Rainbow Dash was the Iron Wing. She was a war hero, the Slayer of Shadows, the Liberator of the Crystal Empire, the Wrath of Celestia. And depending on who you ask, she still is.

But the war is over. There's little need for a pony like her in peacetime. So she keeps telling herself that she needs to adjust, that she needs to find a new role to fill in the world that she saved. But Equestria seems content to let her remain what she has become, even though they have no need of a warrior.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be", is something she keeps telling herself. But every time she says it, the only thing she can reply is, "so what should it be?"

One whole year after the close of the war, and Rainbow Dash still doesn't have the answer.

Art by NCMares.

Princess Celestia has been in love with Twilight Sparkle for years. The rescue of her sister had been the start, but since then Twilight has saved Celestia, Luna, and their kingdom countless times. However, Celestia's true feelings have remained hidden, even from herself.

That is, until the day her love is revealed to her through a dream. But Celestia is determined to keep her feelings to herself. She has no idea how Twilight will react, and would prefer things remain they way they are, with the two Princesses as friends.

Unfortunately, Luna immediately finds out. A small group of ponies is quickly gathered, all with one goal: to force Celestia to confess her feelings and end her thousand-year relationship drought.

This causes so much chaos that Discord goes on vacation and will not be appearing in this story.

---

Edited by ShutterflyYay from chapter four onward.

The search to find the right pony to serve as your bodyguard can take a lifetime. Finding the pony you want to spend your life with can take just as long. Fortunately for Rarity, she finds both of these qualities united in one pony.

Nothing is ever easy, however. And in a way, the journey to happiness is never truly over.

This story was tagged as 'dark' for minor blood, and off-screen death in certain scenes. Not enough to really shock, but I thought it prudent to mention regardless.

This story is dedicated to Monochromatic, who has become a friend to me over this last year.

Enjoy.

This story is a sequel to Flipside

((A sequel to my surprisingly popular story Flipside! Set in an alternate universe where Spike is the pony and Twilight is his dragon assistant.))

It's been two weeks since the defeat of Nightmare Moon. Two weeks since six unexpected ponies became heroes that saved not only Ponyville, but all of Equestria. And in those two weeks Spike "Purple Prose" Flail, ace reporter for the Canterlot Sun, has had plenty of time to get into the swing of his new home in the small town. Life seems good...

Until a new pony blows into town. A specter from Spike's past that isn't willing to let him just have his "happily ever after." A certain ex-student of Princess Celestia herself that Spike hasn't thought of in ages.

One who's particularly eager to show how little a "hero" Spike is.

Part of the Flipverse!

Now on TVTropes!

After a long trip to Canterlot to visit her family for Hearth's Warming, Princess Twilight comes home to find her very special somepony waiting for her. The conversation takes a very... personal turn.

A little holiday present to my friend RainbowBob. He mentioned he wanted to see more TwiCora out there, and I felt like I needed to write something like this after the holiday season I've had. Something very sweet, a bit sensual, and even a little sad. Sorry boys, but the sex tag is just to be safe. Hope some of you enjoy it anyway!

We all know how the end of the story went. Starlight was shown the disastrous consequences of her time travel spell, she revealed her past, Twilight took her under her wing as her own student and she mends her ways.

But what if that wasn't the case?

Even when the results of Starlight's meddling of the past is shown to her, she rejects the offer of friendship and still vows to never stop her attempts to exact revenge on the Mane Six and ruin their connection. Thus Twilight is faced with only one final option...

Starlight Glimmer vector by Godoffury

FEATURED: 28th October 2016! Thanks a bunch, y'all!

Now with a TVTropes page!

Reading by DragonFirePrincess7

This story is a sequel to Changeling Courtship Rituals

Queen Chrysalis attacked Canterlot, brainwashed Twilight Sparkle's brother, kidnapped her former foalsitter, defeated her mentor in combat, and conquered her kingdom. She kidnapped the sisters of Twilight's friends, turned them against one another, and tried to drain all of Twilight's magic. Queen Chrysalis has, at every opportunity, done her very best to utterly destroy Twilight Sparkle's life.

For some reason, this has not caused the pony to fall in love with her.

However, due to Twilight's misunderstanding of changeling customs, it does mean they are now married. Twilight eventually managed to tell the Queen the truth, but she forgot that whether it's a kingdom or a heart, changelings conquer.

And since the changeling way of conquest didn't work, Chrysalis is determined to try the pony way. The only problem is, of course, she has no idea what that is. But she knows someone who does: Princess Cadance.

Now, with the absolutely sincere help of her mortal enemy, the pony she once locked in the caves beneath Canterlot while trying to steal her husband on their very wedding day, Queen Chrysalis is going to woo the sister-in-law of that very pony.

Surely this is the most perfect plan ever devised.

***

Proofread by ShutterflyYay.

Takes place roughly after season five (so Starlight Glimmer is running around occasionally)

For years, Twilight Sparkle and Queen Chrysalis have been at each other's throats. Both have experienced victory over the other, and both have experienced defeat. Out of all the creatures in Equestria, none despise each other the way the pony Princess and changeling Queen do. They seemed destined to remain locked in battle forever, or at least until one is finally dead at the hooves of the other. The cruel insults, the vicious loathing, and the powerful spells that have passed back and forth between them at each meeting have become the stuff of legend.

Imagine Twilight's surprise when she finds out changelings consider this dating.

And now they're married.

***

Sequel: Pony Courtship Rituals

***

Some beautiful fanart of the end of chapter three was done by Dmann892; you can see it here.

More awesome fanart, this time from chapter one.

Now with a TvTropes page (obligatory TvTropes warning goes here).

If you want a Russian translation, you can find it here.

There is now a reading of the story on Youtube, which starts here.

For hundreds of years, Twilight Sparkle has managed to go through her life by working day and night as the sole ruler of Equestria. Sensing her life coming to an end, Twilight looks back at her achievements and believes like something is missing since the last of her loved ones died.

One day, Twilight finds some old relics with her great-great-great-great-great granddaughter with one of them being her old doll, Smartypants. Memories of the time she used to play with her favorite doll, even bringing it to life with a spell, flood her as long-buried emotions come out. It is with Smartypants that Twilight will find what she has been missing all this time.

***

Inspired by BerrryPAWNCH's Growing Pains Comic, who I thank for the permission to do this fic.

Thanks to my Editors: Darth Link 22, First Down, Chaotic Note, BronyWriter, and Socks

Worthless, weak, ugly—as far as Twilight is concerned, that's all she'll ever be. Even three months into their relationship, Twilight still refuses to believe that an absolute goddess like Sunset could ever love a loser like her. And it doesn't help that Twilight spends every night being tormented by nightmares of Midnight Sparkle, the one being who hates Twilight more than she hates herself.

Twilight can only remember a single moment in her life when she felt strong: the five minutes that she spent as Midnight Sparkle. The five minutes she spent with magic.

Now, tortured by fear, anxiety, and never-ending nightmares, Twilight knows the only way to win Sunset's love is to make herself stronger—even if that means resurrecting the demon inside of her.

Originally written for the January 2016 Writeoff, "Look, I Can Explain...", where it made finals.

Thanks to Horizon, Bookplayer, and FanOfMostEverything for offering advice on the original. Thanks to Quill Scratch, Oroboro, Monokeras, Lise Eclaire, Monarch Dodora, Majin Syeekoh, PegasusMesa, Reneigh Haycart, and Hazeyhooves for helping me brainstorm certain parts. Preread by Pascoite.

Art by Ta-Na!