Twilight Sparkle is a unicorn, and she has a problem...

"Take it easy; drift through life!"
Rainbow Dash’s life has mainly been about two things: Wonderbolts and her friends.
But in the end, we all need to grow up, to take choices that you normally wouldn’t consider.

At the Grand Galloping Gala, Dash gets her chance to fulfill her dream. But there is something else that keeps her from having fun; a brooch received a few days before lingers in her mind. The sender seems to know her more than she is comfortable with, and Twilight seems to be upset about something; something Dash quite can’t figure out.

Being a Wonderbolt has always been Dash’s dream, but will it make her happy? Or will somepony else become what is most important in her life?

After a chilly night, Rarity catches a cold, so Applejack goes down to take care of her until she gets better. What better than a yummy, hot tomato soup? Maybe a lullaby and a belly rub.

Scootaloo is a young pony who has endured quite a bit of hardships, but has made the best of her life, even if it hasn't always been so easy. The little filly from Port Mane shares, in her own words, the ups and downs of her life, and just what it means to endure.

Find out how Scootaloo has endured through love and loss. See her thoughts on Rainbow Dash, her family, the crusaders, Featherweight, Pipsqueak, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Princess Luna and more.

Thanks to user sqarishoctagon for helping me edit. Soundtrack added via YouTube.

[Image is deceptive, it's not always as sad as the image implies, there's all kinds of moods, but this is a pic I'm proud of, and it's relevant in parts. Also check this description for more pics as the story unfolds.]

THIS IS A SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT UNIVERSE. I wrote this, starting during late Season 2, so I had to make judgment calls based on the information I had. As such, certain episodes thereafter do not match up, or fit in different places. Consequently, it is a very similar alternate universe. Many events happen in both this and the show timeline, but do not always match. I tried to stay consistent when possible, but certain things were lost to disagreements in interpretation. I like how I wrote my story and will not force it to match what came after I started writing. I've also decided to consider this fluidly finished. I still seem to make updates, but I no longer guarantee them.

[Please, if you read this, let me know what you think. PM me, comment, whatever. I just really want to hear people's thoughts!]

Pictures of the OCs:

Auntie Raincloud: http://fav.me/d57lxyk
Rosy Fields: http://fav.me/d57lxsb
Thunderclap: http://fav.me/d57lxv5
Miss Golden Posey: http://fav.me/d57m7on
Shooting Star: http://fav.me/d57mfah
Lucky Buck: http://fav.me/d57mf6t
Shutter Speed: http://fav.me/d57vow5
Ocean Breeze: http://fav.me/d57ly1b
Maple Woods: http://fav.me/d57m5dq
Sandy Shores: http://fav.me/d57m5gl
Cherry Tart: http://fav.me/d5mb5ch
Blazemane: http://fav.me/d57wlua
Thunderbolt: http://fav.me/d57wm42
Winter Winds: http://fav.me/d57wlwl
Wild Wisp: http://fav.me/d57wm2h
Jasmine Tea: http://fav.me/d6hb1kx
Golden Manchet: http://fav.me/d6hazp7 (Turned out greener than I intended.)

*THANKS TO EVERYONE who has given this a 95+% positive rating after over 3000 views 800 comments and 550 votes! I'm so thankful for your enjoyment of the story!*

Story events/characters that could spoil things:

http://fav.me/d8upn3c - My own art
http://fav.me/d8upn2w - My own art
http://fav.me/d8upf61 - My own art
http://fav.me/d8un0gx - My own art
http://fav.me/d8uqb91 - My own art
http://fav.me/d8urrbn - My own art
http://fav.me/d8uwzxl - My own art -- SPOILERS
http://fav.me/d6h2xa6 - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fvi4w - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fspin - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fp5eb - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6h7t30 - The photograph from Entry 35. Faded as found.
http://fav.me/d6gcugr - Scootaloo's Family Portrait ca. Entry 43. Commissioned and lovely.
http://fav.me/d8y4c5t - Commissioned art portraying an event from the final two chapters. (Spoilers.)
http://fav.me/d53luw1 - Legitimate fanart. GREATLY appreciated.

http://fav.me/d8wy111 - a picture of Lucky Buck created from an art prompt "Starstruck"

Chrysalis tries her hoof at a cooking show. However, the meal isn't something everyone will agree with.

Image used with the permission of Dazed-and Wandering.
Link to artist page set as the pictures source.

In the heat of the moment, some ponies have a habit of letting things out. Sometimes they are minor things that most just shrug off and forget about in a matter of milliseconds. Sometimes they are things that, once revealed, shake the very foundation of their existence.

Rarity's latest revelation falls into the latter.

When Fluttershy finds out Rainbow Dash is hiding a box, she becomes determined to find out what it is, and why her friend is hiding it.

Credit for the picture goes to *MR-1* on deviantArt.

I've spent the majority of my life tilling the desolate land in which I live. Every day, I wake up to move useless rocks from one location to another. This is an archaic line of work that my family has clung to for generations. It is a dull, grey existence.

Today, I have woken up in a strange room, lying in a bed that isn't mine. I'm surrounded by five mares whom I've never seen in my life. They claim to be my friends, and expect me to bring joy to the hearts of everypony.

Joy? I don't think I've ever experienced this for myself, so how am I supposed to thrust it upon others?

My name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, and I'm not sure what to make of this situation.

Who is Scootaloo? Everypony knows about her present, but when it comes to her past there are as many different answers as there are questions.

Is she the love child of two star-crossed lovers? The last hope for the future? The child of a broken home? A mysterious figure fighting a war no pony knows about? Or is it something else entirely? Is she even a pony at all?

Twilight Sparkle decides to ask everypony in Ponyville and find out about Scootaloo...and the stories, rumors and gossip she gets will leave her wondering how the truth can ever compete with fiction.

My thanks to Page Turner for the new story cover!

Now has its own TVTropes Page!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanFic/TheManySecretOriginsOfScootaloo

And has a featured page in the Non-Canon My Little Pony Funny Page!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Funny/TheManySecretOriginsOfScootaloo

Thanks to all my readers and fans for all the support and help I have gotten! I am truly touched.

Play this song first!

Twilight Sparkle has always been looking forward to her 21st birthday. It's the day that she's finally recognized as an adult mare, but also the day she's finally able to learn magic on the highest level. What should have been a great day though, turns out to be the most horrific day in her life. She finds a prophesy talking about the next great evil in Equestria, and it's HER! Now she's falling, slowly becoming the very evil she swore to fight against, and not even her closest friends can pick her up in time. In the end, she may even...

Apple Bloom is tired of being the last in her class to not have her Cutie Mark, but her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo aren't going in the right direction to get their Cutie Marks, and she knows it. In order to get her Cutie Mark the right way, Apple Bloom begins to have thoughts of separating from her friends, and getting her Cutie Mark on her own. But her search for her Cutie Mark opens up to a major mystery in Equestria, and Apple Bloom will discover much more than just her special talent...

friends become enemies...

destinies are revealed...

light fades into the darkness...

and through it all, a hero is born...

This is the first main story in the series.

New cover art by my friend The Spectralist.

Link to the TV Tropes page!