Queen Novo does not forgive or forget easily. When her niece seemed to prefer a school in the middle of a continent run by a would-be thief to Mount Aris, that didn't sit well with her.

The good news is that Twilight's managed to resolve that situation already.

The bad news is that there's another coming down the pike.

An entry in Bicyclette's Crackship Contest. Rated Teen for strong language and the love that dare not speak its name on a TV-Y series.

Cranky had a plan to make Matilda's Hearts and Hooves Day the best day of her life. Instead, he's in jail for (allegedly) running over Pinkie Pie with his cart.

This is his story.

A last minute entry for the Outside/Insight Equestria Daily Contest.... in which it placed 7th!

Edited by Dash the Stampede

Despair can swallow you up. Cranky Doodle wants to get better, but he doesn't know how.

Entry for the dialogue contest.

Rated T for attempted suicide, discussion of suicide, and psych wards, but with a happy ending!

It's the morning after Cranky and Matilda's wedding. Naturally, Cranky is thrilled with his new bride, but there's something missing he can't quite put his hoof on.

What could it be?

Written for The Writeoff Association's "The Morning After" contest.

What was really going through Celestia's mind while she was waiting for a dinner with Twilight and Starlight that would never happen? Well, might as well find out.

*Written at Everfree Northwest 2016 in Seattle, WA

This is a reconnaissance report taken by Hunter23120, a fresh hatching with no field experience, after his attendance of cranky's wedding. This document is to remain public to ensure a situation such as this does not arise in the future.

Dragged all the way from the Empire by the Crystal Couple, and for what? A wedding! I don't want to watch two ponies get hitched, what did I do to deserve this? I don't want to see all the pomp and circumstance, there's no need for it. I especially don't want all those ponies staring at me!

...
A good portion of my race was destroyed at a wedding, shouldn't that be warrant enough for me not to go?
...

Whorlygig isn't the most social of changelings, mostly because he's the only one in the entirety of the Crystal Empire. How do Shining Armor and Cadance turn him into a 'social butterfly'? Take him to a wedding in Ponyville, of course!

Still debating on changing the cover-art.

The gilded life of a noble, with all of its riches, pomp and circumstance, and eternal restraint was simply not for him, yet it was all he knew. But when the princess murmurs a warning in his ear, this colt takes it upon himself to discover its true meaning and hopefully challenge the gathering tempest head on.

Part II!

Rewritten 04/2019

Flam's life has gotten complicated. His brother is a mess, his marefriend is overly emotional, and the only thing he can do to restore his sanity is to take a long walk. Unfortunately, he finds himself on the brink of a horrible past mistake...

(This can be a sequel, or a prequel, or an at-the-same-time-as fic for Three Steps Back. You don't necessarily have to read it to understand what's happening here.)

In a sunburned Equestria, Rarity leads the pleasant life of a clothier in the tiny town of Spurhoof. She’s got a successful business, a capable assistant, and the respect of the place she’s called home for six years. Maybe she never achieved her foalhood dreams of fabulosity, but at least she’s comfortable. What more can a mare ask for?

Then a band of outlaws decide to pay Spurhoof a visit, and their leader’s eye has settled upon Rarity. Soon she’ll have to fight not only for her life, but maybe her very soul. Will her diamond turn dull under the hot Equestrian sun, or will adversity make her shine all the brighter?

Print copies now available for purchase on Lulu!.

Now featured on Equestria Daily.

Inspired by Fallout: Equestria and the song Bulletproof Heart by My Chemical Romance.

Other stories inspired by music:
Ordinary World
Bed of Roses
Escape
Drops of Jupiter
How to Save a Life
Forgive Me, Friend
Time for Tea
Somewhere on Eastern Seas

A big thanks to my brainstorming fellow and ever-awesome friend SorenPixels, who has helped me ponder the plans for this story since its inception.

Additional kudos to Danger Beans and Cerulean Voice for their help with the first few chapters.

Big thanks to the fantastic author Viking ZX for taking time out of his busy schedule to be my Alpha pre-reader.

Last but certainly not least, my gratitude to my gang of Beta pre-readers: Babroniedad, Lord-Commander, Merc the Jerk, Snowybee, Soge, and Wanderer D!

I was not prepared for the absolutely stunning world building or the incredibly well done characters. [...] This is a work of absolute art. — Equstarte Marine Sebaste

Reading and re-reading (and re-reading) this story was an amazing experience. It will always be one of my favorites! — Wanderer D

I dare say this is a masterpiece of the fandom. — FanOfMostEverything

It's a gorgeous, vivid-drawn setting you've crafted for this, and it hits its gritty Western beats and epic scope with aplomb. Rarity's character journey in this is a stellar one, and her gradual sink into (and recovery at the brink of) [...] darkness was wonderfully and believably told. — Carabas

Cover art commissioned from the fantastic bakki, with title work generously donated by Novel-Idea.