On his pie delivery, Big McIntosh, meets a mysteries filly name Mirage tries to temp Big McIntosh away form Cheerilee and all the things he loves.

The planet is on borrowed time. A gamma ray burst, a dramatic event that ranks as the most powerful explosion in the known universe, has set its sights upon Equis. A mad scramble for salvation ensued. The Equestrian space program kicked into overdrive with a single purpose.

To save ponykind from complete extinction.

The rescue craft, dubbed Friendship One, prepares for departure. With them, the crew carry the hopes and dreams of an entire species. Those who remain behind can only watch and pray for their success as the world they knew turns to ash.

<sub>Thanks to all readers! It was wonderful to know you.

See the finished spiritual successor here.</sub>

A ten page short:
What if all the magic we see in the show is exactly what it appears to be? Does that concept scare you? It should.
After a shocking discovery changes his life, a young griffon follows in the hoofprints of his childhood hero, and mounts an expedition deep into the frozen west.

Both 'The Brightest Shine' and 'Piracy' redirect here, and with good reason; read on and it will make sense.

Celestia hopes to convince the parliament to ban duels, but it's an unpopular proposal. The last thing she needs is Luna stirring up trouble at the gala, so of course that's what happens.

^{Thanks to Daedalus Aegle for feedback on this story.}

The world has changed in one hundred thousand years. The magic that once shaped life itself has faded into myth and legend. An age of industry has set upon the flightless and hornless ponies who now populate the world. Great metropolises of steel and brick rise from the republics and monarchies that dot the planet. In the seaside city of Gracia, sparkling capital of the Teton Republic, a young museum worker named Starlight makes her living in this brave new world, oblivious to the magical heritage that dwells inside her and the ponies around her.

That is, until one day when an earthquake in the west prompts Starlight and her new friends to embark on an adventure to the desert city of Sundown. It is here that an event not seen in tens of eons has occurred: a unicorn has been born.

~

Edited by JustAnotherTimeLord & presentperfect
Art Design by HyperPonyGBX5 & rambled
Produced by DocDelray

When Nightmare Moon’s rebellion tore across Equestria, leaving a trail of blood and horror in its wake, Princess Celestia knew that merely banishing her sister wouldn’t be enough. Her army was too powerful, and too bloodthirsty, to be left behind without a leader. When she finally turned the Elements of Harmony against her, she didn’t just banish Nightmare Moon. She banished thousands.

Now they’re in a race against time, to find a way to survive in an environment so alien that every aspect of it is trying to kill them. They face suffocation, freezing, boiling, starvation, radiation, meteorite impacts, low gravity… the list goes on.

Nightmare Moon thought she should be the ruler of all Equestria. Now, in a world nopony was ever meant to survive, her abilities will be put to the ultimate test.

This story now has a hardcover! If you'd like one of your own, you can grab it here: https://starscribe.net/

Editing by the indulgent and patient Two Bit and Sparktail. Coverart by Zutcha.

Note: I intend this story to be as faithful to our current scientific understanding of the moon, and I’ve consulted for help with the aspects outside my technical purview. That said, I fully expect to make decisions that some may see as mistakes, based on their own independent interpretations.

I am a storyteller first, and I realize it’s likely I’ll eventually make a mistake, or an arbitrary decision to simplify the storytelling over accuracy. I’m doing my best here, but this isn’t a NASA white paper. Set your expectations accordingly.

This story was commissioned by Canary in the Coal Mine on my Patreon, feel free to contact me if you’d like one of your own!

Torque Wrench receives a letter from Applejack one day, and reminisces over the last time she had been creative. And how poorly it had gone.

Original written for the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Palette Cleanser contest. Incomplete during the contest and finished later.

A thank you to The Red Parade, Seer, KorenCZ11, and Vis-a-Viscera for editing and proofreading for publishing.

It is Heartswarming Eve, and filly Twilight Sparkle wants to stay at the empty castle with Princess Celestia, refusing to go home with her parents even after the monarch has sent all the staff back to their families. But why?

Twilight's answer leaves Celestia contemplating all the ways that make the lavender unicorn so special.

Thank you to the wonderful readings by Lonely Fanboy48 over here and one by Agent0Fluffy over here!

And also, a Russian translation by GreatDragonLord over here!

The city of Dock has long been a quiet shadow of its former self, and nopony knows that better than Belle, Captain of the town guard. A steady decline in the fortunes of the once prosperous port town has led to a certain amount of boredom, and to be honest, she wouldn't have it any other way.

When disaster strikes the otherwise sleepy town, Belle finds herself hock deep in the middle of a mystery unlike any the city has ever experienced. Now she must rely on her wits, and the help of friends both old and new to stop the pandemonium that threatens to destroy her world.

(Takes place between "It's About Time" and "A Canterlot Wedding.")