In the far reaches of Canterlot Castle, high above in the towers lived the archmage. Everypony knew her, yet few had met her.

Twilight Sparkle sighed, having teleported away another noble seeking favors before reaching the top of the stairs for the second time today. They never learned. As the archmage, she already dealt with political squabbles far too often without inviting them into her home. Aside from personal favors for Celestia, she did what was required of her position and then returned to seclusion and research.

The nobility grumbled that no archmage should be a commoner, and Twilight’s disrespect toward them proved it. Each and every time they were forced to bow to her, they hated what they saw: the position, the status, the deference.

Was she not powerful? Was she not great?

Twilight, now reading through dusty scrolls and long forgotten tales, wrote in her notes — notes gathering dust of their own. A brief thought flashed through her mind.

Am I not powerful? Am I not great?

And then Twilight picked up The Tale of the Royal Pony Sisters.

Defunct side stories told in Across the Boundary. They can still provide a little context, but when in doubt, the main story here is canon.

Cover art provided by Lafiir

It is the year 0179 of the Cloud Century. Almost two centuries have passed since the Pegasus Enclave closed the sky and cut off the toxic, uninhabitable surface world. A new home for ponykind, where pegasus ponies are born, and raised, and die.

Before the war, before the sky was cut off, something terrible was locked away. Chamomile is an average pegasus, born into a family of archaeologists and living at the edge of Enclave territory, far to the north. When she stumbles into ancient dangers and conspiracies, she finds her quiet life turned into a horror story. Can she set things right, or is the Enclave doomed?

A Fallout: Equestria sidestory. Thank you to all my readers, patreons, and well-wishers!

As always, I most look forward to seeing what references and cameos people notice. You surprise me sometimes with how you pick up on minor details!

Here's a gallery of the previous cover art, as well as a few bits of character design I put together: Gallery

Separated from her clan, Autumn Blaze prepares for a winter alone.
No, that doesn't sound right...
I actually have a lot of friends. I mean, you'll have to take my word for it, but they're here.
We sing songs, we talk to each other, we exchange stories.

You know, maybe it's better if I just show you.

Liza Doolots was an ordinary filly. Ordinary, but also content with her way of life, her friends and the things she loved. And there were many things that Liza Doolots loved, but the things she loved most were candies and the candy store of her parents Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon.
One day, though, Liza's life takes an exciting, then terrifying, turn. A candy factory rises in Ponyville, a product of the ever increasing industrialism in Equestria. Its owner, a charming and joyful stallion called Sweet Treat, promises a new age of candy, but the presence of the factory also means that the age of Ponyville's candy store comes to an end.
Cheap candies, air pollution, greed for money and five golden tickets, but all that Liza can see is how the candy store of her parents dwindles and how her life changes against her will.
The candy factory must be stopped..... and Liza and her parents are determined to do everything to save their little candy business from becoming a victim of gentrification.

A musical story and ponified reimagination of the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", with a darker and more serious take on the subject of factories, industrialism and gentrification.
This story is a collaborative project between DinkyUniverse, who provided the idea, and me, who writes the story.
The cover art was drawn by DinkyUniverse.

Work on this story happens on Saturdays and new chapters get released once they are ready.

Minuette has an imaginary friend. At least, that's what everypony else thinks.

When ten-year-old magic student Minuette comes into possession of an antique vanity mirror, she is surprised to discover there is a creature living inside: A bug pony with big fangs and glowing eyes. Most little foals would probably be scared of such a creature, but not Minuette. Armed with a cheerful smile, she decides to befriend the bug in her mirror and uncover the mystery behind his bewildering predicament.

It's just such a shame that nopony else can see him.

First Act Edited by Mister Hypothetical

Second act and on edited by Xanni & Brony2005

This story is part of 'The Bugs in Strange Places' series, whose other entries include The Bug in The Herd, The Bug in The Basement, and The Bug in The Cave. You do not need to read any of these previous stories to enjoy this one, as they are not directly connected.

Inspiration for this story comes directly from this fine individual right here.

This story is a sequel to Little Memories

After two long, painful years, Twilight Sparkle has finally regained her lost memories. Unfortunately, her remembrance has come at a terrible price...

Exiled from her home city of Canterlot and haunted by the whispering voice of Midnight Sparkle, Twilight has been tasked with opening a mysterious chest presented to her by the Tree of Harmony. To do this, she must prove to her friends - and to herself - that she is still worthy to wield the Element of Magic. But with her own mind threatening to swallow her whole at every turn, her task will be far from easy. If she is to succeed, Twilight must face her fears and come to terms with what she allowed herself to become, or fall prey to the shadow whispering in her ear...

Thankfully, she does not have to carry this burden alone.

Beware spoilers in the comments!

Edited by Chromio

The cover art was drawn by Hagalazka

This is the fifth story in the Little Flashes series. Reading through the previous stories is intensely encouraged to understand the events of this story.

Prince Blueblood is the most eligible stallion in Equestria. All the mares know it (as do a measureable percentage of the other stallions, but that's not exactly a problem). The problem is, Blueblood knows it as well, which is why he's decided to be the perfect boor at social events, under the assumption that only the most worthy mare would trouble herself with his loutish behavior and prove herself worthy of his attention, affection, and sizeable fortune.

It wasn't a particularly good decision, but then again, he was raised to be Eligible, Handsome, and Intelligent, but not Wise, which is why our story begins in the aftermath of a Particular Grand Galloping Gala, wherein our frosting-covered hero sets his first hoof on a path that, if he's very, very lucky, might see him imprisoned for life married.

No matter what happens, he is, most likely, doomed.

Vermilion didn’t join the Guard to be a hero. He just wanted to escape the farm and his old, boring life.

But now it seems he may have no choice – his unit is being sent to Hollow Shades, a tiny hamlet hidden in the depths of an endless forest, to fight monsters on behalf of Luna and Celestia. When the mission turns into a disaster and the town is lost, Vermilion finds himself at the forefront of an unexpected war, with all of Equestria at stake.

A new dark age has begun. Heroes must be found to guard the flickering lights of civilization. And Vermilion and his friends will discover that monsters are the least of their worries.

Set in the years before Nightmare Moon’s banishment, The World is Filled with Monsters follows a young hero and his friends as they struggle to protect a newfound nation – and discover the cost of greatness.

Art gallery:

Fight!

Vermilion

Cloud Fire

Zephyr

Quicklime

Rose Quartz

Canopy

Luna

Tartarus

Derecho

The gang

Marvelous Needle (Zephyr's spear)

The Nightmare

Sunset Shimmer has decided: she's done.

A too-close encounter with the magic residing in herself and her companions has convinced her that it's possible to embrace too much, and she's no longer willing to accept the risks—be it for knowledge, heroics... or her friendship with the other girls.

As always, desperate times call for Rainbow Dash.