Some days, it feels like the sky itself is falling.
After the destruction of Applejack's prized tree Bloomberg, Braeburn find himself caught between allegiances to his friends, and to a helpless pony who appeared as if from nowhere. Not to mention the suspicious actions of the buffalo, and the recent string of earthquakes rocking the desert. Mixing classic wild western adventures with magic and fantasy, The Outlaw, The Star, and the Big, Big Sky tells a story of revenge, redemption, and how the best of intentions can lead to the destruction of the very ground upon which we all stand.

This story was originally started in 2011, shortly after finishing my first story, Macintosh. While Macintosh was a slower paced character study of the Big Mac himself, The Outlaw, The Star, and the Big, Big Sky aims to tell a story full of fairy tale adventure and deadly desperados. 6 Chapters were written, with an extra unfinished chapter recently uploaded, containing a flashback to Braeburn's childhood showing just how dangerous and bloody the untamed deserts can be.

12 years on, I'm hoping for any and all thoughts and feedback on this story. I would love to continue writing from where it was left off, but life is busy and I may not have the time. But if the interest is there, I would at least love to engage and discuss what could have been, and maybe make the time to finish it.
Thank you kindly, and watch out for shooting stars.

For now, this could be considered an alternate universe fic, though until it's finished it's hard to say how well it would fit in with established canon.

Cover art elements made with AI (Bing Copilot) then tweaked and photoshopped together by me.

This story is a sequel to Shadowbolts Adventures: Sugarcoat's Laboratory

There aren't many good men in Crystal Prep Academy, most of them being as self-centered and prudish as most of the girls. Sour Sweet has been crushing on one of the few good ones, Braeburn, for a while, and she finally decides to go for it. She just has to get past Little Strongheart and he's all hers.

I don't know if I have to keep saying it, but thanks to Bootsy Slickmane for pre-reading and Cover Art.

A vicious thunderstorm wracks a desert in Equestria. Torch is flying in said storm and is struck, holding a precious gem that mattered the most. Meanwhile Thunderhooves and his wife are dealing with a pregnancy while the world around them is storming. This is how they meet, in a show of strength where none was thought to be found.

A strength that Little Strongheart knew all too well, a strength that bore fruit from something so fragile and so small, yet it was the strongest one of them all.

Written as a Gift for TCC56

Prereader: Soaring

Editor: Dreams of Ponies

Art credit: https://www.deviantart.com/huussii

There is a legend the buffalo tell of a mystical clan of dragons that practice magic far out in the desert. These Dragon Magi, as they're called, are said to be very wise, and they are willing to help anyone in need of guidance. No one has actually seen these dragons, but the story makes for an interesting bit of folklore.

To a group of young ponies, however, it's more than just folklore. It's the answer to their biggest problem.

While staying with Braeburn in the frontier town of Appleloosa, the Cutie Mark Crusaders become privy to this tale thanks to a chance encounter with Chief Thunderhooves. Seeing this as a new opportunity to (hopefully) get their Cutie Marks, they pack up their wagon and go riding off into the desert in search of the Dragon Magi. Unfortunately, they forgot to tell Braeburn. Oops!

Wild with panic, Braeburn ropes Little Strongheart into his quest to rescue the fillies. However, chasing a pegasus-propelled wagon on hoof is usually ill-advised. Luckily, a pair of salesponies who just rolled into town are willing to offer a mode of transport for a, modest fee. But much like the Crusaders, these salesponies have no idea what they're getting into. For the desert is a dangerous place, and it's not just due to the threat of sunstroke (although that doesn't help).

Saddle up, y'all. It's gonna be a wild ride for all involved.

Part I of the Ballad of Needles.

Inspired by the Longmire episode "Dog Soldier" this mystery stars Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy as detectives that Chief Thunderhooves hires to solve the case, despite it being inspired by a very dark and serious episode of Longmire, this story is very light and comedic. When the three ponies go to the reservation, Fluttershy convinces a baby buffalo to draw what he saw which are drawings of a creature with spiky hair and a scar on its nose; half buffalo, half cat. His grandmother warned him that if he didn't behave, Lipi'co would come and take him away. Rarity can't pronounce the name, but asks Little Strongheart to explain. Lipi'co are buffalo version of the boogy pony. They could shift shape from buffalo to cat and back again and kidnapped misbehaving foals. When Little Strongheart is kidnapped the next night the ponies realize they have to solve the crime before other children are gone.

A couple of years after the second imprisonment of Discord, the sister princess' cannot seem to settle their differences. The tension divides Equestria, causing chaos and disharmony ultimately leading to war. As the armies line the battle front, Discord is released from his imprisonment and finds that Equestria is unraveling itself for him to rule. Eventually the war ended, parts of Equestria were left scarred and Discord was now the ruler, the king.

The story follows a young foal who is lost in the world after losing those closest to him. He meets many friends and enemies along the way, learning things that foals shouldn't even know. Through the help of his new family, he reignites the hope in everypony across Equestria.

Things had gotten heated in Appleloosa when his cousin Applejack had come with Bloomberg, only for the tree to be taken by the buffalos. Really heated. However, they had managed to come to a compromise in the end. So all was well for Braeburn, right?

But the next morning, the trail in the orchard was gone and every tree was standing. Worse yet, nopony in town wanted to hear a thing he had to say as soon as he mentioned the buffalos.

The Battle of Appleloosa was still lurking over the horizon.

Again.

And again.

And again and again and again...

This story is a sequel to Día de los Muertos

The holiday of love is coming. Contingents from across the face of the Principality of Equestria are coming to the little town of Ponyville. Even if it happens to be just a little town near a bigger and better city, there's a brand new feature to draw in lovers of a particular stripe.

(Happy Hearts and Hooves Day all! And remember, paws and claws are also out there.)

Following the events of Over a Barrel, Little Strongheart and Braeburn have a chat about the future, determined to get to know one another and their histories better. Friendshipping only, no romance.

Day 2 of my Self-Imposed 31 Fics in 31 Days Challenge

Cover art by drako1997 with permission