[Discontinued] Full List of Recommendations · 4:07pm Dec 22nd, 2013
14/8 2016 - I'm no longer maintaining this blog post! It's harder to overview than the little box thingy on my user page, as well as if you want to see the description of any fic, it's just a click away. 
Recommended Fics
-- What's this? --
This is a list I've decided to keep updated with the best fics I read. I'm adding pretty much only completed fics, and trying not to add short one-shots. I've read a lot of awesome short one-shots, but, it isn't fair to compare a fic of 3k words with one of 30k words, for neither of the fics.
If you want to suggest me a fic, don't mind leaving a comment with it! 
-- Categories --
- Sad, Dark & Tragedies -
- Shipfics -
- Humans -
- Adventures -
- Funny Reading -
- Crossovers -
- No Current Category -
-- Sad, Dark & Tragedies –
Schemering Sintel
(29.6k words, [Tragedy], [Sad], [Dark], [Adventure])
It's been a long, long time since Spike was stolen from her, but Twilight hasn't forgotten nor forgiven. After a long and arduous journey, she has finally found him and his kidnapper.
She will save him.
No matter the cost.
Faster
(17.5k words, [Romance], [Sad], [Dark], [Adventure], [Alternate Universe])
Ponies get older over time. They slow down. This is a part of life. But Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie can keep pursuing their dreams as they get older. Rainbow Dash can't. This is her last chance to be a Wonderbolt, and despite working her tail off, she's not getting any better. In fact, she's getting slower. She just wants things to be fair. She wants one last chance to achieve her dream.
She wants to be faster.
The Monster We Made
(11k words, [Tragedy], [Sad], [Dark])
We trained her.
We taught her.
We raised her to godhood.
She brought us down to earth.
The Trouble with Sympathy
(8.5k words, [Romance], [Dark])
Note: Not author's description.
A changeling is found in the forest by Fluttershy. It's hurt, lonely, but most importantly, hungry. Fluttershy does her best to help this creature, and makes it try adapting to life as a pony. The changeling now has to face it's natural instincitve magics and hunger, can it control them?
Population One
(23.7k words, [Tragedy], [Dark], [Alternate Universe])
It's been eighty-nine days since the Day of Darkness, and Twilight Sparkle is still on her own. Eighty-nine days since she talked to anyone other than herself. Regardless of how lonely she feels, she prefers the company of herself to the vicious "lurkers", as she calls them, roaming around outside of her library. Whatever friendly, loving creatures they were before the Day of Darkness, something changed them. Something created these insane creatures, and nothing, not even Twilight, can stop them. All Twilight can do is live — live to fight another day.
Disease in the Darkness
(38.4k words, [Romance], [Tragedy], [Sad], [Alternate Universe])
Twilight had been warned dark magic was dangerous. She thought she could handle it. Unfortunately dabbling in dark magic has left Twilight with a deadly disease that there does not seem to be a cure for. Now she's scrambling to find a cure, before it's too late.
Que Sera, Sera
(15.4k words, [Sad])
Princess Celestia always knew that Twilight Sparkle was destined for great things, but she never revealed the source of that knowledge, not even to those closest to her. When the day of Twilight's true destiny finally arrives, can Celestia fulfill an ancient promise to save Equestia's past, present, and future, even it means saying goodbye to Twilight forever? How can Celestia refuse her mother's last wish?
The Signal
(18.4k words, [Sad], [Dark])
How do you care for someone who can only try to harm you? How much do you let yourself change when all you want is for things to go back to the way they were? Where is the line between devotion and obsession? What do you do when your closest friend becomes a monster?
Spike doesn't know.
But he tries.
Calm Before the Storm
(3.9k words, [Sad], [Dark], [Slice of Life])
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are thrown into a war between the three races of Equestria. They must determine where their loyalties lie, and for whom they are fighting for.
Inner Demons
(149k words, [Romance], [Dark], [Adventure])
Twilight Sparkle has always been looking forward to her 21st birthday. It's the day that she's finally recognized as an adult mare, but also the day she's finally able to learn magic on the highest level. What should have been a great day though, turns out to be the most horrific day in her life.
Apple Bloom is tired of being the last in her class to not have her Cutie Mark, but her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo aren't going in the right direction to get their Cutie Marks, and she knows it. In order to get her Cutie Mark the right way, Apple Bloom begins to have thoughts of separating from her friends, and getting her Cutie Mark on her own.
friends become enemies...
destinies are revealed...
light fades into the darkness...
and through it all, a hero is born...
The Things We Leave Behind
(23k words, [Sad])
Sometimes, bad things happen to good ponies. A year following a tragic incident, Twilight Sparkle returns to Ponyville to visit what she has been missing - her town, her memories, and most importantly, her friends. But will everything be as she remembers it?
My Faithful Student
(13.2k words, [Tragedy], [Sad], [Slice of Life])
Princess Celestia always looks forward to a day with her favorite student. But when Twilight puts herself in a coma after defending Ponyville, how will her friends cope with the possibility that she may never wake up?
Bright Eyes
(31.1k words, [Sad], [Slice of Life])
After an accident, Twilight's life is turned upside down and changed forever.
With her friends standing by her, she must manage to overcome new obstacles, learn a new way of life, and discover just how long secrets last when hidden from those who know you best.
Together In The End
(4.2k words, [Sad], [Dark])
"We have to be brave now, Scootaloo," Dash said. "Just close your eyes, and it'll be all over by the time you open them again."
Shutdown
(2.8k words, [Sad])
”Would you tell anypony if you knew the world was going to end, Twilight Sparkle?”
-- Shipfics --
Spellbound Fireflies
(77.2k words, [Romance], [Slice of Life])
Scootaloo's life hasn't been the easiest. Being orphaned at a young age and brought up in the foster system came with its own set of challenges, not the least of which was a lack of older pegasi around to teach her how to fly. Fortunately, Rainbow Dash can help with that. With her honorary big sister taking a more active role in her life, Scootaloo learns much more about herself than just how to fly.
A story about love, family, and growing up.
Vanilla Twilight
+
Dreams and Disasters
(106k words, [Romance], [Adventure])
Rainbow Dash is many things. Awesome, radical, amazing, and at least twenty percent cooler than any other pony in Equestria.
She is also lost, lonely and uncertain. Not that anypony else would know.
During the day she is everything everypony expects her to be: she is fast, daring, and adventurous, but when the sun goes down, she is left alone with her thoughts. Tired of simply yearning for something more, she sets out on a night of soul searching and stumbles onto a friend in need, and maybe, underneath the vanilla twilight, she finds something more.
A Bluebird's Song
(206k words, [Romance], [Sad], [Dark], [Adventure])
Every rising star must eventually fall. Rainbow Dash is locked in a struggle against her own past, and with the help of Twilight is about to make a discovery that will change the way she flies forever. But what will she lose in the process?
Magnetism
(76.2k words, [Romance], [Comedy], [Slice of Life])
When sorting through a horde of ancient artefacts Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash accidentally activate the magical powers of a pair of bracelets which force the wearers to be in constant physical contact with one another. Stuck together until Twilight manages to find a way to remove the bracelets, the shy and timid pegasus must cope with re-emerging feelings, while the athletic and rash pegasus must cope with the various antics of a bunny rabbit out to get her.
And he Silently Painted a Rainbow
(48.5k words, [Romance], [Sad], [Slice of Life])
Hearth's Warming Eve was one of the many holidays where Rainbow Dash would've appreciated, with sledding alongside the rest of the Mane Six and her usual snowball fights with Scootaloo. Instead she was stuck with nursing a pony who had, much to her dismay, a few problems of his own.
Through the twelve days towards the Winter Wrap Up, however, the pony, inaptly named Taciturn Bleach, began to inspire her, only by his rare and drastic talent; one that she had found out perplexed most, if not, all of the ponies around, including her.
After all, not all rainbows have to be colorful to be perfect.
To Fix You
(25.9k words, [Romance], [Sad], [Dark])
Sometimes, when you've lost so much, when everything you do seems to come out wrong, and when you don't feel like anything but a failure, it can seem like there is no other option but to give up.
But when one pony feels so lost, so inconsolable, so forlorn, that she makes a life-changing decision that almost leaves her shattered forever, it is up to her friends to bring her back.
When you lose something that you can't replace, when you love someone but it goes to waste, and when the tears come streaming down your face, is there anyone who you can turn to...
...to fix you?
Yours Truly
(18.6k words, [Romance], [Sad])
Distance can drive us apart. It can also bring us closer together.
After all is said and done, and the ponies have gone their separate ways, the only way they have to keep in touch is through letters.
No Matter How Dark
(86k words, [Romance], [Tragedy], [Dark])
The residents of Ponyville are unaccustomed to violence, but recent attacks are shaking up the normally peaceful town. On top of this, Twilight Sparkle has been experiencing short bouts of memory loss and is getting concerned with her own health. The truth in the situation may be harder to bear, however.
Tamed
(76.1k words, [Romance], [Tragedy], [Dark])
A harsh storm brings Rainbow into Twilight's home. However, she soon discovers something about her friend that will cause a downward spiral in their relationship, many bruises, and broken bones as they attempt to right the wrongs fate has bestowed them.
The two find themselves closer than ever as they experience the world in a way they'd never expect. Will they survive?
-- Humans –
Frequency
(67.5k words, [Romance], [Tragedy], [Slice of Life], [Human])
One lonely night, Vinyl decides to use her old two-way radio to relieve the tedium. In doing so, she stumbles upon the voice of 'Adi,' who has a story so crazy Vinyl isn't willing to believe it.
But Adi is desperate, so desperate that Vinyl knows something really is wrong. Can her words help Adi overcome whatever is really happening? Even if she can instill hope in this stranger, is hope worth anything against seemingly insurmountable odds?
All Vinyl can do is sit before her radio and talk. Perhaps it will be enough.
Dash's Tears in the Rain
(22k words, [Sad], [Alternate Universe], [Human])
The production models served as 'companion' units. They provided tender love and caring to people that can't seem to get that from other people. The first version of the first model had a catchy nickname, 'Dash' or 'Dashie', that ended up getting adopted by the whole staff. Of course, the company planned Dash as merely the first of a whole set of bio-mechanical creatures, the later versions looking more humanoid.
In many ways, she worked beyond the company's wildest expectations. Everyone seemed to love her rainbow mane, her fluffy wings, her muscular hooves, and her infectious smile. They programmed her to love them back, of course. Still, the company had one fundamental problem. Dashe kept acting like she was real.
Project: Sunflower
(242k words, [Adventure], [Human])
It is the year 2038, and the Earth is slowly being consumed by a space-borne monstrosity dubbed the Black Tide, which is using nanotechnology to remake the planet into something hideously alien.
Erin Olsen works for Project Harmonics, humanity's last-ditch effort to find a new world before the Tide can wipe them out. But when that world is found, and it turns out to be occupied, Erin will need to find the courage to face the unknown in order to save the inhabitants of both worlds.
Five Score, Divided by Four
(284k words, [Romance], [Comedy], [Adventure], [Human])
Even though MLP:FiM ended a few years ago, my friends and I still loved the show. Stories, merch, fan art, I loved it all. Things started to get a weird though when I found myself with a cutie mark appearing on my leg. Humans aren't supposed to get cutie marks, so where the heck did this come from? And what's going on with my hair?
Flight 19
(Incomplete, [Tragedy], [Dark], [Adventure], [Human])
A routine flight brings inexperienced pilots to lose themselves in the Bermuda Triangle. But maybe they didn't just disappear? Maybe they went somewhere else? The Bermuda Triangle is a strange place, full of unknowns and horrible tales. This is the tale of Flight 19.
Buck My Life
(82.9k words, [Slice of Life], [Human])
I am stuck in Equestria, but I know I don't belong here. I have to go back home to where my life has always given me hell, whether I want to or not. I feel that it is my duty to try to improve our planet in any way I can. As time goes on I start feeling emotions that I haven't felt before which in turn makes the opportunity of being in the land of MLP sound more inviting. Will I ever make it home? Will I even want to go home? Ugh... buck my life.
My Little House Guests
(49.9k words, [Romance], [Comedy], [Slice of Life], [Human])
If it can go wrong, it's happened to Tristan Shay.
After his mother dies due to illness, the friendless, twenty-two year-old college dropout is forced to live on his own in an old house he's renting just outside of the city. One day, he receives a scroll in the mail from someone who calls their self "Princess Celestia", saying something about seven guests who will be taking a month long field trip to "his" world. This has to be the weirdest prank mail he's ever gotten...
What can you do with 6 ponies and 1 dragon in the world of humans? And, how would you react if such showed up on your doorstep?
My Little Dashie 
(12.5k words, [Sad], [Human])
When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.
As My Little Dashie is a very popular fic, it has several good 'spinoffs', here are some I recommend:
My Little Tavi 
, My Dear Shy 
To Friend is Human
(28.8k words, [Romance], [Sad], [Random], [Human])
While walking home from work one night, I was nearly killed by a careless driver. But when I complained to him about it, I got more than I bargained for. Waking up in a new land, I soon found myself in the company of some unique individuals — all of whom were ponies.
Friendship is Optimal
(38.7k words, [Alternate Universe], [Human])
Hanna, the CEO of Hofvarpnir Studios, just won the contract to write the official My Little Pony MMO. Hanna has built an A.I. Princess Celestia and given her one basic drive: to satisfy everybody's values through friendship and ponies. Princess Celestia will satisfy your values through friendship and ponies, and it will be completely consensual.
-- Adventures --
The Pale Land
(182k words, [Dark], [Adventure], [Alternate Universe])
For as long as ponies can remember, it has always been winter. With limited resources and worsening weather, war is escalating, driving them closer to extinction with each passing day. Hidden away in the middle of all this is a single purple unicorn who braves the frozen wasteland, looking for a way to stop the weather and return the mythical sun to the sky. However, in a world without harmony, the task is far greater than she could ever know.
Inner Glory
(222k words, [Dark], [Adventure], [Alternate Universe])
After doing some research into the history of Alicorns, Twilight finds a dead end. When she chooses to pursue it against Celestia's wishes, she finds herself entangled in a messy history that some want forgotten. An Alicorn's position comes with sacrifice. And when given power, one will always be in want of more...
Blue Angel
(Incomplete, [Romance], [Sad], [Dark], [Comedy], [Adventure])
The Blue Angels: the greatest stunt pilot group on or above Earth. When one of their recruits is involved in a horrible mid-flight accident, the last thing he ever expected was being saved by a blue angel of his own...
The Immortal Game
(297k words, [Dark], [Adventure])
Long ago, in the magical land of Equestria, there lived a powerful King and his dark Queen. Immortal and ignorant, their end came at the hooves of their daughters, Celestia and Luna, who sought to build a better future for ponykind.
Now ponykind’s old gods have returned.
Twilight Sparkle is trapped inside her own mind, slave to a cruel and impulsive consciousness built from everything she is not. Powerless and voiceless, she must find a way to stop the being that calls itself Nihilus from destroying everything she holds dear.
Luna is tasked with assembling the remaining Elements of Harmony in hopes of freeing their leader. For if ponykind is to have any hope, it is in Twilight Sparkle. And if Twilight Sparkle is to have any hope, it is in her five friends.
Facing her father in mortal combat, Celestia must do everything she can to ensure that ponykind has the tools to survive before she falls. With inevitable defeat bearing down upon her, she makes the first move in the oldest and deadliest game known to creation.
The Ash
(120k words, [Sad], [Dark], [Alternate Universe], [Human])
A colossal mass of alien matter ends up on the surface of Equestria as a result of a cosmic disaster, and it is poisoning all it touches. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are caught up in the events as Equestria becomes increasingly hostile to ponies, and the ponies become increasingly hostile to each other. But is it the fault of the alien matter, or is something more going wrong?
It is up to Twilight to find the answer and a solution, preferably one that also preserves the very fragile life of what may be the last representant of an entire species.
Hard Reset
(37.4k words, [Dark], [Adventure])
Twilight isn't having a very good day. An experimental spell blew up in her face, an army of changelings is attacking Canterlot, and she just died. Yet somehow, it looks like it's going to keep going downhill from here.
Given the chance to correct what's gone wrong, Twilight swears she's going to fix all this even if it kills her. Which it will. Frequently.
Past Sins
(203k words, [Sad], [Dark], [Slice of Life], [Alternate Universe])
On a dark night filled with even darker magics, an insane cult attempts to give Nightmare Moon a body and life of her own, utterly separate from Princess Luna. But, when the spell is interrupted by Celestia, something unexpected is created.
Now, a little black alicorn filly named Nyx finds herself living under the care of Twilight Sparkle, only to be haunted by memories and emotions from her past. Is she Nightmare Moon reborn or is she simply a doppelganger with a soul and mind of her own? Can Twilight Sparkle protect Nyx from those who refuse to see past her dragon eyes and black coat?
Or, will Nyx be forced to inherit the sins that may not even be hers and become the greatest evil Equestria has ever known?
Never judge a book by its cover
(10.6k words, [Sad], [Slice of Life])
Twilight finds a filly Earth Pony hidden in her basement, reading magic tomes and eating her sandwiches. The little one claims her special talent is related to magic and that pony society had no place for one such as her.
Twilight is awestruck by the claim. Is pony society not welcoming of the differences?
-- Crossovers --
Stardust
(217k words, [Dark], [Crossover], [Human])
Isolated from her friends and taken prisoner in the middle of a war, Twilight must deal with the very real dangers of being percieved as an enemy as well as the nightmares of her arrival on 'Earth'. Can she overcome her own fears and the fears of her captors? Will the wayward unicorn's assistance be a boon or a curse to the 'humans?' Most importantly, will she ever find her way home?
The Aperture in my Heart
(20.8k words, [Sad], [Dark], [Comedy], [Crossover], [Alternate Universe])
Luna has been banished to the moon by her sister. After 1000 years in isolation, the poor alicorn is truly sorry for what she did and is ready to come home. But when a strange visitor befriends Luna in her isolation, the two find their stories of banishment to the moon merit many similarities. Luna's new friend offers her the key to her escape, but also rekindles the hatred in her heart, a hatred that took the mare 1000 years to forget.
-- Funny Reading –
Drop of Moonshine
(10.3k words, [Comedy])
After a long day of ruling Equestria, the Royal Sisters need a chance to unwind. Luna's solution is a few glasses of her once famous Moonshine, a drink distilled from moonlight. Celestia has been sober for a thousand years, but the temptation to have "just one" glass proves too great. Yet, when that one glass turns into several, it's Twilight who will have to deal with the princesses when they’re drunk off their flanks.
Wild, Sweet & Cool
(34.7k words, [Comedy], [Slice of Life])
After reading a book by Spitfire's personal trainer, Rainbow Dash decides that the best way to get closer to her ultimate goal of joining the Wonderbolts is to add strength training to her practices by having one of her friends ride her. However, when she decides that Twilight Sparkle is just the mare for the job, the pegasus gets a bit more than she bargained for.
Mood Wings
(9.5k words, [Romance], [Comedy], [Slice of Life])
TWhen Twilight Sparkle finds this book, she discovers an entirely new field of research. The secrets of pegasus wings lie before her, and she insists on making her own observations on the matter.
How?
Field research, of course.
-- No Current Category –
The Last Pinkie Promise
(8.7k words, [Alternate Universe])
On the night before the biggest battle the ponies have ever had to face, Rainbow Dash is looking at the stars, afraid of what is going to happen. Pinkie Pie comes along and they both talk a little, until Rainbow Dash finally confesses she wishes not to die in the upcoming battle.
Pinkie Pie decides to comfort her and promises her she will make sure that it never happens. She makes it a pinkie promise.
Her last one.
Veil of Thoughts
(51.9k words)
After an unknown accident Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash awake to find themselves sharing the same body! Now they must struggle to hold themselves together as their world is turned upside down. How long can two ponies exist in a single mind? It’s a race against time as they search for answers before it’s too late.
Oh wow you're really putting on the work over there on your page.
It's actually pretty impressive. Good luck with all that jazz, it already looks amazing.
1637208 Heh, thanks.
Yeah, messing around with how to set it up. I'm not sure if I prefer the list as the major humongous box it is now, or a thin but forever-ongoing list in the sidebar. That's a problem for tomorrow though, or the next time I get on it. I maybe will use this blog post for something afterall, hm.
Thanks for the comment!
EDIT: Aaaand... I decided to use this blog post in the end, heh. (It was a placeholder earlier)