Every day, more people upload themselves into Equestria Online, to live forever as ponies. Even in their final minutes before uploading, they struggle with the pains and joys of being human, and remember the world they leave behind.

Oh yeah, this story DOES have something to do with Friendship Is Optimal, the Optimalverse, and the April 2021 Friendship is Optimal Writing Contest.

Thanks For My Prereaders

I've been writing drafts of different story ideas for the April 2021 FiO story contest. Bananachips and Bicyclette have both been very helpful prereaders! They might not have expected that my reaction to their feedback would be to write THIS ALMOST COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY, though.

(Story idea requested by Derpy388.)

Button Mash has always been that weird little colt who likes video games more than anything else, or so they say. And that's what Sweetie Belle likes about him, really likes about him.

Eventually, she starts to realize that these feelings aren't just friendship but something far deeper. She's in love with Button Mash, and her friends want her to ask him out.

There's just one problem: Sweetie Belle doesn't know how she's supposed to get Button Mash's attention, let alone him tell how she feels. After all, she's not a video game.

After being a bully for so long, even gaining back the respect of her peers didn't make Diamond Tiara feel like she deserved their kindness. Especially when one of those classmates was the only pony she could have ever called "friend". She betrayed her one and only friend, and doesn't think she's worthy to go back to her. Maybe a newer friend can convince her otherwise.

It was a perfectly ordinary morning until Lyra got an unusual message that would change her life.

It would also provide intriguing new insight into Equestria's past.

Flurry Heart wants to know what happened to the Crystal Empire's previous rulers. Cadance answers with as little detail as possible, and unintentionally teaches her daughter about a tradition she wasn't aware of.

Entry for the Cadance is a Terrible Mom contest, and 1st place winner! Admittedly an idea I've had in my head for a while, thanks for the excuse to write it!

On the morning of an important day, a father rises early to prepare breakfast for his family. His son joins him and asks a question he isn't prepared to answer.

Special thanks to Bean's Writing Group for the feedback and support!

This story is a sequel to A Canterlot Leaddening

After the Crystalling of Flurry Heart, things had calmed down for a while. About the only incident of the last few weeks related to not getting her her bedtime snack in time. But now, she has achieved a milestone. Six whole months.

As is tradition by now--at least according to Cadance--all the Sparkle family must be trained in the ways of love. Not the magic of love, for that's her specialty. No, Flurry will learn the ways of the lead, and spew much death and destruction upon her enemies. If she can figure out how to pull the trigger, that is.

Reading the prequel is not required to understand this story.

An entry for the Cadance is a Terrible Mom competition 2021.

Royal Guard Daisy Dancer does Princess Twilight Sparkle a favor and takes Flurry Heart off her hooves for a bit, but there's an issue... she's terrible with foals.

This story is a sequel to Sunbeam

Long days at the shop are made at least somewhat more bearable by friendly voices on the phone, and Kat is no exception. That she’s far more competent than most parts people is the cherry on top.

We work on fleet trucks, mostly, and a few company cars and favors for the boss cars. So when Kat called and wanted me to look at her car, I didn’t know what to expect.

It wasn’t what I was expecting.

Now with a reading by StraightToThePointStudio!

This story is a sequel to An Unexpected Surprise

Several months ago, one of the Mirror Pool clones of Pinkie Pie hid away from the world, afraid of the consequences from being caught. Out of all the people to help her in her time of need, it ended up being the most boastful unicorn of all time. Before she knew it, the clone took on the form of Surprise, a white pegasus, and she ended up with a new place in the world...

Today, Surprise is having a wonderful life as the assistant to the greatest magician of all of Equestria, according to Trixie. She has a friend, she loves her job, nothing can go wrong, right? That was, until the day Trixie and Surprise come back to Ponyville. There, several events will happen that will leave Surprise questioning herself, her nature, and her friendship with Trixie...

Story concept by Salnalus. A collaboration by Salnalus and Soothing Stone.