With the end of the reign of the Two Sisters, Celestia and Luna decide to raise the sun and moon together in one final solar eclipse. Where it once represented the rebellion of the moon against the sun, it would now represent a display of stellar beauty where the sun and moon rise together in harmony. It would mark the transition to a new time of peace for Equestria, under Princess Twilight.

Too bad they forgot to notify Twilight about this. Or anypony else for that matter.

This will end well.

Huge thanks to Soaring for pre-reading and helping me get off my flank to finish this, and thanks to ThePeer for pre-reading as well!

Written in celebration of the last total solar eclipse to be visible from the US for the next 20 years!

Yes, I know it was a week ago. Yes, it's a skill issue.

Everypony knows the Hearth’s Warming Eve tale of tribal unity and the shared rule which followed. Everypony also knows that alicorns - singular or dual - have sat on Equestria’s throne for well over a thousand years.

Very few have really looked in to what actually happened between those points.

Even Twilight Sparkle, until a chance encounter leads her to an alarming discovery: Neither she, nor any other alicorn, has actually held any legal right to Equestria’s throne. They are technically usurpers, autocrats - even tyrants.

Still struggling with her own personal rule, having the fundamental basis for her authority swept from beneath her leaves Twilight with one simple, yet impossible question: 

Now what?

Many thanks to Commawriter and Kirtai for pre-reading!

Cover image was edited by Vinylshadow. They deserve all credit for it!

Try as she might, the weather's just not Rarity's medium.

Set during the events of Magical Mystery Cure.

When Scootaloo hears from Sweetie Belle that a number of last season's merchandise was leftover at Rarity's Boutique, the young filly gets a mischievous idea regarding her idol. After all, if anypony can make frilly, out-of-style fashion cool... It's Rainbow Dash.

Flurry Heart is in trouble. Her homework has come under scrutiny by the trio of crack educators: Mrs. Crayonne, Mr. Integral, and most daunting of all, the peerless Miss Hardcase.

Can Shining navigate a parent-teacher meeting?

Written for the 'Shining Armour is a Terrible Dad' contest. With minimal time to spare, as is my custom.

With Cadance off on important royal business for an entire day, it's up to Shining Armor to look after his two-year-old tike, Flurry Heart, until her mother gets back. But surely this loving, albeit absentminded father is up to the task. Right? Right!?

Written for the Shining Armor is a Terrible Dad 2024 Competition.

It's important for a princess to learn to defend herself. It's important for a father to make sure their daughter is happy. It's important for a guard to survive cataclysmic events.

Written for the Shining Armor is a Terrible Dad 2024 Competition

Special thanks to EileenSaysHi for editing and giving some extra ideas.

Although Equestria and the Crystal Empire have remained peaceful for years, the tales of Twilight Sparkle and her friends' adventures saving the world from evil are still at the forefront of many creatures' minds. Princess Flurry Heart, by way of her parents, has knowledge of her aunt's other escapades that never reached the news. Of course, as a young filly, she wants to emulate her heroic aunt. As her supporting father, Shining has actively encouraged her by rarely interfering in her attempts at mimicking Twilight. Even if her current interest might involve ending the world if it goes poorly.

Sometimes, Cadance wished he'd be less blasé.

Late (but not quite late) entry for the Shining Armor is a Terrible Dad competition.

And, as always, thank you to Everfree Pony for all the editing assistance!

"I only left my daughter alone for an instant Mr Officer, I didn't know this would happen. Her name? Flurry Heart. My name? Prince Shining Armour... oh, so namedropping that I'm royalty won't do me any good? That's a shame..."

Picture credit Mysticalpha at DeviantArt

Just another entry for a certain competition involving Shining Armour's hapless fathering shenanagins that's running right now. Rumour says you can enter more than once, so here I am again. All in the spirit of friendly competition...