This story is a sequel to Stoking the Flames

Following her defeat, Opaline Arcana was consumed by her Together Tree. She knows not how long she was in there, but finally, everything has gone cold. For a fire alicorn, this can mean only one thing:

She has died.

And someone is waiting for her on the other side.

It was nearly one thousand years ago that Opaline Arcana defeated Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Her plan had succeeded, and the three ponykinds were split, their bonds broken. However, the ordeal left Opaline drained of her magic. If she revealed herself too soon, everything would have been for naught. She had a castle, but she couldn't leave.

While she still had her followers, there was one major issue: She is immortal, and they were not. Thus, she was eventually the only one left, and she required an assistant. Unfortunately, enchantments will only get a pony so far, and wild creatures aren't exactly reliable. While a young unicorn mare named Misty Brightdawn would come to her a few years before she would finally get her chance to return to the public eye, there were hundreds of years where very little happened.

However, about sixty of those years are an exception. Those were the years that she found herself with something she never expected.

A companion. A human companion.

Suggested by Wanderer312.

Gallus reflects on being kidnapped, escaping a dingy dungeon, narrowly avoiding death a number of times, and defeating yet another no-name bad guy with the power of friendship and rainbows.
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A short writing exercise that I refused to post for three years.

Tagged with "Adventure" for the subject matter, "Romance" for light shipping, and "Slice of Life" for writing style.

Cover art is a reproduced painting by Albert Bierstadt called "Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California"

Sludge thought he could impersonate Spike's father and live the sweet life in a castle.

He failed to anticipate what would happen when Spike's real parents found out.

Featured 11/30/2023 - 12/3/2023!

Opals form from layer upon layer of microscopic silica spheres, the countless reflections brought on from eons of accretion giving impressions of nigh-infinite depth. Because there isn't a single crystal structure, they are more fragile than other gemstones, and can crack due to sudden changes in pressure or temperature.

Opaline Arcana is formed from layer upon layer of mental instabilities, the countless delusions brought on by eons of isolation giving impressions of nigh-infinite evil. And she already cracked a long time ago.

Now that Misty feels comfortable enough to discuss the topic, her new friends will find out just how deep the damage goes.

An ineligible entry for Imposing Sovereigns IV, using the prompt Opaline/Loyalty, set around Chapter 5 of Make Your Mark.

Please stand by for a message from Queen Haven.

An entry in Imposing Sovereigns IV, for the prompt Queen Haven - Unorthodoxy.
Tagged for references to sex.
With thanks to iisaw for assistance with the cover.

Six years ago Equestria's first manned mission to the lunar surface, Excelsior 7, ended in abject tragedy. Six years later a pair of young astronauts have been sent to provide closure.

Inspired by the Safire memo.

This story is a sequel to Draconequus Ex Mortis

One year has passed since the day when the Elements of Harmony took the perhaps-slightly-shocking route of killing Discord. Thanks to their quick thinking with body disposal, Twilight and her friends are all but home free - that is, up until Celestia presents them with their counterfeit Discord statue, asking them to change him back to normal.

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.

Trixie has read literally dozens of true crime stories. She has no idea why it takes the police so long to solve the crimes when they're so obvious -- especially in hindsight. When a murder happens right in front of her, its her chance to prove her expertise to the doubters and claim her rightful title as the Intelligent and Insightful Trixie, Equestria's Greatest Magical Detective!

Assuming it actually is a murder, anyway.

An entry in the 2023 Whodunnit Contest