As the eternal regent of Equestria, Princess Celestia's knowledge of magic is without equal. Over her long life, only a few gifted ponies who had a great destiny before them have had the honor of learning at her side. Sunset Shimmer was one such pony: one of Celestia’s best and most promising students. As she learned at Celestia’s hooves, their bond strengthened until they became far more than student and teacher to one another.

Sometimes those closest to us are the ones who can hurt us the most.

[Note: This story does not directly tie into Equestria Girls]

Princess Luna's guards have earned a reputation as the bravest and most devoted of all her subjects. Every mare and stallion under her command was ready to protect their Princess and her honor no matter the cost. None of that changed when she took on the mantle of Nightmare Moon.

But when a desperate attempt to turn the tide of conflict goes awry, the Princess's most trusted aide is forced to make a choice that puts her loyalty to the test.

Second place in the /PJ2023/ competition!

This story is a sequel to The Dusk Guard Saga: Beyond the Borderlands

"With ever-excellent action sequences, steady and effective character growth for our two leads, and constantly high stakes, the viking once again delivers an exciting and memorable adventure." —PaulAsaran

Long ago, a city of great magical power and ability was beset by evil and sealed away beyond the scope of time. Now that seal has begun to fray.

First Lieutenant Hunter and the rest of the Dusk Guard have been dispatched. At face value, their mission seems straightforward: Secure the city. Hold until reinforced.

But nothing for the Dusk Guard is ever quite that simple, and this mission is no exception. As the city nears its return so does its ancient king, a shade who once wielded enough power to bring even immortals to their knees. And if he is allowed to regain his throne, will once more. Worse, the city may very well be under the iron hoof of his own followers, a ruthless order who will stop at nothing to see their king regain his former glory.

Dark magics. Cities lost to time. Ancient evil.

The Dusk Guard's first official mission has begun.

Book III of The Dusk Guard Saga
Epic Fantasy
Official Series Timeline at TDG Group Forums
Can be found on TV Tropes at The Dusk Guard Saga’s page (Page outdated)
Cover art by ... well, I don't know. I was unable to find any credit whatsoever on the hosting site or by searching. If you know, please PM and pass it on so it can be properly attributed!
Alpha and Beta read by Halusm, Seirs, Bugsydor, and son_of_heaven176. Many thanks for your help!
If you encounter what you think are typos in the story, PM them rather than clogging the comments feed with them.

Author’s note: From time to time you may encounter a hotlink in the text. These hotlinks are background themes I listened to when writing the fic and can be clicked or passed over at your own choice. It is recommended that for maximum enjoyment beforehand if you do wish to follow them, make sure that your volume settings on YouTube are at a comfortable level and make use of Ctrl+Shft+Clicking or the middle mouse button to open the song in a new tab. Be aware that there may be ads if you do not have an adblocker.

Or just don’t click on them until later. They are an entirely optional experience, and can be passed over without incident.

This story is a sequel to The Dusk Guard Saga: Rise

"Viking ZX has pride in the fact that he can throw his readers into a ride." —PCaRG
"... an exhilarating romp that leaves you guessing half the time and keeps you thrilled throughout." —PaulAsaran
"... you’ll enjoy this one." —City of Doors

Blade Sunchaser is a griffon on the run.

Seven days ago she was the bodyguard of two of the wealthiest railroad magnates in Equestria. One day after that she was in a jail cell.

She didn’t stay there for long. She’s got a job to do, a job with a payoff bigger than any she’s ever earned before. All she needs to do is track down two stolen bits of crystal and bring them back to her employer. Stolen bits last seen being taken north, past Equestria’s furthest borders, into the lawless wasteland known as the Ocean of Endless Ice. A haven of ice dredgers, criminals, and pirates ripe with violence, danger, and dark secrets. But for this kind of payoff, the danger is nothing. She’ll face anything, go anywhere, and do whatever it takes to see her mission through.

Even start a war ...

Book II of The Dusk Guard Saga
Epic Fantasy
Equestrian Map of the Ocean of Endless Ice
Official Series Timeline at [url=https://www.fimfiction.net/group/204855/the-dusk-guard-saga/thread/127607/the-dusk-guard-saga-timeline]TDG Group Forums
Can be found on TV Tropes at The Dusk Guard Saga’s page (Page outdated)
Cover art by Midnight Sonare
Alpha and Beta read by Siers, Raptra, and Jorlem.
If you encounter what you think are typos in the story, PM them rather than clogging the comments feed with them.

Author’s note: From time to time you may encounter a hotlink in the text. These hotlinks are background themes and can be clicked or passed over at your own choice. It is recommended that for maximum enjoyment beforehand, make sure that your volume settings on YouTube are at a comfortable level and make use of Ctrl+Shft+Clicking or the middle mouse button to open the song in a new tab, where it will play automatically without your involvement.

Or just don’t click on them until later. They are an entirely optional experience, and can be passed over without incident.

The State of Chiropterra had existed in isolated secrecy for a thousand years. Descended from the most loyal Legions of Nightmare Moon, they employed extreme measures to survive on a hostile continent, relentlessly preparing for the night of their Empress's glorious return.

But now their historic task is complete, Nightmare Moon sits undisputed upon the Equestrian throne, and Chiropterra's fate in the New Lunar Millenium is to be decided.

Amongst it all, the Equestrian General Selenite had befriended two Chiropterrans from opposite ideological persuasions, the hardline conservative Auburn Leaf and the moderate reformist Lucent Eclipse. As Chiropterra's future hangs in the balance, so does their relationship.

Takes place in my New Lunar Millennium alternate universe. More information can be found here, but no prior knowledge of my AU is required to read this story.

Proofread and edited by Izzy Incraft.

The eternal night of Nightmare Moon’s reign is a harsh and unforgiving time, and growing food during it proves to be a most difficult affair. When famine hits, Applejack believes she has a good idea on how to fix the problem.

Now with a reading by Skijarama - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1J0EIWPA8

Sunset Shimmer is the daughter of the Sun and the cleverest pony of her age. Yet still she craves more.

For in her sleep and waking hours, Sunset dreams of flight. Every day she longs for the skies she deserved, cursed to be beyond her reach, for it is everything she has ever wanted.

Then along comes a stranger from a faraway land, with rose-coloured wings and love in her heart, and all Sunset wanted to know was how she lived her dream and flew where she could only run.

Meanwhile, Mi Amore Cadenza dreams of a garden wreathed in stardust, with the legacy of a long-forgotten realm shouldered upon her, and her alone...

Set before Season 1.

A standalone piece in the Spectrum-verse. TV Tropes page here!

A story in three acts. Each act is completed first before being published. Chapters in each act published every three days.

Featured from 3/2/2023 to 4/2/2023, reaching the #4 spot. Featured again on 6/2/2023 and 9/2/2023.

Edited by VoxAdam, proofread by skysayl, EileenSaysHi, and Gay For Gadot

Cover drawn by my good friend Grace

Ko-Fi page, leave a tip if you feel like it!

Sombra's takeover took everyone in the Crystal Empire by surprise. No one saw it coming, none were prepared for it, and almost no one got away. Almost.

A few hooffuls of daring souls managed to break out of the city and flee southwards, towards Equestria. Some ran to beg the Princesses for aid, others - just to save themselves and their families from the mad tyrant.

But as the refugees are about to learn, it's the dead of winter outside the Empire's shield, and the crystal ponies are far too used to their warm life in the city. One filly that gets separated from her parents while trying to get away learns that fact all too painfully...

Cover art by Marbo, Allfather of the Snowponies.

Additional tag:snowpony

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?

The Socialist Union of Equestria has finally achieved the dream long spoken of by its visionaries. Nearly all of the world lies under the banner of socialism, and the few enemies that remain weaken with every moment. The day of ultimate victory is inevitable.

But things have changed. Something is rotten within the Revolution. And a mare from the days when it was confined to humble Stalliongrad has figured out what.

So, she writes a letter. She makes a speech. And she faces the consequences.

---

Written for the second Equestria at War writing contest.