The ill-written letters to Star Swirl invoked little sense. But his thoughts were blinded by the stress of our work. It was up to me to see the simpler, sensible answer, and to urge us to chase.

In truth, the most we had to work with was a profound bond. But as the earth pony saying goes:

"Hope slumbers in shallow earth."

An entry for the A Thousand Words Contest III

Elain is a peaceful peasant, she grew up in a rural world inside a little and almost isolated village from the ancient kingdom of Olenia, where the industrialization and new inventions have not yet reached. An ordinary life is carried out in the village like in those days of the colonial era.

Life was quiet, these rural environments usually remained untouched by disputes between nobles and rarely affected the peasants, but the coming storm is not like the previous ones. Rapid and exorbitant technological advancement will change the world forever and the doe's fate will soon be cut short.

Cover Art by AlvhOmega
https://twitter.com/Alvh_Omega

For all emergencies, call 911. An operator will be with you shortly to assist you.

Other Spoiler Character Tags: Sour Sweet, Big Mac, Octavia, Trixie, Shining Armour

CW: Implied murder, arson

Entry into the Dialogue Only Contest.

Preread by GreyTheGriffon, and The Sleepless Beholder

Twilight is a fascinating person, and anyone who knows her would naturally be curious to get a closer look at what makes a girl like her tick: likes, dislikes, habits, and interests. No one is merely who they present on the outside, and the complexities that lie beneath might shock you. But how close is too close? Will you cross the line?

In the shadow of political turmoil, riots, and inter-tribal conflict, Equestria cannot afford another crisis. When a legal snarl over a funeral explodes into a scandal, there may be a chance to set things right.

Now, armed with total faith in the power of friendship and harmony, Twilight Sparkle arrives in Cloudsdale to talk down a fringe movement of radical young Pegasi.
It would be a lot easier if their leader hadn't been petrified for fifty years.

Takes place between The Last Problem and MLP: A New Generation.

Winner of Imposing Sovereigns IV, with the prompt Twilight Sparkle/Persistence

Once upon a time, Silver Spoon's life made sense. She had the right friends, the right house, and the right school for a young lady coming up in the world. Once upon a time, Silver Spoon lived amongst proud towers in a vibrant, bustling city that never slept.

Now she lives in Ponyville. Not so terrible once one gets used to it. Silver's learned to appreciate some ponies, harbor grudges for others, and tolerate the rest. But sometimes, she wonders if one pony in particular is as popular as she thought.

Preread and edited by Autumn Wind, Cthuluigi, and SaddlesoapOpera

Chinese translation by hehelover

Princess Luna invites the CMC to drink with her. The CMC can't handle their alcohol.

Art drawn by Bean

AN: First story I have been able to write in 8 to 9 months, whoo!

The First and Last Days of Luna's Banishment, of Nightmare Moon's impending attack, through Celestia's thoughts and experiences as the silence she once craved in the madness of her life was drowning her as it refused to let her forget what she did to Luna.

The Librarian in charge of the main Canterlot Castle Library wasn't delighted to have to deal with some big royal wedding that she had no interest in, it didn't help either that there was a hideous pink shield surrounding the city either from some unknown threat.

Things didn't get any better when that shield, meant to protect the city fell, and soon she was galloping, like many others, to survive the invasion of changelings

Shortly before extracting the Pillars of Equestria and the Pony of Shadows from Limbo, the Bearers of Harmony faced off against a stallion trying to erase all records of an ancient evil, lest that knowledge fall into the wrong hooves.

Nopony ever considered that the two incidents might have been related. Not until Stygian's first novel hit store shelves.

An entry in the 2024 May Pairings Contest for the Original Pairings group. Last minute best minute.
Rated Teen for implied concepts a bit more grim than what the show could get away with.

Cover from the Friendship is Magic mainline comics, Issue #53