On an unassuming carnival midway in central Equestria sits the key to your dreams: A machine that lets you, for a short time, live a life in which your greatest regret never occurred.

These are the stories of what happens after those fantasies are over.

Each chapter is a complete, self-contained vignette (though their order of presentation is deliberate).

Reviews and other word-of-mouth:
• Highly Recommended by Titanium Dragon! "Each of the four stories is good in their own way."
• Featured by Seattle's Angels! "If the introspection or feels aren’t quite up your alley, the comedic punchline just might be, thus this fic has a little something for everyone."
• Also reviewed by PaulAsaran, Present Perfect, City of Doors, and Chris! Recommended by The Brony Bookclub!
• "'The Lotus Eaters' was the story that made me realize horizon wasn't just good, he was really good." —Bad Horse

CONTINUITY NOTE:
This is set in the same continuity as my previous story No Regrets. Reading that first will enhance your enjoyment of both stories, but is not required to appreciate this.

After you're done with TLE, here are the author's notes (contain mild spoilers).

What if the chosen Pinkie Pie in the newest MLP episode was the WRONG one?

This story answers your question, children.

This takes place in an alternate universe where the chosen Pinkie Pie to stay is actually Pinkamena Diane Pie. (To me, I would consider this maybe a Cupcakes beforemath.)

I guess you can kind of assume the real Pinkie goes a bit coo-coo and so forth. I'm really not sure where this fanfic will go since I'm kind of just coming up with ideas off the top of my head. Anyways, enjoy.

(Rated Teen for insanity and detailed choking scenes between two characters. )

Ever been bested by a sickeningly sweet pony, specifically one who wields the Elements of Harmony? Are you just tired of love and hope and kindness filling your world? I know I am. Come to the next meeting of Villains Anonymous, where no unjust deed of cruelty goes unrewarded. Discuss your beliefs of disaster and anarchy with your like-minded colleagues, speak of plans for your next big scheme for world domination, or just be a stuck-up jerk. Here at Villains Anonymous, all evil is welcome.

-Discord, The Spirit of Disharmony

P.S., Chrysalis, it's your turn to bring snacks.

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Updated 11/11/12

Seeing as how some of you want me to write more, I'll get on it soon.

When you lose something you try to find it again. Sometimes when we find it, we realize we don't want it anymore. That's when you need to start over.
That's when you need to let go...

Cover art http://raikoh-illust.deviantart.com/art/Sad-Pinkie-Pie-270424397

A pegasus from the small cloud town of Aeropolis searches for his sister. His search leads him to Ponyville, where he finds more than he was expecting.

Derpy Whooves, resident mailmare for Ponyville, enjoy's a regular day in her life. We follow her as she delivers mail to our favorite ponies.

Pinkie Pie throws excellent parties. This is a fact of life, like Fluttershy being rather demure, or Rarity having a sense of style. But the fact is, Pinkie's parties cost bits, and her job at the bakery isn't supporting her passions anymore. So she dusts off her degree and opens a side business...

After finding a book written long ago by one who studied magic, Twilight begins her journey to discover the secrets of magic hidden within the collection of the author's writings. But this path leads her not only to the hidden powers of magic itself, but reveals the true nature of her beloved homeland. Follow, as Twilight and her new accomplice, Trixie, seek to gather the long lost words of the most powerful unicorn.

The princess of the sun, free from having to worry about the state of Equestria, starts to grow bored. What does one do when they get bored? Start an advice column apparently. Dear Celestia answers ponies burning questions and helps solve all their problems. All this, during a morning's tea. Who says you can't be a ruler and have a hobby too?

It began as a normal day in Ponyville on the last day of the week, but it quickly changes into drama when a young filly is foalnapped during broad daylight and another one is left injured in the hospital.

Two of the Cutie Mark Crusaders witness the tail end of the crime and become unsure how they should feel about the whole thing, especially when considering who the foalnapped filly is. Should they do something to help or just let the adult ponies handle this?

This story is part of The Equestria Tales series.

The first story in "The story of Tango and Snow Heart" arc