This story is a sequel to Rust In The Breeze

Coming back to Ponyville after 'dying' was quite a challenge on its own. Things did not go as planned as Ryan made some interesting discoveries since returning that have curved his path. However, he does not intend to simply abandon his former mission. He came back to make amends and right the wrongs of his past and he intends to do exactly that. Now though, with the added responsibility of raising a daughter he didn't know he had, as well as working out the issues that still lie between himself and her mother, this trial may end up being a lot more interesting than he initially thought.

This story picks up shortly after the ending of Rust in the Breeze, with Ryan now ready to face his challenges head on and no longer hiding from the rest of the world, as well as having accepted himself for who he truly is.

FEATURED: 12/12/20 (You all sure didn't waste any time...Story's only been up for like 27 minutes...)

This story is a sequel to Friendship Is Cynical

The cynical bastard, formerly known as Ryan Curtis, was no more. That person had died and been left to rot, leaving someone else in his place.
Rusty Nails, a human that finally broke free of his past, has found happiness over the years and is ready to start enjoying life. However, the mistakes of his former self have started to haunt him. Even while assuming a new identity, the memories of who he was before would occasionally resurface, plaguing his mind and tormenting him mercilessly.
After all this time of adventuring and discovering the man hidden beneath the monster, he is finally ready to return to his old home and make amends for all of the wrongs that his former self had committed. Unknown to him; There's more than just a few hurt feelings to make up for.

FEATURED: 9/9/18
FEATURED AGAIN: 12/15/18
FUUUUUUUUUU: 2/5/19
I HAVE ASCENDED: 4/28/19
BARELY SOBER ENOUGH TO REGISTER: 11/1/19
I'M JUST GONNA STOP NOW: 1/21/20
I LIED!!!: 12/12/20

Mistle-what? An innocent question on an otherwise normal Hearthswarming Eve sends you on a short journey of introspection with your best friend. The closer you get towards discovering the truth about yourselves, the less sure you are of what exactly the holiday tradition of “Mistletoe” actually means, and you begin to wonder whether the innocence or question that sparked it all was actually there to begin with.

Special thanks to DE_K for editing!

Featured on 11 March 2021 - Awesome! Thanks for all the attention! Though I think you made Dash blush...

It's Hearthswarming! The fireplace is lit, the presents are under the tree, and you are sharing a cup of hot cocoa with your best friend. How could it get any better? Well, if you ask Rainbow Dash, the answer is to venture outside in freezing temperatures and throw balls of frozen water at one another until you are soaked and suffering from hypothermia, or something like that.

For a mare that doesn't have a reputation for thinking things through, you doubt she has a plan to warm up after it's all said and done. Tonight, though...she might just surprise you.

Featured on 8 Jan 2023!
Featured on 26 Dec 2023!

Update (October 2023): I commissioned Redruin to do a 10 page comic for this story! Check my blog post or derpibooru to see it!