Spike has had a lot of extra time since Twilight and Starlight have become busy with their various duties. It's understandable, but he feels rather useless at times.

After taking a trip to the local hospital, Spike starts volunteering to entertain the fillies and colts in the children's wing. Spreading laughs and smiles to children and families who need encouragement is more fulfilling then he could have ever wished.

But, when a certain blonde-maned pegasus with much less fortunate circumstances takes notice of Spike and just how caring he truly is, how will Spike react?

Editors: Note Pad, ChappedPenguinLips, and Soaring.

Cover art by Doctor Disco

What critics have to say about Blonde Moments:

"...so cute and heartwarming and wholesome that I literally think I'll end up being dumb and shoehorning SpikeXDerpy into my fics from now on." - re-Yamsmos

"I Love you for this story.... And I Hate you for it" - DocShadowVine

"Well, that was rude. Didn't ask for even more feels." - JMP

"Too real too fast. Ouch." - _SkyHorse

"... it made me cry... at work. I work at a front desk for a public building. I loved it so much!" - RainbowShyBrony

"I think this story cured my depression, it was beautiful and a work of art." - The Sandwich Guardian

During Twilight's visit of the Crystal Empire, she stumbles upon Flash Sentry, who is struggling to work on a piece of literature he wants to donate to the local library. As Twilight uses the opportunity to help Flash develop his story, another kind of development begins taking place.

Based on a true story.

Special thanks to Setokaiva for proofreading.

Caught in a rainstorm again, Derpy trudges off toward home. But along the way, she finds somepony down on her luck as well, somepony who very much reminds Derpy of her own childhood. It was a good day.

Lengthened version of the 13th-place finisher in the /fic/ mini write-off "I Regret Nothing."

Cover art "Smile in the Rain" by BlitzPony.

Featured on Equestria Daily!

While visiting her hometown, a small filly approaches Lyric with a question. Unicorns have their magic and pegasi can fly, but is there anything that makes earth ponies special? Fortunately, Lyric just may have the answer.

This story was inspired by someone I don't associate with anymore, but was close with at the time of writing.

Many thanks to my friends Will-Owl-the-Wisp and Reneigh Haycart for their help with editing, and for helping to make this story the best it can be. Many thanks also to Wisp for the lovely cover art!

Hearts and Hooves Day was a whirlwind, especially for Cheerilee and Big Macintosh. They remained friends in wake of the fiasco that almost ended in hasty marriage, and Cheerilee never gave their friendship any further thought. They were just friends, nothing more.

However, when she learns of Big Mac and Marble Pie's fling over the Hearth's Warming holiday, Cheerilee begins to dwell upon her friendship with Big Mac. Could there have been something more to their relationship that she hadn't realized before?

After all, hindsight is 20/20.

Edited by Lord-Commander and Kestrel

Pre-reading by FamousLastWords

Cover art made by the talented Coffee Munch

Takes place in the same universe as Learning Curve. Familiarity with that story is not required, but I do recommend it!

Reviews!
Seattle's Angels
PaulAsaran
PCaRG

Princess Cadance is ready to take another step with an important aspect of love: generous donations to the Crystal Empire's technically thousand-plus year old orphanage and animal shelter. If some lucky ponies find their soulmates through the event, all the better to go forward with it.

Some of her guards get yanked into the list of candidates, including Commander Flash Sentry. He is told that it's going to be a fun time, but he's not so sure. The situation turns even more serious when he finds out the identity of the mare that is essentially buying his time.
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"Luna, this is hardly appropriate."

"Nonsense, sister! You need a hobby, and testing the waters seems like a good starting point."

"But that's what the Royal pH testers are for."

"Wow... you really need to get out more."
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Rated "Teen" for slight alcohol reference.
Contrary to Cadance's desires, this is not a love story.

When the other Elements of Harmony realise that Fluttershy gave each of them a different reason for not attending a slumber party, they set out to discover the truth.

They end up discovering something else instead.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story was inspired by a blog post that Obselescence wrote — although I should point out that it has absolutely nothing to do with the idea he suggested (hence the lack of a 'Romance' tag).

Rated T for innuendo.

Twilight Sparkle is used to being lonely. Sure, she's got friends now, but sometimes they're busy and you're left to your own devices. When these times come, she takes refuge in a particular place and partakes in a very particular activity: writing. Specifically, silly throwaway writings. Why? Well, they're safe.

Twilight tries on her first pair of glasses, and though she enjoys them, something goes wrong. Anypony who merely looks at her faints on the spot, and she must figure out why before the entire city of Canterlot is compromised.

Cover art made by the talented and super cool MalWinters!

Now with a YouTube reading by Short Stories, and another YouTube reading by ZeusMacD

What happens when you die?

Alpine Wind is lost in the unforgiving frozen tundra, hours away from civilization. His body is freezing and his strength depleted. Survival at this point seems like a futile hope.

As the hour of death approaches, the last thing Alpine expects to find is a visitor...