Discord feels Fluttershy needs to be a little more assertive when it comes to expressing her own views and maintaining her beliefs against the weight of other arguments, especially when those counter-debates turn... well, personal. Fluttershy doesn't want to risk it.

So Discord mentions a simple fact: two plus two equals five.

Fluttershy naturally disagrees.

It gets worse from there.

(A stand-alone, no prior-reading-necessary part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page (with new Recap section) and FIMFiction group: new members and trope edits are welcome.)

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

A girl made a mistake.

Now she talks to her sister about it.

Since people are being put off by the title, I'll say it here. The title is not directly related to the fic's contents. Don't be expecting a story about someone dying. It's metaphorical, not literal.

Now with a reading by Short Stories. Click here to view.

Twilight finds it a bit difficult to reconcile Celestia's playful new manner with the regal teacher she knew for so long.

Once she does, however, the benefits are plain to see.

Ideas, editing, and criticism provided by my partner in crime, Cryosite.

Now with a reading by HanaYoriUta.

Dust has lived on the edge of Ponyville all her life, keeping to herself and studying. She knows Princess Twilight, and so when she realizes she's made a big discovery, she's eager to run to the castle and tell everypony the good news. But when she goes into Ponyville, they don't seem very happy to see her.

Why would that be? She didn't do anything wrong.

Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is the center of magical research in Equestria. Since Apple Bloom developed a love of potion making and an interest in the theory behind magic, she recognizes what an honor it would be to study there. But that would also mean being the only non-unicorn student to ever attend, leaving her friends and family, and moving to a strange city... and that's if she can pass an entrance exam designed to select the most magically gifted unicorns.

Spike has never wanted more than to be Twilight's number one assistant. But when Twilight points out that there's a pony right in front of him who needs an experienced assistant even more than she does, it means considering a life where he's making the most of his talents... but one without Twilight by his side.

For both of them, facing hard decisions are just part of growing up.

Second place winner for the April Writeoff Association prompt "Great Expectations."

This story is a sequel to How many friends have you made today?!

Things are a lot better for Anon since the events of Ponyville. His store is doing great and he enjoys the company of all his friends. As the days go on, he finds that the problems of the past are quick to haunt him as he is forced to face the one thing that hurt him the most.

In an effort to encourage reading and writing in Ponyville, Mayor Mare launched a project inviting ponies to write their autobiographies for storage in the Castle's Library. However, despite her thrilling life, Rarity simply didn't have the time to sit down and write her autobiography, no matter how badly Twilight wanted her to do it.

...Then again, she wasn't all that good at not catering to the alicorn's every adorable whim.

Small Raritwi fluffshot. The ridiculously adorable cover art was done by the awesome King-Snail.

I've been stuck like this for about a decade, and I'm finally free. But of course, those pony friends of that evil jail keeper aren't happy about that. Why? Don't I deserve a shot at life too? Just because I have to lock up Pinkie Pie in my mind? Hah! She deserves it for doing it to me!

When Pinkie retreats into her own mind due to the depression of thinking her friends abandoned her in 'Party of One', Pinkamena finds herself in control of herself for the first time since the Sonic Rainboom. But her friends aren't too happy about Pinkie Pie being locked away in Pinkamena's place.

Now has a sequel!

You are Anon, and you managed to marry your love, Princess Celestia. However, fate conspires against you, and you end up bound to her sister as well.

Now if only you knew more about Luna than her name.

Pinkie has a secret. So far, she's kept it from everyone, but Twilight can tell that something's wrong with her. So she offers what vague support she can… until Pinkie takes her into the basement to show her.

Fourth-place finisher in the "More Most Dangerous Game" contest, based on the Cupcakes prompt.

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