Hot Scoop is a young up and coming reporter for the Equestrian Journal assigned to a task no one at the office wanted to do...interview the newly re-imprisoned Lord Tirek in Tartarus following his magic stealing rampage on Equestria.

**SPOILERS IN THE EQUESTRIA GIRLS SERIES! MOSTLY LEGEND OF EVERFREE!**
When the mane 7 have sleep overs, they are always fun, right? Well, for the first part, all is fun in games-small arguments, personal questions-but something hits Sunset Shimmer and she is proven unsure of her destiny. What could her cutie mark, and even element of harmony, mean?

Late one night, Princess Celestia experiences a nightmare that continues to plague her even after awakening. Worried for her sister's well-being, Luna decides to help her in dealing with the still lingering emotions brought about by the nightmare. In doing so, she will learn about the doubts Celestia keeps buried just below the surface.

NOT a tyrant/evil Twilight story

Incorporates elements from the IDW comics. Knowledge of up to issue #20 of the main series is recommended.

Cover art used with permission by Britishstarr and Sirfredrickoftrottingham

Proofread by NodoubtbuodoN, Word Worthy and RQK

What if during the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight didn't meet Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash? What if she met different ponies? And they're all stallions? How would things be different? How much would things stay the same?

This is basically a retelling of MLP but with different characters. Twilight is still here, but the rest of the main six are not present, instead other characters will be taking their place. Alternate Universe pretty much.

The lessons I plan to put into each in one of these chapters (besides the first two) are lessons that I either need to learn myself or lessons I learned the hard way.

Concept Help by Psychotic Nekomata and Judoshrew
Co-Written by Emerald Comet
Edited by Nonagon

Now with Audio Drama!
Chapter 1

This story is a sequel to Deserts and Dragons

Twilight Sparkle has given Spike the week off, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. He and Big Macintosh have just been invited out to Appleoosa to take part in a sacred buffalo tradition known as the Dragon Dance Festival. True, Spike hasn't had the best track record interacting with other dragons, but he simply can't say no to a week full of pampering, respect, and all the topaz he can eat.

Alas, poor Spike can't seem to get a break; not even on his vacation. A band of nefarious dragon poachers crash the party and make off with some of the more prestigious guests. Bound by his Noble Dragon Code, Spike coerces himself into mounting a rescue along with the Apple Family. But they won't be going it alone. A ragtag gang of semi-virtuous dragon bandits want in on the action, as they've been tracking these poachers for a while now. What's more, Little Strongheart was hoping that Spike could educate these ne'er-do-wells about how to be proper, noble dragons. It doesn't help that their leader is a cute young female about Spike's age, nor does the fact that she already has another guy fawning over her.

So, to recap. Spike must help kin that he doesn't identify with and show them how to be noble like he is, all while taking care not to create a love triangle in the process. Um, yeah. No pressure or anything.

Part II of the Ballad of Needles.

The Crusaders are planning a little sleepover to prove that they're responsible enough to take care of themselves. To this end, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle decide to pick up a pizza for dinner. What follows is a series of mistakes that may make for an intriguing noodle-scratcher for the outside observer. But for the Crusaders, it just leads to empty stomachs and embarrassment.

Based on a true story.

Rainbow "Danger Professionalism Crash" Dash is starting to get used to her new life in the Wonderbolts; embarrassing callsign and all. But as the days go by, one thing seems to bother her. And that thing is one of her new teammates, Surprise. Or as the team sometimes likes to call her, Slowpoke.

But you wouldn't know that just be looking at her. In her time cleaning the barracks, Rainbow Dash would never think of Surprise as a slowpoke. If anything, she's insane, quirky, and actually a more subdued version of a certain pink pony from back home. So what gives? Why is Surprise called Slowpoke? For Rainbow Dash, the truth is certainly going to be, surprising.

...

Okay, I'll hit myself for that one. *smeck*

My mini-epilogue to the episode Newbie Dash.

This story is a sequel to The Great and Powerful Slayers

Trixie Lulamoon hasn't been having the best of luck as of late.

This time around, she'll finally be getting that lesson on magic she so wanted from that strange sorceress she met months ago.

But it may be a bit more than she bargained for.

Details about news can certainly get altered as it travels from pony to pony. Most of the time it's just minor things that get misinterpreted, but that's not always the case...

Self-edited, so let me know if I missed anything!
Cover Art by FlawlessTea
Reading by Lotus Moon!

Zecora’s granddaughter can think of no other
Who can tell of her grandpa quite like her grandmother.

A tale of the past, or for us, what may be
The future of the Zebra in the Everfree.

For editing, Shahrazad played the part.
Norm provided the cover art.

From the start of The Crimson-Verse this story does hail
But it also serves as a stand-alone tale.