Fic Spotlight » Fic Spotlight #18 - Back to the Ficture · 11:04pm Oct 22nd, 2015
The Royal Guard—Fortified with Calcium Edition
[Obs] Hey guys, fic spotlight is back to bring you cool fics. Technically Back to the Future Day was yesterday, but the magic of time travel is that you can pretend anything from some other time is happening RIGHT NOW.
Like cool fics.
So go read some of these while you're riding on a hoverboard, drinking a pepsi perfect. It'll be cool and stuff.[/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 Evolution of Harmony, by Thornwing
Drama
The Mare in the High Castle, by ponichaeism
Romance
Of Flies and Spiders, by wYvern
Comedy
Sometimes Maps Are Dumb, by HoofBitingActionOverload
Slice of Life
Experience, by Bad Horse
ACTION/ADVENTURE
Far in the West, beyond the borders of the kingdom, an old evil has awoken. With the fate of Equestria hanging in the balance, Twilight must unlock the secrets of the past in order to preserve what remains of her future.
PR Recommendation: “While dark, violent adventures are a dime a dozen, it's rare to find a high-quality adventure that stays true to the show's characters and morals. This epic tale builds upon the show's mythos by creatively using elements of G1, yet never allowing them to overpower the identity of the current generation. It's a fun, imaginative read that you shouldn't miss.” —Prak
DRAMA
"Hello, hello, hello, this is Thorny Bends coming at you live on Radio Free Canterlot, and from where I'm sitting, folks, the Land of the Eternal Moon is looking lovely. Well, except for that nasty smog cloud rolling toward us from the coast, but hey, that's the price of progress. Still, if you're heading outside you might want to think about an Easy Breezy-brand respirator, guaranteed to make the air taste like new. Buy yours from all major retailers today!
"As I'm sure you all know, it's been almost a thousand years since the founding of our great civilization. And as the big day approaches, I sure hope the High Castle set their clocks right. I'd hate to find out it was really last Thursday. Ha! But seriously, folks. I've been doing a fair bit of thinking about our fair Canterlot, and I've realized it isn't just somewhere we all live. It's what we build together into something greater as we all reach for the moon. A symbol for a way of life and a state of mind. So, in honor of the thousand years, I'm taking an eye in the sky peek into the lives of the ponies on the streets, and a few in the penthouses too. I don't often do real news on this show, but these are some genuine equine interest stories, folks. In their own small, unique way, these ponies are as vital to the city as the princess of the night herself. So settle down, get comfortable, and don't touch that dial.
"You won't want to miss this, I guarantee."
PR Recommendation: “It's a feat of peculiar talent to juggle so many characters simultaneously and make them all relevant to the story, but Ponichaeism does so. Enter an Equestria racked with sorrow, under the hoof of an oppressive regime. Follow the exploits of the Mane Six and many other characters as they rebel against or are destroyed by a rigid social and racial heirarchy. Secret organizations prepare to clash, hidden by the routine of everyday life. The world created by this piece is both dark and rich with variety, making it all the more terrifying for our beloved characters. I highly recommend this tale.” —ChromeMyriad
ROMANCE
Glitter was banished from her hive because she's different: instead of feeding on love, she feeds on anger, fear, and sadness. Ponies are easily fooled and more easily manipulated. Staying undetected and sustaining her dietary needs, she goes through life bringing misery to those around her. All changes though when he turns up, tearing down walls built throughout a lifetime.
PR Recommendation: “A kick in the gut and a knife to the back, this story will hurt you. But at the same time, the story is hopeful in a way, showing that even under the most adverse of circumstances, love can bloom.” —Titanium Dragon
COMEDY
There's another friendship crisis in another far away place, this time the land of the llamas, and Twilight's magical map once again calls on a heroic pony to solve it. But this time the map doesn't call Twilight or any of her friends, this time it calls somepony else entirely.
But Trixie's true reasons for accepting the map's call may not be wholly altruistic, and it turns out she's not nearly as over being upstaged by Twilight during their past encounters as she lets on.
May the gods have mercy on those poor llamas.
PR Recommendation: “Every scene ends with a laugh, the story hangs together very well, Twilight, Applejack, and Trixie are all a hoot, and Trixie’s obsession with Twilight and perseverance in the face of llama spit is a wonderful thing to behold. I can hear the whine in Trixie’s voice every time she returns to Ponyville to complain about her terrible mistreatment at the hooves of the llamas.” —Titanium Dragon
SLICE OF LIFE
Celestia is thousands of years old, and has experienced almost everything the world has to offer. But there's one ordinary thing she's never experienced, and she's determined to ask Twilight about it.
PR Recommendation: “Sometimes, slice of life can be nothing more than a single question. It doesn't even have to be a good question – it just needs to be an interesting one. As luck would have it, this question is an interesting one. If you like your slice of fluff with a side order of actually-going-somewhere-with-it, this is for you. And if 1,200 words is just an appetizer, this is probably for you as well.” —InquisitorM
HUMAN
Clementine Apple (née Orange) receives an extremely long-distance phone call.
PR Recommendation: “Roaming takes the basic concept of a parallel, humanish world and runs with it, and in so doing goes somewhere that Equestria Girls just can’t. If you’re at all intrigued by what Applejack’s parents – human or otherwise – might be like, and how pony Applejack might react to getting one last chance to talk to them, read this story. Even if you aren't, read this story anyway. This is a fantastic concept, and a fantastic story.” —BlazzingInferno
Addendums
If you guys have any questions about our sitepost policies, or our 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!
On the one hoof,
because I've read most of these and this post doesn't give me a lot to add to my reading list.
On the other hoof,
because all of these that I've read have been either good or magnificent, and it's good to see high-quality stories getting signal-boosted! Kudos on a fine selection.
Oh my god Roaming is one of my favorite tragedies ;_;
3489801
You should contribute to the problem of seeing stories you've already read by submitting your stories to us! :V
I'm glad you approve of our selection, though.
3489973
Mine, too.
Great Spotlight
Sorry, guys. I guess I was too slow reading The Mare in the High Castle. But I'm sure I would've approved it.
Hey, and now I know why I suddenly got a bunch of favorites of "Experience".
Now I know where the sudden influx of favs and comments is coming from. Thanks guys!