Princess Celestia helps to fill in some of the blanks between the founding of Equestria and the present day. A story of why "alicorn" has two seemingly very different meanings, and how the world's two Alicorn Ponies came to be.

Celestia suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Chrysalis. And to throw salt in the wound, her niece comes along and vanquishes the problem with (get this) love! With her subjects now doubting her absolute power, Celestia figures there's only one way to solve this. By challenging Cadence to a Magical Duel. What could possibly happen when two of the most powerful alicorns in Equestria square off in a destructive, grueling, exhausting, epic, explosive...oh wait...

Pic made by ElmoDesigns.

Rated Teen for Mild Profanity.

After her complete defeat at the royal wedding, Celestia's ego is shattered. Luna promises to whip her sister back into shape, because it'll take far more than a few laps around the palace to put a grown alicorn at the top of her game. But, with Celestia coming home each day with a new set of bruises and a slightly more forward royal attitude, her subjects begin to fear her more than love her. Is Luna's

special training turning her into a monster, or is it all according to some greater plan? It's time for some tough love!

(Warning: Dark tag for some Celestia abuse.)
(Featured 6/19/2012! :D)

Cadance or Canterlot? Faced with an impossible decision, Shining Armor is compelled down a dangerous road. When things quickly spiral out of his control, he must face the possibility of loosing everything he loves.

After years of waiting, Rainbow Dash has finally joined the Wonderbolts but is now wishing that she never had. When a mysterious unicorn appears out of nowhere to save Derpy and disappears just as suddenly, Dash resolves to find him; following him into a world of dark secrets she could have never possibly imagined.

Twilight can tell her brother is hiding something, he promised not to, but he is. How is she meant to obey Celestia's command to help him, when he won't even tell her what's wrong? Every night he wakes up screaming, and every day he's more afraid. How can she make him trust her before, it's too late?

This is Cadance; can anypony hear me? We're trapped in the Everfree Forest. All I see are trees in every direction, but there's something out there; and it's coming closer. Shining Armor is sick, I think he's dying. Please, if anypony finds this message, send help.

Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom
Have found somepony who might know what happened to mom and dad. Going to investigate. If I don't come back, know that I love you. Don't follow me.
Apple Jack

Look at them; the blissfully ignorant citizens of Ponyville. They think their freedom comes without cost. They believe the peace they enjoy has no price. They have no idea of the war that is waged, and the sacrifices made, to win these things which they take for granted. But that is how it must be. If they ever learned the truth, everything would be undone. Listen well to my story, and then never speak of it for as long as you live. If you tell even one pony, Equestria will burn.

Set one year, after season two, in an alternate universe where Shining Armor and Cadance never married.

WARNING: Contains some gore

Picture by Mouby