Fifteen foals (and one dragon) believe that they are in for the adventure of a lifetime after a mysterious mare tricks them into playing a game for the future of their world – a game played with one-on-one combat between metal monsters the size of mountains. But all is not as simple as it first appears, and saving Equestria may come at a far greater cost than any of them can bear.

(Art by blu-red. Comments will contain spoilers.)

As night falls over Equestria, our gloomy cast reflects on their troubled lives and find happiness may not be so unreachable an outcome as they had previously thought.

Feedback appreciated.

This story is a sequel to If Only In My Dreams

Written with permission from TheSlorg

Cover art a combination of this image and an alteration of this image with background from here

On his way back from the train station on Hearth's Warming Day, Fancy Pants' scarf blows into an alley. When he goes to retrieve it, he finds a white coated Pegasus foal wrapped in an apron sleeping in a cardboard box.

Not wanting to leave an innocent filly out in the cold on her own on Hearth's Warming, he takes her back to his manor.

Rose Aphid wakes up, not in the cardboard box she fell asleep in, but some plush looking room that she'd heard royalty living in in stories.

When a unicorn walks in, she's frightened... until she senses the caring aura coming from him. Had this pony brought her here? Why? And why did he care about her?

My second fic involving Rose Aphid. This will go a lot differently than my other one, but i hope will be enjoyable for all, none the less.