Songbird Serenade loves what she does, but admittedly, being in the public eye involves a lot of rules and regulations: what she can do, what she can say, how she must maintain her image. She understands it's all a necessary part of her career, but fortunately, she does get one respite from it all: the afterparty, which she pays for and hosts herself. There, she can truly feel free as a bird.

A mare of talent and mystery, Songbird Serenade is beloved for her music.

But she hides things from the public, struggling with her inner problems and the fears of her life out of their view. All they ever see is the unbeatable popstar, the cheery mare of the stage. It's all she'll allow them to see. She won't let anyone see otherwise, because then they might be dragged into her torment.

I appreciate the story being shared around, commented on, liked, enjoyed, all that jazz.

Can the Storm King find love? He has until his five hundredth birthday to do so, as a sign that his time is running out; he sad given a yellow rose from the wastelands west of Equestria that feeds off of love. Will he find a some-creature to love him in return?

What follows is a fictional survival story based off of real events. Pocornia, passionate fiction writer and gourmet popcorn selling entrepreneur is struggling to stay afloat in a society plagued by a strange virus. Her situation deteriorates, leading her down a very dark path...

-Authors Note-

This story covers a very serious topic that I feel is getting overlooked in the age of Covid, bad mental health. If such content is too much for you to read then do not read this story. However, links to sites discussing mental health have been provided at the end of the story for anyone wants to check them out.

After she's left with broken wings due to an accident, Songbird finds herself consumed by stress and doubting herself. A few comforting words from her marefriend remind her of why she performs, and she learns that a fall from grace isn't always a bad thing.

Reading by Rainbow Infinity.

Expanded from a story written for Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Contest #72 "Broken Wings."

Cover Art by Artiks.

Proofread by The Red Parade, Silent Whisper, Wishcometrue, TheLegendaryBillCipher, SunlightRays, Holtinater, Carapace, Seer, MasterThief, &
Buttery Biscuit.

Edited by Cyonix & flutterJackdash.

Featured on sandbox on 2020/9/13

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria IV: Unmarked Time

Luna visits Songbird Serenade on a special scary autumn night. Listening to records, a family meal, a food fight, and deep revelations about their friendship follow.

This is an epilogue to the Knight of Equestria series. You may wish to read this last as some spoilers are inevitable, but this one contains many. Note that Flopsy Mopsy is Songbird Serenade, so please don’t act surprised.

Special thanks to DoContra! No surprise there. His comments on another story once again inspired this one.

Kyle Hughes, Equestria’s resident human, is just out to have a night with some friends. Until a magic-related accident, and a carefully placed bet, creates a chance for him to perform some of his favorite music and experience the magic of harmony for the first time. Soon catapulted into stardom for songs that aren’t his, Kyle struggles to stay true to himself and stay respectful to his musical influences.

(My first story here so it’s gonna be a shot in the dark. Also blatant wish fulfillment.)

When Cerberus left his post at the gates of Tartarus, Tirek wasn't the only ancient enemy of Celestia and Luna to escape. Of the many monsters that poured out, among them was the first foe that Celestia and Luna ever fought as newly-crowned princesses.

Now free from his constraints and with a thirst for vengeance against the 'false goddesses', the Frumentarii Cassius is once more released upon Equestria to sow havoc in the name of Mars. He will have his revenge, even if that means a new legion will have to be forged.

A Legion in the skies. The Storm Legion.

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria III: Pizzicato and Changelings

Lord Tirek is stealing Equestrian magic. DJ Flopsy Mopsy a.k.a. The Songbird, reluctant secret hero, is heading for Canterlot for what she expects will be her first recording deal. While the princesses have a plan for Tirek, DJ FM puts into effect a more pragmatic solution. Then she meets Discord. Again.

Marked teen for fighting and some blood, mostly Flopsy's, but specifically not gore because it isn't. Sometimes when you've got Princess Compulsive Disorder and you fight against overwhelming odds, do or die, you get hurt.

Six chapters over six weeks published on Tuesday. All chapters are completed, so read with confidence and press thumbs-up early! Comments also appreciated.

Like all the stories in this series, this story is written to be standalone with all important background in the narrative. This is by design and was done as an experiment to practice writing this way. The individual stories were written out of order with "standalone" in mind.

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria II: Discordant Harmony

Pizzicato and Changelings (for a Pegasus Heart)

Vinyl Scratch lands a gig for DJ Flopsy Mopsy: the public party for the royal Canterlot Wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor—in a stadium-sized venue. Handling this taxes her fledgling DJ abilities, but, when she thinks she owns all the hooves, all Tartarus beaks loose. Then she'll need the abilities she learned from Princess Nightmare Moon.

Fourteen chapters, updating Tuesday/Thursday or when increments of 50 likes are registered. Vote and comment.

This story contains British Trottingham dialect; these bits are not grammar errors, though I do use AmEng spellings. Pizzicato was written to be standalone, specifically as an exercise in writing stories in a series such that no story requires the reader to have read any previous story first. In fact, reading the Knight of Equestria stories in the opposite order of publication will prove very interesting. (#2 was written after #4 and the current #3, and yes there is a finished sequel!)

Flopsy Mopsy is a DJ becoming a musician, so, as you might imagine, music is important to her, and the story! The author notes contain links to dance music that is relevant and ponified in the story. You fun will be doubled if you listen first, or click the YouTube links found in the text.

A big thank you to my pre-readers, DoContra and Loganberry.

A little extra from a future Songbird Serenade...

Music Biz's Wicked Tongue: So, Miss Serenade... World renown DJ, songwriter, records topping the charts, fans cry "Songbird" at you, Friendship Festival headliner... What's the scoop with the serialized stories The Strand is launching? Self-aggrandizing fiction?

Songbird Serenade: Self-aggrandizing? (She shuffles some pages on the table before her and takes a deep breath.) On the evening of the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration, a blank-flank teenager was expecting to scrub and dust, helping her immigrant parents clean Town Hall overnight. She was... okay with that. Her family was glad for any opportunity. Her Trottingham accent worried her—

WT: Your accent—

SS: Might her classmates discover she was a peasant who cleaned up after other ponies and always would? She jammed with a nascent DJ named Vinyl Scratch, but, with her sorry excuse for being a DJ next to her only friend, she had no dreams of a musical future.

(Her blue eyes catch mine for an instant.) Little did I know at the dawn of the Age of Harmony, I would meet its first monster.

The filly made it to her next sunrise, but would be piecing herself together for the rest of her life. Ultimately, without Princess Nightmare Moon there would be no Songbird Serenade. This is one of those stories.

WT: Are you saying the stories are autobiographical?

SS: (She covers her face with her mop of bangs after I see incipient tears.) It's a confession. She dislikes the filly she was. As for the mare she became... (Shudders)