‘Twas the midmost of winter and into the town was a place where laughter, and cheer could be found. Ponies roamed through the streets with smiles on their faces, seeing bakeries, toy stores and other neat places.
But this is the part where the story gets weird, for this year's Hearth's Warming turns out worse than they feared. When Ponyville is introduced to its newest invader, a man dressed in black whose name is Darth Vader.

Written for the Hearth's Warming Eve Hearth's Warming Contest! (2nd Place :D)

WIL_I_ZIN (DRAMATIC READING)

hystericaldominolego reading

Pump It Up reading

Epic Pancake Productions reading

Downunda Thunda reading

PhantomBrony reading

AliCentaurBrony reading

SoraKirin reading

FanFics Anonymous reading (Mature)

Darth Redbeard reading

featured on 12/20/14!

Rewritten on February 27th, 2015.

Big Mac wants to go out and do something. More specifically, he'd like to go on a date, but when Applejack finds out some of the details, she drags him to a fair and Big Mac ends up dating Fleetfoot. Will this date end well?

Isn't the man suppose to be the bread winner? Isn't the wife supposed to be the house maker?

Spike and Rainbow Dash have always been a little different.

They've come to an agreement; he'll wear the apron, she'll wear the work suit. He'll keep the house nice and clean, she'll make sure they can pay the mortgage.

She'll go on the long business trips, he'll wait patiently for her return.

Princess Twilight Sparkle has done something unheard of: she's found a changeling right outside Canterlot borders! But much to his surprise, Twilight doesn't kill him or turn him in as the law requires. Instead, she saves his life.
And when life gives you lemons, you will feed.

*Featured 5/19/14—5/21/14! Thank you so much, guys! I love you all! *Proof*
Set before "Twilight's Kingdom". Twilight has been princess approximately six months. Not sure if AU tag is necessary.

My Amazing Helpers!:
spideremblembrony
SirRage
Polaris
Ariin
PoisonedArrow
Go kill them with your love!

The Mane Seven are on a mission to spread friendship across Equestria. It sounds easy enough, but should they let their guard down?

Twilight is confident that she can cope with any situation. Maybe she’s right and there really is nothing to worry about... Maybe.

[You may also revel in the Youtube reading (Chapter 1, Chapter 2) or mp3 download (Chapter 1, Chapter 2) that are available for this story.]

This story has it's own TvTropes page.

It was approved by:
Goodfic Bin
Black-light's Library!
Fimfiction’s Addicts

Here's what the readers are saying about it:

Dude whoa.... That was powerful. It kinda reminds me of “If you love something” let it go. The type of pony that Twilight is I could imagine that losing her friends would make her go insane, and I know she'd do anything to still be with them. Great story. Mad I didn't hear about it until now. ~ Man on the Moon

Princess of Friendship by Bad Dragon is a great piece of work. ~ Stinium_Ruide

If Twilight can't find a way to save her friends, she'll make a way. And that works out about as well as one would think. ~ FanOfMostEverything

I hope Twilight can let go... eventually. ~ StormyVenture

I liked this story. It was heartbreaking, a bit confusing (in a good way), and overall enjoyable. ~ Heart Felt

it had the nerve to make me experience something you twats call “the feels,” but a nice enthusiastic walk in the woods solved that problem. ~ DR_LaZer

made me cry… ~ deli73

I cried. I didn't shed one tear, but a thousand. ~ Crystal_Chaos

Great story, definitely deserves the tragedy tag. ~ MustacheMerlin

This story really does earn it's tag as it presents a situation that cannot be won and that has no positive outcome, which is part of tragedy in it's strictest sense. ~ HapHazred

Brilliant. Both her plan and the story. ~ Unbridled Dolly

I love it when a story comes together--and I say that this one did, at least for philosophical egghead dorks. ~ Mahayro

I love the entire premise and the ending was perfect. ~ Curify - ChasingVerse

"No one had told us victory was like this."

Equestria was a peaceful land, free of strife and violence. Then the war came and shattered that peace. Homes were destroyed, families were split in half, and thousands were killed.

A group of soldiers come to a small village to inspect the damage they have caused and ensure the village won't cause any more trouble.

What they find will change their minds forever...

Based on the poem Conquerors by Henry Treece. This was written as practice for capturing the melancholy atmosphere of war, for a collab I'm writing in.

Dramatic reading by Solar Pony.

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!

I think that I shall never see
A home as lovely as my tree.
In its trunk I made my nest
With all things that I love best.
Books to read all night and day,
Rooms to learn and space to play;
But no more growing, no more fun;
No more soaking up the sun;
Nevermore to drink sweet rain;
Or to greet the Spring again.
There is no power or decree;
No magic spell to save my tree.

Cover art by The-Paper-Pony. Used with permission.

Poets Corner, the proprietor of the popular hangout Corner Books and unofficial poet laureate of Ponyville, has died of natural causes. His wife disappears, unwilling to bear the burden of his death and what it means. With the town in disarray over the recent flooding, very few ponies even bother to attend. Twilight and Rarity, however, are there, and Rarity soon finds that she cannot shake her friend's last admonition.

For hundreds of years, the ancient quarrels between dragon and pony had been put to rest under Celestia's reign. However, after a simple land dispute on Equestria's border turns violent, dozens of ponies are left dead at the hands of dragons. As outrage over the event sweeps the nation, a strong divide between the two races is beginning to reemerge. To make matters worse, many ponies have begun to question the princesses' response; calling them too soft. Some have even decided to take matters into their own hands.

As the situation escalates, Spike has found himself growing evermore isolated. Every time he steps outside, he can't help but find at least one pony looking at him as if he were covered in the blood of the victims. Though, through these trying times, Spike has only been able to hold onto one constant: Twilight. But no matter how tightly they hold onto each other, will it be enough to see them through the days ahead?