"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means its going to launch you into something great. Just focus, and keep aiming."

For Snapshot, life has ground to a halt ever since two years ago. The last Equestria Games nearly ended in tragedy because of a stray arrow in the Ice Archery event. Why in Equestria did his shot go astray? Seasoned athletes don’t make mistakes like that without a good reason…

I want to give special thanks to my prereaders Jack of a Few Trades, Quillamore, and Piquo Pie. This story wouldn't be nearly as good if you guys didn't help me out.

FamousLastWords helped out too by prereading.

Cover art is by the amazing Pridark

Discord has won. Everyone in the human world is under his dominion, save for Sunset Shimmer whom he saved for last.

Today the world, tomorrow Equestria.

Big thanks to Winston, Grand_Moff_Pony, and xgfhj18 for edits. (sorry xgfhj18, I don't know your fimfiction name)

(A light story focusing on Culture and Characters)

Breaking News Headline: COLT CATCHES LUCKY BREAK, GETS TO BREAK A LEG WITH PRINCESS LUNA

The winner of the first 'Royalty for a Day' contest has just been selected, a young earth pony colt from Ponyville named Pipsqueak. This lucky colt was selected randomly from tens of thousands of entries across Equestria to spend an evening with Princess Luna, stay at Canterlot Castle, attend the first Royal Nightmare Night Festival as Princess Luna’s personal guest, and will be knighted as Equestria Royalty for the day.

When asked, Pipsqueak had this to say. “Oh, I was just so excited when I got the letter telling me I’d won. Princess Luna‘s been my favorite Princess ever since she visited Ponyville during the last Nightmare Nights Festival three years ago. She’s ever so much fun! I must‘ave sent a thousand letters, I did.”

There you have it folks. I can’t say I’m not jealous of the little tyke. He’s agreed to tell us all about his day as Royalty sometime next week. Have fun, little guy.

-Head writer for the Canterlot Times, Inky Quill.

Written for VGI based on his art provided here.

Edited by Drgnwolf and enti0 who is also British and really helped with the accents.

When Rarity received a request to complete a very important job for a very important client, she didn't hesitate to accept. The request happened to come from Manehattan, and after some debate, Sweetie Belle convinced her older sister to take her along so she could see Babs Seed. The project would take a couple weeks, and the two promised to write home frequently to share their experiences with their friends.

But the letters never came, and after two months, the two returned with little to say about their trip. When they do speak, their stories are elusive and vague. Rumor has it that Princess Twilight has heard more, but she isn't talking, either. One thing is clear. There's something else going on — something hidden just between the lines.

NOTE: This story uses a mechanic to make two stories in one, and thus requires two separate reads. This mechanic is designed for full screens only. Phones and partial screens will not format correctly 95% of the time. If the formatting looks wrong, minimize the font until it works for you so you can enjoy it properly.

Full credit must be given to Piquo Pie for introducing me to this format. Check out Piquo's story here for more.

One story to make you laugh,
a little random,
made for fun.

One story to make you shiver,
a little dark,
made for reasons unknown.

Two stories in one. A challenge, an experiment.

Big thanks to Winston and Abcron for edits.

Twenty two years after their defeat at the hands of the Rainbooms, Adagio has lost contact with her former cohorts. However, when she receives shocking news, she tracks down one of them for another meeting...

Find this story and more in a print copy! Just click these words here!

Thanks to my wonderful editors on this, Savoured Thoughts, Winston, Chengar Qordath, and Grand_Moff_Pony

Featured on EQD 11/24/15

Being Princess Celestia's personal guard is a gruelling, thankless job. However, when the Princess begins tutoring a small purple filly, Bastion finds himself on the receiving end of a much needed hug.

Entry for the EFNW Pre-Con Writing Contest 2015.

Second person shipping starring you as Mouse Cursor and Rainbow Dash the Interactive Pony. You had a crush on her for a while now, but is the feeling mutual? Innuendos galore.

Special thanks to Koen and CloudHop.

Written as one of my two entries for Everfree Northwest's fanfiction competition, this story tackles the friendship that everypony hopes to see: the resolution between Twilight Sparkle and Trixie, as told in a series of letters. However, how can two ponies who are so different make peace? And will a misunderstood letter destroy the fragile cease-fire between these two powerful unicorns?

Winner of the 2015 Everfree Northwest Scribblefest Contest, and was printed in the conbook!

First!

Letters From the Capital, by Apple Bottoms

Really, really well done correspondence trope. Both characters stand out as unique and multi-dimensional. The story and plot are there, but not forced, and there’s a lovely emotional component as well. Together, it all fits very naturally as a story of new friendship.

–Xepher

For such a restrictive word limit, Apple Bottoms manages to weave a touching narrative that, somehow, doesn’t feel constrained by the word limit. Or by the format. Trixie and Twilight are both given room to be themselves, and the story just feels good to read. In a contest full of standouts, Letters From The Capital still manages to stand a cut above.

–Silver Flare

This story goes a route you don’t usually see in shorter fiction, but achieves this unexpected storyline because of the chosen format as a series of letters. In a contest where the the storyline is to make new friends, this one has the possible friendship first dip and weaken, threatening to break before it grows back into something stronger and more lasting than it was before. It is a kind of storyline I don’t recall seeing in any of the stories I read, and the same could be said for this format. A unique plot told in a unique way to give us a unique take on the contest prompt.

–Pen Stroke

Wooo! Let’s hear it for our winner! Apple Bottoms will also have their full story printed in the convention conbook after a full edit. In addition, they will receive a 1st place patch, custom engraved high quality pen and pen holder declaring them an award-winning author, several Everfree Northwest contest pens (for more casual use), messenger bag, be invited to an interview to be posted online and featured by Everfree Northwest, a $20 Amazon gift card, and an assortment of EFNW merch.

Drakkar, a pony from the Frozen North, is sent to Equestria to update the maps they have in Scandineighvia. Once he arrives to Ponyville, though, he finds out that there's a descendant of one of his townfolks living there.