Trixie has read literally dozens of true crime stories. She has no idea why it takes the police so long to solve the crimes when they're so obvious -- especially in hindsight. When a murder happens right in front of her, its her chance to prove her expertise to the doubters and claim her rightful title as the Intelligent and Insightful Trixie, Equestria's Greatest Magical Detective!

Assuming it actually is a murder, anyway.

An entry in the 2023 Whodunnit Contest

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!]

A thousand years ago, the Pillars of Equestria imbued six crystals with their magic - the essence of their souls - and planted those seeds to bring about a brighter future.

Over time they sprouted into the Tree of Harmony, which became the base of Equestria's power and prosperity.

Now the Tree would like to meet its parents.

This story is dedicated to Rambling Writer who did what I honestly totally forgot to do and got the Tree of Harmony added as a character tag.

Featured 8/27/2023 - 8/30/2023!

Twilight and Sunset have been dating for months and practically live together already. Which makes it increasingly awkward that Twilight's family doesn't even know she is in a relationship yet.
Something that is quickly and easily resolved and clearly no grounds for panic.

Credit to Cover Art belongs to _evelili

TW: This story contains references to and depictions of panic attacks and panic disorder.

It has been nearly a thousand years since Twilight Sparkle died. Celestia and Luna are gone. The Holy Equestrian Diarchy, ruled by a bigoted and brutal theocracy, has driven ponies apart and divided them along tribal lines. Unicorns are driven from society, feared and hated.

The lessons of friendship, painstakingly written down in the journal of friendship by Princess Twilight and her friends, have been warped and twisted to fit the Diarchy's hateful ideology. But to the average pony, this is the truth and reality of the world they live in, beset on all sides by enemies monstrous and magical.

Emberglow, a young pegasus mare, aspires to join the elite Knights, magically enhanced warriors dedicated to the holy Saints worshiped by the state religion. Can she uncover the lies and deceptions that have led the world to this bitter place?

Thanks to QueenChrysalisForever for prereading Chapters 1-24. Prereader for chapters 29-31 is MrRTS.
Prereading for chapter 34-? by Horsetorian
Additional pre-readers: bananachips/CommissarVulpin, Thought Prism, Chyre
Special thanks to my amazing editor, Cyonix
Cover Art by JodTheCod

Note on timing: I began writing this long before Season 9 aired, so none of those events happened as far as the narrative of this story is concerned.

Come join us on the Rekindled Embers Discord!

Edit: Featured 8/7/20! Yay and Thanks!

This story is a sequel to Tantabus Communication Protocol

What started with laziness and a tiny slip-up in arcane intelligence creation has blossomed into its own being. With Luna's blessing, the second Tantabus is free to flit around the dreamscape as it pleases, unburdened by oversight. And what pleases it is making good dreams. Who couldn't be happy by making others happy?

As the Tantabus settles into its life, its horizons keep expanding, forever revealing more of the world and of ponies. There's always new things to learn. New dreams to spice up. New nightmares to beat down. New ponies to help. New ponies to annoy.

Don't tell Luna about that last part.

Starlight Glimmer's attempts to stop the Rainboom pulled Twilight Sparkle into many possible timestreams.

In one, Rarity and Rainbow Dash survived Nightmare Moon's victory over the forces of light, eventually attaining positions of prominence and comfort in the Nightmare's service. But when the unexpected visit of an Alicorn and Dragon sheds light on a growing conspiracy against the wicked mistress of the night, Rarity and Rainbow Dash may yet be inspired to risk what they have gained to join the fight for a better world.

Yet darkness lingers even in the hearts of some who would oppose the Nightmare, and not all agree on what a better world would look like...

This story would not have been possible without the indescribably vast help and unwavering support of Moosetasm, the pre-reading assistance of I-A-M and Waxworks, as well as the editing prowess of OnionPie and Pascoite! Cover by Novel Idea, using Rarity by miracle32 and background by Drakizora! Featured on Equestria Daily 17Jul.2016! Featured on FimFiction 2Feb.2017 and many times thereafter!

This story is a sequel to Griffon The Brush-Off - Extended Cut

Trixie Lulamoon is a traveling stage magician. She peddles safe, friendly, idiotic fun. After so many setbacks Twilight’s friends and colleagues could certainly use a break from their routine. What could possibly be the harm?

The Season 1 episode Boast-Busters rewritten as a serious intrigue adventure.

Co-written with Serketry.

This story is a sequel to The Enforcer and Her Blackmailers (Enhanced & Augmented)

Friendship has always made Starlight Glimmer uncomfortable—since Sunburst—but the friendship lessons keep coming. When Celestia and Moon Dancer's great aunt aim Starlight at the enigmatic Prince of Equestria, to teach him a lesson, unexpected feelings of friendship and love rear their ugly head. It really bugs her. It feels like she's being forced to take the advanced course in friendship when she's just learning what it even means; could it be more than friendship!? Whether she likes it or not, her choices about him will save or doom Canterlot—and change her life forever.

Prequels? The story is written such that you should not need to read the prequels. Your fun will be doubled, however, if you do.

About warning tags: Nothing explicit, but a warning nonetheless.

Additional MLP series characters: Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Shining Armor, Fizzlepop Berrytwist (before becoming Tempest Shadow), Sunburst Mortorboard, Grampa Gruff, a diamond dog,, and Moon Dancer. I could add a dozen more, but introducing them before they show up during syndication is spoilery.

Artwork by Syrupyyy at https://twitter.com/SyrupyyyArt

Equestria is an old nation, and one that has had the luxury of the same, immortal, regime for centuries. While this has given them unprecedent stability, especially in a land that seeks to throw a world-ending threat at them every other Tuesday, it does come with a tendency for the rulers to not so much repeal laws as just ignore them and act as if they've been done away with already.

Most of the time, this works out just fine. Until another immortal--such as, say, a starving royal changeling looking for somepony to help her regain her strength--remembers these laws and invokes them to use to their own advantage. By arriving at Twilight Sparkle's castle and declaring herself a member of Twilight's royal harem.

And she's just the first.

Written on commission, for Spamotron, with money sent to a GoFundMe. If you'd like to commission me yourself, my rules are right here.
Also check out author Patreon and Ko-Fi.