John is alone on this world and has not seen a single soul in a long time. His only companions have been the ghosts only he can hear. Driven by guilt, he goes from town to town, searching and doing the only thing he can do:

Give the dead their final rest.

Discord once gave him a gift. It was given in grief. John has yet to understand what this gift means. He has lost track of time and madness and sanity wage a constant war in his mind.

For John, the greatest terror in his heart is facing the Goddesses.

He's about to meet one of them.

Twilight was of two minds about how to handle the situation of being of two minds about how to handle the situation of being of two minds about how to handle the situation of being two minds.

Written for the The Writeoff Association’s ‘Rising From the Ashes’ prompt.

Now a powerful alicorn princess, Twilight regards her immortality, her friends and the very concept of time itself.

Now with awesome Audio Reading:

Thank you SO much, Sojourner!!

Twilight Sparkle enjoys her friends' visits. They only want to help, after all. But when the line between dream and reality blurs, she must decide whom to believe, the ones she's known for so long, or the one she mistrusts the most.

"Are you afraid of the good you might do?"
Anonymous old peasant woman to Madeleine, Les Miserables.

Second-place winner in the /fic/ write-off "Sweet Music."

Featured on Equestria Daily!

When Lyra finds her old pet fish in the back of the freezer, she sees an opportunity to recapture the glories of her youth.

Lyra and Flipper are back together after ten years. After all, a bit of ice never got in the way of true friendship.

Princess Celestia gave her life fighting against Sombra. That's the story everypony knows and tells and mourns every year. But Twilight is convinced she was transported to another dimension, and she won't let anything stop her from bringing the sun home.

Original idea by Rated Ponystar.

Princess Cadance will find what she seeks at the top of the staircase. She just has to reach it.

Chrysalis' scheme has borne fruit. United by bribes and promises, the leaders of each nation have come with her to deliver an ultimatum: surrender Equestria, or face hopeless war with their combined armies.

So why does Celestia look to Chrysalis with a gentle, mourning gaze? And why is Chrysalis afraid?

With Hearth's Warming Eve just around the corner, Twilight Sparkle's followers are beginning to lose hope in one another. Supplies are low, and spirits even lower. Twilight begins to doubt herself, for how can she lead ponies if she can't even be trusted to feed them?

It will take the love of her friends, and the compassion of all those who call her their leader, to make it through this year's Hearth's Warming Eve. This winter, Twilight and her friends will realize that so long as the fires of friendship burn in their hearts, no pony will ever be cold.

Optional musical accompaniment located in first comment per chapter.

Twilight is invited to Canterlot to compete with some of the greatest magicians in the world for the Moonstone Cup, a prestigious award for the most powerful and skillful magicians, unicorn and otherwise. Can she win? What sort of competition will she face?

Awesome cover image was taken from NoOneBahtim