The Shadowbolts, tired of getting ruthlessly killed off whenever they play Dungeons and Dragons, decide to make Twilight their new DM. For Twilight, the game soon turns into a struggle to maintain her sanity amongst half-orcs, barbarians, vertically challenged necromancers, and seductive bards. The line between success and a total party kill gets thinner with every dice roll...
Updated on Tuesdays.
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Preread by hawthornbunny, Solly, and Cinder Vel.

This story is a sequel to Before the Friendship Games: Sour Sweet

Some people see Indigo Zap as obnoxious. Some see her as a prankster. This is the real Indigo Zap.

Sex tag is for one or two slightly raunchy jokes.

Book Four of the Crystal Prep Chronicles: Before the Friendship Games.

Part of "Not Just Any Old Continuity", which includes
Not Just Any Old Trilogy
The Anon-A-Miss Saga
TimberTwi Tales

Check out all of my stories here!

Perception is a fascinating thing. Sometimes, how someone views themselves and how others view someone don't coincide. In fact, it can be absolutely baffling how different the two are.

The girl who seems to have everything together? She might be a wreck beneath the surface.

The girl who seems so inattentive? Perhaps she genuinely doesn't see the attempts to reach her.

The girl who seems so moody? Maybe there's more to it than what people see.

But of course, that's the thing about perception. Sometimes, it just doesn't line up. And few know that better than the girls at Crystal Prep Academy.

(This is a collection of little vignettes I'll be publishing, effectively going into my headcanons for the Shadowbolts. I hope you enjoy it.)

Crystal Prep Academy has long had a no nonsense policy when it comes to pranks. They are hurtful, they can be dangerous and they are, most importantly to Principal Cinch, a waste of time. But following rules and policies has never been Indigo Zap's style when she can help it. Especially since she's been working on one particular prank she's had fermenting just for April Fool's Day.

Unfortunately for her it doesn't go exactly as planned. What follows is a long, painful and rather emotionally confusing spiral as she attempts to set things right between herself and the person she's pulled the prank on.

.She fails hard.

Indigo Zap enjoys going out for a night of fun at the local arcade, with the other Shadowbolts in tow. And while she and Lemon Zest love it, the others not so much; they just try to grin and bear it.
Things were going well for her and her friends... that is until a stranger shows up and places bets on winning one of the "hardest" games in the arcade. Whoever wins takes the loser's spare change. In spite of the consequences she accepts, but once she plays, she wonders whether the bet was really worth it.

Will she win it all? Or fail miserably?

WARNING: contains spoilers for Friendship Games.
Story edited by: Kydois

Fluttershy has mixed feelings with her brother.  Although she loves and cares for him deeply, he’s often caused trouble for her and their family.  His biggest problems are his quick money schemes.  If he sees an activity he believes it will earn him cash with little effort, he’ll dive into it right away.  He passed them off as new hobbies, but quickly gave up on them after only a few tries.

As Zephyr starts another one of his schemes, Fluttershy decided it would be best to keep an eye on him.  She begins researching her brother’s new hobby and found something she never heard of before.  Curious, she delves deeper into it, where she’s introduced to a game series and a competitive community she never thought she’d enjoyed.

Special Thanks to Verbose Mode and Jarvy Jared for Proofreading

Heavenly Quill is the new student At Crystal Prep Academy, a place where success means crushing anyone in your way. Quill is nervous to be going to a school like this but, could the friendship and possible love of a certain green haired rocker girl give him the confidence he needs, or is it all just a lie ?

Cover art by darkhatdesign

And thanks so much to Azure_Shadow for letting me join the Pome universe, and thanks to KillerRobotQuote for editing my story!

Indigo Zap was quite respected at Crystal Prep Academy.

But outside of it, she felt like a completely different person. Her reputation not baring down on her meant she was free to express herself. But when she actually does... she feels trapped in a different way.

With the arrival of some new faces at Crystal Prep, Indigo's life will be turned upside down, as circumstance makes her question herself, her history, and her friends.

And it wasn't like she could just fly away from her problems. After all, humans don't have wings...

The happy days in high school will soon be over for the students of Crystal Prep. Soon, they'll part ways and choose their own paths. However, there's still some time left and Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet, and Lemon Zest will try to make the best out of it. Whether it's good or bad, they cherish every moment they spend together. Not only with each other, though – as the Friendship Games end, love looms at the horizon, coming from the most unlikely of places – Canterlot High.

BEWARE OF UNMARKED SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS!
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Fanart by kul
Preread by Bootsy Slickmane
Updates on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest's hike in the woods takes a turn for the weird when Lemon suddenly disappears and Indigo notices something lurking amid the trees.

A quick-paced standalone suspense tale, separate from all my others.