To Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia, it is a simple surprise visit to Canterlot. To the ponies of the Equestrian Civil Service, it is twenty-four hours of chaos, politics, weaponized dessert, politics, underhooved manipulation of media, politics, and things batrachian and tentacular. Who said bureaucracy isn't exciting?

Ponyville's bravest citizen, one who never had a problem being selfless, has saved the town from a force of evil. At the end of this valiant and successful attempt to save Ponyville, our hero has been gravely wounded. He has come to a realization regarding his fate, but his friends and family having a hard time letting their dear friend and protector go... especially the ones closest to him. But life must go on.

A recent death in the family inspired me to write this fic, in hope that it would help me come to terms with moving on. It did more than I can describe in words. I don't know how many of you have lost a family member to the war in Afghanistan, but I do know that most have lost someone. To all of you my heart reaches out.

Also as a note the picture is not mine: http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/187/0/2/cutie_mark__big_mac_by_blanishna-d568rk1.png

Reader, in ancient days, the old lords of the world numbered in thousands. Then hundreds. Then even less.
Now, they are found only in tapestries and fanciful ballads.
The creatures are all vanished. All but one.

Rumors say there are more of him, somewhere far away. A young and supposedly gifted mage called Star Swirl, and Heartstrings, a gentle spinster, have joined him on a journey to find the rest.

Featured in The Royal Guard's Fic Spotlight #5
TV Tropes page (that could use more love)

This story is a sequel to To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

When Rarity receives a commission from Princess Luna to design a new “Look” for the Night Court, she didn’t expect the job to include Luna’s own Hoofmaiden and one of her Night Guards for protection. Could Luna have an ulterior motive in sending two big city Nocturne pegasi to small town Ponyville, and would it have anything to do with Celestia’s new hybrid rosebush “Cupid’s Delight” or Luna’s new interest in genetics?

Adventures in fashion, love, and romance that unfold like a kick to the head with the two most hapless Night Pegasi ever to work for Princess Luna.

A stand alone story that can be easily read without the previous appearances of Laminia and Pumpernickel (in chronological order below):
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
Two Unicorns Walk Into a Village
Genealogy (or the Mating Habits of nocturnes pegasi)
Diplomacy by Other Means
The Empty Crib

I would like to extend my thanks to AlicornPriest, an amazing editor who edited this story while being up to his neck in fanfics and overloaded, AND carrying on a full time college workload in the Real World too.

The source document for this story is stored here if you would like to comment directly on certain spots or point out grammar misteaks/tpypos in my otherwise perfect writing (Ha!). We’re glad to have you over and I hope you enjoy yourself.

Bon Bon and Lyra play sweet music.

Do not read this.

Something is eating at Rainbow Dash. Ever since the Royal Wedding in Canterlot, she's been quiet, aloof, and distracted. After a long day's work of shaping the rainclouds over Ponyville, she can no longer keep the truth bottled in. The only problem is, as a picnic with her close friends looms over the horizon, she's at a loss to find a pony she can comfortably share her thoughts with.

Twilight Sparkle's imagination as a child was unbelievable, probably due to all those books. Which also make up the amazing Fort Book, Twilightopia's first stronghold against the country of Armor! With the help of Captain Smartypants and Private Cadence, General Twilight defends her fort against her brother's advancing army of one!
A tale of Twi's childhood told from her point of view.

Inspired by the cover picture.

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."

Nightmare Moon may have been defeated, but Princess Luna still struggles with her inner nightmares. It was so easy to give into the temptations of power the first time, now that she had a taste of it, can she give it up for good? Or will she return to her old ways and have to be banished again, this time forever?

This story is a sequel to Post Nuptials

In the aftermath of the wedding, Spike is bitter and avoiding everyone. Twilight's determined to find out what's bothering her charge, but she walks a very fine line when dealing with an emotionally distraught child.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash suspects something's wrong with Scootaloo, so she starts spending more time with her in hopes of picking the secret from her brain. As she begins to truly mentor the young filly for the first time ever, she begins to see the advantages to having a little sister.

And while all this is going on, Pinkie is struggling with some old family issues that have been brought to the surface, meaning she might have to confront her past at last.

Art by Conicer