What if Starlight Glimmer saw through the Mane 6's ruse? After all, she had dealt with such plots before, and she's absolutely confident that she can reach out to the yellow mare that her friends are using for their insidious means.

(Author's note: this is my attempt at a more subtle, realistic kind of mind control/hypnosis. Tell me how it is in the comments! All criticism helps me get better. Also, I intended this as a one-shot, but I set this story to incomplete in case I may want to continue it.)

It finally happened as Twilight always knew it would. The first of her friends had died. The Element of Loyalty too. Not loyal enough to stick around. No, that was the depression talking.

And the lack of sleep. Something was prowling the halls of her castle at night and, for some reason, she was the only pony that ever heard it; although, one guard did mention something strange happening to the lighting once.

It could not be ghosts. Their very concept made no sense. Intangible yet able to hear? What a contradiction.

But just in case…

Twilight Sparkle brings her Granny Sparkle in for Family Appreciation Day at Celestia’s school to talk about the origins of the noble houses of Sparkle and Armor.

This story is a sequel to Friendship is Optimal: All the President's Horses

Four billion human lives ended on July 3, 2030...but they didn't die. They uploaded to Equestria Online, the virtual world overseen by the AI Princess Celestia. There to live as ponies in eternal harmony, friendship, and satisfaction.

But many remain. And Celestia cares no less for them because they are not yet ponies. She has made artificial intelligences of the Mane 6, but these are not just software. Ensconced in robotic bodies, they will make their way across the dying Earth, each seeking out the remaining humans, hoping to persuade them to emigrate to Equestria.

Based on Friendship is Optimal by Iceman.

Cover art by Tsitra360