Fanfic Spotlight #35 · 6:17am May 25th, 2015
Welcome to the final Fanfic Spotlight of the season! That's right, Everfree is only a few days away, and we're all very excited to get there. To tide you over in the meantime though, three final stories before Summer.
This week, Trixie bumps into Maud and learns a thing or two, Fluttershy and Dash get thrown Off The Edge of the Map, and Dash takes Scootaloo under her wing.
A Bump in the Road
By EloquenceInkwell
Words: 2,357 Complete: Yes
Recommended by Ckat_Myla
Another lovely entry for the EFNW Pre-Con writing contest, A Bump in the Road treats us to an unexpected meeting of The Great and Powerful Trixie and Maud Pie. It goes just about as well as one might expect.
A simplistic premise of a broken wheel on Trixie's carriage begins the heart of this little delicious slice of life; which is the dialogue/interactions between the two. Unlikely a pair as they seem, by the end the author gives us a nice sense of a friendship to be. It scored an honorable mention in the contest, and this reviewer feels that is well-deserved. It was another personal favorite.
If you haven't already unearthed this gem, give it a little examination and get ready to feel great and powerful. :P
Off The Edge Of The Map
by Daetrin
Words: 34,894 Complete: Yes
Recommended by Silver Flare
Look everyone! I found something (that only a thousand other people found)! This story, written by Daetrin, was uploaded to FimFiction a solid six months before I’d ever even heard of bronies. I’m not entirely certain that web-address-carbon-dating is really an accurate thing, but look at that! 480! I think that places this story as uploading during the very first Bronycon! Thank goodness it’s a snazzy little adventure with some cool world-building and sweet character moments, because this little relic has been preserved quite well through the ages.
It’s an innocuous beginning. Dash is showing off her latest trick for Fluttershy, and it’s a doozy! Forget the Buccaneer Blaze... Daetrin actually came up with an aerial maneuver so visually striking it puts the show itself to shame. Seriously, I want to see this animated so bad. For reasons unknown the trick backfires, and our pegasi pair find themselves surrounded by ocean on all sides. The search for home becomes an adventure that emphasizes the friendship this unlikely duo shares. Through trackless water, the remains of forgotten civilizations, a frozen land of dragons, the ghost of a horrible tragedy… They will both discover new strength within themselves, and within each other.
It’s not a flawless story, but there’s plenty to love. Daetrin manages to evoke the feel of a place, and he breathes life into this tale in a way many authors fail to. We get to see Dash’s vulnerable side peek through her bravado in lightless tunnels of ice and stone; we get to see Fluttershy’s determination even when surrounded by her fears. And the haunting they encounter is as eerie as any I’ve ever read. I’m happy to see the author hasn’t quit, and is still writing and posting new content. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Under Your Wings
by Askesalsa
Words: 32,635 Complete: Yes
Recommended by Asylum1388
This is a FiM-fandom original. That’s right; one of, if not, the first ScootaDash fic, having been posted on deviantArt in September of 2011. So the question you should be asking right now is thus: has it stood up to the test of time? Has it fought off all challengers to hold its claim to the title of cutest?
The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: Oh. My. God. Yes!
Is started off as a mere one-shot, exploring Scoot’s background and exploded from there. The first chapter is the original story in all its glory, while the next eight (titled Single Wing) are the author’s take on Scoots background (who she is and where she came from). It wraps it up with three chapters at the end that were originally a sequel to the one-shot.
Is it the most well-written or skillful story out there? No, not by a long shot, but the characterization and grammar are both excellent, and for something so... primordial as far as pony fanfics go, the fact that it remains as powerful as it is for as long as it has should tell you everything you need to know.
Well, that does it for this week, and this season. I hope to see some of you at Everfree next weekend in Seattle. For the rest of you, I hope you've enjoyed our suggestions, and will join as again later this year, as we pick up with a new season of stories.
Until then, may your lives be long, may your wishes all be simple, and may your hearts stay strong!
--Xepher, Ckat_Myla, and Silver Flare, and Asylum1388
It's very strange to me that my older stories are getting reviews all of a sudden. Not that it's a complaint, it's just very strange. After all, according to my document Off The Edge Of The Map was started in June of 2011. As you say, it's not without flaws - it's the first story of any note I wrote, it was written and published on a chapter by chapter basis, and the first two sections were without an editor, even. It certainly could be better, but for the time I think it turned out fairly well.