Once upon a time, ponies lived in Paradise. At least, that's what the stories say.

Expanded from the second-place finalist entry in the 2023 Iron Author competition at Everfree Northwest.

Before recorded history, there was the Age of Chaos, when Discord ruled the world.

And in this age, there were two sisters.

The elder, a unicorn, possessed unprecedented refined senses and magical might. The younger sister was a pegasus, with insight beyond her years and the strange gift of walking through shadow and dream.

One day, they would be alicorns. Ponies and other intelligent beings would debate over whether they were goddesses.

But first, before anything else, they were children.

This is their story.

First Story of the Elsequestria Continuity and the Sunset Rising Continuity.

Artwork by Sixes_and_Sevens. Please check out their excellent artwork and stories.

(Note: during the Age of Chaos, time was soft and most attempts of marking its passage were meaningless. The titles of the first four chapters refer to the sisters' approximate stages of physical development.)

This chronology continues in Luna’s Gift.

Fifty thousand years ago, ponies were wild animals running free across untamed meadows and plains.

The gray foal lives with his herd, including his friend the buckskin filly, the lead stallion, and his mother. He bears witness to the thing that will change the history of Equestria forever.

Published as an entry for the Hazardous Writing Materials group prompt "History."

Photograph taken by the extremely talented Sarah Koutnik. Check out her amazing work at Sarah Koutnik Fotografie, please.

Twilight finally manages to solve the problems with Star Swirl the Bearded’s time travel spell and decides that one of her first visits should be to see that old hero of hers.

Unfortunately, he’s not really what she was expecting.

Proofread by the wonderful docontra

The most powerful sorcerer in history rescues a young Princess from her own curiosity, and helps her found a new Empire. But the sorcerer has her own reasons for doing so -- and they're not nice reasons...

In canon, Sacanas is only mentioned in passing as the creator of the Staff of Sacanas, used by Tempest Shadow in her attempt to conquer Equestria. Yet what kind of sorcerer would fashion a staff designed to steal the magic of alicorns? Why was Tempest, while wielding the Staff and its power, so implacably, coldly vicious? And why does history seem to say so little about such a powerful mage? There's a backstory here, and this is my take on it...

One final note: I do not agree with or defend the opinions expressed here. My intent is merely to explore the question: can a pony somehow end up doing all the right things, for all the wrong reasons?

This story is a sequel to Luna's Daughters

(Can be read without first reading the prequel.)

Centuries ago, in the years after Nightmare Moon's banishment, Luna and Celestia's descendants helped Celestia build the new nation.

Luna's great-granddaughter, Gale Glider, forged the Royal Equestrian Coast Guard, imbuing it with traditions of valor, sacrifice, and bravery. Her final words remain their sacred oath:

Preread by Sledge115 and RDT, thank you!

Cover art found on Google without any attribution, alas.

Author's notes blog, containing spoilers.

Everypony has one 'Longest Night', a night that just never seems to end, whether they want it to end or not. For Celestia, her Longest Night began on the first night she had to raise her sister's moon.

Heartbroken and filled with despair that she may never see her sister again, Celestia makes a wish upon a falling star to see her sister one more time. Little did she realise that the stars listen.

A one-shot story of two sisters, and one Faithful Student.

Side-quel: Myths and Birthrights

Partially inspired by Ponyphonics amazing song 'Lullaby for a Princess'.
Cover art used with permission by InuHoshi-to-DarkPen.
Special thanks to Honey Mead and Iroh for helping iron out some details.

King Guto embarks on a perilous quest to seize an artifact which may hold the key to reclaiming Griffonstone's greatness. But when a mysterious hermit offers another choice, Guto faces his greatest test as King. Griffonstone's fate is in his talons.

Written for FanOfMostEverything's Imposing Sovereigns Contest II.

My Little Pony is owned by Hasbro and its affiliates.

"Between the time when the oceans drank Marelantis and the rise of the Elements of Harmony there was an age undreamed of.  And unto this Celestia!  Destined to bear the jewelled crown of Equestria upon a troubled brow.  It is I, her chronicler, who alone can tell thee of her saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!"

Celestia is many things to her little ponies: princess, leader, and teacher, to name a few.  Yet her past is unknown to her subjects, lost to the depths of time.  After she passes her crown to her student she descends into a place unvisited for over a thousand years, and there remembers a time before the Magic of Friendship, before Equestria, and before the Elements of Harmony -- the Hyponian Age.

It was an era of cruelty, violence, and hope.  Into this harsh world, Celestia the Cimmareian ventured out alone in search of gold, glory, and adventure.  The Tower of the Fallen Star and the horrors within await.

Cover art by EZTP, commissioned by Yours Truly.

Pre-read by SockPuppet, Steel Quill, and Sledge115. Thank you to all in the site's Discord who helped bring this idea to life.

We have many tales of Celestia the Princess, Celestia the Ruler, Celestia the Lover. This is a Celestia who can keep the pages turning all day long.

-Steel Quill

This story is a sequel to A Song of Storms: Of Skies Long Forgotten

It has been twenty years since the fall of the Cirran Empire, and Commander Hurricane has led the pegasus pony tribe into a comfortable role in accordance with the Tri-Pony Compact. But a supernatural blizzard without end brings forth the suppressed hatreds that have festered among the three tribes, and the resulting famine threatens to eradicate all; earth pony, unicorn, and pegasus alike. With a bloody war looming on the horizon and the fate of their ponies at stake, the three tribes must find a way to survive together, or they will assuredly die alone.

Sequel to "Of Skies Long Forgotten." Reading of that story is not absolutely necessary to understand what is going on, but it is strongly recommended for you to understand the references.

Officially part of "The Price of Loyalty" storyverse, in collaboration with LoyalLiar

Editing by LoyalLiar and Ruirik
Cover art provided by Ruirik