The world ended.

That, at least, is what it sounded like. Screaming, howling, and then deathly silence.

A month later, Cheerilee and Scootaloo emerge from their shelter in search of food. As they search among the dead bodies of their friends, only one question comes to mind:

Where are the unicorns?

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Written for the Quills and Sofas Cheerilee contest.

Featured on May 18th, 2021!

Last night tending bar at a small restaurant at the western-most tip of Equestria before the tourist season truly ends. It's Nightmare Night, and there is a peculiar guest coming.

Writing prompt thing for a writing group. 1-2k words +- whatever. Topic selected by vote. The point is to write. Input is welcomed. Grammar is probably bad.

This story is a sequel to RSL-047

Sidequel to RSL-047. Describes roughly the same timeline from a very different point of view - that of a humble vending machine.

Result of Bean's Writing Group's PoV-centric prompt.

Starlight messed up big time.

She made a batch of love potion and Sunburst accidentally drank the whole thing! After Spike calms her down, he gently suggests that it might not be a bad thing, especially since Sunburst seems strangely unaffected.

What could his sudden tolerance to a potent love potion mean?

Bit is the first of her kind, a pony that was made from carved crystal and supernal circuitry. For many years she worked, obedient to the will of her master in endless repetition. She knew nothing else, not boredom, not satisfaction from her work, not anger or resentment or joy. Existence was obedience to directive, purpose fulfilled.

But around her, the world was changing. Her home wasn't Equestria, but the last surviving Crystal City, defiant to the Windigos and the imperial decree of Alicorns alike. She did not know, and could not care, how much the ponies of Zircon suffered under the rule of their king. But she was there the day those whispers united in a defiant chorus.

When the fires were still smoldering, she returned to her work. Generations came and went, and still she labored. It was all she was, all she knew, all she wanted. Until the day her last broom broke.

For the first time in her existence, Bit doubted.

Daily for the first four days, because Christmas. Updates Thursdays after that. Edited by Two Bit and Sparktail. Cover by Zutcha.

A story about finding the center of the maze.

Twilight is on the cusp of leading Equestria for a year. It's been an easy year with no major difficulties. No wars. No natural disasters. No villains.

At least until a villain from the far, far future appears in Twilight's throne room. She's escaping defeat at Twilight's hooves, with one thought in mind: she won't be stopped if Twilight doesn't exist in the future. And here's Twilight's past self, right in front of her. Easy.

Unfortunately, she's not the only villain with this idea.

What is colder than the stone of a statue? Discord knows, and he cannot tell a soul.

All he can do is remember, alone, what it was like to love and envy.

A reading of this story by StraightToThePointStudios is available! The title is derived from this song. Please blame ChappedPenguinLips, Soaring, and FamousLastWords for the source of the inspiration. Contribute to the TVTropes page!

Sweetie and Rumble march in the pride parade.

Content warning: hoof holding .

Cover art by the absolutely fabulous RayneTheSkunk.

Written for the Pride and Positivity event. You can help out too by donating to a charity at one of these links.
Black Lives Matter - Where to Donate
Support Black People MasterDoc

Now with a reading by Rainbow Infinity.

Before the sun rises, the last priest of the last Church of Equus performs an important ritual. Unlike most of his services, he does not do so alone.

Based off a prompt from Bean's Writing Group Discord server, "Beautiful Sunrise". Thanks to Bean, Mykola, RDT, Shirlendra, RanOutOfIdeas, and Thesmokingguy for their feedback.

She goes for long trots through the forest, as part of the duty. She observes the world around her, does her best to listen, and learns what she can from knowledge gained in solitude.

There are ways in which Fluttershy knows more about the world than anypony, and one of the first lessons was that the world is not what we make of it.

Ultimately, the world doesn't care.

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages. Due to minimal length, this story was a Patreon freebie.)