This is a "factual work within a fictional universe" type piece, representing one of the many textbooks issued to Twilight Sparkle's students at the School of Friendship. It covers a host of subjects, such as science and technology, history, fashion, culture, cuisine and etiquette, and is geared both towards native Equestrians - expanding what they already know - and visitors from foreign lands, or could even serve as a useful primer for visitors from across the Multiverse! Written by Twilight with contributions from all her friends, it's sure to be a useful tool for just about anyone in Equestria.

With Equestria's magic back where it belongs, Twilight's school continues with its lessons into the Magic of Friendship. With classes finished for the day, however, Twilight decides it's time she finally investigated the chambers beneath the school. There she will have the chance to talk with a being she'd only dreamed of getting the chance to talk to:

The Tree of Harmony.

Proofread and edited by RQK.

My pride has been killing me ever since I started down this path, and I have helped it along all the way. With every decision I've made, with every boast I've shouted, with every crime I've committed, it's strangled me more and more, it's cut out the foal my parents once knew and the mare that I could have been. Maybe, if things had gone differently, I could have been useful with my life, I could have helped somepony. Maybe I could have been truly great.

Now, though, it's too late. I can't take back any of the decisions I've made, I can't rewind time and warn myself of how I was destined to fail, of how I was poisoning my mind with fruitless hopes and vain reasoning. All I have left is this paper on which I can jot down my final thoughts, this pen with which I can make a record of my sins. As pitiful as it is, this is all I can do to redeem myself. This is my only way to atone...

Cover art by AFL316.

Proofread by BloodLord and seeker9709.

Following her humiliation at the hooves of Twilight Sparkle, Trixie is left broken and alone. All alone in the world without a friend to care for her, she descends into a state of depression and remorse.

"Will Her Majesty, Princess Luna of Equestria, please rise, approach, and address the bench? The Court would like you to issue a statement on your actions of one millennium ago. This is now on the record and you now have the floor, Your Highness."

[One-Shot]

A week after moving to Ponyville, Violet Petal as already seen and experienced wonderful things such as the Elements stopping evil villains and monsters, the Castle of Friendship, and Pinkie Pie's parties. Unfortunately, she has also experienced many awful things. Including prejudices from the town's residents. For she is a Thestral, or "bat pony," to the more blunt members of society.

After one particularly bad day, she runs across a strange bipedal creature napping in the park.

Author's note: I was featured! It was for a few minutes, sure, but still!

Luna struggles with the edges of sanity and feelings of depression after her time of lunar isolation.

When Celestia and Luna tell Twilight that being an alicorn comes with challenges and trials, and that she needs to control herself and her magic, they refer her to an old book on meditation. Twilight is skeptical at first, but she reads it anyway.
When she gets into it she finds that the book is not filled with sensible, helpful tips on meditation at all, but the message inside gets into her head. Eventually she starts having visions, and one vision in particular will not leave her mind until she brings it into the real world. The consequences change her views of Ponyville - and her duty to it - completely.

This story is a sequel to A Process of Elimination

Twilight Sparkle had a secret.

It was a secret that plagued her for years. It was a secret that isolated her. It was a secret that brought her pain, misery, and joy all at once.

It was a secret that gained her the best and only real friend she had ever known.

It was a secret that caused her downfall.

“We, the Royals of Equestria and the Crystal Empire, hereby find you guilty on all counts.”

After years of being a treasured friend, the human they thought they knew was revealed as a mass murderer. He never showed the slightest remorse after being caught.

Days later, Celestia has unanswered questions that cannot be denied.

Small extra note: Appearances can be deceiving...
Pre-readers: JimboTex and BikerPon3
Featured 9/4/2018
Oh bloody hell...

Chance's theme: Two Steps From Hell - Star Sky