WARNING: This fic is extremely dark. As the story progresses, the killings get increasingly gory and increasingly disturbing. If you have a weak stomach or are extremely empathetic or just don't like Grim Dark (or aren't sure if you like Grim Dark), you might not want to read this.
What It Says On the Tin.
Of all the fanfics I have read that are Grim Dark and in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic universe, The Secret Life of Rarity, The Public Life of Sweetie Belle, Broken Blossom, and the Word is Fear are by far the most gripping, terrifying, and well-written Grim Dark MLP fics. Where Cupcakes relied mostly on shock value, The Secret Life of Rarity didn't. Rarity remained perfectly in character through the course of the story until it diverged from canon. And that should be the most important part: RARITY DIDN'T BREAK FROM CANON until the very end. Where Sweet Apple Massacre relied on the sheer body horror, The Secret Life of Rarity had psychology horror through the roof. It describes in gripping detail what Rarity's actions do to her friends and family, plus the effect her killings had on her niece and in her niece. Where Cheerilee's Garden was about a pony's twisted descent into crazy and you wanted her dead, The Secret Life of Rarity was about a pony you, at first, recognized with and then, as the story progressed, you start to hate her just as she hates herself.
Special mentions: The Word is Fear is, by far, the most terrifying story I have ever read. Imagining what it would be like to have such a creature loose in the world made me literally sick. What happens to Celestia through the course of the stories is unique and unlike anything I have seen done. It deserves an award or something.
This story is what Grim Dark MLP should aim to be like.
Fanfic Grim Dark and Worse Than Cupcakes
WARNING: This fic is extremely dark. As the story progresses, the killings get increasingly gory and increasingly disturbing. If you have a weak stomach or are extremely empathetic or just don't like Grim Dark (or aren't sure if you like Grim Dark), you might not want to read this.
What It Says On the Tin.
Of all the fanfics I have read that are Grim Dark and in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic universe, The Secret Life of Rarity, The Public Life of Sweetie Belle, Broken Blossom, and the Word is Fear are by far the most gripping, terrifying, and well-written Grim Dark MLP fics. Where Cupcakes relied mostly on shock value, The Secret Life of Rarity didn't. Rarity remained perfectly in character through the course of the story until it diverged from canon. And that should be the most important part: RARITY DIDN'T BREAK FROM CANON until the very end. Where Sweet Apple Massacre relied on the sheer body horror, The Secret Life of Rarity had psychology horror through the roof. It describes in gripping detail what Rarity's actions do to her friends and family, plus the effect her killings had on her niece and in her niece. Where Cheerilee's Garden was about a pony's twisted descent into crazy and you wanted her dead, The Secret Life of Rarity was about a pony you, at first, recognized with and then, as the story progressed, you start to hate her just as she hates herself.
Special mentions: The Word is Fear is, by far, the most terrifying story I have ever read. Imagining what it would be like to have such a creature loose in the world made me literally sick. What happens to Celestia through the course of the stories is unique and unlike anything I have seen done. It deserves an award or something.
This story is what Grim Dark MLP should aim to be like.