EFNW Fanfic Spotlight #13 · 8:33pm Jul 3rd, 2014
Holy guacamole! Everfree starts tomorrow, and I'm supposed to be on a plane for Seattle in nine hours. Oh well, sleep is for the weak! Onward, to fiction!
In this issue: Discord, trapped in stone for decades, still learns about friendship; Fluttershy gets competitive; and Luna seeks the help of Scootaloo to combat nightmares across Equestria.
The Keepers of Discord
by Hoopy McGee
Words: 11,445 Complete: Yes
This story was written back before Discord's reformation. In this, therefore alternate, universe, Discord remains trapped in stone for a very, very long time. Yet he is aware of everything going on around him. Celestia assigns a pony to keep him... amused, in case of that very possibility.
While in many stories, this could be a potential for horror, here it becomes a very heartwarming tale of how Discord, despite all his foibles, and his limited state, still learns to value others, and still learns about friendship. It is a very wonderfully written piece, pulling off what I would have considered an impossible-to-enjoy premise in a great way. It hits all the feels, and I highly recommend it.
The Contest
by Cold in Gardez
Words: 6,714 Complete: Yes
Fluttershy is going to the world championships... of The Quiet Game. Yes, another premise that seems like it'd be good for no more than a couple of puns or a single scene. Of course, I wouldn't be recommending it if that were the case. The author here manages to take that silly idea and treat it seriously. The other ponies, for example, think it sounds ridiculous as well. Yet by the end of the tale, not only has the game been shown to have complex and challenging rules, but all the characters have grown and learned as well. It's also quite amusing throughout.
Moonlight
by JasonTheHuman
Words: 115,776 Complete: Yes
I've been following this story since it began last August, and the author finally completed it a week or so ago, so I'm happy to recommend it in its complete state.
In the story, ponies are falling into coma-like states, unable to be woken. In the midst of this, Scootaloo is approached in her dreams by Luna herself, and tasked with helping to wake her friends by helping through through their darkest nightmares. The story develops from there into a full blown mystery adventure, with all the epic scale you'd expect of a novel length tale from one of the most popular writers on FimFiction.
I will note that I felt it moved a little slowly at points, with several frustrating cliffhangers between chapters. Now that the story is complete, that shouldn't be nearly as much of a concern for new readers, and I think the story should come across much stronger because of it.
Well, that's it for this week, and... for this season. If you missed it, last week's edition of the spotlight can be found here. Next week there will be no spotlight, as I'll be recovering from Everfree itself. After that, we'll likely be shifting to a new format and schedule, likely bringing in more reviewers as well. Plans are fuzzy on details, but we definitely plan to continue spotlight posts throughout the year. So stay tuned!
Until then, catch us at the con!
--Xepher
Keepers of Discord was one of the first stories I had to not only favorite in the middle of reading, but go back to my home page and stick it in my "You have got to read this" box. I've always been inspired by stories that reform a bad guy without changing their basic character. And by coincidence, I re-read "The Contest" yesterday, and broke out in laughter in exactly the same spot as the first time I read it.
Rarity: Have we started yet? *Bzzzzt!*
Nice choices.
Two good stories and one I've yet to read. :O
I agree the first two are great stories. Haven't read Moonlight due to the word count.
2255368 Your username box has gone all blue. Are you coming down with something?
2256156
He is a site blogger. All site poster inevitable become blue ala WandererD and Meeester.
2256156
I finally got my alicorn wings.
Unfortunately, I was already a pegasus. Things are awkward.
Thanks for the review of Keepers of Discord!
I agree, "The Contest" was really well done. It's one of those stories with an absolutely ridiculous premise that takes itself completely seriously, with hilarious results. Definitely a favorite of mine, though it's been a while since I've read it.
Moonlight I don't think I've read yet, but I'll add that to my "Read Later" list, which is rapidly spiraling out of control.
2256883
Can never have too many wings... though, placement can always become an issue.