[THE LIST] Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Chrysalis Equestria wgah'nagl fhtagn! · 2:59pm Dec 14th, 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
I Don't Want to Grow Up and A Bug on a Stick
by
Orbiting Kettle
Premise
Queen Chrysalis is Equestria's greatest nemesis...or is she? After all, Celestia, Luna, Discord, and Chrysalis are extremely long lived and part of that rather exclusive club of immortals. What if the relationship between Chrysalis and Celestia was not what it seems to be? What if these two immortals (plus Luna) were playing a much longer game? And how did things get to where they are today?
Princess Columbia's Synopsis
The version of Chrysalis as we know her is not her true form. Even before Celestia and Luna became princesses, they showed that Friendship was indeed more powerful than anything by halting the premature destruction of the universe in its tracks by making friends with an eldritch horror from beyond space and time. Thanks to the one-shot that started this adventure, we know how it ends, but how did they get to the place they are as of the end of Season 6?
As you can tell, this is a sorta-divergence-sorta-altiverse fic. Certain assumptions about the nature of Changelings are made that are...mostly busted by Season 8, and the differences between the author's headcanon and canon are extreme enough to slot this into AU territory.
Why am I highlighting this fic?
Baby Chrysalis is just god-damn cute, OK? 
Also, I wouldn't normally do a two-fer for this list, but you kinda have to read the one-shot to have the context for the longer retrospective "prequel." If it weren't for the narrative structure of the short story being a whole and complete work in itself, I'd have suggested the author make the short story the Prologue for the longer work.
What makes this fic particularly good?
Once the longer work is complete, it will be going on my Favorites list. World-building, narrative structure, unanswered questions in all the right places and ending the chapters leaving the reader begging for more all combine to make this a magnificent work worthy of standing up with the greatest works the fandom has produced, and could probably stand on it's own as a published work if the canon series hadn't contradicted it.
Who would like this fic?
If you love anything involving Chrysalis, especially where she's not the Big Bad, you'll love this fic. Also, fans of stories of kids having to adapt to being parent-less and coming of age stories will love this. There's also a "Stranger in a Strange Land" trope happening, which is masterfully handled from young Chrysalis' perspective.
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!
Editing this story is pure fun. Kettle, Carabas and I get to trade stupid jokes, hypotheses about Chryssy's latest crime against sane biology, and occassional suggestions on refining the text.
4981090
I honestly forgot that you follow my blog ramblings and I'm flattered that you do.
A review! I like reviews
Oh, and it is a positive one to boot. I'm truly glad you liked it, and I may bit a liiiitle egocentric, but knowing that does wonders for my motivation
4981090
It's actually wonderful to hear that