Graveyard of Forgotten Stories

Howdy, y'all.

I'm sure you all know the struggle of having a million different stories you want to write but having to choose which ones to focus on. Sometimes you'll start a story and, for one reason or another, you'll give up on it before you get very far. Maybe you lost interest, maybe you couldn't think of a good direction for the story, or maybe you wanted to tackle the same idea in a different way. No matter what the reason, the story often gets left for dead at that point—either deleted entirely or left to gather dust.

Personally, I have quite a collection of stories like these. I don't know if it's just the way my mind works or what, but I'll often get a scene or two into the story and then move onto something else. It aggravates me because a lot of what I've written actually could be really interesting, and I'm honestly quite proud of some of it. The fact that no one has been able to see it can get pretty disheartening at times.

So I decided to make this blog to showcase every little snippet of a forgotten story I can find. I'll offer a brief rundown of what the story was meant to be about, followed by whatever I had written. Some passages are pretty short, some are a bit lengthier. Regardless, I hope you'll take a look at some of 'em and tell me what you think. Whether I should try to rekindle the idea or if I was right to give up on it. If nothing else, I hope you find these somewhat interesting.

Please note: this blog will be long. I opted not to post these all as a story collection because it felt weird posting unfinished stories like that. Just personal preference, really. Sorry if it takes up too much real estate. Catch it all below the break.

Working Title: Winter's Fire
Description: A long, epic adventure where the mane six plus Spike deal with a looming threat to seal the world in eternal winter so that all of the northern monsters can reclaim what was stolen from them. I actually had a lot of details hammered out for this one. I wanted to use the windigos, Sombra, a few races of creatures, and I wanted to incorporate King Charlatan from G1. I even worked out a skeletal history for the planet Equestria is on. There were also things called the Artifacts of Harmony that I still might work into a story one day. Ultimately, this was just too big in scope for me to handle. I might come back to it in the future, but I'm more comfortable with shorter stories. I have one other superlong narrative in the works anyway.

Prologue

Princess Celestia gazed north from her balcony. Mountains lined the distant horizon, creating something like teeth in her mind’s eye. Frozen winds bit at her face and danced through her mane. She didn’t smile. She didn’t wince. She didn’t even blink as the chill air pulled the moisture from her eyes. Her gaze remained locked on the far-off mountain range.

Without prompt, Celestia’s head turned to face down into the streets of Canterlot. She set her sights on a rambunctious group of fillies playing with a ball in the snow banks. Their mouths were wide with laughter; wind at her ear, Celestia couldn’t hear their giggles, but she smiled nevertheless.

A sudden gust of wind sent one of the fillies’ scarfs careening into the sky. The little pink filly watched her scarf sail away for but a moment before she collapsed on her haunches and began sobbing. A white mare ran over to the little pony and pulled her into an embrace. She soon pulled the filly off to the side of the street, and the other foals quickly disbanded their game.

Celestia frowned and turned her head back to the northern mountains. A scowl overtook her face as the wind continued to whip her.

A knock sounded at the entrance to her chamber. “Permission to enter, Your Highness?”

“Granted.” Celestia moved back into her firelit bedroom and magicked the balcony doors shut. Not a moment later, the main door opened and a royal guard—sporting a brown saddlebag—stepped inside. After a hasty bow, he said, “I have returned with news from Northern Equestria as you requested, Your Highness.”

Celestia took a quick sip of tea from the cup at her bedside. “Have you uncovered anything, my loyal scout?”

“I’m afraid not, Your Highness. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at any of the outposts, and the Crystal Empire was also safe. However—” the guard levitated a thick turquoise book from his saddlebag “—the librarian at the Crystal Empire’s public library thought this might be of interest to you.”

Princess Celestia eyed the book momentarily before gesturing to a small table by her fireplace and saying, “Set it over there, please.”

The guard gently levitated the book to its designated spot before turning back to the princess. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Your Highness?”

“No, that will be all.” Celestia offered him a small smile. “As always, thank you for a job well done. You are dismissed.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” The guard gave a low, prolonged bow before marching back into the corridor, closing the doors in his wake.

Setting her teacup back down, Celestia walked over to her fireside rug and lay down on her stomach. She grabbed the book in her magic and hovered it in front of her, flipping it end over end in the air. Nothing about the book’s cover was very noteworthy: turquoise all around with a charcoal black spine. Not even so much as a title adorned its face.

Hastily, Celestia opened to the first page of the book and was immediately assaulted by a cloud of dust exploding from within. A brief coughing fit later, she looked back at the book. The title: The Complete Bestiary of Northern Equestria was written in elegant cursive across the page’s center. Flipping another page revealed a table of contents which denoted the book to be over seven hundred pages long. Celestia quirked an eyebrow.

“Guard,” she called. The doors immediately swung open and a royal unicorn guard cantered in.

“Yes, Your Highness?” the guard asked with a bow.

“Could you please fetch the scout I sent away a few moments ago? I have a question for him.”

“At once, Your Highness.” The guard bowed once more before running out into the corridor.

As she waited, Celestia turned to face the glass-paned doors of her balcony. It had begun snowing, and the snowflakes were screaming leftward in a near horizontal line. The orange light of sunset was quickly fading behind the blizzard, the sun itself barely peeking over the distant horizon.

The sound of approaching hoofsteps brought the princess’ attention back to her doorway just in time to see the guard scout reappear. “You needed to ask me something, Your Highness?” he said as he stooped into his third bow of the evening.

“Yes.” Celestia levitated the book between herself and the unicorn. “You said the librarian in the Crystal Empire believed this would be of interest to me. Did she say why?”

“Not in any detail, Your Highness. All she told me was that it may or may not have the answers you seek.”

Celestia drew the book towards herself and reopened it to the table of contents. Her eyes scanned the chapter names at a moderate pace. “Hmm...”

“Will that be all, Your Highness?”

Eyes slightly wide, Celestia tore her attention from the book and said, “Oh, of course. Thank you, and...” Celestia turned to look at the blizzard once more. She turned back to the guard after a moment. “Have a safe night. Be wary of the storm.”

“Likewise, Your Highness.” With one last bow, the guard turned and marched off, closing the door behind him.

Celestia sighed. “This is going to be a long night.” She levitated over a quill, inkwell, and stack of parchment from her desk nearby. Shuffling once on the rug, Princess Celestia opened the book to the first chapter, quill held by her side.

***

A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Celestia called, her voice cracking slightly. She set her quill down and turned toward the entryway.

“Good morning, Sister!” Princess Luna greeted as she opened the door, beaming. “The night court was rather quiet, what with the storm, and—” Her words trailed away as she looked upon the scene.

Several dozen pages of parchment—each covered wholly in words—were scattered in front of the dwindling fireplace. Empty inkwells littered the ground alongside several snapped quills. In the middle of it all was a thick tome, open to some point near its last pages. Celestia sat before it, returning her sister’s stare with bleary, half-lidded eyes.

“Sister! Hast thou been awake all night taking notes of all things?” Luna’s wide-eyed remark was returned by a small smile and silence. After a moment, Luna smirked. “I daresay some of Twilight Sparkle’s tendencies are wearing off on you, and perhaps not the most admirable ones.” The two sisters chuckled lightly.

“Pray tell,” Luna continued, “what was so important that it necessitated such an act?”

Instantly, Celestia frowned. She moved her gaze the glass balcony door.

It was still snowing.

“This storm... it is not natural, Luna. I knew it from the moment I stepped outside yesterday. The wind feels wrong.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “I will admit that this intense of a blizzard is a bit strange for so early in the season, but are you certain it is nothing more than that: a blizzard? Perhaps the winds from the Crystal Mountains are just particularly powerful at the moment.”

Celestia shook her head, still focusing on the snow outside. “No, there is something foul at play here, and I believe I know what it is.”

“What?”

Without so much as looking, Celestia levitated a single piece of parchment over to her sister. Luna’s eyes skimmed across it quickly. Her eyes widened more and more with every word. When she finished reading, she turned back up to Celestia, mouth slightly agape. “Are you absolutely sure of this, Sister?”

Celestia nodded. “There is no other possibility.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?” Luna asked. “Even for us this is a new predicament.”

“True,” Celestia replied. “But it is not the first time something like this has happened. It’s just on a larger scale this time.” At last, Celestia turned back to face her sister and rose to a standing position. “Luna, I need you to prepare some things while I rest.”

“Anything.”

“First, have the guards prepare a chariot to Ponyville.”

Both of Luna’s eyebrows shot up. “In this weather? Sister, if what you propose about this storm is true, we’ll freeze before we get anywhere near Ponyville! How can we—”

“Dragonberries, Luna. There should be a supply of them in the kitchen pantry. We’ll be taking all of them to Ponyville with us.”

After a moment, Luna nodded. “Okay, what else?”

“Two more things.” Celestia broke eye contact with Luna and walked over to the balcony doors. Gazing out into the foggy dawn, she said, “First, I need you to produce a vial of moonfire essence.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “Just what exactly are you—”

“I’ll explain later. This last thing is the most crucial. I want you to retrieve the items from the Harmony Vault.”

Almost as if struck, Luna took a step back. “Sister, you can’t be serious! We sealed those away for a reason! Are you certain the situation is dire enough to warrant such... drastic measures?”

Silence governed the room for several moments, nothing but the howling of the wind breaking it. Eventually, Celestia said, “I have thought a great deal about this, Luna, and I believe it is the right thing to do. Twilight and her friends are ready for them, and this may be the most dire situation they’ve ever faced.”

“Truly?” Luna looked back down at the chaotic study scene. “Is there more at play here than you have led me to believe?”

“Read through the notes if you wish, Luna,” Celestia said without missing a beat. “There is more to be said, but I am too tired to go over it right now.”

Luna raised a hoof and opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent. She nodded curtly and said, “Very well. Rest easy, Dear Sister, and I will make haste with these preparations.”

“Thank you, Luna.” Celestia turned and smiled. “And trust me. Please.”

Luna—who was in the process of gathering all the notes as well as the book itself—looked up at her sister. Her mouth formed a thin, straight line. “I do trust you, Celestia, but I sincerely hope you’re wrong about all this.”

“For the sake of Equestria, I hope I am too.”

The sisters locked eyes for a moment longer before Luna trotted out of the room, magicking the doors shut behind her.

Closing her eyes, Celestia sighed a long, heavy sigh and collapsed onto her bed. The last of the embers in the fireplace fizzled into nonexistence.

Chapter 1

“Come on, Twilight! We’re gonna be late!”

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes fluttered open to a blurry reality. A few hard blinks forced things into focus: a wood desk sat beneath her head and a half-candle cried waxy tears a few inches in front of her. Scattered between her and the candle were a few check-mark-dotted pieces of parchment.

Something grabbed her shoulder and shook her, re-blurring her vision.

“Twilight. Get up,” demanded an all-too-familiar voice. “I don’t wanna miss a second of Pinkie’s Winter Start-Up party!”

Slowly, Twilight pulled her face from the desk and tried to clear the grogginess from her head with a rapid shake. Eyes still half-lidded, she turned to see Spike giving her the most impatient of stares, arms crossed and foot tapping to boot.

“Sorry, Spike,” she said, stifling a yawn. “I must’ve lost track of time; all that organizing yesterday really tired me out.”

“Yeah, well, you’ve have plenty of sleep now,” Spike said, turning and marching to the nearby coat closet. “Can we please just get going already?”

Twilight quirked an eyebrow. “Wow, someone sure woke up on the wrong side of the basket this morning.”

With a poofy brown parka in claw, Spike sighed and turned to show Twilight a downcast expression. “Sorry, Twilight. I just really don’t want to be late.”

Twilight stood from her stool and slowly walked over to join Spike by the closet. “Why are you so excited for this party? It’s not like it’ll be any different from Pinkie’s other parties.”

“Oh-ho, but it will! Because none of her other parties ever happened during a blizzard!”

Levitating a scarf from within the closet, Twilight turned to look out the window. A white wall greeted her, the only indication of a world outside being the snowflakes screaming by at a near-horizontal angle. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Think about it, Twilight,” Spike said as he donned his thick coat. “There’s never been a winter storm this bad, or this cold. You can even feel it when you’re inside!”

“Yeah, and?”

“And, Rarity’s gonna be at the party too!”

Twilight—slipping into her winter boots—kept one eyebrow raised. “I’m sorry, Spike, but I don’t follow. Rarity’s at all of Pinkie’s parties.”

Spike slammed a claw to his face. “Twilight, what do ponies do when they’re cold?”

“Uh...”

“They hug! And snuggle! And who better to snuggle for warmth than a fire-breathing dragon in a parka?!”

At last, Twilight smirked down at him. “Is that your way of repaying Rarity for giving you that new coat?”

“More or less,” Spike replied, pulling a white-trimmed hood over his head. “Now let’s go! To Sugarcube Corner! To Rarity!”

Giggling, Twilight followed Spike as he dashed to the front door. “Whatever you say, lover boy.”

As Spike pulled the door open, a frozen gale tore into the library. Several mounds of snow collapsed across the threshold. Snowflakes whipped through the air like tiny bees, stinging Twilight’s face as she tried to force her way outside. Deigning to guard her face with a hoof , she trudged into the white wilderness beyond her front door, Spike inching forward just a few feet ahead of her.

Moments after leaving, Twilight threw a look over her shoulder only to find that the library had vanished beyond the wintry haze. Looking forward, Spike was struggling forth on the border of the encompassing fog. Beyond that, nothing was visible. It was as though they had stepped out of the library and straight into the icy tundra of Northern Equestria.

“I don’t think we can make it to Sugarcube Corner through this blizzard, Spike!” Twilight tried to call over the wind’s greedy howl. Spike didn’t even turn to look at her.

A split second later, he was hovering through the air in a purple bubble. He was plonked unceremoniously onto Twilight’s back. “Hey! What’re you—”

“Hold on tight!” Twilight cried. The two disappeared from the scene in a lavender flash.

***

A dragon and unicorn materialized outside the front door of Sugarcube Corner. The wind was markedly calmer than it had been at their previous location, and Twilight lowered the protective hoof from her face.

Spike hopped off her back and smiled. “Good call. I didn’t wanna say anything, but that storm was getting a little intense.”

“Just a little,” Twilight said, grinning sharply. She walked up and banged her hoof thrice against the pink beacon of a door.

With a speed that would make Rainbow Dash jealous, the door flew open and a pair of pink limbs pulled Spike and Twilight inside. They barely had time to register the movement before Pinkie Pie squeezed them in a death-hug.

“Twilight! Spike!” she exclaimed. “I was so worried you guys wouldn’t show up, but you did! You’re all wet though! Must be from the blizzard, huh? That’s why I was so worried in the first place! I thought maybe you two got lost on the way, or Twilight tried to fly through it and got blown away, but you’re way too smart to try that, right, Twilight? Not that I think you couldn’t fly through it because you’re not a good enough flyer! Then again, you’ve only had those wings for, like, two months or something? Not even Twilight and her ultra-smartness could be an amazing flyer in such a super-short time, which is why—”

“Pinkie... can’t... breathe...” wheezed Twilight, her face tinted blue.

“Oh, silly me!” Pinkie allowed the two to tumble to the ground.

Panting heavily as she got to her hooves, Twilight said, “It’s good to... see you too... Pinkie Pie. We wouldn’t... have missed one of your parties... for the world!”

“Speaking of which...” Spike ran over to the opposite side of the room where every other pony present stood near a long table.

“With the two of you here now...” Pinkie mused, looking down with furrowed eyebrows. It only took a moment for her to pop back to her beaming expression. “We’re only waiting on one more guest!”

“One more?” Twilight asked. “I thought we’d be the last ones.” She glanced over to where the rest of her friends stood. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were chatting about something which necessitated broad gestures on Rainbow’s part and intermittent chuckles on Applejack’s. Rarity and Spike were talking to one another, the unicorn levitating a glass of punch and the dragon smiling half-heartedly.

“Hopefully Fluttershy will be here soon,” Pinkie said. “Wouldn’t want her to miss out after she worked so super-hard preparing all the animals for hibernation!”

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” Twilight said, looking out the nearby window and frowning despite herself.

“Well, no sense moping around waiting! Come on, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie bounced off toward the other party guests. Twilight spread her wings and bounded across the room in a shallow arc, stumbling into Rainbow Dash as she landed.

“Whoa, Twi’!” Rainbow exclaimed as she pushed Twilight off. “Ever heard of personal space?”

A rosy tint flushed Twilight’s cheeks. “Sorry. Still trying to get the hang of landings; I can never keep my balance!”

“Heh, remind me to help you practice some more when the weather clears up.”

“Oh, come now, Rainbow,” Rarity interjected as she set her punch glass down. “She seems prepared to practice even in these harsh conditions.” Rarity rolled her eyes, smirking a little.

“What do you mean?” Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re still wearing your winter attire, Darling. And I must say, all that water dripping off of you is most unbecoming.”

Twilight looked down. As she noticed the small puddle forming at her hooves, she became intensely aware of the soggy garment hanging around her neck. She chuckled bashfully. “Oops.”

“And you as well, Spike,” Rarity said, turning to face the parka-clad dragon. “As stylish as you look in that parka, I’m afraid it retains moisture a little too much. I’ll have to revise it.”

“Nah, it’s perfect, Rarity,” Spike said, even as he shed the coat and tossed it to rest alongside Twilight’s discarded winter-wear. “Just like the mare who made it!”

“Oh, Spike, you’re too much,” Rarity said, waving a casual hoof. “But I’m afraid a moisture-retaining garment simply will not do in a storm as outrageous as this.”

“It sure is one doozy of a blizzard,” Applejack inserted, craning her head towards the window. “I can’t rightly understand why the weather team had to make it so darn strong, ‘specially for so early in the season.”

Rainbow Dash groaned. “For the hundredth time, it’s not our fault, Applejack! All we have scheduled for the week is some light snow, and that’s all we set up for! This freaky weather is just as annoying to me as it is to you!”

Applejack returned Rainbow’s glare. “But if it weren’t the pegasi, then what in tarnation is causin’ this?”

“Well,” Twilight said, earning both Applejack’s and Rainbow’s attention. “The wind seems to be coming from the north, so I’m guessing it probably carried down some of the harsher snow clouds from the Crystal Mountains. Even up there the winters aren’t usually this bad, though.”

Rainbow stuck her tongue out at Applejack, who didn’t seem to notice as she frowned in Twilight’s direction. “I reckon that makes sense. In any case, I hope nopony’s caught out there in it. I ain’t never seen a blizzard this bad.”

“Don’t worry, Applejack!” Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing into the middle of the group. “Not even I’m crazy enough to be out there right now. If I was, I would’ve totally prepared a see-how-many-snowflakes-you-can-catch-on-your-tongue game for the party!” She stuck out her tongue and made a guttural sound at which the whole group giggled. “Nope! The only pony that might be out there is Fluttershy, and she won’t be for much longer if she gets here soon!”

“Speaking of Fluttershy,” Rarity said, her brow creasing, “does anyone know what might be keeping her?”

“I heard her say something about making sure all the animal dens were well-protected against the storm,” Rainbow replied. “She might still be doing that.”

“Oh, goodness, I certainly hope not.” Rarity looked out the window, her eyes wavering slightly. “I can’t imagine that demure little Fluttershy would be able to withstand such a brutal storm for very long.”

“I gotta agree with ya there, Rarity,” Applejack said, turning her own head back to the window. “That girl might be able to stand up to dragons and draconequi when the time comes, but no pegasus is sturdy enough for this kind of weather.”

“Except me!” Rainbow shouted, shooting into the air and puffing her chest out. Everyone turned and gave her deadpan expressions. As she looked across the crowd, Rainbow deflated and slowly lowered to the ground, saying, “Well... maybe the storm’s a little strong, even for me.” She looked over at the window, a sudden grin splitting her face. “But it’s still not strong enough to keep me down! I say we go and check on Fluttershy, just to make sure she’s okay!”

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What?! But, Twilight—”

“We can’t risk someone else getting hurt or lost in the storm; you all know how bad Fluttershy would feel if one of us got hurt for her sake.” A general chorus of agreement sounded in monotone. Twilight turned to the window and sighed. “We’ll just have to hope that Fluttershy can handle herself.”

“Besides,” Pinkie said, grinning widely. “Fluttershy wouldn’t want us all mopey-dopey over her, especially at a party! So let’s forget the blizzard, turn those frowns upside-down, and partay!” She scooted over to the nearby phonograph and set the music blaring. Her friends all smiled to one another, and soon enough everyone was dancing around the room as they ate, chatted, giggled, and partied the afternoon dry.

The howl of the wind outside was barely audible through the walls.

***

The white world outside had dulled to a dark grey, and the atmosphere inside Sugarcube Corner had quieted. All of the party guests were gathered in a small group near the refreshments table, nibbling on the last of the food.

Twilight looked up at the wall clock. “It’s getting a little late,” she said. “Anyone have any plans on how to get home?”

The rest of the group turned to look out the window. Besides the light difference, the weather looked identical or worse than it had earlier that day. Snow still whipped by in the relentless gale, and thick fog still blanketed the world.

“Shoot,” Applejack said, “I wouldn’t trust a grade-A bloodhound to find his way home in that there blizzard. I sure as hay can’t get all the way to Sweet Apple Acres on my own.”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed, nodding. “Even with the proximity of my own house, it’s unlikely I’d find my way back safely. It’s fortunate that Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and I arrived at the party before the storm intensified to such a degree.”

“I could try to use my magic to teleport each of you home,” Twilight said, “but I’m not sure I could reliably teleport anywhere except the library in this fog.”

“Well,” Pinkie said, her mouth forming a thin line, “looks like there’s only one possible solution.” Everyone turned to look at her with blank expressions.

Her mouth split into a wide grin as she exclaimed, “Slumber party!” She began bouncing on the spot. “We can have hot chocolate and tell ghost stories and play truth or dare and have pillow fights and—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rainbow said, holding up a hoof to silence Pinkie. “I’m all for a slumber party, but I really think we should check on Fluttershy before anything. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep easy without knowing she’s safe.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight replied, “you’ve been bringing that up all afternoon. We’re all worried about her, but I already told you—”

“I know, I know. But you also just said that you might be able to teleport to our houses! Couldn’t you teleport to Fluttershy’s house real quick and check on her?”

Twilight bowed her head low and shook it. “Unlikely. I’d be hard-pressed to find my way over to, say, Carousel Boutique, let alone all the way to the edge of the Everfree Forest. I’m sorry, we’ll just have to—”

At that moment, a knock sounded at the front entrance to Sugarcube Corner. Everyone turned their heads towards the entryway.

“You don’t suppose...” Rarity said, her eyes widening slightly.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow exclaimed, soaring for the door. “I knew she’d be strong enough to brave the blizzard!” Beaming, Rainbow tore the door open. “Fluttershy! You have no idea how good it is to—” Her face fell wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

“Good evening, Rainbow Dash,” said a decidedly non-Fluttershy voice from beyond the door. “May we come in?”

Her expression still awed, Rainbow shook her head wildly before backing up and saying, “Um, yeah. Of course you can...

“...Princess Celestia.”

Chapter 2

The harbingers of the sun and the moon stepped into the small-town bakery. Immediately behind them were two armor-clad pegasi who closed the door on the storm raging outside.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed, hastily falling into a low bow. The rest of her friends followed suit.

Celestia chuckled as she approached the group. “Twilight, you of all ponies don’t need to bow to us anymore. And I believe I know your friends well enough that they don’t need to either.”

Twilight scrambled to a standing position and rubbed a hoof on the back of her head, grinning bashfully. “Heh, old habits die hard! So, uh, what brings the two of you here? I-I’m not in trouble, am I? Did I miss a meeting?! I promise I didn’t—”

“Relax, Twilight,” Celestia shushed, moving forward to place a hoof on Twilight’s withers. “You’re not in any kind of trouble. Princess Luna and I are here to—”

“Don’t be silly, Princess!” Pinkie Pie said, sidling up to Celestia. “We all know why you’re here!”

“Uh, we do?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow as she rejoined the group.

“Duh! They’re here for the party! And I hate to break it to you, Princesses, but you’re a little late for it. Not that I expected you to be on time since I didn’t even send you invitations in the first place! But then... how did you even know there was a party?!” Pinkie gasped loudly. “Are you psychic?! Or do you have Pinkie Sense like me?! But I guess in your case it would be Sunny Sense, or Moony Sense, depending on the princess. Or is it Lunar Sense? Moonar?” Pinkie collapsed on her haunches and began rubbing her chin.

“I don’t think the princesses came for the party, Pinkie,” Applejack said, “but ya do bring up a good point. How in tarnation did y’all know to find us here?”

“We checked the library first, admittedly,” Celestia replied. “From there, Twilight’s little owl friend told us where she’d gone.”

“Owloysius told you?” Twilight cried, one eyebrow shooting skyward.

“Well, not me specifically.” Celestia gestured to her right, and Princess Luna turned her head down and away.

“It is something of a talent of mine,” Luna said, scuffing a hoof against the floor. “I have the innate ability to communicate with nocturnal creatures, much like your friend Fluttershy, albeit on a lesser scale.”

“Speaking of whom...” Celestia turned to face Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, you greeted me at the door as ‘Fluttershy’. Does that mean she’s not here?”

Rainbow looked away in silence, but Rarity stepped forward and said, “I’m afraid not, Your Majesty. We believe she may have been held up by the storm.”

“Tis a shame,” Luna said. “We had hoped to speak with all of you at once. I suppose we will have to seek out and inform Fluttershy of things once we’ve concluded here.”

“What are you two here to talk about, anyway?” Spike inserted. “I hate to skip the idle chit-chat, but I think Twilight might go catatonic if she doesn’t find out soon.” All eyes turned to the alicorn in question. She was sweating, grinning strangely, and quaking like a leaf in a tornado.

“S-sorry,” she stammered, running a hoof across her mane. “I just w-wasn’t expecting to see you today. At a p-party.” Twilight froze for a moment before pulling a hoof to her chest with a shaky inhale. She exhaled smoothly as she extended her hoof back out, a small, genuine smile grabbing her expression.

“Better?” Celestia asked, smirking.

“Much. Now, what was it the two of you wanted to talk to us about? Or did you really just decide to crash the party like Pinkie Pie says?”

“Cosmic Clairvoyance!” a beaming Pinkie declared.

Celestia chuckled lightly, but the sound quickly descended into a sigh. She closed her eyes and said, “I’m afraid our visit isn’t for something quite so wonderful.” Lifting her eyelids, she turned her head to face the window. “I’m sure you’ve all noticed the storm by now.”

“Noticed it?” Applejack said. “It’s a little hard to miss, frankly. I reckon it’s probably snowed my family in by now.”

“And it simply ruined the coat I made for Spike.”

“And it cancelled the snowball fight I had planned for the party!”

“And it forced me to teleport to the party so we wouldn’t get lost.”

“And it’s stopping us from checking on Fluttershy.”

“And—”

---

Working Title: Leviathan
Description: Luna had a pet salamander before she was banished to the moon. Now that she's back, she wonders what happened to it. Little does she know that a recent crisis in the Horseshoe Bay may be tied to this issue. Basically, this was meant to show that Luna's pet had grown into this gigantic sea monster and had been waiting for her return. When she did, it started ravaging the Equestrian coastline to try and reach her. Ultimately Luna would have to realize that her pet couldn't exist in Equestria and she'd have to send him off to the ocean. This first scene is from the distant past where Luna was first going to find her pet.

“Tia! Tia! Where are we going?! What are we doing today?!”

The little white filly stopped in her tracks and rounded on her sister, scowling. The little blue filly froze on the spot and recoiled slightly. Blowing a strand of pink hair from her face, the white filly said, “I wanted to come out here and practice magic by myself, but Mom and Dad told me I had to bring you along too. I don’t get why they can’t look after you themselves, but they said I’d be grounded if I didn’t take you, so here you are.”

Suddenly, the blue filly’s expression flipped into a beam. “Magic? Yay! Can you teach me, Tia?!”

Tia sighed deeply and said, “No, Luna, you’re still too little for magic. And for the last time, my name is Celestia, not that stupid little pet name!” After a tense silence, Celestia turned tail and continued down the forest path.

Luna followed suit shortly after, hopping and buzzing her wings all the while. “How much longer till I get to learn magic, Tia?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why?”

Celestia gritted her teeth. “Because I don’t. It’s different for every pony.”

“Oh.” The chirps of birds and the flow of a river filled the atmosphere for a moment. Luna hopped up beside her sister and asked, “What about flying? Can you teach me to fly?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not ready. Dad’s still teaching me how to fly.”

“Oh. So you’re too little for flying too?”

Celestia’s eyes widened and—once more—she scowled at her little sister. “No! Didn’t you hear me?! I’m learning to fly!”

“Then why can’t you fly yet?”

“Because my wings aren’t strong enough yet.”

“So you are too little?”

Celestia groaned and planted her face in a hoof. “Just shut up, Luna.”

“I’m telling Mommy you said that when we get home.”

“Fine, whatever. Now can you please be quiet?! We’re here.”

Luna thudded to a stop and looked forward. The sisters had arrived at a gravel beach next to a rather small river. Behind them sat a well-trodden dirt path and a magnificent forest of tall pines. Not a lick of civilization was in sight.

Luna sat down and turned to her sister, still smiling. “So what do we do now, Tia? What spell are you gonna do? Does it involve the water? Can I help?”

Celestia approached the water’s edge without so much as looking at her sister. “No, Luna, you can’t help. Just go play on the beach somewhere and try not to bug me.”

“But Mommy said you’re supposed to look after me.”

Slowly, Celestia turned her head and gave Luna a hard glare. Between her teeth she said, “I don’t care what mom said. I’m in charge right now, and I’m telling you to go away and play by the river!”

Luna shrugged. “Okay!” She turned to face downriver and began walking.

“Oh, and, Tia?”

“What?”

“I’m telling Mommy you said that, too.”

***

Luna

---

Working Title: Spike Accidentally Saves Equestria with a Feather Duster
Description: All of the timberwolves from the Everfree Forest come together around the Golden Oak Library to form a gargantuan, super-intelligent timberwolf, using the library as its brain. Spike, being asleep in the library at the time, wakes up and finds weird green dust on all the books (actually the timberwolf's magic). He sets about cleaning it, ultimately killing the wolf and saving the day. I quit on this one because I found out I suck at comedy. The timberwolf was going to be really charming, speaking in an overly smart manner using all the knowledge of the library to its advantage. I still think this idea could be done well, but I'm not the one to do it.

“Uh, Twilight?” Applejack whispered. “Are you seein’ what I’m seein’?

“That depends,” Twilight said, her eyes bugging out in front of her. “Are you seeing a couple hundred timberwolves walking in circles around my house?”

“Eeyup…”

“Then, yes. I am in fact seeing what you’re seeing. Not sure I believe it though.”

Under normal circumstances, a massive pack of timberwolves smack in the middle of Ponyville would be a cause for extreme alarm. These weren’t normal circumstances, though. Largely because the timberwolves didn’t seem to notice the small group of ponies watching them. They were more intent on the large tree-library-house-thing, it seemed.

“What do you suppose they’re doing?” Rarity asked.

“Timberwolves are made of trees, right?” Rainbow Dash said. “Maybe they think Twilight’s house is some sort of tree-god.”

“I don’t think trees have gods, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy whispered. “And if they did, it probably wouldn’t be an oak tree. I think redwood trees are more god-like.”

“Or apple trees,” Applejack said.

“Maybe they’re having a circle party,” Pinkie Pie said. “I wish they’d invited me, though. Circle parties are my favourite kind of party revolving around two-dimensional shapes of constant width.”

“I’m more of a Reuleaux pentagon lady myself,” Rarity said.

“I don’t think it matters why they’re here, girls,” Twilight said, her eyes slanting. “What matters right now is that they’re standing between me, Spike, and our breakfast.” Her horn lit with purple fire.

Rarity peeled her eyes away from the slowly circling wooden canines and looked at Twilight. “Spikey-wikey is still in there?!”

“I let him sleep in today. Call me crazy, but I didn’t exactly expect a huge pack of circle-loving, possibly theologically inclined timberwolves to gather around my house in the five minutes I was gone this morning.”

“So it was a surprise party...” Pinkie said.

Twilight flared her wings open. In an amplified voice leaking with raw magic, she bellowed, “Hey, bark-heads! Go have your freaky circle party in the Everfree Forest unless you want to know what it feels like to turn from a timberwolf into a charcoal-wolf!”

“Nice one, Twi,” Rainbow said. She absently held out a hoof in Twilight’s direction, and the magic-seething alicorn bumped it nonchalantly.

The timberwolves came to a sudden halt. All of them turned their yellow-green eyes on the group in perfect synchronism. The mares all tensed as the attention of several hundred carnivores bore down on them. Twilight’s magic faltered and she pulled back a step. Fluttershy dove behind Rainbow Dash for cover.

The two groups just stared at each other in silence for several moments. Eventually, Applejack broke the stillness and shouted, “Get back to the forest, ya varmints!” She kicked a nearby stone high into the air,

---

Working Title: Equestria Girls - Alternate Perspective
Description: The first Equestria Girls movie from the perspective of the princesses and the rest of the mane six in the Crystal Empire, left to their own devices for three days. It was pretty much going to be a lot of moping and introspection about how aimless they feel without Twilight. I wanted to work a Celestia/Sunset Shimmer dynamic in, too. This is one I kinda wanna come back to since it feels like my kind of story.

“Spike, no!”

The little drake vanished into the mirror’s surface. It rippled and shone momentarily before reverting to its unassuming appearance.

Rainbow Dash turned a wide-eyed stare on Celestia. “Aren’t we gonna do something?! We can’t just let him go!”

In a level voice, Celestia replied, “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do, Rainbow Dash. As I said, none of you can go through the mirror without disrupting the other world’s balance.”

“But what about Spike?” Rarity said. “Won’t he upset the balance as well?”

Celestia shook her head. “Not as much as any of you would, I believe.” She turned to look at the mirror. “We can only hope for the best.”

A thick silence fell across the room, each pony looking at the mirror with varying expressions. All of them had a certain softness in their eyes, however. The mirror reflected all of their faces through its brilliant sheen.

“So,” Rainbow began in a limp tone, “three days, huh?”

“Yes, but only two remain,” Luna said, her unreadable eyes fixated on the mirror. “The first has already passed—that is how Sunset Shimmer came through to our world last night.”

“Right,” Rainbow said. Silence loomed once more.

After several moments, Celestia said, “Well, I believe I’ll take my leave now. I must attend to some matters.”

“I shall accompany you, Sister,” Luna said, falling into step with Celestia as she made for the door.

“Thank you, Luna.” She turned to the remaining ponies just before exiting the room. “I’ll see you all back here in two days time to greet Twilight and Spike. Until then—” her expression softened into a warm smile “—try to keep your minds on happier thoughts.”

A collective sound of dismal assent came from the group. Celestia lingered for a moment, then the two regal sisters departed into the corridor.

Mere seconds later, Cadance said, “I’m afraid I have to go, too. The Empire never rests, you know! Heh...” She turned to smile at the other five ponies.

None of them so much as looked at her.

Cadance’s smile shrunk a bit. “It’s especially bad with Shining away on duty this week. I guess I’ll have to write to him, telling him about all this.” More silence greeted her.

With a sigh, Cadance started towards the door. She stopped just next to the group of ponies still transfixed by the mirror and said, “Girls, I know this isn’t what you had in mind for your trip, but please at least try to enjoy your vacation. The Empire is lovely this time of year.”

She focused on the nearest pony—Fluttershy—and set a gentle hoof on her shoulder. Fluttershy turned to look up at Cadance’s warm expression as she said, “The palace flower garden is in full bloom right now. I think you’d really enjoy it, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy smiled weakly. “Th-thank you, Princess. I… I think I will…”

Cadance offered her a tiny nod. Without another word, she turned and left the room.

Five ponies sat in a staring contest with their own reflections for a while, silence brooding around them. Birds chirped from somewhere outside.

Eventually, Applejack stood and said, “Well, y’all, I reckon we can’t just sit here for two straight days. We’ll just have to busy ourselves until… until Twilight comes back.” She began walking to the door. “I’m gonna go grab some breakfast if any of y’all wanna come with. I’m plum starvin’ after all this.”

Rarity stood. “I believe I’ll accompany you, Applejack. I daresay, brooding on an empty stomach is most unladylike.” The two mares exchanged soft, tiny smiles as they stepped up to the door together.

“Fluttershy, Darling,” Rarity said, turning to the pegasus, “would you like to come with us? We could all enjoy a little meal in the flower garden Princess Cadance mentioned.”

Fluttershy’s warm expression met Rarity’s. “Oh, no thank you, Rarity. I… I’d like to stay here for just a little while longer…”

---

Working Title: Forget It
Description: I honestly totally forget what this one was supposed to be about. Some plot involving Spike getting amnesia, I think. At any rate, it seems like a cute enough opening scene.

Applejack pushed open the door to Sugarcube Corner, fanning herself with her hat and sweating a river. “Nelly!” she said, wiping her brow. “It sure is a scorcher out there, ain’t it? Sorry I’m late, y’all.”

Rainbow Dash slurped up the last of her milkshake and shoved the glass away. “It’s cool. Twilight’s not even here yet anyway.”

“Really?” Applejack said, pulling up a spot at the table. “But wasn’t she the one who wanted us all to meet here in the first place?”

Rarity peered up at the block from beneath her sunhat. “I believe her train from Canterlot was due to arrive five minutes ago. She should be along shortly.” She sipped some of her milkshake, the top still brimming with whipped cream.

“I hope so,” Rainbow said, looking out the window. “I promised Scoot we’d meet up at the swimming hole today, and ‘today’ is starting to become ‘tonight.’ I hope that whatever her special announcement is turns out to actually be important.”

“Her letter sounded awfully excited,” Fluttershy said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Twilight use more than one exclamation point in a sentence! Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.”

“You betcha!” Pinkie cried. She set another round of milkshakes on the table before pulling up her own spot. “Personally, I think she’s finally gonna spill the beans on her super-secret funnel cake recipe. Or maybe Princess Celestia promoted her to a Super Princess! Or maybe she got engaged to that guard pony up in the Crystal Empire!”

“Oh!” Rarity slammed a hoof on the table. “Dibs on Best Mare!”

“Aw,” Pinkie pouted, sulking in her spot. She shrugged it off a moment later. “Oh well. It’s probably not even about that anyway. I’m totally banking on the funnel cake recipe!”

“Uh, Pinkie?” Applejack said, lifting an eyebrow. “Why in tarnation would Twilight have a super-secret funnel cake recipe anyhow?”

“Because her horn totally looks like a funnel cake! A really small, grapey funnel cake. With magic sprinkles! She’s like a Pretty Purple Pastry-Porting Premiere Pony Princess!”

There was a moment of silence where Pinkie slurped on her milkshake, then Rainbow Dash burst into laughter. It was followed quickly by their other friends, and even a few of the other customers around the room chuckled.

“Oh, great! You’re all here already.” Twilight said, beaming from ear to ear as she hovered in the doorway. Her hooves never touched the ground as she fluttered over to the table. “What’s everypony laughing about?”

“N-nothin’ at all,” Applejack said between chortles, “Your Pastry-ness.” A new wave of laughter surged through the bakery, and Rainbow Dash tumbled out of her chair.

Twilight landed and looked at each of them quizzically. “I don’t get it.”

“Don’t mind it, darling,” Rarity said, though her own smile was barely damming the flow of giggles. “Just a friendly little in-joke at your expense.”

“Y-yeah,” Rainbow said, pulling herself back up into her chair. “Don’t worry about it. Your horn totally doesn’t look like a f-f-f—” She fell back into heaving laughter, collapsing to the floor again.

Twilight crossed her eyes up at her horn, then smirked at Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie, did you insist that my horn looks like a funnel cake again?”

Pinkie shrugged. “I call ‘em like I see ‘em, sister.” One last wave of giggles went around the table, Twilight joining in this time. She took the last empty seat and magicked her milkshake over.

“Never change, girls,” Twilight whispered to herself.

“So, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, “what was that important announcement you wanted to make? It sounded very… um… important.”

“Yeah, Twi,” Rainbow said, finally managing to get back into her chair. “We’ve been waiting here for, like, half an hour already. What gives?”

Twilight’s ears perked up, and she smiled wide again. “Oh, right! I have the most amazing news to share with you girls.” Her smiled faltered a little. “Well, at least I think it’s amazing. I hope you all think it’s amazing. That’s why I called you all together in the first place, actually.”

“Spit it out, darling!” Rarity said, her eyes positively sparkling. “I’m dying from anxiety!”

Twilight nodded. “You see, it happened when I went to meet with Princess Celestia up in Canterlot…”

***

---

Working Title: Identity
Description: First-person story from Pinkie Pie's perspective. She, Twilight, and Spike are going to the Crystal Empire to help set up for the Equestria Games. Pinkie Pie stumbles upon an ancient artifact of Sombra's design while looking for supplies. It activates, putting her in a dream where she wakes up completely alone in Ponyville—there's not another pony in all of Equestria, actually. Sombra's artifact was meant to make his soldiers overcome their worst fears to prepare them to serve him. Only once you conquer your fear can you wake up. This was going to be a deconstruction of Pinkie's character, specifically about how she derives her self-worth from other ponies around her. What's her identity on her own, with nopony else around? I actually still really want to write this one, but I'm not sure I can do it justice.

What makes me different from other ponies is that I don't mind getting out of bed in the morning. Sleep can be kinda fun—sometimes—but I definitely prefer being awake. Being awake means being around other ponies. And being around other ponies means making them smile. And making them smile means making them happy! And then maybe they won't mind getting out of bed the next morning.

Sleeping is like having a party where no one else is invited. I don’t like that.

Twilight doesn’t seem to mind mornings much either. Her smile is pretty big today, even though the sun still hasn’t come up. Maybe she’s looking forward to seeing Cadance. Or maybe she’s admiring the shadows dancing outside the train. Or maybe she’s just happy with her life in general. Doesn’t matter. If she’s happy, I’m happy!

Spike still doesn’t like mornings much, though. He was cranky and barely said anything to me at the train station earlier. I just smiled and told him he should sleep on the train, which is what he’s doing now. He’s snoring. Wrapped in his cute little blankie and curled up against Twilight. I wanna tell him how adorable he looks, but that would wake him up. Instead I just giggle.

“What’s so funny, Pinkie?” Twilight says, barely whispering. I point at Spike and she giggles too. “He was up late last night baking. He wanted to bring cookies for Cadance and Shining Armor, and he wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfect. He made five batches before he was satisfied.”

“Wow.” I lift the lid of the picnic basket and peek inside. A dozen perfect sugar cookies smile up at me—all of them are unique. “He did so great!” I whisper. “Cadance and Shining Armor are gonna love these. Anypony would love ‘em!” The thought of eating one right now passes through my mind, but it’s fleeting. That wouldn’t be fair.

Twilight looks out the window again. “I’m sure they’ll love them, if they have the time to eat them. From what I understand, preparations for the Equestria Games have kept them both so busy. It’s no wonder they need some help.”

“And it’s no wonder they picked the three of us to come help!” I scooch over, the rubber of my seat squeaking a little, and wrap her in a side hug. “Between you, me, and Slumbers McDragon, we’ll have the Crystal Empire ready to rock the Games faster than you can say—” I point a hoof to the sky, and nothing happens.

After a few more seconds of nothing, Twilight says, “Uh, Pinkie? What—”

“Next stop: the Crystal Empire!” shouts the conductor.

---

Working Title: Eleven Days of Darkness
Description: Applejack is coming back home from somewhere by herself. She's forced to take refuge inside a cave, which collapses and traps her inside. She doesn't escape for eleven days. This was meant to be a super-dark, mystery story, where bits and pieces of the story leading up to Applejack being trapped are slowly revealed throughout the eleven days. I don't wanna reveal that story just yet since it's pretty intense, and I think I might still use it. Also, this is what would've been the start of the second chapter. The first seems lost or deleted.

She awoke feeling like tomb dust.

Applejack felt her lips crack and split as she contorted her face. Fire seared her nostrils and throat, begging to be extinguished. She rasped out a cough and fluttered her eyes open. Pink, dawnish light welcomed her to the cavern floor.

Pushing through the cement coating her nerves, Applejack twisted to her side and reached for the canteen in her saddlebags.

Her mouth latched onto air.

Panicking awake, she gasped and jumped to her hooves. Her own weight lashed at her broken limbs and whipped her back to the ground. Groaning, Applejack reached her two forehooves ahead and began dragging herself over the coarse rock. She stopped to quickly plant her hat on her frazzled mane.

The pinprick of light barely fought the darkness more than a few meters back, and it was enough for Applejack to know her saddlebags had been cast into the mountain’s throat. She inched forward, grinding her teeth at every pebble that spiked her underbelly. Soon everything was darkness, and her only friend was the tactile grit of her scarf and hat.

She hammered one hoof about, her patience wearing thinner with every hollow echo it made. Every hit against the rock made the next hit harder. It sounded like a blacksmith hard at work.

After minutes, the harsh thuds gave way to a muffled crunch. A quick purple flash filled the darkness for a split second. Applejack froze dead, a chill running through her. Her hoof shifted around, feeling small, oblong things rolling around beneath a layer of fabric. She heaved the saddlebags over her neck and dragged herself back to the light.

The morning light caught in her wide eyes—refracted through the sweat on her forehead. Her bleeding lips were taut as she moved with mechanical sluggishness, barely breathing.

She stopped and closed her eyes. Tilting her head up, she whispered, “Please… please, don’t do this to me…”

She held like that until her aching limbs gave out. With glacial and precise movements, Applejack reached around, lifted the saddlebags from her neck, and set them on the ground. She unlatched the bags and slid the contents onto the cave floor.

She bit her lip when the first tiny gears clinked against the rock. Little golden tidbits—dented and damaged—cascaded through the rest of her supplies like flowing water. Then came the casing: a smashed carcass of a silver clamshell-timepiece. A little engraving which read T.S. glinted in one of the dents.

Ignoring whatever else her saddlebags spewed forth, Applejack clutched at the timepiece and flicked it open. Cracked glass filled the inside, but tiny magenta sparks still twinkled in the thing’s guts. They became reflected in Applejack’s pupils.

“Help…” she whispered. When nothing happened, she screamed in a dry, diseased voice, “Help! Help! Twilight?! Anypony?! Anyone?! C-can y’all hear me?! Please, it’s Applejack! I need ya! I need help!”

Still, the device did nothing. Tears jumped from Applejack’s eyes into the machine’s corpse as she pushed it to her face and cried out. “Please! I’m in trouble! I-I don’t know if I’ll make it. Help! For the love of Celestia, someone help me, damn it!”

She rocketed the contraption into the wall. It squealed and hissed as it split into halves. With a shriek, Applejack swept the other mechanical bits sideways and collapsed atop her supplies, weeping.

---

Working Title: Power Lust
Description: After the incident with Tirek, Cadance's magic is restored, but she somehow got too much alicorn magic, putting her horn on the fritz. Now it randomly zaps two nearby ponies and forces them in love—a spell that can only be broken by a kiss. Cadance goes to Ponyville and Canterlot to get the other princesses to help solve this problem. Antics ensue along the way. Abandoned this one because I still suck at comedy, but it has the potential to be really, really funny in the right hands, I think.

Cadance hovered off the train, a bright smile plastered across her face. She saw Shining Armor awaiting her just outside the station. She soared over and threw him into a tight hug. “Oh, Shining!” she said. “I’m so glad to see you safe.”

He chuckled. “You’re glad to see me safe? I’m not the one who spent the afternoon in Tartarus.” He guided her head towards his with a hoof and kissed her warmly. After a moment, he pulled away and smiled. “How’re you feeling.”

Cadance tossed her mane back. “Really good, actually. I’m just glad everything’s over with. Today’s been so stressful.”

“You must be exhausted,” Shining said. He turned towards the Crystal Castle and beckoned her. “C’mon. I think everyone needs some rest after today.”

Together they trotted off, but it wasn’t long before Cadance opened her wings and started hovering instead. “It’s strange, actually. Despite everything that’s happened lately, I don’t feel very tired at all. In fact, I just feel like…” She shot high into the air, did a few loops, and returned to Shining’s side. “I feel like dancing!”

Shining rested a hoof across her shoulders, and she came back to earth. “You’re probably just overtired. I know that I’m more than ready to hit the hay. You should probably sleep too before you crash.”

Cadance sighed, and she rested her head against his as they walked past a flower stall. “You’re right. I probably just need to get a good night’s rest. By tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll feel just like—” A jolt of energy zapped through Cadance, making her flinch and momentarily causing her horn to flare.

“Whoa,” Shining said, turning and grabbing her shoulder with a hoof. “You okay?”

Shaking her head, Cadance raised a hoof to her horn and said, “Yeah, I… I think so. Not sure what that was about.” She smiled up at Shining. “I still feel great though!”

“Probably just something to do with having your magic taken and returned to you so suddenly.” Shining wrapped a hoof around her and led her down the road. “Let’s get you to bed and—”

“Excuse me, Princess?”

The two of them stopped and turned to the nearby flower merchant. He stared at Cadance with glassy eyes. She smiled at him broadly. “Oh, hello. Mithril Marigold, right?”

He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Cadance. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry to disturb you, but… I don’t believe I’ve ever complimented you on your mane. It’s gorgeous.”

“Why thank you!” Cadance said. “I always try to—”

“In fact, do you mind if I just…” He stepped closer and ran a hoof through Cadance’s mane. Then, in a quick motion, he shoved his entire head into her mane and inhaled deeply. Cadance stumbled sideways, nearly falling over.

Shining stepped between them, shoving the stallion away. “Easy there, pal. That’s my wife, you know.”

The stallion didn’t seem to notice him, his eyes closed and a dopey smile on his face. “She even smells like love. I had no idea that was even possible…”

At that, Shining raised an eyebrow. He turned to Cadance, who just shrugged at him. “Maybe we should just go.” He turned and started towards the castle.

“Nice seeing you!” Cadance said, waving to the stallion. She turned away with a smirk. “That was sweet. Very, very strange, but sweet.”

“A little too sweet, if you ask me.” Shining glared over his shoulder. The stallion still stood on the side of the street, his eyes closed and his body swaying.

Cadance draped a hoof across Shining as they reached the base of the castle. “Like you said, this day’s been pretty stressful for everyone. Just let it go.”

Shining sighed and shook his head. “You’re right. Let’s just get to bed.”

As they approached the stairs into the castle proper, the two guards standing nearby bowed to them. “Your Highnesses.”

Nodding to each of them in turn, Cadance smiled and said, “Good afternoon, Amethyst, Flash Sentry. How have things been here all day?” She giggled a little. “Judging by those bags under your eyes, I’d guess it’s been a little—” Magic buzzed through Cadance’s body again, zapping her horn and making her front legs give way. She clutched her head.

“Princess!” Amethyst rushed forward, kneeling down and offering Cadance her hoof. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah. Just… give me a second.” Cadance breathed in deep, pulling her hoof to her chest as she did, and exhaling as she re-extended her arm. She grinned at the guard. “I suppose I’m more exhausted than I thought. I just need a little bedrest.”

“Understood. I’ll escort you to your chambers immediately.” She heaved one of Cadance’s forelegs across her back, and they started towards the door.

Cadance stopped and turned to Shining Armor. “Are you coming, Shining?”

To the side, Shining and Flash Sentry were staring into each other’s eyes, not blinking or moving. At Cadance’s voice, Shining broke the stare and shook his head. “Yeah… right, of course.” He nodded quickly to Flash. “Good to see you safe, Sentry.”

Flash gulped and nodded back. “Likewise, Sir.” They turned from each other, and Cadance and Shining proceeded into the castle. Flash Sentry stared into the distance, then up at the castle doors, then into the distance again. His eyes eventually focused on the Crystal Heart, and he watched it spin.

***

Lying in bed, Cadance’s eyes fluttered open. The sky outside was starry and black, but her room was still lit by something behind her. She rolled over to see Shining staring at the ceiling, his bedside lamp turned on. “Shining?” she groaned.

He looked at her with a start. “Oh, I thought you were asleep.”

“Well, I was. But thankfully I have the world’s most thoughtful husband to turn on his light and wake me up in the middle of the night, so sleeping isn’t a problem anymore.”

“Sorry.”

Cadance watched Shining’s eyes trace the ceiling, then sighed. “Don’t be.” She reached over and rubbed his shoulder gently. “What’s on your mind?”

He turned to face her and said, “What do you think about Flash Sentry?”

“The guard Twilight’s crushing on?”

Shining Armor’s eyes went wide, and he blinked. “When you say ‘Twilight,’ you don’t mean…”

“Yes, our Twilight.” Cadance chuckled. “You’d have to be blind not to see it. Anyway, I think he’s a nice pony. What do you think about him?”

Shining turned to stare at the door. “I think he should be promoted. To our personal bodyguard.”

Cadance quirked an eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s what’s keeping you awake? Deciding if you should promote a guard or not?”

“It’s a serious decision.”

“And one that shouldn’t be made overnight.” She stroked Shining’s mane. “Honey, it’s been a really long day. Maybe you should just sleep on it and—”

“What do you think?” Shining turned to her, smiling. “He’d be a pretty great personal guard, don’t you think. Strong, smart, easy on the eyes. Everything you look for in a perfect guard.”

Cadance blinked, staring at him incredulously. “Easy on the… What does that even have to do with being a good guard?” Shining stared at the window behind her, a dumb grin across his face. “Shining?”

He snapped to attention. “Being a good what now?”

With a groan, Cadance scowled a little. “You really are tired.” She rolled to face the other way, using her magic to turn off Shining’s lamp. “Good night, Shining.”

“Night.” Before Cadance fell back asleep, she hear Shining Armor mumble, “He’s got great dimples, too.”

***

For the second time that night, Cadance awoke to a pitch-black sky. This time it had been the knocking on the door. She whispered something under her breath before rolling out of bed. Rubbing her eye, she walked over and opened the door. A familiar guard stood on the other side. “Flash Sentry?”

Flash blinked, then bowed hastily. “Good evening, Your Highness. I, uh, hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Oh, no, it’s not like I was asleep or anything. Just inspecting the backs of my eyelids for dust.”

Flash winced. “Er, sorry.”

Cadance touched the bridge of her muzzle with a hoof. “It’s fine. Is there something urgent?”

“Actually, I was hoping to get a word with Prince Shining Armor about something.” He looked past Cadance, a small grin on his face. “It’s pretty important.”

“If it’s that important,” Cadance said, stepping into his line of sight and frowning, “then you can just tell me. Shining Armor’s asleep.”

“No I’m not.”

They both turned to look at the bed, where Shining Armor quickly jumped to the floor and cantered over. “Just the pony I was hoping to see,” he said, grinning.

“Same here, Sir,” Flash said. The two of them laughed a little.

Cadance looked between them, her eyebrow lifted. Silence lingered as Shining and Flash just stared at each other wearing dopey expressions. “If you two need to talk about something,” Cadance said, “feel free to step out for a bit. I just want to—”

Shining instantly stepped out of the room and said, “Let’s walk, Flash.” The two fell into step beside each other and moved down the hall towards a balcony. They whispered something between themselves and shared a soft laugh.

Blinking a few times, Cadance closed the door and moved back to her bed. “I think Tirek might’ve taken a bit more than just magic out of those two. Maybe some brain cells.” She yawned heavily. “Or all of their brain cells.” She hopped into bed and fell asleep before she hit the pillow.

---

Working Title: Gastrique
Description: Pinkie Pie helps Rarity through a rough patch. Basically just meant to examine Pinkie's friendship with Rarity, and also to showcase that no matter how bad your day is, there's always something to smile about. Simple and sweet. Another one I'd like to come back to.

Rarity’s pencil clattered to the table and rolled to the floor. She lifted up her design sketch and held it against the morning sun. She squinted at it over her glasses, then rotated it so the design was no longer upside down. After a few moments of examining it, Rarity groaned, crumpled the page into a ball, and tossed it aside. It bounced off the mountain of papers already erupting from the trash bin. Rarity slammed her head against the tabletop. Opal—curled up on the tidily made bed—shifted just a little at the sound.

Several minutes passed, then Rarity’s body jerked and she snorted awake. She shook her head and got up, stepping over to the wall calendar. A red marker hovered in her magic and slashed an X through yesterday’s date. A large circle marked a square towards the bottom of the calendar—two weeks away. Rarity blinked at it and slumped out of her bedroom.

The farther Rarity went down the hallway, the more aware she became of the throbbing in her head and the metallic taste in her mouth. She descended the stairs and into the early morning light—it somehow seemed brighter than the sunlight in her bedroom. She ambled towards the kitchen.

Someone knocked at the door. “Rarity,” came Pinkie Pie’s voice, “you in there?”

Rarity stopped. For a moment she considered simply saying nothing and continuing to the kitchen. She looked at the kettle resting on her stove, then called out, “Just a moment.” Her throat felt tight as the words came out. She walked over to the door and pulled it open.

Pinkie beamed at her from the other side. “Finally!” She threw herself at Rarity, wrapping her in a firm hug. “I missed you!”

Rarity settled one hoof on Pinkie’s back and smiled crookedly. “Pinkie, darling, I haven’t gone anywhere.”

“I know,” Pinkie said, stepping backwards out of the hug, “but it feels like you have. You haven’t been out of your house in days, and you missed my Midsummer Soirée! I even called it a soirée instead of a party because I thought you’d like that more and you might come out for it.” Pinkie reached into her mane and pulled out a blue cupcake with pink sprinkles. She grinned and extended it to Rarity. “I still saved you a cupcake, though.”

“I appreciate the thought,” Rarity said. She levitated the cupcake over to the coffee table, barely looking at it. “But, darling, did I not explicitly tell you and the others not to disturb me unless there was an emergency?”

“But there is an emergency!”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Duh!” Pinkie whipped a pointer stick from behind her head and leveled it at the cupcake. “Exhibit A: You missed one of my parties when you said you’d be there, and you didn’t even apologize.”

She aimed the stick behind her, pointing to the sun. “Exhibit B: It’s super early in the morning, but I know I saw the candle in your bedroom window still burning—and it was almost burned out! But worst of all…”

She tapped Rarity on the muzzle with the stick, making Rarity go cross-eyed. “Exhibit R: Your mane’s all messy, your eyes look like you’ve been crying, you smell like salty ice cream, and your glasses are on upside down.” She threw the stick over her shoulder and frowned. “And if that last one’s not an emergency, then I don’t know what is!”

Rarity stared deadpan at Pinkie, then she used her magic to flip her glasses over. “I am very sorry I missed your soirée, Pinkie, but you must understand that I am in the midst of an extremely important task. I absolutely must perfect this design, and I need complete focus in order to do so. Do you understand?”

---

Working Title: Heart of the Matter
Description: Spike and Twilight are planning a vacation for just the two of them to enjoy. But when Twilight gets called away on royal business, Spike gets upset. He flees on vacation by himself without telling anyone, going to the Crystal Empire to spend a week with Cadance and Shining Armor. On his first night, Cadance says "love you" as she bids him good night, and he gets confused. Questioning reveals that Twilight has never told Spike she loves him, which Cadance gets mad about. She insists Spike stay with them until Twilight can make up for it. Definitely a story in line with my interests, but I dunno. I could never get it right. Note: this excerpt is actually the start of the scene where Cadance says "love you" to Spike in the middle of the story. I started writing this one since it's the scene I really wanted to get to.

Spike hopped up on a chair and pressed his face to the window. Fog was rolling over the Empire, but he could still just barely make out the train station. The lights of train began chugging along the landscape, slowly blurring into a single line of light. It was the last train leaving for the night—one Spike knew was bound for Canterlot. He sighed and traced the train with his finger. He followed it until his claw tapped the window frame and the train vanished into the night. Spike’s frown deepened.

“Spike?” Cadance said from behind. Spike didn’t even make an effort to move. “I brought you a glass of water.” She chuckled a little. “I could never get you to fall asleep when I foalsat Twilight unless I gave you some water first.” A glass clinked on the bedside table.

“Thanks,” Spike said. He continued staring across the Empire. Lights were winking out, and the fog was getting deeper. Night had truly fallen.

Cadance appeared in his periphery. She frowned and said, “You miss her, huh?” Spike nodded, his forehead squeaking against the glass. “Do you wanna write her a letter? I’m sure I could find—”

“No!” Spike shouted, whipping to face Cadance. She stumbled backwards, eyes stark. Realizing that he was leaning far towards her, Spike pulled himself back and said, “Uh… no, that’s okay. It’s just… I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve spent a night away from Twilight—and away from home. I’ll be fine once I go to sleep, but it’s just… weird, ya know? Like I’m in a whole nother world away from everything I love.”

Silence lingered for a moment, but Cadance quickly broke it. “You know,” she said, stooping down low so she was looking up at Spike, “I used to get homesick all the time.”

Spike looked at her. “You did?”

With a smile, Cadance nodded. “When I first became an alicorn and Celestia took me to Canterlot, I was very lonely. Everything I knew and loved was suddenly so far away, and I was in a place full of things I didn’t really even care about. The first few days were especially bad—I even wound up crying myself to sleep some nights because I missed home so much.”

Spike’s frown deepened. “That sounds awful!”

“It was,” Cadance said, “but eventually I learned some tricks to help me deal with it.

---

Working Title: Sweet and Discreet
Description: Takes place during Sweet and Elite. Spike wants to get Twilight the perfect birthday present. He's started working on a scrapbook to commemorate their time in Ponyville, but when Twilight desperately needs a certain plant for her latest project, he puts himself through turmoil to try and get it. He ultimately fails and ends up giving her his half-finished scrapbook instead, which she adores. Just meant to answer the question in Sweet and Elite as to where Spike was on Twilight's birthday. Could be pretty cute.

Spike pushed open the basement door. “Twi,” he called, “do you remember where we put that box of Winter Wrap-Up supplies? I thought it was in the coat closet, but—”

A harsh groan cut him off. He flinched backwards as a book rocketed up at him from below, slamming into the wall mere inches ahead of him. It thudded to the floor, and the title The Advanced Guide to Rare Equestrian Herbs and Flowers looked up at him. Spike quickly jogged past it and down the stairs. “Everything alright, Twilight?”

“No,” Twilight said right before she slammed her face into a wooden desk. “Everything is ruined!”

Spike reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped a few yards away from Twilight. He frowned and said, “Aw, come on, Twi. Whatever it is can’t be that bad. I mean, your birthday’s in four days, for crying out loud! You should be excited!”

Twilight peeled her face from the desk and frowned at him. “But that’s just it, Spike. I’ve only got four days to figure out a solution, or my whole tradition is ruined forever!”

It was then that Spike noticed the scene around him. Several beakers and flasks lay strewn across the tables. Some were dirty, others were clean, and others still were entirely preoccupied. One in particular caught his attention: a pale blue liquid bubbled and boiled in a massive spherical flask held over a white flame. It was corked, but the scent of raspberries still trickled out into the room.

Spike quirked an eyebrow at it. “Is this about your weird ‘passage potion’ or whatever you call it?”

Twilight glared into him. “It’s called the ‘Rite of Passage Potion-Making Endeavor,’ and I’d appreciate if you didn’t call it weird. It’s a special tradition for me to do one last experiment before my birthday every year—before I move onto more advanced experiments. This is really important to me, Spike!”

Spike wrung his claws together and slowly stepped over to Twilight’s side. “Uh… sorry, Twi. So what’s the problem, anyway? It looks like your potion-making is already going really well.”

“It was,” Twilight groaned, “until I saw this.” Her horn came alight, and the book that had nearly decapitated Spike levitated down, its pages flipping quickly in a magenta aura. It settled on a particular page and came to rest on the desk before them.

Spike stood on his tiptoes to get a look at the page over her shoulder. “‘Oak-leaved Geranium,’” he read, looking at the intricate illustration of a pink flower beneath the header. “I don’t get it.”

“Right here!” Twilight tapped her hoof on one sentence.

Spike squinted his eyes at it. “‘Rarity: Presumed extinct,’” he read. He scratched his head. “So this flower doesn’t exist anymore?”

“Yeah, and I wish I’d known that before I started working on the Potion of Sweltering Earth. Now I’ve wasted three whole days on it and I can’t even finish it!” Twilight’s head obstructed Spike’s view of the book as it slammed into the table again. “I’m so stupid!”

Spike frowned and grabbed her shoulder. “Come on, Twi. The book only says that it’s ‘presumed extinct.’ Doesn’t that mean there could still be some flowers out there?”

“Yeah,” Twilight said to the tabletop. “But by the time I found one—if I even could find one—my birthday would’ve come and gone, so it’d be pointless.”

“Oh.” Spike deflated. He looked around the room for something to give Twilight some hope, and his eyes eventually landed on a second book lying on the desk. Its title read: Encyclopedia Equestria: Potions. Spike grinned a little and said, “Well, you’ve still got four days left. Why don’t you just make a different potion?”

A purple light surrounded the encyclopedia, and its pages flitted past Spike’s eyes in a blur of literature. It eventually stopped on a page headed with: Table of Contents III: Gamma-Class Potions. It listed the names of several dozen potions, each with a little checkmark next to it.

“I’ve already made every other potion in my current level of studies,” Twilight said. She sighed. “This was supposed to be the last one.”

“What about this one?” Spike said, pointing a claw to one of the only two unchecked potions. “It says ‘Potion of Smothering Ooze.’ Have you made that one?”

“Look at the footnote.”

Spike scrolled his gaze to the page’s bottom where a lone footnote sat. He read, “‘Warning: Potion of Smothering Ooze requires phlume.’”

“And if there’s anything harder to come by than an almost-extinct flower,” Twilight said, “it’s phlume.” She pulled her head up from the desk and slumped back onto her haunches.

Spike grabbed her shoulder again and gave her a little smile. “Don’t give up, Twi. You’ll think of something! Is there anything I can do to help?”

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think so, Spike. I guess I’ll just have to… make one of the potions I’ve already made, but do it better… or something.” She sighed and shrugged away Spike’s claw, forcing his expression to sag. “I think I’m just gonna take a nap for now, though. Could you clean up this stuff, please?” She stood and slowly moved towards the stairs.

Spike watched after her, his frown deepening with every step he watched her take. He sighed and turned towards the lab table. “Sure, Twi,” he said. “Just get some rest.”

“Oh, wait,” Twilight said. She turned to face Spike again. “What were you looking for?”

Spike turned his head away from the open books on the table and raised an eyebrow at Twilight. “Huh?”

“You came down asking if I knew where to find something. What was it?”

Spike’s eyebrows shot up for a moment, and he looked ready to say something, but he stopped with his mouth halfway open once he saw the exhaustion and disappointment dripping from Twilight’s face. After a second, he waved a claw and said, “Nothing important. Don’t worry about it, Twi. Just get some sleep.”

Twilight nodded. Without another word, she started up the stairs.

Spike walked over to the table. He reached up and pulled down the book which was still open to the page on oak-leaved geraniums. As he slid it off the table, though, it fell from his grip and collided with the floor face-down. He reached down and flipped it back over. A chuckle escaped him when he saw the page it had flipped to.

“‘Poison Joke,’” he read with a little smirk. He shook his head and flipped the book shut. He started towards the second book and said, “If only Zecora knew as much about oak-leaved geraniums as she does about poison joke.” He moved the large encyclopedia halfway off the table before his words caught up with his brain.

“That’s it!” he cried, leaving the book to teeter on the table’s edge. “I can go ask Zecora about it! She’ll totally know where to find it, and then I can surprise Twilight with it. That’ll make an even better birthday present than the one I had planned!” He flipped through the botanical book until he found the entry on oak-leaved geraniums again and held the page with a claw. “I’ll go ask her right now!”

That’s when the thick encyclopedia tumbled from the table, crashing into his head and pinning him to the floor. The thud of the book sent some nearby glassware and lab instruments flying. An airborne knife collided with the active boiling flask. The cork rocketed out of it and ricocheted around the room, flipping random switches on various machines and scattering papers everywhere. As the machines all screeched to life and beeped chaotically, the boiling pale blue solution erupted into the air. It immediately condensed into a large cloud and began raining on the entire chamber, dampening everything in scalding liquid.

Spike finally managed to heave the encyclopedia off of him, and his eyes went wide as he took in the sudden anarchy around him. He scratched his head as one final piece of glassware fell to the ground and shattered.

“Er… maybe I should go see Zecora after I clean all this up.” The wayward cork smacked him in the head once before innocently falling to the floor and rolling away.

***

Spike rapped his claw on the hut’s wooden door. He looked over his shoulder warily, very aware of the strange animal sounds which surrounded him. The Everfree Forest was largely silhouetted by the setting sun, and the ominous black forms of trees did little to calm Spike’s nerves. He clutched his book a little tighter.

“Who comes knocking at such an hour?” said Zecora as she pulled her door open. She smiled down at the dragon quivering on her doorstep. “Now, little dragon, you needn’t cower. This clearing here is a sanctuary from the forest creatures which make you wary.”

“I know,” Spike said, pulling in a deep breath. “Sorry, Zecora. I guess I’m just not used to the forest in the evening like this. It’s way spookier…” He threw one last glance at a particularly menacing tree at the clearing’s edge.

“Then—so it must be—your reason is good for coming to visit me in this twilight wood.” Zecora turned back inside and trotted in. “Do come in, before we lose the light. And tell me why you have visited tonight.”

“Thanks.” Spike walked in, making sure he closed the door securely behind him. He followed Zecora to the far side of her hut as he said, “I wanted to ask you about a plant that I need to find. Have you ever heard of an oak-leaved geranium?”

Zecora lifted a pestle in one hoof and began pounding at something in the accompanying mortar. “I have knowledge of this flower, yes. But it is not one which I possess. And I would recommend you do not look for this flower which—I presume—is in that book.”

Spike hunched his shoulders. “Why not?”

“It is rare of breed, and for good reason, but not because it is out of season. It blooms only in a place of botanist’s doom. It blooms at the base of a plant named phlume.” Zecora lifted the mortar and dumped a yellow powder into the seething cauldron. It shot out a puff of silver smoke.

“phlume?” Spike raised an eyebrow. “But Twilight said that one was even rarer than this one. How can that be true if it only blooms at the base of a phlume?”

Zecora moved over to her counter and started chopping a leaf into small pieces. “phlume is no rarer than the plant which you seek. It is, however, far less meek. Again I warn you to cease your search. Find a plant less volatile. Perhaps birch.”

Spike stomped up to her side. “I don’t have a choice, Zecora!” He threw the book open violently. He pointed to the flower and said, “Twilight really needs this flower. It’s super important to her, and not having it is making her really upset. I have to get it for her, especially because it’s her birthday soon!”

Zecora stopped her chopping. She gave Spike a sideways stare and said, “Tell me: Is this plant which causes her strife worth more to her than your friendship and life?”

That drained the vigor from Spike’s stance. He shrunk back a bit and scratched the back of his neck. “Well… probably not.”

“Then do her this favour, and yourself as well: Search no further, and go home for a spell.” She set about chopping her leaf again.

---

Working Title: Generosity's Greatest Gift
Description: Can't really remember this one much, honestly. Just that it revolved around Sweetie Belle and Rarity and ended with Sweetie getting her cutie mark. I think it wound up being too complex, so I gave up on it.

“Quiet down please, children!” Cheerilee called through the after-recess din of the classroom. She maintained her smile as the students took longer than necessary to find their desks.

Once the room had settled, Cheerilee said, “Before we begin our lesson, I have a very exciting announcement! Starting Monday, we’re going to be doing our very first all-class project!” Quiet murmurs rumbled through the room as the students looked at each other curiously.

“Over the next two months, we’ll all be working together to produce a musical play. When everything is ready, we’ll be performing the play in front of all of Ponyville! Isn’t that exciting?” More loud whispers resonated around the room. Cheerilee continued, “Now, since this is an all-class project, everyone will be required to play a role in production. Whether you want to be an actor or a stagehoof is up to you, but everypony will be doing something important. I’ve prepared a signup sheet along with a list of roles you can try out for, so please be sure to put your name down next to which part you want before you leave today.

“Any questions?” A little white hoof shot into the air. “Yes, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie lowered her hoof. “Um, what play are we doing?”

Cheerilee smiled more widely. “Excellent question! We’ll be performing The Hunchback of Canterlot Cathedral, and we’ll be discussing the story and characters for our lesson today so that everyone has an idea of what they want to do. Any more questions?”

The room remained silent. “Wonderful! Now, how many of you have heard of a pony named Quasi Mondo?”

***

The wall clock struck three, and the school bell rang out above. As the students gathered up their saddlebags, Cheerilee said, “Don’t forget to sign up before you leave, children! Oh, and please ask any adult ponies you know if they want to help supervise the production. We need several volunteers. Now have a wonderful weekend!”

A small crowd of fillies and colts gathered around their teacher’s desk, chatting excitedly to one another. Towards the back of the group, Scootaloo sidled up next to her two best friends. “Are you two thinking what I’m thinking?” she said, grinning.

“Actin’ cutie marks!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “It’s the perfect opportunity! What parts are you two gonna try for?”

“I’m totally gonna be that Quasi Mondo guy,” Scootaloo said. “I’d make an awesome monster-pony like that!”

“Uh, isn’t he a stallion, though?” Apple Bloom said, quirking an eyebrow.

“Duh! But Miss Cheerilee said we can try out for any part we want! What about you, Apple Bloom? Who are you gonna be?”

“I’m thinkin’ of goin’ for one of those outlaw ponies. That seems like it’d be pretty cool.”

“Totally.” Scootaloo turned to her other friend. “What about you, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle looked up with startled eyes. “Oh! Uh… I think I’m just gonna be a stagehoof. Y’know, props, lights, costumes… stuff like that.”

“What?!” Apple Bloom cried out. “But how are you gonna get an actin’ cutie mark without bein’ an actor?!”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo said. “Besides, you’re a super-good singer. I bet you’d make a great Emerald!”

Sweetie’s eyes widened harshly. “Emerald?! One of the leading roles?! No! No way! Not in front of all those ponies! I-I’d be terrible!”

“Come on, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said, wrapping an arm around her. “It’s not like you’d be alone up there. Everypony’s gonna be up there with ya!”

“And it won’t be in front of that many ponies,” Scootaloo said. “A couple hundred, tops.”

“A c-couple hundred?!” Sweetie Belle recoiled from her friends. “I’d be nervous enough in front of one pony! Not happening.”

“Sweetie Belle—”

“No.”

“But—”

“No!”

“We just—”

“No!”

“Is everything okay, Sweetie Belle?” Cheerilee asked, frowning at the filly.

“Uh…” Sweetie looked around the room and noticed that everypony had turned to stare at her. Her cheeks flushed stark red. She clamped her eyes shut and blurted, “Just sign me up as a stagehoof!” Before anyone could say anything, she turned tail and ran out the door.

***

“All I’m saying is that it couldn’t hurt to try, Rarity! With your super-duper skills, anything is possible!”

“I’m flattered, darling, but making an entire ensemble out of ice cream just isn’t feasible. It would melt before I even knew how to begin!”

Pinkie slumped back in her chair with a frown. “Shoot, I really wanted to be the Ice Cream Queen for Nightmare Night this year.” Her eyes turned back up and looked across the table. “Can you at least try?”

Rarity sighed and smirked a little. “Of course, darling. Anything for a friend.”

“Yippee!” Pinkie cried, bouncing back to an upright position and beaming. “You’re the bestest!”

The pair of ponies sat across from each other at a small table just outside a semi-opulent restaurant. From under her green sunhat, Rarity was nibbling away at her salad one soundless bite after another. Pinkie, on the other hoof, was chomping away loudly at her hay fries. Passersby didn’t so much as blink at the two of them.

Gulping down an impossibly large mouthful, Pinkie said, “So what are you getting Sweetie Belle for her birthday?”

Rarity raised an eyebrow as she levitated a napkin to her mouth. “Sweetie Belle’s—Pinkie, that’s over two months away!”

“I know! Only sixty seven days to find her the most super-stupendous present ever! Not to mention to—ahem—plan her the greatest party ever.” Pinkie fluttered her eyelids.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Well, I suppose I haven’t given it much thought, really. I usually make her a wonderful little outfit or accessory or some such thing.”

“Oh, that sounds great! Homemade gifts are the best!” Pinkie began slurping her drink as if it was going out of style.

“I suppose, but I have the feeling she doesn’t exactly like any of those gifts.”

A geyser of water erupted from Pinkie’s mouth towards the ground. “What?! How can she not like them?! They’re homemade! By you! You home-make the best stuff!”

Rarity picked up her napkin and began wiping the spittle that had managed to reach the table. “Again, I’m flattered, Darling, but it’s simply a matter of perspective. Sweetie Belle isn’t interested in fashion enough to truly appreciate such gifts. Not yet, at any rate.”

“Huh, I guess that makes sense. So are you gonna get her something different this year?”

“I—” Rarity froze mid-cleaning “—er… I suppose I should, shouldn’t I?”

“So whatcha gonna get her?”

Lifting a hoof to her chin, Rarity hmmed. “I suppose something that appeals to her current interests would be ideal.”

Pinkie gasped quite loudly. “Is she interested in parties?! Or cannons?! Because I just got my new party cannon in the mail, so I could give you my old one to—”

“No!” Rarity’s eyes were wider than the plate before her. “Absolutely no cannons! Or explosives! Or… well… or hand-me-downs, for that matter. Such a thing with Sweetie Belle and her friends is simply asking for trouble.”

“Hey, there’s an idea! Sweetie Belle wants her cutie mark super badly, right? That’s an interest for ya!”

Rarity let off a melodious chuckle. “Darling, I hardly think I can give her a cutie mark as a birthday present. Such a thing is surely impossible.”

---

That looks like all of it! Kudos if you read through all that, and please let me know if anything in particular caught your interest. I'd like to know if I should go back to any of these or just move on.

Keep on keeping on,
—Arg

Comments

[Kalizecora]

I like the sound of Winter fire. It had a really good start to it.
Heart of the Matter sounds like it could have been good as well.

[Bad Horse]

And I thought my blog posts were long.

[The Descendant]

I hate having the bones of a story before, enough to almost see them coming together and constitute the narrative, but not enough sinew and fiber to bind them together with a plot. There's some good stuff here, Arg, but I can understand your position and why these will remain the ghosts of stories, sadly.

[Sky Blazer]

Only thing I think of is it's not really proper to say

I'm sure you all know the struggle of having a million different stories you want to write but having to choose which ones to focus on.

since not all of us are into the write stories thing.