Time passes...

Hearts change...

Bonds that once seemed unbreakable become distant memories.

For Sunset Shimmer, the glorious years of her youth have long passed. She's put down roots, and built a life for herself at Canterlot High. The bustle and excitement of yesteryear becomes replaced with the peace and tranquility of routine.

All that changes when the past comes back to visit...

Special thanks to SolidFire for his editing work.
An entry for the Changing Seasons contest

Twilight has a problem, not that she'll admit it. Spike has a solution, not that she'll listen.
Written for the Comedy (Is Serious Business) contest.
Art by: Dilarus

Editors: The Best Dasher
Prereaders:
Toasty
JackRipper
Scuttles

Featured on 2/10/2018 I love all of you

This story is a sequel to NOW YOU BUCKED UP.

When a new, strange kingdom of magic is discovered to the far west of Equestria, the Royal Sisters take an entourage and investigate. Which nearly sparks ANOTHER international incident.

Once again, they don't bring Twilight. And ONCE AGAIN, she's left to clean up the mess. Which involves yet another very long letter.

Oh Applejack, where for art thou Applejack! Those were words Sunset thought she'd never have to hear herself say. Though there is a first time for everything. Because they were both failing drama class, they were chosen as Romeo and Juliet for the senior play. And neither of them seem to be happy about it.

The graffiti did not bother her. The art of vandalism was, in some form or another, as old as civilization itself. The content, on the other hoof, was an entirely different issue. “Princest Is Wincest,” it said. Bad grammar and spelling were one thing, but this was an attack on the Equestrian language.

Luna frowned. She would have to ask Celestia about this at the first opportunity. Perhaps there were spare funds for a literacy program. If nothing else, Tia might be able to explain what exactly the phrase meant.

Thanks to Wade and Sereg for prereading. Thanks to Burraku_Pansa and especially Midnight Rambler for editing.

Dramatic reading, courtesy of CaptainBron3y.

Shining Armor has it pretty good. A beautiful wife, a perfect daughter, and a job he enjoys. But he recalls a night, years past, when discovering a shocking secret about his then-girlfriend almost made him throw it all away...

An entry to Cynewulf's worldbuilding contest.

Edited by the always-amazing Jordanis.

Cover art by magister39.

For years, Twilight Sparkle has kept track of how little both Princess Celestia and Luna eat.

A small slice of cake here. A single cup of tea there. So what really keeps the Princesses going from day to day?

And is Twilight Sparkle truly prepared to unearth such facts?

Artwork by davidsfire.

Twilight and Sunset race against the clock to save Canterlot from a foe of unimaginable power… a romantic narrative.

Entry in Aragon's Comedy (is Serious Business) Contest with the prompt Today We Learned Something "Subtle."

Cover Design by Novel Idea
Twilight Sparkle Cutie Mark By Intbrony
Cover based on screenshot from Black Mesa

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Cursori: Reader of Many a Pony Word
Little Tinker: Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Ladrian: Resident Snarky Mistborn
Heartshine: Smol Pegsus, BIg Heart
Oroboro: Assassin of Extra Spa ces

Word Count: 12,000
Version: 3.1

It is the Summer solstice, and what ought to be the longest day of the year. The sun should have risen over three hours ago. And yet the moon still hangs in the sky, and the Mare in the Moon is gone.

How does Queen Chrysalis react?

Chrysalis knows the world is a simple place. There's people who have power, and people who don't.

Sunset Shimmer is about to make things complicated.

Earned second place in Oroboro's Sunset Shipping Contest: Changing Seasons.