Equestria and the Crystal Empire have fallen to the Changeling Hegemony, led by the brutal Queen Chrysalis at the head of a mechanized horde of guns and tanks. Princess Cadance stayed in the Crystal Empire; Princess Twilight stayed in Equestria. Chrysalis rules the continent, only defied by Nova Griffonia, the poor Griffon colony in the north.

Across the ocean, the Griffonian Reich pledges to reclaim its lost territory, sundered by revolution a generation ago. While the Alicorn Sisters retreat to New Mareland, Princess Flurry Heart and Shining Armor turn to Aquileia, the Republic born out of the ashes of the Griffonian Reich. The Kaiser of the Reich is only a child, subject to a regent bent on war and conquest.

Flurry knows the Reich and Chrysalis have worked together.

She knows that war is coming to Aquileia.

She knows that Celestia and Luna abandoned her mother and Twilight Sparkle.

She knows that the world is on fire, and she is the last true Princess of Ponies.

She knows she will go home.

Cover Art by Opal Radiance, commissioned by Sunstreaker.
https://www.deviantart.com/opalradiance

Twilight Sparkle, diligent protégée of Princess Luna, has been tasked with supervising the Lunar Moon Celebration in Ponyville.

However, as it comes to a close, Daybreaker returns from her millennium-long imprisonment. Now, with Princess Luna at death's door by Daybreaker, Twilight plans to find the Elements of Harmony to use against her, and stop Daybreaker's wrath against the entire kingdom.

Thanks to Lord Regulus, Arkadios and the fellow writers at discord for proofreading my fic for me and giving me advice!

Cover art by DarkFlame75, unfortunately artist hasn’t been online in recent years, at least where I’m aware.

Support me on Kofi if you’d like!

It has been months since that fateful night, where upon the Lunar princess, Luna, descended from the moon and was purged of the corruption of the Nightmare by the elements of harmony. Since then, much to the dismay of the media, she has yet to appear outside the castle walls of Canterlot. Even more concerning, the Solar princess, Celestia, has become more and more erratic recently. Favoring to sequester herself within her private office with her secretaries and advisors rather than attending day court, this has called into question the princesses health.

Now during the night of the gala, Equestria holds its breath as royals, nobels and gentry alike wonder where the future may lead. And as a thestral climbs the Canterhorn, they might not like the answer.

This story is a sequel to Between Midnight and Dawn

Chronological Sequel [3/5]

A fall does not occur with one, sudden quick.

The foundations are to be little by little whittled down by repeated strikes. Sometimes self-inflicted.

Luna's fall was at the end of a long road, at the conclusion of a long battle she could not win. Not on her own.

Sometimes, only a friend is needed to turn the tide. One individual was ready to stand, assist, and appease.

But for Luna, the affair is not that simple...

A different take on alicorn ascension. Sixteen years after arriving in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle is excited to have invented a brand-new kind of spell, but it will come with consequences she cannot possibly anticipate. Meanwhile, threats in shadows around the world conspire to overthrow the Solar Throne. With her world turned upside down, she will have to come to terms with the role that fate has dealt her while straining to keep Celestia in power.

Now with a TVTropes page! Please show it some love! Also check out the official side stories, Designing Intrigue, and Love and Barriers! (With even more in my stories page!)

(Please Note: This story was started before any season three information was available. All episodes in season three and later are non-canon for this story, which also means there's no Crystal Empire in this one. In addition, the promotional map released close to the beginning of season three was also not available and is not compatible with this story. While the OC tag is active because there are OCs in the story, they're really just supporting characters. The focus is on Twilight.)

Also be sure to check out the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe Group! We're working to develop the resources needed for other authors to try their hand at writing stories set in the Rites Universe!

The Book Two cover art was created by the amazing Silfoe! The original cover art can still be found at Violet Squiggle's deviantArt page.

Author's Notes, including proofreader's credits, can be found here!

"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"

After her complete defeat at the royal wedding, Celestia's ego is shattered. Luna promises to whip her sister back into shape, because it'll take far more than a few laps around the palace to put a grown alicorn at the top of her game. But, with Celestia coming home each day with a new set of bruises and a slightly more forward royal attitude, her subjects begin to fear her more than love her. Is Luna's

special training turning her into a monster, or is it all according to some greater plan? It's time for some tough love!

(Warning: Dark tag for some Celestia abuse.)
(Featured 6/19/2012! :D)

AU. Based on the first season. Twilight and Celestia begin to drift apart due to a misunderstanding. Will Luna speak up and repair the breach, or will she remain silent to keep her new friend, Twilight, all to herself? What other challenges will face everypony involved because of this new relationship?

It's a simple little love story. Unfortunately, love's not simple.