How much can change in a hundred years? How much can change in a thousand? The day of the Nightmare’s defeat Princess Luna finds herself adrift, a thousand years away from the world she knew. With her home in ruins and Equestria changed beyond all recognition, is there anything left for her when even apples are strange?

Winner of August's Write-off! - Distant Shores

With thanks to JCatt and Lord of Dorkness for their help pre-reading.

Straight from the Canterlot archives, this collection of documents retells the rise and fall of Princess Twilight Sparkle, Enlightened Despot of Equestria, Defender of the Peace, Lawgiver, and Commander of Fort Libris.

Twilight Sparkle is, of course, known to historians as the first usurper to seek to schedule a coup d'etat by appointment. But for other details- such as, "What is the longest recorded time a pony has gone without sleep?", "Is it true what they say about swans?", and, "Why is there an owlbear in the Equestrian Witness Protection Program?"- these documents provide the answers and much, much more.

This is ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS HISTORY from primary sources. If anything makes you think this is silly, ludicrous, or unbelievable, blame Discord.

Written for FanOfMostEverything's Imposing Sovereigns writing contest.

EDIT 3-15-17: Wow, almost instant featured! Was NOT expecting that!

EDIT 4-8-2017: Featured in the Royal Canterlot Library! Thanks!

Part of the Remember Fort Libris print anthology, thanks to our Kickstarter supporters!

Princess Flurry Heart and a humble baker's son are in love. But how can they hope to be together when the world is full of forces beyond the powers of ponies that try to tear them apart?

Winner of Estee's Ship Sinkers Contest!
PresentPerfect Recommended!

This story is a sequel to The Brightest and the Best

Professor Crystal Clear, Chairpony of the Board of Examiners at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns has always taken pride in running a fair set of admissions tests to accurately assess all candidates and select those most deserving of a place at the elite academy. Together with her colleagues, she has upheld the highest standards of academic excellence, and managed the school examinations with the utmost professionalism.

Then there came the day they met Twilight Sparkle.

Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns is famous across Equestria as a center of academic excellence. Only the best and brightest unicorns are offered places, selected by their academic merit, magical ability and passion for study. To make the admissions process as fair and reliable as possible, all candidates are given three exams by different teams of examiners, who then meet in private to decide which students are most deserving of a place.

Winner of the December 2014 Writeoff competition: Behind Closed Doors.

So it's official. In order to better serve his friends, Discord has given up chaos.

Completely.

Now if only the fate of Equestria didn't rest on him using chaos again.

Like in the next five minutes or so.

Looks like it's time for a chaos intervention. A reverse one.

In Canterlot for what feels like a wild goose chase, Sunburst finds himself exhausted, frustrated, and just a bit temperamental. What better conditions to meet a cute mare under?

Pre-read by: ChappedPenguinLips

While spreading word of the Storm King's defeat, Tempest stops in a cafe. Given her past, nopony wants much to do with her. Except for Sunburst, who couldn't care less. With nothing else to do for a few minutes, they begin talking, mostly about magic. Sunburst's got a theory.

No longer a powerless blank-flank, Twilight, together with her friends, faces the return of Nightmare Moon... with Twilight having no idea what her magic might do next!

Sequel to Twilight Runs Away.

Also serves as Luna's entry in the "Nightmare" series of independent stories about the redemption of each of the alicorn Princesses (see Friendmaker and Daybreaker). Note: you do not need to read these before Nightwaker. But if you choose to circle back to them at some point, I won't mind!

During "The Times They Are a Changeling", Spike was able to use the magic of song to prove that Thorax wasn't evil, convincing everyone in earshot, especially Shining Armor and Cadance to trust him and let him stay in the Crystal Empire.

... Except what if it hadn't been that easy? What would it take then to prove something like that, especially to a pony who had so bitterly said, "There's no such thing as a nice changeling" ?

Yep, an alternate take on the ending of The Times They Are a Changeling, the only part of the episode I felt was rushed.

Proofread by Doctor Candor and Malefactory