When Fluttershy is away on an Element-Bearer mission, she has a first choice for substitute caretaker: Snowflake. He can handle just about everything the job requires. Except for -- the rabbit.
Rarity likes to believe that her intellect, social grace, and etiquette can get her out of virtually any situation. Trees, however, are notoriously difficult to reason with -- as is the pony who stuck her in one.
Winona just went into heat. Most of Ponyville's dogs are following Apple Bloom around. The Crusaders see no correlation between those two events. None whatsoever.
Flitter thinks Fluttershy is the weakest pony in the world. Flitter has never confronted what Fluttershy's job really means. Nopony ever wants to or should. Now Flitter has to. And 'weak' will turn out to be exactly the wrong word.
When some ponies look at the Bearer of an Element, the Element is all they see. Fluttershy surely has no choice but to be kind, every time, no matter what. A belief which encourages that kindness to be abused.
There are things a Princess cannot do. Over the centuries, Celestia has been asked to do those things countless times. And the moments when her ponies need her the most are the ones where she can't do anything.
Applejack and Pinkie have barely seen each other since Applejack's parents died. Pinkie is willing to do anything to get some time where she can help her only friend... and that friend will do anything to never leave the Acres again.
When the Bearers race forth from Ponyville on an official mission, somepony has to take over on their day jobs. For Fluttershy, that's usually Snowflake. But he's not available today, so it's going to be a Sherman tank.
Joyous Release has what she feels to be the worst talent and cutie mark in Equestria. She's approached Luna with a simple request: that the Princess rid her of both -- forever. A simple request which happens to be impossible...
When a new mission for the Element-Bearers (from an unexpected source) arrives three weeks after Twilight's ascension, she finds herself forced to confront a pair of questions: what truly makes an alicorn? And what happens if it goes wrong?
Adrift in a sea of fearful adoration born from residual terror, how can Cadance possibly hope to get honest criticism out of anypony? By making it mandatory.