Often, when considering history, it is easy to dissolve it into merely dry facts and dates. Sometimes, however, the actual events, never written down, have a weight all their own.

--A collection of side stories to A Brief History of Equestria that would not fit the scope of the in-universe book.--

[img]http://oi58.tinypic.com/b3x10k.jpg[/img]

Congratulations on choosing this, the first edition of A Brief History of Equestria!

For far to long, the vitally important role of educating our foals of the history of our nation has been delegated to Folk Lore and word of mouth, while the realities of the past have been documented, stored and educated only to the elite. It is therefore the intent of myself, the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Ministry of Education to provide the common pony with access to a document that offers as full a history of Equestria as can be practically provided, which is the tome you now hold in your hooves.

Keep in mind that no single book cannot replace a properly structured and scheduled classroom on the subject, and while an Encyclopedia format would give a much more comprehensive narrative, the copious amounts of information would render the exercise counter-productive. As such, this book can only give what amounts to a summary of an abridged version at best. It is my hope that everypony who reads this gains an insatiable thirst for more. Hopefully with further editions, more knowledge can be included, along with a collection of tie-in texts that focus more closely on specific areas of interest.

-Twilight Sparkle, M.B.A., on behalf of the Royal Ministry of Education.

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OST

What is the worst thing your friend can say to you? Egghead? Leave me alone? I hope I never see you again? No. Those are only words, trifle without meaning, no weight, they are all forgiven and forgotten within a week. I know what it is. The worst thing a friend can say to you. I heard it from my number one assistant.

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Kirakina did a reading of this story, it can be found here. Cheers!

Since he first laid eyes on her, Spike has been in love with Rarity. We all know it, hay, most Equestria knows it by now. The unicorn in question has been acting as though she felt the same way, saying sweet things and acting so lovely to the baby dragon. But as years have passed, Spike's seen the big picture and doesn't want to have his emotions toyed with.

Though maybe he doesn't know the half of it.

(Sequel- "All Things Come To Be Loved And Lost")

Inspired by the song "Don't Love Me That Way" By the long gone, but not forgotten Prozzak

Image Link: http://shephardadv.deviantart.com/art/Spike-s-holding-Rarity-267577498

No pony is the same after witnessing a work-related death, no matter who they are. The victim was young, eager, fresh-faced, and recently hired. In his last breaths, he let out a scream so heart-rending that the employees who heard it had difficulty sleeping that night. And Rainbow Dash was no exception.

But she's not losing sleep over that. What disturbs her is something far worse—something she said afterwards.

Love is most appreciated in the nights it keeps us awake.

"Do you know what a mayfly is, Twilight?"

It's been six years since Spike met Rarity, and nothing's changed.

Nothing he knows about, anyway.

(Notes under the 'more')

This is a story in which I just don't even bother with passing the Bechdel Test.

(I know, I wrote another story with a character crying in the cover image. Someday I'll write something happy! I promise. Someday.

Also, I'm pretty sure I read a story like this once. If it turns out I accidentally rewrote a near copy, I'm sure someone will point it out to me, and I'll wipe this mess. I can't really go looking for what I read, though, it was from months back.)

Properly embraced, limitations can actually enhance creativity. Plus anything that teaches me to write a little faster will probably be appreciated by many.

Stories written for the Thirty Minute Ponies community on Tumblr. Various characters, various topics, various tones. The points at which I went over the time limit (where applicable) will be marked by a red asterisk like this.*

Further summaries are below, followed by an easy ship reference for anyone who’s here from a shipping group or just wants to find their favorite pairing.

#210. Black Sheep: “Guess who else is a member of the Apple Family!” After the reunion, AJ finds out about an old relative with... unusual tastes.
#211. I’m Gonna Wreck It: “Write the destruction of your OTP.” Spike tears down the Carousel Boutique.
#230. Last Hope: “Her death was not in vain.” A mother will do whatever is best for her children.
#232. Prelude to Kindness: “When you gonna make up your mind? / When you gonna love you as much as I do?” Fluttershy remembers her father.
#244. Reflections of a Dragon: “First memory, last memory.” Spike’s first and last moments with Princess Celestia.
#253. Pink and Purple: “Ancient prophecies can be really, really stupid sometimes.” Spike has to talk Twilight down from panic, again.
#265. Lavender Blossoms: “Unexpected tears. / Unexpected laughter.” Rarity has a love-hate relationship with Hearts and Hooves Day... but maybe this year it’ll tilt back toward love.
#275. Family Tradition: “A change in management.” Applejack knows it’s only a few generations old, but every tradition has to start somewhere.
#278. My Life as a Teenage Dragon: “A lot changes when you’re a teenager.” Sometimes Spike wonders if getting bigger isn’t more trouble than it’s worth.
#284. It’s a Trap: “Follow the White Rabbit.” One of these days, Applejack swears she’s gonna punt that little furball clear across Ponyville.
#298. Birthday Tradition: “Sometimes, duty calls, even on your birthday.” Every year, Rarity begins her birthday the same way.
#299. Gears that Mesh: “I don’t think your cutie mark means what you think it means.” Much to Mariposa’s dismay, Spark has given up on inventing. But is that really what his talent was supposed to be?
#315. It Never Gets Old: “Twilight Sparkle’s middle name.” A casual conversation about forms and applications is suddenly derailed, and Twilight enjoys a personal in-joke.
#316. Undiscovered Underground: “Two or more characters must accomplish a task while in a pitch-black environment with zero visibility. (Bonus points for writing in first person.)” A routine gem-hunting trip goes awry when Rarity finds her magic suddenly unresponsive.
#322. Changing the Plan: “Write a story in the second person in which the perspective character is one of the Mane Six or Spike.” Rarity has a problem, and her problem’s name is Spike.
#324. Hopeless in Love: “One (or more) of the Crusaders is crushing on one (or more) of the Mane Six.” Scootaloo hates Twilight Sparkle. Well, no, she just hates Sweetie Belle’s new crush on her...
#336. A Jury of Your Peers: “Justice for all.” There’s no way Scootaloo stole Dinky’s special dessert, and Sweetie Belle’s going to prove it! Somehow...
#429. Cannot Be Unseen: “The room never felt the same after that.” Spike has seen things. Things no young dragon should have to see.
#430. Unsavory Undertakings Unleashed: “Professor Piggy’s plans for Ponyville!” A heinous hog hopes to lay hold of Twilight’s home! Can she cancel his cruel course?
#433. A Routine Run: “Reimagine My Little Pony as cyberpunk.” Vinyl’s latest job, as usual, goes smooth as silk. Right up until it doesn’t.
#447. Legend of Twilight: The Sonorous Stones: “Fluttershy! You are the hero chosen by destiny!” Sombra thinks he’s won, but destiny says otherwise. There’s far more to the Hero of Courage than meets the eye.
#455. Lovebirds: “Two ponies attempt to play matchmaker... but end up falling in love themselves.” After a flurry of failed matchmaking, Spike and Rarity have one last plan to unite two phoenixes. And maybe they won’t be the only ones uniting...
#462. Negotiations: “Spike in Rarity’s boudoir.” Spike’s made a promise, and he intends to keep it... but he can’t without Opal’s cooperation.
#501. Reluctance: “The fourth return.” Two is a coincidence, three is a pattern, and it’s at number four that Twilight really begins to wonder.
#557. Brotherly Duty: “Big Mac has something to say.” Applejack is bringing her special somepony over for dinner, and Big Macintosh is ready.
#572. Dear Mom and Dad: “All good things must come to an end.” Twilight Sparkle writes home.

Sparity: #211, #265, #278, #298, #322, #455
Twinkie: #253, #429, #501
Appleshy: #284, #557
Scootabelle: #324
Octavia/Vinyl: #433

"Our life is a journey
through winter and night
we search for our way
in a sky without light..."

The old stories tell of the Mask of Lies, that entraps its wearer as certainly as it entraps everything around it. The worst lies of all are the ones we tell ourselves.

Spanish Translation: https://www.deviantart.com/spaniard-kiwi/art/Tan-facil-como-mentir-999963762

When facing Twilight Sparkle, Nightmare Moon was given a choice: redemption or revenge. What if she had chosen the latter? A grim fate awaits Equestria, but in a time of greater strife and conflict, Discord's return is accelerated. While he expected to bring chaos, he did not anticipate that he would end the Longest Night and bring hope and joy back to the land.

Discord struggles to reconcile his nature with his desire for admiration. While Twilight's friends strive to carve a new life in the ever-shifting Equestria, she searches for Celestia, the only one who can bring harmony back to her lands. But Nightmare Moon also seeks her sister in a desperate attempt to find her place in the world. New dangers lurk in the wild and more threaten to fall over Equestria. Nightmare Moon's decision broke the balance of the world. Will Equestria ever turn to peace, or will the spiral of chaos and destruction be the end of everything?

(An alternate history, this story takes the universe established by the canon and explores one possible outcome if Princess Luna had not been redeemed.)

Comments contain huge spoilers. Walk softly.

Special thanks to my pre-readers, MmmandarinOrange and DarkmatterButterflies for keeping my head on, taking the journey of the story, and making it so much better than it would have been if I wrote it alone.