When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

*6-16-2017 Edit, added Rainbow Dash tag because it triggered knighty.*

Things ended well in "A Canterlot Wedding", but the characters didn't always act as rationally as they might have! How might Queen Chrysalis's schemes have gone differently if she or Twilight had made other choices? This story is a three-part exploration of what might have happened in the season finale if...

* ...instead of making a scene at rehearsal, Twilight had gone back to Spike for ideas.
* ...when Luna said "Stay indoors, Twilight Sparkle," Twilight had actually listened!
* ...Queen Chrysalis had decided to maintain her cover for Twilight.

Curious? Read on.

The friends we take for granted are often the ones that leave the largest impact on our lives. When Spike falls seriously ill with a mysterious disease and the ponies strive to nurse him back to health, Twilight Sparkle comes to grips with this very realization about her number one assistant--and friend.

EDIT: So this little story made it on Equestria Daily on 10/8/12. Now please excuse me while I pass out on Rarity's fainting couch while murmuring a soft Fluttershy "...yay."

The land of Equestria has been turned into a desert wasteland. And it's all Twilight Sparkle's fault! Dubbed the Cursed One by all ponykind, Twilight must now live in hiding to keep herself alive. Even her once close pony friends have abandoned her. The only one by her side is her number one assistant, Spike, who has becomes a gun wielding badass bounty hunter to keep her safe.

This story has no connection with what I call my TwiMacVerse. I've actually had this idea for a while. This also doesn't use anything from Season 3 as it has just started.

WARNING: This story contains some violence and strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.

Also I'm aware that this image of Spike won't match the description of him in the story. It was the coolest pic of him I could find at the time. If someone wants to draw him in a more cowboy style, go for it and send me a link and I just might make it the new cover pic. ^_^

Cover art by John Joesco

I've spent the majority of my life tilling the desolate land in which I live. Every day, I wake up to move useless rocks from one location to another. This is an archaic line of work that my family has clung to for generations. It is a dull, grey existence.

Today, I have woken up in a strange room, lying in a bed that isn't mine. I'm surrounded by five mares whom I've never seen in my life. They claim to be my friends, and expect me to bring joy to the hearts of everypony.

Joy? I don't think I've ever experienced this for myself, so how am I supposed to thrust it upon others?

My name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, and I'm not sure what to make of this situation.