During a full moon, Flash Sentry enters the mirror beneath the Crystal Palace to pay an unauthorized visit to the human world. This sort of action will probably cost him his career. He could care less.

Special Thanks to Jake the Army Guy.

Moonshine is tired.

She works hard all night to provide for herself and her young son, Stardust. They live alone in the small bat pony village of Hollow Shades, on the ground floor of their tree home. It's not easy, raising a foal by herself, but she'd stop at nothing to provide him with everything he could want.

Well, almost anything. Some things just... aren't meant to be.

But together they make it through. One night, she keeps telling herself, it'll get easier. One night, they won't be alone anymore and they can be a family again. One night...

Until then, she'd just have to hold her flickering lantern a little closer.

All characters belong to the awesome KarpetShark. Go give her some love, she deserves it.
You can also find Moonshine's ask blog here.

A cutie mark reveals a pony’s special talent—the thing that sets him or her apart from other ponies. Ponies never get the wrong cutie marks, but sometimes they pay a high price for the one they have.

Inspired by Estee’s Elements of Elements.
New Coverart by AlwaysDressesInStyle

On the one thousandth anniversary of her greatest failure, Empress Luna reflects on the empire she has built. Never has the world been more unified or at peace and it owes it to her Immortal Highness, Empress Luna. The Equus Empire is a testament to the love and adoration her subjects give her.

Yet, in her heart she holds a deep pain and feels that she truly doesn't deserve any of it.

~~~~~

Many thanks to Rated Ponystar for the actual story idea, and many thanks to ward282, MagicKnight55 and metallusionsismagic for proof-reading and editing the story.

Now has a sequel, One Year Later

After a vigorous day of organising and sending reports to Celestia, Twilight notices Spike is feeling a little ill. He slowly grows more and more cold, before finally falling into a coma that Twilight fears is her own fault.

Going to the Princesses for help, Twilight eventually is brought before an Elder Dragon and comes to the realisation that she may have failed as a caretaker, a friend and as an older sister.

~~~
*EDIT* Okay, okay. You guys win - I'll write an additional chapter or two. I've marked this story 'Incomplete' for now. Follow up chapter has been done. If you want more, let me know. I'm sure there are a few other characters I could write a chapter on (Except for the dragons, of course)

*DOUBLE EDIT* Okay, wow. I seriously didn't expect this to take off as well as it has. This is honestly probably one of the best days of my life. I'm so glad and happy that you've all enjoyed the story.

After Derpy is late home several nights in a row, Dinky makes a sad discovery about why her mother works so hard. Being the clumsiest pony in town can be a costly problem, but Dinky wants to help fix things for her Mommy.

What is friendship?

Is it a term or something so much more?

And can you be a friend to something so different but so similar to you?

Something that I'm sure has been done to death but, since reading East of Eden, I wanted to do something a little more thought provoking. I got the idea while I was alone in my house, with just the sound of a clock ticking to keep me company.

Art done by murphylaw4me

Rainbow Dash turns thirty, and it's just like any week, month, year, or decade of her life.

There are many axioms in Equestria. "Go with the grain." "Count your blessings." "Strive to be happy with what you have."

And, though left unsaid, the most important one of all: "Know your place."

Although Flash Sentry loves Twilight, she can never know of his love. She can never return the feelings. It wouldn't be proper. After all, social order is more important than fulfilling one's own wishes.

Alternate Universe tag is due to the existence of a caste system in this story. Please keep that in mind as you read.

Thanks to Sir Rustbucket, Draconian Soul, Regidar, and Loopy Legend for editing.

Now Featured on Equestria Daily!

Now with a poem by Fiend from the Darkness!

Now with a YouTube reading by BlackIrisBalloon (and multiple voice actors)!

Now with a Korean translation by Kianoke!

Followed by What Hath Joined Together.

Rated Teen for mild violence and thematic elements.

Vinyl Scratch knew from the day they met that she and Octavia would be friends forever. They were inseparable, indivisible, invincible. Nothing would change that, Octavia promised. Nothing.

However, as time goes on, not all foalhood promises seem concrete. Time, after all, changes everything.

Inspired by and dedicated to the best friend I've ever known.

Thanks to RoboRed and Sir Rustbucket for editing.

Now featured on Equestria Daily!

Rated Teen for some language and thematic elements.