All Private Shadow Heart wanted was to protect others, so she joined the Solar Guard in an effort to fulfill that dream. However, it seems as if her dreams are crushed when her first assignment is to babysit some self-important, arrogant Night Tribe noble.

However, events quickly disabuse her of that notion as she is thrust into a world of political intrigue, espionage, and piracy.

Oh, and to top it all off, the princesses themselves have charged her with taking down an international sapient trafficking ring.

It must be a Monday...

The Dark tag is there for some more mature themes and a grittier depiction of the evil being confronted by our heroes. (namely the pirates and the slavery ring.) I don't subscribe to describing gruesome scenes of death and destruction, but the fact that there is a slavery ring automatically earns this story the dark tag in my book.

Also, the alternate universe tag is there because this is a far more seedier and troubled Equestria. All characters and events from the show still happened and are depicted as such, but there is also a distinct presence of pirates, griffin warbands and slavers, which have never appeared in the show.

The setting is just after the Canterlot wedding episode, but before Discord is set free again.

MLP:FIM and related characters are owned by Hasbro and Faust.

I only own my name.

Coverart by Esuka, on Deviantart at: http://esuka.deviantart.com/art/Cumulus-331391259

Twilight Sparkle was presumed to be dead. Destroyed without even a body to bury, the young victim of a deadly magical surge that claimed the lives of many others along side her. More than a decade later, reports of a violent murder by a pony bearing her name are brought to Celestia and Luna's attention. A trail of carnage leading directly towards Canterlot's doorstep, brought by a pony who strikes without mercy. As Twilight approaches, in service to an unknown master, the Alicorn Sisters desperately try to uncover what happened all those years ago.

Edited by Zintegy and The Pink Mugsy

Chapter Heading Art by KirillK
All Sketches and Artworks can be found HERE

A/N This is a multiple-part prelude to what I'm terming a fourth-order counterfactual but is probably best described as an alternate universe of an alternate universe. Starting from the bare bones described in the flashbacks laid out in KKat's epic novella, "Fallout Equestria", this is a description of the last month or so leading up to the massive megaspell attacks that create the world of KKat's novella... but with a few alterations. Borrowing from Pen Stroke's "Past Sins" and Anonymous Pegasus' "Transcend" to to the end of Chapter 15, I posit a few changes that lead to more and eventually, lead to a totally different Equestria 200 years in the future

Events, characters, and depictions of characters that are canon to the stories of other authors are copyright to them; it's their creative work, it's their good idea, I'm just borrowing their eggs and cup of sugar and making something new. If I manage to miss an author in my credits, bop me on the head and I'll add them because they deserve credit for what they've done. All that said, the 'something new' I've made from the pieces of other works is mine.

It began with a tragedy, a massacre unintended. From a terrible event, a war has expanded to fill the entire world and a decade, the cause shifting from a massacre and a war over resources to a crusade; one side wishes to end a war, the other side wishes to end one pony. For the longest time, it was a war of soldiers and of ordinary weapons, each side racing for the best advantage. But the combination of innovative brilliance and tragic desperation stemming from the best of intentions has turned the war from one of soldiers and machines to one over which the dread shadow of apocalypse looms. With a sudden positive turn in the military fortunes of Equestria, that shadow has advanced to inevitability.

It is five weeks to nightfall, and the time is slipping away.

Many years after sending her beloved protege to Ponyville, unease sits heavily on Princess Celestia's heart as her relationship with Twilight Sparkle seems to have cooled despite all they've accomplished together. On the advice of her sister, Celestia sets out to investigate and resolve the lost connection with her most faithful student. What does it mean to be a Faithful Student...or a Princess of the Sun?

Earned a six-star rating on Equestria Daily and featured on its very own TVTropes page!.

Twilight Sparkle isn't known to put anything less than her all into magic development. It's only natural she tried her best when Rarity asked her to make an anti-wrinkling re-vitalizing de-aging spell to help smooth some stray laugh lines.

Turns out her best is a little too good.

Now it's up to Shining Armor and Cadence to take care of their little sister, with an emphasis on the "little". Assuming her Royal Canterlot Voice temper tantrum doesn't cause the Crystal Empire to shatter first, that is.

Twilight still isn't having a very good day. An army of changelings is attacking Canterlot, and the experimental spell that blew up in her face has stuck her in a time loop until she gets everything perfect and saves Equestria.

She's got a plan. She's also got a problem: Suddenly, she's not the only one whose day is repeating. And when you're caught between unstoppable force and immovable object, life has a tendency to get complicated.

* * *

This story is an authorized alternate-universe re-imagining of Eakin's Hard Reset, in which multiple loopers turn the time shenanigans up to 11. (Knowledge of Hard Reset is not required, but based on reader comments, will help in sorting out the early chapters.)

Cliff's Notes versions: RampantArcana has started a GitHub repository to codify the time-loop rules and the early-story timeline. Hawthornbunny has posted a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of all the loops, including the ones we don't see, with a lot of critical analysis. Those links contain spoilers (of currently posted chapters). If you're confused, either one of those fan projects is a great starting point, and story comments have a lot of insightful discussion as well.

Publication schedule: 2014 kicked my plot, but as of November I'm picking up the writing again and hope to have something by the end of the month.

Cover art by Alexstrazsa.

This story is a sequel to The Book of Water: The Marriage of the Slave King

The Slave King, the Lord of Earth, was once one of the most powerful deities on the Pantheon. Feared and respected by his peers and enemies alike, he had it all. But then disaster struck, and he was forced to make an unwanted choice. Now he's married to a woman he never loved, bedridden and crippled by some unseen assassin, friendless and vulnerable, buffeted from every side by traitor and enemy alike, and entangled in an endless web of lies and deceit.

Princess Luna, the Beautiful, Lady of Night, was once beloved and desired by all. Once, many sought after her to behold her loveliness and share her wisdom. But now, few seek an audience at her throne in Londwhinium, and even fewer still seem to appreciate her nights. A voice whispers to her, tempting her, taunting her, berating her. She thought marriage would end her loneliness, and bring joy to her desolate heart. She was wrong, she's still unhappy, and the voice refuses to remain silent.

These two souls, bound together by chance and circumstance, each seeking and never finding. Will these two ever find peace, and more importantly each other? Or will they be driven apart, to wander lost and alone in the raging heart of winter?

Part two, of books two of four, of the Slave King Saga
Book one can be found here: The Great Slave King
Part one can be found here: The Book of Water: The Marriage of the Slave King
And if you want something a little bit different try: Equestrian Tales Told by Tavernlight

TV Tropes Page: The Great Slave King: Special thanks goes to gentlereader Abstract Indigo

Twilight Sparkle. Faithful daughter, diligent studier... fugitive?

Twilight was simply doing as she was told. Trying to pass the exam that would allow here into the most prestigious school in Canterlot when things went horribly wrong. Now she is on the run, afraid that if she show's her face back in the city of her birth, that all she has to look forward too is a trip to the dungeons. Can a child really survive on her own out in the wilds of Equestria?

Well she isn't exactly on her own. She has her teacher/savior with her. Read as she learns a different style of magic and all the chaotic events that will follow the duo. How much will Twilight learn from the mysterious and odd Wild Horse.

When Princess Celestia faces a harsh choice to execute an innocent and virtually harmless changeling, will she be able to go through with the notion of taking the filly's life, or will sympathy overtake her moral alignment?

*In this story, the changelings are based off of Season 2, so it's as if they've never given love freely. Sept 4th, 2017

What would My Little Pony be like if it were British? Let's all don our top hats and monocles, sip some tea, and watch a jolly good show, guvnah!

Now with its own reading!