Everypony expect that the wonderbolts have a great life and lot of friends, but when Spitfire damages her wing at a live performance, something changes inside her and she wants to leave Cloudsdale she realizes that perhaps she can't turn to anypony.

Twilight Sparkle was banished from Equestria a long time ago for a crime she didn't commit. The rest of the Mane 6 have been searching for her to tell her that she can return. When they do find Twilight, they realize that the trials of surviving outside Equestria have changed their old friend. Not all the changes are necessarily good.

As they return to Equestria, they must figure out who is opposing them. Shadows lurk in every corner, enemies watching for a single misstep. Not to mention, Twilight's shadows are creeping up on her. But even if they do manage to face the trials and troubles, do they have what it takes to face what awaits them back home?

If you want to chat to me, we have a discord server here!

Editing team: Stinium_Ruide
People who've helped me before:
Ex-coauthor: computerneek
Ex-editor: Holtinater

Princess Nightmare Moon has it all. Socially awkward shut-in Twilight Sparkle has nothing of worth. Princess Nightmare Moon can acquire anything she desires. Twilight Sparkle can't seem to catch a break. Two polar opposites from completely different worlds. Yet amidst her dominant rule, Princess Nightmare Moon feels she's missing something. A certain day from her memory has been wiped... and none of her common materialistic desires can sate her quench for answers. That is until she encounters a certain young unicorn mare, who she can't seem to get off her mind.

Twilight Sparkle's dull and downtrodden life is about to get much more interesting.

[Inspired by S5 - Nightmare Moon AU: Thank you for your support!]

Twilight Sparkle, the Solar Regent, was frustrated. She’d never had a chance against Nightmare Moon, and now she had to live with the consequences of her failure and the moon goddess on the throne beside her.

Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, was frustrated. His liege was gone. His marefriend was somewhere doing something. His sister was showing all the early warning signs of one of her infamous breakdowns. Worst of all, everypony was keeping secrets.

Sweetie Drops, Equestrian special agent, was frustrated. Work kept piling up, and there seemed to be more and more monsters to fight every day. She needed help.

Cadance, the Crystal Princess, was frustrated. Being somepony’s snack was beneath her, but needs must.

Tempest Shadow, wanderer, was frustrated. Why did life always insist on kicking her while she was down? If it wanted to maintain even the pretext of fairness, her next destination would be her last.

Luna, the Lunar Diarch, was delighted. Everything had gone perfectly since her return from exile.

Canterlot... For centuries, Canterlot was the shining gem of Equestria, the pinnacle of pony society. Now, it’s a reminder, a bleak and monolithic warning to the world. 

Changed by the chemical and technological poisons that plague the mountain, an abomination of nature, I wander the greatest disaster Equestria has ever seen. 

... I will escape eventually, and when I do, I hope my friends still see me as Twilight Sparkle, and not the monster that hides among the ruins. 

The older sister of princess Luna returns after a thousand years from her banishment on the moon and supporting her are a group of ponies that believe she should rule again.
However the ruler of Equestria has made preparations for the return of the mare who once ruled the sun and she, alongside her student/daughter Twilight Sparkle, are prepared to fight for their country and its citizens.

Art done by SOARINDASH1

While studying the founding of Equestria in the Royal Library, Twilight comes across a very odd, and very old, book. Some of the historical accounts found therein are very familiar, part of any filly's childhood education, but there are more details. Troubling details. Since Celestia has taken leave for unknown reasons, Luna is the only pony around who gives Twilight any hope of finding out the truth. A truth that, as it turns out, Celestia never wanted her to know.

Teen rated for 'sad feels' and implied (though not explicit) deaths.

Special thanks to sqarishoctagon for giving me some useful pointers on formatting and helping to edit the first five chapters!

This was initially an in-universe story, but as of February 16th, 2013, it was rendered non-canon. It takes place in an alternate universe in which Season 3 never happened.

In the far reaches of Canterlot Castle, high above in the towers lived the archmage. Everypony knew her, yet few had met her.

Twilight Sparkle sighed, having teleported away another noble seeking favors before reaching the top of the stairs for the second time today. They never learned. As the archmage, she already dealt with political squabbles far too often without inviting them into her home. Aside from personal favors for Celestia, she did what was required of her position and then returned to seclusion and research.

The nobility grumbled that no archmage should be a commoner, and Twilight’s disrespect toward them proved it. Each and every time they were forced to bow to her, they hated what they saw: the position, the status, the deference.

Was she not powerful? Was she not great?

Twilight, now reading through dusty scrolls and long forgotten tales, wrote in her notes — notes gathering dust of their own. A brief thought flashed through her mind.

Am I not powerful? Am I not great?

And then Twilight picked up The Tale of the Royal Pony Sisters.

Defunct side stories told in Across the Boundary. They can still provide a little context, but when in doubt, the main story here is canon.

Cover art provided by Lafiir

The princess of the night has a daughter named Twilight Sparkle. When Luna is banished to the moon. Twilight feels nothing, just the hatred of Celestia for having banished her mother to the moon. whenever she looks at the moon, the only present feeling is sadness.
Inspired by Polaris501's story 'Heir of the Nightmare'

Twilight vector by uxyd: https://www.deviantart.com/uxyd/art/Sad-Twilight-357973293
Luna's room background by Boneswolbach: https://www.deviantart.com/boneswolbach/art/Luna-s-Room-545676832
Moon background by sigmavirus1: https://www.deviantart.com/sigmavirus1/art/MLP-FiM-Moon-MtT-314964851
Nightmare Moon vector by 90Sigma: https://www.deviantart.com/90sigma/art/Upset-Nightmare-Moon-Redux-375185142

Twilight Sparkle, youngest arch-mage and technomancy prodigy of Canterlot finally desires something more than research. Unfortunately, love, friendship and other ponies are too chaotic and unpredictable for the mare, with too many variables for her to take into account to optimally navigate.

It didn't take her long to realize that she needn't navigate the raging rapids of love, when she could bypass it altogether and simply design and build her own perfect mare!

Thus, the C.E.L.E.S.T.I.A project was born.

Central - Electronic - Learning - Emotion - Software for - Tenderness - Intimacy and - Affection

Alt-Universe for no Princesses / Technomancy/Technopunk world.
Twilight isn't an Alicorn.
This story is from Celestia's P.O.V.

Image source is: Celestia 2.0 by Pon-ee