MAN I MISS THESE THINGS!

-Traveler

Here it is, the best of the best. Without any further delays, I give you the character I consider to be the best, out of all the stories I've read.

#1 - Echo, from "The Ballad of Echo the Diamond Dog"

I'm not sure what to say on Echo that hasn't already been said by a lot of people already. His story is already considered one of the top tier stories out there by a lot of people, and he himself is just a great character. I'll see if I can say anything new, but let's start out with the story summary first.

The Ballad of Echo the Diamond Dog is about the title character, Echo, a human who was sent to Equestria by Discord, and got himself turned into a diamond dog (duh). From there, he meets Daring Do, loses his voice, and embarks on an adventure simply for the fantastic reasoning of, "Why not?"

So much of Echo's character is just a mixture of everything I find to be excellent in a story. He's got strength, but he doesn't know how to fully control it yet. His diamond dog body is new to him, and he actually spends time getting used to everything it can do. But from that strength also comes limitations. As his vocal cords were damaged in a fight, he's now completely mute, and has to think up ways to convey what he's trying to say. To that end, he has to learn how to write in the native Equestrian tongue, which also takes time to learn. That in itself, the fact that he has to learn everything from almost scratch, makes him such a fascinating character. You want to see him learn, you want to see him adapt what he knows from his past into his present, and he does that in a way that makes you see he's making progress.

His sense of humor is also at just the right balance for him to be taken seriously. Whereas Firewall had too much humor to his name, Echo has a better sense of when to joke around, and when to buckle down and get serious. He'll fight when it's time to fight, listen when he needs to be quiet, and so on and so forth. With that little fact combined with a good heart, you'd think he'd be loved by pretty much everyone, right?

Wrong! He doesn't instantly win over everyone's trust. As a diamond dog, nearly all ponies mistrust him, and are taken by surprise when they see how intelligent he is. A good amount of the ponies have such a justified prejudice against them, that one of them nearly gets another killed because of that hatred. Even Daring Do has a couple moments of unease when Echo first shows up, but when he helps her out of a tight spot, she starts to trust him and eventually open up to the guy. One of the best things about him is also the fact that he still makes mistakes. He has his moments of temper, he has his moments of stupidity. He even has his moments of awkward dancing! But during all of that, he manages to keep his integrity and never does what they expect. Why? Because of that one simple phrase that defines him, and his story.

Why not?

Why not help someone in need? Why not be a Diamond Dog in a world of ponies? Why not Zoidberg? Why not be the good guy? Why not go on an adventure? Why not do something just because you want to, and to hell with your doubts and insecurities? Why not have a little fun every once in awhile?

How many characters ask that question in this way? How many people do that? Because of that, Echo is my favorite character on FIMFiction, and definitely just one of my all-time favorite characters I've ever seen in literature or TV.

-Traveler

For those of you who don't seem to get the idea behind why I've not answered your zillions of messages, comments, and otherwise annoying little reminders, allow me to share one with you.

ETERNAL TWILIGHT IS UNDERGOING A REWRITE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED, BUT WHEN IT IS, TRUST ME, YOU'LL ALL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.

Seriously, I made a blog about it already in the past, responded to what feels like a thousand comments or PM's, and have neglected to update the story description simply because I thought you'd all be a little patient. It's especially frustrating when I've explicitly stated that I'm currently taking a break from writing anything pony related so I can get a new perspective on my writing. If you're all going to bug me about that, at least wait until I've said I'm done with my break.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

#2 - Ace the Satyr, from "Wild Card"

You all knew he was gonna be on here. With how many times I've gone on about his story, it's really no surprise at this point. It's time I said why I really like him so much though. Again, due to gushing on the story before, I'm just gonna skip it and get right into the juicy details.

Ace is by all definitions, a con. He uses wit to outsmart his enemies, relies heavily on his friends and allies, and does everything with a smile on his face. He's a former magician and thief, and he uses every little trick he's learned from those to get through life with as much flair and showmanship as possible, and just watching him do it is such an enjoyment for me that I can't help but love him that much. That's not to say he's without his own personal flaws, however. He does joke at the wrong times, he can be considered annoying by those friends who help him, and his heavy reliance on luck has gotten him into trouble on several occasions. Plus, he's still a thief, and always is on the lookout for another way to make some money.

His charisma and humor aren't there just for good narration and character, though. He actually does put them to use in solving problems, either talking whenever possible, or using something unexpected to take an enemy by surprise. If he gets into actual melee combat, you can be pretty safe in guessing he's not gonna win that without some kind of trickery, whether it be a backstab, tripping them, or using that card he's got hidden up his sleeve. And just the way he interacts with the characters around him keeps him is something cool to watch too. He respects his friends, yet he shows that with jokes (and not stealing their stuff).

With all of that, he's essentially a Brony version of Robin Hood, even if it's the Men in Tights version. I love this character, and eagerly await the next update of his story.

-Traveler

Ohoho, we're gettin' to the big ones now, aren't we? Let's not waste anymore time, here it is:

#3 - Gearrick Tinkermane, from "Tinkermane"

You'll have probably noticed a pattern by now where my favorite characters and stories seem to be from the ones that have a lot of potential to go south extremely quick, mainly because of how absurd or overdone they've been. This is one of those stories just like that. Tinkermane is essentially a romance story between Twilight Sparkle, and the genius steamtech inventor known as Gearrick Tinkermane. This already sounds like it could take a turn for the worse at any given moment, doesn't it? But you already know that it doesn't, simply because I'm already about to go on and on about why this character is one of my favorites.

Gearrick is another extremely witty character with a good amount of quirks. He's a genius with anything that involves steamtech, creating fantastic inventions at the drop of a hat, to the point where he will work on a project with a zealous fanaticism that can be seen as unhealthy. He's got that same streak of confidence that's borderline arrogance, but you don't really care about that because he's smart enough that he can actually back it all up. Plus, his entire reason for being a super-genius tinkerer is because he has that passion for creating that's never really seen in characters today. Steamtech isn't just art or a way to make money to him; it's the very essence of life, and you can clearly see that with how he cares for his inventions. Yet he doesn't ever let that get the better of him either. At the risk of giving away spoilers, there's a certain scene in which Tinkermane willingly repairs a competitor's invention, when he knows full well it could cost him the victory in a tinkering competition. That's pretty ballsy, and it carries with it a sense of honor that I really admire in a character like this. Even the fact that he's a minor alcoholic adds to his likeability, and that's a really hard thing to pull off. Especially when you consider that he's the love interest of a certain purple pony known as Twilight Sparkle.

And that's another reason I actually like this character so much. In so many romance stories, the relationship is either built up too fast, or too slow, with the characters having a thing for each other right off the bat. In Tinkermane, however, that's not a problem at all. The story takes its pacing at just the right speed, starting off with hints that gradually work themselves up to a certain point where the two are comfortable with admitting their feelings. And to see that pulled off so believably is such a refreshing thing that I can't help but love that about both the character, and the story.  He cares for Twilight, and he cares for her so much that by the end, he's willing to put everything on the line for her. That just shows how much he's grown as a character in that story, and how that one chance meeting with Twilight changed him greatly.

The best part about that is that it's still a believable reaction for both him, and for his story. Once again, something I really admire in a character, and its story. Really, there's not much else to say.

Gearrick Tinkermane, the prime example of a romance original character done right.

-Traveler

#4 - Octavia and Vinyl, from "Alegrezza"

Is it cheating to put two characters in the same spot? In this case, definitely not, just because you can't see either one without the other. This pairing/friendship has become so powerful and iconic to the fandom, that it's literally the most common shipping. It's Octavia and Vinyl! One can't help but think of the other when you hear one.  I almost don't have to say anything else, really.

Actually. I'm not gonna. Just go read the story and see for yourself the amount of depth, contrast, growth, and wit that the two of these characters have. This is more than likely the story behind the personalities of Vinyl and Octavia. Seriously, nothing else to say now.

Toodles~

-Traveler

#5 - Mort, from "Mort Takes a Holiday"

So let's talk about death. No, seriously, my fifth favorite character is Death. What does that say about my mind?

Mort Takes a Holiday is about Mort, the Pale Pony of Death, who gets a day off and is told to spend it with the mane six. The only problem? Well, for starters, he's death itself. Aside from the immortality and abilities that go with the job of the Grim Reaper, he's basically got no form of social life whatsoever, with his only friends being the Princesses. So he has to keep this a secret, while still trying to be friend with the mane six.

Does this sound like the potential for a Mary Sue OC story gone horribly horribly wrong? Yes, yes it does. But that's what's so great about this story. It's taken that risk, and pulled it off so wonderfully that you can't help but wonder how the author pulled it off. Mort himself is actually a very awkward character. He has no idea how to socialize, other than a crash course from Celestia and Luna, and everything he does is trial and error. He's extremely realistic, personality wise, and that really means a lot in these kind of stories. Not to mention the fact that he's still a kind and good pony, but he just has trouble showing it. If he makes a mistake, it ends up snowballing because he doesn't know how to react.

It's not just those quirks that make him a great character though. As I just said, he's a kind pony that really does try to make friends. In being the embodiment of Death, he's appeared to have gained a very strong appreciation of what makes life good. He's still learning what all of those things are, but you can clearly see he enjoys seeing happiness, and views it as a welcome change from what surrounds death. He's a very great take on an interesting concept, and his interactions with everyone else are just plain astounding.

He's Mort. What else can I say?

-Traveler

Is it cheating to use a character from an RP that's on FIMFiction?

Screw it, it's my blog, I'll do what I want.

#6 - Virgil Cor'adamas from "The Unity Games"

Yeah, yeah, I know. Some of you are thinking it's not right to put a character from a writing/roleplaying tournament onto this list, but I don't care. Virgil was a damn good character, and as the winner of the Unity Games, he's getting a story anyways. But what about him did I like so much?

Let's start with his backstory. When he was younger, he had a family and lived out in the woods, where he managed to carve out a living for them all. Unwittingly though, he built said home on a dragon's territory, and in response, that dragon basically tore his family away from him in a brutal manner. Ever since then, he's been hunting down dragons and information on where his lost daughter is. When he caught wind of a tournament, he decided to join it on the desperate hope that he could find his daughter, or at least some measure of peace. If you want the detailed summary, just click the link up there and you'll see his character post.

What I really like about this character is how much you end up sympathizing with him. He's not some young, reckless earth pony with magical powers. He's an aged veteran with nothing but his wits to help him out of situations. And in a role-playing tournament, with no especially strange/over-the-top tricks to use, that's pretty damn impressive. I mean, this wasn't just a competitor. He won the tournament in the end, and he fought mages, bounty hunters, and all sorts of crazy opponents to get there. A little off topic, but you still see why he's so likeable.

Another reason is that in all of his posts, he didn't gloss over his backstory at all. Instead, he very clearly told everyone who had earned his trust the entire story. He felt guilt for failing his family, he felt anger at those who had taken it from him, he felt hopeless in the fact that he thought he might never see his surviving family member again. Yet no matter how much weight he carried, he always had a sense of pride in everything he did. He didn't open himself easily, and always rose to whatever challenge was put before him. I was happy to have my ass handed to me by him, just because of how well he had been written. And that's another thing to mention; no matter who he encountered in the Unity Games outside of the battles, no matter how varied the personalities, he remained the same. His changes were gradual, not sudden, and carried over very well throughout the entire course of the tournament.

He was a tough old bastard, and I was glad to go through that tournament just so I could see more of his posts and wonder at his character. He would have definitely placed higher if he were in an actual published story, but for now, he's more than earned the number six position.

-Traveler

Due to 504Fiction yesterday (and Skyrim), I didn't do my character blog. I apologise. Now back to the good part!

#7 - The Twelfth Doctor, from "Number 12" and "Traveler"

Everyone's really familiar with the background character that we've lovingly dubbed "Doctor Whooves" in honor of the world's longest running sci-fi show. There have been tons and tons of stories that have been published around him, tumblr blogs devoted to him, plushies, everything. And all because the designers put an hourglass on his flank. But that's just something I really like about how some talented authors have taken these characters and given them those defined traits and personalities.

So, why these two stories in particular? Well, it's surprisingly simple to think about it. The most common theory in most Doctor Whooves stories is that he's just a ponified version of either the tenth or eleventh Doctors. They give him that certain personality, and voila. But in these, they come up with something a bit more different. The Doctor's pony form is actually his twelfth incarnation, with a new personality that still keeps some of those traits, but also adds in new ones that we would expect for him. He's still brainy and a mad genius, but he also seems more cocky and eccentric. And who can blame him?

Alright, so his basic story...well, to make it short, it's basically the Twelfth Doctor lands in Equestria and has adventures. And the-

Woops. Sorry.

In any case, like I said above, I admire how the author gave him a new personality and quirks, but still kept that overall brilliance that each Doctor has. He's still courageous, but he's also rash at times. He's confident, but that can sometimes lead to cockiness. I'll admit that I haven't read the "Doctor Whooves Episodes" series that's a spin-off of these stories, but I still have to admit that I love this character. It's the quintessential Doctor Whooves characterization in my book, and that's good enough for this list.

-Traveler Out!

#8 - Morpheus, from "Dreaming of Paws"

Alright, if you've been following my blogs for a while now, you'll know how I love Glassed's story, Dreaming of Paws, and how I consider it to be one of the funniest stories I've read. It's got tons of random humor, characters that are just downright hilarious to see how they interact with the world around them, and so on. But surprisingly, it's not the main character that I think is the best (though he's pretty cool too).

Dreaming of Paws is another Chess Game of the Gods story, in which the god of dreams, Morpheus, sends a champion, known to us as Jazz, to Equestria, so he can gather new material for new dreams. And honestly, I'm going to stop right there in the summarization, simply because I don't want to even try to explain everything else that happens. It'd ruin the jokes, and just give me a headache in trying to get it all down. But I digress.

Morpheus in this story isn't automatically tossed aside once the main character gets to Equestria, something that quite a few CGG stories suffer from. Instead, he frequently appears and holds conversations with his piece. He sort of takes the role of a wise teacher in this story, trying to show Jazz why he chose him, and this in turn shows us more of his thought process and personality. And for a god of dreams, I think a philosophical persona really seems to fit him perfectly. He prefers creativity over intelligence, choice over destiny. It's even implied in some of the writing that he actually would rather be a mortal than a god, just for that freedom from power and responsibility. Like Cloudhammer, he's also got a sort of sense of honor and nobility, but it isn't as obvious or forthright. If anything, he tries to downplay it a bit with a sense of humor.

He's only so low on the list for two reasons: One, we haven't seen much of him in the story persay. A bit of what I'm saying here is guesswork and me just reading into how he's written. He could change a lot in the future, or he could have more revealed that changes how we see him. The second reason is that, despite how serious I've made him seem in my reasoning, he's still from a very much comedic story. Everyone in that story is a hilarious character, almost making Morph seem out of place. Don't get me wrong though, I still consider him to be a great addition to the cast, but I still have to wonder how he'd be in a different genre.

Ah well, nonetheless; Morpheus is an excellent and refreshing take on an otherwise unheard of God, and I look forward to seeing him more in the future.

As always, comment, and tune in tomorrow to see the next one on the list.

-Traveler Out!