The Elements of Harmony were annihilated in the final confrontation against Discord. Without them, there was only a matter of time until things fell apart. In a world without Harmony, the Solar Dominion is locked in an endless confrontation against the Lunar Sovereignty. Neither faction has a distinct advantage. The entire race of ponies is quite literally tearing itself apart.

Enter Twilight Sparkle, a uniquely gifted battlemage under the tutelage of Princess Celestia. Sent on a clandestine mission into Lunar lands, she must keep her identity secret at all costs as she recovers a mysterious relic that will tip the balance of the war. She isn't the only one with their own agenda in these treacherous lands, however, and with nopony to watch her back, she's going to have to do it herself.

The Crystal Empire disappeared long ago during Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's quest to cleanse the land of Equestria from all forms of evil. King Sombra was a great threat to their entire world and when his defeat came about, at the cost of the Crystal Empire vanishing from existence, it brought nothing but a whole lot of good to the world.

What they didn't realise however, was that Sombra had survived their confrontation and was now plotting his revenge against them both in the one way he knew how.

Twilight Sparkle thought she was the luckiest filly in all of Equestria when Princess Celestia asked her to become her personal student, but she had no idea she'd be a pawn in a game nopony is even aware exists.

Source for art: https://www.deviantart.com/dipfanken/art/Domesticated-626423587

There’s no end to the monsters that lurk in the dark.

Ghosts, werewolves, mad scientists, cultists, mutants, zombies, vampires, aliens and more lie in wait in the dark corners of Equestria, terrorizing the night. But the most infamous and dangerous of them all is the legendary witch Twilight Sparkle, with a five hundred million bit bounty on her head.

Seeking fame and fortune, Rainbow Dash sets out to defeat the legendary witch and collect the massive reward. The one thing she wasn't counting on was Twilight being less evil than she expected.

More stories set in this AU can be found here.

Cover art is a work in progress by Abode_WTF

This story is a sequel to Inner Demons

Play this song first!

Equestria's Darkest Hour was only the beginning... The end of days are fast approaching...

Twilight faced her darkness and made peace with it. Now she can face who she is, and not a moment too soon. The greatest battle in Equestrian history is about to begin, and she'll need to understand just how deep the darkness in her heart goes in order to face the threats to come. However, in preparation for the worst event in Equestrian history, she'll have to protect a mare that may be the key to everyone's destruction. Even worse, she has to deal with an old enemy/former friend that's intent on saving the world her way, which means killing the life that Twilight wishes to protect. But can a demon truly do an angel's job, or is Twilight simply deluding herself?

"Can I atone for my sins...?"

For years Diamond Tiara has been contending with dark feelings, night terrors, and blackouts she can't explain. When Apple Bloom, the love of her life, was here, she could handle it. Now that Apple Bloom is gone though, Diamond Tiara's sanity is slipping, and she's becoming something horrible. Good news, she's beginning to understand what she is now. Bad news, she hates it, because the more she learns, the less likely it seems she can be saved.

"Wh-what am I?! Apple Bloom, help me!"

She is the Guardian of Equestria, sworn to defend the golden land of Terra from any and all threats. Vale's life was saved by a Unicorn who's heart was more pure than even her own, but now she has to carry on her life and continue her own mission. That should be simple, except for three things standing in her way. Midnight has once again chosen to stand against her, the lover of the one who saved her won't leave her alone, and strange foreign emotions plague her, hindering her mission. All she knows is that something in her heart is saying this isn't right.

"What's holding me back...?"

These three, and others surrounding them, will play an integral part in the events over the next month. As for what their places on the board are, unfortunately that's not entirely up to them.

Note: if you haven't read the other stories yet, STOP NOW and read the following:
Inner Demons
Inner Demons: 10 Years and Inner Demons: Fragments of Truth (these can be read in any order, but only after Inner Demons)

Cover Art by my friend The Spectralist!

Inner Demons II added to the TV Tropes page?! WHAT?! Go here to read it!

Twilight tests a spell in a journal that once belonged to Starswirl and disappears. Upon returning she changed in more ways than her friends can imagine. Now Twilight must protect everyone with the knowledge and power she gained while away.

Traveling back to Equestria for summer vacation seemed like the best idea ever. However Sunset Shimmer's home brings back memories and thoughts that haven't surfaced since her reformation. Forgiveness is never easy especially when it comes to forgiving oneself. That coupled with a deadly changeling plot against Princess Twilight has Sunset running in circles to protect her friends and figure herself out.

Extra Tags: Chrysalis, Changelings, Flash Sentry (I'm so sorry).
This may be subjected to change as the story progresses.

Extra side note: the cover art for this story was done by me
Extra Extra side note: To everyone who has faved and liked thank you so much!
Final Side Note: I've edited the spacing and scene transitions so it's less of an eye sore.

MUST READ: So an awesome friend of mine has started working on an animation for this story. He has a rough cut of the first scene in the first chapter. Check it out here and leave some feedback!
Summer Sunset Chapter 1 Animation Test

Proof Read/edited by: 1DATMLP

Twilight Sparkle succeeds in finishing Starswirl's mysterious spell, but just as her friends have rediscovered their true callings Celestia informs her of a new great purpose. Twilight and the other Element Bearers are to travel far beyond Equestria's borders, perform a spell together, and once again seal away an ancient evil that threatens not only Equestria, but all of Equis. Of course Twilight and her friends have vanquished many a foe in the past, so this seems simple enough.

But it's not. Celestia isn't telling the entire story. There is more to Starswirl's spell - and Twilight's destiny - than the six bearers have been told.

Thrust deep into an unknown world with little direction, Twilight and her friends will soon find that there's more to Celestia and Luna's shared past than they could have ever thought possible... and that the Equestria they call home may already be far beyond saving.

Just how, exactly, was Equestria really made?

An alternate universe diverging at the very end of "Magical Mystery Cure". Ignores comic canon. An attempt was made to stick to canon geography, but considering the world hasn't been mapped out in full there will be headcanon thrown in as well.

Twilight has always been the mare to go to when you have a situation. But what happened if no one looked to her for help anymore? Her sole purpose was to help ponies and give them information. That's why she loved the library. But......what now? Now that the traffic's stopped, the others , her friends, don't even talk to her when she expresses her concerns. Along with lies and things that have gone untold about her.

What now......that her sole purpose is gone?

P.S. Not too depressing, but you sure are in for a shocker! Includes action, adventure, and Family as well!

Has been updated to a Teen Rating due to sexual references in later chapters

This story is a sequel to The Sword Coast

The shadows of the past plague the present.

Twilight Sparkle stands on a precipice, one false step from a dark destiny. Months ago, she set out to find her foster father’s murderer. After she defeated the Black Knight, she was hailed as a hero, but what she remembers most is the lives she took. On the path of strife, she discovered more about herself than she ever expected.

With her friends by her side, Twilight sets out for Canterlot, seeking the villain responsible for the death of her father and the crises that plagued the Sword Coast. On the way, a sadistic spellcaster interested only in power intercepts her and promises to unlock her potential. In the aftermath, Pinkie Pie is taken captive by the secretive wizarding order that rules Canterlot.

Twilight’s journey takes her through the doors of a prison and into the depths of a forgotten place. She encounters horrors made from nightmares and soul-stealing beasts raised from the black of the Abyss, but what she fears most is the monster within. How far will she go to save her closest friend?

Featured on Equestria Daily
Cover by Bluest Ayemel
"I love this fic. Keep it up!" – Sethisto (on the EQD page)

Side stories: Tales of the Sword Coast

Warning: Comments contain spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

Humanised Pathfinder RPG Crossover. Knowledge of Pathfinder not needed.

Canterlot, the glimmering jewel of the civilised world, throne city of the demi-goddess Celestia. No bastion of civilisation can match it and few try. Power is traded, bartered, stolen and forged in a thousand forms in the mad hive of life. Some are born to the power of a name, of a title. Some take power, ripping it from the world around them. Some are even gifted with power, for no better reason than that someone is willing to give it.

Some precious few, however, have power in their blood.

Twilight Sparkle, sorcerer and wizard both, seeks answers to her questions. Mysteries grow in the darkness beneath Canterlot, putting innocents at risk and threatening her home and her loved ones.

Rainbow Dash, thief and daredevil, dreams of the sky. Bound to the earth, she leaps between buildings and bounds across rooftops, forever searching for that elusive, fleeting sensation that plagues her as she stands on nothing and is held aloft no more than that.

Applejack, hunter and warrior, has fought. She has struggled, cutting down the aberrations of the Everfree with blade and arrow alike in a war her family has waged for generations. Fleeing from a failure, she seeks solace in the soft, civilised world. But not everything in Canterlot is as soft as she expected, and the cost of her failure may yet haunt her.

United by power, by ancient ties, the fate of not just a single city but an entire world rests upon their shoulders, and they don't even know it.
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Written in tribute/inspriation acquired from Nealend86's homebrew Pathfinder Sorcerer Pony Bloodlines.

Edited by the wonderful Nealend86 and excellent Web of Hope.

The cover art is a creation of Robd2003 over on deviantart, who kindly gave me permission to use it for my story. Go check out his stuff, it's amazing.