It Is Recommendsday, My Dudes #142 · 8:01pm Dec 6th, 2023
I'm in a little bit of a rush this week - the end-of-year stuff's coming up at work and I've got a heavy slate for both writing and reading right now. (Particularly reading - I've got to get my current priority queue cleared before the rush of Jinglemas stories!) And that's without talking about the usual stuff for December! Busy, busy month.
Fortunately, I've still got plenty of stuff for this blog prepped and the greatest problem is deciding what to do when. This week, I'm picking a pair of new authors and some nice, cute stories about the Main 6 as kids. That's always nice and heartwarming on a cold day.
Let's open with Let the Weather In by gloamish.
The story glimpses into Fluttershy's first days and weeks living on the cottage and the events that happen throughout it. Her first storm experienced from the ground. Her first letter from home. Her first visit by Rainbow Dash. Her first patient. Her first burial. The small moments of her life blossoming out.
Above all else, with this story I've gotta talk about ~~vibe~~. In a slice of life story like this, that's usually a key element and gloamish just nails it. Like that opening section where Fluttershy's waking up in the middle of the night, clutching her rabbit plushie as her first ground storm rumbles outside? Just wonderful - it expresses that feeling of waking up in an unfamiliar place, of the instinctive urges to fall into habits even if they don't work or apply, all that.
And that flows throughout the rest of the story. I just love the feel of things. All those bits of environment, all the tiny details combine into smooth, evocative scenes. Some hit hard ("He should be able to see the stars") but most are more subtle. I'm not sure I fully agree with the author's note that describes Fluttershy's ego death in this - to me it's more her merging into and becoming part of the new environment. She transitions from being of Cloudsdale into being of Ponyville and the Everfree.
Part of that - and one I really like - is Rainbow Dash's part of it. Ponyville feels right for Fluttershy and to her nature, while Dash is a pegasus' pegasus and would be fine having remained in Cloudsdale. But she doesn't - and their exchange says a lot for it. It's Rainbow Dash basically asking Fluttershy "is this safe?". She's following Fluttershy's lead and taking advice from her - it's a shift that shows a lot about who Rainbow Dash is and how her relationship with Fluttershy works. Again: subtle but strong.
Following that we've got hoofbeatsoftime with Somepony To Fall On.
Little filly Applejack goes out to buck a few trees for the harvest. In the process, she finds a similarly young Rainbow Dash unsurprisingly in a tree. The two know each other - but there's a reason Dash is up there. She's sick. Stubbornly refusing to admit she's sick, not seeking help, not wanting to go home, but still sick. And AJ can't just leave her there.
This is another one that's small stakes, small focus, and cute as hell. There's really nothing too deep here: it's cute filly Applejack in what may be the first instance of forcing cute filly Rainbow Dash to accept help and not be a stubborn idiot. (It of course does not stop her from being one in the future, but let's face it that's a long term project for anybody.)
Oddly, the part that leaps to me the most is how Dash refuses to go home to her parents. You'd think that was odd but it makes sense in the story and a small late reveal gives it important context. Makes it deeper, y'know? It (and the rest of the story) shows so much of who these two eventually become.
Plus, y'know, adorable. Sometimes a story doesn't need more than that.
New or catching up? Try Recommendsday: The Index for your story needs!
I do have a certain weakness for taking ponies who know each other very well as adults (often romantically involved, because fandom) and depicting their first meeting as foals. Like anything, a lot of it can be absolute drek, and when it's not, it's often just cute-if-forgettable fluff. But the pieces that really mean something and say a lot about the characters? Gems. Which often overlaps with the degree to which the piece dares to not just be happy-go-lucky stuff.
And oh boy, do I ever hear you on the rush this month, between usual thing, December things, and writing/reading things going on here. Classic Christmas buildup – work super hard so one can take the holiday off!
Worth it in the end, of course. 
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Always! It's just a busy time.
Ooh, I've read (and liked) Let the Weather In -- I think it was originally Mockingbirb who made a nice comment about it and that got me to read it. I like how it characterises Fluttershy -- plus there's a real "oof" moment in there too. I'd better not be too specific, though I'm sure you know which one. Don't know the other fic, but good to see a newish author (joined May 2023) writing something so well received!
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I very much do know the 'oof' moment. It's a strong one, and I tried to avoid bringing it up for the same reason you're vague about it. And yes, I saw both you and Birb's commentary on it - when I do one of these, I actually look over the comments after I finish the write-up and compare notes if I see you (or others like Paul or PP) have tackled it already. At the very least, it's always interesting to compare and contrast!