Rainbow Dash was the Iron Wing. She was a war hero, the Slayer of Shadows, the Liberator of the Crystal Empire, the Wrath of Celestia. And depending on who you ask, she still is.

But the war is over. There's little need for a pony like her in peacetime. So she keeps telling herself that she needs to adjust, that she needs to find a new role to fill in the world that she saved. But Equestria seems content to let her remain what she has become, even though they have no need of a warrior.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be", is something she keeps telling herself. But every time she says it, the only thing she can reply is, "so what should it be?"

One whole year after the close of the war, and Rainbow Dash still doesn't have the answer.

Art by NCMares.

Years have passed since Prince Blueblood has claimed the throne. In the absence of the princesses, he has crushed everyone who dared oppose his tyrannical rule.

When someone from his past tries to claim his life, the Tyrant of Equestria decides to have a talk with his would-be assassin, and reveal the secret he has been keeping for so long.

Epilogue by Door Belle

Special thanks to Malefactory and Door Belle for editing.

The day after she swears off her petty, villainous ways, Starlight Glimmer is finally ready for her very first friendship lesson! To mark this grand occasion, Twilight decides a walk through town is in order to let her new student make some friends the right way.

It turns out that Starlight Glimmer is exceedingly bad at making friends the right way.

Many thanks to Syeekoh and Kamikakushi for taking a big one and prereading this for me.

What does every great being need? Every great leader?

Power? Sure, you can never go wrong there.
Morals? Right, they're important too.
Love? Well, that's a debate for another time.

But really think for a moment... Besides, it's in the title.

Image credited to Azalea2010 (http://azalea2010.deviantart.com/art/Prometheus-s-gift-291177143)

An alarm sounds. There's a planet nearby. I wonder if anyone can hear me.

When Twilight visits Celestia's private hall of stained-glass windows, each bearing the image of a long-gone friend, one in particular catches her eye.

Who was this pony?

Why was she so important to Celestia?

And why does she look so familiar?

There is now a Spanish translation of this story, courtesy of Spaniard Kiwi

Fluttershy and Sunset's friends think its high time the meeker girl stops feeding on her girlfriend so much.

Written for the Sunset Shipping Contest. Also inspired by Wubcake's reading of Sunlight by The Albinocorn.

Featured 8/28/17! Whoo!

There are consequences to every action, but we can't always predict what they will be. I stay up at night wondering what I could have done differently, but I've already paid the price for my actions. All I can do now is deal with the consequences, and I've got several great friends to help me do it.

Edited by: Neko Majin C, 314, Kleora, Dash The Stampede

When Spike gets his very own stained glass window in the Hall of Heroes, Rainbow wants to know why there aren't any with Commander Hurricane in them.

Twilight once wondered the same thing.

A Pony Planet story

Prince Blueblood. Last of his Noble line. Canterlot's most eligible bachelor. Aristocratic, affluent, and arrogant. But, surprisingly enough, a stallion who knows what is truly important in life: Family.

Placed fourth in the January 2016 Write-Off Event: Look, I Can Explain.