It has been little over a month since the changeling Invasion to Canterlot, the tension amongst the populace has decreased, and a group of guards decided to have a poker night over at a friend's house.

They didn't count on having an extra visitor, though.

Inspired by C. B. Gilford's "The Man at the Table"

Many things are said about Star Swirl, the Bearded. About his wisdom, bravery, and loyalty. Although, if you were to ask him, he would have probably disagreed with you in some way.

So gather 'round to hear the tale of the stallion who would become Star Swirl, the Bearded.

A ten page short:
What if all the magic we see in the show is exactly what it appears to be? Does that concept scare you? It should.
After a shocking discovery changes his life, a young griffon follows in the hoofprints of his childhood hero, and mounts an expedition deep into the frozen west.

Both 'The Brightest Shine' and 'Piracy' redirect here, and with good reason; read on and it will make sense.

Fifty years ago today, there was not a war. It was not one of the longest and bloodiest struggles ever known to ponykind. It did not claim the lives of hundreds upon thousands of ponies.

There is no such place as Shetland. It could not have been Ground Zero for Operation Petrichor because it never existed.

The Cloudsdale Massacre is a cheap horror flick, nothing more. Chemistry has no solid application in combat. The Non Sunt Dii has not existed since the first days of the Royal Sisters' reign.

Celestia is perfect. Celestia has never made mistakes. Celestia is not a coward.

After heading home after a party at Applejacks' to celebrate saving Equetria again, Twilight comes across her Library. How will she handle seeing her destroyed home? What will she find?

Edited by: TimberWolf65

Princess Luna enacted a holiday that occurred once a year. It was a battle of total dominance against two female warriors to choose who will be doing taxes this day. Normally, this holiday was held in the jurisdiction of Canterlot Castle; how else could these goddesses make a decision without having fun?

Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia go to the United Nations to represent their world.

Trixie wows the crowd with her dazzling displays, and mastery of all things magical.

On a warm, rainy afternoon, two young ponies take shelter in a gazebo. One is hoping to find a job at a bakery nearby, and just wants the rain to go away so she can make it to her interview. The other isn't really a pony, and just wants the rain to go away so he isn't caught.

Life tends to work that way, I suppose.

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Written for the Outside Insight Fanfiction Contest.
Featured 8-10-14!

She is as beautiful and graceful as the moon, and just as hard to reach. He is a young artist with much to learn about the world. When he accepts her challenge to create an artistic masterpiece, will he win her heart, or learn a terrible lesson in the nature of beauty and love?