Fic Spotlight » Fic Spotlight #17 - Fic Spooklight · 10:27pm Oct 8th, 2015
The Royal Guard—Hat Trick Achieved Edition
[Obs] Hey guys! It's October, and also it's time for spic fotlight. Things are about to get pretty spooky, because this month all the fics spotlighted are going to be about pony skeletons. Except the twist is that the skeletons are trapped inside sacks of meat, like some kind of living body. Actually they might just be regular fics about living ponies. Which is still pretty spooky, I guess. Go read them or something. [/Obs]
Every two weeks, we recommend six high-quality stories from a variety of authors and popular genres. From action/adventure to slice of life, from drama to comedy, from stories about ponies kissing to stories involving pink hairless apes, we feature a wide variety of stories so that every post has something for everyone.
We’re always looking for a tip-top tale, so if you’d like to submit your fic, here are some links you’ll probably find useful:
-The Royal Guard Group
-Submit Your Story!
-The Royal Guard's Official Handbook
Finally—and I cannot emphasize this enough—we are always recruiting. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a prereader, then don’t hesitate to send us an application. If you have any questions about the application process, please direct them to Prak.
AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO... STORIES!
This Week:
Action/Adventure
The New Crop, by xjuggernaughtx
Drama
The Tutelage of Star Swirl, by Moose Mage
Romance
All of It, for Her by Pav Feira
Comedy
Dying to Get There, by Titanium Dragon
Slice of Life
Worth It, by Pascoite
ACTION/ADVENTURE
A long time ago, my family moved to Appleloosa, and we ain't had no luck since. We tried growing apples, but our orchards just never took right. Now, the bank's gonna repossess unless we can get some bits together real fast.
No, we ain't never been lucky, but in that ring, I don’t need luck. I’m one win away from saving our farm, and Granny says that tonight I’m fighting some fancy unicorn named Blueblood. I hear he's real fast, but there ain’t no way I’m losing with so much on the line.
This ain't gonna be pretty. In fact, I can just about guarantee it’ll be real, real ugly.
PR Recommendation: “I've rarely found such a perfect blend of voice, style, and tone. Mac's struggle is real because his hopes and dreams – and his fears and woes – could be anyone's. The grim realism of his situation is what makes this piece dark, and it is told in writing so gripping that it won't let you go until you know what it means to step into the squared circle – for love, for family, and for pride. This ain't your eight-year-olds' Equestria.” —InquisitorM
DRAMA
Long before Twilight Sparkle was taken under the wing of Princess Celestia, another pony was given a chance to prove himself. Your history books will tell you that he was a bitter, lonely, powerful old Unicorn who never really understood the magic of Friendship. But history, as we all know, only ever remembers one side of the story.
This is the life and the tutelage of Star Swirl, one of the greatest pony minds to ever walk Equestria.
PR Recommendation: “The story of who Star Swirl the Bearded was, and how he got his bells and cloak, this is a very different take on the archetypical archmage, casting him as Luna's apprentice rather than mentor. There are a few solid original characters in this piece, but what really pulls it all together is the overall feel of the story, as well as the overarching irony of the reversal in the relationship of Princess Luna and Celestia.” —Titanium Dragon
ROMANCE
Thirty five years. Been roaming Equestria from town to cloying town, looking for her. Not for lack of trying, mind you. Equestria's just that big of a place. There's only so many places left to look, though, and it'd be foolish to throw in the towel already. I'm getting close. So I'll do the same thing I did yesterday: search.
PR Recommendation: “I forgot I was even pre-reading. Cranky's voicing is perfect; it kept me totally engrossed until I saw the end coming at the precise moment the author wanted me to. The subtext is exquisite – sheer brilliance.” —Inquisitor M
COMEDY
PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE: DEAD AT 18
TELEPORTATION INVARIABLY FATAL, WARNS LEADING SCHOLAR
One look at the headline of the Canterlot Times and Twilight knew that she should have slept in today. But at least none of her friends would be silly enough to believe she was killing herself every time she teleported, right?
PR Recommendation: “Some gags are funny enough that you can write a story about them, but why stop at only one joke? Titanium Dragon packs this story full of humor, constantly adding new sources of laughs and finishing up before anything becomes stale. This story won't be a long read, but it'll be a fun one.” —R5h
SLICE OF LIFE
Princess Celestia sends Twilight Sparkle a letter, asking the same question she always does. Maybe a visit from Spike will prompt her to give an answer at last.
PR Recommendation: “If there's one thing that makes me want to shave my face with a lawn mower, it's my neighbor's dog waking me up at 3am. If I could choose a second thing, though, it would be angsty stories about Twilight's future. While Worth It can't help with the former (I'll bet that blasted mutt is as illiterate as it is noisy) it's a nice answer to the latter.” —Prak
HUMAN
Heiress Lucy Burdock knows life has a way of surprising you.
For example, she wasn't expecting a little pink pony for her birthday. She certainly didn't expect it to start talking, either. It was cute at first, but it kinda feels more like taking care of a little kid than a pony. Lucy's never really been great with kids... but she can make it work!
Can't she?
PR Recommendation: “Everyone knows the story of My Little Dashie, but the original is a highly controversial piece - some see it as the ultimate in brony feels, the other, in trite wish fullfillment.
“A Diamond and a Tether avoids these issues. While this is clearly inspired by - and very similar to - My Little Dashie in its overall plot arc, here, we're given a very different set of characters. Heiress Lucy Burdock is a terrible person, but she's not evil - she just has trouble really recognizing that she has unwittingly become a parent. Diamond Tiara is a smart foal being raised by a rich heiress who seems to think that stuff can make up for emotional neglect and loneliness, and vacillates between being a spoiled little angel and the spoiled brat we all love to hate.
“The feels are all there, but the change in conditions makes the whole story that much more tragic, as Lucy never knew what she had until it was too late.” —Titanium Dragon
Addendums
If you guys have any questions about our sitepost policies, or our new approval guidelines, feel free to browse the handy dandy Official Royal Guard Handbook, and if you still find yourself lacking answers, feel free to ask Prak so that he can find the right person to give you what you need.
See you guys next time!
Worth It is soooooo good! I don't even like "immortal alicorn" type stories, I sort of roll my eyes anytime someone comes up with some angst-ridden plotline about Twilight or Celestia or whomever outliving their friends and being all sad and stuff. And yet, this one really struck me! I don't know why I even gave it a shot, but I did, and I am glad that I did.
3453586
Glad you liked it!
We do try to bring stuff that folks like. I really liked almost all of these (though I haven't read The New Crop yet - I need to get on that), so it is nice to hear that others like them as well.
3453803
So do I...
Two #16 Fic Spotlights?! What unholy trickery is this?