Shining Armor and Princess Cadence's marriage has become legend. However, the two were not always a couple. Learn how the famous lovers first met and the stunning lengths that the Princess of Love herself had to go to in order to get her destined beau's attention after years spent drifting apart while Shining served in the military.

Featured by The Royal Guard on 03/20/14! Twilight's Library Approved 03/24/14! EqD Featured 06/10/2014!

This story is written such that one does not need to have read Rites of Ascension beforehand to understand and enjoy it. However, one should know a few quick, easy things going in. First, Season Three and later do not exist in the Rites timeline, and second, Cadence is a winged unicorn rather than alicorn. Also, I'm aware the comics tackled this topic, but this is in my own AU, and I first wrote this more than a year ago. Consider this an alternate take on the idea. Other than that, you should be able to dive in with no problems.

That having being said, as this is a canon story in the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe, reading the main story will make this one even more enjoyable.

The amazing artwork was done by my wife, the fantastically talented Violet Squiggles, whom I dedicate this work to. I love you, my darling, with all my heart. You are my everything.

“We are living in a scene,/That you can't capture by photograph,/We are living in the moment.” -The Pillows, ‘Star Overhead’

A comet is passing over Equestria and every creature is captivated by the beauty. Along with the rest of her class, Smolder has to write an about the celestial object. However, the dragon seems far more interested in a talent that her earth pony friend has, as well as the pony themselves.

Cover art commissioned from Amy New.

Effective communication is important in any friendship.

Unfortunately for Twilight, Tempest Shadow and Pharynx communicate almost exclusively in overwhelming force.

Life can be fleeting. What pony doesn't know that?

Wiser are those who recognize it and live it as such.

Perhaps some lessons need to be learned the hard way...?

Perhaps.

The choice is for Rarity to make.

Hearts and Hooves Day Special.

NOT CANNON to my eventual Wyngsverse. Just a short one-shot spinoff that occurred to me while I try to decide what my Rarity ship is...

A collab with Freedom!

It's time for the yearly Hearts and Hooves Day Scavenger Hunt, hosted by Cadance and Twilight. It's a chance for couples to participate as a team in a competitive game against other couples throughout the town. It's very... romantic-ish and cheesy.

Regardless, Flitter would like nothing more to be asked to participate by the love of her life... Poptart! He's dreamy, he's handsome, he's in a band... He's perfect! Of course, it'd be easier if her sister wasn't always getting in the way of her hopes and dreams.

I mean, what would she do if her sister stole away the one pony she truly loves? Or at least likes a lot? Take a dragon to the event instead? Yeah, right...

She's not that desperate.

Cover art by Not Enough Coffee! Check him out!

Special thanks to Muggony for helping out with editing!

Spike and Starlight became friends the moment life put them in the same castle. As they grew closer over the years, they didn't think anything could break their friendship.

Unfortunately, all it took was one night to throw that belief into chaos. Now, they have to not only work together but battle their own doubts and insecurities to figure out a way to fix the broken bond between them.

Edited by Curify

Artwork by lockerobster

Note: This story deals with some mature themes and may not be comfortable for all readers. Just a heads up.

Through a miraculous and cruel twist of fate, Sombra has survived death yet again. However, his many defeats have left him broken and near feral, and the Princesses see no option but to lock him away. Starlight Glimmer, seeing more than the rage and hate the others see, feels pity for the fallen king, and offers to take Sombra under her care to try and reform him.

She quickly finds out Sombra's more broken than anyone believes, and it's going to be a rocky road to redemption, but even the darkest shadows can take solace in the starlight.

Cover art drawn by my sister, linked in the art itself.

Spike and Gabby have been dating for a few weeks, and everything is great! In their short time together, they’ve found that they click on so many more levels than they did as friends. There is never an awkward moment between them, and now that they’re on the third date, it’s time to take it to the next level: The kiss. 

The mere thought of it fills Spike with nerves, but not of the excited kind. Instead of anticipation, all he feels is dread. He wants to kiss her. He needs to kiss her. There’s just one little problem.

He doesn’t know how to kiss a beak.

Thanks to Jack of a Few Trades for editing and helping round out the ideas of this story.

Also, thanks to Not Enough Coffee for prereading this and giving his always awesome feedback.

Art by: yuyusunshine

It was just three simple words that Gallus heard her mutter as they lay in bed together. Three words that he had heard many times before, but never did he realize just how beautiful they sounded when it was addressed to him.

(Just a short practice I gave myself that I decided to post)

During a diplomatic visit from King Thorax, Princess Luna discovers that, inexplicably, his brother Pharynx hates her lavender. And for that matter, potted plants in general.

That won't do, of course – even if Pharynx is the new Changeling Prince – and so she'll need to teach him a lesson.

And one lesson won't be enough.

Featured from 18/05/2020 to 20/05/2020, peaking at #4 in the box.
Featured on Equestria Daily! Also featured in Equestria Daily's 38 Fanfics to Read for Luna Day 2020!
9/10, from My Little Reviews & Feedback.
8.8/10 and 8/10, from the Reviewer's Mansion.

Edited and proofread by VoxAdam, pre-read by Valtyra. Thanks, you guys

Written for the May 2020 Original Pairing Contest.

Cover by hosikawa_choco.

Author's Commentary