It's your three month anniversary, Rainbow Dash! So what are you running from?

As the details surrounding the Canterlot Invasion don't add up, Twilight investigates the suspicious disappearance of a guard during the attack.

Twilight calls for help. Unfortunately, it comes.

Note that this story deals heavily with depression and suicide. There's no shame in deciding not to read.
Thanks to Quill Scratch for prereading.

Bon Bon visits Lyra at the mental hospital.

* * *

Audiobook by Scribbler Productions.
Reading by Crafty Arts.
Thanks to GaryOak and Reia Hope for proofreading.
Cover art by Mica Halligan.

Reviews:
One Man's Pony Ramblings
Titanium Dragon
The Royal Guard
Louder Yay

THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT, in the desert…
Based on Robert Calvert's 1972 poem Ten Seconds of Forever.

Even though the story ends literally in the same place as it began, in getting to know the characters, my emotional involvement grew to an extent that surprised me
—AugieDog

[A] very well written fic, full of nice turns of phrase and some fantastic imagery
—Soge

This is a really neat piece, worth reading even if you just like words. Highly Recommended
—PresentPerfect

Proofreading: CanoLathra ● Editor: BlueBook

Added to Royal Canterlot Library 15^th Jul 2017
Review by PresentPerfect 1^st May 2017
Added to Twilight's Library 23^rd Jun 2013
Listen to a dramatic reading by obabscribbler

Twilight interviews a stallion who recently lost a loved one as to why he didn’t cry much about it. She doesn’t set out to accuse, but to help and understand. What she finds, she was not expecting.

I wrote this story as a kind of response to a friend on the issue of men and crying. I do my best not to attack the feminist viewpoint that says “patriarchy, nuff said!” because I think most folks have either rejected that notion entirely or are at least questioning it already.

While reading this, please put aside any biases you have, for or against men crying or for or against women doing the same. There are general differences between the genders that can at times appear concerning. It’s healthy to ask questions.

(Image from PedroHander on deviantart.)

It was a completely normal day in Ponyville for Twilight Sparkle, or at least, that's what she thought it would be. That should have been her first clue that something was up. She expected it to be a quiet day where she could hang out with her friends, and maybe she'd get a friendship letter in if she was lucky.

She did not, however, expect everypony in town to turn into a flaming racist overnight.

Find this story and more in a print copy! Just click these words here!

My name is Vinyl Scratch, I'm a guy, and I DJ for a living.

My name is Vinyl Scratch, I'm a guy, and I have the awesomest marefriend in the world.

My name is Vinyl Scratch, and nopony knows that I'm trans.

Cover by me (stock image source.)

When the girls discovered magic at Camp Everfree, Sunset Shimmer was the first to embrace it. But now, the little bit of magic she got is just reminding her of how much she's lost. And as people get more and more desperate, you can never tell when they're going to do something incredibly stupid.

Worthless, weak, ugly—as far as Twilight is concerned, that's all she'll ever be. Even three months into their relationship, Twilight still refuses to believe that an absolute goddess like Sunset could ever love a loser like her. And it doesn't help that Twilight spends every night being tormented by nightmares of Midnight Sparkle, the one being who hates Twilight more than she hates herself.

Twilight can only remember a single moment in her life when she felt strong: the five minutes that she spent as Midnight Sparkle. The five minutes she spent with magic.

Now, tortured by fear, anxiety, and never-ending nightmares, Twilight knows the only way to win Sunset's love is to make herself stronger—even if that means resurrecting the demon inside of her.

Originally written for the January 2016 Writeoff, "Look, I Can Explain...", where it made finals.

Thanks to Horizon, Bookplayer, and FanOfMostEverything for offering advice on the original. Thanks to Quill Scratch, Oroboro, Monokeras, Lise Eclaire, Monarch Dodora, Majin Syeekoh, PegasusMesa, Reneigh Haycart, and Hazeyhooves for helping me brainstorm certain parts. Preread by Pascoite.

Art by Ta-Na!