Breaking down the Equestria tales.

For fun, I decided to break down the Equestria tales, showing what stories I would recommend being familiar with before reading certain stories. I've strived though to make the Equestria Tales as accessible as possible, but even I can't deny that for some stories, having read a previous one might not be a bad idea.

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The Brushie Chase
No need to read anything really, you can just dive in.

The pain of Foxy Stripes
This one is also pretty standalone. It is marked as a sequel to the Brushie Chase, but that is merely because it's loosely connected to it due to focusing on Foxy Stripes while the Brushie Chase focused on Private and Dew Doe.

The Tyrant of Fear and Hate
This story is set in an alternate universe, and used to be a stand-alone story. There really isn't any need to have read any other story before reading this one.

Rumble's best friend.
Again, this one can be dived right into without any prior knowledge of the series.

In The Broad Daylight.
This is the story that started it all, my first pony story. So it can be read without even touching any other story in the series.

The Time Keeper of Ponyville.
Although references are made to In the Broad Daylight, this story stands pretty well alone as well. Reading the Brushie Chase and The Pain of Foxy Stripes might give little more insight on three of the original characters, but it's not necessary to have read them at all.

Tango.
Okay this one might be a little trickier as it deals with results both from In the Broad Daylight and The Time Keeper of Ponyville, but I would say those are only necessary to read if you want all the details that lead up to Tango's situation. Otherwise it stands pretty well mostly alone.

Temor.
Like with the Tyrant, this story is set in an alternate universe and doesn't even reference previous stories. Though it deals with a what-if situation presented in Possession in the Crystal Empire, there is no need to have read any other story at all.

A day in the life of Rain Storm.
There are references made to Tango and the Time Keeper, but I would say you really don't need to read either story to follow what goes on in this one.

The Mysterious Explosion.
Is completely a stand alone story, other stories aren't even referred to.

Possession in the Crystal Empire.
For the most part reading other stories is completely unnecessary, though the Brushie Chase might give a little more insight on Private, and this story does sort of continues the story thread for the original characters that happened in the Time Keeper.

This is the first story in the "Return of the Dark Ponies" arc and the first story of "Barricade's redemption" arc

Breakfast Rewards.
Having passing familiarity with Possession is probably recommended, but that's really just for the extra details of why Private is in the hospital in the first place.

This story continues the "Return of the Dark Ponies" arc

Time Turner and Doctor Whooves
Only being familiar with the Time Keeper would be recommended for this story, though it refers to the running gag of Time Turner and Doctor Whooves from In the Broad Daylight and the events of Possession are also referred to.

The King in the Mountain
Having familiarity with Possession and Breakfast rewards is probably recommended for this story.

This story is in the "Return of the Dark Ponies" arc

A watchful shadow.
Possession is really only necessary to read for this one, as it directly deals with Sombra after his resurrection.

This story is in the "Return of the Dark Ponies" arc

In Old Manehattan.
Okay, here things might get a little complicated. This story deals with things from In the Broad Daylight, Tango and Possession in the Crystal Empire. These are the three stories I would at most consider important to be at least somewhat familiar with.

This story is part of the "Barricade's redemption" arc

The Last of the Dark Ponies
Okay this is the direct sequel to Possession but does touch also on events of In old Manehattan, those would be the one I most recommend having familiarity with before diving into this one.

This story continues the "Return of the Dark Ponies" arc and also "Barricade's redemption" arc

The Sons of Barricade. Part 1. Cooper.
I really wrote this one mostly from Junebug's and Cooper's point of view, occasionally switching it to Barricade's, but I would say being at least aware of In Old Manehattan was necessary for this one.

This story continues "Barricades redemption" arc

A mildly different School Raze
You really don't have to read the Last of the Dark ponies for this one, but it does answer why Sombra is in Tartarus.

And that's the break down. I also did use the opportunity to identify which story has what arc going on. Might actually do a module for the different arcs. That is probably an idea.