Rainbow Dash is forced by Twilight to write a research paper.

She doesn't know how to write one but she's going to prove it.

And make it twenty percent cooler, or worse.

This crackfic was written as an entry for A Thousand Word Contest under Fluff.

While Twilight is working, Flash takes time to keep their foals busy with a few silly questions of his own.

In their foalhood, Twilight and Blueblood were best friends. In their teenage years, they were in a relationship. After two years not seeing eye to eye, Blueblood came to Ponyville to visit his old friend and maybe also restart their relationship.

This story is a sequel to How to Climb a Mountain

Twilight has a problem. After a noble by the name of Duke Bull Horn comes to her castle demanding that she take his son to the Gala as a date, Twilight loses her temper and lets it slip that she already has a date. Fearing the criticism she will get it she indeed does show up without a date, Spike suggest that she take the Captain of her recently formed guard, Flash Sentry. While Twilight initially rejects Spike's idea, Flash himself willing volunteers to take her so that she can avoid the criticism that the Duke might pin on her should she show up alone.

Will the Gala be better than the first one Twilight attended, and will this date become something more? Or will the nobles ruin everything and cause the night to go down in flames?

Brief disclamer: this story is meant to be a prequel to my first story "Gone, But Not Forgotten," though I only realized it could be prequel about 4000 words into typing it, so excuse if it somehow has minor inconsistencies.

MAJOR UPDATE: New rewrite version out and ready for reading. Same story, but BETTER! Also, NOW WITH SEQUEL: How to Propose to a Princess

ALSO ALSO: Now with PREQUEL, How to Climb a Mountain. It never ends. Though it should be noted that the prequel is not needed to enjoy this story. (1/14/2020)

Alterative tags to label the story:
Beautiful Twilight, Playful Banter, Rarity Teasing Twilight, Annoying Nobles, Spike's Idea, non-chaotic Discord, Hungry Twilight, Silly Flash, Celestia playfully teasing Twilight, Luna Threatening Flash, Rarity Threatening Flash, Dancing, romantic strolls, interruption of romantic strolls, more chaotic Discord, the plot demands things, questioning all of reality Pinkie and Discord Tag-Team, moonlight dancing, and kissing.

Image belongs to the very talented jucamovi1992 on deviantart.

Now translated into Chinese: https://fimtale.com/t/32563

What if during the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight didn't meet Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash? What if she met different ponies? And they're all stallions? How would things be different? How much would things stay the same?

This is basically a retelling of MLP but with different characters. Twilight is still here, but the rest of the main six are not present, instead other characters will be taking their place. Alternate Universe pretty much.

The lessons I plan to put into each in one of these chapters (besides the first two) are lessons that I either need to learn myself or lessons I learned the hard way.

Concept Help by Psychotic Nekomata and Judoshrew
Co-Written by Emerald Comet
Edited by Nonagon

Now with Audio Drama!
Chapter 1

Twilight's met her match, a tome so dense and arcane that even her considerable intellect couldn't penetrate it. Just before she gave up in a tizzy, Starlight suggested a pony that could help; a good friend, Sunburst.

Twilight catches wind of a global leader that has no contact with Equestria. This will not stand. Fortunately, she's already made friends with one of their citizens and is ready to set sail to adventure! A journey to the pirate's home island to meet and speak with the people affected by the Storm King, and especially their reclusive leader, the so-called Lord of Pirates.

Can Pirates even have a lord? Twilight can't wait to find out!

If there's one thing we can count on, it's Twilight Sparkle, prized student and newest princess, to botch up a spell in her quest to master all of magic.

This time, it propels her to a new world, this one not inhabited by bipeds, but ponies like herself, and yet not like herself. She has entered the realm of Everglow, where the queen is a queen, and ponies suffer horribly lethal combat much more often than Equestria could manage under the peaceful reign of its alicorn caretakers.

Will she find her way back home, to her friends and responsibilities? Will she survive the harsh new realm she has entered?

Based on Ponyfinder. Want to support the author? Check out his Patreon.