Twilight Sparkle has obtained the combined power of all four princesses of Equestria. Wielding this power, she confronts Lord Tirek, but the result of their fight is a tie. When he holds her friends hostage, she is forced to make a difficult choice.

All is not lost, however: one force remains in Equestria that could give her the edge she needs to defeat her foe, save her friends, and restore the world. She need only retrieve it from Zecora and place it around her neck...

Runner-up (one-shots category) in the Twyrant's Kingdom Competition.

Story inspiration: Corruption of a Desperate Mare, by Chris Wöhrer.

Edited by NightWolf289, AugieDog, and Prak. Thanks also to Pascoite for his WRITE review.

Rated teen for gore and dark themes.

Featured on:
Fimfiction.net Feature Box (05/12/14)
Equestria Daily!
The Royal Guard's Fic Spotlight #10.

This story is 100% approved by Twilight's Library!
Approved by Nonpareil Fiction!

"Unicorns are wonderful!"
"Unicorns are fantastic!"
"Unicorns are marvelous!"
"Unicorns are glamorous!"
"Unicorns are enchanting!"
"Unicorns are terrific!"

They also like to twist words. What would happen if you asked what they really are, without the wordplay?

Unicorns provoke wonder. They create fantasies. They cause marvels. They project glamour. They weave enchantment. But most importantly, they spawn terror.

Massively A.U.

After being banished for casting a malignant spell on ponies in a fit of madness, Cadence returns to Equestria. Haunted by her actions and eager to redeem herself, she decides that only by serving ponykind will she be able to regain her self-respect and the trust of her loved ones. In going to Canterlot to face Celestia, she finds Equestria in a state of prosperity... but its ruler is acting strangely.

Thanks go out to Pascoite for editing, and Inquisitor M for pre-reading.

Originally written for March 2017 Writeoff Rising From the Ashes.

I'd also like to thank those who offered feedback on the contest version. In no particular order: Novel-Idea, Kritten, Fenton, Posh, Rao the Red Sun, horizon, Cold in Gardez, CoffeeMinion, AndrewRogue

The cover is a drawing by Mi-eau, used with permission.

There was no talking, there was no smiling, there were only rocks. But how then did Pinkie Pie first learn about parties? How did she learn to be such a great baker working on a farm full of rocks? Why did she leave her happy family?
Not everything is as it seems with Pinkie Pie, but she'd be happy to tell you in her own words how she came to be in Sugarcube Corner...why she loves cupcakes...and why she giggles at the ghosties. Pinkie Pie 0rigins is secretly a prequel to the story 'Cupcakes' and deals with her relationship with her family and how Pinkie changed from being a depressed little filly to one who's happy and full of smiles.

The following is based off the studies of Princess Twilight Sparkle, everything disclosed in this is not be revealed to the public until a higher understanding of this has been reached.

The magic of dreams have fascinated Twilight for a while now. So she decides to do what she always does. Study it. But maybe she shouldn't have messed with this one.

Cover Art by Jowybean. (all credit goes to him)
Made Comprehensible by Shrink Laureate
Somehow conjured up by one of my sleep paralysis episodes

It was vexing. Discord could do anything he wanted with his absolute limitless power, literally anything. How he could achieve all that with a snap of his talons had been beyond Twilight's vast comprehension.

That is, until he explained the secret, the infinite source of his abilities. It had been the single most greatest mistake of her life, to cast open Pandora's Box and see what sights were held within, never to be buried again in blissful ignorance. This was what she had chosen for herself.

Rot.

A spin-off to the the story Rot by Mister E. I suggest reading his story for context.
I appreciate the story being shared around, commented on, liked, enjoyed, all that jazz.

Twilight had a nightmare last night but can't seem to remember it. All she knows is that its a perfectly normal morning and she should be enjoying it.

So why can't she?

Now with an audio reading by The Pessimistic Fool!

For most ponies the day they get their cutie mark is the day everything changes. That was especially true for Twilight Sparkle, as the day she got her cutie mark was also the day Princess Celestia took her on as a student, she gained a new little brother and started on the road to her future.

It was also the day she became a dragon.

Custom cover artwork by Elza Fox
Editing and so much more by Klamnei

Twilight's met her match, a tome so dense and arcane that even her considerable intellect couldn't penetrate it. Just before she gave up in a tizzy, Starlight suggested a pony that could help; a good friend, Sunburst.

Starlight Glimmer was once the head of a cult. She used her magic to control minds, enslave ponies, and nearly destroyed all of Equestria. Such acts are unforgivable, but somehow she was forgiven by Princess Twilight, and has become her student. It is certainly more than she deserves.

While Starlight admires the grace with which Twilight forgave her, and frankly, the grace that the Princess displays in all areas of life, she has to wonder: What's her secret?

This story was featured on Equestria Daily in a round-up for Starlight Glimmer Day 2021.