An alternate take on events that begins in the middle of Chapter 2, Episode 6 ("The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over") of Make Your Mark. This story assumes reader knowledge of the show up to that point.

Zipp had a lot of suspicions about Misty, the strange unicorn that Izzy had met in town earlier that day and invited to an impromptu sleepover party at the Brighthouse. But while she'd been exercising her detective skills on their guest all night as the oddities surrounding her piled up, she hadn't meant to drive Misty away. So when, after Misty flees from the party in a panic, Zipp notices that she's still out in the Brighthouse's garden, pacing frantically, Zipp decides to see if she can talk to her, and figure out just what is going on with this curious new pony.

And what she learns may well give Zipp room for pause -- and a need to exercise some comfort skills.

Please note that while this fic is rated E, there is some mild discussion of parental/familial abuse.

A reading from StraightToThePoint Studio is now available! Also featured on Equestria Daily!

Cover art by emera33; used with permission. Pre-read by TCC56 and Goldenwing.

Featured 10/9/22-10/12/22!

Finals had just finished up at the School of Friendship, which meant that the weekend was wide-open for the relieved students on campus. However, since the recent actions of Cozy Glow still lingered guilt across the student body, a group of students decided to take take advantage of their newfound freedom with a gracious visit. They were hoping to find the Student Six in their dorm rooms so they could present a thoughtful gift, and some much-needed apologies for their involvement with the sadistic filly. Unfortunately, the group were only met with Smolder when they tried to state their case.

And to make matters worse, the dragon did not seem too keen on accepting their forgiveness right off the bat.

Can Turquoise and her friends manage to break through Smolder's gruff exterior and prove their atonement? Or is there a deeper reason for the dragoness' resistance to their claims?

Sometimes Dad can be gone for a while when he goes on one of his research trips. But sometimes he brings back something special. Today he brings back a strange statue of a pegasus frozen in fright.

Written for the 2022 May Pairings Contest.

Starlight Glimmer and Applejack both know they should probably break up.

Silver medalist in the 1000 words contest (group / info). Category: angst

Inspired by the Bleachers song "Stop Making This Hurt" (spotify link) and its music video (youtube link). That's also where I got he cover image!

Thanks to The Sleepless Beholder, Emotion Nexus, and RDT for their feedback and editing!

We must have shared a womb.

Sometimes twins eat each other in the womb.

Gold medalist in the 1000 words contest (group / info). Category: grim

Warning: the following fic contains cannibalism. It is technically a spoiler, so proceed through all with caution.

Lightning Dust wants to start her own stunt team, but finding a pony able to make flight suits to her standards has been difficult. After many dead ends, she is prepared to risk Rarity For You in Manehattan. There she'll find not only what she's looking for, but the pony she never knew she needed.

A little slice-of-life that popped into my head and wouldn't go away. Friendshipping with a hint of romance.

My thanks to the immensely helpful ChaseIsOnTheCase and Ghost Mike for prereading.

Cover art by xkappax, used with permission.

Night Glider, having a difficult time readjusting to her career as a search-and-rescue worker, takes up a position as a fire lookout in Smokey Mountains National Park.

Though she is physically isolated from the rest of ponykind, the voices on her radio ensure she is never truly alone.

Winner of Bicyclette's Crackship Contest!

This fic is heavily inspired by Firewatch, but should be enjoyable to all - those who have played and those who have not.

I wish I could say I was a brave pony.

_{vent from last april. strangely relevant again}

Time and water have a lot in common.

They erode stone, help plants grow, and follow their own course... usually.

When an unusual tide carries with it a far-flung summer fling, Sunny Starscout discovers an exception to the rule and a mysterious teenage colt who may change her life forever.

A Sunny Starscout x Sandbar shipfic written for the 2022 Crackship Contest.

Thanks to Saddlesoap Opera and Patchwork Poltergeist for their prereading, editing, and support, and a second thanks to Saddles for making the picture for this fic.

It’s Thursday! Time for Equestria's most popular weekly talk show, Cozy's Glowpinions! The host isn't exactly sane, but she sure loves to be heard. Princess Twilight says that thanks to these broadcasted self-therapy sessions, Cozy is on the cusp of a real redemptive breakthrough.

She's been saying that for nearly 40 episodes.

We're live on-air in five...four...three...two...

(Teen rating for an infrequent gag of Cozy casually cussing on air.)

Now with a critical review!

Co-authored by my good friend Str8aura, whose solo works you should totally check out. Are you a fan of my Snippet Series but wish it had more than fifty additional stories in its anthology? Your wish has been granted.