The secret to getting through life is finding someone you can be yourself with.

Lotus is a professional masseuse. She sees the pony below the skin, and tends to coax just as much out of their mouths as their muscles. Late one day, she gives three very different massages to three close friends, all of whom mention a name she isn't familiar with: Applejack.

Featured by The Royal Canterlot Library and Equestria Daily

The original version of the story took 5th place in The Writeoff Association's February 2015 contest, "Closing Time"

Rainbow Dash stands atop her father in a crowd full of pegasi. Massive anticipation lingered in the air. The little filly was certain Cloudsdale would get to host the Equestria games.

But what happens when they don't? What will a father do to comfort his crestfallen daughter whose hopes were shattered in a matter of seconds.

Takes place during and after the flashback from the episode "The Games Ponies Play"

Cover Art by John Joseco

Story Idea Based on Fic by: Colt in the Moon

An angry old stallion frustrates the citizens of Ponyville with his insulting, cantankerous ways. Nopony can stand him, including Princess Twilight and her circle of friends. All the while, Fluttershy quietly looks on.

For at least a thousand years, ponies have been celebrating Christmas, the holiday when the Three Pony Tribes of the olden days held their first feast together in Equestria. Gifts were exchanged by the millions since that day, and many food had filled many bellies. There was also the legend of Saint Nick, a unicorn who rode of a sleigh propelled by miraculously flying reindeer and delivered presents to everypony each year on Christmas Eve. Of course, the crystal truth is that 'Saint Nick' is actually Celestia who had continued the legacy first started by an old friend of hers. For years, she had been doing this quite well, but it appeared that somebody doesn't want her to finish passing out the last gifts.

"I think everything is perfectly set today? Yeah. Everything is good. Just gotta get those flowers."

Flowers hold very special meanings in the world of Equestria. Yes, they're food, but they're also symbolic gifts. They have their general meanings, but some flowers hold very special ones for certain people.
For Rainbow Dash, she buys blue bells every year for a special somepony. Someone she knew since birth.

Ever since Twilight came to town, Mayor Mare's position as leader of Ponyville has been slipping. With her destiny overshadowed by the new princess on the block, it's time for the old gray mare to move on.

Originally submitted as part of the February 2015 Writeoff "Closing Time".

**Now with dramatic reading by Goombasa!**

Cover art by harwicks-art.

Applejack’s talents extend far beyond her family’s namesake crop, and until now she’s been content to keep that a secret. Whoever heard of a farmer that used advanced math, anyway? Today that’s going to change. Today she’s showing the world the other fruit of her labors, no matter how much it hurts to remember planting the seeds.

Edited by Dizzy Daze and Horizon

Audio Production by Scribbler
Featured on Equestria Daily!

The Crystal Empire has been at peace ever since Princess Cadance and Shining Armor took over its ruling. No more loving couple has ever reigned before, and the Crystal Heart has never generated such power in all of history. But there is a secret that Cadance has kept for many, many, years: a terrible secret with the potential to bring it all crashing down.
This Hearts-and-Hooves Day, Cadance and Shining Armor's love will be put through its toughest trial yet.

This story is a side-story to Essenza di Amore. Though set in the same universe, reading of the prequel is not required. Similarly, knowledge of certain events depicted in the book, Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell, will be helpful but not essential.

The extended version of my entry in the Writeoff Association's January 2015 event, the prompt being All in. Now also the second place winner of Nonpariel Fiction's 2015 Hearts and Hooves Day competition.

*Written before the FIENDship is Magic comic series and the Radiant Hope arc of the main comic series*

Preread by Foals Errand, The Albinocorn, RK_Striker_JK_5, Sholan, and Csquared08.
Edited by Foxy E, Dash The Stampede, Csquared08, and NightWolf289.

Cover art courtesy of Akili-Amethyst.

Inspired by this incredible song.

Featured on:
Fimfiction.net Feature Box (02/12/15)
Equestria Daily!

Approved by Tag-a-long's Book Club!
Approved by Nonpareil Fiction!
Recommended by PresentPerfect!
Recommended by the Pleasant Commentator and Review Group!

This story is a sequel to Braiding

A meeting with Nurse Tenderheart and a chance encounter with a filly motivate Sam to invite Rose over for dinner, as well as to push Sam just a little further into full integration with pony society.