The Cutie Mark Crusaders tell Zecora how they earned their cutie marks. Zecora returns with a story of her own.

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(Submission for The Writer's Group's first official group contest, prompt #2. This was written over the course of a single week, under influences such as: alcohol, a vacation in Moscow, hours of walking, tennis, and the music of Swans and Pink Floyd.)

(Read by mindlessgonzo and co: link) (NOTE: text has been slightly re-edited since then)
(Featured on EQD and included in Twilight's Library)

(Blog series where I dissect this story: link)

This story is a sequel to The Cassandra Chronicles

A holiday poem that is sure to be an instant classic.

This is Cassandra, my OC don't steal. Her interests include having a dark past, saving Twilight when the elements of harmony fail, and being Celestia's long-lost sister. Hearth's Warming Eve is an exciting time for fillies and colts of all ages, but trouble still lurks around every corner, and Cassandra's vigilance and leadership is the only hope that the Mane 7 have of saving the day.

It's the perfect bedtime story: the tale of a brave colt who wants to become a knight. A kingdom in peril. A loved one imprisoned. A quest to slay an evil dragon. A fight to save the world.

(Approved by Twilight's Library)

(New cover art by the fantastic Sean7700)

Blank Slate is the greatest thief of his generation. He has robbed countless nigh-impossible marks, and his talents as a master of disguise are beyond par - truly, nopony knows who he is.

And now he's preparing the greatest heist in mortal memory: the treasure vaults of the Princesses themselves.

But you have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one past the pony who defines when ‘early in the morning’ is…

Spoilers in the comments! Beware! Beware...

Audio Reading available - thank you ABagOVicodin
Czech Translation available - Thank you Keranis

Celestia admires Luna. But she does not envy her. The night turns to day once again, and Celestia remembers, and reflects.

She may not have Luna's strength. But she would not trade her gift for all the world.

Seattle's Angels review can be found here, PaulAsaran's "Paul's Thursday Reviews" review here.

Twilight Sparkle writes a letter to Princess Luna...

(Many thanks to "Pre-reader 63.546" from EQD for all the help with the editing)
(Now with a dramatic reading by Kaoticon) (link)

"Dear Princess Celestia, as your (former) most faithful student, I feel I have to warn you that this is probably a trap. Chrysalis cannot possibly be serious about this. Why would anyone, much less her, want to shoot a documentary on us?"

Chrysalis, queen of all the changeling hives and infinitely cunning architect of their plans to conquer Equestria, has a problem: She knows diddly-squat about ponies. But Chrysalis is cleverer than most—or all—changelings, and she's already devised a brilliant solution to this trifling issue: Make a movie about them.

Tenth place winner in Equestria Daily's Outside Insight contest.