The gryphons were not always monsters. That came later.

In the earliest days, they were our friends. They flew alongside pegasi. They shared the land with earth ponies. They studied beside unicorns. There was no fear between us. That came later too.

Time drew our people apart, but it was not time that made them monsters. They made that choice themselves; they chose their fate. And it was the greatest gryphon who sealed it.

He was born, many years ago, on a mountain far to the north...

UPDATE: 8,000 unique views! Wow! I'm incredibly flattered!

TVTropes Page

Plowpony's Day- a day of peaceful rest and relaxation. Or it was, until Twilight Sparkle badly mangled a teleportation spell. It has left her with a bad case of Horn Rot, a disease that if untreated could prove fatal. What's more, the malady is advancing faster than the slow-brewing potion that cures it!

There is one swifter cure: the Beneviolet, a star-shaped flower that grows in the distant Archback Mountains, far beyond the western borders of Equestria. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity choose to undertake the long journey for the sake of their friend. Their path will wind through floes of ice, across gold-tinted plains, into distant forests glimmering with magic. They will learn much about the world beyond their homeland- and much about themselves, as well.

Yes, it's "Dangerous Business," here on FIMFiction. A huge debt is owed to all those who have supported me over the years. I've edited the story some to remove extraneous bolding and italics, but other than that, it remains unchanged. I hope new readers enjoy it as much as old ones did.

TVTropes Page

Sweetie Belle tries to get over a very real nightmare.
Will she get her beauty sleep or stay awake all night spooning a flashlight under the covers?

Once upon a time, there was a pony. Her name was Celestia, and her purpose was to initiate a series of events which would ultimately result in in the production, encouragement, and maintenance of harmony in the world. This series of events started with eating grass.

Written during a speed-writing exercise at three in the morning. Experimental, pretentious, and totally unedited. Enjoy!

Octavia knows she is dying, and, rather than dwell on how young she still is, she chooses to think back on her life. Chooses to remember and reflect on all that she can; the bad, as well as the good. A single realization comes to mind as she does so. As hard as it might be to believe, is it truly the time we live that matters most? Or is it the quality of whatever time we had with those who touched our hearts the most?

Dedicated to DemonFyre. We'll all be here for you, I promise. We love you.

Little Pinkamina has a conversation with her older sister about her future in rock farming.

Written for EQD's Writer's Training Grounds #012.

Night time inside the Royal Palace tends to be a peaceful job. But one night, when a chilling silence overcomes the castle, two guards are about to find out that it isn't always an easy job.

They are about to get the scare of their lives.

It has been one of the closest guarded secrets of Canterlot's royalty. Deep in a specially constructed dungeon, surrounded by warding spells and powerful magic barriers, exists an enigma. Within a cage that could only be described as something out of a nightmare, it waits and watches all of Equestria. A creature that cannot age, is immune to disease, does not thirst nor hunger, and resists all injury. But, it also holds secrets and knowledge that could safeguard the kingdom. Its powers are frightening, but it is civil enough for debate when patience permits.

Princess Celestia has sought counsel with the creature before, enduring it making deal after deal for its services. The Princess walks a fine line when dealing with it, knowing full well anything could give it an advantage despite its imprisonment. She has had to go back on her word in these dealings, and from this a deep animosity between them has been born. It is a necessary evil as she is convinced this is a being capable of untold evil far and above anything Equestria has ever dreamed of. So long as it remains within the confines of its cell, her kingdom is made safe. So much magic has been woven to ensure that, there is little chance of escape.

So long as the magic holds, there is no danger. So long as the cage remains strong, the nameless creature stays enthralled in his cavernous dwelling. If that were to change--if the magic failed--not even the wisest could say. But one thing is assured, it does not bode well for Equestria.

Paul Matthews is a young man of average height and average weight and fairly average disposition. He is normal, and abnormally so. That rarely seen kind of person who, even in their early years, gives off the impression that they are destined for a moderately successful career in middle management at some cold, gray corporation.

Paul Matthews is about to come very close to something that few people do.

An entry for Obselescence's Most Dangerous Game contest.

After reading, you may want to head over to this blog for some explanations and/or backstory.

Twilight Sparkle's Potion of the Past can only be drunk by alicorns. Otherwise, the results might be tragic.
But what if somepony else drinks it, and not for the noblest of reasons? One pony finds out the harshest lesson of his life.
Image "Potion of the past" by derpyworks. Check out his art at this site.