Bronydom Fanfic Reviews: Windfall
Here's one that has its own TV Tropes page! It's also my first multi-chapter story.
Today's subject: Windfall
Author: WarrenHutch
Genre: Comedy
Short summary: Several years after the series, Fluttershy's having her first foal, and the Mane Six reunite for the occasion.
Review: To be honest, having these be my first attempt at a multi-chapter story review is kind of a cheat, as the individual chapters are pretty short. They're split up less for length/coherence and more for viewpoint, since each one switches to a different member of the Mane Six (or in one case the Crusaders).
I classified this as "comedy", but the comedy's pretty low-key. This is one of those stories that deals with the "friendshipping" element I discussed back in my "Trust" review; it explores how the bond between the main characters comes into play at an important moment like this. And it does so very well. Not that there aren't funny moments (Zecora vs. Nurse Redheart, Fluttershy revealing that even the nicest pony isn't immune to labor pains), but they're largely secondary to the friendshipping.
The story consists largely of vignettes showing each of the characters being contacted with news of Fluttershy's impending delivery and reacting appropriately, showing how they've changed in the interval, interspersed with "Meanwhile, back at Sweet Apple Acres" scenes where previously-contacted characters arrive. Some make sense (Twilight Sparkle as Professor Farnsworth's pony double), some... just plain don't (Scootaloo as a ballroom dancer?).
I commend the beta reader; this is the first story that I've read for this series that didn't have any mistakes catching my eye.
The last two chapters take a turn from the comedic to the heartwarming, though the author plays it a bit too strong at points. The final "bonus chapter" in particular goes a bit overboard with the symbolism, the last few lines all but cracking the reader over the head with a nailbat.
For those who take this shipping thing seriously, be warned - the story ships Fluttershy/Big Macintosh.
Although it pushes a bit too far at the conclusion, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and it deserves the positive attention it receives.