A massage is just a massage, isn’t it? Apparently not when Spike is involved. Somehow finding a book on pony massage specifically for handed creatures like himself is fated to end the way that most of his adventures do: with the untimely destruction of Ponyville.
Unless Rarity can help, of course.

Featured on Equestria Daily
Winner of second place in Present Perfect’s writing contest, Soft Hands.

"Down these mean streets a dragon must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is everything."

The Case of the Diamond Dress comes to a dramatic conclusion, as Spike the Dragon (Private Eye) makes a decision that will change his life, and the lives of everypony who lives in the seedy heart of The Big Muffin. Part 9 of 9*.

A novel by Penny Dreadful, creator of the High Noon: Applejack series.
*Due to legal reasons, parts 1 through 8 of Here's Looking at You Spike cannot be bought, sold, or read within the borders of Equestria, Earth, or nearby countries. No refunds.

Cover modified from this picture. This story was written as part of a writing prompt for Bean's Writing Group.

That DOES IT! Spike has had enough. He won't deal with Twilight anymore. Not when she can get so mean and yell so loud. He'll go off somewhere else. Somewhere where he can be alone. Curled beneath a hill, he hears a gentle voice calling.

Getting bored with her retirement, Celestia decides to try her luck in multiple occupations… and gets kicked out of each one.

Meta:

The story is marked as 'complete,' but if you liked it you may add it to your watch list. I may add more chapters later when I think of something else fitting for Celestia to mess up

Cover based on the images from:
https://derpibooru.org/images/2874154

Proofread by Grammarly

Sunburst has gotten into the habit of waking up early on every Hearts and Hooves day to make breakfast for them.

Starlight doesn't know what to make of it until much, much later.

_{Just a little StarBurst fluff for the holiday (a very, very late one, but still!). Enjoy!}

Twilight couldn’t sleep. The stresses of her duties start to catch up to her and slowly the composure she has crafted ever since she ascended to her princess title starts cracking. But when confronted by a familiar friend she realizes she can stay afloat awhile longer.

Equestria is sometimes referred to as the land of second chances, all the more so after Luna's return. Songs are sung of Princess Celestia's benevolence and forgiveness, and legends are told that she can look directly into a creature's heart and see whether there is good in them. Others whisper that she is soft, and weak, and will let anypony off with a slap on the wrist.

Neither is quite true, but there was quite a firestorm of rumours when she decided to set Discord free. Many would like to know what precisely she was thinking to attempt to put a leash on a being who could plunge the land into chaos with a casual thought, but Celestia has kept the reasons close to her chest.

She's pretty sure nopony would believe her anyway. Sometimes the truth is stranger than rumours.

A standalone entry in the Eventide Verse.
Also check out author Patreon, Ko-Fi and commissions.

An idle mind is a dangerous thing, and Zipp Storm is a detective with no current cases. In the dog day doldrums of summer, suspicions sometimes see signs that aren't there.

Unless of course Zipp is right, and Pipp really is possessed by a ghostly diva from centuries past.

Contains: Paranormal (in)activity, supercharged imaginations, out-of-character creepiness, and Pipp chasing clout via memes.

This is an entry in the Snippet Series, an anthology of old oneshots that I (and my good buddy Str8aura) wrote based around interesting pics I found. New ones will be posted every other Thursday for the foreseeable future.

It's been about a month since Spike went through his molt, and both he and Twilight are still getting used to his newly sprouted wings. Needless to say, the development has brought on quite a few changes; some deliberate, others... not so much.

Of course, with new circumstances come new opportunities. Spike's wings let him fly, obviously, but there's one thing in particular he'd like to learn to do with them. And the lesson starts with one simple question for Twilight:

"Could you teach me how to give a wing-hug?"

Written by TheAncientPolitzanian
Inspired by Heir-of-Rick
Proofread by Falkenlied and Rego
Cover Art: Fireworks by dSana

Even dragons grow old.

Spike has served more than long enough, and while he ages much slower than ponies (or indeed most races), he knows he doesn't have all the time in the world. Retirement would not be uncalled for, and the warm beaches and cool mountains of Silver Shoals would do his scales some good. Only... leaving Canterlot, and Twilight's side, will not be so easy for him.

Written for rarityxspike, as part of Jinglemas 2022. They wanted a sad story with Spike and Luna, and I obliged.

Cover art by BonesWolbach.