Sunset Shimmer's relationship with Twilight Sparkle and Adagio is everything she could wish for. Both girls make her happy beyond words... except when they're all together. Something goes wrong as Sunset tries to spend time with the two of them and despite her best efforts, the chasm only grows wider.

Originally written for Sunset Shimmer Shipping Contest: Journeys. I couldn't finish it in time due to life problems, but here it is.

Huge thanks to Krickis and Char-Char-Chan who helped me tremendously with the writing of this story. I couldn't have done it without them.

Also, many many thanks to Apricallico who did this superb cover in a pinch.

There is no sex scene in this story, only heavy flirting from somesiren.

Ever since she was a young foal, Starlight has wanted to become the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. After years of study, she's finally ready to prove herself by making contact with the one pony she believes can help her achieve this goal: King Sombra.
But King Sombra isn't the only thing waiting on the other side of that door.

The opening titles of MLP have always felt like they were from a different version of the show. This is that version...

Fed up with being useless at magic, a blank-flanked Twilight Sparkle does the only thing she feels she can do... she runs away. Fortunately, she has a good friend along for the ride...

Now has a sequel: Nightwaker, which presents the return of Nightmare Moon in this timeline.

Featured 10/16-10/19/2018 -- thanks, everypony, for your kind support and feedback on this version of the pilot story!

Eight decades ago, the Centauri Kingdom landed its army on the shores of Vanhoover, in hopes of bringing Equestria to its knees and taking over the land. There, in Northwest Equestria, the 2nd Division of the "Clementine" Corps, 4th Equestrian Army stood as the first line of defense.

Prior to this state of war, Lt. Zip Jetscream was assigned to command the 3rd Platoon of the unblooded A Company, "Wild Rice" Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division.

Split off from the division during the disastrous Retreat to the Galloping Gorge, Lt. Jetscream and his platoon flee south into the Unicorn Range. Until the rest of the 4th Equestrian Army and other Equestrian forces can assemble, they find they are the only thing between the Centauri Army and the fastest road to Canterlot.

Check out the Appendix for The Virgin Company, updated as the story moves along. Includes character designs and platoon arrangement. Contains spoilers.

Nobles have long held sway over Equestrian culture. They are the trendsetters, the heads of the pack. Simply the way they speak can influence language. When they create compliments, similarly-phrased praise spreads throughout the nation. When they implement insults, ponies create situations for those insults to be used. One insult, in particular, has gone down in history as especially infamous.

I'm talking about butts and the photocopying thereof. This is still Equestrian nobility, after all. It's complicated. And stupid. Mostly stupid.

Has a dramatic reading done by Skijarama.

Larkspur Blossom is an Earth pony colt. Having lost his mother, with his father distant, burying himself in work and other distractions, he takes care of his younger sisters, a Pegasus and a unicorn. Upon losing their father, they are shuffled around among family in Equestria. In Vanhoover he meets his best friend. A story of gain and loss, and growing up.

Sunset's in trouble and we need Princess Twilight's help.  We've been calling her with Sunset's magic journal since yesterday but there's been no reply.

Looks like we're going to have to go through the portal and find her ourselves.

After all, it's a magical land of cute, colorful ponies.  This should be easy.

Right?

Sex tag exists for jokes relating to nudity and innuendo.

Chapters 1 - 5 pre-read by Spirit Shift and Rocinante
Chapters 6-41 (and most epilogues) pre-read by FanOfMostEverything

Complete list of cameos:

Act 1: Twilight "SciTwi" Sparkle and Spike the dog.

Act 2: Cranky Doodle Donkey, Cheerilee, Thunderlane, Applebloom, Big Mac, Grand Pear, Sweetie Bell, Angel, Bon Bon, Lyra, Octavia, Vinyl, Trixie, Flower Trio (Rose, Daisy, Lily Valley), Discord, Treehugger, Wallflower (Sort of), Scootaloo, Gummy, Mr. & Mrs. Cake, Mr. Davinport, Bulk Biceps, Amathyst Star, Cloudchaser, and Dinky Doo.

Act 3: Fancy Pants, Iron Will?, Moondancer, Zephyr Breeze, Sassy Saddles, Shining Armor, Tank, Doughnut Joe, Muila Mild, Snips & Snails, and Maud.

Finale: FSpoiler, ASpoiler, and SSpoiler.

Epilogues: Big spoilers here: Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Philomena, And a spoilery name drop.

Rainbow Dash is prevented from getting cider.

Again.

Hilarity ensues.

Every day for a year Starlight Glimmer has visited Cozy Glow in Tartarus in an attempt to get through to her, to try to understand why she did what she did. Every Day Cozy has refused help by telling more lies and fake stories about her past. But Starlight knows from experience that no one is beyond saving, so she decides to put everything on the line to help Cozy Glow, whether the stubborn filly wants it or not!

Pronoia: believing the world is conspiring in your favor
Paranoia: believing the world is conspiring against you

As a former member of Canterlot's elite law enforcement team, Twilight Sparkle is used to a certain level of responsibility. However, her years of experience are rendered useless by her sudden and unwanted transfer to the sleepy little town of Ponyville. With no other option, she chooses to give into the monotony.

But this all changes when a grisly murder shocks the entire town. As the only member of Ponyville's police force equipped to deal with this sort of thing, Twilight welcomes her first real case in over two years. But she quickly realizes that there is more to this murder than meets the eye. It seems Twilight's past has followed her to Ponyville.

With the help of her loyal assistant Spike, a series of strange clues, and some cryptic notes, Twilight tries to figure out the identity of the pony or ponies who have wrapped her up in their bizarre game.