Properly embraced, limitations can actually enhance creativity. Plus anything that teaches me to write a little faster will probably be appreciated by many.
Stories written for the Thirty Minute Ponies community on Tumblr. Various characters, various topics, various tones. The points at which I went over the time limit (where applicable) will be marked by a red asterisk like this.*
Further summaries are below, followed by an easy ship reference for anyone who’s here from a shipping group or just wants to find their favorite pairing.
#210. Black Sheep: “Guess who else is a member of the Apple Family!” After the reunion, AJ finds out about an old relative with... unusual tastes.
#211. I’m Gonna Wreck It: “Write the destruction of your OTP.” Spike tears down the Carousel Boutique.
#230. Last Hope: “Her death was not in vain.” A mother will do whatever is best for her children.
#232. Prelude to Kindness: “When you gonna make up your mind? / When you gonna love you as much as I do?” Fluttershy remembers her father.
#244. Reflections of a Dragon: “First memory, last memory.” Spike’s first and last moments with Princess Celestia.
#253. Pink and Purple: “Ancient prophecies can be really, really stupid sometimes.” Spike has to talk Twilight down from panic, again.
#265. Lavender Blossoms: “Unexpected tears. / Unexpected laughter.” Rarity has a love-hate relationship with Hearts and Hooves Day... but maybe this year it’ll tilt back toward love.
#275. Family Tradition: “A change in management.” Applejack knows it’s only a few generations old, but every tradition has to start somewhere.
#278. My Life as a Teenage Dragon: “A lot changes when you’re a teenager.” Sometimes Spike wonders if getting bigger isn’t more trouble than it’s worth.
#284. It’s a Trap: “Follow the White Rabbit.” One of these days, Applejack swears she’s gonna punt that little furball clear across Ponyville.
#298. Birthday Tradition: “Sometimes, duty calls, even on your birthday.” Every year, Rarity begins her birthday the same way.
#299. Gears that Mesh: “I don’t think your cutie mark means what you think it means.” Much to Mariposa’s dismay, Spark has given up on inventing. But is that really what his talent was supposed to be?
#315. It Never Gets Old: “Twilight Sparkle’s middle name.” A casual conversation about forms and applications is suddenly derailed, and Twilight enjoys a personal in-joke.
#316. Undiscovered Underground: “Two or more characters must accomplish a task while in a pitch-black environment with zero visibility. (Bonus points for writing in first person.)” A routine gem-hunting trip goes awry when Rarity finds her magic suddenly unresponsive.
#322. Changing the Plan: “Write a story in the second person in which the perspective character is one of the Mane Six or Spike.” Rarity has a problem, and her problem’s name is Spike.
#324. Hopeless in Love: “One (or more) of the Crusaders is crushing on one (or more) of the Mane Six.” Scootaloo hates Twilight Sparkle. Well, no, she just hates Sweetie Belle’s new crush on her...
#336. A Jury of Your Peers: “Justice for all.” There’s no way Scootaloo stole Dinky’s special dessert, and Sweetie Belle’s going to prove it! Somehow...
#429. Cannot Be Unseen: “The room never felt the same after that.” Spike has seen things. Things no young dragon should have to see.
#430. Unsavory Undertakings Unleashed: “Professor Piggy’s plans for Ponyville!” A heinous hog hopes to lay hold of Twilight’s home! Can she cancel his cruel course?
#433. A Routine Run: “Reimagine My Little Pony as cyberpunk.” Vinyl’s latest job, as usual, goes smooth as silk. Right up until it doesn’t.
#447. Legend of Twilight: The Sonorous Stones: “Fluttershy! You are the hero chosen by destiny!” Sombra thinks he’s won, but destiny says otherwise. There’s far more to the Hero of Courage than meets the eye.
#455. Lovebirds: “Two ponies attempt to play matchmaker... but end up falling in love themselves.” After a flurry of failed matchmaking, Spike and Rarity have one last plan to unite two phoenixes. And maybe they won’t be the only ones uniting...
#462. Negotiations: “Spike in Rarity’s boudoir.” Spike’s made a promise, and he intends to keep it... but he can’t without Opal’s cooperation.
#501. Reluctance: “The fourth return.” Two is a coincidence, three is a pattern, and it’s at number four that Twilight really begins to wonder.
#557. Brotherly Duty: “Big Mac has something to say.” Applejack is bringing her special somepony over for dinner, and Big Macintosh is ready.
#572. Dear Mom and Dad: “All good things must come to an end.” Twilight Sparkle writes home.
Sparity: #211, #265, #278, #298, #322, #455
Twinkie: #253, #429, #501
Appleshy: #284, #557
Scootabelle: #324
Octavia/Vinyl: #433
