Running a library is a lot of work, especially when you're doing it all by yourself. But the Bearers are out of town, a little dragon wasn't allowed to participate in the mission, it's the sort of autumn day where all of Ponyville wants to curl up with a book -- and just to make things worse, Twilight was running a Print Your Own Story event. Add in the boxes upon boxes of fresh Release Day hardcovers, and Spike just has too much to do.

So why not let the patrons do it themselves? What's the hazard in allowing ponies to check out (and print) their own books with no supervision whatsoever? The library has rules. Surely you can't get a card unless you understand that.

Spike thinks ponies understand rules.

It's a mistake he's only going to make once.

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In order to make sure her class knows a little more about the world, Cheerilee has them exchanging letters with children in other nations. This allows her students to learn about truly foreign concepts, like 'snow day'. And the mere concept of having a random storm grant an unexpected holiday has taught the Crusaders something big: that Equestria is the worst place in the whole world, because the weather schedule means that's never gonna happen.

Surely there has to be a way to get a snow day of their very own. Surely...

...so what's the fastest way to summon a windigo?

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

Cover art from an image created by LunaticDawn.

Tempest Shadow is a pony trying to learn how to be part of pony society. To her, Equestria is a foreign land, and she's just a stranger in it. The natives are friendly, but her days are empty. What she needs is something to ground her. Something that can make her part of daily Ponyville life.

She needs a job.

Content Warning: Radical Freedom

This story was written over an embarrassingly long time as a commission for a friend. I have to admit I really like writing Tempest Shadow. She's a great horse.

Thanks to all my patrons and followers!

This story is a sequel to For Want of a Horseshoe

Several months have passed since Luna relinquished the throne of Equestria to her sister. She's spent those months working hard to undo the damage she did during her years as Nightmare Moon.

Tonight, she's looking forward to nothing more than going home and sleeping. Unfortunately, her plans are derailed when she runs into a few familiar ponies, and one unfamiliar one.

This story takes place in an established continuity. The other stories can be found below. Reading them isn't necessary, but will add more context to the story.

1. For Want of a Horseshoe
2. A Big Brother's Duty
3. Healing <-- you are here

Cover art provided by Little Tigress: https://www.deviantart.com/moonlightfan/art/Brewed-Awakenings-829482332

Only Princess Twilight and Principal Celestia can save the world, but it's really not their top priority.

Edited by MrNumbers and Kitsunerisu.

The original draft of this story was written as an entry for the second Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Competition.

This story is a sequel to Ring Around The Moon -- Part I

The Sun Celebration has arrived. The Nightmare returns. And with the help of some extra friends, Twilight, Tempest, and their fellow students are about to discover just how far the Dark Mare will go to have her revenge...

This concludes the Nightmare Moon series of Not Exactly Friends... but Twilight, Tempest, and their friends return in A Canterlot Engagement.

This story is a sequel to Trixie Luna Moon

A shadow descends upon Canterlot. Celestia announces the impending return of Nightmare Moon. And Twilight, Tempest, and their fellow students find there's more to being Equestria's chosen defenders than they bargained for...

For more of this AU, see: Ring Around the Moon -- Part II

Also see the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends

This story is a sequel to By The Light of the Moon

All Trixie wanted was to be Great and Powerful, and to study magic at Celestia's School. Fortunately, she had two excellent teachers to guide her. Unfortunately, one of them was a Nightmare...

For more of this AU, see: Ring Around the Moon -- Part I

And also check out the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends.

This story is a sequel to Saving Sunset Shimmer

Faced with Nightmare Moon's approaching return, Twilight, Tempest, and their classmates need help from an expert on the subject... a pony named Moondancer. There's just one problem: it's the last thing Moondancer wants to talk about...

For more of this AU, see: Trixie Luna Moon

And also check out the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends.

This story is a sequel to Never Any Doubt

Needing advice on an important project, Twilight, Tempest, and their friends work to reopen the mirror portal, and rescue a former student of Celestia's... Sunset Shimmer.

Note: This story assumes the backstory for Sunset presented in: Sunset -- Part I and Part II.

For more of this AU, see: By the Light of the Moon

And also check out the series, beginning with Not Exactly Friends.