[THE LIST] They could have called it, "Monster High," buuuuuut... · 7:58pm Oct 26th, 2018
This list is not about my favorite stories of all time. That's my favorites list and it's nearly 200 fics strong. The thing is, I've got high standards for my favorites list. It's got to be a completed fic. I can't have said at any time during the reading of it that I would rather be reading (or doing) something else. It's got to be high quality, and if it doesn't follow tried, tested, and true formulas for creating a successful narrative work, it's got a damn good reason and pulls it off with flying colors. Sometimes, however, there's a fic that I'd like to recommend to people, but it's just not finished yet. Maybe it doesn't quite merit my favorites list but it does something unique and interesting and is worth more attention than it's getting. Perhaps it's just not something that ever reaches the feature box, so most people never hear about it.
The List is about stand-out works that deserve more love, for whatever reason. In addition to general reviews of the fics, these blog posts will tell why I picked a particular story and highlight any features the reader should look out for. Spoilers will be appropriately marked, so you'll be able to read my reviews with confidence that you'll be able to read the story itself and experience the same surprise and delight I did when I first found it.
Also, authors and fans of works will be able to submit stories. Your particular selection may not make it onto the list, and the more information you give me for why you think it should be featured, the more likely I'll be to read and post it. To submit a fiction, simply PM me through FiMFiction's link on my profile.
The list can be found here: Princess Columbia's List
Friendship is Monsters
by
spotty8ee
Premise
Twilight Sparkle has always led a sheltered life, though it hasn't necessarily been by choice. She's part of a very small minority of actual humans. Living with her family inside of a humans-only compound, her life is suddenly touched by the outside world when the vampire girl Sunset Shimmer from a nearby high school suddenly shows up on her lawn.
Princess Columbia's Synopsis
There's no horse-girls here...well, OK, I guess Rarity qualifies...this version of the Mane 7...we'll call them the Monster 7 have never heard of our familiar Equestria or the Elements of Harmony. Indeed, their world is pretty solidly divided between the various monster races and humans, with the humans being the lowest rung on the societal ladder. Humans, as a result, have a very, very anti-monster attitude, though it's not without historical reason as the end of human slavery is only about three generations removed from Twilight's peer group.
The only real oddness to me about the author's rendition of the Monster 7 was Rarity. She's a "unicorn," in that she has the hindquarters of an equine, horse ears, and a horn, but she's more like a satyr than an equine. The somewhat odd refiguring of what the term "unicorn" means in this author's universe led to a few mental discontinuities while reading this fic.
Moving on to the actual synopsis itself; Twilight Sparkle helps Sunset Shimmer stay "alive" (for varying definitions of living) when a prank by Sunset and her friends goes awry and she's caught out in the open during the day in a humans-only compound. Once Twilight helps Sunset get home, Sunset and Co. (the rest of the Monster 7, in case you hadn't put that together yet) are grounded for creating an incident with the humans. However the rest of the community are taking the incident, Twilight's thirst for knowledge is awakened and she begins forming friendships with the girls.
Sunset being a vampire is deliciously ironic (given her name), as is her "mom" (Celestia) being a blood-sucker. With the bleeding irony with those two, it's almost a shame that Luna is also a vampire, but it's such a small quibble that it's barely worth mentioning.
Rainbow dash is a harpy, because there's really no other monster she could possibly be.
Rarity is still a unicorn, though I mentioned the oddness with that definition of "unicorn."
Applejack is a wood nymph, and so are all the Apples.
Fluttershy is a fairy, because why not?
Pinkie Pie is, surprisingly enough, a werewolf. I didn't quite get this until I realized the author was going for the, "wolves are the precursor to dogs," angle, which then made making Pinkie a giant pink golden retriever make perfect sense.
Why am I highlighting this fic?
This fic presents an AU that is ambitiously different from the usual, "It's totally different, even though the Elements are there, they fight a different version of Nightmare Moon, they have the same adventures, etc." schtick but the characters we know and love are essentially unchanged in all the ways that matter as characters. Sci-Twi is still recognizably our favorite inquisitive nerd-girl, Sunset is the brainy-but-charismatic leader, Applejack is still the down-home country girl, Rainbow Dash is still obsessed with speed and flight, etc. That said, they're different enough that we're still discovering new and interesting things about them, no matter how familiar we are with their canon counterparts.
What makes this fic particularly good?
There's a story, and a good one. With as light-hearted and fun as this fic begins, we're seeing signs of a larger, over-arching plot lurking behind the scenes even as early as the first chapter, but done in such a way that you wouldn't recognize it at the time.
Who would like this fic?
People who like AUs and are a bit tired of huge, sweeping epic novels that require serious commitment to the author's vision. This is rather like a popcorn-ball-carmel-apple. The outside is all candy and filler, but that's hiding something substantial enough to sink your teeth into.
...I shouldn't write these while I'm hungry.
Does the author monetize?*
No, be sure to drop them a line to encourage them to become a filthy, filthy capitalist. 
Endorsement on Princess Columbia's List is an endorsement of the selected work of fiction only and is not intended to endorse the creator of the work in any other way.
* Why highlight whether the author monetizes their work? By providing renumeration to the author, you often get the opportunity to request certain works be given higher priority. Additionally, when a person is able to get paid for their passion on their terms, it can often allow them to cut out things that otherwise distract from said passion, like a day job. Please support your content creators!
A novel AU? You have my interest. I'll be sure to give this one a look.
I adore this fic too! It has that warm fuzzy escapist vibe that I really love and that few fics manage to pull off; plus a really intriguing setting that has loads of possibilities and potential but never feels too overwhelming because we experience it through Twilight's sheltered lens. And also it manages this interesting mix of lighthearted teen fun with more adult themes like discrimination and inequality. It's such a satisfying read. It'd probably make a great anime, too.
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I highly recommend it!