A collection of silly, bite-sized skits where the characters crush the fourth wall into dust to talk about the world of Rites of Ascension, all while poking fun at each other. Learn about the ascension process, cored weaponry, and more!

This is a NON-CANON Rites EU "story." (The characters break the fourth wall completely, so of course it has to be non-canon.) Art by my lovely and amazingly talented wife, Violet Squiggles! You do have to have read Rites of Ascension to really understand this one. You're going to be seriously lost if you start here. That being said, you do not need to read this story to understand what's going on in Rites. This is to add to something already whole (and maybe get a few laughs), not make up for shortcomings elsewhere. Also, I thought it would be fun.

Also, as this is non-canon to Rites, I can go back and change things if I like. Generally, this will only happen if something hasn't been explained in the canon stories yet and has to change for them. Hopefully I won't ever actually have go do that, but if I do, I'll point it out in the chapter.

A different take on alicorn ascension. Sixteen years after arriving in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle is excited to have invented a brand-new kind of spell, but it will come with consequences she cannot possibly anticipate. Meanwhile, threats in shadows around the world conspire to overthrow the Solar Throne. With her world turned upside down, she will have to come to terms with the role that fate has dealt her while straining to keep Celestia in power.

Now with a TVTropes page! Please show it some love! Also check out the official side stories, Designing Intrigue, and Love and Barriers! (With even more in my stories page!)

(Please Note: This story was started before any season three information was available. All episodes in season three and later are non-canon for this story, which also means there's no Crystal Empire in this one. In addition, the promotional map released close to the beginning of season three was also not available and is not compatible with this story. While the OC tag is active because there are OCs in the story, they're really just supporting characters. The focus is on Twilight.)

Also be sure to check out the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe Group! We're working to develop the resources needed for other authors to try their hand at writing stories set in the Rites Universe!

The Book Two cover art was created by the amazing Silfoe! The original cover art can still be found at Violet Squiggle's deviantArt page.

Author's Notes, including proofreader's credits, can be found here!

"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"

MLP x Fate/Stay Night Crossover, knowledge of Fate/Stay Night is not required.
Art drawn by Co-Creator Kul

The Holy Grail War, an ancient ritual in which Magi summon ancient Heroic Spirits in order to compete for an omnipotent wishing device. Every 60 years, 7 Masters are chosen by the grail to compete, and in Canterlot the 4th Holy Grail War is about to begin.

When Twilight Sparkle was a child, the only thing she wanted to do was become a great Magus that her parents could be proud of. However, after a traumatizing incident, she finds her magic circuits trashed and her body severely weakened. Now living alone in Canterlot City as the current head of the Sparkle family, Twilight struggles to learn what magic she can without her body destroying itself in the process.

Wanting to just live a quiet, peaceful life, Twilight was going to stay out of the Holy Grail War. However, when the circumstances surrounding her drag her into the flames of war by force, she must decide if she will stand and fight, or run to safety. With the help of her childhood friend and a powerful Servant at her side, the Grail War might just be survivable.

I am Breaking Scoop, news editor for CNN (Canterlot News Network). Recently, I was afforded the great opportunity to interview Twilight Sparkle and her friends about their views on politics.
This group of national heroes has saved Equestria no less than half a dozen times, and includes not only a full-fledged Princess, but also the Hero of the Crystal Empire, a Wonderbolt, and arguably Equestria's most famous designer. Naturally, I was thrilled to have the chance to hear about their well-reasoned views on the issues that impact ponies' everyday lives.
Boy, was I surprised at what I found! These are their philosophies.

This is a sort of semi-dark satire about political roles. What would they look like in Equestria (there are a lot of political themes present in the show)!? Sure to be a treat for political junkies!

Searching for any records King Sombra may have left behind, Twilight learned of the shadowy king's tragic past. However, she also discovered his horn, in which his mind and remaining power were contained. Determined to learn how to use his Dark Magic for Good, Twilight brought Sombra back to Ponyville with her. After all, what could he possibly do as a horn? ...Or will he stay that way?

Edited by Darth Vendar and Myrkur
Inspired by Issue #1 of FIENDship is Magic
Gore tag just to be safe.

Edit 06/15/23: Now in the top 2K stories on the site, by rating! Thank you all!

This story is a sequel to Thanatosian Love

The demon inside Twilight does not know her very well.

But it knows what she is capable of and contemplates their future together.

What if instead of waiting in Twilight's throne room like some cheap, one-dimensional villian, Starlight decided to play it smart? What if she decided to strike at Twilight when she off guard? And what if instead of sending her through time, she decided to do something abit more drastic to the princess of friendship?

An What-if story for The Cutie Remark that came to my mind when I saw this picture. This story main theme is brainwashing and hypnosis.

Rating may change to mature.

Inept guards, unsupervised death traps, and monologuing villains – Twilight Sparkle thinks the Daring Do stories are too predictable, so when she learns Rainbow Dash and Applejack are going off to have a make-believe Daring Do adventure, she vows to make it one they’ll never forget.

Set between Seasons 3 and 4.
Contains: Violence, swearing, dirty Jokes, and shadows. Lots of shadows.

Canterlot lies steeped in chaos, a virulent and deadly plague still boiling away after a decade of suffering. The city, and the ponies in it, still feel the effects, still feel the bite of the times. The lower city, cursed as it is, is mostly partitioned off, leaving each and every pony left stranded and without help. Ponies struggle day by day just to stay alive.

Even as the ponies suffer, politicians toil away, plotting and scheming, machinations rumbling just below the surface. The city is fevered, sick and bloated, ready to pop at any moment. A single pony may be enough to make it all erupt.

And make it erupt Twilight Sparkle shall.

One small step, one lucky break is all she needs to turn the city on its head and take her rightful place by the Queen's side. But even she may not be prepared for the shark tank that is Luna's court.

Celestia's morning has been difficult enough, between hearing Twilight's confession of love, and then breaking her heart as gently as possible. Mere moments later, her private chambers are rocked by the shockwaves of a time-traveling spell. This marks the arrival of Celestia's alleged lover from five thousand years in the future, Princess Twilight Sparkle—or as she insists on Celestia referring to her, Glitter-Flanks.

Armed with thousands of years of knowledge of which buttons to push and how to make her squirm, Glitter-Flanks has traveled back to this date for one singular purpose: to establish the closed time loop that sets the two of them up as a couple.