Moondancer's first party meant a lot more to her than just rekindling old friendships.

I adapted this story on YouTube into an audio version for Pride 2021. It can be found here.

A king serves his country in many ways. He must care for his subjects’ needs, set roles of conduct, cooperate with leaders of other lands to ensure peace; he must live up to his subjects’ hopes and expectations and be a role model to inspire those around him. But there is one more duty a king must fulfill: to ensure there is someone to pass the torch to, should he not live forever.

If only it were so easy...

Written for the Pride and Positivity 2021 event. Help out by donating to one of the charities they’re contributing to this year!

-Transgender Law Center
-Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
-Sewa International (An Indian charity collecting funds for COVID relief)

Six hundred years passed since Twilight Sparkle, princess of Equestria, rose to the throne. She is dutiful. She is wise. She is watchful. She is miserable. The land bears the fruits of her tireless reign. The people are happy and flock to her court to pay their respects to their leader.

In the north, the Crystal Empire lay forgotten by Her Majesty Twilight Sparkle. Beyond that, a mountain range lay ignored by most, its secrets whispered by some. Twilight Sparkle knows there is a Question hidden inside that must be asked, but she is no foolish pony, and her duty is to her people, to Equestria. She does not step into the mountains. She does not follow the gnawing at the back of her mind to investigate their secrets. She does not venture through wind-blasted canyons and frigid reaches to try and glimpse a truth that escapes her.

All hail Twilight Sparkle! All hail the Princess of Equestria!

Equestria has been empty for centuries. The cities are abandoned, inhabited only by rats and birds. The ponies, or what's left of them, are scattered, isolated, and generally disagreeable.

Twilight tries to remain optimistic despite it all. Stories have taught her the fate of most immortals, forever resigned to be bitter and unproductive, and she will have no truck with it.

She reminds herself who she is. The Princess of Friendship. The Element of Magic. Personal student of Princess Celestia. Such accomplishments, deserving of pride, a reason to keep her chin held high.

She practices gratitude for what she still has: her ever-faithful companion, Spike, her full range of faculties, and her books.

She doesn't think about the Exodus. She doesn't think about Ponyville. She doesn't think about Spike's deteriorating health.

For the past one thousand, ninety eight years, Twilight's told herself things are going to get better. She's still waiting.

(My eternal gratitude to Pizza Pony for the cover. You can find their DeviantArt here: --> https://www.deviantart.com/provolonepone)

Within a world of realms held by a wondrous tree known as the Cosmic Tree, Lune Star, a deceptive and studious young unicorn, desires to find her place in the world. One day, she is given an opportunity to unravel her destiny when she learns the existence of a Norn spirit. Never did she realize this would mark her beginning to an adventure that would decide the fate of her world.

Index

Book 1

Progress: 1/13

Next: E2: Bearers of the Cosmic Seed, part 1

Art Cover commissioned by JodtheCod

Editors:

• Everfree Pony
• Golden Tassel

Preaders:

• Grey Vicar

In the midst of a battle to protect Equestria, Twilight Sparkle falls. For a moment—just a moment—she wonders if she should bother getting back up this time.

A treatise on 2020, written and published 12 days late. Blame it on the Gregorians.

Bit is the first of her kind, a pony that was made from carved crystal and supernal circuitry. For many years she worked, obedient to the will of her master in endless repetition. She knew nothing else, not boredom, not satisfaction from her work, not anger or resentment or joy. Existence was obedience to directive, purpose fulfilled.

But around her, the world was changing. Her home wasn't Equestria, but the last surviving Crystal City, defiant to the Windigos and the imperial decree of Alicorns alike. She did not know, and could not care, how much the ponies of Zircon suffered under the rule of their king. But she was there the day those whispers united in a defiant chorus.

When the fires were still smoldering, she returned to her work. Generations came and went, and still she labored. It was all she was, all she knew, all she wanted. Until the day her last broom broke.

For the first time in her existence, Bit doubted.

Daily for the first four days, because Christmas. Updates Thursdays after that. Edited by Two Bit and Sparktail. Cover by Zutcha.

A story about finding the center of the maze.

It's been almost twenty years since Sunburst last spent the night at Starlight's home. Much has changed since then. If it weren't for her other friends finding a way for them to reconnect, Starlight might have truly lost her first friend. While she looks back fondly on their friendship as foals, Sunburst doesn't even seem to like talking about that time in their lives, much less revisiting it.

When Starlight approaches Sunburst the night before he returns to the Crystal Empire, she inadvertently discovers something about her old friend that might explain it all.

Inspired by a scene from Uncommon Bond. Story takes place towards the end of the episode.

Thanks to Ice Star for proofreading.

Every painting has a story. This one is no different.

Written as a submission for the Quills and Sofas Speedwriting group's "Plain Jane" contest. Originally written in the span of one hour without a prompt and edited later.

Thanks to Moonshot, Bill Cipher, Silent Whisper, Equus, LostinFandom, Flashgen, Zontan, dawn, MasterThief, Shaslan, Wish, Snow Quill, Knox Locke, and Vis a Viscera for reading during the contest and providing their thoughts.