This story is a sequel to Ordinary World
There's something deadly in the Everfree Forest, and Fleur de Lis' distracting magic is the only thing keeping ponies away and safe. But when her decoy fails, she has to go find out why.
Big McIntosh is doing Fine Crime a favor when he spots a strange mare in the woods. Thinking she might be lost, he follows her deep into the Everfree.
By coincidence or fate, Fleur and Big McIntosh are stuck together in the Everfree. Big McIntosh doesn't take to her shallow nature, and she's not too fond of his disinterest in the hottest mare in Canterlot! But they'll soon find out there's more to each other than meets the eye. Together, they must struggle to survive the local wildlife and the fatal cold of a winter's night in the Everfree.
But not all the threats that thrive in the forest are natural.
The Fleur-Verse
Chronologically from Top to Bottom:
Shadow Pony
Reddux the Tyrant
No Heroes Part I - The Roster
No Heroes Part II - The Journey Home
Lightning's Bolt
The Weed
The Challenge of Fleur
Ordinary World
A Challenge for Fleur
Sweet to Eat: Tales of Nightmare Night
Sexy!!!
Great story! I really enjoyed reading it.
3820691
Think Big Mac can handle her?
3821449
Many thanks!
Der Schwarzwald did the same thing according to the old traditions; Never go into the Black Forest if you could avoid it - the lost ones needed nourishment and they'd misguide any who dared to go in. Nowadays, no one believes those silly old fairy tales, but every once and a while, someone goes missing after going into the woods, and neither hide nor hair of them is ever found...
3823133
And now I need to look up the Black Forest.
The lost ones of the Black Forest - those souls of the dead who had lost their way into the forests of south eastern Deutschland, in what is now Thuringia - are of a strangely similar description as your ghouls. Makes me feel like a child around the fireplace once again. I like this story.
My, how incredibly shallow... I'd almost a mind to label her a cad of sorts, be that as it were.
Also, I see no problems at all with this story, thus far. It reminds my of the fairy tales my grandmother regaled me with as a child back in Oberwiessbach. Please, do continue.
3823175
Well, I can't take full credit for the Blanks, that honor goes to this story.
Well... Shit.
Nice take on his family life; it's nice to see something other than the cookie cutter "My parent's are dead" narrative.
3823273
Big McIntosh never struck me as the type to agonize over such things. Applejack and Apple Bloom, too.
Now that was a lovely little fairy story! As I've been apt to say, it brings me back to my youth. I so hope that you might some day come up with a followup story - this pairing is quite rare. Until next time!
3823302
Glad you enjoyed it!
This story pseudo sequel, itself. Who knows? Maybe I'll expand upon this one, too. I'm seriously considering have a Fleur-themed series of short stories.
3822083 If anypony can, it's Mac.
Great History, Fluer x BM, interesting.
3849715
Thanks!
You know, there's nothing I love more than starting a new story, and immediately getting a face full of author's notes. Mmhmm good!
3920068
And it's no small number of notes, either! I've spent much of my day writing a GDoc for you to peruse.
Greate story !
3926298
Thanks!
3920068
tinyurl.com/ka6j54c
Firstly, *mumble mumble* "grammatical errors" *mumble mumble*
Secondly, you really need to read Twilight Sparkle: Night Shift. It's very similar to your own "Archons"
3992828
Firstly, never correct grammar in the comments. Do it in a PM so that future readers won't find evidence of my stupidity.
Secondly... I think Twilight Sparkle: Night Shift is on my 'read later' list. I may bump it up in importance for my read order now.
I really do enjoy your stories, Asaran. But don't get to thinking that this means I'll be any easier on you in your review. Once I can get back to my computer, it's on.
3993475
Pfft, if you 'went easy' on me you'd be remiss as a reviewer. Ground me into the dust, if you feel warranted.
3992931
Don't get your garters tangled, I'll edit the comment later.
And Yeah, I'm the one who rec'd Night Shift to you in the first place!
Ugh, I hate using the Mobile Site. The only emoticon I have memorized is trollestia!
Great stuff! I love their dynamic by the end and how vulnerable they both are about acting on the attraction. I sure hope Fleur shows up some more in No Heroes because I would love to read more of her. Definitely a favorite.
4380533
She does make a few cameo appearances in the series, but it's not common. I'm actually seriously considering starting a short story series about her being sent to investigate paranormal events, just for fun. It would probably be set in the same continuity as this and The Challenge of Fleur — a separate AU from No Heroes, but very similar.
Please say that Mac will play a big role in some of that series too! I now find that I would be quite disappointing if he didn't get a big role in at least some of it. But it would be great with her on her own before or after this story takes place. Just a good idea overall. Now I will try to get Lightning's Bolt started and do my chapter of No Heroes within the week.
4381225
Well The Challenge of Fleur and A Challenge for Fleur would both be considered canon to the Fleur series (obviously). The stories would probably be written in no particular chronological order and would include both periods from her early Archon days and after this story. Should Big Mac really decide to pursue her, I can see him making lots of appearances in the stories of a later period.
I look forward to your review of Nye's adventures in the Everfree Forest! I really enjoy that chapter, but I'm biased because I like spooky things (in case you didn't notice already). Also, you might be glad to know that I'm very close to finishing Twilight's Inferno, so I will be resuming Lightning's Bolt soon.
Kind of weird that Fine and Fleur are treating Mac like the hero here when he's the one who nearly got her killed.
True, he had good intentions and apologized for his ignorance, but it seems like they all forgot that she saved his life first.
I would call Big Mac Equestria's version of Robert E Howards Conan (accept no substitutes-comic or movie!) but even Conan would have more to say than "Eyup."
Good story and enjoyed it.
5274544
You're going to have read every single one of my stories by the end of the month.
5274548 10 out of 23 finished, I might need more than the rest of the month, plus one or two just don't appeal to me. I detest Scootaloo. Your just going to have to write some more now, won't you? Now lets late a look this No Hero's series...
5274671
Detest Scootaloo? That's a shame, she's my favorite of the CMC. Let me guess: burned out on how much attention she gets compared to the other two?
5274684 Not really, I just don't like her for some reason. She doesn't fit right in my mind. Think it has to do with she's not related to anyone. Essentially she is an orphan character with no real ties to anyone other than "Gotta get a Butt Tattoo!". Anyway I prefer Sweetie Belle myself, might have to do with her outsinging Fluttershy at one point...
5274696
There's a lot more to her than "I want a cutie mark." What about her desire for a role model/sister in Rainbow Dash? What about her self-consciousness at not being able to fly? What about her continuous drive to improve herself?
Also, you should really work on your 'no connections' argument. Pretty sure it's not what you intended, but as it stands it reads like "Scootaloo might be an orphan, and therefore I hate her." It also sounds like your saying "this is a world of sunshine and rainbows, and Scootaloo might not have a sunshiney and rainbowy backstory, so she needs to be ostracized." In either case, I guarantee you people are going to read that comment, misinterpret and blast you for it.
I mean, it's okay to not like Scootaloo, just be careful on explaining why.
5274742 The connections comment is meant to mean I have no clue of a real backstory! There is no hint to family, where she lives, who she is related to. Nothing. She probably does have a family and all those things, but the writers just seem to leave it all hanging. She is just there, standing around and bugging people and looking for the Butt Stamp. The only real clue we ever get is she was friends with Sweetie Belle before she met Applebloom. And that's because there both introduced together hiding under a table! The looking up to Rainbow Dash and the cannot fly (they don't even bring up why in the show!!) almost feel tacked on just to give some background to her. In many ways she is a background character with more lines is all I am saying. If they fleshed her out a bit more I might reconsider, but until then. Background character with lines is all she is to me. Applebloom has plenty of backstory and even some stand alone time. Sweetie Belle had a few defining moments and episodes dedicated to her. Scoots has one story and that has to do with being afraid and they needed to bring in Luna to make it interesting!
Wat da fook? I thought I already favorite this a long time ago
5495855
No sweat, I make that mistake all the time.
3823197
Gusatve, I'm curious as to which stories you are referring to. I have heard a few legends of the Black Forest, but never anything like this.
5568113
Well, there were stories of 'Der Nacht Leuten'; shades of the forest who were once people but had lost their way long ago.
There were stories about old villages that were empty by day and possessed of spirits by night.
And there were just those stories that Grandmother made upon a whim. They were regional and cultural stories, so I don't exactly know if they're a common thing outside of the region I grew up in.
Maybe I should start writing them down; now that I think of it, it would be a tragedy to let such wonderful stories disappear with the ages.
What happened to Tazel Wyrm in this fanfic series? Has or will she make/made any appearances? If so, then where?
5571210 What is Oberwiessbach?
5675173
I have no idea. I haven't factored her into this series at all, although in hindsight I realize that I should.
5675178
Oberwiessbach is the small town I grew up in. It's situated near the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in the free state of Thuringia, Deutschland (Germany).
5675191 Not bad. I've been going through your stories recently and they're pretty good. Though out of curiosity, is this in the same universe as Trixie verses Equestria?
7143222
Ah, the common question that, if I were a wise and efficient man, I would have created a blog for long ago. And a timeline for the blog. But no, I don't do that, because I am instead a very foolish man.
I digress.
There are three timelines (or 'verses') in one big AU. The primary timeline has always been the No Heroes-verse. At some point between No Heroes Book II and No Heroes Book III, the timeline diverges, creating the Fleur-verse. This story is part of the Fleur-verse, which includes everything Book II and before (if you follow the prequel thread), but nothing Book III and beyond. I have yet to write the specific story that splits the two, although I do have one in mind.
The Broken Twilight we know from the Trixie vs. Equestria-verse originated in the Fleur-verse, but beyond that TvE is completely separate from everything No Heroes and Fleur due to the timeline diverging so early in Equestrian history. I do have an event planned that will have the three verses interact, but that's not going to be for a long, long time.
...
And I just had an idea for how to clarify what stories are in what verses.
7143307 Does this mean that the Twilight from No Hero's disappeared, as I know that Alicorn Twilight died in Inferno.