WEEKLY RULES, FOR EXAMPLE: Rules: 1. Gotta be a full changeling OC. It can't be Derpy as a changeling. That's just Derpy. I want changeling drone #729 and their story. 2. Doesn't have to be complete. 3. Has to be rated T or below. I'm a family friendly pussy.
Sometimes you just want to hear your favorite story told a little different
Rules: 1. What is 'Slightly to the Left'? Well it's an AU were things are a little bit different but not a lot. Some random pony in Fillidelphia probably wouldn't have a change to their day to day. Because there's a difference between 'Everything is the same except...' stories and stories where the mane six are imagined as, like, cowboys or something. (Other AUs may count as 'Canon' 'Full' 'Complete Crossover' and 'Just Visiting' 2. Doesn't have to be complete. 3. Has to be rated T or below. I'm a family friendly pussy.
Right off the bat we have a bit shaky entry for if it fits the category. This seems like one of those fics that just takes things in a different direction because they just… didn’t know what was going to happen. But I think Twilight almost dying and then transforming into a changeling princess is a little more drastic than usual and slips into AU territory. This story has some really fascinating headcanons about changeling culture that keep you hooked even through the slower parts of Twilight just… figuring out how to live life. It’s certainly an interesting read.
“Give me a second,” he replied while relaying the message. “She says since you’re a royal changeling, you require at least three times as much love as us drones. The longer your body’s brimming with love, the faster your overall development will be.”
She cocked her head at the statement. “My… development?”
This time, the drone didn’t bother relaying the query. “Well, it’s not for nothing, sister, you’re still at the princess stage of development. You’re not going to stop growing until you're queen size, as it were.”
There’s like four incredible ideas happening just right there.
A horror fic on this list is pretty odd. But the AU is fascinating. Twilight dies but… she doesn’t leave. It doesn’t go much into how this affects people in an AU sense but that’s why it’s ‘slightly to the left’. The way the main six have to deal with having this ghost haunt them is a world take I liked seeing. Plus, it’s just nerve wracking and a really good horror story.
12:00. One minute to go.
Rarity ran over to the door and made sure that it was locked. It was. Triple bolts. She even moved a sewing machine in front of it for extra security. Once she checked that everything was in place, she backed away and stopped at the foot of her bed. There, she waited.
Look, I know a lot of people don’t like Spike/Rarity but this one is just so natural! Instead of getting hatched by Twilight, Spike is just a normal dragon who comes to live a couple miles outside of Ponyville. Unlike other AU Spike’s I’ve seen this one is incredibly in character. He’s still a nerdy sweetheart despite growing up around dragons and is actually self conscious about it! But that’s the reason Rarity starts to see him as not a big scary dragon but as a friend. Their relationship progresses so smoothly I feel like it could be a real love story.
It was a clawprint, with three clawed toes extending from one side. Almost in a trance, Rarity reached out and placed one hoof in the print. About an inch of space on either side. Just the right size for some creature a head taller than she was, maybe two. Some creature with claws, scales, and absolutely no reason to give her any gemstones when it could keep them for its own hoard…
Sunset Shimmer fleeing to Ponyville instead of the human world was a story begging to be written and MagnetBolt has a great take on it. The story has some action and danger in it but at its heart it’s about Sunset growing into a better pony through the power of, what else, making good friends. I love how she starts to mentor Twilight under the radar and helps her learn things Celestia wouldn’t teach her. And that ending! It really hits you with the feels and leaves you feeling warm and safe.
“Twilight Sparkle,” I said, using a spell to lower the ambient light and make my voice echo. “So it has come to this!”
“Sunset, please stop scaring the other customers,” Mister Cake said, from behind the counter. “I don’t care if you’re Applejack’s friend, ponies are trying to eat.”
So, not to spoil the ending, but I’m going to spoil the ending. This is a dream story. But it’s still an AU because the person having the dream is living in a universe where Pinkie becomes an Alicorn princess instead of Twilight. The dream is insane and kind of obviously a dream but I’ve read so many insane stories that I just kind of rolled with it that the ‘AU’ tag meant a world where everyone had wings. But nope! It’s actually an introspective dream about how being the only person unique and different in the world would seriously weigh heavy on ‘social butterfly’ Pinkie Pie’s mind. I’m sorry if I spoiled it for you because the realization it was all a metaphor really hit me hard.
She hopped out of bed and walked over to the balcony. Her dream—she'd rather not think about it just yet. Her new home, of course, was the crystalline castle that had sprung up from the box of harmony after Tirek's defeat. It was only fitting that Ponyville's princess should live there. She looked down from far above at all of the ponies walking in the streets. Pegasai, unicorns and earth ponies alike all went about their ordinary 'wingless' lives.
Okay, so I usually really don’t like ‘The Canterlot Wedding’ rewrites. I don’t think Twilight’s friends did anything wrong by leaving her to cool down. That being said, this story is just so good. I’ve never seen so many different elements introduced so quickly and yet so seamlessly. With a split personality Pinkie, Twilight Velvet having certain opinions, and that ending, this isn’t just an episode rewrite but an entire AU that really punches you in the gut with those feels.
It had been a long time since Velvet had last been in a battle of magic and might, but thankfully her skills in battle hadn’t faded as much as her memory of it had. The changelings were doing their best to surround them, and Velvet was impressed at how they did their best to not only attack from one’s blind spots, but to also do so with a form that would normally cause hesitation if spotted. It was a beautiful strategy, she had to admit, as hesitation was always costly in war; A term she did not use lightly.
Everything is the same except Shining Armor is Celestia’s student instead of Twilight. Oh, I’m sorry, that was misleading. This story is about how everything’s the same except Twilight Sparkle is a guard instead of Shining Armor. And, as such, falls in love with the Princess of Love. I love the twist on this classic subversion so that we follow Twilight on her journey. And what a journey! The story is full on danger, mystery, intrigue, and some romance to mix things up. It’s a really really solid read with such a good idea.
“Why thank you, Captain,” Cadance said with a giggle. “Are you working out, Twilight?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Twilight replied. “Just doing my best to keep fit.”
“Well don’t stop on my account,” Cadance said airily. She sat on her haunches, leaned against the cabin, and fluttered her eyes coquettishly. “I’m perfectly fine with sitting here and watching you.”
Twilight was very certain that she was being teased, but never the less, she suddenly felt very self-conscious.
“That’s… okay…” Twilight said bashfully, a blush rising in her cheeks. “I was just about done, anyway.”
This is probably what people first think of when I say ‘AU slightly to the left’. Rainbow is Celestia’s student instead of Twilight. That’s the only change. But dang does that change affect the story of Nightmare Moon’s return so much. This is peak Rainbow Dash characterization with her trying to deal with the sudden pressure of being a leader and a protector of so many friends old and new. It’s so good in fact, that the author is actually rewriting it so many years later. A story so nice they wrote it twice.
Below, just out of reach, her friends were falling to their deaths. Fluttershy screamed as she tried to open her wings, but they were held tight by Nightmare Moon’s bonds. Even Twilight Sparkle’s impressive magic was contained. There was nothing to stop or even slow their descent except for the rocky ground below that was rapidly approaching.
The wind whipped at Rainbow Dash’s face as it blew her mane and tail back. There were tears trickling down her cheeks that had nothing to do with the rushing wind tugging at her eyes. Five ponies, five friends, and not enough time to save them all. Who gets saved? Who’s left to die?
This kind of character deep dive, these questions that get asked, is why I really love this fic.
Usually rewrites of episodes where they scoff at the idea of using friendship to solve their problems are funny but lack real substance. This story has so much substance it’s overwhelming in a good way. Twilight is smart and confident but in a way where you actually believe it’s all valid. The ideas she comes up with are funny but they’re also so clever and feel very in character. I love Twilight’s friendship with Luna and Discord and how she thinks of new ideas for every problem that comes up. And how she gets things wrong sometimes! That’s so important to keep me engaged with characters like these. It’s an incredibly entertaining read for all the right reasons.
Spike sighed, walked over to the desk, and picked up a quill and a stack of paper. Cadence had no idea of the terror she had called down on herself. Twilight Sparkle, Royal Advisor to Princess Luna, wielder of the Element of Magic, personal student of Princess Celestia, and close personal friend of Discord, had just put her on the top of her enemies list.
Just look at that resume! And yet she is so off the mark about Cadence...
Can you tell I love retellings of the Nightmare Moon story but with a different main character? Pinkie Pie is Celestia’s student in this one and of course for that to happen the story has to be--darker? I know, not what you expect from a Pinkie Pie story. But they make Pinkie’s weird cartoon powers an actual point of tension and drama! Nightmare Moon kidnaps the crusaders and Celestia and uses them for her schemes! That’s all so dark and brilliant! Add them in right off the bat! I loved every moment reading this and went on such a rollercoaster of emotions I thought about it for weeks afterwards. This is an absolutely excellent AU.
Pinkie smiled as she came to a stop, leaning on top of the pile of junk she had made. Her smile faded a little when she noticed nopony else was saying anything.
“Did I not pack enough cake? I would have brought more, but I only had five minutes.”
“What was that?” Applejack blurted.
“Was that a spell?” Twilight wondered. “Did Princess Celestia give that to you? You're an earth pony, so that can't have been your own magic.”
“How in the hay did you fit all that in your mane?” Rainbow asked.
Pinkie's ears drooped. “Was... was I not supposed to do that? I just – everyone else was showing all the stuff they brought, so I thought...”
No one spoke.
Mmmmmmm! That draaaama! That tension! That’s the good stuff right there.
While I have read a heckin' lot of fanfics I haven't read them all. Please tell me if there's a fanfic you think should have been on this list because I might just not have read it! Or I have and we can talk about the good horse words.
