“Why do we get gifts every year?” said Dinky. “For Hearth’s Warming, I mean.”

This seems an easy enough question, but Ruby Pinch never had it easy. Trying to find out the real reason for all this gift-giving, she confronts the odd bond between the energetic Dinky and the reserved Amethyst, the simple-minded approach of her hapless cousin Piña Colada, and, on top of that, her beloved "Auntie" Berry, who's a confusing trial all on her own.

And then there's Ruby herself. For, sensible young mare as she thinks she is, she has her own growing mistrust of the answers she seems to be getting. Especially when it comes time to find her own gift.

Proofreading provided by Sunset_Sparkles of The Proofreader Group.

Inspired by, but not involved in, The Obselescence Memorial Jinglemas Twinglemas Secret Santa Sendoff: Part 2 Edition!

There is one moon, with two sides. There is one planet, its partner. There is nothing else.

A runaway and a wizard, Sunset knows about the duality of a cold and careless cosmos. The cruellest of all is the one that separates life and death. Now her life is intertwined with those of a humble farming family. And nowhere is that more evident than with the infuriating, stubborn, lively, and heroic Applejack.

Until one fateful time, when life gives way to the other side of the coin.

Sunset broke the rules once before. She's willing to break them again. Or she'll break her spirit trying. There is no third choice.

Contestant for the Sunset Shipping Contest: Changing Seasons. Further details are available via this link.

Lemon Zest is a radiating ball of pure energy, just with a human attached. Sunny Flare is more like one of those icy outer planets far away from the sun, you know, Pluto. But they keep in orbit, nevertheless. After all, gravity doesn't always suck.

Originally intended for Loganberry's Flashfic 150, September 2019: "Bittersweet" event.

Usually not one for tacky clothing or far-out ideas, Rarity nonetheless fulfils a generous if somewhat embarrassing dressmaking commission to please Derpy Hooves.

Unfortunately for her, a generous act can have... strange and unexpected consequences, especially when poor, simple, over-the-moon-grateful Derpy insists on repaying the kind deed.

Of course, Rarity will take it all in stride. And so will everyone else. It's only fashion, after all. No one ever gets silly or over-the-top about that, right?

Impossible Numbers' entry for The Obselescence Memorial Jinglemas Twinglemas Secret Santa Sendoff: Part 2 Edition!

My specific prompt from DragonGeek: tagged "Rarity", tagged "Derpy Hooves", rated "Everyone", no romance.

This story is a sequel to Impossible Numbers' Flashfic Anthology, Volume One

Twinkleshine simply wants to bask in the untarnished glory of the heavens with her best friend Minuette. Is that too much to ask!?

Genres: Slice of Life, Comedy
Prompt: "A Lovely Night, Ruined"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/349811/closed-flashfic-150-february-2018-a-lovely-night-ruined#comment/6309117

Despite being sisters, Dinky and Amethyst are as different as rocks and hearts. One must live as her own mare and not as a patronized child; the other just stifles her. But what will Dinky learn once she leaves home for her own life?

Genres: Drama, Bittersweet
Prompt: "What You Leave Behind"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/352754/closed-flashfic-150-march-2018-what-you-leave-behind#comment/6339368
N.B. Since the original version received substantial criticism, this version has been updated accordingly, to meet that criticism without fundamentally changing the spirit of the original text.

From humble beginnings, Lyra Heartstrings just wants to make her parents proud when she finally makes it to Canterlot.

Genres: Drama, Slice of Life
Prompt: "Waiting Time"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/308613/flashfic-150-open-practice-thread-prompt-waiting-time#comment/6365448

Minuette takes part in the Advanced Chronology course. Twinkleshine takes a moment to find out what that entails, and soon regrets it.

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Prompt: "No Time Like the Present"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/355571/closed-flashfic-150-april-2018-no-time-like-the-present#comment/6380855

Somnambula longs for the grand gardens of her forsaken past. So, against all common sense, she hires the Flower Trio to make a new one.

Genre: Comedy
Prompt: "Kindness and a Garden"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/359312/closed-flashfic-150-may-2018-kindness-and-a-garden#comment/6418894
N.B. Similar to Outclassed above, this entry has been edited in order to meet the criticisms of the original.

Twilight wants Applejack and Fluttershy to tell her honestly what they think of her latest friendship-teaching tool.

Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy
Prompt: "Now We're Friends"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/363089/closed-flashfic-150-june-2018-now-were-friends#comment/6466140

When Dinky recruits a living Pillar of Friendship for her history project, Somnambula is asked to relate what life a thousand years ago was like.

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Prompt: "What were you thinking?"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/365346/flashfic-150-july-2018-what-were-you-thinking#comment/6494074

On a day that changed everything, Star Swirl vanquished one last enemy and paid a terrible price for it. That price was his own life.

This is where the history books conclude his long and eventful story, but the truth is there was another price. One that was still being paid long after his demise, in the form of six ponies, each living one after another and each living through various times in Equestrian history.

As the Pillar of Beauty, Mistmane is distressed to find her home left to decay, but a mysterious stranger offers her a chance to set things right again. Meanwhile, Daring Do is nearby, exploring a creepy temple, home to a dark secret.

Entry for Writeoff FiM Short Story Round, Event 91. Prompt: All the Time in the World.

Diamond Tiara is a true Rich. Will be, to the end.

Despite all her past setbacks, she’s grown up to become the hyper-successful CEO of Barnyard Bargains Incorporated, a business empire which has spread across the globe. Now she’s built the high-tech Equestrian Dream Shopping Mall right in the heart of Ponyville, a town suited to the ultra-modern vogue not at all.

But when they said corporate would eat her alive, this is NOT what she had in mind…

An entry in Imposing Sovereigns IV, using the prompt "Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom/Persistence".

Werewolves. Vampires. Earth people, a.k.a. humans. In a world where they've learned to cooperate, it's a bad idea to let your inner wolf off the leash. People tend to look up to you as a role model (when they're not looking at other role models who are way more awesome because they don't even need supernatural stuff).

Sour Sweet doesn't care about that. She just wants to snark at her girlfriend and pet monstrous abominations. But when the balance of power rests inside her own head, it's no longer resting on stable ground...

An entry in Imposing Sovereigns IV, using the prompt "Sour Sweet/Strength".

This story is a sequel to Impossible Numbers' Flashfic Anthology, Volume Three

Shooting arrows is just Sour Sweet's way of letting off steam. And under the watchful eyes of her parents, of making a very pointed statement.

Genres: Drama, Equestria Girls
Prompt: "Bittersweet"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/413321/flashfic-150-september-2019-bittersweet#comment/6992685

It doesn't matter what Professor Fossil wants, or whether or not this is too late, or even that all the old friends are dead. Rockhoof will honour this birthday.

Genres: Drama, Sad
Prompt: "Birthday Magic"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/371727/flashfic-150-september-2018-birthday-magic#comment/6589841

Princess Platinum is selfish, pompous, spoiled, and frankly a bit slow on the uptake. Even she learns, eventually, why it's a bad idea to set up a croquet match on a farm.

Genres: Comedy, Drama
Prompt: "Where Your Loyalties Lie"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/380250/flashfic-150-november-2018-where-your-loyalties-lie#comment/6646129

If only Apple Bloom hadn't rummaged around in the attic, those painful memories might never have haunted Applejack's mind.

Genres: Drama, Sad
Prompt: "Ow! Where Did That Come From?"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/403965/flashfic-150-june-2019-ow-where-did-that-come-from#comment/6873752

In the face of Fluttershy's curiosity, Discord points out a few hitherto-unconsidered aspects of his species.

Genres: Random, Slice of Life
Prompt: "A Dragon's Heart"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/407214/flashfic-150-july-2019-a-dragons-heart#comment/6915541

She has many names. Her real name is one she could do without, because it describes her far too perfectly.

Genres: Drama, Slice of Life
Prompt: "Bittersweet"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/413321/flashfic-150-september-2019-bittersweet#comment/6998020

Unlike Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara is on her way to university. So she goes to visit the farm gal to make sure she knows. And reacts the right way.

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
Prompt: "I Thought We Were Friends"
Original Source: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/flashfic/thread/410220/flashfic-150-august-2019-i-thought-we-were-friends#comment/6946747