Railway Ponies

I just read The Railway Ponies: Highball...

What can I say? I kinda feel like an unworthy plagiarist now. What an amazing tale.

Good thing I didn't set out to write a story about steam trains in Equestria. If you haven't read it but like Steel Dreams, you HAVE to read Highball.

Comments

[Acologic]

I think I should read more Fimfiction fanfics full stop. In my defence, it's hard to decide what to dip into, what with there being over 14 years' worth of reading on this site – but gems are out there somewhere, we both know that.

[Silentwoodfire]

I read that story a few years back, and it was a rather excellent tale

4970744
Pick something, go through it, pick another.... though when I find ones with sequels I tend to go after them in order. Tis great fun!

[Venerable Ro]

If you haven't read it but like Steel Dreams, you HAVE to read Highball.

Alright! Alright! I'm going! Stop shoving! ( I kid, I'll be sure to have a look, this looks promising.)

---

4970744
Well waddaya want to read? I chew through tens if not hundreds of thousands of words a night, I'm sure I can recommend something.

[Acologic]

4970751
I really don't know, man, that's part of the problem for sure. Complete and utter freedom to choose anything... as Takashi Yamada said, 'It's a tough one.'

Something closer to unusual than palatable? I really don't know.

[Venerable Ro]

4970755
Hmm. Then let me hand you a paving stone disguised as a book and recommend Legacy by Nfire. It has a little bit of everything. Adventure, mystery, romance, a marvelously sly sense of humor, and enough explosions to make Michel Bay jealous.

The character development is steady and pervasive. In spite of an immense cast, no one is neglected or flanderised. The story is, thoughtful.

It can move slowly at times, a constant theme of the story is the need to pause and enjoy life as it happens. It is very much a slice of life story. Aside from the times when enough munitions are thrown around to rearrange the landscape...

A sample, with what should be minimal spoilers.

... I am regaled with stories of Twilight’s past, it appears she seems to forget to eat quite a bit. Always busy with a list, or a book, or some other obscure things, it’s up to her friends and Spike to make sure she gets something. It is amusing, seeing another side of the interested scientist I always saw. I laugh along with them.

Spike waves a taloned hand, “Oh, you know what? Let me tell you about the Power Ponies! We got sucked into this comic book..”

“Wait.” I am confused, into a comic book? “You’re telling me you got pulled into a book with pictures on the page? Really?”

“Yeah! It was a magical one, didn’t know at the time,” Here he looks a bit sheepish, “But it came out okay!”

“So, did you go on an adventure?”

“Oh we sure did!” He leans on the counter, “See, Mane-iac was going to take over Maretropolis with a new weapon, and the Power Ponies had to stop her!”

“Really?” I find myself repeating that alot.

Hands are waved, the spatula used as a pointer as he tells me the story.

“Oh yeah! See they all became the Power Ponies, and had to stop Mane-iac so we could get back out. It was great! I sure learned even I can contribute to help sometimes!”

“They became the Power Ponies?”

He starts ticking off fingers, “Yeah! Twilight was The Masked Matter-Horn! She can fire energy bolts from her horn and stuff! Pinkie was Filli-Second, fastest pony around, Rainbow Dash was Zapp, she can control the weather!”

I see from the corner of my eye, Applejack making motions and shaking her head.

I lean forward, “Interesting, tell me more.” I listen as I stuff my mouth with pancakes.

“Oh heck, it was awesome! Fluttershy was Saddle Rager, she gets angry and turns into this huge pony. Hard to get her angry though.”

“Rarity, well,” Here he gets a dreamy look in his eyes, “She was Radiance, can make things with her mind, she was seriously awesome looking! Uh..you know, awesome powers and all.”

“I understand Spike,” I give him a reassuring smile, “Please, go on.” I am watching Applejack trying to chew her food fast enough to say something.

“Applejack was really cool! Mistress Mare-velous!”

“Mistress Mare-velous?”

“Yeah! She can control a lasso psychically! She has Hoofarangs to capture the bad ponies! She’s got an awesome outfit, they all did, it was so cool wearing those costumes!”

Applejack chokes a bit, spitting pancakes on the counter as she coughs out, “SPIKE!”

“What Applejack? It was cool!”

“Ya didn’t have to tell him all that stuff!”

“But it was a great time! We all had fun fighting the bad ponies!”

I lean my elbow on the counter, placing my cheek on a hoof, “I’m sure Mistress Mare-velous was right in the thick of it.”

“Oh she was! But it took time to learn about the powers, she kinda tied herself up in her lasso at first, was really funny!” The little dragon is bouncing on the counter, acting out the scenes.

“SPIKE!”

“It’s okay! You learned how to use it! We got back out alright!”

“That’s not the point!”

He waves a hand at Applejack, smiling as he puts more pancakes on our plates, we both dig in heartily.

“Aww don’t worry, I mean it turned out fine. Yeesh you sound like Twilight.”

“Okay Spike sorry, didn’t mean to hit ya over the head.”

I lean over, and whisper into Applejack’s ear, “I find it intriguing, that they used Mistress, instead of Miss. That has a connotation that really should not be in a children’s comic book I think. Maybe my Commander has hidden depths that have not been mentioned to me?”

I see her face go beet red, her ears go straight up as my words connect to the brain. Applejack’s eyes get very wide as she spits pancakes all over the counter, sputtering and pointing a hoof at me as she tries to get the words out. I fall off the chair, laughing so hard I cannot breathe. I will pay dearly for this, but I will always remember the shocked look. Spike on the other hoof...

“Applejack! Geez if you don’t like the pancakes just say so! Stop spitting ‘em everywhere!”

[Acologic]

4970760
By god, that this story comprises over a million words...

I'll add it to the ol' R.I.L., then chip away at it. I've no idea how much I'll manage. Thank you for the recommendation!

Seriously though, the amount of writing MLP has inspired is insane.

[Lurks-no-More]

4970763
Isn't it just? And the really amazing this is how much of the ponyfics are good! Including some that are seriously better than a lot of published-for-money fiction.

[Acologic]

4970776
I know! It really brings a smile to my face.

[Venerable Ro]

4970763
No worries, it's very modular. The story is somewhat episodic in nature, each chapter possesses it's own start and end point. While this does make for longer chapters, it honestly feels like some kind of alternate script for the show itself.

[Southpaw]

Yep, I've read it—excellent story which I should read again soon.

Here's the comment he left in response to mine, which I think makes it even more special:

I'm very glad that you enjoyed this piece, as I put a lot of myself into it. I used to volunteer on a heritage railway, and many of my ancestors were railroaders. The age of steam locomotives and a world that moved according to the slower, more deliberate cadence of the trains has great appeal to me, and I'm glad that it appeared in this piece.

I forgot to add, because I'm frazzled: Your stories are fun and well-written, and they're yours. If another story inspires you, then that's just all the better for you, isn't it?

[Iron Sides]

Highball is one of my favorite tails. Always called to me, kinda put itself at a point i always strive for.

[Soge]

My favourite fic from my favourite fimfiction author. It doesn't get much better than this.

[Celefin]

4971034

I forgot to add, because I'm frazzled: Your stories are fun and well-written, and they're yours. If another story inspires you, then that's just all the better for you, isn't it?

Thanks for the praise, and of course you're right. It was just a really weird feeling to read a story where the author uses so many phrases and evokes feelings that i used and felt while writing Steel Dreams.

[Celefin]

4970776

some that are seriously better than a lot of published-for-money fiction

I've lost count of how many times I've commented on a fic with that and meant it every time. It's really amazing when you stop and think about it.

[Celefin]

4970755

Something closer to unusual than palatable?

Have a look at my top five favourites, if you're so inclined. Definitely diversity.

[Celefin]

Alright! Alright! I'm going! Stop shoving! ( I kid, I'll be sure to have a look, this looks promising.)

Do report back. :b

[Acologic]

4971327
Will do!