Recommend your favorite stories (your own included) here or ask for any help with any characters or pesky plot details. Perhaps you have a favorite story you wish to discuss or a rather controversial story you wish to talk about?

Rules:
1. Keep it civil, no slurs, no saucy images, no insults. "If you test me, you will fail." - Hikaru Sulu
2. Remember, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. This is the internet after all.
3. Non-recommendation or de-recommendations of story for no reason is not allowed. However, the user is allowed to say that he or she doesn't like the story for so and so reasons.
4. Have fun!

1398311 I got this into the feature box yesterday. I was very proud of myself.

1398369 It is a clop... fraid i'm not interested in reading that particular one, but it has a decent premise.

1st topic... wonder why clop fics are so badly frowned on upon? I mean clop incorporated with the story can be effective (it usually is IRL or in fiction).

1398311
When did Sulu say that? Was it that Voyager flashback episode?

1398417 Because there's a lot of poorly written clop on this site (though the medium value of quality imao is pretty decent) and people are underneath the impression that writing clop is a desperate bid for the feature box rather than, you know, writing it for fun.

1398429 It was in the Alternate Timeline movie Star Trek Into Darkness. Not telling you the context.

1398441 ... How do you write clop for fun?

1398560

1398311 this fic, What choice do I have is my best story I have written. Some concerns I have though is people saying they don't like how some characters are not good since they act one way and say another.

1398858 Well it is a dark story, which means deception + psychological stuff is probably in the genre.

Wait HOLY SHOOT YOU WROTE THAT?? I wanted to read it, but I am afraid of dark stories

...

Would any of you be interested in a crack shipping involving a certain Wonderbolt and Apple farmer?
No, it isn't SoarinJack.

It's this.

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/83612/farming-in-the-icy-inferno

Meet AppleFire, the one and only ladies and gentlemen.
And for some odd reason, I have been thinking of somehow turning Applebloom into a pegasus, which would therefore allow her to gain access into the Wonderbolts.

1398947 Doing a random change like turning a canon character into a different species has a lot of problems. I'd advise against that

But holy that's a rarely done ship.

1398918 lol thank you. It is dark, but it is more because the psychogical aspect instead of violence. It is really good, but if not your style then I understand.

Another one of mine is We fight as one being mostly action. While I have had many problems in my life, I am finishing up the final chapter very soon, like in a week.

1398947 I could possibly take a look at that. I hardy ever see that ship

1398964

Doing a random change like turning a canon character into a different species has a lot of problems. I'd advise against that

"Who dares, wins." A fine motto for the SAS. And this is exactly why I want to talk this issue.
Besides having the potential adorable dawww scenes for building a sisterly relationship between Applebloom and Spitfire... I always wanted to prove that an earth pony can fly.

Earth ponies always seem to be the underdogs in this realm of fiction, so why not one up them a bit?
As for being rarely done?

I have only seen one minor cameo fic referring AppleFire.
And only four shipping art pieces of them have ever been created.
Yet I cannot but help seeing these two in the throngs of each others embrace, looking passionately into each others eye as they finally make contact between their two tongues with the french kiss, declaring their everlasting love and devotion to one another as the two vow to stick together through whatever challenges that may await them, even through emotional hell...

So yes, I am a shipper. As a matter of fact... Well, I have kindahavebeenshippingAlterniawithLunaeventhoughthestorystatesprettyclearlythatisn'tthecase!
... Sorry. But I cannot help but see Alternia wrack by some unforseen horror that drives her to the depths of despair, only for her loving family and friends to rush to her aid, even as she weeps bitter tears in their warm embrace.....

...
Sorry. Kinda got carried away there...

1399003 ... Implying that there are others like it.

1398918 Pfft. Merely child's play boy.
Tis only be but mere words on paper, or rather on your LCD monitor.
Twas nothing to be afraid of then, and not here in the present either.

1399200 Muahahaha! Now I won't be able to read PC:TCQ without seeing that ship...

1398947 I have certainly never seen those two paired before...

1398918 It's a good story. Has a lot of people (myself included) waiting to see what Twilight's fate is going to be.

Am I always late to the party? Oh well, a new fic that I've taken great interest in is, "Kingdom Hearts of Harmony." It's a pretty recent story that I believe has just taken place as the best Kingdom Hearts crossover on this site that my own KH crossover once held.

Here's some of my favorite stories here:

* Cadence in a Minor is an awesome Plot with Porn fic that examines the fallout of A Canterlot Wedding, specifically addressing how it might have affected Shining Armor's psyche and how it started his and Cadence's marriage off to a rocky start. It is a mature fic and has scenes that fit that label, but it's altogether an insightful and emotional read. It's also a comedy, and has some damn hilarious scenes. (Plus, I pre-read for it. )

* I'm sure Daemon of Decay's Asylum needs no introduction, but it's a story where Twilight wakes up one day to find herself in a doppelganger world where she and all her friends are inmantes or staff at a psychiatric hospital. Exquisitely well-written, plus the story keeps you guessing as to whether or not Twilight is trapped in an alternate universe or of she was really crazy all along.

* Possibly my favorite story here (and the one with the least attention!) is Terminal World. Based on the SF novel of the same name by Alastair Reynolds, this posits a science fiction future for ponies where everypony lives in a huge spiraling structure called the Godscraper. The Godscraper is divided into several strata with their own technological levels, with the alicorns living as nanomachine-infested demigods at the structure's tip. Twilight works at a morgue at a lower level, but has ties to the alicorns. When one risks his life to warn her of coming danger, she needs to work with Rainbow Dash to escape from the Godscraper into safety. Despite some grammar issues, this story has some fantastic writing (although some of that is thanks to Mr. Reynolds) and shouldn't be overlooked for fans of science fiction.

* Aces High was an early favorite of mine, examing the character of Lightning Dust in an insightful way. It's compelling and emotional, and is also the only one-shot on this list (for you people with no spare time ). If you want a good story that you can breeze through quick, this one's up your alley.

* And lastly, time to pimp my own story! On a Pale Horse is a dark adventure inspired by (among other things) Jim Butcher's Dresden Files fantasy series. One day Twilight opens her door to find a weary and frightened Trixie begging for help. A powerful "fell spirit," an ancient monster using a black-hearted pony as its host, appears in Ponyville not long after. Now Twilight has to contend against the fell spirits while deducing what they want with Trixie and the Alicorn Amulet both. Three chapters so far, with the fourth in the works! Please please please give it a look-see!

1399437 thank you. I do apologize since I haven't updated most of my stories lately. I just have had some serious personal things happen In my life in the last 2 months. Fortunately I am getting through it and continuing soon

Who me? Self-promote? Well, if you're going to force me...

* The Traveling Tutor and the Librarian is a comedic fic where Twilight and the part-time unicorn magic teacher clash, resulting in fighting, dunking in the fountain, misunderstanding, chaos, sleeping together (It was only sleeping! Why doesn't anypony believe me!), and even a wedding announcement prank that goes horribly wrong.

I admit I was motivated by the next fic:
* What is Fame Without Friendship about Laughing Stock, a stand-up comic who meets Twilight Sparkle during a particularly bad time in his life.

Issis thread dead? No telling, really. (Doesn't much help that I'm not replying.)

A Big Ol' favorite of mine is Days of Wasp and Spider, a SciFi pre-prehistory take on Equestria. With thousands if not millions of years to cover to get to something as recent as Sombra or Discord, it's got a lot of play. Which is good, as the only two 'canon' characters need to free themselves, overthrow an entire race, and become as gods between then and now...

1416682 looks intresting

1398369>>1398417>>1398429>>1398858>>1398947>>1399437>>1400272>>1401123>>1416682>>1416942 Let's see, good fics to promote, hmm...Off the top of my head there's Past Sins and My Little Dashie, but pretty much everyone's read them. CyborgSamurai's The Powers of Harmony, which is sadly not going to be continued for a long time is another. And I guess for self-promotion there's my Kingdom Hearts crossover Got it Memorized?, though the grammar could definitely use some work.

1436571 why promote past sins? It's already like one of the top rated fics on the site. Oh well...

1436571 1436616
Good idea... but lets not reccommend any stories that literally everybody already knows off the top of their head alright

Celestia in Excelsis is a EQD featured story (less than 300 rating) of Celestia's ascension and the first days of her reign. Its written by our admin Kolwynia.

Letters from Canterlot You like Fancy Pants and Fleur? Well read Fancy's letters to Rarity as he tells her how he became Canterlot's most important pony. Short, but well written, this fic is a gem.

Deception Anybody liked Inception? This is Inception with PONIES into Spike's mind in order to stop him becoming a maniacal greed crazy dragon.

Treating her Right One-shot Appledash so good that I liked and faved it and that's despite the fact I dislike mane six shipfics.

March to the Scaffold A chrysalis redemption story that's quite good.

The Price of Generosity Rarity is scarred after a fire, Spike x rarity shipping

On Their Majesty's Shapeshifting Service The title saids it all. One shot.

1437506 ah, Celestia in excelsis is a really good one. After he reviewed my dark twilight story, I reviewed that one. I love the original take on Celestia's history

1437506 Wow, quite the list of stories, looks like I have some more reading to catch up on. I'm most interested by the Chrysalis one, I always had a little thought in my head that Chrysalis wasn't necessarily evil but just wearing a guise so she could feel better about herself when taking over all ponykind to feed her subjects. Now let's see what her redemption shall be.

I'm doing two fan fictions, A Gentle Breeze of Change, starring my Pegasus, Summer Breeze. She has three sisters, aptly named for the four seasons. it's in the middle of a major revision.

The second one is called On Our Own, which deals with a unicorn filly named Little Horn and her cousin, Harmony Treble Heart, entertaining the Cutie Mark Crusaders, The Mayor of Ponyville, and some other original ponies who have answered Harmony and Little Horn's video ad.

I've just gotten into this under-the-radar adventure story, Duskfall. I was wary of it at first because the first chapter features a Tyrant Celestia, but once you realize what the author is really up to, it's awesome. (And actually shows great love for the character of Celestia, who is my favorite princess.) If you are willing to venture into an Equestria that is much darker than the one you know, and maybe brave the use of a few ponyfiction tropes that are not usually done so well, then you will find a well thought out mystery and a great take on the characters you love. Also, the writing is great. Don't believe the downvotes this time.

Hmm...not sure that I'll be able to contribute much here, since most of my favorite stories are well-known; I don't know many diamonds-in-the-rough, which I'm guessing this thread is for. I assume that ya'll have already heard of: Fallout: Equestria, Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons, The Best Night Ever, The Sweetie Chronicles: Fragments, Friendship is Optimal, Night's Favoured Child, and The Immortal Game. These are all my beloved favorites and inspirations, but they seem to be many other's favorites as well, judging from their ratings.
Perhaps slightly less well-known: This Platinum Crown by Capn_Chryssalid, which has excellent writing technique and world-building, as well as some pretty good action and characterization. The Little Mermare by Absolute Anonymous, a dark little one-shot that introduced me to kelpies. Sunshine and Fire, a WIP that I haven't kept up on in a while, but seemed to have good writing and an alternate universe Evilestia, which gives it big points in my book. The Flight of the Alicorn is not gritty or dark enough for my taste, but as far as adventure/romance stories go, its writing and pacing are nearly impeccable. I haven't kept up with Under the Northern Lights in a while either, but again, I recall it as having quite good world-building and characterization.
I've read other good stories as well, of course, but these are among the best. I'll definitely be looking at the stories that ya'll recommend; I've already put many of them on my read-later list.