It's only been a few moons since Spike moved to Ponyville, and the settled zone hasn't quite gotten used to having a dragon around, any more than his sister has become accustomed to managing all the duties of a small town library. So while she sorts out late fee notices, he's expected to work the front desk and speak to patrons. Ponies who don't know how to talk to him. Ponies who seem to be having a hard time even looking at him. So when Twilight finally sends him to collect a book from a truly unresponsive patron, it's almost a relief.

Except that the pony isn't there. Will never be there again.

And just about nopony seems to care if she was ever there at all.

(A stand-alone, no prior-reading-necessary part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group: new members and trope edits are welcome. )

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Once upon a time, (if the term even applies) two young ladies, (if that adjective even applies) decided to visit a magical land of Equestria, selected seemingly at random from about a million.

• One of the two is a time traveler deprived of her time machine, the other is an eldritch abomination out of her element.
• One would prefer the world of pastel-colored ponies to stay as it is, and can’t help but alter it. The other one is anxious to see how it can change, and can’t help but maintain it.
• Both believe that this is not their story. But while they disturb the delicate world of ponies, they don’t even notice ponies doing the same to them.
• Sandwiches are involved somehow.

There are many things this story is and some things it isn’t.

It’s not a fix fic, no matter what some of the characters think. It’s written in multiple first person narration, which happened for a pointlessly clever reason, that will eventually become quite obvious. It’s not a crossover, it just comes with an unhealthy amount of backstory. It could be a rational-fic, but since idealistic philosophy is typically not seen as very rational, it’s only a philoso-fic instead. It’s quite meta, in the original definition of metafiction: fiction concerned with fiction as a concept. In any case, it’s either a small monument to overthinking things – I’m trying to reexamine many fanon ideas here – or a digital paperweight, I’m not sure which. It’s quite a bit more subtle than it could be, and everyone talks way too much when they should be having glorious adventures.
I know how it starts, I know how it ends, and most of what happens in between. Readers say it’s a slow burner, but we’ll get there eventually.

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to my editors, Thainen, Shrink Laureate, and MitchH.
Further special thanks to ScarletWeather and Themaskedferret for valuable input.
The artist who made the cover image stubbornly wishes to remain uncredited, but thanks to her anyway.

Have you met Shutterfly?

No, not Fluttershy. One's a pegasus mare with a yellow coat and pink mane whose talent is communication with animals, and the other is a pegasus mare with a pink coat and yellow mane who can print pictures on pretty much any solid surface. There's no way any reasonable pony would get the two confused, not when Shutterfly just opened up her print shop today, introducing herself to the town through a group of Special Limited-Time Offers!

That's right. She just got into town today. And she'll be leaving tonight.

Because Shutterfly's skill is for printing pictures on things. But her talent is for being really, really annoying...

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Rated MC for MetaCrack

Chrysalis kidnapped a dozen ponies, threatened Equestria, was betrayed by her own kind, and has now vowed vengeance on Starlight Glimmer before leaping from the ruins of her castle and flying off. She is definitely going to get away.

Absolutely.

Yep.

Reading by TheCaptainSand - Scarlett Blade

Translated into Spanish by ZodiacalComet

Prince Blueblood. Last of his Noble line. Canterlot's most eligible bachelor. Aristocratic, affluent, and arrogant. But, surprisingly enough, a stallion who knows what is truly important in life: Family.

Placed fourth in the January 2016 Write-Off Event: Look, I Can Explain.

There's a man who works at my job in the basement.

He says his name is Derek. Not many people like Derek. People say he's weird and tends to lie. Derek says he was tricked and isn't supposed to be here at all.

He also says he used to be the Chaos King back home.

And here I just wish he'd stop screwing around with the coffee in the breakroom.

This story is a sequel to Let's Kill Tirek

No one has said ever said that being the Dragon Lord was easy, even under normal circumstances, but in the early days of her reign, Ember has been performing her duties admirably, walking the delicate balance of Draconian politics with aplomb. However, during a diplomatic visit to Equestria, she runs into a snag when she finds herself in the crosshairs of the lovestruck tail of the local chimera. It seems that it's not particularly wise to get between a viper and the dragon of her dreams.

Artwork by Page Turner.

The Mane Six are dismayed to discover that the CMC have learned their lesson a little too quickly.
***
The cover image comes from the Stare Master episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
***
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro.

Chrysalis didn't invade Canterlot in a bid to take over Equestria. She attacked the city because she had nowhere else to run.

Now, imprisoned for her crimes deep under Canterlot Castle, she can sense the nightmare she fought so hard to escape from drawing ever closer. Soon, it will cross the Equestrian border and lay waste to Celestia's domain.

She must warn Celestia, before it's too late.

An artifact causes an incident where Luna's gender switches, and she becomes prince instead.

Evidently, Luna turned out to be a handsome prince. Now having to deal with confused and judging nobility, lots of mares vying for the Prince's affection, the paparazzi eager to get more scoops on the new lunar prince, and a sister who seems to want the prince to stay judging by how she sees the entire situation hilarious, along with her pranks and quips, Luna will have to work hard with Twilight to solve the mystery of Starswirl's Sphere and hope that she can return back to a normal life.

Art by jaquelindreamz.

Originally written by Kuairu.