Anon feels like there's no need to get up today. He's been feeling a lot of things actually, and that's why he has been spending most of his time in the library lately.

But today he won't be able to stay put, because at the incredibly important festival they've set up a mystical tent, that even magic itself compels him to visit.

First Contact. It was all over the news, how could it not be? A station could be heard, if one tuned into the right AM station. It played on repeat. It came from outside this world. Was it in peace? What did it mean?

Done entirely on whimsy, though I can blame the folks in #writing-chat on the Fimfic Discord.

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The spell was lifted, her friends had been sent home, and her student had learned her lesson. 

In theory, everything should be fine. At least, that’s what Twilight kept telling herself. The Fiducia Compelus episode was nothing more than a mistake, and once apologies were handed out tomorrow, everypony would be able to put it behind them. Everything was absolutely fine. 

Why, then, were there sobs coming from Starlight’s room?

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Proofread and edited by: JinxJTL

Jesse thought he hit the jackpot... a job offering him a month of work and living arrangements? Being between cities and in need of the income, he pounced at the opportunity.

However, shortly after arriving at the listed address and going in courtesy of the key waiting there... he finds himself part of a deal he never really signed.

In the modern era, it has become common for foreigners to mock Equestria, seeing the pony nation as weak, naive, unwilling to commit to hard decisions. More belligerent neighbors often view the ponies as easy prey or targets, to have their magic stolen, to be devoured and pillaged, or conquered as a ready supply of slaves.

It was not always thus. In ages past, Equestria was a land of heroes and legends, of darkness and bloodshed. In time, the princesses learned to temper strength with mercy, power with forbearance, and righteous conviction with benevolence.

But now, a thousand years after the younger princess was banished to the moon, the long peace is drawing to a close. Forces both within and without Equestria awaken, seeing a nation weak and easily toppled. Seeing a people grown fat on peace and luxury, who have long forgotten the hardships of war and conflict, or the glory of bloodshed.

Woe betide to all who come to Equestria with ill intent. For in all these long years of peace, the Princess of the Sun has never forgotten the lessons of war, and her eyes watch over her beloved subjects with not only patience and understanding, but an implicit promise of protection.

The time will come soon, when those who would do Celestia's Little Ponies wrong will come to learn... That even an Empire of Mercy is still paved upon the bones of its enemies.

[...]
Alternate universe story based on two main principals: First, that Rainbow Dash is taken in as Celestia's student in addition to Twilight. Second, that the threats to Equestria are both larger in magnitude, but also countered by a more competent and militarized Equestria. Also, it will follow my headcanon that alicorn's are gender neutral.

It is also somewhat based on my love of story threads that are disconnected but still intersect. The continuity will not really have a single group of main characters (Though it will start with mostly Rainbow Dash and Celestia), but rather a number of different story threads playing out simultaneously across the world. I have plans for the Mane Six, Celestia, Luna, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, and Scootaloo at the least.

I will be posting every 28 days on saturday, at least for the time being. Story is in present tense, third person. Genre will kinda be all over the place, parts of the story will include the whole spectrum from war story to slice of life to drama to who knows what else.

On the eve of the five-hundred-and-thirtieth year of Celestial Peace, a shocking accident befalls one of Equestria’s aviators during the Wonderbolts' performance at the Summer Sun Celebration.

Flaire d’Mare attempted to warn against the danger that caused the incident, and thus, she is commissioned to improve the safety of the Wonderbolts’ uniforms at the behest of their tenth leader: General Flash.

Assisted by the optimistic young aviator Fairy Flight, Flaire will do whatever she must to ensure a safer future for the Wonderbolts. 

Even if that means confronting the inner wound of her long-endured grief.

Everypony knows the Hearth’s Warming Eve tale of tribal unity and the shared rule which followed. Everypony also knows that alicorns - singular or dual - have sat on Equestria’s throne for well over a thousand years.

Very few have really looked in to what actually happened between those points.

Even Twilight Sparkle, until a chance encounter leads her to an alarming discovery: Neither she, nor any other alicorn, has actually held any legal right to Equestria’s throne. They are technically usurpers, autocrats - even tyrants.

Still struggling with her own personal rule, having the fundamental basis for her authority swept from beneath her leaves Twilight with one simple, yet impossible question: 

Now what?

Many thanks to Commawriter and Kirtai for pre-reading!

Cover image was edited by Vinylshadow. They deserve all credit for it!

Twilight gets a surprise visit from Sugar Belle, Night Glider, Double Diamond, and Party Favor! They've visited Ponyville to thank all the girls for what they did at Our Town, alongside doing so much for Starlight.

There's something that Twilight did, specifically, that Sugar Belle is especially grateful for.
_{Takes place after Season 6, but before Season 7.}

Once upon a time, Princess Celestia meant the world to her young protégée, Sunset Shimmer. In many ways, she was the world to the unicorn filly.

Now, the relationship between mentor and student has become deeply strained. Some weeks ago, the two suffered a major spat. As the rift between them grows and emotions churn inside Sunset, she begins to wonder exactly who she is in the eyes of the age-old alicorn who controls the sun.

And as Celestia prepares to leave for a diplomatic errand, she finds herself confronted by her volatile pupil -- and, put on the spot, must find a way to bridge the gap before it's too late.

Ignores the depiction of events in the comic The Fall of Sunset Shimmer. While the story works as a standalone prequel to canon G4 animated media, it is also canon with my ongoing longform story Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, as well as, separately, my alternate universe setting established by What My Destiny is Telling Me. (Despite the name, it is not directly related to my story Late-Night Conversations.)

Cover art by daOtterGuy, who pre-read the story along with The Sleepless Beholder. Special thanks to TCC56 (First Hoof Account) and Sledge115 (Sogno di Volare) for inspiring me to dabble in this period of Sunset's life.

Featured on 11/8/22-11/10/22! Re-edited 1/14/23. Now featured on Equestria Daily!

This story is a sequel to Five Decades Of Strife

Sometimes it's not easy to understand the ones you love, and it can be even harder to help them. Celestia knows this all too well.

Check out the first in the series, here!

This story was made possible by supporters on Patreon/Subscribestar and was viewable earlier for said supporters. Head over there if you want a story like this for 5$ or to see stories early for just 3$!

Content warnings: Adult themes, and mentions of sex and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.