Princess Twilight Sparkle took the Equestrian throne several years ago. Anon, her human friend, works at the castle as an advisor for her. However, lately he has been disappearing right after work, and Twilight is curious as to why. On top of that, he isn't the only one acting strangely, as her mom has been acting very dodgy around her too. Twilight has some suspicions as to why this is.

The newest and hottest game on the market is Sword Art Online, or SAO. A VRMMORPG, Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, Sword Art Online takes the player into a virtual reality world of swords and shields. Only 10,000 copies were sold online or in stores. But quickly, things go wrong and the fight goes from fun, to survival.

To escape the game of death, the game must be cleared. All 100 floors of the floating iron castle, known as Aincrad, must be conquered. If you die in game, you die in real life. The NerveGear will fry your brain. The same goes if the NerveGear is removed while you are in the game, you die.

Sword Art Online is a game of swords and shields with no magic. The game isn't designed to handle their Equestrian Magic. Sunset Shimmer must make sure that her friends and guildmates escape the game, or at least survive long enough until the game is defeated.

This story is a Serial Novel Society story: Updates will be at least on a weekly, Tuesday, basis.

*Pre-knowledge of Sword Art Online is not required. The Pilot Episode covers all you need to know.
**First Featured Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Also on 12/3/19, 12/10/19, 01/14/20, 2/11/20, 2/18/20, 2/25/20, 3/3/20, 3/10/20, 3/17/20, 3/24/20, 3/31/20, 4/14/20, 4/21/20, 4/28/20, 5/5/20, 5/19/20, 5/26/20, 6/2/20, 6/9/20, 6/23/2020, 6/30/2020, 7/28/20, 8/4/20, 8/18/20, 8/25/20, 8/27/20, 9/1/20, 9/8/20, 9/15/20, 9/22/20, 9/29/20, 10/20/20, 10/27/20, 11/3/2020, 11/10/20, 11/17/20, 12/1/20, 12/8/20, 12/15/20, 12/22/20, 12/29/20, 1/5/21, 1/19/21, 2/2/21, ICE, 2/23/21, 3/2/21, 3/9/21, 3/16/21, 3/23/21, & 3/30/21.

Want to know what is happening outside the SAO in the real world? There is a story for them! Link to the Asides.

A big thank you to my editor, Void Runner.
A special thanks to SuperSonicHeroes and Wildfiretiremile. Each helped a lot with Beta Reading!
Also, a special Thanks to Badwolf231. He helped me as this project got started.

- Sword Art Online is owned and created by Reki Kawahara.
* Cover Art created with art elements from Orin331, Frye-Medi, and flutterdashrarijack.

Sunset Shimmer has lost everything. All her so-called friends have turned their backs on her thanks to the machinations of Anon-A-Miss, and she's abandoned and alone. About to step out into a cold winter afternoon, she hears a voice she didn't expect calling her back...

Written because of my own temper and sense of righteousness has fouled my thoughts before. Written because we can see the truth of things even through our anger. And written because I'd like to believe that individuals can think beyond the baying of the mob.

Rated T for swearing, discussions of violence, and some other PG-13 scenes.

9/18/17- Featured. For a minute. A little stunned.
9/26/17- Featured. Again. Let's see if it will last...
10/2/17- Featured for a few hours this time. Thank you all!

This story is a sequel to What Shy Did on Her Summer Vacation

"When you wander probability space, you notice some trends. Trends like Sunset and her friends getting the same summer jobs in a lot of worldlines. Well, ours isn't exactly close to baseline. It turned out a little differently for them."

Part of the Oversaturated World. Reading the prequel isn't required, but provides context for some parts.

"Wait, prequel?"

Shush, Ditzy.

Sunset Shimmer was the Spirit of Harmony, preserver of a newly magic-infused universe, unwilling object of worship, and girlfriend of the most brilliant person this side of Equestria.

Until, one day, she wasn't.

Part of the Oversaturated World.

Twilight is tired of villains breaking into her castle, so she calls the other mane six for suggestions
and applejack has a rather odd one

You are Anon, and you own a musket for home defense. When four rapscallions break into your house. "What the devil!?" You do what must be done. Now you have to explain to Twilight why this makes sense.

Edit: Featured? Thank you everyone!

Reading by Wuten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Hab2Ff1cI

The birth of cinema created multiple additional industries, along with inspiring a fleet of new marks. In particular, there's a need for sound design, and Foley Artist stands ready to bring the natural beats of the outside world into the enclosed studios. And when a recording session for Canterlot's streets just happens to record the most distinctive scream ever... well, what kind of pony would Foley be if he didn't share it with the entire planet? After all, sound belongs to the people.

To the people. Not to a person. That would just be silly.

But that scream has a source. A fast-approaching, very unhappy source. And she has so many more sounds to share...

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

Art from a vector capture by AJDiSpirito. Title suggested by Sanguine Potato.

After a night out drinking, Sunset Shimmer wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. It takes some time and help from the woman next to her to reconstruct the events that had led her there.

1st Place Winner of the "Sunset Shimmer x Villains Unseen" Contest

Credit to Cover Art belongs to Maren/Marenlicious

EDIT: My first story to be featured on the front page! 🎶

After what happened at the Fall Formal, Rarity comes to see that Sunset Shimmer's become little more than a recluse, a mere shell of her former self. It also doesn't help that no one in the school is even willing to give her a chance. Rarity sees this as inexcusable. So, honoring their promise to Twilight, she convinces the girls to try their hardest to get Sunset out of her shell by having the girl take part in their activities.

But will a simple shared interest be enough able to open up Sunset's rapidly closing heart?

Somehow featured! (8/12/14) What an awesome birthday present!
Image by Uotapo
Stolen from and Proofread by Harmony Charmer
Edited By the loyal Ersmiller