A world without music... that's the world we live in... where music in any form is banned and outlawed... but there are those who fight against it... who have united and banded together... who play their music day and night in defiance of the law...

But that is not this story. No. This is my story. This is how I found out about the Underground... how I discovered my talent for music... and of the day that I lost my innocence...

Never stop running. Don't stop running. Keep on running.

My name is Ikuze, and this is my story.

Side story/Prequel to Eyes of a Musician by Artsofallkinds

A/N : I put in the Dark tag for this mainly for the ending....not entirely sure if its needed or not but please, feel free to correct me if its not actually a needed tag or if its fine. Comments are welcome :)

Somepony new walks into Berry Punch's bar. Somepony who makes her think about the past.

CW: Alcoholism and depression

Now with a reading by The Mysterious Fluttershy Fan

Three years. Three years since that one day that ruined her life.

Bitter, unemployed and penniless, Lightning Dust couldn't go one block without being whispered about until she reached Manehattan. Her last chance comes in the form of an advertisement looking for speedy delivery ponies.

But what will happen when her trial run involves facing her demons?

Just a little oneshot I suddenly got in the mood for doing. I can't believe I got it done in just a few days!

Hope you enjoy!

The events of the Wonderbolt Academy have played out and Rainbow Dash is in the stretch to achieving her dream but still has a hard time getting a certain erstwhile friend out of her mind. After taking a few minutes to contemplate things, she decides that she's been given enough second chances in her life to see to it that somepony else gets one as well.

Rated Teen for some language later on, though nothing extremely vulgar.

The world ends, right? Of course it did. But who in the great struggle to survive the end of ponykind remembered to save the music?

A story build around a series of chord changes from the jazz standard "Blue and Sentimental"--in essence, an improvisation.

Loser of the More Most Dangerous Game contest. Now with Author's notes!

This story is a sequel to Rekindled Embers

The Holy Equestrian Diarchy rules with an iron hoof; it's citizens are bound with dogma and prejudice as solid as iron chains.

Order is upheld by the Knights, elite, magic-bearing warriors who follow the will of ancient Saints, dead centuries ago.

One such pony, a follower of Saint Rarity the Generous, embarks on a journey designed to spread Her word, and that of the other Saints, to peoples in the distant city of Jubilation.

Things do not go as planned.

Mercury's Journal is a side story for Rekindled Embers. Reading the original should not be necessary to enjoy this story, but is encouraged!

This story was written for four Quills and Sofas Pride Month event; each chapter corresponding with a different speedwriting event coordinated with four letters (L, G, B, and T). Prereading provided by the members of Q&S. Additional pre-reading thanks to ninjadeadbeard and Celestilune. Thank you all!

Cover art by kleia.

Thanks to Sky, Sunset Shimmer and a certain human. Applejack and Rainbow developed a love for music from the human world. After a bad breakup between the two, Applejack hopes that with music (and some clever cosplay) she can make it up to her marefriend.

It has been nearly a thousand years since Twilight Sparkle died. Celestia and Luna are gone. The Holy Equestrian Diarchy, ruled by a bigoted and brutal theocracy, has driven ponies apart and divided them along tribal lines. Unicorns are driven from society, feared and hated.

The lessons of friendship, painstakingly written down in the journal of friendship by Princess Twilight and her friends, have been warped and twisted to fit the Diarchy's hateful ideology. But to the average pony, this is the truth and reality of the world they live in, beset on all sides by enemies monstrous and magical.

Emberglow, a young pegasus mare, aspires to join the elite Knights, magically enhanced warriors dedicated to the holy Saints worshiped by the state religion. Can she uncover the lies and deceptions that have led the world to this bitter place?

Thanks to QueenChrysalisForever for prereading Chapters 1-24. Prereader for chapters 29-31 is MrRTS.
Prereading for chapter 34-? by Horsetorian
Additional pre-readers: bananachips/CommissarVulpin, Thought Prism, Chyre
Special thanks to my amazing editor, Cyonix
Cover Art by JodTheCod

Note on timing: I began writing this long before Season 9 aired, so none of those events happened as far as the narrative of this story is concerned.

Come join us on the Rekindled Embers Discord!

Edit: Featured 8/7/20! Yay and Thanks!

A few years back, two sisters came into town. Both of law and order, they reigned supreme over the land, one with honorable law by day, the other with ruthless vigilantism by night. The town and its surroundings lived in harmony for a time, but there came a point where the townsfolk could no longer stand the brutality of the vigilante. A disparity in punishment, and a fairness sought after. Come high noon on one fateful day, and the sisters approached each other in the center of town, they each took three steps back, and drew...

It's winter at Sweet Apple Acres, with Hearthswarming day just around the corner, and yet, something's missing.

Written for GrangeDisplay for Jinglemas 2022