Roses are red
The sky is blue
The ephemeral and the eternal:
Both call to you

If you're Twilight Sparkle trying to wrestle with her emotions, anyway, which isn't always easy for somepony like her.

Written for Blueninetails for Jinglemas 2024!

My name is Sunburst, and I live my life alone, because I prefer it that way. Not everypony does. For some ponies, in fact, that's more like a long slow death sentence.

My duty as a guard is to protect the princess. Traditionally, that's taken to mean against physical threats. Less traditionally, I'm coming to realize it may also mean assisting in other ways - maybe even in ways she's not aware that she needs. Normally I would say it's not my place to intervene in personal matters. But when I see as plain as the hoof in front of my face that something is wrong, sometimes it finally brings me to the point at which standing by and doing nothing is no longer an option.

Day by day, I'm getting closer to that point. I may have to have to make a hard decision. I don't know if this is right or wrong. All I know is watching my princess suffer is impossible to bear when I'm supposed to be protecting her.

This is the expanded and rewritten print version of the original, printed for the Everfree Northwest 2024 Book Nook!

With an additional foreword by PaulAsaran, to whom I am very grateful.

Twilight, on her new wings, couldn't find her way around Cloudsdale. It may have left more of mark on her than she wants to admit.

Maybe she could use some help, but she's going to have to be honest first.

Written for Penguifyer for Jinglemas 2023.

What it says on the box. Pinkie Pie has a hearse (somehow). She drives it. Hijinks ensue. What kind of hijinks? You'll have to read to find out!
_{I don't own Hasbro or FiM}

This description is inspired by a thing Eldorado said years ago.

Was also my entry in the Go Steady in the Dark event on writeoff.me.

Trixie knows what it is to be determined.

She knows it better than anypony.

She’s always felt it, her whole life.

Doesn't always mean she has to like it.
 
 

Bronze medal winner in the TBD event on writeoff.me all the way back in 2017! Thanks writeoff gang for your feedback.

The time comes for all students to step out from under the shadow of their teacher and choose their own path.

On that path, knowledge is power, but if it all goes wrong... if that power is put into the wrong hooves... how far might somepony who is trying to reconcile the position of teacher with the duties of ruler be forced to go to fix these mistakes? What level of personal involvement in being responsible does she owe herself and her people?

...And how much is it going to hurt?

Gold medal winner in the The Brightest Days writeoff event. Thanks to the participants there for their feedback, as always!

Cheesy pick-up lines? Really? They're so dumb!
Who comes up with this stuff?
There's no way that actually works.

...Does it?

For Celestia's entire life, and time immemorial before, ponies have lived in three tribes. The magical Unicorn Kingdom in the far north moves the sun and the moon, the hard-working earth ponies grow food, and the proud pegasi of the Cloud Empire control the weather. They coexist out of necessity in a delicate balance of trade, although they have little trust or friendship for each other.

But now, the North is getting colder. Crops are failing, and the balance is crumbling. In the midst of the world's freezing, a sinister plan unfolds, spelling further disaster. Everything hangs on the precipice of catastrophe.

All Celestia ever really wanted was to be assigned to work on the sun control team, but her world needs heroes – before it's too late.

Pre-read / edited by Georg, Ceffyl Dwr, The Dobermans, Telepony, and Beltorn. Thanks, all of you!

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Glim-glam's smart, though. She's got this.

...Right?

Bronze medalist in the Desperate Times Friendship is Short Shorts event on writeoff.me

Rarity and Rainbow Dash spend a wonderful night together—the kind of night filled with pure magic.

But how long does magic last, and can its fleeting spark be caught and held?

Gold medal winner in the Gone By Morning event on writeoff.me! Thanks writeoff gang for your feedback, as always!