This story is a sequel to The Best of Tensions

Yesterday, a book on massage nearly destroyed Ponyville. Today, a rumor just might destroy Rarity, or lead to her destroying Ponyille. Spike is there to help, of course, or at least try to. All he really wanted to do was ask her out.

Preread by Steadfast Hoof

A pony only gets one cute-ceañera. Twilight Velvet knows this, and she knows exactly how her friendless daughter wants to spend hers: nose-deep in a book, just like every other day. Twilight Velvet has other plans, all revolving around finding somepony to come to her daughter’s party, somepony to be her friend.

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The original version of this story took 6th place in The Writeoff Association's December 2016 contest, “Has That Always Been There?“

In the midst of doing a favor for Ember in the dragon lands, Spike tells Rarity about his not-so-secret feelings. Rarity responds with a secret of her own, one that she's guarded for most of her life. They picked the wrong day, and the wrong kingdom, for a quiet heart-to-heart.

Winner of Steadfast Hoof's sparity contest
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Pre-read by mrk
Cover art drawn by Pia-sama and designed by Novel Idea

Luna discovers a lone member of the Royal Night Guard stationed beneath her private balcony. As a question becomes a conversation, as an evening becomes a week, and as an annoyance becomes a friendship, an unfortunate truth looms large in her mind: nothing is ever as it seems, neither in dreams nor reality.

Comments contain spoilers
Edited by PresentPerfect and Grand Moff Pony

A massage is just a massage, isn’t it? Apparently not when Spike is involved. Somehow finding a book on pony massage specifically for handed creatures like himself is fated to end the way that most of his adventures do: with the untimely destruction of Ponyville.
Unless Rarity can help, of course.

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Winner of second place in Present Perfect’s writing contest, Soft Hands.

Candy Heart knew she wasn’t a normal pony. Between her unmatched intellect and unshakable ambition, she knew she was destined for greatness. She was destined to be the best, and once the incantation was complete she truly would be: everything holding her back, from loneliness to regret to remorse, would be gone. She’d be free, and she’d be unstoppable.

Except that isn’t what happened.

Instead, two more ponies came into being. This is their story.

Takes place prior to Season One
Full-cast reading by ajvasquezbrony28

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Edited by Dubs Rewatcher
Cover art designed Novel-Idea

“… It's just an amazing story, however you slice it, and I hope everyone will take a moment to go read it right the heck now. Highly Recommended: Top Fifteen” — PresentPerfect

If Zap apples make such phenomenal jam, why aren’t they used for the Apple family’s other famed delicacy: cider? Apple Bloom wants to know, and dooms all of Ponyville into finding out.

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Pre-read by bookplayer

Scootaloo and Spitfire have a little chat.

Winner of the Applejack award in EFNW's Scribblefest 2016
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Edited by Themaskedferret
Cover designed by Novel-Idea

He had to look down to see her. A pony, a creature no bigger than a goat, stood on his doorstep. Her pale blue fur and ragged, blood-red mane couldn’t have looked more out of place in a town of goats and minotaurs. Kev stared at her, wondering what to do. His father would’ve chased her away with a club and a string of obscenities. His grandfather would’ve eaten her. His great grandfather would’ve eaten her and not gone to prison for it.

A story about one minotaur’s relationship with his society, his family, and his wife.

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Edited by PresentPerfect
Cover art by Ruirik
(In progress) Reading by ABagOVicodin:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Hearth’s Warming Eve is coming up, and Spike knows just what to give Rarity. The perfect gift, the gift that will impress his lady friend and nourish their budding relationship, is on his mind and within his price range. Nothing can possibly stop him, except for three little words that he’ll quickly come to dread: anonymous gift exchange.

Reading by ObabScribbler: Part 1 and Part 2
Reading by Alchemystudent: Part 1 and Part 2
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Edited by PaulAsaran
Special thanks to bookplayer for brainstorming help.
Reviewed on One Man’s Pony Ramblings