"Demesne" is a funny word

I already thought that The Demesne of the Reluctant Twilight Sparkle was pretty great. (I'm not so sure I like where the relationships in that story are going, but it has enough else going on to keep me hooked.)

The new authorized side-story by another author, The Quiet Equestrian, kicks this world up a notch, into absolutely amazing.

I'm a sucker for a Xanatos gambit, or Xanatos speed-chess, or most any of the variations on that theme. I also love stream-of-conciousness from either Twilight's or Pinkie's point of view; they're both neurotic and distractible enough to make it really fun to see inside their heads. (Coincidentally this is why I enjoy Pinkie Personalities, despite it not being as strong of a story as other favorites of mine.) The combination can lead to a fast-moving story that's always surprising, and that's what these two deliver.