In the dark forests of Tramplevania dwells a coven of vampires, led by a deadly draconequus named Discord. For many years, his only interests have been in his own survival, until he stumbles upon a beautiful mare with a heart pure enough to care for a monster like him.

Music to listen to.

Cover Art by IduChan

Alternate Cover Art

More fanart by Whiteheart7
CandySweets90240
autumnruby18

AJ Pony's review

Rainbow Dash was the Iron Wing. She was a war hero, the Slayer of Shadows, the Liberator of the Crystal Empire, the Wrath of Celestia. And depending on who you ask, she still is.

But the war is over. There's little need for a pony like her in peacetime. So she keeps telling herself that she needs to adjust, that she needs to find a new role to fill in the world that she saved. But Equestria seems content to let her remain what she has become, even though they have no need of a warrior.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be", is something she keeps telling herself. But every time she says it, the only thing she can reply is, "so what should it be?"

One whole year after the close of the war, and Rainbow Dash still doesn't have the answer.

Art by NCMares.

When you're a foal, the summer days last forever.

Summer is freedom. The world is more alive, it is wider and brighter, its colors deeper. Summer is running in a meadow and swimming in a pond and catching fireflies at evening's last light.

Will Apple Bloom lead her friends to the pirate's treasure, buried in the apple orchards? Will Scootaloo make it across the burning deserts and find the magical, healing spring? Will Sweetie Belle defeat the evil Changeling Rarity who grounded her for no reason?

During the summer, every day is an adventure.

This is one.

Sombra never realized this would happen.
Usually a villain is suppose to be defeated, right?
So, why did he, well...win?
Even he was shocked to see the crystal heart in his hooves. Never in a thousand or so years did he think he would pull this off; that he would actually...win.
So, what will he do now? Just rule over everyone and enslave all of pony kind? Or Perhaps kill the princess and mind control that purple unicorn and her friends? Or maybe have some common sense and figure out just how he will deal with all of this in the long run? With all these questions, he knows one thing for sure.
This is going to be very awkward.

Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and controller of the sun, is bored. No one can entertain her enough. The sky is dull, the royal jester is dull, and Luna is asleep. What can she do? Then, an idea pops into her mind: She shall send all of Equestria's most evil villains on a camping trip! And she shall sit back and enjoy the show.

HOLY CRAP! Featured 8/3/2014

Now has a companion story! With All My Heart, Fluttershy

"'My Dearest Fluttershy...?' ... naw, too cheesy...
'Dear Fluttershy...?' ... too formal...
'My Beautiful Butterfly...?" ... Waaaaay too lame. I... might need some help."

When you're not a romantic and you're too prideful to say it to their face, sometimes you need a little help to write "I love you."

After the events of "The Last Roundup", Rainbow Dash and the others find Pinkie and Rarity injured in the badlands. As they go to get help, Rainbow Dash evaluates the extent of her loyalty to her friends.

Revised August 4, 2014

Accepted into Nonpareil Fiction July 27, 2015

Now with a Dramatic Reading on Youtube

"The arrogance of our kind is thinking nature is in our control, and not the other way around." ~Serizawa

When a foreign country far to the east, long since isolated from the rest of the world, reaches out to Equestria with a desperate plea for help, It’s up to Twilight and friends to save the day.
Yet things will be far from simple. They will find themselves thrust into a strange new land under siege by a terrible foe, pitting them in a race against time to stop a titanic force of nature before it crushes them all in its relentless path of destruction.

Before King Sombra enslaved the ponies of the Crystal Empire; before Nightmare Moon attempted to block out the sun forever; there were only Luna and Sombra. In a time when Equestria’s peace after Discord’s defeat is shaken, and when alicorns once again come under attack, two unlikely ponies come together beneath the pale moonlight. In the darkness their love blossoms, but so does an ethereal evil that bides its time, waiting to strike before the dawn.

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Sequels:
Shadow of the Moon
In Your Dreams: Luna's Farewell

Cover art done by the amazing Nalesia on Deviantart. Please check out the artist's gallery. I couldn't be happier with this piece.

*If you'd like to purchase a physical copy of this story, click here*

One of Equestria's greatest traits is tolerance. Every pony, whether Unicorn, Pegasus, or Earth, is accepted for who they are, and have their own parts to play in keeping Equestria running.

But what if an Earth pony decided he didn't want to play his assigned part? What if he wanted to rise above everyone else and become an Alicorn? Such a thing is possible... but the path to fulfilling one's dreams is never simple. Risks must be taken. Sacrifices must be made. And the question is always asked: How far would you go to get what you wanted? And would you be willing to pay a terrible price to get it?