This story is a sequel to Changing Expectations

When ages are segmented and divided in the annals of history, it is done so with great events as breakpoints. The Second Age of Heroes was unanimously declared to have started with the return of Princess Luna and the changeling Invasion of Canterlot.

For thousands of years, the changelings survived beneath The Great Tapestry, that which connects all living and nonliving things. Hundreds of generations worked endlessly to keep their existence a secret. With one command from Queen Chrysalis, the Masquerade was broken.

In a single night, the changelings waged war against Equestria and took the Kingdom by storm. Months later, the war between changelings and ponies has ended. A new tapestry, a new story, must be woven between the two species. Equestria and the Fifth Hive have gone through a dark chapter and have emerged stronger for it.

One war ends and another begins.

As The Sword of Damocles hangs above the heads of the formerly-human King Phasma and his Equestrian counterparts, the forces of light must work on an ever-shortening window before war once again brings Hell to Equus. Dark powers grow in the places that the light does not reach, and they bring one irrefutable truth.

Epitaph is coming.

Cover art by Nixworld.

Special thanks to my pre-readers!

Autumn Blaze never found the cure for the Stream of Silence.

Third place winner at the Iron Author Speedwriting Contest at Everfree Northwest 2022. Contestants must write a full pony story within 2 hours, based on a surprise prompt. This is my story as written for the contest, with minor edits. Additional edits may be made once I have received feedback from the judges.

Thank you to all those who hosted the contest.

Olenia won against the Changelings, Chrysalis is presumed dead and the country lays in ruin.
Queen Velvet has tasked 16 Individuals, most of them Deer, with the administration and rebuilding of the Changeling Hives.
Will the Changeling lands enter a new era of prosperity and peace together with Olenia? or will the Administrative Council fail and the Changelings fall to infighting once again?

This story is a sequel to Lectern’s New and Used Books: Fall Semester

A Twin Canterlots story—first in the Brass Ring series

If it had been just the prosthetic right arm, Rose Brass might have been certified fit for duty—but when the docs also concluded her left eye couldn’t be saved, that was that. The army captain found herself down-checked and retired to the permanent disability list. Without any other direction, she moved back to the city where she’d grown up. Now, thanks to the kindness of strangers, she’s washed up at the doors of an organization dedicated to assisting veterans just like her.

Rose visits VSCC some fourteen years before “Rainbow Rocks”—about twelve and a half years before MLPFIM begins.

Hit the “Popular Stories” bar the evening of posting, 29 June 2021, woo!

With rumors rising of multiple break outs in the royal castle's dungeon, Clover takes it on herself to investigate. But she becomes more curious when she realizes the Council of High Mages are keeping something dangerous in the dungeon.

Special thanks to:

The great ZettaiDullahan for the amazing cover he provided for this piece for free.

The pre-readers Greatazuredragon, The sleepless beholder, Stinium Ruide, Draconequues and Nate

And the editors that helped with this piece: Helping Hoof, The red Parade, Drowsy, The one strange fellow and Scotishbro

''In those days, nodeer really knew what to expect. Most suspected something was coming of course, but no one was quite sure what that something was, or how it would manifest itself. But the Hjortland meeting of 1008 was the first time plans were made, and it was those plans that ended up saving the Deer of Olenia from humiliation and destruction.'' ~ Lord Rushuo, The Last Lord, 1027

The year is 1008. Following a coup to remove the weak pretender king Johan Djavulen, the Goðar are in control of the Deer nation of Olenia. But simply exiling Johan is not enough to save Olenia, especially not with the looming threat to the north. Following visions by Seers across the country, Allsherjargoði Jurva, head of the Goðar, calls for a meeting of industrialists, Seers and generals, to assess the present and plan for the future.

Written for the Equestria At War 2022 Writing Contest.

Important: this takes place in the Equestria At War universe. Equestria At War is a mod for the grand strategy game Hearts of Iron IV, be sure to check out their Discord and Reddit if you're not familiar with it. They also have a group on this site: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212917/equestria-at-war

Cover art: map and text made by me, portrait of Jurva done by MrScroup for EAW (top of the antlers done by me, as the original portrait didn't have those, and edited by DraconianHorizons, be sure to check his stuff out).

Rated T for adult themes such as war, the costs of industrialisation and light swearing.

The following story takes place in the Equestria at War universe.

For some, the memory of the Great War against the Changelings was just that; a distant memory. But nopony can deny that, despite a victory, the repurcussions that followed have resulted in a dark time in the worlds history. God-Empress Daybreaker now rules across the Equestrian continent with an iron hoof, and has ruled uncontested for over two decades.

Even her protégé, Sunrise Sparkle, is starting to doubt her superiors' decisions. But given that nopony ever questions the God-Empress and lives to tell the tale, she simply kept her thoughts to herself. That is until a certain thought to be dead Princess of the Night visits her in a dream...

Cover art by Neither
Full size here

For well over a thousand years, now, they had been cast out, forced into a depressing life of solitude among only one another... which, given everything, did not make circumstances any more bearable, for them, most times.

No. No, they weren't cast out. Banished! They were imprisoned! Sealed away by that accursed Wizard and his lackies of five doing his bidding, as always! Their symphony had been perfect, a melody so harmonic and soothing it made only sense to keep listening. Their triumphant crescendo was upon Equestria, the final act in their grand serenade.

But that finale never came. Their final act... it was not to be. Or, so they thought.

Mortals were a curious bunch, in the end. Useless, petty and pathetic as one may call them, but they got a lot done in what little time they had for themselves. A new world, as it were, far different from the one the three of them had last seen, before the light of day was taken away from them in exchange for a dark prison so deep beneath the waves.

But one thing they all knew, to varying degrees: mortals were curious. And curiosity, be it as it were, would be the only thing they needed for their curtain call. The setting of the stage for a new, second act.

The Abyss calls.

This Story takes place in the Alternate Universe of Equestria at War. EaW uses a custom world map including 3 separate continents, and a 'modern' world setting equal to World War 2 (in most places). Consider trying out the mod for Hearts of Iron IV yourself, or check out the Fimfiction group and check out more stories about it.

For the purpose of this story, it's noteworthy that the Sirens were NOT banished to the EQG universe when Starswirl banished them, but were instead sealed away deep under the ocean.

Tempest Shadow would be the first pony to tell you she's not worthy of friendship. All she deserves after a life spent helping the Storm King conquer and pillage is four walls, bars, and solitude. But she's getting a new life in Ponyville anyway, at the side of Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship.

Tempest Shadow isn't a friendship kind of pony. She's not a party kind of pony. She's not a happy kind of pony in the least. So what could there possibly be for her in Ponyville? More than she thinks, as it turns out. Come join her as she discovers what she's truly meant to do, what she's truly worth, and who she's truly meant to be with. Her life is going to change far more than she ever would have expected.

A serial that will update as individual stories are completed. Incomplete until the whole thing is finished, but the reader is urged to keep up with uploads. Individual stories may also be comedies or adventures. Warning tags may be added as necessary. Find more stories here!

Cover art by Firimil!

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.