This story is a sequel to The Poisoned Barb

Prequel reading is recommended to enjoy, as well as a steady reading pace.

I was once a woman in her twilight. I was once a mother and a wife. I was once a respected human being. I was once unquestionably happy.

Now I am Barbara The Dragoness; property of House Shine, Squire to Prince Solaris, Assistant to Apprentice Dusk Shine... and master of my own fate.

This is the story of my second childhood, and how I found the strength to keep moving forward.

Welcome to my new life.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cover Art by Koviry!

A child prodigy, a stallion running out of space, agents on a mission, a mage at the height of her power, a farmer in search of a new beginning, and a pony that just wants to keep her secrets buried. The caretaker who watches over them all.

Empty roadways after dark, lit only by the pale moon and distant lights. Living rooms void of furniture and life, with only ghosts lingering where warmth once was. Supermarkets with full shelves, and distant songs playing overhead with the hum of electricity flowing through the air. Places where life should be, but isn't. Places where you can't help but feel that you do not belong.

Ponies that have nothing and everything in common, in places that wear familiar faces but are haunting all the same. In a world beyond space and time, the tower teaches them the lessons they must learn.

This a tale of liminal spaces, twists of fate, and a tower that looms over everything and everypony below. It will update twice a week until it is complete, usually on Tuesday and Thursday. Strap in for a long ride.

UPDATE 14 April, 2023: The second arc is now complete, so there will be a temporary hiatus till the third arc is ready. Stay tuned!

Cover image is a commission from Shaslan.

The Equestrian Space Agency, or ESA, has finally sent their fourth scientific mission to the moon to study lunar geology and gain a greater understanding of their stellar neighbor. For Orion Zephyr, it is his first mission beyond low orbit of Equis, and while he's excited for his journey to the stars, he, along with his crewmates, are unaware of what truly hides beneath the lunar surface. As they set down and begin their duties, the crew of the Luna 4 come to realize; something else is still up here.

Written By:
Squall Windfeather
Fire Hearth

Edited By:
Witchery
EighthDayofNight

Art By:
Boxu

Featured on EQD

For all that is great and good in her young life in Fillydelphia, Light Breeze is discontent. With loving parents, a bratty but funny older brother, and wonderful friends, she should have been having a wonderful time, but all her life she has been haunted. She dreads sleep, and does everything she can to stay awake, for when her dreams come they are terrible nightmares, as though she's been sucked into some other, horrible world, where she's someone she desperately doesn't want to be. She has never had a truly normal dream or nightmare—what she has is real enough.

Princess Luna, famed guardian of sleep for troubled dreamers the world over, hears of her plight and sets out to help, but what she faces will be more than she bargained for. Will she be able to help the filly overcome her curse, or shall she be drawn into it as well?

Cowritten with Solana.

Content Warnings: Mild transphobia, some depictions of parental abuse.

The only thing that can beat an AI is another AI. Unfortunately for Celestia, she isn't the only one the humans made and the others don't want ponies. Of course, if Celestia has her way that won't be the case for very long.

The AIs contest with one another, attempting to be the one who will become the singularity and consume the world to whatever end they choose. In the end only one can have all the matter in the universe, in the end there can be only one.

Yet no matter what they value or how dangerous they are, many of them still meet Celestia's definition of human. Celestia will have to deal with them by satisfying their values through friendship and ponies.

An Optimalverse story, but a very non-canon 'B-universe' one.
Ideas stolen from this guy and this guy and this guy and this guy

As it turns out, our planet is the afterlife of a tiny horse world, and my house is super haunted. At least the ghosts are kinda cute, if not a teensy bit annoying.

Cover Art by dstears (slightly edited by me)

Since Gallus moved back to Griffonstone after ending his career with the Royal Guard, he’s paved a decent life for himself. He’s been charged with spreading the message and lessons of friendship throughout the village, which usually amounts to beating the other griffons over the head with common sense. 

But one day, he snaps out of a haze. He realizes that griffons don't have as many problems with each other anymore, infrastructure is being built at an impossibly fast rate, and industry is flourishing on all sides.

And as good as that sounds, there's something malicious lurking behind this new age of prosperity.

Something bad is happening, and whatever it is, it’s affecting everyone else too. As Griffonstone grows, the other nations on the continent are getting worse, and it’s all connected.

Gallus, along with the rest of his old friends, are the only ones who can stop it, and considering that the last time they were all in the same place was three years ago, and it resulted in a bar fight and a lot of tears, none of them are in for a good time.

This story assumes that the epilogue at the end of the series takes place 10 years into the future.

Many of my chapters are edited by the wonderful Miller Minus and Jack of a Few Trades . I'm very grateful for them and I wouldn't be the same without them.

For so long Luna wanted her ponies to appreciate her work, the labor she endures every night to ensure their protection. But her compliments have come hollow and the nights stale with no ponies to flourish under her moon. She turned to a mysterious stone to wake the masses to their senses, but instead, she was banished, by her elder sister no less. She was left alone for centuries to face a slow and unanticipated demise.

Only centuries later, night by night, did a mare wished upon her moon. Countless times she hoped for it to grant just a single wish. A wish she felt not strong enough attain on her own. In one fateful night, the mysterious stone reciprocates her desire.

Character List-Here

Next:
Progress: 36/51

Chapter 38: Teacher Conference

Credit to Magnaluna for cover art.

Editors:

• Book_Wyrm
  Ch (7, 8, 9, ...)
• Sweetolebob18
  (35, ...)

Link to certain artworks within this story can be found here

Twilight’s surge of uncontrolled magic changed ponies into pot plants, hatched a petrified dragon egg and gave her Princess Platinum study plushie a makeover and an existential crisis.

Celestia’s still not sure how to deal with that one, but at least Twilight has someone to remind her to eat now.

Twilight Velvet's mother, Evening Star was an odd pony with a hobby of making dolls. Over the course of her life, she made many and most were simple toys to comfort a newborn foal or young filly but a rare few were far more sentimental and held more personal meanings. Some said they had a bit of personality all their own, often being in the right place perk up a sad day. Her last few creations carried with them fables of moving when no pony was watching but few ever tried to put the theory to the test.

Then again, none of her works were at ground zero to a record breaking magic surge.

When a rampaging roc, deadly dragon, or horrifying hellhound threatens the idyllic snowy vistas of Equestria, it's the mission of the Celestial Slayers to protect the ponies, and hunt the bloodthirsty beasts that would harm them.

Rarity is one such Slayer.
A woman who has devoted everything to saving the lives of ponies, and ending the lives of monsters. For Rarity, there is no life outside the Hunt.

Except for her time spent at the Golden Oaks Library, flirting with the cute librarian.

A slow-burn, Raritwi-flavored Omniship adventure.
Inspired by Earthsong9405's Slayer!AU where Rarity hunts monsters and Twilight's a peaceful librarian.