Attenuation

Hello, dear readers!

The sad fact of the matter is, at the moment, I am unable to keep up with a two-story-per-week post schedule. This is partly because I've run through a great deal of my stable of stories I knew I wanted to include before I started the Vault months ago and need to scout out new ones, partly because quite a few of the remaining queued fics are longer multi-chapter stories that take me a great deal more time to process for addition to the Vault, and partly because I haven't had as many responses from authors in the last week or two.

I do not add a story to the Vault without express written consent from its author, and obviously I do not fabricate interview responses either - so even if there's someone I'm desperate to include here, if they don't respond to my communiqués, there's little I can do but wait and hope. My personal all-time favorite fanfic isn't here yet for that very reason! Of late, I've had a lot more non-responders than usual, and many who did respond would love to participate but are currently too busy to complete an interview. (If you've never thought about it, do realize that apart from the serious time and effort put into the original story, I am essentially asking every author featured here to put in even more time and effort to thoughtfully respond to my questions.)

What this means is, for the time being the Vault will be updated once per week. I am happy to do so on either Monday or Friday, so I'm leaving it to you - please vote in the poll on the sidebar. Would you prefer to greet the start of your week with excellent ponyfic, or the start of your weekend? The poll will run until this weekend, with a simple majority deciding.

As always, if you know a story that is truly top-tier excellent stuff, please let me know. Especially if the story hasn't been posted to Equestria Daily or isn't highly rated at FIMFic, the PFA, et cetera, I'm likely to have missed it - I am not interested in a story's star rating if it is well-written and unique, but when there are tens of thousands of pony fanfics in existence, I have to narrow it down somehow when looking for new Vault additions. Several recent Vault entries are here because someone messaged me, stating I had to read this story... and I did, and now it's here, so hopefully you have read it too!

All the best,
RBDash47

Cloudy Skies's Where Earth Meets Sky

We end the week with an extremely solid piece of shipping, and with a ship I've only seen done well (so far) once or twice.

[Shipping] • 38,900 words
Something is definitely up around here. Applejack and Fluttershy have been spending a lot of time together without the rest of the gang. Well, Rainbow Dash is on to them! In fact, she is sure this is the no-good friend-stealing Applejack's doing, and she will not stand for this - whatever this is. Also, Rainbow Dash wears a corn hat.

Hit the break for an interview with the inestimable Cloudy Skies, and links to Where Earth Meets Sky on the pony sites you know and love. As always, grab a copy in your preferred eBook format over at the Downloads page.

Cold in Gardez's The Glass Blower

Today's story is top-shelf stuff, a haunting tale that will stay with you for the rest of your day. It's been a while since we've had a tragic romance story, and this should certainly satiate lovers of the genre.

[Shipping][Tragedy] • 10,600 words
She is as beautiful and graceful as the moon, and just as hard to reach. He is a young artist with much to learn about the world. When he accepts her challenge to create an artistic masterpiece, will he win her heart, or learn a terrible lesson in the nature of beauty and love?

Hit the break for an interview with CiG, links to The Glass Blower on your favorite ponyfic sites, and head over to the Downloads page if you'd like a copy for your eReader or mobile device.

The Descendant's A Cup of Joe

Today we learn the past life of Canterlot's premiere doughnut pony, and how he's learned to cope with his loss. Military bronies take heed; this may strike a little close to home.

[Tragedy][Slice-of-Life] • 17,400 words
Pony Joe awakens before the dawn each morning, readies himself for his day, and then walks through Cantelot's cold and silent streets to his doughnut shop. Life has become pretty mundane for Joe, but as he serves his customers and chats with his regulars he realizes that he has come to rely on that repetition... he relies on it to keep from remembering. As a casual utterance by a new customer sends Joe into a spiral of haunting memories we learn about his life... and what he must give up if he wishes to move beyond his past.

Hit the break for an interview with The Descendant, which may well be our most loquacious yet, and links to A Cup of Joe around the interwebs - and don't forget that the Downloads page also has copies in your favorite ebook format.

Daetrin's Off the Edge of the Map

Starting off the week with a fun adventure featuring everyone's favorite pegasi discovering that here, there be monsters. Some really interesting story elements here, fancy words you may or may not have to look up, and well-written to boot!

[Adventure] • 34,900 words
When Rainbow Dash's newest trick backfires spectacularly, she and Fluttershy find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere. Together, they'll have to survive and find their way back to Equestria and Ponyville... no matter how far the journey.

Hit the break for some more words from Daetrin and links to Off the Edge of the Map wherever pony fanfic may be found; don't forget the Downloads page has eBook copies for you.

The_RPGenius's Constellations

Today's Vault entry falls into the "short but sweet" category, providing a different look at Princess Luna after her return from the moon (Season 2 canon be damned) - and exploring a special ability she discovers in the night.

[Slice-of-Life] • 4,800 words
Luna attempts to distract herself from the same frustrations that she once let ruin her life.

Hit the break for a chat with The_RPGenius, links to Constellations online, and of course check out the Downloads page for copies in your preferred eBook format.

AVery Strange's Kindness's Reward

We're starting the week off with a beautiful tale of redemption and renewal, a story that's become mine and many others' favorite Trixie fanfic.

[Shipping] • 28,800 words
Fluttershy is used to nursing critters of all sorts back to health. When she comes across a broken showmare, however, it will take all her patience and care to help the other pony. Especially when Trixie begrudges her help every step of the way. Can she get through to her? And can Trixie learn that she doesn't need to stand alone to stand strong?

Hit the break for a few words from AVery - or is it Avery? find out below - and links to Kindness's Reward on your favorite pony sites. Don't forget that eBook copies await you on the Downloads page!

CouchCrusader's Wingmares

Today we have an excellent piece of friendshipping, exploring the circumstances surrounding Rainbow Dash's defense of Fluttershy at summer flight camp.

[Slice-of-Life] • 20,500 words
Little Rainbow Dash is loyal to one pony and one pony only: herself. It's a simple system, and it gets her through the days. But that all changes one stormy summer afternoon at flight camp, when another pegasus blunders into her life - a pegasus with whom she shares nothing in common.

Hit the break for an interview with CouchCrusader, and links to Wingmares on your favorite pony sites - and check out the Downloads page for copies in your preferred eBook format.

ROBCakeran53's My Little Dashie

Today's Vault entry struck a chord with many bronies, helped perhaps by its more serious take on the human crossover genre.

[Human Crossover][Tragedy] • 12,400 words
When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color - or six - to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

Hit the break for an interview with Rob, a.k.a. Cakeran, a.k.a. LoCarb, and links to My Little Dashie on your favorite pony sites... as if you haven't cried manly tears over it already. Don't forget that eBook copies are available on the Downloads page!