A ten page short:
What if all the magic we see in the show is exactly what it appears to be? Does that concept scare you? It should.
After a shocking discovery changes his life, a young griffon follows in the hoofprints of his childhood hero, and mounts an expedition deep into the frozen west.

Both 'The Brightest Shine' and 'Piracy' redirect here, and with good reason; read on and it will make sense.

Rainbow Dash is really enjoying being an honorary big sister to Scootaloo. They hang out, she praises Rainbow's sweet moves- it's really the perfect relationship. Until Rainbow has to do boring grown-up stuff and ask to meet Scootaloo's parents. No big deal. Just in case something happens, Rainbow knows who to go to.

Except... Scootaloo keeps dodging the question. And nopony in town has a clue where she lives either.

Rainbow is getting worried while Scootaloo is getting more and more desperate to avoid an answer. Because what if that answer isn't cool enough for Rainbow Dash?

This story is a sequel to It's a Dangerous Business, Going Out Your Door

The great adventure achieved its goal. Twilight Sparkle was cured of her deadly horn rot, her friends came back safely, and everything can go back to normal.

Except, of course, that such an upheaval is never truly forgettable. It leaves its mark on all who take part in it, touching and changing them in ways they may not, at the time, completely understand. Like the pressure in the earth that turns coal into diamonds, the stresses of disaster--or its near aversion--alter the natures of ponies, and alter the relationships between them. Twilight Sparkle, on a seemingly ordinary day, is about to learn that first hand.
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This story has been floating around since shortly after Dangerous Business' completion. At the time, I envisioned it as the first in what would be a whole cycle of stories, building up to a monumental, multi-story tale very similar to what eventually became Besides the Will of Evil. It's not quite 'canon' to BTWOE--for one thing, Twilight and Spike's relationship here isn't what it is in there, since the later clarifications by the showrunners were taken into account with the later story. However, I like to think that the spirit of this story still informs the later, larger story. Astute readers will also see a clarification of something that was only hinted at in BTWOE. I hope old readers enjoy their fond memories, and that new readers enjoy what has long been a fan favorite.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while. I guess I don’t exactly learn anything Princess-worthy every day. I don’t really think the others do either -write letters that is- but I haven’t exactly talked to them in a while. You can understand why.
I... don’t want this to be a sad letter. I don’t think you need any more sadness in your life, and I’m good too. So this is just a normal letter.

Applejack makes the best of what's still around.

Now with its own story reading.

In the days after her ascension, every newspaper in Equestria is talking about how Princess Celestia transformed Twilight Sparkle into an alicorn princess.

There's just one problem – Twilight knows that's not what happened.

Why does Celestia let them believe something that isn't true? After all, it isn't like knowing could hurt anypony, right?

Sometimes, all we need are a few stats to shed some light on a subject.

"...Time was, you just had to figure them out. Solving the puzzle was half the fun."

"You solve a lot of puzzles in your day?"

"A few. Some more worth it that others. One was... especially rewarding."

"Know where she is now?"

"Of course I do."

"...I'm sorry, sir."

Have you ever seen a beautiful woman play the cello? It's really something else.

A crossover with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Intended for readers familiar with the Avengers movie and S.H.I.E.L.D. episodes "The Bridge" and "The Magical Place". Contains spoilers for both. AU for S.H.I.E.L.D. as of 4/29/14. Not a ScratchTavia story.

Cover art by AphexAngel.

Approved by Twilight's Library! Rated "Masterpiece" by the Pleasant Commentator and Review Group! Featured by The Royal Guard!

One story to make you laugh,
a little random,
made for fun.

One story to make you shiver,
a little dark,
made for reasons unknown.

Two stories in one. A challenge, an experiment.

Big thanks to Winston and Abcron for edits.

Princess Luna asked a simple question, or so she thought.

"Why did you ask me out?"

Of course, Rainbow Dash rarely has simple answers. She has awesome ones.

Written in response to SMP #106: "Rainbow Dash finally gets with somepony she's always looked up to."

Though I'm not entirely sure how it is that I wrote a clean SMP response....

(No real edit, just found out the appropriate Source for my cover image and wanted to fix that up!

Source for uncropped version.

Now with ko-fi link!)