There's a certain risk in sending this particular class of students on field trips, and Ponyville's school board is tired of seeing all of the disaster odds come through. So if the kids want to visit the Autarky Magic Center, then they're going to provide the security deposit. And that money can only come from one source: the classic school fundraiser. The corporate adults providing the 'chocolate' even promised a personal reward for selling lots of the stuff!

Cheerilee is putting Diamond in charge of the sales brigade.

The adults are going to regret that.

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

An art critic reviews the art of Canterlot Castle.

He has... opinions. One of them is more concerning to Princess Celestia than the others.

Written for the A Thousand Words Contest II, where it took an Honorable Mention in the Comedy category!

Featured 6/15/2023 - 6/19/2023!

Appearing on Equestria Daily on 6/18/2023, as well as in their 25 of the Best Fanfics for Celestia Day on 6/20/2023!

Reviewed by Loganberry in the blog Louder Yay!, earning a three out of five stars rating!

Reviewed by PresentPerfect to earn a rating of Highly Recommended!

And by Ghost Mike's Monday Musings with a rating of Pretty Good!

Now with an audio reading by StraightToThePointStudio!

And another one by Pony & Wolf Productions!

What does a mayor do? On a good day, you get to nose over an award. It helps if you can make sure the weather schedule comes off on time. But more than anything else, it's about leadership. Taking responsibility for the safety and comfort of all those who live within your domain. That's how it's supposed to work. The mayor is the one who makes sure everything is under control.

This is Ponyville. Marigold is fully aware that on a typical day, approximately nothing will be under control. But when it comes to protecting those who live there, she still has to do whatever she can.

If there's anything left which she can do at all.

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

Cover art from a vector rendering by DaAfroMan.

This story is a sequel to Unnoticed

Do you know the mare? So many believe they do. A single glance is more than sufficient to teach them everything. And given that they now know everything, there's clearly no need to make any further inquiries. She is what they've decided her to be. No more, and it would take quite a bit of effort to create any degree of 'less'.

Do you know the pegasus? The mailmare, the single mother, the incompetent, the town's lowest-flying joke? Is that what you've told yourself?

Do you know her?
You don't.

(Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group. New members and trope edits welcome.)

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

While this story is tagged as a sequel, it's just following up on her previous appearance there: no knowledge of that piece is required.

This story is a sequel to Monsoon Season

When you're a filly, there isn't much point to seeing Homecoming as a holiday. Apple Bloom knows exactly how it works: you have to clean everything, make a big meal, there's a lot of adults talking around the dinner table -- so it's basically like every other day, except with extra chores and special plates. Homecoming is when you're supposed to be with your closest family, and she lives with them. She doesn't wait for Homecoming so much as she waits to get through it, or just... waits.

On Homecoming, you seek out your closest family.
Babs is spending Homecoming on the Acres.
Why?

(Part of the Triptych Continuum, which has its own TVTropes page and FIMFiction group. New members and trope edits welcome.)

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Cover art by GroaningGreyAgony.

The birth of cinema created multiple additional industries, along with inspiring a fleet of new marks. In particular, there's a need for sound design, and Foley Artist stands ready to bring the natural beats of the outside world into the enclosed studios. And when a recording session for Canterlot's streets just happens to record the most distinctive scream ever... well, what kind of pony would Foley be if he didn't share it with the entire planet? After all, sound belongs to the people.

To the people. Not to a person. That would just be silly.

But that scream has a source. A fast-approaching, very unhappy source. And she has so many more sounds to share...

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

Art from a vector capture by AJDiSpirito. Title suggested by Sanguine Potato.

As far as Rainbow's usually concerned, innovation doesn't come fast enough. The future should be now, and anypony who isn't willing to greet it head-on just isn't moving with the times. So getting what's effectively a new way of reading? Awesome! But it's not good enough yet. She needs it to work at her standards. And fortunately, she just happens to know a mechanic who can make a few adjustments.

Ratchette (usually) appreciates the business. But anypony who regularly deals with the weather coordinator has to expect a certain amount of... fallout.

And nopony can ever stop Rainbow from being Rainbow.

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

Petty Power fully understands the responsibility of being a luggage inspector: he's there to make sure nopony brings anything onto the zeppelin which could interfere with Profit. And those nasty rumors about a potential sabotage attempt? Those have to be ignored, because nervous passengers don't board. Less ponies, less profit. Easy. And here's a group of young mares waiting to pass his checkpoint. Inflicting them with Rules and Regulations should be simple.

Petty is mere hours away from losing his job and leaving Equestria forever. But realistically, he probably deserves it.

Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.

This story is a sequel to Anchor Foal: A Romantic Cringe Comedy

It's been over a year and when it comes to the little routines of labor and love, Fleur still hasn't managed to fully adjust. She needs to find some means of making it all last. And one thing she can definitely try to do is screen out anything which threatens to make her mate unhappy. Such as, just by way of very unwelcome example, the brother. Because Zephyr wants to be part of Fluttershy's life. He claims to have changed. But Fleur doesn't know whether change is truly possible.

Or if she's really changed at all.

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)

The Empire is starting to see a little more tourist traffic. The tourists, however, are having trouble seeing anything. When every native surface in the nation offers a choice of 'reflective or refractive?' -- well, it's rather easy to spend their entire vacation stumbling into buildings, usually right next to the door.

Cadance is working on the problem. But she can only treat the walls. The crystal ponies aren't going to cover themselves... unless a certain designer can get them interested in the foreign concept of 'clothing'.

It's a challenge fit for an artist!
Or a madmare.
When you hire Rarity, you usually get both.

(Now with author Patreon and Ko-Fi pages.)