This story is a sequel to Your Money or Your Wife

The position of the Imperial Tax Collector has since always been crucial to the well-being of the Crystal Empire. Legal Basis, having secured it through the unorthodox means of mugging Princess Cadance, revolutionized the system of duties, tariffs and necessary extortion of funds through his experience in the field of brigandage.

Even during the romantically consumptive time like Hearts and Hooves Day, work continues as always and one cannot care one bit for the Cupid’s arrow.

... but what about a club?

This story is a sequel to Stand and Deliver

Prince-Consort Shining Armor is a stallion of honor and principle, law-abiding and diligent. So when he receives an urgent summon from the Imperial Tax Collector, he makes sure to comply as quickly as possible... even if not overjoyed to visit the Imperial Revenue & Customs.

Especially on the weekend which he wanted to spend with his wife and daughter.

Actually, speaking of tax collection and wives...

Idea, motivation and co-authorship – Copey.

This story is a sequel to Your Money or Your Life

The cunning Queen Chrysalis is back, seeking vengeance upon all of the ponies! To fulfill her desire, but avoid unnecessary exposure, she decides to infiltrate the Crystal Empire and acquire aid from one of its very residents, by seduction, persuasion, or coercion if necessary. That way, she can plot away in safety, utilizing the fool until he outlives his usefulness!

Surely a professional and ambitious upstart with a shady background, who has just been appointed the new Imperial Tax Collector, is the perfect target.

… maybe too perfect?

Meet Ditch.

Ditch is the caretaker at the Canterlot Cemetery. He lives a calm life involving digging, burying, seldom... well, occasional... alright, habitual drinking, and generally managing the place and its residents to the best of his abilities.

Ditch enjoys his job. The salary is not enough to live, but sufficient not to die, the graveyard shifts are not graveyard shifts, and the clients are calm and docile, even if a little bit stiff. Canterlot ponies, right? But Ditch does not mind. They don’t complain and loyally catch some due rest.

Except for when they suddenly don’t.

Roseluck would think herself a pony reasonable enough not to make questionable decisions. For example, accepting a dare to gather the blooming flower of woodland starsalvia that happens to open its petals at night only, to prove that she is not a crybaby.

Roseluck would think herself a pony reasonable enough not to get lost in the woods for the sake of a dare just like that.

Roseluck would think herself a pony reasonable enough not to venture through a dark cave if she were to find herself in one. Nor to disturb its inhabitant, even inadvertently.

Roseluck thought herself that...

"Sex" tag a generous precaution for risqué, suggestive content of the hypnosis kind.

Princess Cadance, just like everypony else, needs some time of leisure from her many duties. While Shining Armor is taking care of their daughter, Cadance enjoys her lone trips to the nearby Nephrite Forest, where she can be away from all of her burdens and obligations for at least a short while.

She was simply destined to get mugged eventually, wasn’t she? Why not by somepony who takes his job very seriously.

Also available in Mandarin Chinese (translation by keplebletbett) and Spanish (translation by SPANIARD KIWI).

Having been forced to spend Vinyl’s birthday in Canterlot, Octavia rushed home. She was hoping to make it for the last train to Ponyville. She needed a perfect present for her best friend and she needed it pronto. Luckily for her, she stumbled across a record store.

One ran by an overly easy-going zebra.

Fantastic... It could not have been a simple purchase, could it?

Gilda, the High Queen of the Griffon Kingdom, the Restorer of Griffonstone, receives Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria. This first diplomatic meeting after decades of animosities makes her realize the price that she had to pay to see her nation rise to its former glory.

It all came down to a choice between two great treasures.

Starlight Glimmer's defeat at the hooves of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends leaves the mare wandering the caverns and mountains, escaping from her failure of creating the perfect society.

And yet there is somepony she cannot run away from. Somepony who keeps her awake at night, who follows her no matter where she is headed, who does not want to leave her alone despite her best efforts.

Herself.

Oh, it's so good I've managed to catch you! Surely you will be able to help me out.

No, I haven't done anything wrong! I swear, what's with the lack of faith?

Anyway, I need you to sit down and listen carefully. I am not good enough at Friendship yet, so I need a specialist and I need one now!

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Granted the Community Choice award in the Everfree Northwest 2015 Pre-Con Writing Contest.