The Shaper is a smith of unparalleled skill, her creations the most sought after in the fallen world. When a pony named Lyra comes to her with a unique commission she has to put all her skill to the test to craft a weapon of great power. For Lyra's goal is not an easy one, and it is not just any weapon that can kill a Dragon.

A story inspired by this and this image, as well as this challenge by CDRW (whose fic A Still More Glorious Dawn Awaits is quite good).

Young Mia is determined to run with wild horses and nothing is going to stop her. Not her mother. Not even a pony with stars in her mane, come to take her away on an adventure...

An attempt at writing something for children + 3rd place winner of The Most Dangerous Game! Cover art by myself.

Twilight Sparkle has been called to Canterlot on royal business: a university's archeology department needs help with a tricky project. All very routine and hum-drum for her... but for Rainbow Dash, it's a chance to get an inside view of the exciting and fast-paced world of ancient history! But how much does she really know about the field? A chance meeting with a larger-than-life pony teaches her about the difference between reality and imagination.

Update: This story is followed by a full-length sequel. Check out The Death of Daring Do: Engine of Eternity"!

You remember Canterlot. You remember the taste of victory. Across a thousand years and a hundred lives, it was the greatest joy you had ever felt.

And then, in a flash of heat and unbearable light, it ended.

Now you are alone. The rest of your kind are dead or scattered, and you cannot hear their thoughts.

There is a void inside you. A gnawing, endless hunger you cannot escape. It is killing you.

You need love to survive, but there is none of that here. Not for you. You can only steal it from them, these ponies for whom we are hungry.

[My entry in and winner of the "Most Dangerous Game" contest."]

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.

What a foolish man to come here and reach so high.

You thought to love even the sun and that she might, somehow, come to love you. As if she could ever love some sad, misshapen thing.

And you changed yourself, so utterly, so horribly. A useless, broken mockery of what she was.

And now? Now all you have are your memories.

*****

Wrote this for the Most Dangerous Game Contest.

Something's happening. Cheerilee isn't sure what. All she knows is what she saw, and that's not much to go on—no more than a glint of flame on the dark horizon. Whatever it is, it's very far away.

The moon is high in the sky, but she doesn't plan on sleeping tonight. Instead, she will take her telescope, sit by the lake, and wait. Perhaps she will see more.

Thanks to Sierra Ex for letting me use his beautiful interpretation of a sonic rainboom for the cover!

After finishing her portion of the day's harvest in record time, Applejack heads home early to check on how Apple Bloom's doing alone in their house. What she discovers once she gets there shocks her right to her core, and what happens afterwards changes the way she sees her little sister forever.

First runner-up in Obselescence's The Most Dangerous Game contest, using the prompt "An OC and a major canon character (in this case, Apple Bloom) fall in love with each other."

Equestria is safe once again, and Twilight has found her destiny. Still, the beginning of this new chapter in her life comes at a high cost, and Twilight must come to terms with the bittersweet ending to her latest adventure.

Once upon a time, there was a very young filly named Twilight Sparkle who went to the beach and met a very young colt named Rex.

They played in the sand, looking for sea shells and making sand castles all day long.

And found something neither of them expected.

Finalist in the Most Dangerous Game Contest
Editing assistance by Peter, Tek

If you liked this story, you may also like A Simpler Time by DJLowrider. Enjoy.

Picture Credits on DeviantArt:
Filly Twilight Sparkle by zomgmad
Good Pace by SilverVectors
Derpy Hooves Flying by SierraEx
Princess of the Beach by dm29
Beach Backgrounds Clipart from 3906 HD Wallpapers