Two weeks after the Friendship Games, as Twilight Sparkle begins to blossom in the new environment of Canterlot High School, her brother invites her to an old favorite of theirs growing up — Sweet Snacks Café.

But mixed in with the taste of milkshakes is the need for closure and understanding, as the happy changes in Twilight's life belie the sour path it took to get to them — and the responsibility Shining Armor feels in laying that path.

Cover art by daOtterGuy, who pre-read the story along with The Sleepless Beholder and Avery Day. Written for the Bean's Writing Group prompt "Visiting a candy shop". Special thanks to TCC56 and Dewdrops on the Grass for their suggestions on Shining and Twilight's favorite milkshake flavors.

In continuity with Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, set under two weeks before the start of that story.

Featured on 4/6/23-4/8/23!

This story is a sequel to What My Destiny is Telling Me

While this story is set in continuity with What My Destiny is Telling Me (and, by extension, The Final Conversation), it can be read on its own, as there is a quick recap of the first story in the text.

Sunset Shimmer's world changed, very literally, the day she fled through a magic mirror and became stuck on the other side. It changed again shortly afterwards, when a desperate search for shelter landed her at a home that, at the urging of their eldest daughter, took her in as family.

Sunset knows she owes a lot to Rarity, not merely in giving her a home but in helping her grapple with the darkness that lay inside her. Yet she still struggles to find solace in her new realm, the unicorn mind within her still struggling with being trapped in a human body -- and worse, potentially adjusting to it. Rarity can see the turmoil in her sister, and wants to help, but knows it's not going to be an easy conversation to have.

But it's a necessary one, for both their sakes.

Set in an alternate universe in which the timeline diverges after Sunset leaves Equestria. This story also deviates from the depiction of Sunset's past as portrayed in the comic The Fall of Sunset Shimmer; some details of said past are instead depicted in The Final Conversation.

Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and Dewdrops on the Grass. Written for the Bean's Writing Group prompt "Stargazing".

This story is dedicated to Ninjadeadbeard.

Cover art from a piece by SarcasticLeaves, who could not be contacted as they are no longer in touch with the MLP fan community. Should they contact me and request its removal, I will oblige.

Featured on 2/28/23-3/4/23!

Six years ago, Flash Sentry met Wallflower Blush, the awkward new girl moving to a room almost opposite his own, for the first time.

Today, Flash Sentry is meeting Wallflower Blush, a mournful, broken soul reeling from the aftereffects of a year of causing so much hurt to others, for the first time.

He doesn't remember her. Wallflower remembers him.

Yet she wonders if he understands her better than she does herself.

Written for Bicyclette's Flash Sentry Contest. See the other entries here! Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and FanOfMostEverything.

Cover art edited by myself using a still from the first Equestria Girls movie.

Depending on the time period, some sections are written in first-person present-tense, others in second-person past tense. In all cases, the POV is that of Wallflower. Not in continuity with any of my other stories.

Featured on 1/25/23-1/26/23!

In the world beyond the mirror, centuries have passed since the adventures of the Rainbooms. Humanity has long begun to explore deep into the reaches of space on massive worldcraft, one such vessel being the Equestria.

On the eve of a new year, Izzy Moonbow, a pilot, mechanic, and tinkerer from Bridlewood Floor, has been called to test a potentially game-changing innovation for the Equestria's fleet of small reconnaissance and combat vehicles. Aboard her personal fighter, the Butterscotch, she dons the new invention, dubbed "Project Unicorn", to begin what could be the ride of her life.

Custom cover art by daOtterGuy. Pre-read by Dewdrops on the Grass and The Sleepless Beholder.

Written for Kris Overstreet for Jinglemas 2022.

The summer after their first year of college, Sunset and Twilight are living a happy life together. Twilight has moved in to Sunset's surprisingly spacious apartment, and, for the first time in her life, is sharing a bed with another human being (well, unicorn-turned-human, but close enough). And despite some initial misgivings, life with her longtime friend-turned-girlfriend has proven to be a rather easy adjustment.

But both Sunset and Twilight, with quite a few stressful memories apiece, are prone to some bad nights of sleep. And when Twilight finds herself suddenly awake in the wee hours of the morning, her bedmate clearly distressed and in the grip of a nightmare, she knows what she has to do, what she and Sunset have so often done for each other:

Cuddle.

Cover art by TheRainbowMaiden. Used with permission. Author's Notes art created for this story by The Sleepless Beholder. Pre-read by Avery Day and Axolotl222. Chapter 2 written for the Bean's Writing Group prompt "A Shared Meal".

T-rating for sexual references.

Featured 12/13/22-12/15/22!

Once upon a time, Princess Celestia meant the world to her young protégée, Sunset Shimmer. In many ways, she was the world to the unicorn filly.

Now, the relationship between mentor and student has become deeply strained. Some weeks ago, the two suffered a major spat. As the rift between them grows and emotions churn inside Sunset, she begins to wonder exactly who she is in the eyes of the age-old alicorn who controls the sun.

And as Celestia prepares to leave for a diplomatic errand, she finds herself confronted by her volatile pupil -- and, put on the spot, must find a way to bridge the gap before it's too late.

Ignores the depiction of events in the comic The Fall of Sunset Shimmer. While the story works as a standalone prequel to canon G4 animated media, it is also canon with my ongoing longform story Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, as well as, separately, my alternate universe setting established by What My Destiny is Telling Me. (Despite the name, it is not directly related to my story Late-Night Conversations.)

Cover art by daOtterGuy, who pre-read the story along with The Sleepless Beholder. Special thanks to TCC56 (First Hoof Account) and Sledge115 (Sogno di Volare) for inspiring me to dabble in this period of Sunset's life.

Featured on 11/8/22-11/10/22! Re-edited 1/14/23. Now featured on Equestria Daily!

An alternate take on events that begins in the middle of Chapter 2, Episode 6 ("The Traditional Unicorn Sleep-Over") of Make Your Mark. This story assumes reader knowledge of the show up to that point.

Zipp had a lot of suspicions about Misty, the strange unicorn that Izzy had met in town earlier that day and invited to an impromptu sleepover party at the Brighthouse. But while she'd been exercising her detective skills on their guest all night as the oddities surrounding her piled up, she hadn't meant to drive Misty away. So when, after Misty flees from the party in a panic, Zipp notices that she's still out in the Brighthouse's garden, pacing frantically, Zipp decides to see if she can talk to her, and figure out just what is going on with this curious new pony.

And what she learns may well give Zipp room for pause -- and a need to exercise some comfort skills.

Please note that while this fic is rated E, there is some mild discussion of parental/familial abuse.

A reading from StraightToThePoint Studio is now available! Also featured on Equestria Daily!

Cover art by emera33; used with permission. Pre-read by TCC56 and Goldenwing.

Featured 10/9/22-10/12/22!

Canterlot High's annual student film festival is fast approaching, and the submissions are now under review. But ultimate writer-director-star-girlfriend team Lyra and Bon-Bon are confident they've made something spectacular. It's innovative, it's bold, it's experimental, it's inspired, it's confident, it's... rejected???

Okay, maybe it was a little too out there for the festival... and perhaps a bit too risqué as well. But they can still salvage this. Right?

Written for Bicyclette's LyraBon contest. (Read the other entries here!) Ties in with the Bean’s Writing Group prompt “A Chess Game.”

Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and Shirlendra. Cover art by me using stock images.

Sex tag for mild sexual references only.

Featured on 9/29/22-9/30/22! Also recommended by Equestria Daily for Lyra and Bon-Bon Day!

Sgt. Sunset Shimmer is dying. Struck in the stomach by a bullet during the heat of combat, she now lays helpless on a deserted battlefield, the conflict having moved on without her. There's not a living soul around to help her... or so it might seem.

Until she's approached by a being from her past, one that she'd desperately hoped never to see again, a creature to which she has given much and owes much more... and one that might be able to save her life.

Choices, choices...

Sex tag is for verbal insinuations only. Violence tag for some descriptions of blood and broken bones.

Featured 9/18/22-9/19/22!

Written for the Sunset Shimmer x EG/MLP Villains "Bad Romance" contest. Read the other stories here! Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and RubyDubious. Featured for Equestria Daily’s Sunset Shimmer Day 2023!

A few days after the restoration of magic, Sunny Starscout accepts an invitation to spend the night at La Villa Izzy following a visit to the newly livened Bridlewood. But while Sunny came prepared to spend the night on the floor, Izzy won't have it. Her bed is big, and she's never shared it with anyone before, and if there's room enough for both, then why should Sunny have to sleep anywhere else?

Unfortunately for Sunny, Izzy's not the soundest sleeper. Fortunately for Izzy, Sunny's there.

Now with a reading from StraightToThePoint Studio!

Written for Omegathyst's Hot Pony Summer Contest, where it placed 2nd!. See the other entries here! Cover art by Pastacrylic; used with permission. Pre-read by The Sleepless Beholder and FanOfMostEverything.

Featured on 8/31/22-9/2/22!