Fluttershy has come a long way since Twilight came to Ponyville, but she’s still very shy compared to most ponies.

But who would have thought that a big time star would be shy as well?

A gift for BlackWater with thanks for SOOOO many things.

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria I: Certainty

Long before I became Songbird Serenade, while I was still in high school, I encountered Discord turning Ponyville into the Chaos Capital of the world. I wasn't buying that his changes made ponies more fun, and I told him as much, which meant I had a part to play in the drama.

Though this three chapter story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria: Certainty, it begins with a reprise of the first story and is written to be enjoyed as a standalone work. A big thank you! each to DoContra and Loganberry for pre-reading and suggestions.

Songbird's Playlist

Fly Away!, the JPB Remix by NCS.
Looking for You by the Empire Cast
Ain't Nobody, a cover by Ain't Nobody, not the original by Chaka Khan
I'm Free by Kenny Loggins on the Footloose Soundtrack.

The following sequence from the long description of Certainty also sets the stage for this second story in the series:
Music Biz's Wicked Tongue: So,  Miss Serenade... World renown DJ, songwriter, records topping the charts, fans cry "Songbird" at you, Friendship Festival headliner...  What's the scoop with the serialized stories The Strand is launching?  Self-aggrandizing fiction?

Songbird Serenade: Self-aggrandizing? (She shuffles some pages on the table before her and takes a deep breath.)  On the evening of the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration, a blank-flank teenager was expecting to scrub and dust, helping her immigrant parents clean Town Hall overnight. She was... okay with that. Her family was glad for any opportunity. Her Trottingham accent worried her—

WT: Your accent—

SS:  Might her classmates discover she was a peasant who cleaned up after other ponies and always would?  She jammed with a nascent DJ named Vinyl Scratch, but, with her sorry excuse for being a DJ next to her only friend, she had no dreams of a musical future.

(Her blue eyes catch mine for an instant.)  Little did I know at the dawn of the Age of Harmony, I would meet its first monster.

The filly made it to her next sunrise, but would be piecing herself together for the rest of her life. Ultimately, without Princess Nightmare Moon there would be no Songbird Serenade. This is one of those stories.

WT: Are you saying the stories are autobiographical?

SS: (She covers her face with her mop of bangs after I see incipient tears.)  It's a confession.  She dislikes the filly she was.  As for the mare she became... (Shudders)

After she's left with broken wings due to an accident, Songbird finds herself consumed by stress and doubting herself. A few comforting words from her marefriend remind her of why she performs, and she learns that a fall from grace isn't always a bad thing.

Reading by Rainbow Infinity.

Expanded from a story written for Quills and Sofas Speedwriting Contest #72 "Broken Wings."

Cover Art by Artiks.

Proofread by The Red Parade, Silent Whisper, Wishcometrue, TheLegendaryBillCipher, SunlightRays, Holtinater, Carapace, Seer, MasterThief, &
Buttery Biscuit.

Edited by Cyonix & flutterJackdash.

Featured on sandbox on 2020/9/13

Thanks to a head cold, Coloratura cancels her upcoming appearance at the Friendship Festival in Canterlot. However, the decision saved her from being put at the mercy of the Storm King, but unfortunately, fellow music artist Songbird Serenade was not so fortunate. Now, Coloratura attempts to console her friend as she deals with the trauma surrounding the Storm King's invasion.

Cover art belongs to jhayarr23 of deviantart.com

Written at Canterlot KC 2017 in Kansas City, MO

Whenever Songbird Serenade steps onto the stage, the crowd calls for her. They hear her voice. And more importantly, they hear the pegasus' words. But there was a time when Songbird's words were very small and not well known. During her high school days, Songbird was a poet inspired to capture the world by storm with words. Unfortunately, that mindset almost cost her the future she was destined for.

No movie spoilers will be in this story. This story is pure speculation.

I want to personally thank Crystal Wishes and the people in her Discord for making me feel welcome and happy. You are all great people. Really, thank you.

A special thanks to Sylvian for proof-reading.

I wrote this story prior to the movie's release. Cannon lore about Songbird Serenade's may contradict my story, but I wanted to touch on who the pop singer was before she became famous. This is to feed the crowd until the actual movie is out in theaters.

Link to cover art: https://www.deviantart.com/art/Songbird-Serenade-626535085

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria III: Pizzicato and Changelings

Lord Tirek is stealing Equestrian magic. DJ Flopsy Mopsy a.k.a. The Songbird, reluctant secret hero, is heading for Canterlot for what she expects will be her first recording deal. While the princesses have a plan for Tirek, DJ FM puts into effect a more pragmatic solution. Then she meets Discord. Again.

Marked teen for fighting and some blood, mostly Flopsy's, but specifically not gore because it isn't. Sometimes when you've got Princess Compulsive Disorder and you fight against overwhelming odds, do or die, you get hurt.

Six chapters over six weeks published on Tuesday. All chapters are completed, so read with confidence and press thumbs-up early! Comments also appreciated.

Like all the stories in this series, this story is written to be standalone with all important background in the narrative. This is by design and was done as an experiment to practice writing this way. The individual stories were written out of order with "standalone" in mind.

This story is a sequel to Knight of Equestria IV: Unmarked Time

Luna visits Songbird Serenade on a special scary autumn night. Listening to records, a family meal, a food fight, and deep revelations about their friendship follow.

This is an epilogue to the Knight of Equestria series. You may wish to read this last as some spoilers are inevitable, but this one contains many. Note that Flopsy Mopsy is Songbird Serenade, so please don’t act surprised.

Special thanks to DoContra! No surprise there. His comments on another story once again inspired this one.

A mare of talent and mystery, Songbird Serenade is beloved for her music.

But she hides things from the public, struggling with her inner problems and the fears of her life out of their view. All they ever see is the unbeatable popstar, the cheery mare of the stage. It's all she'll allow them to see. She won't let anyone see otherwise, because then they might be dragged into her torment.

I appreciate the story being shared around, commented on, liked, enjoyed, all that jazz.

Long before I took the name Songbird Serenade, I met Princess Nightmare Moon. It changed me forever. It revealed in me a strong—and I fear evil—certainty that has affected the lives of many ponies. This is the story of that meeting on the morning of the 1000th Sun Celebration, and its continuing aftermath.

An Equestria Daily story post on Sept 20, 2018. (Changed from Certainty: Songbird Serenade, Knight of Equestria because its length caused card view to mangle the title.)
First sequel: Knight of Equestria: Discordant Harmony

This story is standalone, but slots into the Enforcerverse. There will be a sequel. Thanks to DoContra for all your coaching to get me through this project, and to make it much more readable! Thanks to Loganberry for help with dialectal issues and a POV issue to do with FM's cutie mark.

What follows is a fictional survival story based off of real events. Pocornia, passionate fiction writer and gourmet popcorn selling entrepreneur is struggling to stay afloat in a society plagued by a strange virus. Her situation deteriorates, leading her down a very dark path...

-Authors Note-

This story covers a very serious topic that I feel is getting overlooked in the age of Covid, bad mental health. If such content is too much for you to read then do not read this story. However, links to sites discussing mental health have been provided at the end of the story for anyone wants to check them out.