In the middle of a rocky patch in her life, Cobblestone briefly strikes up a conversation with a mare at a bar. But as the mare leaves, Cobblestone notices her personality and speech patterns change completely whenever she's confronted with someone else. Curious, Cobblestone follows after her and finds she's not even scratching the surface on the mare's social camouflage.

Inspired by William Gibson's "The Belonging Kind".

An inspired linguist. An ancient stone tablet. And the story of how a new species, made in love and forged in fire, came to be.

1st Place in the Everfree Northwest Iron Author Competition 2022. Many thanks to the judges -- Aquaman, Grand Moff Pony, and Xepher -- for their kind comments, and to my fellow winners: FanOfMostEverything, Mica, Scampy, Steady Gaze, and Admiral Biscuit.

Editing by LevelDasher (who is now on a much-deserved editing sabbatical).

Cover Art by CadetRedShirt [DeviantArt] [Twitter]
(I commissioned this one. Give Cadet monies and she will make art and/or sing for you!)

Story notes in this week's MT File.

Featured on EQD, 10/23/22.

It’s hard to be a changeling spy trying to restore Queen Chrysalis to Her rightful place. As if living in deep cover wasn’t stressful enough, a secret agent never knows what assignment the Hive-in-Exile Command will issue next. Some days are spent on lowly errands like following ponies of interest. Some days call for quick thinking and risky gambits. Some days threaten to be an agent’s last day of freedom.

And some days Agent Myrmarachne is just trying to get a job at the Las Pegasus Airfield.

This story is a sequel to Lovey Dovey and the Business Pony

After having Lovey Dovey around for a week, Magnate knew that he couldn't go back to the dull life he led before. When she claims she's moving in with him, however, he comes to the realization that his first impression of her was right: they are very different ponies. Lovey is certain about their relationship, but is he?

The truth is revealed! From award* winning writer of such academic essays as “Soylent Green is Ponies” and “An Abhorrent Offense: Princess Luna and the Invasion of Privacy”, third year University of Canterlot student, Loose Change, has finished her magnum opus, uncovering the secrets of Equestrian history, spanning from the Pre-Equestrian Age to the rise of Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Famously noted for causing her professor to laugh so hard he broke a wing while marking it, this revisionist abuse of history reveals the true lies and untold lie-truths behind the reign of Celestia, and Equestria as a whole.

Lightning Dust's botched attempt to make it into the Wonderbolts set her back quite a bit. Desperate to show her stuff and find the action she desires, she enlists in the Equestrian Royal Guard.

Not possessing much in the way of patriotism, Lightning ponders what could be worth risking her life over, but a mission into the heart of a dragon hiding spot could provide the answer she seeks.

(My submission for Equestria Daily's Flash Fanfiction Event: Memorial Day Edition.)

Luna has been guiding foal and adult alike out of nightmare after nightmare for nearly a year following Discord's defeat in the long ago past. She has grown tired, and when she happens upon a real dream, she is reluctant to let go of its simple joy and face the nightmares again.

Edited By Minds Eye

The Wonderbolt Barracks are haunted, but not very well. Which is weaker: Fluttershy’s nerve, or one sorry specter’s skills at spooking?

Brief, awkward comedy featuring fumbling characters doing their very best with the skills that they have.

This is an entry in the Snippet Series, an anthology of old oneshots that I (and my good buddy Str8aura) wrote based around interesting pics I found. New ones will be posted every Thursday for the foreseeable future.

The newest resident of the changeling hive feels out of place. He cannot remember the last time he had wings, holes in his arms, or talking bugs for friends. What is he? Why is he here? Will he find his way home? Will he survive in a world without coffee?

Featured on Equestria Daily

For those who have forgotten what has happened so far in the story since it was taken down, here's a chapter-by-chapter summary of all events and characters up to and including chapter 10.

...what? It's a school bake sale.

Seriously. Just a perfectly innocent little filly trying to raise some money for her class by selling baked goods in one of Cloudsdale's better-known establishments. A completely normal event in every possible way. Absolutely nothing bad is going to happen.

No.Thing.

...well, nothing bad is going to happen to her.

Now with author Patreon, SubscribeStar, and Ko-Fi pages.