"The first time I came back, I thought it was a miracle. By the fifth or sixth time, I knew it was a curse."

Death is a reasonable fear, but it is also a constant reassurance. A promise that no matter how bad things get, they will one day end.

That promise was broken, leaving Rainbow Dash to pay the cost.

A very last minute entry for the 2024 SciFi Contest III.

Special thanks to ScreamQueen and Rb for prereading and valuable feedback.

General content warning: Some depictions of blood, death, and debilitating injuries, but no graphic descriptions. Some existential horror.

Nurse Redheart gives a eulogy.
Do something about it.

Edited by Seventh Heaven

Co-authored with Shaslan & Novelle Tale

SEIZE THE DAY, SEEK THE STARS

Spitfire: a curmudgeonly ex-Captain of the Wonderbolts ( normal flight division).

Vapor Trail: young, fresh-faced Ensign of the Wonderbolts (spaceflight division).

On a years-long, meandering supply run aboard The Wanderer to Equestria's outlying colonies, there's plenty of time for new discoveries, both mundane and never-before-seen alike.

There's also plenty of time for old wounds to fester.

But maybe, just maybe... there's also time enough to heal.

Written for the 2024 Wonderbolts Sitewide Contest, sponsored by Quills & Sofas Speedwriting, and the Science Fiction Contest III.

Cover art by the incomparable Shaslan (naturally).

Equestria has witnessed centuries of rapid technological advancement during Twilight's rule. Innovations in the production and integration of magic has led to countless improvements in the quality and efficiency of life in Equestria, and enabling ponies to finally touch the stars and new worlds. However, with the rise of more and more energy-heavy processes and a stagnation in development regarding the extraction of energy, Twilight turns to the biggest and final step in energy extraction: a dyson sphere: a massive device that would surround the sun and allow virtually all the energy released through nuclear fusion to be harnessed by Equestria.

Two former princesses have some concerns.

Written as an entry for the Science Fiction Contest III.

Starlight Glimmer is transported to the distant future against her will. She discovers an Equestria she helped create that is both amazing and sickening. It turns out this utopia has a deadly problem that only she can fix.

Written for the Science Fiction Contest III.

Featured May 3-4, 2024.

Thanks to Airy Words and Nines for proofreading.

Rainbow finds a trophy for a pony declared, "an honorary Wonderbolt". Curiosity getting the better of her, she asks about the pony.
She was greatly surprised to hear that, of all ponies, Derpy had gotten the honor, and respect, of the organization Rainbow idolized.

Written for The Wonderbolts Site Contest. I spent more time writing for the Sci-fi contest, with the goal of writing a one-shot for this one afterwards. In honor of it being a Speedwriting contest, I wrote it down over the course of two days and in under three hours total writing time. I hope you enjoy, and good luck to other contestants!

When Sky Stinger comes to Rainbow Dash for help with Vapor Trail, she figures it has to be better than paperwork, right?

The help that Vapor Trail actually needs might test that theory.

Expanded from my entry in the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Pegasus Contest. Many thanks to Shaslan and my fellow contest entrants for the feedback that helped make this story better!

Also an entry in the 2024 Wonderbolts site contest.

When Pinkie is poisoned during her duties as judge of the National Desserts Competition, Rarity has to investigate the various contestants, leading to the discovery of a sinister cult, an international spy, and a tragic romance.

Second place winner of the The Whodunnit? Youdunnit! Contest Group - Fimfiction using the Not A Detective prompt.

After an "incident" at Twilight's School of Friendship, Scootaloo returns to Ponyville on sabbatical. Her past haunts her, however, as a darkness looms over Ponyville and its citizens.

First place in the Rainbow Factory 10th Anniversary Contest. Here's to a ponyfic legend!

Now with an incredible audio drama adaptation by TheLostNarrator! Go check it out and give the cast and crew some love!

At the end of the war, after the blast of balefire tore his city asunder, a ghoulified Zebra is left to question if his actions were right, and if his punishment is as fitting as the stars have implied it to be. He will have to fight for his life after losing everything, but is there really something left to hope for in the hellish lands that he inhabits, or will he be doomed to an existence of suffering for his sins?

A short Fallout: Equestria sidestory written in an attempt to see how I can do without some of the things I always rely on with a normal fic. I would love to hear any sort of feedback on it, positive or negative, but overall I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Here's a fantastic reading of it done by Plagen Shiki over on youtube if you want to listen along!