You have been working for the Apple Family for months now, but you find yourself unable to tell anypony your true thoughts and feelings. Instead you hide behind a mask so convincing that even the Element of Honesty believes it.

This story takes place in the same universe as my first story, Rising Sun, so if you have some questions look there before asking them. Anyway, enjoy this, and the two sequels, I Would Give to You, and Faux Pas of the Heart. Links to those stories can be found in the final chapter.

As of 9/14/12 10:51 Eastern Time Approval rating is 96.125%

READ THIS DESCRIPTION. ALL OF IT.

[2nd-Person Fic starring you and Rainbow Dash]

Having turned away from the spotlight, you preferred to distance yourself from fame and popularity. Instead, you chose to live a simple life away from the crowds and fortune. But when you meet a multicolored mare with an unusual request, can you find it in yourself to go for the gold again?

A/N: Okay, this is going to make very little sense at first, but just bear with me.

So I've been playing a ton of Kid Icarus: Uprising lately. It is hella fun, and Sakurai did an amazing job at revitalizing the series. It has easily stolen the spot of "favorite 3DS title" in my heart, and I can't put it down.

So you're probably wondering, "what does Kody's videogame preferences have anything to do with a romance story involving Rainbow Dash?" Well, everything, actually.

A friend of mine noticed my new addiction to this title. He knows I write about ponies, and as such, he jokingly made a bet with me saying that I should write a story in which I use music from said game in every chapter. I shrugged it off and ignored it at first, but I went and started to listen to the soundtrack. Somehow, I developed a plan and storyline from doing so. Now, this story won't reflect the events or storyline from this title. It is entirely original.

The rules I was given are simple:
1. The music must come from Kid Icarus: Uprising.
2. At least one song must be used in each chapter. More than one song is viable.
3. The same song may not be used more than once.
4. Remixes or fan-made renditions of songs are not allowed.
5. The song must be used in a way that enhances the reading experience. I can't just toss a song in and say 'mission accomplished.' It must complement the events and make sense.

Now, I know what you are thinking, and yes. This is really weird. But hey, it worked, and this story was born as a result.

EDIT: It has been brought to my attention that some of the songs used in the story are blocked in certain countries. As much as I would love to get this fixed, I'm afraid I don't have much of a way around this. If this affects you, I apologize deeply.

ANOTHER EDIT: Since Youtube is such a fickle thing when it comes to copyrighted music, a link may end up leading to a broken video. If this is the case for any of the songs, please let me know via PM so I can fix it ASAP. Thanks!

This is how it works. When you get to a bit of blue text such as this, that's a link to the song. Open it in a new tab and continue reading as the music plays. Simple. When you get to some red, underlined text, that is the cue to stop the music. Sometimes, that cue may not be there, and the song is meant to play until the end of the chapter. Songs don't carry over to other chapters, however.

The music is not required for the reading experience. It is entirely optional. Well, for you it is.

I hope you enjoy my nerd-ery!

Artwork by celebi-yoshi of dA.

Most changelings only want to feed on love and serve their queen, defending her with their lives. But Scales the changeling has never seen eye-to-eye with the others. All he wanted to do was cook. He leaves the hive and finds himself in Ponyville as a baker. He finds peace, but will that peace stay?

((Being rewritten starting from chapter twelve))

Scootaloo is a young pony who has endured quite a bit of hardships, but has made the best of her life, even if it hasn't always been so easy. The little filly from Port Mane shares, in her own words, the ups and downs of her life, and just what it means to endure.

Find out how Scootaloo has endured through love and loss. See her thoughts on Rainbow Dash, her family, the crusaders, Featherweight, Pipsqueak, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Princess Luna and more.

Thanks to user sqarishoctagon for helping me edit. Soundtrack added via YouTube.

[Image is deceptive, it's not always as sad as the image implies, there's all kinds of moods, but this is a pic I'm proud of, and it's relevant in parts. Also check this description for more pics as the story unfolds.]

THIS IS A SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT UNIVERSE. I wrote this, starting during late Season 2, so I had to make judgment calls based on the information I had. As such, certain episodes thereafter do not match up, or fit in different places. Consequently, it is a very similar alternate universe. Many events happen in both this and the show timeline, but do not always match. I tried to stay consistent when possible, but certain things were lost to disagreements in interpretation. I like how I wrote my story and will not force it to match what came after I started writing. I've also decided to consider this fluidly finished. I still seem to make updates, but I no longer guarantee them.

[Please, if you read this, let me know what you think. PM me, comment, whatever. I just really want to hear people's thoughts!]

Pictures of the OCs:

Auntie Raincloud: http://fav.me/d57lxyk
Rosy Fields: http://fav.me/d57lxsb
Thunderclap: http://fav.me/d57lxv5
Miss Golden Posey: http://fav.me/d57m7on
Shooting Star: http://fav.me/d57mfah
Lucky Buck: http://fav.me/d57mf6t
Shutter Speed: http://fav.me/d57vow5
Ocean Breeze: http://fav.me/d57ly1b
Maple Woods: http://fav.me/d57m5dq
Sandy Shores: http://fav.me/d57m5gl
Cherry Tart: http://fav.me/d5mb5ch
Blazemane: http://fav.me/d57wlua
Thunderbolt: http://fav.me/d57wm42
Winter Winds: http://fav.me/d57wlwl
Wild Wisp: http://fav.me/d57wm2h
Jasmine Tea: http://fav.me/d6hb1kx
Golden Manchet: http://fav.me/d6hazp7 (Turned out greener than I intended.)

*THANKS TO EVERYONE who has given this a 95+% positive rating after over 3000 views 800 comments and 550 votes! I'm so thankful for your enjoyment of the story!*

Story events/characters that could spoil things:

http://fav.me/d8upn3c - My own art
http://fav.me/d8upn2w - My own art
http://fav.me/d8upf61 - My own art
http://fav.me/d8un0gx - My own art
http://fav.me/d8uqb91 - My own art
http://fav.me/d8urrbn - My own art
http://fav.me/d8uwzxl - My own art -- SPOILERS
http://fav.me/d6h2xa6 - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fvi4w - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fspin - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6fp5eb - Commissioned
http://fav.me/d6h7t30 - The photograph from Entry 35. Faded as found.
http://fav.me/d6gcugr - Scootaloo's Family Portrait ca. Entry 43. Commissioned and lovely.
http://fav.me/d8y4c5t - Commissioned art portraying an event from the final two chapters. (Spoilers.)
http://fav.me/d53luw1 - Legitimate fanart. GREATLY appreciated.

http://fav.me/d8wy111 - a picture of Lucky Buck created from an art prompt "Starstruck"

This is the story of an unsuccessful show mare heading for the City of Entertainment, Las Pegasus, hoping to renew her tarnished name. On her path in life, she will let her past torments and her pride dictate her actions, slowly bringing her to the edge of Equestria where unknown dangers lurk. She has yet to realize how long and tiring her tale will become and will never see the opportunities to get what she really wants.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, and unbeknownst to him, a human ends up in Equestria's not so distant past and falls in with none other than Daring Do. Check out the adventures of Daring when teaming up with a snarky human!

After Chrysalis failed to conquer Equestria, she was shamefully stripped of her title of "Queen of the Changelings".

Their people now leaderless, the Changeling race now finds itself in a unique situation. In the struggle for power, one Changeling seizes the attention of his people. Can he overcome his nature, and the nature of his people, to lead them into a better future?

This story is a sequel to Reading Rainbow

Pressed by the looming shadow of academic tardiness after her internment at the hospital, Twilight again attempts the use of the Split-Sight spell to catch up on her studies. But when a strange side effect alters more than just her vision, she finds that things might not go quite as she had planned.

[Cover Art by: Conicer]

(Now with Fanart!)

Scootaloo's rather embarrassed by her Mom. Not because she isn't cool, arguably she's both the hottest and the coolest mom in Ponyville. It's not about the fact that her mom serves on the royal court either, though that doesn't help. Maybe it's got more to do with the fact that the reason her mom is almost never seen after sunrise or before sunset, or because before the Mare in the Moon returned to Equestria, she knew her name.

Or, you know, that her mother is a chocoholic, an embarrassing know it all that's actually lived it all, owes personal favors to Princess Luna, and has the unfortunate job description of 'ruler of the land and day'. Sure, having Celestia as your mom is cool and all, but at the same time nopony can know who she really is. Nopony gets to 'know' her, and every moment is guarded against snooping visitors. And yet, there's still hope for a better day to come. Even when all your mom's enemies and rivals finally come home to roost and ruin your day. It can't be all bad, right?

Now with a Trope Page: Scootamom on TVTropes

And Fanart:
[img]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/266/8/9/scootamom_by_familywing-d5fnnov.jpg[/img]

There was only one explanation. For all of it. All of the strange, erratic behavior. Her irrational fear of the sun. Her nocturnal habits of locking herself in in the dark and closing all the blinds. Wearing her sunglasses everywhere, even inside! It was time to invest in some silver, garlic, and a wooden stake.