other. On hearing the hollow, foreboding knock, he turned and looked over his shoulder. "Honey, could you get that?" he called. An earth pony stallion with a maple-sugar coat and mane trotted down the hallway, past the room where Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade stood pondering the furniture arrangement, and into the entrance foyer. He opened the door to find the stranger waiting there. They both twitched their noses and blinked, looking equally surprised. Then the stranger spoke, in the deep, unwavering voice of one who has seen unspeakable sights and knows terrible and glorious secrets. "I have followed the scent of destiny to your doorstep, young stallion. I have grave words to speak, and grim – but there is yet cause for hope." The earth pony turned his head over his shoulder and shouted, "I think it's one of those Jehoovah's Witnesses." "Just flame at him and he'll run away," Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade called back. "I don't flame," the earth pony said. "I have come from a distant land, drawn here by emanations of vast magical power, and by prophecy." "Oh, come on, just roll your eyes at him and call him 'darling'! It'd be so cute." "Not gonna happen, Nighty." "The fate of all Equestria hangs in the balance!" the unicorn intoned. The earth pony nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Look. Come in for a second, I can get you some water, okay? But then you hafta leave." He took one step towards the kitchen. "SILENCE!" the old unicorn thundered, and when he stamped one hoof for emphasis, a lightning bolt split the sky behind him and left an echoing crack and a ringing in all their ears. "My bad," the earth pony called over his shoulder. "He's an adventurer." "Oh, Celestia!" Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade called back. "They're even worse!" The unicorn cleared his throat. "I am Dan-galf Shadowhax, the grey pony, the midnight crow, counsellor of kings..."

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

Diamond in the Rough

by Absolute Anonymous



Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life

2,961 words After the Gala, Applejack has a little too much to drink, and Rarity agrees to escort her home; but then, much to Rarity's embarrassment, Applejack decides that right then and there is the perfect time to confront the unicorn about their true feelings for one another.

Why I added it: It is a strong RariJack short.

Review

After the Grand Galloping Gala, the mane six go off to a pub and have a few drinks. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash head off on their own, Fluttershy is pounding shots down like an alcoholic, Twilight seems intent on writing her friendship report right now, and Applejack?

Applejack seems to have decided tonight is the night to try out whatever fru fru drinks Rarity is having, without realizing you’re not supposed to drink several of them.

Drunk as a skunk, Rarity can’t leave Applejack to walk home alone, but Applejack seems to have something on her mind when she suddenly stops in the middle of the street and asks if Rarity ever got the chance to dance at the Gala…

The third story Absolute Anonymous ever wrote, it shows a bit – both being a relatively early effort, and having the quality that Absolute Anonymous’s stories would be known for. This has a very solidly written Rarity, and the vast majority of the piece is written from Rarity’s point of view. Rarity quickly cottons onto what is going on, but as the story follows her thought processes, the story does a pretty good job of showing why a buzzed Rarity might consider Applejack’s advances to be of interest, while at the same time showing why she would decline them at that moment. There are some funny bits in this, as well as some great bits of dialogue, and a slight hint of melancholy, as Rarity believes it is the drink talking and that Applejack won’t remember a word of it in the morning – a pretty cruel tease for the unicorn, who is, at the very least, interested.

If this story has a weakness, it is in transitions. The very start of the story is written from Applejack’s point of view, but there’s no real reason for it to be, and in the middle of the story, there’s a scene break which isn’t actually a scene break.

Still, this story does a solid job at doing what it is trying to do, and while it ends on a spot that might be frustrating for some shippers, it made me chuckle and shake my head.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

The Lotus Eaters

by horizon



Slice of Life

3,010 words On an unassuming carnival midway in central Equestria sits the key to your dreams: A machine that lets you, for a short time, live a life in which your greatest regret never occurred. These are the stories of what happens after those fantasies are over. Each chapter is a complete and self-contained vignette (though their order of presentation is deliberate).

Why I added it: I really liked these stories.

Review

Flim and Flam have built a machine that eliminates your greatest regret and lets you look at the world without it. A happier world, free of whatever regret you had!

It works, too. But it doesn’t always do exactly what Flim and Flam might expect…

This is more of a collection of related short stories than a single continuous story, but each of the four stories is good in their own way. A few of the stories are touching, while others are funny, and Flim and Flam are excellent here, with their back-and-forth dialogue being perfectly depicted and as amusing (and shady) as ever. The general idea behind the shorts is a very good one, and each of the four stories makes very different use of the machine.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Big Mac Reads Something Purple

by Bad Horse



Romance, Slice of Life

3,720 words Twilight asks Big MacIntosh to read to the Cutie Mark Crusaders while she runs an errand. He's not much of a reader, but he just can't say nope to Twilight.

Why I added it: It is the best TwiMac story I’ve read.

Review

Twilight asks Big Mac to read something to the Cutie Mark Crusaders while she goes off to run an errand. Big Mac picks a purple colored book and starts “reading” them a story about a brilliant librarian and a plain bricklayer…

This is a story with three endings, each of which casts a slightly different view on the situation between Twilight and Big Mac, as well as Big Mac being ashamed of his illiteracy and being unwilling to approach Twilight – and with good reason, given his difficulty in articulating why she might like him. One ending is sad, one is tragic, and one is happy, but each casts a little different view on the proceedings, and the last makes it very clear what exactly was going on through the whole piece.

If you like stories with a hint of sadness or tragedy to them, you’ll probably like this, and it is worth going through all three alternate endings, especially if you’re the sentimental type.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

Summary

Best Young Flyer by bookplayer

Highly Recommended The Saga of Dark Demon King Ravenblood Nightblade, Interior Design Alicorn by Bad Horse

Highly Recommended Diamond in the Rough by Absolute Anonymous

Highly Recommended The Lotus Eaters by Horizon

Highly Recommended Big Mac Reads Something Purple by Bad Horse

Highly Recommended

And there we go! Five stories closer to reviewing everything on my Highly Recommended list from before I started writing reviews.

I hope everyone has a good weekend, and enjoys these stories.