Rainbow Dash accidently pranks Princess Celestia. Her life is basically over.

Cover art by Thresha8

Inspired by fanart from artist Banshee42ru. Set a few years after Season 2 (pending future edits), the story follows the relationship of Spike and Apple Bloom. Their young love takes a serious turn when she finds herself pregnant with a half-dragon, half-pony foal. How will their family and friends react, and what will this halfbreed child mean for them and Equestrian society as a whole?

NOTE: Updates and new chapters tend to take a rather long time, but unless I actually put it as 'On Hiatus' I actually am working on it. It's not abandoned, I just have a really slow writing process.
Also, a while back someone sent this to Equestria Daily without asking me. I appreciate the thought, but they work on a strike system and I really don't want to be locked out.

How long can it take to learn a simple lesson? A day, a week, a year? What if you are an immortal goddess, charged with the well-being of an entire realm? How difficult can a simple lesson be? Well, how many grains of sand are there in all the beaches in all the world, or how many stars?

Some simple lessons take an age to learn.

Spike wakes up one day feeling like a winner. To test his newfound winning abilities, he challenges Rainbow Dash and Applejack to a simple little game of Truth or Dare. What ensues will change the lives of the three forever.

Author's note: Spike's a boss.

Rarity has a rather unladylike moment of panic when she thinks Spike has moved away without telling her. Twilight is amused.

Short oneshot that just sort of fell out of my head this evening.

It's been more than a thousand years since the Mane Six's adventures in Ponyville, and things look very different. Equestria is gone, devoured by chaos. Nightmare creatures roam the lands, changelings prey on the few remaining pony settlements, and all trace of the peace and harmony during Princess Celestia's reign has vanished.

Until, that is, a small group of ponies set out to map the Tangle, and find a slumbering dragon inside. Now Spike, a millenium out of his time and with only his memories to comfort him, is ponykind's only hope. Together, he and his new friends set out to find the one pony who can set things right: Twilight Sparkle.

Cover art by the inestimable TheAuthorGl1m0.

Featured by The Royal Guard on February 4th, 2014.

[img]http://tinyurl.com/kaxbtuk[/img]
AUTHOR'S NOTES

- Beware of spoilers in the comment section!
- Currently undergoing heavy revision for chapters nineteen and onward. The "lost" chapters - that is, the story as it was originally published - can be found here.

"... at the forefront of our fandom’s writing scene ... Masterpiece." —PCaRG
"... really enjoyable ..." —City of Doors
"...worthy of high praise." —PaulAsaran
"Lots of wonderful world-building, great action, well-developed characters and an engaging story." —Hoopy McGee

Steel Song is a lot of things. Earth pony. Uncle. Professional bodyguard.

Retired.

So when he receives a mysterious package from Princess Luna a few weeks after the changeling invasion, he's understandably apprehensive. More-so when he presents himself before the Royal Diarchs to find that not only do they desire him to come out of retirement, but to take command of a most unusual position...

A position that may have more significance than any of them suspect. Because strange thefts are occurring on the Equestrian Railway, thefts that nopony can explain. Thefts that may have far more sinister intentions than their seemingly innocent nature may convey.

Intentions sinister enough to shift the balance of power in Equestria forever.

Book I of The Dusk Guard Saga.
Epic Fantasy
Has a collection of Side Stories as well, the first of which is here.
Now with a TV Tropes page!
"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"
Added to Twilight's Library 11/26/2013
Added to Canterlot's Finest 12/01/2013

Caramel wasn't always a Changeling, but he's going to become one. And he's going to do it for the sake of his very special somepony.

A thief.

I guess that's what I've always been. I've spent my life plundering ruins, seeking out the relics of ancient times, dodging traps and outsmarting incompetent villains... and collecting the hefty finders fee, to boot. It's been a great ride, wouldn't trade it for the world. But I'm not the young filly I used to be. Maybe it's time I hang up the helmet. Maybe.

But not without one last job. I've got a lead on the greatest find in history: The fabled Crown of Harmony, worn by the Pony Queen before she vanished, eons ago. Somepony doesn't want it to be found, though.

Somepony who knows why.

There was a question... and Spike wanted the answer. The curiosity of it was gnawing at his little dragon brain like gerbils in a vat of candy corn. In desperation, he turns to Cadence for help, and she's more than happy to assist.

After all, it's just a simple question. What's the worst that could happen?

(Takes place prior to Season 1. Rated for scattered innuendo.)