Motley outcasts, dejected mages, and sordid warriors find themselves on a collision course with destiny in this budding epic.

Set in an Equestria wounded from Tirek’s bout for power. Where once compassion and warmth was well in stock, tragedy wrings the hearts across Equestria dry from the values they once so cherished. Monsters lurk blin everyone’s shadow. Some are beastly, some are equine. All of them are working to tear down the paper thin peace holding the kingdom together.

Can courage and loyalty stop the darkening of Equestria's soul? Come, get swept up in a whirlwind of intrigue and action to find out!

Parts Edited by:

JR Black Wing.

FtDLulz

Myrkur

0_0

"The characters in this story are protected by OCRA"

Orphaned as a filly, a young pegasus named Kaviyayu is raised by an adoptive Earth pony family in a secluded, peaceful village. When a strange unicorn drops by the village, Kaviyayu and the other foals are captivated by her tales of the world, as well as her various spells and illusions for their amusement. But there's something about the way she doesn't speak of her own family... how she never removes her traveller's cloak... how she seems to take a very strong interest in Kaviyayu...

Who is this mysterious mare, what does she seek, and just what is so special about that pendant she wears?

This is the tale of how a seemingly ordinary filly rose to become both a princess and a beacon of love to ponies all over Equestria. Based on the back-story of Princess Cadance, as given by G. M. Berrow's pony novella, Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell. Also loosely inspired by symphonic metal band Nightwish's sixth studio album, Dark Passion Play.

Cover art by the lovely Ayemel.

Now with its own musical accompaniment courtesy of The L-Train!

Pre-reading by Noble Thought, Prak, The Albinocorn, ThatOneWriter, JustAnotherTimeLord, vren55, Majin Syeekoh, Foals Errand, Comet Burst, and Chris. Edited by ChromeMyriad, Titanium Dragon, Noble Thought, Prak, NightWolf289, PresentPerfect, and Chris.

Now featured by:
Fimfiction.net (Feature Box, 01/01/15)
Equestria Daily (01/19/15)
The Royal Canterlot Library (Off-site) (07/13/18) (Onsite) (07/20/18)

Approved by Tag-a-long's Book Club!
Approved by Nonpareil Fiction!
Highly Recommended by PresentPerfect!
Recommended by the Pleasant Commentator and Review Group!

The Crystal Empire has been at peace ever since Princess Cadance and Shining Armor took over its ruling. No more loving couple has ever reigned before, and the Crystal Heart has never generated such power in all of history. But there is a secret that Cadance has kept for many, many, years: a terrible secret with the potential to bring it all crashing down.
This Hearts-and-Hooves Day, Cadance and Shining Armor's love will be put through its toughest trial yet.

This story is a side-story to Essenza di Amore. Though set in the same universe, reading of the prequel is not required. Similarly, knowledge of certain events depicted in the book, Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell, will be helpful but not essential.

The extended version of my entry in the Writeoff Association's January 2015 event, the prompt being All in. Now also the second place winner of Nonpariel Fiction's 2015 Hearts and Hooves Day competition.

*Written before the FIENDship is Magic comic series and the Radiant Hope arc of the main comic series*

Preread by Foals Errand, The Albinocorn, RK_Striker_JK_5, Sholan, and Csquared08.
Edited by Foxy E, Dash The Stampede, Csquared08, and NightWolf289.

Cover art courtesy of Akili-Amethyst.

Inspired by this incredible song.

Featured on:
Fimfiction.net Feature Box (02/12/15)
Equestria Daily!

Approved by Tag-a-long's Book Club!
Approved by Nonpareil Fiction!
Recommended by PresentPerfect!
Recommended by the Pleasant Commentator and Review Group!

Everypony has a story. Some tell of heroic feats and grand adventure. Others tell of villainy against the forces of Harmony. The story of an average guard, however, is one of obscurity. They live in the background, unnoticed but ever-present.

Silent Knight assumed his tale would be like that of his father's: join the Royal Guard and serve Equestria. He would be just another helmet and spear, part of the rank and file. And that was all he ever wanted.

However, when Captain Shining Armor asked for volunteers to form a House Guard for the recently returned Princess Luna, it was Silent's hooves that stepped forwards to set his new life in motion.

The following transcripts are of a journal found in Ponyville on April 16th of this year. The last recorded contact with the town had been 3 days prior, on the 13th, when a team under orders from Princess Celestia was sent to look into several missing pony reports in the area. When another group of investigators were sent on the 16th, the town was found deserted. The journal’s owner is believed to be the princess’s personal student, Twilight Sparkle. None of the town’s inhabitants have been located in the weeks since.

Readings:
Nimbus Productions
Scribbler Productions

I highly recommend both of them.

A print version of all the stories in this series can be found here. (There is currently a printing error I am working to correct. This will be available again soon.)

Princess Twilight sets up a war game for the Royal Canterlot and Crystal Empire guards. By kidnapping Luna and Cadance.

The guards thought she knew the rules. They thought she knew the guard manual backwards and forwards.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom re-write the manual... and conquer Equestria.

Edited by Noble Thought.

Cover art: Princess Predicament by radiantrealm

One hundred percent approved by Twilight's Library (also approved by Discord).

This story contains NO humans. I just liked the art. On the night after a world record setting hot day in Coffin Valley, a band of colt scouts gather around a campfire to hear the legend of what happened on a similar day seventy years ago...

Coverart provided by Pappaprime, used with permission.
Link

Editing by Twilight_Crow

Lunar Limbo is a cold place, made even colder with a being whose only purpose is to augment one’s negative emotions and one’s desires, who insists that Luna was right to try to take over.

Written for Nightmare Moon is best pony's contest and also entered into Luna is The Best Pony's contest.

EDIT: If I've mistagged this by adding "Drama," let me know.

Alone in bed one morning, Octavia is left to think about her life. She has given up a lot for Vinyl, but is it really worth it? Just how much is her relationship worth to her? Is she even able to walk away?

Every choice has a cost, as Octavia will soon learn.

Pre-read by Don't Look At My Name Bro and Auramane. Cover art provided by Zedrin.

Approved by The Royal Guard!

Celestia raises the sun. Luna raises the moon. Twilight...I dunno. Her name is Twilight. She probably does something with that time

"But who controls the early afternoon?" asked no one. And that was exactly what had Princess Lunchtime Luster so mad. Today, she's going to make sure ponies know her name, no matter what it takes.

Thanks to the Intelligent Shipping Discussion Skype group for this, especially xjuggernaughtx for the name.