There is no death penalty in Equestria. Some know this much more intimately than others.

Something sinister lies inside the Everfree Forest; something that even Nightmare Moon herself was terrified of while she walked the same earth.

And now, that entity is calling out, calling out to those with wishes seemingly too large to fulfill.

But none of them ever return.

When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

*6-16-2017 Edit, added Rainbow Dash tag because it triggered knighty.*

Sometimes, its hard to smile, though you've been doing it your whole life. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't hold back the tears.

She cried each night, then goes right back smiling and laughing every day. Nopony see's her pain. Sometimes, she wonders if anypony even cares. But, She goes right back to pretending. She's the element of laughter - of course she can fake a smile.

After all, she's not important. Pinkie has always put everypony else above herself.

A/N : The cover image was painted by an artist who goes by the name Tsampikos.

If he'd like me to take it down, I will.

Young Celestia has gone into hiding in the underbelly of Equestria. Through his vile scheming, Discord has driven her out of Canterlot Castle, engineering a civil war; Luna, her mind and soul poisoned by Discord, has turned into Nightmare Moon. Sooner or later, Celestia must face what she knows is her destiny: to confront and banish her own sister, before the advent of Eternal Night.

Princess Celestia writes a report to her teacher on what she has learned about mortality.

On EQD Sept. 7, 2012.
Hungarian translation by Shidotoku
Spanish translation by SPANIARD KIWI

Over time we lose our friends; those we love, those who we share a piece of our heart with, but do we ever really lose them for good? Sometimes, true friendship and heartfelt love can transcend even death itself, and with a little magic, a shattered life can be made whole once again. Follow the after-years of Twilight Sparkle, centuries after the end of the show, and find out if a friend lost is a friend gone.... or just somepony waiting to step back into your life.

Note: If you enjoy this story, please comment on why, and if you dislike it, please specify how you would improve it. Enjoy!

Thanks to: Cream Puff for proofreading Chapters 1-7, and Golden Apple for proofreading 6-8.

“My daughter Celestia, look at me. I love you, and I wish the best for you in the eons of labor you have yet to endure. So heed my words. When we planted light upon the fields of Creation, Celestia, it was a divine thing. But there will come a time when our brilliance won't be enough. It will take a great, unknowable darkness to test the luminescence that we have bequeathed life. That is an abyss that we can never, ever follow our children down, no matter how much we love them.”

A Silver Medalist of the Ponychan /Fic/ Write-Off: "Cutting Ties"

Celestia who? That tall, awkward schoolfilly?

Sweetie Belle hasn't been home to Ponyville in years. The day she left she said good bye to her best friends, her adopted family, and everything she knew to be familiar. But staying in Ponyville after what happened brought too much heartache and she left to find a new life for herself. Now, years later, she's gone home. Will her friends still be her friends? And more importantly, can Sweetie Belle find the peace she's been trying to find for so long?