In the wake of an unspeakable tragedy, Cheerilee finds herself struggling to survive the long year ahead of her. But her former lover's death has left an open door: one that invites ancient figures and stories from old tales and legends. As the line between reality and mythology begins to blur, she can't help but wonder: what did Applejack do? And... did it kill her?

Cover art by Cereal.

A gift for my incredibly awesome buddy, Mushroom. Congratulations on everything you do, and keep kicking ass. May the world never stop you.

The gryphons were not always monsters. That came later.

In the earliest days, they were our friends. They flew alongside pegasi. They shared the land with earth ponies. They studied beside unicorns. There was no fear between us. That came later too.

Time drew our people apart, but it was not time that made them monsters. They made that choice themselves; they chose their fate. And it was the greatest gryphon who sealed it.

He was born, many years ago, on a mountain far to the north...

Sometimes, when I'm writing, I get upset. I have occasional psychiatric problems, and my creative work means a lot to me. When it doesn't go just right, I can get very emotional very quickly. Enough that sometimes it worries my friends, and they ask what's going on in my head.

This is a story about how it feels, as told by little horses.

Something hasn't been right about Rarity since the Inspiration Manifestation spell. Maybe somepony should check on her.

Now with a reading by Dr. Wolf!

In the city of Maretropolis, superheroes and supervillains aren't that uncommon. In fact, it's expected of the average resident to encounter some super-powered maniac at least once per month. Many of these villains have their reasons. Whether it's greed or to exact revenge, their motives are perfectly understandable.

Enter Pink Scorch. She has been in the anti-hero game for a while, only choosing to fight crime when she crosses paths with it. She's even had a few rundowns with villains, all of which she could relate to to some degree or another.

This newest villain, however, has her stumped. They spray juice everywhere, complain about poor dieting choices, and cause problems among taxpayers—all in the name of good health.

Her name is Juice Mare, and nothing about her makes any sense.

Now with a sequel.

Special thanks to NorristhePony, semillon, and Petrichord for proofreading! Also, thanks to Flutterpriest and Bandy for helping with the bonus chapter.

There is a village where everypony can be the same.

You may have read some nasty things about it. Rumors of stolen cutie marks and power-mad unicorns. Tall tales about forced smiles and frightened glances.

It's all lies. All except the part about us wanting to escape. That's true.

It's why we came here in the first place.

Winner of the May Writeoff Event.

At 3:15 AM, Adams woke me with a loud knock on my front door.
"Put your boots on," he said when I answered. "There's a biblical monster in my house."

* * *

A Visual Companion, by the author
Interview with the author, from the Royal Canterlot Library.
Audiobook by Robin Jacks and Wubcake.
Audiobook by Scribbler.
In-depth analysis by the Heroic Tales cast.
Literary Analysis by ScarletWeather.
Special thanks to GaryOak.
Reviews:
City of Doors
One Man's Pony Ramblings
PresentPerfect
Louder Yay
Between Lines
Bad Horse

“I’m not making you do anything, Flurry," Cozy murmured. “I’m giving you a choice. Me or your empire. And we both know what the right call is.”

Winner of FanOfMostEverything's "Imposing Sovereigns III" contest, using the prompt "Flurry Heart/Perseverance" (and technically "Cozy Glow/Determination" as well).

Early one morning, Twilight Sparkle gets up to make some tea.

Sometimes, a cup of tea is just a cup of tea. This is not one of those times.

Celestia has an important lesson to teach Twilight -- she cannot bring harmony into the world until she finds it inside herself.

Written in one hour as part of the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Competition.

She is as beautiful and graceful as the moon, and just as hard to reach. He is a young artist with much to learn about the world. When he accepts her challenge to create an artistic masterpiece, will he win her heart, or learn a terrible lesson in the nature of beauty and love?