Apple Bloom's friends romanticize the idea of how special a first kiss is and how she'll remember it for the rest of her life.

It'd be a shame if somepony messed that up for her.

A real shame.

Success is often a bitter thing. When one has everything, then what worlds are left to conquer, after all? Rarity has expanded her business into every province of the Principality and is known in every city. She has everything that a much younger Rarity dreamed of, and yet absolutely nothing satisfies.

We must imagine Rarity happy, no matter how impossible it seems.

Forgot. Sorry. This was written for the Barcast's "Make Rarity Not Garbage" contest.

Spike led Thorax into the throne room of the Crystal Castle confident he could convince the others that the changeling could be trusted. That he meant no harm, and instead wanted to be an ally and live peacefully with them. That he could make them see Thorax for what he really was. That they could befriend the changeling and accept him as one of their own.

They didn't.

And consequences followed.

SPOILERS IN COMMENTS!
First featured on 11/12/2016. -- Now with a TV Tropes page. -- Review by Arcanum Phantasy -- Review by PaulAsaran

Spike repeatedly stumbles upon everypony during their most embarrassing moments. Again and again, both through pure curiosity and a seemingly unknown force.

Somepony is up to something, but who is it?

Warning: The following story is currently unedited and contains some M/M shipping. If you don't like one or both of these, you know where the exit button is. This is an experimental piece that I'm working with.

Prince Blueblood's newest guards want to humiliate the Prince at the gala by slipping a love poison in his drink. After he consumed it, the Prince spontaneously falls in love with the first pony he sees. Unfortunately, it's Spike the Dragon.

This story is a sequel to Blood Poisoned

It has been two months since Prince Blueblood had become the first male royal to come out as gay. During that time, his aunts noticed that although he has finally opened up about his sexuality, he is still single and hasn't made any attempt to seek out any stallions. Determining to help along with the assistance to Princess Cadance, they organized a masquerade ball for him to mingle among the crowd in hopes of finding a potential suitor.

During the ball, the Prince steps out of the room and hears piano music being played. He finds a lone stallion at the keyboard. Intrigued, he goes up to meet this masked stallion and to find out why he's alone.

Warning: The story you are about to read is currently unedited and contains m/m shipping. If you don't like one or both of those things, you know where the exit button is.

This story is a little gift to the God of Gay Drama, Storm Butt (not to be confused with VClaw, the God of Gay Comedy,) for having such a massive impact in the way I write romances.

Music used in this fic are:
- La Folia (Madness) by Vivaldi
- Adagio in F Minor by Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
- Piano Sonata No. 1, 2nd Movement, Op. 2 No. 1 by Beethoven
- The Second Waltz by Shostakovich
- Waltz Waltz Op. 70 No 2 in F minor by Chopin
- "Heart Of Glass" Vintage '40s "Old Hollywood" Style Blondie Cover ft. Addie Hamilton by Post Modern Jukebox.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: The Castle by Philip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: The Inn by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: Seward Sanatorium by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: In the Theater by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: Excellent Mr Renfield by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: Dracula by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: Renfield by Phillip Glass.
- "Dracula" soundtrack: Lucy's Bitten by Phillip Glass.
- Adagio from BWV 564 by Bach/Busoni
- Liebestraum No.3 in A flat by Liszt.
- Chanson Triste, Op. 40 No. 2 by Tchaikovsky.
- Nocturne in C# Minor by Chopin for solo violin.
- "Valse Romantique" by Claude Debussy.
- Piano Concerto No.1, Movement 2 - Largo, Romance by Chopin.
- "The Swan" for solo piano by Saint Sean's.
- Ballade in G minor, op. 23 (played on an 1848 Pleyel piano) by Chopin.
- Turkish March by J. B. Lully.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack have cherished the years gone by at one another’s side, but beneath the wear of time, the fuel that is love can turn to ash and smother the flames they hold dear.

Beyond the smoke rising from the cinders, they face an uncertain future. Now, they must come to terms with the harsh truth that, sometimes, love alone isn't enough to keep a marriage burning bright.

Historian’s Note:
Spectrum of Gray occurs about fifteen years after Princess Twilight Sparkle’s ascension.

Cast: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle & Granny Smith

Entry into the AppleDash "Second Chances" Contest.

Cover Design by Novel Idea
Sweet Apple Acres Background by bronyb34r
Sweet Apple Acres Barn by Jeatz-Axl
Small Cloudiminium: Customized from Screenshot by Novel Idea

Header Designs
Twilight Sparkle Cutie Mark by Intbrony 
Applejack Cutie Mark by BlackGryph0n
Rainbow Dash Cutie Mark by BlackGryph0n
Granny Smith Cutie Mark by The Smiling Pony

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Ebon Quill: Audio Director & Quest Designer on The Manehattan Project
Little Tinker: Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn: Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Cursori: Reader of Many a Pony Word

Special Guest Beta Readers & Editors
Monochromatic - Patron Saint of RariTwi
Oroboro - Expert in Emotional Devastation
Crystal Wishes - One Who Understood
Swan Song - Specialist of Sass and Snark
Corejo - Synopsis Nitpicker Brainstormer

Word Count: 18,000 words
Version: 2.3

This is a story about Rarity's hips.

(All good stories are.)

An entry for the Appledash Contest #5: Second Chances. Edited by MrNumbers.

Spike isn't sure where he fits into Twilight's family. Maybe he needs a reminder of what is important.

A commission fic for TwiDash1993

Flat teeth or fangs? Velvety smooth coat or firm carapace? Mane or headfin?

Thorax frets over which face he wishes to show the crystal ponies his age. Fortunately, there's somepony willing to offer a word or two of comfort and support, as well as teach him a life lesson that will stick with him forever.

Preread by Fahrenheit and Timaeus.

Loosely inspired by this piece by Starshade001. Used as cover art with permission from the artist.

Youtube reading by Chaotic.