Twilight is invited by Archon Sunset Shimmer to visit her in the island nation of Freeport. To her surprise, she discovers that Sunset wants to court her. As they spend time together, they need to find out if they can really make a relationship work despite their titles and personalities, or if they’re simply incompatible.

A Winningverse Story

A nurse has seen it all. A combat medic has seen even more.

Princess Celestia sends her elite Household Battalion—"Celestia's Own"—south, far beyond the borders of Equestria, to break the slave trade and to free the oppressed. Medic Redheart, a young rookie among the Guard's hardened veterans, is with her Battalion every step of the way.

She's never told anypony her story. Until now.

A side story/prequel to my The Ponies in the Caves and A Story to Relate To, but reads independently.

This story is fantastic. There wasn't a single chapter that didn't give me chills or bring a tear to my eye. The way you describe the selflessness of the soldiers, and Redheart's unrelenting drive to save them, no matter the personal cost, was exemplary. I look forward to more of your work.

-SGTBRONY

Has a Black Company feel to it with the medic POV. Great story so far!

-Lerris

Cover art by Pabbles, by commission. Thanks!

With massive thanks to the folks in the Discord for comments and advice, and Totallynotabrony, Raleigh, Sledge115, and ChudoJogurt for detailed pre-reading, in whole or in part. Any remaining errors are fully my own.

Author's notes and commentary blog, with big spoilers.

This story is a sequel to Midnight's Shadow: Tainted Legacies

Magus Midnight Sparkle answers a summons to Swampy Bottom Bog as an evil spirit has taken residence deep within the depths of the swamp and is starting to corrupt the land. Midnight finds herself facing annoying haunts, malicious creatures disrupting her work, and irritating teenagers without any survival instincts. And most horrifying of all, she must face her true nemesis: mud.

This story is a sequel to The Lunar Rebellion

When Queen Celestia has to temporarily leave Equestria on business, she needs someone to look over the kingdom in her absence. Much to everyone's surprise, she chooses the ambitious Sunbeam Sparkle to serve as her regent rather than the steadfast and loyal Shadow Kicker.

However, Sunbeam has little time to ponder why her monarch chose her. The Golden Path of Freeport, a corrupt regime ruled by false gods, sees Celestia's absence as an opportunity. Now Sunbeam must face a foe that claims to be every bit Celestia's equal, and with no divine powers of her own...

This story is a sequel to Sunny's Days

Sunny Day is pretty happy with her life. She finally has the command she worked so hard for, and the view from atop her wall is amazing. It’s everything she wanted, but many ponies still view her as immature and wild. What more does she have to do to prove her worth and show them all she’s as serious as anypony else?

Elsewhere in Canterlot, Azurite used to be happy with her life. The tragedy that occurred during the recent Summer Sun Celebration changed everything, and now she’s struggling to get her hooves moving in the right direction again. All she wants to do is help other ponies like they’ve helped her, but her own fears keep getting in the way.

The paths before these two mares rarely touch, and yet wind closer together than either will ever know. Achieving their goals will ultimately rely on learning the same lesson: sometimes you just have to believe in yourself.

This story takes place between Sunny's Days and Three of Hearts. Knowledge of either is not required to enjoy the story but will add clarity.

Quill & Blade Universe

It has been four hundred and fifty years since the clans of Old Pegasopolis went into exile. The island-nation of Freeport languishes under the rule of the Necrocrats; what began as an idealistic experiment has become a new form of corruption, the ideals of the past lost amid the greed and vain ambition of lesser men. Clan Charger has been all but destroyed, while the Strikers and Doos teeter upon the brink of collapse. There is no hope for the future.

However, when a down-on-his-luck mercenary captain crosses paths with Torch, the last survivor of Clan Charger, it sets in motion a chain of events that will redefine the very face of Freeport itself.

This story is a sequel to Midnight's Shadow: Succession Crisis

Midnight Sparkle is a rising star amongst the magi. She has proven herself time and again against threats as warlocks, hags, werewolves, and fey, but her recent successes yet leave her ambitions wanting.

An opportunity presents itself when the Archmagus of Eastmarch announces his retirement. The conclave to determine his successor—what should be a mundane thing—reveals a most tainted legacy as long-forgotten foes push Midnight to her very limits.

Star Kicker is the newest member of Princess Luna's royal guards, and she has a lot to prove. After all, she has to show once and for all that she's better than her stuck-up skunk of an older sister. Fortunately for her, Luna is eager to give her the chance.

In the desert kingdom of Selerika, the tomb of one of Luna's old friends has been robbed and a priceless artifact stolen. Luna is determined to recover it, and who better to bring along than a unicorn whose special talent lies in finding lost things? It's a dangerous adventure full of mortal peril, but that comes with the territory of being a royal guard.

Twilight has a secret coltfriend who nobody knows about.  Not even her.

And he’s not too sure either.

Then Luna gets involved, and it only gets weirder.

Editors: Tek, Mitch H, Airy Words
Cover photo: Getty images

This story is a sequel to The Study of a Winning Pony

Life has been rough for Shining Armor. The changeling invasion has resulted in him losing his position as Captain of the Royal Guard. But that’s only the start of his troubles when he discovers that he’s the father of a daughter he didn’t even know about. Now he’s forced to face the consequences of a night’s indiscretions—such as explaining everything to his new wife Cadance. It isn’t going to be easy get his life back in order before anything else can go wrong.

A Winningverse Story.