Being the Deity of Time is tough work. You've got to protect the timestream, save ponies that tamper with time and get stuck in infinite loops.

There's also a lot of experimenting one can get done with the ability to reset the universe each time.

a lot of experimenting.

Point is, she's done a lot, for a LONG time. So, after her latest experiment goes very wrong, she decides to take a vacation.

Back to where she was once known as Twilight Sparkle.

Also, Discord does some things too.

Look at Flash Sentry. Hitting on Twilight and being all nice to her. How dare he? He sucks.

I'm Shining Armor, and as Twilight's older brother, I'm the one who has to approve of whoever dates her. Or whoever wants to date her. Or, in the case of Flash Sentry, might even think about wanting to date her. But I don't like him. Not one bit. I have a visceral hatred of him from the very core of my being. So, I kick Flash Sentry's flank.

He deserves it, after all, and I'm sure that you all agree.

There are many axioms in Equestria. "Go with the grain." "Count your blessings." "Strive to be happy with what you have."

And, though left unsaid, the most important one of all: "Know your place."

Although Flash Sentry loves Twilight, she can never know of his love. She can never return the feelings. It wouldn't be proper. After all, social order is more important than fulfilling one's own wishes.

Alternate Universe tag is due to the existence of a caste system in this story. Please keep that in mind as you read.

Thanks to Sir Rustbucket, Draconian Soul, Regidar, and Loopy Legend for editing.

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Now with a poem by Fiend from the Darkness!

Now with a YouTube reading by BlackIrisBalloon (and multiple voice actors)!

Now with a Korean translation by Kianoke!

Followed by What Hath Joined Together.

Rated Teen for mild violence and thematic elements.

Flash Sentry visits Twilight while on vacation in Ponyville for a week. Will Twilight take chance on Flash or will she let him go?

That's how long it's been since Flash Sentry went MIA during a mission up north. Twilight has been waiting for him to come back, believing he is still alive. However, others are in need of the Princess more than they need a good guard. Twilight is uncertain how she feels around Flash and waits for him to get an answer to her feelings, but when he's been missing for seven months... one might think something has happened.

Twilight didn't want to use dark magic. She had seen what had happened to the last user of it. But she had to. The Crystal Empire was in danger, and it was the only way to get to it's heart.

About a year later, Twilight is plagued with nightmares. Tempting her to give in to the corruption. To join King Sombra. Will she prevail? Or will she fall? And what effect will it have on her friends?

Diverges from Canon after Season 4.

This story is a sequel to Lost into Shadow

Twilight has failed, or rather, she has succeeded. Her darkness is her power, and together with her husband, Queen Twilight has a new plan for all of Equis. The black castle rises to greater power than has ever been seen before. War is brewing while alliances are forged and others are broken. The days of harmony are dead and gone, and all the world will be forced to mobilize against the might of the Nightmare Hordes. Will they prevail in the faces of Wrath and Despair? Do they have any hope of someday returning to a time of peace and love?
....
........
Not a chance, because in Chapter 1, Hope dies.

This story is a sequel to Lost into Shadow

The impossible has happened, through all the pain and darkness, Twilight Sparkle succeeded in her impossible mission...mostly. King Sombra is still plenty rough around the edges, but despite being an old dog he's making an effort to learn new tricks. Where will this new way of life take him? He has absolutely no idea, but with his queen to guide him, what could possibly go wrong?

Twilight and Flash now face the hardships, yet pleasing rewards, of being a couple, but is it too good to be true?

Flash and Twilight broke up?! How, when, where?! Will they get back together? These questions are answered in Part Three of Twilight's Love Story... but as you read on, you may find that even bigger mysteries await...