Hap Reviews: Contest Entries 12 · 10:27am Aug 27th, 2020
Hey hey folks. I have another two stories from two separate events I participated in; one is from the RBAIA contest and the other is from Krazy's Warm and Fuzzies event, so there should be a little variety in them even if they're both shippy. Hopefully one might take your fancy to read.
With luck, I'll have a new story posted by the end of the week-end with regards to the Cozy Glow contest, so stay tuned for that. It's about halfway finished and then will need a quick coat of editing.
Now, onto the stories!
This story is Twidash by nature. Not a pairing I really pay much attention to, but that's not due to inherent dislike or anything (I don't inherently dislike many things, and the ones I do dislike I'm fairly vocal about, so you'll know them when you see them), but just because I don't really ship Twilight with much of anyone. I just haven't given the matter much thought.
This story features the two character pre-season 3, which is interesting because it means Twilight is wingless, which is the core of the conflict at play here. The story is very short, clocking in at a very compact 2K words, and this is one of the instances where I'd actually recommend it to be a bit longer. Because there is a dramatic conflict, I think it probably needed a bit more room to breathe and become comfortable. Whilst it is set up, it is done so quickly, and is resolved in the same scene.
The interplay between the characters is quite nice, though. It flip-flops slightly between cartoonish and quite grounded, which I think is also related to the story being just a bit too compact to breathe. There's good stuff in there, though, and there are concepts that are alluded to that may spark imagination, which is good to see. I was rather fond of Rainbow's entrance especially, and taken individually, her conversations are nice to read.
I view this story's length as something of a double-edged sword. On one hand it makes it easier to recommend due to it being short and easy to pick up, but on the other I do feel the plot was stifled somewhat. I glance over the writing itself since it is very functional and nothing jumps out at me, so there really isn't much to discuss. Other than the issues I had with it that I have mentioned, I think that unless you have a keener eye than me, you'll be fine.
Who would enjoy this? Twidash shippers looking for something light would be my best bet. Alternatively someone who is ship-curious and wanted something quick to digest. Characterisation is probably what you'll be taking away from this one, so if you go in with an open mind you might find it sparks your imagination a bit as well.
I was introduced to this story through proofreading, although I must confess the input I had was minimal as there weren't that many errors I found. Again, this is a short one (roughly 1.5K words) and an entry to Krazy's Warm and Fuzzy's event. This story is very much slice of life in that it doesn't put forwards a conflict or major drama, and instead aims to recite a part of the two characters' (Applejack and Rainbow Dash) day. Thanks to its shortness I don't think it needs much conflict, and this lets the story rest on the characterisation, which I believe is quite strong.
At this point, Applejack and Rainbow Dash have been in a solid relationship for a long time, and are currently enjoying their anniversary. The story plays a bit with how the characters might have changed conceivably in that time, which is actually quite a treat to see.
In this regards, the story works very differently from Wingless, in that it takes place after the show (as opposed to before) and uses a lack of conflict rather than lean on conflict and drama. Folks looking for some more meat to digest may come away wanting, but at the length it is it's an easy read to get into.
Who would enjoy this? If you like the pairing, there's really no reason to not pick this one up and give it a read. It's short and sweet, and you should be done in a quick sitting. There might be more drama available elsewhere, but this one knows what it's doing and executes its objectives competently, I feel.
That's all from me today. I hope you'll decide to take a look at the stories presented here if they seem like your cup of tea.
Have a nice week, lads and lasses. Cheerio.
