Legend has it that centuries ago, before Zephyr Heights existed, there was another desert town in the foothills, named Zephyr. It burned down long ago.

A companion, but by no means a prequel/sequel, to this story. My entry to 2023 Iron Author, with some edits.

On what seems like any other day, Sunset Shimmer stumbles upon an older woman that looks shockingly like her. Believing this to be her "human world" counterpart, she tries to connect with the woman, only to find that she has little interest in what Sunset has to say. While that does save Sunset from a few potential issues, it also raises an interesting question:

Why doesn't she care?

The Empress of the Crystal Empire has gone to horrifying lengths to protect her home against monsters that may not exist.

The earth melts. The skies darken. Celestia has tired of being the nice princess, and the shadow of the sun has overtaken her.

To Prince Blueblood's immense regret, he can't leave this one to Sparkle and company.

Rated Teen for mild cursing and alcohol references. Honorable Mention in the 2023 Everfree Northwest Iron Author competition. Prompts were: Vexing Volcanism/Verdant Vegetable/Vibrant Vestigial

Original art by Adam Paquette.

Misty has finally left Opaline and her lair behind, but moving out is only the first step of shedding the thoughts and doubts that still haunt her.
Luckily, her new friends are willing to help her adjust and teach her about life in Maretime Bay.

Written after Chapter 4, containing spoilers thereof, and sure to be outdated by future episodes.

Credit to Cover Art belongs to Marenlicious

This story is a sequel to Forgotten: The Frozen North

After rescuing Princess Flurry Heart from a frigid limbo with the help of the Crystal Heart, Sunny wonders where to go from here with the first alicorn Equestria has seen in centuries.

Cover Art: 'G5 Flurry' by mira.veike@derpibooru.org

Rainbow Dash's morning was pretty much ruined.
She tripped getting out of bed and landed flat on her face, giving herself an aching muzzle.
She forgot to buy her favorite brand of hay flakes at the store yesterday and had to eat plain toast for breakfast.
She found out she had to pull double-duty today and tomorrow on the weather patrol.
Oh, and she found a nearly-dead foal, broken and bleeding at the edge of Ponyville.

The rest of her day became a whirlpool of stress and worry but the colt woke up, thank Celestia.
Something's not right, though. Nopony can find his parents, he's not in the registers, and there's an unsettling look in his eye...

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YouTube reading by Fire Hearth

Chinese Translation by forgivenlove

Russian Translation by Likantrop

TV Tropes page, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

This story is a sequel to Celestia Goes West

Sunset needs a job, and Princess Twilight Sparkle has the perfect one. All she has to do is find a magical crystal in the middle of the frozen north and return without freezing solid or being crushed by strange golems under the command of a deranged mage caught up in the thrill of discovery.

And there's Flash to deal with too.

Becoming an alicorn, Twilight Sparkle had much to learn. Her unicorn magic increased, but she had a lots of experience controlling it, and while flying proved harder then expected she had no doubt she'll master it sooner or later. And that's on top of her learning more about her role as a Princess. She has no time for interruptions.

However, when stressed Twilight is faced with her newfound strength, Applejack is there to help with an unexpected problem; being physically stronger then any unicorn.

(Featured on 10,11&12/07/23! Thank you!)

(And now with a sequel!)

A world with no alicorns is a world with no hope. But after years of searching, Sunburst might finally have found a little patch of sunlight.

Written for the QnS genre swap contest, second place winner.

TW: Some mild gore.