This story is a sequel to Man of Constant Sorrow

Starlight removes an unwanted cutie mark.

Written for the Writer's Training Grounds '15 #2.

Twilight faces the thought of immortality with her usual aplomb: falling down into a ball of misery and confusion about her role, and what she will do in the eventual absence of her friends and family.

That is, until a much older Twilight Sparkle takes the time to talk to her.

When Coco Pommel is summoned to Ponyville, she encounters the last thing she thought she'd ever see: a Rarity who has completely lost the passion for her profession.

Moved by Rarity's plight, Coco will do everything she can to bring the sparkle back to her friend. But will she, an almost complete outsider to Rarity's life, be enough?

Editing duties courtesy of nanashi_jones.

When Trouble Shoes takes on Rodeo Clowning for the first time, his destiny is realized.

Princess Celestia is due to arrive in Ponyville in a few hours. Nothing is ready. The town is being invaded by a swarm of parasprites. Pinkie Pie has gone completely loco-in-the-coco and is rushing around Ponyville collecting random musical instruments.

However Berry Punch and Golden Harvest have another problem to worry about. They have to redo their banner.

Originally written for the writeoff: All In

Twilight is troubled to find an open book on Rarity's head when she goes to help Rarity fit a dress.

Should she tell her?

This story is a sequel to The Freeport Venture

Sunset Shimmer has established a good life for herself in Freeport. Sure, the city might be horrendously corrupt, but she makes a very good living as the Freeport's only officially sanctioned unicorn magus.

All that goes down the drain when somepony robs the richest bank in Freeport. And most baffling of all, after the heist the crook went to the poorest part of town and scattered the loot for all of Freeport's poor and deprived citizens. Now Sunset has to find the thief, and figure just why someone would rob from the rich and give to the poor...

Reading The Freeport Venture is not necessary to follow this story's plot, though you'll certainly enjoy it more if you have. Plus you should read the previous story anyway, because I'm quite proud of it.

Busted an axle in the downpour. Shoulda expected it. 'S what comes with having bad luck as a special talent.

Written for the Writer's Training Grounds '15 #1.

No singing, no baking, no parties, no smiling.

The accident five years ago didn't just drive a wedge between Pinkie Pie and her friends, it stole her very identity. She had no choice but to move back home, to a hard life of farming rocks and managing her condition. Since then, she's built her family's farm into a successful corporation and the backwater town of Big Rock into a bustling city. But none of that gives her purpose.

When a new danger arises, threatening everything she's worked for an everypony she loves, will Pinkie be able to do what's necessary to save them? Or will her demons finally overtake her?

Note: The Crossover tag is a spoiler, but this story should be accessible to most readers. Comments that discuss the crossover and spoilers for the story without [ spoiler ] tags will be deleted!

5th place finalist in the May 2014 writeoff, "Beneath the Mask". Artwork by zanefir-dran!

Prior to the events of "A Canterlot Wedding" Princess Celestia asks Cadance what ought to be done with the changelings that have been discovered living hidden in Equestria. Cadance's proposed plan of action is swift, brutal, and ruthless, but absolutely unnecessarily so. Celestia has never heard Cadance speak an ill word of anyone, and she cannot fathom why the young princess seems to so despise the uncovered changelings.

Cadance just can't fathom why the uncovered changelings have chosen to forsake their own kind to live among the ponies.