Prince Blueblood. The highest noble, finest gentlestallion and most lusted-after bachelor in Equestria. The very avatar of glamour, grandeur and poise. The hero of Chorintide. Everypony loves Blueblood!

Everypony, that is, except those who have met him. Among them, well... the more they've been around him, the less they usually think of him.

So why would such a stallion choose to spend Hearth's Warming not among his courtly contemporaries or in front of his adoring fans, but going into the depths of the Everfree, the most untamed, unsafe, unprincely wilderness in Equestria, and even staying there?

Well, he might go there because there's somepony who's been around him for literally his entire life. And he might stay because there's someone who doesn't yet know him, but might, for once, wish to change that.

Written for Viatorem for Jinglemas 2024

Cover Art unrelated other than presence of tea and general vibes.

Welcome, fillies and colts, to a tale most untragic,
of two breeds of equine and two breeds of magic;
of a high-pronking metre and low, steady rhyme
that will shake the whole world (though one house at a time)
with the great innovation this meeting will show!
Where it's going? Perhaps you may already know.

Written for the Pony Poetry Contest.

(Note: this story has nothing to do with Dr. Seuss or the pictured book beyond the presence of a zebra and anapestic tetrameter. But... come on, how could I not use that picture?)

Everyone knows about a changeling's primary form of magic - their eponymous transformations. However, their other major form of magic is far less well-known, and yet, potentially, more dangerous.

Nevertheless, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, protected from its effects but trapped and isolated, must figure out who the source of this cataclysmic cognitive collapse is. Or, at least, who they look like - they know exactly who they really are, and that only makes the situation more dire.

Can they find the imposter without being able to leave the castle basement? Even if they do, can they save the town without falling victim to the same affliction they're trying to dispel? Can even Twilight's genius overcome the force of true stupidity?

And the most baffling question of all, as far as Pinkie's concerned: why on Equestria would Twilight ask for her help on this?!

Written for the Dumb as Doornails Contest, based on a headcanon I've had for a long, long time.

Featured on 26rd September 2024 - Thank you guys so much!

It's Hearth's Warming Eve and Twilight's household is abuzz with activity. Some of this is activity that the little filly is familiar with, but so far, there are some things that take place behind closed doors that she has no idea about. Not simply the wrapping of presents, of course, but things she can't imagine a reason to hide.

Well, this year, on her seventh Hearth's Warming, she's not going to stand for it any longer. She's going to find out what the grownups are doing in the kitchen all this time. She's going to learn how it all works and hopefully, in the future, she's going to be able to help, in addition to how she helps prepare for the holiday already.

However, through the course of discovery and fulfilling her obligations, Twilight is going to encounter a question. A question that any child would be terrified to ask, but too curious not to.

***

Written for SabreTheRedMane for Jinglemas 2023

This story is a sequel to The Crystal Caves of Confuzzlation (Iota Force Issue #6)

Fear.

Icy Flight has encountered a number of dangers in her time with the young super-team Iota Force, many of which she rightly found intimidating. However, after a near-drowning, nothing has filled her with so much stomach-twisting, muscle-melting horror as deep water. Despite all her attempts to work past her phobia and her friends' assurances she's stronger than it, she simply can't see past her absolute terror.

So when somepony sends a torrential deluge directly at Ponyville, using weather equipment in a way previously thought impossible as a clear and credible attempt to flood and destroy the town, Icy finds her fear thrust forcefully into her face. Fortunately, it seems that Ponyville is a lot more ready to deal with a crisis than they seem, and a small (no pun intended) group from Iota Force is being sent into the Everfree to deal with the enemy. So, she can trust that things will sorted out soon enough - no need for her to have to put herself in danger, right?

Sadly, no matter how much she wishes she could, Icy simply cannot bring herself to sit back and do nothing. So, with only a couple of friends for company, she must venture deep into the wild, malignant forest and face down an enemy seemingly capable of predicting every raindrop, all without any backup or contact from Ponyville.

No matter what happens, whether the town is saved or destroyed, whether the team wins or loses, whether their opponent gets away, gets captured or takes victory, one thing is undeniably certain:

Icy Flight is having a very, very bad day.

This is the seventh story in the Iota Force series. Reading the previous stories would be helpful and will help give some things context, but hopefully the story will stand on its own. However, just to be safe, a summary of the series' premise, characters and previous stories can be found here.

Cover Art by Mix-Up (Link to his Deviantart page).

It's the night after the end of the school year, so it should be a time of celebration for the Rainbooms. However, thanks to an unpleasant encounter and a questionable bet, Sunset finds herself in a street race. If she loses, she'll be obliged to go on a date with the slimy creep she's racing. She needs to win, but with her weathered old bike, that seems unlikely.

So then, why does Twilight, her girlfriend, seem so happy about all this?

A story about clubbing, street racing and sexuality from an author who knows absolutely nothing about any of those things. Embrace the cringe!

A story for Bicyclette's SciSet Contest, posted unwillingly to support and fill out the contest rather than due to any hope of winning. Please check out the other, better entries.

The National Dessert competition: one of the biggest events of the Equestrian culinary world and a mecca for both practitioners and enthusiasts of the sugary arts, drawing gourmets of all sorts not just for the chance to see some of the greatest chefs on the planet and their creations, but for the many vendors and stalls ready to satiate the appetites that will inevitably be excited.

In particular, this year, aspiring confectioner Twist and professional overeater Truffle Shuffle are in attendance, looking to enjoy their day and date together. After all, for a couple like that, could there be a more perfect or romantic setting?

Of course, little do they know the day will have far more in store for them than that: awkwardness, anxiety, a touch of soul-searching and no small amount of fear. However, on the other side, there may be something far greater than could ever have been hoped for. But even with her coltfriend's help, will the ever-timorous Twist be able to get there? She'll just have to see.

Oh, also, someone's trying to kill one of the contestants, but that's probably not relevant to anything.

This story is in continuity with the Iota Force series, taking place after the upcoming seventh story, but absolutely no knowledge of that or any other entry in the series should be necessary for this story.

An entry in the May Pairing Contest 2023... using a pairing that is absolutely rare enough to qualify and has been officially allowed by the group, despite being explicitly canon.

As the years have passed, Discord has grown more comfortable and adapted to the world of mortal beings. He's learned a good deal of how they work, fumbled his way into knowing how to talk to them, he's even got himself more than one real friend - imagine that! As such, this year, he finally feels ready to host a gathering within his personal realm of chaos. And what better time for it than Hearth's Warming?

Everything is suited to them - Gravity is going down, Cause is making sure to precede Effect and all the necessary means of sustaining life - snacks, drinks, oxygen - are in plentiful supply. And yet, somehow, his guests seem a little uncomfortable.

Naturally, as host, it's his duty to get to the bottom of why.

Written for rpglover for Jinglemas 2022. I really hope they like it.

Spitfire - Captain, lead flyer and idiot-wrangler of the Wonderbolts - has a reputation. Whether she's whipping her wingmates into shape, keeping her trainees in line or sometimes-intentionally scaring little kids, it's hard for many to imagine her not either shouting or being ready to shout at a moment's notice.

That's not to say ponies disapprove. Even ignoring the many times the job or the crowd demand that sort of display, it's not unreasonable to assume she must be under a lot of stress, so few will begrudge her a bit of a raised voice. Still, regardless of the reasons, this does mean that, to most, she is a very scary mare.

It is therefore good, on multiple levels, that no one knows about her secret meetings with one of the most easily scared ponies in Equestria or about what truly happens within her cottage.

An entry in Bicyclette's Crackship Contest that... I'm not at all satisfied with and basically shamed myself into writing. Here's hoping I didn't screw it up too badly.

When Rarity is given a task or project, she will invariably put every ounce of her attention and effort into it, whether infinitesimally minor or world-altering. As such, when hired to decorate and organize the annual Hearth's Warming ball in Canterlot, she makes sure she is on top of things at all times.

It therefore comes as little surprise when Princess Celestia drops in to check up on how things are going and should, ideally, not be cause for concern. And yet, Rarity can't help but worry about exactly what Celestia knows, what she's heard and whether she knows exactly how on top of things Rarity is. The Princess has a talent for surprising ponies, after all, and a surprise from royalty can be most powerful.

Then again, it's just possible that Rarity isn't the only one in for a surprise.

Written for Equimorto for Jinglemas 2021!

I hope they enjoy it. For more information about Jinglemas, checkout our group!