Talent is a lot like ice cream. On the surface, it's hard to tell how long it'll be before it'll all melt and dribble all over your hand, but the part that sinks to the bottom of the cone is still-

Wait, wrong metaphor. Whatever.

Sonata Dusk has talents of her own, things Aria and Adagio couldn't do to save their lives, and she's going to prove it! With a brilliant plan backed up by her special skills, her old enemies won't know what hit them!

This story is a sequel to A Pony Called Death

During one of Rose Petal’s first few years of being Death, Princess Luna ropes her into her yearly tradition of terrifying the foals in the Everfree Forest.  This year, she has an elaborate haunted house planned, spanning an entire wing of the old castle. Rose is determined not to work tonight, so can she avoid scaring foals to death while also keeping her boss happy?

Note: This is not a straight sequel, more of a spin off. Reading A Pony Called Death is recommended, but not necessary

In the dawn of Equestria, several ponies were given unique jobs to aid the Princesses in making the world around them run smoothly. Of the offices created, by far the most important was given to a pony by the name of Mortis--the office of death. His job was simple: he was to collect the souls of ponies dead before their time, and send any lingering spirits--in the forms of ghosts--back to eternity.

Centuries marched by, and Mortis grew weary of his job. He appealed to the Princesses, who saw the pain in his inability to live a normal life. Princess Luna gave him a task. She said that if he could give the office to another pony--willingly--he could live his life as a normal pony, and vacate the office of Death.

Thus, the office changed many times over the years. The office brought with it some power, and much responsibility. In time, without fail, whoever held the Death cloak eventually wanted to pass it on, and the rules to do such never changed. Now, the current Death, a pegasus by the name of Dashing Cloud, is ready to move on. An earth pony by the name of Rose Petal is nominated, the only pony alive who could fill the role.

But, as she will quickly find out, Death is not a job for the faint of heart.

(Idea for personified Death "borrowed" from Piers Anthony. All else is my own brain's creation)

I laid awake, staring at reflected light from the window on my ceiling.  Tomorrow was going to be important, I knew I should try to sleep, but it was being difficult.  On the other side of the upper floor she slept, in that room for the last time. It was never going to happen, but I worried that my breathing, maybe even my heartbeat, would wake her.

I spent the whole time thinking, about our past together, the good times, the fights, everything we said we would do together.  I remembered it all, and one by one, let it go. It didn’t matter anymore, none of it. Tomorrow, Vinyl Scratch was going to leave, and I would never see her again.

Story is canon only up to the end of Season 4. This story also uses the original fanon last name for Octavia, because I like it better.

No matter what it may seem, or what is presented, or what you may read, please know this is a happy story.

Rarity hopes you'll remember that.

She'll try to remember, too.

Entry to the Quill and Sofa's Speedwriting's #34th contest - "Going Home". Originally ~700 words, but expanded so it could be posted as a stand alone story.

A soul mate is a rare and precious gift.

Usually.

Celestia isn't so sure about hers.

A participant in the 2020 Pride and Positivity event. Help support pride, equality and LGBT+ by donating to any of the following charities!

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Inspired by AlphaRidley's I'd like to soulmate with you.

Art by StarBlaze25.

All good things must come to an end. That is a simple fact of life, however tragic. And now one story is ending, though the participants will never be forgotten.

But while one story must end, another shall begin. This is something Twilight Sparkle will discover for herself... at the close.

Featured on: 13/10/2019.

Things are hard in Ponyville for Fluttershy and Discord; mainly because of Discord. But when magic starts to go on the fritz and eventually starts failing altogether, it's up to the main six and the Draconequus to find out what's causing it and, more importantly, how to fix it.

This would be a lot easier if anypony trusted the King of Chaos to begin with, but with bigger problems on the horizon, some things will have to wait to be dealt with. Like trust. Or loyalty. Or friendship.

Of course, sometimes what we think isn't important to deal with right now, is exactly what's needed to prevent things from getting far, far worse.

Sunset Shimmer has always been a hot-headed, impetuous girl. She's always been prone to making snap decisions, and later finding herself regretting them. It was exactly this temperament that had brought her to the human world, penniless and alone. When the opportunity to get back on her feet presented itself in the form of a stranger's outstretched hand, she leaped at the chance.

This is the story of a woman who has made many bad choices, and the life those choices have made for her.

Tags, and even rating, may change as the story goes on.

Thanks as usual to Magello for the cover art!

The first day of school always sucks. It's particularly sucky when you're normally nocturnal.

Now an expanding anthology of one-shots due to popular demand for MOAR!

Featured on Fimfic: 10/1/2017
Featured on Equestria Daily
Now with several chapters in audio: link!
Now with commisioned music: link!

Cover Art Source

Editors/Prereaders:
Dreams of Ponies
JackRipper
Level Dasher
Jowijo

Submission for the Bat Ponies and Thestrals 2017 Competition