A thousand years ago, the Pillars of Equestria imbued six crystals with their magic - the essence of their souls - and planted those seeds to bring about a brighter future.

Over time they sprouted into the Tree of Harmony, which became the base of Equestria's power and prosperity.

Now the Tree would like to meet its parents.

This story is dedicated to Rambling Writer who did what I honestly totally forgot to do and got the Tree of Harmony added as a character tag.

Featured 8/27/2023 - 8/30/2023!

Now what do you do?

When you've been gone for more than a thousand years, you have a lot to catch up on. You may even owe a ton of apologies. Heroes old and new must deal with the consequences of their choices, each in their own ways.

And before they settle down in the new realm, the Pillars will become acquainted with the Spirit of Chaos himself.

Newspapers across the nation printed the headline: "A Star Has Fallen." Academies everywhere had a day of mourning. The princesses themselves gathered to bid the Bearded One farewell.

And Stygian found himself thinking about something he'd spent more than ten years trying to ignore.

Honorable Mention in the 2019 Everfree Northwest Iron Author competiton. Rated Teen just to be safe; all deaths take place before the start of the story.

It's true that the Pillars saved Equestria from many dangerous threats back in their day. And going off of just a select few examples, it seems their routine was always the same: Find a foe, combat it, and banish it to another realm. But Meadowbrook will be the first to tell you that was not always how things panned out. She recalls one particular threat that she approached in a different way; a way that Starswirl didn't approve of at the time. But given what happened to Stygian, perhaps her method was superior after all...

The six Pillars of Equestria have finally returned from a thousand year imprisonment in limbo. So, naturally, the first thing you would do as a legendary hero from a thousand years ago would be to see what's become of the realm.

Knowing that everything might come as a bit of a shock to them, Twilight and her friends each partner up with their respective Pillars, in the hopes that they may ease them back into Equestria and its customs...

Legend has it that a keeper of the forest will come to protect the forest and every creature in it.

Contains slight blood, violence, and profanity in future chapters

Seven ponies have been transported from ancient times to the modern era. In their own time, they were heroes, and to this day they are (mostly) remembered fondly. However, the time between their departure and return has left society completely different.

Princess Luna, remembering her own period of adjustment, wisely decides that the Pillars of Equestria need personal guides to this new era.

She, not so wisely, selects them herself without consulting anyone and assigns them to their select heroes.

This... may not end well.

Cover image composed with vectors by thebosscamacho, Hendro107, davidsfire, SketchMCreations, SLB94, FloppyChiptunes, and of course the MLP staff.

When Twilight is stolen from her home, fate intervenes and brings her straight to her destiny. After growing up sheltered and loved by the spirits of the Tree of Harmony, Twilight will grow into her place in Equestria like never before while she searches for the family that raised her and gets to know the one she's lost.

(Unapologetically OP Twilight, if you’re going to nitpick that point then you are welcome to leave at any time.)

*Set before the events of The confrontation*
After meeting Smolder´s family, Spike longs to get answers from his past once again. He and Twilight have a huge argument, which causes Spike to run away from home. Twilight and her friends will search for him with the help of Starswirl, who asked Twilight for help on a quest, Stygian, the Pillars and Discord. In the meantime, Spike will meet an ancient Equestrian legend who might have those answers that he´s looking for.

Cover art by Queen Cold

Across the lands of Equestria, Discord sends devices so that everyone can hear and see a message from him: The message being a multi-segment lesson in some of Equestria's lost history. With various guests, they shall recount such events as the real version of Hearth's Warming, forgotten heroes and villains, and wars few could imagine today.

"All viewers of this program are invited to leave their own questions for Discord and his guests."

Note: Not really an AU so much as putting in new material with only minor bending to canon.
Inspired by the "If The Emperor Had a Podcast" videos.