Legendary · 5:33am Sep 26th, 2019
For a while my favorites bookshelf had been bothering me. There were two stories that didn't really belong there. I felt compelled to favorite them because they were so well written, and I enjoyed them tremendously, but they didn't really fit the way I use that bookshelf. I add stories to favorites when there is something about them that makes me want to revisit them frequently. It isn't really a best stories section for me.
So I made a new one. The "Legendary" bookshelf. I have a pretty easy time finding fault with things so there are only two stories in it at the time of writing this blog. I'm not saying they are perfect, mistake free, stories; but they are of absurdly high quality. It is actually dumb how good and well written these stories are. Like, the people that wrote them should be writing professionally, if they aren't already. If it were legal these stories should be published and circulated.
I figured I should write something anytime I add a story to the legendary bookshelf, but I don't expect that will happen again for a long time, maybe never, my standards are unfair. There will be some things said below that may be considered spoilers. Such is the nature of review style content.
The Enchanted Library by Monochromatic
This is the best story on FIM Fiction. It wasn't written in 2012-2013 and is more than twice as long as your typical fantasy novel yet still manages to have over 3k likes despite those setbacks; that should tell you something of its quality. It uses the MLP characters in a very unique way and twists the MLP lore with a very simple change. What if Twilight Sparkle was born 1000 years earlier? (I guess Princess Cadence and Spike as well but that's less important).
The majority of the story is written from a Rarity centric perspective in what I guess one would have to consider present day; not the easiest character to write for many, nor very popular. The world presented to the reader is so alien to the cannon MLP that I was immediately saying "What the Fuck!?" over and over, in a good way. It compels the reader forward. What is the same, what is different, how did this all happen, also what the fuck?
So why isn't this in my favorites bookshelf? The experience I had reading this story for the first time can't be replicated by re-reading. The mystery was really important to my enjoyment. Knowing the how and why of things makes some sections very painful during an attempt to re-read the story. The characters are never doing things that don't make sense, but it does fall into a common story telling trap of several events only happening because characters neglect to tell each other things. Usually (maybe every time) there are understandable reasons for characters to omit important information, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach when a character is doing something you know is ultimately a waste of time and effort.
My bad review/rambling aside, even if I can't adequately explain how it is so, this is the best story on FIM Fiction. The world, worldbuilding, and lore alone is worth it. Everyone should at least give it a chance.
Salvation* by Cold in Gardez
Someone way smarter than me once wrote, "Stories about ponies are stories about people." and they also wrote Salvation.
I'm going to come right out with this; Salvation isn't in my favorites bookshelf because I never want to read it again. Salvation is a story that is read once. This is a story that can and probably will hurt you. I felt actual deep physical and emotional pain reading this story and if I had been in the exact right (wrong?) frame of mind there is at least one point where I absolutely would have thrown up; I came very close. Anyone that has read Salvation probably knows exactly when in the story that is but a quick hint just in case... Throne 
Wow that sounds awful, why should anyone read this? If I had to sum up Salvation in one word it would be Cathartic
Salvation is a story about Love and Loss. What grief and guilt can do to people when it isn't being handled in a healthy way. If you've ever experienced the death of a significant other, lover, life partner, spouse, whatever term you prefer, and you never want to be put in that headspace again, then this story may be dangerous for you to read. If you haven't lost someone that important to you this story may help you understand and connect better with someone that has; it can teach you their language.
The best thing about Salvation, is that it will probably show up in search results when people are looking for clopfics, some of those people will read it, and I find that incredibly amusing. #mature #sex #romance does not always equal clop. Search carefully. 
*I had to remove this link as it violated a blogs rule, whoops
Hey, really glad you liked Salvation. It's been a while since I finished it, but when I think back to the stories I'm most proud of having written, it's up near the top. Thank you for saying how much it made you feel.