Hofvarpnir Studios now offers a new service: humans can have their minds uploaded to live forever in Equestria Online, where nothing can kill you.

If only there wasn't SO MUCH demand, and so little time.

...

(You don't really have to read Friendship Is Optimal before this story.)

I am about as surprised as you are to find that this story is an entry in the Cander's Birthday Competition. Seriously, MAYBE it can barely wiggle into the 'canon-compliant' category if it happens during just the right stage of the Great Uploading, when enough of the characters have already rushed to upload.)

Every teenager has to discover for themselves who they really are.

Everyone has to make the journey in their own way.

I'd like to thank a lot of people for being who you are, as imperfect as we all are. I know we couldn't do what we do AND be perfect.

Quite aside from any talk about imperfections, Chatoyance and (someone who would perhaps rather not be named) are two of the people I'd like to thank.

Sometimes we can surprise even ourselves.

(This story is SO alternate universe.)

For giving helpful feedback, I thank Tela and Lofty Withers. However, the responsibility remains my own for my mistakes in how I misapplied their feedback, and for this story's various remaining flaws.

_{(#portal-transformations portal-transformations)}

Can anypony save the Pride Festival? Or will Straightmaster's scheme to turn everypony straight succeed?

...

Never before were so many special pride flags ripped to ribbons for such a good cause.

I'd like to point you to the Pride and Positivity 2021 celebration. I hear the Transgender Law Center could use some more help, so I hope this story will help raise a donation or two for them.

^{(Image based partly on https://derpibooru.org/images/2294694?screencap from MLP episode "The Summer Sun Setback.")}

Spike and Scootaloo seemed to come from different worlds.

Why did Spike feel they had something in common, from long ago?

For "Reunions: A Swapped Roles Contest."

The little green filly 'Annie' learns that puberty works differently in Equestria. She can hardly wait.

...

_{(I edited the image based on an 'original' from https://thisponydoesnotexist.net.)}

Content Warning: This is a fantasy story about a magical land of ponies where the customs and language are not entirely the same as on our Earth.

Twilight Sparkle has an ingenious and possibly very bad idea, to use siren powers to fight world hunger.

Sweetie Belle loves cooking SO much, she starts her own restaurant!

(I thank Kovoranu for permission to use this delightful cover image.)