As a new leader and higher up in the ranks of the alicorns, Twilight must be tested. She needs to be prepared to deal with the responsibilities of her duties as a princess. Not only in the term of protecting others, but in physical pain that she would potentially go through.

Or that's what Celestia keeps telling herself. Celestia constantly attempts to kill Twilight, bringing her back to life every time she stops breathing. Twilight doesn't understand. Why would her mentor put her through this? Why would she make her suffer like that? She claims it's to teach her how to deal with pain...

But is she really telling the truth, or does she need an outlet for the pain she suffered?

Special thanks to Mr101, Skeeter the Lurker, RainbowBob, and Merc

Mayor Mare had a life before politics, but she sacrificed it for the greater good. She can't have it both ways, of course… except that Twilight says the exact opposite.

Expanded version of a minific that tied for 16th of 101 in the /fic/ write-off "The Best Medicine."

Featured on Equestria Daily!

No pony can hold onto their magic forever. Inevitably, a pony's body will be broken, and their magic will return to the air and soil. Celestia has held onto her magic for a very long time.

After many long years of preparation, the time for Twilight to succeed Celestia as Bearer of the Sun has come. But as the abdication ceremony in which Celestia will relinquish her power approaches, Twilight begins to desperately search for a way to stop the dread ritual of the ceremony and save her friend.

Twilight has come to discover that royal politics are complicated, but foreign policy is the worst. When the minotaur king decides to pay a visit, Celestia invites Twilight to be part of her first meeting with a foreign leader. This is her first big chance to impress on an international level... but the king isn't here to celebrate the Magic of Friendship, and he has more than a few choice words for the rookie princess. Twilight might just want to go back to world-saving after this.

Originally written for the write-off prompt "There's Magic in Everything." I was too late, then changed it up, and was left with... well, this. Brilliant!

Thanks to my prereader BlinkyPony along with my editors PaulAsaran and ultra1437 for all their help!

Cover art can be found here.

After working on a major project for the betterment of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle brings her work to her mentor and princess for approval and funding, and her proposal is rejected outright without explanation or sympathy.

Devastated by Celestia's refusal, Twilight tries to determine whether she has failed her work or her teacher - and wonders what her special status and talent is worth.

Octavia has finally been promoted to first chair, unfortunately for her, that chair is in the new (and as of yet unformed) Royal Ponyville Orchestra. Now, the best cellist in Equestria (Her words) is being sent to the cultural gulag of Ponyville (Also her words) to form and lead the Royal Ponyville Orchestra to greatness (Princess Luna's words).

Now has a sequel, Princess Luna's Academy of the Arts and Sciences.

And an online reading.

Credit goes to jlm123hi for arranging the cover art
Vectors used:
The stage
Vinyl
Lyra
Fiddlesticks
Octavia

Bonus: Have some fan art made by GamingMelody I found when I accidentally typed my username into Deviant Art's search tool instead of logging in. It's cool someone liked my words enough to draw them, and I hope anyone who does so in the future will send me a link so I can plug them in whatever way I can.

In the episode "A Canterlot Wedding", we see everyone treat Twilight Sparkle rather shabbily, and when she's proven to be right, no one apologizes to her - not even Princess Celestia. How might this have affected Twilight?

Following the assassination of Princess Celestia, the Long Night withered the once bountiful Apple Harvests of the Apple family. In the years since, they have been reduced to dumpster diving and street life. Applebloom, unwilling to continue in such a state, violates her elder sister's wishes in order to find help from Applejack's friends, who surely must be better off.

Unfortunately, Applebloom's journey to Canterlot shows her the true fates of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, who are as unable to help Applebloom as they are to help themselves. Applebloom's desperation grows with each reunion. In the end, she must turn to powers greater than begging to save her own future and those of many others.

Illustrations by the very talented Cyaneus!

On the Night Mare's Night, Archdruid Twilight Sparkle prays to her goddess, and, for the first time, her goddess answers.

Unfortunately, matters are never quite that simple when one is dealing with a being of power beyond mortal comprehension.

Entry for the Second TwiLuna Contest

Thanks to Obselescence for his help.

Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo that it doesn't matter if she can fly or not. Then Discord made her put her wings where her mouth is and now she has to live without them for a day. But wings or no, she's still Rainbow Dash, the most awesome pony in Equestria, right?

...Right?

Now has an audio version as well