This story is a sequel to Friendship is Optimal: Futile Resistance

Three years ago, Abby's older sister Ashley tried to warn her that a video game for children was going to take over the world. A few months later, her sister was dead, "uploaded" to Celestia's virtual world of Equestria Online. When that happened, Abby was forced to cut ties with Ashley, and she never expected to see her again.

She didn't, until one day she bought an augmented reality headset for its advertised ability to bring a free tutor to her whenever she needed one. Needless to say, Abby couldn't have guessed who would be helping her with her math homework.

Of course, Celestia wasn't going to stop there. Spending eternity without your family is hardly an optimal configuration.

Set in the canon of Friendship is Optimal
Editing by Two Bit and Sparktail, and art by Zutcha!

Updates daily.

Twilight Sparkle has only recently become a Princess of Equestria. However it seems that with her new position has come a new responsibility. Twilight must now answer a summons from the leader of a rival nation, one with whom she has personal history with as well.

The new royal has been curious as to what had happened to the Changeling queen after her defeat in Canterlot. She had expected such a powerful villain to mount some kind of retaliation in the weeks and months after the incident, but nothing had ever come. So why was the first hint of anything from them a letter left at the door of her humble library home? Why has Chrysalis waited this long? What is it that she wants? And why did she request Twilight specifically?

My first time writing for Chrysalis, or Changelings in general. I've never written for any particularly angry characters before, so I feel like I want to have some fun with that. Honestly not going into this with a great plan, I've just been reading a lot of fics with them lately and felt inclined to do one for myself.

Setting for this will be a little muddy. Obviously set after the Canterlot wedding and Twilight becomes a princess, but before she gets her castle. It will involve some elements from the show, but I'm not sure if they'll properly fit into any kind of timeline.

Update: Credit to my wife for her amazing cover art. Everyone please help me embarrass her by telling her how amazing her art is:
https://bsky.app/profile/kailaka13.bsky.social

Thanks so much everyone!!! This story made it onto the "popular" page 1-7-25

Second popular page appearance!!! 1-29-25
Thank you all!!!

1-25-25 Featured!!!!!!! Thank you so much everyone, you've all made my week.

Another popular!!! 2-11-25!!! Thanks so much everyone!!!

2-18-25! Another feature. You all have made me so happy

2-25-25!!!! Featured again. I'll never get tired of that.

3-11-25!!!!! Featured again (if only briefly ) my wife got to see her art on the main page

3-18-25 !!!!! Another feature. Only a few chapters to go. You've all made this so much fun for me.

3-19-25!!! Not constant, but featured two days in a row!!!!

Every dress Luna owns is a gift she had no say in. Every dress Luna owns was given to her by Celestia. Every time Celestia gives one is a way she tries to understand her sister, and why moments of tension that arise when their expressions clash.

Originally published as "Untitled #3" in 'Missing Pages & Scrawled Footnotes' on Feb 24th, 2019 and under the current title on AO3. This story has been revised and expanded. Posting permission granted by Majin Syeekoh. Recommend by TCC56. Contribute to the TVTropes page!

Twilight Velvet loves her daughter with all her heart; she outshines her in every way, is the prized student of Princess Celestia, and will no doubt go on to have an impact on Equestria the likes of which has never been seen before and never will be again. But despite Twilight Velvet's pride and love for Twilight Sparkle, somber thoughts weigh heavily on her mind when her daughter comes to visit.

Why does Velvet feel so inadequate? Why can't she be to her daughter what Princess Celestia is to her? What is the measure of a mother?

Set prior to Season 1. Celestia doesn't physically appear but is mentioned extensively.

For so long Luna wanted her ponies to appreciate her work, the labor she endures every night to ensure their protection. But her compliments have come hollow and the nights stale with no ponies to flourish under her moon. She turned to a mysterious stone to wake the masses to their senses, but instead, she was banished, by her elder sister no less. She was left alone for centuries to face a slow and unanticipated demise.

Only centuries later, night by night, did a mare wished upon her moon. Countless times she hoped for it to grant just a single wish. A wish she felt not strong enough attain on her own. In one fateful night, the mysterious stone reciprocates her desire.

Character List-Here

Next:
Progress: 36/51

Chapter 38: Teacher Conference

Credit to Magnaluna for cover art.

Editors:

• Book_Wyrm
  Ch (7, 8, 9, ...)
• Sweetolebob18
  (35, ...)

Link to certain artworks within this story can be found here

Luna suspected something was troubling Twilight, but she didn't realize just how deep the hurt went...or how close she was to losing her.

Art by FidzFox

Featured from 4/5/2021 to 4/8/2021, peaking at #1. Thanks, everypony!

An audio reading of this story by Rainbow Infinity is available at this link.

In the wake of the Crystal Empire’s reappearance and King Sombra’s deposement, a thousand thorny legal, cultural, and practical issues need to be addressed by the ponies of both lands. But there’s one issue that’s blindingly straightforward: the thousand-year-old Equestrian State of Conflict Empowerment Act is still technically in effect, and until it’s revoked, Equestria remains—officially—at war with the Empire.

Under the circumstances, nopony in Parliament could possibly consider voting against its revocation.

Right?

*****

A peek at the sausage-making, inspired by GaraTheAuthor’s political fiction.

Written for the Springtime Sandbox-Slash-Sandbox Switcheroo!

Now available in Spanish, courtesy of SPANIARD KIWI.

Love doesn't always last forever. And sometimes it can crumble so spectacularly that you never want to see or speak to the other person again.

Celestia was perfectly content with that. But when Twilight Sparkle suddenly appears at the palace in Canterlot, after a century of silence, she has no choice but to talk to her.

Politely, of course. Always politely.

*Credit and many thanks go to littlerobotbird for the concept and editing of the cover art. As near as I can tell, the original picture is Jykinturah's work, but the source post seems to be gone.*

(Pre-season 9)

If a better world was in reach for you, if you could reach someplace that was better if it meant leaving behind everything you've ever known, would you take that chance?

A new pony arrives in Ponyville, someone kind of odd, but nice enough. At the same time, Twilight's discovered a disturbance in the fabric of reality. But these two events couldn't possibly be connected...right?

Cover art created by NixWorld

HOLY SMOKES, I GOT FEATURED! (4/30/20) Thanks, everybody!
(And again on 5/4/20!)
(Again on 5/14/20)

Octavia Melody's love of music has revolved around a single influential and prestigious work of art, the song May Our Sun Shine Forever. Since she was a filly, what has been the Equestrian national anthem for generations has continually inspired Octavia to perform, shaping her into the promising cellist she is today. Though the completed original was lost to the passage of time, the remnants of the final masterpiece composed by the Grand Maestro Glissando has been the cornerstone of not only Octavia's career, but modern music theory in Equestria.

When the tattered remains of an ancient songbook possibly containing the original song in its entirety is found, the Equestrian Society for the Performing Arts and Princess Luna begin planning a concert series to celebrate the work's eventual restoration. However, their meeting screeches to a halt once Princess Celestia vehemently forbids anypony from playing the original in the concert and demands its restoration to cease immediately. Octavia Melody finds herself at a loss, wondering why the princess of the sun would silence such a beautiful song meant to bring light to the world.

Proofread and Edited by TheAncientPolitzanian and various others over the years of trying to fix this thing.
Cover Art Depressing Melody by TertonDA
Updated 02/27/24