Canterlot is experiencing some of the coldest weather it's had for the past few winters. The Christmas break has just finished and the thoughts of the holiday are starting to fade.

After the first day back to school, Sunset Shimmer runs across one of the Dazzlings, homeless and starving. On such a dangerously cold night, she takes compassion on the Siren and brings her home. Can her experiences help bring Aria out of the gutter? Will the Siren accept her help or, perhaps, her friendship?

Partly influenced by the insanely cold weather that my area experienced earlier this month.

Thanks to AShadowOfCygnus for pre-reading.

Cover art is ~Aria Blaze ~ by lorrainiaful. Used with permission.

Everyone should have a favorite color. Even if Pinkamena might find it unnecessary for what she desires.

Trigger warning: Child mortality.

An exercise in abstractism.

I never thought I'd get a family of my own, let alone the one I have now. Then, one day when I got home, everything changed as soon as I saw a red cloak and the little gray Unicorn in it.

For the The More Most Dangerous Game Contest started by Obselescence and Equestria Daily.

Fanart was made by punzil504 on DeviantArt.

After months of anticipation and fear, the war with Gryphos has finally reached Ponyville, shattering the fragile peace. Scootaloo and the other Crusaders, now separated from their families in the chaos, have holed up in the Golden Oak Library, hoping to ride out the war until it passes.
But they aren't soldiers; they're just kids, with few survival skills to speak of and who barely know how to defend themselves. With bandits and looters roaming the streets and no end to the fighting in sight, the constant struggle to survive becomes desperate as each day demands ever more from the inexperienced fillies and their dwindling supplies.
What will they do when their food runs out? Will the shells ever stop falling? And what deeds will they be forced to commit if it means they can survive just one more day?

Written for the More Most Dangerous Game contest, prompt #5: "In an Equestria devastated by an apocalyptic war, the few that remain try their best to survive or rebuild—however they can."

Also written in a single day, and it shows. You have been warned.

Artwork: "Out of the Ashes, a New Story To Be Told" by Huussii, and "Cutie Mark Crusaders Adventure" by aruurara.

Loosely inspired by the basic concept of "This War of Mine," a simulation game that depicts civilian life in a warzone. It shares no story, character, setting, or plot details, and is thus not a crossover.

Every winter, Applejack heads off into the apple orchard after a heavy snowfall. This year is no different. She can't describe why she does it—to feel the wind chill, to test her endurance, to get some time alone with her thoughts...

All she knows is that she loves the journey.

Octavia knows she is dying, and, rather than dwell on how young she still is, she chooses to think back on her life. Chooses to remember and reflect on all that she can; the bad, as well as the good. A single realization comes to mind as she does so. As hard as it might be to believe, is it truly the time we live that matters most? Or is it the quality of whatever time we had with those who touched our hearts the most?

Dedicated to DemonFyre. We'll all be here for you, I promise. We love you.

Twilight Sparkle has been living a lie. Everypony told her what a beautiful and accomplished mare she was. Everypony thought she was a responsible adult. They were wrong. She was still just a filly trying to stumble her way through life.

When five foals asked Princess Twilight Sparkle to please try and paint the moon purple during Nightmare Night, she initially refused. It wasn't until they insisted (and Princess Luna quite basically dared her) that she relented. She only relented, however, because she really thought she wouldn't be able to do it.

Too bad she thought wrong.

A very silly story that started as a prompt that got way, way, way out of hand.

Princess Luna is beset by the evils that haunt her soul. Her older sister, Princess Celestia, believes that only true love is able to conquer her dark ways and return her to her former self. Yet Luna, discontented with the premise of Celestia's proposal, decides that any noble suitor must answer three riddles in order to test their bravery, cunning and dedication to her.

The challenge is for anypony to accept. But should they fail, they risk permanent exile and shame. A punishment evident of Luna's darker side.

As pony after pony tries and fails, a single earth pony, taken by Princess Luna's beauty, is determined to prove himself worthy of her.

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Based off Puccini's Turandot, The Cold Heart of the Moon is a crossover story encompassing the love, tragedy and sacrifice of the original opera. The chapter name is a ponified translation of the opera's most famous aria, Nessun Dorma!

Reviewed by MrAskAPirate

Special thanks to Francois for proof reading for me

Cover Art: Luna Wallpaper by Genjilim

This work of fiction is a tranformative original work based off My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic a trademark of Hasbro. The Cold Heart of the Moon is not endorsed or recognized by Hasbro, their subsidiaries or any other publisher.

The rising tide lifts all hearts.

(A simple exercise in mood, atmosphere, and TwiLuna shipping.)

Edited by the always awesome Jordanis.