It Is Recommendsday, My Dudes #155 · 8:00pm March 6th
So this week's my anniversary - 14 years. And that's a good enough reason to establish a theme! So as my wife and I are both absolute gigantic nerds (which should not be a surprise to anyone), I think I'll have a bit of fun this week with Moondancer. And romances. But not her and Twilight, that's too easy. Let's go with some that are a bit more unique.
And to lead, I'm gonna drop in with I Am Awkward (Yellow) by J Carp because what says unusual pairing like Moondancer and Fluttershy?
Moondancer has gotten a major grant to study the Everfree Forest (which is totally not nepotism, Twilight said so!) and thus is coming to Ponyville. At her going away party in Canterlot, she spies a stunningly beautiful pony she's never seen before: Fluttershy. They meet, talk, find they really like each other. And ironically for the two anti-social ponies, that's the easy part because damn near everypony else within thirty meters has an opinion and can't help but get involved.
I'll note first that this one's got two sequels worth including in the discussion: It Turns Out They're Windmills and FemmeFiction, both of which are great companion pieces. (Windmills is actually where I got on board with this set.) This is kinda an endorsement of those as well, so keep that in mind.
Now - while the story's got good drama and romance (if a little fast paced - I would have loved more of Fluttershy and Moondancer being cute together), what really makes this stand out is J Carp's amazing but subtle comedic skill. Like there's so many little moments and tiny asides that make me laugh throughout all three of these. Things like "I think that's a friendship bridge we'll cross if we friendship come to it?" or "Hoof-Tang Clan is forever." that it isn't so much the line as it is the timing and delivery.
Like one of my absolute favorite comedic moments comes in Windmills. The climax of the story approaches, and the Rainbooms are dramatically standing ready to go battle their villain of the week. Then a now-human Moondancer comes wobbly running over to them, nearly collapsing as she arrives. Out of breath, out of shape, and in the midst of a panic attack, she looks them dead on and pronounces: "Hi. I'm Moondancer. I'm a horse."
I don't know why but that leaves me in stitches every time.
Beyond that - this series actually is one of my favorite takes on Equestrian LGBT views because it manages to cut a good middle ground. It's something that's notable and out of the ordinary - allowing for good drama and story opportunities - but there's relatively minimal judgment or pushback - so things don't get morose or preachy. That all comes more to a head in FemmeFiction, but is notable throughout all three. Even if in Awkward it's more about Rainbow Dash being an overprotective dum-dum.
As a companion piece this week, I've picked Shilic's Within a Dream of Sunset, Love.
Moondancer - a human Moondancer - dreams of being a unicorn. There, she embraces and loves another unicorn who's like fire in both flame and passion. And most unusually, most unlike her life? There, Moondancer is happy.
I have a special place in my heart for the Sad Girl In Snow trope. Usually it surfaces in Wallflower fics, but Shilic (with the obvious authenticity of personal experience) really sells it well with Moondancer here. In the human world, she's just so damn miserable. And it's a familiar misery, particularly to the introverted/non-social and more so post-Covid. It's that heavy malaise that seeps into everything, turning the world gray and driving you back from even those seeking to help. Relationships that exist only as Chat, avoiding anything more than the slightest engagement, a lack of enthusiasm even for the things you care about - it's ripe and heavy here. Wonderful, evocative writing.
And contrasting that is her dreams with Sunset. Bright and full of passion, both romantic and for what they're working on. It's a place where Moondancer is able to emerge out of her shell to revel in life - even if her human part keeps creeping in to make her doubt it all. But every time she starts to sink, there's Sunset Shimmer to pull her backup.
The aforementioned authenticity is what really makes the story work. Several commenters (and Loganberry) cite it, and the personal experience shows. This is the kind of writing that doesn't work when it's faked. It works here. It works damn well. (Even without a deep knowledge of Evangelion, which Shilic cites as being a tonal inspiration.)
New or catching up? Try Recommendsday: The Index for your story needs!
Happy anniversary! Here's to many more for both of you.
14 years!
Good on you, mate, and all the best for the many more to come!
I actually know both stories here: Within a Dream of Sunset, Love is one I remember from when Logan read it and almost read myself off the endorsed intensity of its emotions, but passed by for one reason or another. Possibly just bad timing, or not being in the right mindset. You featuring it is enough for me to get around to it proper, so cheers.
As for I Am Awkward, I’ve read it and Windmills. Not the incomplete final fic, though. Don’t remember much of either, though Awkward’s penchant for dry and unexpected comic wit does ring a bell.
What I mostly remember, alas, is the material of Windmills; not just that it’s a romance, but the particular story of sexual identity it’s telling with that, plus bringing in this variety of EqG and the dual-world parallels. It was all a major “oh crumbs, not for me” moment, as far as personal investment goes.
It probably was well-written – the first one was, after all – but I cannot attest to that. And even if it were of a similar length to the first, rather than 62K, I still wouldn’t return to it now.
Awkward, however, remains on my reread list, and being novella-length, I don’t have as much opposition getting to at sone point or another. So, there’s that. So not a bad week for one of these.
Happy Anniversary! Here's to many more. n_n I don't comment often but I do love reading these blogs and finding new stories to read.
Awkward is so good omg ;_;
Happy Anniversary! May you both have much more happiness ahead.
I've certainly seen J Carp's fic before, though I haven't actually read it. I'd been kinda hoping to wait until the third story was complete, but at getting on for two years since an update now I'm coming to suspect that won't happen. As such, I'll think about giving I Am Awkward (Yellow) a look as a standalone. Thanks for the reminder!
Happy Anniversary Tempest! Congrats to the both of you!
Oh hey! It's nice to see Moondancer get some love (even if I'm a little biased). Moondancer's situation in Within a Dream of Sunset, Love is, yeah, parallel to my own, and that mood... still comes and goes, if I'm being honest. Part of the reason I really write much fanfic anymore... That said, it's possibly the work I'm still the most proud of? I feel it's evocative in ways most of my other work isn't...
Also, happy anniversary! Here's to many more.