Nighttime. Luna's time. The magic time when she may wander the gardens of the palace to clear her head. There, a surprise is sprung. So unexpected. So shocking. So needed.

(A good old fashioned songfic, with two songs in evidence, one complete and modified slightly, one just started. The first is "All I ask of you" from Phantom of the Opera and the second "Catch the wind" by Donovon.)

This story is a sequel to The Unsuitable

Princess Luna despises answering suits. It is a tedious task of thankless misery, mostly consisting of greedy nobles quibbling over contracts, love-hunters seeking her hoof, and complaining idiots wanting ironclad judgment. But in one instance, of all the pestilential inanity and miserable horribleness, she finds one pony that wants nothing more than sound advice. And with her personal maid Lime Sherbert, she will deliver it, and more.

Just an excuse to use more of English Renaissance Luna, and to include Fleur, with Lime along for the ride. It might not make sense unless you read my earlier Luna stories.

Now equipped with a side-story: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/24710/Dames-of-the-Tea-Table%3ASilver-Sabbatical

Now with a new cover by the wonderful and generous Chatoyance!

Note: While the story is now done, the idea will continue in other treads in the main story universe.b]

A poem, written by Sir Crescent Sliver, from an alternate universe that should never have existed.

The Wastes destroy all they touch. Hope, hearts, happiness, health. A sorrowful scholar from a time before gathers the fragments of intellectual sorrow and assembles them into a patched-together monster of a poem. As disjointed as the polluted wastes, as scarred and broken as the landscape of fallen and tumbled out madness and hopelessness. Pain and agony, ultimately, for nothing.

(Three things: Yes, if you think it's a reference to that, you're right. Why? I don't know. Some folk are cruel. Second, yes, "Twin Peaks" reference. It's a good bit of verse. Also, no. My favorite is actually "The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock.")

An informational pamphlet provided free of charge to all citizes of Equestria who may be considering breeding with a member of a different sentient species, to let them know their options.

There are so many popular depictions and interpretations of ponies. So amusing. So "cool" and "edgy" and "hipster friendly" and "crunk" and whever other words are used to describe twisting, turning and abusing ponies. Candy-colored ponies deserve better than to be abused, molested and killed.

The tale of Bad Apple, growing up and all the formative experiences that turned a country gentlecolt held in a heartless mother's grip into an exile of boundless goodness and concern for the common pony.

Note: It's not exactly over. But this particular "arc" of his life is over. Most of the stories about him can be considered to be taking place between "Perfect" and "Apple Shrugged."

Sweetie Belle comes to Twilight for advice, on an important and curious subject, one which the studious Twilight knows all about. Not from books, but from life.

At a seedy little griffin dive bar somewhere in Equestria, two gargantuan egos still stinging from personal tragedy and shocks to the system engage in a war of words and deeds to see which one is worthy of thinking of themselves as the best.

About the only Gildixie (Gilda/Trixie) story I have ever seen.

Big Macintosh is a stallion of many secrets. But none are kept from the one thing in all of Equestria that will never think ill of him, never berate him, never hurt him. The one who understands. Smarty-Pants the sweet one, the loving, the caring.

Granny Smith nurses an ailment one night, and meets somepony from her past better left forgotten. But the pony in question will not be chased off and his deal will not be denied. For honor, for love, for the soul of the Apples.