It Is Recommendsday, My Dudes #56 · 7:19pm Apr 13th, 2022
I've mentioned in passing previously that some of my best known stories are about Cozy Glow, and so I keep a fair tab on Cozy stories. I realized recently that I haven't done a Cozy-centric week for this blog yet - and now I figure it's time to change that with two of my absolute favorites.
The first - and more Cozy-centric - is a story that's got a special place for me: Casketbase77's Innocent Until Proven Cozy.
Just after the incident with Vignette Valencia, Sunset and Twilight exchange a few messages to get each other up to date. In it, Twilight makes Sunset aware of the latest in the hit parade of Equestrian villains: Cozy Glow. Which immediately sets Sunset off, because there's a Cozy Glow in the new batch of Canterlot High freshmen. And Sunset decides to cut to the chase and deal with the problem before it becomes a problem.
Now I made my mark with a Sunset Shimmer/Cozy Glow story, which was a rare enough pairing. But this one? This was the first story that really set them opposite each other. (The two did appear in one other story together earlier, but that was a much wider cast and an alt-u.) This is a story that gave me the first nudge to use the pair together in Three Second Chances, which led directly to Glow In The Dark, Shine In The Sun. So I totally owe Casketbase for that.
Part of what really makes this story sing - aside from the obvious chemistry between the two base characters - is that it intelligently uses the Equestria-human dichotomy. Twilight and Sunset know the two worlds mirror each other, so why don't they use one another's knowledge to get ahead of threats? And Sunset does exactly that here, utilizing Equestrian knowledge to try and prevent a human issue. Of course, just what happens after that makes the story even better, because it's a wonderful reminder that the two worlds have differences and even when they're similar? Have different ways that problems can be approached.
This one's really near and dear to my heart.
One of my other best known stories - Three Second Chances - has much the same roots. The Terrible Trio finding redemption was a common subject in the second half of S9's timeframe. I got a lot of good press and my very first featured story with my take on it. But honestly, if you're going to talk about the best versions of the Trio's redemption? You gotta read A Better Way To Be Dad by Jade Ring.
The first of a trilogy (plus an 'after-credits' anthology), it approaches the topic rather simply: Tirek and Chrysalis ask just where Cozy's parents are. She relates, in simple terms, her estranged home life and comments on how Tirek - through his writing back and forth with her - has been a better dad father figure than her biological one ever was.
And things bloom out from there over several stories, the details of which I won't delve into too deeply. Other than that the third installment is my favorite.
Part of why these stories work is that they're believable. None of the Trio are acting out of character at all - Cozy is still a conniving little sociopath, Chrysalis is still an egomanaic with anger issues, and Tirek is still... well, Tirek. But the story makes their relationship and eventual redemption make sense for who they are, rather than changing them to fit the story. And that's really damn important.
The other part is that despite finding a relationship that works for them, all three are still just absolute little dicks to each other. The snark mixed with loving care is top notch comedy, letting them wrestle with their feelings while taking pot-shots. It keeps the tone light and bouncy in the middle of the serious feels.
New or catching up? Try Recommendsday: The Index for your story needs!
Oh wow, That's a very glowing review for the first (and best) fic I ever wrote. I'm humbled to hear my portrayal of EqG Cozy was so inspirational to you, and it's some supreme poetry of fate that one of your old fics was a creative inspiration for me.
For the longest time, I did more writing than reading on this site. When a friend named Nitro Indigo needed contest judges for her "Swapped Roles" group, I was unsure if I had the chops. Nitro suggested I test myself by reading the winner of the previous year's contest. See how I felt.
- MLP: FiM
- Adventure
When the Element of Magic, Octavia Melody, came to the club it was a pleasant surprise. When she decided to recruit the cellist Twilight Sparkle and DJ Rarity to help her hunt monsters, the shock was far less pleasant.It took a lot of digging, but I found my three-part analysis I did for Runic Notation in the weekly message board archives. It's still the most in-depth fic study I've ever written, and I credit that exercise for giving me the courage to sign on as a judge for Nitro's year's contest. And hey, you yourself even made a surprise appearance at the end to point out which parts you agreed and disagreed with.
I guess the lesson learned by both of us is that you never know what piece of creative output will encourage somebody else. I tip my hat to you, one prolific creator to another.
See you around the site.
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If you ever have trouble locating it again, I actually have it linked in the long description of that story!
Both good choices!