"Sis, I know you always told me that the farm is our home and that we all belong there, but you also told me you had to leave to find that out. I hope you can understand. I'm tired of ponies telling me that I'll find out who I am if I wait. What kind of boring self am I ever going to find by just sitting around doing normal stuff?"

—

Cover image by Icaron, used with permission.

Zecora is known to lead a peaceful existence, alone in the Everfree Forest, lending a helping hoof or advice when asked. But her story began in a very different way, long ago and far away, amidst silk, incense, blood and treachery.

Image source: Giulia Beck

Thanks to Meridian Prime and The Fool for prereading and editing.

Thanks to Quill Scratch for a last check.

Got featured on EQD!

When Apple Bloom's nightmares come to life, she must learn that it's OK to admit when you’re scared.

A bedtime story in three parts. Featured on EQD!

Twilight and Spike return to the Castle of the Two Sisters, only to find that their previous foray into its depths may not be what they remember.

What joy, I've a treat for you:
A lovely warm dinner of Scootaloo stew.

It’s sweet and delicious,
I'm so sinfully kind.
I left in the hooves,
I hope you don’t mind.

With huge thanks to Bad Horse for pre-reading!

Ten years after Twilight is crowned an alicorn princess, she is now the rightful ruler of Equestria. History repeats itself when she tasks her newly appointed student, Sunset Shimmer, to study the magic of friendship. But the road to redemption is a long and arduous one, and shutting yourself from others only makes it worse once they manage to break through. On top of that, something about all this appears to be bothering Sunset, and she herself cannot understand why.

But before Sunset confronts her inner demons and takes the first step towards the rest of her life, she must get to Ponyville first. On the train ride there, she meets an old friend.

With each passing day, the night grows ever darker.

Princess Luna has never felt more alone.

Artwork by the Inimitable Mewball

Glitter was banished from her hive because she's different: instead of feeding on love, she feeds on anger, fear, and sadness. Ponies are easily fooled and more easily manipulated. Staying undetected and sustaining her dietary needs, she goes through life bringing misery to those around her. All changes though when he turns up, tearing down walls built throughout a lifetime.

Featured on Equestria Daily 27th of August 2015.

Originally written for the The Writeoff Association's June contest "A Matter of Perspective".

Thanks go out to InquisitorM and Fimbulvinter for editing and proofreading help.

Additional Thanks to all the Writeoff Association members who reviewed or commented on the contest version. In no particular order: Titanium Dragon, Baal Bunny, Bad Horse, Bradel, FanOfMostEverything, horizon, Not_A_Hat, PresentPerfect, Thornwing, The Cyan Recluse, The Letter J, BlazzingInferno, bookplayer

A lot can happen to a pony between the moment she rappels out the town hall window and the moment she bursts in the front door with news of the bugbear's defeat.

The original, mini-fic version of this story came in, oh, 79th or something in the August, 2015 Writeoff, "Best Laid Plans."