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

Twilight Sparkle had always regarded immortality as both a blessing and a curse. It was like chains of gold, gilded shackles. Seemingly enticing, but in reality, a grasp of which you cannot break free. Twilight missed her children. She missed her husband.

She missed her friends.

There were pictures of them, of course, countless photos and historical paintings and memorials and glass windows. A picture can speak a thousand words, but a memory priceless. She cherished their memories.

Sometimes she felt often like a star in the night sky. A soft, glowing glimmer of fiery aura burning valiantly against the unknown abyss above, a constant guiding light, leading her people through the darkness.

Bright, and lonely, in the way that only things that lived forever were.

Terror begins after Twilight and her friends make a horrifying discovery in the heart of the Everfree Forest during a trip to the castle of the two sisters - a hideous creature spawned from within the depths of their darkest nightmares. Now trapped within the dark ruins of the ancient castle with a violent thunderstorm raging outside, everypony must fight not only for their own survival, but for the survival of the whole of ponykind. Only one thing is certain, however, locked within the cold void with the no means of escape - the darkness is the last thing they have to be afraid of.

Audio adaptation here!

Edited by: Infinite Affection, lunargaurd4ever and stupidhand14.
Pre-Read by: LoneUnicornWriter.

A different take on alicorn ascension. Sixteen years after arriving in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle is excited to have invented a brand-new kind of spell, but it will come with consequences she cannot possibly anticipate. Meanwhile, threats in shadows around the world conspire to overthrow the Solar Throne. With her world turned upside down, she will have to come to terms with the role that fate has dealt her while straining to keep Celestia in power.

Now with a TVTropes page! Please show it some love! Also check out the official side stories, Designing Intrigue, and Love and Barriers! (With even more in my stories page!)

(Please Note: This story was started before any season three information was available. All episodes in season three and later are non-canon for this story, which also means there's no Crystal Empire in this one. In addition, the promotional map released close to the beginning of season three was also not available and is not compatible with this story. While the OC tag is active because there are OCs in the story, they're really just supporting characters. The focus is on Twilight.)

Also be sure to check out the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe Group! We're working to develop the resources needed for other authors to try their hand at writing stories set in the Rites Universe!

The Book Two cover art was created by the amazing Silfoe! The original cover art can still be found at Violet Squiggle's deviantArt page.

Author's Notes, including proofreader's credits, can be found here!

"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"

They may have brought the magic back to Equestria, but they still have a long way to go. Years of distrust don't vanish overnight. Sometimes leading by example is best, and letting everypony see new friendships being built is the best example they can provide.

My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and I am a terrible pony.
I didn't mean to be. I never meant to be. But I am.

Written for the I'm the Villain of the Story contest.

Looking back, Twilight should have known better. She really should have. Starlight wasn't all there to begin with, and it took only a few words, spoken in anger at the wrong time, to transform her into a real monster.

Now trapped in an endless time-travel hell powered by the mad unicorn's fury, Twilight must hold on to her sanity as she chases the one thing that can free her from her torment and set the world back on its path.

For the sake of her friends, she mustn't break.

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Editors, pre-readers, etc:

GuyWhoWritesThings
Applejinx
Manaphy
Queue
Majin Syeekoh
Shardikku

Reluctant Brohoof wrote most of the long summary.

The cover art is A New Villain Appears by Lukeine.

Grogar's ancient machinations finally come together as he leads the Legion of Doom against Canterlot. Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow want to rule for themselves, however, and intend to betray him as soon as it's convenient. Can Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash save Equestria?

Other significant characters: Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Trixie, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, Student/Young Six. Spoiler characters: Windigos, Mean Twilight Sparkle, King Sombra.

Author's note: I decided to rewrite episodes S9E24 and S9E25 as if Grogar were real and the finale were a four-parter. This story takes everything up to and including S9E23 as canon, and took inspiration from a huge variety of sources, including the finale trailer (though it does not strictly hold canon to the trailer).

I give my deep, heartfelt thanks my kind editors and prereaders, as well as the lovely anons on /mlp/ where I've been posting the first draft. My deepest thanks of all go to triq267, who's been helping me at every stage of the story with ideas and advice.

Featured 1/6/2020, and again 1/14/2020, 8/3/2020, 9/17/2020, 10/3/2021, and 10/25/221! Thank you guys!

The first alicorn to be born rather than made. A pony of incredible power. A pony with a very important destiny.

Under the guidance of the fretful Princess Twilight, the sardonic Spike, and the ever-loyal crystal ponies, she will rise from the ashes of a childhood nightmare to become the princess she was always meant to be.

The journey won't be easy, but she won't give up. She was meant to be the Crystal Princess. That is her purpose.

And she will stop at nothing to keep it that way.

An entry in Imposing Sovereigns III, using the prompt "Flurry Heart/DETERMINATION".

Dear Princess Twilight,

I just wanted to quickly thank you again for helping me settle into Ponyville. I'm writing from my dorm room in the School of Friendship now.

Tomorrow is the start of a new day and a new life. I look forward to seeing what surprises my new friends have in store for me.

I will write more soon. Thank you again for believing in me.

Your faithful student,
Luster Dawn

Once again, editing provided by the wonderful EverfreePony.

Cover by the amazing Julunis14.

Story is complete and will be updated every Saturday and finish on October 12th.