Ordinarily, Princess Twilight Sparkle is more than willing to welcome newcomers to Equestria, regardless of what type of creature they are or where they come from. However, she might soon find that even she has a limit as she is forced to confront the arrival of the greatest menace known to man: the British.

Like, all of them.

A bit sad, innit?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder comes out tonight, and Luna intends to be the first pony in line to get it. Of course, she isn't going to wait alone. That'd be stupid. And who better to drag to GameStop with her than Anon, the guy with absolutely nothing better to do?

This can only go well.

Your friends in Ponyville were quite shocked when your relationship with Marble Pie became public. They were even more shocked when she moved in with you and immediately became just another member of the community, all without saying a single word. To most of them, it can be hard to have a conversation with her.

To you, it's the easiest thing in the world.

It's late at night. You should probably be in bed right now. But hey, who can really turn down a chance to talk with a princess? Even if... the conversation topic is the meaning of life, and why we carry on?

Oh well. At least it's better than talking about accounting.

Cover art by magnaluna!

You aren’t really sure what happened last night—all you know is that you’ve woken up in a bed that isn’t yours, and you’re pressed up against something very warm, and very fluffy… that just moved?

…Oh boy.

———

A couple of notes: This story does not contain sex, but it does contain references to it. Also, Anon has been written as a woman in this story.

Cover art by TheBatFang!

This story is a sequel to Look, I Have Extremely High Standards

You and Moondancer have grown very close since your date last month. Unfortunately, she lives in Canterlot while you still live in Ponyville, and most of your communication occurs through letters. So, when the opportunity arises for the two of you to meet once more during the Princess Procession, a parade-like event held in Canterlot every year, you were ecstatic to finally have an excuse to see each other again. Twilight, wanting an excuse of her own to get you and Moondancer together even during the event itself, arranged for an important job at the end of the parade to be handled by the two of you.

However, after Moondancer fails to show up at the place you agreed to meet at, you stumble upon an opened, enchanted manga in her living room. Fearing the worst, you hop inside.

Now, the two of you must swallow your pride and live out the events of Equestria's most popular slow burn romance manga to return to the real world. But with the Princess Procession having already started, you'd better get through it quickly if you want to return to the parade before its conclusion!

Mount Vehuvius is about to erupt for the first time in over five hundred years, bringing ruin to the town of Pommepei, and only Maud Pie can stop it.

To Applejack's bewilderment, she's not interested in doing that.

Originally written for Everfree Northwest 2023's Iron Author competition, in which it placed third. Thanks to Undome Tinwe for editing help!

While on an extended trip to Canterlot with Twilight, you became acquainted with a mare named Moondancer. She makes you feel all kinds of things that you've never felt before, and Twilight caught on to this pretty quickly. After some teasing, you decided to shoot your shot. Moondancer... didn't take it too well. It seems that, somehow, she simultaneously has confidence issues and a huge ego.

Or maybe she's just nervous.

Life is crazy. Never mind the whirlwind that was winding up in Equestria in the first place; being married to an alicorn ex-princess doesn't exactly lend itself well to a quiet lifestyle. As such, your little hobby of building and painting Warhammer 40,000 models offers you some nice, calm respite.

Now, Celestia, who has been feeling self-conscious about not being able to relate to you, wants you to teach her about the hobby. You're more than willing to do so, and you're a very patient man.

Unfortunately, she isn't a very patient mare.

Cover art partially edited by Shadow of Death.

After Twilight Sparkle’s library was destroyed, she needed to list everything she lost in the battle for compensation. And the pony handling her file has a few…. Actually, a lot of questions.