The road to war is a slippery slope. When a group of zebra pirates hijack an Equestrian cargo vessel laden with gemstones and other goods, Princess Celestia sends in the Wonderbolts to rescue the hostages and deal with the situation.

Mistakes are made. Lives are lost. The newspapers report the incident but many of the details are never brought to light. Years later, over a pint of cider, the rest of the story is told.

A tale from the Great War era of Fallout: Equestria.

Edited by: EverFreePony and Light Shine
Cover Art by: Little Tigress (DeviantArt)

After being in the dark for an undetermined amount of time, a light bulb turns on revealing a bare room. Exiting the room Twilight explores the vast, dilapidated stone halls which sit in silence; broken only by Twilight's speech as she roams the halls.

An old mare remembers her friends fondly, as she thinks back on how it came to this.
With apologies to Ernest Hemingway and Styx!

Sunset walks in on Pinkie Pie studying a star chart of her own making on Hearts and Hooves Valentine's Day. The discussion that follows wasn't quite what Sunset expected.

One day, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom receive a message and a package from a pony they don’t recognize. Inside is a vest, an ugly, highly reflective, bright orange safety vest. Alongside is an apology for an event they don’t remember, and the words “Hope gives you wings.” Confused, they take the vest and the letter to Twilight, who tells Scootaloo to put the vest on in order to finally receive the real gift…

Art by Grim_Grin

Prince Hisan, now pharaoh, is plagued by a mysterious affliction that torments him nightly. Ever hopeful, Somnambula ventures forth to seek the help of Princess Luna, for she is now a shining light in dark places. But lights CAN be extinguished…

"Where are my balls, Twilight?"

Spike the Puppy has some questions now that he can speak.

Sometimes young Petunia Paleo's dreams seem impossible.

Good thing dreams are Princess Luna's specialty.

This story was expanded from its original appearance as a finalist in the December 2016 Writeoff, "Has That Always Been There?" Cover art assembled from here and here. Featured on FimFiction 26Dec.2018-28Dec.2018! Featured on Equestria Daily 4Jan.2019! Also featured by the Royal Canterlot Library!

Celestia is trapped on Earth.
Not as a human. Not as an alicorn. She's a common horse, an Arabian mare, without her magic, voice, knowledge of the language - not even freedom, forced to work at a riding school.

What can a single Arabian mare do to get back to Equestria from this backwater European country? With only the mind of a princess and a pencil in her teeth, Celestia must find a way home.

[Illustrated] [Alternate Earth] (without Bronies)
Rated Teen for language and some scarce suggestive themes.
Proofreading by AlicornPriest

Polish language version

I'm a painter. Well, used to be until I moved in with my husband in Canterlot. Painting wasn't enough to cover the cost of living here, so I got a different job and gave up painting. Until a mysterious old mare noticed me and commissioned a piece from me...