There is a very good reason that Princess Celestia sends Twilight and her friends to do her dirty work.

There is a very good reason that immortal, impossibly strong alicorns have a fleet of guards.

The newest Princess of Equestria needs to learn what strength really means to an alicorn.

This story is a sequel to Into The Depths

The horrors of the catacombs have turned to distant memories for Celestia, Twilight, and Luna. Discord’s change of heart and Twilight’s coronation have helped to ease and erase the mental scars from that harrowing night. The three princesses can even smile and laugh as Nightmare Night moves into full swing.

Yet, it should never be forgotten that those who have been touched by Tirek are forever within his grasp.

Pinkie bounces into the throne room of Twilight's new castle, invites her over to Sugarcube Corner, and reveals some dark secrets that make Twilight reevaluate everything she ever thought she knew about Equestria, its princesses, and its ponies.

Written for the More Most Dangerous Game Contest, this story didn't reach the finals.

Twilight's convinced Discord hasn't really reformed, and has found a weapon to replace the Elements -- a reforming spell Discord missed eating. But panicking an entity like Discord is probably never a good idea. And Twilight's about to learn that the good intentions that pave the road to hell don't make the destination a nicer place to live...

There is now a Progress Bar. Part of "Next of Kin to Chaos", my Discord-as-Q series, set after "Negotiating Terms" and before "Hit Me".

(Note: gets a Dark tag but this is not super dark; after all if Discord destroyed the universe he'd find he had nothing to play with later, and both "Hit Me" and "The King Who Would Be Man" happen after this story.)

A page for this series now exists: Next of Kin to Chaos

Sacrifice.

Celestia and Luna are all too familiar with the concept. It's a concept that has molded them, strengthened them... and in a few tragic cases, betrayed them.

When they are willing to give up everything to save those they hold most dear, what might be left could be just the thing that winds up destroying the sisters in the end.

Awesomely awesome collab partner of awesomeness is Denim_Blue, who I should mention is pretty damn awesome.

Big thanks to the main editors for the story, Jake The Army Guy, Aatxe360 and PaulAsaran!

Art used with permission from this awesome artist which you can find right here!

One ordinary mare. One never-ending time loop. Infinite ways to die.

How long before she snaps?