My name is The Merry Widow. And tomorrow I will die.

There comes a time in every ship’s life where they have expended their usefulness, and all that awaits them is destruction at the breakers. Beneath Luna’s stars in the long darkness before my death, I am given a gift, and new hope.

The Merry Widow will not die unmourned.

Appropriate Photo credit: The HMS Unicorn, a British frigate from 1894.

Title from Psalms 107:23
Excellent reading by Illya Leonov

Twilight knows that Rarity is a hopeless romantic, experienced through countless romance novels.
Twilight knows that Rarity has had some bad experiences with romance and courtship.
Twilight knows that Rarity still dreams of somepony to properly sweep her off her hooves.
Twilight has no idea how Rarity keeps missing the hints she keeps dropping.

Written for Monochromatic's Raritwi contest.

Cover art generously offered to all contestants and provided by the skilled Multiversecruise.

Top of the Feature Box on 05/05/17 and then for 72 hours straight: A huge thanks to everyone who liked or commented on this story.

This story is a sequel to Loveliest of Trees (Old)

After the musical showcase and Fall Formal, Twilight has to contemplate returning back to Equestria. Her time in this world has been fun. Finding Coppermane's human counterpart, watching him and Fluttershy fall in love all over again, and spending time with her friends has been amazing, but she has duties back home, and she can't stay here forever.

There's just one problem. One thing is keeping her here. Her relationship with Flash Sentry.

"How could somepony as amazing as you not have a Special Somepony on Hearts and Hooves Day?"

With that single sentence, a thousand memories came flooding back to Cheerilee. A thousand memories of a thousand terrible dates...

Maud needs to round out her rock science major with a liberal arts minor. She's chiseled down her options to three subjects that she likes, (cooking, poetry, and fashion), but she'll need your help to choose between them and pass an entrance exam. Good luck.

This story is a sequel to The Two with Good Taste

*Strongly recommended that you read the the prequel first, though not required. It will just help explain a few things.

It's been two months since Fluttershy defended her 'princess' from the crowd of mean ponies during her pet adoption event. And yet, Discord is still waiting for her to realize that they've fallen for each other. He's tried his best, but his flirting only seems to make things worse rather than better. He's growing impatient, and he doesn't know what to do.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy has grown troubled over her clashing feelings for Discord and the way he flirts with her. But when she goes on a mission to save a group of innocent souls in need, she finds herself in a troubling situation, alone and in need of help.

Sometimes, a single event is all it takes for a pony to put two and two together.

Cover by TheTalentlessPony

Fluttershy hears it. She hears it all the time.

Ponies always talk about Discord--they whisper about him, even when she and her friend are around them. Ugly, they say. They find him ugly! They think he's a beast!

It makes Fluttershy's heart ache. She's afraid their words are hurting Discord--that he may think he's ugly too, because of what they say.

So when she holds an event for pets in need of adoption, and the gossip starts again, can Fluttershy stand up for him?

And what in the world does Discord mean by "You'll figure it out"?!?

Cover by TheTalentlessPony

This story is a side story to Crystal's Wishes

Being a bartender means listening to ponies' problems. Gossip, woes, tall tales, secrets—you've heard it all.

Until tonight, that is.

This story is a side story to Crystal's Wishes

While most of their days are spent being Mom and Dad to their young foal Red Velvet, there is one day out of the year that Sunbeam and Pepper Ridge reserve to be just wife and husband: Hearts and Hooves Day. It's their special day when they can stay in bed, gaze into each other's eyes, and enjoy a kind of romance that only other married couples can understand.

Velvet Step remembers her grandfather.

But her grandfather seems to be having trouble remembering her.