There are many who say that evil has no place in the world. These people are wrong. There is a place for everything, but evil especially. Without evil, we wouldn't have any context for what is good. The world needs villains so that it knows who its heroes are.

But as someone very unhelpful once said, there's evil and then there's evil. Some villains go over the edge, and instead of quietly filling their role as the natural antagonist, they try to overturn the chessboard. Instead of conquering, they destroy.

It's these sorts of villains that give evil a bad name. It's these sorts of villains that King Sombra is dedicated to hunting down.

Made as a birthday present for the utterly brilliant Evehly.

Every filly dreams of having her birthday party in a Princess's Castle. When Sweetie Belle offers just that—for the low price of a hundred bits—Silver Spoon can't help wondering if she's being scammed.

Written for the WriteOff prompt "Princess not included"

Huge thanks to Fahrenheit for pre-reading, advice, and helping fill in the plot holes.

Special thanks to fourths for editing.

In the dark the hands come, reaching out to her. Claiming her. She'll never be alone.

Twilight Sparkle sees things for what they truly are.

Editing thanks to Doccular42 and PegasusMesa.

Pre-read by Rainedash

Fluttershy watches a colt play with a dragonfly.

Thanks to Noble Thought for editing.

A ceremony takes place in the heart of a newborn country.

This story finished 8th in the Illusion of Choice Writeoff.

On a diplomatic mission to the Zebra lands, Princess Twilight learns something about communication.

A series of notes sent to a young changeling in the field by her superior, and a glimpse into the minds of a race whose views on friendship and love are at once totally alien and disturbingly easy to recognize in ourselves and those around us.

*****

My extreme gratitude to Pascoite for going over this story with a fine-toothed comb, and for helping me make it what it is.

Cover art by the incredibly talented Nelvakre, used with permission.

Now available in Spanish, courtesy of SPANIARD KIWI.