Special talents.
That thing that sets ponies apart from each other and gives them a path in life. The one thing that they excel at, broadcast to the world by their cutie mark.
The spectrum of special talents is as wide as the day is long and twice as varied as you think it is.
But, interesting talent or mundane, everypony needs a job to put food on the table and not every talent lends itself to one.

After all, not everyone can be blessed with specific high-demand talents like "growing plants" or "cleaning" or "flying". Even less often does a pony get a particularly nebulous concept or multi-faceted skill like "magic" or "partying" that can apply to any number of jobs.

Sometimes, no matter how good you are at what you do, it's just not something you can make a career out of.

But for those unlucky few, there's a group filled with other ponies who face the same problem that they do.

---

Editted and proofread by the wonderfully helpful NecroHorse!

Scootaloo is just like any other filly. She goes to school, she plays with her friends. Sometimes she feels a bit insecure about her wings, but that's okay.

And then she has to go home.

A stallion cheats on his wife. He does not wish to, but he must.

In the distant future, a mind awakes to find itself without a body.

It remembers who it was.

Who she was.

Her name, once, was Luna.

Some things can't be changed.

Starlight believes otherwise.

Now part of the Royal Canterlot Library.
Inspired by the original art by Plainoasis.
Edited by Jack of a Few Trades, JackRipper, ROBCakeran53, Flutterpriest, and Enigmatic Otaku.

When Rarity accidentally nicks Twilight during a fitting, she discovers just what alicorn blood can do, properly applied.

Winner of the 11th Quills and Sofas Speedwriting contest. The prompt was "Spurred to action."

The Great and Powerful Trixie performs at a foal's birthday party. She had no choice.

Fifth place finisher of the "Illusion of Choice" writeoff. Reading here by Midnight29.

Seeking shelter from a storm, a pony chances upon a small cave, but finds it already occupied by a gryphon. Despite fear and mistrust, the two of them must share it until morning.

Many, many thanks to Solstice Shimmer for ideas, commentary and feedback. Edited by PoisonClaw, sevenofeleven and Pascoite.

“There are times when a fic so perfectly encompases the meaning of Friendship is Magic that it becomes easy to believe that the writer is a nom de plume of one of the show's writers.”

— Seattle's Angels

“A calm, deliberate story of friendship laser-focused on two really strong characters. It's world-building by way of character-building, a tale of common understanding growing where none existed that never even thinks about being preachy.

Highly Recommended”

— PresentPerfect

Nothing is without a price, as many discover to their sorrow. Few are those who truly know themselves, and fewer still are those who know which prices are worth bearing—and which hide perils threatening that which they most treasure.

*****

My gratitude to all of the participants in the "There Is Magic In Everything" writeoff event, for the comments, reviews, and appreciation which helped bring this to its current form.

Audiobook here, courtesy of Neighrator Pony!

And a second reading here, courtesy of Illya Leonov!

Now available in Spanish, courtesy of SPANIARD KIWI.

When Celestia went on sabbatical into the west, she promised Twilight it would be only a couple of months. A year and a half later, the sun resists control, the country is in ruins, and her teacher is lost in the wilds. Twilight has become the apostate, her faith in her teacher and her teachings waning. In the wake of tragedy, her resentment blossoms into fury and she vows that something must be done. Shadows gather around Canterlot, and old things that should not have been awakened are on the move. The Student goes west, her hope restored by friendship and righteous fury.

The night, at long last, is passing.