Various Business · 4:36pm Dec 6th, 2013
So I wanted to start by giving a signal boost to a pair of good stories, do some followup on Room Three-Fourteen, and then also finally write down my thoughts on Castle-Mania.
Oh, also, I now have 101 watchers! I'm honestly kind of surprised, but in a good way. 
So, the first story here, is Queen Chrysalis: Attempted Mind Thief, which is written by my friend HiveLordLusa and pre-read by myself. It's an interesting take on the whole "Pony on Earth" story-type, which I think could go a lot of places. It's this guy's first (published) attempt at writing, to the best of my knowledge, but has turned out pretty well thus far.
The second story here is Malefic Bonds by Razalon, which is both very well-written, and gets the unique honor of having more-or-less predicted the Pony Of Shadows even before Castle-Mania aired. I can also see this one going some pretty interesting places. 
As for my own recently-released story, Room Three-Fourteen? While I can't say too much about the story yet due to potential spoilers, but I did want to talk about it in meta-terms for a bit. I came up with this idea back sometime in 2012, posting an early and rather rushed draft and a pretentious blog post to accompany it on the thirteenth of July. I realized after posting it that while I had the basic idea worked out, there were a number of plot holes and such holding it back. I removed it to iron out those issues, but then other stories, such as OR, came along; R-Pi was left in the dust.
Some time later; I don't recall exactly when, I came back to it and wrote an early draft of the currently released prologue, though the same issues were still present. Again, it went ignored for a while.
A few months ago, I added to the draft and fixed some things up, creating the current version, but yet again found that those inconsistencies were keeping me from being able to make any progress, so it sat unpublished.
And now only a few days ago, as I worked on homework, it came to me. I knew where I could go with this, and I knew how to patch up those plot holes. I finally had it. And yesterday, on the spur of the moment but with the assurance that I finally knew what to do with this, I published Room Three-Fourteen. It's going to be a wild ride, but one I hope you all enjoy.
So now I want to move on to Castle-Mania. What did I think? I think it was a good episode, for the most part. It does give me a sinking feeling about one unfortunate trend started in Princess Twilight Sparkle (Actually, to be honest, it probably started in Games Ponies Play) But everything else about it gives me high hopes for the rest of Season Four.
Let's start with the bad: Pinkie Pie. Now, her appearance at the end was actually pretty well-handled, and her presence throughout was handled much better than the prior mystery episodes (May The Best Pet Win shoved the answer in our face, MMMystery On The Friendship Express was too obtuse, and Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, while handling the clues and such rather well, had it's own issues) but what bugged me was her appearance in the beginning. I mean, I was able to explain her drawing instead of scoring to myself as "she's fudging the score to keep the rivalry from devolving into something more serious," but the ringing the school-bell with her head? I... I really... I... no. It seems to continue this trend of Pinkie being stupid rather than actually funny, and is particularly disappointing to me after her good showing in Too Many Pinkie Pies.
Another thing that bugged me a touch was the Star Spider thing. They show up with Spike, are mentioned again by Rarity, and then... that's it. Even if they're part of the story arc and not relevant to the episode, they should still have continued to appear throughout rather than being dropped right away. And it wouldn't have hurt the atmosphere at all, either.
So, that's the bad. The good? Everything else. The return of AJ and RD's rivalry, Rarity, the continuation of the awesome lighting, Rarity, Fluttershy and Angel, Rarity, the fun Scooby-Doo-esque shenanigans, Rarity, the continuation of the plot arc and the hinting of the shadow pony, Rarity...
But actually, more than even Rarity, what I really loved about this episode was the interaction. Maybe everyone coming to the castle at the same time was a bit suspect, but it also meant we got to see everypony really interacting as friends at the end, in a way I don't think I recall since very early on in Season Two, or maybe all the way back to The Best Night Ever. This is a trend I want to see continuing, because while the characters are the show's best asset even on their own, they work even better together. Friendship is, after all, magic. 
That's all for now, folks!
1. A million thanks for the shout out.
Not only that, but this other 'POE' fic sounds interesting; I just might have to check it out. 
2. I understand that feeling completely; you think you've got an idea nailed down, only to realize much later it's too weak as is and needs a lot of touching up. Malefic Bonds went through about two to three months of conception before I started actually writing it.
3. I agree with almost everything you say regarding Castle Mane-ia. I myself wasn't particularly bothered by Pinkie using her head to ring the bell, but to each their own, of course.
Everything else, however, I agree with you completely and utterly; though, I found the lack of references to Castlevania outside of the title very disappointing. 
4. Rarity is best pony.
1578019 1: No problemo! And yeah, I recommend it.
2: Indeed. I have about eight stories actually published, and about twenty or thirty more - no exaggeration - that have yet to see the light of day.
3: Ah, well, personal preference. And I need to play those games...
4: Indeed she is!
Oh, a shout out? Well thank you, I was not expecting that.
And I'm going to have to give your story a try too, 1578019. Because by damn if Coldy recommends it then it has to be good.
(I'm actually going to do that after writing this 
That story description looks fantastic)
Oh, and thank you for wanting to try my story, though there's not much there right now, apologies of it's disappointing or anything.
1578240 And as for you, I'm going to read that new version of R-Pi immediately after Malefic, if you don't mind, because I want to see what you've done with the thing given how much potential it had to be good once you patched it up.
And you already know my thoughts on Castle Mane-ia, though I might restate that given Pinkie actually being really intelligent under all that happiness and silliness, I feel like she was perhaps ringing the school bell in that way for a reason. Though there's not much point in arguing over a small joke scene like this, so it's up to you.
1578698 Make sure to comment your thoughts.
And as for Attempted Mind Thief, I found it interesting enough to thumb up, so keep at it. 
1578839 I'll be honest, I liked and faved yours based on the premise and the first few paragraphs, since stuff came up yesterday and I couldn't read the whole chapter in one go. It looks really interesting and I want to see what you do with the idea
And yes I'll comment once I finish, or maybe a few hours after if I end up being busy again, which may happen unfortunately.
1578698 No problemo.
I think you may have seen this version before, but by all means, go ahead. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it!
Indeed, we can probably leave it at this.
(Also, that thing I sent you by Email? Once you have the chance, could you check that, too?)
1589918 Ah, yes, now that I've finished Razalon's first and actually have time again, I'll give it a look.
Oh, bugger, stupid gmail inbox.... I'm really sorry, for a few annoying technical reasons I didn't see that until now, I'll have a look. I recommend sending stuff to my other address from now on just in case.
1590506 Okay!
Ah, okay. I'll do so, thanks for the heads-up!