This story is a sequel to Rekindled Embers

The Holy Equestrian Diarchy rules with an iron hoof; it's citizens are bound with dogma and prejudice as solid as iron chains.

Order is upheld by the Knights, elite, magic-bearing warriors who follow the will of ancient Saints, dead centuries ago.

One such pony, a follower of Saint Rarity the Generous, embarks on a journey designed to spread Her word, and that of the other Saints, to peoples in the distant city of Jubilation.

Things do not go as planned.

Mercury's Journal is a side story for Rekindled Embers. Reading the original should not be necessary to enjoy this story, but is encouraged!

This story was written for four Quills and Sofas Pride Month event; each chapter corresponding with a different speedwriting event coordinated with four letters (L, G, B, and T). Prereading provided by the members of Q&S. Additional pre-reading thanks to ninjadeadbeard and Celestilune. Thank you all!

Cover art by kleia.

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!

No matter what anyone else says, Sweetie Belle knows that whatever that is in the mirror isn't her. That doesn't mean she can do anything about it.

An entry to the seventeenth Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Competition. Written in sixty minutes. Prompt was "Mirror" and genre was limited to horror. Presented here as is.

Now with a Russian translation, thanks to NovemberDragon, Randy1974, and Nuclear-pony-Jack. Find it here, here, and here.

Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie. Sometimes, I wanna die, and that probably sounds super sad to you, and it should be super sad for me too. But when I think about the perfect way to go, it just... makes me smile.

And I really wish it didn't.

Content warning: suicide as a major theme

In the city of Cóltoba, Stormy Flare contemplates her failures. But a chance encounter will remind her that they weren't all in vain.

Second-place winner in the Ancestral Tribute contest.

Cover art adapted from an image on Unsplash.

Inspired by the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Rated Really Good in Ghost Mike's Ponyfic Review Monday Musings #39

Rated Why Haven't You Read These Yet in PaulAsaran's Thursday Reviews CCCXXVI

The waiter has just made a very funny mistake. See, he thinks Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Rarity are all dating, when it's actually just Twilight and Dash. Rarity thinks it's very funny not to correct him. Now how far can she take the joke?

A spiritual sequel to Flimsy Pretexts, written as a response to the effervescent Monochromatic. An effort to close our loop of RariTwi x Dash, then RariDash x Twi - naturally there needed to be a TwiDash x Rarity for balance.

Preread by Pearple Prose and Undome Tinwe

Strawberry Sunrise makes some bold claims about her home-grown strawberries. The good citizens of Ponyville take these claims a tad too seriously.

Originally a Hearth's Warming gift for Red (<3). This version has been edited here and there, and the ending has been tweaked ;)

It's Rarity's first birthday since she and Twilight started dating. Obviously, Twilight isn't overthinking this fact and totally isn't losing sleep over what would be the perfect gift to get her marefriend.

Hopefully Rarity isn't too alarmed about her sudden absence two weeks prior to the big day.

A gift for Monochromatic, the Donald of my Three Mouseketeers. But like an R63 Donald.

Proofread by Undome Tinwe, who is the Mickey of my Three Mouseketeer. And also the only one who can actually use a sword.

Cover Art by IsaSlashLaps_SP who i unfortunately don't know well enough to make a Mouseketeer but she was very kind to lend me this cover art and is an exceptionally talented author who is well worth the follow on DA. Check out the specific piece here.

Luna is many things: a goddess, princess, and wife. What happens when she has a secret that threatens to unravel every one of those things? Her secret weighs heavily upon her, but can she bear to tell it, knowing it is the only thing that will set her free?

Sombra is caught up in all that reformation entails. His wife's turmoil isn't lost on him, but he has yet to piece together just what it is that has her waning.

The third place winner of the Right Back At It Again contest. Highly Recommended in PresentPerfect's spoiler-filled review! Also a submission for the Pride and Positivity charity event. The cover art is a gift drawn by MayhemMoth. The new version has been edited and preread by Cynewulf and Pascoite.

Starlight Glimmer is many things. Master of the arcane arts, Headmare of the School of Friendship, Savior of Equestria, and a truly fantastic friend to those she holds dear. Apparently, according to Trixie and Sunburst, she's also an awesome marefriend. There is, of course, one big problem with that theory: How can you be an awesome marefriend if you don't even know you're dating your best friends in the first place? Starlight may or may not need to add "Romantically Inept Doofus" to her list of titles.

Edit: Hung on the Featured box from February 10th to the 13th! Y'all are amazing!

Edit 2: FEATURED ON EQUESTRIA DAILY!

Absolutely adorable art by the awesome Doodle-Mark! Big thanks to him for letting me use this piece!