Raven is a good, simple mare who has lead a good, simple life. With that life comes worry and dreams, but never has she known pain or suffering.

She simply has a friendship, a secret, and somepony she loves more than anything.

But that pony is a shadow.

Takes place sometime in season two, at some point after 'Luna Eclipsed'. Proofread by NorrisThePony. Buy this story! Contribute to the TVTropes page!

Due to a mix-up in the pantry, the jasmine tea that Princess Celestia orders for consumption with her breakfast turns out to be made out of coca leaf, instead.

A period of overwhelming bureaucratic efficiency, aggressive platonic affection, and mild insanity follows.

EDIT: Featured (briefly) 6/13/17! Thank you all!
EDIT: Featured at #1 6/14/17! WOW! Awesome, thank you all!

Three nights a week, Shining Armor returns to bed more tired than normal. Annoyed by his complete lack of openness, Princess Cadence goes out of her way to figure out what's going on.

As it turns out, Shining has been spending all that time with another of Equestria's most popular mares.

Sort of. Basically. It's kinda complicated.

Artwork by Chrznek97. One character tag omitted due to spoilers.

After awaking one morning to find herself literally the only pony in Equestria without a sponsorship deal, Twilight Sparkle decides it's high time she got one herself.

If only any good ones were left.

Artwork by ShutterflyEQD.

Pinkie Pie is the richest pony in the history of Equestria. The secret to her wealth?

She has no idea.

Word around Ponyville is that Queen Chrysalis is planning something.

Something big.

Something terrible.

Something beyond imagination.

If only Queen Chrysalis had any idea what that something was.

Artwork by UncertainStardust.

While exploring Canterlot Castle, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash uncover a room filled with stone tablets connected to dials. Above each dial is the name of an alicorn they know.

These old things couldn't possibly control an alicorn's power, could they?

Only one way to find out.

Always fearing for her friends' safety, Twilight Sparkle takes it upon herself to create body doubles to use as protection.

Each body double looks just like the original.

Sounds just like the original.

And is also highly explosive.

Twilight Sparkle wants you to ignore that last part.

The ponies that were shouting at Luna were angry. So terribly angry.

Talk to someone on the telephone enough and you get an idea of what they look like.

And then you meet them for the first time, and they're not at all what you expected.