Princess.

Some hear the word and think of power. Others take it further. To move Sun, to create the cycle of day and night... surely that indicates something more. Something which can be called on. Pleaded with.

Celestia knows what ponies believe about her. She also knows there's no way to make them stop. Because there are times when the most powerful weapon against despair is faith...

...and the blade is always double-edged.

(Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group. New members and trope edits welcome.)

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Once upon a time, ponies didn't use money. They didn't have it. They weren't even aware of the concept. They just traded goods and services, helping each other out and owing each other favors. They built big houses because they felt like it, ate grass because they could, and slept under the stars almost every night. Those were better times, simpler times.

Whatever happened to those times?

Well, one young pegasus mare has just concluded the most extensive research project of her life so far, and she believes she has found the source of the economic evolution that Equestria has gone through.

The answer lies in the gold.

Written as a birthday present for Carapace

After an undead creature attacks Apple Bloom, Princess Celestia sends Fluttershy to attempt to reform the assailant. That brief contact leaves an irreversible mark on Fluttershy's life. Follow her descent into a whirlwind of misery and despair.

Original author: KWF (He decided to leave the fandom.)

All art by Aisu-isme.

This story is a sequel to A Canterlot Engagement

Princess Cadance has been sleepwalking, and has no idea why. Twilight's Advanced Projects group has the perfect way to find out -- assuming Tempest can talk Cadance into going along with it...

In the process, Twilight and her friends learn a few things they didn't know about Cadance's past -- and find some unexpected mysteries as well...

For more of this series, see: Where Trouble Goes.

And also check out the entire series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends.

This story is a sequel to Ring Around The Moon -- Part II

Returning from hiding after Nightmare Moon's defeat, Cadance and Shining Armor have some wonderful news for Twilight. Then they encounter Tempest Shadow. And suddenly a simple question isn't quite so simple anymore...

Twilight, Tempest, and the rest of the Advanced Projects gang are back, trying to figure out their place in an Equestria which suddenly no longer needs saving... but which has no shortage of new challenges to throw at them, including some for which they may not be prepared...

For more of this AU, see: The Restless Princess

If you're new to the Advanced Projects timeline, this story begins Series 2, so you can start here if you'd like. All you need to know is, Nightmare Moon has been defeated, but has altered the timeline in such a way that Twilight never went to Ponyville, and has also wound up with a totally different group of ponies as close friends...

For a list of stories in the entire series, see Not Exactly Friends.

Read the review by Hopeling here.

This story is a sequel to Ring Around The Moon -- Part I

The Sun Celebration has arrived. The Nightmare returns. And with the help of some extra friends, Twilight, Tempest, and their fellow students are about to discover just how far the Dark Mare will go to have her revenge...

This concludes the Nightmare Moon series of Not Exactly Friends... but Twilight, Tempest, and their friends return in A Canterlot Engagement.

This story is a sequel to Trixie Luna Moon

A shadow descends upon Canterlot. Celestia announces the impending return of Nightmare Moon. And Twilight, Tempest, and their fellow students find there's more to being Equestria's chosen defenders than they bargained for...

For more of this AU, see: Ring Around the Moon -- Part II

Also see the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends

This story is a sequel to Never Any Doubt

Needing advice on an important project, Twilight, Tempest, and their friends work to reopen the mirror portal, and rescue a former student of Celestia's... Sunset Shimmer.

Note: This story assumes the backstory for Sunset presented in: Sunset -- Part I and Part II.

For more of this AU, see: By the Light of the Moon

And also check out the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends.

This story is a sequel to Sunset -- Part I

On the other side of the mirror, Sunset unexpectedly discovers a world that offers everything she could have hoped for and more... if only she could see the answer that's standing right in front of her...

An origin story for Sunset Shimmer, as a basis for her episode of the Not Exactly Friends series: Saving Sunset Shimmer

Sunset Shimmer never intended to hurt anyone. She simply had a dream of who she wanted to be. And nothing's more gut-wrenching than realizing real life simply doesn't include your life-long dream...

An origin story for Sunset Shimmer, as a basis for her episode of the Not Exactly Friends series. (Note: I treat the comics backstory as helpful guidance here, rather than canon.)

For more in this timeline, see: Sunset -- Part II