A shared connection saw them brought together. By accident, by no intention of their own, but lives crossed paths all the same.

It took so long for them to even say hello. Continuous conversation grew slowly, and a real relationship required sorrow as soil. Growth came as time went by.
But now it's good- perhaps even better than good; a little sweetness within each word.
Maybe, if given a little nudge, it could be something new.

My 2024 Valentine's Day special. Enjoy!

(Other tag is for Grandma Figgy. Featured on 1/16/2024.)

Not long after the defeat of Opaline, Grandma Figgy comes to Maretime Bay for a visit. But she's not just here to see her favorite grandson. No, her visit has something more important at stake.

Grandma Figgy wants to have a talk with Phyllis Cloverleaf, somepony who's been noticeably withdrawn and distant since the crystals were brought together. Grandma Figgy hopes a talk mare to mare will be just the thing to get Phyllis to start opening up again.

But it's hard to overcome years of set in stone beliefs. Is Phyllis truly willing to change her mind? Or will she remain stuck in her ways for all time?

Wind Rider helps Lightning Dust reform the Washouts under a new name.

This choose-your-own-adventure was written as part of Ponyville CiderFest's Interactive Storytelling Experience. Please note that the hero ending is all new exclusive content and wasn't part of the original app (nor is it in my compilation).

More stories from PVCF's 2023 Interactive Storytelling Experience can be found here.

Thank you to the entire Ponyville CiderFest Interactive Storytelling team (Vivid Syntax, Nyronus, Sonicsuns, Note Worthy, SteelTheWarrior, Snowday, Aria E. Diamond, SoloBrony, Skywriter, Ellwyn, Ghost Note, Overlord Pony, RQK, Shade Hunter, Shottsy, Celestilune).

Special thanks to Admiral Biscuit for pre-reading and for being the liaison on this with the PVCF staff.

Hearth's Warming is a wonderful time of year for most ponies. Getting together, singing, eating traditional foods, seeing old friends… and family.

But when that family is broken, or trying to heal, sometimes things can be a little harder.

Written for Admiral Biscuit, who requested some slice of life flavored with secondary background pones, as his Jinglemas 2023 gift! These may not be the most obscure, but theirs is a burgeoning family dynamic that I appreciated seeing. Cover art by mlplary6, source in image.

CW: Divorce, brief discussion of toxic relationships

Written for Diamond Sparkle for Jinglemas 2023

Spitfire is just minding her business flying past Ponyville, when she sees somepony fall out of a tree.

Originally written for the Quills and Sofas "L is for Lesbian" Pride contest.

Rarity, a young filly, is trying to find her ailing mother the perfect Hearth's Warming gift.

Part of Serina's Hearth's Warming Eve Collection for 2023.

Inspiration

An assortment of random short stories based on comic strips or art of our precious Element of Kindness and her Dark King. A mix of stories being anthro and pony

(I’m bored at work and these may not be good but I gotta do something…anything…to keep my brain occupied)

She Would Never
Fluffy Butt
Grumpy
Fluttershy's Good Boy
Shadow Horse Does a Shadow Thing
Definitely Not Sombra
Boop
Morning Walk
Leisure

BONUS: Babbie on the Way

Starswirl the Bearded has traveled all over Equestria since his return from limbo, and has also served as a teacher for many magically gifted students. But now the old wizard decides he needs a break, and so he travels to the Crystal Empire in the hopes of resting.

However, Mistmane soon calls upon her fellow pillar to ask for his help with a most difficult task: Controlling and containing the magical abilities of the young princess Flurry Heart. Not one to ignore a request from an ally, Starswirl accepts.

Starswil is fairly confident in his knowledges of alicorns due to his past experiences, he doesn't expect too much trouble. But he and Mistmane will soon be surprised by how powerful one little foal can be on her own.

(Featured from 10/18/2023 to 10/19/2023.)

(This story is a semi-sequel to First Sleepover Between Friends, itself a sequel to Scootaloo's First Friend. But it is not required for you to read those fics to understand this fic. Featured on 9/9/2023.)

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle have made a new friend in the form of fellow blank flank Apple Bloom. Naturally, the friends have decided to have a sleepover, and Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom want it to be at Scootaloo's house.

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, especially since Sweetie Belle's already been there. However, Scootaloo's parents have been called out of town, so she's been left in the care of her Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty. And Scootaloo is a bit hesitant to introduce her new friends to the aunts.

But Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle persist, so it seems Scootaloo has no choice but to oblige. It means her aunts will get a chance to meet her new friends personally.