It's New Year's Eve. Do you know where you and your friends are?

Have you ever felt like you didn't really belong? Like no matter how hard you tried you'd never be able to fit in anywhere? After I lost the Memory Stone, Sunset and her friends told me I could finally have people around that cared, but I should have known better. Nothing was ever really going to change. I was always going to be cursed to a lifetime of being ignored and forgotten...

I was never going to be anyone but the odd one out.

After four harrowing years of civil war brought about by Nightmare Moon's return, Canterlot has finally fallen. Princess Celestia has been banished to the moon, and now a new alicorn rules over Equestria. For the supporters of Nightmare Moon, the new eternal night is a time for celebration. For the ponies who fought for Celestia, it means something else entirely. For when the war is lost and the victor demands fealty, the vanquished are given only two choices: bow low and kiss the ground beneath her hooves, or die.

Not everpony who bows does so out of love for the conqueror, of course. Some do it to bide their time. Some do it out of a sense of opportunity. Most bow merely to survive. All of them are liars. But how long can a pony tell the same lie before it becomes the truth?

And what happens to that pony when their lies are lies no more?

Edited by SolidFire. Inspired by the Nightmare Moon timeline in the season 5 finale, a particular scene from a particular show, and an entertaining game of Equestria at War.

Another one of Pinkie's parties is winding down, and Dash sits alone in the corner. She feels another knot tightening in her chest, clenching harder by the second. She just can't seem to make it go away, not alone.

Expanded from an entry into one of the Quills and Sofa Speedwriting group's contests, with the prompt "Spurred to Action"

Thanks to Zontan and Petrichord for some proofreading and feedback.

When Wallflower Blush tries to take her own life, Sunset does the only thing she can think of to save her. By witnessing the entirety of Wallflower’s memories all at once, she hopes that part of her friend may live on within herself.

However, possessing the memories of two lives leaves Sunset doubting her own identity. Now that she's inherited all the same memories and traumas that led to Wallflower's suicide, is she even the same person anymore?

Drawing used in cover is by avirextin.

Based on an idea by shortskirtsandexplosions.

You used to be something.

A few weeks before her college graduation, Sunset Shimmer attends Twilight Sparkle's funeral. She'd rather be anywhere else but here. She'd rather think about anything but what role she played—or didn't play—in her girlfriend's premature death.

We don't always get what we want, though. After the last several months, Sunset knows that better than anyone.

Winner of Oroboro's "Sunset Shipping Contest: Endings." Rated T for language, not-exclusively-adult themes, and brief tobacco use.

When Flash Sentry got into Fillydelphia State, nobody was more surprised than him. He never counted on having a future. Now that it's in front of him, he can't wait to see what the world outside of Canterville has in store.

If only he can figure out how to break the news to Sunset.

A prequel to ...But It Often Rhymes.

Fourth place in Oroboro's 2019 Sunset Shipping Contest. Edited by Dubs Rewatcher and DannyJ.

Cover art by Blynxee

When confronted by Sunset, Wallflower Blush realizes that absolutely nothing she does matters. Rather than lash out at Sunset's friends, she turns the Memory Stone on herself and completely erases her own mind.

Every year, I write to the princess. I think she's amazing. I want to be just like her.

I wonder if she'll ever reply.