This story is a sequel to Lyra's Big Idea

It was the day all three of them had been looking forward to their entire lives, the fateful day when their cutie marks would finally appear. And one day, during the summer hiatus, that day finally arrived for one of them. Would this occasion be the celebration they were hoping for? Or would it be the beginning of the end?

The fourth story of my "Tales From Behind the Scenes" series. Read the other stories here:
1. The Best Night Ever (repeat)
2. Magical Mystery Drama
3. Lyra's Big Idea
4. The Crusader Crisis

At what should have been a routine doctor's visit, Applejack learns that she can never bear foals of her own. After an emotional breakdown, her friends do their best to calm her.

However, as the discussion develops, nopony is prepared for Twilight's revelation: the grand event which brought them together has left a hidden scar within each of them.

Tempers flare, relationships are strained, and the strength of their friendship is tested as each must come to terms with her newfound sterility.

Now on Equestria Daily
and Twilight's Library

Thanks to these wonderful people for all their help

Cover artist
MuffinExplosion

Editors:
NotMurphy
Georg
Ping111
ocalhoun

Prereadering and suggestions from:
Eakin
Distaff Pope
John Perry
Cartsbeforehorses
JaketheArmyGuy

Two silly short stories about Luna, Celestia, fashion, and legal theory. "Slice of life stories if your life is crazy royalty cake with cinnamon sprinkles." - JadeCriminal@SpaceBattles.com

6/17/2020: Spanish translation by SPANIARD KIWI.

Go to the Equestria Daily story page to see the stories in this set by Georg and Dennis the Menace. (If you can't access the page, it's because your school blocks google docs.)

(This is not "incomplete"; it's an open-ended anthology.)

Brief stories about Equestria as it might have been—or, you may suspect in darker hours, already is.

25. Necessary Evil: Lord Tirek will return to wreak havoc on Equestria... but not before he's needed.

24. Queen of Foals (Fausticorn):
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—"Four vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies alone..."

23. The Mechanical Donkey (Cranky Doodle alt-universe): A colt working for the school paper uncovers an old donkey's secret.

22. The Element of Audacity (Twilight, Dash, Cthulhu): It would take a very brave, very stupid pony to defy the Eater.

21. The Gentle People (dark): The gryphon tribe that tried to follow a pony goddess.

20. It's a Trap! And Twilight knows it. But her opponent knows that she knows it. But she knows that Twilight knows that she knows that Twilight knows it...

19. Fraud!: Trixie is accused of cheating at cards.

18. Celerity: Rarity wonders what Celestia sees in her.

17. Worth It: Fluttershy teaches Twilight about the cost of love.

16. Self Image (Twilight, Rarity): Is beauty really only skin deep?

15. The Quiet One (Luna): Some ponies express emotions differently.

14. Special: Discord teaches Pound Cake an important lesson.

13. Twenty-one! (Pinkie Pie, Twilight; comedy, horror?): Twilight discovers the danger of asking Pinkie "why?"

12. Changeling Dream: You may think the cost of living on emotions is too high. But we know the cost.

11. Loyalty (Rainbow, Applejack): The job of an Element of Harmony is simple, and sometimes impossible.

10. [revoked]

9. Sombra's Curse (comedy): The terrible curse Sombra unleashed that made him king, and stole his soul!

8. Game of Immortals (Celestia, Discord; dark comedy): Celestia likes to win—no matter which side she plays.

7. The Pony Side (comedy): Darth Vader has more important things to share with Luke than who his father is.

6. No Regrets (sad): Looking back on her life, Twilight remembers how she treated Derpy, and faces some unpleasant truths about herself.

5. Shipping Costs (comedy): If you knew you were about to meet Celestia in the next life, you might ask yourself: Did you leave the world a better place? Did your friends know you loved them? Should you have written thirty-nine chapters of Celestia clop-fiction?

4. The Green Hills of Equestria (tragedy): Vincent's big-game hunting trip was a success ... almost.

3. Mare of the Rings (Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash; comedy, LotR): The greatest could not be trusted with the Ring. So Gandalf sought out the humblest. Maybe too humble....

2. Happy Thoughts (horror): Her sun, happy to be in its place in the sky, wrapped the land in its warm embrace, and flowers bloomed in her hoofprints. Celestia smiled. It was going to be another perfect day in Equestria. And all she had to do was think happy thoughts. Again.

1. The Pony: Once upon a midnight dreary, while I clicked weak and weary,
Thru many a vile and bilious image on slash-b of yore...

Original cover art by ModeratelyDeviant@DeviantArt

Travis Touchdown is an otaku. His interests include anime, pro wrestling, and killing people.

His interests do not include ponies.

So when one of his favorite anime of all time ("Super Gundoll Puzzle Mustard") gets preempted by My Little Pony, he decides he's had enough of the brony cultural osmosis.

Without a second thought, Travis dusts off the old beam katana and heads right for Equestria to put an end to ponies. He trusts his Force and heads for the Garden of Madness!

A very special thanks to my editor/co-conspirator Bookish Delight. Without her, this story would amount to doodly-squat... which is less than nothing, in case anyone's curious.

Applejack and Rainbow have been secretly dating behind their friends' backs for a couple of months. However over the course of time Rainbow has found the farmer constantly making excuses to avoid her, and it seems that she is too busy for anything. It's a peaceful day, Rainbow is just taking it easy, doing her job just like everypony else, when she gets word that Applejack wants to see her right away. Unfortunately the news is terrible... It turns out that the mare of Rainbow's dreams had been lying to her all along...

Everything seems like it is spiralling out of control for the poor peagsus, and she seeks refuge in the one friend that she knows that will help her in time of need. Will Rainbow be able to piece back the parts of her broken heart? Will the now destroyed friendship between Rainbow and Applejack, be able to go back to normal after what happens? Does Applejack deserve to be forgiven for what choices she has made?

They say when one door closes, that another one opens... But why must some doors cause so much pain and suffering when they close?

Author Notes on story:
- First story so it may be a little bit terrible... But hey you got to make mistakes before you can improve
- Some editors acquired! Special thanks to jlm123hi , Kodeake and monkhm for taking the time to edit this. (Just started editing, so please be patient. I am trying to edit as well so it will be an interesting process)
- Cover Art was actually made by me which is nice
- Feel free to comment, always appreciate feedback

What if Soarin had not been as forgiving as he was when he found out his team had lied to him and tried to replace him for the Equestria games? What would his life be like if he were to up and quit the Wonderbolts, and where could this life-altering choice lead him?

Disclaimer: Story contains subject matter that may hit pretty close to home with some readers, such as pathological depression, borderline personality disorder, and alcoholism.

Octavia has hit rock bottom. After the Gala and being forced to play that song, she was cast out by high society. Now she must gather the shreds of her pride, only to have to swallow them to work under the only pony that seems willing to hire her. Now it's time for her to make a name for herself all over again, and she's determined to make it no matter what, even if she has to start over from Scratch.

Everypony knows that Pinkie loves to befriend all the ponies in Ponyville. She just loves to make them smile, and be friendly as could be. What happens, though, when a new pegasus comes to town and Pinkie's best efforts go awry due to a simple misunderstanding? Can she recover this potential friendship? What lengths will she go to in order to make up for her mistakes and try to make the new mare smile?

"The nine most terrifying words in this language are: ‘I'm from the government and I'm here to help.’”

Veggie Vee is the model bureaucrat: enthusiastic, motivated, and absolutely enamoured with setting the world to rights from the safety of her desk in Canterlot. Being assigned to Ponyville to save her job, therefore, wasn't exactly on her to-do list.

The local citizens aren't too happy about it, either. What should have been a simple poster campaign against unhealthy eating swiftly becomes a war of attrition. An incompetent underground resistance attempts to foil her every move and Veggie's latent megalomania isn't helping. Princess Twilight is nowhere to be seen, and an explosion-happy, candy-loving sugar freedom fighter is on the loose.

Everything is about to spiral out of control...