Wanderer D 5,510 followers · 65 stories

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117 weeks
SA: The Last Round

"So, what do you think, Corejo?" Wanderer D asked, politely showing off the stack of papers in his claw.
The burlap sack with the printed (in color!) face of Corejo remained silent.
"I see, yes, yes!" Wanderer D cackled. "Ahahaha! Yes! I agree! This story should do fine! So, who's reviewing it? RT?"
The sack that had the picture of RTStephens on it tilted just enough for a single potato to roll onto the table.
"And we have two! Alright, team, I expect you all to figure out who's doing the next one, okay? Let's not keep the readers waiting!" He glanced expectantly at the several sacks with pictures around him. "Alright! Dismissed."
"Sir?"
"Ah, intern. Is that my coffee?" Wanderer D took the proffered mug and downed the contents in one go. "Excellent! No time to rest! We have to edit what the guys just handed to me."
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110 comments · 8,879 views
138 weeks
SA: Round 186

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
The Dodge Junction train ramp was not where Floydien expected to be part of a reunion.
He especially didn’t expect it to happen four times in a row.
“Wait, Winter? What are you doing here?”
Winter’s eyebrows raised. “On Summer vacation. What about you?”
“Uh, same.”
“Guys!”
The two Angels looked to where the voice came from. Cynewulf came running up to them, a wide brimmed sunhat and sunglasses adorning her head. “Fancy meeting you two here!”
Floydien scratched his head. “Same. Are you on vacation too?”
“Yep! Had a blast down on the Horseshoe Bay coast.”
“Well, ain’t this something!”
All turned to the fourth voice. Knight strode up, his body decked out in fishing gear, complete with a fishing pole balanced over his shoulder. “Haven’t seen so many of us in one spot since vacation started.”
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12 comments · 4,668 views
153 weeks
SA: Round 185

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
Winter and Knight stared out at the bleak townscape. All around them, the fires raged unchecked as Ponyville's former occupants stumbled mindlessly about, their undead faces ravaged by rot and decay as they moaned for sustenance. Knight turned to Winter.
"Ready to go?"
Winter nodded and shifted a backpack. "Got everything with me. I guess it's now or never."
Knight gave a wry smile. "That's the spirit. You do have your reviews, right?"
"Of course!" he said, patting his chest. "Right here."
Knight nodded and said, "Alright, here's the plan: we stick to the shadows as much as possible. From what I can tell, their eyesight isn't that good, but their sense of smell is excellent. We just have to stay upwind."
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10 comments · 4,282 views
160 weeks
SA: Round 184

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
“I see. Alright, I’ll let him know.”
Intern twisted a dial on the small mechanical piece attached to his ear, retracting a blue, see-through visor from across his face. He turned to Floydien, crossing his arms. “It’s confirmed. Generation 5 is on its way. Season 2 of Pony Life is just around the corner. And the series finale of Equestria Girls was scrapped for a holiday special.”
Floydien lifted an eyebrow. “And, what does that mean for us?”
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10 comments · 4,442 views
164 weeks
SA: Round 183

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
Over their heads the flak guns peppered the sky. The planes roared and sputtered. The clouds were dark, heavy with the child that was war. It was all noise.

Cynewulf looked around the bend. “You know, I’ve been reading old fics. Remember Arrow 18?”

Floydien slipped—a Floydien slipped—One Floydien came through the fractured time in the lower levels of the Sprawling Complex. “Uh, human in Equestria?”

“Yeah. You know, we were probably too mean about those.”

“They were terrible. I mean some of them. I guess a lot of everything is terrible.”

“Well, yes. But anyway, I was reading it, and it occurred to me that what I liked about it was that it felt optimistic in the way that Star Trek was optimistic. It felt naive, but in a way one wanted to emulate. To regress back into it.”

“Uh, that sounds nice?”
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7 comments · 5,943 views
169 weeks
SA: Round 182

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
“Okay, Winter, hit it!”
Winter pulled a lever that ignited a rocket placed underneath the communal Christmas Tree. The tree blasted through a cylindrical hole and out into the skies beyond. It only took seconds for the tree to become a tiny red dot against the blue sky.
Winter stepped away from the control panel and down to where Intern was standing behind a fifty-five millimeter thick glass wall. “We could have just picked up the base and tossed it in the garbage bin outside, you know.”
Intern scoffed. “Yeah, we could, or we can go over the top in a comedic and entertaining manner that leads into our reviews.”
“You’re getting all meta, now.”
“Exactly! On to the reviews!”
ROUND 182
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6 comments · 7,968 views
174 weeks
SA: Round 181

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
For the first time in the year that he worked there, FanficFan finally experienced quiet in the Seattle’s Angels Compound. All the other reviewers had gone home for the holidays, leaving him and Intern to submit the last round of reviews of the year. However, with Intern off on an errand, FanficFan was left alone.
With stories ready to be read by his partner, all the reviewer could really do was wander around the empty building, taking in all the holiday decorations left behind from the Office Christmas Party a few days prior, like office space holiday knick-knacks, lights strown about the ceiling and wreaths on nearly every door. Plus, there was some leftover cookies and egg nog, so that was nice.
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8 comments · 6,382 views
178 weeks
SA: Round 180

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
Cynewulf lay in a grassy field. This was a curious occurrence, as the Seattle Angel’s Dyson Sphere-esque compound basement labyrinth did not usually have grass.

But like she had many times before, she’d been teleported here, and whether or not the sky above her was real or not, she didn’t mind. The grass was nice, and the wind was nice, and whatever happened happened.
f
There was a great crash and Corejo stumbled into the grass to her right.
“Oh, god, are we out? How did—”
“No clue. I suspect that it’ll just take us back anyhow. Did you have the reviews? The machine came for me a few days ago, so I’ve got mine.”

“I… Uh, I was late. I mean, we both are, unless you’ve been here for days.”
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9 comments · 8,141 views
182 weeks
SA: Round 179

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
Winter peered cautiously out the corner of the broken window, surveying the damage outside. He turned to his companion.
"Looks like we're trapped in here," he said quietly.
Intern grunted and adjusted the bandage on his arm. "Nothing we haven't gone through before." He looked up at Winter. "Got your reviews?"
Winter nodded and patted his chest pocket. "Right here, where they're safe." He turned and looked once more out the window. "Now, it's simply a matter of getting through all those ponies." Winter shuddered as he took in the horrors before him.
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10 comments · 5,239 views
185 weeks
SA: Round 178

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
Matthew stumbled through the basement, crouching low to avoid all the pipes on the ceiling. Floydien hadn’t told him much, just that it was extremely important, had nothing to do with Intern, and to take the last fire door on the left.
After what seemed like eternity in an instant, Matthew finally came to said fire door, damp with sweat and condensation. He carefully undid the latch and opened it with one arm raised just in case of any traps. Only to be greeted with the sounds of maniacal but joyous laughter as he spotted Floydien sitting in the center of the room surrounded by thousands of stacks of papers.
“I found it!” Floydien said, tossing a stapled pack of papers to Matthew. “I finally found the answer. The answer to all of our questions. To our very existence!”
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4 comments · 4,543 views

Oct

13th

2018

Story Reviews » SA Reviews Round 138 · 10:23pm Oct 13th, 2018

Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.

“Here’s the cafeteria, there’s the offices, down there’s the jet propulsion lab—”

“Question!”

Intern jerked from the sudden squeak coming from the light green pegasus pony standing next to him. “Yeah?”

“Why do you have a jet propulsion lab?”

Intern stared at the newest member of the Angels, Heartshine, as though unable to process the question. “Why wouldn’t we have a jet propulsion lab?”

Heartshine giggled. “Good point. Carry on!”

“Yes, as I was saying, let me show you to your work area.” He led the equine down the hall, crossing through a door with the label “Reviewer’s Room” above it. Navigating through the small labyrinth of desks and chairs, Intern eventually stopped at a brand new and shiny wooden easel with a plush red pillow in front of it. “The higher ups figured this setup would be the best suited for you.”

“Oh, it’s all so cute!” Heartshine gave a little hop and drifted onto the awaiting pillow. She squealed as she sank down into its plushiness. “It’s just as soft as it looks. You fellas know how to treat a filly right!”

“All I got was a paper clip,” Intern muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!” Clearing his throat, Intern pointed at the easel where an unrolled piece of parchment lay. A quill and ink bottle sat next to the easel. “Well, you should be all set to get to writing. Come find me when you’re done.”

“You got it!” Rolling up her metaphorical sleeves, Heartshine picked up the quill with her teeth, dipped it into the ink, and began putting words to parchment.

ROUND 138

STORY 1
How the Foundation Ruined Nightmare Night, by Drefsab

Princess Luna is a mare of exacting standards. On the one night a year dedicated to her, she expects things to go smoothly. For several years, they have -- children all across Equestria have come to rejoice in her arrival, to thrill at the Princess of the Night enjoying a few hours of scares and laughs. Things have become routine. Comfortable. Reliable.

Then, one year, Princess Luna makes a simple request to Equestria's foremost experts on everything arcane -- the Foundation for Spellcraft and Alchemy. A small order, easily within the capabilities of the mares and stallions that call the Foundation home. A pair of researchers are all that is needed for such a request, two ponies with steady minds and steadier equipment.

Bramble and Willow are not those researchers.

When the duo are forced to improvise, or risk facing Princess Luna's impending wrath on her only night of the year, they accidentally unleash a creation that threatens to destroy Bridle Falls...or at least make the town smell a little more festive.

RTStephens:

It’s October, so you’ll be seeing a few spooky entries in this one. And to start it off, I’m throwing at you a body horror one! In the spirit of MLP, of course.

It’s the night Luna’s been waiting for all year. On this night, it’s her time to shine and she’s even put in an order for some special items to make it even better. Unfortunately, protocol seems to be lacking at the magical foundation in which she put her request in and the researchers bungle things up. What follows is a deliteful series of events that could easily fit into the show. Funny and odd enough to delight the kids but with some fringe horror elements that older fans will enjoy.

If nothing else, read this to see what happens to Luna and how she deals with it. It’s a hoot!

Criminally overlooked, this story got me into the Halloween spirit with fun characters and wacky hijinks. Put this on your Read it NOW list!

Heartshine:

Oh Lordy. This story is the best parts of the SCP-programme given form in MLP. The zany hijinks, the random mentions of failed experiments, and the aspects of mild body horror that seems to somehow fit into all of this made the story a delight to read. To me, what made it fun to read was how it juxtaposed the humorous banter between colleagues with the really mildly horrifying stuff that was mentioned in the background. Also watching Luna try to deal with this particularly wild bit of shenanigans was delightful.

Actually, now that I think of it, Mr. Intern, isn’t that lab under Angels HQ? Ooo, that’s a neat looking pen you’ve--

What was I saying?

STORY 2
A Day In The Life Of Opalescence, by CelestialScribe

Opalescence's life is a relaxed, easy-going one. How better to make it interesting than annoying her owner, scrapping with Angel, and generally being a cat?

RTStephens:

Perhaps not a horror story, but Opalescence is secretly demonic, right? You’ll think so after getting through this.

I’ve never owned a cat (only cleaned up after them…), so my knowledge of how they act is limited. I know they like furry things to chase after, milk, and racking up views on YouTube videos. After this, I think I’ll add “Secretly Plotting to Take Over the World” to the list. Opalescence knows what she wants and how to get it, masterfully manipulating poor Rarity to practice ruling over her future domain. And (mostly) getting away with it.

Who knew cats could be so evil?

Anyway, this was fun stuff, getting a look at a smaller citizen of Ponyville and how she spends her time. If you want a more laid back experience where the stakes are as high as avoiding a bath, then give this a whirl. It’ll give you a few chuckles and make you reconsider adopting any future hairy hellspawns.

Heartshine:

I’ve always wanted to be a cat. It seems like it would be a nice life. A simple life. Full of - Intern… Intern... laser pointer… laser pointer down! We must fight to burn out the red!

Ahem. Anyways, this story is really awesome because it gets you into the head of Opalescence. That’s a perspective you don’t really see too often. Getting to know why she does what she does, why cats do the things they do, and generally how she carries on with this love-hate-love relationship with Rarity. For a pet who is just as mercurial as her owner, it’s an interesting experience to see the world of Ponyville through her lense.

This story takes you through a day in Ponyville in a really unique way, and it makes you smile along the way. I thought it was a great story, and not just because I am a cat lover myself! Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, too!

STORY 3
Self-Reflection, by Waxworks

Traveling to Applewood through the San Palomino desert, Trixie is sweaty and tired. The town she usually stopped at on her way through was missing, and she feared it had been abandoned. When she finally sees a town, it's not the one she remembered, being almost a fortress of sorts.

The town is seemingly abandoned, save for strange mirrors in every home. When she finds out what they're for, she also discovers the town isn't as abandoned as she first thought.

RTStephens:

Now for some true horror. Not gonna lie, this one legitimately creeped me out. The setting is isolated and bleak, and the only help you’re going to get is what you bring with you. Trixie learns the hard way that some doors are best left unopened.

What works about this story is the unknown. What we don’t understand frightens us because we feel unprepared to take on these things. Will we screw up trying one thing when we should have gone with another? How do you deal with a situation that has no set rules or if the rules change? This is all that Trixie faces when she pokes her nose in places that she really shouldn’t.

Trixie fans will loves this as it showcases just what she’s capable of. With nopony else to rely on, she’s forced to get out of the predicament she’s in all on her own. Non-Trixie fans should also give this a try, as her more annoying personality traits are put on hold, largely because there’s nopony around to boast at. There’s plenty to recommend, so save this one for a dark night and let the chills crawl down your back.

Heartshine:

Horror is a genre that is often difficult to pull off. It requires a lot of effort being put into describing the atmosphere of a place to set the reader at as ill ease as the characters going through the story. Writers have to feed the readers just enough information to make them more and more nervous about what is going on.

Man did this story do that well. Waxworks harkened me back to the time I spent in Arizona and the desert around Albuquerque, and the sort of weird stuff that happens that’ll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up for no good reason. When you ended up places where you knew you should be utterly alone, but felt like you were being watched and felt you should be somewhere else. Seeing Trixie explore a seemingly abandoned town as a relatively unskilled protagonist was the perfect balance of humour and anxiety that made this piece an enjoyable read. Like any good horror story, many of the questions raised in the piece go unanswered, but that makes the ending all the sweeter to get to.

STORY 4
Stormy Monday, by Bud Grazer

Moving to Ponyville was supposed to be the beginning of a new, exciting life for Sweetie Drops, but things rarely go as planned...

Then again, unexpected events sometimes turn out for the best, as the candy maker gets to meet a pony who has something in common with her: feeling down in the dumps.

RTStephens:

We end this week’s post on something more downbeat but no less important. A tale of making a change in one’s life that didn’t turn out quite like what we planned. However, it’s the unexpected things that happen that often leave longer lasting consequences.

Set just before the start of the series, Sweetie Drops is questioning her life choices. We’ve all been there: should I have stayed where I was? Was it a mistake to move to a brand new town? What’s going to happen to me if I continue to stay? It’s relatable and it’s real.

A random decision later has her conversing with another mare in the same position. Or rather, an awkward looking position. This chance meeting doesn’t seem all that important to either pony, but us fans know better and it’s all the sweeter for it.

If you like a dash of melancholy with a pinch of hopefulness for the future, then give this one a chance as well. Despite the tone throughout, it left me with a content smile.

Heartshine:

So, I’m a huge sucker for pieces that have some depth that you dig into. I also hate Mondays. That said, Stormy Monday did an excellent job of using limited words to evoke emotions from the reader. You really quickly begin to feel the frustration and desperation that Sweetie Drops feels about her life circumstances. And while the tagline might suggest a ‘misery loves company’ sort of attitude, this story doesn’t stick to that. Not at all.

Stormy Monday is a beautifully emotional piece about two ponies meeting at random, and trying to figure out how to make life work when it clearly isn’t. It’s about making the best of the worst situations, and how having a friend to work through those tough times may make them just a little easier to weather.

“Mr. Intern! I’m done!”

Heartshine looked up from the easel, the parchment filled with exquisite penmanship. She put the quill down and hovered in the air. Looking around, she didn’t see Intern in the immediate area. Just as she was about to ask another one of the Angles where he could be, Archonix, walking by, beat her to it.

“He’s in his ‘office’,” he said, making air quotes with his fingers. “Just look for room J.” He walked off, chuckling.

“Okay. Thanks!” Rolling up the review parchment and tucking it under a foreleg, Heartshine headed back towards the hall. Conveniently, all the doors had little black letters attached to them and it didn’t take long to find the one with a J. She knocked with her free foreleg and waited.

The door opened, allowing a cascade of brooms, mops, and paper towels to spill out. Intern sat in the center of the tiny room, over a water drain. Smiling, Heartshine hoofed over her parchment. “Wow, you get your own room! Lucky you!” Waving good-bye, she closed the door and flew off, missing the quiet sobbing coming from within.

Feel free to visit our group for more information and events, and to offer some recommendations for future rounds. See you all next time!

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