This story is a sequel to The Freeport Venture

Sunset Shimmer has established a good life for herself in Freeport. Sure, the city might be horrendously corrupt, but she makes a very good living as the Freeport's only officially sanctioned unicorn magus.

All that goes down the drain when somepony robs the richest bank in Freeport. And most baffling of all, after the heist the crook went to the poorest part of town and scattered the loot for all of Freeport's poor and deprived citizens. Now Sunset has to find the thief, and figure just why someone would rob from the rich and give to the poor...

Reading The Freeport Venture is not necessary to follow this story's plot, though you'll certainly enjoy it more if you have. Plus you should read the previous story anyway, because I'm quite proud of it.

Just because a city flew in the sky did not mean it would escape Tirek's endless hunger for power, as the cloud city was soon to learn. It was in the chaos of his attack that Cloudsdale came to realize that magic is more important for some ponies than for others.

For instance, the pegasi needed it to walk on clouds.

And to fly.

For a father separated from his daughter, that flight is more important than ever.

Thanks to Knight of Cerebus for proofreading and to PrincessSaros for letting me use Desolace as cover art.

Now approved by Nonpareil Fiction and The Goodfic Bin!
[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EmVlHrFRXBfTyM0FduzcjBzbNBNBJJCav21xsBUm3gy4jnPx6XJx6BDkiVZMQ1rY26987wHj8CdTAGmeEiCqNZ0bSRMb0Nf1_u7P06IRcxLaGHe4p5qK2E6-3p0zBwEkKH80ciN3Cg=w1342-h547[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/GizVyc0.png[/img]

Rainbow Dash has an unusual way of learning, and Twilight’s determined to take advantage of it. Before she knows it, Rainbow’s worst fears become reality and her life unravels before her eyes as she becomes the smartest pony alive.

The dark tag is for the implications of the story.

An entry for the April 2015 write-off event, with the prompt “Great Expectations.”

Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jackson. A.K.A “Stonewall Jackson.” Died May 10, 1863 after the battle of Chancellorsville from pneumonia. This is what history tells us. However, what if Jackson didn’t die? What if he was rescued from his fate by a certain alicorn princess to save her country from annihilation?

Equestria has changed. War threatens to tear the world apart, and Rainbow Dash finds herself caught in the center of it all, allied with the least likely of creatures.
The royal sisters have vanished, leaving Princess Twilight to take charge in their stead, bringing the eye of King Gallows of the Gryphon Kingdom. He begins wonder if Equestria has the strength needed to defend itself any longer.
The locations of the element bearers have become obscure at best, Twilight and Dash being the only two in contact with one another.
Having grown over the years, Dash has attained a greater wisdom, appreciation, and knowledge of the idea behind loyalty. This new grip on her fate allows her to channel the element in her possession as an individual, and pushes her to find her lost friends before they're lost for good, for their country may need them in this dark time. (Click 'Show More' for folk who helped and some handy info.)
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This is the first in a series I plan to visit a number of times with Rainbow taking the role of our main protagonist, however as this is a large scale fantasy adventure, there will be multiple heroes with their own parts to play as well when the party splits up.

Another little tidbit that could interest you readers, is that most of the chapters of these stories will also be the titles of various songs from the power metal genre, a favored genre of mine that helped inspire and push forward this project. There will be a link to each song on the title at the beginning of the chapter if you wish to listen, but keep in mind that the story and song share little more than a title.

Great appreciation to Solidfire for editing this.

Many many thanks to SonicSketch for letting me use her wonderful art as a cover

Memories hurt; she knows this. A thousand years on the moon with nothing but your own thoughts is torture upon a level no pony could ever achieve. Sometimes, the easiest thing to do is hope, and pretend they never existed. But nothing can change the past.

And sometimes, those memories don't want to be forgotten.

I understand you wish to learn more about my dreamwalks, as well as what I did with my time on the Moon. Well, listen carefully when I say I do not entertain these types of inquiries lightly. My life and my work are my business alone, and no amount of sheer curiosity will get me to delve too deeply into them.

I also understand that you have been overthinking your actions, as evidenced by your performance, and that Celestia thinks I can help you. I'm not sure if you've met one Twilight Sparkle, but she usually handles these sorts of things. She must be busy.

I suppose I, of all ponies, would know a thing or two about spending too much time in one's own head, due to my rather famous imprisonment. I had it all, you see. Disrespect, loathing, nightmares. One nightmare in particular, actually... Yes... I suppose it's time I spoke of that night. I was not alone up there, you understand. I had my other half to keep me company. Sometimes, I would open my eyes and see her...

Well, perhaps you should pull up a seat.

_{Cover Art by: Zilkenian
Also available in audio form!
Also available in Spanish form!}

This story is a sequel to A War of Words - The Opening of the Guard

For centuries, the stallions of the Royal Guard have protected Equestria from every danger imaginable.
Now they face a new threat to their position that will not be so easy to defeat.

Mares.

The story of four mares who answer the call to guard Princess Luna, and the troubles they go through to gain acceptance and respect in their new jobs. Or it could be considered to be the story of four interlopers into a traditionally male role and the underhanded tricks used to secure their position despite their obvious unsuitability for the job. Pick one.

Cover photo credit to the fantastic MuffinExplosion at DeviantArt.

Thanks to my editors: Peter, MSPiper, Featherprop, Seether00, GameKnut and Tek

Author's notes on the development of the story and characters may be found here.
This is a sequel to A War of Words - The Opening of the Guard which is featured on Equestria Daily

A bad day and a rainy night. It’s enough to drive a mare to drink. Winding up in a dark bar on the streets of Canterlot, Rainbow Dash finds herself meeting up with a mare who is elegant, graceful, and totally gorgeous. All the qualities that Dash thinks she completely lacks. What the heck could they have in common?

On this particular night, far more than she might realize.

A collaborative effort between myself and TheLandgrave, told from two perspectives.

To see Fleur's side, click here.

I don't see what all the fuss about death is. Our princesses have been dodging it for over a thousand years. Who's to say Sweetie and I can't experiment a little? No, don't be ridiculous, zombies don't exist. Not yet, anyway.

[As seen on Equestria Daily.]