Paul Matthews is a young man of average height and average weight and fairly average disposition. He is normal, and abnormally so. That rarely seen kind of person who, even in their early years, gives off the impression that they are destined for a moderately successful career in middle management at some cold, gray corporation.

Paul Matthews is about to come very close to something that few people do.

An entry for Obselescence's Most Dangerous Game contest.

After reading, you may want to head over to this blog for some explanations and/or backstory.

In the midsts of a frozen winter, as the days get shorter and the nights get colder, somehow, Princess Celestia manages to spend time with those who are truly special.

Coverart by bri-sta of Deviant Art used with permission.
Special thanks to Fillyphil for extensive editorial assistance.

* Contains no Twilestia

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are on the cusp of graduating. It's the night of their last dance, when everypony else plans to lose their virginity.

But Sweetie's not so sure she wants to do that.

Preread by Flint Sparks and Cerulean Voice.

Princess Celestia always thought she knew how her kingdom worked. The Unicorns used magic specialized to their jobs. Pegasi flew in the sky and handled the weather. And Earth ponies... Earth ponies... uhhmmm...
Huh. Maybe Princess Celestia didn't know everything about her ponies after all.
Princess Celestia realized this after Applejack came to speak with her about a tax unfair to Earth pony farmers. It was during their conversation that Celestia realized she needed help.
Huh, isn't that odd Princess Celestia has had to leave on emergency business, leaving Luna to raise and set the sun? And hey, is that a new pony living and working at Sweet Apple Acres? I think her name is Sunshine Meadow. Surely, it's just a coincidence. Surely.

Strange things happen in Ponyville. Foals start to disappear; their parents and siblings, struck by grief, will resort to every mean to find the cause. Some of them blame timberwolves; some blame the zebra living in the forest. Some of them even blame their fellow ponies. None of them, however, suspects a little filly suffering from insomnia...

Click here for sequels reading order, TVTropes page and other info.
Part of the New Fimfiction Starter Kit

Beware of spoilers in the comments!
Inspired by Bootsy Slickmane's Insomnia.
Preread by Bootsy Slickmane
Translated to Russian by repitter:
🇺🇦Ponyfiction.org link🇺🇦
🇺🇦Gdocs link🇺🇦
Chinese translation by MLM
Russian reading by Demicorn Masterrace

Ever since Tirek had been returned to Tartarus, Celestia has been experiencing a recurring nightmare: Luna was never healed and she was only biding her time. Celestia wakes every morning covered in cold sweat and yet she knows the dream is impossible. Luna is only Luna. So why? Why can she not rid herself of these horrible images? Luna suggests a plan to vanquish the nightmare knowing it would be impossible in the dream realm. The only possible way: An old spell.
Luna and Celestia are willing to do anything for one another. Does that include becoming the other?

100% Approved by Twilight's library!
100% Approved by Luna's library!