A short tail of love and lighthouses, seas and sea ponies.

Placed First in the June 2016 Write-Off Event: In Over Your Head

Practice makes perfect. And Princess Twilight wants everything to be perfect. Especially the end of the world.

In the wake of the Crystal Empire’s reappearance and King Sombra’s deposement, a thousand thorny legal, cultural, and practical issues need to be addressed by the ponies of both lands. But there’s one issue that’s blindingly straightforward: the thousand-year-old Equestrian State of Conflict Empowerment Act is still technically in effect, and until it’s revoked, Equestria remains—officially—at war with the Empire.

Under the circumstances, nopony in Parliament could possibly consider voting against its revocation.

Right?

*****

A peek at the sausage-making, inspired by GaraTheAuthor’s political fiction.

Written for the Springtime Sandbox-Slash-Sandbox Switcheroo!

Now available in Spanish, courtesy of SPANIARD KIWI.

A delinquent young alicorn named Luna just transferred to the Royal Crystal Academy, and Drying Paint has fallen head-over-hooves in love. But she doesn't care about him — or seemingly anything, except for the dark, mysterious gathering place she disappears to on weekends.

Paint might just find a chance to win her heart there. But the shadows hold dangers he never would have expected, and everyone must walk into the darkness alone.

Highly Recommended by Present Perfect! "It's won one contest and taken second in another … because it's outlandish, ballsy, and utterly unique. Read it."

Winner of Cynewulf's Worldbuilding Contest! "Horizon manages to hit both the kind of reader who likes Infinite Jest and the kind who hasn't cracked a physical book since high school, and he does so simultaneously. This is one of his better stories."

Won second place in the 9/2017 "True Colors" Writeoff (as a first draft)! Then third place in the Lunbra group's "An Unexpected Meeting" contest! Also featured by Seattle's Angels!

Rated ★★★★ by Louder Yay! "Both really good and really interestingly different, and that's a combination I can get right behind. An easy recommendation."

Praise for the Writeoff version:
"Seriously though, Loveless is one of the coolest things I've yet seen in the fandom." —CoffeeMinion
"Dear god I love this so much. ... The story crashed into me with energy, style, and pizzazz." —MrExtra
"Literally the story of how gothic clubbing destroyed the Crystal Empire." —horizon

Cover art by Graypaint. My thanks to GaPJaxie and Haze for editing assistance!

This story is a sequel to Memento Mori

I have seen the mare who does not sleep.

Shall I tell you about her?

(Written originally for the Writeoff Association. The Prompt was "Forbidden Knowledge".)

Fifteen hundred-word(ish) shorts that explore the cast and their interactions in various ways, and says something a little different about each. Somewhat experimental, obviously, but YMMV on whether the format works or not.

Bonus points with possible prizes if anyone guesses them all. Oh, and beware of unmarked spoilers in the comments if you want an unsullied reading experience.

With many thanks to my pre-readers, Present Perfect and DarkRiver125.

Recent archaeological expeditions to far-flung corners of the Old Kingdoms have revealed a wealth of pre-Celestian artefacts, dating as far back as the Hearthfire Wars. These artefacts shed a light on an era we of contemporary Equestria really know very little about, and the stories they share range from the highest court intrigues to the humblest backwater folktales.

This account, found engraved in the wall of an old Pegasi garrison known as the Eastmarch, relates the final night of a condemned mare, in one of the last wars of the pre-Celestian era. It has been translated for the benefit of the modern reader.

Pre-read by the inimitable Admiral Biscuit.
And now with a reading from resident crooner Illya Leonov.

Reviewed by Seattle's Angels,13 January 2018

Life in Canterlot Castle is about more than just the Princesses. Many ponies spend their days working in the palace, toiling with their virtues unsung to keep life humming alone.

Meet Spot Shine, Aegis, Raven, and more. Take a glimpse through their eyes, even as Princess Celestia finds herself a bit under the weather.

Some knowledge must be earned, but remember : Some doors cannot be closed once opened.

First written for the June 2015 Writeoff 'A Matter of Perspective', and winner of Most Controversial.

Equestria is a land of magic and mystery, and there are things that dwell within the veil of the night that nopony wishes to think of. Some, however, lack that luxury, either due to the rude intervention of fate, or due to being one of the very horrors themselves.

One such creature, a monster in the eyes of most, has been given an opportunity to see her life differently, if only for a brief time.

The expanded version of the Write-Off Association's October submission that took home 'Most controversial!'

This story is a sequel to My Domestic Equestria

Applejack doesn’t get the chance to speak that often, to say what she really wants. That’s okay. I’d like to have a conversation with her anyway.

Reading “My Domestic Equestria” first will help get into the mindset of this one, but it isn’t necessary to understand it.