When you fear the cure worse than the affliction, how can you ever hope to recover? For Berry Punch, there's never been an easy answer.

And when she is forced to confront consequences worse than any she could have imagined, it's just going to get harder.

With only her newfound desperation to drive her forwards, Berry Punch throws herself into what might truly be her last living attempt at recovery.

My appreciation goes to Simon_oSullivan, Tired Old Man, and Burraku_Pansa for their contributions.

Featured on Equestria Daily 05/04/2014

Nightmare Moon won. She defeated Celestia, broke the Elements, banished the sun. This all happened a very long time ago. So long ago, that she has had plenty of time to change her mind.

Of course, fixing our mistakes is never so simple, and never without consequences. Even with particularly potent help.

"If you came to conquer, you'll be king for a day. / But you too will deteriorate and quickly fade away."
— "No Control" by Bad Religion

A big thanks to Craine, Sorren, and Idylia for prereading and editing. If you enjoyed the story, don't forget to check out their pages.

Equestria Daily
Royal Canterlot Library (FIMfic version)
Russian translation by Doof
Chinese translation by Dreams Set Free

Kitsune Heart has done a dramatic reading of this story! Find it over here.
ObabScribbler has done a dramatic reading of this story! It includes a full cast of voice actors. Find it over here.

Comments contain spoilers.

A long time ago, my family moved to Appleloosa, and we ain't had no luck since. We tried growing apples, but our orchards just never took right. Now, the bank's gonna repossess unless we can get some bits together real fast.

No, we ain't never been lucky, but in that ring, I don’t need luck. I’m one win away from saving our farm, and Granny says that tonight I’m fighting some fancy unicorn named Blueblood. I hear he's real fast, but there ain’t no way I’m losing with so much on the line.

This ain't gonna be pretty. In fact, I can just about guarantee it’ll be real, real ugly.

Edited by Pascoite.

Additional help from SongCoyote, Steel Resolve, Dragonas77, Skeeter the Lurker, Seether00, and RainbowBob

Cover image by viwrastupr

Lunchnapping! That's what it was. A brazen crime in broad daylight. The delicious carrot dog was in Spike's claw one moment and airborne the next, spirited away by a flying thief.

Now, Spike's on a mission to get back what's his. Unfortunately for him, city birds are a lot tougher than they look.

Special thanks to InquisitorM for editing the hell out of this story.

Additional editing help from Dragonas77 and Statoose - I couldn't do it without you guys.

Sometime in the past, Maud took Pinkie on a journey, though she doesn't remember when they started or why. All that mattered was that they were moving, over plains of grass, past great forests, across stoney roads and beyond frozen seas. They were always on the move, had seen lands far and wide. There might have been other ponies, too, but they had probably gotten tired of walking just halfway through, settling down in quiet places.

Maud Pie doesn't remember, but it doesn't matter anymore anyway, because she is climbing a mountain now and Pinkie Pie is sick. Now more than ever, her little sister needs her to be strong and she needs to find a doctor before it's too late.

What Spike saw in the doorway of King Sombra's crystal palace hasn't left his mind. The fear of Twilight abandoning him haunts him through recurrent nightmares. Anxiety taunts him when he's at his most vulnerable, reminding him of all his failures, all his inadequacies, all his wounds.

One night, this fear and anxiety manifests itself in a full-blown nightmare, dragging Spike face-to-face with his greatest fear. What if Twilight never needed Spike in the first place?

Takes place right after the Season Three opener (before Episode Three).

Thanks to RGLloyd for editing.

Now Featured on Equestria Daily!

Now Featured by The Royal Canterlot Library!

Check out the YouTube reading by the awesome Chinchillax!

Check out another YouTube reading by DJ Tazzlez from Hive Radio!

Rated Teen for some dark elements.

While locked away in Tartarus, Lord Tirek finds that his ultimate desire has been fulfilled.

Thanks to Holo, ValorlordV5, Sir Rustbucket, and Sage Runner for editing.

Now Featured on Equestria Daily!

Now with a dramatic reading by Goombasa!

Rated Teen for thematic elements and graphic depictions of violence.

Sweetie Belle gets a job and has a minor existential crisis.

Nothing could be easier than telemarketing, right?

In the final days of her life, an exceptionally faithful student muses on the subject of her perfect and immortal mentor Applejack.

Now with Spanish translation by Spaniard Kiwi!

Rainbow Dash is stuck in a rut.

Her longer stories, while well-received, aren't giving her the attention she craves.

Then, the verve hits her.

The rest is history.

Preread by RainbowBob!