Apple Bloom has a very important classroom duty, at least according to Miss Cheerilee.

Second place winner in the January Writeoff - All In

Rarity is at her Manehatten branch to help Coco make the place more popular. She's schmoozing and out partying late into the night as she tries to meet the right ponies to whom she can sell her brand.
She eventually meets Weak Stitch, who is one of the more popular ponies on the fashion scene. He's interested in her, but his tastes are odd, and Rarity starts getting the feeling she's being followed when she can smell his cologne around her.
As she tries to forget the events, things start getting more and more strange. What can Rarity do about it?

After Luna's banishment, a guilt filled Celestia searches for answers. Trying to gain a new understanding of what caused her sister's misery, she visits the valley that once housed Starswirl the Bearded as well as Luna and herself many years ago. It is here that she believed everything started.

She finds so much more than she asked for.

This story now has a review by PresentPerfect that's filled with spoilers. You can find it here! Now featured by Equestria Daily! There's an SA review now too. It has spoilers, but you can check it out here. Partially inspired by, but has no relation to The Last Dreams of Pony Island by horizon. Former cover art source. Current art by flamevulture17. Now with spiritual successors: Bathophobia and Atelophobia. Rated 'Pretty Good' by PaulAsaran in an in-depth and spoiler-filled review. A multi-part audio reading by Lotus Moon is available, click to listen to part one and part two here! Contribute to the TVTropes page!

After Nightmare Moon was banished, Celestia was left to rule Equestria alone.
Ponies had questions about what happened to Luna. With the Elements of Harmony inert, Celestia could no longer defend the kingdom without help. How could she keep her kingdom together without Luna? How could she go on without her sister?

The story of Celestia's first few years ruling in Luna's absence.

Can you ever truly know somepony, no matter how close they are to you? When a neighboring monarch and friend of Celestia's nears the end, she and her faithful student embark on a journey to seek the aid of those who reside in the lands far beyond Equestrian borders.

Twilight and Celestia only ever wanted to understand what's going on, and to return to their normal lives. But, when they look to solve the greatest riddle ever told, the answers they find... Might not be the ones they seek.

Long before the Battle for Canterlot, the Changeling race operated very differently than what was seen at the Royal Wedding of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. The Changeling Queen Chrysalis changed her people from what they were, into something more powerful. This is her story.

"Sister, harsh fervours of our labor doth make us sweat! The zeal of an unholy tyrant would we need to continue, but, ne'er shall we allow it, for thy subjects we love all too much," she openly lamented. With an unsteady hoof, she attempted to assuage her irritated brow. "Thou wouldst leave us here, broken-hearted, damn'd departed, whilst fleeing our sacred bounds all the same. Or should we say 'ye', as 'twould seem none are here for me."

A retelling of Luna and Celestia's tragic schism, told in most archaic ways. I gave it my best, honestly.

Life is lonely on Equestria's most remote border. For fourteen years Marilla has raised her daughter Chrysalis in her little house in the middle of nowhere. But their simple existence is more complicated than either of them could have dreamed.

Now with a review by NorrisThePony: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/538794/queen-mother-story-review-

To save her sister and her faithful student, Celestia herself must travel into the ancient tunnels beneath the ruined castle in the Everfree Forest. She, and the guards who accompany her, must face the dark, twisting corridors. Still, what was Luna and Twilight's purpose at the old castle? Why were they unable to return of their own accord?

And what watches Celestia from beyond the light's edge?

Murder has come to Canterlot.

When a body is discovered, mutilated beyond recognition, Princess Luna is tasked with finding the culprit and bringing them to justice.

As the Alicorn of Darkness, it is her duty to watch over the night, and protect the ponies of Equestria from that which lurks in shadow. But she won't be alone in this endeavor; a stallion from the Royal Investigative Service and the prince of chaos himself have been sent to aide her in this matter.

Together this strange trio will find that there is much more at play here than mere murder; a storm is gathering in the shadows of Canterlot, and even the powers of a god may not be enough overcome it.

Prereading credits go to the eminent Carabas.