Fancypants has always relied on his legendary wit and charm to endure tedious high-society events, but there's one pony he can't fool: his lovely wife. Fleur de Lis has chosen Ponyville as the venue for a major talent show, and as her supportive and obedient husband it's his duty to attend. But there's a mischievous streak behind that dazzling smile, and a poignant heart-to-heart with an unlikely kindred spirit brings it out in full force. A story about how important it is to love, cherish, and... there was something else, I'm sure of it. Oh, never-mind: the show must go on!

This is the story that won first place in a collaborative contest involving ponychan's Art and Fic boards. It was daydreamed, written, and edited in only three days, using the cover illustration as a creative prompt. It's been cleaned up slightly for errors and clarity, but the story itself is unchanged. You can find the picture that served as the prompt for this story here, and you can check out all the other finalist stories here. Do, please, read and enjoy!

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING YOUR ‘PHOENIX-B-GONE’ HOME PHOENIX REMOVAL SYSTEM. USER ASSUMES ALL LIABILITY.

What's better than one phoenix? Two phoenixes.

What's better than two phoenixes? A houseful of them, unless it's your house. Then you have a problem.

Rarity has a problem.

After a busy day celebrating princess Mi Amore Cadenza's birthday, Shining Armor and his wife take time to wind down, relax, and talk. The topic of their conversation soon moves in an unexpected direction, and the couple finds that their marriage still has surprises in store for them both.

Cover image by naroclie. Used with permission.

Braeburn is a stallion from a family of workaholics. He is determined to make sure Appleloosa becomes a thriving, successful town no matter what - even if the cost is his own health.

Lily is a nervous mare who is scared of her own shadow. She has lived through Nightmare Moon, Discord, a dragon, an ursa minor, plus whatever else has attacked Ponyville this week. She would much rather stay home in her nice, safe garden with her nice, safe flowers than venture outside her front door - but her friends have other ideas after reading Iron Will's latest book.

When Braeburn is sent away from Appleloosa to stay at Sweet Apple Acres for the sake of his health, nopony would ever have imagined the two would meet. Yet the yearly celebration of the Spring is Sprung Feast provides the stage for a very unconventional love story.

Featured on EQD! 28/3/13

It's one thing to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. It's something quite different to worry that it doesn't have a right side anymore. Stuck in an artistic rut, Rarity has to rely on an unlikely friend to understand who she is, and in doing so, discovers that what we want may not always be obvious, even to oneself.

There may or may not be an excess of hats involved, and fabulosity is guaranteed.

NEW PRINCESS ATTACKS GRIFFONSTAN IMPORTS

The Equestria Daily can exclusively report that newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle became embroiled in an argument with the Griffonstani trade minister about the inferior quality of griffon quills, alleging that "they just don't hold ink as well as pegasus quills". Import markets tumbled overnight, threatening the solvency of numerous Equestrian quill merchants. Princess Sparkle could not be reached for comment.

(When you're done, bookplayer has a fun "Let's Read" commentary version!)
(Also, GhostOfHeraclitus wrote a prequel from the perspective of Dr. Spinning Top!)
(Also also, now available in Spanish thanks to Spaniard-Kiwi!)

There are all kinds of treasures to be found in Canterlot's antiques district: out of print books, out of fashion clothing, baroque-styled furniture...and the occasional object of unimaginable magical power.

Fortunately, one of the Elements of Harmony has found it.

Unfortunately, it's Rainbow Dash. Can the pegasus be trusted to wield such power responsibly? Can anypony?

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria...

One week ago, Twilight Sparkle was crowned the fourth Princess of Equestria. Tonight, Ponyville hosts the 1003rd Summer Sun Celebration, and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna want a vacation. With two fine young princesses like Cadance and Twilight to take over for them, nothing could possibly go wrong.

(Title image hacked together from vectors by sakatagintoki117 and Chrome-MMVII.)

Princess Celestia had been going to spend the evening in a royal mope, but Pinkie Pie has other plans for the night, plans which involve piercing the walls of time and space with her most ambitious birthday greeting yet.

Now with a Spanish translation by Spaniard Kiwi!

Early one morning, Twilight Sparkle gets up to make some tea.

Sometimes, a cup of tea is just a cup of tea. This is not one of those times.