Princess Twilight Sparkle discovers a centuries-old mystery hidden in the Royal Archives. Her investigation leads through layer after layer of deception and misdirection, setting her hooves on a path that seems to be leading to a mysterious secret. Along the way, she learns that some friendships can be very, very strange.

Book 1 of the Alicorn Adventure series.

AUDIOBOOK by VisualPony
Featured at the Royal Canterlot Library
TV Tropes Page (Courtesy of Sandtalon)
Goodreads Page (Courtesy of Facedeer)
Equestria Daily Page

WARNING: Major spoilers in the comments. Takes place several months after the end of season four. (Not a Da Vinci Code crossover, BTW!)

Do you see a dark tag? No, you don't. Not dark. Well, okay, there are a couple of dark-ish bits, but that's all. Not enough to warrant a tag. Speaking of tags, there really ought to be "Badass Twilight" and "Friendshipping" ones.

Sequels and side-stories (and more) can be found here Offprint and AO3, and a hardbound two-volume set of all that can be ordered from The Ministry of Image.

My editor for the first edition of this story was Gogito, and I can't thank him enough for all the hard work he did. My editor for the revised version was PresentPerfect, and he did a terrific job of getting the story into excellent shape.

Applejack has always been a patient pony; it came with being a farmer. So when the farmer found herself falling head over hooves in love with her best friend, she was content to wait for the right moment to tell Rainbow Dash how she felt.

But now time is running out, and Applejack is left scrambling not to find the perfect time, but any time at all.

An entry for the AppleDash Content

Strange nightmares are plaguing the ponies of Equestria.

Somepony must help ponies to face their deepest fears, but unless Princess Luna is able to discover who—or what—is responsible, the nightmares may never end.

Scootaloo is ready to prove that she can be as fearless as her big sister, Rainbow Dash, even if it means never having a peaceful night's sleep again.

Luna's having trouble. She doesn't know where she fits in, and she can't run night-court until she can at least understand the modern problems of modern ponies. In an effort to find a place in this brave new world, the Princess of the Night decides there's only one solution.

Get a job.

After all, how hard could it be to get a job working retail, with Hearth's Warming Eve coming up?

Rainbow Dash doesn't have anypony to spend her Hearth's Warming with—she hasn't for many years. All of her friends are enjoying it and she's had enough. She finds her way to Sweet Apple Acres and asks Applejack if she can spend the evening with her family.

AppleDash shipping. Again.

Ponyville's weather is never quite the same without Rainbow Dash at the helm.

When a week of bad weather frays the nerves of Ponyville's farmers, they'll go to dubious lengths to stop one of their own from winning the heart of Rainbow Dash, and hogging all the good weather in the process.

Tcherno's Honorable Mention in the second AppleDash contest: Applejack, the Chaser!; Featured on Equestria Daily Aug 13th, 2013; Live reading by TheHollowSpectrum

Prereading by First_Down and Jackie

A ton of vectors in the cover art:
Applejack
Rainbow Dash
Berry Punch
Carrot Top
Daisy, Rose, and Lily

And, as usual, scene change markers from here.

After receiving two tickets to Dodge Junction's Founder's Day Festival, Applejack invites Rainbow Dash to join her in what looks to be a great time full of fun, games, rides, food, and more. But hidden behind all this is an opportunity for Applejack to finally tell Dash how she feels about her. Can the farmpony manage to confess between all the excitement?

(My entry for the AppleDash contest, image belongs to OZE-JP and not me)

In spring, Fluttershy takes a leap of faith and reveals long hidden feelings to a close friend, leading to a short, passionate affair. But come winter, she discovers what of love lasts when affairs end.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack grow old together. Rainbow Dash has a problem with that.

She doesn't want to grow old.

Applejack travels alone down an old, dusty, well traveled road. The end of her long journey is near. Soon, she will finally be able to lie down and rest with her friends and family. She only needs to climb one final hill, so long as she can find the strength to reach its top.

But she just feels so tired.