The abandoned story arc for The Golden Armor: Part II.

When light bursts forth in darkness, a shadow is born. The darker side of The Golden Armor resides here, so read at your own risk.

A flip of a coin. A twist of fate.

Twilight Sparkle, younger sister of Princess Celestia's personal student, Shining Armor, grew up listening to her brother's bygone dreams of joining the elite of the elite: The Royal Guard.

Now, fresh out of the Academy, this young mare is ready to prove herself equal to the deeds of the great soldiers she read about as a filly. Too bad the princess she ends up protecting isn't Celestia.

Freshly graduated from West Hoof Academy, 2nd Lieutenant Storm Kicker decides to enjoy what little free time she has left before accepting her commission with the Long Patrol. And what better way to let down her mane than at the millennial celebration of Celestia’s reign, on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration?

Well, there is the pesky little detail of a pesky little sibling who decides to tag along and be a pest. Still, it’s the last chance she’ll have to spend time with Star, so they make the most of it. It’s all fun and games, plus she'll have plenty of chances to needle her little sister along the way.

At least, until the two sisters are asked to look into the disappearance of a family friend; it soon becomes apparent that not all is well in Canterlot.

Part of the Winningverse.

This story is a sequel to Princess Twilight's Profoundly Peripheral Protector

Storm Kicker has faced many challenges as part of her duties as bodyguard to Princess Twilight Sparkle, and despite some initial difficulties, she has managed to adjust quite nicely to her new role.

That is, until she she faces the most terrifying enemy of her entire career in the Royal Guard: an unholy prankster alliance between Sparkler Doo, her own younger sister, and Ponyville's premier prankster Rainbow Dash. Can Storm and her princess face this threat and escape with their dignity intact, or will they become the laughingstock of Ponyville and all Equestria?

Princess Twilight Sparkle is perfectly happy with her perfectly ordinary life in Ponyville. Every library book is properly shelved in its appropriate place, and her life continues on exactly according to her meticulously planned out schedule.

Then she gets a bodyguard.

Now she has to find some way to fit this new pony into her life on short notice. It won’t be an easy thing to adjust to—especially since Captain Storm Kicker’s presence makes it that much harder for her to go on living like the same old Twilight Sparkle she was before she became a princess.

Nightmare Night must go, an organization of concerned ponies has decided. No more candy, no more cavities, no more frightened foals. It's for the best, and they're certain everypony will agree.

They just forgot to mention it to Princess Luna.

[Cover art by ZantyARZ]

As Twilight goes throughout her new life, she takes care to never forget the special ponies that helped to mold her into who she is, even with the pain that comes with the remembrance. One pony in particular, however, stands out among the rest.

When an unknown future beckons, she calls upon the blissful memories that she treasures so much, and remembers the pony who taught her the most important lesson of all...

How to love.

Cover art provided by SilFoe, used with permission.

Recommended music for the letters: Green and Blue - Halo 4 OST

Princess Celestia always knew that Twilight Sparkle was destined for great things, but she never revealed the source of that knowledge, not even to those closest to her. When the day of Twilight's true destiny finally arrives, can Celestia fulfill an ancient promise to save Equestia's past, present, and future, even it means saying goodbye to Twilight forever? How can Celestia refuse her mother's last wish?

Art by the inimitable Harwick

Young Shining Dawn is very excited when she hears that Princess Celestia is coming to visit Ponyville. But for Sweetie Belle, her grandmother, the visit carries much deeper significance, especially when she learns that her old friends Scootaloo and Applebloom are also coming, and that the Princess is here on a very special visit for Grandmother Twilight.

Story inspired by this wonderful picture by Harwicks-Art. Click through the link for source.

Twilight Sparkle has had a crush on Princess Celestia for a very long time. When Celestia's own advice prompts her to confess her attraction, Twilight discovers a secret that Celestia has hidden for hundreds of years. With the fires of the sun itself separating them, can Twilight find a way for them to come together?

Cover art by NadnerbD

Huge amounts of editing by Jordanis