Be it ancient menace or new threat, diplomatic snafu or domestic concern, monster attack or friendship problem, Twilight Sparkle and her friends have always risen to the challenge.

That's a bit of an issue this time around, when the challenge is a marked absence of Twilight Sparkle.

Life at Crystal Prep is tough, but so is Sunset. The school demands the best from the best, and she’s happy to prove she’s the cream of the crop. Having an amazing girlfriend doesn’t hurt either.

Even if thinking too hard about that girlfriend does.

An entry in the Sunset x Villains Crystal Prep contest, Sci-Fi Contest III, and RockstarRaccoon’s final Crackfic Storm. Mostly to see if I could. Rated Teen for brief mentions of assorted work-safe bodily fluids.

Shining Armor is... mostly aware of what his little sister's been up to since the Friendship Games. Cadence keeps him in the loop, but she refuses to talk about some topics, insisting that it isn't her place to discuss them. When his phone rang a few moments ago, he thought Twilight had finally decided the time was right.

He's not entirely wrong, but he'll soon wish he had been.

An entry in the Shining Armor is a Terrible Dad Competition.

In every world, era, and species, adolescents think they're the first to invent or discover whatever they come across. It's not hard to see why. In the flower of youth, every experience is new and fresh and exciting, especially the ones previous generations won't discuss. Not in polite company, anyway. Certainly not with their children.

Well, "exciting" isn't always the best word to describe those discoveries. Sometimes it's "horrifying." Especially when it involves certain alicorn princesses.

Rated Teen for discussion of topics that would be rated Mature. Also rated C for Crackfic. Graciously preread by Comma Typer.

This story is a sequel to Multifaceted

Falling in love with someone is a package deal. Yes, you get your significant other, but for good and for ill, you also get their family. Normally, that's all upside for Applejack. For all her aunts, uncles, and cousins, she still doesn't have as much family as she wishes.

But Rarity is extraordinary in so many ways, and so are her relatives. Especially her father. And now AJ has to worry about setting off a truly extraordinary family feud.

After all, "It's just a game" doesn't work on a man with an Ultra Bowl ring.

Part of the Oversaturated World, with little to no familiarity required for this story. Rated T for stronger language and substances than the pastel humanoids could get away with on camera.

Some of the Bearers of Harmony were born in Ponyville. Some moved there. Twilight Sparkle was the last to arrive, uniting five unlikely mares into a team of heroes who would define an age.

Emphasis on "uniting." The relationships between the other Bearers before that Summer Sun Celebration ranged from "childhood friends" to "might be able to pick each other out of a police lineup." And yet, fate had its ways of preparing for what was to come. Some more subtle than others.

Written for Shakespearicles as a part of Jinglemas 2023.

Opals form from layer upon layer of microscopic silica spheres, the countless reflections brought on from eons of accretion giving impressions of nigh-infinite depth. Because there isn't a single crystal structure, they are more fragile than other gemstones, and can crack due to sudden changes in pressure or temperature.

Opaline Arcana is formed from layer upon layer of mental instabilities, the countless delusions brought on by eons of isolation giving impressions of nigh-infinite evil. And she already cracked a long time ago.

Now that Misty feels comfortable enough to discuss the topic, her new friends will find out just how deep the damage goes.

An ineligible entry for Imposing Sovereigns IV, using the prompt Opaline/Loyalty, set around Chapter 5 of Make Your Mark.

In the wake of Camp Everfree and the latest in a long line of raging she-demons, Sunset’s dreams lead her down a familiar path of memories. She’s never been one to pass up an opportunity; it’s high time to ask a question that’s been bothering her since the Friendship Games.

That’s the plan, anyway. One of the many problems with seeking wisdom from demons is that you get far more than what you wanted to know.

Winner of Bicyclette's SciSet Contest and Reactception's Sunset x Midnight contest, graciously beta-read by MarvelandPonder. Rated Teen for suggestive content well north of what the Dazzlings got away with.

The earth melts. The skies darken. Celestia has tired of being the nice princess, and the shadow of the sun has overtaken her.

To Prince Blueblood's immense regret, he can't leave this one to Sparkle and company.

Rated Teen for mild cursing and alcohol references. Honorable Mention in the 2023 Everfree Northwest Iron Author competition. Prompts were: Vexing Volcanism/Verdant Vegetable/Vibrant Vestigial

Original art by Adam Paquette.

Ancient Greece: A land of gods, heroes, monsters... and very few roles for women beyond wife and housekeeper.

In other words, it's a pretty terrible place and time for a renegade student of Princess Celestia to find herself. But Sunset Shimmer is nothing if not determined and resourceful. She will bend this world to her will.

That's the plan, anyway. Given how the heliocentric model is still a few millennia away from wide acceptance, maybe she can settle for finding happiness.

Winner of the Sunset x Villain Period Piece contest.