A visitor arrives in Equestria, bearing a wealth of knowledge and a troubled past. The Mane 6 are quick to befriend the stranger, who helps them to discover what they truly value in life, and how to achieve it.

But learning to overcome their fears and achieve their desires comes at a steep price, paid by their innocence.

The Tears of Gaia. An artifact of unmeasurable magical power from the Ancient Days, when the Others ruled the land. If found, they would be the discovery of the century!
At least, those are Twilight Sparkle's thoughts. But something is stirring in lands to the south. Soon she will find that she and her friends are not the only ones who are after the legendary Tears. And so what starts as a simple research trip is soon to escalate into the greatest journey of the young ponies' lives, filled with new friends and foes, incredible danger and great adventure!

Accolades:
EqD featured- 21/09/2012
Now with its own TVTropes page right here!

NOTE: While I do appreciate all comments I get on this story, I would personally prefer if they could say a little more than the typical "Awesome chapter, I love it!" or whatever. What do you love about it? What struck you in this chapter? What would you like to see explored or expanded? Are there things you don't think are working and if so, how could they improve?? I have a pretty determined vision for this story, but it wouldn't hurt to know for the future!

What's it like to live in Canterlot, home of the princesses, assorted renowned celebrities and sophisticated ponies?

Well, it all comes down to who you are, really - and if you happen to be a fairly ordinary earth pony, you can get on with life quite easily with few distractions.

But what happens when life plays you an interesting hand, and suddenly you're thrown into the spotlight?

This is a tale of the everyday, and how it can turn from ordinary to extraordinary with a twist of chance.

This is a tale of friends, of laughter, of love and of life.

This is a tale of who we are, and how we got here.

This... is Sketchy Salad Symphony.

Alone and far from home, Luna has sought out the changelings. Completely in their power Luna is entirely at the whim and mercy of the Queen of changelings, but what has prompted this strange encounter?

This story is a sequel to Longing

Scootaloo's tenth birthday party is coming up. It should be a happy occasion. But she still can't fly, and she doesn't have her cutie mark yet. But that's the least of her problems...Is she a runaway? An orphan? Stuck in an abusive home? She wishes. Nothing could be worse than what's really going on...

Takes place six months after the events of Longing

Collab done with Darth Link 22 (Writer of Post Nuptials and Families)

Editted by Vozzlefox (Author of Lately and Unwanted... huge thanks to him, he's also my teacher)

Princess Luna has been through a tough life. A thousand years ago she could not control her jealousy, envy and rage and became the infamous Nightmare Moon. Then, she spent a thousand years on the moon, only to return, still as Nightmare Moon.

However, despite everything she has been through, her return to Equestria was warmly celebrated. Princess Luna is a pony that everypony loves, and she is completely forgiven for everything that's happened.

So, when Princess Luna is suddenly and unexpectedly killed, the entire nation of Equestria is thrown into grief and despair. Ponies everywhere find themselves unable to deal with the tragedy.

But the worst hit is Princess Celestia herself...

NOTE: This is a HD remaster of the original story that I posted over two years ago. Better grammar, better spelling, and more scenes :D If you want to check out the original, untouched story, click here.

Princess Aura is the kindest changeling you will ever meet. She's caring, compassionate, and wishes for a world of peace betweeen all races. Her kindess proves to be her downfall, when it is used against her in a plot to incite war between Equestria and the changeling kingdom.

Abandoned as a fily, and forced to live on her own and raise herself, Trixie knows the pain of being on your own, and the hardships faced when taking on the whole world by yourself. And when she sees these qaulities in a young filly she happens to meet one night, she is determined not to let the young filly experience the same pains that Trixie was forced to endure when growing up.

But when it seems associating with this filly will only endanger her life, will Trixie's resolve last?

After some apocalyptic events, a man awakens in a land he recognizes all too well, in the house of a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane, with a body that is not his own. Simply put, this is the story of how he copes with his new life and with the relationship he shares with Rainbow Dash.

The Piano Man has spent the last month in captivity, forced to play the piano as part of The Great and Powerful Trixie's traveling show. Now he's free, and recovering under the care of the Equestrian monarchy while Trixie awaits trial for her crimes.
All is not well, however. The Piano Man has a long road of recovery ahead, and all the time he must compete with overbearing carers, his own mental trauma, and even discrimination from members of Equestria's unicorn supremacist subculture.

This story is the kinda (can't stress that part enough) better-written sequel to 'The Piano Man'. Because the first story involved some rather dark scenes, I have included a helpful catch-up in the first chapter - so if you have no interest in reading a dark story, then you can ignore the first piece and skip straight ahead to this one.
'The Piano Man: Act II' is most certainly not a dark story, and neither is it sad. The sad tag is in place for scenes in which I reference the previous installment, and nothing else.

The absolutely amazing cover image was created by the even more amazing WIL_I_ZIN, (deviantART) who is just... just awesome, for helping out.

When strange ponies from another world suddenly pony-nap all her friends, Pinkie Pie must find a way to defeat their master all on her own. Blamed for the crime herself, she has no help from Celestia and just about every pony in Ponyville is convinced that she's finally cracked. Who can she possibly find to fill in for the other Elements of Harmony, and help her defeat the ancient evil behind it all?

This story occurs after Discord is defeated but prior to the rest of season 2. Story is featured on Equestria Daily and is now officially a 'six star' rated story! Full size image can also be found there.

Special thanks to my editor Florentine

TV Tropes entry is here.

Other images:
reference of what Blinkie and Inkie's cutie marks look like
The G1 team

This story was written for National Pony Writing Month 2011. I completed the required amount for PonyWriMo on 20th of September.

Also features: Inkie Pie, Blinkie Pie, Twilight (G1), Applejack (G1), Sparkler, Posey, Surprise, Firefly