Ever since Twilight came to town, Mayor Mare's position as leader of Ponyville has been slipping. With her destiny overshadowed by the new princess on the block, it's time for the old gray mare to move on.

Originally submitted as part of the February 2015 Writeoff "Closing Time".

**Now with dramatic reading by Goombasa!**

Cover art by harwicks-art.

It is Twilight Sparkle's first night as a princess of Equestria, and she cannot sleep. As the excitement she felt during coronation fades away, it gives way to a deeper anxiety. The young alicorn lies awake, her thoughts dwelling on her new destiny, her responsibilities, her fears, and her own mortality.

Or, as the case may be, her lack of it.

As morning draws nearer, Twilight leaves her bed haunted by a question, and so she decides to seek out the one pony who can answer it.

Now has a dramatic reading on Youtube! Major props to Goombasa.

Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is the center of magical research in Equestria. Since Apple Bloom developed a love of potion making and an interest in the theory behind magic, she recognizes what an honor it would be to study there. But that would also mean being the only non-unicorn student to ever attend, leaving her friends and family, and moving to a strange city... and that's if she can pass an entrance exam designed to select the most magically gifted unicorns.

Spike has never wanted more than to be Twilight's number one assistant. But when Twilight points out that there's a pony right in front of him who needs an experienced assistant even more than she does, it means considering a life where he's making the most of his talents... but one without Twilight by his side.

For both of them, facing hard decisions are just part of growing up.

Second place winner for the April Writeoff Association prompt "Great Expectations."

Life with the common cold? Unpleasant, but tolerable. Life with the horn flu? Much, much worse. Barely able to read, unable to use magic without it backfiring, and quite possibly the most miserable she's ever been, Twilight is convinced life cannot get any worse. At least, not until her nose starts talking back to her with all the refinement of Ponyville's resident fashionista and double the sass. Held hostage by her schnoz until its demands are met, Twilight must cater to her captor's whims, or forever be driven insane by a sneeze that just won't come.

Rated Teen for suggestive dialogue and delusional shipping. Wasn't entirely sure how to tag this, so if something needs to be added or removed, let me know.
Credit for the art goes to: here-for-the-ponies of DeviantArt

This story is a sequel to Song of Whispers

It wasn't enough for the Cutie Mark Crusaders to simply find their Cutie Marks and call it quits, and all it took was one fateful day in their clubhouse with Spike and Ruby Pinch to set into motion a chain of events that would turn their simple lives upside down. Crushes are formed, friendships are tested, and will Spike ever get to kiss Sweetie Belle? Let the passion of young love burn free.

Credit for the pic goes to smlahyee of DeviantArt. Special thanks to OminousBrony and MagicalTrevor.

You know that feeling? You know, the feeling that you get when you realize you've forgotten something that is very, very important? It is 10:32 p.m. on Hearth's Warming Eve, and Twilight Sparkle has just gotten that feeling...

Pony Joe awakens before the dawn each morning, readies himself for his day, and then walks through Canterlot's cold and silent streets to his doughnut shop.

Life has become pretty mundane for Joe, but as he serves his customers and chats with his regulars he realizes that he has come to rely on that repetition...he relies on it to keep from remembering.

As a casual utterance by a new customer sends Joe into a spiral of haunting memories we learn about his life...and what he must give up if he wishes to move beyond his past.

Do you know who really loves Hearts and Hooves Day? Cadance.
Do you know who really doesn’t? Everypony Cadance meets.
Do you think they have a choice when she’s around? Hell no.

(Cover art by Madacon, which inspired the entire thing)

In an alternate reality, Discord found his love of chaos came in handy for babysitting young foals. For two thousand years, since he and the princess' were kids, he's babysat nearly everyone in Equestria. Now he's babysitting the cutie mark crusaders, and while he does he recounts with them his many babysitting jobs of your favorite characters as fillies, one by one.

Celestia is beginning to get into her Princess Duties under her mother and father. This is taking up a great deal of her time. Her baby sister, Luna, is not happy about this, as it feels that nopony has time for her. To appease her, Celestia sets out to find fillies Luna's age for her to play with, and to teach her the Magic of Friendship. She then discovers how hard it is to balance foalsitting 7 fillies still in diapers with growing up as royalty.

-------------

A challenge to myself. The exact nature of the challenge is unimportant. However, take a look at this.

HNNNG Counter:
0178++++++

Edit: The '+' equals a HNNG that encompasses the entire chapter.

That's right. When you comment, I'd like you to include how many times in each chapter you have that particular reaction. I'll be keeping a running total. That ought to give you a good idea what kind of story this is.