Daring Do needs an expert in ancient seapony languages. Minuette needs a vacation. Moondancer just needs to get out of the house more.

An entry into An honourable mention in Shrink Laureate's Season 9 Bingo contest. Check out the other entries here!
Card.
Cover art by Mutterbutter of the Fimfiction Discord.

Review by PaulAsaran!

Twilight just wanted to introduce more of her friends to Moondancer, while on a visit to Canterlot.
Little did she know that she had already met Trixie. And that there was a lot of animosity left between them.

He was an alien raised by humans, torn between two worlds and belonging to neither. His efforts thwarted, he found himself descending into madness, destined to be consumed by the nightmare he was becoming.

She was a loner, withdrawn and anti-social. When one whose regard she valued above all others turned away, she sank into darkness and despair. The madness waited.

The madness drove him to decide that if the world could not accept his enlightenment, it would suffer his madness.

The madness drove her to decide that if the world had no place for her, then it could do without her.

Sometimes, it takes another broken soul to help put your pieces back together.

----
Part of the PWNY-verse.

Edit: Cover art by Sanyo21, commissioned by Level Dasher
Edit 2: Since everyone keeps asking, this is a crossover with the 'Mother' game series. Look it up.

Ever since Twilight blew back into Canterlot and insisted on becoming friends again, Moondancer’s life has been...better. Still not great, years of isolation can’t exactly be overturned overnight, but she is going outside more often at least.

One thing that is slow going, though, is getting her hygiene back under control. She had been doing the bare minimum for her mane and fur and unfortunately it was finally catching up to her…

That doesn’t mean she’s happy about getting a pity coupon. Moondancer is just going so she doesn't waste a gift. She doesn't really want to go. Honest.

CW - Heavy depression themes, self harm/self harm scars, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Written for the Quills and Sofas Passion for Fashion contest with the prompt ‘faux pas’ and presented here with much expansion (this entry is over 5k words more than my original contest entry lol). Thanks to everyone who read and commented and helped me edit afterwards - you guys are amazing!

Cover art by me! (If you are an author looking for cover art, send me a dm!)

This story is a sequel to For Want of a Horseshoe

Several months have passed since Luna relinquished the throne of Equestria to her sister. She's spent those months working hard to undo the damage she did during her years as Nightmare Moon.

Tonight, she's looking forward to nothing more than going home and sleeping. Unfortunately, her plans are derailed when she runs into a few familiar ponies, and one unfamiliar one.

This story takes place in an established continuity. The other stories can be found below. Reading them isn't necessary, but will add more context to the story.

1. For Want of a Horseshoe
2. A Big Brother's Duty
3. Healing <-- you are here

Cover art provided by Little Tigress: https://www.deviantart.com/moonlightfan/art/Brewed-Awakenings-829482332

This story is a sequel to Long Road to Friendship

It is a new year for Sunset Shimmer; a fresh chance at real happiness with her five best friends and her girlfriend. But Sunset is constantly troubled by her uncertain future, and haunted by the consequences of her past.

For her battle against Princess Twilight has drawn forth ancient forces with eyes on the last bastion of magic: Canterlot City.

As darkness closes in, Sunset must find her light and guide her friends to defend their world against old rivals and legends best left forgotten, all while dealing with their ever-looming futures.

But when graduation comes, what will Sunset Shimmer do? For she is still a stranger in this world, with or without her friends, and the road before her guarantees nothing.

Of course, with the universe conspiring against her, it'll be a miracle if she even makes it that far...

Story plot edited by HenryAnthonyCourtler
Pre-read by DrakeyC
Wonderful cover art designed by HanasakiYunarin!
Text added by Amber Spark!
The page of Spectacular Tropes!
Presenting the French translation!

This story is a sequel to Where We Belong

I ruined everything. It’s as simple as that. Because of me Nightmare Moon took over, and there’s nothing I can do to fix it. I just wish I knew what to do with myself now…
- Moon Dancer

Note: this is more of a companion piece than a sequel. Reading Where We Belong first is important, but this is strictly Moon Dancer's journey through (roughly) the same time period.

Twilight Sparkle was annoyed to say the least, when her mentor Princess Celestia dismissed her warning of the Mare in the Moon and assigned her to go to Ponyville to supervise the Summer Sun Celebration. 'Make some friends' she says.

The thing is, Twilight already had friends. Friends she's had ever since she got into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns, friends she's taken for granted for many years, friends who she just happens to bump into before leaving Canterlot and invite themselves along to the celebration.

Between the crazy ponies in this little town and the crazy ponies who call themselves her friends, she finds herself at her wit's end while being constantly sidetracked in trying to prepare for the fabled Nightmare Moon's return. After all, it's not like these old schoolmates of hers are going to be able to help prevent eternal night and the end of Equestria as they know it, right?

You are entering another dimension, a land not of sight or sound, but of mind and magic. It is a realm where light hides amongst the shadows, and your enemies wear the faces of your friends. This is a dimension we call … The Gray Zone.

Submitted for your consideration: Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, the gleaming city on the mountain. Just yesterday, the city was host to a lavish Royal Wedding—and it fought off an invasion of shapeshifting insects. Today, the ponies fancy themselves safe. But as they will soon discover, their worst enemy still walks among them, unseen. The real nightmare has only begun …

———

My tribute to a classic episode of The Twilight Zone.

Many thanks to my pre-readers:
JapaneseTeeth
KuroiTsubasaTenshi
Yami Vizzini

———

Review and such.

  Stuck as an aide to a bunch of second-year students at Gifted Unicorns, Sunset Shimmer thought picking one to tutor might be entertaining… and maybe advance her plans for the mirror and her eventual ascension.
  This 'Moon Dancer' filly is just a means to an end, after all.
  So why can’t Sunset sleep after Moon Dancer storms out on her? Why are Princess Celestia and Professor Polish so concerned about her?
  But most importantly, why is Sunset starting to doubt herself?
  This was all part of the plan. Right?

Featured on FimFiction multiple times in November of 2016!
Featured on Equestria Daily!

Historian’s Note:
Set in the Wavelengths timeline where the Sonic Rainboom didn’t happen, the events of The Alchemy of Chemistry occur at the end of Sunset’s first term as the aide for Professor Apple Polish at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.

Cast: Sunset Shimmer, Moon Dancer & Princess Celestia with a cameo by Twilight Sparkle
Co-Starring: Professor Apple Polish, Cinnamon Tart & Dean Silver Slate with Professor Crystal Clear

Stories set in the Wavelengths Timeline in chronological order:

Origins Arc
The Alchemy of Chemistry
Bards of the Badlands
Grading on a Bell Curve
Habits of the Equestrian Phoenix
How Not To Use Your Royal Prerogative

Applications Arc
The Application of Unified Harmony Magics
Princess Celestia: A Brief History
The Cloudsdale Report

Dreamers Arc
Tactics of Snowbound Unicorns
A Study in Chaos Theory
Teahouses of Saddle Arabia
As the Raven Flies

Cover Design by Amber Spark
Potion Bottles by DervonneBenaan
Sunset Shimmer Cutie Mark By Millennial Dan
Moon Dancer Cutie Mark by Allycatblu
Classroom Background By Roxy-Cream

Editor/Cohort in Scheming
Ebon Quill - Quest Designer on The Manehattan Project

Beta Reader Credits
Little Tinker - Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn - Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Painted Heart

Special Guest Beta Reader
Tchernobog - Rabid AppleDash Fanatic. His price was shipping AJ and Dash together in one of my stories. Steep price, but worth it. He was also instrumental in creating that awesome elevator pitch!

Word Count: 33,000 words
Version: 3.7