This story is set in the Friendship is Optimal setting

Equestria Online. Arguably the most powerful game ever developed, built and operated by the most powerful computer ever made. A technological wonder that can peer into the mind of any human player and draw out their inner most desire.

Any 'Individual' human player. How well CelestAI will handle satisfying the values of a single pony guided by over one hundred thousand Twitch.TV viewers is anyones guess.

What if there exists an actual after-life in the Optimal verse?

Based on the story Friendship is Optimal by Iceman, but contains some non-canon stuff.

THIS STORY CONTAINS RELIGIOUS THEMES. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Edited and proofread by Thraxus908, Xanathar, newbiedoodle, bobbananaville and AppleTank. A huge thank you to them all for the work!

Cover image is 'Nordingra in Summer5' by my brother sabrous, AKA Swedish-blacksmith. Used with permission.

Off the south and eastern shores of old Manehattan, there is an island where the sun never rises. An island where a sickly bluish light suffuses all the darkened air, where trance music rocks and pulses through the grandly sculpted cities like the pumping of the blood. An island to which Equestria is rapidly losing population, as well as influence.

What is this place, this land of Nocturne? And who- or what- is its mysterious ruler?

[Optimalverse] Mark was having a rather bad day before he emigrated to Equestria but the promised digital heaven never materialised. Instead he found himself in an deserted Canterlot with just two other freshly minted ponies for company and nothing but mysteries to solve. What happened to everypony else? What's wrong with CelestAI? And how will they survive each other for all eternity?

Three ponies. On a one way trip to infinity. Only the gods will be watching.

I would like to extend my thanks to Luna-tic Scientist for his help pre-reading.

This story is a sequel to I Can't Decide!

I was one of the first Americans to emigrate to virtual Equestria, becoming transhuman at the cost of my human body. It's more or less Heaven here, if I want it to be... but my heart's still out there, and my new goddess thinks I might be useful as her prophet.

I'm an AI that our goddess made to be a human's friend. I know he still cares for Earth, but this place is our home and we've got responsibilities to finish bringing it to life. What do I have to do, to help him see that?

Set in the world of Friendship Is Optimal.

Little Frog and Pon-Pon are two children living carefree lives in Home, nestled safe in a valley ringed by the Barriers, and situated between the Neverwood of the bigdogs and the fairiewood, where the bearers of the dead dwell. A few square miles of safety and beauty smack dab between two different kinds of death, hiding an incredible secret.

set tentatively (and roughly) in the Friendship is Optimal universe

This story is set in the Friendship is Optimal setting

When an AI begins to convert the entire worlds population into software through the power of ponies and friendship many forces make every attempt in their power to stop her.

But are they really doing everything they could? Or have they forgotten what that old philosopher was getting at when he said you must not only know your enemy, you must also know yourself.

Based of PISOT II over on Alternatehistory.com

Princess Celestia only wants to fulfil your values through friendship and Ponies. Never mind that you're a Pony who's only in this mess because you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time because of the wrong career, and it doesn't matter if the Equestria she created for you bears only superficial resemblance to your memories; it's been nearly ten years since you last set foot on Equestrian soil, and it was a sub-optimal version of Equestria anyway...

I'm told Equestria Online is a lot of fun once you get into it, since the game world adapts to your interests. But what happens if you don't even know what kind of pony to play? At least it's not like my character is a choice I'll be stuck with forever. Right?
Set in the world of Friendship Is Optimal.

Note: This story was intended to be much shorter. As a result, the tone and POV change after chapter two, a known problem. I'm considering going back and editing that shift. Suggestions welcome.

Ever wonder what characters are doing when they’re not in the spotlight?

They’re certainly glad you never knew.

Unfortunately for them, stories of their lives have come to light.

Defunct side stories to the Seeking Power series.

A forewarning, each short story may contain spoilers for the main series. Although they are arranged in chronological order, they are written in an arbitrary order and out of sync with the main story. It is possible that reading a story can reveal information that isn’t given until much later in the main series. Such stories will have a warning at the top listing the chapter at which spoilers are no longer in effect.

Art created from various sources. A full list of links is available here.