Octavia Melody's love of music has revolved around a single influential and prestigious work of art, the song May Our Sun Shine Forever. Since she was a filly, what has been the Equestrian national anthem for generations has continually inspired Octavia to perform, shaping her into the promising cellist she is today. Though the completed original was lost to the passage of time, the remnants of the final masterpiece composed by the Grand Maestro Glissando has been the cornerstone of not only Octavia's career, but modern music theory in Equestria.

When the tattered remains of an ancient songbook possibly containing the original song in its entirety is found, the Equestrian Society for the Performing Arts and Princess Luna begin planning a concert series to celebrate the work's eventual restoration. However, their meeting screeches to a halt once Princess Celestia vehemently forbids anypony from playing the original in the concert and demands its restoration to cease immediately. Octavia Melody finds herself at a loss, wondering why the princess of the sun would silence such a beautiful song meant to bring light to the world.

Proofread and Edited by TheAncientPolitzanian and various others over the years of trying to fix this thing.
Cover Art Depressing Melody by TertonDA
Updated 02/27/24

Content Warning: Horror and body integrity dysphoria. If you don’t want to read about body dysphoria/dysmorphia in a horror setting, skip this story. Transgender people, this warning is especially relevant.

On an otherwise calm morning, with Twilight out of town, Pinkie Pie has a revelation. 

She doesn’t feel like herself. She’s not sure if she wants to feel like herself, either.

She wants to be something different. Something… missing.

Written as an entry for Bike’s A Thousand Words Contest in the Grim category.

Also written for Bean’s Writing Group prompt 33, “Something is missing”.

With feedback from TheWanderingZebra, Arachne, MockingBirb, Shirlendra, and others. Thanks for your help!

Now with a youtube audio reading from The Mystery Fluttershy Fan.

Or that time Zipp jumped out a window as a filly.

Written for Bicyclette's A Thousand Words Contest. Set just after the flashback in Zipp's Flight School.
Now with a dramatic reading

Twilight Sparkle had seen it all. Tyrants, beasts, time traveling- but when her five friends go missing without a trace, she has no idea what to do. And as if the world was struck by a mass amnesia strike, nopony remembered them either.
But one more thing.
Twilight’s wings were missing, too.

A princess languishes in a tower;
A dragon guards this fragile flower.
Who will ascend the lofty spire
To save the maiden from dragonfire?

Derpy’s flying, which is normal. It’s the whole “without her wings” part that has Time Turner interested.

Written in 50 minutes for the Quills & Sofas Speedwriting Panic, where the prompt was “A Creative Use of Superpowers”, and where it came in first.

(Out of two.)

Deep below the changeling hive, beneath the long abandon ruins of the great city. There lies a great crack in the ground.

Since long before recorded history, the Changelings have been trying their best to keep it and whatever dwells in there, sealed.

With their duty failed a Changeling leaves a note behind.

Daring Do and Rainbow Dash search for the hidden treasure of the infamous changeling pirate, Captain Bugger.

A young pony stares into the night through a window.