One day, Equestria stopped being in one piece, and started being in a million pieces. The world literally ended. Life didn't. Any way they could, and any way they had to, ponies survived in the debris of Equestria.

On one piece of Ponyville, they survived quite well. Key Stone grew up with a simple but comfortable life. He spends all his time staring at the sky and buried in books, waiting for the faintest hint that life is out there.

And then it arrives.

Story returning to updates soon!

Celestia has been preparing for Luna’s return in exacting detail, most of which is being kept from the other ponies. Unfortunately, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Shining Armor wakes up one morning to discover that the entire Day Guard has quit, save for a single Pegasus named Cloud Skipper. Their reason: anger over thinking they're being replaced by the Night Guard, made up of a single Night Pony named Midnight Blossom. Before he can pull the situation together, Nightmare Moon returns. Still, one can only make the best of a bad situation.

But even after Princess Luna is restored, the problems don't stop. It's nearly impossible to recruit any more Guards, leaving the reparations in the hands of three ponies. Nightmare Moon isn't entirely gone, still haunting the dreams of Skipper and Midnight. Certain warlike cultures may notice Equestria's weakness and invade. And the old commander of the Day Guard, Cumulus, may have had other motives for his disbanding them...

Truths will be uncovered, identities will be questioned, and nightmares will come to life. But maybe, even in the eternal night, a light can be found and followed to the dawn.

Notes: British spellings used for all except names. Also, Hasbro owns My Little Pony, and Cloud Skipper and Midnight Blossom were originally created by Equestria-Prevails on Deviantart. The only thing I own is this particular story.
Rated Teen for blood and occasional uncensored swearing, but no detailed gore and no sex.
Written with pre-Season 4 information.

Feature dates: 17/08/14, 26/08/14, 13/09/14
Wait, how the hell did I get a feature by posting an omake?

If you came to hear a story, I’m sorry to disappoint. I suspect this’ll just end up as one big confession, really. When you’re the first Teutscher to set hoof into Equestria, I suppose that’s to be expected. And when you’re the universe’s favorite chew toy, doubly so. Still, with enough wit, some Prussian ingenuity, a droll sense of humor, and wanton murder, I might just survive this. Then again, when you’re going up against an unending list of things like government conspiracies, that guardian angel who keeps telling you to kill ponies, psycho Equestrian girls with allophilia, a lunatic princess, the legions of the Inferno, the Equestrian culture itself, swashbuckling sword fights, and laissez-faire economists, you begin to realize why there’s a big “if” in the middle of your life.

Your thoughts/critiques/deathreats are welcome in the comments. Spoilers are also encouraged. If you don’t have anything to complain about, do please tell me what you liked so I know what worked.

Now on TV Tropes. Posted on the Equestria Daily 5/28/13. Now in ePub format for your convenience.

link to dramatis personae

There was nothing left for Spitfire in Cloudsdale, just an uncle who hated her and painful memories of lost loved ones. The Pegasus Search and Rescue Corps offers her a chance to get out of town, see the world, do some good - and one day maybe have a shot at the Guards or the Wonderbolts! She jumps at the opportunity - and six days later, she limps into training camp.

Doesn't matter: she made it. The world can beat her down, but it can't keep her down. The friendships she forms here will get her through everything training has to offer. Will they also see her through the dark clouds on the horizon?

(Rated Teen for violence, language, some suggestive themes)