Twilight is a princess, and traveling the land to meet ponies far and wide; an excellent opportunity to make more friends. So why is she so unhappy?

Some things can't be changed.

Starlight believes otherwise.

Now part of the Royal Canterlot Library.
Inspired by the original art by Plainoasis.
Edited by Jack of a Few Trades, JackRipper, ROBCakeran53, Flutterpriest, and Enigmatic Otaku.

Discord has something on his mind. Cadance isn’t completely sure how she can help but she’ll try her best to solve this puzzle.

***
The third place winner for the Iron Author speed writing contest at Everfree Northwest this year. I was honestly so shocked and honored when I heard. Everyone’s stories were so good! I can’t wait to see everyone post theirs soon.

Speaking of that, I want to edit this story more since I think I could smooth things out a little. But I don’t want to make everyone wait until then so here’s the unedited version submitted at the contest. I’ll leave the story complete but a second chapter that’s just a better edited version might be out soon.

It was supposed to be easy. A simple ambush. Jump a flanking force of Sombra's before they reach the battlefield. Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Wonderbolts had done it a thousand times before. She could do it in her sleep.

But then things go south for Dash, and she's taken behind enemy lines. Everypony knows her fate: to be brainwashed into serving Sombra. But what seems to be hopeless may just reveal more about Dash than she knows about herself.

Once upon a time, Princess Celestia meant the world to her young protégée, Sunset Shimmer. In many ways, she was the world to the unicorn filly.

Now, the relationship between mentor and student has become deeply strained. Some weeks ago, the two suffered a major spat. As the rift between them grows and emotions churn inside Sunset, she begins to wonder exactly who she is in the eyes of the age-old alicorn who controls the sun.

And as Celestia prepares to leave for a diplomatic errand, she finds herself confronted by her volatile pupil -- and, put on the spot, must find a way to bridge the gap before it's too late.

Ignores the depiction of events in the comic The Fall of Sunset Shimmer. While the story works as a standalone prequel to canon G4 animated media, it is also canon with my ongoing longform story Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, as well as, separately, my alternate universe setting established by What My Destiny is Telling Me. (Despite the name, it is not directly related to my story Late-Night Conversations.)

Cover art by daOtterGuy, who pre-read the story along with The Sleepless Beholder. Special thanks to TCC56 (First Hoof Account) and Sledge115 (Sogno di Volare) for inspiring me to dabble in this period of Sunset's life.

Featured on 11/8/22-11/10/22! Re-edited 1/14/23. Now featured on Equestria Daily!

This story is a sequel to Moonlight Palaver

Upon Discord's release, the leaders of other nations must unite to curb the threat he poses.

Easier said than done.

Cover art by anima-dos.

“Past experience has taught me that telling other ponies about what I do is a bad idea.”

In this economy, it’s hard for recent graduates to find and keep a job. That goes double for a young mare fleeing the personnel of the insane asylum. This is the story, in Ditzy Doo's own words, of how she became a fugitive ... and how she found a place where she could stop running.

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This is a companion piece to Black Magic Mare, Roaming Queen. You should be able to read these two in either order.

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Cover art was slapped together from an art by Krololo and a photo by Chuckcars. Since the latter was released under a Creative Commons license, this cover picture is as well.

Mad props to my pre-readers:
Kuroi Tsubasa Tenshi
Sereg
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See what this person has to say about it.

It isn't often that things go well for Derpy. Between her eyes, her clumsiness, and her propensity for disaster, it's hard enough just to make friends. Add to that a revolving door of jobs and a daughter to raise, it's a miracle that she has much time for herself at all. So when her date stands her up at a loud, flashy club, it hurts.

Maybe she should just give up. Or, maybe she just needs the kindness of a strange bartender in purple shades.

Image source.

The night after defeating Gaia Everfree, Twilight and Sunset have a heart-to-heart about their new powers. Platonic cuddling ensues.

Art by mlp-hearts!
Preread by Oroboro

Princess Celestia has finally decided to introduce her two prized pupils to each other, hoping that together they'll finally start to appreciate the beauty and magic of friendship. Sunset may be proud and brash, and Twilight might be obsessive and oblivious at times, but surely they'll get along fine, right?

They'll go above and beyond that in time, but the road they'll take to get there is a rocky one.

Written for Oroboro's Sunset Shipping Contest: Changing Seasons

Cover art by Novel-Idea
Original Sunset and Twilight image by Sikander-MLP

Featured on September 1, 2017!

Updated 10/27/17: Minor edits to existing chapters; 3 new chapters added (Reconciliation, The Twilight Zone, Sowing Seeds)
Updated 11/27/17: Cover art added!