Fic recs, June 12th! · 4:10pm June 12th

Scribbler has done a reading of Hyzaku's That Awkward Moment When, with Animelodie, MuseScript and RagingKirinVA!

She's also done Bachiavellian's Kiss by Wire, with Cerridwen and RagingKirinVA again!

She's also also done her own March-makers story, Doing the Right Thing, with VladiVoices and Clever Hooves!

Cripes, it's been over a month. D: Well, here's why:

H: 3 R: 0 C: 0 V: 1 N: 0 X: 1

Scarlet by Skijarama
Reading
Genre: AU/Adventure/Drama/Dark
After the war, Scarlet Frost lived the life she wanted. Until one night, a filly showed up in her wine cellar and turned her world upside-down.
Wow, where to begin? The comparison to Empty Horizons, I suppose: it's an easy one to make, since the two were read by Skijaramaz in quick succession, and I could see him taking inspiration from EH to create his own AU. But if he did, that's where the comparison ends. This world is much more high medieval fantasy, the fall of Equestria happened only 400 years ago, and the world of New Equestria, though not exactly a great place to live, at least has its shit together enough so that its inhabitants can live, rather than be subject to falling islands and warring micro-states. Also, there are far fewer show characters making appearances, with the alicorns of Old Equestria being worshiped as goddesses. And so we are thrown into the life of one Scarlet Frost, veteran of a war against the griffons several years back, and a genuine magical badass hiding a dark past. I don't just mean war crimes! She works as a scholar studying the aforementioned Fall, she has a fairly cozy life, and she really hates changelings, so of course she gets dragged out of her house by destiny and adventure by irascible filly Primrose. Prim is also a good character, trying to hold on to her sanity and childhood while being pursued by a crazed killer who's taken from her every successive family she's found over the course of several years. To this band is later added one Sharp Lens, a nerdy former compatriot of Scarlet's whose help they need as the first stop of their journey, who honestly may have ended up losing far more than Scarlet did by getting mixed up in this business. The characters are all quite good, even the main antagonist being very nuanced in his interactions with them. The pacing is likewise excellent, and Skijaramaz has a definite skill in writing action scenes; they all flow incredibly well and there wasn't a single moment that was unclear. The plot itself is pretty standard "on the run" adventure fare, but there's nothing wrong with that, as we get to know the characters and they get to know each other. I do want to say, the plot twists and reveals are all fantastic, placed just right and always had me exclaiming in amazement. My complaints thusly are few. With the writing, saidisms abound, but the only other things I'd criticize are thematic wells I've seen in his writing before, which thus wouldn't bother a reader who hasn't been listening to his Youtube channel. The other spot I'd criticize is the last third or so of the story, and again, this is not a major concern. But there is a point at which the main villain seems to have been defeated, leaving the reader with a "how are there this many more chapters?" feeling. Directly after that, it seems to drag a bit, but it does pick back up for the finale. The other criticism from this area is that the main characters have some ridiculous plot armor; they're able to live through some really tremendous wounds by the end, and I was perfectly prepared for one to have sacrificed themselves for the others, only for them to recover from what appeared to be death. It's kind of ridiculous. But in the end, this is a really solid AU adventure, and I'm honestly sad the sequel is cancelled. (On that note, don't look at the sequel description until you've read this story, if you can help it. It spoils the main mystery!)
Highly Recommended

The Bug in the Basement by Skijarama
Reading
Genre: CiH
Eventide Oath's life is turned upside-down when he finds a strange rock under a tree. A 'rock' that just so happens to be an egg from another world…
So this is touted as a 'spiritual successor' to The Bug in the Herd, which explains both the title and the lack of an actual sequel link between them. And I have to say, I really was not interested in it. The most interesting parts of the first 10 chapters for me were the decision to set this in EQG, just before the first movie (oh, that genre tag means 'Changeling in Humania' by the way) and the little bits of changeling world-building, mostly focused around their early life cycles. Otherwise, we've got a self-inserty sort of character with a very weird name, who just so happens to be friends with Fluttershy, trying his best to be as normal as possible while taking care of a changeling nymph. It's just not for me. The worst thing I can really say is that the writing is less compelling than Scarlet, but I hold no real ill will toward the story. I just don't want to read the whole thing.
No Rating

"Pharynx, what the buck is a lesbian?" by BezierBallad and Mlphero
Reading
Genre: Comedy
Pharynx was maybe not the best changeling to ask.
The odd thing about this story is that it's a sidefic for something that's no longer on the site, so I really have no idea what I'm looking at here. Instinctively, I feel like this would have been funnier had it been another of the Student Six asking the question rather than some OC; I mean, Silverstream fits the "dumb as hell" template, have her ask about lesbians! But I don't know what Flutter Wing's deal is, and I suspect the joke is mostly based on her deal. Otherwise, this goes about as you would expect, with Pharynx being flustered and giving answers to questions that simply raise further questions. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't laugh-out-loud or anything. Not sure what else to say.
Vaguely Recommended

Palate Cleanser by AuroraDawn
Reading
Genre: Ponies Drinking
Rainbow Dash pays Spitfire's office an unannounced visit.
This starts off with a meditation on how necessary insurance is in a land where everyone is "pretty much indestructible", and I found that quite funny. :) I found the rest quite funny, too! If I can point to any one thing that makes it work, it's the pacing; AuroraDawn has a really solid hand at this. Of course, the double-entendre is the intended joke, and its reveal works excellently as well. Really fun!
Highly Recommended

Not a Keeper by WIL_I_ZIN
Reading
Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy
Unfortunately for everyone involved, Lyra is abducted by aliens.
This is one of those stories where Lyra Heartstrings is absolutely the most ridiculous pony in Equestria, and it's great. :D Good jokes, good timing; there's even a layer of comedy based around this being set slightly before the beginning of the show, and several events being the results of Lyra's shenanigans. There is also one very meta joke that I felt directly. >:V The only weird thing is how insistent the narrative is that Lyra and Bon-Bon are only roommates, and could never be anything more. But for a comedy this well constructed and laugh-out-loud hilarious, I'll overlook a little whoopsie like that. ;D
Highly Recommended