Magic isn’t real. Twilight Sparkle abandoned that fantasy in her childhood, along with nonsense like pony princesses and myths of a monster in the moon. The only thing worth believing in is that which can be proved—scientifically, of course.

But then a series of un-scientific phenomena starts happening at Canterlot High. The magic-obsessed transfer student won’t leave her alone, a vivid nightmare haunts her dreams with increasing intensity, and her benevolent mentor-slash-principal is clearly hiding something big. Everywhere she turns there’s talk and sight of magic; rumours of a thousand-year old prophecy and a monster returning to seek revenge. And worst of all? Twilight finds herself almost willing to believe it.

Almost. Good thing she’s smart enough not to, right?

An EQG-adjacent retelling of the season one opener. Sciset. Animated trailer. Reviewed by PaulAsaran. Art by me!

One year ago, the immortal moon lich died.

One year ago, Twilight Sparkle the so-called human moved to Ponyville.

Rarity never believed that, of course. The "human" bit. After all, no human would willingly choose to live in a town of monsters, and no amount of magic or hunting orders or Plans with a capital "P" would ever change her mind on that—especially when said human was so constantly collected and calm.

But... if she wasn't human, what kind of monster could she be?

Written for the Raritwi-deprived Monochromatic, who so graciously let me cook for 1/4th of a year. Huge thanks to Swan Song for prereading, and to everyone I pestered for synonyms whenever the last of my braincells refused to word. Cover art by me!

This story is a sequel to Tantabus Communication Protocol

What started with laziness and a tiny slip-up in arcane intelligence creation has blossomed into its own being. With Luna's blessing, the second Tantabus is free to flit around the dreamscape as it pleases, unburdened by oversight. And what pleases it is making good dreams. Who couldn't be happy by making others happy?

As the Tantabus settles into its life, its horizons keep expanding, forever revealing more of the world and of ponies. There's always new things to learn. New dreams to spice up. New nightmares to beat down. New ponies to help. New ponies to annoy.

Don't tell Luna about that last part.

Cover art by Harwick.

Chrysalis failed to embody the princess of love and control a good part of Equestria, and during her revenge monologue, she finds a little pony with a cruel story that even the queen could not believe.

The sequel of the story can be read here A Spark of Hope, written by Prismfire , I know you will love it as much as this one.

Featured 15-12-2022

Original image by Auroriia, I just change the foal

It's been two years since the war began in the north. Two years of being pushed back, kilometer by kilometer, across Equestrian soil. The nation runs short of ponies fit to lead her masses, and casts her net ever wider in search of bodies for the furnaces of war.

Summer Meadows, the youngest daughter of a venerable unicorn house, is pulled from her officer training early and sent to the front to be a tank commander. She is, of course, excited at the prospect of serving her country and her princess at last, but there is one small problem: she doesn't know the first thing about being a tanker...

A tank crew ensemble story set in a world in which Equestria finds itself in a losing war with a power-hungry neighbor, using hardware loosely based on the Second World War. It combines two things I love: ponies and tanks, in a never-before-seen kind of pony war story.

There's a new filly in Celestia's school, who finds making friends difficult. She's seated next to a filly who could care less about making friends. Neither is exactly friend material... but sometimes you just have to take a risk...

For more of this AU, see:

Series 1:

• Not Exactly Friends
• Shelter of the Storm
• Without Your Cutie Mark
• Never Any Doubt
• Sunset -- Part I and Part II
• Saving Sunset Shimmer
• By the Light of the Moon
• Trixie Luna Moon
• Ring Around the Moon -- Part I and Part II

Series 2:

• A Canterlot Engagement
• The Restless Princess
• Where Trouble Goes
• Meet the Sparkles
• Who Needs Enemies -- Part I and Part II
• The Visiting Team -- Part I
• The Visiting Team -- Part II
• What Nightmares Fear
• Hearth's Warming, AP Class

A recently discovered batch of 42 lyric fragments by the ancient poet Sappho seem to revolve around her attraction to a pony called Rarity. Scholars are puzzled what to make of this seeming descent into madness.

Botched Lobotomy here presents an arrangement of these "figments of imagination", suggestive perhaps of a narrative quite different from the popular interpretation.

An reflection/homage/companion to the remaining fragments of Sappho's poetry through the medium of fanfiction. Specifically, this translation. Familiarity with Sappho is recommended (because she's great), but not necessary.

An entry to Bicyclette's Twilight Files contest for epistolary fiction. Check out the other stories here!

shortdesc

The simulation ends.

info

thank you to The Sleepless Beholder and EileenSaysHi for prereading.

an entry for the Imposing Sovereigns IV contest under Midnight Sparkle/Unorthodoxy

As is tradition post-Twilight-Really-Messed-Up-The-Multiverse, the Prime Rarityship Council has its latest meeting. What bonds these Raritys together? The simple fact that they’re all dating a different member of their close friend group.

Commission for Dimbulb.

With the portal closed, Sunset Shimmer has been separated from her friend by centuries and light years. How far will she go to finally see her again?

Edited by Solstice Shimmer.
Thanks to Oliver for fact-checking.

“Just some really amazing writing and setting up a rather unique verse with things that can be explored that I’m eager to see where this goes.”

— Seraphem