Misty didn't know why she was so scared that night. Yet, she hoped that Opaline would comfort her and help her calm down. And there's no better way to comfort a little filly than telling a bedtime story.

Opaline Arcana has sowed dissent and anger across Equestria. With the nation divided, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends are struggling to contain the ambitious alicorn. If something isn't done soon, Twilight will have no choice but to store Equestria's magic into the Unity Crystals, putting all of ponykind at risk.

Before that, though, Twilight has an idea. There's a prisoner locked away in Tartarus that was forgotten by history. He might be just what they need to stop Opaline. However, letting him loose could spell disaster for Equestria.

It's a risk she has to take.

Opaline had stolen the cutie marks from half of Equestria and was rapidly conquering the rest. Even the fake alicorn Sunny Starscout and her minions were faltering before her. One more push would bring Opaline to her final victory.

Then she surrendered.

And even Opaline doesn’t know why.

This story is a sequel to Stoking the Flames

Following her defeat, Opaline Arcana was consumed by her Together Tree. She knows not how long she was in there, but finally, everything has gone cold. For a fire alicorn, this can mean only one thing:

She has died.

And someone is waiting for her on the other side.

Food for thought: if Equestria cut just 2% of its annual friendship budget it could afford to construct a colossal obsidian sphere in Ponyville. On top of the obvious economic benefits, it would be visible throughout all of central-north-ish Equestria and emanate an ominous hum!

Misty is a nervous pony. With all the abuse she takes from Opaline, it's no surprise that she's about to pee herself every other minute. What is a little hench-pony with an overactive bladder supposed to do?

Sad/Dark/Drama tags added because Opaline is a horrible pony.

Trigger warnings: Bedwetting / urge incontinence and Misty's abusive home life

Cover image is Derpibooru #2958157.

In the Celestial Sea, about ten miles from the shores of Equestria, there lies a small, uninhabited island. On this island, two mysterious mares have a quiet discussion over a game of chess.

It was nearly one thousand years ago that Opaline Arcana defeated Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Her plan had succeeded, and the three ponykinds were split, their bonds broken. However, the ordeal left Opaline drained of her magic. If she revealed herself too soon, everything would have been for naught. She had a castle, but she couldn't leave.

While she still had her followers, there was one major issue: She is immortal, and they were not. Thus, she was eventually the only one left, and she required an assistant. Unfortunately, enchantments will only get a pony so far, and wild creatures aren't exactly reliable. While a young unicorn mare named Misty Brightdawn would come to her a few years before she would finally get her chance to return to the public eye, there were hundreds of years where very little happened.

However, about sixty of those years are an exception. Those were the years that she found herself with something she never expected.

A companion. A human companion.

Suggested by Wanderer312.

Misty decides to visit an old friend on Winter Wishday.

Part of Serina's Hearth's Warming Eve Collection for 2023.

Spoiler Warning: This story contains spoilers for Chapter 6 of Make Your Mark.

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, a split occurred, controlled from the shadows by a powerful villain. But the wise ruler Twilight Sparkle stopped the villain and ruined his plans, paying a very high price.
Not long ago, after the reunification of disparate pony races, the villain returned again, and new heroes led by the ancient ideals of friendship are ready to confront evil.
Will they cope with the difficulties that have arisen, or will Equestria lose its harmony forever?