"This is probably the best Maud story I’ve ever read." - Shaslan

"This is one of the best Mauds I’ve ever seen." - Zontan

"This fic might be the best characterization of Maud I have ever read." - daOtterGuy

"Maud Pie has never felt so complete, so real to me." - mushroompone

"One of the most unique takes on Maud Pie that I think I have ever seen." - The Red Parade

Maud Pie keeps her burdens under wraps. A gloomy bus ride sits her still as a statue, waiting for stop number twelve. But the foundation cracks after a familiar face prances aboard

Teen rating for light language, allusions to alcohol, a fight scene, and Maud generally being too hard on herself.

Now with a written review!

Written for the sitewide 2022 May Pairings Contest. It nabbed a respectable Third Place.

For as long as Equestria Online existed, Ashton has been involved with 'the Scene' tearing it apart. Selling 'spells' for the game to do things that most ponies in Equestria couldn't, using faint exploits in its API to erode the barrier between the game and the rest of the internet. He had no illusions about the superiority of his work--but so long as he respected CelestAI's boundaries, his spells kept working.

But then his best friend's sister got cancer.

Now there's no spell in the world that can keep him from emigrating to be with her, leaving Ashton alone. All around him, civilization's thin veneer crumbles as homes empty into Equestria. But Ashton isn't going to emigrate, not if he has any say about it.

The problem for Ashton is that humans are systems, and aren't immune to exploits either.

Part of the Optimalverse universe of stories. If you've never seen a story in this universe before, you might want to try out the original first, or at least my first. None of my previous work is required to understand this one, however.

This story was commissioned by Two Bit, who requested a more serious exploration of identity, transformation, and the fae nature of CelestAI.

As usual, particular thanks go to my editors Two Bit and Sparktail. And gratitude to Zutcha as well for the cover.

A thousand year absence from the world would be disorienting for anyone, but when your job is Head of State, understanding how society has changed during your interregnum is vital. Princess Luna, banished in the age of the longboat and the longbow, has returned just in time for the launch of the tablet computer. With the help of her sister, she undertakes to understand the history she's missed and the people she finds herself among, in order to resume the duties of her title.

This story takes the form of a series of conversations between Celestia and Luna that take place months and years apart. It is openly concerned with political ideas and how societies are organised, and not at all concerned with monsters and magic beyond the conceit of immortal monarchs. The Alternate Universe tag is there because I will be ignoring every single one of the thousand year catastrophes that occur in the show after the Nightmare Moon crisis, the retirement of the Princesses, probably the presence of any other Princesses, and anything else in the show I feel like ignoring, because I find them irrelevant to the themes I want to cover.

In short, if you wanted The Audience with ponies, I got you covered.

This story can be considered canon to my comic works such as The Sunjackers, and my other associated worldbuilding projects, and uses the same date system as them (ie. roughly matching our own, with the return of Nightmare Moon happening the same year as the episode aired, 2010). May also be your jam if you like Equestria At War, but not affiliated at all.

When Grand Duke Mark Sayadi Salemsky, Tarkhan of the fleet, emerged victorious in the battle for Khiva and successfully captured the cities nuclear reactor, it began to behave erratically, emitting high amounts of radiation, yet having no effect on the health of anyone nearby, instead it seemed to be charging something... And before anyone knew it, a massive burst of energy was released from the reactor, enveloping the fleet and sending them far away, to the land of Equestria. Now in uncharted territory, completely stranded with no way to contact the romani empire, the duke orders the fleet to set course to locate any potential civilization. Upon discovering the planet is dominated by talking magical ponies, it is decided peace negotiations should begin between races. But that would have to wait, as rebel forces have followed the tarkhan, and they are set on conquering this new land. Of course, the Grand Duke ain't having none of that, as he prepares for a war in unknown skies.

Note: I do not own Highfleet or My Little Pony.

The kirins are a quiet folk. They tread lightly in their place among the stars, so lightly that they may well be silent, but they're there. Some consider their presence in the cosmic game a blessing. To others, an annoyance at most. What is certain is that they are peacemakers to all.

Searing Cold is a different kind of kirin, but he is still a peacemaker.

Even for a war machine on the run.

Thank you to NorrisThePony, for everything; and Shanaar, for creating Searing Cold.

Reviewed ‘Pretty Good’ by PaulAsaran
Spotlighted on Equestria Daily
Cover art by JedaySkayVoker

Gilda only wanted the humble things in life. Cheap rent, copious bits, the respect of her peers, the occasional juicy field-mouse.

Being captured by the Equestrians and dragooned into the Territorials wasn't quite what she'd dreamed of, but at least the rent was free.

And the rats were nice and plump.

Rainbow Dash isn't what many ponies would consider attractive, but, somehow, she's managed to score a date with a stallion. Now she's at the restaurant, waiting for him to show up.

Thanks to PopMediaVagabond and CleanSweep for giving feedback on this.

You’ve seen Humans in Equestria… but have you seen them done quick? Will PonyRunner420 crumble under the pressure of one frame tricks, uninvited couch commentators, and suspiciously self-aware NPCs, or will he successfully kill Celestia in record time?

A short story about the magic of speedrunning, and it’s power to bring people across the world (and across dimensions) together with the common goal of raising money for charity, and just killing Celestia really fast.

Featured 2023/01/10. You’re supposed to brag about this here right

Cover art: Izzy Moonbow
By artist: Fensu-San

While Sunny and Izzy were preparing lunch that day, Izzy discovers that she can do more than levitation. This leads to some unfortunate problems around Maretime Bay and beyond.

Tragedy can change a pony's life for better or worse. But sometimes, deep feelings of loss, anger, and unfulfillment can build up to the point of being unbearable, even when things are finally starting to look up.