There are so many things Fluttershy has a hard time explaining. Like, why the new stallion in town won't leave her alone; or, why she decided to break off her new relationship with Rarity after only a month; or, why she isn't sure she did the right thing. Maybe the right setting and the right dress will be enough to make everything clear. Maybe it will be enough...maybe.

This is a story about the hollowness of depression. About fearing the past and dreading the future. About feeling obliged to lie for the sake of others. About Celestia’s darkest hours.

Inspired by her unprecedented absence in the season 5 opening, this story was originally conceived in April 2015. At least that’s the date in my notebook, in which I recently stumbled upon the outline and a failed attempt at this story. Upon reading the few pages that were there, I realised I still want to write it.

The story is based heavily on my personal experience, with some research supporting it. If you too busy yourself with pondering the more practical aspects of human mortality, feel free to contact me, I’m happy to help. But if you are anything like me, that is not an attractive perspective at all. So heed this one piece of advice I give you instead:

Don’t do it today. It’s not going anywhere.

The Storm King has been defeated and the Friendship Festival is in full swing. The former Commander Tempest is spending time with her new friends, enjoying the festival.
Unknown to her, Celestia watches from afar. She lets on that she knows more about the former commander than she had said, and shares her secret with her sister and aide.

Odd how some things stick in one's memory—certain places, personalities, sounds, even smells. Touching on one of these elements can cause a lifetime of experiences to come flooding back.

And just as quickly, they're gone.

First-place winner in The Write-Off Association's contest "Lonely Happiness."

Reading by The Living Library Player Society.
Another reading by DRWolf.

Featured on Equestria Daily!

There is a very good reason that Princess Celestia sends Twilight and her friends to do her dirty work.

There is a very good reason that immortal, impossibly strong alicorns have a fleet of guards.

The newest Princess of Equestria needs to learn what strength really means to an alicorn.

Twilight Sparkle is the master of her own mind. She is the Princess of Friendship. She is the fourth piece of the Alicorn Tetrarchy. She has incredible power, and she has always asserted it in a necessary and compassionate way. She has a charmed life—a wonderful set of friends, a beautiful castle in a lovely little town, and is constantly busy with her life, stretching her wings upward and outward to new horizons as often as possible.

There can be nothing wrong with her.

Pre-read by Majin Syeekoh.

In a yard, all alone, a pony whiles away the time caring for the lawn and the roses. Roseluck can understand that, to a point. And she's determined to help.

First-place winner in the /fic/ write-off "Lost in Translation."

Featured on Equestria Daily!

And now featured by the Royal Canterlot Library!

Reading by obabscribbler, Present Perfect, Goombasa, and Reverb Brony.