When everyone looked back on it after the fact, Pinkie seizing control of the chaos dimension once she was trapped in it wasn't actually that surprising. Nor was her going mad with power. Even the horn and wings made sense in hindsight.

No, it was how she won the duel with Discord that really dropped some jaws, to say nothing of what happened afterwards.

An alternate ending to IDW MLP:FiM issue #57, "Apinkalypse Now." No familiarity with the comic necessary.

With the help of The Apparatus, Queen Twilight Sparkle had gained knowledge from innumerable divergent worlds. Using this newfound mystical power, she had conquered her world, united its varied peoples, and brought peace and prosperity to all through her own benignly neglectful rule.

Then Cadence, Princess of Love and the last of Twilight's family and friends, destroyed the Crystal Palace.

Along with everyone inside.

Why?

(Content Note: While the red tags are technically accurate, this is first and foremost a work of speculative fiction. It is not a gore fest.)

(Chronology Note: The crux of this tale takes place outside of continuity, in several of infinite possible futures. Its driftwood may touch upon any number of dimensional shores.)

A Queen of Light and Darkness story.

This tale was strongly inspired by Larry Niven’s All the Myraid Ways. Though I only read it once many years ago, it left a powerful impression on me, and you can definitely see that in this story.

Special thanks also to B_Munro, for recognizing the stories’ similarities and telling me who wrote that splendid story I’d read as a child, and what the name of it was.

Due to the nature of the discussion which follows this tale, there are comments - including mine - which may contain spoilers to varying degrees (depending on what you consider an actual spoiler). The more serious spoilers are behind the usual black boxes, of course.

Almost twenty years into her reign, Princess Twilight Sparkle encounters something truly miraculous, something she never thought she'd see again in all her years: A hole in her schedule.

Naturally, that's when Discord comes in to discuss the contents of his hairbrush.

Needless to say, spoilers for the finale. Ineligible entry in Imposing Sovereigns II, using the prompt "Twilight/The Old."

All Mayor Mare wants is for everything to go perfectly. Her death is no exception.

Unsubmitted entry into EFNW's 2019 Iron Author contest.

Twilight's overjoyed... the map is restored, and it's sending her on her first map mission in ages. Then she finds out who's going with her...

Hearth’s Warming is a time for tradition, for decorating the Hearth’s Warming Tree and drinking hot chocolate and most importantly not telling Discord what you’re up to because of course he’ll want to show up to ‘help’ and before too long the hot chocolate has collapsed into a singularity and everypony’s yelling at each other and then the tree explodes.

For Fan of Most Everything

When Fluttershy introduced Mage Meadowbrook to Zecora, it was with the hope of fostering friendship. Yet, an unfortunate mishap and bitter words have led to something far different. There will be a duel, and Discord is more than happy to turn such a rare occurrence into the spectacle it deserves to be. Can Fluttershy, Twilight, and Pinkie help mend the budding friendship between Zecora and Meadowbrook? And what about Discord? Does he wish to fuel the flames of rivalry, or does he have a larger plan in store?

In the spirit of arena culinary combat, it’s time for Elixir Master!

Preread, Edited, and Reviewed By
El Oso, Illustrious Q, BronyWriter, Winston, Wanderer D, Level Dasher

Cover Art By
RyuRedwings

Five thousand years have come and gone since Twilight took the crown and became an alicorn. The centuries have not been kind to her; they took away her friends, one by one, till only she is left, an immortal ruling an eternal kingdom.

Now, even her memories are fading, her recollections slipping as she struggles to recall the only happy days in her life, the Pinkie Pie parties that ended too soon, the sound of a certain pegasus's voice.

Twilight Sparkle wants them back. And there is one spirit she thinks might be able to help her.

When Twilight Sparkle's life grew more full of accolades, it grew more full of demands. First, she became Twilight Sparkle, the element of Magic; then she became Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. Then the savior of two universes, then the rejuvenator of the Tree of Harmony, then owner of the Castle of Friendship. The Redeemer of Starlight Glimmer, the aunt of the world's most powerful alicorn, the headmistress of the School of Friendship. So it went.

And at the end of it all, she realized that Twilight Sparkle didn't really exist anymore - all that was left of her was a series of titles, awards and obligations, and the pony that held it all together was little more than a puppet to the demands of the world around her.

And when she understood that Twilight Sparkle was as good as gone, a second option opened itself up to her: if she could unfetter herself from the glory she had worked all her life to obtain, would Twilight Sparkle exist again - not as a name attached to a role, but a pony with her own hopes, dreams and desires?

And if she did, what would come next?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A brief story about time, reality, pseudophilosophy, self-actualization and surprisingly tasty desserts.

Cover art by KzKsM.

Part of the Re- 'Verse.

Thanks to Wanderer D, Flashgen and Door Belle for their help proofreading, editing and offering advice.

And, more than anything else, my immense thanks to GaPJaxie for inspiring, reviewing and talking to me about this story. Without him, it literally would not exist.

This story is a sequel to Why Me?

Months now. That's how long I've been serving penance. Cleaning hallways, doing chores, running errands. All for my actions in siding with Tirek.

But I've been good. I've been on my best behavior. I've said my apologies. And now, I'm almost free.

Just one, last, little job left.

Canon with The Dusk Guard series, but standalone.

Could probably use an entry on The Dusk Guard Saga TV Tropes Page

I know, there's no cover art. I couldn't find anything that fit, and there wasn't a budget for commissioning anything. Ah well.

Thanks to Bugsydor and Siers for Alpha and Beta Reading!